176 Andrew Stuart on the ancient 
fered much from that of the Greeks, In the knowledge of 
the religion of Italy, the Etruscans possessed an acknow- 
ledged pre-eminence. It was intimately connected with the 
civil forms of Law and Government—nay with all the princi- 
pal acts of private life. The Romans derived their forms 
frow the Etruscans. It is in these forms that we are to look 
for the almost unchangeable verba solennia thus adopted by 
the Romans. Now several of these verba solennia, are to be 
found in the above inscription, and I apprehend that it must 
have been a Votive tablet. 
These were very common amongst the ancient Romans as 
well on public as upon private occasions. The poets often 
allude to this. 
Me Tabula sacer 
Votiva paries indicat uvido 
Suspendisse potenti 
Vestimenta Maris Deo. 
Norat. Carm. I. 5. 
Again, 
Votiva, pateat, veluti descripta tabella 
Vita senis. Horat, Serm. IT. 1. 
And Tibullus, 
Pendebatque vagi pastoris votum 
Garrula silvestri fistula sacra Deo. 
Lib, Il. El. 3. 
Authorities might be multiplied from the Latin poets and 
historians, 
The word Voveo was in the ancient Roman Ecclesiastical 
law averbnm solenne. It will be found in the vow of Ro- 
mulus of a temple to Jupiter Stator. Livy I.—of Appius, Livy 
X.—of Camillus,Livy V.—and it as well as the word Votum 
are found ina multitude of other places. Brissonius ex- 
pressly says, sed gam ad votorum formulas transeamus, in 
quibus solemne fuisse verbum voveo non est ignotum,—Biis- 
on, de Form. 105, 
The 
