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It is related of Professor Simson, that he made an invariable rule, in his promenades beyond the walls of Alma Materat that time as it came from the brain of its original architect, instinct with the style of Louis XIII. and Louis XIV.-of noting each step he took from home; and although accosted by an acquaintance, was never put out of his reckoning, from the habit he had acquired of repeating, during the pauses of conversation, the precise number of paces he had journeyed:

LITTLE do people who are intimate with | John Sharpe, whose courteousness and the large and noisy Glasgow of our own cookery attracted thither many lovers of times, with its hundred miles of streets creature-comforts. and nearly four hundred thousand living beings, think that barely a century ago the same was a small, quiet town with a few leading thoroughfares, and counting scarcely five-and-twenty thousand souls. Yet was Glasgow, even at that remote period, when a Highland lad could be committed to prison for wearing "trouse," distinguished by its knots of social and congenial spirits, who, linked together by a cabalistic name or a common cordiality, met for politics, pastime, or pleasure, under the roof of some well-known hostelry-the only equivalent then known for the modern club, athenæum, or news-derston, counting his steps as he was wont, the room. It was a happy idea of Dr. Strang's to snatch from oblivion the salient characteristics of a few of the more remarkable of these fraternities, connected as they are with the history of a city which has always been famous for the number and variety of its social brotherhoods. There is no doubt that they constitute a very happy vehicle by which to depict the ever-changing manners and habits of Glasgow society, and we shall avail ourselves of them also to convey some idea of what the condition of that society has been at various epochs.

"One Saturday, while proceeding towards Ansuppose, was unacquainted with his singular pecuprofessor was accosted by a person who, we may liarity. At this moment the worthy geometrician knew that he was just five hundred and seventythree paces from the college towards the snug parlor which was anon to prove the rallying-point of the hen-broth amateurs; and when arrested in his progress kept repeating the mystic number, at then known. I beg your pardon,' said the perstated intervals, as the only species of pneumonics sonage, accosting the professor; 'one word with you, if you please.' Most happy-573!' was the response. Nay,' rejoined the gentleman, merely one question.' Well,' added the professor-573! You are really too polite, interrupted the stranger; but from your known acAmong the many fraternities which, quaintance with the late Dr. B, and for the purpose of deciding a bet, I have taken the liberbetween the years 1750 and 1760, nightly ty of inquiring whether I am right in saying that or weekly congregated in the taverns then that individual left five hundred pounds to each situated in High-street, Galloway, and of his nieces?' Precisely!' replied the profesSaltmarket, the most distinguished was sor-573! And there were only four nieces, held, not in the city, but in the village of Anderston, where a club was formed by Dr. Robert Simson, of mathematical memory, a few years after the Rebellion of Forty-five, and bearing the name of the village in which it met, and which possessed at that time an excellent hostelry, kept by "ane Godfearing host" yclept

Glasgow and its Clubs; or, Glimpses of the Condition, Manners, Characters, and Oddities of the City, during the Past and Present Century. By John Strang, LL.D.

were there not?' rejoined the querist. Exact-
The
ly said the mathematician-573 !'
sound, stared at the professor, as if he were mad,
stranger, at the last repetition of the mystic
and muttering sarcastically 573 !' made a hasty
obeisance and passed on. The professor, seeing
the stranger's mistake, hastily advanced another
step, and cried after him, 'No, sir, four, to be
sure-574! The gentleman was still further

convinced of the mathematician's madness, and
hurried forward, while the professor walked on
leisurely towards the west, and at length, happy
in not being balked in his calculation, sat down
delighted amid the circle of the Anderston Club."

