chruinnich as gach cearnaidh dhe'n tir gu bhi lathair maille ris a mhorchuideachd. Dh'fhag mi Dunedin gu'n stad ann ach re fichead mionaid, agus thainig mi le aon sgriob a' Inbhirnis a dh'ionnsuidh tighe mo mhic ann an Siorramachd Iore, agus bha mi co sgith ris a' chu, le bhi a' suidh gu'n charuchadh re na h-uine sin. Ach air an laimh eile, cha robh mo mhac agus mi fein ach tri uairean gu leth eadar a thigh-san agus am Baile-Mor SO. Fanaidh sinn an so seachd no ochd laithean, agus ni sinn ann sin dichioll air pilltinn air ar n-ais gu Siorramachd Iorc chum taoghal anns na h-uiread de bhailtibh eile, mu'n tig an t-am anns an feum an Sgiathanach a ghnuis a chur ri Clach-na-cudainn aon uair eile. Fhuair Donnuchadh Ruadh leigh eile gu seasamh 'na aite aig a' bhaile gus am pill e dhachaidh, an deigh dha ceann athar fein a chur na bhoile le ioghnaidhean Baile-cinn Shasuinn, agus na h-uiread de bhailtean eile. Tha mi an dochas ma gheibh mi ann an slainte dhachaidh, gu'm faigh mi an luchd-eolais air fad gu slan, fallain. Tha iomaguin orm an comhnuidh gu'm bi ni eigin docharach an uair a bhios mi, mar so, astar fada o'n bhaile, agus tha na smuaintean so a' fagail m' inntinn gu'n bhi co socaireach 's bu mhath leam. Cha'n 'eil aite ann, gu'n teagamh, shamhlaichear ris an dachaidh ! Ochan! cha'n'eil! cha'n'eil ! Thoir iomachore uam do gach neach eoluch, gu sonraichte do d'mhnaoi cheanalta fein agus do na paisdibh gu leir. An uair a chi thu mo charaid choir seann Chailean, innis da gu'n robh an seann Sgiathanach a' cur bheannachd da' ionnsuidh, agus a' guidheadh gu robh e fada beo—an duine gasda, coir. Tha eagal crom nach toir thu moran tuigse no brigh as an litir fhada, rapach so, oir cha'n 'eil uine agam smuaineachadh air ciod a their mi. Tha mi co luaineach a thall 'sa bhos, is nach 'eil aite-comhnuidh steidhichte, seasmhach agam, air chor is nach 'eil duil agam ri litir-fhaotuinn o charaid sam bith, gus an cuir mi cul ri taobh deas Shasuinn, agus gus am pill mi gu seann "Albainn a' Chluarain." A reir coslais is e so a' cheud uair, agus an uair dheireannach anns am faic mi am Baile iongantach so, agus is leoir e comas a bhi agam a radh gu'n, robh mi ann an Lunainn! Tha'n seann Sgiathanach bochda tuilleadh' aosda gu bhi gu'n ghnothuch araidh an lorg air iongantasaibh an tsaoghail, agus gu sonraichte far nach 'eil an teaghlach aige fein air an suidheachadh. Aig a' cheart am tha dithis mhac agus triuir nighean aige ann an Sasuinn; aon mhac agus a bhean ann an Dunedin, agus mathair na cuim agus aon nighean a'n Clach-na-cudainn. Mar so tha'n teaghlach air an sgapadh ! Cha'n abair mi tuilleadh, ach mile beannachd do gach neach eolach. Do charaid dileas, SGIATHANACH. Lunainn, 30la de cheud mhios 'an Fhogharaidh, 1881. [We have no doubt many of our readers will regret being unable to read "Sgiathanach's" letter from London, descriptive of his tour, in the Classic language of Ossian. We sympathise with our friends, but the loss we trust will impel them to begin at once the study of Gaelic. If this should turn out a result of its publication, we believe our reverend friend will feel disposed to forgive us for giving a letter intended only for our own private use to his many admirers among the Gaelic readers of the Celtic Magazine.] THE LATE DUNCAN DAVIDSON OF TULLOCH. -0- DUNCAN DAVIDSON of Tulloch died on Sunday, the 18th of September, from the effects of a chill which he took at the recent Royal Review of Scottish Volunteers at Edinburgh, in the 821 year of his age. It is scarcely necessary to state that the death of such a popular Highlander will be greatly regretted, not only by all those who had the pleasure of his personal acquaintance, but by every one who took any interest in the Highlands, where, for so many years, Tulloch occupied so prominent a position. Many of our readers will remember his handsome and manly form supporting his friend Lochiel as Chairman at the last Annual Assembly of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, upon which occasion we received the usual hearty grip of his now, alas! cold and clammy hand. No one took a warmer interest in Celtic matters than he did. He was an Honorary Chieftain and a life member of the Gaelic Society, and he at least once presided at one of its annual festivals. He was an enthusiastic supporter of all Celtic movements, and subscribed for everything published in connection with the literature and history of the Highlands. In 1826 Tulloch was elected Member of Parliament for the County of Cromarty as a Conservative, against Macleod of Cadboll in the Whig interest, by a majority of eight to seven, the constituency numbering only a total of fifteen, including the two candidates. He sat in Parliament until the passing of the Reform Act in 1832, by which Cromarty was united with the County of Ross, when he retired to attend to his duties as a county gentleman, when he was chosen by his brother proprietors for the honourable and responsible office of Convener of the County. On the death of Sir James Matheson, Bart., of the Lews, he was appointed during the administration of the late Earl of Beaconsfield as Her Majesty's Lieutenant for his native county, the duties of which he performed with dignity and impartiality, and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. In