and properties of the whole town.
I cannot indeed think of it at this day, though age has cooled me down in
all concerns to a spirit of composure, without feeling the blood boil in
my veins; so greatly, in the matter alluded to, was the king's dignity
and the rightful government, by law and magistracy, insulted in my
person.

From time out of mind, it had been an ancient and commendable custom in
the burgh, to have, on the king's birth-day, a large bowl of punch made
in the council-chamber, in order and to the end and effect of drinking
his majesty's health at the cross; and for pleasance to the commonality,
the magistrates were wont, on the same occasion, to allow a cart of coals
for a bonfire. I do not now, at this distance of time, remember the
cause how it came to pass, but come to pass it did, that the council
resolved for time coming to refrain from giving the coals for the
bonfire; and it so fell out that the first administration of this economy
was carried into effect during my provostry, and the wyte of it was laid
at my door by the trades' lads, and others, that took on them the lead in
hobleshows at the fairs, and such like public doings. Now I come to the
issue and particulars.

The birth-day, in progress of time, came round, and the morning was
ushered in with the ringing of bells, and the windows of the houses
adorned with green boughs and garlands. It was a fine bright day, and
nothing could exceed the glee and joviality of all faces till the
afternoon, when I went up to the council-chamber in the tolbooth, to meet
the other magistrates and respectable characters of the town, in order to
drink the king's health. In going thither, I was joined, just as I was
stepping out of my shop, by Mr Stoup, the excise gauger, and Mr Firlot,
the meal-monger, who had made a power of money a short time before, by a
cargo of corn that he had brought from Belfast, the ports being then
open, for which he was envied by some, and by the common sort was
considered and reviled as a wicked hard-hearted forestaller. As for Mr
Stoup, although he was a very creditable man, he had the repute of being
overly austere in his vocation, for which he was not liked over and above
the dislike that the commonality cherish against all of his calling; so
that it was not possible that any magistrate, such as I endeavoured to
be, adverse to ill-doers, and to vice and immorality of every kind, could
have met at such a time and juncture, a