and hardships from the inclemency of the season and other casulalities, in consideration of which, on the 23d October, the towncouncil of Haddington subscribed five guineas: the one-half for the relief of the wives, widows, or families, of our soldiers abroad; the other half for purchasing warm vests, &c. for the soldiers themselves. The inhabitants of Haddington being still dissatisfied with having dragoons billeted upon them, the magistrates, on the 5th April, 1794, made offer to Lord Adam Gordon, commander-inchief of the forces in Scotland, of the ground of the two Gallowsgreen parks, amounting to two acres and some odd one-hundred parts, for building barracks, to which government did not accede. In March 1796, they made a further offer to Brigadier-major General Delancy, which was also declined; as it was considered that the cavalry barracks at Edinburgh (Piershill,) when finished, would relieve the burgh of Haddington from such burdens in future.* In 1795, a great augmentation of the army and of the volunteer fencible corps took place, and voluntary subscriptions were again solicited by the government. On the 28th February, the town-council of Haddington made a declaration of loyalty, and approved of the measures taken by the Lord-Lieutenant and gentlemen of the county, to repel invasion and protect property. As a mark of the esteem in which this declaration was held at such a crisis, Provost Hislop was appointed a deputy-lieutenant by the Marquis of Tweeddale. • In 1750, October 1st, Bailie Robert Reid, mason, Haddington, had been impowered by the town-council to build, at his own expense, a barrack of stables for dragoon horses, at the West Port," between it, and northwards, to the round-house on the corner of the town wall." This barrack was to contain " a full troop of horses, besides a magazine for their forage, and to extend 100 feet from south to north, and 42 feet from east to west, excluding the town wall." The building to be arranged so as to give no interruption to the highway leading to Aberlady. Bailie Reid was also under an obligation to sell the whole dung to the inhabitants of the burgh at the rate of sixpence per cart-load, or five shillings sterling each horse per annum, and to no other person; while, on the other part, the magistrates were bourd to billet dragoons in these stables till they were filled. The feu of the piece of ground to be L.2. Scots yearly. The author had an anecdote from old Herkes, relating to the dexterity of the Essex light-dragoons, when quartered in the neighbourhood of Haddington, about 1760. At a review on Beanston-moor, the men rode full speed, and picked up any articles that were placed on the ground for the purpose. This incident is corroborated by the fact, that in a review of Bourgoyne's light-dragoons, in Hyde Park, by George II., a few days previous to his death, several volunteers in the regiment, who were distinguished by wearing oak boughs in their caps, rode at full speed, and picked up a pistol from the ground, which was laid before the King's pavilion for that purpose. In the month of April the same year, the nuptials of his royal highness George, Prince of Wales, with the Princess Caroline, daughter of the Duke of Brunswick, were celebrated. On the change of the magistracy of Haddington in 1797, the town-council's politics appear to have wavered; for, on the 19th April, on the motion of Bailie M'Laren, it was voted, "that a petition should be presented to the King, requesting him to remove his present ministry, by which means it was supposed that the blessings of peace might be restored." The petition lay in the council-chamber for the signature of the inhabitants.* The beginning of 1798, however, seemed to unite the majority of the nation in the propriety of arming themselves against the common enemy. The menaces of the French republic to invade Great Britain and Ireland still continued. Though their navy was greatly reduced, with their usual energetic ardour they had projected rafts to supply its place, on which they intended to transport their troops and artillery. The danger and difficulty of this undertaking appeared to professional men unsurmountable; yet it was necessary that Britain should prepare for the "hot bloody trial," and use every means to repel a landing. To harass this country, the French government had recourse to a violent and decisive measure. English goods were suddenly seized, and confiscated, throughout the Republic; and a proposal was even made to shut their ports against every neutral vessel that had touched at an English harbour during her voyage; and they even dared to declare war against all the maritime powers that should act as carriers of her produce or manufactures. This measure had scarcely been promulgated when three millions value of goods, belonging to the English, were seized at Paris. In the meantime parliament used every effort to increase the military force of the country. The army consisted of 217,450 effective men, including 15,120 yeomanry cavalry, and 51,360 volunteers, besides 117 companies of artillery. An alteration was made in the more material provisions of the Scottish militia act of last session. His Majesty's lieutenants were now authorized to hold their first meeting on the 12th of February, or on any day after, before the 1st of March. The town-clerk was allowed L.5 sterling additional yearly, for his trouble in billeting soldiers, with power to admit a deputy billet-master.