Hew Morrison Collection > Gaidheal > 1 Leabh 2 Air

THE GAEL.
249
the Com Laws, Temperance, and the
Land Question. With the Temperance
Movement he was connected for the
last thirty years. In connection with
the Land Question, his name is a
household word. Having spent many
years in England and Ireland, he was
enabled to deal with the Irish and Eng-
lish Laud Question, as well as the
Scottish. Deeming this the most vital
Question next to the Gospel, his zeal
in ventilating it never flagged. He
wrote largely on it in English and Irish
as well as Scotch papers ; and his
writings on thissubjectalonc, if collected,
would form several respectable, good
sized volumes. A notable series of
papers from his pen, entitled " Suth-
erland AND OTHER CLEARANCES," and
signed "Finlagan," were printed, about
ten years ago, in the " Mark Lane Ex-
press," the leading Agricultural Journal
of England. In these papers, the
Sutherland Clearances were made to shed
light on the whole system of Eviction
and Land mismanagement, and the
interest they created was such as that
they were reprinted in several other
papers. Mr. Murdoch advocated the
cause of the people, and particularly
the right of the Celtic people to their
native soil, at the same time recognising
the hardships and wrongs of the Saxon.
He has always been the champion of the
Highlanders, and was ever eager to
promote measures for their good. As
an instance of how his writings are
always relished, we may refer to a paper
he read, two years ago, on the " Cli-
mate OF Inverness," before the Mem-
bers of the Inverness Literary Institute.
Such was the interest created, that
they unanimously called on him to
deliver it as a Lecture, under their
auspices, in the Music Hall of that
town. In Forres, last winter, he de-
livered a Lecture on the Heroes of
Ossian; and we understand, he is called
upon to deliver it again in some
of the neighbouring towns. He also
wrote an elaborate paper on the Clan
System. He was always ready to help
others, both in public and private work,
if he thought that in so doing he
was advocating the cause., and walking
in the paths, of justice. He is a Chief-
tain of the Inverness Gaelic Society,
and from the literary talent he brings
to its meetings as well as the zeal he
evinces in promoting its welfare, he
is one of the chief pillars of the Society.
From the Revenue Department (to
which he professionally belonged), it
appears from what the Civilian says,
that he is not retiring unnoticed : —
" Mr. Murdocli, whose name is a house-
hold word throughout the Department in
every part of the kingdom, has for many
months been a martyr to rheumatism,
acquired by him ir^^ the discharge of the
laborious duties of Supervisor, and, as no
prospect of his early recovery exists, he has
taken the only course open to him and
sought retirement. We are certain that this
announcement will be everywhere received
with sorrow, and we cannot believe that Mr.
Murdoch's retirement from the service will
be unmarked by striking testimony to his
work and fidelity to the great cause to which
he has devoted so much energy and
ability.''
After the above cursory review of
some of what Mr. Murdoch has done,
our readers will see that a most useful
man is retiring from Public Life. We
would therefore humbly suggest that
the sons of the Gael in all quarters, as
well as his own friends (private and
public) should co-operate with the
Members of the Excise, in presenting
him with something that may not be
unworthy of themselves.
GAELIC PHILOLOGY.
(A Letter to the Editor.)
My Dear Sir,
I have read with great
interest the re ai-ris you made in the ÌEng-
lish Department cf the Oct. No. of "The
Gael," upon the Ie:tnre delivered by the
Rev. Mr Cameron, )f Kenton, on Gaelic
Philology. I have for several years been