1890-91.] SURNAMES AND PLACE-NAMES, THE ISLE OF MAN. 105 



which is Gaelic, and to adopt the language of those whom they are 

 taught rightly or wrongly to regard as otherwise than friendly to them- 

 selves and their country. There was started some years ago in Dublin, 

 in the best interests of Irish, a journal bearing the designation, " Iris 

 Labhar na Gaedhlige, The Gaelic Journal, exclusively devoted to the 

 preservation and cultivation of the Irish language, founded, conducted and 

 published by the Gaelic Union." The Gaelic Union had in contemplation 

 the very excellent object of encouraging the study of Irish in the schools 

 of the country, and altogether of infusing fresh vitality into the attention 

 which the language and literature of Ireland ought to receive from Irish 

 Celts. Though the aims of the Gaelic Union and of the Journal were 

 patriotic in an eminent degree, it must be confessed that the support 

 which in all fairness might be expected, has not been extended either 

 to the Gaelic Union or to the Gaelic Journal. In an article which 

 appeared in one of the numbers of the Journal for 1889, the editor 

 adverts in doleful terms to the prospects of that periodical. " The Gael, 

 a Monthly Journal Devoted to the Cultivation and Preservation of the 

 Irish Language and the Autonomy of the Irish Nation:" Such is the desig- 

 nation of a journal which has been published in Brooklyn, N.Y., for the 

 last ten years. It has to be said in favor of that journal, that it is ably 

 conducted, and that it is rendering even on a foreign soil excellent service 

 to the language and literature of Ireland. The Welsh easily claim the 

 palm among the Celts for intrepid devotion to the language and tradi- 

 tions of their forefathers. So deeply seated is the affection of the Welsh 

 for their native language, and so beneficial is the influence of the Eistedd- 

 fods which are now held annually, that the prediction may be hazarded 

 that the future has nothing which is not hopeful and assuring regarding 

 the perpetuation of Welsh in all its rugged grandeur in the Principality 

 of Wales. Through the heroic efforts of Prof. Blackie, in whose veins- 

 as he is fond of asserting, there is not a drop of Celtic blood, a Celtic 

 chair was established in the University of Edinburgh a few years ago. 

 To him largely pertains the praise which results from knowing, that 

 throughout the Highlands of Scotland, and in those cities where Gaels 

 reside in large numbers, Societies exist for the avowed object of honor- 

 ing and continuing the study and knowledge of Gaelic, and of the tradi- 

 tions of the Highlands. A movement which promises fairly to lead to 

 important results, is now on foot for instituting in the Highlands of 

 Scotland annual P^isteddfods after the example and in the spirit of the 

 Eisteddfods which are annually held in connection with Wales, and which 

 have already done incalculable service in the way of continuing and 

 developing all that is best in the poetry and prose, in the music and tra- 

 ditions, of the Welsh. 



