Monaftic Antiquities. Though the History of these Inftitutions exhibit too many inftances of licentioufnefs, indolence, and ignorance; yet we ought with gratitude to remember, that even while the inhabitants of the Cloyster were themselves, for the most part, loft to all good tafte, they prevented the furrounding barbarifm of those dark Ages from entirely extinguishing the light of claffical learning: and that to them was owing the prefervation of the most valuable ancient authors, the various difcoveries of which conftitute fo interefting a part in the history of Learning.

6. No branch however of this Study appears to afford more extenfive field for dif quifition than the Hiftory of CHURCHES, Befides the peculiar folemnity which the facredness of place connected with its Antiquity infpires, the inquifitive mind of a liberal spectator will find ample amusement in the reflections fuggefted by the funereal monuments, and the histories which they de

z See Addifon's Reflections on the tombs of Westminster Abbey, Spectator, Vol. I.

scribe, or recall to his remembrance. By the diligent cultivation of these genealogical Antiquities the memory of many perfons has been revived, who would otherwise have been forgotten: and the amiable virtues of many a private character have obtained that merited applause, which their obscurity of birth or station had denied them.

7. For this purpose public and private repofitories have been examined, and elaborate inquiries been made into ancient records and proofs, that could illuftrate the life of an individual and the genealogy of his family.

Great and important are the advantages which have refulted to general History and Biography from these critical examinations of ANCIENT RECORDS. When hiftorical inquiry became thus united with the accurate diligence of Antiquarian research, the Historian was enabled to feparate falfhood from truth and tradition from evidence. Many doubtful points have been illuftrated and

a Archæologia, Vol. I. Introduction. p. XXIII, XXIV. Preface to Lowth's Life of Wykeham, p. 27.

confirmed

confirmed ; many misrepresentations have been corrected, and the real motives of actions laid open, which had been disguised by the jealousy of the times, or the partiality of historians. And at length Biography afsumed that interesting form and dignity of character which has defervedly placed it amongst the favorite productions of every polished people.

Moreover at the fame time that public tranfactions are more fully, accurately, and justly stated, and the memory of individuals vindicated, the patient labour of investigation is frequently relieved by picturesque images of ancient life; and the Antiquary forgets the painfulness of minute enquiry in the pleasure of observing the features of the times more strongly and characteristically marked in these partial and peculiar reprefentations, than in the formal exhibitions of general story".

There is another ufe which ancient records and manufcripts often have in common with Coins and Tomb Architecture. They represent in their marginal illuminations the fashion of ancient armour and building, and other curious

particulars

THE study of Antiquities thus useful and interesting is not more comprehensive, than it is connected in its feveral parts: by the general union and mutual comparison of which every particular branch derives additional luftre and utility.

An accurate knowledge of the primitive manners and customs of a people tends much to illuftrate the earlier periods of their language: While the investigation and analyfis of Language conduces to point out the genius of a people. But the first principles of a language can be thoroughly ascertained only from a diligent study of the most ancient marbles and and coins. Thus also the ancient manners of a people are illustrated by their laws and their laws reciprocally by their early monuments. Coins and Marbles frequently throw great light on Poetry:

particulars characteristic of different Ages. They often preferve portraits of remarkable perfons: and fpecimens of ancient apparel; and fhew, what, with the increase of national wealth, was the progress of refinement in Drefs. See ADDISON on Ancient Medals: WARTON's Obfervations on Spenfer, Vol. II. p. 243. and ARCHEOLOGIA, Vol. II.

d Taylor's Elements, p. 553, 557.

as

as Poetry will fometimes reflect a fimilar light on the obfcurities of a Coin. Coins likewife as well as feals and medals, befides exhibiting fpecimens of their peculiar art, mark out the regular progrefs of Architecture: the different stages of which are feen also in the various ftructure of fepulchral monuments. But while they severally contribute to affift each other, all unite in the illustration and embellishment of Hiftory, Poetry, and Philosophy.

To this union of the feveral branches in the Study of Antiquities perhaps is owing the fuccefs with which it is conducted in the prefent Age. There have been those, who appear to have contented themselves with the laborious part of this Study. They adored the precious ruft which obscured their coins, and neglected the valuable information, which it concealed. Like thofe who form their opinions of ancient Authors from the judgements of others. From whom they

• Addifon on Medals, p. 23. Concerning the Architectural ornaments of ancient feals, fee alfo Warton on Spenfer, Vol. II. p. 194.

E

admire

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