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Electric Scotland News
Well it's been quite a week for me this week. I've reached my 67th birthday and was reminded of this by many posts on my Facebook page and many thanks to those that reminded me of this date in my history <grin>.
I was also hit by a bad update of my Malawarebytes program. I've always been very happy with this product but when they uploaded an automated download of the latest database they had a problem which then crashed my computer. It was like having a virus. It took me one and half days to get things back to normal.
I have support from Dell and this time around I had to wait for almost an hour to reach their helpline. When I got through they told me that on average they usually have a maximum of three calls holding but thanks to the Malawarebytes issue that had shot up to 93 and hence the long delay.
I found I really needed to restore my computer from a backup which I had BUT I then couldn't access the restore function. I eventually found out how to restore but in the process I found my ClickFree device had no support line any more and while they provided a link to get support from a forum that didn't exist either. So I was left to figure it out for myself which I eventually did. However this now means I need to decide if I should still use it or not. A backup does need to be reliable after all.
Of course I had also just purchased a new bit of software but I hadn't yet backed that up so I had to chase down the company to get a copy of the email they sent which provided the download link to get the software and also to get the serial number. I eventually got to the right person and I now have that email and it's now been backed up as well.
Things like this just show how important it is to backup your computer. It's also important to have a backup you can restore all your programs and operating system as without that it would have taken up to a couple of days to re-install my programs and of course hunt up the various serial numbers, etc.
My backup is there to insure that if I get a virus I can recover but little did I imagine it was one of those various programs I use to protect my computer that caused the crash.
So be warned... you can purchase a 2Tbyte external USB hard disk for around $115 and Acronis software that can restore your programs and operating system for another $50. So for $165.00 you will be well served in the event of a crash.
Hawick Reivers Festival 23rd to 25th March 2018
From its earliest beginnings in 2003 this annual festival has grown to become a major event in the Scottish Borders Calendar! It has grown from one day to a full weekend of activities both in and outdoors including re-enactments, concerts. lectures, drama, 16th century market and encampment and a torchlight procession and fireworks display.
With the key aims to EXPLORE EXPLAIN EXPERIENCE and with attractions to suit all ages the events give the audience a unique opportunity to experience life in this difficult and challenging period of our history.
In 2018 the festival has as its theme Borders Kith and Kin and we are hoping to attract folks from far and wide who carry the Reiving Family Surnames. Armstrongs, Elliots, Turnbulls, Scotts, Kerrs and many others will be represented and information will be on hand to help folks take the initial steps to trace their own family roots.
We know that many descendents of the Border Reivers settled in Ireland after the Union of the Crown and there are many similarities in family names, traditions and life styles. Hawick Reivers Festival hopes to build on these old links and establish many new ones for the years to come.
What can a visitor to the Festival expect? We have ghost walks and ghost talks, re-enactments of 16th century soldiery and lifestyle (with over 60 re-enactors expected this year), a Reivers Banquet and historical talks and lectures, medieval market and of course one of the big highlights our Torchlight Procession depicting the Reivers "Hot Trod" - riding by Torchlight to retrieve stolen cattle - followed by a spectacular Fireworks display.
Events kick off on Friday evening and close with a High Tea and lecture on the importance of the Border Tower Houses - "not just castles but homes!"
So why not consider a weekend in the beautiful Scottish Borders Countryside and join in with all the fun of the weekend.
Full information is available on our website www.hawickreivers.com
C. Elliott (on behalf of Hawick Reivers Association)
Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
Note that this is a selection and more can be read in our ScotNews feed on our index page where we list news from the past 1-2 weeks. I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines. I might also add that in newspapers such as the Guardian, Scotsman, Courier, etc. you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish.
Russia's hybrid underwater war
Russia has been stepping up its underwater military activity, commissioning 13 new submarines in the last five years. As well as conventional attack power and the ability to deliver special forces troops, this underwater fleet has equipment, such as cable-cutting gear, that threatens civil infrastructure, communication lines and the internet.
