the Government, and I have little doubt, from the temper in which the people of the North-West have taken up this question, that they will compel the Government to enforce this stipulation rigidly when the times comes, so that the bona-fide settler may not be excluded by the mere land speculator. Companies or individuals who have entered into contracts for the purchase of lands from the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, run no such risk of forfeiture, but then they pay a much higher price for their lands-usually at least double the price of Government land. A day or two spent pleasantly in Montreal, where I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Mr D. Macmaster, Q.C., M.P. for the County of Glengarry, a rising young member of the Canadian Bar, who, I believe, will ere long take a high position in Canadian politics; of Mr Thomas White, M.P., Editor of the Montreal Gazette, a gentleman of considerable ability, of genial manners, and withal a keen politician, who was thrice beaten by majorities of seven, five, and three respectively before he succeeded in winning his present seat; and, last, though by no means least, of Mr Richard White, of the Montreal Gazette, brother of the M.P., who did much to make things pleasant for me, and wound up by taking me to see my first Lacrosse match. One person I missed, much to my regret, both on this occasion and when I returned from New York a week later-Mr John Macdonald, Accountant, a native of our Scottish Highlands. After my return I learned that Mr Macdonald had called for me, only to find that I had left for home the previous evening. In From Montreal to New York was a night's journey. New York I met Mr Duncan Macgregor Crerar, of whom I had heard long before from the Editor of the Celtic Magazine. With Mr Crerar I soon felt at home, and before I had been with him many hours I looked upon and talked to him as an old friend. A Scotchman, and better still, a Highlander, Mr Crerar, through all the ups and downs of life, has never lost his native simplicity of character and warmth of heart. He made my stay in New York exceedingly pleasant. Of him I say no more than that our friendship did not cease when I left New York, but has been continued until now, and I trust will long continue. Through Mr Crerar I made the acquaintance of Mr John S. Kennedy, banker, New York, one of the Syndicate who undertook the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and like several other members of that body, a Scotchman, and a successful one. In Mr Kennedy, Scotchmen in New York find a generous friend, and to those who are willing to help themselves he is always ready to give a helping hand. I had a very interesting conversation with Mr Kennedy, on the subject of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the threatened "tapping" lines in the NorthWest, in course of which he said that if the Company were relieved of their obligation to construct a Railway along the north shore of Lake Superior, they would at once give up their monopoly in the North-West. Another Scotchman, whom I met in New York, was Mr John H. Strahan, a Scotch lawyer, who, a good many years ago, went to the Empire City, studied American Law, and is now in the front rank of his profession. Before I left New York, Mr Strahan drove me through the Central Park, and round a large part of the outskirts of the city, but New York has become so familiar to readers on this side of the Atlantic, that it is unnecessary to attempt a description of it, or of its magnificent Park. Another day in Montreal, and a pleasant evening to wind up with in the house of my friend Mr Burns. A journey on the night express to Quebec, and in the morning, five minutes after the tender put us on board, the Allan Mail Liner "Circassian" steamed down the Saint Lawrence. An uneventful voyage of ten days. across the Atlantic; a rapid run from Liverpool to Inverness, and I found, when I had leisure to make the calculation, that in my two months' holiday I had travelled over eleven thousand six hundred miles. Impressions of America! If by impressions you mean opinions, I had no time to form any. I had only time to see, and what I saw I have told. KENNETH MACDONALD. FOUR PAGES extra are given this month to enable us to present our constituents with a full report of the speeches delivered at the Annual Dinner of the Gaelic Society of Inverness last month without encroaching too far on our usual space. Р THE PROPOSED "SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER." THE following are two of many gratifying letters received from influential gentlemen who take an interest in the present condition of the Highland people : 5 CLARGES STREET, LONDON, W., 11th February 1884. MY DEAR SIR,-In the present highly critical times as concerns Highland views, aims, and aspirations, I am glad to see that one so intimately acquainted with them, and who is held in such favour and confidence by the people, proposes establishing a newspaper specially devoted to their interests. I know no one so well adapted to step to the front, or more deserving of every support in the important matters to be dealt with. This I say, while with pleasure recognising to the fullest the support--and that a growing one-now given to these matters by several existing newspapers. -Yours faithfully, C. FRASER-MACKINTOSH. ALEX. MACKENZIE, Esq. TO THE EDITOR OF THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. HEREFORD, 5th February 1884. DEAR SIR, -I am delighted to hear that a people's paper is likely to appear in Inverness, under the banner of the "Scottish Highlander." I trust that Highlanders generally, throughout Great Britain and the Colonies, shall rally round it, and