Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1841 to 1870 > Double grammar, of English and Gaelic, in which the principles of both languages are clearly explained

vm
PREFACE.
English only, could not be more absurd than to place an
English or Gaelic Grammar defined in English, as a class-
book in the hands of a Highland schoolboy understanding
Gaelic only. With these views, and under these urgent cir¬
cumstances, the Author has been induced and strongly en¬
couraged by many of his countrymen to provide this system,
which is, in every point, sufficiently scientific and practical
for the purpose of teaching the Grammar of both languages.
The Author has, in common with other compilers of school
books, unscrupulously availed himself of the suggestions of his
predecessors. To Dr Stewart and Mr Munro’s Gaelic Gram¬
mars, and Dr Armstrong’s Gaelic Dictionary, the best and
most learned works known to him upon the subject, he has
most to acknowledge in the Celtic department. The English
department is in many points based upon the plan adopted by
Dr M'Culloch in his English Grammar, a gentleman to whom
the country is highly indebted for his excellent series of school
books. But from this eminent grammarian the Author of
this system has, on account of the design of his work, found
it necessary to differ in many respects; and while he does not
arrogate originality to himself, he has certainly aimed at a
higher character than that of a mere compiler, in having pro¬
duced a Bauble System of Grammar defining the principles of
two languages, by terms and rules couched in a language in
which, consistent with his knowledge, they had never ap¬
peared before; but which will be found to be as descriptive
of the sense intended to be expressed by them, as their cor¬
respondents in other languages.
The subject of Orthography is reduced to a compendious
size. The different sounds of the vowels in both languages,
and the aspirated sounds of the Gaelic consonants, are briefly
exemplified in the keys. A verbose exposition of the powers
of each letter is intentionally avoided, because it is seldom
attended to, as the learner must be pretty well versed in the
art of reading from other books, ere he commences to study
grammar systematically.