
If you mention oysters to
most people the reaction is either “yummy” or “yeuch” with
little, or nothing, in between. The original Oyster Club was founded by
James Hutton, often said to be the father of the science of geology and
among the first to theorise about the antiquity of our planet. He,
Joseph Black a chemistry scientist and the famous economist and author
Adam Smith established the Oyster Club as a weekly meeting for Edinburgh
intellectuals as well as visiting thinkers like James Watt and Benjamin
Franklin.
Other members in the beginning were David Hume, John Clerk, Adam
Ferguson and William Robertson. They were all avid oyster eaters and
would meet each week in a different tavern to discuss art, architecture,
philosophy, politics, science and economics. Each member gave a brief
update on their projects. In Hutton's words the discussions were
"informal and amusing, despite their great learning."
The Oyster Club was one of many supper clubs for the "literati" who
spent time in the taverns of the Old Town during the latter half of the
18th century. At that time as now Edinburgh was a city full of
hostelries offering dinner in the early evening with copious amounts of
claret, champagne, gin, ale brandy and whisky on tap. These clubs were
forums for men of varied professions to meet and share ideas and humour
over such delicacies as dried salt haddock and, of course, oysters.
Today's Oyster Club, under the chairmanship of former Lord Provost Eric
Milligan follows a similar pattern, though in today's busy pace of life
the Club does not meet weekly. Another major difference is that, unlike
its 18th century equivalent, women are permitted to join.
Eric Milligan Councillor Milligan refers to the newly refurbished Caves
in South Niddry Street as "the spiritual home of the Oyster Club" and
indeed there is evidence that this hostelry was where it first began. It
was described by Robert Louis Stevenson as "It is a rabbit warren not
only by the number of its twists and turns but by its dark stairs
frequented by loiterers and other such low characters and as treacherous
a place as I saw."
What remains the same, though, is the eclectic mix of “movers and
shakers”, writers and politicians, artists and business people.
Authors like Ian Rankin and Michael Shea, Lord and Lady Steel, judges
and civil servants as well as a sprinkling of politicians make up the
"invitation only" membership.
The Club still moves round the city, from New Club, to the Oyster Bar to
the Caves and other city centre venues. Yes, oysters are still consumed,
wine is taken and there is always an interesting talk. Dried salt
haddock, however, is no longer on the menu.
This weekly dining club
for scientists and philosophers met regularly throughout the 1770s. It
had been established by the great economist and political philosopher
Adam Smith, the chemist Joseph Black and the geologist James Hutton. The
club was attended by a veritable constellation of Edinburghs most
brilliant thinkers, including John Playfair, Adam Ferguson, David Hume
and Sir James Hall. It also payed host to a wide variety of visiting
international scientists, including the French geologist Barthlmy
Faujas de Saint Fond, James Watt the engineer and inventor from Glasgow,
and Benjamin Franklin the American scientist and inventor.
The Oyster Club
I can deliver a satisfactory lecture, however when it comes to debate I
am somewhat at a loss and my skills at conversation are altogether weak
(or so I have been told). Nevertheless I love the form of conversation
above others. I have been fortunate to have taken part in some serious
and fascinating conversations, although my role in the best of them was
mostly audience or witness.
During the early-mid eighties while in art school in New York an
outstandingly productive educational model was demonstrated by a number
of my teachers (Craig Owens, Thomas Lawson, Joseph Kosuth, the Whitney
Independent Study Program staff). The idea was simple but demanded time
and energy beyond what most faculty and students are willing to devote.
In this model, issues formally presented in class would be pursued
afterward in the local restaurant or bar. Away from the overt hierarchy
of the lecture hall or studio room more inclusive conversations
flowered. These discussions flowed over a variety of topics, from
serious debate of the problems presented in class to saucy gossip. Often
a dinner would turn into a night in a bar or club and then to apartment
gathering of the die hard crowd. Certainly this is not a new method, and
is common place in universities around the world. I find it a compelling
model.
Occasionally during these meetings the discussion would turn anecdotally
to other groups which had gotten together to talk. It seemed we had
always missed something - the Cedar Tavern scene, Smithson confronting
Andre in Max's Kansas City and so many other great debates of our
artworld recently passed. History is jammed with extraordinary
conversations missed, but given the choice to sit in anywhere at any
time I would cherish a cornerseat at the Oyster Club.
