Blair Collection > Critical dissertations on the origin, antiquities, language, government, manners, and religion, of the antient Caledonians, their posterity the Picts, and the British and Irish Scots

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DISSERTATION III,
Of the Pids. — That they were the Pofterity
of the Caledonians.
VIRGIL'S obfervation, that Italy often
changed its name, is equally applicable to the
reft of the kingdoms of Europe. That migrating
difpofition which pofielTed mankind in their bar-
barous ftate, occafioned, of old, fuch revolutions
and intermixture of nations, that no appellation of
any country was permanent.
Brit A INS, Caledonians, Maeatae, Barbarians,
and unconquered nations, are the names conftantly
given to the old inhabitants of North Britain, by
Tacitus, Herodian, Dio, Spartian, Vopifcus, and
other antient writers. The fuccefTors of thefe
Britains, Caledonians, Maeats, and Barbarians, are
called Pids, Scots, and Attacots, by fome Roman
writers of the fourth century. The caufe of this
change of names is, at this diftance of time, little
underftood. Some Englilh antiquaries affirm, that
the old Caledonians were gradually exhaufted in
their wars v/ith the Rom^ans : that fome foreign
colonies occupied their alm.oft depopulated country :
and that thefe foreigners either alTumed or received
the name of Pids. If curiofity fhould lead us to
inquire fromx what quarter of the world thefe To-