Objects in Focus: Flora MacDonald's Fan

In an upstairs room in the West Highland Museum there is a picture frame keeping together a bronze brooch and a pretty, painted fan. In the earliest list we have of Carmichael's collection, the fan is referred to as 'a French fan' and indeed, even to the untrained eye, it has a continental feel to it.

WHM 1992 13 4 - Flora MacDonald's brooch and fan

The two labels, written in Alexander Carmichael's hand read:

Brooch which belonged to Flora Macdonald.

and

A sandalwood fan which belonged to 

Flora Macdonald. 

Presented to her while she was a prisoner on parole in 

the house of Lady Primrose in London, Nov[embe]r 1746 and 

given to me by her grand niece Mrs Maclellan of 

Ormacleit South Uist 

1868. 

Alexander Carmichael.

Provenance is important in identifying and cataloguing objects, so it is fortunate that Carmichael added this note to what he clearly deemed as precious objects. We know from the notebooks we've transcribed and listed that Carmichael spent time collecting information on the MacDonald family from Mrs Penelope MacLellan, who was also known as 'Bean Ormacleit'. Her father, Donald MacDonald, was a tacksman and the son of Ùisdean Bàn Chillepheadar, a seanachie from Kilpheder in South Uist (ref. Coll-97/CW108/65). But what of Lady Primrose?

Detail of a rich man from Flora MacDonald's fan

Lady Primrose is mentioned throughout Jacobite literature as being a London based Jacobite, who not only gave Flora houseroom when she was on parole but raised money for her. In 1750, when Bonnie Prince Charlie was on his secret visit to London, it was into her house off The Strand, that he walked, under an assumed name, disturbing her game of cards with non-Jacboite nobility. The story goes:

Recognising him at once, she nearly dropped her cards with amazement

'Charles Edward Stuart' by F. McLynn, p. 398

Lady Primrose recovered her surprise and her non-Jacobite companions were, fortunately for her, none the wiser.

Detail of a wealthy woman from Flora MacDonald's fan

Born Anne Drelincourt, Lady Primrose was the widow of Hugh the third Viscount of Primrose, a short-lived Scottish title, which as they had no children became extinct on Hugh's death in 1741. Her parents were Rev. Peter Drelincourt, Dean of Armagh and his wife Mary Maurice, daughter of the Dean of Derry. Peter or Pierre Drelincourt was a Hugenot, one of sixteen children of Charles Drelincourt, a French Reformed church minister. This connection with France indicates that the fan, which Flora MacDonald received was very probably French. We do not know whether this was a personal item, potentially a family piece, or whether it was purchased specially for Flora but it seems indicative of Lady Primrose's admiration for her.

The detail on the fan shows a wealthy couple, opulently dressed, and what is probably their nursemaid tending to their child. Who the couple are meant to be, if indeed they are meant to represent anyone, or their significance has yet to be discovered. A little more research may reveal more about the fan's provenance and then we can turn our attention to the brooch, one of many simple ring bronze brooches which Alexander Carmichael had in his possession.

Detail of a nursemaid and child from Flora MacDonald's fan

Images:

WHM 1992 13 4 Bronze brooch and fan belonging to Flora MacDonald
All images copyright of Carsten Flieger (www.carstenflieger.com).

References:

Coll-97/CW108/65 Notes on the family of Uistean Ban Cillepheadar 
Coll-97/CW150/77
Frank McLynn, 'Charles Edward Stuart - A Tragedy in many Acts' (London, 1988), p 398
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jacobite/message/10306
Ruth Whelan, ‘Drelincourt, Peter (1644–1722)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/8045, accessed 11 Sept 2012]

Key figures:

MacDonald | Flora | 1722-1790 | Jacobite
MacLellan | Penelope | 1796-1873 | née MacDonald | 'Bean Ormicleit' | South Uist
Primrose | Anne | Dowager Viscountess | c1706-1775 | née Drelincourt | wife of Hugh Primrose 3rd Viscount of Primrose | The Strand | London | England

Hebridean Waulking Songs: An Index to Campbell and Collinson's 'Hebridean Folksongs'

Tha sinn air a bhith ag obair air na h-òrain luaidh a chruinnich Alasdair, agus mar chuideachadh chuir sinn clàr beag ri chéile ás na trì chlàir eadar-dhealaichte dha na trì leabhraichean Hebridean Folksongs a dheasaich Iain Latharna Caimbeul agus Frangag Collinson (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1969–81). Tha na leabhraichean rud beag duilich an ùisneachadh as ’aonais. Co-dhiù, seo thugaibh e: tha sinn an dòchas gum bi an clàr feumail – ’s dòcha gun cuir sinn ris fhathast! Tha ainm no ciad loidhne an òrain ’ga leantainn le àireamh an leabhair anns a bheil e, an uair sin àireamh an òrain ann an litrichean Ròmanach, agus mu dheireadh àireamhan nan loidhnichean.

