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 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 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
It's your Electric Scotland newsletter meaning the weekend is nearly
here :-)
CONTENTS
--------
Electric Scotland News
The Flag in the Wind
The Scottish Nation
Clan and Family Information (Some complete books added)
Poetry and Stories
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1845)
Book of Scottish Story
Household Encyclopaedia
The History of the Highland Clearances
Arbroath and its Abbey
History of Curling
Annals of Garelochside
The Border or Riding Clans
Domestic Life in Scotland, 1488 - 1688 (New Book)
The Life of Tom Morris (New Book)
Robert Burns and the Excise Board
Robert Burns Lives!
Golf at Gleneagles
ELECTRIC SCOTLAND NEWS
----------------------
Nothing much to report this week other than working on some new
books for the site. I have made a start at the Life of Tom Morris so
if you're a golfer you might enjoy this one and more details on this
below.
I also intend to make a start at the Annals of Penicuik this coming
week.
I did add a Clan MacIntyre forum to our Electric Scotland Aois
Celtic Community so we'll see how that develops.
Steve has started work on our site search engine so hopefully we'll
see it up and running during the coming week :-)
As some of you may know there is an effort in the USA to recognize
April as Scots and Scots-Irish Heritage Month. To that end Electric
Scotland has made available a page to list the supporting
organisations. On the page we've also added a link to a petition
which will eventually be presented to the President who will
hopefully agree to sign it. You can see this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/ncscotsmonth.htm
and after the list of organisations you'll see the link "Sign the
Petition".
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 Mark Hirst a new compler for The
Flag.
In Peter's cultural section he's talking about...
 This
weekend at Scotland’s largest agricultural show – the Royal highland
Show 2008 – you can see everything from the gentle giants, the
massive Clydesdale down to the slightly smaller ferret. Some 150,000
people are expected to attend the show at its Ingliston home in
Edinburgh from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 June. The record crowd was
in 1957 at Dundee when 163,917 paid at the gate – with good weather
could this long standing record be beaten in 2008? The four-day
event is staged by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of
Scotland (RHASS) which can trace its history back to meeting in the
autumn of 1783 in the Royal Exchange of Edinburgh – the building
which is now the City Chambers. The Highland Show used to tour
Scotland with a different venue every year but has had a settled
venue at Ingliston since 1960. For the past few years the
possibility of a move has hung over the venue, depending on
expansion at the nearby Edinburgh airport, but the RHASS has a
contingency plan in place to move to a new site.
 Meantime
we can enjoy the Show in its present location with something for all
the family including a discovery centre for the bairns. Visit
www.royalhighlandshow.com for full details of this fabulous
event. With over 1,000 exhibitors and more than 4,000 animals there
is plenty to see and as you would expect at an agricultural show
food, drink and cooking plays a major part. As Scotland produces
some of the best beef in the world our recipe this week - Scotch
Beef Balmoral
- takes full advantage of this fact.
Scotch Beef
Balmoral
Ingredients:
700g (1lb 9oz) Scotch fillet of Beef or rolled
rib eye of Scotch beef; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 large onion or 6
shallots, finely chopped; 6 tbsp whisky liqueur such as Drambuie;
150ml (1/4 pt) Scottish double cream; 2 tbsp wholegrain Highland or
Arran mustard; 1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley or chives; salt and
freshly ground black pepper
Method: Place the meat in
a roasting tin, season with some pepper and drizzle
a little of the olive oil. Cook in a preheated oven
220’C / 200’C Fan / Gas 8 for 20 minutes per 500g
for rare or 25 minutes per 500g for medium rare.
Remove the cooked meat and wrap in foil to rest
whilst you prepare the sauce. Transfer the roasting
tin to the hob and add the remaining olive oil and
chopped shallots to the pan juices. Cook gently for
3-4 minutes, loosening any tasty meat residue then
stir in the liqueur, cream and mustard
Bring to a gentle simmer to reduce slightly.
Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black
pepper.
Slice the meat onto warmed plates and spoon some
sauce over the slices. Garnish with a scattering of
fresh parsley and serve at once. Good with rice or
new potatoes.
