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
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Electric Scotland News
Scotland on TV
The Flag in the Wind
The Scottish Nation
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1845)
Early Scotch History
Book of Scottish Story
Good Words - Edited by the Rev Norman MacLeod
Poetry and Stories
History of Ulster
Reminiscences and Reflections of an Octogenarian Highlander
Sketches of The Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlanders of
Scotland
Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland 1881
Household Encyclopaedia
Scottish Art Trading Cards
Electric Scotland Article Service
Antiquarian Scottish Books in Adobe Reader format
Frank Shaw Articles [New]
ELECTRIC SCOTLAND NEWS
----------------------
Have made a change to the site header this week for a couple of reasons...
Over the last few months I've had a number of comments about the site being
a bit intimidating and the menu being too large. I confess to not
understanding this as the menu is really there to get you quickly to the
information you are looking for. As to being intimidating... I'm lost for
words... but I have heard this comment several times so there must be
something in it. And so I was considering how I might make the menu smaller
when I got in an email from Google. They were suggesting I should carry
their 300x250 advert box as that way they could serve up video adverts and
that I may well make more money. Well I've never been adverse to making more
money so I thought perhaps by incorporating this that would also force me to
reduce my menu size and so the deed has been done. I have had a couple of
emails saying that folk like the new header and none so far not liking it so
hopefully I'm on the right track :-)
The Scots in the USA, Canada, etc have now gone back to under "Scots in the
World". Quite a few items are now on our "Lifestyle" Menu. I've created a
new menu item "Services" where our Postcard program has gone along with the
Article and Recipe databases and also our Desktop page. The search box from
Microsoft Live now fits more neatly into the header.
I might add that I'm using the Microsoft Live search engine as they offer a
facility of having up to 10 web sites incorporated into the site search. So
by using this facility I have been able to include both electricscotland.com
and .net and also scotsindependent.org and so when you do a search it will
default to just searching those domains. The facility is much better than
the Google one and hence this change.
And so I hope this new menu header is more acceptable and friendly.
---
Only heard back from a couple of you on the recipe database and thanks to
you both for your suggestions :-)
While we only have a few recipes in the database it's now available for you
to see at
http://www.electricscotland.com/recipe
Hopefully you'll contribute your own recipes in here helping to make it a
good resource for us all. Happy to receive any suggestions from you as you
explore it.
---
The Article Service is seeing good use and of course it can be used to
discuss pretty well any topic you wish. As it happens there are several
recipes, comment on the US Presidential race, some kitchen tips, poems, etc.
So do have a look and add your own articles at
http://www.electricscotland.com/article
I might add if you click on the actual article you can also rate the article
and add some comments to it.
---
For those of you in Canada or perhaps those of you in the US that are near
Toronto...
On Thursday April 3rd, 2008 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Toronto's iconic
landmark, the CN Tower, will be the venue for this year's Tartan Day and our
17th Annual Scot of the Year Award Presentation.
Unlike previous Tartan Day Dinners there will be "no entrance fee" so in
lieu of this we have set an objective of raising $15,000 during the evening
to support the Foundation in the funding of the Chair of Scottish Studies at
the University of Guelph, the acquisition of significant materials for their
library and bursaries for Canadian students studying in Scotland.
We do hope you will be able to join us for this memorable evening and make a
contribution to our cause. As the Scottish Studies Foundation is a
registered Canadian Charity all contributions are tax deductible and
appropriate tax receipts will be issued for each donation.
The venue at the CN Tower is limited to approximately 250 guests so if you
would like to attend this function, please contact David Hunter as soon as
possible by telephone at 416-699-9942 or by e-mail at:
davidhunter@scottishstudies.com
---
Do let us know if you'd like to see any new services on Electric Scotland.
One we are looking at is an image hosting service.
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.
Scotland on TV
--------------
Visit their site at
http://www.scotlandontv.tv
Loch Ness and the Legend of the Loch Ness Monster
There comes a time for every Scottish site when Nessie, the Loch Ness
monster, rears her head! And on Scotland on TV we’ve decided we cannot
ignore her any longer. The archive of stv (Scottish Television), our parent
company, contains a number of news reports from over the years which deal
with alleged sightings of Nessie. So we have decided to ‘do our bit’ to keep
alive the Nessie debate by revisting some of these moments from our archive.
First things first though - what do we know about the home of Nessie? Well,
Loch Ness is 23 miles long, 1 mile wide and, at its deepest point, is 754
feet deep. It is situated between Fort Augustus and Inverness and contains
the greatest volume of water of any Loch in Scotland - around 16 million 430
thousand million gallons of water. The Loch's water is a tea-like brown
colour due to staining from the surrounding peat - peat particles in the
water can make it appear even murkier.
