to which the conduct of his horse gave rise, and his liberty as often threatened by peace-officers, who were disposed to apprehend him as a notorious highwayman who had formerly ridden the horse, he found himself obliged to part with the inauspicious animal for a mere trifle, and to purchase, at a dear rate, a horse less showy, and of inferior action, but of letter moral habits.
The Rev. Mr Sheriff of Kirkcaldy.-Innumerable characteristic anecdotes are told of this celebrated clergyman, who, for native humour and unrestrained freedom of speech, never perhaps had his equal in the Church of Scotland. It was one of his any eccentricities to speak of secular, and even familiar things, in the time of divine service, so as sometimes to overset the gravity of his congregation. In the year 1794, when a number of volunteer corps were raised throughout the country, for the defence of government, a Kirkcaldy weaver, who had got himself decked out in the flaming uniform of the Kirkcaldy brigade, came one Sunday into church, after the commencement of divine service, and kept longing about for some time in the passage, to show himself in his new attire, although repeatedly offered accommodation in the pews. Mr Sheriff was also prevented from immediately reprehending his vanity by his being engaged in prayer; but, when that was concluded, he looked over the pulpit and said to the new soldier, 'Sit down, lad; we ken ye've gotten new breeks, and we'll tak a leuk at them when the kirk skails."
