That it represents a head of Bacchus will be evident, at first glance, as it is encircled with a torse of ivy; but the features being those of a Nubian, or Carthaginian, prove that it must have an older date than that of the Romans, who borrowed their first ideas of Bacchic worship from the Egyptians. Perhaps it might have been part of their spoils from Carthage itself, and have been highly valued on that account. Certain however it is, that this curiosity (destined for the British Museum) must have laid below the bosom of father Thames for many centuries; but how it came there, and at such a depth in the clay, we can only guess at; and till Jonathan Oldbuck, alias Monkbarns, rise from the dead to set us right, it is to be feared that there will be left nothing but conjecture respecting it. [Illustration: ~Another View of the same ancient Bronze~, SHOWING THE MOUTH, AND THE ORIFICE AT THE TOP OF THE HEAD.] There is some account, but not very well supported, of the course of the Thames having once been diverted; should this however be true, it is possible that the head, of which we are now speaking, might have been dropped on the then dry bottom; the bed of the river must, in that case, have been afterwards considerably raised. I remain, yours, respectfully, M. BLACKMORE. _Wandsworth, Feb. 9, 1827._ P. S. The Romans always represent their satyrs with Roman noses, and I believe that Bacchus alone is crowned with ivy; the fauns and the rest being crowned with vine leaves. * * * * * It would be easy to compose a dissertation respecting Bacchus, which would be highly interesting, and yet throw little light on this very remarkable vessel. The relation of any thing tending to elucidate its probable age or uses will be particularly esteemed. In addition to the favour of Mr. Blackmore’s letter and drawing, he obligingly obtained the vessel itself, which being placed in the hands of Mr. S. Williams, he executed the present engravings of the exact size of the original: it is, as Mr. Blackmore has already mentioned, in the finest possible preservation. Probably the insertion of this remarkable relique of antiquity, turned up from the soil of our metropolitan river, may induce communications to the _Table Book_ of similar discoveries when they take place. At no time were ancient remains more regarded: and illustrations of old manners and customs, of all kinds, are here especially acceptable. * * * * * JACK O’ LENT. This was a puppet, formerly thrown at, in our own country, during Lent, like Shrove-cocks. Thus, in “The Weakest goes to the Wall,” 1600, we read of “a mere anatomy, a _Jack of Lent_;” and in Greene’s “Tu quoque,” of “a boy that is throwing at his _Jack o’ Lent_;” and again, in the comedy of “Lady Alimony,” 1659: ---------“Throwing cudgels At _Jack a Lents_ or Shrove-cocks.” Also, in Ben Jonson’s “Tale of a Tub:”