version, to have been as pious and punctual in their religious observances as their accusing neighbours. The period at which the Dr. commences the history, is from the arrival of the Scandinavians under Harold the fair-haired 876; and this was probably the first time the race of Odin had ever any footing in the isles. On his landing he found two distinct people, under the names of Peti and Papa: respecting the first, our author finds no difficulty, as the Scandinavians call the Picts Peti; but is at a loss for the latter denomination. Nor does the idea of Pinkerton, that they were Irish priests, appear more satisfactory to him than to us. The islanders had been long, we have seen, converted to Christianity; and previous to the period of which we speak, the church of Rome had made large strides towards absolute dominion. She insisted that the new calendar, tonsure, and observance of Easter, should be adopted by all the western churches. Many, however, objected, and resisted the bull; and a consequent division took place between those who complied, and those who refused compliance. These would be distinguished by appropriate names; Peti or Picts would allude to the old sort; and Pape or Papists to the new like presbyterians and seceders in the modern kirk. After many hard and desperate struggles, through the blind policy of Donald Bain, it became, in the reign of Olaus, tributary to Norway. Thus a country naturally calculated to defend the north of Scotland, and add greatly to its maritime strength, was ceded to a northern neighbour; which afterwards enabled him to become a formidable, and often successful rival. Boethius makes this cession to have taken place A. D. 1098: if so, the contest must have been sharp and long; and proves that the islanders did not tamely resign their rights to a foreigner.

This part of the history is merely, the Dr. confesses, abridged from Torfæus, with occasional remarks from some few other writers and as Torfæus had the means of information, his account, allowing for the bias towards the court in which he was historiographer, Denmark, may be relied on as tolerably authentic.

The next æra treats of the transactions in the islands from that time till they became subject to the crown of Scotland. Here it is obvious, if the Dr. be not prejudiced, he has been grossly misled; when he observes, "though Rodolphus is certainly mentioned as a bishop of Orkney in

..

the reign of David; yet the title was then ostentatious only; and William was the first bishop of the see." This assertion however appears to be without the smallest shadow of authority. For if, as he observes, bishops had been appointed by the archbishop of York, it is presumed that they still existed in that character. That they did not reside does not annul their authority; and various circumstances arising out of the times might often occasion non-residence. Nay, if there existed bishops on the Mainland in the reign of Macalpine, is it not as reasonable to conclude, that Orkney, then a distinct government, had, if not bishops, at least one diocesan, subject, doubtless, to the archbishopric then removed to St. Andrews ? Indeed we think the Dr. should have paid a more pointed attention to the ecclesiastical affairs of the islands, so intimately connected with the real state of a country, and the character of a people. The writers of the Scottish affairs in the time of Alexander, give us a different account. They state, that not only the Isle of Man, and the Hebridæ, but also the Orkneys were, on the death of Haco, ceded by his son Magnus to the crown of Scotland, in a treaty between the two monarchs, 1263; for which cession Scotland was to pay Norway and Denmark 1000 marks sterling, and 100 marks annually, in compensation for the advantages they had received. Subsequent failure of the annual stipulation occasioned the future contentions, which often subsisted between the northern courts: till the Danes finally and formally relinquished all claim and pretension to the sovereignty of Orkney. From this period Torfæus appears to have possessed but few documents, respecting the future transactions in the isles: owing probably to the public records being now diverted to another channel, and finding a place in the archives of Scotland. The author therefore gives us merely a brief chronicle of the failure of the male line of the ancient earls of Orkney, in the person of Magnus V.

We have before stated the very imperfect account of ecclesiastical affairs, at which the reverend author only occasionally glances. We regret this the more, because he, from education, habits of life, and station, must have been eminently qualified to give such account; and from his candour in other investigations, we might have expected a considerable degree of impartiality. However confused the state of the times may have been previous

to 1500, subsequent to that time, till the union of the two kingdoms in the reign of Aune, three æras were formed by events in which Orkney must have materially shared-the Reformation,-the re-establishment of episcopacy,-and the means which led to establish the kirk; and to make the episcopal, a dissenting, church in Scotland. Information on this subject, connected with the isles, would have been gratifying.

In Book H. Chap. V. Dr. Barry treats of some monuments of antiquity. "Over the islands," he says, "are dispersed many single stones, rude as out of the quarry; in two places triads, and in one instance with one of the stones thrown down." These he allows to be the most ancient of this country; but he attributes them to a Scandinavian origin.

The circular and semicircular monuments, many of which are still to be seen, he supposes of much later date: and contrary to the generally received opinion, terms them Gothic structures: on this subject, he says:

"They have indeed been considered as druidical temples, according to a fashion which, for half a century past, has prevailed, to ascribe almost every monument of antiquity to that extraordinary order of man. But had these been the authors of such monuments, history would not have been silent on the subject; which constantly mentions their having no temples whatever, and worshipping the deity in groves only. Besides, had they been places of worship peculiar to that celebrated people, they would naturally have shared the same fate with themselves, and been razed to the foundation, as soon as the priests that had officiated in them were destroyed. That this had not been the case, is evident; for, in the south, as well as in the north, they remain still entire; and had they then existed, and had any connexion with that people, Tacitus, when he mentions the destruction of their groves, would not have failed to have taken some notice of them also,* The very date of some of them in Scandinavia is moreover well known; and the use of them pointed out by the writers of that country, who inform us, that they are denomis nated, in popular language, tings, or courts; and that they are places appropriated for the administration of justice, and the oblation of sacrifices. A judicial circle stands there,

where men were doomed to sacrifice.'There Thorder Galler erected a court for one quarter, by the consent of all the men of that quarter.' These circles and semicircles, therefore, or the stones erected into these

