The genuine history of the Britons asserted against Mr. Macpherson ...

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THE GENUINE HISTORY OF
'^^ back as the arrival of the Cimbri in the ifland/*
How contradictory is this
And that the name of Britain never extended
itfelf to the Gael of North Britain, and is lofl
among the Cimbri ; and that the name of Albion
is the only one, which has been brought down to
the prefent age by the Scottifli and Irifh Gael
are all grofs miilakes, miilakes too in facts where
one v/ould leaft expeft them, from a gentleman fo
converfant in the Celtic language, who fpeaks
the Erfe as a native, and has fludied it as a
critick. With regard to the Irifh and Scottifli
Gael, the reverfe of Mr. Macpherfon's alTertion
is the real trurh. They have brought down the
name of Britain to the prefent age. And they
have net brought down the name of Albion.
They retain indeed Alban or Aibain for the ap-
p^ellation of their ov/n country : but they are
totally ignorant of it as the name of the whole
iiland. And I have Hiewn before, that the ap-
pellatives Britain and Britannic flill continue in
the Erfe, the common language of the Scotch
and Irifh, and in the words Breattain, Breatin,
Breatnach, and Briotnach. Nor is the name lofl;
among tlie Welfli, the only part of Mr. JMac-
pherfon's Cim.bri that fpeak the Britifh language
at prefent. It was ufed in flie name of Prydaen
km^ong his Cimbri of Brigantia, in the days of
iiowarch Hen ^ j and in the name of Prudaia
* Lhuyd, p. 2iq,