Willison's Young Communicant's Catechism. Duncan Campbell, a private in one of the Militia Regiments in Ireland, published also at Cork his volume of Gaelic Poetry, and the volume of Allan M'Dougall made its appearance. From 1800, to the present day, there have been more publications in the Gaelic language than all those published prior to that date. Besides the various editions of the Bible, New Testament, Psalter, Catechism, and other books formerly mentioned, detached portions of the Scriptures for the use of schools have been printed. Three new translations of the Psalter have been published, and editions of the Shorter Catechism, with the Scripture proofs, have also made their appearance. Stewart of Dingwall and Currie of Prospect, have each published a Gaelic Grammar. Prior to 1821, although there were a few Vocabularies of the language, yet there was no good Dictionary; but since that period, four have been published. The Poems of A. Campbell, Dr. Dewar, Rob. Donn, Wm. Gordon, George Ross Gordon, Peter Grant, Angus Kennedy, H. & J. M'Allum, J. M'Donald, John McGregor, Dr. James M'Gregor, M'Intosh, M‘Kay, J. M‘Lachlan, J. McLean, D. McLeod, D. Matheson, J. Morrison, James Munro, John Munro, A. & D. Stewart, R. Stewart, P. Stuart, P. Turner, have been published, besides 10 volumes of anonymous poetry, partly original, and partly collected. In original prose compositions, Gaelic literature is very barren; but during the present century, there have appeared ten original prose works of various degrees of merit, but entirely confined to religious topics. There have also been published either through the munificence of private individuals, or as booksellers' speculations, transla→ tions of 45 works, 42 of which are of a religious nature, and three of them of a moral kind. Various elementary works for teaching the Gael to read, have also been printed. In 1803, a Gaelic periodical was commenced at Glasgow, under the title of the Rosroine-only four Nos. of which have appeared. In 1829, another Gaelic periodical, under the title of the "Gaelic Messenger," was also commenced; but although conducted by the Rev. Dr. M'Leod of Campsie with great ability; yet, from the want of support, it existed only for two years. During the present century, various controversial pamphlets on the subject of the different Gaelic translations of the Scriptures and Psalter, have also been printed, and, although, for the most part, they are conducted in a very acrimonious manner, yet much may be gleaned from them on that topic. At the present moment, although great exertions are making by many distinguished friends of Celtic literature to perpetuate the language; yet we are afraid that ere half a century elapse, it will have shared the fate of the Waldensian and the Cornish, and have become subject of history alone. Although the exertions of the friends of Gaelic literature are judicious and powerful, yet they have to contend with opponents to which they can offer but trifling resistance. The steam-boats and stage-coaches which are now. visiting the remotest districts of the Highlands, do more in one season to chase away the Gaelic, than all the combined powers of those who are labouring in its behalf, could remedy in twenty years. The listlessness evinced by many of the Highland Clergy of the Established Church, to the study of the Gaelic language, is another powerful reason which can be given for its late rapid decline. These gentlemen could do more for the cause of Gaelic Literature, than any other class, if they cared much about it. They could themselves improve it, by composing their discourses, according to some established rule of orthography, and not ad libitum, as their present custom is, a custom which invariably prevents their sermons being printed for the benefit of their flock-or they could fan its expiring spark, by patronizing the simple and primitive laity in their parishes, who evince an ardour in its cultivation. They could strongly recommend its being learned at school by the children of their parishioners-but this, we are sorry to say, is not done, very few of them study the Gaelic beyond the writing of their discourses, which, as we have before stated, are not spelled according to any established grammatical rule, but according to the caprice of the composer. In many places of the Highlands, parents are also unwilling that their children should "waste time" in learning to read the Gaelic, in consequence of which the greater part of the youthful Gael talk neither English, Scottish, nor Gaelic, but a jargon made up of the three. The Gael find it to be their interest to study the English language, and, however patriotic their feelings may be in regard to their mother tongue, yet interest is a powerful charm, and the more the English is cultivated in the Highlands, the less attention will be paid to the Gaelic. Glasgow, 15th June, 1832. |