^{page 49 note [a]} Mr. Pennant, at the end of his tour in Scotland, has published an account of these pillars, with two views of them; one similar to this, the other different from the present appearance of the columns, which I visited last September. The oldest of Mr. Pennant's drawings makes their shafts square, with transverse pieces, forming a perfect cross, and a human head carved on the inside, just below the center of the cross. Not the least traces of the head remain at present, and scarce any of the transverses : but though these may have been destroyed by time, it is not conceivable, that any man since that time, as Mr. Pennant observes, would have taken the pains to chip these pillars from a round shape, to one half round, half square. The greatest difficulty seems to be about the boars, said to be carved on the four semicircular stones below. From Dr. Todd's description one would suppose he meant that these stones were cut in the form of boars, instead of being charged with reliefs of those animals. His words, as cited by Mr. Pennant from his MS. collections, are “The space between the pillars is surrounded with the “rude figures of four boars, or wild hogs.” Bishop Lyttelton says, “it requires a “strong imagination to discover any regular figure in the rude sculptures on “them.” Some rude figures, not unlike those on the Danish obelisks in Scotland, presented themselves to my imagination, on the outer face of the north west stone particularly two figures like men at bottom. The inner face of all these four stones are hatched with a chizel, as is common in hewn stones. They have lost much of the neatness given them in this plate, and the south-western stone is almost broken away. They all originally measured two feet in heighth, but were of different lengths.

Dr. Todd supposes these pillars were intended to place corpses on, at the north or Death's door of the church, while prayers were offered for their souls. But the height of these pillars is against this supposition, even if we were sure of this ceremony or custom. The name of grave given to this monument by uniform tradition, plainly assigns its intention, though it may not be easy to trace the person buried under it. The distance of the stones only proves him to have been a person of eminence or distinction, as barrows are well known to exceed the proportions of the body deposited under them. Perhaps this grave might contain several bodies, and be a memorial of some battle, lost in the darkness of history. R. Gough.

^{page 50 note [b]} The Giants Thumb, a single stone, at the north west, end of the churchyard, has nothing to do with the other monument, but is plainly an ancient cross, whose base is sunk into the earth. It is six feet high, 14 inches broad at bottom, contracting to ten inches upwards, and the circle of the cross 18 inches in diameter. A cross of one stone seven feet high, somewhat like it, stands on steps in Longtown church yard, in this county. Penrith church has, within these few years, been intirely rebuilt of brick, except the tower, which is of stone. The Giants Grave, being very near the church, may have been damaged at this time by the workmen.

^{page 50 note [c]} This earthwork is 150 feet diameter, with two entrances on the north and south. It has suffered a little by being used as a cockpit; and the other earthwork, which is contiguous to it on the north, is almost defaced by buildings, R. G.

^{page 51 note [d]} This barrow is called Ormstead-hill, and surrounded by a circle of short stones. R. G.

^{page 51 note [e]} Gibson's edition of the Britannia, p. 1029.

^{page 52 note [f]} Maburgh is a large circular area, enclosed with a bank of flints. In its center stood three or four large, irregular shaped single stones, of which only one remains at present. If bishop Nicolson had not corrected Camden, in his account that Penrith castle was repaired out of the ruins of this place, which exactly resembles the Druidical places of worship, a bare view of the castle would do it; Penrith castle being intirely built of red hewn stone. R. G.

^{page 53 note [g]} Some elegant specimens of which, with some of the bones, were exhibited.