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When I fpeak of occult fyftems of writing, I hope I fliall not 

 be fo far mifunderftood as to have it imagined that I confound 

 them with primitive hieroglyphics, which I look upon to be the 

 firft fteps made towards the invention of letters. I have already 

 given my reafon for calling the Irifh Ogam by this name, and 

 have alfo endeavoured to prove that it was not the primitive 

 character ufed in this country, but an obfcure one depending on 

 a more commodious common alphabet. I humbly prefume then, 

 that this confirms the cultivation of literature in Ireland before 

 the introdudion of Chriftianity ; for as the infcription on 

 the Mount-Callan monument correfponds with the third century 

 of our asra *, I think no fair objection can be raifed againft 

 our acquaintance with letters in this country at that period ; 

 but this is a fubjed which prejudice has fo mifreprefented, 

 that I fear it would argue prefumption in me to advance 



* The poem, intitled Cath Gabhra, Is that which direfts us in fearch of the 

 Mounl-Callan monument. It concludes with mentioning the death of Conan, in 

 the manner before related (page 4) by the Fenii of Fin, meaning the Clan of 

 Baifgin. The poem is brought in by way of epifode in that called The Conver- 

 fitlon of St. Patrick and Oifin, to (hew the ill effefts of civil contentions. 

 But fliould it be aflced why a poem of the eighth century (hould fo particularly 

 relate a fa£l fo far back ? I anfwer, that a poet may relate a matter of fa£l: when 

 it ferves his purpofe as well as a fiftion ; and many a izQ. of this kind was then knowai 

 which is now buried in obfcurity. Our poems point out many other monuments 

 befides that on Mount-Callan, which might ftill be difcovered, if proper fearch was 

 made after them. This poem enables us to determine the date of the monument, 

 which would otherwife be very difficult, as nothing to that end is found in the 

 infcription. The death of Conan is exprefsly faid to have happened the year be- 

 fore the battle of Gabhra was fought, and therefore in the year 295, confequcntly 

 the (lone muft have been infcribed 1490 years ago, though from its hard texture 

 the infcription is ftill perfectly legible. 



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