But what of the monster? The Loch has been studied for centuries and a
number of sightings made. In modern times, the first recorded signing was by
Mrs Mackay in 1933 although a sighting of a big fish was noted in 1868.
Father Gregory Brusey had the most famous sighting of all time from the
monastery at Fort Augustus.
Theories abound as to what type of creature the monster is and over the
years Scottish television news has kept up with all the monster action. Now,
on Scotland on TV, we have collected together some of the best news reports
from our archive and made them available online.
You can read the page and find links to all the videos here:
http://www.scotlandontv.tv/scotland_on_tv/news/Nessie_The_Loch_Ness_Monster.html
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
This weeks Flag is compiled by Richard Thomson and I'm kind of surprised he
isn't commenting on the US Presidential elections. There seems to be a real
change going on in America and I'd have been interested in learning what
that might say about Scottish elections as for the first time in a heck of a
lot of years the turn out is hugely up on what it has been. In the past
we've always talked about our concern on the low turnout for elections in
Scotland.
In Peter's cultural section he tells us...
The 7% increase in the profit of Whisky giant Diageo, announced last week,
shows that the Whisky industry is still a major factor in the Scottish
economy. This comes on top of an announcement in 2007 by the same firm of a
massive investment in Scotch, including a new distillery. The Whisky
industry looks set to continue to be, perhaps, the best known symbol of
Scotland world-wide.
"FREEDOM and WHISKY gang thegither" wrote our National Bard and one man who
firmly believed in the poet's adage was the late Jock Mackie of Kirkcaldy.
Jock, an Ayrshire man, born and bred, was both a great fan of Robert Burns
and of our National Drink. For Jock, an avid Scottish Nationalist, Whisky
and Freedom did indeed "gang thegither". Not only did he fervently believe
in Scottish Independence but in the belief that every Scot should distil his
own Whisky. A baker to trade, Jock added distilling to his bakery skills!
For many years he made his own Whisky until he fell foul of the authorities
in the early 1960s. An appearance in Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court resulted in a
£50 fine and the confiscation of the still. Unabashed Jock appeared on
Scottish Television that night and much to the consternation of the
interviewer produced a bottle of his own "illegal" hooch!
Unfortunately we cannot give you Jock's recipe for distilling Whisky but the
"water of life" is the basis of an excellent use of oatmeal - Atholl Brose.
Atholl Brose
Ingredients for one serving: 2-4 rounded tablespoons medium oatmeal,
toasted; 2-4 fl oz ( 50-100 ml ) double cream, stiffly beaten; 1 glass Malt
Whisky; 1-2 tablespoons heather honey.
Method: Put the oatmeal into a bowl, mix in the cream and leave to thicken.
Pour in the Whisky and add honey to taste. Divine!
Atholl Brose ( The Duke of Atholl's recipe )
Ingredients for a house awthegither: 6 oz (200 g) medium oatmeal; 4 dsp
heather honey; 1 1/2 pt (750 ml) Whisky; 1/4 pt (150 ml) water.
Method: Put the oatmeal into a small bowl and add water to make a paste.
Leave for one hour, then put into a fine sieve and press all the liquid
through. Add the honey to the sieved liquid and mix through. Pour into a
large bottle and fill up with Whisky. Shake well and always shake before
use.
And always think of independent Scots like Jock Mackie when you tak aff yir
dram!
You can read the Flag, listen to the Scots Language, enjoy the Scots Wit and
lots more at
http://www.scotsindependent.org
Christina McKelvie MSP's weekly diary for 21st Feb can be found at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/mckelvie/080221.htm
The Scottish Nation
-------------------
My thanks to Lora for transcribing these volumes for us.
We are now on the Mac's with MacNaughton, McNeill, MacNicol, MacNish,
Maconochie and MacPherson
Here is how the account of MacPherson starts...
MACPHERSON, the name of one of the two principal branches of the clan
Chattan, the badge of which was the box evergreen. In the Celtic the
Macphersons are called the clan Vuirich or Muirich, from an ancestor of that
name, who, in the Gaelic MS. of 1450, is said to have been the “son of Swen,
son of Heth, son of Nachtan, son of Gillichattan, from whom came the clan
Chattan.” The word Gillichattan means a votary or servant of St. Kattan, a
Scottish saint, as Gillichrist means a servant of Christ; hence Gilchrist.
