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lfgot　up　on　the　table；　in　one　of　the　table…seats　forenent　the　poopit；　and　made　a　speech　suitable　to　the　occasion；　in　the　which　he　set　forth　what　manful　things　had　been　done　of　old　by　the　Greeks　and　the　Romans　for　their　country；　and；　waxing　warm　with　his　subject；　he　cried　out　with　a　loud　voice；　towards　the　end　of　the　discourse；　giving　at　the　same　time　a　stamp　with　his　foot；　〃Come；　then；　as　men　and　as　citizens；　the　cry　is　for　your　altars　and　your　God。〃

〃Gude　save's；　Mr　Dravel；　are　ye　gane　by　yoursel？〃　cried　Willy　Coggle　from　the　front　of　the　loft；　a　daft　body　that　was　ayefar　ben　on　all　public　occasions〃to　think　that　our　God's　a　Pagan　image　in　need　of　sick　feckless　help　as　the　like　o'　thine？〃　　The　which　outcry　of　Willy　raised　a　most　extraordinary　laugh　at　the　fine　paternoster；　about　the　ashes　of　our　ancestors；　that　Mr　Dravel　had　been　so　vehemently　rehearsing；　and　I　was　greatly　afraid　that　the　solemnity　of　the　day　would　be　turned　into　a　ridicule。　　However；　Mr　Pipe；　who　was　upon　the　whole　a　man　no　without　both　sense　and　capacity；　rose　and　said；　that　our　business　was　to　strengthen　the　hands　of　government；　by　coming　forward　as　volunteers；　and　therefore；　without　thinking　it　necessary；　among　the　people　of　this　blessed　land；　to　urge　any　arguments　in　furtherance　of　that　object；　he　would　propose　that　a　volunteer　corps　should　be　raised；　and　he　begged　leave　of　me；　who；　as　provost；　was　in　the　chair；　to　read　a　few　words　that　he　had　hastily　thrown　together　on　the　subject；　as　the　outlines　of　a　pact　of　agreement　among　those　who　might　be　inclined　to　join　with　him。　　I　should　here；　however；　mention；　that　the　said　few　words　of　a　pact　was　the　costive　product　overnight　of　no　small　endeavour　between　me　and　Mr　Dinton　as　well　as　him。

When　he　had　thus　made　his　motion；　Mr　Dinton；　as　we　had　concerted；　got　up　and　seconded　the　same；　pointing　out　the　liberal　spirit　in　which　the　agreement　was　drawn；　as　every　person　signing　it　was　eligible　to　be　an　officer　of　any　rank；　and　every　man　had　a　vote　in　the　preferment　of　the　officers。　　All　which　was　mightily　applauded；　and　upon　this　I　rose；　and　said；　〃It　was　a　pleasant　thing　for　me　to　have　to　report　to　his　majesty's　government　the　loyalty　of　the　inhabitants　of　our　town；　and　the　unanimity　of　the　volunteering　spirit　among　themand　to　testify；〃　said　I；　〃to　all　the　world；　how　much　we　are　sensible　of　the　blessings　of　the　true　liberty　we　enjoy；　I　would　suggest　that　the　matter　of　the　volunteering　be　left　entirely　to　Mr　Pipe　and　Mr　Dinton；　with　a　few　other　respectable　gentlemen；　as　a　committee；　to　carry　the　same　into　effect；〃　and　with　that　I　looked；　as　it　were；　round　the　church；　and　then　said；　〃There's　Mr　Oranger；　a　better　couldna　be　joined　with　them。〃　　He　was　a　most　creditable　man；　and　a　grocer；　that　we　had　waled　out　for　a　captain；　so　I　desired；　having　got　a　nod　of　assent　from　him；　that　Mr　Oranger's　name　might　be　added　to　their's；　as　one　of　the　committee。　　In　like　manner　I　did　by　all　the　rest　whom　we　had　previously　chosen。　　Thus；　in　a　manner；　predisposing　the　public　towards　them　for　officers。

In　the　course　of　the　week；　by　the　endeavours　of　the　committee；　a　sufficient　number　of　names　was　got　to　the　paper；　and　the　election　of　the　officers　came　on　on　the　Tuesday　following；　at　which；　though　there　was　a　sort　of　a　contest；　and　nothing　could　be　a　fairer　election；　yet　the　very　persons　that　we　had　chosen　were　elected；　though　some　of　them　had　but　a　narrow　chance。　　Mr　Pipe　was　made　the　commandant；　by　a　superiority　of　only　two　votes　over　Mr　Dinton。



