general and discriminative character in the Celtic, we should compare all the dialects together.”* Fortunately all these dialects have at last been once compared, and that by Dr Murray, who, not being himself a Celt, will not be suspected of undue partiality to any one of them. This comparison, it is true, must have been pursued under some disadvantages from the paucity of manuscripts and comparatively modern character of the Irish writing yet brought into view. But still the testimony of a scholar so eminent, will probably secure, for the long-neglected Native Irish, a portion of that respect and veneration with which every thing at once ancient and useful ought to be regarded. The length to which Dr Murray had gone in such investigations, must increase the regret for his premature decease; but the progress he had already made, although remaining open to future corrections, will probably be found of the highest value. After carefully examining the whole vocabularies and grammatical structuré of the Teutonic dialects, after comparing these with the corresponding parts in the Greek and Latin, he also compared the Celtic dialects with one another, and with all those languages already mentioned. Although he found the Teutonic to be the least corrupted and most original of all, he says, that the Celtic and Finnish" display the most ancient signification of words," and that the Celtic in particular possesses an unrivalled and striking originality in its words,—a resemblance to the oldest varieties of language, and internal evidence that it is derived from the earliest speech of Europe." So great indeed was the assistance thus afforded to him in his researches, that he elsewhere says,-" I am almost inclined to assert, that without a knowledge of this language, no man can make much progress in studying the philological history of Europe." It was not likely that the comparative antiquity of the Irish should escape the notice of such a man, after such an investigation. This he carefully studied, and has repeatedly noticed. To him, at least, the inhabitants of Ireland appeared to have "spoken from the first ages a dialect of the Celtic peculiar to *Davies' Celtic Researches, p. 233, 234. Although his researches are much injured by his imagination, he has contributed to gain for the Welsh remains more attention than they had been accustomed to receive. themselves," which is to be distinguished from the British or Cymraig of Wales and the continental varieties, " by a smaller number of words coinciding with the Teutonic, and by an indolent and soft species of pronunciation, which has extended itself over the whole vocabulary."-" The allies of the German Cimbri and Teutones were," he says, "not Celts of the Irish division. That primitive race had been expelled from the continent, a few tribes only excepted, before the dawn of history. As one proof of this, their ancient written language indicates, by form and Inflection, their long and early separation from the parent, as well as from every other stock." Other authorities, to the same effect, might be added, were the writer at all solicitous on this point: though it is not many years since it would have been hazardous to the reputation of any author to have asserted, that, in point of antiquity, the Irish tongue would ultimately be placed at the head of all the dialects in the western world. The more recent investigations of the most learned and impartial philologists seem to be verging to this opinion; and it only remains to be seen whether historical research, patiently and impartially pursued, will not lead to the same conclusion. Whatever opinion may be formed by any man with regard to the substance or the particulars mentioned in this Appendix, it is cheering to think that for Ireland a better day is surely about to dawn. Her native language, long unjustly and foolishly reprobated, is gradually rising in importance even in a literary point of view. After a long and dreary night, a numerous body of our fellow-subjects come before us, -in want of the very means of improvement which have given to Britain whatever superiority she now enjoys above the na tions around her, and many circumstances unite in saying, that our duty toward them is as imperative as it is manifest. A language in itself so expressive and copious, spoken at this hour by a population so large, in a country of such importance to the whole kingdom, must of necessity be cultivated and taught. Independently of its necessity as the only effectual instrument of immediate and permanent moral improvement in so many parts of Ireland, it is an ancient record, which, when properly regarded, will lend its aid in unfolding antiquity, and in resolving at least some of the mysteries of general philology. Exertions in Trinity College.. in translating the Scriptures. Defence of the Irish Translation.... Irish Manuscripts preserved... Page 235 273 ..113 .32, 33 32 .115 25 .236 .137 346 .344 .55, 56 56-58. 62.70 Hebrew MSS. preserved by an Irishman-Note... Posthumous influence.... Irish Old Testament printed..... 59 .61. 140 .62-66 .67 68, 69 .78 60 .149 .78-80 Books suggested for translation... Bordeaux, the Irish College of, Bouley, the Irish Seminary of,..... Boyle's (Hon. Robert) Life and Character.. .268. 274 .120 121 .72-76 Exertions in publishing the Irish Scriptures... Bramhall's reverence for the character of Fitzralph-Note... opposition to Bedell.... Burke's (Edmund) interest in Irish MSS.. Building, not one in all Ireland dedicated to the ministry of the word in the Irish tongue,.... Charlemagne employed Irish Teachers..... .76-83 45 .45. 61 .29 .8. 162. 317 .33 Children, Irish, from 5 to 15 Years of Age......... Desire for Education in Ireland.......... Education through the medium of Irish...... -, power of, limited, in every Language... Page .104. 54. 111. 126 sends English Bibles to the Irish people... Schools in the Highlands ditto........... Erasmus, the wish of, for the Irish........ Fitzralph's Life and Exertions......... French Schools in England abortive....... Scholars of mature Age.... .270-290 .163. 323 .51 .135 .135 .200. 223 .266 .206-231 41-47 .170, 171 .346, 347 ..315, 316. 349 .198. 246. 278 .199. 246 ..52 Prayer-Book of 1567-Note.... Ministers once in Ireland... German Schools in Bohemia abortive...... Schools in Lusatia ditto..... Guipuscoan, a Dialect of the Basque... Henry VIII., absurd act of, 1537. Highlanders, Scots, in Ireland. peculiar obligations of, towards Ireland... Hildesley, Dr Mark, his character and exertions.... Ignorance in a Family, evils of,... not the only evil to be removed. Infants in Ireland of 5 Years and under... Johnson's (Dr Sam.) interest in Ireland... Ireland and Wales contrasted.... .153, 154 .175 ..172 ..345 ..132. 162 ..154 .314–316 188-191 .270, 271 323 .273 .235 .29 .196 255-266 .206-231 ..273 ..ib. ..ib. .ib. .272, 273 .13-102 131. 203 ....132. 162 .46 .52-54 .54 52 Tongue finely adapted for oral instruction... Islands of Ireland..... One hundred and forty inhabited. Knowledge, the impotence of mere,...... Language, no European Kingdom of one,.. Learning, share of the Irish in the earliest of Europe.. Schools of, abroad and at home.................. Leinster Irish districts.... Lille, The Irish College of,.. Lisbon, The Irish College of,....... Literary History or Gleanings.. Longevity, comparative, in Ireland. Louvain, The Irish College of,.. Lyons, Irish Nation recognised at, in 1255.. ..294–314 ..240. 244-249 .323 .206 .195 .206-231 .33-36 103-128 ..212, 213. 220, 221 .115 113 13-102 .273 .115 .48 .349 .187-194 .25-29 .78-80 .158 .111 .108. 125 .213, 214. 219. 221 .121 ...46 Obscurity of British Antiquities partly accounted for.. Operatives, Irish, from 15 to 70 Years of Age.... Oral Instruction by the Irish language.... Want of, in the sixteenth Century. Want of, in the present day.. Instituted power of,.. Necessity for,............ * On the author's copy of this very rare book, by B. Obhadhasa, Hosæus or Hussey, is |