|
 Electric
Scotland's Weekly Email Newsletter
Dear
Friend
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/rss/whatsnew.php and you
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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
New Statistical Account of Scotland
Clan and Family Information
Poetry and Stories
Book of Scottish Story
The Concise Household Encyclopaedia
Children's Rhymes, Children's Games, Children's Songs, Children's
Stories
Social Life in Scotland
The Writings of John Muir
Home and Farm Food Preservation
Parish Life in the North of Scotland
Poenamo
Fraser's Scottish Annual
The Autobiography of Dr. Alexander Carlyle of Inveresk (1722 - 1805)
(New Book)
Report on the Burns 250 conference in South Carolina
Highlander and his Books
The Scots Magazine
Renaissance Faire, North Carolina, 2009
Topography of Great Britain
ELECTRIC SCOTLAND NEWS
----------------------
As you know I've been working on the New Statistical Account of
Scotland for a wee while now. I was delighted to find out that
Google has scanned in all 15 volumes and so I've taken advantage of
that to download them and have now got them up on the site.
I only decided to ocr these volumes as they could not be bookmarked
at the one site that they could be read on. And so this set is now
available to download at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/statistical/
I have also included a special page where you will get a list of all
the Parishes with the Volume number and page number alongside.
And I have also made available the text versions but note that these
are fairly rough ocr'ing jobs so there will be spelling mistakes in
them.
-----
I got quite a few emails in saying you'd like me to work on the
domestic architecture so I will start work on that. I'll probably
also use that as a base to add any additional information I get in
about castles.
-----
The Robert Burns Association of North America are having their 29th
Conference and Annual General Meeting Friday, May 29th to Sunday
31st, 2009 at the Novotel Hotel, Mississauga, Ontario. Should you be
interested in finding out more email
jcunnin@golden.net or phone
519-894-6366. More details at
http://www.rbana.com/conference.html
-----
I attended the Scot of the Year Award event on Tuesday evening in
Toronto and took some pictures which you can see at
http://www.electricscotland.com/ssf/ssf2009.htm
Also, Mike Russell MSP, is doing a blog of his trip to the USA and
Canada and thought you might be interested in viewing his trip which
is to help promote Scotland Week. You can see this at
http://scotlandweek09.wordpress.com/
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 or on our site menu.
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
This weeks Flag is compiled by Jim Lynch, the editor of the Scots
Independent Newspaper, and in this issue he has his usual range of
stories which aso include Political Satire and also the gaelic and
Scots language articles.
In Peter's cultural section he gives us an interesting quote from
James Halliday...
The Scottish church had been steadfastly nationalist all through the
years since 1286. Bishops Wishart and Lamberton were proven
patriots, but others too deserve to be remembered. Churchmen were
after all, the literate class in medieval society, and Scottish
churchmen had undertaken the task of expounding and justifying the
Scottish case for independence. In 1320, meeting at Arbroath Abbey,
the leaders of the community of Scotland put their seals to a
document prepared, almost certainly, by Bernard de Linton, abbot and
civil servant, which yet again, but more fully now than ever before,
spelled out Scotland’s claim to identity and independence.
Scotland, they reminded Pope John, to whom the Declaration was
addressed, had been a kingdom when England was big enough for seven
kings. They had endured attack from King Edward who had taken
advantage of their misfortunes and had worked to destroy their
freedom under guise of friendship. Fate had given them as a leader
and deliverer, King Robert. Yet – and this is the remarkable passage
– ‘if he should abandon our cause…. We should make every endeavour
to expel him as our enemy and the subverter of his rights and ours,
and choose another for our king’. There are those who look for the
origins of monarchy dependent upon popular will, in the writing of
seventeenth century English philosophers. Very clearly the Scots had
stumbled upon the concept of conditional monarchy several centuries
earlier.
