Mr. Riddell’s Differtation, &e. 138 
A Differtation upon the Ancrenr Carvepn Stone 
Monuments in Scortann, with a particular 
siccount of one in Dumfries/hire, by Roserr 
Rippew, of Glenriddell, Efg.. Captain of an 
Independent Company of Foot, F. A. S. and 
Member of the Literary and Philofophical Society 
of Manchefter. Read Dec. 2, 1791. 
ia is not perhapsa more univerfal feature 
in the hiftory of man, from the moft early 
dawn of hiftorical information to the prefent ad- 
_ vanced: period, than that every nation before the 
introduction of letters, made ufe of Hieroglyphicak 
fymbols to communicate to their pofterity their 
difcoveries in the arts and feiences, the fundamental 
principles of their religion and laws, and the moft 
celebrated exploits of their princes and heroes. 
In Egypt we find many monuments remaining 
covered with hieroglyphic fymbols, the art of 
deciphering whieh was entirely loft in the time 
of Herodotus, the hiftorian; and when Hernando. 
Cortes conquered Mexico, the moft civilized of any 
American nation, we find they then tranfmitted 
their annals to. pofterity by hieroglyphieal and 
fymbolical paintings, 
In Scotland, particularly along the Eaft, many 
hieroglyphic Monuments are ftill to be met with. 
R 2 Mr. 
