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CONTENTS
Electric Scotland News
Electric Canadian
The Flag in the Wind
The Bards of Bon Accord 1375 - 1860
A History of the County of Renfrew from the Earliest Times
Northern Notes and Queries
History of the Parish of Banchory-Devenick
Scenes and Legends of The North of Scotland (New Book)
Songs by John Henderson
A Brief Illustrated Biography of William Sutherland
Grasses of Britain
The Grocers Encyclopedia
History of Galloway
Sculptured Stones of Scotland
The Life and Work of James Abernethy, C.E., F.R.S.E. (New Book)
St James Priory Newsletter
Electric Scotland News
Not much in the way of news this week. On a personal note I have been using a Phillips electric razor but never been that happy with the shave I get. So this week I decided to splurge on a Braun electric razor and with it I got a portable razor running of batteries as a free offer with their main razor. Just out of interest I used the portable razor and got the best shave I've ever had. Just goes to show you need to try new things from time to time. I'll be trying the main razor tomorrow so we'll see how good that is but the wee portable was great other than the Duracel batteries they included were dead so had to use my rechargeable ones. And I might add that this is not the first time that Duracel batteries have let me down so there "trusted everywhere" saying does not apply to me for sure!
Then I used up my last tin of ox tongue. Now Ox Tongue is a very popular meat in Scotland but I have yet to come across it in Canada so I've been getting it shipped over from the UK through a friend. However this time I decided to try one of the online British Stores to order it so we'll see how fast it arrives.
----
A few interesting messages you might view in our Electric Scotland Community...
Vote Yes with the SDA.
This is a good summation of what might be possible under an SDA government in an Independent Scotland. You can read this at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...S-with-the-SDA
Tom Brokaw Explains Canada To Americans
A pretty up tp to date summary of Canada which you can view at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...a-To-Americans
Marvelous photography
This message points to some stunning scenery in video format from YouTube at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...us-photography
And of course some other great messages to read at http://www.electricscotland.org
-----
I can confirm that I have downloaded a lot of new v2.0 games for our Arcade. I'm now waiting for Steve to remove all games in the Arcade and add all these new ones in. He had said he thought he could get it done in time for me to announce it in this newsletter but regret to say he didn't make it in time <sigh>. So hopefully he'll get it done by the weekend. I am hoping this will fix the high score problem as it does seem to be confined to the v32 games.
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
We try not to point to a pdf file and instead send you to page where the pdf can be downloaded.
Electric Canadian
-----------------
Forrest Life in Acadia
Sketches of Sport and Natural History in the lower Provinces of the Canadian Dominion by Captain Campbell Hardy (1869)
Now up to chapter X of this publication which you can read at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...rest/index.htm
Found a couple of interesting books neither of which were suitable for ocr'ing onto the site so decided to just make them available as pdf files....
The Four Kings of Canada
This is an old book printed in 1710. Such is the date that at this time the letter s was printed as the letter f and so it may be a wee bit challenging to read but I think well worth the effort. You can get to this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist.../fourkings.htm
Windsor: Some facts concerning its Early History
This is an early pdf file which is quite readable. I've also included a few YouTube videos which you can get to at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...io/windsor.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This issue was Compiled by Fraser Hudghton.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
The Bards of Bon Accord 1375 - 1860
By William Walker
Added the chapter on "George Knowles".
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...cord/index.htm
A History of the County of Renfrew from the Earliest Times
By William M. Metcalfe, D.D. (1905)
We've now completed this book and the final chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...frew/index.htm
Northern Notes and Queries
We've managed to find other issues of this publication and so now continue the series by adding the March 1891 edition. Note: In the pdf version of the newsletter I am placing a graphic of the Contents page so you can see what is included in each issue.
I note in the books section they mention: "The prymer : or, Prayer-book of the lay people in the Middle Ages in English dating about 1400 A.D." and we have a link to the first 2 volumes of this publication on our Bible page at http://www.electricscotland.com/bible
This issue can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...hern/index.htm
History of the Parish of Banchory-Devenick
By John A. Henderson (1890).
