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Annual Dinner 105
fitness and beauty, for it was to the Celts that tliey owed rhyme
in modern verse. Hebrew poetry had its l)alance of thought,
chtsaical poetry liad its quantity, Teutonic poetry delighted in
alliteration, but the Celts had the most beautiful of all—rhyme or
assonance. (Hear, hear, and applause.) And, not to detain them
longer, he had lastly to refer to the triumph that Gaelic had lately
gained in being recognised in the Scotch Code. A cherished object
of this Society had been thus gained, and he, as a member of it,
had the honour of presenting the first pupils under the new Code,
even though the Gaelic schedule was not yet organised. (Cheers.)
Mr Duncan Campbell, who was called upon to reply, said he
would have preferred to have proposed the toast, as in that case he
would have had a better opportunity of referring to Mr Macbain's
studies in Celtic literature. (Applause.) Mr Macbain was one of
those gentlemen who really deserved the thanks of the Society,
and, indeed, of all Celtic Societies, for his valuable and fruitful
labours in that field. (Applause.) His friend, Mr Mackenzie,
Ballifeary, whose name was coupled with the toast, and himself,
were only doing their best to keep modem Gaelic alive, and coining
it for commercial and every-day use ;
and also, as his friend Mr
Whyte suggested, for election purposes. (Laughter and applause.)
Professor Blackie some years ago published a judicial sentence of
his own to the efi'ect that Gaelic would never go beyond poetry and
dialogue; but the Professor would have to retract this sentence—
whicli, as an enthusiastic Highlander, he would no doubt do very
frankly, for, during the election, the province of Gaelic—modern
living Gaelic— had branched out in every form, and endeavoured
to adapt itself to modern {)olitical thought, and other matters which
formerly were almost unutterable in Gaelic. (Applause.) It had
been shown that, like modern Greek, the Gaelic language had
within itself the power of expressing every idea entering into
the hearts of men, without, like English, borrowing from every
available source. (Laughter and applause.) Mr Campbell, in
conclusion, referred to a pamphlet, published by Dr Mackenzie of
Eileanach, entitled " The Catechism of the Crofter." The pamphlet,
Mr Campbell said, was one of the most useful and valuable
contributions to modern Gaelic literatui'e, because the Dr had
elevated the importance of industry, and brought to the knowledge
and understanding of the crofters valuable ideas in political economy.
(Applause.) He only hoped that some one would follow up Dr
Mackenzie's contribution with a I'ublication of a similar nature,
giving useful knowledge regarding gardening, for the benefit of tlie
Highland people. (Applause.)