113 
in readiness for the press. ‘The reader may not be displeased with 
one or two illustrations, which, if not conclusive in argument, are, 
at least, matter of some ‘curiosity. The first is taken from lan- 
guage, a powerful light for tracing the ancient connections of na- 
tions.’ The Irish characters, like the Cadmean, are sixteen, reject- 
ine the doubtful P. Their shape is now modelled nearly after the 
present Greek and Roman manner ; but, like their number, their 
names, order, and power, are peculiar. B, L, N, are first in order, 
and the vowels last. The Irish also, like the Chinese, had several 
characters representing entire words ; and I am not without reason 
for believing, that at one time they wrote from right to left. By 
comparing the names of a few of the Irish characters with those of 
the corresponding Hebrew letters, we cannot be at a loss for the 
origin of the former. In words, the analogies are numerous. 
Trish. Hebrew. 
B Beth’) 2 oe. on oo oeBeth 
MMuin..... . Mem. 
N Nion. . . . * . Nun 
PoPeth? oo" «18,0060, JPe 
Re Ruis'? 2229.08! goo Resh: 
AO Allin? SOG 24)..114 000828, Aleph: 
} FAROE 9746, of. byeogqi¥ od: 
While making the collection, of which I have just spoken, I met 
the article, copied literally in the margin,* in Nicholas Lhuid’s 
R 2 
* Posellus v. dum Pomponium Melam Lutetiz perlegerit, ab Hebrais repetit, ut sit Irin quasj 
Turin, i.e. Hebreorum terra. Hebrzi, inquit, cum Magi essent peritissimi, scienterque ime 
perium universi futurum in angulo fortissimo, qui est ad Caurum, illas partes, et Hiberniam quam 
primum occuparunt ; Siriique et Tyrii istas regiones, ut basim imperit ponerent, incolere. 
