yule or Christians; and wauly waughts o' brandy and claret! But it's na to be concealed that thae hard-featured Scotchman, pitted against ye, being glad simply and allenarly to be kept frae starvin' by their scrimpit bickerfu' o' sowens, or kail-brose, and a half o' a farle o' mashlum bannocks, think it nae hardship to be called to war against the flesh, and deny themselves the yerthly bless o' plum-puddin' and christmas pies whilk they canna get. And when they're makin' nae sacrifice, ye see, wull ought in the yerth, or hell either, mak them yield their souls, and bodies to Southren politics, and religion? No! while Benlomond rears his grey head i' the cluds! No, never!" As Master James, and the Bailey ran on thus, as if reckless of consequences,-Sharp fixed his frowning eyes first on the one, and then on the other, with restless anxiety, while he shot a side glance on young Drummond, from his half averted face, as if to dive into his feelings; then he nodded to Honeyman, and whispered occasionally, while his eyes glared with livid fire! Young Drummond now interposed: he placed his chair forward, within the circle; and drew the conversation to another topic. He entered into discourse with Burleigh touching Glasgow, and its flourishing University: then called the attention of the Primate, and the bishop, to the comparative merits of the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. In the common-place observations which occurred on that topic, the Archbishop seized on a trivial incident; and resolved to extract out of it, the evidence of what he called the Glasgow conspiracy. Bailey Wardlaw in his eulogium on the Glasgow university, had boasted, in his merriment, of the students there "screeding ye aff Latin Verses as glegly as yer Embro' lads their dull English poetry," and he pointed to Burleigh as a master at that exercise in the classics. The prelate conceived that if he could procure from him some specimens of poetry, they would no doubt be found to contain the quintessence of Whiggish treason; and the blow which he levelled at that University, would be countenanced by the heads of the nation. "And, nae doot," said he, drily, and as if no design lurked under the question, "the braw young knight Burleigh Stewart has aboot him some specimens of his poetry ?" Burleigh was replying to this badinage, when they were summoned into the saloon. The members of the Council, the judiciary, and chief officers of State were assembled ; and our party hastened to pay their respects to Perth, and to them. The company sat down to dinner at one o'clock. The most distinguished guests were Rothes and Lauderdale; Primate Sharpe, and bishops Honeyman, Galloway, and Glasgow; the lord Advocate Sir George McKenzie, who was placed opposite to Rothes and Lauderdale; and lord Chief Justice Corrington, together with my lords Collington, Struthurd, Castlehill, Forret and Newton; then there followed a host of titled and untitled characters. There was his grace the duke of Hirplehully; lord Justice Clerk Pawkyeen; and the Advocates Raxsoul; Suppletongue; Ben Reckless; Sir Judas McCalibre; and Harry Creeshmaloof; then there followed a squad of Writers to the Signet, headed by Sweering Jeemie, and Tom Beefmountain; and Mr. Sheriff Suppleheels, drove up the rear. And, lastly, there followed a long train of another untitled nameless race of beings, novi homines, poets, beefeaters, parasites, and a few small proprietors. These took their places far beneath the salt; and looked up with awful reverence to the gods and goddesses; and lent the ready chorus of a merry laugh, to every feckless mint at wit, coming from them who were in high places! The dinner did not partake of the profusion, and rich variety of an English dinner. But there was the gausy sirloin, the choisest venison; the royal haggis, served up in glorious style; and the rich white meat of the bubblyduck; and the rarest fish drawn from the Forth; and pasties which would not have disgraced the table of royalty itself. And the wines, of an ancient vintage, were the choicest from the vault of Gaffer Hernless. After the last dish of the feast, and the dessert had been dispatched, and when the guests took their wine and fruits; while they were engaged in an easy, pick-tooth, small talk conversation, the Primate introduced the subject of the Bailey's eulogium; and begged the attention of Lauderdale and the lord Advocate, to it. "It wad be ill befittin' the present company, gude yer grace," whispered the Bailey to him; and he urged him to dismiss the matter, "as a bagatelle introduced, before, in mere daffin." He pressed this the more, inasmuch as he was fully aware that Sharp had only one aim in all his actions. He cared nothing about the comparative merits of the Universities: the themes of students occupied no thought or time of his. He was in search of Whiggery, which, with him, was synomymous with treason, against his divine rights. The fact is, he had long had his eye on both Universities, and suspected them: and was only seeking for a habile plea, for shutting them up. And he had suddenly conceived the idea, that, if he could succeed in getting the leading men of the Council to hear, from the lips of one of the most conspicuous students, some of their treasonable terms brought forward, as if per accidens, he could speedily bring them all over to the resolution of dispersing these dangerous young spirits. 