528 Account of some Antiques, ec. 
embrace the opportunity of making a few ob- 
servations concerning them. 
These.celts are always of brass, let their form 
be ever so various, always with a thick crust of 
aerugo upon them. They have been found in 
many different places in England, Wales and 
Ireland ; at Herculaneum and other places upon 
the Continent ; and are supposed to have belong- 
ed to the Celtz, or first inhabitants of this island» 
from whom the name is given by antiquaries to 
these instruments; in France they are called 
Gallic hatchets. — 
They have been supposed older than the 
invention of iron, which perhaps may be the 
case from whence they came, and in Britain 
where they were brought; but a conclusion from 
this cannot be drawn that iron was unknown in 
other places. 
Mr. Lort, in his observations upon celts, says 
they were too awkward to have been invented 
- and fashioned by the Romans, and at the same 
time that they were too correct and shapely to 
have been the work of the Britons before the 
invasion of Julius Cesar. All authors however 
have agreed to allow them to be of high anti- 
quity : as to my opinion I am inclined to think 
them ihe greatest antiquties this island can boast 
of, and that they’surpass all others in point of 
age. Their resemblance is not found upon any 
