It is not attaching too high a degree of importance to the study of Celtic antiquities, to maintain, that, owing to the attention now paid to it in this country, a light begins to break in upon that part of ancient history, which, beyond every other, seemed to present a forlorn investigation. All that relates to the aboriginal inhabitants of the north of Europe, would be involved in darkness but for the enquiries now instituted respecting Celtic sepulchres. From the information already received, concerning these sepulchres, it may be assumed, as a fact almost capable of actual demonstration, that the mounds, or barrows, common to all Great Britain, and to the neighbouring continent, together with all the tumuli fabled by Grecian and by Roman historians as the tombs of Giants, are so many several vestiges of that mighty family of Titan-Celts who gradually possessed all the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, and who extended their colonies over all the countries where Cyclopéan structures may be recognized; whether in the walls of Crotona, or the temple at Stonehénge; in the Cromlechs of Wales, or the trilithal monuments of Cimbrica Chersonesus; in Greece, or in Asia-Minor; in Syria, or in Egypt. It is with respect to Egypt alone, that an exception might perhaps be required; but history, while it deduces the origin of the worship of Minerva, at Sais, from the Phrygians, also relates of this people, that they were the oldest of mankind. The Cyclopéan architecture of Egypt may therefore be referred originally to the same source; but, as in making the following Observations brevity must be a principal object, it will be necessary to divest them of every thing that may seem like a Dissertation; and confine the statement, here offered, to the simple narrative of those facts, which have led to its introduction.

I beg leave to offer to the Society of Antiquaries, a description of an unique Greek coin which I met with at Malta, in the year 1812, and which I have subsequently been fortunate enough to procure for the collection of the British Museum.

The conduct of King James the First, respecting the trials of the Earl and Countess of Somerset, for the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury in the Tower, and his great fear, that if Somerset was brought to a public trial, some things might be told which he most anxiously wished to prevent, has been represented by Weldon in so strong a light, that the candid Rapin seems almost to doubt the truth of the representation. But I am enabled to lay before the Society copies which I have made from some original letters of the King to Sir George More, then Lieutenant of the Tower, which strongly corroborate what Weldon has said. They were written during the King's anxiety and suspense, whether Somerset could be prevailed on to confess his guilt, which would have prevented the public appearance of the witnesses, and any thing which Somerset might reveal.

I am sorry to say in answer to your note, that I am unable to send you the Remarks, with which I had proposed to trouble the Society concerning the Bayeux Tapestry, in as perfect a form as I could have wished; but as I understand from our noble President, that we are to expect a fac simile of this document, so very curious as giving in picture a continuous, and nearly contemporary History of the Events represented, from that excellent and most accurate artist, Mr. Stothard, junr. I shall venture in the mean time, to commit them to you, just as they are.

The following Observations, tending to shew that the Signets of the nations which anciently inhabited the banks of the Euphrates were, at least in some instances, of a cylindrical form, may perhaps not be unworthy of your attention, and that of the Society of Antiquaries.

The observations were suggested chiefly by the contemplation of a considerable number of engraved Gems of this kind which are in my possession, and which have been recently dug up at Babylon, and brought to England by that persevering Oriental traveller and scholar, Capt. Abraham Lockett.

I send you my papers relating to the Ancient Constitution, Discipline, and Usages of the Cathedral Church of Exeter; requesting you to submit them to the Society of Antiquaries: and, as I am not aware that the public is possessed of any information on such a subject, except the meagre account in Dugdale's History of St. Paul's, and some few passages in Archdeacon Reynolds's Tract on Church Government, and in Archdeacon Churton's Life of Dean Nowell, I think it probable that the Society may find them not undeserving their notice.