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Electric Scotland News
Scottish Weekend enthusiasts for those in the European mainland or elsewhere.
This particular event has gown in leaps and bounds since it started and is now the largest Scottish gathering on mainland Europe.
Of course nobody wants to miss the 29th Scottish Weekend, at Alden Biesen in Rijkhoven, Bilzen.
Early deciders can now get a 30% discount on all tickets in pre-sales, if they quickly go to www.scottish-weekend.be
Our Friday evening, will be very exclusive with a concert from Face the West (sco) and Snakes in Exile (be). On Saturday, Alden Biesen will welcome pipe bands from all over Europe. The biggest competition on the European mainland will start on Saturday morning, as always. In the afternoon, you best mark your calendars for the Bagad Brieg concert, and the “Massed Band”, lead by our Chieftain. Pipe bands can still register for the competition through our website.
In the evening, you can expect more exclusive and top folk performances with a.o. James Cramer (irl), Alisdair Fraser & Nathalie Haas (sco-usa), Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson Band (sco), Tupelo (irl), Mabon (uk) and the Scottish Bags of Rock, not to be missed!
On Sunday, you’ll find a blend of everything and anything Scotland has to offer, with as main attraction, the Highland Games for men and women! And obviously, there will be more folk music on Sunday. Be sure to add the Scottish concert from brass band “Ons Verlangen” to your calendars.
Visit our Scottish market, open on Saturday and Sunday as of 09:00. The entertainment teams are there to welcome young and old - all ages, all weekend!
European Elections
I was rather off in my time scales for the results but at last they are in and it is clear that the EU is not a popular institution. UKip reigned supreme as an anti-EU party and even obtained 1 seat in Scotland. They of course were the overall winner in rUK. Likewise in France the anti-EU party did very well and so much so it was likened to an Earthquake in French politics.
All of this makes it hard for the SNP to justify there position of not having a referendum on joining the EU in the event of a YES vote.
Tenth Anniversary Celebrations for Carnoustie Country Classic 2014
The Carnoustie Country Classic celebrated its tenth anniversary by welcoming 144 golfers from all over the world play on four of Scotland’s top links courses - Carnoustie Championship, Monifieth Medal, Panmure Medal and Montrose Medal.
After four days of highly-competitive and enjoyable golf, Marshal Taylor from Dayton Golf & Country Club in the USA was named the overall winner and presented with the Carnoustie Country Classic crystal trophy, as well as the special 10th Anniversary Golden Putter.
“This is my eighth year of competing in the Carnoustie Country Classic so it’s wonderful to finally have won, especially in such a significant year,” said Marshal. “The Carnoustie Country Classic is a very good tournament with a fantastic vibe where I always meet great people – I’ll be back!”
The top Senior was Peter Rooney from Walsall Golf Club, while Elli Yum from New Jersey’s Galloping Hills Golf Club won the Ladies Competition. “This is my first time in Scotland and I’ve enjoyed every minute, even the Scottish weather, which certainly didn’t co-operate when I was playing at Carnoustie Championship,” laughed Elli.
Over the last ten years, the Carnoustie Country Classic has established a worldwide reputation for its excellent courses, good organisation and friendly atmosphere. As a result, this year, the four-day tournament was fully booked and attracted a truly international field, with golfers competing from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.
“The courses are all different and quite challenging – and so much fun to play,” said first-time competitor Freddy Tzimieri from Germany. “We’ve had an unbelievably good week of golf.”
American radio host Michael Williams revealed that he’d been amazed by the history of the courses he played during the Carnoustie Country Classic. “It gave me such a thrill to discover golf was being played on Montrose Links when Mary Queen of Scots was around,” said Michael, who will be devoting one of his CBS Radio shows to his trip to Carnoustie Country, which covers the 34 courses within a 40-minute drive of Carnoustie Championship.
“I’ll be talking about playing golf in Carnoustie Country but I’ll also be explaining how much more there is to see and do in this magnificent part of Scotland. I can’t wait to return.”
For the full results from this year’s tournament, or more information about the Carnoustie Country Classic 2015, visit www.carnoustiecountry.com.
Electric Canadian
Nova Scotia Historical Society, Reports and Collections
I added Volume XIV 1910 which includes...
Fisheries of British North America, etc. By Judge Wallace Graham,
Memoir of Governor John Parr; with portrait and hatchment By Jas. S. Macdonald,
Halifax and the Capture of St. Pierre in 1793. By Rev. T. Watson Smith, D. D.,
DeMonts Tercentenary at Annapolis 1604-1904. By Judge Longley.
You can read this volume at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...ions/index.htm
Filipinos in Canada
A 9 minute video giving an overview of what is claimed to be the third largest ethic group in Canada.
You can view this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/history/Filopinos.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks issue was compiled by Alison Thewliss where she is talking about the European election results. No synopsis this week.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
Alexander Murdoch (1841-1891)
A Scottish Engineer, Poet, Author, Journalist
Added a third book called "Scotch Readings: Humorous and Amusing" and we're breaking this down into individual chapters for you to read. We've added two more chapters, "The Bathing of the Stick Leg" and "When is a Man Fou?" which you can find at the foot of the page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...doch/index.htm
Thomas Dick Lauder
Hope you are enjoying this book, "Lochandhu". Started on Volume 2 and you can find these at the foot of the page at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...er_thomas1.htm where we've added another couple of chapters.
