4 CORRESPONDS WITH MR DUNLOP. 201 



common sense a newspaper, comprising political and 

 general intelligence ; to be ' pervaded by a spirit of de- 

 cided piety ; ' to espouse the cause of no one political 

 party, but be ' scriptural and constitutional ; ' to main- 

 tain the spiritual independence of the Church, combat 

 Erastianism, and 'place the connection of Church and 

 State upon its true and Scriptural footing.' Of non- 

 intrusion, or the choice of their pastors by congregations, 

 there is no express mention in these resolutions. Taking 

 them as his leading lights, Miller composed a prospectus 

 for the new paper. The name he suggested was the 

 * Old Whig,' and by this name he designated it in his 

 prospectus. He followed his instructors in merging the 

 special interest of non-intrusion in the more general one of 

 spiritual independence. The prospectus was ' shortened ' 

 by the Edinburgh Committee before being printed. 



In the note which accompanied the prospectus to 

 Edinburgh, he remarks that the production is ' unique 

 in one respect, perhaps, as it is not merely the only one 

 its author ever wrote, but also almost the only one he ever 

 read. I have set my best leg foremost,' he adds, ' and 

 made my bow, a stiff enough sort of bow, I dare say, 

 as becomes my breeding, but made with hearty good- 

 will and a great deal of respect.' Though ' as much a 

 coward as ever,' he has now, he says, ' determined on 

 making the leap.' He refers to a Pamphlet on the 

 Intrusion side by the Dean of Faculty, from which he 

 has seen some extracts. ' If he could have printed his 

 wig and his silk gown,' thinks Miller, ' it would have 

 been doubtless a splendid affair ; but bad prose an d 

 little ill-packed arguments that look for all the world 

 like bundles of pointless needles are not very serious 

 matters. It is well that the Dean is no Jeffrey. Wit 

 would do us a world of mischief; and good wit, unlike 



