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http://www.electricscotland.com/
Electric Scotland News
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Overseas
Recorded Lectures:
For the past several years the Society has been able to professionally film its monthly lectures. This has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Sir Angus Grossart QC CBE DL LLD DLitt FRSE FSA Scot and means you can watch lectures online anywhere, anytime, as long as you have internet access. Simply click this web link www.socantscot.org/resources/, tick the ‘videos’ option in the list in the search facility on the right hand side of the page, press ‘search’ and choose from the list of videos offered and press play to watch a previous Society lecture of your choosing online. You can also search for specific words in the title or introduction text of each video using this search feature (for example, tick ‘video’ and type ‘broch’ in the search ‘Keyword(s)’ box, then hit ‘search’…).
The latest three lectures available free to watch online are;
- April 2018 lecture: “The Scottish Identity: as illustrated through recent discoveries in Scottish silver” by Colin T Fraser FSA Scot, R L Christie Works of Art.
- February 2018 lecture: “Researching Scotland’s textile heritage through material culture evidence” by Dr Anita Quye FSA Scot
- January 2018 lecture: “In the Footsteps of Howard Kilbride-Jones and Robert Stevenson: New Research on Romano-British Glass Bangles”
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Princess Anne just flew to Toronto and was back on the same day
Princess Anne took quite the whirlwind trip to Toronto on Sunday, boarding a flight to the Canadian city in the morning and departing again for the UK later that night! The Princess Royal was on an official visit to Rotary International's International Convention at the Air Canada Centre, where she opened proceedings as an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Elgin. A flight to Toronto from Heathrow is no mean feat at just under eight hours - so it was quite the journey to take for one short event.
Here is the video introduction to this newsletter...
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.
My vision for a global-facing, outward-looking post-Brexit Britain
What follows is the full text of a lecture delivered by Jacob Rees-Mogg MP in Speaker’s House in the Houses of Parliament on Monday 18th June.
Read more at:
https://brexitcentral.com/vision-glo...rexit-britain/
Stop being defeatist about Brexit and be inspired by Trump, Britons told by US ambassador
Woody Johnson questioned why the UK was so nervous about the prospects of leaving the EU, a process that in his view need not present a major challenge
Read more at:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...us-ambassador/
2010-17 Huge increase in tax revenue, increase in public spending, deficit well down
The BBC want to peddle myths about austerity
Read more at:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2018/06...icit-well-down
Just what did Jim Sillars say to the Scottish Secretary?
FOR THE AVOIDENCE OF DOUBT Jim Sillars has kindly given us the letter he sent to David Mundell
Read more at:
http://www.thinkscotland.org/thinkbu...ead_full=13585
Let’s look forward to embracing the benefits of being a fully self-governing nation state once again
Brexit is an exciting opportunity for the UK.
Read more at:
https://brexitcentral.com/lets-look-...-nation-state/
Brexit and devolution -.a primer
The contentions with Brexit and devolution concern powers that are currently held by the EU and whether they should be transferred to either the UK or Scottish parliaments when we leave the EU.
Read more at:
http://sceptical.scot/2018/06/brexit-devolution-primer/
The death of the mountain marathon in Scotland
Once a delight for ultra runners at home and abroad, the two famous mountain marathons in Scotland have recently died a quiet death
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/o...land-1-4757741
How Highlands poverty created the blueprint for the NHS
For 70 years the NHS has provided a cradle to grave health service throughout the UK but many of its principles were forged in Scotland more than three decades earlier.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-44212708
The sooner we are out of the Customs Union, the sooner we won’t have to impose its costly tariffs
Based on the data the Economic Policy Centre has accrued, I have never been more convinced that the sooner we leave the Customs Union, the better
Read more at:
https://brexitcentral.com/sooner-cus...ostly-tariffs/
Equitable but not very good at keeping us alive, that’s our NHS
Singapore delivers better health outcomes than the UK while spending far less
Read more at:
https://capx.co/equitable-but-not-ve...-thats-our-nhs
Where are all the people?
Andrew Hook on a new book about Scotland's population
Read more at:
http://www.scottishreview.net/AndrewHook436a.html
Nine new junior ministers appointed to Scottish government
Nicola Sturgeon's major reshuffle of her government has continued with nine new junior ministers being selected.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-44628099
Why Nicola Sturgeon needs to stop insulting Donald Trump
The US is an important market for Scottish goods and will only become more so after Brexit, writes Scott Macnab.
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinio...rump-1-4760303
Meet Red John
The Highland hydro scheme that could be a gamechanger for renewables
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/future-scot...bles-1-4760581
Story of Scots in wartime London needs to be told – Princess Royal
The Princess Royal has launched a new book about the contribution of Scots in London during the First World War.
Read more at:
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/sc...rincess-royal/
With Brexit, Britain can show the world the path to prosperity
Brexit is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show to the world an alternate path to global prosperity
Read more at:
https://capx.co/with-brexit-britain-...-to-prosperity
What role for Brexit Britain in NATO?
Unless Britain ups its defence spending, NATO will falter
Read more at:
https://capx.co/what-role-for-brexit-britain-in-nato/
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 1944 volume and will add others each week. You can view these at
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...rial/index.htm
Some of the topics discussed include Air Transport, Alaska Highway Bridges, Aluminium, Architects vs Engineers, British Electrical Industry, Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Classification and Remuneration of Engineers, Collective Bargaining and the Engineer, Construction Industry in Post-War Years, Engineers in the Quebec Civil Service, Gas Turbines and Jet Propulsion, Obituaries, Plastics in Engineering, Post-War Years, Railroad Equipment in Wartime, Refrigeration, Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Sewer System in Quebec City, Soil Mechanics, Subway Plan for Montreal, Town Planning, When is an Engineer not an Engineer?, etc.
Canada and its Provinces
A History of the Canadian People and their Institutions by one hundred Associates. General Editors: Adam Shorty and Arthur G. Doughty. Edinburgh Edition (1914) in 23 volumes. I will be adding a volume each week until completed.
Added volume 4 to this collection - British Dominion 1760 -1840 Part II.
You can read this at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...aprovinces.htm
The Canadian Mining & Mechanical Review.
The Official Organ of the Gold Miners Association of Nova Scotia and the Representative Exponent of the Canadian Mining & Mechanical Industry.
Found several copies of this publication and you can read the volume for 1891 which starts with an article on The Gold Industry of Nova Scotia in 1890.at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...nes/mining.htm
The Canadian Brothers
Or The Prophecy Fulfilled, A Tales of the American War by Major Richardson, Knight of the Military Order of Saint Ferdinand in two volumes (1840)
This is a work of fiction but unusually it was well received by the Royal family and hence it is worth reading to learn more about the war between Canada and America,
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/forc...anbrothers.htm
The St. Lawrence and the Saguenay and other Poems
By Charles Sangster (1856) (pdf)
You can read this at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...s_sangster.pdf
Petrolia, Canada
1862 - 1908 (pdf)
You can read this at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...oliacanada.pdf
Conrad Black
Trump Has Strengthened, Not Undermined, Democracy in the U.S.
http://www.conradmblack.com/1404/tru...ined-democracy
Trump is grating, but he's a true leader — and America needs him
http://www.conradmblack.com/1405/tru...er-and-america
Electric Scotland
Commonwealth of Australia
Historical Records of Australia published in 1914 in 19 volumes. Intending to put up 1 volume a week until complete.
