en decided, until a new difference of
opinion arose, and necessitated him to change the burden and o'ercome of
his wearysome speeches.

It may seem remarkable that we should have taken such a plague into the
council, and be thought that we were well served for our folly; but we
were unacquaint with the character of the man--for although a native of
the town, he was in truth a stranger, having, at an early age, espoused
his fortune, and gone to Philadelphia in America; and no doubt his argol-
bargolous disposition was an inheritance accumulated with his other
conquest of wealth from the mannerless Yankees. Coming home and settling
among us, with a power of money, (some said eleven thousand pounds,) a
short time before Mr Hirple departed this life, we all thought, on that
event happening, it would be a very proper compliment to take Mr Hickery
into the council, and accordingly we were so misfortunate as to do so;
but I trow we soon had reason to repent our indiscretion, and none more
than myself, who had first proposed him.

Mr Hickery having been chosen to supply the void caused by the death of
Mr Hirple, in the very first sederunt of the council after his election,
he kithed in his true colours.

Among other things that I had contemplated for the ornament and
edification of the burgh, was the placing up of lamps to light the
streets, such as may be seen in all well regulated cities and towns of
any degree. Having spoken of this patriotic project to several of my
colleagues, who all highly approved of the same, I had no jealousy or
suspicion that a design so clearly and luminously useful would meet with
any other opposition than, may be, some doubt as to the fiscal abilities
of our income. To be sure Mr Dribbles, who at that time kept the head
inns, and was in the council, said, with a wink, that it might be found
an inconvenience to sober folk that happened, on an occasion now and
then, to be an hour later than usual among their friends, either at his
house or any other, to be shown by the lamps to the profane populace as
they were making the best of their way home; and Mr Dippings, the
candlemaker, with less public spirit than might have been expected from
one who made such a penny by the illuminations on news of victory, was of
opinion that lamps would only encourage the commonality to keep late
hours; and that the gentry were in no need of any thing of the sort,
having their own handsome glass lanterns, with two