Re: A Dance called America

[Niven Sinclair <niven@niven.co.uk>]

At 11:15 21/02/00 +0000, you wrote:
> I've just been reading an
> intriguing book called the "A Dance called America" subtitled
> "The Scottish Highlands The United States and Canada" By James
> Hunter, Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 1994, reprint 1999. ISBN 181558
> 807 8.
>  
> The book was subsidised and has such intriguing chapter
> titles such as "A hearty and intrepid race of men", "Such
> of them as did not die while going across the ocean" and "Stand
> fast Craigellachie".
>  
> The book starts with the American Revolutionary Battle of
> Moore's Creek, in which the author claims a Highland army defended
> Moore's Creek Bridge.  The book weaves in stories of Flora
> MacDonald, of Drumossie Moore fame, and her husband.  They speak of
> the Gaelic speaking communities and the book shows powerful Scottish
> influences on American Canadian history.  I wonder from such a small
> and poor nation on the fringe of Europe, what race of men could place
> such an imprimatur on the face of the world, be it real or
> imagined.  Fierce Australian miners, battle for American
> Independence, significant roles on forging the confederation of Canada,
> the West Indies scattered with Scots from Shirley Heights to Guyana and
> places I am sure have not come to our attention.  The principal road
> to Hong Kong, built by Sinclairs, called Sinclair, is an amazing legacy
> from a nation whose population hardly ever exceeded five
> million.
>  
>  
>  
> Sinclair