BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 121
On the way‘the prisoner behaved with much levity of manner, and
Williamson used to tell several amusing stones respecting him. While at
Amsterdam, Brodie met a Scots woman who asked him if he had been long
from Scotland, adding, that one Brodie, a citizen of Edinburgh, was accused of
robbing the Excise Office ; and that a great reward was offered for his apprehension.
In the same city he became acquainted with the person who had
committed a forgery on the Bank of Scotland. “He was a very clever fellow,”
said Brodie, “ and had it not been for my apprehension, I could have mastered
the process in a week.”
Before arriving in Edinburgh, Brodie was anxious to have his beard cropped,
an operation in which he had not indulged for several days. Afraid to trust
the razor in the hands of a person in his circumstances, Mr. Williamson offered
to act the part of tonsor, assuring the prisoner that he was well qualified for
the task. Brodie patiently submitted to the process, which was awkwardly and
very indifferently performed by thb man of captions and hornings. “ George,”
said he, as the last polishing stroke had been given, “ if you are no better at
your own business than you are at shaving, n person may employ you once, but
I’ll be - if ever he does so again ! ”
Williamson acquired considerable notoriety in his official capacity in 179 3
and subsequent years, among the “ Friends of the People,” to whom he became
obnoxious for his activity as an emissary of the law. Muir of Huntershill and
Palmer from Dundee were among the first and most distinguished of the
Reformers whom he arrested; and when the late Mr. Hamilton Roman,
accompanied by the Hon. Simon Butler, came from Dublin to challenge the
Lord Advocate,’ Williamson was prepared to welcome them, on their arrival
at Dumbreck‘s Hotel, with a’warrant for their apprehension.
In the performance of his duty Mr. Williamson displayed considerable tact
and address ; and, without rudeness, was firm and decided. He was a man of
more gentleness and humanity than individuals of his profession are generally
supposed to be. There are many instances in which he has been known, rather
than resort to extreme measures, to have himself paid the debt of the unfortunate
individual against whom he had diligence. Being Excise Constable, at that
time all the decreets for arrears of licenses were put in force through his hands,
under the direction of the late Mr. James Bremner, depute-solicitor of stamps, to
whom he invariably reported all cases of distress. The reply of that goodhearted
gentleman usually was-“I leave the matter to yourself, Mr. Williamson
; the Government do not wish to make beggars, though they may be
fond of the revenue.”
In extensive employment, T.7Tilliamson is understood to have at one time
realised a considerable fortune. He lived in the Lord President’s Stairs,
Parliament Square, but had a country house at Liberton, where he and his
1 Hamilton Rowan was then Secretary to the Society of United Irishmen j and some reflections
in which the Lord Advocate had indulged at the trial of Mnir were the -use of offence,
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