The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-08-14 00:00:00

DR. M'LEOD AND THE IRISH PSALMS.

We extract the following beautiful and touching letter
from the Be fast Presbyterian. It does great, honour
both to the head and heart of its author, who is gone to
London to accomplish its object :
A Letter :o the Bev. G. Bellis, by Norman M`Leod, D.D.
M DitAit Sit,—l ant indeed much disappointed that it. is
not in my power to attend the approaching meeting of the
Spud orUlster. I am, under erwa,rement to assist at the
ad-
ministration of the Lord's Supper, in the island of Arran, on
Sabbath, the sth of July, and to preach on the previous prepa-
ration days: The_services assigned me are ail in the Gaelic

language; so that I could not esily find 'a substitute, even if .
could othei wise absent myself from an occasion where I have
attended regularly for the last twenty years. The clergyinan
there was for many years my colleague in the same charge. He
is my brother-in-law, and my most attached friend,'and regular
assistant at sacramental occasions. I state these circumstances
to account for my absence from your Syliod, as I mentioned to
you and others that it was my intention to be present.
To myself the disappointment is one of no ordinary kind; I
have never enjoyed purer or more elevat--1 pleasure than io
attending the deliberations of your Synod, which were uniformly
carried on with a degree of talent and piety, of practical sound
sense and devoted zeal, which could not fail to delight and re-
fresh the soul of any man interested in the prosperity of Christ's
church on earth. Among your many interesting deliberations
for the advancement of religion at home and abroad, none cer-•
tainly excited my interest to so intense a degree as those mea-
sures which were more peculiarly Irish in their principles, and
national in their tendency. the Synod have now cordially
recognised the too long forgotten principle of instructing the
Irish through the medium of their own beloved language. On
this principle you have determined to send forth missionaries
who can address them. in Irish—that language, without the aid
of which there may be in Ireland at this moment no-fewer than
a million and a half of people who cannot form an accurate
conception on any subject, and through the medium of which
they are alone capable of receiving moral or religious instruc-
tion. Never was there a more interesting field of missionary
labour presented to a christian church than that which at this
moment presents itself at their own doors. Your ministers are
respected even in the most disturbed districts in Ireland. Your
church stands high in the estimation of all classes ; and if there
be a glen, or isle, or door, or heart closed against one of your
missionaries, let him get the Irish language, and he gets a key
that will open all. It will be in your recollection that at the
meeting of your Synod in Londonderry last summer, I sailed
the attention of the Synod to the importance of preparing a
metrical version of the Psalms of David, in the Irish language.
, I stated at that time that I believed that the obstacles were not
so great as many seemed to think ; and that if the assistance of
some native Irish scholar could be procured, I was willing to
make the attempt. This suggestion was received with such
enthusiastic ardour that I resolved to commence the work im-
mediately. On my return to Scotland I did commence to study
the Irish dialect of my native Celtic language ; to this study I
devoted all the moments I could spare from my parish duties—
I procured all the necessary books, and the earlier versions of
the Gaelic Psalms, and thereafter prepared a few specimens of
common and long measure, which I submitted "tb some good
Irish scholars, and was by them encouraged to proceed. Aware,
however, that the Irish language is exceedingly idiomatic in
its construction, or rather that its idioms are different, not only
from all European languages, but even from its own kindred
lauguages, I was anxious to procure the assistance of some
Irischolars, who were familiar with the fireside language of
the peoples-the peculiarities of Irish grammar—and the prosody
and genius of ancient and modern Trish poetry. MV attention
was directed to Mr. Thaddeus Connellan, a gentleman well
known throughout the country for his unparalleled exertions in
teaching his countrymen to read their own language. He had
many important engagements in Dublin; but he gave them all
up for some time, Caine to this country, resides in my house,
and has engaged in the work with an ardour and perseverance
which is most delightful. In him I have found a coadjutor of
the most valuable description. We are literally engaged from
morning till night. We have the various editions of the Irish
and Gaelic Scriptures, many of the best critical works, and,
above all, we have copies of all the .editions of the Gaelic
Psalms, which we make the ground-work of our version, and
without which we could proceed but very slowly, and compara-
tively speaking, very imperfectly. Ido not conceive that any
great variety in the metre is required; simplicity in the verse,
and in the choice of words, I consider the great object, and that
I strive to secure. I have now the happiness of announcing to
the Synod, under whose countenance I was induced to com-
mence this most interesting undertaking, that the first seventy-
five Psalms are now ready for the press. There «re no TriS.h
types in Scotland, and, therefore, they must be printed 'either
in Dublin or London. I have opened a correspondence with
Mr. Watts, of London, and I intend sending those that are
ready immediately forward to be printed. M y wish is to cast
off a small edition, say five hundret4 in the first instante—cir-
palate those as extensively as possible in the districts where the
Irish schools are taught, and that, if possible, gratis, or at a
mere trifle—invite criticism and christian communication--
solicit the coutitenacce of all who may he disposed to forward
the work—and after we have ascertained what improvements
may be made, then to stereotype them for extensive and con.;
tinned circulation. Mr. Watts has such a quantity of Irish
types :inemploved that I think he will agree to keep the types
standing until 'the stereotype edition is required. This circum-
smlice induced me to pre er London and Dublin; besides that
1 have some idea of going up to London before parliament is
pi mo;.rued, to look for such funds as will enable me to defray
the exi,eu.ie ireurred, or to be incurred, in issuing the work in
the most perfect manlier. lam disposed to believe that it may
be Koper Fepare an edition, of the work in Roman as well
Irish characters, but this will be subject for future considera-
tion.

