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diture so enormous, for the purpose of inhuming a single body, customs and superstitions are manifest, illustrating the origin of the pyramids of Egypt, the caverns of Elephanta, and the first temples of the ancient world. In memory of the mighty dead, long before there were such edifices as temples, the simple sepulchral heap was raised, and this became the altar whereon sacrifices were offered. Hence the most ancient heathen structures, for offerings to the gods, were always erected upon tombs, or in their immediate vicinity. The discussion founded on a question, whether the Egyptian pyramids were tombs or temples, seems altogether nugatory; being one they were necessarily the other.

Et tot templa Deûm Romæ, quot in urbe sepulchra
Heroum numerare licet.-Prudentius.

The sanctity of the Acropolis of Athens owed its origin to the sepulchre of Cecrops: without this leading cause of veneration, the numerous temples, wherewith it was afterwards adorned, would never have been erected. The same may be said of many

others. On this account, ancient authors make use of such words for the temples of the gods, as, in their original and proper signification, imply nothing more than a tomb or a sepulchre. In this sense Lycophron uses TouBos, and Virgil TUMULUS." Thus far the learned tourist.

There have been various discussions respecting the Cromlechau as well as the Tumuli, and there can be no doubt, that, in many. instances, both of them were dedicated to sacred, or rather to superstitious, purposes. The author of the History of Brecknockshire is decidedly of the opinion, that the Cromlechs were always sepulchral, but the author of "The Mythology of the Druids" regards them as in general devoted to the purposes of superstition, though, he allows they were, in some instances, sepulchral. That the monuments of sepulture, especially of the mighty and illustrious, became the objects of religious veneration in ancient times appears pretty evident. Affection for the departed relative, and admiration of the deceased hero, soon degenerated into superstition, and the only religious rites of some modem savages seem to be paid at the tombs of their ancestors.

Dr. Borlase speaks well on the subject of ancient stone monuments in the third Book of his History of Cornwall. The doctor observes, that, "he who has a just regard for the first ages and customs of mankind, and is willing to inquire into the original of those monuments, which are dispersed not only in the

British isles, but in most other nations, will not lose his labour wholly, nor miss of entertainment. He may see the same monuments in Asia and at home at his own doors; the same in Egypt and the westernmost parts of Britain, and may, perhaps, discover the intent and design of them, set forth in other histories, better than we can expect from the history of our own country." This learned author infers, "that some of these monuments were of a truly religious institution, that others were sepulchral, and that both these sorts of monuments became, afterwards, places of public national worship." The doctor has a curious chapter on the ancient Tumuli or Barrows, of which a large extract might prove interesting; but at present I shall be brief. It is observed, "that these are called Lows in Staffordshire, and Lawes in Ireland; in Wales they are called Tommen, in Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire Cops; in Teutonic Brogh, in Saxon Byrigh, whence comes our English word, and in Cornwall they are called Burrows. That erected by Achilles over his friend Patroclus, and the sumptuous one of Alexander over Ephestion, are the most remarkable in classic history." I shall conclude this pa per with the remark, that the most remarkable ancient monument in Britain, COR GAWR, or STONEHENGE, was the grand place of national congress and of worship, in the midst of the tombs of heroes and of princes. › J. H.

MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, SWANSEA, GLAMORGANSHIRE.
Guilmus Thomas Arm. his solus est.

KIND reader, underneath doth lie
The true pattern of courtesie;
A lover of king, church, and laws,
Of a sound peace the proper cause;
The scourge of atheists, and profane,
Such drolling was to him a paine;
A kind father unto his owne,
As kind to those that had none;
Storms of lawsuites his power laid,
The costs and damages he paid;
Favourer of arts-'tis wished the grim
Destroying Death had favoured him.

ROWLAND WILLIAMS, 1753.

Here lyeth a man, both body and bones, ! He was by his trade a joiner of stones,... Ingraving of letters, and edging all,

And his coat of arms was three towers tall*.

EPITAPH ON A TOMBSTONE IN A CHURCH-YARD IN WALES +.

