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By Charles Rampini LL.D. (1898)
In its endeavour to tell the story of the old province of Moray with accuracy, and at the same time in popular language, the present volume follows strictly in the lines of the previous volumes of the series. But it differs from its predecessors in the arrangement adopted. It appeared to the writer that by treating the Province, the Bishopric, the Earldom, &c., as separate subjects, he would be able to lay before the reader a more sharply defined picture of their nature, progress, and influence than if he had employed the more ordinary narrative form. He is far from maintaining that such an arrangement is in all instances the best. But in the case of Moray and Nairn the sequence of events seemed to lend itself to this disposition—the historical importance and interest of the one having, roughly speaking, ceased, or at least begun to wane, before those of the other waxed.
In a work of this kind there are necessarily many matters of detail which are not to be found in books, and which are only to be obtained from persons having the requisite local knowledge. The author desires to express his grateful acknowledgments to the many individuals—with not a few of whom he was personally unacquainted—who have so courteously assisted him in this way. To the Earl of Moray; to Captain A. H. Dunbar, younger of Northfield, who, in addition to much valuable information about his own family, did him the additional favour of reading over the chapters on the Bishopric and Earldom; to Captain Edward Dunbar-Dunbar of Sea Park and Glen-of-Rothes, the greatest local authority on the old social life of the district; to the late Rev. Dr Walter Gregor for access to his unrivalled store of local folk-lore; to Mr George Bain, the historian of Nairnshire; to Dr James Macdonald and Mr Hugh W. Young of Burghead; to Mr J. Balfour Paul, Lyon King-of-Arms; to Sheriff Mackay; to the Rev. Dr Cooper of Aberdeen; to the editors of the local papers; and to many others who, he hopes, will accept this general recognition of their assistance, he is under great obligations. To the relatives of the distinguished men whose lives are sketched in outline in the last chapter he has a similar acknowledgment to make. From Miss C. F. Gordon Cumming, and her brother Colonel William Gordon Cumming, he obtained many interesting facts, now for the first time published, relative to the career of their brother Roualeyn, the well-known lion-hunter. To Mrs M'Kenzie, Ellonville, Inverness, he is indebted for access to the home-letters of her brother Colonel Grant of Househill, the distinguished African traveller. To Miss Brown, Muirton, Craigellachie, he owes almost all that is new in the sketch of her uncle, General Sir George Brown, G.C.B.; and a similar remark applies to the facilities placed at his disposal by Mr W. R. Skinner of Drumin, for the preparation of the memoir of his relative William Marshall, —one of the greatest, and certainly the most modest, of Scotland's musicians. The plan of Elgin Cathedral and Precincts is from a drawing prepared by George Sutherland, Esq. He has finally to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr J. D. Yeadon, bookseller, Elgin; Mr W. Harrison, bookseller, Nairn ; and other local authorities, for much assistance in the compilation of the Bibliography.
I've actually completed this book but am a bit late in announcing it as I seem to have caught some bug which just wants me to sleep all the time and am only now getting my energy back. You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/moray/nairn.htm
Alastair
In its endeavour to tell the story of the old province of Moray with accuracy, and at the same time in popular language, the present volume follows strictly in the lines of the previous volumes of the series. But it differs from its predecessors in the arrangement adopted. It appeared to the writer that by treating the Province, the Bishopric, the Earldom, &c., as separate subjects, he would be able to lay before the reader a more sharply defined picture of their nature, progress, and influence than if he had employed the more ordinary narrative form. He is far from maintaining that such an arrangement is in all instances the best. But in the case of Moray and Nairn the sequence of events seemed to lend itself to this disposition—the historical importance and interest of the one having, roughly speaking, ceased, or at least begun to wane, before those of the other waxed.
In a work of this kind there are necessarily many matters of detail which are not to be found in books, and which are only to be obtained from persons having the requisite local knowledge. The author desires to express his grateful acknowledgments to the many individuals—with not a few of whom he was personally unacquainted—who have so courteously assisted him in this way. To the Earl of Moray; to Captain A. H. Dunbar, younger of Northfield, who, in addition to much valuable information about his own family, did him the additional favour of reading over the chapters on the Bishopric and Earldom; to Captain Edward Dunbar-Dunbar of Sea Park and Glen-of-Rothes, the greatest local authority on the old social life of the district; to the late Rev. Dr Walter Gregor for access to his unrivalled store of local folk-lore; to Mr George Bain, the historian of Nairnshire; to Dr James Macdonald and Mr Hugh W. Young of Burghead; to Mr J. Balfour Paul, Lyon King-of-Arms; to Sheriff Mackay; to the Rev. Dr Cooper of Aberdeen; to the editors of the local papers; and to many others who, he hopes, will accept this general recognition of their assistance, he is under great obligations. To the relatives of the distinguished men whose lives are sketched in outline in the last chapter he has a similar acknowledgment to make. From Miss C. F. Gordon Cumming, and her brother Colonel William Gordon Cumming, he obtained many interesting facts, now for the first time published, relative to the career of their brother Roualeyn, the well-known lion-hunter. To Mrs M'Kenzie, Ellonville, Inverness, he is indebted for access to the home-letters of her brother Colonel Grant of Househill, the distinguished African traveller. To Miss Brown, Muirton, Craigellachie, he owes almost all that is new in the sketch of her uncle, General Sir George Brown, G.C.B.; and a similar remark applies to the facilities placed at his disposal by Mr W. R. Skinner of Drumin, for the preparation of the memoir of his relative William Marshall, —one of the greatest, and certainly the most modest, of Scotland's musicians. The plan of Elgin Cathedral and Precincts is from a drawing prepared by George Sutherland, Esq. He has finally to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr J. D. Yeadon, bookseller, Elgin; Mr W. Harrison, bookseller, Nairn ; and other local authorities, for much assistance in the compilation of the Bibliography.
I've actually completed this book but am a bit late in announcing it as I seem to have caught some bug which just wants me to sleep all the time and am only now getting my energy back. You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/moray/nairn.htm
Alastair