The appeal, here quoted, concluded the Editorial remarks last year, and it is again repeated expressly. It has been most disappointing that, once again, the number of contributors to the pages of Creag Dhubh is, for the greater part, limited. to those stalwarts, "A.F.M" . . . "R.G.M." and "J.M.B." It has again been encouraging, though, to receive quite a large number of tributes to the Journal, both written and verbal. Still more encouraging that several of these tributes have been accompanied by cash donations to assist the work of the Association. It remains, however, saddening to note that, amongst the many hundreds of Members of the Association, so few contribute actively to our pages although so many profess to find interest and enjoyment in what we print.

      It is earnestly hoped that the article, "Contributing to Creag Dhubh", may inspire and assist other Members of the Association and other of our readers to submit material for future publication. It is hoped, too, that the reference in that article to our latest date for receiving matter for printing may be observed and acted upon.

      This is a most earnest cri de coeur. In the present instance, the Editor emerged from hospital towards the end of the autumn, and found his files almost empty of material, and practically the whole of this issue had to be prepared during the early days of December amongst all the rush of preparation for Christmas and the New Year. This is not submitted as an excuse for shortcomings in the present number of Creag Dhubh, but as a possible explanation of any inadequacies that may be apparent.

      One closing note: no article which we have printed in the past three years has brought in more enthusiastic comment than last year's introductory notes on learning and using Gaelic. It is hoped that this year's "follow up" will prove of value to the many people who seek to stave off the disuse and eventual loss of our ancient language.

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      The only way to be certain of what is of value to Creag Dhubh -- or indeed to any other publication -- is by study of what has been written in former issues. This study will always supply an idea of what is acceptable. In our own case, we are delighted to receive any news or any history which bears on the Clan in particular, on members of the Clan, on the Highlands in general and Badenoch in particular, and on matters affecting Scotland at the present day. The best way in which to set about writing is just to put down the words that would come most readily to the tongue if the matter was being discussed verbally.

      The length of the articles is a matter of importance. As an example of what must be avoided, an article was submitted last year with the writer's insistance that it be printed in full as submitted. This article dealt with an interesting piece of genealogical research and would have found ready acceptance had it not been for the fact that it continued over a length which would have occupied almost a quarter of the article-space of one issue of the journal. Considerably cut, it would have been excellent for our purposes. As it stood, though, it just could not be printed -- much to the Editor's regret.

      The topics introduced in articles are, as said above, those which deal with Clan affairs in especial. Some potential contributors may be shy at attempting to write specifically for the pages of the Journal. They need not be reticent. If a thing makes interesting reading in a letter, it will be equally interesting when put in the form of a contribution to the magazine. In this regard it may encourage possible contributors to know that two of the articles published this year were not written as such but are compilations of news items that were written in the course of correspondence.

      It is not essential in a "family journal" of the nature of Creag Dhubh that all contributions be submitted in the strict form laid down by commercial editors. It is, however, of the very greatest help if contributors will send their articles in typescript, double-spaced and written on one side only of quarto-sized paper.       Finally, and most important, is the matter of when contributions should be sent in. A date has to be arranged with the printers in order that their work may be done in time to meet our publication date which is early in each year. To that end, every year sees an appeal for all contributions to be sent to the Editor by the 1st December. This date must be strictly adhered to, of necessity. Anything sent later than that date may, possibly, find space in the current issue -- but this can only be achieved if it arrives very closely after the beginning of the month.

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Anything arriving later than, say, 10th December must necessarily be held over to the subsequent year. Not only contributors, but also Branch Secretaries and other people submitting reports on various activities, are asked please to observe this need for punctuality.

      When contributions are first received by the Editor, they are read -- always with interest -- and then are, in many cases, edited. Some, of course, require more editing than others! The Editor is no more anxious than anyone else to incur extra work, and so he keeps his editing to the minimum that appears necessary. After the editing, the material must in many cases be re-typed or, if submitted in manuscript, be typed for the printer. The Editor of Creag Dhubh is obliged to do this work for himself, for he has not the services of a secretary -- and all this takes time!

      After the closing-date for the receipt of contributions. the various papers are assembled, re-edited where necessary, and passed to the printer who, in due time, produces the galley-proofs. These proofs are the first essay in type-setting for the journal and are made up on long sheets of paper, measuring some three-feet in length. They are distributed amongst members of the Association's Executive, when practical they are sent to individual contributors, and the Editor himself goes through them with the greatest care in an effort to eliminate such errors in print as may appear.

      When the printer receives the corrected galley-proof, he proceeds to the production of a "paged proof" which is a mock-up of the finished journal, though with articles printed on one side only of each sheet. The paged proof of is sent to the Editor who, once again, reads everything through with care, trying to spot and eliminate any errors which may have survived the former editing. The whole production is then returned to the printer who goes ahead with the final printing of the actual magazine in its finished form.

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      It is not inappropriate when writing of the Registrar's work to mention the fact that a fair number of copies of the Journal are returned every year, and this because the Member has left a former address without notifying the Association. Verb. sap.

      The Journal is a costly item in the Clan's annual budget. The costs are necessary if the standard of our pages is to be maintained. They can, however, be very greatly off-set by receipts from advertisements. The cost of inserting advertising notices in Creag Dhubh is noted on the inside of the back-cover, and every Member of the Association is most earnestly requested to canvass possible advertisers and to obtain their support. This is a task within anyone's power, need not be in any way arduous, and it remains most important to the continuing production of the Journal and to the maintenance of its cost at its present level, which is the lowest that it can be held to.

      To Clan Macpherson the main interest of Ben Alder lies in the famous "Cage" which was erected as a shelter and a refuge by Ewan, the 18th Chief, after the battle of Culloden. A number of Cluny's friends joined him in the Cage, and they included Prince Charles himself, who stayed there for a week between the 5th and 13th September, 1746, shortly before his escape to France. Sir Walter Scott referred to the Cage in his Tales of a Grandfather, but the popular interest in it was largely aroused by Robert Louis Stevenson's account in Kidnapped, wherein he describes an imaginary visit paid by David Balfour and Alan Breck Stewart to Cluny. This visit is described in considerable detail and is supposed to have taken place in 1751 and to have lasted for three days. During the course of it, Cluny played cards with Alan for much of the time and he managed to win all Alan's money as well as David's.

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There is now no trace of the Cage on Ben Alder, but when one examines the Ordnance Survey one-inch map of the area there is a reference to "Prince Charlie's Cave" on the southern slope of Ben Alder, near Benalder Cottage. This reference has appeared on Ordnance Survey maps for more than a century, and both the Name-book of the first six-inch survey (1870) and the Ordnance Gazeteer (1898) refer to this cave as a place in which, according to tradition, Prince Charles lay hidden in September 1746. The writer has been able to trace two other early references to a cave on Ben Alder. One is in a letter written by Ewan's son, Duncan of the Kiln, the 19th Chief. It is dated 9th June, 1817, and addressed to Colonel Stewart of Garth and was quoted in part, in Creag Dhubh of 1958.

      In this letter, Duncan describes a number of the hiding places which his father used between 1746 and 1755 and he refers to the "Natural caves in Benalder, Mealchuach (Meall Chuaich) and other high mountains". This reference makes a direct contrast between the natural caves in the hills and the artificial hiding places at Ralia, Biallidmore, Nessintully and Strathmashie.

      The other reference is in Alexander Macpherson's Church and Social Life of the Highlands (1893). " . . . In a cave at the southern extremity to (Loch Ericht) Prince Charlie, after the Battle of Culloden, sought refuge from his pursuers," and, in a quotation which follows, " . . . he found protection only in a cave full of chilly damps with nothing but a bare rock for a pillow." Surprisingly, Alexander Macpherson makes no attempt to contrast this natural cave with the Cage erected by Cluny, although there are three separate quotations in the book which describe the Cage in some detail.

      The account is vivid and merits quotation in full:
      "It was really a curiosity, and can scarcely be described to perfection. 'Twas situate in the face of a very rough high rocky mountain called Letternilichk which is still a part of Benalder, full of great stones and crevices and some scattered wood interspersed. The habitation called the Cage in the face of that mountain was within a small thick bush of wood. There were first some rows of trees laid down in to level a floor for the habitation, and as this place was steep this raised the lower side to equal height with the other; and these trees, in the way of jests or planks, were entirely well

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levelled with earth and gravel. There were betwixt the trees, growing naturally on their own roots, some stakes fixed in the earth, which with the trees were interwoven with ropes made of heath and birch twigs all to the top of the cage, it being of a round or rather oval shape, and the whole thatched or covered over with foge. This whole fabrick hung as it were by a large tree, which reclined from the one end all along the roof to the other, and which gave it the name of the Cage; and by chance there happened to be two stones at a small distance from other in the side next the precipice resembling the pillars of a bosom chimney, and here was the fire placed. The smock had its vent out there, all along a very stonny plat of the rock, which and the smock were all together so much of a colour that anyone coud make no difference in the clearest day, the smock and stones by and through which it pass'd being of such true and real resemblance."

      This description was written before Cluny escaped to France and it is probable that the Cage had been abandoned by 1750, as Strathmashie would not otherwise have taken the risk of describing it to the Rev, Robert Forbes.

      The place which Strathmashie calls 'Letternilichk' is correctly spelled Leitir na Lic. This place, where the Cage was built, is said to be on the East side of Ben Alder, overlooking Loch Ericht and about half a mile north of Alder Bay. The mountainside is very steep at this place and would provide a very suitable hiding place for the Cage.

      It is most unlikely that anyone would consider spending a night in the cave, for it is neither a hollow nor a tunnel in the rock, but is no more than an empty space amongst enormous upturned boulders lying at various angles. It was described by an early Ordnance Surveyor as "resembling a huge bi-valve gaping for air, and it is altogether impossible for even a child to walk in upright, and when in, you can occupy no other but a sitting or lying position".

      The floor is mainly of damp earth and measures about ten feet square. There are no signs of occupation to be seen, with the exception of a few large stones which have been placed along most of the length of the opening, presumably to serve as added protection to an occupant.

      There is also a small opening into the back of the cave, but it is too small to use as a means of access and gives little extra light to the inside. The entrance to the cave can be recognised from a distance by a very small tree, growing out of the rocks -- there being no other trees on this part of the mountain.

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      The Scottish Mountaineering Club Guide endeavoured to solve the problem by explaining that the cave "is the concrete embodiment of the tradition of the Cage of Cluny Macpherson". This, one feels, is begging the question altogether.

      Prince Charlie was in Badenoch for a number of days before he came to the Cage. It may be possible that he did, in fact, spend a night in the cave before the Cage was completed. However, unless some new account comes to light of the wanderings of the Prince or Cluny, the full story of the cave on Ben Alder may never be known.

      Many of the poems thus preserved are attributed to Ossian himself. It is not of these, however, that the present article will speak but of an epic tale attributed to Caoch O'Cluain, an otherwise unknown poet.

      The poem tells the tale of Fraoch Mac Fithich, young and handsome, who was loved by the daughter of a woman named Maoibh -- which is pronounced "Maiv". In spite of her daughter's declared love for Fraoch, Maoibh determined that it was she herself who would marry him -- and if she did not do so, then nobody else would. When she found that Fraoch paid no attention to her attempts to wile him away from her daughter, she planned to kill him and adopted a most subtle scheme to do so. She pretended to be ill and sent a messenger to Fraoch, asking him to obtain rowan berries from a special tree which grew on an island in a loch. These berries alone, she said, would cure her.

      Fraoch received the message and swam out to the island where he found a monster sleeping at the foot of the rowan tree. He was able, however to pick a cluster of berries without awakening the beast, and

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he swam ashore and brought them to Maoibh. She would not accept them. She declared that nothing but the whole tree, uprooted and brought ashore, would cure her illness. So Fraoch again swam out to the island.

