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248 Gaelic Society of Inverness.
to "abstainc t'l'oiii all liniuini,' and painting,', (juliicli liitliiTto has
diverted him from his ministerial employments." It is to be
hoped, however, that the parson did not obey this injunction too
implicitly, and that, without ViCglecting his ministerial duties, he
found time to limn such pictures as were a source of plcasui'c to
himself and his parishioners.
In January 167G Mr INIicIiael informed the Presbytery that
the Bishop had left it to the Ijrethien to decide when to attempt
another visitation of the parish. The brethren, however, had
had too much experienc(j to again appoint a day without consulting
the people, and on 21st June the Moderator war, instructed
" to wryt to the heretors of Daviott and Dunlechety to know what
tyme tliey may conveniently keep the a])poynted visitation at
Dunlecliety, and to return tlier answer to the next Presbytery,
lest the brethren as formerly travell there in vayne.". The reply,
which was read at the next meeting — 19th July— is striking :
" Seeing they are necessitat to abyd in the glens to shelter and
keep ther bestiall and goods tfrom the Lochaber and Glencoa
robbers, yt it is impossible for either the gentlemen, elders, or
people to keip the said visitation untill att least yr harvest be
done, and then they will inianimous meit at Dunlechety any dyett
the Presbytery appoynts, and in the mean tyme before the said
visitation meitt, yt the heritoi'S are willing to meitt with a select
number from ye Presbytery, that a forsable way niay be taken
for a manse to ther minister qreby hee may bee incourraged to
reside still amongst them."
The manse question was an urgent one, for there was no
place of rest for the minister in the parish. At a previous meet-
ing, the Presbytery ordered him "to reside in his parish of
Daviot, and to build a chamber for himselfe to that effiset ;" but
the order was not obeyed. The Presbytery now, as suggested by
the heritors, appointed a committee, consisting of the Rev. James
Fraser, Kirkhill (tlie author of the Wardlaw Manuscript), and
.several others to meet the heritors at Gask, and confer with them
as to the immediate erection of a manse; but the heritors would
not appoint a day, alleging that they were " busie about ther
harvest," and at last the Presbytery themselves a])pointed the
first Tuesday in October. This meeting, howevei-, does not
appear to have been held ; but on 7th Noveml)er the long delayed
visitation took place jit Dunlichity. A somewhat sad state of
matters was di.sclosed. 'I'he minister had not celebrated the
Lord's Supper since his entry to the parish, and he did not I'eside
in the parish for the reason that " he had not a manse to lodge
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