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CONTENTS
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Electric Scotland News
Electric Scotland Community
The Flag in the Wind
Geikie's Etchings
Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland
Robert Chambers - Songs of Scotland
Lays of the Covenanters
Glencreggan: or A Highland Home in Cantire
Arran of the Bens, The Glens and the Brave
Harry Lauder
Lord Elgin
Kay's Edinburgh Portraits
Robert Burns Lives!
William McTaggart, R.S.A., V.P.R.S.W. (New Book)
The Brig of Ayr (New Book)
Tales of the Scottish Peasantry (New Book)
Holiday Cottages Travel Article
The Scot in Ulster (Complete New Book)
J & J Denholm
The New Britons: Scottish Identity in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Clan Munro of Australia
The Kingdom of Kippen (Complete New Book)
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Electric Scotland News
----------------------
Here's a plug for an excellent event in New York...
The producers of the Pipes of Christmas are delighted to report that Alasdair Gillies, former Pipe Major of the Queen's Own Highlanders and one of the world's top solo bagpipers will be performing at our upcoming concerts in NY and NJ. Pipe Major Gillies will be performing the moving tribute to Private Bill Millin, the famed D-Day bagpiper who passed away earlier this year at the age of 88.
Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear one of the true greats of the piping community.
The Pipes of Christmas will be performed in Summit, NJ on Saturday, Dec. 18 at Central Presbyterian Church located at 70 Maple Street. Performances are at 2 and 8 PM. The concert moves to Manhattan on Sunday, Dec. 19 to the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church located at 921 Madison Avenue (at 73rd Street). The concert begins at 2:30 PM. Tickets are available for all performances but moving quickly.
Complete information is available at http://www.pipesofchristmas.com
As part of the tribute to Millin, the Clan Currie Society is making available a limited number of VIP guest passes to veterans of World War II. To secure a reservation, please contact the Society at (908) 273-3509. Advance registration is required.
Pipes Preview Show:
There will be a free preview of the Pipes of Christmas this Sunday, Dec. 5 as part of the Miracle on Madison fundraiser for the Children's Aid Society of New York. Scottish entertainment begins at 1PM on the Miracle stage located at 63rd Street and Madison Avenue.
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And another plug for a Gift Voucher site with loads of activities in Scotland which you can get to at http://giftvouchers.gobananas.co.uk/
This site is brand new but from an old established company and they'll be adding to it on a regular basis. They tell me the gift voucher for Clay Pigeon Shooting is already a popular choice.
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We've added David Thomson to our Lossiemouth Project. We have his book up on the site which is a very popular read by our many site visitors. You can see his book through http://www.electricscotland.com/loss...ople/index.htm
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 in our site menu and at http://www.electricscotland.com/rss/whatsnew.php
Electric Scotland Community
---------------------------
An interesting article from the Registrar General of Scotland pointing to some changes to Scotland's People web site. Ranald has also been posting up pictures of the snow in Scotland.
Our community can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.org/forum.php
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
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This weeks issue is now available compiled by Jim Lynch. As always Jim brings you a number of interesting articles and the Gaelic column this week is talking about Megrahi and how the USA really doesn't know much about Scotland. For example the article starts...
Over the past few weeks I have come to realise just how little the Americans really know or understand about Scotland. From meeting Americans, reading American books and watching American television I am well aware that they still use the words England, Britain and UK as if they were all referring to the same country. Many consider Scotland either a part of England or basically a colony of it. There seems to be little appreciation by leading US political figures such as Hillary Clinton of the Scottish government and the independence of our legal system. They cannot comprehend devolution even though they operate their own federal system. There seems to be a staunch refusal in Washington to accept the fact that it was not the ultimate decision of Jack Straw or Gordon Brown but Kenny MacAskill’s alone.
You can get to the Flag at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Christina McKelvie's weekly diary is available at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lvie/index.htm
Geikie's Etchings
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This week we've added more articles...
The Knife Grinder
Cobbler and Customer
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ikie/index.htm
Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland
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And of the Border Raids, Forays and Conflicts by John Parker Lawson (1839). This is a new publication we're starting on which is in 3 volumes. We intend to post up 2 or 3 stories each week until complete.
This week we've added...
Rout Of Solway - 1542
Conflict At Loch Lochy - 1544
The Battle Of Ancrum - 1544 and 1545
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/wars/
Robert Chambers
---------------
Robert Chambers is a famous author and publisher and we do carry a few of his publications on our site such as the 3 volume Domestic Annals of Scotland and his 4 volume Biographical Dictionary of Significant Scots.
John Henderson found his 2 volume "Songs of Scotland" which we both agree is a fabulous resource and so we are going to add this to the site in small chuncks in pdf format for you to enjoy.
This week we added...
Pages 537 to 597
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ers_robert.htm
Lays of the Covenanters
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By James Dodds (1880)
This week we've added...
The Martyr of Priesthill
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/covenanters/
Glencreggan: or A Highland Home in Cantire
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By Cuthbert Bede (1861)
This week we put up Chapter X - Saints and Legends
St. Couslau. — The Spanish Princess. — Dr. Smith of Campbelton. — Kilcouslan. — Kilcoivin. — A noted Duellist. — Holy Music. — St. Couslan and runaway Couples. — St. Coivin and unhappy Married Folks. — Theii- several Plans. —A Midnight Conversazione for Discontented Couples. — A Disappointed Divorcer. — Etymology of "Cabbage." — Machrihanish Bay. — Its Scenery and Dangers. — Salt-Pans. — Pan Cod. —How it is caught. — The three Degrees of Comparison in Mountain Altitudes. — View from Cnoc-maigh. — Tirfergus Glen. — The Legend of the Weaver of Tirfergus. — Mackinven's Bard outdone. — Kaids. —The Story oi" Boyle's Bible. — The Act Eecissory. — Torquil MacNeaFs Second-sight. — The Laggan of Cantire. — The Black Fisherman of Lochsanish. — The poor Man's Prayer fulfilled. —Kilehenzie and St. Kenneth. — How MacEachin entertained MacCallum More.
