Blair Collection > Elements of Gaelic grammar

Xll INTRODUCTION.
knowledge of the structure and phraseology of
the language he speaks, will seldom fail to utter
his thoughts with superior confidence, energy,
and effect.
A COMPETENT degree of this knowledge is re-
quisite to the hearer also, to enable him to ap-
prehend the full import, and the precise force of
the words of the speaker. Among the readers of
Gaelic, who are every day becoming more nume-
rous, those only who have studied it grammatical-
ly are qualified to understand accurately what
they read, and to explain it distinctly to others.
Yet it cannot be denied that, comparatively,
few ever arrive at a correct, or even a tolerable
knowledge of grammar, without the help of a
treatise composed for the purpose. Whoever,
therefore, allows that the Gaelic must be em-
ployed in communicating to a large body of
people the knowledge of revealed Truth and the
way of eternal Life, will readily admit the ex-
tensive utility of investigating and unfolding its
grammatical principles. Impressed with this con-
viction, I have been induced to offer to the public
the following attempt to develope the grammar of
the Scottish Gaelic.
While I have endeavoured to render this trea-
tise useful to those who wish to improve the know-
ledge of Gaelic which they already possess, 1
have also kept in view the gratification of others,
who