402 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
change in the council was the sumptuous entertainment invariably given’ in
honour of the occasion. Not only were the principal gentry of the neighbourhood
in attendance, but many beyond the ferry, and not a few from “Ayld
Reekie ” found their way to the feast. Among other distinguished guests, it
may be mentioned that Henry Dundas (afterwards Lord Melville), the late John
Earl of Hopetoun, the late Mr. Fergusson of Craigdarroch,’ Charles Hay, advocate
(Lord Newton), Sir James Campbell of Ardkinglass, Bart., etc., were often
present at the civic banquets of Kinghorn.
The noble families of Hopetoun and Balcarras held the chief sway in the
burgh towards the close of the American war ; but the late William Fergusson,
Esq. of Raith, having then started as a candidate in the liberal interest, it became
somewhat difficult for his opponents, even with the aid of all “ the wits
and wags of Edinburgh,” to maintain the ascendancy. Besides being an extensive
heritor in the parish of Kinghorn, the courteous deportment of Mr. Fergusson
and of his sons: in their intercourse with the inhabitants, created a very
general feeling of attachment for his family.“
At that period, except Edinburgh, no town in Scotland had singly the privilege
of returning a member to Parliament ; consequently each of the burghs
forming a district had an equal voice in the choice of a representative. Thus,
in the case of Kinghorn, four town-councils had to be “wooed and won,”
though nominally the elective power was vested in commissioners, chosen-one
for each burgh-by the respective corporations ; the returning burgh for the
time having the casting vote. Hence the strength of the parties came to be
primarily developed in the election of delegates.
The two principal local agents employed to counteract the growing influence
of the Whig interest, were the town-clerk-Mr. John Hutton, originally from
Dunfermline ; and the hostess of the principal inn-dohanna Baxter, wife of
Mr. William Skinner, but better known as “Jockey Baxter,” or “ Luckie
Skinner.” In smoothing down the Whiggery of the councillors, and in keeping
the party together, out of the reach of counter influence, for days and weeks
prior to an election, the exquisite tact displayed by the worthy pair could hardly
be surpassed. Once assembled in the inn, what head could hold out against
the insinuating address of the hostess, or the potency of her good cheer !-and
no doubt, as the patriotic electors quaffed bowl after bowl, the old ballad would
recur to their memory-
‘‘ ’Tis good to be merry and wise ;
’Tis good to be honest and t w ;
’Tis good to be off with the old love,
Before we are on with the MW.”
Father of the Right Hon. Fbbert Cutlar Fergusson, Her Majesty’s Judge-Advocate-General.
One of whom was the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Fife ; and the other, General Sir
a It was not, however, till 1815 or 1816, that the Raith family acquired the chief influence in
Ronald C, Fergusson, M.P. for Nottingham.
the burgh.