VOL. LI.] l»HILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 323 



Fig. 1 and 1 are two views of the patera : it was rnade of tin, the 20th of an 

 inch thick, 4^- inches wide at the brim, but narrowing downwards, was at the 

 bottom, which was flat, 2^ in diameter. The bottom of the inside is repre- 

 sented, fig. 1 . Fig. 2 is the side of the same patera, by the scale annexed. 

 It is very rare to find these seemingly trifling cups and dishes inscribed to a 

 particular deity ; but most uncommon to see them distinguished by the names 

 of the donor and his father, as well as the name of the deity to which they were 

 dedicated. This patera, found at Bossens, about 3 miles north-east of St. 

 Michael's Mount, is a singular instance of the latter usage, and has an inscrip- 

 tion engraved on its bottom, in a circular line, as in fig. 1. Which Mr. B. 

 reads thus: Livius Modestus Driuli (or Douiuli) f. (for filius) Deo Marti. The 

 first 2 words are very plain (though, like the whole, a mixture of Greek and 

 Roman characters,) and not rare in Roman history. 



Fig. 3 is a jug or jar of tin also, containing 4 quarts 1 pint and -f- of a quar- 

 tern, wine measure : its weight 7 lb. 94- oz. It is the praefericulum of antiqua- 

 rians, a vessel used to bring the holy water, or other sacred liquor, to the altar. 

 Fig. 4 and 5 are of stone. The first and largest weighs 14 lb. 1 oz. avoirdu- 

 pois, and lldwts. amounting to about 18 lb. Roman and 337 grains. The 

 second and smaller stone weighs 4 lb. 1 oz. and 7 dwts. or 5^ lb. Roman and 95 

 grains. By the holes these stones have near the top, they were probably de- 

 signed as weights, by which provisions were bougnt for, and afterwards shared 

 among the soldiers of the fort. Fig. 6 is part of a vase or bowl, sometimes 

 made of brass, or richer metal, but here of stone. This vase was of curious 

 grey granite, formed by turning, well polished within, somewhat discoloured 

 without, as if it had suffered by fire. 



The small millstone, by the smoothness of one side, shows that it had been 

 much used ; and was such, without any material difference, as is now used in 

 the islands of Scilly (and elsewhere) for handmills to grind corn in times of 

 siege and confinement, and must be absolutely necessary in all forts. The bones 

 and horns may be supposed to have belonged to animals, either sacrificed, or 

 killed for the sustenance of the garrison : the ashes and half-burnt sticks, are 

 the remains of sacred or culinary fires. The fragments of leather are for the 

 most part patched, and coarsely sewn together ; but one piece, found more 

 entire, may contribute perhaps to show the shape of the Roman calceus of those 

 times; and may be seen fig. 7, by the same scale with the rest. Some bits of 

 leather were also pierced with circular holes ; but whether parts of the calceus, 

 cothurnus, or any border for the habit, armour, or vehicle of the officers, 

 enough does not remain to decide. 



I shall make no other reflection at present on these antiquities, says Mr. B., 

 than that the inscription is the first discovered in this county of such high 



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