More chapters have been added this week and here is how the chapter on the "Estate of Pitfodels" starts...
Any history of the estate of Pitfodels is also a history of the Roman Catholic family of Menzies, once so important in local annals, but now utterly extinct. They held the property for about four hundred years; and its history before their advent is brief, and comparatively unimportant. It was their connection with it that will make it remembered long after the account of its other proprietors shall be forgotten.
The lands were at first divided into three parts— Easter, Wester, and Middle Pitfodels, and it was not till the sixteenth century that they all became joined under one proprietorship.
Early in the fourteenth century, the property, like many other estates, was in the hands of a cadet of the powerful family of Moray,—frequently Murray—who had attained prominence under David I. At that date the lands of Pitfodels embraced the whole of Banchory-Devenick north of the Dee, and east of the Den of Cults. The family of Murray lost their hold of the property in 1389, when Alexander of Murray, then designed as “ Lord of Culbyne,” granted a deed of wadset in favour of his kinsman, “William Rede,” of the lands of “Wester Badfothellis” with the fishings, for £56 13s. 4d. sterling. In the following year sasine was granted in favour of Reid who thus became the owner of Wester Pitfodels.
The next step in the history of the property brings the Menzies into the field. The family—a branch of a stock located in Athol—had long been well known in Aberdeen. In 1424 David Menzies, a burgess—as has already been noticed—was one of the hostages to England for the payment of .£40,000, on the release of James I. Their importance evidently had grown to the extent of their acquiring land, and in 1430 a city burgess, Gilbert Menzies, a Christian name that remained in the family for centuries, appears on the scene. A precept was then granted to infeft him in the lands of “ Wester Badfothel ” and half of “Middle Badfothel.” He was a younger son of Sir Robert Menzies of Weems, and he employed his patrimony chiefly in securing mortgages over estates in the counties of Aberdeen and Kincardine. He was the first of his family to win the blue ribbonship of the city, the rank of provost, but he was not the last. For over two hundred years—1426-1634—the family held that honour— with “great applause,” quoth Parson Gordon—no less than twenty-eight separate times. In 1436 Gilbert was elected to represent the burgh in Parliament at Edinburgh, scots being allowed him for expenses. He was married to Marjory Liddell, probably a member of another well known Aberdeen family of the period. The date of his death is a puzzling point, for though a monument to the memory of him and his wife, which was erected in St. Nicholas Churchyard, Aberdeen—it disappeared in the middle of last century—is known to have borne the date 1439, yet his name is to be met with after that time. It is believed that the date should have been 1459, as he was undoubtedly alive during that year. A pair of stone effigies, now lying on the window sill of the West Church, Aberdeen, represent the couple. When the church became ruinous in 1730, the effigies were removed for safety to the churchyard of Maryculter, where they lay till quite recently. It was he who, in 1448, having previously secured infeftment, granted a premonition to Andrew Reid for the redemption of the lands of “ Wester Badfothellis,” which had been mortgaged by Alexander of Murray to Reid’s grandfather, William, for one hundred merks. Two years later Menzies was granted a charter by Stephen of Balrony, of a Templar land in the barony of “Badfothal,” paying therefor four shillings yearly to the brethren of the house of St. John of Jerusalem at Torphichen. The knights of this Order had a foundation near where Arnlee now stands, and till within the last sixty years a croft which stood there went by the name of The Temple.*
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter18.htm
You can read the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...hory/index.htm
Scenes and Legends of The North of Scotland
or the Traditional History of Cromarty by Hugh Miller (1869)
I actually started this book last week but forgot to mention it to you in the last newsletter.
The present edition contains about one-third more matter than the first. The added Chapters, however, like those which previously composed the work, were almost all written about twenty years ago, in leisure hours snatched from a laborious employment, or during the storms of winter, when the worker in the open air has to seek shelter at home. But it is always less disadvantageous to a traditionary work, that it should have been written early than late. Of the materials wrought up into the present volume, the greater part was gathered about from fifteen to twenty years earlier still; and though some thirty-five or forty years may not seem a very lengthened period, such has been the change that has taken place during the lapse of the generation which has in that time disappeared from the earth, that perhaps scarce a tithe of the same matter could be collected now. We live in an age unfavourable to tradition, in which the written has superseded the oral. As the sun rose in his strength, the manna wasted away like hoarfrost from off the ground.
