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TRANSACTIONS 

OF   THE 

atk  ^ijxietg  of  ^ixkxiim. 


~r*^ 


VOLUME    I. 


6 


JMKr/-  XS>. 


r     ^ 


TRANSACTIONS 

OF   THE 

GAELIC  SOCIETY  OF  INVERNESS. 


VOL.  I.— YEAR  1871-72. 


4 +^ 

TRANSACTIONS 


W\xt  (^mlit  ^odctg 


INVERNESS. 


VOL.      I.  — YE^^R-      18'71-9'S 


Ollann  nan  (S.xitiljcil  ri  6uaillcan  a'  (ill)cxle. 


INVERNESS: 

PRINTED     FOR     THE     SOCIETY     BY 

WILLIAM    MACKAY,    14    HIGH    STREET. 

1872. 


CONTENTS. 


IntrcKluctioii  -  -     '       . 

Preliminary  Meeting  .... 

Incorporation  of  Society  .... 

Inaugural  Lecture,  by  tlie  Eev.  A.  D.  ]Mackeuzie 

Lament  for  Lord  Clyde,  by  Angus  Macdonald 

Local  Topograph}',  by  Alexander  Mackenzie  - 

The  Clan  System,  by  John  Murdoch 

The  Legends  of  Glen-Urquhart,  by  William  Mackay 

The  Forty-Five,  by  Charles  Mackay 

Survey  of  the  Celtic  Langxiages,  by  the  Rev.  William  R( 

The  Highland  Clearances,  by  John  Macdonald 

Notes  on  the  History  of  the  Gael,  by  Lachlan  Macbean 

The  First  Annual  Assembly 

Chairman's  Address  .... 

The  Highlanders  in  the  Crimea 

Rev.  Mr  Stewart's  Address 

Professor  Blackie's  Address 

Rev.  Mr  Macgregor's  Address 
Nationality,  by  Professor  Blackie 
List  of  Members  of  the  Society 
Donations  towards  the  Library 


Page 
ix 
1 
5 
5 
22 
23 
31 
43 
54 
56 
79 
85 
93 
94 
95 
96 
102 
106 
113 
121 
126 


ERRATA. 

Page    23, 

line  10- 

— For  eifeached, 

read  eifeachd. 

„       48, 

„     21 

„     pii'flieach. 

„     Dli'fheuch. 

„       52, 

„     13 

„     inneal, 

„     ainueal. 

„       56, 

„       8 

„      Comtunn, 

„      Chomnum. 

„     10 

„     Thi, 

„     Tha. 

r,  61, 

„     32 

,,     beanneachd. 

„     beannachd. 

„       96, 

„     25 

„     aeaui, 

„     acaui. 

„        ,, 

„     11 

„      son, 

„      's  an. 

r>            „ 

„     18 

„      eaoitlh, 

„     caoidh. 

52,  line  38— i^or 

Tri  cliend  deug  le'n  dian  armachd — 

Fu'  thugad  a  tha,  a 

chaillich  ! 

Read- 

-Tri  clievid  deng  le'n 

dian  armachd. 

'Us  lothunu  choia  aig  gach  feai' — - 

Fu-  tlingad  a  tha,  a 

chaillich  ! 

Cfjc  iaclit  ^odeti)  of  |iiknicss. 


OFFICE-BEAEEES   FOE  YEAE  1872. 
CHIEF. 

CLUNY  MACPHERSON  OF  CLUNY. 


CH  I  EFTAI  NS. 

THOMAS  MACKENZIE.  |  JOHN  MURDOCH. 

JOHN  MACKINTOSH,  M.A. 


HON.    SEC  RETARY 

W.  MACKINNON  BANNATYNE,  Royal  Academy. 


SECRETARY. 

WILLIAM  MACKAY,  67  Church  Street. 


TREASURER. 
JOHN  MACDONALD,  The  Exchange. 


BARD. 

ANGUS   MACDONALD. 


MEMBERS     OF     COUNCIL. 

CHARLES  MACKAY.  I  JAMES  ERASER. 

DUNCAN  MACIVER.  |  WILLIAM  MACKENZIE. 

LACHLAN  MACBEAN. 


BANKERS. 
THE  CALEDONIAN  BANKING  COMPANY. 


COMUNN     GAILIG     INBHIR-NIS. 


COIMH-DHEALBHADH. 

1.  'S  e  ainm  a'  Chomuinn  "  Comunn  Gailig  Ixbhir-Nis." 

2.  'S  e  tlia  an  run  a'  Cliomuinn: — Na  buill  a  dheanamli  iomlan 
s  a'  Gbailig;  ciiineas  canaine,  bardacM,  agus  ciiiil  na  Gaidhealtachd ; 
bardachd,  seanachas,  sgeiilaclid,  leabhraicliean  agus  sgrioblianna  's 
a'  chanain  sin]  a  thearnadb.  o  dbeai'mad ;  leabhar-lann  a  cbur  suas 
ann  am  baile  Inbbir-Nis  de  leabbraicbibb  agus  sgriobbannaibb — 
ami  an  canain  sam  bitb — a  bbuineas  do  cbaileacbd,  ionnsacbaidh, 
eacbraidbeacbd  agais  sbeanacbasaibb  nan  Gaidbeal  no  do  tliaii-bbe 
na  Gaidbealtacbd ;  coir  agiis  cliu  nan  Gaidbeal  a  dbion  ;  agus  na 
G^idbeil  a  sboirbbeacbadb  a  gbna  ge  b'e  ait  am  bi  iad. 

3.  'S  iad  a  bbitbeas  'nam  buill,  cuideacbd  a  tba  'gabbail  suim  do 
rimtaibb  a'  Cbomuinn,  agus  so  mar  gbeibb  iad  a  staigb : — tairgidb 
aon  bball  an  t-iarradaii",  daingnicbidb  ball  eile  an  tairgse,  agus,  aig 
an  atb  cboinneamb,  ma  rogbnaicbeas  a'  mbor-cbuid  le  cranncbur, 
nitbear  ball  dbitb-se  no  dbetb-san  cbo  luatb  's  a  pbaidbear  an  comh- 
tboift ;  cuii-ear  crainn  le  ponair  dbubb  agus  gbeal,  acb,  gu  so  bbi 
dligbeacb,  feumaidh  tri  buill  dbeug  an  crainn  a  cbur.  Feudaidh 
an  Comunn  urram  cbeannardan  a  tboirt  do  urrad  'us  seacbd  daoine 
cliiiiteacb. 

4.  Paidbidb  ball  urramacb, 'sa' bbliadbna .          .  £0  10     6 
Ball  cumanta  .          .          .          .          .          .          .  0  5     0 

Fogblainte 0  10 

Agus  ni  ball-beatba  aon  cbomb-tlioirt  de    .          .  7  7     0 

5.  'S  a'  Cbeud-mbios,  gacb  bliadbna,  rogbnaicbear,  le  crainn, 
Co-cbombairle  a  riagblas  gnotbuicbean  a'  Cbomuinn,  's  e  sin — aon 
Cbcann,  tri  lar-cbinn,  Cleireacb  Urramacb,  Ptunaire,  lonmbasaii-, 
agus  coig  buill  eile — feumaidb  iad  uile  Gailig  a  tbuigsinn  's  a 
bhruidbinn  ;  agus  ni  coigear  dbuibb  coinneamb. 


GAELIC     SOCIETY     OF     INVERNESS. 


CONSTITUTION. 

1.  The  Society  shall  be  called  the  "  Gaelic  Society  of  In- 
verness." 

2.  The  objects  of  the  Society  are  the  perfecting  of  the  Mem- 
bers in  the  use  of  the  Gaelic  language ;  the  cultivation  of  the 
language,  poetiy,  and  music  of  the  Scottish  Highlands  ;  the  re- 
scuing from  oblivion  of  Celtic  poetry,  traditions,  legends,  books, 
and  manuscripts  ;  the  establishing  in  Inverness  of  a  library  to 
consist  of  books  and  manuscripts,  in  whatever  langiiage,  bearing 
upon  the  genius,  the  literature,  the  history,  the  antiquities,  and 
the  material  inteiests  of  the  Highlands  and  Highland  people  ;  the 
vindication  of  the  rights  and  character  of  the  Gaelic  people  ;  and, 
generally,  the  furtherance  of  their  interests  -whether  at  home  or 
abroad. 

3.  The  Society  shall  consist  of  persons  who  take  a  lively  in- 
terest in  its  objects,  admission  to  be  as  follows: — The  candidate 
shall  be  proposed  by  one  member,  seconded  by  another,  balloted 
for  at  the  next  meeting,  and  if  he  or  she  have  a  majority  of  votes, 
and  have  paid  the  subscription,  be  declared  a  member.  The  ballot 
shall  be  taken  with  black  beans  and  white  ;  and  no  election  shall 
be  valid  unless  thirteen  members  vote.  The  Society  has  power  to 
elect  distingmshed  men  as  Honorary  Chieftains  to  the  number  of 
seven. 

4.  The  Annual  Subscri}ition  shall  be,  for — 
Honorary  Members ... 
Ordinaiy  Members  ...... 

Apprentices      ....... 

And  a  Life  Member  shall  make  one  payment  of 

5.  The  management  of  the^aflairs  of  the  Society  shall  be  en- 
trusted to  a  Council,  chosen  finnually,  by  ballot,  in  the  month  of 
January,  to  consist  of  a  Chief,  three  Chieftains,  an  Honoraiy 
Secretary,  a  Treasurer,  and  five  other  Members  of  the  Society, 
all  of  whom  shall  understand  and  speak  Gaelic ;  five  to  form  a 
quorum. 


£0 

10 

6 

0 

5 

0 

0 

1 

0 

7 

7 

0 

VI  COIMH-DHEALBHADH. 

6.  Cumar  coiuneamhan  a'  Cbomuinn  gach  seachduin  o  thoiseach 
an  Deicheaiuh-mios  gu  deireadh  Mhuirt,  agns  gach  ceithir-la-deug 
o  thoiseach  Ghibleiii  gu  deireadh  an  Naothamh-niios.  'S  i  a'  Ghiiilg 
a  labhairear  gach  oidhche  iiiu'n  seach  aig  a  chuid  a's  lugha. 

7.  Cuiridh  a'  Cho-chomhairle  hi  air  leth  anns  an  t-Seachdamh- 
mios  air-son  Coinneamh  Bhliadhnail  aig  an  cumar  Co-dheuchainn 
agus  air  an  toirear  duaisean  air-son  piobaireachd  'us  ciiiil  Ghaidh- 
eahich  eile ;  anns  an  f  heasgar  bithidh  co-dheuchainn  air  leughadh 
agus  aithris  Bardachd  agus  Rosg  nuadh  agus  taghta  ;  an  deigh  sin 
cumar  Cuiim  chuideachdail  aig  am  faigh  nithe  Gaidhealach  rogh- 
ainn  'san  uirghioll,  ach  gun  roinn  a  dhiiiltadh  dhaibh-san  nach  tiiig 
Gailig.  Givdainear  cosdas  na  co-dheuchainne  le  trusadh  soni-aichte 
a  dheanamh  agus  cuideachadh  iarraidh  o'n  t-sluagh. 

8.  Cha  deanar  atharrachadh  sam  bith  air  coimh-dhealbhadh  a' 
Chomiiinn  gun  aontachadh  dha-thrian  de  nam  bheil  de  luchd- 
bruidhinn  Gailig  air  a'  chlar-ainm.  Ma's  miann  atharrachadh  a 
dheauamh  a's  eiginn  sin  a  chur  an  ceill  do  gach  ball,  mios,  aig  a' 
chuid  a's  lugha,  roimh'n  choinneamh  a  dh'f  heudas  an  t-atharrachadh 
a  dheanamh.  Feudaidh  ball  nach  bi  'a  lathair  roghnachadh  le 
lamh-aithne. 

9.  Tashaidh  an  Comunn  Bard,  Plobaire,  asrus  Fear-leabhar-lann. 


Ullaichear  gach  paipear  agus  leughadh,  agus  giiilainear  gach 
deasboiz-eachd  le  run  fosgailte,  duineil,  diirachdach  air-son  na 
f  irinn,  agus  cuirear  gach  ni  air  aghaidh  ami  an  spiorad  caomh  glan, 
agus  a  reir  riaghailtean  dearbhta. 


CONSTITUTION.  VU 

6.  Tlie  Society  shall  hold  its  meetings  weekly  from  the  be- 
ginning of  October  to  the  end  of  March,  and  fortnightly  from  the 
beginning  of  April  to  the  end  of  September.  The  business  shall 
be  carried  on  in  Gaelic  on  every  alternate  night  at  least. 

7.  There  shall  be  an  Annual  Meeting  in  the  month  of  July, 
the  day  to  be  named  by  the  Connnittee  for  the  time  being,  when 
Competitions  for  Pi-izes  shall  take  place  in  Pipe  and  other  High- 
land Music.  In  the  evening  there  shall  be  Competitions  in  Read- 
ing and  Reciting  Gaelic  Poetry  and  Prose,  both  original  and  select. 
After  which  there  shall  be  a  Social  Meeting,  at  which  Gaelic  sub- 
jects shall  have  the  preference,  but  not  to  such  an  extent  as  entii-ely 
to  preckide  participation  by  persons  who  do  not  understand  Gaelic. 
The  expenses  of  the  competitions  shall  be  defrayed  out  of  a  special 
fund  to  which  the  general  public  shall  be  invited  to  subscribe. 

8.  It  is  a  fundamental  rule  of  the  Society  that  no  part  of  the 
constitution  shall  be  altered  without  the  assent  of  two-thirds  of  the 
Gaelic-si^eaking  Membei'S  on  the  roll  ;  but  if  an  alteration  be  re- 
quii'ed,  due  notice  of  the  same  must  be  given  to  each  member,  at 
least  one  month  before  the  meeting  takes  place  at  which  the  alter- 
ation is  proposed  to  be  made.  Absent  Members  may  vote  by 
mandates. 

9.  The  Society  shall  elect  a  Bard,  a  Piper,  and  a  Librarian. 


All  Papers  and  Lectiu-es  shall  be  prepared,  and  all  Discussions 
carried  on,  with  an  honest,  earnest,  and  manful  desire  for  truth ; 
and  all  proceedings  shall  be  conducted  in  a  pure  and  gentle  spirit, 
and  according  to  the  usually  recognised  nUes. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  Gaelic  Society  op  Inverness  may  be  accepted  as  more  or 
less  of  an  embodiment  of  the  sentiment  of  the  Highlands.  It  is 
one  of  the  results  of  a  feeling  that  Highland  interests  and  ideas 
have  not  had  adequate  expression  in  previously  existing  organisa- 
tions ;  and  it  is  intended  at  once  to  stimulate  and  to  give  vent,  in 
its  own  way,  to  that  public  spuit  which  is  awakening  in  the 
country.  There  was  an  idea  at  one  time  that  such  diversities  as 
manifest  themselves  in  the  Celt  and  the  Saxon  should  be  smoothed 
down  so  as  to  obliterate  the  distinction  between  the  races.  Wise 
men  now  think  that  variety  should  be  cherished  in  the  human 
as  well  as  in  other  species ;  and  that  this  variety,  even  in  one 
nation,  should  be  a  source  of  strength  and  not  of  weakness. 
With  regard  to  England,  the  theory  has  been  laid  down  that  her 
force  is  actually  due  to  the  marked  variety  of  races  with  which 
south  Britain  has  always  been  peopled.  In  Kent,  in  Cornwall, 
in  Norfolk,  in  Cumberland,  &c.,  it  has  been  said  that  there 
are,  and  that  there  have  been  from  time  immemorial,  and  inde- 
pendently even  of  the  Saxon  and  Norman  invasions,  distinct  types 
of  men ;  and  that  from  these  stocks  the  country  has  a  perennial 
supply  of  that  energy,  mental  and  physical,  which  flows  from  the 
fresh  admixture  of  superior  races.  Without  insisting  on  the  exact 
scientific  truth  of  this  theory,  it  has  the  value  of  teaching  the  one 
race  to  look  with  tolerance,  and  even  with  double  interest,  upon 
another,  and  it  ought  to  go  a  good  way  towards  extinguishing  that 
feeling  of  impatience  with  which  some  among  us  have  regarded 
the  occasional  outbursts  of  nationality  which  break  in  upon  the 
monotony  of  our  trading  existence.     And  this  theory  or  some 


otlier  influence  has  undoubtedly  done  so.  Every  spark  of  Scottish 
fervour  which  ventured  to  show  itself  above  our  humble  hearths 
was  wont  to  be  made  the  object  of  torrents  of  abuse,  the  Times 
being  the  fire-engine-in-chief  on  the  scene  of  conflagration.  If 
a  Highlander  or  a  Lowlander  lamenting  over  the  decadence  of 
the  clansmen  of  the  Noi'th,  or  at  the  vanishing  of  the  Gaelic 
langiiage,  had  been  the  premonition  of  some  terrible  revolution, 
the  Scotsman,  published  in  our  own  metropolis,  could  hardly 
have  been  more  perturbed;  and  between  the  indignation  and  the 
ridicule  thus  brought  to  play  upon  the  sentiments  of  our  people, 
it  is  no  wonder  that  some  of  them  shrank  from  declaring  and 
showing  that  either  Celtic  sentiment  or  patriotic  fervour  had  any 
existence  in  their  bosoms.  Within  the  last  two  or  three  weeks 
several  of  our  London  organs  of  opinion — the  Times  among  them — 
have  signified  in  no  equivocal  terms,  that  it  is  no  longer  a  crime 
or  an  offence  for  people  to  make  characteristic  displays  of  their 
nationality ;  that,  in  fact,  it  is  rather  pleasant  than  otherwise  to 
behold  such  displays ;  and  that  it  is  a  wholesome  sign  of  people 
to  let  it  be  distinctly  understood  that  they  go  in  for  maintaining 
that  type  of  humanity  which  happens  to  be  stamped  upon  them- 
selves. At  least,  if  the  Times,  Telegraph,  and  others,  did  not  say 
all  this,  this  and  a  great  deal  more  may  fairly  be  inferred  from 
their  admissions. 

There  may  be  other  and  less  philosophic  reasons  why  these 
amiable  things  should  now  be  said.  It  is  very  questionable  if  any 
philosophy  ever  had  anything  to  do  in  producing  the  feeling  with 
which  some  pro  Saxons  regarded  the  people  of  the  Highlands.  At 
the  time  when  that  feeling  found  the  most  philosophical — or  least 
absurd — expression,  Highland  people  were  in  the  way  of  certain 
powerful  parties  who  professed  to  be  great  national  economists. 
The  people  must  be  got  rid  of;  but  it  would  not  have  done  to  say 
openly  that  they  must  be  removed  so  that  the  greed  of  those 
so-called  economists  might  be  satisfied.  So  a  philosophy  was  in- 
vented, and  an  economic  scheme  laid  down — to  be  expounded  from 
week  to  week  in  such  columns  as  could  be  prostituted  to  such  pur- 
poses— under  which  the  greatest  economic  blunders  and  national 
crimes  might  be  committed,  no  one  making  the  perpetrators  afraid. 
But  now  these  deeds  stand  forth  in  the  light  of  day  as  crimes  and 


blunders  :  tlie  desolated  glens  should  now  be  yielding  more  beef 
and  mutton,  and  the  expatriated  people  should  be  extending  the 
dominion  of  the  plough  over  the  heather.  At  this  hour,  steam, 
at  enormous  cost,  is  employed  to  do  the  work  of  reclamation  which 
only  human  hands  can  do  satisfactorily,  and  which  human  beings 
would  have  given  many  years  of  their  lives  to  be  allowed  to  per- 
form at  the  time  the  behests  of  greed  were  being  enforced  against 
them.  The  peoi^le  which  at  that  time  were  cast  out  as  worthless 
are  now  wanted  to  develop  the  capabilities  of  our  glens  and  straths, 
and  the  lands  which  were  supposed  to  be  useless  are  now  beginning 
to  be  legai'deJ  as  susceptible  of  unlimited  fertility.  So  that,  in 
giving  ostensible  expression  to  the  sentiments  of  the  Highlands,  we 
cherish  no  antagonism  to  the  Lowlands,  but,  on  the  contrary,  we 
act  in  hai'mony  with  the  best  convictions  and  in  furtherance  of  the 
best  interests  of  the  South.  The  cherishing  of  the  sentiments, 
the  traditions,  and  the  characters  of  our  people,  will  do  much  to 
re-inspire  them  with  the  energy  and  the  confidence  necessary  to 
the  manful  discharge  of  the  duties  which  they  owe  to  the  rest  of 
the  nation  as  well  as  to  themselves. 

The  Gaelic  Society  is  further  intended  to  be  a  medium  through 
which  the  Highland  people  may  discharge  a  certain  class  of  duties 
which  they  owe  to  all  nations;  and  the  present  volume  of  Trans- 
actions, if  it  is  not  a  large  instalment  of  that  duty,  is  at  once  an 
indication  of  the  disposition  to  pay  in  full,  and  an  earnest  of  what 
remains  to  be  done.  The  Highlands  owe  it  to  the  world  of  letters 
and  philosophy,  that  whatever  the  Gaelic  language,  traditions, 
legends,  poetry,  sentiments  and  philosophy  contain  which  is  of 
value  should  be  preserved  by  those  who  know  them,  and  handed 
over  as  valuable  contributions  to  the  stock  of  materials  out  of 
which  human  learning  must  be  built  up.  Whether  the  Gaelic 
language  is  destined  to  die  or  not,  the  above  is  due  from 
Highlanders;  and  it  is  all  the  more  imperative  upon  them  if 
there  be  reason  to  fear  that  the  language  will  shortly  cease  to 
be  spoken.  The  more  it  is  felt  that  such  a  calamity  is  imminent, 
the  more  active  we  should  be  to  rescue  from  oblivion  whatever  is 
liable  to  jierish  along  with  the  language.  This  work  is  not  to  be 
disparaged  merely  because  Highland  vanity  is  liable  to  show  itself. 
It  would  be  a  very  churlish  thing  to  reject  a  man's  oiiered  ti-easure 


or  assistance  merely  because  it  pleased  himself  to  make  tlie  offer. 
The  offer  should  be  accepted  with  all  the  more  satisfaction  because 
it  left  behind,  as  well  as  brought  with  it,  a  feeling  of  pleasure,  and 
in  the  conviction  that  the  service  was  all  the  moi-e  likely  to  be 
genuine,  being  prompted  by  a  desii-e  for  credit,  as  well  as  by  a  dis- 
position to  oblige.  Besides,  that  must  be  a  positively  bad  element 
of  character  which  would  influence  one  to  reject  what  should  be  a 
gain  to  himself,  merely  because  his  acceptance  might  gratify  the 
giver. 

It  is  an  encouragement  to  know,  and  a  pleasure  to  record 
the  fact,  that  although  the  duty  referred  to  devolves  upon  High- 
landers in  general  and  upon  the  Gaelic  Society  in  particular,  the 
work  has  not  been  neglected.  Enough  has  been  done  to  prove 
that  we  possess  the  materials  referred  to  in  rich  abundance,  and 
also  that  these  materials  are  in  requisition.  For  a  record  of  what 
has  already  been  picked  up,  and  an  indication  of  what  may  yet  be 
gathered,  we  need  only  i-efer  to  Mr  Campbell  of  Islay's  "  Leabhar 
na  Feinne,"  just  out.  A  great  recommendation  of  "  Leabhar  na 
Feinne  "  is  that,  besides  containing  a  larga  qiiantity  of  ancient 
matter  never  before  published,  and  much  valuable  information  re- 
garding things  previously  in  print,  it  is  such  a  faithful  register  of 
the  books  which  have  already  been  published  in  the  same  line,  and 
of  the  manuscripts  which  have  passed  through  the  author's  hands 
in  the  course  of  his  researches.  This  book  is  valuable  as  exhibit- 
ing the  most  rigid  and  'critical  care  to  avoid  exaggeration  and 
straining  after  more  than  the  facts  sustain.  This  wUl  be  a  defect, 
no  doubt,  in  the  eyes  of  many ;  but  even  if  the  author  should  be 
found  to  have  carried  his  caution  so  far  as  to  shrink  from  con- 
clusions actually  sustained  by  his  own  facts  and  by  the  facts  ascer- 
tained by  others,  the  error  may  well  be  regarded  as  both  novel 
and  safe.  In  its  own  dejiartment  of  Celtic  literature,  "Leabhar  na 
Feinne  "  deserves  to  occupy  a  position  analogous  to  that  occupied 
by  the  late  lamented  Professor  O'Curry's  "  Mamiscript  Materials 
of  Irish  History,"  a  work  to  which  every  labourer  in  this  great 
field  is  glad  to  acknowledge  his  indebtedness,  as  placing  the 
key,  at  least,  to  the  most  valuable  literary  antiquities  of  Ireland 
in  his  hand,  and  saving  lives  of  labour  to  all  future  Celtic 
scholars.     Mr  Campbell  has  rendered  similar  service  to  those  who 


would  -work  in  the  field  of  Highland  literature,  and  incidentally  to 
the  votaries  of  Irish,  Scandinavian,  and  even  Indian  antiquities : 
for  thus  are  the  language  and  the  very  pastimes  of  the  humblest  of 
our  Highland  people  mixed  up  with  the  great  and  interesting  sub- 
jects of  philology,  ethnology,  history,  and  anthropology  generally, 
and  invested  with  an  importance  over  and  above  that  which  they 
possess  to  ourselves  as  being  our  own  and  something  of  a  key  and 
a  stimulus  to  the  minds  of  our  people.  The  publication  of  the 
Dean  of  Lismore's  Book  was  itself  an  epoch  in  Celtic  literature  ; 
and  every  one  at  all  versed  in  siich  matters  knows  that  Dr  Mac- 
lauchlan  and  Mr  Skene,  the  translator  and  the  editor  of  that  book, 
are,  like  Mr  Campbell,  institutions  in  themselves,  whose  claims  on 
the  world  of  letters  the  kindi-ed  institution  at  Inverness  will  deem 
it  an  honour  to  rival  even  in  a  small  degx'ee. 

Altliough  there  is  no  real  occasion  to  do  so  here,  beyond  that 
of  gratifying  ourselves  in  acknowledging  good  work  well  done,  we 
cannot  refrain  from  bringing  the  names  of  James  Macpherson  and 
a  former  Lord  of  Bute  before  our  readers,  for  the  immediate  pur- 
pose of  oiiering  many  hearty  thanks  for  the  munificence  of  the 
present  Marquis  of  Bute,  and  for  the  elegant  and  scholarly,  yet 
veiy  unostentatious,  service  rendered  by  the  Rev.  Dr  Clerk  of  Kil- 
malie,  in  bringing  out  the  recent  splendid  edition  of  what  are  still 
cherished  by  thousands  as  the  "  Poems  of  Ossian"— the  poems  of 
the  Highland  Ossian. 

Prom  want  of  a  more  suital  )le  place  in  which  to  mention  them 
w^e  introduce  here  two  facts  which  are  interesting  and  pleasing  in 
connection  with  the  apj^reciafcion  of  the  Ossianic  Poems,  for  which 
we  are  so  largely  indebted  to  Mr  Macpherson.  The  first  of  these 
is  that  Dr  White  of  Waterford,  himself  a  poet  and  a  composer,  as 
well  as  an  accomplished  scholar  and  popular  lecturer,  has  taken 
Comala  (Caomh-Mhala)  as  he  found  it  in  Macpherson,  and  ren- 
dered it  into  admirable  verse,  and,  with  lyrics,  airs,  and  pictorial 
illustrations,  fitted  it  for  representation  on  the  stage  as  a  genuine 
Celtic  opera,  which  he  calls  the  "  The  Irish  Princess."  In  ac- 
cordance with  the  idea  that  the  materials  of  Macpherson's  Ossian 
were  Irish,  Dr  White  says,  in  his  introduction,  that  he  only 
"  brought  home  the  Irish  Princess  from  her  wanderings  in  the 
Highlands."     No  one  will  relish  the  reply  better  than  Dr  White 


liimself — that  if  the  "Poems  of  Ossian,"  as  given  by  Macpherson, 
were  mere  fabrications  of  his  own,  some  one  may  appear  here- 
after on  a  Scottish  stage,  chiimiiig  that  he  has  brought  home 
the  "  Highland  Princess  from  her  wanderings  in  Innisfail."  The 
great  fact  lies  under  the  rivalry — that  this  pathetic  episode,  like 
many  others  in  the  same  category,  seizes  the  genuine  Celtic  mind, 
and  proves  itself  native,  whether  on  Irish  or  on  Scottish  soil. 
The  fact  which  follows  would  justify  the  addition  of  "  Italian 
soil  "  to  the  broad  platform  occupied  by  Ossian.  At  this  present 
time,  there  is  in  the  press  a  magnificent  tribute  to  the  Poems  of 
Ossian — twelve  graphic  and  spirited  engravings,  illustrative  of  as 
many  scenes,  and  displaying  the  physical  and  mental  characteristics 
of  the  leading  heroes  and  heroines  in  Ossian,  accompanied  by  de- 
scriptive letterpress.  The  author  is  an  Italian  artist  resident  in 
London.  Signer  Priolo  expresses  his  surprise  that  the  rich  mine 
which  he  has  discovered  in  Ossian  had  not  been  previously  worked, 
and  intimates  that  there  is  not  a  page  which  does  not  offer  most 
attractive  subjects  for  pictorial  illustration.  These  are  the  poems 
which  our  humble  peasantry  had  the  inborn  taste  to  appreciate. 
Such  taste,  we  opine,  is  well  worthy  of  being  cared  for  and  culti- 
vated, even  though  found  under  a  roof  of  heather ;  and  the  men 
who  preferred  such  compositions,  even  to  heartless  treatises  on  a 
false  economy,  are  themselves  worthy  of  being  cherished  and  firmly 
established  in  their  native  land. 

Of  the  papers  which  follow,  it  is  proper  to  say  that  they  are 
not  all  that  were  read  before  the  Society.  Some  were  withheld 
from  motives  of  modesty — the  writers  not  venturing  to  appear 
in  print.  Some  were  actually  lost,  and  they  not  the  least  de- 
serving of  being  preserved  in  type ;  whilst  others,  of  very  great 
interest,  which  we  might  have  given  in  this  volume,  are  held  over 
for  our  next. 

Of  the  volume  as  a  whole,  it  may  be  said  to  owe  its  origin  in 
some  measure  to  a  strong  feeling  which  exists,  that  Highland 
ideas  have  not  hitlierto  had  adequate  ex^Dression  in  the  press. 
The  idea  of  a  Highland  newspaper  is  still,  we  believe,  entertained 
by  many  outside  this  Society.  The  proposal  to  start  a  Gaelic 
magazine  was  before  the  Society,  but  while  this  matter  was  under 
the  consideration  of  a  committee,  "  The  Gael  "  returned  from  his 


wanderings  iu  Canada  and  took  up  his  abode  in  Glasgow.  It  was 
felt  then  that  it  was  but  fair  and  courteous  to  give  Mr  Nicolson 
every  chance  of  reaj^ing  abundantly  in  the  field  on  which  he  had 
the  penetration  and  the  vigour  to  enter  whilst  we  were  looking 
about  us.  But,  although  another  magazine  might  for  a  time  be  a 
rival,  the  issue  of  an  occasional  volume  of  our  Transactions  was 
an  absolute  necessity  in  itself;  and  with  "The  Gael"  it  would  be 
a  helpful  fellow-worker,  coming  slowly  in  the  rear.  And  finally, 
it  was  thought  that  a  volume  such  as  this  is  would  be  a  suitable 
acknowledgment,  on  the  jiart  of  the  resident  members,  of  their 
obligation  to  those  ladies  and  gentlemen  at  a  distance  who  gave 
expression  to  their  patriotism  and  good  taste  in  becoming  members 
of  the  Society. 


TIIANSACTIONS 


TJie  I'esult  of  muiicious  piivate  conversations,  and  some  public  cor- 
i-espondence,  on  the  subject  of  a  Gaelic  Society  in  Inverness,  was 
that  a  meeting  of  gentlemen  favourable  to  the  proposal  was  held 
on  the  evening  of  the  4th  of  September  1871,  in  one  of  the  halls  of 
the  Association  Buildings,  Inverness.  There  were  present  al^out 
thirty-tive  gentlemen,  among  whom  were  Mr  Thomas  Mackenzie, 
ex-Rector  of  the  High  School ;  Mr  Alex.  Dallas,  Town-Clerk  ;  Mr 
John  Murdoch,  of  the  Inland  Revenue  Department;  Mr  John 
Mackintosh,  M.A.,  Rector  of  the  Old  Academy;  Mr  Alexander 
Mackenzie,  Clachnacuddin  House;  Mr  John  Macdonald,  The  Ex- 
change; Mr  Charles  Mackay,  Drummond;  Mr  William  Mackenzie 
and  Mr  Donald  Macleod,  Raining's  School ;  Mr  Angixs  Macdonald, 
Queen  Street;  Mr  Donald  Cami)bell,  Bridge  Street ;  Mr  Duncan 
Mackintosh,  Bank  of  Scotland ;  Mr  Robert  Macdonald,  Gaelic 
Teacher ;  Mr  Barron,  Courier  Office ;  Mr  Charles  Mackintosh, 
Commission- Agent ;  and  Mr  William  Mackay,  Writer. 

Mr  Thomas  Mackenzie  was  moved  to  the  chair,  and  Mr  William 
Mackay,  who  had  issued  circulai-s  calling  the  meeting,  was  chosen 
interim  Secretaiy. 

Mr  John  ]Mui-doch  moved  that  a  Gaelic  Society  be  estal)lishe<;l 
ill  Imerness.  In  so  moving,  he  stated  that  he  had,  himself,  often 
felt  ])oth  surpiised  and  ashamed  that  until  this  hour  the  Highland 
cajiital  should  be  without  such  an  institution.  He  held  that,  from 
a  I'egai'd  even  for  those  outside  the  Highlands,  whether  Celts  or 
Saxons,  there  should  be  in  Inverness  an  organisation  of  men  to 
whom  philologists,  ai'cha^ologists,  ethnologists,  and  the  like,  could 
at  any  time  ii\^Y>\y  for  any  kind  of  information  bearing  upon  the 
language,  traditions,  poetry,  and  legendaiy  loi'e  of  the  Highlands. 
In  the  second  phwjc,  assuming,  as  soiiie  hope  and  as  othei'S  fear, 
that  the  Gaelic  language  is  destined  to  die  out,  thei-e  should  be  a 


Z  TRANSACTIONS. 

special  effort  made  to  rescue  from  destruction  and  oblivion  all  that 
is  valuable  in  the  lore  now  afloat  in  the  Highlands.  That  there 
ai-e  vast  stores  of  valuable  matter  thus  in  danger  of  being  lost  for 
ever,  most  intelligent  Highlandei'S  know ;  and  clearly  Invei'iiess  is 
the  centre  into  which  these  stores  should  be  gathei-ed.  It  is  of 
great  importance  to  philology  in  particiilar  that  such  an  institution 
should  be  established,  and  such  a  work  of  collecting  should  be 
begun,  whilst  there  are  large  nvimbers  living  whose  vernacular  the 
Gaelic  is.  He,  for  example,  had  always  foiuid  that  the  best  etymo- 
logy of  a  piizzling  name  was  that  obtained  from  a  totally  imlettei-ed 
native  peasant — one  who  did  not  know  a  word  of  English,  and  very 
often  one  who  did  not  know  that  he  was  giving  an  etymology  at 
all.  The  simple  unsophisticated  Highland  prontmciation  of  the 
word  very  often  preserved  the  germ  of  every  part  of  the  compound, 
and  thus  carried  its  own  meaning  to  the  Gaelic  ear.  Next  to  this, 
and  sometimes  even  before  this,  was  the  etymology  furnished  to 
the  Gaelic-speaking  observer  by  the  object,  or  the  scene  itself. 
Once  ti'ayelling  in  the  south  of  Ii-eland,  the  speaker  was  greatly 
amused  at  the  flights  of  invention  to  which  persons  who  disregard 
this  very  natui-al  fact  sometimes  have  recourse.  Appi'oaching  the 
left  bank  of  the  river  Lee,  his  companion  i-emarked  that  they  were 
just  coming  to  Carrigi-ohan  Castle,  "  so  called  aftei-  the  French  De 
Rohans."  "  Why,"  said  the  speaker,  "  the  place  tells  its  own  story. 
It  is  the  rock  ovei-hanging  the  river,  '  carraig  air  o'ain,' just  as  plainly 
as  Cai'rig  on  Shannon,  or  Cai'rig  on  Suir."  Balaam's  ass  did  not 
sp(jak  more  plainly  than  do  thousands  of  places ;  but,  from  not 
knowing  the  language  of  the  country,  our  learned  men  are  both 
deaf  and  blind  to  what  otherwise  might  be  so  clear  to  them.  In 
the  third  place,  we  should  have  books  and  MSS.  bearing  upon 
everything  connected  with  the  language,  history,  and  economics  of 
the  Highlands  and  Highland  peojde,  so  that  when  any  one  at  a 
distance  wanted  to  know  anything  of  ourselves  or  oiir  country, 
ancient  or  modern,  he  might,  Avith  a  certainty  of  lieing  supplied, 
turn  towards  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness  for  information.  And 
he.  had  no  doubt  that  a  veiy  great  quantity  of  such  valual)les  could 
in;  had  in  a  short  time.  There  were  hampers  of  valuable  papers 
lying  in  different  })ai-ts  of  the  country  with  scarcely  an  owner,  and 
wiiiist  we  had  no  Celtic  Library  in  the  Highland  capital,  valuable 
books  and  MSS.  pei'taining  to  oui-  language  were  ti'casui'ed  in  Ii-c- 
land,  in  England,  in  France,  in  Italy  ("  Yes,"  said  the  chiiirman, 
"  in  S])ain.")  Anothei-  thing  which  pained  the  speaker  was  the 
slipshod  Gacjlic  often  spoken  in  the  streets  of  Inverness,  eveiy  thii-d 
or  fourth  word  English.  Now  he  held  that  oui-  object  (with  such 
an  institution  as  they  were  tluit  night  foinidini>-),  should  be  to  com- 
l>are  the  diti'erLnt  local  dialects  of  Gaelic,  and  with  the  assistance 


afforded  ))y  o\iv  ancient  MSS.,  ei-oct  aaul  polisli  oil'  what  lie  would 
call  a  classic  Gaelic  s]ieech.  This  was  no  mi-re  fancy ;  there  were 
evidences  that  such  a  speech  was  at  one  time  recognised  in  the 
Highlands,  and  the  actual  fonaatiou  of  such  a  speech  in  Ireland 
ruany  centiuies  back  was  a  simple  fact  in  history.  Then  there  was 
the  less  ambitious,  l)ut  e\-en  more  obvious  object,  of  meiid)ers  per- 
fecting themselves  in  the  rich  and  elegant  language  of  their  fore- 
fathei-s.  Whilst  he  woidd  not  be  satisfied  with  this  society  being 
merely  a  Gaelic  chiss,  he  \\'oidd  have  a  Gaelic  class  to  fonn  one  of 
its  most  vital  constituents.  He  would  not  enlarge  further  on  the 
subject,  desiring  rather  to  hear  the  views  of  others,  and  he  had  no 
doubt  many  thei'e  had  valuaV)le  siiggestions  to  offer. 

Mr  Alexander  Mackenzie  seconded  the  motion,  remarking  on 
the  anomaly  that  when  any  one  wanted  to  know  anything  con- 
nected with  Gaelic  literati;re  or  tradition,  he  must  apply,  not  to  a 
body  of  learned  and  patriotic  men  in  the  Capital  of  the  Highlands, 
but  to  a  Gaelic,  or  a  Celtic,  or  a  Highland  Society  in  London  or 
New  York  !  This  disgraceful  state  of  things  must  be  at  once 
changed.  At  the  same  time  he  would  recommend  that  the  Inver- 
ness Gaelic  Society  sliould  be  connected  ■\^dth  similar  societies 
elsewhere,  not  only  for  literaiy  antl  scientific  purposes,  but  for  the 
purpose  of  rendeiing  assistance  to  yoiuig  Highlanders  seeking  their 
fortunes  in  other  lands.  The  Society  should  look  after  the  interests 
of  young  men  coming  from  the  remote  Highlands  to  Inverness; 
and  when  they  left  Inverness  for  more  distant  fields  of  entei-prise, 
it  should  gi^-e  them  such  dii-ections  and  introductions  as  would 
facilitate  their  advancement  in  the  lands  of  their  ado}ition.  The 
fact  of  then-  l)eing  members  of  the  Inverness  Society  woidd  be  a 
passport  to  Gaelic  Societies  elsewhere.  He  thought  that  there 
were  many  gentlemen  of  position  in  the  Higldands  and  elsewhere 
who  would  feel  it  an  honour  to  be  members  ami  patrons  of  the 
Society.  There  was  one  gentleman  in  particular,  an  enthusiastic 
Highlander,  whom  he  should  expect  to  see  a  member,  and  whom 
he  should  suggest  for  patron.  He  referred  to  Cluny  Macpherson. 
Then  as  to  the  name  of  the  Society,  he  would  hold  by  the  simple 
"  Gaelic  Society  of  Invei-ness ;"  then  people  would  know  what  was 
meant.  But  if  you  called  it  the  "  Celtic  Society,"  or  the  "  Club  of 
True  Highlandei-s,"  or  any  other  of  these  fai-fetched  names,  he 
questioned  very  much  if  it  would  not  be  as  great  a  failure  as  some 
of  the  merely  convivial  associations  which  had  done  so  little  to 
better  the  minds  or  lx)dies  of  their  compatriots.  Whilst  some  of 
these  were  drinking  toddy,  the  Gaelic  Society  of  London  was 
lalx)uring  to  raise  its  race  and  lang-uage  from  insignificance,  and 
had  already,  he  might  say,  succeeded  in  establishing  the  long  de- 
siderated Gaelic  Pi'ofessorship  in   the  Univer.sity  of  Ediid^m-gh. 


4  TRANSACTIONS. 

He  had  great  pleasure  in  seconding  the  resohition  that  a  Gaelic 
Society  be  estaljlished  in  Inverness. 

Mr  Alexander  Dallas,  Town-Clerk,  had  gi-eat  itleasnre  in  sup- 
porting the  resolution,  not,  however,  that  he  agreed  with  the 
sentinients  exjjressed  on  a  recent  occasion  by  Cluny  JMacphei-son, 
who  had  just  been  proposed  with  such  deserved  compliments  as 
patron  of  the  Society.  Cluny  said  that  he  would  have  all  the 
children  taught  to  read  and  wi-ite  Gaelic  in  the  schools.  Now, 
whilst  he  held  the  distinguished  Chief  in  as  high  estunation  as  any 
one  in  that  meeting,  he  most  decidedly  differed  with  him  in  that 
particidar.  What  v.'oidd  be  the  use  of  it  ?  It  would  in  no  way 
promote  theii-  prosperity  in  the  world ;  no  business  was  done  in 
Gaelic  beyond  a  few  transactions,  perhaps,  at  the  Muii*  of  Ord. 
And  who  ever  heard  of  accounts  kept  or  rendered  in  Gaelic  1  As 
to  the  name  of  the  Society,  he  was  favourable  to  the  more  general 
term  "  Celtic,"  otherwise  it  might  be  supposed  that  it  had  no 
interest  in  anything  beyond  the  mere  maintenance  of  the  language 
of  the  Highlanders.  Holding  by  this  name,  whilst  allowing  the 
language  to  die,  we  might  so  lal.)Our  as  to  render  essential  service 
to  philology  and  archaeology  generally,  by  contriljuting  our  Gaelic 
share  to  the  common  stock  of  Celtic  lore. 

Mr  Robei-t  Macdonald  was  called  upon  by  the  Chau-man  to 
give  his  views  as  an  experienced  teacher  of  Gaelic.  Mr  Macdonald 
did  so  by  stating  that  he  saw  no  difficulty  in  doing  Ijusiness  in 
Gaelic,  and  he  had  often  seen  accounts  made  out  in  Gaelic  And 
as  to  teaching  the  language,  he  was  engaged  at  present  in  teaching 
Gaelic  to  a  yoimg  gentleman  who,  he  had  no  doxibt,  woiUd  ere  long 
be  a  distinguished  member  of  the  Society — he  referred  to  The 
Mackintosh  of  MackintosL 

Mr  Donald  Campbell  said  he  coiUd  not  refrain  from  stating, 
in  opposition  to  what  Mr  Dallas  had  said,  that  foi'  his  pait  he 
would  have  a  great  difficiilty,  indeed,  ui  getting  rid  of  his  mother 
tongue,  and  he  had  no  desire  to  do  so.  On  the  contraiy,  he  held 
that  so  rich,  copious,  and  expressive  a  langiiage  shoidd  be  preserved 
for  its  own  sake,  and  not  merely  for  the  sake  of  the  poetry  or 
tradition  which  might  be  extant  in  it. 

The  Chaiimau  briefly  re\dewed  what  had  been  brought  before 
the  meetmg,  adding  that  there  was  nothing  pecidiarly  English  in 
the  keeping  of  accoimts,  that  the  very  elements  of  our  symlwls 
were  as  much  Gaelic  as  Englisli,  and  gave  ofi-hand  a  formula  of  a 
Gaelic  account.  He  hoped  that  something  would  be  done  to  save 
his  ears  from  the  jabber  of  mongrel  Gaelic  which  wius  becommg  a 
scandal  to  Inverness.  There  was,  no  doubt,  reason  to  feai-  that  the 
Gaelic  woidd  die  out  as  a  six)ken  tongiie,  biit  that  would  not  be  for 
a  generation  or  two,  and  the  nearer  the  catastrophe  the  more  lu-gent 


THANSAC  TlOXri.  :i 

the  duty  of  doing  wliut  was  coutc-iuplatfd  iti  cstalilisliiug  a  (laclic 
Society  in  Invenicss. 

The  resolution  was  carried  with  acclamation. 

After  a  good  deal  of  conversational  discussion  on  such  matters 
as  the  name  of  the  Society,  the  suhsciijjtion, -corresponding  and 
honoraiy  members,  the  libraiy,  &c.,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
draw  up  a  constitution  and  rules  to  be  submitted  for  the  approval 
of  another  meeting. 

On  the  21st  of  Se^jtemljer  tlie  Committee  appointed  for  the 
purpose — and  w^hich  consisted  of  Mr  Dallas,  Mr  Murdocli,  Mr  John 
Mackintosh,  Mr  Charles  Mackintosh,  Mr  John  Macdonald,  Mr 
Angus  Macdonald,  Mr  Alexander  IMackenzie,  Mr  Campbell,  and 
Mr  William  Mackay — submitted  a  draft  constitution.  After  due; 
consideration  and  some  modillcation,  the  constitution,  piintetl  on 
another  page,  was  adopted. 

On  the  28th  a  formal  incorporation  took  place,  in  which  those 
gentlemen  who  had  so  fai-  taken  })ai't  in  the  jiroceedings  were 
enrolled  as  memlici's.  A  Society  of  twenty -four  members  was  thi;s 
constituted. 

On  the  5th  October  a  Provisional  Connnittee  of  Management 
was  appointed,  and  matters  connected  with  the  working  of  the 
Society  wei-e  discussed  and  cleared  up.  At  the  same  meeting  a 
sub-committee  was  appointed  to  I'evise  the  form  and  t«rn.  of  the 
constitution,  without  any  change  in  the  substance. 

October  12. — The  chief  business  transacted — making  airange- 
ments  for  the  Inaugural  Lecture  by  the  Rev.  Mr  Mackenzie  of 
Kilmoi-ack.  On  the  same  occasion  Mr  Angus  Macdonald  was  ap- 
pointed Bard  to  the  Society. 


INAUGURAL   LECTURE. 

The  Inaugural  lecture  was  delivered  on  the  evening  of  19th 
Octoljer,  by  the  Rev.  A.  D.  Mackenzie  of  the  Fi-ce  Chui-ch, 
Kilmorack,  under  the  jiresidency  of  Sir  Kenneth  S.  Mackenzie  of 
Gairloch,  Bart.,  who,  in  the  most  handsome  mannei-,  set  aside 
sevei'al  engagements  to  take  the  chair.  Sir  Kenneth  was  sup- 
poitcd  by  J.  F.  Cam})})ell,  Esq.  of  Islay  ;  Duncan  Davidson,  Esq.  of 
Tidlochj  Hugh  Mathcson,  Esq.,  London;  Professor  White  of 
Waterfoi'd,  Ireland ;  the  Revs.  A.  Macgregor,  G.  Mackay,  D. 
Sutherland,  P.  Robertson ;  Bailie  Simpson;  Jos.  Robertson,  Esq., 


b  TRANSAC'TIOXS. 

Northern  Comities  Fire  Office;  Thomas  Mackeuzi(>,  Esc j.,  Broad- 
stone ;  A.  Dalhis,  Esq.,  Town-Clerk,  (tc. 

The  large  hall  of  the  Association  Buildings,  in  which  the  meet- 
ing was  held,  was  tastefiUly  decorated  with  a  royal  stag's  head 
lent  by  Mr  Snowie ;  drapery  of  Clan  tai-tans  from  Clachnacnddin 
House  ;  and  bunches  of  deers'  gi-ass  from  the  Monadhliath.  There 
was  a  lai-ge  and  respectable  audience,  and  every  proof  was  afforded 
of  the  interest  which  was  felt  in  the  proceedings. 

Sir  Kenneth  Mackenzie  coiigi'atulated  the  meeting  on  the  foi'm- 
ation  of  the  Gaelic  Society,  and  referred  to  its  objects — -the  perfect- 
ing of  the  members  in  the  use  of  the  Gaelic  language,  the  establish- 
ment of  a  library,  the  preservation  of  Gaelic  manuscripts  and 
literature,  &c.  He  thought  their  programme  set  out  very  fiilly 
what  the  objects  of  such  a  society  should  be,  and  of  all  places  in  the 
world  Invei-ness  was  the  most  suitable  for  the  establishment  of  a 
Gaelic  libi-aiy,  and  the  collection  of  works  bearing  on  Celtic  litei'a- 
ture.  There  was  no  other  town  in  Great  Britain  where,  from  a 
convenient  distance,  any  considerable  number  of  educated  peoi)le 
who  understood  the  Gaelic  language  could  be  got  together.  Now 
that  there  was  some  chance  of  a  Gaelic  chair  being  established  in 
the  University  of  Edinbiu'gh,  it  was  very  desirable  that,  in  the 
country,  people  should  have  an  opportunity  of  2)reparing  themselves 
for  the  Univei-sity  class.  Perhaps  one  of  the  first  results  of  the 
formation  of  the  Society  would  be  to  excite  an  interest  among  the 
members  in  that  legendai'y  loi-e  which  exists  among  the  Gaelic 
si>eaking  poiwlation  of  the  islands  and  the  remote  districts  of  the 
mainland.  Old  tales  and  ballads  were  disappearing  before  the 
spi'ead  of  the  English  language,  and  the  changes  in  popular  customs 
which  could  not  fail  to  accompany  an  advancing  civilisation.  A 
certain  class  of  these  legends  was  widespread,  bemg  common  to  the 
whole  of  Scotland  and  to  Ireland  ;  and  though  their  historical  value 
might  be  questionable,  still,  Ijcing  of  great  antiquity,  they  were  of 
much  interest  and  value  as  giving  an  insight  into  the  sentiments 
a,nd  feelings  of  the  eai-ly  people.  Another  class  was  moi'e  local, 
affecting  pai'ticular  districts  and  families  ;  liut  even  these,  if 
thoi'oughly  sifted,  might  be  of  value  to  the  histoiian,  as  casting  a 
light  upon  ancient  mannei-s  and  customs.  No  doubt  the  Society 
would  endeavour  to  rescue  those  old  relics  from  oljlivion.  And  a])art 
from  such  objects  altogether,  he  thought  that  even  people  of  un- 
imaginative and  realistic  mind,  for  whom  pictui-es  of  the  past  had 
no  attraction,  would  find  it  to  their  advantage  to  be  connected  with 
such  a  Society,  at  least  as  long  as  Gaelic  was  a  spoken  language. 
Gaelic  was  no  doubt  a  decaying  language,  and  the  time  must  come 
when  it  would  cease  to  be  genei'ally  spoken.  He  did  not  know  how 
.soon  or  how  late  this  might  be ;  its  existence  might  be  counted  by 


TRAXSACTIOXS.  7 

decades  or  by  centuries,  but  certainly  Gac^lic  as  a  li^•ing  tongue 
would  disai)pear.  Still  before  it  went — while  it  was  going — the 
ser^'ices  of  (raelic  speaking  jtastors  and  teachers  woidd  be  reqiiii-ed ; 
and  it  was  rather  an  nnfoitnnate  thriig  in  these  cii-ciun stances  that 
the  Gaelic  language  was  gradually  being  lost  hold  of  l)y  the  more 
cducateel  classes.  The  Society  might,  therefore;,  do  some  good  in  a 
inatei-ial  point  of  view — not  by  stopi)ing  the  advance  of  English, 
])ut  l)y  trying  to  get  the  educated  classes  to  study  Gaelic  a  little  more 
than  they  had  been  doing,  and  not  to  forget  the  language  of  their 
ancestoi-s  altogether.  He  wuuld  not  detain  the  meeting,  because 
tliey  had  come  to  hear  a  lecture  on  a  veiy  intei-esting  subject — 
"  The  Position  of  Gaelic  and  its  Value  to  the  Lingiiist," — and  he 
was  sure  ]Mr  Mackenzie  would  ti-ent  it  in  a  veiy  inteiesting  way. 

]Mr  ^Mackenzie,  who  on  rising  was  received  with  applause,  said  : 
— When  the  gentlemen  interested  in  the  formation  of  the  Gaelic 
Society  of  Inverness  asked  me  about  a  foi'tnight  ago  to  do  them 
tlie  honour  f)f  deli^'ei-ing  the  inaugural  lecture,  jtermit  me  to 
say,  in  the  outset,  that  1  considei-ed  the  honour  as  done  to  me. 
Till  ic  ;ii('  fiw  tilings  indeed  wliich  I  shoidd  considei-  more  compli- 
mentary than  to  bi-  selected  to  advocate  the  claims  of  a  language 
which  1  have  long  lo\ed  and  admired — a  language  endeared  to  me 
by  the  associations  of  youth,  home,  and  kindivd — a  language,  more- 
o\er,  in  ivgaid  to  which  I  have  long  entertained  a  stroJig  and,  I 
trust,  intelligent  conviction  that  it  has  never  recei^•ed  from  scholars 
a  tithe  of  the  consideration  to  which  it  is  fairly  entitled. 

Having  agreed,  wisely  or  luiwisely,  to  occupy  my  pi'esent  })Osi- 
tion,  the  question  was,  how  to  render  my  lecture  ser^'iceable  to  the 
interests  of  the  Society,  and,  at  the  same  time,  not  uninteresting  to 
a  general  audience.  I  can  only  say  that  it  has  been  my  sincei-e 
endeavoiir,  with  the  scanty  time  and  a})pliances  at  my  dis])Osal,  to 
unite  these  objects.  How  far  I  may  have  succeeded  it  is  for  you 
to  judge. 

One  of  the  most  formidable  difficulties  which  I  anticipate  for 
the  Society,  at  least  in  the  outset,  is  the  Cui  hoiw  ?  "  What's  the 
use  T  will  be  heard  on  e^"ery  side,  "  the  language  Ls  dying  out,  and 
the  sooner  the  better,  for  it  fuiius  a  grie\-ou.s  obstacle  to  the  ad- 
vancement of  our  Highland  people.  Besides,  all  that  you  may  do 
can  a\ail  you  little  in  retanling  its  decay,  or  preventing  its  ulti- 
mate extinction."  Well,  it  must  be  admitted  that  there  is  as 
much  tiuth  in  this  as  to  make  it  plausible  for  the  ends  for  which 
it  is  advanced.  It  is  one  of  the  plainest  lessons  of  past  history, 
that  two  ^■ernacular  languages  ha^•c  Jiever  kept  their  gi-ound  side 
by  side  in  any  country.  One  or  other  has  invai-ial)ly  gone  doAvn, 
and  it  needs  no  soothsaver  to  detcimine  in  the  case  befoi-e  us  which 


iS  TRANSACTIONS. 

of  tlie  two  must  give  way.  In  sad  and  sober  truth,  the  process  is 
going  on  before  out-  eyes,  and  however  much  some  of  us  may  de- 
jjlore  it,  we  cannot  shut  our  eyes  to  the  fact,  that  the  workl  will 
not  be  many  centuries  older  when  the  last  speaker  of  Gaelic  shall 
be  as  great  a  curiosity  as  was  the  last  Coi^nish-speaking  woman  in 
the  jiast  centuiy. 

Now,  liave  we  not  admitted  with  sufficient  fulness  all  that  can 
be  said  on  tliat  side  tlie  question'?  Have  we  not  put  the  case 
against  ourselves  as  strongly  and  broadly  as  the  most  pi-ejudiced 
Saxon  or  Teuton  could  desire  1  Yes  we  have,  and  we  can  afford 
to  do  it,  and  still  make  good  our  })lca.  And  now  for  our  reply,  or 
rather  for  the  heads  of  it,  for  we  caimot  dwell  much  longer  on  pre- 
liminaries. First  of  all,  we  deny  that  a  knowledge  of  Gaelic  is 
any  obstacle  in  the  way  of  a  man's  advancement,  but  quite  the  re- 
verse provided  he  has  English  along  with  it.  It  has  been  one  of 
my  mottoes  in  dealing  with  my  people — "  Get  English  by  all 
means,  and  the  more  the  better,  biit  don't  forget  youi*  Gaelic."  I 
remember  an  old  woman  wlio  used  to  bo  a  hanger-on  in  our  kitchen. 
Slie  had  a  strong,  dislike  to  Englisli,  and  it  was  truly  amusing  to 
hear  her  rating  the  children,  for  speaking  English  at  all — "  Shoe 
shoe  nasty  shoe,  no  shoe  ach  brog."       Ilei'e  was  the  other  extreme. 

We  might  apjjeal  to  the  present  rights  of  our  language  as  that 
which  is  best  understood  and  most  loved  by  about  half  a  million  of 
our  countrymen,  and  the  only  language  of  by  fai'  the  greater  niim- 
bcr  of  these: — its  rights  to  be  understood  l)y  ministers,  doctors, 
lawyers,  shei'ilTs,  and  all  such  public  functionaries.  This  was  put 
very  forcibly  by  Dv  Black ie,  a  week  or  two  ago,  in  his  lectiire  in 
Oban.  It  is  plain  and  palpable  to  any  one  of  common  sense.  Wo 
might  appeal  to  the  acknowledged  excellences  of  the  language  itself 
— its  homogeneousness,  in  which  it  seems  to  ine  unrivalled,  building 
up  its  vocables  from  its  own  monosyllabic  roots;  its  descriptiveuess ; 
its  antique  and  picturesque  phraseology,  which  points  with  sufficient 
plainness  to  a  tropical  climate  as  its  early  home ;  its  stores  of 
choicest  poetry,  which  in  the  desciiption  of  nature  can  hai'dly  bo 
excelled;  and,  finally,  its  inestimaljle  value  as  the  only  exponent  of 
the  topograi)hy  of  a  larger  area  of  the  world's  surface  than  any 
other  language  of  the  eai-th  ever  occupied.  In  a  word,  such  is  my 
opinion  of  its  value  and  of  its  future  benefits  on  this  score  alone, 
that  I  would  regard  it  as  a  calamity  graver  and  wider  than  I  need 
at  present  care  to  express  were  our  old  mother  to  i)ass  into  ol)livion 
befoi'e  we  have  exti'auted  fi-om  her  bosom  all  that  she  can  now 
furiiish  for  its  illucidation. 

J.  But  it  is  time  that  we  should  state  some  of  those  histoi-iral 
gfouiids  on  which  we  rest  the  claims  of  our  language  to  so  high  an 
autiijuity. 


TRANSACTIONS.  'J 

1.  Let.  iiu'  remark  for  the  benefit  of  thosi-  wlio  may  luivc  paid 
little  attentiou  to  etliiiological  questions,  that  as  far  back  as  history 
guides  us  we  fiud  the  Celts  occupying  an  important  jjlace  iu  the 
commiuiity  of  nations.  Greek  and  Roman  wilters  call  them  by 
three  naiiies,  Celtae  or  Keltae,  Galatae,  and  Galli  or  Galloi.  From 
Herodotus,  usually  styled  the  father  of  history,  born  B.C.  484, 
downward,  they  are  often  referred  to,  and  the  very  terms  in  which 
they  are  referred  to  can  only  be  explained  on  the  SHi)position  that 
even  then  they  were  being  dis^jhujed  from  the  wide  areas  formerly 
occujtied,  by  successive  races  from  the  east,  that  hotbed  of  humanity. 
You  tind  in  Strabo,  who  ^vl•ote  about  the  first  years  of  the  Christian 
era,  Celts  simply,  Celtiberians,  Celto-Ligiirians,  Celto-Sc}'thians, 
Gallo-Grecians.  Indeed,  to  modern  ethnologists  of  a  certain  stamj), 
who  are  determined  to  o\"er-ride  all  history  to  maintain  their  own 
i)et  theories,  these  references  are  a  sore  puzzle.  Dr  Latham,  fox' 
instance,  is  terribly  worried  with  Celts  •  they  crop  up  about  liis 
hands  here  and  there,  and  the  way  he  takes  to  get  lid  of  them  is 
somewhat  amusmg.  "Ah,  you're  here,  Mr  Celt,  are  you;  yes,  it 
can't  be  denied;  but  let  me  tell  you,  sii-,  you  are  an  intruder."  Just 
so,  Dr  Latham;  and  what  if  we  can  prove  that  yoiu"  pet  Il)erians, 
Ligurians,  and  Scj'thians  are  themselves  the  intrudei-s,  and  that 
your  poor  abused  Celts  have  had  earlier  possession  in  all  these 
areas.  That  the  Celtic  nations  are  one  of  the  earliest  biunches 
of  the  gi-eat  Aiyan  or  Indo-Eu.ropean  family  of  nations  is  now 
generally  admitted  by  those  who  are  competent  to  foi'm  an  opinion. 

