A volume of songs of Rob Donn Mackay (1714-1778); according to a note at the front, of unknown authorship (folio i), it was taken down from the recitation of the poet, who could not write, ‘by a daughter of the parish Minister, John Thomson, 1763-1809’, (i.e., presumably the Minister of Durness, 1764-1811), possibly Janet (1766-1785). However, the paper of the volume is dated 1813-1815, and this, together with the presence of a lament for Rob Donn in it, suggests that it is a later copy of the original manuscript.

Dr Hew Morrison, in his edition of the poetry of Rob Donn (‘Songs and poems in the Gaelic language by Rob Dunn’), page xiiv, gives the following information: “Two manuscripts collections of his songs were made during his life time and to his own dictation. One of these was written by the Reverend Aeneas MacLeod, who was minister of Rogart from 1774 to 1794. It was this manuscript that was used for the most part by Dr Mackintosh Mackay in preparing the first edition of the poems. The other manuscript collection was by one of the daughters of the Reverend John Thomson, who was minister of Durness from the death of the Reverend Murdoch Macdonald to 1811. This collection had the advantage of being written with the poet himself at hand to consult, but on the other hand it was revised by the Reverend William Findlater. It also was in the possession of Dr Mackay at the same time as the Macleod MS It is to it that many emendations in the present edition are due”.

The present manuscript, the second one mentioned above, seems to be a revised version of the Thomson manuscript by the Reverend William Findlater, and is written in his own hand (for further samples of his hand see e.g. New College Library, Edinburgh, CHA 5.11.125 and CHA 4.308.23).

While Morrison states that the Reverend Mackintosh Mackay was aware of the present manuscript while he prepared his edition of Rob Donn’s songs of 1829, there are three songs (folios 28 recto, 35 recto, 55 recto) in it that do not appear in Mackay’s edition. However, the sequence of songs contained on folios 17 recto-37 recto in the present volume was printed in Patrick Turner’s song collection of 1813, “Comhchruinneacha do dh’orain taghta, ghaidhealach”, pages 350-371. A number of other songs, including that beginning on folio 55 recto, were printed in Alexander and Donald Stewart’s “Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles”, passim. Morrison’s edition makes no mention of either of these books.

The contents are as follows. (Scribal foliation in brackets)

(i) 'Marbh-rann do thriuir Shean Fhleasgaich', beginning "Nam' luidhe so gu h-iosal" (cf. Morrison, page 49; Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 74-77). (Folios 1 (16) recto-3 (18) recto.)

(ii) "An Duine Sanntuch agus an Saoghal a' gearan air a cheile", beginning "Smi-chomaineach thusa shaoghail, 's b' abhaist duit" (cf. Morrison, page 421; Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 78-79). (Folios 3 (18) recto-4 (19) recto.)

(iii) "Oran Molaidh do Mhari Nic Aoidh", beginning "Co fad 's a tha cliu na Reul Tuath" (cf. Morrison, page 298; Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 265-267). (Folios 4 (19) recto-6 (21) recto.)

(iv) 'Tilleadh a Mholaidh Mhasgulach', beginning 'Tha cuid de na Bardaibh' (cf. Morrison, page 94; Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 272-275). (Folios 6 (21) recto-9 (24) recto.)

(v) "Oran do dh' Isbal Nic Aoidh", beginning 'Isbal nic Aoidh, aig a chrodh laoigh' (cf. Morrison, page 181). Two missing lines supplied on folio 16 verso. (Folios 9 (24) recto-11 (26) recto.)

(vi) "Cumha do Dh' Uistean Mac Aoidh, Mac Fhir Bhigais", beginning 'Nach truagh an sgeul a fhuair mi fein' (cf. Morrison, page 40; Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 268-271). (Folios 11 (26) recto-13 (28) recto.)

(vii) 'Marbh-rann do Rob Donn', beginning 'Naigheachd fior, a chaidh aithris' (Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 276-280). (Folios 14 (29) recto-17 (32) recto.)

(viii) 'Oran do Sheorus Mac Aoidh Fear Eilean Shannda', beginning 'Siubhal mar-ri Seorus dhuinn' (cf. Morrison, page 156; Turner "Comhchruinneacha do dh'orain taghta, ghaidhealach", pages 350-352). Folio 17 (32) verso contains notes and names of persons called Mackenzie, dated 1825. (Folios 17 (32) recto-20 (35) recto.)

(ix) 'Orain air each a fhuair e o Fhear eilean Shanda', beginning "Gar bheil mi on' araidh aig daoin uailse" (c.f. Morrison, page 340; Turner "Comhchruinneacha do dh'orain taghta, ghaidhealach", pages 353-354). (Folios 20 (35) recto-22 (37) recto.)

(x) 'Marbh-rann Iain Ghre Fear Roghaird', beginning 'Tha rogairean airtnealach trom' (cf. Morrison, page 56; Turner "Comhchruinneacha do dh’orain taghta, ghaidhealach", pages 353-354). (Folios 22 (37) recto-23 (38) recto.)

(xi) "Oran do dh' Iain Sutharlan da' m bu cho-ainm Iain Thapaidh", beginning 'Chiad fhear a shiublas do Chata' (cf. Morrison, page 184; Turner "Comhchruinneacha do dh'orain taghta, ghaidhealach", pages 357-359). (Folios 24 (39) recto-26 (41) recto.)