I have great cause to hope, and I do most sincerely believe
that this metrical version of the Psalms of David will prove a
valuable gift to the poor Irish, f .r whom it is intended. The
gore
l which the metrical version of the Psalm-book effected in
the highlands and islands of Scotland, was far beyond what any
person, not intimately acquainted with the country, could be-
lieve. It tended, in a great measure to change the character
and habits of the people.. The natural character of the High-
landers and the Irish is precisely the same—the minds of the
Irish are equally tender and generous-they possess the same
fool attachment for their own beloved language, the language
of their earliest and dearest associations—they have the same
love for story and for song ; let them be treated just as their
kinsmen in the highlands and isles of Scotland have been, and
placed in circumstances equally favourable to moral and reli-
gious improvement, and I have no doubt they will soou exhibit
the same delightful picture of simplicity, affectionate fidelity,
social order,.ardent devotional. piety, which, I praise God, is this
day to be seen in the lovely Islands which gird the coast of
Scotland. and in the lovely solitudes of our mountain-land. I
do anticipate great good from the circulation Of the Psalms in.
Irish poetry. I need scarce remind you of the intense love
which the Irish have for music and poetry—hence it is that the
dark and wild superstitions of ages long since passed away
have come down to us, and been preserved to this hour—hence
it is that the remembrance of Erin's wrongs, and Erin's woes,.
in the meet -distant periods of her history, are so intimately
known by all the classes of the unlettered Irish—they are hand
Pd down in song—they are recited at the fire-sides, and at all
their fntive meetings—they are set to music, and sung to their:
.own sweet and simple mel melodies. To the influence of
.poetry
- amlinusic is to he attributed the continued and undiminished
feelingof suspicion, of hatred, and disregard fostered by, the
Irish against the descendants of their early conquerors. They
had no other sort of poetry or music to counteract the effects of