Added Volume 14 - March, 1828—May, 1829
You can get to this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...mmonwealth.htm
The Transactions and Journal of Proceedings of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Society
Added Sessions 1862, 1864
Here is a story from this issue...
Clerical Customs in the Olden Time—Preaching and the Pulpit.
By Rev. D. Hogg, Kirkmahoe.
To even a mere superficial observer of men and manners, it is evident that there has no greater change come over the face of Scotland during the last one hundred years than that connected with the clergy in the discharge of their professional duties. In their pulpit ministrations, church discipline, and pastoral superintendence in general, very great alterations have taken place, and it is gratifying to know that so far as these have been effected they have generally received the approbation of those whose opinion is entitled to regard. No doubt further modifications are thought necessary and are desiderated, and it is only reasonable to suppose that in the course of time they also will be carried out, for there is nothing truer than the common maxim, “ tempora mutantur et nos mutamur.” One of the best encomiums which man can receive after he has passed away is the assurance by posterity that he served his day and generation, and the same may be said of all other things as well.
Some of the clerical customs which were supposed to edify and enlighten in olden time have undergone considerable modification, while others have died away altogether, and without any disrespect to the memory of these latter, or those men who earned them into practice, it may be said of both, that the day of their death was better than that of their birth. They had their day, and they were in some degree suited to the character of the people, and were intended to be beneficial to the interests of religion, though we fear it must be said that their self-importance greatly exceeded their usefulness even when most effectively earned out. The edification of these times seems to have had a close affinity to its namesake terrification, as we shall in another paper show. To see men and women with the almond tree in blossom, trembling before their minister, like malefactors before a judge, or school boys before their master, but yet unconscious of any reason why, was by no means an agreeable sight; and it is now matter of wonder that such a state of things should ever have been tolerated in a Christian land. However, the ban of the clergy was an irresistible power, and excommunication from the privileges of the church was regarded as tantamount to exclusion from the kingdom of heaven itself. We shall now give a sketch of some of these customs which have now either become obsolete, or are greatly modified in their observance, and we shall begin with those having reference to Preaching and the Pulpit. Our illustrations shall be drawn from whatever reliable sources are within our reach, whether oral or recorded, though a special preference will be given to such as are original, or have never been met with in print.
The Clergy seem to have affected a display of gaudy colours and costly material, as well as rich ornamentation in the style of their costume, from the time of the Reformation for more than a century and a half downwards; and the General Assembly of 1575, in order to check the tendency, considered it necessary to pass the following Act on the subject :—“ Forasmuch as comely and decent apparel is requisit in all, namely in Ministers, and such as hear function in the Kirk, we think all kind of broidering unseemly, all Begairies of velvet in Gown, Hose or Coat ; all superfluous and vain cutting out, steeking with silks ; all kind of costly sowing-on of Pasments, or sumptuous and large steeking with silks; all kind of costly sowing or variant hews in shirts ; all kind of light and variant hews of clothing, as red, blue, yellow, and such like, which declare the lightness of the minde; all wearing of rings, bracelets, buttons of silver or gold, or other finge metal ; all kind of superfluity of cloth in making of hose; all using of plaids in the Kirks by Readers, or Ministers, namely in time of their Ministry and using of their office ; all kind of souning, coating, doubleting, or breaches of velvet, satine, taffaty, or such like stuffe; costly guilding of whingers and knives ; silk hats of divers and light colours. But we think their whole habit should be of grave colour ; as black, russet, sad-gray, sad-brown, or searges, worsat, chainlet, grogram, syles, warsat, or such like. To be short, such as thereby the Word of God be not slandered through their lightness or gorgeousness; and that the wives of Ministers be subject to the same order.”—(Calderwood’s History.) From this it will be seen that the home-made dark-gray cloth in which the clergy clad themselves was not altogether of their own choice, or necessitated by their poverty, but was worn as obedient sons of the church.
The pulpit costume of the preacher was by no means a matter of indifference, or left to his own selection. As gowns of various colours, but generally gray, continued to be worn in the pulpit, and were thought unbecoming the graveness of the profession, the Synod of Dumfries in 1696 passed a recommendation to the following effect:—“The Synod, considering that it’s a thing very decent and suitable, so it hath been the practice of ministers in this Kirk formerly, to wear black gowns in the pulpit, and for ordinary to make use of bands, do therefore, by their act, recommend it to all their brethren within the bounds to keep up that laudable custom, and to study gravity in their apparel and deportment every manner of way.”
The use of the gown was long objected to by the people as being a “remnant of Popery” as well as the bands, called the “bib,” and in some parishes at the present day the hostile feeling is not extinguished. The first time the minister of Kirkmahoe appeared in this vestment, which had been presented to him by Mrs Hannah of Carnsalloch, many of the congregation demurred, fretted, and threatened to leave the Church. The Precentor was not forthcoming from that day afterwards, without giving any reason or intimation of his absence ; and it was only after a year had elapsed that a pencil-writing was found in the inside of the precentor’s book declaring he would no longer precent to a minister that wore a black gown. In some of the Dissenting churches this “ remnant of Popery ” has never yet been allowed.
The psalm sung at the commencement of public worship was called the “inganging” or the “gathering” psalm, from its being sung at the gathering or assembling of the worshippers. It was always prefaced or explained for about 15 or 20 minutes, the occasion of its composition, the feelings and aspirations of the author being fully dwelt upon, and a suitable application made of the whole to the circumstances and condition of the present audience. This was peculiarly favourable to devotional sentiment, and a good preparation for the portion of the service which was to follow. But it was apt to degenerate into mere religious disquisition in order to fill up a certain amount of time, as all psalms were not equally pregnant with spiritual thought; and as some of them came to be given out again at no great intervals of time, the exposition, if textual, would begin to appear monotonous from repetition. On the whole, however, the practice was a good one, and ought not to have fallen into desuetude, leaving the people to make their own application of the psalm, if they make any at all.
From the want of psalm-books in the congregation, each line of the psalm was read out by the precentor immediately previous to its being sung. This was called “reading the line,” and it enabled those who had no book, or whose eyesight was dim, to juiu in the* celebration of praise with the mouth and the understanding also. When the Scriptures with the psalms, paraphrases, and hymns, attained greater circulation, and every worshipper was understood or supposed to possess a copy, the reading of the line began to be discontinued as no longer necessary, an innovation which was greatly resented by the majority of the people, some of whom refused to join in the psalmody thereafter, and some left the church and united with others where the practice was unchanged. The reading of the line was performed with a peculiar intonation, the last syllable being protracted beyond any of the rest; and as the pronunciation was not always the most correct strange blunders were sometimes committed. Thus the 2d line of the 42d psalm was always read, “In thurst doth paint and hreiy.” The 16th line of the 35th psalm was read, “They ganshed their teeth at me.” The word soul was pronounced sowle—incessant was called innocent, and similar other mistakes were made. Even when no such mistake occurred, the very separation of the lines sometimes created awkwardness and confusion. Thus “Be silent, but speak out ”—and the line too, “I’m like a broken pot,” sometimes tickled the fancy of the hearers from its striking appropriateness to the precentor himself on the occasion. From his position in the desk he obtained a full view of the audience, and from his long tenure in office he assumed a freedom and a familiarity which does not seem to have been taken amiss, and he would occasionally interpolate the singing with reference to the conduct or the duties of those before him. In a church in the West of Scotland the family of a noble house was one day walking up the aisle to the communion tables, when the precentor, seeing a person obstructing the passage, called out in the middle of the singing, “Stan’ back, Jock, and let the noble family of Eglantine in ”—and then in the same key and without stopping, he read out the line, “nor stand in sinners’ way!” This custom of reading the line was suited to the times in which it was practised, but these times have now passed away.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lloway1862.pdf
Memorial of the Hon. Ion Keith-Falconer, M.A.
