Douglas; or, The Highlander. A Novel. In four volumes.
Author Details
Surname:Bisset
First Names:Robert
Gender:Male
Anonymous:No
Publication Details
Publisher:Printed at the Anti-Jacobin Press, by T. Crowder, Temple Lane, Whitefriars; and sold by C. Chapple, Pall Mall; T. Hurst, Paternoster Row; and J. and E. Kerby, Bond Street.
Place:London
Date:1800
Novel Details
Genre:Biography; courtship; didactic/moralising; humour; inheritance/identify; manners/society; political; satirical
Setting:Highlands of Scotland; England
Period:Contemporary (1770s to present)
Plot
Fictional and often satirical biography of the eponymous hero, Douglas, from the childhood of his parents, through his own childhood and schooling to adulthood, concluding as he marries his longtime love, Isabella. It is quite a rambling affair, with lots of characters and subplots. Recurrent motifs include the effects of different kinds of education, the superficiality of fashionable society, and the dangers of swindlers taking fortunes that are not rightfully theirs. There are lengthy discussions of contemporary literature and politics, as well as multiple references to and borrowings from other novelists' plots and schemes. The primary influence is very explicitly Fielding's Tom Jones - there are multiple references to this throughout - and Douglas's relationship with Isabella is modeled on Tom Jones and Sophia. This includes the fact that, despite his love for Isabella, Douglas is unable to resist affairs with other women along the way. Like Fielding's novels, the majority of the characters are stock types, and this is shown through their naming, e.g. the corrupt lawyer Swearwell, the promiscuous Lady Mary Manhunt.
Overview of the Dialect
The author criticises contemporary fiction in the Preface, and promises more realism (and definitely no ghosts, abbeys, or flights of fancy). It is therefore perhaps unsurprising, to find several instances of dialect representation. In Vol 1 alone, there is Highland Scots (p. 68); satire on Cockney (pp. 105 and 108), satirical treatment of non-standard in aspiring social climbers (pp. 220 & 235); a non-standard speaking servant (pp. 237-8). The dialects are quite carefully done, but note that as the characters are 'types' so the dialect is stereotyped and stereotyping.
Note too that although many of the central characters are Scottish, and occasional reference is made to the fact that they speak with Scottish accents, there is absolutely no attempt to show these accents in their direct speech. Only minor and low status characters have their dialects marked.
The main Scottish setting of the novel is 'Tay Bank' I suspect that this is a fictionalised version of Logierait in Perthshire where Bisset grew up (where the Tay and Tummel meet).
Note too that although many of the central characters are Scottish, and occasional reference is made to the fact that they speak with Scottish accents, there is absolutely no attempt to show these accents in their direct speech. Only minor and low status characters have their dialects marked.
The main Scottish setting of the novel is 'Tay Bank' I suspect that this is a fictionalised version of Logierait in Perthshire where Bisset grew up (where the Tay and Tummel meet).
Speaker #1:Serjeant - A serjeant who had belonged to his father's regiment
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Serjeant
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - middle aged
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:A serjeant who had belonged to his father's regiment
Social Role Category:Military
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Scottish highlands (presumably); Tay Bank is a fictional place
Place of Origin Category:Tay Bank, Perthshire, Highlands, Scotland
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
" An' please your honour, there is na a man in the hale army mair milder than yourself , and de'll a stronger man, or a better feighter there is in it, na in our ain old forty second itsell , tho' mony a clever fallow there is in it; however, sin your honour will hae'd sae , I'll teach the lawdie the gude braid sword. Charlie Macavig and I very after taaks a bout at it, that gars us mind auld long syne , when we followed your honour up the heights of Abrahaam. --Ah, these were bra' times. By G-d , gin that brave boy live to man's estate, he'll be as stout a tall well-bigget a man as your honour's sell ."
(Vol. 1,p. 68)Extract #2 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"The next day, though he was walking with his own mother, the Duchess, he shook hands with me, and said to her Grace, 'this has been an old soldier of our regiment--' and her Grace, ( Oh , she's a bonny woman,) smiled and asked me, how long I had been in the service. She had twa unco' pretty lasses wi' her, as like hersel as they could glowr ; and I said, ' Please your Grace, you ha' been young married to ha' sic a son and sic daughters;' and she said she had twa other daughters older, that are married, just as well fared as these are. There was another very likely lassie that Neil Gow shewed me about the same time, a daughter of the Duke of Argyle's."
