The future legal sage, 't was ours to see, Doom though unwigg'd, and plead without a fee. But now, astounding each poor mimic elf, But, soft! who lives at Rome the Pope must flatter, 1 At this time, the public of Edinburgh was much agitated by a lawsuit betwixt the Magistrates and many of the Inhabitants of the City, concerning a range of new buildings on the western side of the North Bridge; which the latter insisted should be removed as a deformity. EPILOGUE TO THE DRAMA FOUNDED ON "ST. RONAN'S WELL" ["After the play, the following humorous address (ascribea to an eminent literary character) was spoken with infinite effect by Mr. Mackay, in the character of Meg Dodds."-Edinburgh Weekly Journal, 9th June, 1824.] [Enter MEG DODDS, encircled by a crowd of unruly boys, whom a town's-officer is driving off.] THAT's right, friend-drive the gaitlings back, Sae proud and saucy, They scarce will let an auld wife walk I've seen the day they would been scaur'd, Or maybe wud hae some regard For Jamie Laing The Water-hole was right weel wared On sic a gang. 1 [James Laing was one of the Depute-Clerks of the city of Edinburgh, and in his official connexion with the Police and the Council-Chamber, his name was a constant terror to evil-doers. He died in February, 1806.] [The Watch-hole.] But whar's the gude Tolbooth' gane now? Whar's the auld Claught, wi' red and blue? Whar's Jamie Laing? and whar's John Doo!3 And whar's the Weigh-house?" Deil hae't I see but what is new, Except the Playhouse! Yoursells are changed frae head to heel, Wha's fathers' daundered hame as weel Wi' lass and lantern. Mysell being in the public line, I look for howfs I kenn'd lang syne, And eat cheap dinners; But deil a soul gangs there to dine, Of saints or sinners! 1 [The Tolbooth of Edinburgh, The Heart of Mid-Lothian, was pulled down in 1817.] 2 [The ancient Town Guard. The reduced remnant of this body of police was finally disbanded in 1817.] 3 [John Doo, or Dhu—a terrific-looking and high-spirited member of the Town Guard, and of whom there is a print by Kay, etched in 1784.] 4 [The Weigh-House, situated at the head of the West Bow, Lawnmarket, and which had long been looked upon as an encumbrance to the street, was demolished in order to make way for the royal procession to the Castle, which took place on the 22d of August, 1822.] Fortune's' and Hunter's gane, alas! They gang to a new-fangled place They ca' a Hottle. The deevil Hottle them for Meg! (And that's puir picking,) In comes a chiel and makes a leg, And charges chicken! "And wha may ye be," gin ye speer, That kens the roads, I'll haud ye Burgundy to beer, He kens Meg Dodds. 1 [Fortune's Tavern a house on the west side of the Old Stamp Office Close, High Street, and which was, in the early part of the last century, the mansion of the Earl of Eglintoun.The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the day held his levees and dinners in this tavern.] 2 [Hunter's another once much-frequented tavern, in Writer's Court, Royal Exchange.] [Bayle's Tavern and Coffeehouse, originally on the North Bridge, east side, afterwards in Shakspeare Square, but removed to admit of the opening of Waterloo Place. Such was the dignified character of this house, that the waiter always appeared in full dress, and nobody was admitted who had not a white neckcloth - then considered an indispensable insignium of a gentleman.] I came a piece frae west o' Currie ; As speak a word for ane Will Murray,' Plays are auld-fashion'd things, in truth, Or want of dramock, Although they speak but wi' their mouth, But ye take care of a' folk's pantry; Ower this big house, (that's far frae rent-free,) For a lone sister, Is claims as gude's to be a ventri— How'st ca'd-loquister. Weel, sirs, gude'en, and have a care, And without failzie, As sure as ever ye sit there, She'll tell the Bailie. '[Mr. Wm. Murray became manager of the Edinburgh Thea tre in 1815.] 33* |