It's your Electric Scotland newsletter meaning
the weekend is nearly here :-)
You can view what's new this week on Electric Scotland at
http://www.electricscotland.com/update.html and you can unsubscribe to
this newsletter by clicking on the link at the foot of this newsletter.
See our Calendar of Scottish Events around the world at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/calendar_help.htm
CONTENTS
-----------------
Electric Scotland News
The Flag in the Wind
The Scottish Nation
The Celtic Monthly
The Southern States of America
Poems
The Scottish-Canadian Newspaper (1890/1)
Standard Settings of Pipe Music of The Seaforth Highlanders
Scottish Catholics in Prince Edward Island
Scotland's Road of Romance
Craft Stories
History of Inverness County, Nova Scotia (new book)
Priory of St. James, Toronto, Canada
Royal Heraldry Society of Canada
Scots Independent Newspaper 80 years old
Scottish Clans DNA Project
Historical research on New Zealand
Have you locked your keys in the car? Does you car have remote keys?
Holiday Eating Tips
ELECTRIC SCOTLAND
-----------------
Got in a message this week that the pipe music I posted up from the Seaforth
Highlanders may still be in copyright. I have emailed the Marketing Manager
of the company that published the book in 1936 to check with them. I've
essentially offered to take it down if it is copyright but have also asked
if I can keep it up with their permission even if it is in copyright. So
hopefully I'll hear from them in the next week as I would like to get this
resolved.
Got in an email...
I wonder if you'd like to include information about the Scots Language
Centre in your next news letter. The Centre has a special Christmas / New
Year edition where visitors can hear the real sound of a Scotland during the
festive season. There's poetry from Shetland and the North East, the words
to Auld Lang Syne, suggestions for first fittin gifts and the Christmas
story in Scots.
It's all at
http://www.scotslanguage.com
Got in another email...
Win £250 Compose a pipe tune by Christmas
The tune is a present to celebrate and mark the 80th Birthday of Robert
Thomson Brown on the 26th of December – father of the competition organiser,
Alistair Brown. Closing Date 20th December.
Robert was born one of fourteen children in Springside, Ayrshire - nine of
whom survived into adulthood. Worked as a Bevan boy and later at Massey
Ferguson building tractors and harvesters. He is a heart and soul scottish
nationalist and socialist (ploughed a lonely furrow as SNP councillor in
Kilmarnock for many years), a life long Robert Burns nut (former curator of
the Burns Musuem in Irvine) and an elder of the Church of Scotland in
Crosshouse, a keen walker and nature lover and very fond of an occasional
malt whisky and ALSO a big believer in the great highland bagpipe - attends
as many piping events as possible and has rarely if ever missed a Cowal or
Dundonald Games. Best mate a piper now lives in Australia.
Please email entries to:
alistair.sb.brown@gmail.com
Rights: Copyright retained by composer but tune licensed for publication on
http://www.pipefest.com.
I also thought it was time to add another of my own Journal entries to bring
me up to date with some of the highlights since my last issue. You can read
this at
http://www.electricscotland.net/canada_72.htm
ABOUT THE STORIES
-----------------
Some of the stories in here are just parts of a larger story so do check out
the site for the full versions. You can always find the link in our "What's
New" section at the link at the top of this newsletter and pick up poems and
stories sent into us during the week from Donna, Margo, Stan, John and
others.
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
------------------------------------
Mind that The Flag is now in two sections (1) Political and (2) Cultural.
The political section is compiled this week by Ian Goldie.
Peter in his cultural section is reminding us how the Scots celebrate New
Year...
Although the custom is passing – probably due to television and organised
events, both indoors and outside, the heart of Hogmanay is the tradition of
first-footing. The choice of the first person to cross the threshold in the
New Year is very important as they represent luck, good or bad, for the year
ahead, therefore a good choice is essential. The traditional first-foot has
to be male, tall, dark-haired, but not a doctor, minister or grave-digger.
