pire and its glory. And in the present day, the new walls of England's Parliament are to be decorated with her deeds of chivalry-sacred to her historic and undying fame!

The walls of the American capital contain the imperishable history of Washington, and the Freedom of the Western Hemisphere! Paintings then will not be rejected as evidences of events, or of religious and national records.

SECTION III.

COINS AND MEDALS.

These are admitted species of historic evidence, and as lasting ones, perhaps, beyond all others. A series of them is the most certain method of arranging a chronological tablet, and thereby preserving the data of history, mythology, portraits, customs, and art.

The reader will excuse the relation of an anecdote, to which may be traced the production of the present work. At the early age of nine years, a small ancient coin came into the accidental possession of the writer; its stamp and character were enveloped in mystery, and recourse was had to an antiquary to decipher them. The obverse of the coin contained a profile head, and around it the letters AVGVSTVS on the reverse, a Temple with the doors closed, surmounted by the word PROVIDENTIA. The explanation was as follows: viz.-A coin of Augustus Cæsar-the

Temple was that of Janus, the doors of which had been open for nearly two centuries, as emblematical of the continuance of Roman warfare with foreign countries; but on the coin the doors were closed, and with the word of thanksgiving, were symbolical of universal peace, thus proving that the coin was struck the very year in which the Saviour was born! Thus upon one coin were illustrated the features of the second Roman Emperor,-Mythology, Cessation of War, the downfall of Brutus and Cassius, the defeat of Anthony, and the Birth of Christianity! This simple incident made so powerful an impression upon the boyhood of the relator, that to it he has always traced the foundation of his Scriptural, Historical, and Poetical studies, together with an enthusiastic devotion to the Fine Arts.

The description of the above coin will illustrate the historical intelligence to be derived from their perusal. A medal is an especial mode of recording tributary honour to individuals—literary, civil, or military;—they become heirlooms in family possessions, and are transmitted from sire to son, as absolute records of their ancestors' fame. They are also struck in celebration of national events, and thence become records of a people. So assured was Napoleon of this, that a series of his medals are a complete history of his victories, from his Consulate to his loss of the Empire; and that event at Waterloo was recorded by Great Britain upon her medals, for even the soldiers as well as officers. Denon of France, and Wyon of England, are names as ar

tists worthy to record the victories of Napoleon and Wellington.

Architecture, Sculpture, Paintings, Coins, and Medals, from the investigation contained in the previous pages (we submit to the judgment of the reader), are established as authorities for historical records.

SECTION IV.

ENGRAVED GEMS.

This is a branch of the Fine Arts, the most ancient in practice or that is mentioned in history, sacred or profane; and although gems are not received like coins or medals, as conclusive proofs of events, yet they cannot be rejected on the score of doubtful antiquity. Seals and signet-rings are of course included in the term "engraved gems," and they bear the heraldic arms of family honours, their names and actions are traceable, and thus they illustrate the chivalric dignities of the original owners. The style of ancient art (even without a date to the gem) will carry the inquiring mind to the era of the artist, and thence establish at least the century in which they were engraved.

Of the antiquity of gem engraving, the Bible bears conclusive evidence. In the graphic description of the priestly garments of Aaron, [Exodus xxviii.] it states that the shoulder ornaments of the Ephod are to be engraved stones, each containing six of the

names of the Tribes of Israel. "And thou shalt take two onyx stones and grave on them the names of the Children of Israel: six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the Children of Israel," &c. (verses 9, 10, and 11.)

Aaron's "breastplate of judgment" was to contain twelve precious stones or gems, each stone to have engraved upon it the name of a Tribe of Israel. "And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius (i. e. ruby), a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jaspar: they shall be set in gold in their enclosings. And the stones shall be with the names of the Children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet: every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes." (v. 17-21.)

The gold mitre for the High Priest is thus described: "And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet-HOLINESS TO THE LORD”—(v. 36). From the triplicated sentence in the above quotations-viz., "like the engravings of a signet," it is proved that gem engraving was practised anterior to the time of Aaron, who officiated 1491

years before Christ. The great antiquity, therefore, of sculptured gems, will not be questioned; and their mottoes, ciphers, or style of art, may speak of a people, their epochs, or their progress in civilization.

In the development of the present work, every branch of the Fine Arts will be brought forward to uphold and substantiate this Tyrian Era-they having all obtained in the Western hemisphere previous to the time of Columbus,-which period (anterior to the Genoese, 1492, A. D.) is contemplated by the new historic term-Ancient America.