Magdalenism : an inquiry into the extent, causes, and consequences of prostitution in Edinburgh / by William Tait.

  • Tait, William.
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Magdalenism : an inquiry into the extent, causes, and consequences of prostitution in Edinburgh / by William Tait. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    season, as they are then enabled to call upon them at their own houses. (^thers)of them (get acquainte(i)with (commercial travellersTin the way of business) o]]fby_^o_ecial introduction from some friend acquainted with the looseness of their character,, and (accompany them to town'^iiere they live with them^)ti]l. sdch time as,/their business is transacted,; and (they depart for Eng'tjind. It isim- possiblc to give any thing like an accurate idea of the extent to Avhich this practice prevails ;\ but from facts which have come to the author's knowledge, it ^ay safely be inferred'that it is much more commonj than the^^last kind of clandestme prostitution alluded to.p In the autumn of 1839, it was ascertained that there were no fewer than four couples in Edinburgh, at or near the same time, all from large towns in the north and west of Scot- land. An individual who was introduced to two of them, had the curiosity to visit their native place shortly afterwards, when he embraced the opportunity of calling upon them; and he de- clared on his return, that he could not have believed, unless he had witnessed it, that they moved in so respectable a sphere, and bore such an excellent reputation for industry and good behaviour, ^He found that they lived upon the most intimate ^nd friendly , terms Avith many of the most respectable citizens of the place, to some of whom he was introduced as a distant relative of their own,Ymder a fictitious name.' One of these ladies has been seen in Edinburgh since, in such circumstances as would lead to the suspicion that she will not much longer retain her excellent re- putation, unless she display more prudence and secrecy than she did on that occasion. In general, the females who come to Edinburgh, and degrade themselves in this manner, preserve the utmost secrecy as to their name and place of abode. They never divulge any particular re- lative to the object or intention of their visit. From the exor- bitant demands they make upon the persons who are foolishly attracted into their company^there can be little doubt that their main object in resorting to this questionable mode of living, is to recruit their languishing finances^