Preferably a fine physical specimen, but also, and perhaps more importantly,
should be generous, good-tempered and liked by all. Was there ever such a
paragon of virtue? The first-foot must also bear the all-important bottle, a
lump of coal and cake, and a suitable gift. One bonus for the first-foot is
that he can claim a kiss from every woman in the house.
This week’s recipe is a perfect choice for a refreshing dessert for New
Year’s Day – Caledonian Cream. It uses a great Scottish ingredient –
marmalade – which has been a popular Scottish cookery favourite since its
invention in Dundee 200 years ago
Caledonia Cream
Ingredients for the cream: 4oz cream cheese (about half a cup); 4 fluid
ounces double cream (about half a cup); 1 tablespoon marmalade (thick,
bitter marmalade is suggested but use what you have); 2 tablespoons brandy
or rum; 2 teaspoons lemon juice; Sugar to taste
Ingredients for base: 4 oranges, segmented and the pith removed
Method: Blend all the ingredients for the cream in a liquidiser till smooth.
Place the oranges in four long-stemmed glasses and, if you want, add a
teaspoon of brandy (or rum) to these. Add the cream on top. Garnish with
some orange zest (boil for a few minutes in water to reduce the bitterness).
Serve chilled.
You can read this weeks issue, see the pictures and listen to the Scots
language at
http://www.scotsindependent.org
MSP Linda Fabiani's weekly diary can be viewed at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/fabiani/index.htm
The Scottish Nation
----------------------------
My thanks to Lora for transcribing these volumes for us.
Now onto the D's and added this week are Dumbarton, Dumfries, Dunbar and
Dunblane.
A large account of Dunbar this week and here is how it starts...
DUNBAR, a surname once very prominent in the annals of national and border
warfare, and derived from the town of that name in Haddingtonshire. The word
Dun-bar, both in the British and the Gaelic signifies “the fort on the
height” or, “strength upon the summit,” and the town obtained its
designation from the fortlet on the rock, which at this place projects into
the sea.
Boece, and after him Buchanan, state that Kenneth the First having defeated
the Picts in a pitched battle at Scoon, conferred the fortress here upon one
of his most valiant soldiers, whose name was Bar, and hence the name of
Dun-bar, or the Castle of Bar; but Kenneth was king of the Picts, and
certainly did not make war on his own subjects. He invaded Lothian six
times, and burnt Dunbar, which had its name before his day. Boece’s
derivation of the name, like many others of his statements, is therefore a
mere fable.
So early as 961 we find the men of Lothian under two leaders of the names of
Dunbar and Graeme, doing battle against the Danish invaders at Cullen.
The title of earl of Dunbar and March was long enjoyed by the descendants of
Cospatrick, earl of Northumberland, who, with other nobles of the north of
England, fled to Scotland after the conquest of that country, in 1066, by
William of Normandy, carrying with them Edgar Atheling, the heir of the
Saxon line, and his two sisters, Margaret and Christina.
Malcolm Canmore, who married the princess Margaret, bestowed on Cospatrick
the namor of Dunbar and many fair lands in the Merse and Lothian.
His second son, who was also named Cospatrick, witnessed the foundation
charter of the abbey of Holyrood house, by David the First in 1128. He had
soon afterwards the rank of an earl, and died in 1139, leaving a son,
Cospatrick, the second earl, who made donations to the monastery of Kelso of
the patronage of the churches of Home, Lambden, and Greelaw. He died in
1147, leaving four sons.
His eldest son, Cospatrick the third earl, had two sons, Waldeve, his
successor, and Patrick, who inherited the manor of Greenlaw. The latter died
in 1166. His son William, after mentioned, was ancestor of the earls of
Home.
Waldeve, the fourth earl, was the first who was designed earl of Dunbar. He
was one of the hostages for the performance of the treaty for the release of
King William the First from his captivity in England, in 1174. He died in
1182.
Patrick, the fifth earl, is described as having been a brave warrior.
