Manuscript in the hand of Ewen MacLachlan, Aberdeen, entitled ‘An t-Easpaig’ - presumably because it contains the work of the Dean of Lismore, whom MacLachlan calls (page 1) “Easpuig Leasmòr”. This is valuable, as being MacLachlan’s original Book of the Dean of Lismore transcript, subsequently (but not always accurately) copied by himself and others. (See Adv.MS.72.3.6). It does not strictly follow the order of the original, but the order in which MacLachlan found it easiest to read the manuscript. There are some accidental repetitions of text. Full references are given to this transcript in the description of the Book of the Dean of Lismore (Adv.MS.72.1.37).

Pages 139-140 are written and signed by Donald MacLachlan, possibly Ewen’s nephew of that name who studied at King’s College 1812-1813 (See, ‘Unpublished letters by the poet Ewen MacLachlan’, page 212). Pages 148-161 contain songs on the Glengarry family copied from a manuscript sent to MacLachlan by his patron, Colonel Alexander Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry. This contained twenty-five songs, of which MacLachlan transcribes eighteen and provides references (at page 161) to printed collections for seven.

The volume was, however, first used for the Gaelic dictionary which was being privately planned by MacLachlan before he was invited to help compile one for the Highland Society of Scotland, and before he was asked to examine their manuscripts. In a letter of 1811 (Ingliston MS. A.i.3, number 1) he says: ‘If sufficiently encouraged, I mean to compile a Scots Gaelic Dictionary, which may serve as a manual for every work of merit in our language, with frequent reference to Mr Stewarts excellent Gaelic Grammar’. The uncompleted dictionary comes first in the volume, while at the end are philological notes and (page 195) a tally of the words treated by Lhyd and MacCurtin.

The contents (text) are as follows.

(i) Gaelic-English dictionary A-B, entitled ‘An Iuchair Ghaidhealach’, with preface referring to the Reverend Alexander Stewart’s ‘Elements of Gaelic Grammar’ of 1801. Pencilled in another hand at page iii (top) is ‘20 copies of the following engaged most positively engaged by-by-by a friend to Celtic literature. Simon Fraser’. (Page iii.)

(ii) Notes on the Book of the Dean of Lismore. (Page lxxxiv.)

(iii) Transcripts from the Book of the Dean of Lismore headed “’A Leabhar lamh-sgrìbhte Mhaighistir Mhic Griogair, Easpuig Leasmòr, a bhuineas don Chomunn Ghàidhealach. Ann ‘san laimh Ròimhich, ach ann an litrichibh an Easpuig fein, a reir a Mhodha Mhanuinnich”. Dated passim 15 February -16 April 1813. Revised 30 April 1813. Indexed, page 181. (Page 1.)

(iv) Additional Book of the Dean of Lismore transcripts. (Page 137.)

(v) ‘Cha be tuchan a chrattain’. 15 stanzas. On an unsuccessful deer-hunt. (Page 139, column a.)

(vi) ‘Gura muladach tha mi’, 13 stanzas. An old man’s lament. Subscribed (page 140) ‘The two preceding Songs, written by Donald MacLachlan 2nd May 1814’. (Middle of page 139, column b.)

(vii) Additional Book of the Dean of Lismore transcripts. Subscribed (page 147) ‘It was Transcribed again for Sir John Macgregor Murray, and sent off per Mail to the Care of Wm Kerr Secretary Genl Post Office, Tuesday May 24th 1814’. This refers to Aberdeen University (King’s College) Library MS. 449, for which see Adv.MS.72.3.6. (Page 141.)

(viii) Fear Lead-Chluain. ‘Tha cloch bhaidheil sa choill’, 8 stanzas. ‘Do Mhor-Fhear Ghlinne-Garadh’. (Page 148.)

(ix) Aonghas mac Ailein. ‘A Righ ghil nam flaithibh!’ 13 stanzas. “Do dh’Alastair Ruagh Ghlinne Garadh”. (Middle of page 148.)

