[ S« ] 



taken place, we may foon exped to fee the Erfe reftored to that 

 original purity which it pofleffes in the mother country. 



In the annexed tranflations, elegance of expreffion has not 

 been fought after, my only wilh being to give a clear and faith- 

 ful idea of thcfe antient fongs. In many places I fear they may 

 be incorred : This is partly to be attributed to the corrupt and 

 uncertain orthography of the originals; and partly to my im- 

 perfedl knowledge of the language, in which I by no means 

 pretend to be Ikilful. However, upon the whole, I believe no 

 errors of material confequence have efcaped me ; but if there be 

 fuch, the originals are at hand by which they may be cor^ 

 reded. 



much, fliewed him how thoroughly he was miftaken in this matter: and the 

 beauty of Erfe orthography, as may be feen in the late publications at Perth, is 

 now rightly thought to confift in its conformity with Irilh, and to its being briftled 

 with thofe very confonants which to Mr. Mc. Pherfon appeared to be fo great a 

 deformity. 



(G 2) SUIREADH 



