Blair Collection > Mackintosh's collection of Gaelic proverbs, and familar phrases

PREFACE.
Donald Mackintosh, the compiler of this Collection
of Gaelic Proverbs, was descended from the ancient
Thanes of Glentilt, a district of the Duke of Athole's
extensive property in the Highlands of Perthshire.
His father, James Mackintosh, tenant in Orchilmore,*
had been bred to business as a cooper ; but he married
early in life, and retired to his native place, near to the
spot where Lord Viscount Dundee overthrew King
William's army, that had been led, by General Mac-
kay, through the celebrated pass of Killicrankie, to
overrun the Grampians, and subdue those of our Gael
who had risen in arms to restore their rightful sove-
reign, then an exile in France, to the tlirone he had
but lately abdicated.
In the year 1 743, on the farm of Orchilmore, which
is within three miles of the village of Blair-in-Athole,
the subject of this memoir was born. I have been
enabled to obtain, from a near relation of his, but very
little information concerning his boyhood ; only, that
from early infancy, he was of a weakly habit of body ;
consequently but ill fitted for rustic labour, or any
* Orchilmore^ [^ùr-choiUe-mhòr,2 is part of Mr Stewart of
Orrat's [wr.«j7] estate.
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