The Druidical fires kindled in the _spring_ of the year, on the other hand, would appear to be those in honour of _Ashtaroth_, or _Astarte_, from whom the _British Christians_ may naturally enough have derived the name of _Easter_ for their corresponding season. We might go even further than this, and say that the young ladies who are reported still to take the chief part in keeping up the Druidical festivities in Cornwall, very happily represent the ancient _Estal_ (or _Vestal_) virgins. "In times of Paganism," says O'Halloran, "we find in _Ireland_ females devoted to celibacy. There was in Tara a royal foundation of this kind, wherein none were admitted but virgins of the noblest blood. It was called Cluain-Feart, or the place of retirement till death," &c ... "The duty of these virgins was to keep up the fires of Bel, or the sun, and of Sambain, or the moon, which customs they borrowed from their Phoenician ancestors. They both [i.e. the Irish and the Phoenicians] adored Bel, or the sun, the moon, and the stars. The 'house of _Rimmon_' which the Phoenicians worshipped in, like our temples of Fleachta in Meath, was sacred to the _moon_. The word '_Rimmon_' has by no means been understood by the different commentators; and yet, by recurring to the Irish (a branch of the Phoenician) it becomes very intelligible; for '_Re_' is Irish for the moon, and '_Muadh_' signifies an _image_, and the compound word '_Reamhan_,' signifies _prognosticating by the appearance of the moon_. It appears by the life of our great S. Columba, that the Druid temples were here decorated with figures of the sun, the moon, and stars. The Phoenicians, under the name of _Bel-Samen_, adored the Supreme; and it is pretty remarkable, that to this very day, to wish a friend every happiness this life can afford, we say in Irish, 'The blessings of _Samen_ and _Bel_ be with you!' that is, of the seasons; Bel signifying the sun, and Samhain the moon." --(See O'Halloran's _Hist. of Ireland_, vol. i. P. 47.) J. SANSOM. * * * * * FOLK LORE. _Presages of Death_.--The Note by Mr. C. FORBES (Vol. ii., p. 84.) on "High Spirits considered a Presage of impending Calamity or Death," reminded me of a collection of authorities I once made, for academical purposes, of a somewhat analogous bearing,--I mean the ancient belief in the existence of a power of prophecy at that period which immediately precedes dissolution. The most ancient, as well as the most striking instance, is recorded in the forty-ninth chapter of Genesis:-- "And Jacob called his sons and said, Gather yourselves together _that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days_.... And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into his bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people."