Ossian Collection > Defence of the Scots Highlanders, in general; and some learned characters, in particular

C 206 }
word found more agreeable to their Roman
ears; without regarding the real injury,
which fuch corruption offered to the abu-
fed language, or that the very meaning
was materially affe(fled by fuch improper
freedoms. Thus, inftead of GARABH
BHEANTIBH, they left an unknown
word in their ftead, which a hjghlander
cannot underiland, nor many fuch abomi-
nable tranfpofitions and additions to, or
cuttings off from the beginnings or ends, by
taking vowels cut of, or adding vowels to
the middle of words, and interpolated ex-
preffions as are in ufe, and explained by
their foreign figurative manner to their rea-
ders, by their Prothefisy Apharefis, Syn-
copcEy Metathejis, Antithefis, &c. all which
pompous figures and explanations have been
hurtful to every language, and more efpeci-
ally to the Gaelic, where every word is de-
fcriptive and expreffive of the objedl it is
affixed to ; and the above mode of alteration
has had the mofl pernicious effect, as is well
known to every judge of the old Celtic.
Upon the whole, refpeding the Pid:s and
Scots, and before we put a final period to
this