DOIVN THE ROAD IN DAYS OF YORE 6i 



dealt with a starviiii^ niol) in Dumfries. The 

 hungry people of that toAvn, not disj^osed to perish 

 Avhilc food was abundant, and corn held hy the 

 farmers and corn-factors for higher 2)i'ices, assem- 

 bled to protest against such methods ; and the 

 magistrates, ^^ ho thought the people had a right 

 to starve, sent for the military to oblige them to 

 famish discreetly or else be shot. Our hero had 

 command of the jiarty, where, according to his 

 own testimony, he performed wonders. The poor 

 people Avere shot like woodcocks, and those who 

 could get away with safety w^ere glad to return 

 home to Avrestle Avith hunger until HeaA'en should 

 think fit to provide for them. 



The officer Avas A^ery liberal in abusing those 

 AAhom he called "the mob," and said they AA^ere 

 ignorant, obstinate and Avicked, and added that he 

 thought it no crime to destroy hundreds of them. 



The lady Avho had already given him a lecture 

 then began to put him in mind of the footpad 

 Avhom he and his brother officer had suffered to 

 esca2:)e AAitli their j^^n'ses, and asked him liow he 

 Avould quell a number of higliAvaymen. Taken oft' 

 his guard at the mention of footpads, he stared 

 out of the AvindoAv Avith a sort of Avildness, as if 

 one had been at the coach door. 



Nothing Avas seen Avorthy of note until the 

 coach came to Grantham, AAdiich place they 

 reached about seven in the evening. The first 

 things, remarks Mr. Murray — Avitli all the 

 air of a profound and interesting discoA'ery — 

 that travellers saAV in approaching large toAvns 



