Volume II. Guth na Bliadhna ' leabhar II.]

John Honeyman.
history and patriotism

Hitherto I have dealt, in a general way, and with unavoidable brevity, with certain outstanding events in Scottish history. My design has been rather to indicate the lines on which future Gaelic historians should write, than to treat of those events in a par­ticular manner or from the point of view of the " scientific " historian. On each of the events which I have but glanced at in passing, it is safe to say that a respectable volume might be written. The fact is, that it is almost impossible to get a history which narrates those events as we would have them written. Persons with Jacobite sympathies frequently complain that the existing histories of Scotland do but scant justice to the cause to which their ancestors so heartily, and for the most part, disinterestedly subscribed. No doubt they have foundation enough for their complaint. Mankind, whose nature is to despise failure, is slow enough to champion a beaten cause, however respectable it may be, or however patriotic and disinterested may have been the motives of those who gave their support to it. The Jacobite wars, however, are but incidents in our story, though the principles from and on which they proceeded date from antiquity; whilst the Gaelic cause is really the cause of all times, past, present and to come; and embraces the whole country. The importance of histoiy lies, not so much in its verities, which, after all, have, alas, almost a purely antiquarian interest, as in its power to mould the minds of the young. In every European country the extreme importance of histoiy is being increasingly recognised. In France and Germany, historical studies are very properly regarded in the public schools as of the first importance, and even in England, a sorry laggard in educational affairs, as her national and private educational systems abundantly testify, they are beginning to realise that unless the young are inspired with proper historical principles, the patriotism of the youth or man cannot be implicitly relied on in any national emergency.

In Scotland we may be said to oscillate between two historical systems. That which is admittedly] English—a silly importation from across the Border] —and that which is styled " Scotch "; but which is really but the " Lowland Tradition" reduced to] writing. By Gaels of to-day, neither of those two] systems—these two extremes—is likely to be apa proved. The first is plainly " impossible," for th| simple reason that it does not concern us ; and thè] sooner it is sent flying, bag and baggage, across th! Tweed the better it will be for the country. With] regard to the second—the "Scotch" system, or] cycle of historical events—our sympathies cannot be with it either; for the equally plain reason that] it has none for us. It is devoutly to be hoped that! as soon as ever Inverness is made the educational headquarters of Celtic Scotland, this system will be thoroughly overhauled, and the doubtful or] injurious elements in it promptly eliminated. To] teach the children of the Gael of Scotland spurious] or prejudiced history is consistent neither with] reason nor fair-play. Besides, the histories which] obtain elsewhere do not deal sufficiently exhausts ively with our own national concerns; and if] patriotism is to be revived amongst us, it is essential that more time and talent should be devoted to the] consideration of purely Gaelic affairs than they ard at present accustomed to receive. We must have] good popular histories written in the Gaelic lan! guage, and from the Gaelic mental standpoint. We do not want mere vulgar panegyric—any baogk-allan who is sufficiently acquainted with pen and] ink can write as much—but sympathetic narrai tives, in which, whilst full justice shall be done to] our national virtues, our faults and failings as al people shall be sympathetically pointed out; and] foood morals drawn with a view to the avoidance of [similar miscarriages in conduct and character on $he part of the rising generation of Gaels. It has been justly observed, also, that more time should be devoted to purely local history; for we Gaels fhave our provincial as well as our national politics, ljust, surprising as it may seem to an English edu-lcationist, as other peoples have.

Local events should be brought prominently be­fore the young, who, after all, are but human, and Rake more interest in what immediately concerns Khem than they do in, say, the sack of Troy, or the kPunic wars. It is sincerely to be hoped, therefore, tlhat as soon as Inverness vindicates some part of her constantly boasted claim to be considered as the I" capital of the Highlands " by taking some practical [interest in their welfare—which she can best do by insisting and persuading others to insist, that the [Education Bill now before Parliament shall contain la clause erecting her into an educational centre for ^Celtic Scotland—that these several matters will receive adequate attention, and that an end will be [put to the existing system of teaching history in [Gaelic schools, a system which like many anotherthat [our sapient rulers in the South have made us a super-[fluous present of, seems to start from nowhere in f particular—if we except English ignorance and [prejudice—and to end at any given point (provided [it be sufficiently extravagant and unprofitable) [which you may chose to mention.

