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Newsletter 25th November 2011

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  • Newsletter 25th November 2011

    CONTENTS
    --------
    Electric Scotland News
    What's new on ElectricCanadian.com
    The Flag in the Wind
    Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland
    Through the Long Day
    Nether Lochaber
    Traits and Stories of the Scottish People
    The Cottagers of Glenburnie
    Jamieson's Dictionary of the Scottish Language
    Scottish Poets in America
    The Parish of Longforgan (New Book)
    Clan Leslie Society of New Zealand & Australia


    Electric Scotland News
    ----------------------
    I had to take a couple of days off this week due to getting some laser treatment and an injection in one of my eyes. Am now scheduled for chataract surgery and an implant during December on one eye and in January for the other. After that I should have much better vision and no need for glasses. Mind you quite costly to do all this but if it fixes my eyes I'll be well pleased.

    -----

    I noted a free app for St Andrews Day for both iPhones and Android is now available.

    -----

    I've noticed the BBC has been running several programs about Canadian history and also an article on Brits and Aussies that are returning home after emmigrating. Usual problem for non UK residents in that you get can't view from your country but if you have a way around that might be worth trying if you're not a UK resident.


    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/whatsnew.htm and also http://www.electriccanadian.com/whatsnew.htm


    ElectricCanadian.com
    --------------------
    http://www.electriccanadian.com

    Alexander Fraser
    http://www.electriccanadian.com/makers/annual/index.htm

    Our first significant Canadian added to our Makers of Canada series. Here you will find a profile of him and also a lot of articles from his Fraser Annual publication. Lots to read.

    The 48th Highlanders of Toronto
    http://www.electriccanadian.com/forces/48th/index.htm

    By Alexander Fraser, M.A. (1900). This is a complete book about the regiment.

    Agriculture
    http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...ture/index.htm

    Added a few links to our Agriculture index page which provide some excellent information along with a series of videos. I fully intend to get up some individual articles about agriculture but the links I've been provides are excellent ones. Most of the videos are a series of 4 about an individual farm either growing crops or looking after livestock.

    Also added "History of Farming in Ontario" By C. C. James (1914). This is a pdf file of this book which can be viwed at http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...00jameuoft.pdf


    THE FLAG IN THE WIND
    --------------------
    This weeks Flag was compiled by Jamie Hepburn. Some quite mixed articles in the Synopsis which is well worth a read.

    Christina McJKelview got in touch to say sorry for not keeping us up to date but has promised an update for next week.

    You can get to the Flag at http://www.scotsindependent.org


    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 4 volumes. We intend to post up 2 or 3 stories each week until complete.

    Added this week...

    Turmoils of Merse and Teviotdale

    And this now completes this publication.

    You can read this last entry at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/wars/


    Through the Long Day
    --------------------
    Or Memorials of a Literary Life during half a century by Charles MacKay LL.D. (1887)

    This week have added...

    Chapter V - Earl Russell - Vienna in 1855

    You can get to this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/mackay/


    Nether Lochaber
    ---------------
    The Natural History, Legends and Folk-Lore of the West Highlands by Rev. Alexander Stewart FSA Scot, (1883)

    We're now up to chapter 61.

    Here is how Chapter 60 starts...

    Favoured by the most splendid Christmas weather [January 1878], piercingly cold, indeed, but beautifully bright and clear, a run from Lochaber to Clydesdale on an agreeable errand is exceedingly enjoyable. Our first day in Glasgow was devoted to the Kelvin Grove Museum, which we had now an opportunity, for the first time, of examining thoroughly and at leisure, and with which, as the reader may believe, we were very much delighted. On handing our card to Mr. Paton, the curator, we were received by himself and his assistant, Mr. Campbell—the latter, of course, a Highlander —in the friendliest manner; and a couple of hours were very pleasantly and profitably spent in examining a really curious and valuable collection, so admirably catalogued and arranged, that we believe we saw and minutely studied everything to be seen as leisurely and satisfactorily as was possible in the time at our disposal.

