A collection of Gaelic verse, mostly of poets from the Badenoch area. It was written down in the late 18th century, with some later additions at the end. Most of the songs were published by Thomas Sinton in his article "Gaelic poetry from the Cluny charter chest", 'Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness' XXIII (1898-1899), pp. 247-281 (referred to below as "Sinton, TGSI"), and again in 'The Poetry of Badenoch' (Inverness 1906) by the same author.

The collection was compiled by several hands, none of which have been identified. Items 1 and 8 were written on the blank verso pages of letters, 1799 and 1801, which may allow conclusions concerning the identity of some of the scribes. No. 8 in particular is written on the back of a letter, 1799, addressed to Mr. Paul Kennedy, Castle Gavel, Perth, who may be the scribe of this song as well as a number of others in the same hand.

The material is loosely contained in a folder. The contents are as follows:

(1) Three hymns of Mary Clark née Macpherson, Bean Torra Dhamh' (ca. 1740-1815), all written in the same late-18th-century hand. They are accompanied by the envelope in which they were formerly kept, inscribed "MSS Gaelic hymns composed by Mrs. Clark who lived near Glentruim (née Macpherson) she was born 1720", with a note underneath, "Above in the handwriting of the last Cluny who died Jany 1932 Neil Ross". The songs listed here were published by Sinton, TGSI, and Rev. Alexander MacRae (ed.), 'Mary Macpherson (Mrs Clark) Bean Torra Dhamh, the religious poetess of Badenoch. Her poems and life' (Arborath [1935?]). The hymns are:

'Smile mharbhaisg orst a shioail / Scarrach baiolach do Chlachagh', 16 stanzas of 8 lines. Published in Sinton, TGSI, pp. 258-261 (without the 11th stanza); A. MacRae (ed.), 'Mary Macpherson', pp. 61-66. Folio 1.

'Ceol cha nail Lehm Pibe na clarsach / binish ghaltrump s heid'. 16 stanzas of 8 lines. Published in Sinton, TGSI, pp. 255-258; A. MacRae (ed.), 'Mary Macpherson', pp. 45-50. Folios 2-3.

'A Jehobha ard riogh na fhlais / cai bhin an ceol leum bhidh laibhaird air tainm'. Headed "Isaiah 12 and 2 verse"; 16 stanzas of 8 lines. Written on the back of a letter, 1801, entirely crossed out, of Angus and James Macpherson to their brother, who was possibly the scribe of these hymns. Cf. Sinton, TGSI, pp. 252-255; A. MacRae (ed.), 'Mary Macpherson', pp. 39-44.

(2) Small booklet, ca. 1790s, of 16 pages containing songs of Lachlan Macpherson, Fear Srath Mhathaisidh (ca. 1723-1767), and other poets. The booklet is written in the same hand throughout and was paginated by the scribe. Containing:

[Ossianic verse.] 'A chlerich a sheinneas na Sailm / Har leam fein gur bath do chial'. Headed "Comhraig Fheinn agus Mhanuis". 25 stanzas of 4 lines. Note at the end: "le Ossian Mac Fheinn". See also number 7 below. Cf. J. F. Campbell, 'Leabhar na Feinne' (London 1872), pages 72 ff. Pages 1-4.

Macqueen, Sergeant. Song beginning 'As da 'm chadal, cha bheag m' airsneal / Gach achdain a Ghraidh'. Headed "Oran leis an t-Sheartshain Mac Cuimhne da Leannan". 9 stanzas of 8 lines. Published in Sinton, TGSI, pp. 266-267. Pages 5-7.

[Anonymous.] Song beginning ''S ach Isobail donn nighean Donuil sin, / Bu dheonach linn nan geillidh tu'. Headed "Oran a rinn fleasgach og da Leannan". 11 stanzas of 8 lines. Published in Sinton, TGSI, pp. 267-269. Pages 8-11.

Macpherson, Lachlan, Fear Srath Mhathaisidh. Song beginning ''S a's bochd an caraibh dhaoine / A's t-saoghal bhi cogadh ris'. Headed "Oran an airgid, air fonn Cabair feidh; le fear Sthrath Mhaasidh". 8 stanzas of 8 lines. Published in Sinton, TGSI, pp. 363-365. Pages 11-13. Macpherson, Lachlan, Fear Srath Mhathaisidh. Song beginning 'Thainig oiche airid den t-sheachduin, / Dias dem chairdin gam fhaicin.' Headed "Oran le fear Straith Mhaise do Mhinistear agus Sagairt air dhoibh tighn ga Shealltuin"; 4 stanzas of 8 lines (written as two sets of 4 lines). Published in Sinton, TGSI, pp. 262-263. Pages 13-14.

[Anonymous.] Song beginning 'Moch sa mhaidin smi 'm dhuisg / Gu bheil m' aigne gun sund'. Headed "Marbhran do Mhac mhic Aillen a chaidh mharbhadh air sliabh-an t-siorradh". 12 stanzas of 3 lines (or 7-stress strophes), the last line of each verse repeated. Published in Sinton, TGSI, pp. 276-277. Cf. C. Ó Baoill and D. MacAulay, 'Scottish Gaelic vernacular verse to 1730: a checklist' (rev. ed. Aberdeen 2001), no. 495. Pages 14-15.

