By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



99 



about the period of its occupation by its first inhabitants. 1 

 Whoever were the first colonists of Britain, I make no doubt 

 that they came immediately from the coast of Gaul ; 2 for as the 

 tide of emigration set with marvellous regularity from east to 

 west, 3 and as the prolific regions of Asia, 4 sent wave after wave of 

 their teeming multitudes to occupy the comparatively unpeopled 

 forests and plains of Germany and Gaul, it is obvious that every 

 fresh influx had the effect of pushing on the waves in advance, 

 until the utmost verge of the continent was reached, and then some 

 more adventurous than the rest boldly crossed the channel, 5 and 

 occupied such portions of this island as seemed most suited to their 

 requirements. Once landed on the coasts of Britain, we may assume, 

 that like the pioneers of civilization in the backwoods of America 

 at this day, some more enterprising than the rest would gradually 

 advance more and more into the interior, as want of room nearer the 

 coast, and more abundant pasturage for their cattle, or fresh hunt- 

 ing grounds tempted them to go forwards : and thus we may 

 believe did the first inhabitants of our county establish themselves 

 here. 



1 Some writers think that the Phoenicians discovered the S.W, coasts of 

 Britain before the Trojan war, and not long after it was first inhabited by 

 colonies from the continent of Gaul. [Henry's History of England, vol. ii., 

 cap. vi., p. 195.] Bochart says the Phoenicians discovered the Cassiterides or 

 Scilly Islands B.C. 904. [Bochart's Canaan, 1. i., 34,] The monkish historian, 

 Richard of Cirencester, to whom we are indebted for many interesting particulars 

 respecting the early history of our island, but on the accuracy of whose infor- 

 mation we must not lay too much stress, places the sera of the colonization of 

 Britain at B.C. 1000. [Sir R. Iioare's Ancient Wilts, i., 12.] 



2 Henry's History of Great Britain, vol. i., chap. 3, sect, i., p. 237. Camden's 

 Britannia, p. 11. Sir R. Hoare's Ancient "Wilts, i., 9. Speed's Historie of 

 Great Britaine, p. 12. 



3 Rawlinson's Herodotus, vol. i., p. 154, vol. iii., 11, 186. 



4 Western Asia the cradle of the human race." Rawlinson's Herodotus, 

 vol. i., p. 643, vol, iii., 12. See too the "Five Ancient Monarchies," by the 

 same author, vol. ii., p. 508. Archaeological Journal, vol. i., p. 369. 



5 Compare the colonization of Sicily by the Siculi, as related by Thucydides 

 [Book vi., chap. 2]. They passed over on rafts from Italy, (so that most trust- 

 worthy historian tells us,) having watched the opportunity afforded by a brisk 

 and favourable wind. 



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