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their fundamental and peculiar doctrines were once universal, which necessarily carries them up very close to the age of the earliest post-diluvian patriarchs. Sanchoniatho* expressly tells us, that the history, theology, and philosophy of the first ages, had been long before his time converted into mysterious allegories, and were so transmitted to the different nations of the earth. They were preserved in this mystic form by their priests, whether called in different countries Magi, Brachmans or Druids. Hence we learn from Clemens Alexandrinus, who died about 205, that Pythagoras, who is generally allowed to have borrowed his doctrine of the metempsicosis from the Druids, had consulted with the Gauls, (or Celtæ,) and the Brachmans. The first Celtic colony, which settled permanently in Britain, is represented by the oldest Welch bards, to have come originally from Asia, and consequently at a very early period. The system of druidism, which appears manifest throughout the ancient history of Ireland, must

certain Yogi, who was living when Mr. Wilford wrote (1791) had set out upon that very design with his attendant pilgrims, and had proceeded in his journey as far as Moscow."

*The history of Sanchoniatho has been always looked upon as the most ancient and authentic piece of profane history. Although the Greek father Theodoret supposed the name to have been fictitious, and in the Phoenician language equivalent to Philolethes, or lover of truth, yet Mr. O'Halloran from his knowledge of the Irish (or Phoenician) language appears to have given a much more satisfactory etymology of it (1. O'Hal. 47.) " As letters were hereditary in families, as well in Phoenic a as in Ireland, the word Sanchoniatho was the title of the national history from Seanachas, antiquity, and Aithne, knowledge; just as the grand digest of our his. tory was called Seanachas more, or the great antiquity."

from its construction have attained its meridian prevalence at a very early period. It was natural, that it should preserve its its original institutions pure and unadulterated, in those nations the longest which were the least open to the intercourse and influence of strangers holding different doctrines. Druidism, therefore was more likely to remain in its purity longer in Britain than in Gaul; and longer in Ireland than in Britain. However inaccurate Cæsar's account of the

* De Bel. Gal. L. vi. § xiii. Cæsar further reports what strongly illustrates and confirms the authenticity of the ancient history and annals of Ireland, which have been chiefly preserved in verse or metre, "they are taught to repeat a great number of verses by heart, and often spendi 20 years in this institution, for it is deemed unlawful for them to commit their tenets or statutes to writing; though in other matters whether public or private, they use the Greek letters." And Pomponius Mela, who wrote his work de Situ Orbis under Claudius, that is within threescore years from the death of Cæsar, attributes "their chief science to the strength of memory; for they had no books, and they sometimes got by heart 20,000 verses, which were a kind of history of great men, which they derived by tradition." We attempt not to particularize the original tenets and functions of the druids, and how by lapse of time and occurrences of external and internal events they underwent changes, and became misrepresented by the Greeks and Romans, either from ignorance of their language, or their habitual arrogance and contempt of all foreign (which they called barbarous) nations. Every man, who impartially wishes to attain the truth, will be gratified, and satisfied with the interesting and masterly manner, in which Mr. Davies has handled this subject throughout the second section of his most valuable work upon the antiquity of the Druidical order amongst the Celta. (Cel. Res. from 139 to 199).

Antiquity and importance of

the druidi

tions.

Gallic druids may in some instances be, he may be fairly allowed the credit of having faithfully reported their traditions, particularly when, as against themselves, they admitted their institution was supposed to have come originally from Britain, whence it passed into Gaul: and that "even at that day, such as were desirous of being perfect in it, travelled thither for instruction." Unless the Gallic druids of his time, from whose report he gives this account, had well known the fact, it is little likely they should to their own disparagement have allowed the honourable precedency and priority of dignity to their insular neighbours: a nation, at that time, infinitely less powerful than the Gauls, and of which Cæsar was infinitely more ignorant.

