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ng　is　twofold。　　First；　the　council　are　of　opinion　that　you　should　now　begin　to　stir　in　the　thirlage　cause；　and　they　think　they　will　be　able；　from　evidence　NOVITER　REPERTUM；　to　enable　you　to　amend　your　condescendence　upon　the　use　and　wont　of　the　burgh；　touching　the　GRANA　INVECTA　ET　ILLATA。　　So　you　will　please　consider　yourself　as　authorized　to　speak　to　Mr。　Pest；　and　lay　before　him　the　papers　which　you　will　receive　by　the　coach。　　The　council　think　that　a　fee　of　two　guineas　may　be　sufficient　on　this　occasion；　as　Mr。　Pest　had　three　for　drawing　the　original　condescendence。

'I　take　the　opportunity　of　adding　that　there　has　been　a　great　riot　among　the　Solway　fishermen；　who　have　destroyed；　in　a　masterful　manner；　the　stake…nets　set　up　near　the　mouth　of　this　river；　and　have　besides　attacked　the　house　of　Quaker　Geddes；　one　of　the　principal　partners　of　the　Tide…net　Fishing　Company；　and　done　a　great　deal　of　damage。　　Am　sorry　to　add；　young　Mr。　Latimer　was　in　the　fray　and　has　not　since　been　heard　of。　　Murder　is　spoke　of；　but　that　may　be　a　word　of　course。　　As　the　young　gentleman　has　behaved　rather　oddly　while　in　these　parts；　as　in　declining　to　dine　with　me　more　than　once；　and　going　about　the　country　with　strolling　fiddlers　and　such…like；　I　rather　hope　that　his　present　absence　is　only　occasioned　by　a　frolic；　but　as　his　servant　has　been　making　inquiries　of　me　respecting　his　master；　I　thought　it　best　to　acquaint　you　in　course　of　post。　　I　have　only　to　add　that　our　sheriff　has　taken　a　precognition；　and　committed　one　or　two　of　the　rioters。　　If　I　can　be　useful　in　this　matter；　either　by　advertising　for　Mr。　Latimer　as　missing；　publishing　a　reward；　or　otherwise；　I　will　obey　your　respected　instructions；　being　your　most　obedient　to　command；　'WILLIAM　CROSBIE。'

When　Mr。　Fairford　received　this　letter；　and　had　read　it　to　an　end；'　his　first　idea　was　to　communicate　it　to　his　son；　that　an　express　might　be　instantly　dispatched；　or　a　king's　messenger　sent　with　proper　authority　to　search　after　his　late　guest。

The　habits　of　the　fishers　were　rude；　as　he　well　knew；　though　not　absolutely　sanguinary　or　ferocious；　and　there　had　been　instances　of　their　transporting　persons　who　had　interfered　in　their　smuggling　trade　to　the　Isle　of　Man　and　elsewhere；　and　keeping　them　under　restraint　for　many　weeks。　　On　this　account；　Mr。　Fairford　was　naturally　led　to　feel　anxiety　concerning　the　fate　of　his　late　inmate；　and；　at　a　less　interesting　moment；　would　certainly　have　set　out　himself；　or　licensed　his　son　to　go　in　pursuit　of　his　friend。

But；　alas！　　he　was　both　a　father　and　an　agent。　　In　the　one　capacity；　he　looked　on　his　son　as　dearer　to　him　than　all　the　world　besides；　in　the　other；　the　lawsuit　which　he　conducted　was　to　him　like　an　infant　to　its　nurse；　and　the　case　of　Poor　Peter　Peebles　against　Plainstanes　was；　he　saw；　adjourned；　perhaps　SINE　DIE；　should　this　document　reach　the　hands　of　his　son。　　The　mutual　and　enthusiastical　affection　betwixt　the　young　men　was　well　known　to　him；　and　he　concluded　that　if　the　precarious　state　of　Latimer　were　made　known　to　Alan　Fairford；　it　would　render　him　not　only　unwilling；　but　totally　unfit；　to　discharge　the　duty　of　the　day　to　which　the　old　gentleman　attached　such　ideas　of　importance。

