the annals of the parish-第31部分

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ws；　and　other　new　publications。

Till　this　year；　when　a　chaise　was　wanted　we　had　to　send　to　Irville；　but　Mr　Toddy　of　the　Cross…Keys　being　in　at　Glasgow；　he　bought　an　excellent　one　at　the　second…hand；　a　portion　of　the　effects　of　a　broken　merchant；　by　which；　from　that　period；　we　had　one　of　our　own；　and　it　proved　a　great　convenience；　for　I；　who　never　but　twice　in　my　life　before　hired　that　kind　of　commodity；　had　it　thrice　during　the　summer；　for　a　bit　jaunt　with　Mrs　Balwhidder　to　divers　places　and　curiosities　in　the　county　that　I　had　not　seen　before；　by　which　our　ideas　were　greatly　enlarged；　indeed；　I　have　always　had　a　partiality　for　travelling；　as　one　of　the　best　means　of　opening　the　faculty　of　the　mind；　and　giving　clear　and　correct　notions　of　men　and　things。



CHAPTER　XLIV　　YEAR　1803



During　the　tempestuous　times　that　ensued；　from　the　death　of　the　King　of　France　by　the　hands　of　the　executioner　in　1793；　there　had　been　a　political　schism　among　my　people　that　often　made　me　very　uneasy。　The　folk　belonging　to　the　cotton…mill；　and　the　muslin…weavers　in　Cayenneville；　were　afflicted　with　the　itch　of　jacobinism；　but　those　of　the　village　were　stanch　and　true　to　king　and　country；　and　some　of　the　heritors　were　desirous　to　make　volunteers　of　the　young　men　of　them；　in　case　of　anything　like　the　French　anarchy　and　confusion　rising　on　the　side　of　the　manufacturers。　　I；　however；　set　myself；　at　that　time；　against　this；　for　I　foresaw　that　the　French　business　was　but　a　fever　which　would　soon　pass　off；　but　no　man　could　tell　the　consequence　of　putting　arms　in　the　hands　of　neighbour　against　neighbour；　though　it　was　but　in　the　way　of　policy。

But　when　Bonaparte　gathered　his　host　fornent　the　English　coast；　and　the　government　at　London　were　in　terror　of　their　lives　for　an　invasion；　all　in　the　country　saw　that　there　was　danger；　and　I　was　not　backward　in　sounding　the　trumpet　to　battle。　　For　a　time；　however；　there　was　a　diffidence　among　us　somewhere。　　The　gentry　had　a　distrust　of　the　manufacturers；　and　the　farming　lads　were　wud　with　impatience；　that　those　who　should　be　their　leaders　would　not　come　forth。　　I；　knowing　this；　prepared　a　sermon　suitable　to　the　occasion；　giving　out　from　the　pulpit　myself；　the　Sabbath　before　preaching　it；　that　it　was　my　intent；　on　the　next　Lord's　day；　to　deliver　a　religious　and　political　exhortation　on　the　present　posture　of　public　affairs。　　This　drew　a　vast　congregation　of　all　ranks。

I　trow　that　the　stoor　had　no　peace　in　the　stuffing　of　the　pulpit　in　that　day；　and　the　effect　was　very　great　and　speedy：　　for　next　morning　the　weavers　and　cotton…mill　folk　held　a　meeting；　and　they；　being　skilled　in　the　ways　of　committees　and　associating　together；　had　certain　resolutions　prepared；　by　which　a　select　few　was　appointed　to　take　an　enrolment　of　all　willing　in　the　parish　to　serve　as　volunteers　in　defence　of　their　king　and　country；　and　to　concert　with　certain　gentlemen　named　therein；　about　the　formation　of　a　corps；　of　which；　it　was　an　understood　thing；　the　said　gentlemen　were　to　be　the　officers。　　The　whole　of　this　business　was　managed　with　the　height　of　discretion；　and　the　weavers；　and　spinners；　and　farming　lads；　vied　with　one　another　who　should　be　first　on　the　list。　　But　that　which　the　most　surprised　me；　was　the　wonderful　sagacity　of　the　committee　in　naming　the　gentlemen　that　should　be　the　officers。　　I　could　not　have　made　a　better　choice　myself；　for　they　were　the　best　built；　the　best　bred；　and　the　best　natured；　in　the　parish。　　In　short；　when　I　saw　the　bravery　that　was　in　my　people；　and　the　spirit　of　wisdom　by　which　it　was　directed；　I　said　in　my　heart；　the　Lord　of　Hosts　is　with　us；　and　the　adversary　shall　not　prevail。

