J. F. Campbell Collection > Selections from the Gaelic bards

■_' MODERN GAELIC BARDS.
When the war of words changed into actual conflict, and the
voice of reason could no longer be heard in the tumult, then the
clergyman dashed in person into the fray, and settled the disputes
on which his pastoral advice was wasted, by the strength of his
right hand — the stoutest combatant, it is afiirmed, seeing more than
he quite cared to face, when he found he had to reach his
antagonist through the intervening prowess of his minister.
This strong pacificator, however, laid himself open to the charge
of not dealing with perfect impartiality in his interference when
the men of Moidart, who were his friends and relatives, happened
to quarrel with the neigbouriug men of Suainart; who were
comparatively strangers to him, and to his flock. His hand was
heavier on the men of Suainart than on the men of Moidart.
Such was the well-known " Mr. Alexander," as the son of whom,
their distinguished poet, Alexander Macdonald, is always spoken
of by the Highlanders.*
Of the poet's own life, very little more than a few dates, is
recorded. Even the date of his birth is nowhere mentioned; nor
do we hear much of his education, though he was almost the only
one of the Gaelic Bards who received anything like a scholastic
training. Not that the influence of his scholarship, whatever its
extent might be, leaves any decided trace in his WTÌtings. Far
from it. There he is always the pure Highland singer; with the
exception, at most, of the occasional use of an English word; or of
a proper name like Phoebus, borrowed from the Greek mythology.
His masters in poetry were those of his own countrymen, who were
* A kindred soul with the above, and also a contemporary of his, was a
Rev. Mr. Stewart, who followed Viscount Dundee's army, in 1689.
When the Highlanders made their impetuous and decisive charge at the
battle of Killiecraukie, this gentleman, accompanied them wielding a
heavy broad-sword. He used his weapon with such effect in the battle
and pursuit, that eleven of the Royalists sank beneath its sway. When
his excitement cooled down, however, he found that he could not draw his
hand from the basket-hilt of his sword ; nor was it till a friend had cut
through the net-work, that the warlike ecclesiastic was able to resume his
ordinary appearance.