The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-03-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY.
BY AN EDINBURGH STUDENT.

Jr'tAs hOt tuiI DA I-IlluHu DQC oil
another COuntryman of the same name,
and not less celebrated. The number the
atrOcity, ami the cool speculative motives
OF this rend's misdeeds, approached gen
Eus in their way, and in the excitement
ot his trial and execution all other topics
were forgotten. | shall not easiiy forget
the singular fever of the public mind
during these few weeks. | was myself
present at the trial. and witnessed the
spectacle OK the greatest criminal of the
century being defended by the first coun-
sci at the bar of Scotland. A rumor had
gone abroad that no counsel could be
found to appear for such monster: and
as a testimony to the duty of counsel
under All circumstances, the most celebrat.
ed advocates of the day, without fee or
reward, defended this gang of murderers
~ the face Of a torrent of public preiu
dice.
The afternoon OF the day on which
Burke was executed was distinguished by
tirst-r;.te college row. The students at
Edinburgh, like its mob, have, when
reused, always been formidable AMI dan
gerOuS body; and on this occasion, the
police having intruded into the quadran-
gle to preserve order among the crowd
which hurried to the dissecting room, a
battle royal had ensued, attended by some
severe injuries, and resulting in a trium-
nhant and glorious defeat of the authori-
ties.
To celebrate this propitious event a
supper party assembled that evening in a
tavern called the Rainbow" The chair
was occupied by the bard and satirist of
the college, a fellow of infinite lest, who
made his mark on the world afterwards
bif who a. this i'll,
and feared for the sarcastic and biting
power OF his hunor. Opposite him sat
the prince OF students-tall, handsome.
reckless, flashing with the exuberance of
youth spirit, and flow of convivial
fancy that L have never known e0ualled.
Among the others were two, who figure
IN my story. One was a student named
tombstone, the Thersites of the circle-a
dlsagrecablc specimen Of q stamp of man
which IS generally TO be found in every
circle, without either wit or talent, cx-
ccpting the wit and talent to make
others feel uncomfortable. Bold, and un-
scrupulOuS, and quick to see and seize on
weaknesses of others, he was a fNellum
a ily-hlister; people feared to make him
their friend, and still more to make him
their enemy, and SO he extOrted from hate
what he never would have obtained from
love, and was admitted to the most select
cOterie of the University.
The other was a stalwart, handsome
young Irishman, who had done mighty ex-
ecutlon IN the melee of the day; caring
bat little, after the temperament of his
nation, about the merits of the conflict,
but hitting right and left as his leader told
him. He was an Open-browed Spanish
looking son OF Erin, half rollicking, halt
4
happy night; he had had fight in the
morning, and had frolick in the evening.
His name was Power, a medical student
who had been but a week or two in Edin-
burgh. lie was consequently an entire
stranger to the others, and had been in
Vited to make one of the party solely on
the strength Of his fist
The chairman, after many a gibe and
anecdote had gone round, rose to propose
the toast OF the evening" Confusion to
the police, and bad dreams to Bailie Rim
tout. tln those davs the town council
ruled over the college, and the obnoxious
Baiiic mad given the orders to the police
As To the first part of tine toast" he SAID,
1t was supcrfluous, pleonasm, for the
police were in such confusion already that
nothing the company could drink could
add to 1t. As to the Bailie, the sentiment
expressed IN the toast was suitable His
normal state was slumber. lie slept on
the bench of Justice, for he saw him in
that state, on a solitary and melancholy
episode in his, the chairman's, otherwise
blameless life. He slept in church, for he
heard him Oh"
Another solitary and melancholy cpl
sOde,' suggested the vice.
Order there He heard him snore, and
from its vigor and constancy the occupa-
ton was manifes;ly habitual But if
Homer sometimes slept, the Bailie some
times awakes as he did to shame the de-
feat to-day. He is asleep again by this
time. Bad dreams to him-with all the
hOnOrs"
The vice thereon rose to propose con-
trast, as he called il: the Principal of the
University and the Lord Provost of the
City; and this he did in the style and
with the accent of very celebrated pro-
fessor Of divinity 1t was great Philip
pic; and if words that burned could have
witbered and calcincd civic functionary,
the unhappy Provost must have ceased
from his troubling. He thus concluded !:
Il propose that we shall dedicate this
flowing bowl to execratiOns and exOrcisms
OF that malignant star, which, moving in
yet throws the whole universe out Of gear
by its ill-omened alterations, and propiti-
ate and do homage to that bright particu-
lar luminary, around whose bencficent
and mellow radiance revolve the planets
OF our hearts and hopes"
Power, who had once heard the cele-
brated orator himself. was charmed and
delighted with the copy; and warming
with the wine and the excitement, added
his full share 10 the evenings amusement
Every one was cordial and courteous to
him excepting JOhnstone, who seemed
rather jealous of his popularity, all the
more that one or two shafts, leyelled at
Power without the latter perceiving them,
had been rather roughly warded off by
the vice.
AT last he also rose to propose toast.
1t was" he said, Z" the Sister Isle, and
our gallant allies, among whom" said he,
breaking into racy brogue, of which he
was quite master, &C. need not particu-
larlze our friend over the Way. Who he
ls do not profess to know. He came to
us suddenly, and like most of his country
men Will probably sc depart; where he
lives do not know, for his countrymen
seldom disclose their habitat; but If pug
naclty and muscle-the fruits of that
choice esculent of his native land-will
make man famous, famous he will be.
May his hat never be shabbier, be his
coat never more threadbare May the
rats fly his garret, the mice leave his
sausages in peace, and may his tick be
extended 10 week"
The undisguised insolence OF John
stones address did not detract from its
vivacity, and the audience laughed and
appiauded. Power rose to return thanks
with unruffled mien, and spoke with far
more accent than before. ."He was proud
and pleased, he was, at the kindness OF
thst Hntleman. If he wore his coat till
he was tired of the company, it's little but