      Uprooting the tree was, of course, a much heavier task than the mere gathering of the fruit and his efforts to do so aroused the monster which followed him to the shore, seizing his arm and mauling it. The girl was waiting at the lochside and brought him a golden knife with which he fought the creature. His efforts were in vain, and he died at the girl's feet. From that day onwards, says the poet, the Loch was called Loch Maoibh in order that the wicked mother's name might be preserved and her infamy remembered for all time.

      Fraoch was buried in Cluain Fraoich (Fraoch's Meadow) and a cairn was raised over his grave. We are told, too, that a nearby hill was called Carn Laimh and the poem tells moreover of how the maiden mourned for her lost love towards the east, she living in Cruachan.

           1. We must find a loch whose name has been changed. Loch Laggan fills this requirement, for it obtained its name in historical times after Saint Kenneth had cultivated his lagan beside the loch at Aberarder, when the whole district, and the loch too, came to be known as Lagan Choinneach. The former name of the loch is lost -- but it must have been called something.
           2. The loch must have at least one island within easy swimming of the shore. Loch Laggan has two such islets.
                     3. The site of Fraoch's burial must be to the east of Cruachan. Laggan fulfils this requirement.
           4. Carn Laimh, named as the scene of Fraoch's interment, is strikingly similar in name to Dun Da Lamh -- whereon stands the prehistoric fort which overlooks all the parish of Laggan.
           5. If the identification of Laggan with the scene is correct, one would hope to find other names reminiscent of the story. This actually occurs in several instances. Within the radius of a few miles from Dun Da Laimh and the head of Loch Laggan are found Gleann Fraoch, Cluain Fraoich and Ruigh an Fhraoich. The attribution of these names to Fraoch, the hero of the poem, will be mocked by people who say -- and rightly so -- that Fraoch is no more than the Gaelic word for Heather. But heather is so common on the hillsides in all Badenoch that its growth on any particular hill would hardly be a distinguishing mark,

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calling for a distinctive name to draw attention to it. A scanning of the large-scale O.S. map, moreover, shows no other such concentration of fraoch names anywhere in the district. Moreover, two miles to the south, are Creag a' Mhaigh and Coire a' Mhaigh -- and both these names may well hold an echo of the name of the wicked mother. Once more people will argue that maigh is no more than the Gaelic for 'pleasant' and, again, they are quite correct. But names get very much changed through time and by 'rationahsation' as their original meaning is lost or forgotten -- Applecross has nothing to do with apples, and Pennycomequick has nothing to do with £ s. d.!

           6. Finally, the name of Strathmashie has been for long a problem to philologists who have advanced several theories for its origin. Srath Maisibh (pronounce it "ma-i-shiv") could derive from many sources -- Professor Derick Thomson quotes W. J. Watson as deriving the name from math, 'good', and insi, the old dative of innis, 'a meadow'. This might well be so, but equally well so may be any one of the several other derivations. It is suggested -- and no more than suggested -- here that the name may, possibly, hold a echo of Maoibh.

      Taken singly, none of these points is in any way convincing. Taken altogether, however, they arouse at least a circumstantial case, leading to the belief that the story of Maoibh and Fraoch is a tradition which may, fairly reasonably, be located by the side of Loch Laggan. It is at least as good as many philological theories and a lot better than many others. The whole subject may be neither profitable nor of more than passing interest. It makes amusing and interesting speculation, though.

      The circumstances of the discovery and preservation of this remarkable letter are worth recording. Mrs. Guthrie had received it from' her cousin, Mrs. Anderson, Innellan. Both these ladies are descended from John Roy Macpherson of Balgown in Laggan, who was "Old Cluny's" batman in the Army and a close, personal friend of the Chief. John Roy's son, Ewen, had a son named Neil who, a good number of years ago, bought a second-hand book to give to his father as a present.

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From amongst its pages, folded and apparently used as a bookmark, fell the letter which Mrs. Guthrie has now, at the suggestion of Mrs. Anderson, handed to the Editor for the Clan's information. The circumstance of its thus falling into the hands of a Macpherson, and a Macpherson so closely connected with the Chief, is both romantic and extraordinary. The Association -- indeed, the whole Clan -- cannot be sufficiently grateful to Mrs. Guthrie and to Mrs. Anderson for their magnificent gesture in thus making so historic a document available to us.

      A most extraordinary coincidence in the present case is that Menary quotes another letter from Cluny to Forbes, dated 30th August -- eleven days later than the present letter -written when he was being held by the Jacobite Army. It is printed as an Appendix, and it is noted that this second letter was also discovered in use as a bookmark in a book which came into the hands of the National Library. It is very strange that both these letters should have been used as bookmarks, and it would appear that whoever used them had access to the Culloden Papers.

      A. F. Macpherson continues his observations by pointing out that he knows, from some notes left with him by Professor Alan G. Macpherson, that Cluny had been in touch with the Jacobites through Breakachie, at the instigation of Forbes. He had also been in touch with the Government through Killihuntly, who was a Government supporter, so the letter which has now been received is evidently a report from Cluny following upon Breakachie's report to him. "I imagine," he continues, "the contact Cluny had with the Jacobites was his cousin Lochiel, and I think the opening sentences of the letter refer to the latter's decision to support the Prince. I take it that the 'prints' referred to are brochures or proclamations issued by the Jacobites. Menary goes into the whole of Cluny's difficulties at this time at some length in his book, referring to various correspondence, including a letter from Lady Cluny written after her husband had been taken by the Jacobites, appealing for assistance. The reference in the letter to Breakachie having been informed that Sir Alexander Macdonald and McLeod would be at the 'displaying of what they call the Royall Standard' on 19th August is taken up, apparently, in a later letter from Forbes who pointed out to Cluny that neither of these prominent Chiefs had in fact joined the Prince. Cluny held a Commission in Lord Loudon's Highlanders, which Unit was being raised at the time, and he was engaged in raising a Company for this Regiment, most of whom may probably have joined the Macpherson Contingent in the Prince's forces."

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      That the writer was in great perturbation in thus reporting to Lord President Forbes is apparent, and the degree of his disturbance of mind is shown by the cancellations, by the hasty script and by the insertions which mark its whole course. It is evident, through every phrase, that Cluny was deeply concerned for his people and his country. There is no mention made of his own personal danger. All is for his country and its inhabitants. It is indeed a moving document.

      Cluny begins his letter by reporting to the Lord President, as was his duty, the intelligence that had come to him regarding the movements and intention of the Prince's army. It is apparent that this information had been brought to him by Breakachie who had been in touch with a reliable agent whom Cluny had, either in contact with or actually inside the Jacobite force. Evidently the information had also been passed by him to General Cope, whom he understood to be in camp at Stirling. It may well have been the receipt of, Cluny's despatch which prompted Cope to accelerate his march northwards, to arrive at Dalnacardoch on 25th August, six days after the writing of the letter. At Dalnacardoch, Cope was met by Captain Sweetnam of Guise's Regiment, who had been a prisoner in Prince Charles' hands since the skirmish at Letirfinlay, had witnessed the raising of the standard and had been released on parole on the 21st. Cope then continued his march, arriving at Dalwhinnie on 26th August, there holding a council of war which decided to march to Inverness on the following day, deeming that the Corrieyarrick road would be too strongly held to be passable. He marched, then, to Blargie Beg (where the Forestry Commission's houses now stand) and, with his rearguard at Catlodge, turned about and proceeded to Inverness by way of Ruthven, arriving at the Highland capital after two days.

      Cluny's concern is, throughout, for the country of Speyside. He foresees that the arrival of the Jacobite army will surely lead to "burning, herrying and killing" and he expects, too, that many of the inhabitants will be compelled to take up arms in the Prince's cause for no other reason than to save themselves and their families from a worse fate. At no time does he ask for anything personal for himself -- and this is typical of a man whom we know to have been unselfish, modest and gentle in the extreme.

      His modesty is shown, in fact, in the way in which he insists that he does not, himself, profess to give advice as to how the emergency should be met, but does no more than "humblie beg leave to give my oppinion". He allows himself only one, very mild boast to the effect that it was only his presence, together with his Company, that had persuaded his "next Nighbours" from immediately marching to join the Jacobite army, taking with them their Clansmen and dependents.

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      Cluny's responsibility, as he sees it, lies toward his people and to his own countryside, and he seeks protection for them from the horrors, foreseen and unforeseen, of civil war, of pressing and of enforcement. In this regard, it is significant that he does not propose to join his Company to the Government forces advancing northwards. His intention seems to have been to retain his men in Badenoch to ensure that the people of the country shall remain quiet and uncommitted, leaving the fighting to the regular army.

      It is notable, as a possible hint towards Cluny's personal leanings, that at no time does he refer to the Jacobite army as "rebels" as was general practice amongst supporters of the Government. He evades the point in several circumlocutions. The present writer feels that this indicates that his own sympathies were towards the Prince in spite of the fact that, as A. F. Macpherson points out, there is no doubt that, like nearly all the Highland Chiefs, Cluny viewed the Prince's adventure as misguided and unfortunate. He believes, too, that the fact that Cluny continued to correspond with Forbes, even after his being held by the Jacobites, shows that he felt that the Rising would ultimately fail and that the true interest of the country was in supporting the status quo.

      Cluny's only concern at this stage is clearly to fulfil his duty as a commissioned officer -- but to do it in a static manner with a view to maintaining peace in Badenoch and on Speyside. To this latter end he subordinated his own feelings in his deeply-felt responsibility towards his own people. In so doing he manifested himself in the true and traditional role of a Highland Chief, the father and protector of his Clan.

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It would certainly have saved Cluny Castle. These possibilities must be assessed in the light of the fact that the Macphersons were not present at Culloden, handed in their arms peacefully and did not suffer any considerable loss of life in the course of the Rising.

      Whether the Macphersons would have continued to hold majority rule in Badenoch remains, too, a matter for conjecture in view of what happened throughout the remainder of the Highlands, in the lands of the Hanoverian supporters no less than in those of the Jacobite Clans. In this regard, though, one must confess that it is hard to see Cluny of the '45 taking such action or committing such atrocities against his own clansmen as were effected by such people as Gordon, Seaforth and Chisholm. With his example, too, one cannot conceive of any of his immediate successors following the examples of so many unworthy Chiefs in subsequent years. All this, however, is pure supposition and here we can only deal with facts.

      Our debt of gratitude to Mrs. Guthrie and Mrs. Anderson can hardly be measured. This document, that they have so generously made available to us for preservation, ranks high amongst the historical papers bearing on the long tale of the Clan and on the life of its most outstanding and noble Chief.

      The writer must, in conclusion, express his own, personal debt of gratitude to A. Fraser Macpherson for his great kindness in reading and commenting on the original draft of this paper, for deciphering some of the less legible parts of the letter and also for arranging for its photographic reproduction.

My Lord
     Breakachie just now return'd and the enclosed prints is all the answer I have from my friend, As he's now dip'd far enough I find the fate of the Gentleman that publishes these papers (be what it will) he resolves will be his. In the meantime

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My Lord I wish you wou'd take my Case and that of my poor Country to consideration, probablie this Army more or less as it is, will March Immediately southward, this Country as you know lies directly in their way, And if the Government does not forthwith protect us, they must either be brunt or Join, I have this from undoubted authoroty, And there is no reason to doubt of it, At the same time I hear that the King's forces are to Incamp at Stirling, that is a help for from us, and what to do, so as to save this poor Country from Immediate ruin, is a very great question to me, all on Speyside have a great Chance of runing the same Risque to this Country, tho' Its very certain we must be the first sufferers. But be it as it will, I have Nothing more for it than to run this express for your advice, And at the same time to aske of you that you may represent our situation to the Government, that they may fall on means for our preservation, Our Case being so very bad I may say w'in a days March (of the Invaders) to ruin for my part I cannot pretend to give advice in ane affair of so very great moment, but I humblie beg leave to give my oppinion, which is that the King's troops shou'd Immediately march Northward, so as to Intercept this body which is I take to be the only way not only to Crush this Invation and Conjunction, Which promisses to be pretty formidable if not prevented in the bud. My friend told Breakachie that Sir Alexr. McDonald and McLeod will be at displaying of what they call the Royall Standard this day, And if so that their men will join will be depended upon, what this Country, the rest of Speyside, or even more Countries in this North of the Kingdom may do, when force is at their doors, I leave your Lo'p to Judge, as force has often made people to committ that, what was no Choice, but to save them from a Necessity that may be fatall, I heartily wish the Government did in time for their own good, and ours look to our and the Country's safety. In a word, it is hard to Judge what burning, herrying, and killing, may determine a defenceless people to do, for their Immediate Safty, All this (and worse if worse can be) is dayly threatened in the event of not Joining W'out compulsion. Our next Nighbours whom you'll find out W'out nameing them, had if I had not been in the Country With the few of my Company, brought all that have here of such as they call their Namesakes or followers to them, but by my being at home, they are yet mostly disappointed tho' a few fellows have stoll away. I have write to Generall Cope per express of this date a Coppie of which your Lo'p has Inclose.

