It's your Electric Scotland newsletter meaning
the weekend is nearly here :-)
You can view what's new this week on Electric Scotland at
http://www.electricscotland.com/update.html and you can unsubscribe to
this newsletter by clicking on the link at the foot of this newsletter.
See our Calendar of Scottish Events around the world at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/calendar_help.htm
CONTENTS
-----------------
Electric Scotland News
Scotland on TV
The Flag in the Wind
The Scottish Nation
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1845)
Good Words - Edited by the Rev Norman MacLeod
Rolphin's Orb - A Children's Story
Clan Information
Poetry and Stories
Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland in 1876
Book of Scottish Story
History of the County of Bruce
History of Ulster
A fisherman’s Reflections on a beautiful but troubled world (new book)
Ocean to Ocean, Fleming's Expedition Through Canada in 1872 (new book)
A Celtic Christmas (Advert)
Scottish Studies Dept. at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver
ELECTRIC SCOTLAND NEWS
--------------------------------------------
This week we embark on a book by David B Thomson "A fisherman’s Reflections
on a beautiful but troubled world". Unlike other books this one has yet to
be published so you're the first to be able to read it. I've done a bit of a
write up on this below.
I'm starting to do a bit of research on Water. This is actually a Knights
Templar project as they are looking at ways they might be able to help those
without a quality supply of fresh and clean water around the world. The only
reason I mention this is that some of you out there might be involved with
projects of this nature and so if you are please feel free to let me know of
any special web links on the subject.
I have a page up with some links at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ktj/water.htm
Rhonda Peebles, a fellow director of the Scottish Studies Foundation, has
launched a web site which amongst other things sells handbags. You might be
interested in viewing her site for an early Christmas present at
http://www.peeblesproducts.com
I've also started the book "Ocean to Ocean" which is a diary of an account
of the survey by Stanford Fleming, the chief engineer of the Canadian
Pacific Railway. I have added more information about this below.
ABOUT THE STORIES
-----------------
Some of the stories in here are just parts of a larger story so do check out
the site for the full versions. You can always find the link in our "What's
New" section at the link at the top of this newsletter and pick up poems and
stories sent into us during the week from Donna, Margo, Stan, John and
others.
Scotland on TV
-----------------------
Visit their site at
http://www.scotlandontv.tv
We meet a lot of wonderful people whilst making programmes for the Web TV
Channel, but Donald Black is a real Scottish treasure. Scotland on TV first
met professional Scottish harmonica player Donald Black when he was in town
for the Piping Live! Festival this summer. What Donald had to say to us then
was so interesting and got such great feedback that we just had to visit him
again to find out more.
Donald gave Scotland on TV an exclusive guided tour around his music room,
filled with pictures and memorabilia from his times on the road with the
great and good of the Scottish music scene. Donald has played Highland music
since he was a child – the harmonica has family heritage for the Blacks -
and marvels at the ease of being able to play great Scottish music on an
instrument that you can carry about with you in your pocket. He also tells
our reporter, Nigel Buckland, about why he designed the Highlander
Harmonica, which enables him to play traditional Scottish folk tunes.
The film can be viewed here:
http://www.scotlandontv.tv/scotland_on_tv/video.html?channel=Music+Traditional&clipid=1380_SMG1293
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
------------------------------------
This weeks Flag is compiled by Jim Lynch who has just celebrated another
birthday! Happy Birthday Jim!
Loads of info on speeches made by various MSP's in this issue.
In Peter's cultural section he has a Scots Wit entry for the golfers...
The Benefit of the Doubt
Andra, one of the old school, had been employed as a caddie for a full month
by a distinguished visitor to the Fife coast. Anxious to improve his game
during his stay, the visitor had announced that if and when he 'broke' 100,
Andra was to have a bottle of whisky to mark the occasion.
Despite the player's efforts and all that Andra could do by way of advice
and encouragement, the final round on the final day had arrived with the 100
still unbroken. Play proceeded in a tense atmosphere until, standing on the
18th tee, a moderate 5 was all that was required to achieve the elusive 99 -
and the equally elusive bottle.
To Andra's dismay however, the over-anxious player was short of the green in
3. The critical moment had come; but it was too much for the nervous
visitor, and his 98th stroke finished 15 yards beyond the hole.
