from his bed for this purpose; and, through the carelessness of the compositor, the paper was allowed to go to the press (1st September, 1797,) without some contemplated alterations. The public mind was so much excited, that a considerable crowd had assembled previous to the publication of the paper in front of the printing-office. In the meantime Mr Johnstone was undergoing an examination before the Sheriff, and, on his return, he found that some corrections had not been made. The press was stopped a second time, and further alterations adopted; but the people were so urgent for copies, they would not wait: so that Johnstone was under the necessity of breaking away a capital letter, which appeared to be C., in the communication sent by Adam Roger, evidently intended for Mr Cadell. After about fifty witnesses had been examined on both sides, Mr Johnstone was found guilty of the libel cited by the Court of Session, and fined in L.300; but on the cause being appealed to the House of Lords, the sentence was reversed, and Mr Cadell, (who represented the lieutenancy,) was fined in the same sum, but which we believe was never exacted. The day after the riot, the Earl of Haddington, Mr Law, the sheriff; James Wilkie, Esq. of Gilchriston, and other justices, took a precognition at Haddington respecting it, when it was evident from the whole of the depositions that the deputylieutenants had acted under great irritation at Tranent, and had not used that conciliating conduct which has the best effect upon the ignorant, or with those who consider themselves in any manner aggrieved. It appeared that a different conduct had been pursued by Mr Sheriff Law and Mr Wilkie the day previously at Haddington, when employed in a similar business, with the happiest effect; though no doubt they had a different class to deal with, being chiefly country people or agriculturists, while the others were colliers and salters; and it being well understood, as one of the justices observed, that "the best way to manage the colliers, is not to rub them against the hair!" The thirty-six persons taken prisoners to Haddington only suffered a few days confinement in the jail of the burgh, while the precognitions were going on. Several of them were taken to Edinburgh, to undergo a justiciary trial; but the soldiers, who were the only evidence brought against them, contradicted each other, particularly respecting the identity of a person considered the principal leader of the mob,-in consequence of which, it is believed, they were all acquitted, with only a severe reprimand. "Man, vain man! Dress'd in a little brief authority, Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven, As makes the angels weep.”—SHAKSPEARE. After this unfortunate riot, a considerable antipathy was manifested against the soldiery, which was particularly directed to those who were considered to have been engaged in the late murderous affair. Two of the Cinque-ports cavalry having gone into a publichouse in Aberlady, were dogged by a joiner, who was employed at Gosford, for the purpose of revenge. He went into the room where the soldiers were drinking, and gradually edging himself up to the fireplace, where he observed a large poker, he seated himself by the ingle-nook, and called for drink. The soldiers invited him to taste with them, which was readily accepted; and the joke went round on varied subjects, as men will talk over their cups. One of the dragoons happening to rise for some purpose, while his back was turned, the joiner, watching the opportunity, seized the poker, and, aiming a blow at his unconscious comrade, laid him senseless on the floor, while the next moment the other soldier shared the same fate. The ruffian immediately made his escape as adroitly as possible, in which he seems to have been favoured. He durst not, however, return to his employer; but made the best of his way to Leith, where his friends found means to get his working tools conveyed to him. Here he got on board of a vessel, which conveyed him to London, from whence he embarked to North America. On the banks of the Hudson the smiles of fortune visited him; and after the lapse of many years, when care had silvered his brow, and the Tranent riot was forgotten, the joiner returned to his native land with a small competency. In the neighbourhood of Salton he plied his vocation within these few years, undisturbed and unchallenged, and, doubtless, in his calmer moments regretted the rashness of youth. CHAPTER XX. "Loudon's bonnie woods and braes, I maun leave them a', lassie, LORD MOIRA's Farewell. THE EAST LOTHIAN FENCIBLES AND YEOMANRY CAVALRY.SIR DAVID BAIRD.--CAMP AT WESTBARNS.-GENERAL DON, -BERWICKSHIRE MILITIA. - HADDINGTON, DUNBAR, AND NORTHBERWICK VOLUNTEERS. - ERECTION OF BARRACKS AT HADDINGTON AND DUNBAR. THE FALSE ALARM.- THE EARLS OF MOIRA AND LAUDERDALE. - HADDINGTONSHIRE LOCAL MILITIA.-DUELLING.-SHIPWRECK OF THE PALLAS AND NYMPH FRIGATES.—THE EARLS OF HOPETOUN AND DALHOUSIE.-FALL OF NAPOLEON AND DEMOLITION OF THE BARRACKS. AT the close of the year 1797, public affairs wore a gloomy aspect. A vain attempt had been made by Lord Malmesbury to negotiate a peace with the French Directory,-Spain had joined the league against Britain,—a run on the Bank of England created considerable alarm,-and a revolt of a most extensive nature had broken out in our fleet at the Nore; while the success of the French arms on the continent, under the modern Attila, to whom crouched alike the hereditary duke and the despotic czar, left our country single-handed to combat her inveterate foe, and, in the words of one of Scotland's gifted poets: 66 Hope for a season bade the world farewell, And Freedom shriek'd when Kosiusko fell!"-CAMPBELL. Under the exigencies of the state we have noticed the loyalty and munificence of the town of Haddington, which happily extended to the gentlemen and tenantry of the county. The East and West Lothian Scots Fencible Cavalry were raised about 1795. They were commanded by Colonel J. Hamilton of Pencaitland, and Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Baird. they were stationed at Deal.