Weekly Mailing List Archives
27th July 2007

You can read the rest of this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotsirish/congress4-11.htm

You can get to the index page of this volume at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotsirish/congress4ndx.htm


History of Scotland
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In 9 volumes By Patrick Fraser Tytler (1828)

Now started the 8th volume with...

Title, Preface and Contents at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotland/history63s.pdf

Chapter I (Pages 1 to 71) at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotland/history64s.pdf
Regency of Morton, 1573 to 1580

Chapter II (Pages 72 to 131) at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotland/history65s.pdf
James the Sixth, 1580 to 1582

Chapter III (Pages 131 to 195) at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotland/history66s.pdf
James the Sixth. 1582 to 1584

In Chapter II we see the first mention of James the Sixth who was also to become James the First of England. Here is how this chapter starts...

FOR some time after this, Elizabeth's policy towards Scotland was of that vacillating and contradictory kind which estranged her friends, and gave confidence to her opponents. She had been early warned by Sir Robert Bowes, then resident at Berwick, of the great strength of the confederacy at the head of which Lennox had placed himself, and that soon no efforts would avail against it. "Such had been," he said, "the success of the French intrigues, that Scotland was running headlong the French course and that everything tended to the overthrow of religion, by which we must understand him as leaning the Presbyterian party in that conntry. "Still," he added, all was not irrecoverable, if the Queen would dismiss her parsimony, and take the true way to secure friends." But Elizabeth was deaf to these remonstrances. She alternately flattered, remonstrated, and threatenecl; but she resolutely refused to "go to any charges;" and the effects of her indecision and neglect were soon apparent.

Lennox grew daily more formidable. As he was supported by the favour of the king, and the countenance and money of France, he drew into his party the most powerful of the nobility. His possessions and landed property were already great. Favour after favour was bestowed. Himself, or his friends and retainers, held some of the strongest castles in Scotland; and not long after this, Walsingham, who was anxiously watching his power, heard, with dismay, from Bowes, that Dumbarton, one of the most important keys of the kingdom, was to be delivered to the favourite."

This last determination incensed Elizabeth to the highest pitch. She had for some time been engaged in a secret correspondence with the captain of the castle, the noted Cunningham of Drumquhassel, who had promised to retain it at her devotion; and on the first intimation that it was to be placed in the hands of Lennox, she ordered Sir Robert Bowes to ride post from Berwick into Scotland, with a fiery message, to be delivered to the Scottish Council. The imperious and unscrupulous temper of the Queen was strongly marked in his instructions. If he found the fortress (for so its great strength entitled it to be called) undelivered, he was to remonstrate loudly against its being surrendered to one who, whatever mask the Pope alIowed him to wear, was in his heart an enemy to the Gpspel. If it was too late, and the castle already given up, he was instantly to confer with Morton how so fatal a step could be remedied: "Either (to quote the words of the instructions) by laying violent hands on the Duke and his principal associates, in case no other more temperate course can be found, or by some other way that by him might be thought meet."

You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotland/history65s.pdf

As all the chapters are .pdf files I'll just point you at the index page of this publication where you can read the rest of the chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotland/historyndx.htm


Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Kent, Ontario.
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My thanks to Nola Crewe for typing these up for us.

Here is one bio which shows how the Scots cleared the land and engaged in religious pursuits as was so comon of Scots of this generation almost anywhere you find them in the world.

ARCHIE McKINLAY belongs to the very same strong, vigorous, manly race which produced that noble statesman and revered ruler, William McKinley, the late President of the United States. They trace their descent to a common ancestor, one branch of the family coming to the United States, the other to Canada, about the same time. The family is of Scotch origin, and has scores of representatives in the vicinity of County Kent, Ontario. Though these have, for the most part, devoted themselves to agricultural pursuits, possessing to a marked degree all the noble race characteristics, they would, undoubtedly, have come to the front in almost any vocation in life. As agriculturists they are thoroughly successful and highly influential – especially is this true of him whose name heads this sketch.
John McKinlay, grandfather of Archie, was born at Callander, Perthshire, in the Highlands of Scotland, in December, 1748, and, in his native land spent his life. In 1784 he married Mary McVean, a woman of good judgment and strong character. After the death of her husband she, hoping to better the condition of the family, came with her children to America, and settled in the State of New York. She died near Rochester, in that State, in 1816. Five children born to Mr. and Mrs. McKinlay, all of whom, in 1818, came to Aldborough, County Elgin, Ontario, and settled on land which they received from Col. Talbot, the English government agent; James made his home in that place for the rest of his life; Duncan, Peter, and Robert, each, after, settled on one-hundred-acre tracts given them by Col. Talbot in Howard township, County of Kent, where they made good farms, which are in the hands of their descendants; Mary married John McClarren, and they settled in the County of Kent, where he died.

