Blair Collection > Critical dissertations on the origin, antiquities, language, government, manners, and religion, of the antient Caledonians, their posterity the Picts, and the British and Irish Scots

7 8 ^he Ir'ijh Antiquities
eloquence, philofophy and hiftory. The philolo-
gical parts of learning were in great requeft among
them. Philofophy was patronized by their Kings,
recommended by Fileas^ and became the ftudy of
their great men, as without it no dignities could
be obtained in the ftate. The Irifh bards and
fennachies had hereditary fees fettled upon their
families ; and as they were obliged, by the (land-
ing laws of the kingdom, to confine themfelves to
the proper bufinefs of their profeilion, it mufl be
prefumed that they made an extraordinary profi-
ciency.
" But the Irifh hiftoriographers appointed by
authority mufl have been peculiarly induflrious
and faithful. Their falaries were great ; and their
compofitions were to undergo a very flridl and
impartial examination, in the public alTemblics of
the ftates of the kingdom. The Irilh held trien-
nial parliaments at Tara. A committee of every
parliament was appointed to revife the work of
every hifloriographer, before it could be publifh-
ed : and as it was prudently confidered that the
fpirit of party might prevail in one of thefe com-
mittees and parliaments, it was ordained, that
the fame work fliould be re-examined by a new
committee of a fubfequent parliament. "
All that has been advanced here concerning the
ufe of letters in Ireland, from the arrival of the Mi-
lefian colony, and concerning the flourifhing flate
of learning there, has been copied from Mr. O Con-
nor's DifTertations. O Flaherty had likewife been
at great pains tojuflify the pretenfions of his
countrymen to an early knowledge of the fcien-
ces : But O Connor has equalled him in zeal, and
exceeded him in dogmatical afTertions.
It