Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 5, 1897

140
THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
Dr. Alexander Munro. He married ch-cd 1V62
Helen, daughter of William Dalmahoy of Ravelrig,
and grandaiighter of William, second Lord Saltoun,
and died in 1790 aged about 90.
(2) Captain Duncan Forbes (third son of Duncan
Forbes, first Laird of Culloden) of Assynt, married
circa 16.50, Isobel Ruthven, daughter of Patrick
Ruthven, Dundee. What descendants did he leave,
and what became of them i
(3) Thomas Forbes (a third son of John Forbes,
second Laird of Culloden) lived at Rait Castle,
Nairn, and married circa 1095, Jean Cuthbert,
daughter of David Cuthbert, Inverness. What
descendants did he leave, and what became of them >.
Eclinl]iirgh, 20th February, 1897. J- FoKBES.
HIGHLANDERS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE
OF THE UNITED STATES.
Sir, — It must ever be a matter of interest to your
readers as to the welfare of the Highlanders and
their descendants in countries away from Scotland.
It is well known that Highlanders or their de-
scendants have tilled the highest positions in the
gift of the people of America. A Monroe, a
Buchanan, and a Grant have been President of
the United States of America. On tlve- 3rd of
November last the people called William M'Kinley
to the Presidency by the largest majority ever
heretofore cast, save where Washington was chosen
twice in succession unanimously.
It may be of satisfaction to know how many
Highlanders are in the Civil Service. Every two
years the "Official Register," (commonly called the
" Blue Book") is issued giving the name, salary, etc.,
of every one in the legislative, executive, judicial
and postal departments. The county or state
wherein every one was born is also given, save in
the postal. The last issued was that for 1895. That
for 1897 will not be out for some months to come.
It will thus be readily seen how ditt'erent nationalities
are represented in the Civil Service of the national
government. The various States of the Union do
not issue these official registers, although department
reports give their respective officers. The same is
also true with counties and cities.
Tlie official register shows that in the service and
pay of the United States general government there
are 0,680, whose surname begin with "Mac." Of
the leading clans, we have Buchanan, 71 ; Cameron,
74 ; Campbell, 305 ; Chisholm, 20 ; Colquhoun,
Cumming, 108 ; Drummond, 22 ; Farquharson, 1]
Ferguson, 174; Forbes, 30 ; Eraser, 110 ; Gordon
139; Graham, 217 ; Grant, 130; Gunn, 26; Lamont
11 ; Macallister, 48 ; Macaulay, 56 ; Mackintosh, 43
Macbean, 7 ; Macbeth, 4 ; Macdonald, 342
Macdougall, 23 ; Macduff, 3 ; Macfarlane, 91
Macgillivray, 3 ; Macgregor, 24 ; Mackay, 144
Mackenzie, 72 ; Mackinnon, 22 ; Maclachlan, 1,57
Maclean, 118; Macleod, 55; Macnab, 13; Mac
naughton, 7 ; Macneil, 74 ; Macjiherson, 40
Macquarrie, 2 ; Macqueen, 20 ; Macrae, 37
Mathieson, 8 ; Menzies, 3 ; Munro, 94 ; Murray
243 ; Ogilvie, 4 ; Robertson, 153 ; Ross, 198
Shaw, 223 ; Stewart, 469 ; Sutherland, 40
Urquhart, 6
In this list I have excluded "Robinson," which
greatly preponderates over "Robertson." In the
other names I have included the various spellings.
It will be noticed I do not include the various
septs, which would greatly augment the number.
In all probability the figures give the relative
proportion the various clans sustain to each other
in America.
It should be borne in mind that in Mr. Cleveland's
administration the Irish element largely enters. It
It must be remembered that his supporters came
largely from that class. There are in the list an even
1,200 whose names begin with " O'." The O'Briens,
O'Connells, O'Connors, O'Neils, are numerous.
Yours respectfully,
J. P. Ma(JLKAN.
Greenville, O,
17th February, 1897.
We are indebted to our friend, Mr. Frank Adam
of Java, author of " What is my Tartan ? " for
the follovping : —
Copy of an inscription on a grave-stone in the
cemetery at Probolingo, Java.
" Sacred to the memory of Lieutenant-Colonel
James Fraserand Captain James MacPherson
of His Majesty's 78th Highland regiment, who
were barbarously murdered by a band of
insurgents near Probolingo, on the night of
the 18th of May, 1813.
This monument is erected over their remains
by their brother officers as a mark of the high
esteem in which they held their worth and virtues."
" The Thin Red Line. — Sutherland men will be
sorry to learn of the death of John Mackay, the
old Crimean veteran, well known as a guide at
Edinburgh Castle. He saw a great deal of active
service in the Crimea, in the 93rd Sutherland High-
landers an d duri ng the Indian Mutiny , and stood in the
famous " line of red, tipped with steel "at Balaclava.
The last time we had the pleasure of meeting this
stalwart clansman was at a recent meeting of the
Clan Mackay Society, when he treated the members
to a spirited rendering of Rob Donn's song, Brigis
'Ic liitairidh.
Skye Association. — Mr. Donald Nicolson's
lecture on "Skye; its early history and scenery,"
illustrated with eighty lime-light views, was greatly
enjoyed by the large audience who tilled the
Athen;eum Hall.
County of Sutherland Association. — The
annual reunion, which was held in the Shepherd's
Hall, was a great success. Addresses wore delivered
by Bailie Alexander Murray, president ; the Rev.
Robert Munro, M.A., B.D., and Dr. John Gunn.
A Gaelic Choir has been started under the
auspices of the Perth Gaelic Society. The influence
of the Mod is making itself felt.
Gaelic Society of Glasgow. — At last meeting
two excellent papers were read, " The Restoration
of Erchless," by Miss F. Mary Colquhoun (a frequent
contributor to our pages), and " Some Brave
Sons of Skye," by Lieut. -Colonel John Maclnnes,
Glendaruel.