concerns from which the statesmen derived, as from so many
reservoirs, those immense pecuniary supplies, which enabled them to
beggar all the resources of a political despotism, the most
unbounded, both in power and principle, of any tyranny that ever
existed so long.--Yours, etc., ANDREW PRINGLE.



CHAPTER IV--THE TOWN



There was a great tea-drinking held in the Kirkgate of Irvine, at
the house of Miss Mally Glencairn; and at that assemblage of rank,
beauty, and fashion, among other delicacies of the season, several
new-come-home Clyde skippers, roaring from Greenock and Port-
Glasgow, were served up--but nothing contributed more to the
entertainment of the evening than a proposal, on the part of Miss
Mally, that those present who had received letters from the Pringles
should read them for the benefit of the company. This was, no
doubt, a preconcerted scheme between her and Miss Isabella Tod, to
hear what Mr. Andrew Pringle had said to his friend Mr. Snodgrass,
and likewise what the Doctor himself had indited to Mr. Micklewham;
some rumour having spread of the wonderful escapes and adventures of
the family in their journey and voyage to London. Had there not
been some prethought of this kind, it was not indeed probable, that
both the helper and session-clerk of Garnock could have been there
together, in a party, where it was an understood thing, that not
only Whist and Catch Honours were to be played, but even
obstreperous Birky itself, for the diversion of such of the company