University of Virginia Library

In his comparative view of the mode of living, arts, manners, &c. in Edinburgh, between the years 1763 and 1783, Mr. Creech has the following remark.

“In 1763.—In the best families in town, the education of daughters was fitted, not only to embellish and improve their minds; but to accomplish them in the useful and necessary arts of domestic economy. The sewing-school, the pastry-school, were the essential branches of female education; nor was a young lady of the best family ashamed to go to market with her mother.”

“In 1783.—The daughters even of many tradesmen consumed the mornings at the toilet, or in strolling from the perfumers to the milliners, &c. Many of them would have blushed to be seen in a market. The cares of the family were devolved upon a housekeeper; and Miss employed those heavy hours, when she was disengaged from public or private amusement, in improving her mind from the precious stores of a circulating library; and all, whether they have taste for it or not, must be taught music, at a great expense.”

Great as this change is, and much as it exceeds the conception we had formed of Edinburgh manners in the 1783, what is it, compared with the rapid progressive change of manners among our tradesmen's wives and daughters of late years? Had Mr. Creech continued his useful and curious publication down to the present times, what would he have said of our citizens, when the daughters of tradesmen, not contented with the precious stores of a circulating library, or the still more precious stores of a milliner's shop, come forward as the professed imitators of all the fashionable and expensive luxuries that Rank and Fortune can introduce,—who are now, in point of dress, no longer distinguishable from those who move in the highest circles, and who would not only blush at being seen in a market, but be out of all countenance at not having every display of elegance exhibited at their father's table, when a few obscure, and (till of late,) sober minded citizens are to be regaled? What would he have said of the musical powers, taste, and execution of our Edinburgh Misses now, who, without one exception, from the daughter of the Peer to the daughter of the Cobler, sit down to their Piano every morning and evening, and warble their mellifluent strains in every square, street, lane, and obscure corner in our musical metropolis, and when the same expence, labour, and time, are consumed in rendering them and their parents ridiculous? When we seriously consider this perversion of employment, which proceeds not from any thing natural, but merely from a blind imitation of fashionable education, can we cease to be astonished at the absurdity? The only excuse attempted to be offered is, that their daughters may probably become governesses:—Were they all employed, what an improved nation should we be! This reminds the Author of a circumstance which occured a few years ago. Meeting accidentally with a man whom he formerly knew as a waiter in a country inn, and who at this time kept an obscure ale-house in Edinburgh, he was accosted with an humble salutation, which was succeeded by a tale of domestic calamity in the death of a favourite daughter. “I had wared muckle siller on her education, Sir,” said the disconsolate father—“mair indeed, than I could weel afford! and just as I was ganging to pit her to the music, Sir, she died!” And pray, John, what good would the Music have done her?—“Indeed, Sir, I canna say; but they telt me it was fit I should gie it to her, in case she might be a governess.” As an additional proof, among many, of the prevalence of this lamentable malady, the following fact, related to the author by a respectable friend in this city, a few days ago, may suffice. Wishing to obtain some moderate priced harpsichord for the use of his daughters, he and his wife repaired to a music-shop for that purpose, and on their fixing on one valued at twenty-five guineas, the master of the shop told them, he was sorry he could not let them have it, as it was already purchased by a woman who kept a green stall, for the use of her daughter.—Out of such an immense number of females taught, not to find some young Ladies who are excellent musicians, would be a miracle; but, on the other hand, when it is considered, that hundreds are brought forward as tormentors, and that no person now can enjoy a quiet evening in a friend's house, without one of “my daughters” being set down to rattle over the keys of a piano, and who, totally void of natural taste, voice, feeling, and expression, wounds our ears with discordant squalls; this disease, (putting aside all considerations of misapplied time and labour) may safely be be called a pestilence.

