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tended, the following distinguished names may, however, be mentioned :-General Darby Griffith, C. B., in the chair, owing to the absence, through sudden illness, of General Sir John Gough, G.C.B., Colonel of the Greys; H.S.H. The Duke of Teck; Field-Marshal Lord Strathnairn; Lieut.-General Calvert Clarke, C.B.; Major-General Hawley, C. B., Assist.-Adjt. General; the Earl of Dunmore; Lord Rathdonnell; the Hon. George Waldegrave Leslie; and Sir George Warrender, Bart.; Colonels Carrick Buchanan, C. B., Nugent, Hozier, Gardyne, Macbean, Tatnall, Hibbert, and Prendergast; Majors von Vietinghoff (military attaché to the Imperial German Embassy), Wallace, Miller, Bethune, Macewen, &c. Several valuable and curious objects connected with the history of the Greys were shewn on the occasion. In the banquettingroom hung Miss Thomson's (Mrs Butler) picture of "Scotland for Ever," and the "Fight for the Standard," representing the prowess of Sergeant Ewart, as before mentioned, which had been kindly lent for the occasion by Mrs Baird of Cambusdoon. Besides a quantity of old regimental plate, there might be observed the original commission granted by Charles II. to Sir Robert Dalzell in 1681; an old post-box, decorated with the Waterloo medal, which accompanied the regiment during the campaign of 1815; a journal kept by Lieut. Hamilton of Dalzell, giving an account of the battle of Waterloo, and a photograph of the monument (erected in the church of Sholto, Lanarkshire) to the memory of Lieut. James Inglis Hamilton, who fell there in the famous charge, at the head of the regiment; and, finally, a "cuach" presented by the officers of the 92d to the officers of the Greys on the 50th anniversary of the battle, 1865.

It would be futile here to recount the Menu; those who know the capabilities of the Albion will readily believe that it upheld its wellearned reputation. Neither would it avail much to dwell upon the toasts in general. Suffice it to say, that they conveyed those loyal and patriotic sentiments, dear to the heart of all who esteem it an honour to wear Her Majesty's uniform-that they were ably responded to-and that the accompanying airs were most suitably chosen, and were rendered by the band with becoming spirit. But it is impossible to pass by, without comment, the toasts of the evening-the two sister regiments-"The Royal Scots Greys" and the "92d Gordon Highlanders." In honour of the occasion, two original songs (never before printed) had been composed by Archibald Maclaren, Esq., and were sung amidst the most boundless enthusiasm. Mr Maclaren gives no further clue to his identity than his name; but, unless the writer is grievously mistaken, he hails, or at least used to do so, not a hundred miles from Oxford. Be that as it may, Mr Maclaren courts no feeble muse; his verses possess dash and "go"-the verve which is to the song what elan is to the soldier. As these martial ditties, which remind one strongly of the "Soldateu Leider" of Germany, were only printed for circulation at the dinner, and are consequently beyond the reach of the majority of the readers of the Celtic Magazine, I am induced to reproduce them; and if they give to others half the enjoyment they have given to me, I am sure they will readily declare that among the Soldier Songs of Scotland they should deservedly stand in the first rank.

The first song is in honour of the Greys, and is entitled the "Battle of Fontenoy," which was fought on the 11th May 1745, and which Highlanders will remember as affording the "Black Watch," as

well as the Greys, an opportunity of displaying the most distinguished heroism. The following extract from Stewart's "Sketches" will sufficiently explain the subject of the song:-"Sir William Erskine entered the Scots Greys in 1743. He was a cornet at the Battle of Fontenoy, and carried a standard; his father, Colonel Erskine, commanding the regiment. On the morning of the battle, Colonel Erskine tied the standard to his son's leg, and told him, 'Go, and take good care of your charge; let me not see you separate; if you return alive from the field, you must produce the standard.' After the battle, the young cornet rode up to his father, and showed him the standard as tight and fast as in the morning." The second song refers to the recruiting of the 92d Gordon Highlanders, when the bonnie Duchess of Gordon rode to fairs and weddings, clad in scarlet doublet, a bonnet and feathers, and a skirt of her clan tartan, and gave a hearty smack to every lad who 'listed for the regiment; a kiss from her ruddy red mouth proving far more attractive to the Highland bumpkin, than the prosaic shilling of King George. But without more ado, here are the songs that you may judge for yourselves :—

ΤΗΕ ΒΑTTLE OF FONΤΕΝΟΥ.

Air-"THE MILLER OF DRONE."

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Like sea-bird over billow's crest
The banner bravely flew.
My Greys, &c.

