EDINBURGH.
_Apprenticeship in lawyer's office--Grandfather's letter--J.H. Burton's
letters to his mother, conveying first impressions of Edinburgh, and
account of passing Civil Law trial._
On the completion of his studies, John Burton was apprenticed to a
writer in Aberdeen. He has talked of this period as one of the most
painful of his life. He was utterly unable to master the routine of
office-work, or to submit to its restraints; and one of his most joyful
days was that in which his indentures were, by mutual desire, cancelled.
A piece of yellow old paper was found in Dr Burton's desk when he died.
It was a letter written some fifty-five years before, and had probably
lain there during all these years. As it refers to this period of Dr
Burton's life, it may be given. It seems fully to bear out the writer's
conception of the unsympathising character of the intercourse between
Mrs Burton and her family. No stronger incentive to exertion could have
been offered to a man of Dr Burton's character, than the desire to
falsify the implied prediction of such a missive. With a view to its
effect in this way it had probably been given him by his mother. It is
an entire letter, and the whole is here printed.
"GRANDHOLM, _June 6th_.
"DEAR ELIZA,--I have this day received a letter from my father,
part of which I think it necessary to transcribe to you, as the
best mode of giving you his meaning.
"'The account of John Burton's being in such an idle unemployed way
displeases me much. I wish you, Mary, would speak to his mother on
the subject; tell her I would have acquainted her with my
displeasure before now, only, on account of her misfortune in her
family [this must refer to the death of her son David], I deferred
what I ought to have done. Why was he taken away from his
attendance at Mr Winchester's office? Doctor Dauney said he could
not be better than with him, as there was plenty of business, such
as was going. Tell her that as I have neither funds nor inclination
to support idle gentlemen, or rather vagabonds, I have given
directions to Mr Alcock not to pay up her next half-year's annuity,
till he hears from me on the subject, and until she gives you
satisfactory accounts concerning her son's return to Mr
Winchester's office or otherwise. Tell her not to write to me, but
to act as is her duty.'"
The sister here continues, "I hope Mary [Dr Burton's only sister,
the youngest child of his mother] continues well, and that you will
not fail to give me an answer to this, as you see it will be
absolutely necessary to give attention to the subject. Barbara
continues very unwell.--I remain yours sincerely, M. PATON."
Whether the threat conveyed in this letter was executed, the writer has
now no means of knowing. The expression of it alone was cruel
enough--the threat to starve a poor mother into forcing a son to
continue a business utterly repugnant to him. Mrs Burton, however, did
not protect herself by the sacrifice of her son. She believed in her
son's powers, and acted on her belief in spite of all opposition; and
she had her reward. She lived to see her son gaining fame in letters,
and to find in him the utmost devotion a son can show to a mother. He
never forgot or failed to acknowledge his obligations to her. These were
undoubtedly great. She not only gave him, in part personally, his
education, but when that was finished, and she hoped to find peace for
her declining years in the little home she had prepared for herself, she
sacrificed that also to her hope of her son's advancement--her faith in
his talents and perseverance.
With the death of her husband, perhaps also on account of that of her
father, and the loss of her two little sons, Mrs Burton's pecuniary
position seems to have become somewhat easier. Whilst her son John was
destined for business in Aberdeen, she had built a small house for her
own occupation in the neighbourhood. When he set his mind on the higher
walk of his profession, and desired to come to the Scotch Bar, the
necessary expense could only be compassed by the devoted mother selling
her newly built house, and casting in her lot with her son. She, her
young daughter, and an Aberdeenshire maiden (so primitive in her ideas,
that she conceived the only way of reaching Edinburgh from Warriston
must be by _wading_ the Water of Leith), followed John to Edinburgh, and
took up their abode in a very small house on the north side of Warriston
Crescent in the year 1831.
Dr Burton was no great letter-writer. After he began, as he said, to
write for print, he considered it waste of time to write anything which
was not to be printed, except in briefest form. His letters to his wife
and family during absences on the Continent or elsewhere, seldom
contained more than a bare itinerary, past and future, often referring
them for particulars to the article in 'Blackwood,' which was to grow
out of his travels.
His mother was naturally the recipient of the writing which came before
the days of print,--before the days of penny postage also. Almost every
letter contains a history of how his mother's last reached him, as well
as how he hoped to have that which he is writing conveyed to her without
paying the awful tax of postage.
The next letters here offered belong to the beginning of his Edinburgh
life, and relate to a feat of mental exertion equal to his bodily
performances. He was at the time living in lodgings, for the purpose of
passing his legal examinations preparatory to coming to the Bar; but he
may be allowed to give the history of this part of his life entirely in
his own words.