As this book was published in 1825 it is a great example of what interested Scots way back some 190 years ago.
The Book of Scottish Anecdote
Humorous, Social, Legendary and Historical edited by Alexander Hislop, eighth edition.
Added pages 502 to 551. You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/anecdote
Alan Cunningham
This distinguished poet entered the world under those lowly circumstances, and was educated under those disadvantages, which have so signally characterized the history of the best of our Scottish bards.
We're now adding his "The Songs of Scotland" in 4 volumes which we're going to serialize.
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/musi...gham/index.htm
The Northern Highlands in the Nineteenth Century
Some years ago I published the 2 volumes in this set. Well I have now found a third volume is now available and so have started to work on this.
The year 1845 is of exceptional interest both in national and local affairs. It was the year that formed the turning point in the fortunes of Sir Robert Peel’s Government, which entered on office with such confidence and enthusiasm in 1841. At the opening of the session of 1845 Mr Gladstone had to explain why he had resigned office as President of the Board of Trade. Sir Robert Peel had made up his mind to propose an increased grant to the Maynooth Catholic College in Ireland; and though Mr Gladstone did not personally disapprove of this, he had expressed different views in his book on Church and State, and retired rather than expose himself to the charge of interested motives. Before the year was out he had returned as Secretary for the Colonies in a reconstructed Ministry. The features in the political history of the first six months of the year consisted in the debates on the Maynooth grant (which was carried), in a Budget which made a further step in a Free Trade direction, and in debates and legislation on Scottish questions, which included the Bank Act and the Poor Law Act. The passing of the latter Act was preceded by a report which threw painful light on many aspects of Scottish poverty.
As the winter approached a critical situation arose. There had been a cold, damp summer and a poor harvest generally, rather better, however, in the Highlands than in the rest of the country. Towards the end of autumn a potato famine was seen to be imminent. Disease on an extensive scale had appeared at home and abroad, most of all in Ireland, where a large and congested population depended on potatoes for their food supply. Distress sprang up almost at once, and threatened to spread to an alarming extent. Peel saw that corn must be admitted duty free. He made the proposal at a Cabinet meeting on the 1st of November, but found support only from three of his colleagues, Lord Aberdeen, Sir James Graham, and Sir Sidney Herbert. On 22nd November Lord John Russell published a letter declaring in. favour of free trade in corn. On 8th December Sir Robert Peel tendered his resignation, and Lord John Russell was asked to form a Government. He failed to do so, chiefly because Earl Grey declined to serve with Lord Palmerston; but even if this had not happened, Lord John could have done little without a dissolution of Parliament, and after that might have found the opposing forces too strong for him. The result was that Peel returned to office with a free hand, and supported by all his colleagues in the Cabinet except Lord Stanley, whom Mr Gladstone succeeded at the Colonial Office.
The year was remarkable for the extraordinary rush of railway schemes, involving hundreds of millions of capital. Warning voices were heard, but were little heeded. In the Northern Counties we had schemes for railways from Inverness to Perth, from Elgin to Inverness, from Aberdeen to Inverness, from Inverness northwards through Ross-shire, and as far as Wick and Thurso. The trunk lines were to be supplied with branches. None of these projects came to fruition at the time, but the leading routes were adopted in subsequent years. In 1845, however, hopes ran nigh, and there was enormous activity among lawyers, engineers, and promoters. Directors had the privilege of making their selection from the crowds of applicants for shares. It was while this excitement was fermenting that the potato famine fell on the country. The Northern Highlands escaped the visitation in 1845, and so did the coast of the Moray Firth. But in Perthshire, Fifeshire, Lanark, and some of the Southern Counties the crop suffered severely, and neither Forfarshire nor Aberdeenshire was exempt. The notes that appear in the newspaper files on this subject and on the position of the Government, enable us to see the situation with contemporary eyes.
The year is memorable in other respects in the North. Notices had been issued for an extensive removal of small tenants in Ross-shire, including those of Glencalvie in Kincardine. The “Courier” was the first paper to draw attention to the serious state of affairs, and the subject was taken up in Parliament. The “Times” sent down a Commissioner, who reported his impressions. In our columns during the year there is a great amount of material, official and nonofficial which illustrates the condition of the people, not only at the time, but during the former part of the century.
Improvements in agriculture went eagerly forward at this time, the prospects being considered good. Scientific lectures fostered the movement as they are doing at present. There was also a good deal written about afforestation, especially in the way of exhibiting profitable results. A project was on foot for erecting a northern lunatic asylum by private effort, considerable sums being promised in subscriptions. Preparations were also being made at the close of the year for the administration of the new Scottish Poor Law Act.
An adjourned meeting of the Free Church Assembly, held at Inverness in August, proved a subject of great interest in the Highlands.
You can read this issue (No. 4) at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/highlands/
Henry Dryerre
Compositor, Poet, Journalist and Musician.
