LANGLEY-a straggling village four miles from Windsor, on the road to Iver. The parish church has a library containing many rare works on divinity, left for public use by Sir John Kederminster.

STOKE-four miles from Windsor. The churchyard, in which are deposited the remains of Gray, is supposed to be the scene of his well-known Elegy. In a field adjoining, Mr. Penn (one of the descendants of the celebrated William Penn) in 1779, erected a monument to the memory of the poet.

BURNHAM BEECHES-seven miles from Windsor- are much frequented by visitors, picnic parties, &c.

DROPMORE HOUSE-between Cliefden and East Burnhamabout eight miles from Windsor, is a delightful hour's drive through Eton and Slough. The park and a large portion of the beautifully laid-out grounds and gardens (so justly celebrated for the taste displayed in their arrangement) are open to the public, by the kind permission of the Dowager Lady Grenville, the present occupant.

CLIEFDEN HOUSE-begun by the second Duke of Buckingham and completed by one of the Earls of Orkney, is situated on the banks of the Thames, about nine miles from Windsor.

MAIDENHEAD-a market and corporate town, approached by a stone bridge of thirteen arches over the Thames-the centre arch dividing the counties of Berks and Bucks, is six miles from Windsor.

BRAY-about five miles from Windsor, was the residence of the divine who lived in the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary, and Elizabeth, and who fully carried out his determination that no change in the religion of the State should prevent him living and dying vicar of Bray. Nell Gwynne resided at the old Manor House, when she was the favourite of Charles II.

MONKEY ISLAND-in the middle of the Thames, a short distance from Bray, is a favourite place of resort for visitors, and every accommodation may be obtained on the Island.

DORNEY-four miles from Windsor, is a small village, in which the descendants of the ancient family of the Palmers still reside-a family which adhered to the fortunes of Charles I, in that monarch's misfortunes.

CLEWER-is a small village about one mile from Windsor, on the banks of the Thames. Its church (the oldest in the neighbourhood) has been lately restored, and is worthy of a visit.

NOTES

ON

VIRGINIA WATER.

As it would be inconvenient to enter upon the history of Virginia Water chronologically, we purpose conducting the visitor, from a given spot beside the Lake, calling his attention to the several points of interest, and, as we proceed, giving the history or association connected with each feature along its margin.

VIRGINIA LODGE.-Entering the Royal Grounds at Virginia Lodge, the residence of the Hon. Mrs. Byng a fine view of the Lake and the sylvan scenery that bounds it, bursts upon us.

We need not attempt a description of the scenery here presented to us; for looking down upon it, we begin at once to feel its influences stealing over the senses; and, as we linger to enjoy its aspect of repose, the delicate ripple of its sparkling waters, the sunlight on its margin, and the wild bird's song, our

whole being begins to throb with the sense of renewed and healthy life.

BOULDERS, and supposed DRUID STONES.Passing down the lawn we notice some large stones at the water's edge. These, with others of larger dimensions, were brought from Bagshot Heath for the purpose of forming the Cascade close by. They belong to that class designated by geologists Boulder stones, and are generally unconnected with the stratum upon which they rest. In one of those distant epochs in which geologists delight, when the physical features and climate of this country were very different from what they now are, these huge stones were probably dislocated from their parent rocks by volcanic action, and borne along by a stupendous glacier or the overwhelming torrent of mighty waters to the spot on which they were discovered. It would be difficult to determine from whence they came, and impossible to describe their route. It is, however, evident that they have been subjected to the continued action of running water.

Rumour assigns these stones a far greater interest than is attached to mere Boulders; for by some antiquaries they have been considered Druid stones, and to have been used in the formation of those rude temples and cromlechs in which our Celtic forefathers sought to learn and yield to the will of Heaven. We

have not been able to trace up any sufficient ground for this tradition; but as it is certain they belong to the same order as those used by the Druids for their cromlechs, we think it just worth recording, if, indeed, for no other purpose than to assist the mind to travel back to those ancient days when the Celtic tribes held these parts in possession-following in peaceful times the nomad life of the Patriarchs, and flying, in seasons of war, to their stockades and great central habitations in the dense forests that covered the land.*

Looking upon these stones in this light, we seem tc behold again the ancient Britons with their woadstained skins rise up before us. Their manners and customs were rude indeed, and some of their religious rites revolting; yet, even in these respects, they were but a little behind the rest of mankind upon whom the civilization of Rome had not yet descended, and upon whom the light of Christian truth had not dawned. They were uncultured, perhaps, but by no means the uncivilised barbarians depicted a little later by their Roman masters. The very fact that Julius Cæsar with his legions was twice driven back to Gaul, shows that sufficient political organisation and military power existed to contend against the veteran troops of Europe: whilst in their war-chariots,

*The forest of Anderida, which stretched away through Surrey and Sussex to the Kentish coast, extended over these parts.

bronze spears, and other specimens of metal-work preserved to us, and in such vast structures as Stonehenge and their cromlechs, we perceive that they had made considerable progress in metallic knowledge and mechanical science.* And whilst we are now satisfied that the introduction of Roman civilisation was a benefit, and that opposition was vain, we must still feel proud of our descent from that noble band of heroes who rallied round the standards of their native Princes and struggled for their own freedom and national independence. Such characters as Cassivelaunus, Caractacus, and Boadicea will live for ever in history to be honoured by their descendants and respected by the children of those they opposed; not, indeed, for their statescraft or career of conquest, but for their patriotism,-that love of Fatherland which they have bequeathed, with the undying lustre of their names, to every child of the British Isles.

At the time of the Roman invasion Britain was occupied by mixed races, the more prominent consisting of settlers from Gaul. This was the position of the Bibroci, who were established in these parts.

*It is recorded that on one occasion the Britons brought as many as 3,000 war-chariots into action.

British spears have been found in the Thames at Old Windsor, and some bronze celts (chisels) were lately dug up near Bishopsgate in Windsor Great Park; and gold coins of British minting have been found at Winkfield.