Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 3.djvu/243

Rh attend the meetings of that body, such was the dependence of the directors on his information and sound judgment, that on any difficulty occurring in the management of their affairs, they were in the habit of consulting him at his own house. In the general assembly of the church of Scotland, he was for many years the leader of the popular party ; there the openness and integrity of his character secured him the confidence and affection of his friends and the esteem and respect of his opponents. The friendship which subsisted between him and principal Robertson, the leader of the moderate party, has been objected to by some of his more rigid admirers, as displaying too great a degree of liberality a fact strongly illustrative of the rancour which existed in former times among the high church party. The courtesy which marked Dr Erskine's conduct to principal Robertson throughout their lives, and the candour which led him to bear testimony to the high talents and many estimable qualities of the historian, in the funeral sermon which he preached on the death of that great man, did equal honour to Dr Erskine's head and his heart The following anecdote has been told of one rupture of the friendship which subsisted in early life between principal Robertson and Dr Erskine. Mr Whitefield, who was sent by the English methodists as a missionary into Scotland, at first formed a connection with the Seceders, the body which had left the established church; but when he refused to confine his ministrations to them, they declared enmity against him, and his character became a controversial topic. Mr Erskine, some time before he obtained the living of Kirkintilloch, appears to have been a great admirer of the character of this celebrated preacher, and to have been strongly impressed with the force of his powerful eloquence and the usefulness and efficacy of his evangelical doctrines. It unfortunately happened, that at the time when the friends and enemies of Mr Whitefield were keenly engaged in discussing his merits, the question as to his character and usefulness was made the subject of debate in a literary society which Robertson and Erskine had formed. Conflicting opinions were expressed, and the debate was conducted with so much zeal and asperity that it occasioned not only the dissolution of the society, but it is said to have led to a temporary interruption of the private friendship and intercourse which subsisted between Erskine and Robertson. There is another anecdote of these two great men, which tells more favourably for Dr Erskine's moderation and command of temper, and at the same time shows the influence which he had acquired over the Edinburgh mob. During the disturbances in Edinburgh in the years 1778 and 1779, occasioned by the celebrated bill, proposed at that time to be introduced into parliament, for the repeal of the penal statutes against the Roman catholics in Scotland, the populace of Edinburgh assembled in the College court, with the intention of demolishing the house of principal Robertson, who had taken an active part in advocating the abolition of these penal laws; and there seems to be little doubt that the mob would have attempted to carry their threats into execution in defiance of the military, which had been called out, had not Dr Erskine appeared, and by his presence and exhortations, dispersed them.

Dr Erskine's opinions, both in church and state politics, will be best understood from the following short account of the part which he took on several of the important discussions which divided the country during his life. In the year 1769, on the occasion of the breach with America, he entered into a controversy with Mr Wesley, and published more than one pamphlet, deprecating the contest. He was an enemy to the new constitution given to Canada, by which he considered the catholic religion to be too much favoured. In 1778, when the attempt was made to repeal certain of the penal enactments against the Roman catholics of Great Britain, he testified his apprehensions of the conse-