2.  But  not  only  have  we  e^'idence  of  their  existence  at  the  veiy 
dawn  of  hiiman  history ;  but  we  have  reason  to  conclude  that  they 
existed  as  two  great  branches  as  early  at  least  as  the  days  of  Julius 
Caesar.  All  the  test  vocables  which  as  yet  are  available  seem  to 
indicate  that  the  Celts  consisted  of  two  gi-eat  branches,  speaking 
then  as  now  distinct  languages.  You  will  find  this  well  brought 
out  in  a  work  of  very  considerable  research  and  ability,  "  On  the 
Origin  of  the  Gael,"  published  in  1814,  by  a  gentleman  of  this 
coxmty,  Mr  Grant  of  Corrymony.  And  yet  the  names  applied  to 
each,  Gael  and  Gall,  theii-  langaiages  Gaelic  and  Gaulic,  together 
wdtli  theii"  adjectives  Guelta  and  Gallda,  though  as  different  in  sense 
as  Jew  and  Gentle,  or  as  Greek  and  Barbarian,  are  so  similar  in 
sound  that  it  is  more  than  probable  that  both  have  sometimes  been 
embraced  by  ancient  writers  under  the  common  term  Celts,  and 
sometimes  mistaken  the  one  for  the  other. 

3.  And  now  let  me  remark  that  we  ha^■e  those  two  races 
within  our  own  domuiions.  With  the  more  ancient  we  are  in 
some  respects  pretty  weU  accpiaintcd,  for  they  are  om'sclves ;  with 

IJ 


10 


TRANSACTIONS. 


the  more  modern  we  ouglit  to  be  better  acquainted.  In  order  to 
avoid  cii-cumlocution,  and  also  to  avoid  tlie  error  of  regarding  them 
as  if  always  confined  to  their  present  circumscribed  limits,  I  have 
been  accustomed  to  speak  of  them  as  the  primeval  and  secondaiy, 
or  let  me  rather  speak  of  them  as  old  Celts  and  latei-  Celts.  The 
former  ai-e  now  represented  by  the  Highlanders  of  Scotland,  -the 
Irish,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  Isle  of  Man;  the  latter  by  the 
Kymric,  the  Cornish,  and  the  Bas  Breton  or  Armoric. 

11.  And  now,  turning  to  the  evidence  of  language,  let  us 
endeavour  to  indicate  very  cursorily,  (1)  How  the  languages  of 
these  two  races  stand  toward  each  other;  and  (2)  How  they  stand 
towards  Latin  and  Greek.  Taking  Gaelic  and  Kynuic  as  a  repre- 
sentative of  each  of  the  i-aces,  we  find  a  large  proportion  of  words 
and  phrases  common  to  both,  and  yet  with  so  marked  a  diiFerence 
between  them  as  languages,  that  the  speaker  of  the  one  is  quite 
unintelligible  to  the  speaker  of  the  other.  Take  a  sample  of  the 
agreement  in  vocables.  The  word  Ass — Gaelic,  Asal ;  Welsh, 
Assyn.  Cock — G.  Coileach;  W.  Ceiliog.  Cow — G.  Bo  or  Bea- 
thach ;  W.  Bwch.  Ravino— G.  Beallach  ;  W.  Bwlch.  Rabbii^- 
G.  Coinean;  W.  Coningen.  Man — G.  Duine;  W.  Dyn.  Black 
— G.  Dubh;  W.  Du.  Lamb— G.  Uan ;  W.  Oen.  Goat^G. 
Gabhar;  W.  Gafr.  Hand— G.  Lamh ;  W.  Llhau.  Floor— G. 
Lar ;  W.  Llhaur.  Grey— G.  Liath  ;  W.  Llwyd.  Pig— G.  Muc  ; 
W.  Moch.  Bull— G.  Tarbh;  W.  Tarw.  Fire- G.  Teine;  W.  Tan. 
House — G.  Tigh;  W.  Ty.  I  submit  a  sample  of  agreement  in 
phrases: — Gander — G.  Coileach  Geoidh;  W.  Ceoliog  Gwydd. 
Dead  Body — G.  Corp  marbh ;  W.  Corp  marw.  Red  hand— G. 
Lamh  ruadh;  "VV.  Llhau  rudd.  Big  mountain — G.  Monadh  moi-; 
W.  Mynydd  mawr.  Big  ship — G.  Long  mhor ;  W.  Llong  fawr. 
But  while  instances  of  such  agreement  might  be  multi])lied  inde- 
finitely, there  are  a  large  numbei-  of  words  which  exliibit  a  funda- 
mental diiference.  Such  as — Eye — Gaelic,  Irish,  and  Manx,  Suil ; 
W.  Llygad;  Cornish,  Lagaz;  Armoric,  Lagat.  Sheep — G.  I.  and 
M.,  Caora;  W.  Dafad;  C.  Davad;  Ar.  Danvat.  Bone— G.  I.  and 
M.,  Cnamh ;  W.  Asgarn ;  C.  Asgorn  ;  Ar.  Asgorn.  Flesh — G.  I. 
and  M.,  Feoil;  W.  Cig;  C.  Cig;  Ar.  Cig.  Water— G.  I.  and  M. 
Uisg;  W.  Duvr;  C.  Dour;  Ar.  Dur.  I  by  no  means  maintain 
that  the  three  Ijranches  of  the  old  Celtic  and  the  three  branches  of 
the  later  hold  always  together  so  closely ;  what  I  woidd  have  you 
keep  in  view  is  that  the  gi-eat  saltus  is  found  between  them  as  races. 
Betv/(;en  Gaelic,  Irish,  and  Manx  there  is  but  a  difference  of  dialect, 
and  between  Welsh,  Cornish,  and  Armoric  there  is  but  a  difference 
of  dialect;  but  between  any  one  of  the  former  and  any  one  of  the 
latter  there   is  such  a  difierence  as  to    constitute    thou    distinct 


Ti;  AX?  Arxioxs.  11 

Inngiiagcs.  Tlicn  the  article,  wliiuh  occiipiea  a  very  iiu}>oi-tant, 
place  in  all  the  Celtic  languages,  is  so  difterent  among  the  diixlects 
of  the  old  from  the  article  of  the  latei-,  that,  given  a  few  sentences 
of  eithei',  one  could  l)e  at  no  loss  to  which  class  to  assign  them. 
You  can  see  the  bearing  of  this  upon  the  qimstio  vexata — who  were 
tlic  Picts?  This  question  must  now  be  regarded  as  confined  to  the 
simple  inqixiry,  were  they  of  the  old  or  of  the  later  race  1  As  for 
a  liybrid  between  the  two,  I  have  yet  to  learn  that  such  has  ever 
existed.  You  might  as  well  maintain  that  a  sentence  could  be 
foimd  l)earing  such  a  reseniblance  to  both  that  you  could  not  say 
whether  it  was  Greek  or  Latin.  If,  therefore,  we  can  discover  a 
sentence  or  two  which  can  be  ceiiiified  as  Pictish,  the  question  then 
and  there  will  be  at  rest  for  ever.  For  my  part,  I  have  no  doubt 
wliatever  that  they  formed  an  earlier  innuigration  of  the  old  race. 
And  if  it  be  true  that  St  Columba  could  converse  with  the  Picts, 
a.s  stated  by  Adamuan  in  his  life,  and  only  needed  an  inteqireter 
when  ho  preached,  this  of  itself  would  decide  the  question. 

That  we  may  see  the  position  of  our  Claelic,  and  how  little  it 
has  been  modified  by  the  lapse  of  a  thousand  years,  let  me  submit 
to  you  some  specimens  of  the  Gaelic  of  the  "  Book  of  Deer."  I 
need  only  say  of  the  book  itself  that  it  belonged  to  the  ecclesiiistics 
of  the  Abbey  of  Deer  in  Aberdeen,  foimded,  as  one  of  the  GsveJic 
entries  states,  by  St  Columba  personally.  It  consists  of  a  copy  of 
the  Gospel  of  John  and  pai't  of  Luke.  But  siich  was  the  scarcity 
of  pai-chment  in  those  days,  that  the  practical  ecclesiastics  tm-ned 
their  New  Testament  into  a  cartulary,  and  recorded  on  the  margin 
gifts  of  land  made  to  the  Al)l)ey  by  neighlx)uring  landowners.  It 
was  found  in  the  Cambiidge  University  Library,  and  it  has  been 
edited  by  Dr  J-ohn  Stuart  of  Edinburgh,  author  of  the  "  Sculptiu-ed 
Stones  of  Sc-otland."  It  is  interesting,  as  proving  beyond  doubt 
that  Gaelic  was  the  langiiage  of  the  Buchan  district  in  the  ninth 
century,  for  it  Ls  assigned  with  considerable  confidence  to  this 
period,  and  shows,  moreover,  how  little  change  has  passed  over  the 
language  since.  I  shall  re;xd  the  entry  referring  to  the  founding  of 
the  Abbey : — 

"  ColumcUle  agus  di'ostan  mac  Cosrig  adalta  tangatur  ahi  mai- 
raolsig  dia  doibh  gonic  abbor  doboii-,  agus  bede  Ci-uithne,  iX)bo 
mormaer  laichan  aiuginn,  acusesse  rathaidaig  doib  ingathi-aig  sain 
insaere  go  braith  o  moriuaer  acns  o  tkoseg  tangatur  asaathle  sin  en 
Cathraig  ele  agus  doi-athan  ri  ColumcLlle  si  air  falhxn  do  i-ath  de 
cus  dor  odioeg  aran  mormaer  bede  gonda  tobrad  da  acus  nithorad, 
agnis  i-ogab  mac  da  galar  iar  nere  na  gleric  acus  rolx)  marab  act 
mad  beg  iar  sin  do  chaid  in  mor:  datt:K)  na  glerig  gon  dendaes 
ej-uaide  leis  iumac  iron  disad  slante  do  acus  dorat  inadbaii't  doib  ua 


12  TRAXSACTTOXS. 

cloic  iiitiprat  gonic  C'lilac  pette  mic  garnait,  doransot  iimernaedc 
agus  tanic  Slante  do.  Jarsen  dovat,  Coluiii  cille  do  drostran  incLa- 
draig  sen  agus  ros  benact  acus  faracaib  imbrether  ge  be  tosad  ris  na 
bod  bliena  biiadhac,  tangator  deara  drostan  arscatlirin  fri  CoUun- 
cille,  ralabair  Colum  Cille  bidear  ardm  ohunu  imacc." 

Collumcille  and  Drostan,  son  of  Cosraig,  liis  pupil,  came  from  I 
(lona),  as  God  had  sliewn  them  unto  AbbordoboLr ;  and  Bede  the 
Pict  was  Mormaer  of  Buchan  before  then;  and  it  was  he  who  gave 
them  that  towia  bx  freedom  for  ever,  from  Mormaer  and  Toiseacli. 
They  came  after  that  to  the  other  tow2i,  and  it  was  pleasing  to 
CollumcUle,  because  it  was  full  of  God's  giuce,  and  he  asked  of  the 
Mormaer,  to  wit  Bede,  that  he  would  give  it  to  him,  &c. 

There  are  other  extracts,  but  to  them  I  must  not  refer  at  pre- 
sent, further  than  to  remark  that  we  tind  in  them  such  names  as 
Domhnull,  Ruadri,  Mormaer  of  Mar,  Maolpeter  nae  DhomhnuU, 
Gellecallum,  son  of  Domhnull,  Maolbrigte  mac  Cothull ;  and,  but 
for  other  names  with  which  we  are  not  so  familiar,  you  could 
fanoj  yourself  among  the  Highlanders  of  the  j»resent  day  in  Argyle 
or  Mull. 

Now,  let  us  apply  this  test  to  English.  Chaucer  wi'ote  his 
Canterbury  tales  abovit  1390,  or  about  five  centimes  later,  and  yet 
we  know  that  to  tlie  ordinary  English  reader  they  are  in  a  great 
meastire  unintelligible. 

And  yet  with  a  degi'ee  of  fixedness  in  its  forms,  extending 
throughout  lengthened  peiiods,  which  perhaps  no  other  language 
Can  exhibit,  it  can  be  shown  that  Gaelic  has  vmdergone  very  con- 
siderable changes.  By  comparison  with  the  other  members  of  the 
Aryian  family,  and  even  with  the  later  Celtic,  which  has  in  some 
instances  preserved  the  more  ancient  forms,  we  can  demonstnite 
Buch  changes  as  the  following : — 1,  The  passing  away  of  initial 
consonants,  especially  in  woi-ds  which  begin  with  two ;  2,  the  pass- 
ing away  of  initial  b  and  ji ;  and,  3,  the  substitution  in  the  middle 
and  end  of  Vv'ords  of  the  aspu-ate  form  of  consonant,  instead  of  the 
natural. 

Let  us  now  look  somewhat  more  closely  at  the  connection  be- 
tween Gaelic  and  Kymric. 

1,  The  fii-st  peculiarity  that  strikes  a  Gaelic  ear  on  hearmg 
Welsh  is  the  prevalence  of  the  sound  fh,  and  that  in  its  two  modifi- 
cations of  ill  in  the  English  this,  that,  and  th  in  the  English  throvgh, 
think  For  instance,  we  say  monadh,  originally  monad — moor  or 
mountain ;  the  Welshman  says  mynijdd  (nuuiuth) ;  and  for  our 
plui-al  monaidhan  (moniyun),  he  says  mynyddooedd  (munuthoeth). 
V/e  say  lamh  ruadh  (laV  rua) — red  hand ;  while  they  say  llaw  rudd 


TTi.WSACTIOXS.  1:1 

(liilaii  intli).  Tlicn,  owing  to  the  dilliciilty  wliic^li  some  have  in 
proiKniiiciiig  our  a.s]nnite  d  and  (j,  wliicli  is  a  deep  guttui-al  sound, 
we  ourselves  substitute  for  it  b  aspiiute  or  v.  And  lience  arise 
three  forms  of  the  old  niide,  retained  in  'Rohiw-niide  and  riiiteach 
— the  Latin  Ruheo,  Rnlesco,  Eufiis ;  while  akin  to  the  Welsh 
Hmld  (ruth),  yon  have  the  Greek  erexithes,  ereutheis,  as  also  enithros 
and  ei-uthrod.  But  not  to  flitter  away  our  time  too  much  with 
instances,  let  me  recall  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  sound 
th  is  unknown  in  Gaelic,  while  prevalent  in  Welsh — that  it 
is  imknown  in  Latin,  while  very  prevalent  in  Greek.  Let  me 
i-emark  also  that  it  is  unknown  in  German,  though  prevalent 
in  English. 

2,  The  next  distinguishing  feature  which  claims  our  attention 
is  the  passing  away  of  initial  s  in  Gaelic,  to  be  replaced  by  h  in 
Welsh  and  its  cognate  dialects.  The  student  of  Latin  and  Greek 
cannot  fiiU  to  notice  the  prevalence  of  the  same  distinction  in  these 
languages,  e.g.  Semi  hemi,  Sex  hex,  Septein  hepta,  Serpo  herpcl,  super 
huper ;  and  what  is  very  remarkable  when  we  consider  the  distance 
of  their  present  areas,  the  same  distinction  is  found  between  Sanscrit 
and  Zend.  As  to  this  widespread  distinction,  I  shall  (1)  indicate 
the  exi)lanation  which  Gaelic  furnishes,  and  which,  so  fir  as  I 
know,  no  other  language  does ;  and  (2)  afterwards  notice  some 
further  instances. 

Every  one  that  knows  anything  of  Gaelic  knows  this,  that 
every  consonant  has  not  only  a  broad  and  slender,  but  a  natural 
and  aspirate  form.  This  we  have  two  t^'s — b  aspirate  written  hh, 
and  m  aspirate  written  wh.  We  have  also  two  A's — t  aspirate 
written  th,  and  s  aspirate  written  sh.  In  Irish  oi'thography,  I  am 
l)o\ind  to  say,  this  aspiration  is  more  neatly  managed  by  simply 
placing  a  dot  over  the  aspirated  consonant,  thus  b=v,  m^v,  t=h, 
s  =h.  Now,  let  it  be  observed  that  the  passing  of  initial  consonants 
from  the  natural  to  the  aspirate  form  is  so  frequent  in  Gaelic,  and 
under  such  a  variety  of  conditions,  that  more  than  the  whole  time  of 
this  lecture  woiild  be  needed  to  discuss  this  subject  alone.  I  shall, 
however,  indicate  in  passing  a  few  of  those  conditions,  taking  for 
my  illustration  the  consonant  in  question  (s).     We  say — 

1,  Duine  Sanntach,  Bean  Shamitacli  (haxmtach), 
a  covetous  man.  a  covetous  woman. 

2,  Eudach  an  duine  Shanntaich,         Eudach  na  mna  Sanntaiche, 
clothes  of  the  covetous  man.        clothes  of  the  covetoiis  woman. 

3,  A  dhuine  shanntaich  (haunticli),     A  bliean  slianntaich  (hauntich), 

G  covetous  man.  O  covetous  woman. 


14  TKAXSAf'TIONR. 

4,  Mo,  do,  a,  sluiunt  (iiuiuit),  Ur,  bliiu',  an,  a,  Haunt, 
My,  thy,  liis,  covetousncss.       Our,  yt)iu-,  tlicir,  her,  covetousness. 

5,  Shauntaich — lie  coveted.  Sauntaichidli — will  covet. 

Witli  this  ti-ausitiou  of  consonants  from  their  natural  to  their 
as})irate  foi-ms  (though  very  pei-plexing  to  strangers)  the  s})eaker 
of  Gaelic  is  quite  familiar,  for  it  is  a  jiart  of  the  inflexion  of  his 
language.  Not  only  does  the  initial  s,  in  such  cases  as  the  above, 
pass  into  sh-h.,  but  eveiy  other  consonant  is  modified  less  or  more. 
Yet  somehow  the  speaker  of  the  later  Celtic,  though  to  some  extent 
practising  himself  cori-esponding  changes,  seems  to  have  had  a 
strong  objection  to  an  initial  s,  and  to  have  substituted  its  aspii'ated 
form,  not  only  where  we  should  do  the  same  ourselves,  but  where 
the  rules  of  oiu-  language  demand  the  consonant  in  its  natural  form. 
Let  us  now  illustrate  this  by  some  instances  : — 

Salach  (Lat.  salax),   Shalach  ;  W.  Halog — Dii'ty,  nasty. 

Sannt,  Shannt;  W.  Chwant — Covetousness. 

Seabhag,  Sheabhag;  W.  He]x)g — Hawk. 

Sealg,  Shealg;  W.  Hela — Hunting. 

Sealgair,  Shealgair;  W.  Heliwr — Himtsman. 

Sean,  Shean ;  W.  Hen— Old. 

Seanair,  Sheanair^  W,  Hen  wr — Grandfather. 

Let  us  now  specify  a  few  vocables  which  obtain,  not  only  in 
Gaelic  and  Welsh,  l)ut  in  Latin  and  Greek,  that  we  may  see  how 
they  follow  each  other,  as  i)airs — the  Latin  holding  by  Gaelic,  and 
the  Greek  by  the  Welsh  : — 

.Sal;  Lat.      —  W.Hal;        Gr.  Hals    .  .Saltwater. 

8aluinn ;  ,,      Sal ;  ,,    Halen ;     ,,  Hals    .  .   Salt. 

Saillt;  „      Salsus;  ,,    Hallt;       „  Halizo  .  verb.  Salt. 

Samhuil ;  „      Similis ;  „    Haval ;      „  Homilos  .   Like. 

Seileach;  „     Salix ;  „    Healig;     „  Helika  .  Willow. 

Sol  (old)  ;  „      Sol ;  „    Haul ;.       „  Helios  .   Sun. 

Seath ;  ,,      Sex;  „    Chevoch;  ,,  Hex     .  .   Six. 

Shiagh ;  ,,        —  „    Llwyth ;    „  Laos    .  .   People. 

Suaimhneas  Somnus ;  „    Heppian;  „  Hu^mos  .   Sleep, 

These  affinities,  some  of  tliem  to  be  foimd  in  Llhuyd's  Archseo- 
iogia,  and  others  discovered  by  myself,  are  but  a  sample  of  a  large 
number  equally  striking.  I  have  shown  you  how  our  ancient 
Gaelic  solves  the  ])rol)lem.  If  any  other  language  can  furnish  a 
better  solution  1  for  one  will  be  ready  to  accept  it;  but  until  I 
iind  a  bettei-  I  must  hold  by  the  one  I  have. 


TUANSACTIONS. 


15 


3.  I  proceed  to  notice  uiiother  promuieut  feature  in  the  ro- 
hitions  of  Gaelic  and  Kyniric,  and  whicli  equally  holds  in  the  re- 
lations of  Latin  and  Greek — the  substitution  of  b  and  p  by  the 
Briton  and  Grecian  for  the  c  and  ch  of  the  Gael  and  Roman.  In 
Gaelic,  aa  many  of  you  know,  we  ask  questions  with  words  tliat 
begin  with  c,  e.g.  co,  who ;  ciod,  what ;  cuiii,  when.  In  like 
manner  the  Romans,  quis  or  (jui,  qua?,  quod  oi'  quid,  quando, 
quare.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Welshman,  with  his  congeners  the 
Celt  of  Brittany  and  Cornwall,  prefer  to  ask  their  questions  with 
words  which  begin  with  b  and  p — as,  for  instance,  pwy,  who ;  pa, 
what;  pa  bath,  what  thing;  pa  un,  which;  pan,  when.  Now,  we 
turn  to  the  Greek,  and  we  find  the  same  adhei-ence  to  the  forms 
of  the  later  Celtic — Pe,  what  way ;  pou,  what  place  ;  pos,  how  ; 
pos-oa,-e,-on,  how  great.  And  if  you  will  follow  me  atten- 
tively while  I  read  the  following  table,  you  camiot  fail  to  see 
that  this  preference  of  labials  on  the  part  of  the  K\nimc  and 
Greek  to  the  palatals  of  the  Gael  and  Roman  extends  widely 
throughout  their  respective  languages.  You  will  find  the  Latin 
also,  in  one  or  two  instances,  turning  her  back,  with  culpable 
ingi-atitude,  ujx)n  hei'  old  mother,  and  following  the  fashion  of  her 
Greek  cousin  : — 


Gaelic. 

Latin. 

Welsh. 

Car,  Caraid, 

Par, 

Par, 

Cas, 

Pes  and  pat 

iSUS 



Caithii-, 

Quatuor, 

Pedwar, 

Coc  (vei 

•b) 

Coquo, 

Fob, 

Cochul, 

Cucidlus, 

Cochul, 

Coi'cui-, 

Piu-pur, 

Por})hyi 

Cuig, 

Quinque, 

Pumj), 

Eaeh, 

Equus, 

Fi 

•.  Eboul, 

Feasgar, 

Vesper, 

Gosper, 

Greek. 


Pons 


Pil.to, 

Peplos, 

Poi'pura, 

Rente, 

Pemptos 

Ippos, 

Hesperos 


English. 
Pair. 

Foot,  })ace. 
Four. 
Cook. 

Veil  or  cowl. 
Purple. 

Five  &  fifth. 

Hoi-se. 

Eveiiin<r. 


4.  Of  this  class  of  relations  I  shall  mention  but  one  other. 
Those  who  are  accustomed  to  trace  the  various  foi-ms  which  the 
same  words  assume  in  difierent  languages,  may  have  wondered 
why  the  Spaniard  should  say  Espirito  for  spirit  and  Escuela  for 
school,  and  the  Frenchman  Esprit  and  Ecole.  The  key  is  found 
in  the  relations  between  the  Gaelic  and  Kymric.  E.  Llluiyd 
noticed  upwards  of  a  century  ago  that  Gaelic  words  which  begin 
with  sc,  sg,  sp,  and  st,  assume  in  the  later  Celtic  an  initial  y  befoi'e 
the  s.  Now,  this  is  manifestly  the  initial  e  of  the  Spanish  and 
French,  and  the  initial  i  of  the  Greek  ;  and  it  is  not  a  little  in- 
teresting to  trace  snth  forms  as  storaidh,  historia,  Spain,  Hispania, 


16 


TKANSACTIOXS 


Up   through   iill    the   ages   (luring   which   they  have  so   stood,  until 
we  liiid  the  key  in  the  liund  of  our  okl  Celtic  mother  : — 


Gaelic. 

Latin. 

Welsh. 

Sgia.th, 

Scutum, 

Yysgyd, 

Eng. 

Escutcheon — Shield. 

Sgiath-urra! 

'  Armiger, 

— 

Esquii-e  1  Shield- 
Squii-e    J  bearer. 

SgoH, 

Schohv 

Ysgol, 

Sp. 
Fr. 

Escuela  )  o  i      i 
Ecole     \^'^^^- 

Sguab, 

Scopa, 

Yscob, 

Besom. 

Sjjiorad, 

Spiritus, 

Ysi)rid, 

Sp. 
Fr. 

Esi>irito  1  r,   •  •, 
Esprit     1  ^l^"-^*- 

Spain, 

Hispania 

Yspaeu, 

Gr. 

Hispania — Spain. 

Storaidh, 

It. 

Historia, 
Storia, 

'} 

Ystori, 

„ 

Historia — Histoi-y . 

Spong, 

Spongia, 

Ysbong, 

Spongos — Sponge. 

Suidh, 

Sedeo, 

Eistedd, 

Sit. 

Hithei-to  I  have  endeavoured  to  show  you  that  there  is  a  re- 
markable affinity  between  Gaelic  and  Latin  on  the  one  hand,  and 
Kymric  and  Greek  on  the  other — an  affinity  cropping  up  with 
such  variety  and  frequency  as  to  preclude  any  explanation  that 
might  occur  on  the  gTound  of  coincidence  or  hap-hazard,  and  which 
shuts  us  up  to  the  conclusion  that,  at  sometime  and  somewhere, 
there  existed  a  somewhat  close  connection  between  the  Gael  and 
the  Roman,  and  between  the  Gaul  and  the  Greek. 

Let  us  now  take  up  the  further  question,  how  do  these  languages 
stand  towards  each  other — I  mean  the  Celtic  and  the  classic — in 
IX)int  of  time ;  are  they  to  be  regarded  as  sister  languages — as 
co-eval,  or  nearly  co-eval,  branches  of  the  great  Aryian  or  Indo- 
European  femily  1  Such  is  the  common  opinion  of  philologists  : 
that  they  are  children  of  a  dead  mother.  For  many  years  past  I 
have  been  unable  to  fall  in  with  this  opinion.  The  more  I  have 
investigated  the  older  forms  of  the  Celtic,  as  discoverable  by  a 
cautious  etymology,  and  from  the  record  of  topogi'aphy — -on  which 
I  may  have  a  word  to  say  before  I  close — the  more  I  feel  con- 
strained to  regard  the  Celtic  languages  as  vastly  older  than  those 
of  Greece  and  Rome. 

When  of  two  languages  closely  related,  we  maintain  that  tlio 
one  must  be  older  than  the  other,  some  are  wont  to  shrug  their 
shoulders,  and  to  say,  well,  that  must  be  a  matter  of  opinion,  for  it 
seems  a  question  not  easily  determined.  And  yet  with  those  who 
have  studied  the  subject  closely  it  is  capable  of  demonsti'ation. 
When  I  take  uit  certain  kinds  of  sandstone,  say  for  instance  a  piece 
from  the  Tarr;idak»  quarry,  find  tiud  it  studded  with  nodules  of 


TUANSAr'I'IOXS.  1  ( 

jasper  and  (piartz,  iiiiboddod  in  a  hoiiiogfiicous  matrix  of  s;«id, 
it  is  siirely  not  without  reason  that  I  conchide  that  those  nodnlea 
had  a  separate  existence  from  the  matrix  in  which  I  find  them 
cemented  together;  nor  when  I  find  those  nodules  rounded  by  tlio 
action  of  water,  is  it  without  cause  that  I  conclude  that  this 
separate  existence  must  have  been  for  a  long  period.  On  grounds 
just  as  solid  and  intelligible  can  we  prove  the  piior  exist(ince  of  a 
large  portion  of  Greek  and  Latin  by  pointing  to  the  rock  from 
which  it  was  hewn.  To  confine  our  attention  for  the  present  to  a 
comparison  of  Gaelic  and  Latin,  we  find  a  num  n'ous  class  of  words 
bearing  the  same  meaning  common  to  both,  with  only  this  differ- 
ence, that  the  Latin  forms  carry  a  terminable  syllable  for  the 
purpose  of  declension.  Remove  this  variable  termination  and  you 
have  the  Gaelic  word,  and  the  Gaelic  word  corresponding  not  with 
modern  pronunciation,  but  with  what  we  know  from  other  sources 
was  the  ancient  Latin  promxnciation.  I  subjoin  a  table  of  Gaelic 
and  Latin  synonyms,  and  I  confine  myself  to  words  that  begin 
with  the  letter  C,  for  were  I  to  enumei'ate  all  the  words  which  are 
common  I  should  have  to  repeat  the  greater  poi'tion  of  Ainsworth's 
Latin  Dictionary: — ■ 


Gaelic. 

L;itin. 

English. 

Cailc, 

Calx,  i.e.  Calc, 

Chalk. 

m, 

Caulis,  and  Gr.  Kaulos, 

Cabl)age,  Kail. 

Cairbh, 

Caro, 

Flesh. 

Cam,  Cham, 

Hamus, 

Hook. 

Cais, 

Caseus  or  Caseum, 

Cheese. 

Can, 

Cano, 

Ising,  Chant. 

Canap, 

Canabis, 

Hemp. 

Caog  (squint), 

Coecus, 

Blind,  Sc.  Keek. 

Cap, 

Caput, 

Hood. 

Capull 

Caballus,  Gr.  Kaballos, 

Horse. 

Car,  W.  Gar, 

Carus, 

Dear. 

Cart, 

Cortex, 

B;Tnk. 

Cart  Cart, 

Charta, 

Paper. 

Gks  or  Cuis, 

Causa, 

Cause,  Case. 

Ceangal, 

Cingulum,  Gr.  Ganglion, 

Abinding. 

Ceart  (right), 

Certus, 

Sure. 

CeU, 

Celo, 

Conceal. 

Ceir, 

Cera, 

Wax. 

Ceisd, 

QuKstio, 

Question. 

Cist, 

Cista, 

Chest. 

Ceithir, 

Quat\ior, 

Four. 

Ceud, 

Centiuu, 

HundrcxI. 

Ciamh,  (lockofhai 

r),  Coina, 

Hair. 

18 

TKANSACTIONS. 

Gaelic. 

Latin. 

English, 

Gill, 

Cella, 

Cell 

Ciod, 

Quid  or  Quod, 

What. 

daon, 

Inclino,  Gr.  Kliuo, 

Incline. 

Clar  (tablet,  ) 
Cleireacli,      j 

Clericus 

Clerk  or  Cleric. 

Cochull, 

Cucullus, 

Cowl. 

Coileach 

Gallus, 

Cock. 

Cuille,  Clioille, 

Silva,  Gr.  Xulon,  hule. 

Woo.! 

Com,  Tapog.  Combe 

,  Campus, 

Plain. 

Cord, 

Chorda,  Gr.  Cliorde, 

Cord. 

Corn,  Cliorn, 

Cornu, 

Horn. 

Corp,  Corpiu-a, 

Cor2)us,  Corpur, 

Body. 

Ouid  or  Codoch, 

Quota, 

Portion. 

Cuileag, 

Culex  or  Culec, 

Fly. 

Cuing, 

Cingo, 

Yoke,  Bind,  Gij-d. 

Oreath  (Clay), 

Creta, 

Clay,  Chalk. 

Cruth  (shape), 

Creo, 

Create. 

Cur  or  Cuii- 

Cui-a, 

Care,  Hui-t. 

Look  on  this  picture  and  on  that ;  consider  them  attentively ; 
take  them  as  a  sample  of  a  resemblance  which  obtains  thi-oughout 
the  compass  of  both  languages ;  make  allowance  for  the  cumbrous 
orthography  of  our  Scottish  Gaelic,  which  veils  its  simplicity  from 
the  eye  of  a  stranger ;  and  after  you  have  done  so  I  scarcely  think 
you  will  blame  us  very  much  if  we  claim  for  it,  on  this  and  ou 
other  gi-ounds,  to  be  regarded,  not  as  a  sisiier  of  the  Latin,  but  as 
its  veritable  and  venerable  mother. 

I  nnght  now  proceed  to  show  you  that  there  are  many  words 
of  which  neither  Greek  nor  Latin  can  fiu-nish  us  with  a  satisfactory 
etymology,  but  which  in  theii'  Gaelic  forms  resolve  themselves 
readily  into  more  simple  elements,  and  that  in  a  way  so  expressive 
of  the  sense  as  to  compel  the  admission  that  they  are  the  more 
ancient  representatives.  On  this  field,  however  inviting,  oiu*  time 
will  not  permit  us  to  enter. 


III.  The  third  division  of  my  subject,  on  which  I  shall  now 
sjjeak  a  little,  is  the  bearing  of  Gaelic  on  questions  of  ethnology. 
It  must  be  admitted  by  all  who  have  directed  attention  to  this 
subject,  that  once  we  ascend  beyond  the  historical  races  all  is  doubt 
and  obscurity.  Who  can  tell  us  decidedly  who  were  the  primeval 
ocoupanis  of  any  land;  and  as  to  the  further  question,  the  time 
when  liuiium  beings  first  trode  the  soil  of  our  own  or  any  land, 
who  can  hazard  an  opinion  1  Now,  if  we  shall  ever  be  able  to 
speak  with  thorough  confidence  ou  the  fii'st  of  these  questions,  we 


TRANS  ACTIOXS.  19 

shall  owe  it  mainly,  I  am  persuaded,  to  the  to})ogra])hical  record ; 
nay,  it  may  aid  us  not  a  little  in  determining  the  second.  Taken 
also  in  conjunction  with  prehistoric  facts,  as  a  guide  to  their  dis- 
covery and  interpretation,  it  would  seem  to  me  very  difficult  to 
over-estimate  its  value.  I  venture,  therefore,  to  say,  that  we  have 
cause  to  congratiUate  ourselves  and  our  country  on  the  ordnance 
siu'vey  which  is  now  being  caiTied  on  l)y  Her  Majesty's  Govern- 
ment. So  much  importance  do  I  attach  to  this  survey  that  I  have 
said  it  once  and  again,  and  say  it  here  anew,  that  I  should  consider 
all  the  money  expended  upon  it  well  and  wisely  laid  out  wei-e  it  to 
serve  no  other  purpose  than  the  preservation  of  a  record  which  is 
every  day  passing  into  oblivion — a  record  of  Gaelic  in  by  far  the 
oldest  form  in  which  it  can  now  be  found,  a  form  so  old  that  a  con- 
sideiuble  number  of  the  words  used  in  it  can  only  be  interjireted 
by  a  laborious  comparison  of  instances. 

Were  we  to  hazard  an  opinion  as  to  the  age  of  this  record,  we 
should  be  ready  to  claim  for  a  large  proportion  of  it  three  thousand 
years.  We  should  do  so  on  the  following  grounds : — Besides  all 
the  Classic  authors,  from  Homer  downwards,  who  make  constant 
reference  to  ancient  localities,  we  have  three  who  have  written 
systems  of  geography  as  it  was  kno^vn  in  their  ovm  day — Strabo, 
born  5-1  B.C.,  and  who  died  a.d.  54;  Ptolemy,  a  man  of  great 
celebrity  in  his  day  as  an  astronomer  and  geogi'apher,  though  (alas 
for  fame !)  all  that  is  now  known  of  him  is — that  he  was  an  ob- 
server in  Alexandria  a.d.  139,  and  that  he  was  alive  in  a.d.  161  ; 
Pliny,  a  Latin  author,  who  perished  a.d.  79  when  observing  that 
eruption  of  Vesu-v-ius  by  which  Pompeii  and  Herculaneum  were 
overwhelmed.  All  these  authoi-s  have  described  many  lands  and 
recorded  many  names,  and  we  stay  not  at  present  to  assert  how 
many  of  those  many  n;imes  of  many  lands  we  are  prepared  to  claim 
as  bearing  the  stamp  of  Mother  Celtica's  mint.  Our  more  humble 
office  for  the  present  is  to  state  that  they  have  recorded  not  a  few 
names  that  can  still  be  identified  in  our  own  country,  and  when 
we  examine  these  what  do  we  find  1  Simjjle  descriptive  Gaelic 
names,  with  a  Latin  termination  superadded.  The  merest  tyi-o  in 
topographical  Gaelic  must  be  able  to  identify  the  following : — 
Estuary  of  the  Luce,  Abcravanus — Aber-amhain  (avin),  river, 
confluence ;  Estuarius  Vararius — Moray  Fii-th.  Here  we  have 
the  Farar,  as  the  Beauly  was  termed  at  no  very  ancient  date,  dowTi 
to  its  mouth.  The  Taodunum,  that  is,  Tagh-dmi — Taytown,  now 
Dundee,  merely  reversing  the  terms.  Avoca  or  Ovoca  is  the  Oboca 
of  Ptolemy,  that  is  Ob-aga — confluence  of  water;  where  the  Avon- 
more  and  Avonbeg  meet.  Ehoracum  Evorac,  York  Aber-ag — con- 
fluence of  water,  that  is,  of  the  Foss  and  Ouse.  All  the  English  Ouse^ 
are  altered  forms  of  Uisg — e.g.,  Isca  Damniorum,  Exeter,  and  Isca 


20  TRANSA('TIO\S. 

Sihimm — Caer-leon  in  Monmouth,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Severn. 
Then,  what  are  the  Avingtons  so  niuBerons  in  PJnghmcU  Simply 
our  Amhain-dun — River  Town.  Then  go  forth  throughout  Europe, 
and  mark  the  Ehurodunvms — Aber-dun  ;  Lugdvvvws — Lag-dum — 
Bason  Town;  Ebnro-magus — Aber-magh :  confluence,  meadow; 
Ebondacum — Aber-lag:  confluence  of  bason  or  hollow.  Ebvrovices, 
Ebiirovices,  the  same  as  our  own  Aber-wick. 

Such  are  a  sample  of  Celtic  names  as  old  at  least  as  the  Christian 
era ;  how  m\ich  older  none  can  say.  We  know  that  the  Romans 
found  our  people  fired  by  a  patriotism  which  only  the  lapse  of  ages 
could  have  produced  ;  and  if  it  be  true,  as  I  feel  assured  it  is,  that 
throughout  the  whole  of  Europe,  without  going  further  for  the 
present,  there  is  found  a  substratum  of  Gaelic  topography,  then  it 
follows  that  Celts  must  have  preceded  the  present  historical  races. 
In  other  words,  our  Gaelic  can  be  traced  upwards  in  its  topographic 
form  to  the  dawn  of  history. 

I  appeal  to  you,  then,  if  this  be  net  a  lecoid  worthy  of  the  at- 
tention of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness,  and  of  every  Society  in 
our  land.  I  believe  we  ai-e  only  awakening  to  its  value;  and  here 
let  me  bear  my  cordial  testimony  to  the  thorough  method  and 
painstaking  labour  of  the  Ordnance  service  for  securing  accuracy 
in  their  names.  I  can  do  so  from  some  considerable  experience, 
having  been  asked  to  revise  several  of  their  lists.  Even  with  the 
partial  progress  we  have  made,  the  views  which  it  opens  up  to  us 
of  the  ancient  condition  of  our  countiy,  and  the  changes  in  its  flora 
and  fauna,  are  extremely  interesting.  It  speaks  of  the  alder-tree 
where  it  is  no  longer  to  be  found,  the  country  being  drier  than 
before.  Our  Meall  na  Tuirc  and  Beallach  na  muic,  speak  of  the 
time  when  the  sow  and  wild  boar  were  denizens  of  the  country. 
It  tells  us  very  emphatically  that  our  ancestoi'S  when  this  record 
was  inscribed  were  a  hunting  and  pastoral  people,  for  the  references 
to  agriciilture  are  few  indeed.  It  speaks  to  us  of  our  ancient  bards, 
and  minstrels,  and  harpers.  I  am  not  aware  of  any  reference  to 
pipers.  Our  Bail'  a  Bhaird,  Cam  a  Chlarsair,  and  Croit  an 
Fhilidh  :  Towai  or  holding  of  the  Bard,  Caini  of  the  Harper,  and 
Croft  of  the  Minstrel — common  throughout  the  Highlands,  are 
quite  in  keeping  with  what  we  know  from  other  sources  as  to  the 
civilisation  of  our  ancestors. 

Mr  Campbell  of  Islay,  who  received  a  genuine  Highland  wel- 
come, expressed  the  very  great  pleasure  he  had  derived  from  at- 
tending this  meeting,  and  the  deep  satisfaction  which  the  formation 
of  such  a  Society  afforded  him.  The  lectiu'e,  he  was  sure,  delighted 
and  intei-csted  them ;  and  for  his  own  pai-t  he  was  both  pleased  and 
instiucted  by  what  the  learned  lecturer  had  said.     His  own  name 


TKANSACTIOXS.  21 

had  beon  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  meeting  as  if  he  were 
an  anthority  on  antiquities;  Init  his  own  feeling  was  that  he  knew 
nothing  on  the  subject.  He  took  an  interest  in  old  stories — stories 
which  had  been  voted  iiibbish  by  many — and  he  might  be  dux  in 
his  class,  like  the  little  boy  who  told  the  minister  that  he  was  top, 
but  afterwards  let  out  that  the  class  consisted  of  "  himself  and 
anither  lassie."  He  could  hardly  say  that  there  was  "  anither 
Lissie  "  in  the  class  of  collectors  of  Gaelic  stories  to  which  he  be- 
longed. There  were  many  advantages  in  knowing  Gaelic.  For 
one  thing,  Gaelic  contained  sounds  not  found  in  English,  just  as 
English  contained  sounds  not  found  in  Gaelic ;  and  any  person 
beginning  the  study  of  language  with  these  extra  soiuids,  would 
find  himself  gi-eatly  aided  in  his  studies.  Of  this  advantage  he  had 
lately  met  with  illustrations  in  the  island  of  Barra,  in  a  case  in- 
volving a  knowledge  of  Sjianish.  Then,  it  was  very  useful  to  be 
able  to  distinguish  soimds  in  learning  foreign  languages.  Gaelic 
demands  a  good  eai*;  and  so  cultivates  an  ear  to  note  various 
niceties  of  sounds  which  are  apt  to  escape  the  notice  of  those  not 
blessed  with  the  same  advantage.  Take  the  three  familiar  words, 
"  caileag,"  "  cailleag,"  and  "  cailleach,"  master  the  niceties  of  pro- 
nunciation involved,  and  you  will  have  some  idea  of  what  is  here 
said.  Thus,  Gaelic,  so  far  from  being  what  some  allege,  an  im- 
pediment in  the  way  of  men's  advancement,  would  be  found  a 
decided  aid.  The  lectm-er  referred  to  the  interest  taken  by  German 
savants  in  some  of  the  objects  of  the  Society.  The  French  had 
actually  started  a  Celtic  Society.  If  the  Gaelic  Society  put  itself 
in  communication  with  these  bodies,  there  might  be  an  interchange 
of  papers  which  would  prove  umtually  ^^seful.  Mr  Campbell,  after 
giving  several  examples  of  how  languages  were  altered  by  the  siib- 
stitution  of  one  letter  for  another,  told  a  number  of  curious, 
amusing,  and  instructive  stories,  tracing  some  of  them  from  the 
western  shores  of  Eoss  to  the  eastern  plains  of  India.  Thus,  these 
stiOries,  which  formed  the  ^\dnter  amusements  around  the  [)eat  fii'es 
of  our  Gaelic-speaking  Highlanders,  were  in  reality  some  of  the 
most  valual^le  materials  with  which  our  learned  men  were  building 
up  the  source  of  races.  All  the  Celtic  languages  were  derived 
from  one  common  source ;  and  he  believed  that  all  the  languages 
in  Europe  sprung  from  one  stock,  of  which  Sanscrit  is  the  oldest 
known.  In  concluding,  Mr  Campbell  observed  that  he  had  often 
remarked  in  the  town  of  Invei-ness  a  gi'eat  gathering  of  Highlanders 
for  throwing  the  hammer,  putting  the  stone,  dancing,  and  playing 
pipes  ;  but  no  Society  had  previously  existed  for  the  cultivation  of 
Gaelic  literature.  He  hoped  the  Gaelic  Society  would  prosper  and 
prove  useful. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr  Macgregor,  a  vote  of  thanks  w; 


TZ  TRANSACTIONS 

to  Mr  Mackenzie  for  his  excellent  lecture ;  and,  on  the  motion  of 
Mr  Murdoch,  a  similar  vote  was  awarded  to  Mr  Campbell  for  his 
very  interesting  and  valuable  speech.  Mr  Dallas  moved  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  Sir  Kenneth  for  his  kindness  in  taking  the  chaii',  and 
for  the  efficient  manner  in  which  he  presided  over  the  meeting. 
The  Chairman,  iii  replying,  intimated  that  letters  of  apology  had 
been  received  from  Mr  Fraser-Mackintosh  of  Drummond,  author  of 
"  Antiquarian  Notes,"  and  other  works ;  and  from  Dr  Carruthers 
— in  which  they  expressed  their  sympathy  with  the  Society,  and 
their  regrets  at  not  being  able  to  attend. 

Thus  terminated  the  inaugural  meeting,  which,  as  to  numbers, 
respectability,  intelligence,  and  enthusiasm,  was  all  that  could  have 
been  desired,  and  augured  well  for  the  success  of  the  Society. 

October  27. — On  this  occasion  the  ordinary  proceedings  were 
enlivened  by  Mr  Macdonald,  the  Bard  of  the  Society,  reciting  the 
subjoined  original  lament  for  Lord  Clyde  : — 

DAN 

MU  BHAS  CHAILEIN  CHAIMBEUL  TRIATH  CHLUAIDH. 


Tha  airrn  an  laoich  fo  mheirg  'san  tur  ; 
Cliomhdaich  uir  an  curaidh  treun  ; 
Blmail  air  Alaba  speach  as  lir  :— 
A  feachd  trdin,  tiirsach,  'sileadh  dheur. 
Mu  (ihaisgeich  Ghaidheil  nan  sar  bheairt, 
Fo  ghlais  a  bhais,  mar  dhiiil  gun  toirt : 
Triath  na  Oluaidh  bii  bhiiadhaich  feairt 
Ga  chaoidh  gu  tr6m,  le  cridhe  goirt. 

Air  oidche  's  mi  'm  laidhe'm  shiiain, 
'S  mo  smuaintean  air  luath's  na  dreig  ; 
Uair  agara,  'sa'n  sin  nam  ; 
BUruadair  mi  'bhi  shuas  air  creig. 
Thoir  learn  gu  'n  robh  teachd  nam  'choir 
Fo  bhratacli  bliroin  de  shrol  dubh 
Sar  mhaighdean  mhaiseach,  mhor  ; 
Tiamhaidh,  leont'bha  ceol  a  guth. 
Mar  dhrillseadh  reult,  bha  gorm  shiiil ; 
A  glan  ghnuis  clio  geal's  an  sneachd, 
Bha  fait  donn  air  sniomh  mu  'cii!. 
Tiugh  chiablia  dluth  nan  iomadh  cleachd. 
M'a  ceann  bha  clogaid  do  dh-fhior  chruaidh, 
Ri  barr  bha  dualach  o'n  each  ghlas  ; 
A  laimh  dheas  chum  sleagh  na  buaidh  ; 
Claidheamh  truailte  suas  ri  'leis. 
Sgiath  chopach,  obair  .-heolt', 
Le  m6rchuis  'na  laimh  chli. 
Luireach  mhailleach,  greist'  le  h-6r, 
Bu  cnomhdach  do  nighean  righ. 
Laidh  leoghann  garg,  gu  stuama  st61t' 
Mar  ch  lithir  dhiraonhair  fo  reachd  ; 
L'hiiir  leth  ghuth  o  beul  seolt 
A  bheisd  fo  shamhchair,  's  fo  thur  smachd. 
(ihrad  phlosg  mo  chridhe  'nam  choir, 
Fu  uunh  IS  a's  trom  gheilt,— 
Kiun  rosg  thith  o'n  ribliinn  donn, 
Fuadachadh  loin  air  m'  oilt. 
Chrom  mi  sios  le  mor  mheas 


'Us  dhiosraich  mi  do  threin  na  mais', 
Cia  fath  mu  'n  robh  a  h-airm  na  'n  crioi. 
Mar  shonn  '  chum  sgrios,  a  deanamh  deas, 
Ged  'bha  a  gnuis  mar  oigh  fo  Ion, 
Xo  ainnir  og  'chuir  gaol  fo  chradh, 
Sheall  i  rium  le  plathadh  broin, 
Measgta  le  moralachd  is  gradh. 
Lasaich  air  mo  gheilte  's  m'  fhiamh 
'X  uair  labhair  i  'm  briathraibh  ciuin  : — 

"  A  Ghaidheil  aosda,  ghlas  do  chiabh 
Mar  cheatharnach  a  liath  le  uin, 
Triallaidh  tu  mar  'rinn  do  sheors' 
Chum  talla  fuar,  reot'  a  bhais  ; 
Eisd  guth  binn  na  deagh  sgeoil, 
'Toirt  cuireadh  gloir  ri  latha  grais. 

Bha  agam-sa  curaidh  treun  — 
Gun  chomh:dt  fo  'n  ghrein  'am  beairt : 
Ceannard  armailt  na'  mor  euchd 
Thug  buaidh 's  gach  streup,  le  ceiU  thar  neart. 
Och  mo  leireadh,  beud  a  leon 
Breatuinn  comhladh  le  trom  lot : 
O'n  Bhan-righ  'chum  an  duil  gun  treoir — 
Uile  comhdaicht'  le  bron-bhrat. 
ChaUl  m'  armailt  ceannard  corr. 
Air  namh  'sa'  chomh-stri  toradh  grath  : 
Mar  dhealan  speur  na  'n  deigh  'san  toir, 
Rinn  cosgairt  leointeach  latha  'chath. 
Air  thus  nan  Gaidheal,  'stiuireadh  streup  ; 
Mar  fhireun  speur,  'an  geuraid  beachd  ; 
Gaisg'  leoghann  garg,  'measg  bheathach  frith, 
Cha  d'  gheill  'san  t-srith,  a  dh-aindeoin  feachd. 
Cha  chualas  ceannard  a  thug  barr 
An  teas  a  bhlair  air  sar  nan  euchd  : 
Misneach  fhoirfidli,  'an  gleachd  nan  ar; 
Trom  acain  bais,  o  chradh  nan  creuchd. 
Do  Ghaidheil  ghaisgell,  ceannard  corr 
Am  builsgein  comhraig,  mor  na'm  beachd  ; 


TRANSACTIONS. 


23 


A'  tdtrt  na  bualdh  'a:i  cosiiadh  gloir, 

A  (Ih-aindeoin  seol  a's  morachd  feachd. 

Mar  cluigadli  t>scar  flatliail.  garg, 

'Us  Conn  'na  fheirg  a'  dol's  an  spairn  ; 

Le  Diarmad  donu  a  tliuit  's  an  t-sealg, 

'San  Sonn  a  mliarbh  an  Garbhniac-Staira. 

Gacli  buaidh  'bha  annta  sud  gu  leir, 

An  neart,  an  trein,  an  gleus,  's  am  muirn — 

Bha  cliii  a  Chaimbeulaicb  dha  'n  reir, 

Dol  thart  an  eifeachljd  anns  gach  tuirn— 

Ciftin  mar  mhaighdeann  ghraidh  'san  t-sith, 

Uasal,  siobhalt,  min  'am  beus  ; 

Gaisgeil,  gargant,  crosg  'san  t-sri, 

Le  cumhachd  righ  'cur  feachd  air  ghleus. 

Fhuair  e  urram  anns  gach  ceum, 

Thaobh  barrachd  euchd,  'an  streup  nan  lann. 

Binn  d'  ar  rioghachd  dinn  'n  a  fcum, 

Air  thoiseach  trdin-fhir  Tliir  nam  lieann. 

'S  na  h-lnnsean  thug  e  hnaidh  ro  mhor, 

Le  iuil  's  le  seoltachd  'dul  thar  uuart : 

Threoraich  e  na  brataich  shroil, 

'S  a'  chonihraig  anns  bu  gloir-mhor  beairt. 

C  aite  'n  cualas  sparradh  oath 

Bu  bhuadhaich  sgath  na  Alma  dliearg? — 

Full  a's  cuirp  air  beinn  's  air  srath 

Na'm  milltean  breith,  fo  'n  laoch  na  fhearg  ! 

Fhnair'  o  'n  rioghachd  meas  'us  gloir 

Anns  gach  doigh  mar  thosfhear  cath  : 

Dhiol  ar  Ban-righ  mar  bu  choir 


Dha  onair  oirdhearg  'nieaug  nam  flath. 

Triatli  Chluaidh  nam  fuar  sliruth, 

Mu  'n  cualas  gutli  an  (li^eiii  l>liiiin, 

A'  caiiidh  nan  satiidli,  'ruith  dlieur  gu  tiugh, 

Bha  moralach  'an  talla  Fhinn, 

Ghairmcadh  air  an  uisge  'n  sonn 

Mar  agh  nan  glonn  bu  bhonndail  coir  ; — 

Cho  fad  's  a  bhuaileas  creag  an  tonn, 

S  air  uachdar  fonn  'iihios  fas  an  fheoir." 

Chrioch:  aich  sgeul  an  ainnir  mhoir, 
Mu  euchdan  gloir-nihor  an  laoich  thrcun  ; 
Alhosgail  mi  a  m'  shuain  le  brou, 
A'  sik'adh  dhtM^ir  gu  'm  b'fhior  an  sgeul  ! 

A  Gliaidlitil  t:hlaschu,  shliochd  nan  sonu 
A  dhfliuadaiche  idh  o  Thir  nam  beann, 
Da'n  <iual  le  coir  an  sriith  's  am  fonn  : — 
Dhuibhse  coisrigeam  mo  rann, 
Dhuibhs  da'n  dealaidh  am  priomh  shar, 
'S  gach  euchd  'thug  barr  'rinn  Gaidhcil  rianih 
Ei  stiuireadh  feachd  san  gleachd  nam  blair 
Bhiodh  buaidh  na  laraich  sailt'  ri  'ghniomh. 
Dearbhaibh  gur  sibh  al  nan  trenn, 
Ginealach  do  reir  nan  sonn, 
A  bhuanaich  cliu  thar  sliochd  fo  'n  ghrein, 
'Am  blar  nam  beum  's  an  streup  i  an  tonn. 
Cumaibh  cuimhn'  air  laoch  an  airm 
A  ghairmeadh  air  an  abliainn  Cluaidh, 
'S  a'  meal  e  uiram  'theid  a  sheirm 
'S  gach  linn  le  toirm  ri  sgeul  a  bhuaidh  ! 


Nov.    2. — After    the   ordiiiaiy   business   was   disj)usetl  of,    the 
fullowiiig  paper  was  read  by  Mr  Alexander  Mackenzie,  on  oiu- 

LOCAL  TOPOGRAPHY. 


It  may  be  as  well,  perhaps,  to  begin  with  the  name  of  our  own 
lovely  town,  Inverness ;  or,  perhaps,  with  the  ancient  name  of  ovir 
cotmtry,  Albin.  "Alb  "  is  the  Gaelic  for  a  height  or  an  eminence, 
and  "In"  (now  ohsolete),  a  country  or  island.  Hence  "Albin," 
the  land  or  island  of  heights  and  eminences.  Coiild  anything  Ije 
more  descriptive  1  Then  we  have  "  larin,"  Erin,  "lar"  being  the 
Gaelic  for  west — the  western  island  or  country.  "  Sasunn,  " 
Saxon,  or  what  we  now  call  English,  "  Sastdnn,"  the  land  of  the 
Saxon.  The  fii-st  part  of  the  word  Inverness  is  imdoubtedly  from 
"  Inbhear,"  which  is  commonly  applied  to  the  })lace  where  a  river 
empties  itself  into  the  sea ;  but  I  have  no  doubt  it  originally  meant 
and  was  applied  to  the  land  at  the  confluence,  from  "  In,"  land,  and 
"  Bior,"  water,  called  "  In-bhior,"  and  easily  altered  to  its  present 
spelling  "  Inbhear."  Ness,  the  latter  part  of  the  word,  is  of  course 
the  name  of  the  river  which  forms  the  confluence ;  but  then,  what 
does  the  Ness  derive  its  name  from  1  You  will  say,  from  Loch- 
Ness  ;  but  then  Loch-Ness  itself  1  It  is  generally  believed  to  be 
from  the  Gtielic  word  "  Eas,"  a  fall,  "  Loch-an-eas"  being  the  loch 
of  the  cascade  or  fall.      I  daresay  some  gentlemen  present    may 


24  TRANSACTIONS. 

question  this  dorivation,  and  I  do  not  say  but  they  may  be  ri_^ht. 
I  believe  there  are  several  traditions  still  extant  in  Glen-Urquhart 
of  a  celebrated  character  of  the  name  of  Angus  Mackay — (iaelic, 
*'  Aonghas  Macaoidh."  In  early  times,  and  even  now  in  some 
places,  "  Aonghas "  is  pronounced  "  Naois,"  and  I  have  seen  a 
Gaelic  story,  taken  do\vn  from  a  Barra  peasant  by  Mr  Carmichael, 
in  which  mention  is  made  of  "  Loch-Naois,"  and  "  Caisteal  Naois." 
This  may  be  the  Gaelic  origin  of  Loch-IS[ess ;  but  I  am  more  in- 
clined to  agree  with  "  Loch-an-eas,"  at  least  until  we  learn  more 
of  the  "  Naois  "  theory.  I  have  already  expressed  my  belief  that 
"  Inver  "  meant  originally  the  land  adjoining  a  confluence,  and  I 
will  now  add  that  "  Aber,"  which  is  pure  Gaelic,  and  not  Welsh, 
was  the  name  for  the  confluence  itself  "  A  "  or  "  Ab  "  was  an 
old  Gaelic  word  (although  now  obsolete)  for  water.  Armstrong 
points  out  in  his  dictionary  that  "Ab"  is  Persic  for  river;  Turkish 
and  Mogul  exactly  the  same ;  Hebrew  "  Saab,"  carry  water,  from 
"  Sa,"  carry,  and  "  Ab,"  water ;  Ethiopian  "  Abbi,"  wave  ;  Arme- 
nian "Ahp,"  pool;  and  Persic  again  "Av"  and  "  Ap,"  water; 
Japanise  "  Abi,"  wash  with  water.  "Aber"  is  made  up  of  this, 
"Ab"  for  water,  and  "  Bior  "  also  water — "  Ab-bior,"  water  to 
water,  or  confluence.  You  will  remark  the  difference  between  this 
and  "  Inver."  The  one  being  origmally  land  to  or  adjoining 
water,  the  other  water  to  water,  or  confluence  of  waters.  Arm- 
strong gives  the  following  examples  of  this  word  in  other  languages 
— Cornish  spelt  exactly  the  same ;  Hebrew  "  Heber,"  to  join  to- 
gether; "  Haber,"  a  companion;  "Heber,"  a  junction ;  Chaldee, 
Syriac,  and  Ethiopian  "  Habor,"  to  unite.  I  suppose  I  must  not 
overlook  "  Clach-na-cuduinn,"  the  meaning  of  which  is  quite  ap- 
parent, namely,  "  The  stone  of  the  tub."  There  are  several  kinds 
of  tubs,  and  each  has  its  own  peculiar  name  in  Gaelic.  "  Cuduinn" 
is  the  name  which  applies  to  that  kind  of  tub  or  stoup  with  eai-s  or 
lugs,  with  holes  in  them,  by  which  it  can  be  carried  between  two 
persons,  or  through  which  a  stick  is  passed  and  carried  by  two  on 
theii-  shoulders.  This  was  imdoubtedly  the  kind  of  tub  from  which 
the  celebrated  "  Clach-na-Cuduinn  "  derived  its  name,  it  being  the 
one  most  convenient  and  always  used  until  the  introduction  of 
waterworks,  to  carry  water  from  the  river.  This  style  of  tub  is 
now  quite  common  in  the  Highlands,  and  many's  the  time  when  I 
was  a  boy  I  was  tired  enough  carrying  water  in  it,  and  would  have 
been  very  glad  of  a  "  Clach-na-Cuduinn  "  to  rest  upon. 

Now,  I  come  to  Toni-na-hiuraich."  "  Tom  "  is  the  Gaelic  for  a 
knoll  or  hUl,  and  "  lughrach  "  is  the  Gaelic  for  boat.  "Iiibhar" 
is  also  the  Gaelic  for  yew  tree  :  lubharach,  "  abounding  in  yew 
trees  ;  "  hence  it  may  have  been  the  "  Hill  of  the  boat-shape,"  or 
the    "Hill   of  the  yew-trees."     It  certainly  is  a  boat-shaped  hill. 


