The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-26 00:00:00

Druids' Circles in Northumberland.

Since the examination of the Castle Howard tumuli a
few weeks ago, the Rev. William Greenwell, of Durham,
has been making most interesting discoveries relating
to the British period in Northumberland, at Blawerie,
near Eglingham, west of Alnwick. In this district there
are many remains of British occupancy—camps, tumuli,
Druids' circles, &c. ; and it is in the latter that Mr. Green-
well's latest researches have been carried on. The results
elicited show that instead of the popular, and the
often-published, notion of these circles being "courts of
justice," " temples for Druid rites," " places of assembly,"
and other extravagancies being correct, they are—most of
them, at least—simply places of sepulture. Some years ago,
it seems, a cist was discovered in what had hitherto been
named a "Druids' circle." The stones forming this circle
are large slabs set on edge, sometimes touching, at other
times some short distance apart. The circle was 36ft. in
diameter, and there was no mound within, the interments
in the cists, of which there were more than ono, being sunk
into the natural soil, the lid or cover of each cist being just
level witlaothe grassy surface. In the cist which was first
opened a cinerary urn was found, of which Mr. Greenwell
has a small fragment showing the nature of the pottery
(which has been thick and very rude), but there is not
enough to show the shape. Mr. Greenwell's explorations
of the remainder of the area within the circle yielded most
interesting archaeological results. About 9 feet from the
centre a second cist was discovered lying N.W. by S.E.
This grave was aft. 4in. long by lft. 10in. wide and lft.
10in. deep, and was made of four slabs of stone set edge-
wise, with a fifth slab as cover. In the north corner was a
cinerary urn, lying on its side, the mouth towards the
centre of the cist, and almost buried in light sand, which
had been strewn over the burial, and was now about 4 in.
in depth. The urn is perfect, and is of a singular shape,
much resembling a common flower pot in form. It is
covered externally with lines arranged herringbone fashion
which have been made by a sharp pointed instrument when
the clay was in a plastic state. The urn is Gin. wide in the
mouth, and Gin. high. The bodies had completely gone to
decay in this as well as in the other cists from the air gain-
ing free admission, there being no earth or any covering
save the superabundant slab over any of the burials. Three
feet to the west was another cist, from which the cover,
being a useful slab of stone, had been carried off by some
local Vandal some years since. After careful removal of
the accumulated rubbish, it was found that the cist con-
tained about Gin. in depth of fine sand, and abounded in
relics of the pre-historic race. A very pains-taking
examination of the sand brought to light at the north
corner a flint knife and a necklace of 89 jet beads. There
had no doubt originally been 91 beads, but in the search or
at disturbance when tho cover was removed one or two had
been lost. Although the body had decayed beyond recogni-
tion, there was yet enough arrangement left to show how
the beads had been strung. Ten of the beads were long and
cylindrical, the others were flattish—circular, not quite
globular. The arrangement was one cylindrical and then
nine globular beads, consecutively. Twelve feet from the
centre, on the north-west side, was another cist, N.E. by
S.W., being 2ft. 4in. long by Ift. sin. wide, and lft. sin.
deep. It was formed of four edgewise stones and a cover,
and had 4in. of sand at the bottom. So far as could be found
nothing had been interred with this burial, and of the body
all trace had disappeared. The cist without a cover, and
which contained the beautiful beads, was rather larger than
the last mentioned, being 2ft. Bin. by 2ft. 3in. and lft. 3in.
deep. The district in which this encircled graveyard of the
Britons stands abounds in camps and barrows, and has one
of those remarkable rocks covered with the concentrict
circles. This rock and the fine camp are half a mile distant
from the burials. rijiere are two other circles inteiasr whichalmost
it is proposed to explore on a future occasn
• certain that all small and so-called
places of sepulture, and that the circle
isionlyDruidicalthe circles
fencingare
rtehqeume n
as tl y
w r
well
lul n
as
oin f
off or outer preservation which is foundlthvi s
the base of barrows, and sometime
on the outsides, and sometimes also at a short distance
circumference. Sir R. C. Hoare, in Wilts, thought
ftrhoomsetihnetermentswith no mound but within a circle of earth
or rubble (there being no stone in that district) were of
Druids, from • They
the rich ornaments found with them.
are undoubtedly of women. In the Blawerie find the
burial with the necklace was of a woman, but nothing
can be said as to the sex of the others. The north of Eng-
land interments differ from tho Wilts, where only one body
is found in the cirele, ours having several interments, and
both of unburnt and burnt bodies, showing the circle to be
the cemetery ipr.sucCesglYo tribes,

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The Prince and Princess of Wales.

