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  • Town
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    • Source 1: A proposal for keeping the streets clean, 1734-5
    • Source 2: Proposals for improving the city of Edinburgh, 1752
    • Source 3: Proposals for improving the city of Edinburgh, 1752
    • Source 4: James Craig’s design for the New Town, 1768
    • Source 5: Map showing the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, 1780
    • Source 6: James Craig’s proposal for improving the eastern approach to the Old Town, 1786
    • Source 7: Description of Edinburgh from the Statistical Account of Scotland, 1791-1799
  • Encyclopaedia
    Britannica
    • Source 1: Title page to volume 1 of the first edition.
    • Source 2: Agriculture, volume 1 A-B, page 40
    • Source 3: Agriculture Plate IV, volume 1 A-B, page 41
    • Source 4: Mechanics, volume 1 M-Z, page 38
    • Source 5: Mechanics, volume 1 M-Z, plate CV
    • Source 6: Camelus or Camel, volume 1 A-B, page 13
    • Source 7: Bactrianus or Bactrian Camel, volume 1 A-B, Plate EIX
    • Source 8: Caricature of Andrew Bell and William Smellie by John Kay
  • Scotticisms
    • Source 1 : A list of Scotticisms by David Hume, first printed 1752
    • Source 2 : Lectures on the art of speaking English, 1761
    • Source 3 : A society for promoting the reading and speaking of English, 1761
    • Source 4 : Observations on the Scottish dialect by Sir John Sinclair, 1782
    • Source 5 : Teaching correct English to the young, 1799
    • Source 6 : The richness of the Scots language, 1792
    • Source 7 : In support of the Scots language, 1799
  • Statistical
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    • Source 1: Sir John Sinclair’s description of compiling the ‘Statistical Account’
    • Source 2: Sir John Sinclair’s discussion of the term ‘statistics’
    • Source 3: Part of the report for the Parish of Monymusk
    • Source 4: Part of the report for the Parish of Wick
    • Source 5: Statistical table for the Parish of Culross
    • Source 6: Report for the Parish of East Kilbride
    • Source 7: Report for the Parish of Smailholm
  • Ossian
    • Source 1: Preface to ‘Fragments of ancient poetry’, 1760
    • Source 2: Preface to ‘Fingal’, 1761
    • Source 3: Letter from David Hume, 1763
    • Source 4: Samuel Johnson’s opinion of the poems, 1775
    • Source 5: An enquiry into the authenticity of the poems, 1781
    • Source 6: ‘Poems of Ossian’ edited by Malcolm Laing, 1805
    • Source 7: Highland Society of Scotland report, 1805
  • Clubs and
    Societies
    • Source 1: List of members of the Select Society
    • Source 2: Questions debated by the Select Society
    • Source 3: The aims of the Edinburgh Society
    • Source 4: A description of the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh, 1754
    • Source 5: Members of the Cape Club
    • Source 6: An account of the Cape Club
    • Source 7: Extract from the Highland Society of London Minute Book, 1784
    • Women and the Enlightenment
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Clubs and Societies

Source 6 : Extracts from the Sederunt book of the Knights Companion of the Cape

Manuscript (NLS reference: MS 2004)

The Sederunt book contains a record of the Cape Club meetings. The word ‘sederunt’ comes from the Latin verb ‘to sit’, and so refers to all the club members who sat down to hold a meeting.

This extract includes a brief account of the club’s history and aims, and a description of the tenth Grand Cape – a celebration of the poet James Thomson.

The Cape Club was one of many 18th-century ‘convivial’ clubs whose meetings were held in taverns. It is thought that the Club was established sometime in the 1730s, but, according to this source, the name dates from 1764.

The Cape Club was named after the distinctive ‘cape’ or headgear worn by the Sovereign, or president. The Sovereign also carried two specially made household pokers as a symbol of his authority.

All members, or Knights Companions of the Cape, were sworn to secrecy about the proceedings of the meetings. Each one took on a pseudonym based on a personal characteristic, for example Sir Silence, Sir Heavyhours, and Sir Complaints.