(Vol. 2,p. 248-249)Speaker #2:Mrs. Dip - Formerly a maid, now wife of Mr. Jacob Dip who was formerly a tallow-chander
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Mrs. Dip
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - middle aged
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Formerly a maid, now wife of Mr. Jacob Dip who was formerly a tallow-chander
Social Role Category:Trade or craft
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Seven Dials in London (quite a downmarket area at the time)
Place of Origin Category:London, South East England, England
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
By the time they were ushered into that apartment, the gentleman, conceiving he might now utter his sentiments, taking hold of the Doctor by the button, said, "My spouse is one of your tip-top quality breeding; we must be on our P's and Q's before her; she knows more of meaners , and them their sort of things , than most people. You would wonder, if you knew how much I'm come on in gentility since we lived in --." A wink from his wife, an intimation he never disregarded, prevented him from proceeding. The lady began herself:--
"Dr. Vampus, the gentleman who you are now speaking with is a man of property and consekence ; we has plenty of money in the Sols, and has a house in the country, and land, beside our house in town. This is 'Squire Dip, of Dip Hall, near Stepney Green."
"Yes, I bought that place, as I might be near my friend Rugg , who has got a nice country seat by Mile End."
"Mr. Dip," said the lady, "how often must I tell you that you ought never to speak when other people is speaking ."
"I ask pardon, spouse."
"We have," said she, "one son, an accomplished young gentleman as any as walks in Bond Street , or goes to sembly of Shadwell. We gave him the best edication that Edinburgh could afford, but as I growed tired of Edinburgh we returned to the South. Our son, Theodore, is extraordinarily handsome. It is about Theodore I want to speak now. You must know, Sir, as how all the ladies is dying for the love of Theodore; ladies of the highest rank and quality would wish to keep company with our Theodore; but, Sir, a girl, a sort of a servant of one of your governors, fell in fancy with him, and had the audaciousness to think of a husband in young 'Squire Dip."
(Vol. 2,p. 127-129)"Dr. Vampus, the gentleman who you are now speaking with is a man of property and consekence ; we has plenty of money in the Sols, and has a house in the country, and land, beside our house in town. This is 'Squire Dip, of Dip Hall, near Stepney Green."
"Yes, I bought that place, as I might be near my friend Rugg , who has got a nice country seat by Mile End."
"Mr. Dip," said the lady, "how often must I tell you that you ought never to speak when other people is speaking ."
"I ask pardon, spouse."
"We have," said she, "one son, an accomplished young gentleman as any as walks in Bond Street , or goes to sembly of Shadwell. We gave him the best edication that Edinburgh could afford, but as I growed tired of Edinburgh we returned to the South. Our son, Theodore, is extraordinarily handsome. It is about Theodore I want to speak now. You must know, Sir, as how all the ladies is dying for the love of Theodore; ladies of the highest rank and quality would wish to keep company with our Theodore; but, Sir, a girl, a sort of a servant of one of your governors, fell in fancy with him, and had the audaciousness to think of a husband in young 'Squire Dip."
Extract #2 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
When Charles made his appearance, Mr. Dip, having viewed his vigorous and athletic figure, said to his spouse, " Egad , spouse, I doubt we are in the wrong box , Theodore has been plugging a little, for his is, certainly, not a match for two of that gentleman, nor indeed for one, if we may trust to appearances."
"You talk like a fool," said the lady, "Theodore never told a falsehood in his life." --( "That's a good one," said the 'Squire, aside, to Dr. Vampus.)-- "Theodore is a good lad, and a pretty lad, but I myself has found that he often draws a long bow ; but, for your life, don't mention I said so." Douglas stated the affair very briefly, but so little to the satisfaction of Madam Dip, that, in a great passion, she said "you oft to be ashamed of yourself for telling such monstratious fibs. I understands how you be the son of a person of consekence ; you act very misbecoming of yourself for to go to take the pearte of the refuge and scum of hearth against such a person of fashion as our Theodore."
