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written to Mr Sprose of Annock； a preacher of another sort； being a
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vehement and powerful thresher of the word； making the chaff and vain
babbling of corrupt commentators to fly from his hand。 He was not；
however； so well liked； as he wanted that connect method which is needful
to the enforcing of doctrine。 But he had never been among us； and it was
thought it would be a godly treat to the parish to let the people hear him。
Besides Mr Sprose； Mr Waikle of Gowanry； a quiet hewer out of the image
of holiness in the heart； was likewise invited； all in addition to our old
stoops from the adjacent parishes。
None of these three preachers were in any estimation with Mr Cayenne；
who had only heard each of them once； and he； happening to be present in
the session…house at the time； enquired how we had settled。 I thought
this not a very orderly question； but I gave him a civil answer； saying； that；
Mr Keekie of Loupinton would preach on the morning of the fast…day； Mr
Sprose of Annock in the afternoon； and Mr Waikle of Gowanry on the
Saturday。 Never shall I or the elders； while the breath of life is in our
bodies； forget the reply。 Mr Cayenne struck the table like a clap of thunder；
and cried； 〃Mr Keekie of Loupinton； and Mr Sprose of Annock； and Mr
Waikle of Gowanry； and all suck trash； may go toand be …！〃 and out of
the house he bounced； like a hand…ball stotting on a stone。
The elders and me were confounded； and for some time we could not
speak； but looked at each other； doubtful if our ears heard aright。 At long
and length I came to myself； and； in the strength of God； took my place at
the table； and said； this was an outrageous impiety not to be borne； which
all the elders agreed to； and we thereupon came to a resolve； which I
dictated myself； wherein we debarred Mr Cayenne from ever after
entering； unless summoned； the session… house； the which resolve we
directed the session…clerk to send to him direct； and thus we vindicated the
insulted privileges of the church。
Mr Cayenne had cooled before he got home； and our paper coming to
him in his appeased blood； he immediately came to the manse； and made a
contrite apology for his hasty temper； which I reported in due time and
form； to the session； and there the matter ended。 But here was an
example plain to be seen of the truth of the old proverb； that as one door
shuts another opens； for scarcely were we in quietness by the decease of
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that old light…headed woman； the Lady Macadam； till a full equivalent for
her was given in this hot and fiery Mr Cayenne。
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CHAPTER XXVII YEAR 1786
From the day of my settlement； I had resolved； in order to win the
affections of my people； and to promote unison among the heritors； to be
of as little expense to the parish as possible； but by this time the manse
had fallen into a sore state of decaythe doors were wormed on the
hingesthe casements of the windows chattered all the winter； like the
teeth of a person perishing with cold； so that we had no comfort in the
house； by which； at the urgent instigations of Mrs Balwhidder； I was
obligated to represent our situation to the session。 I would rather； having
so much saved money in the bank； paid the needful repairs myself； than
have done this； but she said it would be a rank injustice to our own family；
and her father； Mr Kibbock； who was very long…headed； with more than a
common man's portion of understanding； pointed out to me； that； as my
life was but in my lip； it would be a wrong thing towards whomsoever was
ordained to be my successor； to use the heritors to the custom of the
minister paying for the reparations of the manse； as it might happen he
might not be so well able to afford it as me。 So in a manner； by their
persuasion； and the constraint of the justice of the case； I made a report of
the infirmities both of doors and windows； as well as of the rotten state of
the floors； which were constantly in want of cobbling。 Over and above
all； I told them of the sarking of the roof； which was as frush as a
puddock…stool； insomuch； that in every blast some of the pins lost their
grip； and the slates came hurling off。
The heritors were accordingly convened； and； after some deliberation；
they proposed that the house should be seen to； and whitewashed and
painted； and I thought this might do； for I saw they were terrified at the
expense of a thorough repair； but when I went home and repeated to Mrs
Balwhidder what had been said at the meeting； and my thankfulness at
getting the heritors' consent to do so much； she was excessively angry； and
told me； that all the painting and whitewashing in the world would avail
nothing； for that the house was as a sepulchre full of rottenness； and she
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sent for Mr Kibbock； her father； to confer with him on the way of getting
the matter put to rights。
Mr Kibbock came； and hearing of what had passed； pondered for some
time； and then said； 〃All was very right！ the minister （meaning me） has
just to get tradesmen to look at the house； and write out their opinion of
what it needs。 There will be plaster to mend； so； before painting； he will
get a plasterer。 There will be a slater wanted； he has just to get a slater's
estimate； and a wright's； and so forth； and when all is done； he will lay
them before the session and the heritors； who； no doubt； will direct the
reparations to go forward。〃
This was very pawkie； counselling； of Mr Kibbock； and I did not see
through it at the time； but did as he recommended； and took all the
different estimates； when they came in； to the session。 The elders
commended my prudence exceedingly for so doing； before going to work；
and one of them asked me what the amount of the whole would be； but I
had not cast it up。 Some of the heritors thought that a hundred pounds
would be sufficient for the outlay； but judge of our consternation； when； in
counting up all the sums of the different estimates together； we found them
well on towards a thousand pounds。 〃Better big a new house at once； than
do this！〃 cried all the elders； by which I then perceived the draughtiness of
Mr Kibbock's advice。 Accordingly； another meeting of the heritors was
summoned； and after a great deal of controversy； it was agreed that a new
manse should be erected； and； shortly after； we contracted with Thomas
Trowel； the mason to build one for six hundred pounds； with all the
requisite appurtenances； by which a clear gain was saved to the parish； by
the foresight of Mr Kibbock； to the amount of nearly four hundred pounds。
But the heritors did not mean to have allowed the sort of repair that his
plan comprehended。 He was； however； a far forecasting man； the like of
him for natural parts not being in our country side； and nobody could get
the whip…hand of him； either in a bargain or an improvement； when he
once was sensible of the advantage。 He was； indeed； a blessing to the
shire； both by his example as a farmer； and by his sound and discreet
advice in the contentions of his neighbours； being a man； as was a saying
among the commonality； 〃wiser than the law and the fifteen Lords of
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Edinburgh。〃
The building of the new manse occasioned a heavy cess on the heritors；
which made them overly ready to pick