with contempt.

The Scotch writers, especially of late years, have strained every
nerve to establish the reputation of their ancient Authors. Oman
and Fingal are ostentatiously held out, as instances of superior
merit and excellence; but the poor Britons are treated with disdain,
as having no merit for imagination, or original Composition.

Taliessyn, a Welsh Bard, who, as already observed, flourished about
the middle of the 6th Century, and who by way of eminence was called
Pen Beirdd y Gorllewin, "Head of the Western Bards;" some of whose
works are come down to us; particularly, an Ode, in Welsh, translated
into Latin sapphic Verre, by David Jones, Vicar of Llanfair Duffryn
Clwyd, Denbighshire, in 1580.[bbb] Owen Cyfeiliog, and Gwalchmai,
in the 12th Century; and many others, at different periods, of
distinguished merit, have appeared in Wales. Some of whom have
plainly alluded to Madog's Adventures. For the Names, Times, and
the Works of these Bards, I refer to Mr. Evans's Specimens of the
ancient Welsh Bards, 1764. To Sir Thomas Herbert's Travels and
to Mr. Warrington's History of Wales, p. 307. Edit. 1788.

[Footnote bbb: Owen's Remains, ubi supra, p. i23, &c.--A Gentleman,
well versed in British Antiquities, and Welsh Poetry, to whom these
papers were communicated, says, that there are 30 or 40 pieces of
Talessyn's now in being, but is doubtful whether the above Ode
be Taliessyn's or not.]

I would observe here that though our Northern Country-men affect,
in some degree, to despise the Welsh, as having produced no Man
of Genius, Science, or Renown, which is by no means the Truth,