12 ALiEXANDEF, GORDON, THE ANTIQUARY. 



worthy of remembrance ; in addition to dukes, lords, bishops, and 

 dignitaries of all sorts, who had in any way favoured his undertaking. 

 But there is one whom he selects for special recognition from among 

 his Scottish friends and patrons, as " not only a treasure of learning 

 and good taste, but now one of its chief supports in that country." 

 This was Sir John Clerk of Penny cuik. Baron of His Majesty's 

 Exchequer in Scotland, and one of the most zealous Boman anti- 

 quaries of that age. From him Gordon derived hearty sympathy 

 and substantial aid. He was a frequent guest at Old Pennycuik 

 House, and was accompanied by the Baron in his Northumbrian ex- 

 plorations, as well as in others nearer home. When describing his 

 visit to Housesteads, — the old Roman Borcovicus, pronounced by 

 Gordon to be " unquestionably the most remarkable and magnificent 

 Roman station in the whole island of Britain," and by Dr. Stukely 

 denominated " the Tadmor of Britain," — he says : " When I had the 

 honour to traverse this ground for the first time, with Sir John 

 Clerk, Baron of the Exchequer, we caused the place to be dug where 

 we were then sitting amidst the ruinous streets of this famous oppi- 

 dum, and found a small statue of a soldier, accoutred in the Roman 

 habit." This, with an altar and other trophies, were carried home 

 in triumph to enrich the Pennycuik mvxseum, of which Gordon says : 

 " Among all the collections of Roman antiquities in Scotland, that of 

 Baron Clerk claims the preference, both as to number and curiosity;" 

 and then he goes on to describe a Roman spear-head of old mixt 

 brass, a hasta pura, fibulae, &c., of the same metal, a Roman tuba, 

 securis, " as also two cuneii or wedges of the like metal. But it is 

 disputable whether these were Roman or not. However as they are 

 curious in their kind, and of the old mixt brass, I have thought fit 

 to exhibit a draught of one of them. The Baron has several sorts of 

 hastse or Roman spears, found in different parts of Scotland. He 

 has likewise a pair of the best preserved crepidse, or Roman shoes, 

 that ever I saw. As for the medals and curiosities in his possession, 

 natural or artificial, it would require a treatise to describe them, 

 separately." 



Nor was the ruined site of Housesteads unworthy to call forth the 

 intelligent enthusiasm of its explorers; for even now, when the altars 

 and sculptured figures, which lay scattered everywhere in sight on 

 Gordon's first visit, have long been removed, its latest explorer. Dr. 

 Bruce, speaks of the ruins of the ancient city remaining " complete 