We’ve been working on the waulking songs which Alexander collected, and to help us we compiled a little index out of the three separate indices for the three volumes of Hebridean Folksongs edited by John Lorne Campbell and Francis Collinson (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1969–81). The books are a bit difficult to use without one. Here it is: we hope it might be of use, and perhaps we might extend it still! The name or first line of the song is followed by the number of the volume in which it is found, then the song number in Roman numerals, and finally the line numbers.

Co-chur de na clàir dha Hebridean Folksongs i–iii

A synthesis of the indices to Hebridean Folksongs, i–iii

A bhean ud thall a nì an gàire: HF3, cii, 468–86

A bhradag dhubh a bhrist na glasan: HF2, lxviiib, 1105–24

Ach a Mhaighread nan cuireid: HF3, cv, 559–668                                               

Ach a Mhurchaidh òig ghaolaich: HF2, xlii, 105–50

Ach, òganaich laghaich: HF3, xciiib, 140–63

A Dhia! ’s gaolach liom an gille:   HF2, lxviiia, 1077–1104

A Dhòmhnaill Dhuinn, ma rinn thu m’eucoir: HF3, cxvia, 1095–1116

Ailein, Ailein, ’s fad’ an cadal: HF1, xxxvi, 1263–94

Ailein Duinn, o hó hi, shiubhlainn leat: HF1, i, 1–46

Alasdair mhic Colla gasda: HF2, lxxi, 1169–85

Am Bròn Binn: HF2, xli, 1–68; 69–104

A Mhic a’ Mhaoir, ’s daor do shùgradh: HF2, lxxv, 1361–92

A Mhic Iain ’ic Sheumais: HF3, civ, 493–558

An Coire Riabhach: HF2, lxxxv, 1590–1604

An robh thu ’sa bheinn?: HF2, lxxix, 1481–4

An Spaidearachd Bharrach: HF2, lxviii, 1077–1124

A phiuthrag ’s a phiuthar: HF2, lxxiia, 1186–1211

Ar leam gura h-i ghrian ’s i ’g éirigh: HF2, lxix, 1125–37

B’ annsa Seathan a’ falbh sléibhe: HF2, xlvi, 227–79

Bean a’ chuailein chuachaich chlannaich: HF2, lxivb, 898–926

Bha mis’ a raoir air an àirigh: HF2, xlviiia, 406–36

Bhean ud thall, gu dé th’air t’aire?: HF1, xvi, 568–96

Bheir soiridh, soiribh bhuam: HF3, cxxxiv, 1677–87

Cailin mise, buachaill’ thusa: HF2, xlviia, 280–315

Cà na dh’fhàg thu m’fhichead gini?: HF3, cxxviii, 1585–1600

Cha déid mi a Chille Moire: HF2, lxi, 797–806

Cha déid mi do dh’fhear gun bhàta: HF3, cxxv, 1483–1532

Cha déid mise, cha déid mi: HF1, xxxiii, 1158–85

Cha déid Mòr a Bharraigh bhrònaich: HF2, lxvii, 994–1072

Cha dìrich mi an t-uchd le fonn: HF1, xxiv, 857–87

Chaidh mi do’n bheinn ghabhail fradhairc: HF1, xxviii, 984–1019

Chaidh mi ’na ghleannain a’s t-foghar: HF2, xlix, 467–87

Chaidh mis’ a dh’Eubhal imprig: HF2, lxii, 807–39

Chaidh mo lothag air chall: HF3, cxxvi, 1533–66

Chaidil mi a raoir air an àirigh: HF2, xlviiib, 437–66

Chailin òig as stiùramaiche (etc.): HF2, xlvii, 280–405

Cha labhair mi’n t-òran: HF1, xxx, 1052–91

Chan e uiseag a dhùisg mise: HF2, lvi, 712–27

Chan eil falt orm air fuireach: HF1, xxxiv, 1186–1217

Chan eil mi gun mhulad orm: HF3, cxxvii, 1567–84

Chan eil mi gun nì air m’aire: HF1, v, 143–96

Chan fhan mi ’m Mòrair nas fhaide: HF2, lvb, 701–11

Chatriana a dh’fhalbhas gu banail: HF2, lxiii, 840–68

Chì mi ghrian ’s i falbh gu siubhlach: HF2, lixa, 757–63

Chuala mi ’n dé sgeul nach b’ait liom: HF2, lxx, 1138–68

Chuir iad mise ’n ceann na cléitheadh: HF2, lxxxiii, 1532–42

Chunnaic mi an t-òg uasal: HF3, cviii, 775–808

Chunnaic mise mo leannan: HF3, cxviii, 1185–1250

Chunnaic Rìgh Bhreatainn ’na shuain: HF2, xlib, 69–104

Ciad soiridh bhuam dhachaigh: HF3, ciii, 487–94

Coisich, a rùin: HF2, lxxiv, 1261–1360

Có nì mire rium?: HF3, cxxix, 1601–12

Có sheinneadh an fhìdeag airgid?: HF3, xxxii, 1732–1831 (cf. Siubhlaidh mi ’s fàgaidh mi ’m fearann)

