I often wonder how the pale-faced, straight-haired clerks (for they are not termed _shopmen_ in this part of the world) manage to get on among such a multiplicity of dissimilar articles; or that from being asked for so many contrary goods during the day, they do not make many and greater mistakes. A lady drives up in her carriage to the door of one of these labyrinthan _depôts_ of vanity, and in that “low soft voice so sweet in woman,” asks to be shewn some orange flower chaplets, and essence of _Frangipanier_. The poor clerk, his brains turning round like a revolving light, flies to obey her commands; but lo! in his hurry and confusion, he catches up a _frying-pan_, and with streaming brow, presents the inelegant article to the lady’s astounded and horrified gaze, instead of the delicate perfume. The master of these gay and changeful stores, is as diversiformed as his goods are various. In the morning he stands behind his counter, and “bows to” and “ma’am’s” any black member of the _canaille_ that condescends to purchase a few yards of “half-a-bit” (2d. sterling) ribbon to sandal her mill-post ankle; while in the evening, in all the glories of white pantaloons, new coat, smart buttons and embroidered stock, he figures away at an aristocratic dinner party. Times are indeed altered with these Scotchmen. In former years, when Sawney left his mountain home, his trouty lochs, and oaten bannocks, for the hot suns and debilitating climate of these “Isles of the West;” he did it for the sake alone of _siller_. As to ambition—faugh! he hated the very name, or else, like the cock in Esop’s fable, he spurned the glittering bauble, of which he knew not the worth. They plodded on from year to year, increased their stock of goods, and added many a round dollar to their worldly wealth, and then sat down contentedly to enjoy the smoky flavour of their usquebaugh, forming no greater acquaintance with the governor, than as they saw him proceed to the court-house in discharge of his high office, or knowing no more of government-house than the outer appearance. But the Scotchmen of the present day scorn the lowly ideas of their predecessors. They ape the man of fashion, call their haberdashery store a merchant’s warehouse, and foregoing the vulgar title of draper, take to themselves the loftier name of _merchant_. Nor is this all. They attend the governor’s _levees_, play the amiable at a quadrille party, frequent the billiard table, or perchance take wine with his excellency, and grin and bow with approved precision. Their shops prove an agreeable morning lounge for the superiors of the island, and in a glass of _sangaree_, or a flowing bowl of _pepper-punch_, the difference of grade between the entertainer and the entertained is overlooked. That “there is no rule without an exception,” is a true apophthegm; and among the many emigrants from the “land o’ cakes,” some very respectable individuals are to be met with.