18 
wild, uncultivated, though not an uninteresting country, first ap- 
proaches it, he experiences a sensation of disappointment. For it 
stands a single object on a hill, and from its figure (being round) 
producing but little effect of light and shade ; and, having no fami- 
liar object by which to measure its magnitude, and. its importance 
being rather diminished by the extent and desolation of the sur- 
rounding scenery, he attaches a meaner opinion to it than it deserves. 
But when he enters it, he is struck with astonishment; and _ his 
imagination almost instantly transports him to distant ages lost in 
remote antiquity. He vainly endeavours to figure, in his “ mind’s 
eye,’ the beings who erected it, their manners, habits, and costume ; 
until, “ lost and bewildered in the fruitless search,” his mind retirns 
to sober investigation, again to lapse into conjecture. This effect is 
not lost by familiarity :—I have visited it a hundred times, ‘and have 
always experienced the same sensation. 
The plan, which I have annexed, and which has the advantage of 
accurate measurement, will, I hope, give some idea of the building. 
You enter by a door six feet high, by four feet six inches wide at 
top and five feet ‘at the bottom, through ‘a wall thirteen feet five 
inches thick, into an apparently circular area of eighty-eight feet 
one way by eighty-nine feet the other; but this difference of diame- 
ter is so small in proportion to its size, that it appears perfectly cir 
cular. The periphery is divided into ten compartments of steps or 
seats, ascending to the top of the surrounding wall in the shape of 
the letter X, through one of which youenter. The circumference 
is not accurately divided into these compartments; but the difference 
between them does not offend the eye at your first entrance, nor 
do you perceive it until you come to measure and examine the build- 
ing in detail. 
In one part, where the wall is perfect, it is surmounted by a pro- 
