OF GLASGOW AND THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. CONTAINING THE TRIAL OF THOMAS MUIR-THE BUTE ELECTION-THE TRIAL OF WILSON, HARDIE AND BAIRD-THE OLD GUARDS OF GLASGOWROBERT CARRICK AND THE OLD SHIP BANK OF GLASGOW-THE LAST EXECUTION FOR FORGERY-EXTRAORDINARY BANK ROBBERY IN GLASGOW-TRIAL OF THE REV. NEIL DOUGLAS, OF GLASGOW, FOR SEDITION-THE TWA FUDDLED PRECENTORS FRAUD ON THE GLASGOW UNDERWRITERS-AFFECTING STORY OF COL. HAMILTON OF THE SCOTS GREYS, KILLED AT WATERLOO – THE CALDER FARMER AND HIS HECKLING WIFE-ROBBERY OF THE EDINBURGH EXCISE OFFICE-FIRST GAS ILLUMINATION IN GLASGOW-A STRANGE ELECTION ON THE TOP OF BENLOMOND-THE REFORM BILL OF 1830 -HENRY BELL AND FIRST STEAMER-BLOODY RIOT IN GLASGOWTHE HANGMAN'S WHIP-THE SPY SYSTEM-GLASGOW SENDING ITS FIRST TWO MEMBERS TO PARLIAMENT-BURKE AND HARE-THE FATAL DOOM OF THE GLASGOW BUTCHER, &c., &c. BY PETER MACKENZIE. VOL. I. GLASGOW: JAMES P. FORRESTER, 102 ARGYLE STREET. PREFACE. A PREFACE should be a formal and friendly introduction of the Author to his reader. Why, then, since I and my readers are already old friends, should my Publisher insist on a Preface, merely to appear at the beginning of the first volume of the "REMINISCENCES?" It may be that he is entitled to this formality; but he cannot go further and so, while this is called a "Preface," it shall in truth be an Epilogue. And first, let it be a hearty and warm acknowledgment of the favour with which these garrulous and discursive Reminiscences has been received. In this I have realised somewhat of that which should accompany old age, and how can I be less than happy with my "troops of friends?" My once fearless" Weekly"-my well-beloved "Old Loyal Reformers' Gazette"-was compelled like the brave Southern Confederacy, to yield to numbers. It was literally smothered by the "Penny Dailies," and in the sere and yellow leaf, I was cut off from my regular weekly communings with my friends. But now I fight some of my battles o'er again; and, while the past fleets like a diorama before my mind's eye, and I seize the salient points, and try to photograph them in print, the generous and ample |