The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-07-17 00:00:00

ORIGIN OF THE BRITONS.

The principal stations or Europe are sliewn, front the r•.
dical difference In their langstager, to be di wended from the
three greet families of the Cellar, Gobi, sod Sarmaire: :111.1
from the countries which they have succestivsly so-copied, it
appears that the Celtic wete the first who crossed the limits
ut Asa Into Europe; that, as the tide of poposlation con-
tinued to roll towards the west, they were posahesi forward
by the advance of the Gothic nations; and that Oise 101
their tutu y oddest to the pressure of the tidal. of the
matte. At Shed own of history we find the erille
over a great past of Europe: in the time ss: Casar ths y
occupied Site principal portion of Span', of Glut, and eC
the British ides. That contiocror, iss describing the inha-
bitants of B 4 stain, could speak from per:coal, knowledge 4.f
none but the tribes that dwell near the lh of the
Thames. These, lie inform. us, were of Billie descent.
Their ancestors had, at no very distant period, invaded the
island, expelled the original intuitionists from the coast, ait.l
in their new settlements still retained the names 4.f She pa-
rent states. Beyond them dwelt other tribes Imo familiarised
with the habits of civilised life. When lie impaired 'after
their origin, lie was told that their ancestors wcie the span.
Mavens production of the soil • filer discoveries 'Mewed
that they( were Cella., the deserodasets ul the first colonist*
of Britons

The number of the inhabitants In the districts IWO, fell
nudes his observation, astonished the Homan General; and
there is moon to believe that malty .lioriris weir-
equally will peopled. The population of the whole island
comprised above forty tribes, of whom several, while they
retained their former appellations, had been deprived of
their independence, at the same tithe that others, amid the
monition.; of two or three centuries, had risen to a hi&
pre.emineure of power.—(page 7.J
•THEIR MANNERX.
-

By the Roman miters all the catives of Britain are indi.-
eriminately deunortuated bovbarianst a term of
import, which must vary its straficatom with the subjeti
to which It is applied. Though far removed from the ele-
gance and refinement of theit Meader', the Belgic tribes of
the south might almost claim the praise of civilisation its
comparisun will. their northern breibree. Their Mery saw
of their meta manufacture. A square emote covered a vise
and trousers, or a deeply plaited wok of braided elvth : the
waist was encircled with a belt : rings Rehm imel the secoliel
Roger of each hand : and a chain of buil or Wary was /WA-
prettied from the neck. 'their huts resembled those or the it
aeigbbours. A foui.dation of atuue supported a cir-
cular wall of timber and reeds; over which was *broom a
conical rout; ;deletd is the centre for the twer-fulJ purpme.
of admitting light and discharging the stoke. In hos.
bandry they possessed considerable vkill.• They had elimo-
erred the use uf marl as a manure: they raireil inure Or I
tbau was necessary fur their own cusiromptioe : and to Inv-
it till the follow tog lererverd, they geneially stored it 10
the cavities of rocks. Best beyond the beirelern of the
southern tribes, these faint traces of CiViIiZIACI gertnalty
disappeared. The wtiJlaud aed tresteru tratiors were iniee•
gummed with tither agriculture Ili 14411Writillfrit.
richer 1111:1111-il 111 the emeat of their pinate', semi
number of thiir ihrekr. %Vali milk and flesh they• •ii.,t
the cravings of Mister; stud, clothed io skirts, thi y !rid, -
fiance to the inekineirey of the CleUleirl9. But even sine..
were scarcely known In the more true threat paint, and tt
Iron es of savages, who ',reared through the wilds of fa-• •
demi% ufteu depended for ropport on the casual produce e
the chase. They went Monist naked; and sheltered them-
selves from the weather under the cover of the woods, or ,is
the caverns of the tour airs. Their stloatlein had hc.-
dened . both their rutuds and bodies. If it hail made them
patient of fatigue and privation, it had also taught them
be rapacious, bloody, nod revengeful. When bevel as a—
vailed their country, the Roman legienialiere appalled it the
strength, the activity; the harilibUdd, and ferusity of itirase
nurtheru Bettous.--Alage 10.)
TIIF.IR GOVERNMENT.
The form of Goveinnient Adopted by the British Ir.
• has scarcely brew noticed in histury► lit some, the so
authority appear to have been divided among several
roust, II Lima heed intrusted to a single bid • • ~
bet in all, the people commued to possess considerable t•i-
Silence. With reelect to the soceemoun, there am instant,'
in which the father hail portioned ha dominions among 1,,
childrea, pad ethers its wait+. Ilse 'wig-Jag Prince tett Ns
• crown to his widow, who bulb eatreistit the asure pearelui
duties of royalty, and with arms 111 their hands, custibicied
iter indica* to the field of battle. Brit is the absence of
say fined' nirtions of rauccesratua,it Is probable 'km power
Would. frequently supply the place of right: *oil the weskrr
Setatifall a victim to aMbition of a more toselikenseighbohr.
We are told that the &nuns erne imisaretimere, rapaciresm.
and reveimer'ill: lien every oirtion• wee tent by swearing fat-
buns: and that pratt•!hts *ere mete/ thittaffultte justify ow.
prelims, adieu it maid ere consatilliell writ; inspietilky. lI
was this 'securers &oddity among thoossetwee which men-
- lerated theirrobjegatlon to the power it flume. •'rtr•ry is
isor," says Tarim% • a more furterame eiveareatinftr,
that these powerful trallarts OAP acne owe _asrunnaralksolv.
ituTlweiyrefiliedglit
tosereceuglei,,,anditheisuwasseasopporryolgede.:
4.1.4fid groglitfo a.,111.,..1 • ra