Towns > Dundee > 1822 - Dundee delineated; or, A history and description of that town, its institutions, manufactures and commerce

178
contained a motely assortment of train oil and salt, candles
and moLsses, black soap and sugar, all crowded into ic;3~
thin a square of three or four yards.
Lodgings. — In those days our predecessors were easily
accommodated. No houses fetched above ten pounds of
rent, and few half that sum. A lodging indeed of five
rooms, low kitchen, garret, shop, a couple of gardens, arid
pigeon-house and stable, in the High Street, was let in
1753 at L.14 rent only. It was thought very dear, and
every wiseacre wondered. The shop alone would now rent
at L.25 a-year. With -drawing-rooms were not known, at
least not used. The man and wife lived and soaked loving-
ly in their bed-chamber; and the dining-room was reserved
as a cold bath for the first unfortunate visitor. The father
parent of the middling and lower classes, was then little
known to his children : he breakfasted at the ale-hou6e ;
they went to school, and returned before- he went to dinner ;
they were in bed, and fast asleep before he returned in the
evening from his club, his two-penny, and his tobacco. — ■
Thus, unless on a Sunday, he saw no more of hib children
than the man in the moon.
Merchants. — The venerable character of merchant was
then in the back ground. 7'he respectable place they now
hold in society was not then filled up. The toe of' the pea-
sant had not then come so near the heel of Ihe courtier as to
gall his kibe. The landed gentry, who (like the woodcocks)
did us the honour to pass the winter amongst us, strutted it
about on tiptoe, and in sullen havteur. The feudal manners
then scorched us, and reigned uncontrouled. Floating
wealth had not then balanced her current account with
landed insolence, and the simple cottager, drudging tenant,
and useful mechanic, were in a total state of poverty, ser-
vility, and depression.
Carriages. — One single one-horse chaise supplied the de-
mands and travels of the whole inhabitants. Even John
Bamet (the solitary saddler) who repaired it daily before
a journey, grew pert and saucy, from self consequence and
importance. John scrupled not tauntingly to desire his cus-
tomers who were displeased, to employ his neighbour.—
John should have had his ears cropt.