⟨troubled⟩ with rheumatise, I went down, and, opening the door, let in the lieutenant,
"I come," said he, "to show you my warrant and commission, and to acquaint you that having information of several able-bodied seamen being in the town, I mean to make a search for them."
I really did not well know what to say at the moment; but I begged him, for the love of peace and quietness, to defer his work till the next morning; but he said he must obey his orders, and he was sorry that it was his duty to be on so disagreeable a service, with many other things, that showed something like a sense of compassion, that could not have been hoped for in the captain of a press-gang.
When he had said this, he then went away, saying, for he saw my tribulation, that it would be as well for me to be prepared in case of any riot. This was the worst news of all; but what could I do? I thereupon went again to Mrs Pawkie, and shaking her awake, told her what was going on, and a terrified woman she was. I then dressed myself with all possible expedition, and went to the town clerk's, and we sent for the town officers, and then adjourned to the council chamber, to wait the issue of what might betide.
In my absence, Mrs Pawkie rose out of her bed, and by some wonderful instinct, collecting all the bairns, went with them to the minister's house, as to a place of refuge and sanctuary.
Shortly after we had been in the council room, I opened the window, and looked out, but all was still; the town was lying in the defencelessness of
