BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 167
retail trade should have remained entirely in the hands of females. The saltwives.
were nearly as numerous at one time as the fish-wives. Margaret, however,
did not live to witness the-change.l She died about the year 1810.
No. CCXXX.
ARCHIBALD HAMILTON ROWAN, ESQ.,
OF KILLILEAGH, IN IRELAND,
AND
THE HON. SIMON BUTLER.
THIS Etching represents these gentlemen as they appeared on the streets of
Edinburgh in 179 3. The portraitures are extremely characteristic, particul&
that of Rowan. His figure is tall, robust, and erect, with much of that air bf
nonchalance for which he was remarkable. In his hand is a huge club, bearing
the significant inscription-'' A Pill for a Puppy."
In the course of the trial of Muir of Huntershill, the then Lord Advocate of
Scotland, Dundas of Arniston, alluding to the leaders of the United Irishmen
of Dublin, spoke of them as " wretches who had fled from punishment." Dr.
Drennan being then president, and Mr. Rowan secretary, the latter, on the
20th October 1793, addressed a letter to Dundas, demanding instant explanation
and recantation of the false and injurious epithets ; with an assurance, that
unless a satisfactory answer was returned in course of post, Mr. Rowan would
pay him a personal visit before the expiry of the month. No reply was made ;
and in the meantime measures were taken by the Procurator Fiscal (Mr. Wm.
Scott) to insure the apprehension of Mr. Rowan on his arrival. A petition was
presented to the Sheriff, stating "that A. H. Rowan, Esq., of the kingdom
of Ireland, designing himself Secretary to the Society of United Irishmen
in Dublin, with a wicked and malicious intent, and for other seditious and
dangerous purposes, is just now COTW to this country, and is within ymr Lord&p's
jurisdiction." This petition was presented on the 28th October, and a warrant
of the same date was immediately granted ; although, so far from being within
the Sheriff's jurisdiction, the party to be apprehended had not then left
Dublin.'
Prior to the reduction of the duty, the more economical portion of the working community were
in the habit of laying in a small store of salt about the Martinmas t i e , sufficient to serve throughout
the winter. To a managing housewife the profit of the hawker was of considerable moment ; and
many a denizen of Edinburgh, looking back to his boyish days, must recollect how oft he has joyfully
trudged to the Pans of Joppa for his " peck 0' 88'"''
A copy of the petition and warrant appeared in the Mming (;'hroniCle and Cowrier newspapers,
xj a specimen of Scottish criminal procedure.