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intermixed among the original inhabitants of Ireland.
To this excellent writer, so often quoted, I refer all such as would proceed on sure and solid grounds in their inquiries concerning the Celtic Language and Antiquities: A subject which has proved the great stumbling-block of modern Antiquaries and Etymologists, and which has occasioned so many wild, absurd, and childish publications, to the disgrace of all etymology and scandal of literature. Instead of imitating the caution, diffidence, and modesty of Lluyd, who spent several years in travelling and residing among the different branches of the Celts, these writers make up a jargon of their own, which they call Celtic, and, without knowing any one of the ancient Languages truly, set out confidently to explain them all.
That I may not appear invidious, I will not produce instances of the dotage and folly of some of our countrymen in what they call Celtic Etymologies, and Illustrations of Celtic Antiquities; but will refer the Reader to a work of a superior class, the celebrated Memoires de la Langue Celtique par M. Bullet. Besançon 1754. 3 Vols. folio. This learned, and in other respects, ingenious writer, is a glaring instance how much a good judgment may be drawn away by a darling hypothesis, and is a warning to others not to write upon subjects they do not understand: For, having little or no acquaintance with the English Language, he undertakes to explain, from his own imaginary Celtic Vocabulary, the names of innumerable places in England, in what he calls a Description Etymologique[1]: Where, if he had confined himself to some of our Rivers, Mountains and Forests, he had stood some chance of being right, since many of these retain their old
- ↑ Une Description Etymologique des villes, rivieres, montagnes, forêts, curiosités naturelles des Gaules; de la meilleure partie del’ Espagne et de l’ Italie; de la Grande Britagne, dont les Gaulois ont été les primiers habitans. This writer has, however, some things very ingenious and solid.
