The raised such a line of defence connected with warlike purposes. second theory is the only one that can be viewed in any favourable light, and it is confirmed by tradition coming down from generation to generation. A superstitious dread protected the standing stones from destruction for centuries, but latterly part of them were used for building and other purposes. A small farmer at Bruan is said to have removed one of the stones from the hill of Mannistanes for the lintel of the fire-place of a kiln, but every time he kindled his fire the stone became a flame, but was never consumed, so that the farmer never had any peace until he returned the stone to the exact place from which he had removed it. The tradition is given for what it is worth. WICK. (To be Continued.) G. M. SUTHERLAND. A NEW COLLECTION OF GAELIC SONGS, under the name of "C'larsach na Coille," is about to be issued to the public. Such a publication-a Collection of Gaelic songs from the backwoods of Canada-will be a new thing in Scotland. The compiler, the Rev. A. Maclean-Sinclair, already pretty well known to Gaelic students, even on this side of the Atlantic, is well qualified for the compiling and editing of such a work, for he has a most intimate acquaintance with the whole range of Gaelic poetry, and is a first-class Gaelic scholar, having closely studied the language and poetry of the Highlands since he could read. The book will extend to some 300 pages, and contains, first, a Memoir of the late bard, John Maclean, at one time of Coll, and latterly of Nova Scotia-where he composed many of his best pieces; then follows forty-two of his poems, making up altogether about half the book. Second, come ten pieces from Dr Maclean's MS. Collection made in Mull about 1768, and taken to America by the bard Maclean in 1819. These poems are by Eachainn Bacach, Iain MacAilein, Anndra Mac an Easbuig, Mairearad Nighean Lachainn, and the fourth Maclean of Coll, one of those by the latter being composed on Ailean nan Sop, about 1537. Third, come forty poems from John Maclean's MS. Collection, including pieces by Iain Lom, Callum a Ghlinne, Corporal Mackinnon, Triath Chlann Choinnich, and others-twenty of which are love songs of the very best kind. Ten or twelve poems, collected by Mr Sinclair himself, bring up the rear. One of these is by the Rev. Dr Macgregor, author of the hymns; two by Piobaire Fhir Ghlinn-Alladail, author of "Thug mi'n oidhche raoir san airidh"; and two by Domhnull Donn Bhoth-Fhiunntain-in all about 100 poems, most of which have never appeared anywhere in print. The value of the work is much enhanced by the addition of copious notes by the editor; while the language will be found idiomatic, and written in full accordance with the rules of Gaelic grammar and prosody. The work is printed, with his usual success and care, by Archibald Sinclair, Gaelic publisher, Glasgow. "DAIN SPIORADAIL," a Collection of Gaelic Hymns, compiled and edited by the same rev, gentlemen, will be published on an early date by Maclachlan & Stewart, Edinburgh. MU CHLADH CHILL-A MIA!L! LE MAIRI NIC EALLAIR. [CONTINUED.] SHUIDH Nic-a-Chombuich aig a dorus fein, 'G amharc an trein a bha gu mall a triall, Bha ceanna-bheairt chiar 'o 's cionn a ciabhan glas, 'S a tonnag bhreachdain le braist airgiod duint, 'O s cionn a guin don tarruing ur fo slios, Mur shiod a buth a rachadh cruin ga dhiol; Stoill lainnireach omair air a broilleach seacht, Is solus beachdalachd is reachd na gnuis. Le aghaidh thursaich sheall i air an laoch, A bha co gaolach le, ri h-aon mhac fein "A fluir nan treun gu de chuir thu fo ghruaim, No ciod chuir bruaidlean ort a righ nan sonn? 'S dorra le d' mhuime snithe air do ghruaidh, No bas is cruadal bhi air sluagh do dhaimh, Nuair bha mi ghraidh na'm ribhinn aluinn uir, Fo bharra-gug mar ros fu dhriuchd sa cheit, 'Sa chaidh mo threigsinn leis an lascuir og, A mheall mo phog uam is nach d'iarr mo lamh, Sa chaidh mo mhicean geal a thamh sa chill, Mo chairdean diombach is mo chridhe trom, Mar neach 'san lombair fad o fhasgadh coill, Sa ghaillionn oillteal tighinn o'n bheinn le gruaim, An sin rugadh tusa a luaidh nam fearra mor Is thugadh dhomhs' thu ann an glacan gaoil, Nuair thug mi mach le faoilt dhut mo ghealla-chioch, Shil i a ruin mun d' iath do bheul mu ceann Bainne neo-ghann. Sud samhladh air mo chri', Le 'm b'aill do chobhair mar a thigeadh t-fheum, 'S gun sgal na h-eiginn thighinn o'd bheul a chaoidh ; 'S ann air do shonsa 'n deighe moran strith, Ghlac mi bhean-shith 'sa fhuair le briodal uaip An sian thug buaidh dhut an strith chruaidh na'n lann; 'S ann air do sgath a dh' iarr mi 'n t-eolas cruaidh, A dh' fhag mi 'n diugh a measg mo shluaigh leam fhein, Le crith is geilt 's cha'n ann am feasd le gradh, Thair stairsnich m' fhardaich a thig sean no og; 'S ann air do shon a chaidh mi 'n raoir do'n t-sliabh, Tha m' eideadh riomhach, 's cuimir grinn mo bhrog, Sa mhointich riabhaich ud tha shios ri taobh A mhor-fhir threin nach robh san teugbhail meat, Is na dean dearmad, bi gu calma glic, Is cuimhnich tric air mar is math leat buaidh, An cat a chuir mun cuairt gun fhois gun tamh." Dh' fhalbh laoch nan creach gun mheatachd is gun sgath 'S thog bothan fail a reir na h-aithne fhuair, 'S chaidh e tre'n fhuathas ud gu buadh'ar treun, An "Tigh-ghairm " bha riamh tre dheuchainn chruaidh, Is dh' inns "Cluas-leabhra" dha, gach creach bha mor, 'S an d'rinn e foirneart, 's anns 'n do dhoirt e fuil, Gum feudadh e an dioladh le a mhaoin, 'S air son a bhuaireas anns na chaith e oig'. 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 VI. THERE are many incidents in history to illustrate the various interesting features of the Highland character. In the earliest times it has been properly asserted, that the Highlanders owed allegiance to native chieftains, who acted like as many princes, and by whom the Scottish Kings were acknowledged as sovereigns, but that merely in name. Among these were the powerful Lords of the Isles, who flourished from remote times to the reign of King James V.