In preparing my volume a second time for the press, I have felt rather gratified than otherwise, that, at least, much of what it contains should have been preserved. The reader will here and there find snatches of dissertation, which would perhaps not be missed if away—which, at all events, had they not been written before, would have remained unwritten now; but which I have spared, partly for the sake of the associations connected with them, and partly under the impression that the other portions of the work would have less of character if they were wanting. Some of these dissertative fragments I have, however, considerably abridged, and there were others of a similar kind in the first edition which have been wholly suppressed. In my longer stories I have, I find, exercised the same sort of liberty in filling up the outlines as that taken by the ancient historians in their earlier Chapters. Livy in the the times of the Empire could write speeches for Romulus and Junius Brutus, and introduce them into his narrative as authentic; and Tacitus details as minutely, in his Life of Agricola, the deliberations of the warlike Caledonians as if he had formed one of their councils. Even the sober Hume puts arguments for and against toleration into the mouths of Cardinal Pole and his opponents which belonged to neither the men nor the age. But though I have, in some cases, given shade and colour to the original lines, in no case have I altered the character of the drawing. I have only to state further, that the reader, when he finds reference made, in the indefinite style of the traditionary historian, to the years which have elapsed since the events related took place, must add in every instance twenty additional twelvemonths to the number; the some thirty bygone years of my narratives have stretched out into half a century, and the half century into the threescore years and ten.
We're now up to Chapter XIII but since starting the book I've also come across some additional material about Ross & Cromarty...
A General View of the Agriculture of the Counties of Ross and Cromarty
By George Steaurt MacKenzie (1810) (pdf)
and
Place Names of Ross and Cromarty
By W. J. Watson (1904) (pdf)
And so have added links to these on the index page of the book which you can get to at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...arty/index.htm
Songs by John Henderson
Got in another song from John, "Virginny Val Of The USA" which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel441.htm
His other songs can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm
A Brief Illustrated Biography of William Sutherland
(1838, Caithness, Scotland - 1895, Onehunga, New Zealand)
You can read this article in pdf format at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...sutherland.htm
Grasses of Britain
This book also includes the Grasses of Scotland. You can view this book with its many illustrations at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/grasses.htm
I might add I found this book due to watching the "Victorian Farm" series. This is where I found the Book of the Farm. They used this book to decide on what grasses to sow for their sheep to graze on.
The Grocers Encyclopedia
A compendium of useful information concerning foods of all kinds. How they are raised, prepared and marketed. How to care for them in the store and home. How best to use and enjoy them and other valuable information for Grocers and General Storekeepers. By Artemas Ward (1911).
Another book I came across which I added to our collection and can be viewed at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/grocers.htm
History of Galloway
I found two publication both of 2 volumes which provide some excellent information on Galloway and so include them here for you to read. As I have already done much ocr'ing of books to do with this area I've decided to simply provide these books in pdf format. You can get to these at http://www.electricscotland.com/council/galloway.htm
Sculptured Stones of Scotland
By John Stuart. A book published by the Spalding Club in 1856. This is a 2 volume publication and can be found at the foot of the page at: http://www.electricscotland.com/stones/index.htm
The Life and Work of James Abernethy, C.E., F.R.S.E.
Past President of the Institution of Civil Engineers by his son John S. Abernethy (1867). A new book we're starting.
The author has endeavoured to give in the pages which follow a concise review of the long life of his late father, and some account of the principal works designed and executed by him in the United Kingdom and Abroad.
These, it is hoped, will long remain as visible proofs of his industry and ability as a Harbour and Dock Engineer now that his life has closed, but as in the opinion of many friends he was scarcely so well known to his countrymen outside the pale of the Civil Engineering Profession while living, as was justified by his works, the author has felt himself called upon to record them in a Biography, and thus enable all who so desire to read of him and of his professional career at their leisure.
