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be fairly recognised that one of the best objects which any Celtic society can set before it is to try if it can in any way devise means by which those who are left of the race in this country may be allowed to remain on their own land. (Applause.) It seems to me that people who some years ago would not have been thought typical Highlanders at all are now coming to the front and being valued for the preservation of the people on the land. (Applause.) It is not proper, perhaps, here to discuss any question which might verge on politics, to discuss whether the crofter system is the best system that could exist or whether other systems might be better; but this generally, I think, we all recognise, that under some system, whatever it may be, it is at least an object to be desired and an object to be pursued by all lawful means- that we should try that what is left of the Highland race in the country should remain in it and still have the means to develop(Loud applause which drowned the rest of the sentence.) And if in no other way, we can at least do it by directing public attention to it, by reprobating in the strongest way we can, by exposing to public contempt if we can any person who in an arbitrary or tyrannical manner tries to turn the Highlanders out of their holdings. (Cheers.) I think there is no more beautiful thing connected with the subject than what has been elicited recently with reference to an event that has taken place not far from here(hear, hear, and laughter)—and I think besides, gentlemen, that we all as Highlanders feel strongly about it. (Applause.) But there is one class among us who may perhaps be expected to sympathise more with the rights of property than with men, and I think it is exceedingly gratifying to find that with reference to the Leckmelm evictions not one single proprietor has said one word whatever in favour of what has been done. (Cheers.) Every word that has been spoken by the Highland proprietors regarding the victions has been spoken in direct and strong reprobation of them. (Cheers.) I hope, gentlemen, that Highland Societies and Celtic Societies are entering on a new era that will at least give rise to a strong public opinion in favour of what I have stated, and doing that and thinking that, I have much pleasure in proposing the toast committed to me. (Applause.) But, gentlemen, this toast is not contined to Highland societies alone, but it includes literary societies of all kinds, and while we can sympathise with the objects of other literary societies, I think that for the object we are particularly directing attention to at present we can claim their sympathy, and I am quite sure we will get it. (Cheers.) I beg to couple the toast with the name of Mr William Bain, secretary of the Inverness Literary Institute. (Cheers.)

Mr BAIN replied in a few neat sentences, saying that it was always understood that the Gaelic Society was an offshoot of the Literary Institute, which he had the honour to represent, and certainly that association had no cause to be ashamed of its offspring. (Cheers.) The Gaelic Society was now perhaps the most important and influential Society in the north. (Hear, hear.) On behalf of the Literary Institute and other kindred societies, he begged to thank them for the hearty manner in which the toast was proposed and received. (Applause.)

The Rev. A. D. MACKENZIE, Kilmorack, proposed the toast of Highland Education. He said I remember reading somewhere of a schoolmaster of the olden time who was noted for his kindness to his scholars. When he entered his schoolroom of a morning he made a low bow, and treated them generally with a consideration which was less usual in those days than, happily, it is in our own. Being a ked by his friends his reason for such singular courtesy, his answer was somewhat thus, "I look upon these boys as the future legislators, judges, and warriors of my country, and I honour them in anticipation." (Applause.) With a feeling akin to this estimable teacher, I am desirous, in moving this toast, of bespeaking the energetic action of this Society, and through you of your affiliated societies, on behalf of a class of boys, regarding some of whom, at least, if we may judge from the past, the very highest hopes may be cherished-I mean the Gaelic-speaking children of our Highland schools. (Applause.) Need I remind you of Ewan Maclauchlan, who went in his philabeg to Aberdeen from the braes of Lochaber, and won at once the highest bursary for Latin composition, or of Alexander Murray, the son of a Highland shepherd, so poor that he had to teach his son his letters with a piece of burnt stick on the back of a wool card, and yet that son became one of the most distinguished philologists of his age. (Applause.) Or, if you will pardon it from me, my own uncle, the late Allan Mackenzie of Knockbain, who went a boy of thirteen from the Parish School of Stornoway to Aberdeen and won the second bursary of his time for Latin composition. But why mention instances when they can be counted by hundreds who have gone from our Highland glens and villages, and made a name for themselves and for their country. (Applause.) There may be some of you, gentlemen, who have never had occasion to notice the disadvantages under which many of our Highland children labour on going to school. It is no little disadvantage to be ignorant of the language in which the instruction is bestowed. Not to speak of the feeling of isolation, to which they are exposed for a time, there is the positive inability to understand the questions put to them. If they understand them at all it is as much by the eyes as by the ears. Aye, it sometimes takes them a whole year of hard work ere they are on a par with the others in understanding the work of the school. But more than this, their organs are ill-adapted for acquiring some of the sounds which characterise the

