"To shield the victim from thy ruthless hand.

Fly then, curs'd Exile! to fome desert coast,

"There wail thine honours, and thine empire loft;

"For now, fecur'd by ev'ry power divine,

"Britannia miftress of the world fhall fhine,

"With joy and victory for ever crown'd, "Alike for beauty, as for arms renown'd."

WILLIAM LIPSCOMB,

CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE.

SUBJECT.

On the State of the Aboriginal Britons previous to the Refinements introduced by the Romans.

THE ARGUMENT.

ADDRESS to the firft Navigators of the South Seas.-Wild ftate of the country-contrafted with Italy as improved by culture.-Aboriginal Britons confidered as individuals—the Man -the Woman-confidered as to their national character— Their domeftic ftate-promifcuous concubinage-ignorance of other countries-Defcription of a day in time of peace, including the most striking circumftances of their domeftic œconomy-Their wars-fondness for war-internal diffenfions and their confequences-manner of fighting-behaviour after a defeat-treatment of captives after a victory.—Religion-the objects which give rife to natural religion.-Druid GroveMagic rites, and human facrifices -Bards-DoctrinesTranfmigration and immortality of the foul, and its effectsCharacteristics of liberty in the savage ftate of this island-its extinction in the early stages of our monarchy-its revival and influence in the prefent civilized state of manners, as producing public fecurity, giving rife to public works, and calling forth the powers of the mind.