"EDINBURGH, _3d Nov. 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--I have just arrived here, and as there is a
friend of Mr Dauney's just about to set off for Aberdeen, I
preferred letting you get a bit of a note or so to sending you a
newspaper. Of course I have nothing to write you about but my own
concerns. A delightful moonlight night for travelling, but the
coach rather full: there were three nice children, with whom I
contrived to amuse myself. All went on well till we came to
Burntisland Ferry, where we had to proceed so far in an open boat.
The sea poured in in a rather disagreeable manner; and while I
thought every one was getting a good ducking but myself, a large
miscreant of a wave contrived to escape every other passenger, and
to settle right upon my shoulders. I have not yet secured a
lodging in Edinburgh, but have been wandering through all the
streets admiring. Of the Old Town I think far more than of the New,
it is so majestic and magnificent, and am resolved, if I can, to
live in it.
"I dined at Mr Dauney's to-day. He has requested me to stay with
him till I can get lodgings conveniently, but I expect to be stowed
away to-morrow. I delivered Mr Innes's parcel; and remain, my dear
mother, your most affectionate son, J. HILL BURTON.
"_P.S._--I would have written you a long letter, but do not wish to
absent myself from table."
* * * * *
"11 KEIR STREET, EDINBURGH,
_Tuesday Evening, 9th Nov. 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--I take the opportunity of Mr Innes's parcel,
which leaves this to-morrow afternoon, to give you a more succinct
account of my affairs than you could derive from my laconic epistle
of last week. I must, however, preface by requesting you to write
me as soon as you conveniently can, either by Innes or L. Smith's
conveyance, as I am anxious to hear the state of your cold, and how
James is succeeding at school.
"When I dismounted from the coach I was peculiarly struck by the
sight of magnificent streets, with scarcely a human being to be
seen along them. I expected to have found them of that crowded
description so often characteristic of a metropolis; but to one who
is accustomed to see our grand mercantile thoroughfare, the
paucity of perambulators in _some_ of the streets of Edinburgh
appears rather peculiar. _Others_ I found at particular periods to
be thickly inhabited. My first course was to direct my course
through the rain to G.B.'s dwelling, where I found him reading a
large Bible. He appears to have carried fanaticism to a ridiculous
pitch, unworthy of his education and station in life. He put into
my hands a tract (composed I am afraid by himself), with
injunctions to read it. I intend to send it to you as a curiosity.
His brother Charles, whom I best knew, used to be a clever and
sensible boy, very well informed; I hope he, too, is not also among
the prophets. How few steer a middle course! G.B. cannot do the
most trifling act without connecting it with religion. It is a mere
disease. Others never think of it at all. I think it is Dr Johnson
who says something to this effect: '----was mad, and showed it by
kneeling down and saying his prayers on the street. Now there are
many men who are not mad, yet I am afraid are worse than poor ----,
for they never pray at all.' But to return--I inquired at Mr B. if
he could recommend me to any cheap and respectable lodging. After
applying some thought to the subject, he began to recollect that he
did know of one or two. With regard to one the address was rather
imperfect, as he knew neither the name nor the number, but had a
guess of the street. The other I discovered, and now occupy,
although he gave me both a wrong name and wrong number.
"Immediately on leaving B.'s I went to Dauney, who appeared glad to
see me, and kindly asked me to dine with him. He has a very
handsome house. Mrs Dauney is a very agreeable person, and they
have two children. He would not hear of my leaving him till I had
got accommodated with good lodgings. The rooms I now occupy I did
not enter till yesterday. They were inhabited by a person just
about to leave them, and I had no recommendation to others so well
situated. The person who keeps the lodgings is named M'Gregor. I
have a room and closet, neat enough, for which I pay 8s. a-week,
which includes coals. I could not have a place nearly so cheap in
the New Town. The situation is delightful. It is behind the Old
Town, and the windows look across towards it and the Castle, just
as those in Union Terrace look towards Belmont Street. The view
extends as far as the Firth of Forth.
"There are, moreover, other advantages. Heriot's Hospital and the
old city wall are close by; and when I choose I may, in going to
the New Town, pass through the West Port and the Grassmarket.
"I have been a good deal annoyed about my luggage, which has not
yet been sent up, so that you may imagine some of my present
drapery has been worn long enough.
