Tweet
CONTENTS
--------
Electric Scotland News
Electric Scotland Community
What's new on ElectricCanada.com
The Flag in the Wind
Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland
Poems of George Alexander Rodger
Memoirs of the Jacobites
R. B. Cunninghame Graham, Fighter for Justice
Through the Long Day
Tent Life in Tigerland
Sketches Illustrating the Early Settlement and History of Glengarry in Canada
The Life of Thomas Telford
John's Scottish Singalong
Clan Munro of Australia Newsletter
An Historical Account of the Ancient Culdees of Iona (New Book)
A Scot in China of Today
Electric Scotland News
----------------------
I've been working mainly on the ElectricCanadian.com web site this week but most of the work ties in with my research on the Scots. I'm adding a regular category to this newsletter so I can profile what's new on that site should you be interested.
-----
This time next week I'll be in Quebec City so looking forward to getting lots of pictures to show you. While I am giving a talk at the Celtic Festival there on the Sunday I don't expect that many to turn up as of course it will have to be in the English language. And as Quebec is the French language area of Canada I'm not really sure how many will be able to understand me. Should be interesting.
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
Electric Scotland Community
---------------------------
A wee focus on 70's rock star Suzie Quatro this week with a couple of new videos going up. See http://www.electricscotland.org/show...75-Suzi-Quatro
Got in a post about Tom Devine's new book "To the ends of the earth" and there is a link in there where you can read a good 2 page article about his book and his discussion about the Scots who left Scotland. You can get to this at http://www.electricscotland.org/show...s-of-the-Earth
Our community can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.org but of course if you are reading this you're already in it :-)
ElectricCanadian.com
--------------------
- The Life of General The Hon. James Murray
With a Biographical Sketch of the Family of Murray of Elibank by Major-Gen R. H. Mahon.
This is an account of the Scot that eventually defeated the French forces in Quebec. You can read this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/makers/murray/index.htm
- History of Saskatchewan and The Old North West
By Norman Fergus Black
Again it's quite amazing how many Scots were involved in the building of this Province. You can read this history at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...sask/index.htm
- Facts about Canada and Canadians.
We found around 150 facts about Canada and the Canadians and you can read this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/lifestyle/facts.htm
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
This weeks issue is now available compiled by Jamie Hepburn.
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...
Demolition of Monasteries
Heart of Robert Bruce
Battle of Prestonpans
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/wars/
Poems of George Alexander Rodger
--------------------------------
Added some more poems which now completes this publication.
Peter Morrison at Pitlochry
Fiddle Final in Perth
The Errant Ear-Ring
which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/rodger.htm
Memoirs of the Jacobites
------------------------
Of 1715 and 1745 by Mrs Thomson (1845) in 3 volumes. We intend to add a chapter a week until complete.
I've now added Charles Radcliffe
The account starts...
The fate of Charles Radcliffe has been regarded as one of the most severe, and his death as one of the most unjustifiable acts inflicted on those who suffered for their adherence to the Stuart cause.
This unfortunate man was the third son of Francis Earl of Derwentwater, by the Lady Mary Tudor, the daughter of Charles the Second, and was born in 1693. He was the younger brother of James Earl of Derwentwater, who suffered in 1716, for his adherence to the Stuart cause. There was also another elder brother, Francis, who died unmarried, not taking any apparent interest in the politics of the day.
The family of Radcliffe were not regarded by the descendants of their common ancestor, Charles the Second, in the light of kindred whom the rules of decorum, and the usages of society might induce them to disclaim, or at all events, to acknowledge with shame or reluctance; the vitiated notions of the day attached a very different value to the parentage of royalty, even when associated with dishonour. The marriage of Sir Francis Radcliffe to the daughter of Mary Davis was that event which procured his elevation to the peerage; and this alliance, was considered as elevating the dignity of an ancient house. The closest ties of friendship united the Stuarts and the Radcliffes, even from their earliest infancy. Educated, as well as his elder brother, James, chiefly at St. Germains, and with the Chevalier James Stuart, and brought up in the Roman Catholic faith, Charles Radcliffe, owing to the natural ardour of his disposition, imbibed much more readily than his brother the strong party views which characterized the Jacobites as a body.
