guy mannering-第108节
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ent to the Lord Advocate's chambers in the Fishmarket Close； as I think。 It was Saturday at noon； the Court was just dismissed； the Lord Advocate had changed his dress and booted himself； and his servant and horses were at the foot of the close to carry him to Arniston。 It was scarcely possible to get him to listen to a word respecting business。 The wily agent； however； on pretence of asking one or two questions； which would not detain him half an hour； drew his Lordship； who was no less an eminent bon vivant than a lawyer of unequalled talent； to take a whet at a celebrated tavern； when the learned counsel became gradually 'Involved in a spirited discussion of the law points of the case。 At length it occurred to him； that he might as well ride to Arniston in the cool of the evening。 The horses were directed to he put in the stable； but not to be unsaddled。 Dinner was ordered； the law was laid aside for a time； and the bottle circulated very freely。 At nine o'clock at night； after he bad been honouring Bacchus for so many hours； the Lord Advocate ordered his horses to be unsaddled；paper； pen； and ink were broughthe began to dictate the appeal caseand continued at his task till four o'clock the next morning。 By next day's post； the solicitor sent the case to London； a chef…d'oeuvre of its kind； and in which； my informant assured me； it was not necessary on revisal to correct five words。 I am not； therefore； conscious of having overstepped accuracy in describing the manner in which Scottish lawyers of the old time occasionally united the worship of Bacchus with that of Themis。 My informant was Alexander Keith； Esq。； grandfather to my friend； the present Sir Alexander Keith of Ravelstone； and apprentice at the time to the writer who conducted the cause。
Note VIII。LORD MONBODDO；
The Burnet； whose taste for the evening meal of the ancients is quoted by Mr。 Pleydell； was the celebrated metaphysician and excellent man； Lord Monboddo； whose coenae will not be soon forgotten by those who have shared his classic hospitality。 As a Scottish judge； he took the designation of his family estate。 His philosophy； as is well known； was of a fanciful and somewhat fantastic character； but his learning was deep； and he was possessed of a singular power of eloquence； which reminded the hearer of the os rotundum of the Grove ；or Academe。 Enthusiastically partial to classical habits； his entertainments were always given in the evening； when there was a circulation of excellent Bordeaux； in flasks garlanded with roses； which were also strewed on the table after the manner of Horace。 The； best society； whether in respect of rank or literary distinction； was always to be found in St。 John's Street； Canongate。 The conversation of the excellent old man； his high； gentleman…like； chivalrous spirit； the learning and wit with which he defended his fanciful paradoxes； the kind and liberal spirit of his hospitality； must render these noctes coenaeque dear to all who； like the author （though then young）； had the honour of sitting at his board。
Note IX。LAWYERS' SLEEPLESS NIGHTS。
It is probably true； as observed by Counsellor Pleydell； that a lawyer's anxiety about his case； supposing him to have been some time in practice； will seldom disturb his rest or digestion。 Clients will； however； sometimes fondly entertain a different opinion。 I was told by an excellent judge； now no more； of a country gentleman； who； addressing his leading counsel； my informer； then an advocate in great practice； on the morning of the day on which the case was to be pleaded； said； with singular bonhomie； 〃Weel； my lord （the counsel was Lord Advocate）； 〃the awful day is come at last。 I have nae been able to sleep a wink for thinking of itnor； I dare say your Lordship either。〃
ADDITIONAL NOTE
GALWEGIAN LOCALITIES AND PERSONAGES WHICH HAVE BEEN SUPPOSED TO BE ALLUDED TO IN THE NOVEL。
An old English proverb says； that more know Torn Fool than Tom Fool knows； and the influence of the adage seems to extend to works composed under the influence of an idle or foolish planet。 Many corresponding circumstances are detected by readers； of which the author did not suspect the existence。 He must； however； regard it as a great compliment； that in detailing incidents purely imaginary； he has been so fortunate in approximating reality； as to remind his readers of actual occurrences。 It is therefore with pleasure he notices some pieces of local history and tradition； which have been supposed to coincide with the fictitious persons。 incidents； and scenery of Guy Mannering。
