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)
Early Scotch History
Book of Scottish Story
Good Words - Edited by the Rev Norman MacLeod
Clan Information
Poetry and Stories
History of Ulster
Reminiscences and Reflections of an Octogenarian Highlander
Sketches of The Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlanders of
Scotland
Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland 1881
Household Encyclopaedia
Scottish Art Trading Cards
Electric Scotland Article Service
Antiquarian Scottish Books in Adobe Reader format
McIntyre and the Scottish Caucas
Electric Scotland Recipe Database
ELECTRIC SCOTLAND NEWS
----------------------
Well done Delaware...
"Governors Proclamation" recognizing the Month of April as Scots,
Scots-Irish Heritage Month. It states: Now, Therefore, We, Ruth Ann Minner,
Governor, and John C.Carney, Lieutenant Governor do hereby declare April
2008 "Scots, Scots-Irish Heritage Month" in the State of Delaware and urge
all residents to celebrate the accomplishments of Scots, Scots-Irish
Americans in the First State.
There are in fact a number of States that support Scots and Scots-Irish
month and you can see a list at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/ncscotsmonth.htm
We were down a fair bit this week. First the server system disk went down
but Steve got it repaired so we were back up for a wee bit when it failed
again. By this time Steve had come down with a serious bought of flu and was
away for some hours at the emergency dept of the local hospital. He was
there 6 hours and they wanted to keep him in but he insisted he had to get
back to fix the server. What a trooper! When he got back he started to work
on the system. We went through 3 hard disks before we got one to work
reliably. On Thursday morning Steve phoned to say the local para medics had
come round and had fixed him up with an IV drip and at time of phoning me
the first bag was about finished but he still had one more bag to go before
they'd let him do any work. The saying... it never rains but it pours...
seems to fit.
At time of doing this newesletter we are mostly back and running but might
take to Friday night before we are 100% there.
I might add that I did have a productive time as not being able to publish
to the server I got myself a haircut, went shopping and also bit the bullet
and did my annual accounts and got them off to my accountant :-)
Got in the poem, "The Deil's Boolin' Match", from John Henderson and Brian
Kellogg for which many thanks and hopefully that was the one Ann was looking
for last week. You can view the poem at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/literat/spoetry5.htm
Finally... I could do with some help on the new Recipe database that I
intend to bring up in the next week or two. Thing is that there are loads of
options for categories, dish types, cuisine, ingredients, etc. I went on to
the web to see what others were doing and so took what a cross section of
others had done to get started. A couple of friends have had a look and made
suggestions which I've incorporated.
Now I'd be very happy if my newsletter readers would also eyeball the lists
and let me know if I should delete, add, modify any of the lists. Towards
the end of this newsletter I have listed what I have at the moment and would
be happy to hear from you if you think any changes should be made. It is my
intention to finalize the list by Tuesday and then will start to get some
recipes up before launching the service.
So.. if you could help with this I'd appreciate it :-)
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
FINLAGGAN on the Hebridean Island of Islay
The Seat of the Lords of the Isles
Islay is known for many things – whisky, scenery, wildlife – but the island
is also full of history, much of which dates back over many centuries yet is
still in evidence today.
On the north east of the island of Islay lies a settlement associated with
the ‘Lords of the Isles’. Two of the three islands situated in the beautiful
Loch Finlaggan were the ancient administration centre of the Lordship of the
Isles during the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Scotland on TV visited the
small cottage, now rebuilt and maintained by the Finlaggan Trust, which sits
on the shores of the Loch and houses a museum and information centre, where
we met with Donald Bell of the Trust to discover more.
In the first episode of this two-part series, Donald presents some of the
artefacts found in recent archaeological excavations. They tell the story of
the seat of the Lords of the Isles and its contribution to the arts, culture
and politics of Scotland. Amongst the treasures held in the museum is a
replica of the footprint stone from a coronation ceremony of the Lords of
the Isles, an ancient cross related to the lords and a sheep wool quilted
aketon, a garment worn under armour.
In episode two we take a guided tour through the ancient ruins of Finlaggan.
Still standing on the island of Eilean Mòr (large island), on the shores of
Loch Finlaggan, one can find the stone walls of a medieval chapel dedicated
to St. Findlugan. Inside the chapel, the Trust has placed and protected a
number of 16th Century tombstones, including an impressive effigy of a
warrior wearing an aketon. The memorial is believed to be the tombstone of
MacGilleasbuig of Finlaggan, who died after the forfeiture of the Lordship
and whose family then became the chief family at Finlaggan.
Further along the island are the remains of a small rectangular house which
is believed to have been adapted into a two-story house during the 16th
century, possibly for Donald MacGilleasbuig. Adjacent to the house there are
the foundations of the most important structure on Eilean Mòr during the
medieval period: the great hall, which was used by the Lords to hold
banquets and feasts.
To watch the videos, click here:
http://www.scotlandontv.tv/scotland_on_tv/video.html?Channel=History%20Places&vxClipId=1380_SMG1782
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
This weeks Flag is compiled by Ian Goldie and he is showing his pleasure the
passing of the first Scottish Budget. He also tells us that we'rer
celebrating 80 years of the Scottish National Party and gives us links to
historic articles.
In Peter's cultural section he tells us...
