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.

William Ewart Gladstone (1809 - 1898)

Having been persuaded against a career in the Church, Gladstone was elected to Parliament in 1832, as a Tory. He made his mark from the start and held minor office in Peel's government of 1834-35. In July 1839 he married Catherine. The two maintained a 'rescue' home for prostitutes and Gladstone would, famously, trawl London streets at night, trying to persuade prostitutes to start a new life.

Although he was slowly moving towards liberalism, in 1843 he entered Peel's Conservative cabinet. However, in 1852 he joined Aberdeen's Whig government as Chancellor of the Exchequer, a position he would ultimately hold three times. His efforts to extend the franchise failed and ended the government in 1866. Two years later, the Liberals were back, with Gladstone in charge. Queen Victoria, who disliked him personally, was forced to ask him to become prime minister.

Gladstone began to tackle Ireland's oppressive landlordism and disestablished the Irish Protestant church in 1869. Abroad, he failed to promote disarmament and was caught out by the start of the Franco-German War. A heavy defeat in 1874 led to his retirement.

It was short-lived. Turkish brutality in the Balkans brought Gladstone back to active politics in 1875. His campaign to remove Turkish forces was widely opposed, but a magnificent campaign secured his return to Parliament and a Liberal government in 1880.

For over two years, Gladstone was both prime minister and chancellor. His failure to rescue General Gordon from Khartoum cost him dearly, his popularity only partially recovered by his firm handling of a dispute with Russia. He resigned in 1885 after a budget defeat.

Gladstone formed his third government in 1886, but his Irish Home Rule Bill was rejected by both Parliament and the electorate. He devoted the next six years to convincing the British electorate to grant Home Rule. Campaigning on the issue, the Liberals won the 1892 election. Gladstone was back.

Another Home Rule Bill was rejected by the Lords in 1893. He found himself increasingly at odds with his cabinet and, in 1894, he retired. Humanitarian to the end, in his last major speech he denounced Turkish atrocities in Armenia. He died of cancer in 1898 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

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.

PLACES

But the far-flung line o' the Lang Whang Road,
Wi' the mune on the sky's eebree,
An' naething but me an' the wind abroad,
Is the wuss that's hauntin' me.
Hugh Haliburton (J. Logie Robertson, 1846-1922), The Lang Whang Road

I have nowhere seen loveliness so intense and so diverse crowded into so small a place. Langholm presents the manifold and multiform grandeur and delight of Scotland in miniature.
Hugh MacDiarmid (C.M. Grieve, 1892-1978), The Thistle Rises

For Lochaber no more, Lochaber no more,
We'll maybe return to Lochaber no more.
Allan Ramsay (1686-1758), Lochaber No More

Is ioma fàth a th' aig an Earrach air a bhith fuar.

Spring has many reasons for being cold.

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