102 THe Union oF 1707 In DUMFRIESSHIRE. 
that the Commission use what methods they think fit for them in 
the capacity of a Church-judicatory for preventing the passing of 
that article of the giving up of our Parliament. 2°. That ye do 
nothing in the Commission which may be reasonably accounted a 
compliance with the passing such an Article. 3°. If any such 
thing be likely to be concluded by the Commission that may be 
accounted such a compliance, or any other way endanger the 
present Church-establishment according to the claim of right and 
all Acts of Parliament made thereanent, ye shall in our name 
protest against it.’’? The letter to be sent to them with the above 
instructions was also read and approven, and Mr Vetch appointed 
to sign both in the Presbytery’s name, and to transmit the same 
with all dispatch. A fortnight later Mr Vetch and Mr Robison 
reported that they had attended “the Commission, and, having 
made report of their diligence, they were approven.’’ The 
minutes of the Presbytery of Penpont and of the Presbytery of 
Lochmaben are awanting for this period, while in the minutes of 
the Presbytery of Middlebie there is no reference to the Union 
except that the Act of the Commission above alluded to was not 
dealt with till the 13th November, when the 21st of that month 
was appointed as a Fast day. ‘There is no time to follow the 
matter through the deliberations of the Commission ; suffice it to 
say that by the influence of William Carstares, minister of Grey- 
friars, Edinburgh, the Church was kept out of the thorny path 
of politics, and her attention mainly directed to passing the Act 
of Security. This Act was read a first time on 6th November, 
and after a further representation and petition from the Commis- 
sion of Assembly, and a strongly-worded protest from Lord Bel- 
haven to the effect that it afforded “no valid security to the 
Church of Scotland ’’ (which protest was concurred in by the 
Marquis of Annandale, John Carruthers of Lochmaben, and 
several others), the Act was passed by a large majority on 12th 
November, the very day on which Mr Vetch and Mr Robison 
reported to the Presbytery. 
THE BURNING OF THE ARTICLES OF UNION AT DUMFRIES. 
The Cameronians in the West and South-West of Scotland, 
with Covenanting times still green in their memory, not un- 
naturally saw danger to the Protestant religion from the Union, 
and the Act of Security did not allay their fears, or, indeed, the 
: 
f 
; 
: 