TRANSACTIONS. 


and  I  prefer  that  to  the  hittin-  derivation.  I  hav(i  iieard  some 
speak  of  it  as  meaning  the  "  Hill  of  the  Fairies."  I  do  not  know 
any  word  in  the  Gaelic  signifying  fairies  that  has  the  reniotesit 
similarity  to  any  part  of  the  word — "  Sithichean  "  being  the  Gaelio 
for  fairies ;  and  although  the  hill  is  reported  to  have  been  in- 
habited by  the  light-feathered  tribe,  there  is  nothing  in  the  name 
to  show  that  they  wanted  to  commemorate  the  fact  in  its  designa- 
tion, or  they  would  have  called  it  "  Tom-na-Sithiehean,"  and  not 
*'  Tom-na-hiuraich."  "  Creag-Phadurig"  appears  to  be  Patrick's 
rock,  after  St  Patrick,  I  suppose,  but  I  do  not  think  it  improbable 
that  it  may  have  been  originally  "  Creag-faireil,"  meaning,  like 
Cnoc-faireil,  in  Ross-shire,  the  rock  or  hill  of  the  watch.  "  Clach- 
naharry"  in  Gaelic  is  pronounced  exactly  wliat  it  really  was, 
namely,  "  Clach-na-h'airidh,"  or  the  stone  of  the  watch,  or  of 
watchfulness.  "  Mealfourvonie,"  is  "  Meall  fuar  mhonaidh,"  the 
round-topped,  cold,  or  bleak  mountaiu.  , 

The  Fall  of  Foyers,  usually  called  in  Gaelic  "  Eas-na-Smuid,' 
in  consequence  of  the  constant  vapoury  mist  it  evolves,  oiiginally 
means  "  Eas  Fo-thir,"  or  the  fall  underground,  or  under  land. 
This  is  a  literal  description  of  the  appearance  of  the  fall  as  it  ap- 
peared to  people  who  used  always  to  visit  it  from  the  highway,  and 
not  from  Loch-Ness  as  is  the  case  now.  On  their  arrival  at  the 
top  of  the  fall  it  appeared  to  them  to  dash  away  underground,  or 
''  Fo-thir ;"  and  even  when  you  stand  now  from  the  lowest  point 
from  which  you  can  view  the  fall  it  goes  still  under  you  to  a  con- 
siderable depth.  The  stream  above  the  fiill  is  called  "  Feaehliniie" 
and  not  "Foyers,"  and  that  part  of  it  heloic  ground  only,  or  between 
the  fall  and  Loch-Ness,  is  called  Foyers  or  Fo-thir.  This  also 
gives  a  true  description  of  the  lands  and  of  the  "  fair  house  of 
Foyers,"  for  they  all  appeared  low-lying,  under-ground,  or  ''  Fo> 
thir,"  as  approached  by  visitors  in  the  olden  time. 

"  Culloden,"  the  well-known  battle-field,  and  that  district,  has 
been  rendered  by  some  to  mean  "  Cuil-fhodair,"  the  bend  or  hollow 
of  straw.  This  is  like  the  modern  pronunciation,  but  ceHainly  not 
descriptive  of  the  district,  for  I  believe  it  to  be  one  of  the  worst 
straw-producing  localities  in  the  country.  "  Cu.1 "  means  the  back, 
or  back-lying  district,  and  "oitir"  means  a  ridge  or  bank  in  thtS 
sea,  a  shoal,  a  promontory  or  headland,  a  sand  bank.  "  Cul-oitir  " 
then  means  the  district  lying  at  the  back  of  the  shoal,  the  promon- 
tory, headland,  or  sand  bank.  Nothing  coiild  be  raoi-e  descriptive 
of  the  district,  and  I  feel  sure  this  is  the  correct  derivation,  for 
where  can  you  meet  with  a  more  extended  alioal,  sand  bank,  auii 
promontory  than  in  the  neighboui'hood  of  Culloden  1  Thei-e  .itr« 
many  other  names  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Inverness  which  I 
might  dwell  upon,  such  as  the  *'  JMerkiiich,"  meaning,  I  think^ 


26 


TRANSACTIOXa 


"Marg  Imiis,"  or  the  market  flat  or  plain.  Druniniond — "  Druiiii 
fhuinn,"  meaning  the  Lxnd  on  the  height  or  ridge,  &c.  ;  but  I  will 
now  cai-ry  you  to  Beauly,  and  then  ha^'e  a  run  to  Ross-shire. 

There  has  been  considerable  controversy  about  the  meaning  of 
the  name  Beauly.  I  am  not  able  to  enter  into  the  discussion,  and, 
further,  I  do  not  think  it  at  all  necessary,  foi-  it  has  nothing  to  do 
with  Celtic  toi)Ography.  Beauly  is  not  the  Celtic  name  of  the 
place,  but  "Manachain."  You  never  hear  a  Highlander  asking  in 
Gaelic,  "  C'ait  am  bheil  Beauly  'i "  If  he  is  not  acquainted  with 
English  he  di>es  not  know  what  the  tei-m  refei-s  to.  He  will  ask 
you  in  his  own  language,  "  C'ait  am  bheil  a  Mhanachaiu  f  This 
is  the  Gaelic  for  "  Where  is  Beauly."  "  Manach,,"  as  most  of  you 
know,  is  the  Gaelic  for  monk,  and  "  Manachain  "  is  the  Gaelic  for 
priory  or  monastery.  There  was  a  monasteiy  at  Beaidy;  hence  the 
name  of  the  place  in  Gaelic  topogi-aphy ;  and  aiiy  modern  name, 
such  as  Beaiily,  we  have  nothing  to  do  with.  Going  further  on 
we  come  to  the  Muir  of  Oi-d,  the  market  stance.  Miiir  of  Ord  is 
an  English  name,  but  the  Gaelic  "  Blar  dul  .h,"  the  black  or  dai-k 
muir,  gives  an  exact  description  of  the  ])Ia-ce. 

Dingwall  is  also  English,  for  "  Inbhearfeotharan "  (Inverpeffry) 
is  the  Celtic,  and  describes  its  situation.  Then  we  have  the  Peftiy 
itself  and  S^rathpeffer — Gaelic,  "Feothar"  and  "  Strathfeothar." 
"  Feotharan"  means  a  mountain,  valley,  or  land,  adjoining  a  brook, 
A  perfect  description  of  all  this  neighbourhood.  "  Creag  an 
fhithich  "  is  the  Raven's  Rock.  A  i-aven  had  his  nest  hei-e  yearly 
until  the  railway  was  niade.  Beii  Wyvis  is  in  Gaelic  "  Beinn 
f huathais  " — the  formidable  or  gigantic  mountain.  For  instance, 
you  will  say  in  Gaelic,  "  Nach  fuathasach  an  duine  e  1  Nach 
fuathasach  laidir  e  ?  Nach  fuatluisach  fuar  e  1 "  (Isn't  he  a  v.  on  • 
derful,  or  a  formidable  man'?  Isn't  he  awfidly  strong?  Isn't  it 
shockingly  cold  1)  Garve  is  "  Gaii'bh  " — I'ough  oi-  stony.  Loch- 
Luichart  is  either  "  Loch-Luichairt  "■ — the  loch  of  the  stronghold  ; 
or  "  Loch-luigh-ghoirt " — the  loch  of  bitter  hei'bs,  of  which  thei'e 
are  plenty  in  the  neighboiu'hcod.  Kenlocliluichart  is  of  course 
"  ceann,"  or  head  of  the  loch.  We  next  come  to  Achnault. 
"  Achadh  "  is  usually  translated  field,  but  this  does  not  convey  its 
whole  meaiung  as  originally  supplied  ;  "  Achadh  "  not  only  means 
a  field,  but  an  enclosed  field,  or  rather  an  enclosed  |;atch  of  arable 
land.  These  patches  were  here  and  there  thioughout  the  int(!r- 
minable  pasture  lands  of  the  Plighlands,  and  they  had  to  b.e  enclosed 
to  keep  out  the  sheep,  the  cattle,  and  the  deer,,  from  the  shepherd 
or  manager's  small  arable  croft  or  farm.  Achnault  is  one  of  those 
])atohes,  iunl  is  called  "Achadh  nan  Allt"  from  the  number  of 
sti-eam!cts  winch  run  through  this  green  s])ot.  No  passenger  on 
the  Shyi!   Hailway  can  liclji  noticing  this  peculiarity  of  the  place. 


THAXSAC'TIOXft.  'Zl 

AehnusluH:!!,  jli^ain,  is  "  Achadh  na  Sine,"  cxac^tly  (U'.sci'il)iu^  its 
well-eanied  reputation  for  a  continual  drizzle,  above  all  places  on 
the  West  Coast,  in  consequence,  no  doubt,  of  so  many  mountain 
ranges  convei-ging  thei'e.  The  next  place  you  pass  on  this  route  is 
*'  Lull)  Mhor,"  oil  the  Loch-Maree  road — the  large  bend.  ("  Luib 
Bheag,"  or  small  bend,  is  on  the  Lochcarron  road.)  There  is  a 
"  public"  at  "  Luib  Mhor  "  still,  but  it  has  been  done  away  with 
at  the  other  some  time  ago  ;  but  they  were  both  landmarks  to  the 
weary  traveller,  and  no  doubt  he  named  them  from  the  appearance 
of  the  place,  and  ft-om  his  discovering  in  his  travels  that  the  one 
was  much  longer  and  larger  than  the  other.  The  next  house  on 
the  roa<l  was  Kenloehewe  Inn.  This  name  is  pronounced,  alid 
means  in  G-aelic  "  Ceaiill-roch-iugh,"  and  is  situated,  as  most  of  you 
know,  two  miles  before  you  reach  Loch-Maree. 

Loch-Maree  is  eighteen  miles  in  leng^th,  and  the  river  Ewe, 
A\'hicli  connects  it  with  the  Loch-Ewe  of  the  present  age,  is  another 
mile  in  length,  so  that  the  "  Ceann-loch-iugh"  of  to-day  is  j list 
twenty-one  miles  further  off  than  the  "  Ceami-loch-iugh"  of  the  past. 
Thei-e  can  be  no  doul)t  but  Loch-Ewe  did  come  vip  to  Kenloehewe 
in  times  gone  by.  This  has  been  proved  geologically  by  Hugh 
Miller,  and  other  celebrated  geologists,  and  if  further  proof  be 
wanted  the  name  of  the  place  is  very  strong  topographical  evidence. 
It  is  also  pretty  certain  that  Loch-Maree  is  a  comparatively  modern 
name  for  the  fresh  water  loch,  and  that  the  whole  of  Lochewe  and 
Loch-Maree,  extending  about  thii-ty-three  miles,  was  known  by  the 
name  Loch-Ewe,  and  that  as  late  as  150  or  180  years  ago.  I  vrHl 
now  tell  you  what  I  think  is  the  Gaelic  meaning  and  origin  of 
Loch-lNIaree.  I  think  it  is  generally  belieA^ed  to  be  called  after  a 
Saint  Malrube.  I  do  not  believe  it,  nor  do  I  find  any  connection  in 
spelling  or  pi-bniuiciation  with  the  Gaelic  name  of  the  laka  You 
wolild  have  to  say  "  Loch-mal-rub,"  if  it  was  called  after  this  saint. 
I  have  pretty  much  the  same  objection  to  the  other  origin  ascribed 
to  it — namely,  "  Saint  Mary's  Loch."  This  in  Gaelic  would  be 
pronounced  "  Loch-Mairidh. "  I  prefer  to  call  it  "  Loch-ma-High,** 
"the  king's  loch,"  or  the  "loch  of  my  king."  This  corresponds 
with  the  Gaelic  pi-onimciation*  and  it  also  agrees  with  local  history 
and  tradition.  When  I  was  a  boy,  and  liAdng  on  the  West  Coaei, 
I  used  to  hear  old  men  relating  long  tales  aljout  the  son  of  a  king 
who  lived  on  "  Island  Maree."  His  father,  the  king,  "  Macollamh 
Mor,"  died  while  the  boy  was  young,  and  a  conf?[)iracy  was  got  up 
among  his  retainers  to  put  the  young  king  to  death.  His  young 
aiint,  Flora,  maiiaged  to  discover  the  plot ;  and  on  the  night  that 
the  boy  was  to  be  put  to  death  in  bedj  she  managed  to  get  the  wife 
and  son  of  one  of  the  conspirators  to  occupy  the  bed  always  Oc- 
dupied  by  herself  and  her  young  nephew.      The  ruffians  who  were 


SH  TRANSAf'TlOKS. 

In-ibed  to  do  the  foul  defd  were  satisfied  with  mnrdering  the  oc- 
ctipiers  of  the  bed,  and  got  their  reward.  Floi'a  went  oft"  with  her 
nephew,  and  brought  him  Up  on  a  pet  goat's  milk  in  a  cave  called 
to  this  day  "  Uaigh-an-Righ,"  or  the  king's  cave.  He  also  built  a 
fetronghold,  jiart  of  which  Ib  still  to  be  seen  on  Island  Maree,  and 
after  many  \T.Gi.ssitudes  he  returned  home,  was  to  be  executed  as  a 
stranger  and  a  rebel,  when  his  mother,  the  queen,  recognised  him 
and  he  was  placed  on  the  throne  of  his  forefathers.  There  is 
another  cave  called  "  Tolhan-Righ,"  or  the  "  king's  hole,"  where 
young  Ewan  Macgobhar  was  in  hiding.  He  was  called  Macgobhar 
in  consequence  of  his  being  fed  by  the  goat,  and  because  Flora  did 
not  wish  to  have  his  proper  name  known,  for  fear  of  discovery. 
The  late  Mr  Macintyre  of  Letterewe  related  this  tale  to  the  Ettrick 
Shepherd,  and  you  can  find  it  in  his  prose  works  under  the  title  of 
'•  Ewan  Macgabhar,"  to  which  I  beg  to  i-efef  you.  Hogg  not 
knowing  the  Gaelic  made  several  mistakes  in  spelling.  For  in- 
stance, he  spells  "  Toll-an-Righ"  "  Toll-au-Kigh,"  no  doubt  taking 
the  "n"  and  the  "R"  in  his  original  manuscript  for  "u"  and  "K," 
but  a.s  he  translates  it  "  cave  of  the  king's  son,"  his  meaning  is  clear. 
I  have  no  douljt  but  "  Loch-ma-Eigh"  is  the  original  name  for  Loch 
Maree,  in  spite  of  all  the  fine  theories  by  learned  men  as  to  its  con- 
nection with  a  saint  somebody.  Let  them  go  into  the  locality  and 
get  the  local  history  of  the  place,  and  I  think  they  will  adopt  this 
theory  of  mine. 

Loch-Maree  is  even  now  so  little  above  the  level  of  the  present 
Lochewe  that,  in  my  own  memory,  a  stone  embankment  in  the  river, 
to  which  the  tide  almost  caane  up  during  a  very  high  tide,  swelled 
or  dammed  up  Loch-Maree,  so  much  that  it  used  to  flood  the  farm  of 
Tagan,  at  this  end  of  the  lake,  and  the  late  Mr  Mackenzie  objected 
to  pay  any  rent  until  Sir  Kenneth  Mackenzie  had  the  embankment 
taken  away.  This  allowed  the  water  in  the  loch  to  fall  to  its  natural 
level,  and  I  question  if  the  fresh-water  one  is  more  than  12  or  15 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  salt  water  Loch-Ewe- — the  name,  as  I  have 
already  said,  l)y  which  the  whole  of  the  lochs — 33  miles  in  extent 
- — were  originally  known.  What,  then,  is  the  Gaelic  meaning  of 
Loch-Ewe  'I  I  have  never  heard  the  question  asked  or  answered. 
In  the  Gaelic  you  would  spell  it  "  Loch-Iugh."  The]\  what  does 
"  lugh  "  mean  'I  I  believe  it  was  originally  "  Eugh,"  and  that  the 
name  is  "  Loch-Eugh,"  or  loch  of  the  calling,  or  echo.  I  am  the 
more  convinced  of  this  as  a  point  on  this  tide  of  Talladale,  and 
exactly  opposite  Letterewe,  is  now  called  "  Aird  na  h-Eugh,"  and 
•we  have  also  "  Allt  na  h-Eugh,"  some  miles  this  side  of  "  Aird 
ha  h-Eughj"  and  I  believe  there  is  also  a  "  Greag  na  h-Eugh  " 
nearer  Poole  we,  but  j\ist  now  I  ciinnot  remember  the  spot.  When 
iixm  waa  all  one  lake  no  person  could  get  over  except  liy  a  boat. 


THAN'SACTIOXS. 


29 


R\i'U  f()rtv  y(>;ivs  ao-o,  l)eforo  Telford  iiuilt  the  liiidge  on  tlio  river, 
you  could  oidy  get  over  by  a  ferry-boat  when  the  river  was  Hooded 
to  any  degree,  and  no  doubt  there  would  be  regular  places  of  calling 
or  "  eigheachd,"  for  these  boats  to  fetch  people  aci-oss,  as  is  actually 
now  the  case.  If  you  want  to  get  across  to  Isle  of  Ewe,  you  must 
bawl  out  until  the  people  on  the  Island  hear  you,  or  light  a  tire  ou 
a  ])articular  })oint.  ISTo  doubt,  in  the  fearful,  deep,  and  solitary 
glen,  in  which  Loch-Maree  lies,  the  echo  woidd  be  loud,  and  be 
carried  along  the  whole  glen,  hence,  I  believe,  the  name  Loch-Ewe 
or  "  Loch-Eugh."  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  a  better  solution.  Gair- 
loch,  close  to  Loch-Ewe,  is  "  Gearr-Loch,"  or  "  Loch-Goii-id  " — - 
short  loch.  It  is  short  in  comparison  with  all  the  other  West  Coast 
lochs. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  this  paper  was  well  received,  and 
gave  rise  to  an  interesting  discussion,  of  which,  however,  we  can 
only  give  a  few  notes. 

Mr  Thomas  Mackenzie  took  exception  to  the  etymology  given 
of  Toiii-na-hiumich,  stating  that  it  was  only  within  the  memory  of 
persons  not  at  all  old  that  the  letter/  in  the  word  had  been  dropped, 
vA'vn  in  colloquial  speech.  The  hill  was  resorted  to  for  timber,  and 
it  was  on  account  of  its  timbei-  (fiodlt)  that  it  was  called  "  Tom-na- 
tiodhraich."  "  Tha  mi  dol  an  fhiodhrach,"  was  what  a  person  said 
when  going  to  gather  sticks  there.  In  this  case  the  word  was  very 
lik(^  "  Ui-aich."  This  was  no  mere  opinion,  or  ftir-fetched  theory; 
it  \\  as  the  opinion  of  an  ear  and  eye-witness.  But  the  "  Boat- 
shaped  Hill,"  and  the  "Fairy  Hill,"  are  not  only  modern,  but 
recent  and  ridiculous  names.  Nothing  coidd  better  set  forth  the 
necessity  of  the  Society  domg  its  duty,  and  rescuing  our  topograi)hy 
from  the  hands  of  theorists,  whilst  our  language  is  a  living  thing 
in  the  mouths  of  unsophisticated  people.  That  Culloden  (Ciiih 
Odair)  derives  its  name  from  the  shoal  wliich  forms  part  of  the 
boundary  of  the  estate  he  thought  exceedingly  improbable.  He 
was  disposed  to  class  Ciiil  (or  Gill)  Oduin  with  Gill  Earnan,  Gill 
Mhoraig,  Cill  Chuimean.  He  would  not  wait  to  answer  the 
question  who  was  Odin,  any  more  than  who  was  Earnan,  or 
who  was  Morag.  Mr  Mackenzie  then  deprecated  the  incorrect,  un- 
classical,  and  misleading  spelling  introduced  into  our  topography, 
instancing  the  displacing  of  the  C  by  a  K ;  and  then,  after  re- 
moving the  C  from  its  place  in  so  many  words,  depriving  it  of  its 
true  value  where  left.  It  was  sad  to  hear  people  giving  the  sound 
of  S  to  C,  in  such  words  as  Gasar,  Cephalonia,  Macedonia,  words 
which  should  be  pronounced  as  if  written  Kesar,  Kephalonia, 
Makedonia,  etc.  Then  there  was  the  introduction  of  that  queer 
English   letter  "  Q."   into  such    words   as   Cuach,   making  Gleann 


viO  TRAXSACTiOXS. 

Ciiaich  into  "  Gleiupaicli !"  Our  own  nineteen  Gaelic  lettel"S  are 
quite  enough,  and  the  introduction  of  those  other  letters,  which  are 
suj)erfiuous  in  English,  is  a  very  stu])id  compliment  to  our  Saxon 
neighbours.  Our  politeness  and  desire  to  please  do  not  requii-e  ua 
"to  adopt  their  blunders.  Then  there  was  the  spelling  to  be  seen 
in  advertisements  and  shop  windows  ;  Skian  Dhus  for  Sgeanan 
Dubh ;  Sporrans,  for  Sporanan,  &c.  This  is  really  neither  Gaelic 
nor  English  spelling.  We  have  also  Such  sijaelling  as  Balvonie  for 
Baile-mhonaidh,  Balvulin  for  Baile-mhuilinn,  and  Balnafettack  foi* 
Bad-na-feadaig.  And  this  English  invasion  goes  on,  for  even  lately 
^\■e  had  Dunjardil  (a  shooting  in  the  district  of  Stratherrick),  now 
we  have  Dunyardd,  instead  of  Dun  Deardvid.  Dearduil,  the 
valoroiis  Norseman,  a  Scandinavian  prince,  if  tradition  be  true,  had 
been  toppled  over  the  rock  into  the  Faragaig.  Pity  that  the  name 
of  the  man  who  had  built  such  a  fort  or  stronghold  should  be 
changed.  If  the  respected  proprietor  wei-e  made  awtu-e  of  how 
much  there  is  in  a  name,  in  this  case,  he  woidd  undoubtedly  have 
the  true  name  restored. 

Mr  Muidoch  remarked  that  ja  Rolving  the  etymology  of  our 
Highland  names,  we  must  not  ftlways  limit  our  appeals  to  Gaelic, 
for  a  great  many  of  them  are,  beyond  all  question,  Scandinavian, 
■and  utterl}^  uniutelligible  to  the  mei-e  Gaelic  speaker  ;  and  for  his 
own  j'art  it  was  not  until  he  had  got  to  the  Shetland  Isles  he  was 
•able  to  make  oiit  the  meaning  and  origin  of  some  names  with 
which  he  had  been  familiar  all  his  days.  In  the  island  of  Islay, 
for  instance,  there  are  a  very  great  many  names  of  places  out  of 
^hich  no  fail'  ingenuity  could  extract  a  Gaelic  meaning.  Twenty- 
five  of  those  names  terminated  in  bus — as  Torabus,  Persibus, 
Eorabus,  Eallabus,  Carabus,  Cullabus,  Neribus,  Carnabus,  Cavila- 
bus,  Cragabus,  Peesibus,  Kinabus,  Assabus.  Thei'e  is  another  list 
terminating  ■  in  fitadh  or  sta,  as  Runistadh,  Ollistadh,  Elistadh, 
Tormastadh,  Pobasadh,  Grobasadh.  Then  there  are  Sannaig  and 
•Suirnaig,  Saligeo  and  Braigeo,  Gruilinn  and  Gruinnart.  In  several 
■of  these  the  Norse  elements  are  quite  distinguishable,  and  the 
analysis  of  one  may  help  to  solve  the  rest.  In  his  yoimg  days  he 
was  told  that  Gruinart  meant  Gninnd  ard  ;  only,  unfortunately,  it 
was  a  low  place  with  a  long,  narrow,  salt  water  loch  in  the  bottom 
of  it.  Ceann  traigh  Ghruinart  is  famous  as  the  name  of  a  Pio- 
baii'eachd,  and  the  scene  of  a  battle  between  the  Macdonalds  and 
Macleans.  On  one  occasion  he  was  called  upon  by  a  poor  woman 
in  Shetland,  who  told  him  she  had  come  from  Gruinart.  "  From 
Gruinart  T  said  he,  thinking  of  the  place  in  Islay.  "  Yes,"  said 
6he,  more  delibc.i-ately,  "from  Gruina-firth."  Gruina  is  the  general 
term  for  a  gi-een  isle,  and  we  know  that  "  firth  "  is  a  bay.  And 
with  Nave  Island,  in  tlie  mouth  of  Loch  Gruinart,  Griunatirth,  or 


TRANSACTIONS.  HI 

the  Green-isle-locli,  was  an  accurately  descriptive  uauKi.  "  Sau- 
iiaig "  is  really  Sandwick  ;  "  Saligeo  "  is  the  seal-gully  ;  and 
"  Braigeo  "  is  evidently  Gaelic  and  Norse,  the  brow  of  the  gully  or 
Geo.  Of  com-se  the  Danes  and  Norwegians  gave  names  to  numbers 
of  places  all  OA^er  the  North  as  well  when  they  had  settlements. 
With  regard  to  Culloden  itself  there  was  some  reason  to  sup})ose 
that  it  was  partly  Scandinavian,  and  made  up  of  Ciiil,  a  neuk,  and 
Odin,  one  of  the  Noi"se  deities,  sometimes  foiuid  in  the  form  of 
Odair  among  oiir  Gaelic-speaking  peo^^le ;  and  it  is  very  remarkaljle 
to  what  extent  this  Ciiil,  or  cornei-,  of  the  country  is  dotted  over 
with  what  ai'e  called  Drnidical  Circles.  Th3  root  Cuil,  also,  is 
veiy  prevalent  in  the  same  locality — -as  Cuil-earnaidh,  Cuil-blair, 
Cnil-domhaich,  Cuil-chuinneag,  ifec.  It  was  possible  that  l)y  com- 
paring and  considering  these  vaiious  nses  of  the  word,  we  might 
arrive  at  a  more  satisfactoiy  conchisian  than  by  taking  an;^  one 
application  of  it  by  itself.  Whilst  offering  these  I'emarks,  he  was 
desirous  of  expressing  the  gi-eat  pleasnre  with  which  he  listened 
to  the  paper,  which  he  chai-acterised  as  a  valual)le  contiiljution  to 
the  records  of  the  Society. 


November  25. — This  evening  the  following  ])a])er  was  read  by 
Mr  Murdoch,  on 

THE    CLAN    SYSTEM. 

It  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  hear  and  read  the  Highlanders 
spoken  of  as  if,  in  recent  times,  they  had  been  delivered  from  the 
feudal  system  :  the  idea  being  conveyed  that  the  feudal  system  was 
that  of  the  clans.  I  need  harcUy  tell  a  company  of  intelligent 
Higlilanders  that  this  is  a  mistake ;  and  it  is  only  for  the  sake  of 
argument  that  it  is  necessary  for  me  to  say  that  the  feudal  system 
coidd  only  be  set  up  on  the  ruins  of  the  clan  system. 

It  is  rather  curious  that  the  above  blunder  is  most  frequently 
committed  at  the  very  time  that  the  bliuiderei-s  are  trying  to  make 
us  believe  that  they  are  in,structing  us  in  politics ;  and  yet,  that 
the  simple  truth  comes  out  very  frequently  when  persons  put  forth 
no  such  solemn  pretensions.  How  often  do  we  hear,  for  instance^ 
of  a  feud  between  enemies ;  but  of  pei-sons  who  stick  closely  to- 
gether and  help  one  another  being  clannish.  Here  you  see  the 
distinction,  and  even  the  difference,  between  the  two  systems 
lingering  in  common  speech,  after  so-called  philoso})hers  and  de- 
signing politicians,  had  done  their  utmost  to  esfciblish  a  fiction  in 
the  public  mind.      "There  was  a  gi-eat  feud  ])ctween  such  and  such 


63  TRANSACTIONS. 

families,"  meaning,  of  coiu'se,  that  tbey  hated  each  other,  and  were 
designing  evil  against  one  another.  But  who  requires  to  be  told 
that  the  opjwsite  is  meant  when  it  Ls  said  "  Oh,  how  clannish  these 
Highlanders  are,"  meaning,  of  coui-se,  that  they  help  one  another, 
defend  each  other,  and  hold  together  like  a  well-regulated  family. 

And  what  came  out  thus  in  so  many  words  is  only  wh;it  we 
know  to  be  contained,  and  given  out  by,  the  one  word  chinn.  The 
clan  is  really  the  family  from  a  certain  point  of  view ;  but  it  is  not 
intended  to  convey  the  idea  of  a  ftimily  in  a  state  of  orphanage,  or 
without  a  head.  To  convey  that  bai-e  idea,  it  would  suffice,  I 
imagine,  to  use  tlie  word  teadhlach,  simply  a  family.  But  when 
we  use  the  word  dann,  we  co-note  the  relation  of  the  family  or 
teadhlach  to  the  parent.  I  may  say  that  the  more  tender  idea  of 
my  own,  or  his  o^vni,  children  is  suggested  ;  and  then  there  arises 
in  the  mind  the  image  or  figure  of  the  father  or  patriarch,  looking 
down  with  tender  solicitude  upon  his  own  children  or  dann,  and 
the  da7in  looking  up  to  him  for  ooiinsel,  for  guidance,  for  iiistruc- 
tion,  belie\dng  in  his  j)arental  affection,  and  rendering  filial  afiectiou 
in  return. 

All  this,  I  say,  lingers  in  our  common  speech  ;  and  if  you 
wanted  to  conjure  uj>  in  the  mind  the  best  form  and  sj)ii-it  of 
society,  you  could  hardly  do  better  than  that  which  is  done  in  the 
mind  of  eveiy  intelligent  Highlander  by  the  full  and  fair  use  of  the 
word  dann  as  applied  to  a  people. 

But  if  you  wanted  to  damage  this  people,  if  you  wanted  to 
afford  a  pretext  for  breaking  in  uj)on  this  people,  society,  or  family, 
you  could  hardly  do  better  than  the  Quaker  did  with  the  dog,  "  I 
will  not  kOl  thee,  but  call  thee  mad."  Of  course,  to  call  the  ])Oor 
dog  mad  was  to  raise  every  baton  in  the  village  against  him,  and 
make  sm-e  that  some  one  shoidd  kill  him.  So  a  good  way  of 
ensuring  the  breaking  up  of  the  clans  was  to  give  them  a  bad 
name ;  and  a  capital  excuse  for  what  had  been  done  in  this  way 
was,  to  say  that  theirs  was  a  feudal  system,  or  a  system  of  slavery 
and  of  feuds,  which  ought  not  to  be  allowed  to  exist. 

But  I  must  not  proceed  too  rapidly  over  the  ground  which  lies 
before  me  from  this  position.  As  I  have  said,  the  dann  implied 
the  father;  and  tliis  is  as  strong  an  implication  as  I  can  find  in  the 
word,  and  in  the  thing  which  the  word  represents.  And  this  leads 
lis  to  the  natural  origin  of  society.  It  does  not  matter  whether 
we  go  back  to  the  first  father  and  family,  or  merely  to  an  innni- 
gi-ant  family;  we  have  the  little  gi-oup  established,  say,  in  one  of 
our  glens  :  the  old,  sage,  and  experienced  oecuppng  the  place  of 
honoiu-  and  authoi-ity ;  the  young,  vigorous,  and  iiuex])erience(L 
i-eady  to  run  in  obedience  to  thnt  authoiity,  and  in  conformity  ti) 
the  wisdom  i-esiding  thei'c. 


TRANSACTIONS.  33 

But  this  father  must  rohitiv^ely  cUiuuiish,  and  ultiiuatoly  die, 
leaving  an  increasing  and  multiplying  family  in  need  of  guidance, 
and  requiring  some  strong  cord  or  influence  to  keep  them  still 
together,  and  counteract  in  some  measiu-e  the  centrifugal  force  of 
personal  selfishness,  which  would  set  each  member  of  tlie  larger 
family  to  disregard  the  general  good  in  the  eager  pursuit  of  his 
own  gain. 

The  younger  will  look  up  to  the  elder;  and  when  there  are 
many  fathers,  the  whole  community,  in  quest  of  one  to  act  the 
part  of  father  in  general  to  them,  will  natiirally  defer  to  the  most 
fatherly  of  all  these  fathers.     In  the  quality  of  age,    the   elder 
brother  will,  of  course,  excel,  and  command  the  first  thouglit.     But 
more  is  reqiiired  than  age,   although   a   measure  of  this  is  indis- 
pensable in  him  who  would  rule.      I  pray  you  to  note  this,  and 
bring  it  with  you  to  the  consideration  of  some  things  in  our  ancient 
Highland  polity  which  have  puzzled  theorists.     It  was  not  because 
he   was  old  that  the  natural  father  was  the  head  of  his  family, 
although  a  measure  of  age  was  indispensable — but  because  he  was 
their  father.     And  he,  among  the  many  fathers  to  whom  I  have 
already  referred,  who  possesses  the  greatest  amount  of  what  children 
look  up  for  in  their  father,  is  of  right  the  head  of  the  large  family 
or  community  of  families.     The  first  of  these  we  cannot  overlook, 
viz.,  blood  relationship.     This  has  a  hold  which  is  not  to  be  lightly 
regarded,    and  which   has   in  all  ages   been  felt,   no   matter  how 
vigorously  indi\'iduals  and  nations  have  tried  to  break  it.     And 
when  I  speak  of  blood  relationship,  I  wish  to  denote  a  two-sided 
relationship.      For  example,  we  have  not  got  so  far  in  our  descent 
as  to  ignore  the  blood  relationship  of  the  head  of  our  community 
to  his  people ;  he  must  be  of  the  people  whom  he  rules ;  but  he 
must  be  still  closer,  if  possible,  to  the  preceding  and  to  the  first 
ruler  or  father  than  any  one  else.     In  this  consangiiinity  he  inherits 
a  potent  share  of  the  veneration  which,  in  coui'se  of  time,  gathei-s 
around  the  head  of  him  who  has  ruled  well  and  long.      You  \vill 
readily  understand  what  a  hold  this  gives  to  the  new  ruler.     The 
people  feel  the  force  of  the  two  ties — his  being  flesh  of  theii-  own 
flesh,  and  bone  of  the  bone  of  him  to  whom  they  have  been  in  the 
habit  of  looking  up.      In  other  words,  the  fraternal  feeling  and  the 
filial  feeling  find  ligitimate  exercise  and  use  in  binding  the  growing 
commimity  together.      Theories  of  Grovernment,  which  go  to  put 
the  right  man  in  the  right  place,  and  yet  ignore  the  force  of  the 
feelings  to  which   I  have  been  referring,  have  generally,   if  not 
always,  failed  in  practice.     They  may  succeed  in  either  of  two 
supposititious  circumstances — when  the  entire  community  has  be- 
come so  Christian  as  to  be  thoroughly  imbued  with  that  feeling  of 
higher  brotherhood  which  gi-ows  out  of  an  absorbing  love  of  Christ; 

E 


34  TRANSACTIONS. 

or  when  men  have  become  so  transcendently  pliilosopliical  as  nof; 
to  care  for  theu'  own  nearest  relatives.  The  former  we  are  not, 
and  our  fathers  were  not ;  and  the  hxtter  I  hope  we  never  shall  be. 
The  above  goes  a  gi-eat  way  towards  accovmting  for  the  shortness 
of  the  lives  of  republics,  and  for  the  length  of  days  attained  by 
very  rotten  monarchies. 

The  very  fact  that  my  blood  relation  occupies  the  seat  of 
authority  in  my  clan,  tribe,  or  country,  gives  me  a  degree  of 
interest  and  pride  in  him  which  I  woiild  not  have  in  another  ruler; 
and  it  has  often  been  statetl  that  the  idea  of  a  blood  relationship  to 
his  chief  has  in  olden  times  gone  to  make  the  poor  clansman 
cherish  the  spirit  and  behaviour  of  a  gentleman ;  and  I  need 
hardly  say  that  this  relationship  had  its  influence  in  making  the 
chief  chei'ish  his  clan,  and  devote  himself  more  heai-tily  to  its 
service.  Not  to  rest  so  important  a  point  on  my  authority,  or  on 
your  reasoning,  I  will  give  what  Bi-own  says  on  the  subject  in  the 
*'  History  of  the  Highland  Clans  "  : — 

"The  patriarchal  system  in  some  of  its  features  exhibited  a 
strong  resemblance  to  feudalism,  yet  in  others  the  distinction  was 
too  strongly  marked  to  be  for  a  moment  mistaken.  The  chief  was 
the  hereditary  lord  of  all  who  were  supposed  to  be  descended  of 
the  same  stock  with  himself;  the  Gothic  baron  was  merely  the 
hereditary  proprietor  of  a  certain  tract  of  land,  and  as  such  only 
entitled  to  the  service  and  obedience  of  those  who  dwelt  on  it. 
This  disting-uishing  property  of  the  patriarchal  system,  wherever  it 
prevailed,  was  peculiarly  remarkable  in  the  case  of  the  Highlandei-s 
of  Scotland." 

And  whilst  I  am  quoting  Brown,  I  wish  to  direct  your  parti- 
cular attention  to  what  he  says  in  the  same  connection,  although 
this  is  not  the  best  place  for  it  : — 

"  By  reason  of  the  similarity  ah-eady  mentioned,  the  feudal  law 
was  without  difiiculty  introduced  into  the  Highlands  in  so  far  as 
regarded  the  tenure  of  lands ;  l)ut  in  other  resjjects  the  striiggle 
between  the  two  systems  proved  long  and  doubtful,  nor  was  it 
until  a  very  recent  period  that  the  feudal  law  of  succession  and 
marriage  came  into  full  operation  in  the  Highlands  [mark  this], 
and  displaced  that  which  previously  obtained  —  thus  laying  a 
foundation  for  those  disputes  which  have  since  arisen  amongst 
many  of  the  Highland  families  i-especting  chieftainship  and  succes- 
sion."— Yol.  iv.,  p.  371. 

I  want  you  to  note  another  historical  statement  of  Brown's, 
because  it  contains  the  testimony  of  some  of  our  former  law-makers 
to  the  superiority  of  the  clan  system  over  that  of  the  feudal 
system  as  a  conservator  of  the  subject's  liberty  : — 

"  Community  of  feeling,  position,  and  interest,"  he  says,  page 


TRAN'SArTIOXS.  S5 

300,  "was  strengthened  by  a  snjiposed  community  of  blood,  and 
gave  to  the  Celtic  chief  a  pre-eminent  authority  Avhich  never  be- 
longed to  the  feudal  baron.  In  Wales,  in  Ireland,  and  in  the 
Highlands  of  Scotland,  the  patriarchal  system  was  universal ; 
whilst  opposed  to,  not  identical  -sWth,  this  form  was  the  feudal 
system  of  the  Saxon  invaders.  It  was  long  the  policy  of  the 
Scottish  legislature  to  oppose  the  feudal  power  of  the  barons,  and 
to  support  that  which  was  exercised  by  the  chiefs  :  the  one  was 
conceived  to  militate  against,  and  present  an  obstacle  to,  the 
explication  and  assertion  of  the  royal  authority ;  the  other  was 
sought  as  an  ally  against  usurpations,  which  were  restrained  by  no 
ties,  and  confined  within  no  limits,  such  as  those  which  at  once 
regulated  and  abridged  the  authority  of  a  chief." 

With  your  permission  I  shall  quote  another  testimony  to  the 
same  effect.  General  Stuart  of  Garth  says — "  One  chief  was  dis- 
tinguished from  another,  not  by  any  additional  splendour  of  dress 
or  equipage ;  but  by  being  followed  by  more  dependants,  and  by 
entei-taining  a  greater  number  of  guests.  What  the  retainers  gave 
from  theii'  individual  property  was  spent  amongst  them  in  the 
kindest  and  most  liberal  manner.  At  the  castle  every  individual 
was  made  welcome,  and  was  treated  according  to  his  station  with 
a  degi-ee  of  courtesy  and  regard  to  his  feelings  unknown  in  any 
other  coimtry.  This  condescension,  while  it  raised  the  clansman 
in  his  own  estimation,  and  drew  closer  the  ties  between  him  and 
his  superior,  seldom  tempted  him  to  use  any  improper  familiarities. 
He  believed  himself  well-l)orn,  and  was  taught  to  respect  himself 
in  the  respect  which  he  showed  to  his  chief;  and  thus,  instead  of 
complaining  of  the  difference  of  station  and  fortune,  or  considering 
a  ready  obedience  to  his  chieftain's  call  as  a  slavish  oppression,  he 
felt  con^^Jlced  that  he  was  supporting  his  own  honour  in  showing 
his  gratitude  and  duty  to  the  generous  head  of  his  family." 
"  Hence,"  says  Dalrymple,  in  his  Memoirs,  "  the  Highlanders, 
whom  more  savage  nations  called  savage,  carried  in  the  oiitward 
expression  of  their  nmnners  the  politeness  of  courts  without  their 
vices,  and  ia  their  bosom  the  high  point  of  honour,  ^vithout  its 
follies."  And  Mrs  Grant  of  Laggan  says — "  ISTothing  can  be  more 
erroneous  than  the  preA^alent  idea  that  a  Highland  chief  was  an 
ignorant  and  imprincipled  tyrant,  who  rewarded  the  abject  sub- 
mission of  his  followers  with  relentless  cruelty  and  rigorous  oppres- 
sion." And  mark  what  follows — "  If  ferocious  in  disposition,  or 
weak  in  understanding,  he  was  curbed  and  dii-ected  by  the  heads 
of  his  tribe,  who,  by  inviolable  custom,  were  his  standing  coun- 
sellors, Mdthout  Avliose  advice  no  measure  of  any  kind  was  decided." 
Numerous  examples  of  the  exercise  of  this  coimsel  might  be  given. 
The  Clann  Choinnich  would  not  allow  their  chief  to  pull  do^^ni  the 


36  TRANSACTIONS. 

Castle  of  Brahan ;  and  tlic  Laird  of  Glenorchy,  more  than  three 
hundred  years  ago,  resolved  to  bnild  a  castle  on  a  hill  at  the  side 
of  Loch  Tay,  and  actually  laid  the  foundation,  which  was  to  he 
seen  in  General  Stuart's  day,  and  I  do  not  know  but  it  is  still  to 
be  seen.  The  situation  was  not  agi'eea])le  to  his  advisers,  who 
interfered,  and  caused  him  to  change  his  plan,  and  build  the  Castle 
of  Balloch  or  Taymouth.  In  some  instances  they  went  the  length 
of  deposing  theii-  chiefs.  One  example  of  this  exercise  of  a  very 
legitimate  power  is  quoted  in  the  case  of  the  Chief  Macdonald  of 
Clanranald,  and  another  in  the  femily  of  Macdonald  of  Keppoch ; 
and  at  a  later  period  the  pick  of  the  Clan  Donnell  of  Glengany  got 
up  in  a  body  and  emigi-ated  to  America,  the  recreant  chief  appeal- 
ing to  Paiiiament  for  power  to  prevent  them  from  leaving  hira 
alone  in  his  glory. 

Caesar  observes  that  "  the  clannish  system  was  introduced 
among  the  Gauls,  in  ancient  times,  so  as  that  the  most  obscure 
person  should  not  be  oppressed  by  the  rich  ;  for  each  leader  was 
obliged  to  protect  his  followers,  else  he  should  soon  be  stripped  of 
his  aiithority."  And  Logan  says — "  It  is  apparent  from  the  con- 
striiction  of  Celtic  society  that  a  chief  could  never  become  despotic. 
The  government  was  radically  democratic  " — (Vol.  i.,  page  180); 
and  (page  184)  he  says — "The  connection  of  the  Gaelic  chief  and 
his  people  was  not  the  rule  of  the  strong  over  the  weak :  it  was 
maintained  by  reciprocal  advantages  and  kindnesses.  All  the 
members  of  a  clan  were  connected  with  each  other,  and  their  com- 
mon safety  depended  on  their  united  fidelity  and  co-operation  ; 
tyranny  and  injustice  on  the  jiart  of  the  chief  could  not  fail  to 
weaken  his  influence,  and,  finally,  estrange  his  kindred  and  his 
friends." 

But  I  wish  you  here  to  notice  a  reniai-kable  difierence  between 
the  clan  system  and  the  feudal  system  in  regard  to  primogeniture. 
You  know  and  see  clearly  that,  from  the  laiid  in  his  mansion  to 
the  king  on  his  throne,  the  succession  is  not  only  by  descent  from 
father  to  son,  but  from  father  to  the  eldest  son,  without  any 
proper  regard  to  the  comparative  fitness  of  the  difierent  members 
of  the  laird's  or  of  the  king's  family.  I  need  hardly  dwell  uiwn  the 
violence  which  this  disregard  does  to  the  law  of  natural  affection  no 
less  than  to  the  fitness  of  things.  It  is  not  the  law  of  nature  that 
a  man  should  j^refer  his  eldest  son  to  all  his  other  sons ;  neither  is 
it  that  the  community  should  have  such  an  overwhelming  venera- 
tion for  the  eldest  son  of  their  chief  as  to  make  them  overlook  fit- 
ness for  office,  and  those  lovable  elements  of  chai'acter  upon  which 
friendship  subsists.  No;  it  often  happens  that  the  affections  of 
the  parent  single  out  the  youngest,  and  that  the  people  show  a 
decided  preference  for  a  younger  son  over  an  heir-apparent. 


TRANSACTIONS.  37 

Tims,  although  there  are  strong  laws  of  nature  pointing  to  a 
son  or  near  relative  of  a  ruler  as  his  snccessor,  there  is  not  any- 
great  natural  force  in  the  law  or  custom  which  is  allowed  to  point 
to  the  eldest  son  as  successor.  And  it  is  a  remarkable  thing  that 
in  the  clan  system,  notwithstanding  the  gi-eat  scope  allowed  for 
the  exercise  of  veneration,  it  was  laid  down  in  law  and  in  custom 
that  the  succession  should  not  be  limited  to  the  eldest  son,  or  to 
any  son  of  the  reigning  chief.  The  best  specimen  in  the  best  stock 
Avas  the  successor.  The  chief's  family  was  assumed  to  be  the  best 
stock,  and  his  brother,  his  son,  his  nephew — whoever  showed  him- 
self the  best  in  this  stock — w^as  chosen  to  succeed  him.  Nor  was 
this  in  ancient  times  confined  to  the  Higliland  clans  :  we  see  it  in 
the  Scottish  and  even  in  the  English  royal  succession.  Robertson, 
in  his  work  called  "  Scotland  under  her  Early  Kings,"  brings  this 
point  out  as  a  recognised  principle,  and  not  a  mere  accident  decided 
t)y  feuds  or  battles.  Mter  mentioning  a  number  of  instances  in 
both  countries  in  which  the  crowns  had  descended  indii-ectly,  and 
in  which  the  successors  had  been  appointed  before-hand,  he  says — 
"  In  Scotland  such  a  system  was  peciUiarly  desirable,  when  the 
early  usage,  extending  the  right  of  election  to  the  Crown  to  every 
member  of  the  royal  family,  rendered  the  election  of  a  Tanist 
during  the  lifetime  of  the  reigming  sovereign  a  matter  of  absolute 
necessity,  to  prevent  anarchy  and  confusion  after  his  decease." 
Logan  confirms  this — "  The  law  of  Tanistry  not  only  i  regidated 
the  government  of  the  clans,  but  determined  the  succession  of  the 
kings  of  Scotland  during  the  Celtic  dynasty,  or  until  1056,  and 
pervaded  the  constitution  to  a  much  later  period."  And  Dr 
Macpherson,  who  mentions  that  it  was  not  above  two  hundred 
years  since  the  custom  prevailed  in  the  Highlands,  says  that  it 
prevailed  even  among  the  Saxons ;  but  that  it  became  obsolete 
before  the  conquest  of  Ireland.  If  possible,  Buchanan  is  still  more 
forcible,  not  only  as  to  the  facts,  but  as  to  the  wisdom  of  this 
system. 

BroM-n,  as  already  quoted,  says  that  the  patiiarchal  system 
extended  over  Ireland  and  Wales,  as  well  as  over  the  Highlands. 
Spenser  complains  of  it  as  a  hinderance  to  the  consolidation  of  the 
feudal  power  of  England  in  Ireland.  In  his  ftimous  Dialogue  on 
the  state  of  Ireland,  Endox  asks,  "  Doth  not  the  parent,  in  any 
graunt  or  conveyance,  bind  the  beyi'es  forever  thereunto?"  Irena?us 
answers — "  They  say  no  ;  for  their  ancestors  had  no  estates  in  any 
their  lands,  signoryes,  or  heriditamentes,  longer  than  during  theii- 
own  lives,  as  they  allege,  for  all  the  Irish  do  hold  their  lands  by 
Tanistry e  ;  which  is,  they  say,  no  more  than  a  personal  estate  for 
his  life-time,  that  is,  Tanistih,  by  reason  that  he  is  aduutted  thereto 
by  the  election  of  the  country."     Endox  asks — "What  is  this 


38  TRANSACTIONS. 

that  yoii  call  Tanistili  and  Tanistiye  1  They  be  terms  never  heard 
of  nor  known  to  uh.  1  Iren. — It  is  a  custom  among  all  the  Irish, 
that  presently,  after  the  death  of  any  their  chiefs,  they  do  pre- 
sently assemble  themselves  to  a  place  generally  appointed  and 
known  to  them,  to  chose  another  in  his  stead,  where  they  do  nomi- 
nate and  elect,  for  the  most  part,  not  the  eldest  son,  nor  any  of  the 
chilcb'en  of  their  lord  deceased,  but  the  next  to  him  of  blood,  that 
is,  the  eldest  and  tvorthiest,  as  commonly  the  next  brother  to  him„ 
if  he  have  any,  or  the  next  cousin-german,  or  so  forth,  as  any  is 
elder  in  that  kiad  or  sept ;  and  then  next  to  him  they  choose  the 
next  of  blood  to  be  Tanistih." 

He  then  goes  on  to  describe  the  ceremony  of  inauguration, 
which  is  the  veiy  same  as  that  gone  through  at  the  election  of  the 
Lords  of  the  Isles  in  Scotland,  and  embraced  this  engagement  on 
the  part  of  the  chief — "  An  oath  to  preserve  all  the  former  ancient 
customs  of  the  country  in^dolate,  and  to  deliver  up  the  succession 
peaceably  to  his  Tanistih."  Endox  asks  about  the  origan  of  this 
strange  system,  and  Irenfeus  answers — "  I  have  heard  that  the 
beginning  and  caiise  of  this  ordinance  amongst  the  Irish,  was 
sj)ecially  for  the  defence  and  maintenance  of  their  lands  in  their 
posterity,  and  for  excluding  of  all  iimovation  and  alienation  thereof 
unto  strangers,  and  especially  to  the  English.  For  when  the 
captain  died,  if  the  sigiiiory  should  descend  to  his  child,  and  he, 
perhaps,  an  infant,  another  might  peradventm-e  step  m.  between,  or 
thrust  him  out  by  strong  hand.  And  to  this  end  the  Tanistih  is 
always  ready  knowai,  if  it  shoidd  happen  the  captain  suddenly  to 
die,  to  defend  and  keep  the  teritory  from  all  doubts  and  dangers. 
Eor  which  cause  the  Tanistih  hath  also  a  share  of  the  country 
allotted  to  him,  and  certain  cuttings  and  appendages  upon  all  the 
inhabitants  under  the  lord." 

All  this  he  refers  to  the  Brehon  Laws ;  and  to  them  I  also 
would  refer,  as  sending  us  far  back  ijito  the  early  Christian,  and 
even  pagan  times,  for  the  original  idea  of  chieftainshii).  At  page 
279,  vol.  ii.,  of  the  Brehon  Laws,  now  in  course  of  publication  by 
a  Royal  Comnaission  in  Dublin,  the  "  Senachus  Mor "  has  this 
striking  passage — "  Eveiy  head  defends  its  members,  if  it  be  a 
goodly  head,  of  good  deeds,  of  good  moi-als,  exempt,  affluent, 
capable.  The  body  of  every  head  is  his  tribe,  for  there  is  no  body 
without  a  head.  The  head  of  every  tribe,  according  to  the  people, 
should  be  the  man  of  the  tribe  who  is  the  most  experienced,  the 
most  noble,  the  most  wealthy,  the  wisest,  the  most  learned,  the 
most  truly  popular,  the  most  powei-ful  to  oppose,  the  most  steadfast 
to  sue  for  profits,  and  be  sued  for  losses."  At  page  201  we  get  a 
glimpse  of  the  hereditary  element,  where  it  says — "There  is  a  dis- 
tinction of  stock,  and  of  chiefs,  that  is,  a  chief  who  is  entitled  only 


TRANSACTIONS.  .39 

to  butter,  ami  seed,  and  live  stock  ;  an  inferior  chief,  wliose  father 
was  not  a  chief"  But  in  page  203  it  is  said — ■"  The  chief  of  true 
family,  by  father  and  grandfather,  is  entitled  to  returns,  with  all 
noble  rights  in  general." 

You  will  readily  perceive  that  even  with  the  breadth  of  l_»asis 
given  to  the  ruling  family  by  the  element  of  Tanistry,  the  ties  of 
consanguinity  must  be  getting  weaker  as  the  tribe  or  clan  mul- 
tiplies and  extends.  Surely,  tlien,  it  was  by  no  mere  accident  or 
chance  that  the  custom  of  fosterage  was  established.  To  me  it 
seems  veiy  remarkable  as  an  expedient  for  bringing  the  head  of 
the  community  into  a  fresh  blood  connection  with  the  extremities. 
To  borrow  an  illustration  from  the  vegetable  kingdom,  it  brings 
before  my  mind  the  Banian  tree,  which,  although  having  a  great 
trunk  pro})er,  and  numerous  primary  roots  connecting  that  trunk 
with  the  })arent  earth,  sends  down  fresh  props  to  support  its  wide- 
spreading  branches,  and  draw  noiirishment  from  a  wider  area  of 
gi'ound.  So  the  chief,  although  connected  by  blood  with  the  whole 
clan,  sends  out  a  son  to  be  nursed  in  the  house  of  the  humble  and 
distant  clansman,  thus  striking  a  fresh  root  for  his  fiimily  among 
his  people,  and  drawing  a  fresh  supply  of  support  from  the  original 
source — the  body  of  the  people.  Nor  is  that  all  ;  that  is  only  one 
side  of  the  matter.  This  nursing,  gi'owing,  living — this  thorough 
experience  in  the  humbler  sphere  of  the  clansman's  house,  is  an 
important  part  of  the  education  necessary  to  a  good  iiiler.  It  is 
not  merely  the  knowledge  which  he  acquires  of  how  the  other  half 
of  the  world  lives ;  there  is  something  more  that  is  very  valuable 
acquired — sympathy  with  the  gi'ade  of  men  among  whom  he  has 
spent  his  early  days.  What  a  corrective  Avill  not  that  same  sym- 
pathy be  of  the  piide,  the  arrogance,  and  the  fiilse  idea  of  class 
superiority  which  is  too  apt  to  have  a  place  in  the  superior  circle 
to  which  he  retiirns  from  the  humble  home  of  his  fostei'fixther. 
Logan  says — "  The  practice  of  fosterage,  by  which  children  were 
exchanged  and  brought  up,  was  a  curious  feature  in  the  system 
and  a  most  poweiful  cement  to  clanship.  The  son  of  the  chief  was 
given  to  be  reared  by  some  inferior  member  of  society,  with  whom 
he  lived  duiing  the  years  of  pupillarity.  The  effect  of  this  custom 
appears  to  have  been  astonishing."  It  is  very  curioiis  how  Logan 
words  the  next  sentence.  You  will  find  that  it  consists,  first,  of 
a  stixtement  of  facts,  and  then  of  a  mere  opinion,  as  if  he  did  not 
happen  to  have  any  facts  at  hand  to  support  it.  He  says  that  this 
custom  of  fosterage  "  often  prevented  feuds."  That  is  the  state- 
ment of  facts.  The  ojiinion  is  that  "it  seems  calculated  sometimes 
to  jn'oduce  feuds."  I  would  be  afraid,  too,  that  it  would  pi'oduce 
feuds.  But  that  would  only  be  an  opinion,  in  supjiort  of  which  I 
couhl  not  pi-oducc  a  morsel  of  evidence  any  more  than  my  friend 


40  TRANSACTIONS. 

Logan  did.  "  The  attachment  of  foster-brothers,"  he  says,  "  was 
strong  and  indissoluble.  The  Highlanders  say,  that  '  affectionate 
to  a  man  is  a  friend,  but  a  foster-brother  is  as  the  life-blood  of  his 
heart.' "  And  Camden  goes  to  the  extravagant  length  of  saying 
that  "  no  love  in  the  world  is  comparable  by  many  degi-ees  to  it ;" 
and  Spenser  gives  a  most  afiecting,  though  rather  gross  example, 
of  the  strength  of  this  love  in  the  foster-mother  of  Muri'ough 
O'Brien.  Campion  says  that  five  hundred  kine  and  better  were 
sometimes  given  by  the  Iiish  to  procure  the  nursing  of  a  great 
man's  child. 

The  Highland  Society's  Report  on  Ossian  infomis  us  that  Fionn 
had  no  fewer  than  sixteen  foster-brothers.  Logan  mentions  that  a 
deed  of  fosterage  between  Sir  Norman  Macleod  and  John  INIackenzie, 
dated  1645,  and  written  in  Gaelic,  was  in  existence  in  1830,  when 
he  wi'ote.  Brown  but  repeats  Logan's  ideas  and  quotations  in  less 
felicitous  terms. 

It  is  astonishing  ^vith  what  minuteness  the  Brehon  laws  go  into 
this  subject  of  fosterage,  taking  care  that  eveiy  foster  son  shall  be 
fed,  clothed,  and  educated  according  to  certain  scales  laid  down, 
fixing  the  terms,  the  periods,  and  the  fees ;  and  guarding  against 
the  corruption  of  the  minds,  the  injury  of  the  bodies,  or  the 
damaging  of  the  interests  of  foster-children.  It  is  more  as  a 
curiosity  than  as  essential  to  my  present  purpose  that  I  give  an 
extract  or  two  from  the  "  Senachus  Mor."  Of  the  raiment,  it  says 
"  According  to  the  rank  of  each  man,  from  the  humblest  man  to 
the  king,  is  the  clothing  of  his  son.  Blay-coloured,  and  yellow, 
and  black  and  white  clothes  are  to  be  worn  by  the  sons  of  infei'ior 
grades;  red,  and  gi-een,  and  brown  clothes  by  the  sons  of  chieftains; 
pui^ile  and  blue  by  the  sons  of  kings." 

Then  as  to  their  food.  "  Lcite  "  is  given  to  them  all ;  but  tho 
flavoui'ing  which  goes  into  it  is  different — salt  butter  for  the  sons 
of  inferior  gi-ades,  fresh  butter  for  the  sons  of  chieftains,  honey  for 
the  sons  of  kings.  Here  is  another  version  from  Dr  O'Donovan, 
evidently  as  the  custom  got  altered — "  They  are  all  fed  on  stirra- 
bout ;  but  the  materials  of  which  it  is  made,  and  the  flavouring 
taken  with  it,  vary  according  to  the  rank  of  the  parents  of  the 
children.  The  children  of  the  inferior  grades  are  fed  to  bare 
sufliciency  on  stii'rabout  made  of  oatmeal  on  butter-milk  or  water, 
and  it  is  taken  with  stale  butter.  The  sons  of  the  chieftain  grades 
are  fed  to  satiety  on  stii'rabout  made  of  barleymeal,  upon  new  milk, 
taken  with  fresh  butter.  The  sons  of  kings  are  fed  on  stirrabout, 
made  of  wheaten  meal,  upon  new  milk,  taken  with  honey." 

Before  I  proceed  any  further  I  must  direct  your  attention  to 
what  I  must  call,  in  modern  language,  a  great  fact  which  comes  out 
of  all  this.     The  chiefs  and  chieftainships,  like  the  kings,  were  in 


TRANSACTION'S.  41 

ill  reality  public  j\idici;il  functionaries,  cho.s(ni,  apjxiintod,  and 
sujjported  to  administer  the  laws  antl  customs  of  theii-  jjeople  for 
the  general  good.  Tlieii'  appointment  depended  u])on  their  charac- 
ter and  their  pedigree;  and  the  retaining  of  their  offices  de2)endc<l 
upon  their  conduct.  The  full  force  of  the  tii-st  of  these  statements 
will  hardly  appear  until  we  have  gone  into  the  more  solid  matter 
of  the  relation  in  which  chief  and  people  stood  to  the  land  ;  and 
this  I  must  leave,  I  find,  for  another  ])aper. 

Let  me  note  another  remarkal)le  thing,  viz.,  that  this  system 
embraced  the  two  elements  of  aristoci-acy  and  deinoci-acy,  forces 
which,  in  our  day,  are  regarded  as  antagouLstic  and  mutually  de- 
structive. The  chief,  as  a  rule,  was  an  aristocrat  by  blood  and. 
bLrth  at  the  same  time  that  he  was  the  choice  of  the  peoi^le,  in 
the  affection  developed  in  them  by  his  character.  So  far  as  a 
superficial  reading  of  history  and  of  tradition  conveys,  however, 
chiefs  and  chieftains  (like  the  kings  of  the  same  period),  seem  to 
have  had  their  main  use  in  uniting  their  people  for  warlike  pur- 
poses, and  in  leading  them  into  the  ever-recurring  fi-ay.  Let  us 
give  its  full  force  to  this  reading,  merely  adding  that  a  veiy  gi^eat 
part  of  the  history  of  England,  no  less  than  that  of  Scotland,  is 
really  taken  up  Avith  wars,  and  most  of  the  leading  men  in  other 
countries  at  the  same  period  found  distinction  just  as  the  leaders 
of  the  clans  did.  So  that,  for  the  times  and  the  cii'cumstances,  the 
clan  system  is  no  worse  in  that  respect  than  any  other  system  we 
know  of,  if  it  is  as  bad;  and  it  remains  then  to  be  examined, 
taking  into  account  the  principles  or  the  natural  laws  upon  which 
it  was  founded,  and  the  possibility  of  developing  and  api^lying 
those  principles  in  times  of  science  and  peace. 