Read more at:
https://jamestown.org/program/russia...ations-cables/
Whisper it, but we're doing better than expected
GDP figures are healthy enough, the FTSE is near its all-time high, the deficit is down and unemployment is at a historic low.
Read more at:
https://capx.co/whisper-it-but-were-...than-expected/
Full text of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s Brexit speech
There is a great Brexit opportunity and some really obvious benefits that we can get that improve the condition of the people
Read more at:
http://brexitcentral.com/read-full-t...brexit-speech/
The BBC has been marginalising pro-Brexit views for years
And the figures show it
Read more at:
http://brexitcentral.com/bbc-margina...-figures-show/
Jordan Peterson - a liberal hero for our times
TWO WEEKS AGO, there were probably very few people in this country who had even heard of the Canadian academic Jordan Peterson
Read more at:
http://www.thinkscotland.org/todays-...ead_full=13432
See also a YouTube video at
A piping history worthy of a wider readership
THIS IS THE third of a series of books by the author on the pipers and piping traditions of Scotland
Read more at:
http://www.thinkscotland.org/thinkcu...ead_full=13431
Why we live on one of the UK’s most remote islands
Everyone is related in some way, laughs Connel Gresham, one of the 600 residents of Unst, Shetland.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-42856264
BBC Brexit BIAS row
Fury over 'two THIRDS of guests on flagship shows being anti-Leave
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/polit...eave-Remainers
Scottish Schools' Young Writer of the Year
From the Scottish Review. At the foot of the article there are links to the winning article and also the three runners up.
Read more at:
http://www.scottishreview.net/Adjudi...andreport.html
What’s the point of Brexit?
After a proper Brexit, the UK would be well placed to breathe life into global trade talks
Read more at:
https://capx.co/whats-the-point-of-brexit/
Bonds of Union: Part I
Debates about the United Kingdom's place within the European Union or Scotland's future within the United Kingdom are often framed as being about head vs. heart.
Read more at:
http://chokkablog.blogspot.ca/2018/0...on-part-i.html
Domestic abuse bill could change Scotland
The Domestic Abuse bill, which has wide backing, creates a specific offence of abusive behaviour in relation to a partner or ex-partner.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-42890990
Shetland fishing apprentices have high hopes for Brexit
Fishing apprentices John-Arthur Robertson and Lee Odie are hopeful their industry can benefit from Brexit.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-42897209
Why can't I pull on a sparkly dress?
A Scottish darts walk-on girl says she has never felt objectified in her job and is calling for a reversal of the governing body's decision to ban them.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-42872257
Electric Canadian
Transactions of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers
I discovered a lot of volumes of these transaction which are very detailed and note that they are very popular downloads so assume civil engineers are enjoying the details given in these transactions.
I've added the 1922 volume and will add others each week. You can view these at
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...rial/index.htm
This issue's main article is about the Imperial Oil Ltd., Coal Handling Plant at Sarnia.
The World of Ice
Or the Whaling Cruise of the Dolphin and adventures of her crew in the Polar regions by R M Ballantyne (pdf) which can be read at:http://www.electriccanadian.com/lifestyle/worldice.pdf
Sir John Murray
Pioneer in Oceanography which I've added to our Makers of Canada page at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/makers/murray_john.htm
Woollen Industry in Canada
By Watson Griffin (pdf)
An old report discussing how the industry is under pressure and suggestions on how to improve the industry. You can read this at:http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...enindustry.pdf
Electric Scotland
Fur and Feather Series
Edited by Alfred E. T. Watson. Am going to bring you a few in this series and the first one is about The Hare.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/natu...andfeather.htm
Hall Russell Remembered
By Stanley Bruce, Banffshire Maritime Heritage Association (2007).
