446 
Grange of Conan, where there are a small grove, and founda- 
tions of a chapel, and also a most copious fountain, which pre- 
serves his name. Three or four acres of land contiguous to 
these are by tradition held as belonging to the chapel.’ 
‘« May it not, then, be not unreasonably inferred, that this 
monument marked the place of St. Vigean’s sepulture ? This, 
of course, is merely a conjectural suggestion,—at all events the 
cross is evidently the monument of some person of distinction. 
Of the personal history of this saint I know nothing ; but I 
think it not improbable, that he was of Irish origin or con- 
nexion. From the similarity to like monuments in Ireland, 
of the cross referred to, and of others in Forfarshire, and the 
adjoining districts, not to mention the round towers at Aber- 
nethy and Brechin, it is evident that Lrish missionaries were 
intimately connected with those parts. The inscription, ac- 
cording to my copy of it is as follows : 
CERO .e MSS 
TDi€. WU, OnRAGae 
CGC MO 5 Ru ae #0 
(O50 I) Micka sae fae Mr nae 
‘« The above inscription appears to be partly in the old Irish, 
and partly in the Roman character. 1 take the alphabet of 
the former from Armstrong’s Gaelic Dictionary. This mixed 
character of the inscription is quite common in monuments be- 
longing to a period prior to the distinctive fixation of alphabets, 
established in later times, particularly after the introduction of 
printing. Supposing, as is not improbable, that the aboriginal 
alphabets of Britain and Ireland had been lost sight of in the 
darkness attendant on social convulsion, so remarkably coin- 
cident either with the extermination of the order, or the decay 
of the influence, of the pagan priesthood; a renewed acquaint- 
ance with the use of letters was only to be derived from éevo 
sources, either from the Romans, or from the early Christian 
missionaries. 
