been this day with Mr Hog of Rotterdam, who remembers father and mother kindly. Mrs Stewart has written this night to Lady Anne; and if the Aldhouse be not taken, she is resolved to come west to it, and Mrs Drummond, Mr Drummond's wife, comes with her. If the Aldhouse be set, she will come to the Haggs; but then Mrs Drummond cannot come. So, when Jamie takes the letter over, let him desire Mr Maxwell either to write the next post after he gets notice from the Lady Aldhouse, or to send you word, that you may write to me if the Aldhouse be to be had. Mrs Stewart will need four stone of cheese for winter; she desires them of the largest size, so you will bespeak them in time.

The pattrons [patterns?] are come late after I had written this above. Jamie seems to incline to come east for me, and especially. if the new lad be not come home, or but new come. On Monday or Tuesday come eight days I think he may come. I shall write afterwards the time, if so be as he says the L. Castlemilk allow him, as he has concerted.

LETTER CXXXIX.

Wodrow to Mrs Wodrow, No. 2.

May 15, 1719.

MY DEAREST,―This day the Assembly met, and when the Commissions were read, the Provost of Edinburgh gave in a written protestation against the College choice of Mr Hamilton. It could not be read till the Assembly was constitute, which was gone into, and the Commissioner's commission was read in common form.' The Commissioner did commit a blunder, and immediately upon it, before the delivering of the King's Letter, had his speech, which was in common form. After he ended it, he made an apology, that indeed he had very much forgot himself, and had not, as he should, delivered his Majesty's Letter to the Assembly; but he hoped neither

'The Commissioner was John Earl of Rothes.

his Majesty nor the Assembly would take it ill; so he delivered the King's Letter, which is very kind. He takes notice of the differences that have been upon the head of the oath, and tells the Assembly that it's now so formed as, he hopes, there will be a general satisfaction, or some phrases to that purpose. The Moderator, Mr James Grierson, who was very unanimously chosen, had his speech, wherein he took notice of the remarkable providences in delivering us from the attack from Spain, and delivered himself very well. He waived saying anything upon the oath. I forgot to tell you, Mr Wishart preached a very good sermon upon the 133d.Psalm, mostly the first verse. He very pathetically pressed unity, and came to be very particular upon the oath, and gave some very good directions upon the preserving the preserving us from divisions, and proposed to the consideration of the Assembly, whether it were not fit to explain and consider some parts of our excellent Confession of Faith, which I did not so well understand. This is all I mind this day. The protestation of the town of Edinburgh is remitted to the Committee for Commissions, in common form, and I believe it will be sustained.

LETTER CXL.

Wodrow to Mrs Wodrow, No. 3.

Edinburgh, May 15.

MY DEAREST,-This day we had the forenoon spent in prayer. The Moderator began; Mr Gray, Mr Boyse, Mr Guthrie, Mr Blackwell, and Mr Currie, prayed. Mr Blackwell and Mr Shaw of Leith preach before the Commissioner on Sabbath. In the afternoon, the Answer to the King's Letter was approven in the Committee, without any debate. The King is thanked for his care in preventing divisions; and his concern this way, they add, lay them under the greatest obligations watchfully to guard against every thing that may further break us. It will, I doubt not, pass unanimously.

The great subject-matter of talk is the town of Edinburgh's protest against the College choice, which comes not in till Monday. However, the Provost's commission is found null and void by the Committee, because it is attested only by a particular session, and not by the general session, or all the sessions of the place, in terms of the act of the last Assembly. It will probably be sustained for this time, and in time to come they will be appointed to have the approbation of the general session. Whether this will bring in a determination of the Assembly as to the matter, I know not yet, but perhaps it may. A committee is appointed by the Overtures to bring in an act for directing ministers and parishes as to calls; and in the case when the jus devolutum falls into the Presbytery's hands, I wish the Lord may direct them well. Yesterday, worthy and learned Sir James Dalrymple was buried. He is exceedingly regretted.

May 16.

The Assembly this day approved the Answer to the King's Letter unanimously, and appoint revisers of Synod books, and a Committee of Instructions, in the afternoon. There is not much of moment in them. the North that can be depended on. Inverness, and seems in no great fear. the invaders have from Madrid But this is not to be depended upon.

over.

The Instructions met. We have no news from Mr Baillie is come up from We have a story of accounts giving them hopes of help. I have not time to read this

LETTER CXLI.

Wodrow to Mrs Wodrow, No. 4.

May 19, 1719.

MY DEAREST,-We had Mr Blackwell before the Commissioner. He lectured upon the 110th Psalm, and preached upon Ezekiel

xxxvii. 8, "But there was no breath in them," a very sweet sermon, and wonderfully short. In the afternoon, Mr Shaw had an affectionate pleasant sermon on the day of judgment, from Ecclesiastes xii. last. The morning we had an express, with the agreeable news that two of the English ships came up with Spanish colours to the Isle of Donald, near Ross, where there is an old castle with about forty men, Irish and Spanish, in garrison, with what arms and ammunition were not distributed among the Clans. The English have killed three, and made the rest prisoners, and a Spanish commander, with all the arms and ammunition there. The three hundred Irish who were landed, and about five hundred Clans, mostly Seaforth's men, had encamped upon the land; when they saw their friends taken they left their camp in the greatest confusion. There were two persons Colonel Clayton had sent up to get intelligence, who were to be hanged next day, got off in the hurry, and are come to Inverness. It's hoped this will much discourage the Clans from joining them. It holds that Mr Kennedy, said to be secretary to the Duke of Ormond, came from Spain to the rebels, and encouraged them, that shortly an attempt was to be made on England. Our prints say this day, that the Pretender and Ormond are at Rigo, and have laid aside their project of invading us. It's thought the King is safe over; he had excellent winds. The Assembly's business is but preparing. The Committee of Overtures have fallen on the large overtures. The Assembly met this day at four, and passed the overtures about Popery, which are very good. Mr Veitch's affair came in to the Assembly, and a letter is to be written to the ministers of Dumfries, to show him all kindness and respect. I am glad it's come to this issue, without dipping into the merits of the cause. Little further was before the Assembly but private affairs. I shall give a hint to-morrow of what is done, if I have time.

May 20.

This morning the Committee for Instructions met. There were some janglings and debates about our grievances, and some charge

from the Synod of Fife against Mr Simson for error.

All on the head of error is remitted to the Committee appointed to meet thereanent.

In the Overtures, there was passed a tolerable good act about calls to parishes, in case patrons quit or lose their right. That was all done. In Assembly I am not this afternoon; that act being to pass, and the affair of Kilspindy, which is very litigious.

I mind no more news than above, which are confirmed and believed. I find, by letters from London, that the party who appear against Arianism is increasing. And the Synod at Exeter have ordered none to be admitted save such who sign the Article, and our Shorter Catechism about the Trinity. I mind no more at present.

LETTER CXLII.

Wodrow to Mrs Wodrow, No. 5.

May 20.

MY DEAREST,-This day the Assembly met in the forenoon, and approved the Committee for Kilspindy affair, and went through Synod book, and appointed the Synods to choose the Committee for naming the Commission. In the afternoon, the Committee of Overtures met, and went through the class of Instructions, and transmitted what they agreed on to the Assembly. Principal Chalmers is come down post, and was in the Assembly this day. He is very well. Matter is now pretty much ready for the Assembly, and probably on Monday they will be up, if not There is very little in the public news this night, and we have not one scrape this week from the North, which I wonder at.

sooner.

May 21.

This day the Assembly met at 10 o'clock, and the affair of the