Page:Letter from a gentleman in Glasgow to his friend in the country.pdf/5

 ing him his assistance, if there was any occasion for it. The provost said, that he was most willing to accept of the assistance of the captain and his soldiers, but asked the serjeant how he proposed to gather his soldiers together? The serjeant answered by beating the drum. The provost reply'd that by this the rioters who were now most numerous and outragious, would be alarmed; that they would assault the drums, beat down and disarm the soldiers, one by one as they came severally out of their quarters, so that they should not be able to repair to any place of rendezvous; also the men being in bed, and the rioters in full possession of the house, going through every corner of it with lighted candles, the mischief would probably be over before the soldiers could be gathered: To all this the serjeant answered that things might so fall out for that was the case, the men were all in bed.

The rioters being thus absolute masters of the house, spared nothing but the walls, floors, and roof, which they could neither so easily, nor so suddenly pull down; of the houshold goods, some part they destroyed, and other part they carried off; yet a good part of the most valuable furniture was saved for Mr. Campbell's use, being carried off by honest people who went in to save what they could.

While all this was a doing, Mr. Campbell and his family were at his country house of Woodhall, eight miles distant from the town, he himself had gone thither on Tuesday the 22d of June, being the day before the malt tax commenced, and next day he was followed by his lady and children and some servants; so that there were only a few servants in the house when this riot happened. Whether Mr. Campbell removed himself and family at that time, from an apprehension of this misfortune, or not, I cannot tell, but it is certain that one John Woddrow, did inform Hector Thomson, Mr. Campbell's servant, while Mr. Campbell was yet in town, that there was a flying report that his master's house was to be pulled down; and Thomson having acquainted his master thereof, returned to Woddrow, telling him, that his master thanked him for his information. The foresaid John Woddrow declared this upon oath before his majes- Rh