506 Rev. Mr Wituiams on one Source of the 
and to return home. The Veneti, like the Romans, claimed a 
Trojan descent, and referred to the vo of Asia Minor as the 
founders of their name and race. They,’ like the Romans, called 
the spot where their eastern ancestors had landed by the sacred 
name of Troja. But the Greeks, who seldom regarded the testi- 
mony of a people themselves as sufficient proof of their origin, in- 
dulged in various speculations on this head. Srrazo,’ in one place, 
informs us, that some writers held that these Italian Veneti were 
colonies of the Gallic Veneti. In another place’ he states it as 
his own opinion, that these latter were the founders of the for- 
mer Veneti, and that it was the similarity of the name alone 
that caused them to be referred to the Paphlagonian Evda. 
Without attaching any peculiar value to this opinion of 
Srraso, it may be adduced to prove that there were some 
stronger reasons than a mere similarity of name which led him 
to this conclusion. And there would probably be a similarity in 
language and habits between the Veneti on the Adriatic and 
their namesakes on the shores of the western ocean; and this 
clew, if carefully unravelled, may perhaps lead us to a discovery 
of who the “ Veteres Galli” of Boccuus and Antonius were. 
Now, Potysius, a writer well acquainted from personal inter- 
course with all the tribes of the Vale of the Po, thus speaks of 
the Veneti *‘ :—* The territory thence stretching to the Adriatic 
is occupied by another nation extremely ancient ; they are called 
Veneti; in habits and institutions not much differing from the 
Kee, but using a various dialect.” ‘This has been by some of 
the most judicious inquirers into ancient history regarded as a 
conclusive testimony against the Celtic origin of the Veneti; but 
! Festus, under Troja. 
2 Book v. p. 212.—Tegr rav Evelav dios eal Royos, o1 juev ye, ras avlous Paci Kerray ewes 
ATOIKOUS, THY olLuVvuLov, Tleganeceviluv. 
3 Book v. p. 195 —Tovlovg owas rous ovevélous ommiclas ewan ra notla rov Adgiay. 
"Ta de xeoc rov Adgiav. ndn meoonxovra, ‘yevos WAA0 ravu TO THAGIOY Oiaxaleoye. TIgoduyogevor 
roi 62 ovevelor. ros eOeor xo rw xoomw Beayy diapegovles KeATwv, vray & arAoim yeupevor. 
