Collections: Or, what Prince in Europe has a nobler Treasure of Medals and Coins, than is to be met with in the Devonshire and Pembroke Collections? Or finer Original Drawings than what are in the Poffeffion of thofe two Noblemen? Where are there many better Greek Statues, Bufto's and Relievo's, than the Earls of Pembroke and Pomfret, at Wilton and Easton? or a finer Statue in Europe, than the Mercury now in London, which I myself had the good Fortune to buy for the prefent Lord Bateman in Italy: Befides, we have in England, the Capital Statue of Diana belonging to Sir Thomas Cooke of Norfolk; the Earl of Stair's Porphyry Vale, and Doctor Mead's Head of Homer: All of them moft Capital in their Kind. Where better Manufcripts than thofe of the Earl of Oxford? or a Private Library exceeding his Lordship's, and the Earl of Sunderland's? Nor is it improbable, that if this fine Humour for Architecture fubfift in the Nation, and fuch Buildings as the great Artift Mr. Gibbs has adorn'd London with, continue to be carried on, very few Cities in Europe (Rome excepted) will contend with it for Magnificence. Did I infift on the Particulars (as I have only named the most Capital Things) a large Volume could not contain their Defcriptions: Ifball only wish, that long may the noble Taste that now reigns, be prevalent in the Island!

This being perhaps, too long a Digreffion from the Purpofe in Hand, I shall now come to the Motives which induced me to undertake this prefent Effay on the Antiquities of Scotland, my Native Country. When, upon perufing the Accounts given by the Claffick Hiftorians of the Roman Tranfactions in the Northern Parts of the Ifland, I confidered that Country to have been fo long the Seat of their Actions, and yet the Monuments of Antiquity publish'd hitherto, fo few and imperfect, that my private Curiofity led me to take a View of thofe Places where I knew, from fo good Authority, that Warlike and Great People had been, and which Country, with fo much Pains, and in fo many fucceffive Reigns, the Romans had fo ftrenuously endeavour'd to fubdue: And indeed, I was not deceiv'd; for I found their Auguft Remains much more numerous, than perhaps is imagin'd, and greatly exceeding any Defcription given hitherto to the Publick: I therefore indulg'd my Curiofity more and more in making fearch after them; and thought it was pity they should not be known to the World.

I was

I was more particularly encourag'd to proceed in this Work, by reading Doctor Stukely's Treatife on Arthur's Oon; where, in the Account of that little Roman Temple in Scotland, he, with great Reafon, wonders, "That the Scotch Nation, where (as he was pleas'd to fay) there were many good Scholars, fhould be fo negligent in collecting and publishing to the World their Treafures of the Roman Antiquities; and that our Hiftorians fhould content themselves to compile their Works from Invention "and uncertain Reports, rather than from fearching into real "Remains, and undoubted Evidences of former Times."

The Doctor adds, That he wishes he might hence be able to invite the Gentry and Curious in thofe Parts, more nicely to examine fo fruitful a Field of antique Enquiries, and finish what (he acknowledges with much Modefty) was in him but a Sketch and imperfect Attempt. Another most learned and judicious Author, whom I have already mentioned, in a late Treatife, takes notice, "That fome have admir'd why fo few of the learned Men

of the Scotifh Nation have not given their Commentaries on "the Life of Agricola, which is fo full of what relates to the "Antiquities of their Country."

This, I confefs, was fufficient Excitement for me to proceed ftill more vigorously in Collecting what I had begun, hoping Some abler Hand than my own, might be induced to compile the Materials which were found, and make them appear to the World as they ought. But finding the whole Burthen of the Work was (by my Friends Advice) to fall on myself, I have for thefe Reasons ventur'd an Account of them to the Publick, hoping that the Good Will which I fhew in endeavouring to make them appear more perfect than has been hitherto done, may induce the Reader to look with a favourable Eye on what Infufficiency may be found in handling the Subject with that Accuracy that it deferves. I confefs, I have not spar'd any Pains in tracing the Footfteps of the Romans, and in drawing and measuring all the Figures in the following Sheets from the Originals; having made a pretty laborious Progrefs through almoft every Part of Scotland for Three Years fucceffively. Indeed, I must acknow➡ ledge that I might have been able to have added many other valuable Materials for the Perfecting of this Work, had I had

any

any Encouragement from the Publick, feeing my own CircumStances were not fufficient to have gone to the Expence of fearching and digging in Places where I am most certainly convinced many other curious and noble Monuments of the Romans may yet be found.

