43G BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
No. CLXVIII.
GEORGE MEALMAKER,
AUTHOR OF THE ‘‘ NORAL AND POLITICAL CATECHISJI OF NAN.”
GEORGE was an extensive weaver in the Seagate of Dundee, at a period when
the giant power of steam had not come into competition with the hand-loom.
Unfortunately for himself, he became deeply infected with the political spirit of
the times; and in 1796, from his superior capacity acquired the distinction
of a leading member of one of those societies of “ United Scotsmen,” formed at
that period in various parts of Scotland, ‘‘ particularly in the counties of Fife,
Forfar, and Perth.”
The object of these associations was ostensibly the attainment of annual
parliaments and universal suffrage; but they were conducted in a manner
unwarrantable by law-by means of signs and oaths of secrecy. Mealmaker was
charged not only with having taken the test of secrecy himself, but with having
administered the oath to others, and with being otherwise active in promoting
the extension of what was then considered an illegal combination. He was
also accused of having circulated various “ seditious and inflammatory papers
or pamphlets,” particularly “the Moral and Political Catechism of Man ; or,
a Dialogue between a Citizen of the World and an Inhabitant of Britain,”
to which was added a narrative of his arrest, examination, and imprisonment,
written by himself, and printed by T. M‘Cleish.
The trial took place at the High Court of Justiciary, on the 10th January
1’198. Mr. Clerk
and hlr. White spoke for the prisoner; and the Solicitor-General and Mr.
Burnett for the Crown. On proof being led, the existence of the societiestheir
dividing into other bodies, when the members became numerous-their
signs, countersigns, committees of secrecy, etc., as set forth in the indictment,
were fully proven by the witnesses, one of whom was committed to prison for
prevarication upon oath. After the Lord Advocate had addressed the jury on
the part of the Crown, and Mr. Clerk for the prisoner, the evidence was summed
up by Lord Eskgrove, when the jury were enclosed a little before four in the
morning. Next day they unanimously returned a verdict of guilty ; and the
pannel was sentenced to fourteen years’ transportation. On receiving sentence
the prisoner addressed the Court, and blamed the jury for precipitancy, having
taken only half an hour to consider the verdict. He said “he was to be another
victim to Parliamentary Reform ; but he could easily submit, and go to that
distant country where others had gone before him. With regard to his wife
Edinburgh, 1797.
The pleadings on the relevancy lasted nearly four hours.
12mo.