Galt and the Freedom of Irvine

Two hundred years ago, in September 1825, John Galt was awarded the Freedom of the Burgh of Irvine, the town of his birth.

Galt visited Irvine with his mother and sister to receive the honour.  He had just returned to Britain from his first visit to Canada on behalf of the Canada Company and was visiting his family.

In his Autobiography he writes –

“We had a long journey to perform in the course of that day, I stepped out of the post-chaise, at the door of the tollbooth, to wait on the magistrates, when, to my astonishment, I beheld my old friend alive, then a very venerable man, sitting in the chair.  The sight upon me for a moment was as an apparition, but I was recalled to myself by the manner in which he delivered the diploma, with an address; Provost Pawkie himself could never have said anything half so good.”

Provost Pawkie is Galt’s main character in his work The Provost.  “Pawkie” in Scots means sly or cunning and Galt describes his book as –“exhibiting a tolerably correct picture of a Scottish borough, I had in view, while writing it, a gentleman, who, when I was a boy at school, had the chief management of the borough council in my native town.”  Galt continues -“I believed he was dead, and had no scruple about choosing him for my model.”

The man being described was Robert Fullarton (1740-1835) who was a councillor in Irvine for 42 years.  Irvine Burns Club have a portrait of Fullarton which you can view here (you will need to scroll down to view it).

Aside from Galt’s surprise that the Baillie was still alive, he also had this to say about the man he met on that important September day in 1825 –

“His speech partook of his character, and evinced a degree of good sense, of tact, and taste, though delivered in the Scottish dialect, quite extraordinary.  Instead of speaking the sort of balderdash, common on such occasions, he passed over everything which related to myself, conceiving, as I suppose, that the honour of bestowing on me a burgess ticket, was a sufficient recognition of my supposed deservings; but he paid a well expressed compliment to the character of my father and mother, telling how much they were held in esteem by their townsfolk, and concluded with saying, that not the least proof of their merits was in bringing up their children to be worthy of a public testimony of respect.”

Perhaps not quite the testimonial John Galt was expecting, but presumably his mother would have been pleased to have been recognised!

Sir Thomas Galt - the middle son

Thomas Galt, the son of John Galt and Elizabeth Tilloch, was born in London on 12 August 1815.  He was educated at Musselburgh Grammar School and Reading School.  In 1828 he travelled with his mother and brothers to Canada to be with his father, founder of the Canada Company.  He and his brothers attended the Rev Joseph Braithwaite’s school at Chambly (now a suburb of Montreal) and later the boys returned to London with their mother. 

Sir Thomas Galt (1815-1901)

In 1833, aged just 18, Thomas and his elder brother, John returned to Canada.  John Galt writes - 

 “While employed on my Autobiography, my two eldest sons resolved to go to Canada.  The eldest, in my opinion very prudently, determined to be nothing but a farmer; the other carried with him a recommendation from the Directors of the Canada company, to be received into their establishment, which I do think was very kind of them to give, after the manner I had been obliged to speak from experience of my own treatment by the Company.” (Literary Life 1) 

Thomas decided to study law in Toronto and entered the office of William Henry Draper who later became Attorney General for Upper Canada.  In 1845 Thomas was called to the bar of Upper Canada and in 1847 he married Frances Louisa Perkins (1825-1909).  The couple had a large family and lived on Pembroke Street, Toronto.

In 1852 he entered partnership with Hon John Ross (1818-1871).  In 1855 Thomas became a Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada and in 1858 he was appointed a Queen’s Counsel.  He acted as Council for various railway companies who were opening up the country at that time.

He seems to have been very highly thought of as this quote from The Barrister shows - 

 “Sir Thomas is one of those kind-hearted men who make the world better by living in it.  He never enters a room but that his cheerful smile and cheery manner cast a ray of sunshine around.  You can notice the effect perceptibly on the countenances of everyone present.  The success of such a man’s life can never be measured by his public acts; he has probably made a thousand hearts happier that he does not know of himself, and so it has been with Sir Thomas Galt."

As well as a civil practice he was also a criminal lawyer.  He was involved in several high-profile cases including in 1872 the trial of Phoebe Campbell for murdering her husband.  She was found guilty and hanged.  In 1869 Galt was appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Ontario.

He was described in Canadian Portrait Gallery –

“In addition to the attainments properly belonging to him as an eminent lawyer, he is known as a master of style, and his judgements are marked not less by their depth of learning than by the stateliness of the diction in which they are written.”

In 1887 he was appointed Chief Justice of Ontario and was given a knighthood in 1888.  He retired in 1894, but it was said that he often frequented Osgoode Hall, to have a chat with his associates or the Toronto Club where he liked to play whist.  Sir Thomas Galt died 1901 and was buried in St James Cemetery, Toronto.

