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trines or discipline of the church of Scotland. On the contrary, the leading doctrines of Christianity he regards with reverence. In every college the instructors of youth ought to attend public worship as regularly as possible; and if he shall be adopted into their num. her in the university of Edinburgh, I think he would not be the least exemplary in this respect. His moral character is irreproachable. No person in this neighbourhood, so far as I have had access to know, ever once called

in question the regularity and decency of his deportment: For he is not more distinguished by his mathematical knowledge, than by several amiable virtues which sweeten and adorn domestic life. But his scientific attainments are universally known; and it is my firm belief, that he would discharge his professional duties with diligence and fidelity, with credit to himself and advantage to the community.

Rep. p. 29.

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Meanwhile the Ministers, finding that the Town Council shewed no disposition either to apply for advice or to credit their unfavourable representations of Mr Leslie, determined upon taking strong measures in port of what they conceived to be their just claims. With this view, they summoned a meeting of presby. tery for Tuesday the 12th of March; and one of the Ministers having, on Monday the 11th, met the Lord Provost in the Council-room of Herriot's Hospital, privately intimated to his Lordship the measure which they had in contemplation. In ans. wer to an enquiry put to him, the Lord Provost then mentioned, that the Town Council intended to proceed to the election, on the Wednesday following, at 12 o'clock noon. On receiving this intelligence, one of the Ministers undertook to prepare the draught of a representation and protest, which might be laid before the meeting next forenoon *

Meanwhile Dr Hunter, having

* Examination, p. 65, 66.`

understood the measures which were in agitation, and thinking it fair that Mr Leslie should be informed of them, wrote a note to one of his colleagues, whom he knew to be acquainted with him. quainted with him. The gentleman, to whom the note was addressed, returned Dr Hunter his thanks, and on the morning of the day on which the meeting was to be held, called with a letter from Mr Leslie, in he had considered the relation of which that gentleman declares" that cause and effect merely as a subject of physical examination; denies all the inferences which the ingenuity of his opponents may attempt to draw from it, and pledges himself, if he should ever publish a second edition, to shew how grossly and injuriously he has been misrepresented, on this occasion *" The letter may be seen at length in our number for April 1805,

P. 321.

Mr Leslie also, by the advice of Mr Stewart, sent a copy to one of his friends in the Magistracy.

Dr Hunter, being confined with illness, sent this letter to a reverend friend, inclosed in one of his own, in which he informed him, that he was himself satisfied with the explanation it contained, and hoped that his breThe letter thren would be so also. was accordingly read in the presbytery, and gave rise to a discussion of considerable length †. In the issue, however, it was unanimously rejectted as unsatisfactory ; the representation and protest was read, and with a few amendments, approved ; and a Commitee of Ministers was appointed to have it copied and presented to the Town Council on Wedday. On reaching their homes, how.

ever, several members of the Comwere informed, that the mittee Town Council were about to assemble,

* Dr Hunter's speech, Report, p. 19. Dr Hunter's speech, Report, p. 21. Examination, p. 64.

ble, within the space of a few minutes, for the purpose of the election. On receiving this intelligence, they immediately hastened to the Council Chamber, and happening fortunately to meet with the Lord Provost, were -informed by him, that the Town Council, having found it necessary to -assemble about other unexpected business, proposed at the same time to elect a professor, in order to prevent the necessity of another meeting du ring the week.

The Ministers then

proceeded to the Council Chamber, and presented to the meeting the first draught of their paper, which, however, they were readily allowed afterwards to have copied under their own eye*. It was to the following purpose:

"Unto the Right Honourable, the Lord Provost, the Magistrates, and Council of the City of Edinburgh, the Representation of the Ministers of Edinburgh, assembled by citation from Dr Davidson, acting as Senior Minister of the City, sheweth, That by the charter of James the Sixth erecting the University of Edinburgh, it is expressly provided, that the power of electing professors in the said university, as committed to the Town-Council, shall be exercised with the advice of their Minis. ters, ("cum avisamento tamen eorum Ministrorum ;") and that, though this regulation has been, in recent cases, neglected by the Town-Council, there has been a series of practice conformable to it, extending to instances as late as the election of Professor Dalzell in the year and that of Dr Hunter in the year 1780: That there being at present a vacancy in the chair of the Professor of Mathematics in the university, and the Ministers feeling it their duty to insist upon exercising the privilege with which they are thus invested by the Royal Charter, several of them individually have intimated a desire and intention to this effect to different members of the Town-Council, and their sentiments upon this subject have, in consequence, been communicated to the meeting ordinarily denominated the Provost's Committee, but that no intimation has hitherto been received of Examination p. 66.

