The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-03-02 00:00:00

LECTURE ON DRUIDISM.

On Friday evening last, a lecture on Druidism was
delivered at the Collegiate Institution, by the Rev. D.
James. It was the second of a series by our local cler-
gymen.
At the dispersion of Babel, the scattered portions of the
hnman family carried with ttem the elements of revealed
religion ; and in a short period Britain became inhabited
from the plains of Shinar. The Phoenicians trailed with
Britain at an early period for the tin which is still pro-
' duced in the south west of the island ; and the ancient
name of the Scilly isles, Cassiterides, is evidence of its
production. The tin was mixed with copper, and pro-
duced bronze ; which the ancients called brass. The
traffic is spoken of by many early writers, and even Homer
mentions the existence and use of tin. As no other
mines are spoken of hut those of Britain, the infen'nce is
that it was procured here exclusively ; and as the opara-
tions required long experience, the island must have bee
peopled at a very early time. The Romans also found a
warlike people on the slimes, who kept them at bay for
some time, and in a condition of warfare for several years.
From these and other evidences, the lecturer inferred that
Druidism was the religion of the patriarchs; that it pro-
ceeded from the east to the west ; and that it was brought
to Britain at a very early period.
The term Druids means wise men of the oak ; and the
rites of the system were celebrated under that tree. The
three orders consisted of the arch Druid, the bards, and
the students. The first was specially the minister of reli-
gion ; his beard teas long and his hair short ; he carried a
hook for purposes of instruction ; and his robe was of I
white like a modern surplice, to indicate purity. The
bards composed verses, retailed knowledge, preserved tra-
ditions, and were a sort of living histories. Their costume
consisted of a sky blue robe, indicative of peace. The
students were ambitious to become bards; they wore a
ereen robe, emblematic of the springtime of life, and
suggestive of exertion. The meetings for instruction
were held at the eqainoxes and solstices. in the open air,
within a el:Tip of stones, which included the chief Druid
and bards. No weapon, nor any approach to contention
was permitted to enter this " charmed ring ;" and thus
the peculiar religious rites were celebrated for many
'enerations. They held other meetings of a less impor-
tant character at the new and full moon. They honoured
the use of letters, but taught traditionally, and much of
their learning is preserved in the triads which are more
common in Wales than in other western countries of the
old continent.

All ancient nations have practised sacrificing as part of
theirreligion : in this, Jew and Pagan coincAed. There
was nothing unusual therefore in the Druids sacrificing
inferior animals, since that was rightly done, when rightly
understood, till Christ came. It has been asserted, how-
ever, that they offered sacrifices, but this the lecturer was
unwilling to admit, and suggested that the execution of
malefactors might have given rise to the statement. In
attempting to identify the Druidical religion with that of
the patriarchs, it was remarked that Abraham built an
altar and worshipped under an oak ; also that Moreh and
Mamre may be translated in Welsh so as to mean oak;
while a modern traveller hasdiscovered that Mamre is not
a plain at all, hut a grove of oaks. . . .

The christian had been introduced into this
country ahout A. D. 60 by Caractacus, who had been pri-
soner at Rome. The Druids readily embraced the new
faith. and became its propagators ; just as the Jews should
trive done. had they possessed dispositions as docile. Many
churches in Wales, therefore, are built on the ancient
sites of Druidical circles ; God being still worshipped,
though in a different form and manner.

HORTICULTURE.

--4>---

The question how to lay out a mall garden, has been
asked a thousand time , and has as often been replied to;
hut, we believe, never satisfactorily so to the hulk of those
who ask the question. These who have a large piece of
ground to lay out, or at least the proportion usually con-
sidered requisite for a real villa, would rather consult a
landscape gardener with good practical taste, than attempt
to decide for themselves from hooks, even though they be
as clearly written and well arranged as Mr. Kemp's ex-

iuzzling question

formation are

those who possess those small suburban gardens which
have hitherto been overlooked by authors upon landscape

gardening.
In the arrangement of small gardens, it is almost absurd
to adhere to any fixed rule ; individual taste is, and ever

we shall,

therefore, only attempt to direct the arrangement and
selection of the plants for the adornment of the beds.
Want of some rule on this important point is seriously
felt : one person will produce a display far surpassing his
neighbour, by merely making a judicious selection of
plants, oftentimes with a smaller pecuniary expenditure.
One very prominent fault is the falling in love with
every plant that comes in the way,—an amiable failing
truly, but one which leads to overcrowding and c-msequent
confusion. Every flower has some beauties individually,
but does not always add to the collective beauty of a mis-
cellaneous group. Colour, if brilliant, is always beautiful
in flowers, but if not properly combined, its effect is greatly
decreased, if not spoiled. Therefore the judicious arrange-
ment of colours is of great importance. Height, too, is
another important consideration ; for, if not well managed,
it leads to confusion. Knowledge of the habits of plants
is also required, in order to prevent our having one flower
blooming in perfection whilst its immediate neighbour is
in a state of decay. This last fault is remedied by choos-

ng groups of plants all of which bloom as nearly as pos-
ible at the same time, so that successional sets may be
Thus, in the spring, crocuses, snowdrops, hya-

arranged

herbaceous„ heath, mezereon, and others, will make the
zarden smile with beauty during the early spring months,

say January and February, if mild ' • at the end of March
many of the herbaceous plants will bloom, as for instance
the white rock, yellow alyssum, perennial candy tuft,
basil-like saponaria, the primroses, many of the saxe-
frages, and a variety of beautiful things which will conti-
nue through April. May is not so flowery a month as is
usually supposed ; still some plants may be chosen to fill
the gap ; in the meantime, the first spring group dies
away, and being principally bulbous plants, they need not
be disturbed; but at the commencement of June, verbenas,
calceolarias, salveas, and other bedding plants, may be
planted close to the places occupied by the bulbs, and will
soon grow over and cover those vacant spots with plants
which will sustain the beauty of the parterres until winter
comes to destroy all floral beauties. We need hardly say
that roses, especially those of the perpetual kinds, cannot
well be left out of any garden arrangements.