a

60

80

in 1607, stated by him to have been done " iam olim" (a long time, or good while, ago). Opposite to the highest stone, at the part of the circle between south and southeast, are the remains of some large stones, which were originally set together in that part just within the circle. The entrance seems to have been on the north

east, nearly in the direction of the King's Stone. This stone is 83 yards distant from the outer edge of the circle, in the direction marked (b-b) in the ground plan, and is now (after considerable mutilations) eight feet six inches in height

and five feet three inches in breadth. Such large stones placed singly in the vicinity of Druidical temples have been by some imagined to have served as pedestals for idols. About 390 yards nearly due east of the circle in the direction (c-c) are five large stones, called the Five Whispering Knights, which stand together, leaning towards each other, with an opening from the west. The tallest of these is now ten feet ten inches in height. They are most probably the remains of a Cromlech, or altar for the idolatrous sacrifices; but the

upper or table stone has FIVE KNIGHTS. fallen or been removed. Ground Plan. On the opposite side of

the circle to that occupied by the Knights

100 Feet. once stood on a bank or hill, 141 yards westward from the circle."

Among the Roman remains described in the work, those discovered in 1810 at Beaconsfield farm, in the village of Great Tew, are peculiarly worthy of notice; they consisted of a sepulchral crypt, over which was the tessellated floor of a temple. The crypt contained unburnt bodies, ranged from east to west in compartments, formed of flat Roman tiles. The ashes mingled with the soil surrounding the building showed that it had been destroyed by fire; a ball, supposed the ornament of the dome of the temple, lay among the rubbish. An altar stood about twenty feet south of the edifice, which had a circular apsis to the north, near which were indications of that constant appendage of a Roman villa, a bath. This, then, was the site of a villa and family tomb. That the bodies had not undergone cremation might be from the surrounding country not affording sufficient wood for the funeral piles, and is no decided proof that the deposits were of the Christian æra, which the existence of a sacrificial altar would seem to contradict.

At Wiggington, another village

a Roman hypocaust have been discovered. In the flues of this building, some perfect pieces of mineral coal were found; a proof that the Romans were acquainted with this kind of fuel. The small copper coins found on the spot indicated the period of Victorinus, Constantine, &c. Indeed it might be expected, that RomanoBritish vestiges would be plentiful in this part of England, since the Romanized Britons maintained their ground there until about the middle of the sixth century: more than a century after the final departure of the Roman Legions from Britain. In the year of our Lord 556 was fought the great battle at Banbury, between the Britons and the Saxons: so vigorously contended on either side, that the event appears to have been undecided. Not until the year 571 or thereabouts, were the Britons driven from their very numerous camps and strongholds on this part of England, which still remain to testify the resistance which they made to the Saxon arms.

Banbury and its vicinage were soon subjected to the Norman yoke; and probably about 1084, the Domesday census was effected in this part of Oxfordshire. The castle at Banbury appears to have been founded about the beginning of the 12th centuryit is conjectured on a Roman site; and here our author's first number breaks off, as he approaches that period in which ancient charters, court-rolls, inquisitiones post mortem, and ecclesiastical registers, offer their authentic aid to enlighten hie future progress. A fair and goodly blank lies before him, which we would commend him most industriously to fill up, and thus to give his work that permanent value as a section of a county history which it is in his power to obtain for it. He has the example of the learned Bishop Kennett, author of the " Parochial Antiquities,"

Dictionnaire Grec-Français, composé sur l'ouvrage intitulé,Thesaurus Linguæ Græcæ de Henri Etienne, par Jos. Planche, Professeur de Rhétorique au Collège Royal de Bourbon. 8vo. pp. 1259. We do not mention this as a new book, for it has gone through several edi

before him; and in later days, Mr. John Dunkin, author of the History of the hundreds of Bicester and Ploughley, has shewn him how much may be done by untired perseverance and research—a virtue, by the by, which redeems Mr. Dunkin's two quarto and highly illustrated volumes from the touches of an anti-church and sectarian spirit, which in one or two passages deface his pages. This first number of the history of Banbury is interspersed with several wood cuts, giving ground plots of camps, maps of Roman roads and trackways, plans and views of the Rollrich stones, of a fine old English dwelling, with its pointed gables, pinnacles, &c., and with a view of the mounds of the Roman amphitheatre at Banbury. This important vestige surely marks the place as a Roman station of consequence, for their castrensian arenæ always indicate the presence of a garrison: witness the amphitheatres at Richborough, Silchester and Dorchester, &c.; why, then, may we ask, is the assertion of Stukeley, that it was the Branavis or Brinavis of Richard of Cirencester, so summarily dismissed as an error? (p. 63,) for we are told at p. 1. that Bapanbyrig was one of its Saxon names; and, as to discrepancy of distance, all antiquaries know how very elastic and conforming the miles of a Roman Itinerary are generally considered, accommodating themselves with the easy retraction or extension of a piece of caoutchouc to the hypothesis of the topographer,-but here is an amphitheatre, and a real coincidence of name, defeated by written numbers of admeasurement, not much to be depended on.

