C

THE LITERARY GAZETTE,

AND

DR

Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, &c.

No.468.

ADDRESS.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1826.

; but we will not affect a feeling foreign to our

PRICE 1S.

Scythian, and the Sarmatian or Sclavonic. | student of philology, when he completed his
Others have more completely considered and publication of the same sort. Mr. Armstrong's
verified this probable classification, which first is still more acceptable, because it is fuller,
drew a distinct line between these different better, more satisfactory, more illustrative, and
masses of population, and which the continental more comprehensive. All the examination that
historians still strangely confuse. It is sin- our leisure has allowed us to give, is favourable
gular, that few, if any, of our neighbours, to it. The author has prefixed, a grammar,
either in France, Germany, or Russia, had which is very neatly and ably drawn-up; he
any clear ideas of this natural and just dis- has added many analogies and affinities from
crimination until lately, but continued to con- other languages, which evince considerable re-
found the Celtic and Scythian branches, both search, and has made it altogether more useful
of population and language. But the reason to the Gaelic student. The first part is Gaelic
may have been, that Germany had lost all re- and English; the second, English and Gaelic.
mains of the Celtic branch in her varied re- We should be glad if some other gentleman
gions, and France contained only one fragment would perform the same service to the Irish
of it in Bretagne, and that not of natural tongue as Dr. Owen Pugh has rendered to the
growth, but rather an artificial transplantation Welsh, and now Mr. Armstrong to the Gaelic.
from our own island.
We will only add a few extracts from his mo-

every new year been our good fortune to address thes to a very largely increased number of friends, ach, with the pleasant intercourse which subsists ven its Readers and the LITERARY GAZETTE, we are paled to nekon all our subscribers. On the present ika ve have more than usual reason to be satisfied in pect; for we can truly say, that no literary petal existence enjoys so wide a range of circulation, as a more honest influence in every quarter of e. The form of our publication (so readily transto all points) has no doubt contributed to this far as to pretend a belief that the efforts made serve this popularity have not, in a great measure, uccess. For into this sheet, slight as it is, have listed the services of the most distinguished , scholars, critics, artists, and men of science of rial, both at home and abroad: no exertion has pared to procure the earliest and best intelliIt has happened fortunately for the history derate and sensible preface, which does, credit f all sides and correspondents are established of philology, and has enabled our philological both to his temper and to his judgment, and Mer information is likely to be derived: volun- students to discern and to illustrate more satis-gives-a favourable opinion both of his attainanor, toos of the most valuable character has factorily the true views on this subject, that ments and of his work. We do not, however, be the highest, Interest with the growth of our three important portions of our population, the pledge ourselves to all its opinions, as we do quace of the lovers of literature prefer- Welsh, the Highlanders, and the Irish, have not know where to find the parent Celtic to the fittest medium for disseminating those facts preserved in colloquial use, and as their native which it alludes. the knowledge of which they considered to tongues, three leading and ancient varieties of "I do not propose to meddle, in this place, to mankind. These and other cacumstances, the great Celtic branch, besides a modification with the keenly contested point, whether the for detall, have made the LITERARY GAZETTE of the Welsh in Cornwall, while France has Gaelic of the Highlands be the parent of the and its Editor (claiming only for himself the e diligence, impartiality, and perfect inde- only the other modification of it which was speech of Ireland; however, I may be permitted youmises that he will do his utmost to make taken by Welsh and Cornish emigrants into to observe, that the Scotch Gaelic bears a closer Bretagne. Out of these three distinct vari- resemblance to the parent Celtic, and has eties of the great Celtic branch, we have fewer inflections than the Welsh, Manks, or written compositions of the Welsh that ascend Irish dialects. It has this circumstance, too, Garlic Dictionary, in Two Parts. I. Gaelic represent to us the actual speech of the abo- languages, that it wants the simple present regularly upwards into the fifth century, and in common with the Hebrew and other oriental and English-11. English and Gaelic. In riginal Britons who once inhabited England; tense; a peculiarity which strongly supports ch the Words, in their different Accepta- and if we do not possess specimens of equal the opinion that the Gaelic of Scotland is the ba, are illustrated by Quotations from the antiquity and genuineness of the Highland and more ancient dialect. This question has been at Gaelic Writers, and their Affinities Irish varieties, we have, at least, some written long discussed with eagerness and ability. The bazed. To which is prefixed a New Gaelic and traditional remains of them that are some one party draws its opinions partly from hisJames Duncan. London, 1825. A. Armstrong, A.M. centuries old; but both have long appeared in tory, partly from acute hypothetical reasoning, a written form in their poetry, and may now and from the natural westward progress of Tar British Islands, among their other ad- be read in their vernacular translations of the early migrations; the other argues from lepages, have the philological distinction of Scriptures; and, therefore, we have to produce gends for which credulity itself is at a loss to wing two of the distinct branches of the to the world three main subdivisions of the discover a foundation. ar ancient languages of Europe. We call principal Celtic branch of language, which once "Throughout this work I have followed the ter branches, because as all the forms of spread from the Pyrenees to the Baltic, and from orthography of two writers, who are relied on urly authority that touches upon the subject, the east, and to the Hebrides and the Irish Stewart, of Luss, the translator of the Holy dhya in the world are recorded, in the most the Orkneys in the north to Constantinople in as guider by their countrymen. The one, Dr. have emanated from one primitive stock, Sea in the west. Besides these philological Scriptures into Gaelic; the other, Dr. Smith, the languages which are used by mankind treasures, although it be no longer a living of Campbelton, the author of a Gaelic metrical the ramifications of one common trunk, tongue, we have one of the most important version of the Psalms, and other creditable eval parent, and have been planted in Scythian and German branch of language in time in settling the orthography of our lanwas very distant from their native locality, our venerable Anglo-Saxon, of which we may guage; and, as they have a just and acknow. they have been long separated from the and most authentic specimens of the pacient works. These writers spent much of their dent, art, natural growth, and occasional in- abundant remains than any other modern na much to be desired that they should, hence

REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS

Mature.

Ancient Europe, in its western regions, be-language of equal antiquity.

tion, excepting China, has preserved of any

762

peopled by three distinct classes of po

introducing,

In proportion as we value these venerated as their tribes spread relics of the ancient world, and of its anterior

forth, be regarded in that light.

"I have bestowed pains on referring de rivative words to their primitives-in resolving compound words to their component parts-in

guished from each other as the colonising to preserve and perpetuate them. We were, and gender-and to verbs their signification, , three great branches of language, as inhabitants, we rejoice to see any atteinpt made affixing to substantives their genitive singular quaries who have studied the subject ac- tionary announced by Mr. Armstrong. The Gaelic writers are translated into English as See in the arrangement of Dr. Percy, who Gaelic is the Celtic variety spoke in the High-literally as the idioms of these languages will derly and justly classed them under three lands of Scotland. Mr. Sh: w made an in- allow."

Our most recent therefore, pleased to hear a new Gaelic dic- whether active or neuter. The quotations from

that brought them.

Pa divisions-the Celtic, the Germanic and portant present to his countrymen, and to the It is, in our judgment, rather a matter of

"ATHAIR, gen. athar, s. m. a father, an ancestor, &c. &c.

literary reproach to the northern parts of our Tonquinese, bo. Japanese, arbo, or. Hotten- the playfulness and the pathos of Scottish songsisland, that a work so important to philology, tots, boa, and bubon. Thus his own talents, and his memory, richly and so responsive to national feelings, as this of) endowed with those productions which have Mr. Armstrong's is, should have remained a emanated from the talents of others in ancient desideratum till the year 1825; and that while "Greek, warng. Latin, pater. Swedish and and modern times, combined to give him at societies were forming to revive tartan hose Danish, fadder. English, father. Persic, phader. once the taste to appreciate and the knowledge and heron's feathers, &c., (though we do not French, petre, now written père. Gothie, to illustrate the prodigious extent and variety mean to disparage these patriotic matters) no atta. German, tad.-Athair," the compiler re- of his subject. He has accordingly presented institution took measures to embody and pre-marks, "is derived from the Celtic at, father; us with a publication which cannot fail to be serve the language of the country in an en- whence are derived the Tartar and the Turkish come extremely popular, and transmit his name during shape. The laborious task has now ata, father. Tobolsk, atai. Calmuc Tartars, with honour to future generations. been performed by an unassisted individual, atey. Phrygian and Thessalian, atta. Hun- The collection is excellent. It not only prewho has not only produced an excellent Gaelic garian, atya. Arra was a Greek terin of re- serves a very large number of favourite songs, and English dictionary, but explored seventy spect to an aged man; at signifies parent, in but it rescues from oblivion some remarkable languages, in order to raise his publication to a atavus, great-grandfather. Carinthian, atei. snatches, which are strikingly characteristic of much higher class as a dictionary of affinities. Mogul Tartars, atzia. Biscayan, aita, fa- the olden days and early literature. Mr. CunHaving made these general observations, we ther."