558 Rev. Mr Williams on one Source of the 



up." The probability therefore is, that Moenia, by which the 

 strongest defences are in general meant, were made of stone. An 

 examination of Moenio, the verb of Mcene and Mcenia, and more 

 commonly written Munio, will furnish us with a proof that such 

 probability is almost certain. For we find that Munire viam, is 

 " earn sternere lapidibus ;" e. g. " Perinde 1 quasi Appius ille 

 ccecus viam munierit, non qua populus uteretur, sed ubi posteri 

 ejus impune latrocinarentur." Nay more, Tacitus, who is fond 

 of recurring to the original meaning of words, puts in the 

 mouth of Galgacus the strong expression, " Sylvas et Palu- 

 des emunire," " to make stone causeways through woods and 

 marshes." Closely connected with Moenia is Munus, written 

 by the ancients Moenus, which, if Varro is right, was " the 

 metal or earth required from each soldier when a position was 

 to be fortified," for after explaining, according to his theory, 

 the source of Munus, " a gift," he adds, " Alterum Munus, quod 

 muniendi causa imperatum," " Another Munus, is that which is 

 ordered for the purpose of fortifying ;" hence he derives " Muni- 

 cipes, qui una Munus fungi debent," " who are bound to the com- 

 mon defence of their town ;" hence Immunes, those who are 

 free from such or any other public burden ; hence Munera, 

 offices, originally as in England, parish burdens, but latterly, when 

 wealth increased, sought after, and highly valued. Cognate with 

 Munus, in the sense of metal, we have the Cum. Mwn, or Mwyn, 

 " ore, any thing dug out of the earth," e. g. Mwyn aur, " gold 

 mine," Mwyn arian, " silver mine," &c. whence, Anglice, Mine. 

 It is difficult to account how Minium, red lead, took the generic 

 name. We only know, that the Romans supposed it to have been 

 derived from the Minius amnis (the Minho), which probably de- 

 rived its name from it. Because Vitruvius, " Minium inquit et 

 Indicum nominibus ipsis indicant, quibus in locis procreantur." 



1 Cicer. Pro Milon. cap 7. 



2 De Ling. Latin. Lib. v. 42. 

 In fine Cap. ix. 1-7. 