The descent of the heads of the Macphersons from the ancient chiefs of the
clan Chattan has been unbroken, and tradition is uniformly in favour of
their right to the chiefship of the whole clan. The claim of the
Macintoshes, the other principal branch of the clan Chattan, to the
chiefship has been already disposed of. Their own traditional story of their
descent from Macduff, thane of Fife, is extremely improbable, and if it were
true, it would prove that they were not a branch of the clan Chattan at all.
On their own showing, they obtained the chiefship by marriage, and that from
the head of the Macphersons, whom they acknowledge to have been at one
period chief of the clan Chattan. The rule of clanship excludes females from
the succession, and the heir male, not the heir of line, became chief of the
clan Chattan.
It was from Muirich or Murdoch, who succeeded to the chiefship in 1153, that
the Macphersons derive the name of the clan Muirich or Vuirich. This Muirich
was parson of Kingussie, a religious establishment in the lower part of
Badenoch, and the surname, properly Macphersain, was given to his
descendants from his office. He was the great-grandson of Gillichattan Mor,
the founder of the clan, who lived in the reign of Malcolm Canmore, and
having married, on a papal dispensation, a daughter of the thane of Calder,
he had five sons. The eldest, Gillichattan, the third of the name, and chief
of the clan in the reign of Alexander II., was father of Dougal Dall, the
chief whose daughter Eva married Angus Macintosh of Macintosh. On Dougal
Dall’s death, as he had no sons, the representation of the family devolved
on his cousin and heir male, Kenneth, eldest son of Eoghen or Ewen Baan,
second son of Muirich. Neill Chrom, so called from his stooping shoulders,
Muirich’s third son, was a great artificer in iron, and took the name of
Smith from his trade. Ferquhard Gilliraich, or the swift, the fourth son, is
said to have been the progenitor of the MacGillivrays, who followed the
Macintosh branch of the clan Chattan, and from David Dubh, or the Swarthy,
the youngest of Muirich’s sons, were descended the clan Dhai, or Davidsons
of Invernahavon.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/macpherson.htm
You can read the other entries at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/index.htm
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1845)
------------------------------------------
The first volume I am dealing with is the one on Aberdeenshire. There are
some 85 parishes in this volume and a write up on each.
This week have added...
Parish of Keithhall and Kinkell at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/statistical/keithhall_kinkell.htm
Here is a bit from the account...
Name.—Keithhall became the name of the parish after the greater part of
it-was possessed by Keith, the Earl Marischal of Scotland. It was anciently
called Montkeggie. Kinkell was a parsonage of seven parishes, and retains
the ancient name, which signifies the head or principal church. The
annexation was in 1754.
Extent.—The length of the parish is about 5 miles, and the breadth is rather
less, but very unequal. It contains 11½ square miles.
Boundaries.—The rivers Don and Ury form the boundary with Kintore and
Inverury. The parish adjoins Chapel of Garioch, Bourty, Udny, New Machar,
and Fintry. The figure is irregular.
Eminent Men.— Caskieben, the ancient name of the estate of Keithhall, was
the birth-place of the distinguished scholar, Arthur Johnston. He was born
in 1587, and died at the age of fifty-four. Kinkell is the burial-place of a
distinguished warrior who fell at Harlaw, as appears from a monumental
stone, with the figure of a knight in armour, and an inscription on the
outer part in old English characters:—"Hic jacet nobilis armiger Gualterus
de Gre------ 1411." The other part of it has been destroyed.
Land-owners.—The Earl of Kintore is proprietor of about three-fourths of the
united parishes. Balbithan, the property of Benjamin Abernethy Gordon, Esq.
forms an eighth part. Kin-muck, which is rather less, belongs to Alexander
Irvine, Esq. of Drum. The Synod of Aberdeen hold in trust the small estate
of Newplace, which rents about L. 80; and the Society of Friends or Quakers
are proprietors of three acres, on which they have a meeting-house and
cemetery.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/statistical/keithhall_kinkell.htm
On the index page of this volume you can see a list of the 85 parishes and
also a map at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/statistical/volume12.htm
Book of Scottish Story
----------------------
Our thanks to John Henderson for sending this is for us.
This week have added "Mary Queen of Scots and Chatelar"
Here is how this story starts...
There are no mysteries into which we are so fond of prying as the mysteries
of the heart. The hero of the best novel in the world, if he could not
condescend to fall in love, might march through his three volumes and excite
no more sensation than his grandmother; and a newspaper without a breach of
promise of marriage is a thing not to be endured.
It is not my intention to affect any singular exception from this natural
propensity, and I am ready to confess that the next best thing to being in
love oneself, is to speculate on the hopes, and fears, and fates of others.
