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MEMOIR, &c. 
 
F/:(irfji.'td lu ,I.Sar/am 
 
 'M,\>fo (i^JJUi'JiULijitjK.'^ w\y-:^)"'^)'^n^'i:, jiu. jw„ 
 
MEMOIR 
 
 REV. CHARLES NISBET, D.D. 
 
 LATE PRESIDENT OF 
 
 DICKINSON COLLEGE, CARLISLE. 
 
 ,^: 
 
 BY SAMUEL 'MILLER, D.D. 
 
 PROFESSOR IN THE THEOLOGICAL SEMIXARY, 
 PRINCETON, NEW JERSET. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY ROBERT CARTER, 
 
 58 Canal Street. 
 
 ISIO. 
 
Enteked, according to the act of Congress, in the year 1840, by 
 Samuel Miller, D.D., in the ofiice of the Clerk of the District 
 Court for the District of New Jersey. 
 
 PRINTED Br JOim nORATlT, 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
TO THE 
 
 SURVIVING RELATIVES 
 
 OF THE VENERABLE MAN WHOSE HISTORY AND 
 
 CHARACTER ARE HERE ATTEMPTED ; 
 
 AND TO ALL THE 
 
 ADMIRERS OF HIS PIETY, GENIUS, WIT, AND 
 
 PROFOUND ERUDITION, 
 
 IN BOTH HEMISPHERES, 
 
 THIS VOLUME IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, 
 
 BY 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Princeton, August 20, 1840, 
 
 * 
 
PaiHCETOIT 
 
 theologiojl 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 His birth. — Early education. — Course in 
 the University of Edinburgh. — Entrance 
 on the study of Theology. — License to 
 preach the Gospel. — Stated supply in the 
 Gorbals of Glasgow. — Call to Montrose. 
 — Ordination. — Marriage. — Epithala- 
 mium Montr osi anum . — Thought of as 
 President of Princeton College. — His ac- 
 knowledged learning. — His extensive lite- 
 rary and social connections 13 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 State of the Church of Scotland when Mr, 
 Nisbet entered her ministry. — He attaches 
 himself immediately and inviolably to the 
 Orthodox party. — Specimens of his speeches 
 in the General Assembly of the Church. — 
 His correspondence with the Countess of 
 Huntingdon. — His Review of the System 
 of Methodism.— Character of that Review. 29 
 
Vm CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 His ministry in Scotland continued^ — His 
 uniform finendliness to Civil and Religious 
 Liberty. — He is friendly to the cause of 
 the Jlmerican Colonies during the Revolu- 
 tionary contest. — Specimen of his preach- 
 ing on a Fast day during the *Bmcrican 
 war. — His opposition to the Patronage 
 Jict . — His correspondence with the Coun- 
 tess of Lev en ^ and with the Earl of Buchan, 74 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Establishment of Dickinson College. — Dr, 
 Nisbet chosen the first President. — Co?'- 
 respondence with the Countess of Lev en in 
 relation to this appointment . — t/Jlso ivith 
 Dr. Rush and the Trustees. — ^nd with 
 the Earl of Buchan. — He finally accepts 
 the appointment, and sails for the United 
 States. — Jirrival at Philadelphia. . . 100 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Dr, Nisbet spends a few days in Philadelphia. 
 — Pays a short visit to Dr. Witherspoon 
 at Princeton. — Sets out for Carlisle^ — 
 
CONTENTS. IX 
 
 Pleasant arrival there, — Inauguration 
 in his office. — Writes to the Earl of Bu- 
 chan, an account of his voyage, and sit ua^ 
 Hon. — Becomes tediously a7id dangerous- 
 ly sick. — Is discouraged. — Resigns his of- 
 fice and determines to return to Scotland. 
 
 — But soon recovers. — h re-elected to the 
 Presidentship, and again accepts it. — «^c- 
 count of the Lectures and Labours tvhich 
 he undertook in^the discharge of the duties 
 of his office. — Embarrassments and diffi- 
 culties of the College. — Correspondence 
 with the Earl of Buchan — with the Rev. 
 James Paton — ivith the Countess of Lev en 
 and with Dr. Beat tie. — Marriage of his 
 eldest Daughter 137 
 
 CHx\PTER VI. 
 
 The autho7'''s first interview with Dr. Nisbet. 
 
 — His impressions from that interview. — 
 Remarks on the difference between know- 
 ledge acquired by Books, and by oral com- 
 munication. — Dr. Nisbefs correspondence 
 with the Countess of Lev en. — His visit to 
 Governor Dickinson. — Corresjjondence 
 with Dr. Witherspoon and Dr. Erskine. — 
 Marriage of his younger Daughter. — 
 Sentiments and conduct respecting the 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 French Revolution, — Correspondence with 
 the author of this Memoir, and with Dr. 
 Paton of Scotland. — His remarks on the 
 Eighteenth Century, ... * . . .210 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Dr. NisheVs discouragements in his official 
 . station. — His last illness and death. — 
 Extracts from the Sermon preached on oc- 
 casion of his funeral. — Rosses Latin Ode 
 to his rnemor I/.— Inscription on his Tomb.— 
 Description of his Person. — His Library, 
 and the disposition inade of it. — His chil- 
 dren and grand children. — The course of 
 Dickinson College after his decease. . . 282 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 His general character. — Letter of the Rev. 
 President Green. — Letter of the Rev. Pre- 
 sident Brown. — Letter of the Rev. Dr. 
 Martin. — Character of his intellectual 
 powers. — His erudition. — His extraordi- 
 nary knowledge of Languages.— His cha- 
 racter as a Divine— as a Preacher — as an 
 Author — as President of a College — as a 
 Wit. — Closing remarks 305 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 P. 242, 1. 26, for r easonahle read seasonable. 
 
 P. 257, 1. 2^, for Dr^ read Mr. 
 
 P. 267, 1. 3, dele Rev. Mr, Miller, N. Y. 
 
MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 His Early Life. 
 
 The subject of the following Memoir was one of 
 those great and good men, who have been called 
 from spheres of usefulness and honour in Europe, to 
 enrich the literature, and adorn the Church on this 
 side of the Atlantic. And although, in his case, our 
 country has been culpably tardy in paying her debt 
 of respect and gratitude; yet that debt has been deep- 
 ly felt, and often acknowledged; and if the formality 
 of making a permanent record of it has been unduly 
 postponed, the result has shown that the lapse of time, 
 instead of consigning an elevated character, and im- 
 portant services to forgetfulness, has rather served to 
 deepen the impression of them, and to give a testimo- 
 nial of their value rather strengthened than weakened 
 by being delayed. 
 
 By this delay, however, a serious disadvantage has 
 been incurred. Almost all the contemporaries of the 
 deceased have passed from the stage; and, of course, 
 a large part of that information concerning his early 
 life which might have been easily obtained from his 
 2 
 
14 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 native country, thirty years ago, is now irrecoverabljr 
 lost. But even w^ith regard to this loss, there are 
 counterbalancing considerations. Time has been 
 left for the first fervour of feeling on the departure 
 of an eminent man to subside. His character is now 
 viewed with the calmness and impartiality of a long 
 and leisurely retrospect. The statement and portrait 
 about to be presented are not drawn under the pain- 
 ful and exciting impression of a recent bereavements 
 There has been time to consult the award of faith- 
 ful public suffrage. Perhaps the most candid and 
 impartial, if not the most feeling and racy biographi- 
 cal sketches, are those which have been formed many 
 years after their subjects have passed from the stage 
 of action. The erection of this humble memorial is 
 reserved for one who knew the subject of it well, who 
 venerates his memory; and who considers it as an 
 honour to contribute any thing towards embalming 
 the memory of so distinguished and worthy a man. 
 
 Charles Nisbet was born in Haddington, in 
 Scotland, on the 21st day of January, A, D. 1736. 
 He was the third son of JVilliam Nisbet, and Jili- 
 son, his wife, who, for many years, resided in that 
 place. His father had two other children besides 
 Charles; one elder and the other younger. The el- 
 der was Andrew, afterwards the Rev. Andrew Nis- 
 bet, pastor of the parish of Garvald, in the Presbyte- 
 ry of Haddington, w^ho never married, and who died 
 several years before his brother Charles. The young- 
 er son was William, who devoted himself to mercan- 
 tile pursuits, and who died about the time that Charles 
 came to this country. 
 
 Of the occupation or circumstances of his Father 
 
HIS EARLY LIFE. 15 
 
 little IS now known, excepting that they were not 
 such as to admit of his sustaining his son in the more 
 advanced stages of his education, when it was neces- 
 sary for him to leave home, the advantages of which, 
 nevertheless, that son was intent on enjoying. Ac- 
 cordingly he remained with his father until the six- 
 teenth year of his age, diligently employed in study- 
 ing the Latin and Greek languages, and the various 
 elementary branches of knowledge which are consid- 
 ered as requisite to entering the university. In 1752, 
 he entered the University of Edinburgh, and from 
 this time he never more received from his father any 
 pecuniary aid. Such was his thirst for knowledge, 
 and such his ardour and energy of character, that 
 immediately on going to Edinburgh, he made en- 
 gagements as a private teacher, which enabled him 
 to bear all the expenses of his College course. Even 
 at such an early age did this remarkable youth give 
 that evidence of accurate scholarship, dignity of de- 
 meanor, and capacity for instructing others, which 
 gained at once the confidence of his friends, and in- 
 troduced him to the means of independent and hon- 
 ourable subsistence. 
 
 How rarely is it that young men, in laying the 
 foundations of their knowledge, are equally wise, or 
 equally successful. A great majority of those who 
 pass through a course of what is called liberal educa- 
 tion, are so loose and careless in studying the ele- 
 ments of literature and science, that they are not suf- 
 ficiently grounded in any one branch to be prepared 
 for successfully teaching it. The consequences of 
 this negligence are unhappy in a variety of ways. — 
 When the foundations of knowledge are slightly and 
 
16 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET^ 
 
 superficially laid, the superstructure must ever par- 
 take of the same unsolid and insecure character. No 
 one was ever strong in any branch of knowledge, in 
 the elements of which he was weak. He who lays 
 a deep and thorough foundation, has his work more 
 than half done, and proceeds at every step afterwards 
 with more ease, with more expedition, and with 
 more firmness of advance. In this case, too, the stu- 
 dent, if in straitened circumstances, or if suddenly re- 
 duced to the necessity of relying on his own efibrts, 
 is better prepared to go forth, and acquire, in the 
 early morning and evening, by instructing others, 
 what will sustain him the remainder of his time. 
 This was the wisdom and happiness of young Nis- 
 bet, who, in the outset of his career, gave a very 
 decided presage of that scholarship and extensive 
 erudition, as well as force of mind, which afterwards 
 rendered him one of the most remarkable men of his 
 time. 
 
 Of the general character of young Nisbet's course 
 in the University no record now remains. The 
 proofs, however, of his accurate and mature scholar- 
 ship are so many and unquestionable, that his under- 
 graduate career must have been not only exemplary 
 but highly honourable. He was graduated in the 
 year 1754, in the eighteenth year of his age.* 
 
 Immediately on completing his course in the Uni- 
 versity, he entered the Divinity Hail in Edinburgh, 
 as a student of Theology, with a view to the Gospel 
 
 * The year of his graduation is not certainly known. But, as he 
 is said to have been six years in the Theological Hall, he must 
 either have been graduated in the year above mentioned, or have enter- 
 ed the Theological Hall before his graduation, which is not probable* 
 
HIS EARLY LIFE. 17 
 
 Ministry. In this new situation he supported him- 
 self by an engagement as Editor of a popular periodi- 
 cal publication, the character of which, while he con- 
 tinued to preside over it, bore ample testimony to 
 his intellectual and literary resources. Of his ap- 
 pearance in the Divinity Hall, the Rev. Samuel Mar- 
 tin, of Monimail, a respectable contemporary and fel- 
 low student, bears the following testimony. ^' The 
 first time that I distinguished Dr. Nisbet was in the 
 Divinity Hall at Edinburgh. Dr. Hamilton, our 
 worthy and learned Professor, had appointed the 
 impugning and defending a Thesis, according to 
 mood and figure, in Latin; The Professor was an 
 excellent Latin scholar himself, and seemed to be as 
 much at his ease in Latin as in English. The 
 shrewdness and ability, the command of argument 
 and of language in Mr. Nisbet struck me much." 
 
 While Mr. Nisbet was a student in the Theologi- 
 cal Hall, his private papers show that his mind was 
 very seriously and solemnly exercised with respect 
 to divine things. On the 10th of March, 1756, he 
 recorded an act of solemn dedication to God, drawn 
 in a spirit of enlightened and ardent devotion. And 
 on the ISth of April, 1759, he drew up another pa- 
 per, in a different form, but of similar import; both 
 very strikingly evincing that while he was diligent- 
 ly engaged in studying Theology as a science, he was 
 by no means forgetful of its practical and experimen- 
 tal influence on his own heart as a Christian. 
 
 In the Divinity Hall he continued to study, ac- 
 cording to the excellent habit of his country, for six 
 years. At the end of this time, on the 24th day of 
 September, A. D. 1760, he was licensed to preach the 
 2* 
 
18 MEMOIR OF I>R. NISBET. 
 
 Gospel, by the Presbytery of Edinburgh, in the 
 twenty-fourth year of his age. 
 
 Young Nisbet, in the course of his education, had 
 become early and intimately acquainted with the 
 late Dr. Witherspoon, who was about fourteen years 
 older than himself. Under the direction of Dr. 
 Witherspoon, indeed, some of his studies, especially 
 that of the French language, had been conducted. 
 The first sermon which Mr. Nisbet preached after be- 
 ing licensed was in the pulpitof his friend, then settled 
 in Paisley, a flourishing town of Scotland, about fifty 
 miles west of Edinburgh. These distinguished men 
 continued to be affectionate friends until the death 
 of Dr. Witherspoon, in 1794. And it is not at all 
 improbable that their early friendship had consider- 
 able influence in inducing Mr. Nisbet to listen to an 
 invitation to remove to the United States, 
 
 Mr. Nisbet's first engagement, as a stated preach- 
 er, was to supply a church in the Gorbals of Glas- 
 gow, Here he remained about two years. The 
 congregation had stipulated, besides paying the sala- 
 ry mentioned in their call, to furnish him with 
 a house. This stipulation, however, they had fail- 
 ed of fulfilling. Though their young preacher was 
 highly acceptable and popular; yet as he had no 
 family, and a domestic residence did not seem necCvS- 
 sary for him, they postponed a compliance with their 
 engagement. Receiving a call to another Church, he 
 thought it his duty to remove. On taking leave of 
 the congregation, he selected as a text for his farewell 
 sermon, Acts xxviii. 30. And Paul dwelt two 
 whole years in his own hired houses and received 
 all that came in unto him. 
 
HIS EARLY LIFE. 19 
 
 The call referred to in the preceding paragraph, 
 was from the church of Montrose, a large and flour- 
 ishing town on the east coast of Scotland, a royal 
 borough, and a place of considerable importance both 
 for its maritime trade and its valuable manufactures. 
 This church was large, and embraced much cultiva- 
 tion and intelligence. Having been for some time 
 in want of an Assistant to their aged and infirm Pas- 
 tor, they applied to the Rev. Dr. Gillies, of Glasgow, 
 to recommend to them a suitable candidate. The 
 Doctor immediately named his young friend, Mr. 
 Nisbet, as the most able and promising preacher he 
 could think of. This nomination met with prompt 
 acceptance, and immediate measures were taken by 
 the church to present him a call. Mr. Nisbet 
 thought it his duty to accept of it, and soon entered 
 on his new charge. The right of patronage of this 
 Parish was vested in the King — George III. — and 
 the duty of taking the lead in measures to fill the 
 vacancy, was committed to the Town Council. 
 
 As the documents which conveyed and authenti- 
 cated this call, were in a form not very familiar to 
 Presbyterians in the United States, where patronage 
 is happily unknown; and as they are somewhat his- 
 torical in their character, they are here given at 
 large. 
 
 The original call from the Town Council of Mont- 
 rose, is as follows: 
 
 "At Montrose, the twenty-sixth day of January, 
 one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three years; 
 which day the magistrates and remanent members of 
 the Town Council of the said Burgh, being met and 
 convened within the new Council House thereof, and 
 
20 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 taking into their serious consideration that the office 
 of an assistant or helper to Mr. John Cooper, first 
 minister of the gospel of this Burgh, has been for 
 some time vacant, by Mr. John Miller, his late as- 
 sistant, being called to and now settled minister at 
 Newburgh; and that by the agreement between the 
 Council and Mr. Cooper, he empowers them to choose 
 any person they shall think proper to be his assist- 
 ant; and having had this day laid before them an 
 extract of an act or report of the church session of 
 'this Burgh, dated the 25th day of January instant, 
 bearing that the several members of session declared 
 that, according to the best of their information, the 
 congregation in general were well satisfied that Mr. 
 Nisbet, preacher of the Gospel, should be settled 
 Assistant, and that proper steps be taken for his being 
 also successor to Mr. John Cooper. And the Coun- 
 cil, having considered the said report, and also con- 
 sidering that the said Mr. Charles Nisbet has been, 
 for some considerable time by-past, preacher of the 
 Gospel at Gorbals, near Glasgow: And (as the Coun- 
 cil are well informed), has discharged his office there 
 to the satisfaction of his auditory; and that the Coun- 
 cil has received a very agreeable character of his 
 sufficiency from very competent judges; and they 
 also considering that he had preached in the Church 
 here, several times in the month of July, 1761, to the 
 general satisfaction of the Congregation; and they, 
 looking upon him as a very proper person to be both 
 Helper and Successor to Mr. Cooper: Therefore the 
 Council did, and hereby do, unanimously elect and 
 choose the said Mr. Charles Nisbet to be Helper or 
 Assistant to the said Mr. John Cooper, as Minister 
 
HIS EARLY LIFE. 21 
 
 aforesaid; and also they, for the reasons and causes 
 mentioned in their Act of Council, dated the 14th 
 day of January, A. D. 1761, do hereby entitle the 
 said Mr. Charles Nisbet, as long as he shall exercise 
 the aforesaid office of Assistant to Mr. Cooper, a 
 salary of fifty pounds sterling yearly (being the same 
 which was settled on the two former Assistants), to 
 be paid to him at two terms in the year, Whitsunday 
 and Martinmass, by equal portions, and to com- 
 mence upon the first Sabbath that he shall hereafter 
 perform divine service in the Church of this Burgh. 
 And further, the Council do hereby promise and 
 engage that they will, without loss of time, cause 
 to be made application to his majesty, as patron of the 
 first Minister's charge here, for his royal signed 
 manual in Mr. Nisbet's favour, naming him both 
 Assistant to Mr. Cooper during his life time, and 
 also Successor to him in his office at his death: and 
 that they will thereafter take the proper steps in 
 order to get him ordained a Minister and settled 
 Helper and Successor as aforesaid, according to the 
 rules of the Church. And they appoint the Clerk 
 to make out an extract of this their act, and Baillie 
 Lauchlan Mouson to transmit the same to Mr. Nis- 
 bet, and to request him to come to this place as soon 
 as possibly he can in order to take upon himself the 
 aforesaid office of an Assistant, in regard his pre- 
 sence, is much wanted here, as the whole of the 
 ministry lies heavy upon Mr. Aitken, the other Min- 
 ister." " Extracted from the Records of Council.'^ 
 '* William Speed, Clerk,^' 
 
 The Presentation, by the Royal Patron, was in the 
 
22 MEMOIR or DR. NISBET. 
 
 following words. It will be perceived that it bears 
 date near eleven months after the call of the Town 
 Council. This is probably to be accounted for in 
 two ways. First, the presentation by the Royal 
 Patron was not necessary to the choice and settle- 
 ment of an Jissistant to the Pastor; but it loas 
 necessary to prepare the way for that Assistant to be 
 " Successor in the Pastoral charge.'^ Secondly, the 
 Town Council probably had assurance that the Royal 
 presentation would be made in due time, and on this 
 "assurance both they and the gentleman called, re- 
 posed with confidence, and proceeded at once to take 
 those steps which were desirable for obtaining aid 
 to their aged Pastor as speedily and effectually as 
 possible. Some formalities at the seat of govern- 
 ment led, no doubt, to delay in actually drawing up 
 and transmitting the necessary document. 
 
 *' George R. 
 
 " Whereas, by an humble representation to us, 
 from Mr. John Cooper, Minister of the Gospel at 
 Montrose, and from the present Magistrates of the 
 said Borough, and remanent members of the Town 
 Council thereof, we are informed, that, by the great 
 age and infirmities of the said John Cooper, and other 
 circumstances of the said Parish, it appeared neces- 
 sary to the advancement of the Gospel, and the good 
 of the said Parish, that Mr. Charles Nisbet, Preacher 
 of the Gospel, should be ordained Assistant to the 
 said John Cooper, during his life, and Successor in 
 office, as Minister of the said Parish, after his death, 
 provided our consent was obtained thereto, the pre- 
 sentation upon the death of the said John Cooper 
 
HIS EiRLY LIFE. 23 
 
 being in our gift, and at our disposal; Therefore we 
 are graciously pleased, from a due regard to the said 
 representation, and the advancement of the Gospel 
 in said Parish of Montrose, to give the Royal Assent 
 to the said settlement, and to will and consent that, 
 upon the death of the said John Cooper, the said 
 Charles Nisbet be entitled to the stipend, benefice, 
 and profits now belonging to the said John Cooper, 
 in the same manner as if he had been presented upon 
 the vacancy of the said Parish. Given at our Court 
 at St. James's, the 25th day of November, 1763, in 
 the fourth year of our reign." 
 
 " By his Majesty's Co7nmcmd, 
 
 ^' Sandwich.'^ 
 
 Mr. Nisbet, as before stated, considered it as his 
 duty to accept this call, and soon after removed from 
 the vicinity of Glasgow to Montrose. He was regu- 
 larly ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministr}^, 
 on the 17th of May, A. D. 1764, by the Presbytery 
 of Brechin, within the bounds of which he was now 
 placed. The Church to which he now undertook to 
 minister was unusually large. The tradition is, that 
 in the administration of the Lord's Supper, which, in 
 the Church of Scotland, is dispensed at tables, and 
 not pews, there were usually fourteen or fifteen 
 tables. Such a charge, when the duties which, in 
 the former and better days of the Church, it was 
 considered as imposing, such as visiting, catechising, 
 &c., as well as preaching, are taken into considera- 
 tion, must have been a formidable undertaking for a 
 young man. He addressed himself to it, however, 
 with something of the spirit which its nature de- 
 
24 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 manded, and was favoured with great acceptance by 
 the people. Though he was officially a Helper or 
 Assistant in the charge, yet the chief weight of all 
 the duties connected with it devolved on him, as Mr. 
 Cooper, the senior Minister, was aged and infirm, 
 and seldom able to appear in public. He lived, how- 
 ever, nearly ten years after Mr. Nisbet was brought 
 into connection with him, viz. until 1773, when he 
 deceased, and left his young Assistant in the sole 
 charge of the congregation. 
 
 About two years after Mr. Nisbet settled at Mont- 
 rose, he was united in marriage with Miss Anne 
 Tweedie, a daughter of Thomas Tweedie, Esquire, 
 of Quarter, about thirty miles south of Edinburgh. 
 His elder brother, Mr. Andrew Nisbet, before spoken 
 of, afterwards minister of a Church in the neighbour- 
 hood of Glasgow, was, for several years prior to his 
 ordination, engaged as a private Tutor in the family 
 of Mr. Tweedie. During this period, the subject of 
 this memoir, while a student in the University, and 
 about eighteen years of age, paid a visit to his bro- 
 ther. In the course of this visit he became attached 
 to Mr. Tweedie's daughter Anne. This attachment 
 was favourably received, and ultimately led to a mat- 
 rimonial engagement. Their marriage, however, on 
 account of his situation, was postponed for twelve 
 years. In the month of June, 1766, they were 
 united, and lived together about thirty-eight years, 
 in great harmony and comfort. About the same 
 time with the marriage of Mr. Nisbet, the nuptials of 
 another distinguished individual occurred at Mont- 
 rose, both of whom were particular friends of Dr. 
 Beattie, the celebrated moral philosopher and poet 
 
HIS EARLY LIFE. 25 
 
 of Marlschal College, Aberdeen. On this occasion, 
 Dr. Beattie composed and transmitted a beautiful 
 Poem, which he styled Epithalamium Montrosi- 
 ANUM. Pains have been taken to recover this ele- 
 gant testimonial of friendship from so popular and 
 honoured a pen, but without success. 
 
 Not long after Mr. Nisbet became an assistant 
 Minister at Montrose, another event occurred which 
 showed the high esteem and confidence in which he 
 was held by those who were most competent to judge 
 of his character and attainments. In the month of 
 November, 1766, on the death of the Rev. Dr. Fin- 
 ley, President of the College of New Jersey, the 
 Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, then Pastor of the Church of 
 Paisley, in the west of Scotland, was unanimously 
 chosen to succeed him in the Presidentship of that In- 
 stitution. His first answer to this call was in the 
 negative. He felt himself so bound to the land and the 
 Church of his nativity, that he could not consent to 
 sever himself from them, and go to a land of stran- 
 gers. While in this state of mind, feeling it im- 
 possible that he himself should accept the office, he 
 addressed the following letter to Mr. Nisbet. 
 
 " Paisley, May 25, 1767." 
 " Dear Sir," 
 
 " I received a letter from you, some time ago, 
 upon the subject of the call from New-Jersey, 
 which I did not answer immediately, as that affair 
 was under deliberation. It has indeed given me the 
 greatest uneasiness that ever any thing of the kind 
 did, for I felt a very strong inclination in myself to 
 comply; but met with so many difficulties from my 
 3 
 
26 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 family and connexions, particularly my wife's insu- 
 perable aversion, that 1 have been at last obliged to 
 give it up. I find the gentlemen here are still de- 
 sirous of having one from Scotland, and particularly 
 a young gentleman, Mr. Rush, from that country, a 
 Student of Medicine at Edinburgh, a most agreea- 
 ble young man, and who has the warmest attachment 
 to the interest of that Seminary, was with me the end 
 of last week on that subject. I then named i/ou to 
 him as the person of all my acquaintance the fittest 
 for that office, and said that your being so much 
 younger than me was, in my opinion, an advantage, 
 instead of a loss. He told me you had been men- 
 tioned by his friends at Edinburgh; and that he vva^ 
 sure that any person recommended by me to them 
 would be chosen by the Trustees. I, therefore, un- 
 dertook to write to you on the subject, which I now 
 beg you may take into your immediate serious con- 
 sideration. I dare say you will consider this as a 
 mark of my undissembled esteem, and assure you 
 that you have not a sincerer friend; and that 1 be- 
 lieve it to be a station in which you may be emi- 
 nently useful, as well as a station of much honour 
 and profit. I know there is one difficulty: a prudent 
 man may be backward to give his consent, when 
 there is only a possibility, not a certainly, of his be- 
 ing elected; but when you consider the necessity of 
 the case, and the disappointment they have already 
 incurred, you will be sensible that we cannot write 
 to them to make an election of another in Britain, 
 unless they have reason to think it will be success- 
 ful; and therefore hope you will overcome this diffi- 
 culty; and that jou may not run the least risque, I 
 
HIS EARLY LIFE. 27 
 
 have taken Mr. Rush, and engaged that no person shall 
 know of this application to you but your friends at 
 Edinburgh, Mr. Erskine and Mr. Wallace, Let 
 me have your answer as soon as you possibly can on 
 such a subject." 
 
 " I rejoice to hear of Mrs. Nisbet's welfare and 
 fruitfulness; and do heartily wish you much plea- 
 sure and comfort in your family. Present my com- 
 pliments to her in the most affectionate manner. 
 " I am, dear sir, 
 
 " Your affectionate brother," 
 
 ^' John Witherspoon." 
 
 When we consider that Mr. Nisbet was now only 
 thirty-one years of age; that the gentleman who 
 spoke thus of him was Doctor Witherspoon, un- 
 doubtedly one of the most sagacious and wise men 
 of his day; and that such a judge, who had long and 
 intimately known him, pronounced him " the fittest 
 man of all his acquaintance" to be the head of a Col- 
 lege; we are presented with a testimonial of Mr. 
 Nisbet's reputation in Scotland, at this time, for 
 talents and learning, of the most remarkable kind. 
 
 Whether, in consequence of this recommendation 
 by Doctor Witherspoon, any movement was ever 
 made in the Board of Trustees of Princeton College 
 towards the election of Mr. Nisbet, is not now known. 
 There is no record to that amount in the minutes of 
 that Body. But the fact is, that in a very short time 
 after this letter announcing his own refusal of the 
 call to America, and recommending Mr. Nisbet, was 
 written, Dr. Witherspoon reconsidered the subject; 
 and intimated to the Trustees o£ the College that, if 
 
28 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 their call should be repeated, he would accept of it. 
 It was unanimously repeated. He declared his ac- 
 ceptance of it; and the next year removed to Ame- 
 rica, and entered on the duties of a station which he 
 adorned for twenty-six years. 
 
 The truth is, Mr. Nisbet was now regarded as among 
 the most learned men in Scotland, and was prover- 
 bially called '■^ the walking Library J^ Nor was 
 this wonderful. His thirst for knowledge was insa- 
 tiable. His habits of study were singularly diligent. 
 His memory was not only excellent, but bordered 
 on the prodigious. The Libraries within his reach 
 were large and rich. And his access to the society of 
 literary men, both in and out of the Church, was such 
 as seldom falls to the lot of one so youthful, and who 
 could boast so little of what is called worldly pa- 
 tronage. 
 
 The secret of the last mentioned circumstance was 
 this. His social talents were singularly excellent. 
 His wit and humour might be said to be unrivalled. 
 He was really qualified to instruct and highly to en- 
 tertain any circle, literary or religious, of the most 
 elevated class. The consequence was, that his com- 
 pany was as much courted, and his social connexions 
 as large and honourable, as almost any man of his 
 day in the Church of Scotland. Circumstances, in 
 his early history, made him intimately acquainted 
 with several of the nobility of Scotland, both male 
 and female; and his peculiarly interesting social 
 character, served to rivet and extend friendships of 
 this kind, and led to much intercourse with them 
 YfhWe he remained in his native country, and to a 
 gratifying correspondence after he came to Ame- 
 rica. 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 29 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 His Ministry in Scotland, 
 
 When Mr. Nlsbet entered on the Ministry in the 
 Church of Scotland, that Church, as is well known, 
 was divided, and had long been divided, into two 
 great parties — the Orthodox and the Moderate. 
 The Orthodox were distinguished by their attach- 
 ment to evangelical truth, and faithful preaching; 
 and by their opposition to Patronage, especially to 
 its abuses. And although they were not enemies to 
 the ecclesiastical establishment; yet they were jeal- 
 ous of the encroachments of the civil government, 
 and ever on the watch to maintain the spiritual 
 purity of the Church, and to guard its ministers and 
 judicatories from being made the instruments of de- 
 signing statesmen to accomplish schemes of secular 
 policy, at the expense of real religion. The Mode- 
 rate were more lax in their doctrinal views; less 
 evangelical in their preaching; friends of the system 
 of patronage; and more accommodating in their feel- 
 ings and votes to the plans of secular politicians. 
 The Orthodox were disposed to contend for the 
 rights of the people in the settlement of ministers, 
 and in all their judicial proceedings. The Mode- 
 rate were, in general, favourable to the influence 
 of the crown in the courts of the Church; willing 
 3* 
 
30 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBJST. 
 
 to let tlie law of patronage take its legal course, 
 however hardly it might bear on the popular choice; 
 and always reluctant to thwart the views of the civil 
 administration. 
 
 Mr. Nisbet, from the first, associated himself de- 
 cisively and uniformly with the Orthodox party. 
 He contended, side by side, with his early and faith- 
 ful friend. Dr. Witherspoon ; and, although the class to 
 which he belonged were, at that time, and continued 
 for many years to be a minority; yet he adhered to 
 his principles with steadfastness, and the laudable 
 efforts of himself and his faithful associates were 
 sometimes crowned with unexpected success. His 
 piety, his learning, his wit, his powerful appeals, not 
 unfrequently prevailed over all the talents, the plau- 
 sibility, the tactics, and the governmental favour of 
 his opponents. 
 
 Of Mr. Nisbet's talents as a debator in the Gene- 
 ral Assembly, the traditionary statements are of the 
 strongest kind. At this distance of time, however, 
 two specimens only can be given. For the space 
 which these specimens occupy, no apology will be 
 deemed necessary by those who are capable of appre- 
 ciating genuine eloquence. It wOuld be unjust to his 
 memory to deny them a place in this Memoir. They 
 are both extracted from the volume of the "London 
 Magazine," for 1773, where they are accompanied 
 with expressions of approbation of the highest kind. 
 
 By the constitution of Scotland, it is granted to 
 the civil and ecclesiastical powers, jointly, to regu- 
 late I he extent and number of parishes, by making 
 such ahoratioris as shall be judged to conduce to the 
 general good; ruming two parishes out of oae large 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLiND. 31 
 
 one, or annexing one parish to another, and, conse- 
 quently, sinking one altogether. On a case of a pro- 
 posed annexation of one parish to another, and, of 
 course, diminishing the number of parishes, which 
 the Presbytery of Brechin, to which Mr. Nisbet be- 
 longed, had ordered, and which the synod of Perth 
 and Stirling had affirmed; upon being brought before 
 the General Assembly, in the year 1771, Mr. Nis- 
 bet, who had stood alone in the Presbytery, and 
 also in the Synod, in opposition to the proposed 
 measure, delivered the following speech: 
 
 " Moderator:^ 
 
 " 1 bring this complaint, not for any private profit 
 or emolument, but solely for the interest of the 
 Church of Scotland, the ver}^ being of which I appre- 
 hend to be concerned in the issue of it. It may seem 
 to need some apology, that I have adventured to 
 differ from a whole presbytery and synod of my re- 
 verend fathers and brethren ; but this will seem the 
 less presumption, when it is considered, that only 
 two members of presbytery, and ^\sq of the synod, 
 have had an opportunity of judging in the matter, 
 and even these were solicited and bespoke by the 
 professed enemies of this church. \w a case over- 
 loaded with truth and evidence, one must be under 
 an unusual difficulty to adduce arguments. Dr, Til- 
 lotson complains that it is extremely hard that a man 
 should be obliged to write a book to prove that an 
 egg is not an oyster, or that a musket ball is not a 
 pike. I find myself precisely in the same situation 
 at present. I am to prove, I hope to your convic- 
 tion, that it is for the interest of religion, that parish 
 
32 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 churches should be preserved, instead of being de- 
 stroyed, and do not imagine that I stand in need of 
 any extraordinary eloquence or logic for that pur- 
 pose. I must however beg the attention of the house 
 to the cause, as however trifling it may appear to 
 some, it is no less than articulus stantis aut caden- 
 tis eccleside. How any member of this church should 
 be overpersuaded into a scheme tending to its de- 
 struction, as it must appear a paradox, I reckon my- 
 self obliged to account for it. One thing only I beg 
 leave to add, by way of preamble, before I enter on 
 the narrative, namely, to purge myself of malice and 
 partial counsel. As I am to narrate the actions of 
 sundry gentlemen interested in this business, I begin 
 with declaring, in the presence of that Being who 
 knows my heart, that I have no personal enmity to 
 any of them, that from some of them I have received 
 good offices, and would be ready to serve all of them 
 in an honest way. 
 
 The rise of this proposal of annexation, to the best 
 of my knowledge, is as follows. Some time ago Mr. 
 Bruce, one of the ministers of Brechin, applied to his 
 presbytery for their concurrence in a process he in- 
 tended to raise against his heretors for the augmenta- 
 tion of his stipend, which was readily granted ; but 
 afterwards, being apprehensive of the length and ex- 
 pence of such a process, he resolved to try, with the 
 consent of his presbytery, what he could get from 
 them in the way of private negociation, A meeting 
 was accordingly appointed for this purpose, betwixt 
 the heretors and a committee of presbytery. At this 
 meeting the heretors consented to make some addi- 
 tion to Mr. Bruce's stipend j but it seems they in- 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 33 
 
 tended it should not be at their own charges. One 
 parish was proposed to be annexed, to make some 
 small addition to the living of another. The parish 
 of Kinnaird, in the neighborhood of Brechin, was 
 pitched upon for that purpose, and a scheme was set 
 on foot by the tutors of Sir David Carnegy of South- 
 esk, a minor, sole heretor of the parish of Kinnaird, 
 in conjunction with sundry gentlemen, heretors of 
 the parish of Brechin, to bring a process before the 
 lords commissioners for plantation of kirks, &c. for 
 suppressing the church and parish of Kinnaird, and 
 annexing it to the adjacent parishes of Farnwell and 
 Brechin, and to apply to the presbytery for their 
 consent to said process. But as it could not be sup- 
 posed that the presbytery would give their consent 
 to a plan tending to the destruction of all their chur- 
 ches, they were not left to their liberty in judging. 
 The gentlemen interested In the cause, by them- 
 selves or their agents, had first bespoken and enga- 
 ged most of the members to support, or at least not 
 to oppose this design ; and not till these solicitations 
 were over, a presbytery pro re nata was called, in 
 the middle of harvest, when few members could at- 
 tend, and a petition from the heretors of the parishes 
 of Kinnaird, Farnwell and Brechin, was presented to 
 them, setting forth, that whereas many parishes in 
 Scotland are incommodiously large, and others very 
 small, the support of churches and manses was there- 
 by rendered heavy upon heretors ; and whereas the 
 parish of Kinnaird is a small one, consisting of not 
 much more than one hundred examinable persons, 
 and lying within one mile of the church of Farn- 
 well, and not much farther from Brechin, therefore 
 
34 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 praying that the presbytery would consent to a naore 
 commodious division of said parish, by annexing the 
 parish of Kinnaird to the adjacent parishes of Farn- 
 well and Brechin, and that they the heretors would 
 engage to enlarge the church at Farnwell, so far as 
 should be necessary for the accommodation of the 
 new parishioners. This petition, after a delay of a 
 fortnight, hardly obtained, was at last granted in a 
 meeting of five members of the presbytery, three of 
 whom were interested in the question. 
 