Finally, in case Pope John or his cardinals thought the Scottish
resistance to English ambitions was merely a passing fad, de Linton
offered to his countrymen for their approval a pledge of
determination free of all ambiguity. ‘For so long as a hundred of us
shall remain alive we shall never accept subjection to the
domination of the English. For we fight not for glory, or riches or
honour, but for freedom alone which no good man will consent to lose
but with his life.’
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 is available at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/mckelvie/090409.htm
Clan and Family Information
---------------------------
Got in the Clan Munro of Australia Newsletter which you can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/newsletters/munro/ClanMunroNewsletter20.pdf
Also got in the Clan MacKenzie Newsletter which you can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/mackenzie/images/news46.pdf
Got in the newsletter of the Clan Cameron for Spring 2009 which you
can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/newsletters/cameron/index.htm
Got in a wee note from Neil Fraser...
The Aberdeen magazine "Leopard" has been running a series on
Scottish Clan Chiefs in Northeast Scotland, written by noted
Aberdeen journalist Gordon Casely. Gordon is a good friend of mine
as a fellow member of The Heraldry Society of Scotland, and I
assisted him in arranging an interview with The Lady Saltoun, Chief
of Clan Fraser, at her home in Inverey near Braemar. He did a great
job on the Clan Fraser article which is now available online on the
Leopard magazine website at
http://www.leopardmag.co.uk:80/feats/238/clans-of-the-north-east-fraser%20of
Poetry and Stories
------------------
John sent in another poem, "Simply Fuelled in The Wild" at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel310.htm
And of course more articles in our Article Service from Donna and
others at
http://www.electricscotland.com/article
Book of Scottish Story
----------------------
Our thanks to John Henderson for sending this in for us.
This week have added a new story...
The Court Cave: a Legendary Tale of Fife
This is a 3 part story and the final part starts...
The stranger set out on his voluntary mission at a rapid pace, and
soon arrived at the house. The door stood open, and he entered with
the careless sauntering air of one entirely indifferent as to the
welcome he might be greeted with. He found Colville seated
apparently in no very pleasant humour, and his daughter, bustling
about among the servant-maidens, wearing on her flushed cheek and
suffused eye undoubted symptoms of the sorrow with which the
morning’s adventure had afflicted her.
"Give you good-e’en, gudeman of Balmeny,” said the stranger, seating
himself, without waiting an invitation, on the bench opposite
Colville.
"The same to you, neebour,” said the landlord, in a tone that had
little of welcome in it.
A few moments’ silence now ensued, Colville evidently waiting with
some impatience for the tidings which the other seemed in no haste
to communicate to him. But this could not last.
"Have you anything to tell, ask, or deliver, friend?” at last said
Colville.
"This bright-eyed maiden is the bonny lass of Balmeny, I’m
thinking," was the unreplying answer.
"That is my daughter, truly,” said the landlord, becoming more and
more impatient; "does your coming concern her?”
"That it does," replied the stranger. "There’s an auld byeword, that
‘foul fish and fair daughters are nae keeping ware.’ This fair May
is the object of my visit ; in short, gudeman, I come awooing."
At the sound of this magnetic word,a universal commotion arose in
the dwelling of Colville. The maiden, who was its object, surveyed
the stranger with indignation and surprise ; the servants whispered
and tittered among each other; and Colville seemed for a moment
about to give vent to the feelings of his anger, when the current of
his feelings suddenly changed, and, directing a look of malicious
joy to his daughter, he addressed the stranger—.
"Welcome, wooer—welcome. Come, lasses, set meat and drink before
this gentle here; as the auld Earl of Douglas said, ‘ It’s ill
arguing between a fu’ man and a fasting.’"
The rest of this story can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/story82c.htm
The other stories can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/index.htm
The Concise Household Encyclopaedia
-----------------------------------
Added another four pages on Corner Cupboard, Corner Dresser, Corner
Seat, Corner Wardrobe, Cornet, Cornflour, Cornflour Cake, Cornflour
Mould, Cornflour Pudding, Cornflower, Cornice, Cornish Heath,
Cornish Pasty, Cornish Splits, Coronilla, Corpulence, Corridor,
Corrosive, Corrosive Sublimate, Corrugated Iron, Corundum,
Corydalis, Corylopsis.
