Page:Scotish Descriptive Poems - Leyden (1803).djvu/234

 and only Saviour, and our only knowledge, and our only messenger.

So be it.

This curious work, the itself, consists chiefly of a Gaelic version of Knox's Scotish liturgy, adapted in some circumstances to the peculiar manners of the Highlanders, as in the form of prayer intended to be used by the islanders at sea, which is quoted by Martin in his Description of the Western Isles, p. 127. It is inscribed to Archibald the 5th Earl of Argyle, Lord High Chancellor, and Lord Privy Seal of Scotland. From its extreme rarity, the work would deserve to be reprinted for the use of the curious, as exhibiting an authentic document of the state of the Gaelic language in Scotland about the middle of the 16th century. The editor flatters himself, however, that it will not be considered as averse to the object of this publication, to exhibit some of the most curious passages. The Address of Carswell to his Book is curious, as it exhibits a specimen of Gaelic versification, the numbers of which are the same that are employed in many of the Ossianic fragments. The Legitimate Apology, as he terms it, gives an account of the process observed in editing the first book published in the Gaelic language.