While compiling the Articles relating to the Treaty of Union between Scotland and England there was an article detailing a Scottish Treaty of Union-themed shindig devised and held by George Outram at his Scott street, Glasgow, residence. But this brought him a wee spot of bother;
“ ‘THE CASSIN O’ THE UNION.’
THURSDAY last was the 180th anniversary of the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland, that historical document having been subscribed on 22nd July, 1706. Mr GLADSTONE, in his recent speech in Glasgow, reminded his audience that for many years after its accomplishment the Union was unpopular in Scotland, and that fierce agitation for its repeal took place. Mr GLADSTONE might have added, that so recently as 1844, the then Lord Advocate for Scotland mistook a humorous invitation to a dinner in Glasgow for a serious conspiracy to repeal the Union, and actually threatened to interdict the treasonable gathering.”
– Kirkintilloch Herald, Wednesday 28th July, 1886.
I enjoyed this article and the fact he’d authored a book, which contained a copy of the Invitation reproduced in the newspaper article, meant I was obviously going to seek out a copy. So here it is and it contains loads of really good wee illustrations but I’ll post those with their respective miscellaneous poems, anecdotes, &c.
G. Outram (1888), ‘Legal & Other Lyrics’, Edinburgh and London; William Blackwood and Sons, Front Cover.
G. Outram (1888), ‘Legal & Other Lyrics’, Edinburgh and London; William Blackwood and Sons, Spine.
G. Outram (1888), ‘Legal & Other Lyrics’, Edinburgh and London; William Blackwood and Sons, Title Page and Inscription.
G. Outram (1888), ‘Legal & Other Lyrics’, Edinburgh and London; William Blackwood and Sons, Publisher’s Page.
G. Outram (1888), ‘Legal & Other Lyrics’, Edinburgh and London; William Blackwood and Sons, Preface, p.v.
G. Outram (1888), ‘Legal & Other Lyrics’, Edinburgh and London; William Blackwood and Sons, Preface, p.vi-vii.
G. Outram (1888), ‘Legal & Other Lyrics’, Edinburgh and London; William Blackwood and Sons, Preface, p.viii, and Contents Page, p.1.
G. Outram (1888), ‘Legal & Other Lyrics’, Edinburgh and London; William Blackwood and Sons, Invitation, pp.8-9;
“INVITATION.
_____
‘RICHT TRUSTIE FRIEND, –
‘Forgie me that I steer your memorie eennow, anent that wearifu’ Treaty of Union wi’ the Englishers, whilk, as ye weel ken, was subscrivit by the unworthie representatives of our forbears, on the 22d day of July, A.D. 1706, in ane unhappie hour. For I do sae allenarlie wi’ the intent that ye suld devise means to red us for aye of that wanchancie covenant, the endurance whereof is regarded by ilka leal-hearted Caledonian with never-devallin’ scunner. Wherefor I earnestly entreat of you that , on Monday the 22d of the present month, bein’ the 138th anniversary of the foresaid dulefu’ event, ye wald attend a great gatherin’ o’ Scotsmen, to be halden after the gude auld Scottish fashion, at Scott Street of Glasgow, whan it will be taen into cannie consideration how we may now best free oursels o’ that unnatural band, either by a backspang, if we can sae far begunk the southron, or by an evendown cassin o’ the bargain, an’ haudin of our ain by the strong hand, if need be. An’ to the intent that we may be better preparit for what may come, it is designit, on the occasion of the said gatherin’, that we sall subsist upon our ain national vivers allenarlie, an’ sae pruive how far we can forega the aids o’ foreign countries in respect of our creature comforts, varyin’ our fare wi’ the flesh o’ the red deer an’ the trouts o’ Lochleven, suppin our ain Kail, Hotch Potch, or Cockyleekie, whiles pangin oursels wi’ haggis an’ brose, an’ whiles wi’ sheep’s head an’ partan pies, rizzard haddies, crappit heads an’ scate-rumples, nowtes’ feet, kebbucks, scadlips, an’ skink, forbye cistocks, carlins, rifarts an’ syboes, farles, fadges, an’ bannocks, drammock, brochan an’ powsowdie, and siklike – washin the same doun our craigs wi’ nae foreign pushion, but anerlie wi’ our ain reamin yill an’ bellin usquebaugh.
‘Trustin that you, an’ mony anither leal Scotsman will forgather at the foresaide time an’ place, to bend the bicker, after the manner of our worthie forbears when guid auld Scotland was a kingdom,
‘I subscrieve myself,
‘Yours to command,
‘GEORGE OUTRAM.
‘Given at Scott Street of Glasgow, on the eleventh day o’ July, Anno Domini, mdcccxliv.’ “
G. Outram (1888), ‘Legal & Other Lyrics’, Edinburgh and London; William Blackwood and Sons, Invitation, pp.10-11;
“On the back of the letter, under the address, were the words:-
‘Be this letter delivered with haste – haste – post haste!
Ride, villain, ride!
For thy life – for thy life – for thy life!’
The late Lord Cockburn, frightened by the apparently serious terms of the missive, threatened to interdict the ‘treasonable’ meeting; but his official apprehensions were removed, and the festive meeting was duly held, and the following was the bill of fare:-
‘ANE BUIK O’ ANCIENT SCOTCH DISHES
FOR THE GATHERIN’.’
_____
TABLE I.
‘There’ spea intil’t, an’ there’s beans intil’t,
An’ there’s carrots, an’ neeps, an’ greens intil’t.’
_____
‘Lang may she live, an’ lang enjoy
Ilk blessin’ life can gie,
health, wealth, content, an’ pleasour,
An’ cockie-leekie.’
_____
TABLE II.
‘Can ye tell me, fisher laddies,
What’s gotten into the heads o’ the haddies?’
_____
‘Stove him weel wi’ wine an’ spice,
An’ butter in the bree;
I’se warrant he’ll ken neist time
A feather frae a flee.’ “
G. Outram (1888), ‘Legal & Other Lyrics’, Edinburgh and London; William Blackwood and Sons, Invitation, pp.12-13;
TABLE III.
‘Fair fa’ your honest sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the puddin’ race.’
_____
‘John Anderson, my jo,
Cum in as ze gae by,
An ze sall get a sheip’s head
Weel baken in a pie.’
_____
‘An first they ate the white puddins,
An’ syne they ate the black.’
_____
‘Gie me lock brose, brose,
Gie me lock brose and butter.’
_____
‘They a’, in ane united body,
Declared it a fine fat howtowdie.’
_____
‘He pang’d himsel’ fu’ o’ collaps an’ kail,
Syne whang’d at the bannocks o’ barley meal.’
_____
‘It was fed wi’ fouth o’ gerse an’ oats,
An’ was wirried an’ sauted at Johnnie Groat’s.’
_____
‘My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart’s in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer.’
_____
TABLE IV.
‘There’s bread an’ cheese at my door cheek,
An’ pancakes the riggin’ o’t.’
‘ORDER OF THE TOASTS AT THE GATHERIN’ ON
THE 138 OWERCOME OF 22D JULY 1706.
_____
-
The Majestie o’ this Realm, being the Land o’ Cakes.
-
The Memorie o’ the Last Queen o’ Scotland.
-
The Cassin o’ the Wanchancie Covenant.
-
The Abolition o’ a’ Assessments an’ Blackmails.
-
A speedie Parliament in Parliament House.
-
The Abolishment o’ Stake Nets, an’ the restoration o’ the auld Manier o’ Fishin’.
-
A Dour Douncome to the Cadgers, an’ a Kittle Cast to the Customs.
-
The Buirdly Barons o’ the Borders, an’ the Auld Road to Carlisle.
-
The Laird o’ Raasay and Commissioners o’ Benachie.
-
True Thomas o’ Ercildoune, Sir David Lyndsay o’ the Mount, an’ a’ the Famous Scottish Menstrils.’’
‘Nota bene. – The farder order o’ the ceremonie at the pleasour o’ the companie.’ ”