"Yes, as spouse says," said 'Squire Dip, "them riff-raff , tag-rag and bob-tail , wulgar wretches are not to be put into compalison with gentlemen of fortunes; our Theodore might have been married to Madam Dutchsquab, that brought a mint of money from the nigers in the Vest Indies. She has is since that my old friend Jacky Dulman has since got."
"I vish ," said the lady, "that I knowed vear to light on that Wilson, I should have a varrant out against him, and let him see how he can stand to go to the law with people of hopulence ."
(Vol. 2,p. 131-133)"You talk like a fool," said the lady, "Theodore never told a falsehood in his life." --( "That's a good one," said the 'Squire, aside, to Dr. Vampus.)-- "Theodore is a good lad, and a pretty lad, but I myself has found that he often draws a long bow ; but, for your life, don't mention I said so." Douglas stated the affair very briefly, but so little to the satisfaction of Madam Dip, that, in a great passion, she said "you oft to be ashamed of yourself for telling such monstratious fibs. I understands how you be the son of a person of consekence ; you act very misbecoming of yourself for to go to take the pearte of the refuge and scum of hearth against such a person of fashion as our Theodore."
"Yes, as spouse says," said 'Squire Dip, "them riff-raff , tag-rag and bob-tail , wulgar wretches are not to be put into compalison with gentlemen of fortunes; our Theodore might have been married to Madam Dutchsquab, that brought a mint of money from the nigers in the Vest Indies. She has is since that my old friend Jacky Dulman has since got."
"I vish ," said the lady, "that I knowed vear to light on that Wilson, I should have a varrant out against him, and let him see how he can stand to go to the law with people of hopulence ."
Master Theodore was the son of Mr. Jacob Dip, formerly a tallow-chandler near the Seven Dials in London, who, having made a considerable fortune, was prevailed upon by his wife to retire from business, and be a gemman .[...]
Mrs. Dip, with a dignified composure, remarked to her companions, that she always, instead of being angry, pitied them low, illiterate creatures . "I always, my dear Mrs. Secondhand, computes their behavour to their ignorance."
Edinburgh, she had often heard, was a place in which there was the most genteelest society , and she expected that she could equal Scotch ladies of fashion in elegance, as she could equal many of them in expence.
(Vol. 1,p. 105-108)Mrs. Dip, with a dignified composure, remarked to her companions, that she always, instead of being angry, pitied them low, illiterate creatures . "I always, my dear Mrs. Secondhand, computes their behavour to their ignorance."
Edinburgh, she had often heard, was a place in which there was the most genteelest society , and she expected that she could equal Scotch ladies of fashion in elegance, as she could equal many of them in expence.
Extract #4 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"Oh, yes," said Mrs. Dip, "I think I knows what breeding is, and I'll give an incense of his'n . There was a parson there, in the same house with his wife, and what do you think? Although I heard for certain that he had not more than two hundred a year, clear in the world--although the 'Squire, God be praised, could produce a guinea for every half-crown he had, yet Mr. Manage preferred the company of the parson and his wife to 'Squire Dip and me. There was breeding for you; there was minding people of extinction . I never in my born days received such rudeness, except once. However, I always, as I says , computeth as to people's ignorance. There is no getting at all people to have the breeding they oft to have."
(Vol. 3,p. 203)Speaker #3:Mr. Rhodomontade - Proprietor of Rogue Place, which is the set of his forefathers, has travelled significantly and makes things up to increase his consequence
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Rhodomontade
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - middle aged
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Significant
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom
Social Role
Social Role Description:Proprietor of Rogue Place, which is the set of his forefathers, has travelled significantly and makes things up to increase his consequence
Social Role Category:Yeoman
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Rogue Place, near Tay Bank
Place of Origin Category:Rogue Place, Perthshire, Highlands, Scotland
Speakers: All , Mr. Rhodomontade
" To be sure ," (he would say,) "Laird, you are a little of a rake, like my old friend Sandwich, but all clever fellows is the same . Damme , old Jack wears well, many a hard bout we two have had. I once gained a rump and dozen, by drinking four bottles of port, after I had, at glass for glass, laid him under the table. Oh, G-d! we shall never see such days as we have seen. He and I, cleared a dozen of bullies, who had assaulted us in mother Douglas's. My good friend Harry Fielding, I remember, he, you know, wrote Don Quixote , was justice at Bow Street, and read us a severe lecture. Billy Murray, I remember, bailed us, he that is now Lord Mansfield."
