Still another poet of Clanranald fame, John Macdonald, or Iain Dubh Mac Iain ’Ic-Ailein, born about 1665, and resident in Eigg; and then we reach the Aosdan Matheson, who was bard to the Earl of Seaforth in the seventeenth century. Appurtenant to this post he held free lands in Lochalsh, Ross-shire, and composed as many poems as would fill a large volume, but most of these, like Nial Macvurich’s, and for the same reason, have long been forgotten. One of those preserved has been very freely rendered or imitated in English by Sir Walter Scott, under the title “Farewell to Mackenzie, High Chief of Kintail,” 1815. The original verses are arranged to a beautiful Gaelic air, of which the chorus is adapted to the double pull upon the oars of a galley, and which is therefore distinct from the ordinary boat-songs. They were composed on the occasion of the embarking at Dornie, Kintail, of the Earl of Seaforth, who was obliged to take refuge in Spain, after an unsuccessful effort in favour of the old Chevalier in 1718. Sir Walter’s version runs thus:— Farewell to Mackenneth, great Earl of the North, The Lord of Lochcarron, Glenshiel, and Seaforth; To the Chieftain this morning his course who began, Launching forth on the billow his bark like a swan. For a foreign land he has hoisted his sail, Farewell to Mackenzie, High Chief of Kintail! O swift be the galley, and hardy her crew, May her captain be skilful, her mariners true, In danger undaunted, unwearied by toil, Though the whirlwind should rise, and the ocean should boil; On the brave vessel’s gunnel, I drank his bonail, And farewell to Mackenzie, High Chief of Kintail! Awake in thy chamber, thou sweet southland gale! Like the sighs of his people, breathe soft on his sail; Be prolong’d as regret, that his vassals must know, Be fair as their faith, and sincere as their woe; Be so soft, and so fair, and so faithful, sweet gale, Wafting onward Mackenzie, High Chief of Kintail! Be his pilot experienced, and trusty, and wise, To measure the seas and to study the skies; May he hoist all his canvas from streamer to deck, But oh! crowd it higher when wafting him back— Till the cliffs of Skooroora, and Conan’s glad vale, Shall welcome Mackenzie, High Chief of Kintail!