CHAPLAINS. 527 



In 1 80 1, he was appointed one of the ministers of the High 

 Church. The Principal frequently attended the general 

 shows of the Society. At Inverness, in 1 831, he proposed 

 a toast at the dinner in the following terms : With the 

 snows of threescore and ten winters on his head, he was 

 more apt to look back on the times by-gone than those of 

 the present generation ; as a stranger visiting the north, he 

 was struck with the contrast between the present and past 

 condition of the Highlands ; and since he sat down among 

 the company, these reminiscences were roused in a peculiar 

 degree in his bosom. It was but fourscore years ago when 

 the thunder of the cannons of Culloden, and the clattering 

 of the Cumberland dragoons, were heard on the streets of 

 Inverness. How different now the case. We this day 

 witness a congregated meeting of the clans. We see the 

 Frasers, the Macleods, the Macdonalds, and Mackintoshs, 

 all met, not with the dirk and claymore, as of old, but with 

 the smile of amity in their faces, and the glass of kindness 

 in their hands. We do not now behold the one clan im- 

 bruing their hands in the blood of their neighbours. The 

 Highlands were unquestionably under great obligations to 

 Providence for the change. In conclusion, the Very Rev. 

 Principal proposed ' The Northern Clans,' and may they 

 ever continue in amity in private life, and particularly 

 zealous in promoting the best interests of the country : to 

 this toast he was convinced his friend Mr Macdonald of 

 Staffa would say, ' nis, nis, hurra.' The toast was re- 

 ceived with enthusiasm, Staffa giving the time in Gaelic. 



Principal Baird was convener of the General Assem- 

 bly's Committee for establishing Schools in the Highlands 

 and Islands of Scotland. After giving the above toast, the 

 Chairman (Sir Francis Mackenzie of Gairloch, Bart.), in 

 proposing the Principal's health, stated that he (the Princi- 

 pal) was deserving the thanks not only of the Society, but 

 of every Highlander who could read or spell his name; and 

 invoked the blessings of the Almighty on the head of the 

 Principal. Principal Baird expressed his warmest acknow- 

 ledgments to the meeting, and in the course of a speech 

 of some length said : With regard to the interest taken by 



