|
PREFACE
The chapters composing this
book have gradually been evolved from a lecture on “Scotland’s Place in the
World’s History,” delivered by the author to the Scottish Patriotic
Association at Glasgow in February 1902. The first part of the lecture was
expanded into a series of twenty-seven articles which appeared in the
Scottish Patriot from November 1903 to January 1906. These have now been
carefully revised and enlarged to form the bulk of Volume I. The rest of the
lecture has, as the result of considerable research, been similarly expanded
to form Volume II.
As practically the whole of the second volume deals with the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries in their various Scottish interests, it is necessary to
explain that, in apportioning space to the several periods dealt with, the
principle applied has been that of mental perspective, the view-point being
that of Scotland’s importance not only to her own children but to the
British Empire and to the modern world of thought and energy in general.
Hence more attention has been devoted to historically recent events than to
earlier occurrences of equal intrinsic interest or importance. Thus, in the
earlier periods, the picturesque elements treated once for all by the master
hand of Scott have been for the most part omitted. For similar reasons, the
work of Scotsmen in the continental countries of Europe (so fully dealt with
by Hill Burton, Fischer, and Michel) is only incidentally touched upon,
while the part played by Scotsmen in British colonial enterprise, in view of
its greater perspective value to modern thought, receives probably fuller
notice than has hitherto been accorded to it in any single publication.
A constant endeavour has been made to place facts before the reader in a
fair and truthful light, but at the same time the author, by writing
admittedly from the standpoint of a keen sympathiser with the general trend
of Scottish history, believes that he has been able to offer a more faithful
presentation of the unity of purpose running through the whole course of the
life-story of the Scottish people than if he had attempted the practically
impossible task of writing uniformly with the cold “aloofness” of abstract
justice. The ultimate purpose of the book is to aid patriotic Scots in
offering reasons for the faith that is in them, and to add some impetus to
those recent movements which make for a revival of the better features of
Scottish life and character.
The usual historical authorities and books of reference have been freely
consulted, but the author feels bound to express his special indebtedness
for constant suggestions to John Hill Burton’s History of Scotland, and to
Rev. Thomas Thomson’s History of the Scottish People. So far as more recent
publications have been borrowed from, acknowledgment is generally made in
the text, but more explicit recognition is due to Mr. (now Professor) J. II.
Millar’s Scottish Literature, to Mr. W. D. M‘Kay’s Scottish School of
Painting, and to The Highland Brigade: Its Battles and Its Heroes, by
Messrs. James and David L. Cromb.
For valuable help in revising particular chapters, the author has to express
his warm thanks to the following gentlemen, whose special knowledge and
advice have enabled him to ensure a degree of accuracy otherwise
unattainable :—
Rev. Dr. Robert Laws of Livingstonia (chapter on Africa); Prof. Magnus
Maclean, D.Sc., F.R.S.E-(chapters on Science and Invention); Henry Dyer,
Esq., D.Sc., C.E., ex-Principal of the Imperial College, Tokio (chapter on
the East); Hon. T. D. Wanliss, late member of the Parliament of Victoria
(colonial chapters); A. McFarlane Shannan, Esq., A.R.S.A. (chapters on
Painting and Sculpture); John Bell, Esq., Doctor of Music (chapter on Music
and Song); Dr. W. S. Findlay, M.A., Bellshill (chapter on Medical Science);
Rev. James Dewar, Motherwell (Chapter XXXV.); and Xlr. Alfred Davidson,
B.Sc. (chapter on Science). In the work of proof-reading his colleague, Mr.
Wm. MTheat, M.A., has rendered valuable assistance.
Chas W. Thomson
Lakkhall, November 1909.
Volume 1 |
Volume 2 |