Late Lord Almoner's Professor of Arabic in the University of Cambridge, and Missionary to the Mohammedans of Southern Arabia by the Rev. Robert Sinker, B.D. (second edition) (1888)
You can read about him at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...h-falconer.htm
The History of Scotland
In 9 volumes + Index By Patrick Fraser Tytler (1828)
I only just discovered that the link to this publication was not available on the site so have now restored this. Here is the Preface to this publication...
I have commenced the History of Scotland at the accession of Alexander the Third, because it is at this period that our national annals become particularly interesting to the general reader. During the reign of this monarch, England first began to entertain serious thoughts of the reduction of her sister country. The dark cloud of misfortune which gathered over Scotland immediately after the death of Alexander, suggested to Edward the First his schemes of ambition and conquest; and perhaps, in the history of Liberty, there is no more memorable war than that which commenced under Wallace in 1297, and terminated in the final establishment of Scottish independence by Robert Bruce, in 1328.
In the composition of the present volume, which embraces this period, I have anxiously endeavoured to examine the most authentic sources of information, and to convey a true picture of the times without prepossession or partiality. To have done so, partakes more of the nature of a grave duty than of a merit; and even after this has been accomplished, there will remain ample room for many imperfections. If, in the execution of my plan, I have been obliged to differ on some points of importance from authors of established celebrity, I have fully stated the grounds of my opinion in the Notes and Illustrations, which are printed at the end of the volume; and I trust that I shall not be blamed for the freedom of my remarks, until the historical authorities upon which they are founded have been examined and compared.
You can get to this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...historyndx.htm
Hylton Newsletter
Got in the Summer 2018 issue about the doings of an American in Cathness.
You can read this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/newsletters/hylton/
Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel
Here are a couple of videos showing the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel.
You can view these at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...p/5338-Kelpies
Lipton's Ceylon Tea Estates
Added this account to our Sri Lanka page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/inde...tonsceylon.pdf
The Shipbuilders of Aberdeen
A series of books by Stanley Bruce. Stan is going to be sending in quite a few books in this series and we have the first one up for you to read at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ipbuilding.htm
As he tells us...
On this page, I intend to publish my research into the Shipbuilders of Aberdeen. There is much available on the internet, but unfortunately, what’s currently available online is scattered and doesn’t readily give the full picture. Shipbuilding in Aberdeen is mentioned as early as 1475 when 3 armed ships were fitted out at Aberdeen for the service of the king, the cost being defrayed by the inhabitants of the town. In 1540, there are records regarding a further ship being built, and in 1587 six barques were built to pursue English pirates. However, it was the latter part of the 18th century before Aberdeen became Scotland’s leading shipbuilding port. It was here that the world-famous Aberdeen Bow first adorned the ‘Scottish Maid’ a schooner in 1839. Over 3,000 ships were built in Aberdeen, from world famous yards such as Alexander Hall, Hall Russell, the Duthie’s, the Stephen’s, John Lewis, John Humphrey, Walter Hood, and many more smaller concerns.
And so I look forward to seeing these books as he completes them.
The History of the Royal Company of Archers
The Queens Body-Guard for Scotland by James Balfour Paul (1875) (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ny_of_Arch.pdf
I might just add as a note to this that my Father purchased a set of bow and arrows from them and I went with him to their range to try it out. I do have vague memories of a large long hall where he tried them out. I could have sworn that I still had the set but have been unable to find it.
Adam Smith Lecture 2018
Our annual Adam Smith Lecture showcases pre-eminent modern thinkers who continue to advance the ideas of Adam Smith.
This year's speaker, Professor David Neumark, delivered a lecture on Monday 11th June at the Houses of Parliament on the topic of “How policymakers should think about the minimum wage”. He is the world's leading economic expert on the effect of minimum wages on unemployment, having published over fifty papers on the subject.
You can read about it and watch a video at:
https://www.adamsmith.org/adam-smith-lecture/
The Story
Fascinating insight into working regulations back in the day...
The Regulation of Farm Servants in Dumfries-shire in 1751.
By W. R. M'Diarmid.
As at present something like an agitation has sprung up among the farm servants in the midland counties of Scotland, it may not be uninteresting to obtain a peep into their condition and the relations betwixt them and their employers in Dumfries-shire 115 years ago.
The following extract is taken from a minute of a meeting of Quarter Sessions held at Dumfries on the 5th of March, 1751, the sederunt consisting of Sir Robert Laurie of Maxwelton, Commissary Goldie, Collieston and Guillyhill.
The first proceeding of the Trustees, by the way, at this meeting was to banish from the shire three persons named
Mary Cuthbertson, William Beaty, and Charles Stewart. No information is given as to the offences which they had committed. If these persons were farm servants, unless other eounties were under the same regulations as Dumfries-shire, the punishment inflicted might not be held as a severe one.
“ The Justices of Peace considering that, notwithstanding of the former regulations and acts made anent servants’ fees, and the time and manner of hiring servants, the said acts are broken and disregarded to the great hurt and prejudice of the tenants and land labourers occasioned by the extravagant humour of servants by reason of the present plenty. For remedy whereof, the said Justices, to the effect that there may be due order and regulation anent the premisses in time coming, do ordain and enact that the fees of servants within this shire from and after the term of Whitsunday next, 1751, until it shall be thought expedient to make new regulations concerning the same, shall be as follows, viz. :—
“ That a domestick servant man who can plow, thatch, mow hay, bind, cart, ear, and harrow, and work all husband work, and is an ax-man for all husband utensils, shall have any fee agreed upon betwixt his master and him, not exceeding two pounds ten shillings sterling yearly, or two pounds five shillings sterling, and two pairs of shoes.
“ Item, that a barn man who can thresh in the winter season, herd a sufficient hirsel in summer, and can lay on loads and drive carriages, and is capable to serve at kiln and miln, shall have any fee agreed on as said is, not exceeding £1, 16s. 8d., or £1, 11s. 8d. sterling and two pairs of shoes,
“ Item, a young man or lad who can lead or drive the plough in winter, or herd calves or stirks in summer, shall have any fee, agreed on as said is, not exceeding 18s. 4d. sterling yearly, or 13s. 4d. sterling and two pairs of shoes.