Serves 4
And you can now
purchase a Scots Independent T-Shirt, Scottish Flags and books at
http://www.scotsindependent.org/shopping_mall.htm
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 this week can be found at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/mckelvie/080619.htm
The Scottish Nation
-------------------
My thanks to Lora for transcribing these volumes for us.
We are onto the P's with Pitsligo, Pittenweem, Playfair, Polwarth,
Pont, Pope, Portmore, Preston, Primrose and Pringle.
A good article on PLAYFAIR, JOHN, an eminent mathematician and
natural philosopher, born March 10, 1748, at Benvie in
Forfarshire...
He received the rudimentary part of his education at home; and, at
the age of fourteen, was sent to the university of St. Andrews,
where he soon became distinguished for his love of study, and
especially for the rapid progress which he made in mathematical
learning. While yet a mere student, he was usually selected by Dr.
Wilkie, author of ‘The Epigoniad,’ then professor of natural
philosophy, to deliver the lectures to his class during his own
absence from indisposition. In 1766, when only eighteen years old,
he became a candidate for the professorship of mathematics in
Marischal college, Aberdeen. After a lengthened and very strict
examination, only two out of six rival competitors were judged to
have excelled him, namely, Dr. Trail, who was appointed to the
chair, and Dr. Hamilton, who subsequently succeeded to it. In 1769
he went to reside at Edinburgh; and on the death of Dr. Wilkie, in
1772, he offered himself as his successor, but was again
unsuccessful. The same year his father died; and the care of
providing for the support of his mother and her young family having
in consequence devolved upon him, he considered it his duty to enter
upon the ministry, for which he had been educated, notwithstanding
his strong predilection for scientific pursuits. He accordingly
applied to Lord Gray, the joint patron with the Crown, for the
vacant living of Liff and Benvie, and his request was at once
complied with; but his lordship’s right of presentation being
disputed, he did not obtain induction till August 1773.
During the nine following years his time was chiefly occupied with
his pastoral duties, and the superintendence of the education of his
brothers. He did not neglect, however, the prosecution of his own
philosophical researches. In 1774 he visited Schichallion, in
Perthshire, to witness the experiments of Dr. Maskelyne, the
astronomer royal, on the attraction of the mountains in that
district, on which occasion he formed a permanent friendship with
that celebrated philosopher. His earliest contribution to science
was a paper communicated to the Royal Society of London, and
inserted in their Transactions for 1779, ‘On the Arithmetic of
Impossible Quantities,’ which is said to exhibit a greater taste for
purely analytical investigation than had been shown by any of the
British mathematicians of that age.
In 1782 he was induced, by an advantageous offer made to him by Mr.
Ferguson of Raith, to resign his charge, and to become the tutor of
his two sons, Mr. Robert Ferguson, subsequently a member of
parliament, and his brother, afterwards Sir Ronald. In consequence
of this arrangement, he removed to Edinburgh with his pupils.
In 1785, when Dr. Adam Ferguson exchanged his chair of moral
philosophy for that of mathematics, taught by Mr. Dugald Stewart,
and, in consequence of declining health, retired from the duties of
the professorship, Mr. Playfair was admitted into the university of
Edinburgh as his assistant, being appointed joint professor of
mathematics. On the institution of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,
in 1783, he became one of its original Fellows, and in subsequent
years he contributed many valuable papers to its Transactions. In
1789 he communicated his ‘Remarks on the Astronomy of the Brahmins,’
which excited considerable attention both in Europe and India, and
gave rise to much speculation and controversial discussion. The same
year he succeeded Dr. Gregory as secretary to the physical class of
the society; and, owing to the illness of Dr. Robison, the duties of
general secretary, with the arrangement of the Society’s Memoirs for
publication, were for many years chiefly performed by him. In 1792
he communicated to the Society’s Transactions a learned treatise ‘On
the Origin and Investigation of Porisms.’ In which he gives a clear
and beautiful philosophical analysis of this class of geometrical
propositions.
