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CONTENTS
Electric Scotland News
Electric Canadian
Canada and its Provinces
The Flag in the Wind
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
Songs from John Henderson
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
Robert Burns Lives!
Scottish Independence and Scotland's Future
A Study in Scarlet
Clan Leslie Down Under
A History of Moray and Nairn (New Book)
The Camerons in the Rising of 1715
Glengarry Fencibles
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
and finally
Electric Scotland News
Well I headed out to the USA on Friday to work with Steve and returned Sunday evening. Picked up my new laptop computer, a Dell Latitude E5530. I have to say that the Clickfree 1Tb external drive made it easy to transfer all my data files. That said it still took 2 whole days to get all the programs installed and updates done on the Windows OS.
-----
We have now come up with a new advertising option for the site which we hope will be a success. It's essentially a classified directory so low cost advertising is now possible on Electric Scotland. I've designed a mock up of what it will look like so next week I'll be on the phone to see if I can sell some adverts. You can see what is involved at http://www.electricscotland.com/advertising.htm and on that page there is a link to a mock up page to show you what it will look like. The cost is either US$50.00 (roughly £35.00) a month (minimum of 6 months) or US$540 a year (roughly £350).
This is based on all these flyers you see around the place advertising various deals and it seems many enjoy looking through the offers so hopefully this will be a winner. Once we get a half dozen adverts we'll launch the system.
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 The Dominion: Political Evolution:Volume 6.
You can get to this collection towards the foot of our Canadian History page at
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...nada/index.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks edition was Compiled by Jennifer Dunn.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
We have now started on Volume 3 and added this week January 1906 Part 1 & 2 at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...w/volume03.htm
You can read the previous issues at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/review/
Songs from John Henderson
John sent us in a new song this week and here is one to read here...
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm
Some Reminiscences and the Bagpipe
By Alexander Duncan Fraser
Have now added the final two chapters of this book. I might add that Ranald found a copy of the book mentioned in Chapter VIII and so have now added a link to it from that page.
You can read these 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...
You're Welcome Charlie Stuart
Lady Keith's Lament
Over the Water to Charlie
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...
Richard Irvine
Adam Norrie
Robert Gordon
William Wood
John Taylor Johnston
Here is a wee bit about Robert Gordon the 26th President...
The popularity of the Twenty-sixth President of the Society is attested to by the fact that he has been thrice elected to that honorable office by his fellow-Scotsmen in this country.
Robert Gordon is the son of William Gordon and Sarah Walker, and was born on the 17th November, 1829, at Dumfries, Scotland. He was educated at the Academy in his native town and commenced his business career in the office of Messrs. Reid, Irving and Company, of Liverpool, England, in 1846. Three years later he sailed for America to take a position in the firm of Messrs. Maitland, Phelps & Company, of New York, a house originally established by Scotsmen in 1797. Admitted a partner in this firm in 1853, he remained in active charge of its large and varied interests until 1884, when, having amassed a fortune in the course of his successful business career, Mr. Gordon returned to England, with the intention of retiring from active commercial life.
You can read the rest of this bio at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...york/bio26.htm
The other bios can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/newyork
Robert Burns Lives!
By Frank Shaw
The global Burns community has lost one of its most cherished and honored members. The words from Patrick Scott’s email on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 4:42 AM were not unexpected but still left much sadness in my heart: “Ross died about 1 am this morning, peacefully.” Below is the family obituary, and a more personal tribute will follow in the near future. (FRS: 2.20.13)
You can read the obituary at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives164.htm
Other articles in this series can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rank/burns.htm
Scottish Independence and Scotland's Future
Added this week...