Could any thing make a Speculator reflect at all, the present calamitous situation of the country, (occasioned by speculation alone,) might do something.—But unfortunately, the speculator and the gambler at the hazard table, are precisely similar:—their pleasure arises from the risk they run, and in proportion to the value of the stake depending. Remove this risk, and the excitement is gone, and consequently the pleasure: for in proportion to the danger is the stimulus that produces the enjoyment. Should any doubt the truth of this axiom, the author begs leave to refer them to the conduct of the smuggler—the highwayman —the house-breaker, and the common thief, who, although conscious of the risk they run, persevere in their practices, in defiance of all the laws contrived to inflict punishment on the delinquent, and to deter others. The only difference between these honourable gentlemen, (and a very material one to society!) is, that the last mentioned description, when they fall, fall alone; while the speculator in his fall involves thousands in distress along with him. Speculators, however, are not all alike, and it is not a little curious to remark the difference at the short distance of 200 miles in the same country. An English speculator is generally, if not uniformly, distinguished by his over pushing trade in the line of a profession to which he has been regularly bred;—whereas our Scotch speculators dash at every thing within their reach, whether they understand the branch in which they engage or not; or, as the author of the “Town Fashions” expresses it,

Every iron is thurst into the fire, till one or other of them is sure to burn their fingers at last. There is another material difference, namely, that when a Scotch speculator begins his career, he immediately increases his expence of living; for to speculate without ostentatious shew, would, in his conception, be quite inconsistent. This, no doubt, constitutes another source of pleasure,—we mean while it lasts; for although it may ultimately plunge a wife and family from the height of extravagance to the depth of poverty and distress, what is it, compared with the immediate pleasure he enjoys during the existence of splendour, and the additional excitement of hope, anxiety, fear, and sanguine expectation?—Leaving the philosopher and the metaphysician to solve this problem, the author will content himself for the present, with a simple remark made by a very judicious and worthy acquaintance of his on this subject. “There certainly may, for aught I know, said he, be great pleasure, and sometimes great profits annexed to speculation; but, for my part, I am determined to speculate none, but to keep what I have like grim death!”

It is more than probable, that the picture here drawn, will give offence to some, and dispose others to view it in a light very unfavourable to the Author's judgment. In a great manufacturing nation, where arts, trade, and commerce are considered as the grand sources of wealth, it can hardly be expected, that the removal of what is generally called an useless horde of idlers from districts where nothing beneficial can be done, to those where industry meets with its reward, will even be deemed an injury. Without entering into a critical discussion of this long contested point, may not the Author ask,—First, If any thing has hitherto been done, or even generally attempted, to render the description of people alluded to, more industrious in their native districts, by furnishing them with the means to better their condition, and, at the same time, to make them more useful to the Community? And, Secondly, If the vaunted haunts of our great manufactures are really and truly productive of the advantages held forth? If, by expatriating a numerous class of inhabitants from various districts, where it is well known much might be done by the united efforts of well directed industry, a material advantage is derived, the Author can only say, that he is so bad a political economist as not to understand it; and if the continual failures and disasters incident to our manufactures, can, by repeatedly casting thousands adrift without the means of support, be considered as a benefit, he must likewise confess, that his stupidity is so great as not to comprehend it. To a sheep laird, a manufacturer, or a speculating merchant, indeed, nothing can be more obvious and clear; but to a simple, uninformed follower of the Muses, every thing is involved in impenetrable darkness!—A ray of light, however, may sometimes break through the gloom, and enable even the most stupid to discover objects; and when at this moment the Author looks around him, and with no gladdening eye, or cheerful heart, perceives one description of men squandering their decreasing means in idle and luxurious vanities, and the other struggling under the calamities of heedless speculation; he is fool enough to wish that the first had never deserted their native humble homes and dependants; nor the other their caution, prudence, and economy! Were not lamentable examples immediately before us, this would be considered the mere ravings of a Poet, and poor Donald's story viewed in the light of a Romance; but perhaps the best proof that can be adduced in support of what has been brought forward in the text, is the conduct of Highland proprietors at this moment, who, perceiving at length their interest in retaining and encouraging the native inhabitants, are laudibly using their best endeavours to ameliorate their condition, and render their future situation more beneficial to themselves, and advantageous to their country.— Such incontrovertible facts are worth a thousand theories of political economists.