TheBijhop ofLandaffon Orichakmn. 6j 



excited the attention of mankind, been eagerly 

 fought after, and highly extolled by them. The 

 RomanSy no doubt, when it had been ftipulated 

 in the league which Porjenna made with them, 

 after the expulfion of the ^arquins^ that they 

 fhould not ufe iron, except in agriculture, muft 

 have edeemed a metallic mixture fuch as brafs, 

 at a race not eafily to be credited.* It is not 

 here attempted to prove, that there never was 

 a metallic fubftance called Orichalcum, fupericr 

 in value and different in quality from brafs ; but 

 merely to (hew, that the common reafon afllo-ned 

 for its exiftence, is not fo cogent as is generally 

 fuppofed. 



Confidering the few ancient writers we have 

 remaining, whofe particular buGnefs it was to 

 fpeak with precifion concerning fubjeds of art, 

 or of natural hifl"ory, we ought not to be fur- 

 prized at the uncertainty in which thev have left 

 us with refpect to Orichalcum. Men have been 

 ever much the fame in all agesj or, if any gene- 

 ral fuperioriry in underftanding is to be allowed, 



• In fffidere quod, expulfis reglbus, populo Romano dedit 

 Porfenna, nomiiiatim comprehenfum invenimus, ne ferra 

 nifi in agricultura uterentur Plin. Hill. Nat. Vol. II. 

 p. 666. Was Poifenna induced to prohibit tlie Romans 

 the ufe of iron arms, from the opinion, which feems to 



have prevailed in Greece two hundred years afterwards 



that wounds, made witli copper weapons, were more eafilv 

 healed, than thofe made with iron .' Arift. Op. L. IV^. 

 p. 43. 



ic 



