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CONTENTS
Electric Scotland News
Electric Canadian
Canada and its Provinces
Knox Presbyterian Church
The Flag in the Wind
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
Songs from John Henderson
Sir David Brewster
Some Reminiscences and the Bagpipe
Songs Of Scotland, Prior To Burns
History of the St Andrew's Society of the State of New York 1756 - 1906
Lady Douglas-Hamilton
Alexander MacDonald
Robert Louis Stevenson
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Old Contracts of Friendship
The Ancient Celts
Gaelic Names of Birds
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
and finally
Electric Scotland News
I've been very busy this week with the new "Scottish Independence and Scotland's Future" section. This week I've pretty much completed the various topics and all now have very interesting reading material. Up to now I haven't added any of this to the What's New page but from now on all additions will be added.
It seems to me the major issue for the referendum in Scotland is now over the SNP's decision to ensure we will remain a member of the EU. There is now plenty of reading on the site to demonstrate why we should not be a member of the EU should we vote yes in the referendum. I also added an article which for the first time opens up what will happen if we vote yes and the complexity of issues that will need to be dealt with.
And so if you are interested in this issue do visit http://www.electricscotland.com/independence
-----
Robert Stewart of Robert Stewart Publishing in Canada has been sending me pdf's of several books that he thinks would be of interest to our readers. As a result when I indicate I'd be interested in a book he provides contact information for the author so I can contact them to see if they'd give me permission to publish the book on the web site.
The first result of this work is that I got permission to publish the book about Knox Church in Tiverton and their first 150 years. There are many Scots mentioned in the book and a ton of old pictures and newspaper clippings. I'll tell you more about this below but also note that a second book deal is now closed on an autobiography of a Barber in South London, Ontario where he plied his trade for some 50 years. He lost his hearing through Scarlet Fever when he was 14. I should have this book available next week.
-----
I might add I got an email in asking if we could get backing to name the new Forth Road Bridge "Diaspora Bridge". Problem was I got the email in too late so I went to the site myself and managed to submit that name for consideration on the final day for submissions.
Electric Canadian
Canada and its Provinces
In 22 volumes and Index
I have now started to add these volumes and the idea is to make one volume available each week until complete. Should you be interested in this series then you'll be able to dip into each volume during the week and thus be ready for the next volume appearing.
Now added Volume 3.
You can get to this collection towards the foot of our Canadian History page at
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...nada/index.htm
Knox Presbyterian Church
Tiverton, Ontario - 150 years
From the scrapbook collection of Alberta Smith and recollections of the congregation of Knox Presbyterian Church, Tiverton, Ontario. First Edition December 2008 © 2008
Our thanks to the Knox Presbyterian Church for allowing us to publish their book on our site.
This book is the story of people, from pioneer days to the present time – people of faith who were dedicated, resourceful, conscientious and grateful to God for His blessings. This book is one of memories more than history. To name all who carried out the work of Knox Church congregation during the 150 years would be impossible. They and you have served by prayer and service, and by faithful attendance at worship week by week, and are known to God. To you who will continue in the years ahead as Christ’s disciples in Knox Church, be assured that God is at work with you, renewing your strength and upholding you with His love.
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks edition was Compiled by Jim Lynch in which he tells us...It is our hope and intention to give readers of the Flag the broadcast of First Minister’s Questions each week. As this does not become available to us until the weekend after it takes place, our transmission will be one week later than the event.This is an embedded video which you just click on to view.Jim has also included a write about James Halliday who died the other week. I might add that James produced a number of articles, some of which were archived on the site and can be read at:
http://www.scotsindependent.org/feat...iday/index.htmLots of other interesting articles which you can read at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
We have now added the April 1905 issue at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...w/volume02.htm
You can read the previous issues at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/review/
Songs from John Henderson
John sent us in a couple of new songs this week and here is one to read here...
You can read more of John's songs mostly in the Doric language at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm
Sir David Brewster
We continue to add chapters and this week have added...
Chapter XX - Notes of Life from 1864 to 1867
Chapter XXI - The End
Appendices
And this now completes the book.
You can read these chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...n/brewster.htm
Some Reminiscences and the Bagpipe
By Alexander Duncan Fraser
Have added the following chapters this week...
