4 On an ancient Monument, 



Of the Roman origin of this monument, we have irresistible 

 pioof in the great mass, found in and around the very spot 

 where the Sphinx was discovered, of antique remains : such as 

 bricks, tiles, pottery, fragments of bronze, and other relics, 

 that are decidedly of Roman fabric ; and which, as well as the 

 Sphinx, lay concealed in a soil that apparently had not for cen- 

 turies been disturbed beyond the depth of the plough-share. 

 But my attention has been particularly attracted by the portion 

 of a sepulchral inscription, to the memory of one or more le- 

 gionary Roman soldiers : this was dug up a few days sooner 

 than the Sphinx, and at the distance of no ftiore than about 

 twenty-five paces from it. The following cut is a faithful copy, 

 although the engraver has formed the letters with less sharp- 

 ness and care, and represented them as being more mutilated, 

 than the state of the original will justify. 



This fragment is moreover of itself extremely curious, as 

 making a distinct mention of the Third Imperial Legion, 

 (LEGionis III. AVgustae) a portion of the Roman forces, of 

 whose appearance in Britain I cannot find any trace by all the 

 references I have been able to make. The stone has 10| inches 

 by 8 of surface, and is If of an inch thick. Let it be noticed, 

 that this fragment is of the stone brought from Swanage ; and it 