Got permission to add this booklet to the site which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/business/0983_001.pdf
The Norse Influence on Celtic Scotland
By George Henderson (1910) (pdf)
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...eInfluence.pdf
Memorials of George Bannatyne
Published by the Bannatyne Club
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...yne_george.htm
Quartermaster Supply
Added volume 2 to this series. I was fascinated about how they supplied coffee to the troops and also food packs.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...stersupply.htm
Records of The County of Banff 1660-1760
One hundred years of County Government compiled by the Late James Grant, LL.D.(1922)
IN introducing this book to the Members of the New Spalding Club, some account must be given of how it came to be written, and of the sources from which the materials were drawn. The late Mr. James Grant, LL. D., the well-known antiquary, undertook to compile this work for the Club, and started on his labours before the outbreak of the great War. He had, of course, from his official position as County Clerk of Banff, unrivalled opportunities of studying all the necessary archives, and the chief source from which he derived the information contained in Chapter 1. was the Minute Book of the meetings of the Barons and Freeholders of the Sheriffdom of Banff, which begins on April 15, 1664, and ends on April 10, 1722.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ntyofbanff.pdf
Letters from a gentleman in the North of Scotland to his friend in London
Containing the description of a Capital Town in that Northern Country, with an account of some uncommon customs of the Inhabitants; likewise an account of the Highlands, with the Customs and Manners of the Highlanders to which is added, a letter, relating to the Military Ways among the Mountains, begun in the year 1726. The Fifth Edition and a large Appendix, containing various important historical documents, hitherto unpublished with an Introduction and Notes by the Editor, R. Jamieson and the History of Donald the Hammerer from an Authentic Account of the Family of Invernahyle; a MS. communicated by Sir Walter Scott, Bart. in two volumes (1822)
You can read both volumes at: http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/letters.htm
The Story
I thought I'd extract a couple of wee stories from the Introduction to the above book as the story for this week.
Letters from a gentleman in the North of Scotland to his friend in London
From all the information we have been able to collect, it appears that in their whole progress to and from Derby, their conduct, all circumstances considered, was not only orderly and proper, but, in innumerable instances, in the highest degree humane and magnanimous. In England, the courtly elegance, in manners and conversation, of the Highland gentlemen, their dignified deportment, the discipline they preserved among their men, but, above all, the kindhearted, sensible, and considerate good-nature and indulgence which they everywhere manifested towards women and children (a strong feature in the Highland character, and the best proof true civilization), which was so different from what the English had been led to expect, made so favourable an impression, and formed such a contrast to the insolent brutality of the king's troops, officers and men, who marched down after them, that in many instances, which we know from the parties concerned, the women (for the men durst not speak out) could not help telling the latter, "when the rebels, as they are called, were here, they behaved very differently they behaved like gentlemen quite like gentlemen God help them !" Such reproaches, so justly provoked, and so often repeated, produced only aggravation of insult and abuse, and (such was the spirit of the time) ladies of the greatest respectability were, by officers of rank, damned for Jacobite b*****s, and told that they were all rebels together, if they durst avow it, and deserved to have their houses burnt over their heads!
[One young widow lady in Cheshire, from whose daughter we had the anecdote, told a party of officers on such an occasion, "If I am not a Jacobite, it certainly is not your fault; ye have done all ye could to make me one!" An observation, the truth of which would have been sensibly felt by the king's troops, had the. Highland army been in a condition once more to enter England, and avail themselves of the favour which their own good conduct and the insolence of their enemies had procured them in that country.]
