4i6 Ocjervaticns on the AB rcJpeSling Pafochia! Cchoolmajlcrs. Nov. 



that a bill had pilTed tlirough Parliament, which you think will 

 meliorate their fituation confiderably. Give me leave to fay, that 

 if you had bellowed your ufual attention upon the fubjedt, you 

 would not have rejoiced at the late ena£tment. If the fchoolmaflers 

 were confulted upon that occafion, and gave their approbation to 

 xhc tuhole chvdic^ of the bill, then I mud be allowed to declare, that 

 they have, lite Efau of old, fold their birth-ripfht fof a ifiefs of 

 poi:tage. Let any liberal-minded perfon cximine the following 

 claufe, which ftandn the 2 ill in the bill, and fay, whether the 

 fclioolmailers of Scotland are not thereby deprived of rights be- 

 longing to every other clafs of Britifh fubjedls. 



* Ar.d be it enaRed^ That when nn\ complaint from the heritors^ mi" 

 vi/ier, or elders^ againj} the fchoolmnjicr^ charging him nvith neglect 

 of duty ^ either from engaging in other occnpntions , or from a?iy other 

 caufc. or nviih immoral conduEl^ cr cruel and improper tre::tmetit of 

 the fcholars under his charge, JJjall be prefented to the Prefaytery, 

 they jhall forthwith take cognizance of the fame^ and ferve him ivith a 

 libel : if the articles alleged, appear to them to be of a nature nvhich 

 requires it, and having taken the necejfiry proof, they fhall acquit, or 

 paf fentence of cenfure, fufpenfiofiy or deprivation, as ff.mll appear t9 

 them proper, upon the refult of fuch tnve/ligation ; which judgement 

 lliall be final, without appeal to, or review by, any court, civil or 

 eccleGaftical : And in cafe they fh^ll dcpofe the incumbent from the ofzce 

 of fchoobnafter, his right to the emoluments and acco?nmodations rf the 

 fame fall cecfc, from the time of his depofition : And in cafe he fjall fail 

 cr refife to remove from the fchoolhoufe and garden, luithin the fpare of 

 three tnonths from the date of fuch fen'tence of depofition, the Sheriff of 

 the fJjirCy or Stewart of the few arty, upon having an extraR, or cer^ 

 iifed copv of the fentence of depoftiicn by the Pre/aytery, laid before 

 him^fial! forthwith grant letters of ejection againfv fuch fchoohnajler ; 

 cf which no hill cf fufpenfon or advocation., nor aciion of reduction 

 Jhall be competent ; and in cafe of fuch deHftion, the fchool fuali im- 

 mediately be declared vacant, and the eleciicn cf another fchoolmajler 

 ^?all lake place.' 



V/hy fchoohnaflers fliould be deprived of the right of appeal, is 

 a problem difhcuU to be folved. Th.it it fliortens buiinefs, is 

 uncjueltionably true ; but, by a parity of argument, an extenfion of 

 the principle to every caufc tlint comes befcjtc the civil and eccle- 

 fiaftical courts, would be equally ufeful. The Church of Scot- 

 land has never laid claim to the gift of infallibility ; and it is the 

 height of incongruity to fuppofe, that her fccond lowell court is 

 fjliible in cafes of the moll trilling defcription, and infallible in 

 thofe which aifeO: the character and fortune of certain people, 

 unfortunately confidercd in a lefs refpedliable light than what 

 their general merits and ufefulnefs to fociety warrants them to 

 be regarded. I y.m, 'oir, yours,. &Co Urban us. 



TO 



