Blair Collection > Clàrsach na coille

xxii. MEMOIR.
to direct Iiis attention to a better world. He had
always led a good moral life. A more truthful, or a
more honest man could not be found. He had always
observed the worship ot God regularly in his family.
He was well-versed in the Scriptures. Boston's Four-
fold State, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Alleiiie's
Alarm, Baxter's Call, and Doddridge's Pvise and
Progress of Religion in the Soul, were books which he
carefully studied. Boston's Fourfold State was a work
in which he especially delighted. He read in it very
frequently.
A small edition of his hymns was published in
Glasgow in 1835 by Maurice Ogle. They were \ery
inaccurately printed. In a letter from his brother
Donald, dated March 28th, 1838 I find the following
poetical reference to his hymns: —
Mar aon de ?ineùraichibh coille
'S binn learn do ghuth as an doire;
Dhùisg sud fonu an taobh a staigh dliium
Fuaim do chiùil air cliii nan Sgriobtair.
Biiaidh is soirbheachadh do d' bhardaclid
'Chuir thu nail thugainn an Gaidblig;
Gu ma fada maireann, slan, thu
'Cogadh fo blirataich an t-Slanuigheir.
Clia 'n 'eil ceòl nan eun mvi'n chladach
Choir cho binn ri eòin a' bhadain ;
'Samhuil sin mo chlarsacli mheirgeach s'
An coimeas ri ceòl do sheirm-.-^'a.
The above was composed, and written in the letter,
by Mr. D. jM'Dougall, who was himself a writer of
Gaelic hymns.
It seems that about the time of his death the poet
contemplated publishing a second and larger edition
of his hymns. The following letter to him on the
•subject of publishing, from Lachlan Maclean, Esq.