of Bonaparte, then champing and
trampling for the rich pastures of our national commonwealth.
Accordingly, I kept myself aloof from all handling in the pecuniaries of
the business; but I lent a friendly countenance to every feasible project
that was likely to strengthen the confidence of the king in the loyalty
and bravery of his people. For by this time I had learnt, that there was
a wake-rife common sense abroad among the opinions of men; and that the
secret of the new way of ruling the world was to follow, not to control,
the evident dictates of the popular voice; and I soon had reason to
felicitate myself on this prudent and seasonable discovery. For it won
me great reverence among the forward young men, who started up at the
call of their country; and their demeanour towards me was as tokens and
arles, from the rising generation, of being continued in respect and
authority by them. Some of my colleagues, who are as well not named, by
making themselves over busy, got but small thank for their pains. I was
even preferred to the provost, as the medium of communicating the
sentiments of the volunteering lads to the lord-lieutenant; and their
cause did not suffer in my hands, for his lordship had long been in the
habit of considering me as one of the discreetest men in the burgh; and
although he returned very civil answers to all letters, he wrote to me in
the cordial erudition of an old friend--a thing which the volunteers soon
discerned, and respected me accordingly.

But the soldiering zeal being spontaneous among all ranks, and breaking
forth into ablaze without any pre-ordered method, some of the magistrates
were disconcerted, and wist not what to do. I'll no take it upon me to
say that they were altogether guided by a desire to have a finger in the
pie, either in the shape of the honours of command or the profits of
contract. This, however, is certain, that they either felt or feigned a
great alarm and consternation at seeing such a vast military power in
civil hands, over which they had no natural control; and, as was said,
independent of the crown and parliament. Another thing there could be no
doubt of: in the frame of this fear they remonstrated with the
government, and counselled the ministers to throw a wet blanket on the
ardour of the volunteering, which, it is well known, was very readily
done; for the ministers, on seeing such a pressing forward to join the
banners of the kingdom, had a dread and re