      I still am to great truth and sincerety

Cluny 19th August
     1745
6 in the afternoon

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Government after the collapse of the Rising he fell under the Act of Attainder of June 1746, and as the Cluny Estates (other than the Lands of Kinlochlaggan) had been made over to him by his father on Ewen's marriage to Janet Fraser, daughter of Lord Lovat, some years earlier, these Estates were forfeited to the Crown as from 18th April, 1746, in spite of a plea put forward that the Attainder was vitiated by the naming of the person attainted therein as "Evan" instead of "Ewen". It was held, however, that the identification was sufficiently clear. Lachlan, the Chief, survived his son's Attainder for a short time but died without making a settlement, and, Ewen, being unable to succeed under the Attainder, the lands of Kinlochlaggan retained by the Chief fell to the Crown for lack of an heir. The Estates remained in the hands of the Government Commissioners (Barons of Exchequer in Edinburgh) until they were returned in 1784 to "Duncan of the Kiln", largely, it is understood, through the influence in Government circles of James (Ossian) Macpherson.

      The Papers relative to the Cluny Estates consist of Petitions by the Factors and Tenants to the Commissioners relative to rents, improvements, repairs and similar matters and the supply of educational facilities; Rental Statements; Leases and Reports by the Factors; Decrees by the Commissioners; Proceedings by the Factors against Tenants and Correspondence between the Factors and the Secretary of the Commissioners. These Papers, therefore, give a varied view of the way in which ordinary affairs were carried on from day to day in Badenoch after the Rising. It appears from Grant Francis' book, [Romance of] the White Rose, that he and Mrs. Albert C. Macpherson, wife of the last Chief in possession of Cluny Castle, destroyed many papers in the Charter Chests which they considered of no value, and in this way Leases, Rentals and other records of administration of the Estates before forfeiture and since their restoration by the Government, being of little political value, are not to be found among the Cluny Papers now lodged in the Register House. The only information available on these affairs of everyday business is that contained in the Records of the Government administration between 1746 and 1784. Before passing to copies made of some of the Forfeited Estates papers a few items may be mentioned which reveal some interesting aspects of the times.

      William Ramsay, the Government Factor, petitions the Commissioners on behalf of Andrew Macpherson who had been appointed Ground Officer in 1751. This man had displeased some of the inhabitants who had reported him for carrying a gun against orders. The Factor represented to the Commissioners that the Crown officials required arms to protect themselves as there had been recent cases of violence in the neighbourhood.

      Among the documents there is a Petition by the Presbytery of Abernethy applying to the Commissioners for payment from the Cluny Estates rents of the portion of Schoolmaster's salary, formerly paid by Cluny but in arrear since the Rising. Failure in the payment would

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result in there being no means of education or religious instruction in the district. The Factor recommended that this should be granted, and in 1751 an order was made for payment of arrears and for continuation in future. It is mentioned that the school at Cluny had 47 scholars, and it appears that the Cluny Estates' contribution to the salary of the Schoolmaster at Kingussie was 18/7d. per annum.

      In 1775/6 a Competition was held in Laggan under the auspices of the Commissioners to encourage the growing of potatoes. Prizes were awarded as follows:

      The Accounts show allowances granted to tenants for expenditure on improvements as part of the official policy of encouraging such efforts by the occupants of the ground.

      Other salaries appearing in the Factor's Accounts 1778 are:

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paid to the Baron. After the Rising, the Government passed in 1747 the Heritable Jurisdictions Act which drastically reduced the powers of the Feudal Barons so that their Courts, so far as Civil matters were concerned, could only deal with disputes among tenants, questions on the terms of Leases, payment of feuduties and other Estate matters not exceeding 40 shillings sterling in value, and in Criminal matters they could only deal with assaults. Even within these limits various restrictions were imposed, and ultimately the Baron Courts became completely superseded by the more efficient Sheriff Courts with their wider powers under the Crown. Prior to the Act of 1747 the Barons had wide jurisdiction, including the rights of "fossa et furca" which entitled them to put criminals to death -- in the case of women by drowning and in the case of men by hanging.

      The Feudal Overlord of Badenoch, the Duke of Gordon, not having been "out" in the Rising, did not suffer Forfeiture and after the passing of the Act continued to administer Justice in his lands on the restricted scale through his Baron Bailie, the only difference caused by the Forfeiture of Cluny being that the latter's tenants became liable for their rents to the Crown in his place, and out of these rents the Duke received payment of his feuduty. The Duke actually claimed that in consequence of the Forfeiture the lands he had granted in feu to Cluny reverted to him, but the Crown resisted this successfully, and, as mentioned above, returned the Estates to Duncan of Cluny in 1784.

      The abolition of the Feudal Heritable Jurisdictions by the British Government after the Rising virtually destroyed the power of the Duke of Gordon along with other Crown Vassals who formerly, exercised these jurisdictions, but the power of the Chief as such disappeared not by legislation but by social change and economic developments, though, in the case of Cluny at least, he continued to exercise power over his tenants as a landowner.

      The following documents have been selected from the Forfeited Estates Papers relative to the Cluny Estates as shedding some light on the lives and problems of the Clansmen who were engaged in maintaining themselves and their families by cultivation of the soil under tenancies granted by the Chief and the Tacksmen. The choice of documents has been influenced by interest of the writer in the holding of Drumgaskinloan of which his forbears were among the group of small tenants in a common lease and ultimately became the last Macpherson tenants of the Farm and Inn at Drumgask which they left in 1835 for Inverness.

      In explanation of the first document (a Petition for permission to have firearms) it must be kept in mind that after the Rising the Highlanders were forbidden to have weapons of any kind. As appears from the Application by the Factor for a gun for the Ground Officer already referred to, permission was required before the Petitioners in this case could have a gun to destroy the vermin which preyed on their flocks and poultry.

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      The second document, which is a Petition for educational facilities for the children of the small tenants of Gaskinloan, refers to one Alexander Macpherson, "a pensioner who had lost an arm in Admiral Byng's Action". Some of the men in the Black Watch who participated in the "Mutiny", of which two of the leaders were Samuel and Malcolm Macpherson, were punished by being detached from their Regiment and sent to Minorca. Admiral Byng was involved in an unsuccessful attempt to relieve Minorca. It seems a reasonable deduction that Alexander Macpherson, the pensioner, was one of the Black Watch men mentioned -- particularly, as being resident in Catlodge, he would, no doubt, be connected with Samuel Macpherson who was of the family of Breakachy which adjoins. The list of "Mutineers" in the records includes two Alexander Macphersons, and it would seem quite probable that the volunteer teacher was one of these, Further, in the investigation made by the Baron Bailie at Catlodge in connection with attacks on James Macpherson of Killihuntly at the instigation of the Cluny family in 1764/5 mention was made of Alexander Macpherson, a Chelsea Pensioner and tenant of the Inn at Catlodge -perhaps the same man who seems to have been active in advancing the interests of the community and himself in the educational sphere.

SHEWETH

          That your Petitioners for severall years past have suffered a Great deal of lose by the
      destruction of the Fox and Eagle & particullarly that Alexr. McDonald in Cattlag part of
      the said Davoch had nine of his Lambs killed by the Fox in One Day. The above William
      McPherson had five Lambs belonging to him killed in One day, That the above William
      McPherson after haveing severall Hens of his killed & by hearing the noise got out of
      his Bed & got the Fox within his Dwelling House but made his escape, and that he
      had no less than Twenty four of his Ewes & lambs killed within this twelve moneth, That
      the above Grigor has had severall of his Sheep Lambs & Hens killed by the Fox & that
      he has often Hounded him with Collie Dogs from the House

           May it therefore please you to Grant Warrant to such of the Possessors of this part
      of the Estate as you shall think proper to nominate to carrie a Gun for killing the Fox &
      Eagle & your Petitioners will ever pray &c

_____________

*A Celtic division of land of varying extent [pronounced 'dock']

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Cattlag 18th Janry. 1758. The Within Named persons & severaH others Tennants
      of the Davoch of Gaskanloan being conveened in Court Mr Small craved they
      should be Deponed to the Verity of the Within Petition by the Barron Baillie:
      AND they having Deponed not only on what is sett furth in the Within Petition,
      but that they have suffered more lose than what is within specified
      THEREFOR the Baillie recommends to Mr Small to lay this Petition Before the Honable.      
      Barrons of His Majestie's Exchequer in Scotland, AND in the mean time thinks Mr Small should lend the Tennants one of his Own Guns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Signed) ROt. MENZIES B:

HUMBLY SHEWETH

                Whereas the Right Honourable the Barons of Exchequer were pleased to
           allow fourty shillings yearly to a Person for teaching the Children on said
           Estate which has proven of great use and Benefite to the Poor Petitioners But
           the Allowance being so Small their Teacher seldom remains any longer with
           them than untill he finds more proper Encouragement and these Changes
           become hurtfull to the Children And the Petitioners are so very poor that they
          are unable to send them to any Stated School on Account of the distance.

                That Alexander McPherson who lost an Arm in Admiral Bing's Action at
           Sea has now come to the Country & promises to Reside in the Country & Teach
           the Children provided an Addition was made to the Allowance And as you
           are Sensible of what great use this would be The Petitioners are hopefull you
           will lay their case before the Right Honble. Barons praying they would be
           pleased to make some further allowance for these necessary purposes.

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      First of all it must be realised that the legal possession of a right to wear and display armorial bearings can only be granted in Scotland by the Lyon Court. Any arms displayed without a Grant from that Court are illegal and may be destroyed by order of the Court, with their illadvised user subject to quite severe penalties. There is no such thing as a "family" or "clan" coat-of-arms. Arms are individual to each and every person who has been granted them, and their owner's position in the family or clan is clearly shown by the differencing and the marks of cadency which appear thereon.

      Secondly, the right to bear Arms is still, in Scotland, a mark of the nobility. This is expressly declared in the wording of every Grant of Arms issued by the Lyon Court, which declares, in reference to the owner of the arms and his successors in their ownership, that "amongst all Nobles and in all Places of Honour, to be taken, numbered, accounted and received as Nobles in the Noblesse of Scotland".

      The arms which popular misconception calls "the Clan Arms" are, in most cases, those of the Chief. They can, in fact, be displayed legally by the Chief alone -- except, of course, when they are used as part of a scheme of decoration. Any Clansman who believes himself to be entitled to the privilege of displaying Arms must make petition to the Lord Lyon. If his petition is approved he will obtain either a Grant of Arms or else a Matriculation, which latter confirms and establishes an ancestral right.

      In Scotland, the great Lowland Houses and the Highland Clans form close-knit family associations and every Clansman is entitled to consider himself cousin to his Chief. Arms granted to him will, therefore, usually be based upon the Chiefly arms which will be suitably differenced. If anyone displays the Chiefly arms as being his own personal achievement-of-arms then he is guilty of grave presumption because he thereby declares tacitly that his is himself the Chief of the Clan -- or else he merely shows disgustingly bad manners and displays complete ignorance of the whole subject!