Duncan McKinlay, father of Archie, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1791. After the death of his father he came with his mother to New York, where he resided for some time. In 1818, with his brothers and sisters he settled in Aldborough, County Elgin, and, later, as has been said, on a 100-acre tract, given him by Col. Talbot, in Howard township, County Kent. With the hardy spirit of the true woodsman he cleared and broke his land, and, in a short time, transformed the wild forest into a highly improved farm. Here he carried on agriculture with much success, and, by taking advantage of every desirable land deal, was enabled to enlarge his property, so it finally embraced the extensive area of 450 acres in one body. Upon this he resided for the rest of his life, dying at the homestead, in September, 1875.

In Canada, in 1822, Mr. McKinlay married Sarah MacIntyre, who was born in Argyllshire, Scotland, in 1802. She died at the homestead in 1885. By this marriage there were ten children: (1) Isabella, born at the Howard township homestead in November, 1823, married James McKinlay, of Ridgetown, and is now deceased. (2) John, born in 1825, died in his twenty-second year. (3) Archie is mentioned below. (4) Mary, born in 1829, married Thomas Finley, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and has several children. (5) Sarah, born in 1831, married John Ferguson (now deceased), and she resides near Thamesville. (6) Catherine, born in 1833, died in her young womanhood. (7) Nancy, born in 1835, married Duncan McLaren, has one son James, and they now reside at Monroe, Michigan. (8) James, born at the old homestead, in 1837, never married, and he died at his residence on part of the old place, in 1900. (9) Duncan, born in 1840, who married a Miss Dodge, and had severall children settled at the old homestead, where he died in 1882. His widow still lives there. (10) Margaret, born in 1843, has never married, and now lives at the home of her brother James. Mr. McKinlay always put forth his energies on the side of morality and progress. Zealous in religious works, he played a leading part in the movement for the building of the First Presbyterian Church, of which both he and his wife were active members, he serving very efficiently as elder for many years. He organized Sunday schools, and was widely known as a prominent Church worker. In politics he at first affiliated with the Conservatives, but later was a strong Reformer. He made many warm friends during his lifetime, and won the esteem of all who knew him.

Archie McKinlay has for the most part passed his life in Howard township, County Kent, where, on Concession 11, he was born, June 11th, 1827. In attending the district schools a few months in winter, and engaging in farm work during summer, his early years were passed, and he developed traits of self-reliance and persistence which have prominently characterized his life-work. In March, 1865 he married Helen McGregor, who was born in 1842, and reared on the family homestead in Howard township. Her parents, John and Mary (Robinson) McGregor, both born in Scotland were among the pioneer settlers of Howard township. On the eleventh Concession they made a good home for themselves and there resided for the rest of their lives, the father dying there in 1889, and the mother in 1890. By this union there were five children: Helen (now Mrs. McKinlay) and Margaret (who married a Mr. Williams) are still living. Janet, Robert and William died young. Mr. and Mrs. McKinlay have four children, all of whom received their education in the Collegiate Institute of Ridgetown, and are living at home: Mary H., Duncan F., John A. and Jennie S.

Before his death the elder Mr. McKinlay divided his extensive homestead among his children, and on his share of the land thus received, Archie McKinlay settled after his marriage, and began developing its resources. Much of it was at that time in a wild state, and this he has cleared and opened, and put under excellent cultivation. Shortly before his marriage, in 1864, he erected a fine, modern house which he has repaired from time to time, and has kept in excellent condition. He has two splendid bars; one, erected in 1891, is of cement foundation and especially attractive and well suited to his needs. He has put the main strength of his manhood into work upon his land, with the result that he now has a farm in which any man might take just pride. He still resides on this place, but, having now reached his seventy-eighth year, is living in retirement.