Dust from dust at first was taken,

Dust by dust is now forsaken :

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THERE are few tracts in North Wales, of equal extent with the road from Llangollen to Corwen, which present so beautiful a variety of scenery, and are so powerfully interesting in an historirical point of view. About four miles from the former is Glyndyfrdwy, a delightful spot, and celebrated as having once witnessed the generous hospitality of the last of Cambria's Patriots, wild Glyndwr." A green hillock, surrounded with oak and firtrees, marks the place where the mansion of the chieftain was situated, and all the signs, that now remain of it, are a few loose and straggling stones, scattered about on the eminence. I have always entertained an enthusiastic veneration for the character of this heroic Welshman: but I am well aware that he has been often depreciated as an incorrigible traitor-as a cruel and bloodthirsty rebel. I do not, however, acknowlege the justice of this accusation. We are not to estimate his actions by the nice standard of civilized judgment, nor must we overlook his own

* The original word, for which tall is here substituted, is not legible. This is copied from an English periodical publication, which does not name the place.

private wrongs, and those of his suffering countrymen. Plunged as Wales then was in a state of the most oppressive slavery, the revolt of her brave people was an act of venial, nay of commendable, self-defence, rather than of traitorous disloyalty; and that man must have been bold and patriotic, indeed, and without one single particle of treason in his heart, who ventured to restore his country from a domination so despotic and powerful. But Owain Glyndwr would not have been that man, had he not been driven to arms by infamous and unendurable oppression. Amidst the recesses of his native hills, and in the bosom of an affectionate family, he lived in unambitious and contented retirement, delighting all with his hospitality, and dispensing numerous blessings among his devoted and happy dependants. But a malicious fiend broke in upon his solitude, and disturbed the even tenour of his life. Lord Reginald Grey of Ruthin, who had large possessions contiguous to those of the Welshman, upon some frivolous pretence or other, seized a considerable portion of land, which had long been the property of the Glyndwrs; nor would he give it up, till a suit in the courts of law was decided in favour of his adversary. This happened in the reign of Richard the Second; and, when Henry the Fourth ascended the throne, Grey, relying on the King's protection, again seized those lands which had been legally awarded to Owain. The chieftain sought redress by a petition to Parliament, but without effect, as his application was not even noticed; even this, aggravating as it must have been to a choleric Welshman, was not sufficient to provoke retaliation: there wanted however but another provocation, and that was quickly given. When Henry went on his first expedition against the Scots, he summoned all his chieftains, to attend him with their vassals, and Glyndwr amongst others was ordered to attend the monarch with a certain number of his retainers. The writ of summons for his attendance was entrusted to Lord Grey, who purposely withheld it, till it was too late for the chieftain to obey and the crafty nobleman then represented to the King, that Owain's absence was the result of his disobedience, obtaining at the same time a grant of all the Welshman's land, who was forthwith declared a traitor. It will be readily imagined, that this insult was too provoking to be endured unresistingly. Owain had endured enough already, and, with a chosen band of trusty followers, he laid waste the territories of Lord Grey, and soon recovered those lands, which had

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been so unjustly taken from him. But this was not all. He had long witnessed the miseries of his country, smarting, as it was, under the tyrannic yoke of England, and he determined if possible to break this yoke, and restore Wales to her ancient independence. Besides, he most heartily detested the usurper Bolingbroke; for he was ardently attached to his unfortunate predecessor, and had served him in weal and woe with the most affectionate and unremitting fidelity*. There was yet another, and a powerful, incitement. Owain was a lineal descendant from the Royal House of Wales, and the sceptre of the Principality might be the reward of his valour. It was a splendid prize, well worth a contest. And England and Wales were soon involved in one of the most disastrous civil wars, which ever shook the stability of the English throne. Long and eagerly did the Welsh contend for the recovery of their rights, and, although they were considered in the outset as a puny barefooted rabblet, they speedily proved themselves the worthy inheritors of their fathers' heroic patriotism and sturdy valour. But the strong arm of England finally prevailed, and the Welsh were cast into a state of deep and merciless bondage, from which they did not emerge till the union of their country with England. But, notwithstanding the illsuccess of Glyndwr, his undaunted spirit was unbroken and unsubdued to the last; and the English Monarch (Henry Fifth) did not deem it derogatory to his dignity to propose to him terms of mutual accommodation. Death, however, put an end to all the hero's enterprises, and, although more than four centuries have elapsed since he fought the battles of his country, the fame of his gallant achievements still lives unfaded in the breasts of his admiring countrymen.-Well, indeed, may we say of him :

And he was once the glory of his age,

with every virtue

Of civil life adorned, in arms excelling.

His only blot was, that, too much provoked,

He raised his vengeful arm against his sovereign.

* Glyndwr adhered to the cause of Richard the Second till the very last, and was taken prisoner with him in Flint Castle. He was knighted by this monarch, and appointed his scutiger, or body-squire. When Richard was deposed, he retired to Wales, where he resided till provoked to rebellion by Lord Grey.

†The Bishop of St. Asaph recommended in Parliament that measures somewhat less severe should be adopted with regard to Owain Glyndwr, and his partisans. He was answered by one of the English Peers in these words, 'Se de illis scurris nudipedibus NON curare."

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