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2 Gaelic Society of Inuerness.
—
intosh of Holme ; Sheriti" Blair, Inverness , Rov. A. D. Mackenzie,
Kiliuorack ; Captain O' Sullivan, Inverness ; Mr Charles
Innes, solicitor, Inverness ; Mr A. Burgess, banker, Gairloch ;
Mr P. Burgess, factor, Glennioriston ; Ex-Bailie Macdonakl,
Aberdeen ; Mr James Barron, Inverness ; Mr L. Macdonald of
Skeabost, and others.
Professor Blackie wrote :
" Broughton, Peeblesshire, 3rd July.
" Dear Sir,—You are very kind to \vish to keep nie longer as
a Highlander, but I have done my work in that quarter, and must
now submit to die as I was born, a Lowlander. Nevertheless,
liad I been free to wandei- about at this season, I might have done
myself the pleasure to visit the fair city, whose beauties, I think,
I once sang in a sonnet ; but, unfortunately, this year I am tied
down to Tweedside, doing family duty from which only the imperative
call of public work could withdraw me. With best
wishes for the success of your gathering on the 9th, believe me,
sincerely yours, " John S. Blackie."
The Chief, on rising to speak, was received with loud cheers.
He said—When travelling in a railway caniage a few months ago,
I read a report of a meeting of this Society, and saw that
I had been elected Chief for the year, I thought there must
have been some mistake, and it was not until I arrived at
home and found a letter from our worthy Secretary, confirming
the report, that I fully realised the great honour which
had been bestowed upon me. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen,
we have met here to-night to celebrate the fourteenth annual
assembly of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, and holding as I do
a very strong opinion that, if we, as a Society, ever allow politicid
questions of any sort, no matter how important, or of how great
interest they may be to us, to a})pear at our assemblies, from that
time dissension and strife will spring up amongst us— (Hear, hear)
—and we will soon drift apart, and tlius do away with the great
power for good, which I am certain this Society can bring to bear
on the people in whoso welfare and prosjierity we take, and should
take, so active an interest. (Ai)plause.) Holding these opinions, I
do not intend to say one word which can betui-ned by my bitterest
political opponent into a channel which I never intended, or even
to nKmtion a subject wjiich is never for long out of our thoughts,
or our daily conversation. That our Chief at the last annual
dinner had to do this we are aware, but on that occasion it was