When I lately made the tour of the south west parts of Ireland, I saw several of those buildings called usually Penitential Towers; not one of them had either belting or girting, nor the least sign of there having been any room in them till within ten feet of the top; that room had windows exactly facing the cardinal points; from thence, downward to the entrance, which is about fifteen feet above the surface of the ground, only a few slits were cut, just to give light to persons going up or down the stairs. These towers are all built of stone, and exceeding strong, the stones and mortar remarkably good; and in general they are intire to this day, though many churches near which they stood are either in ruins or totally destroyed.

When I lately made the tour of the south west parts of Ireland, I saw several of those buildings called usually Penitential Towers; not one of them had either belting or girting, nor the least sign of there having been any room in them till within ten feet of the top; that room had windows exactly facing the cardinal points; from thence, downward to the entrance, which is about fifteen feet above the surface of the ground, only a few slits were cut, just to give light to persons going up or down the stairs. These towers are all built of stone, and exceeding strong, the stones and mortar remarkably good; and in general they are intire to this day, though many churches near which they stood are either in ruins or totally destroyed.

Mr. Gordon, in his Itinerarium Septentrionale, p. 164, 165, and pl. LXII. has described and exhibited two round towers in Scotland; one at Abernethy, near Perth, the other at Brechin. The first being in the capital city of the Picts, of whom it is the only remain, has probably occasioned these monuments to be called Pictish. But as they are more numerous in Ireland, where we have no reason to think that people ever were, and all in that kingdom, as well as in Scotland, stand near parochial or cathedral churches, or churches of some consideration, it seems a more probable conjecture that they were erected in the earliest ages of Christianity, before the introduction of bells (which were first invented or made use of in the 6th or 7th century), from whence to call the people to church by the found of trumpets or horns, such having been found near several in Ireland. That at Ardmore has since been used as a belfry; and Mr. Smith describes two channels cut in the door fill, to let the rope out, the ringer standing below the door, on the outside: in which manner the bells are still rung at Kelso in Scotland, and at the cathedral of Kildare, unless it be objected that this last may only prove its application as a belfry since it was first built.

Mr. Gordon, in his Itinerarium Septentrionale, p. 164, 165, and pl. LXII. has described and exhibited two round towers in Scotland; one at Abernethy, near Perth, the other at Brechin. The first being in the capital city of the Picts, of whom it is the only remain, has probably occasioned these monuments to be called Pictish. But as they are more numerous in Ireland, where we have no reason to think that people ever were, and all in that kingdom, as well as in Scotland, stand near parochial or cathedral churches, or churches of some consideration, it seems a more probable conjecture that they were erected in the earliest ages of Christianity, before the introduction of bells (which were first invented or made use of in the 6th or 7th century), from whence to call the people to church by the sound of trumpets or horns, such having been found near, several in Ireland. That at Ardmore has since been used as a belfrey; and Mr. Smith describes two channels cut in the door sill, to let the rope out, the ringer standing below the door, on the outside: in which manner the bells are still rung at Kelso in Scotland.

I know of nothing that affords the inquisitive mind of man so much pleasure, as the developing the original of antient and obscure customs; and if it happens, that former conjectures have miscarried, and men's opinions concerning them have been thereby misled, the satisfaction will then be double, because, at the same time that you establish a truth, you are routing and convicting an error.

I know of nothing that affords the inquisitive mind of man so much pleasure, as the developing the original of antient and obscure customs; and if it happens that former conjectures have miscarried, and mens opinions concerning them have been thereby misled, the satisfaction will then be double, because, at the same time that you establish a truth, you are routing and convicting an error.

The person who communicated this inscription to the Society a few years ago, informed us that it was found about Corbridge, in Northumberland, near the wall; where, as there were many Roman legions, particularly the Legio Secunda Augusta, and Vicesima Victrix ordered thither, the first from Isca Silurum, the other from Deva, or Chester, in order to keep the wall in repair, and defend it.

The person who communicated this inscription to the Society a few years ago, informed us that it was found about Corbridge in Northumberland, near the wall; where, as there were many Roman legions, particularly the Legio Secunda Augusta, and Vicesima Victrix ordered thither, the first from Isca Silurum, the other from Deva, or Chester, in order to keep the wall in repair, and defend it. We can make no doubt of its being Roman, notwithstanding it is written in Greek characters; for this manner of writing inscriptions was an affectation frequently to be met with in the Lower Empire, or after the time of Constantine; and was sometimes carried so far, as that when the language was entirely Latin, the character was Greek, and vice versa: examples of which are to be found in Fabretti, Inscript. p. 390, and 465.