 On this occasion I thought it my duty, after plead- 
 ing in vain what occurred to me in opposition to this 
 destructive scheme, and having consulted with some 
 of the most learned of my brethren, to dissent from 
 this sentence of presbytery, and to complain of it to 
 the ensuing synod. At the meeting of the synod in 
 October following, out of seventy-two members, of 
 whom the synod consists, only five attended, besides 
 the presbytery of Brechin, who were parties ; and 
 these, with a correspondent from the synod of Perth 
 and Stirling, whom they put into the chair at hear- 
 ing the complaint, were pleased to dismiss it as fri- 
 volous, and it was even proposed to censure the com- 
 plainer. Finding the interest of the church so scan- 
 dalously neglected by the synod on this occasion, by 
 means of the influence of heretors, I found myself 
 under a necessity of bringing my complaint before 
 this house, where I am persuaded that local prejudi- 
 ces and party influence will have no place, I am to 
 show that the proposed annexation, agreed to by the 
 presbytery and synod, is illegal, unnecessary, and 
 ruinous to the interest of this church, and that it has 
 been contrived by our professed enemies, to make a 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 35 
 
 precedent for destroying this church piece meal. It 
 is indeed represented by the gentlemen petitioners 
 to the presbytery as a more commodious division of 
 the parishes in question, and what they propose by 
 way of remedy to their present inconvenient divi- 
 sion, is not that part of the greater parish should be 
 annexed to the lesser, to bring them nearer to an 
 equality, but that the least of them should be wholly 
 suppressed, and annexed to the two others. This is 
 commodious indeed : but to whom ? to the landed 
 gentlemen only, who think they will have less sti- 
 pend to pay, and fewer churches to support in con- 
 sequence of it. They observe that some parishes are 
 too large, and others too small. Granted ; but the 
 common remedy they propose for both these incon- 
 veniences is annexation. Wonderfully commodious 
 again ! I once knew a gentleman, who used to say, 
 that there were only two kinds of dogs that he could 
 not bear, the great dogs and the little dogs : the gen- 
 tlemen petitioners seem to have the same idea of pa- 
 rishes, as they propose that the small parishes should 
 be annexed to the great ones, to render them more 
 commodious, and the fitter to be annexed in due time. 
 Wonderful indeed ! En cor Zeiiodott, en jecur 
 Cratetis ! Does this scheme fall any thing short of 
 a design to destroy all the parish churches in Scot- 
 land one after another ? Non-jurant meetings were 
 suppressed by law in 1746, though connived at by 
 the present ministry for reasons of state. If an at- 
 tempt had been made to suppress any of these, though 
 against an express law, the promoters of this scheme 
 would have cried out persecution, and applied to the 
 throne for redress. But it seems it is lawful enough 
 
36 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 to contrive the suppression of established churches, 
 and to make use of the law, which was made for their 
 preservation, for their destruction. As the lenity of 
 the ministry has tolerated these non-jurant meetings, 
 why should not the benefit of this toleration be ex- 
 tended to the established church ? 
 
 If such things go on, no one can say how far this 
 idea of conveniency may be extended. Dionysius, a 
 respectable heretor in ancient times, thought it ex- 
 tremely convenient for him to abstract the golden 
 cloak from the statue of Jupiter, and to annex it to 
 his own property ; and he gave very good reasons 
 for it : it was too heavy in summer, and too cold in 
 winter : and by the same train of thinking among 
 our landed gentlemen, it may possibly soon be found 
 most convenient to have no churches at all. Our 
 legal establishment must be wholly elusory, if it is 
 to be cut and carved upon by every gentleman at 
 pleasure, according to his notions of ideal convenien- 
 cy. Although it were not publicly known, that the 
 pretender's friends are at the bottom of this design, 
 the ver}^ nature of it proves it the work of an enemy 
 to our church. The Jews reasoned well when they 
 said, "He loveth our nation, and hath built us a sy- 
 nagogue.'^ And may we not say as justly, He hates 
 our constitution, and has destroyed us a church ? It 
 might seem wonderful indeed in one view, how the 
 persons concerned in this design should ever have 
 been united ; but a little time ago, on occasion of a 
 controverted election, they were as bitter enemies to 
 each other as ever Herod and Pontius Pilate. But 
 when a church is to be destroyed, they become at 
 once hearty friends ; and when it is considered that 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 37 
 
 a non-jurant meeting has been lately erected at Bre- 
 chin by one of the subscribers, the cause of their 
 union may be easily guessed. 
 
 *'But to consider this proposal in the view of real 
 conveniency; the parish of Brechin is six miles long, 
 and near three broad, sufficiently inhabited, besides 
 the large town of Brechin in the centre. The church 
 is too small already for the people that attend it, 
 and the expense of supporting the fabric is furnished 
 out of the poor's money. Such a parish does not 
 seem to stand in any need of an addition to make it 
 more convenient. The parish of Farnwell is at pre- 
 sent as large as many others in its neighbourhood, and 
 the minister has a living superior to most in the 
 country: so that neither does this parish need any 
 addition. If real conveniency was sought for, the 
 smallest degree of common sense would dictate, that 
 the smaller parish should be augmented from the 
 greater. But it seems this did not occur to the wise 
 projectors of this scheme, or they did not think it so 
 much for their interest. It is evident then, that no 
 part of the parish of Kinnaird can be annexed to 
 Brechin, as the church is already too small, and the 
 heretors have no power to enlarge it. This being 
 the case, how are the parishioners of Kinnaird to be 
 accommodated when annexed to Brechin, unless 
 they could contract themselves into as small dimen- 
 sions as the audience of the Pandaemonium, or choose 
 to go to the non-jurant meeting? Besides, the ex- 
 pense of opening the wall of that cathedral would 
 amount to more than these heretors have bestowed 
 on churches these fifty years past. Our Church, 
 Sir, is established by law, and unless that establish- 
 4 
 
38 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 ment be entirely elusory, it must extend to all and 
 every one of our parish churches, except where the 
 law has declared otherwise. It is true, that the 
 lords commissioners have a power to annex churches ; 
 but this power is limited by law, and will be found 
 not to extend to the case in hand. The act which 
 defines their powers is act 3, part 22, Ja. VI. ISth 
 June, 1617, and has these express words: * With 
 special power to the said commissioners, to unite 
 sik kirks, ane or moe, as may conveniently be unite,, 
 where the fruits of any one alone will not suffice to 
 entertain ane minister.' It is evident from these 
 words, that small and insufficient livings only were in 
 the view of the legislature, and that a sufficient living 
 is incapable of annexation. The parish of Kinnaird 
 is a sufficient living: there are twelve parishes in the 
 presbytery, whose living is inferior to it, and but 
 four greater. Unfavourable statutes ought to be strict- 
 ly interpreted: what the law permits the lords to do 
 in one case only, can in no shape be extended to any 
 other case whatever. The power of the lords com- 
 missioners is for edification, and not for destruction: 
 they are designed in the act, lords commissioners for 
 plantation of kirks and valuation of tiends: now to 
 destroy one church in three over all the kingdom, 
 can never be called planting of kirks. They have 
 power indeed to annex insufficient livings, as an act of 
 mercy to ministerswhen no other provision can be got 
 for them, but have no power to touch those that are 
 already sufficient. This parish of Kinnaird is a suf- 
 ficient living, and it is not the least in Scotland, nor 
 of the presbytery where it lies; and as the estate of 
 Southesk, of which it is a part, has been under for- 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 39 
 
 feiture since 1715, it is no wonder that it is not very- 
 populous at present, though, when the improvements 
 already projected shall be carried into execution, it 
 will probably be as populous as many others. But 
 the promoters of this scheme have chosen to catch 
 the time for it while this objection is in force, by a 
 policy similar to that of valuing their tiends before 
 their rents are raised. But does not the establish- 
 ment of all churches tolerate small parishes as well 
 as large ones? Small and great are relative terms, 
 and, though this design should succeed, some parish- 
 es will be smaller than others till we come to the 
 greatest of all, by destroying them one by one. De- 
 mo unum, demo etiam unum, dinn cadat elusus 
 ratione mentis acervi: so that the utmost favour 
 that any parish in Scotland could expect from this 
 annexing scheme is only the same that Polyphemus 
 promised to Ulysses, to be devoured last of all. Min- 
 isters of small parishes may be useful to the church 
 by the works of their retirement. Some of the min- 
 isters of our church have begun to figure in his- 
 torical composition; and unless we tolerate small 
 charges, how shall our ministers find time to write 
 histories? Every sufficient living is, by the plain 
 meaning of this act, continued upon the establish- 
 ment, and it is out of the power of the lords commis- 
 sioners to touch it; but if this line is once broken, 
 and one sufficient living suppressed, ourwhole estab- 
 lishment becomes a baseless fabric, and may be 
 undermined at pleasure. Why should this little 
 church be denied the benefit of all other churches? 
 Is it not robbery, is it not assassination, to disjoin it 
 from the common foundation of the rest, to destroy 
 
40 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 it with more ease? This is like taking a man into a 
 dark corner, and knocking him down before he can 
 call for help. But the words of the statute are ex- 
 press to this purpose, so that we need not rest on 
 general inferences; for it afterwards expressly ^ finds 
 and declares, that all kirks which are planted with mi- 
 nisters, whose stipends extend to five chalders victual, 
 or five hundred merks money, [the then minimum 
 of that country] are expressly excepted out of this 
 commission, and no wayes comes under the compasse 
 thereof, neither shall the said commissioners have 
 any power, by virtue hereof, to meddle with any 
 kirks or stipends which are in that case, seeing the 
 said commission is not extended to the same.' No 
 words can be conceived more positive or express 
 for hindering the annexation of sufficient livings; 
 nay, the legislature seem anxious to declare this to 
 be their meaning. What then must we think of the 
 logic or candour of those who would subject them to 
 it at pleasure? Dr. Donne tells us of an ingenious 
 critic, who, in explaining the Decalogue, expunged 
 the negative particle from every precept, and would 
 have the twelve negatives taken from it, to be insert- 
 ed in the several articles of the Apostle's Creed, to 
 make a complete and consistent body of doctrine. 
 And surely it must need no less licentious interpre- 
 tation to evince, that a sufficient church living can 
 be annexed, since the law is so express to the con- 
 trary. Some may alledge, that the lords hav&a dis- 
 cretionary power to annex what churches they think 
 fit, but the law gives them no such power; and' how- 
 ever fit the present lords may be to have such a pow- 
 er, I dare not trust their successors. The law req^ui- 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 41 
 
 res two things to make a parish legally annexable: 
 insufficiency of living, and commodiousness for an- 
 nexation. Neither of these have place in the pre- 
 sent case. Besides, this church of Kinnaird is rather 
 better founded than most others, not being a popish 
 foundation, but erected by the lords, upon mature 
 deliberation, and conviction of its necessity, in 1661, 
 an age of no very violent zeal for religion, when 
 building of churches was far from being the the ru- 
 ling passion. And the same lords were so convinced 
 of the necessity and importance of this erection, that 
 in 1718 they granted an augmentation of stipend to 
 the minister. I know there is a story told, which 
 seems contrived on purpose to favour this annexa- 
 tion: it is said, that about 1661 there was an immor- 
 tale odium <^' nunquam fanabile vulniis betwixt 
 the earl of Southesk and the earl of Airlie then resi- 
 ding in the neighbourhood, because the parson of 
 Farnwell, where they both attended divine worship, 
 used to bow to Lord Airlie before his lordship, and 
 that this parish of Kinnaird was disjoined from that 
 of Farnwell and Brechin, only that his lordship might 
 have the inexpressible satisfaction of receiving the 
 first bow from the parson — a favour not so much 
 esteemed in our days. This absurd story has been 
 evidently contrived to represent the erection of this 
 parish to have proceeded from a whim, that it might 
 be destroyed by another whim. 
 
 " The gentlemen concerned in this design would 
 perhaps laugh at the mention of sacrilege, so that I 
 shall not insist upon that; but must it not at least be 
 felony to attempt the destruction of a church already 
 as well secured as the law can secure it, and to ab- 
 4^ 
 
42 MEMOIR OF DR. NISKET. 
 
 stract the revenues of it from the lawful proprietors? 
 These gentlemen would have been hanged by the 
 neck, if they had formed the same design against a 
 private house; and why it should be more lawful t^ 
 assault a church is hard to say. I have heard of a 
 couple of Highland gentlemen, long ago, who hav- 
 ing some difference about the division of the spoil 
 they had taken in conjunction during the Miehaelmas 
 moon, gravely resolved to have it decided by the 
 court of session. The present case, in my view of 
 it, not a little resembles theirs. To demand the con- 
 sent of the judges to an unlawful design is an insult 
 upon all law whatever. It signifies nothing to say, 
 that the stipend, when annexed, is to be divided 
 amongst the neighbouring clergy. God hates rob- 
 bery for burnt offering, and so should all his servants. 
 If a robber takes my money on the road, whether he 
 keeps it to himself, or gives it to his whore, I am 
 equally injured, and the law is equally transgressed in 
 both cases. If the ministers of large parishes are to 
 be allowed to annihilate the lesser livings, and to di- 
 vide them among themselves, must not this tend to 
 corrupt the clergy, by offering baits to their avarice, 
 and making them have an evil eye towards their 
 brethren? not to say, that this would be an erecting 
 of dignities in the church, and introducing episcopacy 
 in masquerade. 1 have seen a print representing a 
 parson grasping at all the churches in his view; but 
 were I possessed of the genius of a Raphael or a Mi- 
 chel Angelo, I would draw the figure of an annexing 
 heretor scowling at all the churches around him, and 
 threatening their destruction. If ministers, whose 
 livings are already almost double those of many of 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 43 
 
 therr brethren, are allowed- to hope for further in- 
 crease of them by the destruction of th^ir neigh- 
 bours, we may soon expect to hear of annexations 
 projected by ministers, and some are already talked 
 of in this neighbourhood. We have had already 
 four annexations in Ihis presbytery since the Refor- 
 mation, and we have now as many non-jurant meet- 
 ings. Some of these annexations have been attended 
 with great inconveniences. By one of them, in the 
 hill country, the parish is rendered more than seven 
 Scots miles in length; so that some people do not at- 
 tend the church from tiieir baptism till their marriage. 
 By another of them the minister is obliged to ride 
 three miles in bad road every second Sabbath. 
 Such are the blessed fruits of annexation; but we 
 complain not of what has been done according to law. 
 The assembly ought to be more suspicious of this 
 project of annexation, as this is a disaffected country, 
 where there are too many that would wish to see all 
 our churches suppressed, and this annexation must 
 soon be followed by many others. If the law does 
 not secure every sufficient living from annexation, 
 our establishment can stand only till the necessary 
 processes for its ruin are completed. 
 
 " I must likewise beg leave to call the attention- af 
 the house to this cause, on account of the too great 
 passiveness of ministers and inferior judicatures in 
 matters of annexation. Of this the assembly was 
 formerly so sensible, that by act 5, ass. 174G, sess. 9, 
 they expressly ^ discharged all presbyteries to con- 
 sent to, or connive at the annexation or suppressing 
 of parishes, without the consent or approbation of the 
 synod of the bounds, or the general assembly," 
 
44 MEMOIR OP DR. NISEET. 
 
 The present cause evinces, that it is possible for here- 
 tors to persuade a presbytery, and even a synod, that 
 the suppression of a parish church is for the good of 
 the community, because it may promote the tempo- 
 ral interest of some individuals, and give hopes of like 
 gain to others. Amazing indeed must have been 
 the eloquence of Mr. Habakkuk Slj^boots, who could 
 persuade a man to hang himself in cold blood. The 
 present cause exhibits no less a prodigy — churchmen 
 convinced that the destruction of parishes is for the 
 good of the national church. Such is the v^onderful 
 influence of heretors! When inferior judicatories 
 are become thus weak and slavish, and in the interest 
 of our adversaries, it must become the wisdom of 
 this house to put a stop to these proceedings, by re- 
 versing the acts of the presbytery and synod com- 
 plained of, and opposing the projected annexation, 
 and all such illegal attempts against our establish- 
 ment. 
 
 " Thus, Sir, I have stated tolhe assembly this cause, 
 which is properly the cause of the whole church. 
 Self-preservation should teach us to defend ourselves 
 as long as we can. Est enim hsec non scripta, sed 
 nata lex, quam non didicimus, accepimus, legi- 
 tnus^fed ex ipsa natura arripX'dmus, hausimus, 
 expressimus. I hope the house will see, that the 
 present project is only a branch of a design against 
 the whole church, and demands your strictest atten- 
 tion. What is now the case of this small parish, 
 may soon be that of many others. Nam tua res 
 agitur, paries cum yroximus ardet. It is true to 
 a proverb, multis minatur, uni qui injuriam fa- 
 cit. No reason can be pleaded for the suppression 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 45 
 
 of this parish, which does not militate with equal 
 force against a hundred others. It is not wonderful, 
 that the enemies of our happy establishment should 
 be zealous and active in promoting non-jurant meet- 
 ings; but 10 suppress established churches to make 
 room for them is rather too much. Some may be 
 averse to believe, that our church should be in dan- 
 ger from attempts of this sort; but if present instan- 
 ces are less clear, the records of past times will prove 
 beyond doubt, that the like practices have been for- 
 merly used by the enemies of the church. We find 
 in the records of the Concilium Byzacenum, that 
 annexation was one of the methods employed, during 
 the Arian persecution, for the destruction and extir- 
 pation of the Catholics; and in latter times, before 
 the formal revocation of the edict of Nantes, the 
 churches of the Protestants were taken from them 
 in sundr}' places, on the pretence of their being Uii- 
 necessary. The policy of our enemies, and their 
 present situation by our laws, does not permit them 
 at once to show the cloven foot, or tell us that they 
 design our destruction; but if we are not extremely 
 blind, we may easily discern the drift of their designs, 
 Their interest is to proceed by silent sap and' machi- 
 nation, and especially to make use of some of us to 
 ruin the rest. Much, alas! has been done this way 
 already through their influence, by driving away the 
 people from the churches; and because that method 
 does not succeed fast enough for their wishes, it 
 seems that what remains of our ruin is to be accom- 
 plished by taking away the churches from the peo- 
 ple. The design in hand is visibly contrived for 
 your deslraction, by annihilating your parishes oae 
 
46 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 by one. What a dismal prospect for this church! 
 Quid facerent hosles capta crudelius iirbe? By 
 an invasion of foreign enemies our possessions might 
 be ruined, and our churches burnt; but shall we 
 stand by and see the same thing done by our coun- 
 trymen in time of peace, and under colour of law? 
 Shall our venerable and ancient constitution, which 
 has resisted so long the attempts of persecutors, and 
 stood the shock of two rebellions, be gradually sub- 
 verted by the covert machinations of the church 
 and state? Shall we be reduced to take up the poet's 
 lamentation, 
 
 " Captiq ; dolis lacrymisq ; coacti, 
 
 Quos 71071 Tydides, nee LaJ^issans Achilles, 
 JVo?i a7i7u dofniiei^e decern, no7i mille carinoe" 
 
 " It is not to be wondered at, that some of the real 
 
 friends of our establishment are found among the pro- 
 moters of this annexation, as it is common to see 
 such overreached and blindfolded by their adversa- 
 ries. Few have ever been betrayed except by their 
 friends. I have done my duty in warning you of 
 your danger; I have shown you the Pretender's 
 soldiers actually at work upon your church, with 
 the axes and haminers of annexation and demembra- 
 tion. It remains that you do your duty by defend- 
 ing it to the utmost. If you can stand tamely by, 
 while your enemies are so busy, you will fall de- 
 spised and unpitied, as your ruin will be of your- 
 selves. Every wise woman buihleth her house, but 
 the foolish plucketh it down with her hands! If the as- 
 sembly give their consent to this annexation, the con- 
 sequence must be the instant ruin of many parishes; 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 47 
 
 but if they vigorously support the interest of the 
 church by opposing it, and reversing the sentences 
 of the Presbj'tery and Synod, I have reason to be- 
 lieve that the principal party interested in this cause 
 is so worthy a person, and so much a friend to this 
 church, that, in respect to the authority of this house, 
 he will desist from the attempt, nnd the little under- 
 strappers of Jacobite polities will be hindered from 
 accomplishing their wicked designs. 
 
 " But if, after all, this annexation shall be carried 
 into execution, with or without the consent of the 
 Assembly, I find myself unable to express my ap- 
 prehensions for our whole establishment, and there- 
 fore shall conclude in the words of a celebrated au- 
 thor,* who is an ornament to the present age: 
 
 "*No oppression is so heavy or lasting as that 
 which is inflicted by the perversion and exorbitance 
 of legal authority: the robber may be seized, and the 
 invader repelled whenever they are found; they 
 who pretend no right but that of force may by force 
 be punished or suppressed: but when plunder bears 
 the name of impost, and murder is perpetrated by a 
 judicial sentence, Fortitude is intimidated, and Wis- 
 dom confounded; Resistance shrinks from an alli- 
 ance with Rebellion, and the villain remains secure 
 in the robes of the magistrate.' " 
 
 The Editor of the London Magazine, after giving 
 this speech at length, adds: " Though Principal Ro- 
 bertson^ and several more of the court luminaries, 
 spoke warml}^ in favour of the annexation, the Ge- 
 neral Assembly, by a great majority, reversed the 
 
 ♦ "Rambler, No. 145, vol. iii. p. 227." 
 
48 MEMOIR OP Dl. NISBET. 
 
 sentence of which Mr. Nisbet complained, and, for 
 once, the force of eloquence was visibly exemplified." 
 The scond specimen of Mr. Nisbet's eloquence in 
 the General Assembly, is found in a speech which 
 he delivered in that Body, in 1772. This speech 
 was occasioned by an appeal from the Synod of »/?n- 
 gKS and Mearns, which had affirmed a sentence of 
 the Presbytery of Fo)^dii)i, settling, or inducting 
 Mr. John BrymeVy as Minister of Marykirk. The 
 original charge was, that the presentation of Mr. 
 Brymer to the parish, was effected by an act of Si- 
 mony. This charge was set aside, and the settle- 
 ment ordered to proceed, by the Presbytery, and 
 afterwards by the Synod. The whole subject was 
 brought by appeal before the General Assembly. 
 On the trial of this appeal, Mr. Nisbet, on behalf of 
 the appellants, made the following Speech: 
 
 " Moderator, ^^ 
 
 " I appear not at your bar as a party, but as a 
 member of an inferior court, warranted by the con- 
 stitution of this church to complain of a decision 
 of my superiors. The right of dissent and com- 
 plaint is competent to every member of this church, 
 and I hope that my using it in the present case will 
 not deprive me of the character of a peaceable mem- 
 ber. It gives me pleasure to reflect, that in this 
 complaint I am not alone, but that many worthy 
 ministers voted as I did, and the most worthy and 
 respectable member of our Synod joined my dissent. 
 
 " The sentence I am to complain of is, in my 
 opinion, and I hope to make it appear to this house, 
 contrary to the word of God, to common sense, and 
 
 I 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 49 
 
 th^ express laws of this church. This cause has been 
 urged into an early diet of this assembly, on account 
 of its relating to the moral character of a minister. 
 In my opinion, it is of infinitely greater importance 
 than the character of any individual. On the deci- 
 sion which you must give in this cause, the moral 
 character of this churcli and its assemblies immedi- 
 ately depends; and it must be evident, by your con- 
 duct this day, whether piety, learning, and prudence 
 shall be the necessary requisites in the clerical cha- 
 racter, or merely the possession of a littls money. 
 To give the house a full view of this cause, I shall 
 first give a brief narrative of the whole procedure, 
 taking notice of sundry irregularities committed in 
 the course of it, and lastly set forth the proofs of 
 simony against this presentee, which ought to set 
 aside his settlement, had it been ever so regularly 
 and formally conducted. 
 
 " To begin with the narrative. It is well known 
 that sundry years ago, the King's college of Aber- 
 deen exposed to public sale, by way of auction, in 
 consequence of an advertisement in the public papers, 
 the patronage of sixteen churches then in their gift, 
 of which that of this parish of Marykirk was one. 
 At said auction, one Brymer, an innkeeper at Mar- 
 nock-kirk, in Banffshire, father to the now presentee, 
 became purchaser of the patronage of Marykirk, 
 having previously paid a visit to the incumbent, to 
 enable him to judge what price he might venture to 
 give for it. As it was known at the time of the sale 
 that this Brymer had a son, the now presentee, then 
 prosecuting the study of divinity, no one needed to be 
 told that this purchase was intended for his benefit, 
 5 
 
50 MEMOIRS OF DR. NISBET, 
 
 and in this view it appeared new and strange to all 
 that heard of it; and it is well known that the said 
 patron, on viewing the strength and healthy look of 
 the incumbent, declared that he might probably live 
 almost as long as his son, and that instead of 300^. 
 which the college had asked, he would venture no 
 more than 200/. 
 
 " On the death of Mr. Thomson, minister of Mary- 
 kirk, Brymer, now patron by the articles of the roup, 
 issues his presentation to his son, the now presentee, 
 concealing however his relation to himself. When 
 this presentation came into the country, the parish- 
 ioners of Marykirk, astonished to see themselves 
 bought and sold, as to their spiritual interests, by 
 those whose duty it was to have protected them, 
 were alarmed for their safety; but expected that the 
 laws of this church would prevent such a scandalous 
 bargain from being carried into execution. With 
 this view, some of the elders, the now appellants, 
 attended the meeting of the presbytery of Fordoun, 
 when it was expected that this new presentation 
 would make its appearance. But the members, be- 
 ing already gained by the patron's friends, gave 
 them no opportunity of objecting against it. The 
 presentation was given in, read, and sustained in a 
 whisper — a practice that seems borrowed from the 
 privy council of the kings of Brentford. 
 
 " A meeting of presbytery was appointed for the 
 moderation of a call, at which the heretors (though 
 only one of them is of the communion of this church) 
 appeared, and gave their consent to the settlement 
 of the presentee, having used all endeavours, by 
 threats, promises, &c. to prevail on their tenants and 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 51 
 
 dependants to sign the call. The parishioners had 
 employed a notary to appear for them, and to pro- 
 pose objections against the settlement; but as in this 
 slavish country no notary of character could be got 
 to appear against gentlemen of property, for fear of 
 their resentment, the parishioners were obliged to 
 employ one given to drinking, who, being plied by 
 the heretors' agents, was soon rendered incapable of 
 conducting their business properly. However, he 
 got access to the presbytery, gave in his letters of 
 proxy, and objected against sustaining the call, on 
 account of its being signed only by the heretors, and 
 a few of the lowest of the people; and on the pres- 
 bytery's sustaining it, he appealed to the ensuing 
 synod, and gave in his reasons: but the presbytery 
 having adjourned to a blind ale-house along with the 
 heretors, refused to take in his reasons, or give 
 an extract of their sentence, and appointed a day 
 for the admission of the presentee, notwithstand- 
 ing the appeal, which it seemed they intended to 
 smother. They dismissed without prayer. 
 
 " At the meeting of the presbytery for the admis- 
 sion of the presentee, the parishioners procured an 
 agent from a distance, who gave in objections against 
 the presentee in form of a libel, and referred himself 
 to the presentee's oath for proof of his assertions. 
 His objections were overruled, his libel refused to 
 be admitted to proof: on which he appealed to the 
 ensuing synod, and the presentee was admitted in the 
 face of the appeal, and amidst the tears and groanS 
 of the congregation. One of the parishioners object- 
 ing to the presentee's doctrine, and endeavouring to 
 support his objections from the scriptures, one of the 
 
52 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 heretors, standing in a gallery above, aimed a push 
 at him with a pike-staff, which drove his Bible out 
 of his hand, and pierced through the whole of the 
 Acts of the Apostles; which obliged the poor man 
 to drop his argument, and to escape for his life. 
 
 " The parishioners, however, rested on their ap- 
 peal to the synod, notwithstanding every method 
 was used to intimidate and distress them, especially 
 by a committee of the presbytery, who procured an 
 order from the sheriff of the county to the kirk trea- 
 surer, to deliver up the poor's box to the presentee 
 without receipt, under the pain of instant imprison- 
 ment; which order, however, upon proper represen- 
 tations, was at last recalled. 
 
 " Before the meeting of synod, commissions of 
 array were issued by the heretors, and sent by the 
 presentee to many members of the synod, summon- 
 ing them, under the pain of their high displeasure, 
 to attend that court, and support the presentee, which 
 is the common way of conducting synod business in 
 this country. At this meeting of synod, though 
 packed and summoned by the influence of the here- 
 tors, the presbytery's sentence was affirmed by a 
 majority of a few votes only, and the cause now 
 waits the decision of this court. 
 
 " To enumerate all the irregularities committed in 
 the dependance of this cause before the presbytery 
 would be an endless task. The very orders of the 
 presentee were irregular. He had been ordained 
 some time bel^ore by the presbytery of Sirathbogie, 
 ad ministerium vagum, without any parochial 
 charge, to avoid the examination of the presbytery 
 of Fordoun as to his ministerial talents; and of this, 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 53 
 
 that presbytery was so sensible, that they brought 
 an overture to next synod for preventing the like 
 practice in time coming. To ordain a clergyman 
 without a title or charge is contrary to the laws of 
 all churches; and if this were permitted, it were 
 easy to prove that one presbytery, assisted by pa- 
 trons, and brokers in patronages, might furnish minis- 
 ters to all this church, of whatever characters they 
 pleased. The laws of our church appoint ministers 
 to be ordained by that presbytery, within which they 
 are to have a parochial charge, unless they have for- 
 merly been ordained by another where they had the 
 like concern. But our laws give no license to any 
 presbytery to ordain ministers for exportation; in 
 which case it might be justly suspected, that they 
 would be the more careless as to their fitness for the 
 office: and as this ordination of the presetitee was 
 procured after the purchase of the patronage, it ap- 
 pears to be a branch of the same design, and in the 
 strongest manner to infer a simonial intention, unless 
 it likewise was paid for, which might be the case for 
 any thing I know. Another irregularity is the pres- 
 bytery's proceeding to admit the presentee in the 
 face of an appeal. To say nothing of the first ap- 
 peal, which the presbytery aSect to deny, and have 
 kept out of their minutes, their proceeding in the 
 face of the second appeal is in the highest degree 
 irregular. I know that our forms allow inferior 
 church courts to proceed usque ad sententiam, not- 
 withstanding appeals; but to execute their sentence 
 in the face of an appeal is such a stretch of lawless 
 and arbitrary power, as, should it be once permitted, 
 would render superior courts wholly useless. The 
 5* 
 
54 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 rights of appeal have been reckoned sacred among aJl 
 nations, and have been religiously regarded even in 
 the most arbitrary times. The great Apostle Paul, 
 finding himself before a partial judge, appealed to the 
 Roman emperor; but it was the apostle's great mercy 
 that he never met with such judges as the presby- 
 tery of Fordoun, who, as it is evident from their 
 conduct, would have laughed at his appeal. These 
 gentlemen would have told him, ' No, sir, you have 
 no right to appeal: we will kill you; we will exe- 
 cute our sentence, and then you may appeal to Caisar 
 when you please.' How low is this church sunk 
 in point of character, when its judges want the pro- 
 bity of heathens, and the integrity of infidels! 
 
 " Another irregularity in this business is the want 
 of a legal call, without which, according to our con- 
 stitution, no relation can be established between a 
 minister and a congregation. As to the call of here- 
 tors, who are not members of our church, I am 
 ashamed to mention it, it being contrary to the most 
 obvious dictates of common sense, that persons 
 should be callers of a minister who are never to have 
 any connexion with him, nor to attend his ministry. 
 It has this additional circumstance of aggravation in 
 it, that these heretors declared under their hands 
 that they committed to the presentee the care of their 
 souls, and promised him all due obedience in the 
 Lord! I want words to express the absurdity and 
 profanity of such a conduct, especially considering it 
 as countenanced and allowed by a presbytery of this 
 church; but I hope that the gentlemen concerned 
 will be censured for it by their own bishops. 
 
 " Our people, sir, never intermeddle with elections 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 55 
 
 of Kpiscopal ministers, nor renounce the communion 
 of this church, in order to have a share in them; and 
 if these gentlemen had been possessed of that sense 
 and breeding which our people have always had, they 
 would have had no concern in these matters. Be- 
 sides, sir, these gentlemen are totally ignorant of our 
 laws, and imagine that heretors have the power of 
 ordination: so it is to be wished, that they would 
 confine themselves to the afifairs of their elections, 
 their draught horses or setting dogs, or some subject 
 that lies level to their understandings. As to the 
 few people of the communion of this church who 
 have signed the call, they were obliged to it by 
 threats and concussion, and some of them were lite- 
 rally beaten by their worthy masters. It was a mat- 
 ter of no importance to the heretors who was minis- 
 ter of Marykirk, as they were to have no concern 
 with him, nor to attend his ministry; but it was of 
 the utmost importance to the parishioners who are 
 members of this church, and depend for edification 
 and spiritual instruction on the ministration of their 
 parish minister. I know there are some among us 
 who pay great regard to the consent of the landed 
 gentlemen, as such, in the settlement of parishes; 
 because they suppose that the landed interest are the 
 supporters of the church. I remember but one time 
 when our church was in danger: I mean in the late 
 rebellion; and what then became of our noble friends? 
 They either joined the pretender, or took protection 
 from him, or ran like frighted hares to. the border, and 
 liappy was the man that could get first to London. 
 Such are our boasted supporters! But as the ordi- 
 aation of a minister, being a spiritual transaction, 
 
56 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 has no relation whatever to land, it is evident that 
 the proprietors of land, as such, have no sort of inter- 
 est in it. But whatever be in this argument, the 
 parishioners joined issue in the main with the here- 
 tors: they have given their consent that the presen- 
 tee should be established minister at Marykirk; that 
 is, they have declared that he is a minister not fit for 
 them to hear, and the parishioners are exactly of the 
 same opinion. 
 
 "But to come to the grand objection against this 
 settlement, to wit, simony: this, in my apprehen- 
 sion, is so plain, that it is but mere wrangling to at- 
 tempt to deny it. Simony is defined by the canon- 
 ists, Studiosa ciipiditas emendi aut vendendi spi- 
 ritualia, aut spiritualihus annexa. This crime 
 may be committed in a variety of forms, and may 
 have sundry objects. The canonists mention sacra- 
 ments, orders, induction, and promotion; but the 
 above definition comprises the essence of it. It is 
 called crimen mere ecclesiasticiiin, and to the com- 
 mission of it three parties are requisite, the seller, 
 the buyer, and the accepter. As crimes love dis- 
 guise, and as no one yet has been hardy enough to 
 present himself to a benefice, it is natural to suppose 
 that the simoniacal presentee will get some friend or 
 relation to act the part of the ostensible patron, as in 
 the present case; but it is to be observed, that in the 
 canons against this crime, the vengeance of the sen- 
 tence falls first upon the accepter, it being for his 
 account that the bargain is made, as we commonly 
 say, that if there were no receipts, there would be 
 no thieves. This crime has always been considered 
 as the greatest corruption, and forbidden under the 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 57 
 
 pain of deposition in all ages of the church. The 
 first ages of Christianity knew not that operose dis- 
 tinction and precision, which have become necessary 
 in latter ages for describing this crime. The story 
 of Simon Magus, in the Acts of the Apostles, was 
 the pattern from whence Ihey borrowed their no- 
 tion of it, and the name of it. The most ancient 
 canons depose without distinction all such as are or- 
 dained or inducted by the influence of money, by 
 whomsoever given or however artfully concealed. 
 The canons that go by the name of the Apostles, 
 though not quite so ancient, are plain to this purpose. 
 I quote Father Caranza's translation of them. ^S** 
 quis episcopnSy aiit presbyter^ aut diaconus 
 per pecunias hanc ohtinv.erit dignitatem^ deji- 
 ciatiir ipse et ordinator ejus, et a communione 
 modes omnibus abscindatur, Jicut Simon Magus 
 a Petro. Again, in the second council of Orleans, 
 can. 4, Si quis sacerdotium per pecuiuse nundinum 
 execrabile ambitione qusesierit, abjiciatur ut re- 
 probus, quia apostolica sententia donum, Dei esse 
 prsecipit pecunise trutina minime comparandum. 
 I quote these decrees of councils, and could quote 
 many more to the same purpose, not as of autho- 
 rity in this church, but as the opinions of wise and 
 disinterested men in the earliest times of the church, 
 and they deserve great regard on that score. You 
 see they condemn as simoniacal all settlements or or- 
 dination of ministeis, vvherof money is the procur- 
 ing cause, by whomsoever given, and however the 
 simoniacal intention may be covered; and it is a 
 maxim among the canonists, authorised by common 
 sense, that money given by any one person to ano- 
 
58 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 ther, with the view of getting a person fixed in a 
 pastoral charge, infers simony against the accepter 
 of said charge, unless it can be proved that it was 
 given maliciously, with an intent to procure his 
 deposition. 
 