The "scientific" tendency nowadays is to dis­regard race, but to magnify country. The race [question is declared to be infinitely too complex [to be ever satisfactorily settled, at least on the [lines of existing nationalities. There may be truth, lor a conspicuous absence of it, in this dictum ;

but personally I do not see that it much matters whether we start from the point of view of races or from that of country, provided the end is] patriotism. The Gaelic race, for which I pleadJ has absorbed various foreign elements; yet for all] practical intents and purposes it is still the Gaelic] race. The same observation is equally true, of] course, of many other existing nationalities. " The English race" is a perfectly comprehensible exl pression, though it may not be a strictly "scienJ tific" one; for the English, like most other races]] is a polyglot affair—a sort of blood-cosmopolitanism!l Still, we all know what we mean when we speak of] " the English race " ; and we do not require pedants] and refiners to say us nay. Similarly, when we] speak of the Gaelic race we know sufficiently well what we mean ; and if any one pretends to think] otherwise, the best answer one can give to such an] objector is to invite him to raise his eyes from his] books and to look about him. Let him go to] Ireland where, at the present moment, many thouf sands of people are engaged in learning the GaeliJ language in simple faith in the race theory and] movement. These patriots may not all be Gael! by blood; but that they are so by spiritual ana] mental adoption must be patent to the meanest intelligence.

So, whether we believe in the race theory or do not, the important point for each country ana people to consider is, the instilling of patriotic] principles into the minds of the young, through! the channel of history. This is particularly rej quisite in the case of the Gael, by reason of th| fact that this department of our national life ha| hitherto been woefully neglected, thanks to thafl political arrangement in virtue of which we havl no real control over our national affairs, and be­cause patriotism has sunk to an exceedingly low ebb amongst us in consequence of that neglect.

Now that it is too late in the day, and Cesar­ean notions of Empire are everywhere falling back before Individualist principles, as applied to Na­tionalities, the English are making frantic endea-ivours to enlist the sympathies of the young people Lof these islands in behalf of their overgrown Empire. But the trend of modern political thought is, fortunately, in exactly the opposite direction to that in which the friends of "expansion" would like to oblige the minds and consciences of our children to proceed. The collapse of the Russian ,;Empire has proved not only the hollowness of the [pretensions of that power, but has also exposed the difficulty of successfully maintaining a " world­wide" empire against anything approaching an effective onslaught. And the recent avowal of Lord Roberts in solemn debate in the House of Lords, that, in his opinion, the English army is ■as little fitted now to cope with a serious national emergency as it was during the time of the late [Boer War, must be cold comfort to the disciples [■of "Empire," and to those others who pin their kfaith to an exploded system of political Csesarism. [These are days, indeed, not of empire making, but of empire smashing. The clumsy expedient of governing by nominal force, by a parade of resources in men and in money on paper is everywhere break­ing down; and the smaller nations of Europe, taking courage by the discomfiture of some of the big bullies, are everywhere asserting themselves in undeniable fashion. The comparative ease with which a determined people can arm themselves to throw off a yoke which they hate and despise, the desperate and bloody resistance which even a hand­ful of determined individuals can offer to all efforts] made to bring about their subjection, the expense] and uncertainty of war, viewed from the " imperial '4 standpoint, the growing hatred of despotism,! whether benevolent or otherwise, and intolerance] of interference, and above all, perhaps, the spread] of education, and with it the growth of that pride] of race and love of country with which it is sol closely identified—all these causes, I say, operate to] discourage the " Imperialist," and to pave the way] for the inevitable collapse of those governing prini ciples in which he believes, and which give him his] epithet.

