tailieunhanh - The Provost by John Galt

John Galt (2 May 1779 – 11 April 1839) was a Scottish novelist, entrepreneur, and political and social commenter. Because he was the first novelist to deal with issues of the industrial revolution, he has been called the first political novelist in the English language. Born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland, Galt was the son of a naval captain. When his family relocated to Malden in 1789, Galt became an apprentice and junior clerk, writing essays and stories for local journals in his spare time. He moved to London in 1804 to seek his fortune and in 1809 began studying. | The Provost by John Galt Prepared and Published by Ebd THE PROVOST INTRODUCTION During a recent visit to the West Country among other old friends we paid our respects to Mrs Pawkie the relict of the Provost of that name who three several times enjoyed the honour of being chief magistrate in Gudetown. Since the death of her worthy husband and the comfortable settlement in life of her youngest daughter Miss Jenny who was married last year to Mr Caption writer to the signet she has been as she told us herself beeking in the lown o the conquest which the gudeman had wi sic an ettling o pains and industry gathered for his family. Our conversation naturally diverged into various topics and among others we discoursed at large on the manifold improvements which had taken place both in town and country since we had visited the Royal Burgh. This led the widow in a complimentary way to advert to the hand which it is alleged we have had in the editing of that most excellent work entitled Annals of the Parish of Dalmailing intimating that she had a book in the handwriting of her deceased husband the Provost filled with a variety of most curious matter in her opinion of far more consequence to the world than any book that we had ever been concerned in putting out. Considering the veneration in which Mr Pawkie had been through life regarded by his helpmate we must confess that her eulogium on the merits of his work did not impress us with the most profound persuasion that it was really deserving of much attention. Politeness however obliged us to express an earnest desire to see the volume which after some little hesitation was produced. Judge then of the nature of our emotions when in cursorily turning over a few of the well-penned pages we found that it far surpassed every thing the lady had said in its praise. Such indeed was our surprise that we could not refrain from openly and at once assuring her that the delight and satisfaction which it was .