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diff --git a/40267-8.txt b/40267-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 0a46046..0000000 --- a/40267-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2194 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Celtic Magazine, Vol I, No. IV, -February 1876, by Various - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Celtic Magazine, Vol I, No. IV, February 1876 - A Monthly Periodical Devoted to the Literature, History, - Antiquities, Folk Lore, Traditions, and the Social and - Material Interest of the Celt at Home and Abroad. - -Author: Various - -Editor: Alexander Mackenzie - Alexander Macgregor - Alexander Macbain - -Release Date: July 18, 2012 [EBook #40267] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CELTIC MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 1876 *** - - - - -Produced by Tamise Totterdell, Margo von Romberg and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - - - - - - - - - -THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. - -No. IV. FEBRUARY 1876. - - - - -THE STATE OF THE OSSIANIC CONTROVERSY. - -[CONCLUDED.] - - -IN prosecuting the geological and geographical confirmation of Ossian on -which we have lately been engaged, the most convincing proofs and the -greatest difficulties alike are to be found in the Frith of Clyde. The -levels of the water in that frith penetrating far inland, by Paisley, -Rutherglen, and Kilsyth, assumed unconsciously as matter of fact in the -text of Ossian, are in such obvious harmony with every word of the poems -which relate to that region, that the poems in question cannot otherwise -be understood; and we therefore cannot help believing not only that the -poems themselves are genuine, but that they represent a geological -phenomenon hitherto unsuspected in the world--are, in fact, a revelation -in science. On the other hand, the levels thus assumed are so very far -beyond anything admitted by geologists within the era assigned, as to -seem not only extravagant but incredible; and if they cannot be -maintained, their assumption as a fact will destroy the credibility of -the poems in which the assumption is made. As regards the authenticity -of these poems, however, the assumption itself is conclusive; for the -translator did not see it, and could therefore never have fabricated the -poems in which it appears. Such poems must have been written by some -eye-witness of the fact, who did not require to exaggerate; and the only -question as regards reliability now to be settled, is whether he did -exaggerate or no? Was the Clyde a sea to Rutherglen, as he seems to -affirm? Was the Kelvin a fiord to Kilsyth, or nearly so, as he implies? -Was the Leven an estuary to Loch Lomond, as we are bound to conclude? -Was the Black Cart a marine canal to Ardrossan in the days of Agricola? -If so, the Clyde must have been from 60 to 80 feet above its present -level at the date supposed--and then, where was the Roman Wall? Traces -of that wall upon the Clyde at a much lower level, it is said, still -exist; and the old fortifications between Dunglass and Kilpatrick -only 50 feet or thereby above the present level, put an end to the -reliability, if not to the authenticity of Ossian. This is the -difficulty now to be disposed of; and of which, in passing, we need only -say, that if Macpherson had seen it he would certainly have avoided it; -and therefore, that whoever was the author of the poems in which it -occurs, Macpherson was not. - -But it is with the difficulty itself we are now concerned, and not with -the authorship. I. First then, suppose any statement, direct or -indirect, had occurred in any Greek or Roman writer of the time--Cæsar, -Tacitus, Dion Cassius, or Ptolemy--affirming, or even implying, such a -level in the Clyde at the date in question, notwithstanding the Roman -Wall, would the testimony of such authors have been rejected? If not, -how would our geologists have disposed of it? or how would they have -reconciled it with existing matters of fact? One can imagine the -jealousy with which such texts would have been criticised; the assiduity -with which every crevice on the coast would have been surveyed, not to -contradict but to confirm them; and the fertility of invention with -which theories would have been multiplied to harmonise them. Strange as -it may appear, however, facts and statements amounting very nearly to -this do occur, and have hitherto been overlooked, or purposely omitted -in silence. The Roman Wall, for example, stops short with a town at -Balmulzie on one side of the Kelvin, and begins again with another town -at Simmerton, nearly a mile distant, on the opposite side of the Kelvin; -but why should such a gap be there, if the Kelvin, which flows between, -had not been something like a fiord at the moment? Again, it is -distinctly affirmed by Herodian that the marshes of Clydesdale south of -the Wall were constantly--end of the third, or beginning of the fourth -century--emitting vapours which obscured the sky. But how could this be -the case, if volcanic heat had not already been operating underneath, -and the waters of the frith were then beginning to subside from their -original higher levels? - -On the other hand, not only do statements to the effect alleged occur -frequently in Ossian, but whole poems are founded on the assumption of -their truth, and cannot be understood without them. Why then are not -these taken into account by our geologists as contemporaneous testimony, -in the same way as similar statements, if they had occurred in Cæsar or -in Tacitus, would have been? Because Ossian hitherto has been looked -upon by men of science as a fable; as a witness utterly unfit to be -produced in court, and no more to be cared for or quoted in an -ordnance survey, or in a professor's chair, than the Arabian Nights' -Entertainments are in a pulpit. By which very oversight or contempt, the -most important revelations have been lost, and the most elaborate -theories will soon be rendered useless. Ossian, in fact, is as much an -authority as either Cæsar, or Tacitus, or Ptolemy; and in estimating the -physical conditions of the world to which he refers, and which he -describes, can no longer be either ignored or doubted. If his text seems -to be at variance with existing facts, it must be more carefully -studied; and if new theories are required to harmonise details they must -be accepted or invented. We have had theories enough already, which have -perished with the using; something more in harmony with facts, or that -will better explain the facts, must now be forthcoming. - -II. But the Roman Wall itself, which is supposed to be the greatest -barrier in the way of our accepting Ossian, has actually a literature of -its own, little understood, in his favour. The three forts farthest -west, and on which so much reliance has been placed as indicating the -levels of the Clyde when they were built and occupied, are those at -Chapel Hill, near Old Kilpatrick, at Duntocher, and at Castlehill a -little farther to the east; all under the ridge of the Kilpatrick Hills, -and all--one of them very closely--overlooking the Clyde. But in -excavating the remains of Roman architecture in these forts, stones have -been found with symbolical sculptures upon them which are still in -existence, or which have been accurately copied for public use. On one -of the stones at Chapel Hill, farthest west, we have the figure of a -wild boar in flight; on one at Duntocher we have another wild boar, on -two more there we have sea-dogs or seals and winged horses; on two more -at Castlehill we have another boar, and another seal, and an osprey or -sea-eagle on the back of the seal; but beyond this to the eastward, -although a boar still occurs, not another seal appears. How then is all -this descriptive or symbolical sculpture, so plain and so significant, -to be accounted for, if the Frith of Clyde had not then been a sea -flowing up into the recesses of the land, as high almost as Duntocher -and Castlehill? The wild boar is traceable throughout, for he inhabited -the woods on the Kilpatrick range, as far eastward, perhaps, as -Simmerton; and we find him eating acorns, even beyond that. On the other -hand, no seal is represented at Chapel Hill, for the water there was too -deep, and the banks too precipitous. It appears first at Duntocher, and -again at Castlehill, because the sea flowed up into quiet bays and -inlets there, where such amphibia could bask--of which, more hereafter; -but it totally disappears beyond that, because the salt water ceased in -the distance. The winged-horse, or pegasus, is more difficult to account -for, and has greatly perplexed the learned antiquarians who have -commented on him; but if the Roman Legionaries who built and occupied -these western stations ever heard the Caledonian harp, or listened to a -Celtic bard, or received an embassy, as we are expressly told they did, -from men like Ossian as ambassadors--the difficulty requires no farther -explanation. The Romans were neither blind nor senseless, and knew well -enough how to represent the poetical genius of the country which they -were attempting in vain to conquer, as well as the wild boars of its -woods, and the sea-dogs in its estuaries; and have thus left behind -them, in rude but significant sculpture, as true a picture as could be -imagined of the men on the soil, and the beasts in the field, and the -fish so-called in the sea, and the bird in the air--between Simmerton -and Duntocher, in absolute conformity with the text of Ossian. Nor is -there any possible reply to this by our antiquarian friends. The Roman -Wall itself, to which they constantly appeal, supplies the evidence, and -they are bound, without a murmur, to accept it. - -III. But the levels of the Wall, it may be said, as now ascertainable by -actual survey--what other sort of evidence do _they_ afford? This -question implies--(1) A range of observation from the Kelvin at -Simmerton westward to Duntocher in the first place, and then to Chapel -Hill between Old Kilpatrick and Dunglass. The intermediate forts on that -line are separated by equal distances, nearly as follows:--From -Simmerton to New Kilpatrick, 1¾ miles; from New Kilpatrick to Castlehill, -1¾ miles; from Castlehill to Duntocher, 1¾ miles; the lowest point -in which range at Duntocher is from 155 to 200 feet above the level -of the Clyde, leaving sufficient room, therefore, for the Wall above -the highest level assumed in the text of Ossian. From Duntocher to -Chapel Hill there is a distance of 2½ miles, with no trace whatever -of the Wall between. Chapel Hill is considerably lower than Duntocher, -undoubtedly; but why is there so great a gap there, and no trace of a -wall in the interval? Either, because there never was a wall so close to -the tide; or because the tide itself washed the wall away, having been -built too close to its confines; or for some other more probable reason -yet to be assigned. The fort at Chapel Hill itself, indeed, is the most -indistinct of them all; and if a regular fort of any importance ever -existed there, it must have suffered either partial inundation, or some -other serious shock, unquestionably. - -(2) It implies also a corresponding survey of the ground intermediate -between the Wall and the river. Now the intervening ground along the -banks of the Clyde, from Chapel Hill to the Pointhouse at Glasgow, is a -low-lying flat with a gradual rise inland, at the present moment, of not -more than 25 or 30 feet. But according to Professor Geikie's latest -survey, the Clyde must have been about 25 feet higher in the time of the -Romans than it now is--and Professor Geikie, we presume, is an authority -on such subjects, who may be quoted along with Hugh Miller and Smith of -Jordanhill:--therefore the whole of that strath, and the strath on the -opposite side, from Renfrew to Paisley, on this assumption, must have -been submerged at the same time; and there could be no dwelling-place -for human beings--neither local habitation nor a name--within the entire -compass of that now fertile and populous region. But two or three Gaelic -names survive on the northern verge of it, which not only indicate the -presence of the sea there, but fix the very limits of its tide. Dalmuir, -for example, which means the Valley of the Sea; and Garscadden, which -means the Bay of Pilchards or of foul herring, must, in fact, have -carried the waters up their respective streams to within less than a -mile of the Roman Wall at Duntocher and Castlehill. It was in such -retreats, then, that both salmon and herring (as the name of one of them -imports) would take refuge in the spawning season; it was into such -retreats also, they would be pursued by the seals; it was on the shore -of such inlets the seals themselves would bask, when the Romans saw -them; and it is at the two forts respectively at the head of these -inlets--Duntocher and Castlehill--that they have been actually -represented in Sculpture. Could anything be more conclusive as to the -proximity of the tide, and very character of the shore, within a bowshot -or two of the Wall in that neighbourhood, where there is now a distance -of more than two miles between it and the river? and yet even more -conclusive, in connection with this, is the fact that on the southern -verge of the strath, right opposite to these, are other Gaelic names -equally significant--such as Kennis, the Head of the island; Ferinis, -the Hero's island; and Fingal-ton, which speaks for itself--at the same -or a similar level with Dalmuir and Garscadden, that is from 100 to 200 -feet above the present level of the Clyde, which seems to demonstrate -beyond doubt that the whole intervening space of seven miles in breadth, -with the exception of such small islands as those named above, was then -an arm of the sea to the depth of 50 feet at least, if not more. - -(3) Our survey is thus narrowed to a single point--the existence and -alleged position of the fort at Chapel Hill, between Old Kilpatrick and -Dunglass, on the banks of the river; and here it should be observed as -between the two extremities of the Wall, east and west, that where it -touches the Frith of Forth at Carriden the height of its foundation -ranges from about 150 to 200 feet above the level of the sea, and where -it approaches the Clyde at Duntocher it is nearly the same--which was -probably its terminus. There is scarcely a vestige of it now traceable -beyond that, and that it was ever carried farther in reality is a matter -of acknowledged uncertainty. But scattered fragments of masonry, as we -have seen, and the dimmest indications of a fort deep down in the earth -have been discovered or imagined at Chapel Hill to the westward, which -seems to be about 50 feet above the level of the Clyde--leaving still a -very large margin beyond Professor Geikie's estimate; and a great deal -of conjecture about what might, or might not have been there, has been -indulged in by antiquarians. For the present, however, until proof to -the contrary has been shown, let us accept as a fact that some military -station had really been established there in connection with the -Wall--then, how have its fragments been so widely scattered? how has it -been so completely entombed that it can only be guessed at under the -soil? and how has the connection between it and the Wall, more than two -miles distant, been obliterated? No other fort on the line, that we know -of, is now in the same condition; and therefore, we repeat, either the -Romans were foolishly contending with the tide, by building too close to -its confines, and the tide drove them back and overthrew their works; or -the fort itself was originally on a higher level, and the shock of an -earthquake, or a landslip from the mountains, or both together, carried -the whole mass of masonry and earthwork at this particular point down to -their present level, where they would be washed by the tide and silted -up in their own ruins. This is a view of the matter, indeed, which no -antiquarian, so far as we are aware, has hitherto adopted; but any one -who chooses to look with an unprejudiced eye, for a moment, at the -enormous gap in the hills immediately behind, reaching down to the shore -and including this very region, must be satisfied that the case was so; -and recent discoveries--one of a quay-wall or foundation of a bridge at -Old Kilpatrick, about 4 feet deep in a field; and another of a causeway, -more than 20 feet submerged and silted up under sea-sand, on the same -side of the river, near Glasgow, will most probably confirm it. - -One other question, however, yet remains, touching this mysterious fort, -which we may be allowed to say only "Ossian and the Clyde" can enable us -to answer--Why was such a fort ever thought of there at all? It was -either to receive provisions and reinforcements from the sea; and if so, -then it must have been on the very verge of the frith, and the water -must have been sufficiently deep there. Or it was to watch the estuary -of the Leven, and to prevent the native Caledonians either landing from -the sea, or coming down from the hills to turn the flank of the Wall at -Duntocher, and so surprising the Romans in the rear; and this, beyond -doubt, was its most important purpose as a military station on the line. -But we have elsewhere explained (in the work above alluded to) that -there was a regular route for the Caledonians from Dunglass to Campsie, -which still bears the name of Fingal; and Fyn-loch, the very first -rendezvous on that line, is on the top of the hill immediately above the -fort in question. The Romans, who must have been fully aware of this, -made their own provision accordingly. In sight of that fort, therefore, -Fingal and his people might embark or disembark on their expeditions -through Dumbartonshire at pleasure; but it would require to be at a -reasonable distance westward, on the sides of Dumbuck or in the quiet -creek at Milton, if they wished to escape the catapults and crossbows of -the conquerors of the world. Now the earthquake, which extended up the -whole basin of the Clyde, seems to have changed all that. The fort was -sunk or shattered, as we suppose, and the frith began to fall; and -antiquarians who do not believe in Ossian, or who do not keep such -obvious facts in view, have been puzzled ever since, and will be puzzled -ever more, attempting to account for it. - -IV. In adducing this evidence--partly antiquarian and partly -geological--we have restricted our survey exclusively to the Roman Wall, -for it is on this important barrier between the Forth and Clyde that -those who object to the geography of Ossian are accustomed to fall back. -But the sort of testimony it affords might be easily supplemented by a -survey of the Clyde itself, which can be shown, and has been shown, by -incontestable measurement on the coast of Ayrshire, to be sinking at the -rate of ¾ of an inch annually for the last forty or fifty years at -least; and if such subsidence has been going on for fifteen hundred -years at the same rate, the level of the frith in the days of the Romans -must have been even higher than we now allege. A critic in the -_Scotsman_, who, himself, first demanded such a survey, and to whom the -survey when reported in the same paper--August 30th, 1875--was -troublesome, appeals boldly in an editorial note to the authority of -Hugh Miller, and again demands that the survey be transferred from -Girvan to Glasgow, because "the height to which the tide rises is a very -fluctuating quantity"--in Ayrshire, we presume. As for Hugh Miller, we -can find nothing whatever in his pages to the purpose; and if such a -distinguished authority is to be relied on in the present controversy, -we must insist on his very words being quoted. As for the fluctuation of -the tide, if it fluctuates in one place more than another, what is the -use of appealing to it at all? and as between the Ayrshire coast, and -the Renfrewshire or Lanarkshire coast, on the same side of the frith, -unless "the moon and one darn'd thing or another" have special -disturbing influence in Ayrshire, what difference can there be in the -regularity of flow between Girvan and Glasgow? This learned adversary in -the _Scotsman_ must surely have been at his wit's end when he took -refuge in such an absurdity, and we may safely leave him where he is, to -revise his own calculations and recover his composure. - -All this might be insisted on anew; but the object of the present -argument is simply to show to the readers of the _Celtic Magazine_ that -the Ossianic controversy must of necessity be removed to another and a -higher sphere than ever. There are certain points, indeed, on which -philological inquiries may still be of the utmost importance as regards -the Gaelic original, and these we cheerfully consign for discussion to -those whom they most concern; but these will never decide the question -of authenticity in its proper form, or establish Ossian in his proper -place as a witness-bearer of the past. The sense of Macpherson's -translation, as it stands, must be honestly ascertained; its testimony -verified, or otherwise, by direct appeal to the subject matter of its -text; and its value in the literature of the world determined, on the -same principles, and by the very same process as that of any other -public record would be in the history of the world. Such investigation -has now become indispensable. In Ossian's name alike, and in that of -science, as well as of common sense, we demand it, and will never be -satisfied until it has been accorded. - - P. HATELY WADDELL. - - * * * * * - - - - -We direct the reader's careful attention to the following interesting -statistics regarding occupiers of land in Ireland:--The agricultural -statistics of Ireland recently completed for 1873 show that in that year -there were in that country 590,172 separate holdings, being 5,041 less -than in the preceding year. The decrease was in the small holdings. The -number of holdings not exceeding one acre fell to 51,977, a decrease of -908, and the number above one acre and not exceeding 15 acres, shows a -decrease of 3,777. The holdings above one acre can be compared with the -numbers in 1841. Since that date the total number has decreased 22 per -cent. The number of farms above one and not exceeding five acres has -fallen to 72,088 (in 1873), a decrease of 76.8 per cent.; the number of -farms above five and not exceeding 15 acres has diminished to 168,044, a -decrease of 33.5 per cent.; the number above 15 and not exceeding 30 -acres has risen to 138,163, an increase of 74.1 per cent.; and the -number above 30 acres has increased to 159,900, an increase of 228.8 per -cent. Of the total number of holdings in 1873, 8.8 per cent. did not -exceed 1 acre; 12.2 per cent. were above 1 and not exceeding 5 acres; -28.5 per cent., 5 to 15 acres; 23.4 per cent., 15 to 30 acres; 12.4 per -cent., 30 to 50 acres; 9.4 per cent., 50 to 100 acres; 3.7 per cent., -100 to 200 acres; 1.4 per cent., 200 to 500 acres; 0.2 per cent., above -500 acres. More than 60 acres in every 100 of the land comprising farms -above 500 acres are bog or waste. As the farms diminish in size, the -proportion under bog and waste decreases until it amounts to only 7.1 -per cent. on the smallest holdings. The average extent of the holdings -not exceeding 1 acre is 1 rood and 32 perches, and of farms above 500 -acres 1,371 acres and 19 perches. As in many instances landholders -occupy more than one farm, it has been considered desirable to ascertain -the number of such persons, and it has been found that in 1873 the -590,172 holdings were in the hands of 539,545 occupiers, or 2,293 fewer -than in the preceding year. There were in 1873 50,758 occupiers whose -total extent of land did not exceed 1 acre; 65,051 holdings above 1 and -not exceeding 5 acres; 150,778 holdings above 5 but not exceeding 15 -acres; 124,471 holdings above 15 but not exceeding 30 acres; 65,991 -holdings above 30 and not exceeding 50 acres; 50,565 holdings above 50 -but not exceeding 100 acres; 20,764 holdings above 100 but not exceeding -200 acres; 8,799 holdings above 200 but not exceeding 500 acres; and -2,368 holdings above 500 acres. The whole 590,172 holdings extended over -20,327,196 acres, of which 5,270,746 were under crops, 10,413,991 were -grazing land, 13,455 fallow, 323,656 woods and plantations, and -4,305,348 bog and waste. The estimated population of Ireland in the -middle of the year 1873 was 5,337,261. - - - - -NEW YEAR IN THE OLD STYLE IN THE HIGHLANDS. - - -Old Mr Chisholm sat at his parlour fire after a hearty New Year dinner. -His wife occupied the cosy arm-chair in the opposite corner; and -gathered round them were a bevy of merry grand-children, enjoying New -Year as only children can. Their parents were absent at the moment, and -the family group was completed by a son and daughter of the old couple. - -Mr Chisholm was in a meditative mood, looking into the bright blazing -fire. "Well," he observed at last with an air of regret, "The New Year -is not observed as it was when we were children, wife. It's dying out, -dying out greatly. When these children are as old as we are there will -be no trace of a Christmas or a New Year holiday. What did you say you -had been doing all day Bill?" he asked, turning to his son. - -"Shooting," said Bill, "and deuced cold I was. Catch me trying for the -'silver medal and other prizes' another New Year's Day." - -"Shooting may be interesting" said Mr Chisholm, "but as you say it is -cold work. We had sometimes a shot at a raffle in my young days, but -usually we had more exciting business. Shinty my boy, shinty was our -great game," and Mr Chisholm looked as if he greatly pitied the -degeneracy of the latter days. - -"I have played shinty myself" said Bill, "and