8 6 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



** as our joiners do the deals for chambers 5 thofe I faw were 

 " numbered thus x. xi. xiii" (I). 



Roman baths were firft introduced in Britain by Agricola, to give 

 the natives an agreeable picture of a polite and well civilized 



community. 



Fornix et uncta popina 



Incutiunt urbis defiderium. Hor. Epift. Lib* i. 14. 



A fculpture in (lone of Mercury, the Cujlos Manitim, and god of 

 the highways, was found here ; an engraving of which, with 

 fome others, may be feen in the Britannia Romana. The mer- 

 cantile' part of Britain held a folemn feftival to Mercury, 15 October. 



Carndcn gives us an altar, found at this place, of A. Llclnlus Cle- 

 mens prtefeflus cohortls primes Hamiorum, dedicated to the Syrian 

 goddefs, Aftarte; the reading fcrupled by Mr. Horf.cy, but con- 

 firmed by the Greek altar to Aftarte at Corbridge, in the judgment 

 of Dr. Stnkely (m). 



In digging up the foundations of a Cajlellum or milliary turret, 

 in the wall, in an opening of the precipice by Crag-Lake, called, 

 Lough-End-Crag) or Milking-Gap? for ftones, for building a farm- 

 houfe, belonging to William Lotves, of Neivcajlle, Efq; to the 

 north-eaft of Uiis ilation, a ccnturial flone was found by the 

 mafons, very large, infcribed, 



IMP CAES TRAIAN 

 HADRIANI AVG 



LEG II AVG 

 A PLATORIO NEPOTE LEG P R P R 



(I) Magna, Camden, 



(m) Caraus. Vol. ii. p. iCo. 



This 