How truly interesting are the little schemes and subterfuges, the romancing
and story-telling of our dove-eyed and gentle-hearted playfellows! I have
listened to a lame excuse for a stolen ride in a tilbury, or a duet in the
woods. with wonderful sensibility; and have witnessed the ceremony of
cross-questioning with as much trepidation as I could have felt had I been
the culprit myself. It is not, however, to be maintained that the love
adventures of the present age can, in any way, compete with the enchantment
of days agone; when tender souls were won by tough exploits, and Cupid's
dart was a twenty-foot lance, ordained only to reach the lady's heart
through the ribs of the rival. This was the golden age of love, albeit I am
not one to lament it, thinking, as I do, that it is far more sensible to aid
and abet my neighbour in toasting the beauty of his mistress, than to caper
about with him in the lists, for contradiction's sake, to the imminent
danger and discomfort of us both. After this came the middle or lark ages of
love, when it had ceased to be a glory, but had lost nothing of its fervour
as a passion. If there is here less of romance than in the tilting days,
there is considerably more of interest, because there is more of mystery. In
the one, the test of true love was to make boast, in the other it was to
keep secret. Accordingly, for an immense space of time, we have nothing but
such fragments of adventures as could be gathered by eavesdroppers, who
leave us to put head and tail to them as best suits our fancy; and the loves
of Queen Elizabeth, who lived, as it were, only yesterday, are less known
than the loves of queen Genevra, who perhaps never lived at all.
The rest of this story can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/story36.htm
The rest of the stories can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/index.htm
Good Words - 1860 Edition
-------------------------
Edited by Rev. Norman MacLeod
You should note that as this is a weekly publication you'll find larger
articles are continued week by week.
This week have added articles on...
Good Words for Every Day in the Year (Pages 335-336)
What Has Been Done In The Fiji Islands (Pages 337-349)
Saul of Tarsus, A Choice Vessel (Pages 349-343)
What of Lay-Preaching? (Pages 343-344)
Old Betty (Page 344)
Here is the short story of "Old Betty"...
Betty had learned to know and love the Lord in her old days; and because she
had loved Him so late, she longed to live to His praise and glory for the
short time she might be spared on earth. When her heart was opened, she
spoke of Him with a thousand joys, and with a full hope of the crown of
glory which He had promised her. She tended the sick, visited the oppressed,
prayed for the poor and the heathen, and distributed to the needy as the
benevolence of Christian friends put it in her power. In short, she was
always abounding in labours of love.
However, in the midst of all this happy work she was seized with a dangerous
illness, and confined to her bed. She lay there from day to day, and week to
week; and I believe she lay there till the Lord took her to Himself. Betty
was as happy on her sick-bed as she had been in her activity; she prayed
much, and repeated hymns and passages out of Holy Scripture; and she thought
over the good things which she had learned, and the good land to which she
drew near. One day an old friend visited her—a teacher, who had long known
her. He was amazed to find his neighbour, who had been once so busy and
useful, so patient and happy in her room, and said it must be a heavy trial
for the lively spirit to lie there so quiet and inactive. "Not at all,"
replied the old woman, "not at all! When I was well I used to hear the Lord
say from day to day, Betty, go here—Betty, go there—Betty, do this—Betty, do
that—and I was accustomed to do it as well as I could. And now I hear Him
say to me every day, Betty, lie still and cough!"
You can read the other articles at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/index.htm
Poetry and Stories
------------------
John sent in a doggerel, Easedom, at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel249.htm
Added a wee article on the Honourable Alastair Gillespie, Doctor of Letters
at
http://www.electricscotland.com/ssf/alastair_gillespie.htm
I might add that further articles have been added to our Articles Service
where the likes of Donna has been adding poems and recipes at
http://www.electricscotland.com/article/
The History of Ulster
------------------------------
We are now making a start at Volume 4 being the final volume. Added this
week are...
VI. King William in Ulster
VII. The Battle of the Boyne
VIII. After the Battle
IX. The New Life
X. Linen and Latitudinarianism
XI. Unhappiness and Halfpence
XII. French Attack on Carrickfergus
This is how "Linen and Latitudinarianism" starts...
Ulster unaffected by the Penal Laws—A Determined Effort to destroy the
Woollen Industry—Address to the King on the Subject—The English promise to
encourage and support the Linen Industry of Ulster—How the Promise was
kept—The Case of Ireland, by Molyneux—Death of James II — Death of William
III—James, Second Duke of Ormonde, Lord-Lieutenant—The Attitude of Ulster
towards Jacobinism—Presbyterians and the Sacramental Test—The Bishops attack
the Nonconformists—Wharton, the Viceroy, supports them—He is recalled—Death
of Queen Anne.