      The display of the Crest, too, is all too often the subject of ignorance. There is no such thing as a "Clan Crest" though there is indeed such a thing as a "Clansman's Crest" -- which latter is a very different thing. It is deplorable that tailors and Highland outfitters in Scotland impose widely upon the gullibility of their customers by, self-seekingly (and illegally, too!) giving currency and support to the contrary assumption.

      Historically, the follower of a Chief could go into action with his Chief's Crest or Badge strapped to his forearm or to any other place that served to display it. So today a Clansman's Badge, worn in the Highland bonnet, shows the Chief's Badge in a surround of a strap-and-buckle which often bears the Chief's motto.

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      An armiger, from Chief to Duine Uasail wears his own badge, but shows it in a plain circlet. The Chief, moreover, wears a further mark of distinction in affixing three eagle's plumes to his headdress; a Chieftain (who is a subordinate Chief) wears two plumes, and a Duine Uasail wears one. This privilege is extended in each case to the son or heir of the wearer, but this is done by courtesy and not of right. All other members of the family must wear the strap-and-buckle.

      The Clan Macpherson possesses many armigers in its ranks. Some of the arms are of very ancient usage, others are of more recent matriculation. The number of armigers is constantly increasing, and this is only right and proper and serves, too, to show that people still consider that value lies in the use of traditional forms of heraldic display. That value, however, can only be maintained if it is not allowed to be cheapened by an improper use of its insignia. Correspondingly, a correct use of arms will serve to enhance their value.

      Summarising, therefore, we know that there is no such thing as "a Clan Coat-of-Arms" and no such thing as "a Clan Crest". But there is no reason why each and every Clansman should not wear and display his Clansman's Badge -- and do it, too, with pride. He can do it in many ways, not only by wearing it in his bonnet but by using it on his notepaper -or in a hundred other ways, all of which are highly to be commended.

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      These Arms were first recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, Lyon Court, by Duncan Macpherson of Cluny, 16th Chief, on the 12th March, 1672, although there is evidence that the Arms existed much earlier than this date. Our illustration depicts the shield only, the most important part of an armorial achievement, and omits the wildcat crest, supporters and motto, "Touch not the cat but a glove", which comprise the complete coat-of-arms. The Arms are described in heraldic terms as follows:
      "Parted per fess (divided horizontally) Or (gold) and Azure (blue), a lymphad (ancient galley ship) of the first (of the first colour mentioned, viz. gold), sails furled, oars in action, mast and tackling all proper (in their natural colours), flag and pennon flying Gules (red); in dexter canton (the upper right hand side of the shield as viewed from behind) a dexter hand fessways (horizontal) couped (cut off at the wrist) holding a dagger erect, in sinister (left) canton a cross crosslet fitchee (pointed) all of the third (the third colour mentioned, viz. Gules or red)."

      The principal charge in the Arms is the gold "lymphad" or galley. The galley suggests a western origin and rather supports the view that the ship device represents a "differenced" version of "The Galley of Lorne". Leading clansmen of the 17th and 18th centuries, however, subscribed to the belief that it commemorated the voyage of the Catti tribesmen from Germany to the North of Scotland in the 1st century A.D. This view was largely based upon an uncritical comparison of tribal and place names in Scotland and the continent. The galley is a common Scottish charge and may be found in the Arms of many Highland Chiefs.

      The red crosslet, by a 17th century version, commemorates a pilgrimage to the Holy Land by the legendary Muireach, name-father of the Clan. Another view is that it simply indicates an ecclesiastical origin

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for the Clan, either from Muireach's office as Parson of Kingussie or from an association with the service of one of the two St. Chattans who appear in the Celtic calendar.

      The "bloody hand and dagger" signifies the part played by the Clan in overthrowing the Cummings of Badenoch, enemies of King Robert the Bruce.

      There is, of course, no such thing as a "Clan coat-of-arms" which anyone bearing the Clan surname may assume and use. The Arms of the Chief of the Clan are a form of individual heritable property and should not be displayed by anyone other than the Chief. The present bearer of the "undifferenced" Cluny Arms is Ewen George Macpherson of Cluny who lives in Australia. The Arms are recorded in Lyon Register Vol. 1, p. 185; Vol. 9, p.45; Vol. 37, p. 10; and Vol. 42, p.33.

      The Arms are identical with Cluny's, save for the horizontal line of partition which divides the shield. In Pitmain's Arms this line is "invected" instead of being perfectly straight, and it is this partition which "differences" Pitmain's shield from that of his Chief.

The Motto is a Gaelic rendering of "Touch not the Cat but a Glove" and it has particular significance as showing that it is the Cat which is dangerous when ungloved (i.e. with its claws out) and it is not the

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person touching it who is warned to wear a glove. If the latter meaning had been intended, the Gaelic would have been Na Nean gun Lamhain do'n Chat. A literal translation, conveying the correct meaning of the Chief's Motto, as adapted and varied for use by other Armigers in the Clan, is therefore, "Touch not the Ungloved Cat" -- which is another way of saying, "Wha Daur Meddle wi' Me!"

      The present representative of this, the Senior Chieftaincy in the Clan, is Lieutenant-Colonel A. K. Macpherson, m.v.o., who resides in Edinburgh. He re-registered the original Grant by Matriculation on 27th February, 1940, when his brother, a Barrister, acted on his behalf.

(NOTE: Thanks arcedue to Pitmain who kindly amplified the original notes on his Arms, in particular drawing attention to the posthumous Grant of the original Arms and also to the correct meaning of the Motto. -- ED.)

      Sir Macpherson Robertson was very famous and a warm-hearted, generous man who did much for Melbourne and, indeed, for all Australia. He was born in Ballarat, Victoria, in 1860 and I understand that he spent his boyhood from 1868 to 1874 in Scotland, living with his mother in Leith with her family there. It was during these years that he first tried his hand at sweet-making, in which occupation he eventually made his enormous fortune.

      His mother's maiden name was Macpherson, and he was extremely proud of the fact that this name was given to him as a Christian name. He shortened his name to "Macrobertson" for business purposes, and it is by this combined name that he is best remembered. His sons still use it.

      He was interested in Antarctic exploration, and it was his great generosity that made possible the British-Australian-New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition of 1929-1930. As a result of this, the land to the east of Kemp Land in Australian Antarctica, then discovered by Sir Douglas Mawson, was named Macrobertson Land in his honour. This land lies on the Antarctic Circle, due south from Heard Island and the Kerguelen Islands, with Princess Elizabeth Land to the east and Kemp Land on the west. Its shores are washed by the Mackenzie Sea -another link with Scotland -- and it lies about 90 degrees east in the south of the Southern Ocean, which is south of the Indian Ocean.

      Sir Macpherson Robertson also founded the Macrobertson-Miller Aviation Company which, until quite recently, ran an air service from Perth, in Western Australia, to Darwin.

      Already noted for his generosity and philanthropy, in 1933 he gave £100,000 to the Government of Victoria in connection with the centenery

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celebrations. This sum was used to build a herbarium at the Botanic Gardens, a bridge over the Yarra River at Grange Road and to endow a wonderful Girls' High School, the best in Melbourne, which has for long been noted for the excellence of its teaching.

      In addition to all this, Sir Macpherson Robertson initiated the International Air Race from London to Melbourne in 1933, giving £15,000 in prizes and towards the other costs. He gained the Fellowship of the Royal Geographical Society in 1932, in which year he was knighted. He became K.B.E. in 1935 and enjoyed his honours until his death in 1945, being survived by two sons.

      A further link which he provided between Clan Macpherson and Australia is still manifest whenever the Victoria Police Pipe Band goes on parade. Sir Macpherson Robertson donated the funds which equipped them with their uniform and instruments, and it is in his honour that they all wear the heart-warming Macpherson tartan. Our Australian policemen look well in the kilt -- and the Macpherson kilt looks well on them!

      The theme of these articles is contained in the title. There are many books on learning Gaelic and they are of many sorts. Most of them suffer from the fact that they savour more of the classroom than of casual conversation. For example, the book which is probably more used than any other one devotes much of its early "lessons" to such subjects as the lame dog being lost in the park, and the slow horse being with the shepherd. (These are not actual examples, but are illustrative). Such phrases are undoubtedly useful as grammatical exercises, but they are of very little help in conversation. It is, therefore, towards the using of Gaelic in daily life that these articles will be devoted. There will be a minimum of grammar and a minimum of rules. An attempt will be made to keep the vocabulary limited to words that are in everyday use and, as far as possible, to give the greater part of space to the normal phrases of ordinary conversation -- starting with greetings and going on to remarks about the weather, and developing the subject from thence.

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      English is, of course, probably the most difficult language to spell. It is completely illogical. People, therefore, who find no difficulty in reading that language should give second thoughts to their criticism of Gaelic spelling which is both logical and also follows very strict rules which allow for little, if any, variations in pronunciation of the same group of letters. English readers find no difficulty in applying the letters "--ough" to no fewer than seven different ways of pronunciation. Even so common a word as "read" can be used either as "reed" or as "redd" -- present or past tense! Nothing like that can possibly happen in Gaelic.

      The Letter "H": The 'aspirate' is what probably worries Gaelic learners most of all -- and this for the simple reason that its use is not properly explained at the outset. "H" is not a letter in the Gaelic alphabet. It occurs frequently in writing, but it is not used as a letter in its own right, but merely as a 'tool' to "plain that there has been a change in the use of the letters that it follows.

      Most languages that English-speaking people are acquainted with are inclined to alter the end of words in grammatical usage and in the differentiation of 'masculine' and feminine'. Gaelic, on the other hand, makes the difference by altering the sound at the beginning of the word.

      Spelling phonetically would thus make it extremely difficult to use a dictionary. The problem is solved by using the letter "h" to modify the preceding letter. It is not a letter to be pronounced. It is merely a sign that there has been a change elsewhere. (The Irish, in their writing of Erse, put a dot over the changed letter to serve the same purpose).

      So don't be put off by the occurrence of an "h" -- just realise that it is not a letter of the alphabet, but is a conventional sign. Once that is understood, everything else becomes fairly straightforward.

      One simple example will serve to illustrate what is meant. Sgian Dubh is pronounced Skee(a)n Doo(v) -- the letters in brackets being muted and more or less elided. Sgian is a 'masculine' word and Dubh agrees with it. Literally the translation is Black Knife -- Sgian means knife, and Dubh means black -- the adjective usually follows the noun in Gaelic. Take now the title of this Journal. Creag (a crag) is a feminine word and the adjective must be modified to 'agree' with it. Nobody who has learned Latin, French or any other European language will fail to understand this. Dubh in the feminine is pronounced Ghoo(v). It is spelt Dhubh -- and thus the initial "D" is preserved for anyone who needs to look it up in the dictionary. It's all just as simple as that. -----------------------------------------------------------------29---------------------------------------------------------------
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      And that is about all the explanation that is needed. The remainder should be simple to follow. The rule to be kept in mind is that the phonetic rendering is approximate only and that the nearest English equivalent will be used throughout.

      The personal pronouns come after the verb and they are:

      Tha Mi (ha mee) means "I am". Tha Thu (ha oo) is "Thou art" -- and so on.       And that is quite enough for grammar at present. We can get down to using simple phrases.

      With that to start with, we can vary our remarks as regards the weather by suiting them to the time of day.

Ha an oidche blath! The night is warm! (It's a warm night)
Tha am feasgar briagh! The evening is bright!
Ha am maduinn fluich! The morning is wet!

      NOTE: There is no indefinite article in Gaelic. Thus oidche means "a night" as well as meaning "night".

      And that, coupled with the phrases that you learned last year, are quite enough to be going on with for now -- and, in any case, space is limited in these pages! Gu'm a math a bhios sibh!

