Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 2

3G THE CELTIC MAGAZINE,
translation of the speech of Galgacus to the Caledonians into Gaelic by Dr
Sliaw is to be found in this work.
To attempt to toi-ture geology out of Macpherson's writings, or accurate
history out of traditions, myths, fables, giants, and giantesses, in this en-
lightened age, is supremely ridiculous. So much, however, is Dr Waddell in
luve with his Ossianic phantasms that no amount of evidence, as it appears
to mo, can convince him of their absurdity and baselessness. — I am, sir, &c.,
HECTOR MACLEAN.
Eallygrant, Islay, 1S7C,
LITERATURE.
AN T-ORANAIOHE (THE SONGSTER), COMHGFIRUINNEACHADH DE
ORAIN GHAIDHEALACH. Le GiLLE.vsnuio Mac na Ceardch, 62 Sraid
Ara-Gliaidheil, Glaschu.
"We liave before us the lirst Part of this woi'k — The Songster — a new
volume of Gaelic Songs, many of tlieni now published for the first time
T)y Arcliibakl Sinclair, Glasgow. It is to be completed in five parts, and if
the succeeding divisions come up to the one now before us, the work, when
completed, will be the handsomest Collection of Gaelic Songs hitherto
issued from the press. AVe have here about seventy songs, making 104
pages of bold, clear, and very readable type ; unquestionably tlie best
printed, and the best got up, specimen of Gaelic that has ever yet ap-
l^eared.
When first told that this work was to be a collection of unpub-
lished Gaelic Songs, we thought Mr Sinclair was making a mistake ; for,
unpublished Gaelic Songs would, necessarily, only be known in a limited
circle, and it requires a good intermixture of well known and popular
Gaelic Songs to make any collection attractive to the general reader. The
compiler has therefore acted wisely in giving several very well known
pieces in tlir work before us, judiciously arranged among those which have
hitherto been almost entirely unknown, even to tlie majority of Gaelic
readers.
Among the best known in this part will be found " Buaidh
Leis na Seoid" (which is, in the Songster, ascribed to Alexander Macgre-
gor, schoolmaster, but which was the joiiif production of himself and bro-
ther — the late licv. Mr Macgregor of Kilmuir, Isle of Skye, uncle and
lather of the Kev. Alex. IMacgregor, M.A., Inverness), " 'S i mo Lean-
miu an Te Ur" ; " Nighean Jihan an Achadh-Luachrach" ; "A ]\lhaigh-
dean Og nam Meal-shuilean" ; "AlNlhairi ]\lhig-shuil, Mheal-shuileach" ;
"A (ihruagach Dhonn a Bhroillich Dliain" ; " Fleasgach an Fhuilt
Chraobhaich Chais" ; " An Couinne thu Leannan an Cluinn thu" ; "A
]\Thairi Mhin Mheal-shuileaeh" ; " Moladh na Landaidh" ; " Ho ro mo
Kighean T)onn Jihoidheach" ; " Olaidh Sinn Deoch Slainte 'n-Oighre" ;
" Soraidh has a Mliaighdinn" ; " Oganaich an Oir-Fhuilt Bhuidhe";
" Domhnull Cuimcanach"; "Thogainn Fonn air Lorg an Fheidh"; " Cruin-
neag Bhoidheach A'(;huil Bhuidhe"; " Deoch-Slainte Chamshronaich" ;