You can read the rest of this long story at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter16.htm
You can read the other chapters as we get them up at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/jacobites
R. B. Cunninghame Graham, Fighter for Justice
---------------------------------------------
An Appreciation of his Social and Religious Outlook by Ian M. Fraser (2002).
Added another chapter to this account...
Church and Churches
You can get to this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/graham/
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 IV.—A Charqe of Plagarism
and
Part IV of The Scottish Language and its Literary History which now completes this account.
You can get to all this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/mackay/
Tent Life in Tigerland
----------------------
In which is incorporated "Sport and Work on the Nepaul Frontier" being twelve years reminiscences of a pioneer planter in an Indian Frontier District by James Inglis (1892)
We are now up to Chapter XX of this book.
Here is a bit from Chapter XVIII - In the Wilds of Oude...
In a far-off corner of this historic province of "Tigerland" were my next experiences of Indian "Tent Life" destined to be. The death of the rhino just described was one of my first experiences in my new environment. Let me describe it.
The chill swamp mists and sweltering steams of the Koosee jungles had nearly made an end of me, and were like to lay my bones to rest beside the three lonely mounds in the factory garden at Lutchmeepore; but happily yielding to the solicitations of a beloved brother—alas! since gone to his rest—I took a short run home after the famine year-, and early in 1876, I found myself back again in India, and installed in charge of very extensive waste-land grants, in the northern corner of Oude. Indeed, portions of my forest land and not a few of my villages extended right away up to the banks of the Sarda in the North-West Provinces.
The surroundings here were entirely different to anything to which I had hitherto been accustomed. The very habits and castes of the people were different; the dialect was strange to me at first. The crops were new to me. The system of agriculture was more primitive. The whole country, instead of being flat, sandy, and covered with the tall coarse Koosee grass, was clad thick with dense forest jungle, interspersed with broad plains; and these covered with short crisp herbage, on which vast herds of black buck browsed, and which were as entirely opposite to the swampy marshes of the Koosee Dyaras as they well could be.
The "grants" were held under certain conditions of improvement clearly laid down and defined in the "Waste Land Regulations ; and my improvements were liable to be measured up, or at all events inspected, once every five years. Owing to a succession of bad seasons and very indifferent management, the estates had been allowed to drift. Improvements were at a stand-still. Village settlement had been totally arrested. That is, settlement of the proper kind; but owing to incompetence and neglect, large portions of the forest had been encroached upon by indiscriminate and irresponsible selectors; and the grazing and forest rights had been so badly conserved that the grants had in reality become a sort of no man's territory—a kind of Alsatia, to which Adullamites resorted, and where, as in the time of the Judges in Israel, "every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
The rest of this chapter can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter18.htm
The other chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/tentlife/
Sketches Illustrating the Early Settlement and History of Glengarry in Canada
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
By J. A. MacDonell (1983)
We added Chapters 15 through 21 this week.
In Chapter 19 we learn...
Though the enemy, under General Harrison, had thus been successful in the West, yet his success was barren of any considerable results, and discovering at last his erroneous strategy, he wisely determined upon again turning his attention to the St. Lawrence. His General, Wilkinson, forthwith commenced assembling a disposable force of ten thousand regular troops at Sackett's Harbour, with a view of seizing upon our naval depot at Kingston, only four hours' sail from him; and the Governor-General, in consequence, immediately repaired in person to that post, concentrating there all the force he could possibly muster, though this compelled him to strip Lower Canada of nearly all his regular troops, and thereby left that Province exposed to the most imminent danger of a surprise. But in his destitute state he had no alternative.
Indeed, so weak, after all, was the garrison of Kingston, that he was obliged to bring thither, from Montreal, the eight flank companies of the four recently embodied regiments of the French or Lower Canada Militia, to be there organized by Lieutenant-Colonel George Macdonell, into a Light Battalion for immediate service, which, considering this officer had not one single individual who had ever worn uniform to assist him in the task, was by no means a sinecure employment.