I see it is still played -in Badenoch and Strathglass, and among wild Highlanders in Edinburgh. -But it's too hard on the lungs for me, and besides we never play it -here." - -"The more's the pity, Bill. There's no game ever I saw I could compare -to shinty. Talk about cricket, that's nothing to it. Shinty was suited -to a New Year's day; it kept the spirits up and the body warm. I should -like to have a turn at it yet--wouldn't I run?" And the old man's heavy -frame shook as he chuckled at the idea. "However, there's no use -speaking; is tea ready wife?" - -"No, and it won't be for half-an-hour yet, perhaps longer" said Mrs -Chisholm. "You know we have to wait Bella and John," indicating her -married daughter and her husband. - -"Then," said the old man, "come here bairns and I shall tell you how I -spent one of my early New Year's days." - -"Yes, do, grandfather," shouted a happy chorus; "now for a story." - -"Not much of a story" replied Mr Chisholm, "but such as it is you shall -have it. I was born and bred in the country, you know, my father being a -small farmer. The district was half-Lowland, half-Highland, and we mixed -the customs of both. At that time shinty was a universal winter game, -and greatly we prided ourselves on our smartness at the sport. And it -was a sport that required a great deal of smartness, activity, strength, -presence of mind, and a quick sure eye. Many a moonlight night did the -lads contend for the honour of hailing the ball. On this particular day -there was to be a match between two districts--twenty men a-side, and -the stake £5 and a gallon of whisky. Our leader was a carpenter, named -Paterson, who was the hero of many a keenly contested shinty match. - -"The eagerly expected morning at last arrived. The New Year was taken in -by the young folk trying for their fortune in 'sooans.' Bless me bairns, -don't you know what 'sooans' is? No; then the thin sooans was made for -drinking like good thick gruel; the thick was like porridge, but that we -never took on a Christmas or New Year morning. About four o'clock I came -down to the kitchen, and there found my mother superintending the -boiling of the 'sooans,' and the place filled with the servants, girls, -and men, and some of our neighbours. My friend Paterson, who had an eye -to one of the servants (a pretty country lassie) had walked four miles -to be present. Wishing them all a happy Christmas I sat down to share -the 'sooans' with the rest. - -"'Well Paterson,' said I, 'how do you feel this morning? Nothing, I -hope, to interfere with your running powers.' - -"'No thank ye, Willie,' said he, 'I'm as supple as a deer.' - -"'Supple enough,' said one of the men with a grin; 'he was here first -this morning. Wasn't he, Maggie?' - -"''Twould be lang afore ye were first,' retorted Maggie; 'the laziest -loon on the whole country side.' - -"By this time the 'sooans' were ready, and we were all unceremoniously -turned out of doors. In our absence ten bowls were filled. In two of -these a ring was placed, signifying, of course, speedy marriage; a -shilling put into two others represented the old bachelor or old maid; -and a half-crown in another represented riches. Called in, we had each -to choose a dish, beginning at the youngest. Great was the merriment as -we drained our dishes, but at the last mouthful or two we paused, as if -afraid to peer into dark futurity. - -"'Here goes,' exclaimed Paterson first of all, and he emptied his dish. -At the bottom lay a shilling, which he exhibited amidst a general shout -of laughter. - -"'What have _you_ got Maggie,' was the next exclamation. With a titter -Maggie produced a ring. - -"'And here's the other ring' cried Jock, the 'laziest loon in the -country side.' 'Maggie, you're my lass for this year anyway.' - -"Maggie tossed her head in superb disdain. - -"'I'll try my luck now,' said I, and drained my dish. My luck was to get -the second shilling. So you see wife, though I got you I was intended to -be a bachelor. The half-crown, I think, fell to a man who could never -keep a sixpence in his purse. - -"After breakfast we started for the place of meeting. Our men joined us -one by one, and many more came to see the game. As we passed the -cottages the girls called to us to see that we supported the honour of -the place, and returned victorious, to which we replied 'ay, that we -will,' and flourished our clubs with vigour. Before we reached the -appointed ground the procession had greatly increased in numbers, and a -large crowd at the spot welcomed us with tossing up of bonnets and -rounds of cheering. Soon afterwards our opponents arrived, headed by a -piper, and their leader Jack Macdonald. Their appearance also excited -hearty cheering, and preliminaries were soon arranged. - -"The sides were very equally matched. Macdonald was an active young -ploughman, who came neatly dressed in a velveteen jacket and corduroy -trousers, the latter adorned with rows of buttons. Paterson, of course, -was our mainstay; and besides him, we had an innkeeper, as stout and -round as one of his own barrels, who, singular to say, was a capital -shinty player. Our opponents had the assistance of an enthusiastic -schoolmaster, who, even in those days, encouraged sports among his -pupils, in spite of the remonstrances of some of the wiseacres. Our -clubs were carefully selected. Some preferred a sharp square crook, -some a round one, just as they happened to excel in hitting or -'birling'--that is, in getting the ball within the bend, and running it -along upon the ground. The ball, composed of cork and worsted, was at -once strong and elastic. - -"The hails, four hundred yards apart, were duly measured out and marked -by upright poles. Then the players ranged themselves in the centre of -the field, Macdonald and Paterson hand to hand; and at the understood -sign the ball was thrown down and the strife commenced. I don't know -whether the rules were the same in all places, but with us no kicking or -throwing of the ball was allowed. We could stop it by any means we -pleased, but we could strike it forward only with our clubs. The players -were ranged in opposing ranks; and it was against all rule for a player, -even in the heat of contest, to turn round to his opponents' side, -though he might, by so doing, obtain a more convenient stroke. Should -such a thing happen, the roar of "Clipsides ye" from a dozen throats, -and the thwack of two or three clubs on his legs would soon apprise the -unlucky individual of his fault. - -"As long as the ball was in the midst of the players there was great -scrambling and confusion. The lads pushed and shouted; club stuck fast -in club; and the ball was tossed from side to side without any advantage -to either party. Paterson watched his opportunity, and cleverly picking -the ball from the other clubs, he gave it a hasty stroke which brought -it close to me, eagerly waiting for it outside the thick of battle. In a -moment I had caught it, and sped along the field, 'birling' rather than -hitting, followed by the whole troop, cheered by my friends and stormed -at by my opponents. Macdonald, rushing fast and furious, first came up -and seized my club with his as I was about to administer a stroke. For a -second or two we were both helpless; Macdonald first succeeded in -extricating his weapon, and struck the ball backwards two or three -yards. The other players were almost upon us, when I struck up -Macdonald's club, caught the ball again and shot a-head. Macdonald -overtook me with a few bounds, for he was now thoroughly roused and -heated; but stretching too far to hit the ball he fell on his knee. The -schoolmaster, however, was now upon me, and the ball was hurled back by -him among the troop of players. Macdonald had sprung to his feet almost -in an instant, and darted back to the contest. - -"Again the scene of confusion recommenced. Backwards and forwards, -backwards and forwards, swayed the excited crowd, every face flushed, -and every muscle strained to the utmost. Shins and arms received some -awkward blows in the strife, but no one cared as long as the injuries -were unimportant. Macdonald at last succeeded in pulling out the ball, -and getting it for a moment into a clear space, he delivered a -tremendous blow, which drove it far on the road to hail. There was a -race who should reach it first. Paterson succeeded, and drove the ball -far down the field, but out of the direct way and into a whin bush. -'Hands,' shouted his nearest opponent; and at this call the stout -innkeeper, who was nearest the bush, caught up the ball and brought it -into the open field. - -"'High or low' said the innkeeper, holding his club in his right hand -and the ball in his left. - -"'High,' said his opponent. - -"The ball was immediately thrown into the air and both tried to strike -it as it fell. The innkeeper was successful, but the blow was -necessarily a feeble one, and carried the ball but a few yards. - -"The contest continued during the greater part of the day, neither side -being able to claim a decided advantage. During a momentary pause -Paterson flung off his boots, sharp frost as it was, and was followed by -Macdonald, the innkeeper, and myself. The innkeeper freely regaled -himself from his pocket-flask, and actually became more eager and -active. Late in the afternoon he got a-head with the ball, and skipped -forward, sometimes 'birling' and sometimes hitting it, until he was -within twenty yards of hail. Another blow would have finished the match, -when Macdonald caught the ball and ran back with it, most wonderfully -eluding all the clubs, now wielded by arms for the most part greatly -fatigued. Paterson, thrown off his guard by the suddenness of the -movement, was left behind. The innkeeper pursued Macdonald closely--so -closely, indeed, that his bulky body obstructed all movements but his -own. Macdonald was in high spirits, when, running against an opponent in -front, he turned round for a moment to our side to secure a better -stroke. The innkeeper, foaming with rage and disappointment, roared out -'Clipsides ye,' and administered a blow to Macdonald's leg that caused -him to halt for an instant. That halt was fatal. I darted past and -hoisted the ball to Paterson, who seized it and carried it easily -through the now scattered ranks of our opponents. Once out into the open -field it was a direct chase. Paterson had better wind than any man on -the field, and having got so far ahead he made the most of his -advantage. Macdonald pursued him hotly. Twice he came up with Paterson, -twice he struck at the ball, and both times struck the ground just as -the object of his pursuit was carried forward by our leader's weapon. -After that all was over. Paterson took the ball to within twenty yards -of hail, and then with a well-directed blow sent it between the winning -posts. A loud shout rent the air. In the excitement of the moment I -attempted leapfrog over the stout innkeeper, and both came to the -ground. - -"After this the whisky was broached, and mutual healths followed. The -game had been so well contested that there was no ill-feeling; and we -promised to give our opponents an opportunity of revenge another day. -Late at night we returned to my father's house, where a good supper was -spread for us in the barn. A hearty dance followed, and so New Year's -Day, old style, came to a close. Don't you think it was a jovial day?" - -"Not a doubt about it" said Bill, "only the sport was rather rough. Do -you really mean to say that you threw off your boots for the play?" - -"That we did my boy in the heat of the match, and it was not so unusual -as you may suppose. Highlanders were tough lads in those days, and they -didn't fear a blow or a bruise." - -"Did many accidents happen?" asked Bill. "When clubs were swinging about -freely I should think heads were in danger." - -"Serious accidents were rare" replied Mr Chisholm. "Ankles and legs and -hands did get some smart knocks, but heads generally escaped. In the -thick of the strife there was no use swinging clubs in the air. We could -only push and thrust, and pull the ball out with the crook. In a race we -struck as we ran, giving short rapid strokes; and when a player -delivered a sweeping blow, he had generally space for the swing of his -club. I remember a boy getting his face laid open by an awkward fellow; -but such an occurrence was rare among experienced players. We could -handle our clubs as you handle your guns--scientifically. There are not -usually many casualties at a shooting match--eh Bill?" - -"But, grandfather, what came of Paterson?" asked little Mary. "Did he -marry Maggie?" - -"Oh, that's the subject of interest to you, lassie. No, he didn't. Women -are always contrary. Maggie married the 'lazy loon' Jock; he made the -most of his good fortune in getting the ring, and the marriage was long -cited as a proof of the unfailing certainty of the oracle." - -"Grandfather," cried