You can read the rest of this article at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/playfair.htm
You can read these entries at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/p.htm
Clan and Family Information
---------------------------
Got in a short 3.1Mb pdf file about Clan MacKay which you can read
at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/Clan%20Macnab%20-%20A%20Short%20Sketch.pdf
Got in the Clan Leslie Newsletter from Australia which you can read
at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/newsletters/leslie/GF%20DU%20%20July%20Aug%20Sept%202008.pdf
Poetry and Stories
------------------
Another doggerel from John Henderson called "Wee Jeannie Toon" which
you can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel266.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 Methlick
This is a landward parish, and contains upwards of 20 square miles.
It is situate wholly in the county of Aberdeen, the two-thirds which
lie on the north side of the Ythan being in the district of Buchan,
and the remaining third on the south side of the river being in that
of Formartine, It is bounded by Tarves on the south; by New Deer on
the north; by Fyvie and Monquhitter on the west; and by Ellon on the
east.
Eminent Men.—Associated with this parish are the names of the
ancient family of the Earl of Aberdeen, among whom may be mentioned
the famous Chancellor of Scotland in the time of Charles II, and Sir
John Gordon of Haddo, who distinguished himself during the former
reign.
Dr George Cheyne, an eminent physician, was born at Auchencruive, in
this parish, in 1671, and died at Bath in 1742. He was the author of
a treatise on the "Philosophical Principles of Natural Religion,"
and various other works.
Dr Charles Maitland, who was the first to introduce inoculation into
Britain, and was sent to Hanover by George II. to inoculate
Frederick, Prince of Wales, was born and buried here. In 1748, the
year of his death, he mortified L.333, 6s. 8d. for behoof of the
poor.
Land-owners.—The whole parish belongs to one heritor, the Right
Honourable the Earl of Aberdeen, presently her Majesty's Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs. The first property of the family was
the barony of Methlick, whereof Haddo was a part. His Lordship
derives three of his titles from this parish, namely, Baron Methlick,
Haddo, and Kellie.
Parochial Registers.—The oldest register of church discipline and
accounts of the poor's funds commences in 1683, and, with the
exception of the years from 1689 to 1703, and from 1726 to 1729, is
complete till the present day. The earliest date of the baptismal
record is 1663; but it has not been regularly kept, owing to the
neglect of parents in not attending to the registration of the
births of their children. The marriages have been registered for
many years.
You can read more of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/statistical/methlick.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 in for us.
This week have added...
Chapter 1 of "The Laird of Cassway" by James Hogg and here is how it
starts...
There is an old story which I have often heard related, about a.
great Laird of Cassway, in an outer corner of Dumfriesshire, of the
name of Beattie, and his two sons. The incidents the story are of a
very extraordinary nature. This Beattie had occasion to be almost
constantly in England, because, as my informant said, he took a
great hand in government affairs, from which I conclude that the
tradition had its rise about the time of the civil wars ; for about
the close of that time the Scotts took advantage of the times to put
the Beatties down, who for some previous ages had maintained the
superiority of that district.
Be that as it may, the Laird of Cassway’s second son, Francis, fell
desperately in love with a remarkably beautiful girl, the eldest
daughter of Henry Scott of Drumfielding, a gentleman, but still only
a retainer, and far beneath Beattie of Cassway, both in point of
wealth and influence. Francis was a scholar newly returned from the
university; was tall, handsome, of a pale complexion, and
gentlemanly appearance, while Thomas, the eldest son, was fair,
ruddy, and stout made, a perfect picture of health and good humour,
—a sportsman, a warrior, and a jovial blade; one who would not
suffer a fox to get rest in the whole moor district. He rode the
best horse, kept the best hounds, played the best fiddle, danced the
best country bumpkin, and took the stoutest draught of mountain dew,
of any man between Erick Brae and Teviot Stone, and was altogether
the sort of young man, that whenever he cast his eyes on a pretty
girl, either at chapel or at weapon-shaw, she would hide her face,
and giggle as if tickled by some unseen hand.
