Liquor dubailte a bheireadh 'n lùs,
As 'n fhear bu mho a dh'oladh dheth,
A dh'fhagadh glagach, fear bhiodh fann,
Is dh fhagadh gann fear-storasach.

Ach dar a thainig teamhair biadh,
Cha robha sian ann b'fheaird' sinn,
Ach grainn a' sgadain ann an cliabh,
A chaill am briogh mus d'thainig iad.
Fhreagair chailleach is i gu fiata,
Ged tha a bhliadhna so fàiligeach,
Tha grainn da mhuilt againn air sliabh,
Is bheir mi trian do Mhairi dhuibh.

Ach fhreagair 'n Domhnullach gu coir,
'S ann do mo dheoin a thainig sibh,
Mo ghiullan tapaidh bitheadh 'g òl,
Oir tha gu leor am m' fhardaich-sa.

Ged 'se Mairi gheibh na caoirich
Oir tha gaol a mathair dhi,

Am fear bheir Seonaid dheth an fheill
Cha bhi e 'n èis ma thàras mi.

Sin fhreagair Seonaid 's i gu stuaim
Is i air bruaich a sàruichidh
Cha tig Suiridheach d' a ma luaidh
Oir tha fuath mo mhathair dhomh.

Bha mi cho dleasail dhi bho thus
'S a ghiulaineadh mo naduir dhomh
'S bha mi naoi miosachan na broinn
'S na 's mò cha robh aig Mairi ann.
Cha robh suiridheach thainig ann
Nach robh bròn na dh òl iad ann

Nach d'fhuair maighdeannan g'am miann
Ach cailnean crion an Domhnullaich.

It has already been remarked that the bards of the Reay country disappeared with the sale of the estate, and the consequent disintegration of the Clau. It is to be hoped that the recent renascence of the Clan Mackay may help to waken the

Muses in the solitudes of Reay, and this paper cannot close more suitably than in a song composed by a Durness man on the occasion of their autumn visit. It proves that the divine afflatus still survives in the country of Rob Donn:

"Soraidh slan do 'n phairtidh eibhinn
Thriall an drast' uainn da Dhun-Edin,
Clan Mhic-Aoidh nam piob 's nam feilibh
Ni iad leubhanta tir nam beann.

Saoil sibh fein nach math na ruintean
Ghluais na Gaidheal ud do'n duthaich so
Sluagh an aite a dheanamh surdail,
Is gabhail curam as a chlann

Cha neil teagamh bho gach sgeàl-a
Tha air aithris mu na phairti th

Nach dean iad feum d 'a dh' iomadh Gaidheal
'N ám bhi fagail tir nam beann

Chuala mi iomradh anns a Phaipear
Air duine uasail, oigfhear airidh
Tha air aithris dhaibh mar pharant
So mo lamh gu 'n dean e cliu.

Tha Mac Aoidh a rugadh 'n Roghaird
'Na dhuine uasal, buadhach treubhach
Caraid dileas na fir feumnach,

'S toigh leis foghluim thoirt do'n chlann.

'S beag an curam do gach fleasgach

'N tir nam beann, nan gleann 's nan gaisgeach

Fodh an sgiath, nach faigh iad fasgadh

'N àm na h-aire, ma bhios iad stolda.

'S 'n uair a gheibh sin tuillidh fearann
Buala bhò is cupall ghearran,
Garbh an fheidh, is tàrr a bhradain
Bheir sinn barrachd air gach seorsa.

Theid gach Sasunnach chuir dhachaigh
'S thig Mac Aoidh le phiob 's le bhratach
Bheir an duthaich dhuinn o'n Diuc-Chatach
'S bithidh na fleasgaich air an doigh.

21st JANUARY, 1890.

EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL DINNER.

This evening the eighteenth annual dinner of the Society was held in the Station Hotel. Sir Henry C. Macandrew, Chief of the Society, presided, and was supported by Provost Alex. Ross, The Mackintosh of Mackintosh, Mr Æneas Mackintosh, the Doune, and Captain Malcolm, Cameron Highlanders. The croupiers were Rev. Mr Sinton, Dores, and Mr William Gunn, Castle Street.