Is

Most of the highly-gifted individuals and quis-quis character. The danger appeared who formed at that period the "Literary imminent, and had it not been for a bold indiviSociety" also belonged to the Anderston dual who, at great risk to himself, rushed forward Club; no cunning stenographer existed at of the carriage being dashed to pieces, and its ocand stopped the horses, there was every likelihood that time to leave behind him even a cupant killed on the spot. By the time that the single night with Simson and the club- horsemen got up, the carriage had moved onward, and the club itself expired with its founder. when Mr. Orr inquired of the courageous indiviGlasgow is not less remarkable for going dual whether he had got any thing for the great to extremes in its social aspects-at one risk he had run? Oh, yes!' said the man, time Gaelic, then as suddenly French; at 'I've got a shilling;' upon which Mr. Orr broke one time loyal, then as violently demo- out into a towering passion at the idea of a gencratic; at one time profane, and then as when Mr. Baird coolly remarked: Come away, tleman only giving a shilling for saving his life, tyrannically religious-than it is for hav- sir, it is quite enough; every man best knows the ing peculiar and distinctive mercantile value of his own life! On another occasion, on eras. These were, first, its salmon and going out in winter to Williamwood, he told Mr. herring age; then its tobacco epoch, next Maxwell, on arrival, that he had ridden a consiits cotton, then its iron, and lastly, its derable way with a Mr. Haddow, but as it was steamboat-building age. One particular snowing he thought he would soon be a whiting. Mr. Maxwell, brimful of the equivoque, business or handicraft has invariably held repeated the saying at the first meeting of the permanent sway for a season, and then as club; but finding no one enjoying the joke, calmly yielded the supremacy to another. he cried out: Why do you not all laugh? The tobacco trade, which originated about it not a capital story?-at least it was so when 1707, was conducted on such successful prin- Baird told it to me.' Upon which Mr. Baird ciples as to have made Glasgow for a time calmly said: True, James, but you have forgotthe emporium for tobacco in the empire. Success, however, almost invariably entails pride, and the tobacco lords of Glasgow became princes on the Plainstanes, assuming an air and deportment of persons so immeasurably superior to all around them as ultimately to have become ridiculously unbearable. They even assumed to themselves a particular garb, being attired, like the merchant princes of Venice and Genoa, in scarlet cloaks, curled wigs, and cocked-hats, while in their hands they carried gold-headed canes. The tobacco princes of Glasgow formed themselves into a club with a very unaristocratic name, "The Hodge Podge," which partook of the nature of a literary society, mixed up with whist, hot suppers, and a night's jollity and fun.

"Among the early members of the Hodge Podge, there were not a few whose sayings might have contributed to eke out the pages of any modern 'Laird of Logan;' and among these we may mention Mr. Baird, of Craigton, who, besides being a man of old family, was from his wit and pleasantry courted by the best society in the city and county. This gentleman lived in Trongate, near the bottom of Brunswick street, and carried on business with the West-Indies, where he had some property. Among the many floating anecdotes which oral tradition has handed down, the following may be mentioned: One day, while he and Mr. Orr, of Barrowfield, were riding in the country, they observed a carriage pass them at a furious rate-the horses having run off-in which was ensconced Mr. G. M- a very unpopular

ten the snow!"

The outbreak of the American war put a sudden stop to the tobacco trade, and the scarlet cloaks quickly disappeared from the pavement. The pride of the tobacco prince has, like that of the tobacco palace, passed away, leaving, Dr. Strang remarks, "we suspect, to us, in these latter days, but an indistinct idea of the height to which, in point of extravagance, it was actually carried."

During the thirty years which immediately followed the establishment of the Anderston and Hodge Podge Clubs, great changes took place in all things connected with Glasgow. Commerce and manufactures gave it a stimulating and onward progress; while science and the arts added their mighty aid in effecting improvement. It is highly creditable to the University that it was ready at that time to protect science when laboring under difficulties, as is particularly instanced in the case of James Watt:

"James Watt, on attempting to set up as an instrument-maker in Glasgow, was prevented doing so by the then privileged Incorporation of Hammermen, as not being free of the craft. Attempts were next made for obtaining their leave for a very small work wherein to make his experiments, but this was peremptorily refused. The University, however, in his difficulty, came to his rescue, and granted him a room within the precincts of the college, which was free of the incubus of all

the cost of the material whereof it was manufactured, and the quantity which he generally contrived to swallow, he had few followers among the brotherhood. The beverage was no less, for a be

guilds-and there he completed the model of his steam-engine, and which model is still in the possession of the University, and looked upon as one of its greatest treasures. It was in 1764 that Watt was employed to repair a model of New-ginning, than a bottle of good port-wine, mulled, comen's steam-engine, and it was when so engaged that the idea of a separate condenser occurred to him; and in 1766 it appears, from the college accounts, that he was paid £5 11s. for repairing the said steam-engine. Mr. Muirhead mentions, in his Life of Watt, that the interesting model, as altered by the hand of Watt, and preserved in all safety and honor within the precincts of its ancient birth-place, has been appropriately placed beside the noble statue of the engineer in the Hunterian Museum-a sacred relic worthy of such a shrineand there visited by many a worshipping pilgrim.""

