'The Cottagers of Glenburnie' revisited

 I bought the first edition on 30th June 2020 (my birthday!) for £186. When I published my Blog on Elizabeth Hamilton's The Cottagers of Glenburnie on 4th July last year, exactly six months ago, I did not think I would be writing another one so soon. However, the book is the first of my 50-odd Scottish novels I plan to [re-]read during 2021. In the Autumn, I was kindly given a small later edition (no date) of the book by a friend. Interestingly, it had been published/printed in nearby Derby. Another friend, skilled in book binding, refurbished it and it is placed next to my first edition below.

                

The first and later editions             Published by Thomas Richardson & Son, Derby

This Blog is really the development of some points from July, as well as including a few more quotations. The Blogs need to be read together to form an overall picture. It is interesting that Hamilton lived on sociable terms in Edinburgh with such as Sir Walter Scott and Francis Jeffrey, as well as the poet Anne Grant, the playwright Joanna Baillie and the Irish novelist Maria Edgeworth.

I took more notice of Hamilton's dedication/letter to Hector MacNeill this time. Here she takes strongly-felt issue with the contemptuous sneer, the petty cavil, the burlesque representation of certain critics. Is she smarting from the tone of reviews of her previous works? Whilst commending a warm attachment to the country of our ancestors, she dismisses the opinion of vulgar minds [who feel] it ought to produce a blind and indiscriminating partiality for national modes, manners, and customs; and a zeal that kindles into rage at whoever dares to suppose that our country has not in every instance reached perfection. Mrs MacClarty says of Mrs Mason: I ay feared she would be owre nice for us. She has been sae lang amang the Englishes, that she mann hae a hantel o' outlandish notions. Any such minds reading Hamilton's description of the cottagers (and of the Edinburgh 'set') would probably have apoplexy! On the second reading, it was imprinted even more forcefully on my mind just how didactic the author was - even if not giving instruction dull beyond words (Ian Campbell) - at least with minimal humour.

There are really four main stories/purposes in the novel: 

• the rather drawn-out tale of Mrs Mason's life before she arrives at the Stewarts' home of Gowan-Brae 
• Glenburnie - its cottages and cottagers and the MacClarty family
• Isabel (Bell) Stewart, her character and behaviour, contrasting with Mr. Stewart and his other daughter, Mary - this exemplifies failed and successful middle-class education
• The role of the 'right' Education, both at home and in school. The two main plots focus on working-class education (Mrs Mason's childhood and the MacClarty household).
• 
  

Hamilton wrote to one Dr. S. that the book was written solely with a view to shame my good country folks into a greater degree of nicety with regard to cleanliness, and to awaken their attention to the source of corruption in the lower orders. At heart, the book is a manual for working-class self-improvement.

One could, in fact, read the whole book as an Educational Tract.  

• Mr Stewart, only a farmer's son [but] brought into the company of higher people, it is by my character, and not by my situation, that I have gained a title to their respect.
• Mary Stewart, devoted to the virtues of her late mother, gives her younger brothers the best advice she can...they are indeed very good boys, and never refuse to attend to what I say...
• Mrs Mason is clear that Mary's most important friend is her Heavenly Father and she will not go wrong if she performs His tasks - the friendship of man is best a bending reed, in comparison of the protection of Him...
• As for Mrs Mason's own early life, the habit of application is the most essential of all habits for those who are to earn their bread...habits of neatness, and of activity, and of attention, have a greater effect upon the temper and disposition than most people are aware of. Moreover, the only happiness to be had on earth, is distributed by Providence with an equal hand among all the various classes in society.
• Parental control is the key: all that bent to mischief in the children, arises from the neglect of the parents, in not directing their activity into proper channels. Nip self will, passion, or perverseness in the very bud!
• Methodism really gets it 'in the neck', as I mentioned last July. Called enthusiasts, who laboured at what they called conversion... Mrs Mason (and the author) make it clear that 'state of grace' is not a proof of saintship. Good Works must be there.
• Throughout the book there are contrasts between 'bad' and 'good' character. First Lord Longlands - good; second - bad; third - good; Isabel Stewart - bad; Mary and Mr Stewart - good but rather weak. Then there are those who know no better and cou'dna be fashed- Mrs MacClarty and her daughters, stupid and insensible Jean and morose and sullen Meg, and Sandy and her other sons, who relapse into bad ways, despite Mrs Mason's influence; and those who might be reformed - John MacClarty, the farmer, and Mr Mollins, Isabel's wayward husband. Goodness prevails in many ways: the Morrisons, supported by Mrs Mason, in their upgraded school and Gourlay, the wise Minister - "Did you ever know of a child complain of being punished, when sensible that punishment was just?" Hmm!

 Mrs Mason was probably regarded by many readers as a sanctimonious prig. Elizabeth Hamilton, ironically describing Mrs MacClarty, could also be writing about Mrs Mason : In truth, Mrs MacClarty was one of those seemingly good-natured people, who are never to be put out of their own way; for she was obstinate to a degree; and so perfectly self-satisfied...

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At the end of the little reprint is an Appendix.

The printing of the second Edition was so far advanced before the following Letter came to hand, as to render it impossible to make due inquiry concerning the accuracy of the information it contains. It is addressed to the Author of The Cottagers of Glenburnie. It is under eight pages long in the little edition, and it purports to tell of the later history of Jean MacClarty who, married to a cousin, keeps a well-known inn on the -- road. Slovenly is not the word! Unfortunately, a rival inn is kept by a scholar of Mrs Mason's. Too many travellers prefer the latter's cleanliness and regularity. 

Who wrote this? It is possibly in too humorous/sarcastic a tone for Hamilton. Is this Appendix in any other edition? If she did not write it, who did and did she add it herself? Questions!

NB A very minor point. "Mrs Mason" is the term used when she was addressed as teenage servant girl (pp. 68 and 71). She can't have been married then. Was Mason her maiden name?