22 



of religious belief and feeling which they contain. The usual heading 

 of D. M. (Diis Manibus) might seem a proof of the universal belief in 

 the existence of the disembodied spirit, but we know from the Latin 

 writers that such a belief had worn out, and that few had any faith in 

 the separate existence of the soul, or a state of retribution. The 

 sentiment of submission to the Divine will is wholly unknown in the 

 Roman inscriptions. The gods are accused, in no measured terms, for 

 their cruelty in blighting the hopes of parents or interrupting the 

 happiness of matrimony. The only topics of consolation adverted to 

 are, that longer life might have been only a calamity, or that the 

 survivor would soon rejoin those for whom he mourned. Excess of 

 sorrow is forbidden, on the ground that what was suffered was only 

 the common lot of humanity. A remarkable difference is observable 

 between the characters of deceased persons, as delineated on Roman 

 and on Christian monuments. In the former, we find mention made 

 of the erection of a fountain, the dedication of a temple, the bequest of 

 a public legacy ; but none of acts of social benevolence, of a life devoted 

 to the alleviation of misery, or the removal of ignorance. The general 

 conclusion drawn from the indications of the state of religious faith 

 and moral feeling, conveyed by the Roman sepulchral inscriptions was, 

 that the time was fully come when Revelation was needed to prevent 

 mankind from being divided between scepticism and superstition. 

 The principal collections of inscriptions were enumerated, with a 

 caution against the forgeries which have been mischievously obtruded 

 upon the world. 



June. — A paper by the Rev. John Ward, of Wath, near Ripon, 

 on the encaustic tiles of Jervaulx Abbey, was read by the Rev. J. 

 Kenrick, who prefaced the reading with some remarks on the origin of 

 this manufacture, examples of which have been found at Nemroud, and 

 which was introduced into Spain by the Moors, who may have learnt 

 it from the remains of the Assyrian cities, during the residence of the 

 Caliphs at Bagdad. It was introduced into England in the thirteenth 

 century, and splendid examples of it are found in various churches 

 and chapter houses, but none which equal in beauty and richness those 

 which a few years ago remained at Jervaulx, and of which drawings, 

 on the scale of the original, had been presented to the Society by 

 Mr. "Ward. The Abbey was founded in 1166, and the whole pave- 

 ment had been laid with encaustic tiles of a great variety of design. 

 Eight large patterns had been introduced in various parts, the 

 drawings of which were exhibited to the meeting. It is remarkable. 



