[ lO ] 



cefs is from right to left) commuting the letters F and N, as be- 

 fore. This commutability of the letters F and N depends on a 

 circumftance peculiar to the IrilTi alphabet, it having two diffe- 

 rent arrangements ; one of which begins with B, L, N, and is 

 called Beithluifnuin, and the other with B, L, F, and called 

 Beithluisfearn ; the latter is peculiar to the Ogam fyftem, but, 

 when it is necefl'ary for the conftrudion, it does not totally rejecSl 

 the former, which was the alphabet in common ufe until Greek 

 and Roman literature vifited this country, and made the Irifh 

 arrange their alphabet, as far as it extended, conformable to their 

 own. But the fifth and laft reading is found by decyphering the 

 Ogam line from the fmall to the broad end of the ftone, chang- 

 ing its pofition, that the procefs may be from left to right. In 

 this neither of the letters F or N occurs, and therefore it ad- 

 mits of no farther readings. The whole procefs is laid before 

 Fig. I and 2. the reader's eyes in the annexed drawing of the ftoncs ; but for 

 the rules of decyphering he is referred to Colonel Vallancey's Irifli 

 grammar. 



Fie. 2. By reading the decyphering marked thus Q, twice forward, (commuting the 



letters F and N) and as often backward, (commuting the letters F and N as be- 

 fore,) the four firft readings are found. 



And by reading the decyphering forward, which is thus marked *, the fifth and 

 laft reading may be alfo difcovered ; but as in this neither of the letters F or N 

 occurs, it admits of no further readings ; for in fuch cafe there would be three 

 other poflibilities, as in the former decyphering. Where, Note, that the letters 

 F and N are marked with (;< x x) crofles, that the reader may obferve thofe to be 

 the commutables. 



•Let any other befides thefe five ways be tried, and it will turn to no efie£l, 

 which affords a proof that thofe found by this mode of decyphering are the only 

 true readings, for r.ot a word of common fenfe or perfeft language can be other- 

 wife colIe£led. 



By 



