such recommendation was required, to rescue her from the (supposed) peevish society of old maids. A lady next advanced, whom I think I had met with in the Morning; and whom, without offence to your friend Sir Everard, I suspect to have been Miss Allworthy. She approached me with vehement marks of indignation; and while I was enquiring the cause of this displeasure, so far forgot decorum and her allegiance, as to spit at me. I thought it high time to apply the rod; and could not but smile to hear her mew out the tardy explanation which I had demanded. This relaxation of my muscles was not calculated to allay her fury; and accordingly she flew at me with such violence, that I started and awoke. I have the honour to be, Dear Sir, With the profoundest somnolency and respect, DOMINO R. Endymion Nightshade. Know all men by these presents, that we have appointed our right drowsy and entirely belulled Endymion, our Sleeper General, and Steward of Visions, within our ideal realms. By his Incognito's command, U. FLAPPER, Secretary. * See and collate Fielding's Tom Jones, and Hogarth's Morning. NUMBER XVI. SATURDAY, MARCH 21st, 1807. Ibant obscuri, solâ sub nocte, per umbram, VIRG. Wilder'd they roam, mid shades that dimly lead Perplex, not guide, the wand'rers on their way. THE following facts and observations contain more than I know, and all that I have to offer on the subject of Round Towers. There are about sixty of them to be found in Ireland, and a few exactly similar in Scotland, the former varying in height, from twenty-five to one hundred and thirty, and in circumference from forty to sixty feet, with walls usually from four to five feet thick, a door at the distance of ten or twelve from the ground, and the internal diameter of the building commonly nine feet at bottom, and about four at top. I In like manner the Scottish towers are between forty and fifty feet in external circuit, from seventy to a hundred high, with a door elevated some feet above the ground, and in short resemble very closely those which are to be met with in this island. Both Scotch and Irish are circular and slender, artificially constructed of cut stone, regularly laid in rows, and appear to have been divided into (sometimes so many as seven) stories. Towards the summit they have four apertures, opposite to each other, and are sometimes situated in vallies, but rarely, if ever, upon heights. In the twelfth century they were already standing, having in the latter end of it been noticed by Giraldus Cambrensis, and by him described as turres ecclesiastica, (whatever be the precise meaning which should be affixed to this appellation ;) quæ, more patrio, (another ambiguous expression;) arcta sunt, et alta; necnon et rotundæ. They are generally situated near to ancient churches, though it might perhaps be going too far to assert that these latter are as old as their neighbouring towers. In the Scottish tower which is to be seen near the church of Brechin, certain figures emblematic of Christianity appear, making a part of the body of the edifice; so that they must be considered to be as ancient as itself. The questions naturally arising on a contemplation of these structures, are-when, and by whom were they erected?-and for what purposes were they originally designed? Some ascribe them to the Danes, who made a hostile visit to this country in the ninth century, and remained long enough to leave many vestiges of their settlement behind. But no such towers are to be seen in Denmark !— On what model, then, did these invaders work?* If it be said that at home such buildings were not wanted; that they were calculated for an enemy's country;-I answer that England was, for a considerable time, to these very Danes an enemy's country, at once hostile and subdued, yet in England no such towers are to be found. If the reasons which I have offered be not conclusive against considering these buildings as of Danish origin, they seem however to outweigh any theory which can be urged on the other side. When they were erected, is another (not unconnected) branch of the first question. And here, obscurity arises from the late notice which has been taken of them; for Cambrensis is, I believe, the first by whom they have been mentioned. I have not his work by me; but, if my memory may be trusted, he adds to the description already cited, that even in his time they were structures of unknown antiquity. Henry, the historian, supposes And what becomes of more putrio, in Giraldus's account? them to have been built in the tenth century, which might allow them an age of more than two hundred years when Cambrensis wrote. From the emblems appearing on the tower of Brechin (adverted to above,) its erection must have been subsequent to the introduction of Christianity into Scotland; and there is no reason, that I know of, for supposing this tower of Brechin to be more modern than its fellows. We come next to inquire the purpose for which originally these structures were designed. Some have conjectured (I suspect erroneously) that they were watch-towers. To this theory others have, perhaps too confidently, replied their situation. I say too confidently; because first, in rude and simple ages, men would not be so likely to build towers on high grounds, as to make use of the natural specula of rocks and pinnacles which these afforded, for the kindling of fires, or making other telegraphic signals: while secondly, and on the other hand, it may be well conceived, that on an extensive plain, or in a valley widely spread, these artificial signal-posts might be erected, in lieu of eminences which nature had refused. But though the objection be insufficient, I believe the conjecture that these were watch-towers to be ill-founded. But indeed as we approach this object of our search, (viz. the original destination of these towers,) the darkness in which all parts of the subject are in |