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NOTES. 415such a striking peculiarity ought not to have been omitted.Had Pliny turned his attention to the raore elevated parts of thebody, veemight perhaps have found that the structure of theirheads was equally retrograde with that of their heels; and onthis principle some modern Gothic preposterosities might be accountedfor, which have hitherto appeared totally inexplicable.What an immense treasure must that man possess, who is blessedwith a Gothic pair of heels, and a Gothic understanding!!!Whilst the Irish manuscripts remain unpublished, it is impossibleto pronounce decisively, either on their authenticity or antiquity.The only aids we have in this case are the opinions ofthe Irish themselves, or their history.The last I consider as themost equitable and impartial rule, because it is much easier tomistake the date of a manuscript, than to forge a history altogetherwithout materials.Pinkarton himself is obliged to acknowledge,that Ireland is the most ancient of all the modern nationsof Europe, But what could place it on this proud pinnacle ofpreeminence? It certainly was not Roman intercourse or civilization.The early literature of Ireland is a phsgaomenon forwhich it is impossible to assign even a probable reason, if wegive up this single point, that it was the ne plus ultra of Celticmigration—that it was the last refuge of the Druids, and thatthe whole Celtic literature and records found here their lastasylum.In examining the most prominent features of the Irish history^the first thing which deserves our attention is its chronology, becauseit is here that all profane histories chiefly err. The Irishhistorians fix the first population of Ireland about 2,000 yearsbefore the Christian aera, which is nearly three centuries and ahalf after the deluge. Pinkarton himself is obliged to admit(vol. 2. p. 25.) that Ireland may have been peopled 2000 yearsbefore our asra, though he adds (in his usual polite and elegantlanguage), that it is a matter ofsupreme indifference at what timethe savages of a Continent peopled a neighbouring island.I amfar from contending that the above is the exact date of the firstpopulation of Ireland. All I intend is, to shew that it is net3 G 2