Ossian Collection > Thoughts on the origin and descent of the Gael

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mind, which, if directed towards the hberty of
mankind and the good of his country, would
have gained him greater glory, than the domi-
nion of the earth, by warlike achievenients the
most brilliant, could bestow.
Caesar gives a minute account of his first land-
ing in Britain, and of his preparatory measures
for tlie accomplishment of his designs in that
memorable expedition. The people called Ma-
rim, M^iich denotes their being maritime, possess-
ing the Gallic coast opposite to Britain, were not
sufficiently acquainted with the British coast^
with the internal state and condition of its
people, to be able to conmiunicate to Caesar that
intelligence he wished to obtain, to render the
issue of his expedition successful. His own
words will best communicate the nature of the
intercourse which had at that period subsisted
between the Britons of the southern end of the
island and the maritime inhabitants of the wes-
tern coast of Gaul. During the small part of
summer that remained, notwithstanding the
winters in those parts are early, as all Gaul
tends towards the north, yet Caesar resolved to
make an expedition into Britain, because almost
in all the wars of Gaul he understood that assist-
ance had been furnished to his enemies from
thence ; and although the time of the year
should not fully serve the purpose of carrying-
on a war, yet he judged it would be of great
advantage to him if he could but visit the island.