-----
Private robbery, murder, and petty theft were hardly known among them. It has been said that "there was nothing to steal;" but there was comparative wealth and poverty in their country, as well as elsewhere; and the poorer the people were, the stronger was the temptation, and the stronger must the principle have been that enabled them to resist it. And here, for the sake of illustration, it may not be out of place to say somewhat of the heavy accusations brought against the Clangregor, particularly in Graham of Gartmore's MS. quoted in the Appendix. As there is no end to the clamours which have been echoed from one generation to another, against this disorderly tribe, we shall state a few simple facts, to show the nature of their irregularities. They had long been deprived of their lands, their name, their political existence, and the protection of the laws, and left to provide for, and protect themselves as best they might. Their lands had been appropriated by their more powerful and politic neighbours, particularly the predecessors of the duke of Montrose. This, and that nobleman's new-fangled whig politics, had exposed him particularly to their indignation, which he shared with Graham of Gartmore, and other gentlemen of the clan, who, having adopted the same principles, were regarded as recreant Grahams. When they lifted the duke's cattle, took his rents from his steward, or emptied his girnel of the farm-meal after it had been paid in, they considered themselves as only taking what ought to have been their own. The manner in which this was commonly done, shows how unjustly they were accused of general cruelty and oppression to their neighbours. On one occasion, Rob Roy, with only one attendant, went to the house in which the duke's tenants had been convened to pay their rents; took the money from the steward in their presence; gave them certificates that all had been duly paid before he seized it, which exonerated them from all further claim; treated them liberally with whiskey; made them swear upon his dirk, that not one of them would stir out of the house, till three hours after he was gone; took a goodhumoured leave of them; and deliberately returned to the Braes. Those who know the spirit of the Grahams of that day, will be satisfied that this could never have taken place had the tenants not been very well pleased to see their money come into Rob's hands. When called out by the duke to hunt down Rob and his followers, they always contrived to give him timely warning, or to mislead the scent, so that the expedition came to nothing. When the duke once armed them for defence, they sent notice to Rob's nephew, Glengyle, to come round with such a force as would be a decent excuse for their submission, and collect the arms, which they considered as a disagreeable and dangerous deposit; and when the M'Gregors took the field in 1715, the cavalier spirit of the Grahams rose, and many of the duke's dependants, scorning their superior and his politics, followed their standard.
This showed that they did not consider the Braes of Balquhidder as a bad neighbourhood. In all the thinly-peopled districts by which the M'Gregors were surrounded, the whole property of the tenants was constantly at the mercy of thieves, if there had been such in the country. The doors of their houses were closed by a latch, or wooden bolt; and a man with a clasp-knife might in a few minutes have cut open the door, or even the wicker walls of the house. Detached from the dwelling-house, from fear of fire, was a small wicker barn, or store-house, still less carefully secured, in which they kept their whole stock of hams, butter, cheese (for they then had such things), corn, meal, blankets, webs, yarn, wool, &c. These houses and barns were often left unprotected for days together, when the people were abroad cutting and winning turf, making hay or reaping for their superior, or tending their cattle in distant pastures. This was the case all over the Highlands; yet nothing was ever stolen or disturbed! Of what civilized country, in the best of times, can as much be said?
A spirit of revenge has too often been attributed to them, as a distinguishing feature of character; and the ancient prejudice on this subject remains, long after the habits in which it originated have disappeared. In a certain state of society, in all countries, revenge has been not only accounted manly and honourable, but has been bequeathed as a sacred trust, from father to son, through ages, to be wreaked as an indispensible duty of piety. This was particularly the case among the Scandinavians, from whom many of the Highlanders are descended; and as they remained longer than their neighbours in a state in which they had no laws to appeal to, there can be no doubt that many things were done in the way of retaliation, which would now be considered as lawless and violent; but, as the sum of infliction from wilful resentment among them bore no proportion to the sum of infliction from outraged laws in other countries, the balance in favour of humanity and forbearance, even in the most turbulent times we are acquainted with, will be found to be considerably in their favour. A man killed at his own fire-side by him whom he had injured, was talked of for ages, while five hundred such persons hanged at Tyburn were forgotten as soon as cut down!
[Campbell of Glenlyon lived to a good old age, and died a natural death, in the midst of the relations and friends of the M'Donalds of Glenco, in whose massacre he had acted such an infamous part. In 1745, when the Highland army was encamped in the neighbourhood of the house of the earl of Stair, whose father had been the chief author and orderer of that massacre, and who himself commanded a regiment in the king's service, Prince Charles, apprehensive of some outrage from the Glenco-men, sent a guard to protect the earl's house; on which the M'DoRalds immediately quitted the camp; and although at that time utter ruin must have been the certain consequence of a separation from the army, they were with great difficulty pre- vailed upon to return, so strong was their virtuous indignation at being thought capable of a cowardly revenge, and visiting the iniquities of the father upon the children.]
And that's it for this week and hope you have a great weekend.
