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Electric Scotland News
The Scottish Studies Foundation invites you and your family and friends on its 23rd Annual Tall Ship Cruise on Sunday, August 31 on board Canada's largest sailing ship, the Empire Sandy.
Join in the fun and help keep the Scottish pioneering spirit alive as singers, dancers and the sound of the pipes accompany you out on Lake Ontario under full sail.
There are actually two cruises:
On the 11am cruise, kids and kids-at-heart are encouraged to dress up as pirates for a day with a chance to win a prize for the most pirate-like costume.
The afternoon cruise boards at 2 pm and lets you experience a late summer afternoon out on the lake.
Food on both cruises features traditional Scottish fare to go with a wonderful display of local Scottish culture. You’ll also have a front-seat view of the CNE’s stunning annual Air Show which is on that day.
The Empire Sandy will be docked on the south side of Queen's Quay West, directly opposite Lower Spadina Avenue, beside the Music Garden.
Tickets purchased in advance are $25 for adults and $5 for children
(15 and under) or $30 and $8 respectively if purchased on the day.
For reservations or more information, the person to contact is Maggie McEwan at 905-301-5475, or visit www.scottishstudies.com.
We look forward to seeing you on board!
Update on the Electric Scotland site
The Ezoic folk are busy caching our site so that they can deliver the pages quickly to you. As the vast majority of our pages are static and won't change, this is a project well worth doing. Had a few wee issues which have been resolved as we've learnt about them. One page simply wasn't loading due to its length but that's now fixed. Some pdf files were taking far longer to download than they should and that's steadily being resolved. So mind if you find a problem do let us know so we can fix it.
The site is getting faster as Ezoic work through our pages to cache them. As we are a very large content site this has taken up bandwidth and resources but one more week should see this completed and speed of access should improve.
Now that we have the first full weeks stats in we can see that mobile and tablet users are accounting for some 40% of our traffic which is higher than we'd thought. So far we've had positive reports in from smart phone users but no reports from Tablet users. Seems you like the new menus so that's a positive. Mind you can help us develop this menu system. We are able to add one further main menu should that be required. We can also move sub menu items to other main menus should that work better.
They are still testing templates out for the optimum results and we will require some 4 weeks of data to do a decent analysis of these templates.
Update on the Referendum
Got an email in from 10 Downing Street so posted it up on our community at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...Prime-Minister
English opinion on independence
THERE is ammunition for both sides of Scottish independence referendum divide in a new poll of English opinion. You can read this at:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/leader-...ence-1-3514693
Electric Canadian
Duck Lake
Stories from the Canadian Backwoods By E. Ryerson Young.
Have now completed the final story in this book which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/pion...lake/index.htm
Voyage and Journey from Southampton to Montreal during the Winter of 1861-2
I found this wee 20 page report and found it most interesting. It was in a badly scanned pdf file so unpicked it and edited the pages and then re-assembled it to make it much more readable.
You can read it at http://www.electriccanadian.com/forces/journey.htm
Salmon Farming in Canada
A success story and a link to learn more.
I found this to be an excellent example of how a rural community can bring in new jobs and wealth to the area and thought I'd share the story and also provided a link to learn more about the industry.
You can read this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...on_farming.htm
Canada's Agricultural sector for 2014
I updated our Agricultural page to reflect this new report which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...ture/index.htm
Knights Templar of Canada
I attended the garden party of the Windsor Priory which was held at the home of the Grand Prior this month. At this event the Vicar General of the Order also attended and I tried taking a couple of small videos which came out quite well so I posted them onto YouTube.
One was about him talking about some of the work the order is doing in the world which you can watch at...
The other was a special prayer created by the Order in relation to the various trouble spots in the world and can be viewed at...
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks issue was compiled by Alison Thewliss and there is a Synopsis this week.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
Thomas Dick Lauder
Hope you are enjoying his book, Lochandhu. Started on the final Volume 3 and you can find these at the foot of the page at:http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...er_thomas1.htm where we've added chapters 13 to 16 this week.
