The chance of fix names, fays Mr. R. being placed by two authors in the fame order, is as I to 720, of twelve, as I to 479,00!,600. It is therefore utterly improbable that thefe names would have been placed in this order on the Marble, if the author of the Infcription had not transcribed them from the historian.'

On this argument we fhall oblerve, 1. That the very contrary conclufion might poffibly be just, that the hiftorian tran fcribed from the Inicription. Yet we fhall grant that in the prefent cafe this is improbable, efpecially if the author of the Various History be the fame Elian, who, according to Philo ftratus, Vit. Sophift. II. 31. never quitted Italy in his life. But an intermediate writer might have copied the Marble, and Ælian might have been indebted to him. 2dly, We fee no reason to allow, that the lacunæ are properly fupplied. Suppose we should affert, that the names food originally thus, Miletus, Ephefus, Erythræ, Clazomenæ, Lebedos, Chios, Phocæa, Colophon, Myus, Priene, Samos, Teos. In this arrangement, only four names would be together in the fame order with Elian; and from thefe Miletus must be excepted, because there is an obvious reason for mentioning that city firft. Three only will then remain, and furely that is too flight a resemblance to be conftrued into an imitation. For Paufanias and Paterculus, quoted by our Author, p. 154, have both enumerated the fame twelve cities, and both agree in placing the five laft in the fame order, nay, the fix laft, if Voffius's conjecture, that TEUM ought to be inferted in Paterculus after Myum TEM, be as true as it is plaufible. Bat who imagines that Paufanias had either opportunity or inclination to copy Paterculus ? 3dly, Allowing that the names were engraved on the Marble exactly in the order that Elian has chofen, is there no way of folving the phænomenon, but by fuppofing that one borrowed from the other? Seven authors at leaft (Mr. R. feems to fay more, p. 154, 5.) mention the colonization of the fame cities; how many authors now loft may we reafonably conjecture to have done the fame? If therefore the composer of the Chronicle, and Elian, lighted on the fame author, the former would probably preferve the fame arrangement that he found, because in tranfcribing a lift of names, he could have no temptation to deviate, and the latter would certainly adhere faithfully to his original, because he is a notorious and fervile plagiarift. Mr. R. indeed thinks, p. 158, that if a fucceeding writer had borrowed the words of the Infcription, he would not have fuppreffed the name of the author. This opinion muft fall to the ground, if it be fhewn that Elian was accuftomed to fupprefs the names of the authors to whom he was obliged. Elian has given a list of fourteen celebrated gluttons, and, elsewhere, another of twentyeight drunkards (from which, by the way, it appears, that

3

people

people were apt to eat and drink rather too freely in ancient as well as modern times); and both thefe lifts contain exactly the fame names in the fame order with Athentüs. Now it is obfervable, that fourteen names may be tranfpofed 87,178,291,200 different ways, and that twenty-eight names admit of 304,888, 344,611,713,860,501,504,000,000 different tranfpofitions, &c. &c. Elian therefore tranfcribed them from Atheneüs; yet Elian never mentions Atheneüs in his Various Hiftory. So that whether Elian copied from the Marble, or only drew from a common fource, he might, and very probably would, conceal his authority.

VIII. The history of the discovery of the Marbles is obfcure and anfatisfactory.

In p. 169, it is faid to be related with fufpicious circumflances, and without any of thofe clear and unequivocal evidences which always difcriminate truth from falsehood. The queftion then is finally decided. If the Infcription has not any of thofe evidences, which truth always poffeffes, and which falsehood always wants, it is moft certainly forged. The learned Differtator feems for a moment to have forgotten the modeft character of a DOUBTER, and to perfonate the dogmatift. But waving this, we fhali add, that, as far as we can fee, no appearance of fraud is discoverable in any part of the tranfaction. The hiftory of many infcriptions is related in a manner equally unfatisfactory; and if it could be clearly proved that the Marble was dug up at Paros, what would be easier for a critic who is determined at any rate to object, than to fay, that it was buried there in order to be afterward dug up? If the perfon who brought this treasure to light had been charged on the fpot with forging it, or concurring in the forgery, and had then refufed to produce the external evidences of its authenticity, we fhould have a right to queftion, or perhaps to deny, that it was genuine. But no fuch objection having been made or hinted, at the original time of its difcovery, it is unreasonable to require fuch teftimony as it is now impoffible to obtain. There is nothing faid of it in Sir T. Roe's negotiations.' What is the inference? I hat Sir Thomas knew nothing of it, or believed it to be fpurious, or forged it, or was privy to the forgery? Surely nothing of this kind can be pretended. But let our Author account for the circumftance if he can. To us it feems of no confequence on either fide. Peirefe made no effort to recover this precious relic, and from hea compofure be feems to have entertained jome fecret fufpicions of its authenticity. Peiresc would have had no chance of recovering it after it was in the poffeffion of Lord Arundel's agents. He was either a real or a pretended patron of letters, and it became him to affect to be pleafed that the Infcription had come into England, and was illuftrated by his learned friend Selden. John F. Gronovius had with great labour and expence collated Anna Comnena's