Now added the following stories...
James Sandy
John Robertson
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...erre/index.htm
The Millers of Haddington, Dunbar and Dunfermline
A Record of Scottish Bookselling by W. J. Couper.
We're now on the penultimate chapters.
You can read this book as we get it up at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lers/index.htm
Songs by John Henderson
John sent in two new songs, Ben Cleuch and Pleiterin
You can read this at the foot of his page at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel537.htm
Poets and Poetry of Scotland from the earliest to the present time
Comprising characteristic selections from the works of more noteworthy Scottish poets with biographical and critical notices. By James Grant Wilson (1876)
Now up to page 133.
You can read all about them at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/poets/
Memoirs and Adventures of Sir William Kirkaldy of Grange
Knight, Commander of French Horse, Lord of the Secret Council, and Governor of the Castle of Edinburgh for Mary Queen of Scots (1849)
Here is how Chapter IX starts...
The gay and prodigal Henry recalled from exile the Constable de Montmorencie, whom his father had warned him never to employ; hut in all things he was wholly governed by Diana of Poictiers, a lady nearly twenty years his senior.
The Duke of Parma having claimed his protection against the usurpations of Charles V., Henry gladly availed himself of an opportunity of drawing his sword against the ancient foe of his father. The great emperor was now declining in years, in health, and perhaps in political success Solyman, his bitter enemy, threatened an invasion of Hungary; Maurice duke of Saxony, at the head of the Protestant League, kept him in continual alarm; and, to crown these troubles, the martial Henry declared war against him, entered into a secret alliance with Maurice, and seized Lorraine, ravaged Flanders, and, taking the fortified bailiwicks of Toul and Verdun, laid siege to Metz, which, by a stratagem of the. constable, he took in 1552. After building there a strong citadel, which enabled the noble and heroic Francis duke de Guise to defend the city successfully against the Spaniards, who could not recover it, he marched into Alsace.
At the time that he was in the Low Countries, Marie queen of Hungary, sister of the emperor, and governess of Flanders, assembled an army, which Martin de Eossem led into Picardy and Champagne, where he gave the royal palace of Fontanbre, with all the surrounding towns and villages, to the flames, with the intention of compelling Henry to return for the defence of his own territories. This he immediately did; and, after boasting that the steeds of his chevaliers and gendarmerie had drunk of the waters of the Rhine, marched with all speed towards the fertile plains of Champagne.
Thus stood affairs when, in the month of May 1553, Anne de Montmorencie, high-constable of France, as the king’s lieutenant, raised a numerous army, and marched towards the invaders, who were carrying the tide of war through Picardy, the land of apple bowers. With those troops went Sir William Kirkaldy of Grange, whom Henry had made captain of a troop of light-horse, cavalry brilliantly but lightly accoutred, for desultory warfare, and desperate and active service. Their armour covered only the upper part of their body; their large and slashed trunk-hose, being quilted and stuffed with bombast, in the voluminous fashion of the time, were not covered with steel; they wore conical morions, like the half of an acom, of polished plate, but without visors, having only a rim turning up in front, and a waving plume sustained in an iron tube; petronels, swords, daggers, and demi-lances completed their equipment.
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...aldy/index.htm
Samuel Smiles
Newspaper Editor, Author and Social reformer has been added to our Significant Scots page.
This is another biography we're adding. Here is a wee summary about him...
Samuel Smiles, born in Haddington, East Lothian on the 23rd of December, 1813, was the son of Janet Wilson of Dalkeith and Samuel Smiles or Smails of Haddington.
He was the second oldest of twelve children all born in Haddington of whom ten survived beyond childhood. His first named elder sister Elizabeth born in 1811 died before a second Elizabeth was born in 1814. His other siblings were Elizabeth (1814), Robert (1816), Thomas (1818 died before December 1919), Thomas (1919), Janet (1823), William (1824), George Thomson (1825), Mary (1827), James Smith (1829) and Christian Wilson (1831).
While his family members were strict Cameronians, Samuel Jnr. did not practise. He studied at a local school, leaving at the age of 14. He was then apprenticed to be a doctor under Dr. Robert Lewins. This arrangement enabled Smiles to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh from 1829. There he furthered his interest in politics, and become a strong supporter of Joseph Hume.
Samuel Smiles Snr. died in the cholera epidemic of 1832, but young Samuel was able to continue with his studies because he was supported by his mother from the income received from the family's small general store. Her example of working ceaselessly to support herself and his nine younger siblings strongly influenced Samuel's future life; although, he developed a more tolerant outlook which was sometimes at odds with his Cameronian forebears.
In 1837, Samuel wrote campaigning for parliamentary reform articles for the Edinburgh Weekly Chronicle and the Leeds Times, In November 1838, he was invited to become the editor of the Leeds Times, a position he accepted and filled until 1842. In May 1840, he became secretary to the Leeds Parliamentary Reform Association, an organization that held to the six objectives of Chartism: universal suffrage for all men over the age of 21; equal-sized electoral districts; voting by secret ballot; an end to the need of MPs to qualify for Parliament, other than by winning an election; pay for MPs; and annual Parliaments.
