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By John Herries McCulloch (1935)
To tell the story of the Scot in England, in all its detail, would be a formidable task, requiring the space of many volumes. I have contented myself with telling the story briefly, but have made an effort to touch on the various aspects of the Scots' influence on English life, in such a way that the whole picture is discernible in the background.
One pleasant feature in connection with the writing of the book has been the co-operation I have received from busy and distinguished men whom I have never met, and who were not even aware of the purpose of my inquiries. I am particularly indebted, for information that could not have been supplied without considerable trouble, to Sir Alexander Gibb, Queen Anne's Lodge, Westminster, London; Alan C. Don, Chaplain, Lambeth Palace; Mr. G. Bernard Nicolson, 57 Grosvcnor Street, Toronto, Canada; Alexander Dunlop Lindsay, Master of Balliol College, Oxford; Sir E. John Russell, D.Sc, F.R.S., Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpcnden, Herts; Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bart., Monreith, Wigtownshire; Mr. W. Robinson, Gravetye Manor, East Grinstcad, Sussex; the Curator of Historical Records, H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh; Mr. Alexander Sutherland, Editor of the Scottish Farmer, Glasgow; The Registrar, General Medical Council, London; N. G. Horner, M.D., Editor of the British Medical Journal; the Institute of Historical Research, University of London; Mr. F. H. Allan, The Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh; and Mr. David Rorie, 17 Hazledene Road, Aberdeen.
In the preparation of a book of this sort it is advisable to find a librarian who can indicate useful references. It was my good fortune, at the outset, to enlist the co-operation of Mr. G. W. Shirley, Librarian at the Ewart Public Library, Dumfries. Few men have a wider knowledge of Scotland's history, and over a period of many months he has placed a great deal of invaluable information in my hands. I am also deeply indebted to die Mitchell Library, Glasgow, where many rare books were produced for my perusal, and where considerable research work was voluntarily undertaken on my behalf by Mr. Alexander R. Mirrilees.
It was my intention to append a list of the books which I have consulted, but when the number exceeded four hundred I gave up the idea. I do wish, however, to mention History of Scottish Medicine, by John D. Comric, and Publishing and Bookselling, by F. A. Mumby. From these excellent histories I was able to glean a great deal of information, and to verify and co-ordinate my own researches. I am most grateful to both authors.
My feeling is that Scotland is at the beginning of an epoch. Her glory lies in the past. Her population is decreasing, her industries are disappearing, and her ancient vigour and independence become less and less noticeable as the years pass. That is the fate of every country which comes under the benign but remote control of a government which is not, essentially, a part of the country.
Our blood has been too cold and temperate. Unapt to stir at such indignities.
The older generations in Scotland have become so accustomed to this pleasant supervision that it is quite impossible, as the advocates of Scottish Home Rule have discovered, to rouse them out of their apathy, but there are signs that the younger generations are aware that their country is affected by creeping paralysis. Something will have to be done, and that soon, to save Scotland from becoming a summer resort, and it will not be done by staging amateurish and unwieldy historical pageants. These absurd demonstrations illustrate the sense of bizarre unreality that is encouraged in modern Scotland. We arc cavorting clumsily on die sacred sods of Bannockburn while the silence of poverty steals up the Clyde.
Scotland, to-day, could do with less conceit and more pride. The quiet pride that once dwelt in cottages will come back to us again when we really understand the history of our wonderful little country —not the history of Edinburgh, with its endless list of vulgar political intrigues that have no meaning except for exclamatory tourists and keepers of curio-shops—but the history of the able and courageous men and women who have defended the honour of the country, and of those who have gone out from it to do things that have reflected honour upon our race. These Scots belong to the past, but, please God, we shall see their like again, if the youth of the country are taught to face realities and to distinguish between the tinsel and gold that are so closely interwoven in Scottish history.
I have written this book for the youth of Scotland, and for Scotsmen who live in England and abroad, for with them lies the future of our country.
Colvend, via Dalbeattie, J. H. McC.
Scotland.
