Blair Collection > Celtic studies

xvi Preface.
respecting the Celtic one. Although genealogical traditions of
races reaching back into very remote times are not safe materials
out of which to frame ethnological theories, neither can they be
altogether disregarded ; and consequently a hypothesis founded
vipon strictly scientific deductions, which, at the same time,
accords with the popular traditions, may be fairly considered to
possess many elements of truth.
It is almost unnecessary to say that an introduction such as that
which I have prefixed to Dr. Ebel's papers, could, from its nature
and objects, be to a great extent only a compilation from the works
of those scholars who are considered to be masters in the science.
Indeed, I have avoided, wherever I could, introducing any ex-
amples of my own. In the classification of stems, I have, however,
ventured to deviate in some degi-ee from that usually followed,
whether with advantage or not remains to be seen. In an essay
intended to be merely explanatory of a system, and admittedly
compiled from the works of those who are authorities upon it,
it is not necessary to refer to those authorities in every case in
the text ; here, however, it may be useful to mention the chief
books to which I am indebted for materials. These are : Bopp's
Vergleichende Grammatik (2nd ed.); Grimm's Geschichte cler
Detitsche7i Sp7'aclie; Curtius, Die Bildung der Tempora und
Modi; and Heyse's System der Sprachwissenschaft, edited by Dr.
H. Steinthal.
A great many notes have been added to the papers by Dr.
Ebel on Declension, and a considerable number of words added
to the lists in his paper on the " Position of the Celtic", espe-
cially to that of the Latin loan-words in Old Celtic. For the
most of these additions, which are distinguished by being en-
closed in [ ] , I am indebted to Whitley Stokes, Esq. I also
take this opportunity to give my best thanks to that distinguished
scholar. Prof C. Lottner, from whom Celtic philology has so
much to expect, for the great pains he took in looking over the
proof sheets; and also to my friend, John E. Pigot, Esq., without
whose encouragement the task would never have been under-
taken.
With the view of rendering the materials contained in the im-
portant paper On the Position of the Celtic as serviceable as pos-
sible in the construction of that great desideratum of Irish lite-