That many others were connected with these, in 1803, is certain; and that many continued occasionally to vote with them, in the same cause, is not to be doubted. Yet, these gentlemen admit in the second reason for the protest, to which their names are signed, that twenty nine only voted against it, though the meeting consisted of eighty-six; and that, of twenty elders, they were supported, only, by four. That, of these twenty-nine, all attached to classification, and to each other, the rev. dr. Black and dr. M'Dowel, with Messrs. Horner, Cuming, and the rev. John Thompson, unfortunately absent on this occasion, were the most conspicuous leaders. In the privations, of which I have complained as grievances, and some other efforts respecting widows, &c. dr. Black and Mr. Cuming only are mentioned, the one as a querist, the other as an intended mover. That they continued so in some others, of which I am now to complain, I shall endeavour to shew.

After a liberation from prison, unsolicited by me, or any other person on my behalf, and a most respectful convoy, at the expense of government, to my friends and family, among other marks of approving kindness, the nume tous and respectable congregation of Donegor, expressed, through a number of their members, some of which had known me from my boyish days, a warm desire that I would become suc

cessor

cessor to their then minister, a venerable old man, but sinking under infirmity. On this subject I demurred, though he warmly encouraged me to concur with the people's wish, being then undetermined whether I would continue to reside in Ireland. During this delay, the matter was talked of publicly in the country. Some good souls became alarmed with the apprehension of my settling in the neighbourhood. The members of the congregation were told, "that any congregation taking me, as their minister, would be excluded from royal bounty. The good old man was assured that, if he resigned in my favor, on the synodical regulation of retaining the bounty for life, he would be left unsupported in his old age, as the bounty would certainly be withdrawn, on my instalment. These, having reached my ear, I immediately removed all uneasiness, from all concerned, in an interview with Wm. Owens, Esq. a member of the congregation, the oldest man, I believe, in the country, and of a character, which no man has ever impeached, and few-very few indeed, have equalled. That these reports prevailed that they were circulated on the authority of a confidential person, and that that person was believed to be dr. Black, agent for the bounty, I firmly believe. How far they had truth to support them, dr. Black best knows; to him, therefore, I appeal.

However,

However, soon after this, a presumption that dr. Black and some of his connexions might be concerned in such reports rose towards probability. In the autumn of 1802, I received an invitation to Keady, within six miles of Armagh, which was immediately followed by a call to take charge of a small congregation there. This gave an immediate alarm. Emissaries were set to work with all the principal people, on every opportunity, to warn them of the ruin they would incur by a connexion with me. The rev. Thomas Cuming was said to be indefatigable. No doubt, more might be said than was really true. But the following fact, which rests on the written authority of a man of truth and honor, and which I have in my possession, is proof sufficient that neither he nor his brother Black was idle, or lukewarm. To prevent suspicion of misrepresentation, I shall state it in the gentleman's own words.

"Some time after the rev. doctor Dickson was asked to preach for the congregation of Keady, I happened to be in the town of Armagh. There I saw the rev. Messrs. Black and Cuming, to whom I made up and saluted them, as old friends and acquaintances. After some ordinary conversation, Mr. Black told me, he had seen my name where he never thought to see it, viz. at a call to the rev. dr. Dickson to be our stated pastor at Keady. I enquired the reason. He

said he was not a loyal man, as he had been appointed adjutant general to the rebel army at Ballinahinch, and asked me if I had read the reports of the committee of the house of lords `relative to him. I said I had not; but although the doctor was confined he was never brought to trial; and we and every man had a right to deem him and all in such a situation innocent, until the laws of their country found them otherwise. He, dr. Black said that, as to his being concerned in the rebellion and guilty of improper conduct therein, he had no manner of doubt; and the reason he was not tried was, that the person, who had given their lordships information against the doctor had made it a point not to be brought forward to swear as a witness on the trial. I then alleged that any designing villain might deprive me or any loyal man of his liberty when he made points at the time of giving such information; and that it appeared to me the doctor was persecuted when not prosecuted. Doctor Black said, "If he was to become the stated pastor of Keady it would be the greatest stigma on the presbyterian cause that ever he knew to happen." In return, I said, I had no doubt of the doctor's loyalty, and, if he accepted of our small new congregation, it would be a high gratification to me, and I hoped he would be my minister during my life. Mr. Black said, he had no doubt of the doctor's accepting the congregation, if he was offered it,

but

but said that we were the last people he ever thought would have given such a ran a call. I am ready and willing to swear that a conversation to the effect of the above statement took place between dr. Black and me, in the street of Armagh, between the time the doctor first preached at Keady and the time he let us know he would accept the call of said congregation.

Mr. Cuming told a story relative to dr. Dickson's baptizing a child for some person in the county of Down, I think, near Ballinahinch. He named the man, and said he had travelled with him to a former synod, but I forget his name. This person should have told Mr. Cuming that after the doctor had baptized his child and pleasantly spent the evening, on going away, he went to see the doctor on horseback, and the doctor there told him " perhaps he would never see him again, and that this was a day or two before the disturbance broke out at Ballinahinch." I thought, by the conversation, Mr. Cuming meant to shew me, the doctor took guilt to himself as being a rebel."-This also I am willing to swear if called upon."

This written document, if genuine, and I hereby pledge myself to prove it such, renders it, not only probable, but highly probable, that presumption was not too bold in ascribing the reports, which I have mentioned to the rev dr. 002 Black