and of horsemen was heard in our
streets; and this was Mr Galore, the great Indian nabob, that had bought
the Beerland estates, and built the grand place that is called Lucknoo
House, coming from London, with the influence of the crown on his side,
to oppose the old member. He drove straight to Provost Picklan's house,
having, as we afterwards found out, been in a secret correspondence with
him through the medium of Mrs Picklan, who was conjunct in the business
with Miss Nelly, the nabob's maiden sister. Mr M'Lucre was not a little
confounded at this, for he had imagined that I was the agent on behalf of
my lord, who was of the government side, so he wist not what to do, in
the morning when he came to me, till I said to him briskly--

"Ye ken, bailie, that ye're trysted to me, and it's our duty to support
the nabob, who is both able and willing, as I have good reason to think,
to requite our services in a very grateful manner." This was a cordial
to his spirit, and, without more ado, we both of us set to work to get
the bailie made the delegate. In this I had nothing in view but the good
of my country by pleasuring, as it was my duty, his majesty's government,
for I was satisfied with my situation as dean of guild. But the handling
required no small slight of skill.

The first thing was, to persuade those that were on the side of the old
member to elect Mr M'Lucre for delegate, he being, as we had concerted,
openly declared for that interest, and the benefit to be gotten thereby
having, by use and wont, been at an established and regular rate. The
next thing was to get some of those that were with me on my lord's side,
kept out of the way on the day of choosing the delegate; for we were the
strongest, and could easily have returned the provost, but I had no clear
notion how it would advantage me to make the provost delegate, as was
proposed. I therefore, on the morning of the business, invited three of
the council to take their breakfast with me, for the ostensible purpose
of going in a body to the council chamber to choose the provost delegate;
but when we were at breakfast, John Snakers, my lad in the shop, by my
suggestion, warily got a bale of broad cloth so tumbled, as it were by
accident, at the door, that it could not be opened; for it bent the key
in such a manner in the lock, and crooket the sneck, that without a smith
there was no egress, and sorrow a smith was to be had. All were out and
around the t