 *' To bring home this doctrine to the present case, 
 it is evident that money is the sole cause of Mr. Bry- 
 mer's settlement. The sale of the patronage was 
 public, and the parties known. The design of the 
 father to provide for his son is necessarily inferred 
 from his buying the patronage, his visit to Mr. Thom- 
 son before the purchase, and afterwards actually pre- 
 senting his son to the benefice. Can the simoniacal 
 intention be clearer in any supposable case than in 
 the present one? It is not denied that Brymer the 
 father bought the patronage; but it is said, that it does 
 not appear that he intended it for his son, and conse- 
 quently here is no simony. I could peril the whole 
 cause upon this single point: if any gentleman of cha- 
 racter will stand up and give his oath, that he be- 
 lieves in his conscience that the father had no inten- 
 tion of this sort, I here give up my argument; but I 
 find this challenge will not be accepted. Intention 
 is the soul of all crimes; but as it is not visible of it- 
 self, nor will be owned by the accused party, it must 
 be inferred from overt acts: and in the present case 
 a man has no need of being a conjuror to determine 
 positively, that Brymer the patron purchased this 
 benefice solely as a provision for his son, and for his 
 emolument allenarly. It is not to be supposed, that 
 a candidate will purchase a patronage openly by him- 
 self, in order to manifest his simoniacal intention, and 
 facilitate his conviction; and there is no person so 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLiND. 59 
 
 bad, or so insignificant, as not to have a friend or 
 relation to make the bargain for them, and fulfil their 
 intention. Simony, like other crimes, will always 
 affect to be under cover; but in the present case the 
 cover is so thin and transparent, that none can be de- 
 ceived by it, except those who have a mind to be de- 
 ceived. A father, of the rank of an innkeeper, has a 
 son following the study of divinity, and buys the pa- 
 tronage of a benefice. Can it be believed by any per- 
 son of common sense, that he had no intention to pre- 
 sent his son to it, or that his son knew nothing of the 
 transaction? I can only say that every man, woman 
 and child, in the country where I live, knew the con- 
 trary in the present case. A father must be concern- 
 ed to provide for his own son: on account of his near 
 relation to him he must be prejudiced in his favour, 
 cannot be a judge of his qualifications. A patron 
 exercises a judgment in the choice of his patentee, 
 and there is in every presentation an explicit delec- 
 tus personas for his fitness real or supposed; but in 
 the present case no judgment could be exercised, and 
 no deliberation could have place, on account of the 
 near relation betwixt the patron and presentee. As a 
 father cannot be the judge of his own son, nor a wit- 
 ness for him, so by parity of reason he cannot be his 
 patron. Nor is this a new notion. The tenth council of 
 Toledo, in their third canon, expressly inhibits pre- 
 lates, who were then the only patrons, from present- 
 ing their relations, or even their dependants, to any 
 benefice in their gift. The canon is entitled, Contra 
 episcopos qui monasteriis vel ecclesiis consangui- 
 neos, vel sibi faventes prxjiciu7it, and runs thus: 
 %^gnovimus enim quosdam pontijices praecepti 
 
60 MEMOIR OF DR. NlSBilT. 
 
 principiis aposfolorum (qui ait, Pascite qui in 
 vobis est gregem, non coacte, sed spontanee, neque 
 vi dominantes in clero^ ^c.J ita esse immemores, 
 ut quibusdam monasteriis parochialihxisque eccle- 
 siis, aid suae consanguinitatis personas, aut sui 
 favoris participes, ifiiquuni saspe statuant in prse- 
 laturarn, ita illis providentur commoda inhonesta, 
 ut aut eisdem deserantur quae propria episcopodari 
 Justus ordo depoposcerit, aut quae rapere deputati 
 exactoris violentia poterit. Proinde placuit nobis 
 Sf in prxsenti tale rescindere factum, fy non esse 
 de caetero faciendum. Nam quisque pontificium 
 deinceps aut sanguine propinquis aut favor e per- 
 sonis quibuscunque sibi coiijunctis talia cotnmen- 
 dare lucra tcntaverit, ad suum nefandae praesum,p- 
 tionis excidium, et quod jussum fuerit, devoce- 
 tur in irritum, ^ qui ordinavit, annuse excommu- 
 nicationi subjaceat. Further, in a synod assembled 
 at London, anno 1171, can. 9. *Let none transfer 
 a church to another in the name of a portion, or take 
 any money or covenanted gain for the presentation 
 of any one. He that is guilty, by conviction or con- 
 fession, is for ever deprived of the patronage of that 
 church by the king's authority and ours.' I own * 
 that the practice of buying and selling benefices is 
 tolerated in the neighbouring church of England, 
 though no less contrary to the laws of that church 
 than of this; and there every presentee is obliged to 
 take a tremendous oath against simony, bearing that 
 neither he himself, nor his friends, have purchased 
 the benefice on his account. All good men in the 
 church of England have lamented and abhorred this 
 practice, as contrary to Christianity, and lending to 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 61 
 
 the utter corruption of the clerical order, and its 
 fruits have been answerable to their apprehensions. 
 But simony cannot be more expressly forbidden in 
 any church than in ours. By three several acts of 
 assembly in 1753, 1757, and 1759, it is declared to 
 infer deposition in a minister, and forfeiture of li- 
 cense to a probationer, to bargain with the patron or 
 his friends, either by themselves, or by their friends, 
 with or without their knowledge, or to give or pro- 
 mise any reward whatever to the patron or his friends, 
 in consideration of his settlement, or to fulfil any 
 such bargain when made, or to conceal it when 
 brought to his knowledge; and presbyteries are re- 
 quired to proceed to the sentence of deposition in all 
 the cases above specified, or when any simoniacal 
 paction or practice is used by any person whatever 
 in consideration of a particular settlement. It is 
 most childish reasoning to allege, as has been done 
 on the other side, that because the buying of rights 
 of patronage is not expressly mentioned in these acts, 
 therefore such purchase cannot infer simony. These 
 acts specify all the modes of simony that had fallen 
 under the consideration of the assembly at that time; 
 and as they comprehend and mention much lesser 
 degrees of the crime of simony than that of buying 
 the patronage of a benefice, can it be believed by any 
 person in his senses, that such merchandize is not as 
 much, and indeed more contrary to the spirit of these 
 laws, than the buying of a presentation? If it is si- 
 mony by our laws, as no one doubts, for a candidate to 
 purchase from the patron one single vicey can it be less 
 so to purchase the] patronage absolutely, or that the 
 candidate himself should become patron in the person 
 6 
 
62 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBST. 
 
 of his friend? Common sense revolts at the men- 
 tion of so absurd a distinction. The assembly will 
 be pleased to attend a moment to the consequence of 
 such transactions. If they are permitted to go on, 
 persons of the most infamous characters, destitute of 
 every ministerial talent, if possessed only of a little 
 money, and the favour of a single presbytery, may 
 purchase any benefice in this kingdom. It is well 
 known that a person who a few years ago appeared 
 as a tumbler in several towns in Scotland, has pur- 
 chased a benefice of considerable revenue in the west 
 of England, and it may be expected that tumblers of 
 inferior reputation will soon purchase into our church 
 in the same manner. How venerable would this as- 
 sembly appear to the public, if we had seen one half 
 of its members with their heels upwards! We see 
 already that there are patrons ready enough to sell 
 their patronages to candidates or their friends, as 
 often as they can make a penny by the bargain. The 
 King's college of Aberdeen has set a noble example 
 to the rest, so that we may soon find more instances 
 of this kind. That learned body, fired by the noble 
 love of wealth that animates most of our modern lite- 
 rati, have openly set to sale the sacred trust reposed 
 in their ancestors. Money is the principal thing, 
 therefore get nioney: this seems to have been their 
 maxim. I shall not repeat what a learned gentleman 
 has just now observed as to the stomachs of literary 
 men; but to avoid offence, I shall read a short quota- 
 tion from an eminent author, which I find acciden- 
 tally among my notes. ^ Such is the state of the 
 world, that the most obsequious of the slaves of pride, 
 the most rapturous of the gazers upon wealth, the 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 63 
 
 most officious of the whisperers of greatness, are col- 
 lected from seminaries appropriated to the study of 
 wisdom and virtue, where it was intended that appe- 
 tite should learn to he content with little, [here in- 
 deed is something relating to their stomachs] and 
 that hope should aspire only to honours which no 
 human power can give or take away.' Rambler, 
 No. 180. 
 
 " By the laws of our church, sir, a candidate for the 
 ministry is obliged to undergo a long and laborious 
 course of study, and to maintain a d-ecent and irre- 
 proachable character. He must be certified by a 
 professor of divinity, and examined carefully by a 
 presbytery, before he obtains license to preach, and 
 when presented to any particular charge, must under- 
 go a new trial before that presbytery in whose bounds 
 the charge lies, before he is ordained a minister; and 
 at his ordination all persons are called upon to pro- 
 duce, if they can, any accusation against his life and 
 doctrine. So anxious is our church for the purity 
 of the clerical character, and their being possessed of 
 proper talents for the ministry, that their whole set- 
 tlement is made to turn upon that: But how differ- 
 ent a course has been followed by this presentee; and 
 if allowed, will be followed by other candidates! If 
 this settlement is affirmed, persons without learning, 
 piety, or moral character, need only get the favour 
 of any particular presbytery, which will not be diffi- 
 cult to be found, and get themselves ordained ad mi- 
 nisterium vagurti; and then, if they have but a little 
 money, or can get credit for it till the benefice be- 
 comes vacant, they will find patrons to sell them 
 their right, or to seem to sell it them till their turn 
 
64 
 
 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 is served. I readily allow that simony is the natu- 
 ral offspring of patronage, as that is of the mother of 
 harlots and abominations of the earth; but it must be 
 evident to every person of common sense, that if the 
 settlement in question is affirmed, nothing but the 
 v\^ant of money will be able to prevent the most in- 
 famous and unfit persons from becoming ministers of 
 this church. Every minister at his ordination is 
 obliged to declare solemnly, and as in the presence 
 of God, that he has not used any undue methods to 
 procure his settlement, either by himself or his 
 friends. And when this declaration is made by 
 those in the circumstances of the present presentee, 
 as it has been made by him, it must put an end to 
 their moral character instead of establishing it. When 
 a person begins his ministry with such a solemn 
 prevarication, not to say perjury, what edification 
 or profit to the church may be reaped from his mi- 
 nistry may be easily imagined. In controversies 
 about settlements, the opposers of presentees are 
 often reviled on account of their rank in life; they 
 are represented as illiterate vulgar, incapable of judg- 
 ing of the talents and qualifications of ministers; but 
 it seems patronage sanctifies every thing, and, like 
 the popish sacraments, confers grace, and sense, and 
 wisdom. Had this innkeeper, who is now the pa- 
 tron, been an inhabitant of the parish of Marykirk, 
 and an opposer of this presentee, those who are now 
 his friends would have held him in the utmost deri- 
 sion; but by his becoming patron, he immediately 
 commences wise, just, and infallible; so mighty a 
 thing is it to have credit for two hundred pounds, in 
 the opinion of some men. I cannot look upon this 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLiND. 65 
 
 patron in the same light with any other patron. His 
 right was a fresh purchase, with a visible design to 
 provide for a son, whether qualified for the ministry 
 or not; and it appears by this transaction, that the 
 presentee's father thouoht as meanly of his son's 
 talents as any of his opposers do. If he had thought 
 that his son had as much merit as would recommend 
 him to any patron or parish whatever, he would 
 never have parted with 200/. to provide him in a 
 settlement. No application was made to this patron, 
 as is always the case with others; because his inten- 
 tion of conveying it to his son was known to every 
 person from the time of the purchase. If it is said, 
 that no simoniacal intention appears, I answer, that 
 it appears as clearly as any criminal intention can 
 ever be supposed to appear. May we not as fairly 
 and legally infer the simoniacal intention from the 
 circumstance of the purchase, and the settlement fol- 
 lowing upon it, as the lords of justiciary, in cases of 
 murder, infer the animus injuriandij or criminal 
 intention, from the overt acts and behaviour of the 
 pannel? And if this is not admitted, no criminal 
 vvhatever can be condemned, as all crimes consist in 
 intention. If this transaction has all the circum- 
 stances, appearances and consequences of a simonia- 
 cal transaction, as it must be owned it has, why in 
 the name of common sense is it to be called by any 
 other name? At this rate, a man might believe tran- 
 substantiation itself, and hold that accidents can sub- 
 sist without a substance/' 
 
 " In a word, you must either find this settlement 
 simoniacal, or declare that simony never was nor can 
 be committed by any j>erson. If these things go on, 
 6» 
 
66 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 you may soon expect to see your churches filled 
 with useless and immoral clergymen. If money is 
 sufficient to give a right, patrons will be found ready 
 to sell, and candidates to buy. What need have we 
 of probity or character, if money does quite as well? 
 What need have we of professors of divinity, except 
 to cry out, O cives! cives! quserenda pecunia pri- 
 ?num est; and if clandestine ordinations in distant 
 presbyteries are allowed, they need not add, Virtus 
 post nummos. Your churches will be res m com- 
 merciOj and patronages transacted at fairs and mar- 
 kets; the price of patronages, as well as other provi- 
 sions, will rise in proportion to the demand, and 
 clergymen, paying so high for their settlements, 
 must languish out the rest of their lives under a load 
 of debt and misery. How honourable for our church 
 would such a paragraph be in our public papers as 
 this? ' We hear from Falkirk, that on Wednesday 
 last, there was a great show of cattle, but little de- 
 mand. Patronages bore a very high price, all those 
 brought to market having been bought up the night 
 before by an eminent dealer in horses, so that many 
 clergymen were disappointed.' Nor is this suppo- 
 sition too extravagant: I have heard already of an 
 eminent dealer in horses who intends to buy a bene- 
 fice for his son, having discovered that he has no ge- 
 nius for his own profession. But dropping conse- 
 quences, it is evident that the present transaction 
 comes precisely within the limits of the acts of 1758 
 and 1759. At the time of it the college of Aberdeen 
 were patrons of Marykirk. Mr. Brymer's friends 
 offered and gave money for the presentation, as there 
 could be no surer way of securing it than buying 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. &T 
 
 the right; so that the presentee, by accepting said 
 presentation, incurs ipso facto the sentence of depor 
 sition, according to the express tenor of said acts. 
 Besides, it may be shown, that at the time of making 
 these acts, the word presentation was used to signify 
 a right of patronage, as well as a single vice^ as it 
 was not till of late years that this strictness of speak- 
 ing obtained amongst us. Moreover, it is confi- 
 dently asserted, that though Brymer, the patron, 
 bargained ostensibly for the right of patronage, he 
 was obliged, by a secret article, to dispone it to a 
 certain gentleman after he had served his turn by it, 
 and that it is already sold to another patron; so that 
 a single vice or turn of presenting was the very thing 
 bargained for. It is true, that at the synod the 
 presentee's agent held up a piece of parchment, 
 which he affirmed to be the right in question, but it 
 might have been only a piece of an old drum-head, 
 for ought I know; and a collusion betwixt the buyer 
 and seller was so easy in this case, that no sort of 
 stress can be laid upon that. If innkeepers are to be 
 patrons of our churches, and have no sons willing to 
 accept, it may be expected that the greatest drinkers 
 will be generally preferred ; and I am by no means sure 
 that these will be the most eminent for learning, piety, 
 and other ministerial qualifications. Whenever these 
 are disregarded, and money is found sufficient to 
 supply their place, the whole fabric of our constitu- 
 tion must be totally ruined. Upon the whole, the 
 character of this assembly depends upon this day's 
 decisions, and if this settlement is not found simonia- 
 cal, and reduced accordingly, your sentences will 
 amount only to an advertisement to all persons in- 
 
68 MEMOIR OF I>R. NISBET. 
 
 tending to purchase benefices, to get their fathers or 
 friends to make the bargain for the patronage for 
 their behoof, and that they be sure to get clandes- 
 tinely into orders before-hand, in order to prevent 
 any troublesome examination into their qualifications 
 by the presbytery where the benefice lies. Such a 
 plain countenancing of the grossest simony is what I 
 cannot expect from an assembly that has the least 
 regard to character or conscience; but if I am disap- 
 pointed in this, I would beg leave to hint to any his- 
 torian who is to write the history of our times, to 
 draw a line at the present year, as Mr. Calderwood 
 does at a certain period, with this inscription: * Here 
 end the sincere assemblies of the Church of Scotland.' 
 *' As your decisions will be freely and impartially 
 examined by the public, I would beg leave to know 
 how you can avoid being considered as an assembly 
 of venal and corrupt men, if you openly encourage 
 corruption and venality in others, and make them 
 the surest ways of introduction to benefices in this 
 church. To prevent, if possible, such reproach, I 
 beg leave to put you in mind of an awful passage of 
 scripture, which applies to cases of this kind, and 
 which has already been fulfilled, with regard to the 
 presbytery of Fordoun, and the majority of last sy- 
 nod of Angus and Mearns: it is Malachi ii. 8, 9: — 
 * But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caus- 
 ed many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted 
 the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of Hosts. 
 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and 
 base before all the people, according as ye have not 
 kept my ways, but have been partial inthe law.' But 
 as I find that quotations from scripture are disagree^ 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 69 
 
 able to some members, I shall conclude with a few 
 monkish verses, quoted by Johannes Andreas van 
 der Muylen, professor of the civil law at Utrecht, in 
 his book Be imperio conscientise circa hominis 
 mores, which I leave to the consideration of this as- 
 sembly: 
 
 *' Judicabitjudices judex generalis, 
 Ibique non proderit dignitas papalis, 
 Sive sit episcopus, sive cardinalis, 
 Reus condemnabitur, nee dicetur qualis, 
 Ibi non proderit multum allegare, 
 Neque excipere, neque explicare, 
 Neque ad sedem apo^tolicam appellare, 
 Heus condemnabitur, nee dicetur quare, 
 Cogitate, miseri, qui et quales estis, 
 Quidque in hoc judicio dicere potestis, 
 Ubi neque locus erit codici nee digestis, 
 Reus condemnabitur, nee producetur testis." 
 
 The result, in this case, was not so favourable as 
 in the former. Notwithstanding this strong appeal, 
 the advocates of the system of Patronage were so 
 powerful that the General Assembly affirmed the 
 judgment of the courts below, in favour of the pre- 
 sentation, by a large majority. 
 
 The truth is, it would not be easy to conceive of 
 a more formidable opponent than this remarkable 
 man in a deliberatave body. His memory was such 
 as to furnish him with apt quotations from every de- 
 partment of literature, with the peculiar adaptedness 
 and pungency of which he frequently disconserted 
 and sometimes demolished his opponent, and seldom 
 failed to electrify the body which he addressed. His 
 inexhaustible wit and humour also supplied him 
 with a weapon which no one ever used with more 
 
70 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 readiness or effect. It appeared as if no argument, 
 no quotation, no bon 7not, could ever take him by 
 surprise. If any one ever attempted to play the 
 wit at liis expense, quick as lightning, flash after 
 flash, of superior wit, would break from his lips, ac- 
 companied with a peculiar expression of his counte- 
 nance, which, when he chose to indulge it, might be 
 said to blaze with wit, which generally proved irre- 
 sistible, and seldom Aiiled completely to turn the 
 laugh on his prostrate adversary. 
 
 In 1771, the subject of this Memoir had a corres- 
 pondence with the Countess of Huntingdon, well 
 known, for many years, in the religious world, net 
 only as a fervently pious Christian, but also as a warm 
 friend of Whitefield, and as an active and munifi- 
 cent promoter of the cause of truth and piety through- 
 out Great Britain, and, indeed, as far as her power 
 extended. This correspondence seems to have arisen 
 on the part of Lady Huntingdon, who wished to con- 
 sult Mr. Nisbet in regard to certain opinions which 
 she considered as erroneous, and which then appear- 
 ed to be gaining ground. 
 
 The only portion of this correspondence which 
 has been j)reserved, consists of one of Mr. Nisbet's 
 letters to that illustrious and excellent female, who 
 seems to have lived only to do good, and who de- 
 nied herself many of what were considered as the 
 ordinary comforts of life, that she might have the 
 more to give for the promotion of the Redeemer's 
 kingdom. This letter appears to have been written 
 in answer to a solicitation of his opinion in respect 
 to a proposed public Conference between the friends 
 of truth and the followers of Mr. Wesley. On this 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 71 
 
 subject, so interesting at that time to a portion of the 
 religious public, Mr. Nisbet writes thus: 
 
 " Montrose, 2Gth July, 1770.'' 
 ^^ Madam ^^ — "It must give pleasure to every lo- 
 ver of Christ and of true religion to hear that a per- 
 son of your Ladyship's rank is so interested in the 
 affairs of Christ's kingdom, in so degenerate an age 
 as ours is. It would seem that Mr. Wesley, by his 
 preaching and conferences, has been but too success- 
 ful in seducing many of the ignorant and unwary 
 into his notions. He has been long suspected of 
 teaching doctrines inconsistent with the gospel of 
 Christ, and tending to encourage fallen sinners in a 
 reliance on their own works and merit for justifica- 
 tion. In his last conference he seems to have taken 
 off the mask, and openly to inculcate the old Popish 
 doctrine of the merit of good works wrought by sin- 
 ners in a fallen state, in direct opposition to the arti- 
 cles of the Church of England, which he must have 
 subscribed, and to the doctrine which he has many 
 times preached. It is easy to revive an old, explo- 
 ded heresy, when we take no notice of what has been 
 said against it, by torturing a single expression in 
 Holy Scripture to give it countenance. The obscu- 
 rity and ambiguity with which Mr, Wesley express- 
 ed himself, gives strong suspicion against his sincer- 
 ity as well as his orthodoxy. If 1 had all Mr. Wes- 
 ley's publications by m.e, I think it would be easy to 
 show that every doctrine asserted and countenanced 
 in his last Conference, is directly contrary to what 
 he himself has often preached and published to the 
 world as the true Gospel of Christ. But I see that 
 
72 MEMOIR OF BR. mSBET. 
 
 he is already provided with an answer to this, by ac- 
 knowledging that he and his brethren have been dis» 
 puting onl^ about words for these thirty years past. 
 It is true that General" Councils and public Confer- 
 ences have seldom been favorable to the interests of 
 true religion, as men bring their own private preju- 
 dices and attachments to those Assemblies, and come 
 resolved to maintain their former opinions, whatever 
 may be said against them ; not to add, that these 
 meetings have led many to found their faith on hu- 
 man authority, rather than the testimony of God in 
 the Holy Scriptures." 
 
 " But as the Conference alluded to is proposed by 
 the acknowledged friends of true religion, who must 
 know the situation of things; and besides, as it must 
 tend to illustrate a point of fact, viz. that the doc- 
 trines now taught by Mr. Wesley and his brethren, 
 are contrary to what is taught and believed by the 
 truly orthodox ministers of Christ in Great Britain; — 
 for these reasons I rejoice that it is to be held, and 
 cheerfully contribute my poor testimony in support 
 of the truth. None can have the vanity to believe 
 that Scripture, reason and argument will have the 
 effect to enlighten Mr. Wesley,, who is a person of 
 great learning and ingenuity, and cannot be supposed 
 to err from ignorance. But perhaps the concurring 
 testimony of many acknowledged orthodox minis- 
 ters of Christ, may be sufficient to open the eyes of 
 some of his followers, and to convince them that Mr. 
 Wesley's new doctrines are countenanced only by 
 the Papists and some Arminians. I shall be glad to 
 hear of the issue of the intended Conference, and 
 pray that God, by his Spirit, may so direct his faith- 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 73 
 
 ful servants, that they may be enabled to bear ho- 
 nourable testimony to the truth of Christ, and in 
 meekness to instruct those that oppose themselves, 
 if God, peradventure, will give them repentance to 
 the acknowledging of the truth." 
 
 "I am. Madam, your Ladyship's most obedient 
 humble servant, Charles Nisbet." 
 
 " The Countess of Huntingdon." 
 
 In the same year (1771), when Mr. Wesley^s 
 system of doctrine was attracting considerable atten- 
 tion, and when some measures were taken to draw 
 to it the notice of the theologians of Scotland, Mr. 
 Nisbet drew up a Review of that system, which, 
 though not published at the time, was committed to 
 the press a number of years afterwards in a popu- 
 lar periodical. This Review is a very honourable 
 monument of the learning, taste, piety and ortho- 
 doxy of the author. He treats the erroneous system 
 of that remarkable man with an urbanity, a force of 
 reasoning, and a comprehensive clearness, which 
 evince the hand of a scholar, a logician, and a divine 
 of no ordinary character. Yet it is probable that if 
 the subject of this memoir had undertaken to speak 
 of Mr. Wesley and his opinions twenty or thirty 
 years afterwards, when the character of both was 
 more fully developed, he would hardly have called in 
 question the " sincerity " of that eminent man. His 
 consistency and his orthodoxy he would, no doubt, 
 still have assailed with undiminished confidence; but 
 he would probably have awarded to him the praise of 
 honest zeal, and of no small usefulness, however mis- 
 taken and erratic some parts of his system. 
 7 
 
74 MEMOIR OF DR. 3IISBJKT- 
 
 CHAPTER 111. 
 
 His Ministry in Scotland continued. 
 
 It was not only in the General Assembly that Mr. 
 Nisbet appeared as the advocate of the rights of the 
 people, against the encroachments of civil or eccle- 
 siastical oppression. He was the uniform and ar- 
 dent friend of this great cause, and whenever he had 
 an opportunity of pleading it, he was ever faithful to 
 his trust, and as able as faithful. 
 
 Not many years after his settlement in Montrose, 
 the troubles commenced between Great Britain and 
 her North American colonies. In this great contest, 
 though he did not allow himself to violate the duty 
 of a loyal subject, yet, in principle and feeling, he 
 sided with the Colonies. His friend, Dr. V/ither- 
 spoon, had, in 1768, removed to America, and was 
 known there as the active, uncompromising patron of 
 the Colonial claims and feelings. Mr. Nisbet, it is 
 believed, substantially agreed with him in his general 
 sentiments; and though, from the difference of his 
 situation, not prepared to go all lengths with his now 
 American friend, yet he felt and acted, so far as his 
 sacred function called him to act, with the enligh- 
 tened and patriotic Whigs of Great Britain of that 
 day; considering the Colonies as having just grounds 
 of complaint, and as pleading for rights which ought 
 not to have been denied them. In short, Mr. Nisbet 
 was a decided and warm friend of America in the 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLiND. 75 
 
 contest in which she was engaged; and manifested 
 his friendship as far as he was allowed by his situa- 
 tion. And as this was no secret, it attracted the no- 
 tice of the partizans of government, and drew upon 
 him the frowns of many a tool of the administration. 
 Being called to preach on a public Fast appointed 
 by government during the American war, he took 
 his text from Daniel v. 5, 25: In the same hour 
 came forth Jingers of a man's hand, and wrote 
 over against the candlestick, upon the plaster of 
 the wall of the king^s palace; and the king saw 
 the part of the hand that wrote — And this is 
 the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Te- 
 
 KEL, UfHARSIN. 
 
 The introduction to his discourse was in the fol- 
 lowing strongly marked and characteristic strain: 
 
 " We are this day called by our superiours to fast 
 and afflict our souls; and they have not called us to 
 this duty until they had given us abundant reason to 
 do so. We have many enemies: our sins and follies 
 are many also; yet we do not chuse to be told of 
 them. Prosperity intoxicates men's minds; and even 
 a great share of adversity is insufficient to open their , 
 eyes, and bring them to their senses. They love to 
 be deceived, and hope to the last, till the punishment 
 of their sins actually falls upon them. Nineveh is 
 the only instance in history of a people repenting 
 and obtaining a delay of their punishment. To dis- 
 charge our duty with as little offence as possible, we 
 have chose the words of this text for the subject of 
 our discourse on this occasion. They served to awa- 
 ken a mighty monarch, who does not appear to have 
 ever thought before. After the destruction of Nine- 
 
76 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 veh, Babylon was the principal seat of the Assyrian 
 monarch, though that empire did not continue long 
 in vigour after the above period. Under Nebuchad- 
 nezzar it was terrible and extensive; but the weakness 
 and incapacity of his grandson Belshazzar brought 
 it to an end, as we are told in the chapter from which 
 our text is taken, and as it had been long ago fore- 
 told by the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 45, 46, 47. Cy- 
 rus, the instrument chosen of God for that purpose, 
 was named, long before his birth, by the prophet; 
 and on this account, that he was raised up to execute 
 God's judgments against Babylon, and to rebuild the 
 Temple of Jerusalem, he is called ' the Lord's anoin- 
 ted.' The Babylonian empire consisted of a num- 
 ber of conquered provinces, whose princes were alto- 
 gether kings. Many of these had revolted, on ac- 
 count of the injuries they had suffered by the Baby- 
 lonian monarchs. An empire founded in violence, 
 and stained with blood, can never be called secure, 
 and nourishes in its bosom the seeds of its dissolu- 
 tion. An arbitrary prince rules over enemies, whose 
 weakness alone obliges them to pretend to be his 
 friends; but who are ready to seize the first opportu- 
 nity of revenging their wrongs, by abandoning, be- 
 traying or destroying their tyrant. The Medes and 
 Persians were made use of in the destruction of Ba- 
 bylon, and were part of the nations that had been 
 subject to its dominion in the time of Nebuchadnez- 
 zar." 
 
 On another public fast day, during the continu- 
 ance of our revolutionary contest, the members of 
 the Town Council of Montrose, who were always in 
 the habit of attending public worship in Mr. Nisbet's 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 77 
 
 church, and of occupying a pew in a conspicuous 
 situation assigned to them in their official character, 
 were seated as usual in their appropriate place. Per- 
 ceiving, soon after the commencement of the dis- 
 course, that its character was likely to be by no means 
 agreeable to their taste, they rose in a body and left 
 the Church. Mr. Nisbet, stretching forth his hand 
 toward the seat which they had just occupied, said 
 with emphasis, as they withdrew — '' The wicked flee 
 when no man pursueth." 
 
 It is hardly necessary to say, that things of this 
 kind drew upon him no little odium from various 
 quarters. But his great talents, his pre-eminent learn- 
 ing, and his acknowledged piety and faithfulness 
 made such an impression on the public mind in his 
 favour, that the friends of the administration did not 
 consider it as either wise or safe to do more than to 
 smile at the wit and sarcasm, and complain of the 
 censure, of which he so frequently and severely made 
 them the subjects. 
 
 Mr. Nisbet, however, in taking this course, was 
 not alone. Some of the best men in Scotland sym- 
 pathized with him in his principles and preaching, 
 and thus contributed not a little to divide and disarm 
 the odium which might otherwise have borne more 
 heavily on an unsupported individual. Among oth- 
 ers his venerable and highly respected friend, the 
 Rev. Dr. Erskine, of Edinburgh, substantially agreed 
 with him, and in his preaching and publications from 
 the press stood forth as the friend of America. A 
 short time before the breaking out of the war which 
 terminated in the independence of the United States, 
 Dr. Erskine published a pamphlet, entitled " Shall 
 
78 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBETs, 
 
 we go to war with our brother Benjamin^*' He, too,, 
 was charged with preaching and praying in a manner 
 highly offensive to the advocates of the American 
 war. When besought by a personal friend to pray 
 differently for the king and his ministers, he said — 
 " Do I not pray for them every sabbath?'' — his friend 
 replied — " Yes, but you pray for them as if they were 
 the greatest culprits in all his majesty's dominions." 
 These circumstances, no doubt, among others of a 
 still more interesting character, led to a warm attach- 
 ment between these two friends, which gave rise to 
 much intercourse between them while Mr. Nisbet 
 remained in Scotland, and to a confidential and affec- 
 tionate correspondence, after his removal to this coun- 
 try, which continued as long as Dr. Erskine lived. 
 Some specimens of this correspondence will be given 
 in a subsequent chapter. 
 
 While Mr. Nisbet proved himself a warm friend 
 to the enlightened claims of civil liberty, he was no 
 less awake to the rights of conscience and of the 
 Church. In 1781, he prepared a series of "Letters 
 to the members of the established Church of Scot- 
 land," in which his views of the unhappy policy pur- 
 sued by the courts of the Church, are presented with 
 great strength and eloquence. Argument, learning, 
 and satire are all brought, with much ability, to bear 
 on the subject. In one of the letters, a draft of a 
 proposed petition to the king is found, in which faith- 
 ful warning, united with intense sarcasm, shows the 
 hand of a great and good man, supremely devoted to 
 what he deemed the best interests of the church, and 
 of the nation. These Letters appear to have been 
 iive in number. Only two of them are found among 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 79 
 
 his papers in any good measure complete. Whetlier 
 all, or indeed any of them were ever published can- 
 not now be known. E.ven the two which remain in 
 manuscript, do not appear to have been entirely pre- 
 pared for the press; and the publication of them with- 
 out the others would hardly be doing j^ustice either 
 to the author or the cause. 
 
 In the year 1782, a special effort seems to have 
 been made in Scotland to obtain from the Parliament 
 a repeal of the Patronage Act, and restoring to the 
 chu+'ches of the Scottish establishment the right to 
 choose their own ministers. At such a time it was 
 impossible for him to be idle. Accordingly, there 
 w^as found among his papers, a series of Resolutions, 
 in his own hand writing, drawn up and adopted at a 
 large public meeting, of which the following is a 
 copy, and which will sufficiently explain themselves. 
 
 ^^ Montrose, July 15, 1782. 
 
 "A considerable number of the Elders, and the 
 greater part of the inhabitants of this town and par- 
 rish, who are members of the established Church, 
 having this day met, and being informed that attempts 
 are making, in several parts of this kingdom, to pro- 
 cure a repeal of the Patronage Act, they judged it 
 their duty to join the other parishes and societies in 
 Scotland, which intend to petition for a repeal of said 
 Act; and unanimously agreed to the following Reso- 
 lutions, viz. 
 
 I. "That patronage is not only contrary to the 
 Scriptures, and the natural liberties of mankind, but 
 also a direct encroachment on the rights and consti- 
 tution of the Church, established by the 5th Act of 
 
80 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 the first parliament of William and Mary, and rati- 
 fied by the Treaty of Union.'' 
 
 II. " That Patronage, though restored by Queen 
 Anne's Tory Ministry in 1712, was not received or 
 submitted to by the judicatories of this Church, but 
 repeatedly remonstrated against, till about forty years 
 ago, when a corrupt party began to prevail, and the 
 original principles of this Church were in a great 
 measure forgotten. Nay Patronage has been so uni- 
 formly reckoned a grievance in this Church, that 
 even those General Assemblies whose oppressive 
 measures have given so much offence to the members 
 of this Church, have never failed to instruct their 
 commissioners to petition for a repeal of said Act, if 
 a favourable opportunity offered." 
 
 III. " That although the pretended intention of 
 the Patronage Act was to prevent heats and divis- 
 ions; yet, by the experience of more than forty years, 
 it has been found that the said Act, and the violent 
 proceedings of Church Judicatories in compliance 
 with it, has occasioned the greatest divisions ever 
 known in this Church; and has driven from its com- 
 munion some hundreds of congregations of well dis- 
 posed persons, who are still of the principles of this 
 Church, but who could not submit to such tyrannical 
 usage." 
 
 IV^. "That the said Act, restoring Patronages, by 
 putting the power of settlements solely in the Patron, 
 has introduced a servile and dependent spirit among 
 the Clergy of this Church, whereby their votes and 
 determinations are entirely governed by their Pat- 
 rons, or friends that procured their settlement; which 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 81 
 
 makes them most unfit guardians and representatives 
 of a free and independent church." 
 
 V. " That, in consequence of this dependent spirit, 
 the General Assemblies of this Church, composed 
 mostly of such men as patronage only could have in- 
 troduced, are become so corrupt, slavish, and tyran- 
 nical in their proceedings, that they are the terror 
 and aversion of all the friends of religion and liberty; 
 as by their foolish and arbitrary proceedings they 
 are lessening the numbers of the members of this 
 Church every year; and thus openly wasting that 
 body which it is their duty to preserve/' 
 
 VI. <' That if some stop is not soon put to these 
 destructive proceedings, which certainly cannot be 
 expected from General Assemblies, who are the prin- 
 cipal authors of them, this Church mu5t soon be re- 
 duced to a very contemptible number, and all its be- 
 nefices reduced to absolute sinecures; a circum- 
 stance that must hasten the ruin of our Church esta- 
 blishment; and as there already exist parishes, con- 
 sisting of only two, five, eight, and ten individuals, 
 the rest being mostly dissenters, this period can be 
 at no great distance." 
 
 VII. " That Patronage gives an opportunity for 
 simoniacal pactions, which, though condemned by 
 the laws of all Christian countries, can never be pre- 
 vented where Patronage is established. And, though 
 there is good reason to believe that sundry benefices 
 in this Church have been bought with money; it is of- 
 ten impossible to make legal proof of these deeds of 
 darkness, whereof even the guilty actors are evi- 
 dently ashamed." 
 
 VIII. ^^And that the people who remain in the 
 
82 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 communion of the Church, by the habit of submit- 
 ting to oppression, have, in a great measure, lost the 
 spirit of libert}^, and become the willing slaves of 
 any that pretend dominion over them." 
 
 IX. " For these reasons, we hereby declare our 
 resolution to join with the other parishes and socie- 
 ties who have notified their resolution to petition 
 the Legislature for the repeal of this most pernicious 
 and destructive Act; and we appoint these our reso- 
 lutions to be notified to the Constitutional Society of 
 correspondence at Glasgow, and to be published in 
 the Caledonian Mercury, the Edinburgh Evening 
 Courant, and the London Chronicle; and we hereby 
 promise to defray a proportional part of the expense 
 of the application to Parliament, along with all those 
 other societies who shall join in said application." 
 
 Although ]Mr. Nisbet, by thus opposing, both in 
 church and state, the policy most acceptable in the 
 •' high places" of the land, incurred not a little odium, 
 he held a place in public estimation too high to be 
 contemned, and too firm to be shaken. But not only 
 was the popular voice strong in his favour. Even 
 some of the noblesse of the country were constrained 
 to do honour to his exalted character, and to show 
 that they knew how to estimate pre-eminent accom- 
 plishments and worth, however unbending to the 
 authority of the court. Accordingly, the subject of 
 this Memoir was favoured with the peculiar friend- 
 ship and confidence of a large number not only of the 
 most distinguished and excellent of the clergy and 
 literati of Scotland; but also of some individuals of 
 both sexes belonging to noble families, who delighted 
 to testify their veneration for the piety, the talents. 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 83 
 
 and the extraordinary erudition which all parties as- 
 cribed to him. Among a number of names which 
 might be mentioned as examples of this friendship, 
 those of the Earl of Buchan, and the Countess of 
 Leven and Melville, in Scotland, and of Lady Hunt- 
 ingdon, before mentioned, in England, are particu- 
 larly specified, because some remains of their corres- 
 pondence are still preserved among the papers of 
 this remarkable man. 
 
 A few specimens of the letters of the Countess of 
 Leven will, doubtless, be interesting to the reader, 
 as examples of plain, simple, unpretending, but en- 
 lightened Christian friendship, equally honourable to 
 the illustratious female by whom they were written, 
 and the venerable minister to whom they are ad- 
 dressed. 
 
 The first is without date as to the year, but proba- 
 bly written about the year 1778 or 1779. 
 
 " Melville House, Sept. 1th. 
 ''Sir,'' 
 
 " As I have a great esteem for your character, and 
 some attachment to your name,"^ I take the liberty 
 to write a few lines to you concerning a book which 
 is in your possession, and which, at present, occa- 
 sions a good deal of speculation. I need not, after say- 
 ing this, add the name of the book, which I am not 
 thoroughly acquainted with. The author's name is 
 Nostrodanuis. It would be doing my Lord and me 
 
 * The Earl of Leven had married Miss JVilhelmina A'lsbet, of a 
 family which, though it bore the name of the subject of this Memoir, 
 was not known to bear any relation to him, of either consanguinity 
 or affinity. 
 