1

English language The sounds of th, whether in the word the or in the word thick, cost them no little labour. I have seen a teacher labour for five minutes with the word thong, and to little purpose. It was tong or song or fong. Strange to say, the Welsh have those sounds very prevalent, so had and have the Greeks, but the Gael, the Roman, and the German knew them not. I ask you, then, is it fair, is it reasonable, that children born under such a disa Ivan'age should not have some compensation-(applause)-Beeing that it is, to say the least of it, their misfortune and not their fault, and if so I come to the practical remedy. The members of this Society are well aware that years ago, through the exertion of some friends of the Highlands in Edinburgh, aided by Mr Fraser-Mackintosh, the Government, through their Education Department, conceded the teaching of Gaelic during school hours. What has come of it? Nothing, so far as I know; I have not heard of a single Gaelic class in any school within the range of my observation. Nor do I wonder, for School Boards are against it, teachers are against it, and even parents are against it, entailing, as it does, additional labour and no remuneration. But now one step further, let it be conceded that Gaelic be made a special subject, and that a pass in it be made equal to a pass in French and German, and why not? Let the pass be first for reading the Gaelic Bible-next for reading and spelling-next for reading, spelling, and writing-and next for reading, writing, spelling, and parsing; and then an act of justice, certainly of tardy justice, will be done to these children. You shall have a class in every Highland school. A mighty change will be effected in the minds of all concerned, and you will secure for the language which you love an additional artery of life. (Cheers.) He coupled the toast with Mr D. Campbell.

Mr DONALD CAMPBELL, editor of the Northern Chronicle, in reply said, that being called upon unexpectedly since he entered the room, he could hardly be expected to do justice to such an important toast as "Gaelic Education." He ought, however, to know something about it, for he had himself been originally a schoolmaster. (Hear, hear.) H. was afraid to say how long that was ago. He was strongly in favour of teaching Gaelic in Highland schools. (Cheers.) He held it to be one of the most ancient and one of the most valuable languages we had-(hear, hear)-and declared that it was a disgrace to Highlanders, and especially to Highland School Boards, to have so long neglected it in the Schools. (Applause.) Mr Campbell became eloquent and enthusiastic in favour of the Highlanders, their literature and language, and declared that he did not see why they should not res; ond in Gaelic at the day of judgment. (Loud laughter.)

Captain GRANT, Royal Tartan Warehouse, in a few words proposed the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council, to which the Provost replied, saying that it always gave him and the other members of Council the greatest pleasure to encourage the Gaelic Society, and he was more convinced to-night than ever he was that the Society deserved the active support of all true Highlanders. (Cheers.)

