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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. xir. AUG. 29, 1003.

although it is possible, and even probable, thai some parts may be renderings of original fragments which he had acquired either from manuscrip" sources or recitation, no one who now studies tn< work as it has reached us can come to any other conclusion than that it was for the most part the manufacture of the so-called translator. There were other reasons why Celtic poetry was dis regarded. Georgian habits of thought were in direct antagonism to the imagination of simpler ages. It was considered unrefined and barbarous by those who highly appreciated the feeble imita tions of Pope which are now deservedly forgotten. It must be borne in mind also that 'hardly any Celtic texts were to be had in print, and those which were in any measure known were among the least interesting of the treasures which have come down to us. We owe a great debt of gratitude to the plodding industry of the scholars of Germany for having devoted themselves to Celtic studies. The texts which have been printed as yet arq, however, only a small part of those which the chances of war, pillage, and neglect have spared ; but, happily, sufficient has already been done to raise up a national school of specialists who are competent and willing to give us all that remains of Celtic thought, so far as that is possible in a foreign idiom, and we have no doubt that the paper before us, abounding as it does in quotations and Celtic enthusiasm, will turn the thoughts of not a few to a subject in which they have hitherto taken but languid interest. We cannot be surprised that even now there are a few persons, not wholly devoid of culture, who despise the whole range of Celtic literature, and especially the Irish branch; but we believe that for the most part these belated intelligences will be compelled to remain passive now that it has become as much a note of want of a cultured intelligence to treat with contempt the higher poetry of the Celts as it would be for dul- lards to profess to estimate the works of Opitx and Klopstock more highly than the ' Nibelungenlied ' because the latter seems to them only a ditty suited to barbarians. Translations of Irish poetry have lately appeared bv Miss Hull and Lady Gregory. We are not ourselves able to decide which should hold the higher rank. Miss Hull has been assisted by various scholars. The reviewer gives her work the preference, for though she at times, unhappily humours "popular tastes and susceptibilities," she but rarely errs in this respect ; while Lady Gregory has made many alterations in the narratives which cannot be regarded as improvements. The reviewer we are happy to say, points out and gives quota- tions in proof of what he says, that the lovo of nature was a strong feeling passion, we may perhaps be permitted to say among the Celts We trust that those who regard this sentiment as of modern growth will ponder over the evidence he produces. ' New Lights on the French Revolution ' is an important paper, but open to criticism. There are two ways of writing concerning history : the one in which moral judgments on the actors are given at every turn ; the other where facts only are recorded in such order as to permit them to speak for themselves. Much may be said for both these methods; we ourselves hold that a time like the French Revolution cannot be efficiently dealt with by the former method. Mr. Nisbet's 'Improve- ment of British Forestry 3 contains valuable su"- gestions. The growing of timber was a highly important national concern in former times but

steam navigation and iron ships have so seriously reduced the price of native -grown wood that now short-sighted landowners rarely care to in- vest their money in planting, except as cover for game or for the sake of ornament. This is much to be deplored ; but no efficient remedy for the evil has occurred to us. ' Siena ' is one of the most interesting cities in Europe. The writer unduly depreciates the Sienese and their art, but admires their lovely city. We wish he had been more sympathetic. ' Survival of Per- sonality' is a review of the late Mr. F. W. H. Myers's 'Human Personality' and Mr. F. Pod- more's 'Modern Spiritualism.' It is very carefully written, without a trace of that fanaticism which has so frequently disfigured the writings of those who have held strong opinions on these obscure sub- jects. The writer does not unduly obtrude any con- viction of his own. We trust, however, that what he says may stimulate others to study a class of sub- jects surrounded by enormous difficulties, but among which we may look for far-reaching discoveries.

Ox 11 August, at 51, Stile Hall Gardens, Chiswick, in her seventy-seventh year, died Mrs. Charlotte Gilson Boger, widow of Canon Boger, late vicar of Chart Sutton, Kent. Mrs. Boger was a frequent correspondent of ' N. & Q.,' her last communication appearing at 9 th S. iv. 98.

to Ctfrmjrawtottis.

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J. T. THORP (" ' The Lover's Opera,' circa 1730 "). -It is by William Rufus Chetwood, d. 1765 dra- matist, bookseller, and prompter to Drurv Lane rheatre 1722-40 the author of a ' General History of the Stage,' 1/49. It was given for its author's jenefit at Driiry Lane, 14 May, 1729, with Mrs.

ibber, Miss Raftor (Kitty Clive), Mrs. Thurmond, Harper, Griffin, c. It was seen again, but is a

i k would not bear revival. Printed,

17oO.

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