1829.]

REVIEW.-Numismatic Atlas of Ancient History.

not gain their livelihood by barter. This first money resembled, a little, small spits of iron or brass, whence the oboli. The drachm, worth six oboles, has the same analogy, because drachm signifies a handful, and six of these oboles were necessary to make a handful. These were only shapeless pieces, unstamped, which had merely a certain weight and value. Gold and silver coins are of later date; and the most ancient, of which the epoch is known, are of Pausanias, fifth King of Macedon. Such are the general accounts, which we think necessary, by way of introduction to Mr. Green's work.-The several stages in the progress of coinage, our readers will see in Pinkerton (on Medals, i. 299, edit. 1808), from the Abbé Barthelemy's Essai d'une Palæographie Numismatique. The fifth stage in the progress consists of coins, in which a square dye is used either on one or both sides. Such are those of Athens, Cyrene, Argos, and other cities, and of Alexander I. and Archelaus I. Kings of Macedon. Some of the latter occur with this mark, and others without; which shows that it was disused in his reign, and fixes its discontinuance about the year 420 before our æra. (Pinkerton, ubi supra.) We have also observed, that Pausanias, the fifth King of Macedon, is stated to be the most ancient of which coins in gold and silver are known; only one of his coins (unique in silver) is acknowledged. It is in the French King's cabinet, and has characters of the highest antiquity, viz. impressions in concave, which being convex on the other side of the coin, served to fix it for want of the virole. Some medallists, however, place a preceding King to this Pausanias, viz. of Alexander I.; and observe, that after the coins of Gelon, King of Syracuse, none known are more ancient than those of Alexander the First. Their fabric announces this antiquity, and the square on the hollow of the reverse regularly proves it. Of Perdiccas II. no mention is made of any coins in the foreign numismatical books which we have consulted. Of Archelaus I. there are admissions of silver coins.

Thus plainly appears "the uncertainty of the law" in medallic works, as well as in courts of justice; for coins of two Macedonian Kings, viz. AlexGENT. MAG. May, 1829.

425

ander I. and Archelaus I. are admitted; and, according to Mr. Green, (pl. ii.) of Perdiccas the Second; but as the authorities consulted by us do not allow to him any coins, we think that the coins ascribed to him by Mr. Green, may belong to Perdiccas the Third. At all events, it is plain that Pausanias is not the first King of Macedon of whom there are silver coins.

The coins of the Kings of Macedon, given by Mr. Green in plate ii. are those of

1. Alexander the First, 500 A. C. Obverse, a man, in a hat with a conical crown and turned up brims, standing by a horse. Reverse, a square divided into four compartments (the pretended gardens of Alcinous), and surrounded by the legend ALEXANDRO.

2. Perdiccas II. A head of Hercules in a lion's skin. Reverse, a bow and club with PER in boustrophedon.

3. Archelaus. Two specimens ; one a head in profile, filleted. Reverse, a horse trotting, with APXEAAO. The other, a man riding with two long spears (sarissa) in his hands. Reverse, a goat couchant with ARXELAO within a square.

4. Pausanias. A filleted head. Reverse, a horse standing, with AUSANIA.

5. Amyntas 1. Whereas in other medalists no coins of any Amyntas before the third of that naine.

Having made this extract, we must beg to express our distrust as to the antiquity of those coins which precede that of Pausanias. Our reasons are these. Complete coins, both in point of obverse and reverse, may be justly thought to be unknown to any other country than Sicily so early as the year 500 B. C.* (See Pinkerton, i. 301.) Secondly, the curious petasus, worn by Alexander I., occurs in a pretended Pergamus, King of Mysia, on a coin published by Canini; and Gori, from this coin, has ascribed to the same Pergamus a head on a gem in the Florentine Museum (Gem. i. tab. 26, n. i.); but no such coin has been seen since the sixteenth century, nor is it even believed that there ever was such a man as Pergamus. It was a folly of the Greek towns to give for This is dubious. That_Pausanias, Winckelman, and Barthelemy, have anticipated by two centuries the era of Sicilian coins, is shown by Mr. Millingen in Trans. R. Soc. Literat. i. 98.

