180
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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Fdt^T 1 ?^^ 0118 *?? ld be addressed Editor of 'Notes and Queries '" Adver- tisements and Business Letters to "The Pub-
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