69 



Irish characters is comparatively modern, because the Normands 

 destroyed both our churches and ancient MSS. in the 9th century ;i"- 

 but, by the criteria of their number and power, the antiquity of former 

 ones is clearly deduced. And history confirms the assertion. We 

 had seminaries of education established in different parts of this 

 island at an early aera.'^s- One was founded, in the 6th century, 

 at Rosailithre, now Ross Carbury ,-^89 -yyhen the British-Roman 

 alphabet must have differed from that called the present Sax- 

 on.""- — From the paucity of Irish characters two inferences may 

 be deduced : 1 . that, at the time of their introduction, no more 

 were known in the sister isle, whence they unquestionably were- 

 borrowed. 2. That the aera of their introduction was prior to 

 that' of G, H, U, into Britain, and probably after G was sub- 

 stituted in place of K by the Romans; but before the letters 

 X, Y, Z, were known in Britain. — It is- not improbable, that 

 ' the number of believers, who fled from the Dioclesian per- 

 secution, about the beginning of the 4th century, might have 

 brought letters with them, and taught the Irish, the knowledge 



187. Veter. Epist. Hibern; Sylloge Jacob. Usserii, Preefatio: ' Tametsi Norwagienses gras- 

 satores nono post Christum seculo, diice Turgesio, insulani banc per annos 30 occupantes, ec- 

 clesias fere omnes atque libros incendio consumpserint, &c.' 



188. Hist. Monastique d'Irlande par L. A. Alemand, p. 2. ' Pour ne parler done ici que dc 

 ce qu'il y a de plus certain, j'observeray que le quatrieme siecle a non seulement vu naitre en 

 Irlande de grands Saints presque tous raoines, dont les plus considerables ont este sans doute^ 

 Saint Diarmit & Saint Liberius, qui ont rendu le lac de Ree, qui est au milieu de I'lrlande, 

 recommandable par les deux premieres Abbayes qui ont paru dans ce royaume.' 



189. Dr. Hanmersays, ' St. Brendan, bishop of Kerry, read publickly the liberal sciences 

 in Rossai Lithry, now Ros-Karbry." He died at Clonfert, May 16th 577. Nicolson's Ir. 

 llis. Lib. Sir Jas. Ware's chronological catalogue of Irish authors, from about the year 450 

 to his own time, contains about 200 names. 



190. Hickes says that the present Anglo-Saxon elements are a more modern compound of 

 Latin letters. Gr. An. Sax. p, 2. 