But Andra was equal to the occasion. Rushing forward to pick up the ball he
shouted excitedly "Weill don, Sir! Ye've dune it. Oniebody wad gie ye that
yin."
You can read the Flag, listen to the Scots Language, enjoy the Scots Wit and
lots more at
http://www.scotsindependent.org
The Scottish Nation
----------------------------
My thanks to Lora for transcribing these volumes for us.
Onto the K's with Kinnoul, Kintore and Kirkaldy
Here is how the account of Kirkaldy starts...
KIRKALDY, a local surname, derived from the town of that name in Fifeshire,
where there is said anciently to have been a place of worship belonging to
the Culdees, hence Kilculda or Kilculdei, in course of time corrupted into
Kirkcaldy.
One of the brightest of our historical names is that of Kirkaldy of Grange.
Of the family, however, our public records furnish but a few scanty notices.
As their estates, lying in the parish of Kinghorn, adjoined Kirkaldy, it is
supposed that they derived their surname from that town. In Prynne’s
History, a Sir William de Kirkcaldy is mentioned as one of the Scots barons
who submitted to Edward III. of England during one of his invasions of
Scotland, and a charter of King David II., dated “Apud Edynburgeh,” contains
the name of a Simeon Kyrcaldie.
There were at an early period two principal families of the name, the
Kirkaldys of Inchtower or Inchture in the shire of Perth, and the Kirkaldys
of Grange in Fife. From their surname the latter appear to have been the
elder branch, although supposed to have descended from a younger son of the
former. Their connection with Fife must have been prior to the reign of
David II., as we find a pension granted by that monarch to an Andrew de
Kirkaldye, “Capella ano, 5 marcarum sterlingorum annustim de custuma
civitatis Sancti Andreae, quosque per Dominum Regem ad Aliquod beneficium
ecclesiasticum fuerit promotus,” &c. The house of Inchture has long been
represented by the noble family of Kinniard, Marjory, daughter and sole
heiress of Sir John de Kirkaldy of Inchture having, at the end of the 14th
century, married Sir Reginald de Kinniard, knight, and her lands were
confirmed to him by a charter of Robert III., of date 28th January 1399. A
minor branch, the Kirkaldys of Wester Abden, also in Fife, appear to have
ceased as a distinct family about the beginning of the 17th century.
In the Register House at Edinburgh are preserved no fewer than eighteen MS.
charters and two remissions (the dates ranging between 1440 and 1568, both
inclusive) relating to the family of Kirkaldy of Grange, now extinct, but
which at the period to which they refer appear to have been one of the most
important in the county of Fife. John de Kirkaldy, a younger son of the
family, vicar of Newburn in that shire, is mentioned in Archbishop Shevez’s
confirmation of privileges to the university of St. Andrews, dated at
Edinburgh, 2d June 1479.
You can read the rest of this entry at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/kirkaldy.htm
You can read the other entries at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/index.htm
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1845)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Have made a start at this huge publication which will likely be with us for
a few years. The first volume I am dealing with is the one on Aberdeen.
There are some 85 parishes in this volume and a write up on each.
This week have added...
Parish of Rayne at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/statistical/rayne.htm
Here is a bit about Rayne...
Name.—The name Rayne was sometimes written Raine in the records of the
seventeenth century, but more frequently Rain, the orthography which is
still retained in Old Rain, the post-town. It was probably derived from a
Gaelic word of similar sound, Raon, signifying a field of good ground,—a
term sufficiently appropriate to this parish, which consists of open and
continuous fields, generally of good soil, and under productive tillage.
Extent, &c.—This is a landward parish, of moderate extent and compact form,
being about 3 1/3 miles in each direction, and containing 11 square miles.
Its figure is not perfectly regular, but approaching to a square : it is
bounded on the south side by the parish of Oyne, and divided from it by the
water of Ury; on the west, by that of Culsamond; on the east, by parts of
Daviot, and Chapel of Garioch; and on the north, by parts of Fyvie and
Auchterless. It forms the northern boundary of an inland district of
Aberdeenshire called the Garioch, which is divided from that of Formartine,
by the hill of Rothmaise in Rayne, about 850 feet above the level of the
sea. With the exception of this hill, the parish consists of undulating
fields, and gentle acclivities, with a long tract of peat-moss or bog,
towards the north side, reaching from the west boundary to the east, where
Daviot begins.