You can read the rest of this story at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/story54.htm
The other stories can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/index.htm
The History of the Highland Clearances
--------------------------------------
By Alexander MacKenzie (1914)
This week we've completed this book by adding...
Statistical Statement
Shoving the Population in 1831, 1841, 1851, 1881, and 1911, of all
Parishes in whole or in part in the Counties of Perth, Argyll,
Inverness, Ross and Cromarty, Caithness, and Sutherland
Appendices
Here is the first of the Appendix entries...
NOTE A. (See Page 115.)
The following pertinent observations appeared in the Dundee
Advertiser, of 10th January, 1914. They are from the pen of a
notable Dundee lawyer, Mr. John Walker, who has made a special study
of the legal aspects of the Highland Clearances At the time of
Patrick Sellar's trial the ruthless evictions carried out by the
Stafford family had been so long in process of execution that no one
had the slightest doubt of the facts of these taking place. The
question tried was not whether they took place, but whether they
were carried out, in one particular instance, in such a way as to
directly cause the death of Donald M'Beath and Janet M'Kay, two
helpless, old, bedridden people. The trial took place at Inverness.
Of the 15 jurors 8 were landed proprietors, and the rest were mostly
either factors or those interested in factors. The most of the
witnesses for the prosecution were evidently terrified to say one
word against the accused. When Sellar was arrested, he emitted a
declaration which was put in evidence at the trial, and, to be
strictly fair, I shall confine myself to that. The gist of it is as
follows:—In December, 1813, the crofting lands were advertised to
let, and at the set, where apparently the lands were disposed of to
sheep farmers, a paper was read that the removed tenants would get
allotments "in the lower part of the county." "That Lord and Lady
Stafford directed the declarant (Sellar) to offer at the set for any
farm he chose a few pounds beyond the highest offerer; and they
directed Mr. Young on his so offering to prefer him." That thus
Sellar got possession of the farms of Rhiloisk and Rossal. That in
April, 1814, decrees of removing were got against all the tenants on
these farms. That the ejections were carried out in June, 1814, and
" that his directions to the officers were that they should lawfully
eject the tenants, and that after ejecting . . they should remove
the roof of every house in Rhimsdale excepting those occupied by
families, wherein sickness was mentioned to have been." That he was
present at the first part of the ejections (of the towns of Garvault,
Ravigill, Rhiphail, and Rhiloisk), but after they had ejected from a
few houses and had unroofed these the tenants of the others " in the
neighbourhood yielded obedience to the warrant, and removed
themselves." "Interrogated. If the declarant's orders to the officer
and party were not to throw down the couples and timber of the
different dwelling-houses, barns, kilns, and sheep cots? Declares
that the declarant directed the officers . . . to remove the
tenants' property and effects from the premises ; and thereafter to
unroof the huts to prevent them from retaking possession after the
declarant should leave that part of the county." Sellar himself
admitted burning only in one case. The proceedings from a judicial
aspect were largely a farce, as can be judged from the fact that the
first evidence adduced for the defence consisted of written
certificates from three landed proprietors, who did not appear, as
to "Mr. Sellar's character for humanity," and that these
certificates, although not evidence, were founded on in Lord
Pitmilly's charge to the jury. But the important thing is that
Sellar's declaration implicates Lord and Lady Stafford as being by
their own instructions the direct instruments of putting this
tyrannical under-factor in the position of rendering homeless some
hundreds of their helpless tenants. The little crofts were made into
large sheep farms, which were advertised to let to the highest
offerer, and the exposure was a farce, because the Sutherland family
had personally arranged that Sellar was to be allowed to cap the
highest offer. One would require a double-power microscope to see
the noble philanthropy of that transaction! I have extracted the
above summary from the report of the trial, which was prepared and
circulated by Sellar's own junior counsel.
On the other hand, the stories yet told in Sutherland represent a
much harsher state of matters. I personally have talked with men
whose fathers were as young children turned out on the hillside to
see their little cottages burned to the ground, and I have had
pointed out to me the sites of these same cottages and crofts, where
now there is nothing but miles and miles of dreary waste ; and this
did not happen in one or two instances, but in the whole of
Strathnaver, Strathbrora, and many other places in all parts of the
county.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/clearances/51.htm
The other chapters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/clearances/index.htm
History of Curling
------------------
By John Kerr (1890)
Have now completed this book by adding...