Mr G. J. CAMPBELL, Solicitor, proposed the next toast-Clann nan Gaidheal an Guaillibh a' Cheile. After introducing the toast with a few remarks in Gaelic, Mr Campbell said-The subject of my toast is at once social and patriotic, and to a considerable extent egotistic. In its social aspect this sentiment (which is the motto of our Society) suits in the abstract all societies or combinations of men, and such a gathering as we have present this evening is but an outward and visible sign of that "happiness of life" which goes a long way to negative the supposed truism that " society is no comfort to one not sociable." We come to the festive table once a year to renew our rusty friendships, make new acquaintances in the march of progress, and thus, as iron sharpeneth iron, we help to deoxidise one another in matters of special interest to our Society. This Society has now lived up to the end of its first decade, and from the small beginning made by a few Highlanders in Inverness in 1871, we have increased year by year until we have now about 400 members on our roll. (Applause.) But this is not the only outcome of the start then made, for we may say that several, if not most of the Celtic societies throughout the country have come to the front, if not all with new life, at least with renewed energy since our appearance on the stage. (Applause.) This illustrates the prescience of the gentlemen who instituted this Society, and the characteristic trait in the Highlanders, that when they have a good object in view, notwithstanding all obloquy and opposition, they stand true to their purpose and keep shoulder to shoulder, come weal come woe. (Applause.) I apprehend, gentlemen, that this toast means more than can be gathered from the tame and not sufficiently expressive paraphrase of it which can be rendered into idiomatic English. It means more than simply a lot of men standing side by side as our vulgar English version has it-more than simple association or co-operation. I take it to convey the idea not only of cohesion, but incorporation of the various members of the body Celtic into one living mass, so that by its unified influence it can command that admiration and respect which a disorganised body has no power to attract. The Society must be composed of living and active members, and in order to attain the common object they must act with that determination and solidity of purpose represented in the Highland chief's noble reply to his tormenter

False Wizard, avaunt! I have marshalled my clan,
Their swords are a thousand, their bosoms are one!

(Applause.) Without this feeling pervading our ideas of our duty as members of this brave and noble race represented by the name Highlander we shall, with all the counteracting and baneful influences at work for our denationalisation be very much in danger of falling into that nomadism which Carlyle so much detests, and which he "perceives to be prohibitory of any good whatsoever." Carlyle indeed speaks of "that singular phenomenon" which he calls swarmery-or the "gathering of men in swarms," and with evident irony exclaims, "and what prodigies they are in the habit of doing and believing when thrown into that miraculous condition." There is much truth, however, under this sarcastic crust, and though we may not attain to the summit of our ambition, "Highlanders shoulder to shoulder" can yet be a power for good in the special fields which we are now exploring and cultivating as a Galic Society, and this field has a wide range as seen from our constitution. (Hear, hear.) The patriotic as ect of the toast is but an enlargement of what I have already said. We are not always successful in carrying out our aims. We recently, both last year and this, tried to procure a census of the Gaelicspeaking population of Scotland, a work which could be easily and inexpensively accomplished with the general census, but Government has refused. Probably a little more enthusiasm could have influenced the Home Secretary, but I regret to say we have failed this time. There are important questions connected with the relations of the people to the land under the consideration not only of Highlanders, but of Scotchmen in general, though this society has taken no part in these. I do not see that the Celt should be contemned because he takes a lively interest in a matter of so much importance to him. The Highlander is a peace-loving, law abiding, loyal subject, but while he does not for. ever submit to oppression without grumbling under the yoke, he is not to be classed with knaves and traitors. A writer to whom I have already referred puts the question, "Whose land was this of Britain? God's, who made it. Who of God's creatures had right to live in it? The wolves and bisons. Yes, they; till one with a better right showed himself. The Celt, aboriginal savage of Europe,' as a snarling antiquary names him, arrived, pretending to have a better right, and did accordingly, not without pain to the bison, make good the same. He had a better right to that piece of land, viz., a right to turn it to use." Highlanders, let us not see our land again under the dominion of the wolves and bisons !—

Now, chiefs and senators, ye patriot band,
Born to illume, protect, and bless the land:
While loose furies rage in other climes,
And Nature sickens at her children's crimes,
Draw close those ties so fine, and yet so strong,
That gently lead the willing soul along;

Nor crush beneath oppression's iron rod

The kindred image of the parent God;

Nor think that rigour's galling chain can bind

The native force of our superior mind.

"Twas not from such the glowing ardour rose,
That followers drew to Wallace and Montrose.

(Applause.) I must be done, but without exhausting my subject. For how much of liberty and progress is our country indebted to our Covenanters, army, navy, fencibles, volunteers, and the various patriotic-truly patriotic-associations that shed lustre on our national history! Let me close by adapting those glowing lines of Burns

(Loud applause.)

