together imaginary, or at best extremely doubtful and wholly unsatisfactory. He will probably meet this charge by asking, if we are to reject every thing that has a tincture of fable from modern compilations, are we to overlook altogether what national vanity craves, and what national dignity would seem to sanction may it not be that, though the facts are disguised, in substance they are well founded; that, with the fictions, real traits of manners are mingled; that the legend shews the spirit of the times; and that the whole may be illustrative of the more authentic parts of history? He will perhaps also observe that the authorities, which we most reverence, sanction the practice of prefixing early traditional accounts to the authentic relations of history. Should it be contended, however, that he ought to have been more concise while treating of these matters, we know not what defence he could satisfactorily advance; since few of his readers, we apprehend, will agree with him in thinking that, in the vast space which even Lord Hailes seemed to consign to obscurity and fable, Mr. Chalmers has enlightened the one or dispelled the other.

A passage in the preface will furnish us with the author's plan, and with his own notion of his atchievements:

I was ambitious, I will avow, to offer my countrymen the ancient history of Scoland, elaborated into detail, and illustrated into light; without regarding previous opinions, or fearing contentious opposi tion; without dreading difficulties, or apprehending disappointment. I have divided my work, without regarding fantastical conceits of fa bulous epochs, into such periods, às were analogous to the genuine history of each successive people. The Roman period, extending from Agricola's arrival, in North-Britain, A. D. 85, to the abdica tion of the Roman authority, in A D 446, forms the first book, from its priority in time, as well as precedence in importance. In discussing this interesting subject, I was not content with previous authorities. I engaged intelligent persons to survey Roman roads, to inspect Roman stations, and to ascertain doubtful points of Roman transactions. I have thus been enabled to correct the mistakes of former writers, on those curious topicks. Much perhaps cannot be added to what has been now ascertained, with respect to the engaging subject of the first book Yes: since Caledonia was sent to the press, a discovery of some importance has been made a very slight doubt remained, whether the Burghead of Moray had been a Roman station, as no Roman remains had there been found: but, this doubt has been completely solved by the recent excavation, within its limits, of a Roman bath The first chapter of the following work will be found to be as much the first chapters of the annals of England, and of Ireland, as it is of Scotland. The Pictish period naturally succeeds the former Book, as it extends, from the Abdication of the Romans, in A. D. 446, to the overthrow of the Picts, in A. D. 843. It will be found to comprehend interesting events: the affairs of the Picts;

the

the fate of the Romanized Britons; the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons on the Tweed; the adventures of the Scandinavians, in the Orkney, and Western Isles; the colonization of Argyle, by the Scots, from Ireland. It is the business of the Pictish period, to trace the singu lar history of all those people, various as they were in their lineages, throughout the different events of their obscure warfare, and the successive turns of their frequent changes: add to those topicks of peculiar interest the introduction of Christianity, which, in every age, and in every country, has produced such memorable effects. The Scotish period, forming the third Book, and extending from A.D. 843 to 1097, will be found to comprehend historic topicks of equal importance: the union of the Picts, and Scots, into one kingdom; the amalgamation of the ancient Britons of Strathclyde with both; the colonization of Galloway by the Irish; the annexation of Lothian to the Scotish kingdom; the history, both civil, and ecclesiastical, of all those people of various races, with notices of their antiquities, their languages, their learning, their laws; all these form historical matters of singular interest to rational curiosity, if they be investigated from facts, in contempt of fabulosity. The fourth Book contains the Scoto-Saxon period, which extends from A. D. 1097 to 1306, and which details many notices of varied importance. At the first, and at the second of those epochs, momentous revolutions took place, though they have passed unnoticed by the Scotish historians; and were unknown to the historiographer 1oyal. With this period began a new dynasty of kings, who introduced new people, new manners, new usages, and new establishments. In this period, the Saxon colonization of proper Scotland was begun. In this period, was the Scotican church reformed. In it, was introduced the municipal law of North-Britain, in the place of Celtic customs. period, originated her agriculture, her commerce, and shipping, and fishery, her manufactories, and her coins. The beginning of this period formed the pivot, on which turned the Celtic government of ancient ages, and the Anglo-Norman polity of subsequent times. Yet, is it of a period so crowded with changes, and so varied with novelties, that the late historiographer royal says, "the events, which then happened, may be slightly touched, but merit no parti cular inquiry." But, I have dwelt on those revolutions, and have marked every change By a vast detail from the Chartularies, in respect to the civil history, from 1997 to 1306, to the ecclesiastical annals, to law, to manners, and to domestic economy, I have tried to ascertain every interesting circumstance, and to render the national annals of that interesting period quite familiar to every reader: and, to give completeness to the whole, are added supplemental views of subsequent times, which have their details to instruct, and their curiosity to amuse. Such is the plan, which I have formed, and es. sayed to execute, for reforming, and ascertaining the ancient history of North-Britain, which has been so long distorted by controversy, obscured by fable, and disregarded by fastidiousness.'

