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

THE BRITONS ASSERTED. 53
from the Celtce in Gaul. It was the {landing
fignature of the original derivation of both from
the flock of the Cimmerii in Gaul. And it was
obvioufly the firfl and original charafteriilic of
that great national family, which was afterwards
denominated Galli and Celtce. Diflinguiflied by
the epithets of Galli and Celtse from their mode
and manner of living, as I iliall fhew hereafter ;
they raufl naturally have been diftingulihcd be-
fore by fome primseval and family appellation,
by fomething that carried the note of their de-
fcent from the great patriarch of their line.
And fuch appears to be the name of Cimmerii.
Varioufly written Cirabri, Cimmerii, Cumri,
Gumri, and Gomerite, it bears all the marks of
an original and hereditary fignature, and points
fully, as it is exprefsly referred by hillory % to
the patriarch Gomer.—The name therefore did
not commence about three centuries before
Chrlfl. It had been a name for ages before that
period. The denomination was not given to the
German Celtce by the Gauls, for their re-en-
trance into Gaul at that period, and as a mark of
ignominy for their devaftatlons in it. It was at
that time the hereditary denomination of the
Gauls themfelves. And the appellation was not
borne by the Belga?, or any or all of the German
^ Jofephus Ant. lib. i. c. 7. And the name is frequently
written Gumri by the Wellh at preient, as the Sicanibri of
Germany are called Sigambri by Casfar.
E 3
Celta-,