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.
Now started on Volume 4 and have added the Contents and Pages 1 to 42 to get it started.
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.
Our third series of extracts from the columns of the “Courier” has come to a close, covering fifteen years in the annals of the Highlands. In course of our examination we have found several papers of interest, which may be given as an appendix. The first we have selected is entitled “The Letter-Book of an Inverness Merchant,1745-46.” The circumstances in which it came into the hands of Dr Carruthers are given below. No doubt the letter-book is still in existence, and might repay further examination. Dr Carruthers, however, appears to have skimmed all that was valuable in it.
You can read this appendix at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../3appendix.htm
Henry Dryerre
Compositor, Poet, Journalist and Musician.
Now added another two Worthies...
William Maclaren
The Deil of Glenisla
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...erre/index.htm
Enigma Machine
Now have up puzzle 75.
You can get to this one at http://www.electriccanadian.com/life.../enigma075.htm
The Great Floods of August 1829
In the Province of Moray and Adjoining Districts by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder.
This week added...
Chapter XV. & XVI. The River Aven and the River Livet - The Spey about Ballindalloch - The Knockamdo Burn - The River Spey to Lower Craigellachie - The Rivers Dullan and Fiddoch.
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../floodsndx.htm
Robert Dick of Thurso
Geologist and Botanist by Samuel Smiles LL.D. (1879).
We've now added the final chapters to this book.
Robert Dick died early. Yet he had lived more than most men. He had worked hard to obtain knowledge. He had worked hard for the love of science. He did not work for his honour and glory. He gave freely to others, without any thought of, reward. In this respect he was entirely self-sacrificing.
You can read this book at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/dick/index.htm
The Home Life of Sir David Brewster
Scottish physicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor, writer, historian of science and university principal.
We're now up to chapter XIX of this book.
It starts with is uprooting from St Andrews University...
This last and uncompleted decade of Brewster’s life began -with an uprooting from the old ground, which was no easy task for one of his great age. The merely physical discomforts were much increased by an untoward event, with which all who understand the mysteries of a philosopher’s sanctum will intensely sympathise. Upon finally leaving St. Andrews,- he packed his carriage not only with his valuable plate, but with invaluable papers, and the treasured odds and ends of his experiment-room. Through the carelessness of officials, it was allowed to drop into the Firth of Forth, in the process of being transferred from the landing to the steamer. Although he received compensation for the damaged plate, yet the injury to his papers, of which some were destroyed and others much defaced, nothing could compensate. It is seldom that such a complete uprooting so late in life is attended with such a thorough taking root in the new soil,—new, however, it could scarcely be called, and he soon felt the delight growing and increasing of the return, under altered circumstances, to his old University,—the reviving of old friendships, —and the forming of new. The difficulty of finding a house which would be suitable for the double purpose of living and experimenting in, led to a measure which greatly increased the happiness and comfort of his remaining years. He made arrangements to return again to his old home on the banks of the Tweed, which was within two hours by railway of the University. Every winter he moved into Edinburgh, taking a house in the town or neighbourhood for three or four months, but during the rest of the session has attended the meetings of the Senatus, or any other connected with his academical duties, going out and in from Melrose generally the same day, with a punctuality and alacrity which was indeed marvellous in a man of his age, a habit which was continued till within a month or two of his death.
You can get to this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ster/index.htm
Calendar Of Documents Relating to Scotland
By Joseph Bain. We have long been missing Volume 1 of this set but now found a copy and adding it to the site.
Added Part 3 (1230 - 1239)
You can get to this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/records/bain/
Memoradum of John Murray of Broughton
Sometime Secretary to Prince Charles Edward 1740 - 1747 edited with an Introduction, Notes and an Appendix of Original Documents by Robert Fitzroy Bell (1898).
