Ossian Collection > Gaelic bards

2 MODERN GAELIC BARDS.
quantity of whisky — which being freely dispensed to the
mourners, caused a good deal of excitement that did not
always pass peaceably away.
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 w^asted, 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 w-hen the men of Moidart, wdio were
his friends and relatives, happened to quarrel with the
neighbouring 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 wdiom, their distinguished poet, Alexander MacDonald,
is ahvays 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
U- 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
* 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 Killiecrankie, this gentleman,
accompanied them wielding a heavj'^ broad-sword. He used his
weapon with such eflfect in the battle and pursuit, that eleven of
the Royalists sank beneath its sway. When his excitement
cooled down, howevei', he found that he could not draw his hand
from the basket-hilt of his sword; nor was it tifl a friend had cut
through the net-Avork, that the warlike ecclesiastic was able to
resume his ordinary appearance.