Some LETTERS OF PATRICK MILLER. 143 
22 9th February, 1791. 
23 The masterful seizing and carrying off of Wm. Walls on 
Sunday, 27th June, 1790, is worthy of being retold, because, as the 
Scots Magazine (vol. 52, p. 46) remarks, it presents a picture of 
burgh politics degrading to human nature, and, it is to be feared, not 
peculiar to Lochmaben. Walls was known to be a supporter of 
Miller, and as councillor was entitled to vote on 8th July for a 
delegate, who in turn would take part in the Parliamentary election 
for the five Burghs, which was fixed for the 12th July. The names of 
the persons implicated were :— 
1. John Lindsay, writer and messenger at arms, Lochmaben 
(agent for Sir James Johnstone, the Tory candidate). 
. Duncan Henderson, Bridge-end of Dumfries. 
. John, his son. 
. Wm. Steedman, lately come from America to Lochmaben. 
. John Dobie, son of John Dobie, late of Tundergarth. 
. John Lockerby, residenter in Lochmaben. 
. Peter Forrest, wright or joiner, Lochmaben. 
8. Jas. Thorburn, mason in Buchrig, near Lochmaben. 
(Of these, 2, 3, 4, and 5 did not appear for trial, having 
absconded. ) 
The story, as given by the prosecution, is as follows:—Walls had 
previously been approached by Lindsay, Johnstone’s agent, and 
offered £200 if he would take a walk with him on the day of the 
election, but had rejected the suggestion with indignation. Not for 
£2000 would he consent he said. Walls, thenceforward suspicious, 
slept for safety at the house of William Neilson, his son-in-law. On 
the date libelled, Sunday, 25th June, Neilson requested him to take 
a walk in a park at Broomrig or Brownrig, where they had some 
cattle. Walls was nervous, having observed a chaise in the burgh. 
Neilson and William Graham, another councillor, his companion, 
assured him that the chaise had gone, and that, besides, ‘‘ they would 
not attempt violence on the Lord’s Day.’’ This was about five in the 
afternoon. While they were reading a book, the coach appeared. 
Walls threw off his. coat and ran, but he was caught and thrust into 
the bottom of the coach and kept there by Steedman, Dobie, and 
Thorburn, the others riding on horseback. They kept him down, 
shutting his eyes and mouth till they passed through Lockerbie and 
reached HEeclefechan. There two additional horses were put to the 
chaise, and four fresh horses were obtained at Gretnahall. So the 
four-in-hand continued in fine style to London, where they arrived on 
the 29th of June. They carried him to the house of Mr Johnston, 
perfumer. (Who he was is not stated, but we may suspect him a 
London Scot. One Alexander Johnston, son of Patrick, of the 
Shire of Galloway, in 1727, when 23, turned his steps to London and 
became a druggist. He succeeded his uncle as ‘‘ chymist,’’? made a 
NO oP Ww PD 
