“He set a bugle to his mouth,
      And blew so loud and shrill,
    The trees in greenwood shook thereat,
      Sae loud rang ilka hill"?[204]

This sounds conceited enough, yet is not far from truth.

The meeting was very numerous, 500 or 600 at least, and unanimous, save in one Mr. Howden, who having been all his life, as I am told, in bitter opposition to Ministers, proposed on the present occasion that the whole contested measure should be trusted to their wisdom.  I suppose he chose the opportunity of placing his own opinion in opposition, single opposition too, to that of a large assembly.  The speaking was very moderate.  Report had said that Jeffrey, J.A.  Murray, and other sages of the economical school, were to unbuckle their mails, and give us their opinions.  But no such great guns appeared.  If they had, having the multitude on my side, I would have tried to break a lance with them.  A few short but well-expressed resolutions were adopted unanimously.  These were proposed by Lord Rollo, and seconded by Sir James Fergusson, Bart.  I was named one of a committee to encourage all sorts of opposition to the measure.  So I have already broken through two good and wise resolutions—­one, that I would not write on political controversy; another, that I would not be named on public committees.  If my good resolves go this way, like snaw aff a dyke—­the Lord help me!

March 4.—­Last night I had a letter from Lockhart, who, speaking of Malachi, says, “The Ministers are sore beyond imagination at present; and some of them, I hear, have felt this new whip on the raw to some purpose.”  I conclude he means Canning is offended.  I can’t help it, as I said before—­fiat justitia, ruat coelum.  No cause in which I had the slightest personal interest should have made me use my pen ’gainst them, blunt or pointed as it may be.  But as they are about to throw this country into distress and danger, by a measure of useless and uncalled-for experiment, they must hear the opinion of the Scotsmen, to whom it is of no other consequence than as a general measure affecting the country at large,—­and mine they shall hear.  I had determined to lay down the pen.  But now they shall have another of Malachi, beginning with buffoonery, and ending as seriously as I can write it.  It is like a frenzy that they will agitate the upper and middling classes of society, so very friendly to them, with unnecessary and hazardous [projects],

    “Oh, thus it was they loved them dear,
      And sought how to requite ’em,
    And having no friends left but they,
      They did resolve to fight them.”

The country is very high just now.  England may carry the measure if she will, doubtless.  But what will be the consequence of the distress ensuing, God only can foretell.