Craobh an iubhair: HF1, xxxv, 1221–65

Craobhan ó, hoireann o ho: HF2, liii, 614–62

Cumha banntrach Shanndraigh: HF3, cxvi, 1095–1138

Dh’éirich mi gu moch Diluain: HF3, xcix, 326–53

Dh’éirich mi moch madainn àlainn: HF1, xxix, 1020–51

Dh’éirich mi moch madainn Chéitein: HF2, li, 525–92

Dh’éirich mi moch madainn earraich: HF2, lxxvi, 1393–1416

Dh’éirich mi moch madainn ghrianach: HF2, lxxxvb, 1604–29

Dh’éirich mi moch Di-Dòmhnaich: HF1, ix, 323–62

Dh’éirich mi ’s cha robh mi sunndach: HF2, liv, 664–87

Dh’fhalbh mo rùn bho chionn seachdain: HF3, cvii, 707–74

Dh’fhalbh mo rùn ’s dh’fhàg e ’n caladh: HF3, cx, 839–54

Dhìrich mi suas an Coire Riabhach: HF2, lxxxva, 1590–1603

Dhòmhnaill òig mhic Dhòmhnaill mhic Ruairi: HF1, xxi, 747–94

Di-Sathairne ghabh mi mulad: HF1, vii, 223–73

E ho a hó, ’s trom an dìreadh: HF2, lx, 788–96

Éisdibh beag a staigh mas àill leat: HF2, xlviib, 316–34

Eudail a Rìgh! bu mhi brònag: HF2, liiib, 633–62

Fhir a’ chinn duibh: HF2, lxxxvii, 1643–75

Fhir bhuidh’ an deagh nàdair: HF3, cxxiii, 1415–44

Fliuch an oidhche nochd ’s gur fuar i: HF2, lxvb, 949–73

Ged is grianach an latha: HF2, xliv, 175–94

Gu dé nì mi nochd ri m’ nàire?: HF2, lxxviii, 1473–80

Gura h-e mo ghaol an t-Iain: HF2, lxxx, 1485–90

Gura mise tha fo éislein: HF1, xviii, 626–50

Gura mise tha fo ghruaim: HF3, xcix, 326–53

Gura mise tha fo ghruaman: HF1, xiv, 476–531

Gura mise tha fo mhulad air an tulaich luim fhuair: HF1, xxvi, 922–65

Gura mise tha fo mhulad air an tulaich, ’s mór m’éislein: HF3, cxviiid, 1251–76

Gura mise tha fo mhulad, ged nach urrainn dhomh innse: HF3, cxxiv, 1463–82

Gura mise tha fo mhulad, ’n tìr a’ mhurain ’s an t-sìobain: HF3, cxx, 1315–34

Gura mise tha fo mhulad ’s mi air tulaich na buaile: HF1, xii, 409–42

Gura mise tha gu tinn: HF3, xcix, 303–25

Gura mise tha làn airteil: HF1, xiii, 443–75

Gura mis’ tha fo mhulad, air là…: HF3, cxvib, 1117–38

Gura mis’ tha fo mhulad, giùlain culars Rìgh Deòrsa: HF3, cxxii, 1343–90

Gura mis’ tha fo mhulad, ’s mi air uilinn nam frìthbheann: HF3, cxixb, 1293–1314

Gura mis’ tha fo mhulad, tha lionn-dubh air mo lìonadh: HF3, cxixa, 1275–92

