time in the lea of the hedge, and the lown of the hill. Some there
were that a panic seized upon when they heard of Lord George Gordon,
that zealous Protestant, being committed to the Tower; but for my
part, I had no terror upon me, for I saw all things around me going
forward improving; and I said to myself, it is not so when
Providence permits scathe and sorrow to fall upon a nation. Civil
troubles, and the casting down of thrones, is always forewarned by
want and poverty striking the people. What I have, therefore,
chiefly to record as the memorables of this year, are things of
small import--the main of which are, that some of the neighbouring
lairds, taking example by Mr Kibbock, my father-in-law that was,
began in this fall to plant the tops of their hills with mounts of
fir-trees; and Mungo Argyle, the exciseman, just herried the poor
smugglers to death, and made a power of prize-money, which, however,
had not the wonted effect of riches, for it brought him no honour;
and he lived in the parish like a leper, or any other kind of
excommunicated person.

But I should not forget a most droll thing that took place with
Jenny Gaffaw, and her daughter. They had been missed from the
parish for some days, and folk began to be uneasy about what could
have become of the two silly creatures; till one night, at the dead
hour, a strange light was seen beaming and burning at the window of
the bit hole where they lived. It was first observed by Lady
Macadam, who never went to bed at any Christian hour, but sat up
reading her new French novels and play-books with Miss Sabrina, the
schoolmistress. She gave the alarm, thinking that such a great and
continuous light from a lone house, where never candle had been seen
before, could be nothing less than the flame of a burning. And
sending Miss Sabrina and the servants to see what was the matter,