Blair Collection > Celtic gleanings, or, Notices of the history and literature of the Scottish Gael
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20 LECTURE I.
founded. Britain owes much, as has been said,
to the Eomans ; but there was also another
influence that began to act shortly after the com-
ing in of the Saxons, to which, above every-
thing else, we owe our present state of social
advancement, — an influence, the appearance
of which being almost contemporaneous with
the Saxon invasion, has been, in the estimation
of superficial inquirers, lost sight of in that of
the latter ; — I mean the influence of Christianity.
This is the fountain whence has flowed the civili-
zation of modern Europe ; to this England owes
almost all that distinguishes her as a nation.
We have yet to learn to what extent an invasion
of pirates is calculated to promote civilization.
The third course in the edifice we have been
contemplating is undoubtedly the Saxons ; and
an important contribution to its strength they
were. They were brave men ; men accustomed
to face danger, whether by sea or land ; men
of brawny arms and indomitable resolution, —
hungry, vigorous marauders, who found a good
land ; and though called in merely to help their
neighbours in an extremity, found, like others in
similar circumstances, that while it might be a
good thing to help their neighbours, it was a
better thing to help themselves. They had also
strong sympathies with liberty : men accus-
founded. Britain owes much, as has been said,
to the Eomans ; but there was also another
influence that began to act shortly after the com-
ing in of the Saxons, to which, above every-
thing else, we owe our present state of social
advancement, — an influence, the appearance
of which being almost contemporaneous with
the Saxon invasion, has been, in the estimation
of superficial inquirers, lost sight of in that of
the latter ; — I mean the influence of Christianity.
This is the fountain whence has flowed the civili-
zation of modern Europe ; to this England owes
almost all that distinguishes her as a nation.
We have yet to learn to what extent an invasion
of pirates is calculated to promote civilization.
The third course in the edifice we have been
contemplating is undoubtedly the Saxons ; and
an important contribution to its strength they
were. They were brave men ; men accustomed
to face danger, whether by sea or land ; men
of brawny arms and indomitable resolution, —
hungry, vigorous marauders, who found a good
land ; and though called in merely to help their
neighbours in an extremity, found, like others in
similar circumstances, that while it might be a
good thing to help their neighbours, it was a
better thing to help themselves. They had also
strong sympathies with liberty : men accus-
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Early Gaelic Book Collections > Blair Collection > Celtic gleanings, or, Notices of the history and literature of the Scottish Gael > (32) |
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Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/76269096 |
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Description | A selection of books from a collection of more than 500 titles, mostly on religious and literary topics. Also includes some material dealing with other Celtic languages and societies. Collection created towards the end of the 19th century by Lady Evelyn Stewart Murray. |
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Description | Selected items from five 'Special and Named Printed Collections'. Includes books in Gaelic and other Celtic languages, works about the Gaels, their languages, literature, culture and history. |
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