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

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NOTES ON THE POEMS.
Donald of Ardnacross, on whom, for his memorable
defence of the pass of Stirling Bridge at the period of the
Battle of Bannockburn, this estate was apparently
bestowed by King Robert Bruce. The gallant Captain
was not only a brave and daring soldier, but was also
deeply imb*ued with the spirit of adventure and travel.
Being of a restless disposition and moved by the
fascinating idea of foreign sight seeing, he borrowed
money from a Colonel Campbell of Campbeltown, in
whose hands, till he should return, he left as security the
estate of Ardnacross. But when he came home from his
eventful tour, he had no money wherewith to repay the
Colonel. However, as soon as the Major Ban in distant
lands heard of his brother’s pecuniary embarrassment, he
forthwith refunded Colonel Campbell every penny of the
loan he had given Captain Gorrie. The wily Colonel,
rather suspiciously, kept the repayment of the money a
profound secret until he had heard that the Major was
on his way home. This payment on the part of the
Major was equivalent to buying Ardnacross. It was
through him that it came into the hands of the Ellister
family. It is now owned by the eldest son of the late
Rev. Hector MacNeill, who was successively minister of
Portnahaven, his native parish, of Hope Street Church,
Glasgow, and thereafter of Lochend Free Church,
Campbeltown. Captain Gorrie had a son who was
familiarly known in Islay as Dhbmhnull Euadh a’ Chaiptein.
This son, like his father, was possessed with the military
spirit, entered the army and attained to the rank
of a Colonel. He was knighted by the Portuguese
Government. After his retirement from active service
Sir Donald MacNeill resided near Glasgow.
Captain Gorrie was a keen sportsman and a famous
athlete. He was a strongly built man, proud and passion¬
ate in manner, martial in demeanour, true and warm¬
hearted in friendship. The first time he took a fancy to
the white pony was one day he watched his men trying