We have perused this incipient portion of Mr. Beesley's account of Banbury with pleasure, and shall be glad to resume our notices as the work may proceed.

tions, and has been for some time on our shelf, which has given us ample opportunity to ascertain its value. It is, as the title states, an abridgement of the celebrated Lexicon of Henry Stephens. We give the editor praise for the idea of condensing a work of established character,

in preference to compiling a new one, in which he would have found great difficulty in deciding what words should be admitted or rejected. All the French terms, into which the Greek words are translated, are authorized by the Dictionary of the Academy. As we have had it in use for some time, we have no hesitation in pronouncing it one of the very best Lexicons of the smaller size. It has, of course, all the advantages which are to be derived from its being a condensation of Stephens. It is copious in technical phrases, and often enters into particular passages of authors, though the editor has not thought fit to give so many references as some other Lexicographers. We have an instance in our mind at this moment, namely, the late Mr. Jones, who rarely gives a signifi. cation, without referring to a writer who uses the word in that sense. Had his Lexicon been free from a Socinian bias in Biblical terms, it would have borne a greater value, and perhaps it may be worth re-editing, to the exclusion of those interpretations. To return, however, to M. Planche: his Lexicon will be very useful to such as wish to acquire a knowledge of French, after their school-boy days are over, since they can thus do so through the medium of Greek. We would just observe, that under the word upvros he omits the sense of ingrafted as subsequent to birth, and only gives naturel, inné.

But this oversight is compensated by general copiousness. The pages, we should add, are in three columns.

The opinion which prevails in France concerning this work is clear from the following passage, extracted from the preface to the Dictionnaire Historique of M. Beauvais. The writer (M. Nodier) speak. ing of the use of portable biographical dictionaries, in addition to voluminous ones, observes, "Ces vastes Trésors des Estienne, dont le titre n'est vraiment trop fastueux, ne dispensent toutefois personne de recourir aux excellens dictionnaires de M. Planche et de M. Nõel."* Those who are desirous of studying German through the medium of Greek, or the reverse, will find the Greek and German Lexicon of Schneider answer their purpose, as it is a work of great reputation on the Continent.

Outlines of Church History. By the Author of "Early Recollections." 18mo. -A brief but clear summary. The author brings the actions and principles of histo rical characters to the test of the word of

M. Nöel is the author of a Latin and French Dictionary.

God; and he writes in an easy and familiar style, well adapted to juvenile readers. Occasionally we think he is more familiar than suits the dignity of history or the nature of his matter: but this is a comparatively slight fault when both the facts are correct and the principles sound.

Agathos, and other Sunday Stories. By a Clergyman. 12mo.-Intended to convey religious instruction to children under the form of stories and allegories. They may please the imaginative mind, and raise up a new generation of admirers for the expressive visions of John Bunyan.

Sermons, by the late Rev. Thomas Webster, B.D. Rector of St. Botolph's, Cambridge, and Vicar of Oakington. 8vo. pp. 404.-This volume, we regret to say, is posthumous. The sermons were composed, or rather revised during the author's illness, and about half of the volume was printed when his death took place. The preface states the affecting circumstances under which they were prepared for publication. "About ten years ago (says the lamented author) I was attacked by some painful affections of the chest, which have gradually increased, and compelled me to relinquish one species of exertion after another, until, in October last, [1839] I was completely laid aside and confined to my apartment by water in the chest, accompanied by violent spasms, and alarming affection of the lungs, which threatened immediate dissolution. During the intervals of these attacks I have been endeavouring to review my ministry, and to revise some sermons which I thought might be published after my death, as a memorial to those amongst whom I have laboured." The editor (the Rev. William Webster) expresses his thanks "to those friends who so promptly encouraged the undertaking, and relieved the author from all anxiety as to the pecuniary risk." This, especially under such circumstances, we are glad to learn. The sermons are twenty-four in number, and when we mention that the author was the reputed editor of the Christian Guardian, we need say no more to commend them to such as can appreciate ability and piety.