Gura muladach mi am bliadhna: HF3, cxv, 1057–86

Gur h-e mo ghille dùbhdhonn: HF3, cxvii, 1139–84

Hó, mo nighean dubh, till, till: HF3, cxii, 899–904

Hug hoireann ó, ’s m’aighear i: HF3, cxxxi, 1618–27

Hùgan nan gù, théid mi dhachaigh: HF2, lva, 688–700

Latha bha mi ’n lic Dhùn Bheagan: HF2, lxxxviiic, 1700–18

Latha bha ’n Ridire ag òl: HF3, lxxxix, 1–23

Latha dhomh ’s mi falbh an fhàsaich: HF2, xlviic, d, 335–405

Latha dhomh ’s mi falbh an fhraoich: HF3, cvi, 669–706

Latha dhomh ’s mi ’m Beinn a’ Cheathaich: HF1, xxxvii, 1295–1330

Latha dhomh ’s mi ’n Caolas Rònaigh: HF2, lxxviia, 1417–31

Lìon mulad, lìon mulad: HF3, xcviii, 279–302

Marbhaisg air a’ mhulad, ’s buan e: HF1, xxii, 795–827

Mhaighread chridhe, nighean an Leòdaich: HF2, lxxviib, 1432–72

Mhic Iarla nam bratach bàna: HF3, cii, 468–88

Mhic ’ic Ailein seasgair sìobhalt’: HF3, cxxxii, 1628–53

Mhurchaidh bhig, a chinn a’ chonais: HF3, ci, 385–467

Mi dualach, mi donn: HF1, xix, 651–76

Mìle marbhaisg air a’ ghaol: HF3, xcii, 101–19

Mo rùn Ailein: HF2, lxxvi, 1393–1416

Mo shùil silteach, mo chridhe trom: HF2, lviii, 734–56

Mulad is lionn-dubh, tha gruaim: HF3, lxxxix, 24–51

Murchadh an Éirinn, ’s mise bhean bhochd: HF2, lxxxib, 1504–18

Nach fhreagair thu, Chairistiana?: HF1, iv, 116–42

Nàile! ’s toil leam an gruagach: HF3, cxxiv, 1145–62

Nighean chruinn donn, dhut is éibhinn: HF1, xxv, 888–921

Nighean donn bheadarrach, ho rò: HF3, cxxx, 1614–17

Nighean dubh, nighean donn: HF2, lxxxviiib, 1686–99

Nighean ud thall, bheil thu ’t’fhaireachadh?: HF1, iii, 84–115

’N robh thu ’sa bheinn?: HF2, lxxix, 1481–4

O, ’s e mo ghaol an Anna: HF2, lxiv, 869–926

O, daonnan, tha mi deònach: HF3, cix, 809–39

O hao, o hao, ’s mi fo mhìngean: HF3, cxv, 1011–93

O, ’s fhada bhuainn Anna: HF3, cxi, 855–8

O, ’s toil leam an nìghneag: HF3, cxxiv, 1445–82

Och nan och, ’s mar thà mi nochd: HF3, cxvii, 1167–84

Òganaich dhuinn a rinn m’fhàgail: HF3, cxxxiii, 1654–76

Òganaich ùir a’ chùil teudaich: HF3, cxiii, 905–86

Òran Luadhaidh le Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh: HF1, xvii, 597–625