“ Item, a strong sufficient servant woman for barn, byres, shearing, brewing, baking, washing, and other necessaries within and about the house, shall have any fee agreed on as said is, not exceeding 30s. sterling yearly, or 25s. and two pairs of shoes.
“ Item, a lass or young maid who can spin or card in the winter season, and herd in summer, shall have any fee agreed on, not exceeding 16s. 8d. sterling yearly, or 13s. 4d. and two pairs of shoes.
“ Which respective fees above mentioned are hereby declared to be in full satisfaction to men and women servants of all that can be asked or craved or shall be given to them for their year’s fees as above mentioned. Declaring that •where the master gives or the servant receives any greater fees than those above expressed, such feeing is hereby declared not only void and null, but also both masters and servants who shall presume to contravene the premises shall be liable in ten pounds scots each to be paid to the procurator-fiscal upon their being convicted thereof before the Justices of the Peace either by their own oaths or by witnesses, and that toties quoties: which fines shall be applied by the said Justices as they shall think proper, and declaring that where any surplus or bounty such as grazing or wintering of nolt or sheep, shoes, shirt, linen apron, or any other additional bounty whatsoever shall be given and received by any master servant more than what is particularly above appointed, the same shall be accounted a transgression of this Act, and the parties transgressors fined and punished conform thereto as above :
and because there may be several private pactions and underhand dealings between masters and servants which may be so privately transacted that neither the Justices of the Peace or constables can have any knowledge thereof, Therefore for redressing such abuse it is hereby declared and ordained that whatever person or persons shall dilate any master or servant who have contravened the premises by giving or receiving greater fees than those mentioned, and shall prove or make out the same by witnesses or oath of party, the informer shall have one-half of the fine incurred for any such transgression with his expenses off the other half of the fine to be modified by the Justices.
And whereas great inconvenience happens by servants feeing at any time they please and by their feeing for less than one full year, therefore for preventing such inconveniences for the time to come it is hereby enacted and ordained that no servant shall hereafter fee or engage with a new master for less than the space of one year to serve his said master: and it shall be in the power of the master to keep him or her as his servant for that time : and albeit he or she should fee to another such feeing is declared void and null, and the servant shall be liable to be fined as above : and it shall not be in the power of the masters to turn off their servants for one year after feeing, under the above penalties, unless when sufficient cause can be shown before some of the Justices. Provided always that if both the masters and servants voluntarily agree to part at the end of half a year they shall have liberty to do so :
and it is hereby farther enacted that no master hire domestic servants, male or female, for ordinary household service or labour and husbandry within or without house within this shire, and that no servant hire himself or herself preceding the first day of March as to those whose entry shall be at Whitsunday, and the first day of September as to those whose entry to their service shall be at Martinmas, (excepting always that masters may hire their own servants at any time,) certifying the contraveners hereof, either masters or servants, that they sdiall not only be liable in a fine of half a year’s fee conform to the regulations above mentioned, and shall be further proceeded against as the Justices shall think fit, but all agreements made with servants before the times above mentioned shall be void and null and of no effect: and whereas there is a great penury of good servants, and that many of them are frequently much inclined to idleness, and both men and women servants very often leave their service and keep themselves idle without any visible lawful employment, for preventing all which inconveniences for the future the said Justices hereby enact and ordain that no persons who have been in the use of hiring themselves as domestic servants to husbandmen or labourers of the ground shall betake themselves to any other employment without a license from two Justices of the Peace, under pain of twenty shillings sterling, besides being liable to be obliged to serve as a domestic servant for the space of a year to any person who shall apply to a Justice of the Peace for that purpose,
and if any person want a labouring servant, either man or woman, and can discover any person fit for service not engaged who is not following some lawful business, or who has been formerly a domestic servant and who has not got a license to employ him or herself otherways, upon a complaint thereof to any one Justice of the Peace any such servant shall be obliged to enter home to such master claiming him or her, or shall be obliged to give security for his or her appearance at the next quarter sessions, to be tried and punished in terms of this Act, according as the Justice before whom he or she is brought shall see cause ; and in case the Justice shall take security for such person’s compearance before the Quarter Sessions he shall inform the Procurator-Fiscal thereof that he may prosecute him or her accordingly : and farther, the said Justices enact and ordain that when any servant inclines to remove from his or her present master, he or she shall be bound to give over their master’s service three months before the time of removal and that before two witnesses, otherways his or her service is to be continued for the next ensuing year ; as also that the said servant’s master is and shall be obliged to accept of his or her service : entertain and pay him or her for the same unless that he can instruct that three months before the term of removal he did discharge and free his said servant from his or her service before two witnesses :
and for the encouragement of servants the said Justices ordain that their masters make timeous and punctual payment of their fees : and if any servant complain to any one Justice of the Peace of their not being punctually and thankfully paid of their fee, the said Justice is empowered to compel the deficient master complained upon to make present and complete payment to the complaining party of what shall be found justly due, with such reasonable expenses as the said Justice shall think fit to modify to he paid with and over and above the resting fee. And, further, the said Justices enact and ordain that all persons who have been ordinary servants or are in any capacity or ability to serve, both men and women, older and younger, and are not presently in service, that they immediately apply themselves thereto and fee themselves to such persons as have occasion for them, not exceeding the said fees and wages above mentioned, otherways to be reputed and holden as vagabonds, and punished as such,
and that the Justices in their several districts cause apprehend all such idly disposed persons as shall after the term of Whitsunday next be found within the same and incarcerate them until such time as they go to service or find caution or enact themselves to serve in the foresaid terms : Declaring that the above regulations with respect to the extent of fees shall not be extended to Annandale or the Five Kirks of Eskdale, where because of their vicinity to England different rules are necessary to be observed, which the Justices in that bounds are desired to make, and in the meantime they are to proceed as formerly. And the Justices ordain these presents to be immediately printed and published and a copy thereof to be sent to the precentor of each parish kirk to be by him read the first Sunday after receipt of the same immediately after divine service, and retained in the custody of the said precentor that all persons may have access to see this Act, and appoint copies thereof to be fixed on the several kirk doors and on the mercat crosses of the several burghs within this shire that none pretend ignorance thereof.”
The allowance made in the scale of wages fixed by the Justices for pairs of shoes enables a comparison to be drawn betwixt the real value of wages in 1751 and in 1866. I find upon enquiry that the present price of the strong shoes worn by workmen is 12s. 6d. ; in 1751 the price was 2s. 6d. The average wages of experienced ploughmen at present is £18 per annum, giving a purchasing power of nearly thirty pairs of shoes; the wages in 1751 possessed a purchasing power of twenty pairs. Taking shoes as the standard of value, the ploughman’s wages in 1751 were equal to £12,10s., so that the wages in 1751 were rather more than two-thirds of what is now paid.
The wages of experienced female servants hired for farm work are at present £9 per annum, and the price of their shoes 1s 8s. fid. This shows a purchasing power of twenty-one pairs of shoes. In 1751 their wages had a purchasing power of twelve pairs. Taking shoes as the standard of value, the wages of women servants in 1751 were equal to £5, 2s. per annum. In 1751 the Justices state the cost of shoes for men or women at the same figure, 2s. 6d.: at present women’s shoes are about a third cheaper than those of men.
And that's it for this week and hope you have a great weekend.
Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com/
Electric Scotland News
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Overseas
Recorded Lectures:
For the past several years the Society has been able to professionally film its monthly lectures. This has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Sir Angus Grossart QC CBE DL LLD DLitt FRSE FSA Scot and means you can watch lectures online anywhere, anytime, as long as you have internet access. Simply click this web link www.socantscot.org/resources/, tick the ‘videos’ option in the list in the search facility on the right hand side of the page, press ‘search’ and choose from the list of videos offered and press play to watch a previous Society lecture of your choosing online. You can also search for specific words in the title or introduction text of each video using this search feature (for example, tick ‘video’ and type ‘broch’ in the search ‘Keyword(s)’ box, then hit ‘search’…).
The latest three lectures available free to watch online are;
- April 2018 lecture: “The Scottish Identity: as illustrated through recent discoveries in Scottish silver” by Colin T Fraser FSA Scot, R L Christie Works of Art.
- February 2018 lecture: “Researching Scotland’s textile heritage through material culture evidence” by Dr Anita Quye FSA Scot
- January 2018 lecture: “In the Footsteps of Howard Kilbride-Jones and Robert Stevenson: New Research on Romano-British Glass Bangles”
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Princess Anne just flew to Toronto and was back on the same day
Princess Anne took quite the whirlwind trip to Toronto on Sunday, boarding a flight to the Canadian city in the morning and departing again for the UK later that night! The Princess Royal was on an official visit to Rotary International's International Convention at the Air Canada Centre, where she opened proceedings as an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Elgin. A flight to Toronto from Heathrow is no mean feat at just under eight hours - so it was quite the journey to take for one short event.
Here is the video introduction to this newsletter...
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.
My vision for a global-facing, outward-looking post-Brexit Britain
What follows is the full text of a lecture delivered by Jacob Rees-Mogg MP in Speaker’s House in the Houses of Parliament on Monday 18th June.
Read more at:
https://brexitcentral.com/vision-glo...rexit-britain/
Stop being defeatist about Brexit and be inspired by Trump, Britons told by US ambassador
Woody Johnson questioned why the UK was so nervous about the prospects of leaving the EU, a process that in his view need not present a major challenge
Read more at:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...us-ambassador/
2010-17 Huge increase in tax revenue, increase in public spending, deficit well down
The BBC want to peddle myths about austerity
Read more at:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2018/06...icit-well-down
Just what did Jim Sillars say to the Scottish Secretary?
FOR THE AVOIDENCE OF DOUBT Jim Sillars has kindly given us the letter he sent to David Mundell
Read more at:
http://www.thinkscotland.org/thinkbu...ead_full=13585
Let’s look forward to embracing the benefits of being a fully self-governing nation state once again
Brexit is an exciting opportunity for the UK.
Read more at:
https://brexitcentral.com/lets-look-...-nation-state/
Brexit and devolution -.a primer
The contentions with Brexit and devolution concern powers that are currently held by the EU and whether they should be transferred to either the UK or Scottish parliaments when we leave the EU.
Read more at:
http://sceptical.scot/2018/06/brexit-devolution-primer/
The death of the mountain marathon in Scotland
Once a delight for ultra runners at home and abroad, the two famous mountain marathons in Scotland have recently died a quiet death
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/o...land-1-4757741
How Highlands poverty created the blueprint for the NHS
For 70 years the NHS has provided a cradle to grave health service throughout the UK but many of its principles were forged in Scotland more than three decades earlier.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-44212708
The sooner we are out of the Customs Union, the sooner we won’t have to impose its costly tariffs
Based on the data the Economic Policy Centre has accrued, I have never been more convinced that the sooner we leave the Customs Union, the better
Read more at:
https://brexitcentral.com/sooner-cus...ostly-tariffs/
Equitable but not very good at keeping us alive, that’s our NHS
Singapore delivers better health outcomes than the UK while spending far less
Read more at:
https://capx.co/equitable-but-not-ve...-thats-our-nhs
Where are all the people?
Andrew Hook on a new book about Scotland's population
Read more at:
http://www.scottishreview.net/AndrewHook436a.html
Nine new junior ministers appointed to Scottish government
Nicola Sturgeon's major reshuffle of her government has continued with nine new junior ministers being selected.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-44628099
Why Nicola Sturgeon needs to stop insulting Donald Trump
The US is an important market for Scottish goods and will only become more so after Brexit, writes Scott Macnab.
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinio...rump-1-4760303
Meet Red John
The Highland hydro scheme that could be a gamechanger for renewables
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/future-scot...bles-1-4760581
Story of Scots in wartime London needs to be told – Princess Royal
The Princess Royal has launched a new book about the contribution of Scots in London during the First World War.
Read more at:
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/sc...rincess-royal/
With Brexit, Britain can show the world the path to prosperity
Brexit is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show to the world an alternate path to global prosperity
Read more at:
https://capx.co/with-brexit-britain-...-to-prosperity
What role for Brexit Britain in NATO?
Unless Britain ups its defence spending, NATO will falter
Read more at:
https://capx.co/what-role-for-brexit-britain-in-nato/
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 1944 volume and will add others each week. You can view these at
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...rial/index.htm
Some of the topics discussed include Air Transport, Alaska Highway Bridges, Aluminium, Architects vs Engineers, British Electrical Industry, Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Classification and Remuneration of Engineers, Collective Bargaining and the Engineer, Construction Industry in Post-War Years, Engineers in the Quebec Civil Service, Gas Turbines and Jet Propulsion, Obituaries, Plastics in Engineering, Post-War Years, Railroad Equipment in Wartime, Refrigeration, Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Sewer System in Quebec City, Soil Mechanics, Subway Plan for Montreal, Town Planning, When is an Engineer not an Engineer?, etc.
Canada and its Provinces
A History of the Canadian People and their Institutions by one hundred Associates. General Editors: Adam Shorty and Arthur G. Doughty. Edinburgh Edition (1914) in 23 volumes. I will be adding a volume each week until completed.
Added volume 4 to this collection - British Dominion 1760 -1840 Part II.
You can read this at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...aprovinces.htm
The Canadian Mining & Mechanical Review.
The Official Organ of the Gold Miners Association of Nova Scotia and the Representative Exponent of the Canadian Mining & Mechanical Industry.
Found several copies of this publication and you can read the volume for 1891 which starts with an article on The Gold Industry of Nova Scotia in 1890.at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...nes/mining.htm
The Canadian Brothers
Or The Prophecy Fulfilled, A Tales of the American War by Major Richardson, Knight of the Military Order of Saint Ferdinand in two volumes (1840)
This is a work of fiction but unusually it was well received by the Royal family and hence it is worth reading to learn more about the war between Canada and America,
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/forc...anbrothers.htm
The St. Lawrence and the Saguenay and other Poems
By Charles Sangster (1856) (pdf)
You can read this at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...s_sangster.pdf
Petrolia, Canada
1862 - 1908 (pdf)
You can read this at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...oliacanada.pdf
Conrad Black
Trump Has Strengthened, Not Undermined, Democracy in the U.S.
http://www.conradmblack.com/1404/tru...ined-democracy
Trump is grating, but he's a true leader — and America needs him
http://www.conradmblack.com/1405/tru...er-and-america
Electric Scotland
Commonwealth of Australia
Historical Records of Australia published in 1914 in 19 volumes. Intending to put up 1 volume a week until complete.
