the provost-第12部分
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less； at the time inflamed； and which cast the ancient state and monarchy of France into the perdition of anarchy and confusion。 I think； upon the whole； however； that our royal burgh was not afflicted to any very dangerous degree； though there was a sort of itch of it among a few of the sedentary orders； such as the weavers and shoemakers； who； by the nature of sitting long in one posture； are apt to become subject to the flatulence of theoretical opinions； but although this was my notion； yet knowing how much better the king and government were acquainted with the true condition of things than I could to a certainty be； I kept a steady eye on the proceedings of the ministers and parliament at London； taking them for an index and model for the management of the public concerns； which； by the grace of God； and the handling of my friends； I was raised up and set forward to undertake。
Seeing the great dread and anxiety that was above； as to the inordinate liberty of the multitude； and how necessary it was to bridle popularity； which was become rampant and ill to ride； kicking at all established order； and trying to throw both king and nobles from the saddle； I resolved to discountenance all tumultuous meetings； and to place every reasonable impediment in the way of multitudes assembling together： indeed； I had for many years been of opinion； that fairs were become a great political evil to the regular shop…keepers； by reason of the packmen； and other travelling merchants； coming with their wares and under…selling us； so that both private interest and public principle incited me on to do all in my power to bring our fair…days into disrepute。 It cannot be told what a world of thought and consideration this cost me before I lighted on the right method； nor； without a dive into the past times of antiquity； is it in the power of man to understand the difficulties of the matter。
Some of our fair…days were remnants of the papistical idolatry； and instituted of old by the Pope and Cardinals； in order to make an income from the vice and immorality that was usually rife at the same。 These； in the main points； were only market…days of a blither kind than the common。 The country folks came in dressed in their best； the schools got the play； and a long rank of sweety…wives and their stands； covered with the wonted dainties of the occasion； occupied the sunny side of the High Street； while the shady side was； in like manner； taken possession of by the packmen； who； in their booths； made a marvellous display of goods of an inferior quality； with laces and ribands of all colours； hanging down in front； and twirling like pinnets in the wind。 There was likewise the allurement of some compendious show of wild beasts； in short； a swatch of every thing that the art of man has devised for such occasions； to wile away the bawbee。
Besides the fairs of this sort； that may be said to be of a pious origin； there were others of a more boisterous kind； that had come of the times of trouble； when the trades paraded with war…like weapons； and the banners of their respective crafts； and in every seventh year we had a resuscitation of King Crispianus in all his glory and regality； with the man in the coat…of…mail； of bell…metal； and the dukes； and lord mayor of London； at the which； the influx of lads and lasses from the country was just prodigious； and the rioting and rampaging at night； the brulies and the dancing； was worse than Vanity Fair in the Pilgrim's Progress。
To put down； and utterly to abolish； by stress of law； or authority； any ancient pleasure of the commonality； I had learned； by this time； was not wisdom； and that the fairs were only to be effectually suppressed by losing their temptations； and so to cease to call forth any expectation of merriment among the people。 Accordingly； with respect to the fairs of pious origin； I； without expounding my secret motives； persuaded the council； that； having been at so great an expense in new…paving the streets； we ought not to permit the heavy caravans of wild beasts to occupy； as formerly； the front of the Tolbooth towards the Cross； but to order them； for the future； to keep at the Greenhead。 This was； in a manner； expurgating them out of the town altogether； and the consequence was； that the people； who were wont to assemble in the High Street； came to be divided； part gathering at the Greenhead； round the shows； and part remaining among the stands and the booths； thus an appearance was given of the fairs being less attended than formerly； and gradually； year after year； the venerable race of sweety…wives； and chatty packmen； that were so detrimental to the shopkeepers； grew less and less numerous； until the fairs fell into insignificance。