Oh, let us not, like snarling curs,

In wrangling be divided,

Till slap come in an unco loon,
And wi' a rung decide it.

Be Highland still, to Highlands true,
Amang oorsels united,

For never but by Highland hands
Must Highland wrongs be righted.

Mr COLIN CHISHOLM, who was warmly applauded, said-Fhir na cathrach, fhir na bonn-chathrach, agus a dhaoin-uaisle,-Tha iad a' cur mu m' choinneambsa facal no dha a radh, an cois na thuirt mo charaid Mr Caimbeul, ann an luaidh air "Clann nan Gaidheal an guaillibh a cheile." Anns a' chiad dol sios, is duilich leam gu bheil agam ri aideachadh nach 'eil iad aig a' h-uile h-am cho dileas "an guaillibh a cheile"'s a bu mhath leam iad a bhith. Is tric mi smaointeachadh leam fhein gu 'm faodteadh a radh m' ar timchioll rud-eigin mar thuirt Iain Manntach

San nair theid gach cinne a dh-aon-taobh
Bidh sinne sgaoilte mu chnoc.

Agus cha 'n e mhain gu bheil cuid de na comuinn Ghaidhealach nach 'eil cho aonsgeulach 's a bu mhath leinn, ach is trom 's is duilich leam gu bheil aineart agus foirneart fo'n leth a muigh gu tric a' sgaoileadh mo luchd-duthcha gaolech agus ga 'n cur fer au doirbh dhaibh a bhi 'an guaillibh a cheile." (Iolach.) Nach bu truagh an t-atharrachadh a thainig air sluagh na duthcha so aig toiseach na linn so fhein, an uair a chaidh 5400 de

na Gaidheil fhogradh a Gleann Garaidh, Cnoideart, Stratbghlais, agus Coire-Mhonaidh, agus an cur a null thar fairge gu America Bhreatunnach. Goirid roimh 'n am sin thog Tighearna Ghlinne-garaidh reiseamaid de dhaoine ro thapaidh air an oighreachd aige fhein. Anns a' bhliadhna 1777, thog Ian Ghlinne-Garaidh reiseamaid anns an robh os cionn mile agus ceithir fichead fear; agus sin uile ann an duthaich anns nach faighear an diugh fichead Donullach, no timbanach sa bith ach fiah bheothaichean na fridhe, agus caoirich agus coin chiobairean. (Mor iolach.) Bha an Ceilteach agus an t-Ard Albannach am measg Ghaidheal America air a' bhliadhna so chaidh, agus tha iad ag innseadh dhuinn gu bheil na miltean de Ghaidheil beo an diugh ann an Ceann Tuath America, a rugadh ann an glinn ar duthcha agus a chaidh fhogar a dh-aindeoin a tir an duthchais. So agaibh a chunntais a thug an "Ceiltach coir" dhuinn aig a choinnidh mhor a sheas ann sa bhaile-so air an 21la don mhios so chaidh, an run Laghanan an fhearain atharachadh. "Nuair chunntadh an sluagh a'm bliadhna 1871 bha ann an cearnaidh Nova Scotia na h-aonar 14,316 do shluagh a rugadh an Alba, 7558 a rugadh an Eirinn, agus 4000 a rugadh an Sasunn. Agus ann am Morroinn Chanada 550,000 de shliochd Albannach. Agus a chuid is modha de'n aireamh mhor sin na'n clann Ghaidheal." Nach b-iad na daoine gun chiall na Tighearnan Ghaidhealach a chuir air falbh an cuid sluaigh? Cha d'thug mi dhuibh ach beagan de'n aineart a chaidh a dheanamh am bun an doruis againn a' so, ach cha cheadaich bhur n-uine dhomh dol thairis air na thachair de'n obair sgriosail cheudna ann an aiteachan eile. Ach diubhalach agus ma tha an caramh a thainig air an t-sluagh, neo-ar-thaing mur d' eirich a' cheart cho ole do'n luchd-foirneart, oir air an latha 'n diugh, tha a' chuid mhor dhiubh gun phloc fearainn, agus gun sion a lathair ach an droch ainm a choisinn iad daibh fein, agus an deadh chliu a bha aig an aithrichean. (Caithream) Olc 's mar bha bhuil, tha mi toilichte nach deachaidh cur as gu buileach do na Gaidheil, agus a reir coltais tha an t-am dluth anns an eirich a' ghrian orra fhathast. (Iolach.) Tha iad a' togail an cinn; agus is i mo bharailsa ged nach biodh againn ach an comunn cridheil so fhein, cruinn fo bhratach Comunn Gaidhealach Inbhirnis, gu 'm faodamaid misneach a ghabhail a chionn gu bheil comhlan cho tuigseach, gramail a' ghabhail os laimh sealltainn as deigh ar cor agus ar leas a chor am feobhas. (Iolach.) Mar mhisneach, do chlanna nan Gaidheal, agus gu neartachadh an toil gu seasamb, theirinn riu, mar thuirt Donull Gobha, am Bard Glaiseach