      At about the same time the Duke of Cumberland, with his Hanoverian Forces, had reached Perth and, before continuing his march up the east coast of Scotland, he sent forward Lieutenant-Colonel Leighton with Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Andrew Agnew into northern Perthshire. Lt.-Col. Leighton was directed to Castle Menzies with a force of 200 foot, and Sir Andrew Agnew received orders to take 500 foot soldiers (mostly Campbells) and possess "the Duke of Atholl's House at Dunkeld, and from thence send out such parties as you shall judge proper, to annoy the Rebels".

      By the middle of February, Sir Andrew had established his headquarters in Blair Castle, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Atholl, and had established outposts in the district. In accordance with Cumberland's instruction, his troops seized arms, cattle and grain from the local population and also set fire to houses throughout Atholl.

      At the end of February, Prince Charles had set up his headquarters in Inverness and, a few days later, he was joined by his Lieutenant, Lord George Murray. News of Sir Andrew Agnew's activities was soon reported to the Prince, and it was decided that Lord George Murray should make a surprise attack on the Hanoverian forces which were

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garrisoning Atholl. He was an admirable choice for the task, for he had been born and brought up at Blair Castle and knew the surrounding country well. He left Inverness early in the morning of 15th March, taking with him 400 men of the Atholl Brigade. On arriving in Badenoch on the following day, he was joined by Cluny with 300 Macphersons.       The march was continued to Dalnaspidal, where Lord George explained his plans to attack Sir Andrew Agnew's outposts at Bun Rannoch, Faskally, Kyncahan, Blairfettie, Lude, Bridge of Tilt and elsewhere. The attacking forces were divided into small parties in each of which the Atholl men and the Macphersons were proportionally mixed. As an encouragement, Lord George promised a guinea to every man who should surprise a guard on duty. At the same time it was arranged that the various parties should meet at the Bridge of Bruar, about three miles west of Blair.

      The parties set off to their appointed destinations and, early on the morning of 17th March, they made almost simultaneous attacks on the outposts. Only at Blair Inn, where most of the Hanoverian officers were billetted, was there any serious resistance. All the officers managed to fight their way thence into Blair Castle. Elsewhere the Highland force succeeded in taking nearly 300 prisoners without themselves suffering any losses either killed or wounded.

      The arrival of the officers at Blair Castle was Sir Andrew Agnew's first intimation that there had been any fighting, and he quickly left the castle with a party of soldiers to find out what was going on. Lord George and Cluny were already at the Bridge of Bruar with only 25 men, awaiting the return of the various parties, when an inhabitant of Kirkton of Blair brought news of Sir Andrew's approach. By this time it was daylight and retreat was impossible as all the returning parties would thus have fallen piecemeal into Hanoverian hands. The position was clearly desperate.

      Lord George, looking about him, observed a turf dyke nearby and ordered his small party to draw up behind it at widely spaced intervals, with their Colours flying to give a great show of strength. The subsequent events have been vividly described by an early historian of the 'Forty-Five. "He (Lord George Murray) then gave orders to the pipers, for he had with him all the pipers, both of the Athollmen and the Macphersons, to keep their eyes fixed upon the road from Blair, and at the moment they saw the soldiers appear, to strike up all their bagpipes at once. It happened that the troops came in sight just as the sun rose, and that instant the pipes struck up all together. Lord George and his Highlanders, both officers and men, drew their swords and brandished them above their heads. Sir Andrew after gazing awhile at this spectacle, ordered his men to the right about and marched them back to Blair Castle."*

_____________

*Home's History of the Rebellion.

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      Shortly afterwards, some of the various detachments rejoined Lord George Murray and Cluny at Bridge of Bruar and they all proceeded to Blair Castle. Sir Andrew Agnew and his troops remained outside the castle for a short while, but he soon appreciated the growing strength of the Highland forces and withdrew into the castle. A siege began.

      In the evening, two cannon arrived in the Highland camp and, on the following morning, they were placed in position and opened fire on the castle. The walls of Blair Castle, however, were about eight feet thick and the cannonballs made no impression. The guns were then taken 100 yards up the hill and red-hot shot was fired at the castle roof in the hope that this would either set the timbers afire or else put the garrison in such fear of fire that they would surrender. But the shot which landed on the roof did no more than char the timbers, was quickly picked up with an iron ladle from the castle kitchens and was quenched.

      Lord George Murray had such numerical superiority that he was able to set up a close blockade of the castle, thus preventing any supplies from being brought in. No doubt he had heard that the garrison was already short of supplies even before the siege was begun. For this reason he was presumably in no great haste to attack the castle.

      The garrison became desperate within a few days and the Duke of Argyll's gardener, a man named Wilson, agreed to try to break through the Highland lines and to take a message to Lord Crawford, who was believed to be at Perth or Dunkeld in charge of the Hanoverian forces in that area. At about one o'clock on the morning of 29th March, Wilson slipped out of the castle, mounted on a horse belonging to one of the officers, and made for the mainroad. He was seen by the Highlanders and was fired upon but the garrison hoped that he had made good his escape. On the following morning it appeared that their hopes were groundless, for one of the Highlanders was seen riding the same horse. However, as the event proved, Wilson had only been thrown from the horse during the firing, and had managed to reach Dunkeld on the following day. Lord Crawford was handed his message, but he was unable to persuade his troops to advance into Atholl, so great was their fear of being attacked by the Highlanders in the Pass of Killicrankie.

      Lord George Murray, meanwhile, had asked for reinforcements in order to attack the Hanoverian forces in Dunkeld. However Prince Charles refused his request and ordered him to return to Inverness as it had been reported that the Duke of Cumberland was on the point of marching from Aberdeen to Inverness. Accordingly, early on the morning of 2nd April, Lord George raised the siege and made his way north in a forced march, reaching Inverness -- 80 miles! -- on the following day.

      Cluny and the Macphersons were detached from Lord George on the march, and were ordered to guard Badenoch from possible incursions by Hanoverian forces from the south. When Cluny did receive

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orders from Prince Charles in Inverness, it was too late. He was still on the way northwards when the Highlanders, escaping from the field of Culloden, told him of the tragic result of the action.

      The siege of Blair Castle was the last action in which Cluny and the Clan were involved. The Clan Regiment dispersed at Ruthven, shortly afterwards, never to fight again.

Bibliography
History of the Siege of Blair Castle in 1746 -- Atholl, 1874.
Lyon in Mourning, Vol. 11, pp.356-7 -- Forbes, 1895.
Lord George Murray and the '45 -- Duke, 1927.

      The records of early Dunedin show that the original members of the Faculty of Medicine at Otago University included a Dr. Macpherson. It is also recorded that J. McPherson passed a medical examination there in 1879. This may, perhaps, be the same man.

      Southwards, across one of the world's roughest straits, from Southland lies Stewart Island. No one visiting it can fail to be impressed by its old-worldness and by its relatively untouched bushland. The beaches are of varied-coloured sand, birds are many, islands lies scattered all around and the native bush is mostly virgin. A particularly beautiful part is that which lies just over the hill from the main village of Oban. This district is named Thule where, on a promontary commanding a magnificent view of a large inlet, a Macpherson from Paisley has recently acquired a guest-house.

      Auckland is New Zealand's largest city. In it there is a Macpherson who is a J.P. and another of the name who is a doctor. The new harbour bridge is under the charge of yet another member of the Clan.

      In a recent harriers' race from Gore to Invercargill, no fewer than three Macphersons took part. What is more, they ran the longest laps!

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      Perhaps the most distinguished member of the Clan, living in New Zealand, would be the late Sir Harold Gillies, who was a very eminent plastic surgeon with a fame running far beyond the Dominion. He was a native of Dunedin.

      Another notable bearer of a Clan name was Robert J. Gillies, who was Inspector of Police in the Canterbury District from 1902. He landed in Auckland in 1874 and travelled on many special missions through most parts of New Zealand. At Te Awamutu, in North Island, he carried out one of the smartest arrests ever made. A young man named Pecker had been brutally murdered by a Maori who escaped into King County and remained there for several years. He was ultimately traced and arrested by Inspector Gillies in the wild, bush-clad and hilly parts of the remote region where he was hiding. Gillies was presented with an address, subscribed to by the residents of Waikato, setting out the details of his work and expressing appreciation of his courage. His services were also recognised by the government. In 1889 he was in charge of the Thames goldfields, in which sub-district he served for nine years. In 1898 he was Inspector in Wanganui and on the West Coast of North Island, and in 1902 he was appointed to the Inspectorship of Canterbury.

      The Reverend W. Gillies was the first chairman of the Board of Governors of Timaru High School in 1880.

      When the Otago University Council met, in 1879, to select staff for the first Medical School in Dunedin, they included Dr. John Gillies who had been appointed Lecturer to the Medical Clinic in 1876. It appears that the University of Aberdeen recognised his qualifications, deriving from Otago University which was, of course, then in its infancy. It appears, too, that other Universities would not give recognition!

      A family of Gillies was very distinguished in early Dunedin.

      John Gillies (born 1802) landed in New Zealand in 1851, having, as a preliminary, spent an entire day in prayer. He was a solicitor and, in 1854, he was elected to be the Speaker in the Otago Provincial Council -- New Zealand having no central government in those early days. He was actively interested in the work of the Otago Bible Society and the Y.M.C.A. He died in 1871.

      John Lillie Gillies was a Member of the Otago Provincial Council and was also the Speaker of the Council. He was later a Member of Parliament, was Secretary of the Otago Harbour Board and Editor of The Bruce Herald.

      Thomas Bannatyne Gillies was a farmer and a lawyer. He removed to Auckland where he became Provincial Superintendent, a Judge of the Supreme Court and a Minister of the Crown.

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      In its first issue the paper carried a modest leader setting forth its aspirations and declaring its pages open to anyone who wished to interpret or to comment upon the general affairs of the district. The invitation was still valid when the presses ceased to run in 1964. It seems probable that a vast amount of comment poured towards the Editor immediately and some of it must have been peculiar, prompting him to write in the second issue, "While our pages will be open to the airing of public opinion, we shall be careful to keep down anything that would set the heather on fire, believing that as far as in us lies, it is well to live peaceably with all men."

      The new paper was received with enthusiasm. Prior to its advent, Badenoch news was at the mercy of space-requirements in such papers as maintained a local correspondent. Now it could spread itself.

      The first letter to the Editor appeared in the second number. It dealt with that evergreen topic, public nuisances, and read in part, "In taking a constitutional some days ago towards Ruthven Barracks I was sickened by a heavy stench which appeared to arise from the point where the Gynack discharges into the Spey. I was led to believe that this is occasioned by what may be termed the deleterious effluent from the distillery. If a sewage farm could be constructed at a convenient spot in the neighbourhood, the question could be easily dealt with ... I enclose my card and subscribe myself, Yours Truly, Speyside." By the end of that long-dead June, communications from the public had to be held over for lack of space.

      For ten years the print in the pages of the Record was set entirely by hand and there were, give or take a few, 12,000 words in each issue. A type-setting machine was installed in 1912, the printing office accommodation having been expanded a few years earlier. Hand-setting was a lengthy process and could also be an extremely boring one. We must remember that in those expansive days every tradesman and official who was about to depart furth of Badenoch had to face the ordeal of a "smoker" or dinner at which all his friends gave tongue in high-flying superlatives. They expected to see every List jot and tittle in print. Pity the poor compositors, finger-deep in this froth!

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      Throughout its life the newspaper set a high standard in journalism. Sensation for sensation's sake and the deliberate "setting of the heather on fire" had no place in its content. In particular it paid the most scrupulous attention to the affairs of Local Government as controlled by County, District and Town Councillors. The integrity of its reporting was such that the Editor had never to explain what he really meant in a previous report of an official meeting. This exactness was also applied to reports coming in from the Edinburgh and the Glasgow Badenoch Associations.

