own-council to do what they ought to do? I could not myself speak of my
own services--I could ask nothing. Truly it was a subject that cost me
no small cogitation; for I could not confide it even to the wife of my
bosom. However, I gained my end, and the means and method thereof may
advantage other public characters, in a similar strait, to know and
understand.

Seeing that nothing was moving onwards in men's minds to do the act of
courtesy to me, so justly my due, on the Saturday before Michaelmas I
invited Mr Mucklewheel, the hosier, (who had the year before been chosen
into the council, in the place of old Mr Peevie, who had a paralytic, and
never in consequence was made a bailie,) to take a glass of toddy with
me, a way and method of peutering with the councillors, one by one, that
I often found of a great efficacy in bringing their understandings into a
docile state; and when we had discussed one cheerer with the usual
clishmaclaver of the times, I began, as we were both birzing the sugar
for the second, to speak with a circumbendibus about my resignation of
the trusts I had so long held with profit to the community.

"Mr Mucklewheel," quo' I "ye're but a young man, and no versed yet, as ye
will be, in the policy and diplomatics that are requisite in the
management of the town, and therefore I need not say any thing to you
about what I have got an inkling of, as to the intents of the new
magistrates and council towards me. It's very true that I have been long
a faithful servant to the public, but he's a weak man who looks to any
reward from the people; and after the experience I have had, I would
certainly prove myself to be one of the very weakest, if I thought it was
likely, that either anent the piece of plate and the vote of thanks, any
body would take a speciality of trouble."

To this Mr Mucklewheel answered, that he was glad to hear such a
compliment was intended; "No man," said he, "more richly deserves a
handsome token of public respect, and I will surely give the proposal all
the countenance and support in my power possible to do."

"As to that," I replied, pouring in the rum and helping myself to the
warm water, "I entertain no doubt, and I have every confidence that the
proposal, when it is made, will be in a manner unanimously approved. But,
Mr Mucklewheel, what's every body's business, is nobody's. I have heard
of no one that's to bring the matter forward; it's all fair and smooth to
speak of