Na gabhaibh eagal a cuan,
Faicibh mar sgoilt a' Mhuir Ruadh,
A's cumhachdan an Ti tha shuas,
An diugh cho buan 's an ceud la.

Dean of Guild MACKENZIE, editor of the Celtic Magazine, proposed the next toast-the Non-Resident Members. He had quite determined not to make any speech on that occasion. He believed the Provost was quite satisfied with the amount of oratorical eloquence which he inflicted upon him "in another place." (Laughter.) But they had given him a toast of such importance as usual, indeed, with all due deference to the others, the most important on the list. (Cheers and laughter.) Where would the Gaelic Society be without its non resident members-(hear, hear)-who composed more than three-fourths of its membership, and whose subscriptions enabled their excellent Secretary to present such a satisfactory report earlier in the evening? (Cheers.) The fact was that they received the greater part of their funds, and the best contributions to their Annual Volume of Transactions, from their non-resident members -(applause) and he considered it a great honour to be allowed to propose their health. (Cheers.) True, although they were unable to attend our ordinary meetings, they were presented annually with our Transactions in return for their subscriptions, and this, altogether apart from the satisfaction they must derive from doing good by becoming members, was a good return for their five shilling subscription. The volumes would realise now about seven shillings and sixpence each in the book market-(cheers)-and indeed could not be precured at that. He thought they might fairly congratulate themselves as a society on the acquisition among them that night, and as a future resident in the town, of the Editor of the Northern Chronicle, who had made such an enthusiastic and patriotic speech that evening. (Loud applause.) Such sentiments as he had given such eloquent utterance might be the most genuine Toryism. (Loud laughter). If so, he (Mr Mackenzie) was in hearty sympathy with him-(hear, hear)-and a most excellent Tory. (Cheers and laughter.) There was another matter to which slight reference had been made during the evening, although it had no direct bearing on the toast, to which he would wish to refer, namely, the mean, shabby, and scurvy treatment by the Government of their request that a column should be inserted in the census schedules with the view of obtaining an accurate statement of all the Gaelic speaking people in the country. (Loud cheers.) This demand was made not only by their own Gaelic Society, but by almost every Highland Society in the kingdom; but the Government had refused their request on the low ground that the information desired was not worth the cost. (Cries of shabby.) Had their claim been refused on any ground of principle, the Highlanders would be better able to tolerate the conduct of the Government. If there was anything calculated to turn him into a Tory it was the mean conduct of the Government in this matter.

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He believed that if they had a Government with a slight tinge of Jacobitism in their constitution they would get what was wanted without any trouble. (Applause). He hoped the Gaelic Society of Inverness, and the other Societies throughout the country, would persevere, even if they should be charged with imitating the Irish to some extent, and would not submit to such a snub as they had got without thoroughly resenting it. (Applause.) Returning to the subject of the toast, he would couple it with the name of a gentleman whom they had the pleasure of seeing here before at one of their annual re-unions, and on this occasion, he understood, actually timed his journey from Ceylon so as to be among them that night. (Cheers.) He alluded to Mr George Murray Campbell-(loud applause)-a genuine Highlander, who had a warm heart for his countrymen and for their language-(cheers)-and who was never happier than when he was amongst them. It was gratifying to see gentlemen like Mr Campbell getting on so well abroad as to be able to visit the mother country periodically as he was in the habit of doing. (Cheers.) Although absent for nearly twenty years, he spoke Gaelic to-day as well as any member of the Gaelic Society. (Cheers.) He had much pleasure in asking them to drink to the Non-Resident Members, coupled with the name of Mr George Murray Campbell. (Applause.)