William the Lion bestowed on him, in 1184, Ada, one of his natural
daughters, in marriage. He held the office of justiciary of Lothian and
keeper of Berwick. In 1218, Earl Patrick founded a monastery of Red friars
in Dunbar. In 1231, being then very old, after taking farewell of his
children, relations, and neighbours, whom he invited to his castle of Dunbar
during the festivities of Christmas for the purpose, he retired to a
monastery, where he died the following year.
His daughter Ada obtained from him the lands of Home, and took for her
second husband her cousin William, above mentioned, son of Patrick, second
son of Cospatrick, third earl. He assumed the name of Home, and was
progenitor of the earls of Home, so created in 1605. See HOME, earl of.
Patrick, the sixth earl, succeeded his father, at the age of forty-six. Lord
Hailes calls him the most powerful baron of the southern districts of
Scotland. He held the first rank among the twenty-four barons who guaranteed
the treaty of peace with England in 1244. He died in 1248, at the siege of
Damietta in Egypt, while on the crusade with Louis IX. of France.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/dunbar.htm
You can read the other entries at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/index.htm
The Celtic Monthly
---------------------------
A magazine for Highlanders
Added the May 1903 issues which contains...
AEnas Ranald McDonell 21st Chief of Glengarry, Fighting Mac, The Eagle, The
House of Dreams, The Martial Music of the Clans, Some Notes on the Harris,
General Hector A. MacDonald, The General MacDonald Scandel, The Anglicising
of the Highlands, Sutherland Folk-Lore Tales, Pittsburg U.S.A. Pipe Band,
Days of Yore at Arrochar.
You can read this issue at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/celtic/may1903.htm
You can see the issues to date at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/celtic/index.htm
The Southern States of America
----------------------------------------------
Published in 1909.
Now up to Chapter VI of the History of Virginia up which means 3 chapters
added this week. Here is how Chapter VI starts...
VIRGINIA IN THE CONFEDERACY, 1861-1865.
Virginia's unwillingness to Leave the Union.
Virginia was attached to the Union more strongly than any other state. None
of them had done so much to create and enrich it. Her sons had taken the
leading part in securing its independence, and were chiefly instrumental in
framing the constitutional compact, which was designed to secure to each and
all of the states the blessings of liberty and peace, without the sacrifice
of rights. When objections were made by other states, in the formative
period, that Virginia s vast territorial area would give her undue
preponderance in the new government, with a free, self-abnegating hand, she
conveyed to the United States her territory northwest of the Ohio River "for
the common benefit of the Union." The Louisiana purchase made by President
Jefferson, added to the national domain an area larger than the original
states. The armies which acquired the larger part of Mexico, and expanded
our possessions on the Pacific Ocean into imperial proportions, were
commanded by Virginia generals. Indeed, the stars in the blue field of the
national flag are a proof to those who know their story and significance of
the Old Dominion's devotion and sacrifices for the Union. And not less
earnest, though unavailing, were Virginia's efforts to preserve the Union
than those she had successfully made to secure its formation and prosperity.
Never did her people rise so high above all selfish considerations, and
stand upon a sublimer moral plane, than when they took up arms for their
convictions of right and duty, in the then impending conflict. And it will
ever be a proud recollection of Virginians that every effort short of abject
humiliation and abandonment of their time-honored and sacred principles, was
made by her representative bodies to avert a war which cost ten thousand
millions of money (five times the value of all the slaves), and nearly
1,000,000 men who perished by the sword or by disease.
On Jan. 1, 1860, John Letcher, an ardent Union man, succeeded Henry A. Wise
as governor of Virginia. In his inaugural message to the General Assembly,
he strongly urged the calling of a state convention to consider and provide
a remedy for the alarming state of political affairs, if the Union were to
be preserved, "to which end everything should be done consistent with honor,
patriotism and duty."
Disintegrating events, in rapid succession, signalized the year 1860. There
were four presidential tickets in the field. Two of them represented wings
or factions of the Democratic party, to wit: (1) Douglas, of Illinois, and
Johnson, of Georgia; (2) Breckinridge, of Kentucky, and Lane, of Oregon.
