V.

The management of the affairs of the Society shall be entrusted to a Council of Twelve Members, chosen annually by ballot, in the month of January, and consisting of a Chief, three Chieftans, an Honorary Secretary, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and five other Members of the Society, all of whom shall understand and speak Gaelic; five to be a quorum. Vacancies occurring during the year shall, from time to time, be filled up ad interim.

VI.

The Society shall hold weekly meetings from the beginning of October to the end of April, for the furtherance of the objects specified in Article II; seven to be a quorum. At every alternate meeting the Essay or Debate, and discussion thereon, shall be in Gaelic.

VII.

The Society shall hold an Annual Assembly in the month of July, at which there shall be Pipe and other Highland Music, Singing, Readings, Recitations, and Addresses in Gaelic and English. Gaelic subjects shall have the preference.

VIII.

The Society may elect gentlemen who are distinguished for Celtic Literary attainments or patriotism, and who are members, as Honorary Chieftans, to the number of seven.

IX.

No part of the Constitution shall be altered without the assent of four-fifths of the Gaelic-speaking members present at a meeting specially called for the purpose, on not less than a month's notice, and provided that not less than twenty members vote. Any proposed alteration must be signed by at least seven members, and given notice of at an ordinary meeting. No Rules or Bye-Laws can be enacted, modified, or rescinded, except on the resolution of at least two-thirds of the members present at a Business Meeting of the Society, after a month's notice.

X.

The Society shall annually elect a Bard, a Piper, and a Librarian.

INTRODUCTION.

THE Council regret the delay which has taken place in issuing this, the second volume of the Society's Transactions-which is largely owing to the large proportion of Gaelic lore-so much desiderated by the readers of the first volume,-forming its contents. This will be found, however, to have added to the intrinsic value of the work; and the Council are confident the volume will prove worthy to rank with the first, both in value and interest; and they trust it will meet with an equally cordial reception from the members of the Society and from the public.

A large accession to the membership of the Society, and an increase at home and abroad, of societies formed to serve the objects for which the Gaelic Society of Inverness was founded, are some of the results expected to follow this issue.

The Council are glad to find that these objects were to a considerable extent accomplished by the first volume; and the work of organization still goes on. In addition to this, several volumes of Gaelic Poetry, a commodity in which few men of business would but very recently have invested much money, have been published in the interval; and a great variety of music, in one way or another, belonging to the Highlands, or celebrating the praises of the Celt, has been put into circulation. Reference may also be made to the increasing appreciation of Gaelic and Gaelic Literature

among other peoples.

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The "Illustrations of Ossian," mentioned in the previous volume, were soon afterwards published-a splendid tribute to the Gaelic bard and Celtic hero, from the graphic pencil of a son of Italy, and very appropriately seconded by letterpress descriptions from the pen of Mr Murdoch, the Honorary Secretary of this Society. Special mention should be made here of "The Philologic uses of the Celtic Tongue," by Professor Geddes, a work which, though small, has already exerted a large amount of influence on the destiny of the language of the Celt.

Mr C. S. Jerram, an English gentleman and scholar, who has mastered the Gaelic tongue, has given to the world in very acceptable form and style, an English version of Dan an Deirg and Tiomna Ghuill, a fact which deserves special notice; and in connection with this, it is also very gratifying to notice that during last session, and previous to the appearance of Mr Jerram's book, a very meritorious English version of Dan an Derig was read to the Society by its Librarian, Mr Lachlan M'Bean. The members may possibly have the pleasure of perusing the latter in the next volume of the Transactions. The philological, topographical and other Gaelic papers appearing from time to time in the pages of the Gael; and in the Gaelic and Antiquarian departments of the Highlander newspaper afford further evidence of an increasing interest in Celtic literature and lore.

Several changes have taken place among the office-bearers since those here given were elected. Among them must be mentioned with regret the resignations of the admirable Secretary and of the Treasurer, both of whom have left the Highland Capital for other spheres of usefulness. It is gratifying to note, however, that the life membership is increasing; and the Council would earnestly recommend that connection with the Society, to all ardent and patriotic Highlanders who desire to strengthen the foundation of the Society and to increase its usefulness and influence.

The Council would again beg to solicit the attention of the

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members to the claims of the Library. Quite an unusual demand for Gaelic books has sprung up, particularly from the colonies; and unless a special effort be made at once to make the Library what it ought to be, it will ere long become a difficult matter to make satisfactory progress with that important branch of the Society's work.

The practical recognition of Gaelic as a a branch of early education in our Highland Schools, and the founding of Gaelic Professorships in our Universities, are two other important objects, deserving some attention from the public, and demanding a special and speedy effort for their accomplishment on the part of the Gaelic Society of Inverness.