Phiuthar chridhe, chomainn chléibh: HF3, cxvi, 230–1

Rinn mi mochairigh gu éirigh: HF1, viii, 274–322

’S a mhic an fhir bho Ghleann Lìobhann: HF3, cxxi, 1335–52

’S anmoch gum facas an raoir: HF3, ci, 405–35

’S ann an raoir nach d’fhuair mi ’n cadal: HF3, cxvii, 1139–66

’S ann Diluain a rinn sinn gluasad: HF3, cxv, 1066–94

’S bochd an nochd na bheil air m’aire: HF1, i, 1–46

Seathan mac Rìgh Éirinn: HF2, xlvi, 227–79

’S e Mac Aoidh an duine treubhach: HF1, xxxv, 1218–62

’S e mo ghaol, mo ghràdh an ainnir: HF2, lxiva, 869–97

’S fhada bhuam a chì mi’n ceò: HF1, xxxviii, 1331–48

’S fhada leam do dhàil, a Dhòmhnaill: HF3, cxv, 1011–36

’S fhad an sealladh bhuam chì mi: HF2, lx, 788–96

’S fliuch an oidhche ’n nochd ’s gur fuar i: HF1, x, 363–78

’S fliuch an oidhche ’n nochd ’s gur fuar i: HF2, lxxivb, 1322–60

’S ’ga innse cha déid mi: HF3, cxxi, 1335–42

Shuidh mi air cnocan an tiùrr: HF3, xc, 52–78

’S i nochd a’ chiadh oidhche ’n fhoghair: HF1, xv, 532–67

Siubhlaidh mi ’s fàgaidh mi ’m fearann: HF1, xxxii, 1128–57

Siuthadaibh, siuthadaibh, a mhnathan: HF1, xvii, 597–625

’S mi dol timcheall na dòirlinn: HF2, xliii, 151–74

’S mi ’m aonar air buail’ a’ lochain: HF2, lixb, 764–87

’S mi ’m aonaran am Beinn a’ Cheòthain: HF1, xxvii, 966–83

’S mi ’nam shuidh’ air an leathad: HF3, xcv, 204–29

’S mi ri dìreadh ’san dùbhghlaic: HF3, xcv, 194–203

’S mise bhean bhochd, chianail, dhuilich: HF2, lxxxia, 1491–1503

’S mise bhean bhochd, chianail, thùrsach: HF1, ii, 47–83

’S mise chunnaic an t-iaonadh: HF1, xl, 1373–1406

’S mise ’s daor a cheannaich: HF1, xx, 677–746

’S mise nach eil fallain: HF3, xcvii, 232–61

’S moch an diugh a rinn mi éirigh: HF1, xxxi, 1092–1127

’S moch an diugh a rinn mi éirigh: HF2, lxva, 927–48

’S muladach mi o chionn seachdain: HF2, lxxiii, 1244–60

’S muladach mi ’s mi air m’aineoil, HF1, xxiii, 828–56; HF3, xxii, 1832–71

’S muladach, ’s muladach thà mi: HF3, cxiv, 987–1010

’S muladach truagh, ’s cianail thà mi: HF2, lxxxii, 1518 –31

Sneachda ’ga chur air na beannan: HF2, liiia, 614–32

’S tìm dhomh bhith falbh, bhith cur umam: HF2, lxxxiva, 1543–56

Stoirm nan gobhar ri taobh na h-abhann: HF2, lvi, 712–27

’S toil liom, ’s toil liom: HF2, lxxxviiia, 1676–85

’S trom an dìreadh: HF2, lx, 788–96

’S truagh nach robh mi air a’ bhàta: HF3, cxi, 855–98

Tàladh Dhòmhnaill Ghuirm: HF2, lxix, 1125–37

Tha mi dubhach, trom, deurach: HF3, cxxxv, 1704–31

Tha mo ghaol air Catriana: HF3, xciv, 164–93

Tha mulad, tha mulad, tha lionn-dubh orm fhéin: HF3, cv, 559–668

Tha mulad, tha mulad, tha mulad is arteal: HF3, c, 354–84

Tha ’n latha ’n diugh gu fliuch fuaraidh: HF1, vi, 197–222

Tha ’n oidhche nochd fuar, ’s i reothadh gu cruaidh: HF1, xxxix, 1349–72

Tha an oidhche nochd fuar, tha i cruaidh le frasan: HF2, xlv, 195–226

Tha caolas eadar mi is Iain: HF2, l, 488–524

Tha ’n crodh an diugh dol air imprig: HF2, lvii, 728–33

Tha ’n t-uisg’, an ceò, air na beannan: HF2, lii, 593–613

Tha sneachd air na beannaibh Diùrach: HF2, lxvi, 974–93

Thogainn fonn gun bhith trom: HF3, cvi, 669–704

Thug an latha gu dìle: HF3, cxxxv, 1688–1703

Thug mi gaol do’n nighinn duinn: HF1, xi, 379–408

Thug mi ’n oidhche, ge b’fhad’ i: HF3, xciii, 120–63

Trom òr o chalainn: HF3, xcvii, 232–78

Turadh am muigh: HF2, lxxxvi, 1630–42

Turas a chaidh Rìgh Artair ’s a shluagh: HF2, xlia, 1–68

An April Fool gone wrong?

