Such was the account and narration that the bailie gave to me of the
particulars o' his journey to London; and when he was done, I could
not but make a moral reflection or two, on the policy of gentlemen
putting themselves on the leet to be members of Parliament; it being
a clear and plain thing, that as they are sent up to London for the
benefit of the people by whom they are chosen, the people should
always take care to get some of that benefit in hand paid down,
otherwise they run a great risk of seeing their representatives
neglecting their special interests, and treating them as entitled to
no particular consideration.



CHAPTER VIII--ON THE CHOOSING OF A MINISTER



The next great handling that we had in the council after the general
election, was anent the choice of a minister for the parish. The
Rev. Dr Swapkirk having had an apoplexy, the magistrates were
obligated to get Mr Pittle to be his helper. Whether it was that,
by our being used to Mr Pittle, we had ceased to have a right
respect for his parts and talents, or that in reality he was but a
weak brother, I cannot in conscience take it on me to say; but the
certainty is, that when the Doctor departed this life, there was
hardly one of the hearers who thought Mr Pittle would ever be their
placed minister, and it was as far at first from the unanimous mind
of the magistrates, who are the patrons of the parish, as any thing
could well be, for he was a man of no smeddum in discourse. In
verity, as Mrs Pawkie, my wife, said, his sermons in the warm summer