The enemy, however, getting information from Montreal in October that there were "no fortifications in that city or in advance of it," and that it was only garrisoned "by two hundred sailors and marines, with the militia, numbers unknown"—that is, as we have seen, the four recently embodied battalions, less their flank companies, Wilkinson abandoned the idea of Kingston and wisely determined upon the immediate capture of Montreal itself by a combined and rapid coup de main with his general, Hampton, who for this purpose advanced from Four Corners across the frontier of Lower Canada, about the 20th October, with seven thousand regular infantry, two hundred cavalry and ten pieces of artillery, to penetrate to that city by the Chateauguay River, knowing well that he would meet with no opposing force on the way except three hundred French-Canadians, being half the Voltigeurs and the Light Company of the Canadian Fencibles under Lieutenant-Colonel DeSalaberty, whom he was then driving in before him. Wilkinson, about the same time, embarked in boats at Sackett's Harbour fourteen battalions of infantry, three corps of artillery and fifty-eight guns, accompanied by two regiments of cavalry, as if to attack Kingston, but, ii reality, suddenly to "slip down the Sr. Lawrence, lock up the enemy in his rear to starve or surrender;" and, when arrived at the mouth of the Chateauguay, was to act in concert with the division of Major-General Hampton and take Montreal.
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter19.htm
The other chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/glengarry/
The Life of Thomas Telford
--------------------------
Civil engineer with an introductory history of roads and travelling in Great Britain by Samuel Smiles
We've made some good progress on this book and we've completed the background information and so now onto the story of his life. The first of these chapters starts...
Thomas Telford was born in one of the most Solitary nooks of the narrow valley of the Esk, in the eastern part of the county of Dumfries, in Scotland. Eskdale runs north and south, its lower end having been in former times the western march of the Scottish border. Near the entrance to the dale is a tall column erected on Langholm Hill, some twelve miles to the north of the Gretna Green station of the Caledonian Railway,--which many travellers to and from Scotland may have observed,--a monument to the late Sir John Malcolm, Governor of Bombay, one of the distinguished natives of the district. It looks far over the English border-lands, which stretch away towards the south, and marks the entrance to the mountainous parts of the dale, which lie to the north. From that point upwards the valley gradually contracts, the road winding along the river's banks, in some places high above the stream, which rushes swiftly over the rocky bed below.
A few miles upward from the lower end of Eskdale lies the little capital of the district, the town of Langholm; and there, in the market-place, stands another monument to the virtues of the Malcolm family in the statue erected to the memory of Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm, a distinguished naval officer. Above Langholm, the country becomes more hilly and moorland. In many places only a narrow strip of land by the river's side is left available for cultivation; until at length the dale contracts so much that the hills descend to the very road, and there are only to be seen their steep heathery sides sloping up towards the sky on either hand, and a narrow stream plashing and winding along the bottom of the valley among the rocks at their feet.
From this brief description of the character of Eskdale scenery, it may readily be supposed that the district is very thinly peopled, and that it never could have been capable of supporting a large number of inhabitants. Indeed, previous to the union of the crowns of England and Scotland, the principal branch of industry that existed in the Dale was of a lawless kind. The people living on the two sides of the border looked upon each other's cattle as their own, provided only they had the strength to "lift" them. They were, in truth, even during the time of peace, a kind of outcasts, against whom the united powers of England and Scotland were often employed. On the Scotch side of the Esk were the Johnstones and Armstrongs, and on the English the Graemes of Netherby; both clans being alike wild and lawless. It was a popular border saying that "Elliots and Armstrongs ride thieves a';" and an old historian says of the Graemes that "they were all stark moss-troopers and arrant thieves; to England as well as Scotland outlawed." The neighbouring chiefs were no better: Scott of Buccleugh, from whom the modern Duke is descended, and Scott of Harden, the ancestor of the novelist, being both renowned freebooters.
