ALEXANDER GORDON, THE ANTIQUARY. 11 



enamelled bronze bridlebit in the museum of the Scottish Antiquaries 

 was found deep in the moss at the east end of Birrenswork Hill ; and 

 from the neighbouring moss of Middleby, only a few years subse- 

 quent to Gordon's visit to Annandale, a remarkable series of deco- 

 rated rings, horse furniture, and other examples of native work in 

 bronze, was recovered, and secured by his friend Sir John Clerk of 

 Pennycuik, in whose collection they still are. The Roman entrench- 

 ments of Annandale are famous for their varied disclosures of 

 inscribed altars and tablets, sculptures, statuary, and hypocausts ; a 

 ruined temple, with the name and dedication of its architect, amandus, 

 inscribed on the sculptured figure of the goddess Brigantia ; a muti- 

 lated statue of Fortune, the fruit of a vow in gratitude for restored 

 health, performed by a Prefect of one of Agricola's Tungrian cohorts ; 

 the sepulchral tablet, dedicated by a Roman mother to the shade of 

 her daughter Pervica, a maiden who faded away imder that bleak 

 northern sky ; with much else replete with interest to the antiquary 

 and historical student. 



No wonder then that Gordon, when penning a courtly dedication 

 in the style of his age, gave full play to the most laudatory eulogies 

 of the patron who had won his gratitude by facilities extended 

 to him when ransacking the hoards of thia old Roman ti*easury. 

 But though he reverts in a similar style to the services of this and 

 other titled patrons, he could discriminate between the true virtuoso 

 and the gilded sham ; and is by no means a blind idolater of 

 rank and title. He contrasts the honoured patrons of learning and 

 historical research with others, " and it is to be regretted, some of them 

 of birth and fortune," who " give out that antiquity, and such like 

 branches of learning, are but the chymeras of virtuosi, dry and un- 

 pleasant searches ;" while they find in bear-gardens, gaming-tables, 

 and midnight revellings things which fit their genius the best. But 

 " such dissonant souls " he pronounces, in spite of all their wealth 

 and honours, to be " only the dignified dregs of nature ! " 



The volume is illustrated with a map and sixty-six plates, engraved 

 from the author's own drawings. These, as well as the prefatory 

 notices, are turned to account as a means of honouring with special 

 dedications others of his patrons, including Duncan Forbes of Cul- 

 loden, Lord Advocate of Scotland, the Honourable Roger Gale, Sir 

 Gilbert Elliot of Minto, Sir James Dalrymple of New Hales, Sir 

 Hans Sloan, M.D., General "Wade, and others whose names are still 