The prototype of Dirk Hatteraick is considered as having been a Dutch skipper called Yawkins。 This man was well known on the coast of Galloway and Dumfriesshire； as sole proprietor and master of a Buckkar； or smuggling lugger； called the Black Prince。 Being distinguished by his nautical skill and intrepidity； his vessel was frequently freighted； and his own services employed； by French； Dutch； Manx； and Scottish smuggling companies。
A person well known by the name of Buckkar…tea； from having been a noted smuggler of that article； and also by that of Bogle…Bush； the place of his residence； assured my kind informant； Mr。 Train； that he had frequently seen upwards of two hundred Lingtow…men assemble at one time； and go off into the interior of the country； fully laden with contraband goods。
In those halcyon days of the free trade； the fixed price for carrying a box of tea； or bale of tobacco； from the coast of Galloway to Edinburgh； was fifteen shillings； and a man with horses carried four such packages。 The trade was entirely destroyed by Mr。 Pitt's celebrated commutation law； which； by reducing the duties upon excisable articles； enabled lawful dealer to compete with the smuggler。 The statute was called in Galloway and Dumfriesshire； by those who had thriven upon the contraband trade； 〃the burning and starving act。〃
Sure of such active assistance on shore； Yawkins demeaned himself so boldly； that his mere name was a terror to the officers of the revenue。 He availed himself of the fears which presence inspired on one particular night； when； happening to be ashore with a considerable quantity of goods in his sole custody； a strong party of excisemen came down on him。 Far from shunning the attack； Yawkins sprung forward； shouting； 〃Come on； my lads； Yawkins is before you。〃 The revenue officers were intimidated； and relinquished their prize； though defended only by the courage and address of a single man。 On his proper element； Yawkins was equally successful。 one occasion； he was landing his cargo at the Manxman's lake； near Kirkcudbright； when two revenue cutters （the Pigmy and the Dwarf） hove in sight at once on different tacks； the coming round by the Isles of Fleet； the other between the point of Rueberry and the Muckle Ron。 The dauntless free…trader instantly weighed anchor； and bore down right between the luggers； so close that he tossed his hat on the deck of the one and his wig on that of the other； hoisted a cask to his maintop； to show his occupation； and bore away under an extraordinary pressure of canvas； without receiving injury。 To account for these and other hair…breadth escapes； popular superstition alleged that Yawkins insured his celebrated Buckkar by compounding with the devil for one…tenth of his crew every voyage。 How they arranged the separation of the stock and tithes； is left to our conjecture。 The Buckkar was perhaps called the Black Prince in honour of the formidable insurer。
The Black Prince used to discharge her cargo at Luce； Balcarry； and elsewhere on the coast； but her owner's favourite landing…places were at the entrance to the Dee and the Cree； near the old Castle of Rueberry； about six miles below Kirkcudbriglit。 There is a cave of large dimensions in the vicinity of Rueberry； which； from its being frequently used by Yawkins； and his supposed connection with the smugglers on the shore； is now called Dirk Hatteraick's cave。 Strangers who visit this place； the scenery of which is highly romantic； are also shown； under the name of the Gauger's Loup； a tremendous precipice； being the same； it is asserted； from which Kennedy was precipitated。
Meg Merrilies is in Galloway considered as having had her origin in the traditions concerning the celebrated Flora Marshal； one of the royal consorts of Willie Marshal； more commonly called the Caird of Barullion； King of the Gipsies of the Western Lowlands。 That potentate was himself deserving of notice； from the following peculiarities。 He was born in the parish of Kirkmichael； about the year 1671； and as he died at Kirkcudbright； 23rd November； 1792； he must then have been in the one hundred and twentieth year of his age。 It cannot he said that this unusually long lease of existence was noted by any peculiar excellence of conduct or habits of life。 Willie had been pressed or enlisted in the army seven times； and had deserted as often； besides three times running away from the naval service。 He had been seventeen times lawfully married； and besides such a reason ably large share of matrimonial comforts； was； after his hundredth year； the avowed father of four children； by less legitimate affections。 He subsisted in his extreme old age by a