You can read about these at
http://www.electricscotland.com/household/c.htm
Children's Rhymes. Children's Games, Children' s Songs, Children's
Stories
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Book for Bairns and Big Folk by Robert Ford (1904).
The pages we have up this week are...
Children's Stories
Jack and the Bean-Stalk
The Babes in the Wood
Jack the Giant Killer
Little Red Riding Hood
Cinderella; or, the Little Glass Slipper
Puss in Boots
Whittington and his Cat
These are all fairly substantial stories which you can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/bairns/index.htm
Social Life in Scotland
-----------------------
From Early to Recent Times by Rev. Charles Rogers in 3 volumes
(1884)
2 chapters added this week which completes the 2nd volume of this
set.
Chapter XIV.
Games and Pastimes
Chapter XV.
Social Clubs
Here is how the chapter on Games and Pastimes starts...
Common to the early inhabitants of every country dancing was among
the ancient Scots a favourite pastime. In evident allusion to the
exercise Sir William Wallace, after arranging the position of his
troops on the field of Falkirk, called out, "I have brocht ye to the
ring; dance gif ye can." And in the opening lines of his poem of "Chrystis
Kirk," James I. refers to dancing as a prevailing recreation. He
writes:
"Was nevir in Scotland heard nor sene,
Sic dancing nor deray,
Nouthir at Falkland on the Grene,
Nor Peebles at the Play."
In the ballad of "Colkelbie Sow," written before the age of Dunbar,
are named upwards of twenty native dances, while a further catalogue
of dances popular in the middle of the sixteenth century is
presented in the Complaynt of Scotland. ["Select Remains of Ancient
Popular Poetry in Scotland." edited by David Laing, 1822, 4to, part
first, 11. 296-376; "The Complaynt of Scotland," edited by J. A. R.
Murray, 1872, p. 66.]
Moorish or Morris dances were common at the court of James IV., the
performers being usually Spaniards. But at Epiphany 1494, native
Morris dancers, clad in a special livery, performed in the royal
presence. Each Morris dancer bore upon his dress a number of small
bells, which played chimes during his evolutions. By the Glover
Incorporation of Perth a Norris dancer's costume has been preserved.
The following account of it forms the subject of a note appended by
Sir Walter Scott to his "Fair Maid of Perth":-
"This curious vestment is made of fawn-coloured silk, in the form of
a tunic, with trappings of green and red satin. There accompany it
two hundred and fifty-two small circular bells formed into
twenty-one sets of twelve bells each, upon pieces of leather, made
to fasten to various parts of the body. What is most remarkable
about these bells is the perfect intonation of each set, and the
regular musical intervals between the tone of each. The twelve bells
on each piece of leather are of various sizes, yet all combine to
form one perfect intonation in concord with the leading note in the
set. These concords are maintained, not only in each set, but also
in the intervals between the various pieces. The performer could
thus produce, if not a tune, at least a pleas. lug and musical
chime, according as lie regulated with skill the movements of his
body."
You can read lots more from this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sociallife/chapter14.htm
You can get to the index page of the book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sociallife/index.htm
The Writings of John Muir
-------------------------
This week have completed Volume 2 with...
My First Summer in the Sierra...
Chapter IX. Bloody Canon and Mono Lake
Chapter X. The Tuolumne Camp
Chapter XI. Back to the Lowlands
And have made a start on Volume 3, Travels in Alaska with...
Chapter I. Puget Sound and British Columbia
Chapter II. Alexander Archipelago and the Home I found in Alaska
Chapter III. Wrangell Island and Alaska Summers
Chapter IV. The Stickeen River
Here is how the first chapter of Volume 3 starts...