As editor of the Leeds Times, he advocated radical causes ranging from women's suffrage through free trade to parliamentary reform. However, by the late 1840s, he became concerned about the use of physical force by Chartists like Feargus O'Connor and George Julian Harney. Although he seems to have agreed with them that the movement's current tactics were not effective, he also believed that mere political reform would not cure the manifold evils then afflicting society.
In the 1850s he seems to have completely given up on parliamentary reform and other structural changes as a means of social advance and for the rest of his career, he advocated individual self-improvement.
On 7 December 1843, Samuel married Sarah Ann Holmes Dixon in Leeds. They had three daughters, Janet, Edith, and Lillian, and two sons, William and Samuel. In 1845, he left the Leeds Times and became a secretary for Leeds and Thirsk Railway and afterwards for the South Eastern Railway.
In the 1850s, he abandoned his interest in parliament and decided that self-help was the most important item in reform. In 1859, he published his book "Self-Help; with Illustrations of Character and Conduct". In addition he wrote articles for the Quarterly, where in an article on railways, he argued that the railways should be nationalised and that third-class passengers should be encouraged.
In 1866, Smiles beaome president of the National Provident Institution, but left in 1871, after suffering a debilitating stroke. However, he recovered from the stroke, and eventually learned to read and write again.
In 1875, his book "Thrift" was published. In it he said that, "riches do not constitute any claim to distinction. It is only the vulgar who admire riches as riches". He further claimed that the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 had been "one of the most valuable that has been placed on the statute-book in modern times".
I have also linked to a couple of his books should you wish to read them.
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...les_samuel.htm
Fraser Clan in America
Found this wee book and made it available for download on our Fraser page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/webc...og/fraser.html
UKIP's impact on the Scottish Referendum
An assessment by David Thomson which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/independence/ukip.htm
Clan Gathering in Kansas
A gathering of the Clan Mackinlay which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/mackinl.html
Book of the Old Edinburgh Club
We have acquired copies of 12 volumes of this club's publications and we're going to add one a week.
The Old Edinburgh Club was founded in 1908 with the aim of recording the vanishing evidence of Edinburgh's history, its buildings and its past inhabitants, from prehistoric times onwards. The Club's original focus was the Old Town, where so much destruction had been wrought during the 50 years since the Improvement Act of 1867, but it was soon recognised that other areas of the city also deserved historical consideration.
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../edinburghclub
Robbie the Pict
A wee article about him and a letter showing how he's approaching one of his recent cases. You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...biethepict.htm
Andy Stewart
Added a page about Andy Stewart to our Significant Scots page. You can read about him and watch a video about his life and even listen to 80 of his songs.
You can view this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ewart_andy.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Got in section 2 of the June 2014 edition which you can view at http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft
Why Alexander Hamilton was picked to be the first US Treasury director!
By Gary Gianotti
Got in this article from Gary and you can read it at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist..._alexander.htm
And Finally...
More from the Book of Scottish Anecdote...
ANCIENT CHARGE OF THE HIGHLANDERS
They advanced with rapidity, discharged their pieces when within mwsket length of the enemy, then throwing them down, drew their swords, and holding a dirk in their left hand with their target, they darted with fury on the enemy, through the smoke of their own fire. When within reach of the enemy's bayonets, bending their left knee, they, by their altitude, covered their bodies with their targets, and received the thrust of the bayonets, which they contrived to parry, while at the same time they raised their sword arm, and struck at their adversaries. Having got once within their bayonets, and into the ranks of the enemy, the soldiers had no longer any means of defending themselves, the fate of the battle was decided in an instant, and the carnage followed; the Highlanders bringing down two men at a time, one with a dirk in the left hand, and another with a sword.
DOGS IN CHURCHES
I was astonished to see how much the ministers in the interior of the Highlands are plagued with dogs in their churches. As almost every family has a dog and some two or three, dogs generally go to church. So many dogs being collected often fight, and make such a noise during the service as not only disturbs the congregation, but endangers the limbs of many. I have seen more than twenty men playing with good cudgels, yet unable to separate a number of dogs fighting in a church. Nay, so much trouble do dogs give in some churches that there is one person appointed to go through the churchyard with a kind of long. handled forceps, which he holds out before him and with which he wounds the tails, legs, ears, &c., of the dogs, and thereby keeps the church and churchyard clear of these useful but unnecessary animals in a place of worship.
A BOLD ATTEMPT
A tourist passing along the shore of a Highland loch one morning, observed a native lying flat on his breast, taking a drink.
"Well, Donald," said he, "are you taking yo're morning?"
"Na, na, sir," replied Donald, "there's too muckle water in't for a mornin'; but," added he, as a bright idea suddenly struck him, "if she was whisky, Donald might try."
EQUAL TO THE OCCASION
"Mr Miller," said a parsimonious housewife to a visitor, "will ye tak an egg to your breakfast this morning?"
"Ou ay, Mrs Thamson," replied Mr Miller, "I'm aye glad o' ane, when I canna get twa."
And that's it for this week and I hope you all have a good weekend.