PART III. - MISCELLANEA
Chapter III. The art of curling
Chapter IV. Bibliotheca Curliana
Appendix A. Constitution of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club
Appendix B. Provinces (as in 1889)
Here is a bit from The art of curling...
An Englishman, who is now a keen curler, tells us that when he first
saw a game of curling, one of the players—a very lean,
hungry-looking individual—was gesticulating wildly, and yelling at
the pitch of his voice, "Soop! ye deevils; soop!" the Englishman
thought the poor fellow was starving, and crying out in despair for
some "soup" to put warmth into his benumbed frame.
In a match between the Bradford and the Blackburn clubs, several
doctors happened to be in the rinks. One native, who, in his own
opinion, knew all about it, was overheard informing another, who did
not disguise his ignorance, that the players were lunatics from a
neighbouring asylum going through their exercises, and that what
they were now and then drinking was medicine to keep them right.
The curler's equipments do not help the outsider to understand the
hidden art. When the members of the Darlington club first appeared
in the streets of the town flourishing their besoms, some municipal
changes had just taken place, and the people took the curlers to be
a special force of scavengers sent forth to perform the proverbial
clean sweep.
In the winter of 1876-77, the pond of the Wigan and Haigh club
having been rendered useless by a heavy snowstorm, the members
sallied forth to play on Martin here, a large tract of water lying
between Wigan and Southport. The day was densely foggy, with intense
frost; and as the curlers had all long beards, their Father
Christmas appearance and the queer weapons they carried frightened
the villagers of Martin so much that the landlord of the inn
actually refused to supply them with refreshments. [The
stationmaster, who had a better idea of them, took pity on the
curlers, and presented them with a small barrel of beer. But this
did not end their day's troubles. The barrel was conveyed in a cart
to the field of battle, placed in position, duly tapped, and left
ready for use. In the keen play the barrel was left unnoticed for
three hours, but at last "the weary drouth cam' up their throats." A
truce was called, and with one accord they invoked the favour of the
kindly barrel. Judge of their horror when the curlers found that
beer and barrel were frozen into a solid lump! They left for home.]
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/curling/chapter11.htm
You can read the other chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/curling/index.htm
Annals of Garelochside
----------------------
By W. C. Maughan (1897)
Have added...
Rosneath
Chapter III
Rosneath Estates; Ancient Families; Agriculture; Folk Lore; Eminent
Men; Birds
Chapter IV
Parochial Records; Succession of Ministers; The Story Family;
Ecclesiastical Conditions
Cardross
Chapter I
Topography; Succession of Ministers; Ecclesiastical State
Chapter II
Agriculture; Eminent Men; Smollett Family; Dennistouns of Colgrain
Chapter III
Description of Parish; Kilmahew and Killiter; Ardmore Promontory
Here is how Chapter 1 starts...
THERE is considerable beauty of scenery, and much that is of great
historical interest in the parish of Cardross, which is partly
bounded by the waters of the Frith of Clyde, and by the river Leven
issuing from Loch Lomond. No doubt the name is derived from "Ross,"
a point or headland, and "Car," a moorland ridge, and the church
formerly stood on the high ground above the Leven, near its
confluence with the Clyde. It is bounded on the south by the Clyde,
on the west by the Parish of Row, and on the north it marches with
Luss and Bonhill parishes. Its extreme length may be about eight
miles, and its breadth varies from one and a half to three miles. In
former times the parish appears not to have extended much farther
along the shores of the Frith of Clyde than the site of the present
church. Some lands in Glenfruin, and on the Gareloch, and even as
far as Loch Long, then belonged to it, although these were detached
from it in 1643, when the parish received an addition on its western
boundary.