When the Record first saw the light of day, Kingussie had been a Police Burgh for thirty-five years and its fifth Chief Magistrate, Provost Alex Macpherson, F.S.A.(SCOT.), was about to hand over the civic chair to Colonel E. Campbell. Stagecoaches still plied over the dusty roads to and from far Lochaber and dogcarts clip-clopped around the streets. Special trains pulled in with shooting parties for the Glorious Twelfth, whilst a motor car could collect a crowd and summer stour settled on everything and everybody. The Volunteers charged Ruthven Barracks at bayonet point and plugged bullets into the butts on the Dell -- and sent more than one man to Bisley.

      The paper came into being early enough to depict the closing years of the era before 1914. It spread over its four pages the image of a way of life which it is hardly possible now to convey to anyone under fifty years of age. Who, today, can imagine the heights of eloquence to which Town Councillors could soar when, in 1908, they debated the rise of a halfpenny a gallon in the price of paraffin for strcet-lighting!

      Whilst not aspiring to be a magazine, the back-numbers of the Record reveal a surprising pot pourri of features. Numerous correspondents unearthed gems of local fact and fancy. The ancients and their times,

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the hills, the red deer, the Cairngorm reindeer, the eagle, the osprey, the unleashed elements -- all have a brave showing in the files.

      The department of 'Letters to the Editor' is a little disappointing. Here and there a controversial contribution catches the eye, but one looks in vain for a brisk follow-up. There have been exceptions. The Church argument in the early 1900s, the lack of fire appliances when High Street burned in 1921, an occasional disagreement over a shinty result, the positioning of the War Memorial and the Town Clock -- an caused readers to reach for a pen.

      The paper did not attain to an age to attract the attention of serious researchers. However it is of interest to note that when Leslie Gardiner was writing "Stagecoach to John o' Groats" he searched the files, looking for report of the final running of the last coach to ply between Kingussie and Tulloch. He found it, too, all set forth in the "wee paper"!

      Everything was grist to the type-setters. You can even find the names of the players who scored Newtonmore's eleven goals against Furnace in 1909!

      As the generations rose and passed onward, their newspaper presented them with over two hundred and fifty leaders, articles, paragraphs and letters -- all saying that a road should be cut between the Geldie and the Feshie. It covered the upheaval of the two world wars, during the second of which its paper supply dropped, on one occasion, to a reserve of two weeks only. The years rolled on and there was an endless variety of news. The introduction of electricity and the telephone to the burgh, the occasional visit of a celebrity, the movements of the Camanachd Cup, pony-trckking, ski-sunning and, mirabile dictu, the building in 1963 of what was first mooted in 1902 -- a sewage plant!

But, Friday night will never be the same again."

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      As Chairman of the Association I feel that we must record our appreciation of how the Johnstone family, through the medium of the Record, has helped us from the time we held our first post-war Rally in 1947. By reporting and accepting articles on the affairs of the Association they made the Record the main link between ourselves and non-members in Badenoch, other parts of Britain and abroad, so that residents and Badenoch exiles were always kept up to date with the activities of the Clan in their home country.

      We deeply regretted the death of Ian Johnstone in 1952, who was editor when we started our post-war rallies. He was a good friend to the Association in many ways, and his passing came as a sad blow to us. However, his brother, William, the last editor, continued to help us, and as we grew, so did his support and that of his son and nephew. They are truly good friends, not only of the Association, but of all Badenoch, and we are pleased that the Johnstone connection is still being maintained by the printing business now being carried on at the Record works in Kingussie.

                                                                                                          ALLAN G. MACPHERSON.

      In the course of the 1964 season, 1,684 visitors signed the Visitors' Book, this being an increase of sixty-eight over the number who signed in 1963. Under national headings these visitors were by residence: England 836; Scotland 649; Ireland 11; Wales 9; Australia 25; Canada 29; New Zealand 6; Tasmania 1; Hong Kong 4; East Africa 5; South Africa 6; Malaysia 3; U.S.A. 55; India 2; South America 2; European Countries 41.

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      Amongst the visitors were 174 who claimed Macpherson kith and kin, and of these, 46 who were not already Association Members readily accepted the Curator's invitation to enrol. That there appears to be a bounteous field for the recruitment of new Members of the Clan Association and that the Museum is fulfilling its purpose as a focal point are evident from the number of visitors who find time to break their journey, even for a few minutes, and by the steady list of new enrolments by the Curator since he assumed office in July, 1960. The totals of enrolments being -- 1960, 46; 1961, 64; 1962, 56; 1963, 38; and 1964, 46. The grand total being 250. The interest and sense of loyalty displayed by the Members so enrolled are a joy to behold.

      He has held office in the Association without a break for sixteen years. From 1947 to 1950 he was Hon. Treasurer. When Lord Drumalbyn (then Major Niall Macpherson, M.P) resigned from the post of Hon. Secretary, in 1950, the automatic choice to succeed him was Fraser, who continued to hold the office until 1963. Although we much regretted the loss of an Hon. Secretary, second to none, we felt that in fairness to Fraser we were bound to accept his resignation. It was in token of our thanks and appreciation of his unflagging support and work for the Association that we gave him the highest honour that we are able, at the present time, to confer upon any Member.

      Fraser was not only a splendid Secretary. He was, and still is an historian of no mean ability. In conjunction with A. I. S. Macpherson he was responsible for the composition and production of our now famous "green booklet", A Short Note on a Long History. His many articles on Clan History,

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published in various issues of Creag Dhubh, have been read with immense interest, not only by Members of the Clan Macpherson but by many people outwith our ranks.

      We know that Members will be glad to know that, although elevated to be an Honorary Vice-President, Fraser will continue still to be available to the Council in an advisory capacity, to continue the guidance that he has given for so many years.

      In conclusion, we wish Fraser and Minnie, his equally popular wife, a long and happy semi-retirement from Association affairs. We hope, too, that one day they may come to live in Laggan, their own ancestral part of the country.

      The Ball was a most happy gathering and the ballroom was soon full of enthusiastic dancers, enjoying an attractive mixture of Highland and modern dances. John Macpherson Martin was our very popular Master of Ceremonies. An excellent supper and a lively band kept us all active until well after midnight.

      Some Members had a very early start next morning when the second half of the Council Meeting was held in the Village Hall of Newtonmore, the first part having been held in the Clan House on the previous evening.

      The Council Meeting was followed by the Annual General Meeting of the Association and there was, again, an excellent attendance of Members. Allan G. Macpherson presided. In his report he spoke of the continuing success of the Association and its Members and, in particular, he conveyed our warm congratulations to Major Niall Macpherson, M.A., M.P., on his elevation to the Peerage as Lord Drumalbyn. He also expressed our warm appreciation of all the work that has been done by Captain J. Macdonald, O.B.E., the Curator, and by Miss Christine Macpherson, the Registrar.

      The Hon. President and Hon. Vice-Presidents were all re-elected unanimously. Lady Stewart Macpherson, K.i.H., M.A., of Edinburgh, was unanimously and with acclamation elected to be an Hon. VicePresident of the Association in appreciation of her tremendous enthusiasm and great support for the Association during very many years.

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Also elected to be Vice-President with great enthusiasm, was A. Fraser Macpherson, W.S., Edinburgh. Fraser is our retiring Hon. Secretary and has given the Association long and untiring service, first as Hon. Treasurer and then as Hon. Secretary, having held office since the formation of the Association, seventeen years ago.

      The following having agreed to accept nomination for a further term of service were unanimously re-elected: Chairman -- Allan G. Macpherson, Inverness; Vice-Chairman -- Lloyd C. Macpherson, Canada; Deputy Hon. Secretary and Editor of Creag Dhubh -- Chevr. J. H. Macpherson, K.L.J., Newtonmore; Hon. Treasurer -- Kenneth N. McPherson, C.A., Edinburgh; Registrar -- Miss Christine Macpherson, M.A., Kingussie. John M. Barton was elected to be Hon. Secretary. A particular tribute was paid to the Chevr. J. H. Macpherson for all the work which he had done and for producing such an excellent magazine in 1963.

      At the conclusion of the Meeting, John Macpherson Martin, the Secretary of the England and Wales Branch, handed over a copy of Douglas' The Baronage of Scotland and The Historical Memoirs of the House and Clan Mackintosh and Clan Chattan, which had been presented to the Association by Mrs. Fitzmaurice. Lord Drumalbyn acknowledged the gift on behalf of the Association.

Tour in the Clan Country

      On the Saturday afternoon, the Members were joined by visitors to Newtonmore in a coach tour of the Parish of Laggan. The route took us up the valley of the Spey, past Creag Dhubh and Cluny Castle, and past the parish church of Laggan. From there we joined the route of the old military road, built by General Wade about 1730 and known as the Corrieyarrick Road. We proceeded as far as the barracks at Garvamore, which was erected as a resting-place for soldiers travelling between Fort Augustus and Ruthven. The barracks have been used for a variety of purposes since the Corrieyarrick Pass ceased to be used as a highway at the beginning of the nineteenth century. They are still, however, in a remarkable state of preservation and an examination proved most interesting. A short distance beyond the barracks we stopped again to look at General Wade's bridge over the Spey. It was originally known as St. George's Bridge, and was regarded as one of the three great bridges built by Wade, the others being those over the Tay at Aberfeldy and the High Bridge over the Spean. Like the bridge at Aberfeldy, Garva Bridge is still in use and is in excellent condition.

      Our return journey followed the same route as far as the site of the Roman Catholic Chapel near Spey Dam, where we turned onto Forestry Commission roads in Strathmashie and proceeded some way up the hill which lies between Strathmashie and the Spey Valley. Upon the top of this hill lie the ruins of Dun Da Lamh -- the Fort of the Two Hands -- so called because it commands the approaches from both directions. The fort is prehistoric in origin and extends some 480 feet

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in length by 250 feet in width. The drystone walls still stand and, in places, are more than eight feet high and up to eighteen feet thick. The party which climbed to the top, through pouring rain, was led by Lord Drumalbyn and included Brigadier Alan G. Macpherson of Blairgowrie. The outing concluded with tea at Kinlochlaggan.

      Once again, as in former years, the success of the afternoon was due to the efforts of the Chevr. J. Harvey Macpherson who arranged for access to the Forestry Commission roads and who provided a most interesting commentary throughout.

      All too soon, the Rally was over for another year.

      The Rally has been arranged to take place a week earlier than in former years in order that Members may have the opportunity of attending the Highland Games which are to be held as part of the events of Newtonmore Fortnight and which are planned for Saturday, 7th August. It is proposed to have a Clan Macpherson marquee on the field, where Members of the Association can meet. It is planned, too, to hold a march of Macpherson Clansmen during the afternoon.

      Other plans are for a Reception and Ball to be held again in Kingussie on the evening of Friday, 6th August, and that the Annual General Meeting will take place in Newtonmore on the Saturday morning. It is hoped, too, that the Badenoch Branch will again be host to the Association at a ceilidh on Saturday evening.

      As in former years, the Rally will conclude with a church service in St. Columba's Parish Church, Kingussie, on the morning of Saturday, 8th August.

J. M. B.

      Harvey Macpherson, Newtonmore, was President for the year at the Badenoch and Strathspey Provincial Mod, of which Sheila Macpherson, Newtonmore, was Treasurer.       TEACHER RESIGNS. Mr. John A. Macpherson has resigned from the post of Gaelic teacher at Paible J. S. School, North Uist. Paible School has a close connection with the Clan country, for it has been "adopted" by the Newtonmore Branch of An Comunn Gaidhealach.

      MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. The Editor has received a page from the Melbourne Telephone Directory, which shows well over 200 Macphersons as resident in the city. Who will volunteer to publicise the Clan Association there?

      NEWTONMORE. Captain J. H. Macpherson showed an oil painting of Creag Dhubh and a book, bound in tooled and inlaid leather, at an exhibition of work done by disabled ex-servicemen. These exhibits won the overall prizes for Fine Arts, first for Scotland and later for the United Kingdom. Another book, bound by him, has recently won the Scottish award for the second year in succession.