" By G- d, Laird, old Fielding would have delighted you, his humour and your's, would have hit to a T ."
(Vol. 1,p. 139-140)" By G- d, Laird, old Fielding would have delighted you, his humour and your's, would have hit to a T ."
"You were at Malplaquet," said Longhead.
"Yes I was, do you doubt it?"
"By no means, after your asserting it but I am surprized at it, as it was bought near twenty years before you were born."
"Then it was some other. I was at so many, I often confound one with another. My friend, Harry Fielding too, did not know a single word of Latin or Greek, and where would you find a cleverer fellow? I knew him intimately. He and I were hand and glove . He read his Roderic Random to me before he published it-- D--n my heart , what are you Homer and Pindus, and Europrius, and so forth, to make a clever man, compared with travelling, and knowing men and things?"
"I did not know," said Mr. Wiseman, "Fielding was ignorant of Greek and Latin; nor, indeed, that he had written Roderick Random."
(Vol. 1,p. 152-153)"Yes I was, do you doubt it?"
"By no means, after your asserting it but I am surprized at it, as it was bought near twenty years before you were born."
"Then it was some other. I was at so many, I often confound one with another. My friend, Harry Fielding too, did not know a single word of Latin or Greek, and where would you find a cleverer fellow? I knew him intimately. He and I were hand and glove . He read his Roderic Random to me before he published it-- D--n my heart , what are you Homer and Pindus, and Europrius, and so forth, to make a clever man, compared with travelling, and knowing men and things?"
"I did not know," said Mr. Wiseman, "Fielding was ignorant of Greek and Latin; nor, indeed, that he had written Roderick Random."
Speaker #4:Elderly lady on stage-coach - Elderly lady on stage-coach with daughter (Miss Bouncer) and friend
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Elderly lady on stage-coach
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - elderly
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Respelling
Social Role
Social Role Description:Elderly lady on stage-coach with daughter (Miss Bouncer) and friend
Social Role Category:Trade or craft
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Scotland originally apparently, but now solidly London. Note too that her daughter, Miss Bouncer, is not at all non-standard
Place of Origin Category:London, South East England, England
Speakers: All , Elderly lady on stage-coach
The elderly lady, interrupting his reverie, said she supposed leaving Edinburgh put him down in the mouth; adding, it was natural for a young person to look glum on parting with his friends, but that when he knowed London he would set no store by Edinburgh and them boorish places .
" I myself were in Scotland in my younger days, and thought it a smartish place enough, but now, as I knows the world, I laughs at my own ignorance in ever liking so stupid, a low-lifed a place. The folks in Edinburgh are so dirty and mean, and the worst bredest persons , and speaks such an outlandish lingo-- they knows nothing , as my daughter says, of grammar, and them there sort of things . Then they has no amusements like Sadler's Wells , White-Conduit House, Mother Red Cap's, the Hopperas , and Masquelades , Bagnigge Wells, and the like of those. No, no, in London we knows life , that we does . You will think nothing of Edinburgh when you comes to be acquainted with London."
(Vol. 1,p. 220-223)" I myself were in Scotland in my younger days, and thought it a smartish place enough, but now, as I knows the world, I laughs at my own ignorance in ever liking so stupid, a low-lifed a place. The folks in Edinburgh are so dirty and mean, and the worst bredest persons , and speaks such an outlandish lingo-- they knows nothing , as my daughter says, of grammar, and them there sort of things . Then they has no amusements like Sadler's Wells , White-Conduit House, Mother Red Cap's, the Hopperas , and Masquelades , Bagnigge Wells, and the like of those. No, no, in London we knows life , that we does . You will think nothing of Edinburgh when you comes to be acquainted with London."
