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Prior to the Bishop's
departure for England, a farewell dinner was given him by the Highland
Society of Upper Canada at Carmino's Hotel, Kingston.
Such a proceeding was
eminently proper, for no man had done more to maintain the honour and
dignity of the Highland name in Canada than had the Bishop. I will here
quote from a little pamphlet containing "An Account of the Highland
Society of Canada," compiled by my father, Archibald John Macdonell (the
younger of Greenfield), Secretary and one of the Directors of the
Society in 1844, as it shows how deep an interest Bishop Macdonell took
in all that concerned the Society of which he was virtually the founder.
I will first give the introductory letter. It was addressed to a well
known Glengarry man, Mr. Macdonald of Gart, who lived for many years on
what was formerly known as the Grey's Creek property in the Township of
Charlottenburgh, on the River St. Lawrence.
To John Macdonald,
Esquire, President of the Highland Society of Canada.
"My DEAR SIR,—When
circumstances have forced a people to abandon their native country and
seek the means of subsistence among foreigners, or in the Colonies of
their own country, they carry with them as a matter of course, the
feelings and the prejueices—alike honourable—which they had imbibed at
home ; to perpetuate which in the land of their adoption, to instil into
the minds of their children the same principles they themselves had been
taught, to teach them to love above all others—above even that of their
own nativity—the country from which stern necessity alone could have
driven their fathers, and with which all their fathers nearest and
dearest associations are connected, and to rivet the connection between
their new country and their old, among other means emigrants have
invariably adopted the formation of national societies. It cannot be
otherwise than that these societies must answer the end for which they
were instituted, and arguing with the intention of proving it, would be
supererogatory and useless.
"With such objects in
view did the Highlanders in London establish the Highland Society of
London, with what success is well known. That this venerable and
distinguished institution has mainly contributed to preserve in its
purity the Highland character, and has done more to promote the general
welfare of the Highlands, than any other association, is a general and
well-grounded opinion.
"While the Highlanders of
Canada remember with gratitude that to the late lamented Bishop
Macdonell they owe the establishment of a branch of that society among
them, they cannot forget that to you the)' are indebted for its
organization after it had ceased operations for fifteen years.
"The generous and
patriotic motives that animated you in the work cannot be sufficiently
appreciated ; but I am sure that you feel yourself in some measure
recompensed for all your trouble and anxiety, when you consider how much
the Society has already done to promote the objects for which it was
established and re-organized.
In order that those
objects may be more generally and more clearly known and understood, I
have, by permission, compiled an account of the Society, containing the
speech of Mr. Simon MacGillivray to the gentlemen who took part in its
formation, from which more can be learned of the history and purposes of
the Parent Society than from any remarks I could make; the constitution
and by-laws, a list of the members, and such other information the
publication of which, I thought, would in any way tend to serve the
Society, or interest and gratify its members.
I do not think it
necessary to appeal to the feelings of our countrymen for a liberal
support of the institution; this has already been given, and to their
credit be it spoken, that from Quebec to Amherstburg the utmost
enthusiasm has been shown in support of this Society, which I hope and
believe will be the instrument of preserving in Canada the recollection
of the Highland name, and with it the chivalrous and devoted loyalty,
and other noble qualities which made the ancient Highland character the
first in the world. Should the national character be doomed to give way
to the encroachments of modern innovations, you will have, in an eminent
degree, the satisfaction of knowing that you made an effort to save it.
"As a member of the
Highland Society of Canada, I joined most heartily in the mark of
grateful respect shown by it to its venerated founder: and as such I
desire to express my gratitude to its preserver, while as a private
individual, I shew my respect for the gentleman by inscribing this small
compilation to you.
I am, my dear Sir.
"Very truly yours,
"ARCH. JOHN MACDOXELL,
(Younger of Greenfield.)
"GreenIeld, Glengarry, 22nd January, 1844."
THE SECRETARY'S NARRATIVE.
"The Right Reverend
Bishop Macdonell, whose whole life was spent in the service of his
countrymen, rightly judging that the establishment of such an
institution would be of very material benefit to them, solicited and
obtained from the Highland Society of London, of which he was a
distinguished member, a commission to establish a branch in Canada, of
which number the Bishop himself was one. Upon its receipt, the gentlemen
to whom it was addressed, being of opinion that the Counties of
Glengarry and Stormont, forming the great Highland Settlement in Canada,
would offer at once the greatest facility for the establishment, and the
most favourable field for the operation of such an association,
determined to hold the institutional meeting in them, and accordingly
called a meeting of such gentlemen as were willing to aid, at the house
of Mr. Angus Macdonell, at St. Raphael's, in Glengarry.