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/glencreggan/
Arran of the Bens, The Glens and the Brave
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By MacKenzie MacBride FSA Scot (1911)
This week we've added...
PART VI: ARRAN—THE BATTLE-GROUND OF THE VIKING AGE
Chapter XVII.
King Hakon at Lamlash
PART VII: THE DAYS OF WALLACE
Chapter XVIII.
The Great War of Independence - The Battle of Stirling Bridge, The Brandanes at the Battle of Falkirk, How Brandanes covered the Retreat, The Brandanes at Perth, Edward's Vengeance
PART VIII: HOW THE ARRAN MEN SHELTERED KING ROBERT BRUCE
Chapter XIX.
The Ambush at Brodick Castle - Bruce and the Spider, The Red Light on Turnberry Beacon, The Brandanes at Bannockburn
PART IX: WHAT THE BRANDANES DID FOR THE STEWARTS
Chapter XX.
What the Brandanes did for the Stewarts - The Battle of the Stones, The Steward's escape from Rothesay Castle, The King's bodyguard. The Battles of William the Lyon and the disaster at Pinkie
PART X: THE LATER LORDS OF ARRAN
Chapter XXI.
The Later Lords of Arran - The Boyds, The Hamiltons, "Lady Mary"
And this now completes this book.
This book can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/arran/
Harry Lauder
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we've added two more songs for you to listen to...
Portobello Pier
Pin your Faith on the Motherland
This page can be found at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...derson/lauder/
Lord Elgin
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By John George Bourinot (1903)
We have now added the final chapter of this book...
Bibliographical Notes
These chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...rdelginndx.htm
Kay's Edinburgh Portraits
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A Series of Anecdotal Biographies chiefly of Scotchmen, Mostly by James Paterson and Edited by James Maidment (1885)
This week we have added...
Lord Kames, of the Court of Session
Hugo Arnot, Esq., Advocate
Lord Monboddo, of the Court of Session
Lord Gardenstone, of the Court of Session
Dr. Glen, Edinburgh
Amazing what you learn about folk in this publication and so here is how the account of Dr. Glen starts...
Dr. Glen was a gentleman who enjoyed considerable celebrity in his day, at once for the amount of his wealth and the tenacity with which he held it. He had made a fortune abroad in the practice of his profession ; and, in his latter years, returned to his native country —not to enjoy it. He was twice married. On the second occasion he had attained the discreet age of seventy; and it is said that, amongst the other soft and captivating things which the venerable lover whispered into the ear of the young lady on whom his choice had fallen, to induce her to receive his addresses, was the promise of a carriage. To this promise the Doctor was faithful. The carriage was got—but no horses. "That's more than I bargained for," said the Doctor; "I promised a carriage, and there it is; but I promised no horses, neither shall yon have them." And here again the Doctor was as good as his word. The consequence was a quarrel with his young wife, aggravated by certain attempts, on her part, to revolutionize his house. The result may be anticipated—three weeks after the marriage a separation took place by mutual consent, the husband settling a sufficient aliment on his affectionate spouse.
There is another anecdote of the Doctor's happy talent for saving, but of so incredible and absurd a character, that, assured as we are of its truth, we have some hesitation in mentioning it. It is said that, on the death of his wife—the first, we presume—he adopted the ingenious expedient of attempting to procure a second-hand coffin to hold her remains, for lessening the funeral expenses on this melancholy occasion.
You can read the rest of this account at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/kays/vol110.htm
The other articles can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/kays/index.htm
Robert Burns Lives!
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By Frank Shaw
It is an honor to welcome Dr. Rhona Brown for the third time to the pages of Robert Burns Lives!. Only a handful of writers have contributed two or more times, and I find it encouraging that scholars like Dr. Brown are willing to share with our readers their works on Burns or, in this case, Robert Fergusson who is known by many as “Robert Burns’s favourite Scottish poet”.
Below you will find an impressive list of some of Dr. Brown’s academic credits. Word on the street is that she has a new book on Fergusson scheduled for publication next year entitled Robert Fergusson and the Scottish Periodical Press. Rhona also has written an essay for another new book on Burns (Robert Burns in Transatlantic Culture co-edited by Sharon Alker, Leith Davis, and Holly Faith Nelson) that will be in print next year. The essay is “Guid black prent: Robert Burns and the Contemporary Scottish and American Periodical Press.” Both books, which I am looking forward to reviewing in these pages on Robert Burns, will be published by Ashgate Press.
You can read this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives102.htm
Rhona Brown is a particular favorite of mine. When Glasgow University awarded our dear friend Dr. G. Ross Roy an honorary degree, I contacted her and asked if she would be willing to cover the presentation for the pages of Robert Burns Lives! and she readily agreed. Later, when the first G. Ross Roy Medal for Excellence in Post Graduate Study in Scottish Literature was presented to Dr. Ainsley McIntosh of the University of Aberdeen, I asked Rhona to again help me out by writing an article about the ceremony. She came through again for our readers and wrote another impressive article about Professor Roy, the renowned Burns scholar who has left a trail for all of us to follow. I will always be indebted to Rhona and her contributions which we have enjoyed, and I hope you will take time to read them on http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rank/burns.htm, Chapters 61 and 98.)