AFTER eleven years of study and exploration in the Sierra Nevada of
California and the mountain-ranges of the Great Basin, studying in
particular their glaciers, forests, and wild life, above all their
ancient glaciers and the influence they exerted in sculpturing the
rocks over which they passed with tremendous pressure, making new
landscapes, scenery, and beauty which so mysteriously influence
every human being, and to some extent all life, I was anxious to
gain some knowledge of the regions to the northward, about Puget
Sound and Alaska. With this grand object in view I left San
Francisco in May, 1879, on the steamer Dakota, without any definite
plan, as with the exception of a few of the Oregon peaks and their
forests all the wild north was new to me.
To the mountaineer a sea voyage is a grand, inspiring, restful
change. For forests and plains with their flowers and fruits we have
new scenery, new life of every sort; water hills and dales in
eternal visible motion for rock waves, types of permanence.
It was curious to note how suddenly the eager countenances of the
passengers were darkened as soon as the good ship passed through the
Golden Gate and began to heave on the waves of the open ocean. The
crowded deck was speedily deserted on account of seasickness. It
seemed strange that nearly every one afflicted should be more or
less ashamed.
Next morning a strong wind was blowing, and the sea was gray and
white, with long breaking waves, across which the Dakota was racing
half-buried in spray. Very few of the passengers were on deck to
enjoy the wild scenery. Every wave seemed to be making enthusiastic,
eager haste to the shore, with long, irised tresses streaming from
its tops, some of its outer fringes borne away in scud to refresh
the wind, all the rolling, pitching, flying water exulting in the
beauty of rainbow light. Gulls and albatrosses, strong, glad life in
the midst of the stormy beauty, skimmed the waves against the wind,
seemingly without effort, oftentimes flying nearly a mile without a
single wing-beat, gracefully swaying from side to side and tracing
the curves of the briny water hills with the finest precision, now
and then just grazing the highest.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/muir/vol3_chapter1.htm
The rest of the chapters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/muir/index.htm
Home and Farm Food Preservation
-------------------------------
By William V. Cruess (1918)
Have added several more chapters to this book...
Chapter XXI - Canning Meats
36. Canning Meats without Preliminary Cooking
37. Canning Cooked Meats
38. Canning Corned Beef
39. Canning Fresh Fish
40. Canning Kippered Fish
Chapter XXII - Fruit Juices
41. Apple Juice
42. Red Grape Juice
43. Loganberry, Blackberry, and Raspberry Juices
44. Lemon Juice
45. Orange Juice
46. Orange-Lemon Juice
47. Grape Fruit Juice
48. Pomegranate Juice
49. Pineapple Juice
50. Clarification of Fruit Juices
Chapter XXIII - Recipes for Sirups
51. Fruit Sirups for Cooking Purposes
52. Fruit Sirups for Table Use
53. Fruit Sirups by Sun Evaporation
54. Fruit Sirups Made by the Addition of Sugar
55a. Sorghum Sirup
55b. Manufacture of Sorghum on Small Commercial Scale
56. Sugar Beet Sirup
Chapter XXIV - Recipes for Jellies and Marmalades
57. Jellies
58. Jelly Stocks
59. Jellies without Cooking
60. Orange Marmalade
61. Grape Fruit and Other Marmalades
Chapter XXV - Recipes for Fruit, Butters, and Pastes
62. Fruit Jams
63. Fruit Butters with the Addition of Sugar
64. Fruit Butters without the Addition of Sugar
65. Fruit Pastes
Chapter XXVI - Recipes for Preserves
66. Fig Preserves
67. Peach, Pear, and Quince Preserves
68. Strawberry Preserves
69. Watermelon Preserves
70. Tomato Preserves
71. Preserved Kumquats
72. Preserves made without Cooking
Chapter XXVII - Candied Fruits
73. Candied Fruits with Use of Sugar Tester
74. Candying Fruits without the Use of a Sugar Tester
All the chapters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/food/preservation/index.htm
Parish Life in the North of Scotland
------------------------------------
By Rev. Donald Sage A.M. (1899)
Have now completed this book with the following chapters...
