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THE ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



LETTER I. 



IT is reasonable to suppose that in remote ages this woody and 

 mountainous district was inhabited only by bears and wolves. 

 Whether the Britons ever thought it worthy their attention, is 

 not in our power to determine; but we may safely conclude, 

 from circumstances, that it was not unknown to the Romans. 

 Old people remember to have heard their fathers and grand- 

 fathers say that, in dry summers and in windy weather, pieces 

 of money were sometimes found round the verge of Wolmer- 

 pond; and tradition had inspired the foresters with a notion 

 that the bottom of that lake contained great stores of treasure. 

 During the spring and summer of 1740 there was little rain ; 

 and the following summer also, 1741, was so uncommonly dry 

 that many springs and ponds failed, and this lake in particular, 

 whose bed became as dusty as the surrounding heaths and 

 wastes. This favourable juncture induced some of the forest- 

 cottagers to begin a search, which was attended with such suc- 

 cess, that all the labourers in the neighbourhood flocked to the 

 spot, and with spades and hoes turned up great part of that large 

 area. Instead of pots of coins, as they expected, they found great 

 heaps, the one lying on the other, as if shot out of a bag ; many 

 of which were in good preservation. Silver and gold these en- 

 quirers expected to find ; but their discoveries consisted solely of 

 many hundreds of Roman copper-coins, and some medallions, all 

 of the lower empire. There was not much virtu stirring at that 

 time in this neighbourhood ; however, some of the gentry and 

 clergy around bought what pleased them best ; and some dozens 

 fell to the share of the author. 



The owners at first held their commodity at a high price ; but, 

 finding that they were not likely to meet with dealers at such a 

 rate, they soon lowered their terms, and sold the fairest as they 

 could. The coins that were rejected became current, and passed 



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