[Anonymous.] Song beginning 'Feasgar la air di domhnuich, / Fhuaras nuaidheachd chuir bhon oirn'. Headed "Marbhrann do Lauchlain Sthrath mhaasidh"; 3 stanzas of 7 lines, plus the last line repeated. Published in Sinton, TGSI, p. 265. Page 16.

(3) Small booklet containing songs by Niall Mac Ualraig (Neil Kennedy) and Angus Campbell (ca. 1740-ca. 1814). The booklet has 7 + [1] pages, paginated by the scribe, and is written in the same hand as the preceding. Two of the songs are dated 1791 and 1792 respectively. Containing:

Kennedy, Neil (Niall Mac Ualraig). Song beginning 'Nam bhitheadh tu nach Uachdaran, / Bu mhaith an ceann don tuaithidh thu'. Headed "Oran do dh'Alasdair Mac a phearsain ann am Faicham. 1791 le Niail Mac Ualric". 9 stanzas of 4 lines with a refrain of four lines beginning 'Gum a Slan don Phearsanach'. Published by Sinton, TGSI, pp. 273-274. Pages 1-2.

[Campbell, Aonghas.] Song beginning 'Tha mulad mor tha pramh orm, / Nach faoid mi dhol don airimh'. Headed "Oran a rinneadh do nighin oig le leannan". 8 stanzas of 4 lines with a refrain (marked 'fonn') of 4 lines, beginning 'Mo chaillin ghrinn mhealshuileach dhu'. This version printed in Sinton, TGSI, p. 271; see also Angus Campbell, 'Orain nuadh Ghaidhleach' (Edinburgh 1785), pp. 140-143; 'Co-chruinneachadh nuadh do dh'orannibh Gaidhealach' (Inverness 1806), pp. 188-190; James Munro, 'An t-oranaiche Gaelach' (Glasgow 1829), pp. 14-15. Pages 2-3.

Kennedy, Neil (Niall Mac Ualraig). Song beginning 'Gum bheil mise fu mhulad, / Ge nach innis me dhuin' e'. Headed "Oran a rinneadh do dh'Alastair Achadh Uine agus a bhrathair le Niail Mac Ualric – 1792". 8 stanzas of 4 lines with a refrain (marked 'fonn') of 4 lines, beg. 'Tha mi trom duilich trom, / Arsneulach cianail'. Published in Sinton, TGSI, pp. 272-273. Pages 4-5.

Kennedy, Neil (Niall Mac Ualraig). Song beginning 'Tha recruiteacaidh an drasd / Anns gach ait tha mi faineachdain'. Headed "Oran do Mhac Mhic Alasdair agus do chuiddeachd le Nial McUalric". 8 stanzas of 4 lines plus refrain (marked 'fonn') of 4 lines, beg. 'Hil u hilin o ro, / Hil u hil o gun dhealaich sinn'. Published in Sinton, TGSI, pp. 275-276. Pages 5-7. Page [8] is b Blank.

(4) [MacDonald, Iain Lom]. A bifolium, much perished, containing verses of Iain Lom beginning 'A bhean nach leasaich thu 'n stop dhuin', headed "Oran do Mhac Dhomhnuil na'n Eilean". 18 stanzas of 6 lines, the last line in each stanza to be repeated. This version published in Sinton, TGSI, pp. 277-281. See also A. Mackenzie, 'Orain Iain Luim' (SGTS 1964), pp. 146-150; C. Ó Baoill and D. MacAulay, 'Scottish Gaelic vernacular verse to 1730: a checklist' (rev. ed. Aberdeen 2001), no. 115.

(5) A sheet folded into three sections and written in three columns on each side, containing two songs written by two different scribes, as follows: [Macintyre, Calum Dubh]. Song beginning 'Chan ionadh mise a bhi duach / bheir fheasgar a ghrian le bruach'. Headed "Oran do Chaptain Balachroain", 15 stanzas of 8 lines, numbered 1-10 and 12-16 by the scribe. Published in Sinton, TGSI, pp. 248-251, headed there "Call Ghadhaig". Folios 1r-1v.

[Macpherson, Lachlan, Fear Srath Mhaithisidh]. Song beginning 'Ach camir hug iad speis do dhol / bisten gun airgaid gun or'. Headed "Oran nan luuch". Written in a different hand from the first song. An incomplete version of a rat/mice satire attributed to Lachlan Macpherson; cf. R. Black, 'An Lasair' (Edinburgh 2001), p. 475 and J. A. Morrison, "'Drumming tunes': a study of Gaelic rat satires", TGSI LVII, pp. 273-364, Appendix. Folio 1v.

(6) [Anonymous.] Single sheet, containing on recto and verso a song beginning ''S mor mo bhulad s' mo smuirin, / Bhon a dhealleach mo runn rium Diluan'. Headed "Oran chath dhineadh do Bhan uasal arid, air fonn oran Ion bhain Pitouridhe". 6 stanzas of 8 lines. Published in Sinton, TGSI, pp. 269-271.

