Shanntaich an saor am fainne Eir a ghrinnead, eir a dheisead, eir 'ailleachd, 'Us thug e do Dhearduil an sgian, Rainig i leatha ionad a miann. "Cha ghairdeachas gun Chlann Uisne, O! is tursach gun bhi na'r cuallachd ; Tri mic righ le 'n diolta deoire, Tha 'n diugh gun chomhradh ri uchd uagha. Tri màghamhna Inse-Breatuinn, An triuir sheobhag shliabh a Chuillinn, 'S da tiubhradh na h-amhuis uram. Na tri eoin a b'ailli snuagh, Theid mise gu aobhach uallach, Tri iallan nan tri chon sin Do bhuin osna ghoint o m' chridhe; 'S ann agamsa bhiodh an tasgaidh Mur faicinn an saor cumha. A Chlann Uisne tha sid thall, Nan sumhlaicheadh mairbh roimh bheo eile Shumhlaicheadh sibhse romham-sa. Teann a nall, a Naosne mo ghraidh, Is druideadh Ardan ri Aillein; Na'm biodh ciall aig mairbh The wright coveted the ring For its beauty, its power, and its loveliness, She reached with it the place of her desire. There is no joy without the Children of Uisne The three strong bears of the Isles of Britain, The three birds of loveliest colours That are come over the ocean of barques, I will go with joyous gladness To the side of the three heroes beloved, The three leashes of their three dogs Ye Children of Uisne over beyond If dead would closely lie for a living Press closer over ye Naos of my love, 3rd APRIL, 1889. At this meeting the Rev. William Cameron, minister of Poolewe, was elected a member of the Society. Thereafter Mr Alex. Macbain, M.A., read a paper contributed by Mr Alexander Macpherson, solicitor, Kingussie, entitled "Sketches of the Old Ministers of Badenoch, Part II." Mr Macpherson's paper was as follows:: SKETCHES OF THE OLD MINISTERS OF BADENOCH. PART II. Unfortunately, in the case of many of the earlier Ministers of the Parishes of Alvie and Laggan-as in the case of the earlier Ministers of the Parish of Kingussie-since the Reformation in 1560-I have been unable to trace any particulars beyond the bare record of their names, with the addition, in some cases, of the duration of their ministry. But I proceed to give a summary of the succession of the Protestant Ministers of Alvie and Laggan for the last three hundred years, with such glimpses, gleaned from various sources, regarding them as may, I hope, be considered of some general interest. II. PARISH OF ALVIE. 1. JAMES SPENCE, EXHORTER. 1572-15-. 2. JOHN ROSS. A son of John Ross, Provost of Inverness. Presented by James VI., 31st March, 1579, but does not appear to have been settled. 3. WILLIAM MAKINTOSCHE. 1580-1585. Demitted prior to 19th August, 1585. 4. SOVERANE MAKPHERLENE OR M⚫PHAIL. Presented by James VI., 19th August, 1585, and 6th April, 1586. 5. ROBERT LESLIE. 1595-159-. Continued in 1597. 6. RODERICK SUTHERLAND. 1599-16- Continued in 1601. 7. JAMES LYLE. 66 Formerly of Ruthven. Was Minister of Alvie "long before 12th October, 1624"-Laggan being also under his care. Is said not to have understood the Irish language. Being of verie great age and infirm," demitted his charge in 1626 on condition of getting ij l.i. (3s 4d) yearly. 8. RODERICK MACLEOD. 1632-1642. Declared "transportable," 5th April, 1642. close of same year for fornication. 9. THOMAS MACPHERSON. 1662-1708. Deposed towards Of the family of the Macphersons of Invereshie. For sometime Schoolmaster in Lochaber. Having entered to preach without having passed his trials, he expressed his sorrow to the Presbytery of Lorn, 12th September, 1660, and was licensed by that Presbytery, 11th April, 1661. Ordained before 21st October, 1662. During his incumbency the Parish of Alvie was (in 1672) united with the Parish of Laggan. Died in 1798. 10. ALEXANDER FRASER, A.M. 1713-1721. Alumnus of the University of King's College, Aberdeen, where he obtained his degree in 1706. Was "Highland Bursar" to the Presbytery of Haddington. Licensed by that Presbytery 10th March, 1713. Ordained, 13th September, same year. Mr Fraser was Minister of Alvie during the Rising of 1715, and in the Minute of the Kirk-Session, of date 13th May, 1716, it is declared that "there was no possibility of keeping Session in this Paroch all the last Session until the Rebellion was quelled "-Mr Fraser, it is added, "being often oblidged to look for his own safety." Mr Fraser was translated to Inveravon on 26th April, 1721. 11. LUDOWICK (or LEWIS) CHAPMAN. 1728-1738. Had a Bursary at the University of Glasgow on the Duchess of Hamilton's Foundation. Studied afterwards at Edinburgh and Leyden. Licensed at the latter place, 2nd March, 1728. Called to Alvie by the Presbytery of Abernethy, jure devoluto, 5th, and ordained, 25th September, same year. Translated to Petty, 30th March, 1738. 12. WILLIAM GORDON, alias MACGREGOR. 1739-1787. For sometime Schoolmaster in Kingussie, and subsequently Catechist in Laggan. Ordained and admitted as Minister of Urquhart and Glenmoriston, 24th December, 1730. Called to Alvie, 30th January, and admitted 20th September, 1739. Mr Gordon was well and favourably known in connection with the '45. Remarkably enough, in view of the prominent part the Highlanders of Badenoch took in that Rising, there is no reference thereto either in the Session Records of Kingussie, or in those of Alvie. From other sources of information, however, we learn of an event connected with the '45 reflecting the greatest credit on Mr Gordon. For the capture of "the devoted Ewen of Clunie," who held such powerful sway in Badenoch, and had, at the head of the Macphersons, been among the first to join the Standard of Prince Charlie, a reward of £1000 was offered. Burnt out of hearth and home, Cluny was, subsequent to the Battle of Culloden, hunted in the mountain fastnesses of Badenoch for the long period of nine years, ultimately-after many hair-breadth escapes and enduring the most terrible hardships-making his way beyond the reach of his relentless pursuers only to die in exile. He and his Clan had been long proscribed, and Mr Gordon was employed by "the bloody Duke of Cumberland" with the view of inducing them to lay down their arms on the assurance that, if they did so, they would be restored to their name and countenanced by the Government, or if they joined the Royal Army, "that their commanders would have similar rank and be cared for by the Commander-in-Chief." This offer, however, was firmly rejected. Reduced to the greatest privation after the sad disaster on bleak Culloden Moor," many of their number applied to Mr Gordon for relief, and were hospitably received at his Manse. The fact having been communicated to the Duke of Cumberland, then at Inverness, Mr Gordon was summoned to headquarters, and required to answer for himself. With a feeling of conscious integrity, he said:"May it please your Royal Highness, I am exceedingly straitened between two contrary commands, both coming from very high authority. My Heavenly King's Son commands me to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to give meat and drink to my very enemies, and to relieve, to the very utmost of my power, indiscriminately all objects of distress that come in my way. My earthly King's son commands me to drive the homeless wanderer from my door, to shut my bowels of compassion against the cries of the needy, and to withhold from my |