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

meichanls. They sent deputies from several
provinces, who expressed their desire of peace,
and promised to deliver hostages, " at que imperio
" populi Romani obtemporare,'' and submit to the
government of the Roman people.
It is evident that the Gallic traders were not
disposed to extend the power of the Romans
over the British people ; and there is reason to
infer, that they studiously concealed their know-
ledge of the country and people from the Roman
general. The intercourse between Gaul and Bri-
tain must have been considerable before Ca?sar's
time, for he tells us that the Britons had afford-
ed to the Gauls frequent aids in their wars
against the Romans ; a circumstance which
proves a friendly intercourse and correspondence
between the Gallic and British people.
It is remarkable, too, that when the British
deputies returned, Ctesar had sent along with
them one Comius, whom, after conquering the
Atribates in Gaul, he had set over them as king.
" Huic imperat, quas possit, adeat civitates ;
" horteturq. ut populi Romani fidem sequantur;
" seque celeriter eo venturum nunciet." Caesar
had put great confidence in the courage and
conduct of Comius : he considered him to be
personally attached to himself, and, being a man
of great authority, he ordered Comius to visit
as many provinces and states as he could, and
persuade them to come under the protection of
the Roman people, and communicate to them his