about these monuments, but the superstitions may have been those of a race later than, and quite distinct from, the original builders. So with the French dolmen at Confolens, raised on its Gothic shafts; which, as we have seen, is, in the judgment of the latest and most capable examiners, an example of mediaval reverence for a stone connected with the local folk-lore. Still less can we accept such a 'demi-dolmen' as that at Kerland in Brittany, with a crucifix raised on its higher end, as having been always a Christian monument. Mr. Fergusson thinks it 'inconceivable from what motive any Christian could have erected a cross on a pagan monument of this class, if it really were one.' But there is direct evidence that the first Christian preachers in Brittany did mark with the sign of the cross' certain stones venerated by the people. There is a 'pregnant' passage to this effect in the life of St. Samson of Dol, who when journeying through a wild part of Brittany, found the inhabitants performing some religious ceremonies about an idol (simulachrum) connected with a 'standing stone.' He persuaded them to overthrow the idol, but not the stone, which he stamped with a cross. This sign, which was cut into the rock, the nearly contemporaneous biographer says he had seen and felt.* Such a notice as this has an important bearing on the date of the monuments. This is a part of the subject on which we had intended to dwell more at length, and with especial reference to the examples in this country; to Stonehenge, which Mr. Fergusson thinks was first raised as the monument of Uther Pendragon-a somewhat mythical personage; to Avebury, which he holds to be the memorial of Arthur's 'twelfth and greatest' battle; and to the circles in Cumberland and in Somersetshire, which he supposes to be also 'Arthurian.' The great stones are themselves silent; and if we cannot positively say they are not of this period, it seems far less safe, in the absence of anything like direct evidence, to assert the contrary. The difficulties attending this theory of the very late post-Roman origin of these monuments are very great, and have been pointed out in many quarters since the appearance of Mr. Fergusson's book. We would rather draw attention to one or two points which, as it seems to us, have been clearly brought out in his volume. Thus he has shown, what of course was known before, but has never had the importance given to it which it deserves, the * Vidit ante eos in cujusdam vertice montis simulachrum abominabile adsistere (in quo monte et ego fui, signumque crucis quod sanctus Samson sua manu cum quodam ferro in lapide stante sculpsit adoravi, et mea manu palpavi).'-Vita S. Samsonis, ap. Mabillon, Acta Sanct. Ord. Benedict., i. p. 166. This life, according to Mabillon and D'Achery, was written 'ab auctore anonymo subæquali.' certainly certainly late date which must be assigned to many of the Scandinavian monuments, like those, for instance, on Braavalla Heath-the records of a battle which occurred not later than A.D. 750. They still demand a thorough examination, and the historical conclusions of the earlier northern antiquaries, which Mr. Fergusson regards as so satisfactory, since they had no doubt' as to such a monument being the tomb of such a chief, would demand a criticism not less searching than that which has been applied of late years to the mediæval annalists of Scotland. But the late date of many of the Scandinavian monuments seems to be fixed beyond much doubt. We may safely admit, therefore, that the use of some varieties of these memorials continued far into the Christian era; but there is no evidence-certainly we do not gather any from Mr. Fergusson's book-which can induce us to assign their beginning in Western Europe to any positive period. They may be, so far as we can see, of any antiquity, and they may have been erected by many different races. The resemblance between a Buddhist dagoba, some Indian dolmens, and some found in Africa and in Europe, is another fact which, however we choose to explain it, is clearly shown, and we believe for the first time, by Mr. Fergusson. He argues, that as stone buildings were unknown in India before the Bactrian conquest, and as certain of the Cingalese dagobas indicate by the construction of their rails that they were imitations in stone of a wooden building, therefore these Indian dolmens which resemble them are later than the introduction of stone, and are copies from the dagoba. A people accustomed to build with wood will no doubt sometimes continue to imitate their ancient carpentry in stone, after they become accustomed to its use. The Etruscans certainly did so, and it was clearly the case in India. But the imitation of a dolmen from a dagoba is something very different. It is the rude structure copying from the more perfect; and in the absence of direct evidence we should rather believe that the dagoba was a development from the rude and primitive dolmen. But on this future explorers may throw more light. The resemblance, at all events, is clear, and it is not the only mark of similarity between the stone monuments of the East and those of the West. Certain of the Indian dolmens have one of their stones pierced with a circular opening; and in this respect resemble others in Circassia and in Western Europe, as at Trie in France, and at Trevethy in Cornwall. There are others in which these apertures are much enlarged; and one of these in the Coorg country, figured by Mr. Fergusson, has a far away 'double' at Plas Newydd in Anglesea. In bringing out such relations as these Mr. Fergusson has done excellent service. But when he insists on the sufficiency of his theory, and declares that if it does not indicate the truth about these monuments, nothing is to be known about them, and that it is hopeless to investigate them farther, we cannot follow him. He cannot reconcile himself to ignorance. For our part, while admitting the strange attraction of these silent memorials, and the strong inducement there is to weave theory upon theory around them, we are contented to remain in uncertainty as to their age and origin, hoping much from continued research, from an accurate description of the rude stone monuments, wherever they are found, and from a careful comparison of them. ART. V.