Cardross was part of the lordship of the old Earls of Lennox, but
portions of it were held by their vassals before the wars of the
suecession. In the middle of the thirteenth century Earl Maldoven of
Lennox granted to Donald Macynel a land in Glenfreone called
Kealbride, which is held on a fourth part of a "harathor," bounded
by the Lavaran and the burn called Crose, as they run from the hill
and fall into the Freone; the reddendo, the twentieth part of the
service of a man-at-arms. The grant is witnessed by the Earl's
brother, Amelec, of whose large appanage Glenfruin formed a part.
Before 1294, John Napier held Kilmahew of the Earl, giving three
suits at his head court, and paying what is exigible for a quarter
of land in Lennox.
Malcolm, Earl of Lennox, resigned into the hands of the King, Robert
I., a plough of land of Cardross, getting in compensation the half
of the lands of Lekkie in Stirlingshire. The King, about 1322, gave
over the lands of Hoyden, within the Barony of Cardross, to Adam son
of Alan, and he had a specific object in view in acquiring land in
the parish. For upon a bank overhanging the river Leven, near its
junction with the Clyde, the hero of Bannockburn built a castle, and
surrounded it with a park, which was called the King's Park of
Cardross. At the first milestone out of Dunbarton, along the
Cardross road, there is a wooded knoll which bears the name of
Castlehill, although there are no traces of any ruined buildings to
be seen. Having divested himself of the cares and vexations of
government, the monarch found relief in the chase, and indulged in
hunting excursions, and made short voyages along the neighbouring
waters of the Gareloch and Loch Long, and the broad estuary of the
Clyde, while he was kept in security by the neighbouring castle of
Dunbarton. Within the walls of his residence, in view of the fine
mountain ranges which throw their dark shadows over the placid
waters of Loch Lomond, the patriot king breathed his last on 7th
June, 1329.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/garelochside/chapter10.htm
The other chapters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/garelochside/index.htm
The Border or Riding Clans
--------------------------
By B. Homer Dixon (1889)
Have now completed this book with chapters on...
The Clan Dickson
Families, Members of Parliament, Arms
Homer Dixon Family
Index to Clans and Surnames
The Clan Dickson starts with a list of all the various spellings of
the name. These variations of spelling proper names are not peculiar
to Scotland. I think it was Dugdale who stated that he had found
over one hundred and forty variations of the name of Mainwaring or
Mannering, anciently de Mesnilwarin.
Dickson is now the usual form in Scotland, but in England where the
similar name is not a clan name, and where there are numerous
different families who do not pretend to claim a common origin, but
all derive their surname from being sons of various Dicks, it is
almost invariably written Dixon.
The clan are descended from the Keiths, Earls Marshall, one of the
most powerful families in Scotland, when, with the sole exception of
the Royal Family, the title of Earl was the highest in the kingdom,
and who had so many possessions that it was formerly said that they
could journey from the north to the south of Scotland and sleep
every night in one of their own castles.
This descent is proved by no less than three entries in the Records
of the Lyon Office between the years 1672 and 1694.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/borders/riding3.htm
The index page of the book is at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/borders/ridingndx.htm
Domestic Life in Scotland, 1488 - 1688
--------------------------------------
By John Warrack (1924)
The Preface to this book starts...
FEW realise how modern are the conceptions of comfort and decency
which inspire the furnishing and arrangements of our present-day
homes, or how different were the conditions in which, only a few
centuries ago, our forefathers spent their lives. Till the beginning
of the seventeenth century chairs for ordinary household use were
unknown. Hats were worn at meals. Washing formed no part of the
morning toilet, even in Charles II's time, and very few in any
country in Europe washed their faces every day. The use of forks did
not become general till the eighteenth century, and food was picked
from the general dish and raised to the mouth with the fingers.
The development of Domestic Life has not, I think, hitherto been
studied as a continuous process, nor traced to its social and
historical origins, though many of its details have been worked out
and much knowledge of a fragmentary kind has been accumulated. In
trying to reconstruct the domestic life of Scotland at various
epochs in the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and to
trace the lines of development, I have had recourse to the
comparison and analysis of many hundreds of early inventories which
are to be found among the national documents preserved in the
Register House, and the study of these records has resulted in much
new and curious information as to the details of household life in
early times. I have also drawn freely on early Scottish literature,
including biographies, journals and account books, for material
likely to put my readers into more living touch with the men, women
and children of the times with which I have dealt.