* They were the chief rulers for ages over almost all the Hebride Isles, and exerted an influence over the greater part of the Highlands of Scotland. During the disturbances which distracted the Scottish nation after the death of James V., the independence of the Highland chiefs was still more confirmed. While in the seventeenth century the martial spirit declined in the Lowlands of Scotland, the Highlanders showed a decided superiority in the art of war. This well known feature of character infused into them a higher feeling of their own power, and rendered them more obstinate in their adherence to their native customs. This spirit was, however, considerably checked and severely chastened by Cromwell, within the range of their own fortresses. He planted strong garrisons in several places, commanded flying divisions of the army to traverse their mountains, gave orders to dismantle the castles of the chiefs, and compelled the clans to lay down their arms and give security for their future peaceful conduct. After the restoration of the house of Stuart, to which the bravery of the Highlanders had so much contributed, the yoke imposed by Cromwell was removed from them—the fortresses which had been built for their subjugation were destroyed or forsaken—and the laws against the predatory expeditions of the Highlanders were no longer enforced. Under these cir cumstances the old constitution of the Clans was once more fostered and cherished. The insurrection of 1715, in favour of the house of Stuart, and the wide-spread alarms created thereby, led to the adoption of various measures to break the power of the chiefs. One of the measures then adopted was the disarming of the Highlanders; but this was so negligently performed, that most of the adherents of the house of Stuart were able to conceal their weapons, in order to be used upon a more favourable opportunity against the reigning government. The chieftains were naturally very displeased, and used every effort possible to maintain their threatened power, by destroying the effect of the innovations with which the government sought to weaken the bonds of the Highland Clans. After the * Vide "History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles," by Mr Alexander Mackenzie, editor of the Celtic Magazine, Inverness. failure of the Chevalier St George in the campaign of 1715, the rebellion of 1745, thirty years afterwards, was a consequence of the secret disaffection of the Highlanders, and the same was encouraged and strengthened by private instigations and faithful promises of support from allies abroad.* Such was the state of matters when Prince Charles Edward Stuart was instigated alike by his own ambition and by the promised support of faithful partisans to renew the insurrection, to gain, as he undoubtedly supposed, the victory, and thereby to succeed to the crown of Britain. Of the Prince's career to obtain the object he had in view various particulars have already been given in these articles-such as his leaving France, his arrival in the frigate Doutelle at the island of Eriskay, in the Hebrides, his raising his standard at Glenfinnan, and his bold advances through Scotland to England, causing great alarm to the reigning sovereign. Allusions have been made to the battles which he fought—such as those at Preston, Falkirk, and last of all at the (to him) fatal field of Culloden. Minute particulars have been detailed as to the flight of his Royal Highness from the bloody moor of Culloden, through glen and dale, to Lochnanuagh, near where he first landed in Scotland. From Lochnanuagh he and his companions sailed in an open boat, amid storm and hurricane, thunder and lightning, across the Minch, until they fortunately, but unexpectedly, arrived at the island of Benbecula, South Uist, "on the 27th of April. It was then deemed prudent that his Royal Highness should conceal himself in a cave at Corrodale, which was about ten miles from Ormiclade, the residence of Clanranold.+ The Rebellion of 1745 had now arrived at an eventful crisis. On the 16th day of April 1746, the two armies of the Duke of Cumberland and. Prince Charles Edward Stuart met in bloody conflict on Drummossie Moor, near Culloden, where the fate of the Prince was doomed, and where the Royal forces gained the day. The struggle was fierce and desperate ! The poor Highlanders who fought so bravely had to contend against a vast, well-trained army, possessing an excess of disciplined soldiers, and arrayed on a battlefield suitable for their artillery and cavalry, but disastrous to the success of the heterogeneous partisans of the very unfortunate Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Within the compass of a few months an adventure came to a termination, which had but few parallels, if any, in the annals of history. When the expedition thus ended is viewed in its varied features and in the determination and boldness which it manifested in its several details, it may be considered to rank high amid the achievements of ancient and modern times. The interests at stake were highly important, not only to the Royal adventurer himself, but likewise to the different clans and septs that so imprudently espoused his cause. What could be more hazardous than to rush with precipitation beyond the middle of England, and to traverse a hostile country to the very confines of the English Capital? As the talented Chambers has expressed it so well, "the expedition was done in face of the two armies, each capable of utterly annihilating it; and the weather was such as to add a thousand personal miseries to the general evils of the campaign. A magnanimity was preserved even in * Vide Stewart's Sketches of the Highlanders; Brown's Clans of Scotland; Chambers's Rebellion; Home's Works; Jacobite Memoirs; Culloden Papers, &c. + Vide Celtic Magazine. No. 50, pp. 52.57. |
