Subject: ‘Scotland’

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Flora Macdonald

Posted in Adventure, Famous battles, Historical articles, History, Religion, Royalty, Scotland on Tuesday, 26 November 2019

This edited article about Scotland first appeared in Look and Learn issue number 521 published on 8 January 1972.

Flora and Prince Charlie, picture, image, illustration

Bonnie Prince Charlie bids farewell to his saviour, Flora Macdonald by Pat Nicolle

The great tract of moorland known as Culloden Moor was silent now. The guns that had belched fire and destruction stood abandoned and a thousand Scottish dead lay among the litter of a battle that had ended in the defeat of 7,000 Highlanders at the hands of the British.

It was the day of April 16, 1746, and Edward Charles, the Young Pretender, had just seen the dream of occupying the throne of his fathers vanish in the smoke of battle.

Fleeing for his life, the Young Pretender had little time to think back on those glorious preceding months when he had captured Perth, Edinburgh. All he was conscious of now was that he was a fugitive with a price of £25,000 on his head, and that somehow he must get back to France, from where he had sailed so full of high hopes, less than a year ago.

As he fled into the mists, he was sure only of one thing. Whatever happened, the clansmen would support and hide him when necessary.

The news of the disaster at Culloden spread swiftly, and eventually it reached the Hebridean island of Benbecula, where a young Highland girl, Flora Macdonald, was staying with relatives. Soon afterwards, by one of those strange twists of fate which sometimes change the whole course of history, the Young Pretender arrived on the island with a companion, a Captain O’Neil.

Hearing that Flora was there, and knowing that she was a Jacobite sympathizer, that is, one of the people who wanted the Stuart royal family back on the throne, in place of the German House of Hanover, he went along to see her. Their conversation was short and very much to the point.

“You say, Captain O’Neil, that you wish me to help the Prince to escape to Skye. But how is that possible? No one is allowed to leave Benbecula without special permission.”

“It is proposed that the Prince should disguise himself in woman’s dress. Your step-father is in charge of the militia here. Perhaps it is possible for you to obtain a passport for yourself and an Irish spinning maid, Betty Burke, who will, of course, be the Prince.”

Flora Macdonald thought about it for a few moments. “It is true I could get permission by saying I was going to visit my mother.” She looked into the captain’s anxious face. “I will agree to do it.”

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Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde

Posted in English Literature, Historical articles, History, Psychology, Scotland on Saturday, 9 September 2017

This edited article about English literature originally appeared in Look and Learn issue number 410 published on 22 November 1969.

Deacon Brodie and his gang, picture, image, illustration

Robert Louis Stevenson based his famous story on William Brodie, who became a legend in Edinburgh – a man who as Deacon Brodie was a city councillor by day and a burglar by night

As a schoolboy growing up in 19th century Edinburgh, Robert Louis Stevenson was fascinated by a bookcase and a chest of drawers which were in his bedroom. They had been made some ninety years earlier by the infamous Deacon Brodie – the master carpenter who was a respectable citizen by day, and the leader of a gang of burglars by night. In his walks through the old quarter of Edinburgh, Stevenson begged his parents to show him Deacon Brodie’s house, and the inns and courtyards where the criminal met with his desperate accomplices.

Brodie’s daring double life made a deep impression on the young Stevenson. And years later, when his Treasure Island had made him one of the world’s most beloved authors, he found his thoughts turning again and again to the man who wore a suit of white by daylight, and black clothes after dark. This split in Brodie’s character epitomised to Stevenson the good and the bad side of man. He felt compelled to write a novel on the subject, and for some time he wrestled with his “Brownies,” as he called the ideas which came to him in his sleep.

The author, who was always fragile in health, was then living in Bournemouth with his American wife, Fanny. She realized the mental torment he was going through, and one night his struggle with the “Brownies” woke her up and thoroughly frightened her. “My husband’s cries of horror caused me to rouse him,” she said, “much to his indignation. ‘I was dreaming a fine bogey tale,’ he said reproachfully.”

The next morning Stevenson worked feverishly on the new book, which was inspired, of course, by the career of Deacon Brodie. He completed the first draft of 30,000 words in three days. But when Fanny read the manuscript, she told him he had not done the story justice. The novelist then destroyed the draft, and rewrote it from a different point of view.

When the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was published in 1886 it caused a sensation. Its story of a decent London doctor who, by the use of a powerful drug, is able to turn himself into another and totally different person, caught the imagination of the reading public. As Jekyll continues with his experiment, the tension rises to an almost unbearable pitch. After a while the evil Hyde is able to appear whenever he wants to, and Jeykll has to decide whether or not to destroy his depraved other self. The finale of the book mounts to a crescendo of terrifying action which has seldom been equalled in a story of this nature.

The best pictures from educational trade cards, 83

Posted in Ancient History, Best pictures, Educational card, Famous crimes, Historical articles, History, Leisure, London, Nature, Philosophy, Politics, Royalty, Scotland on Wednesday, 25 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from our large collection of 19th and early 20th century educational trade cards.
The first picture shows the execution of the Earl of Essex in 1601.

Execution, picture, image, illustration

Execution of the Earl of Essex, 1601

The second picture shows the burning of the books of Confucius.

Confucius, picture, image, illustration

The burning of the books of Confucius

The third picture shows the Highlands.

The Highlands, picture, image, illustration

The Highlands

High-resolution scans of all educational cards can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The Flying Scotsman

Posted in Engineering, Historical articles, History, London, Railways, Scotland, Transport, Travel on Sunday, 22 November 2015

From the great age of steam comes this superb painting of the Flying Scotsman locomotive, in which peerless draughtsmanship and a thorough knowledge of engineering combine to present an utterly compelling picture of power, beauty and speed. The LNER bottle green livery still captivates the viewer, and it remains a unique icon in both appearance and romantic name.

