Robert Armstrong (2)
I was telling you about Robert Armstrong from Perthshire. He published
a Gaelic dictionary in 1825. Unfortunately for him, another Gaelic
dictionary appeared only three years after that. That was the
Dictionarium Scoto-Celticum
of the Highland Society of Scotland. I reckon it reduced the number of
Armstrong’s dictionary that was sold.
Armstrong received two honours – Gaelic Lexicographer Royal to the King
and a doctorate from the University of St Andrews. But there was no
income attached to either of those. Armstrong put much of his own money
into the dictionary. He lost a lot.
He resigned from his post in 1852. He didn’t have much money. And he
was married, with three daughters. Luckily, he had friends in the
government. He got a public (civil list) pension. After his death in
1867, his widow received a pension from the Queen.
A fortnight ago, I started this series about Robert Armstrong. I was
telling you about an article in the periodical ‘An Gàidheal’. The
author told us that students in the early part of the 19th
century had named Perthshire as the best place in Scotland for Gaelic.
In the article, another renowned Gaelic speaking Perthshire man was
named. He was the Rev. Alexander Stewart. He wrote the book
‘Elements of Gaelic Grammar’.
The book was well received. I myself have a copy of the second edition.
It appeared in print in 1812.
Alexander Stewart was born in the manse at Blair Atholl in 1764. His
father was renowned for how good his Gaelic was. He was excellent as a
preacher. He died in 1780.
Alexander got his education at home, and with an uncle (in his home). But
what a sharp mind he had. You’ll hear more about him next week.
Raibeart Armstrong (2)
Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mu Raibeart Armstrong. Dh’fhoillsich e faclair
Gàidhlig ann an ochd ceud deug, fichead ʼs a còig (1825). Gu mì-fhortanach
dha, nochd faclair Gàidhlig eile dìreach trì bliadhna an dèidh sin. B’ e
sin an Dictionarium Scoto-Celticum aig Comunn Gàidhealach na
h-Alba. Tha mi a’ dèanamh dheth gun do rinn sin cron air an uiread de na
faclairean aig Armstrong a chaidh a reic.
Chaidh dà urram a bhuileachadh air Armstrong – Faclairiche Gàidhlig
Rìoghail don Rìgh agus dotaireachd à Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn. Ach cha robh
tuarastal sam bith co-cheangailte ri fear seach fear dhiubh sin. Chuir
Armstrong mòran dhen airgead aige fhèin a-steach don fhaclair. Chaill e
tòrr.
Leig e dheth a dhreuchd ann an ochd ceud deug, leth-cheud ʼs a dhà (1852).
Cha robh mòran anns an sporan aige. Agus bha e pòsta, le triùir nighean. Gu
fortanach, bha caraidean aige anns an riaghaltas. Fhuair e peinnsean
poblach. An dèidh a bhàis ann an ochd ceud deug, seasgad ʼs a seachd
(1867), fhuair a bhanntrach peinnsean bhon Bhanrigh.
Thòisich mi o chionn ceala-deug air an t-sreath seo mu Raibeart Armstrong.
Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mu alt anns an iris ‘An Gàidheal’. Dh’inns an
t-ùghdar dhuinn gun robh oileanaich tràth san naoidheamh linn deug air
Siorrachd Pheairt ainmeachadh mar an t-àite a b’ fheàrr ann an Alba airson
na Gàidhlig. Anns an alt, chaidh Peairteach cliùiteach Gàidhealach eile
ainmeachadh. B’ esan an t-Urr. Alasdair Stiùbhart. Sgrìobh e an leabhar ‘ Elements of Gaelic Grammar’.
Bha fèill air an leabhar. Tha lethbreac dhen dàrna eagran agam fhìn. Nochd
e ann an clò ann an ochd ceud deug ʼs a dhà-dheug (1812).
Rugadh Alasdair Stiùbhart sa mhansa ann am Blàr Athall ann an seachd ceud
deug, seasgad ʼs a ceithir (1764). Bha athair cliùiteach airson cho math ʼs
a bha a’ Ghàidhlig aige. Bha e fìor mhath mar shearmonaiche. Chaochail e
ann an seachd ceud deug is ochdad (1780).
Fhuair Alasdair a chuid foghlaim aig an taigh, agus aig uncail dha. Ach
abair gun robh comas inntinn aige. Cluinnidh sibh tuilleadh mu dheidhinn
an-ath-sheachdain.
