XXIV EOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



it was stilted by Le <ù)Viiilec '■ that no less tliaii two millions of Bretons .s])ol<e the Celtic language of 

 their native jirovinee." There is abundant evidence (hat a Celtic i^eoplo occupied the whole of France 

 and the Britisii Islands, and we liave in portions of these countries to-day as a common vernacular the 

 descendant of the speech of the unromanizcd and unsaxonized Celt — a speccli which has survived 

 Eoman, Saxon and Danish sway for manj^ long centui-ies. 



The records and traditions which have reached us establish that the Celtic peo])les who occu])icd 

 Western Europe generally wei-e numerous, rich and prosperous. There can be no doubt that ancient 

 Gaul and ancient Bi'itain were inhabited by races identical in ))lood, and with but little ditferencc in 

 language. The language of the Celt is not only preserved but spoken as a living tongue in Scotland, 

 Ireland, Wales and Brittan^'. The several dialects to some extent may vary, but the language is in 

 all probability genei-ally the same, as when it was t\\v vernacular of the early inhabitants of Gaul and 

 Britain. 



Since the days when Gaul and Britain were wholly Celtic, both countries have piassed through 

 many vicissitudes — vicissitudes which in their leading characteristics have been remarkable in simi- 

 laritj^. The fi)'st events to exercise a disturbing influence on the prevailing Celtic occupation, life and 

 customs were invasions by the Eomans. The Romans were follovced by Teutonic tribes from that 

 portion of Europe which modern geography describes as Germany. These invaders boldly made 

 incursions into the cultivated lands of the Eomanized Celts to become their masters. In course of 

 time the Teutons were succeeded by hordes of Scandinavians from the shores of the Baltic, who, in 

 their turn, gained power and possession of the soil in both countries. 



Gaul first attracted the attention of the Eomans a century and a half before the Christian era. 

 With the view of obtaining additional lands and extending their power, they seized on the territory 

 bordering on the Mediterranean, and transformed it into a Eoman Province. It was not until a 

 century later that Julius Ca'sav completed the conquest of Gaul. Ca38ar followed up his conquest by 

 the invasion of Britain, B.C. 55, which became a Roman Province under the Emfieror Claudius in A.D. 

 43, and so remained for nearly four hundred years. The Eoman rule prevailed until the Empire 

 approached it dissolution, and in A.D. 410, the legions were withdrawn. Britain was then released 

 from its allegiance, and about the same time the Armorican Provinces in Gaul revolted from the 

 Roman yoke. 



Until this date both countries had been held in the ii'on grasp of their civilized and disciplined 

 conquerors. For five centuries in Gaul, and for four centuries in Britain the continued presence ol' the 

 legions of the Empire exerted an all-powerful influence on the conquered Celts, in many respects to 

 modify their habits and customs, and by the laws of heredity their physique and character. Through- 

 out the greater part of Gaul, the Celtic idiom was crushed out. The same result was not attained 

 in Britain ; it was left for conquerors of a different race, in the following centuries, to alter the primitive 

 form of sf)eech. Whatever the influence on the language, the prolonged presence of the Eoman legions, 

 and likewise the marriage of the soldiers with the native women when their term of service was ended, 

 must have silently worked typical changes in the people. These changes were less noticeable in 

 Britain than in Gaul, but the influence of the Eomans in both countries must have left them more or 

 less latinized. As the Eoman power passed away, Gaul and Britain were exposed to now distuiliing 

 forces. Inroads were made in both countries bj^ barbarous or semi-barbarous Teutonic tribes known 

 by the various names of Frank, Frisian, Lombard, Suovc, Burgundian, Fleming, Jute, Saxon and 

 Angle. Their character, religion and form of woi-ship diff'ered little ; although on occasions they acted 

 in concert, for the most part they engaged in independent expeditions. After unnumbered wars and 

 struggles for the mastery, extending over years of suffering to the ])eople they attacked, these foreign 

 invaders obtained })ossession of the soil. In Britain Ihc Celt in some disti'icts was displaced and appar- 

 ently extcrminatod by the intru<ling tribes; but a conquered race does not wholly become extinct. 

 Its warriors may bo killed in liattle, every man may be dispersed or enslaved or destroyed, but the 

 subject women and children are largely spared, to enter in course of time into new relations with the 



