has evidently been filled up. This singular passage must have been an humble specimen of a covered walk, like the magnificent passage into Wells Cathedral, leading from the Vicar's college to the chapter house and cathedral.

The two spacious halls, with their chimneys and the parlours, and other remains of the college, existing when Hearne wrote, have long since been removed; a cottage, which probably formed a part of those buildings, is the only portion which now exists; and the "brave old orchard," with its "trees in forms of crosses," which in part existed in Hearne's time, has also disappeared; and all the remains on which the good old antiquary loved to dilate upon have vanished, leaving the church the sole remains of the foundation of Sir Wm. Tressell. This structure, it has been shewn, is possessed of a high degree of interest. Every admirer of genuine old English architecture should pay it a visit, and will be certain to leave it highly gratified. He will see in it an elegant specimen of the workmanship of the fourteenth century, and a beautiful and correct model of a church; and it would be pleasing if the description would end here; but the pleasure afforded by the examination of the church is damped when the spectator looks to the upper part of the spire, and sees the rents which shew them. selves at the angles of the stone work, and which may at no distant period occasion the destruction of the spire, and, in all probability, of the choir also. That this is no fancied alarm will be seen by any one who views the openings from the interior. The ruin might be arrested by rebuilding the upper part of the spire; or, at least, banding it with metal; but, as it is scarcely to be supposed that the small parish will accomplish this work, we can only look to individual munificence for its preservation. To one sole benefactor are we indebted for the entire church; let us hope that it will be fortunate enough to owe the trifling repairs it now requires to a similar source. It is truly to be wished that this description may be the means of calling that atten

tion to the defect which may lead to the preservation of this beautiful example of genuine church architecture; as a small expense may now effect so desirable an object,-which, if longer delayed, will lead to the destruction of the entire pile. E. I. C.

ON THE POLYTHEISM OF THE

ANCIENT BRITONS.

MR. URBAN, Huddersfield, Dec. 14. I HAVE to apologise for again intruding myself on your attention, on a subject which, perhaps, in the opinion of some of your readers, has already occupied too much of your valuable pages; but, as the character of the rites and ceremonies practised by our British forefathers is little understood, I trust I shall be excused, if I conclude this subject by stating some facts that were overlooked in my preceding paper. My object has been, to bring before you a brief account of such inscriptions on ancient altars found in Britain as were calculated to shew the extent to which Polytheism prevailed in this island. While describing, however, the character of the inscriptions found on such altars in other parts of the country occupied by the imperial conquerors, I had omitted to give any account of two Roman altars that were at different times found in the neighbourhood of Huddersfield. The first of these is the altar found at Greetland, not very distant from the site of the ancient Cambodunum. was dedicated, by Titus Aurelius Aurelianus, "to the God of the Brigantes," in the first place, and, secondly, "to the Deities of the Emperors, on behalf of himself and his followers, in grateful remembrance of the success of their undertaking." The reverse informs us, that the altar was erected when Antonius was Consul a third time with Geta. Who this God of the Brigantes was is not so clear, though some have supposed that Camulus, the British Mars, was the Deity intended. The Roman town of Cambodunum is written Camunlodunum in Ptolemy, and the name itself thought to be derived from Camulus. But this hypothesis is not very tenable, for, in the

It

crum, crooked, and lech, a stone; but, if these stones were really regarded as sacred, is not the Hebrew term "Carem luach,' that is, " consecrated stone," a more probable derivation? The belief that these rocks were the scenes of idolatrous worship is supported by tradition. Such is the case in various parts of Scotland and Wales, where they are sometimes called chapels and temples. We learn, also, from the early records of idolatry in Ireland, that one of the chief idols of that people was styled Cromeruach, which remained till St. Patrick's time. We are further told that at his approach it fell to the ground, and the minor surrounding idols sunk into the earth up to their necks. It seems probable, therefore, that these singular rocks, known by the name of Cromlechs, both in Britain and Ireland, were originally what tradition has recorded them to be, heathen altars, upon which the idolatrous priests shed the blood of victims, and performed their superstitious rites and ceremonies. The etymology of the term Druids has engaged the learning of many of your contributors, and it is not in my power to add any new suggestion. The oubates, an order of Druidical priests, may probably be so called from the Hebrew ob, or oub, denoting a familiar spirit in Scripture; vide 1 Samuel xxviii. 7, 8, &c. &c. J. K. WALKER, M.D.

Jan. 6.