Henry, "have you made us the totum? Didn't you used -to play the totum on New Year's Day?" - -"That we did boy" said Mr Chisholm. "The youngsters thought it a capital -game, and the elders did not refuse to join in it. Yes, Harry, I made -you the totum, and by-and-bye we shall have a game." - -"Let us have it now" cried the children springing up in eager -excitement. "Let us have it now; we have all brought our pins." - -Mr Chisholm cheerfully acquiesced. The group gathered round a little -table, each with a stock of pins displayed, to be staked on the game now -about to be commenced. Look at the totum as Harry takes it up and -balances it between the thumb and second finger of the right hand. It is -only a piece of wood about half an inch long, cut away to a sharp point -below, and having a slender spike thrust in at the top to serve as a -handle. It is four square, and a letter is carved on each side--namely, -"T," "D," "N," and "A." Each player stakes a single pin, and each in -rotation gets his chance of whirling the totum. If, after whirling, the -totum falls with the letter "A" uppermost, all the stakes become the -prize of the player; if "T" is the uppermost letter he only takes one; -if "N" appears he gets nothing at all; while "D" obliges him to -contribute a pin from his private stock to the heap in the centre. -Every whirl comes to be watched with as much eagerness as if a fortune -depended on the result. - -The nature of the game having been made sufficiently plain, Mr Chisholm -leads off with a whirl which sends the totum spinning round so fast as -to be almost invisible; but gradually relaxing its speed it falls at -last, exposing upon its upper surface the letter "N," carved, if not -with elegance, at least with sufficient plainness to show that it is a -veritable "N" and no other letter of the alphabet. - -"Nickle nothing," shout the children, as they clap their hands with -delight. - -Then Harry takes his turn. He holds the totum very carefully between his -finger and thumb, poising it with intense gravity; then looks at the -letter next him, twirls the toy backward and forward, and finally -propels it by a sudden jerk from his fingers. It whirls like a top for a -few seconds, watched by eager faces, and ultimately falls with the -letter "D" uppermost. - -"D put down" bursts from the merry group; and the boy looks very -disappointed as he withdraws a pin from his private stock and places it -among the general deposit. Grandfather enters into the fun with as much -enthusiasm as the children, and the spirit of gambling has taken -possession of the New Year party. - -The smallest girl--four years old--next takes the totum. She places it -between the thumb and forefinger, screws her mouth to make an effort, -and placing the point on the table gives it a whirl. It goes round three -or four times with a convulsive staggering motion, and at last falls, -"A" uppermost, amidst a general shout of laughter and applause. - -"A, take them all--Lizzy has got the pins"--and the surprised and happy -child, proud of her success, gathers the heap to her own stock, while -the others each replace a stake. - -So the lively little game proceeds amidst varying success. Possessions -grow and diminish as the totum makes its rounds; and before the game -ends Mr Chisholm is reduced to his last pin. He holds it up with rueful -countenance, confessing himself a ruined man, while the children clutch -their treasures, and boast of their success. - -"Grandfather is beaten--is beaten at the totum" cried Mary as her father -and mother at length arrived. "He showed us how to play, and look at the -pins we have gained." - -"May you always be as happy with your gains," said the old man resuming -his paternal attitude. "Now you know how we spent our Old New Years. -Sooans and shinty, and the totum--they were all simple maybe, but there -was pleasure in them all. Many a heart was lost at the 'sooans'; many a -hand made strong at shinty; and many a little head got its first notion -of worldly competition from the totum. Take your seats, boys and girls, -for here's the tea!" - - KNOCKFIN. - - - - -CUMHA----MHIC-AN-TOISICH. - - - Why shrouded in gloom is Clan Chattan? - Clan Chattan! Clan Chattan! - Tears circle the crest of Clan Chattan! - Clan Chattan! Clan Chattan! - Ochone! our light is reft, - Burning too brief, - Ochone! the darkness left, - Fills us with grief. - Streamlets are singing woe, - Torrents in sorrow flow, - Flow'rets on ev'ry leaf, - Bear the red dew of grief. - Ochone! the Beam of Clan Chattan is low.-- - - Deep-bosomed the woe of Clan Chattan! - Clan Chattan! Clan Chattan! - Far rings the lament of Clan Chattan! - Clan Chattan! Clan Chattan! - Ochone! our joy-lit star, - Sunk in the night. - Ochone! his soul afar, - Swiftly took flight: - Hero-sires welcomed him, - Pealing their deathless hymn, - Loud on their happy shore, - Angels the pæan bore: - Ochone! the Pride of Clan Chattan sleeps on.-- - - Still brightly he smiles on Clan Chattan! - Clan Chattan! Clan Chattan! - His spirit is guarding Clan Chattan! - Clan Chattan! Clan Chattan! - Ochone! his mem'ry lives, - Ever in bloom. - Ochone! its beauty gives - Light to his tomb: - Matrons and maidens mourn, - Life in its glory shorn, - Stalwart sons, fathers grey, - Dash the sad tear away. - Ochone! the _Love[A] of Clan Chattan ne'er dies_. - - WM. ALLAN. - - SUNDERLAND. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[A] "Love" here means the Chief. - - - - -THE GAME LAWS. - - - [The conductors of the _Celtic Magazine_ in their prospectus, and in - their first number, state that "they will at all times be ready to - receive contributions from both sides on any question connected with - the Highlands, and of interest to Highlanders." In whatever light - the subject of the following remarks may be viewed, it will readily - be admitted that it has an interest for Highlanders sufficient to - entitle it to temperate discussion in these pages]:-- - -The Game Laws in Scotland, as our readers are aware, consist chiefly of -various statutes designed to secure to landed proprietors what the -common law, while it leaves them without the means of effectually -securing, declares them entitled to, the exclusive possession and use of -their land. The common law maxim, that an owner is entitled to the sole -enjoyment of his own ground, the legislature has practically given -effect to from time to time by passing various enactments pointing to -that end. These somewhat numerous statutes are almost identical in -effect in the three kingdoms, to which some of them extend; nor does the -common law throughout materially vary. It is not our intention, however, -to emulate Sir Roger de Coverley, whose explanations of the Game Acts -used to gain great applause at quarter sessions, by entering upon a -minute analysis of them here. We mean to confine ourselves simply to a -critical examination of the various attacks to which they have been -subjected, and an endeavour to make a brief and impartial survey of -their effect on the prosperity of the Highlands. - -In entering upon the consideration of adverse criticisms, we find that -they are easily resolved into two classes:--First, there are those as to -what opponents term the unnecessary severity and injurious influence of -the Game Laws upon poachers; and secondly, the injury indirectly -effected by them upon tenant-farmers, agricultural and pastoral. - -Sympathy for the poacher is frequently proclaimed by anti-game law -agitators. They will tell you that the disposition to pursue game is -inherent in human nature; that the indulgence of this irrepressible -propensity ought to be regarded with a lenient eye: that game cannot be -identified as property, and that the man who takes it should not be -considered or treated as a thief; dilating the while on the sad -misfortunes that an occasional lapse into the fields in search of a hare -or a rabbit may bring upon an agricultural labourer and his family, -ultimately it may be involving them in ruin. These arguments, however, -though at first sight appearing to have some foundation in reason, do -not satisfactorily stand the test of serious scrutiny. They are such as -could be brought to bear for what they are worth against the operation -of almost all repressive laws in the kingdom. Smuggling, for instance, -is not generally looked upon as a breach of the moral law, nor does it -present itself to common eyes in an odious light; yet it is a crime -punishable by penal laws for the sake of increasing revenue. The man -who takes his own agricultural produce and converts it into a wholesome -and refreshing beverage for his own domestic use is liable to a very -much heavier penalty than he who steps on to his neighbour's property -and puts out his hands to take what he has neither laboured for nor -purchased. In the one case we can imagine an honest industrious -labourer, actuated only by a desire for the comfort of himself and his -family, manufacturing his own goods into nourishing and sustaining ale, -heavily punished for his untaxed enjoyment of the bounties of -Providence; whereas, in the other case, the poacher, as a rule, is a -person with a turn for idleness, an aversion to all honest and steady -labour, and a taste for luxurious indulgences above his means, who -persists in illegally invading another's property in the pursuit and -seizure of its produce. - -This character is specially applicable to the poaching class in the -Highlands. Any one familiar with prosecutions in poaching cases there -must see that the offenders brought up for trial form a limited list -of mean-spirited cringing creatures, upon whom any sort of sympathy -would be sadly thrown away, whose faces are well known to the -procurator-fiscal as they appear in rather regular succession in the -dock. It may be said that almost nine poaching prosecutions out of ten -are instituted against old and habitual offenders, who calculate, like -blockade runners, that a few successful raids will enable them -cheerfully to pay the fines inflicted on the occasions of their capture. -As deer-stalking and grouse shooting, to be effective, require -day-light, and pheasant breeding is the exception not the rule in the -north, cases of night poaching, the worst and most severely punishable, -are of unfrequent occurrence, while fines of two pounds, the highest -that can be inflicted for day poaching, in the most aggravated cases, is -not heavy enough even when coupled with costs to make habitual and -systematic poaching an altogether unprofitable occupation. We have no -difficulty therefore in saying that the Game Laws do not press with -undue severity upon the labouring classes in the Highlands, by whom, on -the whole, poaching is now an offence rarely committed; and we believe -that in saying so we express the opinion of those classes themselves. -Any complaints that have been made have not proceeded from them but from -third parties who have endeavoured to range themselves as pretended -friends to compass their own ends. There is just one direction in which -we might hint that improvement is possible. We would wish to see a -sliding scale of fines legalised, by which lighter penalties would be -exigible for first offences and repeated transgressions less leniently -punishable than at present. - -We have now to consider that more vexed and intricate portion of our -subject, the operation of the Game Laws upon the position of the -tenant-farmer. This we have stated to be indirect, because, in reality, -many of the results complained of might be continued in existence -independently of the operations of these laws. The points at issue -between landlord and tenant, over which such torrents of discussion have -been poured, are really questions of contract been individuals, which -could and would arise, were the Game Laws abolished. But as complaints -are coupled with a demand for the abolition of these laws as a panacea, -we cannot avoid briefly examining their relation to the interests of -agriculture. Whether owing to bucolic trust in the friendly intentions -of a Conservative Government, or to hopelessness of there being any -advantages derivable therefrom, it is worthy of observation that the -recent agitation on this question, as well as on the kindred subjects of -unexhausted improvements and hypothec denominated by Mr Hope in his -observations in "Recess Studies," "Hindrances to Agriculture," have now -entered upon a quiescent phase. A few years ago an agricultural dinner -was no sooner eaten by the assembled agriculturists than the Game Laws -were tabled with the toddy, and both hotly, and in some cases ably -discussed. But a change for the better is now noticeable in the -atmosphere of Cattle Club Meetings and Wool Fair dinners whereat the -voices of game preservers may even be heard amid applause. Monotony was -the rock on which the agitation was in danger of being shipwrecked, and -as the results did not appear to be commensurate to the labour, as the -stone seemed to be rolled up the hill in vain, so far as concerned the -passing of any favourable parliamentary measure, swords have again been -turned into more useful ploughshares, and spears into less ornamental -pruning hooks. The opportunity is therefore not an unfavourable one for -a calm survey of the situation. - -It is a well-known principle in jurisprudence that a contract between -two parties capable of contracting in respect to a subject matter known -to both, if adhered to by either, is inviolably binding; and with the -free action of this principle as between parties, except in a matter of -life and death, the legislature always has had, and we confidently -believe, always will have a delicacy in interfering. If there is no -vital principle, or specialty in a contract between landlord and tenant -in regard to an heritable subject, such as an arable farm, that -necessarily takes it out of the list of ordinary contracts, no -Government would seriously entertain or assist the passing of a measure -for imposing fetters upon one of the parties to that contract, -exceptional legislation to obtain an advantage for the lessee to the -detriment of the lessor. Are there then such specialties? Tenant-farmers -allege (1) that land is not an ordinary subject of contract owing to the -extent being limited, and is a possession the owners of which stand in -the relation merely of national trustees, bound to administer in the way -most beneficial to the people; (2), that tenants are not capable of -contracting on equal terms with their landlords, and that the weaker -party should receive legislative protection in the shape of an -inalienable right to ground game; and (3), that in being compelled to -sign game preservation clauses, the subject matter of that part of their -agreement is one the full extent of which must, from its nature, be -unknown to them. To this reply is made--(1), That the possession of land -is no more a monopoly than the possession of cattle or any other -commodity, that is continually in the market and sold to the highest -bidder; that the fact of the supply being limited, and necessarily in -the hands of the few, in comparison with the many who wish to use it, is -no reason why exceptional restrictions should be placed on its being let -out for hire, but rather the reverse; as well might the possessors of -money, who are few in comparison with those who wish to borrow it, be -statutorily bound to lend it out at less than it would otherwise bring; -and that those who invest money in land, having no contract with the -State, cannot be interfered with by the State in the management of it in -the way they believe most advantageous to themselves; (2), that farmers -as a rule, and particularly those who make the greatest noise about the -Game Laws, are quite capable of attending to their own interests in any -contract with proprietors as to leasing of land; that if they are glad -to obtain it on the proprietors' terms, that is occasioned by the -legitimate operation of the laws of supply and demand, which equally -affect all other contracts; and that to give them an inalienable right -to ground game, which they would immediately convert into money value by -sub-letting, would simply amount to confiscation of part of the -enjoyment of property, and in effect amount to depriving proprietors of -a considerable part of the equivalent for which they gave their money; -and (3), that when a tenant makes an acceptable offer for a farm, he -does so after the fullest investigation as to its capabilities and -disadvantages, and with a good knowledge of the amount of game on the -ground, and the damage likely to be occasioned thereby; and, as thus, -the amount of rent offered is fixed by him after all these points have -received due consideration at his hands, he is precluded from afterwards -crying out against the one-sidedness of his contract. It will thus be -seen that there is just as much to be said on the one side as the other; -and clamour notwithstanding, we believe, the day is still distant when -the legislature will step in to interfere with free contract between -landlord and tenant, by laying down conditions which even both parties -with their eyes open, and of mutual consent, will not be allowed to -alter. In other words, in an age when the cry is for freedom from all -special advantages to owners of land, such as hypothec and entail, so as -to place it on an open footing with all other subjects, it would be -strange, indeed, were exceptional legislation required for the lessees -of land to give them the special advantages which the spirit of the age -denied to their landlords. Are we to have landlord right levelled down -while tenant right is to be levelled up? We have yet to see it. It -cannot, however, in fairness be denied that there are certain -circumstances in which the tenants' third complaint above-mentioned is -just and reasonable. While a tenant is strictly tied down under the -conditions of his lease to a certain rotation of cropping, and various -other regulations regarding his use of the land, the proprietor is left -practically unfettered as to the extent of increase of game that he may -allow to take place. Immunity in such an event is secured to the latter, -either by a clause to that effect in the lease or by the prudent -reluctance of the tenant to pursue his landlord through court after -court in the knowledge that even the extra-judicial expense of such -procedure would quickly amount to more than the ultimate damages -awarded, if awarded at all, and that the feelings engendered by the -contest would stand in the way of a renewal at the expiry of the lease. -There is here, undoubtedly, a manifest hardship to the tenant, for which -the legislature would be justified in passing a remedial measure. It -would quite consist with the acknowledged and equitable principles of -jurisprudence that cheap and speedy redress for the tenant against such -uncontemplated and undue increase of game should be provided by -legislative enactment. All wrongs have their remedies; but the remedy in -such a case is not the giving an inalienable right to ground game to the -tenant, as that would amount to a wronging of the landlord, who might -wish to reserve such right at any cost of compensation to the tenant for -damage really inflicted. What is desirable is, that such damage should -be assessable, and the value thereof recoverable with the least possible -trouble and expense to the tenant. We think that this could be most -effectually secured by the statutory appointment in each county of a -competent, impartial, and reliable assessor whose duty it would be to -inspect and record the amount of game existing on every farm in that -county at the entry of the tenant, and who would be bound at any future -season on the application, either of the proprietor or of the tenant, to -re-inspect that farm and report as to whether there was any appreciable -increase in the stock of game thereon, and if so to issue an award and -valuation of the amount of damage thereby occasioned, the amount of -which the tenant would be legally entitled to deduct at payment of the -next half-year's rent. The expense of this inspection, according to a -fixed scale of charge, should be payable by the landlord where damages -were found exigible; but, otherwise, where the tenant's claim was -decided to be unfounded, the whole expense would, in equity, be payable -by him to the assessor. Of course, there are objections that can be -raised to the adoption of this, as of any other proposed compromise; but -on a careful consideration they will not be found insuperable. -Enthusiasts there are and will remain who will demand that an -inalienable right to ground game be gratuitously conferred upon them. -But by the great majority of agriculturalists who think temperately it -is agreed that the only possible settlement of the ground game question -is one of compromise. We have been credibly informed that in the -counties of Forfar and Caithness, farmers, to whom the right to ground -game had been made over, after short experience of the unexpected -trouble and expense connected with the due keeping down of hares and -rabbits, had entreated their landlords to relieve them of the burden, -which they had at first unreflectingly and gladly assumed. - -The damage done by game on agricultural farms in the Highlands is -altogether inconsiderable in affecting the agricultural prosperity of -the country. Our opinion is that if the truth were fairly told farmers -would confess that where the shoe pinches is in the pressure of high -rents caused by their own mutual competitions for farms, rather than the -trifling damage done by game. The bringing forward of the game question -has been merely the trotting out of a stalking horse. There were no -complaints of game or game laws in the good old times when the rents -were low. Our grandfathers and great-grandfathers were rejoiced to -furnish the laird with a good day's sport, in the fruits of which they -generally participated. Game must have done as much harm then as now, -but farmers in those days did not feel pushed to meet the rent day. They -could live on a smaller income; they did not seek or require the same -luxuries, and had less outlay in labour. Of course, a great deal has -happened since then, but it cannot be said that for this the lairds are -entirely to blame. Then to rent a farm was synonymous with making money; -now it as often means losing it. With higher rents, the result of a -keener demand, a farmer's profits have been sadly diminished, and he too -often exerts his ingenuity in discovering grounds of deduction from a -rent he feels to be burdensome. On the sound enough principle of -abolishing special privileges of all kinds he can fairly advocate the -abolition of hypothec, but when in the same breath he turns his back -upon that principle by calling for the creation of the extraordinary -privilege of an inalienable right to ground game, he asks too much and -has every probability of getting too little. - -There is no necessity for saying anything in reply to the attacks of a -few pastoral tenants or large sheep farmers. It is now matter of history -that by repeated and uncontradicted assertion a comparatively small and -uninfluential sheep-farmer clique had thoroughly convinced themselves, -and almost persuaded a portion of the public, that deer forests were -responsible for all the misery and poverty in the Highlands, for all the -cruel evictions which were carried out to make room, not for deer, but -for those very farmers who made such a noise. Having succeeded in -infecting some impressionable people, including not a few writers in the -press who knew as little of a deer forest and its surroundings as they -did of the great Sahara, there was at one time some danger of the outcry -becoming general; but the report of the Parliamentary Commission so -completely exposed the nakedness of the land, so thoroughly demonstrated -the absence of anything like reasonable foundation for complaint, as to -convince even the most extreme politician of the utter absurdity of the -position assumed. The cry never did find an echo in the heart of the -Highlander. He knew too well that the same justice had been meted out to -him and his by the predecessors of those very farmers, as they -themselves were then receiving at the hands of the wealthy Sassenach. He -knew that the evil of depopulation had been accomplished in the -Highlands, not by the introduction of deer, but of sheep on a large -scale by Lowland farmers before ever deer forests had come to be -considered a source of revenue. It was, therefore, somewhat amusing to -the Highland people to witness the descendants of these Lowland _novi -homines_ smitten upon the thigh and roaring lustily. The only bribe they -promised allies was the offer of mutton a twentieth of a penny per pound -cheaper, and Highlanders refused to be bought over at that price, -especially as its payment was more than doubtful. The deer forest -agitation has died a natural death. Peace to its ashes. - -We have hitherto confined ourselves to discussing the so-called -disadvantages of the Game Laws: we have yet to consider the facts on the -other side of the question, by which those disadvantages are altogether -overbalanced. As the space allotted to us in this Magazine, however, has -its limits, we will meanwhile content ourselves with enumerating -_seriatim_ a few of the manifold benefits accruing to the Highlands from -Game Laws and game. These are--(1), The great increase of rental from -land, which is manifestly beneficial, not only to the proprietors, but -to all classes in the country in which they spend their incomes; (2), -The residence in the Highlands for so many months yearly of wealthy -sportsmen, who, if game were unpreserved and consequently