Note 27 — I. HUMOROUS.
Reading edition
The Art of Courtship, containing An Interesting Dialogue that passed between William Lawson and his sweetheart Bessy Gibb. Also two Love-Letters which he sent to his Sweetheart, and her Answers: Very beneficial for such blate wooers, or young beginners, as have not gotten the art of courtship. And two receipts: The one for young Men how to wale a good wife, and the other for young Women how to wale a good husband.... Stirling: printed and sold by M. Randall, 12mo, N.D. “Hawkie,” in his Autobiography, refers to this chapbook. At page 92, he says, in relating his adventures as a flying-stationer:—“An old copy of an eight-page book entitled Willie Lawson’s Courtship of Bess Gibb, was the first that I tried, It was a peck of ill-put-together nonsense, but I afterwards found that nonsense was the article that ‘took’ best in the street. Of this piece I sold a number of reams, and cleaned out the shop; I have never seen it since, and it is a small loss to the public.” There were other chapbooks very similar in title to this in circulation. The Accomplished Courtier; or, A New School of Love, published at Edinburgh in 1764, was not unlike the Letter Writers of a later date. Another, also published in Edinburgh in 1764, was entitled The Art of Courtship, and contained “Amorous dialogues, love letters, complimental expressions, with a particular description of Courtship,” etc., etc. A more pretentious work was A New Academy of Compliments; or, the Complete English Secretary, which was published at Glasgow in 1783. It is a duodecimo of 132 pages, and has the appearance of being made up of the contents of a number of smaller books. There are sections dealing with letter-writing and the art of good-breeding; and chapters which treat of moles and their meanings and the interpretations of dreams. Then there are “dialogues very witty and pleasing,” and “the Comical Humours of Jovial London Gossips, in a Dialogue between a Maid, Wife, and Widow, over a Cup of the Creature.” To all this is added “A Collection of the newest Play-House Songs.”