27^ DISSERTATION ON THE 



converfant with the thmg itfclf, fufflciently explanatory 

 of the pecuhar ufes, properties, and actions fpecified ; 

 but, to a reader, in thefe diflant days, when the thing 

 no longer exifts, they are too vague and obfcure, not 

 to want a regular, full, and dhlinct explanation. 



In fearching through the fcholiafts and annotators, 

 we find nothing precife and fatisfaiftory, and the draw- 

 ings from coins and marbles leave us equally unin- 

 formed — Thcfe feldom mark any particulars of the 

 harnefs or carriage, or of the manner of joining the 

 horfes to it. It was not the intention of the artifts, 

 who wrought thefe defigns, to mark the detail. It 

 was fufficient that they charaderifed the fpecific a6lion 

 meant to be exhibited. Befides this, their inattention 

 in thefe general defigns to the minute rules of per- 

 fpecT:ive, added confufion to indecifion. 



In confequence of this date of darknefs and doubt, 

 I put together, on a few fheets of paper, all the paflages 

 which in the courfe of reading had occured to me on 

 this fubjeft, with fuch remarks as the prefent moment 

 fuggefted : and I did it with a view of trying how they 

 might elucidate each other ; and as I foon found, as 

 further opportunities occurred to me, that there were 

 feveral marbles and coins which afforded fpecimens of 

 pares in many particulars of this fubjed, I form- 

 ed the defign of comparing the defcriptions in thefe 

 paflages with fuch reprefentations of this equipage as 



I might 



t 