426

REVIEW.Dipine Origin of Christianity.

their founders a man or a woman, for whom they created a name analogous to that of the place. We therefore think that this coin of Alexander I. is, probably at least, an ancient forgery. Perdiccas II. is before said to have been ascribed by medallists to Fer. diccas the Third.

Archilaus. To this we have the same objections noted under Alexander the First. Both coins come under Barthelemy's fifth class, which preceded the sixth, i. e. of complete obverse and reverse, a fashion in the time of these Kings deemed peculiar to Sicily. See Pinkerton, i. 300.

Pausanias. The unique coin before mentioned is convex on the obverse, and hollowed on the reverse; but this in plate ii. has a different obverse and reverse.

Nevertheless, it is admitted that the most early series of monarchic coins is that of the Macedonian Kings (see Pinkerton, i. 302); and we only give it as matter of opinion, that these coins, though ancient, are not contemporaneous with the Monarchs whom they profess to represent. For we are inclined to think that the year 500 B. C. is the earliest known period of complete coins, at least extant, and that the first instance of a head as a portrait is that of Gelo of Syracuse, with whom Mr. Green commences the series in Plate i.

We shall now make some extracts from the "Descriptive Guide."

"A distinguishing character between the coins of the European Kings, and those of the Asiatic Sovereigns, is the greater simplicity in the type and legend visible in the former. P. 7.

"The coins of the Syracusan Kings comprise a great variety; and in beauty of execution rival any extant. P. 8. *

"In the third century B. C. the coins of Epirus, like those of Sicily, offer abundant examples of the great perfection to which the arts had attained."

P. 10.

[May,

Mr. Green very properly has used the words some numismatists, for it is said by Pinkerton (i. 211), that portraits on coins first appear upon the Macedonian Alexander I. who preceded the celebrated conqueror. Full faces on coins we believe to be an oriental barbarism. As to heads of Hercules clothed in a lion's skin, it is known to be the uniform of Homer's Generals. Pausanias says (1. v.) in his explanation of the sculptures on the coffer of Cypselus, that we there see Agamemnon carrying upon his buckler, a lion's head, to express terror, an interpretation which the inscription supports. The frequency of the head of Hercules upon coins is thus accounted for by eminent continental writers. It is certain, from Cicero and many ancient authors, that there were many Hercules' far more ancient than the son of Alcmena. It is even thought that the name of Hercules is not a proper name, but an appellative given to celebrated voyagers, who went to discover new countries, and bring colonies to them; making themselves as famous by their industry in extirpating wild animals, as by establishing commerce; and that the Greeks have loaded the history of the Hercules of Thebes with the exploits and adventures of all these others.-Facts certainly vindicate an opinion that Hercules was a term applied to unknown founders of states and cities. We could support this hypothesis by numerous testimonies, but deem it unnecessary, because the name of Heraclea was common to so many towns, that there were more than thirty in the Roman empire alone, independent of Herculaneum, and many other towns. We do not think that the mere wor

ship of Hercules occasioned such numerous identities.

Here we shall take our leave of this elegant and gratifying work. The tasteful execution of it confers great

Speaking of the coins of Macedon, honour upon Mr. Green. Mr. Green says,

"A head of Hercules, clothed in the lion's skin, occupies the obverse before and long after the introduction of portraits, which is not by some numismatic writers considered as anterior to Alexander the Great." P. 12.

*We refer Mr. Green to the Encycl. of Antiq. ii. 886, not. 7, for the origin of this excellence.

The Divine Origin of Christianity, deduced from some of those evidences which are not founded on the authenticity of Scripture, By John Sheppard. 2 vols. post 8vo.

WE do not know by what authority, unless it be from his own construction of a prophecy in Isaiah (liii). Mr. Sheppard (i. 72) makes our Saviour to have been a short inan; but we do

1829.]