In this

Apprehensive that the unwieldy size of this production might deter persons from sitting down to the perusal of it,

Mr.

Mr. Chalmers seems to have introduced the following paragraph in order to rouse and stimulate their curiosity:

It is the common complaint of intelligent readers, that there is nothing new in history; as the same facts are again served up, in different forms, with some interspersions of sentiment It is very seldom, indeed, that any history contains so many new facts, new discoveries, and new documents, as the following account of NorthBritain discloses. What can be more novel, than ascertaining the aborigines of the country, by proofs, which are as curious in themselves, as they are decisive in their inferences. Roman camps, in North-Britain, had been already brought before the curious eye: but, it is quite new, to show their location amidst the prior forts of the Britons, for some hostile purpose. Roman roads, and Roman stations, had been before mentioned by tourists, and traced by antiquaries: but, it is altogether new, to investigate their policy; and to form the whole of the Roman transactions, in Caledonia, into a connected body of genuine history, during four interesting centuries. The Picts had been sometimes casually mentioned: but, it is quite a novelty, to give the history of the Pictish people, their lineage, their language, their antiquities: it was known from Bede, that the Picts had defeated, and slain the Northumbrian Egfrid, in the battle of Nectan's Mere: but, it is altogether new, to ascertain the true site of that consequential conflict. The genuine chronology of the Scotish kings, their civil wars, their hostilities with the Picts; the Scotish laws, and literature, are all novelties. The colonization of Scot. land, by the Anglo-Saxons, Anglo-Normans, and Flemings, comprehending the origin of the Stewarts, and the descent of the Douglases, is quite new. The history of law, during the twelfth, and thirteenth centuries, including the origin, and epoch of the Regiam Majestatem; the history of manners in this period; the account of agriculture, of manufactures, of trade, and of the various topicks, which are connected with them; are entirely new. The whole volume may be regarded as a novelty, considering its arrangment, its matter, and its documents. Few histories can be found, wherein there are so many charters called for, so many records avouched, so many facts ascertained, and so many documents quoted.'

Having thrown out these allurements, he ventures to inform us that the present volume is only a part of the entertainment which he is preparing, and that it is to be followed by three others (perhaps of the same unwieldy dimensions); the proposed contents of these he also gives, and we should deem it wrong to withhold them from our readers :

Yet, this volume, which comprehends the history of so many people, during ages of darkness, does not comprehend my whole plan, for rectifying the annals, and ascertaining the antiquities of CALEDONIA. I propose to offer to the public three other volumes, successively, and soon, if my health, and spirits should continue. As the present volume has given the history of the several people, the next volume will form a DICTIONARY OF PLACES, Chorogra

phical and Philological; for the investigation of the various languages, which have been ever spoken within that country. This volume will be immediately sent to the press. The two subsequent volumes will contain the local history of every shire, in Scotland, upon a new plan, and from the most authentic informations The materials for all these are already collected; and they are mostly all worked up: so that there is little to prevent me from sending the whole to the pristers, exeept that, I should certainly feel this circumstance too fatiguing, and the public might perhaps regard it, as too repulsive.'

Mr. C. gives his sanction to the opinion that the Celts originally peopled the whole extent of Europe: but he observes that they were no were found in large assemblages.

