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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

It was hot in St Andrews today, so in response to popular demand, I got in the sea. To much disappointment, I also got out ...

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Nothing to see here, just a lawyer, "full of claret", arguing against his client then suddenly reverse ferreting in court after being told he was making the wrong argument ... #LegalHistory #Scotland

Newspaper clipping, Inverness Courier, 21 October 1819

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Rare evidence of Gaelic-speaking dogs in 19th century Dunbartonshire ... #Gaelic @wilsonmcleod.bsky.social

Newspaper clipping, Caledonian Mercury, 3 October 1816
"there was a dog in the house, but it was Highland, and did not understand English"

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Aww yes, the St Andrews ducklings have arrived! Mum and dad are keeping a close eye on them though.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

I'm a veteran of this truly wonderful event - my first Christian Aid Booksale was 1977, when I was 8 - for myself I got H G Wells and Arthur Conan Doyle - I was a precocious child - and a bunch of early Penguins for our shop.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

"This prisoner's unsteady on his feet and is not fit to stand trial. What do we do?" "Give him wine, that's bound to help." Narrator voice: It did not help. #Scotland #LegalHistory

Newspaper clipping, Caledonian Mercury, 8 May 1815.
Inverness, May 3. The Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened in this place on Wednesday, by the Right Honourable Lord Gillies. William Macdonald, accused of the murder of Mary MacQueen, lately residing at Auchendar, parish of Edinkillie, and county of Moray, was first brought to the bar. The prisoner appeared to be much debilitated from his confinement, and was so much agitated when brought into Court, that he seemed on the point of fainting, and two of the jailors were obliged to support him. A glass of wine was administered, which appeared a little to revive him; but he was still unable to stand. Two medical gentlemen were called in, and it was their opinion that the prisoner was in too weak a state to be put, with any propriety, upon his trial on that day. He was therefore ordered to be removed from the bar, and the jailor was desired to see him properly attended to.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

♫♪♫ Bela Lugosi's Dead Undead undead undead ♪♫♪

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Bookroom upgrade unlocked: I now have a record cupboard. Working on filling it ...

Photograph of shelves in a cupboard with hundreds of vinyl records

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

The mediaeval pier reopened tonight in St Andrews after an 18-month closure to repair storm damage. It was also the night of the Gaudie, a torchlit procession by students commemorating John Honey, a student who in 1800 rescued 5 crew members of a ship off the East Sands.

Panoramic view of the Gaudie torchlit procession in St Andrews, Scotland, marking the reopening of the mediaeval pier.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Lord Hermand and the Lord Justice Clerk make clear they thought the jury got the verdict wrong, finding Helen Kennedy not guilty of murder. They also make clear Kennedy's reputation was in tatters as a result of the trial. #ScotsLaw #LegalHistory #NotProven

Newspaper clipping reporting comments by the judge and Lord Justice Clerk regarding a Not Proven verdict against Helen Kennedy, accused of murder by poisoning. Both Lord Hermand and the Lord Justice Clerk make clear they thought the jury was wrong, and insist that the Not Proven verdict left a stain on her character.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Just back home with a decent #RSD25 Record Store Day haul from Thirteen Records and Assai in Dundee. Currently listening to Top of the Pops by The Rezillos. @recordstoredayuk.bsky.social

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

We've been working on this for more than a year - and the last few weeks in particular have been frantic. Good to see the records finally released. @findmypast.bsky.social #Genealogy #Guernsey

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Too soon, butcher's shop, far too soon. Photo taken on Saturday.

Photo of shop window "Christmas Orders now being taken"

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

I mean if it was me, I'd be looking for a new estate agent.

Photograph of a house sale sign reading "For Sale. Mitchells. 1963-Today"

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Hey @chiddickstree.bsky.social I visited Durham Cathedral and something reminded me of you ...

Photo of a large and very impressive Lego model of Durham Cathedral

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Went for a bike ride to Dundee, expecting 35 mile round trip (about my limit, I thought). Took a wrong turning, adding 7 miles in each direction. My legs currently hate me.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

♫♪♫ Burn baby burn Ditch go inferno ♫♪♫

Photograph of a ditch with what appears to be a river of fire flowing through it.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

This evening's soundtrack comes courtesy of the legendary Roky Erickson, a bargain I picked up in Dundee yesterday.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

One of my personal highlights of the year. I've been going to this sale for decades, and never leave empty handed. Fine books, fair prices, good cause - what's not to love? Oh and if you visit the Scottish books section you'll likely run into the lovely @neildm.bsky.social in person.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

In 1880s Perth, the Circuit Court was proclaimed at the mercat cross, and the announcement was, er, laid on the ground held in place by a rock ... #LegalHistory #Scotland

Newspaper clipping, Perthshire Advertiser, 19 March 1888:
It is probably not generally known that each Circuit Court which is held in Perth, is proclaimed at the Cross by a Sheriff Officer, so that, as the legal document runs, no person may plead ignorance of such an Assize being held. When the proclamation is made the legal document is left lying on the street, so that all who pass by may read. As the proclamation is generally fastened to the ground by a stone—or as on Friday last, when it was made, by a lump of frozen snow—its original position is not of long duration, the first breeze of wind, or the wheel of a passing cart, often making it only for a moment seen, then lost for ever. This venerable custom must remain in force so long as the present statute exists. The Circuit Court meets at Perth on Tuesday, 17th April.