Another ticket was Lincoln, of Illinois, and Hamlin, of Maine, sectional
candidates, upon an anti-slavery platform. The fourth was Bell, of
Tennessee, and Everett, of Massachusetts, upon the broad platform; "The
Union, the Constitution and the Enforcement of the Laws." Virginia cast her
electoral vote for Bell and Everett. Lincoln received a majority of the
electoral college, but fell far short of a majority of the popular vote,
having received only 1,857,610 as against 2,804,560 cast for the other
candidates. This election of sectional candidates by an exclusively
sectional vote caused intense excitement, especially in the extreme Southern
states, whose people regarded it as the precursor of a war against their
reserved rights and domestic institutions.
President Buchanan was torn by conflicting opinions. He argued against the
right of secession, but expressed doubt as to the right of the government to
coerce a state by military force. The situation thus became more complicated
and strained by the vacillation of the administration, which seemed like a
ship adrift in a tempestuous sea. Seven Southern states had seceded and
their senators and representatives had withdrawn from Congress. They took
possession as far as possible of such of the forts and arsenals of the
United States as were within their borders, and demanded those which were
still held by the government.
In the midst of these exciting events, Governor Letcher, on Jan. 7, 1861,
convened the General Assembly of the state in extra session. Among its first
acts was a call for a state convention, the people when electing delegates
thereto, to vote also on the question as to whether any ordinance changing
the relations of Virginia to the other states of the Union should be
submitted to a popular vote for approval or rejection. It also invited the
other states of the Union to meet Virginia in a peace conference at
Washington, to devise, if possible, a plan of pacification, naming as her
own representatives ex-President John Tyler, William C. Rives, John W.
Brockenbrough, George W. Summers and James A. Seddon, from different parts
of the state, and all men of national distinction. It also appointed Mr.
Tyler a commissioner to the President of the United States, and Judge John
Robertson a commissioner to the states that had seceded to urge them to
refrain from acts likely to cause a collision of arms, pending Virginia's
efforts to secure peace. The peace conference met in Washington and the
venerable ex-President Tyler was made president of it.
When the result of its anxious deliberations was transmitted to Congress,
with a favorable message from President Buchanan, Senator Crittenden
appealed for a vote, either for his own plan, or that of the peace congress,
and Senator Hunter declared that Virginia would deeply deplore the failure
of her patriotic mediation.
Though the peace conference really represented a majority of the people of
the country, and a still greater preponderance of its wealth, its
intelligence and patriotism, the radical element of the North had control of
Congress, and rejected all propositions of compromise.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/south/south7.htm
The book index page is at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/south/index.htm
Poems
----------
John sent in 8 new doggerls which are the ones at the bottom of his index
page at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm
Scottish Canadian Newspaper
--------------------------------------------
This is the weekly newspaper that I acquired a years issues of. Some pages
are missing but not a lot so hopefully you'll enjoy reading this. Due to the
size of this newspaper I have no option but to photograph each page and post
it up as a picture.
Got up the weekly issue for December 11, 1890 at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/scotscan/issue5.htm
And the one for December 18, 1890 at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/scotscan/issue6.htm
Standard Settings of Pipe Music of The Seaforth Highlanders
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have now completed this book but as I mentioned above there may be copyright
issues with it and it may need to be taken down.
http://www.electricscotland.com/music/pipemusic/index.htm
Scottish Catholics in Prince Edward Island
-------------------------------------------------------------
Memorial Volume 1772 - 1922.
I am now up to Chapter 9 and as it's a short chapter here it is for you to
read here...
