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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/1384-h.zip b/1384-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2560e48 --- /dev/null +++ b/1384-h.zip diff --git a/1384-h/1384-h.htm b/1384-h/1384-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9c06170 --- /dev/null +++ b/1384-h/1384-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5408 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" /> +<title>The Ayrshire Legatees</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + P.headingsummary { margin-left: 5%;} + H1, H2 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + } + H3, H4, H5 { + text-align: left; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + table { border-collapse: collapse; } +table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;} + td { vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid black;} + td p { margin: 0.2em; } + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: gray;} + + .citation {vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h2> +<a href="#startoftext">The Ayrshire Legatees, by John Galt</a> +</h2> +<pre> +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Ayrshire Legatees, by John Galt + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Ayrshire Legatees + + +Author: John Galt + + + +Release Date: August 4, 2008 [eBook #1384] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AYRSHIRE LEGATEES*** +</pre> +<p><a name="startoftext"></a></p> +<p>Transcribed from the 1895 Macmillan and Co. edition by David +Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org</p> +<h1>The Ayrshire Legatees</h1> +<h2>CHAPTER I—THE DEPARTURE</h2> +<p>On New Year’s day Dr. Pringle received a letter from +India, informing him that his cousin, Colonel Armour, had died at +Hydrabad, and left him his residuary legatee. The same post +brought other letters on the same subject from the agent of the +deceased in London, by which it was evident to the whole family +that no time should be lost in looking after their interests in +the hands of such brief and abrupt correspondents. +“To say the least of it,” as the Doctor himself +sedately remarked, “considering the greatness of the +forth-coming property, Messieurs Richard Argent and Company, of +New Broad Street, might have given a notion as to the particulars +of the residue.” It was therefore determined that, as +soon as the requisite arrangements could be made, the Doctor and +Mrs. Pringle should set out for the metropolis, to obtain a +speedy settlement with the agents, and, as Rachel had now, to use +an expression of her mother’s, “a prospect before +her,” that she also should accompany them: Andrew, who had +just been called to the Bar, and who had come to the manse to +spend a few days after attaining that distinction, modestly +suggested, that, considering the various professional points +which might be involved in the objects of his father’s +journey, and considering also the retired life which his father +had led in the rural village of Garnock, it might be of +importance to have the advantage of legal advice.</p> +<p>Mrs. Pringle interrupted this harangue, by saying, “We +see what you would be at, Andrew; ye’re just wanting to +come with us, and on this occasion I’m no for making +step-bairns, so we’ll a’ gang thegither.”</p> +<p>The Doctor had been for many years the incumbent of Garnock, +which is pleasantly situated between Irvine and Kilwinning, and, +on account of the benevolence of his disposition, was much +beloved by his parishioners. Some of the pawkie among them +used indeed to say, in answer to the godly of Kilmarnock, and +other admirers of the late great John Russel, of that formerly +orthodox town, by whom Dr. Pringle’s powers as a preacher +were held in no particular estimation,—“He kens our +pu’pit’s frail, and spar’st to save outlay to +the heritors.” As for Mrs. Pringle, there is not such +another minister’s wife, both for economy and management, +within the jurisdiction of the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr, and to +this fact the following letter to Miss Mally Glencairn, a maiden +lady residing in the Kirkgate of Irvine, a street that has been +likened unto the Kingdom of Heaven, where there is neither +marriage nor giving in marriage, will abundantly testify.</p> +<h3>LETTER I</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally +Glencairn</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Garnock Manse</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Miss Mally</span>—The Doctor +has had extraordinar news from India and London, where we are all +going, as soon as me and Rachel can get ourselves in order, so I +beg you will go to Bailie Delap’s shop, and get swatches of +his best black bombaseen, and crape, and muslin, and bring them +over to the manse the morn’s morning. If you cannot +come yourself, and the day should be wat, send Nanny Eydent, the +mantua-maker, with them; you’ll be sure to send Nanny, +onyhow, and I requeesht that, on this okasion, ye’ll get +the very best the Bailie has, and I’ll tell you all about +it when you come. You will get, likewise, swatches of +mourning print, with the lowest prices. I’ll no be so +particular about them, as they are for the servan lasses, and +there’s no need, for all the greatness of God’s +gifts, that we should be wasterful. Let Mrs. Glibbans know, +that the Doctor’s second cousin, the colonel, that was in +the East Indies, is no more;—I am sure she will sympatheese +with our loss on this melancholy okasion. Tell her, as +I’ll no be out till our mournings are made, I would take it +kind if she would come over and eate a bit of dinner on +Sunday. The Doctor will no preach himself, but +there’s to be an excellent young man, an acquaintance of +Andrew’s, that has the repute of being both sound and +hellaquaint. But no more at present, and looking for you +and Nanny Eydent, with the swatches,—I am, dear Miss Mally, +your sinsare friend,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Janet +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>The Doctor being of opinion that, until they had something in +hand from the legacy, they should walk in the paths of +moderation, it was resolved to proceed by the coach from Irvine +to Greenock, there embark in a steam-boat for Glasgow, and, +crossing the country to Edinburgh, take their passage at Leith in +one of the smacks for London. But we must let the parties +speak for themselves.</p> +<h3>LETTER II</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss +Isabella Tod</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Greenock</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Isabella</span>—I know not +why the dejection with which I parted from you still hangs upon +my heart, and grows heavier as I am drawn farther and farther +away. The uncertainty of the future—the dangers of +the sea—all combine to sadden my too sensitive +spirit. Still, however, I will exert myself, and try to +give you some account of our momentous journey.</p> +<p>The morning on which we bade farewell for a time—alas! +it was to me as if for ever, to my native shades of +Garnock—the weather was cold, bleak, and boisterous, and +the waves came rolling in majestic fury towards the shore, when +we arrived at the Tontine Inn of Ardrossan. What a monument +has the late Earl of Eglinton left there of his public +spirit! It should embalm his memory in the hearts of future +ages, as I doubt not but in time Ardrossan will become a grand +emporium; but the people of Saltcoats, a sordid race, complain +that it will be their ruin; and the Paisley subscribers to his +lordship’s canal grow pale when they think of profit.</p> +<p>The road, after leaving Ardrossan, lies along the shore. +The blast came dark from the waters, and the clouds lay piled in +every form of grandeur on the lofty peaks of Arran. The +view on the right hand is limited to the foot of a range of +abrupt mean hills, and on the left it meets the sea—as we +were obliged to keep the glasses up, our drive for several miles +was objectless and dreary. When we had ascended a hill, +leaving Kilbride on the left, we passed under the walls of an +ancient tower. What delightful ideas are associated with +the sight of such venerable remains of antiquity!</p> +<p>Leaving that lofty relic of our warlike ancestors, we +descended again towards the shore. On the one side lay the +Cumbra Islands, and Bute, dear to departed royalty. Afar +beyond them, in the hoary magnificence of nature, rise the +mountains of Argyllshire; the cairns, as my brother says, of a +former world. On the other side of the road, we saw the +cloistered ruins of the religious house of Southenan, a nunnery +in those days of romantic adventure, when to live was to enjoy a +poetical element. In such a sweet sequestered retreat, how +much more pleasing to the soul it would have been, for you and I, +like two captive birds in one cage, to have sung away our hours +in innocence, than for me to be thus torn from you by fate, and +all on account of that mercenary legacy, perchance the spoils of +some unfortunate Hindoo Rajah!</p> +<p>At Largs we halted to change horses, and saw the barrows of +those who fell in the great battle. We then continued our +journey along the foot of stupendous precipices; and high, +sublime, and darkened with the shadow of antiquity, we saw, upon +its lofty station, the ancient Castle of Skelmorlie, where the +Montgomeries of other days held their gorgeous banquets, and that +brave knight who fell at Chevy-Chace came pricking forth on his +milk-white steed, as Sir Walter Scott would have described +him. But the age of chivalry is past, and the glory of +Europe departed for ever!</p> +<p>When we crossed the stream that divides the counties of Ayr +and Renfrew, we beheld, in all the apart and consequentiality of +pride, the house of Kelly overlooking the social villas of Wemyss +Bay. My brother compared it to a sugar hogshead, and them +to cotton-bags; for the lofty thane of Kelly is but a West India +planter, and the inhabitants of the villas on the shore are +Glasgow manufacturers.</p> +<p>To this succeeded a dull drive of about two miles, and then at +once we entered the pretty village of Inverkip. A slight +snow-shower had given to the landscape a sort of copperplate +effect, but still the forms of things, though but sketched, as it +were, with China ink, were calculated to produce interesting +impressions. After ascending, by a gentle acclivity, into a +picturesque and romantic pass, we entered a spacious valley, and, +in the course of little more than half an hour, reached this +town; the largest, the most populous, and the most superb that I +have yet seen. But what are all its warehouses, ships, and +smell of tar, and other odoriferous circumstances of fishery and +the sea, compared with the green swelling hills, the fragrant +bean-fields, and the peaceful groves of my native Garnock!</p> +<p>The people of this town are a very busy and clever race, but +much given to litigation. My brother says, that they are +the greatest benefactors to the Outer House, and that their +lawsuits are the most amusing and profitable before the courts, +being less for the purpose of determining what is right than what +is lawful. The chambermaid of the inn where we lodge +pointed out to me, on the opposite side of the street, a +magnificent edifice erected for balls; but the subscribers have +resolved not to allow any dancing till it is determined by the +Court of Session to whom the seats and chairs belong, as they +were brought from another house where the assemblies were +formerly held. I have heard a lawsuit compared to a +country-dance, in which, after a great bustle and regular +confusion, the parties stand still, all tired, just on the spot +where they began; but this is the first time that the judges of +the land have been called on to decide when a dance may +begin.</p> +<p>We arrived too late for the steam-boat, and are obliged to +wait till Monday morning; but to-morrow we shall go to church, +where I expect to see what sort of creatures the beaux are. +The Greenock ladies have a great name for beauty, but those that +I have seen are perfect frights. Such of the gentlemen as I +have observed passing the windows of the inn may do, but I +declare the ladies have nothing of which any woman ought to be +proud. Had we known that we ran a risk of not getting a +steam-boat, my mother would have provided an introductory letter +or two from some of her Irvine friends; but here we are almost +entire strangers: my father, however, is acquainted with one of +the magistrates, and has gone to see him. I hope he will be +civil enough to ask us to his house, for an inn is a shocking +place to live in, and my mother is terrified at the +expense. My brother, however, has great confidence in our +prospects, and orders and directs with a high hand. But my +paper is full, and I am compelled to conclude with scarcely room +to say how affectionately I am yours,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Rachel +Pringle</span>.</p> +<h3>LETTER III</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>The Rev. Dr. Pringle to Mr. +Micklewham</i>, <i>Schoolmaster and Session-Clerk</i>, +<i>Garnock</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Edinburgh</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>—We have got this +length through many difficulties, both in the travel by land to, +and by sea and land from Greenock, where we were obligated, by +reason of no conveyance, to stop the Sabbath, but not without +edification; for we went to hear Dr. Drystour in the forenoon, +who had a most weighty sermon on the tenth chapter of +Nehemiah. He is surely a great orthodox divine, but rather +costive in his delivery. In the afternoon we heard a +correct moral lecture on good works, in another church, from Dr. +Eastlight—a plain man, with a genteel congregation. +The same night we took supper with a wealthy family, where we had +much pleasant communion together, although the bringing in of the +toddy-bowl after supper is a fashion that has a tendency to +lengthen the sederunt to unseasonable hours.</p> +<p>On the following morning, by the break of day, we took +shipping in the steam-boat for Glasgow. I had misgivings +about the engine, which is really a thing of great docility; but +saving my concern for the boiler, we all found the place +surprising comfortable. The day was bleak and cold; but we +had a good fire in a carron grate in the middle of the floor, and +books to read, so that both body and mind are therein provided +for.</p> +<p>Among the books, I fell in with a <i>History of the +Rebellion</i>, anent the hand that an English gentleman of the +name of Waverley had in it. I was grieved that I had not +time to read it through, for it was wonderful interesting, and +far more particular, in many points, than any other account of +that affair I have yet met with; but it’s no so friendly to +Protestant principles as I could have wished. However, if I +get my legacy well settled, I will buy the book, and lend it to +you on my return, please God, to the manse.</p> +<p>We were put on shore at Glasgow by breakfast-time, and there +we tarried all day, as I had a power of attorney to get from Miss +Jenny Macbride, my cousin, to whom the colonel left the thousand +pound legacy. Miss Jenny thought the legacy should have +been more, and made some obstacle to signing the power; but both +her lawyer and Andrew Pringle, my son, convinced her, that, as it +was specified in the testament, she could not help it by standing +out; so at long and last Miss Jenny was persuaded to put her name +to the paper.</p> +<p>Next day we all four got into a fly coach, and, without damage +or detriment, reached this city in good time for dinner in +Macgregor’s hotel, a remarkable decent inn, next door to +one Mr. Blackwood, a civil and discreet man in the bookselling +line.</p> +<p>Really the changes in Edinburgh since I was here, thirty years +ago, are not to be told. I am confounded; for although I +have both heard and read of the New Town in the <i>Edinburgh +Advertiser</i>, and the <i>Scots Magazine</i>, I had no notion of +what has come to pass. It’s surprising to think +wherein the decay of the nation is; for at Greenock I saw nothing +but shipping and building; at Glasgow, streets spreading as if +they were one of the branches of cotton-spinning; and here, the +houses grown up as if they were sown in the seed-time with the +corn, by a drill-machine, or dibbled in rigs and furrows like +beans and potatoes.</p> +<p>To-morrow, God willing, we embark in a smack at Leith, so that +you will not hear from me again till it please Him to take us in +the hollow of His hand to London. In the meantime, I have +only to add, that, when the Session meets, I wish you would speak +to the elders, particularly to Mr. Craig, no to be overly hard on +that poor donsie thing, Meg Milliken, about her bairn; and tell +Tam Glen, the father o’t, from me, that it would have been +a sore heart to that pious woman, his mother, had she been +living, to have witnessed such a thing; and therefore I hope and +trust, he will yet confess a fault, and own Meg for his wife, +though she is but something of a tawpie. However, you need +not diminish her to Tam. I hope Mr. Snodgrass will give as +much satisfaction to the parish as can reasonably be expected in +my absence; and I remain, dear sir, your friend and pastor,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Zachariah +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>Mr. Micklewham received the Doctor’s letter about an +hour before the Session met on the case of Tam Glen and Meg +Milliken, and took it with him to the session-house, to read it +to the elders before going into the investigation. Such a +long and particular letter from the Doctor was, as they all +justly remarked, kind and dutiful to his people, and a great +pleasure to them.</p> +<p>Mr. Daff observed, “Truly the Doctor’s a vera +funny man, and wonderfu’ jocose about the +toddy-bowl.” But Mr. Craig said, that “sic a +thing on the Lord’s night gi’es me no pleasure; and I +am for setting my face against Waverley’s <i>History of the +Rebellion</i>, whilk I hae heard spoken of among the ungodly, +both at Kilwinning and Dalry; and if it has no respect to +Protestant principles, I doubt it’s but another dose +o’ the radical poison in a new guise.” Mr. +Icenor, however, thought that “the observe on the great +Doctor Drystour was very edifying; and that they should see about +getting him to help at the summer Occasion.” <a +name="citation1"></a><a href="#footnote1" +class="citation">[1]</a></p> +<p>While they were thus reviewing, in their way, the first +epistle of the Doctor, the betherel came in to say that Meg and +Tam were at the door. “Oh, man,” said Mr. Daff, +slyly, “ye shouldna hae left them at the door by +themselves.” Mr. Craig looked at him austerely, and +muttered something about the growing immorality of this +backsliding age; but before the smoke of his indignation had +kindled into eloquence, the delinquents were admitted. +However, as we have nothing to do with the business, we shall +leave them to their own deliberations.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER II—THE VOYAGE</h2> +<p>On the fourteenth day after the departure of the family from +the manse, the Rev. Mr. Charles Snodgrass, who was appointed to +officiate during the absence of the Doctor, received the +following letter from his old chum, Mr. Andrew Pringle. It +would appear that the young advocate is not so solid in the head +as some of his elder brethren at the Bar; and therefore many of +his flights and observations must be taken with an allowance on +the score of his youth.</p> +<h3>LETTER IV</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Andrew Pringle</i>, <i>Esq.</i>, +<i>Advocate</i>, <i>to the Rev. Charles Snodgrass</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>—We have at +last reached London, after a stormy passage of seven days. +The accommodation in the smacks looks extremely inviting in port, +and in fine weather, I doubt not, is comfortable, even at sea; +but in February, and in such visitations of the powers of the air +as we have endured, a balloon must be a far better vehicle than +all the vessels that have been constructed for passengers since +the time of Noah. In the first place, the waves of the +atmosphere cannot be so dangerous as those of the ocean, being +but “thin air”; and I am sure they are not so +disagreeable; then the speed of the balloon is so much +greater,—and it would puzzle Professor Leslie to +demonstrate that its motions are more unsteady; besides, who ever +heard of sea-sickness in a balloon? the consideration of which +alone would, to any reasonable person actually suffering under +the pains of that calamity, be deemed more than an equivalent for +all the little fractional difference of danger between the two +modes of travelling. I shall henceforth regard it as a fine +characteristic trait of our national prudence, that, in their +journies to France and Flanders, the Scottish witches always went +by air on broom-sticks and benweeds, instead of venturing by +water in sieves, like those of England. But the English are +under the influence of a maritime genius.</p> +<p>When we had got as far up the Thames as Gravesend, the wind +and tide came against us, so that the vessel was obliged to +anchor, and I availed myself of the circumstance, to induce the +family to disembark and go to London by <span +class="smcap">land</span>; and I esteem it a fortunate +circumstance that we did so, the day, for the season, being +uncommonly fine. After we had taken some refreshment, I +procured places in a stage-coach for my mother and sister, and, +with the Doctor, mounted myself on the outside. My +father’s old-fashioned notions boggled a little at first to +this arrangement, which he thought somewhat derogatory to his +ministerial dignity; but his scruples were in the end +overruled.</p> +<p>The country in this season is, of course, seen to +disadvantage, but still it exhibits beauty enough to convince us +what England must be when in leaf. The old +gentleman’s admiration of the increasing signs of what he +called civilisation, as we approached London, became quite +eloquent; but the first view of the city from Blackheath (which, +by the bye, is a fine common, surrounded with villas and handsome +houses) overpowered his faculties, and I shall never forget the +impression it made on myself. The sun was declined towards +the horizon; vast masses of dark low-hung clouds were mingled +with the smoky canopy, and the dome of St. Paul’s, like the +enormous idol of some terrible deity, throned amidst the smoke of +sacrifices and magnificence, darkness, and mystery, presented +altogether an object of vast sublimity. I felt touched with +reverence, as if I was indeed approaching the city of <span +class="smcap">the human powers</span>.</p> +<p>The distant view of Edinburgh is picturesque and romantic, but +it affects a lower class of our associations. It is, +compared to that of London, what the poem of the <i>Seasons</i> +is with respect to <i>Paradise Lost</i>—the castellated +descriptions of Walter Scott to the <i>Darkness</i> of +Byron—the <i>Sabbath</i> of Grahame to the <i>Robbers</i> +of Schiller. In the approach to Edinburgh, leisure and +cheerfulness are on the road; large spaces of rural and pastoral +nature are spread openly around, and mountains, and seas, and +headlands, and vessels passing beyond them, going like those that +die, we know not whither, while the sun is bright on their sails, +and hope with them; but, in coming to this Babylon, there is an +eager haste and a hurrying on from all quarters, towards that +stupendous pile of gloom, through which no eye can penetrate; an +unceasing sound, like the enginery of an earthquake at work, +rolls from the heart of that profound and indefinable +obscurity—sometimes a faint and yellow beam of the sun +strikes here and there on the vast expanse of edifices; and +churches, and holy asylums, are dimly seen lifting up their +countless steeples and spires, like so many lightning rods to +avert the wrath of Heaven.</p> +<p>The entrance to Edinburgh also awakens feelings of a more +pleasing character. The rugged veteran aspect of the Old +Town is agreeably contrasted with the bright smooth forehead of +the New, and there is not such an overwhelming torrent of animal +life, as to make you pause before venturing to stem it; the +noises are not so deafening, and the occasional sound of a +ballad-singer, or a Highland piper, varies and enriches the +discords; but here, a multitudinous assemblage of harsh alarms, +of selfish contentions, and of furious carriages, driven by a +fierce and insolent race, shatter the very hearing, till you +partake of the activity with which all seem as much possessed as +if a general apprehension prevailed, that the great clock of Time +would strike the doom-hour before their tasks were done. +But I must stop, for the postman with his bell, like the betherel +of some ancient “borough’s town” summoning to a +burial, is in the street, and warns me to +conclude.—Yours,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Andrew +Pringle</span>.</p> +<h3>LETTER V</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>The Rev. Dr. Pringle to Mr. +Micklewham</i>, <i>Schoolmaster and Session-Clerk</i>, +<i>Garnock</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>, 49 <span class="smcap">Norfolk +Street</span>, <span class="smcap">Strand</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>—On the first Sunday +forthcoming after the receiving hereof, you will not fail to +recollect in the remembering prayer, that we return thanks for +our safe arrival in London, after a dangerous voyage. Well, +indeed, is it ordained that we should pray for those who go down +to the sea in ships, and do business on the great deep; for what +me and mine have come through is unspeakable, and the hand of +Providence was visibly manifested.</p> +<p>On the day of our embarkation at Leith, a fair wind took us +onward at a blithe rate for some time; but in the course of that +night the bridle of the tempest was slackened, and the curb of +the billows loosened, and the ship reeled to and fro like a +drunken man, and no one could stand therein. My wife and +daughter lay at the point of death; Andrew Pringle, my son, also +was prostrated with the grievous affliction; and the very soul +within me was as if it would have been cast out of the body.</p> +<p>On the following day the storm abated, and the wind blew +favourable; but towards the heel of the evening it again came +vehement, and there was no help unto our distress. About +midnight, however, it pleased <span class="smcap">Him</span>, +whose breath is the tempest, to be more sparing with the whip of +His displeasure on our poor bark, as she hirpled on in her +toilsome journey through the waters; and I was enabled, through +His strength, to lift my head from the pillow of sickness, and +ascend the deck, where I thought of Noah looking out of the +window in the ark, upon the face of the desolate flood, and of +Peter walking on the sea; and I said to myself, it matters not +where we are, for we can be in no place where Jehovah is not +there likewise, whether it be on the waves of the ocean, or the +mountain tops, or in the valley and shadow of death.</p> +<p>The third day the wind came contrary, and in the fourth, and +the fifth, and the sixth, we were also sorely buffeted; but on +the night of the sixth we entered the mouth of the river Thames, +and on the morning of the seventh day of our departure, we cast +anchor near a town called Gravesend, where, to our exceeding +great joy, it pleased Him, in whom alone there is salvation, to +allow us once more to put our foot on the dry land.</p> +<p>When we had partaken of a repast, the first blessed with the +blessing of an appetite, from the day of our leaving our native +land, we got two vacancies in a stage-coach for my wife and +daughter; but with Andrew Pringle, my son, I was obligated to +mount aloft on the outside. I had some scruple of +conscience about this, for I was afraid of my decorum. I +met, however, with nothing but the height of discretion from the +other outside passengers, although I jealoused that one of them +was a light woman. Really I had no notion that the English +were so civilised; they were so well bred, and the very duddiest +of them spoke such a fine style of language, that when I looked +around on the country, I thought myself in the land of +Canaan. But it’s extraordinary what a power of drink +the coachmen drink, stopping and going into every change-house, +and yet behaving themselves with the greatest sobriety. And +then they are all so well dressed, which is no doubt owing to the +poor rates. I am thinking, however, that for all they cry +against them, the poor rates are but a small evil, since they +keep the poor folk in such food and raiment, and out of the +temptations to thievery; indeed, such a thing as a common beggar +is not to be seen in this land, excepting here and there a sorner +or a ne’er-do-weel.</p> +<p>When we had got to the outskirts of London, I began to be +ashamed of the sin of high places, and would gladly have got into +the inside of the coach, for fear of anybody knowing me; but +although the multitude of by-goers was like the kirk scailing at +the Sacrament, I saw not a kent face, nor one that took the least +notice of my situation. At last we got to an inn, called +<i>The White Horse</i>, Fetter-Lane, where we hired a hackney to +take us to the lodgings provided for us here in Norfolk Street, +by Mr. Pawkie, the Scotch solicitor, a friend of Andrew Pringle, +my son. Now it was that we began to experience the sharpers +of London; for it seems that there are divers Norfolk +Streets. Ours was in the Strand (mind that when you +direct), not very far from Fetter-Lane; but the hackney driver +took us away to one afar off, and when we knocked at the number +we thought was ours, we found ourselves at a house that should +not be told. I was so mortified, that I did not know what +to say; and when Andrew Pringle, my son, rebuked the man for the +mistake, he only gave a cunning laugh, and said we should have +told him whatna Norfolk Street we wanted. Andrew stormed at +this—but I discerned it was all owing to our own +inexperience, and put an end to the contention, by telling the +man to take us to Norfolk Street in the Strand, which was the +direction we had got. But when we got to the door, the +coachman was so extortionate, that another hobbleshaw +arose. Mrs. Pringle had been told that, in such disputes, +the best way of getting redress was to take the number of the +coach; but, in trying to do so, we found it fastened on, and I +thought the hackneyman would have gone by himself with +laughter. Andrew, who had not observed what we were doing, +when he saw us trying to take off the number, went like one +demented, and paid the man, I cannot tell what, to get us out, +and into the house, for fear we should have been mobbit.</p> +<p>I have not yet seen the colonel’s agents, so can say +nothing as to the business of our coming; for, landing at +Gravesend, we did not bring our trunks with us, and Andrew has +gone to the wharf this morning to get them, and, until we get +them, we can go nowhere, which is the occasion of my writing so +soon, knowing also how you and the whole parish would be anxious +to hear what had become of us; and I remain, dear sir, your +friend and pastor,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Zachariah +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>On Saturday evening, Saunders Dickie, the Irvine postman, +suspecting that this letter was from the Doctor, went with it +himself, on his own feet, to Mr. Micklewham, although the +distance is more than two miles, but Saunders, in addition to the +customary <i>twal pennies</i> on the postage, had a dram for his +pains. The next morning being wet, Mr. Micklewham had not +an opportunity of telling any of the parishioners in the +churchyard of the Doctor’s safe arrival, so that when he +read out the request to return thanks (for he was not only +school-master and session-clerk, but also precentor), there was a +murmur of pleasure diffused throughout the congregation, and the +greatest curiosity was excited to know what the dangers were, +from which their worthy pastor and his whole family had so +thankfully escaped in their voyage to London; so that, when the +service was over, the elders adjourned to the session-house to +hear the letter read; and many of the heads of families, and +other respectable parishioners, were admitted to the honours of +the sitting, who all sympathised, with the greatest sincerity, in +the sufferings which their minister and his family had +endured. Mr. Daff, however, was justly chided by Mr. Craig, +for rubbing his hands, and giving a sort of sniggering laugh, at +the Doctor’s sitting on high with a light woman. But +even Mr. Snodgrass was seen to smile at the incident of taking +the number off the coach, the meaning of which none but himself +seemed to understand.</p> +<p>When the epistle had been thus duly read, Mr. Micklewham +promised, for the satisfaction of some of the congregation, that +he would get two or three copies made by the best writers in his +school, to be handed about the parish, and Mr. Icenor remarked, +that truly it was a thing to be held in remembrance, for he had +not heard of greater tribulation by the waters since the +shipwreck of the Apostle Paul.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER III—THE LEGACY</h2> +<p>Soon after the receipt of the letters which we had the +pleasure of communicating in the foregoing chapter, the following +was received from Mrs. Pringle, and the intelligence it contains +is so interesting and important, that we hasten to lay it before +our readers:—</p> +<h3>LETTER VI</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally +Glencairn</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Miss Mally</span>—You must +not expect no particulars from me of our journey; but as Rachel +is writing all the calamities that befell us to Bell Tod, you +will, no doubt, hear of them. But all is nothing to my +losses. I bought from the first hand, Mr. Treddles the +manufacturer, two pieces of muslin, at Glasgow, such a thing not +being to be had on any reasonable terms here, where they get all +their fine muslins from Glasgow and Paisley; and in the same +bocks with them I packit a small crock of our ain excellent +poudered butter, with a delap cheese, for I was told that such +commodities are not to be had genuine in London. I likewise +had in it a pot of marmlet, which Miss Jenny Macbride gave me at +Glasgow, assuring me that it was not only dentice, but a +curiosity among the English, and my best new bumbeseen goun in +peper. Howsomever, in the nailing of the bocks, which I did +carefully with my oun hands, one of the nails gaed in ajee, and +broke the pot of marmlet, which, by the jolting of the ship, +ruined the muslin, rottened the peper round the goun, which the +shivers cut into more than twenty great holes. Over and +above all, the crock with the butter was, no one can tell how, +crackit, and the pickle lecking out, and mixing with the seerip +of the marmlet, spoilt the cheese. In short, at the object +I beheld, when the bocks was opened, I could have ta’en to +the greeting; but I behaved with more composity on the occasion, +than the Doctor thought it was in the power of nature to +do. Howsomever, till I get a new goun and other things, I +am obliged to be a prisoner; and as the Doctor does not like to +go to the counting-house of the agents without me, I know not +what is yet to be the consequence of our journey. But it +would need to be something; for we pay four guineas and a half a +week for our dry lodgings, which is at a degree more than the +Doctor’s whole stipend. As yet, for the cause of +these misfortunes, I can give you no account of London; but there +is, as everybody kens, little thrift in their housekeeping. +We just buy our tea by the quarter a pound, and our loaf sugar, +broken in a peper bag, by the pound, which would be a disgrace to +a decent family in Scotland; and when we order dinner, we get no +more than just serves, so that we have no cold meat if a stranger +were coming by chance, which makes an unco bare house. The +servan lasses I cannot abide; they dress better at their wark +than ever I did on an ordinaire week-day at the manse; and this +very morning I saw madam, the kitchen lass, mounted on a pair of +pattens, washing the plain stenes before the door; na, for that +matter, a bare foot is not to be seen within the four walls of +London, at the least I have na seen no such thing.</p> +<p>In the way of marketing, things are very good here, and +considering, not dear; but all is sold by the licht weight, only +the fish are awful; half a guinea for a cod’s head, and no +bigger than the drouds the cadgers bring from Ayr, at a shilling +and eighteenpence apiece.</p> +<p>Tell Miss Nanny Eydent that I have seen none of the fashions +as yet; but we are going to the burial of the auld king next +week, and I’ll write her a particular account how the +leddies are dressed; but everybody is in deep mourning. +Howsomever I have seen but little, and that only in a manner from +the window; but I could not miss the opportunity of a frank that +Andrew has got, and as he’s waiting for the pen, you must +excuse haste. From your sincere friend,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Janet +Pringle</span>.</p> +<h3>LETTER VII</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Andrew Pringle</i>, <i>Esq.</i>, +<i>to the Rev. Charles Snodgrass</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>—It will give +you pleasure to hear that my father is likely to get his business +speedily settled without any equivocation; and that all those +prudential considerations which brought us to London were but the +phantasms of our own inexperience. I use the plural, for I +really share in the shame of having called in question the high +character of the agents: it ought to have been warrantry enough +that everything would be fairly adjusted. But I must give +you some account of what has taken place, to illustrate our +provincialism, and to give you some idea of the way of doing +business in London.</p> +<p>After having recovered from the effects, and repaired some of +the accidents of our voyage, we yesterday morning sallied forth, +the Doctor, my mother, and your humble servant, in a hackney +coach, to Broad Street, where the agents have their +counting-house, and were ushered into a room among other legatees +or clients, waiting for an audience of Mr. Argent, the principal +of the house.</p> +<p>I know not how it is, that the little personal peculiarities, +so amusing to strangers, should be painful when we see them in +those whom we love and esteem; but I own to you, that there was a +something in the demeanour of the old folks on this occasion, +that would have been exceedingly diverting to me, had my filial +reverence been less sincere for them.</p> +<p>The establishment of Messrs. Argent and Company is of vast +extent, and has in it something even of a public magnitude; the +number of the clerks, the assiduity of all, and the order that +obviously prevails throughout, give at the first sight, an +impression that bespeaks respect for the stability and integrity +of the concern. When we had been seated about ten minutes, +and my father’s name taken to Mr. Argent, an answer was +brought, that he would see us as soon as possible; but we were +obliged to wait at least half an hour more. Upon our being +at last admitted, Mr. Argent received us standing, and in an easy +gentlemanly manner said to my father, “You are the +residuary legatee of the late Colonel Armour. I am sorry +that you did not apprise me of this visit, that I might have been +prepared to give the information you naturally desire; but if you +will call here to-morrow at 12 o’clock, I shall then be +able to satisfy you on the subject. Your lady, I +presume?” he added, turning to my mother; “Mrs. +Argent will have the honour of waiting on you; may I therefore +beg the favour of your address?” Fortunately I was +provided with cards, and having given him one, we found ourselves +constrained, as it were, to take our leave. The whole +interview did not last two minutes, and I never was less +satisfied with myself. The Doctor and my mother were in the +greatest anguish; and when we were again seated in the coach, +loudly expressed their apprehensions. They were convinced +that some stratagem was meditated; they feared that their journey +to London would prove as little satisfactory as that of the +Wrongheads, and that they had been throwing away good money in +building castles in the air.</p> +<p>It had been previously arranged, that we were to return for my +sister, and afterwards visit some of the sights; but the clouded +visages of her father and mother darkened the very spirit of +Rachel, and she largely shared in their fears. This, +however, was not the gravest part of the business; for, instead +of going to St. Paul’s and the Tower, as we had intended, +my mother declared, that not one farthing would they spend more +till they were satisfied that the expenses already incurred were +likely to be reimbursed; and a Chancery suit, with all the +horrors of wig and gown, floated in spectral haziness before +their imagination.</p> +<p>We sat down to a frugal meal, and although the remainder of a +bottle of wine, saved from the preceding day, hardly afforded a +glass apiece, the Doctor absolutely prohibited me from opening +another.</p> +<p>This morning, faithful to the hour, we were again in Broad +Street, with hearts knit up into the most peremptory courage; +and, on being announced, were immediately admitted to Mr. +Argent. He received us with the same ease as in the first +interview, and, after requesting us to be seated (which, by the +way, he did not do yesterday, a circumstance that was ominously +remarked), he began to talk on indifferent matters. I could +see that a question, big with law and fortune, was gathering in +the breasts both of the Doctor and my mother, and that they were +in a state far from that of the blessed. But one of the +clerks, before they had time to express their indignant +suspicions, entered with a paper, and Mr. Argent, having glanced +it over, said to the Doctor—“I congratulate you, sir, +on the amount of the colonel’s fortune. I was not +indeed aware before that he had died so rich. He has left +about £120,000; seventy-five thousand of which is in the +five per cents; the remainder in India bonds and other +securities. The legacies appear to be inconsiderable, so +that the residue to you, after paying them and the expenses of +Doctors’ Commons, will exceed a hundred thousand +pounds.”</p> +<p>My father turned his eyes upwards in thankfulness. +“But,” continued Mr. Argent, “before the +property can be transferred, it will be necessary for you to +provide about four thousand pounds to pay the duty and other +requisite expenses.” This was a thunderclap. +“Where can I get such a sum?” exclaimed my father, in +a tone of pathetic simplicity. Mr. Argent smiled and said, +“We shall manage that for you”; and having in the +same moment pulled a bell, a fine young man entered, whom he +introduced to us as his son, and desired him to explain what +steps it was necessary for the Doctor to take. We +accordingly followed Mr. Charles Argent to his own room.</p> +<p>Thus, in less time than I have been in writing it, were we put +in possession of all the information we required, and found those +whom we feared might be interested to withhold the settlement, +alert and prompt to assist us.</p> +<p>Mr. Charles Argent is naturally more familiar than his +father. He has a little dash of pleasantry in his manner, +with a shrewd good-humoured fashionable air, that renders him +soon an agreeable acquaintance. He entered with singular +felicity at once into the character of the Doctor and my mother, +and waggishly drolled, as if he did not understand them, in +order, I could perceive, to draw out the simplicity of their +apprehensions. He quite won the old lady’s economical +heart, by offering to frank her letters, for he is in +Parliament. “You have probably,” said he slyly, +“friends in the country, to whom you may be desirous of +communicating the result of your journey to London; send your +letters to me, and I will forward them, and any that you expect +may also come under cover to my address, for postage is very +expensive.”</p> +<p>As we were taking our leave, after being fully instructed in +all the preliminary steps to be taken before the transfers of the +funded property can be made, he asked me, in a friendly manner, +to dine with him this evening, and I never accepted an invitation +with more pleasure. I consider his acquaintance a most +agreeable acquisition, and not one of the least of those +advantages which this new opulence has put it in my power to +attain. The incidents, indeed, of this day, have been all +highly gratifying, and the new and brighter phase in which I have +seen the mercantile character, as it is connected with the +greatness and glory of my country—is in itself equivalent +to an accession of useful knowledge. I can no longer wonder +at the vast power which the British Government wielded during the +late war, when I reflect that the method and promptitude of the +house of Messrs. Argent and Company is common to all the great +commercial concerns from which the statesmen derived, as from so +many reservoirs, those immense pecuniary supplies, which enabled +them to beggar all the resources of a political despotism, the +most unbounded, both in power and principle, of any tyranny that +ever existed so long.—Yours, etc.,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Andrew +Pringle</span>.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV—THE TOWN</h2> +<p>There was a great tea-drinking held in the Kirkgate of Irvine, +at the house of Miss Mally Glencairn; and at that assemblage of +rank, beauty, and fashion, among other delicacies of the season, +several new-come-home Clyde skippers, roaring from Greenock and +Port-Glasgow, were served up—but nothing contributed more +to the entertainment of the evening than a proposal, on the part +of Miss Mally, that those present who had received letters from +the Pringles should read them for the benefit of the +company. This was, no doubt, a preconcerted scheme between +her and Miss Isabella Tod, to hear what Mr. Andrew Pringle had +said to his friend Mr. Snodgrass, and likewise what the Doctor +himself had indited to Mr. Micklewham; some rumour having spread +of the wonderful escapes and adventures of the family in their +journey and voyage to London. Had there not been some +prethought of this kind, it was not indeed probable, that both +the helper and session-clerk of Garnock could have been there +together, in a party, where it was an understood thing, that not +only Whist and Catch Honours were to be played, but even +obstreperous Birky itself, for the diversion of such of the +company as were not used to gambling games. It was in +consequence of what took place at this Irvine route, that we were +originally led to think of collecting the letters.</p> +<h3>LETTER VIII</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss +Isabella Tod</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Bell</span>—It was my +heartfelt intention to keep a regular journal of all our +proceedings, from the sad day on which I bade a long adieu to my +native shades—and I persevered with a constancy becoming +our dear and youthful friendship, in writing down everything that +I saw, either rare or beautiful, till the hour of our departure +from Leith. In that faithful register of my feelings and +reflections as a traveller, I described our embarkation at +Greenock, on board the steam-boat,—our sailing past +Port-Glasgow, an insignificant town, with a steeple;—the +stupendous rock of Dumbarton Castle, that Gibraltar of +antiquity;—our landing at Glasgow;—my astonishment at +the magnificence of that opulent metropolis of the muslin +manufacturers; my brother’s remark, that the punch-bowls on +the roofs of the Infirmary, the Museum, and the Trades Hall, were +emblematic of the universal estimation in which that celebrated +mixture is held by all ranks and degrees—learned, +commercial, and even medical, of the inhabitants;—our +arrival at Edinburgh—my emotion on beholding the Castle, +and the visionary lake which may be nightly seen from the windows +of Princes Street, between the Old and New Town, reflecting the +lights of the lofty city beyond—with a thousand other +delightful and romantic circumstances, which render it no longer +surprising that the Edinburgh folk should be, as they think +themselves, the most accomplished people in the world. But, +alas! from the moment I placed my foot on board that cruel +vessel, of which the very idea is anguish, all thoughts were +swallowed up in suffering-swallowed, did I say? Ah, my dear +Bell, it was the odious reverse—but imagination alone can +do justice to the subject. Not, however, to dwell on what +is past, during the whole time of our passage from Leith, I was +unable to think, far less to write; and, although there was a +handsome young Hussar officer also a passenger, I could not even +listen to the elegant compliments which he seemed disposed to +offer by way of consolation, when he had got the better of his +own sickness. Neither love nor valour can withstand the +influence of that sea-demon. The interruption thus +occasioned to my observations made me destroy my journal, and I +have now to write to you only about London—only about +London! What an expression for this human universe, as my +brother calls it, as if my weak feminine pen were equal to the +stupendous theme!</p> +<p>But, before entering on the subject, let me first satisfy the +anxiety of your faithful bosom with respect to my father’s +legacy. All the accounts, I am happy to tell you, are +likely to be amicably settled; but the exact amount is not known +as yet, only I can see, by my brother’s manner, that it is +not less than we expected, and my mother speaks about sending me +to a boarding-school to learn accomplishments. Nothing, +however, is to be done until something is actually in hand. +But what does it all avail to me? Here am I, a solitary +being in the midst of this wilderness of mankind, far from your +sympathising affection, with the dismal prospect before me of +going a second time to school, and without the prospect of +enjoying, with my own sweet companions, that light and bounding +gaiety we were wont to share, in skipping from tomb to tomb in +the breezy churchyard of Irvine, like butterflies in spring +flying from flower to flower, as a Wordsworth or a Wilson would +express it.</p> +<p>We have got elegant lodgings at present in Norfolk Street, but +my brother is trying, with all his address, to get us removed to +a more fashionable part of the town, which, if the accounts were +once settled, I think will take place; and he proposes to hire a +carriage for a whole month. Indeed, he has given hints +about the saving that might be made by buying one of our own; but +my mother shakes her head, and says, “Andrew, dinna be +carri’t.” From all which it is very plain, +though they don’t allow me to know their secrets, that the +legacy is worth the coming for. But to return to the +lodgings;—we have what is called a first and second floor, +a drawing-room, and three handsome bedchambers. The +drawing-room is very elegant; and the carpet is the exact same +pattern of the one in the dress-drawing-room of Eglintoun +Castle. Our landlady is indeed a lady, and I am surprised +how she should think of letting lodgings, for she dresses better, +and wears finer lace, than ever I saw in Irvine. But I am +interrupted.—</p> +<p>I now resume my pen. We have just had a call from Mrs. +and Miss Argent, the wife and daughter of the colonel’s man +of business. They seem great people, and came in their own +chariot, with two grand footmen behind; but they are pleasant and +easy, and the object of their visit was to invite us to a family +dinner to-morrow, Sunday. I hope we may become better +acquainted; but the two livery servants make such a difference in +our degrees, that I fear this is a vain expectation. Miss +Argent was, however, very frank, and told me that she was herself +only just come to London for the first time since she was a +child, having been for the last seven years at a school in the +country. I shall, however, be better able to say more about +her in my next letter. Do not, however, be afraid that she +shall ever supplant you in my heart. No, my dear friend, +companion of my days of innocence,—that can never be. +But this call from such persons of fashion looks as if the legacy +had given us some consideration; so that I think my father and +mother may as well let me know at once what my prospects are, +that I might show you how disinterestedly and truly I am, my dear +Bell, yours,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Rachel +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>When Miss Isabella Tod had read the letter, there was a solemn +pause for some time—all present knew something, more or +less, of the fair writer; but a carriage, a carpet like the best +at Eglintoun, a Hussar officer, and two footmen in livery, were +phantoms of such high import, that no one could distinctly +express the feelings with which the intelligence affected +them. It was, however, unanimously agreed, that the +Doctor’s legacy had every symptom of being equal to what it +was at first expected to be, namely, twenty thousand +pounds;—a sum which, by some occult or recondite moral +influence of the Lottery, is the common maximum, in popular +estimation, of any extraordinary and indefinite windfall of +fortune. Miss Becky Glibbans, from the purest motives of +charity, devoutly wished that poor Rachel might be able to carry +her full cup with a steady hand; and the Rev. Mr. Snodgrass, that +so commendable an expression might not lose its edifying effect +by any lighter talk, requested Mr. Micklewham to read his letter +from the Doctor.</p> +<h3>LETTER IX</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>The Rev. Z. Pringle</i>, +<i>D.D.</i>, <i>to Mr. Micklewham</i>, <i>Schoolmaster and +Session-Clerk of Garnock</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>—I have written by +the post that will take this to hand, a letter to Banker M---y, +at Irvine, concerning some small matters of money that I may +stand in need of his opinion anent; and as there is a prospect +now of a settlement of the legacy business, I wish you to take a +step over to the banker, and he will give you ten pounds, which +you will administer to the poor, by putting a twenty-shilling +note in the plate on Sunday, as a public testimony from me of +thankfulness for the hope that is before us; the other nine +pounds you will quietly, and in your own canny way, divide after +the following manner, letting none of the partakers thereof know +from what other hand than the Lord’s the help comes, for, +indeed, from whom but <span class="smcap">His</span> does any +good befall us!</p> +<p>You will give to auld Mizy Eccles ten shillings. +She’s a careful creature, and it will go as far with her +thrift as twenty will do with Effy Hopkirk; so you will give Effy +twenty. Mrs. Binnacle, who lost her husband, the sailor, +last winter, is, I am sure, with her two sickly bairns, very ill +off; I would therefore like if you will lend her a note, and ye +may put half-a-crown in the hand of each of the poor weans for a +playock, for she’s a proud spirit, and will bear much +before she complain. Thomas Dowy has been long unable to do +a turn of work, so you may give him a note too. I promised +that donsie body, Willy Shachle, the betherel, that when I got my +legacy, he should get a guinea, which would be more to him than +if the colonel had died at home, and he had had the howking of +his grave; you may therefore, in the meantime, give Willy a +crown, and be sure to warn him well no to get fou with it, for +I’ll be very angry if he does. But what in this +matter will need all your skill, is the giving of the remaining +five pounds to auld Miss Betty Peerie; being a gentlewoman both +by blood and education, she’s a very slimmer affair to +handle in a doing of this kind. But I am persuaded +she’s in as great necessity as many that seem far poorer, +especially since the muslin flowering has gone so down. Her +bits of brats are sairly worn, though she keeps out an apparition +of gentility. Now, for all this trouble, I will give you an +account of what we have been doing since my last.</p> +<p>When we had gotten ourselves made up in order, we went, with +Andrew Pringle, my son, to the counting-house, and had a +satisfactory vista of the residue; but it will be some time +before things can be settled—indeed, I fear, not for months +to come—so that I have been thinking, if the parish was +pleased with Mr. Snodgrass, it might be my duty to my people to +give up to him my stipend, and let him be appointed not only +helper, but successor likewise. It would not be right of me +to give the manse, both because he’s a young and +inexperienced man, and cannot, in the course of nature, have got +into the way of visiting the sick-beds of the frail, which is the +main part of a pastor’s duty, and likewise, because I wish +to die, as I have lived, among my people. But, when +all’s settled, I will know better what to do.</p> +<p>When we had got an inkling from Mr. Argent of what the colonel +has left,—and I do assure you, that money is not to be got, +even in the way of legacy, without anxiety,—Mrs. Pringle +and I consulted together, and resolved, that it was our first +duty, as a token of our gratitude to the Giver of all Good, to +make our first outlay to the poor. So, without saying a +word either to Rachel, or to Andrew Pringle, my son, knowing that +there was a daily worship in the Church of England, we slipped +out of the house by ourselves, and, hiring a hackney conveyance, +told the driver thereof to drive us to the high church of St. +Paul’s. This was out of no respect to the pomp and +pride of prelacy, but to Him before whom both pope and presbyter +are equal, as they are seen through the merits of Christ +Jesus. We had taken a gold guinea in our hand, but there +was no broad at the door; and, instead of a venerable elder, +lending sanctity to his office by reason of his age, such as we +see in the effectual institutions of our own national +church—the door was kept by a young man, much more like a +writer’s whipper-snapper-clerk, than one qualified to fill +that station, which good King David would have preferred to +dwelling in tents of sin. However, we were not come to spy +the nakedness of the land, so we went up the outside stairs, and +I asked at him for the plate; “Plate!” says he; +“why, it’s on the altar!” I should have +known this—the custom of old being to lay the offerings on +the altar, but I had forgot; such is the force, you see, of +habit, that the Church of England is not so well reformed and +purged as ours is from the abominations of the leaven of +idolatry. We were then stepping forward, when he said to +me, as sharply as if I was going to take an advantage, “You +must pay here.” “Very well, wherever it is +customary,” said I, in a meek manner, and gave him the +guinea. Mrs. Pringle did the same. “I cannot +give you change,” cried he, with as little decorum as if we +had been paying at a playhouse. “It makes no +odds,” said I; “keep it all.” Whereupon +he was so converted by the mammon of iniquity, that he could not +be civil enough, he thought—but conducted us in, and showed +us the marble monuments, and the French colours that were taken +in the war, till the time of worship—nothing could surpass +his discretion.</p> +<p>At last the organ began to sound, and we went into the place +of worship; but oh, Mr. Micklewham, yon is a thin kirk. +There was not a hearer forby Mrs. Pringle and me, saving and +excepting the relics of popery that assisted at the +service. What was said, I must, however, in verity confess, +was not far from the point. But it’s still a comfort +to see that prelatical usurpations are on the downfall; no wonder +that there is no broad at the door to receive the collection for +the poor, when no congregation entereth in. You may, +therefore, tell Mr. Craig, and it will gladden his heart to hear +the tidings, that the great Babylonian madam is now, indeed, but +a very little cutty.</p> +<p>On our return home to our lodgings, we found Andrew Pringle, +my son, and Rachel, in great consternation about our +absence. When we told them that we had been at worship, I +saw they were both deeply affected; and I was pleased with my +children, the more so, as you know I have had my doubts that +Andrew Pringle’s principles have not been strengthened by +the reading of the <i>Edinburgh Review</i>. Nothing more +passed at that time, for we were disturbed by a Captain Sabre +that came up with us in the smack, calling to see how we were +after our journey; and as he was a civil well-bred young man, +which I marvel at, considering he’s a Hussar dragoon, we +took a coach, and went to see the lions, as he said; but, instead +of taking us to the Tower of London, as I expected, he ordered +the man to drive us round the town. In our way through the +city he showed us the Temple Bar, where Lord Kilmarnock’s +head was placed after the Rebellion, and pointed out the Bank of +England and Royal Exchange. He said the steeple of the +Exchange was taken down shortly ago—and that the late +improvements at the Bank were very grand. I remembered +having read in the <i>Edinburgh Advertiser</i>, some years past, +that there was a great deal said in Parliament about the state of +the Exchange, and the condition of the Bank, which I could never +thoroughly understand. And, no doubt, the taking own of an +old building, and the building up of a new one so near together, +must, in such a crowded city as this, be not only a great +detriment to business, but dangerous to the community at +large.</p> +<p>After we had driven about for more than two hours, and neither +seen lions nor any other curiosity, but only the outside of +houses, we returned home, where we found a copperplate card left +by Mr. Argent, the colonel’s agent, with the name of his +private dwelling-house. Both me and Mrs. Pringle were +confounded at the sight of this thing, and could not but think +that it prognosticated no good; for we had seen the gentleman +himself in the forenoon. Andrew Pringle, my son, could give +no satisfactory reason for such an extraordinary manifestation of +anxiety to see us; so that, after sitting on thorns at our +dinner, I thought that we should see to the bottom of the +business. Accordingly, a hackney was summoned to the door, +and me and Andrew Pringle, my son, got into it, and told the man +to drive to second in the street where Mr. Argent lived, and +which was the number of his house. The man got up, and away +we went; but, after he had driven an awful time, and stopping and +inquiring at different places, he said there was no such house as +Second’s in the street; whereupon Andrew Pringle, my son, +asked him what he meant, and the man said that he supposed it was +one Second’s Hotel, or Coffee-house, that we wanted. +Now, only think of the craftiness of the ne’er-da-weel; it +was with some difficulty that I could get him to understand, that +second was just as good as number two; for Andrew Pringle, my +son, would not interfere, but lay back in the coach, and was like +to split his sides at my confabulating with the hackney +man. At long and length we got to the house, and were +admitted to Mr. Argent, who was sitting by himself in his library +reading, with a plate of oranges, and two decanters with wine +before him. I explained to him, as well as I could, my +surprise and anxiety at seeing his card, at which he smiled, and +said, it was merely a sort of practice that had come into fashion +of late years, and that, although we had been at his +counting-house in the morning, he considered it requisite that he +should call on his return from the city. I made the best +excuse I could for the mistake; and the servant having placed +glasses on the table, we were invited to take wine. But I +was grieved to think that so respectable a man should have had +the bottles before him by himself, the more especially as he said +his wife and daughters had gone to a party, and that he did not +much like such sort of things. But for all that, we found +him a wonderful conversible man; and Andrew Pringle, my son, +having read all the new books put out at Edinburgh, could speak +with him on any subject. In the course of conversation they +touched upon politick economy, and Andrew Pringle, my son, in +speaking about cash in the Bank of England, told him what I had +said concerning the alterations of the Royal Exchange steeple, +with which Mr. Argent seemed greatly pleased, and jocosely +proposed as a toast,—“May the country never suffer +more from the alterations in the Exchange, than the taking down +of the steeple.” But as Mrs. Pringle is wanting to +send a bit line under the same frank to her cousin, Miss Mally +Glencairn, I must draw to a conclusion, assuring you, that I am, +dear sir, your sincere friend and pastor,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Zachariah +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>The impression which this letter made on the auditors of Mr. +Micklewham was highly favourable to the Doctor—all bore +testimony to his benevolence and piety; and Mrs. Glibbans +expressed, in very loquacious terms, her satisfaction at the +neglect to which prelacy was consigned. The only person who +seemed to be affected by other than the most sedate feelings on +the occasion was the Rev. Mr. Snodgrass, who was observed to +smile in a very unbecoming manner at some parts of the +Doctor’s account of his reception at St. +Paul’s. Indeed, it was apparently with the utmost +difficulty that the young clergyman could restrain himself from +giving liberty to his risible faculties. It is really +surprising how differently the same thing affects different +people. “The Doctor and Mrs. Pringle giving a guinea +at the door of St. Paul’s for the poor need not make folk +laugh,” said Mrs. Glibbans; “for is it not written, +that whosoever giveth to the poor lendeth to the +Lord?” “True, my dear madam,” replied Mr. +Snodgrass, “but the Lord to whom our friends in this case +gave their money is the Lord Bishop of London; all the collection +made at the doors of St. Paul’s Cathedral is, I understand, +a perquisite of the Bishop’s.” In this the +reverend gentleman was not very correctly informed, for, in the +first place, it is not a collection, but an exaction; and, in the +second place, it is only sanctioned by the Bishop, who allows the +inferior clergy to share the gains among themselves. Mrs. +Glibbans, however, on hearing his explanation, exclaimed, +“Gude be about us!” and pushing back her chair with a +bounce, streaking down her gown at the same time with both her +hands, added, “No wonder that a judgment is upon the land, +when we hear of money-changers in the temple.” Miss +Mally Glencairn, to appease her gathering wrath and holy +indignation, said facetiously, “Na, na, Mrs. Glibbans, ye +forget, there was nae changing of money there. The man took +the whole guineas. But not to make a controversy on the +subject, Mr. Snodgrass will now let us hear what Andrew Pringle, +‘my son,’ has said to him”:—And the +reverend gentleman read the following letter with due +circumspection, and in his best manner:—</p> +<h3>LETTER X</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Andrew Pringle</i>, <i>Esq.</i>, +<i>to the Reverend Charles Snodgrass</i></p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>—I have heard +it alleged, as the observation of a great traveller, that the +manners of the higher classes of society throughout Christendom +are so much alike, that national peculiarities among them are +scarcely perceptible. This is not correct; the differences +between those of London and Edinburgh are to me very +striking. It is not that they talk and perform the little +etiquettes of social intercourse differently; for, in these +respects, they are apparently as similar as it is possible for +imitation to make them; but the difference to which I refer is an +indescribable something, which can only be compared to +peculiarities of accent. They both speak the same language; +perhaps in classical purity of phraseology the fashionable +Scotchman is even superior to the Englishman; but there is a +flatness of tone in his accent—a lack of what the musicians +call expression, which gives a local and provincial effect to his +conversation, however, in other respects, learned and +intelligent. It is so with his manners; he conducts himself +with equal ease, self-possession, and discernment, but the +flavour of the metropolitan style is wanting.</p> +<p>I have been led to make these remarks by what I noticed in the +guests whom I met on Friday at young Argent’s. It was +a small party, only five strangers; but they seemed to be all +particular friends of our host, and yet none of them appeared to +be on any terms of intimacy with each other. In Edinburgh, +such a party would have been at first a little cold; each of the +guests would there have paused to estimate the characters of the +several strangers before committing himself with any topic of +conversation. But here, the circumstance of being brought +together by a mutual friend, produced at once the purest +gentlemanly confidence; each, as it were, took it for granted, +that the persons whom he had come among were men of education and +good-breeding, and, without deeming it at all necessary that he +should know something of their respective political and +philosophical principles, before venturing to speak on such +subjects, discussed frankly, and as things unconnected with party +feelings, incidental occurrences which, in Edinburgh, would have +been avoided as calculated to awaken animosities.</p> +<p>But the most remarkable feature of the company, small as it +was, consisted of the difference in the condition and character +of the guests. In Edinburgh the landlord, with the +scrupulous care of a herald or genealogist, would, for a party, +previously unacquainted with each other, have chosen his guests +as nearly as possible from the same rank of life; the London host +had paid no respect to any such consideration—all the +strangers were as dissimilar in fortune, profession, connections, +and politics, as any four men in the class of gentlemen could +well be. I never spent a more delightful evening.</p> +<p>The ablest, the most eloquent, and the most elegant man +present, without question, was the son of a saddler. No +expense had been spared on his education. His father, proud +of his talents, had intended him for a seat in Parliament; but +Mr. T--- himself prefers the easy enjoyments of private life, and +has kept himself aloof from politics and parties. Were I to +form an estimate of his qualifications to excel in public +speaking, by the clearness and beautiful propriety of his +colloquial language, I should conclude that he was still destined +to perform a distinguished part. But he is content with the +liberty of a private station, as a spectator only, and, perhaps, +in that he shows his wisdom; for undoubtedly such men are not +cordially received among hereditary statesmen, unless they evince +a certain suppleness of principle, such as we have seen in the +conduct of more than one political adventurer.</p> +<p>The next in point of effect was young C--- G---. He +evidently languished under the influence of indisposition, which, +while it added to the natural gentleness of his manners, +diminished the impression his accomplishments would otherwise +have made. I was greatly struck with the modesty with which +he offered his opinions, and could scarcely credit that he was +the same individual whose eloquence in Parliament is by many +compared even to Mr. Canning’s, and whose firmness of +principle is so universally acknowledged, that no one ever +suspects him of being liable to change. You may have heard +of his poem “On the Restoration of Learning in the +East,” the most magnificent prize essay that the English +Universities have produced for many years. The passage in +which he describes the talents, the researches, and learning of +Sir William Jones, is worthy of the imagination of Burke; and +yet, with all this oriental splendour of fancy, he has the +reputation of being a patient and methodical man of +business. He looks, however, much more like a poet or a +student, than an orator and a statesman; and were statesmen the +sort of personages which the spirit of the age attempts to +represent them, I, for one, should lament that a young man, +possessed of so many amiable qualities, all so tinted with the +bright lights of a fine enthusiasm, should ever have been removed +from the moon-lighted groves and peaceful cloisters of Magdalen +College, to the lamp-smelling passages and factious debates of +St. Stephen’s Chapel. Mr. G--- certainly belongs to +that high class of gifted men who, to the honour of the age, have +redeemed the literary character from the charge of unfitness for +the concerns of public business; and he has shown that talents +for affairs of state, connected with literary predilections, are +not limited to mere reviewers, as some of your old class-fellows +would have the world to believe. When I contrast the quiet +unobtrusive development of Mr. G---’s character with that +bustling and obstreperous elbowing into notice of some of those +to whom the <i>Edinburgh Review</i> owes half its fame, and +compare the pure and steady lustre of his elevation, to the +rocket-like aberrations and perturbed blaze of their still +uncertain course, I cannot but think that we have overrated, if +not their ability, at least their wisdom in the management of +public affairs.</p> +<p>The third of the party was a little Yorkshire baronet. +He was formerly in Parliament, but left it, as he says, on +account of its irregularities, and the bad hours it kept. +He is a Whig, I understand, in politics, and indeed one might +guess as much by looking at him; for I have always remarked, that +your Whigs have something odd and particular about them. On +making the same sort of remark to Argent, who, by the way, is a +high ministerial man, he observed, the thing was not to be +wondered at, considering that the Whigs are exceptions to the +generality of mankind, which naturally accounts for their being +always in the minority. Mr. T---, the saddler’s son, +who overheard us, said slyly, “That it might be so; but if +it be true that the wise are few compared to the multitude of the +foolish, things would be better managed by the minority than as +they are at present.”</p> +<p>The fourth guest was a stock-broker, a shrewd compound, with +all charity be it spoken, of knavery and humour. He is by +profession an epicure, but I suspect his accomplishments in that +capacity are not very well founded; I would almost say, judging +by the evident traces of craft and dissimulation in his +physiognomy, that they have been assumed as part of the means of +getting into good company, to drive the more earnest trade of +money-making. Argent evidently understood his true +character, though he treated him with jocular familiarity. +I thought it a fine example of the intellectual tact and +superiority of T---, that he seemed to view him with dislike and +contempt. But I must not give you my reasons for so +thinking, as you set no value on my own particular philosophy; +besides, my paper tells me, that I have only room left to say, +that it would be difficult in Edinburgh to bring such a party +together; and yet they affect there to have a metropolitan +character. In saying this, I mean only with reference to +manners; the methods of behaviour in each of the company were +precisely similar—there was no eccentricity, but only that +distinct and decided individuality which nature gives, and which +no acquired habits can change. Each, however, was the +representative of a class; and Edinburgh has no classes exactly +of the same kind as those to which they belonged.—Yours +truly,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Andrew +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>Just as Mr. Snodgrass concluded the last sentence, one of the +Clyde skippers, who had fallen asleep, gave such an extravagant +snore, followed by a groan, that it set the whole company +a-laughing, and interrupted the critical strictures which would +otherwise have been made on Mr. Andrew Pringle’s +epistle. “Damn it,” said he, “I thought +myself in a fog, and could not tell whether the land ahead was +Plada or the Lady Isle.” Some of the company thought +the observation not inapplicable to what they had been +hearing.</p> +<p>Miss Isabella Tod then begged that Miss Mally, their hostess, +would favour the company with Mrs. Pringle’s +communication. To this request that considerate maiden +ornament of the Kirkgate deemed it necessary, by way of preface +to the letter, to say, “Ye a’ ken that Mrs. +Pringle’s a managing woman, and ye maunna expect any +metaphysical philosophy from her.” In the meantime, +having taken the letter from her pocket, and placed her +spectacles on that functionary of the face which was destined to +wear spectacles, she began as follows:—</p> +<h3>LETTER XI</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally +Glencairn</i></p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Miss Mally</span>—We have +been at the counting-house, and gotten a sort of a satisfaction; +what the upshot may be, I canna take it upon myself to +prognosticate; but when the waur comes to the worst, I think that +baith Rachel and Andrew will have a nest egg, and the Doctor and +me may sleep sound on their account, if the nation doesna break, +as the argle-barglers in the House of Parliament have been +threatening: for all the cornal’s fortune is sunk at +present in the pesents. Howsomever, it’s our notion, +when the legacies are paid off, to lift the money out of the +funds, and place it at good interest on hairetable +securitie. But ye will hear aften from us, before things +come to that, for the delays, and the goings, and the comings in +this town of London are past all expreshon.</p> +<p>As yet, we have been to see no fairlies, except going in a +coach from one part of the toun to another; but the Doctor and me +was at the he-kirk of Saint Paul’s for a purpose that I +need not tell you, as it was adoing with the right hand what the +left should not know. I couldna say that I had there great +pleasure, for the preacher was very cauldrife, and read every +word, and then there was such a beggary of popish prelacy, that +it was compassionate to a Christian to see.</p> +<p>We are to dine at Mr. Argent’s, the cornal’s +hadgint, on Sunday, and me and Rachel have been getting something +for the okasion. Our landlady, Mrs. Sharkly, has +recommended us to ane of the most fashionable millinders in +London, who keeps a grand shop in Cranburn Alla, and she has +brought us arteecles to look at; but I was surprised they were +not finer, for I thought them of a very inferior quality, which +she said was because they were not made for no costomer, but for +the public.</p> +<p>The Argents seem as if they would be discreet people, which, +to us who are here in the jaws of jeopardy, would be a great +confort—for I am no overly satisfeet with many +things. What would ye think of buying coals by the +stimpert, for anything that I know, and then setting up the poker +afore the ribs, instead of blowing with the bellies to make the +fire burn? I was of a pinion that the Englishers were +naturally masterful; but I can ashure you this is no the case at +all—and I am beginning to think that the way of leeving +from hand to mouth is great frugality, when ye consider that all +is left in the logive hands of uncercumseezed servans.</p> +<p>But what gives me the most concern at this time is one Captain +Sabre of the Dragoon Hozars, who come up in the smak with us from +Leith, and is looking more after our Rachel than I could wish, +now that she might set her cap to another sort of object. +But he’s of a respectit family, and the young lad himself +is no to be despisid; howsomever, I never likit officir-men of +any description, and yet the thing that makes me look down on the +captain is all owing to the cornal, who was an officer of the +native poors of India, where the pay must indeed have been +extraordinar, for who ever heard either of a cornal, or any +officer whomsoever, making a hundred thousand pounds in our +regiments? no that I say the cornal has left so meikle to us.</p> +<p>Tell Mrs. Glibbans that I have not heard of no sound preacher +as yet in London—the want of which is no doubt the great +cause of the crying sins of the place. What would she think +to hear of newspapers selling by tout of horn on the Lord’s +day? and on the Sabbath night, the change-houses are more throng +than on the Saturday! I am told, but as yet I cannot say +that I have seen the evil myself with my own eyes, that in the +summer time there are tea-gardens, where the tradesmen go to +smoke their pipes of tobacco, and to entertain their wives and +children, which can be nothing less than a bringing of them to an +untimely end. But you will be surprised to hear, that no +such thing as whusky is to be had in the public-houses, where +they drink only a dead sort of beer; and that a bottle of true +jennyinn London porter is rarely to be seen in the whole +town—all kinds of piple getting their porter in pewter +cans, and a laddie calls for in the morning to take away what has +been yoused over night. But what I most miss is the want of +creem. The milk here is just skimm, and I doot not, +likewise well watered—as for the water, a drink of clear +wholesome good water is not within the bounds of London; and +truly, now may I say, that I have learnt what the blessing of a +cup of cold water is.</p> +<p>Tell Miss Nanny Eydent, that the day of the burial is now +settled, when we are going to Windsor Castle to see the +precesson—and that, by the end of the wick, she may expect +the fashions from me, with all the particulars. Till then, +I am, my dear Miss Mally, your friend and well-wisher,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Janet +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p><i>Noto Beny</i>.—Give my kind compliments to Mrs. +Glibbans, and let her know, that I will, after Sunday, give her +an account of the state of the Gospel in London.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">* * * * *</p> +<p>Miss Mally paused when she had read the letter, and it was +unanimously agreed, that Mrs. Pringle gave a more full account of +London than either father, son, or daughter.</p> +<p>By this time the night was far advanced, and Mrs. Glibbans was +rising to go away, apprehensive, as she observed, that they were +going to bring “the carts” into the room. Upon +Miss Mally, however, assuring her that no such transgression was +meditated, but that she intended to treat them with a bit nice +Highland mutton ham, and eggs, of her own laying, that worthy +pillar of the Relief Kirk consented to remain.</p> +<p>It was past eleven o’clock when the party broke up; Mr. +Snodgrass and Mr. Micklewham walked home together, and as they +were crossing the Red Burn Bridge, at the entrance of Eglintoun +Wood,—a place well noted from ancient times for +preternatural appearances, Mr. Micklewham declared that he +thought he heard something purring among the bushes; upon which +Mr. Snodgrass made a jocose observation, stating, that it could +be nothing but the effect of Lord North’s strong ale in his +head; and we should add, by way of explanation, that the Lord +North here spoken of was Willy Grieve, celebrated in Irvine for +the strength and flavour of his brewing, and that, in addition to +a plentiful supply of his best, Miss Mally had entertained them +with tamarind punch, constituting a natural cause adequate to +produce all the preternatural purring that terrified the +dominie.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER V—THE ROYAL FUNERAL</h2> +<p>Tam Glen having, in consequence of the exhortations of Mr. +Micklewham, and the earnest entreaties of Mr. Daff, backed by the +pious animadversions of the rigidly righteous Mr. Craig, +confessed a fault, and acknowledged an irregular marriage with +Meg Milliken, their child was admitted to church +privileges. But before the day of baptism, Mr. Daff, who +thought Tam had given but sullen symptoms of penitence, said, to +put him in better humour with his fate,—“Noo, Tam, +since ye hae beguiled us of the infare, we maun mak up +for’t at the christening; so I’ll speak to Mr. +Snodgrass to bid the Doctor’s friens and acquaintance to +the ploy, that we may get as meikle amang us as will pay for the +bairn’s baptismal frock.”</p> +<p>Mr. Craig, who was present, and who never lost an opportunity +of testifying, as he said, his “discountenance of the +crying iniquity,” remonstrated with Mr. Daff on the +unchristian nature of the proposal, stigmatising it with good +emphasis “as a sinful nourishing of carnality in his day +and generation.” Mr. Micklewham, however, interfered, +and said, “It was a matter of weight and concernment, and +therefore it behoves you to consult Mr. Snodgrass on the fitness +of the thing. For if the thing itself is not fit and +proper, it cannot expect his countenance; and, on that account, +before we reckon on his compliance with what Mr. Daff has +propounded, we should first learn whether he approves of it at +all.” Whereupon the two elders and the session-clerk +adjourned to the manse, in which Mr. Snodgrass, during the +absence of the incumbent, had taken up his abode.</p> +<p>The heads of the previous conversation were recapitulated by +Mr. Micklewham, with as much brevity as was consistent with +perspicuity; and the matter being duly digested by Mr. Snodgrass, +that orthodox young man—as Mrs. Glibbans denominated him, +on hearing him for the first time—declared that the notion +of a pay-christening was a benevolent and kind thought: +“For, is not the order to increase and multiply one of the +first commands in the Scriptures of truth?” said Mr. +Snodgrass, addressing himself to Mr. Craig. “Surely, +then, when children are brought into the world, a great law of +our nature has been fulfilled, and there is cause for rejoicing +and gladness! And is it not an obligation imposed upon all +Christians, to welcome the stranger, and to feed the hungry, and +to clothe the naked; and what greater stranger can there be than +a helpless babe? Who more in need of sustenance than the +infant, that knows not the way even to its mother’s +bosom? And whom shall we clothe, if we do not the wailing +innocent, that the hand of Providence places in poverty and +nakedness before us, to try, as it were, the depth of our +Christian principles, and to awaken the sympathy of our humane +feelings?”</p> +<p>Mr. Craig replied, “It’s a’ very true and +sound what Mr. Snodgrass has observed; but Tam Glen’s wean +is neither a stranger, nor hungry, nor naked, but a sturdy brat, +that has been rinning its lane for mair than sax +weeks.” “Ah!” said Mr. Snodgrass +familiarly, “I fear, Mr. Craig, ye’re a Malthusian in +your heart.” The sanctimonious elder was +thunderstruck at the word. Of many a various shade and +modification of sectarianism he had heard, but the Malthusian +heresy was new to his ears, and awful to his conscience, and he +begged Mr. Snodgrass to tell him in what it chiefly consisted, +protesting his innocence of that, and of every erroneous +doctrine.</p> +<p>Mr. Snodgrass happened to regard the opinions of Malthus on +Population as equally contrary to religion and nature, and not at +all founded in truth. “It is evident, that the +reproductive principle in the earth and vegetables, and all +things and animals which constitute the means of subsistence, is +much more vigorous than in man. It may be therefore +affirmed, that the multiplication of the means of subsistence is +an effect of the multiplication of population, for the one is +augmented in quantity, by the skill and care of the other,” +said Mr. Snodgrass, seizing with avidity this opportunity of +stating what he thought on the subject, although his auditors +were but the session-clerk, and two elders of a country +parish. We cannot pursue the train of his argument, but we +should do injustice to the philosophy of Malthus, if we +suppressed the observation which Mr. Daff made at the +conclusion. “Gude safe’s!” said the +good-natured elder, “if it’s true that we breed +faster than the Lord provides for us, we maun drown the poor +folks’ weans like kittlings.” “Na, +na!” exclaimed Mr. Craig, “ye’re a’ out, +neighbour; I see now the utility of church-censures.” +“True!” said Mr. Micklewham; “and the +ordination of the stool of repentance, the horrors of which, in +the opinion of the fifteen Lords at Edinburgh, palliated +child-murder, is doubtless a Malthusian institution.” +But Mr. Snodgrass put an end to the controversy, by fixing a day +for the christening, and telling he would do his best to procure +a good collection, according to the benevolent suggestion of Mr. +Daff. To this cause we are indebted for the next series of +the Pringle correspondence; for, on the day appointed, Miss Mally +Glencairn, Miss Isabella Tod, Mrs. Glibbans and her daughter +Becky, with Miss Nanny Eydent, together with other friends of the +minister’s family, dined at the manse, and the conversation +being chiefly about the concerns of the family, the letters were +produced and read.</p> +<h3>LETTER XII</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Andrew Pringle</i>, <i>Esq.</i>, +<i>to the Rev. Charles Snodgrass</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Windsor</span>, <span +class="smcap">Castle-Inn</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>—I have all my +life been strangely susceptible of pleasing impressions from +public spectacles where great crowds are assembled. This, +perhaps, you will say, is but another way of confessing, that, +like the common vulgar, I am fond of sights and shows. It +may be so, but it is not from the pageants that I derive my +enjoyment. A multitude, in fact, is to me as it were a +strain of music, which, with an irresistible and magical +influence, calls up from the unknown abyss of the feelings new +combinations of fancy, which, though vague and obscure, as those +nebulae of light that astronomers have supposed to be the +rudiments of unformed stars, afterwards become distinct and +brilliant acquisitions. In a crowd, I am like the +somnambulist in the highest degree of the luminous crisis, when +it is said a new world is unfolded to his contemplation, wherein +all things have an intimate affinity with the state of man, and +yet bear no resemblance to the objects that address themselves to +his corporeal faculties. This delightful experience, as it +may be called, I have enjoyed this evening, to an exquisite +degree, at the funeral of the king; but, although the whole +succession of incidents is indelibly imprinted on my +recollection, I am still so much affected by the emotion excited, +as to be incapable of conveying to you any intelligible +description of what I saw. It was indeed a scene witnessed +through the medium of the feelings, and the effect partakes of +the nature of a dream.</p> +<p>I was within the walls of an ancient castle,</p> +<blockquote><p>“So old as if they had for ever stood,<br /> +So strong as if they would for ever stand,”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>and it was almost midnight. The towers, like the vast +spectres of departed ages, raised their embattled heads to the +skies, monumental witnesses of the strength and antiquity of a +great monarchy. A prodigious multitude filled the courts of +that venerable edifice, surrounding on all sides a dark embossed +structure, the sarcophagus, as it seemed to me at the moment, of +the heroism of chivalry.</p> +<p>“A change came o’er the spirit of my dream,” +and I beheld the scene suddenly illuminated, and the blaze of +torches, the glimmering of arms, and warriors and horses, while a +mosaic of human faces covered like a pavement the courts. A +deep low under sound pealed from a distance; in the same moment, +a trumpet answered with a single mournful note from the +stateliest and darkest portion of the fabric, and it was +whispered in every ear, “It is coming.” Then an +awful cadence of solemn music, that affected the heart like +silence, was heard at intervals, and a numerous retinue of grave +and venerable men,</p> +<blockquote><p>“The fathers of their time,<br /> +Those mighty master spirits, that withstood<br /> +The fall of monarchies, and high upheld<br /> +Their country’s standard, glorious in the storm,”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>passed slowly before me, bearing the emblems and trophies of a +king. They were as a series of great historical events, and +I beheld behind them, following and followed, an awful and +indistinct image, like the vision of Job. It moved on, and +I could not discern the form thereof, but there were honours and +heraldries, and sorrow, and silence, and I heard the stir of a +profound homage performing within the breasts of all the +witnesses. But I must not indulge myself farther on this +subject. I cannot hope to excite in you the emotions with +which I was so profoundly affected. In the visible objects +of the funeral of George the Third there was but little +magnificence; all its sublimity was derived from the trains of +thought and currents of feeling, which the sight of so many +illustrious characters, surrounded by circumstances associated +with the greatness and antiquity of the kingdom, was necessarily +calculated to call forth. In this respect, however, it was +perhaps the sublimest spectacle ever witnessed in this island; +and I am sure, that I cannot live so long as ever again to behold +another, that will equally interest me to the same depth and +extent.—Yours,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Andrew +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>We should ill perform the part of faithful historians, did we +omit to record the sentiments expressed by the company on this +occasion. Mrs. Glibbans, whose knowledge of the points of +orthodoxy had not their equal in the three adjacent parishes, +roundly declared, that Mr. Andrew Pringle’s letter was +nothing but a peesemeal of clishmaclavers; that there was no +sense in it; and that it was just like the writer, a canary +idiot, a touch here and a touch there, without anything in the +shape of cordiality or satisfaction.</p> +<p>Miss Isabella Tod answered this objection with that sweetness +of manner and virgin diffidence, which so well becomes a youthful +member of the establishment, controverting the dogmas of a stoop +of the Relief persuasion, by saying, that she thought Mr. Andrew +had shown a fine sensibility. “What is sensibility +without judgment,” cried her adversary, “but a +thrashing in the water, and a raising of bells? Couldna the +fallow, without a’ his parleyvoos, have said, that such and +such was the case, and that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh +away?—but his clouds, and his spectres, and his visions of +Job!—Oh, an he could but think like Job!—Oh, an he +would but think like the patient man!—and was obliged to +claut his flesh with a bit of a broken crock, we might have some +hope of repentance unto life. But Andrew Pringle, +he’s a gone dick; I never had comfort or expectation of the +free-thinker, since I heard that he was infected with the blue +and yellow calamity of the <i>Edinburgh Review</i>; in which, I +am credibly told, it is set forth, that women have nae souls, but +only a gut, and a gaw, and a gizzard, like a pigeon-dove, or a +raven-crow, or any other outcast and abominated +quadruped.”</p> +<p>Here Miss Mally Glencairn interposed her effectual mediation, +and said, “It is very true that Andrew deals in the +diplomatics of obscurity; but it’s well known that he has a +nerve for genius, and that, in his own way, he kens the loan from +the crown of the causeway, as well as the duck does the midden +from the adle dib.” To this proverb, which we never +heard before, a learned friend, whom we consulted on the subject, +has enabled us to state, that middens were formerly of great +magnitude, and often of no less antiquity in the west of +Scotland; in so much, that the Trongate of Glasgow owes all its +spacious grandeur to them. It being within the recollection +of persons yet living, that the said magnificent street was at +one time an open road, or highway, leading to the Trone, or +market-cross, with thatched houses on each side, such as may +still be seen in the pure and immaculate royal borough of +Rutherglen; and that before each house stood a luxuriant midden, +by the removal of which, in the progress of modern degeneracy, +the stately architecture of Argyle Street was formed. But +not to insist at too great a length on such topics of antiquarian +lore, we shall now insert Dr. Pringle’s account of the +funeral, and which, patly enough, follows our digression +concerning the middens and magnificence of Glasgow, as it +contains an authentic anecdote of a manufacturer from that city, +drinking champaign at the king’s dirgie.</p> +<h3>LETTER XIII</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>The Rev. Z. Pringle</i>, +<i>D.D.</i>, <i>to Mr. Micklewham</i>, <i>Schoolmaster and +Session-Clerk of Garnock</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>—I have received your +letter, and it is a great pleasure to me to hear that my people +were all so much concerned at our distress in the Leith smack; +but what gave me the most contentment was the repentance of Tam +Glen. I hope, poor fellow, he will prove a good husband; +but I have my doubts; for the wife has really but a small share +of common sense, and no married man can do well unless his wife +will let him. I am, however, not overly pleased with Mr. +Craig on the occasion, for he should have considered frail human +nature, and accepted of poor Tam’s confession of a fault, +and allowed the bairn to be baptized without any more ado. +I think honest Mr. Daff has acted like himself, and I trust and +hope there will be a great gathering at the christening, and, +that my mite may not be wanting, you will slip in a guinea note +when the dish goes round, but in such a manner, that it may not +be jealoused from whose hand it comes.</p> +<p>Since my last letter, we have been very thrang in the way of +seeing the curiosities of London; but I must go on regular, and +tell you all, which, I think, it is my duty to do, that you may +let my people know. First, then, we have been at Windsor +Castle, to see the king lying in state, and, afterwards, his +interment; and sorry am I to say, it was not a sight that could +satisfy any godly mind on such an occasion. We went in a +coach of our own, by ourselves, and found the town of Windsor +like a cried fair. We were then directed to the Castle +gate, where a terrible crowd was gathered together; and we had +not been long in that crowd, till a pocket-picker, as I thought, +cutted off the tail of my coat, with my pocket-book in my pocket, +which I never missed at the time. But it seems the coat +tail was found, and a policeman got it, and held it up on the end +of his stick, and cried, whose pocket is this? showing the book +that was therein in his hand. I was confounded to see my +pocket-book there, and could scarcely believe my own eyes; but +Mrs. Pringle knew it at the first glance, and said, +“It’s my gudeman’s”; at the which, there +was a great shout of derision among the multitude, and we would +baith have then been glad to disown the pocket-book, but it was +returned to us, I may almost say, against our will; but the +scorners, when they saw our confusion, behaved with great +civility towards us, so that we got into the Castle-yard with no +other damage than the loss of the flap of my coat tail.</p> +<p>Being in the Castle-yard, we followed the crowd into another +gate, and up a stair, and saw the king lying in state, which was +a very dismal sight—and I thought of Solomon in all his +glory, when I saw the coffin, and the mutes, and the mourners; +and reflecting on the long infirmity of mind of the good old +king, I said to myself, in the words of the book of Job, +‘Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they +die even without wisdom!’</p> +<p>When we had seen the sight, we came out of the Castle, and +went to an inn to get a chack of dinner; but there was such a +crowd, that no resting-place could for a time be found for +us. Gentle and semple were there, all mingled, and no +respect of persons; only there was, at a table nigh unto ours, a +fat Glasgow manufacturer, who ordered a bottle of champaign wine, +and did all he could in the drinking of it by himself, to show +that he was a man in well-doing circumstances. While he was +talking over his wine, a great peer of the realm, with a star on +his breast, came into the room, and ordered a glass of brandy and +water; and I could see, when he saw the Glasgow manufacturer +drinking champaign wine on that occasion, that he greatly +marvelled thereat.</p> +<p>When we had taken our dinner, we went out to walk and see the +town of Windsor; but there was such a mob of coaches going and +coming, and men and horses, that we left the streets, and went to +inspect the king’s policy, which is of great compass, but +in a careless order, though it costs a world of money to keep it +up. Afterwards, we went back to the inns, to get tea for +Mrs. Pringle and her daughter, while Andrew Pringle, my son, was +seeing if he could get tickets to buy, to let us into the inside +of the Castle, to see the burial—but he came back without +luck, and I went out myself, being more experienced in the world, +and I saw a gentleman’s servant with a ticket in his hand, +and I asked him to sell it to me, which the man did with +thankfulness, for five shillings, although the price was said to +be golden guineas. But as this ticket admitted only one +person, it was hard to say what should be done with it when I got +back to my family. However, as by this time we were all +very much fatigued, I gave it to Andrew Pringle, my son, and Mrs. +Pringle, and her daughter Rachel, agreed to bide with me in the +inns.</p> +<p>Andrew Pringle, my son, having got the ticket, left us +sitting, when shortly after in came a nobleman, high in the +cabinet, as I think he must have been, and he having politely +asked leave to take his tea at our table, because of the great +throng in the house, we fell into a conversation together, and +he, understanding thereby that I was a minister of the Church of +Scotland, said he thought he could help us into a place to see +the funeral; so, after he had drank his tea, he took us with him, +and got us into the Castle-yard, where we had an excellent place, +near to the Glasgow manufacturer that drank the champaign. +The drink by this time, however, had got into that poor +man’s head, and he talked so loud, and so little to the +purpose, that the soldiers who were guarding were obliged to make +him hold his peace, at which he was not a little nettled, and +told the soldiers that he had himself been a soldier, and served +the king without pay, having been a volunteer officer. But +this had no more effect than to make the soldiers laugh at him, +which was not a decent thing at the interment of their master, +our most gracious Sovereign that was.</p> +<p>However, in this situation we saw all; and I can assure you it +was a very edifying sight; and the people demeaned themselves +with so much propriety, that there was no need for any guards at +all; indeed, for that matter, of the two, the guards, who had +eaten the king’s bread, were the only ones there, saving +and excepting the Glasgow manufacturer, that manifested an +irreverent spirit towards the royal obsequies. But they are +men familiar with the king of terrors on the field of battle, and +it was not to be expected that their hearts would be daunted like +those of others by a doing of a civil character.</p> +<p>When all was over, we returned to the inns, to get our chaise, +to go back to London that night, for beds were not to be had for +love or money at Windsor, and we reached our temporary home in +Norfolk Street about four o’clock in the morning, well +satisfied with what we had seen,—but all the meantime I had +forgotten the loss of the flap of my coat, which caused no little +sport when I came to recollect what a pookit like body I must +have been, walking about in the king’s policy like a +peacock without my tail. But I must conclude, for Mrs. +Pringle has a letter to put in the frank for Miss Nanny Eydent, +which you will send to her by one of your scholars, as it +contains information that may be serviceable to Miss Nanny in her +business, both as a mantua-maker and a superintendent of the +genteeler sort of burials at Irvine and our vicinity. So +that this is all from your friend and pastor,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Zachariah +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>“I think,” said Miss Isabella Tod, as Mr. +Micklewham finished the reading of the Doctor’s epistle, +“that my friend Rachel might have given me some account of +the ceremony; but Captain Sabre seems to have been a much more +interesting object to her than the pride and pomp to her brother, +or even the Glasgow manufacturer to her father.” In +saying these words, the young lady took the following letter from +her pocket, and was on the point of beginning to read it, when +Miss Becky Glibbans exclaimed, “I had aye my fears that +Rachel was but light-headed, and I’ll no be surprised to +hear more about her and the dragoon or a’s +done.” Mr. Snodgrass looked at Becky, as if he had +been afflicted at the moment with unpleasant ideas; and perhaps +he would have rebuked the spitefulness of her insinuations, had +not her mother sharply snubbed the uncongenial maiden, in terms +at least as pungent as any which the reverend gentleman would +have employed. “I’m sure,” replied Miss +Becky, pertly, “I meant no ill; but if Rachel Pringle can +write about nothing but this Captain Sabre, she might as well let +it alone, and her letter canna be worth the hearing.” +“Upon that,” said the clergyman, “we can form a +judgment when we have heard it, and I beg that Miss Isabella may +proceed,”—which she did accordingly.