Speaker #5:The Captain - Initially appears to be a captain, but later turns out to be servant
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:The Captain
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - young
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Grammar
Social Role
Social Role Description:Initially appears to be a captain, but later turns out to be servant
Social Role Category:Military
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Wetherby
Place of Origin Category:Wetherby, Yorkshire, North England, England
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar
Speakers: All , The Captain
"So, Mr. Sawney, you are going to London, are you? yes, yes, I knows as how you Scotchmen likes to leave your own d--d country to feed upon us. It is better than your own famished mountains. Roast beef and pudding is better than oatmeal gruel. I wishes there was a law to prevent them lousy Scotch foreigners from over-running us as the locusts did the JEWS."
(Vol. 1,p. 235)Speaker #6:servant at Wetherby - Servant
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:servant at Wetherby
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - young
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling
Social Role
Social Role Description:Servant
Social Role Category:Servant
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Wetherby
Place of Origin Category:Wetherby, Yorkshire, North England, England
[...] the servant espying the Captain, ran up to him, took him very cordially by the hand, calling "Ned, how dost ? I hope hast secured the pleace ." Ned looked confused and made no answer. This his friend observing, and at the same time, espying the cockade, " what has't lost the pleace and art listed ?" Ned slunk away. "So then," said our hero to the fellow, "this person is not a Captain?" "A Captain," replied the other, laughing, "no, no, he was my fellow sarvant , and the 'Squire got him an exciseman's pleace at Northallerton; but I suppose he has been up to some of his old tricks, and got into a scrape, he looks so glum. He often used to get measter's clothes and go a courting , and, as he is a hell of a coward, often got licked. Measter missing several things of value, found him out to hae ta'en 'um , and so, Sir, he turned Ned off; but as he knows a thing or two of measter , the 'Squire gave him a good character and got him the place as I mentioned."
(Vol. 1,p. 237-238)Speaker #7:Simon Suffolk - Cheesemonger
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Simon Suffolk, cheesemonger
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - middle aged
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Grammar, Orthographical Respelling
Social Role
Social Role Description:Cheesemonger
Social Role Category:Trade or craft
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:London
Place of Origin Category:London, South East England, England
Speakers: All , Simon Suffolk
"Mr. President, and gentlemen of this here parish, now assembled, as I am a man as is well known in the parish, and as is gone through the different offices , and moreover, is a man of known property, I thinks as how my words is entitled to notice in this here westry . Then, gentlemen, let me tell you, that my werdict goes on the side with Dr. Wampus. Simon Suffolk, the cheesemonger, very well known in this parish, yes, and at the Bank too, mark that, Mr. President, S. Suffolk's name to a bit of a paper will give it credit, I will not say for how much, but ten times one is ten, let me tell you that, Mr. President, therefore, what I says oft to be minded; and, as I said before, Simon Suffolk wotes with Dr. Wampus . I see some gentlemen as near him sneer ; I know well enough what they mean, they thinks as how I side in this westry with Dr. Wampus because for why , I sarves his house in the cheesemongery line, but there Dr. Wampus and I is equal . My son is with the Doctor, as many here knows . We agreed that we should swop , that he should give Simmy education, and I should give him cheese; therefore, it is not to oblige the Doctor, but because it is in my own opinion, that I wote for this enlargement; and should there be more poor taken in, I trust the honourable the church-wardens, and the honourable the overseers, will continue to employ their brother and friends, Simon Suffolk, as before."
(Vol. 2,p. 14-15)Speaker #8:A teacher - Teacher
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:A teacher
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Teacher
Social Role Category:Professional
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:London
Place of Origin Category:London, South East England, England
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"I," said one, "have the good fortune to be employed by the very highest connections. Mr. Deputy Dripping has often took me with him in his own shay , and recommends to me all the young men as he can , and them are not a little . Indeed, every one allows as how m y manners of larning the boys, both writing and accompts, is equal to any that has ever been invented; but what I most values myself upon, and thinks myself most completest in, is grammar. The Deputy, his friend the Alderman, and Sir John, often comes and eats their mutton with me . Although the Alderman and I be such good friends , we dont have the same opinion. He is all for the funds, I were always for mortgages ."