In the national census taken on the 2 April 1871, Alexander Carmichael is recorded as living in Trumaisgearraidh Manse in the north-east of North Uist. Making up the household were his wife Mary Frances; their 7-month old daughter Elizabeth or Ella; Alexander’s 17-year old niece Catherine Carmichael from Lismore, clearly staying with them in order to help with the new baby; their 22-year old domestic servant Catherine MacAulay; and their 18-year old nurse Mary MacInnes, both local girls from North Uist. The Carmichaels’ other child, three-year old Alexander or Alec, was then staying with their good friend John MacDonald (1826–88) at nearby Newton Farmhouse. Recorded separately as head and only member of his own household, but also living in the manse, was the minister, the Rev. Donald Maclean (c. 1835–1914), a bachelor from Tiree.

The Carmichaels had not been living at Trumaisgearraidh for long. The young family had probably moved there from Alexander’s bachelor lodgings in Lochmaddy soon after they had returned from their stay in Lismore, where Ella was born on 9 August 1870. The first mention of Trumaisgearraidh in Carmichael’s papers dates from 21 November 1870: there, in the evening, Carmichael recorded two songs from ‘Mr Ranald Macdonald Taransay Harris’ [CW116/132–3]. Ranald or Ronald MacDonald (c. 1830–1913), sheep farmer, Paible House, had shown Alexander round the island during his visit there earlier that summer.

Less than six months later, however, on the 15 May 1871, Alexander Carmichael is recorded as writing a letter saying that he is preparing to leave Trumaisgearraidh Manse [NRS GD403/90/1]. What has happened in the meantime? A recently discovered note in the Robert Craig Maclagan MSS in the School of Scottish Studies suggests why the Carmichaels might have made such a hasty move.

The note forms part of a detailed, illustrated, and rather idiosyncratic folklore tour through Glen Lonan east of Oban, a beautiful part of Lorn then well-known for its Ossianic connections. The tour was undertaken on 20 May 1895 by the Rev. Niel Campbell (1850–1904), minister of the nearby parish of Kilchrenan and Dalavich, who, between 1893 and 1898 collected lore for the Edinburgh surgeon Robert Craig Maclagan (1839–1919), himself compiling a vast archive of Highland tradition, custom, and belief for the Folklore Society in London.

The Rev. Campbell’s guides at the farm of Torinturk in the glen were ‘two brothers of the name of Morrison from Uist. These are on the point of leaving it. I forget their Christian names but call them A. M. and B. M. respectively’ [Maclagan MS 1260, ‘1’]. After a spell as a sailor, John Morrison (c. 1842–1909) had turned to diamond mining in South Africa, making enough money to take on the lease of the farm of Torinturk with the help of his unmarried brother Donald John (b. c. 1843). On 21 January 1882 John had married Marion MacVicar (b. 1857) from Boraraigh. In addition to a boy who had died in infancy, the couple had six sons when the minister paid his visit: nine-year old John, Alexander or Sandy, Neil, Donald John, and two-year old William.

Among the items Campbell recorded was the following, from ‘B. M.’:

Latha-na-gogarach [Campbell,with his Perthshire Gaelic, has misunderstood gocaireachd here]

This was reciter’s vocable for what we call in Perthshire Latha na cuaig [‘the day of the cuckoo’]. He told a story of Mac-ill-mhìcheil [Carmichael] a folk lore collector who sent a minister to whom he (reciter) was a servant air gnothach na cuaige [‘the cuckoo’s business’] but the story was only to effect that the minister having been sent to [the] factor could never forgive Carmichael. Collector notes it for vocables only.

[marginal note: Reciter thinks minister was fully justified in being irreconcilable.]

[Maclagan MS 1260, ‘16’]

The Morrisons had been brought up in Bhalacuidh or Vallaquie, North Uist, just across the little ford of Faoghail Bhalacuidh from Trumaisgearraidh. Seventeen-year old Donald John is recorded as living there in the 1871 census: he must therefore be Campbell’s ‘B. M.’

