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- t This notice should have appeared after Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair.
- § Recollections of Marshall MacDonald.
- II Scottish History Society, Vol. xxiii, 1897. Paris, Feb. 28th, 1769.
- Dear Floury
- loss for
- . . The gentleman who delivers this is
- fright we got!
- sinn ar
- suaimhneis
An sruthan tairis caoin A nì 'chraobhan a's bòidhche Seach stuth a th' air an t-saoghal Bu chaomhall ri òl e, 'S 'nuair gheibhinn e ri m' bhial B' e mo mhiann 'bhi 'ga phògadh. Thug mise gaol-folaich dha, 'S cha dealaich e ri m' bheò rium, Barr's a thug na caileagan Do leannan no dh' fhear-pòsda, Còrr's a' cheithir uiread 'S a thug Uilleam riamh do Mhòraig, S ma thèid a nis ar tearbadh Gu dearbh cha b'e 'chòir e. Sheinneadh e na h-òrain 'Bu bhòidhehe ri èisdeachd, Bu ro-mhath bhualadh dhòrn e ; Gu'm b' eòlach air streup e ; Bu mhath e measg nan òighean 'S nan òigearan beusach, 'S e 'chuireadh air an dòigh iad 'An crocain a chèile. Bu mhath a chluith a' chiùil e, Bu shiùbhlach air dannsa e, Sheinneadh e na fuinn 'Chumadh cuimhn' air na bàrdaibh ; Bu mhath e anns a h-uile rud, 'S gu'm b'urramach's gach àm e, Ahc daoine coimheach gnùthaidn Cha dùraig iad ann e. J 'S truagh nach d' rugadh dall mi Gun chainnt no gun lèirsinn Mu'm facas riamh an dram sin 'Rinn aimhleas nan ceudan ; 'Nuair bhuaileas e's a' cheann mi Gu'n teann e ris fhèin mi, 'S cha 'n fhasa leam na'm bàs A bhi làthair as 'eugais. t This notice should have appeared after Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair. J Houghbeag was the home farm of Cian Ranald, chosen in 1616 by command of the Privy Council, as he had none at Castle Tirrim. Gregory, p. 393. § Recollections of Marshall MacDonald. * Gracious, kindly, courteous in aspect and manner. Sguiridh mi 'bhi teagasg air No 'beadradh ris an dràsda, Bho 'n a chuir greadabh air Le Eaglaisean a' Phàpa ; Ma 'se's gur èiginn dealachadh, Mo bheannachd gu là-bhràeh leis, 'S mo bheannachdan's mo ghaol Do gach aon a thug gràdh dha. AN DOMHNULLACH FURANACH* A song that is very popular in Skye is " An Dòmhnullach Furanach," said to have been composed to MacDonald of Lynedale, by a Skye girl. This was Colonel Alexander MacDonald, IX. of Balranald, North Uist, designated of Lynedale, the grandfather of the present Balranald. He was a captain in the Bengal Artillery, and afterwards raised and became Lieutenant-Colonel of the 2nd Isle of Skye Regiment of volunteers. He was a very fine and handsome-looking man. Mr A. R. MacDonald, younger of Waternish, Skye, informs me that his granddaughter, the late Miss MacDonald of Rodil, Harris, had a miii-ature of him, which will probably now be in possession of Mr MacDonald of Edenwood and Balranald, or some other near relative. Besides Lynedale, Colonel MacDonald possessed at one time the islands of Isry, Mingay, and Clett, now in the possession of Captain MacDonald, Waternish. The song, as given to me by a native of Skye, is different from the version given in Sinclair's " Oranaiche "—the air of which is very pretty. Seisd—Chorus. A Dhòmhnullaich fhuranaich, A dhireadh na munaidhean, Tha d' fhoghlum cho àrd, 'S ged a di? àraicht' an Lunainn thu ! B'e mo ghràdh an t-àrmunn, A thug Dirdaoin an tràigh air; Gu'n olainn do dheoch-slàinte, 'S è b' fhearr na bhi muladach. Ma thèid thu do na h-Innsean Air long nan crannag-lseal Gu'n trèiginnse mo dhùthaich A ghiùlan a' ghunna dhuit. Sgiobair air a' chuan thu, 'Nuair dh' èireadh na tuinn uaine, 'S leat urram nan daoin'-uaisle, Cha ghruaim bhiodh tu 'g iomrachadh. Sgiobair thu air Birlinn Cno maith's a tha ri fhaotainn, Sàr iomainich' air raon thu Ach da jin' a bhi cuide riut. Sealgair an daimh chròicich A dhìreas a' ghlac cheòthach, 'Us coileach-dubh a' chrònain 'S an ròin ri òis tuinne thu ! Do chiù fada direach. 'Sè 'n ceangal anns an t-sìoda, Na'm faighinns' bhi 'ga chireadh. Cha bhitheadh ni dh' am uireasbhaidh. Thig còta dhuit neo-chearbach Fo chrios nam balla meana-bhreac, 'Us claidheamh geur 'chinn airgid Gu'n dearbhadh tu buillean leis. Do Chridhe mar an Daoimean, Làn ceartais agus aoibhneis ! 'Nuair dhireadh tu na staidhre, Bhitheadh soills' anns na h-uinneagan ! Tha taoghal maradh's tire An tigh an fhleasgaich rìomhaich, Làmh 'sgapadh an Fhìon-dubh 'S a dhìoladh na tunnachan. 