report to his majesty's
government the loyalty of the inhabitants of our town, and the unanimity
of the volunteering spirit among them--and to testify," said I, "to all
the world, how much we are sensible of the blessings of the true liberty
we enjoy, I would suggest that the matter of the volunteering be left
entirely to Mr Pipe and Mr Dinton, with a few other respectable
gentlemen, as a committee, to carry the same into effect;" and with that
I looked, as it were, round the church, and then said, "There's Mr
Oranger, a better couldna be joined with them." He was a most creditable
man, and a grocer, that we had waled out for a captain; so I desired,
having got a nod of assent from him, that Mr Oranger's name might be
added to their's, as one of the committee. In like manner I did by all
the rest whom we had previously chosen. Thus, in a manner, predisposing
the public towards them for officers.

In the course of the week, by the endeavours of the committee, a
sufficient number of names was got to the paper, and the election of the
officers came on on the Tuesday following; at which, though there was a
sort of a contest, and nothing could be a fairer election, yet the very
persons that we had chosen were elected, though some of them had but a
narrow chance. Mr Pipe was made the commandant, by a superiority of only
two votes over Mr Dinton.

CHAPTER XX--THE CLOTHING

It was an understood thing at first, that, saving in the matter of guns
and other military implements, the volunteers were to be at all their own
expenses; out of which, both tribulation and disappointment ensued; for
when it came to be determined about the uniforms, Major Pipe found that
he could by no possibility wise all the furnishing to me, every one being
disposed to get his regimentals from his own merchant; and there was also
a division anent the colour of the same, many of the doucer sort of the
men being blate of appearing in scarlet and gold-lace, insisting with a
great earnestness, almost to a sedition, on the uniform being blue. So
that the whole advantage of a contract was frustrated, and I began to be
sorry that I had not made a point of being, notwithstanding the alleged
weight and impediment of my corpulence, the major-commandant myself.
However, things, after some time, began to take a turn for the better;
and the art of raising volunteers being better understood in the kingdom,
Mr Pipe went into Edinburgh, and upon some conf