Added Volume 14 - March, 1828—May, 1829
You can get to this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...mmonwealth.htm
The Transactions and Journal of Proceedings of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Society
Added Sessions 1862, 1864
Here is a story from this issue...
Clerical Customs in the Olden Time—Preaching and the Pulpit.
By Rev. D. Hogg, Kirkmahoe.
To even a mere superficial observer of men and manners, it is evident that there has no greater change come over the face of Scotland during the last one hundred years than that connected with the clergy in the discharge of their professional duties. In their pulpit ministrations, church discipline, and pastoral superintendence in general, very great alterations have taken place, and it is gratifying to know that so far as these have been effected they have generally received the approbation of those whose opinion is entitled to regard. No doubt further modifications are thought necessary and are desiderated, and it is only reasonable to suppose that in the course of time they also will be carried out, for there is nothing truer than the common maxim, “ tempora mutantur et nos mutamur.” One of the best encomiums which man can receive after he has passed away is the assurance by posterity that he served his day and generation, and the same may be said of all other things as well.
Some of the clerical customs which were supposed to edify and enlighten in olden time have undergone considerable modification, while others have died away altogether, and without any disrespect to the memory of these latter, or those men who earned them into practice, it may be said of both, that the day of their death was better than that of their birth. They had their day, and they were in some degree suited to the character of the people, and were intended to be beneficial to the interests of religion, though we fear it must be said that their self-importance greatly exceeded their usefulness even when most effectively earned out. The edification of these times seems to have had a close affinity to its namesake terrification, as we shall in another paper show. To see men and women with the almond tree in blossom, trembling before their minister, like malefactors before a judge, or school boys before their master, but yet unconscious of any reason why, was by no means an agreeable sight; and it is now matter of wonder that such a state of things should ever have been tolerated in a Christian land. However, the ban of the clergy was an irresistible power, and excommunication from the privileges of the church was regarded as tantamount to exclusion from the kingdom of heaven itself. We shall now give a sketch of some of these customs which have now either become obsolete, or are greatly modified in their observance, and we shall begin with those having reference to Preaching and the Pulpit. Our illustrations shall be drawn from whatever reliable sources are within our reach, whether oral or recorded, though a special preference will be given to such as are original, or have never been met with in print.
The Clergy seem to have affected a display of gaudy colours and costly material, as well as rich ornamentation in the style of their costume, from the time of the Reformation for more than a century and a half downwards; and the General Assembly of 1575, in order to check the tendency, considered it necessary to pass the following Act on the subject :—“ Forasmuch as comely and decent apparel is requisit in all, namely in Ministers, and such as hear function in the Kirk, we think all kind of broidering unseemly, all Begairies of velvet in Gown, Hose or Coat ; all superfluous and vain cutting out, steeking with silks ; all kind of costly sowing-on of Pasments, or sumptuous and large steeking with silks; all kind of costly sowing or variant hews in shirts ; all kind of light and variant hews of clothing, as red, blue, yellow, and such like, which declare the lightness of the minde; all wearing of rings, bracelets, buttons of silver or gold, or other finge metal ; all kind of superfluity of cloth in making of hose; all using of plaids in the Kirks by Readers, or Ministers, namely in time of their Ministry and using of their office ; all kind of souning, coating, doubleting, or breaches of velvet, satine, taffaty, or such like stuffe; costly guilding of whingers and knives ; silk hats of divers and light colours. But we think their whole habit should be of grave colour ; as black, russet, sad-gray, sad-brown, or searges, worsat, chainlet, grogram, syles, warsat, or such like. To be short, such as thereby the Word of God be not slandered through their lightness or gorgeousness; and that the wives of Ministers be subject to the same order.”—(Calderwood’s History.) From this it will be seen that the home-made dark-gray cloth in which the clergy clad themselves was not altogether of their own choice, or necessitated by their poverty, but was worn as obedient sons of the church.
The pulpit costume of the preacher was by no means a matter of indifference, or left to his own selection. As gowns of various colours, but generally gray, continued to be worn in the pulpit, and were thought unbecoming the graveness of the profession, the Synod of Dumfries in 1696 passed a recommendation to the following effect:—“The Synod, considering that it’s a thing very decent and suitable, so it hath been the practice of ministers in this Kirk formerly, to wear black gowns in the pulpit, and for ordinary to make use of bands, do therefore, by their act, recommend it to all their brethren within the bounds to keep up that laudable custom, and to study gravity in their apparel and deportment every manner of way.”
The use of the gown was long objected to by the people as being a “remnant of Popery” as well as the bands, called the “bib,” and in some parishes at the present day the hostile feeling is not extinguished. The first time the minister of Kirkmahoe appeared in this vestment, which had been presented to him by Mrs Hannah of Carnsalloch, many of the congregation demurred, fretted, and threatened to leave the Church. The Precentor was not forthcoming from that day afterwards, without giving any reason or intimation of his absence ; and it was only after a year had elapsed that a pencil-writing was found in the inside of the precentor’s book declaring he would no longer precent to a minister that wore a black gown. In some of the Dissenting churches this “ remnant of Popery ” has never yet been allowed.
The psalm sung at the commencement of public worship was called the “inganging” or the “gathering” psalm, from its being sung at the gathering or assembling of the worshippers. It was always prefaced or explained for about 15 or 20 minutes, the occasion of its composition, the feelings and aspirations of the author being fully dwelt upon, and a suitable application made of the whole to the circumstances and condition of the present audience. This was peculiarly favourable to devotional sentiment, and a good preparation for the portion of the service which was to follow. But it was apt to degenerate into mere religious disquisition in order to fill up a certain amount of time, as all psalms were not equally pregnant with spiritual thought; and as some of them came to be given out again at no great intervals of time, the exposition, if textual, would begin to appear monotonous from repetition. On the whole, however, the practice was a good one, and ought not to have fallen into desuetude, leaving the people to make their own application of the psalm, if they make any at all.
From the want of psalm-books in the congregation, each line of the psalm was read out by the precentor immediately previous to its being sung. This was called “reading the line,” and it enabled those who had no book, or whose eyesight was dim, to juiu in the* celebration of praise with the mouth and the understanding also. When the Scriptures with the psalms, paraphrases, and hymns, attained greater circulation, and every worshipper was understood or supposed to possess a copy, the reading of the line began to be discontinued as no longer necessary, an innovation which was greatly resented by the majority of the people, some of whom refused to join in the psalmody thereafter, and some left the church and united with others where the practice was unchanged. The reading of the line was performed with a peculiar intonation, the last syllable being protracted beyond any of the rest; and as the pronunciation was not always the most correct strange blunders were sometimes committed. Thus the 2d line of the 42d psalm was always read, “In thurst doth paint and hreiy.” The 16th line of the 35th psalm was read, “They ganshed their teeth at me.” The word soul was pronounced sowle—incessant was called innocent, and similar other mistakes were made. Even when no such mistake occurred, the very separation of the lines sometimes created awkwardness and confusion. Thus “Be silent, but speak out ”—and the line too, “I’m like a broken pot,” sometimes tickled the fancy of the hearers from its striking appropriateness to the precentor himself on the occasion. From his position in the desk he obtained a full view of the audience, and from his long tenure in office he assumed a freedom and a familiarity which does not seem to have been taken amiss, and he would occasionally interpolate the singing with reference to the conduct or the duties of those before him. In a church in the West of Scotland the family of a noble house was one day walking up the aisle to the communion tables, when the precentor, seeing a person obstructing the passage, called out in the middle of the singing, “Stan’ back, Jock, and let the noble family of Eglantine in ”—and then in the same key and without stopping, he read out the line, “nor stand in sinners’ way!” This custom of reading the line was suited to the times in which it was practised, but these times have now passed away.
