8
ROMAN ANTIQUITIES—ROCHESTER ALTAR.
DR. SURRIDGE'S KEY.
Write down the letters in the order in which they occur, (which was probably the mode adopted by some unlearned stonemason, ignorant of the language of his great employers, the Roman Tribune and Quæstor, and totally disregarding their formation into words); point them off into the usual abbreviations, so well known to the Romans, and not unknown in our own language, for we write Ed. for Editor; Esq. for Esquire; Rt. Hble. for Right Honourable; Mr. for Mister; D.D. for Doctor of Divinity; LL.D. for Doctor of Laws, &c. &c.
Viz.:—G.D.N. et Signorum Coh: Iv-ar: D.V.M. et n. Explorator: Em: Co: Regnat: Lvcilianvs Leg. Avg[errata 1]. Qr. Qr. Cvrante Cassio[errata 2] Sabiniano Tr. B.
Abbreviations explained.
G.D.N. Gratiâ Domine Nostri—Coh: IV. Cohortis quartæ—A.R: Aram—D.V.M. Diis Universis Manibus—N. Numinibus—Explorator: Exploratorum—BR: Britanniæ—E.M. Eximiæ Memoriæ—CO.: Condidit:—Regnat: Regnator—Leg. Avg: Legionis Augustalis (vel Legatus Augustalis)—Qr. Qr. Quæstor or Proquæstor—Tr. B. Tribuno—Vide Ains. Dic.
Let some learned critic compare the foregoing explanations of Dr. Surridge with that of a Southern Member of the Archæological Society, and he will soon be able to say which is the more correct translation, and which is more in accordance with a person's exposition, who is "conversant with the style and form of these inscriptions, which the Romans left behind them, to decipher which requires something more than sholarship," though more liberally allowed than the Southern Member of the Archæological Society is pleased to admit Dr. Surridge to possess. Perhaps the following notice would serve on his next attempt at smothering inquiry respecting Roman altars in Britain:—
"Procul, O Procul este profani."—Virgil.
Errata