Met in a foreign country - Galt and Byron

Lord Byron (1788-1824) wrote a fascinating little final paragraph in a letter he had written to John Galt dated 11 December 1813, the letter, addressed to "My Dear Galt" ends -

"I don’t know how other men feel towards those they have met abroad, but to me there seems a kind of tie established between all who have met together in a foreign country, as if we had met in a state of pre-existence, and were talking over a life that had ceased.  But I always look forward to renewing my travels; and though you, I think, are now stationary, if I can at all forward your pursuits there as well as here, I shall be truly glad in the opportunity. Ever yours very sincerely, B"

Lord Byron

Galt met Lord Byron in Gibraltar in 1809 and later in Athens.  They travelled together for a short while before Galt returned to Britain and they continued their acquaintance in London in 1811.  Galt sent this letter to Blackwood for publication in 1823 when he was living at Eskgrove near Musselburgh.  His cover letter to Blackwood reads -

“My Dear Sir – Among a number of letters which I have been lately looking over from Lord Byron, the enclosed, I think, may be published without violating the proprieties of private life, or betraying the confidence of friendship.”

The main business of the letter itself was in connection with Byron's The Bride of Abydos written 1813.  Later, John Galt wrote a biography of Byron The Life of Lord Byron which was published in 1830.  Byron, like Galt was also a great friend of the Countess of Blessington.

The Life of Lord Byron by John Galt is available to read free online.

How the Ettrick Shepherd described John Galt

While portraits can give us a good idea of what a person looked like, it is just as interesting to read other people's thoughts on the looks and personality traits of the subject.  The poet James Hogg (1770-1835) who was known as the Ettrick Shepherd met John Galt in Greenock in 1804 when Galt would have been 25 years old.

Hogg describes being invited to supper at the Tontine Hotel in Greenock where he found – “no fewer than thirty gentlemen assembled to welcome us, and among the rest was Mr Galt, then a tall thin young man, with something a little dandyish in his appearance.  He was dressed in a frock-coat and new top-boots; and it being then the fashion to wear the shirt collars as high as the eyes, Galt wore his the whole of that night with the one side considerable above his ear, and the other flapped over the collar of his frock-coat down to his shoulder.”

Hogg points out what he views as one of Galt’s “peculiarities” – “He walked with his spectacles on, and conversed with them on; but when he read he took them off.  In short, from his first appearance, one would scarcely have guessed him to be a man of genius.”

James Hogg had worked as a shepherd in Ettrick in the Scottish Borders in his youth and was self educated.  He composed songs and poems and admired the work of Robert Burns.  He published a small collection of his work, Scottish Pastorals in 1801 and came to the attention of Walter Scott.  In 1807 he published The Mountain Bard and in 1810 moved to Edinburgh and continued his writing career, meeting many of the great writers and poets of the day and contributing to Blackwood's Magazine.  (John Galt also contributed to Blackwood's "Maga".)  Hogg's best known work, published in 1824 was the novel The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner.

James Hogg (the Ettrick Shepherd)

This is a verse by Hogg entitled Caledonia -

“Old Caledonia! pathway of the storm

That o’er thy wilds resistless sweeps along,

Though clouds and snows thy sterile hills deform,

Thou are the land of freedom and of song.

Land of the eagle fancy, wild and strong!

Land of the loyal heart and valiant arm!

Though southern pride and luxury may wrong

Thy mountain honours, still my heart shall warm

At thy unquestioned weir and songs of magic charm.”

James Hogg also writes about his thoughts on the works of John Galt - “I like Galt’s writings exceedingly, and have always regretted that he has depicted so much that is selfish and cunning in the Scottish character, and so little that is truly amiable, when he could have done it so well.”

It would be interesting to know Galt's thoughts on those remarks!

Galt and Galvanism

John Galt’s The Steam Boat, is a collection of stories related to traveller Thomas Duffle on a steamboat trips from Glasgow to Greenock, Helensburgh and various other places.  Buried Alive is a story narrated by "a young man with a white face and a slender habit of body" and is a strange tale of death and burial.  Buried Alive was first printed in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine in 1821.  Galt tells the story from the victim’s point of view.  

In the tale, the pale young man recalls "… I heard the sound of weeping at my pillow - and the voice of the nurse say, "He is dead."  I cannot describe what I felt at these words.  I exerted my utmost power of volition to stir myself, but I could not move even an eyelid.  After a short pause my friend drew near; and, sobbing and convulsed with grief, drew his hand over my face, and closed my eyes.  The world was then darkened, but I could still hear, and feel, and suffer."

The narrator then goes on to recall his misuse by the undertakers who "treated what they believed a corpse, with the most appalling ribaldry."  Next comes the horrific tale of funeral and burial.  The earth is thrown on his coffin - he can hear the sound but can do nothing about it.  He thinks about how his flesh will rot and decay, buried in the earth -

"In the contemplation of this hideous thought, I heard a low and undersound in the earth over me, and I fancied that the worms and the reptiles of death were coming - that the mole and the rat of the grave would soon be upon me.  The sound continued to grow louder and nearer." 

