carved stone at essie. 
HlS obelilk was accidentally difcovered by Mr. Cordluer, in the bank of a 
1'h , r * Vu ^ et that runs by the village of EJfie, near to Glaimes, in Forfar Shire. 
jjij- , riVu ^ e t had walhed away the foil in which it had lain buried for ages, and thus 
t j ° to view an elegant and fingular piece of antiquity, in the higheft preferva- 
er e£t ^ reta ' ns * n * ts ma h-e ftriking evidences of having been defigned to (land 
hoin the ground, and is therefore undoubtedly a monument of the obelilk 
fut ' ^ * S rich ly carved on both'fides (the reverfe of it fhall be inferted in a 
a nd ^ ^ lI1T1 her) ; and fome feet of length of the lower part of the Hone are left rude, 
loiio'c^ ^ cu ^P tu re, for being funk into the ground, and inclofed by the Heps of 
*ncf ^ Uare ft° n es, wherewith they are commonly found furrounded and fupported; 
‘Moulding runs along to mark the intended vifible bafe. 
Th 
titl e 6 ^ ea ^ ln g difpofition, and graceful defign, of fome of the ornaments, give it a 
fom e t0 ca ^ e< i elegant , as the work of an otherwife rude and early age. And 
fi ^il a n0Vdt y an< ^ P eculiarit y ’ n t h e habits and proceffion of the figures, give a 
ar c laim to the other epithet above, that it is a fingular piece of antiquity. 
fiime ^ t ^* S rnonument was firft raifed from its muddy bed, and walhed from the 
f eai 's, the appearance of a folemn proceffion of reverend figures in robes, 
f U£ y ers feemingly attending, adorned with foliage and flowers, immediately 
difj-j . £ he idea of Druid priefts going to facrifice j and the confecrated victims, 
hojj ° U; lhed by thefe peculiar garlands and wreaths. A figure above feemed to 
^ads* 1 Wea P on rea dy to (laughter the expiatory offerings and the circles over the 
ti 0n °^ t he holy men were either cholen fymbols of the myfleries of their devo- 
Werg T etT1 * 3 ^ ems °f thofe hallowed circles in which the folemnities of their worlhip 
pri^J 1 ' Va f s performed. — Thefe delightful difcoveries of the ancient rites of the 
Wi t u la l religion of our country, was too grand a reverie to be relinquilhed 
Bu t UC iome refleftions a little mortifying to the fpiritof antiquarian inveffigation. 
an clean{ l n g off the clay from the other fide of the Hone, the appearance of 
rate ^ i 5 arit ^ finally of a fumptuous crofs, emblazoned high with the moll: elabo- 
af ter t j f P le ndid decorations, clearly evidenced the monument to have been carved 
left thef ^ e,:t:er Bght of Chriftianity had regulated devotion, infpired the arts, and 
e Memorials through the kingdom of its early influence and fway. Although 
i the 