A highly respectable
meeting took place in accordance with the requisition on 10th November,
1818, over which Mr. Simon MacGillivray, one of the Vice-Presidents of
the Highland Society of London, presided, and at which were present
among others, three of the best and finest Highland gentlemen this
Province ever saw, the late Honourable William MacGillivrav. the late
Bishop Macdonell and the late Honourable Neil MacLean, all of whom
'though dead still live in the hearts of their countrymen.' The
Commission under which the Branch was to be constituted, being produced,
was read as follows:-
"Whereas, the Highland
Society of London was instituted in the year 1778 to associate together
in the British Metropolis, the nobility, landed proprietors and others
of the Highlands, together with their descendants, the officers of
Highland Corps and gentlemen connected by family alliance with, or who
have rendered some signal service to, that part of the Kingdom; for
preserving the language, martial spirit, dress, music, and antiquities
of the ancient Caledonians; for rescuing from oblivion the valuable
remains of Celtic literature; for the establishment and support of
Gaelic; for relieving distressed Highlanders at a distance from their
native homes, and for promoting the welfare and general improvement of
the northern parts of the Island of Great Britain.
"'And whereas, the
society to extend the benefit of this Institution, and to unite together
in a central union their countrymen wherever situated, have resolved to
issue Commissions for the establishment of Branches thereof in the
British Colonies and other places at home and abroad, where Highlanders
are resident, and being extremely desirous that a Branch should be
established in Canada, you are hereby empowered and requested, in
pursuance of this resolution, to form a Branch of the Highland Society
of London in Canada accordingly, with authority to make such by-laws as
may be necessary for the management thereof, in conformity with the
principles and rules of the said Society.
(Signed.) FREDERICK.
'"President.
To William MacGillivray,
Esq.,
Angus Shaw, Esq.,
Rev. Alexander Macdonell,
John Macdonald, Esq.,
Henry Mackenzie, Esq.'
"The commission being
laid on the table, the Chairman, in opening the business of the meeting
stated, 'that the best account of the objects and views of the Highland
Society was to be found in the Commission just read, and it only
remained for him to give some account of the origin and history of the
Society, and to offer some suggestions in regard to the best mode of
proceeding in the establishment of the proposed branch thereof, by the
gentlemen whom he had the honour of addressing.
"'The Highland Society of
London was at first merely a convivial club, established by some young
Highlanders, as a place of resort, where they went to spend occasional
evenings among their countrymen, and to refer to occurrences,
recollections and feelings endeared to them by early associations; to
resume the garb and language of their ancestors, and to introduce the
songs of the bards and the music of the minstrels which had always
bestowed and distinguished a peculiar character on the social meetings
of Highlanders.
"Happily, the Highland
Club then established soon became known to many public-spirited
individuals of distinction and influence in society, and it occurred to
them that the design might be extended and applied to public objects of
the highest national utility. A meeting of noblemen and gentlemen was
accordingly assembled, and the Society was established for the public
purposes recited in the Commission—with such views and with the support
of a succession of men of the first rank and consideration in the
country, it was scarcely necessary to add, that the Society had
flourished and was now in the highest state of prosperity. It comprised
in the list of its members, with few, if any exceptions, all the
noblemen and gentlemen connected with the Highlands, and who usually
resorted to London.
"The names of several of
the Princes graced the rolls of the Institution, and the Prince Regent
himself had condescended to become a member and to accept the Highland
distinction of Chief of the Society. In order further to increase the
utility, and to insure the permanency of the Highland Society, it has
been incorporated by an act of Parliament, and might therefore be justly
described a benevolent, a literary, and an antiquarian Society, with
lawful authority superior to any other similar Institution in the United
Kingdom.
"'To enter into any
details respecting the beneuicient services to the Highlands, and to the
country at large, that are rendered by this Society, or even to
enumerate them, would occupy far too much of the time of the evening,
and therefore he (the Chairman) wished to suggest on what points it
would be expedient for the Society about to be established in Canada to
follow the example of the Parent Society, and what other objects
conducive to the improvement and to the peculiar interests of this
Province might be associated with those specified in the Commission. The
objects of the Highland Society of London were first for preserving the
language, martial spirit, dress, music and antiquities of the ancient
Caledonians, and thus maintaining a bond of association wherever they
should meet. This wish to preserve in the present day the language and
Customs of other times might possibly be called prejudice, but so also
might many of the noblest feelings which can actuate the human mind.
Modern latitude of opinion might stigmatize as prejudice the loyalty of
the patriot and the devotedness of the soldier; the self-called citizen
of the world might, in the language of universal philanthrophy, blame
love of country itself, as a narrow and prejudiced feeling, and while we
attempt to measure principles by their utility, might in fact reduce
them to individual and sordid selfishness. But surely to a meeting of
Highlanders it was unnecessary to enlarge on this point, or to explain
how love of country might resolve itself into love of one's own
countrymen, and thence into attachment to the peculiar customs which
distinguished those countrymen, and, even on the score of utility, to
the garb which distinguished the Highland soldier, of the language in
which the deeds of his forefathers were celebrated, and the music which
animated him in the day of battle—all of which were objects well
deserving the attention of those who wished to preserve unimpaired the
martial spirit, and devote themselves to the service of the Country.
