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

THE BRITONS ASSERTED, 143
P. 54—55. " The Britlfh Gael, in an early age,
** extending themfelves to the very extremities
*' of the ifland, defcried Ireland from the Mulls
" of Galloway and Cantire, and croffing the nar-
** row channel which feparates the two countries,
*' became the progenitors of the Irilh nation. In
** proportion as frefli emigrants from the conti-
*' nent of Europe forced the antient Gael towards
*' the North in Britain, more colonies tranfmi-
*' grated into Ireland from the promontories
*' which we have fo often mentioned."
The great hillorians of antiquity have claimed
the privilege of being believed upon their own
authority, and without any regular reference to
the older chronicles. But the privilege is con-
fined tO' them. Every modern hiftorian that
writes of a period preceding his own, of which
he mud know the incidents merely by tradition
from others, is juilly required to authenticate
his accounts sis he proceeds, and to produce fuf-
ficlent vouchers for his fafts. And the hlllorlcal
writer, that neglefts this duty, muft be content
to fee his work, perhaps, the favourite hiftory of
an hour, pleafmg by its novelty and engaging by
its elegance, and then to have it refigned up to
negledl and contempt for ever. — Here is the
original inhabitation of Ireland by the Gael of
Caledonia aflerted, the place affigned from which
the