Moreover, the requisite materials were easily procurable from numerous diaries, and more particularly from a manuscript written shortly before his death, in which he had himself noted down the incidents he could recall, and the chief works upon which he had been engaged. With these valuable guides— easily followed by one who had enjoyed a long and close association with him—the author has been enabled to investigate and supplement from old Report and Letter Books from 1840 to the date of his decease on March 8th, 1896, all that was referred to in the manuscript, and to add such additional incidents as may be of interest from the various sources of research, and so gradually to accomplish the pleasant duty he had undertaken.
In conclusion, he trusts that no further credit is claimed for the subject of the Biography than is justly due to him. If his individuality is in any instance too prominent, there is a total absence of intention of passing over any one whose name should have been mentioned in connection with any of the particular engineering works described. Any such error, either in commission or omission, would be a course of regret.
The Author.
4, Delahay Street,
Westminster, S.W. July, 1897.
You can read this book as we get it up at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ethy/index.htm
St James Priory Newsletter
Got up the June 2012 issue as a pdf attachment in the Electric Scotland Community at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...-for-June-2012
And finally...
Got in a Rob Roy Doggerel By John Coogan:
Rob Roy was captured one June day
In Perthshire prison locked away.
His captor felt the need to gloat
And bragged in letters that he wrote.
The captor soon went out of vogue
He could not hold the Highland Rogue.
Rob found a rather clever ruse
And plied his jailors with some booze.
"I have a note I need to write
May I please stand where there's some light?"
So by the jail house door he stood
And then he tricked them really good.
His ally rode up to the door
To "take the note" and nothing more.
But that guy really had some brains
He tossed to Rob the horse's reins.
Within a flash the jig was up
And Rob was yelling "Giddyup!"
Upon the horse he got away
And rode to freedom at Loch Tay.
And that's all for now and hope you all have a great weekend.
Alastair
Electric Scotland News
Electric Canadian
The Flag in the Wind
The Bards of Bon Accord 1375 - 1860
A History of the County of Renfrew from the Earliest Times
Northern Notes and Queries
History of the Parish of Banchory-Devenick
Scenes and Legends of The North of Scotland (New Book)
Songs by John Henderson
A Brief Illustrated Biography of William Sutherland
Grasses of Britain
The Grocers Encyclopedia
History of Galloway
Sculptured Stones of Scotland
The Life and Work of James Abernethy, C.E., F.R.S.E. (New Book)
St James Priory Newsletter
Electric Scotland News
Not much in the way of news this week. On a personal note I have been using a Phillips electric razor but never been that happy with the shave I get. So this week I decided to splurge on a Braun electric razor and with it I got a portable razor running of batteries as a free offer with their main razor. Just out of interest I used the portable razor and got the best shave I've ever had. Just goes to show you need to try new things from time to time. I'll be trying the main razor tomorrow so we'll see how good that is but the wee portable was great other than the Duracel batteries they included were dead so had to use my rechargeable ones. And I might add that this is not the first time that Duracel batteries have let me down so there "trusted everywhere" saying does not apply to me for sure!
Then I used up my last tin of ox tongue. Now Ox Tongue is a very popular meat in Scotland but I have yet to come across it in Canada so I've been getting it shipped over from the UK through a friend. However this time I decided to try one of the online British Stores to order it so we'll see how fast it arrives.
----
A few interesting messages you might view in our Electric Scotland Community...
Vote Yes with the SDA.
This is a good summation of what might be possible under an SDA government in an Independent Scotland. You can read this at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...S-with-the-SDA
Tom Brokaw Explains Canada To Americans
A pretty up tp to date summary of Canada which you can view at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...a-To-Americans
Marvelous photography
This message points to some stunning scenery in video format from YouTube at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...us-photography
And of course some other great messages to read at http://www.electricscotland.org
-----
I can confirm that I have downloaded a lot of new v2.0 games for our Arcade. I'm now waiting for Steve to remove all games in the Arcade and add all these new ones in. He had said he thought he could get it done in time for me to announce it in this newsletter but regret to say he didn't make it in time <sigh>. So hopefully he'll get it done by the weekend. I am hoping this will fix the high score problem as it does seem to be confined to the v32 games.
