Kiltarlity, has fully borne out the high expectations held of it; it is handsome in appearance, scholarly in execution, and fluent in diction. Mr William Mackay's Presbyteries of Inverness and Dingwall gives the records of these presbyteries for the 17th century-all that remain of them. In a preface of singular lucidity and conciseness he sums up the characteristics of life and belief in the Highlands of the 17th century as disclosed by these records, presenting the reader with a vivid, true, and hence sometimes startling, picture. Mr Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, LL.D., for the title of LL.D. is now deservedly his, published lately his second series of Antiquarian Notes. They are practically an "Origines Parochiales" of Inverness-shire, where a vast mass of interesting and reliable information is given about every parish in the County. A volume on Sutherland and the Reay Country, by various hands, but edited by the Rev. Adam Gunn and Mr John Mackay, of the Celtic Monthly, is an eminently readable and informative book. The same may be said about Sheriff Rampini's Moray and Nairn, in Blackwood's "County Histories" series. As regards general Celtic literature, the last two years have shown more activity in the publication of articles and texts in periodicals than in the production of books. A new periodical bearing on Celtic philology has been added to the list- this time "made in Germany!" It is the Zeitschrift for Celtic Philology, a friendly rival to the Revue Celtique; and another periodical on Celtic Archæology is being brought out. Most important articles have been published by Dr L. C. Stern, on the Ossianic Question," and it is hoped that Mr Robertson, H.M.I.S., may find time to fulfil his kind promise of translating them for this Society, as he has already done this session in the case of Dr Windisch's similar article. Professor Zimmer has edited, in conjunction with Mommsen, a critical editor of "Gildas and Nennius," putting these important documents in the early history of Britain in their proper place and relation. Dr Kuno Meyer published some Irish tales about the Celtic Paradise, under the title of the Voyage of Bran, and Mr Nutt contributed a luminous addendum, dealing with the ideas of Celts and others about the "other world." Dr Stokes has published the Martyrology of Gorman, with his usual thoroughness in the way of introduction, notes, and glossaries. While Gaelic literary activity has been great within the Highland Borders for the last two years, an outside interest of a remarkable kind in Celtic literature has sprung up. This movement, taken in connection with the activity of the London Irish Literary Society, has been called the "Celtic Renaissance;" its leading figures are-Mr William Sharp, Professor Patrick Geddes, and "Fiona Macleod," whoever that enigmatical personage may be. Mr Sharp and his wife edited a Lyra Celtica, an anthology of all Celtic poetry; and the former edited a centenary edition of "Ossian"--James Macpherson died in 1796. Miss Fiona Macleod has written several books, purporting to be, or to be founded on, traditional stories of the Gael; but unfortunately her method is Macpherson's over again in regard to the history, customs, and beliefs of the people, and her Gaelic, when her own, is of the like manufactured quality. Mr Neil Munro published a volume of traditional and descriptive stories, entitled the "Lost Pibroch," where he attempts, with no little success, to do for the Highlands what Mr Quiller-Couch has been doing for Cornwall. Another outsider, one, however, who disclaims all connection with-and is, indeed, the severe critic of the Celtic Renaissance, published this spring a work that has caused a sensation both in the Highlands and everywhere else. This was Mr Lang's work, entitled "Pickle the Spy," in which he strives to prove that the spy who reported on the doings of Prince Charlie about the years 1752-54, under the title of "Pickle" and "Jeanson," was none other than young Macdonell of Glengarry. How far Mr Lang has made good his contention it seems at present premature to say. The more full recognition of Gaelic in Highland schools is a topic that has agitated the various Gaelic and Highland Societies throughout Britain during the past half