84 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 9. favour if you would take the trouble to cause to be 
 written out a few of the mo5t remarkable passages, 
 alluding to these times, and send them by post.'^ 
 
 "Should this correspondence prove an introduc- 
 tion to future acquaintance, it will bring about a 
 wished for event. If it is agreeable and convenient 
 for you, my Lord and I will be glad to see you, 
 either at Melville House, or Edinburgh. '^ 
 
 " 1 beg you will forgive this trouble; and that you 
 may believe me to be, with esteem/^ 
 
 " Sir, your humble servant," 
 
 " W. Leven." 
 
 " Rev, Mr. Nisbet, Montrose.^' 
 
 The book mentioned by Lady Leven is a very rare 
 and a very curious one. The author of this Memoir 
 never saw a copy of it excepting the one possessed by 
 Dr. Nisbet, of which he often heard the Doctor speak 
 with no small interest. Nostrodamus was a celebrated 
 physician and astrologer of France, who flourished 
 in the sixteenth century. His prophecies, like those 
 of the Delphic Oracle, were interesting chiefly on 
 account of their mysterious and equivocal character. 
 It was not difiicult to find the fulfilment of an oracle 
 so expressed that it might be made to mean almost 
 any thing. Dr. Nisbet considered this work as one 
 of the most singular productions of modern times, 
 and often amused himself in comparing its pretended 
 predictions with late events. 
 
 From the same. 
 
 "iVov. 29, 1779.'' 
 *' Rev. Sir,'' 
 
 " I would have written before now, to inquire after 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 85 
 
 you, and to thank you for your kind visit, had I not 
 waited for a frank; and, in the mean time, a very 
 mounful event occurred, which gave much concern 
 to this family; and I truly believe that the death of 
 our worthy friend. Lady Northesk, has given very 
 general concern. Her own family have sustained a 
 very great loss. But I have no time to enlarge upon 
 this extensive subject.'^ 
 
 " I am much obliged to you for the frank manner 
 in which you expressed a desire to comply with my 
 request for a reading of your Lecture, had it been 
 written: and still more by your offer to gratify my 
 inclination, recollecting your pious meditations on 
 that rich Psalm, and writing them out for me. I 
 cannot deny myself so far as to decline so instruc- 
 tive an offer, though sensible it must be attended 
 with considerable trouble to you. I do, therefore, 
 thankfully accept of it. And, when a leisure hour 
 may permit, I beg you may fulfil the further offer 
 you made of letting me have your thoughts, now and 
 then, on some further passages of scripture as they may 
 occur. I have an interleaved Bible, in which 1 have 
 collected some Annotations, particularly all that are 
 to be found in Mr. Hervey's writings (should be glad 
 to know your opinion of these writings.) It will be 
 doing me a great favour to send me some notes for 
 that purpose.^' 
 
 "All this family join in best respects to you; and 
 I beg you may believe me, with much esteem,'^ 
 " Dear sir, your humble servant," 
 
 « W. Leven." 
 
 " Rev. Mr. Nisbet.'' 
 
86 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 From the same. 
 
 ''March 9th, 1780.'' 
 « Dear Sir/' 
 
 " I received yours of February 21st, which gave 
 me much satisfaction, and for which I do most sin- 
 cerely thank you. IMy good correspondents, and, 
 of course, my inclination for writing, are much fallen 
 off of late. But when I meet with one whose senti- 
 ments agree with my own in so many particulars as 
 you have yet had occasion to mention, it encourages 
 me to proceed, in hopes of receiving profit. As to 
 your sentiments of Sermons, they give me much 
 pleasure, if I mistake them not. I suppose you give 
 the preference to sermons which affect the heart, 
 which many condemn. For my part, those sermons 
 which do not affect my heart, and draw tears from my 
 eyes, have little effect upon me at all. They go in 
 at one ear and out at the other, without making any 
 lodgment in the memory. Your verdict concerning 
 Commentators is also, in general, most just. I never 
 met with one of the few I have seen, without ob- 
 serving the coldness with wHich they could treat of 
 the most interesting truths. I thought you might 
 l^now of one of another spirit; who wrote with more 
 feeling than the generality of Commentators do; and 
 with another view than multiplying their critical 
 notes and observations. This made me prize Mr. 
 Hervey's writings. He writes with such warmth, 
 and his ideas are so exalted.'^ 
 
 "I am much obliged, and much edified by your 
 notes upon the other verses of the XXXII. Psalm. I 
 say it without an idea of flattery (indeed my opinion 
 is little worth having), that I think you would make 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 87 
 
 a most excellent Commentator. And this opinion, 
 I dare say, is not peculiar to me. I should be much 
 indebted to you for any addition to the notes already 
 collected in my interleaved Bible, which are not 
 many; mostly confined to Mr. Hervey's. I cannot 
 name any particular texts or places. Whatever 
 strikes or occurs naturally to yourself will be most 
 agreeable, and from time to time, as you find lei- 
 sure and inclination. I suppose notes from old 
 lectures (if you have them) abridged, would answer 
 very well. But I have some idea that you said you 
 did not write your lectures, which is a pity." 
 
 " I am glad to find that your health was improved 
 when you wrote last. I hope your family are all 
 well, to which I am persuaded, from your habits, and 
 the character of your mind, you are much attached." 
 
 '^ I have not been so well for a week past, as for 
 some time before. The degree of health to which I 
 have been restored is a great blessing, and demands 
 my most thankful acknowledgments to my Almighty 
 Deliverer. O that more precious fruits may grow 
 from this new lease of life than I have ever brought 
 forth hitherto; and all be dedicated to Him who has 
 yet Fpared and rexleemed from the power of the 
 grave!" 
 
 "I tire of writing, so will add no more, but ask 
 your opinion of Baxter's Saint's Rest abridged, and 
 his ' Dying Thoughts' — ^ Converse with God in So- 
 litude' — all abridged, by B. Fawcett. If you noticed 
 a letter in the newspaper (London Chronicle) from 
 Mr. Wesley, concerning Popery, I think you would 
 approve of all. 1 like those pieces of Baxter very 
 much. Perhaps you have not seen them in their 
 
88 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 present state. My Lord, and all the young people, 
 send their best respects. I am, with much esteem, 
 " Dear sir, your humble servant, 
 
 "W. Leven." 
 « Rev. Mr. Nisbet.'' 
 
 " P. S. You have heard that Mr. Taylor, of Pais- 
 ley, goes to Glasgow, and Mr. Burnside to Dumfries. 
 A Mr. Buchanan, from Glasgow, is spoken of for 
 Leith. I think that is his name. Mr. Boner might 
 have gone to Glasgow had he inclined; but (what is 
 very uncommon) wisely thought himself too young 
 for such a charge; and that it might have been a loss 
 to him in the most essential respects." 
 
 From the same. 
 
 ''Melville House, Nov. 4, 1783.'' 
 ''Rev. Sir,'' 
 
 " I had the favour of yours, and really take it as 
 a favour; for, although your pen writes readily, it 
 cannot be called ' the pen of a ready writer.' Nei- 
 ther is mine; I am sure, for, whatever it has been, I 
 find a great change. I wish I could say that indo- 
 lence, much as I dislike the idea of thai, was the 
 only cause of my unwillingness to write. But if I 
 ever had any genius for it, it is now lost. Of this, I 
 must not delay to give you a specimen, to convince 
 you that I am not insensible of your favour; and, 
 therefore, write, perhaps a few, perhaps many lines, 
 in answer to your truly valuable letter, for which I 
 thank you, and give you joy of your victory. As 
 matters seem to go on slowly, it will probably come 
 to be another outgo, if then it be restored." 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 89 
 
 " Your expectations concerning the effects of peace 
 have been different from mine. I could earnestly 
 wish you had been right; but I always dreaded that 
 when the war ended, people would then imagine 
 they had less to fear, and their minds, consequently 
 become dissipated, especially with regard to secular 
 affairs, as it made a new opening for trade. As for 
 the other warnings from Providence, most awful in- 
 deed have they been; and I trust that those who have 
 been more immediately concerned, have been led to 
 repentance by the judgments of God: but at this dis- 
 tance they seem to have had no effect. Neither do 
 the direful effects of war, or threatened famine, which 
 so many have suffered by, appear to have accom^ 
 plished the purpose for which they were sent. By 
 all accounts, we continue to ^ revolt m.ore and 
 more.' Extravagance and luxury daily increase. 
 God only knows wMiat the consequence will be! He 
 knows what we deserve. No nation has better rea- 
 son to say, that 'judgment is his strange work;' 
 and that ' it is of his mercy that we are not consu- 
 med.' " 
 
 '' As for the Unitarian sect which you mention as 
 lately introduced at INIontrose, it is pretty plain that 
 God has not joined them together, therefore endea- 
 vours may be used to put them asunder. Yet I dare 
 say, open opposition is the readiest way to make 
 these small beginnings grow and flourish. I remem- 
 ber to have heard that Barclay, the Quaker, was 
 sadly disappointed that he was not persecuted. I 
 just now read a passage, which I will transcribe, as 
 somewhat to the purpose. ' It is meet we should 
 tremble for fear, and stand amazed when we behold 
 8* 
 
90 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 the most grievous judgments of God; how he con- 
 founds the understanding of the learned of this world ; 
 whilst many persons not indeed destitute of good na- 
 tural understanding and sagacity, are so offended at 
 the great simplicity of the holy Scriptures, that they 
 have found out divers ways of inverting the sense of 
 clear words, and use their utmost endeavours to deny 
 their plain meaning; draw them to a foreign sense, 
 and accommodate them to the taste of their corrupt 
 reason. Although the words themselves be so mani- 
 festly perspicuous as to glare in their eyes, the ex- 
 ample of those men, who look upon the words of St. 
 John, in the first chapter of his Gospel, as divinely 
 inspired, and nevertheless, impugn the eternal divi- 
 nity and majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ, ought to 
 render us cautious and circumspect, that we do not 
 pervert the holy writings to our own destruction; on 
 the contrary, that we strive, with the greatest ear- 
 nestness, to receive the plain truths of God, with plain 
 and honest hearts, and earnestly pray to him for the 
 true sense thereof/ Lord, incline us ever to hear, 
 to receive every truth from thy word, and every dic- 
 tate of thy Spirit with docility and love!" 
 
 "My Lord, and all the family send their best re- 
 spects. '^ 
 
 " Ever respectfully yours,'' 
 
 "W. Leven.'' 
 
 ''Rev. MrsNishetr 
 
 Several years before Mr. Nisbet was invited to 
 America, he entered his eldest son, Thomas, as a stu- 
 dent in the University of Edinburgh. On one occa- 
 sion, when the young man returned to his studies in 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 91 
 
 that Institution, his father gave him a letter to the 
 Earl of Buchan,* commending him to the paternal 
 notice of that nobleman, with whom his father had 
 been long and intimately acquainted. The follow- 
 ing is the letter borne by the son; and the reply of 
 the Earl is added. 
 
 " Montrose, 22d October, 1782.'' 
 ''Ml/ Lord,'' 
 
 ^' If I were not fully assured of your Lordship's 
 goodness and condescension, I would not have taken 
 the liberty, though at your express desire, of pre- 
 senting my son to your patronage and protection, as 
 I hereby do. I should have reckoned them words 
 of course, like the ofifers of service usually made by 
 courtiers. But as I have a quite dififerent opinion of 
 your Lordship, and have been informed of the care 
 you have taken of encouraging youth in the study of 
 letters, I would gladly hope that the very circum- 
 stance of being presented to your Lordship, and the 
 observing, if he were capable to observe, what lustre 
 the study of letters adds to persons of rank, may ex- 
 cite in my boy an ambition to deserve the approba- 
 tion of the declared patron of letters and liberty. 
 Your Lordship will find him extremely raw and un- 
 furnished with ideas, as must be the case with boys 
 
 * This is the Lord Buchan, who sent to General Washington a 
 box made of the Oak which sheltered the great Sir UlUiam JVallace, 
 after the battle of Falkirk, and to whom the American Chief, with so 
 much characteristic dehcacy and dignity, bequeathed back the inter- 
 esting gift in his last will, not wiUing to take on himself the selection 
 of the man most worthy of possessing it. This Scottish Nobleman 
 seems to have been an enlightened, honest, eminently patriotic and 
 worthy man. 
 
92 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 educated in a country burgh, and merely as the rude 
 block out of which an image is to be cut by the skill 
 of the statuary.'^ 
 
 " The gentlemen of this country, (I scruple to call 
 them Freeholders) appear to be quite unworthy of 
 your Lordship's late address, and it would be a trans- 
 gression of the express precepts of the gospel to ten- 
 der it to them. For the most part they seem to have 
 no idea of an equal representation, or indeed of any 
 representation at all, except such as may occasionally 
 profit their sons and dependents. Some late incident* 
 contributed to carry the business of making game 
 votes as far as it could go in this country. It is now 
 considered as the law of the land, and though some 
 gentlemen for a time affected to complain of it, each 
 great proprietor grudges to be deprived of the support 
 of his subordinate myrmidons. It is with great con- 
 cern that I observe that our present Premier seems to 
 have referred the business of the Caledonian Band to 
 the arbitrament of the Treasurer of the Navy. I 
 wish that the good genius of Great Britain had desti- 
 ned your Lordship a more equitable judge, but I am 
 not without hopes that the representation of the slate 
 of this country, which will be made by the noblemen 
 and gentlemen concerned, and to which the Lord Ad- 
 vocate cannot yet be a stranger, as well as the distin- 
 guished loyalty and good character of the solicitors, 
 may make some impression even on a person of pre- 
 rogative principles. Poor Scotland can never expect 
 to reap any benefit from the late act for arming the 
 people, nor indeed to be any thing more than a nur- 
 sery of the forces of the Crown, if by any unlucky 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 93 
 
 means the present project should be set aside. I am, 
 with unfeigned respect/^ 
 "My Lord," 
 
 ^•' Your Lordship's most obedient," 
 "Humble servant," 
 
 " Charles Nisbet." 
 " The Right Honourable, the 
 
 Earl of Biichan, EdinburghJ^^ 
 
 The Reply. 
 " Edinburgh, November 2d, 1782." 
 " Reverend Sir,'' 
 
 "Your acceptable letter of the 22d ult. found me 
 at dinner with the Lord Provost, by which means I 
 was deprived of the pleasure of seeing the bearer of 
 it, to whom I shall pay the attention, during the 
 course of his studies at Edinburgh, which I imagine 
 you would desire." 
 
 " The great object of education is to form good and 
 useful citizens, and to give a proper direction to the 
 energy of youth." 
 
 "I flatter myself that I possess the faculty, or 
 ' knack,' as we vulgarly call it, of discerning the 
 forte and the foible of young people, and of laying 
 hold of both or either to set the intellectual machine 
 in motion. I shall be very glad to exercise this 
 gift, and bestow it on the son of a respectable and 
 very singular Scotch Clergyman." 
 
 " I say singular, not because f think it rare to meet 
 with a respectable clergyman in our Kirk. God for- 
 bid ! Very far from it. But I am sorry to say, that 
 I find it very singular for a Scotch Clergyman to 
 
94 MEMOIR or DE. XISBET. 
 
 hold so high a place as you do among the friends of 
 liberty, and the English Constitution of government. 
 1 wish I could call it B?ntish." 
 
 "Your alliteiations on the C. B. are much relish- 
 ed.'"^ 
 
 "I am, Reverend Sir, with regard, your obliged 
 humble servant, Buchan." 
 
 '^ Rev. Mr. Nisbef, Montrose.^^ 
 
 Mr. Nisbet to the Earl of Buchan. 
 
 ''Montrose, Nov. I2th, 17S2." 
 " Ml/ Lord;' 
 
 "Your Lordship's letter of the 2d instant, which 
 I duly received, entirely justified, but could not ex- 
 ceed the opinion I had conceived of the Earl of Bu- 
 chan. I greatly respect the Scotch Peerage; but I 
 feel a far greater respect for persons possessed of ele- 
 vated sentiments, public and private virtue, and a 
 true regard to the welfare of our country. Poor 
 Caledonia has suffered and still suffers much, by the 
 rarity of these qualities in men of rank. It is now 
 visible, that neither high descent, great wealth, nor 
 a mysterious and haughty behaviour will command 
 the esteem of freeborn Britons, nor even of degene- 
 rate Scotchmen, even though attended with polite- 
 ness of address, connections with ministry, and pos- 
 session of the most lucrative offices. Since we daily 
 see persons possessed of all these advantages, as far 
 from obtaining as they are from deserving the re- 
 
 ■* There is an allusion here to a literary ^'e?i rV esprit of a very in- 
 genious and highly amusing character, which Dr. Nisbet, a short time 
 before, when on a visit to the Earl of Lcven's family at Melville 
 House, had sent to the Earl of Buchan. 
 
HIS IvIINISTRY IN SCOTLASD 95 
 
 jard of their fellow subjects. I hope your Lordship 
 las discovered the true secret of becoming import- 
 mt, by meriting the esteem of the public, instead of 
 challenging it as due by hereditary right, without 
 merit. In private life, mankind know their friends, 
 and respect them: though I am sorry to observe that 
 with regard to their sovereigns they have generally 
 paid the greatest honours to those who do the most 
 mischief. It is natural for great men to desire to 
 rule, and to have an extensive influence among their 
 inferiors in rank, and those are not last in feeling 
 his desire who are conscious of their title to the re- 
 spect of the public; but if I had the honour to be ad- 
 nitted of their privy council, I would respectfully 
 lint to them, that they mistook the road to influence 
 md esteem, if they thought of forcing it by autho- 
 rity, or attracting it by outward show, and the trap- 
 pings of false dignity. To convince the public that 
 one wishes their welfare will establish a greater and 
 more permanent interest than legions of superiority 
 votes, or the temporary power of distributing places 
 and pensions. Your Lordship has laboured to con- 
 vince your countrymen that you understand their in- 
 terest, and are zealous to promote it. I hope that 
 they will at last be convinced of it, and that the man 
 of the people will soon be a more honourable, as it 
 is certainly a more solid distinction, than the friend 
 of the king. The order of nature requires that some 
 should be exalted above others; but if those whom 
 Providence has exalted, do not show a desire to be- 
 nefit, as well as to command others, they have no 
 reason to complain when they are neglected or de- 
 spised by their inferiors. A little benevolence, con- 
 
96 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET, 
 
 descension and humanity goes a great way, when it 
 comes from persons of quality. And as the virtues 
 of men of rank bear a higher proportion to those of 
 others in the esteem of the public than that of gold 
 to silver, it is not a little surprising that persons of 
 distinction should be so negligent in acquiring, and 
 so parsimonious in circulating, this sort of coin. 
 With the abilities they already possess, they might 
 have far greater influence, and benefit their country 
 much more into the bargain, if they took care to 
 give them a proper direction. A visible regard to 
 virtue and religion in the representative of a great 
 family, will go farther to the reformation of their de- 
 pendents and domestics than many sermons and ad- 
 monitions. Scotchmen, above all others, love to be 
 led by authority, and to imitate the example of their 
 superiors; so that^those are surely blameable who do 
 not acquire influence among us, where it is so easily 
 gained. If the mere shadow of popularity, and an 
 artful, though counterfeit, imitation of public virtue, 
 have raised some wicked and designing men to great 
 esteem and authority, what may not we expect from 
 true and permanent patriotism, which is now become 
 almost a title of reproach? I should have asked par- 
 don for using a style so different from that in use, or 
 rather have declined using it at all, were I not per- 
 suaded that I know the person to whom I am writ- 
 ing. I know that it is commonly objected to political 
 reformers, that their notions are quite visionary, and 
 that they expect from men a higher degree of virtue 
 than can be found among them, and that they dream of 
 a Republic like Plato's. But surely it is no Utopian 
 dream to expect a much higher degree of virtue and 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 97 
 
 public spirit than is presently the ton among great 
 men; That which has been done, may be done again; 
 and human nature may yet produce as shining charac- 
 ters as it has ever produced. I have been much provo- 
 ked at hearing human infirmity pleaded in excuse for 
 the most scandalous enormities, as if men could not 
 be men of virtue unless they were canonisable saints; 
 and as if it were only an imperfection to be an infa- 
 mous knave, or a mischievous tyrant. I wish our 
 times were showing some symptoms of reformation 
 by the appearance of some more characters similar to 
 your Lordship. I consider you as the Apostle of 
 the higher classes, and hope you will preach so as to 
 make many converts. I find the degeneracy of our 
 people prophesied in the Canon law, but lest I should 
 have lost credit with your Lordship in quoting anti- 
 quity, I assure you that the following passage is co- 
 pied from the Decretum Gratiani, printed at Paris, 
 1550, Distinct. bQ, fol. 100, Col. 4. < Bonifacius 
 Martyr, Scribens Regi Anglorum,' Si Gens Anglo- 
 rum, ait, * sicut per istas provincias divulgatum est, et 
 nobis in Francia et in Italia improperatur, et ab ipsis 
 Paganis improperium nobis objicitur, spretis legalibus 
 connubiis, adulterando, et luxuriando ad instar sodo- 
 miticse gentis foedam vitam duxerit, de tali commix- 
 tione meretricum sestimandum est, degeneres populos 
 et ignobiles et furentes libidine fore procreandos, et 
 ad extremum universam plebem ad deteriora et igno- 
 biliora vergentem, et novissime nee hello seculari 
 fortem, nee in fide stabilem, et nee honorabilem Iho- 
 minibus, nee Deo amabilem esse venturam.' I am 
 afraid that if any body should write the King of Eng- 
 9 
 
98 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 land in such a style at this day, he would quickly 
 have the same honour conferred on him as St. Boni- 
 face. I am with sincere respect," 
 "MyLord,'^ 
 
 " Your Lordship's much obliged,'' 
 " Humble servant," 
 
 '* Charles Nisbet." 
 " The Right Honourable, the 
 
 Earl of Buchan, Edinburgh.^^ 
 
 At the Commencement in Princeton College in 
 the year 1783, the Trustees of that Institution, with 
 cordial unanimity, conferred upon the subject of this 
 Memoir the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was 
 then in the 48th year of his age. His reputation had 
 been for several years well and honourably known on 
 this side of the Atlantic; and his affectionate friend, 
 Dr. Witherspoon, the President of the College, de- 
 lighted, no doubt, to co-operate in bestowing this 
 testimonial of respect on his old friend and beloved 
 brother. Academical Degrees were never of much 
 value. They are every day becoming less and less 
 worthy of regard. But it would be happy for Col- 
 leges, as well as for the learned professions, if colle- 
 gial honours were generally bestowed with as enligh- 
 tened a regard to intellectual and literary merit as in 
 the case of this distinguished man. It is not impro- 
 bable that this public testimonial of respect and es- 
 teem would have been given at an earlier period, had 
 the intercourse between this country and Great Brit- 
 ain been regular and amicable. But a seven year's 
 war between the United States and that country had 
 
HIS MINISTRY IN SCOTLAND. 99 
 
 scarcely closed. During the continuance of the con- 
 test, the college at Princeton was in a great measure 
 abandoned; and the usual interchange of kind offices 
 between Americans and Britons had been almost en- 
 tirely suspended. 
 
100 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 His Invitation and Removal to the United 
 States. 
 
 Soon after the return of peace, measures were 
 taken to establish a new College in the town of Car- 
 lisle, in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, one hun- 
 dred and twenty miles west of Philadelphia. Among 
 the gentlemen most zealous and active in founding 
 this institution, were the Hon. John Dickinson, 
 then Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, and ce- 
 lebrated as the author of some eloquent and popular 
 publications connected with American Independence; 
 Dr. Benjamin Rush, William Bingham, Esquire, 
 Henry Hill, Esquire, and several others, distin- 
 guished for their wealth, patriotism, and public spirit. 
 This institution received the name of Dickinson 
 College, in honour of the eminent statesman and 
 political writer who nominally took the lead in its 
 establishment, and who was also its most liberal be- 
 nefactor. This name it still bears. Its erection 
 was no sooner agreed upon, and in some good degree 
 realized, in the year 1783, than the attention of the 
 Board of Trustees was directed to Doctor Nisbet, as 
 the first President* of their new College. This choice 
 
 * In the Charter and laws of Dickinson College, the title of the 
 presiding officer was *' Principal," and by that title was Dr. Nisbet 
 addressed in all official acts. But as this title is scarcely known, in 
 any other instance, out of Scotland; and as to the ear of a large por- 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 101 
 
 was made on the 8th day of April, 1784, not only 
 with unanimity, but with a warmth and cordiality 
 which indicated the peculiarly high estimation in 
 which his chafacter was held on this side of the At- 
 lantic. Measures were immediately taken to apprise 
 him of the choice, and to urge him to accept of his 
 new appointment. Besides the official communica- 
 tion of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Dickinson and 
 Dr. Rush* each addressed to him several private let- 
 ters, in which, with great fervour and eloquence, the 
 attractions presented by the office to which he was 
 chosen, were earnestly laid before him; promising 
 him every thing that wealth, honour, and Christian 
 kindness could bestow, if he would leave his native 
 country, and accept the chair to which he was elect- 
 ed. This strain of eloquent importunity, and of high- 
 wrought glowing anticipation, especially character- 
 ized the letters of Dr. Rush, and was adapted to 
 make a deep impression on the mind ofonewhohad 
 never seen the new world to which he was invited, 
 and who knew not from experience how to estimate 
 its habits or its institutions. 
 
 The fact is, the establishment of Dickinson Coi- 
 tion of the American community it would not convey a very definite 
 meaning — tlie title " President" is here and elsewhere used, as more 
 in accordance with American usage ; as more universally intelligible ; 
 and quite as perfectly in accordance with substantial fact. 
 
 * Dr. Bexja]min Rush had received his Medical education in the 
 University of Edinburgh ; had been acquainted with Dr. Wither- 
 spoon in Scotland ; had some agency in prevailing on him to accept 
 the presidentship of the College of New Jersey; and, it is believed/ 
 during his residence in Britain, also made the acquaintance of Doctor 
 Nisbet, He returned from Scotland to Philadelphia in the year 
 1769, 
 
 9* 
 
102 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 lege was not now called for, either by the resources* 
 of the country, or by its literary wants. The " Uni-^ 
 versity of Pennsylvania," in Philadelphia, on the 
 one hand, and " the College of New Jersey," at 
 Princeton, on the other, furnished all the means of 
 instruction which were then really demanded, and 
 indeed more than could receive adequate patronage 
 in the impoverished and embarrassed state of the 
 country. The small number of students in both 
 these institutions plainly showed that another was 
 not required. But some movements of the Legisla- 
 ture of Pennsylvania, in 1779, in founding and en- 
 dowing the " University," had exceedingly disoblig- 
 ed a number of gentlemen in Philadelphia, and none 
 more than Dr. Rush. He indulged a strong animo- 
 sity against the Rev. Dr. Ewing, the " Provost" of* 
 the University, and little less against the Rev. Dr. 
 Witherspoon, the President of the College at Prince- 
 ton. From this animosity, there is little doubt, 
 arose, at least in part, the plan of founding a new 
 College at Carlisle. Even the clergy, and other lite- 
 rary men in the immediate neighbourhood of Carlisle, 
 did not at first see either the wisdom or the practi- 
 cability of establishing the new institution. But the 
 unwearied zeal and eloquence of Dr. Rush, and the 
 sanguine hopes and promises of the opulent gentle- 
 men in Philadelphia, who lent their names, and 
 pledged their purses in its behalf, at length removed 
 every difficulty. Objections were obviated. Pros- 
 pects were made to appear fair. A Charter was ob- 
 tained; and the College set in motion with flattering 
 hopes of success. 
 
 All this might have been fair and proper enough 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 103 
 
 bad the personal and domestic comfort of none been 
 implicated but those who were acquainted with our 
 country, and capable of estimating the character and 
 prospects of the projected institution. But the first, 
 and indeed the most vital step; nay, that which was 
 relied on for giving life and vigour and success to 
 the whole plan, was to invite a learned and venerated 
 stranger, who was wholly unable to estimate the 
 probabilities of the case, to leave a comfortable sta- 
 tion at home, and commit himself to the fortunes of 
 a new and hazardous enterprise. 
 
 This invitation was one of very serious import. 
 The venerable man to whom it was directed had now 
 passed the meridian of life; was in a very important 
 sphere of usefulness as a pastor; was greatly respect- 
 ed and beloved by a large circle of friends; was 
 favoured with a temporal support equal to all his 
 wants; was surrounded with the most ample means 
 of gratifying his literary and pious taste; and more 
 unfit than most men of his talents and learning, to be 
 a pioneer in the track of a dubious enterprise, or to 
 cope with, and overcome the difficulties of a new in- 
 stitution, and of a country just starting in its career 
 of independence, and national cultivation. We may, 
 therefore, naturally suppose that it cost him many a 
 painful conflict before he could persuade himself ta 
 give up all the advantages which he enjoyed, and to 
 cast himself upon all the contingencies of an arduous 
 and untried undertaking. 
 
 While his mind was agitated with the decision of 
 a question so important to the future prospects of 
 hinoself and his family, his oJd fciend, the Countess. 
 
104 MEMOIR OF i)R. NISBET. 
 
 of Leven and Melville, addressed to him the two fol- 
 lowing letters. 
 
 '^Melville House, July 26ih, 1784.'^ 
 "Dear Sir,'' 
 
 "I received yours, with the inclosed. The day 
 on which it came to hand I have forgotten, being 
 wholly engrossed by the present distress in this fa- 
 mily. Lord Balgonie's second son, one of the finest 
 little creatures I ever saw, has been near three weeks 
 ill of a worm fever, so that his life is despaired of, 
 and, to all appearance, he cannot live long. I must 
 leave all reflections upon this melancholy event to 
 your pious mind. For my part, I am so overcome 
 with the thought of God's goodness in bestowing so 
 many comforts of this nature, and continuing them 
 so long, that I cannot get utterance to speak of it. It 
 well becomes us to be submissive to his divine will 
 in all things. Parting with such bewitching com- 
 forts is not an easy duty: but God, by his goodness? 
 which endureth continually, and is ever a present 
 help in time of need, can make his grace sufficient 
 for us, and his strength perfect in our w-eakness. 
 My dearly beloved Mary — like the mother of our 
 Lord, ponders things in her heart, and truly behaves 
 in the most exemplary manner. Calm and quiet as 
 a weaned child, waiting the Lord's will, and adoring 
 him as the author of all her mercies, and justifying 
 him when calling for what he gave* I could write 
 a long time on this sweet but melancholy subject, 
 did not my duty call me to be with her almost every 
 hour, when she is not reposing for rest; and, indeed, 
 I am wonderfully enabled to do more than could be 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 105 
 
 expected from my small bodily strength, and present 
 feelings. But, to the praise of God be it said, I have 
 ever found this to be the case.'' 
 
 " I cannot mention the half of the thoughts which 
 occur to my mind upon perusing your letter and the 
 enclosed. Only this, in general, I think is plain, 
 that you ought to be in no hurry with your positive 
 determination ; as the foundation of the College seems 
 not yet to be laid. I said before that it would be a 
 dreadful idea to me to say any thing against a clear 
 call in Providence: and also it would give me pain to 
 think of counteracting a design and earnest wish of 
 my kind friend, Dr. Rush, whose name, upon one 
 particular account, especially, will ever be dear to me 
 and all this family; and I should be sorry he should 
 ever know that I wrote to you upon this subject.- 
 But, at the same time, as a fool may give a wise man 
 good counsel, 1 cannot help saying what occurs to me 
 on this subject. I find, from what I can learn, that 
 the whole originates from Dr. R. His temper is 
 warm and lively, and has the same impression upon 
 the people there, that his importunate expostulations 
 have had upon you. His eloquence I have had much 
 experience of by a long correspondence with this fa- 
 mily; and by his persevering, and overcoming all Dr. 
 Ws difficulties, which were many and great, though 
 small, 1 think, when compared with yours.* How 
 do you know whether the forti/ members of the 
 Board of Trustees, of whom you have heard, will all 
 continue of one mind, especially as they are compo- 
 sed of all sects? How will the duty of teaching 
 
 * The Countess here probably refers to the importunity which drew 
 Dr. Witherspoon from Scotland, in which Dr. Rush had also a share. 
 
106 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 three hours every day agree with you? How do you 
 know but that Dr. — . is in the right, and that he is 
 really your friend, in dissuading you from going? 
 He is a good man, and we should not suppose that 
 mercenary views would induce him to mislead a 
 brother. Have you a turn for managing a farm, and 
 improving land? Consider the great difficulties that 
 have been surmounted (if they have been surmount- 
 ed) in bringing this College to a bearing. Indeed it 
 has not yet come the length of the infant described 
 by the good Doctor. I find that much of the good 
 opinion conceived of you in that quarter rests upon 
 Mr. B.'s evidence; and how do you know but that, 
 like Dr. — . you might not bring the same character 
 back with you to Scotland, that you carried with you 
 to America? It is a business of importance, which, 
 like matrimony, ought to be well weighed, as it can- 
 not ever be undone with honour. Remember that I 
 write to you in confidence, never to be read but by 
 yourself. But your situation craves the attention 
 and the interference of your friends. I wish I was a 
 fitter one to advise. Indeed it is presuming too far 
 to say as much I have done: but the dread of your 
 being decoyed away from your country and friends, 
 where you and other good people are as much need- 
 ed as you can be any where, makes me think it ne- 
 cessary to give only this hint, to take good heed, and 
 ponder well the path of duty. No doubt you have 
 done this: but oh! it is sometimes hard to know; and 
 it is a great mercy when the Lord sets a plain path 
 before us. You seem to make little account of the 
 removal of an "obscure individual:" but this you 
 would not do, if that individual was not yourself. 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 107 
 
 We should not, I believe, so much consider whom 
 the Lord will or can raise up, as to work the work 
 given XLS to do. I tremble while I m.ention this, and 
 am ready to blot it out, when I compare myself with 
 the person to whom I write. But as there are very 
 few to do the Lord's work among us, an obscure in- 
 dividual is of great importance. We see what great 
 things have been sometimes done by an individual. 
 I dare say, it will ever be your ^ chief end to glorify 
 God,' wherever or in whatever work he may be 
 pleased to employ you; but surely you need not leave 
 this country to seek opportunities of greater useful- 
 ness: and you say yourself, that we should bless God 
 that ' we are not persecuted for the faith, nor obliged 
 to fly to a different country for safety^ — Uhat we 
 should be thankful for the tranquility of our station, 
 and labour to improve it to the honour of the Giver of 
 all good.' I should think the call to such a sort of 
 vigorous duty, was more the province of pious young 
 men, than one come to your time of life, with such 
 indifferent health as yours." 
 
 " ] took a spare half hour to scribble this, at two 
 different times. Since it was begun, it has pleased 
 God to call away from us our dear little lam.b. I can 
 only add, that many merciful circumstances might 
 be mentioned. Oh that I could be watchful in search- 
 ing out the innumerable instances of that love that 
 never faileth. Alas, it is little of it we know. I, 
 in particular, inexcusably neglect to observe and im- 
 prove the operations of his hands, who is ever em- 
 ployed in doing what is good and best for us. I am 
 sure you would be pleased to see my dear Mary's 
 behaviour upon this occasion; who, though one of 
 
108 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 the most affectionate, attentive mothers, who devotes 
 her whole time to her children, is, nevertheless, as 
 composed and resigned as you ever saw a person. 
 What a mercy! We have been truly much afflicted, 
 and no wonder upon this occasion. May the Lord 
 sanctify the dispensation, and unite our hearts more 
 closely to himself, and be weaning them more and 
 more from the love of the creature! Pray for us, 
 dear sir, and believe me, with much esteem, &c." 
 "Your sincere well wisher," 
 
 "W. Leven." 
 «i?€V. Br, Nishetr 
 
 From the same. 
 
 ^^ Melville House, Nov. 20M, 1784." 
 
 « Dear Sir/' 
 
 " I received your long letter, and do really regret the 
 trouble you take in writing to me as one of your ad- 
 visers, which I have told you I never would pretend 
 to be; though I felt an irresistible desire to offer 
 some thoughts that occurred to my weak judgment, 
 perhaps ill supported by sense or argument, and also 
 too partial to be sustained as of much weight. I see 
 the wise and good often so different in their judg- 
 ment in matters of importance, that they think it 
 their duty to argue and act in opposition to their own 
 inclination, from a dread that a bias that way may 
 lead them to measures contrary to the will and pro- 
 vidence of God. But to such tender consciences, does 
 not God, in mercy, ordinarily make the way clear, and 
 scatter the clouds which darken their minds? Too 
 much consulting with flesh and blood, is not the'way 
 to come to the knowledge of the truth — (but I need 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 109 
 
 not tell you this ) Those who advise to the side 
 that nature leads to, are suspected of partiality; while 
 some who put nature out of the scale for others, 
 would find it a more weighty matter were they ba- 
 lancing for themselves. I think the Lord in mercy 
 often forms our natural tempers according to the 
 work to be done. You are not endowed with a 
 hardy spirit. You do not seem form formed for en- 
 terprise in the bustle of public life. Perhaps you 
 may step out of your proper sphere of action, in con- 
 tradiction to your own inclination, from a dread of 
 sinful indulgence. Surely, there are many argu- 
 ments on the staying side y^ry weighty, as well as 
 upon the side of removing, had I the pen of a 
 Rush to illustrate them. I do not think his fixing 
 on you, at the distance of twenty years, at all sur- 
 prising. It is a question if he h-ad heard much con- 
 cerning people in your line during that time; and 
 scarcely of any one whose character he could depend 
 upon as friendly to America. So that he had, per- 
 haps, no choice; unless, upon your refusal, he had 
 made inquiry, and consulted vv'ith you and others for 
 a suitable one, who had less (in the Providence of 
 God), to detain him on this side of the Atlantic than 
 you have. I hope this is no improper parenthesis. 
 Are not your long settlement in a charge; — your 
 age; — your wife and family; — your happy connec- 
 tions; — all detaining arguments of some weight? 
 The present call from abroad certainly appears far 
 from clear; and is at best but an indigested scheme, 
 of the maturity of which one may lawfully entertain 
 great doubts, considering the contentions which at 
 present appear to exist among them. Your ideas of 
 10 
 
110 MEMOTR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 the other side of the water, present, I am afraid, too 
 flattering a picture. What good reason is there to 
 believe that they are a sheet of clean paper, as you 
 seem to think they are? ^ Every thing,' you say, 
 * is to form; the minds of men there are free from 
 the shackles of authority; and can more easily yield 
 to reason, &c. &.C.' I wish I could perceive good 
 reason to see with your eyes, the people there in 
 such a favourable light. But though I have ever 
 been partial to them, and have fought many small 
 battles for them, I cannot but believe that they are 
 like ourselves, — much improved in the knowledge 
 and practice of evil. We read of contentions and 
 animosities begun and carrying on with a high hand; 
 and while there are so many masters^ I fear there 
 will be constant division among them.'' 
 