This religious system, drawn from the early streams, which first branching off from the pure source of pacal institu- triarchal faith, retained more of the natural religion of man, than any of the latter corruptions of idolatry, must have accompanied the first settlers in Britain; and this affords us the authority of Cæsar, for the tradition and belief of the Gallic druids, (to whom he says the greatest deference, dignity and respect were due; to whom the administration of public and private justice, the education of youth, the oblation of sacrifices, and the interpretation of the will of the gods, were entrusted), not that the Britons were originally descended from the Gauls; but rather that the Gauls owed the origin of their pedigree, as well as of their religion to the Britons. It is demonstrable, that the progress of these early institutions, bearing intrinsic

evidence of the earliest post-diluvian origin, must have carried with them the tracks of the re-population of the earth after the deluge *.

* There has latterly appeared an unaccountable rage and lust for Pyrrhonism upon the antiquity of the population of our western islands. Any hypothesis is greeted by this modern school, which affects to contradict or call in doubt the veracity of those annals, which are substantially simple, and supported by all the moral evidence that a reasonable mind can require. A very recent work of industrious lore (Caledonia, by George Chalmers, esq. 1807) has this singular thesis, p. 15; " Meanwhile the original impulse, which had been given to mankind, peopled the British island during the most early times. The stone monuments, which still appear to inquisitive eyes in Britain and in Ireland, evince, that the first settlements of these islands must have been accomplished during the pristine ages of the post-diluvian world, while only one race of men existed in Europe, and while a second impulse had not yet induced various people to quit their original settlements in Asia. As the current of colonization during those times constantly flowed from the east to the west; as these isles were necessarily colonized from the neighbouring continents, Britain must undoubtedly have been settled from adjacent Gaul, by her Celtic people. Julius Cæsar and Tacitus agree in representing the religion, the manners, the language of Gaul and Britain, to have remained the same, when those curious writers cast their intelligent eyes on both those countries." Mr. Chalmers also (p. 5) says, that "Britain was undoudtedly peopled from Gaul, and Ireland from Britain." Upon these passages, in which this modern investigator of western antiquities, speaks in so decided a tone of assurance, we know not what this peopling impulse imports. We distinguish not between the nature of the first and second impulse. We know but of one race of post-diluvian men, subdivided into several generations or families. We know of none, that must not have quitted their original settlements in Asia. We are enlightened by the torch of Moses to look into the peopling of the islands of the Gentiles, from the original settlements in Asia, before we follow the gradual, casual, and slow colonization of the island from their adjacent continents. We agree with his own author, Orte

Druids tra duced by the Romans.

In support of the tradition and metrical annals of the Irish phillids, which assert that Ireland colonized Britain, we shall rest upon facts *, rather than the surmises or opinions of any writers, ancient or modern. Cæsar has traced the origin and purity of druidism from the west into Gaul. It did not then follow Mr. Chalmer's constant current of colonization from east to west, from the adjacent shore of Gaul to the British islands. Yet the institutions, which constituted the civil essence of a people, must have travelled and settled with them. Each Roman author, as it suited his turn, misrepresented the druids of their enemies. Their great influence upon the minds of the people, was more formidable to the Romans, than the swords of the enemy; and this drew upon them the spite and vengeance of the Romans, who in other instances did not act upon principles of intolerance t. No credit is

lius, that Europe was originally peopled by Scythians; and with Justin, Claverius, and scores of ancient and modern authors, who admit Scythia to be the most ancient great post-diluvian nation. Without being bescreened by night we admit with Pelloutier, that Les Celtes ont été connus anciennement sous le nom general des Scythes, We believe that the intelligent eyes of Cæsar and Tacitus saw little of Britain; nothing of Ireland. And we know, that Cæsar expressly deduces the religion, philosophy, and cultivation of the Gauls from Britain.

*Mr. Chalmers rather aukwardly lays down a very perspicuous rule to steer by. Ibid. "It is the facts which are stated by ancient authors, more than their opinions, respectable as they may be for their discernment and veracity, that ought to be the grounds of our convictions."

The Roman religion was a mixture of the Grecian and many other systems and they were by law allowed to worship any strange gods, but not to the exclusion of their own.

Leg. v. i. p. 291.

Warb. Diy.

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