The Great Celtic Deities Still Existing In Great Britain.

THE GREAT CELTIC DEITIES STILL EXISTING IN GREAT BRITAIN .

( From the Brighton Herald , 1 st November , 1873 . ) "Wo learn from the Bradford Observer that in consequence of the UOAV vieAvs expressed by Mr . 'Phon 6 , in a paper read by him before the Eoyal Institute of -British

Architects in London , respecting tho great British sculptures , especially that on the Duke ' of Devonshire ' s estate in Sussex , tho Secretary of tho Sussex Archaaological Society , tho Ee ' v . ~ W . de Saint Croix , M . A ., Vicar of Glyndein Sussexis

, , organising plans for the restoration of this enormous figure , probably the largest effigy of the human form in the world , and that a subscription fund has been commenced , headed by the Duke of Devonshire , and of Avhich the Eev . de Saint Croix is Treasurer .

The object being to create a general , rather than a local interest , in this great national monument , subscriptions of 2 s . 6 d . aro solicited in preference to larger sums . Mr . Phene lately visited the " giant , " and turned the first sod in the process of

restoration . In England , as AVOII as Scotland , Mr .-Phene has UOAV traced out enormous deities of the ancient pagan religion of this Island .

( From the Bradford Observer , October ' llth , 1373 . ) At the recent meeting of tho British Association , a subject Avas brought forward Ayhich would , at first sight , appear less attractive to tho inhabitants of this locality

than it really Avas . The title of the paper might not have seemed one of general interest , and those Avho thought otherwise might not have been present , a difficulty being experienced by some , on entering the Church Institutehi finding out the

Avhoro-, abouts of tho different departments . The paper . Avas fairly reported in our own columns , and those of our contemporaries , as to the theory it enunciated ; but some of the details are facts of great interest ,, and Avith these our limited space AVOUIC ! not

then permit us to deal . The beautiful monument of bygone times , Avhich forms so striking a feature in the' attractions of our neighbourhood—Bolton . Abbey , is the property of one of tho largest proprietors in the kingdom , and particularly in this Eiding . To those Avho admire that historical

relic , and 'know also ¦ the large-heartedness of its oAvner , no small part of the interest in the subject we aro about to mention exists in the fact that the great pre-historic monument in the south of Britain is -under the same oAvnerslnp . Apart from this the

, subject is one of even national importance to those Avho look back to pre-historic times Avith tho interest Avhich really attaches to the doings of the early occupiers of out island home .

All of us are acquainted Avith tho enormous representations of the human figure in the sculptures of Egypt , Avhich some of those of Greece are said to have equalled . Eecent investigators , such as Mr . Squior , of NOAV York , have informed us of the giant

sculptures in the cities of Central America . Mr : Layard has unearthed the immense man-headed bulls of Nineveh , tho mysteries respecting Avhich are perhaps about to be unravelled by the relics recently brought by Mr . George Smith from Mesopotamiain

, tho form of inscriptions impressed in clay and incised in stone tablets , Avhich are noiv being cleansed aud deciphered in the British Museum ; Avhere also may be found part of tho freight of Her Majesty ' s ship " Topaze , " being one of the great human effigies of

Easter Island . All these Avere amongst the examples upon Avhich Mr . Phene , F . S . A ., based the theory of his paper , " An Age of Colossi . " But tho feature of immediate interest to the inhabitants of Britain is his

assertion that AVO have still examples of colossal figures Avrought by tho Celts , Avhicli unite this island Avith tho age or the class of people Avho laboured at producing gigantic emblems in the four quarters of tho globe j but , as he sliOAved , Avithin a defined

area , or rather zone . The largest of these , perhaps Ave may say tho largest representation of tho human figure ever executed hi tho world , is on tho estate of tho Duke of Devonshire , in Sussex , and a feAv miles inland from Eastbourne ; and as operations

upon it aro UOAV in hand , instituted by the Eev . AV .. de St . Croix , Aacar of Glynde , as secretary to the Sussex Archaeolog ical Societ 3 , AVO propose to give some particulars respecting it , as AVO concur Avith Dr . Beddoe , the president of the Anthrbpolog icalSection

, in thinking this part of the subject broug ht fonvardby Mr . Phene Avell Avorthy attention . Tho enormous figure is 2-10 feet hig h , and there is one at Oerne Abbas , in Dorsetshire , 180 feet hi gh , both of which have till lately