culars of the costume of a people, whose manners are little known, and have been too often misrepresented by such superficial historians, as have neglected to unite the researches of the antiquary with the common place task of collating lettered authorities.

*

CIRCLES COMPOSED OF STONES.-In several parts of England; in nearly every division of Wales; in Scotland; and in many other parts of the British islands; are to be seen circles of unwrought, upright stones, which are commonly recognised under the name of Druidical Temples. These curious vestiges of antiquity are usually found on spots naturally elevated; and one structure often consists of several circles, either concentric, lateral, or in some other mode of disposal indicating an attention to mathematical regularity of arrangement. Similar monuments with those of Britain, and equally void of appropriation in the page of history, are to be seen in Iceland, Norway, Scandinavia, and various parts of Germany. In Sweden, Denmark, and the Western Isles, circles of stone are also frequent.

Amongst other arguments for the great antiquity of these monuments in Britain, it is observed, that in some instances they are crossed and injured by Roman Ways; a proof that all reverence for the object of their original destination, was lost before the construction of those roads. Circles of stone appear, indeed, to have been used in the performance of religious and judicial ceremonies, by the most remote nations of antiquity;t

and,

* Circles of upright stones occur in the following English counties: Cornwall (in wh wall (in which county, Beauties, p. 387. see the Hurlers, an extensive Druidi. cal monument ;) Cumberland (Long Meg and her daughters, p. 146.) Derbyshire; Devonshire; Dorsetshire; Oxfordshire (Rollrich, p. 500. et seq.) Somersetshire (Stanton-Drew, p. 629.) Westmorland; Wiltshire (the celebrated works of Avebury and Stonehenge) Curious circles of stone are abundantly spread throughout both North and South Wales. Relics of the Druids, which are truly interesting, are found in Anglesca, the ancient Mona, and the final retreat of the Druidical priests.

+ See a dissertation on the high antiquity of this usage, Munimenta Antiqua, Vol. I. p. 133, et seq.

and, under the prevalence of that similarity of manners, which may be traced between nearly all countries in the infancy of society, they were probably constructed by the earliest ministers of the Druidical religion. That many of the vestiges which are still superior to the wear of centuries, and the more destructive assaults of human contumely and avarice, were existing in very high ages of British antiquity, seems evident from the contents of those numerous barrows, which are usually found in the vicinity of circles of stone, and which appear to have been placed in their proximity from motives of reverence and piety.

Although the whole of these monuments possess a striking simplicity of character, they are yet decidedly different in many component particulars. Frequently they are surrounded with a ditch and a vallum, the latter forming the boundary, or being on the outer side. The number of stones is far from being uniform, and in some instances is not more than nine. Dr. Borlase observes, that the greatest number which has reached his notice is seventy-seven;* and he adds, that "the difference in number was not owing to chance, but either to some established rules observed in the construction of these monuments, or referring to, and expressive of, the erudition of those ages. In some places we find them oftener of the number twelve than of any other number; either in honour to the twelve superior deities, or to soine national custom of twelve persons of authority, meeting there in council upon important affairs."+

The same writer (who has, perhaps, considered the subject more attentively than any other antiquary, and who certainly ranks among the best authorities for this species of information,) thus notices the plans most prevalent among these monuments; and, on comparing his account with the statements in the "Beauties,"

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To leave unnoticed the stupendous monuments of Avebury and Stonehenge, it may be observed, that the circle termed Grey Yands (noticed in the Beauties for Cumberland, p. 136-137.) consists of eighty-eight stones, + Antiq. of Cornwall, p. 191.

ties," respecting different stone circles existing in various parts of England and Wales, it appears to present a view of their usual peculiarities of character, equally comprehensive and concise: “The figure of these monuments is either simple or compounded. Of the first kind are exact circles, elliptical or semicircular. The construction of these is not always the same, some having their circumference marked with large separate stones only; others having ridges of small stones intermixed, and sometimes walls, serving to render the inclosure more compleat. Other circular monuments have their figure more complex and varied, consisting not only of a circle, but of other distinguishing properties. In, or near, the centre of some, stands a stone, taller than the rest; in the middle of others is a Kistvaen, whilst a Cromlech distinguishes the centre of some circles. Some have only one line of stones in their circumference; and others have two; some circles are adjacent, some contiguous, and some include, and some intersect each other. Frequently urns" (skeletons, and other funeral deposits) "are found in or near them; and these circles are of very different dimensions. Some are curiously erected on geometrical plans, the chief entrances facing the cardinal points of the heavens. Some have avenues leading to them, placed exactly north and south, with detached stones, sometimes in straight lines to the east and west, sometimes triangular: all evidences of more than conimon exactness and design.”*