- Respecting the term athair, we rather ningham has also another strong claim to apmay remark, that the Gaelic grammar is very think that it is not a derivative, but a comprobation; he has guardedly weeded the luxexplicit and well digested; though the verbs pound word, made up of a, a Celtic word uriant garden in which he wrought of rank assume rather a formidable appearance, owing meaning chief, and fear, a man. and offensive growths; so that his nosegay, in to every tense's being rendered into English its freshness, is as proper for the female hand, throughout, with a view, no doubt, to facilitate as for the drier inspection of withering antithe acquisition of this anomalous language. quarianism. The rules of syntax are judiciously constructed, "Greek Eolic, Ogarwg and earng. Latin, An Introduction of nearly 300 pages (a and each rule is followed by useful examples. frater. French, +fretre, now frère. Danish, historical coup d'œil) is very pleasant and Prosody occupies the concluding part of the broder, Swedish, broder and bror. Islandic, amusing; though, as the author confesses, grammar; and here the compiler takes occasion brodur. Anglo-Saxon, brather. English, bro-rather desultory and rambling. Yet the mis. to bridle the rambling, irregular rhymes of the ther. German, bruother. Belgic, broeder. fortunes of Queen Mary Stuart, the supersti Highland poets. He is, in many cases, emi- Polish, bràt. Lusatian, bradt. Russian, bràte. tions of Scotland, and “sic-like matters," are nently successful; in others, he seems to have Sclavonic, brat. Bohemian, brat and brodr. so nearly connected with the poetry of the given up the business pro re irrita. But to Teutonic, broeder and bruder. Irish, bràthair. country, that the error of a little digression pass on to the dictionary. Welsh, brawd and brawdair. Cornish, brawd, upon such themes, if error it can be called, is breur, and bredar. Armoric, breuzr (z silent). extremely venial. And there are so many Cimbric, brodir. Tartar, bruder. Persic, be- touches in the essay which we cannot help rader, hurader, and braeder. Hindoostanee, admiring-touches peculiar to the author as a brooder."-The compiler might have added the true bard-that so far from wearying when he Hebrew, berith, and the Shanserit, bhratara. wanders from his direct line, we read on with enjoyment, and are only sorry that his deviations are not more frequent and prolonged. Thus, for instance, after noting the alliance of song with the supernatural world, he says:

We observe that, in some of the Asiatic tongues and in others nearer home, he has overlooked affinities which are so obvious that we are surprised how they could have escaped his observation. For example, among the affinities, under the article CEANN, the cognate term Khan, (head or chief,) in the Persic and Arabic, are omitted. The word CEANN, just noticed, is laid down as follows:

“BRATHAIR, gen, bràthar, s. m. (i. e. brùfath-urr, a second person of the same womb; a brother, &c. &c.

"TUR, tùir, s. m. a tower, &c. &c. &c.
"Arabic, thor, a tower, and tour, hill. Persic
and Armenian, tar, hill. Syriac, thur, hill.
Hebrew, thur and thor, hill. Greek, rugs,
Tugis, and rugros, in Suidas. Latin, turris.
Danish, tur. Swedish, tor. Dalmatian, turan.
Anglo-Saxon, tor and torr. Teutonic, torre.
Italian, torre. Irish, tùr. Armoric, twr and
tur. Strabo," the compiler adds, "observes, that
the ancient Moors called Mount Atlas dyr."

These articles, which we have selected in a
manner ad aperturam, are less copious and cu-
rious than a multitude of others.