Under  this  system,  society  was  divided  into  small  and  ma- 
nageable communities,  composing  those  who  were  most  conveniently 
situated  for  intercoiu'se  and  co-operation,  and  who  were  most 
powerfully  drawn  to  each  other  by  the  first  ties  which  go  to  bind 
men  together.  Nothing,  siu-ely,  could  be  better  than  that,  so  far 
as  it  went.  But  letting  it  go  further,  don't  you  think  that  if  there 
were  something  else  required  to  be  done  by  those  communities, 
beyond  defending  themselves  from  their  enemies,  that  it  was  an 
admirable  arrangement  to  have  them  drawn  together  and  organised 
for  purposes  of  co-operation  and  mutual  improvements  And  do 
you  think  it  a  very  extravagant  sujjposition  to  hazard,  that  if  the 
clan  system  had  been  allowed  to  remain  in  its  integrity  and  power 
of  gro^vth  and  adaptation  to  circumstances,  that  our  poor  clansmen 
would  to-day  be  in  their  present  backward  predicament  in  their 
own  land.  I  really  think  not.  At  present  you  see  there  is  no 
head,  no  union,  no  organisation.  I  admit  that  this  want  of  rural 
organisation  is  not  peculiar  to  the  Highlands ;    but  what  I  want 


42  TRANSACTIONS. 

you  to  note  is,  that  it  has  come  in  where  an  organised  union  did 
exist.  No  doubt  many  will  regard  the  bare  idea  of  a  rural  com- 
munity so  organised  as  Utopian,  if  not  worse.  But  why  should 
rural  unions  be  deprecated,  and  municij^al  unions  commended  ] 
One  of  the  stock  boasts  and  alleged  causes  of  British  freedom  is 
our  municipal  system  of  government.  Every  town  finds  out  that 
it  must  enter  into  an  organised  union,  and  that  it  requii-es  to  give 
the  fullest  scope  for  the  exercise  of  the  wisdom  of  its  wisest  men. 
Eveiy  one  admits  that  our  towns  could  not  get  on  without  their 
local  governments ;  but  the  scattered,  dull,  ignorant,  rural  popu- 
lation is  left  to  gravitate  to  the  lowest  level,  without  any  organis- 
ation for  the  purpose  of  raising  it.  My  idea  is,  that  had  the  clans 
been  left  in  theii*  state  of  natural  organisation,  they  would,  in 
course  of  time,  have  got  into  the  way  of  co-operating  for  the  pur- 
poses of  improvement  in  the  arts  of  peace.  Thousands  of  things 
which  are  out  of  the  question  in  their  state  of  isolation  would  be 
quite  easy  for  them  in  their  united  state.  At  the  present  day  there 
are  voluntary  organisations  for  such  purposes  among  the  farmers 
of  Switzerland  ;  and  it  is  very  curious  that  some  of  the  writer's  on 
that  system  of  co-operation  which  has  lately  sprung  up  in  England 
should  refer  for  sanction  and  example  to  certain  remnants  of  the 
clan  system  which  they  had  discovered  in  the  Highlands  at  even 
comparatively  recent  dates. 

Supposing  a  clan  still  organised  as  of  yore,  Avith  the  best  man 
at  theii"  head,  and  the  wisest  men  chosen  to  guitle  him  with  their 
advice,  I  should  expect,  for  instance,  to  find  the  Tanist  becoming 
versed  in  every  branch  of  science,  and  more  or  less  acquainted  with 
every  art  which  was  most  likely  to  develop  the  capabilities  of  his 
country,  and  meet  the  requirements  of  his  people.  Every  fresh 
scrap  of  minerology,  geology,  of  meteorology,  every  fresh  develop- 
ment of  agriculture,  of  the  art  of  breeding  stock,  every  new  feature 
in  railway  making  and  working,  should  claim  his  attention ;  and 
wheresoever  any  of  these  things  were  to  be  seen  to  the  best  advan- 
tage, 1  should  expect  to  hear  of  his  goiiig  there,  and  bringing  home 
stores  of  science  and  volumes  of  wisdom  for  the  good  of  his  people. 

In  conclusion,  for  the  present,  I  wish  to  take  up  a  strong  de- 
fensive position  founded  upon  the  mass  of  facts  and  reasoning,  to 
which  my  few  facts  and  observations  can  only  be  regarded  as  hur- 
riedly referring — that  position  is,  that  we,  as  the  descendants  and 
representatives  of  the  clans  in  these  modern  times,  have  no  reason, 
as  many  ignorant  people  suppose,  to  be  ashamed  of  the  ancient 
polity  of  our  race ;  that,  on  the  contrary,  we  have  i-eason  to  be 
proud  of  that  polity,  combining  as  it  did  so  much  sound  philosophy 
with  so  much  that  was  practically  useful  in  actual  life— a  system 
which  gave  full  scope  to  the  best  and  strongest  legitimate  impulses 


TRANSACTIOXS.  •iS 

in  man,  and  made  use  of  them  to  bind  society  together,  and  lead 
men  on  shoulder  to  shoulder  to  secure  what  was  for  the  good  and 
glory  of  all,  a  system  capable  of  the  most  beneficent  use  even  in 
those  enlightened  times  of  oiu-s. 

So  that,  for  that  part  of  the  matter  at  any  rate,- we  have  no 
occasion  to  beg  permission  to  breathe  the  breath  of  our  ov/n  hills, 
or  to  think  the  thoughts  of  the  wise  and  brave  men  who  went 
before  us.  Our  forefathers,  who  established  that  system  of  society, 
left  nothing  to  dishonour  their  sons.  There  is  too  much  reason  to 
fear  that  in  our  time-ser\T.ng  pusillanimity  we  may  tarnish  the  good 
name  we  inherit  from  them.  They  left  a  noble  inheritance  in  the 
system  of  social  and  political  thoiight  which  they  bequeathed  to  us ; 
and  we  shall  not  be  in  our  diity  either  to  them  in  the  past,  or  to 
our  fellow-citizens  in  the  present,  if  we  do  not  make  a  bold  ejfort 
to  bring  some  at  least  of  the  practical  T\'isdom  and  profound  philo- 
sojAy  which  foimd  a  place  in  the  clan  system,  to  con-ect  the  atheism 
and  the  inhumanity  which  have  to  so  large  an  extent  corrupted 
thought  and  life  in  the  present  day. 

This  paper  naturally  gave  rise  to  a  good  deal  of  comment,  and 
some  criticism  ;  bvit  most  of  the  objections  were  founded  on  facts 
which  the  essayist  maintained  gi'ew  oiit  of  the  feudal  system. 
Every  one  seemed  to  feel  that  the  "  Land  Question "  was  in- 
separable from  the  subject  of  the  paper,  and  a  good  deal  of  discu.s- 
sion  which  ensued  turned  upon  that  connection. 


December  21. — Upon  this  evening  the  following  paper  was 
read  by  Mr  Mackay,  the  Secretary  : — Subject,  the  Legends  of  Glen- 
XJrquhai-t. 

SGEULACHDAN  GHLINX-URCHUDAIXN. 

Tha  cuid  de  dhaoine  'am  barail  nach  eil  e  freagarrach  dhuinne 
a  tha  beo  anus  na  laithean  glice  deireamiach  so,  a  bhi  toirt  feaii; 
's  am  bith  aii-  sgeulachdan  na  laithean  a  dh'fhalbh.  "  Cha  'n  eil 
annt'  ach  faoineachd,"  ai-s'  iadsan  a  ta  de'n  a  bheachd  so,  "  agus 
mar  is  luaithe  a  dhi-chuimhnichear  iad,  'se  is  fearr."  Tha  mi  'n 
dochas  gu'm  b'eil  iad  gle  ghann  'am  measg  buill  a  Chomuin  Ghailig 
a  tha  cho  tin*  chiallach  riutha-so  ;  oil'  tha  cbu*  mhor  aig  sgeulachdan 
na  Gaidliealtachd  air  ar  n-aire,  mar  a  dh'innis  Caimbeulach  He — 
ughdar  a  "  bha  thall  'sa  chunnaic" — dhuiim  bho  chionn  ghoirid. 
Agus  bho'n  a  tha  a  choir  sin  aig  na  sgeulachdan  oirnn,  is  e  mo 
dhiu-achd,  ged  is  i  so  a  cheud  oidhche,  nach  i  an  oidhche  ma  dhei- 
readh  a  choisiigeas  an  Comunn  dhaibh.     Tha  sinn  'an  so  a  deanamh 


44  TKAN'SACTIOXS. 

uaill  ann  a  bbi  'nar  Gaidheil  sbeau-fliasauta.  Clia  'u  eil  a  dlnth  oiniii 
gu  bhi  gu  buileacb  sona  acb  luit^b  eil  sinn  'ii  ar  suidbe  tiiucbiol 
teine  mor  moiiie  ann  am  botlian  fail,  air  oidhcbe  gbailli(.iinacb 
gbeambraidb.  'S  ann  'anleitbid  sin  a  dli'aite  a  bliiodb  e  taitneacb, 
a  bbi  ag  aithris  agus  ag  eisdeacbd  na  seann  sgeitlacbdan  ;  agiis  na'n 
robb  ainn  an  nocbd  anns  an  t-suidbeacbadb  tbaitneacb  sin,  cha 
cbreid  mi-fbein  nacb  tigeadb  sgail  nam  baird  's  nan  sonn,  aon  uair 
fbatbast  a  sbealltuinn  air  an  clann  gii  bagbail  tre  na  neulaibh 
dorcba,  mar  is  minic  a  tbainig  ann  an  laitbean  Oisein  !  Acb  gus 
am  bi  an  Comimn  Gailig  'an  comas  botban  a  tbogail  dbaibb  f  bein, 
is  eiginn  dbaibb  cviir  suas  leis  an  t-seomar  a  tba  baillidbean  Inbbir- 
nis  toilicbte  'tboirt  dbaibb.     Acb  a  nise  cbum  na  sgeiUacbdan. 

Gbiinnaic  sinn  bbo  'n  oiaid  a  lengb  Alasdair  Mac-Cboinnich 
dbuinn  bbo  cbionn  gboirid,  nacb  eil  sluagb  a  cordadb  a  tbaobb  bnn 
an  fbacail  "  Locb-Nis."  Ma  cbreideas  sibb  a  cbeud  sgeul  a  bbeir 
mis'  an  nocbd  dbuibb,  agns  is  minic  a  cbiiala  mi  ann  an  Gleann 
Urcbudainn,  cba  bbi  aobbar  ni's  mo  agaibb  a  dbol  a  db'  aona  cbuid 
gu  Eas-na-Smiiid  no  gu  Naois,  air-son  ainm  an  locb. 

Bba  latb  ann  anns  an  robb  an  gleann  mor,  a  tba  'n  diugb  fo 
uisgeacban  Locb-Nis,  'na  sbratb  aluinn  uaine,  air  a  cbuartacbadh 
air  gacb  toabb  le  beanntaibb  arda,  combduicbte  le  gacb  crann  a 
b'aillidb  dreacb.  Bba  an  gleann  fbein  sgeadaicbte  le  gacb  feur 
agus  lus  'bu  mbaisiche  na  'cbeile ;  agiis  bbo  cbeann  gu  ceann, 
ghluais  gu  mall,  abbainn  chiuin  anns  an  d'fbuaireadli  gacb  iasg  a 
bha  cbum  maitb  an  duine.  Ged  'bu  lionmbor  an  sluagb,  bba  sonas 
agus  cairdeas  'nam  measg.  Cba  do  sbanndaicb  fear  bean  no  bb  a 
cboimbearsnaicb,  oir  bba  a  bbean  's  a  bbo  fbein  aig  gacb  fear,  agus 
bu  dileas  gacb  bean  agus  bii  mbaitb  a  cbuireadb  gacb  mna  ciiigeal. 
'N  uaii-  nacb  do  sbaraicb  an  laocb  an  tore  's  a  mbagb,  sbaraicb  e 
am  fiadb  's  a  bbeinn  ;  agus  'n  uair  nacb  do  sbaraicb  e  am  liadh  's 
a  bbeinn,  tbi-eoraicb  e  a  spi-eidb  'sa  cbhiain ;  agus  ged  a  bba  an 
abbainn  a  sgoltadb  a  gblinne,  bba  e  comasacb  do  'n  bbuacbaille  air 
taobb  Sbratb-fbaragaig  oi-an  gaoil  a  sbeinn  agus  combradb  milis  a 
dbennamb  ann  an  cluaisean  a  leannan  air  taobb  Urcbudainn. 

Air  bruacb  na  b-aibbne  bba  tobair,  agus  riamb  bbo'n  a  bbiiail 
Dalaidb  Mor  an  Di'uidb  uisge  na  tobair,  bba  e  ro  bbviadhail  ail-  na 
h-uile  tinneas  agus  creucbd  a  leigbeas.  Cbuir  Dalaidb  clach  'am 
beul  an  tobair,  agus  db'aitbn'  e  cbo  luatb  's  a  racbadh  uisge  'tbar- 
ruing,  gu'n  racbadb  a  cblacb  a  cbuii'  'na  b-aite  fbein — "  An  latb  a 
cbuii-eas  sibb  m'aitbn'  air  cbul,"  ars'  es-an,  "cuireas  am  fuaran  bbur 
tir  fo  sgrios."  Tbug  an  sluagb  creideas  do  db'fbacal  Dbalaidb, 
agus  bba  e  'na  reachd  's  a  gbleann  a  cblacb  a  cbuir  am  beul  an 
tobair  gacb  uair  a  racbadb  uisge  'tbai-ruing.  Mar  sinn  cbuir  latba 
seacbad  latba,  agus  tbug  bliadbna  a  b-aite  do  bbliadbna. 

Acb  latba  de  na  laitbean  dh'fbag  bean  og  an  leanabb  a  bb'air 


TRANSACTIONS.  45 

a  h-uch'l  anus  an  tii^h,  agus  dli'fhalbli  i  do'u  fliuaraii  air-sou  h'ul 
buiru.  Cha  luaith'  a  tliog  i  a  chlacli  ua  cluial  i  glaodh  gu'u  do 
ghluais  an  leauahli  chum  au  teiue.  Thilg  i  a  cudaiuu  'an  so,  agus 
a  ohlach  'au  sud,  agus  'na  dearbh  dheann  riun  i  air  a  tigli.  Thea- 
ruinn  i  a  naoidhean,  acli  dlii-chuiuihnich  i  facal  an  Druidli,  agiis 
cha  do  chuir  i  a  chlach  'na  li-aite  fheiu  !  Dli'eirich  an  t-uisge, 
agus  bhruchd  e  da  rii'idh.  Chuir  am  fuaran  thairis  agus  mheudaich- 
eadh  na  h-uisgeachan  cho  mor,  'o  gu'n  robh  an  gleann  air  a  chomh- 
dachadh  leo.  Thug  an  sluagli  na  beanntan  ona,  a  caoidh  gu  gou-tj 
agus  cha  robh  ach  aon  ghlaodh  vi  chluinntinu  air  feadh  na  tire ; 
"  Tha  loch  a  nis  ann  !  "  "  Tha  loch  a  nis  ann  !  "  Bho  sin  tha  na 
h-uisgeachan  fo'n  ainm   "  Loch-nis"  gus  an  latha'n  diugh. 

Tha  e  coltach  gu'n  robh  DjUaidh  na  dhruidh  ainmeil.  Tha  seann 
ait'  aoraidh  dniidheil  ann  an  Urchudainn  ris  an  canar  fhathast 
"  Carn  Dalaidh ;"  agus  'se  ainm  a  bhaile  anns  am  b'eil  e  "Cartalaidh." 

Tha  cuid  de  dhaoine,  tha  foghluiinte  ann  an  seann  eachdraidh  ar 
duthcha,  a  smuanachadh  gu'r  h-ann  bho  Naois  Mac  Uisneach,  sonn 
ainmeil  a  bha  beo  bho  chionn  iomadh  linn,  a  tha  ainm  an  loch  air 
a  thoir,  agus  na'm  braidhnichmid  gu  ceart,  nach  b'e  "  Loch-Nis  "  a 
theireadh  sinn,  ach  "  Loch-Naois."  'S  ann  air  ISTaois  a  tha  an  ath 
sgeul  a  dh'ainmicheas  mi ;  ach  cha'n  ann  'an  Urchudainn  a  chaidh 
a  fiiighinn.  Sgriobh  ar  caraide,  an  gaidheal  duineil  sin  Mac  Gille- 
Mliicheil,  i  bho  bhilibh  seann  duine  ann  an  Eilean  Bharra.  Tha 
an  sgeula  so,  (ris  an  abaii'  sinn  Eachdraidh  Chlann  Uisneach)  ra 
fhada  air-son  a  toir  gu  buileach,  ach  bheir  mi  as-tharruing  ghoirid 
dhuibh,  a  nochdas  an  comh-cheangal  a  th'  aice  ri  Gleanii-Urchud- 
ainn.  A.ch  gus  an  tuig  sibh  i,  feumar  innse  gu'n  robh,  roimhe  so^ 
duine  ann  an  Eireann,  air  ainm  Golam  Ciniitii-e.  Cha  do  ghin  bean 
Gholam  cloinn  da  gus  an  i-obh  i  fada  thairis  air  aois  chloinne ;  ach 
ma  dheireadh,  tre  eadar-ghuidhe  Dhruitlh  araidh,  bha  nighean  aice- 
air  an  d'  thug  Golam  agus  i  fhein  Dearduil  mar  ainm.  'Nuair  a 
dh'fhas  Dearduil  mor,  bha  i  anabarrach  maiseach  :  "  b'i  boinne  fala 
bu  mhaisiche  bha  eadar  gi-ian  agus  talamh,  agus  cha  d'rugadh 
boinne  fala  riamh  'an  Eireann,  cho  maiseach  rithe."  Ach  fliuair 
Conachar,  High  Uladh  [Ulster]  'na  lamhan  i,  agus  chuir  e  roimhe  a 
posadh  air  ball.  Dh'iarr  ise  latha  agus  bliadhna  dhi-fhein,  agus- 
fhuair  i  iad.  Mu'n  d'  thainig  deireadh  an  latha  agus  bliadhna,  co' 
thainig  a  shealltuinn  air  Conachar  ach  Naois,  Aillean,  agiis  Ardan, 
triuii-  chlann  bhrathair  athair,  agus  laoich  a  bha  ro  iomraiteach  air 
fad  na  tire.  Am  fear  a  bu  taire  dhiubh,  bha  e  'na  Ian  ghaisgeach;. 
agiis  am  fear  a  bu  shara  dhiubh,  cha  robh  gaisgeach  eile  'an 
Eireann  coimeas  ris.  Thiut  Naois  agtis  Dearduil  ann  an  gaol  ri 
cheile,  agus  air  an  aobhar  sin  bha  Conachar  feargach  'an  aghaidlt 
Naois.  "  8maoinich  Naois  nach  robh  math  dha  fuireach  na 
b'  fhaide   ann   an    Eii-eann,    leis   mar    a    chuir  e   Conachar   Righ 


46  TRANSACTIONS. 

XJladh,  mac  bhrathair  athair  'na  aghaidh  a  thaobh  a  bhoirionnaich, 
ged  nach  robh  i  posd'  aige,  agus  thill  e  air  ais  do  dli'  Alba,  agus 
rainig  e  Iiibhir-Naois  [Inverness].  Rinn  Naois  tigh  ri  taobh 
Uisge  Naois,  far  am  marbhadli  e  am  bradan  am  mach.  air  an 
uinneag,  agus  am  fiadh  am  macli  aii*  an  dorus,  agus  bha  e  fhein 
agus  Dearduil  agus  a  dlia  bhrathair  a  tamh  anns  an  tur  so,  gus  an 
d'  thainig  an  t-am  Conachar  Righ  Uladh  am  boii'ionnach  a 
phbsadh,  'an  ceann  latha  agus  bliadhna. 

Ciod  e  'bha  Conachar,  Righ  Uladh,  's  an  km.  ach  'am  beachd  gu  'n 
d'  thugadh  e  mach  Dearduil  le'  chlaidh'  agus  le  lann  bho  Naois, 
i  bhi  pbsd  aige  no  gun  i  bhi  ;  agus  ciod  e  an  obair  a  bh'  aige  ach 
ag  ullachadh  a  chum  latha  blair  'us  baiteal  a  thoirt  do  Naois,  agus 
a  bhean  a  thoii-t  bhuaidhe  gun  taing.  Bha  e  'an  so  a  smuanachadh 
aige  fhein,  ged  a  chuireadh  e  fios  air  Naois  gu  ruig  Inbldr-Naois, 
nach  tigeadh  e;  ach  falbhar  agus  cuirear  tios  air  Fearchar  Mac  Rb, 
agus  chuir  e  mar  chumha  agus  mar  gheasan  air  a  dhol  gu  ruig 
Inbhir-Naois  agus  curadh  a  thoirt  do  Naois  Mac  Uisneach  agus  do 
'bhrathran  a  thighinn  chun  an  luchairt  aige-san ;  gu  'n  robh  e  'dol 
a  thoirt  cuirm  mhbr  shblasach  dha  'chaii-dean  'us  dha  luchd  sblais, 
agus  gu  'n  rol)h  e  deonach  iadsan  a  bhi  'nam  measg. 

Falbhar  Fearchar  Mac  Rb  air  a  thurus,  agus  ruigear  Tur  Naois 
air  taobh  Loch-nis,  agus  cuirear  'an  ceill  a  theachdaireachd. 
"  Mata,"  arsa  Naois,  "is  cinnteach  mise  nach  ann  gu  mo  chriinadh 
a  chuir  Conachar  fios  orm,  ach  bho  'n  a  chuir  e  fios  oirnn,  theid 
sinn  ann."  "Tha  triuir  mhac  agamsa,"  arsa  Fearchar  Mac  Rb, 
"  agus  iadsan  triuir  ghaisgeach,  beud  'sam  bith  a  theannas  Coiiachar 
ri  dheanamh  oi't,  seasaidh  iad  thu  ann  am  blair  's  am  baiteal. 
Agus  falbhaidh  tusa  bho  'n  chuir  ma  d'  choinneamh  e,  agus  theid 
thu  chun  na  cuirm,  agus  ma  nochdas  Conachar  cbirid  ruit,  noch- 
daidh  tu  cbirid  dha,  agus  ma  dh'  fheuchas  e  gairge  ruit,  feuchaidh 
tu  gairge  ris,  agus  bithidh  mo  thriuir  mhac-sa  leat. 

Dh'  fhalbh  Fearchar  Mac  Rb  agus  dh'  f halbh  comhla  ris,  Naois, 
agus  Dearduil,  agus  Aillean,  agus  Ardan.  Cho  luath  agus  a  chaidh 
iad  air  tir  'an  Eireann  chuir  Fearchar  Mac  Rb  fios  chun  Chonachar, 
gu  'n  robh  na  daoine  air  tighinn." 

Ach  (giin  a  bhi  leantuinn  a  sgeula  ni's  faide)  bha  Conachar  'na 
dhuine  cealgach ;  agus  ged  a  mharbh  Naois  agus  a  bhriathrean  da 
cheud  treun  ghaisgeach,  da  cheud  Ian  ghaisgeach  agus  da  cheud 
luth  ghaisgeach  a  chuir  e  'nan  aghaidh,  chiadh  iad  fhein  a  mharb- 
hadh  ma  dheireadh  le  foill.      Tha  an  sgeula  'dunadh  mar  so  : — 
"  'N  uair  a  bha  an  t-slochd  deas,  thilgeadh  ti'iuir  Chlann  Uisneach 
ann.      Thubhairt  Dearduil  an  uair  sin: — 
'  Teannadh  Naois  an  null, 
l.eanarlh  Aillean  ri  Ardan  ; 
Nam  liiodli  ciall  aig  mairldi, 
JDlieanadh  sibh  aite  dliomhsa  1 ' 


TRANSACTIOXS.  47 

Rinn  iadsan  aite  dhi,  agus  'n  uair  a  chunnaic  ise  so,  leiun  i  eadar 
riu  do'ii  t-slocL(l,  agus  bha  i  uiarbli  maille  riu  !  DL'  ordaicb.  an 
drocb  rigb,  'an  siii,  ise  'thogail  as  an  t-slocbd,  agus  a  tilgeil  taobb. 
eile  an  loch  a  bba  ri  'n  laiub  ;  agus  riimeadb  so,  agus  dbunadb  na 
sluic.  Cbinn  'an  sin  gath  giubbais  as  an  uaigb  aig  Dearduil,  agus 
gatb  giubbais  as  an  uaigb  aig  Naois,  agus  cbuir  an  da  gbatb  snaiui 
air  a  cbeile  os  cionn  an  locban  !" 

Cba'n  fliiosracb  mi  gu'm  beil  mor  aitbiis  ann  an  Urcbudainn 
ma  dbeigbinn  Naois,  no  bbratliran,  no  Deaixluil,  acb  a  mbain  gu'r 
b-ann  air  Dearduil  a  tba  Dun  Dearduil  air  toabb  eile  an  locb  air 
ainmeacbadb,  agus  gu'm  b'eil  e  coltacb  gu'r  b-ann  bbo  Naois  a  tba 
ainm  an  locb  fbein.  Cbuala  sinn  'an  so  bbo  cbionn  gboii'id  gu'm 
b'e  sonn  Locblannacb  a  bb'ann  an  Dearduil,  agus  gu'n  do  tbilgeadh 
e  leis  a  cbreige  a  tba  nise  dol  fo  'ainm.  Cba'n  eil  aobbar  innse 
dbuibb  nacb  eil  an  sgeula  sin,  ceart  a  tba  deanamb  laocb  duineil 
catbatb  dbe  Dearduil  caomb. 

Tba  cliu  mor  ail-  Naois  agus  a  dba  bratbaii"  agus  Dearduil 
Anns  a  bbardacbd  Oiseineacb,  agus  's  iad  na  dain  so  (ris  an  can 
sinn  'sa  Gbailig  dain  Cblann  Uisneacb)  a  tbug  Mac-a'pbearson 
dbuiun  'sa  Beurla,  fo  ainm  Dbearduil  [Dartbula]. 

Bba  Naois  na  cbombacb  gaisge  aig  Cucbidlain,  agus  bba  iad 
beo  'an  linn  Cbonacbar  Mac  Nessa  Eigb  Uladb  ann  an  Eireann,  a 
cbaocbail  a  reir  eacbdraidb  na  dutbeba  sin  air  an  latba  air  an 
deacb  Criosd  a  cbuir  gu  bas.  Le  sin,  cba'n  e  ambain  gii'm  faidb 
sinn  Naois  ann  am  bardacbd  na  b-Alba,  acb  tba,  mar  an  ceudna, 
cliu  mor  aii-  ann  am  bardacbd  na  h-Eirinn,  agns  cbimnaic  mi  dan 
Eii-eannacb  ma  dbeigbinn,  anns  am  b'eil  ainm  a  bbaile  anns  am 
b'eil  simi  an  drasd,  a  tacbairt. 

A  reii-  na  b-uile  coltacb  bu  ro  dboil  le  Dearduil  Tir  nam  beann. 
Tba  f  batbast  ri  f  baicinu  aim  an  leabbar-lann  na'm  fir  lagba  [Advo- 
cate's Library]  'an  Dun  Eidean,  seaiin  sgi-iobbadli  Gailig,  a  cbaidb 
sgriobbadli  'sa  bbliadbna  1238,  agus  anns  am  b'eil  cuid  de  dbain 
Cblann  Uisneacb.  Tba  aon  dan  ann  a  rinn  Dearduil  'nuaii*  a  bba 
i  gabhail  a  cead  de  Db'alba  agus  i  dol  gu  Eireann  cuide  ri  Naois. 
Bbeii-  mi  rann  no  dba  dlii-so  dbuibb  gu  's  am  feic  sibb,  mar  a  bba 
a  Gbailig  air  a  sgriobbadli  bbo  cbionn  corr  'us  sea  ceud  bliadbna, 
agus  an  deigb  sin  bbeii*  mi  dba  no  tri  ruinn  eadar-tbeangaicbte  gu 
Beurla.  'Se  barail  Skene  gui-  e  Gleann  Urcbaidb  'san  Aragbael 
[Glen-Urqubay],  a  tb'air  a  cbiollacbadb  le  "  Glend  Urcbaiii"  's 
an  dan  so ;  acb  bbo'n  'tba  fios  agaiiin  gu'n  robb  dlutb  cbeangal  aig 
Dearduil  ri  Gleann  Urcbudainn,  nacb  eil  e  cbo  farasda  'cbreidsinn 
gu'r  b-e  sin  an  Gleann  a  tba  i  a  caoidb  cbo  gort  1 

Inmain  tir  an  tir  ud  thoir, 

Alba  cona  lingantaibh, 

Noclia  ticfuinn  eisdi  ille, 

Maiia  tisain  le  Xaise. 


48  TRANSACTIONS. 


Mo  chen  Glend  TJrcliain, 

Ba  hedh  in  Glend  direach  dromchaiu, 

Uallcha  feare  aoise  ma  Naise, 

An  Glend  Urohain. 

Beloved  land  that  Eastern  land, 
Alba,  with  its  lakes  ; 
O,  that  I  might  not  depart  from  it, 
But  I  depart  with  Naois. 

*  *  * 

Glen  XJrchain  !   0,  Glen  Urchaiu  ! 
It  was  the  straight  glen  of  smooth  ridges. 
Not  more  joyful  was  a  man  of  his  age 
Than  Naois  in  Glen-Urchain. 

*  *  % 

Beloved  is  Draighen  and  its  sounding  shore, 
Beloved  the  water  o'er  pure  sand. 
O,  that  I  might  not  depart  from  the  East  ; 
But  I  go  with  my  beloved  ! 

Sin  agaibli  a  nise  beachd  Dhearduil  air  Tir  nam  Beann,  Dh'in- 
nis  an  t-OUamh  ionnsuiclite  Carrutliers,  dhuiun  o  chionn  ghoirid,  gur 
ann  o  chionu  beagan  bhliadlinaclian  a  thoisich  daoine  air  meas  a 
bbi  aca  aii-  beanntaibh  ard  'us  gleanntaibh  domliain  ar  duthcha. 
Dh'fhe^ch  an  t-OUamhgu  sodleargu'n  robli  iad  a  cuu-  oillt  gu  leoir 
air  na  coigricli  a  tliainig  a'  stigli  orra  'n  drasd  agus  a  ritliist  anns 
na  laithean  a  dli'f  halbh ;  acli  ciamar  a  chreideas  sinn  gun  robh  iad 
oillteil  do  na  seann  Ghaidheil — slioclid  nam  beann — nuair  'tha 
sinn  ag  eisdeachd  ris  an  laoidh  bhinn  iid  a  sruthadh  a  mach  bho 
bhilibh  Dhearduil.  Blio  I'annsachadh  a  rinn  mi  bho  chionn  ghou-id 
'am  measg  bardachd  Oisein  agus  na  seann  bhaird  Ghaidhealach, 
thainig  mi  gu  creidsinn  gu'r  h-ann  a  bta  na  seann  Ghaidheil  gle 
chomasach  air  aillidheachd  coslais  ar  duthaich  f  haicinn  agus  meas  a 
thoir  air  ;  agus  tha  mi  smuanachadh  gu'm  biodh  e  da  rii-idh  feumail 
do  dh'f  hear  a  rachadh  a  thoirt  sean  ichas  air  a  phunc  so,  a  Ghailig 
ionnsachadh  mu'n  toisicheadh  e.  Ach  is  mithich  a  bhi  tUleadh 
chum  na  sgeulachdan. 

Ged  nach  eU  mor  aithris  againn  'an  Urchudainn  au-  Naois,  tha 
facal  no  dha  againn  ma  dheighinn  Chonaehar — cha'n  e  Conachar 
Mac  Nessa,  tha  mi  smuanachadh — agus  innsidh  mi  nise  dhuibh  mar 
a  mharbh  e  an  tore  nimhe. 

Bha  roimhe  so  ann  an  Caisteal-na-Sroine  (sin  Caisteal  Urchu- 
dainn) duine  mor  cumhachdach  a  thainig  anall  bho  Eii-eami,  air  an 
robh  Conachar  Mac-Aoidh  mar  ainm.  Bha  Conachar  gaisgeil  thair 
gach  gaisgeach  'san  tir,  agus  bha  mor  thlachd  aig  anns  an  t-sealg. 
Bha  cu  aige  bha  ro-mhath  'san  t-sealg  fhad  'sa  bha  e  og,  ach  'n  uair 
a  dh'f  has  e  sean,  dh'f  has  e  cho  mor  ri  damh !  Bha  e  mar  an  ceudna 
cho  leisg  'snach  rachadh  e  bho  bun  an  teine.     Mar  sin  chaidh  seachd 


TUANSACTIONS.  49 

V)liadhna  'seachad,  ach  fad  na  seachd  bliadhna  cha'n  fliac  an  Cu 
nior,  tjYobh  macli  an  doruis.  'S  ioinadli  uair  cliaidli  iarraidli  air 
Conachar  a  mharbliadb,  agus  is  ndnic  a  dh'iarr  e  fliein  cuir  as  da ; 
ach  na  li-uil'  uair  a  bha  e  dol  a  dheanamb  so,  chaidh  stiul  a  chnir 
air  le  seann  bhean  a  bha  'san  tigli  "leig  leis  a  cliii,"  ars  ise, 
"  tha  latba  fhein  a  feitheamh  air."  Agus  fhuair  an  cii  a  cLcad 
a  bhi  beo. 

Aig  ceann  na  seaclid  bliadhna  chaidh  Conachar  hitha  am  niach  a 
shealg  mar  'bu  dual.  'IST  uair  a  bha  e  an  deigh  an  Caisteal  f  h^gail, 
sheall  e  air  ais,  agus  co  bha  'tighinn  ach  an  Cu  mor,  agus  e  a  leum 
'sa  cleasachd  mar  a  b'abhaist  dlia  an  laithean  oige  !  "  Am  beil  thu 
ann,"  arsa  Conachar,  "  tha  mi  meallta  mar  e  so  an  lath'  bha  feith- 
eamh ort  !"  agus  leig  e  leis  a  chu  a  leantuinn. 

Anns  na  laithean  sin  bha  'n  duthaich  air  a  sgiursadh  gu  cruaidh 
le  tore  nimhe  a  bha  a  fasachadh  nan  gleanntan.  Bha  'n  tore  cho 
tur  uamhasach  's  nach  do  thachair  duine  riamh  air  a  leig  e  as  beo, 
agus  le  sin,  bha  eagall  mbr  air  an  laoch  bu  ghaisgeanta  roimhe. 

Thoisich  Conachar  air  an  t-sealg,  ach  mu'n  deach  e  fada,  co  'tha- 
inig  air  'na  Ian  f hearg,  ach  an  tore  nimhe  !  Dhian  Conachar  e  fhein 
gu  duineil,  agus  bhuail  e  an  tore  mar  a  bhuaileas  sonn  a  namhad  ; 
ach  's  beag  an  lot  a  rinn  a  shleagh  ann  an  coluinn  na  beist. 

'An  sinn  leum  an  Cii  mor  air  an  tore  agus  sas  anns  a  cheile  chaidh 
iad.  Dh'  eirich  a  ghrian  gu  a  h-aiixle,  agiis  laidh  i  a  rithist  mu'n 
do  sguir  a  chomhstri  gharg,  agus  bha  an  talamh  dearg  le  full.  Mu 
dheii'eadh  dh'feuch  an  tore  gun  robli  sglco  a  bhais  air  tighinn  air, 
agus  le  gnothain  'us  beuchdaich  a  l)ha  oUlteil  ri  chluinntinn  thug 
6  suas  an  deo. 

Bheannaich  Conachar  an  Cu  mor,  a  thccirruinn  e  bho  ghlaic  a 
bhiis,  agus  thug  e  bold  air  a  shleagh  nach  di-chuinicheadh  se  e  gu 
brath.  Ach  bha  lath'  a  choin  mhor  air  teachd,  agus  le  sodan  'us 
crathadh  fheamain  ri  Conachar,  fhuair  e  bas. 

'S  ann  bho  fhacail  an  t-seana  bhean  a  their  sinn  fhathast  'sa 
ghleann  "  Tha  latha  fhein  a  feitheamh  air,  mar  a  bh'au'  Cu  ]nor 
Chonachar." 

Cha'n  fhiosrach  mi  gu'n  deach  a  sgeulachd  so  a  sgriobhadh 
riamh  roimhe,  ach  ged  nach  deach,  tha  mi  fiosrach  bho'n  ranns- 
adhadh  a  rinn  mi,  nach  eU  sgeula  eile  a  bhuineas  do'n  Ghaidheal- 
tachd  a  dh'fhag  a  comharadh  cho  mor  air  eachdraidh  an  Taobh 
Tuath.  Cha  d'f  hag  eadhon  Sgeulachd  Dhiarmiaid,  ged  is  mor  a  tlia 
de  dh'aithris  oirre.  A  reii-  beul-aithris  a  ghlimi  againn,  b'e  Conachar 
a  cheud  f  hear  de  Chlann  Mhic  Aoidh,  agus  feumaidh  e  bhi  gvir  e 
so  an  sonn  a  bha  'am  beachd  mo  charaide  ]\Tac  Choinnich,  'n  uair 
a  bha  e  bruidhinn  anns  an  oraid  a  dh'ainmich  mi,  air  "  Aonghas 
Mac  Aoidh  "  agus  a  strith  ri  "  Naois  "  Mac  Aoidh  a  dheanauih  dhe. 
Tha  an  t-oran  ag  radh  : — 


50  TKAXSAd'IOKS. 

' '  Rugadh  air  a  mhuir  a  cheud  fhear 
Bho'n  do  shiollaicli  Claim  Mliic  Aoidh, 
Conachar  nior  riiadh,  blio'n  chuan." 

Agus  tha  fios  againn  blio  sheann  eaclidraidhean,  gu'm  b'  Urchudainn 
creathall  Clilaiin  Mhic  Aoidh,  agits  gii'n  robh  coir  ac'  air  an  gleann 
sin  blio  chionn  corr  is  sea  cend  bliadhna.  Ach  thainig  atliarrach- 
adli  cho  mor  blio  sin,  agiis  nacli  eil  ceatlirar  Mliic  Aoidh  an  diugh  ann 
an  Urchudaiim.  Reic  iad  Achamhonaidh  (an  oighi-eachd  ma  dhei- 
readh  a  sheilbhich  iad  'sa  glileann  sin)  beagan  bhliadhnachan  'an 
deigh  Donihnull  Mac  Aoidh,  an  t-oighre  aig  an  ^m,  agiis  mo  shinn 
sheanair-sa,  a  chuir  air  fogi'adh  gu  Bardados  air-son  e  cuideachadh 
le  Prionns  Teariach  ann  am  bliadhna  Chiiil-fhodair. 

Ach  cha  b'e  Clann  Mhic  Aoidh  amhain  a  shiollaich  bho  Chona- 
char.  'Sann  bhuaidh  a  thainig  Clann  Ui-chudainn  [Urqiiharts]  agus 
ghabh  iad  ainm  a  ghlinne  anns  an  robh  e.  Thug  iad  an  t-ainm 
ceudna  air  an  aite  couihnuidh  uLr  ann  an  siorrachd  Rois  ;  agus  mar 
a  tha  Innis-a-Chonachar  agaimie  ann  an  Uichudainn,  tha  Bad-a- 
Chonachar  aca-san  faisg  aii'  Inbhir  Gordan.  Bha  ridir  araid  ann  an 
cogaidhean  Righ  Tearlach  agus  Oliver  Gromu-cll  a  bha  ro  dhileaa 
ann  an  armailtibh  an  Righ.  B'e  so  Sir  Tomas  Urchudainn.  An 
deigh  Cromwell  baiteal  JForceder  a  chosnadh,  chaidh  Sir  Tomas 
bochd  a  ghlacadh,  agiis  fhuair  e  da  bhliadlma  'jihi'iosan.  Ach 
fad  na  h-iiine  sin  cha  robh  e  na  thamh.  Chaith  a  na  laithean 
dorch'  a  thainig  au'  a  sgiiobhadh  leabhar  a  chuir  e  'mach  fo'n 
ainm  "  The  Tiiie  Pedigi-ee  and  lineal  descent  of  the  most 
ancient  and  honourable  family  of  Urquhart  in  the  house  of 
Cromarty  from  the  creation  of  the  world  luitil  the  year  of  God 
1651."  A  reir  an  leabhar  so  b'e  Conachar  an  seathamh  ginealach 
deug  thair  an  tri  fichead  bho  Adhamh,  agus  phos  e  anns  a  bhliadhna 
cuig  cheud  's  leith  cheud  'sa  ceathar  mu'n  d'thainig  Criosd.  Ach 
bheir  mi  so  dhuibh  ann  am  fticail  Sir  Tomas  f  hein  : — 

"  Upon  Philerga  he  (Daltalon)  begot  Beltistos.  Beltistos 
married  Thomyiis  (a.m.  3395,  B.C.  554).  This  Beltistos  was 
sirnamed  Chonchar,  for  which  cause  a  certain  progeny  descended 
of  him  is  till  this  hour  called  the  generation  of  the  Ochonchars, 
a  race  truely  of  great  antiquity  and  renown  in  the  dominion  of  Ire- 
land. Beltistos  founded  the  Castle  of  Urquhart  above  Innernasse, 
which  being  afterAvards  completed  by  his  posterity,  hath  ever 
since  been  called  the  Castle  of  Uickichonchar"  [Mic-a-Chonachaii-.] 

Sin  agaibh  mar  a  sgriobh  Sir  Tomas  bho  chionn  corr  'us  da 
clieud  bliadhna.  Ma'n  aon  am  bha  duin'  eile  beo  a  rinn  moran 
rannsachadh  aii*  seann  eachdraidh  na  h-Alba.  B'e  so  Nisbet,  fear  a 
bha  gle  churamach  nach  cuireadh  e  dad  's  am  bith  air  paipeir  ach 
rud  aig  am  biodh  bonn.  Tha  vanw  ag  radh  gu'u  d'  thainig  Conachar 
a  Eireann     yu  thoir  dliiiil)h  na  fhacail  fliein — "  In  the    eleventh 


TnANSACTIOJTS.  51 

century  ....  a  brother  of  Ochonchar,  who  slow  the  boar, 
and  was  predecessor  of  the  Lords  Forbes,  havinsj:  in  kee2)ing  the 
Castle  of  Unpihart,  took  his  name  from  the  place." 

'  S  ann  bho  Chonachar,  a  rithist,  a  thainig  na  Fearbaisich,  agu3 
tha  iad  a  creidsinn  gii'm  b'e  f  hein  da  riridh  am  "  fear  bathaiseach"  a 
mharbh  an  tore.  '  S  ami  bhuaidhe  'thainig  na  Siosalaich,  agus  inn- 
sidh  iad  dhuinn  gum  b'e  f  hein  a  thug  an  t-  "  sith  salach  "  'n  iiair  a 
sp4r  e  a  shieagh  sios  amhaich  na  beist.  Ach  gu  bhi  aithghear, 
s'arm  bho  sgeulachd  Chonachar  a  tha  ceann  na  tuirc  mar  shuaiche- 
antas  aig  Mac  Aoidh,  TJrchudanm,  Fearbaiseach,  Siosalach,  Rbsach, 
limes,  agus,  tha  mi  a  smuanachadh,  an  Gordaiiach  agus  Mac-an- 
toiseach.  Chan  eil  mi  a  smuanachadh  gii'm  beil  mi  'an  so  ri 
faoineachd ;  oir  tha  fios  agaiiin  bho  sheann  eachdraidhean  agus 
daighneachdaii  [charters]  gu'n  robh  coir  aig  na  fineachan  a  dh'ain- 
mich  mi  air  Gleanu  Urchudainn  agus  Caisteal  Chonachar  bho 
chionu  cheudan  bhliadhiiachan. 

'N  uair  a  thoisich  mi  air  so  a  sgriobhadh,  bha  mi  an  run  sgeu- 
lachdan  a  Ghlinne  leantuinn  bho  'n  a  cheud  te  a  chuala  sibh  an 
nochd,  gus  an  lath'  uamhasach  sin  a  thug  leithid  a  dh'  atharachadh 
air  cleachdanaibh  nan  Gaidheil — latha  Chuil-fhodair.  Ach  bha 
na  h-urrad  agam  ri  radh  ma  dheighinn  'na  thug  mi,  agus  nach  toir 
mi  dhuibh  an  nochd  ach  aoii  t'eile.  Tha  i  so  iongantach  air  choir 
's  gu'm  faod  sinn  a  filleadh  ann  am  bardachd  Oisein.  Fhuair  mise 
bho  m'athair  i,  agus  dh'  ionnsaich  es'  i  bho  f  hior  sheann  duine  bho 
chionn  leith  cheud  's  a  cuig  a  bhliadhnacham 

"  Thainig  a  Bhuileardach  Ruadh,  mathair  Righ  Lochluinn,  do'n 
Fheinn,  a  thou-t  lethe  le  foill  cuach  na  geasachd.  Bha  Fionn  agus 
cuid  de  dhaoine,  a  sealg,  ach  fhuair  i  Oisean  agus  laoich  eile  ann 
talla  na  Feinne.     Agus  labhar  a  Chailleach  ri  Oisean  ag  radh. 

Fosgail,  fosgail  'laoicli  long, 

Nan  airm  fullung  faothair  ghorm, 

S  feuch  cuid  de  d'  fhaoildeachd. 

Do  chailleach  bhoc  a  thig  e  caoilte  ; 

'S  mise  sin  a  chailleach  thruagh, 

'S  fhad  a  dh'imich  mi  's  mi  biian, 

Cha'n  eil  an  cuigil)h  na  h-Alba, 

No  'n  cuig  cuigihh  na  h-Eirinn, 

Aon  duine  a  dhiultadh  dhomh  fosgladh 

'Nuair  chromuinn  mo  cheanu  fo  'dhorus. 

Oisean — Ma  dh'  imich  thusa  'n  uigh  sin  uile, 
'S  biadhtuichean  iad  ri  droch  urra  ; 
Fuaraichidh  do  smior,  a  chaillich, 
Mu'n  fosgailear  dhuit  mo  dhorus. 

A  Chailleach — 'S  dona  'n  aithne  sin  a  mhic  Righ 
('Us  mac  Righ  'ga  radh  ruit), 
'N  uair  dhiultadh  tu  fosgladh  do  dhorus. 


52  TIIANSACTIOXS. 

Oisean — Cha  dhiultainn  dhuit  a  monadh  fiadh, 
Ged  bhiodh  agad  triath  do  reir  ; 
Chuirinn  biadh  naoidhnear  gu  d'  theauli, 
'S  biadh  feachd  leat  bho'ii  Flieinu. 

A  C'liailleach — Cha  bhi  agam  de  d'  bhiadh  feachd, 
Ni  mo  's  aill  learn  do  shar  fhacal, 
B'  amhsa  learn  teas  de  d'  aimhlibh, 
Agus  leabaidh  mar  ri  d'  ghadhi-aibh. 

Oisean — Gu  dearbh  cha'n  ihaidh  thu  teas  de  m'aimhlibh, 

Ni  mo  gheibh  thu  leabaidh  mar  ri  m'  ghadhraibh  ! 

Chuirinn  gille  leat  bho'n  Fheinn, 

A  dh'fhadadh  teine  dh'aon  bheum, 

'Us  gill'  eile  dh'uUaicheadh  deadh^nneal. 

A  Chailleach — Cha'n  eil  mo  choiseachd-sa  ach  mall, 
'S  theid  an  teine  sin  a  crann. 

Oisean — Buinig  thusa  leith  taobh  chuilinn, 
Cuir  geugaibh  caol  fo  d'  spuiribh, 
Seid  gu  caol  cruaidh  le  d'anail, 
'S  dean  do  gharadh  ris,  a  chaillich. 

A  chailleach  sin  bu  ghairbh  craimh, 
Chuir  i  giiaillean  ris  a  chleith, 
'S  bhrisd  i  na  seachd  geamhlaibh  iaruiim 
Mar  nach  biodh  annt  ach  seann  iallan ! 

A  Chailleach — Tha  mi  nise  stigh  'n  'ur  teach, 

'S  liubha  bhur  mairbh  no  bhur  beo, 
'S  lionmhor  sgolb  a  bhios  'n  ur  teach 
Na  macau  beo  a  marach  ! 

Cheangal  i  iad  taobh  ri  taobh 
'Na  bh'eadar  an  caol  san  ruith  ! 
'S  rug  a  chailleach  air  a  chuach 
'S  thug  i  gu  luath  a  magh. 

Chuiinachdas  a  Chailleacli  le  Fionn,  air  dha  bhi  tighinn  dlia- 
cliaidh  bho'n  t-sealg : — 

Fionn — A  chailleach  ud  a  th'air  an  t-sliabh 

Dha  'm  b'eil  an  ceum  cas-ruith  garbh  dhian, 
Na'n  tarladh  tu  air  srath  no  h-airde 
Bu  bhaodliail  dhut  clann  na  ceairde. 
Tri  cheud  deug  le'n  dian  armachd  — 
Fir  thugad  a  tha,  a  chaillich  ! 

A  Chailleach — Ciod  a  theireadh  tusa  ghiular, 
Nam  faguinn-sa  iad  sin  uile 
Kadar  chu  luath  'us  dlieadh  dhuine  ? 

Leum  a  chailleach  an  t-eas, 

Leum  gu  garbh  bras, 

Thilg  i  gath  nindi'  air  Fionn, 

A  chaidli  seachd  troimheau  'san  fheur  uaine. 


TKANSAC'TIOXS.  53 

Thairis  air  barr  a  dha  gliualainn  ! 
Tliilg  Fionn  a  shleagli  taobh, 
'S  hlirisd  e  cridlie  'iia  caol  druiiii  ; 
'8  rug  Geolacli  bho'u  is  i  bu  luaithe, 
Air  sliasaid  chruaidh  na  caillicli ; 
\S  rug  Caoilte  beag  nan  cuacli 
Air  a  claidlieamh  cruadhach, 
'S  air  a  da  shleagli. 

Bha  iad  seachd  lath'  'us  seachd  oidhche 
A  rinn  faobha  na  Caillicli, 
'Scha  d'rug  Oiseaii  a  bha  air  dheireadh 
Ach  air  seann  chiabhag  Iia  na  Caillicli. 

Oisean — A  chaillich,  bho'n  is  e  'm  bas  e, 
Innis  dhondisa  ciod  e  d'  aois  ? 

A  Chaillcach— Clia'ii  ell  m'aois  fhein  ri  aireamh 
Ach  tri  cheud  bhadlin'  'sa  dha  ! 


Note. — For  the  sake  of  those  unacquainted  with  Gaelic,  but 
who  take  an  interest  in  Celtic  matters,  I  may  here  mention  that  I 
wrote  the  above  curious  poem,  in  18G9,  from  the  recitation  of  my 
father,  Mr  "William  Mackay,  Glen-Urquhart.  He  learned  it, 
along  with  other  pieces  which  claim  to  be  Ossianic,  from  a  very 
old  man,  at  whose  fireside  he  and  his  companions  were  wont  to 
spend  the  w^inter  evenings  almost  sixty  years  ago.  In  January  of 
this  year  (1872),  I  sent  it  to  the  well-known  collector  of  Gaelic 
legends,  Mr  Campbell  of  Islay,  who  is  at  present  about  to  publish 
a  collection  of  Ossianic  ballads,  and  in  reference  to  it  he  wu-ote  : — 
"The  poem  which  you  have  been  kind  enough  to  send  me  is  called 
Duan  na  CailUch,  and  other  names.  I  have  a  version  of  it  collected 
by  Kennedy  last  century,  and  one  got  by  Fletcher  about  the  same 
time  from  the  MS.  in  the  Ad^'ocate's  Library.  Yours  is  the  third 
version  I  have  got,  and  will  help  in  making  iip  a  text."  When  we 
are  told  that  poems  siich  as  those  of  Ossian  could  not  be  preserved 
for  any  considerable  time  without  the  aid  of  writing,  it  is  instruc- 
tive to  know  that,  notwithstanding  great  changes  in  the  customs 
of  the  Highlanders,  some  noticed  in  the  last  century  still  float 
orally  among  them. — W.M. 


December    1 9. — At   the    meeting   this    evening,    Mr    Charles 
Mackay,  Driimmond,  read  the  annexed  paper  : — 


54  TRANSACTIONS. 

BLIADHNA  THEARLAICH. 

"  Is  e  mo  run  an  noclid  beagan  innse  dlmibh  ma  dheighinn 
nithe  a  thachair  ann  am  Bliadhna  Thearlaich  air  nach  deacli 
fhathast  eachdraidli  a  thoir,  ach  gidheadli  a  tha  clio  firinneacli  ri 
facal  a  chaidli  riamh  a  sgriobhadh.  Ann  a  blii  deanamh  so,  agus 
a  labhairt  niu  chliu  na  muinntir  a  dh'f huiling  air-son  a  Phrionns, 
cha'n  iarruinn  a  bhi  fosgladh  seann  lotan  ;  ach  tha  mi  ag  earbsa 
gu'n  giulan  sibh  leam  ged  a  their  mi  nithean  cruaidh  mu  thim- 
chioll  iadsan  a  sharaich  cho  mor  an  sluagh  sin  bho'u  d'thainig 
sinn.  Tha  e  gu  trie  air  innse  dhuinn  nach  robh  anns  na  Eigh- 
rean  Stiubhartach,  ach  daoine  gun  f  hiu  a  bha  coma  dha'n  shiagh, 
agus  a  dheanadh  ni  neo-dhligheach  's  am  bitli  air-son  am  miann 
fhein  fhaotainn.  Gu'n  teagamh  bha  cuid  dhiubh  a  dh'fheuch 
nach  robh  moran  cogais  aca^  agus  a  bhun  gu  goirt  ri  shiagh  na 
rioghachd.  Ach  cha  d'rinn  iad  coire  's  am  bith  'an  aghaidh  na 
GaidheiL  Cha  d'thainig  teintean  na  geur-leanmhuinn  a  stigh 
air  crioch  na  Gaidhealtachd,  ni  mo  a  ghabh  na  Gaidheil  suim 
dhe  na  connspoidean  a  bha  eadar  na  Stiubhartaich  agus  am 
parlamaidean  ma  thimchioll  coirean  agus  cumhachdan  an  righ. 
Air  an  taobh  eile  cha  hiaithe  a  chaidh  na  Stiulihartaich  a  chuir 
de'n  chaithir,  na  dh'aithnich  na  Gaidheil  nach  robh  na  righrean 
uir  gu  bhi  cho  cairdeach  riu  's  a  bha  na  seann  righrean ; 
agus  aim  an  nine  ghoirid  fhuair  iad  dearbhadh  air  so  ann  am 
mort  Ghlinne-comhainn.  Le  sin,  cha  robh  e  ach  nadurrach 
gu'm  b'iad  na  Stiubhartaich,  'nan  suilean-sa,  na  righrean  dlighe- 
ach,  agus  nach  robh  anns  na  Gearmailtich  ach  an-shealbhadairean 
gun  fiiiu  j  agus  'n  uair  a  thainig  am  Prionns  'nam  measg,  thionail 
iad  mu'n  cuairt  dha,  eadar  Phrotastanach  'us  Phapanach.  Tha 
feadhainn  gu  coitchionta  'am  barail  nach  d'fhuair  am  Prionns 
comhar  ach  bho  Phapanaich;  ach  tha  e  soillear  gu'n  do  lean  na 
Gaidheil  e  gun  suim  do  chreud.  Cha  mhor  gu'n  robh  duine  ann 
an  Urchudainn  nach  robh  'an  toil  no'n  gniomh  air  a  thaobh  agus 
gidheadh  cha  robh  triuir  Phapanaich  'nam  measg.  Bha  toil  mhor 
aig  na  Gaidheil  do  'n  t-seann  theaghlach  rioghail ;  agus  's  e  an 
toil  sin  a  thug  orra  an  claidheamh  a  tharruing  air-son  a  Phrionns." 

'An  so  thug  Mr  Mac-Aoidh  cunntas  air  cruadail  a  dh'fhuiling 
na  Gaidheil  an  deigh  dhaibh  blair  Chuil-f  hodair  a  chall ;  agus  bha 
cuid  dhe'na  thubhairt  e  bhaiongantach  ri  chluinntinn  a  thaobh 
's  nach  deach  eachdraidh  a  thoir  riamh  air.  Ach  a  chionn  's  nach 
robh  na  thubhairt  e  uile  sgriobta^aige,  cha'n  eil  sinn  an  comas  ach 
na  lean  as  a  thoirt  'an  so. 

'•  Beagan  uine  an  deigh  latha  Chuil-fhodair,  chaidh  fios  a  chuir 
gu  muinntir  Ghlinn-Urchudainn,  na  h-uile  fear  a  bh'air  taobh 
Phrionns  Thearlaich  a  thighinn  gu  Inbhirnis,  agus  gu'm  faigheadh  e 


TRAKSACTIOXS.  55 

protect  mi.  B'e  so  paipeir  diona  a  dhionadh  am  fear  aig  am  "biodh 
e  bho  an-iochdmliorachd  na  h-ainne  deirge.  Thionail  nenrt  na 
duthcha  aig  Baile-macathan,  agus  'nam  measg  bha  fear  Choire- 
mhonaidh,  fear  Sheoglaidh  agus  a  mhac,  oiglire  Acliamhonaidh, 
agus  Mr  Iain  Grannd,  ministear  na  sgire.  'N  uair  a  bha  iad  a 
fagail  shuas  gu  tliighinn  gu  Inl)]iirnis,  thainig  seana  bhean,  agus 
thubhaii-t  i  mar  so  : — 

"  Urchudainn  Maith  Chrostaii, 
Cha  bu  rosadach  thii  riamh  giis  an  diugh  ! 
An  taobh  ris  am  beil  sibh  'cuir  bhur  sail 
Gu  brath  cha  chuir  sibli  clar  na  h-aodainn  !  " 

"  Bha  leithid  a  bhuaidh  aig  facail  na  caillich  air  na  daoine,  's 
gu'n  do  thill  fear  Choire-mhonaidh  agus  a  chuid  a  bu  mho  dhiulih 
dhachaidh.  Lean  each  air  an  aghaidh  gus  an  d'rainig  iad  a  Bheal- 
laidh  ]\Ilior,  faisg  air  Abairiachan.  Ann  an  so  chuir  iad  an  com- 
hairle  cuideachd,  agus  bha  leithid  a  dhroch  bharail  aca  dhe'n  turus 
air  an  robh  iad,  's  gu'n  do  thill  iad  uile  ach  Granndach  Sheoglaidh 
's  a  mhac,  DomhnuU  Mac-Aoidh  oighre  Acliamhonaidh,  am  minis- 
tear,  agus  naoinear  eile.  Chaidh  iad-san  do'n  a  bhaile,  ach  an  aite 
iad  protection  f  haighinn,  's  ann  a  chaidh  priosanaich  a  dheanamh 
dhiubh  !  Chaidh  Seoglaidh  'sa  mhac,  agus  am  ministear  a  chuir 
gu  Tilhnry  Fort,  agus  ann  an  nine  ghoirid  chaidh  'n  ceann  a  thoir 
dhe  Seoglaidh,  agus  fhuair  an  dithis  eile  'chead.  Chaidh  oighre 
Acliamhonaidh  agus  na  daoine  eile  (maille  ri  tri  fichead  a  thainig  a 
Gleanna-Moireastuinn  air  chomharradh  meallta),  a  chuir  gu  Bar- 
bados ;  agus  cha'n  f hac  a  haon  dhiubh  an  dachaidh  gu  brath  ach 
Mac-Aoidh  agus  fear  eile,  Cha  luaithe  a  chaidh  ]\Iac-Aoidh  air 
tir  ann  am  Barbados  na  theicli  e  air  long  gu  Jamaica.  Ann  an 
sin  rinn  e  Domhnullach  dhe-fhein,  agus  an  deigli  dha  iomadh 
bliadhna  a  chaithidh  ann,  thainig  e  dhachaidh  agus  phos  e. 
B'e  Domhnull  Mac-Aoidh  seanair  m'athair,  agus  tha  a  chiste  a 
thug  e  a  Jamaica  aige-san  fhathast  ann  an  Urchudainn." 

"  Is  mor  an  t-atharrachadh  a  thug  baiteal  Chuil-fhodair  agus 
briiidealachd  Chuml)erland  air  a  Ghaidhealtachd.  Eugadh  de 
chloinn  ann  an  Urchudainn  'sa  bhliadhua  1744,  32  ;  'sa  bhliadhna 
1745,  30;  'sa  bhliadhna  1746  (bliadhna  Chuil-fhodair)  18;  'sa 
bhliadhna  1747,  12;  agus  'sa  bhliadhna  1748,  26.  Tha  so  a 
a  feuchaian  dliuinn  a  scapadh  uamliasach  a  chaidh  a  dheanamh 
anns  na  laithean  eitidh  sin,  ann  am  measg  an  f  headhainn  a  bhiodh, 
a  ])03adh  'sa  baisteadh,  mur  d'thainig  a  chomh-stri  mhortach 
eadar  ri  Tearlach  agus  Deorsa  I  Bha  an  sluagh  ni's  lioniiihora 
ann  an  Gleanntan  na  Gaidhealtachd  roimh  latha  Chuil-fhodair, 
na  bha  iad  riarah  na  dheigli ;  agus  bha  iad.  'nan  doigh  fhein,  ni'.s 
souu  na  tha  am  beagan  a  th'againn  an  diugh." 


56 


TRANSACTIONS. 


SURVEY  OF  THE  CELTIC  LANGUAGES. 


February  23,  1872. — A  lecture  on  the  above  subject  was  de- 
livered by  the  Rev.  William  Ross  of  Rothesay,  Cluny  Macpherson, 
Chief  of  the  Society,  presiding.  The  worthy  Chief  was  received 
with  great  applause,  and  when  it  was  discovered  that  he  was  about 
to  open  the  proceedings  in  Gaelic,  he  was  greeted  with  fresh  de- 
monstrations of  approbation.      The  Chief  spoke  as  follows  : — 

Faodaidh  mi  toiseachadh,  am  briathran  aith-gearr,  le  bhi  cuir 
an  ceill  do  bhuill  a  Comuinn  Ghailig,  a  tlia'n  so  a  lathair  gu'n  robh 
mor  dlioilgheas  orm  nach  robh  e  'nam  chomas  a  bhi  maHle  ribh 
aig  'ur  ceud  choinneamh.  Thil  mi  anabarrach  toillichte  a  bhi  a 
lathair  air  an  f  heasgar  so,  agus  a  bhi  faicinn  aireamh  co  mhor 
dhuibh-san  cruinn  aig  am  bheil  tlachd  ann  an  soirbheachadh 
"  Comuinn  Gailig  lubhirnis."  Agus  tha  mi  'galtrum  Ian  dochas 
gu'n  sruth  mor  bhuannachd  agus  mhisneachd  do  na  Gaidheil  o'n 
Chomuinn,  agiis  gu  h-araidh  do  thaobh  craobh  sgaoilidh  a  chanain 
Ghijadhealaich,  Tha  e  ro-thaitneach  leam  a  bhi  nis  a'  toirt  fa  bhur 
comhaii-  an  t-Urramach  Mr  Ros  4  Bade-Bhoid,  agus  a'  gairm  air 
a  labhair  na  h-oraid  a  ghabh  e  gu  coimhneil  os  laimh  a  thoirt  air 
an  fheasgair  so.  Tha  mi  cinnteach  nach  ruig  mi  leas  innseadh 
dhiubh  gu'm  bheil  e  'na  ard  fhoghlumach  anns  a  chanain  Ghaidh- 
ealach,  ag-us  min-eolach  mu'n  daimh  anns  an  bheil  a  chanain  so  a' 
seasanih  ri  a  dual  chaintean.  Feumaidh  gu'n  toir  e  mor  thoil- 
eachadh  dha  na  h-uile  fior  Ghaidheal  gu'm  bheil  a  leithid  a  cho- 
mimn  'san  "  Comunn  Gailig"  air  a  chuir  air  chois  ann  an  Ceann- 
Bhaile  na  Gaidhealtachd.  Cha  n-eil  teagamh  's  am  bith  agam  ann 
a'  soirbheachadh  a  chomuinn,  'nuair  tha  agam  r'a  innseadh  dhiubh 
gu'm  facas  iomchuidh  le  ar  n-ard-Uachdaran  caomh,  a  Bhan- 
righinn  ordugh  a  thoirt  senchad  gu'm  biodh  a  leabhar-sa  air 
eadar-theangachadh  chum  Gailig,  agus  tha  uaill  orm  gu'n  d'earb 
i  sin  a  dheanamh  r'a.  h-aon  do'm  chinneadh  feiu.  Mu'n  dean  mi 
suidh  dh'iarruinn  an  cothrom  so'  ghabhail  air  moran  taing  a  thoirt 
do  bhuill  rioghlaidh  a  "  Chomuinn  Ghailig"  air-son  an  urraim  a 
chuir  iad  orm  ann  a  bhi  ga'm  shouraehadh  aii'-son  Ceann-suidhe 
air  a  bliliadlma  so.  Cha  chum  mi  ni's  f  haid\e  sibh,  oir  tha  mi 
creidsinn  gu'm  bheil  fadal  oirbh  gusanchiinn  sibh  oraid  nn  Urra- 
maich  Mr  Ros. 

