Lot 178

[Manuscript Travel Journal] - Scotland

Recollections of a Tour Through Scotland made in the Year 1839

£500

Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs

Auction: 23 June 2021 at 11:00 BST

Description

the diary steam-boat and canal-boat trip, beginning around Oban and heading through Loch Linnhe, Loch Lochy and Loch Ness to Inverness, then around the Moray Firth and along the coast to Aberdeen and finally to Edinburgh before heading home to London, from the 22nd June - 3rd July 1839, comprising 88 manuscript pages, including several interesting descriptions of the scenery, the trip and the way of life of local people, with passages such as: "In coming away from the Chapel we met a number of barefooted little children going towards the Chapel to be taught English, as a party of them said who we stopped & questioned, about their books and learning, to all which they gave good answers in English and then the little rogues would talk directly to each other, in their own native tongue, and then they would laugh..." and "...we retired for the night, well pleased with the day, & Edinboro [sic.] - we could not fail to remark the great difference between a Sunday in Scotland, & England - here we saw it kept to all outward appearances with order & decency. No carriages driving about, not even a beast of burden to be seen. No groups of noisy talkers. No profane Language to be heard. This speaks well for the morals of the people." 19 x 12cm, green cloth