Hi Francis - I looked in to this one a while back for some track notes -
here's a summary
My understanding is that comment is attributed to Nathaniel and is in
the published collection of 1819 (The Beauties of Gow).
( Interestingly the fiddler's companion has words from 1804:
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/FAR_FARE.htm#FAREWELL_TO_WHISKEY_[1])
I searched for and found reference to the 'British Government
prohibition' to save the 'wasting of grain' but found only unreferenced
stories. Jack Campin has a long article on grain and meal shortages (and
riots). This one:
http://www.campin.me.uk/Embro/Webrelease/Embro/17riot/17riot.htm gives a
6 fold increase in grain prices:
"The most extreme price rises for grain - to six times the previous
level - were in the years 1799 and 1800. This led to several attacks on
stores and carts, particularly in Leith, the Grassmarket, the Cowgate,
the West Port and the Pleasance, and the Volunteers were called out to
defend the dealers. This kind of action made them the target of
children's rhymes:"
But no references .. the riots should be relatively easy to find - or
ask Jack for his source, I see his name around and about...
Grain prices are available for that time - e.g. National Archives Doc
ref: *152M/C1819/OH142 *(I didn't retrieve it!)
*Contents*:
"Need to encourage agriculture; suggests use of inferior grains in
distilleries; greater demand for barley in north of Scotland for
production of whiskey; price of grains in 1801 ands 1810 - 'Agricola' to
H.A."
This book on the haggis:
http://www.avrf23.dsl.pipex.com/The%20Haggis%20TYPESET%2016%20feb-2.pdf
Both references grain prices and crop failures for the period:
" 1790s Harvest Failure, 1799 Price of corn was more than double the
level of the 1790s, Harvest Failure"
AND has a substantial reference list ... none of which are on my bookshelf.
Hope this helps
Rob
On 13/09/2011 17:54, Francis Wood wrote:
The note accompanying the fine tune 'Farewell to Whisky' appearing in the Gow
5th collection states:
"This tune alludes to prohibiting the making of Whisky in 1799.
It is expressive of a Highlander's sorrow on
being deprived of his favourite beverage".
Also in the 5th collection is the remedy to this distressing situation: 'Whisky
Welcome back again', with the note:
"Alluding to permitting Whisky to be distilled in the year 1801.
It is a merry dancing Tune."
I seem to remember reading that the prohibition was caused by a shortage of
grain. Can anyone provide anything more specific about the relevant
circumstances in 1799 - 1801?
Francis
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