The  Chief  theia  introduced  Mr  Ross,  who  said  that  he  would 
call  his  lecture  a  Survey  op  the  Celtic  Languages,  with  Notes 
OF  THEiu  Affinities  to  the  other  Indo-European  Tongues. 

Tlie  following  is  an  outline  of  the  lecture,  ^\]li(•]l  was  illustrated 


TRANSACTIONS.  67 

by  speciiueas  of  the  eaily  Gaelic  MiiuuHci'i}>t  Literature  of  ScotlauJ, 
and  by  diagrams  showing  the  aflinities  of  the  Celtic  to  the  other 
Aryan  tongues  : — 

I. — The  place  of  the  Celtic  is  to  be  found  in  the  Aryan,  and 
not  in  the  Semitic  family  of  languages — Sir  William  Jones — Dr 
Pritchard — "  Eastern  Origin  of  the  Celtic  Nations." 

II. — Celtic  Languages — Foreign  elements,  Ecclesiastical  and 
Classical  Latin.  The  Eoman  Occiipation.  Immigrations  from  the 
Continent.  Comparative  Vocabularies  of  Cymric  and  Gaedhelic. 
Com2)arative  Grammar. 

III. — Celtic  Scholarship^Lexicons :  Cymric,- embracing  Breton, 
Welsh,  Cornislt;  Gaedhelic,  embracing  Irish,  Gaelic,  Manx.  Gram- 
mars— BiogTaphical  Notices  of  Le  Gouidec  and  J.  Caspar  Zeuss. 
The  Grammatica  Celtica  :  Its  Character  and  Value.  Native 
Scholai-ship— The  Rev.  Dr  M'Lauchlan,  Dr  W,  F.  Skene,  Rev. 
Mr  Clark,  Mr  J.  F.  Campbell,  Professor  Blackie.  &c.— Welsh, 
IrLsh,  and  Breton  Scholai'S — Our  Literature,  Oral  and  Traditional. 
Manuscripts — Gaelic,  Irish,  Welsh,  Breton.  Early  Printed  Works. 
Modern  Literatm-e. 

IV. — Celtic  Relationship  to  the  Aryan  Tongues  :  Western — 
Classical,  Teutonic,  SlaA^onic ;  Eastern — Indie ;  Sanskrit,  Persic, 
&c.  Vocabulary  and  Gi-ammar.  The  value  of  the  Celtic  to  the 
Science  of  Language.  The  Study  itself,  its  relations  to  the  Gospel, 
and  bearings  upon  the  welfare  of  humanity. 

Our  space  vnll  only  admit  of  our  givmg  a  brief  summary  of  the 
lecture,  which  the  authoi-,  at  the  request  of  the  Society,  has  agreed 
to  publish  in  full. 

I,    THE  PLACE  OF  THE  CELTIC. 

If  we  cast  our  eye  over  a  linguistic  map  of  the  world,  we  can- 
not fail  to  note  that  thei'e  exists  a  vast  number  of  languages,  and 
that  all  of  them  have  certain  geographical  relations  to  each  other. 
We  are  not  warranted  to  conclude  that  because  of  their  proximity 
to  each  other,  they  are  on  that  account  so  intimately  related  as  to 
be  one  in  structure  or  form — one  in  the  matei-ials  of  which  they 
are  composed,  nor  yet  one  in  the  sense  of  a  common  progeny,  with 
diverse  lineaments,  o-wning  a  common  parentage.  Such  a  con- 
clusion can  only  be  arrived  at  on  scientific  gi'oimds  when  the  science 
of  language  shall  have  attained  its  majority,  and  the  languages  of 
earth  have  been  analysed  and  compai-ed.  A  careful  and  accurate 
study  of  any  one  form  of  speech  will  lead  us  to  see,  that  although 
the  great  bulk  of  the  language  may  consist  of  materials  of  nati\e 
growth  and  character,  yet  a  considei'able  portion  is  to  be  traced 

H 


58  TRANSACTIONS. 

to  the  incursion  of  materials  that  are  of  a  mixed  character — some 
bearing  marks  of  a  kindred,  and  some  clearly  of  a  foreign  extrac- 
tion. If  we  extend  our  inquiries  to  several  languages,  we  obtain 
precisely  similar  results.  The  farther  we  extend  our  survey  the 
more  likely  are  we  to  obtain  large  and  reliable  data  upon  which  to 
found  a  safe  induction.  A  toleraljly  accurate  survey  of  the  lan- 
guages which  abound  on  the  flice  of  the  earth  has  led  to  the  dis- 
covery of  three  extensive  gi'oups  or  families  of  languages,  each 
famOy  having  its  own  native  character,  qualities,  and  genius. 
These  are  the  Aryan  or  Indo-European,  the  Semitic,  and  the 
Turanian  or  Allophyllian  languages.  How  far  these  families  are, 
if  at  all,  related  to  each  other  the  future  of  our  science  must  show. 
The  question  is  foreign  to  our  present  inquiry.  It  is  enough  for 
us  to  know  that  the  Celtic  langiiage  possesses  characteristics 
which  enable  us  to  fix  its  place  in  the  Aiyan  or  Indo-European 
family.  It  cannot  be  without  interest  to  xis  to  iuquii-e  how,  and 
by  whom,  it  was  discovered  that  our  language  had  its  legitimate 
place  among  the  Aryan  tongues.  The  discovery  was  not  made  by 
any  merely  Gaelic  or  Cymric  scholar.  Our  native  scholars,  with 
one  notable  exception,  the  distinguished  Edward  Lliuyd,  the  author 
of  the  "  Ai'chseologia  Brittanica,"  were  busily  engaged  for  many 
years  in  endeavouring  to  prove  an  intimate  connection  between 
the  Celtic  languages  and  the  Semitic  family.  In  the  early  stages 
of  philological  studies,  most  linguists  laboured  long  and  diligently 
to  show  that  theii"  native  tongue  was  the  primeval  speech,  or  at  all 
events  closely  allied  to  it.  Our  Celtic  scholars  wei-e  no  exception 
to  the  genei-al  rule.  It  is  but  just  to  the  memory  of  Lhuyd,  our 
first  and  perhaps  greatest  Celtic  scholar,  to  observe  that  in  his 
"British  Etymologicon,"  he  clearly  pointed  out  the  affinity  between 
the  Celtic  and  such  Indo-European  languages  as  in  his  time  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  learned  men.  It  is  possible  that  an  inti- 
mate connection  may  yet  be  found  to  subsist  between  the  Aryan 
and  Semitic  families ;  and  if  so  the  Celtic  may  perform  no  mean 
service  to  the  inquiries  that  shall  issue  in  this  result.  The  efibrts 
of  oui  native  philologists  were  at  the  time,  to  a  large  extent,  labour 
in  vain.  The  discovery  that  helped  to  place  the  Celtic  in  its  right 
position  was  that  of  the  Sanski-it  language,  which  took  place  in  the 
year  1808.  Previous  to  that  year,  it  was  generally  supposed  that 
there  was  an  absolute  distinction  in  race  and  langiiage  between 
the  inhabitants  of  Hindostan  and  the  East,  and  those  of  Europe 
and  the  West.  In  that  year  the  supposed  distinction  was  abolished. 
It  was  discovered  that  the  Sanskrit,  though  dead  for  upwards  of 
two  thousand  years,  was  the  direct  soui'ce  of  all  the  principal 
modern  dialects  of  the  Hindoos,  while  it,  moreover,  presented  the 
closest  alliuities  to  the  language  of  Persia  and  the  chief  languages 


TRANSAOTIOXS.  59 

of  Eul-opo.  8ir  William  Jones,  tJio  distiiigiuslicd  founder  of  the 
Asiatic  Society,  was  the  first  to  point  out  tiie  2>robal)le  connection 
which  might  be  found  to  exist  between  the  Celtic  and  the  languages 
of  the  East.  In  a  paper  contained  in  the  first  volume  of  the 
"  A>siatic  Researches  "  (p.  442),  he  says,  "  The  Sanskrit  language, 
whatever  may  be  its  antiquity,  is  of  a  wonderfid  structure  :  more 
perfect  than  the  Greek,  more  co}>ious  than  the  Latin,  and  more 
exquisitely  refined  than  either,  yet  ]>earing  to  both  of  them  a 
stronger  aflinity,  both  in  the  roots  of  verbs  and  in  the  forms  of 
gi-ammar,  than  coiild  have  been  produced  liy  accident;  so  strong 
that  no  philologer  could  examine  all  the  three  without  l)elieving 
them  to  have  sprung  from  some  common  soiu-ce,  which,  peiha})s, 
no  longer  exists.  There  is  a  similar  reason,  though  not  quite  so 
forcible,  for  supposing  that  both  the  Gothic  and  the  Celtic,  though 
blended  ^\^.th  a  difierent  idiom,  had  the  same  origin  ^v'ith  the  Sans- 
krit.    The  old  Persian  may  be  added  to  the  same  family." 

The  next  in  order  who  secured  the  attention  of  scholai'S  to  a 
consideration  of  the  question  was  Dr  Pritchard,  the  celebrated 
author  of  a  work  "  On  the  Varieties  of  the  Huanan  Pace."  We 
cannot  value  too  highly  the  service  which  he  rendered  to  the 
Celtic  language  by  the  pu])lication  in  1832  of  his  work  on  "The 
Eastern  Origin  of  the  Celtic  Nations."  He  says — "  It  ^vill  more 
evidently  appear,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  that  from  the  Celtic  dialects 
a  part  of  the  gi-ammatical  inflections,  and  that  a  very  imjiortant 
part,  common  to  the  Sanscrit,  the  Eolic  Greek,  the  Latin,  and  the 
Teutonic  languages,  are  capable  of  an  elucidation  which  they  have 
never  yet  received."  The  line  of  e\T.dence  followed  Ijy  Dr  Prit- 
chard, and  the  materials  produced,  were  of  such  a  character,  and  in 
such  quantity,  as  to  satisfy  the  most  sceptical  that  the  Celtic  must 
find  its  place  in  the  numerous  cluster  of  speeches  embraced  by  the 
Indo-European  tongiies.  The  forty  years  that  have  elajised  since 
the  publication  of  his  work  have  oidy  helped  to  confirm  the  posi- 
tion he  had  taken  up,  and  largely  to  add  to  the  e\-idence  submitted 
by  him.  To  his  labours  we  are  indelited  for  the  first  i-ational  and 
scientific  investigation  as  to  the  origin,  place,  and  relations  of  the 
Celtic  languages.  The  study  of  the  Celtic  now  received  a  new 
impetus,  and  in  the  right  direction.  A  singularly  clear,  compre- 
hensive, and  scholarly  review  of  Dr  Pritchard's  book,  by  the  late 
Rev.  Richard  Garnett,  of  the  British  Museum,  in  the  British 
Quarterly  Review  for  September  1836,  and  valuable  articles  on 
the  Languages  and  Dialects  of  the  British  Islands,  by  the  same 
author,  in  the  first  and  second  volumes  of  the  "  Proceedings  of  the 
Philological  Society  of  London,"  thoroughly  confirmed  Dr  Prit- 
chard's conclusions,  and  supplied  fresh  and  valualjle  materials,  which 
rendered  conviction  irresistible.      "  Till  lately,"  says  Mr  Garnett, 


60  TRANSACTIOXS. 

speaking  of  the  Celtic  dialects,  "they  were  supposed  by  various 
eminent  scholars  to  form  a  class  apart,  and  to  have  no  connection 
whatever  with  the  gi-eat  Indo-European  stock.  This  was  sti-ongly 
asserted  by  Colonel  Yans  Kemiedy,  and  also  maintained,  though 
in  rather  more  guarded  terms,  by  Bopp,  Pott,  and  Schlegel.  The 
researches  of  Dr  Pritchard  in  the  "  Eastei'nO  ligin  of  the  Celtic 
Nations,"  and  of  Professor  Pictet  of  Geneva,  in  his  truly  able  work 
"  Sur  I'Affinite  des  Langues  Celtiques  avec  le  Sanscrit,"  may  be 
considered  as  having  settled  the  question  the  other  way,  and  as 
proving  satisfactorily  that  the  assertion  of  the  philologists  above 
mentioned  were  those  of  persons  who  had  never  projierly  investi- 
gated the  mattei',  and  were  consequently  iiicompetent  to  decide 
upon  it.  The  demonstration  of  Pictet  is  so  complete,  that  the 
German  scholars,  who  had  previously  denied  the  connection,  now 
fully  admit  it,  and  several  of  them  have  wi-itten  elaboi-ate  treatises 
showing  more  affinities  between  Celtic  and  Sanscrit  than  perhaps 
really  exist."  (Philological  Essays,  p.  147.)  The  residt  of  the 
publication  of  the  works  of  Dr  Pritchard  and  Professor  Pictet  were 
of  the  most  satisfactory  character,  and  finally  established  the  posi- 
tion of  the  Celtic  as  one  of  the  Aiyan  tongues.  At  the  same  time 
it  must  be  concedetl,  that  several  very  scrikmg  coiiLcidences  be- 
tween the  Celtic  and  the  Hebrew  have  been  pointed  out ;  while  it 
is  undeniable  that  the  evidence  hitherto  adduced  in  support  of  the 
gi'eat  mass  of  alleged  resemblances  is  unsatisfactory,  and  in  not  a 
few  instances  entirely  illusory. 

The  Celtic  language  possesses  for  us  not  merely  a  general,  but 
a  special  and  deep  patriotic  interest.  It  was  among  the  first,  if 
not  the  very  earliest,  to  part  company  with  its  kindred,  and  to 
remove  fi'om  the  ancient  filth erland.  It  was  among  the  first  to 
furnish  names  for  the  beetling  clififo,  towering  bens,  shaded  valleys, 
flowing  streams,  winding  pathways,  and  tlu-iving  homesteads,  of 
the  eontment  of  Europe — names  which  may  even  yet  be  distin- 
guished as  underlying  the  supei-ficial  deposits  of  Teutonic,  Eomanic, 
and  Slavonic  designations.  Its  vocabvdary  also  supplied  no  small 
number  of  the  terms  that  describe  the  social  relations,  and  the  arts 
of  husbandry  and  war.  As  the  parent  imparts  his  lifeblood  to  his 
ofispring,  and  the  pioneer  the  results  and  vakxe  of  his  discoveries 
to  his  successors,  so  did  the  Celtic  tribes  hand  over  their  treasures 
to  those  who  tracked  their  footsteps  and  took  possession  of  their 
lands  and  homes.  These  courageous  and  numerous  tribes  formed 
the  van  and  centre  in  the  great  exodus  of  the  European  nations 
from  their  home  in  the  East.  They  were  impinged  upon  by  the 
Teutons  on  the  Noi-th,  by  the  Greeks  aud  Romans  on  the  South, 
whde  they  were  pushed  forward  by  the  lower  Teutonic,  "VVindic, 
and  Ulyric  tribes,  which  took  up  tlie  rear.     The  pressm-e  of  these 


TRAXS  ACTIONS.  61 

various  migi-ations  drove  the  Celts  to  the  "West,  an<l  their  further 
advance  was  for  a  tiuie  stopped  by  the  Athxiitic  ocean,  and  their 
C(il()iiisa,tiou,  liy  the  occupancy  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 

II,    THE  CELTIC  LANGUAGES. 

It  has  hecn  already  stated  tlmt  a  careful  study  of  any  one 
language  will  lead  to  the  discovery  of  a  large  number  of  words  of 
foreign  extraction.  These  are  technically  called  loan  words.  We 
can  in  many  instances  trace  historically  the  successive  migrations 
of  large  numbers  of  vocables  from  foreign  tongues  into  that  which 
is  the  subject  of  stxuly.  This  arises  from  the  intercoui'se  which 
goes  on  between  various  i-aces,  nations,  and  tribes  of  men.  Thus 
tbe  English  language  of  the  present  day  is  a  conglomerate,  the 
constituent  parts  of  which  are  to  l)e  traced  to  the  languages  of  the 
various  races  and  nationalities  with  which  the  pai'amouut  influence 
and  iim-ivalled  commercial  relations  of  the  English  speaking  people 
have  brought  them  into  contact.  The  character  of  these  loan  words 
in  any  langixage  is  in  strict  accordance  with  the  historical  circuin- 
stance  which  led  to  their  introduction.  A  period  of  degeneracy 
and  disintegration  is  manifested  by  the  use  of  a  mongi-el  s})eech. 
This  is  to  no  small  extent  characteristic  of  the  spoken  Celtic 
in  various  parts  of  the  country.  English  as  the  i)i-ev:iiling 
language  of  this  country,  impinges  upon  aiid  gradually  pervades 
the  ancient  languages  of  these  islands.  In  many  pai'ts  of  the 
Highlands  we  are  not  unaccustomed  to  hear  in  a  Gaelic  conversa- 
tion such  words  as  seop,  s<joil,  bata.  These  words  are  clearly  aliens. 
They  have  not  had  time  to  undergo  the  necessaiy  changes  sufficient 
to  disguise  them.  They  are  surrounded  by  the  language  whence 
the  de])0sit  came,  and  can  therefore  be  readily  identilied.  But  this 
is  merely  the  illustration  of  a  law  that  is  universal ;  and,  if  so,  we 
may  expect  to  find  it  in  operation  at  earlier  and  more  remote 
periods  in  the  history  of  the  Celtic  languages.  Tracing  om*  way 
backwards,  we  come  to  a  period  when  "  ministear,"  "  eaglais," 
"  gi"as,"  "  aoradh,"  "  aingeal,"  "  abstol,"  "  beann^achd,"  "  coron," 
"  eascop,"  "  easbuig,"  "  abbat,"  "  teart,"  "  dondinach,"  and  many 
such  words  were  new  to  the  language.  If  foreign,  how  and  whence 
came  they  1  They  were  introduced  in  an  age  of  incipient  ecclesias- 
ticism.  They  are  deposits  from  an  earlier  period,  and  from  a  pre- 
vailing language— the  language  of  the  Church.  We  have  obtained 
them  dii'ectly  from  Latin,  which,  as  the  theological  and  ecclesiasti- 
cal language  of  the  period,  was  in  use  at  and  after  the  introduction 
of  Christianity. 

The  character  and  constitution  of  a  language  are  influenced,  not 
only  l)y  the  intx-oduction  of  a  new  faith,  and  the  labours  of  the 
missionaiy,  theologian,  and  s])i ritual  instructor,  but  also  by  political 


62  TRANSACTION'S. 

changes,  whicli  have  taken  place  through  annexation,  immigration, 
and  conquest.  If  we  look  beyond  the  introduction  of  Christianity  into 
oiu"  island,  we  hud  a  period  of  conquest  and  occupation  by  foreigners. 
We  therefore  naturally  exjject  that  a  considerable  numljer  of  vocables 
would  be  brought  by  them  into  the  languages  of  the  coimtry.  These 
incursions  and  occupations  would  natm-ally  afiect  the  topogi'aphy, 
the  literary  and  documentary  language  and  court  speech,  and  ulti- 
mately, though  to  a  less  extent,  the  vernacular  spoken  by  the  mass 
of  the  people.  The  arrival  of  the  Romans  in  Biitain,  and  their 
stay  for  four  hundred  years  in  the  country,  must  have  influenced 
the  native  languages  considerably,  especially  in  South  Britain,  to 
which  their  ride  was  chiefly  confined.  The  remote  parts  woidd 
be  aflfected,  if  at  all,  in  a  much  less  degree.  The  English  language 
has  been  in  contact  with  the  Gaelic  of  Scotland  for  upwards  of 
twelve  centmies.  It  has  told  i>owerfidly  on  the  spoken  Gaelic 
along  the  centre  of  the  countiy,  while  the  vernacidar  in  Skye  and 
the  Hebrides  is  compjiratively  vinafiected  by  it  at  the  present  day. 
The  well-known  historical  facts  beaiing  on  this  question  lead  us 
to  conclude  that,  while  the  Cynuic  must  have  been  aflected  by 
the  Latin,  both  duiing  the  period  of  the  Roman  occupation  and 
after  the  introduction  of  Christianity,  the  Gaedhelic  would  be 
chiefly  influenced  by  the  langiiage  of  the  Chiu'ch. 

There  are  good  gi-ounds  for  su}>posmg  the  existence  at  an  early 
period  of  a  Frisian  popidation  in  this  country,  while  traces  of  a  pre- 
Celtic  occiipation,  by  tribes  si)eaking  a  language  akin  to  the  Finnish 
of  the  North,  the  Basque  of  the  South,  and  to  the  basis  of  the  Hunga- 
rian of  central  Europe,  are  not  wholly  wanting.  These  three  lan- 
guages, like  the  stunted  weather-worn  remains  of  a  primeval  forest, 
seem  to  point  to  a  pre-Celtic  population  in  Em-ope.  The  subsquent 
Scandinavian  immigi-ations  into  our  islands  are  undoubted.  Their 
power  is  still  felt  in  the  topogra})hy  of  the  sea  coast  aU  round  the 
island,  and  notably  in  the  North  and  West  Highlands  and  Outer 
Hebrides.  If  they  influenced  the  topography  to  such  an  intent,  we 
may  reasonably  conclude  that  they  left  their  mark  also  upon  the 
spoken  languages  of  the  country. 

After  deducting  all  the  vocables  bearing  traces  of  foreign 
lineage,  and  introduced  in  the  manner  already  alluded  to,  we  have 
still  left  a  large  residuimi,  whose  character  and  relations  we  are 
called  now  to  consider.  The  Celtic  Language  consists  of  two  gi'eat 
branches,  the  Cymric  and  Gaedhelic,  with  several  dialects  in  each. 
Ai"e  these  dialects  septs  of  one  clan,  owning  a  common,  though  re- 
mote ancestry  ]  If  so,  how  do  they  stand  related  to  each  other  ] 
If  we  fad  in  tracing  theii-  genealogy  to  a  common  source,  may  we 
not,  nevertheless,  be  able  to  tiuce  the  family  likeness  in  the  common 
offspring  ? 


TRANSACTIONS. 


63 


There  can  be  no  difficulty  in  ascertaining  the  siil)stantial  identity 
in  vocabularly,  gi-aniniatical  stnicture,  and  idiom,  of  th(!  thi-ce  dia- 
lects which  compose  the  Gaedhelic  branch,  and  as  littk^  in  regai'd 
to  the  unity  of  the  three  which  make  nj3  the  varieties  of  the  Cymric 
branch.  The  diversities,  which  serve  to  constitute  the  several  dia- 
lects are  capable  of  being  accounted  for  on  historical  and  circiim- 
stantial  gi'ounds,  while  the  harmonies  are  too  minute,  too  im- 
portant, and  too  extensive,  to  admit  of  any  other  explanation,  than 
that  of  real  and  ultimate  identity. 

But  how  do  the  two  great  branches,  the  Cymric  and  Gaedhelic, 
stand  related  to  each  other  ?  How  mtich  do  they  hold  in  common  ] 
What  are  the  differences  which  distinguish  them  as  branches  of 
the  one  Celtic  language  1  To  answer  these  questions  fully  would 
exceed  our  present  limits.  A  brief  summaiy  of  the  evidence  which 
can  be  adduced  is  all  that  we  can  now  attempt,  as  showing  the 
remarkable  harmonies  and  peculiar  diversities  of  the  two  branches. 

1.  Vocabulary.  They  hold  much  of  tlieii*  vocabulary  in  com- 
mon, as  the  following  illustrations  clearly  show  : — • 


Cymric. 

Gaedhelic.    1 

Cymi-ic. 

Gaedhelic. 

Achar, 

Affectionate  Acarra          | 

Drwg 

Bad 

Droch 

Aer 

Slaughter 

Ar 

Dwfn 

Deep 

Domhain 

Afal 

An  apple  Aljlial,  ubhal  | 

Duw 

God 

Dia 

Afon 

River 

Amhuinn 

Dwi- 

Water 

Dobhar 

Al 

A  brood 

Al 

ByxO^ 

Day 

Diugh 

Amser 

Time 

Aimser 

Efel 

Similar 

Amhail 

Anal 

Breath 

AnaU 

Elin 

Elbow 

Uilinn 

Asen 

Rib 

Aisinn 

Enw 

A  name 

Ainm 

An 

The  liver 

Ath 

Engyl 

Fii-e 

Aingeal 

Awr 

An  hour 

Uair 

Ffals 

Deceitful 

Feallsa 

Bagud 

A  cluster 

Bagaid 

Ffwlach 

Refuse 

Fuileach 

Ballasg 

A  husk 

Blaosg 

Gau 

Alio 

Go 

Bar 

Top 

B^rr 

Genill 

Offspring 

Gineal 

Bawad 

A  drowning  Bathadh 

Garw 

Rough 

Garbh 

Bach 

Little 

Beag 

Glan 

Clean 

Glan 

Brawdd 

Brother 

Brathar 

Glas 

Green 

Glas 

Benw 

A  woman 

Bean 

Gof 

A  smith 

Gobha 

Bu 

Kine 

Bo 

Gre 

A  flock 

Greigh 

Burym 

Yeast 

Beii-m 

Gwaen 

Pang 

Goiuih 

Byl 

Brim 

Bile 

Gwer 

Tallow 

Geir 

Brych 

Freckled 

Breac 

Gwydd 

Goose 

Geadh 

Cad 

A  battle 

Cath 

Llafar 

Speech 

Labhairt 

Caib 

A  mattock  Caibe 

Lla^vn 

Full 

Lan 

Cadaii- 

A  seat 

Cathair 

Llaw 

Hand 

LamL 

Cam 

A  step 

Ceum 

Llo 

A  calf 

Laogh 

Cami 

Sing 

Can 

Llom 

Bare 

U>m 

64 

TRANSACTIONS. 

Cymric. 

Gaedhelic. 

Cymric. 

Gaedhelic 

Cai'u 

A  hea  1 

Carn 

Llong 

A  shin 

Long 

Crwn 

Rouiu 

Cruinn 

LlyninootliNakcd 

Loninochd 

Ci 

A  clog 

Cii 

Mad 

Good 

Math 

CledJyf 

A  sword 

Claidheamh 

Mawn 

Peat 

Moine 

Clust 

Ear 

Cliias 

Mam- 

Great 

Mbr 

Dall 

Blind 

Dall 

Mel 

Honey 

Mil 

Dar 

An  oak 

Darach 

Sych 

Dry 

Seac 

Da 

Good,  right  Deagh 

Tarw 

Bull 

Tarbh 

Du 

Black 

Dubli 

The  foregoing  list  is  given  as  a  mere  sample,  not  of  harmonies 
bnt  of  identities  in  both  branches.  The  number  might  be  extended 
indefinitely.  It  goes  far  to  show  that  the  great  mass  of  the  vocables 
in  the  two  branches  are  to  be  regarded  as  their  common  stock  or 
inheritance.  From  one-half  to  two-thirds  of  the  words  in  both 
languages  may  be  regarded  as  a  fair  estimate  of  their  common 
property.  It  must  not  be  supposed  that  all  the  vocables  ai'e  of  the 
precise  character  with  the  above.  Further  research  will  show  that 
each  of  the  branches  has  its  own  peculiarities  in  word  formation. 
Thus  we  have  p  in  Cymric  represented  by  c  in  Gaedhelic,  in  such 
words — 


Cymric. 
Penn,         a  head, 
Pedwar,      four. 


Gaedhelic. 
ceann. 
ceathair. 


Cymric. 
Pump, 

Mab, 


five, 
son, 


Gaedhelic, 

cuig. 

mac. 


while  h  in  Cymric  is  almost  uniformly  represented  by  s  in  Gaed- 
helic, as — 


Cymric. 
Hesp, 
Hallt, 
Heli, 
Helig, 
Helu, 
Hen, 


barren, 
saline, 
salt  water, 
willow, 


Cymric, 
seasg. 
sailte. 
saile. 
seOeach. 


possession,  sealbh, 
old,  sean. 


Cymric.  Gaedhelic. 

Hun,  slum])er,  suain. 

Hwyl,  a  sail,  seol. 

Hedd,  peace,  sith. 

Hil,  issue,  siol. 

Hir,  weather,  sion. 
Hoedyl,  duration  of  life,  saoghal. 


We  have,  moreover,  (jw  in  Cymric  represented  by  h,  m,  f,  c,  and 
(/  in  Gaedhelic — 


Cymric. 
Gwann,        meadow, 
Gwall,  wall, 

Gwaelaeth,  grief, 
Gwr,  a  man, 


Gaedhelic. 

banaich. 

balla. 

mulad. 

fear. 


Gwrydd,     gi-ass,  green,  feui-. 


Cymric.  Gaedhelic. 

Gwin,        wine,  fion. 

Gwag,        empty,         caog. 
Gweddi,  supplication,  guidhe 
Gwden,      a  withe,      gad. 
Gwasan,     a  youth,     gas;in. 


Other  peculiarities,  into 
by  the  following— 


'hich  wo  cannot  now  enter,  arc  illustrated 


TKANSACTIOXS. 

65 

Wc-l8h. 

Gaedhclic. 

Welsh. 

CTaedhclic. 

Cliwaer, 

.sister, 

l)iutliar. 

Llyth, 

ti-il)o, 

sluagh. 

Hael, 

liberal. 

tial. 

Llim, 

smooth, 

sliom. 

Clocli, 

bell. 

glag. 

Llyfn, 

smooth, 

sleanihuinn 

Llatli, 

rod, 

slat. 

Llyn 

sharp, 

liomh. 

Tad, 

father, 

atliair. 

Mynydd, 

mountain,  beinn. 

How  are  we  to  account  for  the  apparent  discrepancy  existing 
Ijetween  words  which  at  once  can  be  seen  to  be  so  closely  related 
to  each  other  ?  Can  any  law  or  principle  be  found  by  which  those 
differences  can  be  satisfactoi'ily  accounted  for?  Is  it  that  the  p  in 
penn,  a  head,  passes  into  c  in  ceann,  or  vice  vei-sa — that  the  h  in 
mab  passes  into  c,  in  mac — that  giv  is  rej^resented  by  h,  m,  c,  /,  and 
rj.  The  number  of  illustrations  which  might  be  sup[)lied  of  these 
changes  suffices  only  as  evidence  of  the  fact.  These  illustrations 
do  not  supply  a  solution  of  the  difficulty.  They  only  show  the 
diversity;  they  do  not  account  for  it.  It  is  too  genei-ally  supposed 
that  the  peculiarity  is  almost,  if  not  entirely,  confined  to  the  Celtic 
language.  This,  however,  is  not  the  case.  It  does  exist  in  others, 
notably  in  Greek  and  Latin,  and  may  have  been  more  extensively 
manifested  at  an  earlier  period,  and  helped  to  create  some  of  the 
dialectic  difierences  in  other  languages.  If  we  take  the  Greek 
"  hippos,"  we  find  the  corresponding  Latin  to  be  "  equus."  But 
this  fact,  corresponding  2^1'ecisely  to  what  takes  place  between  the 
Cymric  and  Gaelic,  will  not  helj)  us  dii-ectly  to  a  solution.  Nor 
are  we  much  relieved  by  fintling  that  another  form  of  the  Greek 
word  was  hikkos.  The  difficulty  is  but  one  stage  removed,  and  that 
brings  it  only  into  closer  analogy  with  the  Celtic.  If,  however,  we 
look  into  another  section  of  the  Aryan  family,  we  find  the  corres- 
})onding  Sanscrit  word  to  be  "  agvas,"  which  for  fixller  illustration 
might  be  written  agbhas,  agphas;  we  find  a  combination  of  letters 
from  which  both  hikkos  and  hipiios  may  be  derived.  The  real  solu- 
tion, therefore,  is,  not  that  the  labial  passes  into  the  gutteral,  but 
that  l»oth  are  derivative  sounds,  collaterally  descended  from  a  more 
complex  element  capable  of  producing  both.  Thus  the  Liitin  his 
corresponds  to  the  Greek  dis.  The  diversity  is  not  to  be  accounted 
for  by  supposing  that  the  h  has  jiassed  into  d,  or  vice  versa.  If  we 
go  to  the  Sanscrit  we  find  both  of  these  words  represented  by  dwis. 
We  now  see  that  each  of  the  languages  has  taken  the  derivative 
in  the  precise  form  best  suited  to  its  idiosyncrasy  and  character. 
The  Greek  took  the  d,  and  the  Latin  J=w.  If,  again,  we  take  the 
Gaelic 7?o??,  Latin  rmurn,  Greek  oinos,  we  can  easily  see  how  the 
first  two  are  related  to  each  other,  but  cannot  so  readily  account 
for  the  last  of  the  three.  Still  less  can  we  account  for  the  divereity 
when  we  are  told  that  m  the  Hesycliian  glosses,  oinos  represents 
goinos.     But  if  we  turn  to   the  Cymric,  the  difficulty  is  at  once 


G6  TRANSACTIONS. 

solved,  for  it  has  preserved  in  gwin  the  representative  of  the  ancient 
form  whence  all  the  others  have  sprung.  In  the  Greek  j^ep^os, 
Latin  cucullus,  we  have  a  good  example  of  what  takes  place  so  re- 
gularly in  the  two  branches  of  the  Celtic. 

It  is  too  readily  taken  for  gi-anted  that  the  earlier  the  stage  at 
which  we  find  a  language,  the  more  multiplied  ai'e  its  dialects ;  that 
the  mitiu-al  tendency  of  languages  is  from  diversity  to  uniformity; 
that  dialects  are,  in  the  regular  order  of  things,  antecedent  to 
language  ;  and  that  the  great  means  for  lessening  the  number  of 
dialects  is  the  cultivation  of  language.  The  illustrations  given 
above  tend  to  show  that  this  is  but  a  partial  statement  of  the  truth. 
Dialect  infers  original  imity,  which  gi-adually  manifests  diversity, 
owing  to  Individ  vial  usage,  circumstances,  and  position.  The  ex- 
amples referred  to  above  prove  that  the  earlier  the  stage  at  which 
we  find  a  language  the  more  likely  is  it  to  manifest  a  unity  ap- 
proaching completeness — a  unity  which  enables  us  to  account 
satisfactorily  for  dialectic  diversity.  It  is  only  when  a  written 
language  and  literatiu-e  become  co-extensive  with  the  indi-viduals 
making  use  of  them  that  dialects  may  be  said  to  disappear,  and 
even  then  individual  peculiarities  may  not  be  wholly  eradicated. 
Dialect  is  disintegi'ation  and  debris  from  the  primitive  rock  :  writ- 
ten language  is  the  alluvivmi  formed  of  the  select  materials  residt- 
ing  from  disintegi'ation.  The  reverse  is  a  secondary  and  subse- 
quent process.  The  pressiu-e  of  circumstances  which  produces  the 
secondary  formation,  may  be  of  such  a  character,  and  the  resiUt  of 
such  action  as  shall  leave  but  few  remains  of  valuable  materials, 
whose  existence  can  only  be  accounted  for  by  tracing  their  connec- 
tion to  the  primitive  strata. 

The  nearer  we  get  to  the  origin  of  a  language,  the  more  likely 
we  are  to  find  complex  elements,  which,  imder  the  corroding  influ- 
ence of  time  and  circumstances,  furnish  the  simpler  sounds  which 
are  piesented  in  dialectic  peculiarities.  Dialectic  characteristics 
become  ultimately  so  established  as  to  necessitate  the  change  on 
foreign  words  introduced  into  the  language,  required  to  bring  them 
into  accordance  with  the  established  usage.  Thus  pascha,  easter, 
is  in  Welsh  pasch,  but  in  Gaelic  Caisg.  The  question  very  na- 
turally occurs,  to  what  principle  are  we  to  attribute  this  departure 
from  complexity  to  simplicity  1  The  principle,  if  piinciple  it 
can  be  called,  most  generally  relied  on,  as  pi-oducing  the  change  is 
that  of  eui)hony.  The  ear  is  regarded  as  the  gi-eat  agent  in  causing 
the  modifications  of  the  original  complex  sounds.  But  complex 
sounds  ai-e  euphonious  to  the  ears  of  those  who  habitually  make  use 
of  them  ;  the  ear  must  be  educated  to  ap])reciate  the  use  of  the 
siiiq)ler  sounds.  This  is  done  through  the  influence  of  neighbouring 
races  and  tongues,  while  the  exigencies  arising  from  increased  com- 


TRANSACTIONS.  G7 

niTinication,  demand  dii'ectness  and  sinii)licity.  The  ear  thiis  trained 
desii'es  sim])licity,  and  compels  tlie  tongue  to  submit.  Euphony  is 
not  more  the  creature  of  necessity  than  it  is  that  of  fashion.  Both 
causes  may  have  combined  to  produce  the  diversities  which  have 
been  the  subject  of  our  consideration. 

It  woukl  naturally  fall  to  us  now  to  discuss  the  remarkable 
system  of  initial  mutations  of  consonants  which  distinguishes  the 
Celtic  from  all  the  other  Aryan  tongues ;  but  we  cannot  enter  here 
upon  a  minute  analysis.  The  principle  of  literal  mutation  as  a 
regidar  system  is  peculiar  to  the  Celtic  dialects  ;  though  the  efiects 
of  such  an  a})titude  in  some  of  the  letters  to  change  their  sounds  is 
seen  to  prevade  all  languages.  But  it  regulates  some  of  the  pri- 
mary forms  of  construction  in  these  tongues,  as  well  with  respect  to 
syntax  as  to  the  composition  of  wox'ds  (Dr  Pughe).  These  changes 
are  called  mutation  in  Welsh,  ccUpsis  in  Irish,  and  in  Gaelic  aspir- 
ation. The  term  mutation  is  not  inapplicable  to  the  changes  as 
shown  by  all  the  dialects  ;  for  the  Welsh  mutation  embraces  aspir- 
ation also,  while  from  the  Gaelic  of  Scotland  traces  of  the  eclipse 
ai'e  not  wholly  eradicated.  Persons  acquiring  the  Celtic  languages 
never  fail  to  complain  of  the  continual  changes  of  the  consonants. 
It  is  no  doubt  true  that  "  in  the  changes  and  variations  of  these 
mutables  lies  a  great  part  of  the  art  and  mystery  of  this  very 
peculiar  tongue,  the  most  curious  perhaps,  and  the  most  delicate 
for  its  structures,  of  any  language  in  the  world"  (Llewellyn).  But 
the  difficidty,  though  great,  is  not  insurmountable,  for  the  changes 
are  uniformly  made  with  scientific  precision  ;  they  are  all  reducible 
to  definite  rules,  and  therefore  capable  of  being  accurately  acquired. 
The  mutable  consonants  may,  for  aid  to  the  memory,  be  called 
capixals,  GaBiDals,  and  LLiidRHals,  and  are  thus  arranged,  with 
their  mutations — 


{  P,        b, 
(t,         d, 


2  ngh, 
mh. 

3ch, 
ph. 

II. 

k 

1  -  2  ng. 
f,       m. 

nh, 

th. 

h, 

dd,    n. 

(11,     1 L 

III.  {  m,        f. 

( I'll,       !•• 


The  same  principles,  though  with  less  minuteness,  govern  the  use 
of  the  eclipsis  and  aspii-ation  in  Irish  and  Gaelic. 


III.    CELTIC  SCHOLARSHIP  AND  LITERATURE. 

1.  Celtic  Scholarship. — In  treating  of  the  labours  and  re- 
searches of  those  who  had  made  the  Celtic  languages  a  special 
subject  of  study,  the  lecturer  pointed  out  the  princijial  works  in 
the  lexicography  and  grammar  of  the  Breton,  Corjiish,  Welsh, 
Irish,  and  Manx.     The  first  attempt  in  Gaelic  lexicography  was 


C8  TRAX.siACTIONS'. 

made  by  Robei't  Kirke,  minister  of  Balquliidder,  in  his  edition  of 
tlie  Irish  Bil:)le  for  the  use  of  the  Gael  of  Scotland,  and  published 
in  1G90.  It  was  of  very  modest  dimensions,  extending  only  to  5^ 
pages.  The  next  work  was  of  a  more  extended  and  scientitic 
character,  embraced  all  the  dialects,  and  was  composed  by  our  first 
gi-eat  Celtic  scholar,  Edward  Lhuyd — his  "Archa^ologia  Brittanica" 
was  published  in  1707.  Thirty-four  years  aftei'wards,  we  have  the 
Gaelic  vocabulary  of  A^lexander  Macdonald,  schoolmaster  of  Ard- 
namurchan,  and  the  author  of  "Aiseii'idh  na  Sean  chanain  Allian- 
naich."  To  him  succeeded,  after  an  inten'al  of  39  years,  William 
Shaw,  minister  of  Ai'dclach,  Nairnshire,  who  published  in  1 780  a  dic- 
tionaiy,  which  formed  also  the  basis  of  O'Reilly's  Irish  Dictionary. 
The  two  Macfarlane's,  Robert  and  Peter,  piiblished  vocabularies,  the 
former  in  1795,  and  the  latter  in  1815.  But  the  first  work  of 
an  authoritative  character  was  by  Robert  Armstrong,  schoolmaster 
of  Kenmore,  Perthshire,  who  devoted  time,  talents,  and  industry 
to  the  production  of  a  w-ork  w^hich  still  holds  a  high  place  as  an 
authority  among  Gaelic  scholars.  It  was  published  in  1825.  The 
Highland  Society's  Dictionary  was  piiblished  in  1828.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  laborious  exertions  of  Ewen  Maclachlan  of  Aberdeen — 
the  most  accomplished  Gaelic  scholar  of  his  day — this  work  ob- 
tained the  services  of  Dr  Macleod  of  Dundonald,  Dr  Irvine  of 
Little  Dunkeld,  Dr  Macdonald  of  Criefi",  and  others,  and  was 
completed  under  the  editorial  care  and  supervision  of  the  Rev.  Dr 
Mackintosh  Mackay.  Lesser  volumes,  which  were  largely  compi- 
lations from,  or  abridgments  of,  the  foregoing,  were  prepared  and 
published  by  Dr  Macleod  and  Dr  Dewar;  by  Mr  M'Aljiine, 
schoolmaster,  Islay;  and  a  small  pocket  volume  by  Mr  M'Eachran, 
published  at  Perth.  The  grammars  are  well-known,  and  do  not 
demand  detailed  reference.  The  laboiu'S  and  services  of  two 
foreigners  are  worthy  of  special  note.  These  are  J.  F.  M.  Le 
Gonidec,  the  author  of  a  gi-ammar  and  dictionary  of  the  Celto- 
Breton,  and  the  celebrated  German  professor  and  linguist,  J. 
Caspar  Zeuss,  the  author  of  the  Grammatica  Celtica.  Christianity 
as  well  as  scholarship  owes  much  to  the  devoted  labours  of  Le 
Gonidec;  the  former  for  his  invaluable  translations  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  the  latter  for  his  linguistic  works.  Born  at  Le 
Conquet,  in  Brittany,  on  September  4th  1775,  he  was,  at  the  age 
of  three  yeai-s,  deprived  of  his  mother,  abandoned  by  his  father, 
and  generously  adopted  by  Mr  and  Mrs  de  Ker  Saiizon.  Ere  he 
was  eighteen  years  of  age  he  became  involved  in  the  troubles  of 
tlie  Revolution  in  France,  and,  after  a  naii'ow  escape  for  his  life, 
ci'ossed  the  Channel,  and  landed  at  Penzance  in  Cornwall.  In 
1794,  after  a  residence  of  twelve  months  in  this  country,  he  re- 
tnrned  to  Brittany,  only  to  be  again  involved  in  the  civd  wars  of 


TRANSACTIOXS.  GO 

the  Morbihau  and  tlio  Cotes-du-Nord.  An  anmcsty  j,TantL'd  in 
1800  permitted  him  to  retire  from  civil  conflict.  It  was  only  now 
that  he  began  to  study  scientifically  a  language  which,  without 
any  stu.dy,  he  had  spoken  from  his  infancy.  Henceforward  his 
zeal  in  that  study  was  intense,  and  his  laboui's  abundant.  In 
1805  he  was  admitted  a  member  of  thj  Celtic  Academy  of  Paris, 
and  in  1807,  after  two  years  of  incessant  labour,  he  published  his 
Celto-Bretonne  granimar.  His  Breton-French  and  French-Breton 
dictionai'ies — the  former  published  in  1821 — engaged  him  for  a 
period  of  eleven  years.  Ten  years  he  devoted  to  the  translations 
of  the  Scriptures  :  the  New  Testament  was  published  in  1821,  and 
the  Old  Testament  shortly  before  his  death,  which  took  place  in 
1838.  The  New^  Testament  is  justly  regarded  as  the  finest  transla- 
tion in  the  Breton  language.  Tlie  entire  edition  is  said  to  have 
been  bought  in  Wales.  He  was  also  instrumental  in  directing  the 
attention  of  the  learned  to  the  manuscript  literature  of  his  country, 
at  a  time  when  that  litei'ature  was  almost  wholly  neglected  and 
lost  sight  of,  and  to  the  true  character  of  his  native  tongue,  in  the 
face  of  the  wildest  and  most  visionary  notions  regarding  its  origin 
and  history.  All  the  literary  work  to  which  we  have  referred  he 
accomplished  while  undergoing  the  daily  toil  in  other  duties  neces- 
saiy  for  the  support  of  his  family,  and  that  without  acknowledg- 
ment or  reward  from  the  State,  which,  prodigal  enough  in  other 
matters,  could  not  spend  the  smallest  amount  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  Celtic  literature  and  the  elucidation  of  the  language  spoken 
by  a  lai-ge  number  of  its  own  subjects. 

Professor  J.  Caspar  Zeuss  was  born,  of  poor  parents,  in  a  Ba- 
varian village,  July  22nd,  1806.  He  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a 
regular  school  and  college  education.  At  the  comparatively  early 
age  of  31,  he  published  an  elaborate  ethnological  work  upon  "  The 
Germans  and  their  Neighbours."  In  1840  he  was  appointed  to  the 
Professorship  of  History  in  the  College  of  Spire  (Speyer),  and  here 
he  seems  to  have  begun  those  studies  which  eventually  culminated 
in  his  Grammatica  Celtica.  He  had  made  a  thorough  study  of  the 
Sanscrit,  as  well  as  of  the  Cymric  and  Gaedhelic  languages.  In 
the  course  of  his  ordinary  historical  researches  he  had  become 
familiar  with  the  gTeat  libraries  of  Eiirope.  In  these  libraries  he 
discovered  parchments  of  an  ancient  date,  in  the  classical  tongues, 
with  interlinear  and  marginal  annotations  and  translations  into 
Gaelic.  These  notes  and  translations  bore  the  same  relations  to 
the  original  documents  that  the  interlinear  marginal  notes  of  a 
modern  student  bear  to  the  classical  author  studied  by  him.  What 
were  these  parchments,  and  how  came  the  Gaedhelic  translations 
there]  The  early  Celtic  Church  furnished  numerous  and  able 
missionaries  in  the  6th  and  subsequent  century,  to  the  continent  of 


70  TRANSACTIONS. 

Eiii'ope.  The  condition  of  the  native  Cliurchea  may  be  seen  in  the 
valuable  history  of  the  Eai'ly  Scottish  Church,  by  the  Kev.  Dr 
M'Lauchlan  of  Edinburgh,  in  the  able  monogram  on  the  Culdees 
by  the  Rev.  Dr  Reeves  of  Armagh,  while  the  condition  and  cha- 
racter of  the  Continental  Culdee  Establishments  are  admii'ably 
delineated  by  the  Rev.  Dr  Ebi-ard  of  Erlangen.  The  missionaries 
who  went  out  from  this  country  founded  several  schools  of  learning 
and  theology  on  the  Continent  of  Europe.  In  the  course  of  their 
studies,  they  wi-ote  between  the  lines  and  on  the  margin,  for  their 
own  information  and  for  the  use  of  their  pupils,  translations  into 
theii'  native  Celtic  of  every  difficult  word  and  phrase  in  the  authors 
perused.  In  the  course  of  time  these  institutions,  under  the  sup- 
remacy of  the  Church  of  Rome,  became  monasteries.  The  books  and 
MSS.  passed,  along  \\dth  the  buildings,  into  the  hands  of  the  new 
proprietors,  who  revered  the  Gaelic  missionaries,  cherished  their 
memories,  and  preserved  those  interesting  memorials  of  theii-  life 
and  learning.  These  memorials  are  the  famous  glosses  of  St  Gall, 
Mdan,  Wm-tzbiu'g,  and  Bobbio.  These  are  the  materials  which 
Zeuss,  at  the  risk  of  health  and  life  itself,  searched  for  and  dis- 
covered, and  by  means  of  which,  after  thii-teen  years'  patient  in- 
dustry and  study,  he  was  able  to  give  to  the  world— in  his  Gram- 
matica  Celtica — a  masterly  analysis  of  the  Celtic  as  spoken  at, 
and  immediately  after,  the  time  of  the  Romans.  These  were  the 
isolated  and  often  broken  fragments  by  which  he  re-constructed 
the  one  pillar  which  is  his  own  undying  monument,  and  the  ad- 
luii-ation  of  the  learned  world. 

Scholars  were  not  slow  to  take  advantage  of  the  hint  thrown 
out  by  Sii*  Wm.  Jones  and  of  the  evidence  submitted  by  Pritchard, 
but  they  were  slow  to  admit  the  whole  truth  implied  in  then-  re- 
searches. The  facts  of  an  intimate  connection  and  close  relation- 
ship between  the  Celtic  and  the  other  Aryan  tongues  were  gener- 
ally admitted,  but  the  evidence  was  regarded  as  insufficient  to 
prove  identity,  in  respect  of  grammatical  structure.  There  were 
discrepancies  which  could  not  be  accounted  for.  These  were  point- 
ed out  so  early  as  1836 — four  years  after  the  appearance  of  Dr 
Pritchard's  work.     They  were  thi-ee  in  number ; — 

1.  It  was  asserted  that  the  Celtic  did  not  harmonise  with  the 
other  Aryan  tongues,  in  that  its  svibstantives,  adjectives,  and  pro- 
nouns, had  no  neuter  gender,  which  the  other  languages  possessed. 

2.  That  in  regard  to  the  comparative  and  superlative  degi-ees, 
the  Celtic  was  wholly  wanting  in  two  roots — parallel  in  significa- 
tion, cognate  in  origin,  and  clearly  connected  in  form — which  pre- 
vailed in  the  other  tongues. 

3.  That  in  the  Welsh  and  Breton  dialects  there  were,  properly 


TRANSACTIONS.  71 

speaking,  no  cases,  while  the  few  inflections  in  Gaelic  were  said  to 
bear  no  analogy  to  those  of  the  Indo-European  family. 

The  researches  of  Zeuss  have  completely  answei-ed  all  these  ob- 
jections. He  discovered  that  the  Celtic  had  a  neuter  gender ;  that 
the  superlative  and  comparative  not  only  existed  in  the  old  Gaelic, 
but  that  they  were  of  the  same  form  with  those  possessed  by  the 
kindred  languages  ;  while  in  regard  to  case,  he  showed  that  it  ex- 
isted to  a  much  larger  extent  than  was  admitted,  and  was  formed 
upon  principles  similar  to  those  which  govei-ned  the  formation  of 
the  cases  in  the  other  branches  of  the  family. 

Soon  after  the  completion  of  his  great  work,  Zeuss  sank  into  a 
state  of  exhaustion,  and  died  in  1856.  He  was  not  destined  to 
enjoy  any  of  the  fruits  of  his  great  discoveries  and  unwearied 
labours,  beyond  the  satisfaction  of  having  been  instrumental  in 
achieving  a  noble  and  imperishable  work  for  the  language  which 
was  the  study  of  his  life.  For  the  further  study  and  elucidation  of 
the  Celtic,  he  was  successful  in  laying  down  a  stable  and  enduring 
foundation,  and  no  Celtic  scholar  can  now  pursue  that  study  with- 
out paying  a  warm  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  German  scholar, 
and  without  feeling  the  liveliest  gratitude  for  the  noblest  gift 
which  any  continental  author  has  ever  conferred  on  his  race  and 
language. 

While  paying  our  tribute  of  gratitude  to  a  foreign  author,  for 
the  gi-eatest  and  most  valuble  contribution  made  towards  the  eluci- 
dation of  our  language,  we  are  not  to  forget  that  there  are  scholars 
nearer  home  whose  patriotism,  genius,  and  scholarship  have  won 
them  laurels  in  the  same  field.  The  first  attempt  at  a  History  of 
Gaelic  Literature  was  made  by  Mr  John  Reid  of  Glasgow,  who 
published  the  result  of  his  labours  in  his  "  Bibliotheca  Scoto-Cel- 
tica,"  in  1832.  It  is  a  valuable  repertory  of  information  regard- 
ing the  Gaelic  books  (with  biographical  notices  of  their  authors), 
which  had  been  published  up  to  about  this  date.  To  the  Rev.  Dr 
]\I'Lauchlan  we  are  indebted  for  able  and  interesting  notices  of  the 
history  and  literature  of  the  Scottish  Gael,  published  under  the 
title  of  "Celtic  Gleanings,"  in  1857,  after  having  previously  been 
delivered  as  lectures  in  Edinburgh.  This  was  the  first  work  of  the 
kind  bearing  on  our  literature  since  the  publication  of  the  Biblio- 
theca Scoto-Celtica.  The  aim  of  the  author  was  to  aid  in  forming 
an  interested  pul)lic  before  which  questions  appei'taining  to  the 
Celtic  races  might  be  discussed.  In  that  object  he  thoroughly 
succeeded,  and  to  that  little  work,  as  well  as  to  the  History  of  the 
Early  Scottish  Church  and  the  Dean  of  Lismore's  Book,  by  the  same 
author,  added  to  constant  personal  effort,  no  small  portion  of  the 
interest  now  taken  in  Celtic  subjects  is  due.  To  Dr  M'Lauchlan 
we  are  also  indebted  for  an  admii-able,  succiiict,  and  clear  review 


72  TUANSAOTIOXS. 

of  our  Gaelic  Literature,  which  appears  in  the  "  Scottish  Highhmds, 
HigliUind  Claus,  ifec,"  now  being  published  (A.  Fullarton  &  Co., 
Edinburgh). 

To  the  general  reader  the  history  of  the  early  Celtic  Church  is 
Ijoth  interesting  and  profitable.  The  simplicity,  purity,  and  ear- 
nestness which  chai'acterised  the  early  Church,  both  in  worship  and 
doctrine,  received  a  wonderful  resurrection  at  the  Refoi-mation. 
The  vital  spark  which  liad  long  lain  imbedded  in,  and  was  well- 
nigh  extinguished  amid  the  traditions,  fictions,  and  tales  of  a 
superstitious  and  visionary  age,  was  now  rekindled,  let  us  hope, 
never  to  expire.  The  remains  of  an  early  civilisation,  and  the 
reliques  of  an  early  and  Scriptural  worship,  abundantly  testify  to 
the  power  of  truth  in  those  primitive  times,  and  fill  our  hearts  with 
gi-atitude  to  the  learned  historian  of  the  "  Early  Scottish  Church." 
To  the  linguist  and  the  scholar,  it  is  not  less  interesting  to  see  the 
charter  chests  of  the  ancient  loi'ds  of  the  soil  opened,  and  the  dust 
of  centuries  brvished  away  from  the  parchments,  and  to  find  our  old 
language  receiving  a  resurrection  in  })i-int,  through  the  patience  and 
learning  of  the  transciiber :  to  see  the  manuscript  collections  of 
former  authoi-s  and  compilers  bi'ought  down  from  the  shelves  of 
hall  and  library,  where  for  ages  they  had  lain  unperused  and  un- 
profitable, and  to  have  them  reproduced  with  a  faithfulness  that 
reflects  the  highest  credit  on  the  learning,  perseverance,  and  in- 
dustry of  the  scholar  who  has  restored  them  to  our  literature,  and 
jniblished  them  to  the  world.  Such  a  work  we  have  in  the  "  Dean 
of  Lismoi'e's  Book,"  transcribed,  translated,  and  annotated  hj  the 
Rev.  Dr  M'Lauchlan.  A  woi-thy  coadjutor  and  fellow-laboui-er 
we  have  in  Dr  William  F.  Skene,  who  writes  the  introduction  to 
that  work,  and  whose  essay  on  "  The  Highlanders"  first  brought 
him  into  piiblic  notice.  He  has  since  edited  the  "  Chronicles  of 
the  Picts  and  Scots "  and  the  "  Foiir  Ancient  Books  of  Wales." 
Another  interesting  relic  of  Celtic  literature  we  have  in  the 
"  Book  of  Deer,"  published  by  the  Spalding  Club,  under  the 
editorship  of  Dr  John  Stuart,  who  obtained  the  valuable  aid  of 
Mr  Whitley  Stokes,  the  most  accomplished  of  Irish  scholars,  and 
whose  "  Goidilica"  leads  us  to  hope  that  the  mantle  of  Zeuss  has 
fallen  upon  a  native  scholar  and  linguist.  We  might  here  refer  to 
the  labours  of  others  who  have  rendered  distinguished  service  to 
our  literatui-e,  such  as  Mr  John  F.  Campbell  of  Islay,  who  has  pro- 
cured for  us  "  The  West  Highland  Tales,"  and  who  has  now  in  the 
pi-ess  two  volumes  of  our  Gaelic  heroic  ballad  poetry ;  the  Rev. 
Dr  Clerk  of  Kilmallie,  whose  magnificent  edition  of  Ossian  was 
lately  issued  from  the  ])ress ;  Professor  Blackie  of  the  Edinburgh 
University,  whose  lectures  eA'ince  his  thorough  patriotism,  as  well 
as  his  scholarly  interest  in  our  language  and  literature  ;  Professor 


TRAySACTIOXP.  ^  t  ^ 

Geddes  of  Abcnlecn,  Principal  Shairi)  of  St  Andrews,  and  others, 
whose  disinterested  services  help  to  revive  and  extend  the  interest 
now  manifested  on  behalf  of  our  mother  tongue,  and  throw  light 
upon  the  structui'e  and  character  of  the  ancient  Gaelic. 

