Ossian Collection > Life and letters of James Macpherson

CELTIC ARCHEOLOGY. 217
study of Celtic archaeology and literature. Al-
though his speculations are rough, inaccurate,
and devoid of any historical value, he deserves,
perhaps, a somewhat better treatment than he
has received at the hands of those who since his
day have pursued that study in a scientific spirit
and in the light of better knowledge. In 1771
he published the results of his inquiry as An
Introduction to the Histon/ of Great Britain and
Ireland. This, as the lengthy title of the work
proceeded to announce, was an examination of
the origin, religion, future state, character,
manners, morality, amusements, persons, manner
of life, houses, navigation, commerce, languages,
government, kings, general assemblies, comls
of justice, and juries of the Britons, Scots, Irish,
and Anglo-Saxons. It was a mere glorification
of the Celts, and its aim was to show, what
Macpherson unquestioningly believed, that most
of our early civilisation might be traced to their
institutions. But he was well aware that he
could not expect much sympathy either for his
work or for the views which he was maintaining.
'' Inquiries into antiquity," he wrote in his pre-
face, "are so unpopular that without any of the
ordinary incitements to literary labours the