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The Celtic magazine. A monthly periodical devoted to the literature ...

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THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 147hopeless <strong>to</strong> liave imdeitaken. <strong>The</strong>ir leaders had <strong>to</strong> flee for life and find<strong>the</strong>ir way through swamp and forest <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> far distant sea-board, as <strong>the</strong>ironly hope of safety. This <strong>the</strong>y made out, and <strong>the</strong>n found <strong>the</strong> means oftransit, though by a circui<strong>to</strong>us voyage, across <strong>the</strong> ocean <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir nativeland. <strong>The</strong> perils and hardships endured by <strong>the</strong>se in <strong>the</strong>ir several routescould not be narrated in <strong>the</strong> space at our disjjosal. But we cannot takeleave without briefly relating <strong>the</strong> daring exploit of one of <strong>the</strong>ir leadersafter being captured and imprisoned. This, however, must be reservedfor a subsequent nuuier.JOHN DAKROCH, M.A.GEXEEAL SIR ALAN CAMERON, K.C.B.COLONEL 79th CAMERON HIGHLANDERS.[Continued].Chapter VI.Two years before Alan's return from America, <strong>the</strong> Highland Society ofLondon was instituted for " Promoting objects of advantage <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Iliglilandsgenerally ;and good fellowship with social union, among such ofits natives as inhabited <strong>the</strong> more sou<strong>the</strong>rn part of <strong>the</strong> island." To <strong>the</strong>foregoing summary were also added several specific objects, such as <strong>the</strong>res<strong>to</strong>ration of <strong>the</strong> Higliland dress ; <strong>the</strong> preservation of <strong>the</strong> music ; andcultivation of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Celtic</strong> language, &c., &c. An institution for <strong>the</strong>support of <strong>the</strong>se objects would have purticular attraction for Alan ; andnow that he was not o<strong>the</strong>rwise specially employed, he could give someattention <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir promotion. <strong>The</strong> members of <strong>the</strong> society were composedof almost all <strong>the</strong> men of rank and position belonging <strong>to</strong>, or connectedwith, Scotland. In <strong>the</strong> list Alan appears <strong>to</strong> have been elected at a meetingon 21st January 1782, and with <strong>the</strong> names of o<strong>the</strong>r gentlemen on <strong>the</strong>same occasion that of John Home (Author of Douglas) is included.<strong>The</strong> Act of Parliament which enacted <strong>the</strong> suppression of <strong>the</strong> Higldanddreas was in force in Scotland during Alan's childhood, and u]) tu <strong>the</strong>time of his departure from it, after <strong>the</strong> encounter with Morsheirlich, sothat he had never worn <strong>the</strong> garb of his ances<strong>to</strong>rs until he had joined hisregiment in America. Its use was still (1782) prohibited in tlie oldcountry. Alan and many of his friends became <strong>the</strong> most active membersfor promoting <strong>the</strong> objects of <strong>the</strong> society. Having found that one of <strong>the</strong>sewas <strong>the</strong> res<strong>to</strong>ration of <strong>the</strong> Highland dress, <strong>the</strong>y formed a committee <strong>to</strong>co-operate with a member of <strong>the</strong> Legislature <strong>to</strong> have that obnoxious Ac<strong>to</strong>bliterated from <strong>the</strong> Statute Book. Of that committee <strong>the</strong> following were<strong>the</strong> Executive, and being <strong>the</strong> authors of <strong>the</strong> extirpatiun of this nationalstigma, <strong>the</strong>y are entitled <strong>to</strong> be remembered, by Higliland ers especially,with admiration and everlasting gratitude. <strong>The</strong>y were—Hon. GeneralEraser of Lovat (President) ; Lord Chief Baron ^lacdonald ; Lord AdamGordon ; Earl of Seaforth ; Colonel Macpherson of Climy ; Captain AlanCameron (Erracht) ; and John Mackenzie (Temple), Honorary Secretary.I.

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