XXL Obfervations on Mr. Townley's Antique Bronze

Helmet, found at Ribchefter in Lancafhire. By the Rev. Stephen Wefton, B. D. F. A. S. In a Letter addreffed to the Prefident. Read Feb. i, 1798. Mr LORD, I BEG leave to requeft the attention of the Society whilft I ha- zard a conje&ure upon the nature of the perfonage intended to be reprefented on the beautiful and fmgularly curious relic of an- tient art, exhibited by Mr.Townly from his rich and unparalleled collection of Greek and Roman antiquities. It feems then to me, my lord, that thefe exquifite remains of an- tique fculpture found at Ribchefter, the [VjCoccium of Antoninus's Itinerary, are of the beft Roman work on the Greek model, and of the times of the Antonines ; and that the head-piece, though found in the fame heap of fand with the vizor, does not properly belong to the mafk, which was itfelf antique, when the cap or pe- tafus was fitted to it. This covering indeed is totally unworthy of its place, being evidently of another age, fomewhere between Se- verus and Conftantius Chlorus ; and its pofition here is like that of

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an Auftin Friar, on the Maifon Carree, or the hat of harlequin on the head of Auguftus [&]. With this cap I have nothing to do at prefent. The piece of antiquity now before us is what 1 conceive [a] Anton. Inner, p. 482, 410. 1735. Amfterdam. [] Voltaire. 6 to