three daughters, presents of new gowns and princods, that were not
stuffed with wool.

In the end, as a natural consequence, Bailie M'Lucre, as delegate,
voted for the Nabob, and the old member was thereby thrown out. But
although the government candidate in this manner won the day, yet I
was so displeased by the jookerie of the bailie, and the selfish
manner by which he had himself reaped all the advantage of the
election in the sale of his potatoes, that we had no correspondence
on public affairs till long after; so that he never had the face to
ask me to give up the guildry, till I resigned it of my own accord
after the renewal of the tacks to which I have alluded, by the which
renewals, a great increase was effected in the income of the town.



CHAPTER VI--THE FAILURE OF BAILIE M'LUCRE



Bailie M'Lucre, as I have already intimated, was naturally a greedy
body, and not being content with the profits of his potatoe rig,
soon after the election he set up as an o'er-sea merchant, buying
beef and corn by agency in Ireland, and having the same sent to the
Glasgow market. For some time, this traffic yielded him a
surprising advantage; but the summer does not endure the whole year
round, nor was his prosperity ordained to be of a continuance. One
mishap befell him after another; cargoes of his corn heated in the
vessels, because he would not sell at a losing price, and so
entirely perished; and merchants broke, that were in his debt large