BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 405
persisting in her entreaties, laid hold of his coat-tail, and, in the friendly
encounter, left him, a-la Bailie Nicol Jarvie, denuded of a portion of his garment.'
Disappointed in procuring authority from a Justice of the Peace (Mr.
Rutherford of Ashintully, then resident in Kinghorn), the Colonel and his party
attempted to force their way, without the sanction of a warrant, into the apartment
occupied by the electors. And now came the " tug of war " in true
Donnybrook style. Attacking the house in two divisions, one in front and the
other in the rear, part of the assailants gained the head of the inside-stairformed
in the old-fashioned manner represented in the Print ; but, being there
gallantly met by the defenders, victory for a long $ b e remained doubtful :-
I' They fought so well 'twas hard to day
Which side was like to get the day."
Among the combatants, the most conspicuous figures are those of Colonel
agent for Col. Campbell, why were you so often in the camp of the enemy ? A man in the army, if
he were found in the enemy's camp, would be shot the next day. Had you acted justly and
honestly, and had occasion to be with the enemy of Col. Campbell upon business, you ought to have
taken one along with you to prevent suspicion, and to show that you were not doing anything there
to hurt COL Campbell's interest.
" Further, when'col. Masterton came to town to entertain his friends, why were you anxious
to due with him, after it had been resolved among the friends of Col. Campbell that none of them
should dine with Col. Masterton ?-and why did yon write that day to Col. Campbell that he needed
not come to town until the evening ? By all which his friends thought the canse in great danger of
being hurt, had not his coming happily prevented you. [While Mr. T. waa delivering this part of
his sermon, R. 8. arose sezrwal times and told Mr. T. that what he wcw saying was gross lies and
false calumniq very unbecoming to be spoke from the chair of verity.] If yon acted as a faithful
agent to Col. Campbell, why did you insist on having everything carried to your mind, and endeavour
to get some of COL Campbell's friends turned out, and those who were his opposites (I will not say
his enemies) kept in, and by insisting to bring in those who were either doubtful'or in the opposite
interest ? No
doubt but it may be frequently his duty to remonstrate, and lay matters properly before his
employer j but he ought to leave it entirely to his constituent's prudence to choose what he thinks
best.- * * And if the friends of Col. Campbell had not got convincing proofs of your
designs to betray their cause, they would not have shut you out from their deliberations when
matters came to a crisis, and it was become necessary to have plans formed for conducting the
common cause.
But I think it has
aa much to do with the &pit as your paper had with the Calehtim Mercury; and those that Sin
before all ought to be rebuked before all, that others may hear and fear, and do no more so wickedly.
Wherefore, refrain from lying, etc."
"Immediately after this extraordinary sermon was concluded, and before prayer was begnn, Mr.
R S. rose up, and, with an audible voice, told the minister that it would be but fair he should
inform the congregation what BRIBE he had got from CoL'Campbell, in order to induce him to utter
and propagate such false and injurioua calumnies from the pulpit." [The Meesrs. Scotland brought
an action of damagea for defamation against Mr. Thomson, in which they succeeded both here and
in the House of Peers. Aa Robert Scotland had, however, not conducted himself 80 correctly aa he
ought to have done, the damagea awarded to him were restricted to five poundci sterling, whereas
John and David were jointly found entitled to twenty-five pounds. Of come the Rev. gentleman
had to pay costs of suit.]
This waa Lucky Skinner's own account of the matter. It waa asserted that she cut away the
coat-tail ; but this she stoutly denied ; and it must be admitted that such an act of violence would
not have been at all in keepiug with her U E Up~r udent and conciliatory policy.
It is not the duty of an agent to insist on having everything carried his own way.
'I Perhaps you will say, What business has all this to do with the PULPIT?