We now have the first two chapters up which you can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/domestic/domesticlifendx.htm
The Life of Tom Morris
----------------------
By W. W. Tulloch, Member of the Royal & Ancient Club of St. Andrews
I will say that this book was very faded and hence is was a tedious
task to get this onto the site and dare say there will be a fair few
errors in the process. I hope this does not harm your enjoyment of
this book.
We have chapter 1 up now for you to read and here is how the account
starts which just show how difficult it was to get to St. Andrews in
these old days...
In 1821 Tom Morris was born. I did not know St Andrews until 1854,
when I came as a boy of eight years of age to the old grey city,
which was to be the home of my subsequent childhood and early
manhood. "What a difference from to-day! To begin with, there was no
Forth Bridge in existence, and the journey from Edinburgh was a
tedious and slow one. You took the train, as you do to-day, at the
Waverley Station, and you crawled slowly on to Granton. There you
left the train and got into the little steamer that was to take you
across the Firth of Forth. Sometimes the passage was made in perfect
weather, and then the sail across was a welcome relief from the
stuffy and slow train. But more frequently the weather was stormy
and boisterous and the crossing was horrible in every way. You were
glad to reach Burntisland and get into the train again, though you
knew that it was a North British one and the slowest of the slow.
You had to "change carriages," and often have a long and tedious
wait at Ladybank. Thence on to Leuchars, where you had to change
again.
But by that time the worst of the journey was over, and just before
3 am reached Leuchars Junction you could descry the ancient city in
the distance. The hearts of those who loved her grey walls and old
ruins, and their many dear friends and acquaintances there, were
lifted up, and a Te Deum of Thanksgiving was sung. You grudged
having to stop at Guardbridge Station, and later once again to get
your tickets taken. But by this time you had skirted the famous
links, and every inch of the ground was redolent of happy memories.
The tide might happily be in and the Eden looking like a lake; and
there is "The Shepherd's House," where, on many a warm summer day,
you have left your game as a boy with three other chums and gone for
potations of home-made beer. There you descry in those old days the
forms of some players you know old Mr Sutherland, perhaps, and Mr
Walkinshaw, after whom two bunkers are now named; Mr Glennic, in
honour of whom the Medal was presented to the Club; his friend "Pat"
Alexander, philosopher, poet, bohemian, a medallist in golf, and an
Examiner in Philosophy, and the best of jolly good fellows; his
friend Principal Tulloch; their friends, John Skelton (Sir John
later on), the "Shirley" of Frascr's Magazine; "long Richardson,"
and Mr Frank Wilson, who were living together in rooms in Bell
Street, and made a rubber for the pleasantly tired evening. There
you would be sure to see Mr Whyte Melville, of Bendochy and
Strathkinness a gentleman of the old school, the husband of Lady
Catherine, a daughter of the Duke of Leeds, and the father of the
novelist, poet and sportsman, George Whyte Melville. Many of the
novelist's works appeared in Fraser Good for Nothing or All Down
Hill, Digby Grand, and others. He once told me, in his blase style,
that he thought he could go round the links as well and as often as
his father if he could get a glass of sherry before each tee shot.
There also you would see the handsome form of Mr F. Boileau Elliot,
husband of Lady Charlotte, a charming woman and a sweet poetess: the
Mr Wolfe Murray of that day, and Colonel, then Major Boothby, in the
glory of his magnificent manhood: Sir John Low of Clatto, riding on
his cream-coloured pony, and dismounting to play when his turn came
in his foursome; and his brother, Colonel Low, whose daughter, later
on, was one of the belles of St Andrews. You might see Mr John
Blackwood, the famous publisher, and his brother James the match
followed by their cousin, Archibald Smith: "Tom" Hodge, a most
successful golfer who took to the game in middle life, and after he
had given up cricket. Mr Hodge is still alive [Since the words were
in type. Mr Hodge has passed away, 20th May 1907. He read this
narrative with great interest in the column of Golfind, and was
looking forward to possessing it in book form.] in Hampstead, and
wearing his years well. But he takes no interest now in the game, in
which he used to excel. Quite lately I took him several numbers of
Golf Illustrated, thinking I would please him. But he refused to
look at them, and said there was no real golf played nowadays. And
yet he is an Englishman, or rather, a Cornish man. Every golfer
knows his sketches in the Badminton book on golf. Another "Tom" was
Captain M'Whannell of Perth, a very neat and successful player.