We are authorised to state that circumstances
have compelled the Prince of Wales to abandon his
intention of visiting Dunrobin Castle this year.—
Inverness Aclvertiser.

Foreign Courts.
BERLIN, Sept. 23.
_ _

The King returned to Berlin this evening from
Merseburg, accompanied by Count von Bismarck.
Soon after his Majesty's arrival he appeared at the
Opera. On Monday the King will go to Lauen-
burg by special train, and with his Majesty will be
several of the Prussian princes. Count von Bis-
marck and many court officials and military officers
of high rank will attend the King, who will return
on Wednesday.
The Queen of Prussia was present at the christen-
ing of the infant daughter of Prince and Princess
William of Baden, at Baden yesterday, and after-
wards received a visit from the Queen of the Nether-
lands.

BALL BY H. R. H. THE PRINCESS OF WALES.---

On Friday evening a grand private ball took place
at Abergeldie Castle, on invitations issued by their Royal
Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. Dancing
commenced at about 10 o'clock, and was continued till one
o'clock, their Royal Highnesses being present the most of
the time. Amongst those present were :—The distin-
tinguished party from Balmoral Castle—the Prince and
Princess Louis of Hesse, tho Princess Helena, the Princess
Beatrice, the Princess Hilda of Anhalt, Sir Charles PhipPs,
General Grey and Mrs. Grey, Lady Churchill, Col. Bruce,
Baron Schenck and Baron Ruiben, &c. ; the party from
Mar Lodge—the Earl of Fife, the Countess of Fife, Lord
MaCDuff, Lady Anne Duff ; Garden Campbell, Esq., of
Troup ; Burn Callender, Esq., of Preston Hall, &c. ; •the
party from Invercauld House-,—Colonel Farquharson, Mrs.
Farquharson, Mr. John Athole Farquharson, Lord Holmes-
dale, Lady Holmesdale, Sir Edmund Filmer, Lady Filmer,
Baillie Cochrane, M.P., and Miss Cochrane, Col. Marshall
and Mrs. Marshall, London, Hon. Mr. Edgerton and Mrs.
Edgerton, &c. ; the party from Aboyne Castle—the Mar-
quis of Huntly, Lady Mary Gordon, &c.; Capt. Stockwell
and party of the officers commanding the garrison batta-
lion at Ballater, &c.—Dundee Advertiser.

PRINCE AIIADEUS.—His Royal Highness Prince
Amadeus of Italy arrived at Liverpool yesterday morning,
from Dublin, accompanied by his Excellency the Marquis
d'Azeglio and the officers attending in his suite. His royal
highness was met by the Italian Consul, who accompanied
him to his hotel. After visiting " the lions" of the city,
his royal highness took his departure for Glasgow, accom-
panied by the Italian Minister and attendants. We under-
stand his royal highness will remain about a week in Scot-
land, and on his return to the. Italian Legation will give 3
series of dinners before he returns to Italy.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge has
left town on a tour of visits. His royal highness is at
present staying at Sir George and Lady Julia Wombwell's
seat in Yorkshire.

His Serene Highness Prince George of Soims
arrived yesterday at tho Hanoverian Legation from a tour
of visits in Scotland.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Bristol are
staying for the present at his lordship's shooting lodge,
near Dingwall, North Scotland. The noble marquis and
marchioness are expected to return to Ickworth Park/
near Bury St. Edmunds, at the latter end of the ensuing
month.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury are
entertaining a select party at Hatfield House, Herts.

The Earl of Derby, according to the accounts
received in town yesterday from Knowsley, was rathoc
better, but was still suffering from great weakness.

We are authorised to state that a marriage has
been arranged between the Earl of Dudley and Miss
Moncrieffe, third daughter of Sir Thomas and Lady Louisa
Moncrieffe. The marriage will take place early in No-
vember.

Viscountess Jocelyn and Hon. Miss Jocelyn are
expected to join Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, itt
Brockott Hall, towards the end of the week, from Ireland.
Lord and Lady Clarence Paget have left his
lordship's official residence at the Admiralty for their seat
in Wales.

The Right Hon. William F. Cowper, M.P., and
Mrs. Cowper, left town on Saturday for Dublin, and will
make a tour of visits in Ireland before their return home-
The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disraeli
have loft Ashridge Castle for Woburn Abbey, on a visit to
Mr. H. Russell, 31. P., and Lady Elizabeth Russell.
The Marchioness of Lonrinml.u7. yiulonging
..lourn at Dieppe.