but as they took air, and became known to the
people, they greatly increased the popular compassion for Wilson, and excited a
proportionate degree of indignation against Porteous; against whom, as strict,
and even violent in the discharge of his unpopular office, the common people had
some real, and many imaginary causes of complaint.
    When the painful procession was completed, and Wilson, with the escort, had
arrived at the scaffold in the Grassmarket, there appeared no signs of that
attempt to rescue him which had occasioned such precautions. The multitude, in
general, looked on with deeper interest than at ordinary executions; and there
might be seen, on the countenances of many, a stern and indignant expression,
like that with which the ancient Cameronians might be supposed to witness the
execution of their brethren, who glorified the Covenant on the same occasion,
and at the same spot. But there was no attempt at violence. Wilson himself
seemed disposed to hasten over the space that divided time from eternity. The
devotions proper and usual on such occasions were no sooner finished than he
submitted to his fate, and the sentence of the law was fulfilled.
    He had been suspended on the gibbet so long as to be totally deprived of
life, when at once, as if occasioned by some newly received impulse, there arose
a tumult among the multitude. Many stones were thrown at Porteous and his
guards; some mischief was done; and the moo continued to press forward with
whoops, shrieks, howls, and exclamations. A young fellow, with a sailor's cap
slouched over his face, sprung on the scaffold, and cut the rope by which the
criminal was suspended. Others approached to carry off the body, either to
secure for it a decent grave, or to try, perhaps, some means of resuscitation.
Captain Porteous was wrought, by this appearance of insurrection against his
authority, into a rage so headlong as made him forget, that, the sentence having
been fully executed, it was his duty not to engage in hostilities with the
misguided multitude, but to draw off his men as fast as possible. He sprung from
the scaffold, snatched a musket from one of his soldiers, commanded the party to
give fire, and, as several eye-witnesses concurred in swearing, set them the
example, by discharging his piece, and shooting a man dead on the spot. Several
soldiers obeyed his command or followed his example; six or seven persons were
slain, and a great many were hurt and wounded.
    After this act of violence, the Captain proceeded to withdraw his men
towards their