Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 22.djvu/171

 Gordon his theories have long since been exploded, he has preserved records of earthworks, inscriptions, and relics of various kinds, of which but for him all knowledge would have been lost. The appendix derived its chief value from a learned correspondence concerning ancient sepulchral rites in Britain between Sir John Clerk and Roger Gale [q. v.], which Gordon here made public, greatly to their annoyance (cf. ‘Reliquiæ Galeanæ,’ in Bibliotheca, no. ii. pt. ii.; also , Diaries and Letters, Surtees Soc., which contain frequent notices of Gordon). He apologises for the inelegant illustrations of his ‘Itinerarium.’ On page 188 of the ‘Itinerarium’ Gordon announced his intention of issuing in a few days proposals for engraving by subscription ‘A Compleat View of the Roman Walls in Britain.’ It is much to be regretted that for want of the necessary funds this survey, with drawings of all the inscriptions and altars discovered, should not have appeared. Gordon now attempted to give practical effect to a project for cutting a navigable canal between the Firths of Clyde and Forth (Letter of Sir John Clerk to Roger Gale, 29 Aug. 1726, in ‘Reliquiæ Galeanæ’). The scheme, however, was not new to the government, who considered that the profits would not answer the charge. Gordon's circumstances, always narrow, were not improved by the prosecution of projects which never repaid him. According to John Whiston, the London bookseller, he was for some time in partnership with John Wilcox, a bookseller in the Strand, ‘but his education, temper, and manners did not suit him for a trade. … Poverty tempted him to dishonesty’ (, Lit. Anecd. v. 699), or, perhaps, want of business habits may have rendered him careless in regard to money transactions. His next publication was ‘The Lives of Pope Alexander VI and his son Cæsar Borgia; comprehending the Wars in the Reigns of Charles VIII and Lewis XII, Kings of France, and the chief Transactions and Revolutions in Italy from … 1492 to … 1506. With an Appendix of original Pieces referred to in the book,’ 2 pts. fol., London, 1729. The volume contains portraits of Alexander VI and of Cæsar Borgia, the former probably etched by the author. In 1751 a French version appeared at Amsterdam in two duodecimo volumes. A solitary dramatic attempt, ‘Lupone, or the Inquisitor: a comedy,’ 8vo, London, 1731, was deemed by the managers to be too classical for representation (, Biog. Dramatica, ed. 1812, i. 292, ii. 401). He was more successful with a translation of the ‘De Amphitheatro’ of the Marquis Francesco Scipione Maffei, published as ‘A Compleat History of the Ancient Amphi theatres, more peculiarly regarding the Architecture of these Buildings, and in particular that of Verona. … Adorned with Sculptures [25 plates]; also, some Account of this learned Work,’ 8vo, London, 1730 (2nd edit. enlarged, 8vo, London [1735?]). In 1731–1732 Gordon had made some additions to his ‘Itinerarium Septentrionale,’ of which a Latin edition was being prepared in Holland. This never appeared, but Gordon printed the supplement he had prepared for it in a separate form, entitled ‘Additions and Corrections by way of Supplement to the Itinerarium Septentrionale, containing several dissertations on, and descriptions of, Roman Antiquities discovered in Scotland since the publishing the said Itinerary. Together with Observations on other Ancient Monuments found in the North of England. Never before publish'd,’ fol., London, 1732, 30 pp. and 4 plates (lxvi–lxix). In 1736 Gordon was appointed secretary to the Society for the Encouragement of Learning, with an annual salary of 50l. In the same year he succeeded Stukeley as secretary to the Society of Antiquaries, of which he had been elected a fellow 17 Feb. 1725 ([], Chronological List of Soc. Antiq., pp. 4, 8). It was probably through Stukeley's influence that he also obtained the secretaryship of the Egyptian Society, of which Stukeley was one of the founders, and thus had a new bent given to his researches. Gordon published two very learned treatises wherein he undertook to solve the mysteries of hieroglyphics and to illustrate ‘all the Egyptian mummies in England.’ Their titles are ‘An Essay towards explaining the Hieroglyphical Figures on the Coffin of the Ancient Mummy belonging to Capt. William Lethieullier. (An Essay towards explaining the antient Hieroglyphical Figures on the Egyptian Mummy in the Museum of Doctor Mead),’ 2 pts., fol., London, 1737, with 25 copperplates engraved from drawings by himself. The letterpress is explanatory of three only of the twenty-five plates, and the remainder never appeared. The manuscript, along with the drawings, was apparently in the sale of Sir Charles Frederick's library in July 1786, lot 1257 (Catalogue, p. 42). In the second essay the author mentions another work, as ‘nearly ready,’ ‘An Essay towards illustrating the History, Chronology, and Mythology of the Ancient Egyptians, from the earliest ages on record, till the Dissolution of their Empire, near the Times of Alexander.’ It was not, however, completed until 6 July 1741. By that time Gordon had resigned his secretaryships. He was married, and no doubt