Today’s essay, “The Biographical Construction of Robert Fergusson, 1774 – 1900” first appeared in the 2009/10 Winter issue of THE DROUTH. This unique journal is not just content to have two great co-editors, Mitchell Miller and Johnny Rodger, but they also invite someone to be guest editor and Rhona Brown was chosen for this issue. She is indeed a multi-talented young lady!
Since its inception Robert Burns Lives! has published many wonderful articles by some very recognizable Burns scholars, but I have never seen an article such as this one on Robert Fergusson to compliment the Burns articles. I have always wanted a great piece on Robert Fergusson to grace our pages and folks, here it is! Please enjoy it as much as I do.
I’m grateful for the editors of THE DROUTH allowing me to come back for the second week to use another of their articles. I also contacted the talented Scottish artist Ian McCulloch to ask a very unusual question requesting his permission to use the journal’s cover for the second week in a row since Rhona served as Guest Editor. He readily agreed when I explained the situation to him.
But in fairness to our readers, I asked him for more details on the painting so as not to include the same information twice on our website. Here is what Ian shared with me regarding his painting “Brothers”.
“The image is situated in the oriel window space of a small flat I have at the south end of the island of Bute in the Firth of Clyde. It looks out over the sea which at night can have a phosphorescent glow. The composition is largely symmetrical to give a stillness and monumentality to the composition. The perspective of the table with the trumpet in the foreground has been altered to lead the eye into the picture.”
More of Ian’s work can be found on the Society of Scottish Artists’ website, http://www.s-s-a.org (click on “Artists”, then “Ian McCulloch” followed by “See Portfolio” and that will take you to his paintings).
Years ago while wondering around various bookstores in Edinburgh, I visited with Elizabeth Strong, proprietor of McNaughtan’s Bookshop on Haddington Place at Leith Walk just down the street from Giulianos, our favourite Italian restaurant in that city where a delicious bowl of mussels can be found until the wee hours of the morning. McNaughtan’s became another favorite place to visit on our trips to Edinburgh and as we explored this beautiful old shop that day, there sitting on the shelf awaiting our arrival was The Poetical Works of Robert Fergusson with his Life bound in beautiful brown leather. Someone had written 1802 on the content pages of both books. More power to them and how they derived at that date, I’m not sure but it sounds good to me! I was so happy to find these two volumes that I hand carried them back to Atlanta, not trusting it to be shipped with dozens of other books purchased during the visit. Much later, Robert Crawford’s critical study Heaven-Taught Fergusson, along with Sydney Goodsir Smith’s Robert Fergusson, 1750-74 helped me to appreciate these two volumes even more.
Join me now as we read about Robert Fergusson, the man Robert Burns admired. Burns paid for a tombstone to be placed on Fergusson’s grave and later wrote these words of tribute to Fergusson:
O thou, my elder brother in Misfortune
By far my elder Brother in the muse!
The article can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives103.htm
You can read other articles in this series at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rank/burns.htm
William McTaggart, R.S.A., V.P.R.S.W.
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Painter and Artist and a man of considerable talents.
This is a new book we're embarking on and we have a grand wee bio to start off which starts...
William McTaggart was one of the finest painters Scotland has produced, and an original genius, a pioneer of impressionism before it even had a label. In his early years he taught himself drawing and painting, and already at the age of twelve he was able to earn extra money and delight friends with his ability as a portrait painter. McTaggart was born of crofting parents at Aros Farm, near Machrihanish, at the present day a farm beside the East end of the airfield at Machrihanish. His parents were Gaelic speaking and his mother was a granddaughter of the religious poet, Duncan MacDougall. His parents are buried in Kilkenzie churchyard, and in her later years his mother came back from Glasgow to live in Campbeltown.
We'll be doing a full biogrphy of him and have made a start at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...rt_william.htm
The Brig of Ayr
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And something of its History by James A. Morris (1912)
This is another book we're starting on but just three chapters so we'll have it finished by next week. You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ayr/
Tales of the Scottish Peasantry
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By Alexander and John Bethune (1884)
No apology is required for the republication of these tales. Their own merit is sufficient justification for their reappearance in the present handy form. They were originally published in two volumes in 1838 and 1843, and, at the time, excited great interest in the literary world from the highly characteristic and original features they contained, and from the general interest felt in the noble-minded and highly-gifted authors. Copies of the original volumes are now rarely to be met with, and when they do turn up, it is at a price which practically puts them beyond the reach of the ordinary reader. This has been so for many years, and the wonder is that they have not been reproduced ere now in a suitable form, and at a moderate cost. Most of the tales are written by Alexander, a few by John, whom, however, we associate with his elder brother in the biographical sketch, as their life-pursuits, tastes, and interests, were so interwoven as almost to be identical. They were also authors of much miscellaneous literature, including poetry and biography, which appeared in the periodical literature of the day. These contributions, however, the publisher does not consider as coming within the scope of the present volume. Regarding the tales, they are not only good in themselves, but they assist in preserving and illustrating in a popular form the manners, habits, and local customs of the Scottish peasantry during the first quarter of the present century. And in addition, they possess to an unusually high degree the more excellent and nobler qualities of simplicity, and of being true to nature, with a distinct and ever present, but not obtrusive tendency to teach some high moral purpose, or to give expression to some healthy, soul touching sentiment, which the heart loves to cherish.