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../telford07.htm
You can read the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ord_thomas.htm
John's Scottish Singalong
-------------------------
John sent in "Loch Maree" which you listen to at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...ng/page121.htm
All the other songs in this series are available at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...son/singalong/
Clan Munro of Australia Newsletter
----------------------------------
Got in the August 2011 edition which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...unro/index.htm
An Historical Account of the Ancient Culdees of Iona
----------------------------------------------------
And of their settlements in Scotland, England and Ireland by John Jamieson D.D. (1811)
When the author engaged in this disquisition, it was not with the remotest idea of writing a book on the subject. His sole design was to collect a few materials, to be afterwards thrown together, so as to form an article in a literary work, to which he had promised to contribute. But, from the contradictory assertions of learned and able writers, concerning the Culdees; from the variety of topics regarding their history or character, which demanded particular attention; and from the indispensable necessity, in an inquiry of this kind, of producing original authorities; he soon found, that it was in vain to think of giving any tolerable account of this celebrated society within the usual limits of an essay. Various difficulties have occurred, indeed, in the progress of this investigation. But, in consequence of persevering in it, he has had the satisfaction of meeting with facts, which seem to have been formerly overlooked; and he flatters himself that he has been able to set some others in a new light.
Although far from thinking that the work can be free from mistakes, he is conscious that he has done all in his power fairly to exhibit the testimony of antiquity on this subject. If it shall appear to the candid reader, that the author has in any measure elucidated this obscure, but important branch of our ancient history, he will not regret his labour.
Edinburgh, January 20, 1811
and so you can read this book as we get it up at http://www.electricscotland.com/bible/culdees/index.htm
A Scot in China of Today
------------------------
Jiajiang Tsing Yi River Rock Carvings - A World Heritage site. And our thanks to Ron for sending this in for us and this can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter10.htm
And finally...
The Guid Auld Days
In a Glasgow Asda Store an old chap using the self-service checkout couldn’t find the right bit to press to have his bag of potatoes weighed.
A member of staff, seeing his dilemma, went over, found the right spot, pressed it, and told him:
“The vegetables are listed alphabetically. P for potatoes.”
“Ah, I was lookin under T for tatties, son,” the old fella replied.
And that's it for now and hope you all have a good weekend.
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com
--------
Electric Scotland News
Electric Scotland Community
What's new on ElectricCanada.com
The Flag in the Wind
Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland
Poems of George Alexander Rodger
Memoirs of the Jacobites
R. B. Cunninghame Graham, Fighter for Justice
Through the Long Day
Tent Life in Tigerland
Sketches Illustrating the Early Settlement and History of Glengarry in Canada
The Life of Thomas Telford
John's Scottish Singalong
Clan Munro of Australia Newsletter
An Historical Account of the Ancient Culdees of Iona (New Book)
A Scot in China of Today
Electric Scotland News
----------------------
I've been working mainly on the ElectricCanadian.com web site this week but most of the work ties in with my research on the Scots. I'm adding a regular category to this newsletter so I can profile what's new on that site should you be interested.
-----
This time next week I'll be in Quebec City so looking forward to getting lots of pictures to show you. While I am giving a talk at the Celtic Festival there on the Sunday I don't expect that many to turn up as of course it will have to be in the English language. And as Quebec is the French language area of Canada I'm not really sure how many will be able to understand me. Should be interesting.
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
Electric Scotland Community
---------------------------
A wee focus on 70's rock star Suzie Quatro this week with a couple of new videos going up. See http://www.electricscotland.org/show...75-Suzi-Quatro
Got in a post about Tom Devine's new book "To the ends of the earth" and there is a link in there where you can read a good 2 page article about his book and his discussion about the Scots who left Scotland. You can get to this at http://www.electricscotland.org/show...s-of-the-Earth
Our community can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.org but of course if you are reading this you're already in it :-)
ElectricCanadian.com
--------------------
- The Life of General The Hon. James Murray
With a Biographical Sketch of the Family of Murray of Elibank by Major-Gen R. H. Mahon.
This is an account of the Scot that eventually defeated the French forces in Quebec. You can read this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/makers/murray/index.htm
- History of Saskatchewan and The Old North West
By Norman Fergus Black
Again it's quite amazing how many Scots were involved in the building of this Province. You can read this history at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...sask/index.htm
- Facts about Canada and Canadians.