Now added Part 2 - The Expedition from Prince's Landing to his Arrival at Derby.
You can get to this book at the foot our our current page about him at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/charles
Scottish Nationality Social and Intellectual
Installation Address of the Right Hon. Henry Lord Brougham.
The installation address recently delivered by the venerable and famous Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, amongst many other questions of wider interest, stirred several which appeal peculiarly to Scotchmen, and which, in some form or other, are rarely absent from their thoughts. The questions to which we refer are:—Whether Scotland still possesses a separate nationality, and, if so, in what this nationality consists, and has consisted, since the political autonomy of the country ceased? Whether it is of such value to Scotland, and to the kingdom generally, as to render its preservation desirable? and lastly, supposing the latter question to be answered in the affirmative,— By what means, if any, can its existence be perpetuated?
You can read this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ationality.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Got in the September 2014 section 2 issue which you can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft
Memoirs of a Banking House
By Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo, Bart. (1860).
The private banking-house so long known in Scotland in connection with the name of Sir William Forbes—merged since 1838 in the joint-stock Union Bank of Scotland—had a somewhat complicated genealogy, reaching far back in the last century—the century of progress in Scotland—and even faintly gleaming through the obscurities of the one before it, when mercantile efforts and speculations were taking their birth amidst the embers of scarcely extinct civil wars and all kinds of private barbarisms. The genealogy is here traced through a firm styled John Coutts & Co., of which the principal member was John Coutts, lord-provost of Edinburgh in the years 1742 and 1743, to Patrick Coutts, who carried on considerable merchandise at Montrose in the reign of William III. The concern is shown as the main stock from which branched off the eminent London banking firms of Coutts & Co., Strand, and Herries & Co., St James’s Street.
You can read this book at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ing/coutts.htm
James Grant
Added this historian and novelist to our Significant Scots section.
Grant was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was a distant relation of Sir Walter Scott. He was a prolific author, writing some 90 books, including many yellow-backs. Titles included Adventures of an Aide-de-camp, One of "The six hundred", The Scottish musketeers and The Scottish cavalier.
Many of his 56 novels are about important characters and events in Scottish history. In 1853 he founded the National Association for the Vindication of Scottish Rights. Grant is known today as an historian, primarily because of his thoroughly-researched six-volume Old And New Edinburgh, published in 1880 by Cassell.
You can read more about him at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...rant_james.htm
Easter Ross
By Alexander Polson, J.P., F.E.I.S. (1914). A new book we're starting.
ROSS-SHIRE is a County Palatine of Scotland and Easter Ross is the garden of Ross-shire. The district extends from the burn of Alness (the river Averon) on the south to the Dornoch Firth and the Kyle of Sutherland on the north. On the east it is bounded by the Moray, the Cromarty, and the Dornoch, Firths, while on the west it is in touch on high lands with the parish of Lochbroom, and that of Assynt in Sutherland. It has an area of 283,316 acres and in this area are embraced the nine parishes of Rosskeen, Kilmuir, Logie Easter, Nigg, Fearn, Tarbat, Tain, Edderton, and Kincardine, the Royal Burgh of Tain, the Police Burgh of Invergordon, as well as the villages of Bridgend of Alness, Saltburn, Balnabruach (Nigg), Shandwick, Balintore, Fearn, Port-mahomack, Inver, Edderton, and Ardgay.
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ross/index.htm
And Finally...
ANKER-STOCKS
The Anker-stock was a round loaf made of rye-flour, and seasoned with spice and currants, and issued as "New Year bread." One of the first demonstrations of the approach of Christmas in Edinburgh was the annual appearance of large tables of Anker-stocks at the head of the Old Fishmarket Close. These Anker-stocks, the only species of rye that I have ever observed offered for sale in the city, were exhibited in every variety of size and price, from a half penny to a half-crown."
