564 ENGLAND. 



which the stones were arranged in pairs ; each pair joined by a horizontal slab above, and 

 making a complete gateway. 'I'he height, including the whole, was 26 feet. There were 5 

 of these gateways. Within these, was another range of 19 upright stones, tapering like obe- 



Ancient Druid Temple of Stonckcnge revived 



lisks ; 6 of these are now standing. At one end of this innermost range, are the fragments of 

 a huge stone, 16 feet long, 4 feet broad, and 20 inches in thickness. Stonehenge is indeed 

 but a rude monument, but it is impossible to survey it without some of the awe which arises 

 from beiiolding more classic temples. Near the main structure of Stonehenge, are several 

 detached columns, that form no part of the original structure. In the structure, the largest 

 stones are of the weight of 30 or 40 tons, and there is no quarry of similar stone within several 

 miles. The vicinity is covered witli great numbers of barrows or mounds of earth. 



There are a few rude Danish monuments extant, but the vestiges of the Romans are nearly 

 obliterated in England. There is the line of the wall, called the wall of Severus, nmning 68 

 miles from the Tyiie to the Solway Frith. It was built A. D. 209. The facing stones have 

 long been removed, and the plough has passed over many of their places. We know the 

 description of the wall chiefly from Bede, who lived while some part of it was in good 

 preservation. 



In the city of Chester, as well as in various parts of England, are other remains. The 

 parapet here is supposed to have been originally a Roman work. There are also the remains 

 of a Roman bath, of which the roof is covered with cement ; and an altar has been found with 

 this inscription : .JVymphis et Fonlibus Leg. XX. V. V. The old part of Chester, is an anti- 

 quity of itself. The houses are of every material, and many of them are nearly falling with 

 age. The streets are in the second story of the houses, and the ground floor is open to the 

 public ; a sort of covered gallery, said to be devised for better defence in the incursions of 

 the Welch. The remains of the Saxons are not numerous, but they indicate strength in the 

 manner of building ; but England is rich in the gothic edifices, the style of which was intro- 

 duced by the Normans. Had the castles been still as needful as in those unquiet times, before 

 every man's house was his castle, or had the monastic rule continued till now, there would 

 have been hardly a ruined abbey or castle in England. A little repair will check the com- 

 mencement of decay, which, if not checked speedily, becomes dilapidation. The cathedrals, 

 used as metropolitan churches, are in excellent preservation, though they are kept so at con- 

 siderable expense. IMany of the castles suffered in the civil war, when they were used as 

 forts, and assailed by cannon. Some of them are as old as the conquest, and others were 

 erected several centuries after. They are of all forms and magnitudes, and generally in places 



