( vi )
sometimes spread over a country; at other times driven out by some stronger tribe of barbarians, or forsaking it themselves in search of new settlements. Cæsar informs us, that some of the Gallic tribes forced their way into Germany, and there eftablished themfelves[1]. It is equally probable, that before his time, bands of Germans might at different periods penetrate into Gaul[2]; where, although their numbers might be too fmall to preferve them a diftinct nation, yet thefe emi- grants might import many names of perfons and places that would outlive the remembrance of their founders. This will fufficiently account for the difperfion of words derived from both languages, and inform us why Celtic derivations may be found in Germany and German names difcovered in Gaul. So much for arguments derived from Etymology; which are fo very uncertain and precarious, that they can only amount to prefumptions at beft, and can never be op- pofed to folid pofitive proofs.
With regard to the other fource of Arguments, by
which thefe learned writers fupport their opinion of
the identity of the Gauls and Germans, viz.
Quotations from the ancient Greek and Roman authors;
thefe they have produced in great abundance. But
even if it fhould be granted that the Greeks and Ro-
mans applied fometimes the names of Celtic, Scythian
or Hyperborean indifcriminately to the ancient inhabi-
tants of Germany and Gaul, of Britain and Scandi-
navia, the inference will ftill be doubted by thofe that
confider how little known all thefe nations were to the
early writers of Greece and Rome; who, giving them
all the general name of Barbarians, inquired little
farther about them, and took very little pains to be
- ↑ Fuit antea tempus cum Germanos Galli virtute superarent et ultrò bella inferrent, ac .... trans Rhenum colonias mitterent, &c. Vid. plura apud Cæs. de Bell. Gall. lib. vi.
- ↑ This Cæsar expresly tells us of the Belgæ, who were settled to the north of the Seine and the Marne. Plerosque Belgas esse ortos à Germania; Rhenumque antiquitus transductos, propter loci fertilitatem ibi consedisse; Gallosque qui ca loca incollerent, expulisse. De Bell, Gall. lib. ii.
