436 



found in 1779, in the peat moss of the Somme,* consisted of 

 copper 87"47, and tin 12'53. Of three antique swordsj found 

 in the environs of Abbeville, one vpas found to consist of 85 

 of copper to 15 of tin ; another of 90 of copper to 10 of tin ; and 

 the third of 96 of copper to 4 of tin. A fragment of an an- 

 cient scythe gave on analysis 92-6 copper, and 7*4 tin. 

 Governor Pownal says, that the svpords found at Cannae, and 

 those found in the bog of Femor in the county of Tipperary, 

 consisted of a mixture of copper, iron, and some zinc. J Parkin- 

 son's Memoranda Chemica, p. 82, informs us, that ' Dr. 

 Pearson, having examined some ancient metallic arms and 

 utensils, was able to ascertain that they consisted of copper 

 and tin, in the proportion of from six to twelve parts of cop- 

 per to one of tin, according to the use for which they were 

 intended.' Dr. Pearson's paper is in the Philosophical Trans- 

 actions. The bronze springs for the balistse, according to 

 Philo of Byzantium, were made of copper 97, tin 3. The 

 specimen of hasta magna, or more probably of a weapon for 

 affixing to the axle of a war chariot, marked B 2, and sent 

 for inspection, is of pure copper, without any admixture 

 of alloy whatever, as are also the hatchets, marked C 2 and 

 C 3. Whoever takes the trouble to look through a pro- 

 miscuous collection of bronze antiques, will perceive, from 

 the variety of colours, that no certain standard of composi- 

 tion has been adhered to. The golden colour of the Dowris 

 bronzes is almost sufficient to distinguish them from all 

 others ; and even these differ amongst themselves ; for, ac- 

 cording to Mr. Donovan, the celt contains about 13| of tin 

 to 83^ of copper, with IJ of lead, and some sulphur and car- 

 bon ; while the waste metal subjected to Mr. O' Sullivan con- 

 tained only 11 of tin to 89 of copper, with a mere trace of 

 lead, iron, and silver. 



* Dictionary of Arts, &c., by Andrew Ure, M.D. 

 t Ibid. 



X Account of some Irish antiquities read before the English Antiquarian 

 Society. Feb. 10, 1774. 