A significant cash contribution has been made to boost the sport of curling
in south-west Scotland. Sportscotland this week announced investment of more
than £200,000 to improve facilities at Lockerbie Ice Rink and SNP Sports
Minister Stewart Maxwell said that “ it would hopefully encourage more
people to become physically active and, in doing so, become healthier.”
Lockerbie is the home rink of current European curling champions David
Murdoch and Euan Byers and the cash injection is a reminder that Scotland
gave ‘The Roaring Game’ to the world. Curling started in Scotland in the
16th century, at least, and the earliest stone dating back to 1511 is held
in Stirling at the Smith Institute. The outdoor game was obviously well
established by the 17th century as Dr Alex Penecuik ( 1652 - 1722 ) wrote -
' To curle on ice, does greatly please' and our National Bard, Robert Burns,
as a farmer probably played the game, and certainly wrote knowledgeably
about in his poem ' Tam Samson's Elegy'. And the poet James Hogg, ‘The
Ettrick Shepherd’ wrote of ‘The Roaring Game’ –
Of a’ the games that e’er I saw,
Man, callant, laddie, birkie, wean,
The dearest, far aboon them a’,
Was aye the witching channel stane. [curling stone]
Oh! For the channel-stane!
The fell good name the channel-stane!
There’s no a game that e’er I saw,
Can match auld Scotland’s channel-stane.
(The Channel Stane)
Since the first indoor game took place in Glasgow in 1907 the outdoor game
is now very infrequently played apart from 'The Bonspiel' or 'Grand Match'
traditionally played on the Lake of Monteith in Perthshire. But this only
takes place in extremely severe winters as the ice, for safety reasons, has
to be 10 inches thick. The Bonspiel has only been held 33 times in the last
150 years. The last Bonspiel on 7 February 1979 attracted upwards of 10,000
players and supporters for the traditional contest between teams from the
North and South of Scotland.
Scotland not only invented the game, wrote the rules, gave the game to the
world but also makes the best curling stones. The Gold Olympic success
should greatly increase interest in the game which in turn should benefit
the Scottish manufacturer of curling stones. Nearly all the curling stones
in the world are made from Scottish granite from Ailsa Craig - also known as
Paddy's Milestone - the famous rocky outcrop off the Ayrshire coast.
Curling began as a social event, with plenty drams to keep out the cold, and
it is still a social sport - the European Champions David Murdoch and Euan
Byers both play for fun not money. But indoors, or outdoors, the game is
still played in the cold! Our recipe this week - ‘Auld Reekie’ Cock-a-Leekie
Soup - is the splendid answer to the chill of the Curling Rink. This
variation of Cock-a-Leekie has the added bonus of having our National Drink
as an ingredient – a food and a drink which will stick to your ribs!
‘Auld Reekie’ Cock-a-Leekie Soup
Ingredients: 3 lb boiling chicken (giblets removed); 3 rashers streaky
bacon; 1 lb shin of beef; 2 lb leeks; 1 large onion; 5 fluid ounces Scotch
Whisky; 4 pints water; 1 level tablespoon dried tarragon; one teaspoon brown
sugar; salt and pepper; 8 pre-soaked prunes
Method: Mix the Whisky, tarragon and sugar in the water. Chop up the bacon
and place the chicken, bacon and beef in a large bowl and pour over the
Whisky marinade. Leave to soak overnight. Place the chicken etc in a large
soup pot. Chop up the leeks (reserve one) and onion and add to pot. Salt and
pepper to taste. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for two hours, removing
any scum as required. Remove the chicken from the pot, remove skin and
bones. Chop the meat into small pieces and return to pot. Cut up the shin of
beef, if required. Add the prunes and the last chopped leek and simmer for
10 to 15 minutes. It will serve up to eight people. The prunes are optional
but traditional.
You can read the Flag, listen to the Scots Language, enjoy the Scots Wit and
lots more at
http://www.scotsindependent.org
We didn't get Christina McKelvie MSP's weekly diary this week.
The Scottish Nation
-------------------
My thanks to Lora for transcribing these volumes for us.
We are now on the Mac's with MacLean, MacLellan, MacLennan and MacNab
Here is how the account of MacNab starts...
MACNAB, the name of a clan anciently located in the district of Breadalbane,
Perthshire, the badge of which was the common heath. The clan Anaba or the
Macnabs are erroneously held to belong to the Old Celtic race, or primitive
Albionic stock of Scotland, which were among the clans included under the
general denomination of Siol Alpin, of which the clan Gregor was the
principal. The chief, styled Macnab of that ilk, had his residence at
Kinnell, on the banks of the Dochart, and the family possessions, which
originally were considerable, lay mainly on the western shores of Loch Tay.
In the reign of David I. ‘1124-1153], the name was, it is said, Macnab-Eyre,
and signified the son and heir of the abbot.. According, however, to the
view taken in this work of the prefix Mac, as being no more than a
contraction of magnus, great, this legend cannot be admitted, although it
has been stated that the founder of this clan held the dignity of abbot of
Glendochart.
