22 
of religious belief and feeling which they contain. The usual heading 
of D. M. (Diis Manibus) might seem a proof of the universal belief in 
the existence of the disembodied spirit, but we know from the Latin 
writers that such a belief had worn out, and that few had any faith in 
the separate existence of the soul, or a state of retribution. The 
sentiment of submission to the Divine will is wholly unknown in the 
Roman inscriptions. The gods are accused, in no measured terms, for 
their cruelty in blighting the hopes of parents or interrupting the 
happiness of matrimony. The only topics of consolation adverted to 
are, that longer life might have been only a calamity, or that the 
survivor would soon rejoin those for whom he mourned. Excess of 
sorrow is forbidden, on the ground that what was suffered was only 
the common lot of humanity. A remarkable difference is observable 
between the characters of deceased persons, as delineated on Roman 
and on Christian monuments. In the former, we find mention made 
of the erection of a fountain, the dedication of a temple, the bequest of 
a public legacy; but none of acts of social benevolence, of a life devoted 
to the alleviation of misery, or the removal of ignorance. The general 
conclusion drawn from the indications of the state of religious faith 
and moral feeling, conveyed by the Roman sepulchral inscriptions was, 
that the time was fully come when Revelation was needed to prevent 
mankind from being divided between scepticism and superstition. 
The principal collections of inscriptions were enumerated, with a 
caution against the forgeries which have been mischievously obtruded 
upon the world. 
June. —A paper by the Rev. John Ward, of Wath, near Ripon, 
on the encaustic tiles of Jervaulx Abbey, was read by the Rev. J. 
Kenrick, who prefaced the reading with some remarks on the origin of 
this manufacture, examples of which have been found at Nemroud, and 
which was introduced into Spain by the Moors, who may have learnt 
it from the remains of the Assyrian cities, during the residence of the 
Caliphs at Bagdad. It was introduced into England in the thirteenth 
century, and splendid examples of it are found in various churches 
and chapter houses, but none which equal in beauty and richness those 
which a few years ago remained at Jervaulx, and of which drawings, 
on the scale of the original, had been presented to the Society by 
Mr. Ward. The Abbey was founded in 1166, and the whole pave¬ 
ment had been laid with encaustic tiles of a great variety of design. 
Eight large patterns had been introduced in various parts, the 
drawings of which were exhibited to the meeting. It is remarkable. 
