Account of 
Dr Dryidale, 
48 HISTORY of the SOCIETY. 
tion, the leaders on the moderate fide pitched upon Dr Drys- 
DALE as their candidate, thinking that of all others he was 
moft likely to defeat the views of their antagonifts. But they 
found great difficulty in prevailing on him to comply with their 
wilhes. His modefty difpofed him to decline the honour of the 
Moderatorfhip a fecond time, and he was afraid that his con- 
{titution, which never was robuft, and now much weaker than 
when he held that office eleven years before, might not be equal 
to the fatigues in which he would neceflarily be involved. Be- 
fides, he was extremely unwilling to put his friends to the 
trouble of coming from the remote parts of the country on 
his account. By earneft folicitation, and particularly when it 
was ftrongly ftated to him, that he ought not to confider this 
as his own caufe only, but the caufe of the friends with whom 
he had always acted, his objections at laft were removed ; and 
as it was a maxi of his never to do things by halves, he de- 
termined to ufe his utmoft exertions in collecting fuch a fup- 
port as might juftify the favourable opinion that had been 
formed of him. Accordingly, on the meeting of the Affem- - 
bly, though a moft refpectable clergyman was named as the 
other candidate, Dr DryspALe, by a very great majority of 
votes, was feated a fecond time in the Moderator’s chair. 
Tuts was the laft great exertion which he made. His 
friend Dr Rosertson had, fome years before, declined all 
concern in the public affairs of the Church ; fince which time 
it was fuppofed, that Dr Dryspaxe pofleffed more influence 
among his brethren than any other individual ; and this Affem- 
bly afforded a clear proof of it. No perfon had appeared fo 
eloquent, or poffleffed of talents fo fit for a leader in the Affem- 
bly, as Dr Ropertson. But after he withdrew, the conduc 
of the debates in that houfe feemed to be thared among a num- 
ber of fpeakers ; and while the claim of no fingle perfon was 
admitted to be the oftenfible leader, it was well known, that 
the prudence and the influence of Dr Dayspate had the great- 
I eft 
