Taken from an English newspaper, 1836.
Among a bundle of old paper, in a snuff shop in Edinburgh, there was discovered a number of receipts and household papers, the property , and several of them in the hand-writing of the father of Sir Walter Scott. The dates run from 1777 to 1798, a period embracing the boyhood and youthful days of the future author of Waverley, and some of the items, trifling in themselves, now assume an importance from being connected with the person of the gifted Minstrel. One of these occurs in a barber’s account (we beg pardon, they are hair-dressers now) ; after enumerating shaving, hair powder, &c. it states “to a new wig for Master Walter.” From the date, this appears to have been in his fifteenth year, the time he suffered severe illness from the bursting of a blood vessel, when it is probable his hair was taken off. Some of the papers are docketed on the back by Sir Walter himself, and here they are for snuff-wrappers proving that the greatest, as well as the most obscure may write for the snuff-shop, as well as for glory !.
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I thought this might appeal to the Scots, snuff-takers, historians and literary devotees amongst you.
When I started using SWS, I read up a bit on Sir Walter to find out more. I’d had a vague idea that he was an author, but didn’t know much more. Actually, writing was a bit of a sideline, he was much more well known for the role he played in building the relationship between Scotland and England. If I didn’t get it wrong, the king granted him his baronetcy for that role.
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@lunecat, I’m a bit hazy on it. I think it was something like the relationship between the king and the Scottish gentry was a bit touch and go, but Sir Walter somehow made the visit a success and after that they got on much better.
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HISTORY No. 19b. SIR WALTER SCOTT’S " SNUFF MULL."
Just found this from a Scottish newspaper, 1947.
When Perth Theatre Company Stage “Scott of Abbotsford” this week, a man’s head ornamented into a “snuff mull” will be used in the production. It was previously owned by Sir Walter Scott, and is now in the possession of Mr. W.T.G. Henderson, Murray Street Perth.
The object was televised in June of this year as one of the exhibits at the antique dealers fair in London.
@lunecat Half a century ago, when I was about ten years of age I went to the top of the Scott Monument. I remember the adults had to really squeeze past each other, and take it in turns to go up or down the last bit, as the spiral staircase was so narrow at the top.
Sadly, the last that I had heard about it was that a few years back they closed it to the public due to possible terrorist threats.
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A BIT MORE ON EDINBURGH.
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An Edinburgh snuff manufacturer has been fined 200 pounds for having in his possession a large quantity of snuff Adulterated with Tonquin Beans. The defence was that it was customary in the trade to mix the snuff with that ingredient for flavouring purposes, but the excuse did not avail with the justices.
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@lunecat I have no idea which group the blame was apportioned to at the time, and I think it best we don’t dwell on the subject of terrorism here.
Best to let sleeping dogs lie, and not get the moderators jittery.
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Religion and politics in one post… Lol
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The posts from lunecat appear to have been removed. That’s why this looks like a monologue by me.
It is a bit confusing to first time readers when this sort of thing happens.