Galt's 'The Ayrshire Legatees' revisited

 

The first edition - 1821

 

Before starting this Blog, I re-read my piece on the book when I first read it last Summer. I haven't changed my opinion, in that I still prefer the Annals to the Ayrshire Legatees. The concept of four different members of the same family writing letters from London back to friends in their home village is a good one, as Galt cleverly puts different angles on the same events being described, whether it be a visit to view King George III's body lying in state at Windsor, or the sea voyage from Leith to London. However, I still found the atrociously spelt missives from Mrs. Pringle more irritating than amusing (although I chuckled at her interest in her daughter's matterormoneal affair). What I can praise Galt for is the juxtaposition of descriptions of London life with the effect on those back in Garnock, really the village gossips. Clearly, a major intention of the author was to highlight the differences in attitudes and social behaviour between the relative 'backwater' of the village and the cosmopolitan Edinburgh and London. Another contrast is between the generations: Andrew and his sister both leave the Garnock world - emphasised by their journeying to France - whilst their parents return to the village. The novel includes commentary on several real characters (including Sir Walter Scott) and feels as if the section on members of the House of Lords, with their strengths and weakness, was Galt's own views.

The call to London is received by the 

Legatees of Colonel Armour

One little humorous cameo I liked was the Sunday morning the Schoolmaster and Session-Clerk, Mr. Micklewham dropped in to see the Rev. Mr. Charles Snodgrass, who had been appointed to officiate during the absence of Dr. Pringle in London: upon being admitted, he found the young helper engaged at breakfast, with a book lying on his table, very like a volume of a new novel called Ivanhoe, in its appearance, but of course it must have been sermons done up in that manner to attract fashionable readers. As soon, however, as Mr. Snodgrass saw his visitor, he hastily removed the book, and put it into the table-drawer. Priceless!

Rev Snodgrass hides Ivanhoe

Dr. Pringle may be likened to an egg - not the curate's but a 'good' one. From first to last he is thinking of others, regularly and quietly sending home directives to help the poor. At the very end, he takes Rev. Snodgrass aside, to support him in his wish to marry Miss Bell Todd - as the Lord has put it in my power to do a good action both to you and my people...

...the gate unclosed, and the doctor came forth...

Galt finishes his tale with a warm appraisal of the good Dr. Pringle: he was of that easy sort of feather-bed corpulency of form that betokens good nature...he has smartened himself up since his London sojourn...his stockings, which were wont to be of worsted, had undergone a translation into silk...he had exchanged the simplicity of his own respectable grey hairs for the cauliflower hoariness of a PARRISH wig, on which he wore a broad brimmed hat, turned up a little at each side behind, indicatory of Episcopalian predilections (and good for him, these harmless minor vanities)...the moment that the doctor made his appearance, his greeting and salutation was quite delightful; it was that of a father returned to his children, and a king to his people. What satire is used with regards Dr. Pringle (in fact, his entire family) is done in a kindly manner by Galt. All in all, an affectionate book, sharing with the reader the mainly endearing foibles of the Pringles, the Argents and the villagers back home.