—Coun. Reg. Oct. 31st, 1797. The King was impowered by the new act to apportion the number of men to be raised over the counties and burghs, which had returned lists, provided the number so appointed did not exceed 5,500 men ; and in the event of the number falling short, the deficiency was to be supplied by an additional apportionment on the counties. A supplemental militia was also established, from whence those willing to enter into the regular service were to be drafted. The total number, returned by the lord-lieutenant of Scotland, liable to be ballotted for the militia, amounted to 24,330 men. Of these the county of Haddington returned 609, of which 137 were ballotted. Voluntary contributions were now collected to strengthen the hands of government, to which his Majesty contributed L.20,000 from his privy purse. On the 18th March, 1798, the towncouncil of Haddington met to consider the exigencies of the state, and the threatened invasion by (to use their own words,) their "mortal and daring enemy the French." At this meeting they shewed their patriotism by contributing L.100 sterling for the service of the state, in the defence of the country. It was also agreed that public entertainments should cease during the present war, excepting a few glasses of wine to be drunk at the eross on the King's birth-day."* In the month of May, a circular letter was sent by Mr Dundas to the lord-lieutenant of the county, recommending the formation of associations in every district, and pointing out the measures which appeared best calculated for carrying a plan into effect for the general defence of the country. This paper recommended: First, to drive the live-stock off such parts of the country as might be exposed to the inroads of the enemy, as also for saving other descriptions of property as much as possible, in the event of an invasion. Secondly, that the nobility, gentry, and yeomanry, were to supply such number of waggons, carts, and horses, as might be necessary for the King's service, and to contribute their share of flour, wheat, oats, hay, straw, and fuel, in case of an invasion: and, thirdly, a plan for insuring a regular supply of bread to the army in the same exigency. No volunteer was to be admitted into the armed association, but such as resided within the division of the county where they were formed. The yeomanry cavalry were to consist of troops of 40, and not * Alexander Maitland, provost.-Council Reg. more than 80 men each. The officers to be recommended by the lord-lieutenant. The troops to be trained for six hours, once aweek; and, in case of invasion, to serve within the military district to which they belonged. The armed infantry to consist of companies, from 60 to 120 men each, armed as the volunteer corps of towns, or a certain proportion with pikes, with uniform clothing, or a fair allowance for this accoutrement. To be under the command of resident officers, having no less than L.50 income yearly in land, within the county, or renting land to the amount of L.100. The sons of persons so qualified to be eligible, without any restriction. Those accustomed to military services were to be preferred, and to be allowed full pay. To be trained six hours a day, once in the week. Every man of the volunteer corps, who might think proper to claim it, were to be allowed 1s. per week by government. A depot for arms was to be provided at a safe place within the county. None but known and respectable housekeepers, or persons who could bring at least two such housekeepers to answer for their good behaviour, were to be admitted. It was further decided, that should the urgency actually exist, that from that moment, every description of armed force, and every association, formed with a view to impede or annoy the enemy, or to support and assist our own forces, would come under the immediate orders of the military commander of their district. It was also recommended that every petty jealousy respecting the military arrangements should be set aside, that all might co-operate, heart and hand, in the defence of their altars and of their homes. While such were the arrangements of government for the safety of the country, and a harmonious enthusiasm pervaded a large body in regard to the yeomanry and volunteer system, it appears that the militia-act for Scotland was considered by many as a severe measure. We have formerly noticed how unpopular it was amongst a party of the agriculturists of East Lothian; but as they confined themselves to the constitutional mode of seeking redress by petitioning or similar methods, it led to no disagreeable results. Unhappily, however, we have to record, that the same spirit led to a scene of revolt among a different class of people, which we have narrated in the following chapter. CHAPTER XIX. "Let them come: They come like sacrifices in their trim, DREADFUL RIOT AND MILITARY MASSACRE AT TRANENT, ON THE FIRST BALLOTING FOR THE SCOTS MILITIA FOR THE COUNTY OF HADDINGTON. THE introduction of any novel measure, whether it be good or bad, is generally opposed by the multitude. The agitated mass look to present inconveniency rather than to future benefit: hence the turnpike-act, which, by giving the country excellent roads, and was the first thing to improve our internal traffic, was strenuously opposed on account of the trifling tax it levied, which was nothing compared to the advantages it brought. In like manner the temporary and necessary measure of a national militia was violently opposed. However fond our ancestors might be of the deadly game of war, the modern "gudewives of Scotland" could not bear the idea of the male branches of their family, just after they had reached the age of manhood, and just after they had acquired some useful profession, of being compelled to enter the ranks even for a limited period; and, it was rather unfortunate, that the task of" taking up the names," or making up the lists of those liable to serve in the militia, should have fallen on the parochial schoolmasters,-an employment which many a worthy man amongst them regretted, as it rendered them unpopular in the eyes of the parents of the children they had hitherto taught; and, as a necessary consequence, first laid the foundation of" subscription," or what were called " opposition schools." 66 • The following extracts, from the official papers, give a specimen of how the schoolmasters were treated, and may serve as a preamble to the chapter. Robert Paisley, schoolmaster in Tranent, took up the list of persons liable to serve under the militia-act in that parish, and while in the discharge of his |