"I shall not, however, attempt to follow my subject through all the winding vistas of com mon belief, but proceed to examine some of those old customs and amusements where song was often the chief pleasure, and always welcome auxiliary.

"CEANN, gen. cinn, s. m. (Irish, ceann. Welsh, cwn and cyn. Cornish, kyn.) A head; a point; a hilt; a top; an end; a chief; a commander; a high headland; a promontory:" and then follow a multitude of quotations. The very common meaning, harvest-home, is, however, unnoticed; but this oversight is, we see, "By those intimately acquainted with the rectified in the Appendix. "It is observable," manners and customs of the peasantry, somethe compiler remarks," that ceann, promontory, thing like the remains of a rude drama—a reis seen in the ancient names of many capes and To conclude, this quarto is as moderate in presentation uniting the fourfold qualities of promontories throughout Europe; as Ceneum, price as it is valuable in contents; and we acting, dancing, music, and song- -must have a cape in the north-west of Euboea; Cen- sincerely congratulate Mr. Armstrong on the been often observed at weddings, at harvestchre, a cape on the isthmus of Corinth; spirited and successful stand he has made in homes, and other festivities. To me it ha Canastraum, a cape in Macedonia; Candaria, defence and in preservation of the Gaelic lan-appeared under three different forms; and in Cos; and many others." guage. His work is a monumentum perennius brief description of each may recall similar are, of which, not only every Scot, but every rustic attempts at dramatic representation to general scholar and philologist throughout Europe ought to avail himself; and we trust that it will prove as beneficial to the compiler as it is serviceable to general literature and to his country.

We shall now give our readers some idea of Mr. Armstrong's success in his pursuit of cognate or kindred terms.

+Авн, 8. m. water. (We wish to apprise our readers that bh are silent in this word.) Tonquinese, hài, sea. Shanscrit, ab and aw, water. Arabic, ahha, pool. Persic, awe. Greek Eolic dialect, . Latin, aqua. Danish, ane. Welsh, aw. French. eau. Gothic, a. Islandic,

"From bò are derived the Greek Boos, an ox, and fees, to roar; and also Be, which means any thing that is terrible. Latin, hos, an oa. Italian, bue, an ox. Irish, bo, a cow. Welsh, Inw. Cornish, buih and bu. Armoric, bu. Mana, bua. Biscayan, beya. Portuguese, boy, w. Spanish, buey. Turkish, bugha, an o

The Songs of Scotland, Ancient and Modern;
with an Introduction and Notes, Historical
and Critical, and Characters of the Lyric
Poets. By Allan Cunningham. 12mo. 4 vols.
London, 1825. John Taylor.

many of my northern readers. The first I saw was called The Wooing of the Maiden,' favourite pastime at the close of a wedding feast, and indeed it seemed designed as a hu morous portraiture of the vicissitudes of court ship. When dancing and carousal had quick, ened up the spirits of the wedding guests, and just before the time of stocking-throwing, the door of the barn was opened, and a youth and maiden entered, keeping time to the sound the fiddle, which commenced the air that gave IT is not at the expense of any contemporary we a name to the entertainment. The youth wa express our conviction that no individual living a lively peasant, with no small share of inven was better fitted to undertake the task here so tive humour, and dressed in the extremnity delightfully fulfilled, than Allan Cunningham. the fashion; while the damsel personated with His genuine feeling for the songs of his native very good grace a fantastic old maid, flourishing land constitute him a far better judge of them in ancient finery, with a sharp shrill voice and than all the rules of all the critics that ever a look of great importance. They advanced t wrote. But beyond this great and indispen- the middle of the floor, beating time to thi sable gift, he possessed other eminent qualifi- tune, and smiling upon each other, and mimick le is himself a natural and beautiful ing the appearance of delight and joy. Thi and he has beguiled the dearest portions pantomime having lasted some five minute This life amidst the charms and the witchery, the maiden sang part of a song adapted to thi

