264 ROBERTSON. 



of Scotland in that day, as, in truth, it again does in 

 our own, he assumed the lead of its advocates. At first 

 they formed a small minority of the Assembly ; but, 

 by degrees, reason enforced by eloquence had its course, 

 and he gained ultimately a complete victory over his 

 adversaries. 



The persecution of John Home, by the fanatical 

 party, for writing the moral and innocent and even 

 pious tragedy of ' Douglas/ gave another occasion to 

 show Dr. Robertson's liberal and rational sentiments. 

 Such of the clergy as had attended the theatre to 

 witness the representation were involved in the same 

 bigoted outcry. Home himself bent to the storm, and 

 resigned his living ; Robertson's judicious but spirited 

 defence saved the rest from more than a rebuke to 

 some, and a few weeks' suspension to others. He man- 

 fully explained why he had never attended himself, say- 

 ing, that it was only owing to the promise already men- ' 

 tioned ; but he avowed that he saw no harm in the at- 

 tendance of his brethren whom no such promise bound. 



He was now looked up to as the acknowledged 

 leader of the moderate party ; and, as they soon after 

 became the ruling body in the Church, he must be 

 considered as the leading minister of that venerable 

 body during all the time he continued in the Assembly. 

 Of the lustre with which his talents now shone forth 

 all men are agreed in giving the same account. I have 

 frequently conversed with those who could well re- 

 member his conduct as a great party chief, and their 

 uniform observation was upon the manifest capacity 

 which he displayed for affairs. " That he was not in 

 his right place when only a clerical leader or a literary 



