Mr Alexander Thomson and Miss Crawford

Category

Library Item

Item no

13489

Title

Mr Alexander Thomson and Miss Crawford

Description

Mr Alexander Thomson and Miss Crawford walk in profile. Thomson wears a tricorne hat, afitted coat, knee breeches, stockings and buckled shoes. Miss Crawford wears an elaborate tall hat. These hats were fashionable in the 1770s-1780s and were often satirized for their excessive height. She also wears a long gown with a fitted jacket. The dress has the characteristic 18th-century silhouette with fullness at the back.

Artist / maker

Kay, John

Date

1784

Size

10.5 x 6.5 cm

Type

Etching

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Those who recollect MR. THOMSON, affirm this representation of him to be extremely faithful. He was very remarkable for the length of his arms, which while walking, he kept dangled by his side, as represented in the Print. He carried on business as a grocer in a shop nearly opposite the Tron Church, where, by persevering industry and fair dealing, he is said to have amassed a considerable fortune; from which circumstance, together with his long and honourable career, he obtained the title of the " Prince of Grocers." Not much in accordance, however, with this high-sounding title he was known also by the less dignified appellation of "Farthing Sandy," owing to his having at one period issued a great number of brass farthings, for the better adjustment of accounts with his numerous customers. His house was at the Abbey-Hill.

Thomson was a widower of long standing; but having grown in riches as well as in years, it appears strange fantasies of greatness began to flit before his imagination. He used to compare himself with the other grocers as a large mastiff dog, placed in the centre of a number of little terriers. With a view to his aggrandizement, he sought to connect himself by marriage with some family of aristocratic blood; and with this "intention full resolved," he is represented in the Print as "casting an eye" at Miss Crawford-a lady somewhat whimsi-cal, if not altogether fantastical, in her dress and manners. The scene is limned by Mr. Kay as witnessed on the Calton-Hill, the day on which Mr Tytler's "fire-balloon" ascended from the Abbey grounds. The "Prince of Grocers,' however, was not successful in his pursuit, and ultimately became, among the ladies, an object of ridicule, being known by the feminine sobriquet of "Ruffles," from a practice he had of hiding his long fingers in his sleeve appendages.Had the widower aimed at less lofty game, there would have been no doubt of success; his " old brass would have bought a new pan."

Notwithstanding his reputed riches, it is said that Thomson left a mere trifle at his death, having been nearly ruined by a son, who afterwards went to Jamaica, where it is believed he died a mendicant.

MISS CRAWFORD, the object of the grocer's ambition, was the daughter of Sir Hew Crawford of Jordanhill, and resided at the time at a place called Redbraes, Bonnington Road. She continued "deaf as Ailsa Craig" to the wooing of old Ruffles, preferring a life of single blessedness, although it was said she afterwards formed a "mesalliance" with John (commonly called Jack) Fortune, a surgeon, who went abroad (brother of Matthew Fortune, who kept the Tontine, Princes Street) —both sons of old Fortune who kept the noted tavern in the High Street, the resort of the higher ranks in Scotland fifty years ago; but Mrs. Fortune was a younger sister.

Mr. Kay mentions that the publication of this Print created great excitement at the time (1784), and was the cause of several articles being written pro and con in the periodicals of the day. Captain Crawford (brother to the lady) was very much irritated, and threatened to cudgel the limner, at the same time
"daring him at his peril to pencil any lady ever after." As might have been expected, this threat had a very contrary effect-being immediately followed by an alteration of the Plate, making the head-dress of Miss Crawford a little more ridiculous, and also by the caricature of "RETALIATION; OR THE CUDGELLER CAUGHT."

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Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hairstyles

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hats

Clothing and dress > Garments > Breeches

Clothing and dress > Garments > Coats

Clothing and dress > Garments > Dresses

People > Commercial activities > Shop workers

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