</p> +<h3>LETTER XIV</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss +Isabella Tod</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Bell</span>—I take up my pen +with a feeling of disappointment such as I never felt +before. Yesterday was the day appointed for the funeral of +the good old king, and it was agreed that we should go to +Windsor, to pour the tribute of our tears upon the royal +hearse. Captain Sabre promised to go with us, as he is well +acquainted with the town, and the interesting objects around the +Castle, so dear to chivalry, and embalmed by the genius of +Shakespeare and many a minor bard, and I promised myself a day of +unclouded felicity—but the captain was ordered to be on +duty,—and the crowd was so rude and riotous, that I had no +enjoyment whatever; but, pining with chagrin at the little +respect paid by the rabble to the virtues of the departed +monarch, I would fainly have retired into some solemn and +sequestered grove, and breathed my sorrows to the listening +waste. Nor was the loss of the captain, to explain and +illuminate the different baronial circumstances around the +Castle, the only thing I had to regret in this ever-memorable +excursion—my tender and affectionate mother was so desirous +to see everything in the most particular manner, in order that +she might give an account of the funeral to Nanny Eydent, that +she had no mercy either upon me or my father, but obliged us to +go with her to the most difficult and inaccessible places. +How vain was all this meritorious assiduity! for of what avail +can the ceremonies of a royal funeral be to Miss Nanny, at +Irvine, where kings never die, and where, if they did, it is not +at all probable that Miss Nanny would be employed to direct their +solemn obsequies? As for my brother, he was so entranced +with his own enthusiasm, that he paid but little attention to us, +which made me the more sensible of the want we suffered from the +absence of Captain Sabre. In a word, my dear Bell, never +did I pass a more unsatisfactory day, and I wish it blotted for +ever from my remembrance. Let it therefore be consigned to +the abysses of oblivion, while I recall the more pleasing +incidents that have happened since I wrote you last.</p> +<p>On Sunday, according to invitation, as I told you, we dined +with the Argents—and were entertained by them in a style at +once most splendid, and on the most easy footing. I shall +not attempt to describe the consumable materials of the table, +but call your attention, my dear friend, to the intellectual +portion of the entertainment, a subject much more congenial to +your delicate and refined character.</p> +<p>Mrs. Argent is a lady of considerable personal magnitude, of +an open and affable disposition. In this respect, indeed, +she bears a striking resemblance to her nephew, Captain Sabre, +with whose relationship to her we were unacquainted before that +day. She received us as friends in whom she felt a peculiar +interest; for when she heard that my mother had got her dress and +mine from Cranbury Alley, she expressed the greatest +astonishment, and told us, that it was not at all a place where +persons of fashion could expect to be properly served. Nor +can I disguise the fact, that the flounced and gorgeous garniture +of our dresses was in shocking contrast to the amiable simplicity +of hers and the fair Arabella, her daughter, a charming girl, +who, notwithstanding the fashionable splendour in which she has +been educated, displays a delightful sprightliness of manner, +that, I have some notion, has not been altogether lost on the +heart of my brother.</p> +<p>When we returned upstairs to the drawing-room, after dinner, +Miss Arabella took her harp, and was on the point of favouring us +with a Mozart; but her mother, recollecting that we were +Presbyterians, thought it might not be agreeable, and she +desisted, which I was sinful enough to regret; but my mother was +so evidently alarmed at the idea of playing on the harp on a +Sunday night, that I suppressed my own wishes, in filial +veneration for those of that respected parent. Indeed, +fortunate it was that the music was not performed; for, when we +returned home, my father remarked with great solemnity, that such +a way of passing the Lord’s night as we had passed it, +would have been a great sin in Scotland.</p> +<p>Captain Sabre, who called on us next morning, was so delighted +when he understood that we were acquainted with his aunt, that he +lamented he had not happened to know it before, as he would, in +that case, have met us there. He is indeed very attentive, +but I assure you that I feel no particular interest about him; +for although he is certainly a very handsome young man, he is not +such a genius as my brother, and has no literary +partialities. But literary accomplishments are, you know, +foreign to the military profession, and if the captain has not +distinguished himself by cutting up authors in the reviews, he +has acquired an honourable medal, by overcoming the enemies of +the civilised world at Waterloo.</p> +<p>To-night the playhouses open again, and we are going to the +Oratorio, and the captain goes with us, a circumstance which I am +the more pleased at, as we are strangers, and he will tell us the +names of the performers. My father made some scruple of +consenting to be of the party; but when he heard that an Oratorio +was a concert of sacred music, he thought it would be only a +sinless deviation if he did, so he goes likewise. The +captain, therefore, takes an early dinner with us at five +o’clock. Alas! to what changes am I +doomed,—that was the tea hour at the manse of +Garnock. Oh, when shall I revisit the primitive +simplicities of my native scenes again! But neither time +nor distance, my dear Bell, can change the affection with which I +subscribe myself, ever affectionately, yours,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Rachel +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>At the conclusion of this letter, the countenance of Mrs. +Glibbans was evidently so darkened, that it daunted the company, +like an eclipse of the sun, when all nature is saddened. +“What think you, Mr. Snodgrass,” said that +spirit-stricken lady,—“what think you of this dining +on the Lord’s day,—this playing on the harp; the +carnal Mozarting of that ungodly family, with whom the corrupt +human nature of our friends has been chambering?” Mr. +Snodgrass was at some loss for an answer, and hesitated, but Miss +Mally Glencairn relieved him from his embarrassment, by +remarking, that “the harp was a holy instrument,” +which somewhat troubled the settled orthodoxy of Mrs. +Glibbans’s visage. “Had it been an +organ,” said Mr. Snodgrass, dryly, “there might have +been, perhaps, more reason to doubt; but, as Miss Mally justly +remarks, the harp has been used from the days of King David in +the performances of sacred music, together with the psalter, the +timbrel, the sackbut, and the cymbal.” The wrath of +the polemical Deborah of the Relief-Kirk was somewhat appeased by +this explanation, and she inquired in a more diffident tone, +whether a Mozart was not a metrical paraphrase of the song of +Moses after the overthrow of the Egyptians in the Red Sea; +“in which case, I must own,” she observed, +“that the sin and guilt of the thing is less grievous in +the sight of <span class="smcap">Him</span> before whom all the +actions of men are abominations.” Miss Isabella Tod, +availing herself of this break in the conversation, turned round +to Miss Nanny Eydent, and begged that she would read her letter +from Mrs. Pringle. We should do injustice, however, to +honest worth and patient industry were we, in thus introducing +Miss Nanny to our readers, not to give them some account of her +lowly and virtuous character.</p> +<p>Miss Nanny was the eldest of three sisters, the daughters of a +shipmaster, who was lost at sea when they were very young; and +his all having perished with him, they were indeed, as their +mother said, the children of Poverty and Sorrow. By the +help of a little credit, the widow contrived, in a small shop, to +eke out her days till Nanny was able to assist her. It was +the intention of the poor woman to take up a girl’s school +for reading and knitting, and Nanny was destined to instruct the +pupils in that higher branch of accomplishment—the +different stitches of the sampler. But about the time that +Nanny was advancing to the requisite degree of perfection in +chain-steek and pie-holes—indeed had made some progress in +the Lord’s prayer between two yew trees—tambouring +was introduced at Irvine, and Nanny was sent to acquire a +competent knowledge of that classic art, honoured by the fair +hands of the beautiful Helen and the chaste and domestic +Andromache. In this she instructed her sisters; and such +was the fruit of their application and constant industry, that +her mother abandoned the design of keeping school, and continued +to ply her little huxtry in more easy circumstances. The +fluctuations of trade in time taught them that it would not be +wise to trust to the loom, and accordingly Nanny was at some +pains to learn mantua-making; and it was fortunate that she did +so—for the tambouring gradually went out of fashion, and +the flowering which followed suited less the infirm constitution +of poor Nanny. The making of gowns for ordinary occasions +led to the making of mournings, and the making of mournings +naturally often caused Nanny to be called in at deaths, which, in +process of time, promoted her to have the management of burials; +and in this line of business she has now a large proportion of +the genteelest in Irvine and its vicinity; and in all her various +engagements her behaviour has been as blameless and obliging as +her assiduity has been uniform; insomuch, that the numerous +ladies to whom she is known take a particular pleasure in +supplying her with the newest patterns, and earliest information, +respecting the varieties and changes of fashions; and to the +influence of the same good feelings in the breast of Mrs. +Pringle, Nanny was indebted for the following letter. How +far the information which it contains may be deemed exactly +suitable to the circumstances in which Miss Nanny’s lot is +cast, our readers may judge for themselves; but we are happy to +state, that it has proved of no small advantage to her: for since +it has been known that she had received a full, true, and +particular account, of all manner of London fashions, from so +managing and notable a woman as the minister’s wife of +Garnock, her consideration has been so augmented in the opinion +of the neighbouring gentlewomen, that she is not only consulted +as to funerals, but is often called in to assist in the +decoration and arrangement of wedding-dinners, and other +occasions of sumptuous banqueting; by which she is enabled, +during the suspension of the flowering trade, to earn a lowly but +a respected livelihood.</p> +<h3>LETTER XV</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Mrs. Pringle to Miss Nanny +Eydent</i>, <i>Mantua-maker</i>, <i>Seagate Head</i>, +<i>Irvine</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Miss Nanny</span>—Miss Mally +Glencairn would tell you all how it happent that I was disabled, +by our misfortunes in the ship, from riting to you konserning the +London fashons as I promist; for I wantit to be partikylor, and +to say nothing but what I saw with my own eyes, that it might be +servisable to you in your bizness—so now I will begin with +the old king’s burial, as you have sometimes okashon to +lend a helping hand in that way at Irvine, and nothing could be +more genteeler of the kind than a royal obsakew for a patron; but +no living sole can give a distink account of this matter, for you +know the old king was the father of his piple, and the croud was +so great. Howsomever we got into our oun hired shaze at +daylight; and when we were let out at the castel yett of Windsor, +we went into the mob, and by and by we got within the castel +walls, when great was the lamentation for the purdition of shawls +and shoos, and the Doctor’s coat pouch was clippit off by a +pocket-picker. We then ran to a wicket-gate, and up an old +timber-stair with a rope ravel, and then we got to a great pentit +chamber called King George’s Hall: After that we were +allowt to go into another room full of guns and guards, that told +us all to be silent: so then we all went like sawlies, holding +our tongues in an awful manner, into a dysmal room hung with +black cloth, and lighted with dum wax-candles in silver skonses, +and men in a row all in mulancholic posters. At length and +at last we came to the coffin; but although I was as partikylar +as possoble, I could see nothing that I would recommend. As +for the interment, there was nothing but even-down +wastrie—wax-candles blowing away in the wind, and flunkies +as fou as pipers, and an unreverent mob that scarsely could +demean themselves with decency as the body was going by; only the +Duke of York, who carrit the head, had on no hat, which I think +was the newest identical thing in the affair: but really there +was nothing that could be recommended. Howsomever I +understood that there was no draigie, which was a saving; for the +bread and wine for such a multitude would have been a destruction +to a lord’s living: and this is the only point that the +fashon set in the king’s feunoral may be follot in +Irvine.</p> +<p>Since the burial, we have been to see the play, where the +leddies were all in deep murning; but excepting that some had +black gum-floors on their heads, I saw leetil for +admiration—only that bugles, I can ashure you, are not worn +at all this season; and surely this murning must be a vast +detrimint to bizness—for where there is no verietie, there +can be but leetil to do in your line. But one thing I +should not forget, and that is, that in the vera best houses, +after tea and coffee after dinner, a cordial dram is handed +about; but likewise I could observe, that the fruit is not set on +with the cheese, as in our part of the country, but comes, after +the cloth is drawn, with the wine; and no such a thing as a +punch-bowl is to be heard of within the four walls of +London. Howsomever, what I principally notised was, that +the tea and coffee is not made by the lady of the house, but out +of the room, and brought in without sugar or milk, on servors, +every one helping himself, and only plain flimsy loaf and butter +is served—no such thing as shortbread, seed-cake, bun, +marmlet, or jeelly to be seen, which is an okonomical plan, and +well worthy of adaptation in ginteel families with narrow +incomes, in Irvine or elsewhere.</p> +<p>But when I tell you what I am now going to say, you will not +be surprizt at the great wealth in London. I paid for a +bumbeseen gown, not a bit better than the one that was made by +you that the sore calamity befell, and no so fine neither, more +than three times the price; so you see, Miss Nanny, if you were +going to pouse your fortune, you could not do better than pack up +your ends and your awls and come to London. But ye’re +far better at home—for this is not a town for any +creditable young woman like you, to live in by herself, and I am +wearying to be back, though it’s hard to say when the +Doctor will get his counts settlet. I wish you, howsomever, +to mind the patches for the bed-cover that I was going to patch, +for a licht afternoon seam, as the murning for the king will no +be so general with you, and the spring fashons will be coming on +to help my gathering—so no more at present from your friend +and well-wisher,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Janet +Pringle</span>.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI—PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION</h2> +<p>On Sunday morning, before going to church, Mr. Micklewham +called at the manse, and said that he wished particularly to +speak to Mr. Snodgrass. Upon being admitted, he found the +young helper engaged at breakfast, with a book lying on his +table, very like a volume of a new novel called <i>Ivanhoe</i>, +in its appearance, but of course it must have been sermons done +up in that manner to attract fashionable readers. As soon, +however, as Mr. Snodgrass saw his visitor, he hastily removed the +book, and put it into the table-drawer.</p> +<p>The precentor having taken a seat at the opposite side of the +fire, began somewhat diffidently to mention, that he had received +a letter from the Doctor, that made him at a loss whether or not +he ought to read it to the elders, as usual, after worship, and +therefore was desirous of consulting Mr. Snodgrass on the +subject, for it recorded, among other things, that the Doctor had +been at the playhouse, and Mr. Micklewham was quite sure that Mr. +Craig would be neither to bind nor to hold when he heard that, +although the transgression was certainly mollified by the nature +of the performance. As the clergyman, however, could offer +no opinion until he saw the letter, the precentor took it out of +his pocket, and Mr. Snodgrass found the contents as +follows:—</p> +<h3>LETTER XVI</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>The Rev. Z. Pringle</i>, +<i>D.D.</i>, <i>to Mr. Micklewham</i>, <i>Schoolmaster and +Session-Clerk</i>, <i>Garnock</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>—You will recollect +that, about twenty years ago, there was a great sound throughout +all the West that a playhouse in Glasgow had been converted into +a tabernacle of religion. I remember it was glad tidings to +our ears in the parish of Garnock; and that Mr. Craig, who had +just been ta’en on for an elder that fall, was for having a +thanksgiving-day on the account thereof, holding it to be a +signal manifestation of a new birth in the of-old-godly town of +Glasgow, which had become slack in the way of well-doing, and the +church therein lukewarm, like that of Laodicea. It was then +said, as I well remember, that when the Tabernacle was opened, +there had not been seen, since the Kaimslang wark, such a +congregation as was there assembled, which was a great proof that +it’s the matter handled, and not the place, that maketh +pure; so that when you and the elders hear that I have been at +the theatre of Drury Lane, in London, you must not think that I +was there to see a carnal stage play, whether tragical or +comical, or that I would so far demean myself and my cloth, as to +be a witness to the chambering and wantonness of +ne’er-du-weel play-actors. No, Mr. Micklewham, what I +went to see was an Oratorio, a most edifying exercise of psalmody +and prayer, under the management of a pious gentleman, of the +name of Sir George Smart, who is, as I am informed, at the +greatest pains to instruct the exhibitioners, they being, for the +most part, before they get into his hands, poor uncultivated +creatures, from Italy, France, and Germany, and other atheistical +and popish countries.</p> +<p>They first sung a hymn together very decently, and really with +as much civilised harmony as could be expected from novices; +indeed so well, that I thought them almost as melodious as your +own singing class of the trades lads from Kilwinning. Then +there was one Mr. Braham, a Jewish proselyte, that was set forth +to show us a specimen of his proficiency. In the praying +part, what he said was no objectionable as to the matter; but he +drawled in his manner to such a pitch, that I thought he would +have broken out into an even-down song, as I sometimes think of +yourself when you spin out the last word in reading out the line +in a warm summer afternoon. In the hymn by himself, he did +better; he was, however, sometimes like to lose the tune, but the +people gave him great encouragement when he got back again. +Upon the whole, I had no notion that there was any such +Christianity in practice among the Londoners, and I am happy to +tell you, that the house was very well filled, and the +congregation wonderful attentive. No doubt that excellent +man, Mr. W---, has a hand in these public strainings after grace, +but he was not there that night; for I have seen him; and surely +at the sight I could not but say to myself, that it’s +beyond the compass of the understanding of man to see what great +things Providence worketh with small means, for Mr. W--- is a +small creature. When I beheld his diminutive stature, and +thought of what he had achieved for the poor negroes and others +in the house of bondage, I said to myself, that here the hand of +Wisdom is visible, for the load of perishable mortality is laid +lightly on his spirit, by which it is enabled to clap its wings +and crow so crously on the dunghill top of this world; yea even +in the House of Parliament.</p> +<p>I was taken last Thursday morning to breakfast with him his +house at Kensington, by an East India man, who is likewise surely +a great saint. It was a heart-healing meeting of many of +the godly, which he holds weekly in the season; and we had such a +warsle of the spirit among us that the like cannot be told. +I was called upon to pray, and a worthy gentleman said, when I +was done, that he never had met with more apostolic +simplicity—indeed, I could see with the tail of my eye, +while I was praying, that the chief saint himself was listening +with a curious pleasant satisfaction.</p> +<p>As for our doings here anent the legacy, things are going +forward in the regular manner; but the expense is terrible, and I +have been obliged to take up money on account; but, as it was +freely given by the agents, I am in hopes all will end well; for, +considering that we are but strangers to them, they would not +have assisted us in this matter had they not been sure of the +means of payment in their own hands.</p> +<p>The people of London are surprising kind to us; we need not, +if we thought proper ourselves, eat a dinner in our own lodgings; +but it would ill become me, at my time of life, and with the +character for sobriety that I have maintained, to show an example +in my latter days of riotous living; therefore, Mrs. Pringle, and +her daughter, and me, have made a point of going nowhere three +times in the week; but as for Andrew Pringle, my son, he has +forgathered with some acquaintance, and I fancy we will be +obliged to let him take the length of his tether for a +while. But not altogether without a curb neither, for the +agent’s son, young Mr. Argent, had almost persuaded him to +become a member of Parliament, which he said he could get him +made, for more than a thousand pounds less than the common +price—the state of the new king’s health having +lowered the commodity of seats. But this I would by no +means hear of; he is not yet come to years of discretion enough +to sit in council; and, moreover, he has not been tried; and no +man, till he has out of doors shown something of what he is, +should be entitled to power and honour within. Mrs. +Pringle, however, thought he might do as well as young Dunure; +but Andrew Pringle, my son, has not the solidity of head that Mr. +K---dy has, and is over free and outspoken, and cannot take such +pains to make his little go a great way, like that well-behaved +young gentleman. But you will be grieved to hear that Mr. +K---dy is in opposition to the government; and truly I am at a +loss to understand how a man of Whig principles can be an +adversary to the House of Hanover. But I never meddled much +in politick affairs, except at this time, when I prohibited +Andrew Pringle, my son, from offering to be a member of +Parliament, notwithstanding the great bargain that he would have +had of the place.</p> +<p>And since we are on public concerns, I should tell you, that I +was minded to send you a newspaper at the second-hand, every day +when we were done with it. But when we came to inquire, we +found that we could get the newspaper for a shilling a week every +morning but Sunday, to our breakfast, which was so much cheaper +than buying a whole paper, that Mrs. Pringle thought it would be +a great extravagance; and, indeed, when I came to think of the +loss of time a newspaper every day would occasion to my people, I +considered it would be very wrong of me to send you any at +all. For I do think that honest folks in a far-off country +parish should not make or meddle with the things that pertain to +government,—the more especially, as it is well known, that +there is as much falsehood as truth in newspapers, and they have +not the means of testing their statements. Not, however, +that I am an advocate for passive obedience; God forbid. On +the contrary, if ever the time should come, in my day, of a +saint-slaying tyrant attempting to bind the burden of prelatic +abominations on our backs, such a blast of the gospel trumpet +would be heard in Garnock, as it does not become me to say, but I +leave it to you and others, who have experienced my capacity as a +soldier of the word so long, to think what it would then +be. Meanwhile, I remain, my dear sir, your friend and +pastor,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Z. +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>When Mr. Snodgrass had perused this epistle, he paused some +time, seemingly in doubt, and then he said to Mr. Micklewham, +that, considering the view which the Doctor had taken of the +matter, and that he had not gone to the playhouse for the motives +which usually take bad people to such places, he thought there +could be no possible harm in reading the letter to the elders, +and that Mr. Craig, so far from being displeased, would doubtless +be exceedingly rejoiced to learn that the playhouses of London +were occasionally so well employed as on the night when the +Doctor was there.</p> +<p>Mr. Micklewham then inquired if Mr. Snodgrass had heard from +Mr. Andrew, and was answered in the affirmative; but the letter +was not read. Why it was withheld our readers must guess +for themselves; but we have been fortunate enough to obtain the +following copy.</p> +<h3>LETTER XVII</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Andrew Pringle</i>, <i>Esq.</i>, +<i>to the Rev. Mr. Charles Snodgrass</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>—As the season +advances, London gradually unfolds, like Nature, all the variety +of her powers and pleasures. By the Argents we have been +introduced effectually into society, and have now only to choose +our acquaintance among those whom we like best. I should +employ another word than choose, for I am convinced that there is +no choice in the matter. In his friendships and affections, +man is subject to some inscrutable moral law, similar in its +effects to what the chemists call affinity. While under the +blind influence of this sympathy, we, forsooth, suppose ourselves +free agents! But a truce with philosophy.</p> +<p>The amount of the legacy is now ascertained. The stock, +however, in which a great part of the money is vested being shut, +the transfer to my father cannot be made for some time; and till +this is done, my mother cannot be persuaded that we have yet got +anything to trust to—an unfortunate notion which renders +her very unhappy. The old gentleman himself takes no +interest now in the business. He has got his mind at ease +by the payment of all the legacies; and having fallen in with +some of the members of that political junto, the Saints, who are +worldly enough to link, as often as they can, into their +association, the powerful by wealth or talent, his whole time is +occupied in assisting to promote their humbug; and he has +absolutely taken it into his head, that the attention he receives +from them for his subscriptions is on account of his eloquence as +a preacher, and that hitherto he has been altogether in an error +with respect to his own abilities. The effect of this is +abundantly amusing; but the source of it is very evident. +Like most people who pass a sequestered life, he had formed an +exaggerated opinion of public characters; and on seeing them in +reality so little superior to the generality of mankind, he +imagines that he was all the time nearer to their level than he +had ventured to suppose; and the discovery has placed him on the +happiest terms with himself. It is impossible that I can +respect his manifold excellent qualities and goodness of heart +more than I do; but there is an innocency in this simplicity, +which, while it often compels me to smile, makes me feel towards +him a degree of tenderness, somewhat too familiar for that filial +reverence that is due from a son.</p> +<p>Perhaps, however, you will think me scarcely less under the +influence of a similar delusion when I tell you, that I have been +somehow or other drawn also into an association, not indeed so +public or potent as that of the Saints, but equally persevering +in the objects for which it has been formed. The drift of +the Saints, as far as I can comprehend the matter, is to procure +the advancement to political power of men distinguished for the +purity of their lives, and the integrity of their conduct; and in +that way, I presume, they expect to effect the accomplishment of +that blessed epoch, the Millennium, when the Saints are to rule +the whole earth. I do not mean to say that this is their +decided and determined object; I only infer, that it is the +necessary tendency of their proceedings; and I say it with all +possible respect and sincerity, that, as a public party, the +Saints are not only perhaps the most powerful, but the party +which, at present, best deserves power.</p> +<p>The association, however, with which I have happened to become +connected, is of a very different description. Their object +is, to pass through life with as much pleasure as they can +obtain, without doing anything unbecoming the rank of gentlemen, +and the character of men of honour. We do not assemble such +numerous meetings as the Saints, the Whigs, or the Radicals, nor +are our speeches delivered with so much vehemence. We even, +I think, tacitly exclude oratory. In a word, our meetings +seldom exceed the perfect number of the muses; and our object on +these occasions is not so much to deliberate on plans of +prospective benefits to mankind, as to enjoy the present time for +ourselves, under the temperate inspiration of a well-cooked +dinner, flavoured with elegant wine, and just so much of mind as +suits the fleeting topics of the day. T---, whom I formerly +mentioned, introduced me to this delightful society. The +members consist of about fifty gentlemen, who dine occasionally +at each other’s houses; the company being chiefly selected +from the brotherhood, if that term can be applied to a circle of +acquaintance, who, without any formal institution of rules, have +gradually acquired a consistency that approximates to +organisation. But the universe of this vast city contains a +plurality of systems; and the one into which I have been +attracted may be described as that of the idle intellects. +In general society, the members of our party are looked up to as +men of taste and refinement, and are received with a degree of +deference that bears some resemblance to the respect paid to the +hereditary endowment of rank. They consist either of young +men who have acquired distinction at college, or gentlemen of +fortune who have a relish for intellectual pleasures, free from +the acerbities of politics, or the dull formalities which so many +of the pious think essential to their religious +pretensions. The wealthy furnish the entertainments, which +are always in a superior style, and the ingredient of birth is +not requisite in the qualifications of a member, although some +jealousy is entertained of professional men, and not a little of +merchants. T---, to whom I am also indebted for this view +of that circle of which he is the brightest ornament, gives a +felicitous explanation of the reason. He says, professional +men, who are worth anything at all, are always ambitious, and +endeavour to make their acquaintance subservient to their own +advancement; while merchants are liable to such casualties, that +their friends are constantly exposed to the risk of being obliged +to sink them below their wonted equality, by granting them +favours in times of difficulty, or, what is worse, by refusing to +grant them.</p> +<p>I am much indebted to you for the introduction to your friend +G---. He is one of us; or rather, he moves in an eccentric +sphere of his own, which crosses, I believe, almost all the +orbits of all the classed and classifiable systems of +London. I found him exactly what you described; and we were +on the frankest footing of old friends in the course of the first +quarter of an hour. He did me the honour to fancy that I +belonged, as a matter of course, to some one of the literary +fraternities of Edinburgh, and that I would be curious to see the +associations of the learned here. What he said respecting +them was highly characteristic of the man. “They +are,” said he, “the dullest things possible. On +my return from abroad, I visited them all, expecting to find +something of that easy disengaged mind which constitutes the +charm of those of France and Italy. But in London, among +those who have a character to keep up, there is such a vigilant +circumspection, that I should as soon expect to find nature in +the ballets of the Opera-house, as genius at the established +haunts of authors, artists, and men of science. Bankes +gives, I suppose officially, a public breakfast weekly, and opens +his house for conversations on the Sundays. I found at his +breakfasts, tea and coffee, with hot rolls, and men of celebrity +afraid to speak. At the conversations, there was something +even worse. A few plausible talking fellows created a buzz +in the room, and the merits of some paltry nick-nack of mechanism +or science was discussed. The party consisted undoubtedly +of the most eminent men of their respective lines in the world; +but they were each and all so apprehensive of having their ideas +purloined, that they took the most guarded care never to speak of +anything that they deemed of the slightest consequence, or to +hazard an opinion that might be called in question. The man +who either wishes to augment his knowledge, or to pass his time +agreeably, will never expose himself to a repetition of the +fastidious exhibitions of engineers and artists who have their +talents at market. But such things are among the +curiosities of London; and if you have any inclination to undergo +the initiating mortification of being treated as a young man who +may be likely to interfere with their professional interests, I +can easily get you introduced.”</p> +<p>I do not know whether to ascribe these strictures of your +friend to humour or misanthropy; but they were said without +bitterness; indeed so much as matters of course, that, at the +moment, I could not but feel persuaded they were just. I +spoke of them to T---, who says, that undoubtedly G---’s +account of the exhibitions is true in substance, but that it is +his own sharp-sightedness which causes him to see them so +offensively; for that ninety-nine out of the hundred in the world +would deem an evening spent at the conversations of Sir Joseph +Bankes a very high intellectual treat.</p> +<p>G--- has invited me to dinner, and I expect some amusement; +for T---, who is acquainted with him, says, that it is his fault +to employ his mind too much on all occasions; and that, in all +probability, there will be something, either in the fare or the +company, that I shall remember as long as I live. However, +you shall hear all about it in my next.—Yours,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Andrew +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>On the same Sunday on which Mr. Micklewham consulted Mr. +Snodgrass as to the propriety of reading the Doctor’s +letter to the elders, the following epistle reached the +post-office of Irvine, and was delivered by Saunders Dickie +himself, at the door of Mrs. Glibbans to her servan lassie, who, +as her mistress had gone to the Relief Church, told him, that he +would have to come for the postage the morn’s +morning. “Oh,” said Saunders, +“there’s naething to pay but my ain trouble, for +it’s frankit; but aiblins the mistress will gie me a bit +drappie, and so I’ll come betimes i’ the +morning.”</p> +<h3>LETTER XVIII</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Mrs. Pringle to Mrs. +Glibbans</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Mrs. Glibbans</span>—The +breking up of the old Parlament has been the cause why I did not +right you before, it having taken it out of my poor to get a +frank for my letter till yesterday; and I do ashure you, that I +was most extraordinar uneasy at the great delay, wishing much to +let you know the decayt state of the Gospel in thir perts, which +is the pleasure of your life to study by day, and meditate on in +the watches of the night.</p> +<p>There is no want of going to church, and, if that was a sign +of grease and peese in the kingdom of Christ, the toun of London +might hold a high head in the tabernacles of the faithful and +true witnesses. But saving Dr. Nichol of Swallo-Street, and +Dr. Manuel of London-Wall, there is nothing sound in the way of +preaching here; and when I tell you that Mr. John Gant, your +friend, and some other flea-lugged fallows, have set up a Heelon +congregation, and got a young man to preach Erse to the English, +ye maun think in what a state sinful souls are left in +London. But what I have been the most consarned about is +the state of the dead. I am no meaning those who are dead +in trespasses and sins, but the true dead. Ye will hardly +think, that they are buried in a popish-like manner, with +prayers, and white gowns, and ministers, and spadefuls of yerd +cast upon them, and laid in vauts, like kists of orangers in a +grocery seller—and I am told that, after a time, they are +taken out when the vaut is shurfeeted, and their bones brunt, if +they are no made into lamp-black by a secret wark—which is +a clean proof to me that a right doctrine cannot be established +in this land—there being so little respec shone to the +dead.</p> +<p>The worst point, howsomever, of all is, what is done with the +prayers—and I have heard you say, that although there was +nothing more to objec to the wonderful Doctor Chammers of +Glasgou, that his reading of his sermons was testimony against +him in the great controversy of sound doctrine; but what will you +say to reading of prayers, and no only reading of prayers, but +printed prayers, as if the contreet heart of the sinner had no +more to say to the Lord in the hour of fasting and humiliation, +than what a bishop can indite, and a book-seller make profit +o’. “Verily,” as I may say, in a word of +scripter, I doobt if the glad tidings of salvation have yet been +preeched in this land of London; but the ministers have good +stipends, and where the ground is well manured, it may in time +bring forth fruit meet for repentance.</p> +<p>There is another thing that behoves me to mention, and that +is, that an elder is not to be seen in the churches of London, +which is a sore signal that the piple are left to themselves; and +in what state the morality can be, you may guess with an eye of +pity. But on the Sabbath nights, there is such a going and +coming, that it’s more like a cried fair than the +Lord’s night—all sorts of poor people, instead of +meditating on their bygane toil and misery of the week, making +the Sunday their own day, as if they had not a greater Master to +serve on that day, than the earthly man whom they served in the +week-days. It is, howsomever, past the poor of nature to +tell you of the sinfulness of London; and you may we think what +is to be the end of all things, when I ashure you, that there is +a newspaper sold every Sabbath morning, and read by those that +never look at their Bibles. Our landlady asked us if we +would take one; but I thought the Doctor would have fired the +house, and you know it is not a small thing that kindles his +passion. In short, London is not a place to come to hear +the tidings of salvation preeched,—no that I mean to deny +that there is not herine more than five righteous persons in it, +and I trust the cornal’s hagent is one; for if he is not, +we are undone, having been obligated to take on already more than +a hundred pounds of debt, to the account of our living, and the +legacy yet in the dead thraws. But as I mean this for a +spiritual letter, I will say no more about the root of all evil, +as it is called in the words of truth and holiness; so referring +you to what I have told Miss Mally Glencairn about the legacy and +other things nearest my heart, I remain, my dear Mrs. Glibbans, +your fellou Christian and sinner,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Janet +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>Mrs. Glibbans received this letter between the preachings, and +it was observed by all her acquaintance during the afternoon +service, that she was a laden woman. Instead of standing up +at the prayers, as her wont was, she kept her seat, sitting with +downcast eyes, and ever and anon her left hand, which was laid +over her book on the reading-board of the pew, was raised and +allowed to drop with a particular moral emphasis, bespeaking the +mournful cogitations of her spirit. On leaving the church, +somebody whispered to the minister, that surely Mrs. Glibbans had +heard some sore news; upon which that meek, mild, and modest good +soul hastened towards her, and inquired, with more than his usual +kindness, How she was? Her answer was brief and mysterious; +and she shook her head in such a manner that showed him all was +not right. “Have you heard lately of your friends the +Pringles?” said he, in his sedate manner—“when +do they think of leaving London?’</p> +<p>“I wish they may ever get out o’t,” was the +agitated reply of the afflicted lady.</p> +<p>“I am very sorry to hear you say so,” responded +the minister. “I thought all was in a fair way to an +issue of the settlement. I’m very sorry to hear +this.”</p> +<p>“Oh, sir,” said the mourner, “don’t +think that I am grieved for them and their legacy—filthy +lucre—no, sir; but I have had a letter that has made my +hair stand on end. Be none surprised if you hear of the +earth opening, and London swallowed up, and a voice crying in the +wilderness, ‘Woe, woe.’”</p> +<p>The gentle priest was much surprised by this information; it +was evident that Mrs. Glibbans had received a terrible account of +the wickedness of London; and that the weight upon her pious +spirit was owing to that cause. He, therefore, accompanied +her home, and administered all the consolation he was able to +give; assuring her, that it was in the power of Omnipotence to +convert the stony heart into one of flesh and tenderness, and to +raise the British metropolis out of the miry clay, and place it +on a hill, as a city that could not be hid; which Mrs. Glibbans +was so thankful to hear, that, as soon as he had left her, she +took her tea in a satisfactory frame of mind, and went the same +night to Miss Mally Glencairn to hear what Mrs. Pringle had said +to her. No visit ever happened more opportunely; for just +as Mrs. Glibbans knocked at the door, Miss Isabella Tod made her +appearance. She had also received a letter from Rachel, in +which it will be seen that reference was made likewise to Mrs. +Pringle’s epistle to Miss Mally.</p> +<h3>LETTER XIX</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss +Isabella Tod</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Bell</span>—How delusive are +the flatteries of fortune! The wealth that has been +showered upon us, beyond all our hopes, has brought no pleasure +to my heart, and I pour my unavailing sighs for your absence, +when I would communicate the cause of my unhappiness. +Captain Sabre has been most assiduous in his attentions, and I +must confess to your sympathising bosom, that I do begin to find +that he has an interest in mine. But my mother will not +listen to his proposals, nor allow me to give him any +encouragement, till the fatal legacy is settled. What can +be her motive for this, I am unable to divine; for the +captain’s fortune is far beyond what I could ever have +expected without the legacy, and equal to all I could hope for +with it. If, therefore, there is any doubt of the legacy +being paid, she should allow me to accept him; and if there is +none, what can I do better? In the meantime, we are going +about seeing the sights; but the general mourning is a great +drawback on the splendour of gaiety. It ends, however, next +Sunday; and then the ladies, like the spring flowers, will be all +in full blossom. I was with the Argents at the opera on +Saturday last, and it far surpassed my ideas of grandeur. +But the singing was not good—I never could make out the end +or the beginning of a song, and it was drowned with the violins; +the scenery, however, was lovely; but I must not say a word about +the dancers, only that the females behaved in a manner so +shocking, that I could scarcely believe it was possible for the +delicacy of our sex to do. They are, however, all +foreigners, who are, you know, naturally of a licentious +character, especially the French women.</p> +<p>We have taken an elegant house in Baker Street, where we go on +Monday next, and our own new carriage is to be home in the course +of the week. All this, which has been done by the advice of +Mrs. Argent, gives my mother great uneasiness, in case anything +should yet happen to the legacy. My brother, however, who +knows the law better than her, only laughs at her fears, and my +father has found such a wonderful deal to do in religion here, +that he is quite delighted, and is busy from morning to night in +writing letters, and giving charitable donations. I am soon +to be no less busy, but in another manner. Mrs. Argent has +advised us to get in accomplished masters for me, so that, as +soon as we are removed into our own local habitation, I am to +begin with drawing and music, and the foreign languages. I +am not, however, to learn much of the piano; Mrs. A. thinks it +would take up more time than I can now afford; but I am to be +cultivated in my singing, and she is to try if the master that +taught Miss Stephens has an hour to spare—and to use her +influence to persuade him to give it to me, although he only +receives pupils for perfectioning, except they belong to families +of distinction.</p> +<p>My brother had a hankering to be made a member of Parliament, +and got Mr. Charles Argent to speak to my father about it, but +neither he nor my mother would hear of such a thing, which I was +very sorry for, as it would have been so convenient to me for +getting franks; and I wonder my mother did not think of that, as +she grudges nothing so much as the price of postage. But +nothing do I grudge so little, especially when it is a letter +from you. Why do you not write me oftener, and tell me what +is saying about us, particularly by that spiteful toad, Becky +Glibbans, who never could hear of any good happening to her +acquaintance, without being as angry as if it was obtained at her +own expense?</p> +<p>I do not like Miss Argent so well on acquaintance as I did at +first; not that she is not a very fine lassie, but she gives +herself such airs at the harp and piano—because she can +play every sort of music at the first sight, and sing, by looking +at the notes, any song, although she never heard it, which may be +very well in a play-actor, or a governess, that has to win her +bread by music; but I think the education of a modest young lady +might have been better conducted.</p> +<p>Through the civility of the Argents, we have been introduced +to a great number of families, and been much invited; but all the +parties are so ceremonious, that I am never at my ease, which my +brother says is owing to my rustic education, which I cannot +understand; for, although the people are finer dressed, and the +dinners and rooms grander than what I have seen, either at Irvine +or Kilmarnock, the company are no wiser; and I have not met with +a single literary character among them. And what are ladies +and gentlemen without mind, but a well-dressed mob! It is +to mind alone that I am at all disposed to pay the homage of +diffidence.</p> +<p>The acquaintance of the Argents are all of the first circle, +and we have got an invitation to a route from the Countess of +J---y, in consequence of meeting her with them. She is a +charming woman, and I anticipate great pleasure. Miss +Argent says, however, she is ignorant and presuming; but how is +it possible that she can be so, as she was an earl’s +daughter, and bred up for distinction? Miss Argent may be +presuming, but a countess is necessarily above that, at least it +would only become a duchess or marchioness to say so. This, +however, is not the only occasion in which I have seen the +detractive disposition of that young lady, who, with all her +simplicity of manners and great accomplishments, is, you will +perceive, just like ourselves, rustic as she doubtless thinks our +breeding has been.</p> +<p>I have observed that nobody in London inquires about who +another is; and that in company everyone is treated on an +equality, unless when there is some remarkable personal +peculiarity, so that one really knows nothing of those whom one +meets. But my paper is full, and I must not take another +sheet, as my mother has a letter to send in the same frank to +Miss Mally Glencairn. Believe me, ever affectionately +yours,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Rachel +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>The three ladies knew not very well what to make of this +letter. They thought there was a change in Rachel’s +ideas, and that it was not for the better; and Miss Isabella +expressed, with a sentiment of sincere sorrow, that the +acquisition of fortune seemed to have brought out some unamiable +traits in her character, which, perhaps, had she not been exposed +to the companions and temptations of the great world, would have +slumbered, unfelt by herself, and unknown to her friends.</p> +<p>Mrs. Glibbans declared, that it was a waking of original sin, +which the iniquity of London was bringing forth, as the heat of +summer causes the rosin and sap to issue from the bark of the +tree. In the meantime, Miss Mally had opened her letter, of +which we subjoin a copy.</p> +<h3>LETTER XX</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally +Glencairn</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Miss Mally</span>—I greatly +stand in need of your advise and counsel at this time. The +Doctor’s affair comes on at a fearful slow rate, and the +money goes like snow off a dyke. It is not to be told what +has been paid for legacy-duty, and no legacy yet in hand; and we +have been obligated to lift a whole hundred pounds out of the +residue, and what that is to be the Lord only knows. But +Miss Jenny Macbride, she has got her thousand pound, all in one +bank bill, sent to her; Thomas Bowie, the doctor in Ayr, he has +got his five hundred pounds; and auld Nanse Sorrel, that was +nurse to the cornal, she has got the first year of her twenty +pounds a year; but we have gotten nothing, and I jealouse, that +if things go on at this rate, there will be nothing to get; and +what will become of us then, after all the trubble and outlay +that we have been pot too by this coming to London?</p> +<p>Howsomever, this is the black side of the story; for Mr. +Charles Argent, in a jocose way, proposed to get Andrew made a +Parliament member for three thousand pounds, which he said was +cheap; and surely he would not have thought of such a thing, had +he not known that Andrew would have the money to pay for’t; +and, over and above this, Mrs. Argent has been recommending +Captain Sabre to me for Rachel, and she says he is a stated +gentleman, with two thousand pounds rental, and her nephew; and +surely she would not think Rachel a match for him, unless she had +an inkling from her gudeman of what Rachel’s to get. +But I have told her that we would think of nothing of the sort +till the counts war settled, which she may tell to her gudeman, +and if he approves the match, it will make him hasten on the +settlement, for really I am growing tired of this London, whar I +am just like a fish out of the water. The Englishers are +sae obstinate in their own way, that I can get them to do nothing +like Christians; and, what is most provoking of all, their ways +are very good when you know them; but they have no instink to +teach a body how to learn them. Just this very morning, I +told the lass to get a jiggot of mutton for the morn’s +dinner, and she said there was not such a thing to be had in +London, and threeppit it till I couldna stand her; and, had it +not been that Mr. Argent’s French servan’ man +happened to come with a cart, inviting us to a ball, and who +understood what a jiggot was, I might have reasoned till the day +of doom without redress. As for the Doctor, I declare +he’s like an enchantit person, for he has falling in with a +party of the elect here, as he says, and they have a kilfud +yoking every Thursday at the house of Mr. W---, where the Doctor +has been, and was asked to pray, and did it with great effec, +which has made him so up in the buckle, that he does nothing but +go to Bible soceeyetis, and mishonary meetings, and cherity +sarmons, which cost a poor of money.</p> +<p>But what consarns me more than all is, that the temptations of +this vanity fair have turnt the head of Andrew, and he has bought +two horses, with an English man-servan’, which you know is +an eating moth. But how he payt for them, and whar he is to +keep them, is past the compass of my understanding. In +short, if the legacy does not cast up soon, I see nothing left +for us but to leave the world as a legacy to you all, for my +heart will be broken—and I often wish that the cornel hadna +made us his residees, but only given us a clean scorn, like Miss +Jenny Macbride, although it had been no more; for, my dear Miss +Mally, it does not doo for a woman of my time of life to be taken +out of her element, and, instead of looking after her family with +a thrifty eye, to be sitting dressed all day seeing the money +fleeing like sclate stanes. But what I have to tell is +worse than all this; we have been persuaded to take a furnisht +house, where we go on Monday; and we are to pay for it, for three +months, no less than a hundred and fifty pounds, which is more +than the half of the Doctor’s whole stipend is, when the +meal is twenty-pence the peck; and we are to have three +servan’ lassies, besides Andrew’s man, and the +coachman that we have hired altogether for ourselves, having been +persuaded to trist a new carriage of our own by the Argents, +which I trust the Argents will find money to pay for; and masters +are to come in to teach Rachel the fasionable accomplishments, +Mrs. Argent thinking she was rather old now to be sent to a +boarding-school. But what I am to get to do for so many +vorashous servants, is dreadful to think, there being no such +thing as a wheel within the four walls of London; and, if there +was, the Englishers no nothing about spinning. In short, +Miss Mally, I am driven dimentit, and I wish I could get the +Doctor to come home with me to our manse, and leave all to Andrew +and Rachel, with kurators; but, as I said, he’s as mickle +bye himself as onybody, and says that his candle has been hidden +under a bushel at Garnock more than thirty years, which looks as +if the poor man was fey; howsomever, he’s happy in his +delooshon, for if he was afflictit with that forethought and +wisdom that I have, I know not what would be the upshot of all +this calamity. But we maun hope for the best; and, happen +what will, I am, dear Miss Mally, your sincere friend,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Janet +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>Miss Mally sighed as she concluded, and said, “Riches do +not always bring happiness, and poor Mrs. Pringle would have been +far better looking after her cows and her butter, and keeping her +lassies at their wark, than with all this galravitching and +grandeur.” “Ah!” added Mrs. Glibbans, +“she’s now a testifyer to the truth—she’s +now a testifyer; happy it will be for her if she’s enabled +to make a sanctified use of the dispensation.”</p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII—DISCOVERIES AND REBELLIONS</h2> +<p>One evening as Mr. Snodgrass was taking a solitary walk +towards Irvine, for the purpose of calling on Miss Mally +Glencairn, to inquire what had been her latest accounts from +their mutual friends in London, and to read to her a letter, +which he had received two days before, from Mr. Andrew Pringle, +he met, near Eglintoun Gates, that pious woman, Mrs. Glibbans, +coming to Garnock, brimful of some most extraordinary +intelligence. The air was raw and humid, and the ways were +deep and foul; she was, however, protected without, and tempered +within, against the dangers of both. Over her venerable +satin mantle, lined with cat-skin, she wore a scarlet duffle Bath +cloak, with which she was wont to attend the tent sermons of the +Kilwinning and Dreghorn preachings in cold and inclement +weather. Her black silk petticoat was pinned up, that it +might not receive injury from the nimble paddling of her short +steps in the mire; and she carried her best shoes and stockings +in a handkerchief to be changed at the manse, and had fortified +her feet for the road in coarse worsted hose, and thick +plain-soled leather shoes.</p> +<p>Mr. Snodgrass proposed to turn back with her, but she would +not permit him. “No, sir,” said she, +“what I am about you cannot meddle in. You are here +but a stranger—come to-day, and gane to-morrow;—and +it does not pertain to you to sift into the doings that have been +done before your time. Oh dear; but this is a sad +thing—nothing like it since the silencing of M’Auly +of Greenock. What will the worthy Doctor say when he hears +tell o’t? Had it fa’n out with that neighering +body, James Daff, I wouldna hae car’t a snuff of tobacco, +but wi’ Mr. Craig, a man so gifted wi’ the power of +the Spirit, as I hae often had a delightful experience! Ay, +ay, Mr. Snodgrass, take heed lest ye fall; we maun all lay it to +heart; but I hope the trooper is still within the jurisdiction of +church censures. She shouldna be spairt. Nae doubt, +the fault lies with her, and it is that I am going to search; +yea, as with a lighted candle.”</p> +<p>Mr. Snodgrass expressed his inability to understand to what +Mrs. Glibbans alluded, and a very long and interesting disclosure +took place, the substance of which may be gathered from the +following letter; the immediate and instigating cause of the +lady’s journey to Garnock being the alarming intelligence +which she had that day received of Mr. Craig’s +servant-damsel Betty having, by the style and title of Mrs. +Craig, sent for Nanse Swaddle, the midwife, to come to her in her +own case, which seemed to Mrs. Glibbans nothing short of a +miracle, Betty having, the very Sunday before, helped the kettle +when she drank tea with Mr. Craig, and sat at the room door, on a +buffet-stool brought from the kitchen, while he performed family +worship, to the great solace and edification of his visitor.</p> +<h3>LETTER XXI</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>The Rev. Z. Pringle</i>, +<i>D.D.</i>, <i>to Mr. Micklewham</i>, <i>Schoolmaster and +Session-Clerk</i>, <i>Garnock</i></p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>—I have received your +letter of the 24th, which has given me a great surprise to hear, +that Mr. Craig was married as far back as Christmas, to his own +servant lass Betty, and me to know nothing of it, nor you +neither, until it was time to be speaking to the midwife. +To be sure, Mr. Craig, who is an elder, and a very rigid man, in +his animadversions on the immoralities that come before the +session, must have had his own good reasons for keeping his +marriage so long a secret. Tell him, however, from me, that +I wish both him and Mrs. Craig much joy and felicity; but he +should be milder for the future on the thoughtlessness of youth +and headstrong passions. Not that I insinuate that there +has been any occasion in the conduct of such a godly man to cause +a suspicion; but it’s wonderful how he was married in +December, and I cannot say that I am altogether so proud to hear +it as I am at all times of the well-doing of my people. +Really the way that Mr. Daff has comported himself in this matter +is greatly to his credit; and I doubt if the thing had happened +with him, that Mr. Craig would have sifted with a sharp eye how +he came to be married in December, and without bridal and +banquet. For my part, I could not have thought it of Mr. +Craig, but it’s done now, and the less we say about it the +better; so I think with Mr. Daff, that it must be looked over; +but when I return, I will speak both to the husband and wife, and +not without letting them have an inkling of what I think about +their being married in December, which was a great shame, even if +there was no sin in it. But I will say no more; for truly, +Mr. Micklewham, the longer we live in this world, and the farther +we go, and the better we know ourselves, the less reason have we +to think slightingly of our neighbours; but the more to convince +our hearts and understandings, that we are all prone to evil, and +desperately wicked. For where does hypocrisy not abound? +and I have had my own experience here, that what a man is to the +world, and to his own heart, is a very different thing.</p> +<p>In my last letter, I gave you a pleasing notification of the +growth, as I thought, of spirituality in this Babylon of +deceitfulness, thinking that you and my people would be gladdened +with the tidings of the repute and estimation in which your +minister was held, and I have dealt largely in the way of public +charity. But I doubt that I have been governed by a spirit +of ostentation, and not with that lowly-mindedness, without which +all almsgiving is but a serving of the altars of Belzebub; for +the chastening hand has been laid upon me, but with the kindness +and pity which a tender father hath for his dear children.</p> +<p>I was requested by those who come so cordially to me with +their subscription papers, for schools and suffering worth, to +preach a sermon to get a collection. I have no occasion to +tell you, that when I exert myself, what effect I can produce; +and I never made so great an exertion before, which in itself was +a proof that it was with the two bladders, pomp and vanity, that +I had committed myself to swim on the uncertain waters of London; +for surely my best exertions were due to my people. But +when the Sabbath came upon which I was to hold forth, how were my +hopes withered, and my expectations frustrated. Oh, Mr. +Micklewham, what an inattentive congregation was yonder! many +slumbered and slept, and I sowed the words of truth and holiness +in vain upon their barren and stoney hearts. There is no +true grace among some that I shall not name, for I saw them +whispering and smiling like the scorners, and altogether heedless +unto the precious things of my discourse, which could not have +been the case had they been sincere in their professions, for I +never preached more to my own satisfaction on any occasion +whatsoever—and, when I return to my own parish, you shall +hear what I said, as I will preach the same sermon over again, +for I am not going now to print it, as I did once think of doing, +and to have dedicated it to Mr. W---.</p> +<p>We are going about in an easy way, seeing what is to be seen +in the shape of curiosities; but the whole town is in a state of +ferment with the election of members to Parliament. I have +been to see’t, both in the Guildhall and at Covent Garden, +and it’s a frightful thing to see how the Radicals roar +like bulls of Bashan, and put down the speakers in behalf of the +government. I hope no harm will come of yon, but I must +say, that I prefer our own quiet canny Scotch way at +Irvine. Well do I remember, for it happened in the year I +was licensed, that the town council, the Lord Eglinton that was +shot being then provost, took in the late Thomas Bowet to be a +counsellor; and Thomas, not being versed in election matters, yet +minding to please his lordship (for, like the rest of the +council, he had always a proper veneration for those in power), +he, as I was saying, consulted Joseph Boyd the weaver, who was +then Dean of Guild, as to the way of voting; whereupon Joseph, +who was a discreet man, said to him, “Ye’ll just say +as I say, and I’ll say what Bailie Shaw says, for he will +do what my lord bids him”; which was as peaceful a way of +sending up a member to Parliament as could well be devised.</p> +<p>But you know that politics are far from my hand—they +belong to the temporalities of the community; and the ministers +of peace and goodwill to man should neither make nor meddle with +them. I wish, however, that these tumultuous elections were +well over, for they have had an effect on the per cents, where +our bit legacy is funded; and it would terrify you to hear what +we have thereby already lost. We have not, however, lost so +much but that I can spare a little to the poor among my people; +so you will, in the dry weather, after the seed-time, hire +two-three thackers to mend the thack on the roofs of such of the +cottars’ houses as stand in need of mending, and banker +M---y will pay the expense; and I beg you to go to him on receipt +hereof, for he has a line for yourself, which you will be sure to +accept as a testimony from me for the great trouble that my +absence from the parish has given to you among my people, and I +am, dear sir, your friend and pastor,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Z. +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>As Mrs. Glibbans would not permit Mr. Snodgrass to return with +her to the manse, he pursued his journey alone to the Kirkgate of +Irvine, where he found Miss Mally Glencairn on the eve of sitting +down to her solitary tea. On seeing her visitor enter, +after the first compliments on the state of health and weather +were over, she expressed her hopes that he had not drank tea; +and, on receiving a negative, which she did not quite expect, as +she thought he had been perhaps invited by some of her +neighbours, she put in an additional spoonful on his account; and +brought from her corner cupboard with the glass door, an ancient +French pickle-bottle, in which she had preserved, since the great +tea-drinking formerly mentioned, the remainder of the two ounces +of carvey, the best, Mrs. Nanse bought for that memorable +occasion. A short conversation then took place relative to +the Pringles; and, while the tea was masking, for Miss Mally said +it took a long time to draw, she read to him the following +letter:—</p> +<h3>LETTER XXII</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally +Glencairn</i></p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Miss Mally</span>—Trully, it +may be said, that the croun of England is upon the downfal, and +surely we are all seething in the pot of revolution, for the scum +is mounting uppermost. Last week, no farther gone than on +Mononday, we came to our new house heer in Baker Street, but +it’s nather to be bakit nor brewt what I hav sin syne +suffert. You no my way, and that I like a been house, but +no wastrie, and so I needna tell yoo, that we hav had good +diners; to be sure, there was not a meerakle left to fill five +baskets every day, but an abundance, with a proper kitchen of +breed, to fill the bellies of four dumasticks. Howsomever, +lo and behold, what was clecking downstairs. On Saturday +morning, as we were sitting at our breakfast, the Doctor reading +the newspapers, who shoud corn intil the room but Andrew’s +grum, follo’t by the rest, to give us warning that they +were all going to quat our sairvice, becas they were +starvit. I thocht that I would hav fentit cauld deed, but +the Doctor, who is a consiederat man, inquairt what made them +starve, and then there was such an opprobrious cry about cold +meet and bare bones, and no beer. It was an evendoun +resurection—a rebellion waur than the forty-five. In +short, Miss Mally, to make a leettle of a lang tail, they would +have a hot joint day and day about, and a tree of yill to stand +on the gauntress for their draw and drink, with a cock and a +pail; and we were obligated to evacuate to their terms, and to +let them go to their wark with flying colors; so you see how +dangerous it is to live among this piple, and their noshans of +liberty.</p> +<p>You will see by the newspapers that ther’s a lection +going on for parliament. It maks my corruption to rise to +hear of such doings, and if I was a government as I’m but a +woman, I woud put them doon with the strong hand, just to be +revenged on the proud stomaks of these het and fou English.</p> +<p>We have gotten our money in the pesents put into our name; but +I have had no peese since, for they have fallen in price three +eight parts, which is very near a half, and if they go at this +rate, where will all our legacy soon be? I have no goo of +the pesents; so we are on the look-out for a landed estate, being +a shure thing.</p> +<p>Captain Saber is still sneking after Rachel, and if she were +awee perfited in her accomplugments, it’s no saying what +might happen, for he’s a fine lad, but she’s +o’er young to be the heed of a family. Howsomever, +the Lord’s will maun be done, and if there is to be a +match, she’ll no have to fight for gentility with a +straitent circumstance.</p> +<p>As for Andrew, I wish he was weel settlt, and we have our +hopes that he’s beginning to draw up with Miss Argent, who +will have, no doobt, a great fortune, and is a treasure of a +creeture in herself, being just as simple as a lamb; but, to be +sure, she has had every advantage of edication, being brought up +in a most fashonible boarding-school.</p> +<p>I hope you have got the box I sent by the smak, and that you +like the patron of the goon. So no more at present, but +remains, dear Miss Mally, your sinsaire friend,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Janet +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>“The box,” said Miss Mally, “that Mrs. +Pringle speaks about came last night. It contains a very +handsome present to me and to Miss Bell Tod. The gift to me +is from Mrs. P. herself, and Miss Bell’s from Rachel; but +that ettercap, Becky Glibbans, is flying through the town like a +spunky, mislikening the one and misca’ing the other: +everybody, however, kens that it’s only spite that gars her +speak. It’s a great pity that she cou’dna be +brought to a sense of religion like her mother, who, in her +younger days, they say, wasna to seek at a clashing.”</p> +<p>Mr. Snodgrass expressed his surprise at this account of the +faults of that exemplary lady’s youth; but he thought of +her holy anxiety to sift into the circumstances of Betty, the +elder’s servant, becoming in one day Mrs. Craig, and the +same afternoon sending for the midwife, and he prudently made no +other comment; for the characters of all preachers were in her +hands, and he had the good fortune to stand high in her favour, +as a young man of great promise. In order, therefore, to +avoid any discussion respecting moral merits, he read the +following letter from Andrew Pringle:—</p> +<h3>LETTER XXIII</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Andrew Pringle</i>, <i>Esq.</i>, +<i>to the Reverend Charles Snodgrass</i></p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>—London +undoubtedly affords the best and the worst specimens of the +British character; but there is a certain townish something about +the inhabitants in general, of which I find it extremely +difficult to convey any idea. Compared with the English of +the country, there is apparently very little difference between +them; but still there is a difference, and of no small importance +in a moral point of view. The country peculiarity is like +the bloom of the plumb, or the down of the peach, which the +fingers of infancy cannot touch without injuring; but this felt +but not describable quality of the town character, is as the +varnish which brings out more vividly the colours of a picture, +and which may be freely and even rudely handled. The women, +for example, although as chaste in principle as those of any +other community, possess none of that innocent untempted +simplicity, which is more than half the grace of virtue; many of +them, and even young ones too, “in the first freshness of +their virgin beauty,” speak of the conduct and vocation of +“the erring sisters of the sex,” in a manner that +often amazes me, and has, in more than one instance, excited +unpleasant feelings towards the fair satirists. This moral +taint, for I can consider it as nothing less, I have heard +defended, but only by men who are supposed to have had a large +experience of the world, and who, perhaps, on that account, are +not the best judges of female delicacy. “Every +woman,” as Pope says, “may be at heart a rake”; +but it is for the interests of the domestic affections, which are +the very elements of virtue, to cherish the notion, that women, +as they are physically more delicate than men, are also so +morally.</p> +<p>But the absence of delicacy, the bloom of virtue, is not +peculiar to the females, it is characteristic of all the +varieties of the metropolitan mind. The artifices of the +medical quacks are things of universal ridicule; but the sin, +though in a less gross form, pervades the whole of that sinister +system by which much of the superiority of this vast metropolis +is supported. The state of the periodical press, that great +organ of political instruction—the unruly tongue of +liberty, strikingly confirms the justice of this misanthropic +remark.</p> +<p>G--- had the kindness, by way of a treat to me, to collect, +the other day, at dinner, some of the most eminent editors of the +London journals. I found them men of talent, certainly, and +much more men of the world, than “the cloistered student +from his paling lamp”; but I was astonished to find it +considered, tacitly, as a sort of maxim among them, that an +intermediate party was not bound by any obligation of honour to +withhold, farther than his own discretion suggested, any +information of which he was the accidental depositary, whatever +the consequences might be to his informant, or to those affected +by the communication. In a word, they seemed all to care +less about what might be true than what would produce effect, and +that effect for their own particular advantage. It is +impossible to deny, that if interest is made the criterion by +which the confidences of social intercourse are to be respected, +the persons who admit this doctrine will have but little respect +for the use of names, or deem it any reprehensible delinquency to +suppress truth, or to blazon falsehood. In a word, man in +London is not quite so good a creature as he is out of it. +The rivalry of interests is here too intense; it impairs the +affections, and occasions speculations both in morals and +politics, which, I much suspect, it would puzzle a casuist to +prove blameless. Can anything, for example, be more +offensive to the calm spectator, than the elections which are now +going on? Is it possible that this country, so much smaller +in geographical extent than France, and so inferior in natural +resources, restricted too by those ties and obligations which +were thrown off as fetters by that country during the late war, +could have attained, in despite of her, such a lofty +pre-eminence—become the foremost of all the world—had +it not been governed in a manner congenial to the spirit of the +people, and with great practical wisdom? It is absurd to +assert, that there are no corruptions in the various +modifications by which the affairs of the British empire are +administered; but it would be difficult to show, that, in the +present state of morals and interests among mankind, corruption +is not a necessary evil. I do not mean necessary, as +evolved from those morals and interests, but necessary to the +management of political trusts. I am afraid, however, to +insist on this, as the natural integrity of your own heart, and +the dignity of your vocation, will alike induce you to condemn it +as Machiavellian. It is, however, an observation forced on +me by what I have seen here.</p> +<p>It would be invidious, perhaps, to criticise the different +candidates for the representation of London and Westminster very +severely. I think it must be granted, that they are as +sincere in their professions as their opponents, which at least +bleaches away much of that turpitude of which their political +conduct is accused by those who are of a different way of +thinking. But it is quite evident, at least to me, that no +government could exist a week, managed with that subjection to +public opinion to which Sir Francis Burdett and Mr. Hobhouse +apparently submit; and it is no less certain, that no government +ought to exist a single day that would act in complete defiance +of public opinion.</p> +<p>I was surprised to find Sir Francis Burdett an uncommonly mild +and gentlemanly-looking man. I had pictured somehow to my +imagination a dark and morose character; but, on the contrary, in +his appearance, deportment, and manner of speaking, he is +eminently qualified to attract popular applause. His style +of speaking is not particularly oratorical, but he has the art of +saying bitter things in a sweet way. In his language, +however, although pungent, and sometimes even eloquent, he is +singularly incorrect. He cannot utter a sequence of three +sentences without violating common grammar in the most atrocious +way; and his tropes and figures are so distorted, hashed, and +broken—such a patchwork of different patterns, that you are +bewildered if you attempt to make them out; but the earnestness +of his manner, and a certain fitness of character, in his +observations a kind of Shaksperian pithiness, redeem all +this. Besides, his manifold blunders of syntax do not +offend the taste of those audiences where he is heard with the +most approbation.</p> +<p>Hobhouse speaks more correctly, but he lacks in the +conciliatory advantages of personal appearance; and his +physiognomy, though indicating considerable strength of mind, is +not so prepossessing. He is evidently a man of more +education than his friend, that is, of more reading, perhaps also +of more various observation, but he has less genius. His +tact is coarser, and though he speaks with more vehemence, he +seldomer touches the sensibilities of his auditors. He may +have observed mankind in general more extensively than Sir +Francis, but he is far less acquainted with the feelings and +associations of the English mind. There is also a wariness +about him, which I do not like so well as the imprudent +ingenuousness of the baronet. He seems to me to have a +cause in hand—Hobhouse <i>versus</i> Existing +Circumstances—and that he considers the multitude as the +jurors, on whose decision his advancement in life depends. +But in this I may be uncharitable. I should, however, think +more highly of his sincerity as a patriot, if his stake in the +country were greater; and yet I doubt, if his stake were greater, +if he is that sort of man who would have cultivated popularity in +Westminster. He seems to me to have qualified himself for +Parliament as others do for the bar, and that he will probably be +considered in the House for some time merely as a political +adventurer. But if he has the talent and prudence requisite +to ensure distinction in the line of his profession, the +mediocrity of his original condition will reflect honour on his +success, should he hereafter acquire influence and consideration +as a statesman. Of his literary talents I know you do not +think very highly, nor am I inclined to rank the powers of his +mind much beyond those of any common well-educated English +gentleman. But it will soon be ascertained whether his +pretensions to represent Westminster be justified by a sense of +conscious superiority, or only prompted by that ambition which +overleaps itself.</p> +<p>Of Wood, who was twice Lord Mayor, I know not what to +say. There is a queer and wily cast in his pale +countenance, that puzzles me exceedingly. In common +parlance I would call him an empty vain creature; but when I look +at that indescribable spirit, which indicates a strange and +out-of-the-way manner of thinking, I humbly confess that he is no +common man. He is evidently a person of no intellectual +accomplishments; he has neither the language nor the deportment +of a gentleman, in the usual understanding of the term; and yet +there is something that I would almost call genius about +him. It is not cunning, it is not wisdom, it is far from +being prudence, and yet it is something as wary as prudence, as +effectual as wisdom, and not less sinister than cunning. I +would call it intuitive skill, a sort of instinct, by which he is +enabled to attain his ends in defiance of a capacity naturally +narrow, a judgment that topples with vanity, and an address at +once mean and repulsive. To call him a great man, in any +possible approximation of the word, would be ridiculous; that he +is a good one, will be denied by those who envy his success, or +hate his politics; but nothing, save the blindness of fanaticism, +can call in question his possession of a rare and singular +species of ability, let it be exerted in what cause it may. +But my paper is full, and I have only room to subscribe myself, +faithfully, yours,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">A. +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>“It appears to us,” said Mr. Snodgrass, as he +folded up the letter to return it to his pocket, “that the +Londoners, with all their advantages of information, are neither +purer nor better than their fellow-subjects in the +country.” “As to their betterness,” +replied Miss Mally, “I have a notion that they are far +waur; and I hope you do not think that earthly knowledge of any +sort has a tendency to make mankind, or womankind either, any +better; for was not Solomon, who had more of it than any other +man, a type and testification, that knowledge without grace is +but vanity?” The young clergyman was somewhat +startled at this application of a remark on which he laid no +particular stress, and was thankful in his heart that Mrs. +Glibbans was not present. He was not aware that Miss Mally +had an orthodox corn, or bunyan, that could as little bear a +touch from the royne-slippers of philosophy, as the inflamed gout +of polemical controversy, which had gumfiated every mental joint +and member of that zealous prop of the Relief Kirk. This +was indeed the tender point of Miss Mally’s character; for +she was left unplucked on the stalk of single blessedness, owing +entirely to a conversation on this very subject with the only +lover she ever had, Mr. Dalgliesh, formerly helper in the +neighbouring parish of Dintonknow. He happened incidentally +to observe, that education was requisite to promote the interests +of religion. But Miss Mally, on that occasion, jocularly +maintained, that education had only a tendency to promote the +sale of books. This, Mr. Dalgliesh thought, was a sneer at +himself, he having some time before unfortunately published a +short tract, entitled, “The moral union of our temporal and +eternal interests considered, with respect to the establishment +of parochial seminaries,” and which fell still-born from +the press. He therefore retorted with some acrimony, until, +from less to more, Miss Mally ordered him to keep his distance; +upon which he bounced out of the room, and they were never +afterwards on speaking terms. Saving, however, and +excepting this particular dogma, Miss Mally was on all other +topics as liberal and beneficent as could be expected from a +maiden lady, who was obliged to eke out her stinted income with a +nimble needle and a close-clipping economy. The +conversation with Mr. Snodgrass was not, however, lengthened into +acrimony; for immediately after the remark which we have noticed, +she proposed that they should call on Miss Isabella Tod to see +Rachel’s letter; indeed, this was rendered necessary by the +state of the fire, for after boiling the kettle she had allowed +it to fall low. It was her nightly practice after tea to +take her evening seam, in a friendly way, to some of her +neighbours’ houses, by which she saved both coal and +candle, while she acquired the news of the day, and was +occasionally invited to stay supper.</p> +<p>On their arrival at Mrs. Tod’s, Miss Isabella understood +the purport of their visit, and immediately produced her letter, +receiving, at the same time, a perusal of Mr. Andrew +Pringle’s. Mrs. Pringle’s to Miss Mally she had +previously seen.</p> +<h3>LETTER XXIV</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss +Isabella Tod</i></p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Bell</span>—Since my last, +we have undergone great changes and vicissitudes. Last week +we removed to our present house, which is exceedingly handsome +and elegantly furnished; and on Saturday there was an +insurrection of the servants, on account of my mother not +allowing them to have their dinners served up at the usual hour +for servants at other genteel houses. We have also had the +legacy in the funds transferred to my father, and only now wait +the settling of the final accounts, which will yet take some +time. On the day that the transfer took place, my mother +made me a present of a twenty pound note, to lay out in any way I +thought fit, and in so doing, I could not but think of you; I +have, therefore, in a box which she is sending to Miss Mally +Glencairn, sent you an evening dress from Mrs. Bean’s, one +of the most fashionable and tasteful dressmakers in town, which I +hope you will wear with pleasure for my sake. I have got +one exactly like it, so that when you see yourself in the glass, +you will behold in what state I appeared at Lady ---’s +route.</p> +<p>Ah! my dear Bell, how much are our expectations +disappointed! How often have we, with admiration and +longing wonder, read the descriptions in the newspapers of the +fashionable parties in this great metropolis, and thought of the +Grecian lamps, the ottomans, the promenades, the ornamented +floors, the cut glass, the <i>coup d’œil</i>, and the +<i>tout ensemble</i>. “Alas!” as Young the poet +says, “the things unseen do not deceive us.” I +have seen more beauty at an Irvine ball, than all the fashionable +world could bring to market at my Lady ---’s emporium for +the disposal of young ladies, for indeed I can consider it as +nothing else.</p> +<p>I went with the Argents. The hall door was open, and +filled with the servants in their state liveries; but although +the door was open, the porter, as each carriage came up, rung a +peal upon the knocker, to announce to all the square the +successive arrival of the guests. We were shown upstairs to +the drawing-rooms. They were very well, but neither so +grand nor so great as I expected. As for the company, it +was a suffocating crowd of fat elderly gentlewomen, and misses +that stood in need of all the charms of their fortunes. One +thing I could notice—for the press was so great, little +could be seen—it was, that the old ladies wore rouge. +The white satin sleeve of my dress was entirely ruined by coming +in contact with a little round, dumpling duchess’s +cheek—as vulgar a body as could well be. She seemed +to me to have spent all her days behind a counter, smirking +thankfulness to bawbee customers.</p> +<p>When we had been shown in the drawing-rooms to the men for +some time, we then adjourned to the lower apartments, where the +refreshments were set out. This, I suppose, is arranged to +afford an opportunity to the beaux to be civil to the belles, and +thereby to scrape acquaintance with those whom they approve, by +assisting them to the delicacies. Altogether, it was a very +dull well-dressed affair, and yet I ought to have been in good +spirits, for Sir Marmaduke Towler, a great Yorkshire baronet, was +most particular in his attentions to me; indeed so much so, that +I saw it made poor Sabre very uneasy. I do not know why it +should, for I have given him no positive encouragement to hope +for anything; not that I have the least idea that the +baronet’s attentions were more than commonplace politeness, +but he has since called. I cannot, however, say that my +vanity is at all flattered by this circumstance. At the +same time, there surely could be no harm in Sir Marmaduke making +me an offer, for you know I am not bound to accept it. +Besides, my father does not like him, and my mother thinks +he’s a fortune-hunter; but I cannot conceive how that may +be, for, on the contrary, he is said to be rather +extravagant.</p> +<p>Before we return to Scotland, it is intended that we shall +visit some of the watering-places; and, perhaps, if Andrew can +manage it with my father, we may even take a trip to Paris. +The Doctor himself is not averse to it, but my mother is afraid +that a new war may break out, and that we may be detained +prisoners. This fantastical fear we shall, however, try to +overcome. But I am interrupted. Sir Marmaduke is in +the drawing-room, and I am summoned.—Yours truly,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Rachel +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>When Mr. Snodgrass had read this letter, he paused for a +moment, and then said dryly, in handing it to Miss Isabella, +“Miss Pringle is improving in the ways of the +world.”</p> +<p>The evening by this time was far advanced, and the young +clergyman was not desirous to renew the conversation; he +therefore almost immediately took his leave, and walked sedately +towards Garnock, debating with himself as he went along, whether +Dr. Pringle’s family were likely to be benefited by their +legacy. But he had scarcely passed the minister’s +carse, when he met with Mrs. Glibbans returning. “Mr. +Snodgrass! Mr. Snodgrass!” cried that ardent matron +from her side of the road to the other where he was walking, and +he obeyed her call; “yon’s no sic a black story as I +thought. Mrs. Craig is to be sure far gane! but they were +married in December; and it was only because she was his +servan’ lass that the worthy man didna like to own her at +first for his wife. It would have been dreadful had the +matter been jealoused at the first. She gaed to Glasgow to +see an auntie that she has there, and he gaed in to fetch her +out, and it was then the marriage was made up, which I was glad +to hear; for, oh, Mr. Snodgrass, it would have been an +awfu’ judgment had a man like Mr. Craig turn’t out no +better than a Tam Pain or a Major Weir. But a’s for +the best; and Him that has the power of salvation can blot out +all our iniquities. So good-night—ye’ll have a +lang walk.”</p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII—THE QUEEN’S TRIAL</h2> +<p>As the spring advanced, the beauty of the country around +Garnock was gradually unfolded; the blossom was unclosed, while +the church was embraced within the foliage of more umbrageous +boughs. The schoolboys from the adjacent villages were, on +the Saturday afternoons, frequently seen angling along the banks +of the Lugton, which ran clearer beneath the churchyard wall, and +the hedge of the minister’s glebe; and the evenings were so +much lengthened, that the occasional visitors at the manse could +prolong their walk after tea. These, however, were less +numerous than when the family were at home; but still Mr. +Snodgrass, when the weather was fine, had no reason to deplore +the loneliness of his bachelor’s court.</p> +<p>It happened that, one fair and sunny afternoon, Miss Mally +Glencairn and Miss Isabella Tod came to the manse. Mrs. +Glibbans and her daughter Becky were the same day paying their +first ceremonious visit, as the matron called it, to Mr. and Mrs. +Craig, with whom the whole party were invited to take tea; and, +for lack of more amusing chit-chat, the Reverend young gentleman +read to them the last letter which he had received from Mr. +Andrew Pringle. It was conjured naturally enough out of his +pocket, by an observation of Miss Mally’s “Nothing +surprises me,” said that amiable maiden lady, “so +much as the health and good-humour of the commonality. It +is a joyous refutation of the opinion, that the comfort and +happiness of this life depends on the wealth of worldly +possessions.”</p> +<p>“It is so,” replied Mr. Snodgrass, “and I do +often wonder, when I see the blithe and hearty children of the +cottars, frolicking in the abundance of health and hilarity, +where the means come from to enable their poor industrious +parents to supply their wants.”</p> +<p>“How can you wonder at ony sic things, Mr. +Snodgrass? Do they not come from on high,” said Mrs. +Glibbans, “whence cometh every good and perfect gift? +Is there not the flowers of the field, which neither card nor +spin, and yet Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one +of these?”</p> +<p>“I was not speaking in a spiritual sense,” +interrupted the other, “but merely made the remark, as +introductory to a letter which I have received from Mr. Andrew +Pringle, respecting some of the ways of living in +London.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Craig, who had been so recently translated from the +kitchen to the parlour, pricked up her ears at this, not doubting +that the letter would contain something very grand and wonderful, +and exclaimed, “Gude safe’s, let’s +hear’t—I’m unco fond to ken about London, and +the king and the queen; but I believe they are baith dead +noo.”</p> +<p>Miss Becky Glibbans gave a satirical keckle at this, and +showed her superior learning, by explaining to Mrs. Craig the +unbroken nature of the kingly office. Mr. Snodgrass then +read as follows:—</p> +<h3>LETTER XXV</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Andrew Pringle</i>, <i>Esq.</i>, +<i>to the Rev. Charles Snodgrass</i></p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Friend</span>—You are not +aware of the task you impose, when you request me to send you +some account of the general way of living in London. Unless +you come here, and actually experience yourself what I would call +the London ache, it is impossible to supply you with any adequate +idea of the necessity that exists in this wilderness of mankind, +to seek refuge in society, without being over fastidious with +respect to the intellectual qualifications of your occasional +associates. In a remote desart, the solitary traveller is +subject to apprehensions of danger; but still he is the most +important thing “within the circle of that lonely +waste”; and the sense of his own dignity enables him to +sustain the shock of considerable hazard with spirit and +fortitude. But, in London, the feeling of self-importance +is totally lost and suppressed in the bosom of a stranger. +A painful conviction of insignificance—of nothingness, I +may say—is sunk upon his heart, and murmured in his ear by +the million, who divide with him that consequence which he +unconsciously before supposed he possessed in a general estimate +of the world. While elbowing my way through the unknown +multitude that flows between Charing Cross and the Royal +Exchange, this mortifying sense of my own insignificance has +often come upon me with the energy of a pang; and I have thought, +that, after all we can say of any man, the effect of the greatest +influence of an individual on society at large, is but as that of +a pebble thrown into the sea. Mathematically speaking, the +undulations which the pebble causes, continue until the whole +mass of the ocean has been disturbed to the bottom of its most +secret depths and farthest shores; and, perhaps, with equal truth +it may be affirmed, that the sentiments of the man of genius are +also infinitely propagated; but how soon is the physical +impression of the one lost to every sensible perception, and the +moral impulse of the other swallowed up from all practical +effect.</p> +<p>But though London, in the general, may be justly compared to +the vast and restless ocean, or to any other thing that is either +sublime, incomprehensible, or affecting, it loses all its +influence over the solemn associations of the mind when it is +examined in its details. For example, living on the town, +as it is slangishly called, the most friendless and isolated +condition possible, is yet fraught with an amazing diversity of +enjoyment. Thousands of gentlemen, who have survived the +relish of active fashionable pursuits, pass their life in that +state without tasting the delight of one new sensation. +They rise in the morning merely because Nature will not allow +them to remain longer in bed. They begin the day without +motive or purpose, and close it after having performed the same +unvaried round as the most thoroughbred domestic animal that ever +dwelt in manse or manor-house. If you ask them at three +o’clock where they are to dine, they cannot tell you; but +about the wonted dinner-hour, batches of these forlorn bachelors +find themselves diurnally congregated, as if by instinct, around +a cozy table in some snug coffee-house, where, after inspecting +the contents of the bill of fare, they discuss the news of the +day, reserving the scandal, by way of dessert, for their +wine. Day after day their respective political opinions +give rise to keen encounters, but without producing the slightest +shade of change in any of their old ingrained and particular +sentiments.</p> +<p>Some of their haunts, I mean those frequented by the elderly +race, are shabby enough in their appearance and circumstances, +except perhaps in the quality of the wine. Everything in +them is regulated by an ancient and precise economy, and you +perceive, at the first glance, that all is calculated on the +principle of the house giving as much for the money as it can +possibly afford, without infringing those little etiquettes which +persons of gentlemanly habits regard as essentials. At half +price the junior members of these unorganised or natural clubs +retire to the theatres, while the elder brethren mend their +potations till it is time to go home. This seems a very +comfortless way of life, but I have no doubt it is the preferred +result of a long experience of the world, and that the parties, +upon the whole, find it superior, according to their early formed +habits of dissipation and gaiety, to the sedate but not more +regular course of a domestic circle.</p> +<p>The chief pleasure, however, of living on the town, consists +in accidentally falling in with persons whom it might be +otherwise difficult to meet in private life. I have several +times enjoyed this. The other day I fell in with an old +gentleman, evidently a man of some consequence, for he came to +the coffee-house in his own carriage. It happened that we +were the only guests, and he proposed that we should therefore +dine together. In the course of conversation it came out, +that he had been familiarly acquainted with Garrick, and had +frequented the Literary Club in the days of Johnson and +Goldsmith. In his youth, I conceive, he must have been an +amusing companion; for his fancy was exceedingly lively, and his +manners altogether afforded a very favourable specimen of the +old, the gentlemanly school. At an appointed hour his +carriage came for him, and we parted, perhaps never to meet +again.</p> +<p>Such agreeable incidents, however, are not common, as the +frequenters of the coffee-houses are, I think, usually taciturn +characters, and averse to conversation. I may, however, be +myself in fault. Our countrymen in general, whatever may be +their address in improving acquaintance to the promotion of their +own interests, have not the best way, in the first instance, of +introducing themselves. A raw Scotchman, contrasted with a +sharp Londoner, is very inadroit and awkward, be his talents what +they may; and I suspect, that even the most brilliant of your old +class-fellows have, in their professional visits to this +metropolis, had some experience of what I mean.</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Andrew +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>When Mr. Snodgrass paused, and was folding up the letter, Mrs. +Craig, bending with her hands on her knees, said, emphatically, +“Noo, sir, what think you of that?” He was not, +however, quite prepared to give an answer to a question so +abruptly propounded, nor indeed did he exactly understand to what +particular the lady referred. “For my part,” +she resumed, recovering her previous posture—“for my +part, it’s a very caldrife way of life to dine every day on +coffee; broth and beef would put mair smeddum in the men; +they’re just a whin auld fogies that Mr. Andrew describes, +an’ no wurth a single woman’s pains.” +“Wheesht, wheesht, mistress,” cried Mr. Craig; +“ye mauna let your tongue rin awa with your sense in that +gait.” “It has but a light load,” said +Miss Becky, whispering Isabella Tod. In this juncture, Mr. +Micklewham happened to come in, and Mrs. Craig, on seeing him, +cried out, “I hope, Mr. Micklewham, ye have brought the +Doctor’s letter. He’s such a funny man! and +touches off the Londoners to the nines.”</p> +<p>“He’s a good man,” said Mrs. Glibbans, in a +tone calculated to repress the forwardness of Mrs. Craig; but +Miss Mally Glencairn having, in the meanwhile, taken from her +pocket an epistle which she had received the preceding day from +Mrs. Pringle, Mr. Snodgrass silenced all controversy on that +score by requesting her to proceed with the reading. +“She’s a clever woman, Mrs. Pringle,” said Mrs. +Craig, who was resolved to cut a figure in the conversation in +her own house. “She’s a discreet woman, and may +be as godly, too, as some that make mair wark about the +elect.” Whether Mrs. Glibbans thought this had any +allusion to herself is not susceptible of legal proof; but she +turned round and looked at their “most kind hostess” +with a sneer that might almost merit the appellation of a +snort. Mrs. Craig, however, pacified her, by proposing, +“that, before hearing the letter, they should take a dram +of wine, or pree her cherry bounce”—adding, +“our maister likes a been house, and ye a’ ken that +we are providing for a handling.” The wine was +accordingly served, and, in due time, Miss Mally Glencairn +edified and instructed the party with the contents of Mrs. +Pringle’s letter.</p> +<h3>LETTER XXVI</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally +Glencairn</i></p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Miss Mally</span>—You will have +heard, by the peppers, of the gret hobbleshow heer aboot the +queen’s coming over contrary to the will of the nation; +and, that the king and parlement are so angry with her, that they +are going to put her away by giving to her a bill of +divorce. The Doctor, who has been searchin the Scriptures +on the okashon, says this is not in their poor, although she was +found guilty of the fact; but I tell him, that as the king and +parlement of old took upon them to change our religion, I do not +see how they will be hampered now by the word of God.</p> +<p>You may well wonder that I have no ritten to you about the +king, and what he is like, but we have never got a sight of him +at all, whilk is a gret shame, paying so dear as we do for a +king, who shurely should be a publik man. But, we have seen +her majesty, who stays not far from our house heer in Baker +Street, in dry lodgings, which, I am creditably informed, she is +obligated to pay for by the week, for nobody will trust her; so +you see what it is, Miss Mally, to have a light character. +Poor woman, they say she might have been going from door to door, +with a staff and a meal pock, but for ane Mr. Wood, who is a +baillie of London, that has ta’en her by the hand. +She’s a woman advanced in life, with a short neck, and a +pentit face; housomever, that, I suppose, she canno help, being a +queen, and obligated to set the fashons to the court, where it is +necessar to hide their faces with pent, our Andrew says, that +their looks may not betray them—there being no shurer thing +than a false-hearted courtier.</p> +<p>But what concerns me the most, in all this, is, that there +will be no coronashon till the queen is put out of the +way—and nobody can take upon them to say when that will be, +as the law is so dootful and endless—which I am verra sorry +for, as it was my intent to rite Miss Nanny Eydent a true account +of the coronashon, in case there had been any partiklars that +might be servisable to her in her bisness.</p> +<p>The Doctor and me, by ourselves, since we have been settlt, go +about at our convenience, and have seen far mae farlies than +baith Andrew and Rachel, with all the acquaintance they have +forgathert with—but you no old heeds canno be expectit on +young shouthers, and they have not had the experience of the +world that we have had.</p> +<p>The lamps in the streets here are lighted with gauze, and not +with crusies, like those that have lately been put up in your +toun; and it is brought in pips aneath the ground from the +manufactors, which the Doctor and me have been to see—an +awful place—and they say as fey to a spark as poother, +which made us glad to get out o’t when we heard +so;—and we have been to see a brew-house, where they mak +the London porter, but it is a sight not to be told. In it +we saw a barrel, whilk the Doctor said was by gauging bigger than +the Irvine muckle kirk, and a masking fat, like a barn for +mugnited. But all thae were as nothing to a curiosity of a +steam-ingine, that minches minch collops as natural as +life—and stuffs the sosogees itself, in a manner past the +poor of nature to consiv. They have, to be shure, in +London, many things to help work—for in our kitchen there +is a smoking-jack to roast the meat, that gangs of its oun free +will, and the brisker the fire, the faster it runs; but a +potatoe-beetle is not to be had within the four walls of London, +which is a great want in a house; Mrs. Argent never hard of sic a +thing.