Alastair
Scottish Weekend enthusiasts for those in the European mainland or elsewhere.
This particular event has gown in leaps and bounds since it started and is now the largest Scottish gathering on mainland Europe.
Of course nobody wants to miss the 29th Scottish Weekend, at Alden Biesen in Rijkhoven, Bilzen.
Early deciders can now get a 30% discount on all tickets in pre-sales, if they quickly go to www.scottish-weekend.be
Our Friday evening, will be very exclusive with a concert from Face the West (sco) and Snakes in Exile (be). On Saturday, Alden Biesen will welcome pipe bands from all over Europe. The biggest competition on the European mainland will start on Saturday morning, as always. In the afternoon, you best mark your calendars for the Bagad Brieg concert, and the “Massed Band”, lead by our Chieftain. Pipe bands can still register for the competition through our website.
In the evening, you can expect more exclusive and top folk performances with a.o. James Cramer (irl), Alisdair Fraser & Nathalie Haas (sco-usa), Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson Band (sco), Tupelo (irl), Mabon (uk) and the Scottish Bags of Rock, not to be missed!
On Sunday, you’ll find a blend of everything and anything Scotland has to offer, with as main attraction, the Highland Games for men and women! And obviously, there will be more folk music on Sunday. Be sure to add the Scottish concert from brass band “Ons Verlangen” to your calendars.
Visit our Scottish market, open on Saturday and Sunday as of 09:00. The entertainment teams are there to welcome young and old - all ages, all weekend!
European Elections
I was rather off in my time scales for the results but at last they are in and it is clear that the EU is not a popular institution. UKip reigned supreme as an anti-EU party and even obtained 1 seat in Scotland. They of course were the overall winner in rUK. Likewise in France the anti-EU party did very well and so much so it was likened to an Earthquake in French politics.
All of this makes it hard for the SNP to justify there position of not having a referendum on joining the EU in the event of a YES vote.
Tenth Anniversary Celebrations for Carnoustie Country Classic 2014
The Carnoustie Country Classic celebrated its tenth anniversary by welcoming 144 golfers from all over the world play on four of Scotland’s top links courses - Carnoustie Championship, Monifieth Medal, Panmure Medal and Montrose Medal.
After four days of highly-competitive and enjoyable golf, Marshal Taylor from Dayton Golf & Country Club in the USA was named the overall winner and presented with the Carnoustie Country Classic crystal trophy, as well as the special 10th Anniversary Golden Putter.
“This is my eighth year of competing in the Carnoustie Country Classic so it’s wonderful to finally have won, especially in such a significant year,” said Marshal. “The Carnoustie Country Classic is a very good tournament with a fantastic vibe where I always meet great people – I’ll be back!”
The top Senior was Peter Rooney from Walsall Golf Club, while Elli Yum from New Jersey’s Galloping Hills Golf Club won the Ladies Competition. “This is my first time in Scotland and I’ve enjoyed every minute, even the Scottish weather, which certainly didn’t co-operate when I was playing at Carnoustie Championship,” laughed Elli.
Over the last ten years, the Carnoustie Country Classic has established a worldwide reputation for its excellent courses, good organisation and friendly atmosphere. As a result, this year, the four-day tournament was fully booked and attracted a truly international field, with golfers competing from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.
“The courses are all different and quite challenging – and so much fun to play,” said first-time competitor Freddy Tzimieri from Germany. “We’ve had an unbelievably good week of golf.”
American radio host Michael Williams revealed that he’d been amazed by the history of the courses he played during the Carnoustie Country Classic. “It gave me such a thrill to discover golf was being played on Montrose Links when Mary Queen of Scots was around,” said Michael, who will be devoting one of his CBS Radio shows to his trip to Carnoustie Country, which covers the 34 courses within a 40-minute drive of Carnoustie Championship.
“I’ll be talking about playing golf in Carnoustie Country but I’ll also be explaining how much more there is to see and do in this magnificent part of Scotland. I can’t wait to return.”
For the full results from this year’s tournament, or more information about the Carnoustie Country Classic 2015, visit www.carnoustiecountry.com.
Electric Canadian
Nova Scotia Historical Society, Reports and Collections
I added Volume XIV 1910 which includes...
Fisheries of British North America, etc. By Judge Wallace Graham,
Memoir of Governor John Parr; with portrait and hatchment By Jas. S. Macdonald,
Halifax and the Capture of St. Pierre in 1793. By Rev. T. Watson Smith, D. D.,
DeMonts Tercentenary at Annapolis 1604-1904. By Judge Longley.
You can read this volume at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...ions/index.htm
Filipinos in Canada
A 9 minute video giving an overview of what is claimed to be the third largest ethic group in Canada.
You can view this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/history/Filopinos.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks issue was compiled by Alison Thewliss where she is talking about the European election results. No synopsis this week.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
Alexander Murdoch (1841-1891)
A Scottish Engineer, Poet, Author, Journalist
Added a third book called "Scotch Readings: Humorous and Amusing" and we're breaking this down into individual chapters for you to read. We've added two more chapters, "The Bathing of the Stick Leg" and "When is a Man Fou?" which you can find at the foot of the page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...doch/index.htm
Thomas Dick Lauder
Hope you are enjoying this book, "Lochandhu". Started on Volume 2 and you can find these at the foot of the page at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...er_thomas1.htm where we've added another couple of chapters.
