David's Diary
David Bird was brought up in Linlithgow and took a keen interest in the economic life of the town, as the following extract from his diary reveals:
During harvest time a market was held every Monday for hiring of reapers, and great numbers came there from the Highlands and from Ireland. The Highlanders were all dressed in stout, homespun clothing. The Irish had all sorts of clothes and many with tall hats and knee breeches. The farmers as a rule preferred the highland folks, but often they wanted too high wages and, when refused, off they went to a piazza in front of the town hall, set the bagpipes aplaying and danced for half an hour or so to the great delight of the boys. At other times they would not allow any reapers to leave the market unless they got a certain wage, and turned them back. This was carried to such an extent that the magistrates resolved to put it down and swore in a large number of inhabitants as special constables who were armed with stout batons, a little longer than a policemans. When Monday came the Highlanders commenced their old trick and turned back all who did not get 4/- a day of wages. The special constables interfered and a regular fight ensued, and the ringleader was seized and, after a severe struggle, was dragged to the courthouse, tried, and put in prison. This put an end to the Highlanders game and left the farmers free to make the best bargain they could. 
We wonder what the EU would make of such collective bargaining today!
David’s legal career began as an unpaid apprentice (or ‘clerk’) to Mr Henderson, a ‘Writer’ in Linlithgow. Many a modern day law student would sympathise with his diary entry that…
Mr Henderson had a library of law books and I sometimes looked into them, but they were awful dry reading.
After working for Mr Henderson for some time, David moved to Glasgow to work for Mr Gordon, a Writer whose office was located in George Square. His diary records that: -
Shortly after I came, cholera broke out and a great many sudden deaths occurred. I did not know any of the persons cut off, but my office companions did and, as many were cut down by a days illness, a great fear fell on the community.
David’s career progressed when: -
In 1839 I obtained a situation at a higher salary in the office of Mr Douglas, Agent for Campbell of Blythswood, when I was employed exclusively among deeds. Mr Douglas was a very strict and orderly man and was very hard and fond of money. My fellow clerks were pleasant and sociable. One of them, Mason, drank heavily and was liable to attacks of delirium tremens.
Legal life was clearly a colourful affair in those days!
A further move took David to the office of Mr Turner, the Town Clerk. In 1845, during his employment there, David accompanied his employer to London to help him
...carry through a Bill for rebuilding Stockwell Street Bridge.
During his stay in London David made frequent visits to the House of Commons in connection with his work. He records that..
I went to the Gallery of the House of Commons and was much disappointed by the appearance of the Members. There was a want of dignity about the whole affair. It was too free and easy for my ideas.
It would appear that, at least as far as parliament is concerned, not much has changed in the ensuing years!
It was later this same year that David set up his own practice and laid the foundation stone of what would become the well-known and respected Glasgow firm of Bird, Son and Semple. In addition to practicing as a Writer, David was also a ‘sharebroker’ (i.e. a stockbroker), and those affected by the recent enthusiasm for ‘dot.com’ high tech companies will appreciate his description of a similar phenomenon 156 years earlier: -
An extraordinary mania began shortly in buying and selling shares and forming Companies of all kinds at home and abroad, and proposed railways in all kinds of places. Everyone seemed smitten and buying and selling shares was the great business of the day. Ordinary occupation was much neglected and each man was intent on making his fortune out of share dealing.
Being a Broker, I was much engaged in the hurry scurry and often was much alarmed at the enormous sums of money dealt in and passing from hand to hand. A great responsibility lay upon the Brokers as they were liable for all of the transactions they entered into should their clients fail. Large commissions were made daily, but alas in figures only as it turned out at last. The Stock Exchanges allowed stocks to be dealt in as soon as letters of allotment were issued, and wild speculation set in, and many, thinking they had made their fortunes, began to live in an extravagant style. I had always a dread of the issue and passed many a sleepless night, specially on evenings before selling days when thousands of pounds had to be provided to meet engagements. I did not increase my family expenditure. The crash came sooner than I expected. In October 1845 the Times newspaper began to write on the subject, showing the enormous sums required for the numerous railway and other schemes and the inability of the country to provide them. A panic seized the whole community and everyone was desirous to get rid of his shares at as little loss as possible. The scare was frightful and many stocks were unsaleable. Clients were unable to pay for shares purchased and heavy losses were made on all sides. Brokers could not meet their engagements, as clients did not supply them with necessary funds, and a fearful crash of Brokers and constituents took place. Bankruptcies were common and I lost heavily by many of my clients. All that I had made was eaten up, but I was able to pay all my liabilities when dozens had to succumb. Many well to do men were ruined and I do not know one who came out with a gain.
The financial services industry is much better regulated nowadays. However, it would appear that the occasionally lemming-like behaviour of investors, in pursuit of easy money, stays unchanged!
David recorded the progress of his practice in what, to us, may seem typically Victorian sentiments: -
My business progressed slowly, not having many influential connections, but it gradually increased and, with economy, we got on in the family very pleasantly. Much of this was owing to the good management of my dear wife and, above all, to the blessing of our Heavenly Father.
The Glasgow of the 1840s was a colourful and, at times, exciting place to live and work, as the final extract from David’s diary shows.
About 1848 a terrible riot occurred in Glasgow, caused by the French Revolution and other matters. The mob broke open provision shops in the Gallowgate, a gunsmiths shop in Exchange Square and several jewellers shops in Buchanan Street, and helped themselves. The police were powerless and the military were called out. Among others, the Old Pensioners were sent to Bridgeton and the mob was stoning them. The Pensioners could not stand this and, after due warning, fired on the mob, killing one man and wounding others. The mob placed the body on a shutter and marched along the Gallowgate singing the Marseillaise. A body of soldiers stopped them and took the body away, ordering the mob off. Soon the mob saw they were mastered and gradually the city became quiet. It was considered that the Old Pensioners were the men who had saved the city from a great disaster. The Exchange was a barrack for soldiers, who stacked their rifles round the pillars, and hundreds of citizens were sworn in as Special Constables, going out in companies of fifty to all parts of the city, and armed with strong batons. I hope Glasgow may never see the like. No business was done for several days.
We hope that you have enjoyed this insight into the life of David Bird, who founded the practice from which our present firm, and others, are directly descended. Glasgow has changed much in the intervening 161 years, but the chain of private client service, of which David Bird forged the first link, stays unbroken.