Celtic  Literature. — We  have  often  to  regret  that  our  most 
distinguished  British  pliilologists  do  not  manifest  an  intimate 
acquaintance  with  oiu-  language  and  literatiu-e.  To  this  fact  it 
is  largely  due  that  we  are  so  constantly  met  with  the  statement, 
"  But  there  is  really  no  literature  in  the  Celtic  language."  This 
assertion  is  said,  moreover,  to  be  specially  characteristic  of  the 
Gaelic  of  Scotland.  There  is  no  doubt  abundant  gi-ound  to  w^ish 
that  our  literature  were  more  extensive  than  it  is.  The  truth  in 
regard  to  the  matter  is,  that  we  do  possess  a  literatiu-e,  which 
though  scanty  when  compared  with  the  vast  treasures  existing  in 
modern  and  in  a  very  few  of  the  most  ancient  tongues,  is  never- 
theless of  the  highest  value  when  we  take  into  accoimt  its  intrinsic 
worth  and  character  and  its  beaiings  on  the  science  of  language. 
It  is,  moreover,  so  large  as  to  compare  favourably  ^vdth  the  literary 
remains  of  other  aboriginal  races.  It  may  be  considered  large  also 
when  we  take  into  account  the  various  hostUe  influences  with 
which  it  had  to  contend,  and  in  the  face  of  which  it  has  been  so 
wonderfully  preserved.  If  it  were,  as  is  asserted,  small,  it  w^ould 
on  that  account  be  more  easHy  mastered,  and  ought  therefore  to  be 
regarded  as  specially  valuable.  The  statement,  however,  is  entii-ely 
unfoimded,  and  is  often  the  resiilt  of  ignorance,  if  not  of  prejudice. 
Wkere,  then,  is  our  literature,  and  of  what  does  it  consist  1  We 
have  already  seen  that  a  lai-ge  portion  of  the  vocabrdary  of  the  two 
gi-eat  branches  of  the  Celtic  may  be  ju>stly  regarded  as  their 
common  property  and  inheritance.  The  same  is  true  to  a  large 
extent  of  their  literature.  It  is  notably  true  of  the  earlier  oral 
and  traditional,  and  to  no  small  extent  of  the  early  manuscript 
remains  in  each  of  the  branches.  Thus  the  Welsh  and  the  Breton 
have  an  early  and  common  literatxu-e,  and  so  have  the  Irish  and 
the  Gaelic.  These  remains  have  in  some  instances  undergone 
changes,  and  present  diflerences  which  are  to  be  traced  to  the  na- 
tural vdcissitudes,  circiimstances,  and  histoiical  relations  of  the  race. 
It  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  no  small  portion  of  our  literature 
must  be  oral  and  traditional,  the  production  of  bards  and  seana- 
chies,  handed  down  from  generation  to  generation.  Thus  we  have 
the  Ossianic,  and  other  ballad  poetry  of  ancient  times,  and  the 
earlier  tales  and  legends  of  imaginative  authors,  which  hav^e  only 
in  recent  years  been  given  to  the  world  through  the  pi-ess.  We 
have  in  addition  to  this  a  large  and  important  Aviitten  literatm-e. 
These    written    mommients  are    of  various  kinds :    1,  The   topo- 

J 


74  TRANSACTIONS. 

gi-aphy  of  EiiroiJe  and  of  our  own  islands  supply  us  with  valuable 
and  extensive  materials  in  this  department,  and  testify  to  the  pre- 
valence in  former  days  of  our  race  and  language.  2,  We  have  also 
the  stone  monuments  engi-aved  by  art  and  man's  de\'ice,  which 
furnish  us  with  our  earlier  alphabets,  or  Beth-luis-7ioins.  These 
stone  monuments  give  us  our  oldest  knowai  forms,  and  powers 
of  letters  and  words.  Of  "sviitten  stones,  the  fii"st  and  earliest  in 
Europe  are  confessedly  Celtic,  and  consist  of  the  monuments 
bearing  the  Ogham  marks.  Professor  Stephens  of  Denmark,  our 
highest  authority  on  this  subject,  says  "  Some  thi-ee  hundred  of  these 
pillar  stones  have  been  foimd  in  Ireland  ;  about  a  dozen  Ogham 
blocks  have  been  found  in  Scotland,  and  scarcely  so  many  in  Eng- 
land and  Wales.  These  Ogham  stones  are  every  way  so  peculiar 
that  they  at  once  strike  the  antiquarian  student.  The  dispiite  is 
still  hotly  canied  on,  whether  they  are  heathen  or  Chi-istian.  I 
cannot  conceive  how  any  one  can  question  that  this  was  the  most 
ancient  stone  row  of  Celtic  ci\T.lisation.  As  far  as  I  know,  they 
have  never  even  once  been  found  in  ScandinaAT.a,  and  could  never 
have  been  transplanted  thence."  3,  In  regard  to  manuscripts  we 
are  by  no  means  so  destitute  as  is  generally  supposed.  Several 
hundreds  of  valuable  manuscripts  are  deposited  in  the  Advocate's 
Library  in  Edinburgh,  in  London,  at  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  in 
the  treasui-ies  of  Trinity  College,  and  in  the  Museum  of  the  Ptoyal 
Irish  Academy,  Dublin.  The  earlier  Scottish  and  Irish  manu- 
scripts are  so  similar  in  subject  matter,  mode  of  writing,  and 
character,  as  to  lead  us  to  the  conclusion  that  they  contain  the 
common  literaiy  inheritance  of  the  Gaelic  branch  of  the  Celtic 
race.  (See  Dr  M'Lauchlain's  review  "In  Highlands,  Highland 
Clans,  &c.,"  voL  ii.  p.  66-68.) 

The  following  are  a  few  of  the  oldest  and  most  valuable  of  our 
manuscript  remains  :— 

1.  "  The  Book  of  Deer,"  parts  of  which  are  as  old  as  the  ninth  cen- 
tury,  published  by  the  Spalding  Clnb,  It  also  contains  specimens  of  the 
eleventh  and  twelfth  centuries. 

2.  The  Exposition  of  the  Tain— supposed  to  be  the  oldest  Gaelic  MSS. 
extant. 

3.  "  The  Albanic  Duan,"  of  date  about  1050,  published  in  Dr  Skene's 
"  Chronicles  of  the  Picts." 

4.  The  "  Eethune"  IMSS.  of  date  1100. 

5.  The  "Bannatyne,"  MSS.,  containing  the  "Lament  of  Deirdre," 
1208— published  in  the  Appendix  to  the  Highland  Society's  Report  on 
Ossian,  p.  26.5. 

6.  "  Gaelic  Charter"  of  1400,  published  by  the  Record  Commission, 
National  MSS.  of  Scotland,  vol.  11,  No.  59.  This  charter  is  remarkable  in 
that  the  language  is  almost  entirely  identical  with  the  spoken  Gaelic  of  the 
present  day. 


TRAXSACTTONS.  75 

7.  The  Dean  of  Lismoro's  MS.,  consisting  of  upwards  of  11,000  verses 
of  Gaelic  Poetry.  Tliis  M.S.  contains  poetical  pieces  from  the  times  of 
the  most  ancient  bards  down  to  the  beginning  of  the  16th  century.  The 
whole  of  this  manuscript,  with  a  few  unimportant  exceptions,  has  been 
transcribed,  translated,  and  annotated  by  the  Rev.  Dr  M'Lauchlan  of 
Edinburgh,  with  an  introduction  by  William  F.  Skene,  Esq.,  LL.D. 
(published  by  Messrs  Edraonston  and  Douglas.) 

Among  the  oral  and  traditional  remains  of  an  earlier  period, 
tlie  chief  place  in  public  estimation  is  held  by  the  "  Ossian "  of 
James  Macpherson,  the  collections  of  Gillies,  published  at  Pei-th 
in  1786,  and  of  the  brothers  Hugh  and  John  Maccallum,  published 
at  Montrose  in  1816,  and  the  admirable  collections  of  tlie  "Popidar 
Tales,  &c.,  of  the  West  Highlands,"  by  John  F.  Cam]:)bell,  pub- 
lished in  four  volumes  by  Edmonston  and  Douglas  in  1862. 

In  modern  Gaelic  literature,  the  first  printed  book  is  the 
Gaelic  translation  of  John  Knox's  liturgy,  by  John  Carsewell, 
Superintendent  of  the  Isles.  It  was  printed  in  Edinburgh  in 
1567.  Only  three  copies  of  it  are  now  known  to  exist:  one  jjerfect 
copy  in  the  possession  of  the  Duke  of  Argyle  ;  one  imperfect  in  the 
British  Museum,  and  one,  also  imperfect,  in  the  library  of  the 
University  of  Edinlnirgh.  This  scarce  and  vahiable  relic  of  our 
earliest  Gaelic  i:)rinting  is  now  being  reproduced  under  the  editor- 
ship of  Dr  M'Lauchlan,  and  will  shortly  be  published  (by  Messrs 
Edmonston  and  Douglas,  of  Edinburgh).  Detailed  information 
regarding  our  subseqiient  Gaelic  literature  will  be  found  in  Reid's 
"Bibliotheca  Scoto-Geltica,"  M'Lauchlan's  "Celtic  Gleanings,"  and 
"Review  of  Gaelic  Literature,"  and  in  Skene's  "Introduction  to 
the  Dean  of  Lismore's  Book." 

The  extent  and  variety  of  Irish  manuscripts  are  so  great  that 
one  is  almost  lost  in  wonder  and  admii-ation.  The  duty  of  catalo- 
guing and  describing  this  enormous  liteiuture  devolved  upon  a 
man  singularly  cpialitied  for  the  task,  the  late  Professor  Eugene 
O'Curry.  With  unrivalled  powers  and  capacity  for  woi-k,  and 
by  unwearied  patience,  he  moved  through  the  chaotic  mass  until, 
by  persevering  effort  and  marvellous  success,  he  brought  the  whole 
into  shape  and  order.  We  have  the  result  of  his  labours  presented 
to  us  in  his  "Lectures  on  the  manuscript  materials  of  Irish 
History,"  the  second  volume  of  which  is  eagerly  looked  for.  The 
principal  portions  of  these  manuscripts  are  "The  Ancient  Annals  " 
"The  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  edited  by  the  late  Dr 
O'Donovan,  and  published  in  1848,  "Leabhar  na  h-Uidhri"  of 
St  Ciai-an,  "Book  of  Ballymote,"  "Leabhar  Breac,"  "Book  of 
Lecan,"  "Yellow  Book  of  Lecan,"  "Book  of  Lismore,"  &c.  If 
to  these  we  add  their  "Tales,"  historical  and  imaginative,  martyr- 
ologies,  festologies,  &c.,  we  can  easily  see  what  a  vast  mass  of 
manuscript  remains  they  possess.     There  are  treatises  on  all   the 


7b  TRANSACTIONS. 

siilijects  of  Iniman  knowledge  to  which  the  learnefl  men  of  the 
time  directed  their  attention,  as  well  as  detailed  information  npon 
almost  every  part  of  ancient  Gaelic  life.  The  Irish  have  also  been 
wise  in  their  generation,  and  have  not  allowed  theii'  ancient 
documents  to  lie  npon  their  shelves  nnperused  and  unprofitable. 
They  are  anxious  that  these  materials  should  stimiilate  the  study 
of  Irish  antiquities,  and  obtain  the  ehicidation  they  requii"e,  by 
scholarly  and  public  criticism.  With  true  patriotic  feeling  they  are 
accordingly,  year  by  year,  sending  out  from  the  press,  in  the  most 
magnificent  and  sumptuous  manner,  lithographed  fac-similes  of  the 
liteiature  of  their  ancient  days.  "Leabhar  na  h-Uidhri"  was 
issued  in  this  mamier  two  years  ago,  and  the  first  part  of  the 
"Leabhar  Breac"  is  now  ready  to  be  put  into  the  hands  of  the 
subscribers.  This  service  to  literature  and  Celtic  scholarship 
cannot  be  too  highly  valued,  nor  suificiently  rewarded. 

The  manuscript  literature  of  the  Welsh  is  not  less  varied,  if 
somewhat  less  in  extent.  The  Welsh  manuscripts  now  deposited 
in  the  British  Museum  amount  to  47  volumes  of  poetry,  of 
various  sizes,  containing  4700  pieces,  in  16,000  pages,  besides 
2000  epigrammatic  stanzas.  There  are  also  in  the  same  collection 
53  volumes  of  prose,  in  15,300  pages,  containing  treatises  on 
various  subjects.  The  most  interesting  and  valuable  portions  of 
this  literature  are  "The  Black  Book  of  Caermai-then,"  "The  Book 
of  Aneurin,"  "The  Book  of  Taliessin,"  and  the  "Red  Book  of 
Hergest."  These  have  been  published  under  the  title  of  "The 
Four  Ancient  Books  of  Wales,"  under  the  editorship  of  Dr  W.  F. 
Skene,  with  a  valuable  introduction  and  notes  by  the  editor,  and 
with  English  translations  by  the  Rev.  D.  Silvan  Evans,  and  the 
Rev.  Robert  Williams  (Edinburgh,  Edmonston  &  Douglas,  18G8). 
The  Welsh  MS.  literature,  is  of  great  extent,  and  of  no  ordinary 
importance  to  the  historian  and  philologist.  We  might  have  sup- 
posed that  such  an  immense  mass  of  valuable  literary  and  historic 
materials  could  not  possibly  elude  the  observation  of  our  sovereigns 
and  statesmen.  Scotland  and  Ireland  were  so  far  removed  from 
Coui-t  and  from  Parliament  that  there  might  be  some  excuse  for 
inattention  to  their  ancient  literature.  To  the  honour  of  our 
beloved  Queen,  it  is  to  be  said  that,  more  than  any  of  her  prede- 
cessors, she  takes  a  deep  interest  in  our  language  and  literature. 
The  only  prize  ever  received  from  Royal  hand,  so  far  as  we  know, 
for  a  contribution  to  Celtic  literature,  was  bestowed  by  H.R.H. 
the  Prince  of  Wales.  But  it  was  no  member  of  the  Royal  Family 
who  first  ])rought  to  light  the  ancient  literary  remains  of  the 
I'rincipality  of  Wales.  To  a  poor  jieasant  boy,  Owen  Jones,  a 
native  of  the  Vale  of  Myvyr,  in  North  Wales,  we  owe  what 
neither  Government,  nor  clergy,  nor  the  wealthy  loi'ds  of  broad 


TRAXSAf'TIONS.  77 

acros,  cared  to  supply.  From  his  early  years,  we  are  told,  that 
Owen  Jones  had  a  singular  passion  for  the  ancient  treasures  of  his 
country's  literature.  These  treasures  were  scattered  over  the 
country,  jealously  guarded,  and  difficult  of  access.  The  celebrated 
Edward  Lhuyd  did  his  utmost  to  get  access  to  them,  or  obtain 
possession  of  them,  but  without  eflect.  Owen  Jones  resolved  to 
accomplish  the  feat,  from  which  men  less  brave  and  less  enthusiastic 
would  shrink,  and  from  which  other  men  with  trae  courage  had 
to  turn  back  in  dismay.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  went  up  to 
London  and  got  employment  in  a  furrier's  shop  in  Thames  Sti-eet, 
For  a  period  of  forty  yeai's  he  toiled  in  business,  with  one  object  in 
"vdew,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  his  object  was  accomplished. 
He  had  risen  in  his  employmeiit,  until  the  business  had  become  his 
own,  and  he  had  amassed  a  considerable  fortune;  but  this  had 
been  sought  by  him  for  one  object  only — ^the  pui-pose  of  his  life, 
the  dream  of  his  youth — the  giving  permanence  and  publicity  to 
the  treasiu'es  of  his  national  literature.  Gradually  he  got  manu- 
script after  manuscript  transcribed,  and  at  last  in  1801,  jointly 
with  two  friends,  he  brought  out,  in  three  large  volumes,  printed 
in  double  columns,  his  Myvyi-ian  Archreology  of  Wales.  This 
work  is  the  great  repertory  of  the  literature  of  his  nation.  The 
comparative  study  of  languages  and  literature  gains  every  day 
more  followers,  and  it  has  been  well  said,  that  no  one  of  these 
followers,  at  home  or  abroad,  touches  Welsh  literature  without 
paying  deserved  homage  to  the  Denbighshire  peasant's  name,  and 
without  admiiing  the  coiu-age,  perseverance,  and  industry  which 
enabled  him  to  do  so  much  for  his  country  and  her  Uteratore. 
(See  Arnold's  Essay  on  Celtic  Literature.) 

IV. AFFINITIES  OF  THE  CELTIC. 

1.  Vocabulary. — After  detailing  the  various  theories  of  Celtic 
affinity  prevalent  during  last  century,  the  lecturer  went  on  to 
show  that  the  researches  of  oiir  great  philologists  demonstrated  the 
original  identity  of  the  Indie,  Iranic,  Celtic,  Eomanic,  Slavonic, 
and  Teutonic  classes  of  languages.  They  form  together  the  grand 
Indo-European  system.  To  the  linguist  and  philologist  these  lan- 
gaiages  form  but  varieties  of  one  and  the  same  primordial  speech, 
spoken  by  the  ancestors  of  the  Aiyan  tribes.  It  has  been  shown 
by  philologists  that  the  vast  majority  of  roots  in  all  the  members  of 
the  ftimily,  including  the  Celtic,  are  identical.  Excluding  those 
which  have  been  luidoubtedly  borrowed  from  obvious  natural 
sounds,  and  loan  words,  which  are  the  nomads  of  language,  it  is 
now  matter  of  simple  notoriety  that  the  remaining  roots  are 
identical  in  fundamental  radical  structm'e.     Notwithstanding  the 


78 


TRANSACTIONS. 


influence  of  time,  the  disturbing  elements  of  foreign  admixture, 
and  the  peculiarities  of  the  initial  mutations  and  letter  changes, 
the  vocabulary  of  the  Celtic  stands  in  the  closest  possible  relations 
to  the  vocabularies  of  all  the  other  Aryan  languages.  It  is 
no  doubt  to  the  peculiarity  of  the  initial  miitations,  so  charac- 
teristic of  the  Celtic,  that  we  owe  it  that  these  affinities  were 
not  discovered  at  a  much  earlier  period  in  the  history  of  com- 
parative philology.  The  fact  of  an  internal  unity  pervading 
the  Indo-European  family  may  be  sufficiently  illustrated  by  the 
following  table  : — 

ARYAN  LANGUAGES COMPARATIVE  VOCABULARY. 


Indie. 

Celtic. 

Grjeco-Latin. 

Teutonic. 

Slavonic. 

acvaa 

each 

hippos,  equus 

ehu  (D) 

aszwa  Li 

aguis 

eibhle,  aingeal 

ignis  aigle 

ildD 

avis 

oisg  davadd  ? 

ovis  ois 

awi 

awis  Li 

arv 

ar,  arbhar,  erw 

aro,  aroo 

ariaG.,arenD.aru,  L.  oriu.  R 

svana 

seinn  synin 

soQO  aineo 

.     .     . 

zwanu  zweniu 

sad 

suidh 

sedeo,  hedo 

sita,  sitzen 

sedziu  sazu 

sadh 

sath 

satio,  ado 

sattigea 

sotinu 

svapnas 

suain 

hupnos,  somnus  scMafen 

sopnas 

nac,  nica 

nochd  n-oidhciie 

nox  mix 

nahts 

naktis 

namh,  namb 

neamh 

nephos.  nubes 

naba 

nebo 

dah 

doth 

daio 

degu 

dvar 

dorus 

tliura 

daur 

durrys 

dha 

dean 

theo 

thun 

demi 

dvac 

tigh,  teach  techu  tectum 

talia,  decke 

tain,  dengiu 

tal 

talamh 

sohim,  telma 

ziele 

it 

uidh,  aethym 

ito,  ithuo 

iddia,  itzt 

idu 

jan 

giu  genedlu 

geno 

keina 

gemu 

uks 

«isge 

uo 

wasclie 

ukstu 

valg 

falbh 

belko 

walke 

welku 

ma,  mas 

mois,  meas 

metior 

mita  meese 

mezuiu 

man 

maen  ail-mhiim 

muiiio 

meuk,  maniu 

miras 

muir 

mare 

marei 

mare 

mal,  mall 

muilinn 

molo 

malwia 

main,  meliu 

smi 

smeid 

mediao 

schmache 

smieiu 

jac,i.acy 

faic 

specto 

spahe 

leus,  leug 

hix,  hike 

lauths,  luge 

2.  Grammar. — But  as  has  been  already  said,  vocabulary  alone 
is  not  regarded  as  sufficient  proof  of  affinity  ;  we  need,  in  addition, 
the  evidence  furnished  by  gi-ammatical  structure  and  idiom. 
From  the  gi-ammatical  structure  of  the  languages  we  are  furnished 
with  seven  distinct  testimonies,  the  evidence  being  at  once  direct 
and  cumulative  : — 1,  Phonological,  indicative  of  the  powers  of 
the  vowels  and  consonants.  2,  Word  formation,  illustrating  the 
use  of  common  terminatives.  3,  Declension.  4,  Gradation  or 
comparison.  5,  Affinities  of  the  pronouns  and  numerals.  6, 
Affinities  in  the  conjugation.      7,  Affinities  in  syntax.     We  can 


TRANSACTIONS. 


79 


only  now  refer  to   one  of  these  evidences,  viz.,  that  furnisliecl  l)y 
the  numerals  in  all  the  languages,  as  shown  in  the  subjomed  table  : 


NUMERALS. 

Indie. 

Celtic. 

Gneco-Latin. 

Teutonic. 

Slavonic. 

aina         eka 

aon 

un 

hen,  uno,  oino 

aina 

odin 

dua          dva 

da 

dan 

duo 

tva 

tva 

tri            tri 

tri 

tri 

tri 

thri 

tri 

katvar    cbatur 

ceithir 

petwar 

quatuor,  tettar 

fidvor 

cetqr 

kankan  panchan 

ciiig 

pimp 

quinque  pempe 

limf 

pyat 

ksvaks    shash 

se 

chwech 

sex  hex 

saihs 

seat 

saptan    saptan 

seachd 

saith 

septem  hepta 

sibun 

sem 

aktu        ashtan 

oclid 

wyth 

octo 

ahtau 

osm 

navan      navan 

nao 

nau 

novem  ennea 

niun 

dewiat 

dakan     dasan 

deich 

deg 

decern  deka 

taihun 

desiat 

March  14,  1872. — Mr  John  Macdonald,  Exchange,  Treasurer 
to  the  Society,  read  the  following  paper,  on 

THE  HIGHLAND  CLEAEANCES. 

The  subject  we  are  called  upon  to  discuss  this  evening  is  one 
which  possesses  a  peculiar  interest  to  us  as  a  Gaelic  Society.  Al- 
though, as  an  historical  fact,  the  Highland  evictions  may  now  be 
regarded  as  a  thing  of  the  past ;  yet  they  are  by  no  means  events 
soon  to  be  forgotten.  In  individual  life,  as  well  as  in  national 
history,  incidents  sometimes  occur,  important  enough  in  themselves, 
but  over  which  the  lapse  of  time  may  soon  bring  the  shades  of 
oblivion.  Among  such  things  we  cannot  class  the  Highland  cleai- 
ances.  Events  which  have  so  completely  changed  the  oiitward 
aspect  of  the  North  and  the  social  condition  of  its  people,  will  not 
and  cannot  be  so  easily  foig^otten,  at  any  rate  so  long  as  we  are 
siu-rounded  with  theii-  sad  and  widespread  results,  and  so  long  as 
the  injustice  perpetrated  on  a  peaceable  and  industrious  people  is 
attempted  to  be  justified  under  the  mask  of  a  false  political  economy. 

I  am  not  one  of  those  willing  to  overlook  the  mi.sg-uided  policy 
which  eflected  those  clearances  by  attaching  too  much  importance 
to  solitary  instances  of  apparent  good  which  have  arisen  out  of  a 
glaring  evil.  In  justification  of  the  evictions  we  are  continually 
reminded  that  the  Highlanders  have  always  been  benefited  and 
improved  in  circumstances  when  removed  from  the  scenes  of  their 
childhood.  Wherever  S5uch  instances  occur,  everything  is  made  of 
them  to  prove  the  utility  of  the  clearances;  but  not  a  word  do 
we  ever  hear  of  the  thousands  of  cases  of  individual  and  family 


80  TRANSACTIONS. 

suffering  caused — the  many  who  on  their  passage  across  the  seas 
found  their  gi-aves  in  the  deep ;  others  who,  having  escaped  that 
fttte,  were  ushered  to  an  end  equally  sad  and  untimely  by  sudden 
transition  to  uncongenial  climes  ;  and  many  more,  who,  driven 
fi-om  the  healthy  air  of  theii-  hillsides  to  the  unwholesome  atmos- 
phei-e  of  crowded  cities,  sank  into  poverty  and  ill-health,  dying 
broken-hearted.  Records  of  such  results  as  these  the  approvers  of 
the  clearances  would  ftiin  efface  from  the  page  of  history ;  indeed 
that,  so  far,  they  may  accomplish  ;  but  not  one  of  the  most  solitary 
cases  of  op2:)ression  has  escaped  the  eye  of 

"  Him  who  sees,  with  equal  eyes,  as  Lord  of  all, 
The  hero  perish  and  the  sparrow  fall," 
and  according  to  the  unerring  operation  of  His  moral  government, 
the  actors  in  those  clearances,  and  the  nation  whose  laws  permitted 
them,  have  even  already,  and  will  yet  more  fully  suffer  a  just  and 
stern  retribution.  It  is  not  my  wish  in  any  unseemly  manner  to 
disturb  the  dust  which  now  covers  memories  of  the  past  by  making 
miich  allusion  to  the  manner  in  which  those  clearances  were  carried 
out.  I  shall  only  express  my  humble  yet  firm  conviction,  that  the 
conduct  of  those  who  depopulated  our  straths  and  glens,  as  well  as 
that  of  their  aiders  and  abettors,  will  have  yet  to  undergo  a  severer 
criticism  than  it  has  hitherto.  It  is  only  within  comparatively  re- 
cent times  that,  by  means  of  increased  travelling  facilities,  the  vast 
circulation  of  a  free  \n'ess,  and  other  circumstances,  that  these 
northern  glens,  have  become  more  perfectly  kno^vn  ;  and  just  in 
proportion  as  the  Highlands,  and  the  histoiy  of  its  people,  become 
objects  of  public  interest,  in  the  same  ratio  will  an  impartial  })ublic 
oi)inion  stamp  with  its  disapproval  that  policy  which  almost  extir- 
pated the  biuvest  and  yet  the  most  peaceable  peasantry  which  any 
country  ever  possessed. 

I  need  not  remind  the  Gaelic  Society  that,  even  within  the  last 
centmy,  the  Highlands  have  undergone  a  great  change.  Many  of 
you  know  from  actual  observation  that  things  are  not  now  what 
they  once  were.  Wherever  you  turn  yon  are  reminded  of  the  time, 
perhaps  within  your  own  recollection,  when  the  now  still  solitudes 
of  these  glens  abounded  with  an  active  population.  In  fact,  the 
change  is  everywhere  so  apparent  that  it  is  one  of  the  first  things 
that  strike  the  attention  of  the  stranger.  Yet,  notwithstanding 
the  silence  everywhere  reigning,  every  object  met  with  is  oloipient 
with  a  history,  not  of  the  present,  but  of  the  past :  each  cairn  and 
stone,  each  hill  and  meadow,  has  associations  pointing  to  a  time 
when  the  surrounding  hills  echoed  the  sounds  of  busy  life,  the 
voices  of  living  men  and  women ;  but  now,  wander  whither  you 
will,  you  are  compelled  to  join  in  the  lament  with  which  a  well- 
known  friend  of  the  Highlands  contemplated  the  deserted  condition 


TRAXSACriOX?<.  ?t 

of  a  strath  in  Siithorlau'lshire,   wliich  souu  of  you  are  old  enough 
to  have  seen  in  both  aspects — 

"  Bonnie  Strathnaver,  Sutherland's  pride, 
Loud  is  the  Vjaa  of  the  sheep  on  tliy  side  ; 
But  the  song,  and  the  dance,  and  tie  pipe  are  no  rBore, 
And  gone  the  brave  chxnsmen  that  trod  thy  green  floor." 

F^ince  it  is  too  true,  then,  that  there  has  been  a  change,  and 
that  the  people  ai-e  gone  which  once  enlivened  those  solitudes, 
we  are  sui-ely  entitled  to  ask  who  they  were,  and  what  has  become 
of  them  ]  Well,  as  to  the  fii*st  qilestion,  although  we  do  not  claim  for' 
them  to  have  formed  in  their  time  an  ideal  state  of  society,  and 
admitting  that,  judged  by  modern  standards  of  excellence,  they 
might  have  been  deficient  in  many  of  the  attainments  of  modern 
civilisation ;  yet  we  fearlessly  assert,  making  allowances  for  the 
times  in  which  they  lived,  and  the  circumstances  l)y  Avhich  they 
were  surrounded,  that  for  honest  worth,  real  virtue,  and  true  manly 
nobility,  they  by  far  excelled  their  modern  critics.  Among 
them  few  or  none  of  those  vices  were  to  be  met  with  which  dis- 
grace modern  society.  Theii'  habits  of  life  were  simple ;  and  even 
in  the  entire  absence  of  the  stringent  measixres  now  deemed  neces- 
sary, protection  of  life  and  projierty  were  with  them  comparatively 
safe ;  mutual  confidence  and  trustworthiness  being  sufficient  sub- 
stitutes for  the  locks  and  bars  of  later  times.  There  is  another 
and  Vei-y  important  aspect  in  Avhich  our  Highland  peq:)le  of  those 
days  Avere  superior  to  any  section  of  society  now  found  Avithin  the 
bounds  of  the  realm.  In  their  living,  removed  as  they  wei-e  from 
tlie  arts  and  luxuiies  of  modern  times,  theirs  was  the  full  enjoy- 
ment of  robust  health  and  muscular  bodies,  which,  when  acting  as 
soldiers  in  defence  of  their  country,  often  enabled  them  to  turn  the 
tide  of  victory  on  many  a  battle  field.  In  entire  ignorance  of 
doctors'  drugs  and  da,inty  dishes,  they  needed  no  assistance  to 
digest  their  simple  fare ;  nor  would  a  slight  exposure  to  vnnd  of 
rain  bring  on  the  horrors  of  an  influenza.  The  modem  tourist,  as 
he  comes  to  gaze  on  the  silent  grandeur  of  our  mountain  scenery, 
returns  to  his  Engl's'i  friends  and  tells  them  of  daring  feats  and 
arduous  toils,  having,  after  a  hard  day's  work,  made  the  ascent  of 
this  hill  and  that  (tasks  M'hich  he  seldom  accomplishes  without  the 
aid  of  a  trustworthy  native),  hesitating  to  believe  that  in  days 
gone  by,  in  these  same  solitudes,  there  lived  men  who,  with  perfect 
ease,  performed  the  same  tasks  as  mei-e  rambles,  and  that,  too, 
often  before  the  breakfast  hour.  Although,  perhaps,  somewhat 
exaggerated  nnder  patriotic  impulse,  the  heroes  of  Scott  existed 
not  altogether  in  fancy,  for  there  are  tales  of  the  past,  with  truth- 
ful evidence,  that  tell  us  of  a  jjeople  who,  in  their  inide  ci^afts, 
laughed  at  the  waves  which  some  of  us  have  seen  spend  their  fury 


82  TRANSACTIONS. 

on  our  western  shores.  There  were  men,  too,  to  whom  the  deep 
ravines  and  torrents  of  our  mountain  wilds  were  no  impassable 
barriers ;  and  there  were  women,  also,  who  could,  and  frequently 
did,  share  the  dangers  of  men,  and  who,  if  wanting  in  the  accom- 
plishments of  the  modern  lady,  possessed  warm  hearts  and 
tender  sympathies,  wliich  promjited  to  deeds  of  courage  and  dis- 
interested devotion  (Flora  JNTacdonald,  for  instance),  which  only 
find  a  parallel  in  the  ancient  heroism  of  Greece  and  Rome.  Such, 
then,  were  the  people.  Let  us  now  inquire  what  has  become  of 
them.  The  origm  of  the  policy  which  led  to  theii*  removal  I  have 
no  hesitation  in  tracing  to  the  j^ride  and  avarice  of  human  nature, 
which  hei-e,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  had  done  its  work  before  the 
force  of  an  awakened  public  opinion  had  time  to  check  it.  As  a 
result  of  the  union  between  England  and  Scotland,  the  tide  of 
Scottish  wealth  and  nobility  began  to  drift  southward.  Our  High- 
land chiefs  and  lairds,  departing  from  the  primitive  usage  of  living 
among  their  jjeople,  began  to  make  frequent  and  prolonged  visits 
to  the  seat  and  centre  of  pomp  and  royalty.  Their  incomes  soon 
became  inadequate  to  sustain  tlie  dissipation  of  English  society,  so 
that  it  became  with  them  a  very  serious  question  as  to  how  those 
incomes  could  be  increased;  and  as  in  all  ages  "evil  communica- 
tions corrupt  good  manners,"  our  Scottish  lairds  became  ready 
converts  to  the  pernicious  doctrines  of  the  Saxon-Norman.  In 
connection  with  Highland  clearances,  the  excuse  is  often  urged, 
that  the  people  were  for  their  own  benefit  evicted  from  bleak  moor- 
lands and  rugged  hill-sides,  which  hardly  afibrded  them  a  bare 
existence.  Well,  such  may  have  been  the  primary  motive,  al- 
though it  appears  to  me  somewhat  incredible ;  for  I  find  that 
the  carrying  out  of  the  same  policy  has  cleared  in  a  similar  manner 
many  a  broad  acre  of  rich  English  soil  to  make  room  for  the  ex- 
tensive pleasure  ground  and  palatial  mansion  of  the  Norman.  We 
cannot,  then,  afibrd  to  credit  the  existence  of  such  benevolent  in- 
tentions so  long  as  the  broad  fact  stands  blazing  on  the  page  of 
histoiy  that,  in  the  one  case  as  well  as  in  the  other,  the  rights  and 
welfare  of  the  people  have  been  ruthlessly  ignored :  the  Highland 
hillside,  as  well  as  the  English  meadow,  being  sacrificed  to  the 
sport  and  profit  of  the  capitalist. 

Let  us  now  examine  some  of  the  profit  and  loss  results  of  these 
clearances.  It  is  a  fixct  clearly  proved  by  carefidly  compiled 
statistics  that  even  the  material  wealth  of  the  Highlaiids  sufiers 
from  the  prevalence  of  deer  forests  and  over-grown  sheep-walks. 
We  may  have  acquired  an  apparent  wealth;  the  value  of  land  as 
shown  by  the  rent-rolls  'may  have  been  considerably  increased ; 
but  these  and  many  more  minor  advantages  will  never  compensate 
our  loss,  for 


TRXXSACTIOKi;.  83 

*'  111  fares  that  land,  to  hastening  ills  a  prey, 

Where  wealth  accumulates,  but  men  decay. 

Princes  and  lords  may  flourish  and  may  fade, 

A  bi^ath  can  make  them,  as  a  breath  hath  made  ; 

But  a  bold  peasantry,  a  country's  pride. 

If  once  destroyed,  can  never  be  supplied." 
In  justification  of  the  evictions  we  are  very  properly  reminded 
that  emigration  is  a  law  of  nature  :  essential  to  the  welfare  of  the 
individual,  by  bringing  into  exercise  self-energy  ;  essential  to  the 
welfare  of  the  State  by  relieving  it  of  a  siu'plus  population,  and 
opening  up  of  new  fields  of  colonisation.  Now  in  these  doctrines 
we  fii-mly  believe,  yet  with  equal  conviction  that  in  every  well 
governed  country  there  are  natural  agencies  at  work,  which,  if 
allowed  fi-ee  scope  and  encouraged,  vn\l  always  prove  efiectual  in 
preventing  over  population,  by  di-a'\\'ing  off  the  surplus  to  new  and 
wider  spheres  of  usefulness.  Had  even  limited  educational  advan- 
tages been  placed  within  the  people's  reach,  the  Highland  people — 
who  were  not  then,  any  more  than  they  are  now,  insensible  to  better- 
ijig  theii-  condition — would  readily  avail  themselves  of  wider  and 
more  remunerative  spheres  of  labour  ;  and  certainly  no  people  ever 
showed  greater  readiness  or  aptitude  for  the  work  of  colonisation 
than  thej  did.  In  proof  of  this  need  I  remind  you  that  at  a  time 
when  their  education  and  literature  were  limited  to  a  mere  accpiaint- 
ance  -with  the  Bible,  catechism,  a  few  theological  works,  and  ballad 
poetry,  there  had  been  from  the  Highlands  a  continual  exodus  of 
men  whose  names  (notwithstanding  all  their  disadvantages)  will  be 
ever  associated  with  what  is  great  and  progressive  in  our  country's 
history.  Instead  of  those  clearances,  had  a  few  more  such  facilities 
been  aflbrded  them,  the  evictions  would  have  been  unnecessary,  for 
by  a  natural  process  of  emigration  any  surplus  population  existing 
would  readily  remove  to  other  fields  of  labour.  By  this  i)rocess 
capital,  labour,  and  skill,  woidd  accomjmny  each  other  in  suitable 
jjropoition  ;  nor  would  the  tender  and  kindly  tie  which  ought  to 
bind  the  emigrant  to  his  native  land  be  rudely  severed  bj  his  quit- 
ting oui-  shores  under  a  real  or  supposed  grievance  ;  and  when  his 
industry  abroad  is  rewarded,  he  woidd  moi-e  frequently  retm-n  home 
to  spend  his  accumulated  earnings,  thus  materially  benefiting  the 
hind  of  his  bii-th.  I  ask  you  were  these  the  circumstances  under 
which  we  sent  out  many  of  our  colonists  1  On  the  contrary,  in 
those  wholesale  cleartiuces  the  people  were  forced  to  emigrate,  pooi", 
iinpi'cparetl,  and  with  encumbrances  which  quite  unfitted  them  for 
the  arduous  toils  of  colonisation.  Need  we  wonder  that,  where 
such  emigrants  founded  and  consolidated  some  of  our  now  rising 
colonies,  the  recollection  of  the  cii-cumstances  under  which  they 
left  us  will  have  anything  but  a  tendency  to  strengthen  the  friendly 
tie  which  ought  to  bind  om-  coimtry  to  her  colonial  family ;  and 


64  TRANSACTIONS. 

sliould  the  time  ever  arrive  in  our  lii story  when,  passing  from  the 
present  time  of  her  vigour  to  the  decrepitude  of  old  age  (which 
overtakes  nations  as  well  as  individuals)  our  nation  may  have 
occasion  to  solicit  the  assistance  of  her  colonial  offspring,  in  the 
event  of  her  not  then  meeting  with  that  ready  response  anticipated, 
she  will  assuredly  have  to  blame  the  policy  which  has  given  many 
of  our  colonies  such  painful  histoiies. 

In  regard  to  tlie  increase  of  wealth  and  the  impi'oved  state  of 
things  which  are  pointed  out  as  resulting  from  those  clearances,  I 
a,m  very  much  of  o^jinion  the  improvement  is  more  apparent  than 
I'eal.  If  there  is  such  an  increase  of  wealth,  it  is  by  no  means 
ghared  by  the  masses  of  the  people.  A  large  proportion  of  our 
even  now  scanty  population  are  poor,  inany  of  them,  indeed, 
paupers,  supported  by  forced  rates,  a  species  of  charity  which 
would  ill  compare  with  the  generosity  which  was  its  substitute  in 
former  days.  Not  only  so,  but  very  many  of  those  who  hold  and 
occupy  the  land  are  in  circumstances  not  very  much  better. 
When  closely  scrutinised,  the  apparent  wealth  they  enjoy  is  ficti- 
tious, furnishing  numerous  instances  of  collapse,  its  owners  passing 
in  quick  succession  through  our  bankruptcy  courts ;  or  what  is 
mxich  worse,  resoiting  to  fi-avids  and  actions  infinitely  more  ob- 
jectionable than  the  I'ude  but  avowed  policy  of  the  bold  Rob  Roy. 

Were  it  my  present  object  to  enter  into  details  I  think  I  could, 
with  a  certain  measure  of  success,  trace  many  of  these  evils  to  the 
dii'ect  influences  of  the  Highland  clearances.  That  they  have  been 
a  chief  source  of  the  pauperism  of  oni"  northern  towns  and  sea 
coast  villages  is  a^  clear  as  noonday.  FamUies  being  removed 
from  holdings  on  which  they  and  their  forefathers  lived  in  com- 
parative comfort,  and  drifted  into  towns  and  villages  which  afforded 
them  no  means  of  livelihood,  natui-ally,  and  very  soon  became 
public  burdens, 

It  is  another  impoi'tanj}  fact  worthy  of  attention,  that  at  this 
moment,  and  j^urely  as  the  result  of  those  cleai-ances,  the  chief,  and 
I  might  say  the  only  source  of  we.alth  in  the  Highlands  is  based  on 
a  foundation  neither  desirable  nor  permanent.  The  increased  value 
of  land,  much  of  our  i-ailway  tiafiic,  and  circulation  of  capital,  rest 
on  the  game  laws,  and  the  attraction  which  the  Highland  sti-aths 
3,nd  glens  on  this  account  pi-esent  fis  a  sporting  play  ground, 
Now,  there  are  many  reasons  which  wjxi'rant  us  to  believe  that  this 
gtate  of  things  is  not  destined  to  last.  We  Ijve  in  an  age  of  rapid 
progress.  Higher  ;and  more  practical  views  of  life  are  constantly 
t^hanging  and  elevating  the  habits  and  pastimes  of  society  ;  and  if 
the  higher  ranks  (who  are  by  no  means  perfect)  are  to  advance  in 
the  uiarch  of  progress  at  ca  en  the  same  rate  as  other  sections  are 
fiilyiinping,  is  it  too  much  to  expect  that  the  time  is  not  far  dis- 


TRANSACTION'S.  85 

taut  when  the  sports  associated  with  our  uioors  ami  forests  aWII  bo 
looked  upon  as  relic  pastimes  of  a  less  enlightened  age.  Whether 
such  a  change  shall  soon  take  jJace  or  not,  from  the  whole  tendency 
of  modern  legislation  on  the  subject,  it  certainly  looks  as  if  the 
days  of  the  game  monopoly  were  numbered.  When  this  shall  take 
place,  and  when,  with  the  sportsman,  the  lai-ge  'shootLug  rent  will 
also  disa})])ear,  then  all  interested  in  the  railway  enterprises  and 
entire  trade  of  the  North  will  wish  that  their  revenue  and  re- 
sources rested  on  the  more  solid  foundation  of  a  thriving,  in- 
dustrious i)eople.  That  the  Highlands  are  now,  and  have  all  along 
been,  capable  of  sustaining  such  a  popida'tion,  is  an  opmion  which 
I  sincerely  entei-tain.  Apart  from  our  ranges  of  lofty  hills  and 
bleak  moorlands  we  have  agi-icidtural  resources,  if  properly  de- 
veloped, capable  of  maintaining,  in  industrial  comfort,  many  moi-e 
than  are  now  engaged  in  this  department  of  industry.  The  fishing 
along  our  sea-coasts,  if  sufficiently  attended  to,  is  of  itself  a  wide 
field  of  industiy,  which  might  be  made  to  absorb  much  idle  labour, 
and  prove  to  the  Highlands  a  vast  source  of  wealth.  Fitted  by 
nature  as  a  most  successful  wool-growing  district,  and  with  ready 
facilities  by  sea  and  land  of  adding  to  its  gi'owth  abundant  foreign 
supplies  ;  and  although,  by  our  distance  from  the  coal-fields,  we 
cannot  command  steam  on  a  cheap  scale,  yet  w^e  have  pouring 
down  our  hill-sides  and  traversing  our  glens  abundant  water-powei', 
^\'hich  might  be  utilised  by  its  being  made  to  play  on  the  wheels  of 
busy  factories.  The  prosperity  of  a  people  thus  busily  emjjloyed 
would  place  the  prosperity  of  all  noi-thern  towns  on  a  soimd  and 
permanent  basis.  Professional  and  mechanical  skill  would  find 
ample  employment  in  providing  for  their  convenience  and  comfort. 
Commerce  (more  particularly  that  department  of  it  which  is  my 
own  humble  sj)here)  woidd  find  safe  and  ample  scope  iu  distri- 
buting among  them  the  necessaries  of  life;  and  everything  thus 
acting  together  as  a  harmonised  whole,  the  Celtic  people  might 
yet  again  not  only  maintain  theii-  position,  but  even  take  the  lead 
in  the  march  of  progress ;  for  we  cannot  foi'get  that  even  this  had 
once  been  their  privilege  in  a  former  age,  when  the  light  which 
shone  from  the  lonely  island  of  lona  diffused  among  them  a  measure 
of  religious  life  and  intelligence  nowhere  else  to  be  found  among 
the  races  of  Western  Eiu'ope. 


NOTES  ON  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  GAEL. 

March  28. — The  following  paper  was  read  by  a  young  Gael, 
Mr  Lachlaii  Macbean  ; — 


86  TRANSACTIONS. 

As  a  people,  we  Celts  are  proverbially  iiroud  of  our  ancestry  and 
tenacious  of  our  claims  to  antiquity ;  and  I  think  justly  so,  for  we 
are  descended  from  Gomer,  the  eldest  son  of  Japhet,  who  was  the 
first-born  of  Noah,  the  progenitor  of  the  human  race  ;  so  that  the 
birthright  of  the  earth  is  ours.  This  is  ceitainly  a  far  back-  origin, 
but  one  for  which  I  have  the  authority  of  Joscphus,  who  says  that 
"  Gomer  was  the  father  of  the  nation  which  was  anciently  called 
Gomerians,  and  whom  the  Greeks  to-day  call  Gauls.  "  Besides 
Josephus,  Isidore  of  Seville,  Jerome,  and  many  others,  bear  me  out 
in  this  genealogy.  Ptolemy  speaks  of  a  peo^^le  who,  in  his  time, 
dwelt  in  Bythinia,  of  which  Galatia  was  a  province,  whom  he  calls 
Chomoi-ians,  and  their  chief  city  Chomora.  It  is  now  agreed  by  all 
that  the  Celts  (more  properly  Kelts)  were  the  aborigines  of  Europe. 
We  must  conclude  their  stay  in  Asia  to  have  been  very  short,  for 
Gomer  theii'  father  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  in  the  year  2347 
B.C.,  and  we  learn  that  Sicyon,  a  city  of  Greece,  was  built  before 
the  year  2000  B.C.,  only  347  years  after  the  birth  of  Gomer  and 
probably  during  his  life.  JSTeither  was  their  stay  in  Greece  of  long 
continuance,  for,  probably  retiring  before  the  Pelasgi,  who  were 
prevalent  in  that  country  before  the  year  1529,  they  passed  on  into 
Dalmatia  and  Italy.  Though  it  is  certain  that  they  began  to  leave 
Oreece  very  early,  it  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  bands  of  them 
continued  their  westward  journey  without  halting  at  all  in  Greece. 
The  Celtic  tongue  was  sjjoken  in  Greece  and  adjoining  parts  for 
many  years  until,  through  the  prevailing  influence  of  Pelasgian, 
Lelegian,  and  other  languages,  it  ceased  to  be  spoken  excepting  in 
so  far  as  it  is  the  basis  of  the  Greek  tongue.  But  in  Crete  and 
other  provinces  it  continued  as  late  as  the  time  of  Homer  and  even 
that  of  Herodotus. 

The  history  of  the  Kelts  whilst  in  Greece  is  very  misty ;  what 
we  know  of  them  in  Italy  is  no  less  so.  We  read  of  Pelasgian 
colonies,  before  whom  the  Gallic  element  gradually  disa2)pears. 
About  2000  B.C.,  a  colony  of  Lydians  from  Asia  Minor  came  to 
Italy,  and  3(0  years  after  a  Pelasgian  colony  comes  from  Greece 
under  Oenatrus.  After  this  the  aboriginal  Celtic  quickly  lost 
ground,  biit  before  its  final  disappearance  it  composed  in  part  the 
Etruscan,  or  ancient  Italian  language,  and  in  conjunction  with  the 
Greek  this  language  became  the  foundation  of  the  Latin.  Our 
ancestors  now  pursued  theii-  covu-se  into  Gaul,  whence,  in  time,  as 
they  multiplied,  they  spread  over  Spain,  Portugal,  Belgium,  and  the 
western  pai-ts  of  Germany.  Hei-e  for  a  thousand  years  their  history 
is  a  blank  to  us  :  their  wars  and  exjjlorations  having  nothing  to 
do  with  the  learned  and  civilised  nations,  their  record  is  entirely 
foi-gotten.  The  next  notice  we  find  of  the  race  is  by  Ezekiel,  who 
(B.C.  587)  thi-eatens  to  biing  them  and  their  allies  against  the  land 


TRANSACTIONS.  87 

of  Judah — "Horses  and  horsemen,  all  of  them  clothed  with  all  sorts 
of  armour ;  even  a  great  company  with  bucklers  and  shields,  all  of 
them  having  swords.*  .  .  .  Gomer  and  all  his  bands;  the  house 
of  Togarmah  of  the  north  quarters  ;  and  all  his  bands."  It  seems 
most  likely,  however,  that  this  refers  to  the  Gomerians  of  Asia 
Minor  and  not  to  those  of  Gaul.  About  this  time  the  Gael  made 
an  irruption  into  Italy,  under  Bcllovesus.  In  this  extensive 
foi'ay  they  ravaged  the  whole  country  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land,  capturing  the  cattle,  exterminating  the  inhabi- 
tants, and  finally  settling  down  in  the  conquered  country,  which 
comprised  most  of  Northern  Italy.  Having  thus  obtained  a  footing 
beyond  the  AJps  successive  bands  of  Celts  poured  into  Italy,  each 
settling  farther  south  than  its  predecessor.  This  emigi-ation  con- 
tinued for  two  or  three  hundred  years,  till  at  leng-th  (385  B.C.)  a 
baud  of  Gael  fresh  from  Gaul  appeared  before  the  Etruscan  city  of 
Clusium,  which  they  besieged.  The  Roman  ambassadors  who  were 
sent  to  negotiate  having,  contrary  to  the  law  of  nations,  taken  part 
in  a  sally  from  the  town,  Brennus,  the  Gallic  leader,  complained  to 
the  Roman  Senate,  but  receiving  no  redi-ess  he  marched  against 
R,ome.  70,000  Romans  met  him  at  the  AUia,  but  were  cut  to 
pieces ;  and  after  feasting  and  rejoicing  over  this  victory,  the  Gauls 
entered  Rome  and  marched  peaceably  to  the  Forum;  but  owing  to 
an  outrage  committed  on  one  of  them,  they  killed,  first  the  perpe- 
trators of  the  crime,  and  then  put  the  city  to  the  sword,  leaving 
none  alive,  and  burning  the  houses  to  the  gi-ound.  The  Gauls  now 
divided  into  two  parts,  the  one  continuing  their  journey,  while 
the  other  stayed  to  besiege  the  Capitol.  On  receiving  a  ransom  of 
1000  poiuids  of  gold  they  raised  the  siege  and  left  the  territories 
of  Rome. 

lu  the  sixth  century  B.C.  a  colony  of  Gael  had  settled  in  Pan- 
nonia,  who  (or  whose  descendants)  about  this  time  invaded  Greece. 
Twice  they  were  unsuccessful,  but  the  third  exj)edition,  iinder 
Breroius  II.,  forced  its  way  through  INIacedonia.  At  Delphi  they 
were  surprised  by  the  Greeks  diuing  a  storm  and  routed.  An- 
other di-vision  journeyed  eastward,  and  settled  in  a.  province  thence 
called  Galatia,  or  Gallo-Grseco.  In  the  year  231,  the  Gael  invaded 
Etruiia  again  and  defeated  50,000  men  that  met  them  at  Giusium. 
The  Romans  raised  an  army  of  700,000  infantry  and  70,000  cavalry, 
and  after  six  years  ended  the  war  i)y  the  victory  of  Telamo.  After 
an  interval  of  25  years  another  Roman  war  began.  Under  Hamil- 
car,  the  Gael  burnt  the  town  of  Phoentia ;  and  after  a  straggle  of 
six  years  they  concluded  a  peace — a  peace  of  no  long  continuance, 
however,  for,  in  191  B.C.,  Scipio  Nasica  defeated  the  Gael  of  Italy, 
and  slaughtered  the  whole  colony,  leaving  none  alive  but  women, 
old  men,  and  children.     Their  means  of  subsistence  being  thus  cut 


TRANSAC'TIONF!. 


off  they  crossed  the  Xorsican  Alps  rather  than  treat  with  jntik^ss 
enemies  or  seek  sympathy  from  unfeeling  strangers  in  their  own 
country.  Thus  ended  the  last  (J-allic  invasion  of  Italy.  After  this 
the  Romans  were  the  invading  party,  the  (J-auls  acting  on  the  de- 
fensive. The  histoiy  of  the  Gael  in  Gaul  might  be  traced  down 
farther,  but  our  business  is  chietly  with  that  branch  who  inhabited 
Britain,  and  whose  teriitory  is  now  circumscribed  by  the  boundaries 
of  Caledonia.  Though  it  is  well-known  that  the  tirst  inhabitants 
of  Britain  or  Albion  wei-e  Celts,  it  would  be  a  very  vain  attempt 
to  fix  the  time  of  their  first  settlement  in  this  island.  That  it  must 
have  been  very  early  is  clear.  Long  before  the  Romans  came  into 
Britain,  or  even  into  Gaul,  Britain  was  the  great  stronghold  of 
Druidism,  insomuch  that  priests  of  Gaul  came  into  this  isle  to  learn 
the  mysteries  of  that  religion,  because  it  was  here  to  be  found  in 
its  purest  and  primitive  form.  The  Gauls  wandering  along  the 
shore  of  the  English  Channel  would  see  the  white  rough  clifis  of 
Albin  rising  above  the  waves;  some  of  them  would  come  over  and 
settle  here.  During  the  course  of  years,  successive  immigrations 
pouring  in  on  the  southern  shore  of  Albin,  the  primitive  Gael 
would  gi-adually  be  pushed  farther  north,  until  at  length  they 
reached  the  moimtains  of  Caledonia. 

It  was  in  the  summer  of  83  a.d.  that  the  Gael  of  Caledonia 
had  the  first  personal  acquaintance  with  the  Romans.  They  had 
several  skirmishes  with  them  that  year,  which  seemed  to  show  them 
that  they  had  to  deal  with  a  courageous  and  persevering  foe.  The 
tribes  of  Caledonia  united  into  a  confederation,  of  which  a  chief, 
named  Galgacus  by  Tacitus,  was  appointed  leader  and  dictator. 
Their  api)rehensions  pi-oved  not  to  be  groundless,  for,  next  year, 
Agricola,  the  Roman  commander,  left  his  quartei'S  in  Fife  and 
advanced  towai-ds  the  Gi'ampians.  The  army  of  the  confederation 
of  che  southern  Gael,  numbei'ing  30,000  men,  met  him  at  the  foot  of 
these  mountains.  The  Romans  were  20,000  or  30,000  strong. 
After  a  long  and  bloody  battle  the  Caledonians  retired  to  the  moun- 
tains, having  left  10,000  of  theii-  number  dead  on  the  field.  Ob- 
taining hostages  from  the  Horestians,  a  southein  tribe,  Agricola 
returned  to  the  south. 

At  this  stage  it  woidd  be  a  natui'al  qu  'ry  why  the  Gael  of  this 
]iei'iod  were  called  Caledonians,  and  their  countiy  Caledonia. 
Buchanan  says  the  word  is  derived  from  the  gi-eat  Caledonian 
forests  of  bii'ch,  hazel,  &g.,  that  calden  is  the  Gaelic  of  hazel,  and 
hence  the  name.  Others  deiive  it  from  Caoill-daoine — men  of  the 
woods.  The  suggestions  made  with  regard  to  this  word  are  as 
numerous  as  they  ai-e  absurd.  Some  as])ire  even  to  make  the 
Crreeks  our  godfathei-s,  and  find  the  derivation  of  Caledonia  in  the 
Greek  Kalcdion.      Had  there  been  a  word  in  the  lansjua'^e  of  the 


TRANSACTION'S. 


80 


Caledonians  themselves  by  wliieli  they  iiaiui^Ll  their  country,  and 
having  a  simihir  sound  with  Caledonia,  would  it  not  be  reasonable 
to  suppose  that  this  was  the  word  Latinised  by  the  lloraans  and 
used  by  them  as  a  designation  for  the  countiy?  The  name  which 
the  Gael  to  this  day  apply  to  theii'  countiy  is  Gaeltachd  or  Cael- 
doeh  (the  Celtic  pronunciation  of  G  is  like  our  K  and  the  Ijiitin  C, 
so  that  Gael  and  Celt,  originally  the  same,  are  withii\  a  "  t"  of 
being  pronounced  alike),  and  if  you  soften  the  dq'ch  of  the  Celt 
into  the  Latin  donia,  you  ha\'o  Caiklouia,  the  country  of  the  Gael 
or  Kelt. 

In  the  year  128  a.d.  the  Gael  were  visited  by  Lollius  Urbicus, 
who  built  a  wall  from  the  Clyde  to  the  Forth.  In  183  they  broke 
through  this  wall,  killed  their  commander,  and  pillaged  the  Ko- 
nianisod  Lowlands  ;  but  retii'ed  before  Ulpius  Marcellus.  In  the 
beginning  of  the  reign  of  Severus,  the  Gael  broke  into  the  sub- 
dued territory  again,  bvit  were  prevailed  upon  to  retii'e  either  by 
the  army  or  the  money  of  Virius  Lupus.  Another  invasion  which 
they  made  in  207  a.d.  so  roused  the  Emperor  Severus  that  he 
came  to  Caledonia,  determined  to  conquer  and  punish  the  restless 
enemies  of  the  Empire.  As  far  as  conquering  was  concerned  his 
journey  was  unsuccessful;  he,  however,  over-ran  their  coimtry  into 
the  far  north,  witliout  meeting  them  to  bestow  the  intended  pun- 
ishment. To  the  empire  the  results  of  this  excursion  to  the  High- 
lands w-ere  the  advantages  for  the  time  of  its'  bi-acing  air,  the  loss 
of  50,000  Romans,  and  a  treaty  of  peace.  The  value  of  this  last 
item  may  be  leai-ned  from  the  ftict  that  it  was  scarcely  secured 
when  it  was  broken.  The  Gael  soon  showed  that  neither  walls, 
treaties,  nor  the  august  presence  of  the  Roman  Emperor  were 
enough  to  keep  them  in  check,  which  so  enraged  that  personage 
that  he  ordered  his  eon  Caracala  to  renew  the  war  with  the  utmost 
severity.  Instead  of  obeying  the  commands  of  his  late  father,  that 
prince  entered  into  a  treaty  -with  the  Gael,  remitting  to  them  the 
land  taken  by  his  father,  and  yielding  up  all  the  forts  that  he  had 
built  in  Caledonia.  A  hundi-ed  years  pass  before  Ave  have  any 
notice  of  the  Gael  again.  At  the  end  of  that  time  the  Emperor 
Constantus  Clilorus  came  to  the  island  to  defend  his  British  sulj- 
jects  from  the  incursions  of  the  "  Caledonians  and  other  Picts," 
which  he  did,  and  the  land  had  rest  for  forty  years.  In  342  a.d. 
a  Caledonian  invasion  was  repulsed  by  Constans,  the  son  of  Con- 
stantine  the  Great.  About  this  time  the  name  of  the  Gael  is 
changed  from  Caledonians  to  Picts  and  Scots;  and  the  Picts  are 
divided  into  Deucaledones,  or  Di-caledones,  and  Vecturiones.  The 
word  Picti  means  in  Latin  painted — painted  men  ;  and  every  one 
knows  that  it  was  appropriate.  Scot  was  not, .  and  is  not,  the 
acknowledged  name  of  the  Gael.     In  Celtic  it  means  contemptible, 


90  TRANSACTIONS. 

and  a  similar  word,  Scuit,  signifies  a  wanderer.  It  seems  to  liave 
been  given  them  by  their  sneering  cousins  of  Pictavia.  A  Gael 
would  think  of  calling  himself  a  Chinaman  as  soon  as  a  Scot,  if  he 
knows  no  langiiage  but  Gaelic  :  he  calls  himself  "  Gael,"  or  "  Al- 
bannach,"  i.e.  a  Celt  or  Briton.  Deu-caledones  was  a  northern  or 
genuine  Caledonian.  And  Vecturiones  (in  Gaelic,  Uchdtireans) 
seems  to  denote  inhabitants  of  the  upland  country,  or  of  the 
Grampians,  which  are  called  the  ridge  of  Uachdtir.  These  two 
divisions  occupied  the  east  of  Scotland,  while  the  Scots  dwelt  in 
Argyle  and  the  west.  In  360  a.d.  these  divisions  of  the  Gael 
formed  a  treaty  to  drive  the  Romans  from  Britain.  In  364  the 
allies,  being  joined  by  the  Saxons  and  Atticoats,  renewed  their 
attack  on  Roman  Britain,  which  they  over-ran  as  ftir  as  London, 
when  Theodosius  was  sent  to  repel  them.  In  398  and  416  the 
war  was  renewed,  but  the  Romans  remained  in  Britain  imtil  the 
year  446  a.d.,  when  they  left  it  for  ever,  leaving  the  Britons  to 
the  tender  mercies  of  the  Gael.  The  Britons  invited  the  German 
Saxons  to  help  them  ;  but  when  the  latter  came,  they  formed  an 
alliance  with  their  enemies,  in  conjunction  with  whom  they  di-ove 
the  Britons  into  the  west,  to  Sti-athclyde,  where  for  some  time 
they  maintained  their  nationality  and  independence. 

In  503  a  great  emigration  from  Ireland  took  place.  Though 
they  spoke  a  slightly  different  dialect  from  the  Picts,  their  language 
was  mainly  and  fundamentally  the  same,  as  it  was  well-known 
their  religion  was.  The  country  which  the  Scots  inhabited  now 
was  the  whole  west  of  Scotland,  from  the  midland  ridge,  called 
Drumalbin,  to  the  sea,  bounded  on  the  south  by  the  Firth  of 
Clyde.  For  nearly  four  hundred  years  these  two  kingdoms  existed 
separately,  and  frequently  in  hostility  to  each  other.  In  the  be- 
ginning of  the  fifth  centuiy  the  southei-n  Picts  were  convei-ted  to 
Christianity  by  St  Ninian,  a  British  ecclesiastic.  It  is  thought 
that  the  Scots  were  Christians  before  their  emigration  to  Scotland 
in  503  A.D.,  but  their  great  evangelist  was  Columba,  who  came  to 
their  country  in  563.  It  was  by  him  that  the  northern  Picts  were 
brought  over  to  the  true  faith  :  Coluniba  having  ])aid  a  visit  to 
Brude,  Bridei,  or  Bi-udajus,  the  Pictish  king  at  Inverness,  he 
succeeded  in  convincing  the  king,  his  court,  and  finally  the  peoj)le, 
of  the  truth  of  his  doctrines.  This  king  was  engaged  in  many 
wars,  especially  with  his  neighbours,  the  Scots  of  Dali-iad,  whose 
king  he  defeated  and  slew  in  557.  St  Columba  died  in  597, 
during  the  reign  of  Aidan,  King  of  Scots,  who  was  anointed 
king  l)y  the  saijit  himself.  After  several  wars  by  the  Picts  and 
Dalriads,  in  which  the  latter  generally  had  the  worst,  a  more 
jiowerful,  and,  to  the  Picts,  a  more  disastrous  foe  apjieared  in 
North  Britain,  in  the  Viking,  or  Norse  pirates,  who  infested  the 


TRAXSAC'TIOXS. 


