BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 407
members of Council, including Mr. Hutton, were accordingly hurried away to
Inverkeithing, and there committed to durance in the common jail.’
The rest of the councillors having assembled at the hour of meeting, it was
proposed by Mr. John Wilson, that before proceeding to business Mr. James
Gibson, W.S. (afterwards Sir James Gibson-Craig, Bart. of Riccarton), should
be “brought in to assist the Council with his advice at this election, in order
that it may be conducted in a regular manner, and all the necessary forms be
observed.” This motion was seconded by Bailie James Hunt, and carried by a
majority of nine to six.
Mr. Andrew Adie then moved “ that no election of a delegate for the burgh
can take place, on account of Provost Moodie and other five of the Council
having been carried off by an illegal and improper warrant; and therefore
insisted that Mr. James Horne, W.S., be brought into Council to take a protest
on that head ; and that no procedure w-hatever can take place until these councillors
are returned to Council.” This was seconded by Mr. James Cowper, but
negatived by nine votes to six.
Mr. Adie and five other members’ now left the Council-Room, and the
remaining nine unanimously elected Mr. Wemyss of Cuttlehill as their commissioner,
to vote at the ensuing election.
A desperate effort,
however, was made by his opponents to regain the fortunes of the day.
Proceeding on foot (for want of a conveyance) to Cramond Bridge, Mr.
Williamson, advocate (afterwards Lord Balgray), drove from thence to Edinburgh,
where he obtained an order, on lodging the requisite security, for the
release of the imprisoned electors ; and, on the return of the party from Inverkeithing,
late at night, the Provost immediately summoned a second meeting
of the Council, which of course was attended only by those in the interest of
Colonel Johnstone. The following are the minutes ; and we quote them nearly
verbatim, as highly curious, as well as illustrative of the events we have been
recording :-
Thus Sir John Henderson’s party were triumphant.
“The Magistrates and Council of the burgh of Dunfermline having assembled betwixt the
hours of ten and eleven o’clock at night, of the 16th June 1796, in respect they were prevented
from proceeding to the election of their delegate at the hour fixed by their minute of sederunt of
30th May last, being twelve o’clock of this forenoon.
“ Mr. John Black, clerk of the burgh, having declined, though required, to officiate &s clerk
to this meeting, the Council did thereby unanimously appoint Mr. John Black, junior, Writer
in Dmnfermline, to be their clerk.
‘‘ The Council consider it necessary to state on their record why this meeting comes to be
held at so late an hour, viz.-
“ The whole twelve members now present observing yery strong symptoms of tumult and
disorder to have been excited in this burgh for some days put, and that some of themselves
Sir John Hendemon’s party prevailed on Dr. Davidson (Professor of Civil and Natural History
in Marischal College, Aberdeen), then residing in Dunfermline, to go to Kinghorn and examine
M ‘Millan’s hurt ; and it was in consequence of his certiieate, stating the man’s life to be in danger,
that a warrant was obtained from the Crown Agent. An action was afterwards raised by the parties
imprisoned, before the Court of Session, against Sir John Henderson, in which they were successful.
The Pmvost obtained 6200, and the other councillors X100 each, of damages.
9 Measrs. James CowperlJaniea Lowson, David Beveridge, John Smith, and George Swan.