(xii) 'Oran air comh-Catha breith Phrionnsa Thearlaich', beginning 'An diugh, and diugh is reusantach' (cf. Morrison, page 79; Turner "Comhchruinneacha do dh'orain taghta, ghaidhealach", pages 359-361). (Folios 26 (41) recto-28 (43) recto.)

(xiii) 'Oran do bhean bainnse rinn briseadh geallaidh an deigh a reiteach', beginning 'Thugaibh an t-soraidhs gu h-iomlan' (cf. Morrison, page 197; Turner "Comhchruinneacha do dh'orain taghta, ghaidhealach", pages 361-363). (Folios 28 (43) recto-29 (44) recto.)

(xvi) 'Oran do Shali Grannta', beginning "Mu 'm faca mo shiul thu" (cf. Morrison, page 280; Turner "Comhchruinneacha do dh’orain taghta, ghaidhealach", pages 363-365). (Folios 30 (45) recto-32 (47) recto.)

(xv) 'Oran do Dhaoin uailse duthaich Mhic Aoidh', beginning 'Iain Mhic Naoghais Mhic Uilleam' (cf. Morrison, page 141; Turner “Comhchruinneacha do dh’orain taghta, ghaidhealach”, pages 366-368). (Folios 33 (48) recto-35 (50) recto.)

(xvi) 'Rann na Culaidh', beginning 'Mile failt ort fhir na culaidh' (cf. Morrison, page 414; Turner "Comhchruinneacha do dh'orain taghta, ghaidhealach", page 369). (Folios 35 (50) recto-36 (51) recto.)

(xvii) 'Marbh-rann Uilleam Mhuillear an ceard', beginning "On uair a chaidh Uilleam do 'n uir" (cf. Morrison, page 65; Turner "Comhchruinneacha do dh'orain taghta, ghaidhealach", pages 370-371). (Folios 36 (51) recto-37 (52) recto.)

(xviii) "Iomcharg Chorneil Ic Aoidh gu 'chairdean", usually beginning "Beir mo shoraidh le dúrachd", but beginning here at stanza 6, 'Beir an t-sorridh so suas uam' (cf. Morrison, page 87). (Folios 37 (52) recto-40 (55) recto.)

(xix) 'Oran do Rupart Mac an Tuiteir', beginning 'Slan is mairriunn do m Rupart' (cf. Morrison, page 131). (Folios 41 (56) recto-42 (57) recto.)

(xx) 'Oran do Bharbara Muillair', beginning ‘Buaidh thupuidh leat a Bharbara' (cf.Morrison, page 228). (Folios 42 (57) recto-44 (58) recto.)

(xxi) 'An Gille Duth ciar dhuth', beginning 'Tha maighdean san aites' (cf. Morrison, page 311). (Folios 44 (58) recto-47 (62) recto.)

(xxii) 'Oran na Cleire', beginning 'Fhuair sinn set do luchd preisgidh' (cf. Morrison, page 75). (Folios 47 (62) recto-49 (64) recto.)

(xxiii) 'Oran do Dr Morrastan', beginning 'A bhliadhna na Caillins' (cf. Morrison, page 109; Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 252-254). (Folios 50 (65) recto-52 (67) recto.)

(xxiv) 'Oran do leannan', beginning "S trom leam an áridh" (cf. Morrison, page 148; Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 258-261). (Folios 52 (67) recto-54 (69) recto.)

(xxv) 'Co-choimeas eadar bas Mhr. Pelham & Eoghan', beginning "S cian fada 's cian fada", wanting the first stanza (cf. Morrison, page 46; Stewarts “Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles”. (Folio 55 (70) recto-56 (71) recto.)

(xxvi) 'Oran eadar da nighean uasal', beginning "Ge b' e dheanadh mar rinn mise" (cf. Morrison, page 119; Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 255-257). (Folios 56 (71) recto-58 (73) recto.)

(xxvii) 'Inghinn Mhic Neil mhic Eoin', beginning "Co luath 'sa thig an geamhradh" (cf. Morrison, page 309). (Folios 58 (73) recto-60 (75) recto.)

(xxviii) 'Oran nan Caragan Dubha', beginning 'Lamh Dhia leinn a dhaoine' (cf. Morrison, page 82; Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 419-425. (Folios 60 (75) recto-65 (80) recto.)

(xxix) 'Oran nan Suiridhichan', beginning "Fheara óg leis am miannach posadh" (cf. Morrison, page 97; Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 51-55). (Folios 65 (80) recto-68 (82, repeated.)

(xxx) 'Am Bruadar', beginning 'Chunnaic mise bruadar / Fhir nach cual e thig is cluinn' (cf. Morriosn, page 67; Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 41-50). (Folios 69 (83) recto-75 (89) recto.)

(xxxi) 'Cumha Mhorair Donuill', beginning 'Si so Nullaig is ceannaile' (cf. Morrison, page 6; Stewarts "Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaëlach. A choice collection of the works of the Highland Bards, collected in the Highlands and Isles", pages 29-35). (Folios 76 (90) recto-80 (94) recto.)

(xxxii) Verse in English, beginning 'How lovely thy household & children dear'. (Folio 80 (94) verso.)

(xxxiii) "Siubhal mar-ri Seóras duinn" (cf. folio 17 (32) recto); in a later hand, on two separate sheets bound in at the end of the volume. (Folios 81 recto-82 verso.)