At evening call it fluttered free,
Though battle-stained and torn,
And heading still our mustering men
It pridefully was borne.

His helm our old brave leader bowed,
His crimson sash unwound,

For stirrup still and banner staff,

Were fast together bound.

And "Oh, my Greys, my gallant Greys!"
With quivering lip, he cried,

"Yon humbled foe now well doth know,
How Scottish horsemen ride !"

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The French upon Holland are marching,
Marching wi' sword and wi' flame;
"Now, wha," cries King Geordie, "will aid me,
In driving thae saucy loons hame?"
Then up spoke the Duchess o' Gordon,
And bright grew her bonnie blue e'e,
"At hame, 'mang my kin in the Hielands,
Are lads will take bounty frae me."
Wearing the tartan plaid,

Bonnet and feather sae braw,

The round-hilted Scottish broad blade,
The kilt, the sporran, and a'.

A banner o' silk she has broidered,
Wi' her ain fair lily-white hands,

And wi' its folds waving aboon her,

She rides through the Gordon's broad lands; And bunches of ribbons she carries,

Of colours the Gordons aye wore; While stepping in time to the pibroch, The pipers gae sounding before.

Wearing the tartan plaid, &c.

A lad frae the hills cries, "I'm ready

To gang whaur your Grace may command,"

A ribbon she ties on his bonnet,

A shilling she slips in his hand;

And bending her down frae the saddle,

She presses her rosy wee mou'

To his cheek, that grows red as the heather:-
Oh! fast come the Hielandmen now.

Wearing the tartan plaid, &c.

They come from the braes of Lochaber,
From Badenoch's passes they come ;
The deer in the forest of Athol

Unscared and unhunted may roam;
They come from the craigs of Kinrara,
They come from the links of the Spey,
They come from the banks of the Garry,
The Tummel, the Tilt, and the Tay.

Wearing the tartan plaid, &c.

THE EIGHTEENTH OF JUNE, 1881.

Then up spoke the Duchess of Gordon—
And the din of the gath'ring was still,
And sweet rang her voice as the merlin's
When gloaming lies hushed on the hill-
"When first I uplifted my banner,

The leaves were a' green on the tree,
Nae leaf yet has fa'en, and aroun' me
A thousand brave clansmen I see."

Wearing the tartan plaid, &c.

"Now take you the banner, Lord Huntly,
Of me no mother shall say,

I keep my ain son from the peril

While her's I am wiling away;
And, when in the land of the stranger,
And fronting the foemen ye be,
Braw Gordons, look then on the banner,
And think of Auld Scotland and me.'

Then, hey! for the tartan plaid, &c.

An' gin the fair Duchess could see us,
Assembled together to-night,

When Gordons and Greys are foregathered,
Wi' auld recollections sae bright,

It's hersell would be proud o' the gathering,
And she'd say in her accents sae smoo',
"My bonnie braw laddies, come to me,
I'll kiss ye each one on the mou'."

Then, hey! for the Gordon plaid,
The bonnet and feather sae braw,

Three cheers for our Waterloo fren's,

Field-Marshal Strathnairn and them a'.

When songs such as these pall-when they fall stale and flat-when they lose the smack and flavour of the bivouac, the clang of the charge, the smell of smoke and brimstone, the ping of the bullet, the clash of the sabre, and the roar of the cannon-then-and not till then-will Scotland have sent forth her last son to the field of battle.

A HIGHLAND OFFICER,

GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS-TENTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY.

THIS popular meeting was held this year as usual, on the Thursday of the Inverness Wool Market-14th of July. Donald Cameron, Esq. of Lochiel, M.P., occupied the chair, and was accompanied to the platform by Duncan Davidson of Tulloch, LordLieutenant of the County of Ross; the Rev. Alexander Macgregor, M.A., Inverness; the Rev. Lachlan Maclachlan, Tain; Mrs Mary Mackellar, bard to the Society; Captain MacRa Chisholm, Glassburn; Captain Scobie; Alastair Macdonald Maclellan of Portree Estate, Ceylon; William Matheson, Chief of the Celtic Society of Hebburn-on-Tyne; James Fraser, Mauld; Colin Chisholm, Inverness; Dean of Guild Mackenzie, editor of the Celtic Magazine; Councillor Charles Mackay; Charles Innes, solicitor; and William Mackenzie, Secretary of the Society.