* The East Lothian Yeomanry Cavalry was enrolled in 1797, under the command of Sir James Gardiner Baird of Saughtonhall, Baronet, a distinguished veteran officer. It consisted of three troops, averaging 50 men each, commanded by Captains Charles Maitland, David Anderson, and Francis Walker. The fourth or Dunbar troop was not raised till 1803, by Robert Hay, Esq. of Spott, and was 75 men strong. In 1798, another attempt to negotiate with the French having proved abortive, the army and navy were powerfully recruited,volunteer associations became numerous throughout Britain,— and gratuitous contributions were raised to the amount of one million and a half sterling. The patriotic exertions of all classes at this crisis became in the highest degree necessary. From the claims of the Roman catholics being still denied, chiefly from the scruples of the king to this measure, an insurrection broke out in Ireland, which increased the danger of the country. A numerous body of troops had assembled on the northern shores • About the year 1795, a sanguinary example of military discipline was exhibited at Gullan links. Four unfortunate men, who belonged to "Grant's Fencibles," were condemned to be shot for mutinous conduct, which we believe amounted to little more than insolent language made use of to their commanding officer (Colonel Cumming,) in consequence of the hard drills to which the men were subjected. The place of execution was a spot, called “Yellow Mires," on the west side of Gullan links, where the spectators were stationed. The regiment, to which the criminals belonged, formed three parts of a square, with one end open towards the sea. In the centre of the square the men were placed. As a precautionary measure the soldiers of the" Grants Fencibles" were deprived of their gun flints, except 16 men, who were ordered to fire on the prisoners-there were 32 men of the Scots Brigade from Dunbar, with loaded arms behind them, ready to fire if the infantry had shrunk from their painful duty. The cavalry were drawn up behind the infantry, while the artillery, with two field-pieces and lighted matches were placed in the rear. One of the men had been Ieprieved, and another of the three was to be pardoned. Lots were drawn for this man; and it is impossible to describe the exultation of the individual on whom this unexpected deliverance fell. He capered and jumped about in an excess of joy. One of the soldiers met his death with great fortitude. He kneeled, and deliberately dropt the signal handkerchief, and in a few moments ceased to exist; but the other, proving refractory, required to be tied, and, refusing to kneel, fell flat on the ground, which caused a number of shots to be put into him, and his body to be dreadfully mangled, before he expired. The criminals came to the ground in two mourning coaches, acccompanied by clergymen; a cart following them with the coffins. The corpses were interred in Aberlady churchyard. The soldiers of the neighbouring garrisons of Edinburgh, Leith, and Musselburgh attended, with a vast concourse of people, which were drawn together to witness such a novel spectacle. of France, which assumed the presumptuous name of the " Army of England," while an expedition sailed from Toulon for the conquest of Egypt. At the close of the year public affairs looked less disastrous. Britain succeeded in forming an alliance with Russia; and while victory seemed to trace the path of France on the shore, our march o'er the mountain-wave had never been more splendid. Admiral Jervis, while cruising off Cape St Vincent, with fifteen sail of the line, beat a Spanish fleet of twentyseven ships, the gallant Duncan, in a contest with abler and braver seamen, gained a signal victory over the Dutch fleet off Camperdown,--and the immortal Nelson crowned "the glorious day's renown" with the battle of the Nile. Britain, with that chivalrous spirit, ever ready to succour the distressed, and perhaps too ready to engage in quarrels not absolutely her own, turned her eyes to her old ocean-rival, the Dutch, with a view of rescuing her from the bondage of France. A body of 19,000 men, under the gallant Abercromby, aided by 17,000 Russians, landed in Holland, took Helder fort, and, in some degree, effected this object. The British power was, in the mean time, strengthened in India, by the overthrow of Tippoo Saib, by an army of 18,000 men, under General Harris. Seringapatam was taken by assault, after a desperate defence, through the skill and bravery of General Baird, who commanded the troops, aided by Colonel Wellesley, now the illustrious Wellington. Tippoo's body was found buried amidst heaps of slain. The greater part of his dominions were seized by the East India company, and a vast deal of treasure fell into the hands of the British.* • General the right honourable Sir David Baird, Bart. G.C.B. K.C., was the fifth son of William Baird, Esq. of Newbyth, in East Lothian, where he was born in 1757. He appears to have been born a soldier; and gratified his early predilection for the military life by entering as an ensign in the 2nd regiment of foot, just as he had completed his fifteenth year; and joined his regiment the year following at Gibraltar. He distinguished himself at an early period in India, and, in an affair with Hyder Aly and Tippoo Saib, he was dreadfully wounded, having received two sabre wounds on his head, a ball in his thigh, and a pike wound in his arm, while his company of the 73d regiment was, literally, cut to pieces. Captain Baird and five of the officers were put in irons, and suffered a confinement of three years and eight months in one of the principal prisons of Seringapatam; and it was not till the expiry of his tedious imprisonment, that he first received letters from his family and friends; and by a singular coincidence the gallant Baird was preserved to revenge the fatal devastation of Perambaukum by the conquest of Seringapatam. He died at Fern Tower, near Crieff, in 1829, where a monument, in the form of an obelisk, of the exact dimensions of a pillar in Egypt, called Cleopatra's needle, has been erected on a romantic and beautiful hill to his memory by his amiable and accomplished lady. |