Series 5 > Miscellany [of the Scottish History Society] XIII

MACLAURIN’S JOURNAL OF THE FORTY-FIVE
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it which he promised to do.
It was thought proper to draw up an Article of News concerning the
Association to encourage others to join and rouse the lethargic spirit of
the country. After it was written it was thought decent and dutiful to
show it to the Provost the words that ‘this proposal was accepted by the
Lord Provost’ were altered by him. He would have it that the Lord
Provost ‘acquiesced in this proposal.’ This alteration was much regretted
by those who were sincerely zealous in this cause being sensible that in
so critical a time more than acquiescence was requisite in the magistrates
to animate the burghers and foreseeing as it happened that the Trades
would not be warm when the magistrates were so cool. The Volunteers
however soon rose to 400. The expenses of the work proposed were
much talked about and complained of at this time and afterwards.
September 7. The Plan of the wall was made ready and presented to the
Council at 6 o’clock, the weak places were pointed out and what was
most necessary to be done proposed. The Lord Provost desired that an
estimate might be made of the expense. But it was answered that could
not easily be done and would require time. It was proposed the flanks
should be first taken care of as the time which the rebels would take to
come to Edinburgh was uncertain. That the doing as much as we could
did not hinder capitulating. That there was a double chance of relief
either from Sir John Cope or the Dutch so that holding out one day or
two might save the town. But that dispatch was necessary above all
things and all the workmen that could be got ought to be employed.
September 8. The workmen cleared a part of the parapet, but the number
was very small for this day and indeed for the whole week till Sept 15. Of
this complaints were made every night but to little or no purpose.
Sometimes there were only two dozen when there ought to have been as
many hundreds, for now the rebels were at Perth. It was found that the
parapet when cleared was too narrow in several places and that it was
necessary to add to it by scaffolding. This was done in some places but so
few men were employed that in others it was not executed.
Sept 9. The work went on but slowly some of the embrazures on the
flanks, for the cannon and in the curtains for the musketeers were opened.
Sept 10. A scheme of what was most necessary to be done was drawn up
by a Volunteer abovementioned and shown to General Guest and at his