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any intention on the part of the Town. Council to apply, in this case, for the advice of their Ministers: That the Ministers, being informed that it is, Town Council to proceed to the elecnotwithstanding, the design of the Wednesday the 13th current, feel it tion of a professor of Mathematics on their duty to remonstrate against the measure of proceeding to such election till their advice be regularly received, hereby protesting against the validity of any election that may take place in the present circumstances, in the face of this remonstrance : That

owing to the Ministers being at present denied the exercise of their legal privilege, they are not regularly and officially informed respecting the candidates. for the vacant chair in the University; but trusting, as for this reason they they have learned from it, and from must,to common uncontradicted report, many of the members of the TownCouncil individually, that one of these candidates is Mr John Leslie, author of "An Experimental Inquiry into the "Nature and Propagation of Heat ;" and they do hereby more particularly remonstrate and protest, in the most solemn manner, against his being elected to the said vacant Professorship, because the said Mr Leslie has avouched to the world, and has endeavoured to support by argument, an opinion calculated to undermine the foundation of all religion, both natural and revealed: That the Ministers, in bringing forward this most serious charge, refer to a note which Mr Leslie has subjoined to his foresaid "Inquiry," commencing with these words:" Mr Hume is the first, as "far as I know, who has treated of "causation in a truly philosophic man·66 ner.

His Essay on Necessary Connex❝ion seems a model of clear and accu

66

66 rate reasoning. But it was only "wanted to dispel the cloud of mystery which had so long darkened that important subject. The unsophistica"ed sentiments of mankind are in per"fect unison with the deductions of "logic, and imply nothing more at "bottom, in the relation of cause and

effect, than a constant and invariable "sequence." From which words it is evident, that Mr Leslie, having, along with Mr Hume, denied all such neces sary connection between cause and ef

fect

fect, as implies an operating principle in the cause, has, of course, laid a foundation for rejecting all the argument that is derived from the works of God, to prove either his being or attributes: That it is generally understood, that by the wisdom of our fathers, and in consequence of an ecclesiastical interposition, the original author of this doctrine was rejected on account of it, and the dangerous opinions connected with it,

when he offered himself as a candidate for a chair in this University; and that the aspect of the present times does not seem to render it more safe than it formerly was, 'to entrust any who are with reason suspected of infidel principles, with the important charge of the education of youth: That in the event of Mr Leslie being elected to the said vacant Chair, notwithstanding this repiesentation and protest of the Ministers, they hereby reserve to themselves full power of questioning the validity of such an election, and of employing whatever means may to them be found mpetent for preventing Mr Leslie's induction into the office of Professor; with full power, in the event of his induction, to prosecute for his ejection from said office in any competent court, civil or ecclesiastical: That though the Ministers think it their duty to take this step, they have no design or wish to usurp, or in any degree encroach on the right of patronage, which, in this case, belongs to the Magistrates and Council, and are still willing to receive and attend to a ny explanation of Mr Leslie's principles that may in this case be offered; That the Ministers conclude with craving, that the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Council, will be pleased to order the whole of this representation and protest to be entered upon their record, and to authorise and appoint their clerk to furnish Dr Grieve, for behoof of the Ministers, with a regular extract of the same. Signed in name and by appointment of the above-mentioned meeting of the Ministers of Edinburgh, by (Signed) HENRY GRIEVE, Preses.' Sh. St. 41.

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Two of the clergymen accompanied this paper with long speeches, in which they recapitulated all their objections, and besought the Magis

trates, as they tendered the favour of Almighty God, and the salvation of their o own immortal souls, not to elect Mr Leslie *. A member of Council then asked, if they had not received an explanatory letter from that gentleman? to which they replied, that they had, but that it did not in any wise alter their opinion. The Magistrates then asked them to

sit down and listen to the certificates and letters then reading on the subject, which they had no doubt would obviate their objections +. But the Ministers replied " that their instructions limited their power to the giv ing in the representation and protest, so that they were not permitted to enter into any argument, or take any further measures on the subject ‡.”

The clergy having withdrawn, the Council, after hearing the letters and certificates read, proceeded unanimously to elect Mr Leslie Professor of Mathematics.

el;

The Ministers, finding that this measure had failed of its effect, held another meeting on the 22d of March, when they determined to follow out their object, and appointed a Com. mittee to take the advice of counsel and in particular, should they see cause, to apply for a sist against Mr Leslie's induction. At this meeting several of those clergy, who had joined in the former proceedings in this business, declared their resolution of By this means a complete separation was having no farther concern in it. effected between the two parties, into which church courts usually divide themselves; which go commonly by the name of the Moderate, and the Popular, parties. Of these, the former voted for, the lat ter against, prosecuting the measures against Mr Leslie; to the extreme surprise

* Sir H. Moncrieff, Report p. 47. Postscript, p. 31. Dr Grieve, p. 54.

surprize of the public, who, from ideas previously formed relative to each, would have been led to expect the direct reverse of such an arrange.

ment.

In pursuance of the instructions they had received, the Committee applied to the Lord Ordinary for a sist against Mr Leslie's induction. On the 27th of March, the following sentence was given by Lord Armadale :

"The Lord Ordinary having considered this bill, and heard the agents for the parties: In respect that the ministers of Edinburgh, although they by the charter founded on may be entitled to advise with the Magistrates of Edin. burgh in the presentation of Professors in the College, have not by said charter any right of negative or interdict upon the Magistrates power of presentation, and that it is not alleged in this bill, that the Ministers have in any case exercised a right of negative or interdict against the Magistrates, refuses to grant any interdict in this case: But appoints the bill to be answered as to the discussion of any question between the parties as to their respective rights or interests."

