A volume, 19th-century, of Gaelic songs copied from printed books or collected from local tradition around Amulree, Perthshire, including songs by Robert Stewart (Rob Raineach), his son Duncan Stewart, John MacNaughton (Iain Mac Neachdainn), Charlotte MacGregor (Searlaid Nic Griogair) and Donald MacDuff, Tomnagrew. A number of the songs were subsequently published in newspapers. - Together with a letter in Gaelic, 1892, of Donald Campbell, schoolmaster and Inspector of the Poor in Amulree and Sutherland; also a printed song headed "Fianuis a' Ghaidheil", and a translation of "Scots wha hae" into ancient Greek. The manuscript was at some point the property of Daniel Campbell, being inscribed on the outside of the back cover: "Daniel Campbell Amulree Teacher April 12th 1857." Campbell's own hand, however, within the volume itself is only found on the inset at pp. 67-75, which contain copies of newspaper articles published in 1883. Campbell himself published a number of the songs in Scottish newspapers. Those songs that can be shown to have been copied from printed sources were taken from publications printed no later than 1851, which suggests that the manuscript was written before it became Campbell's property, and most of it possibly a generation earlier. The geographical references in Campbell's letter, which is without any address, suggest that its recipient may have lived in the area of Tomnagrew or Ballachraggan in Strathbraan.

The contents of the volume are: pp. 1-2 [Fletcher, Angus.] Song, unheaded, beg. 'Di-donaich rinn mo cho'lachadh / Bean og is mothar gluasaid'. 9 stt. of 4 lines plus 4-line refrain 'Mo chaileag bhian-gheal mheall-shuileach / A dh'fhas gu fallain fuasgailt / Gur trom mo cheim o'n dhealach sinn / Aig clachan Ghlinndaruail'. Almost identical to Patrick Turner's edition of this song in 'Comhchruinneacha do dh'orain taghta, ghaidhealach' (Turner 1813: 289-291). See also John Mackenzie's 'Sar-obair nam bàrd gaelach' (Mackenzie 1841: 336-337).

2-3 [Macintyre, Donnchadh Bàn.] Song, unheaded, beg. 'Togamid fonn air luath a chlothlan / Gabhamid ceol 's oran matha'. 4 stt. of 2 lines, with 3-line refrain beg. 'Horo gun togair air shugan fhathast'. Close to the version in John Gillies' 'Sean Dain, agus orain Ghaidhealach' (Gillies 1786: 209).

3-4 [Anonymous.] Song headed "Braigh Loch-iall", beg. 'O theid c' uim nach d' theid / Nail theid mi thairis.' 14 stt. of 2 lines with 5-line refrain beg. 'Ill o bha ho / Ho iriri u o.' Very close to the version printed in Gillies 1786: 51-52.

4-9 [Ossianic.] Ballad headed "Duan Fraoich", beg. 'Osna caraid a uain Fhraoich. / Mar osna Laoidh an caisteal chro'. 34 stt. of 4 lines. Printed in this version in Gillies 1786: 107-112, from which it is probably copied.

9-12 [Anonymous.] Song headed "Oran le Saighdeir", beg. 'Bha mi uair do mo shaoghal / Cheart cho aotrom ri eoin'. 7 stt. of 8 lines, with 8-line refrain beg. 'Ho m' fhaidhrein he m' fhaidhrein / Ho m' fhaidhrein ho ro'. Printed in Turner 1813: 165-168, and copied from there. "165", Turner's page number, is written next to the title.

13-15 [Anonymous.] Song headed "Oran le fear da leannan agus ia air posadh fir eile nuair bha e air falbh as an aite", beg. 'Fhir dh'imicheas mu 'n cuairt / Beir an t-soruidh so uam os 'n aird'. 9 stt. of 8 lines. Printed in Turner 1813: 177-180, from where it is probably copied. A later hand makes corrections in pencil to reflect the version printed in Ranald MacDonald's 'Orain le Raoghall Donullach, an Ardnis, Arasaig' (MacDonald 1821: 32-35).

15-16 MacDonald, Iain Lom. Song headed "Oran do dh Alasdair Mac Colla 'n deigh lath allt-Eire. le Iain Lom", beg. 'Gu ma slan 's gu ma h-eibhinn / Do'n Alasdair euchdach'. 9 stt of 3 lines. Copied from Turner 1813: 90-91, although with slightly different singing instructions.

