Page:Notices by the Rev. T. Surridge ...of Roman inscriptions discovered at High Rochester, Risingham and Rudchester, in Northumberland ... (IA noticesbyrevtsur00surr).pdf/29

 memoriæ; again he makes the letters R R to represent Quæstor or Proquæstor; now is it not more natural to translate these letters proprætor, thus—PR. PR.; they are written in this manner on an altar found at Elsdon, in which parish Rochester is situated, and translated by Horsley—no mean authority—proprætor. The learned Doctor pretends to ridicule  standing for Bremenium, but for our part we think nothing is more likely than that the name of the city should be found as part of the inscription at whatever station the altar was erected. When every thing is considered, we confess that we can see no reasonable grounds for the Rev. Doctor's exposition, while the other seems plain and in keeping with the inscribed characters. The only difference we would feel inclined to make in the latter reading is, that for Numeri we would subscribe Numinibus. The translation would then stand thus, "Coregnatus Lucilianus the Imperial Legate Proprætor under the superintendence of Cassius Sabinianus the Tribune erected this altar to the genius of the Emperor, and of the Standards of the 1st Cohort of the Varduli and to the Divinities of the Explorators of Bremenium."

Dr. Surridge in a note says that, so far as he can learn, the Romans never erected altars to Genii of any kind. I shall only instance one or two cases of many to prove the contrary. On an altar found at Auchindary, in *Scotland, is the following, "Genio terræ Britanniæ, &c." to the genius of the land of Britain. Another recently discovered at Chesters, "Genio Averni," to the genius of Avernus; which shows that even the presiding genius of the Infernal Regions had worshippers in Roman Britain. Another at Caerleon to the genius of the 2nd Legion; and another to the genius of the 1st Wing of Spaniards, "Genio Alæ Hispanorum,. [sic]" Thus, each Prætorium, or quarters, and each troop had its presiding genius. If the learned Dr. chooses to look into the "Celt" the Roman and the Saxon, by Wright, he will find others than those I have quoted.

I am, Mr. Editor, your obedient servant, D. G. SMITH.

Ford, near Coldstream, Oct. 14th, 1852.