'S è mo ghaol an Ceann-ard, Bha òirnn 'an tigh na bainnse, 'S ann domhsa nach bu chall sud, 'S na bh' ann a' toirt urram dhuit. A Dhòmhnullaich fhuranaich, etc. Few swains of the present day could match the beauty and splendour of the hero of this song, whose image the very windows reflected effulgently to the admiring observer. The authoress' name is not known. It was probably an affair of the heart. explanation of a few uncommon words. Verse 2—" Crannag-ìseal,"—spars and crossbeams. Verse 3—" Iomrachadh,"—carrying, or bearing; a deportment. Verse 5—" Ois,"—of the border of the wave; where seals lie. Verse 6—" Balla meana-bhreac,"—all manner of ornamental things on his dress. Verse 6—" Neo-chearbach,"—well-made, fitting the figure. Verse 7—With this splendid appearance—of a countenance beaming with kindness from the Diamond Heart—and bright tartan, sparkling stones, silver buckles, buttons, including the silver-hilted sword—the windows reflected his image to the admiring observer on some occasion as he went up the staircase to join the marriage party over which he had been presiding. NIAL MAC EACHAINN MHIC SHEAMAIS.t (neil son of hector son of james.) Neil MacEachainn MacDonald, the faithful friend and follower of Prince Charles Edward Stewart, and Flora MacDonald, and father of the celebrated Marshall MacDonald, Duke of Tarentum, did not profess to be a poet, but since he composed one poem at least, he is too important a personage to be omitted from the list of MacDonald bards. He was born at Howbeg, or Houghbeag,t in South Uist, in 1719, and, according to Mr Alexander Carmiehael, was remotely connected with Flora MacDonald through the Clanranalds. He was educated in France, at the Scotch College at Douai, and was probably destined for an ecclesiastical career. His son, the Marshall, did not know what his tastes or wishes were, but he knew that, after completing a brilliant course of study, he returned to his native country, and from thence he was summoned by Prince Charles to share the good and bad fortune of the foolhardy campaign of 1745§. After the battle of Culloden, fought on the 16th of April, 1746, and when the Prince was a fugitive seeking shelter in caves and other places of concealment, and while wandering about from island to island among the Hebrides, Neil MacEachainn was his guide and friend, until at last the heroine, Flora MacDonald, succeeded in baffling their pursuers, and saw him safely out of the Isle of Skye, when, a couple of months after, he escaped on board of a French ship from Borradale (Loch-nan-uamh) on the 19th Sept., 1746, which weighed anchor shortly after midnight, and sailed for France. There is a mystery about the name of the ship in which the Prince sailed, " Colonel Warren in a letter to O'Brien, of 29th August, 1746, says he is going to Scotland with the "L'Heureux" and the " Prince of Conti," to try and bring off the Prince. Glenaladale says the ship he sailed in was the " Happy." Burton says it was the " Bellona." In Finlayson's map it is called " Bellona," and in one passage in the " Scots Magazine " it is said to be the " Happy," while in another it is called the "Bellona." All Lord Albermarle's spies agree that two French ships arrived at Loch-nan-uamh on the 6th of Sept., and Donald MacDonald, who acted as interpreter to Bishop Forbes, actually went on board the "Prince of Conti" in which the Prince went off, says the other ship was the "Louine" which he might have mistaken for " L'Heureux."|| In Brown's history of the High- lands it says that the Prince sailed from Loch-nan- uamh, Arisaig, on the 20th of Sept., 1746, on board either the " L'Heureux," or " La Princesse de Conti," and arrived safely off Roscoff, or Roscort, near Morlaix in Lower Bretagne, where he landed on Monday, the 29th Sept., at half past two in the afternoon. An eminent Scotch judge divided liars into three classes, viz., com- mon liars ; 2, d liars ; and 3, expert witnesses. In future historians may be added as a 4th class. When history is so contradictory on such a recent event how can it be trusted on larger issues. When Flora MacDonald was liberated from the tower of London, in 1747, she particularly interested herself on behalf of old Kingsburgh, who was a state prisoner in Edinburgh Castle for sheltering the Prince, and she succeeded in procuring his freedom, as also that of Donald MacLeod, of Galtrigal—Calum Mac Iain Mhic Iain— who went in the capacity of guide to the Prince from the island of Raasay to Kilmorie in Strathaird, and also of Neil MacEachainn (MacDonald) described in most histories as Flora MacDonald's servant. He was no more a servant of hers in reality than the Prince himself. If he had been a servant he never would have written to her on terms of equality as the following letter shows. Neither would he have been dining with the Prince and Clanranald the night they were arrested in Paris, nor would he have been chosen to be the only friend and