had stirred the stoutest hearts, and raised the most effective war-cry in our great British battlefields, was treated everywhere with contempt, and deemed worthy of culture by only the more discerning few of those who naturally spoke it; everything was looked upon as destined to a hasty extinction, most worthily treated when either kicked violently out of the world, or painted over with such a thick coat of Saxon whitewash that its distinctive features could no longer be recognised."

We are then told how the exertions of such inen as Skene, Clerk, Cameron, Robertson, and others in Scotland, and Stokes, Reeves, O'Curry, and O'Sullivan, in Ireland, led the Saxon into a broader historical sympathy with the Celt, and affected, in some appreciable degree, the southron's views of the long-neglected languages and literatures of the Celtic people in these islands; how the Professor himself was led to the study of the despised language; how easily any one of ordinary ability and perseverance can acquire it- "The road was plain. It will be found generally that it is weakness of will, and not lack of capacity, that is the great bar to intellectual progress among those who have any wish to know."

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"The objections which are generally urged to the study of the Gaelic language are of that description which it is always easy for ignorance to invent, but which are so utterly false and flimsy that they seem scarce worthy of answer to a person who knows anything. A large number, indeed, of current fallacies sported on all public questions might be conveniently ticketed under the category-apologies for doing nothing. It is so comfortable to sit on your easy chair after dinner, with a bottle of orthodox old port before you, and your pipe in your mouth, and to think that every man is " fool" who wishes you to do anything beyond the customary routine of your shop, or your church, or your paternal estate. It may be useful, however, occasionally to press logic into the service against this tremendous power of inertness, if not with the hope to move it, at least with the satisfaction of making certain very clever people look stupid for a moment. Well, in the first place we are asked, Why maintain an uncouth language, which keeps people in barbarism, and builds up an impenetrable wall of partition between the Celt and the rest of the civilised world? To which I have several answers: first, the language is not barbarous, but a very fine and polished dialect, rather too polished, somewhat like French, and specially adapted for music, as we shall prove by and by; secondly, it is not so much the possession of their own native language, their own traditions, and their own sentiments, that separates the Gael from the rest of the world, but the remoteness of his geographical position, and the remissness of the British Government in not having long ago organised an efficient school system in those remote regions, of which the teaching of English should have formed an integral part. And as for the mother tongue, in the parallel case of Lowland boys we know that it is not the knowledge of English at school that prevents a boy from learning Latin, but it is either the bad method of his master, who does not know how to teach him, or it is the indifference of the boy, who does not care to learn. But this latter element, however active in a classical school, certainly does not show itself in the Highlands. Rather the contrary. Every poor Highlander is, above all things, eager to learn English; and if he does not see his aspirations always crowned with success, it is the fault of his superiors, who do not send schoolmasters into the glens, properly equipped with the two-edged sword of the "Beurla" and the native Gaelic, as every Highland teacher ought unquestionably to be. The idea that a knowledge of the mother tongue, under such circumstances, acts as a hinderance to the

acquisition of English is entirely unfounded. The mother tongue is there, and instead of building up a wall against the Saxon, which the young Gael cannot overleap, it is just the natural stepping-stone which you must use to bring the sturdy mountaineer into the domain of your more smooth civilisation. The policy of stamping out the characteristics of a noble race by carrying on a war against the language, is essentially barbarous; it can be excused only, if excusable at all, by the existence of such a political misalliance as that between Russia and Poland; and, in fact, I fear there is to be found, in this quarter of the world, a certain not altogether inconsiderable section or party who hold, if not in theory, yet practically, by this Russian principle. The sooner-I have heard them say as much-the Saxon-who is God's peculiar elect vessel, can swallow up the Celt, so that there shall be no more Irishmen in Ireland, and no more Highlandmen in the Highlands, so much the better. This is a doctrine altogether in harmony with the teaching of a distinguished master of physical science, which, transferred to the moral world, simply means that the stronger are always right when they leap upon the back of the weaker, and use them for their own purposes; but it is a doctrine directly in the teeth of all gospel, and which allows a man to play the wolf or the fox whenever he can against his brethren, and baptise himself, with all cheapness, a hero for the achievement. Are the men who advocate such inhuman measures not sometimes touched with shame when they find themselves identified with the old Roman robbers, who civilised the world with the sword of rude invasion, and of the march of whose legions it was justly said by their own wise historian-Ubi solitudinem faciunt pacem adpellant? St Paul, of course, inculcates the exact contrary doctrine; for he tells us to condescend to men of low estate,' and to 'weep with them that weep,' and to 'rejoice with them that do rejoice." How any Highland proprietor can reconcile his belief in these texts with the principle of forcibly stamping out the Gaelic language, 1 cannot comprehend. I will put down here what the noble son of a good Gaelic laird has printed with regard to the position of landed proprietors in this matter. I find,' says John Campbell of Islay, 'that lectures are delivered to Sunday-school children to prove that Gaelic is part of the Divine curse, and Highland proprietors tell me that it is a bar to the advancement of the people.' But if there is any truth in this assertion, it is equally true, on the other hand, that English is a bar to the advancement of proprietors if they cannot speak to those who pay their rents; and it is the want of English, not the possession of Gaelic, which retards the advancement of those who seek employment where English is spoken. So Highland proprietors should learn Gaelic and teach English. This is sense and justice. The Gaelic people, while they do not forget their Gaelic, should study English; and the Highland proprietors, retaining their English, should study Gaelie."

