adverse to ill-doers, and to vice and immorality of every kind,
could have met at such a time and juncture, a greater misfortune
than those two men, especially when it is considered, that the
abolition of the bonfire was regarded as a heinous trespass on the
liberties and privileges of the people. However, having left the
shop, and being joined, as I have narrated, by Mr Stoup and Mr
Firlot, we walked together at a sedate pace towards the tolbooth,
before which, and at the cross, a great assemblage of people were
convened; trades' lads, weavers with coats out at the elbow, the
callans of the school; in short, the utmost gathering and
congregation of the clan-jamphry, who the moment they saw me coming,
set up a great shout and howl, crying like desperation, "Provost,
'whar's the bonfire? Hae ye sent the coals, provost, hame to
yersel, or selt them, provost, for meal to the forestaller?" with
other such misleart phraseology that was most contemptuous, bearing
every symptom of the rebellion and insurrection that they were then
meditating. But I kept my temper, and went into the council-
chamber, where others of the respectable inhabitants were met with
the magistrates and town-council assembled.

"What's the matter, provost?" said several of them as I came in;
"are ye ill; or what has fashed you?" But I only replied, that the
mob without was very unruly for being deprived of their bonfire.
Upon this, some of those present proposed to gratify them, by
ordering a cart of coals, as usual; but I set my face against this,
saying, that it would look like intimidation were we now to comply,
and that all veneration for law and authority would be at an end by
such weakness on the part of those entrusted with the exercise of
power. There the debate, for a season, ended; and the punch being
ready, the table was taken out of the council-chamber and carried to