So rapid was its progress in civilization that Glasgow could now boast, not only of one or more shoe shops, haberdashery shops, and hatters, but a sportsman could now get a pair of buckskin breeches and gloves without sending to London for such luxuries; while the lover of light literature could obtain the perusal of a novel or a romance without the cost of purchasing either. Such a point in the city's progress was followed by the institution of a club of gallant, gay Lotharios, known as "My Lord Ross's Club," from the landlord's name being Ross-the baronial adjunct being conferred, not by the crown, but the club. Another contemporaneous fraternity, known as the "Morning and Evening Club," was in reality a kind of reading-room, which anticipated the opening of a public news-room, which took place at the Cross about the year 1782. But, although the news of the day, stirring as they were, formed one of its attractions, a probably still greater was found in those times in the baurie, or midday rum-and-water, in the nightly bowls of Glasgow punch, and the hot herb ale in the morning as an antidote to the previous evening's heavy potations.

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flavored with large slices of lemon, and poured into a quart mug. This rather odd club-drink was nicknamed 'mahogany,' and, ere long, the soubriquet was conferred on himself. With his legs below the tavern mahogany, and with his own tankard of mahogany before him, this worthy worshipper of wine and waggery gossipped on till near midnight, and not unfrequently did not quit his chair till he had impounded the mystical number of three bottles in his stomach. At this period of Glasgow's history, tippling at all times of the day and drinking in the afternoons to excess were practised both by 'gentle and semple.' Among the shopkeepers and manufacturers, a meridian-glass

was an almost universal habit, while forenoon different craftsmen. To transact business of any gilling prevailed through the whole range of the kind without the bargain being sealed with the stamp of the stoup, would have been looked upon as shabby as it would have been unsafe; and so far was the practice carried, that even the most sacred matters were settled in a manner befitting their flocks were in the habit of discussing the thirsty souls' that is to say, the clergy and weighty matters of the Church over a tankard of twopenny or a glass of Glenlivet!* About this period, too, when a dinner-party was given-which was, however, a rare occurrence compared with the practice of the present day-the guests, after the somewhat heavy repast, invariably set in for serious drinking. The landlord immediately began to ply his bottles and his bowl; and, in order had drunk more than he could well carry, the dinto prevent any one skulking away before he ing-room door was locked, and the key snugly consigned to the host's pocket. A host, in fact, was looked upon as miserable and mean who did not testify his kindness by sending his guests reeling home, without any recollection of what had

*A story told of the Rev. Dr. John Hamilton and one of his parishioners, which occurred about this thing important to talk over in the forenoon, they retime, will best illustrate this. Having both sometired as customary to a public-house, and called for a gill of spirits and a piece of oat-cake. Both were brought in and laid on the table; but before attempting to partake of either, Dr. Hamilton asked a bless

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"As a sample of the worthies who composed the brotherhood meeting under the title of the Morning, which, closing his eyes, he lengthened out with ing and Evening Club,' and who for many long such a copious infusion of Presbyterian doctrine, that years darkened with their forms one of the east- long before its conclusion, his friend became tired, ern closses of the High-street, we may mention and, sip by sip, drank off the spirits placed before Mr. Archibald Govane, writer, whose original him. On arriving at "Amen," the minister stretched character and convivial habits were ever sure to at-out his hand to take hold of the gill-stoup, but, lo! tract around him a knot of congenial spirits, and the bell," cried he, evidently annoyed either at the on raising the lid, he found the vessel empty. Ring whose love for his club was such that he rare supposed neglect or indignity offered to them; adding, ly was known to be absent from a sitting. It was "this is really too bad!" "Hooly, hooly !" said the here, especially, that this celebrated clubbist, who parishioner, it is all right enough. I am to blame may be said to have been an excellent represent- for that. If you had been less lengthy in your prayative of the drinking character of the age, most er it would not have happened. But let me give unreservedly indulged in his own peculiar and fa- you a hint for the future, that the Scriptures tell us vorite species of tipple, but in which, considering to watch as well as pray!'"