17-18 [?MacGregor, Searlaid.] Song headed "Oran Baloch na h-amhreit", beg. 'Bu lughaid mo dhiumb na be fhear duthaich bhiodh cur as duinn'. 4 stt of four lines, with four-line refrain 'Baloch na h-aimhreit horo / Mac an fhir ghalld och horo eile', with varying text in the final line. Published in the Northern Chronicle, 21.1.1885.

19-20 Stewart, Duncan ("Mac Rob Raineach"). Song headed "Duanagan Dhuneidin. Le Mac Rob Raineach – Dunnach Steward", the first word corrected to "Guanagan" by a later hand. Beg. 'Oidhche dhomhsa measg cuideachd / Thug mi suil orra uile mu cuairt'. 12 stt. of 4 lines. Published in the Highlander, 14.3.1874, and the Northern Chronicle, 17.1.1883.

21-22 Ross, Uilleam. "Comhairle a Bhaird do Mhaighdeanan oga". A macaronic song beg. 'Ye bonny young virgins ge sgiobalt' ur ceum'. "Air fonn. The rock & wee pickle tow". 4 stt of 8 lines. Published in several editions before 1840 and probably copied from one of these.

23-25 [MacRae, Donnchadh.] Song headed "Oran na feannaig", beg. 'Cheud seachdain de 'n mhios / 'S b' e diciadain an latha'. 5 stt. of 9 lines, the ninth being a half-line which in this version is to be repeated. Published in John Mackenzie's 'Co'-chruinneachadh de dh' Oranan Taoghta' (Mackenzie 1836: 5-8), but the present version has the text, with considerable variations, of stt. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 10 only of Mackenzie's version. Published, with no author ascription, in the Northern Chronicle, 10.3.1886.

25-27 [Macintyre, Aonghas, minister of Kinlochspelvie (1815-1887)]. Song headed "Brosnachadh Raibeart Bruce d'a fheachd air blar-catha, Bhanoc-burn", beg. 'Threun 's tric le Bhallace dh'fhuiling creuchd'. A translation of Robert Burns's song "Scots wha hae". 6 stt. of 4 lines, published anonymously in Cuairtear nan Gleann 1 (1840), pp. 226-227, and probably copied from there. For Macintyre's authorship see Archibald Sinclair, 'Select English Poems with Gaelic translations' (Sinclair 1859: v and 76-79).

27 [Anonymous.] Song headed "Turadh airson Ruari Mor", beg. 'Tog orme [sic] mo phiob 's theid mi dhachidh'. 3 stt. of 4 lines. Published e.g. in Cuairtear nan Gleann 1 (1840): 136, from where it is probably copied.

27-28 [Anonymous.] Song headed "Cha till Mac Cruimein", beg. 'Dh'iadh ceò nan stùc mu aodann Chuillinn'. 4 stt. of 4 lines with refr. beg. 'Cha till cha till cha till Mac Cruimein'. Published in Cuairtear nan Gleann 1 (1840): 135-136 and likely to be copied from there together with the two preceding songs; also in Mackenzie 1836: 71 and elsewhere.

29 [MacCodrum, John.] Song headed "Iorram", beg. 'O 's eudar dhomh anart / a cheannach gur 'm leintibh / Ochan 's o eile / ged tha mo bhean beo'. 4 stt. of four lines, the last line of each Ged tha mo bhean beo. A version of this, with textual differences, is published in 'Celtic Magazine' 3 (1878), 302; see also a very different version in W. Matheson (ed.), 'The Songs of John MacCodrum' (Edinburgh: SGTS, 1938), pp. 90-94.

29-30 [Port-à-beul.] Song beg. 'Sud e mar chaidh an càl dholidh / So e mar chaidh an càl a dholidh'. 2 stt. of 4 lines, the last line of each ''S bean an tighe dannsa'. For a version with different text see William Lamb, 'Keith Norman MacDonald's Puirt-à-Beul' (Lamb 2012: 59-60).

30 [Port-à-beul.] Song beg. 'Tha mulad air na gillean uile / Tuirse air na gillean uile'. 2 stt. of 4 lines.

