[ 27 ] 
furprized that MERRISS, MERRIX, and MED- 
DIX, fhould be confidered as the fame word, or at 
lead; as words of the fame fignification, by the cele- 
brated Sig. (14) Giovanni Battida Pafferi ; who has 
fet the point I am now upon, as well as every thing 
he has advanced relative to it, in the dronged and 
cleared light. 
IV. 
That the Luvian, or Lufian, family was fettled 
in that part of Campania poffeded by the Ofcans 
and Samnites, or at lead almod contiguous to it, may 
be deemed highly probable, from the following in- 
fcription (15), found near Venafro, the antient Ve~ 
natrum, at no very great didance from Hercula- 
neum, where the word MERRISS, or MERRIX, 
for MEDDIX, was antiently ufed, and now to be 
feen near that city (16). 
LVVIA M. F. POSTVMA 
SIGNVM. ET BASIM. D. 
IVNONI. REG. SACRVM. 
Whence, in conjun&ion with what has been al- 
ready obferved, we may conclude, that the coins 
I have been offering my thoughts upon may be pre- 
fumed to have made their fird appearance amongd 
either the Samnites or the Ofcans, probably the for- 
mer, fettled in a part of Campania, at no very great 
didance from Herculaneum ; and that Ni. Lu« 
(14) J. Bapt. PafTer. Pifaurenf. ubi (up. 
(15) Ludovic. Anton. Murator. Tbefaur, veter, infcript. &c. 
Tom. I. P. xvi. n. 4. Mediolani, 1739. 
(16) Idem ibid. 
E 2 
V1US, 
