each copy.

The Scotsman, we may remark, potent as it now is, did not start into existence till some twenty years afterwards.

The Jury returned their verdict in writing, (as was the custom in those days,) "unanimously finding the panel GUILTY of the crimes as libelled." And this verdict being speedily recorded in the Books of Sederunt, the Lord Justice-Clerk addressed the Jury, telling them that the Trial "was one of the greatest importance, and that he was happy to inform them that the Court highly approved of the verdict they had given." The Justice-Clerk then requested their Lordships to state what Punishment should be inflicted. One of them suggested that the prisoner should be "publicly whipped." But they all cordially concurred in this, that he ought not to receive less than sentence of "Fourteen years' Transportation beyond seas." And pray, listen to what occurred. The Lord Justice-Clerk before pronouncing sentence, emphatically declared from his place on the Bench, "that the indecent applause which was given to the prisoner last night, convinced him (the Lord Justice-Clerk,) that a spirit of discontent still lurked in the minds of the people, and that it would be dangerous to allow the prisoner to remain any longer in this country." His Lordship only doubted whether the sentence should be for life, or the term of 14 years.

THOMAS MUIR-the amiable MUIR, standing at the bar, obliged to hear and listen to all this, but still "Unawed by Power, and Unappalled by Fear"

addressed their Lordships in the following rare, but memorable words, which should sink deep into the heart of every Reformer of the present age:

"My Lords, I have only a few words to say. I shall not animadvert upon the severity or the leniency of my

sentence. But, my Lords, were I to be led this moment from the bar to the Scaffold, I should feel the same calmness and serenity which I now do. My mind tells me that I have acted agreeably to my conscience, and that I have engaged in a good, a just, and a glorious cause-a cause which sooner or later must, and will prevail; and by a timely Reform, save this country from destruction." These last prophetic words may be now left to speak for themselves, without note or comment in this place. But before going into some of the thrilling events which followed, mark here the atrocious terms of the SENTENCE itself, as follows:

66

The Lord Justice-Clerk, and Lords Commissioners of Justiciary, in respect of the foregoing verdict, Ordain and Adjudge, that the said Thomas Muir be Transported beyond Seas, to such place as His Majesty with the advice of his Privy Council shall appoint, and that for the space of FOURTEEN YEARS from this date, with certification to him, if after being so transported, he shall return to, and be found at large within any part of Great Britain, during the said fourteen years, without some lawful cause, and be thereby legally convicted, he shall suffer DEATH, as in cases of Felony, and ordain the said Thomas Muir to be carried back to the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, therein to be detained, till he is delivered over for being so Transported, for which this shall be to all concerned, a sufficient warrant.

(Signed) ROBERT M'QUEEN."

Some of the best families in Edinburgh were grieved and petrified by that sentence. We heard it many years afterwards, earnestly discussed in the chambers of Mr. Archibald Constable, one of the first publishers of the

Edinburgh Review; as also in some of the queer old shops then forming some of the archives of the Parliament Square, but they are now all demolished; such for instance, as those of Kay, the celebrated caricature painter, and James Mackenzie, the old Jacobite goldsmith and jeweller, whose back shop, as we well remember, was engrafted under the very walls of St. Giles; and to it many of the young Whig scribes, or advocates of the day used to resort, to recite their studied orations, and to hear his most amusing cracks. He could predict almost the certain result of any case whatever, in the Court of Session, if the young scribes connected with it gave him the papers to read, which they took delight in doing, because they regarded and characterised him as the Lord Chancellor of the Parliament Square: and we have heard many eminent advocates, including John Cunningham, afterwards Solicitor-General of Scotland, and one of the Lords of Session, testify and declare, that they were greatly indebted to that old jeweller, for many good advices he gave them in their early lives. Two of the youths whom he much loved and respected, still survive, viz., Henry (Lord) Brougham, and Adam Black, one of the veterans, we may remark, of the present but expiring House of Commons. Mr. Black, we hope, will again be returned, along with the Hon. James Moncrieff, Lord Advocate, as representing truly the capital of Scotland; and here in another small parenthesis, we may be excused for throwing in the remark, that we have heard with our own ears, that old kinsman, Mackenzie the jeweller, tell, from his personal recollections, transmitted to him by his sires, many amusing stories about JINGLING GEORDIE, viz., George Heriot, the famous jeweller of much older times in that city, who adorned it by the magnifi

cent Hospital bearing his name to this day, and still so creditable and beneficial to the sons of Edina, "Scotia's darling pride;" and further, we have heard that old gentleman describe how he espied PAUL JONES, the famous pirate of old, first entering the Frith of Forth, and the Bailies of Leith loading their SWIVELS, preparing to give him a warm reception, if he hove to, with his daring frigate near unto them, as they expected; and somewhat more remarkable still, we have heard our old grandmother in Edinburgh—who lived in that city for the long, the almost unprecedented period of one hundred and five years-for that was her undoubted age, and it was so recorded in the Scotsman and other newspapers, at the time of her death-we have heard her describe like a merry maiden, and in the most glowing language imaginable, how she saluted, nay, positively kissed the real colours of PRINCE CHARLIE, in the year '45; and she has taken us to the very spot in the Lawnmarket of Edinburgh, where in the same year she was struck and wounded on the left shoulder by a spent or rebounding cannon-ball from the Castle, while flying across the street with her younger son, the brother of the aforesaid jewel

ler, in her arms.

But all this is foreign to the case of Thomas Muir, and perhaps we ought to crave the pardon of our readers for mentioning it.

We need scarcely proceed to remark that the venerable parents of Muir in Glasgow, were shocked and deeply grieved at the above most cruel sentence against their darling and affectionate only son. They were scarcely allowed an opportunity to see him in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh. Their pockets were sternly searched and rifled, ere they were permitted to enter his cell. With

tottering steps, and almost with bursting hearts, they afterwards followed him down to the Transport, lying in Leith Roads, whither he was to be taken away from his native shores. No pen or pencil of ours can describe that meeting or that parting. We have only to narrate this simple, but touching and undoubted fact, that they were then and there enabled to slip into his hands, a small pocket Bible, with this inscription upon it:-

To

THOMAS MUIR,

From his Afflicted Parents.

Glasgow, Nov. 1793.

Some may scoff at the Bible or not, as they please. It is our privilege, as it is our agreeable duty, to state in this place, that this very Bible, so given to him under such circumstances, was afterwards the means of saving his life, as we shall show, in the most astonishing

manner.

But mark the treatment he now received. It is revolting, and almost incredible; but we give it on the authority of the Scots Magazine of the year 1793, vol. 55, page 617:

EDINBURGH, Nov. 15, 1793.-About 11 o'clock forenoon, Mr. Thomas Muir, younger of Huntershill, was taken from Edinburgh Tolbooth, and conveyed to Newhaven in a coach, where he was sent on board the "Royal George," Excise Packet, Capt. Ogilvie, lying in Leith Roads, for London. There were along with him, John Grieve, convicted of forgery, at Inverness; John Stirling, for robbing Nellfield House; Bearhope, for stealing watches; and James M'Kay, lately condemned to death, for street robbery. Mr. Palmer was also sent to London in the same vessel; and on their arrival, they will be put on board the Hulks, at Woolwich.

LONDON, Dec. 1st, 1793.-Mr. Thomas Muir, and the Rev. T. F. Palmer, arrived in the River from Leith, on board a Revenue Cutter.