</p> +<p>Me and the Doctor have likewise been in the Houses of +Parliament, and the Doctor since has been again to heer the +argol-bargoling aboot the queen. But, cepting the +king’s throne, which is all gold and velvet, with a croun +on the top, and stars all round, there was nothing worth the +looking at in them baith. Howsomever, I sat in the +king’s seat, and in the preses chair of the House of +Commons, which, you no, is something for me to say; and we have +been to see the printing of books, where the very smallest +dividual syllib is taken up by itself and made into words by the +hand, so as to be quite confounding how it could ever read +sense. But there is ane piece of industry and froughgalaty +I should not forget, whilk is wives going about with +whirl-barrows, selling horses’ flesh to the cats and dogs +by weight, and the cats and dogs know them very well by their +voices. In short, Miss Mally, there is nothing heer that +the hand is not turnt to; and there is, I can see, a better order +and method really among the Londoners than among our Scotch +folks, notwithstanding their advantages of edicashion, but my +pepper will hold no more at present, from your true friend,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Janet +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>There was a considerable diversity of opinion among the +commentators on this epistle. Mrs. Craig was the first who +broke silence, and displayed a great deal of erudition on the +minch-collop-engine, and the potatoe-beetle, in which she was +interrupted by the indignant Mrs. Glibbans, who exclaimed, +“I am surprised to hear you, Mrs. Craig, speak of sic +baubles, when the word of God’s in danger of being +controverted by an Act of Parliament. But, Mr. Snodgrass, +dinna ye think that this painting of the queen’s face is a +Jezebitical testification against her?” Mr. Snodgrass +replied, with an unwonted sobriety of manner, and with an +emphasis that showed he intended to make some impression on his +auditors—“It is impossible to judge correctly of +strangers by measuring them according to our own notions of +propriety. It has certainly long been a practice in courts +to disfigure the beauty of the human countenance with paint; but +what, in itself, may have been originally assumed for a mask or +disguise, may, by usage, have grown into a very harmless +custom. I am not, therefore, disposed to attach any +criminal importance to the circumstance of her majesty wearing +paint. Her late majesty did so herself.” +“I do not say it was criminal,” said Mrs. Glibbans; +“I only meant it was sinful, and I think it +is.” The accent of authority in which this was said, +prevented Mr. Snodgrass from offering any reply; and, a brief +pause ensuing, Miss Molly Glencairn observed, that it was a +surprising thing how the Doctor and Mrs. Pringle managed their +matters so well. “Ay,” said Mrs. Craig, +“but we a’ ken what a manager the mistress +is—she’s the bee that mak’s the hincy—she +does not gang bizzing aboot, like a thriftless wasp, through her +neighbours’ houses.” “I tell you, Betty, +my dear,” cried Mr. Craig, “that you shouldna make +comparisons—what’s past is gane—and Mrs. +Glibbans and you maun now be friends.” +“They’re a’ friends to me that’s no faes, +and am very glad to see Mrs. Glibbans sociable in my house; but +she needna hae made sae light of me when she was here +before.” And, in saying this, the amiable hostess +burst into a loud sob of sorrow, which induced Mr. Snodgrass to +beg Mr. Micklewham to read the Doctor’s letter, by which a +happy stop was put to the further manifestation of the grudge +which Mrs. Craig harboured against Mrs. Glibbans for the lecture +she had received, on what the latter called “the incarnated +effect of a more than Potipharian claught o’ the godly Mr. +Craig.”</p> +<h3>LETTER XXVII</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>The Rev. Z. Pringle</i>, +<i>D.D.</i>, <i>to Mr. Micklewham</i>, <i>Schoolmaster and +Session-Clerk of Garnock</i></p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>—I had a great +satisfaction in hearing that Mr. Snodgrass, in my place, prays +for the queen on the Lord’s Day, which liberty, to do in +our national church, is a thing to be upholden with a fearless +spirit, even with the spirit of martyrdom, that we may not bow +down in Scotland to the prelatic Baal of an order in Council, +whereof the Archbishop of Canterbury, that is cousin-german to +the Pope of Rome, is art and part. Verily, the sending +forth of that order to the General Assembly was treachery to the +solemn oath of the new king, whereby he took the vows upon him, +conform to the Articles of the Union, to maintain the Church of +Scotland as by law established, so that for the Archbishop of +Canterbury to meddle therein was a shooting out of the horns of +aggressive domination.</p> +<p>I think it is right of me to testify thus much, through you, +to the Session, that the elders may stand on their posts to bar +all such breaking in of the Episcopalian boar into our corner of +the vineyard.</p> +<p>Anent the queen’s case and condition, I say nothing; for +be she guilty, or be she innocent, we all know that she was born +in sin, and brought forth in iniquity—prone to evil, as the +sparks fly upwards—and desperately wicked, like you and me, +or any other poor Christian sinner, which is reason enough to +make us think of her in the remembering prayer.</p> +<p>Since she came over, there has been a wonderful work doing +here; and it is thought that the crown will be taken off her head +by a strong handling of the Parliament; and really, when I think +of the bishops sitting high in the peerage, like owls and rooks +in the bartisans of an old tower, I have my fears that they can +bode her no good. I have seen them in the House of Lords, +clothed in their idolatrous robes; and when I looked at them so +proudly placed at the right hand of the king’s throne, and +on the side of the powerful, egging on, as I saw one of them +doing in a whisper, the Lord Liverpool, before he rose to speak +against the queen, the blood ran cold in my veins, and I thought +of their woeful persecutions of our national church, and prayed +inwardly that I might be keepit in the humility of a zealous +presbyter, and that the corruption of the frail human nature +within me might never be tempted by the pampered whoredoms of +prelacy.</p> +<p>Saving the Lord Chancellor, all the other temporal peers were +just as they had come in from the crown of the +causeway—none of them having a judicial garment, which was +a shame; and as for the Chancellor’s long robe, it was not +so good as my own gown; but he is said to be a very narrow +man. What he spoke, however, was no doubt sound law; yet I +could observe he has a bad custom of taking the name of God in +vain, which I wonder at, considering he has such a kittle +conscience, which, on less occasions, causes him often to shed +tears.</p> +<p>Mrs. Pringle and me, by ourselves, had a fine quiet canny +sight of the queen, out of the window of a pastry baxter’s +shop, opposite to where her majesty stays. She seems to be +a plump and jocose little woman; gleg, blithe, and throwgaun for +her years, and on an easy footing with the lower +orders—coming to the window when they call for her, and +becking to them, which is very civil of her, and gets them to +take her part against the government.</p> +<p>The baxter in whose shop we saw this told us that her majesty +said, on being invited to take her dinner at an inn on the road +from Dover, that she would be content with a mutton-chop at the +King’s Arms in London, <a name="citation2"></a><a +href="#footnote2" class="citation">[2]</a> which shows that she +is a lady of a very hamely disposition. Mrs. Pringle +thought her not big enough for a queen; but we cannot expect +every one to be like that bright accidental star, Queen +Elizabeth, whose effigy we have seen preserved in armour in the +Tower of London, and in wax in Westminster Abbey, where they have +a living-like likeness of Lord Nelson, in the very identical +regimentals that he was killed in. They are both wonderful +places, but it costs a power of money to get through them, and +all the folk about them think of nothing but money; for when I +inquired, with a reverent spirit, seeing around me the tombs of +great and famous men, the mighty and wise of their day, what +department it was of the Abbey—“It’s the +eighteenpence department,” said an uncircumcised +Philistine, with as little respect as if we had been treading the +courts of the darling Dagon.</p> +<p>Our concerns here are now drawing to a close; but before we +return, we are going for a short time to a town on the seaside, +which they call Brighton. We had a notion of taking a trip +to Paris, but that we must leave to Andrew Pringle, my son, and +his sister Rachel, if the bit lassie could get a decent gudeman, +which maybe will cast up for her before we leave London. +Nothing, however, is settled as yet upon that head, so I can say +no more at present anent the same.</p> +<p>Since the affair of the sermon, I have withdrawn myself from +trafficking so much as I did in the missionary and charitable +ploys that are so in vogue with the pious here, which will be all +the better for my own people, as I will keep for them what I was +giving to the unknown; and it is my design to write a book on +almsgiving, to show in what manner that Christian duty may be +best fulfilled, which I doubt not will have the effect of opening +the eyes of many in London to the true nature of the thing by +which I was myself beguiled in this Vanity Fair, like a bird +ensnared by the fowler.</p> +<p>I was concerned to hear of poor Mr. Witherspoon’s +accident, in falling from his horse in coming from the Dalmailing +occasion. How thankful he must be, that the Lord made his +head of a durability to withstand the shock, which might +otherwise have fractured his skull. What you say about the +promise of the braird gives me pleasure on account of the poor; +but what will be done with the farmers and their high rents, if +the harvest turn out so abundant? Great reason have I to be +thankful that the legacy has put me out of the reverence of my +stipend; for when the meal was cheap, I own to you that I felt my +carnality grudging the horn of abundance that the Lord was then +pouring into the lap of the earth. In short, Mr. +Micklewham, I doubt it is o’er true with us all, that the +less we are tempted, the better we are; so with my sincere +prayers that you may be delivered from all evil, and led out of +the paths of temptation, whether it is on the highway, or on the +footpaths, or beneath the hedges, I remain, dear sir, your friend +and pastor,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Zachariah +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>“The Doctor,” said Mrs. Glibbans, as the +schoolmaster concluded, “is there like himself—a true +orthodox Christian, standing up for the word, and overflowing +with charity even for the sinner. But, Mr. Snodgrass, I did +not ken before that the bishops had a hand in the making of the +Acts of the Parliament; I think, Mr. Snodgrass, if that be the +case, there should be some doubt in Scotland about obeying +them. However that may be, sure am I that the queen, though +she was a perfect Deliah, has nothing to fear from them; for have +we not read in the Book of Martyrs, and other church histories, +of their concubines and indulgences, in the papist times, to all +manner of carnal iniquity? But if she be that noghty woman +that they say”—“Gude safe’s,” cried +Mrs. Craig, “if she be a noghty woman, awa’ wi’ +her, awa’ wi’ her—wha kens the cantrips she may +play us?”</p> +<p>Here Miss Mally Glencairn interposed, and informed Mrs. Craig, +that a noghty woman was not, as she seemed to think, a witch +wife. “I am sure,” said Miss Becky Glibbans, +“that Mrs. Craig might have known that.” +“Oh, ye’re a spiteful deevil,” whispered Miss +Mally, with a smile to her; and turning in the same moment to +Miss Isabella Tod, begged her to read Miss Pringle’s +letter—a motion which Mr. Snodgrass seconded chiefly to +abridge the conversation, during which, though he wore a serene +countenance, he often suffered much.</p> +<h3>LETTER XXVIII</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss +Isabella Tod</i></p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dear Bell</span>—I am much +obliged by your kind expressions for my little present. I +hope soon to send you something better, and gloves at the same +time; for Sabre has been brought to the point by an alarm for the +Yorkshire baronet that I mentioned, as showing symptoms of the +tender passion for my fortune. The friends on both sides +being satisfied with the match, it will take place as soon as +some preliminary arrangements are made. When we are +settled, I hope your mother will allow you to come and spend some +time with us at our country-seat in Berkshire; and I shall be +happy to repay all the expenses of your journey, as a jaunt to +England is what your mother would, I know, never consent to pay +for.</p> +<p>It is proposed that, immediately after the ceremony, we shall +set out for France, accompanied by my brother, where we are to be +soon after joined at Paris by some of the Argents, who, I can +see, think Andrew worth the catching for Miss. My father +and mother will then return to Scotland; but whether the Doctor +will continue to keep his parish, or give it up to Mr. Snodgrass, +will depend greatly on the circumstances in which he finds his +parishioners. This is all the domestic intelligence I have +got to give, but its importance will make up for other +deficiencies.</p> +<p>As to the continuance of our discoveries in London, I know not +well what to say. Every day brings something new, but we +lose the sense of novelty. Were a fire in the same street +where we live, it would no longer alarm me. A few nights +ago, as we were sitting in the parlour after supper, the noise of +an engine passing startled us all; we ran to the +windows—there was haste and torches, and the sound of other +engines, and all the horrors of a conflagration reddening the +skies. My father sent out the footboy to inquire where it +was; and when the boy came back, he made us laugh, by snapping +his fingers, and saying the fire was not worth so +much—although, upon further inquiry, we learnt that the +house in which it originated was burnt to the ground. You +see, therefore, how the bustle of this great world hardens the +sensibilities, but I trust its influence will never extend to my +heart.</p> +<p>The principal topic of conversation at present is about the +queen. The Argents, who are our main instructors in the +proprieties of London life, say that it would be very vulgar in +me to go to look at her, which I am sorry for, as I wish above +all things to see a personage so illustrious by birth, and +renowned by misfortune. The Doctor and my mother, who are +less scrupulous, and who, in consequence, somehow, by themselves, +contrive to see, and get into places that are inaccessible to all +gentility, have had a full view of her majesty. My father +has since become her declared partisan, and my mother too has +acquired a leaning likewise towards her side of the question; but +neither of them will permit the subject to be spoken of before +me, as they consider it detrimental to good morals. I, +however, read the newspapers.</p> +<p>What my brother thinks of her majesty’s case is not easy +to divine; but Sabre is convinced of the queen’s guilt, +upon some private and authentic information which a friend of +his, who has returned from Italy, heard when travelling in that +country. This information he has not, however, repeated to +me, so that it must be very bad. We shall know all when the +trial comes on. In the meantime, his majesty, who has lived +in dignified retirement since he came to the throne, has taken up +his abode, with rural felicity, in a cottage in Windsor Forest; +where he now, contemning all the pomp and follies of his youth, +and this metropolis, passes his days amidst his cabbages, like +Dioclesian, with innocence and tranquillity, far from the +intrigues of courtiers, and insensible to the murmuring waves of +the fluctuating populace, that set in with so strong a current +towards “the mob-led queen,” as the divine +Shakespeare has so beautifully expressed it.</p> +<p>You ask me about Vauxhall Gardens;—I have not seen +them—they are no longer in fashion—the theatres are +quite vulgar—even the opera-house has sunk into a +second-rate place of resort. Almack’s balls, the +Argyle-rooms, and the Philharmonic concerts, are the only public +entertainments frequented by people of fashion; and this high +superiority they owe entirely to the difficulty of gaining +admission. London, as my brother says, is too rich, and +grown too luxurious, to have any exclusive place of fashionable +resort, where price alone is the obstacle. Hence, the +institution of these select aristocratic assemblies. The +Philharmonic concerts, however, are rather professional than +fashionable entertainments; but everybody is fond of music, and, +therefore, everybody, that can be called anybody, is anxious to +get tickets to them; and this anxiety has given them a degree of +<i>éclat</i>, which I am persuaded the performance would +never have excited had the tickets been purchasable at any +price. The great thing here is, either to be somebody, or +to be patronised by a person that is a somebody; without this, +though you were as rich as Croesus, your golden chariots, like +the comets of a season, blazing and amazing, would speedily roll +away into the obscurity from which they came, and be remembered +no more.</p> +<p>At first when we came here, and when the amount of our legacy +was first promulgated, we were in a terrible flutter. +Andrew became a man of fashion, with all the haste that tailors, +and horses, and dinners, could make him. My father, honest +man, was equally inspired with lofty ideas, and began a career +that promised a liberal benefaction of good things to the +poor—and my mother was almost distracted with calculations +about laying out the money to the best advantage, and the sum she +would allow to be spent. I alone preserved my natural +equanimity; and foreseeing the necessity of new accomplishments +to suit my altered circumstances, applied myself to the +instructions of my masters, with an assiduity that won their +applause. The advantages of this I now experience—my +brother is sobered from his champaign fumes—my father has +found out that charity begins at home—and my mother, though +her establishment is enlarged, finds her happiness, +notwithstanding the legacy, still lies within the little circle +of her household cares. Thus, my dear Bell, have I proved +the sweets of a true philosophy; and, unseduced by the +blandishments of rank, rejected Sir Marmaduke Towler, and +accepted the humbler but more disinterested swain, Captain Sabre, +who requests me to send you his compliments, not altogether +content that you should occupy so much of the bosom of your +affectionate</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Rachel +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>“Rachel had ay a gude roose of hersel’,” +said Becky Glibbans, as Miss Isabella concluded. In the +same moment, Mr. Snodgrass took his leave, saying to Mr. +Micklewham, that he had something particular to mention to +him. “What can it be about?” inquired Mrs. +Glibbans at Mr. Craig, as soon as the helper and schoolmaster had +left the room: “Do you think it can be concerning the +Doctor’s resignation of the parish in his +favour?” “I’m sure,” interposed +Mrs. Craig, before her husband could reply, “it winna be +wi’ my gudewill that he shall come in upon us—a +pridefu’ wight, whose saft words, and a’ his +politeness, are but lip-deep; na, na, Mrs. Glibbans, we maun hae +another on the leet forbye him.”</p> +<p>“And wha would ye put on the leet noo, Mrs. Craig, you +that’s sic a judge?” said Mrs. Glibbans, with the +most ineffable consequentiality.</p> +<p>“I’ll be for young Mr. Dirlton, who is baith a +sappy preacher of the word, and a substantial hand at every kind +of civility.”</p> +<p>“Young Dirlton!—young Deevilton!” cried the +orthodox Deborah of Irvine; “a fallow that knows no more of +a gospel dispensation than I do of the Arian heresy, which I hold +in utter abomination. No, Mrs. Craig, you have a godly man +for your husband—a sound and true follower; tread ye in his +footsteps, and no try to set up yoursel’ on points of +doctrine. But it’s time, Miss Mally, that we were +taking the road; Becky and Miss Isabella, make yourselves +ready. Noo, Mrs. Craig, ye’ll no be a stranger; you +see I have no been lang of coming to give you my countenance; +but, my leddy, ca’ canny, it’s no easy to carry a +fu’ cup; ye hae gotten a great gift in your gudeman. +Mr. Craig, I wish you a good-night; I would fain have stopped for +your evening exercise, but Miss Mally was beginning, I saw, to +weary—so good-night; and, Mrs. Craig, ye’ll take tent +of what I have said—it’s for your gude.” +So exeunt Mrs. Glibbans, Miss Mally, and the two young +ladies. “Her bark’s waur than her bite,” +said Mrs. Craig, as she returned to her husband, who felt already +some of the ourie symptoms of a henpecked destiny.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX—THE MARRIAGE</h2> +<p>Mr. Snodgrass was obliged to walk into Irvine one evening, to +get rid of a raging tooth, which had tormented him for more than +a week. The operation was so delicately and cleverly +performed by the surgeon to whom he applied—one of those +young medical gentlemen, who, after having been educated for the +army or navy, are obliged, in this weak piping time of peace, to +glean what practice they can amid their native shades—that +the amiable divine found himself in a condition to call on Miss +Isabella Tod.</p> +<p>During this visit, Saunders Dickie, the postman, brought a +London letter to the door, for Miss Isabella; and Mr. Snodgrass +having desired the servant to inquire if there were any for him, +had the good fortune to get the following from Mr. Andrew +Pringle:—</p> +<h3>LETTER XXIX</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Andrew Pringle Esq.</i>, <i>to +the Rev. Mr. Charles Snodgrass</i></p> +<p>My Dear Friend—I never receive a letter from you without +experiencing a strong emotion of regret, that talents like yours +should be wilfully consigned to the sequestered vegetation of a +country pastor’s life. But we have so often discussed +this point, that I shall only offend your delicacy if I now +revert to it more particularly. I cannot, however, but +remark, that although a private station may be the happiest, a +public is the proper sphere of virtue and talent, so clear, +superior, and decided as yours. I say this with the more +confidence, as I have really, from your letter, obtained a better +conception of the queen’s case, than from all that I have +been able to read and hear upon the subject in London. The +rule you lay down is excellent. Public safety is certainly +the only principle which can justify mankind in agreeing to +observe and enforce penal statutes; and, therefore, I think with +you, that unless it could be proved in a very simple manner, that +it was requisite for the public safety to institute proceedings +against the queen—her sins or indiscretions should have +been allowed to remain in the obscurity of her private +circle.</p> +<p>I have attended the trial several times. For a judicial +proceeding, it seems to me too long—and for a legislative, +too technical. Brougham, it is allowed, has displayed even +greater talent than was expected; but he is too sharp; he seems +to me more anxious to gain a triumph, than to establish +truth. I do not like the tone of his proceedings, while I +cannot sufficiently admire his dexterity. The style of +Denman is more lofty, and impressed with stronger lineaments of +sincerity. As for their opponents, I really cannot endure +the Attorney-General as an orator; his whole mind consists, as it +were, of a number of little hands and claws—each of which +holds some scrap or portion of his subject; but you might as well +expect to get an idea of the form and character of a tree, by +looking at the fallen leaves, the fruit, the seeds, and the +blossoms, as anything like a comprehensive view of a subject, +from an intellect so constituted as that of Sir Robert +Gifford. He is a man of application, but of meagre +abilities, and seems never to have read a book of travels in his +life. The Solicitor-General is somewhat better; but he is +one of those who think a certain artificial gravity requisite to +professional consequence; and which renders him somewhat obtuse +in the tact of propriety.</p> +<p>Within the bar, the talent is superior to what it is without; +and I have been often delighted with the amazing fineness, if I +may use the expression, with which the Chancellor discriminates +the shades of difference in the various points on which he is +called to deliver his opinion. I consider his mind as a +curiosity of no ordinary kind. It deceives itself by its +own acuteness. The edge is too sharp; and, instead of +cutting straight through, it often diverges—alarming his +conscience with the dread of doing wrong. This singular +subtlety has the effect of impairing the reverence which the +endowments and high professional accomplishments of this great +man are otherwise calculated to inspire. His eloquence is +not effective—it touches no feeling nor affects any +passion; but still it affords wonderful displays of a lucid +intellect. I can compare it to nothing but a pencil of +sunshine; in which, although one sees countless motes flickering +and fluctuating, it yet illuminates, and steadily brings into the +most satisfactory distinctness, every object on which it directly +falls.</p> +<p>Lord Erskine is a character of another class, and whatever +difference of opinion may exist with respect to their +professional abilities and attainments, it will be allowed by +those who contend that Eldon is the better lawyer—that +Erskine is the greater genius. Nature herself, with a +constellation in her hand, playfully illuminates his path to the +temple of reasonable justice; while Precedence with her +guide-book, and Study with a lantern, cautiously show the road in +which the Chancellor warily plods his weary way to that of legal +Equity. The sedateness of Eldon is so remarkable, that it +is difficult to conceive that he was ever young; but Erskine +cannot grow old; his spirit is still glowing and flushed with the +enthusiasm of youth. When impassioned, his voice acquires a +singularly elevated and pathetic accent; and I can easily +conceive the irresistible effect he must have had on the minds of +a jury, when he was in the vigour of his physical powers, and the +case required appeals of tenderness or generosity. As a +parliamentary orator, Earl Grey is undoubtedly his superior; but +there is something much less popular and conciliating in his +manner. His eloquence is heard to most advantage when he is +contemptuous; and he is then certainly dignified, ardent, and +emphatic; but it is apt, I should think, to impress those who +hear him, for the first time, with an idea that he is a very +supercilious personage, and this unfavourable impression is +liable to be strengthened by the elegant aristocratic languor of +his appearance.</p> +<p>I think that you once told me you had some knowledge of the +Marquis of Lansdowne, when he was Lord Henry Petty. I can +hardly hope that, after an interval of so many years, you will +recognise him in the following sketch:—His appearance is +much more that of a Whig than Lord Grey—stout and +sturdy—but still withal gentlemanly; and there is a +pleasing simplicity, with somewhat of good-nature, in the +expression of his countenance, that renders him, in a quiescent +state, the more agreeable character of the two. He speaks +exceedingly well—clear, methodical, and argumentative; but +his eloquence, like himself, is not so graceful as it is upon the +whole manly; and there is a little tendency to verbosity in his +language, as there is to corpulency in his figure; but nothing +turgid, while it is entirely free from affectation. The +character of respectable is very legibly impressed, in everything +about the mind and manner of his lordship. I should, now +that I have seen and heard him, be astonished to hear such a man +represented as capable of being factious.</p> +<p>I should say something about Lord Liverpool, not only on +account of his rank as a minister, but also on account of the +talents which have qualified him for that high situation. +The greatest objection that I have to him as a speaker, is owing +to the loudness of his voice—in other respects, what he +does say is well digested. But I do not think that he +embraces his subject with so much power and comprehension as some +of his opponents; and he has evidently less actual experience of +the world. This may doubtless be attributed to his having +been almost constantly in office since he came into public life; +than which nothing is more detrimental to the unfolding of +natural ability, while it induces a sort of artificial talent, +connected with forms and technicalities, which, though useful in +business, is but of minor consequence in a comparative estimate +of moral and intellectual qualities. I am told that in his +manner he resembles Mr. Pitt; be this, however, as it may, he is +evidently a speaker, formed more by habit and imitation, than one +whom nature prompts to be eloquent. He lacks that +occasional accent of passion, the melody of oratory; and I doubt +if, on any occasion, he could at all approximate to that +magnificent intrepidity which was admired as one of the noblest +characteristics of his master’s style.</p> +<p>But all the display of learning and eloquence, and +intellectual power and majesty of the House of Lords, shrinks +into insignificance when compared with the moral attitude which +the people have taken on this occasion. You know how much I +have ever admired the attributes of the English national +character—that boundless generosity, which can only be +compared to the impartial benevolence of the sunshine—that +heroic magnanimity, which makes the hand ever ready to succour a +fallen foe; and that sublime courage, which rises with the energy +of a conflagration roused by a tempest, at every insult or menace +of an enemy. The compassionate interest taken by the +populace in the future condition of the queen is worthy of this +extraordinary people. There may be many among them actuated +by what is called the radical spirit; but malignity alone would +dare to ascribe the bravery of their compassion to a less noble +feeling than that which has placed the kingdom so proudly in the +van of all modern nations. There may be an amiable +delusion, as my Lord Castlereagh has said, in the popular +sentiments with respect to the queen. Upon that, as upon +her case, I offer no opinion. It is enough for me to have +seen, with the admiration of a worshipper, the manner in which +the multitude have espoused her cause.</p> +<p>But my paper is filled, and I must conclude. I should, +however, mention that my sister’s marriage is appointed to +take place to-morrow, and that I accompany the happy pair to +France.—Yours truly,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Andrew +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>“This is a dry letter,” said Mr. Snodgrass, and he +handed it to Miss Isabella, who, in exchange, presented the one +which she had herself at the same time received; but just as Mr. +Snodgrass was on the point of reading it, Miss Becky Glibbans was +announced. “How lucky this is,” exclaimed Miss +Becky, “to find you both thegither! Now you maun tell +me all the particulars; for Miss Mally Glencairn is no in, and +her letter lies unopened. I am just gasping to hear how +Rachel conducted herself at being married in the kirk before all +the folk—married to the hussar captain, too, after all! who +would have thought it?”</p> +<p>“How, have you heard of the marriage already?” +said Miss Isabella. “Oh, it’s in the +newspapers,” replied the amiable +inquisitant,—“Like ony tailor or +weaver’s—a’ weddings maun nowadays gang into +the papers. The whole toun, by this time, has got it; and I +wouldna wonder if Rachel Pringle’s marriage ding the +queen’s divorce out of folk’s heads for the next nine +days to come. But only to think of her being married in a +public kirk. Surely her father would never submit to +hae’t done by a bishop? And then to put it in the +London paper, as if Rachel Pringle had been somebody of +distinction. Perhaps it might have been more to the +purpose, considering what dragoon officers are, if she had got +the doited Doctor, her father, to publish the intended marriage +in the papers beforehand.”</p> +<p>“Haud that condumacious tongue of yours,” cried a +voice, panting with haste as the door opened, and Mrs. Glibbans +entered. “Becky, will you never devawl wi’ your +backbiting. I wonder frae whom the misleart lassie takes +a’ this passion of clashing.”</p> +<p>The authority of her parent’s tongue silenced Miss +Becky, and Mrs. Glibbans having seated herself, +continued,—“Is it your opinion, Mr. Snodgrass, that +this marriage can hold good, contracted, as I am told it is +mentioned in the papers to hae been, at the horns of the altar of +Episcopalian apostacy?”</p> +<p>“I can set you right as to that,” said Miss +Isabella. “Rachel mentions, that, after returning +from the church, the Doctor himself performed the ceremony anew, +according to the Presbyterian usage.” “I am +glad to heart, very glad indeed,” said Mrs. Glibbans. +“It would have been a judgment-like thing, had a bairn of +Dr. Pringle’s—than whom, although there may be abler, +there is not a sounder man in a’ the West of +Scotland—been sacrificed to Moloch, like the victims of +prelatic idolatry.”</p> +<p>At this juncture, Miss Mally Glencairn was announced: she +entered, holding a letter from Mrs. Pringle in her hand, with the +seal unbroken. Having heard of the marriage from an +acquaintance in the street, she had hurried home, in the +well-founded expectation of hearing from her friend and +well-wisher, and taking up the letter, which she found on her +table, came with all speed to Miss Isabella Tod to commune with +her on the tidings.</p> +<p>Never was any confluence of visitors more remarkable than on +this occasion. Before Miss Mally had well explained the +cause of her abrupt intrusion, Mr. Micklewham made his +appearance. He had come to Irvine to be measured for a new +coat, and meeting by accident with Saunders Dickie, got the +Doctor’s letter from him, which, after reading, he thought +he could do no less than call at Mrs. Tod’s, to let Miss +Isabella know the change which had taken place in the condition +of her friend.</p> +<p>Thus were all the correspondents of the Pringles assembled, by +the merest chance, like the <i>dramatis personæ</i> at the +end of a play. After a little harmless bantering, it was +agreed that Miss Mally should read her communication +first—as all the others were previously acquainted with the +contents of their respective letters, and Miss Mally read as +follows:—</p> +<h3>LETTER XXX</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally +Glencairn</i></p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Miss Mally</span>—I hav a cro +to pik with you conserning yoor comishon aboot the partickels for +your friends. You can hav no noshon what the Doctor and me +suffert on the head of the flooring shrubs. We took your +Nota Beny as it was spilt, and went from shop to shop enquirin in +a most partiklar manner for “a Gardner’s Bell, or the +least of all flowering plants”; but sorrow a gardner in the +whole tot here in London ever had heard of sic a thing; so we +gave the porshoot up in despare. Howsomever, one of +Andrew’s acquaintance—a decent lad, who is only son +to a saddler in a been way, that keeps his own carriage, and his +son a coryikel, happent to call, and the Doctor told him what ill +socsess we had in our serch for the gardner’s bell; upon +which he sought a sight of your yepissle, and read it as a thing +that was just wonderful for its whorsogroffie; and then he sayid, +that looking at the prinsipol of your spilling, he thought we +should reed, “a gardner’s bill, or a list of all +flooring plants”; whilk being no doot your intent, I have +proqurt the same, and it is included heerin. But, Miss +Mally, I would advize you to be more exac in your inditing, that +no sic torbolashon may hippen on a future okashon.</p> +<p>What I hav to say for the present is, that you will, by a +smak, get a bocks of kumoddities, whilk you will destraboot as +derekit on every on of them, and you will before have resievit by +the post-offis, an account of what has been don. I need say +no forther at this time, knowin your discreshon and prooduns, +septs that our Rachel and Captain Sabor will, if it pleese the +Lord, be off to Parish, by way of Bryton, as man and wife, the +morn’s morning. What her father the Doctor gives for +tocher, what is settlt on her for jontor, I will tell you all +aboot when we meet; for it’s our dishire noo to lose no tim +in retorning to the manse, this being the last of our +diplomaticals in London, where we have found the Argents a most +discrit family, payin to the last farding the Cornal’s +legacy, and most seevil, and well bred to us.</p> +<p>As I am naterally gretly okypt with this matteromoneal afair, +you cannot expect ony news; but the queen is going on with a +dreadful rat, by which the pesents hav falen more than a whole +entirr pesent. I wish our fonds were well oot of them, and +in yird and stane, which is a constansie. But what is to +become of the poor donsie woman, no one can expound. Some +think she will be pot in the Toor of London, and her head chappit +off; others think she will raise sic a stramash, that she will +send the whole government into the air, like peelings of ingons, +by a gunpoother plot. But it’s my opinion, and I have +weighed the matter well in my understanding, that she will hav to +fight with sword in hand, be she ill, or be she good. How +els can she hop to get the better of more than two hundred lords, +as the Doctor, who has seen them, tells me, with princes of the +blood-royal, and the prelatic bishops, whom, I need not tell you, +are the worst of all.</p> +<p>But the thing I grudge most, is to be so long in Lundon, and +no to see the king. Is it not a hard thing to come to +London, and no to see the king? I am not pleesed with him, +I assure you, becose he does not set himself out to public view, +like ony other curiosity, but stays in his palis, they say, like +one of the anshent wooden images of idolatry, the which is a +great peety, he beeing, as I am told, a beautiful man, and more +the gentleman than all the coortiers of his court.</p> +<p>The Doctor has been minting to me that there is an address +from Irvine to the queen; and he, being so near a neighbour to +your toun, has been thinking to pay his respecs with it, to see +her near at hand. But I will say nothing; he may take his +own way in matters of gospel and spiritualety; yet I have my +scroopols of conshence, how this may not turn out a rebellyon +against the king; and I would hav him to sift and see who are at +the address, before he pits his han to it. For, if +it’s a radikol job, as I jealoos it is, what will the +Doctor then say? who is an orthodox man, as the world nose.</p> +<p>In the maitre of our dumesticks, no new axsident has cast up; +but I have seen such a wonder as could not have been +forethocht. Having a washin, I went down to see how the +lassies were doing; but judge of my feelings, when I saw them +triomphing on the top of pattons, standing upright before the +boyns on chairs, rubbin the clothes to juggins between their +hands, above the sapples, with their gouns and stays on, and +round-cared mutches. What would you think of such a miracle +at the washing-house in the Goffields, or the Gallows-knows of +Irvine? The cook, howsomever, has shown me a way to make +rice-puddings without eggs, by putting in a bit of shoohet, which +is as good—and this you will tell Miss Nanny Eydent; +likewise, that the most fashionable way of boiling green pis, is +to pit a blade of spearmint in the pot, which gives a fine +flavour. But this is a long letter, and my pepper is done; +so no more, but remains your friend and well-wisher,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Janet +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>“A great legacy, and her dochtir married, in ae journey +to London, is doing business,” said Mrs. Glibbans, with a +sigh, as she looked to her only get, Miss Becky; “but the +Lord’s will is to be done in a’ thing;—sooner +or later something of the same kind will come, I trust, to all +our families.” “Ay,” replied Miss Mally +Glencairn, “marriage is like death—it’s what we +are a’ to come to.”</p> +<p>“I have my doubts of that,” said Miss Becky with a +sneer. “Ye have been lang spair’t from it, Miss +Mally.”</p> +<p>“Ye’re a spiteful puddock; and if the men hae the +e’en and lugs they used to hae, gude pity him whose lot is +cast with thine, Becky Glibbans,” replied the elderly +maiden ornament of the Kirkgate, somewhat tartly.</p> +<p>Here Mr. Snodgrass interposed, and said, he would read to them +the letter which Miss Isabella had received from the bride; and +without waiting for their concurrence, opened and read as +follows:—</p> +<h3>LETTER XXXI</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Mrs. Sabre to Miss Isabella +Tod</i></p> +<p><span class="smcap">My dearest Bell</span>—Rachel +Pringle is no more! My heart flutters as I write the fatal +words. This morning, at nine o’clock precisely, she +was conducted in bridal array to the new church of Mary-le-bone; +and there, with ring and book, sacrificed to the Minotaur, +Matrimony, who devours so many of our bravest youths and fairest +maidens.</p> +<p>My mind is too agitated to allow me to describe the +scene. The office of handmaid to the victim, which, in our +young simplicity, we had fondly thought one of us would perform +for the other, was gracefully sustained by Miss Argent.</p> +<p>On returning from church to my father’s residence in +Baker Street, where we breakfasted, he declared himself not +satisfied with the formalities of the English ritual, and obliged +us to undergo a second ceremony from himself, according to the +wonted forms of the Scottish Church. All the advantages and +pleasures of which, my dear Bell, I hope you will soon enjoy.</p> +<p>But I have no time to enter into particulars. The +captain and his lady, by themselves, in their own carriage, set +off for Brighton in the course of less than an hour. On +Friday they are to be followed by a large party of their friends +and relations; and, after spending a few days in that emporium of +salt-water pleasures, they embark, accompanied with their beloved +brother, Mr. Andrew Pringle, for Paris; where they are afterwards +to be joined by the Argents. It is our intention to remain +about a month in the French capital; whether we shall extend our +tour, will depend on subsequent circumstances: in the meantime, +however, you will hear frequently from me.</p> +<p>My mother, who has a thousand times during these important +transactions wished for the assistance of Nanny Eydent, transmits +to Miss Mally Glencairn a box containing all the requisite bridal +recognisances for our Irvine friends. I need not say that +the best is for the faithful companion of my happiest +years. As I had made a vow in my heart that Becky Glibbans +should never wear gloves for my marriage, I was averse to sending +her any at all, but my mother insisted that no exceptions should +be made. I secretly took care, however, to mark a pair for +her, so much too large, that I am sure she will never put them +on. The asp will be not a little vexed at the +disappointment. Adieu for a time, and believe that, +although your affectionate Rachel Pringle be gone that way in +which she hopes you will soon follow, one not less sincerely +attached to you, though it be the first time she has so +subscribed herself, remains in</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Rachel +Sabre</span>.</p> +<p>Before the ladies had time to say a word on the subject, the +prudent young clergyman called immediately on Mr. Micklewham to +read the letter which he had received from the Doctor; and which +the worthy dominie did without delay, in that rich and full voice +with which he is accustomed to teach his scholars elocution by +example.</p> +<h3>LETTER XXXII</h3> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>The Rev. Z. Pringle</i>, +<i>D.D.</i>, <i>to Mr. Micklewham</i>, <i>Schoolmaster and +Session-Clerk</i>, <i>Garnock</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">London</span>.</p> +<p>Dear Sir—I have been much longer of replying to your +letter of the 3rd of last month, than I ought in civility to have +been, but really time, in this town of London, runs at a fast +rate, and the day passes before the dark’s done. What +with Mrs. Pringle and her daughter’s concernments, anent +the marriage to Captain Sabre, and the trouble I felt myself +obliged to take in the queen’s affair, I assure you, Mr. +Micklewham, that it’s no to be expressed how I have been +occupied for the last four weeks. But all things must come +to a conclusion in this world. Rachel Pringle is married, +and the queen’s weary trial is brought to an end—upon +the subject and motion of the same, I offer no opinion, for I +made it a point never to read the evidence, being resolved to +stand by <span class="smcap">the word</span> from the first, +which is clearly and plainly written in the queen’s favour, +and it does not do in a case of conscience to stand on trifles; +putting, therefore, out of consideration the fact libelled, and +looking both at the head and the tail of the proceeding, I was of +a firm persuasion, that all the sculduddery of the business might +have been well spared from the eye of the public, which is of +itself sufficiently prone to keek and kook, in every possible +way, for a glimpse of a black story; and, therefore, I thought it +my duty to stand up in all places against the trafficking that +was attempted with a divine institution. And I think, when +my people read how their prelatic enemies, the bishops (the +heavens defend the poor Church of Scotland from being subjected +to the weight of their paws), have been visited with a +constipation of the understanding on that point, it must to them +be a great satisfaction to know how clear and collected their +minister was on this fundamental of society. For it has +turned out, as I said to Mrs. Pringle, as well as others, it +would do, that a sense of grace and religion would be manifested +in some quarter before all was done, by which the devices for an +unsanctified repudiation or divorce would be set at nought.</p> +<p>As often as I could, deeming it my duty as a minister of the +word and gospel, I got into the House of Lords, and heard the +trial; and I cannot think how ever it was expected that justice +could be done yonder; for although no man could be more attentive +than I was, every time I came away I was more confounded than +when I went; and when the trial was done, it seemed to me just to +be clearing up for a proper beginning—all which is a proof +that there was a foul conspiracy. Indeed, when I saw Duke +Hamilton’s daughter coming out of the coach with the queen, +I never could think after, that a lady of her degree would have +countenanced the queen had the matter laid to her charge been as +it was said. Not but in any circumstance it behoved a lady +of that ancient and royal blood, to be seen beside the queen in +such a great historical case as a trial.</p> +<p>I hope, in the part I have taken, my people will be satisfied; +but whether they are satisfied or not, my own conscience is +content with me. I was in the House of Lords when her +majesty came down for the last time, and saw her handed up the +stairs by the usher of the black-rod, a little stumpy man, +wonderful particular about the rules of the House, insomuch that +he was almost angry with me for stopping at the stair-head. +The afflicted woman was then in great spirits, and I saw no +symptoms of the swelled legs that Lord Lauderdale, that jooking +man, spoke about, for she skippit up the steps like a +lassie. But my heart was wae for her when all was over, for +she came out like an astonished creature, with a wild steadfast +look, and a sort of something in the face that was as if the +rational spirit had fled away; and she went down to her coach as +if she had submitted to be led to a doleful destiny. Then +the shouting of the people began, and I saw and shouted too in +spite of my decorum, which I marvel at sometimes, thinking it +could be nothing less than an involuntary testification of the +spirit within me.</p> +<p>Anent the marriage of Rachel Pringle, it may be needful in me +to state, for the satisfaction of my people, that although by +stress of law we were obligated to conform to the practice of the +Episcopalians, by taking out a bishop’s license, and going +to their church, and vowing, in a pagan fashion, before their +altars, which are an abomination to the Lord; yet, when the young +folk came home, I made them stand up, and be married again before +me, according to all regular marriages in our national +Church. For this I had two reasons: first, to satisfy +myself that there had been a true and real marriage; and, +secondly, to remove the doubt of the former ceremony being +sufficient; for marriage being of divine appointment, and the +English form and ritual being a thing established by Act of +Parliament, which is of human ordination, I was not sure that +marriage performed according to a human enactment could be a +fulfilment of a divine ordinance. I therefore hope that my +people will approve what I have done; and in order that there may +be a sympathising with me, you will go over to Banker M---y, and +get what he will give you, as ordered by me, and distribute it +among the poorest of the parish, according to the best of your +discretion, my long absence having taken from me the power of +judgment in a matter of this sort. I wish indeed for the +glad sympathy of my people, for I think that our Saviour turning +water into wine at the wedding, was an example set that we should +rejoice and be merry at the fulfilment of one of the great +obligations imposed on us as social creatures; and I have ever +regarded the unhonoured treatment of a marriage occasion as a +thing of evil bodement, betokening heavy hearts and light purses +to the lot of the bride and bridegroom. You will hear more +from me by and by; in the meantime, all I can say is, that when +we have taken our leave of the young folks, who are going to +France, it is Mrs. Pringle’s intent, as well as mine, to +turn our horses’ heads northward, and make our way with +what speed we can, for our own quiet home, among you. So no +more at present from your friend and pastor,</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Z. +Pringle</span>.</p> +<p>Mrs. Tod, the mother of Miss Isabella, a respectable widow +lady, who had quiescently joined the company, proposed that they +should now drink health, happiness, and all manner of prosperity, +to the young couple; and that nothing might be wanting to secure +the favourable auspices of good omens to the toast, she desired +Miss Isabella to draw fresh bottles of white and red. When +all manner of felicity was duly wished in wine to the captain and +his lady, the party rose to seek their respective homes. +But a bustle at the street-door occasioned a pause. Mrs. +Tod inquired the matter; and three or four voices at once +replied, that an express had come from Garnock for Nanse Swaddle +the midwife, Mrs. Craig being taken with her pains. +“Mr. Snodgrass,” said Mrs. Glibbans, instantly and +emphatically, “ye maun let me go with you, and we can +spiritualise on the road; for I hae promis’t Mrs. Craig to +be wi’ her at the crying, to see the upshot—so I hope +you will come awa.”</p> +<p>It would be impossible in us to suppose, that Mr. Snodgrass +had any objections to spiritualise with Mrs. Glibbans on the road +between Irvine and Garnock; but, notwithstanding her urgency, he +excused himself from going with her; however, he recommended her +to the special care and protection of Mr. Micklewham, who was at +that time on his legs to return home. “Oh! Mr. +Snodgrass,” said the lady, looking slyly, as she adjusted +her cloak, at him and Miss Isabella, “there will be +marrying and giving in marriage till the day of +judgment.” And with these oracular words she took her +departure.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER X—THE RETURN</h2> +<p>On Friday, Miss Mally Glencairn received a brief note from +Mrs. Pringle, informing her, that she and the Doctor would reach +the manse, “God willing,” in time for tea on +Saturday; and begging her, therefore, to go over from Irvine, and +see that the house was in order for their reception. This +note was written from Glasgow, where they had arrived, in their +own carriage, from Carlisle on the preceding day, after +encountering, as Mrs. Pringle said, “more hardships and +extorshoning than all the dangers of the sea which they met with +in the smack of Leith that took them to London.”</p> +<p>As soon as Miss Mally received this intelligence, she went to +Miss Isabella Tod, and requested her company for the next day to +Garnock, where they arrived betimes to dine with Mr. +Snodgrass. Mrs. Glibbans and her daughter Becky were then +on a consolatory visit to Mr. Craig. We mentioned in the +last chapter, that the crying of Mrs. Craig had come on; and that +Mrs. Glibbans, according to promise, and with the most anxious +solicitude, had gone to wait the upshot. The upshot was +most melancholy,—Mrs. Craig was soon no more;—she was +taken, as Mrs. Glibbans observed on the occasion, from the +earthly arms of her husband, to the spiritual bosom of Abraham, +Isaac, and Jacob, which was far better. But the baby +survived; so that, what with getting a nurse, and the burial, and +all the work and handling that a birth and death in one house at +the same time causes, Mr. Craig declared, that he could not do +without Mrs. Glibbans; and she, with all that Christianity by +which she was so zealously distinguished, sent for Miss Becky, +and took up her abode with him till it would please Him, without +whom there is no comfort, to wipe the eyes of the pious +elder. In a word, she staid so long, that a rumour began to +spread that Mr. Craig would need a wife to look after his bairn; +and that Mrs. Glibbans was destined to supply the +desideratum.</p> +<p>Mr. Snodgrass, after enjoying his dinner society with Miss +Mally and Miss Isabella, thought it necessary to dispatch a +courier, in the shape of a barefooted servant lass, to Mr. +Micklewham, to inform the elders that the Doctor was expected +home in time for tea, leaving it to their discretion either to +greet his safe return at the manse, or in any other form or +manner that would be most agreeable to themselves. These +important news were soon diffused through the clachan. Mr. +Micklewham dismissed his school an hour before the wonted time, +and there was a universal interest and curiosity excited, to see +the Doctor coming home in his own coach. All the boys of +Garnock assembled at the braehead which commands an extensive +view of the Kilmarnock road, the only one from Glasgow that runs +through the parish; the wives with their sucklings were seated on +the large stones at their respective door-cheeks; while their +cats were calmly reclining on the window soles. The lassie +weans, like clustering bees, were mounted on the carts that stood +before Thomas Birlpenny the vintner’s door, churming with +anticipated delight; the old men took their stations on the dike +that incloses the side of the vintner’s kail-yard, and +“a batch of wabster lads,” with green aprons and thin +yellow faces, planted themselves at the gable of the malt kiln, +where they were wont, when trade was better, to play at the +hand-ball; but, poor fellows, since the trade fell off, they have +had no heart for the game, and the vintner’s half-mutchkin +stoups glitter in empty splendour unrequired on the shelf below +the brazen sconce above the bracepiece, amidst the idle pewter +pepper-boxes, the bright copper tea-kettle, the coffee-pot that +has never been in use, and lids of saucepans that have survived +their principals,—the wonted ornaments of every trig +change-house kitchen.</p> +<p>The season was far advanced; but the sun shone at his setting +with a glorious composure, and the birds in the hedges and on the +boughs were again gladdened into song. The leaves had +fallen thickly, and the stubble-fields were bare, but Autumn, in +a many-coloured tartan plaid, was seen still walking with +matronly composure in the woodlands, along the brow of the +neighbouring hills.</p> +<p>About half-past four o’clock, a movement was seen among +the callans at the braehead, and a shout announced that a +carriage was in sight. It was answered by a murmuring +response of satisfaction from the whole village. In the +course of a few minutes the carriage reached the +turnpike—it was of the darkest green and the gravest +fashion,—a large trunk, covered with Russian matting, and +fastened on with cords, prevented from chafing it by knots of +straw rope, occupied the front,—behind, other two were +fixed in the same manner, the lesser of course uppermost; and +deep beyond a pile of light bundles and bandboxes, that occupied +a large portion of the interior, the blithe faces of the Doctor +and Mrs. Pringle were discovered. The boys huzzaed, the +Doctor flung them penny-pieces, and the mistress baubees.</p> +<p>As the carriage drove along, the old men on the dike stood up +and reverently took off their hats and bonnets. The weaver +lads gazed with a melancholy smile; the lassies on the carts +clapped their hands with joy; the women on both sides of the +street acknowledged the recognising nods; while all the village +dogs, surprised by the sound of chariot wheels, came baying and +barking forth, and sent off the cats that were so doucely sitting +on the window soles, clambering and scampering over the roofs in +terror of their lives.</p> +<p>When the carriage reached the manse door, Mr. Snodgrass, the +two ladies, with Mr. Micklewham, and all the elders except Mr. +Craig, were there ready to receive the travellers. But over +this joy of welcoming we must draw a veil; for the first thing +that the Doctor did, on entering the parlour and before sitting +down, was to return thanks for his safe restoration to his home +and people.</p> +<p>The carriage was then unloaded, and as package, bale, box, and +bundle were successively brought in, Miss Mally Glencairn +expressed her admiration at the great capacity of the +chaise. “Ay,” said Mrs. Pringle, “but you +know not what we have suffert for’t in coming through among +the English taverns on the road; some of them would not take us +forward when there was a hill to pass, unless we would take four +horses, and every one after another reviled us for having no +mercy in loading the carriage like a waggon,—and then the +drivers were so gleg and impudent, that it was worse than +martyrdom to come with them. Had the Doctor taken my +advice, he would have brought our own civil London coachman, whom +we hired with his own horses by the job; but he said it behoved +us to gi’e our ain fish guts to our ain sea-maws, and that +he designed to fee Thomas Birlpenny’s hostler for our +coachman, being a lad of the parish. This obliged us to +post it from London; but, oh! Miss Mally, what an outlay it has +been!”</p> +<p>The Doctor, in the meantime, had entered into conversation +with the gentlemen, and was inquiring, in the most particular +manner, respecting all his parishioners, and expressing his +surprise that Mr. Craig had not been at the manse with the rest +of the elders. “It does not look well,” said +the Doctor. Mr. Daff, however, offered the best apology for +his absence that could be made. “He has had a gentle +dispensation, sir—Mrs. Craig has won awa’ out of this +sinful world, poor woman, she had a large experience o’t; +but the bairns to the fore, and Mrs. Glibbans, that has such a +cast of grace, has ta’en charge of the house since before +the interment. It’s thought, considering what’s +by gane, Mr. Craig may do waur than make her mistress, and I +hope, sir, your exhortation will no be wanting to egg the honest +man to think o’t seriously.”</p> +<p>Mr. Snodgrass, before delivering the household keys, ordered +two bottles of wine, with glasses and biscuit, to be set upon the +table, while Mrs. Pringle produced from a paper package, that had +helped to stuff one of the pockets of the carriage, a piece of +rich plum-cake, brought all the way from a confectioner’s +in Cockspur Street, London, not only for the purpose of being +eaten, but, as she said, to let Miss Nanny Eydent pree, in order +to direct the Irvine bakers how to bake others like it.</p> +<p>Tea was then brought in; and, as it was making, the Doctor +talked aside to the elders, while Mrs. Pringle recounted to Miss +Mally and Miss Isabella the different incidents of her adventures +subsequent to the marriage of Miss Rachel.</p> +<p>“The young folk,” said she, “having gone to +Brighton, we followed them in a few days, for we were told it was +a curiosity, and that the king has a palace there, just a +warld’s wonder! and, truly, Miss Mally, it is certainly not +like a house for a creature of this world, but for some Grand +Turk or Chinaman. The Doctor said, it put him in mind of +Miss Jenny Macbride’s sideboard in the Stockwell of +Glasgow; where all the pepper-boxes, poories, and teapots, +punch-bowls, and china-candlesticks of her progenitors are set +out for a show, that tells her visitors, they are but seldom put +to use. As for the town of Brighton, it’s what I +would call a gawky piece of London. I could see nothing in +it but a wheen idlers, hearing twa lads, at night, crying, +“Five, six, seven for a shilling,” in the +booksellers’ shops, with a play-actor lady singing in a +corner, because her voice would not do for the players’ +stage. Therefore, having seen the Captain and Mrs. Sabre +off to France, we came home to London; but it’s not to be +told what we had to pay at the hotel where we staid in +Brighton. Howsomever, having come back to London, we +settled our counts,—and, buying a few necessars, we +prepared for Scotland,—and here we are. But +travelling has surely a fine effect in enlarging the +understanding; for both the Doctor and me thought, as we came +along, that everything had a smaller and poorer look than when we +went away; and I dinna think this room is just what it used to +be. What think ye o’t, Miss Isabella? How would +ye like to spend your days in’t?”</p> +<p>Miss Isabella reddened at this question; but Mrs. Pringle, who +was as prudent as she was observant, affecting not to notice +this, turned round to Miss Mally Glencairn, and said softly in +her ear,—“Rachel was Bell’s confidante, and has +told us all about what’s going on between her and Mr. +Snodgrass. We have agreed no to stand in their way, as soon +as the Doctor can get a mailing or two to secure his money +upon.”</p> +<p>Meantime, the Doctor received from the elders a very +satisfactory account of all that had happened among his people, +both in and out of the Session, during his absence; and he was +vastly pleased to find there had been no inordinate increase of +wickedness; at the same time, he was grieved for the condition in +which the poor weavers still continued, saying, that among other +things of which he had been of late meditating, was the setting +up of a lending bank in the parish for the labouring classes, +where, when they were out of work, “bits of loans for a +house-rent, or a brat of claes, or sic like, might be granted, to +be repaid when trade grew better, and thereby take away the +objection that an honest pride had to receiving help from the +Session.”</p> +<p>Then some lighter general conversation ensued, in which the +Doctor gave his worthy counsellors a very jocose description of +many of the lesser sort of adventures which he had met with; and +the ladies having retired to inspect the great bargains that Mrs. +Pringle had got, and the splendid additions she had made to her +wardrobe, out of what she denominated the dividends of the +present portion of the legacy, the Doctor ordered in the second +biggest toddy-bowl, the guardevine with the old rum, and told the +lassie to see if the tea-kettle was still boiling. +“Ye maun drink our welcome hame,” said he to the +elders; “it would nae otherwise be canny. But +I’m sorry Mr. Craig has nae come.” At these +words the door opened, and the absent elder entered, with a long +face and a deep sigh. “Ha!” cried Mr. Daff, +“this is very droll. Speak of the Evil One, and +he’ll appear”;—which words dinted on the heart +of Mr. Craig, who thought his marriage in December had been the +subject of their discourse. The Doctor, however, went up +and shook him cordially by the hand, and said, “Now I take +this very kind, Mr. Craig; for I could not have expected you, +considering ye have got, as I am told, your jo in the +house”; at which words the Doctor winked paukily to Mr. +Daff, who rubbed his hands with fainness, and gave a +good-humoured sort of keckling laugh. This facetious stroke +of policy was a great relief to the afflicted elder, for he saw +by it that the Doctor did not mean to trouble him with any +inquiries respecting his deceased wife; and, in consequence, he +put on a blither face, and really affected to have forgotten her +already more than he had done in sincerity.</p> +<p>Thus the night passed in decent temperance and a happy +decorum; insomuch, that the elders when they went away, either by +the influence of the toddy-bowl, or the Doctor’s funny +stories about the Englishers, declared that he was an excellent +man, and, being none lifted up, was worthy of his rich +legacy.</p> +<p>At supper, the party, besides the minister and Mrs. Pringle, +consisted of the two Irvine ladies, and Mr. Snodgrass. Miss +Becky Glibbans came in when it was about half over, to express +her mother’s sorrow at not being able to call that night, +“Mr. Craig’s bairn having taken an ill +turn.” The truth, however, was, that the worthy elder +had been rendered somewhat tozy by the minister’s toddy, +and wanted an opportunity to inform the old lady of the joke that +had been played upon him by the Doctor calling her his jo, and to +see how she would relish it. So by a little address Miss +Becky was sent out of the way, with the excuse we have noticed; +at the same time, as the night was rather sharp, it is not to be +supposed that she would have been the bearer of any such message, +had her own curiosity not enticed her.</p> +<p>During supper the conversation was very lively. Many +“pickant jokes,” as Miss Becky described them, were +cracked by the Doctor; but, soon after the table was cleared, he +touched Mr. Snodgrass on the arm, and, taking up one of the +candles, went with him to his study, where he then told him, that +Rachel Pringle, now Mrs. Sabre, had informed him of a way in +which he could do him a service. “I understand, +sir,” said the Doctor, “that you have a notion of +Miss Bell Tod, but that until ye get a kirk there can be no +marriage. But the auld horse may die waiting for the new +grass; and, therefore, as the Lord has put it in my power to do a +good action both to you and my people,—whom I am glad to +hear you have pleased so well,—if it can be brought about +that you could be made helper and successor, I’ll no object +to give up to you the whole stipend, and, by and by, maybe the +manse to the bargain. But that is if you marry Miss Bell; +for it was a promise that Rachel gar’t me make to her on +her wedding morning. Ye know she was a forcasting lassie, +and, I have reason to believe, has said nothing anent this to +Miss Bell herself; so that if you have no partiality for Miss +Bell, things will just rest on their own footing; but if you have +a notion, it must be a satisfaction to you to know this, as it +will be a pleasure to me to carry it as soon as possible into +effect.”</p> +<p>Mr. Snodgrass was a good deal agitated; he was taken by +surprise, and without words the Doctor might have guessed his +sentiments; he, however, frankly confessed that he did entertain +a very high opinion of Miss Bell, but that he was not sure if a +country parish would exactly suit him. “Never mind +that,” said the Doctor; “if it does not fit at first, +you will get used to it; and if a better casts up, it will be no +obstacle.”</p> +<p>The two gentlemen then rejoined the ladies, and, after a short +conversation, Miss Becky Glibbans was admonished to depart, by +the servants bringing in the Bibles for the worship of the +evening. This was usually performed before supper, but, +owing to the bowl being on the table, and the company jocose, it +had been postponed till all the guests who were not to sleep in +the house had departed.</p> +<p>The Sunday morning was fine and bright for the season; the +hoarfrost, till about an hour after sunrise, lay white on the +grass and tombstones in the churchyard; but before the bell rung +for the congregation to assemble, it was exhaled away, and a +freshness, that was only known to be autumnal by the fallen and +yellow leaves that strewed the church-way path from the ash and +plane trees in the avenue, encouraged the spirits to sympathise +with the universal cheerfulness of all nature.</p> +<p>The return of the Doctor had been bruited through the parish +with so much expedition, that, when the bell rung for public +worship, none of those who were in the practice of stopping in +the churchyard to talk about the weather were so ignorant as not +to have heard of this important fact. In consequence, +before the time at which the Doctor was wont to come from the +back-gate which opened from the manse-garden into the churchyard, +a great majority of his people were assembled to receive him.</p> +<p>At the last jingle of the bell, the back-gate was usually +opened, and the Doctor was wont to come forth as punctually as a +cuckoo of a clock at the striking of the hour; but a deviation +was observed on this occasion. Formerly, Mrs. Pringle and +the rest of the family came first, and a few minutes were allowed +to elapse before the Doctor, laden with grace, made his +appearance. But at this time, either because it had been +settled that Mr. Snodgrass was to officiate, or for some other +reason, there was a breach in the observance of this +time-honoured custom.</p> +<p>As the ringing of the bell ceased, the gate unclosed, and the +Doctor came forth. He was of that easy sort of feather-bed +corpulency of form that betokens good-nature, and had none of +that smooth, red, well-filled protuberancy, which indicates a +choleric humour and a testy temper. He was in fact what +Mrs. Glibbans denominated “a man of a gausy +external.” And some little change had taken place +during his absence in his visible equipage. His stockings, +which were wont to be of worsted, had undergone a translation +into silk; his waist-coat, instead—of the venerable +Presbyterian flap-covers to the pockets, which were of Johnsonian +magnitude, was become plain—his coat in all times +single-breasted, with no collar, still, however, maintained its +ancient characteristics; instead, however, of the former bright +black cast horn, the buttons were covered with cloth. But +the chief alteration was discernible in the furniture of the +head. He had exchanged the simplicity of his own +respectable grey hairs for the cauliflower hoariness of a <span +class="smcap">Parrish</span> <a name="citation3"></a><a +href="#footnote3" class="citation">[3]</a> wig, on which he wore +a broad-brimmed hat, turned up a little at each side behind, in a +portentous manner, indicatory of Episcopalian +predilections. This, however, was not justified by any +alteration in his principles, being merely an innocent variation +of fashion, the natural result of a Doctor of Divinity buying a +hat and wig in London.</p> +<p>The moment that the Doctor made his appearance, his greeting +and salutation was quite delightful; it was that of a father +returned to his children, and a king to his people.</p> +<p>Almost immediately after the Doctor, Mrs. Pringle, followed by +Miss Mally Glencairn and Miss Isabella Tod, also debouched from +the gate, and the assembled females remarked, with no less +instinct, the transmutation which she had undergone. She +was dressed in a dark blue cloth pelisse, trimmed with a dyed +fur, which, as she told Miss Mally, “looked quite as well +as sable, without costing a third of the money.” A +most matronly muff, that, without being of sable, was of an +excellent quality, contained her hands; and a very large Leghorn +straw bonnet, decorated richly, but far from excess, with a most +substantial band and bow of a broad crimson satin ribbon around +her head.</p> +<p>If the Doctor was gratified to see his people so gladly +thronging around him, Mrs. Pringle had no less pleasure also in +her thrice-welcome reception. It was an understood thing, +that she had been mainly instrumental in enabling the minister to +get his great Indian legacy; and in whatever estimation she may +have been previously held for her economy and management, she was +now looked up to as a personage skilled in the law, and +particularly versed in testamentary erudition. Accordingly, +in the customary testimonials of homage with which she was +saluted in her passage to the church door, there was evidently a +sentiment of veneration mingled, such as had never been evinced +before, and which was neither unobserved nor unappreciated by +that acute and perspicacious lady.</p> +<p>The Doctor himself did not preach, but sat in the +minister’s pew till Mr. Snodgrass had concluded an eloquent +and truly an affecting sermon; at the end of which, the Doctor +rose and went up into the pulpit, where he publicly returned +thanks for the favours and blessings he had obtained during his +absence, and for the safety in which he had been restored, after +many dangers and tribulations, to the affections of his +parishioners.</p> +<p>Such were the principal circumstances that marked the return +of the family. In the course of the week after, the estate +of Moneypennies being for sale, it was bought for the Doctor as a +great bargain. It was not, however, on account of the +advantageous nature of the purchase that our friend valued this +acquisition, but entirely because it was situated in his own +parish, and part of the lands marching with the Glebe.</p> +<p>The previous owner of Moneypennies had built an elegant house +on the estate, to which Mrs. Pringle is at present actively +preparing to remove from the manse; and it is understood, that, +as Mr. Snodgrass was last week declared helper, and successor to +the Doctor, his marriage with Miss Isabella Tod will take place +with all convenient expedition. There is also reason to +believe, that, as soon as decorum will permit, any scruple which +Mrs. Glibbans had to a second marriage is now removed, and that +she will soon again grace the happy circle of wives by the name +of Mrs. Craig. Indeed, we are assured that Miss Nanny +Eydent is actually at this time employed in making up her wedding +garments; for, last week, that worthy and respectable young +person was known to have visited Bailie Delap’s shop, at a +very early hour in the morning, and to have priced many things of +a bridal character, besides getting swatches; after which she was +seen to go to Mrs. Glibbans’s house, where she remained a +very considerable time, and to return straight therefrom to the +shop, and purchase divers of the articles which she had priced +and inspected; all of which constitute sufficient grounds for the +general opinion in Irvine, that the union of Mr. Craig with Mrs. +Glibbans is a happy event drawing near to consummation.</p> +<h2>Footnotes</h2> +<p><a name="footnote1"></a><a href="#citation1" +class="footnote">[1]</a> The administration of the +Sacrament.</p> +<p><a name="footnote2"></a><a href="#citation2" +class="footnote">[2]</a> The honest Doctor’s version +of this <i>bon mot</i> of her majesty is not quite correct; her +expression was, “I mean to take a chop at the King’s +Head when I get to London.”</p> +<p><a name="footnote3"></a><a href="#citation3" +class="footnote">[3]</a> See the <i>Edinburgh Review</i>, +for an account of our old friend, Dr. Parr’s wig, and +Spital Sermon.</p> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AYRSHIRE LEGATEES***</p> +<pre> + + +***** This file should be named 1384-h.htm or 1384-h.zip****** + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/8/1384 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Ayrshire Legatees + + +Author: John Galt + + + +Release Date: August 4, 2008 [eBook #1384] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AYRSHIRE LEGATEES*** + + +Transcribed from the 1895 Macmillan and Co. edition by David Price, email +ccx074@pglaf.org + + + + + +The Ayrshire Legatees + + +CHAPTER I--THE DEPARTURE + + +On New Year's day Dr. Pringle received a letter from India, informing him +that his cousin, Colonel Armour, had died at Hydrabad, and left him his +residuary legatee. The same post brought other letters on the same +subject from the agent of the deceased in London, by which it was evident +to the whole family that no time should be lost in looking after their +interests in the hands of such brief and abrupt correspondents. "To say +the least of it," as the Doctor himself sedately remarked, "considering +the greatness of the forth-coming property, Messieurs Richard Argent and +Company, of New Broad Street, might have given a notion as to the +particulars of the residue." It was therefore determined that, as soon +as the requisite arrangements could be made, the Doctor and Mrs. Pringle +should set out for the metropolis, to obtain a speedy settlement with the +agents, and, as Rachel had now, to use an expression of her mother's, "a +prospect before her," that she also should accompany them: Andrew, who +had just been called to the Bar, and who had come to the manse to spend a +few days after attaining that distinction, modestly suggested, that, +considering the various professional points which might be involved in +the objects of his father's journey, and considering also the retired +life which his father had led in the rural village of Garnock, it might +be of importance to have the advantage of legal advice. + +Mrs. Pringle interrupted this harangue, by saying, "We see what you would +be at, Andrew; ye're just wanting to come with us, and on this occasion +I'm no for making step-bairns, so we'll a' gang thegither." + +The Doctor had been for many years the incumbent of Garnock, which is +pleasantly situated between Irvine and Kilwinning, and, on account of the +benevolence of his disposition, was much beloved by his parishioners. +Some of the pawkie among them used indeed to say, in answer to the godly +of Kilmarnock, and other admirers of the late great John Russel, of that +formerly orthodox town, by whom Dr. Pringle's powers as a preacher were +held in no particular estimation,--"He kens our pu'pit's frail, and +spar'st to save outlay to the heritors." As for Mrs. Pringle, there is +not such another minister's wife, both for economy and management, within +the jurisdiction of the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr, and to this fact the +following letter to Miss Mally Glencairn, a maiden lady residing in the +Kirkgate of Irvine, a street that has been likened unto the Kingdom of +Heaven, where there is neither marriage nor giving in marriage, will +abundantly testify. + + + +LETTER I + + + _Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn_ + GARNOCK MANSE. + +DEAR MISS MALLY--The Doctor has had extraordinar news from India and +London, where we are all going, as soon as me and Rachel can get +ourselves in order, so I beg you will go to Bailie Delap's shop, and get +swatches of his best black bombaseen, and crape, and muslin, and bring +them over to the manse the morn's morning. If you cannot come yourself, +and the day should be wat, send Nanny Eydent, the mantua-maker, with +them; you'll be sure to send Nanny, onyhow, and I requeesht that, on this +okasion, ye'll get the very best the Bailie has, and I'll tell you all +about it when you come. You will get, likewise, swatches of mourning +print, with the lowest prices. I'll no be so particular about them, as +they are for the servan lasses, and there's no need, for all the +greatness of God's gifts, that we should be wasterful. Let Mrs. Glibbans +know, that the Doctor's second cousin, the colonel, that was in the East +Indies, is no more;--I am sure she will sympatheese with our loss on this +melancholy okasion. Tell her, as I'll no be out till our mournings are +made, I would take it kind if she would come over and eate a bit of +dinner on Sunday. The Doctor will no preach himself, but there's to be +an excellent young man, an acquaintance of Andrew's, that has the repute +of being both sound and hellaquaint. But no more at present, and looking +for you and Nanny Eydent, with the swatches,--I am, dear Miss Mally, your +sinsare friend, + + JANET PRINGLE. + +The Doctor being of opinion that, until they had something in hand from +the legacy, they should walk in the paths of moderation, it was resolved +to proceed by the coach from Irvine to Greenock, there embark in a +steam-boat for Glasgow, and, crossing the country to Edinburgh, take +their passage at Leith in one of the smacks for London. But we must let +the parties speak for themselves. + + + +LETTER II + + + _Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod_ + GREENOCK. + +MY DEAR ISABELLA--I know not why the dejection with which I parted from +you still hangs upon my heart, and grows heavier as I am drawn farther +and farther away. The uncertainty of the future--the dangers of the +sea--all combine to sadden my too sensitive spirit. Still, however, I +will exert myself, and try to give you some account of our momentous +journey. + +The morning on which we bade farewell for a time--alas! it was to me as +if for ever, to my native shades of Garnock--the weather was cold, bleak, +and boisterous, and the waves came rolling in majestic fury towards the +shore, when we arrived at the Tontine Inn of Ardrossan. What a monument +has the late Earl of Eglinton left there of his public spirit! It should +embalm his memory in the hearts of future ages, as I doubt not but in +time Ardrossan will become a grand emporium; but the people of Saltcoats, +a sordid race, complain that it will be their ruin; and the Paisley +subscribers to his lordship's canal grow pale when they think of profit. + +The road, after leaving Ardrossan, lies along the shore. The blast came +dark from the waters, and the clouds lay piled in every form of grandeur +on the lofty peaks of Arran. The view on the right hand is limited to +the foot of a range of abrupt mean hills, and on the left it meets the +sea--as we were obliged to keep the glasses up, our drive for several +miles was objectless and dreary. When we had ascended a hill, leaving +Kilbride on the left, we passed under the walls of an ancient tower. +What delightful ideas are associated with the sight of such venerable +remains of antiquity! + +Leaving that lofty relic of our warlike ancestors, we descended again +towards the shore. On the one side lay the Cumbra Islands, and Bute, +dear to departed royalty. Afar beyond them, in the hoary magnificence of +nature, rise the mountains of Argyllshire; the cairns, as my brother +says, of a former world. On the other side of the road, we saw the +cloistered ruins of the religious house of Southenan, a nunnery in those +days of romantic adventure, when to live was to enjoy a poetical element. +In such a sweet sequestered retreat, how much more pleasing to the soul +it would have been, for you and I, like two captive birds in one cage, to +have sung away our hours in innocence, than for me to be thus torn from +you by fate, and all on account of that mercenary legacy, perchance the +spoils of some unfortunate Hindoo Rajah! + +At Largs we halted to change horses, and saw the barrows of those who +fell in the great battle. We then continued our journey along the foot +of stupendous precipices; and high, sublime, and darkened with the shadow +of antiquity, we saw, upon its lofty station, the ancient Castle of +Skelmorlie, where the Montgomeries of other days held their gorgeous +banquets, and that brave knight who fell at Chevy-Chace came pricking +forth on his milk-white steed, as Sir Walter Scott would have described +him. But the age of chivalry is past, and the glory of Europe departed +for ever! + +When we crossed the stream that divides the counties of Ayr and Renfrew, +we beheld, in all the apart and consequentiality of pride, the house of +Kelly overlooking the social villas of Wemyss Bay. My brother compared +it to a sugar hogshead, and them to cotton-bags; for the lofty thane of +Kelly is but a West India planter, and the inhabitants of the villas on +the shore are Glasgow manufacturers. + +To this succeeded a dull drive of about two miles, and then at once we +entered the pretty village of Inverkip. A slight snow-shower had given +to the landscape a sort of copperplate effect, but still the forms of +things, though but sketched, as it were, with China ink, were calculated +to produce interesting impressions. After ascending, by a gentle +acclivity, into a picturesque and romantic pass, we entered a spacious +valley, and, in the course of little more than half an hour, reached this +town; the largest, the most populous, and the most superb that I have yet +seen. But what are all its warehouses, ships, and smell of tar, and +other odoriferous circumstances of fishery and the sea, compared with the +green swelling hills, the fragrant bean-fields, and the peaceful groves +of my native Garnock! + +The people of this town are a very busy and clever race, but much given +to litigation. My brother says, that they are the greatest benefactors +to the Outer House, and that their lawsuits are the most amusing and +profitable before the courts, being less for the purpose of determining +what is right than what is lawful. The chambermaid of the inn where we +lodge pointed out to me, on the opposite side of the street, a +magnificent edifice erected for balls; but the subscribers have resolved +not to allow any dancing till it is determined by the Court of Session to +whom the seats and chairs belong, as they were brought from another house +where the assemblies were formerly held. I have heard a lawsuit compared +to a country-dance, in which, after a great bustle and regular confusion, +the parties stand still, all tired, just on the spot where they began; +but this is the first time that the judges of the land have been called +on to decide when a dance may begin. + +We arrived too late for the steam-boat, and are obliged to wait till +Monday morning; but to-morrow we shall go to church, where I expect to +see what sort of creatures the beaux are. The Greenock ladies have a +great name for beauty, but those that I have seen are perfect frights. +Such of the gentlemen as I have observed passing the windows of the inn +may do, but I declare the ladies have nothing of which any woman ought to +be proud. Had we known that we ran a risk of not getting a steam-boat, +my mother would have provided an introductory letter or two from some of +her Irvine friends; but here we are almost entire strangers: my father, +however, is acquainted with one of the magistrates, and has gone to see +him. I hope he will be civil enough to ask us to his house, for an inn +is a shocking place to live in, and my mother is terrified at the +expense. My brother, however, has great confidence in our prospects, and +orders and directs with a high hand. But my paper is full, and I am +compelled to conclude with scarcely room to say how affectionately I am +yours, + + RACHEL PRINGLE. + + + +LETTER III + + + _The Rev. Dr. Pringle to Mr. Micklewham_, _Schoolmaster and + Session-Clerk_, _Garnock_ + EDINBURGH. + +DEAR SIR--We have got this length through many difficulties, both in the +travel by land to, and by sea and land from Greenock, where we were +obligated, by reason of no conveyance, to stop the Sabbath, but not +without edification; for we went to hear Dr. Drystour in the forenoon, +who had a most weighty sermon on the tenth chapter of Nehemiah. He is +surely a great orthodox divine, but rather costive in his delivery. In +the afternoon we heard a correct moral lecture on good works, in another +church, from Dr. Eastlight--a plain man, with a genteel congregation. +The same night we took supper with a wealthy family, where we had much +pleasant communion together, although the bringing in of the toddy-bowl +after supper is a fashion that has a tendency to lengthen the sederunt to +unseasonable hours. + +On the following morning, by the break of day, we took shipping in the +steam-boat for Glasgow. I had misgivings about the engine, which is +really a thing of great docility; but saving my concern for the boiler, +we all found the place surprising comfortable. The day was bleak and +cold; but we had a good fire in a carron grate in the middle of the +floor, and books to read, so that both body and mind are therein provided +for. + +Among the books, I fell in with a _History of the Rebellion_, anent the +hand that an English gentleman of the name of Waverley had in it. I was +grieved that I had not time to read it through, for it was wonderful +interesting, and far more particular, in many points, than any other +account of that affair I have yet met with; but it's no so friendly to +Protestant principles as I could have wished. However, if I get my +legacy well settled, I will buy the book, and lend it to you on my +return, please God, to the manse. + +We were put on shore at Glasgow by breakfast-time, and there we tarried +all day, as I had a power of attorney to get from Miss Jenny Macbride, my +cousin, to whom the colonel left the thousand pound legacy. Miss Jenny +thought the legacy should have been more, and made some obstacle to +signing the power; but both her lawyer and Andrew Pringle, my son, +convinced her, that, as it was specified in the testament, she could not +help it by standing out; so at long and last Miss Jenny was persuaded to +put her name to the paper. + +Next day we all four got into a fly coach, and, without damage or +detriment, reached this city in good time for dinner in Macgregor's +hotel, a remarkable decent inn, next door to one Mr. Blackwood, a civil +and discreet man in the bookselling line. + +Really the changes in Edinburgh since I was here, thirty years ago, are +not to be told. I am confounded; for although I have both heard and read +of the New Town in the _Edinburgh Advertiser_, and the _Scots Magazine_, +I had no notion of what has come to pass. It's surprising to think +wherein the decay of the nation is; for at Greenock I saw nothing but +shipping and building; at Glasgow, streets spreading as if they were one +of the branches of cotton-spinning; and here, the houses grown up as if +they were sown in the seed-time with the corn, by a drill-machine, or +dibbled in rigs and furrows like beans and potatoes. + +To-morrow, God willing, we embark in a smack at Leith, so that you will +not hear from me again till it please Him to take us in the hollow of His +hand to London. In the meantime, I have only to add, that, when the +Session meets, I wish you would speak to the elders, particularly to Mr. +Craig, no to be overly hard on that poor donsie thing, Meg Milliken, +about her bairn; and tell Tam Glen, the father o't, from me, that it +would have been a sore heart to that pious woman, his mother, had she +been living, to have witnessed such a thing; and therefore I hope and +trust, he will yet confess a fault, and own Meg for his wife, though she +is but something of a tawpie. However, you need not diminish her to Tam. +I hope Mr. Snodgrass will give as much satisfaction to the parish as can +reasonably be expected in my absence; and I remain, dear sir, your friend +and pastor, + + ZACHARIAH PRINGLE. + +Mr. Micklewham received the Doctor's letter about an hour before the +Session met on the case of Tam Glen and Meg Milliken, and took it with +him to the session-house, to read it to the elders before going into the +investigation. Such a long and particular letter from the Doctor was, as +they all justly remarked, kind and dutiful to his people, and a great +pleasure to them. + +Mr. Daff observed, "Truly the Doctor's a vera funny man, and wonderfu' +jocose about the toddy-bowl." But Mr. Craig said, that "sic a thing on +the Lord's night gi'es me no pleasure; and I am for setting my face +against Waverley's _History of the Rebellion_, whilk I hae heard spoken +of among the ungodly, both at Kilwinning and Dalry; and if it has no +respect to Protestant principles, I doubt it's but another dose o' the +radical poison in a new guise." Mr. Icenor, however, thought that "the +observe on the great Doctor Drystour was very edifying; and that they +should see about getting him to help at the summer Occasion." {1} + +While they were thus reviewing, in their way, the first epistle of the +Doctor, the betherel came in to say that Meg and Tam were at the door. +"Oh, man," said Mr. Daff, slyly, "ye shouldna hae left them at the door +by themselves." Mr. Craig looked at him austerely, and muttered +something about the growing immorality of this backsliding age; but +before the smoke of his indignation had kindled into eloquence, the +delinquents were admitted. However, as we have nothing to do with the +business, we shall leave them to their own deliberations. + + + + +CHAPTER II--THE VOYAGE + + +On the fourteenth day after the departure of the family from the manse, +the Rev. Mr. Charles Snodgrass, who was appointed to officiate during the +absence of the Doctor, received the following letter from his old chum, +Mr. Andrew Pringle. It would appear that the young advocate is not so +solid in the head as some of his elder brethren at the Bar; and therefore +many of his flights and observations must be taken with an allowance on +the score of his youth. + + + +LETTER IV + + + _Andrew Pringle_, _Esq._, _Advocate_, _to the Rev. Charles Snodgrass_ + LONDON. + +MY DEAR FRIEND--We have at last reached London, after a stormy passage of +seven days. The accommodation in the smacks looks extremely inviting in +port, and in fine weather, I doubt not, is comfortable, even at sea; but +in February, and in such visitations of the powers of the air as we have +endured, a balloon must be a far better vehicle than all the vessels that +have been constructed for passengers since the time of Noah. In the +first place, the waves of the atmosphere cannot be so dangerous as those +of the ocean, being but "thin air"; and I am sure they are not so +disagreeable; then the speed of the balloon is so much greater,--and it +would puzzle Professor Leslie to demonstrate that its motions are more +unsteady; besides, who ever heard of sea-sickness in a balloon? the +consideration of which alone would, to any reasonable person actually +suffering under the pains of that calamity, be deemed more than an +equivalent for all the little fractional difference of danger between the +two modes of travelling. I shall henceforth regard it as a fine +characteristic trait of our national prudence, that, in their journies to +France and Flanders, the Scottish witches always went by air on +broom-sticks and benweeds, instead of venturing by water in sieves, like +those of England. But the English are under the influence of a maritime +genius. + +When we had got as far up the Thames as Gravesend, the wind and tide came +against us, so that the vessel was obliged to anchor, and I availed +myself of the circumstance, to induce the family to disembark and go to +London by LAND; and I esteem it a fortunate circumstance that we did so, +the day, for the season, being uncommonly fine. After we had taken some +refreshment, I procured places in a stage-coach for my mother and sister, +and, with the Doctor, mounted myself on the outside. My father's +old-fashioned notions boggled a little at first to this arrangement, +which he thought somewhat derogatory to his ministerial dignity; but his +scruples were in the end overruled. + +The country in this season is, of course, seen to disadvantage, but still +it exhibits beauty enough to convince us what England must be when in +leaf. The old gentleman's admiration of the increasing signs of what he +called civilisation, as we approached London, became quite eloquent; but +the first view of the city from Blackheath (which, by the bye, is a fine +common, surrounded with villas and handsome houses) overpowered his +faculties, and I shall never forget the impression it made on myself. +The sun was declined towards the horizon; vast masses of dark low-hung +clouds were mingled with the smoky canopy, and the dome of St. Paul's, +like the enormous idol of some terrible deity, throned amidst the smoke +of sacrifices and magnificence, darkness, and mystery, presented +altogether an object of vast sublimity. I felt touched with reverence, +as if I was indeed approaching the city of THE HUMAN POWERS. + +The distant view of Edinburgh is picturesque and romantic, but it affects +a lower class of our associations. It is, compared to that of London, +what the poem of the _Seasons_ is with respect to _Paradise Lost_--the +castellated descriptions of Walter Scott to the _Darkness_ of Byron--the +_Sabbath_ of Grahame to the _Robbers_ of Schiller. In the approach to +Edinburgh, leisure and cheerfulness are on the road; large spaces of +rural and pastoral nature are spread openly around, and mountains, and +seas, and headlands, and vessels passing beyond them, going like those +that die, we know not whither, while the sun is bright on their sails, +and hope with them; but, in coming to this Babylon, there is an eager +haste and a hurrying on from all quarters, towards that stupendous pile +of gloom, through which no eye can penetrate; an unceasing sound, like +the enginery of an earthquake at work, rolls from the heart of that +profound and indefinable obscurity--sometimes a faint and yellow beam of +the sun strikes here and there on the vast expanse of edifices; and +churches, and holy asylums, are dimly seen lifting up their countless +steeples and spires, like so many lightning rods to avert the wrath of +Heaven. + +The entrance to Edinburgh also awakens feelings of a more pleasing +character. The rugged veteran aspect of the Old Town is agreeably +contrasted with the bright smooth forehead of the New, and there is not +such an overwhelming torrent of animal life, as to make you pause before +venturing to stem it; the noises are not so deafening, and the occasional +sound of a ballad-singer, or a Highland piper, varies and enriches the +discords; but here, a multitudinous assemblage of harsh alarms, of +selfish contentions, and of furious carriages, driven by a fierce and +insolent race, shatter the very hearing, till you partake of the activity +with which all seem as much possessed as if a general apprehension +prevailed, that the great clock of Time would strike the doom-hour before +their tasks were done. But I must stop, for the postman with his bell, +like the betherel of some ancient "borough's town" summoning to a burial, +is in the street, and warns me to conclude.