We have several tales up already...
Biographical Sketch of the Brothers Bethune
The Deformed
The Fate of the Fairest
The Decline and Fall of the Ghost
And you can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/tales/index.htm
Holiday Cottages Travel Article
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Blairgowrie - Plenty to explore and experience! You can read this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/travel/holiday34.htm
The Scot in Ulster
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Sketch of the History of the Scottish Population of Ulster by John Harrison (1888)
settlers in Ulster were published in the columns of the 'Scotsman' during this spring. They have been recast, and are now published in a permanent form, as I think they may interest some who care to examine the Irish question for themselves. Their English and Scottish origin seems to me to give to the men of Ulster an inalienable right to protest, as far as they are concerned, against the policy of Separation from Great Britain to which the Irish, — with the genius for nicknames which they possess — at present give the name of Home Rule.
My thanks are due to many friends in Ulster and at home for kind assistance; and more especially to Professor Masson for allowing me to have access to those sheets of the ninth volume of the ' Privy Council Records of Scotland,' now in the press, which bear on the Scottish share in the settlement of 1610.
J. H.
7 Greknhill Place, Edinburgh,
16th October 1998.
CONTENTS
Chapter I - The Scot gains a footing in County Down
Chapter II - The Scot settles North Down and County Antrim
Chapter III - The Great Plantation in Ulster
Chapter IV - The Scot brings with him his Scottish Church
Chapter V - The Scots and the Irish Rebellion of 1641
Chapter VI - Ulster from the Restoration to the Union
Chapter VII - The Scottish Blood in the Ulster Men of Today
This is a complete new book we'd added in pdf format. As we already have a page up for the "History of Ulster" we thought it would be easiest to just add this book to that page so just scroll down the page to get to it at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ulster/
J & J Denholm
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WOW! At last a Scottish company has shared their history with us. They sent in a scan of a wee booklet they produced some time ago and I've scanned it into a pdf file for you to read.
J. & J. Denholm Limited is the parent company of the Denholm Group which has five divisions. These are Shipping, Logistics, Seafoods, Industrial Services and Oilfield Services.
You can read more about them at http://www.electricscotland.com/business/denholm.htm
The New Britons: Scottish Identity in the 18th and 19th Centuries
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By Chris Gibbs
While searching for information on the Scots in England I came across this article. What tweaked my interest was the sentance..."Scots MPs also served abroad – in the period 1790-1820 a staggering 130 Scots were MPs representing seats in England and Wales".
I thus thought I'd bring you a copy of this article and you can read it at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...newbritons.htm
Clan Munro of Australia
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Go in a copy of their December 2010 newsletter which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...sletters/munro
The Kingdom of Kippen
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Its History and Traditions by William Crystal (1903)
Another new book for you.
THE VILLAGE OF KIPPEN, otherwise known as the "Kingdom of Kippen," is situated on an eminence overlooking the Valley of the Forth, and commands upwards of thirty miles of landscape view. Within three minutes' walk of the Cross of Kippen, on the road to Music Hall, and about thirty yards from the first house in that hamlet, is to be found one of the most extensive and beautiful views in Great Britain. On the right, rising like towers in the valley, we have the three crags, viz., Craigforth, Abbey Craig, and Stirling Castle; in the distance, Demyat and the Ochil Range; and sweeping towards the left, the wild heaths of Uam Var, Ben Voirlich, Bed Ledi, Ben A'an, the rugged cliffs of Ben Venue, Ben More, and Ben Lomond; while lying spread out at our feet is the Carse of Stirling, which merges into and includes the Vale of Menteith. The scene, as for as the eye can reach, is classic. There are associations of thrilling historic interest connected with the district, while Sir Walter Scott has added creations to it of romance and song which will never die.
This is the complete book which is in 3 parts and can be read and downloaed at http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/kippen.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
-----------------------------
Compiled by Beth Gay
Since 1990, in one form and name or another, this publication has been the hometown newspaper of the Scottish community. In print form, it was mailed to almost 100,000 readers primarily in the USA, but also in Scotland, Canada and all over the world.
Today, it has evolved into an Internet only publication under the same editor that has worked with it since the beginning. A little different name, a new format - but the same interesting publication.
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree is filled with articles about things Scottish - from events in the USA to famous Orkadians and inside information on travel. You'll find articles of interest to genealogists and news of the Scots Clan organizations as well as Flowers of the Forest.
This publication is one where you can read about the latest goings on of your friends in the Scottish community and the interesting things they are doing, the honors they've won and what's happening in their lives.
Best of all, this magazine is happy to publish stories about your clan, your genealogical group, your Highland games or your Celtic festival. Queries are free. All you have to do is email bethscribble@aol.com
The December issue is now available at http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft
And to finish...
Served Him Right?
A sales rep for a Scottish steel company during the Falklands War was stopped for speeding on the M74 en route from Glasgow to Yorkshire. He told the police that he had an urgent component for the Royal Naval Dockyard at Devonport, in the South of England, and that is why he was speeding. He opened his boot to show the officers a part he had picked up from a customer, thinking they would let him go on his way with no ticket. Instead, they escorted him to the county border where he was met by another patrol car who then escorted him to Warwickshire, where again he was met by another car, which continued all the way to Devonport.
He then phoned his wife to try to explain why he was further away from home than he had been seven hours earlier.