And so at last I've found a book that opens up an account of Scots who moved to England and what they got up to. You can read this book as we get it up at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...nd/scotndx.htm
Alastair
To tell the story of the Scot in England, in all its detail, would be a formidable task, requiring the space of many volumes. I have contented myself with telling the story briefly, but have made an effort to touch on the various aspects of the Scots' influence on English life, in such a way that the whole picture is discernible in the background.
One pleasant feature in connection with the writing of the book has been the co-operation I have received from busy and distinguished men whom I have never met, and who were not even aware of the purpose of my inquiries. I am particularly indebted, for information that could not have been supplied without considerable trouble, to Sir Alexander Gibb, Queen Anne's Lodge, Westminster, London; Alan C. Don, Chaplain, Lambeth Palace; Mr. G. Bernard Nicolson, 57 Grosvcnor Street, Toronto, Canada; Alexander Dunlop Lindsay, Master of Balliol College, Oxford; Sir E. John Russell, D.Sc, F.R.S., Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpcnden, Herts; Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bart., Monreith, Wigtownshire; Mr. W. Robinson, Gravetye Manor, East Grinstcad, Sussex; the Curator of Historical Records, H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh; Mr. Alexander Sutherland, Editor of the Scottish Farmer, Glasgow; The Registrar, General Medical Council, London; N. G. Horner, M.D., Editor of the British Medical Journal; the Institute of Historical Research, University of London; Mr. F. H. Allan, The Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh; and Mr. David Rorie, 17 Hazledene Road, Aberdeen.
In the preparation of a book of this sort it is advisable to find a librarian who can indicate useful references. It was my good fortune, at the outset, to enlist the co-operation of Mr. G. W. Shirley, Librarian at the Ewart Public Library, Dumfries. Few men have a wider knowledge of Scotland's history, and over a period of many months he has placed a great deal of invaluable information in my hands. I am also deeply indebted to die Mitchell Library, Glasgow, where many rare books were produced for my perusal, and where considerable research work was voluntarily undertaken on my behalf by Mr. Alexander R. Mirrilees.
It was my intention to append a list of the books which I have consulted, but when the number exceeded four hundred I gave up the idea. I do wish, however, to mention History of Scottish Medicine, by John D. Comric, and Publishing and Bookselling, by F. A. Mumby. From these excellent histories I was able to glean a great deal of information, and to verify and co-ordinate my own researches. I am most grateful to both authors.
My feeling is that Scotland is at the beginning of an epoch. Her glory lies in the past. Her population is decreasing, her industries are disappearing, and her ancient vigour and independence become less and less noticeable as the years pass. That is the fate of every country which comes under the benign but remote control of a government which is not, essentially, a part of the country.
Our blood has been too cold and temperate. Unapt to stir at such indignities.
The older generations in Scotland have become so accustomed to this pleasant supervision that it is quite impossible, as the advocates of Scottish Home Rule have discovered, to rouse them out of their apathy, but there are signs that the younger generations are aware that their country is affected by creeping paralysis. Something will have to be done, and that soon, to save Scotland from becoming a summer resort, and it will not be done by staging amateurish and unwieldy historical pageants. These absurd demonstrations illustrate the sense of bizarre unreality that is encouraged in modern Scotland. We arc cavorting clumsily on die sacred sods of Bannockburn while the silence of poverty steals up the Clyde.
Scotland, to-day, could do with less conceit and more pride. The quiet pride that once dwelt in cottages will come back to us again when we really understand the history of our wonderful little country —not the history of Edinburgh, with its endless list of vulgar political intrigues that have no meaning except for exclamatory tourists and keepers of curio-shops—but the history of the able and courageous men and women who have defended the honour of the country, and of those who have gone out from it to do things that have reflected honour upon our race. These Scots belong to the past, but, please God, we shall see their like again, if the youth of the country are taught to face realities and to distinguish between the tinsel and gold that are so closely interwoven in Scottish history.
I have written this book for the youth of Scotland, and for Scotsmen who live in England and abroad, for with them lies the future of our country.
Colvend, via Dalbeattie, J. H. McC.
Scotland.
And so at last I've found a book that opens up an account of Scots who moved to England and what they got up to. You can read this book as we get it up at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...nd/scotndx.htm
Alastair
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