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NOTES, 369he gives us a long quotation from Luclan. This the reader isdesired to peruse with attention. He will here find anotherAbaris equally acquainted with Grecian history and mythology,and equally skilled in the Greek language. Lucian calls him aphilosopher^ a name of the same import with the Celtic Druid,Lucian was, on this occasion, present on the spot, and conversedwith the Gaelic philosopher face to face, so that it is impossiblehe could be mistaken. This direct and collateral instance, werethere any doubt of Abaris' being a Celt, would sufficiently clearit up. Let Mr. Pinkarton, or his abettors, condescend on anyGerman or Scandinavian equally learned, six centuries after thetime of Lucian, and I will surrender them both. Can any rationalbeing imagine that these Celts, who were such admirableadepts in the Greek language, had not learned the alphabet oftheir own,Tacitus, (de Morib. Germ. cap. 1.) gives a traditionary accountof Ulysses having penetrated into Germany, and built thecity Asciburgium^ which he Graecizes Askipyrgion^ i. e. " theblack tower ^''^ and concludes thus, Monumentaque ct iumidosquosdam Graecis liieris inscriptos in confinio Germaniac Bhac.tiaeque adhuc extare. i. e. " There are some monuments and sepulchres,with Greek inscriptions, still remaining on the confinesof Germany and Rhaetia." Tacitus having narrated thistradition, adds, " That he intends to adduce no arguments eitherto confirm or refute it, but that every one may credit or discreditit, as he thinks proper." Tacitus hesitates to ascribe theseantiquities and Greek inscriptions, (as well he may) to Ulysses,and certainly nobody will ascribe them to the Germans, thenand for seven centuries afterwards totally illiterate. I shall noteven ascribe them to the Celts, though from the circumstancesof their having been the Aborigines of Germany, and from a veryremote period well acquainted with the Greek language, theyhave the fairest claim to them. The Celtic claim to the earlyuse of letters stands on firm and stable ground. It needs no hypotheticalaid to support it, and I am determined to adducenone.