L UCKENBOOTUS AND PARLIAMENT CLOSE. I95
we are indebted for other curious traditions, that his great-grandfather, Lord Alva, had
often assured his grandfather of this, and stated, in corroboration, that Lord Haddington
was known to have taken a prominent share in the proceedings, dis,pised in his own
cook-maid's dress. There is little reason to anticipate that the mystery in which this
deed of popular justice is involved will ever be further cleared up, now that nearly a
century and a half has elapsed since its occurrence. The absence, however, of all acts
of violence or private injury, seems rather to prove the unanimity of feeling that prevailed
on the occasion, than the presence of actors from the upper ranks of society ; since, however
much the latter might desire to accomplish their purpose with the calm severity of a
judicial act, their inclinations could have had little effect in securing the moderation of the
rabble, to whom, on any other occasion, such an event would have proved so favourable an
opportunity for excess. We shall conclude our notice of this memorable deed, with the
very circumstantial narrative furnished in the evidence of George Wilson, a workman in
Edinburgh, as confirmed and extended by other witnesses examined on the trial of Willitlm
Maclauchlane, already alluded to. Their account is divested oc the usual legal formality,
and otherwise somewhat abridged, but the substance ie as follows :-Wileon stated that
he arrived about eleven o'clock at night at the Tolbooth, where he saw faggots of broom
brought by some of the mob, with which they set fire to the door. He waited till he
saw Captain Porteous brought down ; and after that the mob carried him up the Lawnmarket
until they came to Stewart's sign-post, near the Bow head, over which some of
them proposed to hang him, but others were against it. He was stopped a second time
at the Weigh-house. By this time Wilson contrived to get near Porteous, and heard some
of the rioters propose to hang him over the Weigh-house stair, but here the witness was
recognised as an intruder, and knocked down by one of the ringleaders in female attire.
After being run over by a number of the mob, Wilson recovered himself, and followed
them to the Grassmarket, where he saw Porteous dragged to the dyer's tree, whereon
he was hanged. There he saw the wretched captive give his purse to a wealthy citizen
who waa near, to be delivered to his brother, a fact afterwards confirmed by the evidence
of the citizen himself. "he account this witness gives of the mode in whiih the
final object of all this procedure was accomplished, fully confirms the resolute composure
with which the rioters are said to have acted throughout. He saw the rope
put about Porteous's neck, but he was not drawn up until it was reported that the
military were coming from the Canongate by the Hospital port, at the foot of Leith
Wynd. The first
time the rope was not right about his neck ; and when he had been a second time drawn
up he was again let down, and his shirt drawn over his face. Others of the mob, however,
were more violent in their proceedings, striking him on the face with their Lochaberaxes,
and shouting to cut off hie ears, and ot,herwise to wreak their vengeance on him.
William Turner, another witness, mentions having observed Porteous, after he was hung
up, struggling to take hold of the rope, but the rioters struck at him with their weapom,
and compelled him to quit his hold. When they were satisfied that their object was
accomplished, they nailed the end of the rope to the pole, flung away their weapons, and
rapidly dispersed.
Such is the narrative, as related by eye-witnesses, immediately after the occurrence of
Even after Porteous was hung up, he was twice let down again.
