meetings and no Highland movement in which John Cameron Macphee did not hold a prominent position. He acted as Gaelic interpreter for the House of Lords in the famous Breadalbane Peerage case. He was the prime mover in the collection and preparation of the "Gaelic Melodies" published a few years ago by the Gaelic Society of London, as well as in getting up the "Celtic Choir" for the study and preservation of the songs and melodies of the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland. Always one of the most active spirits of the Gaelic Society, he succeeded Mr Colin Chisholm as its President, a position of which he was very proud and in which he continued until his death.

He was most intimately acquainted with the late James Logan, F.S.A. Scot., author of "The Scottish Gael," and was one of his most substantial friends. He was instrumental in getting him elected a brother pensioner of the Charter-House, and for the last twenty-five years of Logan's life he was hardly ever absent on Sundays from Macphee's dinner-table.

Though on his appointment to the Customs he gave up literature as a profession, he continued to use his pen occasionally almost to the end in periodical and newspaper articles. The Celtic Magazine has through his demise lost a most valued friend and contributor, and undoubtedly the most valuable contribution which he has made to literature is the biography written by him of his own grand-uncle, General Sir Allan Cameron of Erracht, compiled mainly from private family documents and information not within the reach of any one else, and which goes through eleven numbers of the first volume of this periodical.

We cannot do better than close these remarks in the words of the London correspondent of the Inverness Courier, who knew him well. He says:"A grand old Highlander-a man among men-has passed away from the ranks of London-Scottish society during the past ten days. John Cameron Macphee, the President of the Gaelic Society of London, and the heart and soul of every Highland movement originated in the metropolis, was a man to know, and to know him was to love him. With no great command of language, except in his own loved native tongue, he had a great command of men, and could transmit his boundless and bounding enthusiasm for all things Highland to the dullest of audiences. It is not too much to say that his place at the head of the Council table at the Gaelic Society's Rooms in Adam Street, Adelphi, can never be filled up. A successor will, of course, be found to the Presidency of the Society, but its members, from the oldest to the youngest, will never cease to sigh for

The touch of a vanished hand,

And the sound of a voice that is still.

Columns might be filled with the record of his usefulness and true nobility -lines would suffice to tell his failures where the cause of true humanity was pleaded with him."

He made up his mind to retire, and come to live in Scotland, next year, had he been spared. He was married to a daughter of Captain Cameron of Camskie, by whom he had four sons and two daughters, all of whom survive him, except the youngest daughter, who died about a year ago. He was buried in Woking Cemetery, Surrey.

A JUNE MORNING.

MONTREAL.

Damp with the gentle rain of yester-night,
As yet unwooed by Phoebus, high in air
This mossy path out-stretches past my sight
And curves with elfish mischief, here and there!
See where the sunlight's richness prodigal

Is cast in quivering patches on the wold,
As if some bounteous hand had down let fall

A gleaming net-work, wrought of green and gold!

The brambles cling about me, as if loath

That I should leave them and pass by alone;
A full free-throated thrush his music forth
Flings to the silent, listening wood—Ah, gone!
Why should all lovely things before us flee
Save such as cannot cleave the circling air?
What! enemies? Ah, yes! for mercy see
These quivering fernlets sue in mute despair!
But now, a troop of nymphs and fawns I know
Fled with a swift, wild whirl behind the trees-
What else could mean this sudden silence, so
Apparent to me. Tell me, wandering breeze?
I hear them laughing softly-Hark! and see-
Almost, I mean-a gleeful, impish face
Peering, believe, most cautiously at me

Between those branchlets fragile, waving lace!

I like to think the great god Pan lives still---
Though dead to us. Alas! that this must be--
And pipes according to his Sovereign will

To all things wild, and beautiful and free!
For who can tell-but like the crimson rose,
Our fair, first mother's gift of Paradise,

Whose perfume comes to each through life who goes
Once only-we, the too, too worldly-wise
Grown wiser in sweet sylvan lore, may chance
On Pan himself amongst his merry throng
And for one startled moment see the dance
And listen to the god's immortal song!

KAY LIVINGSTONF.