Sh. Statement Page 46.

The same day, a meeting of Presbytery was held, when a report of all the proceedings being read, Dr Grieve moved, that the discussion should be delayed till the 10th of April next, and that notice should be given to Mr Leslie of that meeting, with the view of affording him, if so disposed, an opportunity of making further explanation. Sir Henry Moncrieff, on the contrary, mov. ed the entire dismissal of the business. Dr Grieve's motion carried by a majority of two. Sir Henry complains that his brethren on the other side gave no notice of their application, that very day, for a sist, and of its unfavourable issue; and that it was the evening till he and his colleagues, to their great surprize, learned these particulars. During this interval, some interApril 1806.

course appears to have taken place between Dr Baird and Mr Leslie; the latter having, at the Principal's request, twice called upon him, and expressed his readiness to answer any queries which might be given in writing; but not being gratified in this wish, he declined replying in any other manner. (Report p. 31.)

In the election of Mr Leslie, which took place on the 12th of March, an error in point of form had been committed, Dr Ferguson, in conjunction with whom Mr Playfair had held the office of Professor of Mathematics, not having resigned at the same time. This resignation was now made, and on the 29th of March, Dr Ferguson and Mr Leslie were appointed joint Professors, and, on the following day, were inducted as such.

At the meeting of the Senatus Academicus upon this occasion, an affair was discussed, which had caused, for some time, a good deal of agitation. A few days before the election of Mr Leslie on the 12th of March, the Presbytery had written a letter to the Senatus Academicus, reminding them of the obligation they lay under, by different acts of Parliament, to subscribe the confession of faith, and expressing their hope, that these acts shall now be complied with. The University, in their answer, readily acknowledge the obligation in question, and their readiness to comply with it, but, at the same time, plainly intimate their disapprobation of this measure of the Presbytery, and their suspicion of its having been prompted by illiberal and sinister motives. On this letter being read in the Presbytery, it is said to have been treated with the greatest contempt, as improper, disrespectful to the Presbytery, such a thing as they could never allow to appear on their minutes, but would keep in retentis as a literary curiosity. At this meeting, therefore, of the University, Dr Gregory moved,

that

that as these things had been said publicly, and were become the subject of common conversation, the University, in justice to their own character, should publish the correspondence; which was unanimously agreed to *. The letters, in consequence, appeared in the Scots Magazine for April 1805.

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On the 10th of April, a meeting of Presbytery was held according to adjournment, but was attended only by the party inimical to Mr Leslie. The others, having already declared their sentiments, and knowing there was a majority against them, thought it unnecessary to attend. Enquiry was made whether any member of Presbytery had received any communication from Mr Leslie, or whether any person present was empow ered to appear for him; all which The was answered in the negative. following letter was then received and read:

"Edinburgh, 10th April 1805. "Reverend Sir,

"I have the honour to acquaint you, that I duly received the communication of the reverend presbytery of Edinburgh, transmitted by their clerk. I am, reverend sir, your most obedient

servant.

(Signed)

John Leslie."

Dr Grieve now made the follow ing motion,

"That the presbytery do refer the whole of this affair to the synod of Lothian and Tweedale, to meet in Edinburgh on the first Tuesday of May next, in order to their adopting such measures in the case as to them may seem wise and competent. But, in consideration that the presbytery, are willing to cease their proceeding, so far as concerns Mr Leslie individually, in the event of his consenting to withdraw the offensive part of his publication, either by cancelling the leaves of the book which contain the note referred to, or by any other means equally effectual, that may be agreeable to himself; it is farther

* Postscript p. 13-18.

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This motion was carried unani

mously; and Dr Grieve, Dr Inglis,
Dr Dickson, and Mr Ritchie, were
appointed as

a committee for the
At next

purpose therein stated.
meeting, held on the 24th of April,
it appeared that none of the com-
mittee had received any communi-
cation from Mr Leslie; in conse-
quence of which the same committee/
was appointed to state the reasons
of reference to the synod. Reasons
of dissent from the decision of the
27th March were also given in by
the opposite party, and a committee
appointed to answer them.

Mr Leslie's letter being published about this time in the newspapers, a paper soon after appeared, by authority of the Ministers who opposed him, with the view of doing away any impressions unfavourable to them. selves, which the letter might have produced on the public mind. Here they insist, that though Mr Leslie has denied his intention of drawing from the doctrine in his note, any inferences hostile to religion, yet he still adhered to that doctrine: that in so doing he expressed his assent to the whole doctrine of Mr Hume's essay on Necessary Connexion, and went even a little beyond it. He had spoken, indeed, of the gross misapplication which Mr. Hume had made of his premises.

But if by Mr Hume's premises, we are to understand the whole doctrine of the essay on necessary connexion, which Mr Leslie has adopted as his own, the

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