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382 ^OTEs.-very same criterion would prove them Egyptians. D'lodomsSiculus (lib. 1. p. 99.) says, it zzas an established custom of theEgyptians to sacrifice red haired men at the tomb of Osiris.But though we should grant, contrary to all probability, thatthe Picts or Caledonians were a colony from Germany or Scandinaviaabout three centuries prior to our Eera, still we are in*TolTed in the same difficulty ; for the question naturally arises,•whether this colony were Celts or Germans ? That the Germansmade great encroachments on the Celts on the Continent, andwrested the greater part of their territory from them, is on a!Ihands allowed. Still, even in Germany, as late as the time ofCaesar and Tacitus, the Celts were not extirpated. We find theTectosages, the Finni, the jEstyi, the Cimhri^ and the Goihini,indisputably Celtic nations, still in Germany. Now can it reasonablybe supposed that the Germans would rather emigratethemselves, than drive out the Celts; or rather is it not self-evidentthat the Celts, the vFcaker party, were forced to yield tothe overwhelming pressure of the Germans, and to seek new settlementsfor themselves in Britain. Hence the probability of aCeltic origin for the Picts or Caledonians, must greatly preponderate;and still more so, as there is not the slightest vestige ofauthentic evidence in the world, that a German^ or any one ofthat race, ever set a foot on British or Irish ground before themiddle of the fifth century.It would Be presumption in me toendeavour to establish the Celtic origin of the Picts or Caledonians.In so doing, I could only repeat the arguments of men infinitelybetter qualified for the task. That the Picts or Caledonianswere of Celtic origin, is established by the respectableauthorities of Camden^ Lloyd, Lines, Whitaker, Gufhrie, Gib.hon, Hume, &c. &c. &c.I have to apologize to the reader forthis long digression. The truth is, that it formed the concludingpart of Note 65, and, by some unaccountable oversight, wasomitted in its proper place ; nor was the mistake discorered tillit was too late to rectify it. We shall next turn our attentionto the Celts inIreland.The antiquity cf the use of lett«r8 in Ir«land has bee n strenu.