13. I have now demonstrated, not only the cause of interest, wherein consists its justification, but also that distributive justice proceeds in accordance with the law of geometrical proportion, the perfection of which consists in a mean between two extremes, as I shall subsequently show. It must be observed in the meantime, however, that a dual system of agriculture does not conform to the laws of free industries, nor to geometrical proportion. Interest, although analagous to rent, is not homologous with it, because interest is the wages of capital, which is the creation of labour. Rent, on the other hand, is in respect of land; which is not the creation of labour (except in respect of its ameliorations, which must always be considered as capital), and is, therefore, not homologous with interest.

It is of prime importance that the industrial classes should be thoroughly convinced that the regular rate of interest is not, like rent, a tax on labour, except the interest on the National Debt, which of course is not capital, and the interest of which ought, in justice, to fall exclusively on land, as the Debt was incurred, if not for the defence of the land, it was in order to secure high rents by such questionable means as taxing the American Plantations, and preserving the balance of power on the Continent! Those wars were waged in the interests of landlords alone, who benefited very largely in enhanced rents, whilst the trade and commerce of the country is saddled with the interest on the Debt. It must also be borne in mind that the absorption and destruction of a vast amount of capital had brought upon the country a state of distress of which the present generation has had no experience, and hardly a conception.

(To be concluded in our next.)

INVERNESS SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY AND FIELD CLUB.-The Inverness Scientific Society and Field Club opened its winter session on the evening of the 13th November with the annual meeting. The president, Mr Jas. Fraser, C. E., occupied the chair. The office-bearers for the ensuing year were then elected :-President, Mr E. H. Macmillan; vice-presidents, Sheriff Blair and Wm. Mackay, F.S.A. Scot., solicitor; secretary, Mr T. D Wallace. F.S. A. Scot.; treasurer, Mr Jas. Ross; librarian, Mr James Barron, F.S.A. Scot. : curator, Mr George Reid; members of council, Messrs C. R. Manners, C. E.; Geo. Robertson, Alex. Mackenzie, F.S.A. Scot., Celtic Magazine; Alex. Ross, F.S.A. Scot.; and Dr Aitken, F.S.A. Scot. The syllabus for the ensuing session contains the following subjects:-"Travelled boulders of Lochaber," by Mr Colin Livingston, Fort-William; "Old iron works at Lochmaree," by Mr John H. Dixon, supplemented by Mr John E. Marr; "Plants of Palestine," by Mr Alex. Ross; "Electrical Measurements, and the theory of the Dynamo, by Mr M'G. Ross, Alness; &c.

A TRADITION OF LOCHABER.

ON the banks of the River Spean, and nearly opposite Keppoch, stands the farm house of "Inch”—“ Tigh na h-Innse." At the time of which I write, the tacksman of this place was Ronald Macdonald, a cadet of the house of Keppoch. He was a brave young fellow, of a most soldierlike appearance, and of a high and noble spirit. He fell in love with the daughter of the chief of the MacMartin Camerons of Letterfinlay, "Eili na Leitreach"as she was called—and the maiden responded to his affection with her whole heart. MacMartin, however, made an excuse of her extreme youth to delay their betrothal, but Ronald feared that the father was hoping to get a richer suitor for his beautiful daughter.

One day Ronald was out deerstalking, and towards night, when preparing to return home, he heard a woman's shriek on the mountain side. The men who were with him got frightened, thinking it was the cry of the "Bean-Shith," but Ronald knew the voice of his beloved. "Follow me," he cried hastily to his men, and before many minutes were over he overtook a gentleman of the clan Mackintosh, accompanied by some of his followers, carrying off Eili, who shortly before had utterly refused his offer of marriage. Ronald fought like a hero, and at last delivered his beloved from the rough hands that held her in bondage; she clung to him in gladness and joy; together they returned to her father's house, and as soon as Eili was in safety, he fell fainting on the floor. His brow had been cut in the most dreadful manner, and the blood streaming from the wound had been blinding him all the way down the hill, although he had said nothing to the maiden about it. He lay ill for a long time. after, in Letterfinlay House, and when he returned home to Inch he took his bride with him. She could not bear to be again separated from him, and her father admitted that he had nobly earned her.

The young pair were as happy as such lovers could be, and before they were married a year a daughter was born to them. Shortly after the birth of their child, Ronald found he had to go

E

to the South on business, and though he felt sorry to be even so short a time parted from his wife, he cheered her with hopes of a speedy return. A young relative of his own, named Coll, was standing, holding the infant in his arms, as Ronald left the house. If I do not return, whether will you marry my wife or my daughter? asked Ronald laughingly. "Both perhaps," replied the lad. The time appointed for his return came, but no Ronald, and for many a weary night Eili sat up waiting to hear his wellknown foot approaching the house, but all in vain. Months passed and years rolled on, but he came not, and then they ceased to expect him. Coll remained at Inch, faithful always to the lady and her young daughter, protecting them in every possible way.

Mackintosh began to make proposals again to Eili; she felt sorely afraid of him, and as a protection against him, as well as to reward Coll, she made up her mind rather to marry her faithful friend who had managed everything so well for her during the years of her desolation. Her daughter was now upwards of fifteen years of age, and needed a guardian who could act with the authority of a father. The marriage was duly arranged, and all their mutual friends thought it a very wise step for both to take. On the wedding day a wearied traveller came to the district, and on calling for a glass of water at a house by the roadside, he was told of the cause for the appearance of festivity about the house of Inch, when he said the following words, which have been handed down :

"Chunnaic mi smùid do thigh na h-Innse,

'S bha mi cinnteach gu'r smùid bhainns'i,

'S tha mi 'n duil a Righ na Soillse,
Gur ann leams' tha biadh na bainnse."

