had probably some influence in producing what followed; for
when the sentence against Wilson came to be executed a few weeks
thereafter, a very strong opinion prevailed that there was a plot to
force the Town Guard, whose duty it is to attend executions under the
order of a civil magistrate.

There was a Captain Porteous, who by his good behaviour in the army had
obtained a subaltern's commission, and had afterwards, when on half-pay,
been preferred to the command of the City Guard. This man, by his skill
in manly exercises, particularly the golf, and by gentlemanly behaviour,
was admitted into the company of his superiors, which elated his mind,
and added insolence to his native roughness, so that he was much feared
and hated by the mob of Edinburgh. When the day of execution came, the
rumour of a deforcement at the gallows prevailed strongly; and the
Provost and Magistrates (not in their own minds very strong) thought it
a good measure to apply for three or four companies of a marching
regiment that lay in the Canongate, to be drawn up in the Lawnmarket, a
street leading from the Tolbooth to the Grassmarket, the place of
execution, in order to overawe the mob by their being at hand. Porteous,
who it is said, had his natural courage increased to rage by any
suspicion that he and his Guard could not execute the law, and being
heated likewise with wine--for he had dined, as the custom then was,
between one and two--became perfectly furious when he passed by the
three companies drawn up in the street as he marched along with his
prisoner.

... The street is long and wide, and there was a very great crowd
assembled. The execution went on with the usual forms, and Wilson
behaved in a manner very becoming his situation. There was not the least
appearance of an attempt to rescue; but soon after the executioner had
done his duty, there was an attack made upon him, as usual on such
occasions, by the boys and blackguards throwing stones and dirt in
testimony of their abhorrence of the hangman. But there was no attempt
to break through the guard and cut down the prisoner. It was generally
said that there was very little, if any, more violence than had usually
happened on such occasions. Porteous, however, inflamed with wine and
jealousy, thought proper to order his Guard to fire, their muskets being
loaded with slugs; and when the soldiers showed reluctance, I saw him
turn to them with threatening gesture and an inflamed counten