And that's it for now and hope you all have a good weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
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Electric Scotland News
Electric Scotland Community
The Flag in the Wind
Geikie's Etchings
Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland
Robert Chambers - Songs of Scotland
Lays of the Covenanters
Glencreggan: or A Highland Home in Cantire
Arran of the Bens, The Glens and the Brave
Harry Lauder
Lord Elgin
Kay's Edinburgh Portraits
Robert Burns Lives!
William McTaggart, R.S.A., V.P.R.S.W. (New Book)
The Brig of Ayr (New Book)
Tales of the Scottish Peasantry (New Book)
Holiday Cottages Travel Article
The Scot in Ulster (Complete New Book)
J & J Denholm
The New Britons: Scottish Identity in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Clan Munro of Australia
The Kingdom of Kippen (Complete New Book)
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Electric Scotland News
----------------------
Here's a plug for an excellent event in New York...
The producers of the Pipes of Christmas are delighted to report that Alasdair Gillies, former Pipe Major of the Queen's Own Highlanders and one of the world's top solo bagpipers will be performing at our upcoming concerts in NY and NJ. Pipe Major Gillies will be performing the moving tribute to Private Bill Millin, the famed D-Day bagpiper who passed away earlier this year at the age of 88.
Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear one of the true greats of the piping community.
The Pipes of Christmas will be performed in Summit, NJ on Saturday, Dec. 18 at Central Presbyterian Church located at 70 Maple Street. Performances are at 2 and 8 PM. The concert moves to Manhattan on Sunday, Dec. 19 to the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church located at 921 Madison Avenue (at 73rd Street). The concert begins at 2:30 PM. Tickets are available for all performances but moving quickly.
Complete information is available at http://www.pipesofchristmas.com
As part of the tribute to Millin, the Clan Currie Society is making available a limited number of VIP guest passes to veterans of World War II. To secure a reservation, please contact the Society at (908) 273-3509. Advance registration is required.
Pipes Preview Show:
There will be a free preview of the Pipes of Christmas this Sunday, Dec. 5 as part of the Miracle on Madison fundraiser for the Children's Aid Society of New York. Scottish entertainment begins at 1PM on the Miracle stage located at 63rd Street and Madison Avenue.
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And another plug for a Gift Voucher site with loads of activities in Scotland which you can get to at http://giftvouchers.gobananas.co.uk/
This site is brand new but from an old established company and they'll be adding to it on a regular basis. They tell me the gift voucher for Clay Pigeon Shooting is already a popular choice.
-----
We've added David Thomson to our Lossiemouth Project. We have his book up on the site which is a very popular read by our many site visitors. You can see his book through http://www.electricscotland.com/loss...ople/index.htm
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 in our site menu and at http://www.electricscotland.com/rss/whatsnew.php
Electric Scotland Community
---------------------------
An interesting article from the Registrar General of Scotland pointing to some changes to Scotland's People web site. Ranald has also been posting up pictures of the snow in Scotland.
Our community can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.org/forum.php
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
This weeks issue is now available compiled by Jim Lynch. As always Jim brings you a number of interesting articles and the Gaelic column this week is talking about Megrahi and how the USA really doesn't know much about Scotland. For example the article starts...
Over the past few weeks I have come to realise just how little the Americans really know or understand about Scotland. From meeting Americans, reading American books and watching American television I am well aware that they still use the words England, Britain and UK as if they were all referring to the same country. Many consider Scotland either a part of England or basically a colony of it. There seems to be little appreciation by leading US political figures such as Hillary Clinton of the Scottish government and the independence of our legal system. They cannot comprehend devolution even though they operate their own federal system. There seems to be a staunch refusal in Washington to accept the fact that it was not the ultimate decision of Jack Straw or Gordon Brown but Kenny MacAskill’s alone.
You can get to the Flag at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Christina McKelvie's weekly diary is available at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lvie/index.htm
Geikie's Etchings
-----------------
This week we've added more articles...
The Knife Grinder
Cobbler and Customer
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ikie/index.htm
Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland
----------------------------------------
And of the Border Raids, Forays and Conflicts by John Parker Lawson (1839). This is a new publication we're starting on which is in 3 volumes. We intend to post up 2 or 3 stories each week until complete.
This week we've added...
Rout Of Solway - 1542
Conflict At Loch Lochy - 1544
The Battle Of Ancrum - 1544 and 1545
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/wars/
Robert Chambers
---------------
Robert Chambers is a famous author and publisher and we do carry a few of his publications on our site such as the 3 volume Domestic Annals of Scotland and his 4 volume Biographical Dictionary of Significant Scots.
John Henderson found his 2 volume "Songs of Scotland" which we both agree is a fabulous resource and so we are going to add this to the site in small chuncks in pdf format for you to enjoy.
This week we added...
Pages 537 to 597
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ers_robert.htm
Lays of the Covenanters
-----------------------
By James Dodds (1880)
This week we've added...
The Martyr of Priesthill
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/covenanters/
Glencreggan: or A Highland Home in Cantire
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By Cuthbert Bede (1861)
This week we put up Chapter X - Saints and Legends
St. Couslau. — The Spanish Princess. — Dr. Smith of Campbelton. — Kilcouslan. — Kilcoivin. — A noted Duellist. — Holy Music. — St. Couslan and runaway Couples. — St. Coivin and unhappy Married Folks. — Theii- several Plans. —A Midnight Conversazione for Discontented Couples. — A Disappointed Divorcer. — Etymology of "Cabbage." — Machrihanish Bay. — Its Scenery and Dangers. — Salt-Pans. — Pan Cod. —How it is caught. — The three Degrees of Comparison in Mountain Altitudes. — View from Cnoc-maigh. — Tirfergus Glen. — The Legend of the Weaver of Tirfergus. — Mackinven's Bard outdone. — Kaids. —The Story oi" Boyle's Bible. — The Act Eecissory. — Torquil MacNeaFs Second-sight. — The Laggan of Cantire. — The Black Fisherman of Lochsanish. — The poor Man's Prayer fulfilled. —Kilehenzie and St. Kenneth. — How MacEachin entertained MacCallum More.
