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A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

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OF THE DRUIDS. 159society (with whom I became acquainted at Oxford,when I was a sojourner <strong>the</strong>re; and collecting'during my idler hours a vocabulary <strong>of</strong> Armoricanand Irish words, which, in sound and signification,agree better toge<strong>the</strong>r than with <strong>the</strong> Welsh)was <strong>the</strong> only person I ever <strong>the</strong>n met, who had aright notion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> temples <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Druids, or indeedany notion that <strong>the</strong> circles so <strong>of</strong>ten mention'dwere such temples at all: wherein he was intirelyconfirm'd, by <strong>the</strong> authorities which I show'd him;as he supply'd me in return with numerous ijistances<strong>of</strong> such monuments, which he was at greatpains to observe and set down. And tho' he wasextremely superstitious, or seem'd to be so: ye<strong>the</strong> was a very honest man, and most accurate inhis accounts <strong>of</strong> matters <strong>of</strong> fact. But <strong>the</strong> facts hek<strong>new</strong>, not <strong>the</strong> reflections he made, were what Iwanted. Nor will I deny justice on this occasion,to a person whom I cited before, and who in manyo<strong>the</strong>r respects merits all <strong>the</strong> regard which <strong>the</strong> cu-mean Sir Robert Sibbald, who,rious can pay; Iin his foresaid Ilistorij <strong>of</strong> Fife (but very latelycome to my hands) affirms, that <strong>the</strong>re are severalDruids temples to be seen every where in Scotland,particularly in <strong>the</strong> county he describes." These (says he) are great stones plac'd in acircle, at some distance from each o<strong>the</strong>r, &c."Mr. Aulu'ey show'd me several <strong>of</strong> Dr. Garden'sletters from that kingdom to <strong>the</strong> same purpose,but in whose hand* now I know not.

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