The tricks of transmutation which are often played with copper-plate engravings are well known. At the time when the person so justly execrated and branded with the name of “The Monster,” made such a noise, the dealer in one of the catchpenny accounts of his life and adventures was very desirous of giving to the public some representation of him. Not being able suddenly to procure one, it was necessary for him to find a substitute. An old plate, which had been engraved for a magazine, and intended to pass for a likeness of Sir Joshua Reynolds, was luckily obtained, and was made to answer the purpose. As the print bore no resemblance whatever to Sir Joshua, and had, indeed, a most unprepossessing appearance, the original inscription was erased, “The Monster” substituted, and it did very well. In the ephemeral publications which daily issue from the press similar metamorphoses are by no means uncommon. CHAPTER XII. FORGED INSCRIPTIONS AND SPURIOUS MEDALS. Ancient Memorials of Geographical Discoveries--Mistakes arising from them--Frauds to which they gave occasion--Imposture of Evemerus--Annius of Viterbo wrongfully charged with forging Inscriptions--Spurious works given to the World by him--Forged Inscriptions put on statues by ignorant modern Sculptors--Spurious Medals--Instances of them in the Cabinet of Dr. Hunter--Coins adulterated by Grecian Cities--Evelyn’s Directions for ascertaining the Genuineness of Medals--Spurious Gold Medals--Tricks of the Manufacturers of Pseudo-Antique Medals--Collectors addicted to pilfering Rarities--Medals swallowed by Vaillant--Mistakes arising from Ignorance of the Chinese Characters. It appears to have been the practice of the early Greek navigators to leave memorials on shores discovered for the first time, and to take possession of them by a dedication to one of their gods or heroes; as modern navigators in their discoveries have usually named prominent headlands, islands, or secure harbours, from some statesman or hero of the day. These ancient inscriptions being found among barbarous nations by succeeding navigators, when the original discoverers were forgotten, it might be concluded that those heroes, to whom the shores had been merely dedicated in the first instance, had _actually_ been there. The probability of such circumstances led the way in after times to a species of fraud, for conferring a spurious antiquity on certain places and things by persons, producing, as authentic and ancient, histories and monuments of their own manufacture.