Chapter XX - "The Valley of the Shadow
Chapter XXI - Parochial Duties and Experiences
Chapter XXII - Co-Presbyters and Fellow Labourers
Chapter XXIII - Evangelistic Journeys
Chapter XXIV - Second Marriage. Personal Friendships
Chapter XXV - Changes in the National Church
Here is how Chapter XXIV starts...
1826-1827.
THE time of my marriage was now close at hand, and I made
preparations accordingly. The first was to provide supplies for the
pulpit of Resolis during my absence, which could not be less than a
fortnight. The Thurso sacrament was to be administered on the 11th
of June, and my marriage to take place nine days afterwards. On my
journey to Thurso I stopped at Kincardine manse, on Wednesday,. the
7th of June. Mr. and Mrs. Allan, my kind friends, received me with
much cordiality. Mrs. Allan was sister of my co-presbyter, Mr.
Stewart of Cromarty. Some years before then I had seen her when a
young lady at the manse of Kirkhill. Her marriage with Mr. Allan
took place very soon after mine with my departed and beloved
Harriet; for on our way north we met Mr. Allan near Pitmachie going
south for a similar purpose. Nothing could have conveyed to my mind
at the time a more perfect idea of connubial bliss than that
presented to my view by this most amiable couple during my stay
under their most hospitable roof. [Mr. Hector Allan was ordained
missionary-minister of Fort-William in 1819, and translated on 12th
April, 1821, to Kincardine in the Presbytery of Tain. He died 9th
December, 1853, in the 63rd year of his age and 35th of his
ministry.—Ed.] Next day I proceeded on my journey, and after
crossing Bonar Bridge, struck across the hill, by Torboll and the
Mound, to Golspie. I arrived at Thurso on the evening of Friday, the
9th.
I had resolved, in existing circumstances, to make as few public
appearances on that occasion as I possibly could, and,
notwithstanding Mr. Mackintosh's pressing solicitations, I declined
preaching in English at all. I consented only to preach in Gaelic at
the tent on Saturday, and exhort at a few tables in the same
language on Sabbath. My venerable friend Mr. Cook of Dirlot preached
in English on the Monday, and I engaged his services to solemnise
our marriage.
On the 20th June, 1826, our marriage took place as appointed. Mr.
Cook performed the nuptial rite. Those present were, Mr. and Mrs.
Mackintosh and family. Capt. and Mrs. Sutherland, Mr. George
Sinclair, yr. of Ulbster, and Mr. William Smith, minister of Bower.
We all dined together at the manse, and my wife and I remained over
night. Capt. Sutherland and his wife (who was Mr. Mackintosh's
eldest daughter) and Miss Margaret Sutherland, from Dunfermline, the
youngest daughter of Mr. William Sutherland, minister of Wick,
accompanied us next day as far as Ulbster, Capt. Sutherland's place
of residence. Whilst visiting at Wick, in her father's lifetime, I
had seen Miss Margaret Sutherland, but had little or no acquaintance
with her. She might then be about twenty years of age, and fifteen
years had passed since, so that she was now considerably beyond her
prime. She accompanied us from Caithness to Resolis, and resided
with us for nearly twelve months. It was then that I was able to
appreciate the excellence of her Christian character. In respect of
meekness I never met with her equal. It was indomitable, and rose
above every rude assault made upon it. Nor did this arise from any
natural want of perception or sensibility. Her perceptions on all
subjects were clear and scriptural, and she was largely endowed with
all the finer sensibilities of our common nature. This great
equanimity of mind, and temperance in all things, contributed to
secure to her uninterrupted health; and, when at last attacked with
a deadly disease, the patience with which she bore it helped to
defer the final issue.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/parishlife/chapter24.htm
The other chapters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/parishlife/index.htm
Poenamo
-------
Sketches of the early days of New Zealand, Romance and Reality of
Antipodean life in the infancy of a New Colony by John Logan
Campbell (1881)
We now have up several chapters...