66 "Timeo Donaos, et dona ferentes," said the Bailey to Burleigh in a whisper. What say you to the Primate's proposal? wull ye play off yer Latin poetry at the risk o' yer neck? The inquisitor suspects us: but little kens he wha we are. If you yield to his request, I shall applaud yer courage mair than yer prudence. 66 There's nae hoor better than the present, for ane amusement o' this kind, cried Perth, who had been listening some time to the whispers of Sharpe, and had come over to his secret plans. 66 Maist true, my Lord," responded Lauderdale, in his easy jaunty way, as he filled up his flagon, from the lordly stoup, We're here a' at leisure, for any kind o' trifle. By the lard! we canna aye be saddled wi' the drudgery o' purifyin' the land, and sendin' Whigs to glory! And harkee, young man," added he, as he gave a side glance and a nod over his left shoulder to Burleigh, "tak ane advice frae ane auld courtier. Hae nae wull o' yer ain, when afore the Powers. Ne'er read petitions, nor verses, lard help ye, to ane hungry man; or when his cup's toom. Ye wull gratify us by proceeding, young man." 66 Ready, ay ready" whispered Burleigh who could with no kind of grace disobey; and who, young as he was, felt as if he could beard the lion in his den. "Ready for a' extremities," he added modestly, but with some what of an ambiguity, "I yield me in obedience, at the expense o' my feelings." 66 Faith! that's soond doctrine," cried Rothes. I hope my lord Primate, ye jaloose the auld College, withoot reason." I obey yer grace," said Burleigh to Lauderdale, "right willingly for I hae ay fund that gude claret washed doon the warst o' poetry." 'Perfectly orthodox!" cried Lauderdale to Rothes, as he swallowed down his bumper of claret, and set down his massy silver flagon with a flourish. "Eh! cods fish; claret is the great reformer! It wull enlighten, and render orthodox, and loyalize yer verriest Whig, that e'er canted on a hill side. Wull Shakspeare was richt in ae particular, and wrang in ane ither. The man wha has nae sweet music in him,' let's see, what'st he saith, weel! its nae odds: he's right as to the sentiment. But then there's a wee misnomer: He should hae said, divine claret; the man wha has nae divine claret in him, nor taste for the same, is fit for any mischief; a plotting Whig; a sprig o' the treason o' Beelzebub! Eh, Rothes? But I am interrupting you, young man,-proceed." And he threw himself back in his chair, and fixed his blood-shot eyes, glancing like two candles, on our young hero. Sir George McKenzie placed his head on the palm of his two hands, and listened with a most quizzical look. The Primate looked on with a proud surly air, while he rested his brow on the palm of his right hand. The lords sipped their claret, and threw an occasional glance at our youth, without once turning their faces on him. Lauderdale waved his hand: Burleigh went on, pronouncing with a low, and distinct voice the following verses, as he glanced occasionally at the paper in his hand. 66 "AFRI LAMENTATIO IN SERVITUTEM ABREPTI.' 'Afri," whispered the Primate, "that means Whig," "or I ken nocht o' polictics:" and he nodded to Lauderdale who only raised up his huge shaggy eye brows; and filled up his flagon to the brim.-Burleigh proceeded. CHAPTER XX. Equoreis tulerat campis sua lumina Phoebe, Venti jam ponunt, sternunter jam æquoris undæ, Attamen Afri tempestas per pectora sævit, Atque animum nunc hûc celerem nunc dividit illuc, Dentibus infrendens, oculos per inane volutans The Lord Advocate, M'Kenzie, here fixed his eyes on "Si scelerum vindex-si DEUS ultor erit,- Bur The Pri- Here the tumult became greatly increased. mate groaned, and uttered a bitter execration. knit his brows, and ordered him to sit down. bowed very respectfully, and his eyes fell on Lauderdale as he moved them, in modesty around the circle, and added, It was nane o' my seeking, my Lord Duke! I had nae wull o' my ain afore the Powers." Lauderdale looked with a quizzical eye on the young man, and putting his flagon to his lips, he whispered, as he nodded to him. "Honi soit qui mal y pense.' In troth, laddie? ye're richt. But M'Kenzie mistook ye,his conscience is lowing wi' the fire o' Sathan's kingdom, and he is ay on the look oot for libels and accusations. And talk ye Arabic or Chinese to the auld hypocrite,-I mean Judas,-there-he'll swear ye're denouncing them, wha betray trust and sell their Kirk for gold! It's bonny classic poetry, laddie,-be yer meaning what it may.". * See Note D-Appendix. † Lauderdale was a distinguished classic scholar. |