30 [Port-à-beul.] Song beg. 'Guillan crubach bha s' a ghleann / Tionnda nall na caoirich uile'. 2 stt. of 4 lines. A different version of this, consisting of 3 stt and a refrain , is published in MacTalla X, no. 28 (1902), p. 216, beg. ''ille chrùbaich anns a' ghleann, / Cùm thall na caoirich uile'. See also Lamb 2012: 63.

31-33 [Campbell, Gilleasbaig.] Song headed "Oran molaidh do 'n phiob thombaca", beg. 'Nuair lionar thu o do bhonn / De an luidh shniomhanach bhog dhonn'. 15 stt of 4 lines, with a refrain of 4 lines beg. 'O 's i mo mhiann a phiob thombac' / 'S iomad ceud a thann am bheachd'. Published in 'Orain le Gilleasbuig Caimbeul, aig Ceann-Loch-Earn' (Edinburgh 1851), 28-32, to which this version is close, although no ascription is given. P.34 [blank]

35-36 Turner, Pàdraig (trsl.) Song headed "Beatha Phrionnsa Thearlaich do dh'Albuinn; air eadar-theangach o' Bheurla gu Gaelig le P. Mac an Tuairnear." Beg. 'Nuair a chuir an Fhraing thugain comhna / Cuide-ri Prionnsa na còrach'. 9 stt of 4 lines with 4-line refr. beg. 'Ach O! b' fhada e gun tighinn'. Tune: 'Air fonn Auld wife ayont the fire'. Printed in, and probably copied from, Turner 1813: 383-384, with the title "Royal Charlie --- Or, Beatha Phrionnsa Theàrlaich do dh'Albuinn; - air eadar-theangacha o' Bheurla gu Gaidhlic leis an ughdair".

36-38 Cameron, Dòmhnall Mòr Òg, Lochaber. Song headed "Oran eadar an sealgair 's am fiadh. Le Donnach mor og, duine uasal Chamshronach bh' ann Lochabar." A dialogue song beg. (the hunter speaking) ''S mi am shuidhe s a bhachdan chaorain / 'S beag m' aidhear ris a ghaoith so.' Probably copied from Turner 1813: 372-374, although Turner gives the author's first name as Donull.

38-41 Campbell, Nighean Donnchaidh. Song headed "Cumha le nighean Dhonnacha duth Morfhear Bhraidalbuinn …", beg. 'Moch maduinn air lath lunasda / Bha mi sugradh marri am ghraidh', with four-line refrain beg. 'Ochain ochain ochain uiridh / 'S goirt mo chridh laoigh'. Published in Turner 1813: 286-289 and probably copied from there, but with slight variations in spelling and wording.

41 [Anonymous.] Song headed "Oran t shaighdear", beg. 'Cha 'n e mhisg na glioraich / Chuir mise an arm righ Deorsa / Ach an ticket air tigh'n orm / 'S nach dean an d' oir mo thualag'. 3 stt. of 4 lines, with four-line ref. beg. 'O 's eigin domh bhi togail orm / Cha n' furach dhomh ach falbh'. A very different version is published in Ronald Black, 'An Lasair' (Black 2001: 449).

42 [MacDougall, Ailean Dall.] Song headed "Oran gaoil", beg. 'O gur mise tha fo airsneul / Bho moch maduinn Diciaduin'. 5 stt. of 8 lines with an 8-line refr. beg. 'Gur mise tha dheth craiteach / 'S trom tha mi fo mhulad'. Published in Alan MacDougall's 'Orain Ghaidhealacha: le Ailein Dughallach' (MacDougall 1798: 45-47) and 'Orain, marbhrannan, agus duanagan, ghaidhealach' (MacDougall 1829: 37-39), where 6 stanzas are printed. Parts of the present version are very close to the printed versions, but there are some textual differences and the stanzas do not appear in the same order. Published with no author ascription in Northern Chronicle, 26.2.1885.

44-45 [Cameron, Patrick.] Song headed "Oidhche a Nollaig", beg. 'Bu tuirseach oidhche an ollaig sinn / 'S 'n tigh osd ag ol na gloineachan'. 8 stt. of 4 lines, with instructions for the last two lines in each stanza to be repeated. Author identified in Paul Cameron, "Perthshire Gaelic songs", 'Transactions of the GaelicSociety of Inverness' xvii (1891): 126–70, where 12 stt. are printed. Published with no author ascription in Northern Chronicle, 20.5.1885.

