Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

40 Introduction.
to the core. Money achieved everything. " What are
your terms ? " was a question put to the agent of every
candidate for parliamentary or municipal honours.
Candidates bribed in person. A hairdresser had
received five pounds from a candidate for shaving him.
The day after the candidate ascertained that the hair-
dresser had shaved his rival with a similar recompense.
" You have been shaving Lord ," said the candidate
to his quondam friend. " Yes," replied the hairdresser,
"I wanted to pleasure ye baith."
The celebrated George Dempster, of Dunnichen,
obtained his seat in Parliament, in 1762, by bribing the
magistrates and councillors of the Fife and Forfar
burghs. Having been opposed by an opulent com-
petitor, he had to dispose of two estates to secure his
seat. The city of St. Andrews was one of the chain
of burghs. On his retirement from public life, Mr.
Dempster occasionally resided at this ancient seat of
learning. Visiting an old friend one morning, he found
him employed in his garden. "I am sorry I canna
shake hands wi' ye, Maister Dempster," said his friend,
"for my hands are soiled; I've been diggin'." " Don't
heed," said the ex-member ; " many a dirty hand I've
shaken in St. Andrews." Mr. Dempster referred to the
hands which had accepted bribes.
In 1775, the Court of Session disfranchised the burgh
of Stirling, for corrupt practices, a judgment which was
confirmed by the House of Lords. The particulars
of this case may not be unacceptable. Several bur-
gesses of Stirling brought a complaint against the
magistrates and council, alleging that certain of their
number had bound themselves by an illegal compact,
and for their personal gain, to bear permanent authority