Hitherto, as I have said, I have dealt with Scot­tish history in a general way, indicating the lines] on which I conceive its study should proceed,! rather than attempting closely to consider those] various events themselves. In future, I mean to] address myself in these pages to the task of writing] Gaelic history as, in my opinion, it should be com| piled. The periodical character of this Review! coupled with the limited space at my commandj will prevent me from attempting anything in the] nature of an elaborate treatise. The most I eag here endeavour will be to write a series of popular! historical papers, with a view to their eventual publication in book form. My observations will be addressed principally to the Gaelic youth of this] kingdom, whose cause is a statesman-like one, anòj whose early infection with right historical notions! and principles is of the utmost importance to our] race; and in order that my endeavour may lack] nothing in the shape of completeness and appro-1 priateness which it is in my humble power to] bestow on it, I purpose addressing my youthful constituents in the Gaelic language.

H. M.
DOIGH-SGRIOBHAIDH

Ciod e dòigh-sgriobhaidh ? 'S e dòigh-sgriobhaidh a' mhodh a tha aig duine anns am bheil e 'nochadh 'le sgriobhaidh no le labhairt na smuaintean a. .th'aige. 'S e Fileantachd eòlas chum labhairt gu maith; ach 's e dòigh-sgriobhaidh, air an taobh teile, a' mhodh a tha aig duine anns am bheil e ideanta ri sgriobhadh no ri bruidhinn.

Tha na cleachdaidhean a 's fhearr air dòigh-sgriobhaidh a' sruthadh a mach o 'n inntinn, ach pa e comasach, cuideachd, beagan de na cleachd­aidhean so 'fhaotainn le cleachdadh is foghlum.

Tha na h-aobharan a tha aig bun dhoigh-sgriobhaidh bunaichte gu maith anns gach àite, is gach cearn do 'n t-saoghal uile; ach cha 'n 'eil te comasach na h-aobharan a tha aig bun an dara-puid de dhòighean-sgriobhaidh a chur ris a' chuid reile. Tha so ceart cho fior 'thaobh cainntean na. [Roinn-Eorpa's tha e thaobh cainntean nan duth-chanan 'san Aird'-an-Ear.

Thug na Romhanaich 's na Greugaich spèis, mhòr do dhòigh-sgriobhadh; agus dh'fhàs iad ainmeil as a leth. Mar sin, bha an fheadhainn a leanas: Antiphon, Andocides, Lidhcurgus, Din-archus, Demosthenes, Lisias, Pindar, Libhidh, Iso-lcrates, Isseus, Cicero, agus moran eile. Thug na. [Romhanaich's na Greugaich aire mhòr do dhoigh-[sgriobhadh, oir, 'n am beachd-san, bha dòigh-sgriobhaidh cho feumail ri brigh a' ghnothaich.

'Gar taobh-ne, thug ar sinnsearan dòigh-sgrio-[bhaidh a stigh do 'n duthaich so linnteann air ais. Chreid iad, maille ri Mirabeau, gu bheil "focail [mar nithean"; agus, mar sin, chuir iad " làmh nan diochiollach" ris a ghnothach sin da-rireadh.

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Theagamh, gu 'n do ghabh iad saothair tuille's a choir a thaobh dhòighe-sgriobhaidh. Nach e Bacon a thubhairt gu 'n robh snàs-labhairt 'n a eòlas, " excellently well laboured ?" Tha sàr-fhios againn gu 'm feumadh nithean glic is eireachdail 'bhi air an tarraing a mach ex visceribus causae.

