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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
resolved to sell the old bell to a foundery in Glasgow； and buy a new bell
suitable to the steeple； which was a very comely fabric。 The buying of
the new bell led to other considerations； and the old Lady Breadland；
being at the time in a decaying condition； and making her will； she left a
mortification to the parish； as I have intimated； to get a clock； so that； by
the time the steeple was finished； and the bell put up； the Lady Breadland's
legacy came to be implemented； according to the ordination of the
testatrix。
Of the casualities that happened in this year； I should not forget to put
down； as a thing for remembrance； that an aged woman； one Nanse Birrel；
a distillator of herbs； and well skilled in the healing of sores； who had a
great repute among the quarriers and colliersshe having gone to the
physic well in the sandy hills to draw water； was found； with her feet
uppermost in the well； by some of the bairns of Mr Lorimore's school； and
there was a great debate whether Nanse had fallen in by accident head
foremost； or； in a temptation； thrown herself in that position； with her feet
sticking up to the evil one； for Nanse was a curious discontented blear…
eyed woman； and it was only with great ado that I could get the people
keepit from calling her a witchwife。
I should likewise place on record； that the first ass that had ever been
seen in this part of the country； came in the course of this year with a gang
of tinklers； that made horn…spoons and mended bellows。 Where they
came from never was well made out； but being a blackaviced crew； they
were generally thought to be Egyptians。 They tarried about a week
among us； living in tents； with their little ones squattling among the litter；
and one of the older men of them set and tempered to me two razors； that
were as good as nothing； but which he made better than when they were
new。
Shortly after； but I am not quite sure whether it was in the end of this
year； or the beginning of the next； although I have a notion that it was in
this； there came over from Ireland a troop of wild Irish； seeking for work
as they said； but they made free quarters； for they herrit the roosts of the
clachan； and cutted the throat of a sow of ours； the carcass of which they
no doubt intended to steal； but something came over them； and it was
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
found lying at the back side of the manse； to the great vexation of Mrs
Balwhidder； for she had set her mind on a clecking of pigs； and only
waited for the China boar； that had been brought down from London by
Lord Eaglesham； to mend the breed of porka profitable commodity； that
her father； Mr Kibbock； cultivated for the Glasgow market。 The
destruction of our sow； under such circumstances； was therefore held to be
a great crime and cruelty； and it had the effect to raise up such a spirit in
the clachan； that the Irish were obligated to decamp； and they set out for
Glasgow； where one of them was afterwards hanged for a fact； but the
truth concerning how he did it； I either never heard； or it has passed from
my mind； like many other things I should have carefully treasured。
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER VIII YEAR 1767
All things in our parish were now beginning to shoot up into a great
prosperity。 The spirit of farming began to get the upper hand of the spirit
of smuggling； and the coal…heughs that had been opened in the Douray；
now brought a pour of money among us。 In the manse； the thrift and
frugality of the second Mrs Balwhidder throve exceedingly； so that we
could save the whole stipend for the bank。
The king's highway； as I have related in the foregoing； ran through the
Vennel； which was a narrow and a crooked street； with many big stones
here and there； and every now and then； both in the spring and the fall； a
gathering of middens for the fields； insomuch that the coal…carts from the
Douray moor were often reested in the middle of the causey； and on more
than one occasion some of them laired altogether in the middens； and
others of them broke down。 Great complaint was made by the carters
anent these difficulties； and there was； for many a day； a talk and sound of
an alteration and amendment； but nothing was fulfilled in the matter till
the month of March in this year； when the Lord Eaglesham was coming
from London to see the new lands that he had bought in our parish。 His
lordship was a man of a genteel spirit； and very fond of his horses； which
were the most beautiful creatures of their kind that had been seen in all the
country side。 Coming； as I was noting； to see his new lands； he was
obliged to pass through the clachan one day； when all the middens were
gathered out； reeking and sappy； in the middle of the causey。 Just as his
lordship was driving in with his prancing steeds； like a Jehu； at one end of
the vennel； a long string of loaded coal…carts came in at the other； and
there was hardly room for my lord to pass them。 What was to be done？
His lordship could not turn back； and the coal…carts were in no less
perplexity。 Every body was out of doors to see and to help； when； in
trying to get his lordship's carriage over the top of a midden； the horses
gave a sudden loup； and couped the coach； and threw my lord； head
foremost； into the very scent…bottle of the whole commodity； which made
him go perfect mad； and he swore like a trooper that he would get an act
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
of parliament to put down the nuisancethe which now ripened in the
course of this year into the undertaking of the trust…road。
His lordship； being in a woeful plight； left the carriage and came to the
manse； till his servant went to the castle for a change for him； but he could
not wait nor abide himself： so he got the lend of my best suit of clothes；
and was won