MR. URBAN, IT is to be regretted that Biography is not sufficiently copious with regard to persons who have rendered themselves remarkable by a single action. The following little narrative retrieves an interesting circumstance and a meritorious person from oblivion, and it is much to be wished that the details were not so scanty. So little are the particulars known, that M. Beauvais, in a short biographical article (Dict. Historique, art. DECLIEU) states his ignorance of the dates of this generous patriot's birth and death, and even gives a blank for his Christian name. M. Goube, in his Histoire de Normandie, speaking of Dieppe and its environs, has the

following passage, which will surely be read with interest, and with a wish that it were fuller in information.

"At about twelve hundred toises (fathoms) from the valley of Criel, which is watered by the river Yères, is the village of Assigny, the native place of M. Desclieux, Mareschal-des-camps, and cordon rouge. This generous citizen was charged in 1726 to carry out to Martinique two slips of the coffee-tree, raised at the Royal Botanic Garden (Jardin des Plantes), and which were supplied by the public spirit of M. de Ressous, lieutenant-general of artillery, an amateur of botany, brought from Holland in favour of the who gave up a young plant which he had Royal Garden. M. Desclieux embarked with his precious charge, which was hereafter to enrich the cultivation of the

French colonies. The passage was long and difficult; water became so very scarce, that, while the portion of M. Desclieux was extremely reduced, he shared it with his plants. By this generous sacrifice he succeeded in saving one half of the trust which had been confided to him by the King. His sacrifice was amply rewarded the coffee multiplied with extraordinary rapidity and success. Till the end of 1774, when he died at Rouen, this worthy citizen enjoyed the pleasing satisfaction of having (so to speak) thus saved an important colony, and of having enriched it with a new branch of industry. The family of M. Desclieux still lives at the property of Assigny." Vol. iii. p. 191.

M. Beauvais says, that M. Declieu (as he gives the name) was appointed king's-lieutenant at Martinique in 1723, adding, what is melancholy to transcribe, that "he was neglected in his life-time, nor was it till long after his death that it was proposed to erect a monument to his memory, a tardy homage of national gratitude." In reading this account, which reflects so little lustre on his countrymen, one is reminded of the saying, alas! too trite, but so strikingly exemplified in this instance,

"Post cineres gloria sera venit." Where the monument was erected is not mentioned. Have any of your readers seen it, and can they furnish copy of the inscription?

a

CYDWELI.

Extracts from Professor Jahn's Histo

rical Essay on Germany.* Schools.—TO polish, is not to civilise. The excess of education produces only apples of Sodom, whose form is pleasing, and whose interior contains nothing but a dust that flies into the eye.

Literature.-There are translations of the Jerusalem Delivered published in eleven dialects of Italy.

Language.—The Persians neglected to appoint a general language for the court, the state, and the people; they sent orders to their subjects written in all the languages: at the first violent shock their empire fell to pieces . . . The Romans, who founded everything to last long, consolidated the rule established by their arms with the Latin tongue (i. e. with the general use of it).

Ecclesiastical Acts.-The ceremonies of the Church ought never to be performed in private houses, excepting baptism in urgent cases, and the communion of the sick.

Sects.-The Protestants are divided by distinctions and divergences, which, if they are not really material, are yet so for the people. The mania of novelty, the vanity of knowledge, the spirit of disputation, the love of distinctions, the rage for signalizing one's self, occasion the destruction of what is ancient but useful, and of what is new and good, and hinder men from discerning and choosing what is best. Pronunciation.-In Saxony, they change b into p, d into t;-at Leipzig, ch into k;-at Brandenburg g into j; -at Gottingen g and j into ch;--at Hanover, they put e for a ;-at Mecklenburg, oa for a.

Effect of Poetry.-Perhaps Klopstock makes Rouget de Lille (author of the Marseillais Hymn) of too much importance, when he says to him, "You are a formidable person; you have overthrown more than fifty thousand Germans."

Reading. It was a saying of Luther, "A great number of books does not make us instructed, neither does

* Jahn, Essai Historique sur l'Allemagne, (French translation,) Lyon, 1832, pp. 432. Some remarks on Capital Cities, from the same work, have appeared in Gent. Mag. for Sept. 1833, p. 226.

GENT. MAG. VOL. XIII.

reading much; but to read what is good, and to read it often, makes men instructed and pious."

War. What is war? A trade of barbarians, in which all the art consists in being the strongest at a given point, said even Napoleon, agitated by gloomy presentiments, which tor

mented him on the eve of the battle of Moscow.