Chapter XXI — Piper Pan
Chapter XXII — Pallas Athene
Chapter XXIII — Theocritus and the Bagpipe
Chapter XXIV — The Classics and the Bagpipe
Chapter XXV — The Nativity and the Bagpipe
Chapter XXVI — An Old Tradition
In the chapter "The Nativity and the Bagpipe" we read...
IT is a curious and interesting fact, that tradition associates piping with two of the greatest events which ever happened in the world’s history: the Nativity and the Crucifixion. And it is more than passing strange, that Christ Himself should supply those, who like myself believe in the tradition of the shepherds piping on Christmas morn, with a very important link in the chain of evidence.
As I pointed out in last chapter, it has been asserted that the Bagpipe was unknown to the Jews, or at least that there was no evidence that it was known, and that it could not therefore be the instrument which these poor shepherds played upon.
Christ’s reference to it in the parable of the Prodigal settles the question for all time : it shews clearly, that in His day the Bagpipe was well known to the pastoral peoples in Palestine, and further, that it was an instrument of some repute, otherwise it would not be found in the home of the rich and great.
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter25.htm
You can read the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/bagpipe
Songs Of Scotland, Prior To Burns
This book is by Robert Chambers who is famous for collecting old Scottish Songs. His publishing house produced numerous very important works many of which he authored himself. On the page for this book is a biography of him along with another song book he published.
We are adding individual songs in pdf format so you can print them out. As each song provides the sheet music, words and notes about the song it should be of great help to anyone wanting to play these. Added this week are...
Awa Whigs Awa
To Daunton Me
This Is No My Ain House
You can get to this book at the foot of the page at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ers_robert.htm
History of the St Andrew's Society of the State of New York 1756 - 1906
By George Austin Morrison, General Secretary of the Society
I have already published theHistory of the St Andrews Society of Torontoso thought this would be a great addition to our understanding of what the Scots got up to in New York.
This week we've added bios on the following Presidents...
Alexander Colden
Walter Rutherfurd
Peter Middleton
The Earl of Dunmore
John Watts
William McAdam
Here is a wee bit about Walter Rutherford the 7th President...
Walter Rutherfurd was the sixth son of Sir John Rutherfurd and Elizabeth Cairncross of Edgerston, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, and of the eleventh generation from James Rutherfurd, to whom the manorial lands of Edgerstone had been granted in 1492 by King James IV of Scotland.
He was born on the 29th December, 1723. at Edgerstone, Scotland, and died on the 10th January, 1804, at his residence in the City of New York.
Entering the Royal Navy at the early age of fifteen years, he served until 1746, when he left the sea service to enter the army as an officer in the Royal Scots Regiment, and was paymaster in the campaigns of Flanders and Germany. At the outbreak of the French and Indian War in 1756 he sailed for this country and immediately joined the Royal and Colonial forces as Captain of Grenadiers in the Fourth Battalion of the Royal American Regiment.
In the course of his military career he received the terms of surrender of Fort Niagara, and when the City of Montreal capitulated, the keys of the city were delivered to him. He subsequently became Judge Advocate and a Major in the Colonial Army.
He retired from active duty, however, in 1760, and about 1775 received a patent of five thousand acres in New Jersey for his military services. He also acquired a large landed property by marriage. Owing to his early education and training, and his family affiliations, his sympathy was naturally with the royal cause, and though he took no active part in the dispute and subsequent warfare, he was prudent enough to retire to his estate in New Jersey for this period.
You can read the rest of this bio at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...york/bio07.htm
The other bios can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/newyork
Lady Douglas-Hamilton
Founder of the Scottish American Foundation dies at 103.
Public-spirited American who organised the wartime Bundles for Britain campaign, which employed 900,000 knitters across the States. You can read her obituary at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ashamilton.htm
Alexander MacDonald
Presbyterial notices of Mac Mhaighstir Alastair, and some of his contempories in Ardnamurchan and Morven.
Through the courtesy of the reverend members of the Presbytery of Mull, I was recently enabled to peruse the earlier records of that Court; and I propose this evening to give you a few gleanings from them concerning our great Gaelic bard, Alexander Macdonald (better known as Mac Mhaighstir Alastair), and some of his associates, and throwing considerable light on the state of society in the Western Highlands during the first half of last century.
You can read this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/webc..._macdonald.htm
Robert Louis Stevenson
Found an excellent book about him so have added that to the foot of his page in our Famous Scots section in 3 pdf files making up the whole book. You can see this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lstevenson.htm
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Bio of the creator of Sherlock Holmes
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger. He was a prolific writer whose other works include science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels.
