[ i6 ] 



" them for a more rapid progrefs of the gofpel in this remote part 

 " of Europe than in any other that we read of." 



Of the exiftence of the Ogam then, I hope all doubts are 

 done away; and as to my explication of the infcription on the 

 Mount-Callan monument, I have adhered with all the ftridnefs 

 I poflibly could to the true rules of decyphering, with which I 

 have laboured to be pretty well acquainted, and therefore my 

 explication will appear plain to fuch as will chufe to take the 

 fame trouble. 'Till this is done, all the objedlion I can meet 

 with muft appear as the produdion of conjedure in oppofition 

 to matter of fad ; indeed the difcovery of the true fenfe of this 

 infcription is principally owing to the ingenious thought of Mr. 

 Burton, with refped to the reading backward ; which, whether it 

 afFeds the antient literary fyftem of this country in general, or not, 

 at leaft was inftrumental in exciting me to the fearch, which I 

 fliould otherwife have been apt to negled ; for, finding one fen- 

 fibie reading, it is probable I fhould not have thought of tracing 

 it farther than the rules in our grammars might dired, and thofe 

 I find are totally infufficient. 