Coma co dhiù, thug na Gaidheil spèis mhòr do dh'fhocail; agus, mar a thubhairt mi cheana, bha iad eòlach air thar tomhas agus thar ceartas; oir is lion-lannachd 'thaobh fhocail ceart cho airidh air achmhasan agus a tha lion-lannachd a thaobh bhrigh. Chuir Cicero sgriobhadh àraidh ainmeil dh'ionnsuidh a charaid, Atticus, aig an robh roimh-ràdh snàs-labhairt; ach chuir a charaid air ais e, ag ràdh gu 'n do chuir Cicero an earrann ceudna mar prooemium cheana, anns obair eile ; agus ghearr Cicero a mach e. So eisimpleir math dhuinn chum pongalachd ann an sgriobhadh. B'fhearr leis dragh a chur air fhein, agus an earrann a sgriobh e, a sgriobhadh a rìs, na 'bhi air a chronachadhair son a chuairt - bhriathar, eadhon thaobh na smuaintean a, bh'aige.

Ach roimh so, thug na Gàidheil spèis gu h-anabarrach mòr do dh'fhocal; agus ghabh iad tlachd gu pongail air sruth-fhocal, seòrsa eòlas a bha ro mheasail leo. Tha na sgriobhaidhean Gàidhealach o shean gu math làn de na sruthan-fhocal so, a chionn gu bheil iad misneachail agus brioghmhor a thaobh an dòigh' air an do sgriobhadh iad. Thug ar n-eachdraichean a stigh iad d' an oibrichean, Ios gu 'n sgeadaicheadh iad dhuinne an sgriobhaidhean fein, agus gu 'n dùisgeadh iad leo smuaintean d'an luch-leughaidh.

Tha e ro dhuilich ri ràdh aig a' cheart àm so ciod e an t-àm no 'n dòigh air an robh am fasan 'thaobh an sgriobhaidh so air a thoirt a stigh do dhùthaich nan Gàidheal. Bha aig na h-Arabaich, agus cuid eile de na cinnich a thainig o 'n Aird'-an-Ear, sgriobhaidhean air an dòigh cheudna; ach cha 'n 'eil e comasach gu 'n robh eòlas sam bith aig Gàidheil agus na h-Arabaich air a chèile aig àm cho tràthail ri so. Air an leabhar ris an goirear Tain Bò Cuailgne, tha mòran eisimpleirean ann air an dòigh-sgriobhadh so. Tha e air a ràdh gu n do sgriobhadh na h-oibrichean so mu dheireadh na seachdamh linn; ach cha 'n 'eil e cho làn de shruthan-fhocal ri obair ainmeil eile ris an abrar Fleadh Dùin nan Geadh. Air son so, agus a chionn gu bheil na sgriobhaidhean a 's traith' againne—'s e sin ri ràdh Leabhar Ar-mhaighe, an Liber Hymnorum, na leabhraichean mu Naomh Pàdraig ni 's traithe, agus na leabhraichean mu Naoimh eile na Gàidhealtachd—uile air an sgrio­bhadh air dòigh a's nadurra co dhiù, tha mi lan-chreidsinn gu 'n deachaidh an sgriobhadh roimh do'n dòigh-sgrìobhadh at-mhòr so a bhi air a thoirt a stigh do dhùthaich nan Gàidheal. Air an leabhar ris an abrar Hi-Manaidh le Seamus O'Dian, a fhuair bàs anns a' bhliadhna 1372, tha moran eisimpleirean ann air an dòigh-sgriobhadh so, ach 's e an leabhar ris an abrar Caithreim Toirdhealbhaigh le Iain Mhic Ruaidhri Mac Grath, a chaidh a sgriobhadh anns a' bhliadhna 1459 a's ainmeile agus a saothaireachaile air son an fhasan so. So againn samhladh :—

" D'aithle na h-imagallmha sin, Donnachaidh re n-a dheagh-mhuintir, ro eirigh go h-ùirmheisneach osgardha d'a eideadh fein 'san ionad soin. Agus tugadh ar d-tus a uasaleide d'a ionnsaighidh ie cotun daingean, deaghchùmta, dluith-iomaireach, din-eitrigheach, dearg-anpa dhach, des-chiumas-bhlàith, de albhnuadhach, dath-chroidhearg, dio-


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graise; agus do chuir uime go h-èasgaidh an teideadh oir-chiùmsach soin, agus is e comhphad do dhion a dheagh-chotun Donnchaidh, ie o iochtar a mhaothbhraghad mir-chorcra, go mullach a ghlun ghasta, ghleighil, choir," etc., etc.