      CANADA. Alex. F. Macpherson, Toronto, a descendent of Alan Macpherson of Napanee, Ontario (see Creag Dhubh 1964) was invited to open the famous Macpherson House in Napanee, last summer.

      CATTANACH ARMS. Arms which are believed to be the first delivered to a Cattanach were granted by the Lyon Court to Mr. Justice A. Alex. Cattanach of Ottawa on 10th October. Judge Cattanach is a member of the Executive Council of the Canadian Branch. The Arms bear the crest of "a demi cat-a-mountain proper sustaining with his forepaws a balance-scale Or" and the motto is "Touch Not".

NEW ZEALAND. The Southland Branch mourns the death of Mr. W. Stewart who, although not a Member, was a very good friend and supporter of Our Clan. ENGLAND AND WALES. The Strad, a journal of the work of professional players of stringed instruments, published in August a long and enthusiastic tribute to the devoted work of Jane Cowan ("Jane Harvey-Webb") who is a Member of the Association. Entitled, "Accent on Service", mention is made not only of Mrs. Cowan's own work but of the striking achievements of the younger generation of her family -- also Members of the Association -- who have achieved already great things in the world of music.

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      One great exception lies in the long and historic "league" of the Clan Chattan Confederacy of many Clans and sections of Clans, which flourished in Badenoch from very early times and whose adherents ranged from the MacLeans of Dochgarroch on Loch Ness, in the north, to the Farquharsons in Braemar in the south, and included Macphersons in the west and Mackintoshes in the east, with dozens (literally) of allied families scattered all over the central Highlands.

      Clan Macpherson has always taken a leading part in the Clan Chattan -- some would go farther and claim that we took the leading part. This, however, is still a matter of controversy. What is most encouraging in modern times is to see that Macphersons continue to take a large share in the affairs of the Confederacy through our sisterassociation of the Clan Chattan. It can only be hoped that this movement will continue, for it in no way conflicts with the affairs of the Clan Macpherson Association but, on the contrary, serves to extend our own influence and to emphasise our continuing interest in matters which concern our Clan, both historically and in the present day, in a wider field than is represented by the descendents of Muireach the Parson. The address of the Secretary of the Clan Chattan Association is always noted in the pages of Creag Dhubh and we have never failed to maintain and support a continuance of more-than-friendly relations between Macphersons and our sister-Clans.

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fewer than forty-three stall-holders were thus represented in the marquees and, at a very early date, there was already talk of developing the theme next year on an even larger scale, possibly in Inverness.

      In the speech which opened the Gathering and the Exhibition, Lord Cameron made especial mention of the Highland Fund, drawing attention to the fact that this Fund exists as a purely private enterprise, though it has recently received public acknowledgment, by virtue of which it has received a grant of £150,000 from the Treasury to enable it to expand and continue its work.

      This exhibition was crowded throughout every day of the Gathering, and attracted comment from everyone who attended it. It must be hoped that, in time, the collection of relics thus displayed may be expanded to form the nucleus of a permanent Clan Chattan Museum, to supplement our own Clan Macpherson Museum in Newtonmore, for there is much to be preserved and time for its preservation is getting short as families die out and are scattered.

      Notable amongst the exhibits was the anvil and some of the tools of the Blacksmith of Moy who took such a prominent part in the famous "Rout" of the Hanoverian troops during the 'Forty-Five. This stood at the door, and inside, amongst a display of tartans of the Clan Chattan, were shown such unique articles as Prince Charles Edward's bonnet, Dundee's sword - which was given to the 17th Chief by Charles I -- Mary Queen of Scots' watch, and a broadsword which was wielded at the Battle of the North Inch of Perth.

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and regalia of his Chiefship of the Creek Nation of the American Indians. He provided a touch of colour and romance with which nobody else, even the most colourful of Highlanders present, could hope to vie! He was, obviously, enjoying himself, too, amongst his remote cousins in the homeland, and his enjoyment manifested itself in the wild war whoops which resounded from time to time, and in the bell-ringing and rattle-swinging war dance with which he entertained the gathering. [In later years, Jim Macphearson of Dallas told me that he had persuaded Dode to join the US Branch of Clan macpherson Association. However, I'm afraid that it was just for one year.]

      The three days were brought to a moving and appropriate ending when, by a touch of imaginative genius, a lone piper set out in the twilight over the smooth waters of the loch. The Highlander is, by nature, an emotional creature, but he was not alone in being moved by this simple and beautiful close to the Gathering. It was not only the Highlanders, but many of the dour Lowlanders present, even English visitors, who found their eyes misting as the last notes died away against the clear skies of a northern sunset and against the looming shadows of the hills and forests beyond the still waters of the loch.

      The highlight of the year was the combined Clan Gathering and Highland Industries Exhibition at Moy. The Edinburgh Branch provided many willing helpers for this venture and, a week later, organised a ceilidh for the many visitors and overseas Members who were in Edinburgh. The venue was the home of Mrs. Belle Skeoch Cumming, and no one derived more pleasure from the occasion than she. It was with great regret, therefore, that Members learned of her death only two months later.

      The winter programme for 1964-65 got off to a tremendous start with a most interesting and controversial talk by the well-known editor of Creag Dhubh, the Chevalier Macpherson. This talk, illustrated by slides, was primarily on the subject of General Wade's Road over the Corrieyarrick from Fort Augustus into Badenoch, but the speaker subtitled his account "Highland Clearances, 1964" and traced the decay of the land from the road's beginning in the north, throughout its course. The talk was reported at length in The Oban Times and was taken up, subsequently, in the national press, giving rise to a lengthy

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and illuminating correspondence which has not yet ended. It has led, too, to questions in the House and promises to extend to a TV documentary, not only in this country but abroad!

      In October, the Chevalier Macpherson was again to the fore when he was a most excellent fear-an-tighe at a ceilidh when Clan Chattan was host to Clan Macpherson in the Royal Hotel, Princes Street. Over 120 people attended and the evening was voted a great success.

      In November a show of films and slides of the Moy Gathering was given in the home of Miss Meta MacBean, and in December a further ceilidh was held in conjunction with the Clan Macneil Association.

      In the new year a talk has been arranged on "The Highland Bagpipe" by Mr. Andrew Ross, and a show of slides will be given by Dr. Chisholm.

      An afternoon outing to the Bruce Monument at Bannockburn, via the Forth Bridge, is planned for the beginning of March.

      Finally, it may be mentioned that at present Macphersons comprise some 20 % of the membership of the Edinburgh Branch of the Clan Chattan Association.

      If this brief account has interested any Macphersons who are not as yet members of the Clan Chattan Association, they will be assured of a very warm welcome at any of the meetings. Details may be obtained from the writer, who is Hon. Secretary of the Edinburgh Branch -- Mrs. Pauline McGillivray, 37 Barony Terrace, Edinburgh, 12. Telephone: CORstorphine 3146.

      The principal topic is, naturally, the great Gathering and Exhibition at Moy, but its range goes far beyond matters which concern the limited confines of Clan Chattan and Badenoch, dealing with the wider theme of Scotland's future and of the whole country's history. Both subjects are interwoven, for one can only attempt to foresee the future by judging it in the light of what has gone before. And both are extremely topical in view of the many protestations of interest in the Highlands which have been made, of late, by members of the Government. That plans, schemes and suggestions have been received with a certain amount of reserve and scepticism by many residents in the Highlands is only natural, having view to what has happened in former years, when similar ideas have been expressed and have led to nothing much more than the establishment of yet another committee and to another spate

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of talk. It must be remembered, though, that the Highlands are an integral part of Scotland so that what affects the whole country must also affect the part of it. Moreover, the Clansmen who remain in the north are few indeed compared with the numbers overseas, in England and in the Lowlands. It is a fine thing to know that they are, almost to a man, still concerned about the affairs of the Highlands. Their main loyalty and their principal interests must, however, go to the country as a whole.

      It is in his recognition of this fact that the Editor of Clan Chattan has achieved his greatest success, and in so doing has produced once again a journal which provides matter of the greatest interest, presented in a fine style and combining the old with the new, tradition with modern affairs and legend with fact. Overall is a wide and real concern for the whole realm of Scotland.

Clan Chattan costs five shillings and can be obtained from the Hon. Secretary of the Association, 5 Brown's Place, The Vennel, Edinburgh, 1.

      This book is one of the most important surveys to have been made in recent years, dealing with Scotland's affairs. It propounds a new and fascinating theory to explain the cause of Alexander's fatal ride. It draws a magnificent picture of Douglas, who is seen as a 14th century Grivas in his role as a completely ruthless leader of guerillas. The Wars of Independence are clearly and accurately described, following the theories of W. M. Mackenzie who was the first modern historian to abandon ideas of his own and to seek a true revelation of what happened in the pages of the closest contemporary sources. In his account of Flodden, Mr. McLaren gives a vivid description of James IV's argument with his Master Gunner, of the misplaced knight-errantry and romanticism shown by the King, and his abandonment of the "In Defens" policy which, if followed, might well have won the battle for him.

      A victory at Flodden would have left Scotland standing equally with England in international affairs, would have seen an earlier accomplishment of the Union and would have seen the two countries united on even terms. Instead of this, the Union of the Crowns left Scotland without a Court and the Union of Parliaments left her without an effective voice. By both events she was left subject to the policies of the southern Kingdom which, as well we know, do not always coincide with the best interests of the northern Realm.

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      On every side we hear demands for Scotland's awakening -- even for a militant awakening. Mr. McLaren proposes that the nation should await results which, in his view, will effect renewed nationhood. It may well be possible that the two attitudes are supplementary, the one to the other. In any case this is a book which is not only well-considered but is also well deserving of consideration. It is a very important contribution to the solution of contemporary problems within the United Kingdom, as well as throwing a clear and unusual light on historical turning-points in our country's chequered tale.       It is unfortunate only that the writer mars his text by colloquialisms. "Isn't", "Wasn't", "Shouldn't" and "Don't" have no place in a work of scholarship.

If Freedom Fail: Moray McLaren. (Seeker & Warburg -- 42s.)

      The "Scotch" Canadians (Professor Galbraith regards "Scottish" as a mere affectation) have little or nothing to commend them. They are drunken by habit, continent only because of the climatic rigours, devoted to the accumulation of money and honest only for fear of being found out. In politics they are venial and in their domestic life they are abominable -- or so this son of theirs would have us believe. One can only hope that his memories are as inaccurate as his description of pipeplaying -- "the sound of the pipes ... grew in volume ... as the pipers warmed to their work". Of course, the pipes can never change their volume!

      It is unfortunate that this book is so well written, for one would prefer to have left it unread or, at most, half-read. It is to be hoped that a Canadian Macpherson -- and there are many of the Clan in Ontario -- will read this book and be inspired to take up the cudgels on behalf of a much maligned community.

     Made to Last : John Kenneth Galbraith. (Hamish Hamilton -- 16s.) [This book was published in the USA as The Scotch.]

      Mr. Rea's accounts are brilliant. His humour sparkles in every chapter, both in his descriptions of local behaviour and in the account of his own activities -- for he is not above poking a gentle finger of fun at himself. He writes starkly of stark conditions. He writes, too, with a wonderful sympathy for trials and, above all, with a deep love for the people amongst whom he lived and worked. Where a lesser man might have expressed himself with sarcasm and bitterness, Mr. Rea shows nothing but understanding and gentleness. That the island left its mark upon him is evident. Equally it cannot be doubted that he, in his turn, left a lasting impression upon the life of the islanders.

      This is a book to read, to re-read and to read again. It will undoubtedly find its place amongst the minor classics -- and no book will more deserve its place.

A School in South Uist: Reminiscences of a Hebridean Schoolmaster, 1890-1913: F. G. Rea, edited by John Lorne Campbell. (Routledge -- 30s.)