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occurred during the closing part of the evening; | vacated seat. Mr. Gilmour then counselled him to and it was the great glory of many a stalwart diner-out to play but too frequently the part assigned to the Doctor' in the autumn hunt dinner given in 'Thomson's Seasons,' whose

-'tremendous paunch,

Awful and deep, a black abyss of drink
Outlives them all; and from his buried flock
Retiring full of rumination sad,

Laments the weakness of these latter times.'

look steadfastly down the Gallowgate; and while he was thus employed, the ladder was removed and Mr. Gilmour with it, leaving the poor man on an elevation from which there was no practicable and safe descent!"

Next came an era when Celtism and Highlanders assumed the ascendency, and the Gaelic Club took the lead over all others. These were great days for pipers, It was, in fact, an age of deep drinking, both in the old Black Watch, and "Horn, corn, town and country; but it must be recollected that wool, and yarn"-the mysterious toast of although the bouts' were long, they were rare. the Caledonians. A more irregular epoch The story of the Laird of Garscadden and his com- followed. With the Accidental Club, it peers, who never thought it reasonable to rise was sufficient that a man was introduced from the table on the same day on which they sat by a friend, and was no foe to jocularity, down, may be regarded as no indifferent type of the men of the period! They were, in fact, the to have a free entrée. Whether the appelvery counterpart of a celebrated baillie of a neigh-lation of Accidental Club, Dr. Strang says, boring borough in more modern times, whose gravestone declares that

"Here lyes-read it with your hats on-
The bones of Baillie William Watson,
Who was famous for his thinking,
And moderation in his drinking.'"*

Among the members of the same brotherhood was also Mr. Matthew Gilmour, writer, who, to a strong love of the ludicrous, united a propensity to play tricks on his neighbors.

"On his way one morning to the club, when few were on the street, he discovered a ladder and ascended the statue of King William, at the Cross, where he seated himself on the horse, imme

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diately behind the hero of the Boyne. The singular position of the member, however, soon attracted the attention of a curious passenger, who at once cried out, What are you doing there?' Oh!' exclaimed Mr. Gilmour, I am looking at a most wonderful sight, such as I never saw in all my life before, and if you will only come up, you may see it too! The stranger, without thought, took advantage of the ladder, and mounted to the top of the pedestal. Stop there till I come down, and you will get up; and so saying the member slipped down, and the stranger ascended to the

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* Scottish "Galraviches," as these drinking bouts were called, are well known to all acquainted with the "annals of the bottle," and the one in which Garscadden took his last draught has been often told. The scene occurred in the wee clachan of Law, where a considerable number of Kilpatrick lairds had congregated for the ostensible purpose of talking over some parish business. And well they talked, and better drank, when one of them, about the dawn of the morning, fixed his eye on Garscadden, remarked that he was "looking unco gash." Upon which Kilmardinny coolly replied: "Deil mean him, since he has been wi' his Maker these twa hours! I saw him step awa, but I didna like to disturb good com

pany !"

arose from its members being only from some accident present, or never by any accident absent; whether from their accidentally becoming gay upon ale, or accidentally keeping sober on toddy; or whether from their accidentally stealing softly home to bed, or accidentally being carried riotous to the Laigh Kirk Session-house-at that period the only civil watch-house in the cityit is now of little moment to inquire. The Glasgow baillies, immortalized by Scott, were in their glory at that time, and used once in their lives to pay a visit to London. One of these city worthies being asked, on his return, if he had seen George III., and if he had been invited to the palace to dine, coolly replied: "On course I saw the king, and while he was very happy to see me, added that he was very sorry indeed to say that he could not ask me that day to dinner, as the queen was thrang wi' a washing!"

under the same peculiarities incident to It was a little after this period, but the time and to the social condition of Glasgow which characterized the sittings of the Accidental Club, that another most joyous group of citizens were wont to plant their thread-hosed limbs beneath the mahogany of a worthy hostess at the Cross. The name by which this notable fraternity was known, was the Face Club, an appellation which arose simply from the circumstance of each member, on dinner day, having always placed before him a full-fed smoking sheep's head, whose well-sized face, by paying regular toll to every member's mouth through which it passed, was destined to bestow an unwrinkled smoothness to the phizzes of these Glasgow gormands.

