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A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

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ever cheerful,THE HISTORYand having a strong inclination tomusic: all which particulars, with <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r parts<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir past and present character, I have notonely learnt from <strong>the</strong> concurrent testimonies <strong>of</strong>several judicious authors; but al^o from <strong>the</strong> intimateknowlege I have had myself <strong>of</strong> many scores<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> natives, as well in Scotland as elsewhere.They are hospitable beyond expression, intertainingall strangers <strong>of</strong> what condition soever gratis;<strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> mony being still in some <strong>of</strong> those ilandsunknown, and till a few ages past in all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m.They have no lawyers or attorneys: which, nomore than several o<strong>the</strong>r particulars here specify'd,I do not understand <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Highlanders on <strong>the</strong>continent; tho' speaking <strong>the</strong> same language, andwearing <strong>the</strong> same dress with <strong>the</strong>m. The men andw omen plead <strong>the</strong>ir own causes ; and a very speedydecision is made by <strong>the</strong> proprietor, who's perpetualpresident in <strong>the</strong>ir courts, or by his bailiff ashis substitute.In a word, <strong>the</strong>y are equally void <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> two chief plagues <strong>of</strong> mankind, luxuryandambition; which consequentlyf rees <strong>the</strong>m from allthose restless pursuits, consuming toils, and neverfailingvexations, that men suffer elsewhere for thoseairy, trifling, shortliv d vanities.Their contempt<strong>of</strong> superfluities is falsly reckon'd poverty, since<strong>the</strong>ir felicity consists not in having much, but incoveting little; and that he's supremely rich, whowants no more tJian he has:for as <strong>the</strong>y, who liveaccording to nature, will never be poor; so <strong>the</strong>y,

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