"I desire and expect from my subjects of both nations that
from henceforth they act with all possible respect and kindness to one
another, that so it may appear to all the world they have hearts disposed to
become one people."—Queen Anne, in giving assent to the Treaty of Union.
PREFACE
To tell the story of the Scot in England,
in all its detail, would be a formidable task, requiring the space of many
volumes. I have contented myself with telling the story briefly, but have
made an effort to touch on the various aspects of the Scots' influence on
English life, in such a way that the whole picture is discernible in the
background.
One pleasant feature in connection with
the writing of the book has been the co-operation I have received from busy
and distinguished men whom I have never met, and who were not even aware of
the purpose of my inquiries. I am particularly indebted, for
information that could not have been supplied without considerable trouble,
to Sir Alexander Gibb, Queen Anne's Lodge, Westminster, London; Alan C. Don,
Chaplain, Lambeth Palace; Mr. G. Bernard Nicolson, 57 Grosvcnor Street,
Toronto, Canada; Alexander Dunlop Lindsay, Master of Balliol College,
Oxford; Sir E. John Russell, D.Sc, F.R.S., Rothamsted Experimental Station,
Harpcnden, Herts; Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bart., Monreith, Wigtownshire; Mr. W.
Robinson, Gravetye Manor, East Grinstcad, Sussex; the Curator of Historical
Records, H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh; Mr. Alexander Sutherland,
Editor of the Scottish Farmer, Glasgow; The Registrar, General
Medical Council, London; N. G. Horner,
M.D., Editor of the British Medical Journal; the Institute of Historical
Research, University of London; Mr. F. H. Allan, The Bank of Scotland,
Edinburgh; and Mr. David Rorie, 17 Hazledene Road, Aberdeen.
In the preparation of a book
of this sort it is advisable to find a librarian who can indicate useful
references. It was my good fortune, at the outset, to enlist the
co-operation of Mr. G. W. Shirley, Librarian at the Ewart Public Library,
Dumfries. Few men have a wider knowledge of Scotland's history, and over a
period of many months he has placed a great deal of invaluable information
in my hands. I am also deeply indebted to die Mitchell Library, Glasgow,
where many rare books were produced for my perusal, and where considerable
research work was voluntarily undertaken on my behalf by Mr. Alexander R.
Mirrilees.
It was my intention to append
a list of the books which I have consulted, but when the number exceeded
four hundred I gave up the idea. I do wish, however, to mention History of
Scottish Medicine, by John D. Comric, and Publishing and Bookselling, by F.
A. Mumby. From these excellent histories I was able to glean a great deal of
information, and to verify and co-ordinate my own researches. I am most
grateful to both authors.
My feeling is that Scotland
is at the beginning of an epoch. Her glory lies in the past. Her population
is decreasing, her industries are disappearing, and her ancient vigour and
independence become less and less noticeable as the years pass. That is the
fate of every country which comes under the benign but remote control of a
government which is not, essentially, a part of the country.
Our blood has been too cold and temperate. Unapt to stir
at such indignities.
The older generations in Scotland have become so
accustomed to this pleasant supervision that it is quite impossible, as the
advocates of Scottish Home Rule have discovered, to rouse them out of their
apathy, but there are signs that the younger generations are aware that
their country is affected by creeping paralysis. Something will have to be
done, and that soon, to save Scotland from becoming a summer resort, and it
will not be done by staging amateurish and unwieldy historical pageants.
These absurd demonstrations illustrate the sense of bizarre unreality that
is encouraged in modern Scotland. We are cavorting clumsily on the sacred
sods of Bannockburn while the silence of poverty steals up the Clyde.
Scotland, to-day, could do with less conceit and more
pride. The quiet pride that once dwelt in cottages will come back to us
again when we really understand the history of our wonderful little country
—not the history of Edinburgh, with its endless list of vulgar political
intrigues that have no meaning except for exclamatory tourists and keepers
of curio-shops—but the history of the able and courageous men and women who
have defended the honour of the country, and of those who have gone out from
it to do things that have reflected honour upon our race. These Scots belong
to the past, but, please God, we shall see their like again, if the youth of
the country are taught to face realities and to distinguish between the
tinsel and gold that are so closely interwoven in Scottish history.
I have written this book for the youth of Scotland, and
for Scotsmen who live in England and abroad, for with them lies the future
of our country.
Colvend, via Dalbeattie, J. H.
McC.
Scotland.
CONTENTS
Chapter I - An Unconquerable
Breed
Chapter II - We Give
England a King
Chapter III - We Give England a Prime Minister
Chapter IV - A Festival
of Race Hatred
Chapter V - Scottish Support for English Art
Chapter VI - Guardians
of John Bull's Health
Chapter VII - The Real Builders of England
Chapter VIII - New Power for England
Chapter IX - The Scot in
English Business
Chapter X - Eight
Scottish Prime Ministers
Chapter XI - The Scot in English Agriculture
Chapter XII - "Scots Wha Hae For England Bled!"