But now the train is slowing down. It is at what was the old station
it draws up, and pour moi, I much prefer the old one. Out one gets.
He is hailed by the 'bus-drivers, very likely by his first name if
he is an old resident who has grown up in the place. "Hoo are you,
Wullie?" says a stalwart driver to me it just seems the other day
"You'll be gawn' to Chairlie's" Mr Charles Stuart Grace. He was
right, so possessing himself of my luggage, off he went. And I
joined a match at the Burn hole and walked in with it, over the
well-known Swilcan Bridge and up to the Club. In 1854 there was only
one hole for the outgoing and incoming players. What think ye of
that, ye pampered golfers of to-day? And one couple had to give
precedence to the other if nearer the hole. I daresay there were
sometimes rows about the first holing out. No doubt there were some
men who always wished to claim the right of putting out first.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sport/morrisndx.htm
Robert Burns and the Excise Board
---------------------------------
Was Burns ever reprimanded, suspended, or dismissed by the Board of
Excise? Nine-tenths of fairly well-informed persons will answer
"Yes," so commonly is the alleged fact assumed. But it will be added
that there is some mystery as to the form of the punishment, and of
the fault for which it was inflicted; the latter probably
drunkenness, irreligion, indecent life, disloyalty, or neglect of
deity. Friends of Burns grieve that such a scandal, said to have
been officially recorded should dog the memory of Burns.
You can read this 24 page book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/burns/excise.htm
Robert Burns Lives!
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By Frank Shaw
It has been my desire for some years now to have an article by Dr.
Patrick Scott on this website and here he writes on the relationship
of Robert Burns and James Hogg, “The Ettrick Shepard”. This article
adds additional depth and another dimension to the pages of the
Robert Burns Lives! Website.
Let me introduce you to Dr. Scott if you have not had the
opportunity of meeting him. Patrick is Director of Special
Collections (Rare Books), Thomas Cooper Library, as well as
Professor of English at the University of South Carolina in
Columbia. Although he says, “I’m not by training a Burns scholar”,
he is, in his own right and as my Burnsian friends will testify, a
Burns scholar and is highly respected by those who profess a love
and scholarship for Burns.
He is my friend and has helped immensely in my research regarding
the bard. Patrick has given me invaluable advice regarding my
Scottish library and particularly the books in my Burns library.
Actually, there are no high-priced books in my library on or about
Burns that Patrick, along with his senior colleague, Ross Roy, has
not given me advice on, including the Kilmarnock purchased a few
years back. Additionally, there are few speeches or articles that I
have given or written over the last four years that have not
included his imprint in one form or another. Unbeknown to Patrick,
in our conversations, phone calls and emails, I have picked up many
ideas and put them in print or used them in speeches. It is a
distinct privilege for me to welcome Dr. Scott to the pages of
Robert Burns Lives! (FRS: 6-11-08)
You can read this article at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/frank/burns_lives32.htm
Golf at Gleneagles
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A book by R. J. MacLennan (1919) in pdf format.
This is a charming wee book which I think golfers will enjoy and you
can read this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sport/gleneagles.htm
Ancient Scottish Lake-Dwellings or Crannogs
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Since visiting a Crannog in Aberfeldy in Scotland I've always been
interested in these dwellings. In fact I was quite amazed how people
BC could produce such a comfortable and defensive dwelling.
You can read this book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/crannogs.htm
And that's it for now and hope you all have an enjoyable weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
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