 " I thought I had put a finis to this subject when 
 1 wrote to you at the end of the last month — but 
 one word brings on another; and it is said of our sex 
 that we like to have the last. But this is not the case 
 with me; for I like to have you in my debt, which 
 is the reason I am swifi to reply. This is little for 
 your ease, but I can wait your time till the conven- 
 ient season arrives, and till you get answers to some 
 important queries you expected to have solved be- 
 fore you formed any determination. I am always 
 angry at myself for saying too much upon a subject 
 on which I have so little title to advise; and yet al- 
 ways fall into the same error, though ready to con- 
 fess myself the most unfit of all your correspodents 
 to be of any use to you either by prayer or counsel, 
 though I honestly wish it was otherwise." 
 
 " I told Mr. T. of your difficulties, and, as impar- 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. Ill 
 
 tially as 1 could, your reasons for and against remov- 
 ing. He seems to think that the state of affairs 
 there, and more especially that of the College, is very 
 precarious; and that it ought to be further advanced, 
 and the state of affairs more settled, before it would 
 be prudent to engage, or for any to leave his 
 country, where he is of great use, which he is cer- 
 tain is the case with you, and a very wise sagacious 
 man he appears to be.^^ 
 
 ^'The parish of M are exceedingly happy 
 
 in having obtained Mr. T. for their minister; and 
 likewise rejoice that my Lord was victorious over 
 all the means that could possibly be used to defeat 
 the settlement. But this must be the business of 
 conversation, not of correspondence. About two 
 hundred of them came here on Sabbath to hear him, 
 in a pour of a rain and high wind, and said they 
 were well requited for their trouble. An elder said 
 that ' had Lord Leven given the parish three thou- 
 sand guineas, he would not have made them so hap- 
 py. Adieu! It is not from having much time to 
 spare that I write you such a long letter, but for the 
 esteem with which I am," 
 
 " Your sincere well wisher," 
 
 '' W. Leven." 
 
 " Rev, Br. Nishety 
 
 "P. S. When an opportunity offers we shall be 
 very glad to see you. Lord B. leaves us before or 
 about Christmas. I wish you could have seen them. 
 Lord B. would like to hear all your ideas concern- 
 ing many things. I do not rightly understand what 
 
112 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 you say concerning the Kast India Company, and 
 the forfeited estates." 
 
 The writer of the foregoing letters would have 
 been a noble woman without her title. The union 
 of so much piety, w^isdom, unobtrusive delicacy, and 
 yet faithfulness of friendship, are rarely found united 
 in epistles not intended for the public eye, but as a 
 confidential testimonial of respect and Christian af- 
 fection. 
 
 The reader will be very much struck with the con- 
 trast between the prudence, the caution, and the dis- 
 cerning hesitation of Lady Leven, and the sanguine 
 calculations, the unlimited confidence, and the un- 
 qualified promises of Dr. Rush. He thus writes to 
 Dr. Nisbet. 
 
 " Philadelphia, May 1 5M, 1784." 
 " Dear Sir.^^ 
 
 "I did myself the honor of writing a long letter 
 to you last month, in which I endeavoured to state 
 your appointment to be Principal of Dickinson Col- 
 lege, in Cumberland County, in such terms as to in- 
 duce you to accept of it. 1 informed you of the great 
 opportunities of usefulness which were befoce you, 
 and of the happiness you might enjoy in your new 
 and elevated station. 1 have now only to add, that 
 the public mind is more filled than ever with expec- 
 tations from your character. They destine our Col- 
 lege to be THE FIRST IN America, Under your direc- 
 tion and government. The Ministers who compose 
 the Synod of New York and Philadelphia begin to 
 feel themselves interested in your arrival. They ex- 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 113 
 
 pect, in proportion to your superior knowledge and 
 abilities, that you will bear a superior share of the 
 labour in the harvest fields of the church in Ameri- 
 ca.'^ 
 
 "Mr. Bowie tells me that you have a dislike to 
 the sea. I am not in the least jealous of that element. 
 It cannot —it must not separate you from us. Your 
 benevolence and sense of duty, I am sure, will over- 
 come every fear, and even antipathy itself. Remem- 
 ber the words of the Saviour — " It is /'^ — '^I, who 
 " govern both winds and waves. I, who have quali- 
 " fied you with so many gifts and graces for the sta- 
 " tion to which you are called. I, who by my Pro- 
 " vidence have made your name known and dear to 
 "the people of America. I, who have many people 
 "in that country, to be enlightened and instructed, 
 " directly or indirectly, by you. I, who preside over 
 "the whole vineyard of my Church, and, therefore, 
 " know best in what part of it to place the most skil- 
 "ful workmen. It is I, who call you to quit your 
 " native country — and to spend the remainder of 
 " your days in that new world in which the triumphs 
 " of the Gospel shall ere long be no less remarkable 
 "than the triumphs of liberty. I have now done 
 " with ministers of my Providence. Washington, 
 " and the Adams' have finished their work. Here- 
 " after I shall operate on the American States chiefly 
 "by the ministers of my grace." 
 
 " I neglected to inform you in my last letter of the 
 seal of your College. The device consists of a Bible, 
 a Telescope, and a Cap of Liberty — the two last 
 placed over the first. The motto is Pietate et Doc- 
 trina tuta libertas. This excellent sentiment was 
 10* 
 
114 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 suggested by our worthy Governor, Mr. Dickinson, 
 a gentleman who unites with the finest accomplish- 
 ments of the man, and the patriot, a sacred regard to 
 the doctrines and precepts of Christianity. You will 
 receive with this letter a duplicate of his letter of 
 invitation, together with a copy of the minutes of 
 your election, and No. 3 of a bill of Exchange.'' 
 
 " We expect to see you this fall. I beg, upon your 
 arrival in our river, near our city, that you would 
 convey notice of it to me. My carriage shall be 
 ready at a moment's warning to conduct Mrs. Nisbet 
 to my house; where I shall insist upon you and your 
 whole family making your home till you set out for 
 Carlisle." 
 
 •^ Adieu — yours — yours, sincerely, 
 
 "B. Rush." 
 
 " The Rev. Dr. Charles Nisbet , Montrose.^' 
 
 From the Same. 
 " Philadelphia, Ju7ie 1st. 1784." 
 " Dear Sir.'' 
 
 "A vessel that sails in a few hours gives me an 
 opportunity of acknowledging the recept of your po- 
 lite and interesting letter of the 5th of February last, 
 by the English Packet, which came to hand this day. 
 My letter by Captain T.ofthe22d of April, will 
 give you, I hope, the satisfaction you have required 
 upon the subject of the College at Carlisle. Our pros- 
 pects with respect to that Institution brighten daily. 
 Our funds amount to near three thousand pounds; 
 and as to buildings, we expect to purchase some pub- 
 lic works built with brick, within half a mile of Car- 
 lisle, during the late war. They are large and com- 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 115 
 
 modious, and may be had at a small expense from the 
 United States. Our Legislature has patronized the 
 new College, insomuch that we expect an endowment 
 from them, at their next session, of five hundred 
 pounds a year. From the plans which have been 
 adopted for obtaining funds for our College, we have 
 little doubt but what we shall have ten thousand 
 pounds in the course of a year or two, from public 
 and private donations. Indeed, sir, every finger of 
 the hand of heaven has been visible in our behalf. 
 Our enemies have not only become our friends;^ but 
 have co}it7nbuted ]sir^e\y to our design. Dickinson 
 College, with Dr. Nisbet at its head, bids fair for 
 being the first literary institution in America.'' 
 
 *' I am happy to find that you feel such an attach- 
 ment to your profession as a minister of the gospel. 
 You will have an opportunity of preaching every 
 Sunday at Carlisle. It will be expected — nay more 
 — it will be required of you for the benefit of your 
 pupils. The pastoral charge of the Congregation of 
 Carlisle will be given to the Rev. Dr. Davidson, who 
 will fill a subordinate Professor's chair in the College. 
 As the bounds of the Congregation extend four or 
 five miles from Carlisle, most of his time will be 
 taken up in visiting his people. His name will be 
 of use to us, for he is a man of learning, and of an ex- 
 cellent private character. If your preaching should 
 prove acceptable at Carlisle, (which I am persuaded 
 will be the case, for you and the Presbyterian con- 
 gregation there hold exactly the same principles), I 
 am well assured that you will receive fifty pounds a 
 year from them, in addition to your salary from the 
 College. The duties of your exalted station, in teach- 
 
116 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 ing — governing — seeing company — corresponding — 
 and attending Presbyteries, Synods, &c. will be such 
 that you will be glad to be excused from performing 
 any other of what are commonly called pastoral du- 
 ties, than preaching^ 
 
 "Calvinism, among Protestants of all denomina- 
 tions, is the fashionable religion of our country. Mr. 
 Haslet (a disciple of Dr. Priestley^s), has attempted 
 to introduce Socinianism among us. But he met with 
 so little encouragement, that he is obliged to betake 
 himself to teaching in order to gain bread for his 
 family. He preached once in your church in Car- 
 lisle, when his principles were detected, and exposed 
 with all the zeal of orthodox indignation.^' 
 
 "I shall communicate your hints respecting pro- 
 viding for emigrants from the North of Scotland to 
 some of our enterprising merchants.'' 
 
 " The letter which you will receive from Mr. Coop-. 
 er and Mr. Linn will, I hope, be acceptable to you. 
 The former is a, learned and respectable divine; the 
 latter is an elegant scholar, and a very popular and 
 eloquent preacher. They are both men of great 
 prudence and piety." 
 
 '^ Adieu, yours — yours," 
 
 "Benjamin Rush." 
 
 " To the Rev. Br. Nisbet.'' 
 
 From the same. 
 
 '^Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1784." 
 " My Dear Friend,'^' 
 
 " I am afraid-I shall oppress you with the number 
 and postage of my letters; but f cannot omit an op- 
 portunity which offers to-morrow, by the way of 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. Il7 
 
 London, of informing you, that I have written three 
 letters to you within these three weeks, in each of 
 which I have given you such assurances of the safety 
 and flourishing state of our College, as will determine 
 you to embark in the spring for Pennsylvania. Mr. 
 Dickinson seems very sensible of the prematurity of 
 his fears communicated to you by the November 
 Packet. You will receive with my letters a letter 
 from him, in which he acknowledges a change in his 
 opinions and prospects. If our river should not 
 freeze before Christmas, you will receive a letter from 
 the Trustees in the neighborhood of Carlisle. But 
 if the obstructions in our navigation should check any 
 future opportunities of writing to you, you may pre- 
 sume as much upon their honour and friendship as if 
 you had received bonds from each of them. Not 
 only honour and friendship, but interest, patriotism 
 and religion are all concerned in your support.^' 
 
 " I find, by your papers, that your ministry pro- 
 pagate as many falsehoods about us iioiv as they did 
 during the war, when it was more difficult than at 
 present to contradict them. The factions, riots, and 
 executions in London, and the bankruptcies, clamours 
 and distresses of eveiy part of England and Scotland, 
 afiord a most striking contrast to the order, industry, 
 and contentment which prevail in every part of this 
 country. After the disbanding of an army of 10,000 
 men, it was expected that the strength of our govern- 
 ment would have been tried. But we have happily 
 been mistaken. Not a single instance has occurred 
 of a soldier having broken the peace in any one of 
 the states. All the crimes that have been commit- 
 ted since the war, have been by deserters from the 
 
118 MEMOIR OF DR. NISEET. 
 
 British army, and emigrants from Britain and Ire- 
 land. And indeed even these have been compara- 
 tively few. The means of subsistence here are so 
 easy, and the profits of honest labour so great, that 
 rogues find it less difficult to live by work than by 
 plunder. You are at liberty, if you please, to make 
 this information public through the channel of your 
 newspapers.'^ 
 
 " We have allotted a room in our house for your 
 reception, which goes by the name of" Dr. Nisbet's 
 room.'' My little folks often mention your name, 
 especially my hoys, who have been taught to consi- 
 der you as their future master. Possibly this will be 
 the last letter you will receive from me on the other 
 side of the Atlantic, To the direction and protec- 
 tion of Heaven I commit you, till I take you by the 
 hand on the peaceful shores of Pennsylvania. Adieu ! 
 Adieu!" 
 
 " Yours," " BENJiiMiN Rush." 
 
 " The Rev. Br, Charles Nisbet, 
 at Montrose, Scotland.^' 
 
 In other letters, written about the same time. Dr. 
 Rush represents the prospects of the rise and firm 
 establishment of the College as unquestionable and 
 brilliant; assures Dr. Nisbet that its funds were such 
 as might be firmly relied on; that his ample support 
 as President rested upon a solid basis which could 
 not possibly fail; that the Board of Trustees embra- 
 ced a large number of men of wealth, several of them 
 of very great wealth — every one of whom would con- 
 sider his estate and his honour pledged to see that 
 their newly elected President should not have a 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 119 
 
 want as loiip; as he lived; and that the most gratifying 
 amount both of usefulness and honour awaited him on 
 his arrival in America, and entering on his new 
 charge. 
 
 So far as the College and its endowments were con- 
 cerned, these promises, as we shall see in the sequel, 
 were not realized, though honestly intended, and 
 ought never, in this alluring form, to have been made. 
 There was, indeed, a moral impossibility, that in the 
 then existing state of the country, immature in all 
 literary matters at least, and just emerging from the 
 exhaustion of the severe revolutionary contest, ex- 
 pectations thus excited should have been satisfacto- 
 rily answered. The truth is, Dr. Rush was an ardent 
 and sanguine man. His whole soul was embarked in 
 the cause of the College at Carlisle. His patriotism, 
 and his zeal for the advancement of literature were 
 unfeigned and great; but in his plans in relation to 
 the College — for he might be said to have been, in 
 the outset, the master spirit of the whole scheme — 
 there was, as we have seen, a large admixture of the 
 stimulus of personal and party feeling. Without this, 
 the enterprise would scarcely have been undertaken, 
 at the time, and by the men who urged it on: and 
 when this stimulus ceased to operate as powerfully as 
 at first, the College, and its learned and venerable 
 Head, engaged less of the attention of its original 
 friends than they did in the beginning. New diffi- 
 culties arose; their primitive zeal had cooled;- and 
 their early pledges were in a great measure forgotten. 
 Dr. Nisbet, indeed, was not without some intima- 
 tions unfavourable to his acceptance of the Ameri- 
 can call from gentlemen on this side of the Atlantic. 
 
120 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET, 
 
 Governor Dickinson himself, at one time, was dis- 
 couraged by the aspect of things, and felt bound to 
 express doubts whether the Doctor ought, in exist- 
 ing circumstances, to take a step so momentous to 
 himself. After the receipt of such a communication 
 from such a source, he seems, for a time, to have 
 abandoned all thoughts of coming to America. It 
 was in this state of mind that he addressed the fol- 
 lowidg letter to his old and firm friend, the Earl of 
 Buchan: 
 
 " Montrose, 5th Jan. 1785." 
 " My Lord,'' 
 
 " As your Lordship has been so good as to take 
 an interest in my affairs, I think it my duty to in- 
 form you of a material alteration in them that has 
 lately taken place. I received lately a letter from 
 Governor Dickinson, informing me that, by the new 
 elections on the 12th October, a great change in the 
 political affairs of that state has taken place; so that 
 he thought himself obliged, in honour and justice, to 
 request me not to think of coming out to America 
 in its present divided state. Since the re-admission 
 of the loyalists the majority is against my friends, 
 and what is wonderful, they exclude Quakers, though 
 near half the state, from the privilege of citizens, 
 giving as a reason for it, their attachment to the go- 
 vernment of Great Britain, and they have now voted 
 out that majority which voted them in. Perhaps 
 this delusion may not continue. I imagined that a 
 coalition of parties was in view, as I received in Au- 
 gust last, a very polite and friendly letter from 
 General Reed, the head of the now prevailing party, 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 121 
 
 expressing his great satisfaction at the news of my 
 going to America, and begging me to number him 
 among my friends. But the admission of the loyalists 
 has put that matter out of sight. Perhaps the late As- 
 sembly of Pennsylvania have been too much in haste 
 to obtain the reputation of being humane and merciful, 
 by taking in those who have turned out themselves. 
 If they had contented themselves with restoring the 
 loyalists to their estates, but denied them the privi- 
 lege of voting, till they had passed a novitiate often 
 or twelve years, the present confusion might have 
 been avoided. The loyalists could have had no ex- 
 ception at being put in the same state in which the 
 Quakers, a more numerous and respectable body, 
 have remained for eight years past. But imprudent 
 counsels are common in all states. Wishing your 
 Lordship and Lady Buchan many happy years, I 
 am, with great esteem," 
 " My Lord,'' 
 
 "Your Lordship's most obedient,'' 
 "Humble servant," 
 
 " Charles Nisbet." 
 " The Right Honourable, the 
 
 Earl of Buchan, EdiyihurghJ' 
 
 To this letter, Lord Buchan returned the follow- 
 ing characteristic answer: 
 
 " Reverend Sir,'' 
 
 "A mother whose constitution is broken, seldom 
 produces healthy children." 
 
 " I am sorry to see the features of the mother grow 
 every day stronger in North America; and I can hard- 
 11 
 
122 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 \y condole with you upon your being obliged to live 
 among your countrymen." 
 
 " I flatter myself that posterity will discover, that 
 I have endeavoured, not altogether without success, 
 to make Scotland more worthy of retaining you as a 
 citizen, and a pastor of our Church, than it has been 
 heretofore." 
 
 " That you should have been prevented from ac- 
 cepting your appointment in the proposed College at 
 Carlisle, by the Calvinistic party in Pennsylvania, is 
 amusing enough; as are the strange inconsistencies 
 of admitting the loyalists to citizenship, and exclud- 
 ing the followers of the legislator or founder of the 
 commonwealth." 
 
 " I have marked, with a jealous eye, your whole 
 conduct; and I can find no fault with it, but that you 
 are more honest and open than I am, and that your 
 enemies have availed themselves of it." 
 
 "Since 3^our train of thought has been led to the 
 institution of youth, why are you to be prevented 
 from the exercise of your talents and your laudable 
 ambition here, because you are not allowed by pru- 
 dence to white-wash the ill instituted youth of a dis- 
 tant country?" 
 
 " Only prove it is in your power that you can 
 make a man, and you will have many at your com- 
 mand. In the mean time, allow me to call your at- 
 tention to a learned subject, which I have been 
 lately endeavouring to elucidate — the prog7^ess of 
 the Roman arms in your part of the world,^^ 
 
 " There are the remains of two camps, about six 
 miles from each other, connected with a causeway, 
 and these are not far from you. They are called the 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 123 
 
 Haw-dykes and the Battle-dykes. Mr. Jamieson, 
 of Forfar, has informed me of them, and I wish to 
 have a description and measurement of them, accom- 
 panied by a drawing, and a map of the adjacent 
 country, representing the nature of the ground inde- 
 pendent of cultivation. From these, and a string of 
 Roman entrenchments, through Strathmore to the 
 pass of the Grampian, near Slonehive, I mean to fol- 
 low Agricola in his march, and to determine the 
 field of the last great battle where Galgacus, and the 
 combined clans, were defeated." 
 
 " Lady Buchan desires me to present her compli- 
 ments; and I am,'^ 
 
 " Rev'd sir, with great regard," 
 
 " Your obedient humble servant," 
 
 "Buchan." 
 " To the Rev. Br. Nisbet, Montrose.^^ 
 
 The suggestion in Lord Buchan's letter, that Dr. 
 Nisbet's election to the Presidency of Dickinson 
 College was opposed by " the Calvinistic party of 
 Pennsylvania" is as totally destitute of foundation as 
 possible. Two classes of persons only, so far as is 
 now known, opposed the measure, viz: 1st, the cau- 
 tious and calculating, who were afraid of exciting 
 expectations which could not be fulfilled, and who 
 strongly doubted the propriety of bringing so distin- 
 guished and venerable a man from Great Britain to 
 a situation less comfortable than that which he occu- 
 pied in his native country; and, 2dly, the few who 
 feared that the erection of a new College in Carlisle 
 might interfere with the prosperity of institutions 
 already existing, and with which they were con- 
 
124 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET#-^' 
 
 nected. But Calvinism, assuredly, formed no part 
 of the dividing line in either case. Among all the 
 opposers of both classes, only one nominal Calvinist 
 is now recollected; whereas the great mass of Cal- 
 vinistic influence in Pennsylvania was ultimately in 
 favour of Dr. Nisbet's appointment. 
 
 In the mean while, some of the Trustees of the 
 College, having heard of Mr. Dickinson's letter to 
 Dr. Nisbet, and the unfavourable impression which 
 jt had made on his mind, although there could not be 
 a formal meeting of the Board, determined to address 
 to him a joint and countervailing communication. 
 This was done in the following terms: 
 
 '^ Philadeljohia, Nov. IQth, 1784.'' 
 « Sir;' 
 
 "Mr. Dickinson having communicated to us, the 
 subscribers, Trustees of the College at Carlisle, occa- 
 sionally met in Philadelphia, a copy of his letter to 
 you of the 25th of October, we are happy in an op- 
 portunity of informing you that we conceive the 
 apprehensions and fears contained in that letter to be 
 wholly without foundation." 
 
 "We beg leave to inform you that the aforesaid 
 letter was written by Mr. Dickinson in his private 
 capacity, without the knowledge of any one of the 
 Trustees, and that we are fully of the opinion that 
 the charter of our College is as secure as any private 
 property in the state." 
 
 "'We expect to have the pleasure of seeing you in 
 the spring, and to realize all our expectations of the 
 future usefulness of our College, from your patron- 
 age as its Principal." 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 125 
 
 " In the mean while, we beg you would place the 
 fullest confidence in the assurances and obligations 
 of the Board of Trustees, contained in their public 
 letter of the 30th of September last, which was signed 
 by their order, by the President of our Board." 
 
 " With sincere wishes for your prosperous voy- 
 age to America, and assurances of future friendship, 
 we are," 
 
 " Sir," 
 
 " With great respect," 
 
 " Your obed't humble serv'ts," 
 
 ^r TT r Collesre of Car- 
 
 Henry Hill, f ^.^^J -^ 
 
 Benj'n Rush, J 
 
 After much hesitation, and many conflicts, the im- 
 portunity and solemn assurances of Dr. Rush, and 
 other members of the Board of Trustees, prevailed. 
 Dr. Nisbet declared his acceptance of the office to 
 which he had been elected, and, in a short time, pre- 
 pared for his voyage to America. 
 
 In taking leave of the Presbytery of Brechin, of 
 which^4ie had been, for many years, a member, the 
 following testimonial was given him by that body; 
 which, as it is much more extended than is com- 
 monly given on such occasions, and especially as it 
 was voted by a body in which he had long been, 
 and continued to be, in a struggling and persevering 
 minority, a minority to many of the important and 
 controuling members of the church of Scotland in 
 no small degree ofiensive, is the more worthy of re- 
 gard. Such a testimonial, in such circumstances 
 11* 
 
136 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 could not have been accorded except to a man whose 
 talents, learning, and acknowledged piety, were so 
 pre-eminent as to triumph even over party animo- 
 sity. 
 
 "At Brechin, the 6th day of April, 1785, the 
 Rev. Dr. Charles Nisbet, who has been minister of 
 Montrose, within the bounds of this Presbytery, 
 since the 17th day of May, 1764, having signified 
 to us his intention of removing from his present 
 charge to a settlement in a distant part of the world, 
 We hereby certify, that the said Dr. Nisbet, has, dur- 
 ing the time of his residence within our bounds, dis- 
 charged the several duties of the pastoral office, with 
 great faithfulness, diligence, and assiduity; and that 
 his conduct, both in private and in public life, has 
 been in every respect unexceptionable, and highly 
 ornamental to his character and profession, as a Chris- 
 tian, and a minister of the Gospel. We deplore his re- 
 moval, as depriving this Presbytery of a worthy and 
 valuable member; as a loss to the town and parish 
 of Montrose in particular, and to the Church of Scot- 
 land in general; and we are fully confident, from our 
 own knowledge and experience, that he will prove a 
 real blessing to any Christian society in any part of 
 the world, with which he may happen to be con- 
 nected, and in any station or department in which 
 Providence may place him. Signed in the name, in 
 the presence, and by the appointment of the Presby- 
 tery of Brechin, at Brechin, place and date as above, 
 by'' " Robert Hannah, Moderator .^^ 
 
 "John PiRiE, Clerks 
 
 But before Dr. Nisbet left Scotland, his faithful 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 127 
 
 and anxious friend, Lady Leven, addressed to him 
 the following letters: 
 
 ^'Melville House, Jan.. 17, 1785.'' 
 ''Ddar Sir;' 
 
 " I intended to have written to you before now, 
 had not the high postage laid an embargo. Mr. Mar- 
 tin has been so good as to give me a reading of your 
 letter to him, which is the cause of my taking the pen 
 immediately; in case I should by mistake, be classed 
 among your " mistaken Right Honourable friends;" 
 that I may assure you, that whoever these may be, 
 I never was among the number; but had penetration 
 enough, upon the first reading, to discover the true 
 import of the words. And I really tliink it required 
 but a small degree of penetration to pass a true judg- 
 ment upon them by any person who knows the au- 
 thor's manner and feelings. I thought the words 
 alluded to could never have been construed in any 
 light but in jest, though the writer had been un- 
 known; but surely none that know the humanity of 
 your disposition, and your sympathy with all in dis- 
 tress, could suppose you guilt}'' of hard measures. 1 
 think it was not prudent to write in that style to such 
 a distance. The other particulars of your letter to 
 Mr. W. I remember little about; the note about the 
 Loyalists being the only thing I had taken notice of, 
 and on which I was at a loss for a commentary. I 
 hope you keep good health in this severe season. 
 Both my Lord and I have been ailing. He has shar- 
 ed in a distemper very epidemic of late in many 
 places, a complaint in the bowels, attended with a 
 flux. He is now pretty well again. A great mercy 
 
128 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 — among many mercies to his family, that cannot be 
 numbered." 
 
 " We have no word yet of the ship in which our 
 son David sailed for Gibraltar the end of November 
 last, which is matter of great anxiety to my mind. 
 Dr. Erskine's only remaining son has been very ill, 
 and is still far from well. They dreaded water in 
 his head. The worthy man is very low." 
 
 '' I only got your letter yesterday from Mr. M. He 
 only got it himself on Saturday, as he had been in 
 Edinburgh. I should not write so soon, but did not 
 wish that you should suppose me so ignorant of your 
 Christian disposition as to misconstrue your words 
 when they would bear a meaning that implied no 
 evil." 
 
 "In haste, adieu. I take the opportunity of our 
 carrier to send this to Edinburgh. I am. Reverend 
 and dear sir, 
 
 " Yours, with great regard," 
 
 " W. Leven." 
 
 " The Rev. Dr. Charles Nisbef,'' 
 " Montr osQ.^^ 
 
 From the same. 
 
 " Melville House, March 23, 1785." 
 " Rev. and worthy Sir.'' 
 
 " It was lucky for me that your final departure was 
 sudden and unexpected the day you left Melville 
 House. I had no apprehension that it was to be the 
 last meeting. It is always very hard upon me to bid 
 adieu to a friend, much more especially when I never 
 expect to see him again. You have by this time, no 
 doubt, felt enough of this trial, which to me is al- 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UJ5ITED STATES. 129 
 
 ways aflfecting. I intended writing to you before 
 now, but waited for some convenient opportunity. 
 But upon hearing accidentally that you was to be at 
 Dundee on Wednesday, on your way to Greenock, 
 I take up the pen to express my good wishes for a 
 safe and easy passage, and that you may be long pre- 
 served for valuable purposes. I heartily sympathize 
 with Mrs. Nisbet. If her views are not clear as to the 
 path of duty, she must suffer deeply . I beg that you 
 will write to me sometimes. And do not conceal 
 the truth, if matters do not answer your expectations. 
 I still think you have been hurried off this stage, 
 which I do most sincerely regret. My worthy 
 friend. Dr. Rush and I would be antipodes in your 
 affairs. I beg, however, that you will assure him of 
 my constant love and regard, for the friendly duty 
 he performed, to the last remains of Him, whom I 
 loved as my own life.* I have half written several 
 
 * The repeated and strong expressions of grateful attachment to Dr. 
 Rush, on the part of the Countess of Leven and her family cannot have 
 escaped the notice of any attentive reader. It is due to the memory of 
 both paities to assign the reasons of this attachment. When Dr. 
 Rush vi^as pursuing his medical studies in the University of Edin- 
 burgh, he became particularly acquainted with the Earl of Leven's 
 family, and was a frequent visitor at Melville House. Nor will any 
 one who ever had an opportunity of observing the refined and polish- 
 ed manners, and the peculiarly fascinating conversational powers with 
 which he was endowed, wonder that, when he returned to America, 
 he left behind him in such a family, not only a respectful, but even 
 an affectionate memorial. But there was another tie still more tender 
 and deeply interesting which bound him to that noble family. 
 
 In the British army sent over for the subjugation of the Colonies, 
 the Earl of Leven had a son — the honorable Captain William Leslie, 
 of the 17th Regiment, who is said to have been an elegant and pro- 
 mising young man. In the battle of Princeton, January 3d, 1777, 
 
130 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 letters to him, and write him many in my thoughts; 
 but never could get one completed that pleased me. 
 My Lord has written to the Doctor three or four 
 times, both before and since hostilities closed. I 
 hope he has received some of them. I would not for 
 any thing have him suspect any diminution of the 
 grateful sense which all this family will ever retain 
 of the regard due to one who showed himself to be 
 such a friend in a far country. It gives me great 
 pleasure to learn, from time to time, that he is so 
 happy in his domestic concerns. I have desired my 
 daughter to put into your keeping a smidl box direc- 
 ted to Dr. Rusli, which you will be so good as to take 
 care of and deliver to him." 
 
 this young officer was among the slain. After the retreat of the Bri- 
 tish, leaving a number of their killed and wounded on the held, Uene- 
 ral Washington, accompanied by Doctor Rush — then Physician Ge- 
 neral of the American army — and several other gentlemen, rode up 
 to that part of the ground on which the greatest number of the killed 
 and wounded were lying, and made some inquiry concerning the 
 regiments which had been engaged, and especially respecting the 
 body of an officer immediately in view, which attracted his particular 
 attention. It was answered, that that was the body of ^he honourable 
 Captain Leslie, of the 17th Regiment. Upon hearing this, Dr. Rush 
 was much affected; immediately dismounted; with the aid of a servant, 
 laid the body on a suitable vehicle, which happened to be near at hand; 
 took it with him when the American army withdrew from Princeton • 
 and when they halted at Pluckamin, a small village, a httle more than 
 twenty miles north of Princeton, caused the interesting remains of his 
 friend's son to be interred with appropriate honours and solemnity. This 
 distinguished respect and sympathy on the par^ of an old acquain- 
 tance — now a magnanimous foe — made, as it well might — a deep im- 
 pression on the minds of the Earl of Lcvcn's family. That it should 
 never be effaced frorh a mother's heart, every one acquainted with ma- 
 ternal feelings would, of course, expect. 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 131 
 
 " I write this in a hurry, having no time to lose. 
 I shall wish you and your family well, in all places, 
 and at all times; being, with much esteem and regret, 
 your humble servant," 
 
 '' W. Leven.'' 
 " T/ie Rev. Dr, Charles Nisbet." 
 
 After perusing such letters as these, it is probable 
 that every reader will feel more and more surprise, 
 that Dr. Nisbet, after having lived nearly half a cen- 
 tury in Scotland, and after having long enjoyed the 
 intercourse and affectionate confidence of .swcA friends, 
 should consent to tear himself away from their socie- 
 ty, and from all the attractions connected with it, and 
 to launch, after having passed the meridian of life, 
 into new scenes; among entirely new connections; 
 and on a theatre of action as arduous as it was un- 
 tried and responsible. 
 
 Nor did Dr. Rush's generous conduct end here. Knowing that the 
 location of the remains of a stranger, deposited in an obscure village 
 church yard, might soon pass from the memory of those who felt little 
 interest in the deceased, he caused a handsome marble monument to 
 be erected over the grave, bearing the following inscription: — 
 
 " In memory of 
 
 The Honourable Captain William Leslie, 
 
 Of the 17th British Regiment, 
 
 Son of the Earl of Leven, 
 
 In Scotland. 
 
 He fell January 3d, 1777, aged 26 years, 
 
 At the battle of Princeton. 
 
 His friend, Benjamin Rush, M, D. 
 
 Of Philadelphia, 
 
 Hath caused this stone to be erected, 
 
 Asa mark of his esteem for his worth, 
 
 And of his respect for 
 
 His noble Family." 
 
132 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 Yet when we consider the pictures of certain and 
 great usefulness which were held up to his view; the 
 prospect of being able to raise the standard of knowl- 
 edge and intellectual improvement in the new world; 
 and the solemn, reiterated pledges of ample and even 
 generous support to the end of life, given by men of 
 so much elevation in society, we shall easily be able 
 to understand how his difficulties were overcome, and 
 he constrained to commit his future comfort to the 
 .new enterprise. 
 
 Dr. Nisbet sailed from Greenock, with his family, 
 on the 23d day of April, 1785, and after a voyage of 
 what was then deemed a medium length, and mark- 
 ed by no very unusual circumstances, landed at Phi- 
 ladelphia on the 9th day of June following. He was 
 now in the fiftieth year of his age. He had lost by 
 death four children, — two sons and two daughters in 
 Scotland. The family which he brought with him 
 consisted of Mrs. Nisbet, together with two sons and 
 two daughters. Thomas, the elder of the sons, had 
 passed through a regular course of study, and been 
 graduated in the University of Edinburgh, before he 
 left Scotland. He was a young man of uncommon- 
 ly fine talents, and of accurate and mature scholar- 
 ship, and promised, at that time, to be an ornament 
 and a blessing to his family. 
 
 Dr. Nisbet remained with his family in Philadel- 
 phia nearly three weeks after their arrival. During 
 this time, according to a previous arrangement, the 
 house of Dr. Rush was their home. Here they re- 
 ceived all those kind and polite attentions from the 
 family of their host, and from the citizens of Phila- 
 delphia, which strangers so interesting, and so high- 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 133 
 
 ly esteemed might have been expected to draw from 
 an intelligent and polished community. 
 
 During this interval he paid a short visit to his old 
 friend, Dr. Witherspoon, of Princeton, by whom he 
 was cordially received, and introduced to the litera- 
 ry gentlemen connected with the College in that 
 place. 
 
 In four or five days after his arrival in Philadel- 
 phia, he wrote thus to his friend, the Earl of Buchan : 
 
 ^' Philadelphia, June 131 h, 1785." 
 " Ml/ Lord," 
 
 " As your Lordship is kind enough to take an in- 
 terest in my affairs, I give you the trouble of this to 
 inform you, that after a pretty good passage of seven 
 and forty days, I arrived here on Thursday last at 
 three o'clock afternoon. We had several smart gales, 
 and one calm with a high sea, near the banks of 
 Newfoundland. I used the directions I got from 
 your Lordship, having procured a bag of saffron at 
 Greenock. I had no attack of the sea sickness all 
 the passage, but my youngest boy had it severely for 
 eight days, but is now well recovered. The spring 
 has been rainy and backward in this country. The 
 weather is only become fine and clear since our ar- 
 rival. 'The heats however are not yet come on. I 
 have been waited on since my coming here by many 
 people of property and influence in this State, from 
 whom 1 have received every mark of respect and 
 attention, and the republicans here, I am assured, 
 never deign to bestov/ these where they are not in 
 earnest, as they have nothing to ask of any man liv- 
 ing. I lodge with my family in Dr. Rush's house 
 12 
 
134 MEMOIR or DR. NISBET. 
 
 where we are entertained with a hospitality that 
 would do honour to any age or country. I have been 
 visited by sundry ministers of the English, German 
 and Scotch churches, who have cordially welcomed 
 me to this country. Party spirit is beginning to sub- 
 side, and commerce appears to flourish, from the vast 
 number of ships of all nations with which the river 
 is lined for a mile and an half opposite this city. 
 Every thing seems quiet and orderly, and those in 
 office are respected by all parties. A Spanish fri- 
 gate brought over an Ambassador from his Catholic 
 Majesty to the United States. England, who will 
 send none, has fairly outdone the Spaniards in haugh- 
 tiness. The people here bear no grudge at Great 
 Britain, and continue to prefer her manufactures. I 
 am assured that British debts are recovered every 
 day in the courts of this State, whatever is said on 
 your side the Atlantic, Dr. Rush has written an 
 Essay on the progress of Agriculture and Population 
 in Pennsylvania for the information of a friend in 
 London. I have begged a copy to enclose for your 
 Lordship, with which I hope you will not be dis- 
 pleased. As Agriculture and Commerce are the chief 
 objects here, there cannot be much literature, though 
 I am assured there are more than could have been 
 expected, who possess no small degree of learning. 
 There is a Philosophical Society in this city, which 
 has subsisted for some time, and has already pub- 
 lished a volume of their transactions. They are 
 just now getting a hall built for their meetings, the 
 Assembly having given them the ground for that 
 purpose. Perhaps it is possible to make the sciences 
 Nourish without royal patronage. The like societies 
 
REMOVAL TO THE UNITED STATES. 135 
 
 exist, as I am informed, in the Ncrthern States, and 
 are rising to reputation. If this country continues 
 in peace for a considerable time, as 1 hope it will, 
 learning and good taste may be diffused among its 
 citizens to a much greater degree than at present, as 
 they are still far from having acquired that portion 
 of wealth which enervates the mind, and renders it 
 incapable of exertion. 1 should imagine likewise 
 that the general sobriety that prevails here, must be 
 favourable to regular thinking and distinct perception. 
 The West Indians, and the inhabitants of the South- 
 ern States, on account of their dissipation and intem- 
 perance, cannot be expected to figure in science, or 
 even to live so long as to be able to acquire it. The 
 mania of purchasing vast quantities of land prevails 
 not a little among the people of property in this coun- 
 try. Many are distressed, and unable to pay their 
 debts, merel}'^ on account of their extensive purchases. 
 The mania of possessing land after the price is spent, 
 is the nearest thing you have to it in Great Britain. 
 The greatest inconvenience of this country at pre- 
 sent is the suspension of private credit, which keeps 
 much money out of circulation, and the want of ex- 
 ports to answer their imports. Luxury in dress and 
 furniture prevails more than excess in eating and 
 drinking. Frugality and moderation is rendered 
 more difficult by the vast importations of European 
 goods. The intercourse with the Spanish settle- 
 ments is perhaps the most profitable branch of trade 
 possessed by these States. It is much to be wished 
 that they may cultivate the friendship of that Court. 
 But this may be rendered difficult by the high spirit 
 and thoughtlessness of our back settlers. In regard 
 
136 MEMOIR 01 DR. NISBET. 
 
 to my own affairs, my prospects are more encoura- 
 ging than I expected. I mean to leave this city next 
 week, as some gentlemen of Carlisle are expected to 
 convey me thither. No regulations are yet estab- 
 lished, and the whole will be left to my discretion. 
 I have not been at Princeton, and perhaps may not 
 have it in my power to get there till September next. 
 If your Lordship desires any information from this 
 country which I can furnish, I shall be proud to re- 
 ceive your commands. I beg my sincere respects to 
 Lady Buchan, and remain," 
 "My Lord," 
 
 " Your Lordship's most obedient," 
 " Humble servant," 
 
 *^ Charles Nisbet." 
 " The Bight Honourable, the 
 
 Earl of Buchan, Edinburgh,''^ 
 
RESIDENCB IN THE UNITED STATES. 13.7 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 His Residence in the United States. 
 