--Yours, + + ANDREW PRINGLE. + + + +LETTER V + + + _The Rev. Dr. Pringle to Mr. Micklewham_, _Schoolmaster and + Session-Clerk_, _Garnock_ + LONDON, 49 NORFOLK STREET, STRAND. + +DEAR SIR--On the first Sunday forthcoming after the receiving hereof, you +will not fail to recollect in the remembering prayer, that we return +thanks for our safe arrival in London, after a dangerous voyage. Well, +indeed, is it ordained that we should pray for those who go down to the +sea in ships, and do business on the great deep; for what me and mine +have come through is unspeakable, and the hand of Providence was visibly +manifested. + +On the day of our embarkation at Leith, a fair wind took us onward at a +blithe rate for some time; but in the course of that night the bridle of +the tempest was slackened, and the curb of the billows loosened, and the +ship reeled to and fro like a drunken man, and no one could stand +therein. My wife and daughter lay at the point of death; Andrew Pringle, +my son, also was prostrated with the grievous affliction; and the very +soul within me was as if it would have been cast out of the body. + +On the following day the storm abated, and the wind blew favourable; but +towards the heel of the evening it again came vehement, and there was no +help unto our distress. About midnight, however, it pleased HIM, whose +breath is the tempest, to be more sparing with the whip of His +displeasure on our poor bark, as she hirpled on in her toilsome journey +through the waters; and I was enabled, through His strength, to lift my +head from the pillow of sickness, and ascend the deck, where I thought of +Noah looking out of the window in the ark, upon the face of the desolate +flood, and of Peter walking on the sea; and I said to myself, it matters +not where we are, for we can be in no place where Jehovah is not there +likewise, whether it be on the waves of the ocean, or the mountain tops, +or in the valley and shadow of death. + +The third day the wind came contrary, and in the fourth, and the fifth, +and the sixth, we were also sorely buffeted; but on the night of the +sixth we entered the mouth of the river Thames, and on the morning of the +seventh day of our departure, we cast anchor near a town called +Gravesend, where, to our exceeding great joy, it pleased Him, in whom +alone there is salvation, to allow us once more to put our foot on the +dry land. + +When we had partaken of a repast, the first blessed with the blessing of +an appetite, from the day of our leaving our native land, we got two +vacancies in a stage-coach for my wife and daughter; but with Andrew +Pringle, my son, I was obligated to mount aloft on the outside. I had +some scruple of conscience about this, for I was afraid of my decorum. I +met, however, with nothing but the height of discretion from the other +outside passengers, although I jealoused that one of them was a light +woman. Really I had no notion that the English were so civilised; they +were so well bred, and the very duddiest of them spoke such a fine style +of language, that when I looked around on the country, I thought myself +in the land of Canaan. But it's extraordinary what a power of drink the +coachmen drink, stopping and going into every change-house, and yet +behaving themselves with the greatest sobriety. And then they are all so +well dressed, which is no doubt owing to the poor rates. I am thinking, +however, that for all they cry against them, the poor rates are but a +small evil, since they keep the poor folk in such food and raiment, and +out of the temptations to thievery; indeed, such a thing as a common +beggar is not to be seen in this land, excepting here and there a sorner +or a ne'er-do-weel. + +When we had got to the outskirts of London, I began to be ashamed of the +sin of high places, and would gladly have got into the inside of the +coach, for fear of anybody knowing me; but although the multitude of +by-goers was like the kirk scailing at the Sacrament, I saw not a kent +face, nor one that took the least notice of my situation. At last we got +to an inn, called _The White Horse_, Fetter-Lane, where we hired a +hackney to take us to the lodgings provided for us here in Norfolk +Street, by Mr. Pawkie, the Scotch solicitor, a friend of Andrew Pringle, +my son. Now it was that we began to experience the sharpers of London; +for it seems that there are divers Norfolk Streets. Ours was in the +Strand (mind that when you direct), not very far from Fetter-Lane; but +the hackney driver took us away to one afar off, and when we knocked at +the number we thought was ours, we found ourselves at a house that should +not be told. I was so mortified, that I did not know what to say; and +when Andrew Pringle, my son, rebuked the man for the mistake, he only +gave a cunning laugh, and said we should have told him whatna Norfolk +Street we wanted. Andrew stormed at this--but I discerned it was all +owing to our own inexperience, and put an end to the contention, by +telling the man to take us to Norfolk Street in the Strand, which was the +direction we had got. But when we got to the door, the coachman was so +extortionate, that another hobbleshaw arose. Mrs. Pringle had been told +that, in such disputes, the best way of getting redress was to take the +number of the coach; but, in trying to do so, we found it fastened on, +and I thought the hackneyman would have gone by himself with laughter. +Andrew, who had not observed what we were doing, when he saw us trying to +take off the number, went like one demented, and paid the man, I cannot +tell what, to get us out, and into the house, for fear we should have +been mobbit. + +I have not yet seen the colonel's agents, so can say nothing as to the +business of our coming; for, landing at Gravesend, we did not bring our +trunks with us, and Andrew has gone to the wharf this morning to get +them, and, until we get them, we can go nowhere, which is the occasion of +my writing so soon, knowing also how you and the whole parish would be +anxious to hear what had become of us; and I remain, dear sir, your +friend and pastor, + + ZACHARIAH PRINGLE. + +On Saturday evening, Saunders Dickie, the Irvine postman, suspecting that +this letter was from the Doctor, went with it himself, on his own feet, +to Mr. Micklewham, although the distance is more than two miles, but +Saunders, in addition to the customary _twal pennies_ on the postage, had +a dram for his pains. The next morning being wet, Mr. Micklewham had not +an opportunity of telling any of the parishioners in the churchyard of +the Doctor's safe arrival, so that when he read out the request to return +thanks (for he was not only school-master and session-clerk, but also +precentor), there was a murmur of pleasure diffused throughout the +congregation, and the greatest curiosity was excited to know what the +dangers were, from which their worthy pastor and his whole family had so +thankfully escaped in their voyage to London; so that, when the service +was over, the elders adjourned to the session-house to hear the letter +read; and many of the heads of families, and other respectable +parishioners, were admitted to the honours of the sitting, who all +sympathised, with the greatest sincerity, in the sufferings which their +minister and his family had endured. Mr. Daff, however, was justly +chided by Mr. Craig, for rubbing his hands, and giving a sort of +sniggering laugh, at the Doctor's sitting on high with a light woman. +But even Mr. Snodgrass was seen to smile at the incident of taking the +number off the coach, the meaning of which none but himself seemed to +understand. + +When the epistle had been thus duly read, Mr. Micklewham promised, for +the satisfaction of some of the congregation, that he would get two or +three copies made by the best writers in his school, to be handed about +the parish, and Mr. Icenor remarked, that truly it was a thing to be held +in remembrance, for he had not heard of greater tribulation by the waters +since the shipwreck of the Apostle Paul. + + + + +CHAPTER III--THE LEGACY + + +Soon after the receipt of the letters which we had the pleasure of +communicating in the foregoing chapter, the following was received from +Mrs. Pringle, and the intelligence it contains is so interesting and +important, that we hasten to lay it before our readers:-- + + + +LETTER VI + + + _Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn_ + LONDON. + +MY DEAR MISS MALLY--You must not expect no particulars from me of our +journey; but as Rachel is writing all the calamities that befell us to +Bell Tod, you will, no doubt, hear of them. But all is nothing to my +losses. I bought from the first hand, Mr. Treddles the manufacturer, two +pieces of muslin, at Glasgow, such a thing not being to be had on any +reasonable terms here, where they get all their fine muslins from Glasgow +and Paisley; and in the same bocks with them I packit a small crock of +our ain excellent poudered butter, with a delap cheese, for I was told +that such commodities are not to be had genuine in London. I likewise +had in it a pot of marmlet, which Miss Jenny Macbride gave me at Glasgow, +assuring me that it was not only dentice, but a curiosity among the +English, and my best new bumbeseen goun in peper. Howsomever, in the +nailing of the bocks, which I did carefully with my oun hands, one of the +nails gaed in ajee, and broke the pot of marmlet, which, by the jolting +of the ship, ruined the muslin, rottened the peper round the goun, which +the shivers cut into more than twenty great holes. Over and above all, +the crock with the butter was, no one can tell how, crackit, and the +pickle lecking out, and mixing with the seerip of the marmlet, spoilt the +cheese. In short, at the object I beheld, when the bocks was opened, I +could have ta'en to the greeting; but I behaved with more composity on +the occasion, than the Doctor thought it was in the power of nature to +do. Howsomever, till I get a new goun and other things, I am obliged to +be a prisoner; and as the Doctor does not like to go to the +counting-house of the agents without me, I know not what is yet to be the +consequence of our journey. But it would need to be something; for we +pay four guineas and a half a week for our dry lodgings, which is at a +degree more than the Doctor's whole stipend. As yet, for the cause of +these misfortunes, I can give you no account of London; but there is, as +everybody kens, little thrift in their housekeeping. We just buy our tea +by the quarter a pound, and our loaf sugar, broken in a peper bag, by the +pound, which would be a disgrace to a decent family in Scotland; and when +we order dinner, we get no more than just serves, so that we have no cold +meat if a stranger were coming by chance, which makes an unco bare house. +The servan lasses I cannot abide; they dress better at their wark than +ever I did on an ordinaire week-day at the manse; and this very morning I +saw madam, the kitchen lass, mounted on a pair of pattens, washing the +plain stenes before the door; na, for that matter, a bare foot is not to +be seen within the four walls of London, at the least I have na seen no +such thing. + +In the way of marketing, things are very good here, and considering, not +dear; but all is sold by the licht weight, only the fish are awful; half +a guinea for a cod's head, and no bigger than the drouds the cadgers +bring from Ayr, at a shilling and eighteenpence apiece. + +Tell Miss Nanny Eydent that I have seen none of the fashions as yet; but +we are going to the burial of the auld king next week, and I'll write her +a particular account how the leddies are dressed; but everybody is in +deep mourning. Howsomever I have seen but little, and that only in a +manner from the window; but I could not miss the opportunity of a frank +that Andrew has got, and as he's waiting for the pen, you must excuse +haste. From your sincere friend, + + JANET PRINGLE. + + + +LETTER VII + + + _Andrew Pringle_, _Esq._, _to the Rev. Charles Snodgrass_ + LONDON. + +MY DEAR FRIEND--It will give you pleasure to hear that my father is +likely to get his business speedily settled without any equivocation; and +that all those prudential considerations which brought us to London were +but the phantasms of our own inexperience. I use the plural, for I +really share in the shame of having called in question the high character +of the agents: it ought to have been warrantry enough that everything +would be fairly adjusted. But I must give you some account of what has +taken place, to illustrate our provincialism, and to give you some idea +of the way of doing business in London. + +After having recovered from the effects, and repaired some of the +accidents of our voyage, we yesterday morning sallied forth, the Doctor, +my mother, and your humble servant, in a hackney coach, to Broad Street, +where the agents have their counting-house, and were ushered into a room +among other legatees or clients, waiting for an audience of Mr. Argent, +the principal of the house. + +I know not how it is, that the little personal peculiarities, so amusing +to strangers, should be painful when we see them in those whom we love +and esteem; but I own to you, that there was a something in the demeanour +of the old folks on this occasion, that would have been exceedingly +diverting to me, had my filial reverence been less sincere for them. + +The establishment of Messrs. Argent and Company is of vast extent, and +has in it something even of a public magnitude; the number of the clerks, +the assiduity of all, and the order that obviously prevails throughout, +give at the first sight, an impression that bespeaks respect for the +stability and integrity of the concern. When we had been seated about +ten minutes, and my father's name taken to Mr. Argent, an answer was +brought, that he would see us as soon as possible; but we were obliged to +wait at least half an hour more. Upon our being at last admitted, Mr. +Argent received us standing, and in an easy gentlemanly manner said to my +father, "You are the residuary legatee of the late Colonel Armour. I am +sorry that you did not apprise me of this visit, that I might have been +prepared to give the information you naturally desire; but if you will +call here to-morrow at 12 o'clock, I shall then be able to satisfy you on +the subject. Your lady, I presume?" he added, turning to my mother; +"Mrs. Argent will have the honour of waiting on you; may I therefore beg +the favour of your address?" Fortunately I was provided with cards, and +having given him one, we found ourselves constrained, as it were, to take +our leave. The whole interview did not last two minutes, and I never was +less satisfied with myself. The Doctor and my mother were in the +greatest anguish; and when we were again seated in the coach, loudly +expressed their apprehensions. They were convinced that some stratagem +was meditated; they feared that their journey to London would prove as +little satisfactory as that of the Wrongheads, and that they had been +throwing away good money in building castles in the air. + +It had been previously arranged, that we were to return for my sister, +and afterwards visit some of the sights; but the clouded visages of her +father and mother darkened the very spirit of Rachel, and she largely +shared in their fears. This, however, was not the gravest part of the +business; for, instead of going to St. Paul's and the Tower, as we had +intended, my mother declared, that not one farthing would they spend more +till they were satisfied that the expenses already incurred were likely +to be reimbursed; and a Chancery suit, with all the horrors of wig and +gown, floated in spectral haziness before their imagination. + +We sat down to a frugal meal, and although the remainder of a bottle of +wine, saved from the preceding day, hardly afforded a glass apiece, the +Doctor absolutely prohibited me from opening another. + +This morning, faithful to the hour, we were again in Broad Street, with +hearts knit up into the most peremptory courage; and, on being announced, +were immediately admitted to Mr. Argent. He received us with the same +ease as in the first interview, and, after requesting us to be seated +(which, by the way, he did not do yesterday, a circumstance that was +ominously remarked), he began to talk on indifferent matters. I could +see that a question, big with law and fortune, was gathering in the +breasts both of the Doctor and my mother, and that they were in a state +far from that of the blessed. But one of the clerks, before they had +time to express their indignant suspicions, entered with a paper, and Mr. +Argent, having glanced it over, said to the Doctor--"I congratulate you, +sir, on the amount of the colonel's fortune. I was not indeed aware +before that he had died so rich. He has left about 120,000 pounds; +seventy-five thousand of which is in the five per cents; the remainder in +India bonds and other securities. The legacies appear to be +inconsiderable, so that the residue to you, after paying them and the +expenses of Doctors' Commons, will exceed a hundred thousand pounds." + +My father turned his eyes upwards in thankfulness. "But," continued Mr. +Argent, "before the property can be transferred, it will be necessary for +you to provide about four thousand pounds to pay the duty and other +requisite expenses." This was a thunderclap. "Where can I get such a +sum?" exclaimed my father, in a tone of pathetic simplicity. Mr. Argent +smiled and said, "We shall manage that for you"; and having in the same +moment pulled a bell, a fine young man entered, whom he introduced to us +as his son, and desired him to explain what steps it was necessary for +the Doctor to take. We accordingly followed Mr. Charles Argent to his +own room. + +Thus, in less time than I have been in writing it, were we put in +possession of all the information we required, and found those whom we +feared might be interested to withhold the settlement, alert and prompt +to assist us. + +Mr. Charles Argent is naturally more familiar than his father. He has a +little dash of pleasantry in his manner, with a shrewd good-humoured +fashionable air, that renders him soon an agreeable acquaintance. He +entered with singular felicity at once into the character of the Doctor +and my mother, and waggishly drolled, as if he did not understand them, +in order, I could perceive, to draw out the simplicity of their +apprehensions. He quite won the old lady's economical heart, by offering +to frank her letters, for he is in Parliament. "You have probably," said +he slyly, "friends in the country, to whom you may be desirous of +communicating the result of your journey to London; send your letters to +me, and I will forward them, and any that you expect may also come under +cover to my address, for postage is very expensive." + +As we were taking our leave, after being fully instructed in all the +preliminary steps to be taken before the transfers of the funded property +can be made, he asked me, in a friendly manner, to dine with him this +evening, and I never accepted an invitation with more pleasure. I +consider his acquaintance a most agreeable acquisition, and not one of +the least of those advantages which this new opulence has put it in my +power to attain. The incidents, indeed, of this day, have been all +highly gratifying, and the new and brighter phase in which I have seen +the mercantile character, as it is connected with the greatness and glory +of my country--is in itself equivalent to an accession of useful +knowledge. I can no longer wonder at the vast power which the British +Government wielded during the late war, when I reflect that the method +and promptitude of the house of Messrs. Argent and Company is common to +all the great commercial concerns from which the statesmen derived, as +from so many reservoirs, those immense pecuniary supplies, which enabled +them to beggar all the resources of a political despotism, the most +unbounded, both in power and principle, of any tyranny that ever existed +so long.--Yours, etc., + + ANDREW PRINGLE. + + + + +CHAPTER IV--THE TOWN + + +There was a great tea-drinking held in the Kirkgate of Irvine, at the +house of Miss Mally Glencairn; and at that assemblage of rank, beauty, +and fashion, among other delicacies of the season, several new-come-home +Clyde skippers, roaring from Greenock and Port-Glasgow, were served +up--but nothing contributed more to the entertainment of the evening than +a proposal, on the part of Miss Mally, that those present who had +received letters from the Pringles should read them for the benefit of +the company. This was, no doubt, a preconcerted scheme between her and +Miss Isabella Tod, to hear what Mr. Andrew Pringle had said to his friend +Mr. Snodgrass, and likewise what the Doctor himself had indited to Mr. +Micklewham; some rumour having spread of the wonderful escapes and +adventures of the family in their journey and voyage to London. Had +there not been some prethought of this kind, it was not indeed probable, +that both the helper and session-clerk of Garnock could have been there +together, in a party, where it was an understood thing, that not only +Whist and Catch Honours were to be played, but even obstreperous Birky +itself, for the diversion of such of the company as were not used to +gambling games. It was in consequence of what took place at this Irvine +route, that we were originally led to think of collecting the letters. + + + +LETTER VIII + + + _Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod_ + LONDON. + +MY DEAR BELL--It was my heartfelt intention to keep a regular journal of +all our proceedings, from the sad day on which I bade a long adieu to my +native shades--and I persevered with a constancy becoming our dear and +youthful friendship, in writing down everything that I saw, either rare +or beautiful, till the hour of our departure from Leith. In that +faithful register of my feelings and reflections as a traveller, I +described our embarkation at Greenock, on board the steam-boat,--our +sailing past Port-Glasgow, an insignificant town, with a steeple;--the +stupendous rock of Dumbarton Castle, that Gibraltar of antiquity;--our +landing at Glasgow;--my astonishment at the magnificence of that opulent +metropolis of the muslin manufacturers; my brother's remark, that the +punch-bowls on the roofs of the Infirmary, the Museum, and the Trades +Hall, were emblematic of the universal estimation in which that +celebrated mixture is held by all ranks and degrees--learned, commercial, +and even medical, of the inhabitants;--our arrival at Edinburgh--my +emotion on beholding the Castle, and the visionary lake which may be +nightly seen from the windows of Princes Street, between the Old and New +Town, reflecting the lights of the lofty city beyond--with a thousand +other delightful and romantic circumstances, which render it no longer +surprising that the Edinburgh folk should be, as they think themselves, +the most accomplished people in the world. But, alas! from the moment I +placed my foot on board that cruel vessel, of which the very idea is +anguish, all thoughts were swallowed up in suffering-swallowed, did I +say? Ah, my dear Bell, it was the odious reverse--but imagination alone +can do justice to the subject. Not, however, to dwell on what is past, +during the whole time of our passage from Leith, I was unable to think, +far less to write; and, although there was a handsome young Hussar +officer also a passenger, I could not even listen to the elegant +compliments which he seemed disposed to offer by way of consolation, when +he had got the better of his own sickness. Neither love nor valour can +withstand the influence of that sea-demon. The interruption thus +occasioned to my observations made me destroy my journal, and I have now +to write to you only about London--only about London! What an expression +for this human universe, as my brother calls it, as if my weak feminine +pen were equal to the stupendous theme! + +But, before entering on the subject, let me first satisfy the anxiety of +your faithful bosom with respect to my father's legacy. All the +accounts, I am happy to tell you, are likely to be amicably settled; but +the exact amount is not known as yet, only I can see, by my brother's +manner, that it is not less than we expected, and my mother speaks about +sending me to a boarding-school to learn accomplishments. Nothing, +however, is to be done until something is actually in hand. But what +does it all avail to me? Here am I, a solitary being in the midst of +this wilderness of mankind, far from your sympathising affection, with +the dismal prospect before me of going a second time to school, and +without the prospect of enjoying, with my own sweet companions, that +light and bounding gaiety we were wont to share, in skipping from tomb to +tomb in the breezy churchyard of Irvine, like butterflies in spring +flying from flower to flower, as a Wordsworth or a Wilson would express +it. + +We have got elegant lodgings at present in Norfolk Street, but my brother +is trying, with all his address, to get us removed to a more fashionable +part of the town, which, if the accounts were once settled, I think will +take place; and he proposes to hire a carriage for a whole month. +Indeed, he has given hints about the saving that might be made by buying +one of our own; but my mother shakes her head, and says, "Andrew, dinna +be carri't." From all which it is very plain, though they don't allow me +to know their secrets, that the legacy is worth the coming for. But to +return to the lodgings;--we have what is called a first and second floor, +a drawing-room, and three handsome bedchambers. The drawing-room is very +elegant; and the carpet is the exact same pattern of the one in the +dress-drawing-room of Eglintoun Castle. Our landlady is indeed a lady, +and I am surprised how she should think of letting lodgings, for she +dresses better, and wears finer lace, than ever I saw in Irvine. But I +am interrupted.-- + +I now resume my pen. We have just had a call from Mrs. and Miss Argent, +the wife and daughter of the colonel's man of business. They seem great +people, and came in their own chariot, with two grand footmen behind; but +they are pleasant and easy, and the object of their visit was to invite +us to a family dinner to-morrow, Sunday. I hope we may become better +acquainted; but the two livery servants make such a difference in our +degrees, that I fear this is a vain expectation. Miss Argent was, +however, very frank, and told me that she was herself only just come to +London for the first time since she was a child, having been for the last +seven years at a school in the country. I shall, however, be better able +to say more about her in my next letter. Do not, however, be afraid that +she shall ever supplant you in my heart. No, my dear friend, companion +of my days of innocence,--that can never be. But this call from such +persons of fashion looks as if the legacy had given us some +consideration; so that I think my father and mother may as well let me +know at once what my prospects are, that I might show you how +disinterestedly and truly I am, my dear Bell, yours, + + RACHEL PRINGLE. + +When Miss Isabella Tod had read the letter, there was a solemn pause for +some time--all present knew something, more or less, of the fair writer; +but a carriage, a carpet like the best at Eglintoun, a Hussar officer, +and two footmen in livery, were phantoms of such high import, that no one +could distinctly express the feelings with which the intelligence +affected them. It was, however, unanimously agreed, that the Doctor's +legacy had every symptom of being equal to what it was at first expected +to be, namely, twenty thousand pounds;--a sum which, by some occult or +recondite moral influence of the Lottery, is the common maximum, in +popular estimation, of any extraordinary and indefinite windfall of +fortune. Miss Becky Glibbans, from the purest motives of charity, +devoutly wished that poor Rachel might be able to carry her full cup with +a steady hand; and the Rev. Mr. Snodgrass, that so commendable an +expression might not lose its edifying effect by any lighter talk, +requested Mr. Micklewham to read his letter from the Doctor. + + + +LETTER IX + + + _The Rev. Z. Pringle_, _D.D._, _to Mr. Micklewham_, _Schoolmaster and + Session-Clerk of Garnock_ + LONDON. + +DEAR SIR--I have written by the post that will take this to hand, a +letter to Banker M---y, at Irvine, concerning some small matters of money +that I may stand in need of his opinion anent; and as there is a prospect +now of a settlement of the legacy business, I wish you to take a step +over to the banker, and he will give you ten pounds, which you will +administer to the poor, by putting a twenty-shilling note in the plate on +Sunday, as a public testimony from me of thankfulness for the hope that +is before us; the other nine pounds you will quietly, and in your own +canny way, divide after the following manner, letting none of the +partakers thereof know from what other hand than the Lord's the help +comes, for, indeed, from whom but HIS does any good befall us! + +You will give to auld Mizy Eccles ten shillings. She's a careful +creature, and it will go as far with her thrift as twenty will do with +Effy Hopkirk; so you will give Effy twenty. Mrs. Binnacle, who lost her +husband, the sailor, last winter, is, I am sure, with her two sickly +bairns, very ill off; I would therefore like if you will lend her a note, +and ye may put half-a-crown in the hand of each of the poor weans for a +playock, for she's a proud spirit, and will bear much before she +complain. Thomas Dowy has been long unable to do a turn of work, so you +may give him a note too. I promised that donsie body, Willy Shachle, the +betherel, that when I got my legacy, he should get a guinea, which would +be more to him than if the colonel had died at home, and he had had the +howking of his grave; you may therefore, in the meantime, give Willy a +crown, and be sure to warn him well no to get fou with it, for I'll be +very angry if he does. But what in this matter will need all your skill, +is the giving of the remaining five pounds to auld Miss Betty Peerie; +being a gentlewoman both by blood and education, she's a very slimmer +affair to handle in a doing of this kind. But I am persuaded she's in as +great necessity as many that seem far poorer, especially since the muslin +flowering has gone so down. Her bits of brats are sairly worn, though +she keeps out an apparition of gentility. Now, for all this trouble, I +will give you an account of what we have been doing since my last. + +When we had gotten ourselves made up in order, we went, with Andrew +Pringle, my son, to the counting-house, and had a satisfactory vista of +the residue; but it will be some time before things can be +settled--indeed, I fear, not for months to come--so that I have been +thinking, if the parish was pleased with Mr. Snodgrass, it might be my +duty to my people to give up to him my stipend, and let him be appointed +not only helper, but successor likewise. It would not be right of me to +give the manse, both because he's a young and inexperienced man, and +cannot, in the course of nature, have got into the way of visiting the +sick-beds of the frail, which is the main part of a pastor's duty, and +likewise, because I wish to die, as I have lived, among my people. But, +when all's settled, I will know better what to do. + +When we had got an inkling from Mr. Argent of what the colonel has +left,--and I do assure you, that money is not to be got, even in the way +of legacy, without anxiety,--Mrs. Pringle and I consulted together, and +resolved, that it was our first duty, as a token of our gratitude to the +Giver of all Good, to make our first outlay to the poor. So, without +saying a word either to Rachel, or to Andrew Pringle, my son, knowing +that there was a daily worship in the Church of England, we slipped out +of the house by ourselves, and, hiring a hackney conveyance, told the +driver thereof to drive us to the high church of St. Paul's. This was +out of no respect to the pomp and pride of prelacy, but to Him before +whom both pope and presbyter are equal, as they are seen through the +merits of Christ Jesus. We had taken a gold guinea in our hand, but +there was no broad at the door; and, instead of a venerable elder, +lending sanctity to his office by reason of his age, such as we see in +the effectual institutions of our own national church--the door was kept +by a young man, much more like a writer's whipper-snapper-clerk, than one +qualified to fill that station, which good King David would have +preferred to dwelling in tents of sin. However, we were not come to spy +the nakedness of the land, so we went up the outside stairs, and I asked +at him for the plate; "Plate!" says he; "why, it's on the altar!" I +should have known this--the custom of old being to lay the offerings on +the altar, but I had forgot; such is the force, you see, of habit, that +the Church of England is not so well reformed and purged as ours is from +the abominations of the leaven of idolatry. We were then stepping +forward, when he said to me, as sharply as if I was going to take an +advantage, "You must pay here." "Very well, wherever it is customary," +said I, in a meek manner, and gave him the guinea. Mrs. Pringle did the +same. "I cannot give you change," cried he, with as little decorum as if +we had been paying at a playhouse. "It makes no odds," said I; "keep it +all." Whereupon he was so converted by the mammon of iniquity, that he +could not be civil enough, he thought--but conducted us in, and showed us +the marble monuments, and the French colours that were taken in the war, +till the time of worship--nothing could surpass his discretion. + +At last the organ began to sound, and we went into the place of worship; +but oh, Mr. Micklewham, yon is a thin kirk. There was not a hearer forby +Mrs. Pringle and me, saving and excepting the relics of popery that +assisted at the service. What was said, I must, however, in verity +confess, was not far from the point. But it's still a comfort to see +that prelatical usurpations are on the downfall; no wonder that there is +no broad at the door to receive the collection for the poor, when no +congregation entereth in. You may, therefore, tell Mr. Craig, and it +will gladden his heart to hear the tidings, that the great Babylonian +madam is now, indeed, but a very little cutty. + +On our return home to our lodgings, we found Andrew Pringle, my son, and +Rachel, in great consternation about our absence. When we told them that +we had been at worship, I saw they were both deeply affected; and I was +pleased with my children, the more so, as you know I have had my doubts +that Andrew Pringle's principles have not been strengthened by the +reading of the _Edinburgh Review_. Nothing more passed at that time, for +we were disturbed by a Captain Sabre that came up with us in the smack, +calling to see how we were after our journey; and as he was a civil +well-bred young man, which I marvel at, considering he's a Hussar +dragoon, we took a coach, and went to see the lions, as he said; but, +instead of taking us to the Tower of London, as I expected, he ordered +the man to drive us round the town. In our way through the city he +showed us the Temple Bar, where Lord Kilmarnock's head was placed after +the Rebellion, and pointed out the Bank of England and Royal Exchange. +He said the steeple of the Exchange was taken down shortly ago--and that +the late improvements at the Bank were very grand. I remembered having +read in the _Edinburgh Advertiser_, some years past, that there was a +great deal said in Parliament about the state of the Exchange, and the +condition of the Bank, which I could never thoroughly understand. And, +no doubt, the taking own of an old building, and the building up of a new +one so near together, must, in such a crowded city as this, be not only a +great detriment to business, but dangerous to the community at large. + +After we had driven about for more than two hours, and neither seen lions +nor any other curiosity, but only the outside of houses, we returned +home, where we found a copperplate card left by Mr. Argent, the colonel's +agent, with the name of his private dwelling-house. Both me and Mrs. +Pringle were confounded at the sight of this thing, and could not but +think that it prognosticated no good; for we had seen the gentleman +himself in the forenoon. Andrew Pringle, my son, could give no +satisfactory reason for such an extraordinary manifestation of anxiety to +see us; so that, after sitting on thorns at our dinner, I thought that we +should see to the bottom of the business. Accordingly, a hackney was +summoned to the door, and me and Andrew Pringle, my son, got into it, and +told the man to drive to second in the street where Mr. Argent lived, and +which was the number of his house. The man got up, and away we went; +but, after he had driven an awful time, and stopping and inquiring at +different places, he said there was no such house as Second's in the +street; whereupon Andrew Pringle, my son, asked him what he meant, and +the man said that he supposed it was one Second's Hotel, or Coffee-house, +that we wanted. Now, only think of the craftiness of the ne'er-da-weel; +it was with some difficulty that I could get him to understand, that +second was just as good as number two; for Andrew Pringle, my son, would +not interfere, but lay back in the coach, and was like to split his sides +at my confabulating with the hackney man. At long and length we got to +the house, and were admitted to Mr. Argent, who was sitting by himself in +his library reading, with a plate of oranges, and two decanters with wine +before him. I explained to him, as well as I could, my surprise and +anxiety at seeing his card, at which he smiled, and said, it was merely a +sort of practice that had come into fashion of late years, and that, +although we had been at his counting-house in the morning, he considered +it requisite that he should call on his return from the city. I made the +best excuse I could for the mistake; and the servant having placed +glasses on the table, we were invited to take wine. But I was grieved to +think that so respectable a man should have had the bottles before him by +himself, the more especially as he said his wife and daughters had gone +to a party, and that he did not much like such sort of things. But for +all that, we found him a wonderful conversible man; and Andrew Pringle, +my son, having read all the new books put out at Edinburgh, could speak +with him on any subject. In the course of conversation they touched upon +politick economy, and Andrew Pringle, my son, in speaking about cash in +the Bank of England, told him what I had said concerning the alterations +of the Royal Exchange steeple, with which Mr. Argent seemed greatly +pleased, and jocosely proposed as a toast,--"May the country never suffer +more from the alterations in the Exchange, than the taking down of the +steeple." But as Mrs. Pringle is wanting to send a bit line under the +same frank to her cousin, Miss Mally Glencairn, I must draw to a +conclusion, assuring you, that I am, dear sir, your sincere friend and +pastor, + + ZACHARIAH PRINGLE. + +The impression which this letter made on the auditors of Mr. Micklewham +was highly favourable to the Doctor--all bore testimony to his +benevolence and piety; and Mrs. Glibbans expressed, in very loquacious +terms, her satisfaction at the neglect to which prelacy was consigned. +The only person who seemed to be affected by other than the most sedate +feelings on the occasion was the Rev. Mr. Snodgrass, who was observed to +smile in a very unbecoming manner at some parts of the Doctor's account +of his reception at St. Paul's. Indeed, it was apparently with the +utmost difficulty that the young clergyman could restrain himself from +giving liberty to his risible faculties. It is really surprising how +differently the same thing affects different people. "The Doctor and +Mrs. Pringle giving a guinea at the door of St. Paul's for the poor need +not make folk laugh," said Mrs. Glibbans; "for is it not written, that +whosoever giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord?" "True, my dear +madam," replied Mr. Snodgrass, "but the Lord to whom our friends in this +case gave their money is the Lord Bishop of London; all the collection +made at the doors of St. Paul's Cathedral is, I understand, a perquisite +of the Bishop's." In this the reverend gentleman was not very correctly +informed, for, in the first place, it is not a collection, but an +exaction; and, in the second place, it is only sanctioned by the Bishop, +who allows the inferior clergy to share the gains among themselves. Mrs. +Glibbans, however, on hearing his explanation, exclaimed, "Gude be about +us!" and pushing back her chair with a bounce, streaking down her gown at +the same time with both her hands, added, "No wonder that a judgment is +upon the land, when we hear of money-changers in the temple." Miss Mally +Glencairn, to appease her gathering wrath and holy indignation, said +facetiously, "Na, na, Mrs. Glibbans, ye forget, there was nae changing of +money there. The man took the whole guineas. But not to make a +controversy on the subject, Mr. Snodgrass will now let us hear what +Andrew Pringle, 'my son,' has said to him":--And the reverend gentleman +read the following letter with due circumspection, and in his best +manner:-- + + + +LETTER X + + + _Andrew Pringle_, _Esq._, _to the Reverend Charles Snodgrass_ + +MY DEAR FRIEND--I have heard it alleged, as the observation of a great +traveller, that the manners of the higher classes of society throughout +Christendom are so much alike, that national peculiarities among them are +scarcely perceptible. This is not correct; the differences between those +of London and Edinburgh are to me very striking. It is not that they +talk and perform the little etiquettes of social intercourse differently; +for, in these respects, they are apparently as similar as it is possible +for imitation to make them; but the difference to which I refer is an +indescribable something, which can only be compared to peculiarities of +accent. They both speak the same language; perhaps in classical purity +of phraseology the fashionable Scotchman is even superior to the +Englishman; but there is a flatness of tone in his accent--a lack of what +the musicians call expression, which gives a local and provincial effect +to his conversation, however, in other respects, learned and intelligent. +It is so with his manners; he conducts himself with equal ease, +self-possession, and discernment, but the flavour of the metropolitan +style is wanting. + +I have been led to make these remarks by what I noticed in the guests +whom I met on Friday at young Argent's. It was a small party, only five +strangers; but they seemed to be all particular friends of our host, and +yet none of them appeared to be on any terms of intimacy with each other. +In Edinburgh, such a party would have been at first a little cold; each +of the guests would there have paused to estimate the characters of the +several strangers before committing himself with any topic of +conversation. But here, the circumstance of being brought together by a +mutual friend, produced at once the purest gentlemanly confidence; each, +as it were, took it for granted, that the persons whom he had come among +were men of education and good-breeding, and, without deeming it at all +necessary that he should know something of their respective political and +philosophical principles, before venturing to speak on such subjects, +discussed frankly, and as things unconnected with party feelings, +incidental occurrences which, in Edinburgh, would have been avoided as +calculated to awaken animosities. + +But the most remarkable feature of the company, small as it was, +consisted of the difference in the condition and character of the guests. +In Edinburgh the landlord, with the scrupulous care of a herald or +genealogist, would, for a party, previously unacquainted with each other, +have chosen his guests as nearly as possible from the same rank of life; +the London host had paid no respect to any such consideration--all the +strangers were as dissimilar in fortune, profession, connections, and +politics, as any four men in the class of gentlemen could well be. I +never spent a more delightful evening. + +The ablest, the most eloquent, and the most elegant man present, without +question, was the son of a saddler. No expense had been spared on his +education. His father, proud of his talents, had intended him for a seat +in Parliament; but Mr. T--- himself prefers the easy enjoyments of +private life, and has kept himself aloof from politics and parties. Were +I to form an estimate of his qualifications to excel in public speaking, +by the clearness and beautiful propriety of his colloquial language, I +should conclude that he was still destined to perform a distinguished +part. But he is content with the liberty of a private station, as a +spectator only, and, perhaps, in that he shows his wisdom; for +undoubtedly such men are not cordially received among hereditary +statesmen, unless they evince a certain suppleness of principle, such as +we have seen in the conduct of more than one political adventurer. + +The next in point of effect was young C--- G---. He evidently languished +under the influence of indisposition, which, while it added to the +natural gentleness of his manners, diminished the impression his +accomplishments would otherwise have made. I was greatly struck with the +modesty with which he offered his opinions, and could scarcely credit +that he was the same individual whose eloquence in Parliament is by many +compared even to Mr. Canning's, and whose firmness of principle is so +universally acknowledged, that no one ever suspects him of being liable +to change. You may have heard of his poem "On the Restoration of +Learning in the East," the most magnificent prize essay that the English +Universities have produced for many years. The passage in which he +describes the talents, the researches, and learning of Sir William Jones, +is worthy of the imagination of Burke; and yet, with all this oriental +splendour of fancy, he has the reputation of being a patient and +methodical man of business. He looks, however, much more like a poet or +a student, than an orator and a statesman; and were statesmen the sort of +personages which the spirit of the age attempts to represent them, I, for +one, should lament that a young man, possessed of so many amiable +qualities, all so tinted with the bright lights of a fine enthusiasm, +should ever have been removed from the moon-lighted groves and peaceful +cloisters of Magdalen College, to the lamp-smelling passages and factious +debates of St. Stephen's Chapel. Mr. G--- certainly belongs to that high +class of gifted men who, to the honour of the age, have redeemed the +literary character from the charge of unfitness for the concerns of +public business; and he has shown that talents for affairs of state, +connected with literary predilections, are not limited to mere reviewers, +as some of your old class-fellows would have the world to believe. When +I contrast the quiet unobtrusive development of Mr. G---'s character with +that bustling and obstreperous elbowing into notice of some of those to +whom the _Edinburgh Review_ owes half its fame, and compare the pure and +steady lustre of his elevation, to the rocket-like aberrations and +perturbed blaze of their still uncertain course, I cannot but think that +we have overrated, if not their ability, at least their wisdom in the +management of public affairs. + +The third of the party was a little Yorkshire baronet. He was formerly +in Parliament, but left it, as he says, on account of its irregularities, +and the bad hours it kept. He is a Whig, I understand, in politics, and +indeed one might guess as much by looking at him; for I have always +remarked, that your Whigs have something odd and particular about them. +On making the same sort of remark to Argent, who, by the way, is a high +ministerial man, he observed, the thing was not to be wondered at, +considering that the Whigs are exceptions to the generality of mankind, +which naturally accounts for their being always in the minority. Mr. +T---, the saddler's son, who overheard us, said slyly, "That it might be +so; but if it be true that the wise are few compared to the multitude of +the foolish, things would be better managed by the minority than as they +are at present." + +The fourth guest was a stock-broker, a shrewd compound, with all charity +be it spoken, of knavery and humour. He is by profession an epicure, but +I suspect his accomplishments in that capacity are not very well founded; +I would almost say, judging by the evident traces of craft and +dissimulation in his physiognomy, that they have been assumed as part of +the means of getting into good company, to drive the more earnest trade +of money-making. Argent evidently understood his true character, though +he treated him with jocular familiarity. I thought it a fine example of +the intellectual tact and superiority of T---, that he seemed to view him +with dislike and contempt. But I must not give you my reasons for so +thinking, as you set no value on my own particular philosophy; besides, +my paper tells me, that I have only room left to say, that it would be +difficult in Edinburgh to bring such a party together; and yet they +affect there to have a metropolitan character. In saying this, I mean +only with reference to manners; the methods of behaviour in each of the +company were precisely similar--there was no eccentricity, but only that +distinct and decided individuality which nature gives, and which no +acquired habits can change. Each, however, was the representative of a +class; and Edinburgh has no classes exactly of the same kind as those to +which they belonged.--Yours truly, + + ANDREW PRINGLE. + +Just as Mr. Snodgrass concluded the last sentence, one of the Clyde +skippers, who had fallen asleep, gave such an extravagant snore, followed +by a groan, that it set the whole company a-laughing, and interrupted the +critical strictures which would otherwise have been made on Mr. Andrew +Pringle's epistle. "Damn it," said he, "I thought myself in a fog, and +could not tell whether the land ahead was Plada or the Lady Isle." Some +of the company thought the observation not inapplicable to what they had +been hearing. + +Miss Isabella Tod then begged that Miss Mally, their hostess, would +favour the company with Mrs. Pringle's communication. To this request +that considerate maiden ornament of the Kirkgate deemed it necessary, by +way of preface to the letter, to say, "Ye a' ken that Mrs. Pringle's a +managing woman, and ye maunna expect any metaphysical philosophy from +her." In the meantime, having taken the letter from her pocket, and +placed her spectacles on that functionary of the face which was destined +to wear spectacles, she began as follows:-- + + + +LETTER XI + + + _Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn_ + +MY DEAR MISS MALLY--We have been at the counting-house, and gotten a sort +of a satisfaction; what the upshot may be, I canna take it upon myself to +prognosticate; but when the waur comes to the worst, I think that baith +Rachel and Andrew will have a nest egg, and the Doctor and me may sleep +sound on their account, if the nation doesna break, as the argle-barglers +in the House of Parliament have been threatening: for all the cornal's +fortune is sunk at present in the pesents. Howsomever, it's our notion, +when the legacies are paid off, to lift the money out of the funds, and +place it at good interest on hairetable securitie. But ye will hear +aften from us, before things come to that, for the delays, and the +goings, and the comings in this town of London are past all expreshon. + +As yet, we have been to see no fairlies, except going in a coach from one +part of the toun to another; but the Doctor and me was at the he-kirk of +Saint Paul's for a purpose that I need not tell you, as it was adoing +with the right hand what the left should not know. I couldna say that I +had there great pleasure, for the preacher was very cauldrife, and read +every word, and then there was such a beggary of popish prelacy, that it +was compassionate to a Christian to see. + +We are to dine at Mr. Argent's, the cornal's hadgint, on Sunday, and me +and Rachel have been getting something for the okasion. Our landlady, +Mrs. Sharkly, has recommended us to ane of the most fashionable +millinders in London, who keeps a grand shop in Cranburn Alla, and she +has brought us arteecles to look at; but I was surprised they were not +finer, for I thought them of a very inferior quality, which she said was +because they were not made for no costomer, but for the public. + +The Argents seem as if they would be discreet people, which, to us who +are here in the jaws of jeopardy, would be a great confort--for I am no +overly satisfeet with many things. What would ye think of buying coals +by the stimpert, for anything that I know, and then setting up the poker +afore the ribs, instead of blowing with the bellies to make the fire +burn? I was of a pinion that the Englishers were naturally masterful; +but I can ashure you this is no the case at all--and I am beginning to +think that the way of leeving from hand to mouth is great frugality, when +ye consider that all is left in the logive hands of uncercumseezed +servans. + +But what gives me the most concern at this time is one Captain Sabre of +the Dragoon Hozars, who come up in the smak with us from Leith, and is +looking more after our Rachel than I could wish, now that she might set +her cap to another sort of object. But he's of a respectit family, and +the young lad himself is no to be despisid; howsomever, I never likit +officir-men of any description, and yet the thing that makes me look down +on the captain is all owing to the cornal, who was an officer of the +native poors of India, where the pay must indeed have been extraordinar, +for who ever heard either of a cornal, or any officer whomsoever, making +a hundred thousand pounds in our regiments? no that I say the cornal has +left so meikle to us. + +Tell Mrs. Glibbans that I have not heard of no sound preacher as yet in +London--the want of which is no doubt the great cause of the crying sins +of the place. What would she think to hear of newspapers selling by tout +of horn on the Lord's day? and on the Sabbath night, the change-houses +are more throng than on the Saturday! I am told, but as yet I cannot say +that I have seen the evil myself with my own eyes, that in the summer +time there are tea-gardens, where the tradesmen go to smoke their pipes +of tobacco, and to entertain their wives and children, which can be +nothing less than a bringing of them to an untimely end. But you will be +surprised to hear, that no such thing as whusky is to be had in the +public-houses, where they drink only a dead sort of beer; and that a +bottle of true jennyinn London porter is rarely to be seen in the whole +town--all kinds of piple getting their porter in pewter cans, and a +laddie calls for in the morning to take away what has been yoused over +night. But what I most miss is the want of creem. The milk here is just +skimm, and I doot not, likewise well watered--as for the water, a drink +of clear wholesome good water is not within the bounds of London; and +truly, now may I say, that I have learnt what the blessing of a cup of +cold water is. + +Tell Miss Nanny Eydent, that the day of the burial is now settled, when +we are going to Windsor Castle to see the precesson--and that, by the end +of the wick, she may expect the fashions from me, with all the +particulars. Till then, I am, my dear Miss Mally, your friend and +well-wisher, + + JANET PRINGLE. + +_Noto Beny_.--Give my kind compliments to Mrs. Glibbans, and let her +know, that I will, after Sunday, give her an account of the state of the +Gospel in London. + + * * * * * + +Miss Mally paused when she had read the letter, and it was unanimously +agreed, that Mrs. Pringle gave a more full account of London than either +father, son, or daughter. + +By this time the night was far advanced, and Mrs. Glibbans was rising to +go away, apprehensive, as she observed, that they were going to bring +"the carts" into the room. Upon Miss Mally, however, assuring her that +no such transgression was meditated, but that she intended to treat them +with a bit nice Highland mutton ham, and eggs, of her own laying, that +worthy pillar of the Relief Kirk consented to remain. + +It was past eleven o'clock when the party broke up; Mr. Snodgrass and Mr. +Micklewham walked home together, and as they were crossing the Red Burn +Bridge, at the entrance of Eglintoun Wood,--a place well noted from +ancient times for preternatural appearances, Mr. Micklewham declared that +he thought he heard something purring among the bushes; upon which Mr. +Snodgrass made a jocose observation, stating, that it could be nothing +but the effect of Lord North's strong ale in his head; and we should add, +by way of explanation, that the Lord North here spoken of was Willy +Grieve, celebrated in Irvine for the strength and flavour of his brewing, +and that, in addition to a plentiful supply of his best, Miss Mally had +entertained them with tamarind punch, constituting a natural cause +adequate to produce all the preternatural purring that terrified the +dominie. + + + + +CHAPTER V--THE ROYAL FUNERAL + + +Tam Glen having, in consequence of the exhortations of Mr. Micklewham, +and the earnest entreaties of Mr. Daff, backed by the pious +animadversions of the rigidly righteous Mr. Craig, confessed a fault, and +acknowledged an irregular marriage with Meg Milliken, their child was +admitted to church privileges. But before the day of baptism, Mr. Daff, +who thought Tam had given but sullen symptoms of penitence, said, to put +him in better humour with his fate,--"Noo, Tam, since ye hae beguiled us +of the infare, we maun mak up for't at the christening; so I'll speak to +Mr. Snodgrass to bid the Doctor's friens and acquaintance to the ploy, +that we may get as meikle amang us as will pay for the bairn's baptismal +frock." + +Mr. Craig, who was present, and who never lost an opportunity of +testifying, as he said, his "discountenance of the crying iniquity," +remonstrated with Mr. Daff on the unchristian nature of the proposal, +stigmatising it with good emphasis "as a sinful nourishing of carnality +in his day and generation." Mr. Micklewham, however, interfered, and +said, "It was a matter of weight and concernment, and therefore it +behoves you to consult Mr. Snodgrass on the fitness of the thing. For if +the thing itself is not fit and proper, it cannot expect his countenance; +and, on that account, before we reckon on his compliance with what Mr. +Daff has propounded, we should first learn whether he approves of it at +all." Whereupon the two elders and the session-clerk adjourned to the +manse, in which Mr. Snodgrass, during the absence of the incumbent, had +taken up his abode. + +The heads of the previous conversation were recapitulated by Mr. +Micklewham, with as much brevity as was consistent with perspicuity; and +the matter being duly digested by Mr. Snodgrass, that orthodox young +man--as Mrs. Glibbans denominated him, on hearing him for the first +time--declared that the notion of a pay-christening was a benevolent and +kind thought: "For, is not the order to increase and multiply one of the +first commands in the Scriptures of truth?" said Mr. Snodgrass, +addressing himself to Mr. Craig. "Surely, then, when children are +brought into the world, a great law of our nature has been fulfilled, and +there is cause for rejoicing and gladness! And is it not an obligation +imposed upon all Christians, to welcome the stranger, and to feed the +hungry, and to clothe the naked; and what greater stranger can there be +than a helpless babe? Who more in need of sustenance than the infant, +that knows not the way even to its mother's bosom? And whom shall we +clothe, if we do not the wailing innocent, that the hand of Providence +places in poverty and nakedness before us, to try, as it were, the depth +of our Christian principles, and to awaken the sympathy of our humane +feelings?" + +Mr. Craig replied, "It's a' very true and sound what Mr. Snodgrass has +observed; but Tam Glen's wean is neither a stranger, nor hungry, nor +naked, but a sturdy brat, that has been rinning its lane for mair than +sax weeks." "Ah!" said Mr. Snodgrass familiarly, "I fear, Mr. Craig, +ye're a Malthusian in your heart." The sanctimonious elder was +thunderstruck at the word. Of many a various shade and modification of +sectarianism he had heard, but the Malthusian heresy was new to his ears, +and awful to his conscience, and he begged Mr. Snodgrass to tell him in +what it chiefly consisted, protesting his innocence of that, and of every +erroneous doctrine. + +Mr. Snodgrass happened to regard the opinions of Malthus on Population as +equally contrary to religion and nature, and not at all founded in truth. +"It is evident, that the reproductive principle in the earth and +vegetables, and all things and animals which constitute the means of +subsistence, is much more vigorous than in man. It may be therefore +affirmed, that the multiplication of the means of subsistence is an +effect of the multiplication of population, for the one is augmented in +quantity, by the skill and care of the other," said Mr. Snodgrass, +seizing with avidity this opportunity of stating what he thought on the +subject, although his auditors were but the session-clerk, and two elders +of a country parish. We cannot pursue the train of his argument, but we +should do injustice to the philosophy of Malthus, if we suppressed the +observation which Mr. Daff made at the conclusion. "Gude safe's!" said +the good-natured elder, "if it's true that we breed faster than the Lord +provides for us, we maun drown the poor folks' weans like kittlings." +"Na, na!" exclaimed Mr. Craig, "ye're a' out, neighbour; I see now the +utility of church-censures." "True!" said Mr. Micklewham; "and the +ordination of the stool of repentance, the horrors of which, in the +opinion of the fifteen Lords at Edinburgh, palliated child-murder, is +doubtless a Malthusian institution." But Mr. Snodgrass put an end to the +controversy, by fixing a day for the christening, and telling he would do +his best to procure a good collection, according to the benevolent +suggestion of Mr. Daff. To this cause we are indebted for the next +series of the Pringle correspondence; for, on the day appointed, Miss +Mally Glencairn, Miss Isabella Tod, Mrs. Glibbans and her daughter Becky, +with Miss Nanny Eydent, together with other friends of the minister's +family, dined at the manse, and the conversation being chiefly about the +concerns of the family, the letters were produced and read. + + + +LETTER XII + + + _Andrew Pringle_, _Esq._, _to the Rev. Charles Snodgrass_ + WINDSOR, CASTLE-INN. + +MY DEAR FRIEND--I have all my life been strangely susceptible of pleasing +impressions from public spectacles where great crowds are assembled. +This, perhaps, you will say, is but another way of confessing, that, like +the common vulgar, I am fond of sights and shows. It may be so, but it +is not from the pageants that I derive my enjoyment. A multitude, in +fact, is to me as it were a strain of music, which, with an irresistible +and magical influence, calls up from the unknown abyss of the feelings +new combinations of fancy, which, though vague and obscure, as those +nebulae of light that astronomers have supposed to be the rudiments of +unformed stars, afterwards become distinct and brilliant acquisitions. +In a crowd, I am like the somnambulist in the highest degree of the +luminous crisis, when it is said a new world is unfolded to his +contemplation, wherein all things have an intimate affinity with the +state of man, and yet bear no resemblance to the objects that address +themselves to his corporeal faculties. This delightful experience, as it +may be called, I have enjoyed this evening, to an exquisite degree, at +the funeral of the king; but, although the whole succession of incidents +is indelibly imprinted on my recollection, I am still so much affected by +the emotion excited, as to be incapable of conveying to you any +intelligible description of what I saw. It was indeed a scene witnessed +through the medium of the feelings, and the effect partakes of the nature +of a dream. + +I was within the walls of an ancient castle, + + "So old as if they had for ever stood, + So strong as if they would for ever stand," + +and it was almost midnight. The towers, like the vast spectres of +departed ages, raised their embattled heads to the skies, monumental +witnesses of the strength and antiquity of a great monarchy. A +prodigious multitude filled the courts of that venerable edifice, +surrounding on all sides a dark embossed structure, the sarcophagus, as +it seemed to me at the moment, of the heroism of chivalry. + +"A change came o'er the spirit of my dream," and I beheld the scene +suddenly illuminated, and the blaze of torches, the glimmering of arms, +and warriors and horses, while a mosaic of human faces covered like a +pavement the courts. A deep low under sound pealed from a distance; in +the same moment, a trumpet answered with a single mournful note from the +stateliest and darkest portion of the fabric, and it was whispered in +every ear, "It is coming." Then an awful cadence of solemn music, that +affected the heart like silence, was heard at intervals, and a numerous +retinue of grave and venerable men, + + "The fathers of their time, + Those mighty master spirits, that withstood + The fall of monarchies, and high upheld + Their country's standard, glorious in the storm," + +passed slowly before me, bearing the emblems and trophies of a king. +They were as a series of great historical events, and I beheld behind +them, following and followed, an awful and indistinct image, like the +vision of Job. It moved on, and I could not discern the form thereof, +but there were honours and heraldries, and sorrow, and silence, and I +heard the stir of a profound homage performing within the breasts of all +the witnesses. But I must not indulge myself farther on this subject. I +cannot hope to excite in you the emotions with which I was so profoundly +affected. In the visible objects of the funeral of George the Third +there was but little magnificence; all its sublimity was derived from the +trains of thought and currents of feeling, which the sight of so many +illustrious characters, surrounded by circumstances associated with the +greatness and antiquity of the kingdom, was necessarily calculated to +call forth. In this respect, however, it was perhaps the sublimest +spectacle ever witnessed in this island; and I am sure, that I cannot +live so long as ever again to behold another, that will equally interest +me to the same depth and extent.--Yours, + + ANDREW PRINGLE. + +We should ill perform the part of faithful historians, did we omit to +record the sentiments expressed by the company on this occasion. Mrs. +Glibbans, whose knowledge of the points of orthodoxy had not their equal +in the three adjacent parishes, roundly declared, that Mr. Andrew +Pringle's letter was nothing but a peesemeal of clishmaclavers; that +there was no sense in it; and that it was just like the writer, a canary +idiot, a touch here and a touch there, without anything in the shape of +cordiality or satisfaction. + +Miss Isabella Tod answered this objection with that sweetness of manner +and virgin diffidence, which so well becomes a youthful member of the +establishment, controverting the dogmas of a stoop of the Relief +persuasion, by saying, that she thought Mr. Andrew had shown a fine +sensibility. "What is sensibility without judgment," cried her +adversary, "but a thrashing in the water, and a raising of bells? +Couldna the fallow, without a' his parleyvoos, have said, that such and +such was the case, and that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh +away?--but his clouds, and his spectres, and his visions of Job!--Oh, an +he could but think like Job!--Oh, an he would but think like the patient +man!--and was obliged to claut his flesh with a bit of a broken crock, we +might have some hope of repentance unto life. But Andrew Pringle, he's a +gone dick; I never had comfort or expectation of the free-thinker, since +I heard that he was infected with the blue and yellow calamity of the +_Edinburgh Review_; in which, I am credibly told, it is set forth, that +women have nae souls, but only a gut, and a gaw, and a gizzard, like a +pigeon-dove, or a raven-crow, or any other outcast and abominated +quadruped." + +Here Miss Mally Glencairn interposed her effectual mediation, and said, +"It is very true that Andrew deals in the diplomatics of obscurity; but +it's well known that he has a nerve for genius, and that, in his own way, +he kens the loan from the crown of the causeway, as well as the duck does +the midden from the adle dib." To this proverb, which we never heard +before, a learned friend, whom we consulted on the subject, has enabled +us to state, that middens were formerly of great magnitude, and often of +no less antiquity in the west of Scotland; in so much, that the Trongate +of Glasgow owes all its spacious grandeur to them. It being within the +recollection of persons yet living, that the said magnificent street was +at one time an open road, or highway, leading to the Trone, or +market-cross, with thatched houses on each side, such as may still be +seen in the pure and immaculate royal borough of Rutherglen; and that +before each house stood a luxuriant midden, by the removal of which, in +the progress of modern degeneracy, the stately architecture of Argyle +Street was formed. But not to insist at too great a length on such +topics of antiquarian lore, we shall now insert Dr. Pringle's account of +the funeral, and which, patly enough, follows our digression concerning +the middens and magnificence of Glasgow, as it contains an authentic +anecdote of a manufacturer from that city, drinking champaign at the +king's dirgie. + + + +LETTER XIII + + + _The Rev. Z. Pringle_, _D.D._, _to Mr. Micklewham_, _Schoolmaster and + Session-Clerk of Garnock_ + LONDON. + +DEAR SIR--I have received your letter, and it is a great pleasure to me +to hear that my people were all so much concerned at our distress in the +Leith smack; but what gave me the most contentment was the repentance of +Tam Glen. I hope, poor fellow, he will prove a good husband; but I have +my doubts; for the wife has really but a small share of common sense, and +no married man can do well unless his wife will let him. I am, however, +not overly pleased with Mr. Craig on the occasion, for he should have +considered frail human nature, and accepted of poor Tam's confession of a +fault, and allowed the bairn to be baptized without any more ado. I +think honest Mr. Daff has acted like himself, and I trust and hope there +will be a great gathering at the christening, and, that my mite may not +be wanting, you will slip in a guinea note when the dish goes round, but +in such a manner, that it may not be jealoused from whose hand it comes. + +Since my last letter, we have been very thrang in the way of seeing the +curiosities of London; but I must go on regular, and tell you all, which, +I think, it is my duty to do, that you may let my people know. First, +then, we have been at Windsor Castle, to see the king lying in state, +and, afterwards, his interment; and sorry am I to say, it was not a sight +that could satisfy any godly mind on such an occasion. We went in a +coach of our own, by ourselves, and found the town of Windsor like a +cried fair. We were then directed to the Castle gate, where a terrible +crowd was gathered together; and we had not been long in that crowd, till +a pocket-picker, as I thought, cutted off the tail of my coat, with my +pocket-book in my pocket, which I never missed at the time. But it seems +the coat tail was found, and a policeman got it, and held it up on the +end of his stick, and cried, whose pocket is this? showing the book that +was therein in his hand. I was confounded to see my pocket-book there, +and could scarcely believe my own eyes; but Mrs. Pringle knew it at the +first glance, and said, "It's my gudeman's"; at the which, there was a +great shout of derision among the multitude, and we would baith have then +been glad to disown the pocket-book, but it was returned to us, I may +almost say, against our will; but the scorners, when they saw our +confusion, behaved with great civility towards us, so that we got into +the Castle-yard with no other damage than the loss of the flap of my coat +tail. + +Being in the Castle-yard, we followed the crowd into another gate, and up +a stair, and saw the king lying in state, which was a very dismal +sight--and I thought of Solomon in all his glory, when I saw the coffin, +and the mutes, and the mourners; and reflecting on the long infirmity of +mind of the good old king, I said to myself, in the words of the book of +Job, 'Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die even +without wisdom!' + +When we had seen the sight, we came out of the Castle, and went to an inn +to get a chack of dinner; but there was such a crowd, that no +resting-place could for a time be found for us. Gentle and semple were +there, all mingled, and no respect of persons; only there was, at a table +nigh unto ours, a fat Glasgow manufacturer, who ordered a bottle of +champaign wine, and did all he could in the drinking of it by himself, to +show that he was a man in well-doing circumstances. While he was talking +over his wine, a great peer of the realm, with a star on his breast, came +into the room, and ordered a glass of brandy and water; and I could see, +when he saw the Glasgow manufacturer drinking champaign wine on that +occasion, that he greatly marvelled thereat. + +When we had taken our dinner, we went out to walk and see the town of +Windsor; but there was such a mob of coaches going and coming, and men +and horses, that we left the streets, and went to inspect the king's +policy, which is of great compass, but in a careless order, though it +costs a world of money to keep it up. Afterwards, we went back to the +inns, to get tea for Mrs. Pringle and her daughter, while Andrew Pringle, +my son, was seeing if he could get tickets to buy, to let us into the +inside of the Castle, to see the burial--but he came back without luck, +and I went out myself, being more experienced in the world, and I saw a +gentleman's servant with a ticket in his hand, and I asked him to sell it +to me, which the man did with thankfulness, for five shillings, although +the price was said to be golden guineas. But as this ticket admitted +only one person, it was hard to say what should be done with it when I +got back to my family. However, as by this time we were all very much +fatigued, I gave it to Andrew Pringle, my son, and Mrs. Pringle, and her +daughter Rachel, agreed to bide with me in the inns. + +Andrew Pringle, my son, having got the ticket, left us sitting, when +shortly after in came a nobleman, high in the cabinet, as I think he must +have been, and he having politely asked leave to take his tea at our +table, because of the great throng in the house, we fell into a +conversation together, and he, understanding thereby that I was a +minister of the Church of Scotland, said he thought he could help us into +a place to see the funeral; so, after he had drank his tea, he took us +with him, and got us into the Castle-yard, where we had an excellent +place, near to the Glasgow manufacturer that drank the champaign. The +drink by this time, however, had got into that poor man's head, and he +talked so loud, and so little to the purpose, that the soldiers who were +guarding were obliged to make him hold his peace, at which he was not a +little nettled, and told the soldiers that he had himself been a soldier, +and served the king without pay, having been a volunteer officer. But +this had no more effect than to make the soldiers laugh at him, which was +not a decent thing at the interment of their master, our most gracious +Sovereign that was. + +However, in this situation we saw all; and I can assure you it was a very +edifying sight; and the people demeaned themselves with so much +propriety, that there was no need for any guards at all; indeed, for that +matter, of the two, the guards, who had eaten the king's bread, were the +only ones there, saving and excepting the Glasgow manufacturer, that +manifested an irreverent spirit towards the royal obsequies. But they +are men familiar with the king of terrors on the field of battle, and it +was not to be expected that their hearts would be daunted like those of +others by a doing of a civil character. + +When all was over, we returned to the inns, to get our chaise, to go back +to London that night, for beds were not to be had for love or money at +Windsor, and we reached our temporary home in Norfolk Street about four +o'clock in the morning, well satisfied with what we had seen,--but all +the meantime I had forgotten the loss of the flap of my coat, which +caused no little sport when I came to recollect what a pookit like body I +must have been, walking about in the king's policy like a peacock without +my tail. But I must conclude, for Mrs. Pringle has a letter to put in +the frank for Miss Nanny Eydent, which you will send to her by one of +your scholars, as it contains information that may be serviceable to Miss +Nanny in her business, both as a mantua-maker and a superintendent of the +genteeler sort of burials at Irvine and our vicinity. So that this is +all from your friend and pastor, + + ZACHARIAH PRINGLE. + +"I think," said Miss Isabella Tod, as Mr. Micklewham finished the reading +of the Doctor's epistle, "that my friend Rachel might have given me some +account of the ceremony; but Captain Sabre seems to have been a much more +interesting object to her than the pride and pomp to her brother, or even +the Glasgow manufacturer to her father." In saying these words, the +young lady took the following letter from her pocket, and was on the +point of beginning to read it, when Miss Becky Glibbans exclaimed, "I had +aye my fears that Rachel was but light-headed, and I'll no be surprised +to hear more about her and the dragoon or a's done." Mr. Snodgrass +looked at Becky, as if he had been afflicted at the moment with +unpleasant ideas; and perhaps he would have rebuked the spitefulness of +her insinuations, had not her mother sharply snubbed the uncongenial +maiden, in terms at least as pungent as any which the reverend gentleman +would have employed. "I'm sure," replied Miss Becky, pertly, "I meant no +ill; but if Rachel Pringle can write about nothing but this Captain +Sabre, she might as well let it alone, and her letter canna be worth the +hearing." "Upon that," said the clergyman, "we can form a judgment when +we have heard it, and I beg that Miss Isabella may proceed,"--which she +did accordingly. + + + +LETTER XIV + + + _Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod_ + LONDON. + +MY DEAR BELL--I take up my pen with a feeling of disappointment such as I +never felt before. Yesterday was the day appointed for the funeral of +the good old king, and it was agreed that we should go to Windsor, to +pour the tribute of our tears upon the royal hearse. Captain Sabre +promised to go with us, as he is well acquainted with the town, and the +interesting objects around the Castle, so dear to chivalry, and embalmed +by the genius of Shakespeare and many a minor bard, and I promised myself +a day of unclouded felicity--but the captain was ordered to be on +duty,--and the crowd was so rude and riotous, that I had no enjoyment +whatever; but, pining with chagrin at the little respect paid by the +rabble to the virtues of the departed monarch, I would fainly have +retired into some solemn and sequestered grove, and breathed my sorrows +to the listening waste. Nor was the loss of the captain, to explain and +illuminate the different baronial circumstances around the Castle, the +only thing I had to regret in this ever-memorable excursion--my tender +and affectionate mother was so desirous to see everything in the most +particular manner, in order that she might give an account of the funeral +to Nanny Eydent, that she had no mercy either upon me or my father, but +obliged us to go with her to the most difficult and inaccessible places. +How vain was all this meritorious assiduity! for of what avail can the +ceremonies of a royal funeral be to Miss Nanny, at Irvine, where kings +never die, and where, if they did, it is not at all probable that Miss +Nanny would be employed to direct their solemn obsequies? As for my +brother, he was so entranced with his own enthusiasm, that he paid but +little attention to us, which made me the more sensible of the want we +suffered from the absence of Captain Sabre. In a word, my dear Bell, +never did I pass a more unsatisfactory day, and I wish it blotted for +ever from my remembrance. Let it therefore be consigned to the abysses +of oblivion, while I recall the more pleasing incidents that have +happened since I wrote you last. + +On Sunday, according to invitation, as I told you, we dined with the +Argents--and were entertained by them in a style at once most splendid, +and on the most easy footing. I shall not attempt to describe the +consumable materials of the table, but call your attention, my dear +friend, to the intellectual portion of the entertainment, a subject much +more congenial to your delicate and refined character. + +Mrs. Argent is a lady of considerable personal magnitude, of an open and +affable disposition. In this respect, indeed, she bears a striking +resemblance to her nephew, Captain Sabre, with whose relationship to her +we were unacquainted before that day. She received us as friends in whom +she felt a peculiar interest; for when she heard that my mother had got +her dress and mine from Cranbury Alley, she expressed the greatest +astonishment, and told us, that it was not at all a place where persons +of fashion could expect to be properly served. Nor can I disguise the +fact, that the flounced and gorgeous garniture of our dresses was in +shocking contrast to the amiable simplicity of hers and the fair +Arabella, her daughter, a charming girl, who, notwithstanding the +fashionable splendour in which she has been educated, displays a +delightful sprightliness of manner, that, I have some notion, has not +been altogether lost on the heart of my brother. + +When we returned upstairs to the drawing-room, after dinner, Miss +Arabella took her harp, and was on the point of favouring us with a +Mozart; but her mother, recollecting that we were Presbyterians, thought +it might not be agreeable, and she desisted, which I was sinful enough to +regret; but my mother was so evidently alarmed at the idea of playing on +the harp on a Sunday night, that I suppressed my own wishes, in filial +veneration for those of that respected parent. Indeed, fortunate it was +that the music was not performed; for, when we returned home, my father +remarked with great solemnity, that such a way of passing the Lord's +night as we had passed it, would have been a great sin in Scotland. + +Captain Sabre, who called on us next morning, was so delighted when he +understood that we were acquainted with his aunt, that he lamented he had +not happened to know it before, as he would, in that case, have met us +there. He is indeed very attentive, but I assure you that I feel no +particular interest about him; for although he is certainly a very +handsome young man, he is not such a genius as my brother, and has no +literary partialities. But literary accomplishments are, you know, +foreign to the military profession, and if the captain has not +distinguished himself by cutting up authors in the reviews, he has +acquired an honourable medal, by overcoming the enemies of the civilised +world at Waterloo. + +To-night the playhouses open again, and we are going to the Oratorio, and +the captain goes with us, a circumstance which I am the more pleased at, +as we are strangers, and he will tell us the names of the performers. My +father made some scruple of consenting to be of the party; but when he +heard that an Oratorio was a concert of sacred music, he thought it would +be only a sinless deviation if he did, so he goes likewise. The captain, +therefore, takes an early dinner with us at five o'clock. Alas! to what +changes am I doomed,--that was the tea hour at the manse of Garnock. Oh, +when shall I revisit the primitive simplicities of my native scenes +again! But neither time nor distance, my dear Bell, can change the +affection with which I subscribe myself, ever affectionately, yours, + + RACHEL PRINGLE. + +At the conclusion of this letter, the countenance of Mrs. Glibbans was +evidently so darkened, that it daunted the company, like an eclipse of +the sun, when all nature is saddened. "What think you, Mr. Snodgrass," +said that spirit-stricken lady,--"what think you of this dining on the +Lord's day,--this playing on the harp; the carnal Mozarting of that +ungodly family, with whom the corrupt human nature of our friends has +been chambering?" Mr. Snodgrass was at some loss for an answer, and +hesitated, but Miss Mally Glencairn relieved him from his embarrassment, +by remarking, that "the harp was a holy instrument," which somewhat +troubled the settled orthodoxy of Mrs. Glibbans's visage. "Had it been +an organ," said Mr. Snodgrass, dryly, "there might have been, perhaps, +more reason to doubt; but, as Miss Mally justly remarks, the harp has +been used from the days of King David in the performances of sacred +music, together with the psalter, the timbrel, the sackbut, and the +cymbal." The wrath of the polemical Deborah of the Relief-Kirk was +somewhat appeased by this explanation, and she inquired in a more +diffident tone, whether a Mozart was not a metrical paraphrase of the +song of Moses after the overthrow of the Egyptians in the Red Sea; "in +which case, I must own," she observed, "that the sin and guilt of the +thing is less grievous in the sight of HIM before whom all the actions of +men are abominations." Miss Isabella Tod, availing herself of this break +in the conversation, turned round to Miss Nanny Eydent, and begged that +she would read her letter from Mrs. Pringle. We should do injustice, +however, to honest worth and patient industry were we, in thus +introducing Miss Nanny to our readers, not to give them some account of +her lowly and virtuous character. + +Miss Nanny was the eldest of three sisters, the daughters of a +shipmaster, who was lost at sea when they were very young; and his all +having perished with him, they were indeed, as their mother said, the +children of Poverty and Sorrow. By the help of a little credit, the +widow contrived, in a small shop, to eke out her days till Nanny was able +to assist her. It was the intention of the poor woman to take up a +girl's school for reading and knitting, and Nanny was destined to +instruct the pupils in that higher branch of accomplishment--the +different stitches of the sampler. But about the time that Nanny was +advancing to the requisite degree of perfection in chain-steek and +pie-holes--indeed had made some progress in the Lord's prayer between two +yew trees--tambouring was introduced at Irvine, and Nanny was sent to +acquire a competent knowledge of that classic art, honoured by the fair +hands of the beautiful Helen and the chaste and domestic Andromache. In +this she instructed her sisters; and such was the fruit of their +application and constant industry, that her mother abandoned the design +of keeping school, and continued to ply her little huxtry in more easy +circumstances. The fluctuations of trade in time taught them that it +would not be wise to trust to the loom, and accordingly Nanny was at some +pains to learn mantua-making; and it was fortunate that she did so--for +the tambouring gradually went out of fashion, and the flowering which +followed suited less the infirm constitution of poor Nanny. The making +of gowns for ordinary occasions led to the making of mournings, and the +making of mournings naturally often caused Nanny to be called in at +deaths, which, in process of time, promoted her to have the management of +burials; and in this line of business she has now a large proportion of +the genteelest in Irvine and its vicinity; and in all her various +engagements her behaviour has been as blameless and obliging as her +assiduity has been uniform; insomuch, that the numerous ladies to whom +she is known take a particular pleasure in supplying her with the newest +patterns, and earliest information, respecting the varieties and changes +of fashions; and to the influence of the same good feelings in the breast +of Mrs. Pringle, Nanny was indebted for the following letter. How far +the information which it contains may be deemed exactly suitable to the +circumstances in which Miss Nanny's lot is cast, our readers may judge +for themselves; but we are happy to state, that it has proved of no small +advantage to her: for since it has been known that she had received a +full, true, and particular account, of all manner of London fashions, +from so managing and notable a woman as the minister's wife of Garnock, +her consideration has been so augmented in the opinion of the +neighbouring gentlewomen, that she is not only consulted as to funerals, +but is often called in to assist in the decoration and arrangement of +wedding-dinners, and other occasions of sumptuous banqueting; by which +she is enabled, during the suspension of the flowering trade, to earn a +lowly but a respected livelihood. + + + +LETTER XV + + + _Mrs. Pringle to Miss Nanny Eydent_, _Mantua-maker_, _Seagate Head_, + _Irvine_ + LONDON. + +DEAR MISS NANNY--Miss Mally Glencairn would tell you all how it happent +that I was disabled, by our misfortunes in the ship, from riting to you +konserning the London fashons as I promist; for I wantit to be +partikylor, and to say nothing but what I saw with my own eyes, that it +might be servisable to you in your bizness--so now I will begin with the +old king's burial, as you have sometimes okashon to lend a helping hand +in that way at Irvine, and nothing could be more genteeler of the kind +than a royal obsakew for a patron; but no living sole can give a distink +account of this matter, for you know the old king was the father of his +piple, and the croud was so great. Howsomever we got into our oun hired +shaze at daylight; and when we were let out at the castel yett of +Windsor, we went into the mob, and by and by we got within the castel +walls, when great was the lamentation for the purdition of shawls and +shoos, and the Doctor's coat pouch was clippit off by a pocket-picker. +We then ran to a wicket-gate, and up an old timber-stair with a rope +ravel, and then we got to a great pentit chamber called King George's +Hall: After that we were allowt to go into another room full of guns and +guards, that told us all to be silent: so then we all went like sawlies, +holding our tongues in an awful manner, into a dysmal room hung with +black cloth, and lighted with dum wax-candles in silver skonses, and men +in a row all in mulancholic posters. At length and at last we came to +the coffin; but although I was as partikylar as possoble, I could see +nothing that I would recommend. As for the interment, there was nothing +but even-down wastrie--wax-candles blowing away in the wind, and flunkies +as fou as pipers, and an unreverent mob that scarsely could demean +themselves with decency as the body was going by; only the Duke of York, +who carrit the head, had on no hat, which I think was the newest +identical thing in the affair: but really there was nothing that could be +recommended. Howsomever I understood that there was no draigie, which +was a saving; for the bread and wine for such a multitude would have been +a destruction to a lord's living: and this is the only point that the +fashon set in the king's feunoral may be follot in Irvine. + +Since the burial, we have been to see the play, where the leddies were +all in deep murning; but excepting that some had black gum-floors on +their heads, I saw leetil for admiration--only that bugles, I can ashure +you, are not worn at all this season; and surely this murning must be a +vast detrimint to bizness--for where there is no verietie, there can be +but leetil to do in your line. But one thing I should not forget, and +that is, that in the vera best houses, after tea and coffee after dinner, +a cordial dram is handed about; but likewise I could observe, that the +fruit is not set on with the cheese, as in our part of the country, but +comes, after the cloth is drawn, with the wine; and no such a thing as a +punch-bowl is to be heard of within the four walls of London. +Howsomever, what I principally notised was, that the tea and coffee is +not made by the lady of the house, but out of the room, and brought in +without sugar or milk, on servors, every one helping himself, and only +plain flimsy loaf and butter is served--no such thing as shortbread, +seed-cake, bun, marmlet, or jeelly to be seen, which is an okonomical +plan, and well worthy of adaptation in ginteel families with narrow +incomes, in Irvine or elsewhere. + +But when I tell you what I am now going to say, you will not be surprizt +at the great wealth in London. I paid for a bumbeseen gown, not a bit +better than the one that was made by you that the sore calamity befell, +and no so fine neither, more than three times the price; so you see, Miss +Nanny, if you were going to pouse your fortune, you could not do better +than pack up your ends and your awls and come to London. But ye're far +better at home--for this is not a town for any creditable young woman +like you, to live in by herself, and I am wearying to be back, though +it's hard to say when the Doctor will get his counts settlet. I wish +you, howsomever, to mind the patches for the bed-cover that I was going +to patch, for a licht afternoon seam, as the murning for the king will no +be so general with you, and the spring fashons will be coming on to help +my gathering--so no more at present from your friend and well-wisher, + + JANET PRINGLE. + + + + +CHAPTER VI--PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION + + +On Sunday morning, before going to church, Mr. Micklewham called at the +manse, and said that he wished particularly to speak to Mr. Snodgrass. +Upon being admitted, he found the young helper engaged at breakfast, with +a book lying on his table, very like a volume of a new novel called +_Ivanhoe_, in its appearance, but of course it must have been sermons +done up in that manner to attract fashionable readers. As soon, however, +as Mr. Snodgrass saw his visitor, he hastily removed the book, and put it +into the table-drawer. + +The precentor having taken a seat at the opposite side of the fire, began +somewhat diffidently to mention, that he had received a letter from the +Doctor, that made him at a loss whether or not he ought to read it to the +elders, as usual, after worship, and therefore was desirous of consulting +Mr. Snodgrass on the subject, for it recorded, among other things, that +the Doctor had been at the playhouse, and Mr. Micklewham was quite sure +that Mr. Craig would be neither to bind nor to hold when he heard that, +although the transgression was certainly mollified by the nature of the +performance. As the clergyman, however, could offer no opinion until he +saw the letter, the precentor took it out of his pocket, and Mr. +Snodgrass found the contents as follows:-- + + + +LETTER XVI + + + _The Rev. Z. Pringle_, _D.D._, _to Mr. Micklewham_, _Schoolmaster and + Session-Clerk_, _Garnock_ + LONDON. + +DEAR SIR--You will recollect that, about twenty years ago, there was a +great sound throughout all the West that a playhouse in Glasgow had been +converted into a tabernacle of religion. I remember it was glad tidings +to our ears in the parish of Garnock; and that Mr. Craig, who had just +been ta'en on for an elder that fall, was for having a thanksgiving-day +on the account thereof, holding it to be a signal manifestation of a new +birth in the of-old-godly town of Glasgow, which had become slack in the +way of well-doing, and the church therein lukewarm, like that of +Laodicea. It was then said, as I well remember, that when the Tabernacle +was opened, there had not been seen, since the Kaimslang wark, such a +congregation as was there assembled, which was a great proof that it's +the matter handled, and not the place, that maketh pure; so that when you +and the elders hear that I have been at the theatre of Drury Lane, in +London, you must not think that I was there to see a carnal stage play, +whether tragical or comical, or that I would so far demean myself and my +cloth, as to be a witness to the chambering and wantonness of +ne'er-du-weel play-actors. No, Mr. Micklewham, what I went to see was an +Oratorio, a most edifying exercise of psalmody and prayer, under the +management of a pious gentleman, of the name of Sir George Smart, who is, +as I am informed, at the greatest pains to instruct the exhibitioners, +they being, for the most part, before they get into his hands, poor +uncultivated creatures, from Italy, France, and Germany, and other +atheistical and popish countries. + +They first sung a hymn together very decently, and really with as much +civilised harmony as could be expected from novices; indeed so well, that +I thought them almost as melodious as your own singing class of the +trades lads from Kilwinning. Then there was one Mr. Braham, a Jewish +proselyte, that was set forth to show us a specimen of his proficiency. +In the praying part, what he said was no objectionable as to the matter; +but he drawled in his manner to such a pitch, that I thought he would +have broken out into an even-down song, as I sometimes think of yourself +when you spin out the last word in reading out the line in a warm summer +afternoon. In the hymn by himself, he did better; he was, however, +sometimes like to lose the tune, but the people gave him great +encouragement when he got back again. Upon the whole, I had no notion +that there was any such Christianity in practice among the Londoners, and +I am happy to tell you, that the house was very well filled, and the +congregation wonderful attentive. No doubt that excellent man, Mr. W---, +has a hand in these public strainings after grace, but he was not there +that night; for I have seen him; and surely at the sight I could not but +say to myself, that it's beyond the compass of the understanding of man +to see what great things Providence worketh with small means, for Mr. +W--- is a small creature. When I beheld his diminutive stature, and +thought of what he had achieved for the poor negroes and others in the +house of bondage, I said to myself, that here the hand of Wisdom is +visible, for the load of perishable mortality is laid lightly on his +spirit, by which it is enabled to clap its wings and crow so crously on +the dunghill top of this world; yea even in the House of Parliament. + +I was taken last Thursday morning to breakfast with him his house at +Kensington, by an East India man, who is likewise surely a great saint. +It was a heart-healing meeting of many of the godly, which he holds +weekly in the season; and we had such a warsle of the spirit among us +that the like cannot be told. I was called upon to pray, and a worthy +gentleman said, when I was done, that he never had met with more +apostolic simplicity--indeed, I could see with the tail of my eye, while +I was praying, that the chief saint himself was listening with a curious +pleasant satisfaction. + +As for our doings here anent the legacy, things are going forward in the +regular manner; but the expense is terrible, and I have been obliged to +take up money on account; but, as it was freely given by the agents, I am +in hopes all will end well; for, considering that we are but strangers to +them, they would not have assisted us in this matter had they not been +sure of the means of payment in their own hands. + +The people of London are surprising kind to us; we need not, if we +thought proper ourselves, eat a dinner in our own lodgings; but it would +ill become me, at my time of life, and with the character for sobriety +that I have maintained, to show an example in my latter days of riotous +living; therefore, Mrs. Pringle, and her daughter, and me, have made a +point of going nowhere three times in the week; but as for Andrew +Pringle, my son, he has forgathered with some acquaintance, and I fancy +we will be obliged to let him take the length of his tether for a while. +But not altogether without a curb neither, for the agent's son, young Mr. +Argent, had almost persuaded him to become a member of Parliament, which +he said he could get him made, for more than a thousand pounds less than +the common price--the state of the new king's health having lowered the +commodity of seats. But this I would by no means hear of; he is not yet +come to years of discretion enough to sit in council; and, moreover, he +has not been tried; and no man, till he has out of doors shown something +of what he is, should be entitled to power and honour within. Mrs. +Pringle, however, thought he might do as well as young Dunure; but Andrew +Pringle, my son, has not the solidity of head that Mr. K---dy has, and is +over free and outspoken, and cannot take such pains to make his little go +a great way, like that well-behaved young gentleman. But you will be +grieved to hear that Mr. K---dy is in opposition to the government; and +truly I am at a loss to understand how a man of Whig principles can be an +adversary to the House of Hanover. But I never meddled much in politick +affairs, except at this time, when I prohibited Andrew Pringle, my son, +from offering to be a member of Parliament, notwithstanding the great +bargain that he would have had of the place. + +And since we are on public concerns, I should tell you, that I was minded +to send you a newspaper at the second-hand, every day when we were done +with it. But when we came to inquire, we found that we could get the +newspaper for a shilling a week every morning but Sunday, to our +breakfast, which was so much cheaper than buying a whole paper, that Mrs. +Pringle thought it would be a great extravagance; and, indeed, when I +came to think of the loss of time a newspaper every day would occasion to +my people, I considered it would be very wrong of me to send you any at +all. For I do think that honest folks in a far-off country parish should +not make or meddle with the things that pertain to government,--the more +especially, as it is well known, that there is as much falsehood as truth +in newspapers, and they have not the means of testing their statements. +Not, however, that I am an advocate for passive obedience; God forbid. +On the contrary, if ever the time should come, in my day, of a +saint-slaying tyrant attempting to bind the burden of prelatic +abominations on our backs, such a blast of the gospel trumpet would be +heard in Garnock, as it does not become me to say, but I leave it to you +and others, who have experienced my capacity as a soldier of the word so +long, to think what it would then be. Meanwhile, I remain, my dear sir, +your friend and pastor, + + Z. PRINGLE. + +When Mr. Snodgrass had perused this epistle, he paused some time, +seemingly in doubt, and then he said to Mr. Micklewham, that, considering +the view which the Doctor had taken of the matter, and that he had not +gone to the playhouse for the motives which usually take bad people to +such places, he thought there could be no possible harm in reading the +letter to the elders, and that Mr. Craig, so far from being displeased, +would doubtless be exceedingly rejoiced to learn that the playhouses of +London were occasionally so well employed as on the night when the Doctor +was there. + +Mr. Micklewham then inquired if Mr. Snodgrass had heard from Mr. Andrew, +and was answered in the affirmative; but the letter was not read. Why it +was withheld our readers must guess for themselves; but we have been +fortunate enough to obtain the following copy. + + + +LETTER XVII + + + _Andrew Pringle_, _Esq._, _to the Rev. Mr. Charles Snodgrass_ + LONDON. + +MY DEAR FRIEND--As the season advances, London gradually unfolds, like +Nature, all the variety of her powers and pleasures. By the Argents we +have been introduced effectually into society, and have now only to +choose our acquaintance among those whom we like best. I should employ +another word than choose, for I am convinced that there is no choice in +the matter. In his friendships and affections, man is subject to some +inscrutable moral law, similar in its effects to what the chemists call +affinity. While under the blind influence of this sympathy, we, +forsooth, suppose ourselves free agents! But a truce with philosophy. + +The amount of the legacy is now ascertained. The stock, however, in +which a great part of the money is vested being shut, the transfer to my +father cannot be made for some time; and till this is done, my mother +cannot be persuaded that we have yet got anything to trust to--an +unfortunate notion which renders her very unhappy. The old gentleman +himself takes no interest now in the business. He has got his mind at +ease by the payment of all the legacies; and having fallen in with some +of the members of that political junto, the Saints, who are worldly +enough to link, as often as they can, into their association, the +powerful by wealth or talent, his whole time is occupied in assisting to +promote their humbug; and he has absolutely taken it into his head, that +the attention he receives from them for his subscriptions is on account +of his eloquence as a preacher, and that hitherto he has been altogether +in an error with respect to his own abilities. The effect of this is +abundantly amusing; but the source of it is very evident. Like most +people who pass a sequestered life, he had formed an exaggerated opinion +of public characters; and on seeing them in reality so little superior to +the generality of mankind, he imagines that he was all the time nearer to +their level than he had ventured to suppose; and the discovery has placed +him on the happiest terms with himself. It is impossible that I can +respect his manifold excellent qualities and goodness of heart more than +I do; but there is an innocency in this simplicity, which, while it often +compels me to smile, makes me feel towards him a degree of tenderness, +somewhat too familiar for that filial reverence that is due from a son. + +Perhaps, however, you will think me scarcely less under the influence of +a similar delusion when I tell you, that I have been somehow or other +drawn also into an association, not indeed so public or potent as that of +the Saints, but equally persevering in the objects for which it has been +formed. The drift of the Saints, as far as I can comprehend the matter, +is to procure the advancement to political power of men distinguished for +the purity of their lives, and the integrity of their conduct; and in +that way, I presume, they expect to effect the accomplishment of that +blessed epoch, the Millennium, when the Saints are to rule the whole +earth. I do not mean to say that this is their decided and determined +object; I only infer, that it is the necessary tendency of their +proceedings; and I say it with all possible respect and sincerity, that, +as a public party, the Saints are not only perhaps the most powerful, but +the party which, at present, best deserves power. + +The association, however, with which I have happened to become connected, +is of a very different description. Their object is, to pass through +life with as much pleasure as they can obtain, without doing anything +unbecoming the rank of gentlemen, and the character of men of honour. We +do not assemble such numerous meetings as the Saints, the Whigs, or the +Radicals, nor are our speeches delivered with so much vehemence. We +even, I think, tacitly exclude oratory. In a word, our meetings seldom +exceed the perfect number of the muses; and our object on these occasions +is not so much to deliberate on plans of prospective benefits to mankind, +as to enjoy the present time for ourselves, under the temperate +inspiration of a well-cooked dinner, flavoured with elegant wine, and +just so much of mind as suits the fleeting topics of the day. T---, whom +I formerly mentioned, introduced me to this delightful society. The +members consist of about fifty gentlemen, who dine occasionally at each +other's houses; the company being chiefly selected from the brotherhood, +if that term can be applied to a circle of acquaintance, who, without any +formal institution of rules, have gradually acquired a consistency that +approximates to organisation. But the universe of this vast city +contains a plurality of systems; and the one into which I have been +attracted may be described as that of the idle intellects. In general +society, the members of our party are looked up to as men of taste and +refinement, and are received with a degree of deference that bears some +resemblance to the respect paid to the hereditary endowment of rank. +They consist either of young men who have acquired distinction at +college, or gentlemen of fortune who have a relish for intellectual +pleasures, free from the acerbities of politics, or the dull formalities +which so many of the pious think essential to their religious +pretensions. The wealthy furnish the entertainments, which are always in +a superior style, and the ingredient of birth is not requisite in the +qualifications of a member, although some jealousy is entertained of +professional men, and not a little of merchants. T---, to whom I am also +indebted for this view of that circle of which he is the brightest +ornament, gives a felicitous explanation of the reason. He says, +professional men, who are worth anything at all, are always ambitious, +and endeavour to make their acquaintance subservient to their own +advancement; while merchants are liable to such casualties, that their +friends are constantly exposed to the risk of being obliged to sink them +below their wonted equality, by granting them favours in times of +difficulty, or, what is worse, by refusing to grant them. + +I am much indebted to you for the introduction to your friend G---. He +is one of us; or rather, he moves in an eccentric sphere of his own, +which crosses, I believe, almost all the orbits of all the classed and +classifiable systems of London. I found him exactly what you described; +and we were on the frankest footing of old friends in the course of the +first quarter of an hour. He did me the honour to fancy that I belonged, +as a matter of course, to some one of the literary fraternities of +Edinburgh, and that I would be curious to see the associations of the +learned here. What he said respecting them was highly characteristic of +the man. "They are," said he, "the dullest things possible. On my +return from abroad, I visited them all, expecting to find something of +that easy disengaged mind which constitutes the charm of those of France +and Italy. But in London, among those who have a character to keep up, +there is such a vigilant circumspection, that I should as soon expect to +find nature in the ballets of the Opera-house, as genius at the +established haunts of authors, artists, and men of science. Bankes +gives, I suppose officially, a public breakfast weekly, and opens his +house for conversations on the Sundays. I found at his breakfasts, tea +and coffee, with hot rolls, and men of celebrity afraid to speak. At the +conversations, there was something even worse. A few plausible talking +fellows created a buzz in the room, and the merits of some paltry +nick-nack of mechanism or science was discussed. The party consisted +undoubtedly of the most eminent men of their respective lines in the +world; but they were each and all so apprehensive of having their ideas +purloined, that they took the most guarded care never to speak of +anything that they deemed of the slightest consequence, or to hazard an +opinion that might be called in question. The man who either wishes to +augment his knowledge, or to pass his time agreeably, will never expose +himself to a repetition of the fastidious exhibitions of engineers and +artists who have their talents at market. But such things are among the +curiosities of London; and if you have any inclination to undergo the +initiating mortification of being treated as a young man who may be +likely to interfere with their professional interests, I can easily get +you introduced." + +I do not know whether to ascribe these strictures of your friend to +humour or misanthropy; but they were said without bitterness; indeed so +much as matters of course, that, at the moment, I could not but feel +persuaded they were just. I spoke of them to T---, who says, that +undoubtedly G---'s account of the exhibitions is true in substance, but +that it is his own sharp-sightedness which causes him to see them so +offensively; for that ninety-nine out of the hundred in the world would +deem an evening spent at the conversations of Sir Joseph Bankes a very +high intellectual treat. + +G--- has invited me to dinner, and I expect some amusement; for T---, who +is acquainted with him, says, that it is his fault to employ his mind too +much on all occasions; and that, in all probability, there will be +something, either in the fare or the company, that I shall remember as +long as I live. However, you shall hear all about it in my next.