pearance of the name of the above-mentioned sultana on some shews that she was concerned in the issue, which it appears was commemorated by the impress of the sign in which the sun happened to be when the money was struck. Her son-in-law, the successor of Jehangir, Shah Jehan, forbade the circulation of this money on pain of death; for so celebrated did it become as to have been forged in both gold and silver to a great extent, so that it requires a practised Oriental numismatist to distinguish the genuine from the spurious. An elaborate and interesting account of these coins will be found in Marsden's Numismata Orientalia, p. 609, et seqq. The silver medal of Louis XIII. in 1638, with the motto, ortus solis Gallici, surrounded with the zodiacal signs in beautiful relief-a splendid example of an art in connexion with astronomy. The silver medal of William Charles Henry, Grand Duke of Nassau, &c., struck in 1747, representing on the reverse the solar system, including Saturn, with the inscription, Unus traho septem, trahorque ab illis, also surrounded by the signs of the zodiac. The magnificent medal in bronze struck in France in 1830, by order of Louis XVIII., to commemorate the publication of the description of Egypt, with the Egyptian guardians of the zodiac, and hieroglyphic illustrations. The medal of the Royal Astronomical Society of London, with the head of Newton on the obverse, and the representation of the telescope of Sir William Herschel on the reverse. The bronze medal struck by Baron de Zach and Baron de Lindenau in 1830, to honour the memory of their friend Olbers, the discoverer of the planets Pallas and Vesta. By recording the names and discoveries of great individuals, the Numismatic Society thus has it in its power to serve and advance the cause of science; and it is gratifying that it can be of any, even the most humble, utility to so distinguished a Society as the Astronomical, which has rendered it a monument of more than reciprocal obligation from an elder branch of science to a younger. In conclusion, I may quote the words of an eminent scholar, the President of another Society, on the value and importance of scientific knowledge; and I trust that our patrons will, by their liberality and countenance, assist us to act up to its full meaning. 6 to "These are a few of the points," observes W. R. Hamilton, Esq. in his Second Letter to Lord Elgin, on Sculpture, Painting, Coins, Gems, &c. pp. 45, 46, which the attention of our members (of the Society of Dilettanti) may be directed; and when we add to a knowledge of historical details a familiarity with the works of the ancients, either by casts or engravings, and the literary labours of those who have best illustrated these triumphs of genius, and have accompanied the whole with a study of the chief characteristics of the Greek and Roman medals and lapidary inscriptions, the best correctors and lights of history, geography, mythology, and archæology in general; we may then hope to see a genuine feeling in art pervade those classes which ought to give the tone and perform the part of judges and protectors to others who look up to them for employment; for such as is the demand, such will be the supply. If those who are to guide know and put in practice the rules of culture, the production will reward them for their toil, and reflect honour on the hand that reared it." "If, moreover," he adds (p. 53), "in sculpture and in painting we are told by the best writers not to trust exclusively to our study of nature, but to learn also to see nature through the antique, and to look for the real principles on which the perfection of beauty is to be attained, to the medals, the vases, the gems, and the marble and bronze statues of the Greeks, and to all other things which discover to us the thoughts and inventions of that people; if to gain eminence in literature we are to visit the sources, rather than wander among the rivulets, it is still more incumbent upon us to recur to the same authorities for that which is beautiful and true in architecture," -and I should add, "in Numismatic Science." "But nations," he continues (p. 60), " do not feel any more than individuals, the necessity of confining their exertions to one line of pursuit, to one train of objects at a time there is no limit to the range of knowledge, which may be advantageously possessed by the statesman, the legislator, and the jurist, in the performance of the high duties to which they may be called; the artist, whether architect, painter, sculptor, or medallist, cannot fail, cæteris paribus, to succeed the better in his profession, in proportion as he is acquainted with, and occasionally in the practice of, the kindred arts; for his mind will be invigorated by the exercise of different faculties." And now, while taking my leave of you as your President, I have to express my acknowledgments to the Society and the Members individually, for their patience and kindness on many occasions since I have had the honour to occupy this chair, however imperfectly the trust confided to me has been performed-unsatisfactory to my own feelings of presidential responsibility, and I fear much more so to many persons of eminence and ability whom I have on so many occasions seen, and now see, around me. Conscious of the importance of the duties intrusted to me, and although somewhat discouraged by the magnitude of the undertaking, still I have proceeded fearlessly, but I hope with due feelings of humility, in my course, supported by the conviction that you would overlook deficiencies, when convinced of my anxiety to give you satisfaction. Whilst I shall feel gratified if my conduct in this chair has been such as to have met with your pardon, if not approval; and whilst I return thanks to many individuals for acts of personal kindness, I cannot omit to remark that the office which I have held has been the means of my forming many agreeable acquaintances amongst the Members of this Society, and which, without the meetings held in this room - those bonds of numismatic union-I should never have had the opportunity and the pleasure of enjoying. Feeling my own deficiencies, I have endeavoured to discharge the duties of my office with impartiality, under all the difficulties and in all the circumstances in which I have been placed; and have always decided matters which rested with me, to the best of my judgment, and with the wish to afford satisfaction to all. The uniform attention which I have received from almost every Member will also be hereafter a stimulus to me to do my utmost to advance your future interests and prosperity; lending my humble but zealous endeavours to water the tree which we all have united in planting, with the earnest hope that it may raise its head aloft in the garden of science, and bear fruit distinguished by the luxuriance of the East and the culture of the West. CATALOGUE OF THE LIBRARY OF THE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY OF LONDON. JULY, 1840. Descriptive Catalogue of a Cabinet of Roman Imperial Large Brass Medals. By Captain W. H. Smyth, R.N. F.R.S. &c. Bedford, 1834. 4to. large paper. Privately printed. The same. Small paper. Coins of the Romans relating to Britain. Described and Illustrated by J. Y. Akerman, F.S.A. London, 1836. 12mo. Imperatorum Romanorum Numismata Aurea a Julio Cæsare ad Heraclium. A Jacobo de Bie. Antwerpiæ, 1615. 4to. Discorso di M. Sebastiano Erizzo sopra le Medaglie This volume has the autograph of the celebrated PRESENTED BY Dr. Lee. H. W. Diamond, Esq. Thesaurus Numismatum e Museo Caroli Patini. A. J. Valpy, Amstelodami, 1672. 4to. Esq. |