This Cumha or lament has a very beautiful and plaintive air. I repeatedly heard it sung by Mr Malcolm Macaulay, Caolas-na-Sgeirean, Harris, who, like the subject of our sketch, is an offshoot of the Macaulays of Breinish, in the Lews. MAC IAIN, TO THE READER. THIS Number brings us to the end of the Second Volume. It had been confidently predicted, two years ago, that the Celtic Magazine could not live half a year-that the Celtic field was so limited that we could exhaust it in a few months. The Magazine is now twenty-four months old, and we have been able barely to enter within the field-to touch npon its outer margin, and when we shall have been engaged in it for twenty-four years, instead of months, we shall only then be commencing discoveries of new and more valuable treasures in a field in which ample room will be found for good work, though probably with little profit, for others. The field is inexhaustible, as we shall ultimately show, if properly supported. Volume I. was well received by the whole Press of the country; but it is universally admitted that the one now concluded is far superior, thanks, mainly, to those gentlemen of high literary attainments who have so generously and patriotically contributed to its pages. Among the most prominent contributions, we may be permitted to mention "The Clearing of the Glens," by Principal Shairp, of St Andrews, and Professor of Poetry in the University of Oxford; "Destitution in the Highlands," and "The Last Scenes of Flora Macdonald's Life," by the Rev. Alexander Macgregor, M.A.; "Highland Battles and Highland Arms," by James Macknight, W.S., Edinburgh; several contributions by Professor Blackie; "Lyrical Poetry," by the Rev. George Gilfillan; "Superstition of the Highlands," by Mary Mackellar and "Mac Iain"; Sketches by "Torquil;"" Depopulation in Badenoch," and "The Death of Colonel Baillie of Dunain in India," by Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, M.P.; "The Fentons in the Aird," by Alexander Fraser, accountant; "Brigadier Mackintosh of Borlum," by Alexander Mackintosh Shaw; and " Sonnets cn Lochawe," by Evan Maccoll. To these, and the many others who have contributed to the pages of the Celtic Magazine during the past year, our acknowledgments are due, and are now most heartily tendered. them we are mainly indebted for what is universally admitted to have been the high character of the Magazine. To "Alastair Og" had but little chance during the past year to distinguish himself in his Highland Ceilidh. He suffered in consequence of a too familiar acquaintance with us, for we have repeatedly taken the liberty to put aside his contributions to make room for others, with whom we did not feel disposed to take the same freedom. "The Prophecies of the Brahan Seer," we have every reason to know, were well received while passing through the pages of the Magazine. They have since been published in book form, and Mr Noble, bookseller, bought up the whole issue in sheets. The work is now already practically out of print. It will be seen in our next that the "Memoir of John Mackenzie, of the 'Beauties of Gaelic Poetry,'" resulted in a subscription sufficient to enable us to erect a monument to his memory. If the Magazine had done nothing else during the twelve months, its mission would not have been a failure. We are specially indebted to Mr William Mackenzie, the representative, of the Aberdeen Free Press in Inverness, for supplying the GAELIC SONGS, WITH MUSIC in the Sol-fa Notation. In the next volume, it is our intention to give the OLD NOTATION as well, and so meet the views of those who do not understand the new system. Among the contributions already in our possession for the Third Volume are "Our Own Lyrical Poetry," by the Rev. George Gilfillan ; "The Earlier Life of Flora Macdonald" (a series to complete her history), and Superstition" (also a series), by the Rev. Alex. Macgregor, M.A.; "The Bonnie Earl of Moray," by Torquil; "The Doom of Dunolly," poem of about 900 lines, in ten cantos, by William Allan, and "The Black Captain," by MacIain. We have several unpublished Gaelic Poems, from the Mull Manuscript in possession of the Rev. A. Maclean Sinclair, Nova Scotia, which will appear in early numbers. We have also an inexhaustible supply of the Highland Ceilidh, and we intend to draw upon it much more than we have done during the past year. A special feature of the next volume will be a 'History of the Clan Kenneth, or Mackenzie," by the Editor, to be commenced in the first number, continued throughout the whole year, and probably much longer. Such a history as this must necessarily be, more or less, an account of almost all the clan battles and feuds which took place in the North-West Highlands and Islands for the last six hundred years, as also the various battles in which the Clans were engaged under Montrose, "Bonnie Dundee," and "Bonnie Prince Charlie." A large amount of valuable and authentic information has been already obtained, and no effort will be spared to make the work, when complete, the History of the Mackenzies. The Fitzgerald-Irish-origin of the Clan will be given, but not adopted, the writer considering a native Gaelic descent from the Old Earls of Ross much more authentic and probable. The first two instalments will be devoted to the discussion of this important point, after which the history of the House of Kintail and Seaforth will be given, with a correct genealogy, under the name of each successive Chief, beginning with Kenneth, the first of the line of Clann Choinnich. The different branches of the Clan will be afterwards treated in their order of seniority, with authentic genealogies, as far as procurable. To enable us to be strictly accurate in the latter, the aid of members of the respective principal families is to some extent necessary, and has, in several cases, been already accorded. We shall esteem it a favour if others will kindly aid us by doing the same. Corrections and correspondence are solicited while the History is going through the Magazine, with the view to make it ultimately, in another form, as perfect as possible. It is intended to conclude the whole with a History of the Mackenzie Regiment the 78th Highlanders, or "Ross-shire Buffs." The Magazine is gradually gaining influence, commanding respect, and the circulation is already large and rapidly increasing. The same care will be taken in the future, as in the past, to avoid mere political articles, and upon no account whatever will sectarian views find insertion in its pages. Just one word as to the financial part of the business. It is of great importance to all concerned that the subscriptions be paid in advance. We would respectfully direct the attention of Advertisers to the Celtic Magazine as being an excellent medium for advertising. It is thoroughly established, and has a bona-fide and influential circulation among the Highland aristocracy, the educated classes, and Highlanders generally at home and abroad-throughout England, Ireland, and the Colonies. No Quack Advertisements of any kind are admitted. A h-uile latha 'chi 's nach fhaic. ORAN GAOIL DO CHARAID OIG. KEY D. : r m 1, d r r : d. ar, r. r : S 1 NOTE. The above song is the composition of Rob Donn, the Reay Bard, and is perhaps the most popular of his compositions. The air is a very pretty one, and must have had a good deal to do with the popularity which the song has obtained.-W. M‘K, |