We are grateful to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland for permission to reproduce this extract from the Sederunt book of the Knights Companion of the Cape.

thumbnail of clubs-societies-source-6

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Transcript

Page 1

Introduction

The knights companions of the

Cape began to call themselves by that name

about the year 1764. The original constituents

of the order occasionally admitted by a prescribed

form such other members as they found agree-

able. The purpose and intention of the Society

from the beginning was: after the business

of the day was over to pass the evening socially

with a set of select companions in an agree-

able but at the same time a rational and

frugal manner; for this purpose beer

or porter were their liquors from four pence

to six pence each the extent of their usual

expence, conversation and a song theire

amusement, gaming generally prohibited

and a freedom for each to come and depart at

their pleasure was always considered as es-

sentiall to the constitution of the Society.

Upon these principles with some few va-

riations in different periods of time incident

to every association of mankind they have

gradually encreased and that a requisite

order among so considerable a number might

be

Page 2

be more fully established. In the year 1768

proper officers having been chosen for conduct-

ing the affairs of the Society, such regulations

as were necessary for the benefit thereof were

agreed to be put in writing. Their method

of entering members and the practice intro-

duced by a late worthy knight of each assum-

ing a particular tittle was established into

a rule of the Society (this gentleman who

was one of the founders of the order is men-

tioned here only because he having died before

the roll was extended his name is not to be

found therein, it is Sir Poker).

A mace and seal were likewise appoin-

ted to be constructed and diplomas were

ordered to be issued. Without being possessed

of one regularly signed by the sovereign,

and sealed with the seal of the order bearing

their motto of Concordia Fratrum Decus

no person was to be entituled to the privilege

of a member. And after due considera-

tion and many meetings had for that

purpose on the 26th January 1769 a body

of

Page 3

of laws was drawn up on vellum and is

signed by the respective members always before

receiving their diplomas of which laws and

names so subscribing the following is an

exact copy.

Page 4

Tenth Grand Cape

In honour of James Thomson author of the

Seasons etc.

Held upon the anniversary of the birth of

that Bard.

At Capehall in Austine’s.

Saturday 22d September 1770

In consequence of the Society’s resolution on

the 22d September in the preceeding year

per sederunt in this book folio.

In celebration of this day the

hall was illuminated and emblematically

ornamented with flowers representing

the seasons etc. An ode wrote for the

occasion by Sir Forgetfull set to music

and conducted by Sir Stair was performed

by the musical gentlemen of the Society.

After which an ex tempore oration

pointing

Page 5

pointing out the capital merits of the Bard

was delivered by Sir Crassus. To this

succeeded all the songs in Thomsons works

by way of garland adapted to Scottish

music by Sir Stair and sung by him and the

other respective musical knights.

And in every demonstration of heart

felt joy, rational happiness and

decent harmony characteristic of the

Bard. The evening entertainment

concluded with a glass to the particular

memorys of departed bards, great

genius’s and good men.

At this festival there were present

Sir Tumble Senior Speak Dyke
Sir Lad Deputy Senior Silence Surprise
Sir Waterhole Fender Wager
Sir Scrape Coup Beefstakes
Sir Nun and Abbess Rector Vote Crassus
Sir Broun Stout Secretary Sark Ship
Sir Dry Cape Blue Eye Too Thach
Sir Chaunter Buildings Stair
Sir Snore Launcet Accident
Sir Tree Slipper Commission
Hay Loft Clamour
In all 32
Bill £ 4.1s.

Discussion Points

  1. According to this source, what were the main aims of the Cape Club?
  2. Look at the description of the Grand Cape. What does this source tell you about the interests and nature of the Club?
  • Previous
  • Next
  • Source 1
    List of members of the Select Society
  • Source 2
    Questions debated by the Select Society
  • Source 3
    The aims of the Edinburgh Society
  • Source 4
    A description of the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh, 1754
  • Source 5
    Members of the Cape Club
  • Source 6
    An account of the Cape Club
  • Source 7
    Extract from the Highland Society of London Minute Book, 1784

See the discussion points

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