the expedition of humphry clinker-第68章

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could　not　readily　find　any　other　partner；　but　as　the　first　was　a
married　man；　and　the　second　payed　no　particular　homage　to　her
charms；　which　were　also　over…looked　by　the　rest　of　the　company；
she　became　dissatisfied　and　censorious　　At　supper；　she　observed
that　the　Scotch　gentlemen　made　a　very　good　figure；　when　they　were
a　little　improved　by　travelling；　and　therefore　it　was　pity　they
did　not　all　take　the　benefit　of　going　abroad。　She　said　the　women
were　awkward；　masculine　creatures；　that；　in　dancing；　they　lifted
their　legs　like　so　many　colts；　that　they　had　no　idea　of　graceful
motion；　and　put　on　their　clothes　in　a　frightful　manner；　but　if
the　truth　must　be　told；　Tabby　herself　was　the　most　ridiculous
figure；　and　the　worst　dressed　of　the　whole　assembly。　The　neglect
of　the　male　sex　rendered　her　malcontent　and　peevish；　she　now
found　fault　with　every　thing　at　Edinburgh；　and　teized　her　brother
to　leave　the　place；　when　she　was　suddenly　reconciled　to　it　on　a
religious　consideration　　There　is　a　sect　of　fanaticks；　who　have
separated　themselves　from　the　established　kirk；　under　the　name　of
Seceders　　They　acknowledge　no　earthly　head　of　the　church；　reject
lay…patronage；　and　maintain　the　methodist　doctrines　of　the　new
birth；　the　new　light；　the　efficacy　of　grace；　the　insufficiency　of
works；　and　the　operations　of　the　spirit。　Mrs　Tabitha；　attended　by
Humphry　Clinker；　was　introduced　to　one　of　their　conventicles；
where　they　both　received　much　edification；　and　she　has　had　the
good　fortune　to　come　acquainted　with　a　pious　Christian；　called　Mr
Moffat；　who　is　very　powerful　in　prayer；　and　often　assists　her　in
private　exercises　of　devotion。

I　never　saw　such　a　concourse　of　genteel　company　at　any　races　in
England；　as　appeared　on　the　course　of　Leith　　Hard　by；　in　the
fields　called　the　Links；　the　citizens　of　Edinburgh　divert
themselves　at　a　game　called　golf；　in　which　they　use　a　curious
kind　of　bats；　tipt　with　horn；　and　small　elastic　balls　of　leather；
stuffed　with　feathers；　rather　less　than　tennis　balls；　but　of　a
much　harder　consistence　　This　they　strike　with　such　force　and
dexterity　from　one　hole　to　another；　that　they　will　fly　to　an
incredible　distance。　Of　this　diversion　the　Scots　are　so　fond；
that　when　the　weather　will　permit；　you　may　see　a　multitude　of　all
ranks；　from　the　senator　of　justice　to　the　lowest　tradesman；
mingled　together　in　their　shirts；　and　following　the　balls　with
the　utmost　eagerness。　Among　others；　I　was　shewn　one　particular　set
of　golfers；　the　youngest　of　whom　was　turned　of　fourscore　　They
were　all　gentlemen　of　independent　fortunes；　who　had　amused
themselves　with　this　pastime　for　the　best　part　of　a　century；
without　having　ever　felt　the　least　alarm　from　sickness　or
disgust；　and　they　never　went　to　bed；　without　having　each　the　best
part　of　a　gallon　of　claret　in　his　belly。　Such　uninterrupted
exercise；　co…operating　with　the　keen　air　from　the　sea；　must；
without　all　doubt；　keep　the　appetite　always　on　edge；　and　steel
the　constitution　against　all　the　common　attacks　of　distemper。