In ascribing to these various circles their respective objects of destination, great room is allowed for the speculations of ingenuity; as it is only by a comparison with the alledged customs of other countries, in remote ages, that conjecture is here formed on ground in the least degree satisfactory. That many were intended for religious ceremonials, and that circles of stone formed, indeed, the uniform temples of the Druids (although enveloped in masses of oak, all but equally sacred with themselves) is extremely

• Borlase's Antiq. of Cornwall, p. 192-193. This extract of Dr. Borlaṣe's valuable publication is in several places altered and abridged, to suit the purpose of the present work.

i

tremely probable, from analogy of manners. Such appear to have been of Patriarchal usage in the very first recorded ages; and, from its mode of construction, this rude, but venerable species of temple, was, assuredly, well adapted to the tenets of the Druids, who maintained, among other opinions indicative of much grandeur of conception, that the Gods were not to be confined within walls, but were to be worshipped on a spot quite open to the heavens, though separated from profane interference. In confirmation of the very rational conjecture that numerous stony circles found in different parts of this island, were used for religious purposes, it may be observed that in the area of many are discoverable the remains of a Cromlech, or other kind of fabric appearing to have served as an altar, although it is by no means evident that the circles in which such vestiges are found were used for a sepulchral purpose.

But that circles of stone were exclusively devoted to religious uses is quite unlikely, and may, indeed, be denied on a tenable foundation. In attention to that comparison of national manners which is noticed above, it may be observed that the monuments constructed in a Patriarchal age, and at first dedicated simply to religious duties, afterwards became the seats of justice and national council. That a similar union of great solemnities was adopted in regard to the British temples, will appear highly probable, when, it is remembered that the priests were also the legislators of the state, and that they sedulously laboured to inculcate a belief of the law proceeding immediately from the Deity, through them-, selves his ministers. The place of council was probably, also, that of election and inauguration.

It may be remarked, that some traces of the custom of judicial officers sitting on stones, placed in a circular manner, is noticed by Martin in his "Description of the Western Isles;" and, concerning the election and inauguration of princes in such circles,

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"In the Holm, as they call it, in Shetland, there are four great stones, upon which sat the judge, clerk, and other officers of the court." Martin's description of the Western Isles.

cles, it is observed by the historian of Cornwall, on the authority of Wormius, that "the custom of chusing princes, by nobles, standing in a circle upon rocks" (or rather upon stones) "is said to have remained among the northern nations till the reign of Charles the Fourth, and the Golden Bull, A. D. 1356. Some of these northern circles have a large stone in the middle; as the monument near Upsal, in Sweden, on which Ericus was made King of Sweden, no longer since than the year 1396.”*

If we are content to illustrate the subject of these curious antiquities by the manners of other countries, we shall find an appropriation for the leading particulars of many circles which are supposed to have been arranged for civil purposes; and on this head inay be submitted the following remarks: "When assemblies for council, judicature, and election, were convened, it was the custom either to stand by, or to stand upon, or, thirdly, to sit upon, stones placed round a circular area; and each of these different positions of the body, required a peculiar arrangement of the stones. In the first case, whilst any election or decree was depending, or any solemn compact to be confirmed, the principal persons concerned stood each by his pillar; and, where a middle stone was erected in the circle, there stood the prince, or general elect. This seems to be a very ancient custom, and is spoken of, as such, before the Babylonish captivity.

"It was also the custom to stand upon stones placed in a circular manner, and shaped for that purpose, as so many pedestals to elevate the nobles above the level of the rest; consequently, such stones (however rude) were of different shape, and are, therefore, carefully to be distinguished from the abovementioned columnar r stones erect, by the side of which the king and principal persons stood, and upon which it cannot be supposed that any one ever intended to stand. Where we find stones of this kind and

* Borlase, p. 205. apud Wormius, p. 88, 90. Vestiges of the inauguration stone are noticed in the Western Isles, by Martin, in his description, &c. p. 241; and by King, Munimenta Antiqua, Vol. I. p. 147.