We've also made available on complete book if pdf format and are going to serialise another one of which we've already added the first two chapters. You can get to this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/doyle.htm
Old Contracts of Friendship
From the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness.
In the sale catalogue of the Abertarff books and papers, which were disposed of at Inverness towards the close of last autumn, I was attracted by the entry, “ Contract of friendship, Alexander Lord Lovat and John Chisholm, John Mackenzie, and Kenneth Mackenzie, 2nd May 1549 and having given a commission for the purchase of this document, I became the possessor of a rather torn and ragged half sheet of foolscap, which was folded and endorsed “Contract of mutuall frendship betwix my Lord Louat and Jone M'Kenze of Kintaill.” Internally the writing was in good preservation, except where the paper was torn ; but it contained some words in which the characters and abbreviations were almost illegible. As illustrative of the state of society in the Highlands in the middle of the 16th century, it may have an interest for the Gaelic Society of Inverness, one of whose objects is to rescue from oblivion manuscripts bearing on the history of the Gaelic people. The document, which, so far as I am aware, has not hitherto been published, is as follows :—
And you can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...friendship.htm
The Ancient Celts
An article from the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness.
Three or four centuries before Christ, when the history of Western Europe is slowly emerging from obscurity, we find a people, named the Celts, in possession of the vast extent of territory that stretches from the Adriatic and Upper Danube to the Western Ocean, and embraces the British Isles. The northern boundary of the Celts was the Rhine and Mid-Germany, and they extended on the south as far as Central Spain, and the range of the Apennines in Italy. Contrary to the general tendency of early European nations to move westward, the Celts are then found to be already surging eastward, repelled by the impassable Atlantic; for, as Calgacus said to his Caledonians, there was now no land beyond—nothing save the waves and the rocks. Their history, till the second century before our era, presents little but a series of eastward eruptions—“tumults,” the Romans called them, whereby over-populous districts were, freed of their surplus population. Now and again they would pour through the passes of the Alps, and in a strong compact body make their way to Tuscany and Mid-Italy, striking terror into every Italian tribe, and into Rome as much as any of the rest. It is, indeed, with a great invasion of the Gauls that authentic Roman history begins, for the Gauls in 390 B.C. took and sacked the town of Rome itself, doubtless destroying all older records of its history. Another great invasion of the Gauls was made into Greece in 280 B.C., in which the temple of Delphi was taken and pillaged; and so compact and well arranged was this body of invaders that they passed over to Asia Minor, overran it, and after various ups and downs settled finally, about 230 B.C., to the limits of the province of Galatia. These Gauls of Asia Minor are the people whom St Paul addressed in his epistle to the “Galatians.”
You can read the rest of this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ient_celts.htm
Gaelic Names of Birds
An excellent article with many stories included.
The collecting and preserving of the Gaelic Names of Birds is a most important but much neglected work, and one which is getting every day more difficult, from their being less used now, and from the death of old people who knew them. Not only are the Gaelic names dying out, but I am sorry to say many of the birds themselves are dying out as well. Many of our noblest native birds — the Great Auk, the Bustard, Stork, Bittern, &c., are totally extinct in the Highlands; whilst the Golden Eagle, Sea Eagle, Osprey, Ger Falcon, Goshawk, and a score of other noble birds, though quite common in every glen half a century ago, are now only to be found in the most remote and inaccessible corners of the Highlands and Islands; and if the ruthless slaughter that has been going on for the last generation goes on a few years longer, they will soon all be as extinct as the Great Auk, or the Dodo of New Zealand. I am glad to say, however, that some of the more patriotic proprietors in the Highlands are now trying to preserve the eagles, and other large birds of prey. One great cause of their destruction is the large price offered by sportsmen and collectors to gamekeepers and shepherds for the eggs of those rare birds, as well as for the birds themselves for stuffing.
I might add this article is by the same author of the book on Plants which I was so delighted to discover.
You can read the rest of this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/birds.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
As Beth is still working on her new software she is sending me in some snippets in word format. I've converted them to a pdf file and while not up to the usual presentation standards are very readable. Since the last newsletter we've added two, one for 27th Jan and another for 31st Jan. You can get to these at the foot of the page at http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft/archives under "Best we can do".
