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entirely of the third brass. The period which they comprehend is 
from A.D. 2.53 to 273 or a little later; a period which possesses a sort 
of epic unity, since the reign of Valerian, with which it begins, 
exhibits the deepest degradation of the majesty of the Roman 
empire, and that of Aurelian, who was elected in 270, witnessed 
the restoration of its unity, temporarily destroyed by the Thirty 
Tyrants, the subjugation of the barbarians, and the fortification 
of Rome. The character of Gallienus, and the nature of the usurpa¬ 
tions of the Thirty Tyrants, were examined in this paper, with 
especial reference to the opinion of Sir Francis Palgrave, who regards 
them as the predecessors of those who founded the Kingdoms of the 
West. It was pointed out, that whatever the motives or merits of 
Victorinas, Postumus and Tetricus may have been, we may rejoice 
that their attempts at establishing independent kingdoms failed. 
Had the Roman empire been dismembered at this period, the pro¬ 
bability is that Paganism would have continued much longer pre¬ 
dominant, since the power of Constantine, when sole emperor, was 
barely adequate to the establishment of Christianity. Independent 
kingdoms, founded in this age, before the healthful infusion of the 
Teutonic element into Western Europe, would only have perpetuated 
the vices of the Roman empire, as the history of the Byzantine 
empire shows. 
The coins of Victorinus and Tetricus are very abundant in Britain, 
and particularly in York and Aldborough, and their vicinity. It is 
evident that Britain was subject to the rulers of Gaul during this 
period. The names of Postumus and Victorinus occur in inscriptions 
near Brecknock; and two have been found at Clausentum (Bittern, 
near Southampton,) in honour of Tetricus. It is remarkable, that 
among the coins found at Warter, there are nine of Quintillus, the 
brother of Claudius Gothicus, who reigned only seventeen days, and 
three of Marius, who is said to have reigned only three days. No 
time seems to have been lost by the new emperors in assuming 
the prerogatives and titles of sovereignty. Florianus, the half- 
brother of the Emperor Tacitus, assumed the purple on his brother’s 
death, and died two months after at Tarsus ; yet an inscription to 
him has been found at Durobrivae, Castor, near Peterborough. 
December. —The Rev. John Kenrick read a second paper On 
the Coins found at Warter.” They exhibit a very debased state of 
the coinage, natural in a period of confusion, foreign war, and 
internal insurrection. Great abuses appear to have prevailed in the 
c 
