St Columba having sent Cormacus, Christi miles, upon a religious mission to the North Seas, had occasion to see at the court of King Brude a prince of the Orkneys: he entreated that King Brude would strongly recommend to that prince, the king having hostages of his at that time in his hands, to take under his protection Cormacus and his associates, who in the course of their progress might have occasion to visit the islands of Orkney." Alio in tempore Cormacus/ Christi "miles, conatus est heremum in oceano quærere, qui postquam a terris infinitum oceanum planis enavigavit velis. Iisdem diebus Sanctus Co"lumba cum ultra dorsum moraretur Britanniæ "Brudeo rege presente Ordacum regulo commendavit, dicens: Aliqui ex nostris nuper emigraverunt, desertum in pelago intransmeabili in" venire optantes, qui si forte post longos circui"tus Orcadas devenerint insulas, huic regulo cu

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jus obsides in manu tua sunt, diligenter com"menda; ne aliquid adversi intra terminos ejus "contra eos fiat. Quod ita postea evenit, et prop"ter supra dictam sancti viri commendationem "de morte in Orcadibus liberatus est vicina."*

This recommendation had effect; and afterwards it appeared that Cormacus owed his safety to that prince's protection. St Columba addressed himself directly to King Brude, in presence

* Lib. ii. c. 28.

of the Orkney prince, and in language perfectly intelligible to the Pictish king.

The only other instance in which an interpreter is mentioned, is in the case of a stranger who appeared on the west coast, perhaps a Roman officer, here called primarius cohortis. "Navi"cula ad eundem supervenit portum, cujus in

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prora quidem advectus est decrepitus senex "Gione primarius cohortis, quem bini juvenes "de navi sublevantes, ante beati viri conspectum deponunt. Qui statim verbo Dei a sancto per interpretem recepto credens, ab eodem baptiza"tus est."* It appears then, that the interposition of an interpreter was a remarkable circumstance, and as such was recorded.

It appears, that the inhabitants of Galloway were addressed in the charters of our kings, granted in the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, as distinguished from the French, English, and Scots inhabitants of the kingdom of Scotland. It is evident, however, that they were Gael, from two charters described by Mr Robertson, in his Index of Charters granted by King Robert II. in the following terms: "Carta, con"firming a charter by Thomas Flemyng, formerly

(alias) Earl of Wygtoun, to Archibald de Doug"las, Knight, Domino Galwydie ex orientali parte. 66 aque de Creth, of the earldom of Wygtoun, in "consideration of a large sum of money; the said

* Lib. i. c. 19.

"Thomas having been induced to sell it on ac"count of grievous feuds that had arisen between “ him and the more powerful of the ancient indigenous inhabitants of the earldom, (majores indigenas comitatus predicti). The original charter "is dated at Edynburgh, the 8th of February "1371-2." The name demonstrates that Robert Flemyng was a foreigner, to whom the more powerful of the ancient, indigenous inhabitants were not disposed to yield obedience, or to acknowledge as their chief or leader in warlike contention. Who were these indigenous inhabitants? The question is solved by a charter "confirming "a charter of confirmation by King Alexander II. "of a grant by Neil, Earl of Carryk, to Roland de

Carryk and his heirs, constituting them head "of their tribe or clan, (progeniei sue), in all "matters pertaining to the Kenkinoll (tam in "calumpniis quam aliis articulis et negotiis ad

Kenkynol pertinere valentibus,) with the office "of bailliary of the foresaid country, (Carryk), "and of leading the men thereof under the Earl. "King Alexander's charter is dated at Strivelyne, "the 20th of January, in the 27th year of his reign."* Alexander II. died in the year 1249. Cinneal signifies race or lineage, and cenncinneal, or ceanncinneadh, the head or chief of the race or kindred.

* ROBERTSON'S Index of Charters, p. 134-5-6.

At the times when these charters were granted, the people of Galloway were regulated by the ideas of Gaelic tribes; their minds were not as yet impressed with the notions derived from strict feudal vassalage; and, although the power of a chief among the Gael was in effect similar to that of a feudal lord, the right of succession to the exercise of the power depended upon the will of the tribe, by the rules of the law of Tanistry; for such was the law of the Gael of Albinn, as well as of those of Erinn. Feudal investiture was unknown. The sway of a stranger the Gael could not tolerate with patience, but to the person of their own kindred whom they deemed most worthy of command, they yielded a heartfelt submission, and defended his authority with the eagerness of resolute bravery. The Flemyng found it to be a matter of prudence to convey his feudal right for a pecuniary consideration to a native chieftain of Galloway; and which right acquired additional stability by a feudal confirmation made by the supreme authority of the Crown. In progress of time, the manners, customs, and language of the inhabitants of Galloway, gave way to those of their southern neighbours, as feudal investitures, and the introduction of strangers, prevailed among them, as in all other parts of the low country of the kingdom of Scotland.

OBSERVATIONS

RESPECTING THE AUTHENTICITY

OF THE

POEMS OF OSSIAN.

THE publication of a genuine translation of poems ascribed to a bard living fourteen hundred years back, among a barbarous unlettered people, was a phenomenon which struck with surprise the minds of men eminently enlightened by science and philosophy. The translation was by many of them held to be a palpable and most impudent forgery. This opinion was not made a matter of secresy or concealment; it was divulged in the common conversation of the learned, and was naturally treated with that reprobation which was called forth by literary imposture. What was the conduct of the translator? Instead of using those means which he had in his power, of obviating the scruples, the doubts, the avowed disbelief, which arose from so strange a phenomenon, he treated the opinions of the learned with sullen contempt; he disregarded the obloquy thrown upon his character; and seemed little solicitous to prove himself to the world a