[Ankerstock or Rye Bread recipe from "Domestic Economy, and Cookery, for rich and poor" (1827)
Requires very little yest [yeast]; mix with the water from two to six ounces of treacle for each pound of flour; let it be strained through a very fine gauze or lawn sieve, as treacle is often adulterated with sand; add salt, caraway, or anise of Verdun; the rye being sweet, the additional sweet gives it a determination, and corrects a disease to which that grain is liable, and makes the bread pleasant, healthy, and nourishing. It is an excellent sea store.]
A SENSIBLE SERVANT
A very old domestic servant of the familiar Scottish character common long ago, having offended his master extremely was commanded to leave his service instantly. "In troth, and that will I not," answered the domestic; "if your honour disna ken when ye hae a gude servant, I ken when I hae a gude master, and go away I will not."
On another occasion of the same nature, the master said, "John, you and I shall never sleep under the same
roof again:" to which John replied, with much niavity "Where the deil can your honour be ganging?" - Old Mortality.
THE WAR-CRY OF HAWICK
"Teeribus and Teeriodin" was the ancient war-cry of the town of Hawick. This, according to tradition, was that of the band which went from Hawick to the battle of Flodden; and it is still shouted by the inhabitants of the burgh when they annually ride the marches.
WISER THAN SOLOMAN
Old Hackstoun of Rathillet one day said to Mr Smibert, lhe minister of Curar, who, like himself, was blessed with a foolish, or rather wild, youth for a Son, "D'ye ken, sir, you and I are wiser than Solomon?" "How can that be, Rathillet?" inquired the startled clergyman. "Oh, ye see," said Hackstoun, "Solomon didna ken whether his son was to be a fool or a wise man; but baith you and I are quite sure that our sons are fools."
And that's it for this week and hope you all enjoy your weekend.
Alastair
The Scottish Studies Foundation invites you and your family and friends on its 23rd Annual Tall Ship Cruise on Sunday, August 31 on board Canada's largest sailing ship, the Empire Sandy.
Join in the fun and help keep the Scottish pioneering spirit alive as singers, dancers and the sound of the pipes accompany you out on Lake Ontario under full sail.
There are actually two cruises:
On the 11am cruise, kids and kids-at-heart are encouraged to dress up as pirates for a day with a chance to win a prize for the most pirate-like costume.
The afternoon cruise boards at 2 pm and lets you experience a late summer afternoon out on the lake.
Food on both cruises features traditional Scottish fare to go with a wonderful display of local Scottish culture. You’ll also have a front-seat view of the CNE’s stunning annual Air Show which is on that day.
The Empire Sandy will be docked on the south side of Queen's Quay West, directly opposite Lower Spadina Avenue, beside the Music Garden.
Tickets purchased in advance are $25 for adults and $5 for children
(15 and under) or $30 and $8 respectively if purchased on the day.
For reservations or more information, the person to contact is Maggie McEwan at 905-301-5475, or visit www.scottishstudies.com.
We look forward to seeing you on board!
Update on the Electric Scotland site
The Ezoic folk are busy caching our site so that they can deliver the pages quickly to you. As the vast majority of our pages are static and won't change, this is a project well worth doing. Had a few wee issues which have been resolved as we've learnt about them. One page simply wasn't loading due to its length but that's now fixed. Some pdf files were taking far longer to download than they should and that's steadily being resolved. So mind if you find a problem do let us know so we can fix it.
The site is getting faster as Ezoic work through our pages to cache them. As we are a very large content site this has taken up bandwidth and resources but one more week should see this completed and speed of access should improve.
Now that we have the first full weeks stats in we can see that mobile and tablet users are accounting for some 40% of our traffic which is higher than we'd thought. So far we've had positive reports in from smart phone users but no reports from Tablet users. Seems you like the new menus so that's a positive. Mind you can help us develop this menu system. We are able to add one further main menu should that be required. We can also move sub menu items to other main menus should that work better.
They are still testing templates out for the optimum results and we will require some 4 weeks of data to do a decent analysis of these templates.