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Reposted by Fergus Smith

The Statutes Project @statutes.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

This is a great resource: 355 historic statutes on slavery from the Atlantic World, 1661 - 1838. Laws of Enslavement and Freedom in the Anglo-Atlantic World slaveryandfreedomlaws.lib.unb.ca #History #EnslavedHistory #LegalHistory 🗃️

slaveryandfreedomlaws.lib.unb.ca

Home | Laws of Enslavement and Freedom

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Rediscovering my ms and ephemera collection: 17th century a ms book of sermons, I think written by Matthew Henry (certainly from his family) and extracts from the diary of his sister, Katherine Tylston, in the hand of her niece, Hannah Witton, daughter of diarist Sarah Savage. #RelicsOfABookdealer

First page of a manuscript book of sermons dated 1697, possibly by Matthew Henry

Portrait of Matthew Henry, author of Exposition of the Old and New Testaments

Manuscript title page Extracts from the Diary and Letters of Mrs Kathn Tylson, third daughter of the Revd Philip Henry of Broad Oak

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Heiling a cab ... (Image: Anthony Chubb, from my personal collection)

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Tonight is all about edible ancestral tourism: currently eating fine chocolate made on Scooniehill farm (where my great-grandad was born), after dinner of a pie made on Woodmill farm, Abdie, where *his* mum was born. #Genealogy

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Aaron Allen @mchapelproject.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Help please #palaeography #bookhistorians - what is the word beginning with c and ending with in after book? It's from 1519 from the Edinburgh Hammermen books, and clearly refers to purchase of the book they're using: 'Item for this buk c[??]in paper and bynding xjs ijd'

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

#OTD 1877, the Strathearn Herald reported that Lachlan Cameron was the "victim" of a Valentine's Day prank gone wrong. His workmates sent him a summons from the "Court of Hymen" at the instance of Jessie McDonald. Cameron went to the Fiscal's office to plead his innocence.

Newspaper clipping from Strathearn Herald 17 Feb 1877:
The article recounts a humorous incident involving a man named Lachlan Cameron, who was innocently caught up in a prank. Cameron, who had been seeking work, was given a fake summons as a valentine joke by his coworkers. He, however, mistook it for a real legal document and reported it to the authorities. During this process, it was discovered that he was actually wanted for passing counterfeit money in Bannockburn. Under interrogation, Cameron confessed to the crime and was subsequently imprisoned, facing charges at the Circuit Court.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

He'd obviously heard there was Money for Nothing ...

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Roses are red Violets aren't Some poems rhyme This one doesn't even scan properly. #HappyValentinesDay

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Reposted by Fergus Smith

Chloë Kennedy @chloejskennedy.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Deadline tomorrow

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Big shout out to Mike @scotrail - ticket machines down at Leuchars, and it was tight for our connecting train to print off tickets, so he stopped off at Cupar to collect tickets for us. Above and beyond.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

View from our bedroom window. The cornershop roof's almost gone. Road was closed for hours this afternoon. #StormEowyn #StAndrews

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

I'm working my way through my newly recovered vinyl collection. Tonight's choice is another all-time classic, Remain in Light by Talking Heads.

Fergus holding up the record Remain in Light by Talking Heads

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Acht, RIP David Lynch, you unique, wonderful weirdo.

David Lynch being interviewed with subtitles:
Lynch: Believe it or not, Eraserhead is my most spiritual film.
Interviewer: Elaborate on that.
Lynch: No.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

I'd be really interested if anyone can identify this heavy-drinking Edinburgh lawyer/judge who drank a "German giant" to death ...

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

In court, Henry Cockburn recounts a story of a "German giant" who was challenged to a drinking content by an Edinburgh lawyer, and lost, to fatal effect. It worked - his client, charged with murder after spiking a neighbour's drink, was found Not Proven. #LegalHistory #Scotland

Newspaper clipping, Perthshire Courier, 25 September 1828

Mr Cockburn then addressed the Jury for the panel. It appeared from the evidence to be merely a foolish plot to get his neighbours drunk; he admitted Forbes was culpable in being concerned in such a disgraceful affair; for this, however, he was sufficiently punished in being placed at the bar, and whether the Jury would find him guilty or not, he would reflect with regret to the day of his death that such a misfortune took place; but although he had been guilty of impropriety, he submitted that he was not of any crime. He (Mr. Cockburn) had heard of a similar case:—A German giant had visited Edinburgh, and proclaimed the Scots to be a diminutive race, unable to stand much drink. A learned lawyer, who was afterwards an eminent Judge, resented this as a personal insult, and challenged the giant to a drinking match, in which the giant met his death, and was never afterwards exhibited, having been carried to his grave in eight days thereafter.— Would not this form a very odd indictment? yet it would be equally consistent with the present. Mr C. concluded by craving a verdict of acquittal.