On　mature　reflection；　therefore；　he　resolved；　though　not　without　some　feelings　of　compunction；　to　delay　communicating　to　his　son　the　disagreeable　intelligence　which　he　had　received；　until　the　business　of　the　day　should　be　ended。　　The　delay；　he　persuaded　himself；　could　be　of　little　consequence　to　Darsie　Latimer；　whose　folly；　he　dared　to　say；　had　led　him　into　some　scrape　which　would　meet　an　appropriate　punishment　in　some　accidental　restraint；　which　would　be　thus　prolonged　for　only　a　few　hours　longer。　Besides；　he　would　have　time　to　speak　to　the　sheriff　of　the　countyperhaps　to　the　King's　Advocateand　set　about　the　matter　in　a　regular　manner；　or；　as　he　termed　it；　as　summing　up　the　duties　of　a　solicitor；　to　AGE　AS　ACCORDS。　　＇A　Scots　law　phrase；　of　no　very　determinate　import；　meaning；　generally；　to　do　what　is　fitting。＇

The　scheme；　as　we　have　seen；　was　partially　successful；　and　was　only　ultimately　defeated；　as　he　confessed　to　himself　with　shame；　by　his　own　very　unbusiness…like　mistake　of　shuffling　the　provost's　letter；　in　the　hurry　and　anxiety　of　the　morning；　among　some　papers　belonging　to　Peter　Peebles's　affairs；　and　then　handing　it　to　his　son；　without　observing　the　blunder。　　He　used　to　protest；　even　till　the　day　of　his　death；　that　he　never　had　been　guilty　of　such　an　inaccuracy　as　giving　a　paper　out　of　his　hand　without　looking　at　the　docketing；　except　on　that　unhappy　occasion；　when；　of　all　others；　he　had　such　particular　reason　to　regret　his　negligence。

Disturbed　by　these　reflections；　the　old　gentleman　had；　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　some　disinclination；　arising　from　shame　and　vexation；　to　face　his　own　son；　so　that　to　protract　for　a　little　the　meeting；　which　he　feared　would　be　a　painful　one；　he　went　to　wait　upon　the　sheriff…depute；　who　he　found　had　set　off　for　Dumfries　in　great　haste　to　superintend　in　person　the　investigation　which　had　been　set　on　foot　by　his　substitute。　　This　gentleman's　clerk　could　say　little　on　the　subject　of　the　riot；　excepting　that　it　had　been　serious；　much　damage　done　to　property；　and　some　personal　violence　offered　to　individuals；　but；　as　far　as　he　had　yet　heard；　no　lives　lost　on　the　spot。

Mr。　Fairford　was　compelled　to　return　home　with　this　intelligence；　and　on　inquiring　at　James　Wilkinson　where　his　son　was；　received　for　answer；　that　'Maister　Alan　was　in　his　own　room；　and　very　busy。'

'We　must　have　our　explanation　over；'　said　Saunders　Fairford　to　himself。　　'Better　a　finger　off；　as　ay　wagging；'　and　going　to　the　door　of　his　son's　apartment；　he　knocked　at　first　gentlythen　more　loudlybut　received　no　answer。　　Somewhat　alarmed　at　this　silence；　he　opened　the　door　of　the　chamber　it　was　emptyclothes　lay　mixed　in　confusion　with　the　law…books　and　papers；　as　if　the　inmate　had　been　engaged　in　hastily　packing　for　a　journey。　　As　Mr。　Fairford　looked　around　in　alarm；　his　eye　was　arrested　by　a　sealed　letter　lying　upon　his　son's　writing…table；　and　addressed　to　himself。　　It　contained　the　following　words：