You can read this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...lloway1862.pdf
Memorial of the Hon. Ion Keith-Falconer, M.A.
Late Lord Almoner's Professor of Arabic in the University of Cambridge, and Missionary to the Mohammedans of Southern Arabia by the Rev. Robert Sinker, B.D. (second edition) (1888)
You can read about him at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...h-falconer.htm
The History of Scotland
In 9 volumes + Index By Patrick Fraser Tytler (1828)
I only just discovered that the link to this publication was not available on the site so have now restored this. Here is the Preface to this publication...
I have commenced the History of Scotland at the accession of Alexander the Third, because it is at this period that our national annals become particularly interesting to the general reader. During the reign of this monarch, England first began to entertain serious thoughts of the reduction of her sister country. The dark cloud of misfortune which gathered over Scotland immediately after the death of Alexander, suggested to Edward the First his schemes of ambition and conquest; and perhaps, in the history of Liberty, there is no more memorable war than that which commenced under Wallace in 1297, and terminated in the final establishment of Scottish independence by Robert Bruce, in 1328.
In the composition of the present volume, which embraces this period, I have anxiously endeavoured to examine the most authentic sources of information, and to convey a true picture of the times without prepossession or partiality. To have done so, partakes more of the nature of a grave duty than of a merit; and even after this has been accomplished, there will remain ample room for many imperfections. If, in the execution of my plan, I have been obliged to differ on some points of importance from authors of established celebrity, I have fully stated the grounds of my opinion in the Notes and Illustrations, which are printed at the end of the volume; and I trust that I shall not be blamed for the freedom of my remarks, until the historical authorities upon which they are founded have been examined and compared.
You can get to this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...historyndx.htm
Hylton Newsletter
Got in the Summer 2018 issue about the doings of an American in Cathness.
You can read this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/newsletters/hylton/
Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel
Here are a couple of videos showing the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel.
You can view these at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/show...p/5338-Kelpies
Lipton's Ceylon Tea Estates
Added this account to our Sri Lanka page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/inde...tonsceylon.pdf
The Shipbuilders of Aberdeen
A series of books by Stanley Bruce. Stan is going to be sending in quite a few books in this series and we have the first one up for you to read at: http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ipbuilding.htm
As he tells us...
On this page, I intend to publish my research into the Shipbuilders of Aberdeen. There is much available on the internet, but unfortunately, what’s currently available online is scattered and doesn’t readily give the full picture. Shipbuilding in Aberdeen is mentioned as early as 1475 when 3 armed ships were fitted out at Aberdeen for the service of the king, the cost being defrayed by the inhabitants of the town. In 1540, there are records regarding a further ship being built, and in 1587 six barques were built to pursue English pirates. However, it was the latter part of the 18th century before Aberdeen became Scotland’s leading shipbuilding port. It was here that the world-famous Aberdeen Bow first adorned the ‘Scottish Maid’ a schooner in 1839. Over 3,000 ships were built in Aberdeen, from world famous yards such as Alexander Hall, Hall Russell, the Duthie’s, the Stephen’s, John Lewis, John Humphrey, Walter Hood, and many more smaller concerns.
And so I look forward to seeing these books as he completes them.
The History of the Royal Company of Archers
The Queens Body-Guard for Scotland by James Balfour Paul (1875) (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ny_of_Arch.pdf
I might just add as a note to this that my Father purchased a set of bow and arrows from them and I went with him to their range to try it out. I do have vague memories of a large long hall where he tried them out. I could have sworn that I still had the set but have been unable to find it.
Adam Smith Lecture 2018
Our annual Adam Smith Lecture showcases pre-eminent modern thinkers who continue to advance the ideas of Adam Smith.
This year's speaker, Professor David Neumark, delivered a lecture on Monday 11th June at the Houses of Parliament on the topic of “How policymakers should think about the minimum wage”. He is the world's leading economic expert on the effect of minimum wages on unemployment, having published over fifty papers on the subject.
You can read about it and watch a video at:
https://www.adamsmith.org/adam-smith-lecture/
The Story
Fascinating insight into working regulations back in the day...
The Regulation of Farm Servants in Dumfries-shire in 1751.
By W. R. M'Diarmid.
As at present something like an agitation has sprung up among the farm servants in the midland counties of Scotland, it may not be uninteresting to obtain a peep into their condition and the relations betwixt them and their employers in Dumfries-shire 115 years ago.
The following extract is taken from a minute of a meeting of Quarter Sessions held at Dumfries on the 5th of March, 1751, the sederunt consisting of Sir Robert Laurie of Maxwelton, Commissary Goldie, Collieston and Guillyhill.
The first proceeding of the Trustees, by the way, at this meeting was to banish from the shire three persons named
Mary Cuthbertson, William Beaty, and Charles Stewart. No information is given as to the offences which they had committed. If these persons were farm servants, unless other eounties were under the same regulations as Dumfries-shire, the punishment inflicted might not be held as a severe one.
“ The Justices of Peace considering that, notwithstanding of the former regulations and acts made anent servants’ fees, and the time and manner of hiring servants, the said acts are broken and disregarded to the great hurt and prejudice of the tenants and land labourers occasioned by the extravagant humour of servants by reason of the present plenty. For remedy whereof, the said Justices, to the effect that there may be due order and regulation anent the premisses in time coming, do ordain and enact that the fees of servants within this shire from and after the term of Whitsunday next, 1751, until it shall be thought expedient to make new regulations concerning the same, shall be as follows, viz. :—
“ That a domestick servant man who can plow, thatch, mow hay, bind, cart, ear, and harrow, and work all husband work, and is an ax-man for all husband utensils, shall have any fee agreed upon betwixt his master and him, not exceeding two pounds ten shillings sterling yearly, or two pounds five shillings sterling, and two pairs of shoes.
“ Item, that a barn man who can thresh in the winter season, herd a sufficient hirsel in summer, and can lay on loads and drive carriages, and is capable to serve at kiln and miln, shall have any fee agreed on as said is, not exceeding £1, 16s. 8d., or £1, 11s. 8d. sterling and two pairs of shoes,
“ Item, a young man or lad who can lead or drive the plough in winter, or herd calves or stirks in summer, shall have any fee, agreed on as said is, not exceeding 18s. 4d. sterling yearly, or 13s. 4d. sterling and two pairs of shoes.
“ Item, a strong sufficient servant woman for barn, byres, shearing, brewing, baking, washing, and other necessaries within and about the house, shall have any fee agreed on as said is, not exceeding 30s. sterling yearly, or 25s. and two pairs of shoes.
