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150 Henry
People, agitated for parliamentary
W. Meikle
reform. Some of the wilder
spirits, however, did not conceal their desire for even greater
changes in the constitution, and as the drama of the French
Revolution developed into tragedy, all projects of reform at
home were denounced as revolutionary. The dread thus in-
spired in the middle and upper classes enabled Dundas not only
to repress all democratic activity throughout the country, but
also to win support for the war against France, and for those
arbitrary measures which reduced the government of Scotland
to the despotism which bears his name. Whoever ventured to
dispute the wisdom of such a policy was branded as a Democrat,
a Croppy, or a Black Neb, imbued with French principles.
Yet although the democrats were effectively silenced, the
following narrative affords one proof that they continued to
cherish their opinions in secret ; and the undercurrent of
discontent with the
existing
state of affairs thus preserved
among the industrial class, coming to light
in the Radical War
of 1819, contributed one element to the victory of reform
in 1832.
About the end of May, 1798, the Sheriff-Depute of Edin-
burgh informed the Duke of Portland that two brothers, John
and Benjamin Sword, had been arrested on a charge of holding
improper communications with the enemy. John was apprehended
on board a vessel in Leith bound for Embden, and
his brother Benjamin at Glasgow. Failing to
give
a satisfactory
account of some letters seized at the same time, they were
confined to till prison they should do so. 'They are both
wealthy,' wrote the '
sheriff, having retired from trade at
Glasgow, the one as a Spirit and Muslin Manufacturer, the
other a Tea China man, and notwithstanding their success in
trade are both dissatisfied with their country and anxious to
settle themselves somewhere else.'
The reasons for the dissatisfaction were partly family but
largely political. In a letter to a friend in America, dated
Langside House, December, 1795, John Sword, after
detailing
some family matters which had occasioned him much distress,
proceeds to give his opinion of the political state of Scotland
*
at that time. I see there will be new matter springing
in
our nation of great magnitude, which will produce events more
momentous to the nation at
large,
until at last they produce
a Revolution as compleat, though I hope not so
sanguinary,