TO MY REVEREND FRIEND,
THE REV. ALEXANDER MACGREGOR, M.A.,
Of the West Church, Inverness, as a humble tribute of my admiration of his many virtues, his genial nature, and his manly Celtic spirit. He has kept alive the smouldering embers of our Celtic Literature for half a century by his contributions, under the signature of “Sgiathanach,” “Alastair Ruadh,” and others, to the Teachdaire Gaidhealach, Cuairtear nan Gleann, Fear Tathaich nam Beann, An Gaidheal, The Highlander; and, latterly, his varied and interesting articles in the Celtic Magazine have done much to secure to that Periodical its present, and rapidly increasing, popularity. He has now the pleasing satisfaction, in his ripe and mellow old age, of seeing the embers, which he so long and so carefully fostered, shining forth in the full blaze of a general admiration of the long despised and ignored Literature of his countrymen; and to him no small share of the honour is due.
That he may yet live many years in the enjoyment of health and honour, is the sincere desire of many a Highlander, and of none more so, than of his sincere friend,
ALEXANDER MACKENZIE.
INVERNESS, May, 1877.
