think was throwing away their time. If they should, it is the only fort- night, or indeed the only moment, I have lost to them. But it cannot well be called loss. One gentleman in that neighborhood, Sir Archibald Grant, gave ten pounds sterling to the Design, and will collect somewhat more for us. The University of Aberdeen also propose doing something. When at Edinburg I waited on Dr Robertson, 4 Dr Wishart, 5 Dr Cuming, 6 Dr Jordain and others. They are well disposed to serve us, but think their Joint interest, though at the Head of Church of Scotland, will not be able next Assembly at least to procure us a National Collection. * * * However, the Gentlemen are to write to me on this Head, and readily agreed to countenance a private Collection, which may produce almost as much as the public one. Provost Drummond, who is the most popular Magistrate they have ever had, will give his Countenance to the same.
- * * Dr Alison will not lose a moment in procuring Letters for the
Scots Clergy whether we apply publicly or privately, and let them be here in April with your Instructions. * * * At Glasgow I found the same Encouragement as at Edinburgh among the clergy, who professed them- selves pleased with the Catholic plan of having Professors of different Persuasions and told me that the Party in the Church of Scotland to whom that would be an objection were not many. But I could not stay to make any particular Collection either here or at Edinburg only prepared matters. My being detained so long at London before I could set out for the North and being obliged to be at Oxford in November hampered me much in time. * * * On my return, I visited all the principal clergy in the Towns on or near the Great Road, and wrote Letters to others. In places where it was thought my presence would assist the Collections, we agreed to delay it till March, when I promised to go down again, especially to Yorkshire. * * * Thus in about six weeks from my setting out I got back to London to meet Dr Jay, who had taken a like Tour Southward on the same Plan. * * After two or three days' stay in London, we set out again for Oxford, thinking it a compliment due to them to be both there. From Oxford we went to Gloucester, and to the Manufacturing Towns in that County, Dr Jay taking part of them and myself the other Part, so as to meet at Bath, which we did a day before Christmas, and then proceeded to London where the Briefs are now to be read in those full months January and February. Bristol we have delayed to the end of February and Bath afterwards. Dr Jay will go thither, while I go to the North in March. * * * We now find before us near forty Letters unanswered, and a continual attendance on the clergy of London neces-
- The Historian, who in this year was elected Principal of the University of
Edinburgh. 5 Rev. George Wishart. 6 Rev. Patrick Cuming.
