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many of the colored inks； and indeed most of the
black ones which were undoubtedly employed； is the
principal reason why so few specimens of them remain
to us。 Those which have proved themselves so lasting
in character as to be still extant； bear evidence
of extreme care in the preparation of both the inks
and the materials on which the writings appear。 Perhaps
one of the finest illustrations of this practice is
to be found in a book of the Four Gospels of Italian
origin； discovered in the tenth century （a work of the
fourth century） and deposited in the Harlein Library。
This book is written in 〃Indian〃 ink and possesses
magnificently embellished and illuminated letters at
the beginning of each Gospel； which are on vellum
stained in different colors。
St。 Jerome calls attention to this class of books in
a well…known passage of his preface to the Book of
Job； also written in the fourth century； where he explains
as translated：
〃Let those who will have old books written in
gold and silver on purple parchment； or； as they
are commonly called； in uncial…letters；rather ponderous
loads than books；so long as they permit
me and mine to have copies； and rather correct than
beautiful books。〃
It has been said that the Tanno…gallate of Iron Inks
（iron salts； nut…galls and gum） were first used in the
fourth century。 There is positively no credible authority
for such a statement； nor is there a single
monument in the shape of a documentary specimen
of ink writing of that one or an earlier century made
with such an ink in any public or private library and
as far as known in existence。
About A。 D。 390 the inspired writings （often termed
pagan） of the classical countries； or at least the copies
or extracts of them； upon a special search made by order
of the Roman Senate； including those already mentioned
as of the time of Tarquin （some nine hundred
years earlier）； were gathered up in Greece； Italy and
other parts and destroyed； because； as we are informed；
this Roman Senate had embraced the Christian
faith and furthermore 〃such vanities began to grow
out of fashion； till at last Stilicho burnt them all
under Honorius （a son of Theodosius the Great）； for
which he is so severely censured by the noble poet
Rutilius； in his ingenious itinerary。〃
Not only Roman Arms the Wretch betrayed
To barbarous Foes； before that cursed Deed；
He burnt the Writings of the sacred Maid；
We hate Althaea for the fatal Brand；
When Nisius fell； the weeping Birds complained：
More cruel he than the revengeful Fair；
More cruel heth at Nisius' Murderer。
Whose impious Hands into the Flames have thrown
The Heavenly Pledges of the Roman Crown；
Unrav'lling all the Doom that careful Fate had spun。〃
The destruction of Rome by Alaric； King of the
Western Goths； A。 D。 410； and the subsequent
dismemberment of the entire Roman Empire by the
barbarians of the North who followed in his wake；
announced that ancient history had come to an end。
It may be truly said as well that the ending of the
ancient history of the black and colored writing inks
which began in the obscurity of tradition between
2000 and 1800 B。 C。； a period of some 2200 years；
was also contemporaneous with these events。
The eclipse of ink…written literature for at least
500 of the 1000 years which followed； and known as
the Middle or 〃Dark〃 Ages； except in the Church
alone； who seem to have kept up the production of
manuscript books principally for ecclesiastical and
medical purposes was complete。 Hence； any information
pertaining to those epochs about ink； writing
materials and ink writings； must be sought for in the
undestroyed records and the ink writings themselves
left by the fathers of the Church。 All else is tainted
and of doubtful authority。
* * * * * * * *
〃When waned the star of Greece was there no cry；
To rouse her people from their lethargy？
Was there no sentry on the Parthenon
No watch…fire on the field of Marathon；
When science left the Athenian city's gate；
To seek protection from a nameless fate？
The sluggish sentry sleptno cry was heard
No hands the glimm'ring watch…fire's embers stirr'd。
Fair science unmolested left the land；
That she had nurtured with maternal hand；
And wandered forth some genial spot to find；
Where she might rear her altar to the mind。
〃Long thro' the darken'd ages of a world；
Back to primeval chaos rudely hurled；
She journey'd on amid the gath'ring gloom；
A spectre form emerging from the tomb。
Earth had no resting placeno worshipper
No dove returned with olive branch to her：
Her lamp burned dimly； yet its flick'ring light；
Guided the wanderer thro' the lengthen'd night。
Oft in her weary search； she paused the while；
To catch one gleam of hopeone favour'd smile；
But the dim mists of ignorance still threw；
Their blighting influence o'er the famish'd few；
Who deigned to look upon that lustrous eye；
Which pierced the ages of futurity。
〃For ten long centuries she groped her way；
Through gloom； and darkness； ruin and decay；
Yet came at last the morning's rosy light；
A thousand echoes hail'd the glorious sight
Joy thrill'd the universeone iningled cry
Of exultation； pealed along the sky！
Science came forth in richer robes arrayed
She trod a pathway ne'er before essayed；
Up the steep mount of fame she fleetly pressed；
And hung her trophies on its gilded crest。〃
CHAPTER IV。
CLASSICAL INK AND ITS EXODUS （CONTINUED）。
DESTRUCTION OF THE PERGAMUS LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA
SOME OBSERVATIONS BY SIR THOMAS ASTLE
COMPARISON OF HIS STATEMENTS WITH THOSE OF
PROFESSOR ANTHON RELATIVE TO FRAGMENTS OF
ANTIQUITY WHICH REMAINAUTHENTICITY OF
THEM NOT DISTURBED IF THEY ARE OF PROPER AGE
TAYLOR'S VIEWS ON THIS SUBJECT。
THE storming of Alexandria and the destruction of
the Pergamus library； composed largely of ink…written
volumes； by the Saracens； A。 D。 642； has already been
reverted to。 Astle observes：
〃Thus perished by fanatical madness； the inestimable
Alexandrian library； which is said to have
contained at that time upwards of five hundred
thousand volumes； and from this period； barbarity
and ignorance prevailed for several centuries。 In
Italy and all over the west of Europe learning was
in a measure extinguished； except some small remains
which were preserved in Constantinople。
〃Theodosious； the younger； was very assiduous
in augmenting this library； by whom； in the latter
end of the fourth century； it was enlarged to one
hundred thousand volumes； above one…half of
which were burnt in the fifth century by the Emperor
Leo the First； so famous for his hatred to
images。
〃The inhabitants of Constantinople had not lost
their taste for literature in the beginning of the
thirteenth century； when this city was sacked by
the Crusaders； in the year 12