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

MACLAURIN’S JOURNAL OF THE FORTY-FIVE
321
necessary reparations ordered.
Sept 14th. Little work on the walls and scaffolding. The cannon were all
proved and the shot got ready.
Sept 15. The Lord Provost brought Captain Murray to town to give his
advice, and not till this day he ordered some works within the gates
which were begun immediately. There was more men employed this day
than ever before and everybody seemed to exert themselves. But the Lord
Provost having never named the Field Officers to the Volunteers they
were now nine Independent Companies and upon a motion to go out with
Collonell Gardiner they unhappily divided in opinion which produced
some heat among them. A most unlucky signal was pitched on to call
them to their arms, the ringing of the Fire bell which never fails to raise a
panic in Edinburgh. This happened in time of divine service, the churches
dismissed in confusion and terror and this was the first appearance of fear
in the place and this signal ought not to have been proposed or allowed
by the magistrates in such a time of the Rebels not being far from us.
This day most of the cannon were carried to the Flanks and in this as
much regard as possible was had to the weakest places so that there were
three on St. Mary’s Wynd which raked it. About six one of the
Volunteers with the chief of the Bombadiers came to the Provost to have
an order to load them, he kept them waiting until eight, and then desired
another to sign the order for him. They began, though in the night. But
after they came to the Bristol port they were obliged to wait from half an
hour after ten till near one for want of a Centinelle to place on the loaded
gun though they sent messages for Centinells to the Guard and Council.
This put a stop on their progress that night. The guns were all loaded with
small shot and as they flanked the curtains and gates it was the more
dangerous to leave them without Centinells. During all that time while
the rest of the wall was guarded and All Is Well was heard go round
regularly there were no centinells on the Bristol port to the west port but
one or two below.
Sept 16. The work went on cheerfully till four or five at night. A work
was thrown up to defend the pass to Moutresay.1 Some gates were built
up. Some more cannon were got and carried to the Bastrons and Gates,
we were told that only five gunners were got at one o’clock but were
promised that pains should be taken to get more.
1 Moultries Hill, the site of the present General Register House.