446

STAMPING-WORKS.

numerous ancient authorities who describe the process withadmirable precision; particularlyAgatharcides,Hippocrates ,Diodorus, the Sicilian, and Pliny : the first and third relateto the metallurgy of Egypt; the second to that of Greece ;and the last to the metallurgy of the Romans. However,since Diodorus Siculus is minutely circumstantial in hisdescription of the Egyptian practice, and as the others differfrom him but very little, or scarcely any thing in effect,—we subjoin from that author an extract, taken from the firstchapter of his third book; observing, that the chief senti-ment which appears to pervade the mind of the author, is apraiseworthy compassion for the poor creatures employed.Their distress appears to be painted with a feeling pencil, ina manner which does his heart great honour, at the time anhonest indignation is raised against the tyrannical and crueloppression of the innocent. But with this mixed sentiment,we cannot help admiring the wisdom of those laws which, atthe time legislative prudence found a mode proper for thepunishment of guilt, rendered the future existence of thecriminal serviceable to his country, whose institutions hehad disregarded. Contending that the certainty of corpo-real punishment, for an unknown period of time, will befound to be more operative upon the common mind of hu-manity ; and, we submit, would tend to prevent the commis-sion of crime infinitely more than would the certain prospectof a termination of life, at a certain period, which they know,from what they see in others, must happen to themselvessooner or later. We, therefore, with becoming reverencefor superior information, submit, that were the criminal codeof a certain country, eminent for its sanguinary complexion,to be modelled upon the design of ancient Egyptian legisla-tion, allowing no possibility of escape from punishment byverbal inadvertency or mistake in legal proceedings, if guiltbe proved; nor scarcely admitting the hope of pardon insupreme authority; that it would be a much more efficaciousmode to prevent offences than sanguinary laws, where somany loop-holes are offered to permit offenders, whose pre-vious characters are not proved to be, at least, comparativelyinnocent, to escape a certain and transitory suffering. Forthe mode in which offenders reason, is supposed to be the fol-lowing : “ If I steal such a thing, there are, at least, numerouschances, but I shall escape punishment; first, I must bedextrous, nor suffer any to see the offence committed.Next, suppose I should be taken, I may prove an alibi; orshould it be found upon me, I have the benefit of some cun-ning lawyer to help me out of it, by depreciating the value,