IRELAND PRKVIOUS TO THE INVASION BY THE ENGLISH. 99 



Mediterranean, and even to Britain, the idea is not improbable that they 

 visited Ireland in the course of their traffic. Whether in the course of 

 these visits they ever considered Ireland desirable as a settlement, is a 

 point which the author is prepared neither to maintain nor dispute : he 

 only observes, that if such is the case — and it is far fi-om being impro- 

 bable — it is the reverse of the mode of colonization in these times, 

 which is generally in the direction of from north to south. 



It is much more probable that the ancient nations moved northwards, 

 to escape from the invasions and aggressions of their southern neigh* 

 hours, to conceive the whole of the north of Europe, including the 

 British islands, to have been thus peopled. 



A similarity, in many points, between the Irish and Highland Scots, 

 is too remarkable not to be here attended to. Without deciding on the 

 claims of either side, as to priority of settlement, with Macpherson, on 

 the part of his country, that Ireland was colonized from North Britain, 

 or that, according to the Irish authorities, Argyleshire was peopled in 

 the third century, by an Irish colony, headed by Riada the son of OUid 

 Olum, a native prince, it seems that the intercourse between these 

 people, in former times, must have been intimate and frequent. Their 

 language is nearly the same, which is of Celtic character. Some of the 

 same names are common to both countries, such as those beginning 

 with Mac; though the prefix of O' is peculiar to Ireland. The bag- 

 pipe is the national instrument of both ; and an affinity of sympathy may be 

 traced in several of their respective melodies ; in such whose object is to 

 excite and enliven, as well as in those whose effects are of a more 

 powerful and deeper kind. 



A SHORT REVIEW OF ITS HISTORY, PRKVIOUS TO THE INVASION OF HENRY II. 



Previous to commencing this review, it may be proper to give a short 

 sketch, previous to the invasion of Henry II., of the state of things and 

 parties in the country on that monarch's arrival. In this sketch, how- 

 ever, the author does not guarantee as authentic the account he is about 

 to give. Unfortunately, all information respecting the early state of 

 Ireland, is to be obtained from sources, in point of historical veracity, 

 extremely questionable : such as traditionary tales and poetical records. 

 Since, however, he has no other, he must exhibit what he has, accom- 

 panied at the same time with the above qualification. 



Having given his conjectures respecting the Aborigines of the country, 

 he now proceeds to the Milesian conquest. 



H2 



