310 ROBERTSON. 



characters, whether statesmen or men of letters, with 

 the highest distinction ; and the charms of his con- 

 versation, at once easy, lively, good-humoured, and yet 

 perfectly dignified as became his sacred profession and 

 his elevated position, added greatly to the interest that 

 naturally arose from his literary renown. 



In 1778, the concessions to the English and Irish 

 Roman Catholics, by repealing the most oppressive parts 

 of the penal laws, suggested to those of Scotland the 

 obtaining a similar boon, or rather a similar act of jus- 

 tice. The Principal approved and supported their claims. 

 An alarm was excited, and the Puritanical party in 

 the General Assembly urged the adoption of a remon- 

 strance against the proposed measure, but the Princi- 

 pal's salutary interference occasioned its rejection. The 

 alarm was, however, stimulated by all the means to 

 which the unscrupulous fury of religious faction has 

 recourse ; and so great a dread of violence was excited, 

 that the Catholics at once abandoned their attempt. 

 Their concessions, however, came too late to allay the 

 popular ferment which the Puritans had raised ; and a 

 fanatical mob attacking the Protestant chapels at 

 Edinburgh, burnt one and pulled down another, then, 

 proceeding to the college, were about to assail the 

 Principal's house, which they beleaguered, with the 

 most savage imprecations against him, but having had 

 notice of their approach he had withdrawn his family, 

 and a body of soldiers stationed there saved the build- 

 ing and the rest of the university. At the next 

 Assembly in 1780 he made a speech of singular elo- 

 quence, declaring his unaltered opinion on the justice 

 of the measure, but adding that before the riots he 