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com/
Electric Scotland News
Well it's been quite a week for me this week. I've reached my 67th birthday and was reminded of this by many posts on my Facebook page and many thanks to those that reminded me of this date in my history <grin>.
I was also hit by a bad update of my Malawarebytes program. I've always been very happy with this product but when they uploaded an automated download of the latest database they had a problem which then crashed my computer. It was like having a virus. It took me one and half days to get things back to normal.
I have support from Dell and this time around I had to wait for almost an hour to reach their helpline. When I got through they told me that on average they usually have a maximum of three calls holding but thanks to the Malawarebytes issue that had shot up to 93 and hence the long delay.
I found I really needed to restore my computer from a backup which I had BUT I then couldn't access the restore function. I eventually found out how to restore but in the process I found my ClickFree device had no support line any more and while they provided a link to get support from a forum that didn't exist either. So I was left to figure it out for myself which I eventually did. However this now means I need to decide if I should still use it or not. A backup does need to be reliable after all.
Of course I had also just purchased a new bit of software but I hadn't yet backed that up so I had to chase down the company to get a copy of the email they sent which provided the download link to get the software and also to get the serial number. I eventually got to the right person and I now have that email and it's now been backed up as well.
Things like this just show how important it is to backup your computer. It's also important to have a backup you can restore all your programs and operating system as without that it would have taken up to a couple of days to re-install my programs and of course hunt up the various serial numbers, etc.
My backup is there to insure that if I get a virus I can recover but little did I imagine it was one of those various programs I use to protect my computer that caused the crash.
So be warned... you can purchase a 2Tbyte external USB hard disk for around $115 and Acronis software that can restore your programs and operating system for another $50. So for $165.00 you will be well served in the event of a crash.
Hawick Reivers Festival 23rd to 25th March 2018
From its earliest beginnings in 2003 this annual festival has grown to become a major event in the Scottish Borders Calendar! It has grown from one day to a full weekend of activities both in and outdoors including re-enactments, concerts. lectures, drama, 16th century market and encampment and a torchlight procession and fireworks display.
With the key aims to EXPLORE EXPLAIN EXPERIENCE and with attractions to suit all ages the events give the audience a unique opportunity to experience life in this difficult and challenging period of our history.
In 2018 the festival has as its theme Borders Kith and Kin and we are hoping to attract folks from far and wide who carry the Reiving Family Surnames. Armstrongs, Elliots, Turnbulls, Scotts, Kerrs and many others will be represented and information will be on hand to help folks take the initial steps to trace their own family roots.
We know that many descendents of the Border Reivers settled in Ireland after the Union of the Crown and there are many similarities in family names, traditions and life styles. Hawick Reivers Festival hopes to build on these old links and establish many new ones for the years to come.
What can a visitor to the Festival expect? We have ghost walks and ghost talks, re-enactments of 16th century soldiery and lifestyle (with over 60 re-enactors expected this year), a Reivers Banquet and historical talks and lectures, medieval market and of course one of the big highlights our Torchlight Procession depicting the Reivers "Hot Trod" - riding by Torchlight to retrieve stolen cattle - followed by a spectacular Fireworks display.
Events kick off on Friday evening and close with a High Tea and lecture on the importance of the Border Tower Houses - "not just castles but homes!"
So why not consider a weekend in the beautiful Scottish Borders Countryside and join in with all the fun of the weekend.
Full information is available on our website www.hawickreivers.com
C. Elliott (on behalf of Hawick Reivers Association)
Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
Note that this is a selection and more can be read in our ScotNews feed on our index page where we list news from the past 1-2 weeks. I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines. I might also add that in newspapers such as the Guardian, Scotsman, Courier, etc. you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish.
Russia's hybrid underwater war
Russia has been stepping up its underwater military activity, commissioning 13 new submarines in the last five years. As well as conventional attack power and the ability to deliver special forces troops, this underwater fleet has equipment, such as cable-cutting gear, that threatens civil infrastructure, communication lines and the internet.