    Our friend Mr. Snowie, of Inverness, had written us before leaving home that he was sending some contributions to the museum, of which he begged us to undertake the formal delivery, and see properly placed \ and this of course we had much pleasure in doing. These contributions are a valuable acquisition to the museum, and are as follows :—(1.) Hoopoe (Upupa epops, Linn.), a female, in fine plumage, and admirably set up. This bird was captured by the boys at the Inverness Reformatory School, and dying, notwithstanding it received all the attention and kindly care that could he bestowed upon it, it passed into Mr. Snowie's hands. (2.) Wild cat, stuffed, an excellent specimen, with very prominent markings, trapped at Fasnakyle, on The Chisholm's estate. (3.) A white blackbird, and an albino bunting, both shot by Mr. T. B. Snowie near Inverness. (4.) Snipe and other marsh-bird skins, shot by the same. (5.) Two small hares preserved in a bottle; taken out of an unusually large-sized female shot at Dochfour in September 1875 ; a very interesting preparation. (6.) Head of otter, trapped on the River Peffer in 1876. (7.) Owl (Strix jiammea, Linn.), shot in October 1877 by Mr. T. B. Snowie. (8.) Egg of golden eagle; this last, perhaps, the most welcome gift of all, as eagles' eggs are now become so rare as readily to command prices ranging from £5 to £10 each. Attached to the museum proper there is a fresh-water aquarium. In one of the tanks, in which several fine pike are "interned," we noticed that one of the largest, who advanced to the front of the tank, in order to examine as closely as possible a slip of paper which we were trailing along the glass by way of bait, had his muzzle, more particularly the anterior part of the upper jaw, seriously disfigured by a fungoid growth of jelly-like appearance; and calling the curator's attention to the fact, we made the remark that the poor pike seemed too seriously diseased to live long. We were surprised when told that the fish was none the worse for his fungoid moustache; that it had been long in that way, and that all that was needed wras an occasional cleansing of the muzzle, as you would wipe away a clot of jelly that had accidentally fallen on your knife-handle at dessert, and the fish then seemed all right enough until it grew again to such a size as to be an inconvenience.

    You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter60.htm

    The other chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...aber/index.htm


    Traits and Stories of the Scottish People
    -----------------------------------------
    By the Rev. Charles Rogers LL.D., FSA Scot

    We've now added the final two chapters...

    Chapter IX. - Unfortunate Men of Genius.
    William Ged and the Edinburgh printers—A Scottish minister and the percussion cap - James Watt and the Glasgow hammermen—Dr. James Anderson and his discoveries—James Smith of Deanston—Henry Bell and the Steamboat—William Playfair—Dr. Smollett—Robert Mudie—Dr. Thomas Dick—William Thom—John Younger—Mary Pyper—Andrew Scott—William Nicholson—Isobel Pagan—Stuart Lewis— Thomas Lyle—William Glen—Alexander Hume—Peter Buchan—John Struthers—Elliot Aitchison—Andrew Park— James Macfarlane.

    Chapter X. - Biographical and Historical Gleanings.
    Lord Clyde—David Roberts, R.A.—James Nisbet, the publisher —Dr. James Mounsey and his monument—The Grand Duke Nicholas and the Scottish youth—A prophecy of Alexander Peden—A prototype of Madge Wildfire—Story of Jenny Nettles—The remains of Gil Morice—Johnny Faa and the Countess of Cassilis—Helen of Kirkconnell—Bessy Bell and Mary Gray—Lord Lynedoch—Drummond of Hawthornden —Escape of Lord Ogilvie—The Countess of Strathmore and her groom—Lord Dalmeny's marriage—Chisholm of Cromlix and his confidant—Courtship of Dr. Abernethy—" The Boatie Rows"—David Mallet—Allan Masterton.

    These chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...aits/index.htm


    The Cottagers of Glenburnie
    ---------------------------
    By Elizabeth Hamilton (1898)

    we have now added...

    Chapter VIII.
    Family Sketches
    Chapter IX.
    Domestic Rebellion
    Chapter X.
    Containing a Useful Prescription
    Chapter XI.
    An Escape from Earthly Cares and Sorrows
    Chapter XII.
    The Doctrine of Liberty and Equality
    Chapter XIII,
    The Force of Prejudice

    Chapter IX starts...

