Francis Peacock
(part 2)
by Dr Alastair MacFadyen 2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the death of one of country dancing's greatest teachers: Francis Peacock of Aberdeen. In the second of two articles, Dr Alastair Macfadyen describes the contribution that Peacock made to the social and cultural life of Scotland in the 18th century and the legacy he gave to Scottish country dancers of today.
Publication by Subscription On 21st November 1805, Francis Peacock was at his George Street town residence in Aberdeen and it was there that he inscribed a copy of his recently published Sketches Relative to the History, Theory and Practice of Dancing. This inscribed and dedicated copy was for his patroness and principal subscriber, Jane Maxwell, Duchess of Gordon, wife of Alexander, 4th Duke of Gordon. Having completed the Sketches, the dancing master adopted the customary practice of inviting subscribers to pledge themselves to a purchase prior to printing. There were 171 responses to his invitation and these are alphabetically listed on the last few pages of the book.
of his teaching in July 1805, advised the Aberdeen citizens, via The Aberdeen Journal, that during his recent stay in London he had had the benefit of instruction from the most celebrated teachers ‘particularly Mr. Jenkins’ In London in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the success enjoyed by George Jenkins and his son as teachers
the councillors agreed to the purchase of twenty copies. This was a decision which seems to have caused some amusement in Aberdeen as the following few lines by an anonymous versifier show: God prosper long our Lord Provost, Town Clerk an’ Bailies a’; An grant that in their reelin’ fits, Doup-scud* they winna fa. * Fall heavily on the buttocks
The Dancing Duchess As already mentioned, the most eminent of Mr Peacock’s subscribers was the Duchess of Gordon, a spirited and vivacious lady who retained her youthful exuberance until the end of her life. Admired for her beauty and wit, she
Aberdeen Journal, 1805
of ‘Scotch Dancing’ is an indication of the inroads which the Highland Reels, described by Francis Peacock in Sketch V of his book, were making into the ballrooms south of the border.
Francis Peacock’s inscription, 1805
A Diverse Social Mix In addition to the Duchess of Gordon, there are other members of the titled and gentry classes represented in the subscribers’ list. Included also are academics, lawyers, physicians, clergymen, merchants, soldiers, musicians, book sellers and teachers of dancing. This interesting and diverse social mix is a reflection of the widespread respect and admiration for the author as well as of the importance attached to dancing in the social life of early 19th century Scotland. Amongst the teachers of dancing listed, there is Mr. Peacock’s assistant, James Douglas, who, at the recommencement
18
A possible link with the RSCDS is provided by the name of subscriber John Cruickshank of Fyvie. Almost certainly, this is the teacher of dancing who was the grandfather of Flora Cruickshank of Peterhead. As the practitioners of Ladies Step dancing will be aware, it was from Miss Cruickshank that the RSCDS member and dedicated reviver of solo step dancing for ladies, Mrs. Tibbie Cramb of Aberdeen, acquired the solo dance, Flora Macdonald’s Fancy. It will also be well known that the express wish of Miss Cruickshank was that Flora should continue to be danced in the style in which it had been communicated to her by her father, the Peterhead dancing master, George Cruickshank.
Reelin’ Bailies The most generous of the named subscribers was Aberdeen Town Council. No doubt to demonstrate their support and encouragement of a worthy citizen,
Jane, Duchess of Gordon
exercised considerable social, cultural and political influence in Edinburgh and in London, which she visited frequently and where she became a confidante of members of the royal family and of the government. At her Edinburgh drawingroom parties, she entertained the capital’s literati and invited Robert Burns to join them when he was in the city. She was impressed and charmed by the poet and once confessed that he was the only man ‘to set her off her feet’ with his conversation. There are many stories about the more unconventional episodes in the
