Blair Collection > Gaelic songs of the late Dr. Maclachlan, Rahoy

So much of his life as we have in his songs, is essentially-
pure and healthy. It is true he had our common weaknesses
in full measure, and sensitiveness of spirit in much gret.ter
measure than goes to constitute that more cautious, but less
noble, uncharitable spirit of the " sons of arithmetic and of
prudence," that would frown on a life with which it was im-
possible for their coarser clay to be in sympathy.
His certainly were natural talents of a very high order,
which well directed should have carried him far into the
front — his a poetic gift, of which we have but the few ap«
pended glimmerings, doubtless of the finest quality, and
which cultivated might have borne great fruit. The life of a
Physician, however, and his training are of such a kind,
showing human life and human affairs in a light too often of
a nature not at all calculated to inspire the spirit of poetry,
as may in some part account for tlie limited exercise of his
powers in this direction.
It is almost incongruous to meet with such exquisite ten-
derness in one having nothing of tlie typical man of feeling
about him, but rather in an eminent degree the stature and
bearing of the warrior with an expression of face royal in the
highest sense. In person he was tall and powerfully built,
erect and free — almost musical — in his motion ; and a large
affable dignity of presence, and a thoughtful yet cheerful coun-
tenance gave a splendid character to an uncommonly well pro-
portioned frame. Even in his latter years when pity, hitherto
locked within, asserted itself on his features, and possibly also
a discernible shade of remorse, when paralysis marred motion
and expression, and when his circumstances and conditions of
life had much changed, and doubtless much affected him, even
then the nobility of character remained, inseparable to the last.
He could not be small. Xature might well say of him, "Thiti
ivas a nuiit.' We regret very much that no better portrait of