Ossian Collection > Defence of the Scots Highlanders, in general; and some learned characters, in particular

[( 70 )
in Scotland, and more particularly, when
neither Danes, nor Romans, nor EngUjJj
woiild be allowed to keep pofleffion by force
of arms, to adulterate their ton!2:ue. Thus
Mr. P's I2O0O names in Scotland, of which
he fays 30 only zvQJ-Felch, and not above 50
Irifi, on the north, fouth, and cajl, with
his 2000 G(?/i'/r words in the ivcjl ; may in
a great meafurc be laid up in the great Atlas
until the Gothic Fiks are fully eftablifhed
there to make ufe of them.
We ihall follow him fome farther to be in-
formed that he dwelt on this matter, * be-
* caufe Celtic etymology is become the fren-
* zy of this fhallow age ; and I fliall remark,
* before quitting it, that by Gothic names,
' I mean, fays he,fuch whofe form is Gothic,
« and may be traced in the northern king-
* doms, Germany and England;'' and he con-
cludes with a hope that he has fatisfadorily
anfwered the whole arguments. Here he
does not tell us whofe arguments he thuj?
belabours, only it is to be fuppofcd he means
thofe of the two Mr. Macpherfons, and
thinks his Englifl:i readers, becaufe ignorant
of