Solutions of the principal questions of Dr. Hutton's Course of Mathematics. By Thomas Stephens Davies, Esq. F.R.S. of the Royal Military Academy. 8vo.-Professor Davies has accomplished in this work an entire reformation of the old system of schoolmasters' Keys. The solutions throughout are the work of a master hand, and the style in which the work is written proves the author to possess the

rare combination of mathematical talent and literary taste. We most cordially recommend this work to our mathematical readers.

A Catalogue of the Miscellaneous Manuscripts in the Library of the Royal Society. By James Orchard Halliwell, Esq. F.R.S. 8vo.-The greater part of the manuscripts described in this catalogue relate to scientific subjects, and are of more interest to the mathematician than the antiquary. The Royal Society has set an example which ought to be followed by every society possessing collections of manuscripts. The author appears to have performed his work carefully and judiciously.

A few Notes on the History of the Discovery of the Composition of Water. By J. O. Halliwell, Esq. F.R.S. 8vo.-This pamphlet is a supplement to the memoirs of Arago and Brougham on the same subject, with a view to support the priority of Priestley's claim to the discovery.

Church Music: a Selection of Chants, Sanctuses, and Responses, together with the Litany and Versicles, as used in the Choral Service; also PsalmTunes adapted to the authorised Metrical Versions, arranged and edited by Richard Redhead, Organist, Margaret Chapel, St. Marylebone. This small volume contains a goodly collection of chants adapted to the Psalms for the successive days of the month, as well as others for the hymns and versicles, as used in cathedral service; and as the custom of chanting many portions of the church service is much gaining ground in our parish churches, such a book as the present will doubtless be found useful. Some Psalm tunes are added, harmonized for four voices, with the words of the old or new version, proper for the festivals of the English Church.

The Real and Ideal, 2 vols.-There is much feeling for art in these volumes, a warm imagination—and a poetical talent; but the author is not conversant with antiquity, and his learning is often inaccurate. Who can the author allude to at p. 311 of the second volume? "There was an Englishman in the East, now no more, who took up the profession of a Dervish, sounded his horn when he approached a town, and the inhabitants fought among themselves to receive so holy a character under their roof; or in a less religious locality, danced in the market place till he got an invitation. Presents of money were given him, and as many wives and head of cattle as he

liked to carry away, and which, obliged to leave behind, would have made a patriarch's fortune. The ladies he was in the habit of exchanging, and on one occasion he shocked the wives of some Missionaries at Beirout, by mentioning, in their company, that he bartered one for a donkey. In consequence of his services to the Euphrates' expedition, who fell upon him in their wanderings, he was rewarded by the East India Company with a situation in Bagdad, to carry on the post to India, and he proposed to save his 3007. a year pay, living still in his clerical capacity; but 'thou canst not serve God and Mammon,' and the cholera took him off on his way to his appointment." The account in the same volume of the Bibles of the Missionary Society lighting for three months the kitchen fire of the Emir Beshir, and of the use made of our schools by the Greeks and Arabs, is worth attention. He says the boys learn English, and become dragomen to the consuls, and the girls washing and needle-work, by which they gain a handsome income-preserving all the while the most extreme jealousy of their own faith.

History of Christianity in India, from the Commencement of the Christian Æra. By the Rev. J. Hough, Curate of Ham. 2 vols.-These volumes contain only the first part of the work, which is to embrace the general history of Christianity in India. Though the author speaks with much modesty of it, yet it is executed with great diligence and research. They contain the history of the Syrian Church and the Romish Missions, to the commencement of the present century. The remaining two will give the history of the Protestant Missions. The most interesting part begins with the Missions of F. Xavier, then the inquisition at Goa, and the history of the attempts of the Romish Church on the Syrian Church of Malabar. The history of Don Alexio de Menezes, Archbishop of Goa, is given at great length, as from its importance it deserved. This is followed by the history of the Church at Malabar, and of the Romish Missions at Pondicherry. To which is added a valuable Appendix, containing a diocesan synod of the church and bishoprick of Diamper. No doubt but that the succeeding volumes which the author promises will be of more interest, but the present ones contain a great deal of vaÎuable research given in a clear and simple style. We trust that the characters of the missions of the Papal Church and of the Protestant will appear in bright contrast with each other, when the history of the latter appears.