STAKWIX, NEAR CARLISLE. 29

(of gold), was a beautiful bust of Abimdantia,^ in iutai^lio, and of smaller dimensions : one of the most interestini; })ieces in the Hertz collection. The Marlborougli cabinet possesses a fine sardonyx cameo of a hippocampus, retain- ing its oi'iginal and curiously-constructed gold framing for the same pui'jwse ; not to merition its numerous and magni- ficent examples of the Cinque-cento jewels of the same nature, the fust idea of which was evidently borrowed from similar legacies of antiquity ; lastly, may be adduced of all others that most interesting illustration, the great cameo of St. Alban's (of Yhose specific virtues Matthew Paris has left so full and amusing a history, together with an invaluable drawing by his own hand), which was in a silver frame of elegant pattern of the same opus interrasile, the taste of which bespeaks a higher period than the rude Saxon king's who presented it to the monasteiy.^ It is true that lar";e circular camei were also used for ornamentino-, or rather composing, fibula? (the usual destination of the Me- dusa heads so common in relief), a fine example of which is the one fastening the mantle on the shoulder of the Spada Pompey ; but as a much more substantial frame for our paste would have been required in such an employment, it may more reasonably be supposed to have been mounted, and worn as a pendant jewel. I have left for the last the determination of the most important question of all — the personage represented in this noble specimen of ancient portraiture. An antiquary, dis- tinguished by his zealous investigations of Roman remains in Northumberland and the parts adjacent, discovers in this cameo a portrait from the life of Antinous himself, whom he furtiiermore supposes to have accompanied his imperial patron into Britain, and to have left behind him this imperishable memento of the honour done by his visit to the barbarians of the North. But, unfortunately for this romantic h^'pothesis, the celebi'ated favourite of Hadrian made no pi-ctensions to feminine loveliness, but gained the admiration of the world as the most perfect embodiment of the Grecian idea o{ male beauty — the ancient Achilles returned to life. This is proved by the noble Marlborough gem of him in that very character, ' 1 liat is, Home cinpiess in Uiat ch;i- ' Figured in the Archieologin, xxx. racier, according; to the rule of the J 14. times.