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Kay's Originals Vol. 2

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 155 No. CCXXIV. THE CITY T R 0 N -31 EN ; CHPNNEY-S WEEPERS. THE personal history of these men is almost entirely unknown ; and probably few incidents in their humble progress through life would be found worthy of recording. The elder of the two, DAVIDG ILCHRISTw,a s a worthy enough person in his way ; and he is still remembered by some of the sable fraternity of Edinburgh. He lived in the College Wynd, off the Cowgate. At a remote period, there was only one individual of the name of Hamilton -resident in the West Port ‘--who devoted his attention solely to the sweeping of chimneys. He kept a number of men and boys in his employment; but the city, notwithstanding, was very indifferently supplied. In order to remedy this state of things-as well as to avoid the barbarous system of “ climbing boys ” twelve men, previously porters, were appointed chimneysweepers for the city, with an annual allowance of one guinea, and certain other perquisites. They were called “ Tron-men,” from the circumstance of their being stationed at the Trone,’ or public beam for weighing, which formerly stood in front of the Tron Church. A small wooden apartment was subsequently erected for them at the east end of the City Guard-House, in which to deposit their apparatus ; and where the men themselves were daily in waiting, ready to supply, in rotation, the demands of their customers. In case of fire occurring, the duty of keeping watch at night in the Guard-House devolved on one of their number alternately. In the Print, the dress and apparatus of the “ City Tron-men ” are accurately described. They wore flat bonnets--a coat peculiarly formed-and kneebreeches and buckles-with a short apron. A ladder-a besom-with a coil Hamilton resided a little to the west of the Vennel, and w89 known by the name of “ Sweep The Trone appears to have been used as a pillory for the punishment of crime. In Nichoh Diary for 1649, it is stated that “much falset and cheitting was dailie deteckit at this time by the Lords of Sessioune ; for the whilk there was dailie hanging, skucging, nailing of lugs [ears], and Ending of people to the TRONE, a d boring of tongues ; so that it was one fatal year for false notaries and witnesses, as dailie experience did witness.” The wagh-house, wbich stood at the head of the West Bow, built probably about the beginning of the seventeenth century, 85 a substitute for the Tmm, was removed in 1822, on the King’s visit to Scotland, in order to make way for the Royal procession to the Castle. Jack.” He died about the end of last century.
Volume 9 Page 208
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