Annals of the London Morayshire Club, by James Ray and W. C. Grant

Front matter

M aM ■_ 1 (■gxrar. V u I lTfilTiTy____MiTtV^ _»J __J_J»_____________L_l_L___'_F 1 V9 t» I ANNALS OF the LONDON MORAYSHIRE CLUB, BY JAMES RAY AND W. CALDER GRANT. r^^^^^__~. LONDON : Charles Skipper & East Printers, 49, Great Tower Street, E.C. JS94- -*< Preface: k £3^ H E preservation in a permanent shape of a record, so far as was possible, of the history of the old London Morayshire Club, which was founded in 1813, but fell into abeyance, has been for many years a recognised necessity. In the preparation of this work Mr. James Ray, the lately deceased Chief Secretary of the existing club, took a consuming interest, and with many difficulties in his way he set about it. He had to contend first of all with the absence of material for his history. But diligent and persevering research rewarded his labours, and he has compiled in the first part of this book an aggregation of detail in connection with the doings of our fellow countrymen in London of two, three, or four generations back, which possesses an unique interest.

Mr. Ray's labours were necessarily prolonged because of this difficulty, and. as time went on, and the present club, which was founded, or, as he preferred to phrase it, " re-constituted," in 1872, neared its " majority," he expanded his idea with the object of including a sketch of the history of the new institution up to the time of " coming of age." That part of his intended work he was, unfortunately, unable, in consequence of ill-health, to do more than just enter upon. After his lamented death the Committee of Management of the Club felt that the work should be proceeded with, and a Sub-Committee, consisting of Messrs. Robert Davidson. James Duncan, W. Calder Grant, F. W. Hamilton, R. M. Hunter, John McLean, and J. W. Webster, was appointed to complete tbe