military enterprise, were
deeply affected by the various accidents of their mutual fortunes. They
long cherished the lively tradition of their common name and origin;
and the missionaries of the Isle of Saints, who diffused the light of
Christianity over North Britain, established the vain opinion, that
their Irish countrymen were the natural, as well as spiritual, fathers
of the Scottish race. The loose and obscure tradition has been preserved
by the venerable Bede, who scattered some rays of light over the
darkness of the eighth century. On this slight foundation, a huge
superstructure of fable was gradually reared, by the bards and the
monks; two orders of men, who equally abused the privilege of fiction.
The Scottish nation, with mistaken pride, adopted their Irish genealogy;
and the annals of a long line of imaginary kings have been adorned by
the fancy of Boethius, and the classic elegance of Buchanan. [111]

[Footnote 108: In the beginning of the last century, the learned Camden
was obliged to undermine, with respectful scepticism, the romance of
Brutus, the Trojan; who is now buried in silent oblivion with Scota the
daughter of Pharaoh, and her numerous progeny. Yet I am informed, that
some champions of the Milesian colony may still be found among the
original natives of Ireland. A people dissatisfied with their present
condition, grasp at any visions of their past or future glory.]

[Footnote 109: Tacitus, or rather his father-in-law, Agricola, might
remark the German or Spanish complexion of some British tribes. But
it was their sober, deliberate opinion: "In universum tamen
aestimanti Gallos cicinum solum occupasse credibile est. Eorum sacra
deprehendas.... ermo haud multum diversus," (in Vit. Agricol. c. xi.)
Caesar had observed their common religion, (Comment. de Bello Gallico,
vi. 13;) and in his time the emigration from the Belgic Gaul was a
recent, or at least an historical event, (v. 10.) Camden, the British
Strabo, has modestly ascertained our genuine antiquities, (Britannia,
vol. i. Introduction, p. ii.--xxxi.)]

[Footnote 110: In the dark and doubtful paths of Caledonian antiquity,
I have chosen for my guides two learned and ingenious Highlanders, whom
their birth and education had peculiarly qualified for that office.
See Critical Dissertations on the Origin and Antiquities, &c., of
the Caledonians, by Dr. John Macpherson, London 1768, in 4to.; and
Introduction to the History of Great Britain and