Mr. McKinlay has always possessed too large a nature and too fertile an intellect to confine his activities to one field of labour. In educational, religious and public affairs he has long been a leader, and the Presbyterian Church, to which he and his family belong, counts him among its strong supporters in all its benevolent and helpful enterprises. Though disinclined to office seeking, in local affairs, he has through the merited esteem of his fellow citizens, served as a member of the township council for fourteen years, exercising great foresight and marked business ability in the management of affairs. In politics he is an unwavering Reformer, and well informed upon all questions of public interest. Personally Mr. McKinlay possesses a strong, determined, forceful nature, softened and refined by his kindness, sympathy, and benevolence. Misfortune appeals to him, and the strength of his manhood goes out to its relief. Wisdom, honesty and fairness mark his dealings with his fellow men. His good work and his admirable traits of character have long been recognized, and few townsmen occupy a warmer place in the hearts of the community than Mr. McKinlay.

The other bios can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/kent/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...

To our Bereaved (Page 25) at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/goodwords13.htm
Meditations on Heaven II (Pages 25-27) at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/goodwords14.htm
Protestantism in France (Pages 27-29) at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/goodwords15.htm

Here is how the article "Protestantism in France" starts...

There is no Church that claims from British Christians a more warm and lively interest than the Protestant Church of France. It is not merely the charm of old associations and the bond of spiritual kindred that united the Protestants of France and Geneva, in the sixteenth century, with that of Scotland, and with the most earnest and evangelical party in the English Reformation; but it is, moreover, its own exciting and picturesque story, its roll of martyrs, of "whom the world was not worthy," and whose blood has been the seed of ever new life, through all its oppressions and persecutions, the learning and eloquence of its clergy, and the beauty and activity of its practical philanthropy, that combine to make it interesting, and to draw our sympathies cordially around it. With so much to attract us towards French Protestantism, and so much of affinity of Christian doctrine and enterprise between us, we are far from being well informed as to its present state and movements; the rapid increase that during the last thirty years has taken place in the number of its adherents, of its churches, its schools, its literary, missionary, and charitable agencies. The following pages, founded upon a carefully informed pamphlet of M. Grandpierre, [Rapport sur la situation intériure du Protestantisme en France, par J. H. Grandpierre, pasteur de l'Eglise Réformée de Paris. 1858.] well known as one of the pastors connected with the Oratoire in Paris, deserve, and will amply reward, in this point of view, the attention of our readers.

At the date of the Edict of Nantes, the 22d October 1685, when Louis XIV., by a fatal blow, destroyed at once the civil rights and the religious privileges of his Protestant subjects, they numbered 800 churches and 640 clergy. The vast amount of peaceful industry and advancing civilisation represented by these figures was then, most disastrously for France, broken up, almost at the very time that the great Revolution was about to secure Protestant liberty and political progress to our own country.

In 1808,—six years after the promulgation of the law of the 10th Germinal, as it was called, (the 8th April 1802,) restored the legal existence of the Protestant worship,—there was in the whole of France only 190 Reformed churches, and about 190 clergy. Thus in the course of somewhat more than a century's persecution, upwards of three-fourths of the Protestants may be said to have been expelled or to have disappeared from the soil of France.
Thirteen years later, the Protestant Annual, published in 1821, registered the names of 255 clergy and a nearly equal number of churches. An increase of sixty-five churches and ministers had taken place in this time. Seven years later, statistics were published which shewed a corresponding increase. The clergy had risen to nearly 300, while 400 places of worship had sprung up, with nearly as many schools.

But it is in the thirty years that have elapsed since then that the most astonishing and rapid increase has been manifested. The Protestant Annual of 1857 reckons that there are now in France 105 consistories, comprising 972 churches, with upwards of a thousand schools, under the direction of 601 clergy. During this period, then, the number of Protestant churches in Prance have more than trebled. Such an increase can scarcely be paralleled even by our own Scottish Protestantism, with all the singular and exciting causes which have given it development during the last quarter of a century.

The rest of this article can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/goodwords15.htm

The book index page is at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/index.htm
 

Perth on the Tay
------------------------
A Tale of the transplanted Highlanders by Josephine Smith (1901)

You should note that many of the conversations in this book are in "Broad Scots" and so you might find some of this hard to read. Should you persist you'll likely get into the flow and hopefully enjoy this book.

Now up to chapter 21 and here is how Chapter 19 starts...