non-existent, -would have no inducement so to reside; (3), The remunerative employment -afforded by those sportsmen to the labouring classes; (4), The profits -made by shopkeepers and others in the various Highland towns, by -supplying the requirements of such sportsmen; (5), The opening up of the -country by railways, which could not have been remuneratively effected -for years yet to come in the Highlands without the traffic afforded by -the conveyance of sportsmen and their belongings; (6), The advancement -of civilization in the north, by the opening up of roads and the -building of handsome Lodges in remote localities, and the circulation of -money involved in the execution of these improvements. - -This enumeration might be extended to various minor details, but we -think we have said enough to satisfy every candid and impartial reader -that a very serious blow would be inflicted upon the prosperity of the -Highlands by the abolition of the Game Laws--laws which are by no means -the antiquated and useless remains of feudalism so strongly denounced by -Radicalism run mad. The truth of this need not be altogether left to -abstract speculation. We have a crucial instance in the case of the -American Republic, where the absence of such laws was felt to be so -prejudicial to the general welfare that game regulations were passed -much more stringent than in this country, and where, at present, as Mr -J.D. Dougall in his admirable treatise on "Shooting" informs us, "there -exist over one hundred powerful associations for the due prosecution of -Game law delinquents, and these associations are rapidly increasing, and -appear to be highly popular." "Here," he adds, "we have one struggling -Anti-Game Law League: in the States there are over one hundred -flourishing Pro-Game Law Leagues. The cry of a party here is:--Utterly -exterminate all game as vermin; leave nothing to shoot at. The -increasing general cry across the Atlantic is:--Preserve our game and -our fish for our genuine field sports." So long as our Game Laws -continue to increase the prosperity of the country without infringing -upon the liberty of the people, they stand in little need of defence; -are not much endangered by attack. - - EVAN MACKENZIE. - - - - -A REMARKABLE FEUDAL CUSTOM. - - -It is happy for the present age that the ancient manners and customs, -which were practised in the Highlands and Islands under the Feudal -system, have long since fallen into oblivion. It would fill volumes to -relate the numerous practices which were then resorted to by the feudal -lords, many of which were cruel in themselves, and entailed great -hardships on their submissive vassals who were bound to obey. As the -chiefs had full power over the life and death of their retainers, such -of them as betrayed any disobedience or opposition to the stern demands -of their superiors, rendered themselves liable to the severest -punishment, and frequently to nothing less than the penalty of death. -The national laws of Kings and Queens had then but little influence in -checking or counteracting the peremptory enactments of Feudalism. - -The following striking instance of the remarkable practices alluded to -will furnish a specimen to the readers of the _Celtic Magazine_, of what -took place in Skye, not much more than a century and a half ago. - -No sooner did the death of a tenant take place than the event was -announced to the laird of the soil. The Land-Stewart, or ground-officer, -incurred the displeasure of his master unless that announcement were -made no later than three days after it had occurred. Immediately after -the deceased farmer had been consigned to the grave, the disconsolate -widow, if he had left one, was waited upon by a messenger from the -landlord, to deliver up to him the best horse on the farm, such being -reckoned then the legal property of the owner of the soil. This rule was -as unalterable as the laws of the Medes and Persians. On large and -extensive farms the demand was submitted to without much complaint, by -the widow, children, or heirs of the deceased, but it pressed hard upon -the occupiers of small tenements of land, and particularly so on -helpless widows. But whoever refused, or attempted to evade this -heartless enactment, forfeited every right to their farms in future, and -became liable to have all their goods and chattels confiscated to the -laird. It frequently happened that a poor farmer had but one horse, yet -even this circumstance did not mitigate the cruelty of the practice; for -the solitary animal was taken away, and frequently so to the great -distress of the younger branches of the orphan family, who mourned -bitterly, and often shed tears for the loss of their favourite animal. - -A circumstance took place in the parish of Strath, which was, it is -said, the means of abolishing this abominable rule. About the beginning -of the seventeenth century a farmer, of the name of Mackinnon, was -gathered to his fathers in the parish, and after his interment the -laird's messenger visited the afflicted widow, and, as usual, demanded -the best horse on her little farm. Her husband having been a kinsman of -the laird, and expecting, in her distress, to receive some sympathy from -her chief, and at all events, some relaxation of that rule which had -been all along so resistlessly put in force, she showed much reluctance -to part with the animal. Seeing this, the officer became more and more -determined to have it. The widow, in the same manner, became more and -more determined in her refusal, and appealed to him in vain to submit -the case to the decision of her chief. The officer was inexorable, and -becoming incensed at the woman's pertinacity he turned from words to -blows, and inflicted some severe wounds on the helpless female to the -effusion of blood. She, however, retaliated, and through desperation, -assuming more courage, addressed her little son, a boy of four, that -stood weeping by her side, and said to him in her own emphatic -vernacular:-- - - "Cha mhac mar an t-athair thu, a' Lachlainn Oig, - Mar diol thu le fuil droch caithreamh do mhàthar; - 'S mar smàil thu gu bàs, le diòghaltas air chòir, - Am borb-fhear fiadhaich so, am mòrtair gu'n nàr!" - - _Literally translated:--_ - - "Thou art not a son like the father, my young Lachlan, - Unless thou requite with blood the ill-treatment of thy mother; - And unless thou dash to death, with due revenge, - This fierce and savage fellow--this bare-faced murderer!" - -The mother's charge to her boy cannot be said to be tempered with much -Christian feeling or principle, yet it was according to the generally -cherished practices of the system under which she lived. Then it was -that might was right, and revenge bravery. But to return to the -subject--the widow's cries and tears, excitement and eloquence, were all -in vain. The officer made off with the horse and delivered it to his -chief. - -Matters went on in this way, in various quarters, for a considerable -time, until at length, and about twenty years thereafter, the same -officer appeared on the same errand at a neighbouring widow's door, and -deprived her as usual of her best horse. The circumstance was brought -under the notice of Lachlan Og, and having been, no doubt, frequently -reminded of the cruelty inflicted by that official on his mother, was -determined to embrace the present befitting occasion for displaying his -dire revenge. It may be stated that young Lachlan was noted in the -district for his great agility and muscular strength. He made no delay -in pursuing the officer, and having come up to him at the distance of -some miles, he seized him by the neck and sternly demanded the widow's -horse, reminding him, at the same time, of the treatment inflicted by -him on his mother twenty years before. The officer stood petrified with -fear, seeing fierceness and revenge depicted so very unmistakably in -young Mackinnon's face. Yet still he grasped the animal by the halter, -and would not permit his youthful assailant to intermeddle with it. The -strife commenced, and that in right earnest, but in a few moments the -officer fell lifeless on the ground. Mackinnon, seizing his dirk, -dissevered the head from the body, and washed it in a fountain by the -wayside, which is still pointed out to the traveller as "_Tobar a' -chinn_," or "The Well of the Head." He then, at once, mounted the horse, -and galloped off to the residence of his chief, carrying the bloody head -in his left hand on the point of his dirk. His appearance at the main -entrance, with the ghastly trophy still bleeding in his hand, greatly -alarmed the menials of the mansion. Without dismounting he inquired if -Mackinnon was at home, and being told that he was, he said, "Go and tell -my Chief that I have arrived to present him with the head of his officer -'Donnuchadh Mor,' in case that he might wish to embalm it and hang it up -in his baronial hall as a trophy of heartlessness and cruelty." The -message was instantly delivered to the laird, who could not believe that -such a diabolical deed could be perpetrated by any of his clan, but -still he came out to see. On his appearance in the court, Lachlan Og -dismounted, did obeisance to his chief, and prominently exhibited the -dripping head, by lifting it up on his dirk. "What is this, Lachlan, -what murder is this?" asked the excited chief. Lachlan explained the -whole in full detail, and related the circumstances of the present -transaction, as well as of the inhuman treatment which his mother had -received when he was a child. The chieftain pondered, paused, and -declared that these cruelties had been practised unknown to him. He -granted a free pardon to Lachlan Og, appointed him his officer in room -of Donnuchadh Mor, and issued an edict over all his estate that -thereafter neither widow nor orphan, heir, nor kindred, would ever be -deprived by him of their horse, or of any other part of their property. - - SGIATHANACH. - - - - -GENERAL SIR ALAN CAMERON, K.C.B., - -COLONEL 79TH CAMERON HIGHLANDERS. - -[CONTINUED]. - - -CHAPTER IV. - -These acts of loyalty by the Highlanders in recognition of their Stewart -Princes were not long concluded when the same virtue was called into -action to defeat the intentions of _other rebels_ (as they were rudely -termed) from disputing the authority of the British Sovereign, or -dismembering any portion of his territory in the American colonies. An -abridged outline of what came to be the War of Independence may not be -out of place or uninteresting even at this distant date. - -North America had been chiefly colonised by the British people--the -settlements of the Dutch and French were few and unimportant. The -colonists were in the enjoyment of liberal institutions, and the country -being fertile, the population rapidly increased; while, at the same -time, immigrants from Europe continued to arrive annually on its shores. -The mother country being oppressed with debt, it was proposed to make -her Transatlantic subjects contribute a portion towards her relief. This -resulted in the imposition of a stamp duty on various articles. The -Americans would neither afford assistance, nor would they sanction the -taxation proposed to be placed on tea, &c.; and at a meeting of Congress -resolutions of separation were adopted, followed by the Act of -Declaration of Independence. George III. and his Parliament determined -on chastising the recusants, and hence the commencement of the American -Civil War. Jealousy of Great Britain, and a desire to humble her, -induced France to join the Americans, as also did Spain. Against the -combined efforts of these allies, however, the British sustained -unsullied their ancient renown. The war continued with alternate -successes, and disappointments to the contending parties for about six -years, at the end of which honourable peace was concluded between them, -and America was henceforth declared an Independent State; and in -acknowledgment of the able services rendered to her, the colonists -elected General Washington as the first president of the new Republic. - -During the progress of the war the Americans were guilty of many acts of -cruelty to whomsoever fell into their hands, some of which fell to the -share of Alan Cameron. The Royal Highland Regiment, to which he was -attached, was stationed in Quebec when Canada was threatened with -invasion by General Arnold at the head of 3000 men. The colonel of -Alan's regiment (Maclean) who had been detached up the river St -Lawrence, returned by forced marches and entered Quebec without being -noticed by Arnold. The fortifications of the city had been greatly -neglected, and were scarcely of any use for the purposes of defence. The -strength of the British within its walls was under 1200, yet they -repulsed the repeated attacks of the American generals. Here it was that -Alan Cameron came for the first time into hostile contact with the -enemy, and both