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

i2z THE GENUINE HISTORY Of
of problematical arguments may be propagated
ad infinitum, and equally on either fide of an
hifliorical queftion. And they are of no confequence
at all, either way, as to the fa£l:. The
Scots may have paffed over into the weflern
'
Caledonia, though the fertility of the country
could be no inducement. The Irifli of Dalrieta
may have fettled in Argyle, though the fouth of
Ireland was more attrafting. And Hiftory ex-
prefsly alTures us that they did.
P. roy. " The Irifh mufl: have been wonder-
*' fully improved in military knowledge from the
^' days of Agrlcola, if it was more difficult [for
" the Irifh of Dalrieta] in the fourth century to
*' extort part of their dominions from them, than
*' from the Caledonians, who had better oppor-
*' tunides to be enured to arms."
This argument is dire£ted only againft the fup-
poiition of the Scots fettling by force in Caledo-
nia. But that is too improbable in itfelf, to be
fuppofed by any who are converfant with the hif-
tories of Caledonia and Ireland. And it flands
diredly refuted by the well-known concurrence
of the Caledonians and Iriili fettlers, in in-
curfions into the Pvoman province, within a few
years only after the fettiement, The great point
.' . art;
'