Background
He was the son of Nicol Macnicol of Succoth, Argyll, and the nephew of Alexander Stewart of Invernahyle.
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Donald MacNicol
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He is perhaps best known for his Remarks On Doctor Samuel Johnson"s Journey To The Hebrides, a work which commented rather vituperatively on Doctor Johnson"s equally insulting A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland. MacNicol assisted the renowned Gaelic poet, Duncan Ban MacIntyre, by transcribing over 6,000 lines of the illiterate man"s work. MacNicol is also remembered for his Gaelic poem of lost love, entitled "Mo Shùil Ad Dhèidh." (English: "My Eye is After You") Chorus: Ochoin a chailin "s mo shùil ad dhèidh" A chailin, mo chailin "s mo shùil ad dhèidh A Lili, mo Lili "s mo shùil ad dhèidh Cha lèir dhomh am bealach le sileadh nan deur English Translation: Alas, my girl, my eye is after you Girl, my girl, my eye is after you Lily, my Lily, my eye is after you I can"t see the mountain pass for the flowing of tears The thirty-five-year-old Review
MacNicol wrote the poem in lament of being snubbed by Lillias Campbell, a local laird"s daughter.
However, Sir Alexander made an ungallant bet with a servant which left the incensed Lillias no choice but to accept the alternate proposal of the Review MacNicol. The poem was later set to music and remains a popular Highland folk song.