From the frequent use of the words “of that ilk,” in the charters of the
family of Macnab, it would appear, notwithstanding the received tradition as
to the derivation of the name, that the origin of it is territorial or from
land. There is not an instance in Scottish history where the words “of that
ilk” are employed, in which this is not the case. And if the form of the
name be given correctly as Macnab-Eyre, the source of the territorial
designation may with great probability be conjectured. The Gaelic word for
heir is not Eyre, but Oighre. It is only an adaptation of its sound to the
common English word heir, which is from the Latin word Hares. The word Ayre
or Aire, a term of frequent use in early Scottish annals for the site,
rather occasional than permanent, of a court of justice, is a corruption of
the Norman-French Oyer, to hear. Macnab-Eyre may, therefore, be held to mean
the seat of justice, or justice-place, in the territory Macnab, and is so
stated in the private histories of the family. Tradition points, however, at
a priory where the burial place now is placed. Whether there ever was an
abbot of Glendochart may well be doubted, yet there is every reason to
believe that the abbots of Dunkeld held, as abthanes, – (that is,
abbot-thanes, a secular title, defined by Ducange, as abbates qui simul
erant Comites, – justiciary power over this portion of Perthshire. It seems,
therefore, at least probable that Macnab-Eyre was the name given to the
occasional seat of justice of some kind or other. The precise site of the
lands bearing this particular name is now unknown, yet as in early times
lands and districts received names from conspicuous natural objects lying in
or near them, as Carrick, in Ayr, from the carrick or craig of Ailsa lying
in the firth opposite to that district; so Macnab, the great Nab or Nob, may
not improperly be held to mean the district around or near the mountain now
called Benmore, (or great head,) which is conspicuous all along the glen of
the Dochart, and very near its source. The occurrence of Nab in topography
to designate a round-headed height or cone is familiar in Scotland and the
north of England.
The Macnabs were a considerable clan before the reign of Alexander III. When
Robert the Bruce commenced his struggle for the drown, the baron of Macnab
with his clan, joined the Macdougals of Lorn, and fought against Bruce at
the battle of Dalres. Afterwards, when the cause of Bruce prevailed, the
lands of the Macnabs were ravaged by his victorious troops, their houses
burnt, and all their family writs destroyed. Of all their possessions only
the barony of Bowain or Bovain, in Glendochart, remained to them, and of it,
Gilbert Macnab of that ilk, from whom the line is usually deduced, as the
first undoubted laird of Macnab, received from David II., on being
reconciled to that monarch, a charter, under the great seal, to him and his
heirs whomsoever, dated in 1336. He died in the reign of Robert II.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/macnab.htm
You can read the other entries at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/index.htm
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1845)
------------------------------------------
The first volume I am dealing with is the one on Aberdeenshire. There are
some 85 parishes in this volume and a write up on each.
This week have added...
Parish of Echt at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/statistical/echt.htm
Here is a bit from the account...
Name.—The etymology of Echt is not known with certainty. An old tradition
refers it to the Gaelic word "Each," which signifies a horse. It bears that
a division of an ancient Caledonian army having encamped in this parish, the
officers and men, in the time of a severe drought, were reduced to great
straits for want of water, when a horse which had been brought to the camp
was seen to gallop to a spot where he had been accustomed to drink; and
that, by pawing and scratching with his feet, some signs of water were
discovered; in which spot, a well having been dug, afforded relief from
thirst to the army. In memory of that event, this particular district, and
afterwards the parish, is said to have been designated by the above term.
Extent, &c.—The parish of Echt lies west from Aberdeen, the eastern
extremity nearly ten, and the western fourteen miles from that city. It is
almost of a square form, each side about 4½ miles. It is bounded on the east
and north-east, by the parish of Skene; on the south-east, by Peterculter
and Drumoak; on the south, by Banchory-Ternan; on the west and north-west,
by Midmar; and on the north, by Cluny.
The chief historical event relating to this district is the battle of
Corrichie, which was fought on the 28th October 1562, in a vale of the same
name, by the forces commanded by the Marquis of Huntly and the Earl of
Murray, the brother and general of Mary Queen of Scots. This battle is taken
notice of by most of the Scottish historians. It appears that the Marquis
was offended at the Queen for bestowing the earldom of Murray on her brother
the Earl of Mar, and for her intention of giving him a great part of those
large and valuable northern estates which belonged to that earldom, several
of which had been seized by the Marquis. His son, Sir John Gordon, had
escaped from the prison to which the Queen had sentenced him for some feudal
outrage; and had placed himself at the head of the vassals of his
house,—soon after which, the Marquis assumed arms in person, and advanced
towards Aberdeen. Murray drew up his men on the hill of Fare, and awaited
the approach of Huntly with only a few troops from the midland counties on
which he could depend, and some troops belonging to the northern Barons,
whose intentions were doubtful. Huntly encountered first the northern
troops, who fled towards Murray's main body, pursued by the Gordons, sword
in hand. The Gordons were repulsed by Murray's firm battalion, and victory
was completed by the clans that had fled, who turned upon the Gordons as
soon as they began to lose the day. Huntly, a bulky man, and heavily armed,
fell from his horse, and was trod-den to death. Other accounts say that he
fled nearly a mile, and there is a spot in the south-west corner of this
parish, on the bor-ders of the estate of Cullerley, yet denominated "
Gordon's moss" —where it is thought he was killed. Sir Walter Scott affirms
that his body was afterwards brought into a court of justice, meanly arrayed
in a doublet of coarse canvas, that the sentence of a traitor might be
pronounced over it. The Queen, who was at Aberdeen during the battle, three
days after beheld Sir John Gordon beheaded there. Murray was put in
possession of the estates belonging to his new earldom. An excavation on the
side of a rock, where it is said Mary sat soon after, and viewed the scene
of action on her way south, still retains the name of the Queen's chair.