(Vol. 2,p. 22-23)Speaker #9:The preacher - Methodist preacher, Scotch seceder, faith without works
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:The preacher
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Methodist preacher, Scotch seceder, faith without works
Social Role Category:Clergy
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Scottish preacher in London
Place of Origin Category:Scotland
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Speakers: All , The preacher
"Oh, my beloved bretheren," he said, in a true Caledonian accent , "what a blessed doctrine it is that we are not to be clothed, yea, I say unto you, clothed in filthy nasty rags of our ain righteousness, but the splendid robs of Christ. It dis na signify how great sinners you ha been, or are, provided you do but believe . Do na be loosing your time in laabouring aifter morality and virtue, and sic haithenish things, seek for grace, seek for it, and not only speunefus but ladlefus , not only ladlefus but kettlefus . The grace of God is irresistible when ainsce you have had the effectual calling, you ay persaivere in the parts of grace. I noo proceed to expound to you in our chief doctrines of the persaivairance of the Sants .
" Dinna understand that the Sants are to persaivere in any particular kinds of works, only in faith. As to works, the Sants ken better than to value themselves on them; Satan often buffets the ailect , tempting them to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life; as to the lust of the flesh, I wonna say that the Sants dinna indulge in them as much as other folks , but then what dis it signify what they do with their impure bodies, so that they keep the sowls pure from unbelif; but as the backslidings of the Sants are a stumbling block to the wicked, I coonsel all that ken themselves to be of the ailect , to keep among their ain number. Why should not the lambs of God play together ?"
(Vol. 2,p. 64-65)" Dinna understand that the Sants are to persaivere in any particular kinds of works, only in faith. As to works, the Sants ken better than to value themselves on them; Satan often buffets the ailect , tempting them to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life; as to the lust of the flesh, I wonna say that the Sants dinna indulge in them as much as other folks , but then what dis it signify what they do with their impure bodies, so that they keep the sowls pure from unbelif; but as the backslidings of the Sants are a stumbling block to the wicked, I coonsel all that ken themselves to be of the ailect , to keep among their ain number. Why should not the lambs of God play together ?"
Speaker #10:Mr. Barber - Unitarian and political barber
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:The unitarian barber
Gender:Unknown
Age:Child
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling
Social Role
Social Role Description:Unitarian and political barber
Social Role Category:Trade or craft
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:London
Place of Origin Category:London, South East England, England
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling
The barber answered, " I never neglects business for any thing, but who, as I tells them at our club , can be unconcerned at the present kerises and hermgency , we is now no longer barberas like our hancestors , we now knows what's what; we read the Gazetteer, and the Morning Post, and Morning Chronicle, and Dr. Prices' Sarments ; not as we of our club sets great store by sarments , unless they be of the right sort , against Bishops and Kings, and for liberty and equality, and Dr. Priestley's paper-books ,* he is the man of the true light. He says as how there is a gun-powder plot that will blow up the church."
*Meaning, perhaps, pamphlets.
"What! Mr Barber, I'm afraid you are not orthodox," said our hero.
" Horthodok ! no, d--n me , no; I'm one of your Tarins as I tells our Mr. Stave, the clark."
"Tarians! who are they?" says Douglas.
" I can't say as how I knows much who they be, but Dr. Priestley is all for them; and I swears by him , I be one of your haretics , by jingo I be -- I be none of your ignorants that minds parsons, and all that those d--d stuff . I be one of your losophers ."
(Vol. 2,p. 110-111)*Meaning, perhaps, pamphlets.
"What! Mr Barber, I'm afraid you are not orthodox," said our hero.
" Horthodok ! no, d--n me , no; I'm one of your Tarins as I tells our Mr. Stave, the clark."
"Tarians! who are they?" says Douglas.
" I can't say as how I knows much who they be, but Dr. Priestley is all for them; and I swears by him , I be one of your haretics , by jingo I be -- I be none of your ignorants that minds parsons, and all that those d--d stuff . I be one of your losophers ."