"I directed a person, calling himself the Clyde Shipping Company's
agent here, to get them sent up last Saturday, which was to be done
'pointedly.' I amused myself from day to day annoying the man, till
at last his patience appeared determined to weather out mine, so I
went to Leith to-day and saw after them myself--found the man had
nothing to do whatever with the concern, and neither could nor did
give directions. The clerk, after blessing himself the usual number
of times, stated his opinion that it would have been better for
both parties had they left his office some time ago, so I expect to
see them early to-morrow. I will let you know of their safe arrival
if before three. I read your poetry[5] all over, but did I begin to
remark on it here I would exceed the limits which a narration of
facts has left me. It has afforded me much pleasure in the
loneliness, which, of course, I feel a little at first. However, I
cannot say it makes me at all sad. There is something independent
and free in the idea that none of the vast multitude you are among
cares more for your life or welfare than the breeze that passes. I
begin my studies to-morrow, and if I behave properly will have a
good deal to do.
[Footnote 5: Mrs Burton wrote verses well. She occasionally
published in the 'Gentleman's Magazine.']
"By the way, I may here mention a somewhat important circumstance.
The greater part of the entrance fee is paid immediately on passing
the Civil Law trial, which you know I wished to do this spring. The
whole fee is less than £300, and the part payable _then_ is more
than £200. The fees are to be raised, but the increase cannot be
levied upon me; it only applies to those who have not commenced
their studies at the period of raising. Speak to R. Alcock about
this. I daily meet troops of Aberdonians. I dined on Friday last
with a young man, Fordyce, and yesterday with Mr J. Jopp. I
calculate I have about fifty fellow-citizens connected with law
here....
"_Wednesday, half-past two._--Just got my luggage--cost 8s. All
right, save that your jars have bolted, and played the very deuce
with some of my books, two waistcoats, and a pair of drawers.
"Hoping your cold is better, I remain, my dear mother, your
affectionate and dutiful son,
"J. HILL BURTON."
* * * * *
"11 KEIR STREET, EDINBURGH,
_20th Nov. 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--I have scarcely an instant's time to say a word
or so in reply to yours.... It was not _one_ of the jars which
burst, but there was a general conspiracy among them all to slip
out at the side of the paper.
"I do not board for anything, just get in a little bit of meat or
anything I want, can take my own way, and am never annoyed. I
breakfasted and dined last Sunday with Mr H. Constable, who is a
very agreeable young fellow. He is the proprietor of the
Miscellany.[6] By the way, I find out that if I do not pass my
Civil Law trial before 1832 I shall be compelled to pay £50 to a
Widows' Fund. Too bad to make young fellows, who may never have a
_widow_ all their _lives_, pay so much. Determined, if I pay it, to
get a widow immediately....
[Footnote 6: Probably a mistake. He was the brother of the
proprietor.]
"Breakfasted to-day with the B.'s. At the theatre with Mellis day
before yesterday. I hope Mary continues better.--Your affectionate
son, J. HILL BURTON."
* * * * *
"11 KEIR STREET, EDINBURGH,
_1st Dec. 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--I have got something to communicate with regard
to my prospects of entering the Faculty, which will not be of the
most agreeable nature. I was told from the proper authority (I have
already mentioned to you) that a Widows' Fund subscription is to be
charged against those who enter after 1st January 1832. I have
consulted the Act of Parliament, and find it is leviable against
those who enter after 1st January 1831. The last examination this
year will be on _Tuesday week_,--the last for passing which £50 and
an annual payment of £7 is not charged. Now for this examination I
intend to prepare myself, unless you inform me _immediately_ that
the money, £213, cannot be obtained. See Mr Alcock immediately, and
explain this, but tell it to _no other person_, as I should not
like it to be known that I had failed. I expect to know your
intentions at farthest by _Monday_, as I must then give warning to
the Faculty. You must be expeditious, as I can assure you _I_ shall
be. The subject is not difficult, and I think I may be able to
prepare myself for an ordinary examination. Should I find it
_impossible_, I will still reserve to myself, even after you send
the money, the power of withdrawing. The Widows' subscription (as
the Act states) is repayable to those who are rejected or die
before joining, and I presume the entry-money is so too. If it is
_not_, I should insure my life.
"If you consent to my arrangements, you must send me a certificate
of my age--an extract from the Register of Baptisms, or something
of that sort. I suppose Cordiner can give it you....
"Should I not pass my Civil Law trial immediately, I will still
have the satisfaction of passing at some early period, avoiding an
additional £60 which it is intended will be imposed, and from which
no advantage, either real or fortuitous, is to be expected. Now the
Widows' Fund, you know, when one has a widow, will be a very good
sort of thing--£80 per annum, I believe. So if any lady wishes me
to marry her, she had better advise me by all means to join the
scheme. I know of no way of making one's own by it just now but by
marrying some old advocate's widow who is on the list.