The　number　of　valiant　men　which　at　that　time　placed　themselves　around　the　banners　of　their　country　was　so　great；　that　the　government　would　not　accept　of　all　who　offered；　so；　like　as　in　other　parishes；　we　were　obligated　to　make　a　selection；　which　was　likewise　done　in　a　most　judicious　manner；　all　men　above　a　certain　age　being　reserved　for　the　defence　of　the　parish；　in　the　day　when　the　young　might　be　called　to　England　to　fight　the　enemy。

When　the　corps　was　formed；　and　the　officers　named；　they　made　me　their　chaplain；　and　Dr。　Marigold　their　doctor。　　He　was　a　little　man　with　a　big　belly；　and　was　as　crouse　as　a　bantam　cock；　but　it　was　not　thought　he　could　do　so　well　in　field　exercises；　on　which　account　he　was　made　the　doctor；　although　he　had　no　repute　in　that　capacity　in　comparison　with　Dr。　Tanzey；　who　was　not；　however；　liked；　being　a　stiff…mannered　man；　with　a　sharp　temper。

All　things　having　come　to　a　proper　head；　the　young　ladies　of　the　parish　resolved　to　present　the　corps　with　a　stand　of　colours；　which　they　embroidered　themselves；　and　a　day　was　fixed　for　the　presentation　of　the　same。　　Never　was　such　a　day　seen　in　Dalmailing。　The　sun　shone　brightly　on　that　scene　of　bravery　and　grandeur；　and　far　and　near　the　country　folk　came　flocking　in；　and　we　had　the　regimental　band　of　music　hired　from　the　soldiers　that　were　in　Ayr　barracks。　　The　very　first　sound　o't　made　the　hair　on　my　old　grey　head　to　prickle　up；　and　my　blood　to　rise　and　glow　as　if　youth　was　coming　again　into　my　veins。

Sir　Hugh　Montgomerie　was　the　commandant；　and　he　came　in　all　the　glory　of　war；　on　his　best　horse；　and　marched　at　the　head　of　the　men　to　the　green…head。　　The　doctor　and　me　were　the　rearguard：　　not　being　able；　on　account　of　my　age　and　his　fatness；　to　walk　so　fast　as　the　quick…step　of　the　corps。　　On　the　field；　we　took　our　place　in　front；　near　Sir　Hugh　and　the　ladies　with　the　colours；　and　after　some　salutations；　according　to　the　fashion　of　the　army；　Sir　Hugh　made　a　speech　to　the　men；　and　then　Miss　Maria　Montgomerie　came　forward；　with　her　sister　Miss　Eliza；　and　the　other　ladies；　and　the　banners　were　unfurled；　all　glittering　with　gold；　and　the　king's　arms　in　needlework。　　Miss　Maria　then　made　a　speech；　which　she　had　got　by　heart；　but　she　was　so　agitated　that　it　was　said　she　forgot　the　best　part　of　it：　　however；　it　was　very　well　considering。　　When　this　was　done；　I　then　stepped　forward；　and　laying　my　hat　on　the　ground；　every　man　and　boy　taking　off　theirs；　I　said　a　prayer；　which　I　had　conned　most　carefully；　and　which　I　thought　the　most　suitable　I　could　devise；　in　unison　with　Christian　principles；　which　are　averse　to　the　shedding　of　blood；　and　I　particularly　dwelt　upon　some　of　the　specialities　of　our　situation。

When　I　had　concluded；　the　volunteers　gave　three　great　shouts；　and　the　multitude　answered　them　to　the　same　tune；　and　all　the　instruments　of　music　sounded；　making　such　a　bruit　as　could　not　be　surpassed　for　grandeura　long；　and　very　circumstantial　account　of　all　which；　may　be　read　in　the　newspapers　of　that　time。

