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Dalmailing； and my observe does not apply to the stock and stores of that
honourable mansion； but only to the dwellings of our own heritors； who
were in general straitened in their circumstances； partly with upsetting；
and partly by the eating rust of family pride； which hurt the edge of many
a clever fellow among them； that would have done well in the way of trade；
but sunk into divors for the sake of their genteelity。
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CHAPTER XXX YEAR 1789
This I have always reflected upon as one of our blessed years。 It was
not remarkable for any extraordinary occurrence； but there was a
hopefulness in the minds of men； and a planning of new undertakings； of
which； whatever may be the upshot； the devising is ever rich in the
cheerful anticipations of good。
Another new line of road was planned； for a shorter cut to the cotton…
mill； from the main road to Glasgow； and a public…house was opened in
Cayenneville： the latter； however； was not an event that gave me much
satisfaction； but it was a convenience to the inhabitants； and the carriers
that brought the cotton…bags and took away the yarn twice a…week； needed
a place of refreshment。 And there was a stage…coach set up thrice every
week from Ayr； that passed through the town； by which it was possible to
travel to Glasgow between breakfast and dinner time； a thing that could
not； when I came to the parish； have been thought within the compass of
man。
This stage…coach I thought one of the greatest conveniences that had
been established among us； and it enabled Mrs Balwhidder to send a
basket of her fresh butter into the Glasgow market； by which； in the spring
and the fall of the year； she got a great price； for the Glasgow merchants
are fond of excellent eatables； and the payment was aye ready money
Tam Whirlit the driver paying for the one basket when he took up the
other。
In this year William Malcolm； the youngest son of the widow； having
been some time a tutor in a family in the east country； came to see his
mother； as indeed he had done every year from the time he went to the
college； but this occasion was made remarkable by his preaching in my
pulpit。 His old acquaintance were curious to hear him； and I myself had
a sort of a wish likewise； being desirous to know how far he was orthodox；
so I thought fit； on the suggestion of one of the elders； to ask him to preach
one day for me； which； after some fleeching； he consented to do。 I think；
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however； there was a true modesty in his diffidence； although his reason
was a weak one； being lest he might not satisfy his mother； who had as yet
never heard him。 Accordingly； on the Sabbath after； he did preach； and
the kirk was well packed； and I was not one of the least attentive of the
congregation。 His sermon assuredly was well put together and there was
nothing to object to in his doctrine； but the elderly people thought his
language rather too Englified； which I thought likewise； for I never could
abide that the plain auld Kirk of Scotland； with her sober presbyterian
simplicity； should borrow； either in word or in deed； from the language of
the prelatic hierarchy of England。 Nevertheless； the younger part of the
congregation were loud in his praise； saying； there had not been heard
before such a style of language in our side of the country。 As for Mrs
Malcolm； his mother； when I spoke to her anent the same； she said but
little； expressing only her hope that his example would be worthy of his
precepts； so that； upon the whole； it was a satisfaction to us all； that he was
likely to prove a stoop and upholding pillar to the Kirk of Scotland。 And
his mother had the satisfaction； before she died； to see him a placed
minister； and his name among the authors of his country； for he published
at Edinburgh a volume of Moral Essays； of which he sent me a pretty
bound copy； and they were greatly creditable to his pen； though lacking
somewhat of that birr and smeddum that is the juice and flavour of books
of that sort。
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CHAPTER XXXI YEAR 1790
The features of this Ann。 Dom。 partook of the character of its
predecessor。 Several new houses were added to the clachan；
Cayenneville was spreading out with weavers' shops； and growing up fast
into a town。 In some respects it got the start of ours； for one day； when I
was going to dine with Mr Cayenne at Wheatrig House； not a little to my
amazement； did I behold a bookseller's shop opened there； with sticks of
red and black wax； pouncet…boxes； pens； pocket…books； and new
publications； in the window； such as the like of was only to be seen in
cities and borough towns。 And it was lighted at night by a patent lamp；
which shed a wonderful beam； burning oil； and having no smoke。 The
man sold likewise perfumery； powder…puffs； trinkets； and Dublin dolls；
besides penknives； Castile soap； and walking…sticks； together with a
prodigy of other luxuries too tedious to mention。
Upon conversing with the man； for I was enchanted to go into this
phenomenon； for as no less could I regard it； he told me that he had a
correspondence with London； and could get me down any book published
there within the same month in which it came out； and he showed me
divers of the newest come out； of which I did not read even in the Scots
Magazine till more than three months after； although I had till then always
considered that work as most interesting for its early intelligence。 But
what I was most surprised to hear； was； that he took in a daily London
newspaper for the spinners and weavers； who paid him a penny a…week a…
piece for the same； they being all greatly taken up with what； at the time；
was going on in France。
This bookseller in the end； however； proved a whawp in our nest； for
he was in league with some of the English reformers； and when the story
took wind three years after； concerning the plots and treasons of the
corresponding societies and democrats； he was fain to make a moonlight
flitting； leaving his wife for a time to manage his affairs。 I could not；
however； think any ill of the man notwithstanding； for he had very correct
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notions of right and justice； in a political sense； and when he came into the
parish he was as orderly and well…behaved as any other body； and conduct
is a test that I have always found as good for a man's principles as
professions。 Nor； at the time of which I am speaking； was there any of
that dread or fear of reforming the government that has since been
occasioned by the wild and wasteful hand which the French employed in
their revolution。
But； among other improvements； I should mention that a Doctor
Marigold came and settled in Cayenneville； a small； round； happy…
tempered man； whose funny stories were far better liked than his drugs。
There was a doubt among some of the weavers if he was a skilful
Esculapian； and this doubt led to their holding out an inducement to
another medical man； Dr。 Tanzey； to settle there likewise； by which it grew
into a saying； that at Cayenneville there was a doctor for health as well as
sickness； for Dr。 Marigold was one of the best hands in the country at a
pleasant punch…bowl； while Dr。 Tanzey had all the requisite knowledge for
the faculty for the be