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

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——NOTES. 333fion vvlia lever. Both in speaking and writing we say <strong>the</strong> Welch,Irish, and Gaelic lan^'^ui^ges, though it is well known <strong>the</strong>se areonly dialects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same language. It is also well known thatall <strong>the</strong>se have <strong>the</strong>ir peculiar customs and laws, though it is certain<strong>the</strong>y are all <strong>of</strong> Celtic origin. Bat <strong>the</strong> general sense in whichCaesar uses <strong>the</strong> phrases omnis Gallia and iota Gallia^ clearlyevinces that he had no such meaning as Pinkarton has assigned.Indeed Mr. Pinkarton must be very much straitened for arguments,before he would venture to rest his hypo<strong>the</strong>sis on <strong>the</strong> absurdand inipossible axiom, that <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> any thing, and onethird <strong>of</strong> it, are equal. ?*Ir. Pinkarton's next disingenuous shiftis (vol. l.p. 24,) misquoting a passage from Cassar (lib. 2 cap. 4.)The passage is plerosque Belgas es.sc ortos a Germanis— i. e." That <strong>the</strong> greater part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Belga? were descended from <strong>the</strong> Germans,'*But as this would not suit his Gothic purpose, he rendersit Belgas esse ortos a Germanis— i. e. *'That <strong>the</strong> Belgae were descendedfrom <strong>the</strong> Germans." Caisar had this information from hisallies and friends, <strong>the</strong> Remi^ who had a direct and obvious interestto represent <strong>the</strong> Belgie as foreigners and intruders, in <strong>the</strong>hope that Caisar would drive <strong>the</strong>m across <strong>the</strong> Rhine, in which,event <strong>the</strong>y (<strong>the</strong> Remi) who were nearest to <strong>the</strong> Belga?, might hoj eto obtain <strong>the</strong>ir territories, and be settled by Caesar in thtir stead.It is evident, from Cajsar's whole history, that <strong>the</strong> Germans madefrequent settlements in Gaul, and <strong>the</strong> Gauls in Germany. FromTacitus it is evident that <strong>the</strong>re were several Celtic colonies inGermany ; and <strong>the</strong> simple fact <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> BeUai having passed fronx©ne side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rhine to <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, {antia^uitus tramducios Ehc^num) will not prove <strong>the</strong>m Germans, Indeed Mr. Pinkartonseems sensible <strong>of</strong> this difficulty, and endeavours to establish adistinction between <strong>the</strong> Celts in Germany and Gaul, as if aman's residence on this or that side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rhine would alterhis language, his lineage, or identity. A Goth is a Goth, anda Celt a Celt, whe<strong>the</strong>r he reside in Germany or Gaul. Mr.Pinkarton's <strong>the</strong>ory will <strong>the</strong>n, and not till <strong>the</strong>n, hold good, when<strong>the</strong> interested and suspicious account <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Belgce^ given toC«sar by <strong>the</strong>irenemies <strong>the</strong> Eemi, is enlitled to historic faithu u

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