Where enthusiasts are ready to destroy or to be destroyed for trifles magnified into importance by a squeamish conscience, it is not strange that the very name of conscience should become a byword of contempt to cool and shrewd men of business.
The majority, reinforced by the crowd of deserters from the minority, proceeded to name a Committee of Elections.

Fifteen persons were chosen, and it soon appeared that twelve of these were not disposed to examine severely into the regularity of any proceeding of which the result had been to send up a Whig to the Parliament House.

The Duke of Hamilton is said to have been disgusted by the gross partiality of his own followers, and to have exerted himself, with but little success, to restrain their violence, [292] Before the Estates proceeded to deliberate on the business for which they had met, they thought it necessary to provide for their own security.

They could not be perfectly at ease while the roof under which they sate was commanded by the batteries of the Castle.

A deputation was therefore sent to inform Gordon that the Convention required him to evacuate the fortress within twenty-four hours, and that, if he complied, his past conduct should not be remembered against him.