Ramsay's marriage was the turning-point of his career. To him, as to every man who realises not alone the moral but the social obligations he assumes when undertaking the holy charge of rendering a woman's life happier and brighter than ever before, the responsibilities of his new relation crystallised into the mould of definite effort the energies hitherto diffused throughout numberless diverse channels. Seldom has the philosophy of wedded bliss been more felicitously stated than in his _Advice to Mr. ---- on his Marriage_. He remarks, as though drawing on the fund of his own experience-- 'Alake! poor mortals are not gods, And therefore often fall at odds; But little quarrels now and then, Are nae great faults 'tween wife and man. These help right often to improve His understanding, and her love. If e'er she take the pet, or fret, Be calm, and yet maintain your state; An' smiling ca' her little foolie, Syne wi' a kiss evite a tulzie. This method's ever thought the braver Than either cuffs or _clish-ma-claver_. It shows a spirit low an' common That wi' ill-nature treats a woman. They're of a make sae nice and fair They maun be managed wi' some care; Respect them they'll be kind an' civil, But disregarded, prove the devil.' But for another reason the year 1712 is as interesting to us as students of his career as it was important to him. In the early months of it he was introduced to the 'Easy Club,' one of those politico-convivial societies that sprang into existence early in the century, and were conspicuous features in the social customs of the period, until its eighth and ninth decades, when, consequent upon the expansion of the city north and south, the tavern conviviality of 1740 was succeeded by the domestic hospitality of 1790.