Blair Collection > Elements of Gaelic grammar

( XX )
liis country could afford him, in compiling and
modelling his work. He thankfully acknoMdedg-
es his obligations to the Rev. Dr Robertson
of Callender ; Dr Graham of Aberfoyle ; Dr
Stuart of Luss; Dr Macleod of Kilmarnock;
and Mr Irvine of Little Dunkeld*
From these sources of emendation, omissions
have been supplied, idiomatic phrases have been
collected and inserted, ' some alterations have
been made by simplifying or compressing parti-
cular parts, and new examples and illustrations
have been introduced throughout, according as
the advantages which the Author enjoyed, enab-
led him to extend his knowledge of the language,
and served to correct, or to confirm, his former
judgements. He thought it might be acceptable
to Gaelic Scholars to have a few lessons subjoin-
ed, as exercises in translating and analysing.
For this pui'pose he has selected some specimens
of original prose composition, extracted from un-
published manuscripts, and from the oldest Gae-
lic books that are known to be extant. These
specimens, short as they are, may suffice to exhi-
bit something of the powers and elegances of the
language in its native purity, unmixed with fo-
reign words and idioms ; as well as to shew the
manner in which it was written two or three cen-
turies ago.
The present Edition owes its existence to the
generous patronage of Sir John Macgregor
Murray of Lanrick, Bart, to whom the Author
is