The　volunteers；　at　the　word　of　command；　then　showed　us　the　way　they　were　to　fight　with　the　French；　in　the　doing　of　which　a　sad　disaster　happened；　for　when　they　were　charging　bayonets；　they　came　towards　us　like　a　flood；　and　all　the　spectators　ran；　and　I　ran；　and　the　doctor　ran；　but　being　laden　with　his　belly；　he　could　not　run　fast　enough；　so　he　lay　down；　and　being　just　before　me　at　the　time；　I　tumbled　over　him；　and　such　a　shout　of　laughter　shook　the　field　as　was　never　heard。

When　the　fatigues　of　the　day　were　at　an　end；　we　marched　to　the　cotton…mill；　where；　in　one　of　the　ware…houses；　a　vast　table　was　spread；　and　a　dinner；　prepared　at　Mr　Cayenne's　own　expense；　sent　in　from　the　Cross…Keys；　and　the　whole　corps；　with　many　of　the　gentry　of　the　neighbourhood；　dined　with　great　jollity；　the　band　of　music　playing　beautiful　airs　all　the　time。　　At　night　there　was　a　universal　dance；　gentle　and　semple　mingled　together。　　All　which　made　it　plain　to　me；　that　the　Lord；　by　this　unison　of　spirit；　had　decreed　our　national　preservation；　but　I　kept　this　in　my　own　breast；　lest　it　might　have　the　effect　to　relax　the　vigilance　of　the　kingdom。　　And　I　should　note　that　Colin　Mavis；　the　poetical　lad；　of　whom　I　have　spoken　in　another　part；　made　a　song　for　this　occasion　that　was　very　mightily　thought　of；　having　in　it　a　nerve　of　valiant　genius；　that　kindled　the　very　souls　of　those　that　heard　it。



CHAPTER　XLV　　YEAR　1804



In　conformity　with　the　altered　fashions　of　the　age；　in　this　year　the　session　came　to　an　understanding　with　me；　that　we　should　not　inflict　the　common　church　censures　for　such　as　made　themselves　liable　thereto；　but　we　did　not　formally　promulge　our　resolution　as　to　this；　wishing　as　long　as　possible　to　keep　the　deterring　rod　over　the　heads　of　the　young　and　thoughtless。　　Our　motive；　on　the　one　hand；　was　the　disregard　of　the　manufacturers　in　Cayenneville；　who　were；　without　the　breach　of　truth；　an　irreligious　people；　and；　on　the　other；　a　desire　to　preserve　the　ancient　and　wholesome　admonitory　and　censorian　jurisdiction　of　the　minister　and　elders。　　We　therefore　laid　it　down　as　a　rule　to　ourselves；　that；　in　the　case　of　transgressions　on　the　part　of　the　inhabitants　of　the　new　district　of　Cayenneville；　we　should　subject　them　rigorously　to　a　fine；　but　that　for　the　farming…lads；　we　would　put　it　in　their　option　to　pay　the　fine；　or　stand　in　the　kirk。

We　conformed　also　in　another　matter　to　the　times；　by　consenting　to　baptize　occasionally　in　private　houses。　　Hitherto　it　had　been　a　strict　rule　with　me　only　to　baptize　from　the　pulpit。　　Other　parishes；　however；　had　long　been　in　the　practice　of　this　relaxation　of　ancient　discipline。

But　all　this　on　my　part；　was　not　done　without　compunction　of　spirit；　for　I　was　of　opinion；　that　the　principle　of　Presbyterian　integrity　should　have　been　maintained　to　the　uttermost。　　Seeing；　however；　the　elders　set　on　an　alteration；　I　distrusted　my　own　judgment；　and　yielded　myself　to　the　considerations　that　weighed　with　them；　for　they　were　true　men；　and　of　a　godly　honesty；　and　took　the　part　of　the　poor　in　all　contentions　with　the　heritors；　often　to　the　hazard　and　damage　of　their　own　temporal　welfare。

I　have　now　to　note　a　curious　thing；　not　on　account　of　its　importance；　but　to　show　to　what　lengths　a　correspondence　had　been　opened　in　the　parish　with　the　farthest　parts　of　the　earth。　　Mr　Cayenne　got　a　turtle…fish　sent　to　him　from　a　Glasgow　merchant；　and　it　was　living　when　it　came　to　the　Wheatrig　House；　and　was　one　of　the　most　remarkable　beasts　that　had　ever　been　seen　in　our　country　side。　It　weighed　as　much　as　a　well…fed　calf；　and　had　three