Update on the Referendum
Got an email in from 10 Downing Street so posted it up on our community at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...Prime-Minister
English opinion on independence
THERE is ammunition for both sides of Scottish independence referendum divide in a new poll of English opinion. You can read this at:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/leader-...ence-1-3514693
Electric Canadian
Duck Lake
Stories from the Canadian Backwoods By E. Ryerson Young.
Have now completed the final story in this book which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/pion...lake/index.htm
Voyage and Journey from Southampton to Montreal during the Winter of 1861-2
I found this wee 20 page report and found it most interesting. It was in a badly scanned pdf file so unpicked it and edited the pages and then re-assembled it to make it much more readable.
You can read it at http://www.electriccanadian.com/forces/journey.htm
Salmon Farming in Canada
A success story and a link to learn more.
I found this to be an excellent example of how a rural community can bring in new jobs and wealth to the area and thought I'd share the story and also provided a link to learn more about the industry.
You can read this at http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...on_farming.htm
Canada's Agricultural sector for 2014
I updated our Agricultural page to reflect this new report which you can read at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...ture/index.htm
Knights Templar of Canada
I attended the garden party of the Windsor Priory which was held at the home of the Grand Prior this month. At this event the Vicar General of the Order also attended and I tried taking a couple of small videos which came out quite well so I posted them onto YouTube.
One was about him talking about some of the work the order is doing in the world which you can watch at...
The other was a special prayer created by the Order in relation to the various trouble spots in the world and can be viewed at...
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks issue was compiled by Alison Thewliss and there is a Synopsis this week.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Electric Scotland
Thomas Dick Lauder
Hope you are enjoying his book, Lochandhu. Started on the final Volume 3 and you can find these at the foot of the page at:http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...er_thomas1.htm where we've added chapters 13 to 16 this week.
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.
Now started on Volume 4 and have added the Contents and Pages 1 to 42 to get it started.
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.
Our third series of extracts from the columns of the “Courier” has come to a close, covering fifteen years in the annals of the Highlands. In course of our examination we have found several papers of interest, which may be given as an appendix. The first we have selected is entitled “The Letter-Book of an Inverness Merchant,1745-46.” The circumstances in which it came into the hands of Dr Carruthers are given below. No doubt the letter-book is still in existence, and might repay further examination. Dr Carruthers, however, appears to have skimmed all that was valuable in it.
You can read this appendix at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../3appendix.htm
Henry Dryerre
Compositor, Poet, Journalist and Musician.
Now added another two Worthies...
William Maclaren
The Deil of Glenisla
You can read these at: http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...erre/index.htm
Enigma Machine
Now have up puzzle 75.
You can get to this one at http://www.electriccanadian.com/life.../enigma075.htm
The Great Floods of August 1829
In the Province of Moray and Adjoining Districts by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder.
This week added...
Chapter XV. & XVI. The River Aven and the River Livet - The Spey about Ballindalloch - The Knockamdo Burn - The River Spey to Lower Craigellachie - The Rivers Dullan and Fiddoch.
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../floodsndx.htm
Robert Dick of Thurso
Geologist and Botanist by Samuel Smiles LL.D. (1879).
We've now added the final chapters to this book.
Robert Dick died early. Yet he had lived more than most men. He had worked hard to obtain knowledge. He had worked hard for the love of science. He did not work for his honour and glory. He gave freely to others, without any thought of, reward. In this respect he was entirely self-sacrificing.
You can read this book at: http://www.electricscotland.com/history/dick/index.htm
The Home Life of Sir David Brewster
Scottish physicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor, writer, historian of science and university principal.
We're now up to chapter XIX of this book.
It starts with is uprooting from St Andrews University...