(x) Donnchadh mac Dhomhnaill Ruaidh. “Tha ubhall òir air tigh’n do’n tir”, 30 lines. “Failte do dh’Alastair Ghlinne-garadh”. (Middle of page 149.)

(xi) Aonghas mac Ailein. “Cha b’e m’ fhàgail aig baile”, 8 stanzas. Printed in A and A Macdonald, ‘The Macdonald Collection of Gaelic Poetry’, page 95. (Page 150.)

(xii) “An diugh ‘s mi gabhail an rathaid”, 18 stanzas. See, “Òrain Iain Luim”, page 158. (Page 151.)

(xiii) “Ga d’ tha ‘n oidche nochd fuar”, 17 stanzas. ‘Do Mhorfhear Chlann Domhnuil’. Cf. “Òrain Iain Luim”, page xx. (Middle of page 151.)

(xiv) Iain Lom. “Bi’dh an t-uidheamsa ‘triall”, 14 stanzas. “Òrain Iain Luim”, page 132. (Page 152, line 4.)

(xv) “Gura fada mi ‘m’ chadal”, 10 stanzas. Macdonald, ‘The Macdonald collection of Gaelic poetry’, page 86. (Bottom of page 152.)

(xvi) Iain Dubh mac Iain ‘ic Ailein. “Ga gada na m’ dhuisg mi”, 22 stanzas. Macdonald, ‘The Macdonald collection of Gaelic poetry’, page 63 (Page 153, column b, line 9.)

(xvii) Bean fir Achdhuainidh. “Gur mis’ tha gu brònach”, 13 stanzas. “Cumha, do dh’Aonghus Og Ghlinne-Garadh”. (Page 154b.)

(xviii) Aonghas mac Ailein. “S trom an luchd a th’ air m’ inntinn”, 10 stanzas. Macdonald, ‘The Macdonald collection of Gaelic poetry’, page 89. (Page 155, column b, line 7.)

(xix) John MacDonald of Ardnabie. “Chan fhaigh mi cadal air chóir”, 13 stanzas. Macdonald, ‘The Macdonald collection of Gaelic poetry’, page 97. (Middle of page 156.)

(xx) Iain Lom. ‘Gur fhada leam an Sasonn u’, 14 stanzas. See “Òrain Iain Luim”, page 124. (Middle of page 157.)

(xxi) Aonghas mac Iain Dubh-ruaidh. “Tha mi ‘g éiridh ‘sa mhadainn”, 10 stanzas + chorus. Mackenzie, “Sár-obair nam bárd Gaelach” (1841 edition), page 49. (Bottom of page 157.)

(xxii) ‘A Righ gur h-ait an sgeul sin’, 8 stanzas + chorus. Macdonald, ‘The Macdonald collection of Gaelic poetry’, page 93. (Middle of page 158, column b.)

(xxiii) “Thig Mac Shomhairle bho’n Rùta”, 12 quatrains. ‘Eadar Nighean agus Athair’. (Page 159, column b, line 10.)

(xxiv) Aonghas mac Ailein. “Slan pillidh do’n Og”, 12 quatrains. “Do dh’Alastair Ruadh Chleanna-Garadh”. (Middle of page 160, column a.)

(xxv) ‘Gu bheil mise fo sprochd’, 10 stanzas. Macdonald, ‘The Macdonald collection of Gaelic poetry’, page 92. (Bottom of page 160, column b.)

(xxvi) Note on the above Glengarry songs. (Middle of page 161.)

(xxvii) Transliterations from Adv.MS.73.1.16, folios 184 and 173 verso. Folios 163-180 blank. (Page 162.)

(xxviii) Index to the Book of the Dean of Lismore. References are to Adv.MS.72.1.37, 72.3.3 and occasionally 72.3.4. (Page 181.)

(xxix) Book of the Dean of Lismore: index to poets. Continued middle of page 187. (Middle of page 186.) Gaelic words with Greek, Latin and Hebrew cognates. (Page 187.)