tate and monarchy of France into the perdition of anarchy and confusion.
I think, upon the whole, however, that our royal burgh was not afflicted
to any very dangerous degree, though there was a sort of itch of it among
a few of the sedentary orders, such as the weavers and shoemakers, who,
by the nature of sitting long in one posture, are apt to become subject
to the flatulence of theoretical opinions; but although this was my
notion, yet knowing how much better the king and government were
acquainted with the true condition of things than I could to a certainty
be, I kept a steady eye on the proceedings of the ministers and
parliament at London, taking them for an index and model for the
management of the public concerns, which, by the grace of God, and the
handling of my friends, I was raised up and set forward to undertake.

Seeing the great dread and anxiety that was above, as to the inordinate
liberty of the multitude, and how necessary it was to bridle popularity,
which was become rampant and ill to ride, kicking at all established
order, and trying to throw both king and nobles from the saddle, I
resolved to discountenance all tumultuous meetings, and to place every
reasonable impediment in the way of multitudes assembling together:
indeed, I had for many years been of opinion, that fairs were become a
great political evil to the regular shop-keepers, by reason of the
packmen, and other travelling merchants, coming with their wares and
under-selling us; so that both private interest and public principle
incited me on to do all in my power to bring our fair-days into
disrepute. It cannot be told what a world of thought and consideration
this cost me before I lighted on the right method, nor, without a dive
into the past times of antiquity, is it in the power of man to understand
the difficulties of the matter.

Some of our fair-days were remnants of the papistical idolatry, and
instituted of old by the Pope and Cardinals, in order to make an income
from the vice and immorality that was usually rife at the same. These,
in the main points, were only market-days of a blither kind than the
common. The country folks came in dressed in their best, the schools got
the play, and a long rank of sweety-wives and their stands, covered with
the wonted dainties of the occasion, occupied the sunny side of the High
Street; while the shady side was, in like manner, taken possession of by
the packmen, who, in their booths, mad