PERIODICALS.
Strenuous efforts were put forth early in this century to supply the Highlanders with useful literature in their own tongue, but the necessary sustained support has not hitherto been accorded to such efforts. Popular poetry and religious writings have therefore been the main channels through which literature has reached the Gaelic mind. The following list embraces the chief publications of this kind:—
In 1803 the Ros-Roine, a magazine, commenced, but the publication ceased with the fourth number.
In 1829-31 An Teachdaire Gaidhealach, a monthly, was sent forth by W. R. MacPhun, publisher, Glasgow, with the elder Dr Norman Macleod as editor.
In 1835-36 An Teachdaire Ur Gaidhealach was published.
In 1840-43 Cuiartear nan Gleann appeared, with Dr Macleod once more as chief support and editor.
In 1848 Fear-tathaich nam Beann made its appearance only to succumb, like its predecessors, after a brief existence.
Some of the writers associated with these efforts were Lachlan Maclean, Archibald Sinclair, Campbell (the Glasgow publisher), and the late Rev. Dr Archibald Clerk of Kilmallie.
The Disruption of the Church of Scotland in 1843 became the chief theme of an ably conducted periodical, An Fhianuis, edited by the Rev. Dr Mackintosh Mackay.
Even in Canada attempts were made to keep the Gaelic alive by means of magazine literature. Between 1840 and 1841 Urquhart published in Canada Cuairtear nan Coiltean; and about 1851 John Boyd published An Cuairtear Og in Antigonish, N.S.
For many years afterwards no efforts were made to publish magazines till 1871, when Mr Angus Nicholson, a native of Lewis, published in Canada the first three numbers of An Gaidheal (The Gael). On the advice of some Celtic friends the spirited projector of this venture transplanted his young sapling into Scottish soil in 1872, where it continued to appear for about six years. In 1872-4 Bratach na Firinn, chiefly a religious magazine, appeared, published by the writer in his undergraduate days.
At present the Church of Scotland’s own organ of “Life and Work” has a Gaelic Supplement. The Free Church issues The Gaelic Record. Gaelic articles have also appeared in the newspapers of Inverness and Oban, editors having discovered of late years that the insertion of Gaelic articles is not inimical to the circulation of their journals. The Celtic Magazine, ably carried on for some years by Mr Alexander Mackenzie, and the Highland Monthly at present, though not written in Gaelic, have helped forward Gaelic scholarship. Nor must I omit to mention the earlier patriotic efforts of Mr John Murdoch in The Highlander, in writing the language and advocating its claims—efforts which ought to find a special place in the pages of the historian of the Gaelic Renaissance of this quarter of the nineteenth century.