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Darien documents go to Central America
10/08/2005
The National Archives of Scotland is loaning historic
300-year-old letters to Central America as part of an
exhibition on the Darien colony.
The letters tell the story of Scotland's attempt late in
the 17th century to found an overseas colony of its own at
Darien in Panama.
The failure led in the end to the Act of Union in 1707
under which Scotland received almost £400,000 in part to
repay those who invested in the unsuccessful project.
Three letters written from Darien by a Scottish settler
in 1699 are being loaned by the National Archives of
Scotland to the International Canal Museum in Panama.
The original letters, sent by George Douglas from the
isthmus of Panama to Fife, will form the centrepiece of an
exhibition on the Darien settlement.
NAS Outreach Officer Alison Lindsay has accepted an
invitation from HM Ambassador to Panama, Jim Malcolm OBE,
to travel to the country to deliver a lecture on
Darien.
She also plans to visit the original site of the colony,
on the north coast of Panama, to see the ruins left by the
Scots when they abandoned it in 1699. Alison said:
"This really is the opportunity of a lifetime. I learned
about the Darien company at school but I never dreamed I
might one day visit it. One of the leaders of the Darien
settlement was a Major John Lindsay, so I feel I have a
small direct connection to this momentous episode in
Scotland's history."
George MacKenzie, Keeper of the Records of Scotland,
added:
"These letters embody the hopes, the drama and
ultimately the heartbreak of the Darien expedition. They
are the authentic voice of the past, speaking to us down
the centuries. I am delighted we are lending them to this
important exhibition marking a historical connection
between Scotland and Panama."
Also attending the opening of the exhibition will be Nat
Edwards from the National Library of Scotland and
archaeologist Mark Horton, who led a dig at Darien two
years ago.