435 



tion might be attained by the means of proper Indexes after 

 the work is completed. 



The method pursued was to give a description of the 

 contents of each volume, enumerating the several tracts of 

 which it consists, describing its state of preservation, no- 

 ticing, as far as possible, its defects or imperfections, and 

 identifying, whenever it could be done, the handwriting of 

 the scribe or scribes by whom it had been written. Particular 

 attention has been paid to the history of every important 

 MS. ; the quotations made from it by historians or lexi- 

 cogi'aphers have been verified, and, where practicable, the 

 various hands through which it has passed, and the means 

 by which it became the property of the Academy, have been 

 accurately detailed and recorded. 



In this way many opportunities have occurred of correcting 

 mistakes which have been made by various writers on Irish 

 subjects — mistakes, which must always be numerous in the 

 history of a people, whose ancient literature is still in manu- 

 script, and in a language which is every day becoming more 

 obsolete and obscure. These mistakes Mr. Curry has always 

 corrected with temper, and with due allowance for the diffi- 

 culties under which the authors to be corrected must neces- 

 sarily have laboured ; although it must be confessed that 

 sometimes blunders may be found of a nature well calculated 

 to try the patience or rouse the indignation of an Irish scholar. 



Another object of great importance which Mr. Curry has 

 kept steadily in view during the progress of the Catalogue, 

 has been the noticing of other copies of the tracts or poems 

 described, whenever the existence of such copies was known 

 to him: and his accui'ate acquaintance with the contents of 

 the Irish MSS. of Trinity College, and those in the posses- 

 sion of Messrs. Hodges and Smith,* the only two great col- 

 lections accessible to him for this purpose, rendered Mr. 

 Curry peculiarly well qualified for such a task. 



* Since purchased by the Academy. 



