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and a third edition of Mr L. Macbean's "Elementary Lessons in Gaelic" has been issued, and has met with gratifying success. Mr Gardner, of Paisley, has begun the republication of J. F. Campbell's "Popular Tales of the West Highlands," a work now long out of print, and fetching a fancy price; and the first volume has already appeared in five monthly parts. Messrs Logan & Co., of Inverness, have produced a new book of Highland music, under the attractive title of "Lays of the Heather," wherein good selections from the Gaelic muse find adequate representation in the kindred art of music. A work that promises to be little short of the interest and importance of J. F. Campbell's volumes has been begun by a namesake, and in the same lines. Lord Archibald Campbell, under the happy title of " Waifs and Strays. of Celtic Tradition," is issuing a series of books in which are to be gathered the folk-lore and legendary material that still float through the Isles and the Highlands. Already two volumes have appeared, and a third will be issued within the next half year. The first volume contains Argyllshire legends, tales, and antiquities. The second volume is devoted entirely to folk-tales taken down in Argyllshire, and in interest and importance is a match for any of Campbell's volumes of Popular Tales. Mr Alfred Nutt has enriched the volume with valuable notes.

In the domain of history, good work has also been accomplished. Mr Archibald Brown, of Greenock, has taken up the cudgels against Dr Skene, and combats that scholar's conclusions on many points, both in early Scottish history and in the later period of the Clans. The book is entitled "Memorials of Argyle," and is a vigorous work, marked by sound, if at times rough-hewn, common sense. Mr Alex. Mackenzie, editor of the Scottish Highlander, has added another to his many clan histories. The new volume deals with the "History of the Macleods," and it has been received by an almost universal chorus of praise on the part of newspaper and magazine. Another work of very great importance has just been issued; it is Mr Fraser-Mackintosh's "Letters of Two Centuries"-a work which carries out the rather quaint idea of giving a series of two hundred letters written from 1616 to 1815, one dated in every year between these two dates.

Mr Fraser-Mackintosh introduces each letter with an historical preface, and these prefaces are not the least interesting or important part of the work.

Literature dealing with the Highlands is, we see, plentiful in the shape of books, nor is it less so in the case of the more transitory work of the newspaper and the periodical. The Inverness papers, the Oban Times, and others from time to time publish articles and materials in Gaelic literature, and the new periodical, which lately finished its first year of life-we mean the "Highland Monthly"-has met with the encouraging success which the excellence of its literary contents amply deserves. Professor Mackinnon has had several articles in the Scotsman dealing with literary matters connected with the Highlands. From October of last year till well on in this year, an almost weekly article by the Professor appeared. He dealt with learning among the ancient Gael, the Continental and Edinburgh MSS. of Gaelic, and with the contents of the heroic literature of the Gael, not omitting the work of "Ossian" Macpherson. An interesting and excellent series of six lectures was given in Edinburgh by Professor Rhys, Celtic Professor at Oxford, in which he dealt with the "Early Ethnology of the British Isles, and more especially of Scotland, treated from the point of view of language." He enforced, with fresh emphasis and argument, the well-known views expressed in his "Celtic Britain," and the result has been quite a rush of more or less ephemeral literature dealing with the great "Pictish" question. The Professor's lectures are to appear in the Scottish Review. Indeed, the first lecture has appeared in the April number of this year.

The announcement is just made that the Literary Remains left by the late Rev. Dr Alexander Cameron, of Brodick, are in the course of publication. They are to be in two volumes, consisting, to a great extent, of unpublished MSS. of older Gaelic literature. The Etymological Dictionary of Gaelic was never completed; but one of the editors, Mr Macbain, offers to give the completed work should the public favour the idea.

The Highlander From Home has entered on a new phase of patriotic activity, which we heartily welcome. That consists in the

formation of Clan Societies, whereby the members of a Clan dwelling in the large cities of the South may band together for social and literary purposes. Most of the leading Clans have now Societies such as the Clan Mackay Society, the Macdonald, Cameron, Grant, Campbell, and Fraser Clan Societies. Their intention is good: the fostering of the clan feeling of brotherhood, of social intercourse, and of education by means of clan bursaries; the assisting of clansmen south and north in difficulties; the collecting of clan records and traditions, and, finally, the forming of a clan invasion of their native glens a la Cook, in the shape of large tourist parties.

Other Highland interests are, we are glad to say, receiving welcome attention. The abolition of school fees must bring a good deal of money into the Highlands from the Probates Duty Fund. Otherwise the education question is as before; Gaelic is permitted as a vehicle of intelligence, and is placed on the specific schedule. Commissions and advocacy of railway extension are keeping the people of all classes at present agog; but there is no doubt that substantial benefits will accrue to the Highlands from the present stir.

For the prize of ten guineas which Mackintosh of Mackintosh so kindly offered for the best essay on "The social condition of the Highlands since 1800," only one competitor came forward! This competitor has been dealt with generously by The Mackintosh, who once again makes the offer of a ten guinea prize on the same subject. As not fewer than three must compete, intending competitors will kindly intimate their intention to the Secretary, so that arrangements can be made as to the length of time allowed for the writing of the essays, and also for the terms and method of the competition.

INVERNESS, May, 1890.

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