After dinner, the Chairman gave the usual loyal toasts, which were honoured with enthusiasm, and the army, navy, and auxiliary forces, the latter being coupled with Captain Malcolm, of the 1st Battalion, and The Mackintosh of Mackintosh, Major in the 2nd Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. We know, said Sir Henry, that although the Highlanders have not been so intimately associated with the navy in the past, it is to the Western Highlands the country would have to look for men to man our ships of war in the event of war breaking out, and we should feel thankful there are so many stalwart men ready to do their duty. He was pleased to associate with the toast the name of Captain Malcolm, who was not only a gallant soldier, but who was doing important work for the county regiment, by procuring Gaelic-speaking recruits, by spreading the fame of the army and its advantages amongst Highlanders. He would, no doubt, be able to make the Camerons a real Highland regiment, and he deserved the thanks of the Society for the exertions he was making in that way. With the reserve forces he was glad to be able to associate the name of a Highland Chief, who was not only an officer in the reserve forces, but had served in the regular army, and an efficient and gallant soldier he was. He thought they were all pleased and gratified to see The Mackintosh come amongst them that evening that they had a name so great in history and Highland tradition as his was at their table-(applause). It was to be hoped that The Mackintosh would long be spared to come amongst them; and he trusted that before long they would see him in command of the militia battalion of their county-(applause).

Captain Malcolm, who was cordially received, said the regiment was certainly very much honoured in being connected with the county of Inverness, and although the county was not very largely

populated, they found no difficulty in keeping up the strength of the regiment within its bounds-(applause). They had a great many old traditions to aid them in doing so, and it ought, he thought, to be their aim to preserve these traditions. With the view of keeping up the historical part as much as possible, he was going to write a history of the regiment, or rather compile such a history from other sources for distribution all through the country, so that people might he induced to take as great an interest as possible in the Cameron Highlanders-(applause). The response which the toast had received was only illustrative of the receptions which were accorded representatives of the regiment all through the county from all conditions of men, and from men of all ranks and opinions. He had many opportunities of going about the county, and finding out the feeling which existed between the people and the Cameron Highlanders, and on all sides-among proprietors, the ministers of all denominations, Established, Free, and Catholic-he met with the greatest assistance; everybody, indeed, being anxious to do their utmost to help forward the interests of the county regiment. He thought the regiment had reason to congratulate itself upon being established in the Barracks at Inverness, as by having the headquarters in the county town the officers had opportunities of mixing with the people of Inverness, learning of the traditions of the regiment, and making acquaintance with the militia and volunteers. Some years ago there was a proposal from headquarters to form the Cameron Highlanders into a third battalion of the Scots Guards, and on that occasion the county backed them up thoroughly in resisting the change, as he hoped they always would. At the time that difficulty was got over he saw a letter from the AdjutantGeneral, in which he said that, in spite of that agitation, the proposed change would come to pass sooner or later, so that the people of the town and county were likely to have another opportunity of giving the regiment their support. Major Leslie thought their only hope of avoiding such a proposal would be by their having two battalions; but looking to the population of the county, be thought that was not possible. They must, however, in any case stick to their one battalion, because that meant that they maintained amongst them an old Highland regiment, of which they all were proud (applause).

The Mackintosh, in replying for the Reserve Forces, thanked the Society for electing him Chief two years in succession, and also Sir Henry Macandrew for kindly taking his place on these two occasions, when family matters had prevented him from

discharging the duties of the chair at the annual dinner.

Referring to the Reserve Forces, he said they could not be expected to take the field, in case of invasion, with success, unless they were properly armed and equipped in the manner of the regular soldiers, and that could only be done by the Government voting the necessary money, which they had not hitherto done. The military instinct was there, and all that was required was proper organisation, equipment, and money enough to put the auxiliary forces in the field (applause).

The Secretary, Mr Duncan Mackintosh, then read the annual report, which was as follows :—

"In submitting the eighteenth annual report, the Council have pleasure in stating that the prosperity and usefulness of the Society continue to increase. The past session was a successful one, and the ordinary meetings were fairly well attended. It was hoped that volume 15th of the Transactions' would be in the hands of members by this date, but there has been much time lost in the correcting of proofs, which had been sent to the writers of the respective papers, most of whom reside at a considerable distance from Inverness. The book, however, will be issued in a few weeks, and, it is believed, will be found equal in value and interest to any of the previous volumes. A copy of the syllabus for session 1889-90 is in the hands of members present, and it will be observed that the session promises to be an attractive and useful one. During the year 35 new members joined the Society, viz., 2 life members, 2 hon. members, and 31 ordinary members; and two volumes were received as donations to the library. The accounts of the Society for the past year show the following results:--Total income during year, including £23 5s 8d carried forward from previous year, £178 6s 3d; expenditure, £148 68 7d, leaving a balance at the credit of the Society's account with the Bank of Scotland, at 31st December last, of £29 19s 11d. The large volumes issued by the Society are a great drain on the revenue, and the Council wish to urge on all members the necessity of punctual payment of their subscriptions."

The Chairman, in giving "Success to the Gaelic Society of Inverness "(applause) said this was the third time he had proposed the toast, and that therefore the company would not expect many remarks from him upon that occasion. He was glad to be able to congratulate the Society, now that it was approaching its majority, which it would soon do, upon its continued prosperity, financially and otherwise (applause). With regard