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 L
The remote Antiquities of Nations either
entirely fabulous, or full of Uncertainty.
IN an age fo accurate as the pre fen t, it affords
matter of fome curiofity to obferve thofe mar-
vellous fabrics of fi6tiorjj which bards and
antiquaries have ereded as monuments of the
antiquity and illuftrious origin of their nations.
Liv Y has obferved, that this credulous vanity
of ancient times merits our indulgence rather than
ceniure. The degree in which this indulgence is
beflowed, and the readinefs with which belief is
given, depend on the various opinions, and diffe-
rent fituations of mankind.
I N rude times, before the love of property
takes fuch abfolute dominion of the heart, that all
its romantic and generous views are excluded, the
moft exaggerated tales, which reflecfl honour
on the antiquity and illuftrious defcent of a nation^
are attended to with rapture, and regarded as
genuine hiftory,
A HowEvsp.