vian Pantheon; as it was the
custom in like manner to ornament the temples with the heads of
sacrificial victims in the Greek and Roman worship. The eagerness of our
sportsmen for the "brush," as the first trophy in the chase, has in all
probability originated from the same propitiatory notion.

Few would expect to meet with fragments of the worship of Juno in the
racing of country girls for an inner garment, and the hunting of the pig
with his tail greased; yet practised, but rapidly becoming obsolete, in
wakes and other pastimes from Scotland to the Land's End.

Thus far we have examined tradition by the test of positive experience.
There is still a gleaning of poetry which might be culled, in some few
districts, from the "lyre of the unlettered muse." There are songs
scattered up and down our own and the neighbouring counties among the
population least affected by the spread of literature which are of great
antiquity, and are not to be found in any books or writings now extant.
A few of these might be gathered in; while to some, who love the tone
and humour of the old ballads, they would be an acquisition of great
value. But the intercourse between master and man, between town and
country, and even amongst the learned themselves, becomes so cold and
repulsive, either from increasing refinement or reserve, that there
seems little hope of our finding any one who will take the trouble to
collect them, or a sufficient number of real admirers of these relics
who would come forward to ensure a suitable reward for the labour. We
are sorely disgraced among foreigners for inattention to the course and
progress of our own learning. No work exists, like those which
illustrate and embellish the French, Italian, and German literature,
which professes to give a summary view of its history. The knowledge of
its antiquities, its customs, manners, laws, modes of feeling, and
pursuits, except in the instances before mentioned, and a few other
praiseworthy exceptions, have been shamefully obscured by an eagerness
for supporting a system, the ridiculous rivalry of pretence, and by the
discredit thrown upon such labours by modern pedantry. A new version of
Camden, rectified by all the discoveries subsequent to his time;--that
which is found useless or erroneous left out, and the work enlightened
by new researches, entered into by a number of inquirers equal in all
respects to the task, and exerted over every part of the country, would
v