I imagine the first question anyone will ask is what is a column called "Scottish Flotsam". I guess we will have to begin with what is "flotsam". Among the definitions of the word are "things washed ashore" or "miscellaneous trifles". Well, we believe you can find some great treasure on the ocean shore. But -- you will never know what you will find or its value. So we decided that is what this column is - flotsam. We wanted a place to put things that didn't fit anywhere else and might be of interest. Each item could be a column itself and might be some day but for now it will be the flotsam, which washes our way.

A staunch supporter of the French Revolution, Muir was soon active in the Radical reformation movement of the day and played a leading role With William Skirving (d.1796) in the inauguration of the Scottish Friends of the People in July 1792. Muir thereafter became a prominent propagandist for the Friends of the People travelling round the country on speaking tours and founding new branches - as well as corresponding with the United Irishmen about a unified campaign for political reform and National independence. By the time of the First National Convention in December 1792 Muir was already a marked man and early in January 1793 he was arrested and charged with sedition.

After interrogation - and perhaps to his own surprise - he was released on bail. Visiting London he found that the moderate Whig panicked by the trial of Louis XVl, were preparing to abandon their support for political reform. Muir then embarked on a mission to persuade the French revolutionaries to abandon plans to execute the King, but his last minute intervention failed. While in Paris Muir met not only the Girondist leaders, but also Thomas Paine (1737-1809), author of the Rights of Man, and Dr William Maxwell, an associate of Robert Burns (1759-96). With the declaration of war - and having missed the date set for his trial in Scotland - Muir found himself exiled in France.

In June 1793 he eventually sailed for Ireland where he spent some time in Belfast and Dublin meeting the United Irishmen. Knowing himself outlawed, hut apparently determined to stand trial and prove his innocence, Muir returned Scotland and was immediately arrested. His show trial before the ruthless Lord Braxfield was a farce and Muir was found guilty of sedition and sentenced to fourteen years transportation. No time was lost in dispatching Muir and three associates, Palmer (1747- 1802), Skirving and Margarot (1745-l815) to New South Wales.

After two years exile Muir escaped on an American ship in February 1796. He had many adventures and misfortunes in Mexico, Cuba and Spain (where he was badly wounded on his face) and arrived in France in 1797 after the French authorities had negotiated his release. Greeted as a hero by the Directory, and renewing acquaintance with other exiled revolutionaries, Muir lived in Paris until his death probably from earlier wounds - in 1799.

Although somewhat naive in his attitude both the British government authorities and the French revolutionaries there is little doubt that Muir remains one of the most important figures in the early Scottish reform movement and I long been commemorated as the most prominent of the Scottish Martyrs'.

BEWELY, C., Muir of Huntershill, Oxford University Press, 1981

Now lets look at some specific dates:

1364 - January 4
Consideration was being given in Scotland to translating an existing truce with England into a permanent peace.

1672 - January 11
The supreme criminal court in Scotland, the High Court of Justiciary was reconstituted.

1872 - January 14
Greyfriars Bobby, the faithful Skye terrier who watched by his master's grave in Edinburgh for 14 year died.

1562 - January 23
Lead-mining, probably begun in Scotland by the Romans was officially licensed in Upper Clydesdale, including Wanlockhead.

Source - Scotching the Myths by Jim Hewiston can be found in the History Book Section of Scottish Radiance.

It is time to stop combing the library but we can not quit without some quotes from Quotable Scots another great History bookshelf resident. Let's see what quotes we can find.

Brag (cont.)

According to this most useless survey, men think about sex every six minutes, dirty pigs! but they actually manager to some about in twice a week.
Joan Burnie, on a sex survey, 1992

I've been in more courts than Bjorn Borg..
Tommy Docherty 1981

To do things is not half the battle. Carlyle is wrong about this. To be able to tell the world what you have done, that is the greater accomplishment.
Andrew Carnegie

Rachadh e tro tholl tora gu nì fhaotainn;.

He would go through an auger-hole to get anything

You can find more articles in the archive under Scottish Flotsam.