companion of the Prince when he was detained in prison in Paris. Extracts from his letter to Flora MacDonald :— II Scottish History Society, Vol. xxiii, 1897. Paris, Feb. 28th, 1769. * Life of Flora MacDonald by the Rev. Alexander MacGregor. p Dear Floury, I've often had it in my head to write you since I parted with you at Edinburgh, but as I did not know how long you stayed there, I was at a loss for a direction, but as your welfare is always agreeable to me, it gives me pleasure to hear the reason that has brought you back to London, &c. . . . The gentleman who delivers this is a friend of mine, and I nope that is enough to make you exert yourself among the honest and worthy, to help him to dispose of some valuable toys he has upon hand. I am sure it must give you a sensible joy to hear the person you once had the honour to conduct is in perfect good health. . . . Cian Ranald has his kindest compliments to you. . . He and I dined with somebody the very day they were took. Good God what a fright we got! No servant would write in such familiar terms to a mistress. Besides Neil MacEachainn, who by the way signed himself "N. MacDonald" in the above letter, was a good scholar for the time, and was very studious. He was well versed in the Greek and Latin tongues, which he spoke easily, as well as French, English, and Gaelic. It was after his liberation that he composed the poem. When matters were fully and finally arranged, our heroine, with her faithful Neil MacEachainn, left London in a coach-and-four for the Scottish metropolis. During this journey of several days, the exhuberance of Neil's spirits could hardly be restrained within proper bounds. He was naturally an active, lively, and manly youth, possessed of considerable wit, and no small share of poetic genius. He, as well as most of his companions never expected to return. They were fully prepared to suffer as others had done in the Stewart cause. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that our hero should have felt somewhat elated. It was about this time he composed the following lines. Thugadh ochan! air falbh mi bho Eilean mo ghràidh Gu dol suas dh'ionnsaidh Lunnain gu'm chrochadh gun dàil; Air son gu'n d'thug mi furtachd do Thearlach an àigh, Gus am faigheadh e ann an tearuinteachd 'null thar sàil! Bha Fionghal, Nighean Raonuill, a daonnan ri m' thaobh, Chum mo stiùireadh le gliocas, 's le misnich ro th rein; Bha i deas agus dìleas a dhlonadh an laoich 'Bha gun charaid co dian rith 'n ait eile fo'n ghrèin ! A nis fhuair sinn ar saorsa o dhaorsa na truaigh Chum gu'm pill sin air ais dh'ionnsuidh Eilein ar breith, 'S thugadh cliù do'n Oigh mhaisich nach comas a luaidh, Leis an fhilidh a's ealant' gu seinn as a leth ! Chaidh sinn cuideachd air falbh, 's thain' cuideachd air ais, Ann an carbad ceithir chuidh 'leach's dà chaigeann each, Is tha aoibhneas is gleadhraich 's ceòl-fhuaim nach 'eil tais A' toirt suaimhneis is spionnaidh do'n chridhe aig gach neach ! Thug am Prionnsa an Fhraing air, ach chithear e ris, Dhruideadh mach as an tìr e, ach leanar a cheum; 'S bidh Nial MacEachainn Mhic Sheamais a ris fo chìs, Mur grad-ghreas e gu Tearlach, 'na ruith is 'na leum. Ochan! Fhionghail, Nighinn Raonuill, gu'm b'eutrom do cheum, 'Dol a dh'fhaicinn do Thearlaich a'r àrdach' mar righ! 'S a chur f àilt air d'a lùchairt, le 'chrùn-òir nan seud, Is e 'riaghladh na rioghachd, le ciùineas's le sìth ! Shortly after this, Neil Mac Eachainn left his native country and settled in France, where he was put into Ogilvy's Scotch regiment After the peace of 1763, nearly all the foreign regiments were disbanded. Among them was Ogilvy's, and Neil MacEachainn being proscribed in his own country and abandoned in France, he was reduced to live upon the modest pension of three hundred liyres (about £30).* Almost immediately afterwards he made what in military circles is called a " garrison marriage," he wedded a girl without any fortune, and settled at Sedan where the Marshall was born on November 17, 1765. When he was invited by Lord Nairn, proscribed like himself, to the little town of Sancerre, near Bourges, the cheapness of the living, and probably of the wine, which is good, had determined these gentlemen to settle there, other Scotsmen had preceded them. In this retreat, with his friends and his books, he consoled himself for the cruelty of fortune. Though generally a quiet man, he was an excellent talker. His memory was well stored, full of anecdote, and being a good musician and player of the violin, he was much esteemed and sought after by the society of that time.t
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