Read more at:
https://jamestown.org/program/russia...ations-cables/
Whisper it, but we're doing better than expected
GDP figures are healthy enough, the FTSE is near its all-time high, the deficit is down and unemployment is at a historic low.
Read more at:
https://capx.co/whisper-it-but-were-...than-expected/
Full text of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s Brexit speech
There is a great Brexit opportunity and some really obvious benefits that we can get that improve the condition of the people
Read more at:
http://brexitcentral.com/read-full-t...brexit-speech/
The BBC has been marginalising pro-Brexit views for years
And the figures show it
Read more at:
http://brexitcentral.com/bbc-margina...-figures-show/
Jordan Peterson - a liberal hero for our times
TWO WEEKS AGO, there were probably very few people in this country who had even heard of the Canadian academic Jordan Peterson
Read more at:
http://www.thinkscotland.org/todays-...ead_full=13432
See also a YouTube video at
THIS IS THE third of a series of books by the author on the pipers and piping traditions of Scotland
Read more at:
http://www.thinkscotland.org/thinkcu...ead_full=13431
Why we live on one of the UK’s most remote islands
Everyone is related in some way, laughs Connel Gresham, one of the 600 residents of Unst, Shetland.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-42856264
BBC Brexit BIAS row
Fury over 'two THIRDS of guests on flagship shows being anti-Leave
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/polit...eave-Remainers
Scottish Schools' Young Writer of the Year
From the Scottish Review. At the foot of the article there are links to the winning article and also the three runners up.
Read more at:
http://www.scottishreview.net/Adjudi...andreport.html
What’s the point of Brexit?
After a proper Brexit, the UK would be well placed to breathe life into global trade talks
Read more at:
https://capx.co/whats-the-point-of-brexit/
Bonds of Union: Part I
Debates about the United Kingdom's place within the European Union or Scotland's future within the United Kingdom are often framed as being about head vs. heart.
Read more at:
http://chokkablog.blogspot.ca/2018/0...on-part-i.html
Domestic abuse bill could change Scotland
The Domestic Abuse bill, which has wide backing, creates a specific offence of abusive behaviour in relation to a partner or ex-partner.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-42890990
Shetland fishing apprentices have high hopes for Brexit
Fishing apprentices John-Arthur Robertson and Lee Odie are hopeful their industry can benefit from Brexit.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-42897209
Why can't I pull on a sparkly dress?
A Scottish darts walk-on girl says she has never felt objectified in her job and is calling for a reversal of the governing body's decision to ban them.
Read more at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-42872257
Electric Canadian
Transactions of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers
I discovered a lot of volumes of these transaction which are very detailed and note that they are very popular downloads so assume civil engineers are enjoying the details given in these transactions.
I've added the 1922 volume and will add others each week. You can view these at
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...rial/index.htm
This issue's main article is about the Imperial Oil Ltd., Coal Handling Plant at Sarnia.
The World of Ice
Or the Whaling Cruise of the Dolphin and adventures of her crew in the Polar regions by R M Ballantyne (pdf) which can be read at:http://www.electriccanadian.com/lifestyle/worldice.pdf
Sir John Murray
Pioneer in Oceanography which I've added to our Makers of Canada page at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/makers/murray_john.htm
Woollen Industry in Canada
By Watson Griffin (pdf)
An old report discussing how the industry is under pressure and suggestions on how to improve the industry. You can read this at:http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...enindustry.pdf
Electric Scotland
Fur and Feather Series
Edited by Alfred E. T. Watson. Am going to bring you a few in this series and the first one is about The Hare.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/natu...andfeather.htm
Hall Russell Remembered
By Stanley Bruce, Banffshire Maritime Heritage Association (2007).