You can read the rest of this account at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/statistical/echt.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
Early Scotch History
--------------------
By Cosmo Innis and our thanks to Alan McKenzie for scanning this in for us.
This week Alan has started on the "Home Life" section of this book staring
with "Family Papers". Here is a summary of what is included...
Family Papers—Papers of the Family of Morton, Origin of Douglases—Early
Members—William of Douglas— Bishop Bricius—Sir William of Liddesdale—Sir
James of Dalkeith—Marriage of his Daughter with Hamilton—First Arms of
Hamilton—Chapel of St. Nicholas of Dalkeith— Sir James's wills, the earliest
Scotch wills extant—His alliances—The Regent Morton—Line of Lochleven—Excitement
of a Charter hunt-—Early Letters of Correspondence unsatisfactory—Low range
of Education—Danger of writing openly—Store of State Papers at Dalmahoy.
You can read the .pdf file at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/earlyhistndx.htm
Book of Scottish Story
----------------------
Our thanks to John Henderson for sending this is for us.
This week have added "The Lover's Last Visit" by Professor Wilson
Here is how this story starts...
The window of the lonely cottage of Hilltop was beaming far above the
highest birchwood, seeming to travellers at a distance in the long valley
below, who knew it not, to be a star in the sky. A bright fire was in the
kitchen of that small tenement; the floor was washed, swept and sanded, and
not a footstep had marked its perfect neatness; a small table was covered,
near the ingle, with a snow-white cloth, on which was placed a frugal
evening meal; and in happy but pensive mood sat there all alone the
woodcutter's only daughter, a comely and gentle creature, if not
beautiful—such a one as diffuses pleasure round her hay-field, and serenity
over the seat in which she sits attentively on the Sabbath, listening to the
word of God, or joining with mellow voice in His praise and worship. On this
night she expected a visit from her lover, that they might fix their
marriage-day; and her parents, satisfied and happy that their child was
about to be wedded to a respectable shepherd, had gone to pay a visit to
their nearest neighbour in the glen.
A feeble and hesitating knock was at the door, not like the glad and joyful
touch of a lover's hand ; and cautiously opening it, Mary Robinson beheld a
female figure wrapped up in a cloak, with her face concealed in a black
bonnet. The stranger, whoever she might be, seemed wearied and worn out, and
her feet bore witness to a long day's travel across the marshy mountains.
Although she could scarcely help considering her an unwelcome visitor at
such an hour, yet Mary had too much disposition—too much humanity,—not to
request her to step forward into the hut; for it seemed as if the wearied
woman had lost her way, and had come towards the shining window to be put
right upon her journey to the low country.
The stranger took off her bonnet on reaching the fire; and Mary Robinson
beheld the face of one whom, in youth, she had tenderly loved; although for
some years past, the distance at which they lived from each other had kept
them from meeting, and only a letter or two, written in their simple way,
had given them a few notices of each other's existence. And now Mary had
opportunity, in the first speechless gaze of recognition, to mark the
altered face of her friend,—and her heart was touched with an ignorant
compassion. "For mercy's sake! sit down Sarah, and tell me what evil has
befallen you; for you are as white as a ghost. Fear not to confide anything
to my bosom: we have herded sheep together on the lonesome braes; —we have
stripped the bark together in the more lonesome woods; — we have played,
laughed, sung, danced together; —we have talked merrily and gaily, but
innocently enough surely, of sweethearts together; and, Sarah, graver
thoughts, too, have we shared, for when your poor brother died away like a
frosted flower, I wept as if I had been his sister; nor can I ever be so
happy in this world as to forget him. Tell me, my friend, why are you here?
and why is your sweet face so ghastly?"
The rest of this story can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/story35.htm
The rest of the stories can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/index.htm
Good Words - 1860 Edition
-------------------------
Edited by Rev. Norman MacLeod
You should note that as this is a weekly publication you'll find larger
articles are continued week by week.
This week have added articles on...
Aspects of Indian Life During the Rebellion (Pages 322-326)
Gone (Page 327)
A Story of the Eighth Commandment (Pages 327-328)
Thanksgiving (Page 328)
Missionary Sketches (Pages 329-333)
A Friend of Sinners (Page 333)
The Spirit of Beauty (Pages 333-335)
Here is how "The Spirit of Beauty" starts...
The Spirit of Beauty had wandered through the world from the first dawn of
creation's morning. Man was subject to her, but he knew her not. Glimpses of
her ethereal form gladdened him, but, as yet, she dwelt in his earth as a
veiled virgin, and none had seen her countenance; only the reflection of her
smile.
Then the Spirit of Beauty sighed, and said, "Man is my vassal; he
acknowledges me as a power mysterious and superior, but he hath not beheld
me; and how, then, shall he fully know and love me? Who shall reveal me to
him? Where shall I find one who may undertake the mighty task?"