I might add that Beth's famous cat "Narra" has passed away.
And finally...
Days of Plunder
A GRANNY was telling her family: "It's changed days these days. I remember you could go to the shops with less than a pound and still be able to come back with a dozen eggs, a chicken, sausages and a tin of custard."
"That's inflation for you," her son piped up.
"Inflation nothing," replied granny.
"It's all these security cameras they have in the shops these days."
-----
Lost for Words
Are there fewer of these clean-cut young American Mormon missionaries going around the doors these days? One Cambuslang woman claims that two Mormons came to her door one day when it was particularly wet and chilly outside. Instead of just shooing them away she invited them in, sat them down and asked:
"So what do you want to tell me?"
"I don't know," stuttered one of the Mormons. "We've never actually been invited inside before."
And that's it for now and hope you all have a great weekend.
Alastair
Electric Scotland News
Electric Canadian
Canada and its Provinces
Knox Presbyterian Church
The Flag in the Wind
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
Songs from John Henderson
Sir David Brewster
Some Reminiscences and the Bagpipe
Songs Of Scotland, Prior To Burns
History of the St Andrew's Society of the State of New York 1756 - 1906
Lady Douglas-Hamilton
Alexander MacDonald
Robert Louis Stevenson
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Old Contracts of Friendship
The Ancient Celts
Gaelic Names of Birds
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
and finally
Electric Scotland News
I've been very busy this week with the new "Scottish Independence and Scotland's Future" section. This week I've pretty much completed the various topics and all now have very interesting reading material. Up to now I haven't added any of this to the What's New page but from now on all additions will be added.
It seems to me the major issue for the referendum in Scotland is now over the SNP's decision to ensure we will remain a member of the EU. There is now plenty of reading on the site to demonstrate why we should not be a member of the EU should we vote yes in the referendum. I also added an article which for the first time opens up what will happen if we vote yes and the complexity of issues that will need to be dealt with.
And so if you are interested in this issue do visit http://www.electricscotland.com/independence
-----
Robert Stewart of Robert Stewart Publishing in Canada has been sending me pdf's of several books that he thinks would be of interest to our readers. As a result when I indicate I'd be interested in a book he provides contact information for the author so I can contact them to see if they'd give me permission to publish the book on the web site.
The first result of this work is that I got permission to publish the book about Knox Church in Tiverton and their first 150 years. There are many Scots mentioned in the book and a ton of old pictures and newspaper clippings. I'll tell you more about this below but also note that a second book deal is now closed on an autobiography of a Barber in South London, Ontario where he plied his trade for some 50 years. He lost his hearing through Scarlet Fever when he was 14. I should have this book available next week.
-----
I might add I got an email in asking if we could get backing to name the new Forth Road Bridge "Diaspora Bridge". Problem was I got the email in too late so I went to the site myself and managed to submit that name for consideration on the final day for submissions.
Electric Canadian
Canada and its Provinces
In 22 volumes and Index
I have now started to add these volumes and the idea is to make one volume available each week until complete. Should you be interested in this series then you'll be able to dip into each volume during the week and thus be ready for the next volume appearing.
Now added Volume 3.
You can get to this collection towards the foot of our Canadian History page at
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...nada/index.htm
Knox Presbyterian Church
Tiverton, Ontario - 150 years
From the scrapbook collection of Alberta Smith and recollections of the congregation of Knox Presbyterian Church, Tiverton, Ontario. First Edition December 2008 © 2008
Our thanks to the Knox Presbyterian Church for allowing us to publish their book on our site.
Foreword
As we look back over 150 years and try to record the history of this congregation, we realize there are many gaps in our church’s story. Our records are not complete, some have been lost, and some events were probably never recorded or preserved. We have tried to accurately record the materials that we had. We are grateful to those many people who have contributed clippings, pictures, stories and memories. If you find mistakes, please forgive us – we did our best! To those who have helped in any way in putting this book together, we offer humble thanks – you have made this possible.This book is the story of people, from pioneer days to the present time – people of faith who were dedicated, resourceful, conscientious and grateful to God for His blessings. This book is one of memories more than history. To name all who carried out the work of Knox Church congregation during the 150 years would be impossible. They and you have served by prayer and service, and by faithful attendance at worship week by week, and are known to God. To you who will continue in the years ahead as Christ’s disciples in Knox Church, be assured that God is at work with you, renewing your strength and upholding you with His love.
