Litchfield enquirer., 1847-06-24
MfScCIIdMD,
THE DRUID'S TEMPLE

ark Daily Advertiser gives the following
 interesting account of a pedestrian excur>
 sion, in the Lake District 50 called, near
 Carlisle, England:-
 CARLISLE, [England,l ] April 27, l847. 1 I mentioned in a former letter that I 1 had made tour of what is called the 1 Lake District-the Switzerland of Eng- l land. It's scenery is not considered so
 grand as that presented among the lochs and mountains of Scotland; yet, in uni
 ting harmoniously grandeur and beauty,
 it receives the palm. Itisno to lovers of
 nature alone that the rural region is in> leresting, but 10 the aniquary and the curious it has many attractions. Ruins of castles, abbeys, remains of Roman stations and Druidical erections afford
 rich food for such. To lovers of poetry
 it possesses peculiar interest, having been the chosen residence of several great mes dcrn poets, and being now the fond re- treat where the great philosophical poet of the age, or rather of an age gone by, is spending the twilight of his days. Itwas the latter part of March, when started with carpet-bag and sta fl, to make ] pedestrian tour of this famous hunt of the Lake Poeis.' The season had open ed remarkably early and the face of na> ture wore almost the freshness and bloom of May. Anticipating a continuance of this state of things, promised myself much pleasure from my independent mode of travelling; resolving to move along a: an easy jog, resting when tired, ard going on again when in the humor, and making short stages, and in short, following all the whims and fancies I might conceive in regard to .he life of a jolly pedestrian.
 The first day, during which I walked ten miles, passed without any particular incident that recollect. Dark of tue Sc. cond day found me sitting on the bank of the river Eden, waiting for a boat 10 con- vey me across. had left the main road about six miles on the right, for the pur> pose of seeing a noted Druidical erection called Druds' Temple, or more commons Iy, Long Meg aud her daughters: To save few miles, I had taken byrroad 10 this part of the river, learning that 1 could cross here by boat kept at a mill on the bank. For this purpose, had waited since two o'clock in the afternoon, lhc boat having been taken 10 the other side by a servant man, who had been told would return immediately.
 l was just beginning 10 despair of his coming before dark, and was sounding the miller in reference 10 lodgings, when he hove in sight. l would even then have preferred stopping at the miIler's 10 crossing so late but as the good wife de> mured, l made the beS. of my way to the landing, which the expected man had reached with the boat. He immediately rOwed me across. giving me directions to Long Meg. was 10 pass straight thro' wood (with no path) till came 10 a long hedge beyonh, keep to the left along the hedge 10 a gate which would open to a cart track, and follow the latter to a farm house, adjoining winch I would find the
 field containing the Druid stones. Dark ness Was now has;ened on by clouds which began 10 cover the sky, portending a shower. When reached the farm house, stated my case 10 the farmer, appealing to his hospitality for a nights entertainment; but he hcsitated. plead ing want of suitable accommodations, ,he absence of the women and various other excuses, adding that there was an inn atout mile distant.
 He directed me as to the shortes: way 1 through the field containing lhe Druids'
 Temple, at the extremity of which, he said, would strike lane leading 10 the
 inn. Taking this course accordingly, 1 found myself in a few minutes in lh0 cen- | ti S 'i tA NA S'- AC' lA'N '1 blocks of stone. 1 could barely distln-
 guish in the darkness the outline of the
 mystic ring; and stopping moment in
 Il sort of breathless awe, sound as of
 Tapping wings directly over my head
 accompanied by whining shrick, start
 cd my nerves like an electric shock. A
 cold tremor came over me all that had
 ever heard of ghos now rushed upon
 me and the idea momentarl!y seized me
 that the place was haunted by the shade of some ancient DruiJical priest or per> haps Of some one of his bloody victims. All this passed in an instant, till looking up, saw large dark bird Tapping its
 wings, and circIing about, now and then sending forth shriIl, whining note, tha: was strangely piercing.
 Trying 10 laugh at my faint hearted ness, hurried on 10 the inn, an d though,