greater misfortune than those two
men, especially when it is considered, that the abolition of the bonfire
was regarded as a heinous trespass on the liberties and privileges of the
people. However, having left the shop, and being joined, as I have
narrated, by Mr Stoup and Mr Firlot, we walked together at a sedate pace
towards the tolbooth, before which, and at the cross, a great assemblage
of people were convened; trades' lads, weavers with coats out at the
elbow, the callans of the school; in short, the utmost gathering and
congregation of the clan-jamphry, who the moment they saw me coming, set
up a great shout and howl, crying like desperation, "Provost, 'whar's the
bonfire? Hae ye sent the coals, provost, hame to yersel, or selt them,
provost, for meal to the forestaller?" with other such misleart
phraseology that was most contemptuous, bearing every symptom of the
rebellion and insurrection that they were then meditating. But I kept my
temper, and went into the council-chamber, where others of the
respectable inhabitants were met with the magistrates and town-council
assembled.

"What's the matter, provost?" said several of them as I came in; "are ye
ill; or what has fashed you?" But I only replied, that the mob without
was very unruly for being deprived of their bonfire. Upon this, some of
those present proposed to gratify them, by ordering a cart of coals, as
usual; but I set my face against this, saying, that it would look like
intimidation were we now to comply, and that all veneration for law and
authority would be at an end by such weakness on the part of those
entrusted with the exercise of power. There the debate, for a season,
ended; and the punch being ready, the table was taken out of the council-
chamber and carried to the cross, and placed there, and then the bowl and
glasses--the magistrates following, and the rest of the company.

Seeing us surrounded by the town-officers with their halberts, the
multitude made way, seemingly with their wonted civility, and, when his
majesty's health was drank, they shouted with us, seemingly, too, as
loyally as ever; but that was a traitorous device to throw us off our
guard, as, in the upshot, was manifested; for no sooner had we filled the
glasses again, than some of the most audacious of the rioters began to
insult us, crying, "The bonfire! the bonfire!--No fire, no bowl!--Gentle
and semple should share and share alike." In short, there was a moving
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