The death of Father James was a sad loss to the immigrants. It ushered in
the very state of affairs, which they dreaded so much when they had first
made up their minds to emigrate, and which kept the project in abeyance for
so long a time. Now they have no Priest to minister to their Spiritual
wants. They have been deprived of the Saintly Pastor, who was their
consolation and their joy throughout the darkest days of their exile, and
whose presence and fatherly counsel bore them bravely over the most trying
experiences of their isolation. He had lived with them and labored with them
when conditions were at the worst, he had shared in their wants and
privations, and now that a brighter era was dawning for them, and his life
growing more comfortable, he is called away as his feet were about to press
the threshold of comparative ease and comfort. Indeed a great change had
taken place in the condition of the people during the thirteen years of his
stay amongst them. The small thatched log house was giving place to more
commodious dwellings, roads were being opened up from place to place, the
poverty of the earlier years was now a thing of the past, and in its stead
the people enjoyed a competence and in some instances even plenty. God in
His Goodness had wonderfully blessed the immigrants in the new country, and
encouraged by the experiences of the past they faced the future with a
firmer hope and a more settled assurance of happiness to come.
But now the greatest loss of all has come upon them, and they feel it the
more, that look upon it as they may, they find it in every sense
irreparable. For a number of years they had been in correspondence with
their friends in Scotland, and had held out to them many inducements to come
to Prince Edward Island. They told them of the success they had been able to
achieve in the new Colony, and contrasted the same with the untoward
conditions in the Motherland, which had forced them to emigrate. Their
friends in Scotland too, were talking of emigration. They had taken up the
idea as the only solution for the problems that faced them at home under the
Penal Laws.
As a matter of fact, the state of the Catholics in Scotland, though somewhat
improved, was still far from satisfactory, and there were many who were
longing for the day when they would be able to emigrate and join their
kindred beyond the seas. But now that Father James was dead Prince Edward
Island held out no inducement to would be Catholic emigrants. In Scotland,
their circumstances might indeed be precarious ; but they could at least see
a Priest from time to time, whereas in Prince Edward Island this great
privilege would necessarily be denied them. Hence in such circumstances,
emigration was out of the question, and the poor people were forced to nurse
their discontent as best they could until more favorable conditions would
prevail. For five years things went on in this way, when God in His
Providence, raised up another Apostle to minister to His needy flock in
Prince Edward Island.
You can read the other 5 chapters I added this week at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/catholicsinpeindx.htm
Scotland's Road of Romance
------------------------------------------
Travels in the footsteps of Prince Charlie by Augustus Muir (1937).
Got another 3 chapters up this week and here is a bit from the 2nd chapter
"Into Moidart"...
MY new acquaintance talked without ceasing, and I was afraid I might grow a
little weary of Gillespie before we said good-night. An exchange of
snowballs in youth may be a powerful link between two young men; but I felt
physically tired, and people with the salient energy of an oil-gusher take
some coping with. And yet it was impossible to dislike him. I found myself
passively disagreeing with a good half of his opinions about life and death
and literature, all of which he touched upon at tea with a bustling bravado;
and he cheerfully warned me that my politics were radically unsound as well
as being too damnably eighteenth-century for words. But when he began to
speak about his friends, I found myself listening with interest. The man was
a mass of warm loyalties, and even in his remarks about his enemies - he
seemed to have several - you could detect not the slightest trace of venom.
Then I began actively to like him. His honesty was as transparent as a bit
of clean plate-glass; but when you know exactly where you stand with a man,
you may disagree but it is difficult to quarrel with him. Later on in the
evening, however, I found out one piece of deception. The bedroom allotted
to me had been the one Gillespie himself was to have used. For some domestic
reason, no other was available that night, and without a word to me he had
given up his bed and arranged to sleep on the couch in the sitting-room next
door.
After tea, he suggested that we might stroll down to the loch and-if we
could find a good place-bathe. but bathing seemed to be impossible, and I
said so for the tide was low, and the beach was covered with a deep mat of
saffron-coloured seaweed that shone like pale gold in the evening sun.