We found around 150 facts about Canada and the Canadians and you can read this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/lifestyle/facts.htm
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
This weeks issue is now available compiled by Jamie Hepburn.
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...
Demolition of Monasteries
Heart of Robert Bruce
Battle of Prestonpans
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/wars/
Poems of George Alexander Rodger
--------------------------------
Added some more poems which now completes this publication.
Peter Morrison at Pitlochry
Fiddle Final in Perth
The Errant Ear-Ring
which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/rodger.htm
Memoirs of the Jacobites
------------------------
Of 1715 and 1745 by Mrs Thomson (1845) in 3 volumes. We intend to add a chapter a week until complete.
I've now added Charles Radcliffe
The account starts...
The fate of Charles Radcliffe has been regarded as one of the most severe, and his death as one of the most unjustifiable acts inflicted on those who suffered for their adherence to the Stuart cause.
This unfortunate man was the third son of Francis Earl of Derwentwater, by the Lady Mary Tudor, the daughter of Charles the Second, and was born in 1693. He was the younger brother of James Earl of Derwentwater, who suffered in 1716, for his adherence to the Stuart cause. There was also another elder brother, Francis, who died unmarried, not taking any apparent interest in the politics of the day.
The family of Radcliffe were not regarded by the descendants of their common ancestor, Charles the Second, in the light of kindred whom the rules of decorum, and the usages of society might induce them to disclaim, or at all events, to acknowledge with shame or reluctance; the vitiated notions of the day attached a very different value to the parentage of royalty, even when associated with dishonour. The marriage of Sir Francis Radcliffe to the daughter of Mary Davis was that event which procured his elevation to the peerage; and this alliance, was considered as elevating the dignity of an ancient house. The closest ties of friendship united the Stuarts and the Radcliffes, even from their earliest infancy. Educated, as well as his elder brother, James, chiefly at St. Germains, and with the Chevalier James Stuart, and brought up in the Roman Catholic faith, Charles Radcliffe, owing to the natural ardour of his disposition, imbibed much more readily than his brother the strong party views which characterized the Jacobites as a body.
You can read the rest of this long story at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter16.htm
You can read the other chapters as we get them up at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/jacobites
R. B. Cunninghame Graham, Fighter for Justice
---------------------------------------------
An Appreciation of his Social and Religious Outlook by Ian M. Fraser (2002).
Added another chapter to this account...
Church and Churches
You can get to this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/graham/
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 IV.—A Charqe of Plagarism
and
Part IV of The Scottish Language and its Literary History which now completes this account.
You can get to all this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/mackay/
Tent Life in Tigerland
----------------------
In which is incorporated "Sport and Work on the Nepaul Frontier" being twelve years reminiscences of a pioneer planter in an Indian Frontier District by James Inglis (1892)
We are now up to Chapter XX of this book.
Here is a bit from Chapter XVIII - In the Wilds of Oude...
In a far-off corner of this historic province of "Tigerland" were my next experiences of Indian "Tent Life" destined to be. The death of the rhino just described was one of my first experiences in my new environment. Let me describe it.
The chill swamp mists and sweltering steams of the Koosee jungles had nearly made an end of me, and were like to lay my bones to rest beside the three lonely mounds in the factory garden at Lutchmeepore; but happily yielding to the solicitations of a beloved brother—alas! since gone to his rest—I took a short run home after the famine year-, and early in 1876, I found myself back again in India, and installed in charge of very extensive waste-land grants, in the northern corner of Oude. Indeed, portions of my forest land and not a few of my villages extended right away up to the banks of the Sarda in the North-West Provinces.
The surroundings here were entirely different to anything to which I had hitherto been accustomed. The very habits and castes of the people were different; the dialect was strange to me at first. The crops were new to me. The system of agriculture was more primitive. The whole country, instead of being flat, sandy, and covered with the tall coarse Koosee grass, was clad thick with dense forest jungle, interspersed with broad plains; and these covered with short crisp herbage, on which vast herds of black buck browsed, and which were as entirely opposite to the swampy marshes of the Koosee Dyaras as they well could be.
