Anonymous

“ The captain retired accordingly, and all the time of their retreat, though no mob followed them, some of the soldiers faced about and fired upon people that were only looking after them, and not offering them any violence. When they came to the West-port, through which they were to march out of the town, one of the soldiers espying a shoe-maker standing at the head of a street, aimed at him and shot him dead, though there was no tumult there, and this poor man having been at another end of the town knew nothing of what had passed at the guard. ”

“ Tho' the magistrates caused these idle people to be dispersed when and wheresoever they appeared, yet the officers did not attempt to enter the barns, fearing that from these small beginnings upon such an occasion as this of levying the malt tax, a more formidable mob might grow up, against which the magistrates might not be able to protect them, besides they were every day in expectation that a party of the king's forces would be sent to Glasgow, to protect them in that service. ”

“ Campbell's house pulled down, but remain unto this day. The next harangue is, "That two of the soldiers who were so bruised with stones, that they were not able to keep up with the party, fell into the hands of the mob, who used them very barbarously; one escaped into a house, but the other is so bruised with stones that his life is despaired of;" all this is absolutely false as appears by the foregoing account. That two of the mob went to Dumbarton, and threatned the inhabitants if they received captain Bushell and his soldiers, is what I know nothing about. ”

“ When the gentleman came to the provost, he found him beset by a more formidable mob than was at the guard, who being exasperated at the murder of so many of their fellow citizens, threatned revenge upon the soldiers, and destruction to the provost and his company if they opposed them ”

“ And tho' we should grant that he might have done better, yet it would be the greatest hardship in the world to charge a gentleman as being accessory to a crime, when it is plain he intended to hinder the commission of it, and pursued his intentions by such methods as seemed at that time most proper to him and to all that were about him. It is a difficult task to manage in the midst of great and sudden confusions, but it is exceedingly easy to reflect upon a man's management after it is over. ”

“ The provost, who is the head magistrate of the city, getting intelligence hereof, sent his officers to break open the doors, and a little after was going in person to see it done, but in his way was met by some of the inhabitants, who told him that his officers were beaten and bruised by the mob, and driven away from the guard; that it would be dangerous for him to venture his person among them ”

“ Between two and three o'clock in the afternoon, the provost with a good many merchants and others being then walking before the town-house, there appeared a mob, consisting for the most part of women and boys, armed with clubs and such other weapons, who had been gathered together by an old woman beating a drum before them ”

“ But further, it is hard to be understood, how a justice of peace in the county of Lanerk, could by law order any person whatsoever to be committed to the custody of the king's forces, to be by them carried out of the county of Lanerk, thro' the counties of Dumbarton, Stirling, Linlithgow, and unto the county of Edinburgh, there to be imprisoned. ”

“ This being over the provost, and Mr. Campbell of Blythswood, the only other justice of the peace then in town, the dean of guild, and other inhabitants of the place, waited in the town-house till near nine o'clock at night, and there being no appearance of any disorder, they went into a tavern, leaving orders with their officers to watch in the streets, and if any tumult appeared, to acquaint them thereof. ”

“ On Saturday the 17th of July, the foresaid gentlemen were brought out of the tolbooth of Glasgow, and under a guard of the Royal Scots Dragoons, were conducted prisoners to Falkirk, where they rested next day, being Sunday. On Monday about noon captain Bushell arrived at Edinburgh with his prisoners, who were committed to the castle without any warrant ”

“ Bushell, offering him his assistance, if there was any occasion for it. The provost said, that he was most willing to accept of the assistance of the captain and his soldiers, but asked the serjeant how he proposed to gather his soldiers together? The serjeant answered by beating the drum. The provost reply'd that by this the rioters who were now most numerous and outragious, would be alarmed; that they would assault the drums, beat down and disarm the soldiers, one by one as they came severally out of their quarters, so that they should not be able to repair to any place of rendezvous ”