168 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Mr. Rowan, attended by his friend, the Honourable Simon Butler, anived
in Edinburgh on the’4th November, about mid-day, at Dumbreck‘s Hotel, when
the latter lost no time in waiting on the Lord Advocate, at his house in George
Square. He was received in a polite manner by his lordship, who said, that
although not bound to give any explanation of what he might consider proper
to state in his official capacity, yet he would return an answer to Mr. Rowan’s
note without delay. Mr. William Moffat, solicitor, the agent and friend of
Muir, who had been sent for by Mr. Rowan, immediately on his arrival, was
present in Dumbreck’s when Mr, Butler returned from George Square. “his
gentleman had hardly finished an account of his interview, when George Williamson,
King’s Messenger, accompanied by two sheriff-officers, made their appearance
with the Lord Advocate’s answer ; and, without much ceremony, intimated the
Sheriff‘s warrant for the apprehension of Mr. Rowan. There was no charge or
warrant against Mr. Butler ; but he accompanied his friend in a coach to the
Sheriffs Office, attended by the messenger and his assistants.
Acting by the advice of Mr. Moffat, who protested against the legality of
the charges on which the warrant proceeded, Mr. Rowan indignantly refused to
answer the interrogatories of the Sheriff. In consequence, a warrant was issued
for his incarceration until liberated in due course of law. Colonel Norman
Macleod, M.P. for Inverness-shire, who happened to be in town, and was by
this time in attendance at the Office, immediately became surety. Mr. Rowan
and his friends then adjourned to Hunter’s tavern, Royal Exchange, where they
were hospitably regaled by the gallant Colonel.
On the following morning Rowan and Butler visited Mr. Muir in the Tolbooth,
where, accompanied by Colonel Macleod, Captain Johnston, and Mr.
Moffat, they dined with him next day. On this occasion, Hamilton Rowan gave
Muir a pair of elegant pistols, of the finest cut steel, remarkably small, and of
curious workmanship, to be kept in remembrance of the donor, and as a safeguard,
in case of need, during the perils he was destined to encounter.’
Mr. Rowan and his friend Mr. Butler remained in Edinburgh for the space
of eight days. Previous to their departure, they were entertained at a public
dinner in Hunter’s tavern, Royal Exchange, given by a select number of the
Friends of the People ; among whom were Mr. Moffat, Colonel Macleod, and
about sixty other friends. The entrance-to the tavern w;t9 carefully watched by
a party of sheriff and town-officers, for the purpose of noting the names of all
who attended the banquet. But the greatest harmony prevailed ; and thus terminated
the frightful vision of treason and sedition created in the minds of the
authorities by the visit of Mr. Rowan and his friend. Although held to bail,
The pistols were afterwards taken from Muir while on board the revenue cutter in Leith Roads.
He made no secret of the presentifrequently showing them, on account of their curiourr workmanship,
not ody to his friends, but to the officers of the cutter ; and no doubt from information commnnicated
to the Sheriff, a warrant was granted to enforce their delivery. Repeated applications, in
which Muir’a father concurred, were afterwards made for the restoration of the pistols, but without
effect.
