ds could be so
abandoned as to be guilty of so execrable a deed for the sum proposed,
that he would alter the sum to thirty pound instead of thirty thousand,
and then ordered a proclamation of the same nature to be drawn, which
was signed and published two days after.

FOOTNOTES:

[85] = avoid.

C. THE CAPTURE OF EDINBURGH (SEPTEMBER).

+Source.+--_The History of the Rebellion in the year 1745_, p. 86,
by John Home, Esq. (London: 1802.)

The night between the 15^th and 16^th of September passed without
disturbance. Six or seven hundred men, consisting of the Trained Bands,
the Edinburgh volunteers, and some volunteers who came in from the
towns of Musselburgh and Dalkeith, were upon guard at the different
gates of the city. On Monday the 16^th the rebels advanced slowly
towards Edinburgh, giving time for the terror of their approach to
operate upon the minds of unwarlike citizens, in a divided city. Between
ten and eleven o'clock in the forenoon, a message was delivered from the
young Pretender to the people of Edinburgh, acquainting them that if
they would admit him peaceably into the city, they should be civilly
dealt with, if not they must lay their account with military execution.

Instantly the clamour rose, and crowds of people ran about the streets
crying out, that it was madness to think of resistance, since the
dragoons were fled; and some of them meeting Provost Stuart, as he
returned from the West Port (where he had gone to give orders after the
retreat of the dragoons), followed him to the Parliament Square,
beseeching him not to persist in defending the town, for if he did they
should all be murdered. The Provost reprimanded them; and went to the
Goldsmiths' Hall, where the Magistrates and Town Council were assembled,
with a good many of the inhabitants. A deputation was sent to the
Justice Clerk, the Advocate, and the Solicitor, to entreat that they
would come and assist the Council with their advice. The deputies
returned, and reported that all these gentlemen had left the town.
Provost Stuart then sent for the captains of the volunteers, and the
Trained Bands, and desired to have their opinion concerning the defence
of the town. The officers said very little, and seemed to be at a loss
what opinion to give; other people in the meeting made speeches for and
against the defence of the town, not without reproach and abuse on both
sides. The crowd encreased to such a degree, that it