--Yours, + + ANDREW PRINGLE. + +On the same Sunday on which Mr. Micklewham consulted Mr. Snodgrass as to +the propriety of reading the Doctor's letter to the elders, the following +epistle reached the post-office of Irvine, and was delivered by Saunders +Dickie himself, at the door of Mrs. Glibbans to her servan lassie, who, +as her mistress had gone to the Relief Church, told him, that he would +have to come for the postage the morn's morning. "Oh," said Saunders, +"there's naething to pay but my ain trouble, for it's frankit; but +aiblins the mistress will gie me a bit drappie, and so I'll come betimes +i' the morning." + + + +LETTER XVIII + + + _Mrs. Pringle to Mrs. Glibbans_ + LONDON. + +MY DEAR MRS. GLIBBANS--The breking up of the old Parlament has been the +cause why I did not right you before, it having taken it out of my poor +to get a frank for my letter till yesterday; and I do ashure you, that I +was most extraordinar uneasy at the great delay, wishing much to let you +know the decayt state of the Gospel in thir perts, which is the pleasure +of your life to study by day, and meditate on in the watches of the +night. + +There is no want of going to church, and, if that was a sign of grease +and peese in the kingdom of Christ, the toun of London might hold a high +head in the tabernacles of the faithful and true witnesses. But saving +Dr. Nichol of Swallo-Street, and Dr. Manuel of London-Wall, there is +nothing sound in the way of preaching here; and when I tell you that Mr. +John Gant, your friend, and some other flea-lugged fallows, have set up a +Heelon congregation, and got a young man to preach Erse to the English, +ye maun think in what a state sinful souls are left in London. But what +I have been the most consarned about is the state of the dead. I am no +meaning those who are dead in trespasses and sins, but the true dead. Ye +will hardly think, that they are buried in a popish-like manner, with +prayers, and white gowns, and ministers, and spadefuls of yerd cast upon +them, and laid in vauts, like kists of orangers in a grocery seller--and +I am told that, after a time, they are taken out when the vaut is +shurfeeted, and their bones brunt, if they are no made into lamp-black by +a secret wark--which is a clean proof to me that a right doctrine cannot +be established in this land--there being so little respec shone to the +dead. + +The worst point, howsomever, of all is, what is done with the +prayers--and I have heard you say, that although there was nothing more +to objec to the wonderful Doctor Chammers of Glasgou, that his reading of +his sermons was testimony against him in the great controversy of sound +doctrine; but what will you say to reading of prayers, and no only +reading of prayers, but printed prayers, as if the contreet heart of the +sinner had no more to say to the Lord in the hour of fasting and +humiliation, than what a bishop can indite, and a book-seller make profit +o'. "Verily," as I may say, in a word of scripter, I doobt if the glad +tidings of salvation have yet been preeched in this land of London; but +the ministers have good stipends, and where the ground is well manured, +it may in time bring forth fruit meet for repentance. + +There is another thing that behoves me to mention, and that is, that an +elder is not to be seen in the churches of London, which is a sore signal +that the piple are left to themselves; and in what state the morality can +be, you may guess with an eye of pity. But on the Sabbath nights, there +is such a going and coming, that it's more like a cried fair than the +Lord's night--all sorts of poor people, instead of meditating on their +bygane toil and misery of the week, making the Sunday their own day, as +if they had not a greater Master to serve on that day, than the earthly +man whom they served in the week-days. It is, howsomever, past the poor +of nature to tell you of the sinfulness of London; and you may we think +what is to be the end of all things, when I ashure you, that there is a +newspaper sold every Sabbath morning, and read by those that never look +at their Bibles. Our landlady asked us if we would take one; but I +thought the Doctor would have fired the house, and you know it is not a +small thing that kindles his passion. In short, London is not a place to +come to hear the tidings of salvation preeched,--no that I mean to deny +that there is not herine more than five righteous persons in it, and I +trust the cornal's hagent is one; for if he is not, we are undone, having +been obligated to take on already more than a hundred pounds of debt, to +the account of our living, and the legacy yet in the dead thraws. But as +I mean this for a spiritual letter, I will say no more about the root of +all evil, as it is called in the words of truth and holiness; so +referring you to what I have told Miss Mally Glencairn about the legacy +and other things nearest my heart, I remain, my dear Mrs. Glibbans, your +fellou Christian and sinner, + + JANET PRINGLE. + +Mrs. Glibbans received this letter between the preachings, and it was +observed by all her acquaintance during the afternoon service, that she +was a laden woman. Instead of standing up at the prayers, as her wont +was, she kept her seat, sitting with downcast eyes, and ever and anon her +left hand, which was laid over her book on the reading-board of the pew, +was raised and allowed to drop with a particular moral emphasis, +bespeaking the mournful cogitations of her spirit. On leaving the +church, somebody whispered to the minister, that surely Mrs. Glibbans had +heard some sore news; upon which that meek, mild, and modest good soul +hastened towards her, and inquired, with more than his usual kindness, +How she was? Her answer was brief and mysterious; and she shook her head +in such a manner that showed him all was not right. "Have you heard +lately of your friends the Pringles?" said he, in his sedate +manner--"when do they think of leaving London?' + +"I wish they may ever get out o't," was the agitated reply of the +afflicted lady. + +"I am very sorry to hear you say so," responded the minister. "I thought +all was in a fair way to an issue of the settlement. I'm very sorry to +hear this." + +"Oh, sir," said the mourner, "don't think that I am grieved for them and +their legacy--filthy lucre--no, sir; but I have had a letter that has +made my hair stand on end. Be none surprised if you hear of the earth +opening, and London swallowed up, and a voice crying in the wilderness, +'Woe, woe.'" + +The gentle priest was much surprised by this information; it was evident +that Mrs. Glibbans had received a terrible account of the wickedness of +London; and that the weight upon her pious spirit was owing to that +cause. He, therefore, accompanied her home, and administered all the +consolation he was able to give; assuring her, that it was in the power +of Omnipotence to convert the stony heart into one of flesh and +tenderness, and to raise the British metropolis out of the miry clay, and +place it on a hill, as a city that could not be hid; which Mrs. Glibbans +was so thankful to hear, that, as soon as he had left her, she took her +tea in a satisfactory frame of mind, and went the same night to Miss +Mally Glencairn to hear what Mrs. Pringle had said to her. No visit ever +happened more opportunely; for just as Mrs. Glibbans knocked at the door, +Miss Isabella Tod made her appearance. She had also received a letter +from Rachel, in which it will be seen that reference was made likewise to +Mrs. Pringle's epistle to Miss Mally. + + + +LETTER XIX + + + _Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod_ + LONDON. + +MY DEAR BELL--How delusive are the flatteries of fortune! The wealth +that has been showered upon us, beyond all our hopes, has brought no +pleasure to my heart, and I pour my unavailing sighs for your absence, +when I would communicate the cause of my unhappiness. Captain Sabre has +been most assiduous in his attentions, and I must confess to your +sympathising bosom, that I do begin to find that he has an interest in +mine. But my mother will not listen to his proposals, nor allow me to +give him any encouragement, till the fatal legacy is settled. What can +be her motive for this, I am unable to divine; for the captain's fortune +is far beyond what I could ever have expected without the legacy, and +equal to all I could hope for with it. If, therefore, there is any doubt +of the legacy being paid, she should allow me to accept him; and if there +is none, what can I do better? In the meantime, we are going about +seeing the sights; but the general mourning is a great drawback on the +splendour of gaiety. It ends, however, next Sunday; and then the ladies, +like the spring flowers, will be all in full blossom. I was with the +Argents at the opera on Saturday last, and it far surpassed my ideas of +grandeur. But the singing was not good--I never could make out the end +or the beginning of a song, and it was drowned with the violins; the +scenery, however, was lovely; but I must not say a word about the +dancers, only that the females behaved in a manner so shocking, that I +could scarcely believe it was possible for the delicacy of our sex to do. +They are, however, all foreigners, who are, you know, naturally of a +licentious character, especially the French women. + +We have taken an elegant house in Baker Street, where we go on Monday +next, and our own new carriage is to be home in the course of the week. +All this, which has been done by the advice of Mrs. Argent, gives my +mother great uneasiness, in case anything should yet happen to the +legacy. My brother, however, who knows the law better than her, only +laughs at her fears, and my father has found such a wonderful deal to do +in religion here, that he is quite delighted, and is busy from morning to +night in writing letters, and giving charitable donations. I am soon to +be no less busy, but in another manner. Mrs. Argent has advised us to +get in accomplished masters for me, so that, as soon as we are removed +into our own local habitation, I am to begin with drawing and music, and +the foreign languages. I am not, however, to learn much of the piano; +Mrs. A. thinks it would take up more time than I can now afford; but I am +to be cultivated in my singing, and she is to try if the master that +taught Miss Stephens has an hour to spare--and to use her influence to +persuade him to give it to me, although he only receives pupils for +perfectioning, except they belong to families of distinction. + +My brother had a hankering to be made a member of Parliament, and got Mr. +Charles Argent to speak to my father about it, but neither he nor my +mother would hear of such a thing, which I was very sorry for, as it +would have been so convenient to me for getting franks; and I wonder my +mother did not think of that, as she grudges nothing so much as the price +of postage. But nothing do I grudge so little, especially when it is a +letter from you. Why do you not write me oftener, and tell me what is +saying about us, particularly by that spiteful toad, Becky Glibbans, who +never could hear of any good happening to her acquaintance, without being +as angry as if it was obtained at her own expense? + +I do not like Miss Argent so well on acquaintance as I did at first; not +that she is not a very fine lassie, but she gives herself such airs at +the harp and piano--because she can play every sort of music at the first +sight, and sing, by looking at the notes, any song, although she never +heard it, which may be very well in a play-actor, or a governess, that +has to win her bread by music; but I think the education of a modest +young lady might have been better conducted. + +Through the civility of the Argents, we have been introduced to a great +number of families, and been much invited; but all the parties are so +ceremonious, that I am never at my ease, which my brother says is owing +to my rustic education, which I cannot understand; for, although the +people are finer dressed, and the dinners and rooms grander than what I +have seen, either at Irvine or Kilmarnock, the company are no wiser; and +I have not met with a single literary character among them. And what are +ladies and gentlemen without mind, but a well-dressed mob! It is to mind +alone that I am at all disposed to pay the homage of diffidence. + +The acquaintance of the Argents are all of the first circle, and we have +got an invitation to a route from the Countess of J---y, in consequence +of meeting her with them. She is a charming woman, and I anticipate +great pleasure. Miss Argent says, however, she is ignorant and +presuming; but how is it possible that she can be so, as she was an +earl's daughter, and bred up for distinction? Miss Argent may be +presuming, but a countess is necessarily above that, at least it would +only become a duchess or marchioness to say so. This, however, is not +the only occasion in which I have seen the detractive disposition of that +young lady, who, with all her simplicity of manners and great +accomplishments, is, you will perceive, just like ourselves, rustic as +she doubtless thinks our breeding has been. + +I have observed that nobody in London inquires about who another is; and +that in company everyone is treated on an equality, unless when there is +some remarkable personal peculiarity, so that one really knows nothing of +those whom one meets. But my paper is full, and I must not take another +sheet, as my mother has a letter to send in the same frank to Miss Mally +Glencairn. Believe me, ever affectionately yours, + + RACHEL PRINGLE. + +The three ladies knew not very well what to make of this letter. They +thought there was a change in Rachel's ideas, and that it was not for the +better; and Miss Isabella expressed, with a sentiment of sincere sorrow, +that the acquisition of fortune seemed to have brought out some unamiable +traits in her character, which, perhaps, had she not been exposed to the +companions and temptations of the great world, would have slumbered, +unfelt by herself, and unknown to her friends. + +Mrs. Glibbans declared, that it was a waking of original sin, which the +iniquity of London was bringing forth, as the heat of summer causes the +rosin and sap to issue from the bark of the tree. In the meantime, Miss +Mally had opened her letter, of which we subjoin a copy. + + + +LETTER XX + + + _Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn_ + LONDON. + +DEAR MISS MALLY--I greatly stand in need of your advise and counsel at +this time. The Doctor's affair comes on at a fearful slow rate, and the +money goes like snow off a dyke. It is not to be told what has been paid +for legacy-duty, and no legacy yet in hand; and we have been obligated to +lift a whole hundred pounds out of the residue, and what that is to be +the Lord only knows. But Miss Jenny Macbride, she has got her thousand +pound, all in one bank bill, sent to her; Thomas Bowie, the doctor in +Ayr, he has got his five hundred pounds; and auld Nanse Sorrel, that was +nurse to the cornal, she has got the first year of her twenty pounds a +year; but we have gotten nothing, and I jealouse, that if things go on at +this rate, there will be nothing to get; and what will become of us then, +after all the trubble and outlay that we have been pot too by this coming +to London? + +Howsomever, this is the black side of the story; for Mr. Charles Argent, +in a jocose way, proposed to get Andrew made a Parliament member for +three thousand pounds, which he said was cheap; and surely he would not +have thought of such a thing, had he not known that Andrew would have the +money to pay for't; and, over and above this, Mrs. Argent has been +recommending Captain Sabre to me for Rachel, and she says he is a stated +gentleman, with two thousand pounds rental, and her nephew; and surely +she would not think Rachel a match for him, unless she had an inkling +from her gudeman of what Rachel's to get. But I have told her that we +would think of nothing of the sort till the counts war settled, which she +may tell to her gudeman, and if he approves the match, it will make him +hasten on the settlement, for really I am growing tired of this London, +whar I am just like a fish out of the water. The Englishers are sae +obstinate in their own way, that I can get them to do nothing like +Christians; and, what is most provoking of all, their ways are very good +when you know them; but they have no instink to teach a body how to learn +them. Just this very morning, I told the lass to get a jiggot of mutton +for the morn's dinner, and she said there was not such a thing to be had +in London, and threeppit it till I couldna stand her; and, had it not +been that Mr. Argent's French servan' man happened to come with a cart, +inviting us to a ball, and who understood what a jiggot was, I might have +reasoned till the day of doom without redress. As for the Doctor, I +declare he's like an enchantit person, for he has falling in with a party +of the elect here, as he says, and they have a kilfud yoking every +Thursday at the house of Mr. W---, where the Doctor has been, and was +asked to pray, and did it with great effec, which has made him so up in +the buckle, that he does nothing but go to Bible soceeyetis, and +mishonary meetings, and cherity sarmons, which cost a poor of money. + +But what consarns me more than all is, that the temptations of this +vanity fair have turnt the head of Andrew, and he has bought two horses, +with an English man-servan', which you know is an eating moth. But how +he payt for them, and whar he is to keep them, is past the compass of my +understanding. In short, if the legacy does not cast up soon, I see +nothing left for us but to leave the world as a legacy to you all, for my +heart will be broken--and I often wish that the cornel hadna made us his +residees, but only given us a clean scorn, like Miss Jenny Macbride, +although it had been no more; for, my dear Miss Mally, it does not doo +for a woman of my time of life to be taken out of her element, and, +instead of looking after her family with a thrifty eye, to be sitting +dressed all day seeing the money fleeing like sclate stanes. But what I +have to tell is worse than all this; we have been persuaded to take a +furnisht house, where we go on Monday; and we are to pay for it, for +three months, no less than a hundred and fifty pounds, which is more than +the half of the Doctor's whole stipend is, when the meal is twenty-pence +the peck; and we are to have three servan' lassies, besides Andrew's man, +and the coachman that we have hired altogether for ourselves, having been +persuaded to trist a new carriage of our own by the Argents, which I +trust the Argents will find money to pay for; and masters are to come in +to teach Rachel the fasionable accomplishments, Mrs. Argent thinking she +was rather old now to be sent to a boarding-school. But what I am to get +to do for so many vorashous servants, is dreadful to think, there being +no such thing as a wheel within the four walls of London; and, if there +was, the Englishers no nothing about spinning. In short, Miss Mally, I +am driven dimentit, and I wish I could get the Doctor to come home with +me to our manse, and leave all to Andrew and Rachel, with kurators; but, +as I said, he's as mickle bye himself as onybody, and says that his +candle has been hidden under a bushel at Garnock more than thirty years, +which looks as if the poor man was fey; howsomever, he's happy in his +delooshon, for if he was afflictit with that forethought and wisdom that +I have, I know not what would be the upshot of all this calamity. But we +maun hope for the best; and, happen what will, I am, dear Miss Mally, +your sincere friend, + + JANET PRINGLE. + +Miss Mally sighed as she concluded, and said, "Riches do not always bring +happiness, and poor Mrs. Pringle would have been far better looking after +her cows and her butter, and keeping her lassies at their wark, than with +all this galravitching and grandeur." "Ah!" added Mrs. Glibbans, "she's +now a testifyer to the truth--she's now a testifyer; happy it will be for +her if she's enabled to make a sanctified use of the dispensation." + + + + +CHAPTER VII--DISCOVERIES AND REBELLIONS + + +One evening as Mr. Snodgrass was taking a solitary walk towards Irvine, +for the purpose of calling on Miss Mally Glencairn, to inquire what had +been her latest accounts from their mutual friends in London, and to read +to her a letter, which he had received two days before, from Mr. Andrew +Pringle, he met, near Eglintoun Gates, that pious woman, Mrs. Glibbans, +coming to Garnock, brimful of some most extraordinary intelligence. The +air was raw and humid, and the ways were deep and foul; she was, however, +protected without, and tempered within, against the dangers of both. +Over her venerable satin mantle, lined with cat-skin, she wore a scarlet +duffle Bath cloak, with which she was wont to attend the tent sermons of +the Kilwinning and Dreghorn preachings in cold and inclement weather. +Her black silk petticoat was pinned up, that it might not receive injury +from the nimble paddling of her short steps in the mire; and she carried +her best shoes and stockings in a handkerchief to be changed at the +manse, and had fortified her feet for the road in coarse worsted hose, +and thick plain-soled leather shoes. + +Mr. Snodgrass proposed to turn back with her, but she would not permit +him. "No, sir," said she, "what I am about you cannot meddle in. You +are here but a stranger--come to-day, and gane to-morrow;--and it does +not pertain to you to sift into the doings that have been done before +your time. Oh dear; but this is a sad thing--nothing like it since the +silencing of M'Auly of Greenock. What will the worthy Doctor say when he +hears tell o't? Had it fa'n out with that neighering body, James Daff, I +wouldna hae car't a snuff of tobacco, but wi' Mr. Craig, a man so gifted +wi' the power of the Spirit, as I hae often had a delightful experience! +Ay, ay, Mr. Snodgrass, take heed lest ye fall; we maun all lay it to +heart; but I hope the trooper is still within the jurisdiction of church +censures. She shouldna be spairt. Nae doubt, the fault lies with her, +and it is that I am going to search; yea, as with a lighted candle." + +Mr. Snodgrass expressed his inability to understand to what Mrs. Glibbans +alluded, and a very long and interesting disclosure took place, the +substance of which may be gathered from the following letter; the +immediate and instigating cause of the lady's journey to Garnock being +the alarming intelligence which she had that day received of Mr. Craig's +servant-damsel Betty having, by the style and title of Mrs. Craig, sent +for Nanse Swaddle, the midwife, to come to her in her own case, which +seemed to Mrs. Glibbans nothing short of a miracle, Betty having, the +very Sunday before, helped the kettle when she drank tea with Mr. Craig, +and sat at the room door, on a buffet-stool brought from the kitchen, +while he performed family worship, to the great solace and edification of +his visitor. + + + +LETTER XXI + + + _The Rev. Z. Pringle_, _D.D._, _to Mr. Micklewham_, _Schoolmaster and + Session-Clerk_, _Garnock_ + +DEAR SIR--I have received your letter of the 24th, which has given me a +great surprise to hear, that Mr. Craig was married as far back as +Christmas, to his own servant lass Betty, and me to know nothing of it, +nor you neither, until it was time to be speaking to the midwife. To be +sure, Mr. Craig, who is an elder, and a very rigid man, in his +animadversions on the immoralities that come before the session, must +have had his own good reasons for keeping his marriage so long a secret. +Tell him, however, from me, that I wish both him and Mrs. Craig much joy +and felicity; but he should be milder for the future on the +thoughtlessness of youth and headstrong passions. Not that I insinuate +that there has been any occasion in the conduct of such a godly man to +cause a suspicion; but it's wonderful how he was married in December, and +I cannot say that I am altogether so proud to hear it as I am at all +times of the well-doing of my people. Really the way that Mr. Daff has +comported himself in this matter is greatly to his credit; and I doubt if +the thing had happened with him, that Mr. Craig would have sifted with a +sharp eye how he came to be married in December, and without bridal and +banquet. For my part, I could not have thought it of Mr. Craig, but it's +done now, and the less we say about it the better; so I think with Mr. +Daff, that it must be looked over; but when I return, I will speak both +to the husband and wife, and not without letting them have an inkling of +what I think about their being married in December, which was a great +shame, even if there was no sin in it. But I will say no more; for +truly, Mr. Micklewham, the longer we live in this world, and the farther +we go, and the better we know ourselves, the less reason have we to think +slightingly of our neighbours; but the more to convince our hearts and +understandings, that we are all prone to evil, and desperately wicked. +For where does hypocrisy not abound? and I have had my own experience +here, that what a man is to the world, and to his own heart, is a very +different thing. + +In my last letter, I gave you a pleasing notification of the growth, as I +thought, of spirituality in this Babylon of deceitfulness, thinking that +you and my people would be gladdened with the tidings of the repute and +estimation in which your minister was held, and I have dealt largely in +the way of public charity. But I doubt that I have been governed by a +spirit of ostentation, and not with that lowly-mindedness, without which +all almsgiving is but a serving of the altars of Belzebub; for the +chastening hand has been laid upon me, but with the kindness and pity +which a tender father hath for his dear children. + +I was requested by those who come so cordially to me with their +subscription papers, for schools and suffering worth, to preach a sermon +to get a collection. I have no occasion to tell you, that when I exert +myself, what effect I can produce; and I never made so great an exertion +before, which in itself was a proof that it was with the two bladders, +pomp and vanity, that I had committed myself to swim on the uncertain +waters of London; for surely my best exertions were due to my people. +But when the Sabbath came upon which I was to hold forth, how were my +hopes withered, and my expectations frustrated. Oh, Mr. Micklewham, what +an inattentive congregation was yonder! many slumbered and slept, and I +sowed the words of truth and holiness in vain upon their barren and +stoney hearts. There is no true grace among some that I shall not name, +for I saw them whispering and smiling like the scorners, and altogether +heedless unto the precious things of my discourse, which could not have +been the case had they been sincere in their professions, for I never +preached more to my own satisfaction on any occasion whatsoever--and, +when I return to my own parish, you shall hear what I said, as I will +preach the same sermon over again, for I am not going now to print it, as +I did once think of doing, and to have dedicated it to Mr. W---. + +We are going about in an easy way, seeing what is to be seen in the shape +of curiosities; but the whole town is in a state of ferment with the +election of members to Parliament. I have been to see't, both in the +Guildhall and at Covent Garden, and it's a frightful thing to see how the +Radicals roar like bulls of Bashan, and put down the speakers in behalf +of the government. I hope no harm will come of yon, but I must say, that +I prefer our own quiet canny Scotch way at Irvine. Well do I remember, +for it happened in the year I was licensed, that the town council, the +Lord Eglinton that was shot being then provost, took in the late Thomas +Bowet to be a counsellor; and Thomas, not being versed in election +matters, yet minding to please his lordship (for, like the rest of the +council, he had always a proper veneration for those in power), he, as I +was saying, consulted Joseph Boyd the weaver, who was then Dean of Guild, +as to the way of voting; whereupon Joseph, who was a discreet man, said +to him, "Ye'll just say as I say, and I'll say what Bailie Shaw says, for +he will do what my lord bids him"; which was as peaceful a way of sending +up a member to Parliament as could well be devised. + +But you know that politics are far from my hand--they belong to the +temporalities of the community; and the ministers of peace and goodwill +to man should neither make nor meddle with them. I wish, however, that +these tumultuous elections were well over, for they have had an effect on +the per cents, where our bit legacy is funded; and it would terrify you +to hear what we have thereby already lost. We have not, however, lost so +much but that I can spare a little to the poor among my people; so you +will, in the dry weather, after the seed-time, hire two-three thackers to +mend the thack on the roofs of such of the cottars' houses as stand in +need of mending, and banker M---y will pay the expense; and I beg you to +go to him on receipt hereof, for he has a line for yourself, which you +will be sure to accept as a testimony from me for the great trouble that +my absence from the parish has given to you among my people, and I am, +dear sir, your friend and pastor, + + Z. PRINGLE. + +As Mrs. Glibbans would not permit Mr. Snodgrass to return with her to the +manse, he pursued his journey alone to the Kirkgate of Irvine, where he +found Miss Mally Glencairn on the eve of sitting down to her solitary +tea. On seeing her visitor enter, after the first compliments on the +state of health and weather were over, she expressed her hopes that he +had not drank tea; and, on receiving a negative, which she did not quite +expect, as she thought he had been perhaps invited by some of her +neighbours, she put in an additional spoonful on his account; and brought +from her corner cupboard with the glass door, an ancient French +pickle-bottle, in which she had preserved, since the great tea-drinking +formerly mentioned, the remainder of the two ounces of carvey, the best, +Mrs. Nanse bought for that memorable occasion. A short conversation then +took place relative to the Pringles; and, while the tea was masking, for +Miss Mally said it took a long time to draw, she read to him the +following letter:-- + + + +LETTER XXII + + + _Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn_ + +MY DEAR MISS MALLY--Trully, it may be said, that the croun of England is +upon the downfal, and surely we are all seething in the pot of +revolution, for the scum is mounting uppermost. Last week, no farther +gone than on Mononday, we came to our new house heer in Baker Street, but +it's nather to be bakit nor brewt what I hav sin syne suffert. You no my +way, and that I like a been house, but no wastrie, and so I needna tell +yoo, that we hav had good diners; to be sure, there was not a meerakle +left to fill five baskets every day, but an abundance, with a proper +kitchen of breed, to fill the bellies of four dumasticks. Howsomever, lo +and behold, what was clecking downstairs. On Saturday morning, as we +were sitting at our breakfast, the Doctor reading the newspapers, who +shoud corn intil the room but Andrew's grum, follo't by the rest, to give +us warning that they were all going to quat our sairvice, becas they were +starvit. I thocht that I would hav fentit cauld deed, but the Doctor, +who is a consiederat man, inquairt what made them starve, and then there +was such an opprobrious cry about cold meet and bare bones, and no beer. +It was an evendoun resurection--a rebellion waur than the forty-five. In +short, Miss Mally, to make a leettle of a lang tail, they would have a +hot joint day and day about, and a tree of yill to stand on the gauntress +for their draw and drink, with a cock and a pail; and we were obligated +to evacuate to their terms, and to let them go to their wark with flying +colors; so you see how dangerous it is to live among this piple, and +their noshans of liberty. + +You will see by the newspapers that ther's a lection going on for +parliament. It maks my corruption to rise to hear of such doings, and if +I was a government as I'm but a woman, I woud put them doon with the +strong hand, just to be revenged on the proud stomaks of these het and +fou English. + +We have gotten our money in the pesents put into our name; but I have had +no peese since, for they have fallen in price three eight parts, which is +very near a half, and if they go at this rate, where will all our legacy +soon be? I have no goo of the pesents; so we are on the look-out for a +landed estate, being a shure thing. + +Captain Saber is still sneking after Rachel, and if she were awee +perfited in her accomplugments, it's no saying what might happen, for +he's a fine lad, but she's o'er young to be the heed of a family. +Howsomever, the Lord's will maun be done, and if there is to be a match, +she'll no have to fight for gentility with a straitent circumstance. + +As for Andrew, I wish he was weel settlt, and we have our hopes that he's +beginning to draw up with Miss Argent, who will have, no doobt, a great +fortune, and is a treasure of a creeture in herself, being just as simple +as a lamb; but, to be sure, she has had every advantage of edication, +being brought up in a most fashonible boarding-school. + +I hope you have got the box I sent by the smak, and that you like the +patron of the goon. So no more at present, but remains, dear Miss Mally, +your sinsaire friend, + + JANET PRINGLE. + +"The box," said Miss Mally, "that Mrs. Pringle speaks about came last +night. It contains a very handsome present to me and to Miss Bell Tod. +The gift to me is from Mrs. P. herself, and Miss Bell's from Rachel; but +that ettercap, Becky Glibbans, is flying through the town like a spunky, +mislikening the one and misca'ing the other: everybody, however, kens +that it's only spite that gars her speak. It's a great pity that she +cou'dna be brought to a sense of religion like her mother, who, in her +younger days, they say, wasna to seek at a clashing." + +Mr. Snodgrass expressed his surprise at this account of the faults of +that exemplary lady's youth; but he thought of her holy anxiety to sift +into the circumstances of Betty, the elder's servant, becoming in one day +Mrs. Craig, and the same afternoon sending for the midwife, and he +prudently made no other comment; for the characters of all preachers were +in her hands, and he had the good fortune to stand high in her favour, as +a young man of great promise. In order, therefore, to avoid any +discussion respecting moral merits, he read the following letter from +Andrew Pringle:-- + + + +LETTER XXIII + + + _Andrew Pringle_, _Esq._, _to the Reverend Charles Snodgrass_ + +MY DEAR FRIEND--London undoubtedly affords the best and the worst +specimens of the British character; but there is a certain townish +something about the inhabitants in general, of which I find it extremely +difficult to convey any idea. Compared with the English of the country, +there is apparently very little difference between them; but still there +is a difference, and of no small importance in a moral point of view. +The country peculiarity is like the bloom of the plumb, or the down of +the peach, which the fingers of infancy cannot touch without injuring; +but this felt but not describable quality of the town character, is as +the varnish which brings out more vividly the colours of a picture, and +which may be freely and even rudely handled. The women, for example, +although as chaste in principle as those of any other community, possess +none of that innocent untempted simplicity, which is more than half the +grace of virtue; many of them, and even young ones too, "in the first +freshness of their virgin beauty," speak of the conduct and vocation of +"the erring sisters of the sex," in a manner that often amazes me, and +has, in more than one instance, excited unpleasant feelings towards the +fair satirists. This moral taint, for I can consider it as nothing less, +I have heard defended, but only by men who are supposed to have had a +large experience of the world, and who, perhaps, on that account, are not +the best judges of female delicacy. "Every woman," as Pope says, "may be +at heart a rake"; but it is for the interests of the domestic affections, +which are the very elements of virtue, to cherish the notion, that women, +as they are physically more delicate than men, are also so morally. + +But the absence of delicacy, the bloom of virtue, is not peculiar to the +females, it is characteristic of all the varieties of the metropolitan +mind. The artifices of the medical quacks are things of universal +ridicule; but the sin, though in a less gross form, pervades the whole of +that sinister system by which much of the superiority of this vast +metropolis is supported. The state of the periodical press, that great +organ of political instruction--the unruly tongue of liberty, strikingly +confirms the justice of this misanthropic remark. + +G--- had the kindness, by way of a treat to me, to collect, the other +day, at dinner, some of the most eminent editors of the London journals. +I found them men of talent, certainly, and much more men of the world, +than "the cloistered student from his paling lamp"; but I was astonished +to find it considered, tacitly, as a sort of maxim among them, that an +intermediate party was not bound by any obligation of honour to withhold, +farther than his own discretion suggested, any information of which he +was the accidental depositary, whatever the consequences might be to his +informant, or to those affected by the communication. In a word, they +seemed all to care less about what might be true than what would produce +effect, and that effect for their own particular advantage. It is +impossible to deny, that if interest is made the criterion by which the +confidences of social intercourse are to be respected, the persons who +admit this doctrine will have but little respect for the use of names, or +deem it any reprehensible delinquency to suppress truth, or to blazon +falsehood. In a word, man in London is not quite so good a creature as +he is out of it. The rivalry of interests is here too intense; it +impairs the affections, and occasions speculations both in morals and +politics, which, I much suspect, it would puzzle a casuist to prove +blameless. Can anything, for example, be more offensive to the calm +spectator, than the elections which are now going on? Is it possible +that this country, so much smaller in geographical extent than France, +and so inferior in natural resources, restricted too by those ties and +obligations which were thrown off as fetters by that country during the +late war, could have attained, in despite of her, such a lofty +pre-eminence--become the foremost of all the world--had it not been +governed in a manner congenial to the spirit of the people, and with +great practical wisdom? It is absurd to assert, that there are no +corruptions in the various modifications by which the affairs of the +British empire are administered; but it would be difficult to show, that, +in the present state of morals and interests among mankind, corruption is +not a necessary evil. I do not mean necessary, as evolved from those +morals and interests, but necessary to the management of political +trusts. I am afraid, however, to insist on this, as the natural +integrity of your own heart, and the dignity of your vocation, will alike +induce you to condemn it as Machiavellian. It is, however, an +observation forced on me by what I have seen here. + +It would be invidious, perhaps, to criticise the different candidates for +the representation of London and Westminster very severely. I think it +must be granted, that they are as sincere in their professions as their +opponents, which at least bleaches away much of that turpitude of which +their political conduct is accused by those who are of a different way of +thinking. But it is quite evident, at least to me, that no government +could exist a week, managed with that subjection to public opinion to +which Sir Francis Burdett and Mr. Hobhouse apparently submit; and it is +no less certain, that no government ought to exist a single day that +would act in complete defiance of public opinion. + +I was surprised to find Sir Francis Burdett an uncommonly mild and +gentlemanly-looking man. I had pictured somehow to my imagination a dark +and morose character; but, on the contrary, in his appearance, +deportment, and manner of speaking, he is eminently qualified to attract +popular applause. His style of speaking is not particularly oratorical, +but he has the art of saying bitter things in a sweet way. In his +language, however, although pungent, and sometimes even eloquent, he is +singularly incorrect. He cannot utter a sequence of three sentences +without violating common grammar in the most atrocious way; and his +tropes and figures are so distorted, hashed, and broken--such a patchwork +of different patterns, that you are bewildered if you attempt to make +them out; but the earnestness of his manner, and a certain fitness of +character, in his observations a kind of Shaksperian pithiness, redeem +all this. Besides, his manifold blunders of syntax do not offend the +taste of those audiences where he is heard with the most approbation. + +Hobhouse speaks more correctly, but he lacks in the conciliatory +advantages of personal appearance; and his physiognomy, though indicating +considerable strength of mind, is not so prepossessing. He is evidently +a man of more education than his friend, that is, of more reading, +perhaps also of more various observation, but he has less genius. His +tact is coarser, and though he speaks with more vehemence, he seldomer +touches the sensibilities of his auditors. He may have observed mankind +in general more extensively than Sir Francis, but he is far less +acquainted with the feelings and associations of the English mind. There +is also a wariness about him, which I do not like so well as the +imprudent ingenuousness of the baronet. He seems to me to have a cause +in hand--Hobhouse _versus_ Existing Circumstances--and that he considers +the multitude as the jurors, on whose decision his advancement in life +depends. But in this I may be uncharitable. I should, however, think +more highly of his sincerity as a patriot, if his stake in the country +were greater; and yet I doubt, if his stake were greater, if he is that +sort of man who would have cultivated popularity in Westminster. He +seems to me to have qualified himself for Parliament as others do for the +bar, and that he will probably be considered in the House for some time +merely as a political adventurer. But if he has the talent and prudence +requisite to ensure distinction in the line of his profession, the +mediocrity of his original condition will reflect honour on his success, +should he hereafter acquire influence and consideration as a statesman. +Of his literary talents I know you do not think very highly, nor am I +inclined to rank the powers of his mind much beyond those of any common +well-educated English gentleman. But it will soon be ascertained whether +his pretensions to represent Westminster be justified by a sense of +conscious superiority, or only prompted by that ambition which overleaps +itself. + +Of Wood, who was twice Lord Mayor, I know not what to say. There is a +queer and wily cast in his pale countenance, that puzzles me exceedingly. +In common parlance I would call him an empty vain creature; but when I +look at that indescribable spirit, which indicates a strange and +out-of-the-way manner of thinking, I humbly confess that he is no common +man. He is evidently a person of no intellectual accomplishments; he has +neither the language nor the deportment of a gentleman, in the usual +understanding of the term; and yet there is something that I would almost +call genius about him. It is not cunning, it is not wisdom, it is far +from being prudence, and yet it is something as wary as prudence, as +effectual as wisdom, and not less sinister than cunning. I would call it +intuitive skill, a sort of instinct, by which he is enabled to attain his +ends in defiance of a capacity naturally narrow, a judgment that topples +with vanity, and an address at once mean and repulsive. To call him a +great man, in any possible approximation of the word, would be +ridiculous; that he is a good one, will be denied by those who envy his +success, or hate his politics; but nothing, save the blindness of +fanaticism, can call in question his possession of a rare and singular +species of ability, let it be exerted in what cause it may. But my paper +is full, and I have only room to subscribe myself, faithfully, yours, + + A. PRINGLE. + +"It appears to us," said Mr. Snodgrass, as he folded up the letter to +return it to his pocket, "that the Londoners, with all their advantages +of information, are neither purer nor better than their fellow-subjects +in the country." "As to their betterness," replied Miss Mally, "I have a +notion that they are far waur; and I hope you do not think that earthly +knowledge of any sort has a tendency to make mankind, or womankind +either, any better; for was not Solomon, who had more of it than any +other man, a type and testification, that knowledge without grace is but +vanity?" The young clergyman was somewhat startled at this application +of a remark on which he laid no particular stress, and was thankful in +his heart that Mrs. Glibbans was not present. He was not aware that Miss +Mally had an orthodox corn, or bunyan, that could as little bear a touch +from the royne-slippers of philosophy, as the inflamed gout of polemical +controversy, which had gumfiated every mental joint and member of that +zealous prop of the Relief Kirk. This was indeed the tender point of +Miss Mally's character; for she was left unplucked on the stalk of single +blessedness, owing entirely to a conversation on this very subject with +the only lover she ever had, Mr. Dalgliesh, formerly helper in the +neighbouring parish of Dintonknow. He happened incidentally to observe, +that education was requisite to promote the interests of religion. But +Miss Mally, on that occasion, jocularly maintained, that education had +only a tendency to promote the sale of books. This, Mr. Dalgliesh +thought, was a sneer at himself, he having some time before unfortunately +published a short tract, entitled, "The moral union of our temporal and +eternal interests considered, with respect to the establishment of +parochial seminaries," and which fell still-born from the press. He +therefore retorted with some acrimony, until, from less to more, Miss +Mally ordered him to keep his distance; upon which he bounced out of the +room, and they were never afterwards on speaking terms. Saving, however, +and excepting this particular dogma, Miss Mally was on all other topics +as liberal and beneficent as could be expected from a maiden lady, who +was obliged to eke out her stinted income with a nimble needle and a +close-clipping economy. The conversation with Mr. Snodgrass was not, +however, lengthened into acrimony; for immediately after the remark which +we have noticed, she proposed that they should call on Miss Isabella Tod +to see Rachel's letter; indeed, this was rendered necessary by the state +of the fire, for after boiling the kettle she had allowed it to fall low. +It was her nightly practice after tea to take her evening seam, in a +friendly way, to some of her neighbours' houses, by which she saved both +coal and candle, while she acquired the news of the day, and was +occasionally invited to stay supper. + +On their arrival at Mrs. Tod's, Miss Isabella understood the purport of +their visit, and immediately produced her letter, receiving, at the same +time, a perusal of Mr. Andrew Pringle's. Mrs. Pringle's to Miss Mally +she had previously seen. + + + +LETTER XXIV + + + _Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod_ + +MY DEAR BELL--Since my last, we have undergone great changes and +vicissitudes. Last week we removed to our present house, which is +exceedingly handsome and elegantly furnished; and on Saturday there was +an insurrection of the servants, on account of my mother not allowing +them to have their dinners served up at the usual hour for servants at +other genteel houses. We have also had the legacy in the funds +transferred to my father, and only now wait the settling of the final +accounts, which will yet take some time. On the day that the transfer +took place, my mother made me a present of a twenty pound note, to lay +out in any way I thought fit, and in so doing, I could not but think of +you; I have, therefore, in a box which she is sending to Miss Mally +Glencairn, sent you an evening dress from Mrs. Bean's, one of the most +fashionable and tasteful dressmakers in town, which I hope you will wear +with pleasure for my sake. I have got one exactly like it, so that when +you see yourself in the glass, you will behold in what state I appeared +at Lady ---'s route. + +Ah! my dear Bell, how much are our expectations disappointed! How often +have we, with admiration and longing wonder, read the descriptions in the +newspapers of the fashionable parties in this great metropolis, and +thought of the Grecian lamps, the ottomans, the promenades, the +ornamented floors, the cut glass, the _coup d'oeil_, and the _tout +ensemble_. "Alas!" as Young the poet says, "the things unseen do not +deceive us." I have seen more beauty at an Irvine ball, than all the +fashionable world could bring to market at my Lady ---'s emporium for the +disposal of young ladies, for indeed I can consider it as nothing else. + +I went with the Argents. The hall door was open, and filled with the +servants in their state liveries; but although the door was open, the +porter, as each carriage came up, rung a peal upon the knocker, to +announce to all the square the successive arrival of the guests. We were +shown upstairs to the drawing-rooms. They were very well, but neither so +grand nor so great as I expected. As for the company, it was a +suffocating crowd of fat elderly gentlewomen, and misses that stood in +need of all the charms of their fortunes. One thing I could notice--for +the press was so great, little could be seen--it was, that the old ladies +wore rouge. The white satin sleeve of my dress was entirely ruined by +coming in contact with a little round, dumpling duchess's cheek--as +vulgar a body as could well be. She seemed to me to have spent all her +days behind a counter, smirking thankfulness to bawbee customers. + +When we had been shown in the drawing-rooms to the men for some time, we +then adjourned to the lower apartments, where the refreshments were set +out. This, I suppose, is arranged to afford an opportunity to the beaux +to be civil to the belles, and thereby to scrape acquaintance with those +whom they approve, by assisting them to the delicacies. Altogether, it +was a very dull well-dressed affair, and yet I ought to have been in good +spirits, for Sir Marmaduke Towler, a great Yorkshire baronet, was most +particular in his attentions to me; indeed so much so, that I saw it made +poor Sabre very uneasy. I do not know why it should, for I have given +him no positive encouragement to hope for anything; not that I have the +least idea that the baronet's attentions were more than commonplace +politeness, but he has since called. I cannot, however, say that my +vanity is at all flattered by this circumstance. At the same time, there +surely could be no harm in Sir Marmaduke making me an offer, for you know +I am not bound to accept it. Besides, my father does not like him, and +my mother thinks he's a fortune-hunter; but I cannot conceive how that +may be, for, on the contrary, he is said to be rather extravagant. + +Before we return to Scotland, it is intended that we shall visit some of +the watering-places; and, perhaps, if Andrew can manage it with my +father, we may even take a trip to Paris. The Doctor himself is not +averse to it, but my mother is afraid that a new war may break out, and +that we may be detained prisoners. This fantastical fear we shall, +however, try to overcome. But I am interrupted. Sir Marmaduke is in the +drawing-room, and I am summoned.--Yours truly, + + RACHEL PRINGLE. + +When Mr. Snodgrass had read this letter, he paused for a moment, and then +said dryly, in handing it to Miss Isabella, "Miss Pringle is improving in +the ways of the world." + +The evening by this time was far advanced, and the young clergyman was +not desirous to renew the conversation; he therefore almost immediately +took his leave, and walked sedately towards Garnock, debating with +himself as he went along, whether Dr. Pringle's family were likely to be +benefited by their legacy. But he had scarcely passed the minister's +carse, when he met with Mrs. Glibbans returning. "Mr. Snodgrass! Mr. +Snodgrass!" cried that ardent matron from her side of the road to the +other where he was walking, and he obeyed her call; "yon's no sic a black +story as I thought. Mrs. Craig is to be sure far gane! but they were +married in December; and it was only because she was his servan' lass +that the worthy man didna like to own her at first for his wife. It +would have been dreadful had the matter been jealoused at the first. She +gaed to Glasgow to see an auntie that she has there, and he gaed in to +fetch her out, and it was then the marriage was made up, which I was glad +to hear; for, oh, Mr. Snodgrass, it would have been an awfu' judgment had +a man like Mr. Craig turn't out no better than a Tam Pain or a Major +Weir. But a's for the best; and Him that has the power of salvation can +blot out all our iniquities. So good-night--ye'll have a lang walk." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--THE QUEEN'S TRIAL + + +As the spring advanced, the beauty of the country around Garnock was +gradually unfolded; the blossom was unclosed, while the church was +embraced within the foliage of more umbrageous boughs. The schoolboys +from the adjacent villages were, on the Saturday afternoons, frequently +seen angling along the banks of the Lugton, which ran clearer beneath the +churchyard wall, and the hedge of the minister's glebe; and the evenings +were so much lengthened, that the occasional visitors at the manse could +prolong their walk after tea. These, however, were less numerous than +when the family were at home; but still Mr. Snodgrass, when the weather +was fine, had no reason to deplore the loneliness of his bachelor's +court. + +It happened that, one fair and sunny afternoon, Miss Mally Glencairn and +Miss Isabella Tod came to the manse. Mrs. Glibbans and her daughter +Becky were the same day paying their first ceremonious visit, as the +matron called it, to Mr. and Mrs. Craig, with whom the whole party were +invited to take tea; and, for lack of more amusing chit-chat, the +Reverend young gentleman read to them the last letter which he had +received from Mr. Andrew Pringle. It was conjured naturally enough out +of his pocket, by an observation of Miss Mally's "Nothing surprises me," +said that amiable maiden lady, "so much as the health and good-humour of +the commonality. It is a joyous refutation of the opinion, that the +comfort and happiness of this life depends on the wealth of worldly +possessions." + +"It is so," replied Mr. Snodgrass, "and I do often wonder, when I see the +blithe and hearty children of the cottars, frolicking in the abundance of +health and hilarity, where the means come from to enable their poor +industrious parents to supply their wants." + +"How can you wonder at ony sic things, Mr. Snodgrass? Do they not come +from on high," said Mrs. Glibbans, "whence cometh every good and perfect +gift? Is there not the flowers of the field, which neither card nor +spin, and yet Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of +these?" + +"I was not speaking in a spiritual sense," interrupted the other, "but +merely made the remark, as introductory to a letter which I have received +from Mr. Andrew Pringle, respecting some of the ways of living in +London." + +Mrs. Craig, who had been so recently translated from the kitchen to the +parlour, pricked up her ears at this, not doubting that the letter would +contain something very grand and wonderful, and exclaimed, "Gude safe's, +let's hear't--I'm unco fond to ken about London, and the king and the +queen; but I believe they are baith dead noo." + +Miss Becky Glibbans gave a satirical keckle at this, and showed her +superior learning, by explaining to Mrs. Craig the unbroken nature of the +kingly office. Mr. Snodgrass then read as follows:-- + + + +LETTER XXV + + + _Andrew Pringle_, _Esq._, _to the Rev. Charles Snodgrass_ + +MY DEAR FRIEND--You are not aware of the task you impose, when you +request me to send you some account of the general way of living in +London. Unless you come here, and actually experience yourself what I +would call the London ache, it is impossible to supply you with any +adequate idea of the necessity that exists in this wilderness of mankind, +to seek refuge in society, without being over fastidious with respect to +the intellectual qualifications of your occasional associates. In a +remote desart, the solitary traveller is subject to apprehensions of +danger; but still he is the most important thing "within the circle of +that lonely waste"; and the sense of his own dignity enables him to +sustain the shock of considerable hazard with spirit and fortitude. But, +in London, the feeling of self-importance is totally lost and suppressed +in the bosom of a stranger. A painful conviction of insignificance--of +nothingness, I may say--is sunk upon his heart, and murmured in his ear +by the million, who divide with him that consequence which he +unconsciously before supposed he possessed in a general estimate of the +world. While elbowing my way through the unknown multitude that flows +between Charing Cross and the Royal Exchange, this mortifying sense of my +own insignificance has often come upon me with the energy of a pang; and +I have thought, that, after all we can say of any man, the effect of the +greatest influence of an individual on society at large, is but as that +of a pebble thrown into the sea. Mathematically speaking, the +undulations which the pebble causes, continue until the whole mass of the +ocean has been disturbed to the bottom of its most secret depths and +farthest shores; and, perhaps, with equal truth it may be affirmed, that +the sentiments of the man of genius are also infinitely propagated; but +how soon is the physical impression of the one lost to every sensible +perception, and the moral impulse of the other swallowed up from all +practical effect. + +But though London, in the general, may be justly compared to the vast and +restless ocean, or to any other thing that is either sublime, +incomprehensible, or affecting, it loses all its influence over the +solemn associations of the mind when it is examined in its details. For +example, living on the town, as it is slangishly called, the most +friendless and isolated condition possible, is yet fraught with an +amazing diversity of enjoyment. Thousands of gentlemen, who have +survived the relish of active fashionable pursuits, pass their life in +that state without tasting the delight of one new sensation. They rise +in the morning merely because Nature will not allow them to remain longer +in bed. They begin the day without motive or purpose, and close it after +having performed the same unvaried round as the most thoroughbred +domestic animal that ever dwelt in manse or manor-house. If you ask them +at three o'clock where they are to dine, they cannot tell you; but about +the wonted dinner-hour, batches of these forlorn bachelors find +themselves diurnally congregated, as if by instinct, around a cozy table +in some snug coffee-house, where, after inspecting the contents of the +bill of fare, they discuss the news of the day, reserving the scandal, by +way of dessert, for their wine. Day after day their respective political +opinions give rise to keen encounters, but without producing the +slightest shade of change in any of their old ingrained and particular +sentiments. + +Some of their haunts, I mean those frequented by the elderly race, are +shabby enough in their appearance and circumstances, except perhaps in +the quality of the wine. Everything in them is regulated by an ancient +and precise economy, and you perceive, at the first glance, that all is +calculated on the principle of the house giving as much for the money as +it can possibly afford, without infringing those little etiquettes which +persons of gentlemanly habits regard as essentials. At half price the +junior members of these unorganised or natural clubs retire to the +theatres, while the elder brethren mend their potations till it is time +to go home. This seems a very comfortless way of life, but I have no +doubt it is the preferred result of a long experience of the world, and +that the parties, upon the whole, find it superior, according to their +early formed habits of dissipation and gaiety, to the sedate but not more +regular course of a domestic circle. + +The chief pleasure, however, of living on the town, consists in +accidentally falling in with persons whom it might be otherwise difficult +to meet in private life. I have several times enjoyed this. The other +day I fell in with an old gentleman, evidently a man of some consequence, +for he came to the coffee-house in his own carriage. It happened that we +were the only guests, and he proposed that we should therefore dine +together. In the course of conversation it came out, that he had been +familiarly acquainted with Garrick, and had frequented the Literary Club +in the days of Johnson and Goldsmith. In his youth, I conceive, he must +have been an amusing companion; for his fancy was exceedingly lively, and +his manners altogether afforded a very favourable specimen of the old, +the gentlemanly school. At an appointed hour his carriage came for him, +and we parted, perhaps never to meet again. + +Such agreeable incidents, however, are not common, as the frequenters of +the coffee-houses are, I think, usually taciturn characters, and averse +to conversation. I may, however, be myself in fault. Our countrymen in +general, whatever may be their address in improving acquaintance to the +promotion of their own interests, have not the best way, in the first +instance, of introducing themselves. A raw Scotchman, contrasted with a +sharp Londoner, is very inadroit and awkward, be his talents what they +may; and I suspect, that even the most brilliant of your old +class-fellows have, in their professional visits to this metropolis, had +some experience of what I mean. + + ANDREW PRINGLE. + +When Mr. Snodgrass paused, and was folding up the letter, Mrs. Craig, +bending with her hands on her knees, said, emphatically, "Noo, sir, what +think you of that?" He was not, however, quite prepared to give an +answer to a question so abruptly propounded, nor indeed did he exactly +understand to what particular the lady referred. "For my part," she +resumed, recovering her previous posture--"for my part, it's a very +caldrife way of life to dine every day on coffee; broth and beef would +put mair smeddum in the men; they're just a whin auld fogies that Mr. +Andrew describes, an' no wurth a single woman's pains." "Wheesht, +wheesht, mistress," cried Mr. Craig; "ye mauna let your tongue rin awa +with your sense in that gait." "It has but a light load," said Miss +Becky, whispering Isabella Tod. In this juncture, Mr. Micklewham +happened to come in, and Mrs. Craig, on seeing him, cried out, "I hope, +Mr. Micklewham, ye have brought the Doctor's letter. He's such a funny +man! and touches off the Londoners to the nines." + +"He's a good man," said Mrs. Glibbans, in a tone calculated to repress +the forwardness of Mrs. Craig; but Miss Mally Glencairn having, in the +meanwhile, taken from her pocket an epistle which she had received the +preceding day from Mrs. Pringle, Mr. Snodgrass silenced all controversy +on that score by requesting her to proceed with the reading. "She's a +clever woman, Mrs. Pringle," said Mrs. Craig, who was resolved to cut a +figure in the conversation in her own house. "She's a discreet woman, +and may be as godly, too, as some that make mair wark about the elect." +Whether Mrs. Glibbans thought this had any allusion to herself is not +susceptible of legal proof; but she turned round and looked at their +"most kind hostess" with a sneer that might almost merit the appellation +of a snort. Mrs. Craig, however, pacified her, by proposing, "that, +before hearing the letter, they should take a dram of wine, or pree her +cherry bounce"--adding, "our maister likes a been house, and ye a' ken +that we are providing for a handling." The wine was accordingly served, +and, in due time, Miss Mally Glencairn edified and instructed the party +with the contents of Mrs. Pringle's letter. + + + +LETTER XXVI + + + _Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn_ + +DEAR MISS MALLY--You will have heard, by the peppers, of the gret +hobbleshow heer aboot the queen's coming over contrary to the will of the +nation; and, that the king and parlement are so angry with her, that they +are going to put her away by giving to her a bill of divorce. The +Doctor, who has been searchin the Scriptures on the okashon, says this is +not in their poor, although she was found guilty of the fact; but I tell +him, that as the king and parlement of old took upon them to change our +religion, I do not see how they will be hampered now by the word of God. + +You may well wonder that I have no ritten to you about the king, and what +he is like, but we have never got a sight of him at all, whilk is a gret +shame, paying so dear as we do for a king, who shurely should be a publik +man. But, we have seen her majesty, who stays not far from our house +heer in Baker Street, in dry lodgings, which, I am creditably informed, +she is obligated to pay for by the week, for nobody will trust her; so +you see what it is, Miss Mally, to have a light character. Poor woman, +they say she might have been going from door to door, with a staff and a +meal pock, but for ane Mr. Wood, who is a baillie of London, that has +ta'en her by the hand. She's a woman advanced in life, with a short +neck, and a pentit face; housomever, that, I suppose, she canno help, +being a queen, and obligated to set the fashons to the court, where it is +necessar to hide their faces with pent, our Andrew says, that their looks +may not betray them--there being no shurer thing than a false-hearted +courtier. + +But what concerns me the most, in all this, is, that there will be no +coronashon till the queen is put out of the way--and nobody can take upon +them to say when that will be, as the law is so dootful and +endless--which I am verra sorry for, as it was my intent to rite Miss +Nanny Eydent a true account of the coronashon, in case there had been any +partiklars that might be servisable to her in her bisness. + +The Doctor and me, by ourselves, since we have been settlt, go about at +our convenience, and have seen far mae farlies than baith Andrew and +Rachel, with all the acquaintance they have forgathert with--but you no +old heeds canno be expectit on young shouthers, and they have not had the +experience of the world that we have had. + +The lamps in the streets here are lighted with gauze, and not with +crusies, like those that have lately been put up in your toun; and it is +brought in pips aneath the ground from the manufactors, which the Doctor +and me have been to see--an awful place--and they say as fey to a spark +as poother, which made us glad to get out o't when we heard so;--and we +have been to see a brew-house, where they mak the London porter, but it +is a sight not to be told. In it we saw a barrel, whilk the Doctor said +was by gauging bigger than the Irvine muckle kirk, and a masking fat, +like a barn for mugnited. But all thae were as nothing to a curiosity of +a steam-ingine, that minches minch collops as natural as life--and stuffs +the sosogees itself, in a manner past the poor of nature to consiv. They +have, to be shure, in London, many things to help work--for in our +kitchen there is a smoking-jack to roast the meat, that gangs of its oun +free will, and the brisker the fire, the faster it runs; but a +potatoe-beetle is not to be had within the four walls of London, which is +a great want in a house; Mrs. Argent never hard of sic a thing. + +Me and the Doctor have likewise been in the Houses of Parliament, and the +Doctor since has been again to heer the argol-bargoling aboot the queen. +But, cepting the king's throne, which is all gold and velvet, with a +croun on the top, and stars all round, there was nothing worth the +looking at in them baith. Howsomever, I sat in the king's seat, and in +the preses chair of the House of Commons, which, you no, is something for +me to say; and we have been to see the printing of books, where the very +smallest dividual syllib is taken up by itself and made into words by the +hand, so as to be quite confounding how it could ever read sense. But +there is ane piece of industry and froughgalaty I should not forget, +whilk is wives going about with whirl-barrows, selling horses' flesh to +the cats and dogs by weight, and the cats and dogs know them very well by +their voices. In short, Miss Mally, there is nothing heer that the hand +is not turnt to; and there is, I can see, a better order and method +really among the Londoners than among our Scotch folks, notwithstanding +their advantages of edicashion, but my pepper will hold no more at +present, from your true friend, + + JANET PRINGLE. + +There was a considerable diversity of opinion among the commentators on +this epistle. Mrs. Craig was the first who broke silence, and displayed +a great deal of erudition on the minch-collop-engine, and the +potatoe-beetle, in which she was interrupted by the indignant Mrs. +Glibbans, who exclaimed, "I am surprised to hear you, Mrs. Craig, speak +of sic baubles, when the word of God's in danger of being controverted by +an Act of Parliament. But, Mr. Snodgrass, dinna ye think that this +painting of the queen's face is a Jezebitical testification against her?" +Mr. Snodgrass replied, with an unwonted sobriety of manner, and with an +emphasis that showed he intended to make some impression on his +auditors--"It is impossible to judge correctly of strangers by measuring +them according to our own notions of propriety. It has certainly long +been a practice in courts to disfigure the beauty of the human +countenance with paint; but what, in itself, may have been originally +assumed for a mask or disguise, may, by usage, have grown into a very +harmless custom. I am not, therefore, disposed to attach any criminal +importance to the circumstance of her majesty wearing paint. Her late +majesty did so herself." "I do not say it was criminal," said Mrs. +Glibbans; "I only meant it was sinful, and I think it is." The accent of +authority in which this was said, prevented Mr. Snodgrass from offering +any reply; and, a brief pause ensuing, Miss Molly Glencairn observed, +that it was a surprising thing how the Doctor and Mrs. Pringle managed +their matters so well. "Ay," said Mrs. Craig, "but we a' ken what a +manager the mistress is--she's the bee that mak's the hincy--she does not +gang bizzing aboot, like a thriftless wasp, through her neighbours' +houses." "I tell you, Betty, my dear," cried Mr. Craig, "that you +shouldna make comparisons--what's past is gane--and Mrs. Glibbans and you +maun now be friends." "They're a' friends to me that's no faes, and am +very glad to see Mrs. Glibbans sociable in my house; but she needna hae +made sae light of me when she was here before." And, in saying this, the +amiable hostess burst into a loud sob of sorrow, which induced Mr. +Snodgrass to beg Mr. Micklewham to read the Doctor's letter, by which a +happy stop was put to the further manifestation of the grudge which Mrs. +Craig harboured against Mrs. Glibbans for the lecture she had received, +on what the latter called "the incarnated effect of a more than +Potipharian claught o' the godly Mr. Craig." + + + +LETTER XXVII + + + _The Rev. Z. Pringle_, _D.D._, _to Mr. Micklewham_, _Schoolmaster and + Session-Clerk of Garnock_ + +DEAR SIR--I had a great satisfaction in hearing that Mr. Snodgrass, in my +place, prays for the queen on the Lord's Day, which liberty, to do in our +national church, is a thing to be upholden with a fearless spirit, even +with the spirit of martyrdom, that we may not bow down in Scotland to the +prelatic Baal of an order in Council, whereof the Archbishop of +Canterbury, that is cousin-german to the Pope of Rome, is art and part. +Verily, the sending forth of that order to the General Assembly was +treachery to the solemn oath of the new king, whereby he took the vows +upon him, conform to the Articles of the Union, to maintain the Church of +Scotland as by law established, so that for the Archbishop of Canterbury +to meddle therein was a shooting out of the horns of aggressive +domination. + +I think it is right of me to testify thus much, through you, to the +Session, that the elders may stand on their posts to bar all such +breaking in of the Episcopalian boar into our corner of the vineyard. + +Anent the queen's case and condition, I say nothing; for be she guilty, +or be she innocent, we all know that she was born in sin, and brought +forth in iniquity--prone to evil, as the sparks fly upwards--and +desperately wicked, like you and me, or any other poor Christian sinner, +which is reason enough to make us think of her in the remembering prayer. + +Since she came over, there has been a wonderful work doing here; and it +is thought that the crown will be taken off her head by a strong handling +of the Parliament; and really, when I think of the bishops sitting high +in the peerage, like owls and rooks in the bartisans of an old tower, I +have my fears that they can bode her no good. I have seen them in the +House of Lords, clothed in their idolatrous robes; and when I looked at +them so proudly placed at the right hand of the king's throne, and on the +side of the powerful, egging on, as I saw one of them doing in a whisper, +the Lord Liverpool, before he rose to speak against the queen, the blood +ran cold in my veins, and I thought of their woeful persecutions of our +national church, and prayed inwardly that I might be keepit in the +humility of a zealous presbyter, and that the corruption of the frail +human nature within me might never be tempted by the pampered whoredoms +of prelacy. + +Saving the Lord Chancellor, all the other temporal peers were just as +they had come in from the crown of the causeway--none of them having a +judicial garment, which was a shame; and as for the Chancellor's long +robe, it was not so good as my own gown; but he is said to be a very +narrow man. What he spoke, however, was no doubt sound law; yet I could +observe he has a bad custom of taking the name of God in vain, which I +wonder at, considering he has such a kittle conscience, which, on less +occasions, causes him often to shed tears. + +Mrs. Pringle and me, by ourselves, had a fine quiet canny sight of the +queen, out of the window of a pastry baxter's shop, opposite to where her +majesty stays. She seems to be a plump and jocose little woman; gleg, +blithe, and throwgaun for her years, and on an easy footing with the +lower orders--coming to the window when they call for her, and becking to +them, which is very civil of her, and gets them to take her part against +the government. + +The baxter in whose shop we saw this told us that her majesty said, on +being invited to take her dinner at an inn on the road from Dover, that +she would be content with a mutton-chop at the King's Arms in London, {2} +which shows that she is a lady of a very hamely disposition. Mrs. +Pringle thought her not big enough for a queen; but we cannot expect +every one to be like that bright accidental star, Queen Elizabeth, whose +effigy we have seen preserved in armour in the Tower of London, and in +wax in Westminster Abbey, where they have a living-like likeness of Lord +Nelson, in the very identical regimentals that he was killed in. They +are both wonderful places, but it costs a power of money to get through +them, and all the folk about them think of nothing but money; for when I +inquired, with a reverent spirit, seeing around me the tombs of great and +famous men, the mighty and wise of their day, what department it was of +the Abbey--"It's the eighteenpence department," said an uncircumcised +Philistine, with as little respect as if we had been treading the courts +of the darling Dagon. + +Our concerns here are now drawing to a close; but before we return, we +are going for a short time to a town on the seaside, which they call +Brighton. We had a notion of taking a trip to Paris, but that we must +leave to Andrew Pringle, my son, and his sister Rachel, if the bit lassie +could get a decent gudeman, which maybe will cast up for her before we +leave London. Nothing, however, is settled as yet upon that head, so I +can say no more at present anent the same. + +Since the affair of the sermon, I have withdrawn myself from trafficking +so much as I did in the missionary and charitable ploys that are so in +vogue with the pious here, which will be all the better for my own +people, as I will keep for them what I was giving to the unknown; and it +is my design to write a book on almsgiving, to show in what manner that +Christian duty may be best fulfilled, which I doubt not will have the +effect of opening the eyes of many in London to the true nature of the +thing by which I was myself beguiled in this Vanity Fair, like a bird +ensnared by the fowler. + +I was concerned to hear of poor Mr. Witherspoon's accident, in falling +from his horse in coming from the Dalmailing occasion. How thankful he +must be, that the Lord made his head of a durability to withstand the +shock, which might otherwise have fractured his skull. What you say +about the promise of the braird gives me pleasure on account of the poor; +but what will be done with the farmers and their high rents, if the +harvest turn out so abundant? Great reason have I to be thankful that +the legacy has put me out of the reverence of my stipend; for when the +meal was cheap, I own to you that I felt my carnality grudging the horn +of abundance that the Lord was then pouring into the lap of the earth. +In short, Mr. Micklewham, I doubt it is o'er true with us all, that the +less we are tempted, the better we are; so with my sincere prayers that +you may be delivered from all evil, and led out of the paths of +temptation, whether it is on the highway, or on the footpaths, or beneath +the hedges, I remain, dear sir, your friend and pastor, + + ZACHARIAH PRINGLE. + +"The Doctor," said Mrs. Glibbans, as the schoolmaster concluded, "is +there like himself--a true orthodox Christian, standing up for the word, +and overflowing with charity even for the sinner. But, Mr. Snodgrass, I +did not ken before that the bishops had a hand in the making of the Acts +of the Parliament; I think, Mr. Snodgrass, if that be the case, there +should be some doubt in Scotland about obeying them. However that may +be, sure am I that the queen, though she was a perfect Deliah, has +nothing to fear from them; for have we not read in the Book of Martyrs, +and other church histories, of their concubines and indulgences, in the +papist times, to all manner of carnal iniquity? But if she be that +noghty woman that they say"--"Gude safe's," cried Mrs. Craig, "if she be +a noghty woman, awa' wi' her, awa' wi' her--wha kens the cantrips she may +play us?" + +Here Miss Mally Glencairn interposed, and informed Mrs. Craig, that a +noghty woman was not, as she seemed to think, a witch wife. "I am sure," +said Miss Becky Glibbans, "that Mrs. Craig might have known that." "Oh, +ye're a spiteful deevil," whispered Miss Mally, with a smile to her; and +turning in the same moment to Miss Isabella Tod, begged her to read Miss +Pringle's letter--a motion which Mr. Snodgrass seconded chiefly to +abridge the conversation, during which, though he wore a serene +countenance, he often suffered much. + + + +LETTER XXVIII + + + _Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod_ + +MY DEAR BELL--I am much obliged by your kind expressions for my little +present. I hope soon to send you something better, and gloves at the +same time; for Sabre has been brought to the point by an alarm for the +Yorkshire baronet that I mentioned, as showing symptoms of the tender +passion for my fortune. The friends on both sides being satisfied with +the match, it will take place as soon as some preliminary arrangements +are made. When we are settled, I hope your mother will allow you to come +and spend some time with us at our country-seat in Berkshire; and I shall +be happy to repay all the expenses of your journey, as a jaunt to England +is what your mother would, I know, never consent to pay for. + +It is proposed that, immediately after the ceremony, we shall set out for +France, accompanied by my brother, where we are to be soon after joined +at Paris by some of the Argents, who, I can see, think Andrew worth the +catching for Miss. My father and mother will then return to Scotland; +but whether the Doctor will continue to keep his parish, or give it up to +Mr. Snodgrass, will depend greatly on the circumstances in which he finds +his parishioners. This is all the domestic intelligence I have got to +give, but its importance will make up for other deficiencies. + +As to the continuance of our discoveries in London, I know not well what +to say. Every day brings something new, but we lose the sense of +novelty. Were a fire in the same street where we live, it would no +longer alarm me. A few nights ago, as we were sitting in the parlour +after supper, the noise of an engine passing startled us all; we ran to +the windows--there was haste and torches, and the sound of other engines, +and all the horrors of a conflagration reddening the skies. My father +sent out the footboy to inquire where it was; and when the boy came back, +he made us laugh, by snapping his fingers, and saying the fire was not +worth so much--although, upon further inquiry, we learnt that the house +in which it originated was burnt to the ground. You see, therefore, how +the bustle of this great world hardens the sensibilities, but I trust its +influence will never extend to my heart. + +The principal topic of conversation at present is about the queen. The +Argents, who are our main instructors in the proprieties of London life, +say that it would be very vulgar in me to go to look at her, which I am +sorry for, as I wish above all things to see a personage so illustrious +by birth, and renowned by misfortune. The Doctor and my mother, who are +less scrupulous, and who, in consequence, somehow, by themselves, +contrive to see, and get into places that are inaccessible to all +gentility, have had a full view of her majesty. My father has since +become her declared partisan, and my mother too has acquired a leaning +likewise towards her side of the question; but neither of them will +permit the subject to be spoken of before me, as they consider it +detrimental to good morals. I, however, read the newspapers. + +What my brother thinks of her majesty's case is not easy to divine; but +Sabre is convinced of the queen's guilt, upon some private and authentic +information which a friend of his, who has returned from Italy, heard +when travelling in that country. This information he has not, however, +repeated to me, so that it must be very bad. We shall know all when the +trial comes on. In the meantime, his majesty, who has lived in dignified +retirement since he came to the throne, has taken up his abode, with +rural felicity, in a cottage in Windsor Forest; where he now, contemning +all the pomp and follies of his youth, and this metropolis, passes his +days amidst his cabbages, like Dioclesian, with innocence and +tranquillity, far from the intrigues of courtiers, and insensible to the +murmuring waves of the fluctuating populace, that set in with so strong a +current towards "the mob-led queen," as the divine Shakespeare has so +beautifully expressed it. + +You ask me about Vauxhall Gardens;--I have not seen them--they are no +longer in fashion--the theatres are quite vulgar--even the opera-house +has sunk into a second-rate place of resort. Almack's balls, the +Argyle-rooms, and the Philharmonic concerts, are the only public +entertainments frequented by people of fashion; and this high superiority +they owe entirely to the difficulty of gaining admission. London, as my +brother says, is too rich, and grown too luxurious, to have any exclusive +place of fashionable resort, where price alone is the obstacle. Hence, +the institution of these select aristocratic assemblies. The +Philharmonic concerts, however, are rather professional than fashionable +entertainments; but everybody is fond of music, and, therefore, +everybody, that can be called anybody, is anxious to get tickets to them; +and this anxiety has given them a degree of _eclat_, which I am persuaded +the performance would never have excited had the tickets been purchasable +at any price. The great thing here is, either to be somebody, or to be +patronised by a person that is a somebody; without this, though you were +as rich as Croesus, your golden chariots, like the comets of a season, +blazing and amazing, would speedily roll away into the obscurity from +which they came, and be remembered no more. + +At first when we came here, and when the amount of our legacy was first +promulgated, we were in a terrible flutter. Andrew became a man of +fashion, with all the haste that tailors, and horses, and dinners, could +make him. My father, honest man, was equally inspired with lofty ideas, +and began a career that promised a liberal benefaction of good things to +the poor--and my mother was almost distracted with calculations about +laying out the money to the best advantage, and the sum she would allow +to be spent. I alone preserved my natural equanimity; and foreseeing the +necessity of new accomplishments to suit my altered circumstances, +applied myself to the instructions of my masters, with an assiduity that +won their applause. The advantages of this I now experience--my brother +is sobered from his champaign fumes--my father has found out that charity +begins at home--and my mother, though her establishment is enlarged, +finds her happiness, notwithstanding the legacy, still lies within the +little circle of her household cares. Thus, my dear Bell, have I proved +the sweets of a true philosophy; and, unseduced by the blandishments of +rank, rejected Sir Marmaduke Towler, and accepted the humbler but more +disinterested swain, Captain Sabre, who requests me to send you his +compliments, not altogether content that you should occupy so much of the +bosom of your affectionate + + RACHEL PRINGLE. + +"Rachel had ay a gude roose of hersel'," said Becky Glibbans, as Miss +Isabella concluded. In the same moment, Mr. Snodgrass took his leave, +saying to Mr. Micklewham, that he had something particular to mention to +him. "What can it be about?" inquired Mrs. Glibbans at Mr. Craig, as +soon as the helper and schoolmaster had left the room: "Do you think it +can be concerning the Doctor's resignation of the parish in his favour?" +"I'm sure," interposed Mrs. Craig, before her husband could reply, "it +winna be wi' my gudewill that he shall come in upon us--a pridefu' wight, +whose saft words, and a' his politeness, are but lip-deep; na, na, Mrs. +Glibbans, we maun hae another on the leet forbye him." + +"And wha would ye put on the leet noo, Mrs. Craig, you that's sic a +judge?" said Mrs. Glibbans, with the most ineffable consequentiality. + +"I'll be for young Mr. Dirlton, who is baith a sappy preacher of the +word, and a substantial hand at every kind of civility." + +"Young Dirlton!--young Deevilton!" cried the orthodox Deborah of Irvine; +"a fallow that knows no more of a gospel dispensation than I do of the +Arian heresy, which I hold in utter abomination. No, Mrs. Craig, you +have a godly man for your husband--a sound and true follower; tread ye in +his footsteps, and no try to set up yoursel' on points of doctrine. But +it's time, Miss Mally, that we were taking the road; Becky and Miss +Isabella, make yourselves ready. Noo, Mrs. Craig, ye'll no be a +stranger; you see I have no been lang of coming to give you my +countenance; but, my leddy, ca' canny, it's no easy to carry a fu' cup; +ye hae gotten a great gift in your gudeman. Mr. Craig, I wish you a +good-night; I would fain have stopped for your evening exercise, but Miss +Mally was beginning, I saw, to weary--so good-night; and, Mrs. Craig, +ye'll take tent of what I have said--it's for your gude." So exeunt Mrs. +Glibbans, Miss Mally, and the two young ladies. "Her bark's waur than +her bite," said Mrs. Craig, as she returned to her husband, who felt +already some of the ourie symptoms of a henpecked destiny. + + + + +CHAPTER IX--THE MARRIAGE + + +Mr. Snodgrass was obliged to walk into Irvine one evening, to get rid of +a raging tooth, which had tormented him for more than a week. The +operation was so delicately and cleverly performed by the surgeon to whom +he applied--one of those young medical gentlemen, who, after having been +educated for the army or navy, are obliged, in this weak piping time of +peace, to glean what practice they can amid their native shades--that the +amiable divine found himself in a condition to call on Miss Isabella Tod. + +During this visit, Saunders Dickie, the postman, brought a London letter +to the door, for Miss Isabella; and Mr. Snodgrass having desired the +servant to inquire if there were any for him, had the good fortune to get +the following from Mr. Andrew Pringle:-- + + + +LETTER XXIX + + + _Andrew Pringle Esq._, _to the Rev. Mr. Charles Snodgrass_ + +My Dear Friend--I never receive a letter from you without experiencing a +strong emotion of regret, that talents like yours should be wilfully +consigned to the sequestered vegetation of a country pastor's life. But +we have so often discussed this point, that I shall only offend your +delicacy if I now revert to it more particularly. I cannot, however, but +remark, that although a private station may be the happiest, a public is +the proper sphere of virtue and talent, so clear, superior, and decided +as yours. I say this with the more confidence, as I have really, from +your letter, obtained a better conception of the queen's case, than from +all that I have been able to read and hear upon the subject in London. +The rule you lay down is excellent. Public safety is certainly the only +principle which can justify mankind in agreeing to observe and enforce +penal statutes; and, therefore, I think with you, that unless it could be +proved in a very simple manner, that it was requisite for the public +safety to institute proceedings against the queen--her sins or +indiscretions should have been allowed to remain in the obscurity of her +private circle. + +I have attended the trial several times. For a judicial proceeding, it +seems to me too long--and for a legislative, too technical. Brougham, it +is allowed, has displayed even greater talent than was expected; but he +is too sharp; he seems to me more anxious to gain a triumph, than to +establish truth. I do not like the tone of his proceedings, while I +cannot sufficiently admire his dexterity. The style of Denman is more +lofty, and impressed with stronger lineaments of sincerity. As for their +opponents, I really cannot endure the Attorney-General as an orator; his +whole mind consists, as it were, of a number of little hands and +claws--each of which holds some scrap or portion of his subject; but you +might as well expect to get an idea of the form and character of a tree, +by looking at the fallen leaves, the fruit, the seeds, and the blossoms, +as anything like a comprehensive view of a subject, from an intellect so +constituted as that of Sir Robert Gifford. He is a man of application, +but of meagre abilities, and seems never to have read a book of travels +in his life. The Solicitor-General is somewhat better; but he is one of +those who think a certain artificial gravity requisite to professional +consequence; and which renders him somewhat obtuse in the tact of +propriety. + +Within the bar, the talent is superior to what it is without; and I have +been often delighted with the amazing fineness, if I may use the +expression, with which the Chancellor discriminates the shades of +difference in the various points on which he is called to deliver his +opinion. I consider his mind as a curiosity of no ordinary kind. It +deceives itself by its own acuteness. The edge is too sharp; and, +instead of cutting straight through, it often diverges--alarming his +conscience with the dread of doing wrong. This singular subtlety has the +effect of impairing the reverence which the endowments and high +professional accomplishments of this great man are otherwise calculated +to inspire. His eloquence is not effective--it touches no feeling nor +affects any passion; but still it affords wonderful displays of a lucid +intellect. I can compare it to nothing but a pencil of sunshine; in +which, although one sees countless motes flickering and fluctuating, it +yet illuminates, and steadily brings into the most satisfactory +distinctness, every object on which it directly falls. + +Lord Erskine is a character of another class, and whatever difference of +opinion may exist with respect to their professional abilities and +attainments, it will be allowed by those who contend that Eldon is the +better lawyer--that Erskine is the greater genius. Nature herself, with +a constellation in her hand, playfully illuminates his path to the temple +of reasonable justice; while Precedence with her guide-book, and Study +with a lantern, cautiously show the road in which the Chancellor warily +plods his weary way to that of legal Equity. The sedateness of Eldon is +so remarkable, that it is difficult to conceive that he was ever young; +but Erskine cannot grow old; his spirit is still glowing and flushed with +the enthusiasm of youth. When impassioned, his voice acquires a +singularly elevated and pathetic accent; and I can easily conceive the +irresistible effect he must have had on the minds of a jury, when he was +in the vigour of his physical powers, and the case required appeals of +tenderness or generosity. As a parliamentary orator, Earl Grey is +undoubtedly his superior; but there is something much less popular and +conciliating in his manner. His eloquence is heard to most advantage +when he is contemptuous; and he is then certainly dignified, ardent, and +emphatic; but it is apt, I should think, to impress those who hear him, +for the first time, with an idea that he is a very supercilious +personage, and this unfavourable impression is liable to be strengthened +by the elegant aristocratic languor of his appearance. + +I think that you once told me you had some knowledge of the Marquis of +Lansdowne, when he was Lord Henry Petty. I can hardly hope that, after +an interval of so many years, you will recognise him in the following +sketch:--His appearance is much more that of a Whig than Lord Grey--stout +and sturdy--but still withal gentlemanly; and there is a pleasing +simplicity, with somewhat of good-nature, in the expression of his +countenance, that renders him, in a quiescent state, the more agreeable +character of the two. He speaks exceedingly well--clear, methodical, and +argumentative; but his eloquence, like himself, is not so graceful as it +is upon the whole manly; and there is a little tendency to verbosity in +his language, as there is to corpulency in his figure; but nothing +turgid, while it is entirely free from affectation. The character of +respectable is very legibly impressed, in everything about the mind and +manner of his lordship. I should, now that I have seen and heard him, be +astonished to hear such a man represented as capable of being factious. + +I should say something about Lord Liverpool, not only on account of his +rank as a minister, but also on account of the talents which have +qualified him for that high situation. The greatest objection that I +have to him as a speaker, is owing to the loudness of his voice--in other +respects, what he does say is well digested. But I do not think that he +embraces his subject with so much power and comprehension as some of his +opponents; and he has evidently less actual experience of the world. +This may doubtless be attributed to his having been almost constantly in +office since he came into public life; than which nothing is more +detrimental to the unfolding of natural ability, while it induces a sort +of artificial talent, connected with forms and technicalities, which, +though useful in business, is but of minor consequence in a comparative +estimate of moral and intellectual qualities. I am told that in his +manner he resembles Mr. Pitt; be this, however, as it may, he is +evidently a speaker, formed more by habit and imitation, than one whom +nature prompts to be eloquent. He lacks that occasional accent of +passion, the melody of oratory; and I doubt if, on any occasion, he could +at all approximate to that magnificent intrepidity which was admired as +one of the noblest characteristics of his master's style. + +But all the display of learning and eloquence, and intellectual power and +majesty of the House of Lords, shrinks into insignificance when compared +with the moral attitude which the people have taken on this occasion. +You know how much I have ever admired the attributes of the English +national character--that boundless generosity, which can only be compared +to the impartial benevolence of the sunshine--that heroic magnanimity, +which makes the hand ever ready to succour a fallen foe; and that sublime +courage, which rises with the energy of a conflagration roused by a +tempest, at every insult or menace of an enemy. The compassionate +interest taken by the populace in the future condition of the queen is +worthy of this extraordinary people. There may be many among them +actuated by what is called the radical spirit; but malignity alone would +dare to ascribe the bravery of their compassion to a less noble feeling +than that which has placed the kingdom so proudly in the van of all +modern nations. There may be an amiable delusion, as my Lord Castlereagh +has said, in the popular sentiments with respect to the queen. Upon +that, as upon her case, I offer no opinion. It is enough for me to have +seen, with the admiration of a worshipper, the manner in which the +multitude have espoused her cause. + +But my paper is filled, and I must conclude. I should, however, mention +that my sister's marriage is appointed to take place to-morrow, and that +I accompany the happy pair to France.