This story could have been taken from an event which was widely publicised in various newspapers and periodicals in January 1819.  It was the ghoulish report on the death of Baron Hornstein who was said to have been buried alive in the family mausoleum.  The report reads: -

“Extraordinary Occurrence – Extract of a letter from Bavaria - We have witnessed here a superb funeral of the Baron Hornstein, a courtier; but the result is what induces me to mention it in my letter.  Two days after the workmen entered the Mausoleum, when they witnessed an object which petrified them!  At the door of a sepulchre lay a body covered with blood – it was the mortal remains of this favourite of Courts and Princes.  The Baron was buried alive!  On recovering from his trance he had forced the lid of the coffin and endeavoured to escape from the charnel-house – it was impossible! And therefore, in a fit of desperation, it it is supposed, he dashed his brains out against the wall.  The Royal Family, and indeed the whole city, are plunged in grief at the horrid catastrophe.”  (January 1819).

But the pale young man has more to relate, there are a couple of surprises for the reader.  After being buried he suddenly feels hands about his neck, and he is dragged from his coffin and his body thrown into a carriage.  He has been taken by the body-snatchers or resurrection men!  

He is carried into a room, stripped of his shroud and placed on a table.  He is now in an anatomy theatre where galvanic experiments are to be made on his body - "The first shock vibrated through all my nerves; they rung and jangled like the strings of a harp." 

Once again, John Galt was reimagining dramatic reports which had appeared in many publications describing actual events of 1818.  In November 1818, Matthew Clydesdale was tried for murder in Glasgow.  He was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, after which his body to be handed over to Dr James Jeffrey, Professor of Anatomy at the University of Glasgow to be publicly dissected and anatomised.  The hanging took place in public in front of the Jail, attended by a large crowd.  After Clydesdale’s body had been left hanging for an hour, it was placed in a coffin and then taken by cart the University where the experiments were to be carried out - again in front of a large crowd.  Dr James Jeffrey (1763-1848) conducted the experiments assisted by Dr Andrew Ure.

Describing one of the “galvanic experiments” Dr Ure wrote - "The pointed rod connected with one end of the battery was not placed in contact with the spinal marrow, while the other rod was applied to the sciatic nerve.  Every muscle of the body was immediately agitated with convulsive movements, resembling a violent shuddering from cold.  The left side was most powerfully convulsed at each renewal of the electric contact.  On moving the second rod from the hip to the heel, the knee being previously bent, the leg was thrown out with such violence, as nearly to overturn one of the assistants, who in vain attempted to prevent its extension."

More experiments followed including - "The supra-orbital nerve was laid bare in the forehead, as it issues through the supra-ciliary foramen, in the eyebrow: the one conducting rod being applied to it, and the other to the heel, most extraordinary grimaces were exhibited every time that the electric discharges were made, … every muscle in his countenance was simultaneously thrown into fearful action; rage, horror, despair, anguish, and ghastly smiles, united their hideous expressions in the murderer's face, surpassing far the wildest representations of a Fuseli or a Kean.  At this period several of the spectators were forced to leave the apartment from terror or sickness, and one gentleman fainted."  Dr Jeffrey eventually cut Clydesdale’s jugular vein thus ending the galvanic experiments.

Similarly, "the pale young man" tells his fascinated audience - “When they had satisfied themselves with the galvanic phenomena, the demonstrator took the knife, and pierced me on the bosom with the point.  I felt a dreadful crackling, as it were, throughout my whole frame – a convulsive shuddering instantly followed, and a shriek of horror rose from all present.”

So, how did the victim of being buried alive and horrific experiments survive to tell his tale?  Well, John Galt's story Buried Alive is available to read online - why not read the whole fascinating account!

Dr Andrew Ure

Andrew Ure (1778-1857) had been an army surgeon and became Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow's Andersonian Institution.  He had an interest in all aspects of science - chemistry, mechanics, astronomy and was a regular contributor to the Philosophical Magazine owned and edited by John Galt's father-in-law, Alexander Tilloch.  

Read more from The Steam Boat by John Galt here.

Bryce Gilliland RN - how Galt used his story

John Galt writes fondly of his early years in Irvine before moving to Greenock in 1789 when he was 10 years old.  A sickly child, he was often at home with his mother and heard stories told by the women she met with around Irvine.  One particular person he remembered hearing about was Bryce Gilliland (1769-1805).  Galt writes in his autobiography: -

"This infirm state led me not only to avoid the hearty exercises of other boys, but to seek indoor amusement that was, had it been observed, remarkable in one so young.  I remember that there were a number of old women who lived in the close behind my grandmother's house, and in their society to hear their tales and legends I was a frequent visitor.  One of them was the mother of Lieutenant Gueliland, who was flag-officer to Lord Nelson, and killed at the battle of Trafalgar.  He was older than me, and I do not recollect him very well, but he was a brave and intelligent officer; his townsmen have erected a monument to his memory in the church, and I have the gratification to record that I obtained for his only sister a munificent donation from the Patriotic Fund formed during the war at Lloyd's."

