History of Leith, Edinburgh

August 31, 2006

Broadside concerning the trials and sentences of William Mitchel and Samuel Tucker

This report begins: ‘An account of the Trial and Sentence of William Mitchel, for Theft and Forgery, who is to be executed at the west end of the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, on Wednesday the 9th of October next. – Also an account of the Trial and Execution of Samuel Tucker, for the Murder of his Wife, which atrocious crime he perpetrated by starving her to death, and for which he suffered at Salisbury, on Friday 2d of August, 1811, and his body was given for dissection.’ The sheet was published by T. Duncan, Glasgow. for more click here

On the much lamented Death of merry Maggie Wilson

On the much lamented Death of merry Maggie
Wilson, Poultry-Wife in Edinburgh.

[ Done by Rorie Pringle Drawer in the Tolbooth. ]

Walliwafaw your Fingers, Death,
That stappit Maggie Wilson’s Breath;
Had I been ye, I’d been right leath,
And wae to fell her.

for more click here

The Liggar Lady’ and ‘Arthur’s Seat

Arthur’s-Seat Shall be my Bed, &c.
OR, Love in Despair

A New Song much in Request,
Sung with its own proper Tune.

Come lay me soft, and draw me near,
and lay thy white hand over me,
For I am starving in the cold,
and thou art bound to cover me;

for more click here

The Knight Templar’s dream’ and ‘Killarney’s lakes and fells

As Morpheus my senses in slumber did drown,
I dreamt I was climbing Horeb, a holy mound,
Where Moses was chosen Grand Master in love,
By the Great Architect, for the great lodge above.

With trembling, fear, and wonder, I stood all in amaze,
To see a bush a burning all by a mighty blaze.
My bones they did shudder, quite feeble was my frame.
When a dreadful fiery serpent right forward to me came.

for more click here

Court Circular, From the Penny Satirist

What’s your opinion of the Corn Laws, Albert?” said the Queen, to her spouse; “you ought to be a counseller to me, in governing the affairs of this mighty Empire-” ” Vy.” said the emasculated helpmate to Royalty. ” before I vass a farmer, I lot dat der sheep corn vas best for mein orses. for more click here

The real Da Vinci code

The key to Leonardo’s genius lies in his notebooks, where he unravelled the secrets of anatomy, engineering, art – life itself. But one mystery has never been solved: how did his greatest drawings get from Europe to Windsor Castle – and at one of the bloodiest periods in English history? Were they smuggled in by King Charles I? Or the court painter Peter Paul Rubens? for more click here

August 30, 2006

The Edinburgh Convicts’ and ‘Farewell to Scotland

Come all young men of learning,
A warning take by me,
I’d have you quit night walking,
And shun bad company.
Leave off your cards and play-houses,
Or else you’ll rue day,
You’ll rue your transportation,
When you are sent to Botany Bay.

I was brought up in Edinburgh,
The truth to you I’ll tell,
Brought up by honest parents,
My master loved me well.
Brought up by honest parents,
Who reared me tenderly,
Till I became a roving blade,
Which proves my destiny.
for more click here

Awful Suicide

A full and particular Account of the Abduction of a Young Lady, and awful Suicide committed by a Captain M. on Saturday last, near Stratford; with an account how the Lady was providentially saved from being murdered by him.—Edin. Courant. for more click here

The Husband’s Secret Let Out!

In this fair town not lung ago,
As I have heard the story; go,
Two sweethearts lived a loving pair,
Who courted many a tedious year!
At length to end Low’s pleasing strife,
Resolved to become man and wife,
To church they went and soon were wedded,
With freinds made merry and were bedded.
for more click here

Intrepidity of John McGregor’ against a shark who had killed his friend

A most Strange and Wonderful Account of the Courage and Intrepidity of JOHN M’GREGOR, a British Sailor, belonging to the ship called the York Merchant, commanded by Captain BEAMS, who,When that vessel was lying in Carlile Bay, on seeing a sincere Friend of his, belonging to the same Ship, snapped through the middle by a large Shark while bathing, jumped into the sea, armed with a large sharp pointed knife, and pursued the voracious monster. Also an Account how he fought and conquered this dreadful Fish in the presence of several ships’ crews, followed it to the shore, ripped open its bowels, recovered the part of his friend’s body which the rapacious creature had swallowed, and had it decently interred with the other half that was taken up by his shipmates in the boat. for more click here

 
 

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