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
We try not to point to a pdf file and instead send you to page where the pdf can be downloaded.
Electric Canadian
-----------------
Forrest Life in Acadia
Sketches of Sport and Natural History in the lower Provinces of the Canadian Dominion by Captain Campbell Hardy (1869)
Now up to chapter X of this publication which you can read at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...rest/index.htm
Found a couple of interesting books neither of which were suitable for ocr'ing onto the site so decided to just make them available as pdf files....
The Four Kings of Canada
This is an old book printed in 1710. Such is the date that at this time the letter s was printed as the letter f and so it may be a wee bit challenging to read but I think well worth the effort. You can get to this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist.../fourkings.htm
Windsor: Some facts concerning its Early History
This is an early pdf file which is quite readable. I've also included a few YouTube videos which you can get to at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...io/windsor.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This issue was Compiled by Fraser Hudghton.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
The Bards of Bon Accord 1375 - 1860
By William Walker
Added the chapter on "George Knowles".
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...cord/index.htm
A History of the County of Renfrew from the Earliest Times
By William M. Metcalfe, D.D. (1905)
We've now completed this book and the final chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...frew/index.htm
Northern Notes and Queries
We've managed to find other issues of this publication and so now continue the series by adding the March 1891 edition. Note: In the pdf version of the newsletter I am placing a graphic of the Contents page so you can see what is included in each issue.
I note in the books section they mention: "The prymer : or, Prayer-book of the lay people in the Middle Ages in English dating about 1400 A.D." and we have a link to the first 2 volumes of this publication on our Bible page at http://www.electricscotland.com/bible
This issue can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...hern/index.htm
History of the Parish of Banchory-Devenick
By John A. Henderson (1890).
More chapters have been added this week and here is how the chapter on the "Estate of Pitfodels" starts...
Any history of the estate of Pitfodels is also a history of the Roman Catholic family of Menzies, once so important in local annals, but now utterly extinct. They held the property for about four hundred years; and its history before their advent is brief, and comparatively unimportant. It was their connection with it that will make it remembered long after the account of its other proprietors shall be forgotten.
The lands were at first divided into three parts— Easter, Wester, and Middle Pitfodels, and it was not till the sixteenth century that they all became joined under one proprietorship.
Early in the fourteenth century, the property, like many other estates, was in the hands of a cadet of the powerful family of Moray,—frequently Murray—who had attained prominence under David I. At that date the lands of Pitfodels embraced the whole of Banchory-Devenick north of the Dee, and east of the Den of Cults. The family of Murray lost their hold of the property in 1389, when Alexander of Murray, then designed as “ Lord of Culbyne,” granted a deed of wadset in favour of his kinsman, “William Rede,” of the lands of “Wester Badfothellis” with the fishings, for £56 13s. 4d. sterling. In the following year sasine was granted in favour of Reid who thus became the owner of Wester Pitfodels.