The "grants" were held under certain conditions of improvement clearly laid down and defined in the "Waste Land Regulations ; and my improvements were liable to be measured up, or at all events inspected, once every five years. Owing to a succession of bad seasons and very indifferent management, the estates had been allowed to drift. Improvements were at a stand-still. Village settlement had been totally arrested. That is, settlement of the proper kind; but owing to incompetence and neglect, large portions of the forest had been encroached upon by indiscriminate and irresponsible selectors; and the grazing and forest rights had been so badly conserved that the grants had in reality become a sort of no man's territory—a kind of Alsatia, to which Adullamites resorted, and where, as in the time of the Judges in Israel, "every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
The rest of this chapter can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter18.htm
The other chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/tentlife/
Sketches Illustrating the Early Settlement and History of Glengarry in Canada
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
By J. A. MacDonell (1983)
We added Chapters 15 through 21 this week.
In Chapter 19 we learn...
Though the enemy, under General Harrison, had thus been successful in the West, yet his success was barren of any considerable results, and discovering at last his erroneous strategy, he wisely determined upon again turning his attention to the St. Lawrence. His General, Wilkinson, forthwith commenced assembling a disposable force of ten thousand regular troops at Sackett's Harbour, with a view of seizing upon our naval depot at Kingston, only four hours' sail from him; and the Governor-General, in consequence, immediately repaired in person to that post, concentrating there all the force he could possibly muster, though this compelled him to strip Lower Canada of nearly all his regular troops, and thereby left that Province exposed to the most imminent danger of a surprise. But in his destitute state he had no alternative.
Indeed, so weak, after all, was the garrison of Kingston, that he was obliged to bring thither, from Montreal, the eight flank companies of the four recently embodied regiments of the French or Lower Canada Militia, to be there organized by Lieutenant-Colonel George Macdonell, into a Light Battalion for immediate service, which, considering this officer had not one single individual who had ever worn uniform to assist him in the task, was by no means a sinecure employment.
The enemy, however, getting information from Montreal in October that there were "no fortifications in that city or in advance of it," and that it was only garrisoned "by two hundred sailors and marines, with the militia, numbers unknown"—that is, as we have seen, the four recently embodied battalions, less their flank companies, Wilkinson abandoned the idea of Kingston and wisely determined upon the immediate capture of Montreal itself by a combined and rapid coup de main with his general, Hampton, who for this purpose advanced from Four Corners across the frontier of Lower Canada, about the 20th October, with seven thousand regular infantry, two hundred cavalry and ten pieces of artillery, to penetrate to that city by the Chateauguay River, knowing well that he would meet with no opposing force on the way except three hundred French-Canadians, being half the Voltigeurs and the Light Company of the Canadian Fencibles under Lieutenant-Colonel DeSalaberty, whom he was then driving in before him. Wilkinson, about the same time, embarked in boats at Sackett's Harbour fourteen battalions of infantry, three corps of artillery and fifty-eight guns, accompanied by two regiments of cavalry, as if to attack Kingston, but, ii reality, suddenly to "slip down the Sr. Lawrence, lock up the enemy in his rear to starve or surrender;" and, when arrived at the mouth of the Chateauguay, was to act in concert with the division of Major-General Hampton and take Montreal.
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter19.htm
The other chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/glengarry/
The Life of Thomas Telford
--------------------------
Civil engineer with an introductory history of roads and travelling in Great Britain by Samuel Smiles
We've made some good progress on this book and we've completed the background information and so now onto the story of his life. The first of these chapters starts...
Thomas Telford was born in one of the most Solitary nooks of the narrow valley of the Esk, in the eastern part of the county of Dumfries, in Scotland. Eskdale runs north and south, its lower end having been in former times the western march of the Scottish border. Near the entrance to the dale is a tall column erected on Langholm Hill, some twelve miles to the north of the Gretna Green station of the Caledonian Railway,--which many travellers to and from Scotland may have observed,--a monument to the late Sir John Malcolm, Governor of Bombay, one of the distinguished natives of the district. It looks far over the English border-lands, which stretch away towards the south, and marks the entrance to the mountainous parts of the dale, which lie to the north. From that point upwards the valley gradually contracts, the road winding along the river's banks, in some places high above the stream, which rushes swiftly over the rocky bed below.
