William Burke.–A New Song
Come all you resurrection men I pray you beware.
You see what has happened William Burke, and likewise
William Hare. for more click here
June 30, 2006
The Burke and Hare trials
This day, Wednesday 28th Jan, 1829, William Burke underwent the last sentence of the law, for the murder of Mrs Docherty, one of the victims of the West Port Tragedies. At an early hour, the spacious street where the scaffold was erected, was crowded to excess ; and all the windows which could command a view, were previously bespoken, and high prices given for them.for more click here
To His Highness the Prince of Orange
This ironic and satirical piece begins: ‘To His HIGHNESS the Prince of Orange, / The Humble ADDRESS and SUPPLICATION of the PARISHONERS and INHABITANTS of the Famous TOWN of LINTON SUBMETRAPOLITAN of TIVIOTDALE.’ The first line of the verse runs: ‘Vitrorious SIR, still faithful to thy Word’. No printer or date of publication have been given. for more click here
Jemmie Forrest
Verse 1: ‘Hey, Jemmie Forrest, are ye waukin’ yet? / Or are your Bailies snoring yet? / If ye were waukin’ I would wait, / Ye’d hae a merry, merry morning.’ Half of a woodcut illustration can be seen at the top of the sheet, although the top half of it has been ripped off at some point. It would probably have depicted a coach and pair. for more click here
Court Circular, From the Penny Satirist
This political notice begins: ‘”What’s your opinion of the Corn Laws, Albert?” said the Queen, to her spouse : “you ought to be a counsellor to me, in governing affairs of this mighty Empire”‘. It was published by Sanderson of the High Street, Edinburgh.for more click here
The coronation of King George IV
This broadside begins: ‘Coronation of His Majesty / Which took place at London on Thursday last, the 19th July, 1821, with an account of the non-admittance of the Queen.’ It was published by William Carse of Glasgow, and probably sold for one penny. for more click here
A Congratulation
This public notice continues: ‘For His Sacred Majesty, CHARLES, the third Monarch of Great Britain, His happy Arrival at WHITEHALL. / By a Loyal Member of His Majesties Army. / Edinburgh, June 13. 1660.’ for more click here
Who made the Law?
Who made the Law that men should die in meadows?
Who spake the word that blood should splash in lanes?
Who gave it forth that gardens should be bone-yards?
Who spread the hills with flesh, and blood, and brains?
Who made the Law?
A week before he was killed, an obscure infantryman wrote his own epitaph:from-Stories of valor in World War I’s most horrific battle. for more click here
June 29, 2006
The boy who went to war
THE scribbles on scraps of paper, yellow with age, the writing sometimes barely decipherable, lay at the bottom of a writing bureau drawer for decades. There were dozens of them. Some mere corners of a page ripped from a jotter and stained with mud from the trenches, others cleaner, written from the relative ‘comfort’ of a hospital bed. for more click here
June 28, 2006
A Hymn, to the Victory in Scotland
This ballad begins: ‘I sing the praise of Heros brave / Whose Warlike merit conquest gave, / And scorn’d to trample on a Foe, / But beat them first, then let them go: / After a Battle sharp and bloody, / Beyond the reach of Humane Study, / Obtain’d between strong Rocks & Trenches, / By dint of Sword, and vast expences’. The sheet was printed around 1719, by R. Thomas in London. It was also reprinted in Edinburgh.for more click here