The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER 237
and his angels—The reverend mester Mackcorkendale, and all the
theologists and saints of that persuasion were consulted, and some
of them had doubts about the matter; which doubts and scruples
had begun to infect our aunt, when we took our departure from
Edinburgh.
We passed through Linlithgow, where there was an elegant royal
palace, which is now gone to decay, as well as the town itself—This
too is pretty much the case with Stirling, though it still boasts of a
fine old castle, in which the kings of Scotland were wont to reside
in their minority—But Glasgow is the pride of Scotland, and,
indeed, it might very well pass for an elegant and flourishing city
in any part of Christendom. There we had the good fortune to be
received into the house of Mr. Moore, an eminent surgeon, to
whom we were recommended by one of our friends at Edinburgh;
and, truly, he could not have done us more essential service—Mr.
Moore is a merry facetious companion, sensible and shrewd, with
a considerable fund of humour; and his wife an agreeable woman,
well bred, kind, and obliging—Kindness, which I take to be the
essence of good-nature and humanity, is the distinguishing charac-
teristic of the Scotch ladies in their own country—Our landlord
shewed us every thing, and introduced us to all the world at
Glasgow; where, through his recommendation, we were com-
plimented with the freedom of the town. Considering the trade
and opulence of this place, it cannot but abound with gaiety and
diversions—Here is a great number of young fellows that rival the
youth of the capital in spirit and expence; and I was soon con-
vinced, that all the female beauties of Scotland were not assembled
at the hunters ball in Edinburgh—The town of Glasgow flourishes
in learning, as well as in commerce—Here is an university, with
professors in all the different branches of science, liberally endowed,
and judiciously chosen—It was vacation time when I passed, so
that I could not entirely satisfy my curiosity; but their mode of
education is certainly preferable to ours in some respects—The
students are not left to the private instruction of tutors; but taught
in public schools or classes, each science by its particular professor
or regent.
My uncle is in raptures with Glasgow—He not only visited all
the manufactures of the place, but made excursions all round, to
Hamilton, Paisley, Renfrew, and every other place within a dozen
miles, where there was any thing remarkable to be seen in art or