The Provost
Page 16
"Ye may depend on't," said Mr Mucklewheel, "that it will be done veryproperly, and in a manner to do credit both to you and the council. I'llspeak to Bailie Shuttlethrift, the new provost, to propose the thinghimself, and that I'll second it."
"Hooly, hooly, friend," quo' I, with a laugh of jocularity, noill-pleased to see to what effect I had worked upon him; "that will neverdo; ye're but a greenhorn in public affairs. The provost maun kennothing about it, or let on that he doesna ken, which is the same thing,for folk would say that he was ettling at something of the kind forhimself, and was only eager for a precedent. It would, therefore, ne'erdo to speak to him. But Mr Birky, who is to be elected into the councilin my stead, would be a very proper person. For ye ken coming in as mysuccessor, it would very naturally fall to him to speak modestly ofhimself compared with me, and therefore I think he is the fittest personto make the proposal, and you, as the next youngest that has been takenin, might second the same."
Mr Mucklewheel agreed with me, that certainly the thing would come withthe best grace from my successor.
"But I doubt," was my answer, "if he kens aught of the matter; ye mighthowever enquire. In short, Mr Mucklewheel, ye see it requires a cannyhand to manage public affairs, and a sound discretion to know who are thefittest to work in them. If the case were not my own, and if I wasspeaking for another that had done for the town what I have done, thetask would be easy. For I would just rise in my place, and say as athing of course, and admitted on all hands, 'Gentlemen, it would be avery wrong thing of us, to let Mr Mucklewheel, (that is, supposing youwere me,) who has so long been a fellow-labourer with us, to quit hisplace here without some mark of our own esteem for him as a man, and sometestimony from the council to his merits as a magistrate. Every bodyknows that he has been for near to fifty years a distinguished character,and has thrice filled the very highest post in the burgh; that many greatimprovements have been made in his time, wherein his influence and wisdomwas very evident; I would therefore propose, that a committee should beappointed to consider of the best means of expressing our sense of hisservices, in which I shall be very happy to assist, provided the provostwill consent to act as chairman.'
"That's the way I would open the business; and were I the seconder, asyou are to be to Mr Birky, I would say,
"'The worthy councillor has but anticipated what every one was desirousto propose, and although a committee is a very fit way of doing the thingrespectfully, there is yet a far better, and that is, for the council nowsitting to come at once to a resolution on the subject, then a committeemay be appointed to carry that resolution into effect.'
"Having said this, you might advert first to the vote of thanks, and thento the piece of plate, to remain with the gentleman's family as amonumental testimony of the opinion which was entertained by thecommunity of his services and character."
Having in this judicious manner primed Mr Mucklewheel as to theprocedure, I suddenly recollected that I had a letter to write to catchthe post, and having told him so, "Maybe," quo' I, "ye would step thelength of Mr Birky's and see how he is inclined, and by the time I amdone writing, ye can be back; for after all that we have been saying, andthe warm and friendly interest you have taken in this business, I reallywould not wish my friends to stir in it, unless it is to be done in asatisfactory manner."
Mr Mucklewheel accordingly went to Mr Birky, who had of course heardnothing of the subject, but they came back together, and he was veryvogie with the notion of making a speech before the council, for he wasan upsetting young man. In short, the matter was so set forward, that,on the Monday following, it was all over the town that I was to get apiece of plate at my resignation, and the whole affair proceeded so wellto an issue, that the same was brought to a head to a wish. Thus had Ithe great satisfaction of going to my repose as a private citizen with avery handsome silver cup, bearing an inscription in the Latin tongue, ofthe time I had been in the council, guildry, and magistracy; andalthough, in the outset of my public life, some of my dealings may havebeen leavened with the leaven of antiquity, yet, upon the whole, it willnot be found, I think, that, one thing weighed with another, I have beenan unprofitable servant to the community. Magistrates and rulers mustrule according to the maxims and affections of the world; at least,whenever I tried any other way, strange obstacles started up in theopinions of men against me, and my purest intents were often morecriticised than some which were less disinterested; so much is it thenatural humour of mankind to jealouse and doubt the integrity of allthose who are in authority and power, especially when they see themdeviating from the practices of their predecessors. Posterity,therefore, or I am far mistaken, will not be angered at my plain dealingwith regard to the small motives of private advantage of which I havemade mention, since it has been my endeavour to show and to acknowledge,that there is a reforming spirit abroad among men, and that really theworld is gradually growing better--slowly I allow; but still it isgrowing better, and the main profit of the improvement will be reaped bythose who are ordained to come after us.