.

REVIEW.-Divine Origin of Christianity.

know that he has written far from badly an elaborate book adapted to the severe system, by which the Christianity of the Dissenters is more especially designated. The extension of this system to universality would, he believes, be the summum bonum of mankind; and thousands of wellmeaning people think the same. But it is not what such persons wish that we are to regard, but what is the actual working of the system; e. g. ambition is, we admit, certainly a mischievous vice, and Mr. Sheppard makes it symbolic of Christianity, that it should " quarrel with the spirit of war and glory" (i. 197). Now, what is the real operation of such a doctrine? Gibbon informs us of the said operation, in the following manner:

"Let the mean doctrines of patience and pusillanimity be successfully preached. What are the consequences? The active virtues of society are discouraged, and the last remains of military spirit are extiuguished; a large portion of public and private wealth is consecrated to the specious demands of charity and devotion: and the soldiers' pay is lavished on lazy multitudes, who have no merits of the smallest use to the public. Faith, zeal, curiosity, and the more earthly passions of malice and ambition, kindle the flame of theological discord; the Church, and even the State is distracted by religious factions, whose conflicts are always implacable; the attention of Government is diverted from camps to chapels; and the result is, all the misery and darkness of barbarous times are revived once more, to destroy the hopes of the wise and patriotic, and annihilate the pleasures of the good and amiable."

We are sure, from the same author, that war in its fairest form implies perpetual violation of the laws of humanity and justice; but then, in vindication of providence, "advances in the science of war (continues Gibbon), are accompanied with a proportionable improvement in the arts of peace and civil policy."

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idle devotees, or recommend individuals to become such persons.

Christianity is the best discipline of the heart and affections to virtue; but it cannot be exercised apart from the social duties, without inflicting public injury. Nations which exclusively regard it, and degrade or dismiss arts, sciences, industry, and business, lose the means of self-defence, and civil and political well-being. Devotees form only two classes in society, tyrants and slaves; the former drones, the latter bees. There is no comparison between the utility even of a day-labourer and that of a hermit, and to make indiscreet zeal the great test of excellence, only teaches us to undervalue the almost incalculable benefit of those worldly civil duties, which constitute a state of well-being. A wise statesman, a triumphant general, a patriotic legislator, a talented scholar, a scientific artisan, may and often do abate vice and misery to a most ample extent; and their usual almost certain success shows that Providence co-operates with them. He who applied gunpowder to the art of war, narrowed the extent of destruction, and removed power from the hands of barbarians; a patriotic legislator takes measures auxiliary to good conduct; a talented scholar inculcates abstraction from sense, and innocent, often useful employment of time, and thus makes men wiser; and a scientific artisan facilitates the comforts and means of subsistence; and diminishes inducements to crime and violence. As to producing a golden age by devoteeism only, it is absurd in the extreme, for an animal corporeal form of being is not distillable into mere undefecated spirit; and we have already had generations of visionary puritans, whose career terminated only in blood, cruelty, tyranny, and the disorganization of society. That there were among them persons who really strove to be divested of all human imperfection, is unquestionable; but (says Gibbon) even a character of pure inflexible virtue is the most apt to be misled by prejudice, to be heated by enthusiasm, and to confound private enmities with public justice." How the virtues of Christianity are to be prac

46

It may be said, that these are the remarks of a philosopher and infidel. The plea will not avail; for there is not a syllable in the New Testament which reprobates the profession of arms; nor can public evil (as would be dereliction of the power of defence) betised out of a state of civilization, and compatible with private good. Soldiers and sailors are useful people. Monks, nuns, and anchorets are not so; nor does the Scripture institute orders of

how such a state is to be supported without worldly duties, and a warm interest in them, we know not; and therefore to sweep them all away as

REVIEW-Strictures on the New Chancery Laws.

profane, as destructive of a visionary spirituality, the pretended perfection of man, we hold to be foolish, because we are sure that such duties make men wiser, better, and happier.