his regiment and himself acquitted themselves with -great gallantry--on one occasion in particular, when an assault was made -by Generals Arnold and Montgomery, in which the latter was killed and -the other wounded. Arnold foiled in this attempt, established himself on -the heights of Abraham, thus blockading the town and reducing the -garrison to great straits; but this was all he succeeded in, as he was -beaten in every attempt to gain possession of the lower town, by the -intrepid gallantry of Colonel Maclean and his Highlanders. - -On the approach of spring General Arnold despairing of success, withdrew -his forces, raised the siege, and evacuated the whole of Canada. -Released from this defence the battalion entered on enterprises in -different parts of the province, and to enable it to do so more -effectually, Colonel Maclean transformed a limited number of it into a -cavalry corps, for out-post duties and otherwise acting as _scouts_. -Of this body Alan Cameron got the command. Daring and sometimes -over-zealous, he often led himself and his company into situations of -desperate danger. On one occasion they were surrounded by a strong force -of the enemy, from which they escaped with the utmost difficulty, and -only by the personal prowess of each individual and the fleetness of -their steeds. The Americans communicated with the British commander to -the effect that "this fellow (Alan) and his men had been guilty of the -_un_military proceeding of tampering with the native Indians in their -loyalty to American interests," stating a determination of vengeance as -the consequence. It is not known whether Alan was apprised of this -charge or not; at any rate he continued his incursions for some time. -The threat was not unintentional, as the succeeding events proved, and -an unfortunate opportunity enabled the enemy to give it effect. Alan and -nearly one-half of his company were seized. The latter they made -prisoners of war, but committed him to the jail of Philadelphia as a -common felon, where he was kept for two years and treated with the most -vindictive harshness. This proceeding was denounced by the British -General as "contrary to all military usage," but his representations -proved unavailing. - -The ardent nature of the imprisoned Highlander chafed under restraint, -and finding no hope of release he was constant in vigilance to procure -his escape. This he was at last enabled to effect through his jailer -having neglected to fasten the window of his place of confinement, which -was on the third storey. His ingenuity was put to the severest test. He, -however, managed to tie part of the bed-clothes to the bars of the -window, and descended with its aid. The blanket was either too short, or -it gave way; anyhow Alan came to the ground from a considerable height, -and being a heavy man, in the fall he severely injured the ankles of -both feet. In this crippled state he was scarcely able to get away to -any great distance, but somehow managed to elude the search of his -enemies. - -Although the Americans, as a nation, were in arms against Great Britain, -still among them were many families and individuals who were slow to -forget their ties of kinship with the people of the "old country," and -Philadelphia contained many possessing such a feeling. Alan, on his -first arrival in that country, became acquainted with and obtained the -friendship of more than one of these families. To the house of one of -them, in his emergency, he decided on going. This was a Mr Phineas Bond -(afterwards Consul-General in that city) who received the prisoner -without hesitation, and treated him with the utmost consideration. Alan, -however, before he would accept shelter and hospitality, explained to Mr -Bond his condition and how he became a prisoner, adding that he merely -desired rest for a day or two to enable him to escape towards the -British cantonments. Mr Bond made him welcome and promised him every -assistance. Both were fully impressed with the danger and delicacy of -their position, and Alan like an honourable soldier was now more anxious -about that of his host than his own. He, therefore, embraced the very -first opportunity of relieving his chivalrous friend of so undesirable a -guest. - -Without entering into details as to the nature of his escape, it is enough -to state that after frequent chances of being recaptured, he arrived at a -station where some British troops were quartered. Among these were some -officers and men with whom he had served in the early part of the -campaign, but he had become so altered in condition that they scarcely -believed him to be the Alan Cameron they knew. His relative (Colonel -Maclean) sent his aide-camp to have him conveyed to head-quarters, on -arrival at which he was most attentive to do everything that could be -done. Medical inspection however, pronounced Alan unfit for active service -for at least a year. This was disappointing news to him, as he feared his -career in the army was likely in consequence to come to an untimely end. -Colonel Maclean recommended him to repair at once to Europe and procure -the most skilful advice for the treatment of his wounds and broken limbs. -Alan concurred and returned to England on sick leave, where he arrived in -1780. - -He had not been many months at home when news arrived of the conclusion -of the war; and with that happy consummation Colonel Maclean's corps was -reduced, the officers were placed on the "provincial list"--a grade not -known in the army at the present day--Government, in addition to their -pay, giving them and the other men grants of lands in the following -proportions--5000 acres to a field officer; 3000 to a captain; 500 to a -subaltern; 200 to a sergeant; and a 100 to each soldier. These -conditions were applicable only to those who remained in or returned -within a given time to the colony. In the case of absentees one-half of -the above number of acres was the extent of the grants, but they were -allowed to sell their lots. As Alan had been promoted to the rank of -Captain he had 1500 acres which he turned into cash. This capital and -his pay was the only means possessed by this "provincial officer." He -was, however, only one of many similarly situated on the termination of -the American War. - - -CHAPTER V. - -The transport ship brought home other invalids besides Alan Cameron, one -of whom, Colonel Mostyn, and himself came to be on terms of warm -friendship. This gentleman, descended from one of the best families in -Wales, and having many relatives resident in London, was of considerable -service to Alan in the matter of introductions to the society of these -relations and other friends. "American officers," as those returned from -the war, were termed, were welcomed wherever met with. Among them Alan was -not the least distinguished, perhaps the more so on account of his -unfortunate adventure with his Lochaber adversary in the duel; and his -subsequent distinguished career in America. - -At the house of one of Colonel Mostyn's relatives, Alan met a young lady -who was destined not many months after to become his wife. This was the -only child of Nathaniel Philips of Sleebeich Hall, Pembrokeshire. The -heiress of a wealthy squire was beyond Alan's expectations; besides he -understood there were more than one aspirant for her hand, who were -themselves possessors of many broad acres, therefore it could scarcely -occur to the mind of the "provincial officer" to enter the lists against -such influential competitors. However that may be, Alan's success with -the lady may have been much the same as that of another with Desdemona: -"Her father bade me tell the story of my life, the battles, sieges, and -fortunes I had passed. I ran it through, even from my boyish days; of -the moving accidents by flood and field; of the hair-breadth 'scapes and -the imminent deadly breach; and of being taken by the insolent foe. To -these things would Desdemona seriously incline, and devour up my -discourse. When I did speak of some distressful stroke, that I had -suffered, she gave me a world of sighs. She wished she had not heard it; -but bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, I should teach him how to -tell my story, and _that_ would woo her." Duke--"I think this tale would -win my daughter too." - -Alan Cameron became the favoured suitor of Miss Philips, but both felt -the barrier of the Squire's consent to be insurmountable. Nor was there -any circumstance likely to arise in favour of Alan's worldly position to -make him acceptable to Mr Philips as his son-in-law. Honourable conduct -acted on Alan's feelings, and directed the proper course to be pursued. -He made his visits to the house of their mutual friend less often and at -greater intervals. Squire Philips was at the time, and had for some few -years, been a widower; and it was reported and believed that he was -contemplating a second marriage. Moreover, the intended spouse was -scarcely yet out of her teens, while he was past middle age, and his -daughter was also her senior. Her father's intentions created -disappointment, if not dissatisfaction in Miss Philips' mind, which, it -is alleged, was one of the causes that moved her not to view elopement -with serious objection. There is no record of the occurrence to guide -further reference than that Alan Cameron and Miss Philips had betaken -themselves to Gretna Green without the knowledge or consent of her -father, where marriages were solemnised without the preliminary -formalities necessary at Hanover Square. Notwithstanding that a pursuit -ensued either by the parent or other friends, it was not successful in -interrupting the marriage of the runaway pair. - -Instead of returning to London with his bride, Alan went towards the -capital of his native country, where he and his wife remained for -several months. It now, however, became almost a necessity that he would -get into some office, the emoluments of which would add to his slender -income. After some delay he was fortunate in getting an appointment -through the intercession of a friend with whom he had served in America. -This appointment was on the militia staff of one of the English -counties. Alan retained it until the fortune of events reduced the -displeasure of the father-in-law to that state when mutual friends -thought they could do something to induce the Squire to forgive and -forget. These friends did not fail to take advantage of this state of -feeling, and embraced the opportunity to obtain for Alan an interview -with his wife's father, which resulted, as desired by all, in full -forgiveness to both son and daughter. This reconciliation, like the -wooing of Miss Philips, was also somewhat after the manner of that of -Desdemona's father, who replied, "I had rather adopt a child than get -it. Come hither. I do give thee that with all my heart, which--but thou -hast already--with all my heart, I would keep from thee. For your sake I -am glad I have no other child, thy escape would teach me tyranny." This -act of grace was important to Alan, as the allowance to his wife, which -followed, enabled them to live in affluence in comparison with their -past state. - -Squire Philips had not married at the time rumour had formerly assigned, -but he did enter into that state, and that after he had become a -sexagenarian. By the second marriage the Squire--unlike the father in -the play--"had another child." This child is yet living, in the person -of the venerable Dowager Countess of Lichfield, herself the mother of a -numerous family of sons and daughters, including the present peer, as -also the wife of the noble lord the member for the county of Haddington. - -_(To be Continued)._ - - - - - HIGHLAND MELODIES.--The Gaelic Society of London finding that regret - has been frequently expressed that the plaintive melodies of the - Highlands should be allowed to pass away, have, we are glad to - learn, taken steps to preserve them in a permanent form, and are now - preparing for publication a selection of the best and most popular - airs. The verses will be given in Gaelic and English, and the - pianoforte accompaniments are arranged with special attention to - their distinctive characteristics by Herr Louis Honig, Professor of - Music, London; while slight variations are introduced to render the - melodies more acceptable to the general taste. Editions of the Dance - Tunes of our country are numerous, but the Gaelic vocal airs, set to - music, have not hitherto been attainable. The issue is limited to - 250 copies, which the Society are patriotically supplying at cost - price--namely, 10s 6d per copy; or free by post to the Colonies for - 12s. We feel assured that this want has only to be known to secure - the necessary number of subscribers for the few remaining copies. - - - - -_LITERATURE._ - - -_THE "ARYAN ORIGIN OF THE CELTIC RACE AND LANGUAGE."