TRANSLATIONS AND SELECTED ARTICLES. 253 
turf, with the remains of our industry, and to the profit of antiquaries 
to come. 
It is equally true, that for the greater part of the time, the preser- 
vation of antiquities is but partial. Fleshy substances and vegetable 
matter have usually disappeared ; and it is only metals, stone, pottery, 
glass, which have resisted. But itis the same with the remains of 
ancient organic creation, for it is in general but the solid parts of 
plants and animals that the strata of our globe have stored, under the 
form of fossils; nevertheless, the geologist has used them to much 
purpose. The task of the antiquary is not more difficult. 
In certain cases, the preservation of the remains of antiquity is 
more perfect. Thus in turf-pits, and in the slime at the bottom of 
lakes, has been found vegetable matter, such a8 wood, certain fruits— 
even stuffs) When the object has been carbonised by fire, before 
falling in the water, it has become indestructible by chemical process: 
Thanks to this cireumstance, there have been gathered in Switzerland 
even ears of wheat and bread, dating from several thousands of 
years. Far from being rare, the remains of antiquity will become 
abundant, as we seek for them better; and the materials to recon- 
struct the past of the human species will not be more defective than 
those by reans of which the geologist reéstablishes the history of our 
globe. 
It would seem, from that which precedes, that by beginning to 
form collections of antiquities, and by studying them rationally, in 
ever so trifling a degree, in no long time we ought to be able to know 
oumtrue position, and to unravel the great features of our science— 
the fundamental principles of which are always very simple. Now, 
it'is already long enough since we commenced to collect antiquities, 
but they were treated as fossils and many other objects of natural 
history were first treated; they were considered as mere curiosities 
when they were not made into amulets and charms. Then, when we 
desired. to interpret their meaning, we began, as always happens at the 
birth of a science, by the most whimsical speculations, and by contro= 
versies as interminable as barren; so easily led astray is the human 
mind. ; 
A proceeding which fetters progress still more, is that of attribu- 
ting to the Romans all that is beautiful and skilfully worked, espe- 
cially in objects made of metal, neglecting what is more ordinary, and 
arriving then, naturally enough, at the conclusion, that before the 
Roman invasion, the north of Europe to the Alps was only occupied 
