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, he 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 6s 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."

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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

to the annual volume of transactions, to which the Secretary had alluded in his report, he thought it was a matter for pride that in a small place like Inverness they should be able to issue each year a volume which was of real value and scientific interest(applause) and that they had amongst them men so learned in all branches of the history of the Gaelic race as to be qualified to give opinions which were of value in the scientific world(applause). From the syllabus which formed part of the programme placed on the table, it would be seen that the Society was directing its efforts to the real purpose for which it was formed the elucidation of the language, race, and history of the Gael. They used to believe, in a most unhesitating way, that the Highland race were of the Ayran-Celtic stock, but heresies had sprung up on that subject, and he thought there was no place where the question should be more thoroughly examined than in the Gaelic Society of Inverness-(applause). He took leave to say they had amongst them men who were able to examine into the subject as thoroughly and effectively and scientifically as were to be found anywhere. He referred to a paper read before the Society on Monday evening on the Picts, and said that, while he would refrain from entering upon controversial subjects, it was important they should, in such a society, have engrossed upon their records the opinions of men who were able to give opinions of a scientific kind, to be sent out to the world, shewing who Highlanders were, and where they came from-(applause). He had formed an opinion on that matter himself-he believed it was an authentic one-and he thought they might rest assured that the Highland people were of true Celtic origin; certainly they had a great history to look back upon, and in a society like this they should have as one of its great objects-and it had, in a fair and sufficient way, carried that out--the preservation of Highland traditions and nationality, and of pride in their ancestry, which was one of the salts of the earth, one of the things which saved men from sordid acts and motives The chivalry of Highlanders had made them famous in the world. They were but a small nation--but a small corner in a nation, he might say-but still, not only in their own eyes, but in the eyes of the whole world they occupied a proud position, and they occupied that because, in critical times, the Highland people had a high ideal-it may not always have been a right one, but it was higher than anything selfish-something noble, or which they believed was noble, and in that way they made themselves illustrious in the world. Sir Henry concluded by remarking that it was gratifying to find, from

the statement of Captain Malcolm, that even Land Leaguers were not indifferent to the history and glory of their country, as shewn by their attitude towards recruiting. He asked the company to drink increased prosperity to the Society-(applause).

Mr James Barron proposed the members of Parliament for the Highland courties and burghs, in a happy speech, in which he made humorous and apt references to remarks made at former dinners on the same subject. A few years ago Mr Fraser-Mackintosh was referred to as the only Gaelic-speaking representativein Parliament, but there were several members now with the Gaelic qualification, and perhaps, as a member of the company hinted, there would be more in the future-(applause).

Mr Alex. Macbain, M.A., in the absence of Dr F. Maitland Moir, Aberdeen, who telegraphed that he was laid up with influenza, proposed the toast of "The language and literature of the Gael." They were extremely well off, he said, in old Gaelic and old Irish literature, and he should like to see a society formed, after the manner of the Spalding Club, for the publication of ancient Gaelic texts. Professor Mackinnon was showing in the series of articles he was presently publishing, that there was a vast amount of mediæval literature stored up in Edinburgh, and he (Mr Macbain) was satisfied that those interested in Gaelic subjects had no idea of the light which could thus be thrown upon the early history of the race, even in Pictish times--(applause). He associated with the toast the name of Mr Alexander Mackenzie, of the Scottish Highlander.

Mr Mackenzie, in the course of his reply, said Mr Macbain had a scientific knowledge of the literature of the Gael, which he did not profess to have; but he did profess to have some knowledge of the language, and if he could not say much of the Celtic portion,, he was glad to be able to say that a very considerable change had come over the Highland people, and especially the people of Inverness, in their regard, he might say their affection, for the language of their race since he came to the town, twenty years ago (hear, hear). He proceeded to allude, in illustration of this, to the fact that then many of the leading people of Inverness were so ashamed of their native tongue that they would answer a Gaelic salutation in English. But now the process was reversed, and to be able to speak Gaelic was actually getting fashionable (hear, hear, and laughter). Even the landlords were patronising the Gaelic to an extent which they had never done before, and particularly The Mackintosh whom he was glad to see present (cheers)—had such an appreciation of the language that he was informed he kept