As this book was published in 1825 it is a great example of what interested Scots way back some 190 years ago.
The Book of Scottish Anecdote
Humorous, Social, Legendary and Historical edited by Alexander Hislop, eighth edition.
Added pages 502 to 551. You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/anecdote
Alan Cunningham
This distinguished poet entered the world under those lowly circumstances, and was educated under those disadvantages, which have so signally characterized the history of the best of our Scottish bards.
We're now adding his "The Songs of Scotland" in 4 volumes which we're going to serialize.
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/musi...gham/index.htm
The Northern Highlands in the Nineteenth Century
Some years ago I published the 2 volumes in this set. Well I have now found a third volume is now available and so have started to work on this.
The year 1845 is of exceptional interest both in national and local affairs. It was the year that formed the turning point in the fortunes of Sir Robert Peel’s Government, which entered on office with such confidence and enthusiasm in 1841. At the opening of the session of 1845 Mr Gladstone had to explain why he had resigned office as President of the Board of Trade. Sir Robert Peel had made up his mind to propose an increased grant to the Maynooth Catholic College in Ireland; and though Mr Gladstone did not personally disapprove of this, he had expressed different views in his book on Church and State, and retired rather than expose himself to the charge of interested motives. Before the year was out he had returned as Secretary for the Colonies in a reconstructed Ministry. The features in the political history of the first six months of the year consisted in the debates on the Maynooth grant (which was carried), in a Budget which made a further step in a Free Trade direction, and in debates and legislation on Scottish questions, which included the Bank Act and the Poor Law Act. The passing of the latter Act was preceded by a report which threw painful light on many aspects of Scottish poverty.
As the winter approached a critical situation arose. There had been a cold, damp summer and a poor harvest generally, rather better, however, in the Highlands than in the rest of the country. Towards the end of autumn a potato famine was seen to be imminent. Disease on an extensive scale had appeared at home and abroad, most of all in Ireland, where a large and congested population depended on potatoes for their food supply. Distress sprang up almost at once, and threatened to spread to an alarming extent. Peel saw that corn must be admitted duty free. He made the proposal at a Cabinet meeting on the 1st of November, but found support only from three of his colleagues, Lord Aberdeen, Sir James Graham, and Sir Sidney Herbert. On 22nd November Lord John Russell published a letter declaring in. favour of free trade in corn. On 8th December Sir Robert Peel tendered his resignation, and Lord John Russell was asked to form a Government. He failed to do so, chiefly because Earl Grey declined to serve with Lord Palmerston; but even if this had not happened, Lord John could have done little without a dissolution of Parliament, and after that might have found the opposing forces too strong for him. The result was that Peel returned to office with a free hand, and supported by all his colleagues in the Cabinet except Lord Stanley, whom Mr Gladstone succeeded at the Colonial Office.
The year was remarkable for the extraordinary rush of railway schemes, involving hundreds of millions of capital. Warning voices were heard, but were little heeded. In the Northern Counties we had schemes for railways from Inverness to Perth, from Elgin to Inverness, from Aberdeen to Inverness, from Inverness northwards through Ross-shire, and as far as Wick and Thurso. The trunk lines were to be supplied with branches. None of these projects came to fruition at the time, but the leading routes were adopted in subsequent years. In 1845, however, hopes ran nigh, and there was enormous activity among lawyers, engineers, and promoters. Directors had the privilege of making their selection from the crowds of applicants for shares. It was while this excitement was fermenting that the potato famine fell on the country. The Northern Highlands escaped the visitation in 1845, and so did the coast of the Moray Firth. But in Perthshire, Fifeshire, Lanark, and some of the Southern Counties the crop suffered severely, and neither Forfarshire nor Aberdeenshire was exempt. The notes that appear in the newspaper files on this subject and on the position of the Government, enable us to see the situation with contemporary eyes.
The year is memorable in other respects in the North. Notices had been issued for an extensive removal of small tenants in Ross-shire, including those of Glencalvie in Kincardine. The “Courier” was the first paper to draw attention to the serious state of affairs, and the subject was taken up in Parliament. The “Times” sent down a Commissioner, who reported his impressions. In our columns during the year there is a great amount of material, official and nonofficial which illustrates the condition of the people, not only at the time, but during the former part of the century.
Improvements in agriculture went eagerly forward at this time, the prospects being considered good. Scientific lectures fostered the movement as they are doing at present. There was also a good deal written about afforestation, especially in the way of exhibiting profitable results. A project was on foot for erecting a northern lunatic asylum by private effort, considerable sums being promised in subscriptions. Preparations were also being made at the close of the year for the administration of the new Scottish Poor Law Act.
An adjourned meeting of the Free Church Assembly, held at Inverness in August, proved a subject of great interest in the Highlands.
You can read this issue (No. 4) at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/highlands/
Henry Dryerre
Compositor, Poet, Journalist and Musician.
