372 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Council agreeing to pay eleven hundred pounds of law expenses, all further
proceedings terminated.
Having obtained some reputation as a zealous friend to popular measures,
the Deacon of the Tailors was chosen one of the Committee for managing the
contest with the city; and, at next election (5th October ISIS), was triumphantly
returned a member of the Council. The Scotsman, then a young journal,
delighted with the spirit displayed by the trades, gave vent to its joy in the
following strain .-
“ We confess we have done wrong in omitting to express our approbation of the spirited and
prudent conduct of the Incorporation of Tailors, during the late struggle for the independence of
the trades. The members of this Incorporation were resolved not to be foiled by the minions of
the Council ; they calmly formed their plan, and resolutely carried it into execution, by sending
to the c,ouncil a list of six staunch friends to a moderate and practical reform. Our wise councillors
and liberal magistrates, as usual, struck off the names of those most hostile to self-election ;
but in this case they could not succeed, for all the six were right truly and well-beloved by the
Corporation, and they could not prevent the return of an independent Tepresentative in the person
of DEACONR oss.”
The popularity of the Deacon was short-lived At the first meeting of
Council following the election, Deacon Paterson:-a zealous practical reformerbrought
forward a motion, the nature of which he fully explained in his remarks:
-(‘ It appeared to him that the leading duty of the Council, either as individuals
or as a body, was to manage well the city funds ; bnt he was, at the same time,
at a loss to understand how any man, or set of men, could manage properly a
fund of which they were ignorant-ignorant of its nature-ignorant of its
extent-and ignorant of a thousand circumstances with which it might be
connected or involved. He therefore begged leave to move-that the proper
person or persons be directed to lay before the Council a state of the debt
due by the city, stating to whom such debts are due ; the periods at which they
were contracted, and whether they are for moneys lent, or for services done to
the city.” This motion, seconded by Deacon Gillespie,’ was opposed by the
Lord Provost (Kincaid Mackenzie, Esq.), who asserted that the funds of the
city were in a flourishing condition ; and that there was no necessity for the
state demanded, as the books were daily open for inspection in the Chamberlain’s
Office.4 On this understanding Deacon Paterson consented for the time
to withdraw his motion.
On Wednesday the 4th of Xovember, however, he again pressed the subject
on the attention of the Council. He said that, in going to the Chamberlain’s
office, he well knew he had been sent a “wild goose chase,” the voluminous
According to the old system of electing trades’ councillops, each Incorporation sent a list containing
the names of six individuals. The Magistrates and Councillon had the privilege of what waa
called “ shortening the leet,” by cutting off three of the most objectionable candidatea ; and from the
remainder the Corporation chose their representative.
Mr. Jams Paterson, katahmaker, High Street.
Mr. Alexander Gillespie, Deacon of the Incorporation of Surgeons.
It is due to Provost Mackenzie to state, that he waa the h t who proposed to publish, for the
He waa then Deacon of the Hammermen.
use of the public in general, a full statement of the city’s affairs.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 373
nature of the accounts rendering it impossible for any one, whose time was
limited, to obtain the satisfaction desired. He therefore resumed his former
motion, that a clear and succinct statement of the city’s affairs should be produced.
On this occasion he was seconded by Deacon Lawrie,’ but opposed as formerly
by the Lord Provost, on the ground of inexpediency, as “ he had pledged himself
elsewhere [at a meeting of the Merchant Company], that, if he was in office
at the usual season of making out the city’s accounts, he would give a full and
explicit statement; and [in conclusion] offered every facility to any person
wishing information on the subject.”
This, however, would not satisfy the uncompromisihg Deacon of the Hammermen,
who, though certain of defeat, resolved to press his motion to a division ;
but what was his astonishment to find an opponent in the “represen€ativeof the
tailors f ”
“Deacon ROSS,” says the report of the Council proceedings given in the
Scotman, after what the Provost had promised to do, and after what he had
said in another place [Merchant Company Meeting], thought the motion unnecessay;
and seeing no necessity for it at present, would vote against it.
L‘ The vote was then put : twenty-three voted against the motion, and three
for it ; the mpposed independent Deacon of the Tailors voting with the majority f ’I
At that period reporters ’were not admitted to the Council sittings ; but the
Scotsman generally found means to give publicity to the proceedings. The
Deacon, conceiving himself to have been misrepresented, sent the following letter
to the Editor, which appeared in next publication :-
“ TO THE EDITOR OF TEE SCOTSMAN.
Sq-In the report given in your paper of Saturday last, of the proceedings of the Town
Council of Edinburgh on the Wednesday preceding on the motion of Deacon Paterson, you
have not been correctly informed of what I said upon that occasion ; and as it is unpleasant to
be misrepresented, I have annexed a copy of what I thought it my duty to state in Council
upon that occasion, which, along with this letter,,I request you may insert in Saturday’s SwWn.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
Edis. 12th Nov. 1818.”
(‘ W. M, Ross.
“ MY LORD,-It certainly would be very satisfactory to have before us a state of the city’s
affairs, and to know how they stand ; but from what your lordship has just now said, and from
the pledge which you gave in another meeting, namely, the Merchant Company, I have no
objection to wait for this state till the usual time. Were it really the caae that the city’s affairs
were in a bad state, and the demands upon it not regularly paid, I should think the sooner the
motion was gone into the better ; but I suppose this is not the case, as I understand every claim
hitherto made against the city has been immediately settled I shall therefore at present vote
against the motion.”
This vote of Deacon Ross gave great offence to the party to which he waa
supposed to be attached, and subjected him to the charge of deserting the
popular cause. Hence the caricature of ‘( The Laird of Denholme Breaking his
Beast.”
Mr. Alexander Lawrie. Deacon of the Bonnetmakers.