For the Spirit loved the soul of man, and longed to rejoice him with a
revelation of her ineffable loveliness. So she went forth and walked through
the world, to find one worthy to be the vehicle of her manifestation; and,
lo, a fair young girl sat by a fountain, her head bent in quiet musing; and
the Spirit loved her, and said, "Even she shall become the revealer of my
power to the hearts of men." And from the sparkling waters the Spirit of
Beauty, ascending, entered into her spirit, and looked forth from her brow,
till men wondered, and said, "Surely the Spirit of the Beautiful is among
us;" and they worshipped before her. Then the heart of the maiden was lifted
up with pride, and an unholy light was mingled with the rays which the fair
Spirit had poured from her starry eyes, and the purity was gone. So the
Spirit was grieved, and said, "I cannot dwell with one who harbours the fell
child of him who disturbed the harmony of my home, even heaven." And she
sped away to seek a more perfect resting-place, leaving but a trace of her
bright presence, like the quivering light of the summer sky at midnight.
Then the Spirit saw one who thought to perpetuate his name by a monument
which should stand when the oak sapling at his door had become the riven and
hollow trunk of a thousand winters. She overshadowed him with her influence
as with an invisible mantle; and, under his master-hand and eye, there arose
a fair temple, whose arching roof and carven pillars should be the
interpretation of the mighty Spirit. ''Shall he not reveal me to man?" said
she; and awhile she paused, resting in the thought. But Superstition crept,
with serpent stealthiness, through the fane, leaving her defiling trail upon
pavement and dome, and before that child of Darkness, the Light's eldest
daughter fled in dismay.
You can read the rest of this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/goodwords161.htm
You can read the other articles at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/goodwords/index.htm
Clan Information
----------------
Added the February 2008 Update for the Scottish Clans DNA Project which you
can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/reb2008.htm
Joanne Crawford of the Clan Crawford Association has sent us in a couple of
adobe .pdf files she authored about William Wallace and Queen/St. Margaret
and their Crawford connection. You can read these at the foot of the
Crawford Page in The Scottish Nation at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/nation/crawford.htm
Poetry and Stories
------------------
John sent in a doggerel, "Lorelei" at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel248.htm
He also sent in Chapter 69 of his Recounting Blessings at
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/henderson/Chapter%2069.pdf
Donna sent in a story, Stillwater’s Writer’s Group Talk, at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/velma/story6.htm
and also a poem, Measured Steps, at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/poetry/poem48.htm
The History of Ulster
------------------------------
We are now making a start at Volume 4 being the final volume. Added this
week are...
I. The Relief of Londonderry
II. The Inniskillings
III. Arrival of Schomberg
IV. Schomberg commences his Campaign
V. An Inactive Army
This is how "The Relief of Londonderry" starts...
In describing the condition of Londonderry at this period of the siege it is
impossible to improve on Lord Macaulay's vivid and accurate summary of
Walker's account of the state of things, which he says was "hour by hour
becoming more frightful. The number of the inhabitants had been thinned more
by famine and disease than by the fire of the enemy. Yet that fire was
sharper and more constant than ever. One of the gates was beaten in: one of
the bastions was laid in ruins; but the breaches made by day were repaired
by night with indefatigable activity. Every attack was still repelled. But
the fighting men of the garrison were so much exhausted that they could
scarcely keep their legs. Several of them, in the act of striking at the
enemy, fell down from mere weakness. A very small quantity of grain
remained, and was doled out by mouthfuls. The stock of salted hides was
considerable, and by gnawing them the garrison appeased the rage of hunger.
Dogs, fattened on the blood of the slain who lay unburied round the town,
were luxuries which few could afford to purchase. The price of a whelp's paw
was five shillings and sixpence. Nine horses were still alive, and but
barely alive. They were so lean that little meat was likely to be found upon
them. It was, however, determined to slaughter them for food. The people
perished so fast, that it was impossible for the survivors to perform the
rites of sepulture. There was scarcely a cellar in which some corpse was not
decaying. Such was the extremity of distress that the rats who [sic] came to
feast in those hideous dens were eagerly hunted and greedily devoured. A
small fish, caught in the river, was not to be purchased with money. The
only price for which such a treasure could be obtained was some handfuls of
oatmeal. Leprosies, such as strange and unwholesome diet engenders, made
existence a constant torment. The whole city was poisoned by the stench
exhaled from the bodies of the dead and of the half dead. That there should
be fits of discontent and insubordination among men enduring such misery was
inevitable. At one moment it was suspected that Walker had laid up somewhere
a secret store of food, and was revelling in private, while he exhorted
others to suffer resolutely for the good cause. His house was strictly
examined: his innocence was fully proved: he regained his popularity; and
the garrison, with death in near prospect, thronged to the cathedral to hear
him preach, drank in his earnest eloquence with delight, and went forth from
the house of God, with haggard faces and tottering steps, but with spirit
still unsubdued. There were, indeed, some secret plottings. A very few
obscure traitors opened communications with the enemy. But it was necessary
that such dealings should be carefully concealed. None dared to utter
publicly any words save words of defiance and stubborn resolution. Even in
that extremity the general cry was 'No Surrender'. And there were not
wanting voices which, in low tones, added: 'First the horses and hides; and
then the prisoners; and then each other'."
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ulster/vol4chap1.htm
The rest of the chapters can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ulster/
Reminiscences and Reflections of an Octogenarian Highlander
-----------------------------------------------------------
By Duncan Campbell (1910)
This week we've added the following chapters...