Eminent Men.— One native may be mentioned on account of the eminence which
he attained abroad, viz. William Leslie, second son to William, the fifth
laird of Warthill, in this place. Born in 1657, he got a classical education
in the parochial school, and, having completed his academical studies at one
of the universities in Aberdeen, became schoolmaster in the parish of Chapel
of Garioch for some years; but, being there persuaded by Count Leslie, a
member of the Balquhane family, and his own cousin-german, to embrace the
Romish faith, he went to Rome with the Count in 1684; and there became so
noted for his learning and piety, that, at the age of thirty-three years he
was chosen to be Professor of Theology in the College of Padua, and was
afterwards made Bishop of Laybach in Carniola, and a Prince of the German
empire, which honour, along with others, he retained through life: he died
at his see in 1727. During his long residence abroad, he faithfully
corresponded with his brother Alexander, the sixth laird of Warthill, and
sent him at one time an original portrait of himself, esteemed a good
picture, and which, with many of his letters, is still in possession of
William Leslie, Esq. the present proprietor of the family estate.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/statistical/rayne.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
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...
Woman's Noblest Attitude (Pages 147-149)
The Fate of Franklin (Pages 149-151)
A Leaf from the Annals of a Hidden Life (Pages 151 - 152)
"Faint, Yet Pursuing" (Page 152)
Lady Somerville's Maidens (Pages 153-157)
I also added "An Argyllshire Vision" from the 1875 edition which was edited
by Norman's brother Donald MacLeod.
Contributed by his Grace the DUKE OF ARGYLL.
I HAD often heard the late Duke of Argyll relate an extraordinary vision
which had been seen about the middle of the last century by two men of the
name of Bell, father and son, in the immediate neighbourhood of this place.
In looking over some old papers lately, I found an account of this vision,
written in 1808, by a Mr. Bell, a writer in the burgh of Inveraray, who was
the son of the younger, and grandson of the elder, of the two men who saw
the vision. Mr. Bell, and the family to which he belonged, were persons of
the highest respectability of character, and no doubt was ever entertained
as to the truthfulness of the narrative.
I may mention that in some details the written account differs slightly from
the form in which the same story was related to me, derived from oral
tradition. But the locality is so accurately described, that the spot can be
identified at the present day. The thorn-bush, referred to in the narrative,
still exists; and though the two clumps of trees, also mentioned, were cut
down many years ago, their position can be seen from the curious
indelibility with which old pasture retains ghostly indications of former
operations on the surface of the soil.
My father always attributed the vision to the effects of mirage. But it is a
very extraordinary example of this phenomenon. Thinking it may possibly
interest some of the readers of Good Words, I send the written narrative
which I have found.
You can read this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/vision.htm
You can read the other articles at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/index.htm
Rolphin's Orb
-------------------
Many of you will remember us adding this 12 book story from Margo Fallis.
Well she has now added a 13th book called "The Beginning" to give an
introduction to how the series came about.
Lots more chapters up at
http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/rolfins_orb/index.htm
Clan Information
-----------------------
Added the Fall 2007 newsletter from Clan MacIntyre at
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/newsletters/macintyre/Per%20Ardua%20FALL%202007%20%2020071012a.pdf
Clan MacIntyre also announces that the first deposits need to be paid for
the 2008 Gathering in Scotland and you can learn more about this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/macintyre/2008.htm
Poetry and Stories
---------------------------
John sent in a number of doggerels...
Ma Pianny at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel222.htm
Scots Heilanders' Games at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel223.htm
Han-Me-Doon Memories at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel224.htm
He also sent in Chapter 61 of his Recounting Blessings at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/henderson/Chapter61.pdf
Donna sent in two poems...
Something About September at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/poetry/poem42.htm
Flapping in the Wind at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/poetry/poem43.htm
She also sent in some pictures of her paintings which showed at the Exhibit
for the teachers of the Art Center in Ponca City at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/art/paintings.htm
Donna also sent in a Journal entry, The International Club, at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/journal/journal91.htm
Added a page for Marion Martin, the Scottish singer now living in Australia
at
http://www.electricscotland.com/music/artists/marion_martin.htm
Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Am adding a variety of articles from this publication and this week have
included...