Due to the Realm of Scotland web site closing down we've rescued a few of their reference documents with their permission. You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/inde.../ref/index.htm
Added an interesting article about "Scotland needs its own currency" to our Financial Services section at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/inde...l_services.htm
A Study in Scarlet
We've been serialising this book and now up to Chapter IX
If you enjoy the Sherlock Holmes books you'll enjoy this book.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/doyle.htm
Clan Leslie Down Under
Got in a copy of their Apr, May, Jun 2013 newsletter (pdf) which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ayJune2013.pdf
A History of Moray and Nairn
A new boo0k we're starting.
In its endeavour to tell the story of the old province of Moray with accuracy, and at the same time in popular language, the present volume follows strictly in the lines of the previous volumes of the series. But it differs from its predecessors in the arrangement adopted. It appeared to the writer that by treating the Province, the Bishopric, the Earldom, &c., as separate subjects, he would be able to lay before the reader a more sharply defined picture of their nature, progress, and influence than if he had employed the more ordinary narrative form. He is far from maintaining that such an arrangement is in all instances the best. But in the case of Moray and Nairn the sequence of events seemed to lend itself to this disposition—the historical importance and interest of the one having, roughly speaking, ceased, or at least begun to wane, before those of the other waxed.
In a work of this kind there are necessarily many matters of detail which are not to be found in books, and which are only to be obtained from persons having the requisite local knowledge. The author desires to express his grateful acknowledgments to the many individuals—with not a few of whom he was personally unacquainted—who have so courteously assisted him in this way. To the Earl of Moray; to Captain A. H. Dunbar, younger of Northfield, who, in addition to much valuable information about his own family, did him the additional favour of reading over the chapters on the Bishopric and Earldom; to Captain Edward Dunbar-Dunbar of Sea Park and Glen-of-Rothes, the greatest local authority on the old social life of the district; to the late Rev. Dr Walter Gregor for access to his unrivalled store of local folk-lore; to Mr George Bain, the historian of Nairnshire; to Dr James Macdonald and Mr Hugh W. Young of Burghead; to Mr J. Balfour Paul, Lyon King-of-Arms; to Sheriff Mackay; to the Rev. Dr Cooper of Aberdeen; to the editors of the local papers; and to many others who, he hopes, will accept this general recognition of their assistance, he is under great obligations. To the relatives of the distinguished men whose lives are sketched in outline in the last chapter he has a similar acknowledgment to make. From Miss C. F. Gordon Cumming, and her brother Colonel William Gordon Cumming, he obtained many interesting facts, now for the first time published, relative to the career of their brother Roualeyn, the well-known lion-hunter. To Mrs M'Kenzie, Ellonville, Inverness, he is indebted for access to the home-letters of her brother Colonel Grant of Househill, the distinguished African traveller. To Miss Brown, Muirton, Craigellachie, he owes almost all that is new in the sketch of her uncle, General Sir George Brown, G.C.B.; and a similar remark applies to the facilities placed at his disposal by Mr W. R. Skinner of Drumin, for the preparation of the memoir of his relative William Marshall, —one of the greatest, and certainly the most modest, of Scotland's musicians. The plan of Elgin Cathedral and Precincts is from a drawing prepared by George Sutherland, Esq. He has finally to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr J. D. Yeadon, bookseller, Elgin; Mr W. Harrison, bookseller, Nairn ; and other local authorities, for much assistance in the compilation of the Bibliography.
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/moray/nairn.htm
The Camerons in the Rising of 1715
An account from the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness.
I have also added a pdf of this article at the foot of the page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/webc...ameron1715.htm
Glengarry Fencibles
An account from the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness.
Many, if not all, of the British regiments have most interesting histories, especially in their beginnings. We have Pontius Pilate's Bodyguard and Kirk’s Lambs, but the Glengarry Fencibles have the unique distinction of being raised by a priest, who never had occasion to regret the somewhat unusual step taken by him.
It is just a little more than one hundred years since the Glengarry Fencible Infantry Regiment was disbanded, and I trust it may be of interest to members of the Gaelic Society of Inverness if I detain them to-night for a short time in giving a brief sketch of that regiment.