year. In March a strong deputation from these Societies waited on Lord Balfour, Secretary for Scotland, and laid their case ably before him. As a means of developing intelligence, of gaining literary culture, and so, on a lower scale, of earning money for the schools, not to mention the national side of the question, it was claimed that Gaelic might be more utilised-might be used as an extra class subject, for instance. Lord Balfour's reply, though naturally savouring of the official non-possumus style, was not discouraging. It may be well to point out how far Gaelic is now recognised by the Code:-(1) The children's intelligence may be tested in Gaelic; (2) with this view an extra Gaelic-speaking P.T., with an extra grant, may be employed where the headmaster cannot himself teach through Gaelic the junior classes; (3) Gaelic may be taken as a specific subject on the same terms as Latin or French; (4) Gaelic-speaking P.T.s receive at their first examination for entering Training Colleges 80 marks extra to other P.T.s for Gaelic, according, of course, to the pass they make in that language. Gaelic is also recognised in the Code for the Evening Continuation Schools, and has been well taken advantage of, with good results. INVERNESS, July, 1897. COMUNN GAELIC INBHIR-NIS. CO-SHUIDHEACHADH. 1. 'S e ainm a' Chomuinn "COMUNN GAILIG INBHIR-NIS." 2. 'S e tha an rùn a' Chomuinn :-Na buill a dheanamh iomlan 's a' Ghailig; cinneas Canaine, Bardachd agus Ciuil na Gaidhealtachd; Bardachd, Seanachas, Sgeulachd, Leabhraichean agus Sgriobhanna 's a' chanain sin a thearnadh o dhearmad ; Leabhar-lann a chur suas ann am baile Inbhir-Nis de leabhraichibh agus sgriobhannaibh ann an canain sam bith- -a bhuineas do Chaileachd, Ionnsachadh, Eachdraidheachd agus Sheanachasaibh nan Gaidheal no do thairbhe na Gaidhealtachd; còir agus cliu nan Gaidheal a dhion; agus na Gaidheil a shoirbheachadh a ghna ge b'e ait' am bi iad. 3. 'S iad a bhitheas 'nam buill, cuideachd a tha gabhail suim do runtaibh a' Chomuinn; agus so mar gheibh iad a staigh:Tairgidh aon bhall an t-iarradair, daingnichidh ball eile an tairgse, agus, aig an ath choinneamh, ma roghnaicheas a' mhor-chuid le crannchur, nithear ball dhith-se no dheth-san cho luath 's a phaidhear an comh-thoirt; cuirear crainn le ponair dhubh agus gheal, ach, gu so bhi dligheach, feumaidh tri buill dheug an crainn a chur. Feudaidh an Comunn Urram Cheannardan a thoirt do urrad 'us seachd daoine cliuiteach. 4. Paidhidh Ball Urramach, 'sa' bhliadhna . £0 10 6 Foghlainte 0 5 Agus ni Ball-beatha aon chomh-thoirt de. 7 7 6000 5. 'S a' cheud-mhios, gach bliadhna, roghnaichear, le crainn, Co-chomhairle a riaghlas gnothuichean a' Chomuinn, 's e sin-aon GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS. CONSTITUTION. 1. The Society shall be called the "GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS." 2. The objects of the Society are the perfecting of the Members in the use of the Gaelic language; the cultivation of the language, poetry, and music of the Scottish Highlands; the rescuing from oblivion of Celtic Poetry, traditions, legends, books, and manuscripts; the establishing in Inverness of a library, to consist of books and manuscripts, in whatever language, bearing upon the genius, the literature, the history, the antiquities, and the material interests of the Highlands and Highland people; the vindication of the rights and character of the Gaelic people; and, generally, the furtherance of their interests whether at home or abroad. 3. The Society shall consist of persons who take a lively interest in its objects. Admission to be as follows:-The candidate shall be proposed by one member, seconded by another, balloted for at the next meeting, and, if he or she have a majority of votes and have paid the subscription, be declared a member. The ballot shall be taken with black beans and white; and no election shall be valid unless thirteen members vote. The Society has power to elect distinguished men as Honorary Chieftains to the number of seven. 4. The Annual Subscription shall be, for Honorary Members Ordinary Members Apprentices A Life Member shall make one payment of 7 7 6000 5. The management of the affairs of the Society shall be entrusted to a Council, chosen annually, by ballot, in the month of |