Chapter LXXIII.
Neighbours and Incidents
Chapter LXXIV.
The Anti-Vaccination Agitation
Chapter LXXV.
Keighley Parties and Politics
Chapter LXXVI.
Farewell to England
Chapter LXXVII.
Back to Scotland
Chapter LXXVIll.
"The Northern Chronicle"
Chapter LXXIX.
The Procession of Changes
Here is a bit from "Back to Scotland"...
THE first issue of the new paper at Inverness was to take place in the first
week of 1881, but I thought it would be well to make a preliminary survey of
my new sphere of labour by personal observation and conversation with people
of different classes and callings. With this purpose in view I left England
about the middle of November, 1880. My wife, with our large brigade of young
children, remained with her own people until I got a house for them. As it
happened, the house was ready for them several weeks before they could get
to it, because of the snowstorms and blocks on the Highland Railway. But
they were happy where they were, and Mr and Mrs Aspinall were glad to have
them for a longer time they had been foreseen by us when I left England.
My first halting place was Dunmore. Mr Archibald Campbell, the Earl's
factor, one of my dearest friends from the time he was a little delicate
pupil of mine in the Keumore school, until his premature death, after a
bright and most honourable career, when factor of the Colquhoun estates, had
pressingly invited me to diverge from the direct route to the Highlands and
stop with him a couple of days. He threw in as an inducement the information
that "Manitoba" would be my fellow guest, and would come by my train with me
from Edinburgh to Larbert, where he would meet us with a dogcart and drive
us to his picturesque factorial residence. "Manitoba" and I missed one
another in the murky dark of the station in Edinburgh, but our host picked
us up quickly enough when we emerged from our different carriages at Larbert.
"Manitoba" meant Mr Robert Campbell, a Glenlyon man, who, in his modest way,
had done more than he was aware of for the extension of the territories of
the Dominion of Canada, and the establishing of British authority over the
Indians of the great North-West. I was quite a small boy when Robert went
away from shepherding his father's farm of Dalchioinch to Hudson Bay, to
enter the service of the old Royal Charter Company of traders and hunters.
In that service he passed through many adventures and hardships, and proved
his sagacity and tough powers of physical endurance. But he was one of those
men of action who are sparing of their words. The best way for getting a
full story out of him was to spread a map before him, and to make him
describe his march, stage by stage, from commencement to finish. By means of
a very imperfect map, Archie and I got him to tell us, stage by stage, the
story of the expedition into the unknown wilds, of which he was chief, which
discovered the Yukon Valley, and penetrated under great difficulties into
Alaska, which was then Russian territory, with an undefined boundary between
it and British territory. If first discovery counted in the settlement of
the boundary, the whole of the Klondyke hinterland should belong to the
Dominion, because no white man's foot had ever traversed these regions
before Robert Campbell led his hardy little party over it. He rose, as he
deserved, to be one of the Company's chief officers, and was in charge of
Fort-Garry on the Red River, where the large city of Winnipeg now stands,
when the rebellion of Riel and the half-breeds took place. He was, however,
far away on his annual trading expedition, with the best and most faithful
of his men, when the outbreak took place. He had some years before then
married Miss Stirling from Comrie, and she and their children were left
behind in the fort, which was in the charge of Thomas Scott, and could not
be held against the rebels within and without. Mrs Campbell rallied together
some fugitives and faithful Indians, who seized upon boats, and with them
escaped, while "President" Riel and his half-breeds were employed in looting
the stores and in condemning Scott by mock court-martial, and most
barbarously murdering him. Mrs Campbell took care to bring away with her the
books and papers of the factory when she and her children and companions
slipped away out of Riel's clutches, and hastened to put between them and
the "President" as much distance as they could.
The rest of this chapter can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/octogenarian/chapter77.htm
The other chapters added so far can be read at the index page of the book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/octogenarian/index.htm
Sketches of The Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlanders of
Scotland
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Major-General David Stewart (1822)
We have now moved on to Volume II and the next several chapters are all
about the various Highland Regiments. When those accounts are complete we'll
be moving onto the Fencible Regiments.
This week we've added...
Military Annals of the Highland Regiments
Loudon's Highlanders, 1745 [The year marks the date when the corps was first
raised.]
Seventy-Seventh Regiment of Montgomerie's Highlanders, 1757
Seventy-Eighth Regiment or Fraser's Highlanders, 1757
Keith's and Campbell's Highlanders or Eighty-Seventh and Eighty-Eighth
Regiments, 1759
Eighty-Ninth, or Gordon Highland Regiment, 1759
Johnstone's Highlanders or One Hundred and First Regiment, 1760
Fraser's Highlanders, or Seventy-first Regiment, 1775
Here is how the account of Fraser's Highlanders starts...
The rapidity with which the ranks of Colonel Fraser's regiment of 1757 were
completed, its honourable and important services, and the character it
upheld, were known and acknowledged; and by none more than by his late
Majesty, who, with enlightened views of the firm and incorruptible fidelity,
and mistaken but generous loyalty of many of his northern subjects, omitted
no opportunity of exhibiting towards them the greatest indulgence, of
directing their loyalty into the proper channel, and of securing their
affections to his person, family, and government, from which they had been
long unconstitutionally and unfortunately alienated. Those principles which
had withstood so many years of absence and exile, formed the best security
for that loyalty which was now in its proper place; and, as this was fully
proved by the services of Colonel Fraser and his regiment in the former war,
he was by his Majesty, in the year 1774, rewarded with a free grant of his
family estate, forfeited to the Crown in 1746. In 1775 he was farther
countenanced by receiving Letters of Service for raising in the Highlands
another regiment of two battalions.