make it a success. The want of such a paper is felt at home and abroad. Within the last three months numerous representations have been made to me by Highlanders, in Scotland and England, of the necessity of establishing a publication devoted to the wants, requirements, and interests of the Highland people, the columns of which would always be open to them for exposing their grievances, advocating their rights, and demanding redress for oppressive wrongs. A general complaint pervaded these communications, of the partiality of the Northern Press, with one or two honourable exceptions, in discussing questions bearing upon the interests of the people, and in the way Editors treated communications sent them, making it an urgent necessity to establish a people's paper for the people, as the best means by which they could give free expression to their own ideas upon the circumstances by which they are surrounded. There is no doubt of the truth of these statements. There can be as little doubt of the urgent necessity of a weekly paper being established as early as possible. My reply to my correspondents was, that I was ready to assist whenever a sufficient number of Highlanders combined to make the matter feasible, and certain of success, and I take this opportunity of appealing to all Highlanders to combine, and subscribe to have a publication of their own, devoted to their interests and their aspirations. The want of it being so much felt, and so widely acknowledged, leads me to think that all real Highlanders have, at least, come to the conclusion that combination amongst themselves is the only way to success, and that shoulder to shoulder is the only mode of attaining the desired end, and of securing the object we all have in view the amelioration of the condition of the people.—Yours very faithfully, JOHN MACKAY, The Perthshire Constitutional, the county Conservative paper, in a review of the Celtic Magazine for February, says: "Messrs Mackenzie, we notice, are to start a newspaper, to be called the Scottish Highlander.' Few men, if any, are better qualified than the editor to conduct a paper treating of the Language, Literature, and Traditions' of his race; and we hope that, whilst vigorously urging the real rights of the crofter, he will, with the common-sense and the patriotism which he possesses, avoid theories which, under specious names, lead to Socialism. If so, we predict a great success to his paper." The Christian Leader, referring to the same subject, says :-"A proposal is being urged upon Mr Alexander Mackenzie, F.S.A. Scot., of Inverness, to undertake the editing and publication of a weekly journal to be called the Scottish Highlander;' and we are glad to hear that the scheme is taking practical shape. No man is better qualified than the editor of the Celtic Magazine to produce a newspaper thoroughly representative of the Highlands, or more likely to further the interests of the Highland population." AN AWKWARD MARCH. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL JAMES FERGUSON was one of the most distinguished officers under the great Duke of Marlborough, and was remarkable for the readiness with which he could find an expedient, even in the most difficult and adverse circumstances. There is a good example of this faculty of his given in a footnote in the History of the House and Clan of Mackay. While the British army were in Flanders, they had a large number of prisoners on their hands, whom it was desirable to get rid of as soon as possible. Accordingly, orders were given to conduct them to a place several miles away from the encampment, but as their number was so great, and as only a very few men could be spared to guard them, considerable hesitancy was experienced before an officer volunteered to command the small party to be sent in charge for fear the prisoners might overpower them. Ferguson, however, then a major, accepted the responsibility; the whole camp turned out to witness the departure of the party, and to see how he would deal with his troublesome charge. Ferguson proved equal to the occasion. He drew up his prisoners in line, and sent a serjeant along behind them, with orders to cut the suspenders of each man's trousers. These garments began to drop, a misfortune which could only be obviated by each prisoner using one hand at least to hold them up. The ingenious Major then put his company in order, gave the command to march, and in this guise set off, amidst the mingled admiration and amusement of the spectators. The expedient proved quite successful. With one or both hands holding up his breeches, no prisoner could do any mischief, and, on the other hand, if he let them go they would get entangled about his ankles, and render him unable to move. Thus the Major got to his destination without the loss of a single prisoner, H. R. M. THE LAST SABBATH IN STRATHNAVER BEFORE THE BURNINGS. By ANNIE MACKAY. 'Twas not the beacon light of war, Nor yet the "slogan " cry, That chilled each heart, and blanched each cheek, In the country of Mackay, And made them march with weary feet, As men condemned to die. Ah! had it been their country's foe That they were called to brave, How loudly would the piobrachd sound, How proud their "bratach wave; How joyfully each man would march, Tho' marching to his grave. No! 'Twas a cruel, sad behest, The deer were browsing on the hills, And the river added its gentle voice To nature's melody. No human voice disturbed the calm, No answering smile was there, This was the last sad Sabbath they And men were there whose brows still bore The trace of many scars, Who oft their vigils kept with death Beneath the midnight stars, Where'er their country needed men, Brave men to fight her wars. |