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

PREFACE. vii
The almofl continual wars and anomoli-
ties which fubiifted between the Englifh and
Scots for many ages naturally gave birth to
violent national prejudices on both fides.
The learned of England could not dived
themfelves of that antipathy to their North-
ern neighbours which had feized their whole
nation. Though at variance with the Irifh
in every other point, they agreed with them
wonderfully well in extenuating the natio-
nal antiquities of the Scots. Some of thofe
gentlemen had the cruelty to extirpate the
brave nation of antient Caledonians, left the
detefted Scots of latter times fhould derive
any honour from the military reputation of
a people who once polTeiTed their country.
Happily for the prefent times, thofe
prejudices which blinded both nations have,,
in a great meafure, fubfided. National a-
vcrfions are loft in the antiquity of thofe
national injuries from which they firft arofe.
Whatever may tend to do honour to either
nation is heard with candor, if not with
pleafure, by both. They are, in (hort, now
fo much blended with one another, that
whatever throws luftre upon the one, ought
to be reckoned an acquiiition of reputation
to the other. — If to throw a new and ftrong
light on the antiquities of a nation, refleds
a 4 any