ing a piece was to secure a good-luck charm. If the marriage be celebrated in the house, it will the more certainly ensure the young pair good fortune if, for the first time they leave the house, they make their exit by different doors.

New-Year's Day is to most people "an imaginary milestone on the turnpike track of human life," and it has been said that the man who does not at least propose to himself to be better this year than he was last, must be either very good or vey bad indeed; and it might be added that the man or woman who does not desire even better luck than in any previous year must have reached a more enviable stage of contentment than any of those who practice any of the many rites for the procuring or foretelling of good luck which have grown up around the year's initial day. It is in the Highlands, as it evidently was in Ayr in the days of Burns, a happy belief that the cattle will have plenty to eat during the year if an extra sheaf of corn be given them on New Year's morning. It was the giving of this hansel of corn that inspired the poet's well-known address of praise to his mare Maggie. The Scandinavian peasants tie a sheaf to their house tops, that the birds also may have a feast at this season.

When the Highland home was cleaned out at Hogmanayand the cleaning at that season can only be compared to a good modern Spring cleaning the ill-luck of the past year was supposed to be driven out, and everything was ready for a fresh start; and to prevent the powers of evil again entering, first the Bible was placed above the door during the last hours of the year, and the cat kept inside, so that if by any mishap an unlucky first-foot should dare to enter in spite of this, the evil could be got rid of by throwing out the cat, for poor pussy was supposed to be able to carry out with it all the mischief which such a person was supposed to bring in. It is not so strange that a red-haired woman should be a most unlucky first-foot, as tradition has it that Judas, the traitor, had hair of this colour, but why a flat-footed woman should be considered to bring illluck has not been explained, and it is probably nothing more than a coincidence which makes it unlucky for anyone to meet such a person as he first sets out on any journey. It was also best that all the members of the family, old as well as young, should have something new to wear on that day. During the rest of the year it is best, if luck is to attend while it is being worn, that it be put on for the first time on a Sunday. In England, on the other hand, they deem it best to wear their

new clothes for the first time on Easter Day, and they have a rhyme which says—

At Easter let your clothes be new,

Or else be sure you it will rue."

When one went out of doors on New-Year's morning, he took particular notice as to whether the face of the first young animal he saw was towards him, for if so he might surely expect to do well, but not otherwise.

The various ways by which Highland fishermen try to get fickle fortune to step their way formed the subject of a short paper of mine, read before the Society in 1892 (Transactions, Vol. xviii., p. 42), but the following beliefs, which are quietly entertained in some places, were not referred to then. It seems that if a fisherman, on setting out for his boat, met a man whose praenomen begins with the letter D, he may expect good fortune to attend him, but if it begins with a J, then the ill-luck which is about to come can be averted only by compelling the unlucky person to spit on the big sea-boots of the forthgoing fisherman. In this way, because of their name, or some circumstance connected with them, some get the name of lucky or unlucky persons unknown to themselves. Some such are deemed so unlucky that if a fisherman meets them even on his way to bark his nets, these very nets will catch little; and it is regarded as certain that his chances of success on that trip are small, if, on first setting out, anything dead be seen, for that is, as might be expected, a weight on smiling fortune; and, to fishermen generally, a cat as a first-foot means that danger, but no serious loss, will have to be reckoned with. It is a little surprising that among a people who esteem their ministers, as fishermen and Highlanders do, that for a fisherman to have a minister aboard is to invite the tempest. The explanation given in my previous paper seems still to be the generally received one. The Mosaic law, and perhaps general experience on the other hand, has had something to do with the belief that a bridegroom is not a lucky -perhaps not a helpful-companion at sea. The bad luck pertaining to any boat having a pig as a part of a cargo is explainable by the same Jewish law.

No matter what the purpose of a journey be, the almost universal idea that it is unlucky to turn back, or to see a hare not far from the start, is honestly held by people who might have been thought to be beyond that stage. A considerable number of the many charms or omens by which the luck that is

to be had on any particular journey is foreseen, is succinctly told in a paper read before the Society by Mr Mackenzie, secretary of the Crofter Commission (Transactions, Vol. xviii.).

A strange belief, which is now happily held by few, is that it is unlucky to receive back any goods which have once been stolen, and that a thief will be unlucky, and will probably go mad, if any one divulges the proof of his theft. One can only wonder whether such notions redound to the credit of Highlanders, as they have in all likelihood arisen from a notion of clannishness, and a desire to screen the guilty when plundering enemies, or practising for that purpose, and it was not desirable to cut short their career too early.

In comparing the folk-lore of luck, as that obtains in the Highlands, with the notions on the same subject held by the inhabitants of other countries, one cannot fail to be struck by the number which are common to many widely separated places, and even to peoples living in different ages. Such widely spread beliefs show that, as Sir Walter Scott says in his book on Demonology, that the influence of credulity is contagious, so that individuals will trust to the evidence of others in despite of their own senses; and Burton, in his "Anatomy of Melancholy," says that the idea of charms being of any avail was an exploded error, but further on, when he heard of the good effects produced by a charm, which consisted of a spider shut up in a hazel nut, he says--"I began to have a better opinion of it, and to give more credit to amulets, when I saw it in some parties answer to experience." In this way the incredulous are converted.

