during his long reign; but they were not free. Of this, its occupation, as appears from those inscriptions, gives the most authentic evidence,—in fact, evidence too impartial to be disregarded or discredited. We shall proceed to their explanation, and, first, the
Vide Plates 1 and 2.High Rochester Altar and other inscriptions of that station claim our attention, not from their being first erected, but because they are nearest and first obtained our notice.
Vide Plate 4.The Rudchester inscriptions bear the marks of the earliest antiquity, as some of them were doubtless erected in the life time of Julius Cæsar himself.
Vide Plate 3.The Risingham Portal inscription was probably erected in the last year of the reign of Antoninus Pius, who died a.d. 161, when Marcus Aurelius and Verus were consuls. The name of Verus was designedly erased: the usual indignity to the memory of bad emperors. The top part of the stone, with the remainder of the inscription, was broken off and lost, but I think I have successfully restored the whole, as it was originally inscribed.
