Would you ever wear a feather in your cap, particularly in the U.S.?

[Mike_Oettle]

Thank you, Cygnus, for this most interesting quote: “In the number were several gentlemen, we understand, of very high rank in the army, and some connected with distinguished characters in the Senate, and at the Bar. They were all in full Highland dress, each having a tartan jacket and kilt, with the plaid in rich folds over the shoulder; hose, pouch, black velvet stock, and bonnet blue, decorated with the eagle plume, mingled with ostrich feathers . . .”

A pity there were no cameras back then.
I was wondering what Senate was being referred to, though, since the UK does not have such an institution at national level. Was it perhaps a university senate?
Regards,
Mike

[Cygnus]

That's a good question, Mike, and I'm not entirely sure; that statement is made without any other explanation. I'm not a historian by any means, nor am I well-versed in my knowledge of the government of the UK. All I can do is mention that the procession was in support of Queen Caroline just following her trial in 1820 and hope that somebody with more knowledge of the time and its organizations and systems can provide an accurate answer.

[JerseyLawyer]

I am reasonably sure the reference is to Senators of the College of Justice. That is, the Lords of Session, judges of the High Court, and today, judges of the Scottish Land Court. Depending on what time period the quote is from, it could also include some other officials, including the Lord Advocate, Lord Clerk Register, Master of Requests and the Secretary of State.

So when they talk about "in the Senate, or at the bar", they mean my learned brothers of the bench and bar.

[Mike_Oettle]

Thanks, JL, for that explanation. Would this apply to Scotland only, then?
I have not heard the expression in relation to the English justice system.
Regards,
Mike

[JerseyLawyer]

Thanks, JL, for that explanation. Would this apply to Scotland only, then?
I have not heard the expression in relation to the English justice system.
Regards,
Mike

Yes, the College of Justice is a Scottish legal term. The general equivalent in England was, from 1981 until recently, the Supreme Court of England and Wales (before that, it was called the Supreme Court of Judicature for about a hundred years after the Judicature Acts, and before that things were more complicated), but is now the "Senior Courts of England and Wales" since the House of Lords has been replaced by a Supreme Court.

[Stratherrick]

As a member of the Tartan Army, I wear one, or more, feathers in my Glengarry, usually pheasant, being a common man 'n' all, though not at Highland Gatherings/Games out of respect for clan officials.

I would NEVER, however, wear a diced headband out of respect for the military.

Slainte

Bruce

[macwilkin]

As a member of the Tartan Army, I wear one, or more, feathers in my Glengarry, usually pheasant, being a common man 'n' all, though not at Highland Gatherings/Games out of respect for clan officials.

I would NEVER, however, wear a diced headband out of respect for the military.

Slainte

Bruce

Except that not every Highland/Scottish regiment wears a diced bonnet/glengarry. I wear a diced headband on my fawn balmoral (fawn and lovat green dicing) and I see nothing disrespectful about it.

T.

[Stratherrick]

T.

Your dicing seems ok to me.

I meant the red & white dicing that I've seen cause a few pub arguments if the wearer has no military record.

Some Tartan "Army" members wear it as if being in that "army" entitles them to dress up. As they're so often told, they're wrong, sooo wrong.

I'd love to see a photo of your bonnet, though.

Slainte

Bruce

[macwilkin]

T.

Your dicing seems ok to me.

I meant the red & white dicing that I've seen cause a few pub arguments if the wearer has no military record.

Some Tartan "Army" members wear it as if being in that "army" entitles them to dress up. As they're so often told, they're wrong, sooo wrong.

I'd love to see a photo of your bonnet, though.

Slainte

Bruce

But again, not every regiment that wears diced headgear wear the red/black/white dicing that is the most common -- the Argylls certainly had their own distinct pattern, as did the old HLI and other regiments. The Toronto Scottish certainly have the most unique, with a white/blue/tan pattern.

If dicing has become a military "symbol", it is only de facto. I see nothing wrong or insulting with wearing it per se.

T.

[Mike_Oettle]

Hi, JL – it seems that the English court system has been going through a period of rapid change, somewhat like in my own country. It gets terribly confusing!

Todd, I would love to see a picture of the dicing used by the Toronto Scottish. I recall seeing a picture of a band member in a feather bonnet, but not a diced bonnet. Does the tan in the dicing match the brown of the Hodden Grey kilts and coats?
And your own bonnet with its loden green dicing has caught my eye, too.
I was fascinated yesterday to receive an e-mail from Santa Kona, with a picture of the special red bonnets that Robert Mackie makes for Clan Claus. They have red, white and green dicing, and a green headband.
Gotta get me one of those!
Regards,
Mike