A literary Glasgow Provost; or, What's in a name

A SHORT time prior to the French Revolution of 1848, and while Louis Philippe, the citizen king, was still on the throne of France, Glasgow was honoured with a lord provost who, although anything but literary himself, was somewhat in the literary line, as one branch of his extensive and prosperous business consisted in publishing. This wise dignitary was, in his day, a benefactor of one or more of our public charities, and as such has been honoured with a monument; as his son, who succeeded him in business, and also became lord provost, was with the honour of knighthood.

The worthy senior went as one of a deputation from Glasgow to Paris for the purpose of presenting an address to Louis Philippe; and after the ceremony was concluded, he was taken by the King (who had probably heard of his connection with literature), into the royal library, where His Majesty pointed to a splendid copy of the works of Edmund Burke, whom he pronounced to be one of his favourite authors.

"Indeed, your majesty!" quoth the worthy Glasgow civic, "I mind fine o’ his being tried wi’ Hare at Edinburgh for horrid murders, and o’ his being hanged, but I didna ken he had written ony books !"