A few miles upward from the lower end of Eskdale lies the little capital of the district, the town of Langholm; and there, in the market-place, stands another monument to the virtues of the Malcolm family in the statue erected to the memory of Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm, a distinguished naval officer. Above Langholm, the country becomes more hilly and moorland. In many places only a narrow strip of land by the river's side is left available for cultivation; until at length the dale contracts so much that the hills descend to the very road, and there are only to be seen their steep heathery sides sloping up towards the sky on either hand, and a narrow stream plashing and winding along the bottom of the valley among the rocks at their feet.
From this brief description of the character of Eskdale scenery, it may readily be supposed that the district is very thinly peopled, and that it never could have been capable of supporting a large number of inhabitants. Indeed, previous to the union of the crowns of England and Scotland, the principal branch of industry that existed in the Dale was of a lawless kind. The people living on the two sides of the border looked upon each other's cattle as their own, provided only they had the strength to "lift" them. They were, in truth, even during the time of peace, a kind of outcasts, against whom the united powers of England and Scotland were often employed. On the Scotch side of the Esk were the Johnstones and Armstrongs, and on the English the Graemes of Netherby; both clans being alike wild and lawless. It was a popular border saying that "Elliots and Armstrongs ride thieves a';" and an old historian says of the Graemes that "they were all stark moss-troopers and arrant thieves; to England as well as Scotland outlawed." The neighbouring chiefs were no better: Scott of Buccleugh, from whom the modern Duke is descended, and Scott of Harden, the ancestor of the novelist, being both renowned freebooters.
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../telford07.htm
You can read the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ord_thomas.htm
John's Scottish Singalong
-------------------------
John sent in "Loch Maree" which you listen to at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...ng/page121.htm
All the other songs in this series are available at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...son/singalong/
Clan Munro of Australia Newsletter
----------------------------------
Got in the August 2011 edition which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...unro/index.htm
An Historical Account of the Ancient Culdees of Iona
----------------------------------------------------
And of their settlements in Scotland, England and Ireland by John Jamieson D.D. (1811)
When the author engaged in this disquisition, it was not with the remotest idea of writing a book on the subject. His sole design was to collect a few materials, to be afterwards thrown together, so as to form an article in a literary work, to which he had promised to contribute. But, from the contradictory assertions of learned and able writers, concerning the Culdees; from the variety of topics regarding their history or character, which demanded particular attention; and from the indispensable necessity, in an inquiry of this kind, of producing original authorities; he soon found, that it was in vain to think of giving any tolerable account of this celebrated society within the usual limits of an essay. Various difficulties have occurred, indeed, in the progress of this investigation. But, in consequence of persevering in it, he has had the satisfaction of meeting with facts, which seem to have been formerly overlooked; and he flatters himself that he has been able to set some others in a new light.
Although far from thinking that the work can be free from mistakes, he is conscious that he has done all in his power fairly to exhibit the testimony of antiquity on this subject. If it shall appear to the candid reader, that the author has in any measure elucidated this obscure, but important branch of our ancient history, he will not regret his labour.
Edinburgh, January 20, 1811
and so you can read this book as we get it up at http://www.electricscotland.com/bible/culdees/index.htm
A Scot in China of Today
------------------------
Jiajiang Tsing Yi River Rock Carvings - A World Heritage site. And our thanks to Ron for sending this in for us and this can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter10.htm
And finally...
The Guid Auld Days
In a Glasgow Asda Store an old chap using the self-service checkout couldn’t find the right bit to press to have his bag of potatoes weighed.
A member of staff, seeing his dilemma, went over, found the right spot, pressed it, and told him:
“The vegetables are listed alphabetically. P for potatoes.”
“Ah, I was lookin under T for tatties, son,” the old fella replied.
And that's it for now and hope you all have a good weekend.
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com