THE 
ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE, 
LETTEE 1. 
It is reasonable to suppose that in remote ages this woody and 
mountainous district was inhabited only by bears and wolves. Whether 
the Britons ever thought it worthy their attention, is not in our power 
to determine ; but we may safely conclude^ from circumstances, that it 
was not unknown to the Romans. Old people remember to have heard 
their fathers and grandfathers say that, in dry summers and in windy 
weather, pieces of money were sometimes found round the verge of 
Woolmer pond ; and tradition had inspired the foresters with a notion 
that the bottom of that lake contained great stores of treasure. During 
the spring and summer of 1740 there was little rain ; and the following 
summer also, 1741, was so uncommonly dry, that many springs and 
ponds failed, and this lake in particular, whose bed became as dusty as 
the surrounding heaths and wastes. This favourable juncture induced 
some of the forest-cottagers to begin a search, which was attended with 
such success, that all the labourers in the neighbourhood flocked to the 
spot, and with spades and hoes turned up great part of that large area. 
Instead of pots of coins, as the}^ expected, they found great heaps, the 
one lying on the other, as if shot out of a bag ; many of which were in 
good preservation. Silver and gold these inquirers expected to find ; 
but their discoveries consisted solely of many hundreds of Roman 
copper-coins, and some medallions, all of the lower empire. There was 
not much virtu stirring at that time in this neighbourhood ; however, 
some of the gentry and clergy around bought what pleased them best, 
and some dozens fell to the share of the author. 
The owners at first held their commodity at an high price ; but. 
finding that they were not likely to meet with dealers at such a rate, 
they soon lowered their terms, and sold the fairest as they could. The 
coins that were rejected became current, and passed for farthings at 
the petty shops. Of those that we saw, the greater part were of Marcus 
Aurelius, and the Empress Faustina, his wife, the father and mother 
of Commodus. Some of Faustina were in high relief, and exhibited a 
