gQ ANALYSIS Of ANTIQUE BlfoNzfes* 



several others were lying- in un ancient boat. The compos 



sition of this sword was 10 tin and 90 copper. Another 



sword, or cutlas, 18f inches long* contained but 4 percent 



of tin. 



The bronze in- These antique swords were not forged, like our weapons 



theancients °^ ' ron an< * 8tee K out weVe cast in moulds, like all other 



were cast not instruments of bronze. Their edge, as well as those of 



forged. cutting instruments in general, must have been given by 



hard, smooth stones. The opinion of some antiquaries 



therefore, who assert, that the ancients were unacquainted 



with the art of casting metals, is absolutely false. 



To say nothing of the nature of bronze rendering it in- 

 capable of being prepared in any other way, any one may 

 be convinced of this by simple inspection ; and if you would 

 have a proof of it in Homer, you need only read the 23d 

 book of the Iliad. 



2. Analysis of the metallic alloy of crooked antique knives. 



Crooked an- In several provinces of Germany cutting instruments, 



tique knives, shaped like sickles, have been found in digging or plough- 

 ing the ground ; but whether they really were aucient 

 sickles is not determined, as many suppose, that they may 

 have been used as knives in the warm baths. 1 have select- 

 ed two of these, found at different places, for analysis. 



One, which was found with various utensils in a garden 

 at Merz, near Mueltord, yielded by analysis, after its crust 

 of grayish rust was removed, tin 15 parts, copper 85. 



The other, found in the island of Ilugen, was covered 

 with the common patina, and gave tin 13, copper 87* 



3. Analysis of an antique ring. 



An antique I had selected for other inquiries a fragment of an eiasr- 



ring, of elastic t j c an j fl ex ibi e r j n or which was found with some Roman 

 and flexible t . f • . 



bronze. coins in the vicinity or the Rhine. Tins ring was made 



with a half-flattened stem, grooved on the outside, and 8 

 lines broad. Its exterior diameter is 2£ inches, its interior 

 2|. It is not soldered, but its extremities are so closed by 

 the elasticity of the metal, that it is difficult to separate 

 them. The colour of the metal, in the parts that have 



been 