se, which praised the charms of opulence, accurate time all the while to the music. He the north with poets as well as singers; and and laid the scene of domestic love and endear- of the candle sings a verse to the air of the hope it will be felt, that in abating the length Best tong bags of gold, in the middle of music, in which he laughs at thrift, and counts of these national rhymes I have not lessened many weres, and concluded with extolling the industry a colder companion than pleasure. their graphic truth or dramatic vigour. I am visam and discretion of age. This was an. She of the roke replies to this, and tells him in less afraid of incurring blame for the pains I mered by a song from her lover, which, with song that idle pleasure ends in sorrow and have taken in rendering many of our old songs the usual enthusiasm of youth, spoke with repentance, while homely industry brings peace more acceptable to the eye of delicacy than I peat contempt of charms which were rated by and happiness, and shuts the door on pain and found them; and in ekeing out fragments and thereof attractions which were weighed on poverty. The music, played purposely slow mutilated verses as much as possible in the be gold; and laid the scene of true love endear- for the sake of the song, bursts out more boldly, sense and spirit of the old. They who desire est it the time when maidens step out of and the dance, like that of the witches in Tam our old verses to remain in dust or impurity their teens, As the charms of the rustic actress O'Shanter, grows fast and furious; for the will be displeased perhaps with the freedom of happened to be far from considerable, and as man endeavours to set the roke on fire with his my amendments; and they who seek out with she had in all appearance overstepped her teens candle, while the woman eludes him with great a sensitive delicacy for the Muse's transgrespod sore of years, she considered this lyric activity, and all the while the music and the sions against strict decorum, may think I have drdaration of her lover as somewhat personal, feet echo to each other. This contest con- sympathised more than I ought with the free and proceeded to resent it in very passable tinues for the space of five minutes or more, language and open mirth of our ancestors. mime. She strode round the floor with and then they renew the bickerings between There would be more wisdom in offending, the rides of an ogress, and shivered all her idleness and thrift in satiric song. On the than prudence in pleasing, such unscrupling bry with anger and pride, as a fowl ruffles side of Industry, many proverbs pressing the or scrupulous persons-the thorn grows on feathers. Her lover seemned by no means necessity of thrift are woven into verse, while the same branch with the rose; and many desirous of soothing her; he mimicked her all the curious sayings which ridicule labour, overwarm or indecorous expressions are intereness of step, and the waving of her and paint pleasure lying idle among beds of woven with mantle, and stepped step by step with her and lilies, are at the command of him who would Measures which the gray-hair'd minstrels sing, the music round the floor. He then took an have been the Unthrift' in one of the old When they make maidens weep.' my purse out of his pocket, shook it before moralities. Fire prevails, however, at last In the notes, I have sought to illustrate our face, threw it into the air and caught it as against its combustible opponent, and the plea- lyrics by fragments of neglected or forgotten fall, and burst out into another verse of song sure of the audience is measured by the dura- song, by story, by anecdote, and by criticism. ontempt of riches and all who possessed tion of the strife; for it requires no small I have gleaned intelligence from some hunThis was answered by a corresponding management and agility to preserve the Roke dreds of volumes, and obtained information ere from the maiden, in which she laughed and the wee pickle tow amid the evolutions of from many sources." armpty pockets, and scorned poverty, in the the dance. This dramatic entertainment, I From the foregoing passages the general chathe world has ever done. He then turned understand, is sometimes represented without racter of the work may safely be inferred; but er in great anger. And now began the song, and it is not at all improbable that it forms still a multitude of the felicities with which it dramatic part of the entertainment: he only a portion of some more important per- abounds cannot even be guessed at. Thus, ced round the company, and having singled formance. speaking of Burns, the kindred spirit of the young woman, the most beautiful he "I have already elsewhere in this wandering writer bursts into a fine comparison: "Burns, find, le saluted her, took her hand, introduction anticipated the account of the third who, of all poets that ever breathed, possessed with her into the middle of the floor, description of the rustic drama-a Nithsdale the most happy tact of pouring his genius mi nude earnest love as far as the silence of interlude, acted on many occasions of festive through all the meanderings of music, was unmime would allow. This excited the merriment, and known by the name of Auld rivalled in the skill of brooding over the ruder and jealousy of the other; and as the Glenae.' I have little doubt that this comic, conceptions of our old poets, and in warming Man of the dance required the