80 



The foregoing Model is submitted, with every deference for any suggestion 

 ^rhich may be offered for improvement. The necessity of a copious Expositor 

 of our language is now greater than at any former period. The long neglected 

 Annals of Ireland have been recently published under the auspices of his Grace 

 the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, with Latin translations by the Rev. 

 Charles O'Conor, D. D. This great work comprises the Annals of the Four Mas- 

 ters to the reign of Henry II. — ^the Annals of Tigernach — of Ulster — of Inis- 

 fallen and of Boyle or Conaught, and forms the greatest body of Irish History 

 ever given to the world. Its publication confers the highest honour on the noble 

 Patron and talented Translator, and entitles them to the lasting gratitude of the 

 Irish people. It is hoped that the learned Members of our College and of 

 the Royal Irish Academy" may imitate this munificent and patriotic example, by 

 giving to the world the contents of the important national documents preserved in 

 their respective archives. 



Since the preceding sheets were put to press, Mr. Hardiman has procured, and 

 kindly favoured me with the use of, a valuable and copious Irish Dictionary in MS. 

 compiled by Mr. Peter O'Connell, an eminent Irish antiquary and linguist, who 

 lately died near Kilrush in the county of Clare. This work, which engaged the 

 truly learned but neglected compiler upwards of thirty years, contains many thousand 

 words not in any printed Dictionary. It is particularly valuable for explaining ob- 

 solete words occurring' in our most ancient Manuscripts, from which it appears to 

 have been principally compiled. 



