Download Volume 12 here

292 Gaelic Society of Inverness.
Love of Country.—The attachment of the Celt to his native
land is indeed a stroni,' pf)int in his character, and the Scottish
Gael in this respect vies with his brother Celts, and dearly loves
" The land of biown heath and shaggy wood— the land of the
mountain and the flood." The author of " Six months in Italy,"
remarks that among all the nationalities he met with in the College
of Proi)aganda, and students are found in it fi'om every clime,
he found the love of home strongest among the youths from
Switzerland, the Mountains of Lebanon, and from Scotland, thus
showing the love of home strongest amongst the inhabitants of
mountainous districts. It is sad to think how many pangs, and
how much real grief have resulted from this tender attachment of
the Gael to his native land.
Military Prowess.—Perhaps the widest reputation the Highlander
enjoys, is that which he has made for himself by his Millitary
prowess, and undaunted courage. Flow much this vast
Empire is inde])ted for its power abroad, and its stability at home
to these two qualities of the Gael the military annals of our
country bear ample testimony. This subject needs only to be
mentioned, for wherever the name of the Gael is heard his qualities
as a patriot and soldier are well known.
Many other interesting qualities in the character of the Gael
suggest themselves, but those I have ventured to mention are
certainly conspicuous. It may be said that this picture of the Gael
is purely imaginary, and that at least in these days no such type
of character exists. The more is the pity. It must be owned
that in the process of becoming Saxonised, the Gael has lost many
of the noble and distinct qualities which distinguished his forefathers.
It must not, liowever, be forgotten that gifted with a
knowledge of the language, not of the Saxon as such, but of that
commercial lif(^ and entei'prise which his own native gifts and
talents have helped so much to extend and develop in this kingdom,
and throughout the whole British Empire, the Gael is to be
found in the very foremost ranks of success, honour, and distinc-
tion. How many (xaels could be mentioned who have distinguished
themselves in every walk in life! I have dwelt, perhaps, too
long on the chai-acteristics of the Gael, but I will not detain you
with his social history further than to say that, as this subject
has been so ably and comprehensively treated before by Mr John
Macdonald,* I do not feel justified in trespassing any further on
your time and patience.
* Sec Transactions, vols. x. and xi.