'MY　DEAREST　FATHER；　'You　will　not；　I　trust；　be　surprised；　nor　perhaps　very　much　displeased；　to　learn　that　I　am　on　my　way　to　Dumfriesshire；　to　learn；　by　my　own　personal　investigation；　the　present　state　of　my　dear　friend；　and　afford　him　such　relief　as　may　be　in　my　power；　and　which；　I　trust；　will　be　effectual。　　I　do　not　presume　to　reflect　upon　you；　dearest　sir；　for　concealing　from　me　information　of　so　much　consequence　to　my　peace　of　mind　and　happiness；　but　I　hope　your　having　done　so　will　be；　if　not　an　excuse；　at　least　some　mitigation　of　my　present　offence；　in　taking　a　step　of　consequence　without　consulting　your　pleasure；　and；　I　must　further　own；　under　circumstances　which　perhaps　might　lead　to　your　disapprobation　of　my　purpose。　　I　can　only　say；　in　further　apology；　that　if　anything　unhappy；　which　Heaven　forbid！　　shall　have　occurred　to　the　person　who；　next　to　yourself；　is　dearest　to　me　in　this　world；　I　shall　have　on　my　heart；　as　a　subject　of　eternal　regret；　that　being　in　a　certain　degree　warned　of　his　danger　and　furnished　with　the　means　of　obviating　it；　I　did　not　instantly　hasten　to　his　assistance；　but　preferred　giving　my　attention　to　the　business　of　this　unlucky　morning。　　No　view　of　personal　distinction；　nothing；　indeed；　short　of　your　earnest　and　often　expressed　wishes；　could　have　detained　me　in　town　till　this　day；　and　having　made　this　sacrifice　to　filial　duty；　I　trust　you　will　hold　me　excused　if　I　now　obey　the　calls　of　friendship　and　humanity。　　Do　not　be　in　the　least　anxious　on　my　account；　I　shall　know；　I　trust；　how　to　conduct　myself　with　due　caution　in　any　emergence　which　may　occur；　otherwise　my　legal　studies　for　so　many　years　have　been　to　little　purpose。　　I　am　fully　provided　with　money；　and　also　with　arms；　in　case　of　need；　but　you　may　rely　on　my　prudence　in　avoiding　all　occasions　of　using　the　latter；　short　of　the　last　necessity。　　God　almighty　bless　you；　my　dearest　father！　　and　grant　that　you　may　forgive　the　first；　and；　I　trust；　the　last　act　approaching　towards　premeditated　disobedience；　of　which　I　either　have　now；　or　shall　hereafter　have；　to　accuse　myself。　　I　remain；　till　death；　your　dutiful　and　affectionate　son；　ALAN　FAIRFORD。'

'PS。I　shall　write　with　the　utmost　regularity；　acquainting　you　with　my　motions；　and　requesting　your　advice。　　I　trust　my　stay　will　be　very　short；　and　I　think　it　possible　that　I　may　bring　back　Darsie　along　with　me。'

'The　paper　dropped　from　the　old　man's　hand　when　he　was　thus　assured　of　the　misfortune　which　he　apprehended。　　His　first　idea　was　to　get　a　postchaise　and　pursue　the　fugitive；　but　he　recollected　that；　upon　the　very　rare　occasions　when　Alan　had　shown　himself　indocile　to　the　PATRIA　POTESTAS；　his　natural　ease　and　gentleness　of　disposition　seemed　hardened　into　obstinacy；　and　that　now；　entitled；　as　arrived　at　the　years　of　majority　and　a　member　of　the　learned　faculty；　to　direct　his　own　motions；　there　was　great　doubt；　whether；　in　the　event　of　his　overtaking　his　son；　he　might　be　able　to　prevail　upon　him　to　return　back。　　In　such　a　risk　of　failure　he　thought　it　wiser　to　desist　from　his　purpose；　especially　as　even　his　success　in　such　a　pursuit　would　give　a　ridiculous　ECLAT　to　the　whole　affair；　which　could　not　be　otherwise　than　prejudicial　to　his　son's　rising　character。

Bitter；　however；　were　Saunders　Fairford's　reflections；　as　again　picking　up　the　fatal　scroll；　he　threw　himself　into　his　son's　leathern　easy…chair；　and　bestowed　upon　it　a　disjointed　commentary；　'Bring　back　Darsie？　　little　doubt　of　thatthe　bad　shilling　is　sure　enough　to　come　back　again。　　I　wish　Darsie　no　worse　ill　than　that　he　were　carried　where　the　silly　fool；　Alan；　should　never　see　him　again。　　It　was　an　ill　hour　that　he　darkened　my　doors　in；　for；　ever　since　that；　Alan　has　given　up　his　ain　old…　fashioned　mother…wit　for　the　tother's　capernoited　maggots　and　nonsense。　　Provided　with　money？　　you　must　have　more　than　I　know　of；　then；　my　friend；　for　I　trow　I　kept　you　pretty　short；　for　your　own　good。　　Can　he　have　gotten　more　fees？　　or；　does　he　think　five　guineas　has　neither　beginning　nor　end？　　Arms！　　What　would　he　do　with　arms；　or　what　would　any　man　do　with　them　that　is　not　a