While Asia, and Africa, shew several examples of empires, vast, and flourishing, in the earliest times, we only see, among the Celts, clans, disconnected from habit, and feeble from disunion. At the recent period, when the Romans entered Gaul, with whatever design of revenge, or conquest, that extensive country, the appropriate seat of the Celtic people, was cantoned among sixty tribes, who were little united by polity, and still less conjoined by the accustomed habits of natural affection. Wherever we turn our inquisitive eyes on the wide surface of Europe, we look, in vain, for a Celtic empire, however the Celtic people may have agreed, in their language, in their worship, and in their customs. Yet, at the dawn of history, we see the European nations, who dwelt to the westward of those waters, which flow eastward to the Euxine, denominated the Celta.

Disunited, however, as the Celtic clans were, and dispersed, in their several positions, they often made themselves felt. During the reign of the elder Tarquin, if we may believe Livy, more than five centuries and a half before our era, the Gauls, under Belovesus, seized the country on the Po; while another swarm, under Segovesus, settled in Germany. Four hundred years before our common era, the Gauls invaded Italy, in such a numerous body, as to evince the extent, and populousness of the country, whence they proceeded. Brennus, their leader, sacked Rome. They were repulsed by the genius of Camillus; but they were not dismayed by their disaster. They again over-ran Italy by a second invasion. And it required all the valour, and all the skill, of the Roman armies, to repress the daring of the Celtic people. The Gauls overspread Thrace, and plundered the temples of Greece, whatever genius, and force could be opposed to their inroads. They invaded Asia, which had already acknowledged the superior character of European firmness, and discipline; and which gave their irresistible invaders a settlement, that was long known, by the vivid remembrance of their perseverance, and their prowess.

Those intimations of history seem to demonstrate, that western Europe, throughout its wide extent, was already filled with Celtic inhabitants. It was the superabundance of its populousness, which discharged itself, during successive ages, in quest of plunder, or in pursuit of settlement. It is thus apparent, from every notice of history, and every specification of geography, that the Celta were the aboriginal

Yet,

aboriginal people of Europe, throughout its ample limits. has it been debated by ingenuity, and inquired by learning, whether the Celta, or the Scythes, were the most ancient people; as if there could be priority of origin, while they were both descended from a common, though distant origin. It is of much more importance to inquire when, and on what occasion, the Celta, who were thus, for ages, the sole inhabitants, as they were the original colonists of Europe, became mingled with a dissimilar people, either by colonization, or conquest.

We agree with the author in thinking that a history of the several Celtic nations is a desideratum. Pelloutier is a writer of great research, but he proceeds on an erroneous system.Mr. C. thus concisely states his opinion in respect to their successors the Goths:

That Gothic colonists came into Western Europe, from whatever country, at some period, we know, from the prevalence of their speech, which has almost superseded the aboriginal tongue. But, whence came they? is a question, that has been often asked; yet has not hitherto been answered. With a view to that question, we must throw our inquisitive eyes over the instructive course of the Danube, from its spring among the Celta, to its issue into the Euxine, among the Geta. There, we may see, on the banks of the Danube, Dacia, the country of the Daces, Getia, the region of the Getes, and Moesia, which, in after ages, gave subsistence, and a name to the Moeso-Goths. On the northern side of the Danube, flowed the sister stream of the Tyras, which gave rise to the name of the Tyro Goths, who lived either upon its banks, or within its isles; and who, in subsequent times, were denominated by Ptolemy the Tyran-Goths. In his time, the appellation of Goths, by the philological changes of seven centuries, had displaced the more ancient name of Getes: and there can, therefore, be no reasonable doubt, whether the Goths were any other than the same people, who, in more early times, had been known, by the kindred designation of Getes, and Daces. Thus, the Goths, the Tyro- Goths, and the Moeso-Goths; the Dacians, and the Getes, were the same people, who, like other barbarous tribes, in successive ages, and in varying situations, were differently denominated by writers, who viewed them, in different lights.

The Gothic tribes, however, denominated, formed one of the aboriginal people of Europe. On this event, history is silent; but, philology is instructive. The Gothic language is certainly derived from a common origin with the most ancient languages of the European world; the Greek, the Latin, and the Celtic. Ancient Thrace, comprehending Getia, Dacia, and Moesia, was the original country of the Goths. Every inquiry tends to demonstrate, that the tribes, who originally came into Europe, by the Hellespont, were remarkably different, in their persons, their manners, and their language, from those people, who, in after ages, migrated from Asia, by the more devious course, around the northern extremities of the Euxine, and its kindred lake. This striking variety must for ever evince the

difference