the Publication thereof had not been prohibited by a ſuperior Power. Books written in the Manks Tongue, they have none, except a Catechiſm, and Inſtructions for Youth, with ſome Prayers not many Years ſince compiled.
Some who are willing to entertain the moſt favourable Opinion of this People, impute their general Ignorance to their want of Books; but I, who have lived and converſed ſome Time among them, attribute their Want of Books to their innate Ignorance. That this Suggeſtion is not without Grounds, appears from the little Progreſs made in Learning by thoſe who have had the happy Advantage of finiſhing their Education in a Scotch or Iriſh College, which is commonly the Caſe of ſuch as are deſigned for Holy Orders; notwithſtanding which, we find none of their Writings made publick, nor would moſt of their Sremons paſson any but a Manks Congregation. If to this they object that their Language is obſcure, and not well known in the World, let them write (as they frequently preach) in Engliſh, or in Latin, a Language univerſally ⟨k⟩nown to the learned World. To prevent
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