An History of the British Druids, with a Critical Essay on the Ancient Celtic Customs, Literature, Etc. to Which Is Added, an Account of Some Curious (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1747 edition. Excerpt: ... the relator is no competent judge; as if a travellor, who understands no mathematics, should affirm the Malabarians to be the best Mathematicians in the world. But STRABO, who, notwithstanding all these gross mistakes in the extremities of Europe, is one of the foremost authors in my esteem: STRABO, I say, a little lower in the same book, as doubting whether he was in the right, and pretending it was no great matter sh0u'd he be in the wrong, affirms that at least it is not known whether there be any habitable place beyond Ireland (which he still places to the north of Britain) nor (5 6) is it of any importance to the Prince, says he, to have an exact' notice zfsnch regions or their inhabitants z especial y sbozfd they line in such Ilands, which cannot contrihute any thing to our damage or profit (meaning the Romans) there being no intercourse between its. This reflection might perhaps be true with respect to the Emperor and the Empire: yet it is a very lame reason for a Geographer, who is accu iccurately to describe all places, let them have relation to his Prince or not. But the truth of it is, he wou'd not believe the antient Greec and Massllian sailors, -neither had he any better information himself, wherby to supply or to correct them. VI. AS for lreland, it was very well known to the more antient Geographcrs, as Ishow'd before; it being directly in the way of the Phenicians (who are said by ( 57) ARISTOTLE to have discovefd it) when they fail'd for Britain. Lying therefore so conveniently for the Phenicians, Grecians, Spaniards, and Gauls, it was always a place of great trade: and for this reason TACITUS (58) says (agreeable to the Irish annals) that it: parts were bete ter known for trade, and more frequented by merchants, t/mn..