    MRS MASON enjoyed the reward of her exertions, and of Grizzel's labour, in a night of sweet and uninterrupted repose. She was awakened at early dawn by the farmer calling his sons to get up to prepare for the labours of the day; and looking out beheld the clouds already decked in the colours of the morning, inviting her to the most glorious sight on which the eye of man can look. The invitation was not given in vain, she rose and dressed herself: and taking her staff and crutch, she sallied from her room, earnestly wishing to escape observation.

    The young men, in no hurry to obey their father's summons, were still in bed. On passing through the dark passage where they slept, she could not help wondering at the perverted ingenuity which could contrive to give the sleeping rooms of a country house all the disadvantages which attend the airless abodes of poverty in the crowded lanes of great and populous cities.

    From the length of time that the outer door had been shut, the closeness of the house had become very unpleasant to her lungs. Welcome therefore was the reviving breeze of morning ! Welcome the freshness of the coming day, which now burst upon the senses. It was not, indeed, until she had removed some paces from the house that she fully felt its influence; for while near the door, the smell of the squashy pool, and its neighbour, the dunghill, were so powerful as to subdue the fragrance of earth's fruits and flowers.

    Having taken the road towards the river, she, on its first turning, found herself in full view of the waterfall, and was arrested by admiration at the many beauties of the scene. Seating herself upon a projecting rock, she contemplated the effulgent glory of the heavens, as they brightened into splendour at the approach of the lord of day ; and when her eyes were dazzled by the scene, turned to view the living waters, pouring their crystal flood over the craggy precipice, shaded by the spreading boughs of birch and alder.

    You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter09.htm

    The other chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...gers/index.htm


    Jamieson's Dictionary of the Scottish Language
    ----------------------------------------------
    We've added more to this disctionary...

    Scottish Language Letter Ca to Cay
    Scottish Language Letter Cav to Cle
    Scottish Language Letter Cle to Cor
    Scottish Language Letter Cor to Cwa
    Scottish Language Letter C from the Supplement

    You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...eson/index.htm


    Scottish Poets in America
    -------------------------
    With Biographical and Critical Notices by John D, Ross (1889)

    Now added...

    Crichton, James D.

    Always amazes me how many of our notable poeple were so good at languages. I'm not sure where they got this talent from but it would make an interesting article.

    You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...rica/index.htm


    The Parish of Longforgan
    ------------------------
    A Sketch of its Church and People by Rev. Adam Philip (1895)

    Preface

    This is simply a sketch, but it will, I trust, be found sufficiently careful to form a contribution to the better knowledge of the Parish. The story is a quiet one, but it has all the interest of common life, and' some points of contact, at least, with the wide world of thought and struggle. Both good men and great have trodden our fields.

    The notes have been gathered from many books. Most of these are named in the text, in justice to their authors, and to facilitate the search of other labourers. The tale is not, by any means, entirely bright. But I hope that these gleanings from musty records and books ancient and modern may lead the men of today to cherish more reverently the memory of their fathers. To those who courteously permitted me to examine records in their keeping I owe special thanks.

    The parish of Longforgan is long but narrow —about eight miles in length, and from one to four in breadth. Its scenery is of the most varied character. The finest panoramas, perhaps, are to be got from the tower of Castle Huntly and from the hill of Dron. Looking from Dron away to the north, the eye rests on the bald chain of the Sidlaws; westwards, on the Carse, appearing almost as fiat as a bowling-green, the beautiful woods of Rossie, and the braes above Kimiaird; eastwards, on the fertile slopes that reach Dundee. In front, and at a little distance beneath you, lies Longforgan village; beyond, rolls the noble Tay; and beyond them both rise the shores of Fife, crowned by the Lomonds; whilst away to the south and west stretch the Ochils and the Grampian chain.

    You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...rgan/index.htm


    Clan Leslie Society of New Zealand & Australia Newsletter
    ---------------------------------------------------------
    We got in the Jan, Feb & Mar 2012 newsletter which you can view at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...FebMar2012.pdf


    And finally...

    I am looking for more places in Scotland that I can add to the site. Currently working on the history of Gretna Green which of course is famous for marriages due to Scotland having a lower age for marriage and thus many English couple running away to there to get married.

    Shoulds you have a place you'd like to see us feature feel free to drop me a line and I'll see if I can find something for you.


    And that's it for now and hope you all have a good weekend and for those in America I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving.

    Alastair
    http://www.electricscotland.com
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