The Galloway Breed of Cattle
On the Agricultural Colleges of America and their Adaptibility to Scotland
The article on Agricultural Colleges of America is rather interesting and
here is how it starts...
By James Macdonald, "Scotsman" Reporter, Aberdeen.
[Premium—The Minor Gold Medal]
Introduction.—In America the practice "of agriculture, as presently carried
on, is in the main as primitive and simple as it was in Scotland two hundred
years ago. The means by which that simple work is executed are certainly far
superior to those at the command of our forefathers eight generations back.
America is ahead of all other countries in the world in labour-saving
machinery; but the practical every-day manipulation on an average American
farm is as elementary and simple as in Scotland at the period referred to.
American farmers plough, and sow, and reap, and heed neither the principles
of rotation nor the science of manuring. Their management of live stock,
too, is as simple as ever it has been in Scotland. And yet this new country
throws Scotland far into the shade by the efforts it has been making to
disseminate throughout its bounds scientific agricultural education. It
recognises that though so long as the soil retains its virgin richness,
farmers may thrive even by the primitive, simple system of farming that now
prevails, the day is not far distant when American agriculture, like
agriculture in Britain and in other-long settled countries, will demand the
aid of science; and so, looking beyond the actual wants of the time, and
discarding the maxim that sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,
Americans (the inhabitants both of the United States and Canada) are making
a bold, liberal, and intelligent effort to train up a race of farmers that
may be able to grapple with the stubbornness of the soil when it becomes
weary of its present well-doing and refuses to yield profitably without
"priming." Undoubtedly such stubbornness will come some day. In an old fully
developed country, where every small grocery business seems as safe to its
heirs apparent as an entailed estate, few regard agriculture as the
essential basis of true national prosperity; but in America, whose
manufactures and commerce are still in process of formation, every one feels
that without a sure foundation in agriculture, these commercial fabrics
would be frailty itself. How true are those eloquent words of Daniel
Webster, the great American orator, "Agriculture feeds us; to a great extent
it clothes us ; without it we could have no manufactures, we could have no
commerce. These all stand together, but stand like pillars in a cluster, and
the highest is agriculture."
Agricultural Colleges in the United States.—By an Act of Congress, passed in
1862, a large free grant of land (extending to 30,000 acres for each senator
and representative in Congress according to the census of 1860) was given to
each state for the "endowment, support, and maintenance of at least one
college, where the leading objects shall be, without including other
scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach
such branches of farming as are related to agriculture and the mechanical
arts." Two-thirds of the states have disposed of the whole of these
extensive land grants or land scrips; but still more than a million and a
half of acres belonging to the other third remain unsold. Already, however,
all of the thirty-eight states in the Union, with the exception of Nevada,
have established educational institutions in accordance with the Act of
1862; while Georgia, besides the regular state college, has a separate
college of agriculture in the northern section of the state, making in all
in the United States thirty-eight institutions in which scientific
agriculture is taught as a prominent branch of their course of study. During
a recent lengthy tour throughout the continent of North America, the writer
made a point of inquiring into the working of these industrial colleges, and
was glad to find that they are diffusing a healthy influence among the
agricultural community of the country. Several of the colleges have been
established so recently that as yet they have been able to effect but very
little real substantial work, or to settle down to any definite line of
policy; but, on the other hand, the older and better conducted institutions
(of course they have not all been managed equally well) have already done
most valuable service to the country by sending forth fleece after fleece of
well-taught graduates. Each college has from six to ten professors (besides
assistants), including a professor of prac-tical agriculture, and attached
to each is an experimental or model farm, on which the students of
agriculture are taught the elements of practical agriculture, and have to
labour for so many hours per day, and on which are conducted experiments on
the principles of manuring and rotation, and on the various kinds of farm
crops. The course of study at these institutions, especially as it relates
to agriculture, is pretty much alike; and an outline of the modus operandi
at the Michigan College, the oldest and one of the best in the country, may
suffice to indicate what the agricultural, or more properly speaking, the
industrial colleges of the United States really are, or aim at becoming.
