Page images
PDF
EPUB

MRS PRINGLE TO MISS MALLY GLENCAIRN.

DEAR MISS MALLY,

a

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 he 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 " 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 sick a thing; so we gave the porshoot up in dispareHowsomever, one of Andrew's acquantance-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 red it our as a thing that was just wonderful for its whorsogroffie; and then he sayid, that looking at the prinsipol of your spilling, he thocht we should reed" a gardner's bill, or a lyst of all flooring plants;" whilk being no doot your intent, I hav proqurt the same, and it is included heerin.-But Miss Mally, I would advize you to be more exac in your inditing, that no sick 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 hav reseivit 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 Captan 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 its our dishire noo to lose no tim in retornin 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 okypyt with this matteromoneal afair, you cannot expec ony news; but the Queen is go

ing 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 sick a stramash, that she will send the whole government, like peelings of ingons, by a gunpoother plot. But its 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 see the King. I am not pleased with him, I assure you, becose he does not set himself out to public view, like ony other kuriosity, but stays in his palis, they say, like one of the anshent wooden images of idolatry, the which is a great peety, he being, 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 tak 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 its 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 hav 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

juggons between their hands, above the sapples, with their gouns and stays on, and round-eared 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 speermint 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-its what we are a' to come to."

"I have my doubts of that," said Miss Becky, with a sneer,- "Ye have been lang spar't from it, Miss Mally.”

“Ye're a spiteful puddock; and if the men hae the een 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:

MRS SABRE TO MISS ISABELLA TODD.

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 proudly 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 recognizances 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 disap

one, not less sincerely attached to you, though it be the first time she has so subscribed herself, remains in, RACHEL SAbre.

pointment. Adieu for a time, and believe, that, although your affectionate Rachel Pringle be gone that way in which she hopes you will soon follow, 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.

The Rev. Z. PRINGLE, D. D. to MR MICKLEWHAM, Schoolmaster and SessionClerk, Garnock.

DEAR SIR, I have been much long er of replying to your letter of the 3d 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 its 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 wearyful 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 VOL. VIII.

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 high 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 wentand 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, in so much 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, ЗА

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.

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 My 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 of Canæ, 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,

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 licence, 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, MRS TODD, 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 wine. 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 Todd 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 spiritualize 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."

Z. PRINGLE.

It would be impossible in us to suppose, that Mr Snodgrass had any objections to spiritualize 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.

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

Benet College, Cambridge, 26th December, 1820. your Gogmagogs, that a Cockney, who got into the coach at Stamford, said were "so'r igh as I could not vell imagine." He then burst into a rhapsodical encomium upon Mr Wilkins, to which it would require the pen of a Gurney to do justice.

I NEED not inform you that the Adjutant has at length fulfilled his promise of paying me a visit, as I think he told me he had formally announced his intention of doing so, at your last monthly dinner at Ambrose's. He has been, as I predicted he would be, delighted with our Alma Mater, and will give you a flaming account of her charms when he next arrives at the City of Blackwood. He left Cambridge for London this morning-upon business, he said. I am not ashamed to say, that I took leave of him, at the Red Lion, with tears in my eyes. He had made a striking impression upon me. The contrast between the frank and airy, yet sublimely poetical disposition of the Ensign, and our sedate, and somewhat cautious habits, was extremely forcible; and I shall always regard the sight of Odoherty (though he does not belong to the fusileers) as one of the "greenest spots" in my academical life. I intend not to give you a full account of the Ensign's adventures, leaving that to his more potent eloquence at your next Contribution dinner; but I may just mention a few circumstances, concerning which, I know, his extreme modesty will forbid him to speak. It was late on Tuesday when he arrived, as old Nicholls and his tits had been rather lazier than usual, so that nothing could be done that night; but on the following morning after breakfast, (of which it does not become me to speak,) we sallied forth on our excursions. Our first visit was to Downing; and here, for the first time, the soul of the Standard-bearer began to unfold itself. He had heard, it seems, all the stories about the lowness of this admirable structure, and the incongruity of Grecian pillars and gentlemen's housesand he now saw the absurdity of them. Upon my soul," said he, with great emphasis, pointing to a particular part of the colonnade, "That's capital. That servant of Mr Rose's is no master of the art, I suspect; and as to its lowness,— why, its not so high as Benlomond to be sure, but by St Jingo,* it overtops and

66

Leaving Downing, we returned through the market-place, and passing through Waterloo Place, to take a peep at the pictures, went direct to Trinity. But here I must confess the Standard-bearer, for the first time, rather disappointed me. He exhibited none of that poetical emotion which I had fondly hoped a sight of this magnificent college would have drawn from him; on the contrary, he was silent and reserved. The noble extent of the first court, and the beautiful cloister of Neville's, seemed to have no effect upon him. I guessed that he was thinking of the Whiggish propensities of some of its members, and wished to turn his thoughts to a subject more worthy of his meditations. "What,' says I, "cannot your mighty mind overlook these puny striplings, and learn to respect a college which has produced a Bentley, a Porson, and a Bloomfield? and is the present illustrious head of their society not even verbo dignus?" To this he gave me no answer, but one of his fine smiles, which, I thought, "withered to a sneer"-perhaps at my bad pun. As we proposed to-day merely to take a general view of some of the Colleges, and as Trinity Walks seemed to be by no means so pleasant to him as your Trinity-Grove, we passed hastily through them, and entered those of St John's. Here his countenance brightened up at once; he excessively admired the three fine old trees that stand opposite the gate by which we entered, and pointing towards the back part of the college in an attitude of inspiration, exclaimed, "Mark but the solemn grandeur of that ancient and religious foundation!

Destin'd in every age to be
The fountain-head of loyalty,
that boasts even now a Words-

*This saint does not appear in the Cambridge Calender.

« PreviousContinue »