Now added the following stories...
James Sandy
John Robertson
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...erre/index.htm
The Millers of Haddington, Dunbar and Dunfermline
A Record of Scottish Bookselling by W. J. Couper.
We're now on the penultimate chapters.
You can read this book as we get it up at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lers/index.htm
Songs by John Henderson
John sent in two new songs, Ben Cleuch and Pleiterin
You can read this at the foot of his page at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel537.htm
Poets and Poetry of Scotland from the earliest to the present time
Comprising characteristic selections from the works of more noteworthy Scottish poets with biographical and critical notices. By James Grant Wilson (1876)
Now up to page 133.
You can read all about them at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/poets/
Memoirs and Adventures of Sir William Kirkaldy of Grange
Knight, Commander of French Horse, Lord of the Secret Council, and Governor of the Castle of Edinburgh for Mary Queen of Scots (1849)
Here is how Chapter IX starts...
The gay and prodigal Henry recalled from exile the Constable de Montmorencie, whom his father had warned him never to employ; hut in all things he was wholly governed by Diana of Poictiers, a lady nearly twenty years his senior.
The Duke of Parma having claimed his protection against the usurpations of Charles V., Henry gladly availed himself of an opportunity of drawing his sword against the ancient foe of his father. The great emperor was now declining in years, in health, and perhaps in political success Solyman, his bitter enemy, threatened an invasion of Hungary; Maurice duke of Saxony, at the head of the Protestant League, kept him in continual alarm; and, to crown these troubles, the martial Henry declared war against him, entered into a secret alliance with Maurice, and seized Lorraine, ravaged Flanders, and, taking the fortified bailiwicks of Toul and Verdun, laid siege to Metz, which, by a stratagem of the. constable, he took in 1552. After building there a strong citadel, which enabled the noble and heroic Francis duke de Guise to defend the city successfully against the Spaniards, who could not recover it, he marched into Alsace.
At the time that he was in the Low Countries, Marie queen of Hungary, sister of the emperor, and governess of Flanders, assembled an army, which Martin de Eossem led into Picardy and Champagne, where he gave the royal palace of Fontanbre, with all the surrounding towns and villages, to the flames, with the intention of compelling Henry to return for the defence of his own territories. This he immediately did; and, after boasting that the steeds of his chevaliers and gendarmerie had drunk of the waters of the Rhine, marched with all speed towards the fertile plains of Champagne.
Thus stood affairs when, in the month of May 1553, Anne de Montmorencie, high-constable of France, as the king’s lieutenant, raised a numerous army, and marched towards the invaders, who were carrying the tide of war through Picardy, the land of apple bowers. With those troops went Sir William Kirkaldy of Grange, whom Henry had made captain of a troop of light-horse, cavalry brilliantly but lightly accoutred, for desultory warfare, and desperate and active service. Their armour covered only the upper part of their body; their large and slashed trunk-hose, being quilted and stuffed with bombast, in the voluminous fashion of the time, were not covered with steel; they wore conical morions, like the half of an acom, of polished plate, but without visors, having only a rim turning up in front, and a waving plume sustained in an iron tube; petronels, swords, daggers, and demi-lances completed their equipment.
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...aldy/index.htm
Samuel Smiles
Newspaper Editor, Author and Social reformer has been added to our Significant Scots page.
This is another biography we're adding. Here is a wee summary about him...
Samuel Smiles, born in Haddington, East Lothian on the 23rd of December, 1813, was the son of Janet Wilson of Dalkeith and Samuel Smiles or Smails of Haddington.
He was the second oldest of twelve children all born in Haddington of whom ten survived beyond childhood. His first named elder sister Elizabeth born in 1811 died before a second Elizabeth was born in 1814. His other siblings were Elizabeth (1814), Robert (1816), Thomas (1818 died before December 1919), Thomas (1919), Janet (1823), William (1824), George Thomson (1825), Mary (1827), James Smith (1829) and Christian Wilson (1831).
While his family members were strict Cameronians, Samuel Jnr. did not practise. He studied at a local school, leaving at the age of 14. He was then apprenticed to be a doctor under Dr. Robert Lewins. This arrangement enabled Smiles to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh from 1829. There he furthered his interest in politics, and become a strong supporter of Joseph Hume.
Samuel Smiles Snr. died in the cholera epidemic of 1832, but young Samuel was able to continue with his studies because he was supported by his mother from the income received from the family's small general store. Her example of working ceaselessly to support herself and his nine younger siblings strongly influenced Samuel's future life; although, he developed a more tolerant outlook which was sometimes at odds with his Cameronian forebears.
In 1837, Samuel wrote campaigning for parliamentary reform articles for the Edinburgh Weekly Chronicle and the Leeds Times, In November 1838, he was invited to become the editor of the Leeds Times, a position he accepted and filled until 1842. In May 1840, he became secretary to the Leeds Parliamentary Reform Association, an organization that held to the six objectives of Chartism: universal suffrage for all men over the age of 21; equal-sized electoral districts; voting by secret ballot; an end to the need of MPs to qualify for Parliament, other than by winning an election; pay for MPs; and annual Parliaments.