You can read the balance of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/page33.htm
You can get to the other articles at
http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/index.htm
Book of Scottish Story
--------------------------------
Kindly sent in to us by John Henderson
The Book of Scottish Story - Historical, Humorous, Legendary, Imaginative
by Standard Scottish Writers Published by Thomas D. Morison, 1896
This week we have...
Mauns' Stane; or, Mine Host's Tale and here is how it starts...
In the latter end of the autumn of -------, I set out by myself on an
excursion over the northern part of Scotland; and, during that time, my
chief amusement was to observe the little changes of manners, language, &c,
in the different districts. After having viewed, on my return, the principal
curiosities in Buchan, I made a little alehouse, or "public," my
head-quarters for the night. Having discussed my supper in solitude, I
called up mine host to enable me to discuss my bottle, and to give me a
statistical account of the country around me. Seated in the "blue" end, and
well supplied with the homely but satisfying luxuries which the place
afforded, I was in an excellent mood for enjoying the communicativeness of
my landlord ; and, after speaking about the cave at Slaines, the state of
the crop, and the neighbouring franklins, edged him, by degrees, to speak
about the Abbey of Deer, an interesting ruin which I had examined in the
course of the day, formerly the stronghold of the once powerful family of
Cummin.
"It's dootless a bonny place about the Abbey," said he, "but naething like
what it was when the great Sir James the Rose cam to hide i' the Buchan
woods, wi' a' the Grahames rampagin' at his tail, whilk you that's a beuk
learned man 'ill hae read o'; an' maybe ye'll hae heard o' the saughen bush
where he forgathered wi' his joe; or aiblins ye may have seen't, for it's
standing yet just at the corner o' gaukit Jamie Jamieson's peat-stack. Ay,
ay, the abbey was a brave place ance; but a' thing, ye ken, comes till an
end." So saying, he nodded to me, and brought his glass to an end.
"This place, then, must have been famed in days of yore, my friend?"
"Ye may tak my word for that," said he. "'Od, it was a place ! Sic a sight
o' fechtin' as they had about it! But gin ye'll gang up the trap-stair to
the laft, an' open Jenny's kist, ye'll see sic a story about it, prented by
ane o' your learned Aberdeen's fouk, Maister Keith, I think; she coft it in
Aberdeen for twal pennies, lang ago, an' battered it to the lid o' her kist.
But gang up the stair canny, for fear that you should wauken her, puir
thing;—or, bide, I'll just wauken Jamie Fleep, an' gar him help me down wi't,
for our stair's no just that canny for them 't's no acquaint wi't, let alane
a frail man wi' your infirmity."
You can read the rest of this story at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/story13.htm
The index page of the book where you can read the other stories is at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/index.htm
The History of Bruce County
-----------------------------------------
By Norman Robertson, published in 1906
This week sees us adding the Appendix which now completes this book. You can
see this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/bruce/
There are lots of interesting wee snippets in the appendix and here is one
to read here...
APPENDIX E.
COPY OF HAND-BILLS ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF THE FREE GRANT LANDS FOR
SETTLEMENT. AGENCY FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CROWN LANDS IN THE WELLINGTON
AND HURON DISTRICTS.
24th August, 1848.
The undersigned agent, appointed by His Excellency the Governor-General for
the settlement of the Crown Lands in the townships of Glenelg, Bentinck,
Brant, Greenock and Kincardine, in the county of Waterloo, hereby gives
notice to all persons willing and having means of locating therein, that his
office is temporarily fixed at or near "Hunter's," on the Garafraxa Road,
where he will receive the application of the settlers, every day of the week
between the hours of nine and five o'clock, from the 15th day of September
next.
Fifty acres of land will be given to any settler eighteen years old and a
subject of Her Majesty, who will present himself, provided with a
certificate of probity and sobriety, signed by known and respectable persons
and having the means of providing for himself until the produce of his land
is sufficient to maintain him. The bearer of that certificate shall mention
to the agent (who will keep a registry thereof) his name, age, condition,
trade or profession, whether he is married, and, if so, the name and age of
his wife, how many children he has, the name and age of each of them, where
he is from, whether he has somewhere any property, and in what township he
wishes to settle.