The Oyster Club was one of the numerous supper clubs for the 'literati'
which haunted the taverns Old Town Edinburgh during the latter half of
the eighteenth century. Edinburgh was a city crowded with hostelries
offering an early afternoon dinner liberally lubricated with claret,
champagne, gin, ale, brandy and whiskey. These social clubs allowed men
of varied professions to meet, share ideas and laughs over dried salt
haddock and oysters. The Scottish lawyers, writers, philosophers,
doctors and artists had made the city one of Europe's prominent
intellectual centers.
The contributions to science and culture in Edinburgh can not be
isolated from the general social and economic situations which
characterized by a close mixing of the social classes. This is evident
in the pragmatic approach of the intellectuals as well as the ability to
explain themselves in a language assessable to a wide public and their
inclination to the forms of conversation and debate.
I first encountered references to the Oyster Club some years ago, while
reading about the discovery of Geological Time. A hero in that discovery
was one of the Oyster Club's founders, James Hutton, said to be the
father of the science of geology and certainly one of the first men to
begin to appreciate and theorize the enormous antiquity of the planet.
He along with Joseph Black, a giant in the history of chemistry and the
economist/ author Adam Smith established the Oyster Club as a weekly
meeting for Edinburgh intellectuals as well as visiting thinkers (James
Watt and Benjamin Franklin, for example). David Hume, John Clerk, Adam
Ferguson, William Robertson were all members and avid eaters of Oysters.
Each week, in a different tavern, since the meetings were often a bit
too sought after, they would convine to discuss art, architecture,
philosophy, politics, physical science, economics, each giving a brief
update on their special projects. The discussions were, in Hutton's
words "informal and amusing despite their great learning". Hutton never
drank spirits.
What appeals to me most about Hutton and his Oyster Club companions is
the fluidity by which they moved through the indeterminate boundaries of
disciplines. In our period of extraordinary specialization and hierarchy
it is difficult to imagine the time in which destinctions between
science and philosophy were non existent. It was a time dominated by a
meticulous, yet less restricted curiosity, which I find irresistibly
spellbinding. Perhaps I too romantically morn the polymath. The Oyster
Club for me seem both, familiar and impossible.
To mark the beginning of
the new Reiwa era and celebrate Japan-Scotland match in the 2019 Rugby
World Cup, Consul General Nozomu Takaoka hosted a reception at the
Residence for Oyster Club members and guests contributing to
Japan-Scotland relations.
The Oyster Club is the group of celebrities and academics in Edinburgh,
in which Adam Smith also was a member in the 18th century.
The group was revived in
this centuryby the initiative of former Lord Provost of Edinburgh The
R.H. Eric Milligan. Following the introduction from Mr Milligan, the
Consul General gave a short speech.
The attendees included The R.H. Lord David Steel and the R.H. James
Douglas-Hamilton of the House of Lords, Lord Charles Bruce, Dean
Lockhart MSP and Maureen Watt MSP, Convenor and Deputy Convenor of the
Cross Party Group on Japan, Principal Peter Mathieson of the University
of Edinburgh, Professor Ian Gow of the Japan Society of Scotland, Mrs
Ann Budge, CEO of the Heart of Midlothian Football Club. Everyone came
together to toast a prosperous new era of Reiwa and a successful Rugby
World Cup, resulting in a full house.
The Oyster Club met
regularly at a venue, of dubious reputation, on Niddrie Street South
which lies below the South Bridge for dining and conversation on the
important topics of the day.
John Playfair in his biography of Hutton notes that the venue for the
Oyster Club was one of the most disreputable houses in the city.
Alongside the trio of Edinburgh literati, it seems that visiting
thinkers were also invited.
Some sources suggest James Watt and Benjamin Franklin took part in
discussions. Other members were described as savants, manufacturers and
entrepreneurs.
Beneath the cobbled
streets of Edinburghs Old Town, nestled in the underground vaults of
the South Bridge, lies The Caves; a breathtaking exclusive-use venue,
unlike any other.
Each room in this UNESCO World Heritage Site has a coveted place in
Scottish history. This was the spiritual home of The Oyster Club of the
Scottish Enlightenment, frequented by David Hume, Robert Burns and
Benjamin Franklin; it was the rumoured hunting ground of the notorious
Burke and Hare; and played host to the stables of the French Cavalry. In
fact, The Caves once served as the capitals Whisky Row, with more than
20 illegal whisky distilleries hidden in its vaults. |