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/glencreggan/
Arran of the Bens, The Glens and the Brave
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By MacKenzie MacBride FSA Scot (1911)
This week we've added...
PART VI: ARRAN—THE BATTLE-GROUND OF THE VIKING AGE
Chapter XVII.
King Hakon at Lamlash
PART VII: THE DAYS OF WALLACE
Chapter XVIII.
The Great War of Independence - The Battle of Stirling Bridge, The Brandanes at the Battle of Falkirk, How Brandanes covered the Retreat, The Brandanes at Perth, Edward's Vengeance
PART VIII: HOW THE ARRAN MEN SHELTERED KING ROBERT BRUCE
Chapter XIX.
The Ambush at Brodick Castle - Bruce and the Spider, The Red Light on Turnberry Beacon, The Brandanes at Bannockburn
PART IX: WHAT THE BRANDANES DID FOR THE STEWARTS
Chapter XX.
What the Brandanes did for the Stewarts - The Battle of the Stones, The Steward's escape from Rothesay Castle, The King's bodyguard. The Battles of William the Lyon and the disaster at Pinkie
PART X: THE LATER LORDS OF ARRAN
Chapter XXI.
The Later Lords of Arran - The Boyds, The Hamiltons, "Lady Mary"
And this now completes this book.
This book can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/arran/
Harry Lauder
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we've added two more songs for you to listen to...
Portobello Pier
Pin your Faith on the Motherland
This page can be found at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...derson/lauder/
Lord Elgin
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By John George Bourinot (1903)
We have now added the final chapter of this book...
Bibliographical Notes
These chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...rdelginndx.htm
Kay's Edinburgh Portraits
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A Series of Anecdotal Biographies chiefly of Scotchmen, Mostly by James Paterson and Edited by James Maidment (1885)
This week we have added...
Lord Kames, of the Court of Session
Hugo Arnot, Esq., Advocate
Lord Monboddo, of the Court of Session
Lord Gardenstone, of the Court of Session
Dr. Glen, Edinburgh
Amazing what you learn about folk in this publication and so here is how the account of Dr. Glen starts...
Dr. Glen was a gentleman who enjoyed considerable celebrity in his day, at once for the amount of his wealth and the tenacity with which he held it. He had made a fortune abroad in the practice of his profession ; and, in his latter years, returned to his native country —not to enjoy it. He was twice married. On the second occasion he had attained the discreet age of seventy; and it is said that, amongst the other soft and captivating things which the venerable lover whispered into the ear of the young lady on whom his choice had fallen, to induce her to receive his addresses, was the promise of a carriage. To this promise the Doctor was faithful. The carriage was got—but no horses. "That's more than I bargained for," said the Doctor; "I promised a carriage, and there it is; but I promised no horses, neither shall yon have them." And here again the Doctor was as good as his word. The consequence was a quarrel with his young wife, aggravated by certain attempts, on her part, to revolutionize his house. The result may be anticipated—three weeks after the marriage a separation took place by mutual consent, the husband settling a sufficient aliment on his affectionate spouse.
There is another anecdote of the Doctor's happy talent for saving, but of so incredible and absurd a character, that, assured as we are of its truth, we have some hesitation in mentioning it. It is said that, on the death of his wife—the first, we presume—he adopted the ingenious expedient of attempting to procure a second-hand coffin to hold her remains, for lessening the funeral expenses on this melancholy occasion.
You can read the rest of this account at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/kays/vol110.htm
The other articles can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/kays/index.htm
Robert Burns Lives!
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By Frank Shaw
It is an honor to welcome Dr. Rhona Brown for the third time to the pages of Robert Burns Lives!. Only a handful of writers have contributed two or more times, and I find it encouraging that scholars like Dr. Brown are willing to share with our readers their works on Burns or, in this case, Robert Fergusson who is known by many as “Robert Burns’s favourite Scottish poet”.
Below you will find an impressive list of some of Dr. Brown’s academic credits. Word on the street is that she has a new book on Fergusson scheduled for publication next year entitled Robert Fergusson and the Scottish Periodical Press. Rhona also has written an essay for another new book on Burns (Robert Burns in Transatlantic Culture co-edited by Sharon Alker, Leith Davis, and Holly Faith Nelson) that will be in print next year. The essay is “Guid black prent: Robert Burns and the Contemporary Scottish and American Periodical Press.” Both books, which I am looking forward to reviewing in these pages on Robert Burns, will be published by Ashgate Press.
You can read this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives102.htm
Rhona Brown is a particular favorite of mine. When Glasgow University awarded our dear friend Dr. G. Ross Roy an honorary degree, I contacted her and asked if she would be willing to cover the presentation for the pages of Robert Burns Lives! and she readily agreed. Later, when the first G. Ross Roy Medal for Excellence in Post Graduate Study in Scottish Literature was presented to Dr. Ainsley McIntosh of the University of Aberdeen, I asked Rhona to again help me out by writing an article about the ceremony. She came through again for our readers and wrote another impressive article about Professor Roy, the renowned Burns scholar who has left a trail for all of us to follow. I will always be indebted to Rhona and her contributions which we have enjoyed, and I hope you will take time to read them on http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rank/burns.htm, Chapters 61 and 98.)