_ - -The above is the title on the outside of a book by the Rev. Canon -Bourke, president of St Jarlath's College, Tuam, Ireland. The book is in -every respect a wonderful and interesting one to the Celt, at home and -abroad, whether he be Scotch or Irish. Time was when the Scottish Celt -looked with great suspicion on his Irish cousin, while the Irishman had -no great love for his Scottish neighbour. Even yet a good deal of this -feeling prevails, particularly among the uneducated. - -Our own experience, however, has been that the Irish Celt is not behind -the Scotch Gael in generosity and all the other virtues which are the -special characteristics of the race. The book before us is in several -respects calculated to strengthen the friendship which is being rapidly -formed, and which ought to subsist among the intelligent of each of the -two great branches of the Celtic family--Scotch and Irish. Frequent -references of an appreciating and commendable kind are made in this work -to the labours of Scotchmen in the field of Celtic literature. Canon -Bourke, like a true-hearted son of Ireland, with that magnanimity -characteristic of the race, holds out his right hand to every Scottish -scholar in the field of Celtic or Keltic research, and says in -effect--_Cia mar a tha thu? Buaidh gu'n robh air d'obair!_ - -Although the "Aryan Origin of the Celtic Races and Language" is all the -title on the cover, inside the book, the title is much more comprehensive, -consisting, as it does, altogether of 27 lines. But even this large and -comprehensive title-page does not give anything like an adequate idea of -the extent and variety of the contents of the book. Taking it up with the -expectation of finding a learned treatise on the Aryan origin of the -Celtic race and Celtic languages one will be disappointed; but no one will -be disappointed with the work as a whole, for though its contents do not -bear throughout on the above subject, they are all thoroughly Celtic; and -as a collection of Celtic gleanings, will well repay a perusal. It is, -indeed, a sort of Celtic repository--the writer's Celtic reading for many -years being apparently thrown into a crucible, and having undergone a -certain process there, are forged out into the handsome and bulky volume -before us. It has, however, all the appearance of having been very hastily -got up. Indeed, in the preface, which is dated, "Feast of the Nativity of -the B.V.M., 1875," we are told that a mere accident has given the first -impulse to the composition of the work, and that accident appears to have -been that at a social meeting of Irish clergymen in 1874 the subject of -conversation turned on the language and antiquities of Ireland. - -After doing justice to the "Four Masters," of whom Irishmen are, with -good reason, so very proud, the decay of the Gaelic language in Ireland -is alluded to, and the cause of that decay described at some length, and -it is pointed out that, in consequence of this neglect, when an Irish -patriot appeals to the sentiment of his race, the appeal must be made, -not in the language of old Ireland, but in the language of the -conquering Saxon. Father Mullens in his lament for the Celtic language -of his countrymen "must wail his plaint in Saxon words and Saxon idiom, -lest his lamentation should fall meaningless on the ears of Ireland." -And this decay Father Mullens pathetically describes:-- - - It is fading! it is fading! like the leaves upon the trees, - It is dying! it is dying! like the Western Ocean breeze, - It is fastly disappearing as the footsteps on the shore, - Where the Barrow and the Erne, and Loch Swilly's waters roar; - Where the parting sunbeam kisses the Corrib in the west, - And the ocean like a mother clasps the Shannon to its breast: - The language of old Eire, of her history and name, - Of her monarchs and her heroes, of her glory and her fame; - The sacred shrine where rested through her sunshine and her gloom - The spirit of her martyrs as their bodies in the tomb! - The time-wrought shell, where murmured through centuries of wrong - The secret shrine of freedom in annal and in song, - Is surely fastly sinking into silent death at last, - To live but in the memory and relics of the past! - -In Ireland as in some other countries (perhaps we may say with some -degree of truth in our own Highlands of Scotland) the simple uneducated -peasants are, in the law courts, treated with the greatest display of -harshness because they cannot give evidence in the English tongue. Canon -Bourke refers to a case of this nature that occurred during the last -year in Tuam. A witness, Sally Ryan, who appeared to have understood -English, but could not speak it, and consequently would not give her -evidence in that language, was removed as an incompetent witness! Is -that justice? We know that in the courts in Scotland a good deal of -harshness is occasionally used towards witnesses who cannot speak -English. - -The fact remains, that in the Highlands there are many whose only -language is Gaelic, and if their Saxon rulers have a desire to -administer the law justly they must learn to deal more gently with such -as are ignorant of the English language. We also know from personal -observation that Gaelic witnesses frequently give evidence by means of -very incompetent interpreters, thoroughly ignorant of the idiom of the -language, and are thus very often misrepresented. A bungling interpreter -bungles a witness, and nothing is more calculated to invalidate evidence -than being given in a loose incoherent manner. On this point we are at -one with the learned Canon Bourke. - -Considerable space is devoted to the pronunciation of the word -Celtic--the question being whether it should be pronounced Keltic or -Seltic. Professor Bourke argues, and gives good reasons, that it should -be written Keltic and pronounced Keltic. He is unquestionably right in -his contention for the pronunciation, but as we have no K in the Scotch -or Irish Gaelic alphabet it is difficult to agree with him as to the -spelling, but the fact remains that it is almost universally pronounced -Seltic and written Celtic, and has in that form taken such a root that -it can scarcely be ever altered. What then is the use of fighting over -it? In the compass of this necessarily short review it is quite -impossible to give an adequate idea of the work before us. While the -work exhibits great learning and research, we think the rev. author -might have bestowed more care on such a valuable work. Several -typographical errors present themselves, and in many cases the -Professor's composition exhibits clear evidence of undue haste in the -writing and arrangement. But _humanum est errare_. Nothing is perfect, -and the book before us is no exception to the general rule. The Celtic -student will, however, find it invaluable, and no one who takes an -interest in Celtic philology, antiquity, manners, and customs (indeed -everything and anything Celtic), should be without a copy; for it is a -perfect store of Celtic learning. - - - - -_THE SCOTTISH GAEL, OR CELTIC MANNERS AS PRESERVED AMONG THE -HIGHLANDERS. By the LATE JAMES LOGAN, F.S.A.S. Edited with Memoir -and Notes by the_ REV. ALEX. STEWART, "Nether Lochaber." _Issued in 12 -Parts at 2s each. Inverness: Hugh Mackenzie, Bank Lane. Edinburgh: -Maclachlan & Stewart. Glasgow:_ John Tweed. - -We have before us the first and second parts of this valuable work. The -Frontispiece is a coloured plate of two Highland Chiefs dressed in the -Stewart and Gordon tartans; and the other engravings, which are well got -up, are in every case _fac-similes_ of those in the original Edition, -which had become so scarce that it was difficult to procure it even at a -very high price. Logan's _Scottish Gael_ has long been held as the best -authority on the antiquities and national peculiarities of Scotland, -especially on those of the Northern or Gaelic parts of the country where -some of the peculiar habits of the aboriginal race have been most -tenaciously retained. - -The valuable superintendence and learned notes of "Nether-Lochaber," -one of our best Celtic scholars and antiquarians, will very materially -enhance the value of the work, which is well printed in clear bold -type, altogether creditable to the printer and to the editor, but, -particularly so, to the public-spirited publisher. We have no hesitation -in recommending the work to all who take an interest in the Literature of -the Gael. - - - - -SONG OF THE SUMMER BREEZE. - -_Dedicated by permission to the_ REV. GEORGE GILFILLAN. - - When balmy spring - Has ceased to wring - The youthful bud from the old oak tree, - And the sweet primrose - No longer glows - On the glad hill-side by the sunfilled sea; - When the Cuckoo's wail - Has ceased to go - O'er hill and dale - In a pensive flow, - And the deepest shade - In the woods is made, - And the brightest bloom on the fields is laid; - When the lord of light - With a lover's pride - Pours a beauty bright - O'er his blushing bride, - That lies below - His glowing gaze, - In a woodland glow, and a flowery blaze; - When winter's gloom - Of wind and rain - Is lost in the bloom - Of the flower-lit plain, - And his ruins grey - Have died away - In the love-sent breath of the smiling day; - When the beauteous hours - Of the twilight still - With dewy tears in their joy-swelled eyes - See the peaceful flowers - On the cloudless hill - Send scented gifts to the grateful skies; - And the wave-like grain - O'er the sea-like plain - In peaceful splendour essays to rise;-- - From my silent birth in the flowery land - Of the sunny south - At time's command. - As still as the breath of a rosy mouth, - Or rippling wave on the sighing sand, - Or surging grass by the stony strand, - I come with odour of shrub and flower - Stolen from field and sunny bower - From lowly cot and lordly tower. - Borne on my wings the soul-like cloud-- - That snowy, mountain-shading shroud - That loves to sleep - On the sweet hill's crest, - As still as the deep - With its voice at rest,-- - Is wafted in dreams to its peaceful nest; - At my command - The glowing land - Scorched by the beams of the burning sun, - Listing the sounds of the drowsy bees, - Thirsting for rain, and the dews that come - When light has died on the surging seas, - Awakes to life, and health, and joy; - I pour a life on the sickening trees, - And wake the birds to their sweet employ, - Amidst the flowers of the lowly leas; - From the sweet woodbine - That loves to twine - Its arms of love round the homes of men, - Or laugh in the sight - Of the sun's sweet light - 'Midst the flower gemmed scenes of the song-filled glen, - And the full-blown rose that loves to blush - 'Midst the garden bowers - Where the pensive hours - Awaiting the bliss of the summer showers - List to the songs of the warbling thrush,-- - I steal the sweets of their fragrant breath; - From the lily pale - That seems to wail - With snow-like face - And pensive grace - O'er the bed that bends o'er the deeds of death, - I brush the tears - That she loves to shed - For the early biers - Of the lovely dead. - When still twilight with dew-dimmed eye - Sees the lord of light from the snow-white sky, - Descend at the sight - Of the coming night, - 'Midst the waves of the deathful sea to die! - When glowing day - Has passed away - In peace on the tops of the dim-seen hills, - That pour from their hearts the tinkling rills - That dance and leap - In youthful pride, - To the brimming river, deep and wide, - That bears them in rest to their distant sleep; - And the gladsome ocean - That ever presses - The bridal earth in fond caresses, - Rages no more in a wild commotion; - When the distant hills appear to grow - At the touch of evening bright, - And the sunless rivers seem to go - With a deeper music in their flow, - Like dreams thro' the peaceful night, - I fade away - With the dying day, - Like the lingering gleam of the sun's sweet ray! - - DAVID R. WILLIAMSON. - - - * * * * * - - -TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES - -The spellings "ahead" and "a-head" are both used in this text. - -The following amendments have been made to the text: - -p. 106 "wont" changed to "won't"; - -p. 114 "familar" changed to "familiar"; - -p. 115 "buccolic" changed to "bucolic"; - -p. 122 "Soverign" changed to "Sovereign"; - -p. 124 "similiarly" changed to "similarly"; - -p. 129 "errane" changed to "errare"; - -p. 130 full stop added after "DAVID R". - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Celtic Magazine, Vol I, No. IV, -February 1876, by Various - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CELTIC MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 1876 *** - -***** This file should be named 40267-8.txt or 40267-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/2/6/40267/ - -Produced by Tamise Totterdell, Margo von Romberg and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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