THE EARLY SCENES OF FLORA MACDONALD'S LIFE, WITH SEVERAL INCIDENTAL ALLUSIONS TO THE REMARKABLE ADVENTURES AND ESCAPES OF THE UNFORTUNATE PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD STUART.

By the Rev. ALEX, MACGREGOR, M.A., Inverness.

PART V.

Ir often occurs that qualities and virtues in the female character, are utterly unknown to the world at large, simply because no event had ever taken place to afford an opportunity of displaying them. Such qualities and virtues elicit no remark, perhaps, when displayed by persons in a strictly private sphere of life, whereas such amiable endowments often become of great importance when exhibited by such as may be called upon to perform some important public duty. Such was exactly the case with Miss Flora Macdonald. Had it not been that her prudence and energies were called forth by the important and critical part, which she was made instrumental in achieving, she might have lived and died unknown to the world. It is true that she was a young lady who was naturally gifted with an amiable disposition, firm determination, wide sympathies, an affectionate nature, and a strong sense of personal duty; but yet, many other young Highland ladies might have been similarly endowed, of whom nothing was ever heard or known beyond the sphere of their acquaintance, or the more contracted circle of their immediate relatives and friends. It was not so, however, with the kind-hearted heroine, whose life and adventures furnish abundant materials of deep interest for these articles. Her qualities and virtues were severely tested and became publicly known. Her trials and endurances were many, and variegated in kind. The events of her life were frequently trying and remarkably chequered; and yet withal, she was gifted with the rare capacity and tact of adapting herself to whatever circumstances or events might fall to her lot. She was a dutiful daughter, an affectionate wife, a prudent mother, an unchangeable friend, an amiable companion, and a sincere Christian. By such as knew her best, she was most appreciated, and perhaps by none more so than by Sir Alexander Macdonald of the Isles, and his talented lady, who treated her as if she was their own child.

After an absence of such long duration from her native Isle, she appeared most anxious to procure a passage to the Long Island, to meet once more with her brother at Milton and her friends at Ormaclade. On the last day of June, after remaining four days at Monkstadt, where she parted with her mother, she was favoured with a passage in a small sloop bound for Benbecula, where she landed in safety that evening. Her reception was a most cordial one by Lady Clanranold, and her arrival was most heartily greeted by a numerous circle of relatives and friends. A large number of her old acquaintances, on receiving the intelligence of her return, assembled at Ormaclade to welcome her once more to her native place. Poor Flora was quite bewildered with the enthusiastic reception

which she met with from old and young, while the youthful associates of her early years claimed a preferable right to exhibit their fond congratulations and joy. Old Clanranold himself seemed extremely happy, and and addressed his young friend in pure Celtic :-"Fhionnghail, a' ghraidh, is mi 'tha toillichte do ghnuis shuairce fhaicinn a ris; is i do bheatha air ais chum Eilein do bhreith, oir bha 'n fhardach gu'n aighear 's gu'n mhire o'n dh'fhag thui; agus bha eadhon 'Ceolag' fein, mar ri tuireadh, balbh.' -"Flora, my dear, I rejoice to see your comely face again. You are welcome back to the Isle of your birth, for the household was devoid of joy and gladness since you left it; and even 'Ceolag' itself (the small pianoforte), as if under lamentation, was mute."