The　Leith　races　gave　occasion　to　another　entertainment　of　a　very
singular　nature　　There　is　at　Edinburgh　a　society　or　corporation
of　errand…boys；　called　cawdies；　who　ply　in　the　streets　at　night
with　paper　lanthorns；　and　are　very　serviceable　in　carrying
messages　　These　fellows；　though　shabby　in　their　appearance；　and
rudely　familiar　in　their　address；　are　wonderfully　acute；　and　so
noted　for　fidelity；　that　there　is　no　instance　of　＇a＇　cawdy's
having　betrayed　his　trust　　Such　is　their　intelligence；　that　they
know；　not　only　every　individual　of　the　place；　but　also　every
stranger；　by　that　time　he　has　been　four　and　twenty　hours　in
Edinburgh；　and　no　transaction；　even　the　most　private；　can　escape
their　notice。　They　are　particularly　famous　for　their　dexterity　in
executing　one　of　the　functions　of　Mercury；　though；　for　my　own
part；　I　never　employed　them　in　this　department　of　business　　Had　I
occasion　for　any　service　of　this　nature；　my　own　man；　Archy
M'Alpine；　is　as　well　qualified　as　e'er　a　cawdie　in　Edinburgh；　and
I　am　much　mistaken；　if　he　has　not　been　heretofore　of　their
fraternity。　Be　that　as　it　may；　they　resolved　to　give　a　dinner　and
a　ball　at　Leith；　to　which　they　formally　invited　all　the　young
noblemen　and　gentlemen　that　were　at　the　races；　and　this
invitation　was　reinforced　by　an　assurance　that　all　the　celebrated
ladies　of　pleasure　would　grace　the　entertainment　with　their
company。　　I　received　a　card　on　this　occasion；　and　went　thither
with　half　a　dozen　of　my　acquaintance。　　In　a　large　hall　the　cloth
was　laid　on　a　long　range　of　tables　joined　together；　and　here　the
company　seated　themselves；　to　the　number　of　about　fourscore；
lords；　and　lairds；　and　other　gentlemen；　courtezans　and　cawdies
mingled
together；　as　the　slaves　and　their　masters　were　in　the　time　of　the
Saturnalia　in　ancient　Rome。　　The　toast　master；　who　sat　at　the
upper　end；　was　one　Cawdie　Fraser；　a　veteran　pimp；　distinguished
for　his　humour　and　sagacity；　well　known　and　much　respected　in　his
profession　by　all　the　guests；　male　and　female；　that　were　here
assembled。　　He　had　bespoke　the　dinner　and　the　wine：　he　had　taken
care　that　all　his　brethren　should　appear　in　decent　apparel　and
clean　linen；　and　he　himself　wore　a　periwig　with　three　tails　in
honour　of　the　festival。　　I　assure　you　the　banquet　was　both
elegant　and　plentiful；　and　seasoned　with　a　thousand　sallies；　that
promoted　a　general　spirit　of　mirth　and　good　humour。　　After　the
desert；　Mr　Fraser　proposed　the　following　toasts；　which　I　don't
pretend　to　explain。　'The　best　in　Christendom。'　　'Gibbs'
contract。'　　'The　beggar's　benison；'　　'King　and　kirk。'　　'Great
Britain　and　Ireland。'　Then；　filling　a　bumper；　and　turning　to　me；
'Mester　Malford　（said　he）；　may　a'　unkindness　cease　betwixt　John
Bull　and　his　sister　Moggy。'　　The　next　person　he　singled　out；　was
a　nobleman　who　had　been　long　abroad。　　'Ma　lord　（cried　Fraser）；
here　is　a　bumper　to　a'　those　noblemen　who　have　virtue　enough　to
spend　their　rents　in　their　ain　countray。'　　He　afterwards
addressed　himself　to　a　member　of　parliament　in　these　words：　
'Meester　　I'm　sure　ye'll　ha'　nae　objection　to　my　drinking；
disgrace　and　dule　to　ilka　Scot；　that　sells　his　conscience　and　his
vote。'　　He　discharged　a　third　sarcasm　at　a　person　very　gaily
dressed；　who　had　risen　from　small　beginnings；　and　made　a
considerable　fortune　at　play。　　Filling　his　glass；　and　calling　him
by　name；　'Lang　life　（said　he）；　to　the　wylie　loon　that　gangs　a…field
with　a　toom　poke　at　his　lunzie；　and　comes　hame　with　a
sackful　of　siller。'　　All　these　toasts　being　received　with　loud
bursts　of　applause；　Mr　Fraser　called　for　pint　glasses；　and　filled
his　own　to　the　brim：　then　standing　up；　and　all　his　brethren
following　his　example；　'Ma　lords　and　gentlemen　（cried　he）；　here
is　a　cup　of　thanks　for　the　great　and　undeserved　honour　you　have
done　your　poor　errand…boys　this　day。'　　So　saying；　he　and　they
drank　off　their　glasses　in　a　trice；　and　quitting　their　seats；
took　their　station　each　behind　one　of　the　other　guests；
exclaiming；　'Noo　we're　your　honours　cawdies　again。'

The　nobleman　who　had　bore　the　first　brunt　of　Mr　Fraser's　satire；
objected　to　his　abdication。　He　said；　as　the　company　was　assembled
by　invitation　from　the　cawdies；　he　expected　they　were　to　be
entertained　at　their　expense。　'By　no　means；　my　lord　（cried
Fraser）；　I　wad　na　he　guilty　of　sic　presumption　for　the　wide
warld　　I　never　affronted　a　gentleman　since　I　was　born；　and　sure
at　this　age　I　wonnot　offer　an　indignity　to　sic　an　honourable
convention。'　'Well　（said　his　Lordship）　as　you　have　expended　some
wit；　you　have　a　right　to　save　your　money。　You　have　given　me　good
counsel；　and　I　take　it　in　good　part。　As　you　have　voluntarily
quitted　your　seat；　I　will　take　your　place　with　the　leave　of　the
good　company；　and　think　myself　happy　to　be　hailed；　Father　of　the
Feast。'　He　was　forthwith　elected　into　the　chair；　and　complimented
in　a　bumper　in　his　new　character。

The　claret　continued　to　circulate　without　interruption；　till　the
glasses　seemed　to　dance　upon　the　table；　and　this；　perhaps；　was　a
hint　to　the　ladies　to　call　for　music　　At　eight　in　the　evening　the
ball　began　in　another　apartment：　at　midnight　we　went　to　supper；
but　it　was　broad　day　before