 Early in July, 1785, Doctor Nisbet set out from 
 Philadelphia, for Carlisle, and reached it on the 
 fourth of that month, in the midst of the spirited 
 and patriotic celebration of the Anniversary of Inde- 
 pendence. The inhabitants of the town and neigh- 
 bourhood, who had assembled in great numbers to 
 commemorate the day, being informed of his ap- 
 proach, dispatched a deputation of the citizens, toge- 
 ther with the Carlisle troop of horse, to escort him 
 into the borough. He entered it in the midst of joy 
 and congratulation, and was received and. treated 
 with all those marks of respect and esteem which 
 distinguished and long expected strangers, having so 
 many strong claims on the public favour, had a right 
 to anticipate. On the next day, the 5th of July, the 
 oath of office was administered to the Doctor; and 
 he immediately began to address himself to those 
 duties which devolved on the Head of an infant In-. 
 stitution, existing, as yet, chiefly on paper; whose 
 students were to be attracted; whose character was. 
 to be formed; and whose success, under God, was to 
 be insured only by the wisdom and reputation of a. 
 distinguished individual called to preside over it. 
 
 It was on this, occasion, that Dr. Nisbet delivered- 
 the only discourse that he ever allowed to be printed. 
 It was founded on ^cts vii. 22: ^* t/2nd Moses w^s, 
 12* 
 
138 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and 
 vjas inighty in words, and in deeds.^' The scope 
 of the sermon was to show "the importance of the 
 union of piety and learning. '' It is hardly neces- 
 sary to say that the sermon was an able one, and that 
 those who have read it, have been disposed instinc- 
 tively to regret that the author should not have pub- 
 lished much more. 
 
 Scarcely had he entered on the arduous duties of 
 this new and responsible office, before he and several 
 members of his family, were attacked with a severe 
 and protracted illness. Although Carlisle and its 
 neighbourhood have, in general, been and still are 
 considered as rather remarkably healthy; yet th esse 
 interesting strangers underwent what has been called 
 a seasoning to the climate, of the most dangerous 
 and trying kind. Most of them were seized with 
 an obstinate fever, which brought them very low, 
 and from which their recovery was difficult and ex- 
 tremely slow. The Doctor himself suffered more 
 severely than any other member of the family. His 
 strength was so greatly reduced by the obstinate 
 continuance of the disease, that he was confined in a 
 great measure to his house for several months, and 
 rendered wholly unfit for any effort, either bodily or 
 mental; and so completely discouraged, that, on the 
 ISth of October following his arrival, he sent in to 
 the Board of Trustees of the College, his resignation 
 of the office of President, and determined on return- 
 ing to Scotland. The Board received this commu- 
 nication with great regret, and were unwilling to 
 accept it. But finding the Doctor's mind filled with 
 the most gloomy impressions concerning his pros- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 139 
 
 pects, and in a state which precluded the hope of 
 being able to retain him, they at length, with much 
 reluctance, determined to yield to his desires, and 
 accepted his resignation. 
 
 In this state of depression and despondency, he 
 addressed the following letter to the Earl of Buchan: 
 
 " Carlisle, i5t/i December, 1785." 
 '' My Lord r 
 
 ^' I had the honour of your Lordship's esteemed 
 letter of the 14th, Sept. eight days ago. It will no 
 doubt surprise you to learn that I am preparing to 
 leav^e this country by the first opportunity. I have 
 not been in a condition to enjoy life, or do business 
 since I entered it. The great heats, though last sum- 
 mer was one of the mildest ever known here, are be- 
 yond the conception of any person who has not felt 
 them. Fevers and agues are the reigning distresses, 
 to some they are annual and periodical, and in all 
 cases most violent and oppressive to the nervous sys- 
 tem. I run a great risk of falling a sacrifice to the 
 climate. My whole family were ill for three months 
 together^ and I have heard of their lasting five years. 
 Immoderate heat extinguishes activity, and damps the 
 spirit of enterprise in persons of my weak nervous con- 
 stitution. I can give no other reason for the universal 
 gravity that reigns among the people of this country, 
 but that their nerves are quite relaxed. Tliey would 
 answer Lord Chesterfield's taste to a tittle." 
 
 "America will doubtless be a great and flourishing, 
 empire, but it must undergo a great change before it 
 becomes so. They must have more virtue, more in- 
 
140 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 dustry, and more confidence in one another than afr 
 present. What looks most ominous for the rising 
 generation is the extravagant indulgence that is shown 
 to children. They must have the choice of their 
 masters, and may go to school or not as they please. 
 The whip is reserved for negroes. Yet the Roman 
 ferula, of the very shape in which it is represented 
 in the statue of the Schoolmaster at Lyons, is used in, 
 schools here, and often is not idle." 
 
 Those who have not been in Europe, who are the 
 majority, and consequently the rulers, have no. notion 
 of any difference betwixt a college and a school for 
 boys and girls of six years of age. They would have 
 their teachers be mere day-labourers for seven hours 
 a day, for summer and winter, and allow only two 
 months a year for vacation. For which reason the 
 lessons they receive are crude and indigested. Pri- 
 vate study is impractible, no time being left for it, 
 and the students acquire only a confused and imper- 
 fect idea of what they think they have learned, not 
 to mention that many contract a decided aversion for 
 books and learning, in consequence of the great con- 
 finement and little satisfaction they experience at 
 their colleges.'' 
 
 *' Parents would have their children become learn- 
 ed, but. the way in which they are to attain it must- 
 be dictated by those who know nothingof the matter. 
 The power of the Trustees is absolute, and without 
 appeal. They receive the tuition money paid by the 
 parents, and allow the teachers what salaries they 
 please: they turn them off when they think proper, 
 and they confer degrees phno jure, the teachers 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 141 
 
 serving only as clerks for drawing up and signing the 
 diplomas, the Trustees receiving the money that is 
 paid for them. It is no wonder that they should be 
 bestowed on subjects that disgrace them. Nor is 
 the case altered though some of the Trustees should 
 be persons of virtue and learning. They will oblige 
 their friends, and take such measures as may render 
 their college agreeble to the people, and draw stu- 
 dents from a distance. What they consider as the 
 ultimate end of learning, is that students may be able 
 to speak readily in public; so that the preparing and 
 delivering their speeches, make the greatest part of 
 their employment. ^^ 
 
 "I know not when or whether these things 
 will be altered, as the Americans seem much more 
 desirous that their affairs be managed by themselves 
 than that they should be well managed. Many Aca- 
 damies and Seminaries are erected or erecting in 
 diflferent Slates, but from the foolishness of their plan 
 I suppose that learning will be long a stranger in this 
 country. Their taste seems to belike that of the 
 Romans, who made every thing subservient to orato- 
 ry. They are strongly attached to liberty, and can 
 make great exertions upan any sudden emergency, 
 but are quite inattentive to futurity. The general 
 mania of removing to the westward must be hurtful 
 to the other parts of this State. I imagined that, as I 
 was acceptable to all parties, I' might cure them of 
 their wrong notions of education and Colleges; bu-t 
 when I presented a few hints to the meeting of the 
 Trustees, not the smallest attention was paid to them, 
 though I know that many of them approved of them, 
 
142 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 in their hearts. Every thing was ordered according 
 to the old mumpsimus. Will your Lordship blame 
 me for leaving this country ? I beg my sincere re- 
 spects to Lady Buchan. I am," 
 
 «'My Lord/' 
 
 " Your Lordship's most obedient" 
 " Humble servant," 
 
 " Charles Nisbet." 
 
 " To the Right Honourable, the 
 Earl of Buchan, Edinburgh^ 
 
 An immediate return to Scotland, however, being 
 impracticable, for want of strength and spirits,, 
 and of a good opportunity; and a voyage in mid-winter 
 being both uncomfortable and unsafe, it became ne- 
 cessary to remain in Carlisle until the ensuing spring. 
 But before the close of winter, both the Doctor him- 
 self and all the invalids of his family had so far reco- 
 vered; and with the return of health, their spirits and 
 comfortable feelings had so far rallied; that they be- 
 gan to admit the idea of remaining with health and 
 usefulness in America. Under the influence of these 
 altered feelings, he thus announced the change in his 
 purpose, to his old friend, Lord Buchan. 
 
 « Carlisle, 20th ^pril, 1786." 
 " My Lord,'' 
 
 " I informed your Lordship, some month ago, of 
 my resolution to leave this country, in which, indeed, 
 I have met with many discouragements and disap^ 
 pointments; but as it pleased God to restore my 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 143 
 
 health in December last, and many people were still 
 earnest for my staying, I intimated to the Trustees 
 my willingness to resume my former office, to which 
 I hope to be re-elected in May next. This country 
 is in a torpid state with regard to public spirit, arts 
 and industry, and far from being united in politics. 
 Indeed, private interest seems every where to be 
 pursued in preference to the public good. Some 
 few are wise, but the far greater part otherwise. 
 Their public debts, though easily payable by good 
 management, bear hard upon them. Industry and 
 manufactures, even with the thin population we have, 
 might extricate us from our difficulties; but most 
 people here think that what has not been done can 
 never be done. The ruinous practice of moving to 
 the westward still continues, both in this and sundry 
 other States. Kentucky is daily growing at their 
 expense, though I cannot see how. a people that live 
 a thousand miles from the sea can find any market 
 for their produce, or subsist by themselves. On ac- 
 count of the scarcity of working people, agriculture 
 is in a low state, and the want of proper exports is 
 continually taking money out of this country, and run- 
 ning our merchantsin debt to England more than they 
 can pay. The easy and extensive credit granted by 
 English merchants prevents people here from think- 
 ing of manufactures, but as a corn-trade is a very bad 
 staple, our people cannot long make punctual remit- 
 tances, and necessity and want of credit must at Jast 
 drive them to do something for themselves. Some 
 small beginnings of manufactures have taken place in 
 the northern States, but there is no appearance of 
 any such thing here. A love of letters and know- 
 
144 MEMOIR OF DR. NISEET. 
 
 ledge prevails among the youth; but the seminaries 
 of this country are upon the worst footing, owing to 
 their being too often under the government of igno- 
 rant Trustees." 
 
 "The national frugality and industry of the Ger- 
 mans render them the most thriving inhabitants of 
 this State, but their ignorance and superstition are 
 much against them. A deference to absurd customs, 
 and an aversion to labour, prove a dead weight on all 
 schemes of improvement. Hence the lands produce 
 little; most of the ground is in wood or waste; the 
 highways in a state of nature; and the inhabitants, 
 by living so distant from each other, are deprived of 
 the benefit of society, and especially of that emula- 
 tion which is excited by neighbourhood. Indefed, 
 societies for improvement of agriculture have been 
 formed at Philadelphia and Baltimore; but their out- 
 set is very faint, and the people are not disposed to 
 listen to them. The few rich men lay out all their 
 money on land, which they keep up, in hopes of a 
 high price; but personal credit does not exist, and 
 no man chooses to trust another without a mortgage. 
 I hear of no such thing as a man of fortune residing 
 on his estate in the country, and setting an exatrtple 
 of rational agriculture to his neighbours. Hence the 
 meanness of the country houses, and the neglected 
 and squalid state of farms. In the southern States, 
 indeed, there are men of fortune, who occupy large 
 territories, but they have no neighbours, and live on 
 the labours of herds of slaves, without elegance, 
 taste, or usefulness." 
 
 " If any thing worthy your Lordship's attention 
 should come to my knowledge, I shall be ready to 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 145 
 
 Communicate it. I beg my best respects to Lady 
 Buchan, and remain, with esteem/^ 
 "My Lord," 
 
 " Your Lordship's most obedient" 
 ** Humble servant," 
 
 "Charles Nisbet." 
 '' The Eight Hon. the Earl of 
 Buchan^ Edinburgh, ^^ 
 
 According!}', on the lOth of the following May, 
 17S6, he was unanimously re-elected to the office 
 which he had relinquished, and immediately re- 
 sumed the perform.ance of its duties. Happily, in 
 the good providence of God, the climate of Carlisle 
 never afterwards subjected him to a similar trial. 
 His health was never again, for any length of time, 
 seriously interrupted, until the approach of that fatal 
 illness which, many years afterward, terminated his 
 life. 
 
 It was not, however, for a number of months after 
 he went abroad, and began to resume the duties of 
 his station, that he recovered his usual strength of 
 body, and his wonted vigour and activity of mind. 
 During the continuance of this impaired mental pow- 
 er, when his memory, which might be considered as 
 one of his master faculties, did not serve him as 
 promptly as usual, an intelligent gentleman inform- 
 ed the author of this Memoir, that he heard Dr. 
 Nisbet preach. He remarked that his preaching was, 
 so far as he could judge, as rich and instructive as 
 usual; but not marked with so much vigour and 
 sprightliness. But what struck him as evincing a 
 slight failure of memory, and at the same time the 
 13 
 
146 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 wonderful fertility of his mind was this. When he 
 had gone through the expository and didactic part of 
 his discourse, he distinctly announced his purpose to 
 apply the subject, and made a practical application, 
 in the usual form, and, in the estimation of the gen- 
 tleman, in a very appropriate and happy manner. 
 But, just as he had completed it, his recollection 
 seemed, for a moment to fail him — and he said, a 
 second time — " Let us now apply the subject.'^ Upon 
 .which he commenced a new application, drawn out 
 into a number of particulars — without repeating a 
 single idea that he had already expressed, and yet all 
 equally appropriate and happy with that which he 
 had before delivered. Here appeared an anomaly of 
 memory of a peculiar kind. It failed him as to the 
 fact, that he had already applied his subject; but did 
 not fail him with respect to the topics on which he 
 had just enlarged, and which he had urged in ma- 
 king that application. His mind was so fertile and 
 full that he evidently had the power, wiihout pre- 
 vious preparation, to illustrate and apply the same 
 subject in a variety of different ways, without inter- 
 ference or confusion. This failure of his memory, 
 however, lasted only for a short time. The full ex- 
 ercise of that faculty, so peculiarly strong in him, 
 was soon restored, and continued to serve him with 
 its wonted promptness and vigour, until the approach 
 of his last illness. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. John Erskine, one of the ministers 
 of Edinburgh, was mentioned in the preceding chap- 
 ter as one of Dr. Nisbet's early and affectionate 
 friends. This excellent man, who seemed to take an 
 interest in ^^^vy thing benevolent or useful in every 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 147 
 
 part of the world, by no means ceased to care for his 
 beloved brother after his removal to America. Hear- 
 ing of his sickness, his discouragement, and his seri- 
 ous thoughts of abandoning the country, and return- 
 ing to Scotland, he vvTote to him in the most affec- 
 tionate manner, and at the same time expressing with 
 candour his opinion of the course which ought to be 
 pursued. Among the letters written on this occa- 
 sion, the following will serve to manifest the spirit 
 and practical character of the venerable writer. 
 
 " Edinburgh, July 28, 1786." 
 '' Dear Sir,'' 
 
 ^^ I v/rote, and sent you a small parcel of books, for 
 your College, to the care of Dr. Wistar, of Philadel- 
 phia, now in London, three days ago. The only in- 
 tention of this is to give you the satisfaction of send- 
 ing three letters, which will show you the deep affec- 
 tion for you, and concern for your interest felt by 
 
 Dr. and Dr. . I beg that they may be 
 
 burnt, that no person may know of the contents of 
 them; particularly that the writers may have no hint 
 of my having sent them to you. I have equal proofs 
 of Sir Henry Moncrieff's, and of Mr. Henry Ers- 
 kine's attention, though I do not send them. I am, 
 however, of opinion that all your friends in Scotland, 
 (except, perhaps. Lady Leven) think that, although 
 there is room to doubt as to your first success in the 
 Presidentship of Dickinson College; there is none 
 that your staying in America will be more for your 
 honour, your interest, and the general interests of 
 religion, than your returning." 
 
 " Let me know what branches you teach in the 
 
14S MEMOIR OF BR. NISBET. 
 
 College, and what are taught by others, whether Pro- 
 fessors or Tutors; and also what place in London 
 parcels for you, or for Dickinson College, should be 
 left at." 
 
 "I am, my dear Sir," 
 
 *^ Yours, affectionately," 
 
 " John Erskine." 
 '' To the Rev. Dr. Nisbet, 
 
 President of Dickinson College, Carlisle.'^'* 
 
 From the Same. 
 
 " Edinburgh, Sept. 2Qth, 1 786." 
 *•' Dear Sir,'' 
 
 "Nothing important has occurred since my last 
 letter of July 2Sth. I send this chiefly for the pur- 
 pose of inclosing one to you from Lord Buchan." 
 
 " Holland seems on the eve of a civil war, in which 
 some of our shallow, short-sighted politicians are re- 
 joicing, on account of the temporary advantage to our 
 commerce; not considering the increase of the power 
 of France which must be produced by their ruin, and 
 probably soon involve Britain in the same fate. But 
 the popular voice will be— let the ungrateful Dutch 
 fight their own battles — and the ministry will listen 
 to it." 
 
 "As you are in a strange country, remember that 
 you have two cars and but one tongue; and therefore, 
 without necessity, and a thorough knowledge of the 
 prudence as well as honesty of your correspondents, 
 write nothing which you would be uneasy if it was 
 published." 
 
 " I wish you would fix on places at London, Phi- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 149 
 
 ladelphia, and New York, for sending parcels to your 
 self or your College.^' 
 
 *^I am, dear Sir," 
 
 " Yours, affectionately," 
 
 " John Erskine.'* 
 " To the Rev. Dr. Charles Nisbet, 
 
 President of Dickinson College y Carlisle.^ ^ 
 
 Dr. Nisbet's faithful and enlightened friend, the 
 Countess of Leven and Melville, whose anxious mind 
 followed her venerable correspondent to America, 
 about this time, having received from himself an ac- 
 count of his safe arrival, addressed to him the fol- 
 lowing letter.. 
 
 " Melville House, August 8, 1785." 
 '^ Dear Sir,'' 
 
 "I am much indebted to you for writing me so 
 soon after your arrival, and acquainting me with your 
 safe landing on the American shore. You give me 
 a very distinct account of your voyage. Your son's 
 dangerous illness would, of course, divert your fears 
 for one week: though I dare say you had many 
 awful alarms, and your poor wife would be in great 
 distress. I do not know how it has been with you 
 as to the article of heat; but we have seen no such 
 warm summer for twenty or thirty years. Tliere 
 was also a great deal of thunder and lightning on 
 Tuesday the 26th of last month, which seems, ta 
 have been universal; at least, we have heard of its 
 effects, east and west, south and north." 
 
 <' I rejoice that you found the worthy Dr. Rush in 
 comfortable circumstances. I shall never be indif- 
 13* 
 
150 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 ferent concerning him. He gained my good opinion 
 in his early days, and lias done much since to con- 
 firm it. I never think of him but with affection. 
 My not writing to him is not a mark of my want of 
 esteem; but that the subject which first presents itself 
 to my mind, when I attempt to write to him, (which 
 1 have done often) is too tender. He has a feeling 
 heart. I wish you had told me whether the box 
 directed to him, which followed you to Glasgow, by 
 Mr. Lake, arrived in safety. When you write, let 
 me know about his family, &c. and also about your 
 fellow voyager, Mr. Thompson; and whether he has 
 got any thing in a settled way. Poor Mr. Peterkin 
 has waited for some time for a ship; and, in the mean 
 time, Mr. G. is dead, who was chaplain of Sterling 
 Castle, and Mr. P. has applied for that small living. 
 If he succeeds, it will prevent the necessity of leav- 
 ing his poor family; who will be in a very poor 
 way If he is obliged to leave them.'' 
 
 •' Your Glasgow correspondents will write you 
 all about a Jew who has been preaching there and in 
 Edinburgh. I would gladly hope it is the beginning 
 of a more plentiful harvest. He has published a 
 short account of his conversion, which Mr. Peterkin 
 will carry, if he goes. 1 intend to send this letter 
 by him, which causes me to write in a hurry, as his 
 motions are uncertain. It will soon be known if 
 there is any hope of his success." 
 
 '' I have the pleasure to inform you, that Lord 
 Balgonie has a son. The mother is well, and mak- 
 ing a fine nurse. We expect them (God willing) in 
 about a fortnight. This is a very comfortable event. 
 I hope you will not forget your friends in your pray- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 151 
 
 ers, now that you are in a far country. No distance 
 of place can remove us from Him who is the confi- 
 dence of all the ends of the earth, and is not far from 
 every one of us. that I felt this truth in such a 
 manner as to have its due influence upon all my 
 thoughts, and words, and actions!'' 
 
 " I have little new to write, for either instruction 
 or comfort. What takes up the attention, and is the 
 foundation of much speculation at present, is calcu- 
 lated for neither of these ends, viz: that Mr. M., of 
 B. at the age of above sixty ^ has gone off with a lady 
 between thirty and forty, and left his worthy wife to 
 mourn for his absence and his sins. She is a very 
 pious good woman, and at present will find abundant 
 use for the exercise of all Christian graces. She will 
 have the prayers of many good people in her singu- 
 larly trying situation. He has 5610,000 sterling a 
 year, and left a letter for the minister of the parish, 
 requesting him to take care and comfort Lady Catha- 
 rine." 
 
 " For Church new.«?, 1 leave it to all yoiir brethren 
 to communicate; and for State news, I do not allow 
 myself to interfere with it. I shall be glad to find 
 that Presbyterians with you stand their ground, f 
 suppose, after you are settled, you will find time to 
 write to old friends, and will sometimes find private 
 hands coming in case you have any pamphlet or 
 parcel. I think much of your writing to me so 
 soon. JNIy Lord joins, with all the family, in best 
 respects to you. If Mr. Peterkin should go out, I 
 hope you will show him some favour. I am per- 
 suaded that he is a very serious good man. This is 
 all I can give you at present. We are all much as 
 
152 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 you left us, which is a singular mercy. My best 
 respects to Mrs. Nisbet. She has not yet forgotten 
 Montrose. Believe me, with much esteem,'^ 
 " Your humble servant,'^ 
 
 "W. Leven." 
 " The Rev. Br. Charles Nisbet.'' 
 
 The following letter, also from the same excellent 
 lady, will show how strong the attachment of the 
 Church at Montrose was to the venerable Pastor of 
 whom they had been recently deprived, and with 
 what cordiality they would have received him back, 
 had he been willing to return. It appears from the 
 statement of Lady Leven, that Dr. Nisbet's sickness 
 soon after his arrival; his discouragement; his inten- 
 tion of leaving Carlisle, and returning to his native 
 country — were all, to some extent, known in Scot- 
 land; and that his friends, in the spring of 1786, 
 were every day looking for his return with the deep- 
 est interest, and were greatly disappointed at his de- 
 termining t'o remain in America, 
 
 " Melville House, Jiiig. 2.5th, 1786." 
 '' Dear Sir,'' 
 
 " Just when I was meditating a letter to you, yours 
 of June 24th, came to hand. Had 1 been in good 
 health, I should not have been so long in acknow- 
 ledging your letter ivithoiit date, which I received 
 about three or four weeks ago. It filled me with 
 much surprise, considering its immediate predeces- 
 sor, and that we had long looked for you, and daily 
 expected your arrival on the Scotch coast. I had. 
 heard surniises, but none of them appeared such as 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 153 
 
 could be depended on, till I had it from your own 
 hand. Most wishfully your friends were expecting 
 you, and tlie people at Montrose kept the Church 
 vacant till your not coming was almost certain. But 
 perhaps you did not know of this. I trust that you 
 have been directed to what is best, and most for pro- 
 moting that interest which you wish to spread. I 
 am sorry to find that your health has been again af- 
 fected in the hot weather, and that your family are 
 suffering by it. I shall be glad to learn that you are 
 all better, and other particulars concerning them." 
 
 "I am much obliged to you for writing me so par- 
 ticularly concerning the state of religion. I fear 
 you are prejudiced, and, therefore, do not do all the 
 justice to the Methodists that many deserve who go 
 under that designation. You know they were al- 
 ways in two parties. Those bearing the name of 
 Mr. Whitefield are orthodox, as I suppose, in all 
 points. And, although some of Mr. Wesley's are 
 not so; yet I am persuaded they have done a great 
 deal of good in reforming the lives and manners of 
 thousands; and that Mr. Wesley has been counte- 
 nanced in his indefatigable labours by his Divine 
 Master. To Him, according to his views, he has 
 been a faithful servant for 70 years. He is now 
 near 90, still active and vigorous, and anxiously con- 
 cerned, I truly believe, to do the will of his heavenly 
 Father." 
 
 "• I should be glad to learn more particulars con- 
 cerning the ^ Shakers j^ being entirely ignorant of 
 their history or tenets. I will be much obliged to 
 you for writing frequently. I am sure you will 
 hear much good of Mr. Whitefield, and still find 
 
154 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 some of his disciples making a good figure. It is 
 always a pleasure to me to hear any thing to his 
 praise. You will have heard, perhaps, before this 
 reaches you, of the great loss which the Church and 
 people of God have met with in the death of the 
 precious Lady Glenorchy. I fear we shall never 
 see her like again. But the subject is too copious. 
 I must only give you the text, which you can en- 
 large upon better than I. She left only the scrawl 
 of an unsigned will, in which she devised £5000 to 
 fhe Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge in 
 Scotland; and a like sum for pious uses in England, 
 It is not ascertained whether or not Lady Souther- 
 land and her husband will fulfil her intentions; but I 
 should suppose their doing so cannot be doubted. 
 There is a good deal more devised for pious uses." 
 
 "As I suppose you get Scotch newspapers which 
 go to Philadelphia, I need not write concerning cur- 
 rent news. Many strange things daily fall out. 
 We hear of much evil, and little good. May a hap- 
 py reverse soon take place! Shall we ever see the 
 unhappy division between America and her mother 
 made up again? Shall we see that breach which 
 was and is the cause of so many evils, repaired? I 
 am persuaded that both parties would be happier 
 and more affectionate than ever. Alas! pride, that 
 easily besetting sin, stands in the breach, ever indus- 
 trious to widen it. that men were wise!" 
 
 " Let me know if it be true that Dr. Witherspoon 
 has given up the Presidentship of Princeton College. 
 I am glad to find that Mr. Thompson is alive and 
 well. We had heard that he was dead. As I have 
 an opportunity of sending this free and safely, I has- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 155 
 
 ten to conclude. I hope our worthy friend, Dr. Rush, 
 and family, continue well and happy. I had a kind 
 letter from him lately, which gave me very great 
 pleasure. Had I been well, I should have written 
 an answer before now, and have sometimes been on 
 the point of doing it, but have been prevented. My 
 best respects and wishes ever attend him and all his 
 concerns." 
 
 '' All this family desire to be kindly remembered 
 to you and the worthy Dr. Rush. I am ever, with 
 esteem, dear sir," 
 
 " Your humble servant," 
 
 "W. Leven." 
 " The Rev. Dr. Charles Nisbet, 
 
 Care of Dr. Rush, Philadelphia.^^ 
 
 Dr, Nisbet, aS soon as his health was established, 
 not only entered on the duties of his office; but per- 
 sued them to an extent, and with an alacrity and vi- 
 gour which none butaman of his extraordinary resour- 
 ces, and great energy could have safely undertaken. 
 He immediately began the preparation and delivery 
 o^ four co-ordinate courses of Lectures — One on 
 Logic; another on the Philosophy of the Mind; a 
 third on Moral Philosophy; and a fourth, on Belles 
 Lettres, including interesting views, historical and 
 literary, of the principal classical writers, both Greek 
 and Latin. These were all carried on at the same 
 time, and with the greatest apparent ease; the lecture 
 of each successive day being, for the most part, writ- 
 ten, so far as it was committed to writing at all, on 
 the preceding evening. But it was not necessary 
 for him to write more than the leading outlines of a 
 
156 MEMOIR 0$" BR. NISBEf. 
 
 Lecture on almost any subject. His mind was so full 
 of digested and arranged matter, that a little premedi- 
 tation, and committing to paper a few facts, dates and 
 hints, were all that he required for an ample prepa- 
 ration to meet and gratify his class. 
 
 But besides the four courses of Lectures already 
 mentioned, this learned man delivered a fifth on 
 Systematic Theology y which deserves particular no- 
 tice, as it was, probably, the w&ry first cou rse of Lec- 
 tures on that subject ever prepared and delivered in 
 "the United States. 
 
 A small band of pious students, who graduated in 
 the College in 1788, conceived so high an opinion of 
 this venerable man as an instructor, in every depart- 
 ment of knowledge through which he had conducted 
 them, that they requested him, after the completion of 
 their collegiate course, to give them some instruction 
 and aid in pursuing their theological studies. With 
 this request he promptly consented to comply; and at 
 once formed the plan of preparing and delivering a 
 regular course of Theological Lectures. To a mind 
 so highly furnished and active as his, the distance 
 between plan and execution was very small. He im- 
 mediately addressed himself to the preparation of the 
 proposed couise, and after the short vacation, which 
 commenced with the last week of September, he en- 
 tered on the public delivery of it. W\s first Theo- 
 logical Lecture was delivered October 31, 1788, and 
 the last January 5, 1791; thus extending to a little 
 more than two years and two months. The whole 
 number of Lectures comprised in the course, was 
 four hundred and eighteen. His habit was, during 
 term time, to deliver a Lecture every day in the 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 157 
 
 "Week, excepting Saturday and the Lord's day. These 
 lectures were fuHy written out, and slowly read; 
 and each hearer was required to take down the whole 
 from the lips of the Lecturer. So that every stu- 
 -dent was expected to possess a complete copy of the 
 whole course. 
 
 The theological class to which these Lectures were 
 delivered consisted of about eiii;ht or nine. Of these, 
 one or two had not the patience or perseverance to 
 follow the venerable Lecturer through the whole 
 course, but left him before it was finished. Then, as 
 well as now, young men were found unwise enough 
 to prefer iheir ease or convenience to their solid im- 
 •provement, and upon various pretexts to deprive 
 themselves of precious opportunities of instruction. 
 
 Dr. Nisbet never affected novelties in theology. 
 He was not ambitious, in hi^ theological instruction, 
 to appear as an inventor of new opinions; or even of 
 new exhibitions of truth. He, therefore, apprised 
 his pupils that, in these lectures, he did not claim to 
 -be entirely original; that he drew freely from appro- 
 ved authors; and specified Tarreline^ Witsius, Ri- 
 vet, Le Blanc, and others, as those which he most 
 largely employed as auxiliaries and guides. And, 
 accordingly, it has been stated, by one, if not more, of 
 this class of students, that when a suggestion was 
 made to him, that it might be desirable to commit 
 these lectures to the press, he repelled the proposal 
 with evident marks of disapprobation; because he 
 would by no means palm them upon the public as an 
 entirely original work. 
 
 When the Doctor had closed ^is course of lec- 
 tures on Theology, the members of the class felt 
 themselves so much gratified and interested by them, 
 14 
 
158 MEMOIR OF BR. NISBET. 
 
 that they requested him to give them some instruc- 
 tion on the Pastoral Office. With this request he 
 also readily complied, and delivered on this subject 
 twenty-two lectures, which were deemed excellent, 
 and which were taken down from his lips by the 
 students in the same manner as before. 
 
 In addition to all his labours as the President of 
 the College, and lecturer on so many different branch- 
 es of knowledge, he regularly preached in the Pres- 
 byterian church in Carlisle, alternately with the Rev. 
 Dr. Davidson, Vice President of the College, and 
 Pastor of the church. In this part of his public 
 duties, as well as others, he was highly acceptable 
 and popular. Without what are commonly called 
 the graces of delivery, and though always preaching 
 without written preparation, his discourses never fail- 
 ed to be in a high degree instructive and interesting. 
 Dickinson College, under the supervision of her 
 learned and accomplished head, soon began to rise 
 in reputation and in the number of her students. 
 The first Commencement in that Institution was 
 held on the 2t)th day of September, 17S7; when nine 
 young gentlemen received from his hands the first 
 degree in the arts. 
 
 But notwithstanding these favourable circumstan- 
 ces, it cannot be denied, and there seems to be no ade- 
 quate reason for concealing, that Dr. Nisbet, in com- 
 ing to America, was not a little disappointed. It 
 could scarcely, indeed, have been otherwise. The 
 truth is, the first five or six years after he arrived in 
 the United States formed one of the most unfortunate 
 periods in which*a stranger could have transferred 
 his residence from Great Britain to this country. A 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 159 
 
 protracted and exhausting war had just closed. The 
 currency and commerce of the nation were in a state 
 of deplorable depreciation. In fact, the States, in their 
 united as well as individual capacity, might be said 
 to be bankrupt. Public and private credit had sunk 
 to a very low ebb. The value of real estate was de- 
 pressed to a most discouraging degree. Enterprise 
 had no reward. There was no harmony of action 
 among the States. The government of the Union, 
 so far as it deserved the name, was in a great mea- 
 sure inert, for want of adequate powers. Indeed 
 from the year 1784 to I7S9, when the Constitution 
 of the United States went into operation, so many 
 were the difficulties of our confederated republics, 
 and so gloomy their prospects, that many of the zeal- 
 ous advocates of Liberty and Independence began to 
 be less sanguine in their hopes from the American 
 revolution; and to doubt whether we were yet pre- 
 pared to take that stand among the nations of the 
 earth which the God of battles had assigned to us. 
 Such was the state of the country at large. 
 
 The state of Dickinson College partook of the na- 
 tional embarrassment. An infant Institution, and, 
 from the first but slenderly endowed, it was beset with 
 most formidable difficulties. Neither its funds nor 
 its students had increased as rapidly as its sanguine 
 founders and friends had expected. Money was too 
 scarce to allow many parents who desired it, to give 
 their children a liberal education. The Legislature 
 of the State of Pennsylvania was not then sufficient- 
 ly alive to the interests of literature to make any 
 considerable grants to seminaries of learning. And, 
 to crown all, the Board of Trustees of the College 
 
IGO MEMOm OF DR. NISBET^ 
 
 was a body so large, and consisted of gentlemen sor- 
 little homogeneous in their principles and character, 
 that united and energetic action for any length of 
 time together was not to be expected, and certainly 
 was not realised. They honoured the accomplish- 
 ments, and were proud of the reputation of their new 
 President; but they found it difificult to sustain him in 
 that ample and honourable manner which he had been 
 led to expect. 
 . But besides all the difficulties of his official station, 
 the social atid literary state of the country, and the 
 general state of public improvement, were such as 
 was ill adapted to answer the expectations, and grati- 
 fy the feelings of one who had been in Scotland al- 
 most the idol of a large circle of friends; who, when- 
 ever he went to Edinburgh, is said to have had at 
 least one hundred intelligent and literary acquaint- 
 ances, gentlemen of wealth and leisure, some of them 
 among the first noblemen of the country, who re- 
 joiced to see him, and in whose sociely and conver- 
 sation he enjoyed the most refined satisfaction. In 
 intercourse with such circles, and with easy access 
 to large Libraries, in which he took so much delight, 
 he found himself in circumstances, in many respects^ 
 eminently congenial to his taste. 
 
 It is true, indeed, that long before the subject of 
 this memoir came to America, he had imbibed feel- 
 ings of strong partiality to our country. He sympa- 
 thized with us in our revolutionary struggle, and' 
 wished well to us in all our interests, before he was 
 induced j>ersonally to cast in his lot with us. He- 
 came to the country, therefore, with partial feelings. 
 And though he was aware that a body of youthful 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE rNlTED STATES. 161 
 
 colonies, recently become independent, could not be 
 expected to present all the stability of order, and all 
 the maturity of improvement, to be looked for in 
 older states; yet he imagined that in a population in 
 which there had been displayed so much intelligence 
 as to understand, and so much high-minded patriot- 
 ism as to contend for, the rights and privileges of 
 freemen, he should find more of the simplicity and 
 sturdiness of virtue than in his native land. The 
 very circumstance of those who called him manifest- 
 ing, in all their communications, an ardent zeal for 
 the promotion of literature; and an earnest desire to 
 attract from the other side of the Atlantic great and 
 good men to '' go in and out before them," for the 
 purpose of lifting up the literary character of our 
 country, was well adapted to beget a confidence that 
 such men, when obtained, would be cordially wel- 
 comed, and honourably supported. No wonder, then, 
 that some degree of painful disappointment ensued, 
 when he found on his arrival in this country, that 
 the general standard of literature was low; that a 
 thorough classical and scientific course would be sub- 
 mitted to by very few of the youth who aspired to 
 Collegiate honours; that the very small number of 
 professional and other gentlemen who laid claim to 
 literary character, were generally so busy as to ren- 
 der much social intercourse wholly impracticable; 
 and that, of course, with his habits and estimates of 
 things, there was little prospect of his being able 
 very essentially to benefit the counti-y, or to become, 
 speedily, if at all, instrumental in elevating the cha- 
 racter of its literature. And when, above all, he 
 found the state of religion so low and languishing as 
 14* 
 
162 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 it undoubtedly was, for a number of years after the- 
 revolutionary war, it can hardly be imagined that a 
 mind so enligiitened, so sensitive, so enlarged, and so 
 intent on the literary and religious improvement of 
 a^Il around him, as his. could be otherwise than dis- 
 posed to gloom. 
 
