 are so fond, that when the weather will permit, you may see a multitude of
all ranks, from the senator of justice to the lowest tradesmen, mingled together
in their shirts, and following the balls with the utmost eagerness - Among
others, I was shewn one particular set of golfers, the youngest of whom was
turned of fourscore - They were all gentlemen of independent fortunes, who had
amused themselves with this pastime for the best part of a century, without
having ever felt the least alarm from sickness or disgust; and they never went
to bed, without having each the best part of a gallon of claret in his belly.
Such uninterrupted exercise, co-operating with the keen air from the sea, must,
without all doubt, keep the appetite always on edge, and steel the constitution
against all the common attacks of distemper.
    The Leith races gave occasion to another entertainment of a very singular
nature - There is at Edinburgh a society or corporation of errand-boys, called
cawdies, who ply in the streets at night with paper lanthorns, and are very
serviceable in carrying messages - These fellows, though shabby in their
appearance, and rudely familiar in their address, are wonderfully acute, and so
noted for fidelity, that there is no instance of a cawdy's having betrayed his
trust - Such is their intelligence, that they know, not only every individual of
the place, but also every stranger, by that time he has been four and twenty
hours in Edinburgh; and no transaction, even the most private, can escape their
notice - They are particularly famous for their dexterity in executing one of
the functions of Mercury; though, for my own part, I never employed them in this
department of business - Had I occasion for any service of this nature, my own
man Archy M'Alpine, is as well qualified as e'er a cawdie in Edinburgh; and I am
much mistaken if he has not been heretofore of their fraternity. Be that as it
may, they resolved to give a dinner and a ball at Leith, to which they formally
invited all the young noblemen and gentlemen that were at the races; and this
invitation was reinforced by an assurance that all the celebrated ladies of
pleasure would grace the entertainment with their company. - I received a card
on this occasion, and went thither with half a dozen of my acquaintance. - In a
large hall the cloth was laid on a long range of tables joined together, and
here the company seated themselves, to the number of about fourscore, lords, and
lairds, and other gentlemen,
