that possibly he could not come North; but that he would make a special effort to come. On Wednesday night he had a telegram, intimating that Lochiel was worse, and that afternoon he had received the following letter :

Montagu House, Whitehall, July 9, 1884.

"Dear Sir,-The hope which I expressed in my letter yester day has, I regret to say, not been realised, and this morning my foot is so painful that I can hardly put it to the ground, much less ought I attempt to travel. You cannot on my behalf express too forcibly the extreme disappointment which my enforced absence from the anniversary meeting of the Gaelic Society causes me, while, if it be not presumptuous to say so, the belief that this disappointment will be shared by others, sensibly aggravates my own regret. It is certainly most unfortunate that of all weeks in the year I should be a prisoner during the present one, when business engagements, as well as the duty which I owe to the Gaelic Society, demanded my presence in Inverness. Trusting that my enforced absence may interfere as little as possible with the success of your meeting, I am yours, very fathfully,

"DONALD CAMERON."

Mr Mackenzie then, continuing, said that the Council, on learning of Lochiel's illness, had resolved to ask either Lord Dunmore (who was unable to be present last year when he himself was Chief) or Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie of Gairloch, to preside on this occasion. (Applause.) Lord Dunmore being in town, a deputation from the Council of the Society was sent to wait upon him, but he too was suffering from gout. (Laughter.) They then communicated by telegraph with Sir Kenneth Mackenzie-(Applause)--one of the earliest and best friends of the Society, and he had put the Society under another debt of gratitude to him by agreeing to preside on this occasion, and in response to the Council's invitation Sir Kenneth now occupied the chair. (Loud applause.) The Council hoped that Lord Dunmore would be present, but owing to his attack of gout his Lordship was unable to comply with their wishes; and another gentleman, Mr Macdonald of Skaebost, whose name was on the programme, telegraphed that afternoon from Edinburgh, as follows:

"Sorry I cannot be with you to-night, as I am laid up with gout. (Loud laughter.) I wish you a most pleasant evening, which I am sure you will have with such a chief as Lochiel." (Applause.)

Mr Mackenzie then intimated letters of apology from Mr Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, M.P.; Cluny Macpherson of Cluny, C.B.; Mr A. R. Mackenzie, yr. of Kintail; Professor Mackinnon; Rev. Mr Morison, Kintail; Rev. A. D. Mackenzie, Kilmorack ; Sheriff Nicolson; Rev. Mr Maclachlan, Glasgow; Mr Forbes of Culloden; Mr Mackintosh of Holme; Mr John Mackay, Hereford; Captain D. P. Macdonald, Fort-William; Mr Clunas, Nairn; and Captain O'Sullivan, Inverness.

Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie, who, as already stated, occupied the chair, then addressed the meeting. He said-Ladies and Gentlemen,-You will see from the programme that the first item is an address by the Chief. Unfortunately, as you have heard, the Chief is not able to be present, and I am not able to give you an address. (Laughter and applause.) But there is one thing that you will notice, and that is that the leading members of this Association belong to a highly respectable class, for they are all afflicted with a highly respectable complaint. (Laughter.) That complaint, however, though very respectable, is, I am afraid, a very painful one, and one that is excessively exasperating under all circumstances, and particularly so when it prevents people from fulfilling engagements of a social nature, such as that of this evening is. And as Lochiel cannot be here to-night, I am sure you will sympathise with him in his unfortunate position, and will give expression to that feeling at the close of the programme. (Applause.) Now, ladies and gentlemen, I have been summoned here to-night by telegraph, but I must confess I have nothing particular to say. Politics are properly forbidden. It does seem rather hard on one who regularly reads the papers, and sees nothing in them but politics, to find that he is not permitted to touch upon what he sees and hears daily. (Laughter.) But this is mainly a literary society, though I am afraid the literary duties are to a large extent deputed to the Secretary, Mr William Mackenzie. We are very fortunate in having so energetic and able a secretary as he has proved himself to be, for you are doubtless aware that a great part of the papers in our Transactions come from his pen. I remember when I had the honour of presiding at the annual dinner here a year and a-half ago, that I made certain suggestions to the members of this Association as to subjects which they might take up, or on which they might read papers, for our Transactions. I confess that I felt too modest to do anything myself, but I was anxious that others should do something, and I suggested that somebody might write an account of how our Highland regi

