59 



elementary school bo(^s) that has appeared, in order that our 

 language should not appear such a heap of inconsistencies, as would 

 deter the studious from its cultivation. 



Several treatises have been written on the modern Scottish 

 dialect of the Irish language, which nettber our li«H<ts »or design 

 allow us to enter into. The best of the grammatical kind is the 

 Rev. Mr. Stewart's Gaelic Grammar, which is deservedly adjured 

 as a critical and philosophical explati^tioji of that dialect. 



It may, and very reasonably, be .es^ected by those whp ^sbaU 

 read the fcwggoing remarks, that the a-utbor of them should pqint 

 out a better system of grammar than those jvhicfti he has ii^^imadr 

 verted upon. The writer can assure them that he Jtias already pre? 

 pared for press a grammar both theoretical a«d practical, formed 

 on the genius of the language, the result of JOjany years consideraf 

 tion of the subject, which be has beon deter«red from publishing 

 from the little encouragement works of that jpature haye met witti 

 from the public. It is evident, from the nature of mmy fif the err 

 rors here pointed out, that they could be fully or properly discussed 

 only in a grammar. Should any prospect even of trifling encourage- 

 ment appear, the wojrk alluded to ^may h& published at some future 

 period. 



Having treated of the Grammars, we shall next take a survey of 

 our Glossaries, Vocabularies and Dictionaries, in order that we 

 may ascertain what has been achieved or left undone, and see if any 

 mode can he pointed out for supplying any deficiencies which re^y 

 appear in this department of Irish Philology. 



Glossaries are the first in order with respect to antiquity. Of 

 these there are many in manuscript explaining difficult words. 

 Some may be found in the Book of Ballimote in the possession of 