CHAPTER　XXTHE　CLOTHING



It　was　an　understood　thing　at　first；　that；　saving　in　the　matter　of　guns　and　other　military　implements；　the　volunteers　were　to　be　at　all　their　own　expenses；　out　of　which；　both　tribulation　and　disappointment　ensued；　for　when　it　came　to　be　determined　about　the　uniforms；　Major　Pipe　found　that　he　could　by　no　possibility　wise　all　the　furnishing　to　me；　every　one　being　disposed　to　get　his　regimentals　from　his　own　merchant；　and　there　was　also　a　division　anent　the　colour　of　the　same；　many　of　the　doucer　sort　of　the　men　being　blate　of　appearing　in　scarlet　and　gold…lace；　insisting　with　a　great　earnestness；　almost　to　a　sedition；　on　the　uniform　being　blue。　So　that　the　whole　advantage　of　a　contract　was　frustrated；　and　I　began　to　be　sorry　that　I　had　not　made　a　point　of　being；　notwithstanding　the　alleged　weight　and　impediment　of　my　corpulence；　the　major…commandant　myself。　　However；　things；　after　some　time；　began　to　take　a　turn　for　the　better；　and　the　art　of　raising　volunteers　being　better　understood　in　the　kingdom；　Mr　Pipe　went　into　Edinburgh；　and　upon　some　conference　with　the　lord　advocate；　got　permission　to　augment　his　force　by　another　company；　and　leave　to　draw　two　days'　pay　a…week　for　account　of　the　men；　and　to　defray　the　necessary　expenses　of　the　corps。　　The　doing　of　this　bred　no　little　agitation　in　the　same；　and　some　of　the　forward　and　upsetting　spirits　of　the　younger　privates；　that　had　been　smitten；　though　not　in　a　disloyal　sense；　with　the　insubordinate　spirit　of　the　age；　clamoured　about　the　rights　of　the　original　bargain　with　them；　insisting　that　the　officers　had　no　privilege　to　sell　their　independence；　and　a　deal　of　trash　of　that　sort；　and　finally　withdrew　from　the　corps；　drawing；　to　the　consternation　of　the　officers；　the　pay　that　had　been　taken　in　their　names；　and　which　the　officers　could　not　refuse；　although　it　was　really　wanted　for　the　contingencies　of　the　service；　as　Major　Pipe　himself　told　me。

When　the　corps　had　thus　been　rid　of　these　turbulent　spirits；　the　men　grew　more　manageable　and　rational；　assenting　by　little　and　little　to　all　the　proposals　of　the　officers；　until　there　was　a　true　military　dominion　of　discipline　gained　over　them；　and　a　joint　contract　was　entered　into　between　Major　Pipe　and　me；　for　a　regular　supply　of　all　necessaries；　in　order　to　insure　a　uniform　appearance；　which；　it　is　well　known；　is　essential　to　a　right　discipline。　　In　the　end；　when　the　eyes　of　men　in　civil　stations　had　got　accustomed　to　military　show　and　parade；　it　was　determined　to　change　the　colour　of　the　cloth　from　blue　to　red；　the　former　having　at　first　been　preferred；　and　worn　for　some　time；　in　the　accomplishment　of　which　change　I　had　（and　why　should　I　disguise　the　honest　fact？）　my　share　of　the　advantage　which　the　kingdom　at　large　drew；　in　that　period　of　anarchy　and　confusion；　from　the　laudable　establishment　of　a　volunteer　force。



CHAPTER　XXITHE　PRESSGANG



During　the　same　just　and　necessary　war　for　all　that　was　dear　to　us；　in　which　the　volunteers　were　raised；　one　of　the　severest　trials　happened　to　me　that　ever　any　magistrate　was　subjected　to。　　I　had；　at　the　time；　again　subsided　into　an　ordinary　counsellor；　but　it　so　fell　out　that；　by　reason　of　Mr　Shuttlethrift；　who　was　then　provost；　having　occasion　and　need　to　go　into　Glasgow　upon　some　affairs　of　his　own　private　concerns；　he　being　interested　in　the　Kilbeacon　cotton…　mill；　and　Mr　Dalrye；　the　bailie；　who　should　have　acted　for　him；　being　likewise　from　home；　anent　a　plea　he　had　with　a　neighbour　concerning　the　bounds　of　their　rigs　and　gables；　the　whole　authority　and　power　of　the　magistrates　devolved；　by　a　courtesy　on　the　part　of　their　colleague；　Bailie　Hammerman；　into　my　hands。

