BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 35 3
expected that the city, together with the Castle, would fall into the hands of the
“Friends of the People.” The design was as follows:--“A fire was to be
raised near the Excise Office, which would require the attendance of the soldiers,
who were to be met on their way by a body of the ‘Friends of the
People ;’ another party of whom were to issue from the West Bow, to confine
the soldiers between two fires, and cut off their retreat. The Castle was next
to be attempted ; the Judges and Magistrates were to be seized ; and all the
public banks were to be secured. A proclamation was then to be issued, ordering
all the farmers to bring in their grain to market as usual ; and enjoining all
country gentlemen unfriendly to the cause to keep within their houses, or three
miles of them, under penalty of death. Then an address was to be sent to his
Majesty, conimanding him to put an end to the war-td change his ministersor
take the consequences.”
Before this extraordinary project could be carried into effect, it was necessary
that arms of some description or other should be procured. Another committee
was consequently formed, called the collectors of “ Sense and Money,” whose
business it was to “ raise the wind,” in order to procure arms. Two smiths
(Robert Orrock and William Brown), who had enrolled their names among the
( ( Friends of the People,” were employed to make four thousand pikes ; some
of which were actually completed, and had been delivered to Watt, and paid
for by Downie, in his capacity of treasurer.
Meanwhile the trials of William Skirving, Maurice Margarot, and Joseph
Gerrald had taken place ; but it was not until May that Watt and Downie were
apprehended. On the 15th of that month, two sheriff-officers, while searching the
house of Watt for some goods which had been secreted, belonging to a bankrupt,
discovered some pikes, which they immediately carried to the Sheriff’s
Chambers. A warrant was then given to search the whole premises, and also
to apprehend the parties. In the cellar, a form of types, from which the address
to the ‘military had been printed, as also an additional quantity of pikes, were
discovered ; and in the house of Orrock, the smith, thirty-three pikes, finished
and unfinished, were likewise found.
True bills of indictment having been found against Watt and Downie, the
trial of the former took place before the Court of Oyer and Terminer, on the 14th
of August 1794; and of the latter, on the 7th of Septeniber. The facts set
forth in the indictments were fully proven against the prisoners. A letter from
Downie-as treasurer to the Committee of Ways and Means, to “Walter
Millar, Perth ”-acknowledging the receipt of S15, in which he gave an account
of the riots in the Theatre,’ was produced and identified ; and Robert Orrock
These riots commenced on Monday night, the 8th of April 1794, when the tragedy of Charles
I. waa performed. At the end of the second act several gentlemen called to the band in the orchestra
to play “God save the King,” during the performance of which a few individuals did not uncover.
Sone of the more loyal portion of the audience insisted that they should ; and from words the
matter came to blows. On the next night of performance (the 10th) some attempts were made to
create a disturbance, which was speedily got under ; but on Saturday, the 12th, the democratic
party mustered in greater numbers j and preparations had been made on both sides for a trial of
2 2
354 BIOGRAPHICAf, SKETCHES.
stated that Downie accompanied Watt to his place at the W-ater-of-Leith, when
the order was given for the pikes. William Brown said he made fifteen
pikes by Watt’s order, to whom he delivered them ; and that, on a line from
Watt, Downie paid him twenty-two shillings and sixpence for the fifteen.
Margaret Whitecross, who had been at one time a servant of Mr. Downie, on
being shown one of the pikes, “declared that she saw a similar one in Mr.
Downie’s house one morning when she was dressing the dining-room : that Mr.
Downie had come home late the previous night : that Mr. Downie’s son, Charles,
came out of an adjoining closet, where he slept, as soon as he heard her in the
room, and took it away ; and at this time he had only part of his clothes on, and
did not seem to have any other business in that room: that she remembers
hearing Mrs. Downie ask her husband what he had done with the large dividingknije
which was found in the dining-room?-to which he answered, that he had
locked it by : that she never heard her master speak of having such weapons to
defend himself; and when she saw it, she thought she never saw such a dividing-
knife before.” A verdict of guilty was returned on both occasions ; and
sentence of death passed upon the prisoners.
Watt suffered the extreme punishment of the law according to the form
usual in treasonable cases.‘ Previous to his execution, he made a confession of
the extent and purport of the measures contemplated by the Committees.
Downie was pardoned, on condition of banishing himself from the British
strength. The play--“ Which is the Man ”-was allowed to go on to the end without interruption.
A few minutes of ominous silence followed, when a voice at last called out for I‘ God save the King,”
and “ off hats.” A general melee ensued, which put an
entire stop to the husiness of the stage, and created the utmost alarm. “ It is difficult to say,”
observe3 the Couraiit of that period, “ which party made the first attack ; it was furious beyond
exaniple ; each party had prepared for the contest by arming themselves with bludgeons ; and while
the affray lasted, the most serious consequences were apprehended, as both parties fought with
determined resolution, Many dreadful blows were given, which brought several individuals to the
ground; and the wounded were in danger of being trampled to death in the general confnsion.
The party, however, who insisted on keeping on their lists, being at length overcome, left the house,
and the wounded were carried out. A considerable
mob was congregated ont of doors anxiously waiting the result.
The execntion of Watt, which took place at the west end of the Luckenbooths, was conducted
with much solemnity. He was conveyed from the Castle on a black-painted hurdle, drawn by a
white horse, amid a procession of the magistracy, guarded by a strong military force, The prisoner,
who wag assisted in his devotions by the Rev. Principal Baird, exhibited a picture of the most
abject dejection. He was wrapped in a great-coat, a red nightcap, (which, on the platform, he
exchanged for a white one), with a round hat, his stockings hanging loose, and hi3 whole appearance
wretched in the extreme. He wax about the age of thirty-six, and was the natural aon of 8
gentleman of fortune and respectability, in the county of ‘Angus, but, as is usiial, took the name of
his mother. At about ten years of age he was sent to Perth, where he received a good education ;
and at sixteen he engaged himself with a lawyer ; but, from Home religious scrnples, took a disgust
at his employment ; and, removing to Edinburgh, was engaged as a clerk to Mr. E. Balfour, bookseller
(whose shop was afterwards occupied hy the Journal Office), with whom he lived for mome
pears, without any other complaint than the smallness of his salary. Being desirous of becoming a
partner of the business, he, by the inflnence of some friends, prevailed on his father to advance
money for that purpose ; and then made proposals to his employer ; but his oEer was rejected.
Having money in posaession, he entered into the wine and spirit trade, and for some time had
tolerable success ; but waa ruined, it was said, on the commencement of the war with France.
This seemed to be the signal for attack.
The pit was the principal scene of action.”