“ Item, a lass or young maid who can spin or card in the winter season, and herd in summer, shall have any fee agreed on, not exceeding 16s. 8d. sterling yearly, or 13s. 4d. and two pairs of shoes.
“ Which respective fees above mentioned are hereby declared to be in full satisfaction to men and women servants of all that can be asked or craved or shall be given to them for their year’s fees as above mentioned. Declaring that •where the master gives or the servant receives any greater fees than those above expressed, such feeing is hereby declared not only void and null, but also both masters and servants who shall presume to contravene the premises shall be liable in ten pounds scots each to be paid to the procurator-fiscal upon their being convicted thereof before the Justices of the Peace either by their own oaths or by witnesses, and that toties quoties: which fines shall be applied by the said Justices as they shall think proper, and declaring that where any surplus or bounty such as grazing or wintering of nolt or sheep, shoes, shirt, linen apron, or any other additional bounty whatsoever shall be given and received by any master servant more than what is particularly above appointed, the same shall be accounted a transgression of this Act, and the parties transgressors fined and punished conform thereto as above :
and because there may be several private pactions and underhand dealings between masters and servants which may be so privately transacted that neither the Justices of the Peace or constables can have any knowledge thereof, Therefore for redressing such abuse it is hereby declared and ordained that whatever person or persons shall dilate any master or servant who have contravened the premises by giving or receiving greater fees than those mentioned, and shall prove or make out the same by witnesses or oath of party, the informer shall have one-half of the fine incurred for any such transgression with his expenses off the other half of the fine to be modified by the Justices.
And whereas great inconvenience happens by servants feeing at any time they please and by their feeing for less than one full year, therefore for preventing such inconveniences for the time to come it is hereby enacted and ordained that no servant shall hereafter fee or engage with a new master for less than the space of one year to serve his said master: and it shall be in the power of the master to keep him or her as his servant for that time : and albeit he or she should fee to another such feeing is declared void and null, and the servant shall be liable to be fined as above : and it shall not be in the power of the masters to turn off their servants for one year after feeing, under the above penalties, unless when sufficient cause can be shown before some of the Justices. Provided always that if both the masters and servants voluntarily agree to part at the end of half a year they shall have liberty to do so :
and it is hereby farther enacted that no master hire domestic servants, male or female, for ordinary household service or labour and husbandry within or without house within this shire, and that no servant hire himself or herself preceding the first day of March as to those whose entry shall be at Whitsunday, and the first day of September as to those whose entry to their service shall be at Martinmas, (excepting always that masters may hire their own servants at any time,) certifying the contraveners hereof, either masters or servants, that they sdiall not only be liable in a fine of half a year’s fee conform to the regulations above mentioned, and shall be further proceeded against as the Justices shall think fit, but all agreements made with servants before the times above mentioned shall be void and null and of no effect: and whereas there is a great penury of good servants, and that many of them are frequently much inclined to idleness, and both men and women servants very often leave their service and keep themselves idle without any visible lawful employment, for preventing all which inconveniences for the future the said Justices hereby enact and ordain that no persons who have been in the use of hiring themselves as domestic servants to husbandmen or labourers of the ground shall betake themselves to any other employment without a license from two Justices of the Peace, under pain of twenty shillings sterling, besides being liable to be obliged to serve as a domestic servant for the space of a year to any person who shall apply to a Justice of the Peace for that purpose,
and if any person want a labouring servant, either man or woman, and can discover any person fit for service not engaged who is not following some lawful business, or who has been formerly a domestic servant and who has not got a license to employ him or herself otherways, upon a complaint thereof to any one Justice of the Peace any such servant shall be obliged to enter home to such master claiming him or her, or shall be obliged to give security for his or her appearance at the next quarter sessions, to be tried and punished in terms of this Act, according as the Justice before whom he or she is brought shall see cause ; and in case the Justice shall take security for such person’s compearance before the Quarter Sessions he shall inform the Procurator-Fiscal thereof that he may prosecute him or her accordingly : and farther, the said Justices enact and ordain that when any servant inclines to remove from his or her present master, he or she shall be bound to give over their master’s service three months before the time of removal and that before two witnesses, otherways his or her service is to be continued for the next ensuing year ; as also that the said servant’s master is and shall be obliged to accept of his or her service : entertain and pay him or her for the same unless that he can instruct that three months before the term of removal he did discharge and free his said servant from his or her service before two witnesses :
and for the encouragement of servants the said Justices ordain that their masters make timeous and punctual payment of their fees : and if any servant complain to any one Justice of the Peace of their not being punctually and thankfully paid of their fee, the said Justice is empowered to compel the deficient master complained upon to make present and complete payment to the complaining party of what shall be found justly due, with such reasonable expenses as the said Justice shall think fit to modify to he paid with and over and above the resting fee. And, further, the said Justices enact and ordain that all persons who have been ordinary servants or are in any capacity or ability to serve, both men and women, older and younger, and are not presently in service, that they immediately apply themselves thereto and fee themselves to such persons as have occasion for them, not exceeding the said fees and wages above mentioned, otherways to be reputed and holden as vagabonds, and punished as such,
and that the Justices in their several districts cause apprehend all such idly disposed persons as shall after the term of Whitsunday next be found within the same and incarcerate them until such time as they go to service or find caution or enact themselves to serve in the foresaid terms : Declaring that the above regulations with respect to the extent of fees shall not be extended to Annandale or the Five Kirks of Eskdale, where because of their vicinity to England different rules are necessary to be observed, which the Justices in that bounds are desired to make, and in the meantime they are to proceed as formerly. And the Justices ordain these presents to be immediately printed and published and a copy thereof to be sent to the precentor of each parish kirk to be by him read the first Sunday after receipt of the same immediately after divine service, and retained in the custody of the said precentor that all persons may have access to see this Act, and appoint copies thereof to be fixed on the several kirk doors and on the mercat crosses of the several burghs within this shire that none pretend ignorance thereof.”
The allowance made in the scale of wages fixed by the Justices for pairs of shoes enables a comparison to be drawn betwixt the real value of wages in 1751 and in 1866. I find upon enquiry that the present price of the strong shoes worn by workmen is 12s. 6d. ; in 1751 the price was 2s. 6d. The average wages of experienced ploughmen at present is £18 per annum, giving a purchasing power of nearly thirty pairs of shoes; the wages in 1751 possessed a purchasing power of twenty pairs. Taking shoes as the standard of value, the ploughman’s wages in 1751 were equal to £12,10s., so that the wages in 1751 were rather more than two-thirds of what is now paid.
The wages of experienced female servants hired for farm work are at present £9 per annum, and the price of their shoes 1s 8s. fid. This shows a purchasing power of twenty-one pairs of shoes. In 1751 their wages had a purchasing power of twelve pairs. Taking shoes as the standard of value, the wages of women servants in 1751 were equal to £5, 2s. per annum. In 1751 the Justices state the cost of shoes for men or women at the same figure, 2s. 6d.: at present women’s shoes are about a third cheaper than those of men.
And that's it for this week and hope you have a great weekend.
Alastair