ments were raised. Since that time Mr Mackenzie has contributed a valuable paper to our last volume of Transactions; and very interesting evidence came out before the Crofter Commission as to how our Highland regiments were raised, and the Commissioners were also told that Highland proprietors were then more tyrannical than those of the present day, even objectionable as proprietors to-day are supposed to be. (Laughter.) Another subject has lately occurred to me. I think it would be very interesting if any member of this Association, and there are a great many here present to-night from all parts of the country, would take up and publish a treatise upon Highland surnames. There are a number of curious English names in the West which do not correspond with the Gaelic names. For instance, there is the name of Livingstone, which is translated as Mac-an-leigh. I cannot myself understand what the connection between these two names is. Then there are a great many names which are translations, but whether they are ancient or modern seems undecided. We have the surnames of Brown, Smith, and Grey. I am told Brown is in some parts of the country called Mac-'ille-dhuinn, and Grey Mac-'ille-ghlais. This is an interesting subject, and I think it would be very desirable that some facts regarding it should be put on record. (Applause.) The efforts of this Association have always been directed to get Gaelic introduced into our Highland schools, and those of you who have taken an interest in the report of the Crofter Commission will have seen that the Commissioners have recommended legislation pretty much on the lines suggested by this Society. (Applause.) Whether anything will come of it, I cannot say. But I think there is one way in

which the Society might still do a great deal of good with reference to the question of Gaelic in schools. There is, undoubtedly, great difficulty in getting Gaelic-speaking teachers for our Highland schools. Gaelic-speaking teachers are ambitious like other teachers. The best men go where the best salaries are to be got, and the best salaries are not always to be found on the West Coast. At all events it would require an unusual amount of public spirit in the ratepayers, if those on the West Coast were to give salaries which would enable them to secure the services of the best men. At the same time, it is eminently desirable that the best Gaelic-speaking teachers should hold positions in Gaelicspeaking districts; and I think that this Society should bring its influence to bear on Highland School Boards, and on the Educacation Department, with the view of securing this. (Applause.) It is surely ridiculous to suppose that a man who cannot understand

the children, and whom the children cannot understand, could be able to impart anything like a real education to these children. I do not mean to say that there are not high-class men who manage to get on wonderfully well without a knowledge of Gaelic; but there are teachers who discover that the children are stupid, because they do not understand the children, and the children do not understand them. It seems to me that in these circumstances, it is not at all remarkable that the teacher should find the children stupid. (Applause.) Now, ladies and gentlemen, I am not here prepared with an address, and I feel somewhat in the position of that unfortunate minister who did not know much Gaelic, and of whom our friend, the Rev. Mr Mackenzie, of Kilmorack, told us a story at the meeting when this Society was inaugurated. This unfortunate clergyman had great difficulty in getting up his sermon, and when it was got up it was not very edifying to the people. (Laughter) His Gaelic was limited, and after preaching a quarter-of-an-hour, he wound up by saying, "Tha mi cinnteach gu bheil sibhse sgith dhiomsa, agus tha mise seachd sgith dhibhse." “I am sure you are tired of me, and I am heartily tired of you." (Laughter and applause.) As this meeting is one partly for amusement, and as there is an entertainment before you, I will say no more, but I hope that any weariness you may have felt during the last few minutes will speedily pass away. (Loud applause.)

