272 VOICES FROM THE WOODLANDS. 



baskets and vessels for domestic purposes, that they excited 

 the admiration of even the polished Romans. Their shields 

 also, which often presented an impregnable barrier to the 

 attacks of their enemies, were woven with similar materials, 

 and covered with hides ; and of nearly the same construction 

 were the boats of your remote ancestors, as described by 

 Csesar, Pliny, and Lucan. Solinus likewise makes mention 

 of wattled boats as common to the Scotch and Irish ; in 

 such the heroes of Ossian rowed across their blue lakes. 



In later times, and when the descendants of the 

 ancient Britons had taken a high standing among nations, 

 one of my kindred became associated with the name of 

 Sophia, Queen of Prussia. If a passing traveller, recalling to 

 mind a scene of domestic happiness in the life of that dis- 

 tinguished woman, should pass through the shaded avenue 

 of trees at Neugarten, and sit down beneath the old willow 

 on the margin of the lake, where its long spreading 

 boughs bend towards the earth, and a glorious view extends 

 over Weisen and the Peacock Island, let him remain quietly 