There is a monument to Lieutenant Gilliland in Irvine Old Parish Church which reads: -

“To the memory of Bryce Gulliland.  Late first Lieutenant of His Majesty’s Ship Royal Sovereign.  A native of Irvine, who after receiving his education there as a seaman, was impressed and from his own merit, advanced to that distinguished station, and in the 36^th year of his age, was killed in the memorable Battle of Trafalgar upon the 21^st day of October 1805.  He fell at his post in his Country’s Cause and with Nelson.  This monument as a Tribute of respect is erected by his Townsmen.” 

It is likely that Bryce Gilliland he went to sea, as many Irvine men did.  It is recorded that he was later press-ganged into service with the Royal Navy.  His naval career seemed to have started as an Able Seaman on HMS Diana in 1794 and proceeded with service on many navy ships such as HMS Standard.  He was Quartermaster on HMS Northumberland and rose to the rank of Midshipman and Master's Mate.  In 1801 he served aboard Nelson's flagship HMS Foudroyant.  He saw service in the Egyptian Campaign becoming a Lieutenant and serving on HMS Druid. (This information was obtained from a fabulous website "TrafalgarAncestors" at the National Archive.) 

Ironically, Between 1801 and 1802 Gilliland was part of the impress service based at the Strong Man pub in Lower East Smithfield, London, recruiting for the Royal Navy ship HMS Determinee.  Thereafter he was transferred to HMS Dreadnaught where he came to the attention of Admiral Collingwood. 

Admiral Collingwood

He must have made a good impression on the Admiral because on 9 October, Collingwood wrote to Lord Nelson that he wished to take his Signal Lieutenant, Bryce Gilliland with him from the Dreadnaught to the Royal Sovereign.

On 21 October 1805 Bryce Gilliland, aged 36 was killed on board the Royal Sovereign during her heroic struggles in the Battle of Trafalgar.

As John Galt points out in his Autobiography (Chapter 10), quoted above, Lloyds did, on 28 July 1803, set up a Patriotic Fund "to assist the many casualties of the Napoleonic Wars".  It is still in existence, working with armed forces charities providing help to those in need.

Perhaps John Galt was remembering the old stories he heard told by Bryce Gilliland's mother when he wrote the following passage in his 1821 novel Annals of the Parish.  The passage refers to a young man from the locality, Charles Malcolm and is told by the narrator of the book, the Rev Micah Balwhidder:-

    “I had, in the meantime, written a letter to the Lord Eaglesham, to get Charles Malcolm out of the clutches of the pressgang in the man-of-war; and about a month after, his lordship sent me an answer, wherein was enclosed a letter from the captain of the ship, saying that Charles Malcolm was so good a man that he was reluctant to part with him, and that Charles himself was well contented to remain aboard.  Anent which, his lordship said to me, that he had written back to the captain to make a midshipman of Charles, and that he would take him under his own protection, which was great joy on two accounts to us all, especially to his mother; first, to hear that Charles was a good man, although in years still but a youth; and, secondly, that my lord had, of his own free will, taken him under the wing of his patronage.”

In the Annals of the Parish, Charles Malcolm rises through the ranks becoming Captain of his own ship but dies in action against the French.

John Galt was a master at weaving real life events into his work.

Galt and the most gorgeous Lady Blessington

John Galt often attended the salon in the London home of the Blessingtons along with many literary figures of the day.  He met Marguerite, Countess of Blessington through their mutual friend, Lord Byron.  Galt and Marguerite became friends and kept up a correspondence that lasted until his death in Greenock in 1839.  Marguerite, Countess Blessington whom Galt referred to as “the most gorgeous Lady Blessington” (Autobiography 2, p193), from a quote by another admirer Dr Samuel Parr (1746-1825).  She led a very interesting life. 

Lady Blessington

Marguerite was born Margaret (Sally) Power in Clonmel, Tipperary in Ireland in 1789.  Her father was a hard living man of the minor local gentry.  He kept company with many of the local army officers and was a drunk and often in debt.  He had no scruples in accepting money in exchange for his daughter.  When Margaret was just 15 she was married off to Captain Maurice Farmer of the 47th Regiment of Foot who was stationed near their home.  Three difficult and violent months later Margaret had the courage to leave her husband and return home.  A short time later she met another English officer, Captain Thomas Jenkins, who was a very different sort of man.  She returned with him to his family home in Hampshire.  Not much seems to be known about her life there.