It will be well, in order to understand the causes which led to the embodiment of the Glengarry Fencibles, to remind you of some of the changes wrought in the Highlands by the result of the Battle of Culloden. After that fight, the Highland chiefs lost their hold on their clansmen. They could no longer bring into the field bodies of armed men to support a favourite cause, or to quench personal enmities in the blood of their retainers.
Having lost this power, and its consequent influence and importance, they soon realised that their hills could be more profitable as sheep walks than let as they were, at very small rents, to the people. They accordingly took advantage of the new powers conferred on them by Government, which, whilst breaking their power as feudal superiors, recognised them as proprietors of the land, as we now understand the term.
The result was that those unable to pay increased rent— when they received that option—had to leave the country. Others were simply warned to quit. Thus began the emigrations to America. These emigrations increased in volume each succeeding year, until the landlords, fearing that the country would be entirely depopulated, induced the Government of the day to pass an Act forbidding the people to leave the country. They were turned out of their homes and holdings, and at the same time forbidden to emigrate—consequently, for most, there was left starvation or the army. Notwithstanding this Emigration Act, however, many continued to emigrate.
You can read the rest of this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../glengarry.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
No new entry this week but Beth has now found someone to teach her the InDesign program so she's now hopful it won't be too long before she can get back to her full publication.
You can get to these at the foot of the page at http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft/archives under "Best we can do".
And finally...
Cheery Message
On a train from Glasgow to Manchester last week the train manager announced at Lockerbie: "Will passengers departing the train please remember to take their personal belongings with them - coats, bags and sun loungers".
-----
Explosive Race
I heard about a gas serviceman who arrived at a house in West Lothian with his apprentice and while giving a boiler its winter service, the older fellow was joking with his apprentice that despite the age gap he was still fitter than the youngster.
To settle it, he challenged the apprentice to see who could run back to their van faster. When they did so they were surprised to see the householder running after them.
When they asked him why, he told them:
"When I see two gas men running as hard as you were, I thought I'd better run, too."
And that's it for now and hope you all have a great weekend.
Alastair
Electric Scotland News
Electric Canadian
Canada and its Provinces
The Flag in the Wind
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
Songs from John Henderson
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
Robert Burns Lives!
Scottish Independence and Scotland's Future
A Study in Scarlet
Clan Leslie Down Under
A History of Moray and Nairn (New Book)
The Camerons in the Rising of 1715
Glengarry Fencibles
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
and finally
Electric Scotland News
Well I headed out to the USA on Friday to work with Steve and returned Sunday evening. Picked up my new laptop computer, a Dell Latitude E5530. I have to say that the Clickfree 1Tb external drive made it easy to transfer all my data files. That said it still took 2 whole days to get all the programs installed and updates done on the Windows OS.
-----
We have now come up with a new advertising option for the site which we hope will be a success. It's essentially a classified directory so low cost advertising is now possible on Electric Scotland. I've designed a mock up of what it will look like so next week I'll be on the phone to see if I can sell some adverts. You can see what is involved at http://www.electricscotland.com/advertising.htm and on that page there is a link to a mock up page to show you what it will look like. The cost is either US$50.00 (roughly £35.00) a month (minimum of 6 months) or US$540 a year (roughly £350).
This is based on all these flyers you see around the place advertising various deals and it seems many enjoy looking through the offers so hopefully this will be a winner. Once we get a half dozen adverts we'll launch the system.
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 The Dominion: Political Evolution:Volume 6.
You can get to this collection towards the foot of our Canadian History page at
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...nada/index.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks edition was Compiled by Jennifer Dunn.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
We have now started on Volume 3 and added this week January 1906 Part 1 & 2 at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...w/volume03.htm
You can read the previous issues at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/review/
Songs from John Henderson
John sent us in a new song this week and here is one to read here...
