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couple the name of my grandfather with the word indolence； but the lad
who had been destined from the cradle to the Church； and who had
attained the age of fifteen without acquiring more than a moderate
knowledge of Latin； was at least no unusual student。 And from the day
of his charge at Little Cumbrae he steps before us what he remained until
the end； a man of the most zealous industry； greedy of occupation； greedy
of knowledge； a stern husband of time； a reader； a writer； unflagging in his
task of self…improvement。 Thenceforward his summers were spent
directing works and ruling workmen； now in uninhabited； now in half…
savage islands； his winters were set apart； first at the Andersonian
Institution； then at the University of Edinburgh to improve himself in
mathematics； chemistry； natural history； agriculture； moral philosophy； and
logic； a bearded student … although no doubt scrupulously shaved。 I find
one reference to his years in class which will have a meaning for all who
have studied in Scottish Universities。 He mentions a recommendation
made by the professor of logic。 ‘The high… school men；' he writes； ‘and
BEARDED MEN LIKE MYSELF； were all attention。' If my grandfather
were throughout life a thought too studious of the art of getting on； much
must be forgiven to the bearded and belated student who looked across；
with a sense of difference； at ‘the high…school men。' Here was a gulf to
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be crossed； but already he could feel that he had made a beginning； and
that must have been a proud hour when he devoted his earliest earnings to
the repayment of the charitable foundation in which he had received the
rudiments of knowledge。 In yet another way he followed the example of
his father… in…law； and from 1794 to 1807； when the affairs of the Bell
Rock made it necessary for him to resign； he served in different corps of
volunteers。 In the last of these he rose to a position of distinction； no less
than captain of the Grenadier Company； and his colonel； in accepting his
resignation； entreated he would do them ‘the favour of continuing as an
honorary member of a corps which has been so much indebted for your
zeal and exertions。'
To very pious women the men of the house are apt to appear worldly。
The wife； as she puts on her new bonnet before church； is apt to sigh over
that assiduity which enabled her husband to pay the milliner's bill。 And
in the household of the Smiths and Stevensons the women were not only
extremely pious； but the men were in reality a trifle worldly。 Religious
they both were； conscious； like all Scots； of the fragility and unreality of
that scene in which we play our uncomprehended parts； like all Scots；
realising daily and hourly the sense of another will than ours and a
perpetual direction in the affairs of life。 But the current of their
endeavours flowed in a more obvious channel。 They had got on so far； to
get on further was their next ambition … to gather wealth； to rise in society；
to leave their descendants higher than themselves； to be （in some sense）
among the founders of families。 Scott was in the same town nourishing
similar dreams。 But in the eyes of the women these dreams would be
foolish and idolatrous。
I have before me some volumes of old letters addressed to Mrs。 Smith
and the two girls； her favourites； which depict in a strong light their
characters and the society in which they moved。
‘My very dear and much esteemed Friend；' writes one correspondent；
‘this day being the anniversary of our acquaintance； I feel inclined to
address you； but where shall I find words to express the fealings of a
graitful HEART； first to the Lord who graiciously inclined you on this day
last year to notice an afflicted Strainger providentially cast in your way far
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from any Earthly friend？ 。 。 。 Methinks I shall hear him say unto you；
〃Inasmuch as ye shewed kindness to my afflicted handmaiden； ye did it
unto me。〃 '
This is to Jean； but the same afflicted lady wrote indifferently to Jean；
to Janet； and to Ms。 Smith； whom she calls ‘my Edinburgh mother。' It is
plain the three were as one person； moving to acts of kindness； like the
Graces； inarmed。 Too much stress must not be laid on the style of this
correspondence； Clarinda survived； not far away； and may have met the
ladies on the Calton Hill； and many of the writers appear； underneath the
conventions of the period； to be genuinely moved。 But what
unpleasantly strikes a reader is； that these devout unfortunates found a
revenue in their devotion。 It is everywhere the same tale； on the side of
the soft…hearted ladies； substantial acts of help； on the side of the
correspondents； affection； italics； texts； ecstasies； and imperfect spelling。
When a midwife is recommended； not at all for proficiency in her
important art； but because she has ‘a sister whom I ＇the correspondent＇
esteem and respect； and ＇who＇ is a spiritual daughter of my Hond Father in
the Gosple；' the mask seems to be torn off； and the wages of godliness
appear too openly。 Capacity is a secondary matter in a midwife； temper
in a servant； affection in a daughter； and the repetition of a shibboleth
fulfils the law。 Common decency is at times forgot in the same page with
the most sanctified advice and aspiration。 Thus I am introduced to a
correspondent who appears to have been at the time the housekeeper at
Invermay； and who writes to condole with my grandmother in a season of
distress。 For nearly half a sheet she keeps to the point with an excellent
discretion in language then suddenly breaks out：
‘It was fully my intention to have left this at Martinmass； but the Lord
fixes the bounds of our habitation。 I have had more need of patience in my
situation here than in any other； partly from the very violent； unsteady；
deceitful temper of the Mistress of the Family； and also from the state of
the house。 It was in a train of repair when I came here two years ago；
and is still in Confusion。 There is above six Thousand Pounds' worth of
Furniture come from London to be put up when the rooms are completely
finished； and then； woe be to the Person who is Housekeeper at Invermay！'
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And by the tail of the document； which is torn； I see she goes on to ask
the bereaved family to seek her a new place。 It is extraordinary that people
should have been so deceived in so careless an impostor； that a few
sprinkled ‘God willings' should have blinded them to the essence of this
venomous letter； and that they should have been at the pains to bind it in