During the same just and necessary war for all that was dear to us, in which the volunteers were raised, one of the severest trials happened to me that ever any magistrate was subjected to.I had, at the time, again subsided into an ordinary counsellor; but it so fell out that, by reason of Mr Shuttlethrift, who was then provost, having occasion and need to go into Glasgow upon some affairs of his own private concerns, he being interested in the Kilbeacon cotton-mill; and Mr Dalrye, the bailie, who should have acted for him, being likewise from home, anent a plea he had with a neighbour concerning the bounds of their rigs and gables; the whole authority and power of the magistrates devolved, by a courtesy on the part of their colleague, Bailie Hammerman, into my hands.
For some time before, there had been an ingathering among us of sailor lads from the neighbouring ports, who on their arrival, in order to shun the pressgangs, left their vessels and came to scog themselves with us.By this, a rumour or a suspicion rose that the men-of-war's men were suddenly to come at the dead hour of the night and sweep them all away.Heaven only knows whether this notice was bred in the fears and jealousies of the people, or was a humane inkling given, by some of the men-of-war's men, to put the poor sailor lads on their guard, was never known.But on a Saturday night, as I was on the eve of stepping into my bed, I shall never forget it--Mrs Pawkie was already in, and as sound as a door-nail--and I was just crooking my mouth to blow out the candle, when Iheard a rap.As our bed-room window was over the door, I looked out.It was a dark night; but I could see by a glaik of light from a neighbour's window, that there was a man with a cocked hat at the door.
"What's your will?" said I to him, as I looked out at him in my nightcap.He made no other answer, but that he was one of his majesty's officers, and had business with the justice.
I did not like this Englification and voice of claim and authority;however, I drew on my stockings and breeks again, and taking my wife's flannel coaty about my shoulders--for I was then troubled with the rheumatiz--I went down, and, opening the door, let in the lieutenant.
"I come," said he, "to show you my warrant and commission, and to acquaint you that, having information of several able-bodied seamen being in the town, I mean to make a search for them."I really did not well know what to say at the moment; but I begged him, for the love of peace and quietness, to defer his work till the next morning: but he said he must obey his orders; and he was sorry that it was his duty to be on so disagreeable a service, with many other things, that showed something like a sense of compassion that could not have been hoped for in the captain of a pressgang.
When he had said this, he then went away, saying, for he saw my tribulation, that it would be as well for me to be prepared in case of any riot.This was the worst news of all; but what could I do?
I thereupon went again to Mrs Pawkie, and shaking her awake, told her what was going on, and a terrified woman she was.I then dressed myself with all possible expedition, and went to the town-clerk's, and we sent for the town-officers, and then adjourned to the council-chamber to wait the issue of what might betide.
In my absence, Mrs Pawkie rose out of her bed, and by some wonderful instinct collecting all the bairns, went with them to the minister's house, as to a place of refuge and sanctuary.
Shortly after we had been in the council-room, I opened the window and looked out, but all was still; the town was lying in the defencelessness of sleep, and nothing was heard but the clicking of the town-clock in the steeple over our heads.By and by, however, a sough and pattering of feet was heard approaching; and shortly after, in looking out, we saw the pressgang, headed by their officers, with cutlasses by their side, and great club-sticks in their hands.They said nothing; but the sound of their feet on the silent stones of the causey, was as the noise of a dreadful engine.
