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VI. SMITH'S LETTER TO THE GENTLEMAN'S

MAGAZINE, 1742.

[For the author, see Maughan's Memoir, below, p. 57. As we learn from other letters of his (see, for instance, p. 30 of this same volume), he lived at Boothby, a couple of miles northeast of Brampton. The first plate is from p. 318; the second from p. 529; and the third (p. 15) from p. 132. The description is from pp. 368-9.] The Explanation of the Runic Obelisk,1 (see p. 318) by George Smith, Esq;

SIR,

That part of Cumberland which lies beyond the Banks of the River Eden, Northwards, having been often exposed to the Waste of War, and the People ruined by almost continual Depredations; the Barenness of it seems rather to proceed from the Neglect of Culture than the natural Poverty of the Soil. Within the Embraces of the Frontier Mountains of this Tract lies Beu-Castle Church, on a Rivulet called Kirk-beck, near an old ruined Castle of the Proprietors of that Part of the Country before the Conquest; and both Church and Castle are built on the Remains of a large Roman Fort. Opposite to the Church Porch, at a few Yards Distance, stands the Obelisk, of one entire Stone,2 15 Foot and a half high, springing through an Octagon Pedestal, whose Sides were alternately equal. 'Tis nearly the Frustum of a Square Pyramid, each Side being 2 Foot broad at Bottom, and one Foot and a half at Top, wherein a [369] Cross 4 was fixed, which has been demolished long ago, by popular Frenzy and Enthusiasm; and probably its Situation in these unfrequented Desarts has preserved the Remainder from their Fury.

In the Bottom and Top Divisions, of the North Side, (see p. 318) are cut Vine -Trees with Clusters of

The North and Weft Profpects of the famous Runic Obelisk at BewCaftle in Cumberland. Taken by G. Smith.

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We South and Balt Profpects of the famous Ranic Obelisk as Bew-
Calle in Cumberland. By C. Smith, 1741.

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Grapes in Demi-relievo, probably the Danish Symbol of Fertility, as Amathea's Horn was amongst the Greeks. In a Fillet above the under Vine are these Characters fairly legible [see fillet on the north side, p. 13], which the learned Bishop Nicolson expounds RYNBURU, and thinks that it intimates the Expulsion of the magical Runa, and their Accession to Christianity. But if I may be allowed to dissent from so great a Name, I had rather believe it to be a Sepulchral Monument of one of the Danish Kings slain in Battle, and the Reading I think will support my Conjecture.

For there is no Instance of any Nation using the 1st Character for an R, nor do I remember to have seen it so explained in all the numerous Runic Alphabets of Olaus Wormius, but the Danes about the Sinus Codanus,1 made Use of it for K.2 Besides the R

We infert the following InSCRIPTION, not doubting that it will fall into the Hands of fame Gentleman who underftands the Language, and will please to give us the Explication. It is taken from a very c rious Obelisk, crafted for a Monument in a Churchyard in Cumberland.

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is Roman wherever it occurs, in

this and other Inscriptions on this FRTRI

Monument. The 2d is the Mas

sagetic U a People about the

Tanais. The next two Letters are wrong copy'd by the Bishop,

the first is a Q, or Scythian N, MIANT

the other an I; the 4 following are BURU plain; and the last is

K Final, for the Initial and Final K differing in their Form was common in those Nations, as the Initial and Final M to the Hebrews. Upon the whole I read it KUNIBURUK, which in the old Danish Language imports Sepulchrum Regis. And the checquer Work included

betwixt the two magical Knots (the Scythian Method of embellishing Funeral Monuments) very much corroborates my Opinion.

However I so far agree with the Bp that it may also seem to have been designed for a standing Monument of Conversion to Christianity, which might have happen'd on the Loss of their King, and each mutually celebrated by it.

For Buchanan1 tells us, that in the Reign of Donaldus (the Sixth 2 of that Name) the Danes having wasted Northumberland, were met and engag'd by the united Troops of England and Scotland, with such Uncertainty of Victory, that both Sides were equally glad of Peace, by which the Danes obliged themselves to embrace Christianity. This, therefore, was a very proper Monument for so great a Change, and the Figure on the West Side greatly contributes to favour this Conjecture, as I shall shew in my next Dissertation on the three other Sides. This Transaction happened about 850 Years ago, and none believe the Obelisk to be older than 900.4

That the Monument is Danish appears incontestable from the Characters; Scotish and Pictish Monuments having nothing but Hieroglyphick's, and the Danish both; and, excepting Bride-Kirk Font, it appears to be the only Monument of that Nation left in Britain.

SIR,

Your very humble Servant,

GEO. SMITH.

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