PERHAPS never in Margaret's life had the future looked brighter to her than it did that night. She had thought everything out to her own satisfaction, and the future she had arranged for everybody was all that anyone could ask for; she was pleased with herself, and was thoroughly imbued with the comfortable glow that people feel after doing a good action. Jean slept with her, and she talked far into the night—long afterwards Jean remembered this, and how busy her mother was that day, doing all sorts of odd work, arranging for Jean's comfort while she was away. The more she thought of it, the more feasible her plan appeared, until she could almost smell the heather. Jean, rejoicing at anything that brought back the old happy conditions, encouraged her mother by a lively interest in the project. It was in the "wee sma' hours ayont the twal'" ere she closed her eyes.

There was the faintest glimmer of light when she awoke, with a strange feeling; she thought someone was calling her; her feet were on the floor ere she was half awake; she looked to see if Margaret was asleep, and she was not in bed. Donning her dress with trembling hands, she ran into the outer room, calling "Mither, mither!" There was no reply. The back door stood ajar, through it and down to the barn she ran, still calling, and still getting no answer; the calves were huddled in one corner of the byre—Jean just glanced over the big fence at them—something on the ground attracted her attention. Her heart stood still: Margaret lay motionless, the calves gathered round gazing won-deringly at her. In less time than we are telling it, Jean was over the fence and beside her mother; stooping, she laid her hand over Margaret's heart.

"Thank th' gude Laird, it's ae beatin'," she said; "mither, mither, canna ye speak till me?"

Running to the brook, which was only a few steps away, she filled a dipper always kept there, and returning dashed the water in Margaret's face. In a moment she slowly opened her eyes.

"Oh, mither, what'll be the maitter? Are ye sair hurted?" cried Jean.

"I'll feel's I'll be broken in twa," said Margaret. "I'll canna move."

"Can ye bide a bit 'n I'll rin ower till Sandy's 'n get some one till helpit me cairry ye ben th' hoose?"

"Na, na," said Margaret, in as near a scream as her physical condition permitted. "Ye'll no bring Elspeth Douglas 'n th' lass till me noo I'll be want-in' help. I'll sent them awa' when I's weel."

"Mither," reassured Jean, "you'll canna lie here, 'n the's no' ane near but thae."

"I'll no' hae ony o' Elspeth Douglas' till coom an' keek at me; ye'll no' bring ane o' thae." Margaret tried to rise, but fell with a groan.

Jean screamed at this, but there was no one near to heed her. She was afraid of the effect on her mother if she disobeyed her. She was nearly beside herself; finally she asked:

"Mither, can I'll go till Pat. Copeland's, his wumman'll happen cud help me?"

"Ay, ye'll can gae an' dinna be lang."

There was no need to have given this last caution; Jean ran like a deer to the house first, and fetched a warm shawl and a pillow; after making Margaret easier with these she was off again. In less than half an hour she and Pat. Copeland's stout good-natured wife had let down the fence, carried Margaret into the house, and laid her on her own bed.

Saving a low moan as they lifted her, Margaret did not utter a sound, but perspiration stood in great drops on her forehead, showing that she was suffering keenest agony. Jean had to tell Mrs. Copeland her mother's positive commands that none of Sandy's family were to be called on for aid. Mrs. Copeland understood and appreciated this feeling, and as she lived nearest the McAlpin's, and had had many a good turn from them, she was very willing to help at such a time as this.

The doctor must be brought; the horse Jean always drove to Smith's Falls was in the stable; between them they harnessed this, and Mrs. Copeland drove off as fast as the horse was capable of travelling, coming back with the doctor in less than two hours.

The doctor looked grave, after making an examination. There was a compound fracture of the femur, with possibilities of spinal concussion. He reduced the fracture, moved Margaret while the feather bed was taken off, left medicine to correct feverish tendencies; told Jean to keep the patient perfectly quiet as to both mind and body—particularly to not allow any mental excitement.

"And Jamie's away! that's it, never knew a man to be at home when he was wanted," he grumbled, while deftly arranging around the bed for the patient's comfort; "here, you're going to be cross as two sticks, and you'll wear this girl out. Sandy's "—he started to say Sandy's wife had better be sent for, when, noticing the flush creeping over Margaret's face, he remembered in time the estrangement between the families and changed to—"Campbell's wife is getting along famously now; I will drive old Dobbin back, and send Granny McCulloch up to you; she'll keep you where you belong, and I will come up again to-night myself."

You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/perth19.htm

You can read the rest of the chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/perthndx.htm


And that's all for now and hope you all have a good weekend :-)

Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com 

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