Blair Collection > Sar-obair nam bard gaelach, or, The beauties of Gaelic poetry, and lives of the Highland bards

•216 SAIl-OBAIR NAM BAUD GAELACII.
UILLEAM 110 S.
William Ross, was born in Broadford, parish of Strath, Isle of Skye, in tlie year I7G2.
His parents were respectable, though not opulent. His father, John Ross, was a native
of Skye, and of an ancient family of that name, whose ancestors had lived in that country
throughout a long series of generations. His mother was a native of Gairloch, in Ross-shire,
and daughter of the celebrated blind piper and poet, John Mackay, well known by the
name of Piobairc Dull.
It appears that when William was a boy, there was no regular school kept in that part
of the country : and as his parents were anxious to forward his education, they removed
with him and a little sister from Skye to Forres. While attending the Grammar school
of the latter place, he discovered a strong propensity to learning, in which he made such
rapid advances as to attract the notice and esteem of his master ; and the pupil's sense of
his obligations was always acknowledged with gratitude and respect. This teacher, we
arc informed, declared, that on comparing young Ross with the many pupils placed under
his care, he did not remember one who excelled him as a general scholar, even at that
early period of life.
After remaining for some years at Forres, his parents removed to the parish of Gairloch,
where the father of our bard became a pedlar, and travelled through Lewis, and the other
western Isles — and, though William was then young and of a delicate constitution, lie ac-
companied his father in his travels through the country, more with the view of discovering ■
and making himself acquainted with the different dialects of the Gaelic langu'.igc, than
from any pecuniary consideration — the desire of becoming perfectly familiar with his
native tongue, thus strongly occupying his mind even at this early period of life. And
he has often afterwards been heard to say, that he found the most pure and genuine dialect
of the language among the inhabitants of the west side of the Island of Lewis.
In this manner he passed some years, and afterwards travelled through several parts of
the Highlands of Perthshire, Breadalbane, and Argyleshire, &c., seeing and observing all
around him with the eye and discernment of a real poet. At this period, he composed
many of his valuable songs; but some of these, we are sorrj' to say, are not now to be found.
Having returned to Gairloch, he was soon afterwards appointed to the charge of the
parish school of that place, which he conducted with no ordinary degree of success. From
the time of his entering upon this charge, it was generally remarked, that he proceeded
in (he discharge of his duties with unremitting firmness and assiduity, and in a short time
gained a reputation for skill in the instruction of the young committed to his trust, rarely