1829.]

REVIEW.-Huntingford's Testimonies, &c.

hands of another Moses (which Moses, 1 mean the Hebrew one, is mentioned by Tothill as having been called God's Chaucellor), and operate upon the suitors of the Court like the boils and blains sent upon Pharaoh's cattle, and for which the most effectual cure will be, to simplify the proceedings both in the Court and in the Master's offices: by giving to the Masters a character decidedly judicial; by allotting to them such portions of the business now done by the Court as shall be thought fit: subject to the controul of the Court, by way of appeal;-by transferring from them the taking of accounts,-the taxing of bills, -(and other matters to be specified), to other and distinct Ministers and Officers,

and by making such further arrangements as may be thought necessary for effectuating this one great object. It has been understood, and I have personally reason to believe, on good grounds, that Mr. Pitt had, at one time, a plan of this sort in contemplation; and I hold it a great misfortune to the Country that it was not carried into execution; for that, among other reasons, it would habitually have led the Suitors and the Public to entertain a higher opinion of, and to place a greater degree of confidence, in the Masters; (who, whatever may be supposed to the contrary, execute the greater and more important parts of the business of the Court;) and, at the same time, encourage and stimulate the Masters themselves to greater exertions in the exercise of their functions: and, also for that, though there might, under such a plan, be many appeals to the Court, such appeals would be, comparatively speaking, infinitely fewer than those which are now made from their decisions in the cases of exceptions, and other numberless cases to the Court; and the costs of issuing, and attending upon warrants on all manner of trumpery occasions, might, moreover, in a great measure, if not wholly, be done away. But considerations of this sort may be thought out of my province; and therefore I bid you, as I possibly soon may the Court, (for, judging from the present number, and kind of Orders, from the sole of the fool, even to the head, there is no soundness in it,)

FAREWELL."

Testimonies in proof of the separate existence of the Soul, in a state of Self-consciousness between Death and the Resurrection. By the Rev. Thomas Huntingford, M. A. Vicar of Kempsford, Gloucestershire. 8vo, pp. 500.

THE first of all principles must be existence, and in that primary being must be comprised all qualities whatever. The first existence too, must be that which is self-existent, and in consequence eternal. The intellectual

429

qualities are only properties annexed to existence, and exhibited variously according to the organic forms with which they are united. The principle of Being only seems to be simple, every other quality being apparently compound; and there is only one cause in the universe, viz. Deity, the rest being mere effects of other effects, links of a chain, ascending to the parent of being, the only cause. Why every other quality than being is made compound, is, we presume, because it is susceptible of decomposition, and acts in union with other qualities, properties which cannot be ascribed to that which is simple in se, as must be existence; and if it be simple in se, it cannot be created, for, if so, the original must be nothing, but nothing is only a word, the mere negation of being, the existence of which is as impossible as shadow without substance; and no man can predicate that shadow preceded substance. By the word mind, we understand that aggregate of intellectual undefinable faculties mediately exhibited by material organs, which mechanics) be termed powers or prinfaculties may (to borrow a phrase from ciples. That these must be imunortal is plain, because they are utterly independent of organic origin, time, or space, or form; in fact are the pure attributes of Deity. They can, as far as regards man, be only partial communitions of those attributes; and whatever appertains to Deity can never cease to be, though it may have a different mode of action and exhibition.

The physical arguments, which show terrestrial man to be a compound of mind and body, apply equally to personification of him in another state; for frail organization seems only to be whatever is, may be; and man's present adopted from considerations of time, from reference to the duration of his being here, and certain necessary decomposition at the expiration of that term. The vital properties themselves can no more be destroyed, than the powers of the lever, spring, or screw, by the destruction of levers, springs, or screws; and however there may be decomposition or change of animated substance, there can be no such thing as death, understanding by the term utter extinction of being. It is only, we repeat, a negative term, as cold means absence of heat, or darkness privation of light. To suppose life de