Courage.-Xenophon has allowed, in the course of his Retreat, that the most valiant and the most intrepid warrior was the man who also feared the gods most.t

The best Christian is also the best and the bravest soldier. With this maxim than his enemies, who thought otherGustavus Adolphus penetrated further wise, and who, during his life, did Who not gain a single triumph. would exchange the honourable testimony which Gellert renders Laudohn‡

for decorations and an elevated rank? "He was one of my first and dearest companions; what he said was just and pious; I never heard any thing from his lips but what was good; and I have always observed that he was religious."

Invasion.-When he, who has carried his conquests about the world, and overthrown all the armies of soldiers, at length attacks a people who are acquainted with defensive war, he ought, even if he is a great master in the war of soldiers, to begin school again as an apprentice.

National Costume.-All the ancient nations who lasted long preserved themselves from the rage of fashion by a national costume. Even the Romans sometimes designated themselves by its name. The Spaniards during their prosperity, the Poles at the epoch of their power, the Hungarians in the time of their independence, had national costumes which were in general use, and not worn only by the aged persons of the country. We also, before the war of Germany (1618), had a national costume, and distinct dresses according to the different classes. Our neighbours, who profited by the troubles of Germany, brought us, from the other side of the Rhine, this malady of foreign orna

Here the author refers to Sir R. Steele's Christian Hero.

Marshal Laudohn. C.

T

ments, which dazzles our eyes and fills our hearts with vanity. For a century and a half we have basely borne the female yoke: the storm of nations burst upon us, and the ruin of the German empire appeared to be complete.

Fashion, that monster, which hitherto the most ingenious thinker has not been able to describe adequately, because, as Falke says, it outruns fashion, and like Saturn devours its own children: such is the Moloch to whom we have sacrificed happiness, peace, the delights of life, health, and country. Unhappily, the love of what is new in little things, and the love of what is old in great ones, is our inveterate evil.

"We Germans are such fellows, that what is new strikes us, and we catch at it like fools; and whoever seeks to dissuade us, makes us still more eager. But, if nobody hinders, we are soon weary and satiated, and gape after another novelty. Thus the devil has always this advantage, that there is no pattern too rude, no fancy too strange, to have its course; he always finds votaries, and the quicker for being the more unskilful." (Luther's Works, part iii. p. 338. Jena.)

The wise Franklin said, "the taxes which the state levies are bearable, but fashion's taxes are exorbitant." Fashion is a new infection, whence results exposure or disguise in lieu of clothing, ugliness and caricature in lieu of taste; it is the common invention of idlers who find work for others, and of fools who want to make themselves of importance. It injures the means by useless expenses, the mind by an odious traffic in trifles, and the heart by leading it away from good taste to attach it to insipidities. It is pernicious to the body, because it makes no account of constitutions, of habits, or of different ages; it is a slow poison introduced into domestic life.*

If a nation has not a national costume, it makes little progress in invention and the arts. It imitates fine foreign forms, which, however, can never become national; such is the crow in the fable; for instance, Schwerin on the Place

* Moser, Patriotic Fancies.-Garve, on Fashion.-Busch, Moral Treatises.

William at Berlin. If it follows up this ephemeral mockery which changes daily, it only sets up a scare-crow, or exhibits a punch. At the end of ten years, our most laboured engravings are nothing but caricatures. Old family-portraits are banished to the garrets, because such ogres frighten the children. The Romans could preserve the images of their fathers in a gallery set apart for their ancestors; they could even exhibit them publicly, and offer them to the admiration of the new members of the family.‡

In Germany, where the modern Germans no longer know how to find the useful and the instructive, we may still observe particular costumes among the men of the lower class. For instance, among the peasants of Altemburg and Wierland, among the Sauniers at Halle on the Saale, the Monchgutters at Rugen, the Frisons in Danish Germany, &c. &c. While a little population bears its national costume, it is armed at all points and escapes the general fusion; but, if it strips itself of that protection, it will become incorporated, and will cease to

exist amid the crowd.

The national German costume should not be an expensive uniform. Clothing is a want of civilised man; the satisfaction of this want, conformably to those of the people, is what makes a national costume. The preservation of health ought to be the first object proposed; then we may consider cheapness, general usage, durableness, and good appearance, which this costume ought not to be without. No act should be valid, unless the person who delivered it was clad in national costume. Every one should appear in costume at assemblies, feasts, and churches. There should be different costumes for work and for children. Certain classes and certain occupations should be distinguished by additions, such as gold, silver, embroidery, and feathers. For the female sex there should be ribbands of different colours; green for little girls, white and orange for girls, red for maidens, blue for

+ Probably a statue of Field-Marshal Schwerin. C.

Eichstadt De imaginibus Romanorum. Jena, 1805.