Mr CAMPBELL, who was warmly received, stated in reply how glad he was to meet the members of the Gaelic Society. He described how he and other Highlanders abroad met to the number of twenty or so of an evening up the country, and sang Gaelic songs and made Gaelic speeches often to the terror of passers by. These meetings enabled them to keep fresh the recollections and associations of the old country, and to retain their native language as perfect and pure as when they left home. (Cheers.) They had in Ceylon done their share for the Celtic professorship. (Cheers.) He strongly recom. mended young men of push and energy, who were not fairly treated in their native land, to follow his example and go abroad. They would soon get on there, if persevering and steady. For every chance at home there were twenty looking for it-(hear, hear)— but abroad there was plenty room for every one, and energy and push was sure to be rewarded by success. heartily for the manner in which the toast and his own name were received. (Applause.) (Hear, here.) He was very glad to meet them, and thanked them Councillor CHARLES MACKAY proposed the Clergy of all Denominations, and it was responded to by the

Rev. Messrs MACGREGOR and MACKENZIE. The latter in doing so said-I have to thank you very much for your kind feelings towards my brethren and myself. I have been at meetings of this kind before, and have not considered myself out of my place; for though I am a minister of the Gospel, and consider it my highest honour and privilege to be so, I am also a Highlander, and I cherish the deepest interest in all that concerns the welfare of my countrymen-(cheers)-and of all the languages I know there is none I love so much or have studied so long as the language which it of this Sooiety to uphold and cultivate. (Applause.) I should have much pleasure in being here were it but to support your excellent Chairman-(cheers)-whom I had the the object benefit of having for eleven years as a member of my congregation, and with whom and with whose family I hold it a privilege still to stand on the old friendly footing. As regards the Gaelic language, I feel confident that it shall yet speak to the world in a way men have never dreamt of. we have just listened from Mr Mackay on the literature of the Gael, he spoke of refer(Cheers.) In that very interesting address to which ence to Gaelic in the fourteenth and thirteenth centuries. Let me assure you that the existence of this language is not to be reckoned by centuries but by milleniums. (Applause.) By the Book of Deer we are brought up at once to the ninth century, when Gaelic was the spoken language of the district of Buchan. The poems of Ossian bring us up to the third, or at the latest the fourth century, and then it can be proved to demonstration by the Roman and Greek geographers of the Christian era that Gaelic was alive and hearty in their day also. (Applause.) Let me say, then, lest I should forget it, how much I enjoyed the specimen of Evan Maclauchlan's translation of the Iliad furnished by Mr Sutherland of Strathbraan-himself a man of no ordinary scholarship and culture(cheers) to the last number of the Celtic Magazine, and how cordially I join in his desire, that the enterprising and redoubtable editor of that publication, now present with us, should do his utmost to procure every line of that translation. (Applause.) I do believe be could not bestow a more acceptable boon upon his readers than to put into an imperishable shape one of the most, if not the most faithful, the most spirited, and the most expressive renderings ever made into any language of the works of the immortal Bard of Greece. (Loud applause.)

The other toasts were the Press, by Councillor Jonathan Ross, and replied to by Mr Whyte; the Chairman, by Mr John Macdonald, drank with Highland honours, and acknowledged by the Chairman; the Croupiers, by Dr Mackenzie; the Secretary, by Mr John Marshall; and the Host and Hostess.

During the evening Gaelic and Scotch songs were sung by Mr Whyte, Mr W. Mackay, and Mr Colin Chisholm.