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.