Ossian Collection > Morison's edition of the Poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal

254 A DISSERTATION CONCERNING
About the year 416, the Romans, on account of domef-
tic commotions, entirely forfook Britain, finding it impof-
ftble to defend fo diftant a frontier. The Pids and Scots;
feizing this favourable opportunity, made incurfions into
the deferted province. The Britons, enervated by the (la-
very of feveral centuries, and thofe vices, which are infepa-
rable from an advanced ftate of civility, were not able to
withftand the impetuous, though irregular attacks of a bar-
barous enemy. In the utnioft difti-efs, they applied to their
old mafters, the Romans, and (after the unfortunate ftate
of the empire could not fpire aid) to the Saxons, a nation
equally barbarous aud brave, with the enemies of whom
they were fo much afraid. Though the bravery of the Sax-
cms repelled the Caledonian nations for a time, yet the lat-
ter ff,nnd means to extend themfelves, confiderably, towards
the foQth. It is, in this period, we muft place the origin
<>f the arts of civil life among the Scots. The ftat of go-
'srernment was removed from the mountains to the plain and
more fertile provinces of the fouth, to be near the common
CEemy, in cafe of fiidden incurfions.
Inftead of roving through unfrequented wild?, in fearch
cf fubfiftence, by means of hunting, men applied to agri-
cmltnre, and raifing of corn. This manner of life was the
£rft means of changing the national character. The next
thing which contributed to it was their mixture with
^augei's.
In the countries w^hich the Scots had conquered from the
Britons, it is probable the moft of the old inhabitants re-
jnalned. Thefe incorporating with the conquerors, taught
tJiem agriculture, and other arts, which they themfelves had
received from the Romans. The Scots, however, in num-
ber as well as power, being the moft predominant, retained
fiill their language, and as many of the cuftoms of their an-
ceftors,