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.

John Paul Jones (1747-1792)

John Paul Jones was born in a small white-washed cottage at Arbigland near Kirkbean, Kircudbrightshire, on the Solway coast on 6 July 1747. (The house opened as a museum in 1993, with financial help from American supporters). At the age of 12 he went to sea and from cabin boy he rose to be the first mate on a slave ship.

Jones had a quick fiery temper and during his career faced mutiny and two charges of manslaughter. In 1773 he therefore departed for North America and settled in Virginia. Two years later he assumed the surname Jones - his father was a gardener named simply John Paul. He obtained a command of a ship in the newly formed American navy and waged war against British trading ships. He carried out a series of dazzling exploits which earned him a reputation as a great patriot (or a notorious pirate, if you were British).

In 1777 he crossed the Atlantic in the "Ranger" frigate of 26 guns and refitted at Brest in France. During 1778 he cruised in the Irish sea and at one point landed in Whitehaven on the Cumbrian coast (from where he had sailed earlier on the slave trade) and later landed in Kircudbright Bay in Scotland. He had planned to abduct the Earl of Selkirk (who had once tried to bring him to justice for his earlier deeds) but the plan failed because the Earl was not at home.

On his return to Brest he was given command of the "Bonhomme Richard". In 1779, sailing as part of an American fleet (sailing under the advice of the French) he sailed up the coast of Scotland and on the return journey, threatened to open fire on the port of Leith. He was then met by a group of British ships off Flamborough Head. During the engagement (described as "one of the most desperate and sanguinary in naval history) he shouted his celebrated battle-cry: "I have not yet begun to fight!". The "Bonhomme Richard" and the British "Seraphis" both sank but only after the latter had surrendered to Jones.

Jones returned to America in 1781 and was given command of the "America" the fledgling navy's largest ship, but he never set sail in her. He returned later to Europe, where he travelled for many years. In 1788 he was appointed as a rear-admiral in the Russian navy by Catherine the Great in charge of a squadron of ships in the Black Sea. He returned to Paris in 1790 and died there on July 18, 1792. His remains were returned to the USA in 1905 and laid to rest in the US Academy chapel.

Without any social standing (and despite the assistance of his new surname), promotion was slow and 30 years in garrison duty at home and abroad elapsed before Campbell reached the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. His next period of active service was the Chinese War of 1842, followed by the second Sikh War of 1849 on the North-West Frontier - as the British Empire expanded during the reign of Queen Victoria.

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.

LAND (Continued)

Our fathers fought, so runs the glorious tale,
To save you, country mine, from tyrants rash
And now their bones and you are up for sale,
The smartest bidder buys for ready cash.

J.R. Christie, My Native Land

But these I saw while you to butts were striding
Guided by servile ghillies to your sport.
Fast-rooted bracken where the corn once ripened;
Roofless and ruined homesteads by the score

Helen B. Cruickshank (1886-1975), Shooting Guest, Nonconformist

Hame, hame, hame, hame, fain wad I be!
Hame, hame, hame, hame to my ain countrie!

Allan Cunningham (1784-1842), Hame, Hame, Hame

Is trom an t-uallach an aois

Age is a heavy load.

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