91 


Beas  and  shores  of  Nox'tliern  Euro[)e.  TLe  country  of  the  Scots 
were  less  inviting  to  these  rovers,  or  tlie  possessoi-s  were  more 
vigorous  in  repelling  invasion,  for  the  Yikings  carried  on  a  longer 
and  more  determined  war  against  Pictavia.  An  arduous  and 
bloody  struggle  ended  in  the  total  defeat  of  the  Picts,  and  the 
death  of  their  king  and  many  of  theii-  chiefs.  The  eastern  king- 
dom being  thus  weakened,  the  ambitious  designs  of  Kenneth 
Macalpine,  the  Scottish  king,  succeeded.  By  a  previous  inter- 
marriage of  the  royal  race  of  both  kingdoms,  he  had  a  sh^ulow  of 
a  title  to  the  Pictish  crown,  but  as  the  "tanister,"  or  heir-ajv 
parent,  had  been  appointed,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  Gael, 
during  the  life  of  the  previous  monarch,  it  was  after  a  sharp  con- 
flict of  three  years  that  (843)  he  obtained  his  desii-e.  The  Picts 
and  Scots  being  but  one  race,  speaking  the  same  language,  nnial 
gamated  so  readily  that  in  little  more  than  a  century  afterwards 
no  distinction  could  l)e  made  between  them.  The  Court  was  now 
removed  from  Dunstaftuage,  in  the  country  of  the  Scots,  to  the 
Pictish  capital.  After  a  war  with  the  Danes,  in  which  the  now 
united  Gael  wei-e  assisted  by  the  Saxons,  for  some  uncertaixi 
cause,  Caledonia  was  invaded  by  theii-  late  allies,  the  Saxons.  In 
return  Constautine  III.  prepared  for  a  gigantic  invasion  of  Eng- 
land. In  conjunction  with  the  Britons,  Danes,  and  Welsh,  he 
entered  the  enemy's  territory  ;  but  after  sustaining  a  serious  de- 
feat he  retired  to  his  own  dominions.  In  973  the  British  inde- 
pendence of  Strathclyde  fell,  and  was  incoi'porated  with  the  Scot- 
tish kingdom. 

Ever  after  the  reign  of  Malcolm  Canmore  (10-57),  by  the 
numerous  settlements  of  Saxons  and  other  foreigners,  the  history 
of  the  Scottish  government  becomes  less  and  less  that  of  the  Gael. 
In  his  reign  the  Gaelic  was  superseded  as  the  Court  language  by 
the  Saxon,  and  as  far  as  he  dared  he  introduced  Saxon  laws, 
manners,  and  customs.  This  state  of  affairs  was  sharply  coimter- 
acted  during  the  brief  reign  of  Donald  Bane,  the  best  Scottish 
king  (1093).  But  on  the  Scoto-Saxon  race  resuming  the  govern- 
ment, the  tide  of  Saxon  civilisation  and  enervating  luxury  flowed 
on  again.  About  1160,  the  Scots  of  Galloway,  disgiisted  at  the 
introduction  of  Saxon  manners  and  the  favoiu'  sho^\m  to  Anglo- 
Norman  adventurers,  raised  a  formidable  insurrection.  Malcolm 
IV.  led  his  army  against  them ;  but  he  was  twice  defeated  and 
driven  back.  He  was  successful  the  thu'd  time,  and  peace  was 
procured.  About  the  same  time  the  Mora^aans  of  the  Pro\-ince 
of  Moray  rose  "  in  support  of  theii'  native  principles  and  in  de- 
fence of  their  ancient  laws."  It  was  not  till  after  a  long  and 
fierce  struggle  that  they  were  suppressed.  Some  think  that  at 
this  time  the  chief  families  of  Moray  were  transplanted  to  otlier 


92 


TRANSACTIONS. 


jjarts  of  the  kingdom,  and  some  of  tlie  king's  foreign  proteg/^s 
i>laced  in  tkeii-  room.  Incensed  at  t'lCse  intrusions,  the  (iael  of 
Moray  and  Ross  again  took  up  arms  and  drove  the  foreigners  from 
their  districts.  From  1171  to  1187  the  Highlands  were  in  a  per- 
pectual  commotion.  To  restore  quietness,  William,  the  then  king, 
marched  north  and  encamped  at  Inverness;  but  this  tour  fell  short 
of  the  intended  efiect,  and  from  this  time  local  feuds  and  anti-Saxon 
rebellions  were  carried  on  almost  incessiaitly  \nitil  the  time  of 
Wallace,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  Gelt;  and  hence  his 
bitter  hatred  to  the  English  and  his  popularity  with  the  humbler 
classes.  With  few  exceptions,  the  Gael  all  rallied  round  the  stan- 
dard of  Bruce,  though  the  Lowland  barons  opposed  him ;  and  it 
was  mainly  by  the  assistance  of  the  Highlanders  and  Islanders  that 
he  gained  most  of  his  battles,  and  especially  the  battle  of  Bannock- 
burn.  In  1411  the  petty  vvai-s  of  the  Gontinental  Gael  were 
thrown  into  the  shade  by  a  gigantic  rebellion  or  invasion  by  Lord 
Macdonald  of  the  Isles,  who  with  10,000  Hebrideans  burst  upon 
the  mainland,  spreading  desolation  wheresoever  he  turned.  Having 
defeated  a  party  of  natives,  iindei-  Angus  Dubh  Mackay,  at  Ding- 
wall, Macdonald  marched  to  Inverness,  where  he  was  joined  by 
several  Highland  chiefs.  He  then  marched  towards  Aberdeen, 
which  he  threatened  to  burn  to  the  ground ;  but  his  march  was 
checked  at  Harlaw  by  the  Earl  of  Mar.  Under  the  banner  of 
Mar,  besides  Normans  and  Southrons,  were  the  Maules,  Lesleys, 
Murrays,  and  other  clans;  while  Mackintosh,  Maclean,  and  many 
others,  sided  with  the  Island  prince.  The  Lord  of  the  Isles  and 
his  Highlandei's  began  by  an  impetuous  charge,  but  were  met  with 
adequate  firmness  and  courage,  and  when,  after  fighting  foi-  hours, 
night  put  an  end  to  the  work  of  death,  900  Highlanders  lay  dead 
on  the  field;  while  on  the  other  side,  the  Provost  and  citizens 
of  Aberdeen,  and  many  men  of  rank  and  distinction,  had  fallen, 
none  surviving  but  the  Earl  of  Mar  and  a  few  soldiers.  When  the 
battle  was  over,  Macdonald  gathered  his  men  and  returned  home, 
without  pursuing  his  course  any  further,  much  to  the  relief  of  the 
Lowlandei'S,  who  considered  this  deliverance  of  greater  conse- 
quence than  even  the  battle  of  Bannockburn.  This  event  is 
celebrated  by  the  well  known  ballad,  the  "  Battle  of  Harhiw," 
itself  an  interesting  item  in  Celtic  literatm-e  and  history. 

"  There  was  not  sin'  King  Kenneth's  days, 
.Sic  strange,  intestine,  cruel  strife 
la  Scotland  seen,  as  ilk  man  saj  s— 
Where  mouie  likclie  lost  their  life; 
W'hilk  made  divorce  tAveen  man  and  wife, 
And  monio  children  fatherless. 

And  monie  a  ane  will  mourn  for  aye, 
The  brime  battle  of  the  Harlaw." 


TRANSACTIOKS.  93 


THE   riKST  ANNUAL  A8SKMIU.Y. 

Tu  giving  all  account  iil'  this  rc-iinion,  we  shall  avail  ourselves 
lai'gely  of  a  repoit  presented  to  the  Society  by  the  Committee  to 
whose  iminagement  the  aftixii-  was  entrusted.  That  Committee  con- 
sisted nominally  of  all  members  of  the  Society  residing  in  Inver- 
ness, in  terms  of  a  resolution  passed  at  a  meeting  of  the  Society 
on  the  2d  May  last,  the  lirst  Annual  Assembly  was  held  in  the 
Music  Hall  of  our  ancient  capital  on  the  11th  July,  the  eve  of  the 
Wool  Market,  and  carried  through  in  a  manner  highly  satisftictory 
not  only  to  the  members,  but  to  all  who  desire  to  cherish  the 
genuine  feelings  of  Highlanders.  It  is  well,  however,  to  record 
some  of  the  difficulties  which  had  to  be  overcome.  A  drama  in 
which  Highlandei'S  were  to  apj)ear  in  character  was  new  even  in  their 
own  capital,  and  persons  otherwise  qnalitied  were  embarrassed  by 
thi'ir  own  dithdence.  Singers,  players,  and  dancers  had  to  be  sought 
for  in  distant  places,  and  even  when  they  had  been  engaged,  there 
were  casualties  to  be  feared  and  provided  against.  The  task  will 
be  easier,  however,  another  time,  and  less  hazardous,  as  com- 
petent dramatis  personce  are  now  known  in  sufficient  numbers,  and 
the  diffident  will  have  acqiiired  contidence  from  the  proof  which 
they  now  possess  of  their  own  abilities,  and  from  the  marked  ap- 
2)reciation  with  which  their  performances  were  received  by  the 
large  and  intelligent  assembly  which  did  honour  to  the  occasion. 
Even  some  of  the  Committee  had  more  or  less  of  trepidation. 
They  were  going  to  ftice  prejudices  which  had  been  fostered  by  time 
and  by  many-headed  power  in  high  places  :  were  they  equal  to  the 
task  of  organising  a  demonstration  animated  by  genuine  Highland 
feeling  and  sentiment,  which  would  turn  the  strong  tide — inimical 
to  everything  of  the  kind — which  had  been  flowing  northward  for 
more  than  a  hundred  years,  and  which  had  well-nigh  extingaiished 
the  Celtic  flame  in  the  bosoms  of  such  of  our  clansmen  as  had  not 
l)een  swept  from  their  native  sti'aths  and  glens  to  make  room  for 
Southei-n  sheep  and  Anglo-Norman  sportsmen  ]  After  the  fact, 
we  do  not  hesitate  to  state  that  they  were  equal  to  the  task.  A 
programme,  rich  and  varied,  was  prepared,  and  if  it  erred  at  all, 
did  so  in  the  direction  of  excess.  This,  however,  was  rather  for- 
tunate, seeing  that  the  fears  as  to  non-arrivals  proved  too  well 
fomided.  But  so  heartily  did  every  one  enter  into  her  own  and 
his  own  part,  that  no  sign  of  faihire  or  of  difficiilty  appeared  in  the 
execution.  But  whilst  claiming  so  much  for  our  flrst  Assembly, 
we  do  not  convey  that  there  are  not  higher  reaches  of  excellence  to 
be  attained  on  another  occasion;  such  improvements  may  be  made 


94  TRAXSACTIOXS. 

as  to  give  the  piquancy  of  novelty  and  originality  to  what  will 
really  be  a  reproduction  of  the  things  of  other  days.  What  is  true 
to  nature,  and  whalf  affords  utterance  for  the  feelings  which  well  up 
from  within  a  noble  people,  is  always  fresh,  however  old,  and  the 
thoughts  which  crystallise  around  such  feelings  are  gems  of  undy- 
ing worth,  even  if  for  a  time  they  sufier  neglect  under  the  Vandal 
influences  which  greed  sets  up  for  its  own  ends. 

With  the  view  of  setting  forth  the  advantages  of  membership, 
the  Committee,  in  framing  the  charges,  decided  to  admit  all  mem- 
bers free.  That  this  was  judicious  is  proved  by  the  fact,  that  not 
only  did  the  members  add  considerably  to  the  receipts  by  bringing 
their  friends,  but  considerable  additions  were  made  to  the  Society 
during  the  inteival  between  the  announcement  and  the  holding  of 
the  Assembly.  We  would  here  give  some  record  of  the  proceed- 
ings. In  the  main  entrance  to  the  hall,  Pipe-Major  Maclennan 
and  a  young  pupil  of  his,  Fraser,  played  together  with  Corporal 
Campbell,  of  the  4th  Inverness  H.R.V.,  whilst  the  Assembly  was 
forming.  When  the  hour  for  commencing  arrived,  and  the  hall 
seemed  occupied  by  about  a  thousand  people,  the  pipes  were 
hushed,  and  our  worthy  Chief  Magistrate,  Dr  Mackenzie  of 
Eileanach,  took  the  chair,  in  the  imavoidable  absence  of  our  first 
Honorary  Chieftain,  Sir  Kenneth  Mackenzie  of  Garrloch.  The 
Provost  was  supported  by  Professor  Blackie;  Rev.  Mr  Stewart, 
Nether-Lochaber;  Rev.  Mr  Macgregor,  Invei-ness;  Dr  Carruthei's; 
Colonel  JNIacpherson  of  Cluny;  Sheriff  Macdonald,  late  of  Storno- 
way;  Bailie  Simpson;  Mr  Dallas,  Town-Clerk;  Mr  Macdonald, 
Druidaig;  Mr  Cumming,  Allanfearn,  &c.  The  Provost  expressed 
regret  that  his  nephew,  Sir  Keimeth  Mackenzie,  who  was  to  have 
taken  the  chair,  was  unavoidably  absent,  but  he  could  assure  them 
that  Sir  Kenneth  would  have  been  delighted  to  attend,  and  would 
do  all  he  could  for  the  Gaelic  Society,  or  for  anything  connected 
with  the  Highlands.  For  his  own  part,  too,  the  Provost  said,  he 
was  animated  by  the  same  spirit ;  his  heart  was  always  in  the 
Highlands,  and  would  most  willingly  do  anything  that  could  pro- 
mote their  welfare.  To  be  si;re  he  was  among  the  youngest  mem- 
bers of  the  Gaelic  Society;  but  his  constant  engagements  might 
excuse  him  for  being  to  some  extent  a  defaulter;  and  besides,  it 
was  only  a  few  days  ago  that  he  was  asked  to  join  the  Society. 
Referiing  to  its  objects,  he  observed  that  one  of  them  was  to  keep 
up  the  Gaelic  language;  and  he  was  not  sure  if  that  had  been  the 
sole  object  that  he  could  have  approved  of  it  so  much.  He  was 
quite  satisfied,  however,  as  to  its  being  an  ancient  language. 
What  was  the  meaning  of  the  word  Sanscrit  but  just  seann  sgrio- 
bhadh,  "old  writing^ '  Then  as  to  the  other  objects  of  the  Society, 
such  as  perfecting  the  members  in  the  use  of  the  Gaelic  tongue ; 


TRANSACTIONS.  95 

preserving  the  poetry,  raiisic,  uud  literature  of  the  Ilighhinds ; 
forinmg  a  library  of  books  and  manuscripts;  adviuicing  the  in- 
terests of  the  people  educationally  and  otherwse,  the  Provost 
expressed  cordial  approval.  Referi'ing  in  detail  to  the  objects  of 
the  Society  as  laid  down  in  their  published  constitution,  he  men- 
tioned an  old  Gairloch  bard  who  used  to  sing  the  hunting  of  the 
brown  boar  of  Diarmid,  and  others  of  Ossian's  poems.  Even  in  the 
present  day  a  great  part  of  the  evenings  of  the  country  people  was 
passed  in  telling  old  stories  round  their  cottage  fires;  and  perhaps 
they  were  just  as  well  emj^loyed  in  this  way  as  if  the  time  were 
spent  at  the  opera  or  in  the  ball-room.  It  appeared  from  a  short 
report  handed  him  by  the  Secretary  that  the  Society  was  estab- 
lished in  September  last,  and  now  numbered  120  members;  and 
he  hoped  the  number  would  be  increased  very  much  by  the 
proceedings  of  that  night.  He  promised  to  give  the  Society  such 
support  in  future  as  his  numerous  other  engagements  would 
pei-mit,  and  as  an  earnest  of  what  he  hoped  yet  to  do  for  so 
patriotic  a  body,  he  presented  the  Society  with  a  handsome  gift,  a 
copy  of  the  Old  Testament,  one  of  the  first  ever  printed  in  the 
original  Gaelic  type,  and  part  of  which  from  some  cause  had  been 
transcribed  by  an  unknown  hand,  evidently  very  long  ago. 

JNIr  D.  Macrae,  who  came  all  the  way  from  Lochalsh  to  help  us 
in  our  adventure,  and  who  received  no  previous  notice  or  time 
for  consideration,  was  called  upon  to  fill  the  place  of  another.  He 
may  be  said  to  have  broken  the  ice  which  had  formed  over  so  much 
of  what  was  specifically  Gaelic  in  our  midst,  by  singing  "Failte 
dhnit,  dcoch  slainte  lent"  which  he  did  in  excellent  taste  and  spirit, 
"Hurrah  for  the  Hielans"  was  then  sung  by  Mr  James  Fraser,  a 
well-known  local  vocalist ;  so  well  did  he  acquit  himself  that  he 
was  recalled,  and  in  reappearing  sang,  "  When  the  kye  come 
hame."  Messrs  Smith,  Mackintosh,  Gordon,  and  Grant — the  two 
latter  from  Strathspey — followed  up  with  Buldhle  Thiilluchain,  to 
the  music  of  the  gi-eat  Highland  pipes — in  which  they  gave  uni- 
versal satisfaction.  The  Bard  of  the  Society,  Mr  Angus  Mac- 
donald,  then  came  forward,  and  gave  one  of  his  sententious 
compositions,  the  subjoined  prize  })oem,  in  celebration  of  the 
achievements  of  his  compatriots  in  the  Ci'imea,  undei-  the  renowned 
Lord  Clyde  : — 

GAISGE  NAN  GAIDHEIL  ANNS  A  CHRIMEA. 


Canam  dan  mu  euchd  nan  sonn 
I  hoisinn  cliu  le'n  glonn  thar  chach, 
Tlmg  anna  a  Chrimea  buaidh. 
A  dhaindeoin  cruadal  bhuail  nan  dail 

Bhagair  ar  eascaird  eitidh,  borb, 
Math-ghamhninn  garg  nah-Airde-tuath  ; 
Le  foili  is  foirneart,  mar  a  chleaclid, 
Unihladh  is  creach  thoirt  uainn. 


Ghlaodh  Breatuinn  le  sgal  buaidh 
Gaisgich  luath  nan  tuath  bheann, 
Armailt  bhreacanacli  nam  buagh 
thxilreadh  namh  air  ruaig  na  dheann. 
"Tairngibh,"  deir  is,  mo  chuileanaibh  garg, 
Ki  aghaidh  miar.  nan  garbh  bheisd  ; 
Keubaidh  na  leomhainn  na'm  fearg, 
>i"an  spoltau  dearga,  siol  na  ceilg. 


96 


THANSACTIONS. 


Mar  bu  duu  da  siiinn  mo  ruin, 
Deirbh  lidli  iad  an  cliu  'sa  blilar  ; 
Ciosiiaiche  ir  uamhar  fo'  snuchd  ; 
Bidh  sith  is  reachd  a  teachd  o's  aird. 
tShiubhiU  na  fir  niheinniaeach  mhur 
Ls'm  brataich  sroU,  a'  snamh  'sa  gh  loth 
O'n  teioheadh  luclul  miruiii  fo  ghuilt 
Le  trom  oilt,  mar  blie.ichaiii  riiaoth. 

Faic  naiuilair  thus  ua  feaclid. 
Dreuchd  a  chleachil  an  gaisgeach  agh, 
Laoch  oirdhearg  nan  treun  bheairt, 
An  Caimbeulach  bu  ne  irtail  1  liuih. 
Curaidh  seolta,  stolt.  gn'n  mheang  ; 
C'osgarach  an  slTiith  nan  lann  ; 
Fo'  mhire-thath  le  piob  nam  pong 
Cath  cheol  meadhrach  'thir  nam  beann 

Fhad  sa  shiubhlas  grian  'sna  speur, 
Ag  eiridh  o  ear  gu  i  ir, 
Bidh'  cuimhn'  air  na  curiidh  chalm, 
Kinn  aig  Alama,  a'  mor  ghniumh. 
Tharuing  na  laochraidh  bhras, 
Ei  sreath  mharbhtach,  mhiltean  dos  : 
Direadh  an  uchdaich  chas, 
Bu  lionrahor  connspon  chaidh  gu  chlos. 
B-oillteil  again  nan  ar 
Roimh'  lamhach  na  cuilibhear  gleust  ; 
Sleaglian  cruadhach  o'ni  barr, 
Torchur  an  narnh  ri  feur. 
Lannan  liomhta  au  duirn  dheas. 
Nan  ceannard  bu  mhoraich  cneas  ; 
Ga'n  tarriiing  le  feirg  o'n  cries, 
Beumach,  lotach,  geur  gu  sgrios. 

Mar  ghreadh  chabrach  fo  throm  fliiamh, 
'S  gadhair  luthmhor  dion  nan  lorg, 
Theich  na  Rusaich  fo  rahuig, 
Am  fuil  a  smuideadh  air  an  leirg  ! 
Na  mar  sgapas  osach  dhion, 
Ri  aghaiilh  nan  sliabh  an  ceo, 
Theich  naimhdean  air  gach   aibh, 
Na  dh'fhaod  a  dhol  as  dhiu  beo ! 


Aig  Balaclabha  bhuail  na  seoid. 
As  ur  'sa  chomhraig  gh  irg, 
Dhe  irbh  (Jataioh  mo  ruin. 
An  duchas  sa  chomhstri  gharbh. 
Mar  sifaoth  cliuiloag  o  chairbli  loljht, 
Ag  eiridh  roiiuh  sgiursadli  slait, 
Theich  borbiicli  fo'  tlirom  glieilt, 
Roimh  threuii  fhir  na'ui  breacan    datlit. 

Aig  (laii)i;neaclul  laidir  na  miir, 
Ri  seisdeadli  uau  tur  ard, 
B  fhurasd  ri  fhaicinn  Hc^n  uair 
Nach  d-fliuiir  sibh  ceartas  mar  chach 
Clia  bu  chotlirom  an'  s&rith  a  hhlair, 
Tliug  don'  gli.iisridli  l)as  gu'n  toirt  ; 
Ach  doiiiioiin,  is  iluiuhlichd  sian 
Eugail,  puiit.ui.  i.l:ii-h,  isg,.irt,. 
Mn  chiv,,,  !i  ;,  Irii .  In  ir  dli  c-irich  dhuibh  ; 
C'<  11  irli  rl:.  ,!;  ,.-,, ,],]],  ri'r  cas  ? 
>  .  :     :  L'liuis, 

M.i  .    .  •I.i-  ,1    :i  ;'       :•    '':     I    '/U  baS. 

>l  ■.  i  i;-  '  .I-  .ir  i;  ,  11  ,  ;_li  ,u'l:raidh  ; 

'S-diMi' fjiithilih  ai'il,  tlia'n  (il-isgho  cruinn, 

Biutlias   Uhaidheal  amis  gacli  linn. 
O  thus  tha  riaghladh  thiir  g.ich  sloigh 
A  Righ  mhoir  dha  buia  gach  ni, 
Cum  ris  na  (iaidheal  coir. 
'S  bi  d-uachdran  leo  air  muir,  's  air  tir. 
Eireadh  grian  le  sar  ghloir, 
A  sgapas  na  sgleo  an  cein. 
Biodli  Gaidheal  a  deanamh  reir, 
'!?toiit  aoraidh  do  Dhiada  reir, 
Na'n  dion  da  Morachd,  's  da  crun, 
San  cuis  an  duclia  seasanih  cruaidh. 
Luchd  droch-bheairt  a  gabhail  sgath, 
Ri  ainm  a  Ghaidheil  a  luaidh  I 

Gabhadh  ar  n'  uachdarain  speis 
Do  chainnt,  's  do  bheus  an  aitim  fhiu  ; 
Ga'n  riaghladh  le  coir,  is  ceart, 
'S  do  Thriath  nam  feairt  an  uile  chliu  ! 


Mr  C  S.  Grant  and  his  aids  followed  witli  a  selection  of  Scottish 
airs,  Strathspeys,  and  reels  on  the  violin,  iTi  fine  style,  and  with 
genuine  Celtic  feeling.  These  stirring  appeals  to  the  feelings  were 
followed  by  an  eloquent  appeal  to  the  understanding,  fi'om  that 
true  Highlander,  the  Rev.  Mr  Stewart  of  Bailechaolais,  known 
and  valued  by  so  many  Highlanders  as  the  Nether-Lochaber  cor- 
respondent of  the  Inverness  Courier.  Mr  Stewart  was  greeted  with 
heai'ty  plaudits  on  rising,  and  during  the  following  speech  was  very 
frequently  inten-upted  with  applause.      Mr  Stewart  said  : — 

I  am  very  glad,  I  assure  you,  ]\Ir  Chairman,  to  be  present  here 
this  evening  as  a  spectator  of,  and  so  far  a  participator  in,  this  the 
first  Annual  Festival  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness.  When 
Mr  Mackay,  your  excellent  Secretary,  first  wrote  to  me,  with  an 
earnest  request  that  I  should  be  present  this  evening  and  give  an 
address,  I  felt  that  I  should  come;  but  then  arose  some  doubt  and 
perturbation  of  mind  as  to  what  I  should  speak  about — as  to  the 
subject-matter  of  discourse,  as  we  clergymen  say.  I  was  afraid  of 
being  called  piohair  an  aon  pJivirf.,  that  is,  "the  piper  with  the 
one  tune."     Once  on  a  tiuu',  a  man  down  yonder  on  our  West 


TUAXSACTIOXS.  'J7 

Coast,  took  it  into  his  head  to  learn  to  play  the  bagi)i[)es;  ami  ho 
did  learn  to  play  one  tune,  a  very  good  tune  too,  anil  he  played  it 
uncommonly  well,  as  was  admitted  on  all  hands;  but  then  he  coidd 
l»lay  none  but  itself,  and  he  played  it  so  often,  so  incessantly  in- 
deed, that  the  people  of  the  district  got  quite  disgusted  with  what 
was  once  a  favourite  "  quick-step,"  and  the  unlucky  amateur  soon 
got  to  be  called  in  derision  "the  piper  with  the  one  tune,"  a  title 
that  stuck  to  him  till  his  dying  day,  and  from  its  pith  and  point  is 
to  this  day  a  proverbial  saying  among  the  people.  "  But  sui'ely," 
my  friends  may  exclaim,  "yoii,  can  play  more  than  one  tuue." 
Well,  yes,  no  doubt  I  can ;  I  have  played  a  good  many  tunes  in 
my  day,  as  many,  perhai)S,  as  most  men;  but  then,  you  see,  for  a 
dozen  or  more  years  I  have  been  so  constantly  playing  them  in  the 
Nether-Lochaber  column  of  the  Inverness  Courier  and  elsewhere 
that  it  is  on  sixch  an  occasion  as  this  almost  impossible  to  hit  on 
any  one  worth  listening  to  that  you  have  not  heard  me  play  once 
at  least,  if  not  oftener,  in  times  past.  Coming  down  by  the 
steamer  this  afternoon,  a  gentleman  on  board,  an  American  tourist 
I  believe,  who  intimated  his  intention  of  being  present  this  even- 
ing, and  who,  I  have  no  doubt,  is  present,  asked  me  what  I  was  to 
speak  about.  "In  your  continental  tour,"  was  my  reply,  "did  you 
happen  to  visit  Spain?"  "I  did,  Sir,"  he  answered.  "While  in 
S[iain  di<l  you  happen  to  eat  of  their  favourite  dish,  their  '  olla 
pudrida'  i"  "No,  Sir,  I  did  not,"  was  the  response.  "In  France, 
then,  did  you  taste  theii-  famous  'pot  pourri  T  "  Never  heard  of 
it,  Sir."  "  Since  yoii  have  come  to  Scotland,  then,"  we  persisted, 
"  have  you  ever  happened  to  taste  of  our  '  hotch-potch  '  T  "  Oh, 
yes  !  "  he  eagerly  exclaimed,  "  and  a  capital,  first-rate  dish  it  is  !" 
"  Well,  then,"  I  continued,  "  my  speech  this  evening  will  be  some- 
thing of  that  sort,  de  omnibus  rebvs,  you  understand,  and  very 
good,  and  palatable,  and  heart-sustaining,  I  promise  you,  yovi  will 
find  it  when  the  time  comes."  To  nineteen-twentieths  of  this  large 
assembly,  Mr  Chairman,  I  am  a  stranger.  Most  of  you  ha\-e  very 
likely  heard  something  of  me,  and  may  know  me  as  a  literary  man 
whose  writings  you  sometimes  read,  but  very  few  indeed  have  ever 
seen  me  in  the  flesh  before.  I  must,  therefore,  on  the  present  oc- 
casion crave  the  kind  indulgence  of  my  unusually  large  "  congre- 
gation," And  after  all,  Sir,  even  if  I  only  give  you  a  dish  of 
hotch-potch,  here  beside  me  on  the  platform  is  our  friend.  Professor 
Blackie,  who  is  ready  as  he  is  able,  and  able  as  he  is  ready,  to  give 
you  such  a  geniiine  dish  of  jolly  good  Scotch  mutton  as  you  have 
rarely  tasted — spiced,  too,  and  seasoned,  take  my  word  for  it,  in 
such  wise  as  shall  make  jau.  glad,  in  gastronomic  phrase,  to  cut 
and  come  again.  Of  Napoleon,  not  tlie  man  of  Sedan  and  Ch  isle- 
hurst,  observe,  Ijut  a  very  diflcrent  man — ^him  of  iMoreugo,  Austcr- 


98  TKANSACnONS. 

litz,  and  Jena  ! — who,  by  the  way,  if  he  had  appeared  only  for  one 
short  week  during  the  recent  Fi-anco-Prussia  war,  would  have  sent 
the  Gennans  hirpling  and  howling  across  the  Rhine,  as  was  his 
wont — Emperor,  Moltke,  Bismarck,  and  all,  precious  quick  too,, 
believe  me,  and  to  the  tune  of  "  Deil  ttik'  the  hin'most."  Well, 
then,  of  Napoleon  it  was  said^  and  said  truly,  that  his  ]>ersonal 
presence  on  a  field  of  battle  was  equal  to  a  force  of  30,000  men; 
and  even  so  tiie  presence  of  my  friend  Professor  Blackie  on  such 
an  occasion  as  this^  is  equal  to  a  whole  presbyteiy  or  synod  of 
clergy.  I,  therefore,  gather  corn-age  from  the  presence  of  such  an 
ally,  and  pi-oceed,  promising,  however,  to  be  as  brief  as  possible, 
for  your  pi-ogi-amme  is  a  long  and  excellent  one,  and  everybody 
should  have  faii--play.  No  one,  Mr  Chairman,  coidd  be  more 
pleased  than  I  was  when  intimation  reached  me  that  such  a  society 
as  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness  had  started  into  existence  :  it 
was  much  needed,  Sii- ;  there  was-  ample  room  for  it ;  plenty  of 
work  to  do  ;  and  knowing  what  I  knorsv,  and  seeing  what  I  see 
to-night,  I  am  convinced  it  will  really  do,  as  it  has  unqiiestionably 
undertaken  to  do,  good  woi-k — fostering  pati-iotism  among  the 
people,  and  the  study  and  culture  of  our  magnificent  mountixin 
tougiie  and  literature  ;  and  I  am  further  convinced,  Sir,  that  this 
Society  will  prove  not  something  "  born  only  to  die  "  ;  not  transi- 
tory and  evanescent  as  the  aurora  borealis,  our  Northern  Lights, 
but  fixed,  steadfast,  and  abiding,  and  useful,  let  me  add,  Sir,  as 
the  North  Pole  Star  itself  At  first  it  was  intimated  to  me  that 
this  Society  intended  to  establish  a  monthly  Gfaelic  ]:)eriodical, 
ajid  I  at  once  consented  to  gi\'e  all  the  help  I  could  to  securing 
the  success  of  such  a  praiseworthy  venture.  Meantime,  however, 
another  Gaelic  magazine,  "  The  Gael,"  oi'iginating  in  Canada,  had 
i-e-api^eai-ed  in  sort  of  second  bii-th  in  the  city  of  Glasgow.  The 
Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness,  on  finding  this  to  be  so,  acted,  as  I 
think,  with  a  great  deal  of  good  sense  and  good  t)is-te — they  de- 
termined generously  to  give  way ;  to  let  then-  own  venture, 
though  almost  ripe  unto  the  birth,  meantime  lie  aside,  so  that  "The 
Gael  "  might  have  every  fair-play  and  every  chance  of  success.  I 
hope  "The  Gael"  will  be  well-conducted,  will  keep  up  to  the  mark; 
and  meantime  it  is  only  right  to  say — and  I  am  glad  to  be  able  to 
say  it — it  promises  well ;  its  past  ntimbers  giving  earnest  of  better 
things  to  come.  But  should  it  be  otherwise  ;  should  its  teachings 
clash  with  the  ecclesiastical  or  jiolitical  views  of  its  readers;  should 
it  in  any  such  sense  make  itself  a  party  oi'gan,  then  in  that  case  I 
give  fair  warning — and  I  wish  it  to  go  foith  that  I  say  so — that 
I  shall  not  fail  to  use  any  little  influence  I  may  have  with  the 
Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness  to  induce  them  to  have  a  periodical  of 
their  own — a  free  and  independent  periodical,  solely  devoted  to  the 


TnAXSACTlON'S,  D9 

kug?jagv\  liteniture,  aiiJ  liabits  of  the  f  lael.  I  liave  ahvny.s  ob- 
served, Mr  (Jliairman,  that  on  the  lirst  starting  of  "  Highland," 
*'  Celtic,"  "  O.ssianic,"  and  kindred  societies,  literature  has  a  ])ro- 
minent  place  on  their  pi-ograumie,  but  I  have  just  as  constantly 
noticed  that,  through  some  misadventui-e  or  other,  it  lia,s  disaj)- 
peared  in  practice — the  cut  of  the  kilt  ajid  the  form  of  the  dance 
taking  the  place  of  it.  I  do  hope  that  this  will  not  be  the  case 
with  the  Gaelic  *Society  of  Inverness.  That  the  Society  be  not 
idle  in  this  direction,  then,  let  me  suggest  that  you  get  up  a  volume 
on  the  folk-lore  of  the  Highlands,  having  correspondents  through- 
out the  North,  and  West  Highlands  and  Hebrides,  and  gatheiing 
grist  for  the  common  mill  from  every  possible  quarter.  By  folk- 
lore— a  word  of  comparatively  recent  importation  into  our  language 
from  the  German — I  mean  not  the  poetry  or  literature  of  i-ecent 
times ;  iioi-  do  I  mean  the  antiquities  of  our  country,  which  is  a 
Itig  word,  having  a  very  wide  and  comprehensive  range  indeed  ; 
but  that  branch  or  dejjai'tment  of  archasology  which  relates  to  the 
ancient  manners,  observances,  customs,  usages,  prejudices,  pro- 
verbs, riddles,  incantations,  and  old  stories  of  the  old  folk  among 
the  common  people.  I  am  convinced  that  if  you  only  .set  about  it 
in  right  earnest,  you  can  get  up  a  splendid  volume  on  such  a  subject 
■ — a  -volume,  too,  that  will  be  a  lasting  monument  of  your  diligence  as 
a  Society,  and  of  incalculable  use  in  illustrating  the  p;xst  histoiy  of 
our  countiy,  and  doing  for  the  Highlands  something  like  the  work 
that  the  brothers  Grimm  have  done  for  Germany.  Many  of  you 
cannot  fail  to  i-ecoUect  the  magnificent  passage,  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  English  language,  in  which  Dr  Johnson  expresses  his  feelings 
on  fii-st  setting  foot  on  Icolmkill,  j  ust  a  hundred  years  ago,  wherein 
he  says,  that  "  whatever  makes  the  past,  the  distant,  or  the  future 
predominate  over  the  present,  advances  us  in  the  dignity  of  think- 
ing beings."  Now,  while  I  would  by  no  means  advise  you  to 
neglect  or  be  indifferent  to  the  present  or  the  future,  I  would  say, 
Throw  yourselves  into  the  past :  that  is  the  field  in  which  it 
strikes  me  you  should,  at  least  in  the  first  instance,  become  eai-nest 
reapers.  I  have  often  rem^irked  down  yonder  with  us  at  Balla- 
chulish,  that  Ben-Nevis,  "  monarch  of  mountains,"  in  the  distance, 
and  the  mountains  of  Appin,  Aixlgour,  and  Glencoe  around  us, 
never  assume  such  an  air  of  digoiity  and  gi-andeur,  never  such  an 
aspect  of  might,  and  power,  and  nearness,  as  when  in  serene  repose 
they  are  but  faintly,  indistinctly,  dimly  visible  in  the  fast-fadmg 
twilight  of  a  sun  that  has  ah-eady  set.  Throw  yourselves  into  the 
past ;  you  have  no  reason  at  all  to  be  ashamed  of  it.  No  people 
in  the  world  can  boast  of  gi-ander  memories,  of  more  ennobling 
traditions  than  you.  If,  down  yonder  in  Lochaber,  at  fail-  or 
funeral,  at  mod  or  meny -making,  there  is  any  appearance  of  mis- 


lOV  TliANSACTIONS. 

conduct,  the  tumult  is  instantly  (quelled  when  some  grey-headed 
j)atriarch  arises^  and  sternly  repi'oves  the  peace-breakei-s  in  these 
words — "  Bithibh  siohhalf,  flimra'  ;  Gad  'tim  sinn  buchd,  tlia  sum 
vasal'"  that  is — Peace,  men!  even  if  we  are  poor,  we  are  of  gentle 
blood  !  If  I  ask  a  boy  to  go  a  message,  I  dismiss  him  with  his 
instructions  and  the  jiarting  admonitioa — "  i>z  tajjuidh  'iiis ;  Cuivik- 
nich  air  na  daoin'  o'n  a'havmg  tliu  /" — that  is,  Be  smart  now  :  have 
a  recollection  about  you  of  those  from  whom  you  are  descended  ! 
and  with  head  erect  and  flashing  eye,  the  little  fellow  is  oft'  like  an 
arrow  fi'om  a  bow,  and  would  rather  die  than  under  such  an  in- 
centive as  that  not  perform  his  errand  to  the  strictest,  minutest 
letter  of  his  instructions.  I  wish  you  to  foster  and  jtreserve  this 
feeling  among  the  people.  The  more,  believe  me,  you  examine 
into  and  ransack  the  past,  the  more  reason  will  you  have  to  be 
l)roud  of  your  ancestors.  They  were,  in  truth,  a  giand  old  race  : 
moral,  I  maintain,  and  high-minded,  and  brave  beyond  any  other 
jteople  of  whom  I  have  any  knowledge  ;  and  depend  upon  it  that, 
having  such  intercourse  with  them  as  I  suggest,  even  at  this  dis- 
tant date,  will  make  you  happier  and  better  men.  Let  me  con- 
clude, Mr  Chairman,  with  a  lyric,  the  finest,  I  take  it,  that  has- 
appeared  in  our  country  for  full  tifty  years,  the  composition  of  one 
whom,  while  yet  a  young  man,  I  had  the  honour  to  know  -well, 
and  whom  to  know  was  to  love,  the  late  Professor  William  Ed- 
monstoune  Aytoun,  a  colleague  of  our  friend.  Professor  Blackie,  in 
the  University  of  Edinburgh,  and  the  son-in-law  of  the  fai-famed 
"  Christopher  North"  : — 

' '  Come  listen  to  another  song, 

Should  make  your  heart  beat  high, 
Bring  crimson  to  your  forehead, 

And  the  lustre  to  your  eye  : 
It  is  a  song  of  olden  time, 

Of  days  long  since  gone  by, 
And  of  a  Baron  stout  and  bold 
As  e'er  wore  sword  on  thigh  ! 

Like  a  brave  old  Scottish  cavalier, 
All  of  the  olden  time ! 

"  He  kept  his  castle  in  the  North, 
Hard  by  the  thundering  Spey, 
And  a  thousand  vassals  dwelt  around. 

All  of  his  kindred  they. 
And  not  a  man  of  all  that  clan 

Had  ever  ceased  to  pray 
For  the  Royal  race  they  loved  so  well, 
Though  exiled  far  away 

From  the  steadfast  Scottish  cavalier, 
All  of  the  olden  time  ! 


"  His  father  drew  tlio  righteous  sworil 
For  iSeotlaiul  ami  her  cUxims, 
Among  the  loyal  gentlemen 

And  chiefs  of  ancient  names, 
Who  swore  to  fight  or  fall  beneath 

The  standard  of  King  James, 
And  died  at  Killiecrankie  Pass, 
With  the  glory  of  the  Grammes  : 
Like  a  true  old  .Scottish  cavalier, 
All  of  the  olden  time  ! 
"  He  never  owned  the  foreign  rule, 
No  master  he  obeyed. 
But  kept  his  clan  in  peace  at  home 

From  foray  and  from  raid  ; 
And  when  they  asked  him  for  his  oath, 

He  touched  his  glittering  blade, 
And  pointed  to  his  bonnet  blue. 
That  bore  the  white  cockade  : 
Like  a  leal  old  Scottish  cavalier. 
All  of  the  olden  time  ! 
"  At  length  the  news  ran  through  the  land — 
The  Prince  had  come  again  ! 
That  night  the  fiery  cross  was  sped 
O'er  mountain  and  through  glen  ; 
And  our  old  Baron  rose  in  might. 

Like  a  lion  from  his  den, 
And  rode  away  across  the  hills 
To  Charlie  and  his  men  : 

With  the  valiant  Scottish  cavaliers, 
All  of  the  olden  time  ! 
"  He  was  the  first  that  bent  the  knee, 
When  the  standard  waved  abroad  ; 
He  was  the  first  that  charged  the  foe 

On  Preston's  bloody  sod  : 
And  ever,  in  the  van  of  fight. 

The  foremost  still  he  trod. 
Until  on  bleak  CuUoden's  heath 
He  gave  his  soul  to  God  : 
Like  a  good  old  Scottish  cavalier, 
All  of  the  olden  time  ! 
"  Oh  !  never  shall  we  know  again 
A  heart  so  stout  and  true — 
The  olden  times  have  passed  away, 

And  weary  are  the  new : 
The  fair  White  Ptose  has  faded 

From  the  garden  where  it  grew, 
And  no  fond  tears  save  those  of  heaven. 
The  glorious  bed  bedew 

Of  the  last  old  Scottish  cavalier, 
All  of  the  olden  time  ! 

The  rev.  gentleman  resumed  his  seat  amidst  loud  and  i)rolouged 
cbeeruio". 


102  TBANSAf'TIOXS. 

"  IIoI  1110  Mliairi  Lighacli  "  was  tlieu  suny  l>y  the  Misses  Mac- 
kintosh, supported  by  Mr  William  Mackay,  our  worthy  Sc^cretaiy, 
and  accompanied  by  Mr  Morine  on  the  pianoforte.  Each  verse 
was  given  tirst  in  Gaelic  and  then  in  English.  It  is  but  right  to 
mention  here  that  not  only  was  this  the  tirst  occasion  on  which  the 
Misses  Mackintosh  appeared  in  jiublic,  bnt,  to  oblige  the  Society, 
they  consented  to  sing  without  what  they  considered  adequate 
preparation.  Yet  we  but  echo  the  universal  voice  when  we  say 
that  they  2>erformed  their  part  to  the  admiration  and  delight  of  all 
who  Avere  privileged  to  hear  them.  Of  the  song,  one  of  the  news- 
pajier  reports  says  truly,  "  Even  to  English  ears  the  strains  were 
sweet,  and  the  words  themselves  musical  in  a  high  degree."  Mr 
D.  Taylor,  one  of  our  local  vocalists,  sustained  his  high  reputation 
in  singing  "  Prince  Charlie's  Farewell  to  Flora  Macdonald  "  ;  and 
one  of  our  young  townsmen,  Mr  A.  Mackintosh,  closed  this,  the 
first  part  of  the  programme,  with  "  Gille  Caluni,"  with  fine  efiect, 
to  the  music  of  ]upes.  The  great  pipes  then  struck  up  and  dis- 
coui-sed  theii-  best  under  the  masterly  hand  of  Pipe-Major  Mac- 
lennan,  followed  by  Corporal  Campbell  and  Eraser,  whilst  the 
assembly  were  partaking  of  fruit,  cakes,  &c. 

The  second  part  was  opened  by  Professor  Blackie,  who  most 
generou.sly  came  all  the  way  from  the  south  of  England  to  enjoy 
and  help  on  the  ])roceedings.  On  jiresenting  himself  the  learned 
Professor  received  quite  an  ovation,  as  he  so  well  deserved  from  a 
Highland  audience,  and,  during  the  delivery  of  his  address,  was 
repeatedly  interrupted  with  the  most  enthusiastic  plaudits. 

Professor  Blackie  said — Mr  Stewart,  in  that  admii-able  sjieech, 
had  done  him  a  great  service  or  disservice — he  had  given  him  a 
good  introduction,  but  at  the  same  time  had  been  guilty  of  sounding 
trumpets  before  him,  which  the  Scripture  said  should  not  be  done. 
He  was  to  give  them  an  address.  Now,  of  all  sorts  and  styles  of 
speaking  he  had  ever  tried,  an  address  was  the  most  pei'iilexing. 
If  they  wanted  a  sermon  he  could  preach  to  them — if  they  wanted 
a  song  he  could  sing  to  them — if  they  wanted  a  lecture  he  could 
certainly  lecture  them — ^and  if  they  came  to  hear  him  on  Satur- 
day night  he  would  give  them  a  lecture  the  length  of  a  Highland 
sermon,  that  is  an  hour  and  a  quarter.  But  how  long  an  adcb-ess 
should  be,  or  what  form  it  should  assume,  if  not  hodge-podge,  he 
was  very  much  puzzled  to  understand.  But  if  ever  he  delivered 
an  address  with  pleasure  in  spite  of  displeasure,  it  was  on  the  pre- 
sent occasion.  Being  a  mere  south-country  Saxon— an  alien  in 
blood  and  language — he  certainly  should  not  have  been  asked  un- 
less it  were  known  that  he  loved  the  Highlands  and  the  Highland 
people  loved  him.  And  to  him  the  love  and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
countrymen  were  more  than  all  the  power  of  all  the  politicians,  and 


TRANSACTION'S.  103 

all  the  gold  of  all  the  millionaires.      He  svoiikl  consider  it  a  very 
high  honour  to  be  associated  with  the  Society  in  this  resuscitation 
of  a  gi-and  national  feeling  that  had  too  long  lain  dormant  in  this 
countiy.      It  was  a  veiy  great  mistake  in  past  times  to  neglect  our 
Celtic  nationality,  and  its  language,  traditions,  music,  poetry.      As 
Dr  Johnson  said,  the  most  pleasant  view  to  a  Scotchman  was  the 
road  to  England  ;  so  the  most  pleasant  view  to  a  Highlandman  had 
long  been  the  road  than  led  to  a  countiy  which  Ptob  Roy  visited 
sometimes.      All  veiy  well,  but  they  should  not  neglect  their  own 
nationality.      It  could  never  be  right  to  undervalue  themselves,  to 
trample  upon  their  own  traditions,  to  cast  odium  upon  their  own 
mother,  to  neglect  the  graves  of  their  fa.thers.      But  now  they  made 
a  public  profession  of  something  wrong  done,  and  an  eai-nest  be- 
ginning of  a  right  thing  to  be  accomplished.     They  were  all  to 
blame,  Celts  and  Saxons  alike,  and  he  did  not  know  which  was 
most  to  blame.     Not  one  Highlander  in  a  hundred  could  read  or 
spell  his  own  language.     According  to  a  witty  saying,  "  Gaelic  is 
a  language  which  few  can  read,  and  which  nobody  can  spell."     Still, 
he  believed  the  Saxons  were  more  to  blame  than  the  Celts.      The 
latter  lived  in  a  remote  corner,  and  sutfered  wrongs  of  which  he 
wovild  not  now  speak  particularly  ;  while  the  Saxons  were  sitting 
in  the  comfortable  South,  having  Highlanders  to  fight  their  battles 
at  Waterloo  and  elsewhere,  yet  despising  them,  making  them  tlie 
subjects  of  shallow  jests,  laughing  at  them,  just  as  an  Englishman 
laughs  at  a  Scotchman.      What  a  set  they  were,  laughing  at  one 
another,   instead  of   engaging  in  scientific  research,   and    seeking 
mutual  sympathy  and  pliilosophical  appi-eciation  !     Such  men  as 
Stewart,    Armstrong,    Maclauchlan,    Mackenzie,    and     Skene    had 
made  a  study  of  Celtic  matters,  but  these  were  single  names  ;  and 
the  philosophy  of  the  Celtic  language  had  been  brought  out  more 
fully    by    the   Grermans    than    by   any  Scotchman.       The   life   of 
Columba,  who  was  an  Irish  Celt  in  the  days  when  Scotch  and  Iiish 
were  all  one,  had  been  edited,  not  by  a  Scotchman,  but  by  an  Irish- 
man.      The   object  of  the  Society  w-as  excellent,  and  the  Professor 
advised  them  not  to  despise  popular  wisdom,  or  the  teaching  of  the 
Old  Book,  for  the  Comtes  and  John  Stuart  Mills,  and  the  rational- 
ism of  Lt)ndon  papers.     The  homely  wisdom  of  the  people,  free  from 
metaphysics  and  from  the  crooked  ways  of  politicians,  was  ti-ue 
and  honest,   and  was  always  intelligible — and  that  was  more  than 
he    could  say   of  the  poetry  of  Roljert  Browning  and  many  others. 
It  had  been  said  that  reading  Klopstock's   Odes  was  like  eating 
stones,  and  he  thought  the  reading  of  a  good  deal  of  modern  jjoetry 
was  like  eating  thistles  and  brambles.     The  neglect  of  the  Gaelic 
was  a  loss  intellectually,  morally,  and  sociall3^      It  belonged  to  the 
great  family  of  tongues,  commonly  called  the  Ayran,  and  to  know 


104  TRANSACTIONS. 

Latin  and  Greek  thorouglily  they  should  read  Sanscrit  or  Gaelic — 
no  matter  which.  If  peoj)le  had  an  interest  in  old  stones,  and  old 
bones,  and  old  urns,  surely  they  should  venerate  the  oldest  language 
of  the  human  race,  still  a  living  language— one  rich  in  Olustration, 
near  to  our  living  sympathies,  and  of  practical  interest  and  import- 
ance. The  Gaelic  language  had  characteristic  peculiarities  most  iii- 
tei'esting  in  reference  to  the  organisation  of  human  speech,  and  not 
found  in  Sanscrit,  or  Latin,  or  Gi-eek,  Some  of  those  peculiarities 
opened  iip  quite  a  new  train  of  thought  altogether.  It  had  also 
some  fine  sounds  (which  the  Professor  amidst  some  amusement  tried 
to  bring  out,  with  his  hand  to  his  mouth),  and  it  was  a  great  help 
to  the  knowledge  of  Latin,  Greek,  German,  and  other  languages. 
He  had  himself  traced  500  Greek  roots  to  Gaelic,  As  an  illus- 
tration of  its  affinity  with  the  Greek,  he  took  the  well-known  word 
ClacJmacudain,  or  stone  of  the  tubs.  Clack  was  the  Gaelic  for 
stone,  and  in  Homer  they  would  find  laas,  signifying  stone — the 
initial  c  of  the  Gaelic  being  left  out,  and  the  h,  as  is  not  uncommon, 
changed  into  s.  Then  for  cud  they  had  the  Greek  equivalent  coot, 
signifying  a  round,  bulging,  hollow  thing.  But  some  of  those 
clever  fellows  in  the  South,  who  knew  everything,  asked  what  was 
the  use  of  studying  a  language  that  had  no  literature  ]  Now,  if 
there  was  not  a  single  book  in  Gaelic  he  would  study  it,  because 
it  was  the  way  to  the  hearts  of  the  people.  Better  living  men 
and  women  than  all  the  printed  books  in  the  world.  But  Gaelic 
had  the  best  kind  of  literature — the  kind  of  literature  that  makes 
Scotland  what  it  is — -the  literature  of  songs,  jDoetry,  and  national 
music.  This  was  of  value,  not  to  enable  every  clever  fellow  to 
talk  of  all  subjects  and  a  few  others,  but  in  bringing  out  all  the 
noble  sentiments  of  a  people's  heart,  and  in  cherishing  the  noblest 
memories ;  this  was  a  literature  that  would  do  them  more  good 
than  all  they  could  cram  at  the  University  of  Edinburgh  or  under 
the  Education  Bill.  The  greatest  evil  to  them  in  the  South  was 
that  their  national  music  was  not  made  an  indispensable  part 
of  the  national  education.  Next  to  the  Bible  he  placed  the 
national  songs  for  true,  healthy  teaching — fresh  like  the  breezy 
atmosj)hei-e,  blooming  like  heather,  rushing  like  mountain  streams; 
and  making  the  blood  beat  in  harmony  with  them.  That  was 
better  than  clever  leading  articles.  Latin  and  Greek  were  all  very 
well,  but  a  man  should  be  first  what  God  made  him,  and  his  duties 
were  with  his  own  people.  Of  course  they  must  be  fixshionable— 
that  is,  go  to  Italian  opei-as  in  Edinburgh  and  London,  and  force 
people  to  learn  Latin  and  Greek,  which  they  forget  soon  enough — ■ 
but  don't  leai'n  your  own  mother  tongue,  which  you  suck  in  with 
your  motlier's  milk.  Piiople  who  went  away  in  search  of  some- 
thiug  grand,  and  did  not  learn  the  wisdom  and  philoso})hy  of  com- 


TRANSACTIONS.  105 

mon  things,  would  be  sliallow  fellows  to  the  end  of  the  chaptei", 
though  crammed  full  and  fringed  i-ound  with  learning.  Touching 
on  the  moi-al  and  social  aspect  of  his  subject,  the  Professor  quoted 
a  saying  of  Jean  Paiil  Richter,  "  The  way  to  a  woman's  heart  is 
through  her  child ;  the  way  to  a  nation's  heart  is  through  its 
language."  And  one  people  could  not  know  another  except 
through  their  language.  The  Saxons  could  certainly  not ,  be  ac- 
cused of  loving  the  Celtic  people  too  much.  They  sung  Jacobite 
songs,  but  that  was  a  matter  of  pure  sentimentality;  and  many  of 
them  thought  and  said  that  the  Celts  should  be  stamped  out  and 
extirpated.  Now,  he  did  not  think  the  Saxons  would  have  spoken 
in  that  way  if  they  had  known  the  language  of  the  Celts  and  their 
good  qualities.  They  came  down  to  stare  at  theii*  mountains  and 
glens,  but  they  did  not  love  the  Celts,  and  see  that  no  man  turned 
them  out  of  their  glens.  He  did  say  that  though  there  was  a  dis- 
ease of  over-population  in  some  parts  of  the  Highlands,  that  was 
no  reason  why  there  should  be  extirpation  in  any  part  of  them. 
He  spoke  of  no  one  personally ;  but  if  the  country  had  been  depopu- 
lated, one  cause  of  that  had  been  that  those  who  held  the  land  did 
not  speak  the  language,  and  did  not  know  the  hearts  of  the  people, 
did  not  care  a  straw  for  the  people,  but  felt  that  they  would  have 
no  poor-rates  when  the  devils  were  away.  If  such  thing  had  been 
— and  he  had  good  reason  to  suspect  that  they  had — he  repeated 
that  the  cause  was  this,  that  there  was  no  sympathy  between  the 
holders  of  the  land  and  the  people  who  lived  upon  it ;  and  there 
would  have  been  more  of  that  sympathy  if  the  lando^vners  had 
studied  the  langxiage  of  a  people  of  whom  they  ought  to  have  been 
proud.  Well,  he  had  given  very  good  reasons  why  the  Gaelic 
shoidd  be  preserved,  and  he  was  not  bound  to  give  an  luiderstand- 
ing  with  them.  If  they  did  not  sympathise  with  him  and  with 
the  Gaelic  people,  then  he  was  veiy  sorry  for  them,  but  thankful 
also  that  he  was  not  cursed  with  the  blindness  of  theii-  intellects  or 
the  hardness  of  their  hearts. 

The  Professor  denounced  in  scathing  terms  those  unpatriotic 
and  time-serving  newspaper  writers  who  gave  the  sanction  and 
the  encoiiragement  of  their  misleading  articles  to  those  who  have 
weakened  and  disgi-aced  the  nation  by  banishing  a  noble  and 
interesting  race  from  their  homes  of  freedom  in  the  Highlands. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  this  address  fanned  and 
gave  wise  du-ection  to  the  flames  of  Celtic  enthiisiasm  which  the 
previous  proceedings  had  aroused,  and  gave  the  sanction  of  a  cul- 
tured intellect  and  an  honoured  name  to  sentiments  and  feelings 
which  many  among  us  had  hardly  dai-ed  to  avow  until  that  night. 
The  Professor's  address  was  followed  by  a  selection  of  airs  on  the 
pianoforte  by  the  Misses  Mackintosh ;    the  Highland  Fling  by  the 


106 


TRANSACTION'S. 


four  dancers  already  mentioned;  and  the  "March  of  the  Cameron 
Men,"  by  Mr  James  Fraser, 

Next  came  the  Rev.  Mr  Macgregor,  our  warm-hearted  towns- 
man, with  one  of  the  most  eloquent  and  pathetic  addresses  ever 
Tittered  in  the  expressive  language  of  the  Gael,  in  which  he  spoke. 
A  perfect  storm  of  applause  gi-eeted  the  rev.  gentleman,  and  the 
delig^ht  and  enthusiasm  went  on  increasing  as  the  discoiu-se  pro- 
ceeded.     Mr  Macgregor  said — 

Ceaduichibh  dhomh  innseadh  dhuibh  gu'm  bheil  e  'na  mhor- 
thoilinntinn  dhomh  a  bhi'n  so  an  nochd  aig  a  choinneamh  so  do 
"  Chomunn  Gailig  Inlihirnis."  Tha  mi'g  a  mheas  mar  shochair 
nach  beag,  gu'n  tugadh  cuireadh  dhomh  gu  bhi'n  so.  Tha  mi 
dudich,  gidheadh,  gu'n  robh  an  nine  co  goixid,  agus  gu'n  tainig 
m?)ran  nithe  cudthromach  eile  'san  rathad,  air  chor  'snach  robh 
comas  agam  air  briathraibh  freagarrach  a  chur  a'n  altaibh  a  cheile, 
chum  nan  nithe  sin  a  leagadh  ris  duibh,  air  am  bu  mhiann  learn 
labhairt  agus  16udachach  'n'ur  n-eisdeachd  a  nis.  Ach  bheir  sibh 
maitheanas  domh  air  son  gach  teachd-gearr  agus  neo-iomlanachd 
a  bhitheas,  tha  eagal  orm,  tuilleadh's  follaiseach  anns  na  nithibh 
bu  mhath  learn  a  thoirt  air  an  aghaidh  aig  an  am  so.  Tha'n 
Comunn  airidh  air  mor-chliu  fhaotuinn  air  son  an  durachd.  an  eud, 
agus  an  dedlasachd,  ann  a  bhi  tionaladh,  a'  dionadh,  agus  a'  gleidh- 
eadh  gach  ni  mu  chleachdanna,  eachdruidh,  ceol,  bardachd,  liith- 
chleas,  c^innt,  dillseachd,  gaisge,  agus  treubhantas  na  muinntii-  sin 
a  dh'  ^riiicheadh  ann  an  garbhlaichibh,  gleanntaibh  agus  eileanaibh 
na  h-Alba.  Tha  mor-dheigh  againn  iiile  air  duthaich  ar  breith. 
Co  'n  ar  measg  nach'  eil  aLr  a  dheacadh  le  h-aoibhneas-cridhe,  an 
uair  a  smuainicheas  e  air  "Tir  'nam  beann  'nan  gleann  'snan 
gaisgeach  1"  Tha  na  Gaidheil  nan  sluagh  cbmharraichte  air  son 
lionmhorachd  bhuaidhean.  agus  nithe  6ugsamhla,  trid  am  bhed  iad 
eadar-dhealuichte,  agus  air  an  cur  air  leth  o  gach  cinneach  eile  air 
uachdar  na  talmhuinn.  Tha  iad  'nan  sluagh  a  bha  air  an  ciimail 
fodha,  air  an  siruchadh  agus  air  an  claoidh  air  iomadh  seol  agus 
doigh  air  nach  robh  iad  idir  airidh  !  Bha  iad  air  an  greasadh 
chum  chi'iocha  cumhann,  air  am  fogradh  o  ionadaibh  agus  aois- 
liiraichibh  an  sinnsear,  air  an  ruigadh  mar  chearcan-coille  air  na 
beanntaibh,  agus  air  buntainn  riutha  air  iomadh  seol  nach  do  thoill 
iad.  Gidheadh,  faicibh  fathasd  an  dillseachd  agus  an  deagh-thair- 
isneachd,  an  dean  agus  an  deothas  chum  an  umhlachd  a  nochdadh 
do  na  h-ard-chumhachdaibh,  o'n  Uachdaran  air  an  righ-chaithear, 
sios  chum  an  rioghlair  a's  illse  'na  dhreuchd  !  Shiiidhich  lagh  na 
ducha  seorsa  do  luchd-faire  anns  gach  baile-beag  agi;s  sgiorachd  'nar 
th-,  a  ta  'g  imeachd  gu  diomhanach  o  ^ite  gu  ^ite  mu'n  cuairt, 
luchd-di-euchd  ma  seadh,  le'n  cotaichibh  fada  gorm,  's  le'm  bior- 
aidibh  ard,  agus  It'n  slachdanaibh  stiullach-buidhe,  a  chumail  riagh- 


TRANSACTIONS.  107 

ailt  a'ui  measg  nan  Gaidheal,  far  nach  rol)h  aiinhi*eite  riamli  gus  an 
tainig  iacl  fein  'nam  measg  !  Thubhairt  mi  gu'n  robh  na  Gaidheil 
bhochd  air  an  s^riicliadh,  ach  'siad  na  naimhdean  a's  miosa  a  blia 
rianih  aca,  naimhde  neocliiontacli  annta  fein,  na  caoraich  bliJina, 
ainmhidliean  a  ta  feumail  gii'n  teagamh,  acli  mo  tbruaidh  !  bu  dona 
air  cul  claidheimli  iad  !  Ach  dh'aindeoin  gach  cruaidLchaise  a  dh' 
fhuiling  iad,  c'<iit  an  robb  riamh  saigbdearan  an  cosmbuil  riu  ! 
Fhad's  a  bbios  iomradh  aix  gaisge  agns  t6uchd  ann  an  eacbdraidh, 
fhad's  a  bbios  sgeiibaitbris  aii"  fioi"-shaigbdearacbd  agus  treubbantas, 
bitbidb  sliocbd  nam  beann  ainmeil  feadb  gacb  linn  air  son  gacb 
buaidb-l^racb  a  tbug  iad  a  macb  amis  gacb  cearnadb  do'n  t-saoghal ! 
Co  am  measg  sbliocbd  nan  cvimbacbdacb,  ann  an  tir  eile  fo'n 
ghrein  a  sbamblaichear  riutba  1  Cba  robh  e  'nan  comas  an 
ciilaobb  a  tbionndadb  aon  cbuid  ri  caraid  no  ri  nambaid,  agus  ged 
a  bbiodh,  cba  deanadb  iad  e  ! — 

"  Faigheadh  cliu  o  gach  ranu-fhear, 
Gu  ceolnilior  's  gu  biiui, 
Na  fior-sliaighilearan  Gaidhealach, 
Chaidh  arach  'sna  glinn  ; 
Cuimir,  fuasgailte,  finealta, 
Slainteil  'sa  chom, 
Fearail,  ceausgalach,  cruadalach, 
Treun  agus  ti-om ! 
'S  math  thig  breacan  an  fheilidh, 
Gu  leir  do  na  suinii, 
Osain  ghearr  air  an  calpannaibh, 
Tha  domhail,  geal,  cruinn, 
Iteagan  dorcha  air  slios  gorm  uigheara  cheann, 
Sud  i  eideadh  'nana  blar, 
'S  cha  b'i  'n  te  fhada  theann. 
'S  ceart  a  laljhras  iad  canain 
Na  h-Alba  o  chian, 
Mar  a  bha  i  aig  Fionn, 
'S  aig  Oisean  gu  dian, 
Cha  do  ghluais  chum  na  tuasaid, 
Is  chaoidh  iad  cha  ghhiais, 
Gun  am  bolg-fheadan  meur-thollach 
Fuaimneach  'nan  cluais — 
Mar  so  buaidh  leis  na  seoid, 
Ghuineach,  ghai'g,  agus  bheo, 
Theid  do  bhuillsgein  'nan  naimhdean, 
Mar  a'  ghaoth  del  'sa  cheo  ; 
'S  nar  fheuch  iad  an  culaobb, 
Do'n  dream  nach  bi  leo  ; 
Oir  cha  striochd  sbochd  nan  garbh-chrioch, 
Fhad's  bhios  annta  an  deo." 