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      As recently as our grandparents' time, two men brought about a campaign of genocide which is without parallel in history save only for Hitler's campaign against the Jews. The Highland Clearances were, moreover, executed with the full knowledge of Parliament, of the Courts and of the legal authorities, all of whom conspired to ignore them. They were carried out, too, at the express command, both spoken and implied, of the landowners -- mostly absentees.

      Ian Grimble's book, The Trial of Patrick Sellar, uses the theme of trial and acquittal to serve as a peg upon which to hang an account of all that happened, all that was said at the time and all that was accomplished. There can seldom, if ever, have been an indictment so clearly set out, so well documented and so incisive. The part played by Ministers of the Church of Scotland is notable and disgraceful. That of Her Majesty's Courts of Justice no less so. The villainy of those archvillains, Sellar and Loch, cries to high heaven for vengeance -- but no vengeance was taken nor can be taken.

      Above all, in our present day and age, it is illuminating to read the arguments of "improvement" which were brought forward to justify the work of clearance. We hear the same argument again today, and the clearances are still being carried out by absentee landlords, at our very doorsteps. They are less striking today, because there are fewer people remaining to be cleared. They are the more effective. Sellar and Loch at least left a few shepherds in the hills. Their modern counterparts are removing even these few and the glens are emptying fast as a once fertile and productive land is turned into a sporting desert for the benefit of a few people who visit the country for a few weeks only in each year, who have neither kinship nor feeling for the country or its people and who, in the Highlands, exist only to satisfy their own pleasures.

The Trial of Patrick Sellar: Ian Grimble. (Routledge & Kegan Paul -- 28s.)

      Poems by Iain Nicol Macpherson (Citizen Press - Is. 6d.): This slim book shows interesting promise of good things to come. The writer is, obviously, still feeling his way towards poetic expression and is, in places, most successful - nowhere more so than in his first poem in which the work is free and, at the same time, controlled. Elsewhere there is, perhaps, a tendency to use a free rhythm which is basically, standard iambics. When Mr. Macpherson has developed a genuine, personal rhythm, distinguishing between poems that are written as prosodic exercises and those written because poetry is the only way to express what is meant -- or to add bite and terseness to what is meant -- we can look for and will surely find something really memorable.

J. R.

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      Of especial interest to Badenoch people will be the tradition of the Bridge of Glentruim. No one, though, from wherever he comes, can fail to be charmed and delighted by this book which rescues from oblivion much that is in danger of being lost. In its pages there is little or nothing that is profound or sententious. The tales are told briefly and economically, they are told naturally and delightfully, too. This is the perfect bedtime book for every child from the age of eight to eighty. It is a book, too, with nostalgic undertones of regret for a gentler age of credence when anything could happen -- and very often did!

More Highland Folktales: R. Macdonald Robertson. (Oliver & Boyd -- 21s.)

Orain na Gaidhealtach (Waverley -- ZLP, 2044) is a splendid collection of thirteen Gaelic songs, sung delightfully by Hugh Maclinnes and by Donald Ross. They range from the nostalgic An t-Eilean Aluinn (mis-spelled on the sleeve) and Eilean mo Chridhe, to the stirring hunting song, Chunna mi 'n Damh Donn and to such entrancing love-songs as A' Mhaighdean Uasail and Mairi Laghach. This is a record which will find a welcome in every home where Gaelic music is loved. It will, too, be a splendid record to play at the beginning of any fireside ceilidh, before the company has "warmed up". It will set feet tapping and people humming -- and from that to a full ceilidh atmosphere is no more than a step! Sing a Song o' Scotland (Scottish Records -- 33-SR-121) is a fine achievement, bringing Scots songs, recitations, pipe music, choral singing -- everything, in fact, and anything to delight everyone who has a love of our musical heritage. That Duncan Macrae takes a leading part throughout is, alone, sufficient recommendation. But he is supported by Bill Clement on the pipes, by the Atholl Highlanders Pipe Band and by that of a Territorial Battalion of the Argylls, by the Greenock Male Voice Choir, by the Scottish Singers and by Bill Geddes and John Mearns. Here is a record to delight the heart of any Scot, either at home or in exile. It will make a splendid present to mark any season or occasion -- but the buyer will have to purchase two copies, for no one hearing it will ever bring himself to pass it on!

                                                        To the sons of the dear old North,
                                                            To the men of rolling Spey,
                                                        O rhyme from the soft green West go forth
                                                             With thy message of cheer today.

                                                        To the Chief of an ancient race
                                                             Thy faith and fealty bring;
                                                        Go tell, though it be not face to face,
                                                             It is heart to heart we sing.

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                                                        Deep and warm is the rose-red wine,
                                                            Warm and deep in the banquet's light;
                                                        But deeper and warmer the thoughts that join,
                                                             And the pulses that beat tonight.

                                                        Ay! hither, in Southern homes,
                                                             In the dull of wintry hours,
                                                        The dream of the far-off summer comes,
                                                             The fragrance of moorland flowers.

                                                        An exquisite music of rills,
                                                             A deep joy in the blue serene,
                                                        And a scented breath on the heather hills,
                                                             So sweet where the bees have been.

                                                        There's a rose on the summit high
                                                             For the daylight's morning crown,
                                                        And a gentle light in the evening sky
                                                             Long after the sun goes down.

                                                        There's a heartening strength in the breeze
                                                             That blows thro' the blue-green pines,
                                                        And a magic of loves and minstrelsies
                                                             By the loch where the moonlight shines.

                                                        Ah! noblest and best of all,
                                                             The heart of fire and faith,
                                                        That was ever at home to the chieftain's call,
                                                             Though it led to the ranks of death.

                                                        The spirit of varied mood,
                                                             The heart that is brave and strong,
                                                        The love that is forward for True and Good,
                                                             Or the hand on the lyre of Song.

                                                        The spirit that whispers stiff
                                                             In this noon of a milder day,
                                                        Where the mystical harpings of Balavil
                                                             Yet ring o'er the banks of Spey.

                                                        Nay, more; like the clearing of storms
                                                             On summits the sun has kissed,
                                                        The martial stature of hero-forms
                                                             Looms large thro' the storied mist.

                                                        And tonight, tho' poor the strain,
                                                             We hail the ancient race:
                                                        Where Ewen, and Duncan, and Ewen again
                                                             Are all one in our heart's embrace.

                                                        Ay! for ever that heart beats on,
                                                             Tho' the storms of war are still;
                                                        And the hand once lifted for Land and Throne
                                                             Yet a holier task fulfil.

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                                                        Far away from the stricken field,
                                                             At rest in its watch and ward,
                                                        And only behind the sheltering shield
                                                             The point of a sheathed sword.

                                                        And thus, my Song, go forth
                                                             To the lands of rolling Spey,
                                                        From the soft green West to the glorious North,
                                                            With thy message of love today.

                                                             No retainer ever bellowed,
                                                             Every Clansman, though they knew,
                                                             Played the game whilst never telling
                                                             Their Chief was hiding in Craig Dhu.

                                                             Cumberland got tired of looking
                                                             For the Chief Macpherson true.
                                                             Nine long years he sheltered, hiding
                                                             In the cave on proud Craig Dhu.

                                                             May that famous hill of beauty
                                                             Be a pleasure to the view,
                                                             And all Clansmen of Macpherson
                                                             Salute the mighty, proud Craig Dhu.

                                                                                                                          JOHN MACPHERSON
                                                                                                                          ("Big John") Kirkintilloch

                                                             Though strong these branches be,
                                                             Why do they claim the tree?
                                                             Like wayward sons of upright sire
                                                             They strive possession to acquire.

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                                                             In history from the start
                                                             Clan Chattan played a part.
                                                             The "Macs" were of a later date
                                                             And cannot after destined fate.

                                                             The "Big Cat Man" of fame
                                                             (From whom Caithness got its name)
                                                             In the wild north of his day
                                                             Held undisputed sway.

                                                             An upright man and brave,
                                                             He did the Highlands save,
                                                             Taught them brotherhood not strife,
                                                             That living kindness is true life.

                                                             The King as a reward
                                                             To show his great regard
                                                             Gave to him all the land
                                                             No other could command.

                                                             His descendents now are few
                                                             All originals are, 'tis true
                                                             As no man dare to change
                                                             Or take Clan Chattan's name.

                                                             Now, Cattanachs, play your part,
                                                             Ill-will let's not impart,
                                                             Do nought their dream to shatter,
                                                             To imitate is to flatter.

                                                             If of "The Clan" they write
                                                             Just smile and say 'tis right
                                                             That off-shoots of the Name
                                                             Should advertise its fame.

                                                             You "Macs" take no offence,
                                                            Let us go forth in strength
                                                             And honour the great Name
                                                             From whom Clan Chattan came.
                                                                                                                          TOM CATTANACH
                                                                                                                          The Newtonmore Bard

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      Despite the severe climate of the area, the monument itself is still in good condition, there being slight damage to one corner only. Unfortunately the inscription, which I understand was in Gaelic, is no longer legible.

      I will be very grateful if any reader can provide me with a copy of the original inscription, and if anyone can tell me when the monument was erected.

SIR,
      I have received my 1964 Creag Dhubh and I think it is a most interesting issue. The rank and file of the Association certainly owe a great deal to the few who do the work necessary to make such a fine publication possible.

      Recently I ran across some old church communion tokens which my father had taken the trouble to preserve over the years. The fact that he saved them suggests that he had a very strong appreciation for what they represented, and also a strong sentimental attachment for the persons and circumstances which put them into his possession. My father's immediate ancestors were members of the Free Church of Scotland, North Uist.

      It has occurred to me that the subject of church communion tokens might be an interesting one for a future article in Creag Dhubh. The story of the origin of the custom, extent of their use, how and by whom they were made, procedure followed at communion services, etc., should bring out some interesting historical information. I would think that within the Clan ranks we would have some real information on the subject. The article could be illustrated with some of the older or more interesting tokens. I have attached a crude sketch of the tokens I have ...

      Captain McPherson made seven voyages in "Garmouth". His third voyage brought him to Western Australian waters and he was in Fremantle from November 1876 to February 1877. I am looking for logs of his voyages, and in particular for that log which deals with his stay here in Fremantle. It is, of course, possible that Captain McPherson left the log of his third voyage somewhere in Morayshire, after returning home and before leaving on his fourth voyage.

      The particulars of the schooner "Garmouth" are: Master -- Captain McPherson, Old Bank, Garmouth, Morayshire. Owner - James Geddie, Garmouth, Morayshire. Port of Registry -- Banff 4/1870.

      I have enquired of the Board of Trade, Lloyd's Shipping, the Ships and Sea [lien's Registry and the Keeper of the Records, Edinburgh -- all without success.

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      My reasons for the search are historical only, and I will be very grateful for any assistance and advice that Members of the Association may give me in attempting to locate these logs. I am prepared to pay for any search fees or other expenses.

EDITOR'S NOTE -- A correspondent in Garmouth has Provided information to the effect that there is a tombstone in Essil Churchyard, erected to James Logie, shipmaster, Kingston, who died 1851 aged 27, and his son-in-law, John McPherson, master of the ship "Garmouth", who was lost at sea 1st November, 1879, aged 45. Kingston is a small township, just north of Garmouth, and the schooner bearing that name was built there.

      I have read the Journal from cover to cover and want to let you know how much I enjoyed it and want to go on and read more. I am interested in actively participating in any way possible. I noticed that no Branch Representative was listed in the United States. Is there now a representative whom I should contact to volunteer any help? I also noted that no Branch report was printed from the U.S.A. Is this Branch active? Can I help in any way?

      As a suggestion, I would like to see printed in Creag Dhubh a listing of the various historical branches of the Clan, with information on how one might trace their origin to a particular branch. Also please continue the discussion of Gaelic as every attempt should be made to keep this "native language" alive. I particularly enjoyed Uaimh Chluanaidh (Cluny's Cave) by John M. Barton, and I was able to visualise the cave and countryside through his descriptive wording.

      Again, please accept my most enthusiastic Thank You for the wonderful, warm feeling of belonging that Creag Dhubh conveyed.

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