Such and such-like were the valuable maxims which Provost Binkie instilled into my mind during the progress of breakfast. I must say they made a strong impression upon me; and any candidate who may hereafter come forward for the representation of a Scottish burgh, on principles similar to my own, would do well to peruse and remember them. At length I rose to go. "Do I carry your good wishes along with me, Miss Binkie, on my canvass?" "Most cordially, Mr Dunshunner; I shall be perfectly miserable until I learn your success. I can assure you of my support, and earnestly wish I was an elector." "Enviable would be the Member of Parliament who could represent so charming a constituency!" "Oh, Mr Dunshunner!" Directed by the Provost's list, I set forth in search of my constituency. The first elector whose shop I entered was a draper of the name of M'Auslan. I found him in the midst of his tartans. "Mr M'Auslan, I presume?" "Ay," was the curt response. "Allow me to introduce myself, sir. My name is Dunshunner." "Oh." "You are probably aware, sir, that I am a candidate for the representation of these burghs?" "Ay." "I hope and trust, Mr M'Auslan, that my principles are such as meet with your approbation?" "Maybe." "I am a friend, sir, to civil and religious liberty,--to Dreepdaily and its charter,--to the old Whig constitution of 1688,--and to the true interests of the people." "Weel?" "Confound the fellow!" thought I, "was there ever such an insensate block? I must bring him to the point at once. Mr M'Auslan," I continued in a very, insinuating tone, "such being my sentiments, may I venture to calculate on your support?" "There's twa words to that bargain," replied M'Auslan, departing from monosyllables. "Any further explanation that may be required, I am sure, will readily--" "It's nae use." "How?" said I, a good deal alarmed. "Is it possible you are already pledged?" "No." "Then what objection--" "I made naue. I see ye dinna ken us here. The pear's no ripe yet." "What pear?" asked I, astonished at this horticultural allusion. "Hark ye," said M'Auslan, looking stealthily around him, and for the first time exhibiting some marks of intelligence in his features--"Hark ye,--hae ye seen Toddy Tam yet?" "Mr Gills? Not yet. I am just going to wait upon him; but Provost Binkie has promised me his support." "Wha cares for Provost Binkie! Gang to Toddy Tam." Not one other word could I extract from the oracular M'Auslan; so, like a pilgrim, I turned my face towards Mecca, and sallied forth in quest of this all-important personage. On my way, however, I entered the house of another voter, one Shanks, a member of the Town Council, from whom I received equally unsatisfactory replies. He, like M'Auslan, pointed steadily towards Toddy Tam. Now, who and what was the individual who, by the common consent of his townsmen, had earned so honourable an epithet?