--Yours truly, + + ANDREW PRINGLE. + +"This is a dry letter," said Mr. Snodgrass, and he handed it to Miss +Isabella, who, in exchange, presented the one which she had herself at +the same time received; but just as Mr. Snodgrass was on the point of +reading it, Miss Becky Glibbans was announced. "How lucky this is," +exclaimed Miss Becky, "to find you both thegither! Now you maun tell me +all the particulars; for Miss Mally Glencairn is no in, and her letter +lies unopened. I am just gasping to hear how Rachel conducted herself at +being married in the kirk before all the folk--married to the hussar +captain, too, after all! who would have thought it?" + +"How, have you heard of the marriage already?" said Miss Isabella. "Oh, +it's in the newspapers," replied the amiable inquisitant,--"Like ony +tailor or weaver's--a' weddings maun nowadays gang into the papers. The +whole toun, by this time, has got it; and I wouldna wonder if Rachel +Pringle's marriage ding the queen's divorce out of folk's heads for the +next nine days to come. But only to think of her being married in a +public kirk. Surely her father would never submit to hae't done by a +bishop? And then to put it in the London paper, as if Rachel Pringle had +been somebody of distinction. Perhaps it might have been more to the +purpose, considering what dragoon officers are, if she had got the doited +Doctor, her father, to publish the intended marriage in the papers +beforehand." + +"Haud that condumacious tongue of yours," cried a voice, panting with +haste as the door opened, and Mrs. Glibbans entered. "Becky, will you +never devawl wi' your backbiting. I wonder frae whom the misleart lassie +takes a' this passion of clashing." + +The authority of her parent's tongue silenced Miss Becky, and Mrs. +Glibbans having seated herself, continued,--"Is it your opinion, Mr. +Snodgrass, that this marriage can hold good, contracted, as I am told it +is mentioned in the papers to hae been, at the horns of the altar of +Episcopalian apostacy?" + +"I can set you right as to that," said Miss Isabella. "Rachel mentions, +that, after returning from the church, the Doctor himself performed the +ceremony anew, according to the Presbyterian usage." "I am glad to +heart, very glad indeed," said Mrs. Glibbans. "It would have been a +judgment-like thing, had a bairn of Dr. Pringle's--than whom, although +there may be abler, there is not a sounder man in a' the West of +Scotland--been sacrificed to Moloch, like the victims of prelatic +idolatry." + +At this juncture, Miss Mally Glencairn was announced: she entered, +holding a letter from Mrs. Pringle in her hand, with the seal unbroken. +Having heard of the marriage from an acquaintance in the street, she had +hurried home, in the well-founded expectation of hearing from her friend +and well-wisher, and taking up the letter, which she found on her table, +came with all speed to Miss Isabella Tod to commune with her on the +tidings. + +Never was any confluence of visitors more remarkable than on this +occasion. Before Miss Mally had well explained the cause of her abrupt +intrusion, Mr. Micklewham made his appearance. He had come to Irvine to +be measured for a new coat, and meeting by accident with Saunders Dickie, +got the Doctor's letter from him, which, after reading, he thought he +could do no less than call at Mrs. Tod's, to let Miss Isabella know the +change which had taken place in the condition of her friend. + +Thus were all the correspondents of the Pringles assembled, by the merest +chance, like the _dramatis personae_ at the end of a play. After a +little harmless bantering, it was agreed that Miss Mally should read her +communication first--as all the others were previously acquainted with +the contents of their respective letters, and Miss Mally read as +follows:-- + + + +LETTER XXX + + + _Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn_ + +DEAR MISS MALLY--I hav a cro to pik with you conserning yoor comishon +aboot the partickels for your friends. You can hav no noshon what the +Doctor and me suffert on the head of the flooring shrubs. We took your +Nota Beny as it was spilt, and went from shop to shop enquirin in a most +partiklar manner for "a Gardner's Bell, or the least of all flowering +plants"; but sorrow a gardner in the whole tot here in London ever had +heard of sic a thing; so we gave the porshoot up in despare. Howsomever, +one of Andrew's acquaintance--a decent lad, who is only son to a saddler +in a been way, that keeps his own carriage, and his son a coryikel, +happent to call, and the Doctor told him what ill socsess we had in our +serch for the gardner's bell; upon which he sought a sight of your +yepissle, and read it as a thing that was just wonderful for its +whorsogroffie; and then he sayid, that looking at the prinsipol of your +spilling, he thought we should reed, "a gardner's bill, or a list of all +flooring plants"; whilk being no doot your intent, I have proqurt the +same, and it is included heerin. But, Miss Mally, I would advize you to +be more exac in your inditing, that no sic torbolashon may hippen on a +future okashon. + +What I hav to say for the present is, that you will, by a smak, get a +bocks of kumoddities, whilk you will destraboot as derekit on every on of +them, and you will before have resievit by the post-offis, an account of +what has been don. I need say no forther at this time, knowin your +discreshon and prooduns, septs that our Rachel and Captain Sabor will, if +it pleese the Lord, be off to Parish, by way of Bryton, as man and wife, +the morn's morning. What her father the Doctor gives for tocher, what is +settlt on her for jontor, I will tell you all aboot when we meet; for +it's our dishire noo to lose no tim in retorning to the manse, this being +the last of our diplomaticals in London, where we have found the Argents +a most discrit family, payin to the last farding the Cornal's legacy, and +most seevil, and well bred to us. + +As I am naterally gretly okypt with this matteromoneal afair, you cannot +expect ony news; but the queen is going on with a dreadful rat, by which +the pesents hav falen more than a whole entirr pesent. I wish our fonds +were well oot of them, and in yird and stane, which is a constansie. But +what is to become of the poor donsie woman, no one can expound. Some +think she will be pot in the Toor of London, and her head chappit off; +others think she will raise sic a stramash, that she will send the whole +government into the air, like peelings of ingons, by a gunpoother plot. +But it's my opinion, and I have weighed the matter well in my +understanding, that she will hav to fight with sword in hand, be she ill, +or be she good. How els can she hop to get the better of more than two +hundred lords, as the Doctor, who has seen them, tells me, with princes +of the blood-royal, and the prelatic bishops, whom, I need not tell you, +are the worst of all. + +But the thing I grudge most, is to be so long in Lundon, and no to see +the king. Is it not a hard thing to come to London, and no to see the +king? I am not pleesed with him, I assure you, becose he does not set +himself out to public view, like ony other curiosity, but stays in his +palis, they say, like one of the anshent wooden images of idolatry, the +which is a great peety, he beeing, as I am told, a beautiful man, and +more the gentleman than all the coortiers of his court. + +The Doctor has been minting to me that there is an address from Irvine to +the queen; and he, being so near a neighbour to your toun, has been +thinking to pay his respecs with it, to see her near at hand. But I will +say nothing; he may take his own way in matters of gospel and +spiritualety; yet I have my scroopols of conshence, how this may not turn +out a rebellyon against the king; and I would hav him to sift and see who +are at the address, before he pits his han to it. For, if it's a radikol +job, as I jealoos it is, what will the Doctor then say? who is an +orthodox man, as the world nose. + +In the maitre of our dumesticks, no new axsident has cast up; but I have +seen such a wonder as could not have been forethocht. Having a washin, I +went down to see how the lassies were doing; but judge of my feelings, +when I saw them triomphing on the top of pattons, standing upright before +the boyns on chairs, rubbin the clothes to juggins between their hands, +above the sapples, with their gouns and stays on, and round-cared +mutches. What would you think of such a miracle at the washing-house in +the Goffields, or the Gallows-knows of Irvine? The cook, howsomever, has +shown me a way to make rice-puddings without eggs, by putting in a bit of +shoohet, which is as good--and this you will tell Miss Nanny Eydent; +likewise, that the most fashionable way of boiling green pis, is to pit a +blade of spearmint in the pot, which gives a fine flavour. But this is a +long letter, and my pepper is done; so no more, but remains your friend +and well-wisher, + + JANET PRINGLE. + +"A great legacy, and her dochtir married, in ae journey to London, is +doing business," said Mrs. Glibbans, with a sigh, as she looked to her +only get, Miss Becky; "but the Lord's will is to be done in a' +thing;--sooner or later something of the same kind will come, I trust, to +all our families." "Ay," replied Miss Mally Glencairn, "marriage is like +death--it's what we are a' to come to." + +"I have my doubts of that," said Miss Becky with a sneer. "Ye have been +lang spair't from it, Miss Mally." + +"Ye're a spiteful puddock; and if the men hae the e'en and lugs they used +to hae, gude pity him whose lot is cast with thine, Becky Glibbans," +replied the elderly maiden ornament of the Kirkgate, somewhat tartly. + +Here Mr. Snodgrass interposed, and said, he would read to them the letter +which Miss Isabella had received from the bride; and without waiting for +their concurrence, opened and read as follows:-- + + + +LETTER XXXI + + + _Mrs. Sabre to Miss Isabella Tod_ + +MY DEAREST BELL--Rachel Pringle is no more! My heart flutters as I write +the fatal words. This morning, at nine o'clock precisely, she was +conducted in bridal array to the new church of Mary-le-bone; and there, +with ring and book, sacrificed to the Minotaur, Matrimony, who devours so +many of our bravest youths and fairest maidens. + +My mind is too agitated to allow me to describe the scene. The office of +handmaid to the victim, which, in our young simplicity, we had fondly +thought one of us would perform for the other, was gracefully sustained +by Miss Argent. + +On returning from church to my father's residence in Baker Street, where +we breakfasted, he declared himself not satisfied with the formalities of +the English ritual, and obliged us to undergo a second ceremony from +himself, according to the wonted forms of the Scottish Church. All the +advantages and pleasures of which, my dear Bell, I hope you will soon +enjoy. + +But I have no time to enter into particulars. The captain and his lady, +by themselves, in their own carriage, set off for Brighton in the course +of less than an hour. On Friday they are to be followed by a large party +of their friends and relations; and, after spending a few days in that +emporium of salt-water pleasures, they embark, accompanied with their +beloved brother, Mr. Andrew Pringle, for Paris; where they are afterwards +to be joined by the Argents. It is our intention to remain about a month +in the French capital; whether we shall extend our tour, will depend on +subsequent circumstances: in the meantime, however, you will hear +frequently from me. + +My mother, who has a thousand times during these important transactions +wished for the assistance of Nanny Eydent, transmits to Miss Mally +Glencairn a box containing all the requisite bridal recognisances for our +Irvine friends. I need not say that the best is for the faithful +companion of my happiest years. As I had made a vow in my heart that +Becky Glibbans should never wear gloves for my marriage, I was averse to +sending her any at all, but my mother insisted that no exceptions should +be made. I secretly took care, however, to mark a pair for her, so much +too large, that I am sure she will never put them on. The asp will be +not a little vexed at the disappointment. Adieu for a time, and believe +that, although your affectionate Rachel Pringle be gone that way in which +she hopes you will soon follow, one not less sincerely attached to you, +though it be the first time she has so subscribed herself, remains in + + RACHEL SABRE. + +Before the ladies had time to say a word on the subject, the prudent +young clergyman called immediately on Mr. Micklewham to read the letter +which he had received from the Doctor; and which the worthy dominie did +without delay, in that rich and full voice with which he is accustomed to +teach his scholars elocution by example. + + + +LETTER XXXII + + + _The Rev. Z. Pringle_, _D.D._, _to Mr. Micklewham_, _Schoolmaster and + Session-Clerk_, _Garnock_ + LONDON. + +Dear Sir--I have been much longer of replying to your letter of the 3rd +of last month, than I ought in civility to have been, but really time, in +this town of London, runs at a fast rate, and the day passes before the +dark's done. What with Mrs. Pringle and her daughter's concernments, +anent the marriage to Captain Sabre, and the trouble I felt myself +obliged to take in the queen's affair, I assure you, Mr. Micklewham, that +it's no to be expressed how I have been occupied for the last four weeks. +But all things must come to a conclusion in this world. Rachel Pringle +is married, and the queen's weary trial is brought to an end--upon the +subject and motion of the same, I offer no opinion, for I made it a point +never to read the evidence, being resolved to stand by THE WORD from the +first, which is clearly and plainly written in the queen's favour, and it +does not do in a case of conscience to stand on trifles; putting, +therefore, out of consideration the fact libelled, and looking both at +the head and the tail of the proceeding, I was of a firm persuasion, that +all the sculduddery of the business might have been well spared from the +eye of the public, which is of itself sufficiently prone to keek and +kook, in every possible way, for a glimpse of a black story; and, +therefore, I thought it my duty to stand up in all places against the +trafficking that was attempted with a divine institution. And I think, +when my people read how their prelatic enemies, the bishops (the heavens +defend the poor Church of Scotland from being subjected to the weight of +their paws), have been visited with a constipation of the understanding +on that point, it must to them be a great satisfaction to know how clear +and collected their minister was on this fundamental of society. For it +has turned out, as I said to Mrs. Pringle, as well as others, it would +do, that a sense of grace and religion would be manifested in some +quarter before all was done, by which the devices for an unsanctified +repudiation or divorce would be set at nought. + +As often as I could, deeming it my duty as a minister of the word and +gospel, I got into the House of Lords, and heard the trial; and I cannot +think how ever it was expected that justice could be done yonder; for +although no man could be more attentive than I was, every time I came +away I was more confounded than when I went; and when the trial was done, +it seemed to me just to be clearing up for a proper beginning--all which +is a proof that there was a foul conspiracy. Indeed, when I saw Duke +Hamilton's daughter coming out of the coach with the queen, I never could +think after, that a lady of her degree would have countenanced the queen +had the matter laid to her charge been as it was said. Not but in any +circumstance it behoved a lady of that ancient and royal blood, to be +seen beside the queen in such a great historical case as a trial. + +I hope, in the part I have taken, my people will be satisfied; but +whether they are satisfied or not, my own conscience is content with me. +I was in the House of Lords when her majesty came down for the last time, +and saw her handed up the stairs by the usher of the black-rod, a little +stumpy man, wonderful particular about the rules of the House, insomuch +that he was almost angry with me for stopping at the stair-head. The +afflicted woman was then in great spirits, and I saw no symptoms of the +swelled legs that Lord Lauderdale, that jooking man, spoke about, for she +skippit up the steps like a lassie. But my heart was wae for her when +all was over, for she came out like an astonished creature, with a wild +steadfast look, and a sort of something in the face that was as if the +rational spirit had fled away; and she went down to her coach as if she +had submitted to be led to a doleful destiny. Then the shouting of the +people began, and I saw and shouted too in spite of my decorum, which I +marvel at sometimes, thinking it could be nothing less than an +involuntary testification of the spirit within me. + +Anent the marriage of Rachel Pringle, it may be needful in me to state, +for the satisfaction of my people, that although by stress of law we were +obligated to conform to the practice of the Episcopalians, by taking out +a bishop's license, and going to their church, and vowing, in a pagan +fashion, before their altars, which are an abomination to the Lord; yet, +when the young folk came home, I made them stand up, and be married again +before me, according to all regular marriages in our national Church. +For this I had two reasons: first, to satisfy myself that there had been +a true and real marriage; and, secondly, to remove the doubt of the +former ceremony being sufficient; for marriage being of divine +appointment, and the English form and ritual being a thing established by +Act of Parliament, which is of human ordination, I was not sure that +marriage performed according to a human enactment could be a fulfilment +of a divine ordinance. I therefore hope that my people will approve what +I have done; and in order that there may be a sympathising with me, you +will go over to Banker M---y, and get what he will give you, as ordered +by me, and distribute it among the poorest of the parish, according to +the best of your discretion, my long absence having taken from me the +power of judgment in a matter of this sort. I wish indeed for the glad +sympathy of my people, for I think that our Saviour turning water into +wine at the wedding, was an example set that we should rejoice and be +merry at the fulfilment of one of the great obligations imposed on us as +social creatures; and I have ever regarded the unhonoured treatment of a +marriage occasion as a thing of evil bodement, betokening heavy hearts +and light purses to the lot of the bride and bridegroom. You will hear +more from me by and by; in the meantime, all I can say is, that when we +have taken our leave of the young folks, who are going to France, it is +Mrs. Pringle's intent, as well as mine, to turn our horses' heads +northward, and make our way with what speed we can, for our own quiet +home, among you. So no more at present from your friend and pastor, + + Z. PRINGLE. + +Mrs. Tod, the mother of Miss Isabella, a respectable widow lady, who had +quiescently joined the company, proposed that they should now drink +health, happiness, and all manner of prosperity, to the young couple; and +that nothing might be wanting to secure the favourable auspices of good +omens to the toast, she desired Miss Isabella to draw fresh bottles of +white and red. When all manner of felicity was duly wished in wine to +the captain and his lady, the party rose to seek their respective homes. +But a bustle at the street-door occasioned a pause. Mrs. Tod inquired +the matter; and three or four voices at once replied, that an express had +come from Garnock for Nanse Swaddle the midwife, Mrs. Craig being taken +with her pains. "Mr. Snodgrass," said Mrs. Glibbans, instantly and +emphatically, "ye maun let me go with you, and we can spiritualise on the +road; for I hae promis't Mrs. Craig to be wi' her at the crying, to see +the upshot--so I hope you will come awa." + +It would be impossible in us to suppose, that Mr. Snodgrass had any +objections to spiritualise with Mrs. Glibbans on the road between Irvine +and Garnock; but, notwithstanding her urgency, he excused himself from +going with her; however, he recommended her to the special care and +protection of Mr. Micklewham, who was at that time on his legs to return +home. "Oh! Mr. Snodgrass," said the lady, looking slyly, as she +adjusted her cloak, at him and Miss Isabella, "there will be marrying and +giving in marriage till the day of judgment." And with these oracular +words she took her departure. + + + + +CHAPTER X--THE RETURN + + +On Friday, Miss Mally Glencairn received a brief note from Mrs. Pringle, +informing her, that she and the Doctor would reach the manse, "God +willing," in time for tea on Saturday; and begging her, therefore, to go +over from Irvine, and see that the house was in order for their +reception. This note was written from Glasgow, where they had arrived, +in their own carriage, from Carlisle on the preceding day, after +encountering, as Mrs. Pringle said, "more hardships and extorshoning than +all the dangers of the sea which they met with in the smack of Leith that +took them to London." + +As soon as Miss Mally received this intelligence, she went to Miss +Isabella Tod, and requested her company for the next day to Garnock, +where they arrived betimes to dine with Mr. Snodgrass. Mrs. Glibbans and +her daughter Becky were then on a consolatory visit to Mr. Craig. We +mentioned in the last chapter, that the crying of Mrs. Craig had come on; +and that Mrs. Glibbans, according to promise, and with the most anxious +solicitude, had gone to wait the upshot. The upshot was most +melancholy,--Mrs. Craig was soon no more;--she was taken, as Mrs. +Glibbans observed on the occasion, from the earthly arms of her husband, +to the spiritual bosom of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which was far +better. But the baby survived; so that, what with getting a nurse, and +the burial, and all the work and handling that a birth and death in one +house at the same time causes, Mr. Craig declared, that he could not do +without Mrs. Glibbans; and she, with all that Christianity by which she +was so zealously distinguished, sent for Miss Becky, and took up her +abode with him till it would please Him, without whom there is no +comfort, to wipe the eyes of the pious elder. In a word, she staid so +long, that a rumour began to spread that Mr. Craig would need a wife to +look after his bairn; and that Mrs. Glibbans was destined to supply the +desideratum. + +Mr. Snodgrass, after enjoying his dinner society with Miss Mally and Miss +Isabella, thought it necessary to dispatch a courier, in the shape of a +barefooted servant lass, to Mr. Micklewham, to inform the elders that the +Doctor was expected home in time for tea, leaving it to their discretion +either to greet his safe return at the manse, or in any other form or +manner that would be most agreeable to themselves. These important news +were soon diffused through the clachan. Mr. Micklewham dismissed his +school an hour before the wonted time, and there was a universal interest +and curiosity excited, to see the Doctor coming home in his own coach. +All the boys of Garnock assembled at the braehead which commands an +extensive view of the Kilmarnock road, the only one from Glasgow that +runs through the parish; the wives with their sucklings were seated on +the large stones at their respective door-cheeks; while their cats were +calmly reclining on the window soles. The lassie weans, like clustering +bees, were mounted on the carts that stood before Thomas Birlpenny the +vintner's door, churming with anticipated delight; the old men took their +stations on the dike that incloses the side of the vintner's kail-yard, +and "a batch of wabster lads," with green aprons and thin yellow faces, +planted themselves at the gable of the malt kiln, where they were wont, +when trade was better, to play at the hand-ball; but, poor fellows, since +the trade fell off, they have had no heart for the game, and the +vintner's half-mutchkin stoups glitter in empty splendour unrequired on +the shelf below the brazen sconce above the bracepiece, amidst the idle +pewter pepper-boxes, the bright copper tea-kettle, the coffee-pot that +has never been in use, and lids of saucepans that have survived their +principals,--the wonted ornaments of every trig change-house kitchen. + +The season was far advanced; but the sun shone at his setting with a +glorious composure, and the birds in the hedges and on the boughs were +again gladdened into song. The leaves had fallen thickly, and the +stubble-fields were bare, but Autumn, in a many-coloured tartan plaid, +was seen still walking with matronly composure in the woodlands, along +the brow of the neighbouring hills. + +About half-past four o'clock, a movement was seen among the callans at +the braehead, and a shout announced that a carriage was in sight. It was +answered by a murmuring response of satisfaction from the whole village. +In the course of a few minutes the carriage reached the turnpike--it was +of the darkest green and the gravest fashion,--a large trunk, covered +with Russian matting, and fastened on with cords, prevented from chafing +it by knots of straw rope, occupied the front,--behind, other two were +fixed in the same manner, the lesser of course uppermost; and deep beyond +a pile of light bundles and bandboxes, that occupied a large portion of +the interior, the blithe faces of the Doctor and Mrs. Pringle were +discovered. The boys huzzaed, the Doctor flung them penny-pieces, and +the mistress baubees. + +As the carriage drove along, the old men on the dike stood up and +reverently took off their hats and bonnets. The weaver lads gazed with a +melancholy smile; the lassies on the carts clapped their hands with joy; +the women on both sides of the street acknowledged the recognising nods; +while all the village dogs, surprised by the sound of chariot wheels, +came baying and barking forth, and sent off the cats that were so doucely +sitting on the window soles, clambering and scampering over the roofs in +terror of their lives. + +When the carriage reached the manse door, Mr. Snodgrass, the two ladies, +with Mr. Micklewham, and all the elders except Mr. Craig, were there +ready to receive the travellers. But over this joy of welcoming we must +draw a veil; for the first thing that the Doctor did, on entering the +parlour and before sitting down, was to return thanks for his safe +restoration to his home and people. + +The carriage was then unloaded, and as package, bale, box, and bundle +were successively brought in, Miss Mally Glencairn expressed her +admiration at the great capacity of the chaise. "Ay," said Mrs. Pringle, +"but you know not what we have suffert for't in coming through among the +English taverns on the road; some of them would not take us forward when +there was a hill to pass, unless we would take four horses, and every one +after another reviled us for having no mercy in loading the carriage like +a waggon,--and then the drivers were so gleg and impudent, that it was +worse than martyrdom to come with them. Had the Doctor taken my advice, +he would have brought our own civil London coachman, whom we hired with +his own horses by the job; but he said it behoved us to gi'e our ain fish +guts to our ain sea-maws, and that he designed to fee Thomas Birlpenny's +hostler for our coachman, being a lad of the parish. This obliged us to +post it from London; but, oh! Miss Mally, what an outlay it has been!" + +The Doctor, in the meantime, had entered into conversation with the +gentlemen, and was inquiring, in the most particular manner, respecting +all his parishioners, and expressing his surprise that Mr. Craig had not +been at the manse with the rest of the elders. "It does not look well," +said the Doctor. Mr. Daff, however, offered the best apology for his +absence that could be made. "He has had a gentle dispensation, sir--Mrs. +Craig has won awa' out of this sinful world, poor woman, she had a large +experience o't; but the bairns to the fore, and Mrs. Glibbans, that has +such a cast of grace, has ta'en charge of the house since before the +interment. It's thought, considering what's by gane, Mr. Craig may do +waur than make her mistress, and I hope, sir, your exhortation will no be +wanting to egg the honest man to think o't seriously." + +Mr. Snodgrass, before delivering the household keys, ordered two bottles +of wine, with glasses and biscuit, to be set upon the table, while Mrs. +Pringle produced from a paper package, that had helped to stuff one of +the pockets of the carriage, a piece of rich plum-cake, brought all the +way from a confectioner's in Cockspur Street, London, not only for the +purpose of being eaten, but, as she said, to let Miss Nanny Eydent pree, +in order to direct the Irvine bakers how to bake others like it. + +Tea was then brought in; and, as it was making, the Doctor talked aside +to the elders, while Mrs. Pringle recounted to Miss Mally and Miss +Isabella the different incidents of her adventures subsequent to the +marriage of Miss Rachel. + +"The young folk," said she, "having gone to Brighton, we followed them in +a few days, for we were told it was a curiosity, and that the king has a +palace there, just a warld's wonder! and, truly, Miss Mally, it is +certainly not like a house for a creature of this world, but for some +Grand Turk or Chinaman. The Doctor said, it put him in mind of Miss +Jenny Macbride's sideboard in the Stockwell of Glasgow; where all the +pepper-boxes, poories, and teapots, punch-bowls, and china-candlesticks +of her progenitors are set out for a show, that tells her visitors, they +are but seldom put to use. As for the town of Brighton, it's what I +would call a gawky piece of London. I could see nothing in it but a +wheen idlers, hearing twa lads, at night, crying, "Five, six, seven for a +shilling," in the booksellers' shops, with a play-actor lady singing in a +corner, because her voice would not do for the players' stage. +Therefore, having seen the Captain and Mrs. Sabre off to France, we came +home to London; but it's not to be told what we had to pay at the hotel +where we staid in Brighton. Howsomever, having come back to London, we +settled our counts,--and, buying a few necessars, we prepared for +Scotland,--and here we are. But travelling has surely a fine effect in +enlarging the understanding; for both the Doctor and me thought, as we +came along, that everything had a smaller and poorer look than when we +went away; and I dinna think this room is just what it used to be. What +think ye o't, Miss Isabella? How would ye like to spend your days in't?" + +Miss Isabella reddened at this question; but Mrs. Pringle, who was as +prudent as she was observant, affecting not to notice this, turned round +to Miss Mally Glencairn, and said softly in her ear,--"Rachel was Bell's +confidante, and has told us all about what's going on between her and Mr. +Snodgrass. We have agreed no to stand in their way, as soon as the +Doctor can get a mailing or two to secure his money upon." + +Meantime, the Doctor received from the elders a very satisfactory account +of all that had happened among his people, both in and out of the +Session, during his absence; and he was vastly pleased to find there had +been no inordinate increase of wickedness; at the same time, he was +grieved for the condition in which the poor weavers still continued, +saying, that among other things of which he had been of late meditating, +was the setting up of a lending bank in the parish for the labouring +classes, where, when they were out of work, "bits of loans for a +house-rent, or a brat of claes, or sic like, might be granted, to be +repaid when trade grew better, and thereby take away the objection that +an honest pride had to receiving help from the Session." + +Then some lighter general conversation ensued, in which the Doctor gave +his worthy counsellors a very jocose description of many of the lesser +sort of adventures which he had met with; and the ladies having retired +to inspect the great bargains that Mrs. Pringle had got, and the splendid +additions she had made to her wardrobe, out of what she denominated the +dividends of the present portion of the legacy, the Doctor ordered in the +second biggest toddy-bowl, the guardevine with the old rum, and told the +lassie to see if the tea-kettle was still boiling. "Ye maun drink our +welcome hame," said he to the elders; "it would nae otherwise be canny. +But I'm sorry Mr. Craig has nae come." At these words the door opened, +and the absent elder entered, with a long face and a deep sigh. "Ha!" +cried Mr. Daff, "this is very droll. Speak of the Evil One, and he'll +appear";--which words dinted on the heart of Mr. Craig, who thought his +marriage in December had been the subject of their discourse. The +Doctor, however, went up and shook him cordially by the hand, and said, +"Now I take this very kind, Mr. Craig; for I could not have expected you, +considering ye have got, as I am told, your jo in the house"; at which +words the Doctor winked paukily to Mr. Daff, who rubbed his hands with +fainness, and gave a good-humoured sort of keckling laugh. This +facetious stroke of policy was a great relief to the afflicted elder, for +he saw by it that the Doctor did not mean to trouble him with any +inquiries respecting his deceased wife; and, in consequence, he put on a +blither face, and really affected to have forgotten her already more than +he had done in sincerity. + +Thus the night passed in decent temperance and a happy decorum; insomuch, +that the elders when they went away, either by the influence of the +toddy-bowl, or the Doctor's funny stories about the Englishers, declared +that he was an excellent man, and, being none lifted up, was worthy of +his rich legacy. + +At supper, the party, besides the minister and Mrs. Pringle, consisted of +the two Irvine ladies, and Mr. Snodgrass. Miss Becky Glibbans came in +when it was about half over, to express her mother's sorrow at not being +able to call that night, "Mr. Craig's bairn having taken an ill turn." +The truth, however, was, that the worthy elder had been rendered somewhat +tozy by the minister's toddy, and wanted an opportunity to inform the old +lady of the joke that had been played upon him by the Doctor calling her +his jo, and to see how she would relish it. So by a little address Miss +Becky was sent out of the way, with the excuse we have noticed; at the +same time, as the night was rather sharp, it is not to be supposed that +she would have been the bearer of any such message, had her own curiosity +not enticed her. + +During supper the conversation was very lively. Many "pickant jokes," as +Miss Becky described them, were cracked by the Doctor; but, soon after +the table was cleared, he touched Mr. Snodgrass on the arm, and, taking +up one of the candles, went with him to his study, where he then told +him, that Rachel Pringle, now Mrs. Sabre, had informed him of a way in +which he could do him a service. "I understand, sir," said the Doctor, +"that you have a notion of Miss Bell Tod, but that until ye get a kirk +there can be no marriage. But the auld horse may die waiting for the new +grass; and, therefore, as the Lord has put it in my power to do a good +action both to you and my people,--whom I am glad to hear you have +pleased so well,--if it can be brought about that you could be made +helper and successor, I'll no object to give up to you the whole stipend, +and, by and by, maybe the manse to the bargain. But that is if you marry +Miss Bell; for it was a promise that Rachel gar't me make to her on her +wedding morning. Ye know she was a forcasting lassie, and, I have reason +to believe, has said nothing anent this to Miss Bell herself; so that if +you have no partiality for Miss Bell, things will just rest on their own +footing; but if you have a notion, it must be a satisfaction to you to +know this, as it will be a pleasure to me to carry it as soon as possible +into effect." + +Mr. Snodgrass was a good deal agitated; he was taken by surprise, and +without words the Doctor might have guessed his sentiments; he, however, +frankly confessed that he did entertain a very high opinion of Miss Bell, +but that he was not sure if a country parish would exactly suit him. +"Never mind that," said the Doctor; "if it does not fit at first, you +will get used to it; and if a better casts up, it will be no obstacle." + +The two gentlemen then rejoined the ladies, and, after a short +conversation, Miss Becky Glibbans was admonished to depart, by the +servants bringing in the Bibles for the worship of the evening. This was +usually performed before supper, but, owing to the bowl being on the +table, and the company jocose, it had been postponed till all the guests +who were not to sleep in the house had departed. + +The Sunday morning was fine and bright for the season; the hoarfrost, +till about an hour after sunrise, lay white on the grass and tombstones +in the churchyard; but before the bell rung for the congregation to +assemble, it was exhaled away, and a freshness, that was only known to be +autumnal by the fallen and yellow leaves that strewed the church-way path +from the ash and plane trees in the avenue, encouraged the spirits to +sympathise with the universal cheerfulness of all nature. + +The return of the Doctor had been bruited through the parish with so much +expedition, that, when the bell rung for public worship, none of those +who were in the practice of stopping in the churchyard to talk about the +weather were so ignorant as not to have heard of this important fact. In +consequence, before the time at which the Doctor was wont to come from +the back-gate which opened from the manse-garden into the churchyard, a +great majority of his people were assembled to receive him. + +At the last jingle of the bell, the back-gate was usually opened, and the +Doctor was wont to come forth as punctually as a cuckoo of a clock at the +striking of the hour; but a deviation was observed on this occasion. +Formerly, Mrs. Pringle and the rest of the family came first, and a few +minutes were allowed to elapse before the Doctor, laden with grace, made +his appearance. But at this time, either because it had been settled +that Mr. Snodgrass was to officiate, or for some other reason, there was +a breach in the observance of this time-honoured custom. + +As the ringing of the bell ceased, the gate unclosed, and the Doctor came +forth. He was of that easy sort of feather-bed corpulency of form that +betokens good-nature, and had none of that smooth, red, well-filled +protuberancy, which indicates a choleric humour and a testy temper. He +was in fact what Mrs. Glibbans denominated "a man of a gausy external." +And some little change had taken place during his absence in his visible +equipage. His stockings, which were wont to be of worsted, had undergone +a translation into silk; his waist-coat, instead--of the venerable +Presbyterian flap-covers to the pockets, which were of Johnsonian +magnitude, was become plain--his coat in all times single-breasted, with +no collar, still, however, maintained its ancient characteristics; +instead, however, of the former bright black cast horn, the buttons were +covered with cloth. But the chief alteration was discernible in the +furniture of the head. He had exchanged the simplicity of his own +respectable grey hairs for the cauliflower hoariness of a PARRISH {3} +wig, on which he wore a broad-brimmed hat, turned up a little at each +side behind, in a portentous manner, indicatory of Episcopalian +predilections. This, however, was not justified by any alteration in his +principles, being merely an innocent variation of fashion, the natural +result of a Doctor of Divinity buying a hat and wig in London. + +The moment that the Doctor made his appearance, his greeting and +salutation was quite delightful; it was that of a father returned to his +children, and a king to his people. + +Almost immediately after the Doctor, Mrs. Pringle, followed by Miss Mally +Glencairn and Miss Isabella Tod, also debouched from the gate, and the +assembled females remarked, with no less instinct, the transmutation +which she had undergone. She was dressed in a dark blue cloth pelisse, +trimmed with a dyed fur, which, as she told Miss Mally, "looked quite as +well as sable, without costing a third of the money." A most matronly +muff, that, without being of sable, was of an excellent quality, +contained her hands; and a very large Leghorn straw bonnet, decorated +richly, but far from excess, with a most substantial band and bow of a +broad crimson satin ribbon around her head. + +If the Doctor was gratified to see his people so gladly thronging around +him, Mrs. Pringle had no less pleasure also in her thrice-welcome +reception. It was an understood thing, that she had been mainly +instrumental in enabling the minister to get his great Indian legacy; and +in whatever estimation she may have been previously held for her economy +and management, she was now looked up to as a personage skilled in the +law, and particularly versed in testamentary erudition. Accordingly, in +the customary testimonials of homage with which she was saluted in her +passage to the church door, there was evidently a sentiment of veneration +mingled, such as had never been evinced before, and which was neither +unobserved nor unappreciated by that acute and perspicacious lady. + +The Doctor himself did not preach, but sat in the minister's pew till Mr. +Snodgrass had concluded an eloquent and truly an affecting sermon; at the +end of which, the Doctor rose and went up into the pulpit, where he +publicly returned thanks for the favours and blessings he had obtained +during his absence, and for the safety in which he had been restored, +after many dangers and tribulations, to the affections of his +parishioners. + +Such were the principal circumstances that marked the return of the +family. In the course of the week after, the estate of Moneypennies +being for sale, it was bought for the Doctor as a great bargain. It was +not, however, on account of the advantageous nature of the purchase that +our friend valued this acquisition, but entirely because it was situated +in his own parish, and part of the lands marching with the Glebe. + +The previous owner of Moneypennies had built an elegant house on the +estate, to which Mrs. Pringle is at present actively preparing to remove +from the manse; and it is understood, that, as Mr. Snodgrass was last +week declared helper, and successor to the Doctor, his marriage with Miss +Isabella Tod will take place with all convenient expedition. There is +also reason to believe, that, as soon as decorum will permit, any scruple +which Mrs. Glibbans had to a second marriage is now removed, and that she +will soon again grace the happy circle of wives by the name of Mrs. +Craig. Indeed, we are assured that Miss Nanny Eydent is actually at this +time employed in making up her wedding garments; for, last week, that +worthy and respectable young person was known to have visited Bailie +Delap's shop, at a very early hour in the morning, and to have priced +many things of a bridal character, besides getting swatches; after which +she was seen to go to Mrs. Glibbans's house, where she remained a very +considerable time, and to return straight therefrom to the shop, and +purchase divers of the articles which she had priced and inspected; all +of which constitute sufficient grounds for the general opinion in Irvine, +that the union of Mr. Craig with Mrs. Glibbans is a happy event drawing +near to consummation. + + + + +Footnotes + + +{1} The administration of the Sacrament. + +{2} The honest Doctor's version of this _bon mot_ of her majesty is not +quite correct; her expression was, "I mean to take a chop at the King's +Head when I get to London." + +{3} See the _Edinburgh Review_, for an account of our old friend, Dr. +Parr's wig, and Spital Sermon. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AYRSHIRE LEGATEES*** + + +******* This file should be named 1384.txt or 1384.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/8/1384 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This etext was prepared +by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk + + + + + +The Ayrshire Legatees + + + + +CHAPTER I--THE DEPARTURE + + + +On New Year's day Dr. Pringle received a letter from India, +informing him that his cousin, Colonel Armour, had died at Hydrabad, +and left him his residuary legatee. The same post brought other +letters on the same subject from the agent of the deceased in +London, by which it was evident to the whole family that no time +should be lost in looking after their interests in the hands of such +brief and abrupt correspondents. "To say the least of it," as the +Doctor himself sedately remarked, "considering the greatness of the +forth-coming property, Messieurs Richard Argent and Company, of New +Broad Street, might have given a notion as to the particulars of the +residue." It was therefore determined that, as soon as the +requisite arrangements could be made, the Doctor and Mrs. Pringle +should set out for the metropolis, to obtain a speedy settlement +with the agents, and, as Rachel had now, to use an expression of her +mother's, "a prospect before her," that she also should accompany +them: Andrew, who had just been called to the Bar, and who had come +to the manse to spend a few days after attaining that distinction, +modestly suggested, that, considering the various professional +points which might be involved in the objects of his father's +journey, and considering also the retired life which his father had +led in the rural village of Garnock, it might be of importance to +have the advantage of legal advice. + +Mrs. Pringle interrupted this harangue, by saying, "We see what you +would be at, Andrew; ye're just wanting to come with us, and on this +occasion I'm no for making step-bairns, so we'll a' gang thegither." + +The Doctor had been for many years the incumbent of Garnock, which +is pleasantly situated between Irvine and Kilwinning, and, on +account of the benevolence of his disposition, was much beloved by +his parishioners. Some of the pawkie among them used indeed to say, +in answer to the godly of Kilmarnock, and other admirers of the late +great John Russel, of that formerly orthodox town, by whom Dr. +Pringle's powers as a preacher were held in no particular +estimation,--"He kens our pu'pit's frail, and spar'st to save outlay +to the heritors." As for Mrs. Pringle, there is not such another +minister's wife, both for economy and management, within the +jurisdiction of the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr, and to this fact the +following letter to Miss Mally Glencairn, a maiden lady residing in +the Kirkgate of Irvine, a street that has been likened unto the +Kingdom of Heaven, where there is neither marriage nor giving in +marriage, will abundantly testify. + + +LETTER I + + +Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn--GARNOCK MANSE. + +Dear Miss Mally--The Doctor has had extraordinar news from India and +London, where we are all going, as soon as me and Rachel can get +ourselves in order, so I beg you will go to Bailie Delap's shop, and +get swatches of his best black bombaseen, and crape, and muslin, and +bring them over to the manse the morn's morning. If you cannot come +yourself, and the day should be wat, send Nanny Eydent, the mantua- +maker, with them; you'll be sure to send Nanny, onyhow, and I +requeesht that, on this okasion, ye'll get the very best the Bailie +has, and I'll tell you all about it when you come. You will get, +likewise, swatches of mourning print, with the lowest prices. I'll +no be so particular about them, as they are for the servan lasses, +and there's no need, for all the greatness of God's gifts, that we +should be wasterful. Let Mrs. Glibbans know, that the Doctor's +second cousin, the colonel, that was in the East Indies, is no +more;--I am sure she will sympatheese with our loss on this +melancholy okasion. Tell her, as I'll no be out till our mournings +are made, I would take it kind if she would come over and eate a bit +of dinner on Sunday. The Doctor will no preach himself, but there's +to be an excellent young man, an acquaintance of Andrew's, that has +the repute of being both sound and hellaquaint. But no more at +present, and looking for you and Nanny Eydent, with the swatches,--I +am, dear Miss Mally, your sinsare friend, + +JANET PRINGLE. + + +The Doctor being of opinion that, until they had something in hand +from the legacy, they should walk in the paths of moderation, it was +resolved to proceed by the coach from Irvine to Greenock, there +embark in a steam-boat for Glasgow, and, crossing the country to +Edinburgh, take their passage at Leith in one of the smacks for +London. But we must let the parties speak for themselves. + + +LETTER II + + +Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod--GREENOCK. + +My Dear Isabella--I know not why the dejection with which I parted +from you still hangs upon my heart, and grows heavier as I am drawn +farther and farther away. The uncertainty of the future--the +dangers of the sea--all combine to sadden my too sensitive spirit. +Still, however, I will exert myself, and try to give you some +account of our momentous journey. + +The morning on which we bade farewell for a time--alas! it was to me +as if for ever, to my native shades of Garnock--the weather was +cold, bleak, and boisterous, and the waves came rolling in majestic +fury towards the shore, when we arrived at the Tontine Inn of +Ardrossan. What a monument has the late Earl of Eglinton left there +of his public spirit! It should embalm his memory in the hearts of +future ages, as I doubt not but in time Ardrossan will become a +grand emporium; but the people of Saltcoats, a sordid race, complain +that it will be their ruin; and the Paisley subscribers to his +lordship's canal grow pale when they think of profit. + +The road, after leaving Ardrossan, lies along the shore. The blast +came dark from the waters, and the clouds lay piled in every form of +grandeur on the lofty peaks of Arran. The view on the right hand is +limited to the foot of a range of abrupt mean hills, and on the left +it meets the sea--as we were obliged to keep the glasses up, our +drive for several miles was objectless and dreary. When we had +ascended a hill, leaving Kilbride on the left, we passed under the +walls of an ancient tower. What delightful ideas are associated +with the sight of such venerable remains of antiquity! + +Leaving that lofty relic of our warlike ancestors, we descended +again towards the shore. On the one side lay the Cumbra Islands, +and Bute, dear to departed royalty. Afar beyond them, in the hoary +magnificence of nature, rise the mountains of Argyllshire; the +cairns, as my brother says, of a former world. On the other side of +the road, we saw the cloistered ruins of the religious house of +Southenan, a nunnery in those days of romantic adventure, when to +live was to enjoy a poetical element. In such a sweet sequestered +retreat, how much more pleasing to the soul it would have been, for +you and I, like two captive birds in one cage, to have sung away our +hours in innocence, than for me to be thus torn from you by fate, +and all on account of that mercenary legacy, perchance the spoils of +some unfortunate Hindoo Rajah! + +At Largs we halted to change horses, and saw the barrows of those +who fell in the great battle. We then continued our journey along +the foot of stupendous precipices; and high, sublime, and darkened +with the shadow of antiquity, we saw, upon its lofty station, the +ancient Castle of Skelmorlie, where the Montgomeries of other days +held their gorgeous banquets, and that brave knight who fell at +Chevy-Chace came pricking forth on his milk-white steed, as Sir +Walter Scott would have described him. But the age of chivalry is +past, and the glory of Europe departed for ever! + +When we crossed the stream that divides the counties of Ayr and +Renfrew, we beheld, in all the apart and consequentiality of pride, +the house of Kelly overlooking the social villas of Wemyss Bay. My +brother compared it to a sugar hogshead, and them to cotton-bags; +for the lofty thane of Kelly is but a West India planter, and the +inhabitants of the villas on the shore are Glasgow manufacturers. + +To this succeeded a dull drive of about two miles, and then at once +we entered the pretty village of Inverkip. A slight snow-shower had +given to the landscape a sort of copperplate effect, but still the +forms of things, though but sketched, as it were, with China ink, +were calculated to produce interesting impressions. After +ascending, by a gentle acclivity, into a picturesque and romantic +pass, we entered a spacious valley, and, in the course of little +more than half an hour, reached this town; the largest, the most +populous, and the most superb that I have yet seen. But what are +all its warehouses, ships, and smell of tar, and other odoriferous +circumstances of fishery and the sea, compared with the green +swelling hills, the fragrant bean-fields, and the peaceful groves of +my native Garnock! + +The people of this town are a very busy and clever race, but much +given to litigation. My brother says, that they are the greatest +benefactors to the Outer House, and that their lawsuits are the most +amusing and profitable before the courts, being less for the purpose +of determining what is right than what is lawful. The chambermaid +of the inn where we lodge pointed out to me, on the opposite side of +the street, a magnificent edifice erected for balls; but the +subscribers have resolved not to allow any dancing till it is +determined by the Court of Session to whom the seats and chairs +belong, as they were brought from another house where the assemblies +were formerly held. I have heard a lawsuit compared to a country- +dance, in which, after a great bustle and regular confusion, the +parties stand still, all tired, just on the spot where they began; +but this is the first time that the judges of the land have been +called on to decide when a dance may begin. + +We arrived too late for the steam-boat, and are obliged to wait till +Monday morning; but to-morrow we shall go to church, where I expect +to see what sort of creatures the beaux are. The Greenock ladies +have a great name for beauty, but those that I have seen are perfect +frights. Such of the gentlemen as I have observed passing the +windows of the inn may do, but I declare the ladies have nothing of +which any woman ought to be proud. Had we known that we ran a risk +of not getting a steam-boat, my mother would have provided an +introductory letter or two from some of her Irvine friends; but here +we are almost entire strangers: my father, however, is acquainted +with one of the magistrates, and has gone to see him. I hope he +will be civil enough to ask us to his house, for an inn is a +shocking place to live in, and my mother is terrified at the +expense. My brother, however, has great confidence in our +prospects, and orders and directs with a high hand. But my paper is +full, and I am compelled to conclude with scarcely room to say how +affectionately I am yours, + +RACHEL PRINGLE. + + +LETTER III + + +The Rev. Dr Pringle to Mr. Micklewham, Schoolmaster and Session- +Clerk, Garnock--EDINBURGH. + +Dear Sir--We have got this length through many difficulties, both in +the travel by land to, and by sea and land from Greenock, where we +were obligated, by reason of no conveyance, to stop the Sabbath, but +not without edification; for we went to hear Dr. Drystour in the +forenoon, who had a most weighty sermon on the tenth chapter of +Nehemiah. He is surely a great orthodox divine, but rather costive +in his delivery. In the afternoon we heard a correct moral lecture +on good works, in another church, from Dr. Eastlight--a plain man, +with a genteel congregation. The same night we took supper with a +wealthy family, where we had much pleasant communion together, +although the bringing in of the toddy-bowl after supper is a fashion +that has a tendency to lengthen the sederunt to unseasonable hours. + +On the following morning, by the break of day, we took shipping in +the steam-boat for Glasgow. I had misgivings about the engine, +which is really a thing of great docility; but saving my concern for +the boiler, we all found the place surprising comfortable. The day +was bleak and cold; but we had a good fire in a carron grate in the +middle of the floor, and books to read, so that both body and mind +are therein provided for. + +Among the books, I fell in with a History of the Rebellion, anent +the hand that an English gentleman of the name of Waverley had in +it. I was grieved that I had not time to read it through, for it +was wonderful interesting, and far more particular, in many points, +than any other account of that affair I have yet met with; but it's +no so friendly to Protestant principles as I could have wished. +However, if I get my legacy well settled, I will buy the book, and +lend it to you on my return, please God, to the manse. + +We were put on shore at Glasgow by breakfast-time, and there we +tarried all day, as I had a power of attorney to get from Miss Jenny +Macbride, my cousin, to whom the colonel left the thousand pound +legacy. Miss Jenny thought the legacy should have been more, and +made some obstacle to signing the power; but both her lawyer and +Andrew Pringle, my son, convinced her, that, as it was specified in +the testament, she could not help it by standing out; so at long and +last Miss Jenny was persuaded to put her name to the paper. + +Next day we all four got into a fly coach, and, without damage or +detriment, reached this city in good time for dinner in Macgregor's +hotel, a remarkable decent inn, next door to one Mr. Blackwood, a +civil and discreet man in the bookselling line. + +Really the changes in Edinburgh since I was here, thirty years ago, +are not to be told. I am confounded; for although I have both heard +and read of the New Town in the Edinburgh Advertiser, and the Scots +Magazine, I had no notion of what has come to pass. It's surprising +to think wherein the decay of the nation is; for at Greenock I saw +nothing but shipping and building; at Glasgow, streets spreading as +if they were one of the branches of cotton-spinning; and here, the +houses grown up as if they were sown in the seed-time with the corn, +by a drill-machine, or dibbled in rigs and furrows like beans and +potatoes. + +To-morrow, God willing, we embark in a smack at Leith, so that you +will not hear from me again till it please Him to take us in the +hollow of His hand to London. In the meantime, I have only to add, +that, when the Session meets, I wish you would speak to the elders, +particularly to Mr. Craig, no to be overly hard on that poor donsie +thing, Meg Milliken, about her bairn; and tell Tam Glen, the father +o't, from me, that it would have been a sore heart to that pious +woman, his mother, had she been living, to have witnessed such a +thing; and therefore I hope and trust, he will yet confess a fault, +and own Meg for his wife, though she is but something of a tawpie. +However, you need not diminish her to Tam. I hope Mr. Snodgrass +will give as much satisfaction to the parish as can reasonably be +expected in my absence; and I remain, dear sir, your friend and +pastor, + +ZACHARIAH PRINGLE. + + +Mr. Micklewham received the Doctor's letter about an hour before the +Session met on the case of Tam Glen and Meg Milliken, and took it +with him to the session-house, to read it to the elders before going +into the investigation. Such a long and particular letter from the +Doctor was, as they all justly remarked, kind and dutiful to his +people, and a great pleasure to them. + +Mr. Daff observed, "Truly the Doctor's a vera funny man, and +wonderfu' jocose about the toddy-bowl." But Mr. Craig said, that +"sic a thing on the Lord's night gi'es me no pleasure; and I am for +setting my face against Waverley's History of the Rebellion, whilk I +hae heard spoken of among the ungodly, both at Kilwinning and Dalry; +and if it has no respect to Protestant principles, I doubt it's but +another dose o' the radical poison in a new guise." Mr. Icenor, +however, thought that "the observe on the great Doctor Drystour was +very edifying; and that they should see about getting him to help at +the summer Occasion." {1} + +While they were thus reviewing, in their way, the first epistle of +the Doctor, the betherel came in to say that Meg and Tam were at the +door. "Oh, man," said Mr. Daff, slyly, "ye shouldna hae left them +at the door by themselves." Mr. Craig looked at him austerely, and +muttered something about the growing immorality of this backsliding +age; but before the smoke of his indignation had kindled into +eloquence, the delinquents were admitted. However, as we have +nothing to do with the business, we shall leave them to their own +deliberations. + + + +CHAPTER II--THE VOYAGE + + + +On the fourteenth day after the departure of the family from the +manse, the Rev. Mr. Charles Snodgrass, who was appointed to +officiate during the absence of the Doctor, received the following +letter from his old chum, Mr. Andrew Pringle. It would appear that +the young advocate is not so solid in the head as some of his elder +brethren at the Bar; and therefore many of his flights and +observations must be taken with an allowance on the score of his +youth. + + +LETTER IV + + +Andrew Pringle, Esq., Advocate, to the Rev. Charles Snodgrass-- +LONDON. + +My Dear Friend--We have at last reached London, after a stormy +passage of seven days. The accommodation in the smacks looks +extremely inviting in port, and in fine weather, I doubt not, is +comfortable, even at sea; but in February, and in such visitations +of the powers of the air as we have endured, a balloon must be a far +better vehicle than all the vessels that have been constructed for +passengers since the time of Noah. In the first place, the waves of +the atmosphere cannot be so dangerous as those of the ocean, being +but "thin air"; and I am sure they are not so disagreeable; then the +speed of the balloon is so much greater,--and it would puzzle +Professor Leslie to demonstrate that its motions are more unsteady; +besides, who ever heard of sea-sickness in a balloon? the +consideration of which alone would, to any reasonable person +actually suffering under the pains of that calamity, be deemed more +than an equivalent for all the little fractional difference of +danger between the two modes of travelling. I shall henceforth +regard it as a fine characteristic trait of our national prudence, +that, in their journies to France and Flanders, the Scottish witches +always went by air on broom-sticks and benweeds, instead of +venturing by water in sieves, like those of England. But the +English are under the influence of a maritime genius. + +When we had got as far up the Thames as Gravesend, the wind and tide +came against us, so that the vessel was obliged to anchor, and I +availed myself of the circumstance, to induce the family to +disembark and go to London by LAND; and I esteem it a fortunate +circumstance that we did so, the day, for the season, being +uncommonly fine. After we had taken some refreshment, I procured +places in a stage-coach for my mother and sister, and, with the +Doctor, mounted myself on the outside. My father's old-fashioned +notions boggled a little at first to this arrangement, which he +thought somewhat derogatory to his ministerial dignity; but his +scruples were in the end overruled. + +The country in this season is, of course, seen to disadvantage, but +still it exhibits beauty enough to convince us what England must be +when in leaf. The old gentleman's admiration of the increasing +signs of what he called civilisation, as we approached London, +became quite eloquent; but the first view of the city from +Blackheath (which, by the bye, is a fine common, surrounded with +villas and handsome houses) overpowered his faculties, and I shall +never forget the impression it made on myself. The sun was declined +towards the horizon; vast masses of dark low-hung clouds were +mingled with the smoky canopy, and the dome of St. Paul's, like the +enormous idol of some terrible deity, throned amidst the smoke of +sacrifices and magnificence, darkness, and mystery, presented +altogether an object of vast sublimity. I felt touched with +reverence, as if I was indeed approaching the city of THE HUMAN +POWERS. + +The distant view of Edinburgh is picturesque and romantic, but it +affects a lower class of our associations. It is, compared to that +of London, what the poem of the Seasons is with respect to Paradise +Lost--the castellated descriptions of Walter Scott to the Darkness +of Byron--the Sabbath of Grahame to the Robbers of Schiller. In the +approach to Edinburgh, leisure and cheerfulness are on the road; +large spaces of rural and pastoral nature are spread openly around, +and mountains, and seas, and headlands, and vessels passing beyond +them, going like those that die, we know not whither, while the sun +is bright on their sails, and hope with them; but, in coming to this +Babylon, there is an eager haste and a hurrying on from all +quarters, towards that stupendous pile of gloom, through which no +eye can penetrate; an unceasing sound, like the enginery of an +earthquake at work, rolls from the heart of that profound and +indefinable obscurity--sometimes a faint and yellow beam of the sun +strikes here and there on the vast expanse of edifices; and +churches, and holy asylums, are dimly seen lifting up their +countless steeples and spires, like so many lightning rods to avert +the wrath of Heaven. + +The entrance to Edinburgh also awakens feelings of a more pleasing +character. The rugged veteran aspect of the Old Town is agreeably +contrasted with the bright smooth forehead of the New, and there is +not such an overwhelming torrent of animal life, as to make you +pause before venturing to stem it; the noises are not so deafening, +and the occasional sound of a ballad-singer, or a Highland piper, +varies and enriches the discords; but here, a multitudinous +assemblage of harsh alarms, of selfish contentions, and of furious +carriages, driven by a fierce and insolent race, shatter the very +hearing, till you partake of the activity with which all seem as +much possessed as if a general apprehension prevailed, that the +great clock of Time would strike the doom-hour before their tasks +were done. But I must stop, for the postman with his bell, like the +betherel of some ancient "borough's town" summoning to a burial, is +in the street, and warns me to conclude. + +- Yours, ANDREW PRINGLE. + + +LETTER V + + +The Rev. Dr. Pringle to Mr. Micklewham, Schoolmaster and Session- +Clerk, Garnock + +LONDON, 49 NORFOLK STREET, STRAND. + +Dear Sir--On the first Sunday forthcoming after the receiving +hereof, you will not fail to recollect in the remembering prayer, +that we return thanks for our safe arrival in London, after a +dangerous voyage. Well, indeed, is it ordained that we should pray +for those who go down to the sea in ships, and do business on the +great deep; for what me and mine have come through is unspeakable, +and the hand of Providence was visibly manifested. + +On the day of our embarkation at Leith, a fair wind took us onward +at a blithe rate for some time; but in the course of that night the +bridle of the tempest was slackened, and the curb of the billows +loosened, and the ship reeled to and fro like a drunken man, and no +one could stand therein. My wife and daughter lay at the point of +death; Andrew Pringle, my son, also was prostrated with the grievous +affliction; and the very soul within me was as if it would have been +cast out of the body. + +On the following day the storm abated, and the wind blew favourable; +but towards the heel of the evening it again came vehement, and +there was no help unto our distress. About midnight, however, it +pleased HIM, whose breath is the tempest, to be more sparing with +the whip of His displeasure on our poor bark, as she hirpled on in +her toilsome journey through the waters; and I was enabled, through +His strength, to lift my head from the pillow of sickness, and +ascend the deck, where I thought of Noah looking out of the window +in the ark, upon the face of the desolate flood, and of Peter +walking on the sea; and I said to myself, it matters not where we +are, for we can be in no place where Jehovah is not there likewise, +whether it be on the waves of the ocean, or the mountain tops, or in +the valley and shadow of death. + +The third day the wind came contrary, and in the fourth, and the +fifth, and the sixth, we were also sorely buffeted; but on the night +of the sixth we entered the mouth of the river Thames, and on the +morning of the seventh day of our departure, we cast anchor near a +town called Gravesend, where, to our exceeding great joy, it pleased +Him, in whom alone there is salvation, to allow us once more to put +our foot on the dry land. + +When we had partaken of a repast, the first blessed with the +blessing of an appetite, from the day of our leaving our native +land, we got two vacancies in a stage-coach for my wife and +daughter; but with Andrew Pringle, my son, I was obligated to mount +aloft on the outside. I had some scruple of conscience about this, +for I was afraid of my decorum. I met, however, with nothing but +the height of discretion from the other outside passengers, although +I jealoused that one of them was a light woman. Really I had no +notion that the English were so civilised; they were so well bred, +and the very duddiest of them spoke such a fine style of language, +that when I looked around on the country, I thought myself in the +land of Canaan. But it's extraordinary what a power of drink the +coachmen drink, stopping and going into every change-house, and yet +behaving themselves with the greatest sobriety. And then they are +all so well dressed, which is no doubt owing to the poor rates. I +am thinking, however, that for all they cry against them, the poor +rates are but a small evil, since they keep the poor folk in such +food and raiment, and out of the temptations to thievery; indeed, +such a thing as a common beggar is not to be seen in this land, +excepting here and there a sorner or a ne'er-do-weel. + +When we had got to the outskirts of London, I began to be ashamed of +the sin of high places, and would gladly have got into the inside of +the coach, for fear of anybody knowing me; but although the +multitude of by-goers was like the kirk scailing at the Sacrament, I +saw not a kent face, nor one that took the least notice of my +situation. At last we got to an inn, called The White Horse, +Fetter-Lane, where we hired a hackney to take us to the lodgings +provided for us here in Norfolk Street, by Mr. Pawkie, the Scotch +solicitor, a friend of Andrew Pringle, my son. Now it was that we +began to experience the sharpers of London; for it seems that there +are divers Norfolk Streets. Ours was in the Strand (mind that when +you direct), not very far from Fetter-Lane; but the hackney driver +took us away to one afar off, and when we knocked at the number we +thought was ours, we found ourselves at a house that should not be +told. I was so mortified, that I did not know what to say; and when +Andrew Pringle, my son, rebuked the man for the mistake, he only +gave a cunning laugh, and said we should have told him whatna +Norfolk Street we wanted. Andrew stormed at this--but I discerned +it was all owing to our own inexperience, and put an end to the +contention, by telling the man to take us to Norfolk Street in the +Strand, which was the direction we had got. But when we got to the +door, the coachman was so extortionate, that another hobbleshaw +arose. Mrs. Pringle had been told that, in such disputes, the best +way of getting redress was to take the number of the coach; but, in +trying to do so, we found it fastened on, and I thought the +hackneyman would have gone by himself with laughter. Andrew, who +had not observed what we were doing, when he saw us trying to take +off the number, went like one demented, and paid the man, I cannot +tell what, to get us out, and into the house, for fear we should +have been mobbit. + +I have not yet seen the colonel's agents, so can say nothing as to +the business of our coming; for, landing at Gravesend, we did not +bring our trunks with us, and Andrew has gone to the wharf this +morning to get them, and, until we get them, we can go nowhere, +which is the occasion of my writing so soon, knowing also how you +and the whole parish would be anxious to hear what had become of us; +and I remain, dear sir, your friend and pastor, + +ZACHARIAH PRINGLE. + + +On Saturday evening, Saunders Dickie, the Irvine postman, suspecting +that this letter was from the Doctor, went with it himself, on his +own feet, to Mr. Micklewham, although the distance is more than two +miles, but Saunders, in addition to the customary TWAL PENNIES on +the postage, had a dram for his pains. The next morning being wet, +Mr. Micklewham had not an opportunity of telling any of the +parishioners in the churchyard of the Doctor's safe arrival, so that +when he read out the request to return thanks (for he was not only +school-master and session-clerk, but also precentor), there was a +murmur of pleasure diffused throughout the congregation, and the +greatest curiosity was excited to know what the dangers were, from +which their worthy pastor and his whole family had so thankfully +escaped in their voyage to London; so that, when the service was +over, the elders adjourned to the session-house to hear the letter +read; and many of the heads of families, and other respectable +parishioners, were admitted to the honours of the sitting, who all +sympathised, with the greatest sincerity, in the sufferings which +their minister and his family had endured. Mr. Daff, however, was +justly chided by Mr. Craig, for rubbing his hands, and giving a sort +of sniggering laugh, at the Doctor's sitting on high with a light +woman. But even Mr. Snodgrass was seen to smile at the incident of +taking the number off the coach, the meaning of which none but +himself seemed to understand. + +When the epistle had been thus duly read, Mr. Micklewham promised, +for the satisfaction of some of the congregation, that he would get +two or three copies made by the best writers in his school, to be +handed about the parish, and Mr. Icenor remarked, that truly it was +a thing to be held in remembrance, for he had not heard of greater +tribulation by the waters since the shipwreck of the Apostle Paul. + + + +CHAPTER III--THE LEGACY + + + +Soon after the receipt of the letters which we had the pleasure of +communicating in the foregoing chapter, the following was received +from Mrs. Pringle, and the intelligence it contains is so +interesting and important, that we hasten to lay it before our +readers:- + + +LETTER VI + + +Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn--LONDON. + +My Dear Miss Mally--You must not expect no particulars from me of +our journey; but as Rachel is writing all the calamities that befell +us to Bell Tod, you will, no doubt, hear of them. But all is +nothing to my losses. I bought from the first hand, Mr. Treddles +the manufacturer, two pieces of muslin, at Glasgow, such a thing not +being to be had on any reasonable terms here, where they get all +their fine muslins from Glasgow and Paisley; and in the same bocks +with them I packit a small crock of our ain excellent poudered +butter, with a delap cheese, for I was told that such commodities +are not to be had genuine in London. I likewise had in it a pot of +marmlet, which Miss Jenny Macbride gave me at Glasgow, assuring me +that it was not only dentice, but a curiosity among the English, and +my best new bumbeseen goun in peper. Howsomever, in the nailing of +the bocks, which I did carefully with my oun hands, one of the nails +gaed in ajee, and broke the pot of marmlet, which, by the jolting of +the ship, ruined the muslin, rottened the peper round the goun, +which the shivers cut into more than twenty great holes. Over and +above all, the crock with the butter was, no one can tell how, +crackit, and the pickle lecking out, and mixing with the seerip of +the marmlet, spoilt the cheese. In short, at the object I beheld, +when the bocks was opened, I could have ta'en to the greeting; but I +behaved with more composity on the occasion, than the Doctor thought +it was in the power of nature to do. Howsomever, till I get a new +goun and other things, I am obliged to be a prisoner; and as the +Doctor does not like to go to the counting-house of the agents +without me, I know not what is yet to be the consequence of our +journey. But it would need to be something; for we pay four guineas +and a half a week for our dry lodgings, which is at a degree more +than the Doctor's whole stipend. As yet, for the cause of these +misfortunes, I can give you no account of London; but there is, as +everybody kens, little thrift in their housekeeping. We just buy +our tea by the quarter a pound, and our loaf sugar, broken in a +peper bag, by the pound, which would be a disgrace to a decent +family in Scotland; and when we order dinner, we get no more than +just serves, so that we have no cold meat if a stranger were coming +by chance, which makes an unco bare house. The servan lasses I +cannot abide; they dress better at their wark than ever I did on an +ordinaire week-day at the manse; and this very morning I saw madam, +the kitchen lass, mounted on a pair of pattens, washing the plain +stenes before the door; na, for that matter, a bare foot is not to +be seen within the four walls of London, at the least I have na seen +no such thing. + +In the way of marketing, things are very good here, and considering, +not dear; but all is sold by the licht weight, only the fish are +awful; half a guinea for a cod's head, and no bigger than the drouds +the cadgers bring from Ayr, at a shilling and eighteenpence apiece. + +Tell Miss Nanny Eydent that I have seen none of the fashions as yet; +but we are going to the burial of the auld king next week, and I'll +write her a particular account how the leddies are dressed; but +everybody is in deep mourning. Howsomever I have seen but little, +and that only in a manner from the window; but I could not miss the +opportunity of a frank that Andrew has got, and as he's waiting for +the pen, you must excuse haste. From your sincere friend, + +JANET PRINGLE. + + +LETTER VII + + +Andrew Pringle, Esq., to the Rev. Charles Snodgrass--LONDON. + +My Dear Friend--It will give you pleasure to hear that my father is +likely to get his business speedily settled without any +equivocation; and that all those prudential considerations which +brought us to London were but the phantasms of our own inexperience. +I use the plural, for I really share in the shame of having called +in question the high character of the agents: it ought to have been +warrantry enough that everything would be fairly adjusted. But I +must give you some account of what has taken place, to illustrate +our provincialism, and to give you some idea of the way of doing +business in London. + +After having recovered from the effects, and repaired some of the +accidents of our voyage, we yesterday morning sallied forth, the +Doctor, my mother, and your humble servant, in a hackney coach, to +Broad Street, where the agents have their counting-house, and were +ushered into a room among other legatees or clients, waiting for an +audience of Mr. Argent, the principal of the house. + +I know not how it is, that the little personal peculiarities, so +amusing to strangers, should be painful when we see them in those +whom we love and esteem; but I own to you, that there was a +something in the demeanour of the old folks on this occasion, that +would have been exceedingly diverting to me, had my filial reverence +been less sincere for them. + +The establishment of Messrs. Argent and Company is of vast extent, +and has in it something even of a public magnitude; the number of +the clerks, the assiduity of all, and the order that obviously +prevails throughout, give at the first sight, an impression that +bespeaks respect for the stability and integrity of the concern. +When we had been seated about ten minutes, and my father's name +taken to Mr. Argent, an answer was brought, that he would see us as +soon as possible; but we were obliged to wait at least half an hour +more. Upon our being at last admitted, Mr. Argent received us +standing, and in an easy gentlemanly manner said to my father, "You +are the residuary legatee of the late Colonel Armour. I am sorry +that you did not apprise me of this visit, that I might have been +prepared to give the information you naturally desire; but if you +will call here to-morrow at 12 o'clock, I shall then be able to +satisfy you on the subject. Your lady, I presume?" he added, +turning to my mother; "Mrs. Argent will have the honour of waiting +on you; may I therefore beg the favour of your address?" +Fortunately I was provided with cards, and having given him one, we +found ourselves constrained, as it were, to take our leave. The +whole interview did not last two minutes, and I never was less +satisfied with myself. The Doctor and my mother were in the +greatest anguish; and when we were again seated in the coach, loudly +expressed their apprehensions. They were convinced that some +stratagem was meditated; they feared that their journey to London +would prove as little satisfactory as that of the Wrongheads, and +that they had been throwing away good money in building castles in +the air. + +It had been previously arranged, that we were to return for my +sister, and afterwards visit some of the sights; but the clouded +visages of her father and mother darkened the very spirit of Rachel, +and she largely shared in their fears. This, however, was not the +gravest part of the business; for, instead of going to St. Paul's +and the Tower, as we had intended, my mother declared, that not one +farthing would they spend more till they were satisfied that the +expenses already incurred were likely to be reimbursed; and a +Chancery suit, with all the horrors of wig and gown, floated in +spectral haziness before their imagination. + +We sat down to a frugal meal, and although the remainder of a bottle +of wine, saved from the preceding day, hardly afforded a glass +apiece, the Doctor absolutely prohibited me from opening another. + +This morning, faithful to the hour, we were again in Broad Street, +with hearts knit up into the most peremptory courage; and, on being +announced, were immediately admitted to Mr. Argent. He received us +with the same ease as in the first interview, and, after requesting +us to be seated (which, by the way, he did not do yesterday, a +circumstance that was ominously remarked), he began to talk on +indifferent matters. I could see that a question, big with law and +fortune, was gathering in the breasts both of the Doctor and my +mother, and that they were in a state far from that of the blessed. +But one of the clerks, before they had time to express their +indignant suspicions, entered with a paper, and Mr. Argent, having +glanced it over, said to the Doctor--"I congratulate you, sir, on +the amount of the colonel's fortune. I was not indeed aware before +that he had died so rich. He has left about 120,000 pounds; +seventy-five thousand of which is in the five per cents; the +remainder in India bonds and other securities. The legacies appear +to be inconsiderable, so that the residue to you, after paying them +and the expenses of Doctors' Commons, will exceed a hundred thousand +pounds." + +My father turned his eyes upwards in thankfulness. "But," continued +Mr. Argent, "before the property can be transferred, it will be +necessary for you to provide about four thousand pounds to pay the +duty and other requisite expenses." This was a thunderclap. "Where +can I get such a sum?" exclaimed my father, in a tone of pathetic +simplicity. Mr. Argent smiled and said, "We shall manage that for +you"; and having in the same moment pulled a bell, a fine young man +entered, whom he introduced to us as his son, and desired him to +explain what steps it was necessary for the Doctor to take. We +accordingly followed Mr. Charles Argent to his own room. + +Thus, in less time than I have been in writing it, were we put in +possession of all the information we required, and found those whom +we feared might be interested to withhold the settlement, alert and +prompt to assist us. + +Mr. Charles Argent is naturally more familiar than his father. He +has a little dash of pleasantry in his manner, with a shrewd good- +humoured fashionable air, that renders him soon an agreeable +acquaintance. He entered with singular felicity at once into the +character of the Doctor and my mother, and waggishly drolled, as if +he did not understand them, in order, I could perceive, to draw out +the simplicity of their apprehensions. He quite won the old lady's +economical heart, by offering to frank her letters, for he is in +Parliament. "You have probably," said he slyly, "friends in the +country, to whom you may be desirous of communicating the result of +your journey to London; send your letters to me, and I will forward +them, and any that you expect may also come under cover to my +address, for postage is very expensive." + +As we were taking our leave, after being fully instructed in all the +preliminary steps to be taken before the transfers of the funded +property can be made, he asked me, in a friendly manner, to dine +with him this evening, and I never accepted an invitation with more +pleasure. I consider his acquaintance a most agreeable acquisition, +and not one of the least of those advantages which this new opulence +has put it in my power to attain. The incidents, indeed, of this +day, have been all highly gratifying, and the new and brighter phase +in which I have seen the mercantile character, as it is connected +with the greatness and glory of my country--is in itself equivalent +to an accession of useful knowledge. I can no longer wonder at the +vast power which the British Government wielded during the late war, +when I reflect that the method and promptitude of the house of +Messrs. Argent and Company is common to all the great commercial +concerns from which the statesmen derived, as from so many +reservoirs, those immense pecuniary supplies, which enabled them to +beggar all the resources of a political despotism, the most +unbounded, both in power and principle, of any tyranny that ever +existed so long.--Yours, etc., ANDREW PRINGLE. + + + +CHAPTER IV--THE TOWN + + + +There was a great tea-drinking held in the Kirkgate of Irvine, at +the house of Miss Mally Glencairn; and at that assemblage of rank, +beauty, and fashion, among other delicacies of the season, several +new-come-home Clyde skippers, roaring from Greenock and Port- +Glasgow, were served up--but nothing contributed more to the +entertainment of the evening than a proposal, on the part of Miss +Mally, that those present who had received letters from the Pringles +should read them for the benefit of the company. This was, no +doubt, a preconcerted scheme between her and Miss Isabella Tod, to +hear what Mr. Andrew Pringle had said to his friend Mr. Snodgrass, +and likewise what the Doctor himself had indited to Mr. Micklewham; +some rumour having spread of the wonderful escapes and adventures of +the family in their journey and voyage to London. Had there not +been some prethought of this kind, it was not indeed probable, that +both the helper and session-clerk of Garnock could have been there +together, in a party, where it was an understood thing, that not +only Whist and Catch Honours were to be played, but even +obstreperous Birky itself, for the diversion of such of the company +as were not used to gambling games. It was in consequence of what +took place at this Irvine route, that we were originally led to +think of collecting the letters. + + +LETTER VIII + + +Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod--LONDON. + +My Dear Bell--It was my heartfelt intention to keep a regular +journal of all our proceedings, from the sad day on which I bade a +long adieu to my native shades--and I persevered with a constancy +becoming our dear and youthful friendship, in writing down +everything that I saw, either rare or beautiful, till the hour of +our departure from Leith. In that faithful register of my feelings +and reflections as a traveller, I described our embarkation at +Greenock, on board the steam-boat,--our sailing past Port-Glasgow, +an insignificant town, with a steeple;--the stupendous rock of +Dumbarton Castle, that Gibraltar of antiquity;--our landing at +Glasgow;--my astonishment at the magnificence of that opulent +metropolis of the muslin manufacturers; my brother's remark, that +the punch-bowls on the roofs of the Infirmary, the Museum, and the +Trades Hall, were emblematic of the universal estimation in which +that celebrated mixture is held by all ranks and degrees--learned, +commercial, and even medical, of the inhabitants;--our arrival at +Edinburgh--my emotion on beholding the Castle, and the visionary +lake which may be nightly seen from the windows of Princes Street, +between the Old and New Town, reflecting the lights of the lofty +city beyond--with a thousand other delightful and romantic +circumstances, which render it no longer surprising that the +Edinburgh folk should be, as they think themselves, the most +accomplished people in the world. But, alas! from the moment I +placed my foot on board that cruel vessel, of which the very idea is +anguish, all thoughts were swallowed up in suffering-swallowed, did +I say? Ah, my dear Bell, it was the odious reverse--but imagination +alone can do justice to the subject. Not, however, to dwell on what +is past, during the whole time of our passage from Leith, I was +unable to think, far less to write; and, although there was a +handsome young Hussar officer also a passenger, I could not even +listen to the elegant compliments which he seemed disposed to offer +by way of consolation, when he had got the better of his own +sickness. Neither love nor valour can withstand the influence of +that sea-demon. The interruption thus occasioned to my observations +made me destroy my journal, and I have now to write to you only +about London--only about London! What an expression for this human +universe, as my brother calls it, as if my weak feminine pen were +equal to the stupendous theme! + +But, before entering on the subject, let me first satisfy the +anxiety of your faithful bosom with respect to my father's legacy. +All the accounts, I am happy to tell you, are likely to be amicably +settled; but the exact amount is not known as yet, only I can see, +by my brother's manner, that it is not less than we expected, and my +mother speaks about sending me to a boarding-school to learn +accomplishments. Nothing, however, is to be done until something is +actually in hand. But what does it all avail to me? Here am I, a +solitary being in the midst of this wilderness of mankind, far from +your sympathising affection, with the dismal prospect before me of +going a second time to school, and without the prospect of enjoying, +with my own sweet companions, that light and bounding gaiety we were +wont to share, in skipping from tomb to tomb in the breezy +churchyard of Irvine, like butterflies in spring flying from flower +to flower, as a Wordsworth or a Wilson would express it. + +We have got elegant lodgings at present in Norfolk Street, but my +brother is trying, with all his address, to get us removed to a more +fashionable part of the town, which, if the accounts were once +settled, I think will take place; and he proposes to hire a carriage +for a whole month. Indeed, he has given hints about the saving that +might be made by buying one of our own; but my mother shakes her +head, and says, "Andrew, dinna be carri't." From all which it is +very plain, though they don't allow me to know their secrets, that +the legacy is worth the coming for. But to return to the lodgings;- +-we have what is called a first and second floor, a drawing-room, +and three handsome bedchambers. The drawing-room is very elegant; +and the carpet is the exact same pattern of the one in the dress- +drawing-room of Eglintoun Castle. Our landlady is indeed a lady, +and I am surprised how she should think of letting lodgings, for she +dresses better, and wears finer lace, than ever I saw in Irvine. +But I am interrupted. - + +I now resume my pen. We have just had a call from Mrs. and Miss +Argent, the wife and daughter of the colonel's man of business. +They seem great people, and came in their own chariot, with two +grand footmen behind; but they are pleasant and easy, and the object +of their visit was to invite us to a family dinner to-morrow, +Sunday. I hope we may become better acquainted; but the two livery +servants make such a difference in our degrees, that I fear this is +a vain expectation. Miss Argent was, however, very frank, and told +me that she was herself only just come to London for the first time +since she was a child, having been for the last seven years at a +school in the country. I shall, however, be better able to say more +about her in my next letter. Do not, however, be afraid that she +shall ever supplant you in my heart. No, my dear friend, companion +of my days of innocence,--that can never be. But this call from +such persons of fashion looks as if the legacy had given us some +consideration; so that I think my father and mother may as well let +me know at once what my prospects are, that I might show you how +disinterestedly and truly I am, my dear Bell, yours, + +RACHEL PRINGLE. + + +When Miss Isabella Tod had read the letter, there was a solemn pause +for some time--all present knew something, more or less, of the fair +writer; but a carriage, a carpet like the best at Eglintoun, a +Hussar officer, and two footmen in livery, were phantoms of such +high import, that no one could distinctly express the feelings with +which the intelligence affected them. It was, however, unanimously +agreed, that the Doctor's legacy had every symptom of being equal to +what it was at first expected to be, namely, twenty thousand +pounds;--a sum which, by some occult or recondite moral influence of +the Lottery, is the common maximum, in popular estimation, of any +extraordinary and indefinite windfall of fortune. Miss Becky +Glibbans, from the purest motives of charity, devoutly wished that +poor Rachel might be able to carry her full cup with a steady hand; +and the Rev. Mr. Snodgrass, that so commendable an expression might +not lose its edifying effect by any lighter talk, requested Mr. +Micklewham to read his letter from the Doctor. + + +LETTER IX + + +The Rev. Z. Pringle, D.D., to Mr. Micklewham, Schoolmaster and +Session-Clerk of Garnock--LONDON. + +Dear Sir--I have written by the post that will take this to hand, a +letter to Banker M-y, at Irvine, concerning some small matters of +money that I may stand in need of his opinion anent; and as there is +a prospect now of a settlement of the legacy business, I wish you to +take a step over to the banker, and he will give you ten pounds, +which you will administer to the poor, by putting a twenty-shilling +note in the plate on Sunday, as a public testimony from me of +thankfulness for the hope that is before us; the other nine pounds +you will quietly, and in your own canny way, divide after the +following manner, letting none of the partakers thereof know from +what other hand than the Lord's the help comes, for, indeed, from +whom but HIS does any good befall us! + +You will give to auld Mizy Eccles ten shillings. She's a careful +creature, and it will go as far with her thrift as twenty will do +with Effy Hopkirk; so you will give Effy twenty. Mrs. Binnacle, who +lost her husband, the sailor, last winter, is, I am sure, with her +two sickly bairns, very ill off; I would therefore like if you will +lend her a note, and ye may put half-a-crown in the hand of each of +the poor weans for a playock, for she's a proud spirit, and will +bear much before she complain. Thomas Dowy has been long unable to +do a turn of work, so you may give him a note too. I promised that +donsie body, Willy Shachle, the betherel, that when I got my legacy, +he should get a guinea, which would be more to him than if the +colonel had died at home, and he had had the howking of his grave; +you may therefore, in the meantime, give Willy a crown, and be sure +to warn him well no to get fou with it, for I'll be very angry if he +does. But what in this matter will need all your skill, is the +giving of the remaining five pounds to auld Miss Betty Peerie; being +a gentlewoman both by blood and education, she's a very slimmer +affair to handle in a doing of this kind. But I am persuaded she's +in as great necessity as many that seem far poorer, especially since +the muslin flowering has gone so down. Her bits of brats are sairly +worn, though she keeps out an apparition of gentility. Now, for all +this trouble, I will give you an account of what we have been doing +since my last. + +When we had gotten ourselves made up in order, we went, with Andrew +Pringle, my son, to the counting-house, and had a satisfactory vista +of the residue; but it will be some time before things can be +settled--indeed, I fear, not for months to come--so that I have been +thinking, if the parish was pleased with Mr. Snodgrass, it might be +my duty to my people to give up to him my stipend, and let him be +appointed not only helper, but successor likewise. It would not be +right of me to give the manse, both because he's a young and +inexperienced man, and cannot, in the course of nature, have got +into the way of visiting the sick-beds of the frail, which is the +main part of a pastor's duty, and likewise, because I wish to die, +as I have lived, among my people. But, when all's settled, I will +know better what to do. + +When we had got an inkling from Mr. Argent of what the colonel has +left,--and I do assure you, that money is not to be got, even in the +way of legacy, without anxiety,--Mrs. Pringle and I consulted +together, and resolved, that it was our first duty, as a token of +our gratitude to the Giver of all Good, to make our first outlay to +the poor. So, without saying a word either to Rachel, or to Andrew +Pringle, my son, knowing that there was a daily worship in the +Church of England, we slipped out of the house by ourselves, and, +hiring a hackney conveyance, told the driver thereof to drive us to +the high church of St. Paul's. This was out of no respect to the +pomp and pride of prelacy, but to Him before whom both pope and +presbyter are equal, as they are seen through the merits of Christ +Jesus. We had taken a gold guinea in our hand, but there was no +broad at the door; and, instead of a venerable elder, lending +sanctity to his office by reason of his age, such as we see in the +effectual institutions of our own national church--the door was kept +by a young man, much more like a writer's whipper-snapper-clerk, +than one qualified to fill that station, which good King David would +have preferred to dwelling in tents of sin. However, we were not +come to spy the nakedness of the land, so we went up the outside +stairs, and I asked at him for the plate; "Plate!" says he; "why, +it's on the altar!" I should have known this--the custom of old +being to lay the offerings on the altar, but I had forgot; such is +the force, you see, of habit, that the Church of England is not so +well reformed and purged as ours is from the abominations of the +leaven of idolatry. We were then stepping forward, when he said to +me, as sharply as if I was going to take an advantage, "You must pay +here." "Very well, wherever it is customary," said I, in a meek +manner, and gave him the guinea. Mrs. Pringle did the same. "I +cannot give you change," cried he, with as little decorum as if we +had been paying at a playhouse. "It makes no odds," said I; "keep +it all." Whereupon he was so converted by the mammon of iniquity, +that he could not be civil enough, he thought--but conducted us in, +and showed us the marble monuments, and the French colours that were +taken in the war, till the time of worship--nothing could surpass +his discretion. + +At last the organ began to sound, and we went into the place of +worship; but oh, Mr. Micklewham, yon is a thin kirk. There was not +a hearer forby Mrs. Pringle and me, saving and excepting the relics +of popery that assisted at the service. What was said, I must, +however, in verity confess, was not far from the point. But it's +still a comfort to see that prelatical usurpations are on the +downfall; no wonder that there is no broad at the door to receive +the collection for the poor, when no congregation entereth in. You +may, therefore, tell Mr. Craig, and it will gladden his heart to +hear the tidings, that the great Babylonian madam is now, indeed, +but a very little cutty. + +On our return home to our lodgings, we found Andrew Pringle, my son, +and Rachel, in great consternation about our absence. When we told +them that we had been at worship, I saw they were both deeply +affected; and I was pleased with my children, the more so, as you +know I have had my doubts that Andrew Pringle's principles have not +been strengthened by the reading of the Edinburgh Review. Nothing +more passed at that time, for we were disturbed by a Captain Sabre +that came up with us in the smack, calling to see how we were after +our journey; and as he was a civil well-bred young man, which I +marvel at, considering he's a Hussar dragoon, we took a coach, and +went to see the lions, as he said; but, instead of taking us to the +Tower of London, as I expected, he ordered the man to drive us round +the town. In our way through the city he showed us the Temple Bar, +where Lord Kilmarnock's head was placed after the Rebellion, and +pointed out the Bank of England and Royal Exchange. He said the +steeple of the Exchange was taken down shortly ago--and that the +late improvements at the Bank were very grand. I remembered having +read in the Edinburgh Advertiser, some years past, that there was a +great deal said in Parliament about the state of the Exchange, and +the condition of the Bank, which I could never thoroughly +understand. And, no doubt, the taking own of an old building, and +the building up of a new one so near together, must, in such a +crowded city as this, be not only a great detriment to business, but +dangerous to the community at large. + +After we had driven about for more than two hours, and neither seen +lions nor any other curiosity, but only the outside of houses, we +returned home, where we found a copperplate card left by Mr. Argent, +the colonel's agent, with the name of his private dwelling-house. +Both me and Mrs. Pringle were confounded at the sight of this thing, +and could not but think that it prognosticated no good; for we had +seen the gentleman himself in the forenoon. Andrew Pringle, my son, +could give no satisfactory reason for such an extraordinary +manifestation of anxiety to see us; so that, after sitting on thorns +at our dinner, I thought that we should see to the bottom of the +business. Accordingly, a hackney was summoned to the door, and me +and Andrew Pringle, my son, got into it, and told the man to drive +to second in the street where Mr. Argent lived, and which was the +number of his house. The man got up, and away we went; but, after +he had driven an awful time, and stopping and inquiring at different +places, he said there was no such house as Second's in the street; +whereupon Andrew Pringle, my son, asked him what he meant, and the +man said that he supposed it was one Second's Hotel, or Coffee- +house, that we wanted. Now, only think of the craftiness of the +ne'er-da-weel; it was with some difficulty that I could get him to +understand, that second was just as good as number two; for Andrew +Pringle, my son, would not interfere, but lay back in the coach, and +was like to split his sides at my confabulating with the hackney +man. At long and length we got to the house, and were admitted to +Mr. Argent, who was sitting by himself in his library reading, with +a plate of oranges, and two decanters with wine before him. I +explained to him, as well as I could, my surprise and anxiety at +seeing his card, at which he smiled, and said, it was merely a sort +of practice that had come into fashion of late years, and that, +although we had been at his counting-house in the morning, he +considered it requisite that he should call on his return from the +city. I made the best excuse I could for the mistake; and the +servant having placed glasses on the table, we were invited to take +wine. But I was grieved to think that so respectable a man should +have had the bottles before him by himself, the more especially as +he said his wife and daughters had gone to a party, and that he did +not much like such sort of things. But for all that, we found him a +wonderful conversible man; and Andrew Pringle, my son, having read +all the new books put out at Edinburgh, could speak with him on any +subject. In the course of conversation they touched upon politick +economy, and Andrew Pringle, my son, in speaking about cash in the +Bank of England, told him what I had said concerning the alterations +of the Royal Exchange steeple, with which Mr. Argent seemed greatly +pleased, and jocosely proposed as a toast,--"May the country never +suffer more from the alterations in the Exchange, than the taking +down of the steeple." But as Mrs. Pringle is wanting to send a bit +line under the same frank to her cousin, Miss Mally Glencairn, I +must draw to a conclusion, assuring you, that I am, dear sir, your +sincere friend and pastor, + +ZACHARIAH PRINGLE. + + +The impression which this letter made on the auditors of Mr. +Micklewham was highly favourable to the Doctor--all bore testimony +to his benevolence and piety; and Mrs. Glibbans expressed, in very +loquacious terms, her satisfaction at the neglect to which prelacy +was consigned. The only person who seemed to be affected by other +than the most sedate feelings on the occasion was the Rev. Mr. +Snodgrass, who was observed to smile in a very unbecoming manner at +some parts of the Doctor's account of his reception at St. Paul's. +Indeed, it was apparently with the utmost difficulty that the young +clergyman could restrain himself from giving liberty to his risible +faculties. It is really surprising how differently the same thing +affects different people. "The Doctor and Mrs. Pringle giving a +guinea at the door of St. Paul's for the poor need not make folk +laugh," said Mrs. Glibbans; "for is it not written, that whosoever +giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord?" "True, my dear madam," +replied Mr. Snodgrass, "but the Lord to whom our friends in this +case gave their money is the Lord Bishop of London; all the +collection made at the doors of St. Paul's Cathedral is, I +understand, a perquisite of the Bishop's." In this the reverend +gentleman was not very correctly informed, for, in the first place, +it is not a collection, but an exaction; and, in the second place, +it is only sanctioned by the Bishop, who allows the inferior clergy +to share the gains among themselves. Mrs. Glibbans, however, on +hearing his explanation, exclaimed, "Gude be about us!" and pushing +back her chair with a bounce, streaking down her gown at the same +time with both her hands, added, "No wonder that a judgment is upon +the land, when we hear of money-changers in the temple." Miss Mally +Glencairn, to appease her gathering wrath and holy indignation, said +facetiously, "Na, na, Mrs. Glibbans, ye forget, there was nae +changing of money there. The man took the whole guineas. But not +to make a controversy on the subject, Mr. Snodgrass will now let us +hear what Andrew Pringle, 'my son,' has said to him":- And the +reverend gentleman read the following letter with due +circumspection, and in his best manner:- + + +LETTER X + + +Andrew Pringle, Esq., to the Reverend Charles Snodgrass + +My Dear Friend--I have heard it alleged, as the observation of a +great traveller, that the manners of the higher classes of society +throughout Christendom are so much alike, that national +peculiarities among them are scarcely perceptible. This is not +correct; the differences between those of London and Edinburgh are +to me very striking. It is not that they talk and perform the +little etiquettes of social intercourse differently; for, in these +respects, they are apparently as similar as it is possible for +imitation to make them; but the difference to which I refer is an +indescribable something, which can only be compared to peculiarities +of accent. They both speak the same language; perhaps in classical +purity of phraseology the fashionable Scotchman is even superior to +the Englishman; but there is a flatness of tone in his accent--a +lack of what the musicians call expression, which gives a local and +provincial effect to his conversation, however, in other respects, +learned and intelligent. It is so with his manners; he conducts +himself with equal ease, self-possession, and discernment, but the +flavour of the metropolitan style is wanting. + +I have been led to make these remarks by what I noticed in the +guests whom I met on Friday at young Argent's. It was a small +party, only five strangers; but they seemed to be all particular +friends of our host, and yet none of them appeared to be on any +terms of intimacy with each other. In Edinburgh, such a party would +have been at first a little cold; each of the guests would there +have paused to estimate the characters of the several strangers +before committing himself with any topic of conversation. But here, +the circumstance of being brought together by a mutual friend, +produced at once the purest gentlemanly confidence; each, as it +were, took it for granted, that the persons whom he had come among +were men of education and good-breeding, and, without deeming it at +all necessary that he should know something of their respective +political and philosophical principles, before venturing to speak on +such subjects, discussed frankly, and as things unconnected with +party feelings, incidental occurrences which, in Edinburgh, would +have been avoided as calculated to awaken animosities. + +But the most remarkable feature of the company, small as it was, +consisted of the difference in the condition and character of the +guests. In Edinburgh the landlord, with the scrupulous care of a +herald or genealogist, would, for a party, previously unacquainted +with each other, have chosen his guests as nearly as possible from +the same rank of life; the London host had paid no respect to any +such consideration--all the strangers were as dissimilar in fortune, +profession, connections, and politics, as any four men in the class +of gentlemen could well be. I never spent a more delightful +evening. + +The ablest, the most eloquent, and the most elegant man present, +without question, was the son of a saddler. No expense had been +spared on his education. His father, proud of his talents, had +intended him for a seat in Parliament; but Mr. T- himself prefers +the easy enjoyments of private life, and has kept himself aloof from +politics and parties. Were I to form an estimate of his +qualifications to excel in public speaking, by the clearness and +beautiful propriety of his colloquial language, I should conclude +that he was still destined to perform a distinguished part. But he +is content with the liberty of a private station, as a spectator +only, and, perhaps, in that he shows his wisdom; for undoubtedly +such men are not cordially received among hereditary statesmen, +unless they evince a certain suppleness of principle, such as we +have seen in the conduct of more than one political adventurer. + +The next in point of effect was young C- G-. He evidently +languished under the influence of indisposition, which, while it +added to the natural gentleness of his manners, diminished the +impression his accomplishments would otherwise have made. I was +greatly struck with the modesty with which he offered his opinions, +and could scarcely credit that he was the same individual whose +eloquence in Parliament is by many compared even to Mr. Canning's, +and whose firmness of principle is so universally acknowledged, that +no one ever suspects him of being liable to change. You may have +heard of his poem "On the Restoration of Learning in the East," the +most magnificent prize essay that the English Universities have +produced for many years. The passage in which he describes the +talents, the researches, and learning of Sir William Jones, is +worthy of the imagination of Burke; and yet, with all this oriental +splendour of fancy, he has the reputation of being a patient and +methodical man of business. He looks, however, much more like a +poet or a student, than an orator and a statesman; and were +statesmen the sort of personages which the spirit of the age +attempts to represent them, I, for one, should lament that a young +man, possessed of so many amiable qualities, all so tinted with the +bright lights of a fine enthusiasm, should ever have been removed +from the moon-lighted groves and peaceful cloisters of Magdalen +College, to the lamp-smelling passages and factious debates of St. +Stephen's Chapel. Mr. G- certainly belongs to that high class of +gifted men who, to the honour of the age, have redeemed the literary +character from the charge of unfitness for the concerns of public +business; and he has shown that talents for affairs of state, +connected with literary predilections, are not limited to mere +reviewers, as some of your old class-fellows would have the world to +believe. When I contrast the quiet unobtrusive development of Mr. +G-'s character with that bustling and obstreperous elbowing into +notice of some of those to whom the Edinburgh Review owes half its +fame, and compare the pure and steady lustre of his elevation, to +the rocket-like aberrations and perturbed blaze of their still +uncertain course, I cannot but think that we have overrated, if not +their ability, at least their wisdom in the management of public +affairs. + +The third of the party was a little Yorkshire baronet. He was +formerly in Parliament, but left it, as he says, on account of its +irregularities, and the bad hours it kept. He is a Whig, I +understand, in politics, and indeed one might guess as much by +looking at him; for I have always remarked, that your Whigs have +something odd and particular about them. On making the same sort of +remark to Argent, who, by the way, is a high ministerial man, he +observed, the thing was not to be wondered at, considering that the +Whigs are exceptions to the generality of mankind, which naturally +accounts for their being always in the minority. Mr. T-, the +saddler's son, who overheard us, said slyly, "That it might be so; +but if it be true that the wise are few compared to the multitude of +the foolish, things would be better managed by the minority than as +they are at present." + +The fourth guest was a stock-broker, a shrewd compound, with all +charity be it spoken, of knavery and humour. He is by profession an +epicure, but I suspect his accomplishments in that capacity are not +very well founded; I would almost say, judging by the evident traces +of craft and dissimulation in his physiognomy, that they have been +assumed as part of the means of getting into good company, to drive +the more earnest trade of money-making. Argent evidently understood +his true character, though he treated him with jocular familiarity. +I thought it a fine example of the intellectual tact and superiority +of T-, that he seemed to view him with dislike and contempt. But I +must not give you my reasons for so thinking, as you set no value on +my own particular philosophy; besides, my paper tells me, that I +have only room left to say, that it would be difficult in Edinburgh +to bring such a party together; and yet they affect there to have a +metropolitan character. In saying this, I mean only with reference +to manners; the methods of behaviour in each of the company were +precisely similar--there was no eccentricity, but only that distinct +and decided individuality which nature gives, and which no acquired +habits can change. Each, however, was the representative of a +class; and Edinburgh has no classes exactly of the same kind as +those to which they belonged.