MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. d'25 



advanced beyond the rude state of barter/' Here is a statement which 

 shows that the actual history of the country is directly opposed to the 

 bardic history. 



As we were turning over the leaves of the book a work was placed 

 in our hands, which will be noticed hereafter; Mr. Miller's "Scenes 

 and Legends of the North of Scotland." In this work, much to our com- 

 fort, we found the Gordian knot of Irish history cut to our hand, and we 

 trust that the question is now for ever put to rest. 



" The legend of Scotland/' says Mr. Miller, after some very judi- 

 cious remarks on the early history of nations, " may be regarded as a 

 national epic. Galethus, its hero, is the Eneas of Scotland. He was the 

 son of Cecrops the founder of Athens, and, like Romulus, made himself 

 famous as a captain of robbers, before he became the founder of a nation. 

 Having repeatedly invaded Macedonia, and the neighbouring provinces of 

 Greece, he was in imminent danger of being overpowered by a con- 

 federacy of the states he had injured, when assembling his friends and 

 followers he retreated into Egypt, at a time when that kingdom was 

 ravaged from its southern boundary to the gates of Memphis by an army 

 of Ethiopians. Assuming on the sudden a new character, he joined his 

 forces to those of Pharaoh, gave battle to the invaders, routed them with 

 much slaughter, pursued them into Ethiopia, and, after a succession of 

 brilliant victories over them, compelled them to sue for peace. On his 

 return he was presented by the king with the hand of his daughter Scota, 

 and made general-in-chief of the forces of the kingdom. Disgusted, how- 

 ever, by the cruelties practised on the Israelites, and warned by Moses, 

 and an oracle, of the judgments by which these cruelties were to be 

 punished, he fitted out a fleet, and, accompanied by a great number of 

 Greeks and Egyptians, set sail from the river Nile, with the intention of 

 forming a settlement on the shores of the Mediterranean. After a tedious 

 voyage, he arrived at a port of Numidia, where no better success 

 awaited him, than had been met with by Eneas in the scene of his first 

 colony. Again putting to sea, he passed the pillars of Hercules, and, 

 after having experienced in the straits dangers similar to those which 

 appalled Ulysses when passing through the straits of Messina, he landed 

 in that part of Spain, which has ever since been known by the name of 

 Portugal. He found in this country a second Tiber in the river Munda, 

 and a fierce army of llutulians in the inhabitants. But his good fortune 

 did not desert him he vanquished his enemies in one decisive battle, dis- 

 possessed them of their fairest provinces, built cities, instituted laws, con- 

 quered and colonized Ireland, and, after a long and prosperous reign, left his 

 kingdom to his children. Prior to his decease his subjects, both Greeks 

 and Egyptians, were termed Scots, having sunk their original designation 

 is this name, out of courtesy to their queen Scota a name afterwards 

 transferred to Albyn, by a colony from Ireland, who took possession of it 

 a few ages subsequent to the age of Galethus." 



This account is so strictly in accordance with many points of Mr. 

 Moore's history, that we hope he will be, in common with ourself, 

 perfectly satisfied with its simplicity and straightforwardness. Mr. Miller 

 has the good sense to call it what it is a legend, concocted during the 

 middle ages from Virgil's ^Eneid. 



Mr. Moore's history of the mission and labours of St. Patrick is finely 

 told ; and we would strongly recommend its perusal to those parties who 

 interest themselves in the spread of the Christian religion by means of 

 missions. The success which attended his labours, and the mode he pur- 

 sued, may afford valuable hints for his successors in the same path. 

 Suffice it to say, that his mode was just the reverse of that followed by 

 many missionaries at the present day. 



M.BL No. 5. 3* Y' - 



