Crescant lætè, translated

To B.Bishop G.Gordon “July 28. 1772. A Friend lately invented two
new Toasts, viz, God bless Louïsa Horne, &and Jock in yethe han Cel-
lar,1 and, God bless &and reward the Lad, that has been so
kind to Louïsa Horne. The former of these appears
to have been somewhat prophetical, as a Gentleman,
lately arrived from R- - -Rome, declares, he illegible had the
Honour, not only to see, but likewise to talk with,
the amiable Louïsa; &and that it is his Opinion, She is
pregnant. All Glory be to God for all his Mercies.
Amen.

Lately we had in our News-papers Extract of a
Letter from Rome, May 22. 1772. taken from
your London-Papers. Methinks, I can guess the
Hand, that directed this Publication. But the
publishers made only seven Carriages in the
Cavalcade, by omitting the two Coaches-and-six,
with the Principal Person’s Attendants, which
made nine in all; &and which, if I rightly remem-
ber, was in the Copy transmitted; but if not,
then the Transmitter is to be blamed. However,
the directing Friend has been careful to make
one remarkable Alteration, which turns out to be
a most excellent &and seasonable Improvement, viz,
in place of Crescant lites, he has been attentive

1966 (1966)
to insert Crescant lætè; meaning literally
&and pointedly, May they increase fruitfully!
Which when a Friend of yours suggested to
some Folks, they were ready to laugh at it,
as a Sally or Flight of his own; but he re-
ferred them to their Dictionaries; &and then,
they saw the Justness &and Propriety of the
Observation, &and became extremely fond
of it, as a rare Curiosity of it’sits kind.
And now Crescant lætè, is become a
new Toast with some.

The last Week was a mad One with
us here, occasioned by our Races. We
had no fewer than four or five Diver-
sions every Day! We will not think as
we ought to do, though our poor Country be
bleeding at every Vein in the Article of Cir-
culation. For some time past, if a Noble-
man or Gentleman of the first Estate in
Scotland had been in EdrEdinburgh, to borrow 100
Guineas, he would not have got even ytthat
small Sum in hard Cash from either of
the two public Banks, or from any Bank-
er; such has been the inexpressible Run
upon them all for Cash. The South-Sea
was a Joke in Comparison of the Present
Convulsion. For in that the landed Inter-
est was mostly concerned; but now, Trade
&and Commerce, Agriculture &and Manufac-
tures are deeply plunged, &and suffer greatly.

There is still a general Stagnation in
Business with us. The Shop-Keepers in
EdrEdinburgh may shut up Shop for some time to
come. About 150 Charges of Horning
have been lately issued out from EdrEdinburgh in-
to the Country; &and I have ventured to fore-
tell, that, by the time the Martinmas-Wind

1967 (1967)
blows, they will be flying through Scot-
land like Hail-Stones, hard &and pon-
derous ! — The Distress is but begin-
ning; &and where it may end, God only
knows. Long ago I used to say frankly &and
frequently, that our Paper-Credit
would chokechoak us some Day or other; at qchwhich
some of the Babylonian Merchants laugh-
ed; but they will not laugh now, when
they see, that a Touch more wdwould have done it.

God be thanked, that MessrsMessieurs Bowdler
&and Burdon are safe. I was in no small
Anxiety about them, as the Sons can wit-
ness; who are both of them in good
Health, fresh and jolly.

But, if these severe Convulsions in the
high &and opulent World, shall happen
luckily, to bring Light out of Darkness,
&and Order out of Confusion, then, the
Hand of an overruling Providence, a-
dorably conspicuous, would stand confestconfessed!
O! that we were ripe for such a happy
and desirable Change!

The Lady, who had the PearlX-Necklace,
thought fit to sell it to a near Relation of
her own for 130 Guineas, despairing of a
late happy Event. And now, she seems
to regret her not waiting a little longer,
that she might have applied it much more
properly, &and with greater Dignity too. But
there is no help; as it was sold some short
time before the above Event came about.”