05.03.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

THE BRITONS ASSERTED. 291<br />

bitablc faft in <strong>the</strong> former, but con tradifted equal-<br />

ly <strong>the</strong> Roman and Britiih accounts in <strong>the</strong> latter,<br />

and gave <strong>the</strong>ir Scottifli antagonifts an infinite ad-<br />

vantage over <strong>the</strong>m and <strong>the</strong> truth. <strong>The</strong> Scots mi-<br />

grated into Britain, and fettled in Caledonia, in<br />

<strong>the</strong> year <strong>of</strong> Chrift 320, and were <strong>the</strong>refore aflb-<br />

ciated with <strong>the</strong> Pilots in expeditions into <strong>the</strong> Pro-<br />

vince as early as 340, and have <strong>the</strong>ir ravages fo<br />

frequently mentioned by <strong>the</strong> Roman and Britifh<br />

writers, through a feries <strong>of</strong> 90 or 100 years after<br />

it.<br />

This is <strong>the</strong> true (late <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cafe betwixt <strong>the</strong>fe<br />

hiftorical dlfputants. <strong>The</strong> whole au<strong>the</strong>nticated<br />

hiflory <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> origin <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Scots, and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

tranilation to Caledonia, was never yet given, I<br />

apprehend, without that dubioufnefs <strong>of</strong> tejflimony<br />

which was frequently <strong>of</strong> equal moment on both<br />

fides <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> points difputed, without th<strong>of</strong>e adhe-<br />

rences <strong>of</strong> falfehood which difparaged even real<br />

and a£iual truths, and in fuch a manner as was<br />

confident with every note <strong>of</strong> time and every inci-<br />

dent <strong>of</strong> hiftory, till it was given in <strong>the</strong> Hiftory<br />

<strong>of</strong> Manchefler. And, what is remarkable, this<br />

newfyftem <strong>of</strong> fafis is calculated, alm<strong>of</strong>l equally<br />

with <strong>Mr</strong>. Macpherlbn's, to gratify that national<br />

pride <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Highlanders, which ought to be mo-<br />

derated, as every o<strong>the</strong>r affe6lion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mind is,<br />

but Ihould always be encouraged, as <strong>the</strong> foul <strong>of</strong><br />

all <strong>the</strong> national virtues. <strong>The</strong> Irifh, that were<br />

<strong>the</strong> progenitors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Britifli Scots, were <strong>the</strong>m-<br />

U 2 felves

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!