Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1871 to 1900 > Orain agus dana Gaidhealach

vi!
In personal appearance, especially during his younger
days, he is said to have been remarkably handsome and
prepossessing, and throughout life his manner and disposi-
tion were agreeable and easy. He was noted for his
convivial and pleasant company ; and many anecdotes
of his wit and repartee are still on record. Though in-
offensive, and seldom known to provoke any person
when not attacked himself, his verses told severely on his
enemies, or on those who had merited his resentment ;
and this he could do on the spur of the moment. It is
related that when he presented his inimitable panegyric
of John Campbell of the Bank, he demanded a bard's
fee for the verses. u No," replied that gentleman, —
u what reward do you deserve for telling the truth ? You
must confess that you could say no less of me ; besides,
I doubt if you are the author : so to convince me, let
us hear how you can dispraise me, and then I shall
know whether you have been able to compose what you
have just repeated." Duncan instantly commenced in
the same measure, and continued, in ready and flowing
numbers, so to amuse those who were present, that the
gentleman was glad to make him stop, by giving him
his reward. When our bard was travelling through
the Highlands to dispose of his poems in 1790, a forward
young man came rudely up to him and asked,— 4 * An