The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Reminiscences of the Late Dr Cameron. 191
mistakes were ! He
also liked to have a fling at poor St
Clair, who translated (?) the Queen's Book, and saddled it
with a gramnnar.
On one occasion, when teaching his Gaelic class in the
University, he made reference to the Celtic Reviezv, a
number of which was then long overdue, remarking that
he hoped it would be out at Christmas, when a voice
shouted " which Christmas ?" The doctor smiled and said—
" I am quite as anxious as my young friend to have the
Reviezv out, but I have to do it all myself."
In the early volumes of the Gael, says " Fionn," there
is a sharp controversy between Dr Cameron and D.
C. Macpherson ('^ Abrach" ), and I remember that in his
parting shot D. C. M'P. said there was no use continuing
the controvers}- as " A. Cameron never can yield," quoting
a line from the song, " The March of the Cameron Men."
Mr Cameron happened to see a proof of this letter some
time he called on the printer, and he smiled when he came
to the quotation, and said, " That's very neat—very good
indeed—but I could say a good deal in reply yet." If I
recollect well, the cause of the controversy was a translation
of Longfellow's " Psalm of Life " by Dr Cameron, which is
in the Gael:
His criticisms of the performances of other Gaelic
scholars were usually severe— justly, though not judiciously,
severe, one may .say. Hence Dr Cameron was credited
with a cantankerous and uncharitable spirit, which was
very far from being the real character of the genial, kindly,
and abundantly hospitable personage whom one met in the
Brodick Manse. He used to tell, with some reproachful
wonder, how he was misunderstood. The following is a
story he told himself. He had a controversy with
Campbell of Islay, the famous folklorist, once about accuracy
of M.S. reproduction. Afterwards, when the appointment
to the Celtic Chair was under discussion, Campbell was
asked his opinion as to who was the most suitable
candidate. " Oh," said he, " I suppose it is that censorious
cleric at Brodick !"