46 [Anonymous.] Song headed "Luinneag", beg. 'Is bochd is truagh a leugh sibh m' fhortan / Horuinn horuinn horuinn horó / S tric a siubhal nam port mi / Fallan gun di 'thain' tu / Fallan gun di call och horo i / Fallan gun di thain' tu'. 5 stt. of two lines of text with choruses, chain-linked; a further line added by a later hand in pencil. For a different version of this song, see Edinburgh University Library MS CW 120/170 f.48r-v.

47-48 [Anonymous.] Song headed "Mo Nighean Donn Bhoidheach", beg. 'Ged tha mi so an drasta / Ag obair anns chanala'. 6 stt. of 4 lines with refr. beg. 'Horo mo nighean donn bhoidheach / Hiri mo nighean donn bhoidheach'. The refrain is that of the popular song, but the text of the stanzas different. 48-49 [Anonymous.] Song headed "A Chomhairle", beg. 'Comhairle bheirinn fhin / Air gach batchelair san tir'. 5 stt. of 4 lines, with refrain beg. 'Gaol an ainnir dh'fhas ciuin / Ribhinn ghasda nan ceum dlu'. Published in 'An Gaidheal' (June 1872), p. 238, headed "Oran" and signed "D.C.", and in the Northern Chronicle, 13.12.1893.

50-52 [Anonymous] Song headed "Cha ghabh mi té mhor", beg. 'Nuair chaidh sinn gu raffle na Cosaig do 'n chuil, / Ri oidhche gun ghealaich bu bheachdail mo shuil'. 8 stt. of 4 lines with refr. beg. 'Ged phos mi fhin cha ghabh mi té mhor / 'S ma dh'fhaodas mi cha ghabh mi té mhor'. Published in the Northern Chronicle, 6.5.1885. A different version of this song by Donnchadh nam Blar, with a similar refrain, is published in Mac-Talla 6 no. 34 (18 February 1898) p. 272 and in Mac-Talla 11, no 22 (1 May 1903), p. 176.

53-58 MacNaughton, John. Song headed "Moladh Gleanna-cuaich. Air fonn Carrickfergus. Le Ian Macneachduin". Beg. 'Gleanna nan caorach / Gleanna cuaich na cruiadh laoch / Cha n' eil a leithid ri fhaotinn / An taobh so do 'n Fhraing'. 7 stt. of 8 lines, written as 16 short lines. Printed with a translation by "A.C." [Alexander Campbell] in A.S. Swan's novel 'Sheila' (Edinburgh and London, ca. 1895), with an attribution to "John Macnaughton, Achnafauld, Glenquaich, who died in the year 1866, aged 85."

58-60 MacNaughton, John. Song headed "Moladh do Ian MacGrigair bha anns a Ghirion. Le Ian Macneachduinn", beg. 'Is sunndach Ian sar Mhac Grigar / Is e gu cridheil ceol or'. 6 stt. of 8 lines. A poem in praise of John MacGregor, poet in Glen Quaich. Published in the Northern Chronicle, 4.3.1885.

60-62 MacGregor, John. Lament headed "Cumhadh le Ian Mac Griogair bh' anns a Ghirrean do leanabh gille bh' aig Ian MacNeachdinn chaidh mharbhadh le breab o each. 1807". Beg. 'Gu bronach an osnaich / Air mach ma dhorsa mo chleibh / Mun 'n uan a chaidh chosgradh / A bhrutha 's a lota gu leir'. 5 stt. of 4 five-stress lines, written as 8 lines. Published in the Northern Chronicle, 18.3.1885.

63-65 MacDuff, Donald, Fear Tomnacraobh (Tomnagrew). Song headed "Oran do Fhear Roscraig le D.Duff Tomnacraobh", beg. 'Thoir soruidh uam an trast / Gu h-ard do na ghleann / Is innis do mo chairid / Gu 'n d' rinn mi dha rann'. 8 stt. of 8 lines.

65-66 MacDuff, Donald, Fear Tomnacraobh. Song headed "Oran Di-moladh na piob thombac", beg. 'Piob thombac – piob gun tlachd / Cha bhithinns' ga m' thachd fo 'n shron le'. 6 stt. of 4 lines. The ascription to MacDuff added by a later hand in pencil. Published in The Highlander, 19 June 1875.

