eadh. Tha Ard-theachdairean na Ban-righ (ma tha Gaidhlig air Commissioners cha chuala mise i) tha iad a' faicinn mar an ceudna nach 'eil aig cloinn luchd-labhairt na Gaidhlig ach fior dhroch ceartas anns na sgoilean air son am bheil iad a paidheadh cho daor. Air an aobhar sin tha iad a' toirt am barail gu saor, soilleir dhuinn air gach seol agus gach doigh a bu choir a leantainn a so suas gu lan cheartas a bhuileachadh air sgoilearan na Gaidhlig. Am measg nam ficheadan de dhoighean caomhail anns am beil iad a soillearachdainn an durachd do'n sgoilear Ghaidhlig tha iad gun agadh, gun fhiaradh, a' comhairleachadh gu'm biodh e air a chur air an aon ruith ri sgoilear na Greugais agus na Laidinn. Tha a nis os cionn ceud bliadhna bho'n thug sgoilear ainmeal aig nach robh mor bhaigh ris a' Ghaidhealtachd a bharail mu'n amaideachd a bha ann a bhi a' sparradh na Beurla nach robh iad a' tuigsinn, a dheoin no dh-ain-deoin, air an oigridh Ghaidhealaich. Mar tha fios agaibh tha cuid de na sgoilearan so a' cosnadh suim mhaith airgid 's a' bhliadhna air son chanainean coigreach mar tha Fraingis agus Greugais; agus c'arson nach biodh a' cheart chothrom air a thoirt do'n Ghaidhlig ? Agus so gu seachd sonraichte an uair a chi sinn gu'n do dh-fhaisg na hEirionnaich an t-sochair so as a' Pharlamaid air an son fhein. Agus tha fhios againn gu bheil a' Ghaidhlig airidh air. Nach d'thuirt fear de ard luchd-teagaisg Abar-eadhan o chionn ghoirid gu'n robh a' Ghaidhlig na cainnt sgriobhte deich linntean m' an deachaidh facal Beurla a chur riamh air paipear. Is e coire sluagh na duthcha a bhios ann, ma ta, mur cruadhaich iad air a' Pharlamaid gu lan cheartas fhaiginn dha'n sliochd. A dh'aon fhacal ged bhiodh muinntir na Gaidhealtachd a' taghadh riaghailtean gu sgoilearan math a dheanamh dhe'n cuid cloinne cha b'urrainn daibh roghainn na b'fhearr a dheanamh na bhi lan leagte ri deagh chomhairlean Ard-theachdairean na Banrigh. Mar is luaithe a chuirear an gniomh iad is ann is cliuitiche a bhitheas e do'n Ghaidhealtachd agus is buannachdaile dha 'n Rioghachd gu leir. Mr Chisholm concluded amid loud cheering. Mr Reginald Macleod, who took the place assigned in the programme to Mr Macdonald of Skaebost, said-I am very sorry to have to appear in the place of your old and most esteemed member, Mr Lachlan Macdonald of Skaebost. I am afraid we received the news of his illness with more merriment than was right or becoming, but since the malady is more unpleasant than dangerous, we were affected with something like amusement on hearing that Lochiel, Lord Dunmore, and Mr Macdonald of Skaebost were all ill with gout. I am sure we are all equally sorry that they are unable to be present to-night, and we earnestly wish for their speedy recovery from their temporary illness. I myself am not sorry that Mr Macdonald is absent, because it enables me to move a vote of thanks to Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, who has occupied the chair with so much satisfaction. (Applause.) I suppose Sir Kenneth Mackenzie and I will have the honour of addressing a good many audiences within the next twelve months, and I hope that we shall have a great many votes of thanks, but I am equally certain we shall not have the opportunity of giving a vote of thanks to one another. Therefore, I take this opportunity, as the only one that is likely to occur, and I hope we shall often meet in future, and always be friends in whatever kind of meeting we may happen to find ourselves. (Applause.) I believe such a meeting as this cannot possibly fail to have a very effective and favourable result upon the objects of this Society. It has been a large and enthusiastic meeting, and every Highlander must desire that this grand old language which I must unhappily confess not having been taught so thoroughly to understand as I should like that this language should live, and live with an increased interest among our people. I believe if we take care simply that nothing is done in our schools or otherwise to make the use of our Gaelic language awkward or inconvenient, it will never die, because it is the language of home, the language of the affections, and the language of childhood, and therefore it must remain with us. I hope all in the Highlands who use English will put it on as they put on their greatcoats-(Laughter)-that when they go to the markets to do business, or go to the South, they may then talk English. very anxious that the Gaelic language should remain with all our Highland people—the language which will be their daily possession and their daily interest, and in which they exchange their daily thoughts. (Hear, hear, and applause.) If a people loses its language, it loses one of the greatest and most important bonds of union, and I am sure that in the case of a great people like this Gaelic race, if they lose their language, we