It was here that she met Charles John Gardiner (1782-1829), Viscount Mountjoy, later created Earl of Blessington, a widower with four children (two legitimate).  He fell in love with Margaret and paid Jenkins off.  The couple travelled to London where he set Margaret up in a home in Manchester Square.  Fortunately for the couple, Margaret’s husband (Maurice Farmer) died in debtors’ prison in 1818 leaving Margaret free to marry.  She became Countess Blessington and changed her name to Marguerite with a home in St James Square.  It was here that the couple lavishly entertained London society and where they met John Galt in 1821.

Count Blessington owned the Mountjoy Forest Estate in County Tyrone and wanted to return there, but Marguerite had no wish to return to Ireland.  In fact, Galt wrote to her on this subject from Liverpool in July 1822.  He agrees with her decision and writes in a letter dated 27 July 1822:- 

    “… I was so distinctly impressed with the repugnance which your Ladyship feels at the idea of going to Ireland, that I entered entirely into your feelings; but upon reflection, I cannot recall all the reasonableness of the argument.”

Galt goes on to write:- 

 “I really know not what apology to make to your Ladyship for all this impertinence; but somehow, since I have had the honour and pleasure of knowing you and my Lord so freely, I feel as if we were old friends; indeed, how can it be otherwise, for no other human beings, unconnected by the common ties, have ever taken half so much interest in at once adding to my enjoyments and consideration.  I am sensible not only of having acquired a vast accession of what the world calls advantages, but also friends who seem to understand me, and that too at a period when I regarded myself as in some degree quite alone, for all my early intimates were dead.” 

Count D'Orsay

Later in 1822, the Blessingtons set off on an expensively lavish grand tour of France and Italy.  Part of their entourage was a private chef and mobile kitchen.  They were joined by the young, handsome Frenchman, Alfred Count D’Orsay who had been a great favourite with London society and reputed to be Marguerite’s lover.  (Some speculated that he was the Count’s lover).  At Genoa they met with Lord Byron who seemed to have taken to Marguerite.  (She would later, like Galt, write a book about him.)  However, others she met thought her “vulgar”.  They travelled widely and spent time in Naples and Florence.  Questions were asked about d’Orsay’s inclusion with the party, and it was explained that he was to marry the Earl of Blessington’s fifteen-year-old daughter, Harriet Gardiner, whom he had never met.  However, a large financial settlement eased the bargain, and the couple were married in Naples in 1827 thus d’Orsay became Blessington’s heir as he had no sons.  The travellers moved to Paris where the Earl of Blessington died of a stroke in June 1829.

Marguerite returned to London where her reputation had preceded her.  However she managed to recreate her salon attracting many famous persons of the day although she was largely shunned by society ladies.  She and Galt kept up a regular correspondence and she often commented on his published work.  In 1835, already unwell, Galt wrote to her from Greenock:-

    “I shall soon have occasion to send your Ladyship my little work, which is now making up, for my unfortunate restlessness of mind must have something to do, and I can do nothing that is not sedentary, for to add to the trouble of entire lameness, my memory is often very ineffectual, and things of the nature of amusements more than business must, I fear, even with convalescence, be my occupation for the remainder of my life, if able to attend to them.” 

D’Orsay and Harriet’s marriage broke down in 1838 and, despite a large settlement payment from Harriet (in order that he would have no claim on the Blessington estate), financial crisis loomed.  D’Orsay continued to live with Marguerite at Seymour Place and later at Gore House (now the site of the Albert Hall) in London.  Many of the literary giants of the time were attracted to her home. 

Despite financial troubles, Marguerite was a resilient woman, and she started writing as a means of earning badly needed money.  She wrote novels and contributed to many of the monthly magazines which were popular at the time.  She contributed to Charles Dickens' Daily News.

In 1849 D’Orsay, badly in debt, left for France.  The entire contents of Marguerite’s home were sold to pay off her debts.  She left for France to join D’Orsay.  She died in Paris a few months later in June 1849.  Her obituary states -

    “Her celebrity and vogue among men of talent arose primarily from her beauty, wit, conversational powers, and highly cultivated mind.  But had she possessed no personal attractions … her published works alone would have attracted admirers around her and would have established her claim to be ranked with the most noteworthy of her contemporaries.” 

D’Orsay, an artist, took to painting portraits to earn money.  He died in 1852 and was interred alongside Marguerite in Chambourcy, France in the grey stone tomb he designed for her.

Burial place of Marguerite, Lady Blessington and D'Orsay

Marguerite was a strong woman who seemed not to care about what society thought of her.  She forged her own path through society and won the admiration of not just John Galt but many of the important people of her day.