67 Dun Ailean, pseud. [?Paul Cameron.] Copy of a letter, headed "A reply to Alt-Mhad. Gu Uidheamair an Tiom-raite Thuathach", beg. "Uasail ionmhuinn – Bliadhna mhath ùr dhuibh." A contribution to the Northern Chronicle, published 10.1.1883, concerning St. Fillan, the stream called Altmhad, and Dr Neville Maskelyne's experiment on Schiehallion, 1774, with which the next song, below, is connected. The hand, which continues to p. 72, is that of Daniel Campbell.

68-70 [Robertson, Duncan.] Song headed "A Bhan Lunnaineach Bhuidh", beg. 'An sgriob a thug mi do Shith-Chailliann / Chaill mi mo storus 's mo leannan'. 12 stt. of 4 lines, with four-line refr. beg. 'Ged a bha mi roimhe dubhach / 'S ann am bliadhn' tha mi subhach'. Author identified in Robertson 1978-1980: 317-319. Published by "Dun Ailean" in the Northern Chronicle, 10.1.1883, together with the foregoing item. For other versions of 13 stt. see NLS MS.14878, f. i, and Celtic Annual 1916: 112.

70-72 [Anonymous.] Song headed "Tuireadh Bheanntan Adhoil", beg. 'Chunna' mis' moch an diugh / Bean b' annsach leam fo 'n ghrein'. 9 stt. of 4 lines, with four-line refr. beg. 'Ich 'us och mar tha mo chus / Cha 'n urrainn mi toirt as an iarrunn'. Published in the Northern Chronicle, 7.3.1883, by "Dun Ailean", and copied by Campbell.

73-74 [blank]

75-80 [Anonymous.] Song headed "Comhradh eadar gille agus nighan No n sealgair 's s[...]g" Beg. 'Esan. Tha 'n oidhche nochd gun amharus / Is tha 'n geamhradh fada fuar'. A dialogue of 17 stt. of 8 lines, begun by the young man. The girl's first stanza (st. 2) beg. 'Ise. Thuirt Mararat og is i freagradh / Gu beadrach Glan suairc'. Probably modelled on a song by Iain Mac Ailein (Maclean), beg. 'Thuirt Mairghread nighean Dòmhnaill', first printed in Eigg 1776: 175-178 and later in Mackenzie's Sàr-obair, 1907 ed. p. 432, where "Tha 'n oidhche nochd ro aonranach" is named as the tune of the song; Checklist 250. Iain Mac Ailein's song is a dialogue between two girls, however, and the text of the present song is very different. Daniel Campbell's note at the end suggests that he sent it in for publication in 1885, but it does not seem to have been printed at that time.

80-81 [Anonymous.] Song headed "An tarbhan duth bha 'n Cinntire", beg. 'An tarbhan duth bha 'n Cinntire / Fhuair e innleachd air a phoit'. 6 stt. of 8 lines.

82 [Blank]

83 [?Stewart, Robert, of Moulin.] Song headed "Bruachean Dhoone", beg. 'A Bhruachean Dhoon gur curaidh ur n' aile / Gur maiseach 's gur alluinn an bla th' air gach raon. 2 stt. of 8 lines'. A translation of "The Braes of Doune", printed in Robert Stewart's 'Orain Ghaelach, agus Bheurla-Ghaelach' (Stewart 1802: 191-192). The version here is very close.

84-87 [?Stewart, Robert, of Moulin.] Song headed "Aisling Mairi", beg. 'Nuair dh'eirich gealach dheal nan trà / Os ceann nam beanntaibh 's aird tha 's tir'. 4 stt. of 8 lines. A translation of John Lowe's ballad "Mary's dream" (1772), printed in Stewart 1802: 174-177. Another printing of the Gaelic translation is in Duncan Kennedy's 'An laoidheadair Gaelic no Orain spioradail, le ughdairean eagsamhail' (Glasgow 1836), pp. 168-169, where it is ascribed it to James Macintyre of Glenoe. The version here seems to have been copied from Stewart's edition, but with a change of lay-out whereby each Gaelic stanza is followed by the corresponding English stanza.