Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1871 to 1900 > Gaelic bards, and original poems

ALEXANDER MACDONALD.
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the influence of his scholarship, whatever its extent might
he, leaves any decided ti-ace in his writings Far from it.
There he is always the pure Highland singer; with the
exception, at most, of the occasional use of an English
word; or of a proper name like Phoebus, borrowed from
the Greek mythology. His masters in poetry were those
of his own countrymen, who were his predecessors; and
the inspiration which his country itself, with its history,
sentiments, and scenery, afforded him, as well as them.
With regard to his tuition, we are told that he studied
first under his father’s superintendence; and latterly, for
a year or two, at the Glasgow University. According to
one account, his father intended him for his own pro¬
fession, but discovered something in his character, or
conduct, that did not suit well with this idea.
According to another account, the Clan-E-anald of the
day, being fond of patronising young men of merit, wished
to educate him for the bar; but an early marriage,
imprudently contracted by the poet, interrupted his
studies before he was qualified for a profession. To
support his family, MacDonald was obliged to leave
college, and retire to Ardnamurchan; where he lived,
teaching and farming, and composing poetry—a Presby¬
terian, and an elder of the Established Church, till the
year 1745 : when, he not only forsook his all to join
Prince Charles, but even changed his religion, and became
a Catholic. The fiery and warlike songs with which he
roused his countrymen, and animated their devotion for
the unfortunate Stuart cause, show how true a Jacobite,
and how good a poet, the son of Mr. Alexander was.
He held a commission in the Highland Army, but whether
he actually served in the field or not, does not clearly
appear. After the battle of Culloden, he lived in hidings,
in the wood and caves of Ceannloch nan Uamh in the
district of Arisaig, and was exposed to considerable
hardships for some time. On one occasion, when lurking
about with his brother Angus, the cold was so intense,