Edinburgh Bookshelf

Kay's Originals Vol. 1

Search

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
Volume 8 Page 493
  Shrink Shrink   Print Print