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The Provost-Part23_John Galt(1779-1839)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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my own double vocation of the cloth shop and wine cellar, I had a

taste and experience of the general declension that would of a



necessity ensue, when the great outlay of government and the

discharge from public employ drew more and more to an issue. So I



bethought me, that being now well stricken in years, and, though I

say it that should not, likewise a man in good respect and



circumstances, it would be a prudent thing to retire and secede

entirely from all farther intromissions with public affairs.



Accordingly, towards the midsummer of the year 1816, I commenced in

a far off way to give notice, that at Michaelmas I intended to



abdicate my authority and power, to which intimations little heed

was at first given; but gradually the seed took with the soil, and



began to swell and shoot up, in so much that, by the middle of

August, it was an understood thing that I was to retire from the



council, and refrain entirely from the part I had so long played

with credit in the burgh.



When people first began to believe that I was in earnest, I cannot

but acknowledge I was remonstrated with by many, and that not a few



were pleased to say my resignation would be a public loss; but these

expressions, and the disposition of them, wore away before



Michaelmas came; and I had some sense of the feeling which the

fluctuating gratitude of the multitude often causes to rise in the



breasts of those who have ettled their best to serve the ungrateful

populace. However, I considered with myself that it would not do



for me, after what I had done for the town and commonality, to go

out of office like a knotless thread, and that, as a something was



of right due to me, I would be committing an act of injustice to my

family if I neglected the means of realizing the same. But it was a



task of delicacy, and who could I prompt to tell the town-council to

do what they ought to do? I could not myself speak of my own



services--I could ask nothing. Truly it was a subject that cost me

no small cogitation; for I could not confide it even to the wife of



my bosom. However, I gained my end, and the means and method

thereof may advantage other public characters, in a similar strait,



to know and understand.

Seeing that nothing was moving onwards in men's minds to do the act



of courtesy to me, so justly my due, on the Saturday before

Michaelmas I invited Mr Mucklewheel, the hosier, (who had the year



before been chosen into the council, in the place of old Mr Peevie,

who had a paralytic, and never in consequence was made a bailie,) to



take a glass of toddy with me, a way and method of peutering with

the councillors, one by one, that I often found of a great efficacy



in bringing their understandings into a docile state; and when we

had discussed one cheerer with the usual clishmaclaver of the times,



I began, as we were both birzing the sugar for the second, to speak

with a circumbendibus about my resignation of the trusts I had so



long held with profit to the community.

"Mr Mucklewheel," quo' I "ye're but a young man, and no versed yet,



as ye will be, in the policy and diplomatics that are requisite in

the management of the town, and therefore I need not say any thing



to you about what I have got an inkling of, as to the intents of the

new magistrates and council towards me. It's very true that I have



been long a faithful servant to the public, but he's a weak man who

looks to any reward from the people; and after the experience I have



had, I would certainly prove myself to be one of the very weakest,

if I thought it was likely, that either anent the piece of plate and



the vote of thanks, any body would take a speciality of trouble."

To this Mr Mucklewheel answered, that he was glad to hear such a



compliment was intended; "No man," said he, "more richly deserves a

handsome token of public respect, and I will surely give the



proposal all the countenance and support in my power possible to

do."



"As to that," I replied, pouring in the rum and helping myself to

the warm water, "I entertain no doubt, and I have every confidence



that the proposal, when it is made, will be in a manner unanimously

approved. But, Mr Mucklewheel, what's every body's business, is



nobody's. I have heard of no one that's to bring the matter

forward; it's all fair and smooth to speak of such things in holes



and corners, but to face the public with them is another sort of

thing. For few men can abide to see honours conferred on their



neighbours, though between ourselves, Mr Mucklewheel, every man in a

public trust should, for his own sake, further and promote the



bestowing of public rewards on his predecessors; because looking

forward to the time when he must himself become a predecessor, he






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