 Besides these cornsideratlons, so well adapted to 
 make an unfavourable impression on his mind, there 
 were other considerationvS, more immediately per- 
 sonal, which could not fail to concur in diminishing 
 his cornfoi-t. His salary, though by no means large, 
 was imj)erfectly paid. The provision made for ac- 
 commodating his family with a dwelling, was, from 
 the beginning, far from comfortable; and the retired 
 place of his residence, though, in many respect.^, 
 exceedingly pleasant, presented very few social cir- 
 cles adapted to gratify a man so pre-eminently devo- 
 ted to books, and so well fitted to instruct and enter- 
 tain those in the highest stations. 
 
 As these things cauld not fail painfully to impress 
 his mind, so it was natural that he should, from time 
 to time, make some reference to them in correspon- 
 ding with his fi'iends in Scotland, many of whom 
 took a deep interest in liis comfort, and followed him 
 with anxious inquiries as to his situation and pros- 
 pects. Accordingly it is easy to see, from the lan- 
 guage of several of his correspondents in Britain, 
 that his situation was far from being one of unmixed 
 comfort; and that as late as the year 1794 or 1795, 
 the idea of his return to Scotland, ihough laid aside 
 by himself, was not wholly abandoned by his^frieudj- 
 m the other side of the Atlantic. 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 163 
 
 The following letters will serve to throw some 
 light on the subject of the foregoing remarks. 
 
 Dr. Nisbet to the Earl of Buchan. 
 
 " Baltimore, 2Alh June, 1786.^^ 
 '^ My Lord;' 
 
 " Being detained here by a fit of the ague, and un- 
 derstanding that there are several English ships in 
 this port, I take the opportunity of testifying my sin- 
 cere respect to your Lordship, though I have very 
 little intelligence to communicate. Knowledge \s 
 very rare in this country, and has been the least of 
 our importations. The love of money checks its 
 progress, and the desire of it among the generality, is 
 not great. It is true that Colleges. Academies and 
 Schools are founding in many places; but there is a 
 penury of m.en, books and rational regulations. Po- 
 litical knowledge, however necessary in this country, 
 is very imperfect, on account of the undue and false 
 notions of liberty that generally prevail. Public 
 spirit is rare; and even where it exii^ts, it is checked 
 by the dreadful reflection, that it can be of no use 
 unless it can be infused into a majority. And where 
 is the community so enlightened that a majority of 
 it are wise men? A king, surrounded with guards, 
 ministers and courtiers, is not more inaccessible than 
 the minds of a multitude beset with prejudices and 
 ignorance. Natural knowledge, however suitable 
 and necessary in this country, where it has so large 
 a field, does not flourish among us. No species of 
 science is so much honoured as Mathematics, which, 
 however excellent as an adminicle, is barren in itself. 
 The king of Franee has purchased a Botanic Garden: 
 
164 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 in Jersey, which may, perhaps, excite some curi- 
 osity for Natural History. Mines have been said to 
 be discovered in several places, but I cannot ascer- 
 tain the fact; and even if the report were true, the 
 possessors of those mines would do well to keep them 
 a secret. I believe the ancient adage still holds — Si 
 giia/oret icllus qux fulvum milter et aurum, hos- 
 iis erat. I have discovered a strange coincidence 
 between a part of the superstition of the Indians, and 
 that of the ancient inhabitants of Europe. Where- 
 ever the Indians discover bees, they take for grant- 
 ed that white men will soon come after them. In 
 the seventh book of the iEneid, when a swarm of 
 bees had hived near the palace of king Latinus, the 
 same construction was put on the phenomenon. Con- 
 tinuo vates; externos cerjiimus, inqiiit, adveniare 
 viros. This is strange enough. Virgil never visit- 
 ed America; nor did the Indians ever read Virgil. I 
 have been assured that in the western parts of this 
 country, on both sides of the Mississippi, there are 
 monuments discovered which render it almost cer- 
 tain that that region has been inhabited by a people 
 much more civilized than its present-inhabitants. A 
 gentleman who is proprietor of a mine, assured me 
 that they had discovered digging tools many fathoms 
 under ground. I was informed by another, that, in 
 sinking a well, he found a small furnace of brick 
 work thirty feet below the surface, with coals and 
 brands that had been ignited. Near the falls of the 
 Ohio there is a salt spring in the bed of the river, 
 which had been inclosed with stone work of un- 
 known antiquity, to keep out the fresh water; but 
 this inclosure being ruined by the freshets, the inha- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 165 
 
 b-Itants have no use of the spring except when the 
 river falls so low as to leave its environs dry. In 
 many places circular fortifications have been disco- 
 vered, inclosed with deep ditches, and fenced with 
 a breast work. Yet no traces of ancient habitations 
 are to be seen. Perhaps the inhabitants have been 
 contented with wooden houses, like Attila, though m 
 possession of a great part of the Roman empire. Pit 
 coal is found in abundance in the western counties of 
 Pennsylvania, and at Wyoming on the Susquehanna; 
 but the great abundance of wood renders it of little 
 use as >'et. The u-ant of industry is one great cause 
 of the little progress of the useful arts in this coun- 
 try; but the climate is enough to damj) the most ac- 
 tive minds. Many people here observe the siesta 
 as regularly as the Spaniards and Italians; finding 
 their animal spirits, if such there are, very apt to be 
 evaporated by the intense heat of the sun: yet we 
 hear of none dying here by a coup de soleily though 
 that accident is common in France and Italy. '* 
 
 "The humour of making new States seems unpro- 
 pitious to this country. Kentucky is admitted into 
 the Union on condition of their putting themselves 
 in the order of a Slate before a given day, and taking 
 a proportional share of the public debt of Virginia, 
 Vermont is tacitly permitted to govern itself, but not 
 represented in Congress, or admitted into the confe- 
 deration. The state of Massachusetts threatens di- 
 vision, though it has not yet taken place. The dif- 
 ferences at Wyoming still subsist, though not pub-' 
 licly supported by the Slate of Connecticut. Ethan 
 Allen is actually amongst them, and undertakes to 
 command their forces against all opposition; and a 
 
166 MEMOIR or DR. NISBET. 
 
 number of ill-disposed and profligate people are as- 
 sembling from all the slates, which may occasion a 
 civil war for a time." 
 
 *• I hear that grants of American lands are becom- 
 ing merchantable commodities on the Exchange of 
 London: and I am just now informed that an eminent 
 American land-jobber is actually at Hamburgh, and 
 finds purchasers in that city. If this is true it will 
 interest foreigners in the prosperit}^ of this country, 
 and may be a means of encouraging industry, and 
 introducing useful hands, and useful arts among us, 
 of which we are still in great want." 
 
 " I beg m}' best respects to Lady Buchan, and am 
 with the most unfeigned esteem," 
 '^ My Lord," 
 
 *' Your Lordship's much obliged," 
 "Humble servant," 
 
 " Charles Nisbet." 
 " The Eight Honourable the 
 
 Earl of Biichdii, Edinbiirgh.^^ 
 
 The next letter is from Dr. Nisbet, to the Rev. 
 James Paton, the pious and excellent pastor of 
 Craig, a town in the neighbourhood of Montrose, 
 with whom the Doctor maintained a long and en- 
 deared friendship. 
 
 " Carlisle, lOth Jan. 1787." 
 " Dear Sir,'' 
 
 "Yours, of the 9th of August, reached Philadel- 
 phia on the 22d of November, but did not reach me 
 for three weeks afterwards, as we have no post 3'et 
 established on this road, and communication is diffi- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 167 
 
 cult this hard winter. I had got a detail of all the 
 transactions of your neighbourhood by Dr. Erskine, 
 and some others. 1 had no design of writing you in 
 a dark manner; but many things here cannot be re- 
 lated in a few words. I am sorry for the deaths 
 you acquaint me with, especially for those of wor- 
 thy ministers, who have been at all times scarce. I 
 am glad to hear of the welfare of your family, and 
 wish I could give you any idea of this country. 
 Knowledge, industry, virtue and religion are greatly 
 wanting; and though every man is a politician, true 
 politics are little understood. The lands are mostly 
 possessed by poor, ignorant, or indolent farmers; 
 and yield extremely little in comparison with what 
 they might yield under wise and efficient manage- 
 ment. Trade is in a low state. Labour is very 
 dear; and servants scarce, bad, ignorant and lazy. 
 In the possession of an industrious, enterprising peo- 
 ple, this country would be a very rich one. To- 
 bacco, hops, vines, and all sorts of fruit thrive here, 
 but none of them to any extent are cultivated in this 
 neigiibourhood. Hemp and flax are rarely culti- 
 vated; though what little is sown rises plentifully. 
 The people here have no attachment to their estates, 
 but are ready to sell them whenever a buyer offers, 
 and to retire into the wilderness. As this new 
 world is unfortunately composed, like that of Kpi- 
 curus, of discordant atoms, jumbled together by 
 chance, and tossed by inconstancy in an immense 
 vacuum, it greatly wants a principle of attraction 
 and cohesion. Such may come in time, but it has 
 not yet taken place. Legislative wisdom is greatly 
 wanting, as most of our members have no other poll- 
 
1G8 MEMOIR OF DR. NISEET. 
 
 tical qualifications than their election bestows or 
 them. Common sense may be introduced, but it 
 must be gradually, and with difficulty. The great 
 extent of the country is likewise agninst its improve- 
 ment. With regard to my own situation it is tole- 
 rable, though not according to expectation, and must 
 improve only by the improvement of the public. 1 
 have more trouble with the old than with the young, 
 Our Trustees are generally men of small acquaint- 
 ance with letters, even those that have been bred to 
 learned professions, and can scarcely be made to un- 
 derstand their duty. The impoitation of books has 
 almost ceased since the war, except novels, plays and 
 Buch trifles. There is little curiosity, and conse- 
 quently little knowledge. The youth readily re- 
 ceive the superficial and introductory parts of know- 
 ledge; but are little fit for abstract studies, or any 
 thing that requires perserverance and application; 
 and being mostly destitute of books, helps, and ob- 
 jects of ambition, it is no wonder that they flag in 
 their studies, and sit down contented with low at- 
 tainments.'^ 
 
 " My department in this College is moral philo- 
 sophy; but, for the want of an adequate number of 
 teachers, I am obliged to give a course of logic and 
 metaphysics. We have but four efi'ective teachers, 
 though we need two more at least. Donations have 
 raised our library to about 2800 volumes. It con- 
 tains many good books; though our wants in that 
 department are still numerous. Our numbers are 
 short of a Scotch seminary, but nearly equal to 
 those of this country. We have been in pretty good 
 health since July last; though the extremes of heat 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 169 
 
 and cold are still hard on us. As to sending out 
 Probationers from Scotland to this country, I could 
 not advise it till the people here are more sensible of 
 their wants. A man must have the spirit of martyr- 
 dom that would travel thousands of miles, over large 
 deserts, not knowing where he is to settle, and when 
 settled, having no certainty that most or all of his 
 congregation may not leave the place, without taking 
 him along with them. In September last, I made a 
 journey to New York, which is 210 miles hence. 
 The country of Jersey is flat and pleasant, and pretty 
 well settled, though numbers of the inhabitants are 
 daily moving westward. The Raritan, the Passaic, 
 the Hackensack, and the Hudson are fine navigable 
 streams, though little commercial, except the last. 
 New York is beautifully situated on the extremity 
 of an island, and resembles an European city more 
 than any place I have seen on this continent. I 
 viewed, with a mixture of pleasure and concern, 
 many of the scenes of last war, and surveyed the 
 progress of the fire which was once so fatal to this 
 city. Almost all the ruins were built up in a tolera- 
 ble, and some of them in a magnificent manner. The 
 houses are higher than those in Philadelphia, though 
 mostly of brick. The inhabitants are gay and luxu- 
 rious in the extreme, though not much attentive to 
 religion, or paying their debts. I preached to two 
 very large congregations, the most genteel in appear- 
 ance I ever saw, though I believe very few are 
 opulent. I dined next day with the President of 
 the Continental Congress, and the Representatives of 
 nine States. Some of them are decent sensible men, 
 and others young and raw, having been chosen only 
 15 
 
170 MEMOIR OF BR. NISEE'T. 
 
 for their military service last war. Long Island is 
 almost as near New York as Ferryden is to Mont- 
 rose. It is a beautiful high land, seemingly well 
 cultivated, and affords a fine prospect as far as the 
 Narrows, about ten miles below the city. Staten 
 Island has a wilder, but not a disagreeable appear- 
 ance. Mr. Thompson, after his wanderings in Vir- 
 ginia, has got a good congregation in Johnstown, 
 150 miles above New York, Mr. Monro was or- 
 dained in June last, about 70 miles east from Car- 
 lisle, on the frontiers of Maryland; but I have never 
 seen him, or had a letter from him. Mr. Addison, 
 who went out with us, has been a year at Washing- 
 ton, 225 miles west of this place; but not being able 
 to get settled, on account of the refractory humour 
 of his Presbytery, is likely to change his profession 
 for the more gainful one of the law. A daughter of 
 Mr. Grant, late minister of Dundurcus, to whom he 
 was engaged, came over to Philadelphia last summer. 
 He went down, and they were married in Septem- 
 ber last, and passed this place on their way home, 
 while I was at New York. Mr. Ross and his wife 
 are settled at Pittsburgh, where he has made pur- 
 chases, though I do not know whether they will be 
 gainful, at least for a time. He is building a distil- 
 lery, and has boats for supplying the town with coal. 
 It is probable that Pittsburgh will be a considerable 
 place in a short time, as so many are daily flocking 
 to that neighbourhood. Twenty waggons, upon an 
 average, every day, have passed that way in the 
 course of this year, and we have seen them passing 
 even since the snow fell.'' 
 
 " What may be the fate of this country is uncer- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 171 
 
 tain; but there is a large scope for industry, if direct- 
 ed by wisdom, and not interrupted by war. We 
 have little or no inteliigence here, which makes us 
 very dull, and the people in general are not curious 
 either as to what passes among themselves or else- 
 where. We are alarmed with the report of a war 
 with England, upon a suspicion, it is said, that the 
 people of this country intend to seize some of their 
 West India Islands; but your ministry would be 
 foolish indeed were they to entertain any such sus- 
 picion of people that have neither ships nor any de- 
 sire for insular possessions. The people here are 
 not in the least disposed to make war against any 
 power whatever, except with Spain, whose posses- 
 sions are too distant to be in any danger from their 
 efforts, at least for a century to come. Some thought- 
 less people in the southern States would be glad ta 
 declare war against Spain, for opening the navigatioa 
 of the Mississippi, though they have no use for such 
 a navigation at present, and cannot procure the con- 
 sent of the other States to any thing of this kind. I 
 hear of little or no emigration to this country: 520 
 people, being a whole parish in the Isle of Skye, 
 emigrated this spring; but were advised to land at 
 Quebec, as they were assured that England would 
 make war against this country in a little time. I 
 observe in the London Reviews, that pamphlets are 
 writing in England, prophecying the submission of 
 this country to Great Britain; and Lady Leven's 
 letter, without date, which accompanied yours, con- 
 tained a question, whether there was a disposition 
 in the people here to return to their allegiance. I 
 suspect that something is brewing among you to re- 
 
172 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 vive the horrors of war in this country; but I hope 
 that the death of the Prussian monarch may turn the 
 attention of your great Commoner to conquer Ame- 
 rica in Germany, which will give no disturbance 
 here. Manufactures must be introduced into this 
 country before it can flourish; and this cannot be 
 done but by a long peace, and the removal of strong 
 prejudices.'^ 
 
 " I have just now read Dr. Anderson's book on 
 the improvement of the British Fisheries and West- 
 ern Islands. It contains many maxims of sound 
 sense and good policy. I only differ from him as to 
 the consequences of emigration; though he says 
 that Dr. Price has been brought over to his opinion. 
 He does not consider that almost every person who 
 emigrates from Great Britain is in distress and po- 
 verty, and can get little or nothing to consume at 
 home, for the encouragement of industry at home: 
 whereas in his reasoning he supposes them all to be 
 people of fortune, and excellent customers to the far- 
 mer, the butcher, the brewer, and baker, whereas 
 most of them have not a morsel of bread, nor can 
 get any work to earn it. Were Dr. Anderson's 
 scheme to be instantly carried into execution, emi- 
 gration might become less necessary for many of the 
 poorer sort. But at present I am certain that it is 
 the interest of poor working people to emigrate to 
 this country. If they come over young, they may, 
 by industry, acquire the property of a good planta- 
 tion in ten or twelve years, whieh they could never 
 hope for at home. If this country were cultivated 
 by English or Scotch farmers, its product and riches 
 would be very great, and it might maintain a large 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 173 
 
 and opulent landed interest. But no body will be 
 a tenant in a country where he can so soon become a 
 j3roprietor; so that our landed interest consists of a 
 yeomanry who labour their own lands, and who are, 
 of course, not very enlightened. Their children, al- 
 most uniformly, embrace the same profession, as lands 
 are always to be had. A tradesman, though he might 
 make more money, is little thought of in compari- 
 son with a farmer. This perverse way of thinking, 
 however, must continue either until they are in dis- 
 tress for want of foreign commodities, or till some 
 projecting genius embraces the profession of a trades- 
 man or manufacturer. Dr. Anderson seems like- 
 wise to be wrong in discouraging the building of 
 villages, as all towns have grown out of them, even 
 Rome and Laurence-kirk not excepted. They may 
 be improper in the Hebrides, but in a fertile country 
 I think they ought to be encouraged; as all counties 
 here are divided into townships. I have frequently 
 told our farmers that they ought to build the rudi- 
 ments of a town in the most convenient situation 
 near the centre of each of these townships, and told 
 them that these would soon increase, especially if 
 they would breed some of their children to trades, 
 and settle them in these villages. The whole lands 
 of the townships would rise in value. But this is 
 what they cannot comprehend; and they would be 
 sorry to contribute to the emolument of the proprietor 
 of the lands nearest the village." 
 
 " I am in hopes that the difficulties we are under 
 
 here in discharging the high taxes laid in the last 
 
 years of the war, will be soon over. Our ordinary 
 
 taxes are a mere trifle in comparison of yours iq 
 
 15* 
 
174 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 Great Britain, and cannot occasion the smallest incon- 
 venience. I am pleased to observe that our Legis- 
 lature are beginning to discern the importance and 
 necessity of making good roads, and setting about 
 that great work. I wish also that they could be per- 
 suaded to discourage travelling on the Lord's day, 
 which abounds here to a shameful degree. We have 
 laws good enough for that purpose, but nobody is 
 appointed or encouraged to put them in execution. 
 In a word, many things among us need reformation; 
 and, though we have the means in our own hands, 
 there is little prospect of their being reformed in 
 haste. The ignorance of many of our citizens, who 
 have come hither in a rude state, and their wanting 
 opportunities of improvement by the distance of their 
 dwellings, and the general neglect of public worship, 
 as well as the scarcity and dearness of good books, 
 contribute greatly to continue them in their igno- 
 rance, and to strengthen their prejudices. The 
 Courts of Law are almost the only operative cause 
 that brings men together here, or awakens the facul- 
 ties of their minds; and you cannot imagine to what 
 degree these are employed and encouraged among 
 us. Our Lawyers are not so learned as yours; but 
 they are generally men of respectable knowledge and 
 liberality of manners. The landed interest are the 
 least enlightened, though there are some honourable 
 exceptions. I imagine that the want of genius among 
 our news-writers, and the barrenness of events in our 
 papers, are likewise partial causes of that stagnation 
 of the human faculties which prevails in this coun- 
 try; as well as the want of cross posts, and readiness 
 of communication. 1 live a very laborious life, and 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 175 
 
 must expect no interruption of labours for at least nine 
 months to come. 1 am endeavouring to get the 
 people to attend public worship, and we hope to have 
 two sermons next sabbath, which is a great reform. 
 Some people are beginning to think, and I hope bet- 
 ter times are approaching. Nine of my pupils are 
 destined to the service of the Church, and have meet- 
 ings for prayer. But things must go on slowly. I 
 consider myself as engaged, with others, in the inglo- 
 rious but useful labour of digging under ground, and 
 laying the foundation of a building that may rise and 
 make some figure in another age. Let me hear from 
 you soon, and send me all the intelligence, public and 
 private, that you can collect, Remember me kindly 
 to all friends. I am, Reverend and Dear Sir, yours, 
 aflfectionately,," " Charles Nisbet." 
 
 ^^ Rev. Mr. James Paton.^^ 
 
 Every one who recollects the state of our country 
 from the close of the Revolutionary war in 1783, to 
 the adoption and organization of the Federal govern- 
 ment, in 1789, during which the foregoing letter was 
 written; — the wide-spread poverty — the prostration 
 of commerce — the general discouragement — the mu- 
 tual distrust — the absence of enterprise — and the pre- 
 vailing gloom — which were portrayed in a preceding 
 page — will undoubtedly regard the picture drawn by 
 the venerable writer as an unexaggerated one; and 
 will only wonder, that, coming as he did from a land 
 of wealth and of established order — he did not load 
 his canvass with still darker colours. The truth is, 
 this learned and excellent man fell into a mistake 
 very common among the most enlightened who 
 
176 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 visit our country from the other side of the At- 
 lantic. He found it difficult to make the requisite 
 allowance for a young countr}^, struggling into na- 
 tional organization and order. He measured Ame- 
 rican facts hy European principles. Had he lived 
 thirty years longer, he would have seen that the want 
 of intelligence, of wakefulness to their advantages, 
 and of enterprise in pursuing opportunities of im- 
 provement and of profit, was one of the last charges 
 justly imputable to the inhabitants of the United 
 States. 
 
 It was remarked, in a preceding chapter, that, in 
 the great contest between the British government, 
 and her American colonies, which is.«ued in the in- 
 dependence of the United States, Dr. Nisbet was a 
 warm whig, and gave much offence to m.any in his 
 own country, by taking, on a variety of occasions, 
 the side of the Colonies. With these feelings he 
 came to America, ft cannot be disguised, however, 
 that when he found, after being for a time in the 
 country, the general state of things to be so different 
 from what he had been taught to expect; — the low 
 state of literature; the deranged condition of our com- 
 mercial affairs; the failure of the founders and guar- 
 dians of his College to redeem their pledges; and the 
 erratic notions and conduct of many of our politicians 
 respecting the govermental questions of the day ; — he 
 was not a little revolted, and began to fear that the 
 Republicanism of the United States would prove a 
 miserable failure. And it must be acknowledged that 
 the character of the first five or six years of his resi- 
 dence in our country, was such, that a mind of his sen- 
 sibility, and accustomed to European establishments. 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 177 
 
 might well be pardoned for giving way to such a re- 
 vulsion. 
 
 To this may be added, that the impression from 
 what hesawaround him, was greatly deepened by the 
 occurrence of the French Revolution, and the terrific 
 scenes which, for more than ten years, that nation 
 presented to the civilized world. From the moment 
 that revolution commenced. Dr. Nisbet seemed to 
 regard it with horror, and predicted most of the dread- 
 ful results which are now matters of history. Of 
 course, when he saw so many in the United States 
 disposed to rejoice in that Revolution, and to applaud 
 its worst features, he found it difficult to restrain 
 his feelings, or to repress the language of indignant 
 vituperation. When this subject was alluded to, it 
 seldom failed to call forth his keenest wit, his most 
 biting sarcasm, and the most distressing apprehen- 
 sions of fatal mischief likely to be poured forth from 
 France, as from an awful volcano, on ourselves, and 
 on every other nation within the sphere of her influ- 
 ence. In the course of a most interesting and long- 
 continued correspondence with him, the writer of 
 these pages recollects no one subject on which he 
 poured out so much weight of thought; so much fer- 
 vid eloquence; so much that was adapted to exhibit 
 him, amidst all his cutting severity, as one of the 
 most benevolent and patriotic of men. 
 
 From the Countess of Leven and Melville. 
 
 " Dear Sir,'' . 
 
 " Melville House, Jan. 20th, 1788." 
 " I received your letter dated the 17th of Septem- 
 ber, about a week ago; by which I am sorry to find 
 
178 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 your situation is not likely to become more agreea- 
 ble; and that you cannot give a more favourable re- 
 presentation of the state of religion, &c. in that part of 
 the world where you now are, I am afraid the pic- 
 ture you exhibit is by no means a caricature, extorted 
 by predjudice or discontent; as I find others corrobo- 
 rating your statement, especially concerning the state 
 of religion. A young gentleman from this neigh- 
 bourhood writes in the very same strain. He says 
 the holy sabbath is not regarded, and the churches 
 of Philadelphia very ill attended; not above forty 
 communicants, he states, in the church which he at- 
 tended. I have always wished, since you landed there, 
 that you had come out from among them: for instead 
 of being of more use there than at home, as matters 
 now stand, I fear you are of much less, I have 
 never had more than one view of that matter alto- 
 gether, as you well know; for I always told you my 
 sentiments, though with much diffidence, and am sor- 
 ry that you did not take your departure from Ameri- 
 ca, as you had once firmly resolved to do. I always 
 think that you will yet end your daj^s on this side 
 of the Atlantic. To be sure much depends on the 
 state of your family, of which you never say any 
 thing; how^the children are situated and employed, 
 &c. Your letters are very entertainingand instructive; 
 but always make one sorry upon your own account, 
 and on account of the woful change for the worse 
 upon that once highly favoured part of the world. I 
 forget who it is that'says— 
 
 " Religion stands on tiptoe in our land, 
 <'Read)' to fly to the American strand." 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 179 
 
 And surely 1 thought it had taken its fliglit thither; 
 for once I thought they were all saints, especially 
 from some samples I saw of them, and good reports 
 we heard. But, by all accounts, religion has taken 
 wing again; though, alas! I do not find that she has 
 landed on the British shore, or would meet with a 
 welcome there." 
 
 " I look for something extra coming from our be- 
 loved Sovereign's tedious illness; — that it will not be 
 unto death, but for the glory of God. It has called 
 the attention of all ranks, and made a sort of solemn 
 pause, and given many people time to consider who 
 never think at all. The public amusements are all 
 hushed, and churches crowded to hear the many fer- 
 vent prayers to heaven for the restoration of his pre- 
 cious health. The royal family are all quite deject- 
 ed, and afflicted, which may be of great use by the 
 blessing of God. The last time the king was abroad 
 was at the Chapel, where he would be, in spite of ad- 
 vice to the contrary; and the Queen, and Princes and 
 Princesses have the worship^of God in the Queen's 
 apartment. These, and other things too tedious to 
 mention, appear to be tokens for good. The nation 
 was never more united, or more fervent in their 
 Vv'ishes than they are at present for the preservation 
 and establishment of the king's health. Surely there 
 never was a sovereign more universally beloved." 
 
 " I am at a loss how to fill the rest of my paper 
 with such intelligence as would be interesting, to 
 you. All your friends are well, so far as I know." 
 
 "March 2d. I must just say to you, as the wor- 
 thy and Rev. Mr. Newton said to me, in a letter 
 which I received from him lately, — began about two 
 
180 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 months before it was finished; — that he sent the first 
 part to convince me of his intentions; but from vari- 
 ous occurrences, he had never found it convenient to 
 finish what he had begun. This too, has been the 
 case with me; and I would not send such a confused 
 scrawl to such a distance, were it not as a proof that 
 I had not forgotten you. My fear is, that my long 
 silence may make you suspect what can never be 
 truth concerning me, that I forget or can make light 
 of a friend. Beside that, you may be assured I con- 
 sider the loss as my own, as your letters are a great 
 entertainment to me. But .the truth is, I am kept 
 too busy; though I fear often idly busy. I hope this 
 will find you well." 
 
 "Since this letter was begun, a great change has 
 been wrought in the state of affairs in Britain by the 
 happy recovery of our beloved Sovereign. The joy 
 is beyond description or imagination from the low- 
 est to the highest. I must refer you to the public 
 papers for all that happened during the sad interval 
 of his illness. There appears to be a great work up- 
 on the wheel at present. I wish I could have an 
 opportunity of conversing with you, to hear your 
 lively observations and animadversions about many 
 things. Let me know how you are as to health and 
 contentment; and whether you feel settled in life; or 
 intend to end your days in Britain." 
 
 " I am sorry to find that poor Mr. Muir has got 
 no settlement. Perhaps, by this time, it may be 
 otherwise. He is, I believe, a good man; what his 
 foibles are I cannot say. When you write, pray let 
 me know the history of your own family. This fa- 
 mily, by the blessing of God, and his infinite mercy, 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 181 
 
 are all alive, and much increased. Lord Balgonie 
 has three sons. Mary has had nine children, of whom 
 seven are still living; and she does not look to be 
 above twenty. Remember us in your prayers. We 
 have much to be thankful for,'' 
 
 " I thought you had corresponded with worthy 
 old Dr. Gillies. He is alive and well, and would es- 
 teem a letter from you very highly. Mr. Martin 
 and family are all well. He remains * the husband 
 of one wife,' notwithstanding your prediction. My 
 Lord sends his best respects to you, in which my 
 daughters join. Please to oflfer mine to Mrs Nisbet; 
 and be assured that I continue to be with real esteem, 
 your humble servant," 
 
 "W Leven." 
 
 " The Rev. Dr. Charles Nisbet, Carlisle.'' 
 
 From the same. 
 
 '' Melville House, August 1st, 17S8." 
 ^< Dear Sir,'' 
 
 ^' Though I am distressed with sore eyes, I have 
 taken a large sheet of paper, in case I can find where- 
 withal to fill it. It is with regret that I reflect how 
 long it is since I had your's of December 25th. Not 
 answering it immediately is the reason of the delay; 
 for a variety of pressing occupations makes me neg- 
 lect many necessary duties which slip out of my 
 mind." 
 
 " I am sorry that you have no better news to write 
 from your quarter, either with regard to 370ur own 
 situation, or the state of religion among you. I shall 
 be glad to hear what your great expectations have 
 resulted in from the new Constitution of the United 
 16 
 
18:2 MEMOIR OF DR. NISEEf. 
 
 States lately proposed and adopted. When I mtri^ 
 tioned Ihe possibility of di young man being better 
 to go to America than you, I surely intended to say 
 to combat, not to compli/ with^ the prejudices of the 
 people; for in many res])ects, indeed, this might be 
 much ag;iinst a nnan's character. In all difficult 
 emergencies a steady person is the fittest; as sinfu! 
 compliances are always attended with bad consequen- 
 ces. Though in other matters it is often necessary 
 and winning to use gentle means.'' 
 
 "It is a mutter of deep regret to be informed of 
 such a woeful change for the worse as America, in 
 general, has undergone of late. I once looked upon 
 it as the most highly favoured corner of the earth, in 
 many respects, but chiefly with regard to religion. 
 When the Lord honoured Mr. WhiteSeld to be a lead- 
 ing man among them, in many places religion flour- 
 ished and increased. He had no bye views or ends.' 
 The glory of God, and the good of souls, were the 
 main spring of all his movements. The war did 
 much hurt; turned the people idle and forgetful of 
 God, and indeed of every thing but liberty, falsely 
 so called. And, 1 doubt not, it has been to many a 
 fatal liberly, very different from that of 'the chil- 
 dren of light.' Poor Mr. Thompson is arrived, in a 
 very depiessed situation. It is several months since 
 he came to Hritain. He is now in Dundee. He 
 describes iiis situation to have been most affecting. 
 Some of tile people were unable to pay his stipend, 
 from poverty; others, from want of will. The mo- 
 ney he carried out, (having sold his annuity,) he 
 bought land With, of which he could make nothing; 
 and was obliged to slip away, even without his poor 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 183 
 
 wife, who staid, I fear, as a hostage. I hope the 
 people of Dundee mean to serve him in some shape 
 or other. lie has, indeed, had a sore time of it." 
 
 "There is nothing in this country to write about 
 but what you will get from the newspapers and 
 magazines, A great deal is said and attempted about 
 Sunday schools, and reformation of manners, which, 
 by the blessing of God, I hope will have a good 
 effect. The former have already had wonderful 
 effects, especially in large trading towns, both in Scot- 
 land and England . Youv friends about Glasgow, &c. 
 could tell you much about this. I thought that Dr. 
 Gillies and you corresponded. Surely Dr. Wither- 
 spoon and he correspond. He is always busy about 
 something, and will be to the last, if his faculties re- 
 main. I beg to be remembered to Dr. Wilherspoon, 
 when you see him. I regretted not seeing him when 
 he was in Scotland.* It surprises me that, when 
 you write, you say nothing about your own family. 
 I hope your son has gotten rid of all impediments in 
 his sight, and is doing as you could wish him." 
 
 " I find, by a letter from Mr. Muir, who was at 
 Bermuda, that he is gone to New York. Of this Dr. 
 W. would inform you, as he has written a short Pre- 
 face to a few Sermons he has published; the price of 
 which, by tlie time it reached me — a single volume 
 — was 19 shillings and 2 pence. He thoughtlessly 
 sent it by post; whereas in a ship it would only have 
 been a triiie, if any thing. He is a pious, good man, 
 
 * Dr. Witherspoon, soon after the close of the American war, W8S 
 commissioned by the Trustees of Princeton College to visit Great 
 Britain, for the purpose of soliciting donations to that Institution, Hia 
 mission, however, was not attended with much success, 
 
184 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 I am persuaded, and wish he may succeed where he 
 now is. He married too young, which is sometimes 
 no small evil. He does not mention whether he has 
 any children. 1 should be glad to know how he is 
 received, or whether he is in any settled way. I am 
 glad he is under the tuition of Dr. Rodgers, to whom 
 he desires me to direct for him." 
 
 "I shall be gratified to be informed how you and 
 your family keep your health. Have you laid aside 
 all thought of returning to your native land? I sin- 
 cerely wish you and yours may be happy. You have 
 imbibed, I perceive, a bad idea of the Methodists 
 since you went abroad. There are good and bad in 
 all sects and parties. Yet strange that one who ever 
 knew that eminent and favoured saint, Mr. George 
 Whitefield, should harbour a doubt that the Lord was 
 with him of a truth, and countenanced his labours more 
 than those of any other man since the Apostles' days; 
 and at this moment I dare say that the best people in 
 America are plants of the precious seed sown in his 
 time. It hurts me to find you speaking lightly of 
 the Methodists in general. The good that some of 
 them have been enabled to do is most amazing. It 
 is no wonder that Satan opposes them, and lays snares 
 for them." 
 
 ^*But my paper is nearly full, and my eyes are 
 failing. 1 dare not send any pamphlets, as the trans- 
 portation of them is so expensive. I will try to get 
 this letter sent a pennyworth. I fear at best you 
 will think it a poor one. If I knew of any persons 
 or family you wished to hear of, I would mention 
 them. Mr. Martin is well; as are all this family, 
 present or absent, so far as I know. Remember us 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 185 
 
 in your prayers. Good reason have we to say, that 
 the Lord is good and gracious. My Lord sends his 
 best respects. Give mine to Mrs. Nisbet. How- 
 would she like to come back to Montrose? With 
 much esteem, I am, Sir," 
 
 " Your humble servant," 
 
 ^' W. Leven." 
 *' The Rev. Dr. Nishei, Carlisle College.'' 
 
 From the same. 
 
 ''Melville House, Nov. 27, 1789." 
 '' Dear Sir,'' 
 
 " It is truly presumptuous in me to begin upon a 
 full sheet. Good example, I know, is of much worth: 
 but we are often imitators in those things which we 
 are least qualified to copy after. Your great letter 
 of August 9th came to hand September 12th, and was 
 a fund of entertainment and instruction, in regard to 
 many things which we were before unacquainted 
 with. To get these testimonies from a far country, 
 upon the word of veracity itself, is rare news. Plen- 
 ty of news, indeed, pours in upon us, but little truth. 
 What David said 'in his haste' that 'all men are 
 liars,^ a worthy friend once remarked, he might now 
 say at his leisure. Your letters always give me plea- 
 sure; but I still find a cloud hanging over them: and 
 my regret for your absence from your own country, 
 is increased by every insinuation of your own for 
 having left it. The decaying state of religion^and 
 its fatal consequences, must greatly affect yours, and 
 every righteous spirit. The famine of those fit to be 
 made friends, and of hearers in your Church, must 
 cast a damp even upon your good spirits. It is a 
 16* 
 
186 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 great mercy that you and your family have enjoyed 
 good health; and you have all reason to hope that 
 your indefatigable labours will be blessed. But you 
 cannot expect to be long able to undergo such an ex- 
 ertion of strength of body and mind, as your present 
 labour requires. You do not mention what assist- 
 ance you have, or whether those employed are dili- 
 gent and useful among the students, &c. If you 
 were destitute of such comforts as the world cannot 
 give, your situation would indeed, be most uncomfort- 
 able; as it is so little suited to your natural genius. 
 But you have the comfort of knowing, that whatso- 
 ever state you are in, it is by the Divine Providence; 
 that God has the ordering of it; that all the ingredi- 
 ents in your cup, and all the varieties of your state, 
 are from Him. When you consider that there is no 
 present stateof things, how favourable soever, without 
 an alloy; that there is something in every condition 
 of life, in every place, to convince us of the fruitless 
 effort of seeking rest here below. While we com- 
 plain of grievances in this or that situation, we might 
 find worse in another. In every state there is some- 
 thing amiss; but, blessed be God, there ia no state 
 that can exclude those comforts and consolations- 
 which cannot be taken away. Peace grows every 
 where from Him who is * our Peace.' He is the 
 Comforter of all the ends of the earth.'' 
 