But

So much for the wall of partition. But it will be asked by the ignorant, what is the use of studying a language which has no literature? Our author answers, first, "that the language has a literature, and a very valuable one; and, secondly, that we are not arguing with foreigners who may have to go out of their way to learn a language, but those who, having a native language at their fireside, go out of the way to neglect, to disown, and to forget it." And as to the literature he proves, further on in his work, most conclusively what he here asserts as to its extent and its value. "Let Zeuss, and Apel, and Ebrard, and Windisch, and all other learned Germans who study Gaelic, be called fools, if you like; but why should we, living in the midst of a Gaelic-speaking people, not pick up the beautiful wild flowers of popular utterance that gems the

glens with beauty as they pass. And then what do we mean by literature? Is the mere printed book the valuable thing? or is it not rather the living heart and soul and impassioned utterance of a people wherein the true value of a literature dwells?"

In answer to those who ask why any support should be given to a language which is gradually dying out, he asks

"Why should we act violently and contrary to nature by endeavouring to stamp out a language which, as a social fact, is obstinately alive, not only here, but in America, and not rather, so long as it is alive, treat it kindly and use it wisely? It is by no means an easy thing to root out a language twined, as every mother-tongue is, round the deepest fibres of the popular heart; but let it be that the Gaelic language is destined to die out in a hundred years at the most, is that any reason why, being there, it should not meet with a kindly recognition from wise and good Christian men? Philologers will tell you that the spoken language of the people to hearing ears often reveals more secrets of the beautiful framework of human speech than all the dead treasures of the library; and supposing the language dead, like other departed things will it not acquire a peculiar new interest by this very fact that it is no more? and shall we not then begin to blame ourselves, as foolish mortals so often must, that we made so little use of it when alive? Our wisdom certainly here, as in all other matters, is to avoid extremes. While we do not put into operation any artificial machinery for exciting a galvanic life in a language that is flickering to its natural close, we abstain, on the other hand, from refusing to nourish the mountain child with his natural food, and to check the spontaneous outflow of Celtic sentiment and Celtic song by an artificial cram of Saxon grammars and dictionaries. To teach English to all the children of the British empire is an imperial duty; to smother Gaelic where it naturally exists is a local tyranny."

"It is

Our author proceeds to show the fallacy of the idea that the Gaelic language is so difficult, so peculiar, and so remote from all the capacities of persons who use civilised speech, that it cannot be learned without an expenditure of time far beyond the value of any attainable result. not the difficulty to the learner, but the ignorance, indifference, laziness, and prejudice of the teacher, that makes the reading of Gaelic so shamefully neglected in many Gaelic schools. It is an act of intellectual suicide of which an intelligent people should be ashamed."

The remaining portion of the first division of the work is taken up with an able and learned philological disquisition, and a comparison of Gaelic roots with those of the other branches of the Aryan. "As a means of producing æsthetical effect, there is much more to be said for the Gaelic; and the vulgar notions on this subject vented by ignorant Englishmen and Lowlanders will be found in most cases to be the reverse of truth. It is commonly said, for instance, that Gaelic is a harsh and barbarous and unpronounceable language. It is, on the contrary, a soft, vocalic, and mellifluous language."

Space will not permit us at present to say much more regarding this splendid tribute to the Scottish Highlander and his language, by the generous Teuton who has risen so grandly above the prejudices of his race, and who has done such ample justice to his hitherto despised Celtic fellow-countrymen. But we shall return to it again, and to the best of our ability cull some more of the honey out of its remaining four divisions.

Meanwhile we note the author's concluding remarks in part first, on the Language, and make slight reference to the remaining divisions of the

book

"One only point with regard to the physiognomy of the language remains; but that may be despatched in a single word. It is well known that the Celts, both in the Scottish Highlands and in the fields of beautiful France, delight in a peculiar use of the nasal organ, unknown to the Teut, whether in Saxony or in the British low countries. If this be a fault, I have no wish to conceal it; if it be a beauty, it is my business to laud it. And to my ear it is a beauty; not that nasalism, as fully developed in some quarters of America, is not one of the most hideous distortions of human articulated speech; but a mere touch of a vice is sometimes a virtue, or rather certain vices are only virtues run to seed. Arsenic, as we all know from the criminal reports, in sufficient quantity is a deadly poison; but the same mineral salt, moderately administered, purifies the blood and adds a gloss to the skin. So let it be with the delicate nasal twang of the educated Highland lady. I should as soon think of removing it as of robbing the Highland birches of their peculiar fragrance or the Highland whisky of its flavour."