The conditions of the Location Tickets are: To take possession within a
month after the date of the ticket, and put in a state of cultivation at
least twelve acres of the land in the course of four years ; to build a
house and to reside on the lot until the conditions of settlement are duly
fulfilled, after which accomplishment only shall the settlers have the right
of obtaining a title of property. Families comprising several settlers
entitled to lands, preferring to reside on a single lot, will be exempted
from the obligation of building and of residence (except upon the lot on
which they reside), provided the required clearing of the land is made on
each lot. The non-accomplishment of these conditions will cause the
immediate loss of the assigned lot of land, which will be sold or given to
another.
Leave will be granted to those who shall have obtained a lot gratis to
purchase three other lots on the road (150 acres), at eight shillings per
acre for ready money, so as to complete their two hundred acres in all.
The land intended to be settled is of the very best description and is well
timbered and watered.
The roads will be opened on a breadth of 66 feet, and the land on each side
will be divided in lots of 50 acres, each to be gratuitously given.
Beside the principal road, there will be others (one on each side of the
principal road) marked out on the whole extent of the territory, and on
which free locations of 50 acres will be made. But as the Government only
intend to meet the expenses of survey on those additional roads the grantees
will have to open the road in front of their location.
The most direct route to reach the agency on the Garafraxa Road is by way of
Guelph and Elora, in the Wellington District.
GEORGE JACKSON,
Crown Lands Agent
You can read the rest of this appendix at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/bruce/chapter39.htm
And the other chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/bruce/
The History of Ulster
------------------------------
From the Earliest Times to the Present Day by Ramsay Colles (1919)
This week have added another 7 chapters to the first volume...
The Policy of Conciliation
The Religious Element
Bad Money and Misery
The Scots in Ulster
Shane O'Neill and the Crown
O'Neill the Great visits Elizabeth
Here is a bit from "The Scots in Ulster "...
In the five years of Mary's reign, little of moment occurred in Ulster. In
1556 St. Leger finally left Ireland, his successor being Thomas Radclyffe,
Lord FitzWalter, better known by his later title of Earl of Sussex. One of
his first acts was to lead an army into Ulster against the Scots, then very
powerful in the districts of the Route and Clanaboy. These Scots had long
been a menace to the peace of Ulster. Descended from the Scots of Ireland,
they had extended their sway over all modern Scotland; and in their new
home, those who dwelt on the east coast were content with their lot. Those
who lived on the western coast were of a more restless and adventurous
disposition. These Scots, under their chiefs, the MacDonalds of the Isles,
made many descents on the adjacent Irish coasts. Confined originally to the
glens of Antrim, to which they could show some sort of title, the MacDonalds
had gradually extended their sway over the whole of the eastern counties. It
was calculated, in 1539, that at least 2000 of them were in Ulster. St.
Leger reported, six years later, that he feared an invasion from them in
force, and before the end of the year the Lord of the Isles did come, and
was at Carrickfergus with 4000 men; and Bellingham was instructed to assist
the Earl of Tyrone against them. Often, as we have seen, they hired
themselves out to the Ulster chiefs as mercenaries. But they effected
permanent settlements as well. They had expelled the MacQuillans from the
Route; they had occupied Clanaboy, besieged Knockfergus, and levied Black
Rent from the English colonists in Lecale; but whether in making war
themselves, or in aiding the Irish chiefs to make war, they kept Ulster in
constant unrest, and all attempts to reduce them were unsuccessful.
When Sussex landed, the Scots in Ulster numbered 7000, and the immigration
continued. Their presence in Antrim was no less unwelcome to the O'Neills
than it was to the English Government. The supremacy of Tyrone was
threatened, and Shane O'Neill therefore gladly assisted the new Deputy in
his attempt to subdue the Scots. A skirmish took place near Glenarm, when
some seventy or eighty Scots were killed. But this was the sole victory
gained; and at the end of six weeks, his provisions being exhausted, Sussex
marched back to Dublin "without receiving submission or hostages". The old
Earl of Tyrone did not despair, but was again unfortunate in an expedition
against the same dangerous intruders in Clanaboy, being defeated by them,
with the loss of 300 men.
