*rhe Bljhcp of Landaff on Orichalcum. 47 



On Orichalcum. By the Right Rev. Richard 

 Watson, D. D. F. R. S. &c. &c. Lord Eijhop 

 of Landaff. Communicated by Dr. Percival. 

 Read October i, 1783. 



XTT'E have a proof, ' from the writings of 

 Cicero, that the Romans, in his time, 

 underftood by the term Orichalcum, a metallic 

 fubftance rcfembling gold in colour, but very- 

 inferior to it in value. He puts the following 

 cafe — " Whether, if a peribn fhould offer a piece 

 di gold to fale, thinking that he was only dif- 

 pofing of a piece of Orichalcum, an honeft maa 

 ought to inform him that it was really gold, 

 or might fairly buy for a penny what was worth 

 a thoufand times as much."* It is not contended, 

 that the argument, in this place, r-quired any- 

 great accuracy in afcertaining the relative values 

 of gold and Orichalcum ; yet we may reafonably 

 conclude from it, that orich??lcum might by 

 an ignorant perfon be miftaken for gold, and, 

 that it was but of fmall eltimation when com- 

 pared with it. 



Julius Cajar robbed the Capitol of three thou- 

 fand pound weight of gold, and fubftitutcd as 



* Cicer. de OfF. L. III. 



much 