The next step in the history of the property brings the Menzies into the field. The family—a branch of a stock located in Athol—had long been well known in Aberdeen. In 1424 David Menzies, a burgess—as has already been noticed—was one of the hostages to England for the payment of .£40,000, on the release of James I. Their importance evidently had grown to the extent of their acquiring land, and in 1430 a city burgess, Gilbert Menzies, a Christian name that remained in the family for centuries, appears on the scene. A precept was then granted to infeft him in the lands of “ Wester Badfothel ” and half of “Middle Badfothel.” He was a younger son of Sir Robert Menzies of Weems, and he employed his patrimony chiefly in securing mortgages over estates in the counties of Aberdeen and Kincardine. He was the first of his family to win the blue ribbonship of the city, the rank of provost, but he was not the last. For over two hundred years—1426-1634—the family held that honour— with “great applause,” quoth Parson Gordon—no less than twenty-eight separate times. In 1436 Gilbert was elected to represent the burgh in Parliament at Edinburgh, scots being allowed him for expenses. He was married to Marjory Liddell, probably a member of another well known Aberdeen family of the period. The date of his death is a puzzling point, for though a monument to the memory of him and his wife, which was erected in St. Nicholas Churchyard, Aberdeen—it disappeared in the middle of last century—is known to have borne the date 1439, yet his name is to be met with after that time. It is believed that the date should have been 1459, as he was undoubtedly alive during that year. A pair of stone effigies, now lying on the window sill of the West Church, Aberdeen, represent the couple. When the church became ruinous in 1730, the effigies were removed for safety to the churchyard of Maryculter, where they lay till quite recently. It was he who, in 1448, having previously secured infeftment, granted a premonition to Andrew Reid for the redemption of the lands of “ Wester Badfothellis,” which had been mortgaged by Alexander of Murray to Reid’s grandfather, William, for one hundred merks. Two years later Menzies was granted a charter by Stephen of Balrony, of a Templar land in the barony of “Badfothal,” paying therefor four shillings yearly to the brethren of the house of St. John of Jerusalem at Torphichen. The knights of this Order had a foundation near where Arnlee now stands, and till within the last sixty years a croft which stood there went by the name of The Temple.*
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter18.htm
You can read the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...hory/index.htm
Scenes and Legends of The North of Scotland
or the Traditional History of Cromarty by Hugh Miller (1869)
I actually started this book last week but forgot to mention it to you in the last newsletter.
The present edition contains about one-third more matter than the first. The added Chapters, however, like those which previously composed the work, were almost all written about twenty years ago, in leisure hours snatched from a laborious employment, or during the storms of winter, when the worker in the open air has to seek shelter at home. But it is always less disadvantageous to a traditionary work, that it should have been written early than late. Of the materials wrought up into the present volume, the greater part was gathered about from fifteen to twenty years earlier still; and though some thirty-five or forty years may not seem a very lengthened period, such has been the change that has taken place during the lapse of the generation which has in that time disappeared from the earth, that perhaps scarce a tithe of the same matter could be collected now. We live in an age unfavourable to tradition, in which the written has superseded the oral. As the sun rose in his strength, the manna wasted away like hoarfrost from off the ground.
In preparing my volume a second time for the press, I have felt rather gratified than otherwise, that, at least, much of what it contains should have been preserved. The reader will here and there find snatches of dissertation, which would perhaps not be missed if away—which, at all events, had they not been written before, would have remained unwritten now; but which I have spared, partly for the sake of the associations connected with them, and partly under the impression that the other portions of the work would have less of character if they were wanting. Some of these dissertative fragments I have, however, considerably abridged, and there were others of a similar kind in the first edition which have been wholly suppressed. In my longer stories I have, I find, exercised the same sort of liberty in filling up the outlines as that taken by the ancient historians in their earlier Chapters. Livy in the the times of the Empire could write speeches for Romulus and Junius Brutus, and introduce them into his narrative as authentic; and Tacitus details as minutely, in his Life of Agricola, the deliberations of the warlike Caledonians as if he had formed one of their councils. Even the sober Hume puts arguments for and against toleration into the mouths of Cardinal Pole and his opponents which belonged to neither the men nor the age. But though I have, in some cases, given shade and colour to the original lines, in no case have I altered the character of the drawing. I have only to state further, that the reader, when he finds reference made, in the indefinite style of the traditionary historian, to the years which have elapsed since the events related took place, must add in every instance twenty additional twelvemonths to the number; the some thirty bygone years of my narratives have stretched out into half a century, and the half century into the threescore years and ten.
We're now up to Chapter XIII but since starting the book I've also come across some additional material about Ross & Cromarty...
