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

i^o
THE GENUINE HISTORY OF
pnly to a fair probability. And the latter has
not even that merit. The argument has been re-
peatedly overthrown, by fliewing the appellation
of Gael not to have been confined tp the Cale-
donians, but to have extended with the colonies
of the Britons over all their iflands. And even
the probability, fair as it is, can be of no fervice
to Mr. Macpherfon, fince Galloway is not within
the limits of Caledonia, and the probability is
equally favourable to Galloway as Cantire.
In the Hiflory of Manchefler I have fhewn
from indifputable authorities, when and by whorn
the iile of Ireland was firfl inhabited. About
350 years before Chrift, the Belgae croffed the
Channel into Britain, and feized the whole ex-
tended line of the fouthern coafl: from Kent into
Devonfliire. Numbers of the former inhabi-
tants, that had gradually retired before the ene-
jny, were obliged at laft to take (hipping upon
our wedern coaft, and paffed over into the unin-
habited iile of Ireland. And thefe were after-
wards joined by another body of Britons, at the
great attack upon the neighbouring dates by the
Belgse under Divitiacus, who purfued the track
of their brethren, and affociated with them in
Ireland. The firft population of that fine ifland,
therefore, was originally begun, not by the
northern, but the fouthern, Britons; not from
the promontories of Caledonia, byt the (liores
of