63 



many topographical and genealogical notices are interspersed 

 throughout, which are interesting to the general reader. 

 . The next treatise of this nature that made its appearance was, • 



SHAW'S GALIC DICTIONARY.— Quarto— London, 1778. 



This work, though chiefly confined to the Scottish dialect of the 

 Gaelic, yet contains so much of the language of Ireland, that its 

 want would be sensibly felt by the student, and this, consequently, 

 entitles it to notice in this department of our national literature. A 

 great portion of it was extracted by the learned and indefatigable 

 author from ancient Irish Manuscripts, as he candidly acknowledges 

 in the Preface, and to it the latest Dictionary of our language is in- 

 debted for considerably more assistance than has been candidly ac- 

 knowledged. The Preface is excellent, and as his plan is similar 

 to that of O'Brien, with very few exceptions, the same remarks are 

 applicable to both. 



VALLANCEY's PROSPECTUS OF A DICTIONARY OF 



THE AIRE COTI OR ANTIENT IRISH.— 



Quarto. — Dublin, 1803. 



This curious work presents a remarkable instance of intellectual 

 vigour at a very advanced period of life, and of the unabated zeal 

 and perseverance with which the learned author pursued his fa- 

 vourite theory, nearly to the termination of a long and honourable 

 life. It is, however, more adapted for the Oriental antiquary than 

 for the practical Irish scholar. The studious reader is therefore re- 

 ferred to the Prospectus itself, where he will be gratified with proofs 

 of Etymological penetration and acuteness, and to a paper in the 

 Edinburgh Review, (1803) in w^hich, this work and the system laid 