As to the Helps I have had in profecuting this Work, there is nothing published of this Nature by my own Countrymen, except what the great Bishop Nicholfon has mention'd in his Scots Hiftorical Library; and I much regret that I never could meet with that Treatise on our Antiquities, written by W. Barclay ; which, notwithstanding Demfter condemns, yet feeing Lipfius bad fo great a Value for that Gentleman's Performances, I am convinc'd his Book would have been of great help to me. As for Sir Robert Sibbald, who is likewife mention'd by the Bishop, bis Works I have collected and feen, and shall, in the Sequel, venture to give my Thoughts on them pretty fully, Sir John Cuningham's Notes on Antoninus's Itinerary, I confefs I never faw; but did perufe Commifar Maul's Manufcript, out of which 1 tranfcribed what I thought was for my purpofe; as alfo from Sir James Dalrymple's Supplement to Cambden, relating to Scotland.

Cambden, and fome others of the English, have printed Ac⋅ counts of the Scotch Roman Antiquities; but have labour'd under a mighty Difadvantage, in publishing from Second Hands, Accounts of Things which they never had feen nor examined. All which made me judge, that the Subject of Roman Antiquities in Scotland, might bear a narrower Survey than has been hitherto

taken.

I am likewife proud of having this Opportunity of acknowledging my Gratitude to feveral learned and honourable Gentlemen, who have encouraged me confiderably in going on with this Work; particularly my Great and Learned Patron the Earl of Pembroke. Long may be live, and continue to be the Macenas of Virtue and Erudition in this Ifland! Nor are my Obligations by any means Small to that Pious and Learned Prelate Doctor Chandler, Bishop of Litchfield. Neither can I, in Gratitude, omit, in a particular Manner, to acknowledge my many and repeated Obligations, to Sir John Clark, Baron of the Exchequer

in

in Scotland, who is not only a Treafure of Learning and good Tafte, but now one of its chief Supports in that Country. Nor are there any of the Noblemen of Scotland, to whom I am fo much bebolden for Countenance in this Effay, as to the Duke of Queensberry, and Earl of Findlater; as, indeed, the present Lord Advocate Mr. Forbes, has laid me under many Obligations to his Favours. I hope fuch valuable Perfons as thefe, will keep the Ark of Learning from finking in that Part of the World.

There are fome, indeed, who have grounded a Diffidence as to my Ability in performing this Work to any purpose, because I never appeared to the Publick in this Way before. The Juftice (I own) of this Objection, obliges me to reft content, if the Encouragement (which I expected from feveral, to an Effay of this Nature) has not answered Expectation.

But before I conclude this Preface, I beg leave to affure my Reader, That I am apprized of divers Objections that may be made to the prefent Work, by fome who may think, that the Accounts already given by Cambden, and fundry other Eminent Pens, concerning the Roman Hiftory in Britain, have been fo ample, that whatever I can say on this Head, may be thought either a Repetition, or Superfluous. I own this Subject has been treated of to very good Purpofe already; but how is it poffible for me to avoid mentioning (though, indeed, as fuccinctly as I can) the Roman Affairs in Britain, efpecially in Scotland, feeing my principal Defign is to prove and illuftrate thofe Paffages and Actions of their own Hiftorians, by the Monuments of Antiquity which I have found concerning them. Befides, Parts of Ecclefiaftical History, and what relates to their Political Government, which many have intermixed in their Hiftory, I intirely pass over, as not being at all for my present Purpose.

Another Objection may, perhaps, be made; viz. That there are many Pieces of Antiquity exhibited here, that are not new to the Publick: To that I answer, That my Defign all along, was not to publish any Thing that has been printed before; nor have I, except where I knew, and was

D

con

convinced from the original Monuments, that either the Infcripare falfe and incorrect, or the Form of the Monument exhibited, not rightly delineated, or their Menfuration wrong taken. This I do, and I am confcious not out of a Principle of Self-fufficiency, in hopes to acquire a Reputation above other People; but that Truth in thofe Matters may prevail. and I heartily wish, that what Errors, and Omiffions, I have made in this Effay, may, as foon as poffible, be fet to rights for the Good of the Publick; and, That the noble Study of Antiquity may be more and more promoted, and its Lovers profper.