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Article REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. ← Page 2 of 8 →
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Review Of New Publications.
The fourth essay contains ' remarks on the early population of Italy and Europe , ' in which there is much curious disquisition and considerable ingenuity . The author seems to favour the notion of an oriental emigration . Essay the fifth is ' on some of the more remarkable British monuments in Devon . ' The monuments which are here described are the Cromlech and the Logan-stone , in the parish of Drcwsteignton—the rock-bason on a common near Dartmoor , and the barrow on Halciown with an urn-found in it .
Of these antient and curious , remains , very neat . representations are given .. The most considerable ' is " the CROMLECH which is situate on a farm called Shelstone in the parish of Drewsteignton ( so named I should conceive , not from the Norman Drago , as Risdon hath asserted ) but from this ami other relics therein remaining , appropriated to the Druids , simply deriving its appellation from the residence of the Druids on the river Teign . The Cromlech here , is perhaps , the most perfect in the kingdom . The covering-stone
or quoil hath three supporters ; it rests on the pointed tops of the southern and western ones ; but that on the north side upholds it on its inner inclining Surface somewhat below the top , its exterior sides rising several inches higher than the part on which the super-incumbent stone is laid . This latter supporter is seven feet high—indeed they are all of such an altitude , that I had not the least difficulty . in passing under the . impost ereft , and with my hat on ; the height , thereforeof the inclosed areais at least six feet . Of the
, , quoil I made a measurement , and found the dimensions to be from the north to the southern edge , fourteen feet and a half ; and from the east and west , it was of similar length . These edges or angles seeming to present themselves ( as far as I could make an observation from the sun ) exactly to the cardinal points . The width across was ten feet . The form of this stone was oblate , not gibbous , but rounding from the under face , rising from the north about
thirteen inches higher than in the other parts ; yet so plane oh its superficies that I could sand on it , or traverse it without apprehension of danger . That the Cromlech was a monument of the Britons , there can be no doubt ; butthat it was a Druidical altar , anil of old , applied to sacrificial uses , cannot now be ascertained . Borlase and others who have treated this suhjeft , judgethe species of monument tc have been sepulchral ; and there is reason for the supposition , since they are often found erected on barrows , which are
avowedly sepulchral . Indeed , in Ireland , the matter hath been sufficientl y elucidated ; for benvs have been absolutely found in the area which some of them-inclosed . Though Borlase , therefore , failed in Cornwall , it rests on more than probability , that , to whatever other purposes it might have been applied , the use and intent of the Cromlech , that is , the crooked ( or as some interpret the word , consecrated stones ) was primarily to distinguish and do honour to the dead ; and at the same time to inclose the venerated reli b
que y placing the supporters and covering stone in such a manner as to be a security for them on every side . '" - " The ignorance of succeeding ages not being able tc comprehend how such stupendous edifices could be constructed b y the common race of mortals , have attributed them to giants and demons ; but although we derive from the mechanical powers a variety of succours in the transporting and raising large and ponderous bodies , of which we -well know the founders of these monuments could not have the assistance , yet it hath
been well observed , that great things might be accomplished by men of such mighty force , as we are certain many of these antient tribes possessed in strength and remarkable stature , co-operating together . The lances , helmets , swords , and other anus which have been preserved in the museums of the ¦ curious , the accoutrements of the heroes of other times , are a full conviction ¦ ot their Va ; t size , and are objects of curiosity and astonishment to those whose
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
The fourth essay contains ' remarks on the early population of Italy and Europe , ' in which there is much curious disquisition and considerable ingenuity . The author seems to favour the notion of an oriental emigration . Essay the fifth is ' on some of the more remarkable British monuments in Devon . ' The monuments which are here described are the Cromlech and the Logan-stone , in the parish of Drcwsteignton—the rock-bason on a common near Dartmoor , and the barrow on Halciown with an urn-found in it .
Of these antient and curious , remains , very neat . representations are given .. The most considerable ' is " the CROMLECH which is situate on a farm called Shelstone in the parish of Drewsteignton ( so named I should conceive , not from the Norman Drago , as Risdon hath asserted ) but from this ami other relics therein remaining , appropriated to the Druids , simply deriving its appellation from the residence of the Druids on the river Teign . The Cromlech here , is perhaps , the most perfect in the kingdom . The covering-stone
or quoil hath three supporters ; it rests on the pointed tops of the southern and western ones ; but that on the north side upholds it on its inner inclining Surface somewhat below the top , its exterior sides rising several inches higher than the part on which the super-incumbent stone is laid . This latter supporter is seven feet high—indeed they are all of such an altitude , that I had not the least difficulty . in passing under the . impost ereft , and with my hat on ; the height , thereforeof the inclosed areais at least six feet . Of the
, , quoil I made a measurement , and found the dimensions to be from the north to the southern edge , fourteen feet and a half ; and from the east and west , it was of similar length . These edges or angles seeming to present themselves ( as far as I could make an observation from the sun ) exactly to the cardinal points . The width across was ten feet . The form of this stone was oblate , not gibbous , but rounding from the under face , rising from the north about
thirteen inches higher than in the other parts ; yet so plane oh its superficies that I could sand on it , or traverse it without apprehension of danger . That the Cromlech was a monument of the Britons , there can be no doubt ; butthat it was a Druidical altar , anil of old , applied to sacrificial uses , cannot now be ascertained . Borlase and others who have treated this suhjeft , judgethe species of monument tc have been sepulchral ; and there is reason for the supposition , since they are often found erected on barrows , which are
avowedly sepulchral . Indeed , in Ireland , the matter hath been sufficientl y elucidated ; for benvs have been absolutely found in the area which some of them-inclosed . Though Borlase , therefore , failed in Cornwall , it rests on more than probability , that , to whatever other purposes it might have been applied , the use and intent of the Cromlech , that is , the crooked ( or as some interpret the word , consecrated stones ) was primarily to distinguish and do honour to the dead ; and at the same time to inclose the venerated reli b
que y placing the supporters and covering stone in such a manner as to be a security for them on every side . '" - " The ignorance of succeeding ages not being able tc comprehend how such stupendous edifices could be constructed b y the common race of mortals , have attributed them to giants and demons ; but although we derive from the mechanical powers a variety of succours in the transporting and raising large and ponderous bodies , of which we -well know the founders of these monuments could not have the assistance , yet it hath
been well observed , that great things might be accomplished by men of such mighty force , as we are certain many of these antient tribes possessed in strength and remarkable stature , co-operating together . The lances , helmets , swords , and other anus which have been preserved in the museums of the ¦ curious , the accoutrements of the heroes of other times , are a full conviction ¦ ot their Va ; t size , and are objects of curiosity and astonishment to those whose