The singing and dancing were then proceeded with. To those in the habit of attending the Assembly the performers were nearly all well and favourably known. Miss Watt, Miss Hutchison, Mr Hugh Fraser, Mr Paul Fraser, and Mr C. C. Macdonald, sustained the vocal part of the programme; and Captain Chisholm, Glassburn; Pipe-Major Alexander Maclennan, and Pipe-Major Ronald Mackenzie, of the 3rd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, supplied the bagpipe music. "The Cameron Men" and "Tam Glen were Miss Watt's selections, and she received an enthusiastic recall on both appearances. In response, she favoured

the audience in the one case with "The Standard on the Braes o' Mar," and on the next occasion repeated a verse of her theme. Miss Watt sang in splendid voice, and the cordial appreciation evoked was both flattering and deserved. Miss Hutcheson gave "Mo run geal dileas," very sweetly, and received a warm and hearty encore. She was equally successful in another ditty of the affections, "Thug mi gaol do'n Fhear Bhan," her efforts meeting with a well-merited encore. Mr Hugh Fraser, who was in characteristic form, introduced himself with "Mo run gach la', prize song by the late Rev. D. Fraser, Fearn, and being recalled

a

gave the "Gairloch Clan." His other performance, "Na 'm bithinn na m' Bhard," created much amusement owing to the demonstrative rendering it received. Mr Paul Fraser was equally happy in "The Old Brigade," as in "Mnathan a' Ghlinne and "Theid i leam," and all three performances were warmly appreciated. Miss J. B. Mackenzie played the pianoforte accompaniments with great acceptance. A most popular feature of the proceedings was the dancing of the Highland Fling, Gillie Callum, and the Reel of Tulloch, all of which were excellently done, and loudly applauded. The interval between the parts was very agreeably filled up by Captain Chisholm, who played a selection of well-known airs on the pipes, his playing evoking loud cheers.

Mr Colin Chisholm opened the second part of the programme by a Gaelic address. He said A Phriomh a' Chomuinn so, a Bhaintighearnan, agus a Dhaoin'-uaisle, is duilich leam innseadh dhuibh nach 'eil e air chomas do'n phears-eaglais a bha dol a thoirt oraid Ghaidhlig dhuinn a bhi an so an nochd. Na 'm biodh e air tighinn bu chinnteach duinn toileachdainn agus soillearachdainn fhaighinn. An coimeas do 'n duine urramach sin cha'n 'eil mise ach mar dhamh an ceo, no mar fhear 'na aonar ann am bàta air bharr na tonn agus e gun stiuir, gun seol, gun ramh, gun taoman. A bharrachd air so cha d'fhuair mi ach fios piobaire; agus air an aobhar sin na gabhaibh iongantas ged nach 'eil mo chruit air dheagh ghleusadh, oir cha robh duil agam ri mo bheul fhosgladh aig a' choinnimh so. Coma co dhiubh, eadar dheoin a's ain-deoin dh'aontaich mi. Ach, aon ni, cha chum mi fada sibh. Ma bheir sibh eisdeachd fad naoi no deich a mhionaidean domh, innsidh mi mo bheachd dhuibh air na comhairlean baigheil, priseil a thug Ard-theachdairean na Ban-righ dhuinn mu sgoilean Gaidhealtachd agus Eileanan na h-Alba. Anns a' chiad dol sios, tha na daoine glice, cogaiseach so a' sealltainn air an trom dhlighe a tha ri phaidheadh ann an cuid de na sgoilean Gaidhealach mar eallach a tha tuilleadh is trom ri ghiulan. Ann an cuid de 'n Eilean Leoghasach tha cain agus cìs nan sgoilean a' tighinn gu sia tasdain agus ochd sgillinn's a' phunnd Shasunnach. Anns na h-Earradh tha a' chain da thasdan agus ochd sgilliun, agus ann an Uidhista-chinne-tuath tri tasdain 's a' phunnd Shasunnach. Agus cha 'n ann 's na h-eileanan uile tha an t-olc; tha da sgire dheug eadar tir-mor Siorrachd Inbhirnis, Siorrachd Rois, agus Eilean Shealtainn anns am beil dlighe nan sgoilean a' dol thairis air da thasdan 's a' phunnd Shasunnach. Tha a leithid so de dh-ana-caitheamh nàr--tha e buileach nàr, an uair a chuimhnicheas sinn gur ann aig daoine nach 'eil ro chomasach tha a' chuid mhor dheth ri phaidh