than a constant flowing in of success and prosperity. From the time
that I had been dean of guild, I was sensible of a considerable
increase of my worldly means and substance; and although Bailie
M'Lucre played me a soople trick at the election, by the inordinate
sale and roup of his potatoe-rig, the which tried me, as I do
confess, and nettled me with disappointment; yet things, in other
respects, went so well with me that, about the eighty-eight, I began
to put forth my hand again into public affairs, endowed both with
more vigour and activity than it was in the first period of my
magisterial functions. Indeed, it may be here proper for me to
narrate, that my retiring into the background during the last two or
three years, was a thing, as I have said, done on mature
deliberation; partly, in order that the weight of my talents might
be rightly estimated; and partly, that men might, of their own
reflections, come to a proper understanding concerning them. I did
not secede from the council. Could I have done that with propriety,
I would assuredly not have scrupled to make the sacrifice; but I
knew well that, if I was to resign, it would not be easy afterwards
to get myself again chosen in. In a word, I was persuaded that I
had, at times, carried things a little too highly, and that I had
the adversary of a rebellious feeling in the minds and hearts of the
corporation against me. However, what I did, answered the end and
purpose I had in view; folk began to wonder and think with
themselves, what for Mr Pawkie had ceased to bestir himself in
public affairs; and the magistrates and council having, on two or
three occasions, done very unsatisfactory things, it was said by
one, and echoed by another, till the whole town was persuaded of the
fact, that, had I lent my shoulder to the wheel, things would not
have been as they were. But the matter which did the most service
to me at this time, was a rank piece of idolatry towards my lord, on