Comnena's Alexiades, and intended to publifh them. While he was waiting for fome other collations, they were intercepted, and the work was published by another. As foon as Gronovius heard this unpleasant news, he answered, that learned men were engaged in a common caufe; that if one prevented another in any publication, he ought rather to be thanked for lightening the burthen, than blamed for interfering. But who would conclude from this anfwer, that Gronovius thought the Alexiades fpurious, or not worthy of any regard ?

Mr. R. calculates, that the venders of the Marble received 200 pieces. But here again we are left in the dark, unless we knew the precife value of these pieces. Perhaps they might be equal to an hundred of our pounds, perhaps only to fifty. Befide, as they at firft bargained with Samfon, Pierefc's fuppofed Jew agent, for fifty pieces only, they could not have forged the Infcription with the clear profpect of receiving more. Neither does it appear that they were paid by Samfon. It is fully as reasonable to fuppofe fraud on the one fide, as on the other; and if Samfon, after having the Marble in his poffeffion, refused or delayed to pay the fum ftipulated, he might, in confequence of fuch refufal or delay, be thrown into prifon, and might, in revenge, damage the Marble before the owners could recover it.

We own this account of ours to be a romance; but it is lawful to combat romance with romance.

IX. The world has been frequently impofed upon by fpurious books and infcriptions, and therefore we should be extremely cautious with regard to what we receive under the venerable name of antiquity.

Much truth is obfervable in this remark. But the danger lies in applying fuch general apophthegms to particular cafes. In the first place, it must be obferved, that no forged books will exactly fuit Mr. R.'s purpose, but fuch as pretend to be the author's own hand-writing; nor any infcriptions, but fuch as are ftill extant on the original materials, or fuch as were known to be extant at the time of their pretended difcovery. Let the argument be bounded by thefe limits, and the number of forgeries. will be very much reduced. We are not in poffeffion of Cyriacus Anconitanus's book, but if we were governed by authority, we should think that the teftimony of Reinefius in his favour greatly overbalances all that Auguftinus has faid to his prejudice. The opinion of Reinefius is of the more weight, be cause he fufpects Urfinus of publishing counterfeit monuments. We likewife find the most eminent critics of the prefent age quoting Cyriacus without fufpicion (v. Ruhnken. in Timai Lex. Plat. p. 10. apud Koen, ad Gregor. p. 140.) The doctrine advanced in the citation from Hardouin is exactly conformable to that writer's ufual paradoxes. He wanted to deftroy the credit of all the Greek and Latin writers. But infcriptions

tions hung like a millstone about the neck of his project. He therefore refolved to make fure work, and to deny the genuinenefs of as many as he faw convenient; to effect which purpofe, he intrenches himself in a general accufation. If the author of the Differtation had quoted a few more paragraphs from Hardouin, in which he endeavours, after his manner, to fhew the forgery of fome infcriptions, he would at once have adminiftered the poison and the antidote. But to the reveries of that learned madman, refpe&ting Greek fuppofititious compofitions of this nature, we shall content ourselves with oppofing the fentiments of a modern critic, whofe judgment on the fubject of spurious infcriptions will not be difputed:

MAFFEI, in the introduction to the third book, c. 1. p. 51. of his admirable, though unfinished work de Arte Criticâ Lapidaria, ufes thefe words: Infcriptionum Græce loquentium commentitias, fi cum Latinis comparemus, deprehendi paucas: neque enim ullum omnino eft, in tanta debacchantium falfariorum libidine, monumenti genus, in quod ii fibi minus licere putaverint. Argumento eft, pauciffimas ufque in hanc diem ab eruditis viris, et in boc literaTum genere plurimum verfatis rejectas effe, falfique damnatas.

