We have thus given a general view of the literature of the Scottish Gael. It is not extensive, but it is full of interest. That the language was at one time subjected to cultivation cannot be doubted by any man acquainted with the literary history of the Celtic race. The MSS. which exist are enough to demonstrate the fact, of which no rational doubt can exist, that an immense number of such MSS. have perished. An old Gaelic MS. was once seen in the Hebrides cut down by a tailor to form measuring tapes for the persons of his customers. These MSS. treated of various subjects, Philology, theology, and science found a place among Celtic scholars, while poetry was largely cultivated. The order of bards ensured this, an order peculiar to the Celts. Johnson’s estimate of the extent of ancient Celtic culture was an entirely mistaken one, and shows how far prejudice may operate towards the perversion of truth, even in the case of great and good men. GAELIC LANGUAGE. Of the Gaelic language in which this literature exists, this is not the place to say much. To know it, it is necessary to study its grammars and dictionaries, and written works. With regard to the class of languages to which it belongs, many and various opinions were long held; but it has been settled latterly without room for dispute that it belongs to the Indo-European, or, as it is now called, the Aryan class. That it has relations to the Semitic languages cannot be denied, but these are no closer than those of many others of the same class. Its relation to both the Greek and the Latin, especially to the latter, is very close, many of the radical words in both languages being almost identical. Natural objects, for instance, and objects immediately under observation, have terms wonderfully similar to represent them. _Mons_, a mountain, appears in the Gaelic _Monadh_; _Amnis_, a river, appears in _Amhainn_; _Oceanus_, the ocean, in _Cuan_; _Muir_, the sea, in _Mare_; _Caballus_, a horse, in _Capull_; _Equus_, a horse, in _Each_; _Canis_, a dog, in _Cu_; _Sol_, the sun, in _Solus_, light; _Salus_, safety, in _Slainte_; _Rex_, a king, in _Righ_; _Vir_, a man, in _Fear_; _Tectum_, a roof, in _Tigh_; _Monile_, a necklace, in _Muineal_. This list might be largely extended, and serves to bring out to what an extent original terms in Gaelic and Latin correspond. The same is true of the Greek, but not to the same extent.