Cultural origins

[Logan]

'No subject has been more disputed by antiquarian writers than the origin of the population of Europe; and no discussions have been more fanciful, more ill-tempered, or more contradictory. As vehement and pertinacious have been the contraversies of the peopling of Great Britain. Few topics would seem to be remote from the usual currents of human passions, than the inquiry from what nations our primeaval ancestors decended: and yet the works of our historical polemics, on investigations so little connected with so little interest or feelings, abound with all the abusive anger which irritability can furnish; as well as all the dogmatism, confusion, dreams, and contradictions, that egotism can generate, or wranglers and adversaries pursue.'

Enlightenment.