• I have already mentioned the present amiable manners of the people of Inverness, and the adjacent country; and I must also add, that they are now perfectly secure in their property, as well as polished in their behaviour (which is not always the case in the south), retaining the honest simplicity and hospitality of the patriarchal age, which the rub of refinement has not impaired. Indeed, not only in Inverness, but in most parts of the Highlands, the manners of the people are pleasant to a great degree; and the poorest of the poor will vie with each other which can most assist, or gratify a stranger, provided it be not on a Sunday. On that day, if a carriage breaks down in the Highlands, there it must lie, for no hand will be found to mend it; not for want of good will, but for conscience' sake. In the Lowlands, in and about large towns, particularly where there are manufactories, or in sea-ports, there are as many depraved folks as in England: but in the Highlands all is safety and security; -no fear of thieves by night or day. All the doors and windows are left unfastened: and I have even seen sideboards, covered with plate of very great value, stand in open parlours night and day, without fear of its being touched.

• One instance, however, will shew what they were in Invernessshire, in former times, and what I found them, and have described them to be now.

One of the M'Donalds of old, probably from Lochaber, coming down to visit Culloden, near Inverness, observed how numerous, and how very fine his cattle were. Culloden lamented, that in all probability he should not have sufficient pasture for them during the winter. M'Donald eyed the cattle, and told his friend he could accommodate him in that matter, if he wished it; he having fine pasture in abundance. The bargain was made for so much a head, for a stated time; and McDonald promised to take the utmost care of the beasts, if Culloden would have them driven up to his lands; which was accordingly done. In about two months a man from M'Donald came down with a long face, saying, "his chief was in great trouble and dismay, at Culloden's cattle having been all stolen, and driven away." Culloden, who perfectly well understood the meaning of all this, without expressing either anger or concern, ordered his chief man to take great care of this messenger, and ply him well with meat and drink. After a day or two, the man signified he must return. Culloden, before he departed, called him before him, and without saying a syllable of the cattle, asked him if he had been treated to his heart's content; gave him moncy, and dismissed him. The man went up to M'Donald, and said to him dryly, " the man must have his cattle back again." This peremptory speech astonished the Highland thief, who remonstrated; but the man insisted, and swore if he did not comply, he would blaze abroad his roguery, and oblige him to it by force. M'Donald knew his man, and the consequences if he continued obstinate. He therefore quietly submitted; and in a short time sent the same man to Culloden to acquaint him, that he was very happy in having overtaken, and rescued his cattle from the thieves who had driven them away.'

We must now take leave of this agreeable tourist, with thanks for the entertainment afforded us by her singular and valuable performance. Her descriptions appear to us to be generally accurate and just; though we think that she rather over-rates the difficulties and dangers which it was necessary to encounter, before a perfect view of the country could be obtained.

ART. X. The History, civil and ecclesiastical, and Survey of the Antiquities of Winchester. By the Rev. John Milner, M. A. F. S. A. 4to. 2 Volumes. Vol. I. being the Historical Part. 11. 118. 6d. Boards. Robson, &c. 1799.

T HE city of Winchester has various claims on public notice. To the professed Antiquary, and to the general Historian, it presents a variety of subjects of curious investigation and interesting detail; and though it has now lost much of its former importance, it still exhibits traces of antient magnificence, which will naturally lead the sagacious and diligent inquirer into an examination of its original establishment, and of the numerous institutions, civil and religious, by which it has been distinguished. Perhaps, indeed, no other place affords so many inducements to a comprehensive research, and is so immediately connected with the rise and progress of civilization, literature, government, and religion, in the kingdom. It is no wonder, therefore, that a writer, possessing the talents and disposition of Mr. Milner, should direct his attention to this object; and take occasion, from the survey of it, to extend his views to those events in the British history, which the recital of its origin and various revolutions must almost unavoidably suggest to an enlarged and contemplative mind.

In the perusal of this publication, we have derived much pleasure from the local and general information which it affords

us.

While it brings to our recollection many important incidents pertaining to the history of our country in its earliest periods, it furnishes an instructive lesson of the vicissitudes to which the most magnificent establishments of human art and labour are exposed, in a succession of ages. This grave reflection will obtrude itself on every thoughtful reader, on turning over these pages; in which the author has distinctly marked the several æras of the advancement and prosperity, and of the subsequent decline and decay, of the antient and once highly celebrated city of Winchester.

Instructed and impressed as we have been by many parts of this performance, and disposed as we are to acknowlege that the author is entitled to respectful notice for the extent of his eru

dition and investigation, we are sorry to be under the necessity not only of restricting our commendation, but of expressing the extreme dissatisfaction and disgust with which we have perused several pages of the work. We might possibly have excused the writer's professed veneration for legendary tales; the authority of which, just criticism and historical fidelity should have not only questioned but utterly exploded: -we might perhaps have thrown a veil over those testimonies of respect, which he has liberally rendered to characters of doubtful sanctity; - and justice, as well as candour, might have led us to devise an apology for those reflections, which indicate a predilection in favour of the system of religion to which he is attached; if we had not, at the same time, observed a deliberate design and a laboured effort to vindicate the avowed patrons of this obnoxious system from deserved reproach, and to degrade the most distinguished advocates of that reformation from popery, to which our country is principally indebted for the civil and religious liberty by which it has been blessed.

