5

NOTES. 403
Roman power reached them in Britalo, they had no alternative
but Ireland, and the islands of Scotland. When no Roman
found a eiogle Druid on the continent of Britain, and Ammianus
found the rear of them in the Isle of Mann, there cannot remain
a doubt that the main body had proceeded to Ireland, though a
fiew individuals might perhaps straggle over the Hebrides, or
shelter themselves in the most inaccessible parts /of Wales and
the Highlands of Scotland,
By this event Ireland became pos.
sessed of the literati, the traditions, the history, the literature,
and the records, of all the Celtic nations. Ireland was the tie
plus ultra of Celtic migration. Here Druidism found its last
asylum, and here it made Us last agonizing effort, and expired.
It has been most unfortunate for
the history of Ireland, that
its early historians bad not the candour to acknowledge the vast
acquisition of records vrhich they gained on the expulision of the
Druids from Gaul and Britain.
It would^have prevented much
confusion, and afforded a handle to develops such parts of their
history as appear so hyperbolical as to baffle the most extravagant
pitch of human credulity.
iog themselves of these records, to
But the truth is, that the Irish, avail.
which they had no earthly
claim, apprctpriated them to themselves, and framed a history
from that oC all the other Celts ; and it is unquestionably the
appUcatioo of all the events vrbich befell all the Celtic tribes
(siace their first raigratiou from Asia) to the solitary and detach.^
^'island. of Ireland, which makes its. history appear so utterly
ridiselous and absurd.
The Irish historians say that the Firbolg
{Viri Belgi&y arrived in Ireland 1500 years before the christianr
jjra-^the Tvatftde Dnnan (Damnii of North Britain) 1250,
and the Milesitms 1000. Now as all these nations unquestion.
«bly k^pt some accounts of their origin, as well as the Iiisfa, the
9q]f error which the Irish historians seem to have committed, is
substituting the date of
their first migration from their respect.
ing countries, for thait of their first arrival in Ireland.
Rectified
iQ this (sanoer, the iiccount is not only modest, but highly pic.
bftble.
The story of Partholmiis, Nemedius, Simon JBreac, &e.
£sc. though nqt applicable to the Irish, may. yet apply to some