--Yours truly, + +ANDREW PRINGLE. + + +Just as Mr. Snodgrass concluded the last sentence, one of the Clyde +skippers, who had fallen asleep, gave such an extravagant snore, +followed by a groan, that it set the whole company a-laughing, and +interrupted the critical strictures which would otherwise have been +made on Mr. Andrew Pringle's epistle. "Damn it," said he, "I +thought myself in a fog, and could not tell whether the land ahead +was Plada or the Lady Isle." Some of the company thought the +observation not inapplicable to what they had been hearing. + +Miss Isabella Tod then begged that Miss Mally, their hostess, would +favour the company with Mrs. Pringle's communication. To this +request that considerate maiden ornament of the Kirkgate deemed it +necessary, by way of preface to the letter, to say, "Ye a' ken that +Mrs. Pringle's a managing woman, and ye maunna expect any +metaphysical philosophy from her." In the meantime, having taken +the letter from her pocket, and placed her spectacles on that +functionary of the face which was destined to wear spectacles, she +began as follows:- + + +LETTER XI + + +Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn + +My Dear Miss Mally--We have been at the counting-house, and gotten a +sort of a satisfaction; what the upshot may be, I canna take it upon +myself to prognosticate; but when the waur comes to the worst, I +think that baith Rachel and Andrew will have a nest egg, and the +Doctor and me may sleep sound on their account, if the nation doesna +break, as the argle-barglers in the House of Parliament have been +threatening: for all the cornal's fortune is sunk at present in the +pesents. Howsomever, it's our notion, when the legacies are paid +off, to lift the money out of the funds, and place it at good +interest on hairetable securitie. But ye will hear aften from us, +before things come to that, for the delays, and the goings, and the +comings in this town of London are past all expreshon. + +As yet, we have been to see no fairlies, except going in a coach +from one part of the toun to another; but the Doctor and me was at +the he-kirk of Saint Paul's for a purpose that I need not tell you, +as it was adoing with the right hand what the left should not know. +I couldna say that I had there great pleasure, for the preacher was +very cauldrife, and read every word, and then there was such a +beggary of popish prelacy, that it was compassionate to a Christian +to see. + +We are to dine at Mr. Argent's, the cornal's hadgint, on Sunday, and +me and Rachel have been getting something for the okasion. Our +landlady, Mrs. Sharkly, has recommended us to ane of the most +fashionable millinders in London, who keeps a grand shop in Cranburn +Alla, and she has brought us arteecles to look at; but I was +surprised they were not finer, for I thought them of a very inferior +quality, which she said was because they were not made for no +costomer, but for the public. + +The Argents seem as if they would be discreet people, which, to us +who are here in the jaws of jeopardy, would be a great confort--for +I am no overly satisfeet with many things. What would ye think of +buying coals by the stimpert, for anything that I know, and then +setting up the poker afore the ribs, instead of blowing with the +bellies to make the fire burn? I was of a pinion that the +Englishers were naturally masterful; but I can ashure you this is no +the case at all--and I am beginning to think that the way of leeving +from hand to mouth is great frugality, when ye consider that all is +left in the logive hands of uncercumseezed servans. + +But what gives me the most concern at this time is one Captain Sabre +of the Dragoon Hozars, who come up in the smak with us from Leith, +and is looking more after our Rachel than I could wish, now that she +might set her cap to another sort of object. But he's of a +respectit family, and the young lad himself is no to be despisid; +howsomever, I never likit officir-men of any description, and yet +the thing that makes me look down on the captain is all owing to the +cornal, who was an officer of the native poors of India, where the +pay must indeed have been extraordinar, for who ever heard either of +a cornal, or any officer whomsoever, making a hundred thousand +pounds in our regiments? no that I say the cornal has left so meikle +to us. + +Tell Mrs. Glibbans that I have not heard of no sound preacher as yet +in London--the want of which is no doubt the great cause of the +crying sins of the place. What would she think to hear of +newspapers selling by tout of horn on the Lord's day? and on the +Sabbath night, the change-houses are more throng than on the +Saturday! I am told, but as yet I cannot say that I have seen the +evil myself with my own eyes, that in the summer time there are tea- +gardens, where the tradesmen go to smoke their pipes of tobacco, and +to entertain their wives and children, which can be nothing less +than a bringing of them to an untimely end. But you will be +surprised to hear, that no such thing as whusky is to be had in the +public-houses, where they drink only a dead sort of beer; and that a +bottle of true jennyinn London porter is rarely to be seen in the +whole town--all kinds of piple getting their porter in pewter cans, +and a laddie calls for in the morning to take away what has been +yoused over night. But what I most miss is the want of creem. The +milk here is just skimm, and I doot not, likewise well watered--as +for the water, a drink of clear wholesome good water is not within +the bounds of London; and truly, now may I say, that I have learnt +what the blessing of a cup of cold water is. + +Tell Miss Nanny Eydent, that the day of the burial is now settled, +when we are going to Windsor Castle to see the precesson--and that, +by the end of the wick, she may expect the fashions from me, with +all the particulars. Till then, I am, my dear Miss Mally, your +friend and well-wisher, + +JANET PRINGLE. + +NOTO BENY.--Give my kind compliments to Mrs. Glibbans, and let her +know, that I will, after Sunday, give her an account of the state of +the Gospel in London. + + +Miss Mally paused when she had read the letter, and it was +unanimously agreed, that Mrs. Pringle gave a more full account of +London than either father, son, or daughter. + +By this time the night was far advanced, and Mrs. Glibbans was +rising to go away, apprehensive, as she observed, that they were +going to bring "the carts" into the room. Upon Miss Mally, however, +assuring her that no such transgression was meditated, but that she +intended to treat them with a bit nice Highland mutton ham, and +eggs, of her own laying, that worthy pillar of the Relief Kirk +consented to remain. + +It was past eleven o'clock when the party broke up; Mr. Snodgrass +and Mr. Micklewham walked home together, and as they were crossing +the Red Burn Bridge, at the entrance of Eglintoun Wood,--a place +well noted from ancient times for preternatural appearances, Mr. +Micklewham declared that he thought he heard something purring among +the bushes; upon which Mr. Snodgrass made a jocose observation, +stating, that it could be nothing but the effect of Lord North's +strong ale in his head; and we should add, by way of explanation, +that the Lord North here spoken of was Willy Grieve, celebrated in +Irvine for the strength and flavour of his brewing, and that, in +addition to a plentiful supply of his best, Miss Mally had +entertained them with tamarind punch, constituting a natural cause +adequate to produce all the preternatural purring that terrified the +dominie. + + + +CHAPTER V--THE ROYAL FUNERAL + + + +Tam Glen having, in consequence of the exhortations of Mr. +Micklewham, and the earnest entreaties of Mr. Daff, backed by the +pious animadversions of the rigidly righteous Mr. Craig, confessed a +fault, and acknowledged an irregular marriage with Meg Milliken, +their child was admitted to church privileges. But before the day +of baptism, Mr. Daff, who thought Tam had given but sullen symptoms +of penitence, said, to put him in better humour with his fate,-- +"Noo, Tam, since ye hae beguiled us of the infare, we maun mak up +for't at the christening; so I'll speak to Mr. Snodgrass to bid the +Doctor's friens and acquaintance to the ploy, that we may get as +meikle amang us as will pay for the bairn's baptismal frock." + +Mr. Craig, who was present, and who never lost an opportunity of +testifying, as he said, his "discountenance of the crying iniquity," +remonstrated with Mr. Daff on the unchristian nature of the +proposal, stigmatising it with good emphasis "as a sinful nourishing +of carnality in his day and generation." Mr. Micklewham, however, +interfered, and said, "It was a matter of weight and concernment, +and therefore it behoves you to consult Mr. Snodgrass on the fitness +of the thing. For if the thing itself is not fit and proper, it +cannot expect his countenance; and, on that account, before we +reckon on his compliance with what Mr. Daff has propounded, we +should first learn whether he approves of it at all." Whereupon the +two elders and the session-clerk adjourned to the manse, in which +Mr. Snodgrass, during the absence of the incumbent, had taken up his +abode. + +The heads of the previous conversation were recapitulated by Mr. +Micklewham, with as much brevity as was consistent with perspicuity; +and the matter being duly digested by Mr. Snodgrass, that orthodox +young man--as Mrs. Glibbans denominated him, on hearing him for the +first time--declared that the notion of a pay-christening was a +benevolent and kind thought: "For, is not the order to increase and +multiply one of the first commands in the Scriptures of truth?" said +Mr. Snodgrass, addressing himself to Mr. Craig. "Surely, then, when +children are brought into the world, a great law of our nature has +been fulfilled, and there is cause for rejoicing and gladness! And +is it not an obligation imposed upon all Christians, to welcome the +stranger, and to feed the hungry, and to clothe the naked; and what +greater stranger can there be than a helpless babe? Who more in +need of sustenance than the infant, that knows not the way even to +its mother's bosom? And whom shall we clothe, if we do not the +wailing innocent, that the hand of Providence places in poverty and +nakedness before us, to try, as it were, the depth of our Christian +principles, and to awaken the sympathy of our humane feelings?" + +Mr. Craig replied, "It's a' very true and sound what Mr. Snodgrass +has observed; but Tam Glen's wean is neither a stranger, nor hungry, +nor naked, but a sturdy brat, that has been rinning its lane for +mair than sax weeks." "Ah!" said Mr. Snodgrass familiarly, "I fear, +Mr. Craig, ye're a Malthusian in your heart." The sanctimonious +elder was thunderstruck at the word. Of many a various shade and +modification of sectarianism he had heard, but the Malthusian heresy +was new to his ears, and awful to his conscience, and he begged Mr. +Snodgrass to tell him in what it chiefly consisted, protesting his +innocence of that, and of every erroneous doctrine. + +Mr. Snodgrass happened to regard the opinions of Malthus on +Population as equally contrary to religion and nature, and not at +all founded in truth. "It is evident, that the reproductive +principle in the earth and vegetables, and all things and animals +which constitute the means of subsistence, is much more vigorous +than in man. It may be therefore affirmed, that the multiplication +of the means of subsistence is an effect of the multiplication of +population, for the one is augmented in quantity, by the skill and +care of the other," said Mr. Snodgrass, seizing with avidity this +opportunity of stating what he thought on the subject, although his +auditors were but the session-clerk, and two elders of a country +parish. We cannot pursue the train of his argument, but we should +do injustice to the philosophy of Malthus, if we suppressed the +observation which Mr. Daff made at the conclusion. "Gude safe's!" +said the good-natured elder, "if it's true that we breed faster than +the Lord provides for us, we maun drown the poor folks' weans like +kittlings." "Na, na!" exclaimed Mr. Craig, "ye're a' out, +neighbour; I see now the utility of church-censures." "True!" said +Mr. Micklewham; "and the ordination of the stool of repentance, the +horrors of which, in the opinion of the fifteen Lords at Edinburgh, +palliated child-murder, is doubtless a Malthusian institution." But +Mr. Snodgrass put an end to the controversy, by fixing a day for the +christening, and telling he would do his best to procure a good +collection, according to the benevolent suggestion of Mr. Daff. To +this cause we are indebted for the next series of the Pringle +correspondence; for, on the day appointed, Miss Mally Glencairn, +Miss Isabella Tod, Mrs. Glibbans and her daughter Becky, with Miss +Nanny Eydent, together with other friends of the minister's family, +dined at the manse, and the conversation being chiefly about the +concerns of the family, the letters were produced and read. + + +LETTER XII + + +Andrew Pringle, Esq., to the Rev. Charles Snodgrass--WINDSOR, +CASTLE-INN. + +My Dear Friend--I have all my life been strangely susceptible of +pleasing impressions from public spectacles where great crowds are +assembled. This, perhaps, you will say, is but another way of +confessing, that, like the common vulgar, I am fond of sights and +shows. It may be so, but it is not from the pageants that I derive +my enjoyment. A multitude, in fact, is to me as it were a strain of +music, which, with an irresistible and magical influence, calls up +from the unknown abyss of the feelings new combinations of fancy, +which, though vague and obscure, as those nebulae of light that +astronomers have supposed to be the rudiments of unformed stars, +afterwards become distinct and brilliant acquisitions. In a crowd, +I am like the somnambulist in the highest degree of the luminous +crisis, when it is said a new world is unfolded to his +contemplation, wherein all things have an intimate affinity with the +state of man, and yet bear no resemblance to the objects that +address themselves to his corporeal faculties. This delightful +experience, as it may be called, I have enjoyed this evening, to an +exquisite degree, at the funeral of the king; but, although the +whole succession of incidents is indelibly imprinted on my +recollection, I am still so much affected by the emotion excited, as +to be incapable of conveying to you any intelligible description of +what I saw. It was indeed a scene witnessed through the medium of +the feelings, and the effect partakes of the nature of a dream. + +I was within the walls of an ancient castle, + + +"So old as if they had for ever stood, +So strong as if they would for ever stand," + + +and it was almost midnight. The towers, like the vast spectres of +departed ages, raised their embattled heads to the skies, monumental +witnesses of the strength and antiquity of a great monarchy. A +prodigious multitude filled the courts of that venerable edifice, +surrounding on all sides a dark embossed structure, the sarcophagus, +as it seemed to me at the moment, of the heroism of chivalry. + +"A change came o'er the spirit of my dream," and I beheld the scene +suddenly illuminated, and the blaze of torches, the glimmering of +arms, and warriors and horses, while a mosaic of human faces covered +like a pavement the courts. A deep low under sound pealed from a +distance; in the same moment, a trumpet answered with a single +mournful note from the stateliest and darkest portion of the fabric, +and it was whispered in every ear, "It is coming." Then an awful +cadence of solemn music, that affected the heart like silence, was +heard at intervals, and a numerous retinue of grave and venerable +men, + + +"The fathers of their time, +Those mighty master spirits, that withstood +The fall of monarchies, and high upheld +Their country's standard, glorious in the storm," + + +passed slowly before me, bearing the emblems and trophies of a king. +They were as a series of great historical events, and I beheld +behind them, following and followed, an awful and indistinct image, +like the vision of Job. It moved on, and I could not discern the +form thereof, but there were honours and heraldries, and sorrow, and +silence, and I heard the stir of a profound homage performing within +the breasts of all the witnesses. But I must not indulge myself +farther on this subject. I cannot hope to excite in you the +emotions with which I was so profoundly affected. In the visible +objects of the funeral of George the Third there was but little +magnificence; all its sublimity was derived from the trains of +thought and currents of feeling, which the sight of so many +illustrious characters, surrounded by circumstances associated with +the greatness and antiquity of the kingdom, was necessarily +calculated to call forth. In this respect, however, it was perhaps +the sublimest spectacle ever witnessed in this island; and I am +sure, that I cannot live so long as ever again to behold another, +that will equally interest me to the same depth and extent.-- Yours, +ANDREW PRINGLE. + + +We should ill perform the part of faithful historians, did we omit +to record the sentiments expressed by the company on this occasion. +Mrs. Glibbans, whose knowledge of the points of orthodoxy had not +their equal in the three adjacent parishes, roundly declared, that +Mr. Andrew Pringle's letter was nothing but a peesemeal of +clishmaclavers; that there was no sense in it; and that it was just +like the writer, a canary idiot, a touch here and a touch there, +without anything in the shape of cordiality or satisfaction. + +Miss Isabella Tod answered this objection with that sweetness of +manner and virgin diffidence, which so well becomes a youthful +member of the establishment, controverting the dogmas of a stoop of +the Relief persuasion, by saying, that she thought Mr. Andrew had +shown a fine sensibility. "What is sensibility without judgment," +cried her adversary, "but a thrashing in the water, and a raising of +bells? Couldna the fallow, without a' his parleyvoos, have said, +that such and such was the case, and that the Lord giveth and the +Lord taketh away?--but his clouds, and his spectres, and his visions +of Job!--Oh, an he could but think like Job!--Oh, an he would but +think like the patient man!--and was obliged to claut his flesh with +a bit of a broken crock, we might have some hope of repentance unto +life. But Andrew Pringle, he's a gone dick; I never had comfort or +expectation of the free-thinker, since I heard that he was infected +with the blue and yellow calamity of the Edinburgh Review; in which, +I am credibly told, it is set forth, that women have nae souls, but +only a gut, and a gaw, and a gizzard, like a pigeon-dove, or a +raven-crow, or any other outcast and abominated quadruped." + +Here Miss Mally Glencairn interposed her effectual mediation, and +said, "It is very true that Andrew deals in the diplomatics of +obscurity; but it's well known that he has a nerve for genius, and +that, in his own way, he kens the loan from the crown of the +causeway, as well as the duck does the midden from the adle dib." +To this proverb, which we never heard before, a learned friend, whom +we consulted on the subject, has enabled us to state, that middens +were formerly of great magnitude, and often of no less antiquity in +the west of Scotland; in so much, that the Trongate of Glasgow owes +all its spacious grandeur to them. It being within the recollection +of persons yet living, that the said magnificent street was at one +time an open road, or highway, leading to the Trone, or market- +cross, with thatched houses on each side, such as may still be seen +in the pure and immaculate royal borough of Rutherglen; and that +before each house stood a luxuriant midden, by the removal of which, +in the progress of modern degeneracy, the stately architecture of +Argyle Street was formed. But not to insist at too great a length +on such topics of antiquarian lore, we shall now insert Dr. +Pringle's account of the funeral, and which, patly enough, follows +our digression concerning the middens and magnificence of Glasgow, +as it contains an authentic anecdote of a manufacturer from that +city, drinking champaign at the king's dirgie. + + +LETTER XIII + + +The Rev. Z. Pringle, D.D., to Mr. Micklewham, Schoolmaster and +Session-Clerk of Garnock--LONDON. + +Dear Sir--I have received your letter, and it is a great pleasure to +me to hear that my people were all so much concerned at our distress +in the Leith smack; but what gave me the most contentment was the +repentance of Tam Glen. I hope, poor fellow, he will prove a good +husband; but I have my doubts; for the wife has really but a small +share of common sense, and no married man can do well unless his +wife will let him. I am, however, not overly pleased with Mr. Craig +on the occasion, for he should have considered frail human nature, +and accepted of poor Tam's confession of a fault, and allowed the +bairn to be baptized without any more ado. I think honest Mr. Daff +has acted like himself, and I trust and hope there will be a great +gathering at the christening, and, that my mite may not be wanting, +you will slip in a guinea note when the dish goes round, but in such +a manner, that it may not be jealoused from whose hand it comes. + +Since my last letter, we have been very thrang in the way of seeing +the curiosities of London; but I must go on regular, and tell you +all, which, I think, it is my duty to do, that you may let my people +know. First, then, we have been at Windsor Castle, to see the king +lying in state, and, afterwards, his interment; and sorry am I to +say, it was not a sight that could satisfy any godly mind on such an +occasion. We went in a coach of our own, by ourselves, and found +the town of Windsor like a cried fair. We were then directed to the +Castle gate, where a terrible crowd was gathered together; and we +had not been long in that crowd, till a pocket-picker, as I thought, +cutted off the tail of my coat, with my pocket-book in my pocket, +which I never missed at the time. But it seems the coat tail was +found, and a policeman got it, and held it up on the end of his +stick, and cried, whose pocket is this? showing the book that was +therein in his hand. I was confounded to see my pocket-book there, +and could scarcely believe my own eyes; but Mrs. Pringle knew it at +the first glance, and said, "It's my gudeman's"; at the which, there +was a great shout of derision among the multitude, and we would +baith have then been glad to disown the pocket-book, but it was +returned to us, I may almost say, against our will; but the +scorners, when they saw our confusion, behaved with great civility +towards us, so that we got into the Castle-yard with no other damage +than the loss of the flap of my coat tail. + +Being in the Castle-yard, we followed the crowd into another gate, +and up a stair, and saw the king lying in state, which was a very +dismal sight--and I thought of Solomon in all his glory, when I saw +the coffin, and the mutes, and the mourners; and reflecting on the +long infirmity of mind of the good old king, I said to myself, in +the words of the book of Job, "Doth not their excellency which is in +them go away? they die even without wisdom!' + +When we had seen the sight, we came out of the Castle, and went to +an inn to get a chack of dinner; but there was such a crowd, that no +resting-place could for a time be found for us. Gentle and semple +were there, all mingled, and no respect of persons; only there was, +at a table nigh unto ours, a fat Glasgow manufacturer, who ordered a +bottle of champaign wine, and did all he could in the drinking of it +by himself, to show that he was a man in well-doing circumstances. +While he was talking over his wine, a great peer of the realm, with +a star on his breast, came into the room, and ordered a glass of +brandy and water; and I could see, when he saw the Glasgow +manufacturer drinking champaign wine on that occasion, that he +greatly marvelled thereat. + +When we had taken our dinner, we went out to walk and see the town +of Windsor; but there was such a mob of coaches going and coming, +and men and horses, that we left the streets, and went to inspect +the king's policy, which is of great compass, but in a careless +order, though it costs a world of money to keep it up. Afterwards, +we went back to the inns, to get tea for Mrs. Pringle and her +daughter, while Andrew Pringle, my son, was seeing if he could get +tickets to buy, to let us into the inside of the Castle, to see the +burial--but he came back without luck, and I went out myself, being +more experienced in the world, and I saw a gentleman's servant with +a ticket in his hand, and I asked him to sell it to me, which the +man did with thankfulness, for five shillings, although the price +was said to be golden guineas. But as this ticket admitted only one +person, it was hard to say what should be done with it when I got +back to my family. However, as by this time we were all very much +fatigued, I gave it to Andrew Pringle, my son, and Mrs. Pringle, and +her daughter Rachel, agreed to bide with me in the inns. + +Andrew Pringle, my son, having got the ticket, left us sitting, when +shortly after in came a nobleman, high in the cabinet, as I think he +must have been, and he having politely asked leave to take his tea +at our table, because of the great throng in the house, we fell into +a conversation together, and he, understanding thereby that I was a +minister of the Church of Scotland, said he thought he could help us +into a place to see the funeral; so, after he had drank his tea, he +took us with him, and got us into the Castle-yard, where we had an +excellent place, near to the Glasgow manufacturer that drank the +champaign. The drink by this time, however, had got into that poor +man's head, and he talked so loud, and so little to the purpose, +that the soldiers who were guarding were obliged to make him hold +his peace, at which he was not a little nettled, and told the +soldiers that he had himself been a soldier, and served the king +without pay, having been a volunteer officer. But this had no more +effect than to make the soldiers laugh at him, which was not a +decent thing at the interment of their master, our most gracious +Sovereign that was. + +However, in this situation we saw all; and I can assure you it was a +very edifying sight; and the people demeaned themselves with so much +propriety, that there was no need for any guards at all; indeed, for +that matter, of the two, the guards, who had eaten the king's bread, +were the only ones there, saving and excepting the Glasgow +manufacturer, that manifested an irreverent spirit towards the royal +obsequies. But they are men familiar with the king of terrors on +the field of battle, and it was not to be expected that their hearts +would be daunted like those of others by a doing of a civil +character. + +When all was over, we returned to the inns, to get our chaise, to go +back to London that night, for beds were not to be had for love or +money at Windsor, and we reached our temporary home in Norfolk +Street about four o'clock in the morning, well satisfied with what +we had seen,--but all the meantime I had forgotten the loss of the +flap of my coat, which caused no little sport when I came to +recollect what a pookit like body I must have been, walking about in +the king's policy like a peacock without my tail. But I must +conclude, for Mrs. Pringle has a letter to put in the frank for Miss +Nanny Eydent, which you will send to her by one of your scholars, as +it contains information that may be serviceable to Miss Nanny in her +business, both as a mantua-maker and a superintendent of the +genteeler sort of burials at Irvine and our vicinity. So that this +is all from your friend and pastor, + +ZACHARIAH PRINGLE. + + +"I think," said Miss Isabella Tod, as Mr. Micklewham finished the +reading of the Doctor's epistle, "that my friend Rachel might have +given me some account of the ceremony; but Captain Sabre seems to +have been a much more interesting object to her than the pride and +pomp to her brother, or even the Glasgow manufacturer to her +father." In saying these words, the young lady took the following +letter from her pocket, and was on the point of beginning to read +it, when Miss Becky Glibbans exclaimed, "I had aye my fears that +Rachel was but light-headed, and I'll no be surprised to hear more +about her and the dragoon or a's done." Mr. Snodgrass looked at +Becky, as if he had been afflicted at the moment with unpleasant +ideas; and perhaps he would have rebuked the spitefulness of her +insinuations, had not her mother sharply snubbed the uncongenial +maiden, in terms at least as pungent as any which the reverend +gentleman would have employed. "I'm sure," replied Miss Becky, +pertly, "I meant no ill; but if Rachel Pringle can write about +nothing but this Captain Sabre, she might as well let it alone, and +her letter canna be worth the hearing." "Upon that," said the +clergyman, "we can form a judgment when we have heard it, and I beg +that Miss Isabella may proceed,"--which she did accordingly. + + +LETTER XIV + + +Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod--LONDON. + +My Dear Bell--I take up my pen with a feeling of disappointment such +as I never felt before. Yesterday was the day appointed for the +funeral of the good old king, and it was agreed that we should go to +Windsor, to pour the tribute of our tears upon the royal hearse. +Captain Sabre promised to go with us, as he is well acquainted with +the town, and the interesting objects around the Castle, so dear to +chivalry, and embalmed by the genius of Shakespeare and many a minor +bard, and I promised myself a day of unclouded felicity--but the +captain was ordered to be on duty,--and the crowd was so rude and +riotous, that I had no enjoyment whatever; but, pining with chagrin +at the little respect paid by the rabble to the virtues of the +departed monarch, I would fainly have retired into some solemn and +sequestered grove, and breathed my sorrows to the listening waste. +Nor was the loss of the captain, to explain and illuminate the +different baronial circumstances around the Castle, the only thing I +had to regret in this ever-memorable excursion--my tender and +affectionate mother was so desirous to see everything in the most +particular manner, in order that she might give an account of the +funeral to Nanny Eydent, that she had no mercy either upon me or my +father, but obliged us to go with her to the most difficult and +inaccessible places. How vain was all this meritorious assiduity! +for of what avail can the ceremonies of a royal funeral be to Miss +Nanny, at Irvine, where kings never die, and where, if they did, it +is not at all probable that Miss Nanny would be employed to direct +their solemn obsequies? As for my brother, he was so entranced with +his own enthusiasm, that he paid but little attention to us, which +made me the more sensible of the want we suffered from the absence +of Captain Sabre. In a word, my dear Bell, never did I pass a more +unsatisfactory day, and I wish it blotted for ever from my +remembrance. Let it therefore be consigned to the abysses of +oblivion, while I recall the more pleasing incidents that have +happened since I wrote you last. + +On Sunday, according to invitation, as I told you, we dined with the +Argents--and were entertained by them in a style at once most +splendid, and on the most easy footing. I shall not attempt to +describe the consumable materials of the table, but call your +attention, my dear friend, to the intellectual portion of the +entertainment, a subject much more congenial to your delicate and +refined character. + +Mrs. Argent is a lady of considerable personal magnitude, of an open +and affable disposition. In this respect, indeed, she bears a +striking resemblance to her nephew, Captain Sabre, with whose +relationship to her we were unacquainted before that day. She +received us as friends in whom she felt a peculiar interest; for +when she heard that my mother had got her dress and mine from +Cranbury Alley, she expressed the greatest astonishment, and told +us, that it was not at all a place where persons of fashion could +expect to be properly served. Nor can I disguise the fact, that the +flounced and gorgeous garniture of our dresses was in shocking +contrast to the amiable simplicity of hers and the fair Arabella, +her daughter, a charming girl, who, notwithstanding the fashionable +splendour in which she has been educated, displays a delightful +sprightliness of manner, that, I have some notion, has not been +altogether lost on the heart of my brother. + +When we returned upstairs to the drawing-room, after dinner, Miss +Arabella took her harp, and was on the point of favouring us with a +Mozart; but her mother, recollecting that we were Presbyterians, +thought it might not be agreeable, and she desisted, which I was +sinful enough to regret; but my mother was so evidently alarmed at +the idea of playing on the harp on a Sunday night, that I suppressed +my own wishes, in filial veneration for those of that respected +parent. Indeed, fortunate it was that the music was not performed; +for, when we returned home, my father remarked with great solemnity, +that such a way of passing the Lord's night as we had passed it, +would have been a great sin in Scotland. + +Captain Sabre, who called on us next morning, was so delighted when +he understood that we were acquainted with his aunt, that he +lamented he had not happened to know it before, as he would, in that +case, have met us there. He is indeed very attentive, but I assure +you that I feel no particular interest about him; for although he is +certainly a very handsome young man, he is not such a genius as my +brother, and has no literary partialities. But literary +accomplishments are, you know, foreign to the military profession, +and if the captain has not distinguished himself by cutting up +authors in the reviews, he has acquired an honourable medal, by +overcoming the enemies of the civilised world at Waterloo. + +To-night the playhouses open again, and we are going to the +Oratorio, and the captain goes with us, a circumstance which I am +the more pleased at, as we are strangers, and he will tell us the +names of the performers. My father made some scruple of consenting +to be of the party; but when he heard that an Oratorio was a concert +of sacred music, he thought it would be only a sinless deviation if +he did, so he goes likewise. The captain, therefore, takes an early +dinner with us at five o'clock. Alas! to what changes am I doomed,- +-that was the tea hour at the manse of Garnock. Oh, when shall I +revisit the primitive simplicities of my native scenes again! But +neither time nor distance, my dear Bell, can change the affection +with which I subscribe myself, ever affectionately, yours, + +RACHEL PRINGLE. + + +At the conclusion of this letter, the countenance of Mrs. Glibbans +was evidently so darkened, that it daunted the company, like an +eclipse of the sun, when all nature is saddened. "What think you, +Mr. Snodgrass," said that spirit-stricken lady,--"what think you of +this dining on the Lord's day,--this playing on the harp; the carnal +Mozarting of that ungodly family, with whom the corrupt human nature +of our friends has been chambering?" Mr. Snodgrass was at some loss +for an answer, and hesitated, but Miss Mally Glencairn relieved him +from his embarrassment, by remarking, that "the harp was a holy +instrument," which somewhat troubled the settled orthodoxy of Mrs. +Glibbans's visage. "Had it been an organ," said Mr. Snodgrass, +dryly, "there might have been, perhaps, more reason to doubt; but, +as Miss Mally justly remarks, the harp has been used from the days +of King David in the performances of sacred music, together with the +psalter, the timbrel, the sackbut, and the cymbal." The wrath of +the polemical Deborah of the Relief-Kirk was somewhat appeased by +this explanation, and she inquired in a more diffident tone, whether +a Mozart was not a metrical paraphrase of the song of Moses after +the overthrow of the Egyptians in the Red Sea; "in which case, I +must own," she observed, "that the sin and guilt of the thing is +less grievous in the sight of HIM before whom all the actions of men +are abominations." Miss Isabella Tod, availing herself of this +break in the conversation, turned round to Miss Nanny Eydent, and +begged that she would read her letter from Mrs. Pringle. We should +do injustice, however, to honest worth and patient industry were we, +in thus introducing Miss Nanny to our readers, not to give them some +account of her lowly and virtuous character. + +Miss Nanny was the eldest of three sisters, the daughters of a +shipmaster, who was lost at sea when they were very young; and his +all having perished with him, they were indeed, as their mother +said, the children of Poverty and Sorrow. By the help of a little +credit, the widow contrived, in a small shop, to eke out her days +till Nanny was able to assist her. It was the intention of the poor +woman to take up a girl's school for reading and knitting, and Nanny +was destined to instruct the pupils in that higher branch of +accomplishment--the different stitches of the sampler. But about +the time that Nanny was advancing to the requisite degree of +perfection in chain-steek and pie-holes--indeed had made some +progress in the Lord's prayer between two yew trees--tambouring was +introduced at Irvine, and Nanny was sent to acquire a competent +knowledge of that classic art, honoured by the fair hands of the +beautiful Helen and the chaste and domestic Andromache. In this she +instructed her sisters; and such was the fruit of their application +and constant industry, that her mother abandoned the design of +keeping school, and continued to ply her little huxtry in more easy +circumstances. The fluctuations of trade in time taught them that +it would not be wise to trust to the loom, and accordingly Nanny was +at some pains to learn mantua-making; and it was fortunate that she +did so--for the tambouring gradually went out of fashion, and the +flowering which followed suited less the infirm constitution of poor +Nanny. The making of gowns for ordinary occasions led to the making +of mournings, and the making of mournings naturally often caused +Nanny to be called in at deaths, which, in process of time, promoted +her to have the management of burials; and in this line of business +she has now a large proportion of the genteelest in Irvine and its +vicinity; and in all her various engagements her behaviour has been +as blameless and obliging as her assiduity has been uniform; +insomuch, that the numerous ladies to whom she is known take a +particular pleasure in supplying her with the newest patterns, and +earliest information, respecting the varieties and changes of +fashions; and to the influence of the same good feelings in the +breast of Mrs. Pringle, Nanny was indebted for the following letter. +How far the information which it contains may be deemed exactly +suitable to the circumstances in which Miss Nanny's lot is cast, our +readers may judge for themselves; but we are happy to state, that it +has proved of no small advantage to her: for since it has been +known that she had received a full, true, and particular account, of +all manner of London fashions, from so managing and notable a woman +as the minister's wife of Garnock, her consideration has been so +augmented in the opinion of the neighbouring gentlewomen, that she +is not only consulted as to funerals, but is often called in to +assist in the decoration and arrangement of wedding-dinners, and +other occasions of sumptuous banqueting; by which she is enabled, +during the suspension of the flowering trade, to earn a lowly but a +respected livelihood. + + +LETTER XV + + +Mrs. Pringle to Miss Nanny Eydent, Mantua-maker, Seagate Head, +Irvine--LONDON. + +Dear Miss Nanny--Miss Mally Glencairn would tell you all how it +happent that I was disabled, by our misfortunes in the ship, from +riting to you konserning the London fashons as I promist; for I +wantit to be partikylor, and to say nothing but what I saw with my +own eyes, that it might be servisable to you in your bizness--so now +I will begin with the old king's burial, as you have sometimes +okashon to lend a helping hand in that way at Irvine, and nothing +could be more genteeler of the kind than a royal obsakew for a +patron; but no living sole can give a distink account of this +matter, for you know the old king was the father of his piple, and +the croud was so great. Howsomever we got into our oun hired shaze +at daylight; and when we were let out at the castel yett of Windsor, +we went into the mob, and by and by we got within the castel walls, +when great was the lamentation for the purdition of shawls and +shoos, and the Doctor's coat pouch was clippit off by a pocket- +picker. We then ran to a wicket-gate, and up an old timber-stair +with a rope ravel, and then we got to a great pentit chamber called +King George's Hall: After that we were allowt to go into another +room full of guns and guards, that told us all to be silent: so +then we all went like sawlies, holding our tongues in an awful +manner, into a dysmal room hung with black cloth, and lighted with +dum wax-candles in silver skonses, and men in a row all in +mulancholic posters. At length and at last we came to the coffin; +but although I was as partikylar as possoble, I could see nothing +that I would recommend. As for the interment, there was nothing but +even-down wastrie--wax-candles blowing away in the wind, and +flunkies as fou as pipers, and an unreverent mob that scarsely could +demean themselves with decency as the body was going by; only the +Duke of York, who carrit the head, had on no hat, which I think was +the newest identical thing in the affair: but really there was +nothing that could be recommended. Howsomever I understood that +there was no draigie, which was a saving; for the bread and wine for +such a multitude would have been a destruction to a lord's living: +and this is the only point that the fashon set in the king's +feunoral may be follot in Irvine. + +Since the burial, we have been to see the play, where the leddies +were all in deep murning; but excepting that some had black gum- +floors on their heads, I saw leetil for admiration--only that +bugles, I can ashure you, are not worn at all this season; and +surely this murning must be a vast detrimint to bizness--for where +there is no verietie, there can be but leetil to do in your line. +But one thing I should not forget, and that is, that in the vera +best houses, after tea and coffee after dinner, a cordial dram is +handed about; but likewise I could observe, that the fruit is not +set on with the cheese, as in our part of the country, but comes, +after the cloth is drawn, with the wine; and no such a thing as a +punch-bowl is to be heard of within the four walls of London. +Howsomever, what I principally notised was, that the tea and coffee +is not made by the lady of the house, but out of the room, and +brought in without sugar or milk, on servors, every one helping +himself, and only plain flimsy loaf and butter is served--no such +thing as shortbread, seed-cake, bun, marmlet, or jeelly to be seen, +which is an okonomical plan, and well worthy of adaptation in +ginteel families with narrow incomes, in Irvine or elsewhere. + +But when I tell you what I am now going to say, you will not be +surprizt at the great wealth in London. I paid for a bumbeseen +gown, not a bit better than the one that was made by you that the +sore calamity befell, and no so fine neither, more than three times +the price; so you see, Miss Nanny, if you were going to pouse your +fortune, you could not do better than pack up your ends and your +awls and come to London. But ye're far better at home--for this is +not a town for any creditable young woman like you, to live in by +herself, and I am wearying to be back, though it's hard to say when +the Doctor will get his counts settlet. I wish you, howsomever, to +mind the patches for the bed-cover that I was going to patch, for a +licht afternoon seam, as the murning for the king will no be so +general with you, and the spring fashons will be coming on to help +my gathering--so no more at present from your friend and well- +wisher, JANET PRINGLE. + + + +CHAPTER VI--PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION + + + +On Sunday morning, before going to church, Mr. Micklewham called at +the manse, and said that he wished particularly to speak to Mr. +Snodgrass. Upon being admitted, he found the young helper engaged +at breakfast, with a book lying on his table, very like a volume of +a new novel called Ivanhoe, in its appearance, but of course it must +have been sermons done up in that manner to attract fashionable +readers. As soon, however, as Mr. Snodgrass saw his visitor, he +hastily removed the book, and put it into the table-drawer. + +The precentor having taken a seat at the opposite side of the fire, +began somewhat diffidently to mention, that he had received a letter +from the Doctor, that made him at a loss whether or not he ought to +read it to the elders, as usual, after worship, and therefore was +desirous of consulting Mr. Snodgrass on the subject, for it +recorded, among other things, that the Doctor had been at the +playhouse, and Mr. Micklewham was quite sure that Mr. Craig would be +neither to bind nor to hold when he heard that, although the +transgression was certainly mollified by the nature of the +performance. As the clergyman, however, could offer no opinion +until he saw the letter, the precentor took it out of his pocket, +and Mr. Snodgrass found the contents as follows:- + + +LETTER XVI + + +The Rev. Z. Pringle, D.D., to Mr. Micklewham, Schoolmaster and +Session-Clerk, Garnock--LONDON. + +Dear Sir--You will recollect that, about twenty years ago, there was +a great sound throughout all the West that a playhouse in Glasgow +had been converted into a tabernacle of religion. I remember it was +glad tidings to our ears in the parish of Garnock; and that Mr. +Craig, who had just been ta'en on for an elder that fall, was for +having a thanksgiving-day on the account thereof, holding it to be a +signal manifestation of a new birth in the of-old-godly town of +Glasgow, which had become slack in the way of well-doing, and the +church therein lukewarm, like that of Laodicea. It was then said, +as I well remember, that when the Tabernacle was opened, there had +not been seen, since the Kaimslang wark, such a congregation as was +there assembled, which was a great proof that it's the matter +handled, and not the place, that maketh pure; so that when you and +the elders hear that I have been at the theatre of Drury Lane, in +London, you must not think that I was there to see a carnal stage +play, whether tragical or comical, or that I would so far demean +myself and my cloth, as to be a witness to the chambering and +wantonness of ne'er-du-weel play-actors. No, Mr. Micklewham, what I +went to see was an Oratorio, a most edifying exercise of psalmody +and prayer, under the management of a pious gentleman, of the name +of Sir George Smart, who is, as I am informed, at the greatest pains +to instruct the exhibitioners, they being, for the most part, before +they get into his hands, poor uncultivated creatures, from Italy, +France, and Germany, and other atheistical and popish countries. + +They first sung a hymn together very decently, and really with as +much civilised harmony as could be expected from novices; indeed so +well, that I thought them almost as melodious as your own singing +class of the trades lads from Kilwinning. Then there was one Mr. +Braham, a Jewish proselyte, that was set forth to show us a specimen +of his proficiency. In the praying part, what he said was no +objectionable as to the matter; but he drawled in his manner to such +a pitch, that I thought he would have broken out into an even-down +song, as I sometimes think of yourself when you spin out the last +word in reading out the line in a warm summer afternoon. In the +hymn by himself, he did better; he was, however, sometimes like to +lose the tune, but the people gave him great encouragement when he +got back again. Upon the whole, I had no notion that there was any +such Christianity in practice among the Londoners, and I am happy to +tell you, that the house was very well filled, and the congregation +wonderful attentive. No doubt that excellent man, Mr. W-, has a +hand in these public strainings after grace, but he was not there +that night; for I have seen him; and surely at the sight I could not +but say to myself, that it's beyond the compass of the understanding +of man to see what great things Providence worketh with small means, +for Mr. W- is a small creature. When I beheld his diminutive +stature, and thought of what he had achieved for the poor negroes +and others in the house of bondage, I said to myself, that here the +hand of Wisdom is visible, for the load of perishable mortality is +laid lightly on his spirit, by which it is enabled to clap its wings +and crow so crously on the dunghill top of this world; yea even in +the House of Parliament. + +I was taken last Thursday morning to breakfast with him his house at +Kensington, by an East India man, who is likewise surely a great +saint. It was a heart-healing meeting of many of the godly, which +he holds weekly in the season; and we had such a warsle of the +spirit among us that the like cannot be told. I was called upon to +pray, and a worthy gentleman said, when I was done, that he never +had met with more apostolic simplicity--indeed, I could see with the +tail of my eye, while I was praying, that the chief saint himself +was listening with a curious pleasant satisfaction. + +As for our doings here anent the legacy, things are going forward in +the regular manner; but the expense is terrible, and I have been +obliged to take up money on account; but, as it was freely given by +the agents, I am in hopes all will end well; for, considering that +we are but strangers to them, they would not have assisted us in +this matter had they not been sure of the means of payment in their +own hands. + +The people of London are surprising kind to us; we need not, if we +thought proper ourselves, eat a dinner in our own lodgings; but it +would ill become me, at my time of life, and with the character for +sobriety that I have maintained, to show an example in my latter +days of riotous living; therefore, Mrs. Pringle, and her daughter, +and me, have made a point of going nowhere three times in the week; +but as for Andrew Pringle, my son, he has forgathered with some +acquaintance, and I fancy we will be obliged to let him take the +length of his tether for a while. But not altogether without a curb +neither, for the agent's son, young Mr. Argent, had almost persuaded +him to become a member of Parliament, which he said he could get him +made, for more than a thousand pounds less than the common price-- +the state of the new king's health having lowered the commodity of +seats. But this I would by no means hear of; he is not yet come to +years of discretion enough to sit in council; and, moreover, he has +not been tried; and no man, till he has out of doors shown something +of what he is, should be entitled to power and honour within. Mrs. +Pringle, however, thought he might do as well as young Dunure; but +Andrew Pringle, my son, has not the solidity of head that Mr. K-dy +has, and is over free and outspoken, and cannot take such pains to +make his little go a great way, like that well-behaved young +gentleman. But you will be grieved to hear that Mr. K-dy is in +opposition to the government; and truly I am at a loss to understand +how a man of Whig principles can be an adversary to the House of +Hanover. But I never meddled much in politick affairs, except at +this time, when I prohibited Andrew Pringle, my son, from offering +to be a member of Parliament, notwithstanding the great bargain that +he would have had of the place. + +And since we are on public concerns, I should tell you, that I was +minded to send you a newspaper at the second-hand, every day when we +were done with it. But when we came to inquire, we found that we +could get the newspaper for a shilling a week every morning but +Sunday, to our breakfast, which was so much cheaper than buying a +whole paper, that Mrs. Pringle thought it would be a great +extravagance; and, indeed, when I came to think of the loss of time +a newspaper every day would occasion to my people, I considered it +would be very wrong of me to send you any at all. For I do think +that honest folks in a far-off country parish should not make or +meddle with the things that pertain to government,--the more +especially, as it is well known, that there is as much falsehood as +truth in newspapers, and they have not the means of testing their +statements. Not, however, that I am an advocate for passive +obedience; God forbid. On the contrary, if ever the time should +come, in my day, of a saint-slaying tyrant attempting to bind the +burden of prelatic abominations on our backs, such a blast of the +gospel trumpet would be heard in Garnock, as it does not become me +to say, but I leave it to you and others, who have experienced my +capacity as a soldier of the word so long, to think what it would +then be. Meanwhile, I remain, my dear sir, your friend and pastor, +Z. PRINGLE. + + +When Mr. Snodgrass had perused this epistle, he paused some time, +seemingly in doubt, and then he said to Mr. Micklewham, that, +considering the view which the Doctor had taken of the matter, and +that he had not gone to the playhouse for the motives which usually +take bad people to such places, he thought there could be no +possible harm in reading the letter to the elders, and that Mr. +Craig, so far from being displeased, would doubtless be exceedingly +rejoiced to learn that the playhouses of London were occasionally so +well employed as on the night when the Doctor was there. + +Mr. Micklewham then inquired if Mr. Snodgrass had heard from Mr. +Andrew, and was answered in the affirmative; but the letter was not +read. Why it was withheld our readers must guess for themselves; +but we have been fortunate enough to obtain the following copy. + + +LETTER XVII + + +Andrew Pringle, Esq., to the Rev. Mr. Charles Snodgrass--LONDON. + +My Dear Friend--As the season advances, London gradually unfolds, +like Nature, all the variety of her powers and pleasures. By the +Argents we have been introduced effectually into society, and have +now only to choose our acquaintance among those whom we like best. +I should employ another word than choose, for I am convinced that +there is no choice in the matter. In his friendships and +affections, man is subject to some inscrutable moral law, similar in +its effects to what the chemists call affinity. While under the +blind influence of this sympathy, we, forsooth, suppose ourselves +free agents! But a truce with philosophy. + +The amount of the legacy is now ascertained. The stock, however, in +which a great part of the money is vested being shut, the transfer +to my father cannot be made for some time; and till this is done, my +mother cannot be persuaded that we have yet got anything to trust +to--an unfortunate notion which renders her very unhappy. The old +gentleman himself takes no interest now in the business. He has got +his mind at ease by the payment of all the legacies; and having +fallen in with some of the members of that political junto, the +Saints, who are worldly enough to link, as often as they can, into +their association, the powerful by wealth or talent, his whole time +is occupied in assisting to promote their humbug; and he has +absolutely taken it into his head, that the attention he receives +from them for his subscriptions is on account of his eloquence as a +preacher, and that hitherto he has been altogether in an error with +respect to his own abilities. The effect of this is abundantly +amusing; but the source of it is very evident. Like most people who +pass a sequestered life, he had formed an exaggerated opinion of +public characters; and on seeing them in reality so little superior +to the generality of mankind, he imagines that he was all the time +nearer to their level than he had ventured to suppose; and the +discovery has placed him on the happiest terms with himself. It is +impossible that I can respect his manifold excellent qualities and +goodness of heart more than I do; but there is an innocency in this +simplicity, which, while it often compels me to smile, makes me feel +towards him a degree of tenderness, somewhat too familiar for that +filial reverence that is due from a son. + +Perhaps, however, you will think me scarcely less under the +influence of a similar delusion when I tell you, that I have been +somehow or other drawn also into an association, not indeed so +public or potent as that of the Saints, but equally persevering in +the objects for which it has been formed. The drift of the Saints, +as far as I can comprehend the matter, is to procure the advancement +to political power of men distinguished for the purity of their +lives, and the integrity of their conduct; and in that way, I +presume, they expect to effect the accomplishment of that blessed +epoch, the Millennium, when the Saints are to rule the whole earth. +I do not mean to say that this is their decided and determined +object; I only infer, that it is the necessary tendency of their +proceedings; and I say it with all possible respect and sincerity, +that, as a public party, the Saints are not only perhaps the most +powerful, but the party which, at present, best deserves power. + +The association, however, with which I have happened to become +connected, is of a very different description. Their object is, to +pass through life with as much pleasure as they can obtain, without +doing anything unbecoming the rank of gentlemen, and the character +of men of honour. We do not assemble such numerous meetings as the +Saints, the Whigs, or the Radicals, nor are our speeches delivered +with so much vehemence. We even, I think, tacitly exclude oratory. +In a word, our meetings seldom exceed the perfect number of the +muses; and our object on these occasions is not so much to +deliberate on plans of prospective benefits to mankind, as to enjoy +the present time for ourselves, under the temperate inspiration of a +well-cooked dinner, flavoured with elegant wine, and just so much of +mind as suits the fleeting topics of the day. T-, whom I formerly +mentioned, introduced me to this delightful society. The members +consist of about fifty gentlemen, who dine occasionally at each +other's houses; the company being chiefly selected from the +brotherhood, if that term can be applied to a circle of +acquaintance, who, without any formal institution of rules, have +gradually acquired a consistency that approximates to organisation. +But the universe of this vast city contains a plurality of systems; +and the one into which I have been attracted may be described as +that of the idle intellects. In general society, the members of our +party are looked up to as men of taste and refinement, and are +received with a degree of deference that bears some resemblance to +the respect paid to the hereditary endowment of rank. They consist +either of young men who have acquired distinction at college, or +gentlemen of fortune who have a relish for intellectual pleasures, +free from the acerbities of politics, or the dull formalities which +so many of the pious think essential to their religious pretensions. +The wealthy furnish the entertainments, which are always in a +superior style, and the ingredient of birth is not requisite in the +qualifications of a member, although some jealousy is entertained of +professional men, and not a little of merchants. T-, to whom I am +also indebted for this view of that circle of which he is the +brightest ornament, gives a felicitous explanation of the reason. +He says, professional men, who are worth anything at all, are always +ambitious, and endeavour to make their acquaintance subservient to +their own advancement; while merchants are liable to such +casualties, that their friends are constantly exposed to the risk of +being obliged to sink them below their wonted equality, by granting +them favours in times of difficulty, or, what is worse, by refusing +to grant them. + +I am much indebted to you for the introduction to your friend G-. +He is one of us; or rather, he moves in an eccentric sphere of his +own, which crosses, I believe, almost all the orbits of all the +classed and classifiable systems of London. I found him exactly +what you described; and we were on the frankest footing of old +friends in the course of the first quarter of an hour. He did me +the honour to fancy that I belonged, as a matter of course, to some +one of the literary fraternities of Edinburgh, and that I would be +curious to see the associations of the learned here. What he said +respecting them was highly characteristic of the man. "They are," +said he, "the dullest things possible. On my return from abroad, I +visited them all, expecting to find something of that easy +disengaged mind which constitutes the charm of those of France and +Italy. But in London, among those who have a character to keep up, +there is such a vigilant circumspection, that I should as soon +expect to find nature in the ballets of the Opera-house, as genius +at the established haunts of authors, artists, and men of science. +Bankes gives, I suppose officially, a public breakfast weekly, and +opens his house for conversations on the Sundays. I found at his +breakfasts, tea and coffee, with hot rolls, and men of celebrity +afraid to speak. At the conversations, there was something even +worse. A few plausible talking fellows created a buzz in the room, +and the merits of some paltry nick-nack of mechanism or science was +discussed. The party consisted undoubtedly of the most eminent men +of their respective lines in the world; but they were each and all +so apprehensive of having their ideas purloined, that they took the +most guarded care never to speak of anything that they deemed of the +slightest consequence, or to hazard an opinion that might be called +in question. The man who either wishes to augment his knowledge, or +to pass his time agreeably, will never expose himself to a +repetition of the fastidious exhibitions of engineers and artists +who have their talents at market. But such things are among the +curiosities of London; and if you have any inclination to undergo +the initiating mortification of being treated as a young man who may +be likely to interfere with their professional interests, I can +easily get you introduced." + +I do not know whether to ascribe these strictures of your friend to +humour or misanthropy; but they were said without bitterness; indeed +so much as matters of course, that, at the moment, I could not but +feel persuaded they were just. I spoke of them to T-, who says, +that undoubtedly G-'s account of the exhibitions is true in +substance, but that it is his own sharp-sightedness which causes him +to see them so offensively; for that ninety-nine out of the hundred +in the world would deem an evening spent at the conversations of Sir +Joseph Bankes a very high intellectual treat. + +G- has invited me to dinner, and I expect some amusement; for T-, +who is acquainted with him, says, that it is his fault to employ his +mind too much on all occasions; and that, in all probability, there +will be something, either in the fare or the company, that I shall +remember as long as I live. However, you shall hear all about it in +my next.--Yours, + +ANDREW PRINGLE. + + +On the same Sunday on which Mr. Micklewham consulted Mr. Snodgrass +as to the propriety of reading the Doctor's letter to the elders, +the following epistle reached the post-office of Irvine, and was +delivered by Saunders Dickie himself, at the door of Mrs. Glibbans +to her servan lassie, who, as her mistress had gone to the Relief +Church, told him, that he would have to come for the postage the +morn's morning. "Oh," said Saunders, "there's naething to pay but +my ain trouble, for it's frankit; but aiblins the mistress will gie +me a bit drappie, and so I'll come betimes i' the morning." + + +LETTER XVIII + + +Mrs. Pringle to Mrs. Glibbans--LONDON. + +My Dear Mrs. Glibbans--The breking up of the old Parlament has been +the cause why I did not right you before, it having taken it out of +my poor to get a frank for my letter till yesterday; and I do ashure +you, that I was most extraordinar uneasy at the great delay, wishing +much to let you know the decayt state of the Gospel in thir perts, +which is the pleasure of your life to study by day, and meditate on +in the watches of the night. + +There is no want of going to church, and, if that was a sign of +grease and peese in the kingdom of Christ, the toun of London might +hold a high head in the tabernacles of the faithful and true +witnesses. But saving Dr. Nichol of Swallo-Street, and Dr. Manuel +of London-Wall, there is nothing sound in the way of preaching here; +and when I tell you that Mr. John Gant, your friend, and some other +flea-lugged fallows, have set up a Heelon congregation, and got a +young man to preach Erse to the English, ye maun think in what a +state sinful souls are left in London. But what I have been the +most consarned about is the state of the dead. I am no meaning +those who are dead in trespasses and sins, but the true dead. Ye +will hardly think, that they are buried in a popish-like manner, +with prayers, and white gowns, and ministers, and spadefuls of yerd +cast upon them, and laid in vauts, like kists of orangers in a +grocery seller--and I am told that, after a time, they are taken out +when the vaut is shurfeeted, and their bones brunt, if they are no +made into lamp-black by a secret wark--which is a clean proof to me +that a right doctrine cannot be established in this land--there +being so little respec shone to the dead. + +The worst point, howsomever, of all is, what is done with the +prayers--and I have heard you say, that although there was nothing +more to objec to the wonderful Doctor Chammers of Glasgou, that his +reading of his sermons was testimony against him in the great +controversy of sound doctrine; but what will you say to reading of +prayers, and no only reading of prayers, but printed prayers, as if +the contreet heart of the sinner had no more to say to the Lord in +the hour of fasting and humiliation, than what a bishop can indite, +and a book-seller make profit o'. "Verily," as I may say, in a word +of scripter, I doobt if the glad tidings of salvation have yet been +preeched in this land of London; but the ministers have good +stipends, and where the ground is well manured, it may in time bring +forth fruit meet for repentance. + +There is another thing that behoves me to mention, and that is, that +an elder is not to be seen in the churches of London, which is a +sore signal that the piple are left to themselves; and in what state +the morality can be, you may guess with an eye of pity. But on the +Sabbath nights, there is such a going and coming, that it's more +like a cried fair than the Lord's night--all sorts of poor people, +instead of meditating on their bygane toil and misery of the week, +making the Sunday their own day, as if they had not a greater Master +to serve on that day, than the earthly man whom they served in the +week-days. It is, howsomever, past the poor of nature to tell you +of the sinfulness of London; and you may we think what is to be the +end of all things, when I ashure you, that there is a newspaper sold +every Sabbath morning, and read by those that never look at their +Bibles. Our landlady asked us if we would take one; but I thought +the Doctor would have fired the house, and you know it is not a +small thing that kindles his passion. In short, London is not a +place to come to hear the tidings of salvation preeched,--no that I +mean to deny that there is not herine more than five righteous +persons in it, and I trust the cornal's hagent is one; for if he is +not, we are undone, having been obligated to take on already more +than a hundred pounds of debt, to the account of our living, and the +legacy yet in the dead thraws. But as I mean this for a spiritual +letter, I will say no more about the root of all evil, as it is +called in the words of truth and holiness; so referring you to what +I have told Miss Mally Glencairn about the legacy and other things +nearest my heart, I remain, my dear Mrs. Glibbans, your fellou +Christian and sinner, JANET PRINGLE. + + +Mrs. Glibbans received this letter between the preachings, and it +was observed by all her acquaintance during the afternoon service, +that she was a laden woman. Instead of standing up at the prayers, +as her wont was, she kept her seat, sitting with downcast eyes, and +ever and anon her left hand, which was laid over her book on the +reading-board of the pew, was raised and allowed to drop with a +particular moral emphasis, bespeaking the mournful cogitations of +her spirit. On leaving the church, somebody whispered to the +minister, that surely Mrs. Glibbans had heard some sore news; upon +which that meek, mild, and modest good soul hastened towards her, +and inquired, with more than his usual kindness, How she was? Her +answer was brief and mysterious; and she shook her head in such a +manner that showed him all was not right. "Have you heard lately of +your friends the Pringles?" said he, in his sedate manner--"when do +they think of leaving London?' + +"I wish they may ever get out o't," was the agitated reply of the +afflicted lady. + +"I am very sorry to hear you say so," responded the minister. "I +thought all was in a fair way to an issue of the settlement. I'm +very sorry to hear this." + +"Oh, sir," said the mourner, "don't think that I am grieved for them +and their legacy--filthy lucre--no, sir; but I have had a letter +that has made my hair stand on end. Be none surprised if you hear +of the earth opening, and London swallowed up, and a voice crying in +the wilderness, 'Woe, woe.'" + +The gentle priest was much surprised by this information; it was +evident that Mrs. Glibbans had received a terrible account of the +wickedness of London; and that the weight upon her pious spirit was +owing to that cause. He, therefore, accompanied her home, and +administered all the consolation he was able to give; assuring her, +that it was in the power of Omnipotence to convert the stony heart +into one of flesh and tenderness, and to raise the British +metropolis out of the miry clay, and place it on a hill, as a city +that could not be hid; which Mrs. Glibbans was so thankful to hear, +that, as soon as he had left her, she took her tea in a satisfactory +frame of mind, and went the same night to Miss Mally Glencairn to +hear what Mrs. Pringle had said to her. No visit ever happened more +opportunely; for just as Mrs. Glibbans knocked at the door, Miss +Isabella Tod made her appearance. She had also received a letter +from Rachel, in which it will be seen that reference was made +likewise to Mrs. Pringle's epistle to Miss Mally. + + +LETTER XIX + + +Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod--LONDON. + +My Dear Bell--How delusive are the flatteries of fortune! The +wealth that has been showered upon us, beyond all our hopes, has +brought no pleasure to my heart, and I pour my unavailing sighs for +your absence, when I would communicate the cause of my unhappiness. +Captain Sabre has been most assiduous in his attentions, and I must +confess to your sympathising bosom, that I do begin to find that he +has an interest in mine. But my mother will not listen to his +proposals, nor allow me to give him any encouragement, till the +fatal legacy is settled. What can be her motive for this, I am +unable to divine; for the captain's fortune is far beyond what I +could ever have expected without the legacy, and equal to all I +could hope for with it. If, therefore, there is any doubt of the +legacy being paid, she should allow me to accept him; and if there +is none, what can I do better? In the meantime, we are going about +seeing the sights; but the general mourning is a great drawback on +the splendour of gaiety. It ends, however, next Sunday; and then +the ladies, like the spring flowers, will be all in full blossom. I +was with the Argents at the opera on Saturday last, and it far +surpassed my ideas of grandeur. But the singing was not good--I +never could make out the end or the beginning of a song, and it was +drowned with the violins; the scenery, however, was lovely; but I +must not say a word about the dancers, only that the females behaved +in a manner so shocking, that I could scarcely believe it was +possible for the delicacy of our sex to do. They are, however, all +foreigners, who are, you know, naturally of a licentious character, +especially the French women. + +We have taken an elegant house in Baker Street, where we go on +Monday next, and our own new carriage is to be home in the course of +the week. All this, which has been done by the advice of Mrs. +Argent, gives my mother great uneasiness, in case anything should +yet happen to the legacy. My brother, however, who knows the law +better than her, only laughs at her fears, and my father has found +such a wonderful deal to do in religion here, that he is quite +delighted, and is busy from morning to night in writing letters, and +giving charitable donations. I am soon to be no less busy, but in +another manner. Mrs. Argent has advised us to get in accomplished +masters for me, so that, as soon as we are removed into our own +local habitation, I am to begin with drawing and music, and the +foreign languages. I am not, however, to learn much of the piano; +Mrs. A. thinks it would take up more time than I can now afford; but +I am to be cultivated in my singing, and she is to try if the master +that taught Miss Stephens has an hour to spare--and to use her +influence to persuade him to give it to me, although he only +receives pupils for perfectioning, except they belong to families of +distinction. + +My brother had a hankering to be made a member of Parliament, and +got Mr. Charles Argent to speak to my father about it, but neither +he nor my mother would hear of such a thing, which I was very sorry +for, as it would have been so convenient to me for getting franks; +and I wonder my mother did not think of that, as she grudges nothing +so much as the price of postage. But nothing do I grudge so little, +especially when it is a letter from you. Why do you not write me +oftener, and tell me what is saying about us, particularly by that +spiteful toad, Becky Glibbans, who never could hear of any good +happening to her acquaintance, without being as angry as if it was +obtained at her own expense? + +I do not like Miss Argent so well on acquaintance as I did at first; +not that she is not a very fine lassie, but she gives herself such +airs at the harp and piano--because she can play every sort of music +at the first sight, and sing, by looking at the notes, any song, +although she never heard it, which may be very well in a play-actor, +or a governess, that has to win her bread by music; but I think the +education of a modest young lady might have been better conducted. + +Through the civility of the Argents, we have been introduced to a +great number of families, and been much invited; but all the parties +are so ceremonious, that I am never at my ease, which my brother +says is owing to my rustic education, which I cannot understand; +for, although the people are finer dressed, and the dinners and +rooms grander than what I have seen, either at Irvine or Kilmarnock, +the company are no wiser; and I have not met with a single literary +character among them. And what are ladies and gentlemen without +mind, but a well-dressed mob! It is to mind alone that I am at all +disposed to pay the homage of diffidence. + +The acquaintance of the Argents are all of the first circle, and we +have got an invitation to a route from the Countess of J-y, in +consequence of meeting her with them. She is a charming woman, and +I anticipate great pleasure. Miss Argent says, however, she is +ignorant and presuming; but how is it possible that she can be so, +as she was an earl's daughter, and bred up for distinction? Miss +Argent may be presuming, but a countess is necessarily above that, +at least it would only become a duchess or marchioness to say so. +This, however, is not the only occasion in which I have seen the +detractive disposition of that young lady, who, with all her +simplicity of manners and great accomplishments, is, you will +perceive, just like ourselves, rustic as she doubtless thinks our +breeding has been. + +I have observed that nobody in London inquires about who another is; +and that in company everyone is treated on an equality, unless when +there is some remarkable personal peculiarity, so that one really +knows nothing of those whom one meets. But my paper is full, and I +must not take another sheet, as my mother has a letter to send in +the same frank to Miss Mally Glencairn. Believe me, ever +affectionately yours, RACHEL PRINGLE. + + +The three ladies knew not very well what to make of this letter. +They thought there was a change in Rachel's ideas, and that it was +not for the better; and Miss Isabella expressed, with a sentiment of +sincere sorrow, that the acquisition of fortune seemed to have +brought out some unamiable traits in her character, which, perhaps, +had she not been exposed to the companions and temptations of the +great world, would have slumbered, unfelt by herself, and unknown to +her friends. + +Mrs. Glibbans declared, that it was a waking of original sin, which +the iniquity of London was bringing forth, as the heat of summer +causes the rosin and sap to issue from the bark of the tree. In the +meantime, Miss Mally had opened her letter, of which we subjoin a +copy. + + +LETTER XX + + +Mrs Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn--LONDON. + +Dear Miss Mally--I greatly stand in need of your advise and counsel +at this time. The Doctor's affair comes on at a fearful slow rate, +and the money goes like snow off a dyke. It is not to be told what +has been paid for legacy-duty, and no legacy yet in hand; and we +have been obligated to lift a whole hundred pounds out of the +residue, and what that is to be the Lord only knows. But Miss Jenny +Macbride, she has got her thousand pound, all in one bank bill, sent +to her; Thomas Bowie, the doctor in Ayr, he has got his five hundred +pounds; and auld Nanse Sorrel, that was nurse to the cornal, she has +got the first year of her twenty pounds a year; but we have gotten +nothing, and I jealouse, that if things go on at this rate, there +will be nothing to get; and what will become of us then, after all +the trubble and outlay that we have been pot too by this coming to +London? + +Howsomever, this is the black side of the story; for Mr. Charles +Argent, in a jocose way, proposed to get Andrew made a Parliament +member for three thousand pounds, which he said was cheap; and +surely he would not have thought of such a thing, had he not known +that Andrew would have the money to pay for't; and, over and above +this, Mrs. Argent has been recommending Captain Sabre to me for +Rachel, and she says he is a stated gentleman, with two thousand +pounds rental, and her nephew; and surely she would not think Rachel +a match for him, unless she had an inkling from her gudeman of what +Rachel's to get. But I have told her that we would think of nothing +of the sort till the counts war settled, which she may tell to her +gudeman, and if he approves the match, it will make him hasten on +the settlement, for really I am growing tired of this London, whar I +am just like a fish out of the water. The Englishers are sae +obstinate in their own way, that I can get them to do nothing like +Christians; and, what is most provoking of all, their ways are very +good when you know them; but they have no instink to teach a body +how to learn them. Just this very morning, I told the lass to get a +jiggot of mutton for the morn's dinner, and she said there was not +such a thing to be had in London, and threeppit it till I couldna +stand her; and, had it not been that Mr. Argent's French servan' man +happened to come with a cart, inviting us to a ball, and who +understood what a jiggot was, I might have reasoned till the day of +doom without redress. As for the Doctor, I declare he's like an +enchantit person, for he has falling in with a party of the elect +here, as he says, and they have a kilfud yoking every Thursday at +the house of Mr. W-, where the Doctor has been, and was asked to +pray, and did it with great effec, which has made him so up in the +buckle, that he does nothing but go to Bible soceeyetis, and +mishonary meetings, and cherity sarmons, which cost a poor of money. + +But what consarns me more than all is, that the temptations of this +vanity fair have turnt the head of Andrew, and he has bought two +horses, with an English man-servan', which you know is an eating +moth. But how he payt for them, and whar he is to keep them, is +past the compass of my understanding. In short, if the legacy does +not cast up soon, I see nothing left for us but to leave the world +as a legacy to you all, for my heart will be broken--and I often +wish that the cornel hadna made us his residees, but only given us a +clean scorn, like Miss Jenny Macbride, although it had been no more; +for, my dear Miss Mally, it does not doo for a woman of my time of +life to be taken out of her element, and, instead of looking after +her family with a thrifty eye, to be sitting dressed all day seeing +the money fleeing like sclate stanes. But what I have to tell is +worse than all this; we have been persuaded to take a furnisht +house, where we go on Monday; and we are to pay for it, for three +months, no less than a hundred and fifty pounds, which is more than +the half of the Doctor's whole stipend is, when the meal is twenty- +pence the peck; and we are to have three servan' lassies, besides +Andrew's man, and the coachman that we have hired altogether for +ourselves, having been persuaded to trist a new carriage of our own +by the Argents, which I trust the Argents will find money to pay +for; and masters are to come in to teach Rachel the fasionable +accomplishments, Mrs. Argent thinking she was rather old now to be +sent to a boarding-school. But what I am to get to do for so many +vorashous servants, is dreadful to think, there being no such thing +as a wheel within the four walls of London; and, if there was, the +Englishers no nothing about spinning. In short, Miss Mally, I am +driven dimentit, and I wish I could get the Doctor to come home with +me to our manse, and leave all to Andrew and Rachel, with kurators; +but, as I said, he's as mickle bye himself as onybody, and says that +his candle has been hidden under a bushel at Garnock more than +thirty years, which looks as if the poor man was fey; howsomever, +he's happy in his delooshon, for if he was afflictit with that +forethought and wisdom that I have, I know not what would be the +upshot of all this calamity. But we maun hope for the best; and, +happen what will, I am, dear Miss Mally, your sincere friend, JANET +PRINGLE. + + +Miss Mally sighed as she concluded, and said, "Riches do not always +bring happiness, and poor Mrs. Pringle would have been far better +looking after her cows and her butter, and keeping her lassies at +their wark, than with all this galravitching and grandeur." "Ah!" +added Mrs. Glibbans, "she's now a testifyer to the truth--she's now +a testifyer; happy it will be for her if she's enabled to make a +sanctified use of the dispensation." + + + +CHAPTER VII--DISCOVERIES AND REBELLIONS + + + +One evening as Mr. Snodgrass was taking a solitary walk towards +Irvine, for the purpose of calling on Miss Mally Glencairn, to +inquire what had been her latest accounts from their mutual friends +in London, and to read to her a letter, which he had received two +days before, from Mr. Andrew Pringle, he met, near Eglintoun Gates, +that pious woman, Mrs. Glibbans, coming to Garnock, brimful of some +most extraordinary intelligence. The air was raw and humid, and the +ways were deep and foul; she was, however, protected without, and +tempered within, against the dangers of both. Over her venerable +satin mantle, lined with cat-skin, she wore a scarlet duffle Bath +cloak, with which she was wont to attend the tent sermons of the +Kilwinning and Dreghorn preachings in cold and inclement weather. +Her black silk petticoat was pinned up, that it might not receive +injury from the nimble paddling of her short steps in the mire; and +she carried her best shoes and stockings in a handkerchief to be +changed at the manse, and had fortified her feet for the road in +coarse worsted hose, and thick plain-soled leather shoes. + +Mr. Snodgrass proposed to turn back with her, but she would not +permit him. "No, sir," said she, "what I am about you cannot meddle +in. You are here but a stranger--come to-day, and gane to-morrow;-- +and it does not pertain to you to sift into the doings that have +been done before your time. Oh dear; but this is a sad thing-- +nothing like it since the silencing of M'Auly of Greenock. What +will the worthy Doctor say when he hears tell o't? Had it fa'n out +with that neighering body, James Daff, I wouldna hae car't a snuff +of tobacco, but wi' Mr. Craig, a man so gifted wi' the power of the +Spirit, as I hae often had a delightful experience! Ay, ay, Mr. +Snodgrass, take heed lest ye fall; we maun all lay it to heart; but +I hope the trooper is still within the jurisdiction of church +censures. She shouldna be spairt. Nae doubt, the fault lies with +her, and it is that I am going to search; yea, as with a lighted +candle." + +Mr. Snodgrass expressed his inability to understand to what Mrs. +Glibbans alluded, and a very long and interesting disclosure took +place, the substance of which may be gathered from the following +letter; the immediate and instigating cause of the lady's journey to +Garnock being the alarming intelligence which she had that day +received of Mr. Craig's servant-damsel Betty having, by the style +and title of Mrs. Craig, sent for Nanse Swaddle, the midwife, to +come to her in her own case, which seemed to Mrs. Glibbans nothing +short of a miracle, Betty having, the very Sunday before, helped the +kettle when she drank tea with Mr. Craig, and sat at the room door, +on a buffet-stool brought from the kitchen, while he performed +family worship, to the great solace and edification of his visitor. + + +LETTER XXI + + +The Rev. Z. Pringle, D.D., to Mr. Micklewham, Schoolmaster and +Session-Clerk, Garnock + +Dear Sir--I have received your letter of the 24th, which has given +me a great surprise to hear, that Mr. Craig was married as far back +as Christmas, to his own servant lass Betty, and me to know nothing +of it, nor you neither, until it was time to be speaking to the +midwife. To be sure, Mr. Craig, who is an elder, and a very rigid +man, in his animadversions on the immoralities that come before the +session, must have had his own good reasons for keeping his marriage +so long a secret. Tell him, however, from me, that I wish both him +and Mrs. Craig much joy and felicity; but he should be milder for +the future on the thoughtlessness of youth and headstrong passions. +Not that I insinuate that there has been any occasion in the conduct +of such a godly man to cause a suspicion; but it's wonderful how he +was married in December, and I cannot say that I am altogether so +proud to hear it as I am at all times of the well-doing of my +people. Really the way that Mr. Daff has comported himself in this +matter is greatly to his credit; and I doubt if the thing had +happened with him, that Mr. Craig would have sifted with a sharp eye +how he came to be married in December, and without bridal and +banquet. For my part, I could not have thought it of Mr. Craig, but +it's done now, and the less we say about it the better; so I think +with Mr. Daff, that it must be looked over; but when I return, I +will speak both to the husband and wife, and not without letting +them have an inkling of what I think about their being married in +December, which was a great shame, even if there was no sin in it. +But I will say no more; for truly, Mr. Micklewham, the longer we +live in this world, and the farther we go, and the better we know +ourselves, the less reason have we to think slightingly of our +neighbours; but the more to convince our hearts and understandings, +that we are all prone to evil, and desperately wicked. For where +does hypocrisy not abound? and I have had my own experience here, +that what a man is to the world, and to his own heart, is a very +different thing. + +In my last letter, I gave you a pleasing notification of the growth, +as I thought, of spirituality in this Babylon of deceitfulness, +thinking that you and my people would be gladdened with the tidings +of the repute and estimation in which your minister was held, and I +have dealt largely in the way of public charity. But I doubt that I +have been governed by a spirit of ostentation, and not with that +lowly-mindedness, without which all almsgiving is but a serving of +the altars of Belzebub; for the chastening hand has been laid upon +me, but with the kindness and pity which a tender father hath for +his dear children. + +I was requested by those who come so cordially to me with their +subscription papers, for schools and suffering worth, to preach a +sermon to get a collection. I have no occasion to tell you, that +when I exert myself, what effect I can produce; and I never made so +great an exertion before, which in itself was a proof that it was +with the two bladders, pomp and vanity, that I had committed myself +to swim on the uncertain waters of London; for surely my best +exertions were due to my people. But when the Sabbath came upon +which I was to hold forth, how were my hopes withered, and my +expectations frustrated. Oh, Mr. Micklewham, what an inattentive +congregation was yonder! many slumbered and slept, and I sowed the +words of truth and holiness in vain upon their barren and stoney +hearts. There is no true grace among some that I shall not name, +for I saw them whispering and smiling like the scorners, and +altogether heedless unto the precious things of my discourse, which +could not have been the case had they been sincere in their +professions, for I never preached more to my own satisfaction on any +occasion whatsoever--and, when I return to my own parish, you shall +hear what I said, as I will preach the same sermon over again, for I +am not going now to print it, as I did once think of doing, and to +have dedicated it to Mr. W-. + +We are going about in an easy way, seeing what is to be seen in the +shape of curiosities; but the whole town is in a state of ferment +with the election of members to Parliament. I have been to see't, +both in the Guildhall and at Covent Garden, and it's a frightful +thing to see how the Radicals roar like bulls of Bashan, and put +down the speakers in behalf of the government. I hope no harm will +come of yon, but I must say, that I prefer our own quiet canny +Scotch way at Irvine. Well do I remember, for it happened in the +year I was licensed, that the town council, the Lord Eglinton that +was shot being then provost, took in the late Thomas Bowet to be a +counsellor; and Thomas, not being versed in election matters, yet +minding to please his lordship (for, like the rest of the council, +he had always a proper veneration for those in power), he, as I was +saying, consulted Joseph Boyd the weaver, who was then Dean of +Guild, as to the way of voting; whereupon Joseph, who was a discreet +man, said to him, "Ye'll just say as I say, and I'll say what Bailie +Shaw says, for he will do what my lord bids him"; which was as +peaceful a way of sending up a member to Parliament as could well be +devised. + +But you know that politics are far from my hand--they belong to the +temporalities of the community; and the ministers of peace and +goodwill to man should neither make nor meddle with them. I wish, +however, that these tumultuous elections were well over, for they +have had an effect on the per cents, where our bit legacy is funded; +and it would terrify you to hear what we have thereby already lost. +We have not, however, lost so much but that I can spare a little to +the poor among my people; so you will, in the dry weather, after the +seed-time, hire two-three thackers to mend the thack on the roofs of +such of the cottars' houses as stand in need of mending, and banker +M-y will pay the expense; and I beg you to go to him on receipt +hereof, for he has a line for yourself, which you will be sure to +accept as a testimony from me for the great trouble that my absence +from the parish has given to you among my people, and I am, dear +sir, your friend and pastor, Z. PRINGLE. + + +As Mrs. Glibbans would not permit Mr. Snodgrass to return with her +to the manse, he pursued his journey alone to the Kirkgate of +Irvine, where he found Miss Mally Glencairn on the eve of sitting +down to her solitary tea. On seeing her visitor enter, after the +first compliments on the state of health and weather were over, she +expressed her hopes that he had not drank tea; and, on receiving a +negative, which she did not quite expect, as she thought he had been +perhaps invited by some of her neighbours, she put in an additional +spoonful on his account; and brought from her corner cupboard with +the glass door, an ancient French pickle-bottle, in which she had +preserved, since the great tea-drinking formerly mentioned, the +remainder of the two ounces of carvey, the best, Mrs. Nanse bought +for that memorable occasion. A short conversation then took place +relative to the Pringles; and, while the tea was masking, for Miss +Mally said it took a long time to draw, she read to him the +following letter:- + + +LETTER XXII + + +Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn + +My Dear Miss Mally--Trully, it may be said, that the croun of +England is upon the downfal, and surely we are all seething in the +pot of revolution, for the scum is mounting uppermost. Last week, +no farther gone than on Mononday, we came to our new house heer in +Baker Street, but it's nather to be bakit nor brewt what I hav sin +syne suffert. You no my way, and that I like a been house, but no +wastrie, and so I needna tell yoo, that we hav had good diners; to +be sure, there was not a meerakle left to fill five baskets every +day, but an abundance, with a proper kitchen of breed, to fill the +bellies of four dumasticks. Howsomever, lo and behold, what was +clecking downstairs. On Saturday morning, as we were sitting at our +breakfast, the Doctor reading the newspapers, who shoud corn intil +the room but Andrew's grum, follo't by the rest, to give us warning +that they were all going to quat our sairvice, becas they were +starvit. I thocht that I would hav fentit cauld deed, but the +Doctor, who is a consiederat man, inquairt what made them starve, +and then there was such an opprobrious cry about cold meet and bare +bones, and no beer. It was an evendoun resurection--a rebellion +waur than the forty-five. In short, Miss Mally, to make a leettle +of a lang tail, they would have a hot joint day and day about, and a +tree of yill to stand on the gauntress for their draw and drink, +with a cock and a pail; and we were obligated to evacuate to their +terms, and to let them go to their wark with flying colors; so you +see how dangerous it is to live among this piple, and their noshans +of liberty. + +You will see by the newspapers that ther's a lection going on for +parliament. It maks my corruption to rise to hear of such doings, +and if I was a government as I'm but a woman, I woud put them doon +with the strong hand, just to be revenged on the proud stomaks of +these het and fou English. + +We have gotten our money in the pesents put into our name; but I +have had no peese since, for they have fallen in price three eight +parts, which is very near a half, and if they go at this rate, where +will all our legacy soon be? I have no goo of the pesents; so we +are on the look-out for a landed estate, being a shure thing. + +Captain Saber is still sneking after Rachel, and if she were awee +perfited in her accomplugments, it's no saying what might happen, +for he's a fine lad, but she's o'er young to be the heed of a +family. Howsomever, the Lord's will maun be done, and if there is +to be a match, she'll no have to fight for gentility with a +straitent circumstance. + +As for Andrew, I wish he was weel settlt, and we have our hopes that +he's beginning to draw up with Miss Argent, who will have, no doobt, +a great fortune, and is a treasure of a creeture in herself, being +just as simple as a lamb; but, to be sure, she has had every +advantage of edication, being brought up in a most fashonible +boarding-school. + +I hope you have got the box I sent by the smak, and that you like +the patron of the goon. So no more at present, but remains, dear +Miss Mally, your sinsaire friend, + +JANET PRINGLE. + + +"The box," said Miss Mally, "that Mrs. Pringle speaks about came +last night. It contains a very handsome present to me and to Miss +Bell Tod. The gift to me is from Mrs. P. herself, and Miss Bell's +from Rachel; but that ettercap, Becky Glibbans, is flying through +the town like a spunky, mislikening the one and misca'ing the other: +everybody, however, kens that it's only spite that gars her speak. +It's a great pity that she cou'dna be brought to a sense of religion +like her mother, who, in her younger days, they say, wasna to seek +at a clashing." + +Mr. Snodgrass expressed his surprise at this account of the faults +of that exemplary lady's youth; but he thought of her holy anxiety +to sift into the circumstances of Betty, the elder's servant, +becoming in one day Mrs. Craig, and the same afternoon sending for +the midwife, and he prudently made no other comment; for the +characters of all preachers were in her hands, and he had the good +fortune to stand high in her favour, as a young man of great +promise. In order, therefore, to avoid any discussion respecting +moral merits, he read the following letter from Andrew Pringle:- + + +LETTER XXIII + + +Andrew Pringle, Esq., to the Reverend Charles Snodgrass + +My Dear Friend--London undoubtedly affords the best and the worst +specimens of the British character; but there is a certain townish +something about the inhabitants in general, of which I find it +extremely difficult to convey any idea. Compared with the English +of the country, there is apparently very little difference between +them; but still there is a difference, and of no small importance in +a moral point of view. The country peculiarity is like the bloom of +the plumb, or the down of the peach, which the fingers of infancy +cannot touch without injuring; but this felt but not describable +quality of the town character, is as the varnish which brings out +more vividly the colours of a picture, and which may be freely and +even rudely handled. The women, for example, although as chaste in +principle as those of any other community, possess none of that +innocent untempted simplicity, which is more than half the grace of +virtue; many of them, and even young ones too, "in the first +freshness of their virgin beauty," speak of the conduct and vocation +of "the erring sisters of the sex," in a manner that often amazes +me, and has, in more than one instance, excited unpleasant feelings +towards the fair satirists. This moral taint, for I can consider it +as nothing less, I have heard defended, but only by men who are +supposed to have had a large experience of the world, and who, +perhaps, on that account, are not the best judges of female +delicacy. "Every woman," as Pope says, "may be at heart a rake"; +but it is for the interests of the domestic affections, which are +the very elements of virtue, to cherish the notion, that women, as +they are physically more delicate than men, are also so morally. + +But the absence of delicacy, the bloom of virtue, is not peculiar to +the females, it is characteristic of all the varieties of the +metropolitan mind. The artifices of the medical quacks are things +of universal ridicule; but the sin, though in a less gross form, +pervades the whole of that sinister system by which much of the +superiority of this vast metropolis is supported. The state of the +periodical press, that great organ of political instruction--the +unruly tongue of liberty, strikingly confirms the justice of this +misanthropic remark. + +G- had the kindness, by way of a treat to me, to collect, the other +day, at dinner, some of the most eminent editors of the London +journals. I found them men of talent, certainly, and much more men +of the world, than "the cloistered student from his paling lamp"; +but I was astonished to find it considered, tacitly, as a sort of +maxim among them, that an intermediate party was not bound by any +obligation of honour to withhold, farther than his own discretion +suggested, any information of which he was the accidental +depositary, whatever the consequences might be to his informant, or +to those affected by the communication. In a word, they seemed all +to care less about what might be true than what would produce +effect, and that effect for their own particular advantage. It is +impossible to deny, that if interest is made the criterion by which +the confidences of social intercourse are to be respected, the +persons who admit this doctrine will have but little respect for the +use of names, or deem it any reprehensible delinquency to suppress +truth, or to blazon falsehood. In a word, man in London is not +quite so good a creature as he is out of it. The rivalry of +interests is here too intense; it impairs the affections, and +occasions speculations both in morals and politics, which, I much +suspect, it would puzzle a casuist to prove blameless. Can +anything, for example, be more offensive to the calm spectator, than +the elections which are now going on? Is it possible that this +country, so much smaller in geographical extent than France, and so +inferior in natural resources, restricted too by those ties and +obligations which were thrown off as fetters by that country during +the late war, could have attained, in despite of her, such a lofty +pre-eminence--become the foremost of all the world--had it not been +governed in a manner congenial to the spirit of the people, and with +great practical wisdom? It is absurd to assert, that there are no +corruptions in the various modifications by which the affairs of the +British empire are administered; but it would be difficult to show, +that, in the present state of morals and interests among mankind, +corruption is not a necessary evil. I do not mean necessary, as +evolved from those morals and interests, but necessary to the +management of political trusts. I am afraid, however, to insist on +this, as the natural integrity of your own heart, and the dignity of +your vocation, will alike induce you to condemn it as Machiavellian. +It is, however, an observation forced on me by what I have seen +here. + +It would be invidious, perhaps, to criticise the different +candidates for the representation of London and Westminster very +severely. I think it must be granted, that they are as sincere in +their professions as their opponents, which at least bleaches away +much of that turpitude of which their political conduct is accused +by those who are of a different way of thinking. But it is quite +evident, at least to me, that no government could exist a week, +managed with that subjection to public opinion to which Sir Francis +Burdett and Mr. Hobhouse apparently submit; and it is no less +certain, that no government ought to exist a single day that would +act in complete defiance of public opinion. + +I was surprised to find Sir Francis Burdett an uncommonly mild and +gentlemanly-looking man. I had pictured somehow to my imagination a +dark and morose character; but, on the contrary, in his appearance, +deportment, and manner of speaking, he is eminently qualified to +attract popular applause. His style of speaking is not particularly +oratorical, but he has the art of saying bitter things in a sweet +way. In his language, however, although pungent, and sometimes even +eloquent, he is singularly incorrect. He cannot utter a sequence of +three sentences without violating common grammar in the most +atrocious way; and his tropes and figures are so distorted, hashed, +and broken--such a patchwork of different patterns, that you are +bewildered if you attempt to make them out; but the earnestness of +his manner, and a certain fitness of character, in his observations +a kind of Shaksperian pithiness, redeem all this. Besides, his +manifold blunders of syntax do not offend the taste of those +audiences where he is heard with the most approbation. + +Hobhouse speaks more correctly, but he lacks in the conciliatory +advantages of personal appearance; and his physiognomy, though +indicating considerable strength of mind, is not so prepossessing. +He is evidently a man of more education than his friend, that is, of +more reading, perhaps also of more various observation, but he has +less genius. His tact is coarser, and though he speaks with more +vehemence, he seldomer touches the sensibilities of his auditors. +He may have observed mankind in general more extensively than Sir +Francis, but he is far less acquainted with the feelings and +associations of the English mind. There is also a wariness about +him, which I do not like so well as the imprudent ingenuousness of +the baronet. He seems to me to have a cause in hand--Hobhouse +versus Existing Circumstances--and that he considers the multitude +as the jurors, on whose decision his advancement in life depends. +But in this I may be uncharitable. I should, however, think more +highly of his sincerity as a patriot, if his stake in the country +were greater; and yet I doubt, if his stake were greater, if he is +that sort of man who would have cultivated popularity in +Westminster. He seems to me to have qualified himself for +Parliament as others do for the bar, and that he will probably be +considered in the House for some time merely as a political +adventurer. But if he has the talent and prudence requisite to +ensure distinction in the line of his profession, the mediocrity of +his original condition will reflect honour on his success, should he +hereafter acquire influence and consideration as a statesman. Of +his literary talents I know you do not think very highly, nor am I +inclined to rank the powers of his mind much beyond those of any +common well-educated English gentleman. But it will soon be +ascertained whether his pretensions to represent Westminster be +justified by a sense of conscious superiority, or only prompted by +that ambition which overleaps itself. + +Of Wood, who was twice Lord Mayor, I know not what to say. There is +a queer and wily cast in his pale countenance, that puzzles me +exceedingly. In common parlance I would call him an empty vain +creature; but when I look at that indescribable spirit, which +indicates a strange and out-of-the-way manner of thinking, I humbly +confess that he is no common man. He is evidently a person of no +intellectual accomplishments; he has neither the language nor the +deportment of a gentleman, in the usual understanding of the term; +and yet there is something that I would almost call genius about +him. It is not cunning, it is not wisdom, it is far from being +prudence, and yet it is something as wary as prudence, as effectual +as wisdom, and not less sinister than cunning. I would call it +intuitive skill, a sort of instinct, by which he is enabled to +attain his ends in defiance of a capacity naturally narrow, a +judgment that topples with vanity, and an address at once mean and +repulsive. To call him a great man, in any possible approximation +of the word, would be ridiculous; that he is a good one, will be +denied by those who envy his success, or hate his politics; but +nothing, save the blindness of fanaticism, can call in question his +possession of a rare and singular species of ability, let it be +exerted in what cause it may. But my paper is full, and I have only +room to subscribe myself, faithfully, yours, A. PRINGLE. + + +"It appears to us," said Mr. Snodgrass, as he folded up the letter +to return it to his pocket, "that the Londoners, with all their +advantages of information, are neither purer nor better than their +fellow-subjects in the country." "As to their betterness," replied +Miss Mally, "I have a notion that they are far waur; and I hope you +do not think that earthly knowledge of any sort has a tendency to +make mankind, or womankind either, any better; for was not Solomon, +who had more of it than any other man, a type and testification, +that knowledge without grace is but vanity?" The young clergyman +was somewhat startled at this application of a remark on which he +laid no particular stress, and was thankful in his heart that Mrs. +Glibbans was not present. He was not aware that Miss Mally had an +orthodox corn, or bunyan, that could as little bear a touch from the +royne-slippers of philosophy, as the inflamed gout of polemical +controversy, which had gumfiated every mental joint and member of +that zealous prop of the Relief Kirk. This was indeed the tender +point of Miss Mally's character; for she was left unplucked on the +stalk of single blessedness, owing entirely to a conversation on +this very subject with the only lover she ever had, Mr. Dalgliesh, +formerly helper in the neighbouring parish of Dintonknow. He +happened incidentally to observe, that education was requisite to +promote the interests of religion. But Miss Mally, on that +occasion, jocularly maintained, that education had only a tendency +to promote the sale of books. This, Mr. Dalgliesh thought, was a +sneer at himself, he having some time before unfortunately published +a short tract, entitled, "The moral union of our temporal and +eternal interests considered, with respect to the establishment of +parochial seminaries," and which fell still-born from the press. He +therefore retorted with some acrimony, until, from less to more, +Miss Mally ordered him to keep his distance; upon which he bounced +out of the room, and they were never afterwards on speaking terms. +Saving, however, and excepting this particular dogma, Miss Mally was +on all other topics as liberal and beneficent as could be expected +from a maiden lady, who was obliged to eke out her stinted income +with a nimble needle and a close-clipping economy. The conversation +with Mr. Snodgrass was not, however, lengthened into acrimony; for +immediately after the remark which we have noticed, she proposed +that they should call on Miss Isabella Tod to see Rachel's letter; +indeed, this was rendered necessary by the state of the fire, for +after boiling the kettle she had allowed it to fall low. It was her +nightly practice after tea to take her evening seam, in a friendly +way, to some of her neighbours' houses, by which she saved both coal +and candle, while she acquired the news of the day, and was +occasionally invited to stay supper. + +On their arrival at Mrs. Tod's, Miss Isabella understood the purport +of their visit, and immediately produced her letter, receiving, at +the same time, a perusal of Mr. Andrew Pringle's. Mrs. Pringle's to +Miss Mally she had previously seen. + + +LETTER XXIV + + +Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod + +My Dear Bell--Since my last, we have undergone great changes and +vicissitudes. Last week we removed to our present house, which is +exceedingly handsome and elegantly furnished; and on Saturday there +was an insurrection of the servants, on account of my mother not +allowing them to have their dinners served up at the usual hour for +servants at other genteel houses. We have also had the legacy in +the funds transferred to my father, and only now wait the settling +of the final accounts, which will yet take some time. On the day +that the transfer took place, my mother made me a present of a +twenty pound note, to lay out in any way I thought fit, and in so +doing, I could not but think of you; I have, therefore, in a box +which she is sending to Miss Mally Glencairn, sent you an evening +dress from Mrs. Bean's, one of the most fashionable and tasteful +dressmakers in town, which I hope you will wear with pleasure for my +sake. I have got one exactly like it, so that when you see yourself +in the glass, you will behold in what state I appeared at Lady -'s +route. + +Ah! my dear Bell, how much are our expectations disappointed! How +often have we, with admiration and longing wonder, read the +descriptions in the newspapers of the fashionable parties in this +great metropolis, and thought of the Grecian lamps, the ottomans, +the promenades, the ornamented floors, the cut glass, the coup +d'oeil, and the tout ensemble. "Alas!" as Young the poet says, "the +things unseen do not deceive us." I have seen more beauty at an +Irvine ball, than all the fashionable world could bring to market at +my Lady -'s emporium for the disposal of young ladies, for indeed I +can consider it as nothing else. + +I went with the Argents. The hall door was open, and filled with +the servants in their state liveries; but although the door was +open, the porter, as each carriage came up, rung a peal upon the +knocker, to announce to all the square the successive arrival of the +guests. We were shown upstairs to the drawing-rooms. They were +very well, but neither so grand nor so great as I expected. As for +the company, it was a suffocating crowd of fat elderly gentlewomen, +and misses that stood in need of all the charms of their fortunes. +One thing I could notice--for the press was so great, little could +be seen--it was, that the old ladies wore rouge. The white satin +sleeve of my dress was entirely ruined by coming in contact with a +little round, dumpling duchess's cheek--as vulgar a body as could +well be. She seemed to me to have spent all her days behind a +counter, smirking thankfulness to bawbee customers. + +When we had been shown in the drawing-rooms to the men for some +time, we then adjourned to the lower apartments, where the +refreshments were set out. This, I suppose, is arranged to afford +an opportunity to the beaux to be civil to the belles, and thereby +to scrape acquaintance with those whom they approve, by assisting +them to the delicacies. Altogether, it was a very dull well-dressed +affair, and yet I ought to have been in good spirits, for Sir +Marmaduke Towler, a great Yorkshire baronet, was most particular in +his attentions to me; indeed so much so, that I saw it made poor +Sabre very uneasy. I do not know why it should, for I have given +him no positive encouragement to hope for anything; not that I have +the least idea that the baronet's attentions were more than +commonplace politeness, but he has since called. I cannot, however, +say that my vanity is at all flattered by this circumstance. At the +same time, there surely could be no harm in Sir Marmaduke making me +an offer, for you know I am not bound to accept it. Besides, my +father does not like him, and my mother thinks he's a fortune- +hunter; but I cannot conceive how that may be, for, on the contrary, +he is said to be rather extravagant. + +Before we return to Scotland, it is intended that we shall visit +some of the watering-places; and, perhaps, if Andrew can manage it +with my father, we may even take a trip to Paris. The Doctor +himself is not averse to it, but my mother is afraid that a new war +may break out, and that we may be detained prisoners. This +fantastical fear we shall, however, try to overcome. But I am +interrupted. Sir Marmaduke is in the drawing-room, and I am +summoned.