Lady Blessington

In what was probably one of his last letters to Marguerite on 4 December 1838, just five months before his death, Galt writes from Greenock: -

    “A London correspondent mentioned you in a way that was exceedingly gratifying.  I got your Confessions of an Elderly Gentleman to read, in the perusal of which I enjoyed very great pleasure.  It unquestionably does you very great credit indeed.  Having been only twice lifted into a carriage during the last 15 months, I am utterly ignorant of the world, for I see only the local paper, and hear only of remarkable news; but occasionally my visitors tell me of what is new in public, and frequently give me cause to be not a little proud in thinking I passed so long ago so correct an estimate of your Ladyship’s powers.  But the vagueness of this expression is a proof of how much I would delight in hearing now and then from yourself as to your literary proceedings.” 

John Galt by Alfred D'Orsay

There is little doubt that his friendship with the Blessingtons greatly helped John Galt make contacts during his time in London.  His lasting correspondence with Marguerite shows their mutual regard and her letters were obviously a great comfort to him in his latter years.

John Galt's final resting place

John Galt is perhaps the most well-known of those buried in Inverkip Street Cemetery, Greenock.  A plaque on the cemetery gates highlights his importance there. 

Three flat stones mark the Galt family plot.  The first stone marks the burial place of John Galt (1750-1817) and his wife Jean Thomson (1746-1820).  John Galt (1779-1839), writer, explorer and founder of the city of Guelph in Canada is added on at the end - almost as an afterthought.  The wording reads:-

    "Here are deposited the remains of John Galt, formerly shipmaster, and afterwards merchant in Greenock.  He died 6th August 1817 in the 67th year of his age having uniformly enjoyed the esteem of all who knew him.  Also Jean Thomson his spouse who died 18th July 1826 in the 80th year of her age.  Also John Galt their son who died on the 11th April 1839 in his 60th year, author of The Annals of the Parish etc etc."

Galt's parents, John Galt and Jean Thomson were married in Irvine in Ayrshire in 1776.  Their son John was born in 1779 at Irvine.  The family moved to Greenock when John was 10 years old.  As a shipmaster, his father found it more convenient and probably more financially rewarding to sail from Greenock.  He was connected with trade to the West Indies.  John Galt (senior) built a house with a garden at the northwest corner of Westburn Street and West Blackhall Street in Greenock.  There's a plaque on the wall where the house once stood.  At that time the area would have been much quieter, and not as built up as it was later to become.

John and Agnes Galt had four children – John was the eldest born in 1779, Agnes born in 1781, James born in 1783 and Thomas born in 1785.  John Galt described his parents -

    "My father was one of the best, as he was one of the handsomest men, but he was of an easy nature.  My mother was however a very singular person possessing a masculine strength of character with great natural humour."

His mother seems to have been a strong woman with her easy-going husband being away at sea for much of the time.  She had educated John at home when they lived in Irvine.  He had many memories of those days which he wrote about in his autobiography.

The third gravestone marks the burying place of John Galt's sister Agnes Galt (1781-1855) and reads - 

    “This stone is erected in affectionate remembrance by Agnes Galt, widow of Robert Andrew Macfie, late merchant in Greenock who died 28th October 1811 esteemed by those who knew him best.  Surviving all parents, brothers, husband and children, during a long pilgrimage throughout which upheld by Christian hope she bore with patience, much bodily suffering and zealously sought the kingdom of God on earth.  This old disciple finished her course in peace 30th April 1855 and was buried here.  Phil III, 20.21.”

Agnes Galt married Robert Andrew Macfie in Greenock in 1806.  Robert was a grocer and merchant in Greenock, son of Robert Macfie sugar refiner and his wife Mary Andrew (he was one of 11 children).  He died in 1811 and is buried here.  Agnes Galt Macfie died at 7 Brougham Street in Greenock in 1855.  She is buried here with her husband.  She had outlived all her family as the gravestone poignantly mentions.

The middle stone marks the burying place of the three children of Agnes and Robert Macfie.  Their son, Robert Andrew and daughters Mary and Jane Thomson died relatively young. The stone reads:-

    “Robert Andrew McFie, fell asleep in Jesus 28 October 1824 in the 17th year of his age and Mary, his sister 13th May 1826 having just copleted her 15th year.  Both died in faith with joyful hopes of a blessed immortality.  Also their sister Jane Thomson Macfie who departed this life with longing desire to be with Christ.  She died 5th September 1831 age 22 years.  The Saints in early life removed in sweeter accents sing and blessed the swiftness of the flight that bore them to their King.”

John Galt's widow and three sons all settled in Canada and became important figures in the history of that country.  It seems fitting that Galt himself should be buried with the people who had most to do with the nurturing of his genius in his early life.  Around him in Inverkip Street Cemetery, Greenock are the graves of many of those well known to him during his years living in Greenock.

