262* gener.au assembly. 



No debate, however, took place ; for, after feme general oh- 

 fervations by Robert M'lntolh, Efq; ProfefTor Hill of St 

 Andrew's moved, That the Affembly fliould proceed to the 

 caufe of Ancrum, which was unanimoufly agreed to. 



In this caufe there appeared at the bar as appellants, Geortre 

 Gray, James Davidfon, and Patrick Smith, heritors and heads 

 of families, complaining of a fentence of the prefbytery of 

 Jedburgh, confirmed by the lynod of Merfe and Teviotdale, 

 appointing the fettlement of Mr James Oliver to be Minifter 

 in that parifli. One of the appellants read a ihort fpeech from 

 a paper he held in his hand, and was anfwered by Mr Dou- 

 glas at Galalhiels ; after which a motion was made, and agreed 

 to without a vote, to difmifs the appeal as groundlefs, and or- 

 dained the prefbytery of Jedburgh to proceed with tlie fettle- 

 ment of Mr James Oliver in the church and parifh of Ancrum 

 with all convenient fpeed, according to the rules of the 

 church. From which decifion one minifter and two elders 

 diflented. 



The Aflembly having gone through a number of matters of 

 form, Mr Gordon of Carleton, elder for Kirkcudbright, moved, 

 *' That the General Aflembly do now appoint a Commit- 

 tee to devife a method, by which a monument may be ereft- 

 cd, or feme public mark of rcfp>?dt be paid to the late Dr 

 Alexander Webfter, original projedor and founder of the 

 fcljeme by which a fund of provifon was made for the widows 

 of the m.iniftcrs of the eftablifhed church of Scotland." 



The above motion was feconded by Mr John Jeffrey writer, 

 elder for I.ochmaben, and after a few words, unanimoufly 

 agreed to, and a refpe<5table Committee immediately appoint- 

 ed, Mr Gordon to be Convener. 



Friday, May 27. 



The /.fTembly had tranfmitted to them by the Committee 

 of Bills, a petition with an extradt of the minutes of the fynod 

 of Moray, refpc(!^ing the fupprelTion ofthe parifh ofDundurcus, 

 and the annexation of it to the parifli of Rothes and Boharm ; 

 which being read, and confidered by the Aflembly, they re- 

 mitted the fame to the Procurator and Agent, to do therein as 

 they may fee caufe. 



The Affembly had tranfmitted by the above Comm.ittee a 

 reference to the Aflembly from the prefbytery of Ayr, refpec- 

 ting the caufe of Dr M'GiU, one ofthe minifters of Ayr, ac- 

 cufed of publifhing erroneous dodtrine. There was alf© tranf- 

 mitted a petition for fiindry perfons againft Dr M'Gill, which 

 was likewife read. Mr Sheppard, Mr M'Qnae, and Mr 

 Peebles, were heard for the prefbytery on the reference ; and 

 after reafoning, the Affembly agreed to hear Mr Thomas 

 Muir, Advocate, for the complainers, on the point of res judi- 

 cata. Parties being removed ; after reafoaing at great length, 