shall lose from the world one of the most interesting and one of the most expressive languages which has existed in this island. (Applause.) I I am trust, however, that that will never be-that each and all of us will do our utmost to encourage the teaching of the language both in our elementary schools and otherwise, so that there will always be a people competent to teach our youth. (Applause.) He concluded by moving a vote of thanks to Sir Kenneth and the performers, which was very heartily responded to. Sir Kenneth, on rising to reply, was received with loud cheers. He said-On the part of the performers and myself I beg to return you my best thanks for the kind reception you have given us. In the early part of the evening there were one or two things which I ought to have referred to. With reference to the appeal made by Mr Colin Chisholm as to a grant of 10s. being paid in Ireland to those children who are properly taught the native language, I may say that attention was directed to this subject in the report of the Crofter Commission. I am told that Mr Fraser-Mackintosh has given notice that he will next Monday night ask Mr Mundella in the House of Commons whether the privilege granted in Ireland will be granted to the Highlands of Scotland. (Applause.) I ought also to have referred to Gaelic literature, which is every year spreading-for we are constantly receiving fresh publications in Gaelic. The other day I received a volume of Gaelic poems by Mr John Mackay of Ledaig, which I regret to say I have not yet been able to go over, but the very publication of which is in itself a subject of interest. It is quite unpardonable that I should have omitted to mention that the Bard of this Society, Mrs Mary Mackellar, has been chosen by her Majesty to translate into Gaelic the last volume of her journal in the Highlands. (Applause.) Some say that the Highlanders are not generally great readers of books; but I am sure this volume will be read with the greatest interest and avidity. If there is one thing more remarkable than another that came under my notice as a member of the Crofter Commission, it was the simple faith that the West Highlanders seemed to put in the Queen. They seemed to think of the Queen both as a noble lady of great private worth and as a lady who had great sympathy for her Highland subjects. If she had got the land, they believe all their wrongs would be redressed. They have the most implicit confidence in her, and I have no doubt that they will take the greatest possible interest in this book when it is published in their own language. (Applause.) In conclusion, Sir Kenneth asked the audience to testifiy their appreciation of Lochiel's desire to attend the gathering. (Applause.) The large and appreciative audience which had throughout filled the hall then dispersed, and the proceedings, which had been of a most successful character, terminated. The following song in honour of Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, composed for the occasion by Mrs Mary Mackellar, the Bard of the Society, will be read and sung with interest: ORAN DO 'N RIDIRE COINNEACH MAC-COINNICH, TRIATH GHEARRLOC H. Chorus.-So deoch slàint' a' Ghàidheil ghasda, Ard cheann-feadhna de Shiol Eachuinn, Mile fàilte air an uasal Do 'm math a thig feile cuaiche, Sporan a bhios tric ga fhuasgladh Leis an laimh nach cruaidh mu 'n òr. Gàidheal uasal de Shiol Choinnich, Nàile 's e mo run an t-àrmunn, Sliochd nan sonn d' an dual bhi 'n Geàrrloch, Rachadh dan air damh na cròic', Gàidheal fearail, flathail, tréubhach, Cairid islean, cairid uaislean, Cairid dileas thu do'n tuath-cheath'rn ; Tha thu carthannach a's caoimhneil, 'Bhaintighearn' aillidh tha ri d' ghualainn, Dorsan ibhri 'n cuirtean sirist, Slat an coill i 's cha b' i chrìonach, Saoghal fada 'm beatha shuaimhnich, THIRTEENTH ANNUAL DINNER. The thirteenth annual dinner of the Society was held in the Station Hotel on Tuesday, 13th January 1885. D. Cameron of Lochiel, M.P., Chief of the Society, presided; and the attendance was larger than at any former dinner of the Society. The Chief was supported on the right by Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie of Gairloch, Bart., and on the left by Mr Reginald Macleod, Dunvegan Castle-the other gentlemen at the head of the table being Mr Lachlan Macdonald of Skaebost; Provost Macandrew, the Rev. Dr Joass, Golspie; Bailie Alexander Ross; and the Rev. A. C. Macdonald. The croupiers were Mr Allan R. Mackenzie, yr. of Kintail, and Mr Munro-Ferguson of Novar, M.P. Among the others present were— Captain Munro of Foulis; Captain Beaumont, R.N.; Mr E. H. Macmillan, Caledonian Bank; Professor Heddle, St Andrews; Dr Aitken, Inverness; Mr Horne, of H.M. Geological Survey; Dr Macnee, Inverness; Dr Chapman, Inverness; Dr F. M. Mackenzie, Inverness; Mr James Barron, Ness Bank; Mr John |