Blair Collection > Sar-obair nam bard gaelach, or, The beauties of Gaelic poetry, and lives of the Highland bards

of them, however, will not only obviate this misconception, but convince the reader tliiit
they are given at greater length and in a more improved form than they ever appeared
before. Where spurious verses and monastic interpolations had intruded themselves,
they have, of course, been thrown out. The same system of ejectment has been carried
to indecent phrases and objectionable passages ; and, while nothing of the fire, or grandeur,
or general beauty has been lo^t, the utmost vigilance has been exercised that nothing
should be allowed to creep in, which could offend the most delicate, or afford ground of
complaint to the most fastidious.
The idea of this undertaking- was first suggested to me by a worthy friend, who is now
no more, James Robertson, Esq., Collector of Customs, Stornoway. Mr Robertson, himself
a ■I'entleman of high poetic talent, possessed a fund of curious information about the bards,
and several written documents, to which he obligingly gave me free access, and from
which, some of the anecdotes with which this work is interspersed, have been extracted.
After having collected all the materials which I deemed necessary for the completion
of the work, I met with so little encouragement, that I was on the eve of abandoning my
design, when Mr Donald M'PherMjii, Bookseller, London, with an enthusiasm and high
patriotic feeling that do honour to his heart, entered into my projects, and, by his warmly
exercised influence, put me into a position in which I soon enjoyed the pleasing assurance of
being able to carry my intentions into execution.
With equal gratitude I have to record the disinterested kindness of Archibald M'Neil,
Esq., W.S., Edinburgh — a gentleman whose name carries along with it associations of all
that is noble-minded and generous. To this gentleman I owe much. His exertions to
further my views were characterized by a warmth of zeal, and promptitude of action, in
ihe way of urging others to give the work their support, for which no words of mine can
sufficiently thank him.
I feel myself also deeply indebted to another gentleman, the mention of whose name
is sufficient to convince the reader of the sincerity of my feelings — I allude to Mr
Lachlau M'Lean, Merchant, Glasgow, author of the " History of the Gaelic Languaae,"
&c., who, in the most handsome manner, gave me the use of his library, and exerted himself
with his wonted enthusiasm to enlist pubhc sympathy and support in favour of the under-
taking.
There are other favourable circumstances and kind friends that might well elicit from me
the tribute of grateful acknowledgment but as I am more inclined to be concise than
ceremonious, my devoirs must be expressed in general terms ; and I therefore assure
all such, that I shall fondly cherish the recollection of their kindness until the latest hour
of my existence.
It is customary in a notice of this kind to take the precaution of disarming the critics, —
a custom I would gladly honour in my own case. That errors have crept in, and that
imperfections may appear to the eye of critical acumen, is readily conceded ; but these
will form no greater defalcation than candour will allow it was impossible to eschew. If
I am afterwards convinced of any unintentional errors — convinced, as I have a right to
demand, by the force of argument and the power of philological reasoning, I will be as ready