This last and uncompleted decade of Brewster’s life began -with an uprooting from the old ground, which was no easy task for one of his great age. The merely physical discomforts were much increased by an untoward event, with which all who understand the mysteries of a philosopher’s sanctum will intensely sympathise. Upon finally leaving St. Andrews,- he packed his carriage not only with his valuable plate, but with invaluable papers, and the treasured odds and ends of his experiment-room. Through the carelessness of officials, it was allowed to drop into the Firth of Forth, in the process of being transferred from the landing to the steamer. Although he received compensation for the damaged plate, yet the injury to his papers, of which some were destroyed and others much defaced, nothing could compensate. It is seldom that such a complete uprooting so late in life is attended with such a thorough taking root in the new soil,—new, however, it could scarcely be called, and he soon felt the delight growing and increasing of the return, under altered circumstances, to his old University,—the reviving of old friendships, —and the forming of new. The difficulty of finding a house which would be suitable for the double purpose of living and experimenting in, led to a measure which greatly increased the happiness and comfort of his remaining years. He made arrangements to return again to his old home on the banks of the Tweed, which was within two hours by railway of the University. Every winter he moved into Edinburgh, taking a house in the town or neighbourhood for three or four months, but during the rest of the session has attended the meetings of the Senatus, or any other connected with his academical duties, going out and in from Melrose generally the same day, with a punctuality and alacrity which was indeed marvellous in a man of his age, a habit which was continued till within a month or two of his death.
You can get to this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ster/index.htm
Calendar Of Documents Relating to Scotland
By Joseph Bain. We have long been missing Volume 1 of this set but now found a copy and adding it to the site.
Added Part 3 (1230 - 1239)
You can get to this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/records/bain/
Memoradum of John Murray of Broughton
Sometime Secretary to Prince Charles Edward 1740 - 1747 edited with an Introduction, Notes and an Appendix of Original Documents by Robert Fitzroy Bell (1898).
Now added Part 2 - The Expedition from Prince's Landing to his Arrival at Derby.
You can get to this book at the foot our our current page about him at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/charles
Scottish Nationality Social and Intellectual
Installation Address of the Right Hon. Henry Lord Brougham.
The installation address recently delivered by the venerable and famous Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, amongst many other questions of wider interest, stirred several which appeal peculiarly to Scotchmen, and which, in some form or other, are rarely absent from their thoughts. The questions to which we refer are:—Whether Scotland still possesses a separate nationality, and, if so, in what this nationality consists, and has consisted, since the political autonomy of the country ceased? Whether it is of such value to Scotland, and to the kingdom generally, as to render its preservation desirable? and lastly, supposing the latter question to be answered in the affirmative,— By what means, if any, can its existence be perpetuated?
You can read this at
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ationality.htm
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Got in the September 2014 section 2 issue which you can read at
http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft
Memoirs of a Banking House
By Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo, Bart. (1860).
INTRODUCTORY NOTICE
The public is here presented with a Memoir, the genuine composition of Sir William Forbes, regarding the history of a mercantile establishment, of which he was long the chief. The manuscript having been accidentally shown to the editor, he saw in it so much that was interesting, as to be induced to plead with Sir William’s surviving friends for permission to place it before the world. It is consequently published at the distance of fully fifty-six years from the time when it was written, for the author appears to have closed his narration in May 1803.The private banking-house so long known in Scotland in connection with the name of Sir William Forbes—merged since 1838 in the joint-stock Union Bank of Scotland—had a somewhat complicated genealogy, reaching far back in the last century—the century of progress in Scotland—and even faintly gleaming through the obscurities of the one before it, when mercantile efforts and speculations were taking their birth amidst the embers of scarcely extinct civil wars and all kinds of private barbarisms. The genealogy is here traced through a firm styled John Coutts & Co., of which the principal member was John Coutts, lord-provost of Edinburgh in the years 1742 and 1743, to Patrick Coutts, who carried on considerable merchandise at Montrose in the reign of William III. The concern is shown as the main stock from which branched off the eminent London banking firms of Coutts & Co., Strand, and Herries & Co., St James’s Street.