Apologies were received from C. Fraser-Mackintosh, M.P.; Professor Blackie ; George G. Campbell; John Mackay, Hereford; Mackintosh of Mackintosh; Duncan Forbes of Culloden; Major Grant, Drumbuie; Dr Charles Mackay; Lachlan Macdonald of Skaebost; Angus Mackintosh of Holme; D. Davidson of Drummond Park ; N. B. Mackenzie, Fort-William; D. Mackenzie, Newport, Mon.; Rev. A. C. Sutherland, B.D., Strathbraan (by telegram); and John Mackenzie, Auchenstewart.

Mr C. Fraser-Mackintosh wrote as follows:

I regret I cannot be present at your meeting next week, but hope it will go off with wonted success. If some reference could be made in the form of recommending that a correct Gaelic census be obtained in the manner I have begun with the counties of Inverness, Ross, and Sutherland, I think it would be well. Just imagine the state of mind of those in strongly Highland districts who actually kept no note of the Gaelic returns! On the other hand, while many friends omitted infants and young children, there were several staunch true men who tell me that not a soul who could lisp or squeal, if of Gaelic parentage, but was duly returned. Mr John Mackay, Hereford, sent the following telegram in Gaelic :

Piseach air a' Chomunn ! Slainte a's falanachd do na Gaidheil a's do 'n Cheann-fheadhna urramach, uasal! Bithibh tapaidh! Bithibh duineil !

Mr George J. Campbell, added the following postscript to his letter of apology:— Could the Society not offer a prize for the best essay, contributed by either Highlanders or Lowlanders, on the best means of attaining the objects we have in view, the essays to be at the disposal of the Society for publication or otherwise? If so, I will be glad to contribute a guinea to the "Prize Fund.'

LOCHIEL was well received, and delivered a suitable address, which we are obliged to condense. After a few preliminary remarks apologising for his inability to speak Gaelic he proceeded :-To my great regret and shame I hardly understand a word of the noble tongue, the existence and the privilege of which we are met here this evening to rejoice in. (Applause.). I believe that it is only Highlanders who really know the fondness which Highlanders entertain for their mother tongue. I have often noticed the brightness of expression on a Highlandman's face when any one addresses him suddenly in his native tongue. He appears to become far more confidential in his intercourse, and I attribute very much of the suspiciousness in his nature which has been charged against him to his extreme disinclination to talk in any language besides that which he has imbibed with his mother's milk. Now having made this apology, I would say a word as to the intrinsic merits of the Gaelic tongue to all those whose business avocations and duties in life compel them to reside in the Highlands. There are various posts, and important ones, which may be held in this part of the country, which require for their proper fulfilment a knowledge of the Gaelic language. There are Sheriffships which must be filled up; there are Procurator-Fiscalships which must be filled up. Those who follow the profession of teachers, and especially of public school teachers, to say nothing of ministers of religion-to all of these classes a knowledge of the Gaelic language is almost essential to a due and proper prosecution of their public duties. So that you see, putting sentiment on one side-though I don't think we Highlanders ought to put sentiment entirely on one side-putting sentiment aside, you see that there are considerable material advantages to be derived from a thorough acquaintance with the language of this part of the country. (Applause.) I would now briefly allude to the position, to the future and past usefulness, and the general prospects of the Society to which we all belong. With regard to its position, I think it appears to stand in a most satisfactory state. The roll of membership appears to be so full, that I may say it embraces every man of any importance in the north, or at any rate nearly every man. Now, when I speak of men of importance, however distinguished, I do not do so in the ordinary sense in which the word is used. In a community of Celts, those men alone are distinguished who have done something to serve the cause and forward the interests of Highlanders. (Applause.) Here, I believe I may say, peer and peasant, chieftain and clansman, are all equal, and are all to be adjudged according to results, and those who have done most for the good of the Highlands will, not only in the present time, but in all future time be held to be those who are most distinguished. But, at the same time, we must remember, and our worthy secretary must remember, that the more we increase our members the more we increase our power of doing good, and therefore I hope, when this meeting is over, that one result of it might be that many of us may encourage our friends to belong to this Society, and take a share in all the benefits it has conferred upon the Highlands, in consequence of, and since its existence. Well, now, the usefulness of the Society may be found in the eight volumes of its transactions which I have been lately reading, and which, I can assure those who have not read them, form the most interesting and useful compendium of everything relating to Highland subjects. This Society and these transactions may be considered as the renaissance of Highland feeling, of Highland sentiment, of Highland language, and of Highland self-assertion-(applause) -and if these things are to do good, as I believe they will do good in the future, it will form a lasting satisfaction to those who started the Society, and showed the confidence they possessed in their countrymen, that they themselves had the courage to embark in and carry on so good a work. (Applause.) Now, out of these eight

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