A General View of the Agriculture of the Counties of Ross and Cromarty
By George Steaurt MacKenzie (1810) (pdf)
and
Place Names of Ross and Cromarty
By W. J. Watson (1904) (pdf)
And so have added links to these on the index page of the book which you can get to at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...arty/index.htm
Songs by John Henderson
Got in another song from John, "Virginny Val Of The USA" which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel441.htm
His other songs can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm
A Brief Illustrated Biography of William Sutherland
(1838, Caithness, Scotland - 1895, Onehunga, New Zealand)
You can read this article in pdf format at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...sutherland.htm
Grasses of Britain
This book also includes the Grasses of Scotland. You can view this book with its many illustrations at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/grasses.htm
I might add I found this book due to watching the "Victorian Farm" series. This is where I found the Book of the Farm. They used this book to decide on what grasses to sow for their sheep to graze on.
The Grocers Encyclopedia
A compendium of useful information concerning foods of all kinds. How they are raised, prepared and marketed. How to care for them in the store and home. How best to use and enjoy them and other valuable information for Grocers and General Storekeepers. By Artemas Ward (1911).
Another book I came across which I added to our collection and can be viewed at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/grocers.htm
History of Galloway
I found two publication both of 2 volumes which provide some excellent information on Galloway and so include them here for you to read. As I have already done much ocr'ing of books to do with this area I've decided to simply provide these books in pdf format. You can get to these at http://www.electricscotland.com/council/galloway.htm
Sculptured Stones of Scotland
By John Stuart. A book published by the Spalding Club in 1856. This is a 2 volume publication and can be found at the foot of the page at: http://www.electricscotland.com/stones/index.htm
The Life and Work of James Abernethy, C.E., F.R.S.E.
Past President of the Institution of Civil Engineers by his son John S. Abernethy (1867). A new book we're starting.
The author has endeavoured to give in the pages which follow a concise review of the long life of his late father, and some account of the principal works designed and executed by him in the United Kingdom and Abroad.
These, it is hoped, will long remain as visible proofs of his industry and ability as a Harbour and Dock Engineer now that his life has closed, but as in the opinion of many friends he was scarcely so well known to his countrymen outside the pale of the Civil Engineering Profession while living, as was justified by his works, the author has felt himself called upon to record them in a Biography, and thus enable all who so desire to read of him and of his professional career at their leisure.
Moreover, the requisite materials were easily procurable from numerous diaries, and more particularly from a manuscript written shortly before his death, in which he had himself noted down the incidents he could recall, and the chief works upon which he had been engaged. With these valuable guides— easily followed by one who had enjoyed a long and close association with him—the author has been enabled to investigate and supplement from old Report and Letter Books from 1840 to the date of his decease on March 8th, 1896, all that was referred to in the manuscript, and to add such additional incidents as may be of interest from the various sources of research, and so gradually to accomplish the pleasant duty he had undertaken.
In conclusion, he trusts that no further credit is claimed for the subject of the Biography than is justly due to him. If his individuality is in any instance too prominent, there is a total absence of intention of passing over any one whose name should have been mentioned in connection with any of the particular engineering works described. Any such error, either in commission or omission, would be a course of regret.
The Author.
4, Delahay Street,
Westminster, S.W. July, 1897.
You can read this book as we get it up at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ethy/index.htm
St James Priory Newsletter
Got up the June 2012 issue as a pdf attachment in the Electric Scotland Community at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...-for-June-2012
And finally...
Got in a Rob Roy Doggerel By John Coogan:
Rob Roy was captured one June day
In Perthshire prison locked away.
His captor felt the need to gloat
And bragged in letters that he wrote.
The captor soon went out of vogue
He could not hold the Highland Rogue.
Rob found a rather clever ruse
And plied his jailors with some booze.
"I have a note I need to write
May I please stand where there's some light?"
So by the jail house door he stood
And then he tricked them really good.
His ally rode up to the door
To "take the note" and nothing more.
But that guy really had some brains
He tossed to Rob the horse's reins.
Within a flash the jig was up
And Rob was yelling "Giddyup!"
Upon the horse he got away
And rode to freedom at Loch Tay.
And that's all for now and hope you all have a great weekend.
Alastair