Hold high the torch; you did not light its glow
Twas given you by other hands, you know.
I think it started down its pathway bright
The day the Master said, “Let there be light.”
And He once said, who hung on Calvary’s tree,
“You are the light of the word – Go shine for me.”
Author unknown
As this is a large book we've made it available in 3 pdf files which are large due to all the pictures and newspaper clippings contained within. You can download these files at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...tario/knox.htmTwas given you by other hands, you know.
I think it started down its pathway bright
The day the Master said, “Let there be light.”
And He once said, who hung on Calvary’s tree,
“You are the light of the word – Go shine for me.”
Author unknown
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks edition was Compiled by Jim Lynch in which he tells us...It is our hope and intention to give readers of the Flag the broadcast of First Minister’s Questions each week. As this does not become available to us until the weekend after it takes place, our transmission will be one week later than the event.This is an embedded video which you just click on to view.Jim has also included a write about James Halliday who died the other week. I might add that James produced a number of articles, some of which were archived on the site and can be read at:
http://www.scotsindependent.org/feat...iday/index.htmLots of other interesting articles which you can read at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
We have now added the April 1905 issue at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...w/volume02.htm
You can read the previous issues at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/review/
Songs from John Henderson
John sent us in a couple of new songs this week and here is one to read here...
Irn Bru
[Formerly, 'Iron Brew']
Lyrics composed by John Henderson on the 17th of January, 2013,
to a dance tune called, 'Rose In Bloom'.
The first time I drank 'Irn Bru',
It filled me with gas through and through;
So burping I put back the screw,
And, thought out just what I should do ...
The next time before I would slake
My thirst, the 'scoosh' bottle I'd shake;
Then, one more precaution I'd take,
Like, gently releasing anew.
Unluckily when I did this,
I soon heard an almighty hiss,
As soda let out didn't miss,
With, kiss after kiss after kiss!
Too late then a friend saw my plight,
And showed me how things were done right,
By, holding the foot of the bottle,
Giving the bubbles a fright!
Mind that John mainly writes in the Doric language of the North East of Scotland. We already have up loads of his songs and poems and the latest are always at the foot of his main index page.[Formerly, 'Iron Brew']
Lyrics composed by John Henderson on the 17th of January, 2013,
to a dance tune called, 'Rose In Bloom'.
The first time I drank 'Irn Bru',
It filled me with gas through and through;
So burping I put back the screw,
And, thought out just what I should do ...
The next time before I would slake
My thirst, the 'scoosh' bottle I'd shake;
Then, one more precaution I'd take,
Like, gently releasing anew.
Unluckily when I did this,
I soon heard an almighty hiss,
As soda let out didn't miss,
With, kiss after kiss after kiss!
Too late then a friend saw my plight,
And showed me how things were done right,
By, holding the foot of the bottle,
Giving the bubbles a fright!
You can read more of John's songs mostly in the Doric language at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm
Sir David Brewster
We continue to add chapters and this week have added...
Chapter XX - Notes of Life from 1864 to 1867
Chapter XXI - The End
Appendices
And this now completes the book.
You can read these chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...n/brewster.htm
Some Reminiscences and the Bagpipe
By Alexander Duncan Fraser
Have added the following chapters this week...
Chapter XXI — Piper Pan
Chapter XXII — Pallas Athene
Chapter XXIII — Theocritus and the Bagpipe
Chapter XXIV — The Classics and the Bagpipe
Chapter XXV — The Nativity and the Bagpipe
Chapter XXVI — An Old Tradition
In the chapter "The Nativity and the Bagpipe" we read...
IT is a curious and interesting fact, that tradition associates piping with two of the greatest events which ever happened in the world’s history: the Nativity and the Crucifixion. And it is more than passing strange, that Christ Himself should supply those, who like myself believe in the tradition of the shepherds piping on Christmas morn, with a very important link in the chain of evidence.
As I pointed out in last chapter, it has been asserted that the Bagpipe was unknown to the Jews, or at least that there was no evidence that it was known, and that it could not therefore be the instrument which these poor shepherds played upon.
Christ’s reference to it in the parable of the Prodigal settles the question for all time : it shews clearly, that in His day the Bagpipe was well known to the pastoral peoples in Palestine, and further, that it was an instrument of some repute, otherwise it would not be found in the home of the rich and great.
