Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 2

THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 39
tlieir resiicctive duties. The only alternative is tlie sad one of leaving
the poor Highlanders to their fatf, and of allowing the youth to grow up
in comparative ignorance of the Word of Life, which to them is otherwise
a sealed book ; and of allowing, on the other hand, the aged to pine
aAvay, and sink into their graves, under the great disadvantage of not
having tlie Gospel expounded to them fluently and eloquently in that
language -which alone can reach their hearts. Fortunatelj^ as yet, how-
ever, matters have not actually come to this issue, hut tliey are rapidly
drifting into it, when clergymen capable of addressing raidtitudes in their
native tongue will become " few and far between." Many Avorthies in
the land deeply deplore this sad state of things. IMany learned gentlemen
in all quarters of the kingdom use their utmost endeavours to counteract
the evils, which otherwise have a tendency to increase. We have learned
men, — we have scientific minds and noble characters, — we have principals
and professors of Universities, — doctors of divinity and medicine, —
ministers of all churches and denominations, — statesmen and rulers, and
all grades of society, throwing tlieir difter^nces to the Avinds, and firmly
uniting together to foster this great and invaluable boon for the temporal
and spiritual benefit of our neglected Highlanders !
It is fortunate, however, for the Highland student, that uuder the
many disadvantages already alluded to, he possesses one valuable boon,
and that is the great variety of Grammars, Primers, and Lesson-books
Avhich are brought Avithin his reach, and Avhich he may make available, to
a certain extent, for acquiring a correct knoAvledge of the Gaelic language.
While it is not easy for any student to make great progress in gaining a
thorough acquaintance Avith CA'en Ms native tongue Avithout a teacher, yet,
if diligent and persevering, he may receive an amount of insight into his
native language, Avhich Avill surprise himself, by the proper use of the
lesson-books published for his benefit. Of these there is a gradation to
suit all capacities, from the student of the highest standard, to the boy
lisping his spelling-book. The country has been furnished Avith excellent
grammars by such emiiient Celtic scholars as SteAvai;t, Munro, Forbes,
Armstrong, Macali^in, and others ; and latterly Ave have the very suitable
manual of Mr George LaAvson Gordon, of Halifax, N.S., Avhich was some
months ago favourably alluded to in these pages. We have noAV the
pleasure of adverting to " The Elementary Lessons in Gaelic Eeading,
Grammar, and Construction," by our talented young toAvnsman, Mr L.
Macbean, to Avliich we call the flivourable attention of our Higliland
countrymen, as Avell as that of our southern friends, Avho may desire to
acquire even a partial knoAvledge of the Gaelic language. jMr Macbean is
a superior Gaelic scholar. He has displayed his critical knoAvledge of the
language in the little manual before us. The " Lessons " were at first
compiled, not Avith a vieAv to publication, but for the benefit of a Gaelic
class conducted by him, under the auspices of the Gaelic Society of In-
verness. They are noAV placed before the jmblic in a neat, cheap, and
portable form. Mv IMacbean deserves much praise for this unpretentious
manual. Its beauty and utility consist in conciseness, Avliile at the same
time it is full and comprehensive. It required no ordinary skUJ and tact
to make it plain and simple, yet so lull and complete. He has prudently
avoided abstruse constructions and critical anomalies. He commences at