The Flying Scotsman, picture, image, illustration

The Flying Scotsman by John S Smith

Many more pictures of railways can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

A Scottish piper in traditional piper’s uniform

Posted in Architecture, Castles, Fashion, Historical articles, History, Music, Scotland on Thursday, 19 November 2015

This striking and colourful figure, a familiar image on both sides of the Border, is the world-famous Scottish piper resplendent in traditional piper’s uniform. He plays the Great Highland Bagpipes and is wearing a scarlet plaid with cloak and the customary accoutrements of sporran and the like. Behind him loom the rocky battlements of Edinburgh Castle, another potent emblem of Scotland.

Scottish piper, picture, image, illustration

Scottish piper

Many more pictures of Scotland can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from ‘The Illustrated Times’, 88

Posted in Architecture, Best pictures, Boats, Disasters, Famous landmarks, Historical articles, History, London, Railways, Rivers, Scotland, Ships, The Illustrated Times, Trade, Transport, Travel, War on Wednesday, 18 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from ‘The Illustrated Times’, a nineteenth-century illustrated newspaper and rich source of remarkable engravings.
The first picture shows the Great Fire in the Old Town, Edinburgh.

Edinburgh, picture, image, illustration

The Great Fire in the Old Town, Edinburgh

The second picture shows Lyons Railway Station where troops are leaving Paris for the Army of Italy.

station, picture, image, illustration

Interior of the Lyons Railway Station, Troops leaving Paris for the Army of Italy by Gustave Janet

The third picture shows the Halfpenny Boat.

Thames, picture, image, illustration

London Sketches, the Halfpenny Boat

High-resolution scans of all the illustrations from ‘The Illustrated Times’ (London 1855-1866) can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from ‘The Illustrated Times’, 84

Posted in Architecture, Best pictures, Castles, Disasters, Famous landmarks, Historical articles, History, Leisure, Scotland, The Illustrated Times on Wednesday, 18 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from ‘The Illustrated Times’, a nineteenth-century illustrated newspaper and rich source of remarkable engravings.
The first picture shows the destruction of the British Embassy in the Great Fire at Constantinople.

Constantinople, picture, image, illustration

The Great Fire at Constantinople, Destruction of the British Embassy

The second picture shows the Fort at Agra.

Agra, picture, image, illustration

The Fort at Agra

The third picture shows the public promenade in the Prince’s Street Gardens, Edinburgh.

Edinburgh, picture, image, illustration

Promenade in the Prince's Street Gardens, Edinburgh

High-resolution scans of all the illustrations from ‘The Illustrated Times’ (London 1855-1866) can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from ‘The Illustrated Times’, 82

Posted in Architecture, Best pictures, British Cities, Disasters, Famous landmarks, Historical articles, History, Industry, Politics, Scotland, The Illustrated Times on Wednesday, 18 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from ‘The Illustrated Times’, a nineteenth-century illustrated newspaper and rich source of remarkable engravings.
The first picture shows the Air Shaft on fire after the Lund Hill Colliery Explosion.

colliery, picture, image, illustration

The Lund Hill Colliery Explosion, the Air Shaft on Fire by George Meason

The second picture shows the ruins of Kehl, which lies on the Rhine opposite Strasbourg.

war, picture, image, illustration

The Chief Street in Kehl, opposite Strasbourg, after its Bombardment by the French

The third picture shows the Hall of the Parliament House, Edinburgh.

Edinburgh, picture, image, illustration

The Hall of the Parliament House, Edinburgh

High-resolution scans of all the illustrations from ‘The Illustrated Times’ (London 1855-1866) can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from ‘The Graphic’, 98

Posted in Artist, Best pictures, Birds, Children, Education, Historical articles, History, Institutions, Maps, Politics, Scotland, The Graphic, Wildlife on Saturday, 14 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from ‘The Graphic’, a nineteenth-century illustrated newspaper and rich source of remarkable engravings.
The first picture shows four schoolgirls pondering on a problem.

school, picture, image, illustration

Free Education, a Difficult Problem by Paul Renouard

The second picture shows an artist sketching an eagle’s nest.

birds, picture, image, illustration

Sketching an Eagle's Nest in the Highlands, a Visit Momentarily expected by Sydney P Hall

The third picture shows a map of the British Empire in 1888.

map, picture, image, illustration

Imperial Federation – map of the world showing the extent of the British Empire in 1886. Statistical information furnished by Captain J. C. R. Colomb, MP, formerly RMA – British territories coloured in red by Walter Crane (after)

High-resolution scans of all the illustrations from ‘The Graphic’ (London 1870-1902) can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.

The best pictures from ‘The Graphic’, 84

Posted in Animals, Best pictures, Fish, Historical articles, History, Industry, Law, Politics, Scotland, Ships, The Graphic, Trade, Transport on Friday, 13 November 2015

We have selected three of the best pictures from ‘The Graphic’, a nineteenth-century illustrated newspaper and rich source of remarkable engravings.
The first picture shows eel-spearing on the Scotch border.

eels, picture, image, illustration

Eel-Spearing on the Scotch Border by S E Waller

The second picture shows embarking Norman horses for England at Honfleur.

horses, picture, image, illustration

Embarking Norman Horses for England at Honfleur by H Johnson

The third picture shows the police charging striking miners.

strike, picture, image, illustration

The Coal Crisis, the Miners charged by the Police at Hebburn, near Durham

High-resolution scans of all the illustrations from ‘The Graphic’ (London 1870-1902) can be found in the Look and Learn picture library.