Today’s essay, “The Biographical Construction of Robert Fergusson, 1774 – 1900” first appeared in the 2009/10 Winter issue of THE DROUTH. This unique journal is not just content to have two great co-editors, Mitchell Miller and Johnny Rodger, but they also invite someone to be guest editor and Rhona Brown was chosen for this issue. She is indeed a multi-talented young lady!
Since its inception Robert Burns Lives! has published many wonderful articles by some very recognizable Burns scholars, but I have never seen an article such as this one on Robert Fergusson to compliment the Burns articles. I have always wanted a great piece on Robert Fergusson to grace our pages and folks, here it is! Please enjoy it as much as I do.
I’m grateful for the editors of THE DROUTH allowing me to come back for the second week to use another of their articles. I also contacted the talented Scottish artist Ian McCulloch to ask a very unusual question requesting his permission to use the journal’s cover for the second week in a row since Rhona served as Guest Editor. He readily agreed when I explained the situation to him.
But in fairness to our readers, I asked him for more details on the painting so as not to include the same information twice on our website. Here is what Ian shared with me regarding his painting “Brothers”.
“The image is situated in the oriel window space of a small flat I have at the south end of the island of Bute in the Firth of Clyde. It looks out over the sea which at night can have a phosphorescent glow. The composition is largely symmetrical to give a stillness and monumentality to the composition. The perspective of the table with the trumpet in the foreground has been altered to lead the eye into the picture.”
More of Ian’s work can be found on the Society of Scottish Artists’ website, http://www.s-s-a.org (click on “Artists”, then “Ian McCulloch” followed by “See Portfolio” and that will take you to his paintings).
Years ago while wondering around various bookstores in Edinburgh, I visited with Elizabeth Strong, proprietor of McNaughtan’s Bookshop on Haddington Place at Leith Walk just down the street from Giulianos, our favourite Italian restaurant in that city where a delicious bowl of mussels can be found until the wee hours of the morning. McNaughtan’s became another favorite place to visit on our trips to Edinburgh and as we explored this beautiful old shop that day, there sitting on the shelf awaiting our arrival was The Poetical Works of Robert Fergusson with his Life bound in beautiful brown leather. Someone had written 1802 on the content pages of both books. More power to them and how they derived at that date, I’m not sure but it sounds good to me! I was so happy to find these two volumes that I hand carried them back to Atlanta, not trusting it to be shipped with dozens of other books purchased during the visit. Much later, Robert Crawford’s critical study Heaven-Taught Fergusson, along with Sydney Goodsir Smith’s Robert Fergusson, 1750-74 helped me to appreciate these two volumes even more.
Join me now as we read about Robert Fergusson, the man Robert Burns admired. Burns paid for a tombstone to be placed on Fergusson’s grave and later wrote these words of tribute to Fergusson:
O thou, my elder brother in Misfortune
By far my elder Brother in the muse!
The article can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives103.htm
You can read other articles in this series at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rank/burns.htm
William McTaggart, R.S.A., V.P.R.S.W.
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Painter and Artist and a man of considerable talents.
This is a new book we're embarking on and we have a grand wee bio to start off which starts...
William McTaggart was one of the finest painters Scotland has produced, and an original genius, a pioneer of impressionism before it even had a label. In his early years he taught himself drawing and painting, and already at the age of twelve he was able to earn extra money and delight friends with his ability as a portrait painter. McTaggart was born of crofting parents at Aros Farm, near Machrihanish, at the present day a farm beside the East end of the airfield at Machrihanish. His parents were Gaelic speaking and his mother was a granddaughter of the religious poet, Duncan MacDougall. His parents are buried in Kilkenzie churchyard, and in her later years his mother came back from Glasgow to live in Campbeltown.
We'll be doing a full biogrphy of him and have made a start at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...rt_william.htm
The Brig of Ayr
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And something of its History by James A. Morris (1912)
This is another book we're starting on but just three chapters so we'll have it finished by next week. You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ayr/
Tales of the Scottish Peasantry
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By Alexander and John Bethune (1884)
No apology is required for the republication of these tales. Their own merit is sufficient justification for their reappearance in the present handy form. They were originally published in two volumes in 1838 and 1843, and, at the time, excited great interest in the literary world from the highly characteristic and original features they contained, and from the general interest felt in the noble-minded and highly-gifted authors. Copies of the original volumes are now rarely to be met with, and when they do turn up, it is at a price which practically puts them beyond the reach of the ordinary reader. This has been so for many years, and the wonder is that they have not been reproduced ere now in a suitable form, and at a moderate cost. Most of the tales are written by Alexander, a few by John, whom, however, we associate with his elder brother in the biographical sketch, as their life-pursuits, tastes, and interests, were so interwoven as almost to be identical. They were also authors of much miscellaneous literature, including poetry and biography, which appeared in the periodical literature of the day. These contributions, however, the publisher does not consider as coming within the scope of the present volume. Regarding the tales, they are not only good in themselves, but they assist in preserving and illustrating in a popular form the manners, habits, and local customs of the Scottish peasantry during the first quarter of the present century. And in addition, they possess to an unusually high degree the more excellent and nobler qualities of simplicity, and of being true to nature, with a distinct and ever present, but not obtrusive tendency to teach some high moral purpose, or to give expression to some healthy, soul touching sentiment, which the heart loves to cherish.
