within their lodge, and make no
attempt for that night to repossess themselves of the gate. They then moved with
rapidity along the low street called the Cowgate, the mob of the city everywhere
rising at the sound of their drum, and joining them. When the multitude arrived
at the Cowgate Port, they secured it with as little opposition as the former,
made it fast, and left a small party to observe it. It was afterwards remarked,
as a striking instance of prudence and precaution, singularly combined with
audacity, that the parties left to guard those gates did not remain stationary
on their posts, but flitted to and fro, keeping so near the gates as to see that
no efforts were made to open them, yet not remaining so long as to have their
persons closely observed. The mob, at first only about one hundred strong, now
amounted to thousands, and were increasing every moment. They divided themselves
so as to ascend with more speed the various narrow lanes which lead up from the
Cowgate to the High Street; and still beating to arms as they went, and calling
on all true Scotsmen to join them, they now filled the principal street of the
city.
    The Netherbow Port might be called the Temple Bar of Edinburgh, as,
intersecting the High Street at its termination, it divided Edinburgh, properly
so called, from the suburb named the Canongate, as Temple Bar separates London
from Westminster. It was of the utmost importance to the rioters to possess
themselves of this pass, because there was quartered in the Canongate at that
time a regiment of infantry, commanded by Colonel Moyle, which might have
occupied the city by advancing through this gate, and would possess the power of
totally defeating their purpose. The leaders therefore hastened to the Netherbow
Port, which they secured in the same manner, and with as little trouble, as the
other gates, leaving a party to watch it, strong in proportion to the importance
of the post.
    The next object of these hardy insurgents was at once to disarm the City
Guard, and to procure arms for themselves; for scarce any weapons but staves and
bludgeons had been yet seen among them. The Guard-house was a long, low, ugly
building (removed in 1787), which to a fanciful imagination might have suggested
the idea of a long black snail crawling up the middle of the High Street, and
deforming its beautiful esplanade. This formidable insurrection had been so
unexpected, that there were no more than the ordinary sergeant's guard of the
city-corps upon duty; even these were without any supply of powder