the consent of her worthy father, the more easily perhaps, as the Captain had remarked, that some late rumours had made him suspect that certain gambling speculations of Dunbreckan were likely to ruin him. Mrs Mackenzie, he added, still carried her head a little high, and refused to countenance him. But, he assured me, he meant to make no humiliating attempts to conciliate her favour, as he was now secure, and she must give in.

The only remaining obstacle to the consummation of his wishes was the want of a suitable mansion-house at his farm of Ardlynna to receive his bride. Upon this he took from his pocket a plan of an edifice which he himself had drawn out; and having sat down on the parapet of the bridge, which we had now reached, he was at much pains to explain to me its various details, and requested my opinion as to its merits. The Captain's good sense, I was glad to perceive had led him to study comfort more than show, and while he had contrived to provide sufficient room for the accommodation of a few friends as guests, the general plan of the building was on such a moderate scale as best suited the fortune of the landlord. I had therefore only to express in the strongest terms my approbation, and to wish Jacobina and him many years of happiness in their future dwelling, and a numerous progeny to fill it. In return for my good wishes, I was honoured with a cordial invitation to Ardlynna on my next excursion to the Highlands, with an assurance that Jacobina and he would be glad to endeavour to make everything agreeable to me. Having thus made a liberal interchange of good wishes, which on both sides, I believe, were breathed from the heart, our right hands at length relaxed their mutual grasp and waved the parting adieu. After I had walked a few paces an idle crotchet came across my mind, which tempted me to call back to the Captain and inquire whether there were any mice at Ardlynna. But by this time he had cast his fly upon the stream, and was too intent on watching its motions to hear me. I therefore set forward on my solitary way, admiring the dexterous fellow's good fortune and moralising on the various destinies of men in the adventures of this life.

THE MACRAES OF KINTAIL UNKILTED.-In our last we pointed out that a sufficient number of Kintail men could not be found to carry the body of the late Seaforth out of Brahan Castle according to immemorial custom. This seems to have had a most depressing effect upon the few handsome Macraes, who hitherto were the most picturesque frequenters of the Inverness Wool Market; for, on the last occasion, not a single Macrae was seen dressed in the ancient garb of the race. They have now nearly all been driven from the lands of their ancestors, and they have apparently thrown aside the kilt and donned the Lowlander's garb in disgust. We venture to think that this is carrying resentment a little too far.-Invernessian for August.

THE GAELIC CENSUS OF THE COUNTIES OF INVERNESS, ROSS, AND SUTHERLAND.

THE following valuable and most interesting statement has been sent for publication by Mr Fraser-Mackintosh, M.P.:

LONDON, 8th July 1881.

SIR,-Pending the issue of the Official Returns of the Census,* I was desirous to procure accurate returns of the Gaelic population in its three head settlements. Accordingly, circulars were issued to the Registrars of Inverness, Ross, and Sutherland shires, asking for information; and as it had been publicly stated that in several cases young children and infants were not included, nor, under a misapprehension of the Registrar-General's instructions, many who speak Gaelic fluently; requesting the numbers so omitted as nearly as possible to be given. I am glad to say that 74 Registrars made returns, the results of which are shown in the Table annexed, which I hope you will be so good as publish. The Registrars of Rosehall (District), Dornoch, Dingwall, Logie-Easter, Croy and Dalcross, and Sonth Snizort District, acknowledged the request, but stated that they had not kept a note of the Gaelic Return; the Registrar of Croy adding, that many were omitted that could speak Gaelic fluently; of South Snizort, that all were returned except 4; of Rosehall, that children not included, and of Dornoch, that none were omitted. The present Registrar of Abernethy did not take the census, The Registrar of the Southern District of Gairloch states that he does not think he has the right to supply information, and adds, "I consider there was really no Gaelic Census as yet." Considering that Gairloch gave birth to the author of "The Beauties," and the Editor of the Celtic Magazine, this result was not to be expected.

The Registrars of the following districts made no reply, viz. :—

A Return was ordered by Parliament, on the motion of Mr Fraser-Mackintosh, "pon the 25th July, in the terms following:

Return in the form annexed of the numbers of Gaelic-speaking people of Scotland, by Counties, Parishes, and Registration Districts, under the Scottish Census of 1881 :

IN INVERNESS-SHIRE.

1. District of Rothiemurchus. 2. Parish of Kilmorack.

3. Parish of Laggan.

4. Parish of St Kilda,

5. District of Stenscholl.

I regret that in consequence of their silence, the Table is incomplete, but from other sources, the returns from some of them have been given as follows:-Stoer, 2230; Golspie, 709; Tongue, 826*; Cromarty, 310; Killearnan, 543; Lochcarron, 1391; Lochs, 6272; St Kilda, 77+; and Stenscholl, 1308; or a total of 14,666 for these eight districts speaking Gaelic. The results in the 74 Districts from which returns have been made, are that the total population is 134,097. Returned as speaking Gaelic 95,916.

Probable number of omissions, say 2184.

Total Gaelic, 98,100.

It will be observed, that with the exception of Edderton, Avoch, Inverallan, and Kingussie, the Gaelic omissions have been inconsiderable, and establish what I had anticipated

1st, That full justice would, in the Highland Districts at least, be done by enumerators and Registrars, and

2d, That Gaelic prevails more widely than is generally supposed.

To these gentlemen who so kindly replied, and for the interesting information in some of their letters, my warmest acknowledgments are tendered.

I trust friends of the Gaelic in the nineteen silent districts (I omit St Kilda) will waken up the sleepers, and also that information will be got as regards Dornoch, Dingwall, Croy and Dalcross, Abernethy and Kincardine, Logie Easter, South Gairloch, Rosehall, and South Snizort before alluded to, in order that a Supplementary and Completing Table may be issued. I think also that friends in other counties should move in their localities, for it is too great an undertaking for one person to deal with all Scotland.-Your obedient servant, C. FRASER-MACKINTOSH.

*The Registrar of Tongue has since written mentioning the figures as, total, 1933; speaking Gaelic, 1826, none being omitted. --ED.

+ The Registrar of St Kilda, being also the worthy minister, wrote as soon as he could, his letter taking about six weeks on the journey, stating that the whole population of 77 spoke Gaelic.-ED.

Since the above was in type, Mr Fraser-Mackintosh has sent us the following, dated 8th of August :

SIR,-With reference to my letter of 8th ult. on this subject, I wish to mention that, having had an interview with the Registrar-General on the subject of the Special Gaelic Return for Scotland generally, which was granted on 25th July, I asked the favour of his giving me unofficially the 28 returns for Inverness, Ross, and Sutherland, not furnished by the Registrars. This he kindly agreed to do, and the information is to be found in the annexed table.

From the returns it would appear that the Gaelic-speaking people of the three counties number 130,783, to which may be added 3217 of probable omissions, making the total 134,000—being in all likelihood one-half of the Gaelic-speaking population of Scotland.

These returns, except Tongue, Rosehall, Dornoch, Dingwall, Logie-Easter, South Gairloch, Croy, South Snizort, and St Kilda, do not, of course, show omissions according to the views of the Registrars, and as accuracy is very important, I cannot but regret that the Registrars of Stoer, Bonar, Scourie, Golspie, Alness, Cromarty, Killearnan, Kilmuir-Easter, Coigach, Lochcarron, Rosemarkie, Rosskeen, Lochs, Stornoway, Rothiemurchus, Kilmorack, Laggan, and Steinscholl, and late Registrar of Abernethy and Kincardine, have not been moved to reply; but having done all in my power, I must now leave the matter as it stands.