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

THE BRITONS ASSERTED. i^
from the unequal conteft. But to be deterred by
fuch reafons, I think, would betray an ignorance
in the workings of the human heart. And a cou-
fcioufnefs of fuperlor knowledge, in any depart-
ment of literature, almoft always feduces a writer
into a carelelTnefs and injudicioufnefs in the exer-
tion of it.
In the Hiflory of Mancheder, I have endeavoured
to inveftigate the origin of the name
of Celtce. I have there proved it, I think, not
to be an adjeflive derived from Gael, but to be
equally a fubftantive, and actually the fame
word, with it. And, as it is neceffary for the
folution of the prefent difficulty, and will be
ferviceable for the difcuffion of fome future
doubts, I fliall here go over the argument again,
and contract it into a fmaller compafs.—The
Irilh and Highlanders reciprocally denominate
themfelves by the general title of Gael, Gael, or
Gauls. They alfo diftinguifli themfelves, as the
Welfli originally did, and as the Welih diRin-
guilh them both at prefent, by the app