For　some　time　before；　there　had　been　an　ingathering　among　us　of　sailor　lads　from　the　neighbouring　ports；　who　on　their　arrival；　in　order　to　shun　the　pressgangs；　left　their　vessels　and　came　to　scog　themselves　with　us。　　By　this；　a　rumour　or　a　suspicion　rose　that　the　men…of…war's　men　were　suddenly　to　come　at　the　dead　hour　of　the　night　and　sweep　them　all　away。　　Heaven　only　knows　whether　this　notice　was　bred　in　the　fears　and　jealousies　of　the　people；　or　was　a　humane　inkling　given；　by　some　of　the　men…of…war's　men；　to　put　the　poor　sailor　lads　on　their　guard；　was　never　known。　　But　on　a　Saturday　night；　as　I　was　on　the　eve　of　stepping　into　my　bed；　I　shall　never　forget　itMrs　Pawkie　was　already　in；　and　as　sound　as　a　door…nail　and　I　was　just　crooking　my　mouth　to　blow　out　the　candle；　when　I　heard　a　rap。　　As　our　bed…room　window　was　over　the　door；　I　looked　out。　　It　was　a　dark　night；　but　I　could　see　by　a　glaik　of　light　from　a　neighbour's　window；　that　there　was　a　man　with　a　cocked　hat　at　the　door。

〃What's　your　will？〃　said　I　to　him；　as　I　looked　out　at　him　in　my　nightcap。　　He　made　no　other　answer；　but　that　he　was　one　of　his　majesty's　officers；　and　had　business　with　the　justice。

I　did　not　like　this　Englification　and　voice　of　claim　and　authority；　however；　I　drew　on　my　stockings　and　breeks　again；　and　taking　my　wife's　flannel　coaty　about　my　shouldersfor　I　was　then　troubled　with　the　rheumatizI　went　down；　and；　opening　the　door；　let　in　the　lieutenant。

〃I　come；〃　said　he；　〃to　show　you　my　warrant　and　commission；　and　to　acquaint　you　that；　having　information　of　several　able…bodied　seamen　being　in　the　town；　I　mean　to　make　a　search　for　them。〃

I　really　did　not　well　know　what　to　say　at　the　moment；　but　I　begged　him；　for　the　love　of　peace　and　quietness；　to　defer　his　work　till　the　next　morning：　　but　he　said　he　must　obey　his　orders；　and　he　was　sorry　that　it　was　his　duty　to　be　on　so　disagreeable　a　service；　with　many　other　things；　that　showed　something　like　a　sense　of　compassion　that　could　not　have　been　hoped　for　in　the　captain　of　a　pressgang。

When　he　had　said　this；　he　then　went　away；　saying；　for　he　saw　my　tribulation；　that　it　would　be　as　well　for　me　to　be　prepared　in　case　of　any　riot。　　This　was　the　worst　news　of　all；　but　what　could　I　do？　I　thereupon　went　again　to　Mrs　Pawkie；　and　shaking　her　awake；　told　her　what　was　going　on；　and　a　terrified　woman　she　was。　　I　then　dressed　myself　with　all　possible　expedition；　and　went　to　the　town…　clerk's；　and　we　sent　for　the　town…officers；　and　then　adjourned　to　the　council…chamber　to　wait　the　issue　of　what　might　betide。

In　my　absence；　Mrs　Pawkie　rose　out　of　her　bed；　and　by　some　wonderful　instinct　collecting　all　the　bairns；　went　with　them　to　the　minister's　house；　as　to　a　place　of　refuge　and　sanctuary。

Shortly　after　we　had　been　in　the　council…room；　I　opened　the　window　and　looked　out；　but　all　was　still；　the　town　was　lying　in　the　defencelessness　of　sleep；　and　nothing　was　heard　but　the　clicking　of　the　town…clock　in　the　steeple　over　our　heads。　　By　and　by；　however；　a　sough　and　pattering　of　feet　was　heard　approaching；　and　shortly　after；　in　looking　o