I have paid attention to the inscription which you submitted to me. I am sorry I cannot assent to the explanations which other learned gentlemen have offered; neither am I well satisfied with my own. Inscriptions in general, Greek ones particularly, are accompanied with great embarrassments, owing to their shortness, the ignorance of carvers, and the inaccuracy of transcribers and publishers. Few copies are fac similes.

I have paid attention to the inscription which you submitted to me. I am sorry I cannot ascent to the explanations which other learned gentlemen have offered; neither am I well satisfied with my own. Inscriptions ingeneral, Greek ones particularly, are accompanied with great embarrassments, owing to their shortness, the ignorance of carvers, and the inaccuracy of transcribers and publishers. Few copies are fac similes. Though this inscription may be looked on as such, I apprehend nothing can make grammar or sense of it, but reading it in this manner:

Dr. Percy, in that part of the Essay on the Ancient English Minstrels, prefixed to his Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, which concerns the state and condition of these people in the Saxon times, previous to the Norman conquest, has given us, in my opinion, a false, or at best, an ill-grounded idea of their rank and condition within that period. This imaginary notion, for such I take it to be, I propose to discuss in the shortest manner I can.

Dr. Percy, in that part of the Essay on the Ancient English Minstrels, prefixed to his Reliques of Antient English Poetry, which concerns the state and condition of these people in the Saxon times, previous to the Norman conquest, has given us, in my opinion, a false, or at best an ill-grounded idea of their rank and condition within that period. This imaginary notion, for such I take it to be, I propose to discuss in the shortest manner I can.

In the parish of Addington, near Town Malling, in Kent, about 500 paces to the north east of the church, in a rabbit warren, upon a little eminence, are the remains of several large stones, placed in an oval form. The inside of the area from east to west is 50 paces, the breadth in the middle from north to south 42 paces; at the east end is a flat stone, placed somewhat like that which they call the Altar at Stone Henge: Pl vi. fig. 1. No 1. This stone in the longest part is nine feet, in the broadest seven feet, and near two feet thick. Behind this, a little to the north, is another flat stone, No. 2. which seems to have stood upright, but is now, by some accident, thrown down. This is fifteen feet long, seven feet wide, and two feet thick.

In the parish of Addington, near Town Malling, in Kent, about 500 paces to the north east of the church, in a rabbit warren, upon a little eminence, are the remains of several large stones, placed in an oval form. The inside of the area from east to west is 50 paces, the breadth in the middle from north to south 42 paces; at the east end is a flat stone, placed somewhat like that which they call the Altar at Stone Henge: Pl. vi. fig. 1. No. 1. This stone in the longest part is nine feet, in the broadest seven feet, and near two feet thick. Behind this, a little to the north, is another flat stone, No. 2. which seems to have stood upright, but is now, by some accident thrown down. This is fifteen feet long, seven feet wide, and two feet thick. The stone No. 3. next the altar on the north side, is seven feet high, seven feet wide, and two feet thick; the top of this hath been broken off.

The stone I have now the honour of laying before you for your inspection, was found some years ago on ploughing some new inclosed pasture ground, near Spurnston, in the parish of St. Cuthbert, Carlisle, in a little hillock, or raised piece of ground, about four yards one way, and three the other, a little above a foot in height, consisting entirely of earth.

The stone I have now the honour of laying before you for your inspection, was found some years ago, on ploughing some new enclosed pasture ground, near Spurnston, in the parish of St. Cuthbert, Carlisle, in a little hillock, or raised piece of ground, about four yards one way, and three the other, a little above a foot in height, consisting entirely of earth.

We have had two stone instruments lately discovered in this island, which are supposed, and I think with reason, to be British, and of a very remote antiquity. They were exhibited at the Society accompanied with learned dissertations by the respective members; the first by the late worthy president, the bishop of Carlisle, and the second by the Rev. Mr. Lort. Another of these instruments has lately fallen into my hands, on which occasion, as there seems to remain some doubt concerning the use of them amongst our ancestors, I shall take the liberty of giving my opinion upon that head, together with the grounds thereof.

We have had two stone instruments lately discovered in this island, which are supposed, and I think with reason, to be British, and of a very remote antiquity. They were exhibited at the Society, accompanied by learned dissertations by the respective members; the first by the late worthy president, the bishop of Carlisle, and the second by the Rev. Mr. Lort. Another of these instruments has lately fallen into my hands, on which occasion, as there seems to remain some doubt concerning the use of them among our ancestors, I shall take the liberty of giving my opinion upon that head, together with the grounds thereof.

The parish church of Sunning-Hill in Berkshire, is a specimen, both in its form and size, of the earlier parochial churches which were built in this kingdom, consisting only of a nave, and a small chancel, divided by a square belfry tower.

The parish church of Sunning-hill in Berkshire is a specimen, both in its form and size, of the earlier parochial churches which were built in this kingdom, consisting only of a nave, and a small chancel, divided by a square belfry tower.