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

ii3 THE GENUINE HISTORY OF
'* from a convi£lion of its juflnefs). Thofe wKq
" treated of the antiquities of North Britain were
^' utter Grangers to that only name by which
" the Scots diPunguiflied the corner of Britain
^' which their Anceflors poffelTed from the re-
^' motefl antiquity. From an ignorance, fo uht
*^ pardonable in antiquaries, proceeded that er-
f^ roneous fyftem, &c. '."
I have made this large extract, to exhibit the
whole argument in all its force, and, I may add,
in all its oftentation too. And I Ihall now en-
deavour to Ihew the reafonings to be as feeble,
and the etymons as injudicious, even rn this triumphant
paifage, as in any that I have diife^led
before.
The affertions in this paragraph are thefe j
That the Caledonians perhaps firfl formed them-
felves into one community, to repel the incroach-
ments of the Cimbri ; That a proof of this in-
corporation remains in the word Caeldoch, which
fignifies the Diilrift of the Gael ; and, That this
Word is the Latin Caledonia. Each fhall be con-:
fidered diftinctly.
The incroachments of the Cimbri mull be as
imaginary, as the reft of their hiftory. And
any aifociation of the Caledonians to repel them,
* This Etymon is in Dr. INIacpherfon, p. 27. and 100.—
4.nd he makes the fame ufe of the name ot Gael in p. 97— 98,
nd of Caeldoch in p. 100.
/-
muft