, Saddletree, who, as an amateur
of the law, had a supreme deference for all constituted authorities, again
recurred to his other topic of interest, the murder, namely, of Porteous, and
pronounced a severe censure on the parties concerned.
    »These are kittle times - kittle times, Mr. Deans, when the people take the
power of life and death out of the hands of the rightful magistrate into their
ain rough grip. I am of opinion, and so I believe will Mr. Crossmyloof and the
Privy Council, that this rising in effeir of war, to take away the life of a
reprieved man, will prove little better than perduellion.«
    »If I hadna that on my mind whilk is ill to bear, Mr. Saddletree,« said
Deans, »I wad make bold to dispute that point wi' you.«
    »How could you dispute what's plain law, man?« said Saddletree, somewhat
contemptuously; »there's no a callant that e'er carried a pock wi' a process
in't, but will tell you that perduellion is the warst and maist virulent kind of
treason, being an open convocating of the king's lieges against his authority
(mair especially in arms, and by touk of drum, to baith whilk accessories my een
and lugs bore witness), and muckle warse than lese-majesty, or the concealment
of a treasonable purpose - It winna bear a dispute, neighbour.«
    »But it will, though,« retorted Douce Davie Deans; »I tell ye it will bear a
dispute - I never like your cauld, legal, formal doctrines, neighbour
Saddletree. I haud unco little by the Parliament House, since the awfu' downfall
of the hopes of honest folk that followed the Revolution.«
    »But what wad ye hae had, Mr. Deans?« said Saddletree, impatiently; »didna
ye get baith liberty and conscience made fast, and settled by tailzie on you and
your heirs for ever?«
    »Mr. Saddletree,« retorted Deans, »I ken ye are one of those that are wise
after the manner of this world, and that ye haud your part, and cast in your
portion, wi' the lang heads and lang gowns, and keep with the smart witty-pated
lawyers of this our land - Weary on the dark and dolefu' cast that they hae gien
this unhappy kingdom, when their black hands of defection were clasped in the
red hands of our sworn murtherers: when those who had numbered the towers of our
Zion, and marked the