"Among the most regular attendants of the Face Club was Mr. Andrew Taylor, better known among his companions by the soubriquet of the Cub. To a joyous nature, this rather singular dominie united a most sarcastic disposition, and when rallied, not unfrequently, by several members of the fraternity, was discovered to be by no means a simple customer. He was in the habit of letting fly his shafts of ridicule right and left, and alike on friend and foe; but being a privileged individual, much was tolerated from him that would not have been permitted from others. The truth is his presence gave an agreeable acidity to the conversation of the club, which perhaps otherwise would have been more commonplace; and hence his sarcastic countenance was always welcomed, with more than ordinary gusto, at the Face board. His sarcastic style of talking, how ever, was not confined to the club, but frequently displayed itself in the school-room; here he could of course give full scope to his nature, without much dread of giving offense. As an example of many sallies in which he there indulged, we may mention that, on the afternoon before some coming Christmas, one of the boys, who rather bore the character of the bird from which his pen had been plucked, having said: 'I suppose, Mr. Taylor, we'll hae to play the morn to eat our goose?' the master at once replied: Ou, ay, man, Robin, but there has been sic a slaughter o' thae animals, I wonder that you hae escaped!' It appears it was on this same Robin that he liked to play off his wit; for it is also told, that while this boy was one evening mending his pen by candle-light (no gas then), he happened to singe his hair, when his master, coming up to him from his desk, remarked: Lord, Bob, that pickle birse of yours has made as meikle smell as if it had been a hale sheep's head!' Of course on these and all such like occasions, the laugh from the boys was, like the landlord's laugh, a ready chorus.""

Dr. Strang claims for Glasgow a preeminence over all other cities in Scotland for loyalty and devotion to the Protestant cause. In the conflict consequent on the French Revolution, the spirit of the city was particularly manifested by the most general enrollment of its citizens. There were voluntary corps, a body called the Ancients, and even cavalry, who were to be seen in full charge practice on the public green, to the terror of the cows and dismay of the town herd. This was the epoch of the "Grog Club," where some of the gallant city militant kept up their courage and patriotism alike by loyal toasts and deep potations; and of the Cambertown Club, which arose in celebration of the first great naval victory of the epoch.

Particular habits also begat particular clubs. Thus the Meridian Club had its origin in the circumstance of the banking

VOL. XXXVII.—NO. II.

and mercantile houses shutting their doors between the hours of one and two o'clock; and the Pig Club took its origin in the admiration entertained by certain of the good citizens of Glasgow for sucking-pig, as there was also a Beefsteak, or Tinkler's Club. Medical men had their club, with, strange to say, strong military tendencies; while the "What-you-please Club" had a decidedly theatrical character.

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"Among the early members of the What-youplease was the well-known and, at that period, much feted, Mr. Lingham-a bluff, good-looking, English commercial traveller, since more celebrated for his love of eating than for his success in the calling in which he was ostensibly engaged. Like the famous Italian priest who sent his servant before him to find out the best wine, and on doing so to write on the house the cabalistic word, Est,' in order that he might really know where to stop, so as to drink freely and safely; so also did the gormandizing Lingham, when trotting his steed over Scotland and the north of England, in search of customers, ever keep his eyes wide awake to any luxury which he might espy; and no sooner did he discover that something peculiarly nice could be had at this or that public house, than he would at once pull up, send his horse to the stable, and delay his journey till his expectations were fully gratified. As a proof of this, it has been stated that his love, or rather mania, for sucking- pig was so strong, that he absolutely remained at a country inn, where there was a litter just ready for the spit, ay, and until he had finished the whole family of young porkers! When in Glasgow, he was a constant attender at the What-you-please, and it may be easily believed that his pleasure never showed itself by choosing the worst thing in the house. In the days when he carried a heavier purse than he latterly did, he showed a particular fondness for oysters, served up in every possible way; and to his culinary skill the gourmand owes the delicious plat d'huîtres à la Lingham, which Henderson once called, and Linghamed oysters.' How many a board of PanGlasgow in its present vulgate now designates, dores has tickled the gullet of this prince of oystereaters! How many expiring natives found a ready grave in Lingham's stomach! But oysters, Heaven knows! are not for a poor man's every-day eating; and, consequently, when inattention to business had in a great measure deprived our overgentlemanly bagman of being invited, as he was wont at one time to be, to the tables of many respectable persons in the city, and when the means of indulging in the expensive luxury of shell-fish had failed, he had recourse to many strange modes for obtaining a dinner. When unsuccessful in his prandial dodge, which, latterly, was too often the case, he sought solace to his greedy appetite, by taking an early supper of tripe at the What-youplease, which, from the quantity he swallowed, proved, alas! for the poor landlord, any thing but a profit. If there be any truth in phrenology, it may be truly affirmed of Lingham, that there were

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