We have several tales up already...
Biographical Sketch of the Brothers Bethune
The Deformed
The Fate of the Fairest
The Decline and Fall of the Ghost
And you can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/tales/index.htm
Holiday Cottages Travel Article
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Blairgowrie - Plenty to explore and experience! You can read this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/travel/holiday34.htm
The Scot in Ulster
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Sketch of the History of the Scottish Population of Ulster by John Harrison (1888)
settlers in Ulster were published in the columns of the 'Scotsman' during this spring. They have been recast, and are now published in a permanent form, as I think they may interest some who care to examine the Irish question for themselves. Their English and Scottish origin seems to me to give to the men of Ulster an inalienable right to protest, as far as they are concerned, against the policy of Separation from Great Britain to which the Irish, — with the genius for nicknames which they possess — at present give the name of Home Rule.
My thanks are due to many friends in Ulster and at home for kind assistance; and more especially to Professor Masson for allowing me to have access to those sheets of the ninth volume of the ' Privy Council Records of Scotland,' now in the press, which bear on the Scottish share in the settlement of 1610.
J. H.
7 Greknhill Place, Edinburgh,
16th October 1998.
CONTENTS
Chapter I - The Scot gains a footing in County Down
Chapter II - The Scot settles North Down and County Antrim
Chapter III - The Great Plantation in Ulster
Chapter IV - The Scot brings with him his Scottish Church
Chapter V - The Scots and the Irish Rebellion of 1641
Chapter VI - Ulster from the Restoration to the Union
Chapter VII - The Scottish Blood in the Ulster Men of Today
This is a complete new book we'd added in pdf format. As we already have a page up for the "History of Ulster" we thought it would be easiest to just add this book to that page so just scroll down the page to get to it at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/ulster/
J & J Denholm
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WOW! At last a Scottish company has shared their history with us. They sent in a scan of a wee booklet they produced some time ago and I've scanned it into a pdf file for you to read.
J. & J. Denholm Limited is the parent company of the Denholm Group which has five divisions. These are Shipping, Logistics, Seafoods, Industrial Services and Oilfield Services.
You can read more about them at http://www.electricscotland.com/business/denholm.htm
The New Britons: Scottish Identity in the 18th and 19th Centuries
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By Chris Gibbs
While searching for information on the Scots in England I came across this article. What tweaked my interest was the sentance..."Scots MPs also served abroad – in the period 1790-1820 a staggering 130 Scots were MPs representing seats in England and Wales".
I thus thought I'd bring you a copy of this article and you can read it at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...newbritons.htm
Clan Munro of Australia
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Go in a copy of their December 2010 newsletter which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...sletters/munro
The Kingdom of Kippen
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Its History and Traditions by William Crystal (1903)
Another new book for you.
THE VILLAGE OF KIPPEN, otherwise known as the "Kingdom of Kippen," is situated on an eminence overlooking the Valley of the Forth, and commands upwards of thirty miles of landscape view. Within three minutes' walk of the Cross of Kippen, on the road to Music Hall, and about thirty yards from the first house in that hamlet, is to be found one of the most extensive and beautiful views in Great Britain. On the right, rising like towers in the valley, we have the three crags, viz., Craigforth, Abbey Craig, and Stirling Castle; in the distance, Demyat and the Ochil Range; and sweeping towards the left, the wild heaths of Uam Var, Ben Voirlich, Bed Ledi, Ben A'an, the rugged cliffs of Ben Venue, Ben More, and Ben Lomond; while lying spread out at our feet is the Carse of Stirling, which merges into and includes the Vale of Menteith. The scene, as for as the eye can reach, is classic. There are associations of thrilling historic interest connected with the district, while Sir Walter Scott has added creations to it of romance and song which will never die.
This is the complete book which is in 3 parts and can be read and downloaed at http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/kippen.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
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Compiled by Beth Gay
Since 1990, in one form and name or another, this publication has been the hometown newspaper of the Scottish community. In print form, it was mailed to almost 100,000 readers primarily in the USA, but also in Scotland, Canada and all over the world.
Today, it has evolved into an Internet only publication under the same editor that has worked with it since the beginning. A little different name, a new format - but the same interesting publication.
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree is filled with articles about things Scottish - from events in the USA to famous Orkadians and inside information on travel. You'll find articles of interest to genealogists and news of the Scots Clan organizations as well as Flowers of the Forest.
This publication is one where you can read about the latest goings on of your friends in the Scottish community and the interesting things they are doing, the honors they've won and what's happening in their lives.
Best of all, this magazine is happy to publish stories about your clan, your genealogical group, your Highland games or your Celtic festival. Queries are free. All you have to do is email bethscribble@aol.com
The December issue is now available at http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft
And to finish...
Served Him Right?
A sales rep for a Scottish steel company during the Falklands War was stopped for speeding on the M74 en route from Glasgow to Yorkshire. He told the police that he had an urgent component for the Royal Naval Dockyard at Devonport, in the South of England, and that is why he was speeding. He opened his boot to show the officers a part he had picked up from a customer, thinking they would let him go on his way with no ticket. Instead, they escorted him to the county border where he was met by another patrol car who then escorted him to Warwickshire, where again he was met by another car, which continued all the way to Devonport.
He then phoned his wife to try to explain why he was further away from home than he had been seven hours earlier.
And that's it for now and hope you all have a good weekend :-)
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
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