You can read the rest of this chapter at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter25.htm
You can read the other chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/bagpipe
Songs Of Scotland, Prior To Burns
This book is by Robert Chambers who is famous for collecting old Scottish Songs. His publishing house produced numerous very important works many of which he authored himself. On the page for this book is a biography of him along with another song book he published.
We are adding individual songs in pdf format so you can print them out. As each song provides the sheet music, words and notes about the song it should be of great help to anyone wanting to play these. Added this week are...
Awa Whigs Awa
To Daunton Me
This Is No My Ain House
You can get to this book at the foot of the page at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ers_robert.htm
History of the St Andrew's Society of the State of New York 1756 - 1906
By George Austin Morrison, General Secretary of the Society
I have already published theHistory of the St Andrews Society of Torontoso thought this would be a great addition to our understanding of what the Scots got up to in New York.
This week we've added bios on the following Presidents...
Alexander Colden
Walter Rutherfurd
Peter Middleton
The Earl of Dunmore
John Watts
William McAdam
Here is a wee bit about Walter Rutherford the 7th President...
Walter Rutherfurd was the sixth son of Sir John Rutherfurd and Elizabeth Cairncross of Edgerston, Roxboroughshire, Scotland, and of the eleventh generation from James Rutherfurd, to whom the manorial lands of Edgerstone had been granted in 1492 by King James IV of Scotland.
He was born on the 29th December, 1723. at Edgerstone, Scotland, and died on the 10th January, 1804, at his residence in the City of New York.
Entering the Royal Navy at the early age of fifteen years, he served until 1746, when he left the sea service to enter the army as an officer in the Royal Scots Regiment, and was paymaster in the campaigns of Flanders and Germany. At the outbreak of the French and Indian War in 1756 he sailed for this country and immediately joined the Royal and Colonial forces as Captain of Grenadiers in the Fourth Battalion of the Royal American Regiment.
In the course of his military career he received the terms of surrender of Fort Niagara, and when the City of Montreal capitulated, the keys of the city were delivered to him. He subsequently became Judge Advocate and a Major in the Colonial Army.
He retired from active duty, however, in 1760, and about 1775 received a patent of five thousand acres in New Jersey for his military services. He also acquired a large landed property by marriage. Owing to his early education and training, and his family affiliations, his sympathy was naturally with the royal cause, and though he took no active part in the dispute and subsequent warfare, he was prudent enough to retire to his estate in New Jersey for this period.
You can read the rest of this bio at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...york/bio07.htm
The other bios can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/newyork
Lady Douglas-Hamilton
Founder of the Scottish American Foundation dies at 103.
Public-spirited American who organised the wartime Bundles for Britain campaign, which employed 900,000 knitters across the States. You can read her obituary at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ashamilton.htm
Alexander MacDonald
Presbyterial notices of Mac Mhaighstir Alastair, and some of his contempories in Ardnamurchan and Morven.
Through the courtesy of the reverend members of the Presbytery of Mull, I was recently enabled to peruse the earlier records of that Court; and I propose this evening to give you a few gleanings from them concerning our great Gaelic bard, Alexander Macdonald (better known as Mac Mhaighstir Alastair), and some of his associates, and throwing considerable light on the state of society in the Western Highlands during the first half of last century.
You can read this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/webc..._macdonald.htm
Robert Louis Stevenson
Found an excellent book about him so have added that to the foot of his page in our Famous Scots section in 3 pdf files making up the whole book. You can see this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lstevenson.htm
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Bio of the creator of Sherlock Holmes
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger. He was a prolific writer whose other works include science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels.
We've also made available on complete book if pdf format and are going to serialise another one of which we've already added the first two chapters. You can get to this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/doyle.htm
Old Contracts of Friendship
From the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness.
In the sale catalogue of the Abertarff books and papers, which were disposed of at Inverness towards the close of last autumn, I was attracted by the entry, “ Contract of friendship, Alexander Lord Lovat and John Chisholm, John Mackenzie, and Kenneth Mackenzie, 2nd May 1549 and having given a commission for the purchase of this document, I became the possessor of a rather torn and ragged half sheet of foolscap, which was folded and endorsed “Contract of mutuall frendship betwix my Lord Louat and Jone M'Kenze of Kintaill.” Internally the writing was in good preservation, except where the paper was torn ; but it contained some words in which the characters and abbreviations were almost illegible. As illustrative of the state of society in the Highlands in the middle of the 16th century, it may have an interest for the Gaelic Society of Inverness, one of whose objects is to rescue from oblivion manuscripts bearing on the history of the Gaelic people. The document, which, so far as I am aware, has not hitherto been published, is as follows :—
And you can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...friendship.htm
The Ancient Celts
An article from the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness.
