642
AN GAODHAL.
such, for instance, is the word marbh,
kill, which is articulated as if it were
spelled marabh; dearbh convince, comes
to the ear as if it were dearabh, and so
with many others. It is a prevailing error in man¬
y parts of Ireland, particularly in Connaught, to
make the future tense and conditional mood of such
verbs in eochadh, thus, — marbheochadh sé
and mharbheocad sé. instead of marbhfidh
sé and mharbhfadh sé. Another error pe¬
culiar to Connaught is to form the future in
eochadh of such verbs as labhair, tabhair
ghrádhuigh and several others to which an
adventitious consonant gives the appearance of
dissyllables, while in sound and reality they are
only monosyllables. Into this error the Rev. Can¬
on Bourke has fallen, for he conjugates
labhair as a verb of the second conju-
tion making its future in eochadh — a
termination in which it is not found in any of our
printed manuscripts. Dr. O'Donovan
makes this word laibheorad in the fu¬
ture and gives Keating as his authority. In page
83 of his grammar, Canon Bourke class¬
es tabhair among verbs of the second
conjugation, yet in page 95, he conjugates the same
word as a verb of the first conjugation
making it tabharfaidh sé in the future,
and thabharfadh sé, in the conditional.
With regard to Dr. Joyce's grammar, I cannot a¬
gree with you that it is misleading because it does
not treat exclusively on conjugations etc. It is, in
my opinion, wrong to call any work misleading
which contains no error. Dr. Joyce's grammar
is correct as far as it goes, and contains as much
as anyone might expect in a work which the tal¬
ented author gives to the public only as an element¬
ary treatise. I would say in conclusion, that those
interested in the preservation of the Irish language
owe Dr. Joyce a deep debt of gratitude for the
many valuable works he has added to the library
of Irish literature — particularly his grammar, for
until it was published none but those who had
money to spare could afford to buy one, so exorb¬
itant was the price charged for the few already in
circulation.
Yours very faithfully,
P, H. O'Donnell, O, S. A.
St. Thomas' College, Villanona, Deleware Co. Pa.
(If the authorities which Mr. O'Donnell quotes
be contradictory and misleading, who is the autho¬
rity on whom to rely? Mr. Joyce asserts that all
the inflections of the conditional mood should beg¬
in with "f," yet he declares that, "not without rea¬
son" a second conjugation is adopted. Again, Joyce
admit that parts of his inflections are not in ac¬
cordance with the spoken language. It is the
spoken language we want, and who should be the
criterions but its speakers? We do not confine
ourselves to ol and deun, we include all the verbs
of the third person sing of the conditional mood,
and we are supported in this position by the Irish
speakers of Louth, Cavan, Monoghan, Derry,
Leitrim, Roscommon, Galway, Clare, Cork and
Waterford, etc. Is this provincialism? — Ed.)
SOCIETY OF THE FRIENDLY SONS
OF ST PATRICK.
(Continued)
John Mitchell, a native of Ireland, was brought
up a merchant. He resided many years in France
as a merchant, was afterwards Consul of the Uni¬
ed States at St. Jago de Cuba, an admiralty sur¬
veyor of the port of Philadelphia He was a mem¬
ber of the First City Troop, a man of handsome
manners and various and extensive information.
Randall Mitchell, a native of Ireland, was a part¬
ner of his brother John Mitchell, mentioned above,
and a highly respectable man.
William Mitchell, was the first secretary and
treasurer of the society.
John Maxwell Nesbitt. This eminent merchant
and devoted patriot was a native of the North of
Ireland, who emigrated to America before the revo¬
lution. In 1777 he joined the First Troop of Phil¬
adelphia Cavalry. He conducted one of the most
extensive mercantile houses in Philadelphia, under
the firm of J. M. Nesbitt & Co., during the war,
and afterward under the name of Conyngham &
Nesbitt. He embarked his all in the cause of lib¬
erty, and with a devoted patriotism not exceeded
in history, fearlessly staked his life, his fortune
and, what he valued more than both, his sacred
honor, on the success of America His benefactions
to her cause had in them a simple greatness which
should make his memory dear to America in every
future age, as he was, while living, beloved and
trusted by all his compatriots. Mention will here¬
after be made of the formation of the Pennsylvania
Bank for the supply of the army of the United Sta¬
tes with provisions, to which J. M. Nesbitt subscri¬
bed £5000. But before that event Mr. Nesbitt had
already rendered most essential service to the army.
This is related in Hazzard's Reg. of Pa., vol. 6,
p. 28; "So great was the distress of the American
army in 1780 that General Washington was appre¬
hensive that they would not be able to keep the
field. The army, however, was saved by a com¬
bination of providential circumstances. General
Washington having written to Richard Peters Esq.,
giving him full information of the state of the army
that gentleman immediately called on J. M: Nes¬
bitt Esq, and explained the distress of the army
and the wishes of the general." Mr. Nesbitt repli¬
ed "that a Mr. Howe, of Trenton, had offered to
put up pork for him if he could be paid in hard
money. He contracted with Howe to put up all
the pork and beef he could possibly obtain, for
which he should be paid in gold." Mr. Howe per¬
formed his engagement, and J. M. Nesbitt & Co-,
paid him accordingly, Mr. Nesbitt told Mr. Peters
that he might have this beef and pork, and, in add¬
ition, a valuable prize just arrived to Bunner Mur¬
ray & Co., laden with provisions. "I need not tell
