Ossian Collection > Original collection of the poems of Ossian, Orrann, Ulin, and other bards, who flourished in the same age

Xlviii I'JttFAtE.
%vhich lie introduces numerous minute detec-
tion!?.
Mr. Laing's first detection is from the Roman
history of Britain, whence he deduces, as an his-
torical fact, that there was not a Highlander
ill Scotland, of the present race, at the beginning of
the aera assigned to Fingal. The proofs which he
produces for this formidable fact are, that some
Irish historians fix the arrival of the Scots in thia»
island at fifty years later than the sera assigned to
Fingal ; and that this account is supported by a
number of concurring testimonies; among which
are particularly pointed out, the indisputable opi-
nions of Whitaker and Pinkerton. Whether the
immaculate truth of the Irish fabulous historians,
and the unimpeachable accuracy of Messrs.
Whitaker and Pinkerton, might not admit of some
question, we shall leave it to our readers to decide.
Yet we shall state a iaw considerations which in-
duce us to believe, that the very same race who
possess the country to the north of the Grampians,
were its possessors far beyond any date assigned
even by fabulous records, that the Gael or Cale-
donians, are the same race who inhabited the High-
lands of Scotland, time immemorial, and that they
are entirely distinct from the Scots, appears from
the following considerations.
3. The Gael and Scots differ from each othev
in their language, manners, customs, superstitions,
prejudices, and traditions. 2. Among the Scots,