* Tacitus.

forms, are to be considered as intended to serve the double purpose of temples and courts of justice, or places for assembling large bodies of people for various ends; and tions that were of Gothic origin. Though they are plainly to be ascribed to those natheir form is similar, they are very different in their dimensions, according to the purpose for which they were designed. In the largest class we may certainly rank Stonehenge in England, which is unquestionably the most suberb and magnificent object of the kind; and which, if it be not the burial-place of the celebrated Saxon, as the name seems to iming of their national assembly, as they met port, might have been the place for the meetin the open air. To the sanie class may be referred that noble circle of Classemis in the Lewes, which may have been a court-house, in which affairs of importance might have been transacted, relative to the interest of the community. Their kings and chiefs were also sometimes elected in these large circles; while the lesser ones were used as temples of the inferior gods, and not unfrequently as family burying-places. It might have been naturally expected, that some such objects would have existed here, as the country had been so long occupied by the same people who had erected and used them in other

places. And accordingly in many places are them now, whatever might have been for seen small circles, but without stones around merly; and the islands possess also their Classemis, and even their Stonehenge, which, though often visited, and sometimes described,

is still but little known.”

the stones of Stennis claims the princiAmong these monuments, that called pal attention. It consists of a semicircle nearly 100 feet in diameter, surrounded by a mound of earth; with single stones standing erect in the interior, and is situ ated on the eastern side of the loch Stennis. On the western side is a complete circle 300 feet in diameter, surrounded by a ditch twenty feet broad, and twelve deep; and on the inside, by a range of standing stones twelve and fourteen feet high, and four broad. These are accom. panied by four barrows of considerable magnitude, and other erect stones on the margin of the lake." Of the flat stone lying in the centre of the semicircle, there can be no doubt as to its use;" and the Dr. thinks," the round hole discoverable in one, whose edges are worn, as with rope, was for the purpose of binding the victim, usually, we suppose, immolated on this very altar."

This is certainly a very curious monu-
Islands Landnama Bok.

ment, and from its form evidently coeval with similar ones found in England and Wales; as Stonehenge in Wiltshire; Rolrich in Oxfordshire; Buarth Arthur in Caermarthenshire, &c. &c.; if not with the stupendous and venerable temple at Avebury in Wiltshire. But when our author asserts that these, which have been supposed Druidical, must belong to the same people from whom all things else respecting this country are derived, i. e. the Scandinavians, we think he completely begs the question. For he allows," that till centuries after the Christian æra, little of a certainty is known of the Orkneys." Had we known more, perhaps we might have found, that these Celtic priests, the Druids, had footing in these, as well as all other parts of the British isles. There is nothing contrary to such a supposition; and it is rendered highly probable by the existence of similar monuments in those parts, where they have been acknowledged as residing. We can have no objection to. join the Dr. in supposing them Taings, or Courts of Judicuture, though not exclusively so for we find in the early history of almost every people, that the sacrificial, legislative, and judicial characters, were often vested in the same persons. Long were the two last united, nor was it till very lately, that the government of this free country arrived at that rational system, where the enacting and executing powers were separated. Nothing can be justly inferred from the observation that the druids worshipped in groves; for these temples might have stood in extensive groves, before the country was deprived of wood: or, what is more probable is, that, terrified by the sword of the invaders, the peaceable ministers of religion retired into the fastnesses of the forests; both for the security of their persons, which were threatened, and for the purpose of quietly performing their devotions, and delivering their instructions. "But if they had been Druidical," Dr. Barry observes," history would not have been silent." Has it then been silent, because they were Scandinavian? Not only on this, but on many other important points relative to early manners and customs, we have found history silent, or very imperfect in its details. Even the Dr. finds it will not furnish him with one single document to prove that they were not the works or temples of the Druids. Had any thing of this kind been adduced which might have emitted one ray of light on this obscure subject, we should

have felt highly gratified. The matter is still lis sub judice: and though, after reading both sides of the question, and examining many of the monuments in dispute ourselves, we are of opinion, that analogical circumstances are in favour of the British origin: yet we hold ourselves still open to conviction: and solicit the lovers of truth not to be weary of investigating this early and interesting part of our history. That the temples must have shared the fate of the priests who administered in them, is absurd; because it is contrary to facts recorded in history on similar occasions: and because, if the objection be allowed, it will equally apply against their Scandinavian, as well as druidical origin : our author admits they were religious temples, for "sacrifices were offered up in them;" and we suppose by priests, whatever their origin or denomination.

Various tumuli or burrows are found in many of the islands, in which, when opened, have been discovered bones, urns, stone coffins, &c. These are of a mixed nature, and probably belonging to more than one people; this being a mode of burial in early times, whether of persons slain in battle or not. Stone coffins were not peculiar to the Britons; nor urn burial to the Greeks and Romans.

The Pight or Pict-houses, as they are termed, are more curious still, as they shew that the persons, to whom they must be attributed, were probably the original inhabitants, who were a race unknown to the people of the north. These are numerous, and are found on the holmes in the midst of lochs, with a stony ford or causeway attached, as a passage to them; on the points of very high lands; or on strands on the sea-shore, more especially near places adapted for landing with facility. Their situation points out their intention: they were evidently the barracks or habitations of those appointed for the defence of the isles against invasion, or the depredatory warfare of their roving neighbours; and what confirms this is, that they stretch in a regular chain from one headland to another, in a full view of the adjacent harbours, and distant ocean. Though many of them have been demolished, yet sufficient still remain to shew the nature of their structure, and demonstrate their use. As these ancient remains have been so little understood, and are singularly different from those objects which have principally engaged the attention of antiquaries, we shall give Dr. Barry's description of a large one (for