Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/193

Rh pected ever since the time that I saw the Colchester one. You give it Ao Doi. Mo. 133; I read M8L33; the same chisel work diminishing the 8, and cutting off the horns of the L, which was for C, so that the date stands 1433. Who don't believe, go look, and give their opinion." Advice laconic, which, as shall be presently shewn, has been duly followed by one incredulous gentleman.

On an attentive review of the plates, published in the Philosophical Transactions, I thought I saw sufficient grounds to believe that another hundred years ought to be added to the date of the inscription; if so, there is a choice of four centuries in decyphering this curious relic of former times, it being still a moot point whether this character, vexatissimus, be it placed in the first or third panel, were designed by the carver to mark or 1, or 2, or 4, or 5, though I am inclined to hope it will not be much longer a dubious matter. In my paper which has had the honour to be submitted to the consideration of the Society, I intimated that Mr. North, in his letter to the earl of Morton, had ventured to predict, that if the original piece of wood at Helmdon Parsonage, which has been a very sphinx ever since it was propounded by Dr. Wallis, remains undefaced, it would be hereafter expounded in a manner different from that avowed by the learned professor; and I have now the satisfaction to acquaint the Society that it does remain undefaced.

For this article of intelligence we are obliged to our indefatigable Director, who being apprized that the Mantle-Tree was extant, took a journey into Northamptonshire for the purpose of surveying it. His report shall be delivered in his own words, accompanied with a fac simile of all the numeral characters, and of a part of the letters, the remainder not being within his view from a cause which he has assigned.

"In the modernization of a room (writes Mr. Gough) originally 20 feet by 12, now divided into a drawing-room and book-closet,