The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Social Life of the Borders. 1 79
race. From the time, however, of the Union of the Crowns,
and as they became less dependent upon the chiefs for
protection, and the chiefs required their assistance less in
personal feuds, raids into the sister country, or in their
following in war, a marked distinction arose between the
upper and the lower classes. The time of peace, however,
had in no way injured the character of the Borderer, and
the energy, boldness, and devotion he had displayed in
more troublous days had, in throwing him back upon him-
self, made him more self-reliant, patient in the struggles of
his daily life, faithful and elevated in character. The distinct
individuality of " the rustic character," Cunningham
truly says, " arose, in fact, from the wrecks of feudal
jurisdiction.''
The social life of the two classes was, therefore, markedly
distinct at the period with which the lecture deals. The
Scottish gentleman of this period was distinguished for
hospitality and kindness. He spent his time in attention
to his estate, in golfing, curling, shooting, and fishing in
their season, delighting in the more perilous amusement of
leistering salmon, so strikingly described by Scott in his
*' Guy Mannering." During the winter he turned his steps
towards Edinburgh with his family to listen to the concerts
in St Cecilia's Hall, which Lord Cockburn thought the
most beautiful concert room he had ever seen, or he
attended the assemblies in Buccleuch Place or George
Street, at which " every couple had to be provided with a
ticket prescribing their exact place in the dance, at the end
of which the lady was presented with an orange by hei
partner."
Unfortunately, the enjoyments of the gentry were not
always so harmless. It was an age of conviviality^ and it
required presence of mind and hardness of head to venture
on the enjoyments of the table, to judge from the descrip-
tion given by Lord Cockburn of an entertainment in the
Vale of Gala towards the and of the century. "In a
ivretched ale-house," he says, " at Heriot, I found twelve or