

370 
Zorn, having St. Andrew’s and St. Luke’s 
churches, aithouyh the periods whea 
thefe e ifices were founded are given, 
no year appears for the coins , Caermarilen 
halfpenny has the iron-works, and the 
Sti atford one commemorates Shakfpeare, 
and tells the years of his birth and death ; 
but thefe pieces are regiite ed into no ara 
of time with refpeét to themfelves. In 
monuments fo lafting, this is a moft de- 
plor-ble and radical defe&t. The omiffion 
cannct be too much regretted and cen- 
fured ; nor its future correction too ear- 
nefily enjoined. 
A form of much ftreneth and elegance 
appears in two promiffory Penny tokens 
Jately communicated; the one bearing a 
pyramid, and the other a lion in a rocky 
cave: and alfo in fome Loudon penny 
pieces exhibiting the Manfien-Houte and 
Somerfet-Houfe (the praife of which it 
is {aid is due to: Mr. Kempfon); but it 1s 
painful to add, that, upon the laft-men- 
mentioned ones, no date is to be found to 
intimate to future ages the time when 
when they were'ftruck. 
The attention of all Medalliffs is fo- 
licited to the fubje&t of this paper. It is 
unfortunate in the objects of their ftudy, 
that, while fo much care and labour are 
lJavifned in elucidating what has been al- 
ready done, fo little folicitude 1s bettowed 
on the merit of prefent performances, 
and to perfect or extend what might do 
honour to the prefent age, and prefent 
topics for refearch, inftruction, and ad- 
Miration, to the antiguaries of future 
times. We purchafe, collect, or pore 
with unwearied affiduity upon fome 1m- 
portant, and many, frivolous veftiges of 
ancient mintage ; while extremely little 
of our time, influence, and expence are 
given to regulate, and judicioufly muiti- 
ply, the productions of living artifts*. 
Were we to contraft with this negledt, 
the prodigious aétivity and liberality 
with which lovers of painting, mufic, 
and fome other branches of the fine arts, 
patronize their refpective lines of purfuit, 
we fhould probably be animated to more 
exertion. Much might be done by every 
medallift ,of opulence and influence in 
the diftri¢t where he refides, were he 

* It is furprifing and vexing to obferve, 
that little or no effeét has been produced by the 
publication of Mr. Pinkerton’s admirable chap- 
ter on the ** Progrefs of Britifh Coinage,” in 
his 2d vol. The concluding part of it is wor- 
thy of the confideration of politicians and phi- 
Jofophers, as well as of men of tafte, and 
lovers of the arts. 
State of Provincial Coins... Ihe Enquirer. 
[Dec. 
merely to think of it; and the writer of 
this paper (though poffeffing thefe ad- 
vantages in a very fmall degree) may 
with truth and juftice fay, that he has 
prompted the undertaking, and occa- 
fioned the exiftence of {everal medals and 
good provincial coins. It 1s likely too, 
if perfons of refpeétability were to im- 
tereft themfelves in the coins iffued im 
their neighbourhood, that pieces, fuf- 
ficiently weighty, and of good copper, 
would be given to the public; the dif-- 
creditable ftigma, too jufily thrown, of - 
late, on many of thefe coms (in confe- 
quence of the bafe arts of fome traudu- 
lent: coiners) removed; and any imter- 
ference of the legulature againf. the 
exiftence of private mintage averted. 
This is a moft important confideration, 
and highly worthy of the attenticn of 
thofe who wifh their continuance. 
* It faould finally be obferved, that as the. 
tradefmen who iftue provincial currency, 
are, in fome cafes, perfons of no great 
knowledge or tafte, it is the duty ot the E 
engravers, or undertakers employed by ~ 
them, to fuggeft the defigns and form 
which might confer the greatefi degree of 
refpeétability on their coins : for this pur- 
pole, the attention of artis ishumbly re- 
quefted to thefe remarks. Let it be 
impreffed upon the mind of every citizen, 
that this is a fubjeét upon which, asa 
great mafter of it has told us, ““ THE 
PERPETUAL GLORY OF THE NATION 
Is INTERESTED *.” 
Dundee, Od. 1796. 
om SE 
THE ENQUIRER,” Nev x: 
Question: Is mankind advuncing to- 
wards perfection £ veel 
VIRESQUE ACQUIRIT EUNDO. 
_VIRG. 
Cove philofophers, I fuppofe through 
an excefs of humility, have afferted, 
that there is no {pecific diftinétion which 
raifes the nature of man above that of 
other animals. Without entering Into 
an elaborate comparijon of the potvers 
of different animals, the fuperiority of 
man may be interred with certainty 
from the fingle fact of the capacity, en- 
joyed by the human {pecies alone, of per- 
petual improvement. » The bees of the 
prefent time form their cells with won-, 
derful exactnefs and regularity ; the pre- 
fent race of birds build their nefts im 
a manner perfeétly adapted to their ac- 
commodation, ard with a degree of fkill 
inimitable by man: but we are not in- 
Civis. 



* Pinkerton’s Effay, vol. il. (note) p. 148. 
formed, 
Jd 