As editor of the Leeds Times, he advocated radical causes ranging from women's suffrage through free trade to parliamentary reform. However, by the late 1840s, he became concerned about the use of physical force by Chartists like Feargus O'Connor and George Julian Harney. Although he seems to have agreed with them that the movement's current tactics were not effective, he also believed that mere political reform would not cure the manifold evils then afflicting society.
In the 1850s he seems to have completely given up on parliamentary reform and other structural changes as a means of social advance and for the rest of his career, he advocated individual self-improvement.
On 7 December 1843, Samuel married Sarah Ann Holmes Dixon in Leeds. They had three daughters, Janet, Edith, and Lillian, and two sons, William and Samuel. In 1845, he left the Leeds Times and became a secretary for Leeds and Thirsk Railway and afterwards for the South Eastern Railway.
In the 1850s, he abandoned his interest in parliament and decided that self-help was the most important item in reform. In 1859, he published his book "Self-Help; with Illustrations of Character and Conduct". In addition he wrote articles for the Quarterly, where in an article on railways, he argued that the railways should be nationalised and that third-class passengers should be encouraged.
In 1866, Smiles beaome president of the National Provident Institution, but left in 1871, after suffering a debilitating stroke. However, he recovered from the stroke, and eventually learned to read and write again.
In 1875, his book "Thrift" was published. In it he said that, "riches do not constitute any claim to distinction. It is only the vulgar who admire riches as riches". He further claimed that the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 had been "one of the most valuable that has been placed on the statute-book in modern times".
I have also linked to a couple of his books should you wish to read them.
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...les_samuel.htm
Fraser Clan in America
Found this wee book and made it available for download on our Fraser page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/webc...og/fraser.html
UKIP's impact on the Scottish Referendum
An assessment by David Thomson which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/independence/ukip.htm
Clan Gathering in Kansas
A gathering of the Clan Mackinlay which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/mackinl.html
Book of the Old Edinburgh Club
We have acquired copies of 12 volumes of this club's publications and we're going to add one a week.
The Old Edinburgh Club was founded in 1908 with the aim of recording the vanishing evidence of Edinburgh's history, its buildings and its past inhabitants, from prehistoric times onwards. The Club's original focus was the Old Town, where so much destruction had been wrought during the 50 years since the Improvement Act of 1867, but it was soon recognised that other areas of the city also deserved historical consideration.
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../edinburghclub
Robbie the Pict
A wee article about him and a letter showing how he's approaching one of his recent cases. You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...biethepict.htm
Andy Stewart
Added a page about Andy Stewart to our Significant Scots page. You can read about him and watch a video about his life and even listen to 80 of his songs.
You can view this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ewart_andy.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Got in section 2 of the June 2014 edition which you can view at http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft
Why Alexander Hamilton was picked to be the first US Treasury director!
By Gary Gianotti
Got in this article from Gary and you can read it at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist..._alexander.htm
And Finally...
More from the Book of Scottish Anecdote...
ANCIENT CHARGE OF THE HIGHLANDERS
They advanced with rapidity, discharged their pieces when within mwsket length of the enemy, then throwing them down, drew their swords, and holding a dirk in their left hand with their target, they darted with fury on the enemy, through the smoke of their own fire. When within reach of the enemy's bayonets, bending their left knee, they, by their altitude, covered their bodies with their targets, and received the thrust of the bayonets, which they contrived to parry, while at the same time they raised their sword arm, and struck at their adversaries. Having got once within their bayonets, and into the ranks of the enemy, the soldiers had no longer any means of defending themselves, the fate of the battle was decided in an instant, and the carnage followed; the Highlanders bringing down two men at a time, one with a dirk in the left hand, and another with a sword.
DOGS IN CHURCHES
I was astonished to see how much the ministers in the interior of the Highlands are plagued with dogs in their churches. As almost every family has a dog and some two or three, dogs generally go to church. So many dogs being collected often fight, and make such a noise during the service as not only disturbs the congregation, but endangers the limbs of many. I have seen more than twenty men playing with good cudgels, yet unable to separate a number of dogs fighting in a church. Nay, so much trouble do dogs give in some churches that there is one person appointed to go through the churchyard with a kind of long. handled forceps, which he holds out before him and with which he wounds the tails, legs, ears, &c., of the dogs, and thereby keeps the church and churchyard clear of these useful but unnecessary animals in a place of worship.
A BOLD ATTEMPT
A tourist passing along the shore of a Highland loch one morning, observed a native lying flat on his breast, taking a drink.
"Well, Donald," said he, "are you taking yo're morning?"
"Na, na, sir," replied Donald, "there's too muckle water in't for a mornin'; but," added he, as a bright idea suddenly struck him, "if she was whisky, Donald might try."
EQUAL TO THE OCCASION
"Mr Miller," said a parsimonious housewife to a visitor, "will ye tak an egg to your breakfast this morning?"
"Ou ay, Mrs Thamson," replied Mr Miller, "I'm aye glad o' ane, when I canna get twa."
And that's it for this week and I hope you all have a good weekend.
Alastair