early life he entered the army as an officer in the Grenadier Guards, but on the death of his father, in 1827, he retired and devoted himself to the duties devolving upon him as a Highland proprietor, owning, as he then did, very extensive estates, including Tulloch, Strathrannoch, Duchilly, Acha-nan-Cleireach, part of Gruinard, Leckmelm, and other lands in Lochbroom. He afterwards bought the estate of Brae from Mackenzie of Hilton, and this is now almost the only property remaining to his successor, the ancestral possessions of the family having unfortunately been sold, like many other Highland properties, to strangers. He was married five times; his fifth wife, by whom he had no issue, surviving him. The well-known prediction attributed to the Brahan Seer -Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche-that there would be a Laird of Tulloch who would kill four wives in succession, while the fifth would kill him, appears to have been fulfilled in his case in the sense and to the extent that he survived four of his five wives, while the fifth survives him. And here it may be stated that he was not altogether without some belief in these extraordinary predictions himself, for on reading "The Prophecies of the Brahan Seer," including that supposed to refer to himself and the more remarkable one about the family of Seaforth, he wrote to the author the following note, dated 21st of May 1878:-"Many of these prophecies I heard of upwards of seventy years ago, and when many of them were not fulfilled, such as the late Lord Seaforth [who died in 1815] surviving his sons, and Mrs Stewart-Mackenzie's accident, by which Miss Caroline Mackenzie was killed," the latter reference being to the prediction that one of Seaforth's daughters should kill her sister, which she was unfortunately instrumental in doing by reckless and furious driving near the Castle gate, where a monument commemorating the sad occurrence may now be seen by the passer-by. Tulloch married, first, on the 20th of June 1825, the Hon. Elizabeth Diana, second daughter of Godfrey, third Lord Macdonald of Sleat, by whom he had 1. Duncan Henry Caithness Reay, his heir and successor, who, born 1836, married, in 1860, Georgina Elizabeth, daughter of Dr John Mackenzie of Eileanach, fourth son of the late Sir Hector Mackenzie of Gairloch, baronet, with issue-Duncan, his heir; John Francis Barnard; and four daughters. 2. Godfrey Wentworth, who died unmarried, 3. Caroline Louisa, who married Captain George Wade, commissioner of the Sceychelles, with issue-two daughters. 4. Julia Bosville, who married, in 1858, the Hon. Henry W. Chetwynd, R.N., second son of Viscount Chetwynd, with issue-four sons and three daughters. 5. Adelaide Lucy, who married Colonel Ross of Cromarty, commanding the third Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, with issue-three sons and three daughters. She died in 1860. 6. Matilda Justina, who married Lieutenant-Colonel John Craigie Halkett of Cramond, Midlothian, with issue-Duncan, an officer in the Seaforth Highlanders, and six daughters. 7. Diana Bosville, who died unmarried. 8. Louisa Maria, also died unmarried. 9. Elizabeth Diana, who, in 1865, married Patrick A. Watson Carnegy of Lour. His first wife, the Hon. Elizabeth Diana Macdonald, having died in 1839, Tulloch married, secondly, in 1841, Eleanor, third daughter of Sir James Fergusson, with issue-three daughters. He married, thirdly, in 1844, Arabella, daughter of Hugh Rose Ross of Cromarty, who died in 1847, without issue. He married, fourthly, in 1849, Mary, eldest daughter of Dr John Mackenzie of Eileanach, Inverness, with issue Eoin Duncan Reginald, born in 1850, a settler in Queensland. Alastair Norman Godfrey, born in 1858, also in New Zealand. Lucy Eleanora, who, in 1874, married Allan R. Mackenzie, younger of Kintail, with issue. Mary Macpherson; and Victoria Mary Geraldine, still unmarried. He married, fifthly, in 1877, Sarah Justina, eldest daughter of Colonel Jasper Taylor Hall, Coldstream Guards, who survives him, without issue. Tulloch will be much missed throughout the Highlands, and in his person disappears one of the few remaining links which connected the last century with the present-a genuine, manly, noble-spirited Highlander, Literature. 0 THE GAELIC KINGDOM IN SCOTLAND: ITS ORIGIN AND CHURCH, WITH SKETCHES OF NOTABLE BREADALBANE AND GLENLYON SAINTS. By CHARLES STEWART (Edinburgh and London). AN oversight on the part of the writer has caused Mr Stewart's most interesting little volume to lie unnoticed so long. If we had our wish every thoughtful Highlander would possess a copy of this charming book (and) it is very cheap), read it, study it, and make it his own. By so doing he would be thoroughly prepared for entering on the study of larger and more elaborate works in the same line. Supposing, however, he went no further, he would have no mean idea of what his country and his race Mr Stewart's style is deserving of all praise: while it is warm, there is nothing rhapsodical about it; its colour is quiet and unobtrusive. It is perfectly adapted to the thought, and therefore pleases the reader who cares for things more than words. was. Of the eleven chapters of which this little volume is composed, the