You can read this book at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ing/coutts.htm
James Grant
Added this historian and novelist to our Significant Scots section.
Grant was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was a distant relation of Sir Walter Scott. He was a prolific author, writing some 90 books, including many yellow-backs. Titles included Adventures of an Aide-de-camp, One of "The six hundred", The Scottish musketeers and The Scottish cavalier.
Many of his 56 novels are about important characters and events in Scottish history. In 1853 he founded the National Association for the Vindication of Scottish Rights. Grant is known today as an historian, primarily because of his thoroughly-researched six-volume Old And New Edinburgh, published in 1880 by Cassell.
You can read more about him at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...rant_james.htm
Easter Ross
By Alexander Polson, J.P., F.E.I.S. (1914). A new book we're starting.
ROSS-SHIRE is a County Palatine of Scotland and Easter Ross is the garden of Ross-shire. The district extends from the burn of Alness (the river Averon) on the south to the Dornoch Firth and the Kyle of Sutherland on the north. On the east it is bounded by the Moray, the Cromarty, and the Dornoch, Firths, while on the west it is in touch on high lands with the parish of Lochbroom, and that of Assynt in Sutherland. It has an area of 283,316 acres and in this area are embraced the nine parishes of Rosskeen, Kilmuir, Logie Easter, Nigg, Fearn, Tarbat, Tain, Edderton, and Kincardine, the Royal Burgh of Tain, the Police Burgh of Invergordon, as well as the villages of Bridgend of Alness, Saltburn, Balnabruach (Nigg), Shandwick, Balintore, Fearn, Port-mahomack, Inver, Edderton, and Ardgay.
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ross/index.htm
And Finally...
ANKER-STOCKS
The Anker-stock was a round loaf made of rye-flour, and seasoned with spice and currants, and issued as "New Year bread." One of the first demonstrations of the approach of Christmas in Edinburgh was the annual appearance of large tables of Anker-stocks at the head of the Old Fishmarket Close. These Anker-stocks, the only species of rye that I have ever observed offered for sale in the city, were exhibited in every variety of size and price, from a half penny to a half-crown."
[Ankerstock or Rye Bread recipe from "Domestic Economy, and Cookery, for rich and poor" (1827)
Requires very little yest [yeast]; mix with the water from two to six ounces of treacle for each pound of flour; let it be strained through a very fine gauze or lawn sieve, as treacle is often adulterated with sand; add salt, caraway, or anise of Verdun; the rye being sweet, the additional sweet gives it a determination, and corrects a disease to which that grain is liable, and makes the bread pleasant, healthy, and nourishing. It is an excellent sea store.]
A SENSIBLE SERVANT
A very old domestic servant of the familiar Scottish character common long ago, having offended his master extremely was commanded to leave his service instantly. "In troth, and that will I not," answered the domestic; "if your honour disna ken when ye hae a gude servant, I ken when I hae a gude master, and go away I will not."
On another occasion of the same nature, the master said, "John, you and I shall never sleep under the same
roof again:" to which John replied, with much niavity "Where the deil can your honour be ganging?" - Old Mortality.
THE WAR-CRY OF HAWICK
"Teeribus and Teeriodin" was the ancient war-cry of the town of Hawick. This, according to tradition, was that of the band which went from Hawick to the battle of Flodden; and it is still shouted by the inhabitants of the burgh when they annually ride the marches.
WISER THAN SOLOMAN
Old Hackstoun of Rathillet one day said to Mr Smibert, lhe minister of Curar, who, like himself, was blessed with a foolish, or rather wild, youth for a Son, "D'ye ken, sir, you and I are wiser than Solomon?" "How can that be, Rathillet?" inquired the startled clergyman. "Oh, ye see," said Hackstoun, "Solomon didna ken whether his son was to be a fool or a wise man; but baith you and I are quite sure that our sons are fools."
And that's it for this week and hope you all enjoy your weekend.
Alastair