Jake an' Jill
Lyrics composed by John Henderson on the 11th of February, 2013,
to Dick Kessner's playing of the chorus of Gus Edwards' 1904 music
for the song, 'I'll Be With You When The Roses Bloom Again' ......
or, Kessner's version.... 'I'll Be With You When The Roses Bloom In Spring'.
Glossary:
spik=speak; yestreen=last night; meen=moon; sheen=shine; teen=tune;
tap=touch; hert=heart; brobs=pricks; derts=darts; raise=excite; myns=minds;
een=eyes; oor lane=alone; fain=willing; canty=cheery; histy=hasty; bide=stay.
Jake spiks,
"Weel we dinced ilk waltz an' jig an' reel yestreen,
Fan the meen an' spirklin' starns oan us did sheen;
Fyle the teens thit tapp'd oor herts, an' the brobs frae Cupid's derts,
Seen brocht luve tae raise oor myns an' een.
We cud waak this e'en an' sik tae be oor lane,
Han' in han' alang the san' gif ye are fain,
An' syne chat, an' jeest an' sang; e'en a kiss wudna ging wrang
Fan nae fowks bit us wud ken fit we'd been daen!"
Jill spiks,
"Ay we dinced fair weel an' ye wur guid tae me,
Fyle the teens, meen an' the starns wur canty tee;
A wee waak doon by the sea, airm in airm wud pleesint be,
Bit nae kissin' yit gif ye wull gree?"
Jake spiks,
"Fit ye weesh braw Jill is guid eneuch fur me,
An' I'll lern nae ower histy I shud be;
Bit gif ye wull be ma freen, 'tho a verra speeshal freen,
We syne aye shud as pals-bide ...... maist happily."
You can read more of John's songs mostly in the Doric language at:Lyrics composed by John Henderson on the 11th of February, 2013,
to Dick Kessner's playing of the chorus of Gus Edwards' 1904 music
for the song, 'I'll Be With You When The Roses Bloom Again' ......
or, Kessner's version.... 'I'll Be With You When The Roses Bloom In Spring'.
Glossary:
spik=speak; yestreen=last night; meen=moon; sheen=shine; teen=tune;
tap=touch; hert=heart; brobs=pricks; derts=darts; raise=excite; myns=minds;
een=eyes; oor lane=alone; fain=willing; canty=cheery; histy=hasty; bide=stay.
Jake spiks,
"Weel we dinced ilk waltz an' jig an' reel yestreen,
Fan the meen an' spirklin' starns oan us did sheen;
Fyle the teens thit tapp'd oor herts, an' the brobs frae Cupid's derts,
Seen brocht luve tae raise oor myns an' een.
We cud waak this e'en an' sik tae be oor lane,
Han' in han' alang the san' gif ye are fain,
An' syne chat, an' jeest an' sang; e'en a kiss wudna ging wrang
Fan nae fowks bit us wud ken fit we'd been daen!"
Jill spiks,
"Ay we dinced fair weel an' ye wur guid tae me,
Fyle the teens, meen an' the starns wur canty tee;
A wee waak doon by the sea, airm in airm wud pleesint be,
Bit nae kissin' yit gif ye wull gree?"
Jake spiks,
"Fit ye weesh braw Jill is guid eneuch fur me,
An' I'll lern nae ower histy I shud be;
Bit gif ye wull be ma freen, 'tho a verra speeshal freen,
We syne aye shud as pals-bide ...... maist happily."
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm
Some Reminiscences and the Bagpipe
By Alexander Duncan Fraser
Have now added the final two chapters of this book. I might add that Ranald found a copy of the book mentioned in Chapter VIII and so have now added a link to it from that page.
You can read these 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...
You're Welcome Charlie Stuart
Lady Keith's Lament
Over the Water to Charlie
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...
Richard Irvine
Adam Norrie
Robert Gordon
William Wood
John Taylor Johnston
Here is a wee bit about Robert Gordon the 26th President...
The popularity of the Twenty-sixth President of the Society is attested to by the fact that he has been thrice elected to that honorable office by his fellow-Scotsmen in this country.