Galt's view of the Parthenon, Athens 1810

John Galt visited Athens in February of 1810 while some of the famous Elgin Marbles (the preferred term now is “Parthenon sculptures”) were being prepared for shipping to London.  In Letters from the Levant he writes of his time in Athens:-

    “The rape of the temples by Lord Elgin was at that time the theme of every English tongue that came to Athens.  While there, I wrote the Athenaid, a mock epic, in which the gods and goddesses avenge the cause of Minerva.”

Lord Elgin - source

A quote from Galt’s Athenaid reads:-

“Fired by the scheme, his way Brucides took,

And public tasks, and trusts of state forsook;

With ready gold he calls men, carts and cords,

Cords, carts and men, rise at the baited words.

The ropes asunder rive the wedded stone,

The mortals labour, and the axles groan,

Hymettus echoes to the tumbling fane,

And shook th’ Acropolis, - shakes all the plain.”

Thomas Bruce, 7^th Earl of Elgin's original intention was to make drawings and casts of the sculptures. He employed Giovanni Battista Lusieri (1755-1821), known as Don Tita a landscape artist and architect formerly in the employ of the King of Naples to undertake this work.  Lusieri was the agent who dealt with the matter for Elgin. 

The French Consul, Louis Francois Sebastien Fauvelle who was also an archaeologist, tried to stop Elgin from removing the marbles to Britain as he wanted them for France and Napoleon.  Elgin's defence was that if he did not take them, they would be destroyed by the Turks or stolen by the French.  Elgin claimed that he had a firman (permit or authority) to remove them, Galt says that he saw the firman, but being unable to read Turkish was told that it confirmed that the Earl had permission to remove one stone.  (Galt, Autobiography, Part 1, p160).  Of course, later Elgin sold the marbles to the British Government, and they are still on display in the British Museum in London.

Parthenon, Athens

In his Autobiography (Part I, p158) Galt relates that he may have had an opportunity to acquire the marbles as he was informed - “Luseri’s bills, on account of the marbles, were not honoured by the earl’s agents, nevertheless he kept his knowledge of the facts to himself”.  The marbles were shipped to Malta, but Luseri told Galt that he was concerned that he would not be paid by Elgin. 

Galt writes:-

    "Here was a chance of the most exquisite relics of art in the world becoming mine, and a speculation by the sale of them in London that would realize a fortune.  The temptation was too great.  My correspondents at Malta were Messrs. Struthers, Kennedy, and Co., to whom I wrote to pay the bills upon receiving the stones, etc etc and I shipped myself on board the vessel that I might see her safely to Hydra, where she was to put herself under the protection of a man of war.  Accordingly, that evening we sailed with our precious cargo, and next morning arrived at Hydra, from which the vessel was conveyed to Malta.  But on her arrival, there, the agent for the earl paid the bills, and my patriotic cupidity was frustrated."

Lord Byron - source

Lord Byron who was in Greece at the time, also criticised Elgin in his epic The Curse of Minerva, which, says Galt, Byron wrote after reading his Athenaid.  (John Galt was a friend of Byron and wrote a biography of the poet, The Life of Lord Byron, which he published in 1830.)  In the biography (Chapter 28, p178) Galt writes:-

    "His Lordship has published a poem, called The Curse of Minerva, the subject of which is the vengeance of the goddess on Lord Elgin for the rape of the Parthenon. It has so happened that I wrote at Athens a burlesque poem on nearly the same subject (mine relates to the vengeance of all the gods) which I called The Atheniad; the manuscript was sent to his Lordship in Asia Minor, and returned to me through Mr. Hobhouse. His Curse of Minerva, I saw for the first time in 1828, in Galignani’s edition of his works."  (The full poem is available to read online.)

However, it would appear that John Galt, despite his poetic outpourings, was not exactly taken with his view of the Parthenon.  In Letters from the Levant (p113), Galt writes:-

     "The distant appearance of the Acropolis somewhat resembles that of Stirling Castle, but it is inferior in altitude and general effect."

(Galt often compares buildings, places and people to Scottish equivalents!)

Steamboat tales - Port Glasgow

John Galt’s work The Steam Boat or as it was advertised – The Steam Boat; or the Voyages and Travels of Thomas Duffle, cloth-merchant in the Salt Market of Glasgow was published in 1821.  It is a wonderful collection of short stories told by Galt's character, Thomas Duffle.  His fellow travellers provide him with fabulous stories of their own lives as they go down the River Clyde from Glasgow to various places on the steamboat’s route.

Steamship Comet passing Dumbarton Rock

Thomas Duffle himself narrates his own views on the various landmarks they pass and of special interest are his observations on Greenock and Port Glasgow and the perceived (or perhaps real) views of the differences between Portonians and Greenockians and what each thinks of the other.  Of course, Port Glasgow was where Britain's first commercial steamship "Comet" was built in 1812 at John Wood's Yard in the town which makes the stories even more interesting.