Got permission to add this booklet to the site which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/business/0983_001.pdf
The Norse Influence on Celtic Scotland
By George Henderson (1910) (pdf)
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...eInfluence.pdf
Memorials of George Bannatyne
Published by the Bannatyne Club
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...yne_george.htm
Quartermaster Supply
Added volume 2 to this series. I was fascinated about how they supplied coffee to the troops and also food packs.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...stersupply.htm
Records of The County of Banff 1660-1760
One hundred years of County Government compiled by the Late James Grant, LL.D.(1922)
IN introducing this book to the Members of the New Spalding Club, some account must be given of how it came to be written, and of the sources from which the materials were drawn. The late Mr. James Grant, LL. D., the well-known antiquary, undertook to compile this work for the Club, and started on his labours before the outbreak of the great War. He had, of course, from his official position as County Clerk of Banff, unrivalled opportunities of studying all the necessary archives, and the chief source from which he derived the information contained in Chapter 1. was the Minute Book of the meetings of the Barons and Freeholders of the Sheriffdom of Banff, which begins on April 15, 1664, and ends on April 10, 1722.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ntyofbanff.pdf
Letters from a gentleman in the North of Scotland to his friend in London
Containing the description of a Capital Town in that Northern Country, with an account of some uncommon customs of the Inhabitants; likewise an account of the Highlands, with the Customs and Manners of the Highlanders to which is added, a letter, relating to the Military Ways among the Mountains, begun in the year 1726. The Fifth Edition and a large Appendix, containing various important historical documents, hitherto unpublished with an Introduction and Notes by the Editor, R. Jamieson and the History of Donald the Hammerer from an Authentic Account of the Family of Invernahyle; a MS. communicated by Sir Walter Scott, Bart. in two volumes (1822)
You can read both volumes at: http://www.electricscotland.com/books/pdf/letters.htm
The Story
I thought I'd extract a couple of wee stories from the Introduction to the above book as the story for this week.
Letters from a gentleman in the North of Scotland to his friend in London
From all the information we have been able to collect, it appears that in their whole progress to and from Derby, their conduct, all circumstances considered, was not only orderly and proper, but, in innumerable instances, in the highest degree humane and magnanimous. In England, the courtly elegance, in manners and conversation, of the Highland gentlemen, their dignified deportment, the discipline they preserved among their men, but, above all, the kindhearted, sensible, and considerate good-nature and indulgence which they everywhere manifested towards women and children (a strong feature in the Highland character, and the best proof true civilization), which was so different from what the English had been led to expect, made so favourable an impression, and formed such a contrast to the insolent brutality of the king's troops, officers and men, who marched down after them, that in many instances, which we know from the parties concerned, the women (for the men durst not speak out) could not help telling the latter, "when the rebels, as they are called, were here, they behaved very differently they behaved like gentlemen quite like gentlemen God help them !" Such reproaches, so justly provoked, and so often repeated, produced only aggravation of insult and abuse, and (such was the spirit of the time) ladies of the greatest respectability were, by officers of rank, damned for Jacobite b*****s, and told that they were all rebels together, if they durst avow it, and deserved to have their houses burnt over their heads!
[One young widow lady in Cheshire, from whose daughter we had the anecdote, told a party of officers on such an occasion, "If I am not a Jacobite, it certainly is not your fault; ye have done all ye could to make me one!" An observation, the truth of which would have been sensibly felt by the king's troops, had the. Highland army been in a condition once more to enter England, and avail themselves of the favour which their own good conduct and the insolence of their enemies had procured them in that country.]