The second division of the work treats of the Bardic or Minstrel literature of the medieval period, commencing at some indefinite period between heathenism and Christianity, and stretching out to the era of the Reformation. Under this heading the Book of the Dean of Lismore, edited and translated by the learned Celtic scholar, the Rev. Dr Thomas Maclachlan, receives its due meed of praise, as well as that notable collection by J. F. Campbell of Islay, "Leabhar na Feinne."

The third division treats of the succession, and supplies short biographies, of the Celtic Bards, more or less notable for originality, who flourished between the end of the sixteenth and the end of the eighteenth centuries, and here we are supplied with excellent translations of "Luinneag MhicLeoid," by Mairi, Nighean Alastair Ruaidh; "The Day of Inverlochy, by Ian Lom, the Soldier Gaelic Bard; of the famous "Birlinn," or Bark of Clan Ranald, by Alastair MacMhaighstir Alastair of Ardnamurchan; and of "He an Clo Dubh," by the same author, composed on the occasion of the proscription of the Highland Dress after the Battle of Culloden; of "Smeorach Chlann Domhnuill"-the Mavis of Clan Macdonald, by Ian MacCodrum, so well known in connection with Macpherson and the Ossianic controversy, and who was the last specimen, of the family bard, in the Highlands. We have also a magnificent translation of the "Skull," by Dugald Buchanan, which throws all previous attempts in the shade; of his "Verses to Edinburgh," when there serving as one of the Body Guard of that city, and last, but not least, of Duncan Ban Macintyre's inimitable "Ben Dorain," and "Song of the Foxes."

Part fourth deals entirely with Macpherson's Ossian, and a great deal of the important evidence given in the Highland Society's Report is very wisely and opportunely reproduced; but we must defer further reference to this subject, and our author's opinion on the whole subject, for a future notice.

The fifth and final chapter deals with the condition of the Celtic Literature in the Highlands, from the subsidence of the great Ossianic

1;

excitement produced by Macpherson down to the present time. The first specimen of the Celtic muse here given is that beautiful translation of "Mairi Laghach" which appeared originally in the first number of the Celtic Magazine, and with which the reader is already so well acquainted. We then have a fine rendering of that sweet and well-known song, "Gur gille mo Leannan nan Eal' air an t' Snamh,"-My Rose she is fairer than the Swan when she Swims, by Ewan Maclachlan ; of "Fear a Bhata"-the Boatman; "Mo Chailinn Dilis Don"-"Ho, my Bonnie Boatie;" "Callum a Ghlinne"-Malcolm of the Glen; "Mac-an-Toisich," by William Ross; "An t' Eilean Muileach"-the Island of Mull, by Dugald Macphail; "Song to Ballachulish," by John Cameron; and of the "Gael to his Country and Countrymen," by John Campbell of Ledaig. We have also "Macrimmon's Lament," to the well-known air "Farewell to my Country," translated from "Leabhar nan Cnoc;" a "Lament for Donald of Barbreck;" and last, though not least, we have Sheriff Nicolson's fine translation of Mary Mackellar's "Welcome to the Marquis of Lorne and his Royal young Bride," composed on the occasion of his marriage wth the Princess Louise. Have we not said enough to rouse everyone, in whom exists a spark of Celtic spirit, to procure the work before us, and out of it inhale the fresh and invigorating Celtic flame which is destined to strengthen our manhood, and lead us to perform deeds, in the only field now within our reach, worthy of those performed by our sires in the great and noble efforts of the past.

ELEMENTS OF GAELIC GRAMMAR; By the Rev. ALEXANDER STEWART: Third Edition, Revised, with Preface by the Rev. Dr Maclauchlan. Edinburgh: Maclachlan & Stewart. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co.

THIS well-known Grammar has been for several years out of print, much to the regret of Celtic scholars and students of the mountain tongue. It has long been admitted the best Gaelic Grammar extant, and to the student who has made any progress in the study of the Gaelic language, and who desires to master it thoroughly, the work is indispensably necessary. Dr Stewart's Grammar bears on every page the marks of real and profound scholarship. For simplicity, conciseness, and philosophical accuracy, it stands alone among grammars of the Gaelic language. Modern philological research has placed valuable materials at the disposal of modern grammarians which were unknown to the author of this work. It is, therefore, to be regretted that the original intention of the publishers, to remedy the acknowledged want of full disquisitions on syntax, and of grammatical exercises, has not been adhered to, and so make the work complete and suitable for the student at every stage of his progress, and in every department. We have had occasion recently, in noticing other grammars, to say a good deal on the subject generally, and it is therefore unnecessary to say more in noticing the work before usthe best Gaelic Grammar, even yet, ever issued--than to acknowledge our indebtedness to the publishers, to whom Celtic literature owes so much, and to the Royal Celtic Society of Edinburgh, that, we are told, afforded very substantial aid towards publishing the work. It is well and neatly printed.