Scottish Flotsam from the Hebrides April 1998

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". According to the 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.

How about one of Scotland's lady with a questionable reputation.

LADY HAMILTON'S MOLTEN EMBRACE
When Vestina, the voluptuous goddess of health, got together with an ageing Scot vulcanologist, it was always likely to be an explosive partnership. Emma Hart, better known to history as Lady Hamilton and girlfriend of Horatio Nelson, wed the part time diplomat and patron of the arts, Sir William Hamilton, grandson of the Third Duke of Hamilton, in 1791. It was to be one of the most talked about marriages of the late eighteenth century.

Let's look at the career of the lady first. Emmas was born in Cheshire on 26 April 1765. After what seems to have been a tranquil opening phase to her life, she went to London and the fun began. According to her biographers, within a few years she had born children to a navy captain and a baronet. Of the several jobs she held down, the most notorious was at the Temple of Health in the Adelphi, where, bare breasted, she played the role of the health goddess in Edinbugh-born Dr. James Graham's phoney health emporium.

She accepted the 'protection' of Sir William, a widower and 35 years her senior, who was ambassador at the Court of Naples, and she lived there for five years before her marriage took place. With a short while she had become a close friend and confidante of Maria Caroline, Queen of Ferdinand I. Then she met the dashing Lord Nelson after his glorious victory at Aboukir Bay and, as one biographer so neatly put it, 'platonic friendship ripened to guilty passion'.

For his part, Sir William maintained that he had been condemned to make his way in the world with an illustrious name but little money. His diplomatic duties during 36 years in Naples (after a spell in the army) were minimal, but he took an active part in the excavation of Herculaneum and of Pompeii, and formed impressive collection on antiquities.

However, his consuming passion for volcanoes. He repeatedly visited Etna and Vesuvius. The process by which volcanoes shaped the surrounding countryside fascinated him, if anything a little more than the charms of his young bride. One of his most important discoveries was that the streets of Pompeii were paved with lava from explosions which took place years before the catastrophic eruption which destroyed the Roman town. He found even earlier strata beneath the town's foundations.

Imagine his excitement as he raced home of an evening to tell Emma about his latest geological or archaeological insight. Little wonder, some might say, that the passionate Lady Hamilton drifted into the arms (sorry, arm!) of the admiral.

What are some of the events that occurred in April.

1690 - April 2
John McGilter was jailed in Dumfries. While 'exceeding drunk', he struck the London post-horse causing it to fall upon the High Street

1320 - April 6
Declaration of Independence was sent by the Scottish Parliament meeting at Arbroath to Pope John XXII.

616 - April 17
Sir Donan, a missionary active in northern and western Scotland was killed along with 52 of his followers on the island of Eigg.

1923 - April 23
The Duke of York married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (the Queen Mother) daughter of the Ear and Countess of Strathmore at Westminster Abbey: the bride was a descendant of the ancient kings of the Scots.

1560 - April 27
Third bond in support of the Protestant Revolution was signed by 50 high-ranking Scots at Leith.

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. Lets see what quotes we can find to help with the new year

Dress

There is no objection to the blue stocking, provided the petticoat is low enough
Francis, Lord Jeffrey (1773-1850), critic and editor of Mrs Hamilton, author of "The Cottagers of Glenburnie", 1808

She just wore .
Enough for modesty - no more
Robert Buchanan 'White Rose and Red'

Dress affects my feelings as irresistibly as music..
James Boswell London Journal

He must be the worst-dressed man I have ever seen in my life.
Sharon Lovett fashion co-ordinator of "For Him", of Rab C. Nesbitt.

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

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