At the parade fair； the remnant of the weapon…showing； I proceeded more roundly to work； and resolved to debar； by proclamation； all persons from appearing with arms； but the deacons of the trades spared me the trouble of issuing the same； for they dissuaded their crafts from parading。 Nothing； however； so well helped me out as the volunteers； of which I will speak by and by； for when the war began； and they were formed； nobody could afterwards abide to look at the fantastical and disorderly marching of the trades； in their processions and paradings； so that； in this manner； all the glory of the fairs being shorn and expunged； they have fallen into disrepute； and have suffered a natural suppression。
CHAPTER XIXTHE VOLUNTEERING
The volunteers began in the year 1793； when the democrats in Paris threatened the downfall and utter subversion of kings； lords； and commons。 As became us who were of the council； we drew up an address to his majesty； assuring him that our lives and fortunes were at his disposal。 To the which dutiful address； we received； by return of post； a very gracious answer； and； at the same time； the lord…lieutenant gave me a bit hint； that it would be very pleasant to his majesty to hear that we had volunteers in our town； men of creditable connexions； and willing to defend their property。
When I got this note from his lordship； I went to Mr Pipe； the wine… merchant； and spoke to him concerning it； and we had some discreet conversation on the same； in the which it was agreed between us that； as I was now rather inclined to a corpulency of parts； and being likewise chief civil magistrate； it would not do to set myself at the head of a body of soldiers； but that the consequence might be made up to me in the clothing of the men； so I consented to put the business into his hands upon this understanding。 Accordingly； he went the same night with me to Mr Dinton； that was in the general merchandising line； a part…owner in vessels； a trafficker in corn； and now and then a canny discounter of bills； at a moderate rate； to folk in straits and difficulties。 And we told himthe same being agreed between us； as the best way of fructifying the job to a profitable issuethat； as provost； I had got an intimation to raise a corps of volunteers； and that I thought no better hand could be got for a co…operation than him and Mr Pipe； who was pointed out to me as a gentleman weel qualified for the command。
Mr Dinton； who was a proud man； and an offset from one of the county families； I could see was not overly pleased at the preferment over him given to Mr Pipe； so that I was in a manner constrained to loot a sort a…jee； and to wile him into good…humour with all the ability in my power； by saying that it was natural enough of the king and government to think of Mr Pipe as one of the most proper men in the town； he paying； as he did； the largest sum of the king's dues at the excise； and being； as we all knew； in a great correspondence with foreign portsand I winkit to Mr Pipe as I said this； and he could with a difficulty keep his countenance at hearing how I so beguiled Mr Dinton into a spirit of loyalty for the raising of the volunteers。
The ice being thus broken； next day we had a meeting； before the council met； to take the business into public consideration； and we thereat settled on certain creditable persons in the town； of a known principle； as the fittest to be officers under the command of Mr Pipe； as commandant； and Mr Dinton； as his colleague under him。 We agreed among us； as the custom was in other places； that they should be elected major； captain； lieutenants； and ensigns； by the free votes of the whole corps； according to the degrees that we had determined for them。 In the doing of this； and the bringing it to pass； my skill and management was greatly approved and extolled by all who had a peep behind the curtain。
The town…council being； as I have intimated； convened to hear the gracious answer to the address read； and to take into consideration the suggesting anent the volunteering； met in the clerk's chamber； where we agreed to call a meeting of the inhabitants of the town by proclamation； and by a notice in the church。 This being determined； Mr Pipe and Mr Dinton got a paper drawn up； and privately； before the Sunday； a number of their genteeler friends； including those whom we had noted down to be elected officers； set their names as willing to be volunteers。
On the Sunday； Mr Pittle； at my instigation； preached a sermon； showing forth the necessity of arming ourselves in the defence of all that was dear to us。 It was a discourse of great method and sound argument； but not altogether so quickened with pith and bir as might have been wished for； but it paved the way to the reading out of the summons for the inhabitants to meet the magistrates in the church on the Thursday following； for the purpose； as it was worded by the town…clerk； to take into consideration the best means of saving the king and kingdom in the then monstrous crisis of public affairs。
The discourse； with the summons； and a rumour and whispering that had in the mean time taken place； caused the desired effect； in so much； that； on the Thursday； there was a great congregation of the male portion of the people。 At the which； old Mr Dravela genteel man he was； well read in matters of history； though somewhat over… portioned with a conceit of himselfgot up on the table； in one of the table…seats forenent the poopit； and made a speech suitable to
