An gaidheal - National Library of Scotland

.380 THE GAEL. February, 1874tea, the Chairman delivered an iutereatingaddress, liaving special reference,naturally, to topics of interest to thepeople of Barra and the Uists. Congratulatingthem upon their beginning tohave social gatherings like the people ofother districts, he expressed, first of all,the great pleasure he felt in presidingthat night over the first of what he hopedmight prove a long series of yearly festivals.Proceeding to give some accountof the history and present position of theUists and Barra, he made some interestingremarks about the Macneils of Barra,their ancient chiefs, and occasioned muchlaughter, by declaring that these werethe superiors of the famed Macpherson,who had "a boat of his own" at the timeof Noah's flood ; for they held their Barraas well as their boat at that crisis ofaffairs. They would always cherish, hefelt sure, the history of their hereditarychiefs, and the traditions of their ancientisles with pride. In the course of theevening, addresses were delivered l)y theRev. Mr Cameron and Mr D. MacDonald,the latter of whom commended withmuch force the study of the Celtic languageand literature of their forefathers,to the youth of the meeting especially.The artistes engaged for the concert AvereMessrs Hamilton Corbett, tenor ;GeorgeRoy, comic ; and S. Palymire, negrodelineator, who added materially to theevening's enjoyment. In addition tothese. Miss MacPhail sang several balladswith much taste, and we only -wash thatmore lady amateurs could acquit themselvesas well. The pipe playing of MrMrMacDonald was much appreciated.Murdoch MacLeod's Gaelic songs werereceived with the greatest acceptance,and were deservedly encored. Thel>rogramme was brought to a close by avote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding,and by the entire company singing" Auld Lang Syne." An assembly followed.The people of the Uists andBarra are to be congratulated on theentire success of their first gathering, andit is to be hoped that others may followfrom year to year equally successful.They cannot, however, be more so.TO OUR READERS.The present number of the Gaelcloses the second year of its existence,and it behoves us to record ourcordial thanks to the friends whohave so kindly assisted us iu theconduct of our enterprise. Thesuccess of the Gael during the pastyear has been very encouraging;many well qualified to judge, haveexpi-essed most flattering opiuionsregarding its appearance, the selectionof its contents, and its generalusefulness. While all this is highlygratifying to us, much yet remainsto be achieved in all these respects,and we trust the friends and wellwishers of the Gael in all parts ofthe world will not fail to exert themselvesstill further to extend itsusefulness and increase its circulation.We are glad to state that thesame pojiular and eminent Gaelicscholars who have aided us in thepast, as well as many others, haveexpressed their intention of givingtheir kind co-operation and assistanceduring the coming year. Wepurpose continuing our music page,and shall thank our readers to communicateto us any old and curioussongs, with their airs if possible,which they may chance to meet with,and which are in danger of sinkinginto oblivion. Much of our literature,both song and story, is alreadylost, and we shall consider onrselvesamply rewarded if v/e succeed inrescuing from a similar fate even asmall portion of the inimitable lyricsof our native country.Errata. — Several inaccuracieshaving crept into jyages 343-34G(Jan.), we have issued ivith the presentnumber four emendatioii ])affesìnhìch 01 rr readers will he goodenouglo to substitute for the correspondingj)(t^es in the Jan. numberwhen binding the volume.On 2>cige 347a^ line 21, insert andafter the word genuine,