Gillespie's enthusiasm swept aside my objections, however, and before
darkness fell that evening I was glad that I had given in to him, for if we
had kept to the higher ground I would not have seen what I did. We descended
the hill to the uttermost tip of the loch, into which a river flowed from a
wooded glen and curled like a long shining eel in and out among the hillocks
of seaweed. We sauntered up this river and came upon a pool that evoked a
sudden whoop of joy from my companion. In a trice, his clothes were on the
grass, and he flopped into the pool and bobbed about like a sportive seal.
As the water was icy, I was out again and clothed long before Gillespie
crawled up beside me and lay on the grass with heaving sides and wet hair
over his forehead. It was good to get your back against a warm rock and
close your eyes against the brightness of the setting sun. For the first
time since we had met, his cheerful tongue was still, and I am not sure
whether it was the smell of his tobacco or a slight nip in the evening air
that awakened me from a delicious dose. We must have lain there for nearly
an hour. I noticed that my companion was casting glances upwards at the
crags across the river; then he spoke.
"Thought I saw something moving! It's a man-look, he's got a gun with him.
Wonder what he's doing up there ."
I followed the direction of his pointing arm. The hillside rose steeply
above the crags, and whins and heather grew thick among the outcrop of
rocks.
Though the distance must have been four or five hundred yards, the air was
so clear that I could make out the man distinctly. He had settled down
beside a clump of whins, stretched out at full length, his gun between his
hands.
We continued our talk for a little, but the presence of the man on the
hillside seemed to worry Gillespie. He got to his feet and took a survey
over the flat top of the boulder beside which we lay. Except for the gentle
rush of the little waterfall a dozen yards from us, there was no sound to be
heard ; in the bay, the tide was ebbing sluggishly ; a few sheep brooded on
the slope behind us ; and on the skyline, the smoke from the chimneys of the
inn wavered gently to westward against the reddening sky.
"Good lord-look, man, look! "
I jumped to my feet. Gillespie was pointing eagerly across the river into a
corn-field. At first, I could not make out the reason for his excitement.
And then my eye lit upon a moving thing.
It was a stag. The animal was wading through the corn, which came up past
his brown haunches. He was breasting it as if he were crossing a pool, his
head high, his horns thrown back, and was moving very slowly as though he
hated the stiff stalks of the grain swishing around his flanks.
He halted for an instant, the sun glinting in his big brown eye, then went
on again. Though the shoulder of the hillside shut him off from the man
among the rocks above, it was plain that every moment he was coming nearer
to the point when he would be in full view.
Presently, we caught sight of another figure-a short kilted young man with a
faded blue bonnet on his head. He was on the low ground across the river,
crouching behind a dry stone dyke, obviously afraid he might startle the
oncoming stag. The pair of them must have been waiting for the beast for
some time; and Gillespie told me he had heard at the inn in the afternoon
that for the last few days a stag had been coming down from the hills and
working havoc among the corn.
The young man behind the dyke was making gestures towards the hillside
above, and a hand was raised in acknowledgement. The stag must now have been
within twenty yards of the edge of the field ; and at any moment he would be
within the keeper's area of vision. I tried to watch both man and animal at
the same time. The keeper was motionless beside his rifle, his face making a
pale blotch against the darker surface of the rocks. The wind was blowing
gently in our direction, and the stag had not scented any danger, for he
came on through the corn with his slow gliding motion. And then on the
hillside, the man's head jerked up, and went down again. He had seen the
beast. I found myself holding my breath, and though I wanted to watch the
stag in the cornfield, I could not take my eyes from the clump of whins on
the hill. After what seemed a long interval, there was a tiny flash and a
puff of smoke. I could hear the scream of a bullet, then the bark of the
rifle, and the explosion was caught up in the valley in long deep echoes.
For the fraction of a second the stag stood rigid. Then he leaped. I could
see daylight below his belly. And across the pale gold of the grain there
was a streak of brown as he covered the last few yards to the edge of the
field. Over the wire fence he went, his horns back, his bent knees high on
his breast, alighting as nimbly as a cat, and you could hear the patter of
his hoofs as he skimmed across the road to take the ditch and dry-stone dyke
at a jump. With his buttocks oddly like a scurrying rabbit's, he dived into
a grove of birch trees and hazels, and had disappeared before the echoes of
the shot had quite faded in the glen.
