( cvi ) 



tion of manuscripts which so subserves tlie history of the people, to 

 say nothing of tlie great and growing subject of Comparative Philo- 

 logy. It would in a great degree fail in its purpose if it were mixed 

 with objects of another kind, of whatever value, even though no por- 

 tion of itself were thi'own into the shade thereby. Let it then be fos- 

 tered and preserved under the care and government of this body. 



The work of transcription of our ancient Irish MSS. is steadily 

 progressing. The Leabhar na h-TJidhre, and the first part of the 

 Leabhar Ereac have already appeared. The second part will shortly 

 be published ; it is much to be regretted that, owing to the unavoid- 

 able absence of Mr. Gilbert, fi'om ill-health, great delay has occurred 

 in the publication of this part. The Book of Leinster is now in the 

 hands of the transcribers, who have completed more than one-third of 

 theii' task. Assurances have reached us from scholars at home and 

 abroad of the great value of this work, and the fresh impulse it will 

 give to the study of the history, poetry, and language of our country ; 

 and all praise is due to the spuit which prompted the reproduction 

 of these obscure and perishable manuscripts, as well as the industry 

 ■ftdth which the work is conducted. As an example of the interesting 

 nature of the literary pieces to be found in these works, let me point 

 to " The Yision of Adamnan," one of the strangest of those mediaeval 

 visions of which a series seem to have existed in the early Christian 

 church, such as the visions of Hermas, in the first century of the 

 Christian era, and the visions of the Irish saint Fursa, recorded by 

 Bede, culminating in the " Divina Com media" of Dante. Those who 

 feel and can appreciate the interest that lies in tracing the relation 

 that all works of early Christian art bear to the finished productions 

 of a later period cannot fail to welcome any additional example such 

 as this. As instances of historic tales contained in the Leabhar na 

 h-Uidhre, I should mention that translated by Mr. Hennessy, in the 

 "Revue Celtique," — The Battle of Cnuca — which proves that 

 Ireland may claim one important fi'agment of the legendary history 

 so widely extended among the Celtic family in the British Isles, 

 in which Ossian occupies a part. These things show how great an 

 interest belongs, to these works, irrespective of their philological value. 

 But of their value in this respect also, evidence has been already 

 afforded by the use made of the Leabhar na h-TJidhre in Windisch's 

 additions to the last edition of Cui-tius' " Grundziige." It is true 