THE TOWN THAT NEVER WAS.
Chapter VII.
The Mess of Pottage which floored the King of Waiou's Grand Scheme
BOOK THE THIRD.
WITH THE MAORIES ON TE HAURAKI SHORE.
Chapter I.
Why we Invaded Waiomu
Chapter II.
We are Adopted by the Ngatitamatcras
Chapter III.
We Secure Apartments for the Winter Season
Chapter IV.
De Pluribus Maori Rebus
Chapter V.
A Maori Wake
Here is how Chapter IV starts...
Big bluff Waipelia, King of Waiou, but now of no subjects dependent
on his barrack-bunk and table d'hote six-dollar-a-week hospitality,
gave us a kind, hearty shake of the hand and our boat a vigorous
shove into deepwater as we bade him farewell that eventful morning
when we started, not only for Waiomu, but in the race of life, for
in reality this was our true starting point.
We had been hovering about the course, not knowing exactly for which
stake we were going to run, but the die was cast now. We had the
world before us, and we must make or mar our own fortunes, for on
ourselves only we must depend. It did not seem a 's-cry aspiring
step to go and live at a small Maori village and help a Pakehia
carpenter to build us a boat, but here we were, turning our backs on
civilisation, deserting the grand Herekino promenade, with no higher
object than first to have a boat built, and thereafter to go and
squat on a little island utterly beyond the pale of even Pakelia
sympathy. However, it was setting our feet on the first round of the
ladder.
"Haere—haere!" exclaimed Waipeha as the rowers dipped their oars in
the water, and we turned our backs upon the glories of Herekino.
There stood the king all alone. How changed the scene from what it
was when I first landed and saw a knot of gay young fellows playing
pitch-and-toss with sovereigns! Those coins were not so plentiful
again for many a long year, though, fortunately, we did not know it.
"You'll come back here when the boat is finished before you go to
the Waiternata," shouted Waipeha to us.
We waved our assent, turned the point or the bay, and were out of
sight.
Many were the occasions upon which afterwards for a decade of years
I stumbled across Waipeha, but from that day when we left him
standing on the shore of his deserted kingdom, his former glory,
which had now so completely waned, never returned, and the King of
Waiou, by slow but inevitable degrees, was robbed of his once
supreme power.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nz/poenamo/book3-chapter2.htm
We now have the first few chapters up which can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nz/poenamo/index.htm
Fraser's Scottish Annual
------------------------
These are articles from the 1900 - 1904 issues of Fraser's Scottish
Annual.
To William Black
A Pen Etching
The Gordons at Haddo
Loch Earn at Midnight
Some Phases of Scottish Faith
The Singer of Songs
Scottish Song
Loch Earn at Midnight
By Rev. G. M. Milligan, D.D., Toronto
NEXT to his own county for all that is beautiful, every Scotchrnan
places Perth. This is proof sufficient of the pre-eminent
attractiveness of this fair shire. In the summer of 1897 I had a
most delightful ten days' holiday in this charming country. I shall
never forget the afternoon and evening spent at St. Fillans, a
picturesque village at the eastern end of Loch Earn—especially the
evening. An hour before midnight my travelling companion and I went
out to view the scene before retiring to rest. What a scene!
Stretching away to the west some seven miles, the lake lay placid as
a mirror. On its bosom a short distance from us, the isle where the
Neishes were murdered by the MacNabs reposed in such profound sleep
that it had entirely forgotten the tragic ''thing behind." The
moonlight glanced upon the eastern end of the Loch through the
foliage, presenting the appearance of molten silver bubbling up from
subterranean wells, or silver lamps carried round and round by
invisible. hands. The hills crept down to the margin of the Loch
like varders guarding its very sleep. So great was the stillness
that one could fancy he might hear a leaf fall. A misty, dreamy
light suffused all the landscape. In that eerie hour in such
environment, with the wierd past in so romantic a setting, who needs
feel ashamed that either he or his fathers believe in ghosts?