--Yours truly, + +RACHEL PRINGLE. + + +When Mr. Snodgrass had read this letter, he paused for a moment, and +then said dryly, in handing it to Miss Isabella, "Miss Pringle is +improving in the ways of the world." + +The evening by this time was far advanced, and the young clergyman +was not desirous to renew the conversation; he therefore almost +immediately took his leave, and walked sedately towards Garnock, +debating with himself as he went along, whether Dr. Pringle's family +were likely to be benefited by their legacy. But he had scarcely +passed the minister's carse, when he met with Mrs. Glibbans +returning. "Mr. Snodgrass! Mr. Snodgrass!" cried that ardent +matron from her side of the road to the other where he was walking, +and he obeyed her call; "yon's no sic a black story as I thought. +Mrs. Craig is to be sure far gane! but they were married in +December; and it was only because she was his servan' lass that the +worthy man didna like to own her at first for his wife. It would +have been dreadful had the matter been jealoused at the first. She +gaed to Glasgow to see an auntie that she has there, and he gaed in +to fetch her out, and it was then the marriage was made up, which I +was glad to hear; for, oh, Mr. Snodgrass, it would have been an +awfu' judgment had a man like Mr. Craig turn't out no better than a +Tam Pain or a Major Weir. But a's for the best; and Him that has +the power of salvation can blot out all our iniquities. So good- +night--ye'll have a lang walk." + + + +CHAPTER VIII--THE QUEEN'S TRIAL + + + +As the spring advanced, the beauty of the country around Garnock was +gradually unfolded; the blossom was unclosed, while the church was +embraced within the foliage of more umbrageous boughs. The +schoolboys from the adjacent villages were, on the Saturday +afternoons, frequently seen angling along the banks of the Lugton, +which ran clearer beneath the churchyard wall, and the hedge of the +minister's glebe; and the evenings were so much lengthened, that the +occasional visitors at the manse could prolong their walk after tea. +These, however, were less numerous than when the family were at +home; but still Mr. Snodgrass, when the weather was fine, had no +reason to deplore the loneliness of his bachelor's court. + +It happened that, one fair and sunny afternoon, Miss Mally Glencairn +and Miss Isabella Tod came to the manse. Mrs. Glibbans and her +daughter Becky were the same day paying their first ceremonious +visit, as the matron called it, to Mr. and Mrs. Craig, with whom the +whole party were invited to take tea; and, for lack of more amusing +chit-chat, the Reverend young gentleman read to them the last letter +which he had received from Mr. Andrew Pringle. It was conjured +naturally enough out of his pocket, by an observation of Miss +Mally's "Nothing surprises me," said that amiable maiden lady, "so +much as the health and good-humour of the commonality. It is a +joyous refutation of the opinion, that the comfort and happiness of +this life depends on the wealth of worldly possessions." + +"It is so," replied Mr. Snodgrass, "and I do often wonder, when I +see the blithe and hearty children of the cottars, frolicking in the +abundance of health and hilarity, where the means come from to +enable their poor industrious parents to supply their wants." + +"How can you wonder at ony sic things, Mr. Snodgrass? Do they not +come from on high," said Mrs. Glibbans, "whence cometh every good +and perfect gift? Is there not the flowers of the field, which +neither card nor spin, and yet Solomon, in all his glory, was not +arrayed like one of these?" + +"I was not speaking in a spiritual sense," interrupted the other, +"but merely made the remark, as introductory to a letter which I +have received from Mr. Andrew Pringle, respecting some of the ways +of living in London." + +Mrs. Craig, who had been so recently translated from the kitchen to +the parlour, pricked up her ears at this, not doubting that the +letter would contain something very grand and wonderful, and +exclaimed, "Gude safe's, let's hear't--I'm unco fond to ken about +London, and the king and the queen; but I believe they are baith +dead noo." + +Miss Becky Glibbans gave a satirical keckle at this, and showed her +superior learning, by explaining to Mrs. Craig the unbroken nature +of the kingly office. Mr. Snodgrass then read as follows:- + + +LETTER XXV + + +Andrew Pringle, Esq,, to the Rev. Charles Snodgrass + +My Dear Friend--You are not aware of the task you impose, when you +request me to send you some account of the general way of living in +London. Unless you come here, and actually experience yourself what +I would call the London ache, it is impossible to supply you with +any adequate idea of the necessity that exists in this wilderness of +mankind, to seek refuge in society, without being over fastidious +with respect to the intellectual qualifications of your occasional +associates. In a remote desart, the solitary traveller is subject +to apprehensions of danger; but still he is the most important thing +"within the circle of that lonely waste"; and the sense of his own +dignity enables him to sustain the shock of considerable hazard with +spirit and fortitude. But, in London, the feeling of self- +importance is totally lost and suppressed in the bosom of a +stranger. A painful conviction of insignificance--of nothingness, I +may say--is sunk upon his heart, and murmured in his ear by the +million, who divide with him that consequence which he unconsciously +before supposed he possessed in a general estimate of the world. +While elbowing my way through the unknown multitude that flows +between Charing Cross and the Royal Exchange, this mortifying sense +of my own insignificance has often come upon me with the energy of a +pang; and I have thought, that, after all we can say of any man, the +effect of the greatest influence of an individual on society at +large, is but as that of a pebble thrown into the sea. +Mathematically speaking, the undulations which the pebble causes, +continue until the whole mass of the ocean has been disturbed to the +bottom of its most secret depths and farthest shores; and, perhaps, +with equal truth it may be affirmed, that the sentiments of the man +of genius are also infinitely propagated; but how soon is the +physical impression of the one lost to every sensible perception, +and the moral impulse of the other swallowed up from all practical +effect. + +But though London, in the general, may be justly compared to the +vast and restless ocean, or to any other thing that is either +sublime, incomprehensible, or affecting, it loses all its influence +over the solemn associations of the mind when it is examined in its +details. For example, living on the town, as it is slangishly +called, the most friendless and isolated condition possible, is yet +fraught with an amazing diversity of enjoyment. Thousands of +gentlemen, who have survived the relish of active fashionable +pursuits, pass their life in that state without tasting the delight +of one new sensation. They rise in the morning merely because +Nature will not allow them to remain longer in bed. They begin the +day without motive or purpose, and close it after having performed +the same unvaried round as the most thoroughbred domestic animal +that ever dwelt in manse or manor-house. If you ask them at three +o'clock where they are to dine, they cannot tell you; but about the +wonted dinner-hour, batches of these forlorn bachelors find +themselves diurnally congregated, as if by instinct, around a cozy +table in some snug coffee-house, where, after inspecting the +contents of the bill of fare, they discuss the news of the day, +reserving the scandal, by way of dessert, for their wine. Day after +day their respective political opinions give rise to keen +encounters, but without producing the slightest shade of change in +any of their old ingrained and particular sentiments. + +Some of their haunts, I mean those frequented by the elderly race, +are shabby enough in their appearance and circumstances, except +perhaps in the quality of the wine. Everything in them is regulated +by an ancient and precise economy, and you perceive, at the first +glance, that all is calculated on the principle of the house giving +as much for the money as it can possibly afford, without infringing +those little etiquettes which persons of gentlemanly habits regard +as essentials. At half price the junior members of these +unorganised or natural clubs retire to the theatres, while the elder +brethren mend their potations till it is time to go home. This +seems a very comfortless way of life, but I have no doubt it is the +preferred result of a long experience of the world, and that the +parties, upon the whole, find it superior, according to their early +formed habits of dissipation and gaiety, to the sedate but not more +regular course of a domestic circle. + +The chief pleasure, however, of living on the town, consists in +accidentally falling in with persons whom it might be otherwise +difficult to meet in private life. I have several times enjoyed +this. The other day I fell in with an old gentleman, evidently a +man of some consequence, for he came to the coffee-house in his own +carriage. It happened that we were the only guests, and he proposed +that we should therefore dine together. In the course of +conversation it came out, that he had been familiarly acquainted +with Garrick, and had frequented the Literary Club in the days of +Johnson and Goldsmith. In his youth, I conceive, he must have been +an amusing companion; for his fancy was exceedingly lively, and his +manners altogether afforded a very favourable specimen of the old, +the gentlemanly school. At an appointed hour his carriage came for +him, and we parted, perhaps never to meet again. + +Such agreeable incidents, however, are not common, as the +frequenters of the coffee-houses are, I think, usually taciturn +characters, and averse to conversation. I may, however, be myself +in fault. Our countrymen in general, whatever may be their address +in improving acquaintance to the promotion of their own interests, +have not the best way, in the first instance, of introducing +themselves. A raw Scotchman, contrasted with a sharp Londoner, is +very inadroit and awkward, be his talents what they may; and I +suspect, that even the most brilliant of your old class-fellows +have, in their professional visits to this metropolis, had some +experience of what I mean. + +ANDREW PRINGLE. + + +When Mr. Snodgrass paused, and was folding up the letter, Mrs. +Craig, bending with her hands on her knees, said, emphatically, +"Noo, sir, what think you of that?" He was not, however, quite +prepared to give an answer to a question so abruptly propounded, nor +indeed did he exactly understand to what particular the lady +referred. "For my part," she resumed, recovering her previous +posture--"for my part, it's a very caldrife way of life to dine +every day on coffee; broth and beef would put mair smeddum in the +men; they're just a whin auld fogies that Mr. Andrew describes, an' +no wurth a single woman's pains." "Wheesht, wheesht, mistress," +cried Mr. Craig; "ye mauna let your tongue rin awa with your sense +in that gait." "It has but a light load," said Miss Becky, +whispering Isabella Tod. In this juncture, Mr. Micklewham happened +to come in, and Mrs. Craig, on seeing him, cried out, "I hope, Mr. +Micklewham, ye have brought the Doctor's letter. He's such a funny +man! and touches off the Londoners to the nines." + +"He's a good man," said Mrs. Glibbans, in a tone calculated to +repress the forwardness of Mrs. Craig; but Miss Mally Glencairn +having, in the meanwhile, taken from her pocket an epistle which she +had received the preceding day from Mrs. Pringle, Mr. Snodgrass +silenced all controversy on that score by requesting her to proceed +with the reading. "She's a clever woman, Mrs. Pringle," said Mrs. +Craig, who was resolved to cut a figure in the conversation in her +own house. "She's a discreet woman, and may be as godly, too, as +some that make mair wark about the elect." Whether Mrs. Glibbans +thought this had any allusion to herself is not susceptible of legal +proof; but she turned round and looked at their "most kind hostess" +with a sneer that might almost merit the appellation of a snort. +Mrs. Craig, however, pacified her, by proposing, "that, before +hearing the letter, they should take a dram of wine, or pree her +cherry bounce"--adding, "our maister likes a been house, and ye a' +ken that we are providing for a handling." The wine was accordingly +served, and, in due time, Miss Mally Glencairn edified and +instructed the party with the contents of Mrs. Pringle's letter. + + +LETTER XXVI + + +Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn + +Dear Miss Mally--You will have heard, by the peppers, of the gret +hobbleshow heer aboot the queen's coming over contrary to the will +of the nation; and, that the king and parlement are so angry with +her, that they are going to put her away by giving to her a bill of +divorce. The Doctor, who has been searchin the Scriptures on the +okashon, says this is not in their poor, although she was found +guilty of the fact; but I tell him, that as the king and parlement +of old took upon them to change our religion, I do not see how they +will be hampered now by the word of God. + +You may well wonder that I have no ritten to you about the king, and +what he is like, but we have never got a sight of him at all, whilk +is a gret shame, paying so dear as we do for a king, who shurely +should be a publik man. But, we have seen her majesty, who stays +not far from our house heer in Baker Street, in dry lodgings, which, +I am creditably informed, she is obligated to pay for by the week, +for nobody will trust her; so you see what it is, Miss Mally, to +have a light character. Poor woman, they say she might have been +going from door to door, with a staff and a meal pock, but for ane +Mr. Wood, who is a baillie of London, that has ta'en her by the +hand. She's a woman advanced in life, with a short neck, and a +pentit face; housomever, that, I suppose, she canno help, being a +queen, and obligated to set the fashons to the court, where it is +necessar to hide their faces with pent, our Andrew says, that their +looks may not betray them--there being no shurer thing than a false- +hearted courtier. + +But what concerns me the most, in all this, is, that there will be +no coronashon till the queen is put out of the way--and nobody can +take upon them to say when that will be, as the law is so dootful +and endless--which I am verra sorry for, as it was my intent to rite +Miss Nanny Eydent a true account of the coronashon, in case there +had been any partiklars that might be servisable to her in her +bisness. + +The Doctor and me, by ourselves, since we have been settlt, go about +at our convenience, and have seen far mae farlies than baith Andrew +and Rachel, with all the acquaintance they have forgathert with--but +you no old heeds canno be expectit on young shouthers, and they have +not had the experience of the world that we have had. + +The lamps in the streets here are lighted with gauze, and not with +crusies, like those that have lately been put up in your toun; and +it is brought in pips aneath the ground from the manufactors, which +the Doctor and me have been to see--an awful place--and they say as +fey to a spark as poother, which made us glad to get out o't when we +heard so;--and we have been to see a brew-house, where they mak the +London porter, but it is a sight not to be told. In it we saw a +barrel, whilk the Doctor said was by gauging bigger than the Irvine +muckle kirk, and a masking fat, like a barn for mugnited. But all +thae were as nothing to a curiosity of a steam-ingine, that minches +minch collops as natural as life--and stuffs the sosogees itself, in +a manner past the poor of nature to consiv. They have, to be shure, +in London, many things to help work--for in our kitchen there is a +smoking-jack to roast the meat, that gangs of its oun free will, and +the brisker the fire, the faster it runs; but a potatoe-beetle is +not to be had within the four walls of London, which is a great want +in a house; Mrs. Argent never hard of sic a thing. + +Me and the Doctor have likewise been in the Houses of Parliament, +and the Doctor since has been again to heer the argol-bargoling +aboot the queen. But, cepting the king's throne, which is all gold +and velvet, with a croun on the top, and stars all round, there was +nothing worth the looking at in them baith. Howsomever, I sat in +the king's seat, and in the preses chair of the House of Commons, +which, you no, is something for me to say; and we have been to see +the printing of books, where the very smallest dividual syllib is +taken up by itself and made into words by the hand, so as to be +quite confounding how it could ever read sense. But there is ane +piece of industry and froughgalaty I should not forget, whilk is +wives going about with whirl-barrows, selling horses' flesh to the +cats and dogs by weight, and the cats and dogs know them very well +by their voices. In short, Miss Mally, there is nothing heer that +the hand is not turnt to; and there is, I can see, a better order +and method really among the Londoners than among our Scotch folks, +notwithstanding their advantages of edicashion, but my pepper will +hold no more at present, from your true friend, + +JANET PRINGLE. + + +There was a considerable diversity of opinion among the commentators +on this epistle. Mrs. Craig was the first who broke silence, and +displayed a great deal of erudition on the minch-collop-engine, and +the potatoe-beetle, in which she was interrupted by the indignant +Mrs. Glibbans, who exclaimed, "I am surprised to hear you, Mrs. +Craig, speak of sic baubles, when the word of God's in danger of +being controverted by an Act of Parliament. But, Mr. Snodgrass, +dinna ye think that this painting of the queen's face is a +Jezebitical testification against her?" Mr. Snodgrass replied, with +an unwonted sobriety of manner, and with an emphasis that showed he +intended to make some impression on his auditors--"It is impossible +to judge correctly of strangers by measuring them according to our +own notions of propriety. It has certainly long been a practice in +courts to disfigure the beauty of the human countenance with paint; +but what, in itself, may have been originally assumed for a mask or +disguise, may, by usage, have grown into a very harmless custom. I +am not, therefore, disposed to attach any criminal importance to the +circumstance of her majesty wearing paint. Her late majesty did so +herself." "I do not say it was criminal," said Mrs. Glibbans; "I +only meant it was sinful, and I think it is." The accent of +authority in which this was said, prevented Mr. Snodgrass from +offering any reply; and, a brief pause ensuing, Miss Molly Glencairn +observed, that it was a surprising thing how the Doctor and Mrs. +Pringle managed their matters so well. "Ay," said Mrs. Craig, "but +we a' ken what a manager the mistress is--she's the bee that mak's +the hincy--she does not gang bizzing aboot, like a thriftless wasp, +through her neighbours' houses." "I tell you, Betty, my dear," +cried Mr. Craig, "that you shouldna make comparisons--what's past is +gane--and Mrs. Glibbans and you maun now be friends." "They're a' +friends to me that's no faes, and am very glad to see Mrs. Glibbans +sociable in my house; but she needna hae made sae light of me when +she was here before." And, in saying this, the amiable hostess +burst into a loud sob of sorrow, which induced Mr. Snodgrass to beg +Mr. Micklewham to read the Doctor's letter, by which a happy stop +was put to the further manifestation of the grudge which Mrs. Craig +harboured against Mrs. Glibbans for the lecture she had received, on +what the latter called "the incarnated effect of a more than +Potipharian claught o' the godly Mr. Craig." + + +LETTER XXVII + + +The Rev. Z. Pringle, D.D., to Mr. Micklewham, Schoolmaster and +Session-Clerk of Garnock + +Dear Sir--I had a great satisfaction in hearing that Mr. Snodgrass, +in my place, prays for the queen on the Lord's Day, which liberty, +to do in our national church, is a thing to be upholden with a +fearless spirit, even with the spirit of martyrdom, that we may not +bow down in Scotland to the prelatic Baal of an order in Council, +whereof the Archbishop of Canterbury, that is cousin-german to the +Pope of Rome, is art and part. Verily, the sending forth of that +order to the General Assembly was treachery to the solemn oath of +the new king, whereby he took the vows upon him, conform to the +Articles of the Union, to maintain the Church of Scotland as by law +established, so that for the Archbishop of Canterbury to meddle +therein was a shooting out of the horns of aggressive domination. + +I think it is right of me to testify thus much, through you, to the +Session, that the elders may stand on their posts to bar all such +breaking in of the Episcopalian boar into our corner of the +vineyard. + +Anent the queen's case and condition, I say nothing; for be she +guilty, or be she innocent, we all know that she was born in sin, +and brought forth in iniquity--prone to evil, as the sparks fly +upwards--and desperately wicked, like you and me, or any other poor +Christian sinner, which is reason enough to make us think of her in +the remembering prayer. + +Since she came over, there has been a wonderful work doing here; and +it is thought that the crown will be taken off her head by a strong +handling of the Parliament; and really, when I think of the bishops +sitting high in the peerage, like owls and rooks in the bartisans of +an old tower, I have my fears that they can bode her no good. I +have seen them in the House of Lords, clothed in their idolatrous +robes; and when I looked at them so proudly placed at the right hand +of the king's throne, and on the side of the powerful, egging on, as +I saw one of them doing in a whisper, the Lord Liverpool, before he +rose to speak against the queen, the blood ran cold in my veins, and +I thought of their woeful persecutions of our national church, and +prayed inwardly that I might be keepit in the humility of a zealous +presbyter, and that the corruption of the frail human nature within +me might never be tempted by the pampered whoredoms of prelacy. + +Saving the Lord Chancellor, all the other temporal peers were just +as they had come in from the crown of the causeway--none of them +having a judicial garment, which was a shame; and as for the +Chancellor's long robe, it was not so good as my own gown; but he is +said to be a very narrow man. What he spoke, however, was no doubt +sound law; yet I could observe he has a bad custom of taking the +name of God in vain, which I wonder at, considering he has such a +kittle conscience, which, on less occasions, causes him often to +shed tears. + +Mrs. Pringle and me, by ourselves, had a fine quiet canny sight of +the queen, out of the window of a pastry baxter's shop, opposite to +where her majesty stays. She seems to be a plump and jocose little +woman; gleg, blithe, and throwgaun for her years, and on an easy +footing with the lower orders--coming to the window when they call +for her, and becking to them, which is very civil of her, and gets +them to take her part against the government. + +The baxter in whose shop we saw this told us that her majesty said, +on being invited to take her dinner at an inn on the road from +Dover, that she would be content with a mutton-chop at the King's +Arms in London, {2} which shows that she is a lady of a very hamely +disposition. Mrs. Pringle thought her not big enough for a queen; +but we cannot expect every one to be like that bright accidental +star, Queen Elizabeth, whose effigy we have seen preserved in armour +in the Tower of London, and in wax in Westminster Abbey, where they +have a living-like likeness of Lord Nelson, in the very identical +regimentals that he was killed in. They are both wonderful places, +but it costs a power of money to get through them, and all the folk +about them think of nothing but money; for when I inquired, with a +reverent spirit, seeing around me the tombs of great and famous men, +the mighty and wise of their day, what department it was of the +Abbey--"It's the eighteenpence department," said an uncircumcised +Philistine, with as little respect as if we had been treading the +courts of the darling Dagon. + +Our concerns here are now drawing to a close; but before we return, +we are going for a short time to a town on the seaside, which they +call Brighton. We had a notion of taking a trip to Paris, but that +we must leave to Andrew Pringle, my son, and his sister Rachel, if +the bit lassie could get a decent gudeman, which maybe will cast up +for her before we leave London. Nothing, however, is settled as yet +upon that head, so I can say no more at present anent the same. + +Since the affair of the sermon, I have withdrawn myself from +trafficking so much as I did in the missionary and charitable ploys +that are so in vogue with the pious here, which will be all the +better for my own people, as I will keep for them what I was giving +to the unknown; and it is my design to write a book on almsgiving, +to show in what manner that Christian duty may be best fulfilled, +which I doubt not will have the effect of opening the eyes of many +in London to the true nature of the thing by which I was myself +beguiled in this Vanity Fair, like a bird ensnared by the fowler. + +I was concerned to hear of poor Mr. Witherspoon's accident, in +falling from his horse in coming from the Dalmailing occasion. How +thankful he must be, that the Lord made his head of a durability to +withstand the shock, which might otherwise have fractured his skull. +What you say about the promise of the braird gives me pleasure on +account of the poor; but what will be done with the farmers and +their high rents, if the harvest turn out so abundant? Great reason +have I to be thankful that the legacy has put me out of the +reverence of my stipend; for when the meal was cheap, I own to you +that I felt my carnality grudging the horn of abundance that the +Lord was then pouring into the lap of the earth. In short, Mr. +Micklewham, I doubt it is o'er true with us all, that the less we +are tempted, the better we are; so with my sincere prayers that you +may be delivered from all evil, and led out of the paths of +temptation, whether it is on the highway, or on the footpaths, or +beneath the hedges, I remain, dear sir, your friend and pastor, +ZACHARIAH PRINGLE. + + +"The Doctor," said Mrs. Glibbans, as the schoolmaster concluded, "is +there like himself--a true orthodox Christian, standing up for the +word, and overflowing with charity even for the sinner. But, Mr. +Snodgrass, I did not ken before that the bishops had a hand in the +making of the Acts of the Parliament; I think, Mr. Snodgrass, if +that be the case, there should be some doubt in Scotland about +obeying them. However that may be, sure am I that the queen, though +she was a perfect Deliah, has nothing to fear from them; for have we +not read in the Book of Martyrs, and other church histories, of +their concubines and indulgences, in the papist times, to all manner +of carnal iniquity? But if she be that noghty woman that they say"- +-"Gude safe's," cried Mrs. Craig, "if she be a noghty woman, awa' +wi' her, awa' wi' her--wha kens the cantrips she may play us?" + +Here Miss Mally Glencairn interposed, and informed Mrs. Craig, that +a noghty woman was not, as she seemed to think, a witch wife. "I am +sure," said Miss Becky Glibbans, "that Mrs. Craig might have known +that." "Oh, ye're a spiteful deevil," whispered Miss Mally, with a +smile to her; and turning in the same moment to Miss Isabella Tod, +begged her to read Miss Pringle's letter--a motion which Mr. +Snodgrass seconded chiefly to abridge the conversation, during +which, though he wore a serene countenance, he often suffered much. + + +LETTER XXVIII + + +Miss Rachel Pringle to Miss Isabella Tod + +My Dear Bell--I am much obliged by your kind expressions for my +little present. I hope soon to send you something better, and +gloves at the same time; for Sabre has been brought to the point by +an alarm for the Yorkshire baronet that I mentioned, as showing +symptoms of the tender passion for my fortune. The friends on both +sides being satisfied with the match, it will take place as soon as +some preliminary arrangements are made. When we are settled, I hope +your mother will allow you to come and spend some time with us at +our country-seat in Berkshire; and I shall be happy to repay all the +expenses of your journey, as a jaunt to England is what your mother +would, I know, never consent to pay for. + +It is proposed that, immediately after the ceremony, we shall set +out for France, accompanied by my brother, where we are to be soon +after joined at Paris by some of the Argents, who, I can see, think +Andrew worth the catching for Miss. My father and mother will then +return to Scotland; but whether the Doctor will continue to keep his +parish, or give it up to Mr. Snodgrass, will depend greatly on the +circumstances in which he finds his parishioners. This is all the +domestic intelligence I have got to give, but its importance will +make up for other deficiencies. + +As to the continuance of our discoveries in London, I know not well +what to say. Every day brings something new, but we lose the sense +of novelty. Were a fire in the same street where we live, it would +no longer alarm me. A few nights ago, as we were sitting in the +parlour after supper, the noise of an engine passing startled us +all; we ran to the windows--there was haste and torches, and the +sound of other engines, and all the horrors of a conflagration +reddening the skies. My father sent out the footboy to inquire +where it was; and when the boy came back, he made us laugh, by +snapping his fingers, and saying the fire was not worth so much-- +although, upon further inquiry, we learnt that the house in which it +originated was burnt to the ground. You see, therefore, how the +bustle of this great world hardens the sensibilities, but I trust +its influence will never extend to my heart. + +The principal topic of conversation at present is about the queen. +The Argents, who are our main instructors in the proprieties of +London life, say that it would be very vulgar in me to go to look at +her, which I am sorry for, as I wish above all things to see a +personage so illustrious by birth, and renowned by misfortune. The +Doctor and my mother, who are less scrupulous, and who, in +consequence, somehow, by themselves, contrive to see, and get into +places that are inaccessible to all gentility, have had a full view +of her majesty. My father has since become her declared partisan, +and my mother too has acquired a leaning likewise towards her side +of the question; but neither of them will permit the subject to be +spoken of before me, as they consider it detrimental to good morals. +I, however, read the newspapers. + +What my brother thinks of her majesty's case is not easy to divine; +but Sabre is convinced of the queen's guilt, upon some private and +authentic information which a friend of his, who has returned from +Italy, heard when travelling in that country. This information he +has not, however, repeated to me, so that it must be very bad. We +shall know all when the trial comes on. In the meantime, his +majesty, who has lived in dignified retirement since he came to the +throne, has taken up his abode, with rural felicity, in a cottage in +Windsor Forest; where he now, contemning all the pomp and follies of +his youth, and this metropolis, passes his days amidst his cabbages, +like Dioclesian, with innocence and tranquillity, far from the +intrigues of courtiers, and insensible to the murmuring waves of the +fluctuating populace, that set in with so strong a current towards +"the mob-led queen," as the divine Shakespeare has so beautifully +expressed it. + +You ask me about Vauxhall Gardens;--I have not seen them--they are +no longer in fashion--the theatres are quite vulgar--even the opera- +house has sunk into a second-rate place of resort. Almack's balls, +the Argyle-rooms, and the Philharmonic concerts, are the only public +entertainments frequented by people of fashion; and this high +superiority they owe entirely to the difficulty of gaining +admission. London, as my brother says, is too rich, and grown too +luxurious, to have any exclusive place of fashionable resort, where +price alone is the obstacle. Hence, the institution of these select +aristocratic assemblies. The Philharmonic concerts, however, are +rather professional than fashionable entertainments; but everybody +is fond of music, and, therefore, everybody, that can be called +anybody, is anxious to get tickets to them; and this anxiety has +given them a degree of eclat, which I am persuaded the performance +would never have excited had the tickets been purchasable at any +price. The great thing here is, either to be somebody, or to be +patronised by a person that is a somebody; without this, though you +were as rich as Croesus, your golden chariots, like the comets of a +season, blazing and amazing, would speedily roll away into the +obscurity from which they came, and be remembered no more. + +At first when we came here, and when the amount of our legacy was +first promulgated, we were in a terrible flutter. Andrew became a +man of fashion, with all the haste that tailors, and horses, and +dinners, could make him. My father, honest man, was equally +inspired with lofty ideas, and began a career that promised a +liberal benefaction of good things to the poor--and my mother was +almost distracted with calculations about laying out the money to +the best advantage, and the sum she would allow to be spent. I +alone preserved my natural equanimity; and foreseeing the necessity +of new accomplishments to suit my altered circumstances, applied +myself to the instructions of my masters, with an assiduity that won +their applause. The advantages of this I now experience--my brother +is sobered from his champaign fumes--my father has found out that +charity begins at home--and my mother, though her establishment is +enlarged, finds her happiness, notwithstanding the legacy, still +lies within the little circle of her household cares. Thus, my dear +Bell, have I proved the sweets of a true philosophy; and, unseduced +by the blandishments of rank, rejected Sir Marmaduke Towler, and +accepted the humbler but more disinterested swain, Captain Sabre, +who requests me to send you his compliments, not altogether content +that you should occupy so much of the bosom of your affectionate +RACHEL PRINGLE. + + +"Rachel had ay a gude roose of hersel'," said Becky Glibbans, as +Miss Isabella concluded. In the same moment, Mr. Snodgrass took his +leave, saying to Mr. Micklewham, that he had something particular to +mention to him. "What can it be about?" inquired Mrs. Glibbans at +Mr. Craig, as soon as the helper and schoolmaster had left the room: +"Do you think it can be concerning the Doctor's resignation of the +parish in his favour?" "I'm sure," interposed Mrs. Craig, before +her husband could reply, "it winna be wi' my gudewill that he shall +come in upon us--a pridefu' wight, whose saft words, and a' his +politeness, are but lip-deep; na, na, Mrs. Glibbans, we maun hae +another on the leet forbye him." + +"And wha would ye put on the leet noo, Mrs. Craig, you that's sic a +judge?" said Mrs. Glibbans, with the most ineffable +consequentiality. + +"I'll be for young Mr. Dirlton, who is baith a sappy preacher of the +word, and a substantial hand at every kind of civility." + +"Young Dirlton!--young Deevilton!" cried the orthodox Deborah of +Irvine; "a fallow that knows no more of a gospel dispensation than I +do of the Arian heresy, which I hold in utter abomination. No, Mrs. +Craig, you have a godly man for your husband--a sound and true +follower; tread ye in his footsteps, and no try to set up yoursel' +on points of doctrine. But it's time, Miss Mally, that we were +taking the road; Becky and Miss Isabella, make yourselves ready. +Noo, Mrs. Craig, ye'll no be a stranger; you see I have no been lang +of coming to give you my countenance; but, my leddy, ca' canny, it's +no easy to carry a fu' cup; ye hae gotten a great gift in your +gudeman. Mr. Craig, I wish you a good-night; I would fain have +stopped for your evening exercise, but Miss Mally was beginning, I +saw, to weary--so good-night; and, Mrs. Craig, ye'll take tent of +what I have said--it's for your gude." So exeunt Mrs. Glibbans, +Miss Mally, and the two young ladies. "Her bark's waur than her +bite," said Mrs. Craig, as she returned to her husband, who felt +already some of the ourie symptoms of a henpecked destiny. + + + +CHAPTER IX--THE MARRIAGE + + + +Mr. Snodgrass was obliged to walk into Irvine one evening, to get +rid of a raging tooth, which had tormented him for more than a week. +The operation was so delicately and cleverly performed by the +surgeon to whom he applied--one of those young medical gentlemen, +who, after having been educated for the army or navy, are obliged, +in this weak piping time of peace, to glean what practice they can +amid their native shades--that the amiable divine found himself in a +condition to call on Miss Isabella Tod. + +During this visit, Saunders Dickie, the postman, brought a London +letter to the door, for Miss Isabella; and Mr. Snodgrass having +desired the servant to inquire if there were any for him, had the +good fortune to get the following from Mr. Andrew Pringle:- + + +LETTER XXIX + + +Andrew Pringle Esq., to the Rev. Mr. Charles Snodgrass + +My Dear Friend--I never receive a letter from you without +experiencing a strong emotion of regret, that talents like yours +should be wilfully consigned to the sequestered vegetation of a +country pastor's life. But we have so often discussed this point, +that I shall only offend your delicacy if I now revert to it more +particularly. I cannot, however, but remark, that although a +private station may be the happiest, a public is the proper sphere +of virtue and talent, so clear, superior, and decided as yours. I +say this with the more confidence, as I have really, from your +letter, obtained a better conception of the queen's case, than from +all that I have been able to read and hear upon the subject in +London. The rule you lay down is excellent. Public safety is +certainly the only principle which can justify mankind in agreeing +to observe and enforce penal statutes; and, therefore, I think with +you, that unless it could be proved in a very simple manner, that it +was requisite for the public safety to institute proceedings against +the queen--her sins or indiscretions should have been allowed to +remain in the obscurity of her private circle. + +I have attended the trial several times. For a judicial proceeding, +it seems to me too long--and for a legislative, too technical. +Brougham, it is allowed, has displayed even greater talent than was +expected; but he is too sharp; he seems to me more anxious to gain a +triumph, than to establish truth. I do not like the tone of his +proceedings, while I cannot sufficiently admire his dexterity. The +style of Denman is more lofty, and impressed with stronger +lineaments of sincerity. As for their opponents, I really cannot +endure the Attorney-General as an orator; his whole mind consists, +as it were, of a number of little hands and claws--each of which +holds some scrap or portion of his subject; but you might as well +expect to get an idea of the form and character of a tree, by +looking at the fallen leaves, the fruit, the seeds, and the +blossoms, as anything like a comprehensive view of a subject, from +an intellect so constituted as that of Sir Robert Gifford. He is a +man of application, but of meagre abilities, and seems never to have +read a book of travels in his life. The Solicitor-General is +somewhat better; but he is one of those who think a certain +artificial gravity requisite to professional consequence; and which +renders him somewhat obtuse in the tact of propriety. + +Within the bar, the talent is superior to what it is without; and I +have been often delighted with the amazing fineness, if I may use +the expression, with which the Chancellor discriminates the shades +of difference in the various points on which he is called to deliver +his opinion. I consider his mind as a curiosity of no ordinary +kind. It deceives itself by its own acuteness. The edge is too +sharp; and, instead of cutting straight through, it often diverges-- +alarming his conscience with the dread of doing wrong. This +singular subtlety has the effect of impairing the reverence which +the endowments and high professional accomplishments of this great +man are otherwise calculated to inspire. His eloquence is not +effective--it touches no feeling nor affects any passion; but still +it affords wonderful displays of a lucid intellect. I can compare +it to nothing but a pencil of sunshine; in which, although one sees +countless motes flickering and fluctuating, it yet illuminates, and +steadily brings into the most satisfactory distinctness, every +object on which it directly falls. + +Lord Erskine is a character of another class, and whatever +difference of opinion may exist with respect to their professional +abilities and attainments, it will be allowed by those who contend +that Eldon is the better lawyer--that Erskine is the greater genius. +Nature herself, with a constellation in her hand, playfully +illuminates his path to the temple of reasonable justice; while +Precedence with her guide-book, and Study with a lantern, cautiously +show the road in which the Chancellor warily plods his weary way to +that of legal Equity. The sedateness of Eldon is so remarkable, +that it is difficult to conceive that he was ever young; but Erskine +cannot grow old; his spirit is still glowing and flushed with the +enthusiasm of youth. When impassioned, his voice acquires a +singularly elevated and pathetic accent; and I can easily conceive +the irresistible effect he must have had on the minds of a jury, +when he was in the vigour of his physical powers, and the case +required appeals of tenderness or generosity. As a parliamentary +orator, Earl Grey is undoubtedly his superior; but there is +something much less popular and conciliating in his manner. His +eloquence is heard to most advantage when he is contemptuous; and he +is then certainly dignified, ardent, and emphatic; but it is apt, I +should think, to impress those who hear him, for the first time, +with an idea that he is a very supercilious personage, and this +unfavourable impression is liable to be strengthened by the elegant +aristocratic languor of his appearance. + +I think that you once told me you had some knowledge of the Marquis +of Lansdowne, when he was Lord Henry Petty. I can hardly hope that, +after an interval of so many years, you will recognise him in the +following sketch:- His appearance is much more that of a Whig than +Lord Grey--stout and sturdy--but still withal gentlemanly; and there +is a pleasing simplicity, with somewhat of good-nature, in the +expression of his countenance, that renders him, in a quiescent +state, the more agreeable character of the two. He speaks +exceedingly well--clear, methodical, and argumentative; but his +eloquence, like himself, is not so graceful as it is upon the whole +manly; and there is a little tendency to verbosity in his language, +as there is to corpulency in his figure; but nothing turgid, while +it is entirely free from affectation. The character of respectable +is very legibly impressed, in everything about the mind and manner +of his lordship. I should, now that I have seen and heard him, be +astonished to hear such a man represented as capable of being +factious. + +I should say something about Lord Liverpool, not only on account of +his rank as a minister, but also on account of the talents which +have qualified him for that high situation. The greatest objection +that I have to him as a speaker, is owing to the loudness of his +voice--in other respects, what he does say is well digested. But I +do not think that he embraces his subject with so much power and +comprehension as some of his opponents; and he has evidently less +actual experience of the world. This may doubtless be attributed to +his having been almost constantly in office since he came into +public life; than which nothing is more detrimental to the unfolding +of natural ability, while it induces a sort of artificial talent, +connected with forms and technicalities, which, though useful in +business, is but of minor consequence in a comparative estimate of +moral and intellectual qualities. I am told that in his manner he +resembles Mr. Pitt; be this, however, as it may, he is evidently a +speaker, formed more by habit and imitation, than one whom nature +prompts to be eloquent. He lacks that occasional accent of passion, +the melody of oratory; and I doubt if, on any occasion, he could at +all approximate to that magnificent intrepidity which was admired as +one of the noblest characteristics of his master's style. + +But all the display of learning and eloquence, and intellectual +power and majesty of the House of Lords, shrinks into insignificance +when compared with the moral attitude which the people have taken on +this occasion. You know how much I have ever admired the attributes +of the English national character--that boundless generosity, which +can only be compared to the impartial benevolence of the sunshine-- +that heroic magnanimity, which makes the hand ever ready to succour +a fallen foe; and that sublime courage, which rises with the energy +of a conflagration roused by a tempest, at every insult or menace of +an enemy. The compassionate interest taken by the populace in the +future condition of the queen is worthy of this extraordinary +people. There may be many among them actuated by what is called the +radical spirit; but malignity alone would dare to ascribe the +bravery of their compassion to a less noble feeling than that which +has placed the kingdom so proudly in the van of all modern nations. +There may be an amiable delusion, as my Lord Castlereagh has said, +in the popular sentiments with respect to the queen. Upon that, as +upon her case, I offer no opinion. It is enough for me to have +seen, with the admiration of a worshipper, the manner in which the +multitude have espoused her cause. + +But my paper is filled, and I must conclude. I should, however, +mention that my sister's marriage is appointed to take place to- +morrow, and that I accompany the happy pair to France.--Yours truly, +ANDREW PRINGLE. + + +"This is a dry letter," said Mr. Snodgrass, and he handed it to Miss +Isabella, who, in exchange, presented the one which she had herself +at the same time received; but just as Mr. Snodgrass was on the +point of reading it, Miss Becky Glibbans was announced. "How lucky +this is," exclaimed Miss Becky, "to find you both thegither! Now +you maun tell me all the particulars; for Miss Mally Glencairn is no +in, and her letter lies unopened. I am just gasping to hear how +Rachel conducted herself at being married in the kirk before all the +folk--married to the hussar captain, too, after all! who would have +thought it?" + +"How, have you heard of the marriage already?" said Miss Isabella. +"Oh, it's in the newspapers," replied the amiable inquisitant,-- +"Like ony tailor or weaver's--a' weddings maun nowadays gang into +the papers. The whole toun, by this time, has got it; and I wouldna +wonder if Rachel Pringle's marriage ding the queen's divorce out of +folk's heads for the next nine days to come. But only to think of +her being married in a public kirk. Surely her father would never +submit to hae't done by a bishop? And then to put it in the London +paper, as if Rachel Pringle had been somebody of distinction. +Perhaps it might have been more to the purpose, considering what +dragoon officers are, if she had got the doited Doctor, her father, +to publish the intended marriage in the papers beforehand." + +"Haud that condumacious tongue of yours," cried a voice, panting +with haste as the door opened, and Mrs. Glibbans entered. "Becky, +will you never devawl wi' your backbiting. I wonder frae whom the +misleart lassie takes a' this passion of clashing." + +The authority of her parent's tongue silenced Miss Becky, and Mrs. +Glibbans having seated herself, continued,--"Is it your opinion, Mr. +Snodgrass, that this marriage can hold good, contracted, as I am +told it is mentioned in the papers to hae been, at the horns of the +altar of Episcopalian apostacy?" + +"I can set you right as to that," said Miss Isabella. "Rachel +mentions, that, after returning from the church, the Doctor himself +performed the ceremony anew, according to the Presbyterian usage." +"I am glad to heart, very glad indeed," said Mrs. Glibbans. "It +would have been a judgment-like thing, had a bairn of Dr. Pringle's- +-than whom, although there may be abler, there is not a sounder man +in a' the West of Scotland--been sacrificed to Moloch, like the +victims of prelatic idolatry." + +At this juncture, Miss Mally Glencairn was announced: she entered, +holding a letter from Mrs. Pringle in her hand, with the seal +unbroken. Having heard of the marriage from an acquaintance in the +street, she had hurried home, in the well-founded expectation of +hearing from her friend and well-wisher, and taking up the letter, +which she found on her table, came with all speed to Miss Isabella +Tod to commune with her on the tidings. + +Never was any confluence of visitors more remarkable than on this +occasion. Before Miss Mally had well explained the cause of her +abrupt intrusion, Mr. Micklewham made his appearance. He had come +to Irvine to be measured for a new coat, and meeting by accident +with Saunders Dickie, got the Doctor's letter from him, which, after +reading, he thought he could do no less than call at Mrs. Tod's, to +let Miss Isabella know the change which had taken place in the +condition of her friend. + +Thus were all the correspondents of the Pringles assembled, by the +merest chance, like the dramatis personae at the end of a play. +After a little harmless bantering, it was agreed that Miss Mally +should read her communication first--as all the others were +previously acquainted with the contents of their respective letters, +and Miss Mally read as follows:- + + +LETTER XXX + + +Mrs. Pringle to Miss Mally Glencairn + +Dear Miss Mally--I hav a cro to pik with you conserning yoor +comishon aboot the partickels for your friends. You can hav no +noshon what the Doctor and me suffert on the head of the flooring +shrubs. We took your Nota Beny as it was spilt, and went from shop +to shop enquirin in a most partiklar manner for "a Gardner's Bell, +or the least of all flowering plants"; but sorrow a gardner in the +whole tot here in London ever had heard of sic a thing; so we gave +the porshoot up in despare. Howsomever, one of Andrew's +acquaintance--a decent lad, who is only son to a saddler in a been +way, that keeps his own carriage, and his son a coryikel, happent to +call, and the Doctor told him what ill socsess we had in our serch +for the gardner's bell; upon which he sought a sight of your +yepissle, and read it as a thing that was just wonderful for its +whorsogroffie; and then he sayid, that looking at the prinsipol of +your spilling, he thought we should reed, "a gardner's bill, or a +list of all flooring plants"; whilk being no doot your intent, I +have proqurt the same, and it is included heerin. But, Miss Mally, +I would advize you to be more exac in your inditing, that no sic +torbolashon may hippen on a future okashon. + +What I hav to say for the present is, that you will, by a smak, get +a bocks of kumoddities, whilk you will destraboot as derekit on +every on of them, and you will before have resievit by the post- +offis, an account of what has been don. I need say no forther at +this time, knowin your discreshon and prooduns, septs that our +Rachel and Captain Sabor will, if it pleese the Lord, be off to +Parish, by way of Bryton, as man and wife, the morn's morning. What +her father the Doctor gives for tocher, what is settlt on her for +jontor, I will tell you all aboot when we meet; for it's our dishire +noo to lose no tim in retorning to the manse, this being the last of +our diplomaticals in London, where we have found the Argents a most +discrit family, payin to the last farding the Cornal's legacy, and +most seevil, and well bred to us. + +As I am naterally gretly okypt with this matteromoneal afair, you +cannot expect ony news; but the queen is going on with a dreadful +rat, by which the pesents hav falen more than a whole entirr pesent. +I wish our fonds were well oot of them, and in yird and stane, which +is a constansie. But what is to become of the poor donsie woman, no +one can expound. Some think she will be pot in the Toor of London, +and her head chappit off; others think she will raise sic a +stramash, that she will send the whole government into the air, like +peelings of ingons, by a gunpoother plot. But it's my opinion, and +I have weighed the matter well in my understanding, that she will +hav to fight with sword in hand, be she ill, or be she good. How +els can she hop to get the better of more than two hundred lords, as +the Doctor, who has seen them, tells me, with princes of the blood- +royal, and the prelatic bishops, whom, I need not tell you, are the +worst of all. + +But the thing I grudge most, is to be so long in Lundon, and no to +see the king. Is it not a hard thing to come to London, and no to +see the king? I am not pleesed with him, I assure you, becose he +does not set himself out to public view, like ony other curiosity, +but stays in his palis, they say, like one of the anshent wooden +images of idolatry, the which is a great peety, he beeing, as I am +told, a beautiful man, and more the gentleman than all the coortiers +of his court. + +The Doctor has been minting to me that there is an address from +Irvine to the queen; and he, being so near a neighbour to your toun, +has been thinking to pay his respecs with it, to see her near at +hand. But I will say nothing; he may take his own way in matters of +gospel and spiritualety; yet I have my scroopols of conshence, how +this may not turn out a rebellyon against the king; and I would hav +him to sift and see who are at the address, before he pits his han +to it. For, if it's a radikol job, as I jealoos it is, what will +the Doctor then say? who is an orthodox man, as the world nose. + +In the maitre of our dumesticks, no new axsident has cast up; but I +have seen such a wonder as could not have been forethocht. Having a +washin, I went down to see how the lassies were doing; but judge of +my feelings, when I saw them triomphing on the top of pattons, +standing upright before the boyns on chairs, rubbin the clothes to +juggins between their hands, above the sapples, with their gouns and +stays on, and round-cared mutches. What would you think of such a +miracle at the washing-house in the Goffields, or the Gallows-knows +of Irvine? The cook, howsomever, has shown me a way to make rice- +puddings without eggs, by putting in a bit of shoohet, which is as +good--and this you will tell Miss Nanny Eydent; likewise, that the +most fashionable way of boiling green pis, is to pit a blade of +spearmint in the pot, which gives a fine flavour. But this is a +long letter, and my pepper is done; so no more, but remains your +friend and well-wisher, JANET PRINGLE. + + +"A great legacy, and her dochtir married, in ae journey to London, +is doing business," said Mrs. Glibbans, with a sigh, as she looked +to her only get, Miss Becky; "but the Lord's will is to be done in +a' thing;--sooner or later something of the same kind will come, I +trust, to all our families." "Ay," replied Miss Mally Glencairn, +"marriage is like death--it's what we are a' to come to." + +"I have my doubts of that," said Miss Becky with a sneer. "Ye have +been lang spair't from it, Miss Mally." + +"Ye're a spiteful puddock; and if the men hae the e'en and lugs they +used to hae, gude pity him whose lot is cast with thine, Becky +Glibbans," replied the elderly maiden ornament of the Kirkgate, +somewhat tartly. + +Here Mr. Snodgrass interposed, and said, he would read to them the +letter which Miss Isabella had received from the bride; and without +waiting for their concurrence, opened and read as follows:- + + +LETTER XXXI + + +Mrs. Sabre to Miss Isabella Tod + +My Dearest Bell--Rachel Pringle is no more! My heart flutters as I +write the fatal words. This morning, at nine o'clock precisely, she +was conducted in bridal array to the new church of Mary-le-bone; and +there, with ring and book, sacrificed to the Minotaur, Matrimony, +who devours so many of our bravest youths and fairest maidens. + +My mind is too agitated to allow me to describe the scene. The +office of handmaid to the victim, which, in our young simplicity, we +had fondly thought one of us would perform for the other, was +gracefully sustained by Miss Argent. + +On returning from church to my father's residence in Baker Street, +where we breakfasted, he declared himself not satisfied with the +formalities of the English ritual, and obliged us to undergo a +second ceremony from himself, according to the wonted forms of the +Scottish Church. All the advantages and pleasures of which, my dear +Bell, I hope you will soon enjoy. + +But I have no time to enter into particulars. The captain and his +lady, by themselves, in their own carriage, set off for Brighton in +the course of less than an hour. On Friday they are to be followed +by a large party of their friends and relations; and, after spending +a few days in that emporium of salt-water pleasures, they embark, +accompanied with their beloved brother, Mr. Andrew Pringle, for +Paris; where they are afterwards to be joined by the Argents. It is +our intention to remain about a month in the French capital; whether +we shall extend our tour, will depend on subsequent circumstances: +in the meantime, however, you will hear frequently from me. + +My mother, who has a thousand times during these important +transactions wished for the assistance of Nanny Eydent, transmits to +Miss Mally Glencairn a box containing all the requisite bridal +recognisances for our Irvine friends. I need not say that the best +is for the faithful companion of my happiest years. As I had made a +vow in my heart that Becky Glibbans should never wear gloves for my +marriage, I was averse to sending her any at all, but my mother +insisted that no exceptions should be made. I secretly took care, +however, to mark a pair for her, so much too large, that I am sure +she will never put them on. The asp will be not a little vexed at +the disappointment. Adieu for a time, and believe that, although +your affectionate Rachel Pringle be gone that way in which she hopes +you will soon follow, one not less sincerely attached to you, though +it be the first time she has so subscribed herself, remains in +RACHEL SABRE. + + +Before the ladies had time to say a word on the subject, the prudent +young clergyman called immediately on Mr. Micklewham to read the +letter which he had received from the Doctor; and which the worthy +dominie did without delay, in that rich and full voice with which he +is accustomed to teach his scholars elocution by example. + + +LETTER XXXII + + +The Rev. Z. Pringle, D.D., to Mr. Micklewham, Schoolmaster and +Session-Clerk, Garnock--LONDON. + +Dear Sir--I have been much longer of replying to your letter of the +3rd of last month, than I ought in civility to have been, but really +time, in this town of London, runs at a fast rate, and the day +passes before the dark's done. What with Mrs. Pringle and her +daughter's concernments, anent the marriage to Captain Sabre, and +the trouble I felt myself obliged to take in the queen's affair, I +assure you, Mr. Micklewham, that it's no to be expressed how I have +been occupied for the last four weeks. But all things must come to +a conclusion in this world. Rachel Pringle is married, and the +queen's weary trial is brought to an end--upon the subject and +motion of the same, I offer no opinion, for I made it a point never +to read the evidence, being resolved to stand by THE WORD from the +first, which is clearly and plainly written in the queen's favour, +and it does not do in a case of conscience to stand on trifles; +putting, therefore, out of consideration the fact libelled, and +looking both at the head and the tail of the proceeding, I was of a +firm persuasion, that all the sculduddery of the business might have +been well spared from the eye of the public, which is of itself +sufficiently prone to keek and kook, in every possible way, for a +glimpse of a black story; and, therefore, I thought it my duty to +stand up in all places against the trafficking that was attempted +with a divine institution. And I think, when my people read how +their prelatic enemies, the bishops (the heavens defend the poor +Church of Scotland from being subjected to the weight of their +paws), have been visited with a constipation of the understanding on +that point, it must to them be a great satisfaction to know how +clear and collected their minister was on this fundamental of +society. For it has turned out, as I said to Mrs. Pringle, as well +as others, it would do, that a sense of grace and religion would be +manifested in some quarter before all was done, by which the devices +for an unsanctified repudiation or divorce would be set at nought. + +As often as I could, deeming it my duty as a minister of the word +and gospel, I got into the House of Lords, and heard the trial; and +I cannot think how ever it was expected that justice could be done +yonder; for although no man could be more attentive than I was, +every time I came away I was more confounded than when I went; and +when the trial was done, it seemed to me just to be clearing up for +a proper beginning--all which is a proof that there was a foul +conspiracy. Indeed, when I saw Duke Hamilton's daughter coming out +of the coach with the queen, I never could think after, that a lady +of her degree would have countenanced the queen had the matter laid +to her charge been as it was said. Not but in any circumstance it +behoved a lady of that ancient and royal blood, to be seen beside +the queen in such a great historical case as a trial. + +I hope, in the part I have taken, my people will be satisfied; but +whether they are satisfied or not, my own conscience is content with +me. I was in the House of Lords when her majesty came down for the +last time, and saw her handed up the stairs by the usher of the +black-rod, a little stumpy man, wonderful particular about the rules +of the House, insomuch that he was almost angry with me for stopping +at the stair-head. The afflicted woman was then in great spirits, +and I saw no symptoms of the swelled legs that Lord Lauderdale, that +jooking man, spoke about, for she skippit up the steps like a +lassie. But my heart was wae for her when all was over, for she +came out like an astonished creature, with a wild steadfast look, +and a sort of something in the face that was as if the rational +spirit had fled away; and she went down to her coach as if she had +submitted to be led to a doleful destiny. Then the shouting of the +people began, and I saw and shouted too in spite of my decorum, +which I marvel at sometimes, thinking it could be nothing less than +an involuntary testification of the spirit within me. + +Anent the marriage of Rachel Pringle, it may be needful in me to +state, for the satisfaction of my people, that although by stress of +law we were obligated to conform to the practice of the +Episcopalians, by taking out a bishop's license, and going to their +church, and vowing, in a pagan fashion, before their altars, which +are an abomination to the Lord; yet, when the young folk came home, +I made them stand up, and be married again before me, according to +all regular marriages in our national Church. For this I had two +reasons: first, to satisfy myself that there had been a true and +real marriage; and, secondly, to remove the doubt of the former +ceremony being sufficient; for marriage being of divine appointment, +and the English form and ritual being a thing established by Act of +Parliament, which is of human ordination, I was not sure that +marriage performed according to a human enactment could be a +fulfilment of a divine ordinance. I therefore hope that my people +will approve what I have done; and in order that there may be a +sympathising with me, you will go over to Banker M-y, and get what +he will give you, as ordered by me, and distribute it among the +poorest of the parish, according to the best of your discretion, my +long absence having taken from me the power of judgment in a matter +of this sort. I wish indeed for the glad sympathy of my people, for +I think that our Saviour turning water into wine at the wedding, was +an example set that we should rejoice and be merry at the fulfilment +of one of the great obligations imposed on us as social creatures; +and I have ever regarded the unhonoured treatment of a marriage +occasion as a thing of evil bodement, betokening heavy hearts and +light purses to the lot of the bride and bridegroom. You will hear +more from me by and by; in the meantime, all I can say is, that when +we have taken our leave of the young folks, who are going to France, +it is Mrs. Pringle's intent, as well as mine, to turn our horses' +heads northward, and make our way with what speed we can, for our +own quiet home, among you. So no more at present from your friend +and pastor, + +Z. PRINGLE. + + +Mrs. Tod, the mother of Miss Isabella, a respectable widow lady, who +had quiescently joined the company, proposed that they should now +drink health, happiness, and all manner of prosperity, to the young +couple; and that nothing might be wanting to secure the favourable +auspices of good omens to the toast, she desired Miss Isabella to +draw fresh bottles of white and red. When all manner of felicity +was duly wished in wine to the captain and his lady, the party rose +to seek their respective homes. But a bustle at the street-door +occasioned a pause. Mrs. Tod inquired the matter; and three or four +voices at once replied, that an express had come from Garnock for +Nanse Swaddle the midwife, Mrs. Craig being taken with her pains. +"Mr. Snodgrass," said Mrs. Glibbans, instantly and emphatically, "ye +maun let me go with you, and we can spiritualise on the road; for I +hae promis't Mrs. Craig to be wi' her at the crying, to see the +upshot--so I hope you will come awa." + +It would be impossible in us to suppose, that Mr. Snodgrass had any +objections to spiritualise with Mrs. Glibbans on the road between +Irvine and Garnock; but, notwithstanding her urgency, he excused +himself from going with her; however, he recommended her to the +special care and protection of Mr. Micklewham, who was at that time +on his legs to return home. "Oh! Mr. Snodgrass," said the lady, +looking slyly, as she adjusted her cloak, at him and Miss Isabella, +"there will be marrying and giving in marriage till the day of +judgment." And with these oracular words she took her departure. + + + +CHAPTER X--THE RETURN + + + +On Friday, Miss Mally Glencairn received a brief note from Mrs. +Pringle, informing her, that she and the Doctor would reach the +manse, "God willing," in time for tea on Saturday; and begging her, +therefore, to go over from Irvine, and see that the house was in +order for their reception. This note was written from Glasgow, +where they had arrived, in their own carriage, from Carlisle on the +preceding day, after encountering, as Mrs. Pringle said, "more +hardships and extorshoning than all the dangers of the sea which +they met with in the smack of Leith that took them to London." + +As soon as Miss Mally received this intelligence, she went to Miss +Isabella Tod, and requested her company for the next day to Garnock, +where they arrived betimes to dine with Mr. Snodgrass. Mrs. +Glibbans and her daughter Becky were then on a consolatory visit to +Mr. Craig. We mentioned in the last chapter, that the crying of +Mrs. Craig had come on; and that Mrs. Glibbans, according to +promise, and with the most anxious solicitude, had gone to wait the +upshot. The upshot was most melancholy,--Mrs. Craig was soon no +more;--she was taken, as Mrs. Glibbans observed on the occasion, +from the earthly arms of her husband, to the spiritual bosom of +Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which was far better. But the baby +survived; so that, what with getting a nurse, and the burial, and +all the work and handling that a birth and death in one house at the +same time causes, Mr. Craig declared, that he could not do without +Mrs. Glibbans; and she, with all that Christianity by which she was +so zealously distinguished, sent for Miss Becky, and took up her +abode with him till it would please Him, without whom there is no +comfort, to wipe the eyes of the pious elder. In a word, she staid +so long, that a rumour began to spread that Mr. Craig would need a +wife to look after his bairn; and that Mrs. Glibbans was destined to +supply the desideratum. + +Mr. Snodgrass, after enjoying his dinner society with Miss Mally and +Miss Isabella, thought it necessary to dispatch a courier, in the +shape of a barefooted servant lass, to Mr. Micklewham, to inform the +elders that the Doctor was expected home in time for tea, leaving it +to their discretion either to greet his safe return at the manse, or +in any other form or manner that would be most agreeable to +themselves. These important news were soon diffused through the +clachan. Mr. Micklewham dismissed his school an hour before the +wonted time, and there was a universal interest and curiosity +excited, to see the Doctor coming home in his own coach. All the +boys of Garnock assembled at the braehead which commands an +extensive view of the Kilmarnock road, the only one from Glasgow +that runs through the parish; the wives with their sucklings were +seated on the large stones at their respective door-cheeks; while +their cats were calmly reclining on the window soles. The lassie +weans, like clustering bees, were mounted on the carts that stood +before Thomas Birlpenny the vintner's door, churming with +anticipated delight; the old men took their stations on the dike +that incloses the side of the vintner's kail-yard, and "a batch of +wabster lads," with green aprons and thin yellow faces, planted +themselves at the gable of the malt kiln, where they were wont, when +trade was better, to play at the hand-ball; but, poor fellows, since +the trade fell off, they have had no heart for the game, and the +vintner's half-mutchkin stoups glitter in empty splendour unrequired +on the shelf below the brazen sconce above the bracepiece, amidst +the idle pewter pepper-boxes, the bright copper tea-kettle, the +coffee-pot that has never been in use, and lids of saucepans that +have survived their principals,--the wonted ornaments of every trig +change-house kitchen. + +The season was far advanced; but the sun shone at his setting with a +glorious composure, and the birds in the hedges and on the boughs +were again gladdened into song. The leaves had fallen thickly, and +the stubble-fields were bare, but Autumn, in a many-coloured tartan +plaid, was seen still walking with matronly composure in the +woodlands, along the brow of the neighbouring hills. + +About half-past four o'clock, a movement was seen among the callans +at the braehead, and a shout announced that a carriage was in sight. +It was answered by a murmuring response of satisfaction from the +whole village. In the course of a few minutes the carriage reached +the turnpike--it was of the darkest green and the gravest fashion,-- +a large trunk, covered with Russian matting, and fastened on with +cords, prevented from chafing it by knots of straw rope, occupied +the front,--behind, other two were fixed in the same manner, the +lesser of course uppermost; and deep beyond a pile of light bundles +and bandboxes, that occupied a large portion of the interior, the +blithe faces of the Doctor and Mrs. Pringle were discovered. The +boys huzzaed, the Doctor flung them penny-pieces, and the mistress +baubees. + +As the carriage drove along, the old men on the dike stood up and +reverently took off their hats and bonnets. The weaver lads gazed +with a melancholy smile; the lassies on the carts clapped their +hands with joy; the women on both sides of the street acknowledged +the recognising nods; while all the village dogs, surprised by the +sound of chariot wheels, came baying and barking forth, and sent off +the cats that were so doucely sitting on the window soles, +clambering and scampering over the roofs in terror of their lives. + +When the carriage reached the manse door, Mr. Snodgrass, the two +ladies, with Mr. Micklewham, and all the elders except Mr. Craig, +were there ready to receive the travellers. But over this joy of +welcoming we must draw a veil; for the first thing that the Doctor +did, on entering the parlour and before sitting down, was to return +thanks for his safe restoration to his home and people. + +The carriage was then unloaded, and as package, bale, box, and +bundle were successively brought in, Miss Mally Glencairn expressed +her admiration at the great capacity of the chaise. "Ay," said Mrs. +Pringle, "but you know not what we have suffert for't in coming +through among the English taverns on the road; some of them would +not take us forward when there was a hill to pass, unless we would +take four horses, and every one after another reviled us for having +no mercy in loading the carriage like a waggon,--and then the +drivers were so gleg and impudent, that it was worse than martyrdom +to come with them. Had the Doctor taken my advice, he would have +brought our own civil London coachman, whom we hired with his own +horses by the job; but he said it behoved us to gi'e our ain fish +guts to our ain sea-maws, and that he designed to fee Thomas +Birlpenny's hostler for our coachman, being a lad of the parish. +This obliged us to post it from London; but, oh! Miss Mally, what an +outlay it has been!" + +The Doctor, in the meantime, had entered into conversation with the +gentlemen, and was inquiring, in the most particular manner, +respecting all his parishioners, and expressing his surprise that +Mr. Craig had not been at the manse with the rest of the elders. +"It does not look well," said the Doctor. Mr. Daff, however, +offered the best apology for his absence that could be made. "He +has had a gentle dispensation, sir--Mrs. Craig has won awa' out of +this sinful world, poor woman, she had a large experience o't; but +the bairns to the fore, and Mrs. Glibbans, that has such a cast of +grace, has ta'en charge of the house since before the interment. +It's thought, considering what's by gane, Mr. Craig may do waur than +make her mistress, and I hope, sir, your exhortation will no be +wanting to egg the honest man to think o't seriously." + +Mr. Snodgrass, before delivering the household keys, ordered two +bottles of wine, with glasses and biscuit, to be set upon the table, +while Mrs. Pringle produced from a paper package, that had helped to +stuff one of the pockets of the carriage, a piece of rich plum-cake, +brought all the way from a confectioner's in Cockspur Street, +London, not only for the purpose of being eaten, but, as she said, +to let Miss Nanny Eydent pree, in order to direct the Irvine bakers +how to bake others like it. + +Tea was then brought in; and, as it was making, the Doctor talked +aside to the elders, while Mrs. Pringle recounted to Miss Mally and +Miss Isabella the different incidents of her adventures subsequent +to the marriage of Miss Rachel. + +"The young folk," said she, "having gone to Brighton, we followed +them in a few days, for we were told it was a curiosity, and that +the king has a palace there, just a warld's wonder! and, truly, Miss +Mally, it is certainly not like a house for a creature of this +world, but for some Grand Turk or Chinaman. The Doctor said, it put +him in mind of Miss Jenny Macbride's sideboard in the Stockwell of +Glasgow; where all the pepper-boxes, poories, and teapots, punch- +bowls, and china-candlesticks of her progenitors are set out for a +show, that tells her visitors, they are but seldom put to use. As +for the town of Brighton, it's what I would call a gawky piece of +London. I could see nothing in it but a wheen idlers, hearing twa +lads, at night, crying, "Five, six, seven for a shilling," in the +booksellers' shops, with a play-actor lady singing in a corner, +because her voice would not do for the players' stage. Therefore, +having seen the Captain and Mrs. Sabre off to France, we came home +to London; but it's not to be told what we had to pay at the hotel +where we staid in Brighton. Howsomever, having come back to London, +we settled our counts,--and, buying a few necessars, we prepared for +Scotland,--and here we are. But travelling has surely a fine effect +in enlarging the understanding; for both the Doctor and me thought, +as we came along, that everything had a smaller and poorer look than +when we went away; and I dinna think this room is just what it used +to be. What think ye o't, Miss Isabella? How would ye like to +spend your days in't?" + +Miss Isabella reddened at this question; but Mrs. Pringle, who was +as prudent as she was observant, affecting not to notice this, +turned round to Miss Mally Glencairn, and said softly in her ear,-- +"Rachel was Bell's confidante, and has told us all about what's +going on between her and Mr. Snodgrass. We have agreed no to stand +in their way, as soon as the Doctor can get a mailing or two to +secure his money upon." + +Meantime, the Doctor received from the elders a very satisfactory +account of all that had happened among his people, both in and out +of the Session, during his absence; and he was vastly pleased to +find there had been no inordinate increase of wickedness; at the +same time, he was grieved for the condition in which the poor +weavers still continued, saying, that among other things of which he +had been of late meditating, was the setting up of a lending bank in +the parish for the labouring classes, where, when they were out of +work, "bits of loans for a house-rent, or a brat of claes, or sic +like, might be granted, to be repaid when trade grew better, and +thereby take away the objection that an honest pride had to +receiving help from the Session." + +Then some lighter general conversation ensued, in which the Doctor +gave his worthy counsellors a very jocose description of many of the +lesser sort of adventures which he had met with; and the ladies +having retired to inspect the great bargains that Mrs. Pringle had +got, and the splendid additions she had made to her wardrobe, out of +what she denominated the dividends of the present portion of the +legacy, the Doctor ordered in the second biggest toddy-bowl, the +guardevine with the old rum, and told the lassie to see if the tea- +kettle was still boiling. "Ye maun drink our welcome hame," said he +to the elders; "it would nae otherwise be canny. But I'm sorry Mr. +Craig has nae come." At these words the door opened, and the absent +elder entered, with a long face and a deep sigh. "Ha!" cried Mr. +Daff, "this is very droll. Speak of the Evil One, and he'll +appear";--which words dinted on the heart of Mr. Craig, who thought +his marriage in December had been the subject of their discourse. +The Doctor, however, went up and shook him cordially by the hand, +and said, "Now I take this very kind, Mr. Craig; for I could not +have expected you, considering ye have got, as I am told, your jo in +the house"; at which words the Doctor winked paukily to Mr. Daff, +who rubbed his hands with fainness, and gave a good-humoured sort of +keckling laugh. This facetious stroke of policy was a great relief +to the afflicted elder, for he saw by it that the Doctor did not +mean to trouble him with any inquiries respecting his deceased wife; +and, in consequence, he put on a blither face, and really affected +to have forgotten her already more than he had done in sincerity. + +Thus the night passed in decent temperance and a happy decorum; +insomuch, that the elders when they went away, either by the +influence of the toddy-bowl, or the Doctor's funny stories about the +Englishers, declared that he was an excellent man, and, being none +lifted up, was worthy of his rich legacy. + +At supper, the party, besides the minister and Mrs. Pringle, +consisted of the two Irvine ladies, and Mr. Snodgrass. Miss Becky +Glibbans came in when it was about half over, to express her +mother's sorrow at not being able to call that night, "Mr. Craig's +bairn having taken an ill turn." The truth, however, was, that the +worthy elder had been rendered somewhat tozy by the minister's +toddy, and wanted an opportunity to inform the old lady of the joke +that had been played upon him by the Doctor calling her his jo, and +to see how she would relish it. So by a little address Miss Becky +was sent out of the way, with the excuse we have noticed; at the +same time, as the night was rather sharp, it is not to be supposed +that she would have been the bearer of any such message, had her own +curiosity not enticed her. + +During supper the conversation was very lively. Many "pickant +jokes," as Miss Becky described them, were cracked by the Doctor; +but, soon after the table was cleared, he touched Mr. Snodgrass on +the arm, and, taking up one of the candles, went with him to his +study, where he then told him, that Rachel Pringle, now Mrs. Sabre, +had informed him of a way in which he could do him a service. "I +understand, sir," said the Doctor, "that you have a notion of Miss +Bell Tod, but that until ye get a kirk there can be no marriage. +But the auld horse may die waiting for the new grass; and, +therefore, as the Lord has put it in my power to do a good action +both to you and my people,--whom I am glad to hear you have pleased +so well,--if it can be brought about that you could be made helper +and successor, I'll no object to give up to you the whole stipend, +and, by and by, maybe the manse to the bargain. But that is if you +marry Miss Bell; for it was a promise that Rachel gar't me make to +her on her wedding morning. Ye know she was a forcasting lassie, +and, I have reason to believe, has said nothing anent this to Miss +Bell herself; so that if you have no partiality for Miss Bell, +things will just rest on their own footing; but if you have a +notion, it must be a satisfaction to you to know this, as it will be +a pleasure to me to carry it as soon as possible into effect." + +Mr. Snodgrass was a good deal agitated; he was taken by surprise, +and without words the Doctor might have guessed his sentiments; he, +however, frankly confessed that he did entertain a very high opinion +of Miss Bell, but that he was not sure if a country parish would +exactly suit him. "Never mind that," said the Doctor; "if it does +not fit at first, you will get used to it; and if a better casts up, +it will be no obstacle." + +The two gentlemen then rejoined the ladies, and, after a short +conversation, Miss Becky Glibbans was admonished to depart, by the +servants bringing in the Bibles for the worship of the evening. +This was usually performed before supper, but, owing to the bowl +being on the table, and the company jocose, it had been postponed +till all the guests who were not to sleep in the house had departed. + +The Sunday morning was fine and bright for the season; the +hoarfrost, till about an hour after sunrise, lay white on the grass +and tombstones in the churchyard; but before the bell rung for the +congregation to assemble, it was exhaled away, and a freshness, that +was only known to be autumnal by the fallen and yellow leaves that +strewed the church-way path from the ash and plane trees in the +avenue, encouraged the spirits to sympathise with the universal +cheerfulness of all nature. + +The return of the Doctor had been bruited through the parish with so +much expedition, that, when the bell rung for public worship, none +of those who were in the practice of stopping in the churchyard to +talk about the weather were so ignorant as not to have heard of this +important fact. In consequence, before the time at which the Doctor +was wont to come from the back-gate which opened from the manse- +garden into the churchyard, a great majority of his people were +assembled to receive him. + +At the last jingle of the bell, the back-gate was usually opened, +and the Doctor was wont to come forth as punctually as a cuckoo of a +clock at the striking of the hour; but a deviation was observed on +this occasion. Formerly, Mrs. Pringle and the rest of the family +came first, and a few minutes were allowed to elapse before the +Doctor, laden with grace, made his appearance. But at this time, +either because it had been settled that Mr. Snodgrass was to +officiate, or for some other reason, there was a breach in the +observance of this time-honoured custom. + +As the ringing of the bell ceased, the gate unclosed, and the Doctor +came forth. He was of that easy sort of feather-bed corpulency of +form that betokens good-nature, and had none of that smooth, red, +well-filled protuberancy, which indicates a choleric humour and a +testy temper. He was in fact what Mrs. Glibbans denominated "a man +of a gausy external." And some little change had taken place during +his absence in his visible equipage. His stockings, which were wont +to be of worsted, had undergone a translation into silk; his waist- +coat, instead--of the venerable Presbyterian flap-covers to the +pockets, which were of Johnsonian magnitude, was become plain--his +coat in all times single-breasted, with no collar, still, however, +maintained its ancient characteristics; instead, however, of the +former bright black cast horn, the buttons were covered with cloth. +But the chief alteration was discernible in the furniture of the +head. He had exchanged the simplicity of his own respectable grey +hairs for the cauliflower hoariness of a PARRISH {3} wig, on which +he wore a broad-brimmed hat, turned up a little at each side behind, +in a portentous manner, indicatory of Episcopalian predilections. +This, however, was not justified by any alteration in his +principles, being merely an innocent variation of fashion, the +natural result of a Doctor of Divinity buying a hat and wig in +London. + +The moment that the Doctor made his appearance, his greeting and +salutation was quite delightful; it was that of a father returned to +his children, and a king to his people. + +Almost immediately after the Doctor, Mrs. Pringle, followed by Miss +Mally Glencairn and Miss Isabella Tod, also debouched from the gate, +and the assembled females remarked, with no less instinct, the +transmutation which she had undergone. She was dressed in a dark +blue cloth pelisse, trimmed with a dyed fur, which, as she told Miss +Mally, "looked quite as well as sable, without costing a third of +the money." A most matronly muff, that, without being of sable, was +of an excellent quality, contained her hands; and a very large +Leghorn straw bonnet, decorated richly, but far from excess, with a +most substantial band and bow of a broad crimson satin ribbon around +her head. + +If the Doctor was gratified to see his people so gladly thronging +around him, Mrs. Pringle had no less pleasure also in her thrice- +welcome reception. It was an understood thing, that she had been +mainly instrumental in enabling the minister to get his great Indian +legacy; and in whatever estimation she may have been previously held +for her economy and management, she was now looked up to as a +personage skilled in the law, and particularly versed in +testamentary erudition. Accordingly, in the customary testimonials +of homage with which she was saluted in her passage to the church +door, there was evidently a sentiment of veneration mingled, such as +had never been evinced before, and which was neither unobserved nor +unappreciated by that acute and perspicacious lady. + +The Doctor himself did not preach, but sat in the minister's pew +till Mr. Snodgrass had concluded an eloquent and truly an affecting +sermon; at the end of which, the Doctor rose and went up into the +pulpit, where he publicly returned thanks for the favours and +blessings he had obtained during his absence, and for the safety in +which he had been restored, after many dangers and tribulations, to +the affections of his parishioners. + +Such were the principal circumstances that marked the return of the +family. In the course of the week after, the estate of Moneypennies +being for sale, it was bought for the Doctor as a great bargain. It +was not, however, on account of the advantageous nature of the +purchase that our friend valued this acquisition, but entirely +because it was situated in his own parish, and part of the lands +marching with the Glebe. + +The previous owner of Moneypennies had built an elegant house on the +estate, to which Mrs. Pringle is at present actively preparing to +remove from the manse; and it is understood, that, as Mr. Snodgrass +was last week declared helper, and successor to the Doctor, his +marriage with Miss Isabella Tod will take place with all convenient +expedition. There is also reason to believe, that, as soon as +decorum will permit, any scruple which Mrs. Glibbans had to a second +marriage is now removed, and that she will soon again grace the +happy circle of wives by the name of Mrs. Craig. Indeed, we are +assured that Miss Nanny Eydent is actually at this time employed in +making up her wedding garments; for, last week, that worthy and +respectable young person was known to have visited Bailie Delap's +shop, at a very early hour in the morning, and to have priced many +things of a bridal character, besides getting swatches; after which +she was seen to go to Mrs. Glibbans's house, where she remained a +very considerable time, and to return straight therefrom to the +shop, and purchase divers of the articles which she had priced and +inspected; all of which constitute sufficient grounds for the +general opinion in Irvine, that the union of Mr. Craig with Mrs. +Glibbans is a happy event drawing near to consummation. + + + +Footnotes: + +{1} The administration of the Sacrament. + +{2} The honest Doctor's version of this bon mot of her majesty is +not quite correct; her expression was, "I mean to take a chop at the +King's Head when I get to London." + +{3} See the Edinburgh Review, for an account of our old friend, Dr. +Parr's wig, and Spital Sermon. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of The Ayrshire Legatees by John Galt + diff --git a/old/ayrlg10.zip b/old/ayrlg10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..97522e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ayrlg10.zip |