At that time the excitement that pervaded the whole Island, like most other parts of Scotland, was very great, on account of the rumours that the Young Chevalier was soon to visit them. The partisans of His Royal Highness from these quarters, who were along with him in France, especially Banker Macdonell, Kinlochmoidart's brother, held regular communications with their friends in the Isles and on the mainland, as to the movements and purposes of the Prince. The consequences were, that the different Chieftains, and the most intelligent of their adherents and vassals, were in no small degree perplexed as to how they ought to act when the eventful crisis would come to pass. Continued meetings were held among themselves, and trusty messengers were despatched to and fro from the Long Island to the mainland, and vice versa, in order to ascertain the intentions of all parties interested in the important affair. The claims of the Prince to the throne of his forefathers were freely discussed, but were as freely condemned by some as they were approved of by others. In this respect acrimonious differences arose betwixt chief and chief, brother and brother, father and son; and hence the confusion and perplexities that disturbed the peace of the country were, in every sense, great. It was expected by the friends of the Prince, as well as by himself, that the powerful chieftains, Sir Alexander Macdonald and Macleod of Dunvegan, who could have raised more than a thousand men each, would have at once joined his Royal Highness, but both peremptorily declined. It cannot be said that the conduct of these chieftains was strictly honourable, as they promised their allegiance to the cause of the Prince, on condition that he brought along with him a sufficiency of men and money, and munitions of war; but seeing that he failed in this, they considered themselves released from their engagement, and at once refused their aid. While matters were thus going on, the intelligence spread rapidly far and near that the Doutelle, with the Prince and retinue on board, had arrived at the Island of Eriskay, in the Sound of Barra, on the 23d day of July 1745. Soon after casting anchor, the Prince and most of his party landed on the Island, and were conducted to the house of "Aonghas Mac Dhomhnuill Mhic Sheumais," that is Angus Macdonald, the tacksman of Eriskay, where they passed the night. They were desirous of setting foot on "terra firma" after the fatigues of eighteen days at sea. As the Prince did not at the time reveal himself to his hospitable landlord, whose knowledge of English was but scanty, he took him to be a chief attendant on the gentlemen who had just landed from the frigate. Unfortunately the dwelling was so infested with smoke from the large peat fire in the middle of the chamber, that the Prince frisked about, and went

B

frequently outside the door for fresh air. The landlord was surprised, and perhaps a little offended at the stranger's restlessness, so that he called out, rather with an indignant smile, "Plague take that fellow! What is wrong with him, that he can neither sit nor stand still-neither can he keep within doors nor without doors."*

The Prince, eager to lose as little time as possible, made strict enquiry about old Clanranold, and other influential parties in the adjacent islands. He was informed that Clanranold was at home at Ormaclade, that his brother Alexander was at Boisdale, and that young Clanranold was on the mainland at Moydart. He was aware that the Clanranold branch of the Macdonells was always favourable to the cause of the Stuarts, and consequently he sent a messenger to Boisdale wishing for an interview with him, believing that as he was a man of great prudence and sound judgment, he could prevail upon him to secure the interest of the Clan at large, and especially so, that of his brother the laird, and of his nephew, young Clanranold. Boisdale appeared next morning on board the frigate, the interview took place, and it was everything but agreeable. The conversation with the Prince was firm and determined, but in all respects more plain than pleasant. Boisdale told the Prince that he had made up his mind not to interfere further than earnestly to advise his brother and nephew not to engage in such a hopeless and dangerous enterprise. He further stated that Sir Alexander Macdonald and Macleod of Macleod were determined to stand aloof, and that under these circumstances, his best advice to His Royal Highness was to return at once to France, and relinquish for ever such a foolish undertaking. The Prince was terribly annoyed at Boisdale's obduracy, but he restrained his feelings, and appeared amiable and very agreeable. He, however, exerted all his powers of eloquence, while the "Doutelle" was weighing anchor, but Boisdale, whose boat was slung astern, listened with patience, and after all, remained inflexible as ever. When the frigate had moved along for a mile or two under a gentle breeze, Boisdale leaped into his boat, and left his Royal Highness to ponder over his great disappointment. Next day the Doutelle arrived safely at the bay of Lochnanuagh, between Arisaig and Moydart. The Prince, sadly chagrined at the coldness and indifference of Boisdale in not espousing his cause, sent a letter at once to young Clanranold by Banker Macdonald, who went ashore, that his brother Kinlochmoydart, might accompany young Clanranold on board. They were cheerfully welcomed by the Prince, but in course of conversation young Clanranold enlarged upon the hopelessness of the adventure, and the improbability of success, and was, in short, like his uncle Boisdale, resolved not to interfere. Charles, seeing that young Clanranold greatly sympathised with him, and seemed to be warmly interested in his hopeless case, took advantage of the young gentleman's feelings, and by his fawning, flattering, and agreeable talk, he received at length the assent of the young chieftain to support his claims. The Prince was as yet hopeful, notwithstanding Boisdale's declaration to the contrary that Sir Alexander Macdonald and Macleod of Macleod would join him with their forces. Accordingly he despatched young Clanranold and Mr Allan Macdonald, a brother of Kinlochmoydart to these chieftains with letters, earnestly

* Jacobite Memoirs. Culloden papers.