The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 2

  NOTE O.--John Duke of Argyle and Greenwich.

  This nobleman was very dear to his countrymen, who were justly proud ofhis military and political talents, and grateful for the ready zeal withwhich he asserted the rights of his native country. This was never moreconspicuous than in the matter of the Porteous Mob, when the ministersbrought in a violent and vindictive bill, for declaring the Lord Provostof Edinburgh incapable of bearing any public office in future, for notforeseeing a disorder which no one foresaw, or interrupting the course ofa riot too formidable to endure opposition. The same bill made provisionfor pulling down the city gates, and abolishing the city guard,--rather aHibernian mode of enabling their better to keep the peace within burgh infuture.

  The Duke of Argyle opposed this bill as a cruel, unjust, and fanaticalproceeding, and an encroachment upon the privileges of the royal burghsof Scotland, secured to them by the treaty of Union. "In all theproceedings of that time," said his Grace, "the nation of Scotlandtreated with the English as a free and independent people; and as thattreaty, my Lords, had no other guarantee for the due performance of itsarticles, but the faith and honour of a British Parliament, it would beboth unjust and ungenerous, should this House agree to any proceedingsthat have a tendency to injure it."

  Lord Hardwicke, in reply to the Duke of Argyle, seemed to insinuate, thathis Grace had taken up the affair in a party point of view, to which thenobleman replied in the spirited language quoted in the text. LordHardwicke apologised. The bill was much modified, and the clausesconcerning the dismantling the city, and disbanding the guard, weredeparted from. A fine of L2000 was imposed on the city for the benefit ofPorteous's widow. She was contented to accept three-fourths of the sum,the payment of which closed the transaction. It is remarkable, that, inour day, the Magistrates of Edinburgh have had recourse to both thosemeasures, hold in such horror by their predecessors, as necessary stepsfor the improvement of the city.

  It may be here noticed, in explanation of another circumstance mentionedin the text, that there is a tradition in Scotland, that George II.,whose irascible temper is said sometimes to have hurried him intoexpressing his displeasure _par voie du fait,_ offered to the Duke ofArgyle in angry audience, some menace of this nature, on which he leftthe presence in high disdain, and with little ceremony. Sir RobertWalpole, having met the Duke as he retired, and learning the cause of hisresentment and discomposure, endeavoured to reconcile him to what hadhappened by saying, "Such was his Majesty's way, and that he often tooksuch liberties with himself without meaning any harm." This did not mendmatters in MacCallummore's eyes, who replied, in great disdain, "You willplease to remember, Sir Robert, the infinite distance there is betwixtyou and me." Another frequent expression of passion on the part of thesame monarch, is alluded to in the old Jacobite song--

  The fire shall get both hat and wig, As oft-times they've got a' that.