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ulster/vol1chap22.htm
The rest of the chapters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ulster/
A fisherman’s Reflections on a beautiful but troubled world
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By David B. Thomson
Reflections contains a fascinating kaleidoscope of first hand impressions of
peoples and lands around the globe. They are the thoughtful account of a
Scot who left school before he was fifteen years old, and spent the next 7
years on trawlers and seiners in the North Sea and East Atlantic. A few
years later he became a lecturer in the College of Fisheries, Newfoundland,
and an Assistant Professor in the University of Rhode Island, USA. But his
heart was set on doing something for the millions of poor fishing
communities in Africa, Asia, South America, and the Pacific. So, he took up
assignments with the United Nations Agencies and bilateral organizations,
which saw him serve in over 60 countries, in both marine and inland
fisheries. Thomson was deeply touched by peoples he lived and worked
amongst, and sought to grapple with the economic, social and environmental
issues they faced. This led him to question some conventional approaches,
and to study how imperfect aid efforts could be improved. He was
particularly influenced by thinkers like E. F. Schumacher of Small is
Beautiful, and by the range of ideas and initiatives he encountered among
development workers, educators, politicians, students, and artisans in each
country visited.
Few will agree with all of the conclusions and ideas promoted in the book,
but most readers will find them stimulating and thought-provoking. The
writer hopes that the observations will also be entertaining and even wryly
amusing in places. While deploring current militarist responses to
differences between nations, yet acknowledging the threats to freedom and
democracy of terrorist activity and attempts by some governments to control
the press and judiciary, David offers a measure of hope and encouragement
based on personal experience and events witnessed in troubled lands and in
troubled times.
Electric Scotland Note: We're delighted that David has decided to launch his
book on our site. Of course at some point he'll be getting it published in
hard cover and so he'd be happy to get any comments on what you think of the
content and also any errors that you may spot. Please email him at
thomson13@gmail.com
You can start reading this book as we now have the first few chapters up at
http://www.electricscotland.com/thomson/reflections.htm
Ocean to Ocean, Fleming's Expedition Through Canada in 1872
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by The Revd. George M. Grant (1873).
As some of you may know Sandford Fleming, a Scot, was the chief engineer for
the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway and this book is a diary of his
survey of the line. Quite apart from being a Scot this is a most interesting
account and I hope you'll enjoy reading it.
The first chapter sets the scene and here is how it starts...
Travel a thousand miles up a great river; more than another thousand along
great lakes and a succession of smaller lakes; a thousand miles across
rolling prairies; and another thousand through woods and over three great
ranges of mountains, and you have travelled from Ocean to Ocean through
Canada. All this Country is a single Colony of the British Empire; and this
Colony is dreaming magnificent dreams of a future when it shall be the
"Greater Britain," and the highway across which the fabrics and products of
Asia shall be carried, to the Eastern as well as to the Western sides of the
Atlantic. Mountains were once thought to be effectual barriers against
railways, but that day has gone by; and, now that trains run between San
Francisco and New York, over summits of eight thousand two hundred feet, it
is not strange that they should be expected soon to run between Victoria and
Halifax, over a height of three thousand seven hundred feet. At any rate, a
Canadian Pacific Railway has been undertaken by the Dominion; and, as this
book consists of notes made in connection with the survey, an introductory
chapter may be given to a brief history of the project.
You can read this book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/ocean/index.htm
A Celtic Christmas (Advert)
---------------------------
Who: Perth Productions
What: A Celtic Christmas with musical performances by Peter Ian
McCutcheon,tenor, Margaret Mikelait, piano and Scottish piper Rob Crabtree
When: Saturday, December 1, 2007 8:00 p.m.
Where: Jubilee United Church, 40 Underhill Drive, Toronto
Admission: $25 General Admission
To purchase tickets in advance or for more information:
Call: 416-438-9458
Email:
perthproductions@petermccutcheon.com
Web: http://www.petermccutcheon.com
Tenor Peter Ian McCutcheon celebrates five years as a solo artist,
presenting A Celtic Christmas, an evening of traditional holiday and Celtic
repertoire, including:
O Holy Night - Adam
Mary, Did You Know - Lowrey/Greene
O Joyful Children - Holdridge
Snow - Lampman/McKennitt
The Seasons - traditional
Wexford Carol - Irish traditional
Coventry Carol - 15th Century Carol
Poverty - Roberts/Welsh traditional
Rorate - Dunbar/Scottish traditional
Christmas in Killarney - Redmond/Cavanaugh/Weldon
Deck The Halls - McCaskey/Welsh traditional
Peter Ian McCutcheon welcomes guest artists pianist Margaret Mikelait and
Scottish piper Rob Crabtree.
