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

XX PREFACE.
If the Britifli Scots had any national tradi-
tions of their own, which contradided the
holy antiquaries of Ireland, Bede, from a
pious averfion to heretics, totally rejed:ed
them.
From what I have faid, it appears, that
the Scots have been hitherto, unfortunate
in the writers of the ancient hiftory of their
country. There has been great expence of
erudition on the fubjed:, both by foreign
and domeftic antiquaries. But the grand
defideratum, in the difquilitions of thofe
learned men, was a thorough know-
ledge of the old Caledonian language,
which goes now under the name of the
Galic tongue. Dr. Macpherfon hap-
pily joined a critical knowledge, in that
language, to his great learning in other re-
fped:s. Something therefore, more fatis-
fadlory ought to be exped:ed from him
than from thofe who have gone before
him, and were not pofieiTed of the fame
advantages.
Before the Dodor had thoroughly ex-
amined his fubjedt, he paid great deference
to the opinion of Tacitus, concerning the
Germanic extraction of the Caledonians.
The colour of hair and fize of body, which
diftinguifhed them from the Britons of the
South,