Speakers: All , Mr. Barber
The Unitarian barber imputing his going away to a conscious inability to contend with him, and turning with exultation to his friends, said, " That's a fine young man as is gone , but he would not venture to hargufy with me. I knows I be a genus, and thinks if I was to take to write books I could do as well as the best of them. Did not Tom Craft, the shoe-maker, take to writing story books and play books, against priests, nobles, and kings, and them sort of people , all out of his own head, without any larning ? and a barber is as likely to be a good writer as a shoe-maker."
(Vol. 111-112,p. 2)Speaker #11:'Squire Dip - Former tallow-chandler, now attempting to be gentleman
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:'Squire Dip
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - middle aged
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Former tallow-chandler, now attempting to be gentleman
Social Role Category:Trade or craft
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Seven Dials, London
Place of Origin Category:London, South East England, England
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
By the time they were ushered into that apartment, the gentleman, conceiving he might now utter his sentiments, taking hold of the Doctor by the button, said, "My spouse is one of your tip-top quality breeding; we must be on our P's and Q's before her; she knows more of meaners , and them their sort of things , than most people. You would wonder, if you knew how much I'm come on in gentility since we lived in --." A wink from his wife, an intimation he never disregarded, prevented him from proceeding. The lady began herself:--
"Dr. Vampus, the gentleman who you are now speaking with is a man of property and consekence ; we has plenty of money in the Sols, and has a house in the country, and land, beside our house in town. This is 'Squire Dip, of Dip Hall, near Stepney Green."
"Yes, I bought that place, as I might be near my friend Rugg , who has got a nice country seat by Mile End."
"Mr. Dip," said the lady, "how often must I tell you that you ought never to speak when other people is speaking ."
"I ask pardon, spouse."
"We have," said she, "one son, an accomplished young gentleman as any as walks in Bond Street , or goes to sembly of Shadwell. We gave him the best edication that Edinburgh could afford, but as I growed tired of Edinburgh we returned to the South. Our son, Theodore, is extraordinarily handsome. It is about Theodore I want to speak now. You must know, Sir, as how all the ladies is dying for the love of Theodore; ladies of the highest rank and quality would wish to keep company with our Theodore; but, Sir, a girl, a sort of a servant of one of your governors, fell in fancy with him, and had the audaciousness to think of a husband in young 'Squire Dip."
(Vol. 2,p. 127-129)"Dr. Vampus, the gentleman who you are now speaking with is a man of property and consekence ; we has plenty of money in the Sols, and has a house in the country, and land, beside our house in town. This is 'Squire Dip, of Dip Hall, near Stepney Green."
"Yes, I bought that place, as I might be near my friend Rugg , who has got a nice country seat by Mile End."
"Mr. Dip," said the lady, "how often must I tell you that you ought never to speak when other people is speaking ."
"I ask pardon, spouse."
"We have," said she, "one son, an accomplished young gentleman as any as walks in Bond Street , or goes to sembly of Shadwell. We gave him the best edication that Edinburgh could afford, but as I growed tired of Edinburgh we returned to the South. Our son, Theodore, is extraordinarily handsome. It is about Theodore I want to speak now. You must know, Sir, as how all the ladies is dying for the love of Theodore; ladies of the highest rank and quality would wish to keep company with our Theodore; but, Sir, a girl, a sort of a servant of one of your governors, fell in fancy with him, and had the audaciousness to think of a husband in young 'Squire Dip."
Extract #2 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
When Charles made his appearance, Mr. Dip, having viewed his vigorous and athletic figure, said to his spouse, " Egad , spouse, I doubt we are in the wrong box , Theodore has been plugging a little, for his is, certainly, not a match for two of that gentleman, nor indeed for one, if we may trust to appearances."
"You talk like a fool," said the lady, "Theodore never told a falsehood in his life." --( "That's a good one," said the 'Squire, aside, to Dr. Vampus.)-- "Theodore is a good lad, and a pretty lad, but I myself has found that he often draws a long bow ; but, for your life, don't mention I said so." Douglas stated the affair very briefly, but so little to the satisfaction of Madam Dip, that, in a great passion, she said "you oft to be ashamed of yourself for telling such monstratious fibs. I understands how you be the son of a person of consekence ; you act very misbecoming of yourself for to go to take the pearte of the refuge and scum of hearth against such a person of fashion as our Theodore."