Robert Gordon is the son of William Gordon and Sarah Walker, and was born on the 17th November, 1829, at Dumfries, Scotland. He was educated at the Academy in his native town and commenced his business career in the office of Messrs. Reid, Irving and Company, of Liverpool, England, in 1846. Three years later he sailed for America to take a position in the firm of Messrs. Maitland, Phelps & Company, of New York, a house originally established by Scotsmen in 1797. Admitted a partner in this firm in 1853, he remained in active charge of its large and varied interests until 1884, when, having amassed a fortune in the course of his successful business career, Mr. Gordon returned to England, with the intention of retiring from active commercial life.
You can read the rest of this bio at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...york/bio26.htm
The other bios can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/newyork
Robert Burns Lives!
By Frank Shaw
The global Burns community has lost one of its most cherished and honored members. The words from Patrick Scott’s email on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 4:42 AM were not unexpected but still left much sadness in my heart: “Ross died about 1 am this morning, peacefully.” Below is the family obituary, and a more personal tribute will follow in the near future. (FRS: 2.20.13)
You can read the obituary at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives164.htm
Other articles in this series can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rank/burns.htm
Scottish Independence and Scotland's Future
Added this week...
Due to the Realm of Scotland web site closing down we've rescued a few of their reference documents with their permission. You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/inde.../ref/index.htm
Added an interesting article about "Scotland needs its own currency" to our Financial Services section at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/inde...l_services.htm
A Study in Scarlet
We've been serialising this book and now up to Chapter IX
If you enjoy the Sherlock Holmes books you'll enjoy this book.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/doyle.htm
Clan Leslie Down Under
Got in a copy of their Apr, May, Jun 2013 newsletter (pdf) which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ayJune2013.pdf
A History of Moray and Nairn
A new boo0k we're starting.
In its endeavour to tell the story of the old province of Moray with accuracy, and at the same time in popular language, the present volume follows strictly in the lines of the previous volumes of the series. But it differs from its predecessors in the arrangement adopted. It appeared to the writer that by treating the Province, the Bishopric, the Earldom, &c., as separate subjects, he would be able to lay before the reader a more sharply defined picture of their nature, progress, and influence than if he had employed the more ordinary narrative form. He is far from maintaining that such an arrangement is in all instances the best. But in the case of Moray and Nairn the sequence of events seemed to lend itself to this disposition—the historical importance and interest of the one having, roughly speaking, ceased, or at least begun to wane, before those of the other waxed.
In a work of this kind there are necessarily many matters of detail which are not to be found in books, and which are only to be obtained from persons having the requisite local knowledge. The author desires to express his grateful acknowledgments to the many individuals—with not a few of whom he was personally unacquainted—who have so courteously assisted him in this way. To the Earl of Moray; to Captain A. H. Dunbar, younger of Northfield, who, in addition to much valuable information about his own family, did him the additional favour of reading over the chapters on the Bishopric and Earldom; to Captain Edward Dunbar-Dunbar of Sea Park and Glen-of-Rothes, the greatest local authority on the old social life of the district; to the late Rev. Dr Walter Gregor for access to his unrivalled store of local folk-lore; to Mr George Bain, the historian of Nairnshire; to Dr James Macdonald and Mr Hugh W. Young of Burghead; to Mr J. Balfour Paul, Lyon King-of-Arms; to Sheriff Mackay; to the Rev. Dr Cooper of Aberdeen; to the editors of the local papers; and to many others who, he hopes, will accept this general recognition of their assistance, he is under great obligations. To the relatives of the distinguished men whose lives are sketched in outline in the last chapter he has a similar acknowledgment to make. From Miss C. F. Gordon Cumming, and her brother Colonel William Gordon Cumming, he obtained many interesting facts, now for the first time published, relative to the career of their brother Roualeyn, the well-known lion-hunter. To Mrs M'Kenzie, Ellonville, Inverness, he is indebted for access to the home-letters of her brother Colonel Grant of Househill, the distinguished African traveller. To Miss Brown, Muirton, Craigellachie, he owes almost all that is new in the sketch of her uncle, General Sir George Brown, G.C.B.; and a similar remark applies to the facilities placed at his disposal by Mr W. R. Skinner of Drumin, for the preparation of the memoir of his relative William Marshall, —one of the greatest, and certainly the most modest, of Scotland's musicians. The plan of Elgin Cathedral and Precincts is from a drawing prepared by George Sutherland, Esq. He has finally to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr J. D. Yeadon, bookseller, Elgin; Mr W. Harrison, bookseller, Nairn ; and other local authorities, for much assistance in the compilation of the Bibliography.