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Reposted by Fergus Smith

Patrick Hart @silcrow.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Job alert: the National Library of Scotland is looking to recruit a permanent, F/T curator of early modern books and other printed material. Please share widely! nls.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/...

nls.current-vacancies.com

Curator (Early Modern Era) - Edinburgh

This is a permanent curatorial role in the Department of Published Collections. The role of the Curator (Early Modern Era) is to curate the Library’s published collections from 1455 -1690, a period th...

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

My vinyl has been in storage unplayed since 1991, so I'm pulling one record out at random and playing it. This (Germfree Adolescents by X-Ray Spex) is a stone-cold classic - I'd almost forgotten just how good it is.

Fergus pointing at the cover of the classic punk album Germ Free Adolescents by X-Ray Spex.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

In 1826, Ann Cameron, wife of Angus Stewart, labourer in Dovecotland, a witness in a murder trial at Perth Circuit Court, was sworn and gave her evidence in Gaelic, as she was monolingual and could not speak English. #LegalHistory #Scotland #Gaelic

Newspaper clipping, Perthshire Courier, 21 September 1826
Reporting that Ann Cameron, wife of Angus Stewart, labourer, Dovecotland, Perthshire, a witness in a murder trial, could not speak English. General Stewart of Garth was appointed as an interpreter and to administer the oath in Gaelic.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Court tourism was a thing in 1820s Scotland. The Hero sailed from Dundee to Perth, bringing visitors to watch the proceedings of the Circuit Court. Unfortunately for them, they were too late. #LegalHistory #Scotland

Newspaper Clipping, Perthshire Courier, 23 April 1824
Reporting that a ship the Hero had brought 400 visitors from Dundee to Perth, many of them having come to witness proceedings at the Circuit Court, but they were too late as the court had already risen.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Hi @danielloftus.projectinfant.ie I've sent you a DM about something I think you'll be interested in.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Read this clipping and I was like, wait, what? The Provost of Aberdeen was sentenced to death? [Perthshire Courier 2 May 1823]

Newspaper clipping, Perthshire Courier, 2 May 1823
The Provost of Aberdeen has received a respite, during his Majesty's pleasure, of the sentence of death

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Update on Project Bookroom: books now mostly unpacked. Now I need to figure out how to arrange them. I may need more shelves - apparently 7 bookcases isn't enough ... #

Fergus looking slightly shell-shocked surrounded by stacks of books and boxes, with books starting to fill the shelves.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

In 1820, Crown Counsel was sternly rebuked by Lords Boyle and Pitmilly for repeatedly referring in the indictment to David Gall, aged 18, by the alleged nickname Thiefy. It backfired, as Gall was assoilzied simpliciter. #LegalHistory #Scotland Perthshire Courier 11 May 1820

Newspaper clipping, Perthshire Courier 11 May 1820, describing how David Gall, accused of theft by opening lockfast places, was assoilzied due to defects in the indictment, including multiple references to him as Thiefy.

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

If you don't hear from me for a while, it's because I've finally been reunited with my books, so I'll be setting up my book room for the next forever.

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Reposted by Fergus Smith

Dr Sally Tuckett @sallytuckett.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

CFP: Material Scotland, Stana Nenadic Memorial Conference, 15-16 May 2025, University of Edinburgh. Celebrating the career of Prof Nenadic (1954-2024) papers invited on Scottish material & visual cultural history. Deadline for proposals 31 Jan. ECR and postgrad particularly welcome. Please share!

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Reposted by Fergus Smith

Chloë Kennedy @chloejskennedy.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Come and work on a @leverhulme.bsky.social project about the history of ‘hurt feelings’ & the law with @katieebarclay.bsky.social Alice Krzanich and me! We’re looking for a historian of medicine (or similar) for a 4 yr postdoctoral research fellow position elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

We are seeking a post-doctoral research fellow to work on a Leverhulme-funded interdisciplinary project titled ‘A History of Hurt Feelings and the Law’. The project is a collaboration between Prof Chl...

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Fergus Smith @oldscotbooks.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

You know you're cooked when the best your lawyer can come up with is that you're a bit thick ... [Perthshire Courier, 1 May 1817]

Newspaper clipping:
John Pagan, accused of sheep-stealing, was next brought to the bar, but the prisoner having pleaded Guilty, Mr Wigham, his counsel, stated that he was a person of slender intellects. His punishment was restricted to transportation for seven years.

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