During the later years of William's reign and during the whole period of
Queen Anne's, Ulster, in the language of Wordsworth, was "as silent as a
standing pool", or, to use imagery more exclusively Hibernian, she may
perhaps be more appropriately likened to the famous Harp of Tara, which
after a period of notable activity hung "mute on Tara's walls", leading
those who had delighted in its strains to believe that the soul of music had
for ever fled from its strings.
But if at this period Ulster, like Canning's needy knife-grinder, had no
story to tell, it was because her career, like his, had become uneventful,
not because she was no longer alert in the cause of freedom. Important
matters like the Penal Laws, which greatly agitated the south and west of
Ireland, did not affect the north, which, being almost wholly Protestant,
did not to any great extent suffer from them. A matter, however, in which
Ulster took an intense interest was referred to at the meeting of the Irish
Parliament on the 27th of July, 1697, when the Lords Justices (the Marquis
of Winchester, the Earl of Galway, and Viscount Villiers), addressing the
House, said: "All think the present occasion so favourable for inviting and
encouraging Protestant strangers to settle here, that we cannot omit to put
you in mind of it, especially since that may contribute to the increase of
the linen manufacture, which is the most beneficial trade that can be
encouraged in Ireland".
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ulster/vol4chap10.htm
The rest of the chapters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ulster/
Reminiscences and Reflections of an Octogenarian Highlander
-----------------------------------------------------------
By Duncan Campbell (1910)
We're almost at the end of this book now and this week we've added the
following chapters...
Chapter LXXX.
Land and People
Chapter LXXXI.
The Latter Days' Invasions of the Highlands
Chapter LXXXII.
Deer Forests and Sheep Farms
Chapter LXXXIII.
The Crofters
Chapter LXXXIV.
The Cry of "Back to the Land"
Chapter LXXXV.
The Restlessness of the Present Age
Chapter LXXXVI.
The Urban Invasion of the Country
Here is a bit from "The Urban Invasion of the Country"...
COUNTRY life, with all its drawbacks, is the natural life ; and Nature,
though expelled with a fork, will now and then return to the most cynical
and selfish and sensual of city men. What a pleasure it must be to London
slum dwellers to go a-gipsying once a year to the Kent hop-gathering? How
glad are peers and commoners to scurry away on week-end excursions to the
country by trains and motor-cars? How sadly washed - out by pursuit of
pleasure become Society ladies, and how good it is for them to seek rest in
the country and forget balls, operas, and all junketings and racketings of
city life among trees and flowers, listening to the songs of birds? What a
mistake they make if they rush off to the Continent instead of going to the
far more pleasant rural retreats at home which belong to them, where they
have duties to discharge? Well, the shooting season does fill halls and
manors with owners and guests. And it is just to acknowledge that both
classes of land-owning people the old and the new are far from being
negligent in the discharge of their duty to those who live on their estates.
Still the number of noblemen and gentry who spend the greater part of their
time on their estates, and shun city life unless taken in small dozes, is
not so large as should be desired for their own and their people's good, and
for the union of classes and masses in a critical transitional period of
national history.
The industrious, prudent workman who is earning daily wages can afford to
pay one visit to the Continent. Paris and Rome, the Rhine, and even Egypt
and Jerusalem, with Jericho thrown in, are quite within his reach. But why
should his fancy roam so far away? Is it not far wiser for him to be content
with what he can so readily find at home beautiful scenery, mountain air,
and refreshing sea- breezes ? As a matter of fact, the well-to-do,
comfortably-off, middle-class inhabitants of our Scotch cities and towns are
not much given to roaming abroad. Neither are those of the wage- earning
class, unless in the way of employment. It was not the case of old, but now
"the Scot abroad" is usually one who has emigrated to a British colony, or
one who holds a position in the public service or in a banking or business
establishment.
There are many scenes of beautiful landscape in England besides the Lake
district, which exhibits in miniature form, with the omission of sea lochs,
firths, and rocky shores, the features of Highland scenery. The Scotch
Borders, Wales, and Ireland put in rival claims to favourable comparison.
But Highland scenery is alone and above comparison with anything of its kind
in the United Kingdom, It laid its spell upon the stranger who saw it before
railways had been dreamed of, and before passable roads joined glen to glen.
The romance of Highland history likewise laid hold upon those who knew about
it, or who merely observed with intelligence the picturesque peculiarities
of the Highland people and their clannish propensities. The peculiar people
romance has now almost become as shadowy as Ossian's ghosts.