A    GHAILIG. 

Agns  c'ciit  am  bheil  CcUnnt  air  thalamb  a  cboimeasar  ris  a  Ghai^ 


108  TRANSACTIONS. 

lig  •?  Canain  a  ta  binn,  blasda,  oirdheirc,  mai"  ribliinn  glieamnuidh 
neo-thiuaillidli,  fliior-gblan — 

' '  Cha  gheill  i  do'n  Eablira, 
Do'n  Fhrangais  no  Ghreugais, 
Do  Laidin  no  Bheurla, 
No  do  cliainut  fo  na  speuran." 

Gu  robh  buaidli  le  Comunn  Gaidhealach  a  bliaile  so,  a  ta  dol 
gii'n  didan  chum  na  Gailig  a  cbumail  suas,  a'  Ghailig  eii-eaclidail. 
Mar  a  tliubliairt  an  t'  Urramach  Robt.  Macgriogaii-  ann  a  Cill- 
Mhoire. — 

' '  Bh'aig  Adliamh  's  aig  Eubha, 
Roimli  fkeum  bhi  air  aitlireachas, 
Mu'n  do  chiontaich  iad  a'n  Eden, 
Gu'n  evicad  gun  smal  orra  ; 
Air  olc  mu'n  robh  iad  eolach, 
Gun  choduch,  gun  ath  orra, 
Do'n  pheac'  gun  bhi  nan  traillean, 
'Sa  gharadh  gu'n  charuchadh. 
Leis  na  Gaidheal  is  doiniJieach 
Facuill  choimheach, 
Sud  tha  goimheach,  gnineach  dhoibh, 
'8teach  nan  obair,  'sa  chainnt-thobair, 
Chaoidh  cha  togar  sruth-chainntean  ; 
Tha  neo-stadach,  sguabadh  chladach, 
S'bratach,  slatach  uile  iad, 
'Se'n  ruith  feadh  each  a'  cheile. 
An  steigh  tha  'ga  cumail  suas — 
A'  chanain,  a'  chanain, 
A'  chanain  bha'n  toiseach  i  ; 
'Smar  nior-chruaidh-chreugan  laldir, 
A  tamhsa  biodh  socaireach  ; 
'M  feadh  ghleusas  slugan  cail  neach, 
Cha  bhas  is  cha  dochunn  dith  ; 
Ach  bheir  i  mach  buaidh-larach, 
Feadh  gliabhanna  's  dhosguinnean. 
'8  Houinhor  gaisgeach  a  ta  aice, 
Cumail  taic  is  cothrom  rithe, 
Agus  caraid,  le  cruas  daraig, 
Dol  do'n  charraig  chogaidh  dhi, 
Chum  a  dionadh  amis  gach  pionadh, 
'Schum  a  lionadh  dh'  fhocullaibh  ; 
'Smar  lasair-chath  an  leirsinn 
Gu  leir-sgrios  smid  dhochaireach. " 

Tha  e  taitneacli  a  smuaineacliadh  gu'm  Idieil  moran  uaislean 
fogbluimte,  ducliasach,  agus  geanail,  ullamh  agus  ealamli  chum 
ciiideachadh  leis  a  Chomunn  so  a  reir  an  comais.  Tha  Tighearna 
Chluanaidh,  "  Mac  Mhuirich  Mor  na  brataich,"  gu  cuimear,  chiidh- 
each,  criosach,  gu  aigeannach,  briosgalach,  baganta,  le  bhriathraibh 
mills,  tuigseach,  tla,  chum  an  Comunn  a  neartachadh,  agus  bha  'gu 
bhi  a'n  so  an  nochd. — 


TRANSACTIONS.  109 

"  An  Eiclire  Coinneacli  Ghearlocli, 
A  ghineadh  o  na  h-armunn, 
A  racliadh  sios  'sua  blaraibh 
Leis  a  Bhrataich,  aluinn. 
A  bhuadhachadh  'san  araicli, 
'Sa  cliur  nan  namh  'nan  smur. " 

Gu  cinnteacli  's  math  lionas  brathair  atliar  'aite  amis  a  clia- 
tliaii',  arduaclidaran  Iiibliiruis,  an  Leigliich  INIac  Coiiiuicli  'san 
Eileanach.  Gu  ma  feda  slan  e  gu.'  bliith  stinradh  aig  gach  cuirm. 
agus  cuiimeamh  ann  am  priomli  bhaile  na  Gaidliealtachd. 

Ach  cha  bheag  an  t-urram  a  cliiiireadli  aii-  a  Chomunn  so,  leis 
an  Ard-flioghlumach  "  Blackie"  a  bhi  lathaii'  !  Fior-theangaii-, 
ealamb,  deascliainnteacli,  agais  aig  am  bheil  mbr-speis  do'n  Gliailig. 
Tha  deagli-fhios  aige-san  g'm  blieil  a'  Bheiu-la  tliais  agus  eiglidh, 
air  a  deanamh  suas,  eadcir  bhun  agus  bliarr,  eadar  earbull  agus 
fheuman  do  clianainibli  eile.  Tlia  mor-niheas  aig  an  duin'-uasal 
f  liileant'  agus  fliogMuimte  so,  aii-. — 

"  Homer  bimi  tha  deas-lihriatlirach, 
'Sair  Virgil  mor  an  t-Eadailteacli  ; 
Ach  'sann  air  Oisean  liath  nan  ceileii'ean, 
Bu  mhiannach  leis  'bhi  eolach." 

Ach  "gach  dileas  gu  deireaclh,"  c'ait  am  bheil  caraid  ni's  deine 
agus  ni's  deaJasaiche,  'nan  t-aodhair  cliiiiteach  "  Lochabar  loch- 
darach  ?"  Seachduin  an  deigh  seachduin,  tha  e  a'  cur  a  mach  a 
sgriobhanna  cumhachdach,  a  ta  'boisgeadh  soluis,  cha'n  e  mhain  air 
gach  eun  agus  iasg,  aii*  gach  ainmhidh  agus  meanbh-bheathach,  aii' 
gach  chich  agus  creag,  air  gach  luibh  agus  preas,  aii'  gach  rionnag 
agus  reult  ann  an  gorm  astair  nam  speur,  ach  mar  an  ceudna,  air 
cainnt  agus  cleachdannaibh  nan  Gaidheal  !  Cha'n  'eil  sean-fhocal 
no  sean-chleachd,  no  gniomh  saobh-chi-abhach,  no  toimhseachan,  no 
seiin,  no  giseag,  o  laithibh  TJllin  agus  Oisein,  gu  ruig  an  hi  an 
diugh,  air  iiach  'eil  e  eolach,  agiis  nach  'eil  aii-  an  teasairginn  leis. 
Saoghal  fada  agns  deagh  bheatha  dha. — 

"  O's  gradhach,  gur  gradhach 
O's  gradhach  an  diiine  e  ; 
Tha  sgeinih  is  spionnadh  cainnte, 
Anns  gach  ni  a  chaidh  chumadh  leis." 

Chiim  mi  tuilleadh's  fada  sibh  a  Chomunn  ionmhuinn.  Thu- 
gaibh  maitheanas  domh.  Gu  mo  math  theid  gach  ni  leibh,  agus  gu 
robh  'ur  can-dean  dol  a'n  lionmhorachd,  agus. — 

' '  Sliochd  bhur  sliochd  is  gach  sliochd  uathasan, 
Feadh  gach  linn  gu  robh  sluaghar  is  mor. " 

As  if  it  were  the  lyrical  outburst  of  the  spii-it  in  which  the 
patriotic  orator  had  just  spoken,  next  came  "  An  Eibhinn  Aluinn, 


110  TRANSACTIONS. 

Eibhiun,  og,"  by  Miss  Mackay,  Gleii-Urquhart;  Mr  D.  Mackintosh, 
Glen-Urquhart,  and  the  Secretary.  The  song  and  the  singing  were 
not  only  a  delight,  but  a  surprise,  and  led  captive  hundreds  there 
who  understood  not  a  word  ;  and  the  reception  was  an  outburst  of 
applause,  which  could  not  be  exceeded  in  its  warmth  and  cordi- 
ality. It  is  to  the  credit  of  Miss  Mackay  that  it  was  only  that 
same  evening,  and  to  fill  the  place  of  another,  that  she  was  im- 
pressed into  our  service.  If  anything  had  been  wanting  at  this 
hour  in  the  evening  to  dispel  the  ignorant  conceit  of  some  that 
ours  was  not  a  cultivated  and  artistic  system  of  music,  the  work 
was  now  complete,  and  every  one  in  that  vast  assembly  raised  a 
voice  in  attestation.  Then  came  Pipe-Major  Maclennan,  as  if  to 
fill  the  volumes  of  applause  still  fui'ther,  and  filled  the  hall  with 
one  of  his  noble  "  Piobaireachds."  This  was  followed  by  Mr  K 
Miinro,  with  "  My  Nannie's  awa."  Mr  W.  G-.  Stewart  then  gave 
a  most  droll  and  yet  characteristic  personation  of  an  unsophisti- 
cated Highlander  on  his  first  experiences  of  railways,  policemen, 
and  other  novelties.  Mr  D.  Taylor  re-appeared,  and  gave  "  Flora 
Macdonald's  Lament,"  and  the  four  dancers  wound  xip  with  a 
Scotch  Reel. 

This  carried  us  to  a  very  late  hour,  and  although  the  enjoyment 
of  the  pi-oceedings  seemed  to  be  unabated,  it  was  deemed  ad^■isable 
to  conclude.  Yotes  of  thanks  were  passed,  first  to  the  singers, 
players,  and  dancers,  on  the  motion  of  Mr  Dallas.  Dr  Carruthers 
proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  strangers,  and  especially  Professor 
Blackie  and  Mr  Stewart,  who  had  come  so  far  to  assist  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Society ;  and  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chairman  was 
proposed  by  Professor  Blackie.  As  the  Assembly  rose  to  disperse, 
the  note  was  struck  of  the  National  Anthem,  rendei-ed  into 
Gaelic  for  the  occasion  by  our  Bard,  Mr  Angus  Macdonald. 
The  surprise  was  pleasing  and  the  efiect  grand,  as  the  choir  jira- 
ceeded  with — • 

Dhia  gleirlh  ar  Banrigh  mlior, 
Beatha  bhuan  da'r  Banrigh  choir, 

Dhia  gleidh  'Bhanrigh. 
Thoir  buaidh  dhi,  'us  solas, 
.Son'  agus  ro  ghlormhor, 
Fad'  chum  riaghladh  oirnn'  ; 

Dhia  gleidh  'Bhanrigh. 

A  Thighearn  ar  Dia  eirich, 
Sgap  a  naimhdean  eitich, 

'Us  leig  iad  sios. 
C'uir  cli  an  di-och  riaghladh  ; 
Tilg  sios  an  luib  dhiabhlaidh 
Ar  dochas  oirre  leag  : — 

Dhia  gleidh  'Bhanrigh. 


THANSACTIONS.  "Ill 

Do  thiodhlaig  inhaith  tlioir  dhi, 
Doirt  oirre  pailt  gun  ditli, 

Fad'  riaghladh  i  ; 
Ar  reachdan  dioiuidli  i, 
Toirt  dhuiiiu  aobhar,  gun  sgios, 
Bhi  seinn  le'r  guth  "s  ar  cridh', 

Dhia  gleidh  'Bhaiirigli. 

"With  these  strains  still  in-  their  ears  the  vast  assembly  dis- 
persed, not  only  greatly  gratified  with  the  entertainment,  but  with 
theii'  desii'e  whetted  for  another  of  the  same.  Altogether,  we  need 
not  hesitate  to  place  upon  record,  that  this,  our  first  Assembly, 
has  been  a  marked  success,  whether  we  have  regard  to  the  nature 
and  character  of  the  entertainment  to  the  manner  in  which  it  was 
conducted,  to  the  reception  which  it  met  with  from  those  who 
joined  in  it,  or  to  that  which  makes  its  appearance  in  the  financial 
statement  of  the  Treasurer. 

One  of  the  immediate  results  of  the  first  Assembly,  is  a  large 
accession  of  members.  What  the  ultimate  effect  of  this  exhibition 
of  long  pent-up  feeling  will  be,  it  should  not  be  difficult  to  say. 
That  it  will  have  a  salutary  effect  moi-ally,  socially,  and  commer- 
cially on  the  whole  community,  we  have  no  manner  of  doubt. 
But  in  oi'der  to  this  being  realised  to  the  utmost,  the  Society  must 
keep  firm  possession  of  the  vantage  ground  gained  on  the  1 1  th 
July  1872  ;  and  must  use  that  ground  for  further  achievements. 
That  members  will  be  added  is  what  may  be  expected  from  its 
getting  abroad  that  the  Society  is  a  power  in  the  land ;  but  the 
realisation  of  its  highest  objects  will  depend  not  so  much  upon 
numbers  as  upon  the  cherishing  of  true  and  noble  Celtic  feeling, 
and  upon  the  manifestation  of  more  or  less  of  the  ancient  pride  of 
race  and  ancestry  which  characterised  oiii-  foi'efathei's  in  their  best 
days. 

It  has  long  been  a  low  kind  of  foshion  to  contemn  the  Gael  and 
his  idiosyncrasies.  It  is  evident  already  that  we  have  done  some- 
thing to  revive  an  opposite  fashion.  Since  that  Assembly  numbers 
who  had  lost  their  Gaelic,  whether  they  had  mastered  the  English 
language  or  not,  have  been  airing  scraps  of  Gaelic,  and  ere  long 
kilts  and  plaids,  which  have  hardly  seen  the  light  since  the  '45, 
will  be  brought  forth  to  show  on  what  side  the  owners  stand.  So 
much  for  the  sentiment. 

Then,  there  is  the  asserting  of  Gaelic  rights  ;  there  is  the  re- 
sisting of  Highland  wrongs ;  there  is  the  duty  of  taking  up  the 
subject  of  the  occupation  and  cultivation  of  our  Highland  glens  and 
straths  by  Highland  people  ;  there  is  the  setting  up  of  such  other 


112  TRANSACTIONS. 

industries  as  are  adapted  to  our  capabilities.  These  things  must 
be  kept  in  view  as  claiming  our  sympathetic  exertions  ere  long. 

But  there  are  objects  to  which  we  would  recommend  an  imme- 
diate application  of  the  social  force  generated  by  the  first  As- 
sembly. 

First,  the  formation  of  a  class  for  the  grammatical  study  of  the 
Gaelic  language. 

Second,  the  obtaining  of  books  and  manusciipts  (which  are 
su^ch  pi-eservatives  of  our  ancient  spirit),  by  gift  if  possible,  by 
purchase  if  necessary.  Ajid  towards  this  there  should  be  a 
Library  Committee  appointed.     ' 

Thii-d,  the  collecting  of  the  unwritten  lore  of  our  race.  For 
this  also  a  Committee  is  wanted. 

Fourth,  we  requii-e  to  open  amicable  relations  with  kindred 
societies  in  other  parts  of  Scotland,  in  Ireland,  in  England,  in 
Wales,  and  on  the  Continent. 

Fifth,  the  consideration  of  a  Gaelic  Bursary  in  one  of  our 
Universities. 

Sixth  and  finally,  we  would  urge  the  immediate  pxiblication  of 
what  we  would  call  our  first  volume  of  transactions,  embracing 
the  Rev.  Mr  Mackenzie's  inaugural  lecture  ;  Mr  Ross's  lecture  ; 
Professor  Blackie's  lecture ;  a  full  report  of  the  Assembly  proceed- 
ings, and  such  other  materials  of  permanent  value  as  may  be 
necessary  and  available  to  the  completion  of  the  work. 


TKAXSACTION.S.  113 


LECTURE    BY    PROFESSOR    BLACKIE 
ON   NATIONALITY. 


At  an  early  }ieriod  iii  the  session,  tlie  learned  Pi-ofessor  en- 
gaged to  deliver  a  lectiu-e  for  the  Society.  This  he  did  in  the 
Music  Hall  on  Saturday,  the  13th  July,  on  occasion  of  his  visit 
to  attend  the  first  Assembly,  Eneas  W.  Mackintosh,  Esq.  of  Raig- 
more,  M.P.,  in  the  chair.  The  lecturer  was  also  accompanied  on 
the  platform  by  Provost  Mackenzie;  Mr  Waterston,  banker;  Dr 
Garruthers;  Bailie  Mackintosh;  Mr  Imies,  solicitor;  Mr  Davidson, 
solicitor ;  Mr  Rose,  solicitor ;  and  Mr  Mackenzie,  Broadstone. 

Professor  Blackie  divided  his  lecture  into  several  "  heads"  or 
parts — first,  he  would  show  what  is  a  nation,  and  the  difliculty  of 
creating  nationality ;  second,  he  would  define  wherein  national 
gi-eatness  consists  ;  and  thii-d,  refer  to  our  own  position,  inquiring 
how  far  Great  Britain  has  realised  the  idea  of  nationality,  and 
pointing  out  our  peculiarities,  oiu*  dangers,  and  our  duties.  That 
a  nation  should  exist  at  all  seemed  at  first  sight  miraculous.  The 
tendency  of  the  individual  was  to  self-assertion  ;  and  when  there 
was  an  infinite  number  of  individuals,  it  created  all  sorts  of  anta- 
gonisms, which  came  into  collision  and  sometimes  ended,  as  among 
savages,  in  utter  extermination.  But  how  they  should  come  to- 
gether and  act  as  a  whole  organic  mass,  just  as  one's  eyes  and  arms 
act  in  connection  with  the  brain,  was  one  of  the  most  wonderfid 
things  in  this  wonderful  world.  As  illustrating  the  difficulty  of 
creating  nations  and  keeping  them  together,  he  quoted  the  history 
of  the  Hebrews,  who  were  united  only  during  the  two  reigns  of 
Da^'id  and  Solomon  ;  of  the  Greeks,  who,  in  consequence  of  their 
divisions,  fell  first  before  the  iron  tramp  of  the  Macedonians,  and 
then  of  the  Romans ;  of  our  own  country,  so  long  a  prey  to  strife 
and  faction  ;  of  France,  built  up  out  of  several  dukedoms,  and  at- 
taining unity  by  despotism  and  corruption— a  unity  that  for  two 
hundred  years  presented  a  brilliant  exterior,  but  without  real  con- 
cord ;  and  now  the  result  was  obvious  to  the  world.  True,  France 
had  a  unity  of  one  kind,  but  not  internal  harmony ;  on  the  con- 
trary, internal  ferment,  discontent,  and  uncertainty.  With  many 
elements  of  hostility  existuig,  what  were  the  foi'ces  that  tended  to 

o 


Hi  TRANSACTIONS. 

unify  those  diverse  tendencies,  and  to  produce  nations  1  First,  the 
unity  of  place,  a  territory  well-defined  and  marked  off,  as  Italy 
by  the  Aljis,  America  and  Britain  by  the  sea.  And  here  he  re- 
marked that  the  natural  boundaries  of  kingdoms  were  not  rivers 
but  mountains;  the  natui-al  boundaries  of  France  was  not  the 
Rhine,  but  the  Ardennes  and  the  Alsatian  mountains.  Another 
unifying  influence  was  facility  of  communication.  Greece  was  cut 
up  into  separate  geogi'ajihical  pieces  with  natural  bridges  between; 
Scotland  was  divided  by  the  bulwark  of  the  Grampians  ;  America 
would  fall  to  pieces  to-morrow  were  it  not  for  railway  communi- 
cation, which  enabled  one  thought,  one  feeling,  to  pulse  through 
the  whole  country.  Next  was  a  common  language.  That  was 
not  essential  to  make  a  nation,  but  it  was  a  great  security  ;  or  if 
not  a  common  language,  then  some  one  dominant  tongue.  The 
ready  intercourse  of  soul  with  soul  would  facilitate  the  influence 
of  master  minds,  and  tend  to  mould  the  mass  to  one  type.  Next 
was  a  common  inheritance  of  great  intellectvial  and  moral  tradition ; 
and  then  what  is  called  race.  That  was  a  most  diflicult  thing  to 
define.  He  would  not  now  enter  into  the  pi-oblem  how  race  was 
produced.  He  did  not  pretend  to  know  why  a  Skye  terrier  was 
one  thing,  and  a  greyhound  another — why  a  Frenchman  was  one 
thing  and  a  Scotchman  another  and  a  very  different  thing  ;  why 
a  Celt  in  Scotland  and  a  Celt  in  Ireland  were  different.  Language, 
education,  religion,  habit,  had  much  to  do  with  race  :  a  few  gener- 
ations, he  believed,  would  change  a  German  into  an  Englishman, 
or  an  Englishman  into  a  Frenchman.  A  common  religion  was 
one  of  the  strongest  bonds  of  nationality.  That  made  the  Greeks 
act  together  when  nothing  else  could.  As  the  conception  of  God 
was  the  only  idea  that  gave  a  central  unity  to  any  system  of 
thoTight  called  a  philosophy ;  so  religion,  or  the  system  of  social  be- 
liefs and  practices  that  attached  itself  to  the  name  of  the  Supreme 
Being  in  any  society  of  human  beings,  was  the  firmest  bond  of 
that  unity  by  virtue  of  which  society  existed.  A  strong  central 
force  was  also  necessary  to  prevent  the  natural  tendencies  of  a 
multiplied  individualism.  The  natural  tendency  of  democracy 
was  indi\'idualism — every  man  as  good  as  his  neighbour,  and  per- 
haps better.  Monarchy  was  most  favourable  to  unity;  democracy 
always  tended  more  to  resolve  society  into  its  original  elements. 
The  mere  idea  of  individual  freedom,  good  in  its  place,  never  could 
do  anything  either  to  create  or  to  consei've  society.  It  was  the 
idea  of  the  subjection  of  a  part  to  the  whole — an  essentially  unsel- 
fish idea — that  made  society  possible.  They  kneAv  as  a  fact  that 
great  nations  were  always  monai'chical  to  begin  with.  Nations 
were  made  by  monarchy  and  aristocracy.  War  was  another 
unifying  influence.      What  made  the  Scottish  nationality  1     Bruce 


TJRAXSACTIONS.  115 

and  Bannockburn,  Knox  and  the  Covenanters.  War  was  not 
mere  savagery  :  war  was  heroism,  war  was  manhood,  war  was 
independence.  It  united  men  in  common  struggles,  common 
hardships,  and  common  triumphs;  and  the  brotherhood  of  struggle 
was  always  stronger  than  the  brotherhood  of  luxury.  If  the  blood 
of  the  mai-tyrs  was  the  seed  of  the  Church,  the  blood  of  soldiers 
and  patriots  had  not  less  certainly  acted  as  the  cement  of  society. 
Though  he  lamented  as  much  as  any  one  the  late  calamitous  and 
sanguinary  war,  he  was  convinced  that  it  woidd  make  the  German 
a  stronger  nation  than  it  could  have  been  otherwise.  Every  petty 
State  would  have  assei'ted  itself — the  Bavarian  would  have  been  a 
Bavarian,  and  the  Saxon  a  Saxon  ;  but  engaging  in  a  common 
struggle  against  the  Franks  mads  them  Germans.  Next,  as  a 
unifying  force,  the  Professor  mentioned  public  spirit,  patriotism 
— acting  for  the  good  of  the  -w  hole,  not  for  the  seltlsh  aggxandise- 
ment  of  the  individual.  Not  every  man  for  himself,  and  for  his 
own  shop,  or  his  o^vn  trade ;  but  every  man  acting  as  part  of  a 
great  social  organisation.  Next  the  lecturer  proceeded  to  show 
that  to  produce  a  great  nation  there  must  not  only  be  central 
power,  but  variety.  Society  was  one  ;  but  it  was  composed  of  a 
vast  number  of  individuals,  and  the  individualism  of  these  units 
must  not  be  sacrificed.  Society  consisted  in  a  free  subjection  of 
living  individuals,  not  in  the  forced  common  action  of  the  difierent 
parts  of  a  vast  living  machine.  Diversity  was  wealth  and  beauty, 
monotony  mere  meagi'eness.  Strong  central  power  on  the  one 
hand ;  on  the  other  strong  local  centres  of  activity  and  local  go- 
vernment. Excessive  centralisation  was  the  bane  of  France. 
And  there  should  be  room  not  only  for  variety,  but  for  contrast 
and  contrariness,  and  apparent  incompatibility — a  union  arising 
out  of  the  combination  of  things  that  tend  to  disunion.  The 
balance  of  two  opposites  was  peifectlon — therefore,  marriage  was 
the  perfection  of  human  nature.  The  mind  of  the  poet  was  greater 
than  the  mind  of  another  man,  because  he  unites  the  masculine 
intellect  with  the  emotion  and  tenderness  of  woman.  He  proposed 
for  acceptance  the  following  proposition — ■"  When  all  the  elements 
of  which  society  is  composed,  that  is  site,  popidation,  physical 
strength,  intellectual  force,,  moral  nobility,  act  together  under  the 
strong  and  steady  control  of  all  the  imifying  forces,  in  such  a 
manner  as  not  to  prejudice  energetic  individualism,  and  local 
variety,  in  this  case  we  have  as  a  product  national  greatness  ;  and 
that  will  be  the  greatest  nation  in  which  these  elements  are  com- 
bined to  the  greatest  extent,  and  in  the  greatest  intensity."  Now, 
how  far  had  Great  Britaiir  realised  the  idea  of  nationality  1  He 
thought  we  ought  to  be  thankful  to  Providence  that  we  had  to  a 
greater  degree  than  any  nation  in  history  a  combination  of  unify- 


116  TRANSACTIONS. 

ing  forces  with  intense  and  energetic  individualism.  Summing  up 
our  advantages,  he  spoke  of  our  favourable  situation  with  the  sea 
around  us — that  silver  streak  of  which  Mr  Gladstone  was  some- 
times too  fond  of  speaking — our  great  physical  resources — ii-on, 
coal,  &c.  ;  our  climate,  favourable  for  the  growth  of  a  good  human 
animal,  with  vigour,  pluck,  coolness,  pertinacity — the  benefit  of  a 
hereditary  monai'chy  and  a  manly  aristocracy.  If  we  could  throw 
these  overboard  and  make  a  better  business  of  it  he  should  be  sui-- 
prised  ;  but  he  would  be  in  Tomnahurich  long  before  that  occurred. 
Then  we  had  the  benefit  of  a  common  faith  (no  doubt  with  a  diffi- 
culty in  Ireland).  And  along  with  all  this,  look  at  the  variety  in 
unity — three  peoples  in  one  nation,  Scotch,  Celtic,  English,  with 
their  separate  tyj^es,  language,  traditions,  and  character.  What  was 
more  diiferent  than  Dr  Guthrie,  with  his  strong  Scotch  character, 
and  the  gentleman  with  cope,  cassock,  and  bells,  in  an  English 
ritualistic  church  !  He  rejoiced  in  the  difference.  He  did  not 
believe  in  copes  and  cassocks,  but  he  believed  in  variety  of  type 
and  form  in  the  Church  of  God;  and  if  certain  ladies  could  not  feel 
pious  except  wlien  they  knelt  on  silk  cushions  and  the  priest  was 
decked  up  in  a  certain  way,  by  all  means  let  them  be  indulged. 
Then  we  had  an  intellectual  character  full  of  practical  vigour  and 
sagacity,  though,  no  doubt,  in  the  southern  part  of  the  island  defi- 
cient in  subtlety,  philosophy,  and  the  power  of  speculation.  We 
had  also  a  character  for  honour,  and  truth,  and  manliness,  equalled 
by  few  nations,  and  assuredly  not  surpassed  by  any  ;  and  if  in 
diplomacy  we  sometimes  came  short,  it  was  not  always  through 
ignorance  and  indiflerence  to  matters  of  foreign  policy,  but  because 
we  were  too  honest  and  two  honourable  to  suspect  that  we  had  to 
deal  with  knaves  and  bullies.  But  now  to  look  at  our  Dangers 
and  Duties.  In  reference  to  nations  as  to  individuals,  nothing 
was  more  dangerous  than  self-laudation.  If  a  young  lady  stood 
long  at  the  looking-glass,  instead  of  reading  her  Bible  in  the 
morning,  depend  upon  it  she  was  a  fool — or  at  any  i-ate  she  would 
not  be  an  honour  to  herself,  and  she  woidd  not  be  a  beauty  long, 
because  she  would  not  possess  a  beautiful  character.  Well,  a  great 
nation  mu.st  have  a  mass  of  popidation.  A  small  State  might  fiame 
out  for  a  time,  but  it  could  not  continue  to  be  a  great  nation. 
Now,  our  population  was  not  so  great  in  proportion  to  other  Euro- 
pean nations  as  it  once  was.  Secondly,  coal  and  iron  were  not 
iuoxliaustible,  and  besides,  they  were  found  elsewhere.  We  could 
not  contiiuie  to  manufacture  for  the  world,  for  we  were  teaching 
othei-  nations.  Next,  our  cohesive  forces  were  being  weakened  in 
several  ways,  and  our  harmonies  were  becoming  discords.  The 
nioiiarcliical  idea  and  principle  was  being  weakened  by  theoretical 
young  i)oliticians  like  Charles  Dilke  and  others  of  that  class.      He 


TRAXSAf'TTOXS.  117 

repeated  that  he  did  not  believe  in  Democracy.  The  United 
States  were  an  experiment,  and  one  made  under  peculiar  circum- 
stances ;  but  at  any  i-ate,  it  was  one  thing  to  build  a  new  house 
and  anothei-  thing  to  pull  down  an  old  one.  Then  we  had  a  kind 
of  social  war  between  diiiei-ent  ranks — ^very  strong  antagonisms, 
which,  if  carried  on,  might  result  in  disaster.  There  were  ele- 
ments of  revohition  in  this  country  at  the  present  moment.  Our 
moral  foi'ce — and  that  was  the  main  thing — was  being  weakened; 
and  when  a  nation  had  lost  its  character  what  remained '?  The 
Romans  became  a  jjrey  to  despotism  because  they  lost  their 
chai'acter.  He  asked  them  seriously  to  think  whether,  at  the 
pi-esent  moment,  we  were  not  vmdergoing  some  changes  in  oui-  old 
steady,  loyal,  British  character  which  were  not  favourable  to  a 
healthy  moral  tone.  The  love  of  money,  the  increase  of  luxury, 
the  placing  of  our  glory  in  outward  magnificence  and  splendoui- — 
in  gas,  or  steam,  or  telegiuphs — these  things  had  a  tendency  to  put 
into  the  back  ground,  the  grand  element  of  moral  force.  The  wealth 
of  a  nation  consists  nut  in  what  it  has,  but  in  what  it  is — not  in 
possessions  or  wealth,  Ijut  in  character  and  nobility  of  sentiment. 
Individualism  too  strong ;  too  much  eagerness  to  get  on  in  the 
world,  but  ]aot  sufficient  eagerness  for  the  honour  of  the  nation ; 
rather  peace  for  our  shops  than  war  for  our  honour— these  traits 
were  becoming  obvious.  He  thought  we  were  too  much  Cartha- 
ginians and  too  little  Eomans.  He  wanted  to  see  a  noble  people, 
living  not  for  themselves  and  their  families  alone,  not  for  mere 
buying  and  .selling,  but  for  the  State  to  which  they  belonged.  The 
religious  foi-ce  in  the  country  was  being  weakened  by  woi-ldly- 
mindedness  and  externalism  ;  by  science  without  j^hilosophy  and 
di^•orced  from  piety.  He  honoured  physical  science,  but  it  was 
a.  danger  when  without  philosophy,  and  yet  pi-etending  to  be 
philosophical — as  if  there  should  be  any  philosophy  in  mere 
mici'oscopes  and  telescojies!  Another  danger  arose  from  the  in- 
creasing gulf  between  theological  orthodoxy  leagued  with  religious 
bigotry,  and  the  general  spirit  of  modern  literature.  Our  local 
varieties,  our  municipal  and  provincial  freedoms,  were  also  in  peril 
of  being  destroyed  by  centralisation  and  London  red-tape,  so  that 
we  who  were  men  here  before,  with  individual  lives  and  hearts, 
were  to  be  moved  like  so  many  chessmen  by  the  authorities  up 
yonder.  Look  at  the  Scotch  Education  Bill ;  he  did  not  think  we 
had  acted  nobly  regarding  it.  He  considered  it  a  base,  shabby, 
and  low  Education  Bill,  utterly  unworthy  of  the  ideas  we  inherited 
from  John  Knox  and  the  Confession  of  Faith — a  bill  merely  to 
put  a  smoothing  iron  on  [tetty  I'eligious  and  church  jealousies,  but 
not  a  bill  to  elevate  the  schoolmastei-s  or  to  elevate  education. 
And  now  there  was  another  project — to  take  away  the  Post-ofiice 


118  TRAlSrSACTIONS. 

from  EdiiiLurgh.  Tlieu  they  would  take  away  the  la^v3^ers  ^^erhaps 
— then  perhaps  the  Universities,  and  send  all  our  young  men  to 
be  drilled  into  Episcopacy  at  Oxford.  He  said  these  things  were 
being  done,  and  we  had  only  to  blame  om-selves.  He  once  had 
the  honour  of  being  laughed  at  by  Pundi — as  wise  men  were  always 
laughed  at  by  fools — because  he  said  in  Glasgow  that  the  Scotch 
wanted  self-esteem.  Now,  he  repeated,  the  Scotch  did  wiuit  self- 
esteem,  otherwise  they  would  never  allow  such  things  to  be  done. 
Take  our  national  Music  as  an  example.  He  regarded  national 
music  and  ^Doetry  as  an  noble  inheiitance  of  which  people  ought  to 
be  proud.  Did  they  devote  themselves  to  the  study  of  E/obert 
Burns  as  they  ought  to  do  ?  No — they  preferred  the  Italian  opera. 
What  was  the_^  opera  1  A  mere  magniticent  luxury  for  the  ear, 
but  nothing  for  the  understanding  and  nothing  foi'  the  heart.  He 
ridiculed  false  gentility,  with  its  worship  of  what  was  foreign  and 
metropolitan.  Next  to  John  Knox  and  the  Covenanters,  the  songs 
of  Robert  Burns  and  a  thousand  minor  singers  were  the  thing  we 
most  required.  And  speaking  of  the  Highlands,  he  resumed  the 
strain  of  his  address  of  Thursday  evening,  and  denounced  the  ex- 
tirpation of  peasantry  from  the  glens.  They  would  drive  away  the 
people  and  call  it  improvement.  He  had  known  those  in  the  south 
who  would  wish  to  see  the  whole  Highlands  turned  into  one  im- 
mense Tomnahurich,  the  Celts  buried  beneath  it,  and  Saxon  palaces 
piled  on  the  top.  This  would  be  a  very  magnificent,  a  veiy  selfish, 
a  very  despotic,  and  a  very  Russian  way  of  governing  free  men 
and  improving  a  countiy.  There  was  a  danger  of  losing  that  mag- 
nificent fellow  the  Highlander.  Could  any  of  the  clubs  of  London 
turn  out  such  a  splendid  animal  I  He  wanted  as  many  High- 
landers in  the  Highlands  as  could  be  comfortably  maintained  there. 
He  said  there  should  be  no  extirpation — except  in  the  way  of  weed- 
ing the  turnips  ;  weed  but  don't  extez-minate.  In  this  matter  pro- 
prietors and  people  had  both  duties  to  perform.  The  duties  of  a 
proprietor  in  the  Highlands  were  quite  plain.  The  wealth  of  a 
country  does  not  consist  in  the  number  of  guineas  which  found 
their  way  with  the  least  amount  of  trouble  into  the  landlord's 
pocket,  but  in  the  number  of  well-conditioned  people  whom,  by  his 
superior  position  in  society,  he  was  enabled  to  cherish,  to  protect, 
and  to  elevate.  The  landed  px'oprietor  was  the  Bisho]!  of  the  dis- 
trict in  secular  matters  ;  and  if  he  thought  his  only  business  was 
to  get  his  rents  paid,  to  spend  them  where  he  would,  do  what 
he  would  with  his  own,  then  he  did  not  know  his  duties,  and  he 
was  a  selfish  fellow.  Observe,  he  was  not  speaking  against  pro- 
prietors generally,  but  sujjposing  there  was  such  a  one  in  the  lot, 
then  these  terms  a]>plied  to  him.  A  landlord,  he  would  suppose, 
got  £1000  from  one  big  farmer,  and  there  were  no  poor-rates  and. 


TUANSACTIONS.  119 

no  trouble  about  it,  and  lie  went  and  spent  that  in  London  at  tlie 
opera,  or  at  worse  places ;  or  spent  it  in  Paris,  where  it  was  a  gain 
to  France  ;  or  in  Rome,  where  it  was  a  gain  to  the  Pope  and  a 
loss  to  us.  Would  it  not  be  better  if  the  same  landlord  got  £800 
or  £900  from  a  number  of  tenants  and  spent  it  among  them,  than 
going  away  with  his  c£lO00  and  doing  with  it  w^hat  he  liked  1  Yes, 
he  might  do  what  he  liked  according  to  the  letter  of  the  law.  The 
law  could  not  always  keep  hold  of  him  ;  but  the  very  constitution 
of  society,  and  the  eternal  laws  of  society,  commanded  that  he 
should  attend  to  the  place  where  God  had  placed  him,  and  do  his 
duty  there.  He  (Professor  Blackie)  hoped  they  did  not  suspect  he 
was  a  democrat  ;  indeed,  ever  since  his  famous  pugilistic  encounter 
with  Ernest  Jones  he  was  supposed  to  be  a  Tory.  But  that  was 
not  the  case  ;  he  was  not  a  member  of  the  jiarty  who  sup})oi-ted 
Mr  Disraeli  and  passed  the  late  Reform  Bill.  A  Tory  he  defined 
as  a  man  who  never  moves  unless  he  is  forced,  and  then  moves  too 
fast.  He  was  neither  a  Toiy  nor  a  democrat,  only  a  thinker,  a 
student,  and,  in  a  small  way  if  they  pleased,  a  philosopher.  That 
gave  him  a  certain  advantage.  His  business  was  to  find  out  ti'uth, 
to  speak  truth  and  justice  ;  and  except  to  do  that  he  would  not  Ije 
there  that  night.  But  while  he  was  not  a  democrat,  he  would 
bring  in  a  very  democratic  kind  of  measure  ;  he  would  impose  an 
absentee  tax,  rewarding  those  proprietors  who  stayed  at  home,  and 
making  the  fellows  who  go  abroad  pay  all  the  poor-rates.  Of 
course  he  did  not  object  to  young  ladies  going  up  to  London  to  get 
husbands — or  to  the  Duke  of  Ai-gyll  and  others  going,  who  had  busi- 
ness to  discharge  ;  what  he  did  object  to  was  the  practice  of  going 
and  squandering  money  in  the  dissipation  of  London  and  Paris, 
For  himself  he  was  not  a  proprietor.  No  doubt  he  was  a  feuar, 
but  it  was  only  an  acre  and  three-quarters.  He  was  one  of  the 
piiblic  ;  and  he  considered  the  public  had  a  duty — not  to  run  after 
what  was  foreign,  biit  to  cherish  self-esteem,  to  cultivate  local  in- 
dependence, to  make  the  most  of  what  we  have  here.  Far  fowls 
had  fair  feathers — to  fools.  Let  them  preserve  and  maintain  their 
right  to  be  themselves.  When  an  Englishman  came  to  Scotland 
he  expected  to  find  a  Scotchman — not  a  second  edition  of  himself, 
an  edition  not  enlarged  and  improved,  but  diminished,  dwarfed, 
and  degraded.  When  he  came  to  Inverness  he  expected  to  find  a 
Highlander,  and  he  found  him  there — (shakiiig  hands  with  the 
Provost,  amidst  loud  laughter  and  cheei-s).  Let  them  learn  a 
lesson  from  the  wisdom  of  the  unreasoning  animals,  which  were 
always  right  because  they  were  always  in  the  hands  of  God. 
What  animals  did  unconsciously,  let  intelligent  beings  do  con- 
sciously. Therefore,  let  the  eagle  glory  in  his  wings,  let  the  fish 
glory  in  his  fins,  let  the  hoimd  glory  in  his  swiftness,  let  the  young 


120  TRANSACTIONS. 

man  glory  in  his  strength,  let  the  Celt  glory  in  being  a  Celt,  and 
the  Scotchman  in  being  a  Scot.  Otherwise,  with  all  their  civilisa- 
tion, with  all  their  newspapers,  their  leading  and  misleading 
articles,  with  all  their  boasted  advance  in  science,  they  would  be 
as  flat  and  as  dry  as  the  sands  of  Brandenbni'g,  as  monotonous  and 
as  unsightly  as  the  inter  luinable  mooi's  and  morasses  of  Russia, 
and  as  destitute  of  all  vigorous  forms  of  individual  vitality  as  the 
Dead  Sea. 

During  the  delivery,  it  is  almost  needless  to  say  that  the  learned 
lecturer  was  frequently  interrupted  by  hearty  expressions  of  ap- 
plause. 

The  Chairman  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Professor  Blackie, 
and  took  occasion  to  express  his  sense  of  the  value  of  philological 
studies,  and  the  importance  of  Gaelic.  He  thought  that  Gaelic 
should  be  made  a  matter  of  study,  and  that  a  Professorship  should 
be  established ;  but  at  the  same  time  that  it  should  be  allowed  to 
die  out  as  a  spoken  language,  and  give  place  to  the  English  tongue. 

Professor  Blackie  wished  them  distinctly  to  understand  that 
he  had  no  desire  whatever  to  foster  artificially  the  Gaelic  tongue. 
Its  natural  destiny,  like  the  Cornish,  was  to  die;  but  while  it 
existed,  he  wished  it  to  get  fair-play,  by  being  taught  in  the 
schools,  and  he  maintained  that  English  was  best  taught  when 
taught  in  connection  with  the  mother  tongue.  He  proposed  a 
vote  of  thanks  to  Raigmore  for  presiding,  which  was  awarded, 
and  the  meeting  separated. 


MEMBEKS     OF     SOCIETY. 


I.  LIFE  MEMBERS. 

Cluny  Macpherson  of  Cluny  AEacjihersoii. 
Charles  Fraser-Mackintosh  of  Drummond. 

II.  HONORARY  MEMBERS. 

Anderson,  James,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Blackie,  Professor,  Edinburgh  University. 

Bourke,  Professor,  President  St  Jarlath's  College,  Tuam,  Ireland. 

Cameron,  Captain  D.  C,  Talisker. 

Carruthers,  liobert,  jun.,  of  the  "  Inverness  Courier." 

Colvin,  John,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Davidson,  Duncan,  of  Tulloch. 

Davidson,  Donald,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Ferguson,  jNIi's,  Earnhank,  Bridge  of  Earn. 

Farquharson,  Kev.  Archibald,  Tii-ee. 

Eraser,  Andrew,  builder,  Inverness. 

Grant,  General  Sir  Patrick,  G.C.B.,  Muirtown  House,  Inverness. 

Grant,  John,  timber-merchant,  Cardiff,  Wales. 

Grant,  William,  Bellevue,  Shrewsbury. 

Grant,  Robert,  of  Messrs  Macdougall  &  Co.,  Inverness. 

Innes,  Charles,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Macandrew,  H.  C,  Sherilf-Clerk  of  Inverness-shire. 

Macbride.  James,  Cartbank  House,  near  Glasgow. 

Macdonald,  Allan,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Macdouald,  F.,  Druidaig,  Lochalsh. 

JMacdonald,  Alexander,  Balranald,  Uist. 

Macdonald,  Captain  D.  P.,  Pen-Xevis  Distillery. 

Macdonell,  Patiick,  Kinchyle,  Dores. 

Macdougall,  Donald,  Dunoily  Cottage,  Inverness. 

Mackay,  D.,  Holm  Mills,  Inverness. 

Mackay,  Charles,  LL.D.,  Fern  Dell  Cottage,  Boxhill,  Surrey. 

Mackay,  John,  ]\Iountfields,  Shrewsbury. 

Mackay,  Neil,  Dowlais,  Merthyr-Tydtil,  Wales. 

Mackay,  James,  Roxburgh,  Otago,  New  Zealand. 

Mackay,  Geoi'ge  F.,  Roxburgh,  Otago,  New  Zealand. 


122  MEMBERS. 

Mackay,  Donald,  Gampola,  Kandy,  Ceylon. 

Mackenzie,  Sir  Kenneth  S.,  of  Gairloch,  Bart. 

Mackenzie,  Rev.  A.  O.,  Beanly. 

Mackenzie,  Colonel  Hugh,  Poyntzfield  House,  Invergordon. 

Mackenzie,  John,  M.D.,  Provost  of  Inverness. 

Mackenzie,  Major  Lyon,  of  St  Martins. 

Mackintosh,  Eneas  W.,  of  Raigniore,  M.P. 

Mackintosh,  ^neas,  of  Daviot. 

Mackintosh,  Angus,  of  Holme. 

Mackintosh,  Arthus  P.,  Dowlais,  Merthyr-Tydfil. 

Macraenamin,  Daniel,  Warrenpoint,  Ireland. 

Maclennan,  Alexander,  of  Messrs  Macdougall  &  Co.,  Inverness. 

Macpherson,  Captain  G  ordon,  of  Cluny. 

Masson,  John,  Kindrummond,  Dores. 

Neaves,  The  Hon.  Lord,  LL.D.,  Edinburgh. 

Nicolson,  Angus,  LL.B.,  Editor  of  "The  Gael,"  Glasgow. 

Ross,  Angus,  11  Jane  Street,  Blythswood  Square,  Glasgow. 

Ross,  John  Macdonald,         do.  do.  do. 

Scott,  Roderick,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Shaw,  A.  Mackintosh,  General  Post-Office,  London. 

Stewart,  Charles,  of  Brin  and  Dalcrombie,  Inverness. 

Stoildart,  Evan,  Burundalla,  Sydney,  New  South  Wales. 

Sutherland,  Alexander,  C.E.,  Cefu,  Merthyr-Tydfil. 

III.  ORDINARY  MEMBERS. 

Baillie,  Bailie  Peter,  Inverness. 

Bannatyne,  W.  Mackinnon,  Royal  Academy,  Inverness. 

Barclay,  John,  accountant,  Inverness. 

Black,  George,  of  Thornhill,  Inverness. 

Blue,  William,  Stronvar  Lodge,  CamjDbeltown. 

Cameron,  Donald,  of  Lochiel,  M.P. 

Cameron,  Archibald,  Lintmill,  Campbeltown, 

Campbell,  Donald,  Bridge  Street,  Inverness. 

Campbell,  Alexander,  13  Grant  Street,  Inverness  (deceased). 

Campbell,  G.  J.,  writer  and  notary  public,  Inverness. 

Campl:)ell,  Angus,  Dalintobair,  Campbeltown. 

Campbell,  T.  D.,  Ness  Bank,  Inverness. 

Campbell,  William,  68  Castle  Street,  Inverness. 

Carmichael,  Alexander  A.,  Lochmaddy,  Uist. 

Cooper,  William,  Highland  Railway,  Inverness. 

Dallas,  Alexander,  Town-Clerk  of  Inverness. 

Darroch,  Rev.  John,  Portree. 

Davidson,  James,  solicitor. 

Davidson,  Lachlan,  banker,  Kingussie. 


123 


Falconer,  Peter,  Deinpater  Gardens,  Inverness. 

Forsyth,  W.  B.,  of  "  Advertiser,"  Inverness. 

Fraser,  Miss,  Farraline  Villa,  ^orth  Berwick. 

Fraser,  A.  E.,  acconntant,  British  Linen  Bank,  Kingussie. 

Fraser,  James,  C.E.,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  James,  Church  Street,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  Alexander,  16  Union  Street,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  Alexander,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  William,  jeweller,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  William,  founder,  Inverness. 

Frasei-,  Hugh,  Inspector  of  Poor,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  Huntly,  merchant,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  Andrew,  upholsterer,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  Alexander,  with  Messrs  Macdougall  &  Co.,  Inverness. 

Fraser,  Simon,  banker,  Lochcarron. 

Gollan,  John  Gilbert,  of  Gollanfield. 

Grant,  Alexander,  Church  Street,  Inverness. 

Hood,  Miss,  39  Union  Street,  Inverness. 

Hood,  Andrew^,  39  Union  Street,  Inverness. 

Kennedy,  Donald,  Drumashie,  Inverness. 

Macgregor,  Pev.  Alexander,  InverneoS. 

Macdonald,  John,  The  Exchange,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  Kobert,  teacher  of  Gaelic,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  Alexander,  Newmarket,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  John,  officer  of  Excise,  Lanark. 

Macdonald,  James,  li  Union  Street,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  Angus,  Queen  Street,  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  H.  J.  S.,  student  of  Divinitj-,  Grantown. 

Macdonald,  Andrew  L.,  (ex-Sherift"  of  the  Lews),  Inverness. 

Macdonald,  John  D.,  M.U.,  Lochcarron. 

Macdougall,  Donald,  Craggan,  Grantown. 

Macdougall,  Archibald,  Campbeltown. 

Macbean,  Bailie  Alexander,  Inverness. 

Macbean,  Lachlan,  Castle  Street,  Inverness. 

Macbean,  John,  land- steward,  Grantown. 

Macaskill,  John,  Scourie,  Lairg. 

Macaskill,  Donald,  Long  Row,  Campbeltown. 

Mackenzie,  Thomas,  Broadstone  Park,  Inverness. 

Mackenzie,  Alexander,  Clachnacudain  House,  Inver  ness 

Mackenzie,  William,  Bridge  Street,  Inverness. 

Mackenzie,  William,  Office  of  "  The  Gael,"  Glasgow. 

Mackenzie,  Alexander,  Church  Street,  Inverness. 

Mackenzie,  James  Hume,  bookseller,  Inverness. 

Mackenzie,  Eev.  Alexander,  Falkland,  Fifeshire. 

Mackenzie,  A.,  schoolmaster,  Maryburgh. 


124  MEMBERS. 

Mackenzie,  Donald,  31  High  Street,  Inverness. 

Mackenzie,  Alexander,  2  High  Street,  Inverness. 

Mackenzie,  Malcolm  J.,  schoolmaster,  Lochcarron. 

Mackay,  Charles,  Elmbank  Cottage,  Culduthel  Road,  Inverness. 

Mackaj,  Robert,  Hamilton  Place,  Inverness. 

Mackay,  Charles,  coal-merchant,  Inverness. 

Mackay,  StafF-Sergeant  George,  Royal  Ai'tillery,  Portsmouth. 

Mackay,  Alexander,  Rose  Street,  Inverness. 

Mackay,  David,  publisher,  Union  Street,  Inverness. 

Mackay,  William,  bookseller,  Inverness. 

Mackay,  William,  67  Church  Street,  Inverness. 

Mackintosh,  Charles,  commission-agent,  Inverness. 

Mackintosh,  John,  INI.A.,  Drummond,  Inverness. 

Mackintosh,  Duncan,  Bank  of  Scotland,  Inverness. 

Mackintosh,  Peter,  Hunt  Hall,  Inverness. 

Mackintosh,  Alexander,  Drumnadrochit,  Glen-Urquhart. 

Mackinnon,  Charles,  Reform  Square,  Campbeltown. 

Mackinlay,  Donald,  Long  Row,  Campbeltown. 

Macintyre,  John,  Limecraig,  Campbeltown. 

Maciver,  Duncan,  upholsterer,  Inverness. 

Maciver,  Finlay,  72  Church  Street,  Inverness. 

^Maciver,  Donald,  student,  Cliurch  Street,  Inverness. 

Maclennan,  Alexander,  merchant,  Bi'idge  Street,  Inverness. 

Maclennan,  Alex.,  Northern  Counties  Insurance  Office,  Inverne«s. 

Maclennan,  Ewen,  17  Holmehead  Street,  Glasgow. 

Maclean,  Alexander,  Lombard  Street,  Inverness. 

Maclean,  Archibald,  Ne^v  Quay  Head,  Campbeltown. 

IMacleod,  Donald,  Raining's  School,  Inverness. 

Macleod,  Peter,  Saddler  Street,  Campbeltown. 

Macleod,  Captain  Norman,  Orbost,  Skye. 

Macleod,  Alexander,  Huntly  Street,  Inverness. 

Macmillan,  John,  2  High  Street,  Inverness. 

Macneill,  Nigel,  84  Argyle  Street,  Glasgow. 

Macphail,  Alexander,  Drummond,  Inverness. 

Macphatter,  Angus,  Lintmill,  Campbeltown. 

Macpherson,  Mi^,  Alexandra  Villa,  Kingussie. 

Macpherson,  Captain  A.  F.,  of  Catlodge. 

Macraild,  A.  R.,  Inspector  of  Poor,  Lochalsh. 

Macrae,  Rev.  Alexander,  Bay  Head,  Stornoway. 

Macsporran,  Alexander,  Saddler  Street,  Campbeltown. 

Matheson,  John,  Reform  Square.  Campbeltown. 

Murdoch,  John,  13  High  Stieet,  Inverness. 

Munro,  James,  London  House,  Inverness. 

Munro,  John,  wine-merchant,  Inverness. 

Morrison,  William,  of  Birchtield,  Inverness. 


125 


Koble,  John,  bookseller,  Inverness. 

Noble,  Andrew,  8  Bridge  Street,  Inverness. 

Noble,  Andrew,  Academy  Street,  Inverness. 

Noble,  Donald,  Muirtown  Street,  Inverness. 

Rose,  Hugh,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Ross,  James,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Ross,  Donald,  Gas  Office,  Inverness. 

Ross,  Donald,  39  Union  Street,  Inverness. 

Robertson,  Donald,  chemist,  Fortrose. 

Rule,  W.  Taylor,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Shaw,  Donald,  solicitor,  Inverness. 

Simpson,  Bailie  Alexander,  Inverness. 

Smith,  Alexander,  8  Bridge  Street,  Inverness. 

Stewart,  Rev.  Alexander,  Nether-Lochaber. 

Stewart,  John  C.  G.,  Clunemore,  Glen-Urquhart. 

TuUoch,  John,  Academy  Street,  Inverness. 

Urquhart,  Murdo,  Inverness. 

Watson,  David,  Long  Row,  Campbeltown. 


DONATIONS  MADE  TOWARDS  THE  LIBRARY 
DURING  YEA.R  1871-72. 


The  Book  of  the  Dean  of  Lismore,  edited  by  the  Rev, 

Dr  Maclauchlan,  Edinburgh  .        .        ,        .        . 
The  Early  Scottish  Church,  by  the  Rev.  Dr  Maclauchlan 
Celtic  Gleanings,  by  the  Rev.  Dr  Maclauchlan    . 
The  Highland  Society's  Gaelic  Dictionary,  2  vols. 
Eitson's  Annals  of  the  Caledonians,  Picts,  &.  Scots,  2  vols. 

Stewart's  Sketches  of  the  Character,  Manners,  and  Pre- 
sent State  of  the  Highlander.s  of  Scotland,  2  vols. 

Skene's  Chronicles  of  the  Picts  and  Scots,  &c. 

Walker's  Economic  History  of  the  Hebrides  and  High 
lands  of  Scotland,  2  vols 

Macleod  and  Dewar's  Gaelic  Dictionary       .        , 

The  Poems  of  Ossian  in  the  Original  Gaelic,  with  a  literal 

translation  into  Latin,  by  Robert  Macfarlan,  M,A. 

3  vols 

Dr  Smith's  Gaelic  Antiquities 

Dr  Smith's  "  Sean  Dana" 

The  Highland  Society's  Report  on  the  Poems  of  Ossian 

Dana  Oisein  Mhic  Fhinn 

Grain  Nuadh  Ghaeleach,  &c.,  le  Domhnul  Macleoid  . 

The  Gaelic  Messenger— 1829,  1830         .... 

Fingal  '^Macpherson's  first  edition)        .... 

Mackenzie's  Beauties  of  Gaelic  Poetry 

Photographs  of  Gaelic  Charter  (date  UOS),  and  fac-simile 
of  Portion  of  Dean  of  Lismore's  MS. 

Macfarlan's  Choice  Collection  of  Gaelic  Poems    . 

Campbell's  Language,  Poetry,  and  Music  of  the  Highland 

Clans 

Macnicol's  Remarks  on  Johnson's  Tour  in  the  Hebrides 
Descriptive  and    Historical   Sketches  of   Islay,    by  Mr 

Murdoch 

How  best  to  Cultivate  a  Small  Farm  and  Garden 
Cameron's  History  and  Tradition  of  the  Isle  of  Skye 

Gaelic  Messenger 

Letters  from  the  Highlands,  or  the  Famine  of  1847 
Bardic  Stories  of  Ireland        ,        .        .        _        . 
Familiar  Illustrations  of  Scottish  Life 
Antiquity  of  the  Gaelic  Language 


The  Author. 

The  Author 

Sir  Kenneth  S.  Mackenjiie  of 
Gairloch. 


Colonel  H.  Mackenzie,  Poyntr- 
field  House. 


C.  F.  Mackintosh  of  Drummond 
The  Rev.  Wm.  Ross,  Rothesay. 


Miss  Hood,  Inverness. 
John  Murdoch,  Invernew. 


DONATIONS    TOWAKDS    THK    LIURART 


127 


DONATION. 

The  Wolf  of  Badeuocli 

Primitive  Christianity  in  Scotlaml        .... 

Livingston's  Gaelic  Poems,  <5tc 

Chemistry  of  Agriculture 

Review  of  "  Eight  D;iys  in  Islay" 

The  Kilchonian  People  Vindicated       .... 

The  Rev.  John  Darroch's  Caraid  a'  Ghaidheil 

Highland  Clearances  the  Real  Cause  of  Highland  Famines 

A  Review  of  the  Language  of  Ireland   .... 

Logim's  Concealment  of  the  Scottish  Regalia 

Lecture  on  the  Life  and  Times  of  Hugh  Roe  O'Donell 

Co-operative  Farming 

Sketches  of  Highland  Character 

Something  from  the  Gold  Diggings  of  Sutherland 

Campbell's  Popular  Tales  of  the  Highlands,  4  vols.     . 

Eachdraidh  a'  Phrionnsa,  no  Bliadhna  Thearlaich 

Large  Old  Irish  Bible  (partly  MS.)        .        .        .        .         i 

Archbishop  Machale's  Irish  Translation  of  the  Bible- 
Genesis  to  Deuteronomy 

Archbishop  Machale's   Bloore's   Melodies— Gaelic   and 
English 

The  Bull  "  Ineffabilis "  in  Latin,  Gaelic,  French,  and 
English 

Professor  Bourke's  Easy  Lessons  in  Irish 

Professor  Bourke's  College  Irish  Grammar  . 

The  Celtic  Language  and  Dialects         .... 

Lord  Neaves'  Helps  to  the  Study  of  Scoto-Celtic  Philology 

The  Apocrypha,  translated  into  Gaelic  by  the  Rev.  Alex. 
Macgregor,  Inverness 

Collection  of  Pipe  Tunes  as  verbally  taught  by  the  Mac- 
crimmens 

Dr  Stratton's  Celtic  Origin  of  Greek  and  Latin    . 

A  collection  of  Poems,  2  vols 

Dain  agus  Grain  le  Gilleasbuig  Grannda,  Bard  Ghlinne 
Morasdainn,  2  copies 

Connell's  Astronomy  (Gaelic) 

St.  James's  Magazine,  vol.  i. 

Buchanan's  History  of  Scotland  (Latin) 

The  Ecclesiastical   History   of   Ireland    to    the    com- 
mencement of  the  thirteenth  century    . 

The  Catholic  Epistles  and  Gospels,  in  Breton,  Welsh, 
Gaelic,  Manx,  &c  ,  liy  Christoll  Ferrier  and  Charles 
Waring  Saxton,  D.D.,  Ch.  Ch.,  Oxford. 

Caledonec  Anthology,  by  CliristoU  Ferrier,  translated 
into  English,  by  T.  Cadivor  Wood. 


DONOR. 
John  Murdoch. 


Alex.  Mackenzie,  Inverness. 


Provost  Mackenzie  of  Inverness. 
Prof.    Bourke,  Tuam,  Ireland. 


The  Author. 
The  Translator. 


V.  A.  Macgregor. 


Duncan  Mackintosh,  Inverness. 
Chas.  Mackay,  Druramond. 


W.  Mackay,  bookseller. 
William  Mackay,  G7  Church  St. 


John  Mackay,  Mountfield*, 
Shrewsbury. 


•KAV,    PKI.VTKR, 


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