SAW YE JOHNNIE COMING.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1581, 18 March 1887, Page 3

SAW YE JOHNNIE COMING.

Mr Charles Mackay, LL.D., telle the following story about Lord John Russell :

In 1647, after the Kepeal of tho Corn Liws and the establishmt nt of Free Trade in England—the successful accomplishment of which he did his utmost to promote in Parliament—when neither Mr. Cobden nor Mr. Bright, its more vigorous champions, had seats in that assembly, Lord John Kussell took his annual holiday in the Highlands. I was at that time the editor of the Glasqoic Argus, the leading Liberal journal of the Weet of Scotland. As his lordship was to pass through Glasgow, on his way back to London, the Liberals of that great enterprising city resolved, under the leadership of the then Lord Provost, Mr. James Luiusden, to invite him to a public dinner. Mr. Lumsden was the moßt influential proprietor of the Argus, and a very dear and much respected friend of mine, and consulted me daily on all arrangements; the toasts that were to be given, the most aavisable persons to select for proposing them, and even condescended to such details as the menu of the dinner. He came to me on the morning of the day appointed tor the dinner, and informed me, with great glee, that he bad arranged the band in the orchestra of the hall should, on his L trd.-hip's entrance, strike up the air, " See the Conquering Hero Comes." 1 could not help laughing, lor Lord John Kussell was a very little man, considerably under the medium height, and did not in the least, or iu any particular, come up to the popular idea of a hero; and 1 frankly told Mr. Lumsden that he should reconsider the subject. " I have thought it over till I am tired of thinking," replied the Provost " Can you no' suggest onything yoursvi'r" The Provost continually relapsed into broad Scotch when he was iu thoiough earnest. "I ken that ye're musical, and 1 should like if ye could suggest onything well-known and appropiate." A sudden thought took possession of me, which 1 communicated to the Provost more as a joke than with any idea that he would take it seriously. " Nothing could be more appropiate, I said, *' than th«i fine old Scottish air, ' Saw ye Johnnie Coming ?'"

" The vera thiug," said the ProvoHt with a hearty laugh, while giving me a grip of his hand. " Dinna fash your head ony tnair, the thing is settled !' and he repeated the first tour lines of the ancient song—- " ' Saw ye Johnnie comin'P'quo' she—- ' Saw ye Johnnie comm 'P ' Wi' lii« blue bonnet on his head An' his doggie runnin'."

" Ilk, mon, it'il do fine!'' And so saying the worthy Provost took bis departure, leaving on my mind the impression that he would, after all, take the suggestion as a joke, and that at the last moment nothing would bo further from bis intention than to act upon it.

I saw no more of him until the dinner-hour, when, to my great astonishment and so small amusement, the band struck up the brisk and lively air," Sawye JohnnieComin' ?'* as his L irdship, escorted by the Provost and other leading of Glasgow, entered the hall. The affair is familiar to most Scotsmen, and such a peal of laughter broke from the immense assemblage as I bad never heard before and have not heard since. Lord John Kussell looked surprise and bewildered. He evidently was unacquainted with theair and its name, and was at a loss to account for the hilarity of the meeting. Mr. Lumsden came to the rescue, bent down to his lordship's ear and explained the mystery. The gloom on the handson.6 and delicate face of the treat statesman gave place to a smile, which was immediately superseded by a laugh as hearty as that of any of the company.