"'The next object of the
Society, viz.: the rescuing from oblivion the valuable remains of Gaelic
literature, was one which he supposed could not be much promoted in this
Province; but if any such remains were still extant among any of the
more ancient emigrants, - it was needless to point out the propriety of
immediate attention to them. The object next specified, viz.: the
establishment and support of Gaelic schools and the relieving of
distressed Highlanders at a distance from their native homes, were both
peculiarly applicable to the state of society in this Province, where
the means of bestowing generally the benefits of education were still
very deficient, and where many Highland emigrants were daily arriving in
a state of great poverty and distress.
"'The object of the
Parent Society for promoting the improvement and general welfare of the
northern parts of the Island of Great Britain would probably in this
branch thereof be modified, so as to apply to the improvement and
general welfare of the Highland Settlements in this Province, and though
he was deficient in local knowledge on the subject, yet the information
he received left no room to doubt, that by a judicious distribution of
premiums for agricultural improvement and by other means within the
reach of the Society, much might be done towards promoting an object so
desirable.
"'This mention of
premiums naturally led him to consider the means of providing them and
of contributing to the other objects of the Society, which it was
evident, could only be done by subscriptions to be paid by members; and
in fixing the rate of such subscriptions the meeting would have to
consider, on the one side, the expediency of raising ample funds to
promote such laudable purposes, and on the other, the danger of
deterring eligible members from coining forward by exacting too high a
contribution on admission into the Society.
'"On this point, and
indeed on many others on which he had touched, he (the Chairman) had
derived much information and assistance from a gentleman well-known to
the meeting, and highly esteemed by all to whom he was known; a
gentleman active and indefatigable in promotion every object connected
with the prosperity of the Province, and to whose individual exertions
the meeting was indebted for obtaining the Commission under which they
were then *assembled, and for organizing the measures to be brought
before them. This gentleman was the Reverend Alexander Macdonell. and he
(the Chairman) stated that this gentleman's previous approbation of the
propositions to be submitted to the meeting would of itself be
sufficient to secure them a favourable reception. It only remained to
speak of the internal regulations of the Society.'
"Mr. MacGillivray then
proceeded to discuss some matters of internal economy, particularly the
date of the general annual meeting of the Society, and after suggesting
the anniversary of the Battle of Alexandria (which day, the 21st of
March, had been selected by the Parent Society) and the anniversary of
the Battle of Bannockburn, urged that the 18th of June should be
adopted, as on that day Scotchmen, Englishmen and Irishmen had stood
shoulder to shoulder at Waterloo, for the good not only of Britain
alone, but of all Europe and even the civilized world, against a far
more formidable man than King Edward—a day on which Highlanders had
maintained the reputation of their country and emulated the deeds of
their ancestors; and that day was accordingly selected.
It was then resolved,
That it is expedient to establish in this Province a Branch of the
Highland Society of London, to be called the Highland Society of Canada.
After a constitution,
which declared the objects of the newly- formed Society similar to those
of the Parent Society, had been adopted, the meeting proceeded to the
election of office-bearers, when the Reverend Alexander Macdonell
communicated the highly- gratifying intelligence that he had solicited
and obtained the consent of His Excellency Sir Peregrine Maitland to
become President, and the following gentlemen were unanimously elected
to and, with the exception of the President, were immediately installed
into their respective offices:
President
Sir Peregrine Maitland, K.C.B., &c., &c., &c.
Vice-Presidents
The Reverend Alexander Macdonell.
Colonel the Honourable Neil MacLean,
Lieutenant-Colonel Donald Greenfield Macdonell.
Treasurer
Alexandria Fraser. Esquire.
Secretary:
Archibald MacLean, Esquire.
Directors
Roderick MacLeod,
Alexander MacLean,
Alexander Wilkinson, Esquires.
"After a vote of thanks
had been given to the Honourable William MacGillivray and Mr. Simon
MacGillivray for their attendance at, and able assistance in. the
formation of the Society, the meeting broke up."
My father states that the
Society continued in active operations for several years, and
contributed largely to the objects for which it was formed, drawing upon
itself the blessing of many distressed Highlanders, whom it relieved at
a distance from their native home; several liberal contributions in
money were given to assist gentlemen engaged in the publication of works
in the Gaelic language, and a succession of premiums to Gaelic scholars,
performers on the bagpipes and the best dressed Highlanders; nor were
the remains of Celtic literature neglected, while some collection of
Gaelic poetry was made.
Owing, however, to the
death of some and the removal of others of the master spirits who guided
it from this part of the country, to the frequency of the meetings, and
the high rate at which the yearly subscription was fixed, and deprived
of the fostering care and immediate superintendence of Bishop Macdonell
by his removal to Kingston, the Society, after some years of usefulness,
struggled for some time under all these difficulties (added to which
were those imposed upon by political excitement and the private
dissensions of some of its members) and then sank into the sleep from
which the exertions of Mr. Macdonald of Gart (and, I presume, those of
the then Secretary as well, although be sure be did not mention it)
awakened it.
That its first act on its
reorganization was one worthy of the Scotch gentlemen who regulated its
affairs and worthy of the great Highlander then lately departed, we
shall shortly see. |