Three or four centuries before Christ, when the history of Western Europe is slowly emerging from obscurity, we find a people, named the Celts, in possession of the vast extent of territory that stretches from the Adriatic and Upper Danube to the Western Ocean, and embraces the British Isles. The northern boundary of the Celts was the Rhine and Mid-Germany, and they extended on the south as far as Central Spain, and the range of the Apennines in Italy. Contrary to the general tendency of early European nations to move westward, the Celts are then found to be already surging eastward, repelled by the impassable Atlantic; for, as Calgacus said to his Caledonians, there was now no land beyond—nothing save the waves and the rocks. Their history, till the second century before our era, presents little but a series of eastward eruptions—“tumults,” the Romans called them, whereby over-populous districts were, freed of their surplus population. Now and again they would pour through the passes of the Alps, and in a strong compact body make their way to Tuscany and Mid-Italy, striking terror into every Italian tribe, and into Rome as much as any of the rest. It is, indeed, with a great invasion of the Gauls that authentic Roman history begins, for the Gauls in 390 B.C. took and sacked the town of Rome itself, doubtless destroying all older records of its history. Another great invasion of the Gauls was made into Greece in 280 B.C., in which the temple of Delphi was taken and pillaged; and so compact and well arranged was this body of invaders that they passed over to Asia Minor, overran it, and after various ups and downs settled finally, about 230 B.C., to the limits of the province of Galatia. These Gauls of Asia Minor are the people whom St Paul addressed in his epistle to the “Galatians.”
You can read the rest of this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ient_celts.htm
Gaelic Names of Birds
An excellent article with many stories included.
The collecting and preserving of the Gaelic Names of Birds is a most important but much neglected work, and one which is getting every day more difficult, from their being less used now, and from the death of old people who knew them. Not only are the Gaelic names dying out, but I am sorry to say many of the birds themselves are dying out as well. Many of our noblest native birds — the Great Auk, the Bustard, Stork, Bittern, &c., are totally extinct in the Highlands; whilst the Golden Eagle, Sea Eagle, Osprey, Ger Falcon, Goshawk, and a score of other noble birds, though quite common in every glen half a century ago, are now only to be found in the most remote and inaccessible corners of the Highlands and Islands; and if the ruthless slaughter that has been going on for the last generation goes on a few years longer, they will soon all be as extinct as the Great Auk, or the Dodo of New Zealand. I am glad to say, however, that some of the more patriotic proprietors in the Highlands are now trying to preserve the eagles, and other large birds of prey. One great cause of their destruction is the large price offered by sportsmen and collectors to gamekeepers and shepherds for the eggs of those rare birds, as well as for the birds themselves for stuffing.
I might add this article is by the same author of the book on Plants which I was so delighted to discover.
You can read the rest of this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/agriculture/birds.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
As Beth is still working on her new software she is sending me in some snippets in word format. I've converted them to a pdf file and while not up to the usual presentation standards are very readable. Since the last newsletter we've added two, one for 27th Jan and another for 31st Jan. You can get to these at the foot of the page at http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft/archives under "Best we can do".
I might add that Beth's famous cat "Narra" has passed away.
And finally...
Days of Plunder
A GRANNY was telling her family: "It's changed days these days. I remember you could go to the shops with less than a pound and still be able to come back with a dozen eggs, a chicken, sausages and a tin of custard."
"That's inflation for you," her son piped up.
"Inflation nothing," replied granny.
"It's all these security cameras they have in the shops these days."
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Lost for Words
Are there fewer of these clean-cut young American Mormon missionaries going around the doors these days? One Cambuslang woman claims that two Mormons came to her door one day when it was particularly wet and chilly outside. Instead of just shooing them away she invited them in, sat them down and asked:
"So what do you want to tell me?"
"I don't know," stuttered one of the Mormons. "We've never actually been invited inside before."
And that's it for now and hope you all have a great weekend.
Alastair