The rest of this chapter can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/octogenarian/chapter86.htm
The other chapters added so far can be read at the index page of the book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/octogenarian/index.htm
Sketches of The Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlanders of
Scotland
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Major-General David Stewart (1822)
We have now moved on to Volume II and the next several chapters are all
about the various Highland Regiments. When those accounts are complete we'll
be moving onto the Fencible Regiments.
This week we've added...
Seventy-third Regiment, or Lord Macleod's Highlanders; now Seventy-first
Regiment, or Glasgow Light Infantry, 1777
Seventy-fourth Regiment, or Argyle Highlanders, 1778
Seventy-sixth Regiment, or Macdonald's Highlanders, 1778
Athole Highlanders, or Seventy-seventh, 1778
Seventy-eighth Regiment, or Seaforth's Highlanders, now the Seventy-second
Regiment, 1778
Eighty-first, or Aberdeenshire Highland Regiment, 1778
Eighty-fourth, or Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment, two battalions,
originally embodied in 1775, but not regimented or numbered till 1778
Here is how the account of the Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment starts...
This corps was to consist of two battalions. Lieutenant-Colonel Alan Maclean
(son of Torloish), of the late 104th Highland Regiment, was appointed
Lieutenant-Colonel-Commandant of the first battalion, which was to be raised
and embodied from the Highland Emigrants in Canada, and the discharged men
of the 42d, of Fraser's, and of Montgomerie's Highlanders, who had settled
in that country after the peace of 1763.
Captain John Small, formerly of the 42d, and then of the 21st, regiment, was
appointed Major-Commandant of the second battalion, which was to be
completed in Nova Scotia from emigrant and discharged Highland soldiers. The
establishment of both was 750 men, with officers in proportion. The
commissions were dated the 14th of June 1775.
Officers sent to the back settlements to recruit, found the discharged
soldiers and emigrants loyal and ready to serve his Majesty. The emigrations
from the Highlands, previous to this period, had been very limited. With
many the change of abode was voluntary, and consequently their minds,
neither irritated nor discontented, retained their former attachment to
their native country and its government. But there was much difficulty in
conveying the parties, who had enlisted, to their respective destinations.
One of these detachments from Carolina, had to force its way through a
dangerous and narrow pass, and to cross a bridge defended by cannon, and a
strong detachment of the rebels; "but aware that the Americans entertained a
dread of the broadsword, from experience of its effects in the last war,
with more bravery than prudence, and forgetting they had only a few swords
and fowling-pieces, used in their settlements, they determined to attempt
the post sword in hand, and pushed forward to the attack." But they found
the enemy too strong, and the difficulties insurmountable. They were forced
to relinquish the attempt with the loss of Captain Mcleod, and a number of
men killed. Those who escaped made their way by different routes to their
destination. Colonel Maclean's battalion was stationed in Quebec, when
Canada was threatened with invasion by the American General Arnold, at the
head of 3000 men. Colonel Maclean, who had been detached up the river St
Lawrence, returned by forced marches, and entered Quebec on the evening of
the 13th November 1776, without being noticed by Arnold. He had previously
crossed the river, and on the night of the 14th made a smart attack, with a
view of getting possession of their outworks, but was repulsed with loss,
and forced to retire to Point au Tremble. The fortifications of the city had
been greatly neglected, and were now in a ruinous state. The garrison
consisted of 50 men of the Fusileers, 350 of Maclean's newly raised
emigrants, and about 700 militia and seamen. General Guy Carleton, the
Commander in Chief, being occupied with preparations for the general defence
of the colony, the defence of the town was intrusted to Colonel Maclean, an
able and intelligent officer.
You can read the rest of this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sketches/highlandsketches75.htm
You can read the other chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sketches/highlandsketchesndx.htm
Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland 1884
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This week have added a huge account (110 book pages) of The Agriculture of
Lanarkshire and here is how it starts...
By James Tait, 4 Argyll Crescent, Joppa, Midlothian.
[Premium—Forty Sovereigns.]