music still but not over-reverent interlude, was originally them into grace and life. He could glide like bedeyed by the feet, we had a very good intended for two persons, one the sinner, and dew into the fading bloom of departing song, re; very good song from the slighted the other a professor of the kirk; and that the and refresh it into beauty and fragrance." , in searn of her landless rival; a song in humour of the whole was sustained by the Again: The man who breaks out from from the other, vindicating the supre- assumed gravity of admonition and rebuke on the fulness of his heart into voluntary numbers, er of youth and beauty against the influence the one hand, and the arch simplicity of the and seeks relief in poesy from the matter with rands and meadows; and, finally, a transgressor on the other; the whole being which he overflows, is a poet of Nature's own ww from the hero of the entertainment, re- intended to ridicule the inquisitorial scrutiny handiwork; and we may expect from him a ng in the choice of his heart in opposition of the kirk session into all offences against free and original strain, and some addition to that of avarice. This kind of contest con- chastity. The reverend actor is omitted in the stock of popular pleasure. The rods of the ed some time-one moment limited to modern representation, and the humour of the false magicians wrought their enchantments as mime, and the next breaking out into piece is entirely supported by the delinquent, a well as the rod of the prophet; and we have terse: it ended, however, as all contests man whose hoary hair and age-bent frame much poetry which comes from a lower source that kind generally do, in the triumph of almost give an answer to the charge. I have than inspiration: but the enchantments which of the houses and land, and with her suc-seen it performed before a rustic audience with the false magicians wrought could not stand, the representation terminated. I may applause: but I believe it has now, along with since they they were not of God; and the that I have seen it acted without the all similar entertainments, fallen into disuse poetry which is laboured out by mechanical tance of song, and that the addition of the or discredit. I love so well whatever gives us skill alone cannot survive, since it springs not , though a great improvement, by lending an image or a notion of the character and pur- from nature. With the finest ear and the to action, impeded the operations of the suits of our ancestors, as to wish that the re- nicest skill in language, and with learning and rendered it subordinate. mains of all matters of this nature were col- lending knowledge and power, a man cannot The next pastime of this kind which I lected by a curious hand and preserved for write true poetry; for all these acquirements ull sorice seemed to be a dramatic presenta- posterity." will only carry him to where poesy begins; infantest between Idleness and Industry, This is but one (the most readily separated) and though he may speak with the voice of the Waste and Thrift, and gave its name of many similar interesting episodes; and yet Muse, her heart, which warms, and animates, sok it from the well-known air of The it must suffice for our exemplification of this and exalts, will be absent; and though his and the wee pickle tow.' It is com- portion of Mr. Cunningham's dessert. In ren- aspirations may be correct and melodious, they acted at one of those carousals called dering some of the licentious ancient songs will want the curious ease and happiness of kiras, and commences by the musician such as modern decency would endure, Mr. C. natural poetry. He will give no fresh impulse ng the air which introduces to the floor has bestowed much pains; and for this the to our feelings; he will add no new joy to the e sadience a staid and thrifty-looking public will thank him, whatever the antiquary stock of the old; he will but re-ecko more imwith a ruky or distaff in her bosom re- may do. On this point he says, with the same pressive sounds which have been heard before; with flax, from which she twines or openness and candour which distinguishes all give a new look to an old sentiment; and is thread. She is joined in the he has written in these volumes, In ex- flourish in the faded flowers and the tarnished t not in the industry, by a joyous, tracting songs from some of our old ballads, I finery of verse."

leaged man, somewhat touched, it may have sought to preserve the story, and to ex- This is sterling criticism, and no soul tha: : he holds a candle in his hand, press it in the language of the age to which it ever felt the divinity of poetry will question Idaes with her round the floor, beating belonged: such has long been the practice in its truth; the vigour and beauty of the similies

And your neck shall be like the bonnie beaten gold,
And your wings of the silver-gray.

The cock proved false, and untrue he was,

For he crew an hour owre soon:

The lassie thought it day when she sent her love away,
And it was but a blink of the moon."

We should have liked to add a few remarks, but our limits forbid. We were not aware before, that Alexander Wilson, the extraordinary author on American Ornithology, was the writer of the clever, graphic, and lively ballad of "Watty and Meg.' This is stated in the brief biographical sketch of him which Mr.

To vary our page a little, we now copy one Cunningham gives, together with memoirs of the ghostly legends: