The Glenriddell Manuscripts

 

Libraries were to give access to all – The Glenriddell Manuscripts helped to set up the National Library of Scotland 1926. 

The Manuscripts were written to preserve Robert Burns’s chosen poems and letters, illuminating his creative process. Compiled between 1789 and 1793. 

Two Volumes – One of Poems and Songs. The Second Burns Letters. Such a Holy Willies prayer with explanations. Some are the only surviving manuscripts of some poems. They are held in the National Library of Scotland since its founding in 1925, 

 

The manuscripts are not merely important for their link to Burns and their contents, although this is undoubtedly a major part of their appeal. They are also intrinsically linked to the foundation and establishment of the Library itself and are here, in part, because there was a national library in Scotland in which to hold them.

 

The Glenriddell Manuscripts are one of the most significant collections of original Robert Burns material to be found anywhere in the world. They are considered one of the greatest treasures held by the National Library of Scotland. The manuscripts are important for their link to Burns and are also linked to the establishment of the Library.

 

Burns's comments on his poetry and prose offer a unique record of his earlier work, with insights into the poet's thought process for their composition and execution. Burns provided insights into his letters and as he often wrote a covering headnote with details about their contents or why he decided to include them in the volume.

Following Burns death, they went on an extraordinary journey before returning to Scotland. (Ralph McLean, manuscripts curator collections at the National Library of Scotland).

The two volumes stayed with the Burns family until his widow, Jean, loaned them to Burns's first biographer, James Currie, so that he could produce his edition of 'The Works of Robert Burns'.

 

Journey to the National Library of Scotland

Currie should to have returned the Glenriddell Manuscripts to Jean upon publication, but instead he kept them for himself. They passed through his family until his daughter-in-law presented them to the Liverpool Athenaeum Club in 1853. They remained there until the Club decided to auction them off in 1913.

However John Gribbel of Philadelphia who acquired the volumes, made the remarkable gesture to give them as a gift to the people of Scotland. He intended that they should go to a national library of Scotland. As no such body existed then, it was decided that they would alternate every five years between the Mitchell Library Glasgow, and the City Chamberlain's Office Edinburgh until such time as a National library was established.

 

Following the opening of the National Library of Scotland in 1925, the manuscripts were formerly handed over to the new institution in June 1926. On learning that they had found their permanent home, Gribbel wrote "If anything were necessary to complete the satisfaction I had in sending the manuscripts to Scotland, the institution of the Library would supply it".

 

Importance of the Glenriddell Manuscripts to current collecting

In the Glenriddell Manuscripts, Burns appears not just as a poet, but as a self-editor. The two volumes of poems, songs and letters contain his reflections, how he revised and reconsidered his writing. These manuscripts capture the circumstances of how they were made, from friendship and collaboration to the breakdown that interrupted their completion.

They offer a personal way into Burns’s world, inviting readers to explore further and encounter his work as he chose to present it.

Edina, THE NEW WORLD

 

Edina Lochenbooths high st

THE NEW WORLD - Life in Edinburgh 1700s 

A city of taverns, turnpike, steps, towering apartment blocks, theatre, dancing assemblies, city chambers and strong gusts of wind. The row of towers rising from the palace to a castle on the rock- some 12 storeys high were crowded. Seen from the wide views out along the shores of the Firth of Forth there were garlands of wood and peat smoke round the town which gave rise to the name Auld Reekie. And the wynds and closes ran down to the waters of the north loch or to the Canongate. From the lawn market, the Royal mile opens out near St Giles to be wide enough for five carriages, and then narrowed down to the Canongate, down towards Holyrood palace and Arthurs seats.

 

There was the Jacobite/ Whig divide. There were 2 thrice weekly newspapers – one Whig, one Jacobite; and The Scots Magazine – full of trails, poetry, world affairs, narrative of Scots; 4 printing works, brewers, insurance, 9 Presbyterian churches. Musselburgh fish wives, sweeps, coal porters, barefoot housemaids. Women wore scarlet plaid or tartan over their heads down to their waist. There were 600 taverns, where work took place and people drank ale, claret and whisky.  There was archery for Jacobites, at Musselburgh. Golf for the Whigs at Leith links.

There was a weekly concert at St Marys chapel Cowgate. The women sang old songs and held tea parties. A well-dressed duchess appeared from a dirty close. it was the Duchess of Gordon, the leader of Edinburgh society, was once seen riding up the high street on a sow, which her sister drove with a stick!

Georgian New Town built late 1700s

The heart of Edinburgh was at St Giles cathedral since the abolition of the bishops during the Reformation – there was the new church choir, old church nave, Haddow Holes northwest corner, Tolbooth west. The General Assembly met here once a year.  

At the Luckenbooths near St Giles were shops – on the East side was the flat of poet Allan Ramsay senior who established the first library 1725 and in the ground floor flat was the printer, William Creech. And on the west side were the dark turrets of the Old Tolbooth prison. At the back of St Giles, there was the Parliament house where the Scottish Parliament sat from 1639. The Edinburgh town council sat at Parliament Close.

From Edinburgh there were 3 mail coaches to London each week. A stagecoach ran monthly to London and took 10 days on the road. There were ships to London – from the Port of Leith. Edinburgh did not have the colonial trade with the Americas or a merchant class, that Glasgow had - but the town had lawyers, Court of Session, clergymen, General Assembly. 

 

There was intellectual infrastructure, reading societies, libraries, periodicals, museums and masonic lodges. The Edinburgh College (university) – William Castares, who’d been in Dutch exile before 1688 revolution. In 1708 introduced a system of professors – new chairs in Arts, Law. The Edinburgh Faculty of Medicine, founded in 1726 was the first in Britain. Jacobite printers Thomas and Walter Ruddima produced editions of Scots Renaissance writers such as George Buchannan and Gavin Douglas. They also expanded the Advocates library at Parliament House 1680 to over 2 thousand volumes. The Academy of Painting opened in 1729. The High school was one of the largest grammar schools with 400 pupils – plus 4 hospitals or boarding schools for orphans – George Heriots for boys and George Watson for girls in 1659.The Royal Infirmary was founded in 1741. 

Scottish Writers museum

Baxters Close

 

Edinburgh book festival images

 

Readers in conversation Charlotte Squaare

I recall the excitement of my first times at Edinburgh book festival in Charlotte square back in 2009 – and the many famous faces I have encountered on my walk over the wooded walkways, as they left the Press yurt; it was always a surprise and the trying to act nonchalant! I met here Seamus Heaney, Brian Cox, Alex Salomnd, George RR Martin, Liz Lochhead, John Byrne, Val McDermid, Elif Shakfak, Ian Rankin, Alexander McCalll Smith, Allan Cummings, and many more!

 

The challenging light – at lunchtime, with any overhead sunshine causing far too many shadows, or the perfect late light, hitting the townhouses of the square and on Bute house. I remember George RR Martin waiting at the side gate.Or Seamus Heaney walking into the cafe.  

 

The many fun photographers I have met here – from Wales, Italy, Spain and elsewhere. The banter and collaborations. 

 

George RR Martin arrives

Seamus Heaney & Andrew O'Hagan

Unbound

Edna OBrien

Art has always been a big part of my life – poetry, songs, images, books. I enjoyed sketching, singing, playing piano, reading and writing in my small notebooks. I was constantly drawing; I went to visit art galleries, took art at school, wondered what makes artists great – the brilliant composer, the inspired painter, or the great poet. 

 

Art is how I imagine and visualise my references. 

Music is my main point of wonder, escape and emotional release. 

Poetry is how I make sense of the turmoil, confusion and troubles. 

And the stories we tell ourselves. 

ART HELPS US MAKE SENSE OF OUR WORLD AND OFFERS US HOPE.

Photographers set up Charlotte Sq

Cultural History Disconnects

I had a big disconnect between my primary school and secondary school. At primary we had Scottish dancing, Scots poetry and song. We had a headteacher from Skye, who often wore a kilt.

Then at secondary we had no Scottish history, culture or music at all. Only English literature, history and music. Quite  a strange disconnect. 

 

Then I attended college down the cobbled royal mile Edinburgh, and I wondered about all the history here – the Canongate Kirkyard, John Knox house, St Giles, Holyrood, the Grassmarket – and the castle. We used to go to the military tattoo there every year. 

 

Going to secondary school Edina, I travelled across the town by bus via Princes Street. On the top deck there were many teenagers in brightly coloured blazers who spoke with posh English accents. I wondered where they were from. In Edina around 25% of children attend private schools. 

 

No it wasn’t and isn’t an integrated melting pot at all. But a stiff social hierarchy. Back in the 60s and 70s though, young people had more options to go to study. Houses were built to offer greater social mixing – but that doesn’t always succeed. When people feel without things in common, many put up defensive barriers. 

 

Visiting Holyrood Palace I picked up a small book on the Stuart kings of Scotland. I was fascinated by the Scots history and stories. I  visited the Scottish national galleries, with their many portraits of Scottish royalty. My parents were from Northern Ireland, so I was very confused, as no doubt they were too.