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

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THE GENUINE HISTORY OF
Thefe troops indeed were more formidable in
their appe-'.-Hnce on the field, than they have
been found in the hour of battle. The gaiety
of their attire, and the bravery of their afpefts,
promifed a much greater refiltance than I have
met with from them. And I, who entered upon
the contefl with a dubious fpirit, and a tremulous
exertion of courage, foon warmed with my own
fuccefs, and became aflured of the viftory.
In this, as in the general event of the contefl
betwixt Mr. Macpherfon and me, I may have
been deceived by that kindling ardour of fpir;t,
which often anticipates the conqueH: it cannot
make, or by that delufive felfiihnefs of judgment,
which frequently flatters the vanity with vilionary
triumphs. But, when I cooly look back upon
the progrefs and conclufion of the debate, I fee
no reafon to think myfelf deceived by either the
one or the other. ^
The plan which INIr. Macpherfon had propofed
to himfclf, was to prove the exiftence of three
diflinft and principal colonies in Britain, to de-
duce them in an hiflorical manner from the con-
tinent, and to point out their rcfpe>Siive operations
in the ifland. And, as the firfl and earlieft of
the three was to be the progenitors of the pre-
lent Highlanders and Scots, fo was it alfo to
become the original and principal pofleflbrs of Ire-
land. This Mr. Macpherfon fancied agreeable to
the fuggeftions of hiflory, to anfwer to the great
revo-