Bitheamaid measarra! Is maith thig e do dhòigh-sgriobhadh am buidh-fhocal; ach is coma­sach tuille 's a choir eadhon do 'n ni math sam bith 'fhaotainn, mar tha an t-sean fhocal ag ràdh. Gidheadh, bu thaitneach do mhoran ughdaran Ghàidhealach, a bha maireann mu 'n ochda-linn-deug, agus aig toiseach na linn so chaidh, an ■dòigh-sgriobhaidh so; agus chum iad suas e gu h-eudmhor, misneachail. Chuir an t-TJrramach Pòl O'Brian an cèill, 'san Taibs'-ionnsachadh a sgriobh e, an taobh blath a bha aige ris an fhasan so; agus bu lion-mhòr iadsan a bha 'ga mholadh as a leth. Gun teagamh is math is freagarach do sgriobhadh am buidh-fhocal. Ciod ris an coimeas mi an roinn a leanas, a thug mi o leabhar ainmeil priseil a tha' agam :—

" Esan an là mu 'n d'fhuluig e, a ghlac aran 'na lamhan "naomh agus urramach agus a shuilean a' togail suas ri neamh ruitsa a Dhia, Athair uile chumhachdach a' toirt taing dhut, bheannaich e bhrist e, 's thug e dh'a dheisciopuil." Agus, " air an dòigh cheudna, an deigh na suipreach, a' glacadh na cailis àghoir so na lamhan naomh agus urramach, cuideachd a' toirt taing dhutsa, bheannaich e, 's thug e dh'a dheisciopuill".

So againn, ma tà, roinn, a 's maise, agus a's urramaiche's a leugh mi riamh, agus m'a dheimhinn dh'fheudar a ràdh gu'm bu choir dha bhi taitneach do gach fear, air son an dòighe earalaich agus iongantaich anns a' bheil na buidhean-fhocal air an toirt a steach. 'Nam bu mhiann leinn a bhi

'n ar deagh ughdaran, feumaidh sinn meudachadh a sheachnadh a thaobh fhocal, cho maith ri smuain­tean. Agus is coir dhuinn cuimhn' a bhi againn nach 'eil mar fhiachaibh oirnn' a bhi moladh gach abhaist is cleachdadh a thainig nuas dhuinn o na linntean mheadhonach.

I. B.
res publica

Heraldry, like other sciences, has its temptations. No doubt, its misdemeanours are comparatively trifling and innocuous ; but a tendency to pun (in or out of season) is an offence which the public is apt to resent, as being untimely. And this is, or rather was (for, alas! in some respects, its pun­ning days are over), Heraldry's besetting sin. No doubt, it had others: such as credulity beyond measure, and a tendency to exaggeration in the matter of the number of the progeny of Adam. But these, after all, were but secondary considera­tions, which took their rise rather from tempera­ment than design. The grave misdemeanour was the tendency to pun, and, what is worse, to joke not so much with difficulty as with deliberate and

serious intent.

The Celtic families of Scotland have been rather hard hit by Heraldry in this respect. The names of those families whose progenitors originated in puns, are, with us, numerous. And what is more serious still is the fact that there is a suspicious and by no means specious similarity about these original tales. For the most part, their "period" is the Scoto-Norman ; and their place of birth the inevit­able battlefield. Thus, we have a valiant King of Scots, hard pressed by a cunning and relentless