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XII. Observations on the Roman Remains found in various parts of London, in the years 1834, 1835, 1836. By Mr. Charles Roach Smith, communicated in a letter to A. J. Kempe, Esq., F.S.A.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2012
Extract
At the close of the year 1834, my attention was drawn to the excavations then in progress for sewers, and foundations of houses, in the extensive City improvements, from conviction, founded on former observations, but which opportunity did not then admit my taking advantage of, that the projected line of work at depths varying from twenty to fifty feet, could not fail to afford the means for obtaining some additional and corroborating information illustrative of the ancient occupation of the soil; and, finding that investigation was likley to be attended with some little success, I persevered in examining with all possible diligence the several excavations, and now submit to your notice, though necessarily in an abridged shape, an account of the result of my labours. I shall venture no further on your patience than will be consistent with recording the principal features in the City discoveries, without theorising or wandering from a statement of facts.
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References
page 143 note a In Montfaucon will be found an engraving of a similar handle (wanting the ring), which is termed a knife-handle; but this perfect and curious specimen of the Roman steels, leaves no doubt of the original character of the incomplete relic from which the engraving referred to, was made.
page 143 note b Sat. xi. 1. 131.
page 144 note b Ex officinâ Modesti. Officinâ Celsi.
page 144 note c Born in Spain. Martial, xiv. 176.
page 144 note d Bagshot, 1783. London, 1835.
page 145 note e Juv. Sat. xiii.
page 145 note f Virg. Bncol.
page 145 note g Juv. Sat. vi. 1. 381.
page 146 note h See Strabo. Nemesian also (in Eclogis, p. 220.),
—catulos divisa Britannia mittit
Veloces, nostrique orbis venatibus aptos.
page 147 note i Sabinus fecit.
page 147 note j I observe also in my list Comitialis and Cerealis, both of which may designate the peculiar purposes for which the vessels thus inscribed were used, though the latter is also a proper name.
page 150 note k Concordia Militum.
page 150 note l In this wall were cemented two large sea-shells, evidently for ornament. Sir William Gell notices this as a common practice in Pompeii.
page 151 note m Supposed to be the south wall of the church of St. Nicholas Shambles.
page 151 note n Nearly all the following stamps (with many more) have been obtained by me at the various sites referred to in the foregoing communication, and are now in my possession. Some of the names have been given by Mr. Kempe in his paper, vol. xxiv. p. 202 of the Archaeologia, on the Roman Antiquities found near the site of the church of St. Michael, Crooked Lane.
page 152 note * The F is placed within the o in some.
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