are a branch of the Celts, and consequently, that the Celtic and Teutonic nations were the same. In prosecuting this argument it must be acknowledged, that they have produced many instances that appear at first sight very plausible. But whoever considers how little we can depend upon the Etymology of obsolete words, derived from barbarous dead languages, in which there are no books extant, will not build very securely on proofs of this sort. No one will assert that the present German bears any resemblance now to the modern Welsh and Irish languages; and yet there are writers in abundance who will undertake to account for the name of almost every place, person or office in ancient Europe, from one or other of these two living tongues, and will produce instances full as plausible and conclusive, as any adduced by Cluverius or his followers[1]. After all, there is probably a good deal of truth on both sides; I can readily believe that all the names of places and persons in ancient Germany, or such other countries as any of the Gothic or Teutonic nations at any time penetrated into, will be reducible to the language now spoken by their descendants: And that in like manner, from the Irish and Welsh languages, which may be allowed to be genuine daughters of the ancient Gallic or Celtic tongue[2], it will be easy to explain such names as were imposed by any of the ancient Celtic or Gallic tribes. Indeed in the very remote ages, prior to history, one cannot pretend to say what were the distinct bounds or limits of each people. They were like all other barbarous nations, roving and unsettled; and often varied their situation; being
- ↑ See that excellent antiquary Lluyd, in Archæologia Britannica, &c. not to mention many late writers of a different Stamp, viz. Jones, Parsons, &c. &c.
- ↑ That the present Welsh language is the genuine daughter of the ancient British spoken in the time of the Romans, cannot be disputed; because we have now extant MSS. writ in every age from the Roman times down to the present, which plainly prove the descent, and are not unintelligible to the prefent inhabitants of Wales. (See Evans’s specimens of Welsh poetry, 4to.) Now that the ancient British differed little from the Gaulish, we are, assured by Tacitus. Sermo haud multum divorsus. Tacit. Agric. c. ii.