"What you do, do quickly. Write me as soon as you can, and
_definitely_, with bill for the money if possible--if not, a plain
statement of its impossibility. I will work hard till I hear from
you. How are you all? I am in good health, and remain, my dear
mother, your affectionate and dutiful son, J. HILL BURTON."
* * * * *
"EDINBURGH, _4th December 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--I this morning received your and Mr Alcock's
letters, enclosing a bill for £200 and order for £33, and having no
opportunity to-morrow, I take this occasion to acknowledge receipt
and return thanks. Tell Mr Alcock I am afraid I will never be able
to repay him his kindness in procuring me this sum upon my very
cavalier notice. With regard to yourself, you know, I suppose, we
have a pretty long account together, and the balance somewhat
against me, as it will always remain.
"I suppose you will have received my hurried note of last night. I
thought you had entirely forgot my £20 amid the other weighty
matters you had to settle for me. I am still preparing and covering
the Civil Law with rapid strides, but to make one's self master of
a subject so intricate in a fortnight is something of a
consideration; however, I do not despair. I am doing my best, and
if I do not use my utmost endeavour, after what has been done for
me by others, I will allow you to call me anything you please.
"Still I beg you will not make yourself too sanguine of my success.
In the meantime tell _no one_, not even Robertson, what I am
attempting, that in the case of my being remitted to my studies
(that is the term), it may not be generally known. I give in my
name for examination on Monday next--it takes place on Tuesday
fortnight. But I do not know when I will be acquainted with the
issue. Do not be afraid that I will confuse or disturb myself much
about it. You know I have been accustomed to such things, as eels
are to be skinned.
"While writing, I have been interrupted by a porter who has come
seething in with a large box. To open a parcel is a most
interesting thing, and the imagination revels with pleasure over
its uncertain contents; but the rich and varied stores of this have
exceeded expectation. I am glad you sent the certificate of
baptism. I do not consider it at all necessary to write by post, as
this goes by a most careful hand; but should I not hear next week
of your having received it, then I _shall_ write by post. Perhaps I
may enclose a receipt to Mr Alcock. He 'hinted,' it seems, 'the
danger of placing so much money,' &c. I have not time to let my
imagination run loose just now, or else I might have pictured to
myself the thousand things which might be done with such a
treasure; but I assure you I never should have thought of anything
(as things now stand) but the intended destination of it, and of
_that_ I shall have enough to think. But you know the fable, or
story rather, of the Priest and the Hostler. I have not time to
tell it you now, but perhaps Robertson can furnish you with it....
"I remain, my dear mother, your sincerely affectionate son, J. HILL
BURTON."
* * * * *
"EDINBURGH, _15th December 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--If you had not been in expectation of such an
event, I might have commenced my letter after William's manner,
with saying, 'You will be surprised to hear I have passed,' but as
the matter stands, I must begin with--'I have the satisfaction of
informing you, &c.' It is just about a quarter of an hour since I
was examined, the time being deferred from yesterday to to-day. The
questions were very easy, at least I thought them so, and I think I
answered each. If there were any I did not answer, it was from
abstracting my attention from the more trifling to the more
difficult branches of the law. So far of my examinations are over;
but you must hold in mind that if I do not pass my SCOTS Law trial
in a year, the £50 must still be paid. One thing I have lost by
preparation, the chance of gaining the prize in the Civil Law
class. This is given by the greatest number of correct answers to
one hundred questions. Ten of these have already been answered. _I_
only accomplished _seven_ of them, and consider I have forfeited my
chance. Seven is a good proportion out of ten difficult questions;
but as the person who gains the prize is seldom deficient by above
two or three, I do not conceive I have a chance. You may now tell
whom you please that I have passed, but need not be publishing it
to all the world. Had I _not_ passed, I should have been called a
rash foolish fellow for attempting it; but as it is, it will be
said I have done quite right. You may tell Robertson 'and them,'
and Mrs Brown; and tell Mrs B. I will now have time to write her,
and send a barrel of oysters.... Ask Robertson and Sim and
Cordiner, and so on, to drink my health. I go to a party at Mr
Constable's to-night, the only place (excepting Mr Dauney's) I have
been engaged at since I arrived. I have had nothing whatever to
interfere with my studies for this last fortnight. Tell James and
Mary I can now have time to read their letters. On Saturday Mr G.B.
called on me, asking me to attend a prayer-meeting, and finding I
was busy, told me if I saw things in as clear a light as he did, I
would see the vanity of attending to these earthly things. I trust,
without irreligion, one may say he is mistaken. I write from Mr
Constable's, which is near the Post-office. My dinner-hour is long
past, and the post is just going, so I must bid you adieu. Write me
soon, and inform me how you are pleased with the contents of this.