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Private robbery, murder, and petty theft were hardly known among them. It has been said that "there was nothing to steal;" but there was comparative wealth and poverty in their country, as well as elsewhere; and the poorer the people were, the stronger was the temptation, and the stronger must the principle have been that enabled them to resist it. And here, for the sake of illustration, it may not be out of place to say somewhat of the heavy accusations brought against the Clangregor, particularly in Graham of Gartmore's MS. quoted in the Appendix. As there is no end to the clamours which have been echoed from one generation to another, against this disorderly tribe, we shall state a few simple facts, to show the nature of their irregularities. They had long been deprived of their lands, their name, their political existence, and the protection of the laws, and left to provide for, and protect themselves as best they might. Their lands had been appropriated by their more powerful and politic neighbours, particularly the predecessors of the duke of Montrose. This, and that nobleman's new-fangled whig politics, had exposed him particularly to their indignation, which he shared with Graham of Gartmore, and other gentlemen of the clan, who, having adopted the same principles, were regarded as recreant Grahams. When they lifted the duke's cattle, took his rents from his steward, or emptied his girnel of the farm-meal after it had been paid in, they considered themselves as only taking what ought to have been their own. The manner in which this was commonly done, shows how unjustly they were accused of general cruelty and oppression to their neighbours. On one occasion, Rob Roy, with only one attendant, went to the house in which the duke's tenants had been convened to pay their rents; took the money from the steward in their presence; gave them certificates that all had been duly paid before he seized it, which exonerated them from all further claim; treated them liberally with whiskey; made them swear upon his dirk, that not one of them would stir out of the house, till three hours after he was gone; took a goodhumoured leave of them; and deliberately returned to the Braes. Those who know the spirit of the Grahams of that day, will be satisfied that this could never have taken place had the tenants not been very well pleased to see their money come into Rob's hands. When called out by the duke to hunt down Rob and his followers, they always contrived to give him timely warning, or to mislead the scent, so that the expedition came to nothing. When the duke once armed them for defence, they sent notice to Rob's nephew, Glengyle, to come round with such a force as would be a decent excuse for their submission, and collect the arms, which they considered as a disagreeable and dangerous deposit; and when the M'Gregors took the field in 1715, the cavalier spirit of the Grahams rose, and many of the duke's dependants, scorning their superior and his politics, followed their standard.
This showed that they did not consider the Braes of Balquhidder as a bad neighbourhood. In all the thinly-peopled districts by which the M'Gregors were surrounded, the whole property of the tenants was constantly at the mercy of thieves, if there had been such in the country. The doors of their houses were closed by a latch, or wooden bolt; and a man with a clasp-knife might in a few minutes have cut open the door, or even the wicker walls of the house. Detached from the dwelling-house, from fear of fire, was a small wicker barn, or store-house, still less carefully secured, in which they kept their whole stock of hams, butter, cheese (for they then had such things), corn, meal, blankets, webs, yarn, wool, &c. These houses and barns were often left unprotected for days together, when the people were abroad cutting and winning turf, making hay or reaping for their superior, or tending their cattle in distant pastures. This was the case all over the Highlands; yet nothing was ever stolen or disturbed! Of what civilized country, in the best of times, can as much be said?
A spirit of revenge has too often been attributed to them, as a distinguishing feature of character; and the ancient prejudice on this subject remains, long after the habits in which it originated have disappeared. In a certain state of society, in all countries, revenge has been not only accounted manly and honourable, but has been bequeathed as a sacred trust, from father to son, through ages, to be wreaked as an indispensible duty of piety. This was particularly the case among the Scandinavians, from whom many of the Highlanders are descended; and as they remained longer than their neighbours in a state in which they had no laws to appeal to, there can be no doubt that many things were done in the way of retaliation, which would now be considered as lawless and violent; but, as the sum of infliction from wilful resentment among them bore no proportion to the sum of infliction from outraged laws in other countries, the balance in favour of humanity and forbearance, even in the most turbulent times we are acquainted with, will be found to be considerably in their favour. A man killed at his own fire-side by him whom he had injured, was talked of for ages, while five hundred such persons hanged at Tyburn were forgotten as soon as cut down!
[Campbell of Glenlyon lived to a good old age, and died a natural death, in the midst of the relations and friends of the M'Donalds of Glenco, in whose massacre he had acted such an infamous part. In 1745, when the Highland army was encamped in the neighbourhood of the house of the earl of Stair, whose father had been the chief author and orderer of that massacre, and who himself commanded a regiment in the king's service, Prince Charles, apprehensive of some outrage from the Glenco-men, sent a guard to protect the earl's house; on which the M'DoRalds immediately quitted the camp; and although at that time utter ruin must have been the certain consequence of a separation from the army, they were with great difficulty pre- vailed upon to return, so strong was their virtuous indignation at being thought capable of a cowardly revenge, and visiting the iniquities of the father upon the children.]
And that's it for this week and hope you have a great weekend.
Alastair