greater part deals with the Gaelic kingdom ecclesiastically. The first chapter discusses tersely and briefly many vexed points about the origin of the Gaelic kingdom, the various races or tribes of ancient Albin, more especially in the central Highlands. Mr Stewart while giving their due to the old chroniclers, supplements and corrects them by the still living testimony of usage, tradition, monuments, and language. To most readers the ecclesiastical portion of Mr Stewart's work, as we fancy to the author himself also, will be by far the most fascinating. We suspect that a dense cloud of ignorance stands between the minds even of professionally educated Highlanders and the history of their ancient church. That history is a noble record of self-sacrificing heroism, of glowing spiritual and intellectual life, as well as of the bravest independence. Mr Stewart has drawn our attention to it, and we are without excuse, unless we drink at the crystal fountain to which we are under his guidance conducted. That history should be studied for other purposes than that of proving the old Culdees to be Episcopal or Presbyterian. They have something far grander to teach us. They were probably neither the one nor the other in the full modern sense of the terms. Their independence as a native church is specially dear to Mr Stewart. Rome, born to command through discipline and rigid organisation, when her military power was tottering under the fierce blows of the northern barbarians, instinctively directed her genius for power, for unity into the spiritual element. As her legions met with stout resistance from the heathen Celt in Scotland, so her priests met with detrimental opposition from the Culdee Celt, who cared not to sacrifice his native ritual or doctrine to the demands of Rome. Externally Rome succeeded; internally her success was not so decided. The old leaven was not purged out entirely-witness Bruce's disregard of the threats of the Pope, witness the history of the Lollards, and when the proper conditions came at the Reformation, fermented anew with effect. We hear frequent allusions in our pulpits to Knox and Calvin, but we should be familiar with older and no less nobler names than theirs. It is significant that the most famous of the ancient heretics was a Celt-Pelagius. Edward Irving in a magnificent paper on the Ancient Church of Scotland (Works, vol. i.) sees in this fact an early indication of the subtle character of the Scottish intellect losing itself in abstract questions. This eloquent review is well worth study. Mr Stewart (p. 92) depicts graphically some of the characteristics of the Scottish Gaidhil; his imagination, his depth of feeling, his thoroughness of thought which makes him love the logical and abstract, his delight in conceiving the unseen world as essentially the same with the present, and lastly his love of music. This last faculty is, it is to be feared, not sufficiently cultivated in our schools or churches. The hope that by and bye under the teaching of such men as our author and others, another characteristic may be added to those enumerated above-viz., a passion for facts. Hard thinking and a warm fancy, unless tempered and fed by clear and full facts, may run the ship on the rock. Mr Stewart we are sure will feel that he has his reward if his very interesting book will awaken a true historical spirit among our teachers, intelligent youth, educated men, and our people generally. We hope all our readers have already ordered and studied this delightful little book, and that some of them will make it the stepping-stone to higher things. CHRISTIAN ROSS. CHRISTIAN ROSss was in many respects a remarkable woman, and as her life, humble and unpretentious though it was, affords an instance of considerable natural abilities struggling with adverse fate, a simple record of her career may not prove altogether uninteresting. She was born in Inverness on the 15th May 1773, where her father, Thomas Ross, was in a small way of business as a cabinetmaker. Her mother, Mary Gordon, was the daughter of a schoolmaster in Forres. Both were worthy, decent people; but showed no evidence of the natural ability and poetic feeling afterwards so strikingly developed in their daughter. Christian had the misfortune to lose her mother while she was yet quite young. About a year afterwards her father married again a respectable woman named Mary Denton, a native of Banff, who had been housekeeper for eleven years in the family of the Hon. George Duff. To please his new wife Ross removed from Inverness to Auchintoul near Banff. Here Christian was sent to a small school, kept by an old woman, who taught her pupils without stopping her spinning-wheel, so it may be readily supposed the education thus given was neither very thorough nor profound. Such as it was, however, it was all that little Christian ever had, and that only for six months, at a cost of 3s, which her father thought a sufficient outlay for a girl's education. Mrs Ross does not appear to have treated her step-daughter unkindly; but she was a hard-working woman herself, and made everyone around her work hard also. Totally ignorant of book-lore, she neither appreciated nor understood the yearning after knowledge evinced by young Christian, |