For media information contact:
Vince J. Ciarlo
Ciarlo Communications
Tel: 416-763-3783
Cell: 416-458-5090
Email: vciarlo@idirect.com
Centre for Scottish Studies at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Was sent in the newsletter and thought I'd give it a plug to see if anyone
out there could help...
Scottish Studies at SFU Popular, but in Danger
Despite on-going concerns about demographic shifts, easy employment
opportunities and other factors that have an impact upon enrolment in
post-secondary education, the courses at Simon Fraser with Scottish themes
remain popular. Credit courses such as the English Department’s North Sea
Literatures or the Humanities Department’s Medieval Scotland are
consistently over-enrolled.
Neither is this interest limited to the classroom. Several students this
semester have joined our local Gaelic Choir and the student Celtic Dance
society will be offering ceilidh dancing lessons for any who will show up on
Tuesday nights. Impressively, such a strong interest in the Gaelic language
has so grown among students that they have formed their own Gaelic society:
an Comunn Gàidhlig SFU. Current membership stands at just over 35, but will
no doubt grow as an Comunn gains further notice through its activities. This
is all in addition to the ongoing interest in the SFU Pipe Band, which
remains a pillar to this groundswell of interest.
Scottish, Irish and more broadly Celtic topics have been gaining interest
over a number of years globally. Gaelic websites have exploded in number
from barely a handful five years ago, and one can find Gaelic classes in
almost any town in North America. Attendance at Highland Games continues to
increase and a number of universities across Canada and the United States
have established centres or departments with a clear Scottish focus.
Celebrations for the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth in 2009 will
occur all across North America, and nowhere more concentratedly than at the
newly established Burns’ Centre in Glasgow. Conferences in his honour will
take place across the globe. The University of Otago in New Zealand has just
recently appointed a Chair in Scottish Studies and other such programs are
gaining strength across the globe.
Unfortunately, as with any explosion of interest or numbers, the greater the
explosion, the more difficult it is to follow its developments. Many
students are ignorant of the opportunities afforded by the extensive
Scottish community of the greater Vancouver area and of the Centre’s
offerings. This latter ignorance is a direct result of the Centre’s limited
ability to offer courses. With no money to support a permanent Scottish
Studies professor, the Centre has been forced to rely on offerings that
coincide opportunistically with the offerings of its cooperating
departments.
With our current limited funding, the Centre can only limp along offering a
few courses each semester. This fall has seen one of Simon Fraser
University’s largest enrolling cohorts. Student interest will only continue
to grow. It remains to be seen if support from the University, which depends
directly on our support from the local ommunity, will be able to keep pace.
And as we have so often stressed in this newsletter and other forums, the
future of the Centre is largely in the hands of people of Scottish descent
in British Columbia. Our long-term viability is dependent on the success of
our endowment campaign.
How you can support the Centre for Scottish Studies
Annual Gifts
Support the Centre’s programs and activities with an annual gift to help pay
for programming including special lectures and events. Or support an annual
scholarship with a minimum gift of $1,000 a year for three years.
Endowed Gifts
Consider creating a named endowment fund:
• Scholarships and Bursaries (minimum $20,000)
• Annual Lecture Series (minimum $50,000)
• Endow the Centre ($500,000)
• Visiting Chair ($1 million)
• Permanent Chair ($2 million)
Planned Gifts
Make a bequest in your will or designate the Centre for Scottish Studies as
the beneficiary of an insurance policy. All the funds paid out in premiums
can be receipted for tax purposes.
For more information on making a gift to the Centre for Scottish Studies
please contact:
Susan McAlevy, CFRE
Advancement Officer
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
778.782.6607 smcalevy@sfu.ca
You can read the whole newsletter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/ScottishStudiesNewsletter.pdf
And so if you can help, or know of someone that could help, please do what
you can :-)
And that's all for now and hope you all have a good weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
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