We here finish our exceptions. Much praife is due to the Author of the Differtation for the learning and candour fo confpicuous throughout his work. Even thofe who are moft prejudiced against his hypothefis, will read his book with pleasure, as well for the tafte and erudition displayed in treating the main queftion, as for the entertaining difcuffion of incidental matters. If we seem to have affumed more of the ftyle and tone of controversy than fuits the impartiality of judges, we plead in excufe, that we intended only to animate, in fome degree, a fubject, which, to the generality of readers, muft appear dry. and tedious. If the Author thould pay any attention to the hints which we have thrown out, and publish the refult of his thoughts on them, we fhall coolly reconfider his arguments,

Refellere fine iracundia, et refelli fine pertinacia parati. In the emendations of the 11th and 78th lines of the Infcription, the genius of the Greek language requires us to read, Παναθηναια and ανέβη, for Παναθηναικον and ανέβησε. Por..η.

ART. X. The Works of Nathaniel Lardner, D. D. containing, Credibility of the Gospel Hiftory; Jewish and Heathen Teftimonies; Hiftory of Heretics; and his Sermons and Tracts; with general Chronological Tables, and copious Indexes. To the firit Volume is prefixed the Life of the Author, by Andrew Kippis, D.D. F. R. S. and S. A. In 11 Vols. 8vo. Price to Subscribers 31. 39. in Boards. Johnson. 1788.

WE

E heartily congratulate the Public on the appearance of this COMPLETE EDITION of the Works of Dr. Lardner, who has not improperly been complimented as "the Prince

of

of modern Divines," and whole chief work cannot fail of being held in the higheft repute as long as the credibility of the Gofpel fhall be deemed worthy of demonftration. Uniting to an intimate knowlege of antiquity, candour, good fenfe, and the most facred regard for truth, he has laboured with success in winnowing the chaff of fpurious evidence from thofe genuine and folid teftimonies which prove the verity of the Chriftian Scriptures. He had none of that weak credulity which refts fatisfied with Alimfy forgeries, pious frauds, and artful interpolations, or of that wretched timidity which trembles at removing thofe reeds and ftraws with which the ignorant and fuperftitious have endeavoured, and the artful pretended, to prop up the fortress of truth. Hence his writings are eminently valuable. None have been more highly or more juftiy praifed." It was the frequent faying of a very learned perfon, that if he were fentenced to imprifonment for feven years, he would not defire to take any books with him into his confinement, befides the works of Jortin and Lardner *.”

The feveral pieces contained in the eleven volumes before us, and now firft collected together, have feparately been publifhed, at different times; moft of them by Dr. Lardner himself, and fome few after his deceafe; and accounts have been given of them in our Review, which may eafily be found by confulting our General Index t. A republication of them was now become neceffary. His great work on the Credibility of the Gospel Hiftory, in 17 volumes octavo, was become very scarce, and fold for as much as all his works originally coft, unbound; and fome of his tracts were not to be purchased. Thefe latter will have the recommendation of novelty; efpecially the Effay on the Mofaic Account of the Creation and Fall of Man, almoft the whole impreffion of which was loft, in confequence of the misfortunes of the bookfeller.

Nothing, however, is abfolutely new in this edition, except the Life of the Author, written by Dr. Kippis, which, notwithftanding it can turnifh no great amufement to the mere lovers of anecdote, will be efteemed by all rational Chriftians as a proper tribute to the memory of Dr. Lardner, and an acceptable addition to the mafs of British biography. Sentiments of efteem and veneration, combining with natural curiofity, prompt us to enquire into the hiftory of thofe men by whofe writings we have

* Memoirs of T. Hollis, Efq. vol. i. p. 254.

+ Our first account of the Credibility is in vol. iv. p. 18. of the Review. Some account of the Jewish and Heathen Teftimonies (entitled in our Index On the Truth of the Chriftian Religion) is to be found in vol. xxxii. p. 1.; xxxiv. p. 31. and p. 430.; and vol. xxxvi. p. 270. The laft work of Dr. Lardner's noticed by us, was his Hiftory of Heretics, fee vol. lxiv. p. 33.

been