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

112 THE GENUINE HISTORY OF
the fa£t. The Romans were well acquainted
with Ireland, though they never vifited it. And
they aflually reduced three fourths of Mr. Mac-
pherfon's Caledonians. The Romans muft have
been well acquainted with a people, with whom,
as friends or enemies, they had a continual and
uninterrupted intercourfe of nearly four centu-
ries. And they have aftually left us a very par-
ticular account of all the tribes of Caledonia^ iri
Ptolemy and Richard.
P. 41—
42, "Julius xlgrkola, who, for the
'^
firil time, difpiayed the Roman eagles beyond
*' the Friths, was not more fuccefsfal in the field
" than he was happy in an hiflorian to tranfmit
*' his anions with ludre to pollerity. But even
*' the diftincl and Intelligent Tacitus gives but a
*' very imperfeft idea of thofe enemies, by the
" defeat of whom his father-in-law acquired {o
*' much reputation. We learn from him indeed
'* that the Caledonians were the moft antient in-
*' habitants of' Britain."
Here the author evidendy fixes the Caledonians
beyond the Friths. And yet, as I have fliewed
in the laft article, he brings them In p. 32 down
as low as the Tweed. Hov/ Inaccurate !—And
here is alfo another great inaccuracy. Froni
Tacitus we learn, if we may aicribc the fpeech
of