THE PBESIDENT's ADDRESS. 359 



The date of the arrival of the Brythons in Britain cannot 

 be fixed with anything approaching to accuracy, but we may 

 conjecture that before they crossed into the plains of Italy they 

 had invaded and occupied our island, where they would not 

 meet with organised and armed resistance as complete as in 

 Italy, for the aborigines in Britain were at the time ignorant of 

 the use of iron, and with their flint and bronze weapons could 

 offer no effective resistance. 



But when the Brythonic Celts had taken possession of our 

 island, they were not to be left in tranquil possession. 



The Eoman invasion of Britain by Csesar in B.C. 55 had 

 been preceded by Belgic conquests and settlements. Fifty 

 years or more before Caesar arrived, the Graulish King of Soissons 

 had extended his rule over the southern portions of the island. 



Belgic tribes had invaded the country for the purpose of 

 plunder, and finding the place to their liking, had remained as 

 colonists. Csesar could recognise the names of several clans, 

 and could point out the continental states from which the several 

 colonies had proceeded. 



But the Brythonic population of Britain had also sent off 

 swarms into Ireland, and we find that not only were there 

 Brigantes there as well as in Britain, but that our own Damnonii 

 had not only a branch of the tribe in Alba, but also in Ireland.*" 



The conquest of Ireland by the fair-haired Celts led to the 

 subjugation of the dusky race there, as it had in Britain. This 

 latter went there by the name of Tuatha de Danann. 



The complete conquest of Britain by the Eomans was not 

 achieved till the time when the island was governed by Agrieola, 

 from A.D. 78 to 85. 



Britain enjoyed comparative tranquility under the Eoman 

 rule till the decline of the Empire. That the Eomans made any 

 effective settlement in Cornwall is doubtful. Scanty are 

 inscriptions or other traces of these conquerors West of Exeter. 

 They may have had a few camps along a main artery of road. 

 To what extent they worked the tin mines is uncertain. 



*But Damnonia may be a name descriptive of the land, and not a race name. 

 It signifies a region of " Deep Dales." 