those national songs and melodies, which, handing down from
age to age tales and histories of no peaceful character or ten-
dency, had the most injurious influence un :the moral feelings
of the people, and which may account in some degree for the
difference. which exists at present in t heir character and conduct,.
from that oltheir neighbours in the highlands and isles of Scot-
land. Strange it is that this peculiar feature in the character of
the Irish, viz., their enthusiastic love for poetry and music, has
not been laid hold ally their best friends for conveying to them
lessons of religious instruction.
It is a singular fact that although the New Testament was
translated intnthe Irish se far hick as the year 1602, and the
Old Testament in 1682, a metrical. version has never yet been
prepared for the people; while, on the other hand, the Itigh-,
tenders of Scotland, speaking the Gaelic, have had a metrical•
version or the Psalms for one hundred and eighteen years be-
fore the New Testament:was prepared for them in their own
dialect, and one hundred and forty-three ;before they were in
possession of the Gaelic Bible entire. The contrast here is
very singular; the friends of the Scottish Gael showed them-
selves possessed of much wisdom in aviilingthemselves of the.
advantage arising from the enthusiastic attachment of that ro-
mantic people for poetry and tender melody. Soon after the
Psalms were prepared for them, te,iciters of sacred music were
sent forth overall the condi.), to instruct the people in singing
the Psalms. The effect was most rapid and extraordinary.
The Hiehlanders became enthusiastic in their love of Gaelic.
psalmody. The hymns of the Druids, venerated for ages, and
the wild legendsnf fairies and mountain-spirits yielded to the
songs of.Sion—the holy effusions of the contrite and chastened
David'supplanted the coronach for the dead, and wail for the
dying. The high enthusiasm of the.peeple was not deatroyed,
but it received a new' and holy direction. Indeed it fort tq .a.'
new era in the history of our own country, when those :4,onge,
"which were first sung on Salem towers,? were heard frdrn our
glens and isles; when the plaintive lay of martyrs, so " justly
dear to every Scottish heart," the " Warbling Measure" of sweet
Dundee and of noble Elgin, became mountain melodies.
l'hese were days of marked revival. I have heard aged men
declare that. from the fleet of fishing-boats along the coasts of
Cantyre and Arran, amounting at times to several hundreds,
might be heard in the breeze of the evening, not the warlike
music of the bagpipe, which, referring to feuds of clans, and
scenes of strife, often engendered bitter and angry feeling, but
one rapturous burst of sacred melody, and after a solemn pause,
coming afresh again in full harmonious swell. Mighty was the '
effect of all this in producing peace and social order, honesty,
and christian kindness. I cannot withhold from you one anec-
dote which I lately heard with much delight. A mournful band
of poor emigrants were expatriated their native valley, a few
years ago, in the north of Scotland; forced to leave the glen
where their clan and people had resided for generations, and to
seek a home inn the dark and distant woods of America., In
their melancholy progress towards the sea-shore they came to
the parish church, where they we're wont to worship God, .and
near to which the remains ortheir fathers were deposited-7they
entered the sacred enclosure—stood, on the tosilbs of their rela-
tives—" returned and wept, and-still returned to weep." A',
good old patriarch addressed a few words of comfort to them ;
he took out the Gaelic Psalm-book from his pocket—" Let us
sing," said he, "the 46th pselm"—a prayer, was offered 'up to
the God of their fathers—their souls were refreshed—they pro-
ceeded without a murmur or complaint, without one expression
of. resentment or vengeance against the unfeeling chieftain.
There is a magic spell in the true simplicity of sacred melody
and sacred poetry which cannot fail to enchant and command
the heart; and no hearts on earth are more susceptible of such
impressions than those cif the poor Irish. -They must, therefore,
have the Psalms of David in their own language, and in poetry,
and set to music sweet and simple as their own simplest melo-
dies. The experiment has remained too long untried. Not one
hour longer must be int; and if a gracious and kind master has
been pleased to-enable me to contriblite to this most desirable
object, I shall fed-that I have not lived in vain.
I hope Mr. Winning, of Kingscourt, will prepare the way for
the Irish Psalms, by getting some of his teachers taught to sing,
and enabled to teach others to sing. My wish is, to get a selec-
tion of the most approved psalm-tunes prepared for having them
engraved and published at the end of the psalm-book. Before
doing so I shall correspond with some of your members of Synod,
who are most competent to advise. lam not afraid but funds
will be found to defray all the expense. I shallyroceed with the
remaining part of the work with all the expedition in my power.
It is my wish at present, and I hope to be able to effect it, to
command the services of some young preacher, to assist me in
my parish labours, as missionary', so as to enable me to give
more of my time to the Psalmody, as I fear my coadjutor, Mr.
Connellan, will be getting impatient to return to Dublin, and
that my people are -beginning to feel that I are not so much
among them as I have been in the habit of being. •
I beg you will forgive me for obtruding so much on your
valuable time. I was anxious to inform the Synod how a work
in which they. felt so deep an interest was proceeding. With
their permission I intend to dedicate it to theraselves, and to
send it forth under their countenance.

May the great head ofthe church direct all your deliberation's,
and bless them for the good of his people, and the best interests
of his church on earth. This is indeed the fervent and sincere
prayer of, dear sir, your faithful and affectionate friend and
brother, NORMAN M'LEOD, Minister of Campsie.