At a stopover in Port Glasgow, Duffle narrates “I was thankful when the vessel reached the quay of Port Glasgow, where I went on shore to take my breakfast at an inn, being resolved to leave her there and travel by myself on to Greenock, which is situated about three miles to the westward.  This determination, as it proved, was most judicious on my part; for I found a comfortable house, and great civility in the attendance, facing the shipping in the harbour, with excellent warm rolls, piping hot from the baker’s, and fresh herring that would have been a treat at any time”.

Former town buildings, Port Glasgow

Duffle then goes on a walk around the town – “The waiter, to be sure, as his wont doubtless is with all strangers, directed my attention to the steeple, telling me that it was higher than the Greenock one”.  The visitor then satisfies himself that the steeple is not, as was a derogatory comment doing the rounds at the time, crooked, but perfectly straight.  He continues – “I visited the dry-dock, a very useful place for maritime purposes of various sorts, especially for repairing vessels’ bottoms; and then I went to investigate that famous antiquity, the old castle”.

Newark Castle, Port Glasgow

He also has views on the local people - “I saw several of the inhabitants at their shop-doors, and some elderly characters standing forenent the inns, waiting for the London papers.  Upon the whole they appeared to be a hamely race …”.  So ends Duffel’s short stay in Port Glasgow as he then travels on by coach to Greenock.

It is still possible to recognise several of the places named by Galt.  The steeple referred to is that of the former town buildings and now Port Glasgow's library.  In 1821 the only other comparable steeple in Greenock was that of the Mid Kirk in Cathcart Square.  Unfortunately, the dry-dock is no more, but it used to be situated just at the back of the town buildings and it is possible to see what it would have looked like in more modern times by examining the wonderful mural on the wall just to the east of the Health Centre car park.  “The old castle” – Newark Castle is fortunately still in existence.

Port Glasgow dry dock mural Port Glasgow

In January 1884 the Greenock Herald published extracts from the book.

The calamitous state of John Galt's health - a poem!

Even in the latter days of his life which he spent in ill health at his sister's house in Westburn Street, Greenock, John Galt still showed a remarkable capacity for a good put down! 

The Renfrew poet, Andrew Park (1807-1863) had the audacity to write a poem about Galt - "Answers to the Stanzas of the Celebrated John Galt on the Calamitous State of his Health".

Thou may'st be helpless, sad, and lame,

On one lone seat compell'd to stay,

And muse on youth and dreams of fame,

And hopes and wishes all away.

The verses go on to let Galt know what he'll miss

"Thou may not see the lark arise …",

and assure him that after he dies, his name will be remembered,

But, Galt, thy name is not forgot!

Posterity shall hand it down …"

Then cheer thee, Galt - thy worth, thy name,

And merits, shall live after thee;

And echo, with the trump of fame,

Shall sound thy requiem o'er the sea." 

Galt manages to produce a fitting reply -

"Sir,

I have seen this morning your obliging, and, I presume to add, sympathetic verses, which are not the less acceptable in coming from an author personally unknown to me.
It has been very flattering to me to have received so much kindness, of late, from the public press; for a man who has suffered from nine attacks of a strange species of paralysis, who has thrice lost his speech and once his sight, and now moves in continual dread, is really an object of compassion, especially one who has been very active.
I am much better, as this testifies; for I could not sign my name at one time; and the improvement came on me as quickly as the disease.  Ten minutes before I wrote this I was almost speechless.

I am, Sir, yours, very truly, John Galt"

John Galt is often perceived of as a dour man, but humour flows through much of his work, especially in his wonderful characters.  But who was Andrew Park?  Paisley Museum and Art Gallery have a portrait of the poet which you can see here.

Born in Renfrew in 1807, Andrew Park worked in a commission warehouse in Paisley before moving to Glasgow where he was employed as a hat salesman.  Business failing, he moved to London but returned to Glasgow in 1841 where he became a successful bookseller.  He spent some time travelling in Egypt. You can read another example of his verse at the National Library of Scotland website.

Park died in 1863 and was buried in Paisley Cemetery, over two hundred people followed his coffin to the grave.  It would appear that he was a very popular and convivial man.  

His obituary in the Glasgow Herald reads: -

"Death of Mr Andrew Park - Many amongst us will note, with much regret, the announcement of the death of Mr Andrew Park, who had attained local celebrity as an extensive poetical writer.  It is too much to expect that Mr Park will be remembered as a poet; but it is due to him to say that he produced some pieces in which pretty sentiments were worked out in pleasant lines.  He was a man of simple and inoffensive character, and his attractive social qualities and his fine musical voice rendered him a welcome guest at the social board."

 
John Galt was long dead by this time, but perhaps he would have approved of the wording in the obituary!

(Poem and letter reproduced in Fraser's Magazine, June 1835)