My 'passage' only cost me 10s. of fee, and 2s. 6d. as fine for
being absent from the Society. I hope you are all well, and remain,
my dear mother, your affectionate and dutiful son, J. HILL BURTON."
* * * * *
"EDINBURGH, _17th December 1830_.
"MY DEAR MOTHER,--I supposed you received my last letter, written
somewhat hurriedly, but of which I suppose you were able to
discover the principal fact. Since writing, I have been relaxing
myself a little, and going about making a few calls, a thing I have
neglected of late; but I beg you will not suppose this to be a hint
that I am to grow idle. I intend, indeed, to be very busy all
winter. I expect to hear from you soon, and to know what is doing
in Aberdeen. I called upon Mrs H. to-night, who told me my
grand-aunt had been very unwell lately. I trust this is a mistake;
but not having heard from your quarter for some days, the fact may
be so, without my having known it.... I just despatched the
oysters, and I would wish that you could send to Mr Dyce, and
inquire whether they have come free of expense, as I left money
with the seller to pay the coach-hire. I have not sent you any, as
they are rather dear--8s. 8d. for a barrel with two hundred. Now, I
presume you might buy the same number in Aberdeen for about quarter
the sum.
"I live here in a sort of honourable solitude--few acquaintances,
and few annoyances; it is just the sort of life I like. I am to
have one or two of the young men I know to spend Saturday evening
with me, and to discuss your nice plum-cakes which I have just cut.
Among them is a young Pole--a Count Lubienski, a very agreeable and
intelligent gentleman--a class-fellow.
"I may now, by the way, give you the history of my discoveries with
respect to the Widows' Fund, &c., which I presume have proved
rather mysteriously annoying to you. When I first heard the report
of the matter, I called on the librarian and requested information.
He told me that those who did not pass before 1832, had to pay it.
_I_ then said it was due at passing the Civil Law trials, and so,
&c.; and then the man shrugged his shoulders, and allowed I had
convinced him it was only payable by those who did not pass their
_Civil Law_ trials before 1832, and I said no more about the
matter. Dining, however, with Dauney on Tuesday fortnight last, I
heard an observation which led me to a different conclusion, so I
procured the Act as soon as might be, and saw how the matter lay.
"Presuming I had a whole month before me, I determined to try the
thing, notwithstanding the shaking of heads of those to whom I was
_obliged_ to communicate it.
"Finding, on inquiry, that there would be no opportunity of being
examined after the 14th, I will allow I was a little startled, but
still stuck fast, and had a sort of feeling I would be able to
pass, as I do not like setting about what I cannot perform.
"Proceeding in my labours, I gathered confidence, and when the day
came thought it would be rather hard were I rejected. There were
four examined at the same time, and being before myself, I had to
stand their statements of the difficulty and minuteness of the
questions, and they stared not a little when I told them I had
studied the subject for a fortnight and two days; for previous to
that time I had been engaged in the _History_ of Roman Law at
college, and had commenced with the Principles. After the first
question I felt myself secure; yet I will allow I felt a little
easy (_i.e. relieved_) when each of the examiners shook hands with
me, and told me I had given perfect satisfaction.
"The librarian tells me some are rejected in the Civil Law trials,
but _none_ in the Scotch Law, for which I must next year be
prepared. I hope the saving will counter-balance the trouble of
raising the money. I believe I shall enclose you my acknowledgment
for the £200 (the £13 goes to the library, or something of that
sort, which, though rather apocryphal in my nomenclature, shows the
destination of the money). Tell the children[7] if they will write
I will answer them soon, and enclose them something. Pray remember
me to Mr Alcock, and repeat my sense of obligation to him. Tell
Miss Seton I am now on the same shelf with her nephew. Remember me
to the Misses Leith and all friends, Miss Johnstone and Mrs Wemyss,
and all your not very extensive circle.... Write me soon; and I
remain, my dear mother, your affectionate and dutiful son, J. HILL
BURTON.
[Footnote 7: Dr Burton's youngest brother and sister.]
"_P.S._--I understand that should I 'kick' before passing advocate,
the money will be returned. This would not be the case, however,
were I to prove fickle, so I must consider my steps taken, and all
thoughts of the Aberdeen law as ended; however, I shall finish my
apprenticeship in summer. Had I time, I should like to go a week or
two to the Continent (Norway or so). J.H.B."