The 14th chapter treats of the Ogham characters and the abbre- 

 yiations. — He distinguishes the Ogham into three kinds — the branch 

 Ogham, the C Ogham, and the consonantal Ogham. He then 

 proceeds to treat of the abbreviations or contractions used in ma- 

 nuscripts and printed books, and has given a table of a few of 

 them. 



The difference between this and former Grammars is, that the 

 former have given copious Prosodial Rules without entering, ex- 

 cept slightly, on Etymology or Syntax, whereas Mac Curtin has ably 

 (considering how slightly these matters had been discussed by for- 

 mer grammarians) treated of these departments of Philology ; but 

 has omitted Prosody. On the entire, he deserves much praise, as 

 having a claim, almost, to originality respecting these two important 

 parts of grammar. His memory should be cherished by every 

 Irish student as a benefactor to the literature of his country. 



VALLANCEY's IRISH GRAMMAR.— Dublin, 1782. 



For nearly half the eighteenth century the Irish student had no 

 other grammatical assistance in the study of his native tongue, 

 except the works already noticed. In the year 1773, however. 

 Major Charles Vallancey, an English gentleman of talents and 

 erudition*, who had previously made our language his study, pub- 



• The following testimony is from the pen of a cotemporary Historian. — " To few men is 

 the History of Ireland more indebted (than to General Vallancey ;) and though in some few in- 

 stances he may be thought to have carried his hypothesis too far, there is no one acquainted with 

 his writings who will not give him the merit of profound erudition, and a vast extent of histo- 

 rical and geographical information. In his knowledge of the mythology, languages and customs 

 of the East, he was equalled by few, if any of bis cotemporaries. He was a distinguished 

 Member of the Royal Society and of tlie Society of Antiquaries of London, Edinburgh and 