Carmichael certainly knew the family. He recorded a New Year’s Blessing, Beannachadh Bliadhna Ùir, from their mother Ann Morrison née Ross (c. 1811–93) from Skye [Carmina Gadelica i, 158–9], as well as Mo ghaol, mo ghaol, mo ghaol fhéin thu, a praise song to her future husband by Janet MacLeod, second wife of Malcolm MacLeod of Raasay, better known as Baintighearna Dhubh Osgaig, whom Johnson and Boswell met during their 1773 tour of the Hebrides [CW87/37]. This item was recorded on 14 September 1885, when Carmichael was back in Uist and Barra for an autumn visit. Alexander Carmichael must have been deeply moved by the song: he inscribed its first verse on the frontispiece of the copy of Carmina Gadelica he presented to his wife. From Ann’s husband John (b. 1805) he wrote down a little ‘praise-poem’ for a ‘good husbandman, diligent and God-fearing’, Mac Shiamain [CG iv, 320–1]. Carmichael also may have visited his son John in Torinturk itself, maybe during one of his visits to Taynuilt: the very last item in the last volume of Carmina Gadelica is a list of the names the farmer had given his cattle [CG vi, 271]. On the other hand, he may have visited the family in Edinburgh after they had left Torinturk and moved to Newbattle Terrace, Morningside: this may be implied by a piece of oral tradition telling of how John’s son Alexander (1886–1915) showed Carmichael a piece of Ossianic lore he had written down while on holiday at Rucaidh in North Uist.

If the account of ‘B. M.’ is true, Alexander Carmichael had sent the Rev. Donald Maclean on an April Fool’s errand to the factor of North Uist, none other than his friend John MacDonald of Newton, who had occupied the post since 1855 when Sir John Orde purchased the estate. A newcomer to the parish – he had been ordained on 13 May 1869 – Maclean would have been none too happy about being made the butt of a joke by his new lodger, not just in front of the factor but before the entire local community. We might go further and suggest that Maclean could not suffer Carmichael to live in the house with him any longer, and gave him and his family their marching orders. One wonders what Mrs Carmichael, faced with the prospect of homelessness with a young son and a new baby, thought of her husband’s wayward sense of humour. When the census taker visited the household on 2 April, he may have detected a certain froideur in the atmosphere at Trumaisgearraidh Manse.

A final thought: on CG ii, 74–5, is a protective charm, Am Fionn-Faoilidh, ascribed to ‘Peigidh Maclean’, probably Margaret Maclean (b. c. 1794), of Trumaisgearraidh, North Uist. Evidence from the notebooks, however, suggests that the original was obtained, under the title Òra Ceartais or ‘Charm for Justice’, from Mary Stewart (c . 1801–77), ‘Màiri Bhreac’, the dairywoman from Malacleit who, on 19 March 1877, shortly before her death, gave Carmichael eight charms [CW108/6]. In the original ‘blueprints’ for Carmina Gadelica, the charm is also ascribed to Màiri Bhreac [CW124 fos.2,5]. There is no mention of Peigidh Maclean. Could it be that the reascription to an old woman in Trumaisgearraidh of the charm, with its pledge to ‘drain wrath empty’, ‘to preserve to me my fame’, and to come between ‘ill-will or ill-wish in mine enemy’, is a private joke by Carmichael and his family, remembering his own experience nearly three decades earlier at the hands of the unamused local minister?

And two final connections: firstly, working as the nurse for the Morrisons of Torinturk for a year around 1893 was the great traditional singer Marion Campbell (1868–1971), Mòr bean Néill, mother of Bean Eàirdsidh Raghnaill and grandmother of Rona Lightfoot. Donald Archie Macdonald recorded her praising John Morrison of Torinturk (‘’S ann a bha an duine còir’) on SSS SA1967/136.

Secondly, just before Mòr left Torinturk, the Morrisons had another baby son. William (1893–1961) was better known as ‘Shakes’ Morrison, hailed by Chips Channon as the great white hope of the Conservative Party in the early thirties, Speaker of the House of Commons between 1951 and 1959, and Governor-General of Australia for the year until his death. The title chosen by the only Gaelic-speaking Speaker: Viscount Dunrossil of Vallaquie, North Uist.

Image: Trumaisgearraidh Manse and the now roofless Telford Church, last used in 1941. Ar taing dha Iain Eàirdsidh Iain an Dùin a bha cho coibhneil ann a bhith ag innse dhuinn mu eachdraidh na sgìre is sinn air ar cuairt.

Additional Reference: Peter Morrison, ‘Alexander Carmichael and the Morrisons of Rucaidh’ in Domhnall Uilleam Stiùbhart (ed.), Alexander Carmichael: Life and Legacy (Port of Ness, 2006), 181–2.