LETTER CCV.

Wodrow to Mrs Wodrow, No. 3.

May 10.

MY DEAREST,-I had yours yesterday, and had not time to answer it. It's a great satisfaction to me to have any thing under your hand; but I would not buy it at the expense of hurting any way your weak eyes. Let Mr John still write to me how you are all. I am at no charges in consulting here, and though I were, that ought not to trouble you. I am in perfect health. I wish Lady Anne a happy hour. We want not fears about this Assembly; but I hope the Lord will direct and help. For public news, I have nothing to add to the prints, save that Mr Walpole and Mr Hutcheson's scheme about public credit are both rejected, and Mr Lechmore's gone into unanimously; but what that is I cannot tell. The Commissioner' is not well; his instructions are in common form; and it's probable Mr Mitchell will be Moderator. I shall write what offers to-morrow. I am got through the difficulties in my titlepage, and the book will be ended to-morrow or next day.

May 11.

I have little from the Assembly. The King's Letter and Commissioner's speech were in common terms, and very kind. Mr Mitchell was designed to be Moderator, but Mr Thomas Black of Perth carried it by six votes, which some think odd. We need many prayers. I remember parents and all at Pollock. Pray take care of yourself for my sake. I am upon the committee for preachers, and will take a care of myself.

1 John Earl of Rothes.

LETTER CCVI.

Wodrow to Mrs Wodrow, No. 4.

May 13, 1721.

MY DEAREST,—I am now in a perfect hurry, and it's only to let you know I am perfectly well I write this. I forgot to tell you Mr Hamilton's text on Thursday-"Let your light so shine before The Moderator's choice was only by six votes.

men," &c.
Mitchell came very near.
no votes almost.

Mr

Messrs Hart, Cameron, and Semple, had

Yesterday we had the prayers in the forenoon; and in the afternoon the Answer to the King's Letter was transmitted unanimously. It's not so lively as I wish it were. We want Mr Carstares. I am on two committees, and will be on a third this day; and be not surprised though I should miss a post. Pray deal with yourself as one in whom my comfort is bound up, and take a special care of yourself. I am longing to hear from you. shall have little before us. I am your own.

This day we

Afternoon.

This day the Answer to the King's Letter was read in the Assembly, and approven unanimously. There was little more done save the appointing persons to revise the Synod books. A collection is appointed for erecting a new church in the parish of Durness, fifty miles long. My Lord Reay offers very generously 400s. per annum, stipend, kirk, and manse, and he is sole heritor. This was approven. A return was read from the ministers of Lithuania, with thanks for our contribution. There is a warm petition presented about the Marrow of Modern Divinity to the Committee of Bills, which is not yet come to the Assembly. I am impatient to hear how Lady Anne is, and give my service to parents and all at Pollock.

I have yours this night. I bless God for his Providence, and am well. What is further needful I shall write. I am yours.

LETTER CCVII.

Wodrow to Mrs Wodrow, No. 5.

MY DEAREST,—I wrote this morning, and sent it up to the posthouse, and find it not in the post-house; so I write this in case the other come not to hand, to tell you I am well, and had yours. This afternoon, the Committee of Instructions gave their opinion unanimously upon the Overtures, and have determined, because the plurality of Presbyteries have not agreed to them, [that] they cannot at this time be turned to acts; and before a subsequent Assembly take them up Presbyteries are to be acquainted. This being unanimous, though, with a struggle, only with three or four, I believe will calm the country. The Commissioner continues very indisposed, and I hear at eight of the clock that he is bedfast. I fear he scarce be able to attend to-morrow, and we have appointed a committee to name the Commission to-morrow, when many think we will rise if the Commissioner continue ill, and the Commission will sit down. I cannot write for my horses positively; but if I hinder not next post, let them come off on Monday, and come in at night, or Tuesday early. I am your own.

Edinburgh Post-Office, after Eight,

May 16, 1721.

LETTER CCVIII.

Wodrow to Mrs Wodrow, No. 6.

Edinburgh, May [16,] 1721.

MY DEAREST,-I am longing to hear how you are all. I fail not to write every post, but be not surprised if I slip one post now; for I am in a perfect hurry, with several committees I am upon. The Assembly is, they say, to rise Saturday or Monday. The Commissioner is really ill, though he still comes out; he has a most violent cough, and is turned blue and ill-coloured. On Sabbath we had a very good sermon from Mr Willison in Dundee. He lectured upon Amos iii., and preached on "not receiving the love of the truth," in which I noticed a Providence which I shall speak of when we meet. It was a most seasonable sermon. In the afternoon a young man preached very neatly, Mr David Brown of Gordon, on Isaiah lxii. 8,-"Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence." I have been these two days classing our Instructions. The chief things before the Assembly are a fast, the grievances about Patronages, &c., the Overtures, and a petition for repealing the last Act of Assembly on the Marrow, from Mr Hog, Mr Boston, the two Messrs Erskines, Mr Kid, Mr Bathgate, Mr Wardlaw, Mr James Hunter, Mr Williamson, and three others; which contains expressions which some think will infer censure, containing positions tending to support Antinomianism.

Yesterday the Assembly met at ten, where we had the affair of a settlement in the Presbytery of Auchterarder, and the Presbytery's and Synod's procedure was unanimously sustained. In the afternoon the Overtures met upon that petition of the twelve

The other three were Gabriel Wilson of Galashiels, Henry Davidson of Maxton, and John Bonar of Torphichen. The first draught of this representation was the work of Boston. It is printed in Brown's "Gospel Truth Illustrated."

ministers, and read it. It's very long, and is transmitted to the Assembly. They had a conference allowed them, but would not crave it. What the Assembly will do I know not. At night the Instructions met, and we had a fast before us, which was sub-committed. All agree upon the causes and call; but how to have the civil sanction is the difficulty. The Synods of Fife, of Ross, and Moray, have had a fast lately. We had a long representation from the elders and deacons of the Presbytery of Penpont against the Overtures. Most part of the Instructions are for delaying the Overtures at this Assembly. This is all I mind this morning. My book is finished; but the sheets are yet wet, and scarce for binding. If I write not on Thursday's post, you may send in the horses on Monday, that they be here at night, or on Tuesday by twelve. It will be Thursday probably before I get off. Pray take a care of yourself.

This day, about eleven, the Commissioner came out a start to the Assembly, against the opinion both of ministers and physicians; [we are] only to name committees against to-morrow, if he grow worse. Some think him a-dying, and that we will rise to-morrow. We have appointed a committee to choose the Commission. The Commission will sit down, and all matters referred to them, if the Commissioner turn ill.

LETTER CCIX.

Wodrow to Mrs Wodrow, No. 7.

Edinburgh, May 17, 1721.

MY DEAREST,-This morning the committee for naming the Commission met, and named them, with their Instructions. They in form, save that the Commission has all matters transmitted by the bills to the Assembly referred; in particular, the twelve ministers' petition about the Marrow, and the case of Inglish of Kil

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