I drew in a long breath. Only a stop-watch could have told how few were the
seconds that had ticked away, from my first sight of the animal to the final
flicker of his hindquarters among the hazel-bushes ; but that brief span of
time had been as heady as any man could have wished for. Gillespie and I
stared at each other in silence.
"Were you hoping he'd get the beast?" he enquired at length. "Or are you one
of those damned sentimentalists - like me?"
"Yes, damned sentimentalist," I said.
"Good," grunted Gillespie. "Well, he's half a mile into Morar by this time.
Here's hoping he stops there . . ."
As the sun went down over Arisaig, leaving a sky that was splashed with all
the colours of one of Turner's wildest visions, we slowly climbed the hill.
There were lights in the windows by the time we reached the inn.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/charles/romance2.htm
The book index page is at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/charles/romancendx.htm
Craft Stories
------------------
Donna has been sending in a number of craft stories and you might enjoy
browsing not only the new ones but the old ones as well at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/crafts/index.htm
Donna also sent in a wee entry to commemorate her daughter getting her
degree which you can see at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/journal/journal78.htm
History of Inverness County, Nova Scotia
----------------------------------------------------------
By J. L. MacDougall (1922)
This is another new book and you'll note that Inverness County is actually
Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. I have the first chapter up for you to read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/canada/inverness/index.htm
Here is what the Preface has to say...
It has long been felt that an effort should be made to write a History of
Inverness County. Many wished to have it done, but none seemed prepared to
undertake the work. The almost total absence of public or private records
germane to such a project made the undertaking peculiarly difficult. At
length the Municipal Council officially lent its countenance to the
enterprise, and a Board of Editors was designated of which we happened to be
an humble member. Immediately thereafter we plunged into the actual work.
Our principal aim was to perpetuate the names and memories of the brave,
intrepid men and women to whom we are indebted for the opening up and
reclaiming from the bondage of the wilderness of this favored region of fine
and free country. The lives of people in the woods are usually uneventful;
but their noble sacrifices have eternal life.
Matter for ordinary history was not likely to be abundant here. What little
there was could not readily be found, because of the dearth of original
records and the death of the old people. We know that our haphazard
endeavour can only be remarkable for its pathetic failure and defects. Yet,
we indulge the hope that even our poor attempt may move abler pens to cure
those defects in days to come. For ourselves we can only say that, in the
untoward conditions, we did our little best, and "the best can do no more."
Our first formed plan was to give the whole of the country's history in
District sketches. Contact with the actual work required us to modify that
preconceived plan. We found that many general subjects common to the whole
county could not be treated appropriately in District Sketches. For that
reason we dealt with these general subjects by themselves, and they form the
major portion of Part I, of the Book.
We would not that our friends should ever know from experience how tedious,
tiresome and perplexing was the labor involved in our venture. Often did we
fear that our weary, waning, strength was not equal to it, nor would it, but
for the splendid assistance given to us by valued friends in different parts
of the County and Province.
Hon. N. H. Meagher of Halifax, D. S. Macintosh, Professor in Dalhousie, D.
D. MacKenzie, M. P. of North Sydney, Donald Maclennan, M. P. P., and Daniel
MacLennan, K. C., of Port Hood, D. C. MacDonald, Inspector of Customs, Rev.
D. MacDonald of Port Hastings, D. D. MacFarlane and A. S. MacDougall of
South West Margaree and Prof. A. G. MacDonald of Antigonish are some of the
friends to whom our grateful acknowledgments are due.
J. L. MACD.
Strathlorne, N. S. January 2nd, 1922.