The county of Lanark, sometimes designated Clydesdale, is bounded on the
east by the counties of West and Mid Lothian and Peebles, on the south by
the county of Dumfries, on the west by the counties of Ayr and Renfrew, and
on the north by those of Dumbarton and Stirling. Its greatest length from
north to south is about 47 miles, and its width from east to west about 32
miles. According to the agricultural returns issued by the Board of Trade
the area of the county is 568,840 acres; and in extent of surface it is
exceeded only by those of Aberdeen, Argyll, Ayr, Dumfries, Inverness, Perth,
Ross and Cromarty, and Sutherland. Its gross annual value, exclusive of the
municipal borough of Glasgow, as given in the Return of Lands and Heritages
in Scotland, 1872-73, was £1,736,268, 7s., inclusive of Glasgow it was
£4,078,434, which is pretty nearly thrice the valuation of any other
Scottish county. The gross annual value of Edinburghshire at the same date
was £581,603, 6s., exclusive of Edinburgh and Leith; including these
municipal boroughs the total valuation of the county was £1,547,435. The
next highest is Perthshire, with a valuation of £959,364, 18s. In 1883-84
the valuation of Lanarkshire was £2,211,444, 15s. 7d,, an increase of
£66,991, 17s. 5d. on the previous year. The census returns for 1881 give the
area of Lanarkshire as 564,284 acres, divided into 41 parishes, besides
fractions of others. There were 180,259 inhabited houses, 193,731 separate
families, and 904,412 inhabitants. Of the population 770,314 were resident
in towns, 72,197 in villages, and 61,901 in rural districts. The county
contained 1076 persons to every square mile. Next in density of population
were the shires of Edinburgh and Dumfries each containing 1075 persons to
the square mile. Then conies Clackmannan with 539. The lowest in the scale
is Sutherland with 12 persons to the square mile, and it is followed by
Inverness with 22, Argyle 24, Ross and Cromarty 25, and Peebles 39. The next
county to Lanarkshire in respect of population is Edinburgh, with an area of
231,724 acres, and a population of 389,164. In 1S71 there were, in
Lanarkshire, 147,962 inhabited houses, and 765,339 of a population. In 1861
the population was 631,566, showing an increase of 272,846 in twenty years.
For parliamentary purposes the county consists of a northern and a southern
division, of which the former is at present represented by Sir T. E.
Colebrooke, Bart., and the latter by J. G. Hamilton, Esq., of Dalziell. The
city of Glasgow has three representatives; and, in the county, there are the
burghs of Rutherglen, which forms one of the Kilmarnock group, and Airdrie,
Hamilton, and Lanark, which are joined to Linlithgow and Falkirk. For
administrative purposes the county is divided into upper, middle, and lower
wards. The upper ward comprehends the twenty parishes of Carluke, Lanark,
Carstairs, Carnwath, Dunsyre, Dolphinton, Walston, Biggar, Libberton,
Lamington, Culter, Crawford, Crawfordjohn, Douglas, Roberton, Symington,
Covington, Pettinain, Carmichael, and Lesmahagow. The middle ward includes
the parishes of Dalserf, Stonehouse, Avon-dale, Glassford, East Kilbride,
Cambusnethan, Shotts, New and Old Monkland, Hamilton, Bothwell, and Blantyre.
The lower ward, lying immediately around the city of Glasgow, contains
Carmunnock, Cambuslang, Rutherglen, Cadder, Govan, part of Cathcart, and the
Barony parish.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/page62.htm
The other articles can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/index.htm
Household Encyclopaedia
-----------------------
I have added a few more pages to the B's which you can see at
http://www.electricscotland.com/household/b.htm
The index page of this publication can be seen at
http://www.electricscotland.com/household/
Scottish Art Trading Cards
--------------------------
Margo has done some Scottish Art Trading Cards which you can print out on
2.5" x 3.5" cards and build them into a collection. These are great for kids
and also anyone interested in collecting cards. We have the sixth page of 10
cards up at
http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/cards/index.htm
Antiquarian Scottish Books in Adobe Reader format
-------------------------------------------------
I said I'd do my best to add a book each week and so this week I've added...
A Volume of Verses
Scot in America
The Volume of Verses is a nice wee collection of poems and I was told about
this book by John Henderson who has given us a wee bio of the author. A
sample poem is...
'Tis A Beautiful World
from
'A VOLUME OF VERSES' - Serious, Humorous and Satirical (1866)
by Reverend William Buchanan, B.A., (1821-1866)
Minister of Kilmaurs Parish Church, Ayrshire (1844-1851)
Editor of 'The Ayr Observer' (1857-1866)
'Tis a Beautiful World! Whatever the time
We look upon Nature - in sunshine or shade,
In storm or in calm, in the Winter or Prime,
Or when Summer flowers flush, or when Autumn leaves fade.
The eye that delights o'er the landscape to range,
Or scan the bright glories that sparkle on high,
May own to fatigue as they endlessly change;
Yet still it is Beauty, in Earth, Sea, or Sky!