By the restoration of his property, he was now in possession of all the
power which wealth and territorial influence could command ; but his present
purpose had less relation to the influence of wealth, than to the
preservation of respect and attachment to his person and family. Relying on
the latter alone, when in poverty, and without the means to reward, his
influence had experienced no diminution, for in a few weeks he had found
himself at the head of 1250 men. So much having been done in 1757 without
the aid of property or estate, no difficulty was to be expected, now that
the case was the reverse. Nor did he find any; for, with equal ease and
expedition, two battalions of 2340 Highlanders were marched up to Stirling,
and thence to Glasgow, in April 1776. The completion of this numerous corps
must, no doubt, have been accelerated by the exertions of his officers, of
whom six besides himself were chiefs of clans, and all of respectable
families, or sons of gentlemen tacksmen, as will be seen by the following
nominal list:
You can read the rest of this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sketches/highlandsketches68.htm
You can read the other chapters at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sketches/highlandsketchesndx.htm
Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland 1881
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This week have added The Blackfaced Breed of Sheep by David Archibald and
here is how it starts...
By David Archibald, Awamoa, Otago.
[Premium—Five Sovereigns.]
There can be few more interesting subjects to breeders in Scotland than the
breeding of the blackfaced sheep. These hardy animals have now gained a
place and reputation for themselves that will entitle them to claim notice
and attention. The breed may indeed be said to be at present the mainstay of
Scottish sheep farming, as they were in the first instance largely the means
of developing the pastoral resources of the country. In reference to their
origin there is a good deal of uncertainty. Theories to account for it are,
however, plentiful enough. To begin with, there is the usual story that they
came from Spain with the Armada—a story which seems to be told about nearly
all wool-bearing animals whose descent it is difficult to trace. A second
tradition is, that they were introduced by one of the Scotch kings (whom
Hogg calls James IV.) into Ettrick forest; but the quarter from which they
were supposed to have come is a point on which this narrative is altogether
silent.
Another belief, which has attracted more attention than these, is that the
blackfaced breed were originally the product of a cross between the goat and
the old whitefaced native sheep. This is an opinion which was at one time
pretty current, and is found mentioned in the works of several writers. The
publication which gave most importance to it was perhaps the Old Statistical
Account of Scotland. The reference to the subject occurs in the report on
the parish of Urr by the Rev. James Muirhead. This writer, after pointing
out "that in the reign of James VI. Galloway was understood " to produce the
finest wool in Scotland, perhaps in Britain fixes the date of the
introduction of the blackfaced as about the time the king left Scotland for
England (in 1603), and then asks, "Whence these sheep came?" "It may be
observed/' he says, "that Galloway abounds with goats, which in the marshy
or soft tracts are almost uniformly of a black colour;" and then he gives
some countenance to the theory that the goats and sheep bred together,
mentioning that mongrels or crosses between the two animals were quite
common.
But while he ventures on this suggestion, Muirhead confesses that any
inquiry upon the subject is not attended with much satisfaction. Then again,
another and more widely accepted opinion has been, that the breed travelled
northward from Yorkshire. This hypothesis was brought forward by Marshall,
the author of numerous agricultural works at the end of last century. There
is, however, this objection to accepting Marshall's authority, that in two
separate works, published within a few years of one another, he makes
statements that are slightly at variance. In a work on the Rural Economy of
Yorkshire, published in 1788, in speaking of the moorland sheep, he says
they " are probably of Scotch origin," adding that " they resemble much the
Scotch sheep which are sometimes brought into the vale." Six years
afterwards Marshall must have had but an indistinct recollection of what he
had written in 1788. In an essay published in 1794, on the agriculture of
the central Highlands of Scotland, he states "that the breed, which is now
supplanting the ancient breed of the Highlands, is that which is well known
in Scotland by the name of the blackfaced breed, which on the southern
hills, as well as in the highlands or mountains of Braemar, is the
established breed." Then, in dealing with the question of the origin of the
breed, he gives altogether vague testimony. "Whether this breed has
heretofore travelled northwards from the moorlands of Yorkshire, where a
similar breed has been so long established as to be deemed natural to a
heathy or mountainous situation, or whether that breed was drawn originally
from Scotland, might perhaps be easily traced upon the southern borders."