You'll likely note the numerous Scottish names and of course this is an area
of Nova Scotia mainly settled by Scots. You can also see my Travel Journal
of my travels in Cape Breton at
http://www.electricscotland.net/canada/bretonndx.htm
Priory of St. James, Toronto, Canada
-----------------------------------------------------
I have posted up a page for the Priory of St. James so they can have all the
photographs available of their investitures. You can view this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ktj/index.htm
Royal Heraldry Society of Canada
-------------------------------------------------
I attended the Christmas dinner of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada and
managed to get some information about them which I've shared on the site.
You can read this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/canada/rhsc.htm
Scots Independent Newspaper 80 years old
---------------------------------------------------------------
I thought I'd share a few stories from the November edition in which they
were 80 years old :-) Actually the newspaper is a great read each month and
you might be interested in purchasing a subscription so have also added a
link to where you can order this online.
You can read this story at
http://www.electricscotland.com/si/80yearsold.htm
Scottish Clans DNA Project
----------------------------------------
Got in the December 2006 newsletter and as a summary of what it is...
The Scottish Clan project was started to look at the potential
interrelationships of the Scottish Clans. However, it is also obvious that
these same results will show relationships with any other family or group
that could have a common connection by migration due to wars, economic
movements, etc.
The current project goals have broadened a bit to include anyone that has
some indication of a Scottish, Irish, British and even Scandinavians
background. The current study that I'm completing that has looked at other
nationalities is very interesting. The sample base is still small ( 2200
results).... but is on cusp of being statistically significant.
The Scot-DNA List at Rootsweb.com is the original list that supports the
Scottish Clans (Scot DNA) Project and all those project managers and
participants and interested parties that want to contribute and receive
information regarding the Original project for all Scottish peoples.
You can read the whole newsletter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/dna_project_dec2006.htm
Older newsletters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/dna_projectndx.htm
Historical research on New Zealand
---------------------------------------------------
I have been doing some correspondence with a Don Hutton in New Zealand and
in one of his emails to me he produced a number of links to some really good
sites about Scots in New Zealand. He agreed to me sharing this with you and
so you can read these at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nz/research.htm
When you go to the first link offered you'll read...
The voyage section of 'Going Abroad' is the most detailed account ever
published of shipboard arrangements and conditions on early emigration
voyages to New Zealand. It includes publication, for the first time, of
Francis Pillans' diary, written during the voyage of the Mooltan. This
fascinating record is one of the longest and most interesting diaries of
sailing ship passengers to New Zealand. Illustrations include almost every
engraving of emigration ships and shipboard scenes published by the famous
Illustrated London News between 1844 and 1855, and 22 drawings by a
passenger on the Duke of Portland, which sailed to Canterbury, New Zealand,
in 1851.
The sailing ship Mooltan – describing the ship which carried the MacGibbon
family and 152 other passengers to Otago. Shameless hyperbole from the
Greenock Advertiser describes the fitting out of the vessel.
Ship from Clyde to Otago – the Greenock Advertiser reports on the Mooltan's
departure for Otago. "No finer ship or more hopeful body of emigrants ever
left the Clyde..."
And so well worth a wee browse :-)
Have you locked your keys in the car? Does you car have remote keys?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I got in an email which offered some interesting advice which I thought I'd
share with you...
This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone:
If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call
someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell
phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press
the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car
will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance
is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach
someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors
(or the trunk).
Holiday Eating Tips
----------------------------
Keith Rattray sent me in these Holiday Eating Tips which I thought I'd share
with you :-)
1 . Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table
knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots,
leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt
scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You
can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it
has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into
an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me.
Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy.
Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed
potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or
whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car
with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your
eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other
people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's.
You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the
time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while
carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted
Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near
them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the centre of
attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind,
you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you
don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three.
When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory
celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or
get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips; start
over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to
live by:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used
up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
Have a great holiday season!
And that's all for now and I hope you all have a great weekend :-) I have
added our Christmas page which you can get to by clicking on our laughing
Santa on our Index page or go to
http://www.electricscotland.com/index98.htm
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
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