THE LATE MR ALEXANDER MACDONALD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 13, 28 July 1893, Page 19

THE LATE MR ALEXANDER MACDONALD.

(Inverness Scottish HighUmder.) The death of Mr Alexander Macdonald, wine merchant, which took Dlace after a lengthened illness on Friday afternoon, May 12, removes anoher of tho links connecting the Highland capital with a past generation. Passing away at th« advanced age of 87 years, Mr Macdonald had throughout his whole life enjoyed the esteem of hia friends and merited the confidence and goodwill of the entire com. munity. He was a man of gentle and kindly temperament, sociable to a degree, and uniformly upright and honourable in all his business relations. It was only natoral that this should be so. Mr Macdonald came of s good old Highland stock. He was the second surviving son of John Macdonald, XI. of Glanalladale, a cadet family of Clanranald, brother of Angus Macdonald, XII of Glenalladale, who died in 1870, and umle of Colonel Macdonald, XIII. and now of Glenalladale, of the present Catholic Archbishop of Scotland, and of Bishop Macdonald, now of Aberdeen. Bora at Borrodale in 1806, he was educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, and in early life waß apprenticed to a firm of Glasgow writers. In 1832 he took an active part in the first election under tbe Reform Act, being in practice as a writer in Glasgow at the time, He, howeyer, relinquished the law, and became factor to Lord Lo\at in 1840— an appointment he held for cine years. Mr Macdonald was very popular with the Lovat tenantry, and on his retirement they preseoted him with a valuable barometer and a splendid silver claret jug. Coming to Inverness, he started in business as a wine merchant in Castle street. Be afterwards removed to High street, where he remained till 1883, when he became a tenant on the property of his son, Mr Andrew Macdonald, solicitor, in premises in Church street, where the business is at present earned on by Mr J. P. Elgin, who now becomes tbe sole partner of ihenrm. Mr Mncdonald was also engaged in other business enterprises, but that already named waa the one with which his name will continue to ba associated. Like all good citizens, Mr Macdonald found time to devote a portion of his business talenta to the public service, and, entering tbe School Board as one of the original members, he remained there for a period of bis years. He waa also a member of tbe Parochial Board, where his quiet and kindly influence had a considerable effect in ameliorating the condition of the UDfortunate claes concerned. Mr Macdonald's wife died in 1891, five years after tbe celebration of their golden wedding, and this, it is believed, bad a depressing effect upon the old gentleman's spirits. An enthusiastic member of the Roman Catholic Church, the funeral service condncted ia the Chapel of 8t Mary on Tuesday waa probably the most elaborate and impressive ceremonial of the kind conducted in Inverness since the Reformation. The Requiem Maea waß sung by the nephew of the deceased, the Most Rev Archbishop Macdonald, of St Andrews and Edinburgh, assisted by the Very Reverend Canon Chisholm, rector of Blair's College Aberdeen, as deacon ; the Rev Alex. Bissef, Nairn, as subdeacon ; and tbe Rev David Macdonald, Btratherriek, as assistant priest. Rev Faiher Columba, Fort Augustus, waa master of ceremonies Bishop Macdonald, Aberdeen (another nephew of the deceased;, occupied a seat in the sanctuary. The following clergy were also present : — Reverend Father Macqueen, Inverness ; Rev Canon Weir, Fochabers ; Key Canon Cameron, Beauly ; Rev Alexander Bisßet, Marydale ; Rev Dean Macrae, Eskdale ; and Rev J« J. Dawson, Oban< The Prior of Fort Aagußtus Abbey was also present, along with several of the monkp, who composed the choir. On the termination of Macs absolutions were giveu by the Archbishop. The clergy then formed themselves into processional order, and, preceded, by the cross-

bearer, Bay Alex. Bisset, the coffin was borne from the churcn on ihe •boulders of relatives and frienda of the deceased. These included Mr Andrew Macdonald (his §on), Colonel Macdonald of Glenalladale (nephew) ; Sheriff Blair, Mr Machardy, Chief Constable of Inver-ntss-ihire ; Mr Colin Obiibolm, Holm Mills ; and Mr John Chieholm, do. Arranging themselves in front of the hearse, in full eanor.icalß the priests from Fort AugubLua cooameuceii to chaot tbe service for the dead, and this was continued at brief intervals all the way to Totncahurich Cemetery, where the Archbishop performed the last rite for the dead by blessiDg the grave. Altogether the service was a most striking and impressive one, and will not readily be forgotten by thoee who were privileged to take part. The church was crowded to its utmost capacity, and the funeral was attended by parties representatire of all classes — professional, commercial, aod artisan— who thai sought in the only way open to them to testify their respect for the deceased and bis relatives. The chief mourners were Mr Andrew A. Macdonald and Master A. B. Macdonald, Colonel Macdonald, of Glenalladale, and Mr J. P. Elgin, late partner of the deceased. Among the clergy of other Churches were Bey Murdo Mackenzie, Free North Church ; Bey A. C. Macdonald, Queen street Free Church ; and Bey Mr Connell, Free West Church. [The deceased gentleman, we may add, was the father of our esteemed fellow-townsman, Mr J. 8. Macdonald, of H.M. Customs.— Ed. N.Z. Tablet]