INTRODUCTORT REMARKS 
On the Obelisks of North Britain, 
on which are ^Egyptian Symbols. 
|T was not until after the matured deliberation, and frequent can- 
vaihng of the fubjedts with men of knowledge and learning, that it 
refolved on to attempt the defcription of thofe Caledonian 
k 0 Numen ts, which involve myfterious allulions in their fculptures: 
^ e caule, in order to develope the hidden meaning of thefe abftrufe lym- 
S> ^ * s rec l u iLte to go deep into the labyrinth of hieroglypbical re- 
° E d, the intricate windings of which, perhaps, ’tis only thofe of fin- 
at tafte and penetration, and who have much leifure time at com- 
a nd, that have either ambition or perfeverance to unravel. 
ir ; Gordon *, taking under coniideration Bilhop Nicholson’s 
^ edtions £ on Boetius, for maintaining that the fculptures on the 
^ °numents now under confideration were, as he calls them, “ Relicks 
< t ^ Egyptian manner of expreffing themfelves,” juftly remarks, 
«< ^ at although this is no pofitive evidence that the Caledonians 
tc Came originally from /Egypt; yet this hieroglyphical way of re- 
x ( Renting fadts is uncontrovertedly like the Egyptian manner 
«, ° tra nfmitting memorable things to pofterity. And, as I have had 
f, * e ^ 0n our of prefenting thefe things ffift to the view of the world, 
<c ^ not without hopes, but that fome future critic in antiquity, 
t ( rorn t ^ le very fymbols and hieroglyphics here exhibited, may dif- 
<t C ° Ve ‘ r^ill ftronger circumftances, to evince them vouchers of hifto- 
ric al truth.” .. 
ca r ] l0m - t ^ le ^ e remar ^ s 11 i s evident, that a ftrange affinity had been 
f Cuj y ^ cerned , by our moft intelligent hiftorians, between fome of the 
*ili PtUres on thefe obe Iifks and /Egyptian fymbols : but that they could 
probable origin for this fo unaccountable refem blance. 
CVlden£ Dianne! of communication, whereby E a hern fymbols 
to be infcribed on Caledonian monuments, has been repeatedly 
* Cinerarium Septentrionale, p. 159, 160. % Scotch Hift. Library. 
R authenticated: 