There is Beauty in Life ! Where the lowly ones dwell,
Or the great ones have planted the parterre or hall;
Where the young their fond longings so gleefully tell,
And the old their past pleasures as pensive recall.
In Joy's loudest music, in Grief's deepest wail,
Or Love whose strange medley of both is combined -
In Life's every scene, every season, and tale,
Some snatches of beauty you surely shall find.
Yet o'er Nature as Life, there be breasts that unfold
No rapturous thought, no sensation of bliss,
And eyes that look stony, and tearless, and cold
On a scene so resplendent, so lovely as this.
And why? 'Tis not Nature and Life are to blame;
Their wonderful issues for ever they roll;
To the blindly insensate the sights are the same -
'Tis the lookers who want but the Beautiful Soul.
Then, Fortune, take all of thy favours away-
How little, at best, of true joy they impart! -
But heaven, preserve us, we earnestly pray,
The clear thoughtful spirit, the warm loving heart!
Oh what wealth in such treasures ! Nay, feeble the word,
For wealth may be squandered, and treasures run waste;
But these, while we spend them the most, most we hoard,
And the more that we scatter, the longer they last.
You can read this book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/william_buchanan_poetry.htm
The Scot in America was actually a book that was being typed in for us but
it has been a long time since we have added anything to this book and so
getting a copy of the entire book is excellent.
The Preface starts...
THE materials for the present volume have been gathered from many and varied
sources, and their collection has provided for the author a pleasant
relaxation from other studies during several years. A wide acquaintance
among Scots resident in this country and in Canada has not only directed him
to original sources of information, but has, in various ways and for many
reasons, shown him the desirability of the compilation of such a work.
Even as now presented, the theme cannot be said to be exhausted. What is
printed has been mainly selected from a mass of material, for it was found
that the subject was too extensive to be fully covered in a single volume,
while every day brings to the front some fresh incidents in this
history-making age which deserve a place in such a record. Still, enough has
been written, it is thought, to bring out into clear relief the main purpose
the author had in entering upon its compilation, the demonstration of the
fact that in the building up of this great Republic in all that has
contributed to its true greatness and perfect civil and religious liberty,
Scotsmen have, at least, done their share.
It is a pity that a work like this was not attempted a century ago, for much
of the early history of the Scot in America has now been lost or has become
so mingled with the general trend of events that it has become
undistinguishable from the mass. Most of the early Scotch colonists crossed
the sea in search of fortune, but a large number found a domicile in America
under circumstances which, though sad, reflected honor upon themselves.
Devotion to principle is a wonderful factor in the greatness of any country,
and such prisoners as those landed in Boston from the John and Sara in 1652
(as related at Page 48) must have done much to supplement and strengthen the
stern uprightness inculcated upon New England by the Pilgrim Fathers. These
expatriated Scots fought for a principle at Dunbar, and the principle that
makes men take up their arms in its defense on the field of battle is one
that is not likely to be abandoned merely on account of worldly reverses or
a backward tide in the fortunes of war. So, too, in the time of the
Covenant, we find many traces of men and women who, after suffering
imprisonment at home for their religious sentiments, were shipped to America
as the easiest way to further punish and silence them. Thus the student of
Scottish history comes across many items like the following, which is quoted
from the statistical account of the Parish of Glassford, Lanarkshire,
written in 1835 by the Rev. Gavin Lang, whose son, bearing the same name,
afterward became a minister in Montreal and one of the best-known clergymen
in Canada. It is an extract from the records of the Kirk Session of
Glassford. "Item - In 1685 Michael Marshall and John Kay were both taken
prisoners for their nonconformity, and banished and sent over sea to New
Jersey in America. The said Michael stayed several years in America. After
the late happy revolution, (1688,) designing to come home, he was taken
prisoner at sea and was carried to France, where he was kept a year and a
half in prison and endured great hardships before he was delivered."
You can read the rest of this Preface and the entire book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/scotinamericandx.htm
You can get to this new section at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/index.htm
Frank Shaw Articles
-------------------
Frank has sent us in a couple of interesting articles...
"Professor Ross Roy’s Gift of Robert Burns Manuscripts to the University of
South Carolina" is the first article. In it you'll also see a picture of
Robert Burns' Porridge Bowl and also a picture of one of the manuscripts.
You can read this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/frank/burns_south_carolina.htm
"2008 Prayer of Remembrance which was given at the Kirkin' of the Tartan in
Atlanta, Georgia" is the second article. In this one we also see many
pictures taken at two of the events and you can read this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/frank/remembrance2008.htm
And that's it for now and I hope you all have a great weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
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