olbooth waiting for the upshot of the choosing the delegate.
Those that saw me in the mean time, would have thought I had gone
demented. I ramped and I stamped; I banned and I bellowed like
desperation. My companions, no a bit better, flew fluttering to the
windows, like wild birds to the wires of their cage. However, to make a
long tale short, Bailie M'Lucre was, by means of this device, chosen
delegate, seemingly against my side. But oh! he was a slee tod, for no
sooner was he so chosen, than he began to act for his own behoof; and
that very afternoon, while both parties were holding their public dinner
he sent round the bell to tell that the potato crop on his back rig was
to be sold by way of public roup the same day. There wasna one in the
town that had reached the years of discretion, but kent what na sort of
potatoes he was going to sell; and I was so disturbed by this open
corruption, that I went to him, and expressed my great surprise. Hot
words ensued between us; and I told him very plainly that I would have
nothing further to say to him or his political profligacy. However, his
potatoes were sold, and brought upwards of three guineas the peck, the
nabob being the purchaser, who, to show his contentment with the bargain,
made Mrs M'Lucre, and the bailie's three daughters, presents of new gowns
and princods, that were not stuffed with wool.

In the end, as a natural consequence, Bailie M'Lucre, as delegate, voted
for the Nabob, and the old member was thereby thrown out. But although
the government candidate in this manner won the day, yet I was so
displeased by the jookerie of the bailie, and the selfish manner by which
he had himself reaped all the advantage of the election in the sale of
his potatoes, that we had no correspondence on public affairs till long
after; so that he never had the face to ask me to give up the guildry,
till I resigned it of my own accord after the renewal of the tacks to
which I have alluded, by the which renewals, a great increase was
effected in the income of the town.

CHAPTER VI--THE FAILURE OF BAILIE M'LUCRE

Bailie M'Lucre, as I have already intimated, was naturally a greedy body,
and not being content with the profits of his potatoe rig, soon after the
election he set up as an o'er-sea merchant, buying beef and corn by
agency in Ireland, and having the same sent to the Glasgow market. For
some time, this traffic yielded him a surprising advantage; but the
su