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/moray/nairn.htm
The Camerons in the Rising of 1715
An account from the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness.
A VINDICATION OF THEIR LEADER, JOHN CAMERON, YOUNGER OF LOCHIEL.
Among papers of historical and antiquarian interest which have come into my possession is a statement by John Cameron, younger of Lochiel, in regard to his own and his clan’s conduct in the Rising of 1715. That document, which I now exhibit, is of the period to which it refers, and probably in Cameron’s handwriting.I have also added a pdf of this article at the foot of the page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/webc...ameron1715.htm
Glengarry Fencibles
An account from the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness.
Many, if not all, of the British regiments have most interesting histories, especially in their beginnings. We have Pontius Pilate's Bodyguard and Kirk’s Lambs, but the Glengarry Fencibles have the unique distinction of being raised by a priest, who never had occasion to regret the somewhat unusual step taken by him.
It is just a little more than one hundred years since the Glengarry Fencible Infantry Regiment was disbanded, and I trust it may be of interest to members of the Gaelic Society of Inverness if I detain them to-night for a short time in giving a brief sketch of that regiment.
It will be well, in order to understand the causes which led to the embodiment of the Glengarry Fencibles, to remind you of some of the changes wrought in the Highlands by the result of the Battle of Culloden. After that fight, the Highland chiefs lost their hold on their clansmen. They could no longer bring into the field bodies of armed men to support a favourite cause, or to quench personal enmities in the blood of their retainers.
Having lost this power, and its consequent influence and importance, they soon realised that their hills could be more profitable as sheep walks than let as they were, at very small rents, to the people. They accordingly took advantage of the new powers conferred on them by Government, which, whilst breaking their power as feudal superiors, recognised them as proprietors of the land, as we now understand the term.
The result was that those unable to pay increased rent— when they received that option—had to leave the country. Others were simply warned to quit. Thus began the emigrations to America. These emigrations increased in volume each succeeding year, until the landlords, fearing that the country would be entirely depopulated, induced the Government of the day to pass an Act forbidding the people to leave the country. They were turned out of their homes and holdings, and at the same time forbidden to emigrate—consequently, for most, there was left starvation or the army. Notwithstanding this Emigration Act, however, many continued to emigrate.
You can read the rest of this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../glengarry.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
No new entry this week but Beth has now found someone to teach her the InDesign program so she's now hopful it won't be too long before she can get back to her full publication.
You can get to these at the foot of the page at http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft/archives under "Best we can do".
And finally...
Cheery Message
On a train from Glasgow to Manchester last week the train manager announced at Lockerbie: "Will passengers departing the train please remember to take their personal belongings with them - coats, bags and sun loungers".
-----
Explosive Race
I heard about a gas serviceman who arrived at a house in West Lothian with his apprentice and while giving a boiler its winter service, the older fellow was joking with his apprentice that despite the age gap he was still fitter than the youngster.
To settle it, he challenged the apprentice to see who could run back to their van faster. When they did so they were surprised to see the householder running after them.
When they asked him why, he told them:
"When I see two gas men running as hard as you were, I thought I'd better run, too."
And that's it for now and hope you all have a great weekend.
Alastair