He went on to the house and asked for food, which was placed before him in abundance. He inquired if the marriage ceremony was over, and he was told that it was. Then he said—“ Will you ask the bride to do me the grace of giving me a glass of whisky out of her own hand, and I will give her my blessing. The bride came, still looking youthful and lovely. She filled the glass, and gave it to the stranger, who rose, and stood looking at her in silence, as if preparing to say words that refused to come. He took of his bonnet, and running his fingers through his hair, exposed his brow. The lady looked, and saw the mark of the

gash that had been made on her husband's brow on the night on which he had saved her from Mackintosh. She looked into his eyes, and crying aloud, "My darling, my darling," she fell on his bosom. It soon became known to the guests that the marriage ceremony of the morning was null and void, and no one was better pleased at the return of the long lost one than the generous-hearted Coll. "Come here my friend," said Ronald, "you cannot have my wife. I have, however, heard to-day of your faithfulness, and you shall have my daughter." The priest was called forthwith, and Coll was married to young Mariot, who had secretly loved him, and sorrowed over his marriage to her mother. "By my garment," cried Ronald, “you kept your word. You said if I did not return you would marry both my wife and daughter, but it was too bad to marry them both on the same day."

Ronald never told what kept him away those fifteen years. It was known that a tale of wrong and suffering could be related about his absence, and that Mackintosh was to blame for it. If Ronald would tell all, he said, the fiery cross would be out at once to gather the Macdonalds to avenge his wrongs; and having got home again he wished to live a life of peace. The happy pair had several children after that, and their grandchildren and their own played together round the same hearth in peace and happiness. MARY MACKELLAR.

THE "CLACHNAHAGAIG" STONE.

SIR, I have read with much interest the papers by that distinguished antiquarian, Mr Fraser-Mackintosh, on the "Lower Fishings of the Ness;" but with respect to one remark which occurs in the first paper (in your October No.) I should like, with your permission, to say a few words.

After reciting the terms of the Golden Charter of James VI. giving the right of fishing to the Town of Inverness, "betwixt the Stone called Clachnahagaig and the sea," Mr Fraser-Mackintosh proceeds to state that "the exact site of Clachnahagaig has been questioned, but unnecessarily," and he explains that the stone was "usually and exactly termed Clachnahalig." I submit, sir, that no evidence whatever is produced to show that the " 'Clachnahagaig" of King James' charter, and the "Clachnahalaig" of certain plans, titles, &c., are one and the same. Any person, or persons, founding rights on the charter are bound to show the "Clachnahagaig" march stone of King James' time; and that might easily be done had the latter stone and its actual position have been guarded with equal care as its confrére, the "Clachnacudain," has been.

It is urged that "Clachnahalig " is marked in a plan by May of 1762, and in one by Horne of 1774. This, however, is no evidence as to " Clachnahagaig."

Again, the paper describes the Upper Fishings as terminating at the "Town's lands of Drumdivan, near Balnahaun of Holm." I hold part of the lands of Drumdivan, which comprise the Fortalice of Drumdivan, just above Holme House; the house and lands of Burnside (now acquired by Mr Gordon) and Slacknamarlach : but Drumdivan never, as I understand, went down to the river; the very name, I believe, signifies in Gaelic "The edge of the ridge," as distinguished from the low "Holme ground.”

When Mr Fraser-Mackintosh, moved by antiquarian zeal, erected the monumental 'In memory of Clachnahagaig," we are told that one Charles Fraser, a crofter, "audibly declared" that the stone was "truly placed," which, of course, is evidence quantum valeat.-I remain, &c., ANGUS MACKINTOSH.

stone

FEUDAL RELATIONS OF LANDLORD AND TENANT.

WASHINGTON, U.S.A., September 25, 1883.

SIR, -In your February number, at page 192, is a report of some remarks of Mr Mackay on the relationship that of old existed between landlord and tenant. He says "The feudal system, about which one hears a great deal of nonsense now-a-days spoken, was established in the Highlands as early as the thirteenth century, since which time the chiefs have held the lands as absolute proprietors under written titles, in terms similar to those which were common over the rest of Scotland." This proposition appears to include all the chiefs and all the lands, and in that sense is at variance with history. Mr Burton tells us (vol. II., p. 57) that feudal institutions were established formally throughout Scotland before the close of the thirteenth century, but that Celtic customs prevailed in the North; and (vol. VI., p. 35) that in the year 1597 Parliament required the chieftains and leaders of clans to attend at Edinburgh and produce their titles to their lands, but the response was meagre, because such titles did not exist. I think Mr Burton elsewhere explains that the Highlanders had a great repugnance to sheepskin titles, which, in an age when the laity had little knowledge of letters, gave opportunity for fraud and imposition; but I have no note of the passage.

It was a fundamental idea of the feudal system that all titles were originally derived from the king. The injustice was in treating this legal fiction as a solid fact, and claiming for the king all lands to which the occupants did not show a paper title. This fiction should, in reason, have been neutralised by another fiction-or rather a legal presumption-that, when one has been in long, uninterrupted, and notorious possession of land, he had received a grant from the proper authority, but had lost it.

Human nature is the same in all ages; and when the United States acquired California from Mexico in 1848, Congress did just what the Scottish Parliament did in 1597-required all persons occupying land to show their paper titles, and if they could show none, their land was declared to be public property. Thus, not only the wild tribes of Indians, but many Christianised and semi-civilised communities had their lands sold from under their feet, and in many cases they were expelled from fields, gardens, and pretty houses.-I am, yours, &c.,

JNO, D. MACPHERSON,