Hew Morrison Collection > Laoidhean shioin

languages are receiving from those who have the
management of their schools; which are com-
pletely laid aside, trampled upon, despised. It
is true that the language taught in their schools
(if properly understood, but that's the difficulty),
18 the best that could be used for informing the
mind, convincing the judgment, and enlightening
the understanding ; but not the best for influen-
cing the soul and moving the affections : and how
can it be so, seeing it is destitute of that subdu-
ing melody inherent in the Gaelic. To say that
melody does not affect the souls of men is as ab-
surd as to say that the meridian sun does not
impart heat. I believe it is an understood fact
that the English language has no melody com-
pared with the broad Scotch. The Gaelic may
not surpass the latter in the melody that soothes
and pleases the mind, but certainly it does sur-
pass it in the melody that stirs up and moves the
affections. The former resembles the shrill sweet
tones of the violin, the latter the soft tones of the
organ, had they a little of the stirringpio&aireacAd
The former would make a man exceedingly
pleased, the latter arouse him to action
Were Scotchmen, besides their knowledge of
the English, able also to speak their own
native languages well, they would, with the ex-
ception of Welshmen, be exalted in point of
privilege above any in Great Britain, having the
best of languages for the understanding and for
the affections— for giving them clear heads and
warm hearts— which Englishmen might well
envy. But by not speaking their own native
languages, the one cannot with any degree
of propriety be called Scotchmen, nor the others
Scotch Highlanders, which shuts them out from
the privilege and the satisfaction they would
otherwise enjoy. I ask to what are we indebted
for the sweet, the delicious melodies of our na-
tive country ? To what? but to the broad Scotch
and our Highland Gaelic. And are Scotchmen to
allow the Master of Arts, with his artificial
English, to banish the languages that gave birth
to these melodies entirely out of the country ? _
I have been led to believe that the Gaelic is
more respected at present by the upper class of