Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 2

THE CELTIC ISIAGAZmE. 7d
excitement produced by Macpherson down to the present time. The first
specimen of the Celtic muse here given is that beautiful translation of
" Mairi Laghach" which appeared originally in the first number of the
Celtic Magazine, and with which the reader is already so well acquainted.
We then have a fine rendering of that sweet and well-known song, "Gur
gille mo Leannan nan Eal' air an t' Suamh," — My Eose she is fairer than
the Swan when she Swims, by Ewan ISIaclachlan ; of " Fear a'Bhata"- — the
Boatman; "MoChailiunDilis Don" — "Ho, my Bonnie Boatie;" "Calluma
Ghlinne" — Malcolm of the Glen; "Mac-an-Toisich," by William Eoss ;
"An t' Eilean Muileach" — the Island of Mull, by Dugald Macphail ;
"Song to Ballachidish," by John Cameron; and of the "Gael to his
Country and Countrymen," by John Campbell of Ledaig. We have also
" Macrimmon's Lament," to the weU-known air " Farewell to my Country,"
translated from "Leabhar nan Cnoc;" a " Lament for Donald of Barbreck ;"
and last, though not least, we have Sheriff Kicolson's fine translation of
[Mary Mackellar's "Welcome to the Marquis of Lome and his Eoyal young
Bride," composed on the occasion of his marriage wth the Princess Louise.
Have we not said enough to rouse everyone, in whom exists a spark of
Celtic spirit, to procure the work befcn'e us, and out of it inhale the fresh and
invigorating Celtic flame which is destined to strengthen our manhood,
and lead us to perform deeds, in the only field now within our reach,
worthy of those performed by our sires m the great and noble eftbrts of
the past.
ELEMENTS OF GAELIC GRAMMAR; By the Rev. Alexander Stewart .• Third
Edition, Revised, with Preface by the Rev. Dr Maclauchlan. Edinburgh : Mac-
lacblan & Stewart. London : Simpkin, Marshall, & Co.
This well-known Grammar has been for several years out of print, much
to the regret of Celtic scholars and students of the mountain tongue. It
has long been admitted the best Gaelic Grammar extant, and to the
student who has made any progress in the study of the Gaelic language,
and who desires to master it thoroughly, the work is indispensably
necessary. Dr Stewart's Grammar bears on every page the marks of real
and profound scholarship. For simplicity, conciseness, and philosophical
accuracy, it stands alone among grammars of the Gaelic language.
Modern philological research has placed valuable materials at the dis-
posal of modern grammarians which were unknown to the author of this
work. It is, therefore, to be regretted Lliat the original intention of the
publishers, to remedy the acknowledged want of full disquisitions on
syntax, and of grammatical exercises, his not been adhered to, and so
make the work complete and suitable for the student at every stage of his
progress, and in every department. "\^"e have had occasion recently, in
noticing other grammars, to say a good deal on the subject generally, and
it is therefore unnecessary to say more in noticing the work before us —
the best Gaelic Grammar, even yet, ever issued — than to acknowledge our
indebtedness to the publishers, to whom Celtic literature owes so much,
and to the Eoyal Celtic Society of Edinburgh, that, we are told, aflbrded
very substantial aid towards publishing the work. It is well and neatly-
printed.