The other articles can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/annual/
The Autobiography of Dr. Alexander Carlyle of Inveresk (1722 - 1805)
------------------------------------------------------
It is said that this is one of the top 5 books to read if you wish
to understand more about Scottish Life.
The first chapter starts...
HAVING observed how carelessly, and consequently how falsely,
history is written, I have long resolved to note down certain facts
within my own knowledge, under the title of Anecdotes and Characters
of the Times, that may be subservient to a future historian, if not
to embellish his page, yet to keep him within the bounds of truth
and certainty.
I have been too late in beginning this work, as on this very day I
enter on the seventy-ninth year of my age; which circumstance, as it
renders it not improbable that I may be stopped short in the middle
of my annals, will undoubtedly make it difficult for me to recall
the memory of many past transactions in my long life with that
precision and clearness which such a work requires. But I will admit
of no more excuses for indolence or procrastination, and endeavour
(with God's blessing) to serve posterity, to the best of my ability,
with such a faithful picture of times and characters as came within
my view in the humble and private sphere of life, in comparison with
that of many others, in which I have always acted; remembering,
however, that in whatever sphere men act, the agents and instruments
are still the same, viz, the faculties and passions of human nature.
You can get to this book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/carlyle/index.htm
Report on the Burns 250 conference in South Carolina
----------------------------------------------------
We got in a report on this conference which you can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/burns/burns_250.htm
Highlander and his Books
------------------------
By Frank Shaw
It is a joy to welcome Clark McGinn back to these pages. Clark is a
world ambassador for Scotland at large and Robert Burns, in
particular. I’ve always heard there are types of people on earth:
those who are Scottish and those who wish they were! Clark McGinn
is a man who will make the former very proud of their Scottish
roots, leaving the other group wishing, even more so, that they were
Scottish.
During the 2009 Burns Season, Clark spoke at New York, Oslo, City of
London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, London, Westminster Abbey, Stockholm,
Grosvenor House London, London, Chicago, and Washington, DC. All
together, he has spoken at 17 such events. While a lot of us will be
asked to speak next year during “Burns Season”, Clark is already
booked in 2010 in New York, Harrow, Birmingham, and London.
Clark McGinn was born in Ayr and educated at Glasgow University. He
now works as a senior director in a London bank. In his spare time
McGinn speaks and writes on Scottish subjects, including Burns
Suppers. His first book: The Ultimate Burns Supper Book, was
published in 2006 and his newest publication, The Ultimate Guide To
Being Scottish, were both published by Luath Press.
You can read the rest of this book review at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/frank/mcginn.htm
The Scots Magazine
------------------
I added a wee article about the history of the Scots magazine and DC
Thomson also kindly donated a pdf file on Oor Wullie and the Broons.
You can read this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/scotsmagazine.htm
Renaissance Faire, North Carolina, 2009
---------------------------------------
Report from Michael Craig
Michael has sent us in a wee article and some pictures from this
event. In the event you'd like to get a CD with the hundreds of
pictures he took let us know and for a small fee he'd be happy to
master a CD and send it to you. You can read the article at
http://www.electricscotland.com/gatherings/nc2009.htm
Topography of Great Britain
---------------------------
This is a 26 volume set which we felt was worth making available on
the site. Volumes 24, 25 and 26 are to do with Scotland but as the
Scots also were well traveled in England and Wales we thought it
worth making the whole set available.
These volumes give you place names and distances between them as
well as information on the history, agriculture, manufacturers and
other information on the areas. The files are between 18 and 23Mb in
size.
You can get to these at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/topography.htm
And that's it for now and hope you all have a good Easter weekend
:-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
OUR NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
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