—Life, Letters, and Journals of George Ticknor. 2 vols. Boston. 1876. THE HE broad general impression left by the Life, Letters, and Journals of George Ticknor is admiration blended with surprise at the number, variety and select character of his friends and correspondents as well as the wide range of his attainments: at his exceptionally favourable reception in foreign countries as well as the many excellent qualities of head and heart which caused him to be so highly esteemed and valued in his own. Go where he will, from his first appearance in European society to the last, he is invariably accepted as a welcome guest or associate, and mixes on a perfect footing of equality with the noblest, the most distinguished, the most gifted, the most illustrious of the land. It was his fortunate lot to have known the notabilities of three generations in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain; to have lived intimately or conversed familiarly with Byron, Scott, Southey, Wordsworth, Moore, Campbell, Rogers, Sydney Smith, Hallam, Malthus, Mackintosh, Jeffrey, Lewis, and Macaulay: with Benjamin Constant and Madame de Staël, Chateaubriand and Madame Récamier with Guizot, Thiers, Tocqueville, and Lamartine with Goethe, the Schlegels, Tieck, Blumenbach, Savigny, William and Alexander von Humboldt, Niebuhr, and Voss: with Manzoni, Pellico, and Niccolini: with Pozzo di Borgo, Ancillon, Metternich, Antonelli, and Cavour. Princes and fine ladies pay court to him as well as statesmen and men of letters: he has the entrée of the most exclusive houses in the most exclusive capitals: he is made free of the Faubourg St. Germain; and he is taken to Almack's in the height of its absolutism by a patroness. • When When I went into Spanish society [he sets down at Madrid, in his Journal for 1818] it was at the houses of the Marquis de St. Iago, the Marquis de Sta. Cruz, at Mr. Pizarro's, the Prime Minister's, at the Duchess d'Ossuna's, &c. &c. I mention these because they are the best.' He might have made a similar entry at almost every European capital; and the attentions showered upon him were widely different from those which are ordinarily paid to foreigners bringing good letters of introduction. He converts the best of his casual or passing acquaintances into fast friends; and we find him repeatedly domesticated at such country-houses as Bowood, Hatfield, Woburn, Wentworth, Althorp, Chevening, Lagrange (Lafayette's), Val Richer (Guizot's), and Schloss Tetschen, the magnificent seat of the Counts Thun on the Elbe. Where was the attraction? What was his 'Open sesame' to all hearts and all houses? There was nothing striking or winning about him in look, air, or manner. He had no wit, humour, 6 or vivacity, and very little of what could fairly be called con- 'Wherefore? you ask. I can but guide your guess. Mr. Ticknor was the personification of earnestness. His distinctive merit was a lifelong devotion to high objects. He traversed Europe exclusively bent upon these. He never prized Vol. 142.-No. 283. *The New Timon.' M or or courted rank, wealth, or fashion for their own sakes; although he wisely used them as means to an end, especially when found in union with learning, cultivation, accomplishment or worth; thereby practically confirming the author of 'Lacon:' 'In all societies it is advisable to associate, if possible, with the highest: not that the highest are always the best, but because, if disgusted with them, we can at any time descend; but, if we begin with the lowest, to ascend is impossible. In the grand theatre of human life a box-ticket carries us through the house.' Mr. Ticknor was also endowed with an excellent understanding, extraordinary powers of observation and discrimination, a wide range of sympathies controlled by good feeling and good sense, a lofty spirit of independence, and a genuine disinterested admiration for genius and virtue. He seems to have been instinctively drawn towards superior natures without regard to clime; and as this got known or felt, it became a compliment to be sought by him, and a kind of self-flattery to seek him out. Whether we have hit upon the true solution of the problem will best appear from his life and opinions, of which we propose to give as full an account as our limits will permit, simply premising that this is one of the instances in which the reviewer should rely mainly on selection and quotation; for, independently of the biographical interest, we have rarely met with a richer repository of anecdotes, speculations, reflections, and remarks, moral and critical, than are comprised in the two closely-printed volumes before us. Another reason for being liberal in quotation is that no English edition has yet appeared. The opening chapter is headed Birth and Parentage-Autobiographical Sketch.' The citizens of the United States, all democrat or republican as they may be, attach rather undue importance to gentle birth. A transatlantic Warren has published a handsome quarto to prove that the Earl de Warrenne of the Plantagenet times (who left no issue), was his lineal ancestor; and we have seen a royal octavo, The Brights of Suffolk,' by a Bright of Boston, which tacitly repudiates (by not naming) the chief English illustration of the race. It was a relief, therefore, to find Mr. Ticknor disclaiming at once all pretensions to a pedigree by stating that his grandfather was a farmer, and that his father, after graduating at Dartmouth College and becoming principal of the Franklin Public School in Boston, felt his health unequal to the labour of teaching, and went into business as a grocer, in which he continued for seventeen years, i.e. till 1812, when he retired on a property sufficient for his moderate |