Further examination of the recorded opinion of many writers leads to no more
satisfactory result. So much is dependent on conjecture, that it is quite
impossible to form any definite opinion based on reliable grounds. This view
is fortified by the position taken up by two writers whose opinion carries
considerable weight. Naismyth of Hamilton, writing in Young's Annals of
Agriculture, in 1796, descriptive of a visit he had made to Lammermuir,
states that the breed prevalent there was "the blackfaced muir kind, having
generally horns, and called the short sheep," but that "it is impossible to
trace their origin, there being no traditions of the sheep here being of a
different kind, nor can they be called a distinct variety of the species." A
passage very similar to this occurs in a Report on the Agriculture of
Peebles, written by the Rev. Mr Findlater in 1802. "There seems to be," this
writer says, "no clear tradition nor even plausible conjecture as to when or
whence sheep were first introduced into this country, or whether the present
breed are indigenous or from another country. There is, indeed, an obscure
tradition, that previous to the introduction or general prevalence of sheep
in the parish of Tweedsmuir, the farmers in that parish paid their rents by
grazing, for hire through summer, the oxen then generally used by Lothian
farmers for their winter ploughing. The native Tweeddale breed, which has
continued the same as far back as memory or tradition extends, are all
horned, with black faces and black legs and coarse wool." While there is
much uncertainty in connection with the origin of the breed, it is beyond
doubt that the system of sheep farming began to grow in importance just at
the time when blackfaced stock began to grow into a prevalent type. Napier,
in his work on Store Farming, which bears the date of 1822, adopts this
view. "The present system of sheep or store farming does not appear," he
writes, "to have taken place till about the end of the reign of James VI.,"
a statement which it may be pointed out agrees with what Muirhead says in
the Old Statistical Account. "Before this time," Napier explains, "the
mountainous south country districts are said to have been under a stock of
black cattle and some small straggling flocks of sheep, as was the case in
the Highlands till of late years."
You can read the rest of this chapter at
http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/page61.htm
The other articles can be read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/index.htm
Household Encyclopaedia
-----------------------
I have added a few more pages to the B's which you can see at
http://www.electricscotland.com/household/b.htm
The index page of this publication can be seen at
http://www.electricscotland.com/household/
Scottish Art Trading Cards
--------------------------
Margo has done some Scottish Art Trading Cards which you can print out on
2.5" x 3.5" cards and build them into a collection. These are great for kids
and also anyone interested in collecting cards. We have the fifth page of 10
cards up at
http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/cards/index.htm
Electric Scotland Article Service
---------------------------------
We're getting a nice wee collection of articles in and I'd certainly
encourage you to have a read and perhaps have a go at adding an article
yourself. There is a category where you can also add a wee article about
your own family history.
You can get to it at
http://www.electricscotland.com/article
Antiquarian Scottish Books in Adobe Reader format
-------------------------------------------------
I said I'd do my best to add a book each week and so this week I've added...
The Campbells of Argyll
You can get to the book at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/campbellsofargyll.htm
You can get to this new section at
http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/index.htm
McIntyre and the Scottish Caucas
--------------------------------
Mike McIntyre was influencial in saving Scots literature being sorted under
English literature and you can read the story at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/english.htm
When I read the artile I was determined to find out a bit more about Mike
McIntyre and have managed to get a wee biography of him at
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/mike_mcintyre.htm
Electric Scotland Recipe Database
---------------------------------
I would appreciate some help on configuring our Recipe Database as there are
loads of options so would be great to get some feedback. Here are the
various sections and how I've configured them...
Categories
Appetizers and Snacks
Beverage
Bread
Breakfast and Brunch
Candy
Cookies
Dessert, Cakes and Pies
Fish and Seafood
Ground Meats and Sausages
Healthy
International
Jams and Jellies
Meat
Misc
Poultry
Quick and Easy
Rice, Potato, Pasta
Salad
Sandwich
Sauces
Scottish
Seasonal and Holiday
Side Dish
Soups and Stews
Stocks
Vegetarian
Video Recipes
Courses
Appetizers and Snacks
Bread
Breakfast and Brunch
Casseroles
Desserts
Drinks
Lunch
Main Course
Salads
Side Dish
Starters
Supper
Dish Types
Bread and Muffins
Breakfast
Burgers and Loafs
Cakes
Candy
Cookies
Desserts
Drinks
Main Dishes
Raw Food
Salads and Wraps
Sandwiches
Sauces, Dips and Gravies
Side Dishes
Snacks
Spreads and Pates
Soups and Stews
Vegetarian
Cuisine
African
American
Arabic
Asian
Australian
Cajun
Canadian
Caribbean
Chinese
Diabetic
English
European
Filipino
French
Greek
Historical
Indian
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Jewish
Medieval and Renaissance
Mexican
Russian
Scandinavian
Scottish
South American
Thai
Turkish
Vegetarian
Welsh
Misc.
Season/Occasion
Autumn
Christmas
Easter
Halloween
Party
Picnic
Spring
Summer
Thanksgiving
Winter
Preparation Methods
Bake
BBQ
Boil
Freeze
Fry
Grill
Microwave
No cooking
Steam
Stirfry
Ingredients
Beans
Beef
Carrots
Cheese
Chicken
Chili
Chocolate
Curry
Dairy
Eggs
Fish
Fowl
Fruit
Game
Garlic
Ginger
Grains
Ground Meat
Herbs
Lamb
Mushrooms
Nuts
Onion
Pasta
Peppers
Pork
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Rice
Shellfish
Squash
Stock
Tofu/Soy
Tomatoes
Turkey
Vegetables (Green)
Vegetables (Root)
Once all is configured you'll be able to search for recipes using all these
options.
And so I'd appreciate your suggestions as to what I could delete, add,
merge, etc. and of course if you think I've got it about right I'd also like
to hear about that as well :-)
And that's it for now and I hope you all have a great weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
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