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"You likewise call those who would exalt church-authority in some cases above the rights of conscience, the moderate party; which is as complete Irish as when you tell us, in your last number, p. 403. of a canoe appearing to two persons fast asleep on the banks of lake Ontario," As to the different parties in the church, let them fight their own battles; but I must not lose sight of the canoe. The Irishism, Sir, is a fabrication of your own: For the justice of this charge, I appeal to the meanest of your parishioners. In the tale of the Indians*, which bears striking marks of the taste, judgment, and humanity of its authort, we are told that, af ter SIDNEY and MARANO had been exhausted with fatigue and agitation of mind, they fell asleep on the banks of a lake. The tale goes on in this manner:-" Calm and unruffled was their repose; they enjoyed the happy visions of innocence, and dreamed not of impending danger. The moon, in unrivalled glory, had now attained her meridian, when

See Edinburgh Magazine and Review, vol. iv. p. 403. the individual page to which Mr NISBET refers when he makes the above infamous remark.

+ Mr RICHARDSON Professor of Humanity in the University of Glasgow.

the intermitting noise of rowers came slowly along the lake. A canoe soon appeared; and the dipping oars, arising at intervals from the water, shone gleaming along the deep," &c.

Now, Sir, if you have a servant-maid or a cow-herd near you, desire them to read the above passage, and ask them to whom the canoe appeared? They will answer, with truth and simplicity, that it appeared to the imagition of the author, who all along describes events and objects as a spectator. Indeed it is impossible to compose a tale or romance in any other manner. The position and features of the persons asleep, the moon, the lake, the rowers, are all particularly described. Who saw these appearances? Not SIDNEY and MARANO surely, but the author of the tale. It is needless to be more explicit. It is painful to remark the appearances of atrocity and of guilt which this example of your dishonesty affords. I really begin to think that you cannot read, or that there is some unaccountable perversion in your understanding, which makes you conceive right to be wrong, and truth to be falsehood.

I Now proceed to examine your political principles, which are not incurious. In Mr

LISTONS Speech, given by the author of the Assembly proceedings, in the Magazine for July, p. 416. is the following remark: "The spirit of sectaries," says Mr LISTON, "is a dangerous spirit. It once overturned both church and state in these kingdoms. It is at this moment fomenting rebellion in our colonies, and it will ever have a tendency to anarchy and confusion." To this passage the author of the proceedings subjoins this note : "It is very remarkable, that the only Wilkites in this country are some of the wild party, both clergymen and laymen; and that, during the rebellion in forty-five, the only clergymen in Scotland who were suspected of Jacobitism were two or three of that party.” In your last you meant to combat these facts; but the following quotation will shew how beautifully you betray yourself and the party you wish to support. Take your own words; for I will not imitate you in quoting dishonestly. "You say, that it is observable, that the only Wilkites among the clergy (I suppose you mean friends to liberty and the constitution) are a few of the wild party. You are doubly mistaken to my knowledge. They are neither few, nor wholly of that party, who wish well to liberty and the faith of charters. But you are quite sur

prising when you tell us, that the only Ja cobites of the clergy in the rebellion 1745 were of that party. THEY must be very wild principles indeed, that incline people at once to such opposites as Jacobitism and liberty, passive obedience and licentiousness. A philosoper must be diverted by so bizarre an appearance. If the principles of the Wilkites and Jacobites be the same, as you attribute them to the same persons, pray why is not Mr Wilkes preferred at court?"

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HERE you not only admit the justness of Mr LISTONS remark, but you extend it to your party. They are neither few," you say, "nor wholly of that party, who wish well to liberty and the faith of charters." Does not this plainly indicate that you and your friends are Wilkites, and favourers of the present rebellion in America? The writer of the proceedings never considered Wilkites and Jacobites to be synonimous terms, any farther than as they both mean enemies to the present government; and, from your own account of your principles, and those of your party, it would appear that they lead to rebellion, whatever form or name it may assume! Have you read the late proclamation? and do you

comprehend its full force? The publication of treasonable sentiments is somewhat dangerous. I imagined that the many flagrant instances of duplicity in which you have been detected, might perhaps have recommended you to the attention of your presbytery. I am now alarmed, lest the first foolish controversy I ever was engaged in, should have the disagreeable effect of bringing a man to an untimely end. But you have more reason to hope from the moderation of His Majestys Advocate, than you could expect from his vigilance and his discernment. Matters of this nature may be overlooked; but they pass not, therefore, unnoticed. There is a current report in town, that a certain reverend Doctor of your party, has lately had one of his private letters, to another reverend Doctor in America, returned from the Secretary of States Office, with a rebuke for a first fault, but with a caveat to beware for the future of encouraging and enforcing rebellious principles. If you persist in your opinions, it will be prudent in you to leave Montrose, and to transport yourself to America*, where you may bellow in safety

* Mr NISBET, as formerly mentioned, did, according to this advice, transport himself to America.

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