The Book-Hunter
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 L300, and the part payable _then_ is more
than L200. 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 L50 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