(7) [Ossianic verse.] A large single sheet, possibly from a sample book for decorative paper, showing on the recto side a floral pattern, headed "No. 112 price 16 pence". On the verso, verses beginning 'A Chlerich a henas na Sealm / horlum fein gor bath do Cheal'. Headed "Laoidh air na fhinibh", 25 x 4, verses 15-25 written in a different hand from the rest. See also item 2 above. Cf. J. F. Campbell, 'Leabhar na Feinne' (London 1872), pp. 72ff.

(8) [Anonymous.] A single sheet, containing on the recto side a letter, 1799, of Ann Kennedy to her father Paul Kennedy, Castle Gavel, Perth. On the verso is written a song beginning 'S oiche shamridh dhom m charish / an goinie galtin rim Leanan / bata gerantinta galinta dhomhsa i'. Headed "Oran goil". 12 stanzas of 3 lines, with each verse to be sung twice with the exception of the first, where the instruction is only to repeat the last line.

(9) [Mackellar, Mary.] Song written on both sides of an envelope addressed to Rev. Neil Ross, beginning 'S gur mise tha dhe cianail / Smi ri taobh Lochiall gun mhire'. Untitled. 7 stanzas of 2 lines.

(9a) [Anonymous.] Single sheet, containing verses beginning 'Gu'n soirbhich leat mar 'chleachd / Gu'n soirbhich leat a ghnàth'. Headed "Continue to prosper, or may you continue to prosper". Note on the verso: "Gaelic Proverb".

(10) Letter, 1932, of Alexander MacRae to Miss MacKay. Comprising one sheet and concerning MacRae's interest in Mary Macpherson, 'Bean Torra Dhamh', whose poetry he later published in his book 'Mary Macpherson (Mrs Clark) Bean Torra Dhamh, the religious poetess of Badenoch. Her poems and life' (Arborath [1935?]).

(11) [Anonymous.] Quarto booklet of 13 folios (the last detached) containing a poem, early 20th century (?), beginning 'Is lionmhor iad 's an talla so an nochd'. Headed "'Bhi 'gan cuimhneachadh 's 'gan iunndrain".

(12)-(16) Printed Gaelic ephemera. A bundle of printed Gaelic poetry, dating from the late 19th-early 20th century, containing:

(12) Macpherson, Lachlan, Fear Srath Mhathaisidh. 'Gun lionar cruadal sinnte / Ris gach linne' chi 'n droch shaoghal so'. Headed "Marbhrann. Le Lachlainn Macaphearsain Fear-Strathmathais do dh' Eoghan Macaphersain, Ceann-Cinnidh Chlann Chatain 'n uair chualas gu'n d' eug e anns an Fraing". 10 stanzas of 8 lines. 3, [1] pp. 2 copies. A different version is printed in John Mackenzie, 'Sar-obair nam bard Gaelach' (Glasgow 1841), pp. 260-261. Cf. also below, for different versions, nos. 15-16.

(13) Seumas Dubh (translation of Robert Burns). A translation of 'Auld Lang Syne', beginning ''N coir seann luchd-eolais chuir a smuain, / Gun 'n toirt gu brath 'n cuimhn'. Headed "An t-àm a bh' ann 'o shean. (Auld Langsyne)"; 5 stanzas of 4 lines with refrain. On the back: 'Presented to "The Gaelic Society of Perth", with the Translator's Compliments.'

(14) MacDonald, John. Song beginning ''S beag iognadh na daoine uaisle, / A bhi tathaich Chluainidh fhèin'. Headed "Oran do cheud nighean Tighearna Chluainidh", 8 stanzas of 8 lines. Note at the end: "N.B. – Bard: - John MacDonald, Crathie, Laggan." Single sheet. 11 copies.

(15) Macpherson, Lachlan, Fear Srath Mhathaisidh. Song beginning 'Gur lìonmhor trioblaid sìnùte [sic], / Ris an linn a chi 'n droch shaoghal so'. Headed "Cumha do Eoghan Macphearson Tighearna Chluainidh; ceann cinnidh Chlann Chattan, nuair chualas sgeul a bhàis anns an' Fhraing. Le Lachlan Macphearson, Fear Strathmashie ann 'm Baideanach". 10 stanzas of 8 lines. Single sheet. 4 copies.

(16) Macpherson, Lachlan, Fear Srath Mhathaisidh. Song beginning 'Gur lìonmhor triobhlaid sìnte, / Ris an linn a chi 'n droch shaghal so'. Headed "Cumha do Eobhon Macphearson, Tighearna Chluainidh. Ceann cinnidh Chlann Chattan nuair chualas sgeul a bhais ann's an' Fhraing, le Lachlan Macphearson, Fear Strathmhashie ann 'm Baideanach". 11 stanzas of 8 lines. Bifolium; printed only on the first page. Following the version printed in John Mackenzie, 'Sar-obair nam bard Gaelach' (Glasgow 1841), pp. 260-261.