Broadside concerning New Year's Day in Edinburgh, incorporating 'The Daft-days' by Robert Fergusson

Commentary

This broadside begins: 'A Curious and Entertaining Account of the New Year's Day In Auld Reekie, shewing how Blythesome and Hearty the Public-House Wife's are, - what Droll Scenes passes between the Lads and Lassies in the Morning, when away First-Footing, and what Fun and Merriness they have dancing Tullochgorum when getting tipsey, - Also, Paddy O' Conner's Curious and Laughable Petition to be an Excisemen.'

'The Daft-days' begins ' Now mirk December's dowie face, / Glowrs owre the rigs wi' sour grimace, / While, through his minimum o' space, / The bleer-ee'd sun, / Wi' blinkin' light, and stealing pace, / His race doth run.' It was written by the great Edinburgh poet Robert Fergusson (1750-1774), who inspired Robert Burns and whose verse is still widely read.

'The Daft-days' is a vibrant Scots description of Edinburgh's New Year celebrations, which shows that the city has had a long tradition of enjoying this festival. 'Paddy's Humble Petition for the Excise', at the bottom of the sheet, is a mock legal document. It exploits unpleasant stereotypes, common in Scotland at the time, of Irish people as dim-witted, confused and unreliable.

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