2,12, Mr, Aftle's Olfervations on Stotie Pillars,

ed in thefe iflands were dedicated to this deity, but the Celiag who- fettled here in very early times acknowledged him, as did their fuc- ceflbrs the Romans, before the introduction of chrilHanity ; and therefore it is probable he might have been clafied by our pagan anceftors amongft their idols. The Priapeid deity preferved at Hil- ton in Stairordihire, vulgarly called Jack of Hilton, of which Dr. Plot has given an account, accompanied with an engraving, feems to warrant this conjecture [ti] ; however, it is certain that the pro- ferlors of the religion of Bramha in Afia, at this day exhibit the OaXXo; as the fymbol of the vivifying fpirit, on the boundaries of diffcriets, on the highways, in their temples, choultries, oratories,, and other places, by them held facred. This fymbol is alfo ufed by the ladies on their rings and bracelets, and is pendent to their neck- laces, in the fame manner as they wear crucifixes on the continent; and fuch is the force of education, opinion, and cuftom, that no improper ideas are annexed to the difplay thereof. Although fiich fymbols are very properly rejected by chriftiaDS, thaphilofopher may remark, that evil is only in the mind, and attaches to the ideas af- fixed to particular words or fymbols : he may fay with Horace Et quid Jit pulchrum, quid turpe, quid utile, quid non. " [^1 Jack. of Hilton is a little hollow image of brafs about twelve inches high,kneel-

• ' ing upon his left knee, and holding his right hand on his head, and his left hand
  • upon pego or his veretrum creeled, having a little hole in the place of the mouth

" about the bignefs of a great pin's head, and another in tfee back, about two thirds of " an inch diameter, at which laft hole it is filled with water, it holding about four pints ' and a quarter, which when fet to a itrong fire evaporates in the lame manner as. in an " JEolipile, and vents itfelf at the fmaller hole at the mouth in a conftant blaft, blow-

• ' ing the fire fo ftrongly that it is very audible, and makes a fenfible impreffion on that

" part of the fire where the blaft lights, as I found by experience, May 26, 1680." See the account given of the whimfical fervices done by the lord of Ellington to the lord of Hilton, as given by Dr. Plot in his Hiftory of StafTordlhire, p. 433, where the functions of this Jack of Hilton are related. See a figure of the image in Plate XXXIII, at ,. r p. 404. A fimilar image found in digging the bafon of the canal at Bafingftoke was lately prefented to the Society of Antiquaries by Mr. Edmund Fry. 4 Many