Blair Collection > Practical grammar of the antient Gaelic, or, Language of the Isle of Man, usually called Manks

XXll LIFE OF DR. KELLY.
sliip^ only requesting him to make Mr. Kelly a suitable acknow-
ledgment, and rather to exceed than fall short of a due liberality."
Out of this work of revision the Manx Grammar took its rise,
as appears by the following note in Dr. Kelly's handwriting, in
a rough draught of the Grammar : — " N.B. I began to correct,
revise, and transcribe the translation of the Manks Bible in June,
1766 ; and at that time began to collect and form the rules of
this Grammar for my assistance, having no printed or written
documents to instruct me, except the four Gospels,"
While the Manx Scriptures were in preparation for the press,
a disaster occurred which threatened greatly to retard the good
work. It is thus relatedby Dr, Kelly himself (Bisliop Hildesley's
Life, page 230) : — "The Pentateuch was nearly ready for the
press; and we arrived at WTiitehaven, where the work was
printed, on the 13th of April, 1770. On our next return from
the Island to Whitehaven, the 19th of March, 1771, charged
with another portion, from Deuteronomy to Job inclusive, we
were shipwrecked in a storm. With no small difficulty and
danger, the manuscript was preserved, by holding it above the
water for the space of five hours ; and this was almost the only
article saved." " His lordship," says the Bishop's biographer,
-' and the Rev. Philip Moore, whenever the subject afterwards
came into conversation, were jocularly pleased to compare the
corrector to Caesar, who, during the sea-fight at Alexandria, is
said to have saved his Commentaries by holding them in one hand,
and swimming with the other.-'*
While thus engaged upon the Manx translation and the Manx
Grammar, a work of a still more arduous nature occurred to Dr.
Kelly, viz.., the composition of two copious Dictionaries — the