104 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITITE. [YoL. II. 



experiment and for saying farewell. Yet, in thus bringing his labors to a 

 premature conclusion, the editor of this Manx Note Book may have the 

 satisfaction of reflecting that no good sound piece of work ever perished 

 altogether. The Manx Note Book disappears, but its old numbers 

 will be treasured by their possessors, and perhaps some people, when 

 they are trying to complete their sets, will regret that their active 

 admiration was too late, and that they did not bestow on the Note Book 

 while it was still alive the support which might have averted its doom." 



Tnough all lovers of Celtic literature have cause to regret that Mr. 

 Moore, whose knowledge and enthusiasm and resources are abundant, 

 did not receive generous assistance in connection with the Note Book ; 

 Manxmen can compare very favorably w^ith their Irish and Scottish 

 cousins in their desire to rescue from oblivion and to perpetuate whatever 

 is of greatest value in the prose and poetry and folk-lore of their Island. 

 There was formed in 1858 a society bearing the designation, " The 

 Manx Society for Publication of National Documents of the Isle of 

 Man." Up to 1886 twenty nine volumes were published by that Society. 

 In the October number of the Manx Note Book for 1886, an account is 

 given of the foundation of the Manx Society, of the work which it under- 

 took to accomplish, as well as of the work that still remained to be per- 

 formed. An account is also given of the financial position of the Societ}- 

 and of the appointment of four new members of the Council. As Mr. 

 Moore is one of the four, it may be fairly hoped that he will exert him- 

 self in the endeavor to carry on to a larger extent the laudable work 

 for which the Society was organized. 



There is unfortunately too much reason to justify the accusation, that 

 Celts are fond of contenting themselves with sentimental affection for 

 their language and literature ; and that they are somewhat tardy in 

 befriending those scholars who are anxious to perpetuate the language, 

 and to keep the flame of love fc)r the language of their fathers alive and 

 burning in the hearts of the children of every generation that appears on 

 the scene. The Irish Gaels, who have a magnificent heirloom in the form 

 of a very ancient and copious literature, have in recent years been exert- 

 ing themselves, with a large amount of warmth and energy, in the inter- 

 ests of all that is distinctive in the government and institutions of their 

 country. 



It cannot fail to occasion surprise that, while so deep and widespread 

 a feeling exists among Irish Celts for the independence of Ireland, there 

 are few among their leaders who can speak the language of their fore- 

 fathers. Though they cannot be accused of having an undue affection 

 for the Sassenach, they have chosen to abandon their native language, 