"Yes, as spouse says," said 'Squire Dip, "them riff-raff , tag-rag and bob-tail , wulgar wretches are not to be put into compalison with gentlemen of fortunes; our Theodore might have been married to Madam Dutchsquab, that brought a mint of money from the nigers in the Vest Indies. She has is since that my old friend Jacky Dulman has since got."
"I vish ," said the lady, "that I knowed vear to light on that Wilson, I should have a varrant out against him, and let him see how he can stand to go to the law with people of hopulence ."
(Vol. 2,p. 131-133)"You talk like a fool," said the lady, "Theodore never told a falsehood in his life." --( "That's a good one," said the 'Squire, aside, to Dr. Vampus.)-- "Theodore is a good lad, and a pretty lad, but I myself has found that he often draws a long bow ; but, for your life, don't mention I said so." Douglas stated the affair very briefly, but so little to the satisfaction of Madam Dip, that, in a great passion, she said "you oft to be ashamed of yourself for telling such monstratious fibs. I understands how you be the son of a person of consekence ; you act very misbecoming of yourself for to go to take the pearte of the refuge and scum of hearth against such a person of fashion as our Theodore."
"Yes, as spouse says," said 'Squire Dip, "them riff-raff , tag-rag and bob-tail , wulgar wretches are not to be put into compalison with gentlemen of fortunes; our Theodore might have been married to Madam Dutchsquab, that brought a mint of money from the nigers in the Vest Indies. She has is since that my old friend Jacky Dulman has since got."
"I vish ," said the lady, "that I knowed vear to light on that Wilson, I should have a varrant out against him, and let him see how he can stand to go to the law with people of hopulence ."
Speaker #12:Mr. Swearwell - Corrupt lawyer
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Mr. Swearwell
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Corrupt lawyer
Social Role Category:Professional
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:apparently from Ireland (see 3.196) Irish accent tends to come and go a bit
Place of Origin Category:Curraugh, Kildare, East Ireland, Ireland
Extract #1 dialect features: Vocabulary
"Well, I see we shall agree, Sir." -- "I honour your penetration." -- "Accordingly, Sir, I proposed coming up in a Perth smack, to know how the land lay, and that they should follow, if you found agreeable to a settlement. So I have now just one thing to mention, women's travelling is expensive, as they come by land, and neither Mrs. Rhodomontade nor Mrs. Douglas are burthened with the ready , so if you just advance them some hundred pounds, until the dividends upon Mrs. Douglas legacy become due, they would be extremely obligated to you."
(Vol. 3,p. 149-150)Mr Manage was one morning visited by his worthy acquaintance, Mr. Swearwell. "Aye, my old blade, I am rejoiced to see your chubby phiz again. Well, any more confirmation of the Nabob's exit? Any more accounts from Madagascar?"
"None, but what arrived in the same ship with those you received."
"Oh, there can be no doubt of it. Old Rhode, Mrs. Douglas, and I, are just come to town in a post-shay . We slept last night at that place where the mills are, upon which a song is made."
"Baldock, most likely," said Mr. Manage.
"Aye, the same. Arrah , by Jasus , the chamber-maid there is one of the finest, tightest , little girls I have seen, since I left the Curraugh of Kildare. Old Rhode was casting a sheep's eye at her, for he is a wicked old dog; you will like him hugely, he is quite an old reprobate. I must bring him to dine with you--he has such a set of songs and stories as will make you split your sides with laughing. Do you dine at home to-day?"
(Vol. 3,p. 195-197)"None, but what arrived in the same ship with those you received."
"Oh, there can be no doubt of it. Old Rhode, Mrs. Douglas, and I, are just come to town in a post-shay . We slept last night at that place where the mills are, upon which a song is made."
"Baldock, most likely," said Mr. Manage.
"Aye, the same. Arrah , by Jasus , the chamber-maid there is one of the finest, tightest , little girls I have seen, since I left the Curraugh of Kildare. Old Rhode was casting a sheep's eye at her, for he is a wicked old dog; you will like him hugely, he is quite an old reprobate. I must bring him to dine with you--he has such a set of songs and stories as will make you split your sides with laughing. Do you dine at home to-day?"