How far this work may be considered, under the disguise of a history and survey of the Antiquities of Winchester, as an apology for popery, we may venture to submit to the decision of all impartial readers: but we shall enable them to determine how we have formed our judgment, by some extracts which will occur in the sequel of this article. While we avow ourselves the advocates of free discussion, we must suggest that there seems to be, at the present period, at least an indelicacy in every open or disguised attempt to depreciate and undermine those principles of Protestantism, which lie at the foundation of our freedom and security. While our country has laudably extended its protection to the suffering Romish clergy; and while several rigid laws against English Catholics have been repealed, and a degree of toleration to which they were justly entitled has been extended to them; it does not seem very grateful, nor very decent, in any of those who find, for themselves or their friends, an asylum among us, to aim at alienating the judgment or affection of British subjects, from that system of religion which the British government is pledged to preserve inviolate.

After these preliminary remarks, we shall proceed to give a particular account of the contents of the work before us.

In tracing the foundation of Winchester, the author rejects with just contempt the idle stories of those who imagine that it was first built by Hudibras, 892 years before the birth of Christ, or 139 years before the foundation of Rome; and that its walls were erected by Mulmutius, who was the sole monarch of this island, and contemporary with Darius of Persia. He contents himself

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himself with ascribing its origin to those Celtic emigrants, who, embarking at the nearest port of Armorica in Gaul, landed on the British coast, and made their chief settlement on this spot; which was so well adapted to their subsistence, their defence, and the exercise of their religious rites, and which they called Caer-Gwent, or the White City; by which name Winchester has been recognized by the most antient as well as by modern writers, who have left any account of the state of Britain. After having described the manners and customs, civil and religious, of these first settlers, the author proceeds to mention the revolution which the city underwent in consequence of the arrival of the Belgic Britons; who were in several respects more refined than the original inhabitants, and from whom it was denominated Venta Belgarum. During the occupancy of the Belgæ, this city, which was the capital of their territory, was considerably aggrandized; and after this people had submitted to Claudius, the Roman General, about the year of Christ 44, their capital was fortified by order of Ostorius Scapula in the year 50; at which time it was constructed in a square form, like that of the Roman camps in general, and encompassed by walls, composed of flints and durable mortar, of which traces still remain; as well as of the Roman camp on Catherine hill, in its vicinity.

Under the powerful protection of the Romans, this city made rapid progress in a variety of improvements, and enjoyed for several years the blessings of peace and civilization. The conversion of this part of Britain to the Christian faith is ascribed by Mr. Milner to the zeal of Lucius; who succeeded his father in the year 124; and who is said to have been the first Christian king in this or any other country, and the peculiar benefactor of Venta. Lucius built the cathedral from the ground (says Mr. M.) on a scale of grandeur and magnificence which has never been equalled, and bestowed on it the right of sanctuary, with other privileges. He also annexed to it a monastery, or community of clergy, together with other buildings for their accommodation. These buildings, however, were totally destroyed during the persecution of Dioclesian in the year 303 or 304, and most of the ecclesiastics were slaughtered. The rage of this persecution was restrained in 305 by Constantius Chlorus; and, in consequence of the edict of Constantine in 312, the inhabitants of Venta rebuilt their cathedral, and other habitations for the officiating clergy, but in a much humbler style than that of the original edifice by Lucius. The church and adjoining mansions were dedicated in honour of St. Amphibalus, the martyr, who was either an imaginary saint, or so denominated from the garment or surplice

plice worn by ecclesiastics, called Amphibalum. After the retreat of the Romans, and the arrival of the Saxons in 449, Venta, (which had risen to the dignity of metropolis of the island,) London, Lincoln, and York, were seized by the conquerors; who proceeded to fill them with sacrileges and cruelties, destroying churches, profaning relics of the martyrs, burning the holy scriptures, and murdering the clergy upon their altars.' The ruin of this city was completed by Cerdic, the Saxon General, in 516; its magnificent cathedral was made subservient to the gloomy and impure rites of the Saxon idols, Thor, Woden, Frea, and Tuisco; and its arts, splendour, commerce, and manufactures, were annihilated. Its name was also changed from Caer-Gwent, and Venta Belgarum, into Wintanceaster, or Winchester; which expresses its former importance as a Roman station. Winchester, however, under all its disadvantages, was the chief city of the most powerful king in the island. Accordingly, Cerdic, having resolved in the most public and solemn manner to declare himself monarch of the western kingdom, assembled the chief of his subjects together in this city, and there caused himself to be crowned, in the new temple of Thor, late the cathedral church, with the usual ceremonies of his nation. This important transaction took place in the year 519, from which year all our antient historians date the beginning of the West Saxon kingdom; a kingdom which, even at its first beginning, was paramount to the other Saxon states, and which, in the end, was destined to swallow up the whole heptarchy.'

In connection with the history of Winchester, we might naturally expect to find an account of a character so distinguished as that of king Arthur. Mr. Milner, though in other instances sufficiently credulous, refutes many fabulous relations concerning the achievements of this British prince; and he observes that the chief cause of the confusion, which has occurred in the records of his exploits, has been the substitution of Caer-Gwent or Winchester for the Caer-Gwent of Monmouthshire; and the Caer Sciont on the borders of Hampshire, for that near Caernarvon in North Wales. We should far exceed our limits, if we were to transcribe what the author has written on this subject; and it is not very easy to decide on a question that has puzzled and divided antiquaries and historians so much as the history of Arthur. Neither must we pursue Mr. M.'s detail of the succession of Saxon kings, whose court and seat of government were chiefly held at Winchester. He does not give a very flattering account of its splendour and prosperity during this period. It was populous and warlike, but without virtue and science: its inhabitants were unacquainted with

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