228 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 



opinion, remains defective to compleat them hap- 

 py ; for if not to waste by an overpluss, they can 

 never pine away by a want. 



Theoph. I fancy this place situate in a plea- 

 sant part of a country ; and so was that relique 

 of antiquity we but newly past by, when ap- 

 proaching the suburbs of this flourishing city. 



Am. You do well to remind me, for I had al- 

 most forgot it ; that was Old Aberdeen : things 

 that grow ancient, grow out of fashion ; how- 

 ever, it's the mother city of New Aberdeen, and 

 a university to boot, wherein stands an old wea- 

 ther-beaten cathedral, that looks like the times, 

 somewhat irregular : but of that I have little to 

 say, since others before me thought requisite 

 to erect such public places for private devotion, 

 when this presentgeneration conform themselves, 

 by contracting their congregations to lesser now. 



Theoph. Is this Old Aberdeen an old univer- 

 sity ? why then a sophister may pick up as much 

 ethicks and politicks as will serve him to stuff 

 out a pair of lawn sleeves. Cathedrals in some 

 countries influence the inhabitants, as planets, 

 you know, have government over the vital parts. 



Am. You must have a slash at the gown, I 

 perceive ; but what think you of the church in 

 New Aberdeen, (that's no cathedral) where the 

 magistrates sit under the soveraignty of the mace, 



