Broadside regarding the arrival of sporting ladies in Edinburgh

Commentary

This broadside begins: 'A LIST of the SPORTING LADIES, Who are arrived in EDINBURGH, from all the different Towns in the Three Kingdoms, to take their Pleasure at KELSO RACES.' A note at the bottom of the sheet reads, 'Those who want any of the above Ladies, may call for them at Moffat's Close, High Street, Edinburgh.'

What then follows is a list, in verse form, of the 'sporting ladies' who have arrived in the capital, along with the names of their home towns. Each woman is mentioned fondly and is referred to in the politest of terms. Although at first glance, it appears that these young women have travelled to Edinburgh to enjoy a day at the races, the term 'sporting ladies' at this time actually referred to prostitutes. As advertised by this broadside, the women were working out of a house in Moffat's Close, Edinburgh.

Broadsides are single sheets of paper, printed on one side, to be read unfolded. They carried public information such as proclamations as well as ballads and news of the day. Cheaply available, they were sold on the streets by pedlars and chapmen. Broadsides offer a valuable insight into many aspects of the society they were published in, and the National Library of Scotland holds over 250,000 of them.

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