ADDRESS TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF STIRLINGSHIRE: A response to the threatened invasion of Stirlingshire by Napoleon Bonaparte


Te threat of an invasion by Na- poleon on British shores was a strong possibility at the time of the publica- tion.


The threat of an invasion by Napoleon on British shores was a strong possibility at the time of the publication. In 1796, there was “Expédition d’Irlande”. This was an unsuccessful atempt by the First French Republic to aid the Society of United Irishmen in a planned uprising against the British. The two countries had also been at war during the French Revolutionary Wars. The Treaty of Amiens was signed in 1802 to declare peace between the nations but would breakdown in 1803, the year the pamphlet was printed.


‘Great GOD!!! Shall the fair land of Caledonia be in reality contaminated by the sacrilegious feet of Frenchman?’


An Address to the Eastern District of Stirlingshire


‘Great GOD!!! Shall the fair land of Caledonia be in reality contaminated by the sacrilegious feet of Frenchman?”


Within the Stirling Council Archives Murray of Polmaise collection, there is a rare pamphlet concerning the threat of an invasion of Scotland by Napoleon Bonaparte. Printed in 1803 by T. Johnston of Falkirk, the pamphlet is a propaganda piece titled ‘An Address to the Eastern District of Stirlingshire’. The author is certain that if an invasion takes place on Scotish shores, Stirlingshire will be ‘visited and depopulated by the invading army’.


The title page addresses, in Latin, the tone and mood of the pamphlet. It reads:


“darent operam populi, ne quid respublica detrimenti caperet. Quis pro patria dubitabit mori?”


Translated:


“Should take care of the people, to prevent any harm to the republic, Who will hesitate to die for their country?”


February 2016 53


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