But lucky and unlucky omens may, and probably do, have an effect in another way. Is it not very likely that when a person has what he considers a lucky omen, he becomes possessed of that sprightliness, or verve, begotten of high hope, and works as a person expecting success does, and is therefore much more likely to obtain it, than another for whom a similar chance opens, but because something has happened which he reckons to have taken away his so-called luck, goes about the business with the half-heartedness which almost deserves, if it actually does not bring about, the evil fortune, which is then wrongly laid to the charge of the evil omens? Of such evil portends Highlanders have had plenty in the past, and therefore, if luck charms are to be believed in at all, would it not be best to multiply those which have an inspiring effect, and, if possible, diminish those which do the reverse?

16th DECEMBER, 1897.

At this meeting the following gentlemen were elected members of the Society :-Mr Alex. Walker, H.M. Chief Inspector of Schools, Aberdeen; Mr Duncan Livingstone, Ohio, U.S.A.; Mr Donald Murray, commission agent, Inverness; Mr David Gracie, excise officer, Inverness; Mr John Young, of Messrs Young & Chapman, drapers, Inverness; and Rev. Alex. Stuart, Daviot. Thereafter the Assistant Secretary read a paper contributed by Captain Douglas Wimberley, Inverness, entitled "Bighouse Papers," No. II. Captain Wimberley's paper was as follows:

SELECTIONS FROM THE FAMILY PAPERS OF THE MACKAYS OF BIGHOUSE,

CONSISTING MAINLY OF LETTERS ADDRESSED TO JOHN CAMPBELL OF BARCALDINE, SOME TIME ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT FACTORS ON THE FORFEITED ESTATES AFTER THE '45.

NO. XXII.

LETTER from Lord Glenorchy to John Campbell of Barcaldine, docqueted, "Edr. 12 Augt., 1746-Letter Lord Glenorchie."

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"Edr. 12th Aug. 1746.

Sir,-Ld.'s Monzie and Tinwald told me they still wanted some Papers to be laid before them before they could determine in the submission refer'd to them. I believe they gave some directions to Lochlane to procure these papers. They are both

gone out of Town.

"The prisoners in this Castle were sent to Carlisle some days ago, and this day those who arrived here from Perth on Saturday followed them. Tierndrishe sent a scheme to the Justice Clerk, which would be very good if practicable at present. It contained several articles: one of the most material was that all the Chiefs should swear to be faithful, and to keep their men so, to the Government: another article was that every chief should deliver up all the reputed thieves of his Clan, and if any Beast is stolen by any of his clan he shall be obliged to return it to the Chief of the Clan from whence it was taken and every chief should answer for the clan. You'll easily see that the nature and stile of it made it unfit for the Justice Clerk to send it to London.

It gives really more power to the Chiefs, whereas Parliament wants to take their power away and even put an end to the very name of Chief.

Macnachtane is left here for examination by the Justice Clerk, or was yesterday examined by him. He told me he had orders to examine him.

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'I have spoke to Sheriff Miller about Keithock, and he says he'll serve him, he goes to Carlisle to manage the Trial of those sent from Scotland.

The Earl of Albemarle is expected here in a week, all come away from Fort-Augustus but E. of Londoun with 20 Independent Companies. His Ldp. has taken up old Glengarry upon a complaint of Barrisdale, Lundie, Shian, Achtera, a cousin of rdnabie, and two sons of Scotehouse, all M'Donalds, alledging that Glengarry got him partly perswaded and partly forced out. I suppose this is a Trick of Barrisdale to see what he can do with Ld. Albemarle, since he fail'd with the Duke.

There has been no account for a long time of the young Pretender, the scent after him is entirely lost. Some think him dead by some way or other, others think he has got off in a vessel. I can't think him dead, it would certainly be known. "I go to-morrow for London.-Adieu-Yours,

GLENORCHY."

NOTES.-Lords Monzie and Tinwald were two of the Judges, the former one of the Campbells of Monzie, the latter Charles Areskine, appointed a Judge in 1744, and Lord Justice-Clerk from 1748 to 1763. The Lord Justice Clerk in 1746 was Andrew Fletcher of Milton, who held that office from 1735 to 1748.

Tirindrish, Donald Macdonald, was executed at Carlisle on 18th October, 1746.

Macnachtane (see next letter).

Prince Charlie was about the time the above letter is dated in or near Strathglass and Glencannich, with Glenaladale and the Seven Men of Glenmoriston, or some of them; he did not embark for France till about 30th September.

NO. XXIII.

LETTER from Lord Glenorchy, to John Campbell of Barcaldine, docqueted "Point Pleasant, 14th October, 1746. Letter Lord Glenorchy":

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Point Pleasant, 14th October, 1746. Sir, I have now before me yours of the 18th, 25th, and 28th past. I'm obliged to you for your Intelligence, which I desire you to continue and let me know whenever anything particular occurs. I told the contents of your last to the D.