 *' I cannot think of any thing to write for your 
 amusement. There is nothing on this side of the 
 Atlantic in which you are interested, but what you 
 know as much of as you probably wish to know. 
 Nothing seems to be improving so fast as the art of 
 swindling, and deceiving the unwary. There are 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 18? 
 
 many ^masters of arts' in this profession; so that 
 one cannot help admiring their ingenuity, while they 
 grieve that it has not been employed to better pur- 
 pose. The state of the French nation, and of many 
 places in Germany, you will be informed of. They 
 are in a most deplorable situation; and I believe the 
 the vviset politician can form no idea of what will be 
 the issue. Mr. Martin has written you all the news 
 he could collect, which I am glad of, as I find that my 
 letters can be little else than tokens of remembrance 
 and of good wishes for you and your family. I hope 
 your son will do well, and disappoint all your fears. 
 Our youngest son, George, is now settled in business 
 at Ostend, and is much satisfied with his situation. 
 Has your son gotten his sight perfectly in his eye 
 that was afiected? My mind is at present in much 
 anxiety and concern about my dear and only sister, 
 Lady Bantf. She has been in a declining state, from 
 various causes, for these twelve months past. She 
 has been better and worse; but there seems little 
 appearance of returning health. That sweet fa- 
 mily will experience a great loss, if it should please 
 God to take her to himself. She has three daughters 
 still unmarried; and Mrs. Murray, whom you will 
 remember, has not seen a day's health these three 
 years, since she had her third child; but I hope is 
 now getting better.'' 
 
 " I write all this as if to obtain your pious prayers. 
 But, alas! what changes may have taken place before 
 k can make its way to you! Mr. Martin will have 
 mentioned about the weather, earthquakes, &c. No- 
 body remembers such a wet season. My Lord in- 
 tends to send with this a few Magazines, containing 
 
188 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 some account of General Assembly matters^ and a 
 few Scotch newspapers, which we hope will amuse 
 you. Though I know nothing that at present occurs 
 which promises to interest you, I beg you will con- 
 tinue your interesting and amusing history to me. 
 We have little from America that can be depended 
 on. Mr. Martin, I take for granted, wrote you 
 about Dr. M'Gill. Nobody can say how that matter 
 will end. It had much need to amend. I hope you 
 will hear from Dr. Gillies what the Presbytery of 
 Glasgow has done, and mean to do. If you send a 
 commission to procure any books for your Library, 
 I wish you would get two volumes entitled ^ Horae 
 Solitarise,' or Essays, both Doctrinal and Practical, 
 upon the Divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit, and 
 also upon the subject of the Trinity, showing it to 
 have been a truth received from the earliest ages, and 
 confirmed by the principles of the Gospel, in two 
 volumes, octavo. The author's name is not prefix- 
 ed to the work; but it is well known to be by Am- 
 brose Serle, Esquire, Secretary to Lord Howe, du- 
 ring the American war. He is also the author of 
 " The Christian Remembrancer," .which I will send 
 with the Magazines. His works are very much es- 
 teemed by good people; and I dare say you would 
 admire that work very much, as it is esteemed a 
 masterly performance; I mean the Horse Soliiarise.^^ 
 ^' I must now conclude this VQYy trifling epistle, 
 which I am ashamed to think is to travel so far, to so 
 little purpose; and which can serve only as a mark 
 of that esteem which I have entertained for you ever 
 aince Nostrodamus introduced us to each other's 
 acquaintancej or rather those enemies of yours, who 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE tTNITED STA°*rES. 189 
 
 raised such ridiculous stories about a sermon of 
 your's, which I resolved to get to the bottom of by 
 inquiring at the fountain head. Best respects await 
 you from all here, and mine to Mrs. Nisbet. My 
 Lord is much entertained with your letters, and de- 
 sires to be particularly remembered to you. Many 
 thanks for the Pastoral Letter. It is an exceedingly 
 good one. I would be much indebted to you for any 
 scraps of lectures, or explanations of any passages of 
 scripture, which you may juflge adapted to be useful, 
 lam very partial to your talents in this way; and 
 really few possess them. You ought to publish a 
 volume." 
 
 "How do Dr. Rush and all his family? It is 
 a long time since I had the pleasure of hearing of 
 them; but 1 do sincerely wish them well. Believe 
 me, with much esteem and friendship, your humble 
 servant.'^ *' VV. Leven." 
 
 '' The Rev. Dr. Nisbet, Carlisle College.'' 
 
 The Earl of Buchan was a less punctual and a less 
 devoted correspondent than Lady Leven. Still his 
 letters are peculiarly characteristic, and by no means 
 uninteresting. The following are a specimen. 
 
 '' Bryburgh Abbey, December 21, 1790.'^ 
 " Rev. and dear Sir.'' 
 
 "I did not receive yours, of March last, by the 
 way of Liverpool, until two days ago: and since that 
 letter contains observations and reflections which in- 
 dicate the uneasy state of your mind, which I wish 
 to remove, I lose no time in giving you my opinions 
 without reserve, which you will, I dare say, think 
 
190 'MEMOIR or DR. NISBET. 
 
 worthy of your deep and frequent attention, and will 
 ponder them in your mind yet oftenerand more ma- 
 turely than tiiose relating to the future state of Ame- 
 rica, with respect to which I find no cause to change 
 my opinion.'^ 
 
 " Re-enter, I beseech of you, into your own mind, 
 and study more the itoXi; <rou &sov than the itoXig tuv 
 av^^oTwv. How could you expect unregenerated and 
 unsanctified human nature to be any otherwise in 
 in the new than in the old hemisphere? How could 
 you expect that the spawn of a highl}- civilized and 
 corrupted nation, could, in colonies, formed at a time 
 of uncommon corruption in the parent state, should 
 resemble in principles and in practice those societies 
 that have grown out of a gradual alteration in the 
 substance of original union among men in the infan- 
 cy of society; and which in the lapse of ten or 
 twelve centuiies, have passed through all the differ- 
 ent states of wandering families, feeding on kernels 
 and fruits; of barbarous hunters; more innocent ten- 
 ders of flocks and herds; of husbandmen; and lastly 
 of manufacturers and traders, united in great, weal- 
 thy and luxurious empires, tending again, continual- 
 ly, towards destruction and separation by corruption 
 of manners; while the wheel is again to be revolved 
 in the saine eventful manner, perhaps for ages?" 
 
 "Why do you perplex your understanding, and 
 wound your feelings by brooding over, and inquiring 
 needlessly into the obliquities of mankind in the 
 place of your residence? Were you in Scotland, or 
 in any part of Europe, that your imagination might 
 picture, as more suited to your taste, do you think 
 you would not discover all the same roguery, the 
 
RESIDEJ^CE IN THE UNITED STATES. 191 
 
 same disinclination to good learning, and the same 
 errors and vices that cling to society wherever it is 
 formed upon the face of this planet, and, 1 suppose, 
 upon the face of all the myriads of globes that elude 
 the minutest research of our modem astronomers? 
 'No, sir, you cannot, after a moment's reflection, ex- 
 pect any material change upon the general construc- 
 tion of human society; nor do those Scriptures on 
 which I hope and believe you depend for your best 
 information with respect to futurity, give 3'ou any 
 reason to look for such changes on this side of that 
 which bids defiance to, and renders absurd all our 
 speculations upon such inscrutable subjects." 
 
 "From your youth you destined your life to the 
 service of religion and virtue, by preaching the ever- 
 lasting Gospel, and exemplifying its precepts in your 
 dealings and conduct in society. Re-enter into your 
 own mind, and renew your covenant to preach that 
 Gospel faitlifully, and to practice its piecepis in your 
 life, without perplexing yourself with needless dis- 
 contents concerning the crookedness and perversity 
 of hum.an nature. Who told you that the way was 
 wide and easily practised, that leads to perfection and 
 to everlasting felicity? Only the foolish philoso- 
 pher and the idle speculatist in politics. Follow 
 rather Him who tells us that the way is narrow and 
 asperous that leads to life, and that there be few in- 
 deed who find it. Seek you, therefore, to enter in 
 at that gate, and give but an inattentive ear to anv of 
 the idle reasonings that draw us from the contempla- 
 tion of the Supreme Beatitude. Hold Seneca in one 
 hand, and Saint Paul in the other; and look up to 
 Heaven for direction and for happiness. You cannot 
 
192 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 now desert the charge which, in mature age, you 
 chose upon your bended knees, in dependence upon 
 the Divine blessing, to set forward the improvement 
 of a great but infant state. Make a Palinodium to the 
 society you are connected with, not to utter a sylla^ 
 ble, in word or in writing, to your discomfiture, but 
 in action for your comfort, which, notwithstanding 
 the circumstances you mention, will, I am persuaded, 
 remove any of the troubles you complain of, and 
 enable you to be still useful in the promotion of piety, 
 virtue, and useful learning/' 
 
 " Dedicate your leisure to the study of nature and 
 its glorious Author, and fence yourself against the 
 various evils of life, by that Divine philosophy of the 
 soul, which uniting it by grace to the eternal Foun- 
 tain of wisdom and consolation, will support you un- 
 der every trial, and render the evening, and the very 
 close of your ministry, and of life, delightful. In the 
 turbulence of society, you must ever expect many 
 disagreeable disappointments and vexations, and eve- 
 ry thing about you will be subject to change, as it 
 has been to all mankind ever since the beginning of 
 the world. But remember that Jesus Christ is the 
 same yesterday, to-day and forever. You say you 
 have health, and long may you have it! I never 
 enjoyed much health from my infancy, and 1 have 
 been unsuccessful in all my undertakings, except 
 that of dedicating myself, body and soul, to the ser- 
 vice of God, in the performance of his will in bene- 
 volence to his creatures. Yet I complain not of man- 
 kind. I look up to my Father which is in Heaven, 
 and see nothing but his power and his goodness in 
 the government of the Universe, and look forward to 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 193 
 
 the grave with something more and better than phi- 
 losophic indifference. Lady Buchan joins me in 
 good wishes for your health and happiness.'' " I re- 
 main, your sincere friend/' "Buchan." 
 " To the Rev. Dr. Nisbet, <^'c." 
 
 From the Same. 
 
 '' Bryhurgh Abbey, June 28, 1791." 
 " Reverend and Dear Sir,^' 
 
 " I cannot allow any opportunity of writing to you 
 to pass. Tliis will be handed to you by Mr. Archi- 
 bald Robertson, painter of Aberdeen, whom, as re- 
 commended to me by my learned friend, Mr. Pro- 
 fessor Ogilvie, of King's College, Aberdeen, I desire 
 to recommend to the honour and pleasure of your 
 countenance in America." 
 
 *'I am happy to think you are now more agreeably 
 situated than formerly: and if you can persuade your- 
 self of what I know to be true, that Britian is not 
 worthy of the residence of the friends of a free con- 
 stitution of government, you will reconcile yourself 
 to that of America, with all the inconveniences you 
 have so justly depicted." 
 
 "I have written, in the 21st. number of the Bee, a 
 monitory paper on America, which may, perhaps, 
 reach your College. I beg leave to reccommed 
 the Bee to your attention and patronage in your 
 neighbourhood. I hope you will encourage Rook 
 Societies in your town and neighbourhood, and the 
 public Libraries will multiply apace, which will 
 disseminate useful knowledge." 
 
 "As Britian has been, since the Christmas of 1783, 
 in a deep sleep of politics, I can send you no news. 
 17 
 
194 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 AH around us the voice of Freedom is heard; but 
 with us notliing is relished but vile effeminacy and 
 lubricity of manners. So here, Doctor, I present you 
 with a Rowland for your Oliver. Rest, and be 
 thankful. 
 
 "Lady Buchan joins me in kind wishes; and I 
 always am, Rev. and dear Principal, with great re- 
 gard, your obedient humble servant,'' 
 
 " Buchan." 
 " Principal Nisbet, 
 Carlisle College.''^ 
 
 But of all Dr. Nisbet's correspondents in Great 
 Britain, the most persevering and punctual was the 
 venerable Dr. Erskine, of Kdinburgh, one of the 
 most pious and public spirited men of his day. 
 That gentleman probably maintained a more exten- 
 sive correspondence with American clergymen than 
 any other European Divine. And probably, no pri- 
 vate man on the other side of the Atlantic ever sent 
 so many books gratuitously to this country as Dr. 
 Erskine. He probably had twenty or thirty corres- 
 pondents in different parts of the United States; and 
 it is believed that almost every letter he wrote was 
 accompanied by a package of books; — some of them 
 for his correspondents themselves; and others for the 
 public libraries of Colleges and other institutions, to 
 which he was constantly remitting rare and curious 
 books. Of this he never made any parade; as he was 
 one of the most modest, as well as most pious of men . 
 But it is a fact which ought to be known and remem- 
 bered by the friends of theological learning and li- 
 erary taste in the United States. He was a punctual 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 195 
 
 and affectionate correspondent of the elder President 
 Edwards, to whom he sent, from time to time, a 
 number of scarce and important books no where to 
 be found in America. And after the death of that 
 illustrious divine, whose praise is in all the Protest- 
 ant world, he continued to direct especial attention 
 to correspondence with the friends of religion in this 
 country, until his death in 1S03, about one year be- 
 fore the decease of the subject of this Memoir. 
 
 The three following letters are from his ever busy 
 and ready pen: 
 
 '' Lauriston* April 2\, 1789" 
 ''Rev. and dear Sir,'' 
 
 " I have before me your letters of September 16th, 
 and December 29tb, 1788. It has been an exciting 
 and remarkable time in Britain since the beginning 
 of November. On the 5th of that month, by ap- 
 pointment of the last Genral Assembly, a Thanks- 
 giving was observed through Scotland, for the Re- 
 volution in 1688. Most, or rather all of your old 
 friends were hearty in the measuie: as was Dr. Blair, 
 on the other side, and many more. But my col- 
 leaguet was, throughout, cold, or rather unfriendly 
 to the scheme, perhaps from the fear that on such an 
 occasion, whig principles would be zealously incul- 
 cated. In fact they were so by INlr. Kemp, Mr. 
 Jones, and several others in our Presbytery. Your 
 
 * Dr. Erskine's residence was in Edinburgh; Lauriston was a little 
 rural retreat near the city. 
 
 I His colleague was the celebrated Dr. William Robertson, the his- 
 torian, and Principal of the University of Edinburgh, 
 
196 MEMOIR OV DR. NlSBETf. 
 
 friendj chiefly considered the evils of Popery, the 
 imminent danger of these evils, and the remarkable 
 deliverance. My colleague, Mr. Greenfield, and 
 some others, chiefly considered the influence of the 
 Revolution in promoting just ideas of liberty, and in 
 extending liberality of sentiment. And this has 
 been much the tone of the printed sermons on this 
 occasion. None of them, except Mr. Pedie's, who 
 succeeded Mr. Pattison, pleased my taste." 
 
 " The joys of Nov. 5th, were soon turned into 
 sorrow, by the king's dangerous illness. Seldom 
 were more general and sincere prayers put up for the 
 recovery of a Prince. This was occasioned, not only 
 by fears of the unsettled government which often 
 happens under a Regency, but by the virtuous pri- 
 vate character of the king and queen, and the king's 
 late proclamation against Sabbath breaking; the gen- 
 eral approbation of the measures of Mr, Pitt; the 
 danger apprehended by some, lest a new administra- 
 tion might not have pursued his plans with regard to 
 foreign alliances, and the reduction of the national 
 debt; to which I might add, a growing conviction 
 that the American war was occasiond by inform- 
 ation, false indeed, but which it was natural for 
 the king and ministry to credit. No good change 
 was expected by a Regency, unless, perhaps, in Scot- 
 land, where my friend Mr. H. E. would probably 
 have succeeded Mr. H. D. whose high talents are so 
 much obscured by his habits and manners." 
 
 " Church aff'airs here, as well as civil, would have 
 probably fallen into better hands. But we could 
 
 4 Meaning himself. 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 197 
 
 hardly hope that the great affairs of the British 
 Empire would be better conducted. Fears were in- 
 creased by a belief that the Duke of Portland, and 
 Mr. Fox had less of the Prince of Wales's ear, for 
 some time past, than Mr. Sheridan. But the anx- 
 iety of disinterested friends of the public, and their 
 deep concern on account of the king's illness was 
 soon ended by a recovery next to miraculous, for 
 which last Thursday was observed as a day of Thanks- 
 giving. My subject on that da}^, was the improve- 
 ment we ought to make of Gods changing the times 
 and seasons. I herewith send you a few books. I 
 commit them to your discretion, excepting that I 
 do not wish the work of Clodius to be put into a 
 public library. He is half way over to the German 
 * Rationalists,' as they call themselves." 
 " I am, dear Sir," 
 
 " Yours, affectionately," 
 
 "John Erskine." 
 " Bev. Dr. Nisbet:' 
 
 From the same. 
 
 " Lauriston, Jan. 25, 17.91." 
 " Bear Sir,'' 
 
 " I sent you, on the 21st of July, my ^ Hints and 
 Sketches of Church History' and two or three other 
 books, to the care of Mr. Campbell, of New-York. 
 I have since received yours of June, 1790, and thank 
 you sincerely for so long and entertaining a letterj to 
 one who only sends you scraps. The magistrates of 
 Edinburgh, returning to the plan of presenting, are 
 likely in time to fill our vacant pulpits, so as to empty 
 our Churches of many of the most sound, serious and 
 17* 
 
198 MEMOIR Oy DR. NISBET. 
 
 judicious Christians. Our last vacancy is supplied 
 by Mr. Finlayson, Professor of Logick, who is surely 
 an adept in that science, if bold assertions, ill natured 
 inuendoes, and unbecoming levity may pass for argu- 
 ment. Dr. Henry died two months ago; and, it is 
 said, has left another volume of his History nearly 
 ready for the press. He was a bold, able and honest 
 
 man. Provost S. intended Mr. R — r — . of D . 
 
 as his successor; in gratitude for the attention he paid 
 to his son's education. But, though Mr. R— — has 
 considerable abilities, especially as one acquainted 
 with the fine arts, — people have in general thought 
 so lowly of his pulpit and theological talents, that 
 Provost S — very wisely gave it up, and Mr. S. of 
 L. came to Edinburgh; one of the same sentiments 
 as to Church policy, but less violent, and a much su- 
 perior preacher. Mr. S — of L — died suddenly on 
 a scaffold, where he was accompanying his daughter 
 to see. the last races. He was one of a decent minis- 
 terial behaviour, and of sound sentiments; but of 
 second rate abilities; and his usefulness was much 
 impaired by his being often held in leading strings 
 by men more crafty than himself. The Session and 
 Corporation of L. have been prevailed upon to elect 
 for the second charge Mr. T. M — , son of Dr. M — , 
 through fear that, otherwise, Mr. D — would not get 
 the presentation to the first charge. Mr. M. thinks 
 Calvinism the only rational and consistent scheme of 
 Christianity. He will make a more eloquent, though, 
 perhaps, less plain preacher than Mr. S — . His style 
 and manner are as animated as his father's are dull. 
 The father would be the better of the son's polish; 
 |ind the son would not be the worse for studying 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 199 
 
 scripture as critically as his father does. We made 
 a great acquisition, two years ago, by Mr. B — of 
 S — succeeding Dr. M— in the Cannongate. Mr, 
 S — of W — y an excellent and able man, has gone to 
 S— .'^ 
 
 " My ^ Sketches ' have been favourably received 
 by those who attend to Theology and Church His- 
 tory, unless a certain party, through whose influence, 
 perhaps, no account of them has yet appeared either 
 in the monthly or Critical Reviews. I have consi- 
 derable materials collected for a second volume, but 
 have not yet advanced far in reducing them to order, 
 and preparing them for the press.^^ 
 
 " I now send you, to Mr. Campbell's care, a pack- 
 age of books, which I hope you will receive in 
 safety/' 
 
 ^' I am, dear sir, yours, affectionately," 
 
 *' John Erskine." 
 ^' Bev. Dr. Nisbet:' 
 
 From the same. 
 
 '^ Lauriston, October 2Qth, 1791.'' 
 " Dear Sir;' 
 
 " I hope you received my parcel of July 26th. I 
 have had no letter from you since. Much about the 
 time of my writing you, worthy Mr. Grant, of Ochil- 
 tree, died. The pious Patroness, Lady Glenorchy, 
 applied, as formerly, to Dr. H — and me for advice 
 as to filling the vacancy. If I had been sole in the 
 nomination, I should certainly have recommended 
 
 Mr. R , of K , Mr. C ^ or some other, 
 
 whose good behaviour in a Chapel of Ease, or in a 
 charge in the establishment, where a good successor 
 
200 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 was probable, merited that distinction. But it was 
 necessary we should recommend persons known to 
 us both; and it would have had a bad appearance if 
 those who had studied under Dr. H — had been over- 
 looked. On that account, we recommended Messrs. 
 T — and L — , as the two most proper persons for 
 that parish, in the opinion of both of us. I wished 
 the success of the last, as the most learned and zeal- 
 ous; but I believe the best ministers in the city and 
 suburbs differed from me, as they considered the first 
 as more prudent. The three last ministers who have 
 come to Edinburgh are Dr. G — , Mr. F — , and Mr. 
 S — . Mr. M. Junior, who succeeded Mr. — , of L. 
 six months ago, preached an able sermon on the ad- 
 mission of Mr. S — two v/eeks ago. I think my 
 colleague (Principal Robertson) preaches with as 
 much distinctness and vigour as ever, though his 
 deafness much deprives him of the pleasures of so- 
 ciety. Mr. McCulloch, of Dairsie, has published 
 Lectures on the first twelve chapters of the Pro- 
 phecy of Isaiah, in one octavo volume. If this vo- 
 lume succeeds, he intends to continue his Lectures 
 on the rest of the Book. They contain no new cri- 
 ticisms, or ctug7neniiim scieniiariim; but I hope 
 will be useful to ordinary readers. I hear^that Whi- 
 taker, the author of a " History of Manchester,'^ 
 sometime since published, has just published a " His- 
 tory of Arianism." 
 
 "The Birmingham riots show the strange blind 
 zeal, not only of those engaged in the horrible scenes, 
 but of many Church-of-England divines, and some 
 Dissenters, who have treated these outrages in too 
 tender a manner, and without proper expressions 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 201 
 
 of detestation. Carnal weapons are not the proper 
 means to bring every thought into captivity to the 
 obedience of Christ.'^ 
 
 " I was remarkably free from colds last winter; but 
 in May and part of June I have been distressed with 
 rheumatic pains. Since these subsided, I have been 
 troubled with bowel and stomach complaints. They 
 have not, however, hindered my preaching regu- 
 larly." 
 
 " I have tlie pleasure of sending herewith a pack- 
 age of books; particularly some new works from 
 Germany, which I Jiope will be interesting to you, 
 both on the score of instruction and entertainment." 
 
 " My wife and daughters, and my son David, join 
 in offering to you and Mrs. Nisbet, and all your 
 family, our best wishes." 
 
 " I am, dear sir, yours, sincerely," 
 
 " John EpxSkine." 
 " JRev. Dr. Nisbet.'' 
 
 That Dr. Nisbet enjoyed the affectionate friend- 
 ship of the celebrated Dr. Beattie, of Aberdeen, was 
 mentioned in a preceding chapter. This friendship 
 did not terminate with Dr. Nisbet's departure from 
 Britain. As a specimen of their correspondence, the 
 following letters, it is presumed, will not be uninter- 
 esting to the reader, 
 
 ''Aberdeen, lOth August, 1788.- Sunday. '\ 
 " Dear Sir," 
 
 " I wish it were in my power to show any civili- 
 ties to Mrs. Craig, or to any person recommended 
 b.^ you. But in the present case I am deprived of 
 
202 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 the pleasure of doing so, by the lady's resolution 
 of setting out immediately on her return to Ame- 
 rica. She arrived here at a time when I was from 
 home; and I never heard of her till yesterday, when 
 she did me the honour to call upon me, and inform me, 
 to my very great regret, that finding things here not 
 exactly as she wished and expected, she was to set 
 out with her child on Monday morning early in the 
 Fly for Edinburgh, and thence make all haste to 
 Greenock, as the ship in which she intended to be a 
 passenger would sail about the middle of this month. 
 Thus I am deprived of the means of cultivating her 
 acquaintance, from which I am sure 1 should have 
 derived great satisfaction.*^ 
 
 " Your letter is a very short one, but I thank you 
 for it. The sight of your hand-writing recals a thou- 
 sand agreeable circumstances to my memory. Your 
 departure for America gave me concern, and was in- 
 deed a disappointment; for a few days before you 
 went, you informed me b}^ letter, that you would 
 not go. I am happ}^ to hear that your health is bet- 
 ter, and that things are so well with you. Mrs. 
 Craig informs me, to my great joy, that at Philadel- 
 phia there is peace and opulence, and every appear- 
 ance of public prosperity. The country you are now 
 in has great resources, and I hope they shall, and 
 heartily wish they may, be rightlj' improved.'' 
 
 " When you have leisure, you would do me a great 
 favour by giving me some account of your schools 
 and colleges, the state of literature and your methods 
 of education. From this country I can send you 
 nothing new; but every thing will be so to me which 
 you are so good as to send me from yours. I re- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 203 
 
 member nothing particular that has happened of late 
 to any of the friends you left behind you. My bro- 
 ther-in-law and sister, and what remains of their 
 family, are well. You would hear of poor James 
 Valentine's fate; he perished in a hurricane off Ja- 
 maica the very day on which he was promoted to the 
 command of a ship. His brother has not been so 
 fortunate as we could have wished, or as his great 
 abilities in his profession seemed to deserve; howev- 
 er he is pretty well, and commands a vessel that 
 goes alternately to the Mediterranean and the Baltic. 
 His sister commonly lives with me; but is just now, 
 with my boy Montagu, on a visit to her father and 
 mother at Montrose. My elder son was last year 
 appointed my assistant and successor. It was what 
 he wished himself, and it is an ollice for which he is 
 eminently well qualified. The King presented him 
 to it, upon the unanimous recommendation of the 
 college. I mention these particulars relating to my 
 family in order to stimulate 3'ou to give me intelli- 
 gence equally minute with regard to yours; for I am 
 greatly interested in their welfare, and beg leave to 
 offer my compliments and best wishes to them all. 
 Our old friend, Charles Keith, is settled as a physician 
 at Morpath, and does very well. I passed two days 
 with him last year. Thomson is semper idem, that 
 is to say, worse and worse; he drinks as much as pos- 
 sible, and does nothing else. David Walker, I am 
 sorry to hear, has stopped payments.'^ 
 
 "If you have. a corivenient opportunity, I would 
 trouble you to present my humble service to that 
 venerable and wonderful man. Dr. Franklin, to whom 
 I had the honour to be known about seventeen years 
 
204 MEMOIR OF DR. NISfiEt. 
 
 ago in London; to our Reverend friend Dr. Wither- 
 spoon, and to Dr. Rush, Professor of Chemistry at 
 Philadelphia, to whom I am under great obligations." 
 
 "Adieu, my dear sir. It is not likely that you 
 and I shall meet any more in this world; but let us 
 write to one another sometimes, and think of one 
 another often." 
 
 " Most faithfully and affectionately, yours," 
 
 "J. Beattie." 
 " The Rev. Dr. Nisbet.'' 
 
 P. S. "This has been the finest summer I ever 
 remember to have seen; and all over Great Britain 
 there is every appearance of an early and most plen- 
 tiful harvest." 
 
 From the same. 
 
 " Peterhead, July 2d, 1792." 
 " Dear Sir,'' 
 
 "I cannot tell you how much I am gratified by 
 your very kind remembrance of me, and how much 
 I have been entertained by your two excellent let- 
 ters. Be assured, that though a- dilatory writer, I 
 am not conscious of any diminution in my affection 
 for you; that I often think of you: and that when I 
 meet with any of our common friends, I often speak 
 of you in terms which you would not dislike. For 
 reasons that will occur to yourself, I cannot give a 
 particular detail of the reflections suggested by the 
 very interesting information with wiiich you have 
 favoured me. I shall only say, that it coincides, ex- 
 actly with the conjectures I had formed, and the in- 
 telligence I have received from some others; and 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 205 
 
 that my principles on the subjects in question, are 
 the same with yours. '^ 
 
 " You are pleased to speak favourably of the first 
 volume of the 'Elements of Moral Science.' The 
 second is now in the hands of the printer. 1 will 
 endeavour to send you both. What I have said in 
 the second on Slavery, and on the principles of Po- 
 litics, will not please every body; but I have honest- 
 ly given the sentiments which I have been teaching 
 and pondering for thirty years and upwards; and 
 they are sentiments in which, the more I see and 
 hear of this changeable world, the more I am con- 
 firmed." 
 
 " I need not give you any of the public news of 
 this country: you will see all that in the newspapers. 
 Our national prosperity is, just now, greater than I 
 have ever known it: and nothing is wanting to make 
 us a very happy people, but a right sense of that 
 prosperity, and gratitude to that good Providence 
 which bestows it. But we are evil and unthankful; 
 and too many of us are not only discontented, but 
 turbulent. Both in religion and in politics, we are 
 pestered with foolish theories; the effect of levity 
 and ignorance. If we could read more Greek and 
 Latin, and less French; more histories, and fewer 
 novels; and if we could speak less, and think more, 
 it would be a good thing for us. The theories of 
 the present time often put me in mind of that old 
 sophist, (you will remember his name, though I do 
 not) who took it upon him to give Hannibal a lec- 
 ture on the military art. The harangue was much 
 admired by the author, and by such of his audience 
 as knew nothing of practical tactics. The Cartha- 
 18 
 
206 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 ginian, however, bluntly said, that he never before 
 had met with a blockhead so ignorant, and so con- 
 ceited." 
 
 " You will be glad to hear that my sister, and her 
 son and daughter are in their usual health. My bro- 
 ther-in-law, now in his S6th year, though. he has been 
 confined to bed these five years, eats well, and sleeps 
 well, and is perfectly easy, contented and happy. 
 Socinianism flourishes mightily at Montrose; the 
 
 , who are all become authors, are the great 
 
 apostles of that church. Our old friend died 
 
 last winter of a iever. His son, who is in a very 
 thriving way, offered to supply him with as much 
 gin and porter as he could swallow; but the heroic 
 Charles wandered from alehouse to alehouse, and 
 tippled to the end of the chapter." 
 
 *' Of myself, I have nothing good to say. That 
 old vertigo of my head (as you have often told me) 
 will never leave me until I am dead. But I have so 
 many other complaints that I cannot expect to be 
 long here. About eighteen months ago, I was visi- 
 ted with an afHiction, which, though I am entirely 
 resigned to the will of Providence, has broken my 
 heart. My son (whom you will remember) died at 
 that time, of a consumption. His illness lasted a 
 year, during which time I was always with him. He 
 had every advantage that could be derived from aflfec- 
 tionate attendants and able physicians, and every 
 thing was procured for him that the faculty recom- 
 mended ; but all was vain . The king appointed him 
 my assistant in the College five years ago; and an 
 able assistant he was. Indeed, to all who were well 
 acquainted with him, he was the object of admiration 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 207 
 
 and delight. The inscription which I wrote for his 
 tombstone contains his character in brief; and I as- 
 sure you without any exaggeration. It is in these 
 words: — 
 
 Jacobo Hat Beattie, Jacobi filio: 
 
 Philosoph. in Acad. Marischal Professori. 
 
 Adolescent! 
 
 Ea modestia, 
 
 Ea suavitate morum, 
 
 Ea benevolentia erga omnes, 
 
 Ut humanum nihil supra. 
 
 In bonis Uteris, 
 
 In Theologia, 
 
 In omne Philosophia, 
 
 Exercilatissimo. 
 
 Poetae insuper, 
 
 Rebus in levioribus faceto, 
 
 In grandioribus sublime. 
 
 Qui placidam animam efflavit 
 
 XIXNovemb: MDCCXC: 
 
 Annos habens XXII, diesque XIII. 
 
 Pater moerens hoc marmor posuit. 
 
 ^' I have collected and arranged as many of his pa- 
 pers as will justify every particular of this character; 
 and intend, for the use of my friends, to print sixty 
 or a hundred copies, one of which will be sent to 
 you. It will be either one pretty large volume, or 
 two small ones; and, if I live, will be put to the press 
 next winter. . The epitaph touches upon the more 
 important parts only of his character; but I will take 
 the liberty to inform you further, that he was an able 
 chemist, botanist, anatomist, profoundly skilled in 
 the theory of music, an excellent performer on the 
 violin and organ, an elegant drawer, a master of 
 Greek and Latin, a proficient in the French tongue, 
 
208 MEMOIR or DR. NISEET. 
 
 an admirable public speaker, expert in fishing, fow- 
 ling and fencing, and such a mechanic, that, two 
 years before his death, he superintended the building 
 of a very good organ for himself. In wit and hu- 
 mour he was not inferior to you; and though his 
 piety, modesty and delicacy were exemplary; he re- 
 tained, even when he came to be a man, all the cheer- 
 fulness and playfulness of a boy. His poems are 
 partly English and partly Latin; for he composed 
 with equal ease in both languages. He foresaw his 
 death long before it came, and met it with true Chris- 
 tian meekness and resignation. All this may seem 
 extraoi'dinary; but it is all literally true, as many 
 persons now alive can testify." 
 
 '' I send this under cover to my friend, the Bishop 
 of London, who will frank it as far as his privilege 
 extends, that is, I suppose, to Falmouth." 
 
 *' With best wishes to Mrs. Nisbet and your fami- 
 ly, I ever am, dear sir, your affectionate humble 
 servant, J. Beattie." 
 
 *' Rev. Dr. Nisbet, 
 
 Principal of Carlisle College, Pennsylvania.''^ 
 
 In the year 1790, Dr. Nisbet's eldest daughter, 
 Mary, was married to William Turnbull, Esquire, 
 a native of Scotland, who had been for a number of 
 years a respectable merchant of Philadelphia; at that 
 time resident in the city of Pittsburgh. This proved 
 a happy marriage. And although the subject of this 
 memoir, up to this time, and even several years after- 
 wards, continued to be importuned by some of his 
 friends on the other side of the Atlantic, to return to 
 Scotland, as will be se^n by letters to !pe hereaftesj 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITLD STATES. 209 
 
 introduced; yet his advancing age; his almost invin- 
 cible aversion to a sea voyage; and the happy settle- 
 ment of his daughter in this country; concurred with 
 a variety of other circumstances to bind him to the 
 United States, and to render him less and less dispo- 
 sed to withdraw from the important station to which 
 he had been called. He saw, too, that while the 
 American Union was agitated by party violence, and 
 by what he deemed unwise govermental measures; 
 his native country, and, indeed, the whole civilized 
 world, were agitated in a similar manner, and by 
 similar means. There was little hope, then, of bet- 
 tering his situation by returning to the old world* 
 At the same time, the ties which bound him to the 
 new, were becoming, every day, more strong and 
 more interesting." 
 
 18^ 
 
5.10 MEMOIR OF DIl. NISBET. 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 His residence in the United States continued'. 
 
 It was in the Autumn of the year 1791, that the 
 acquaintance of the author of this Memoir with the 
 venerable subject of it commenced. The author 
 had, anterior to this, pursued his Theological studies 
 under the direction of a beloved and venerated Pa- 
 rent, near Dover in Delaware, his native place. On 
 the decease of that parent, who had been the pastor 
 of the Presbyterian church in Dover for nearly half 
 a century, and after having received license to preach 
 the Gospel, he determined to avail himself, for at 
 least a {^\^ months, of the conversation and guidance 
 of the distinguished man, whose learning, and whose 
 course of Theological Lectures, had received so larg& 
 a share of public approbation. For this purpose, in 
 tlie month of November, of the year above mention- 
 ed, he repaired to Carlisle, and found Dr. Nisbet in 
 good health and spirits, and busily engaged in his- 
 labours as the Head of Dickinson College, the winter 
 session of which had, a ^qw weeks before, commen- 
 ced 
 
 He had never until then seen the eminent man 
 whose instruction he sought. Pie expected to find 
 80 much learning connected with reserved and formal,, 
 if not repulsive manners; but was agreeably surprised 
 to find \^x. Nisbet as affable, as easy of access, as sim- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 211 
 
 pie and imostentatious in his manners, and as attrac- 
 tive in all the inlercotirse of social life, as any man he 
 had ever seen. He received the inexperienced young 
 Licentiate, with all the condescensioa and kindness 
 of a parent; and after the first hour, placed him as 
 much at his ease, as if he had been hanging on the 
 lips of that parent according to. the flesh, whose loss 
 he had recently been called to mourn. 
 
 Such were the habits and manners of this venera- 
 We man, and also of his amiable family, that the 
 writer, from the first day of his arrival in Carlisle, 
 felt himself at honve in his presence. His practice, 
 in ordinary cases, was regularly, every evening, to 
 sit with him in his domestic circle two or three 
 hours. And on whatever subject he might desire 
 information, whether in Theology or Literature, 
 ancieat or modern, he had but to propose the topic, 
 and suggest queries, to draw forth every thing that 
 he wished. Nor were Dr. Nisbet's instructive com- 
 munications of that declaiming or preaching kind 
 which some learned men are fond of exhibiting, but 
 which can scarcely with propriet}^ be called "conver- 
 sation," since they are all on on^e side. They pre- 
 sented a constant flow of rich amusement and infor- 
 mation, and yet so entirely free from ostentation, 
 dogmatism, or pedantry, that every listener, was at 
 once instructed, entertained and gratified. Prob- 
 ably no man on this side of the Atlantic ever brought 
 into the social circle, such diversified and ample 
 stores of erudition; — such an extraordinary know- 
 ledge of men, and books, and opinions; such an ama- 
 zing fund of rare and racy anecdotes; and all poured 
 9U.t with so much unstudied simplicity; with such 
 
212 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 constant flashes of wit and humour; and with such a 
 peculiar mixture of satire and good nature, as kept 
 every company whether youni;; or old hanging upon 
 his lips, and doing constant homage to his wonderful 
 acquirements. 
 
 Sometimes, when in the midst of these delightful 
 effusions, a new visitor would step in, and introduce 
 a new topic of discourse, it was wonderful with what 
 facility he could change the train of conversation; 
 strike upon a new and rich vein of thought; and ex- 
 cite new and endless surprise by his intellectual re- 
 sources. And if any member of th^ circle attempted 
 to enter the lists with him as a competitor in either 
 wit or learning, as was sometimes the case with those 
 who did not " know their man," he soon manifested, 
 with perfect good humour, with what entire ease 
 he could distance every one on either track. Of 
 scenes of this kind, the writer of this Memoir has 
 been so often a witness, that he cannot call them to 
 mind at the present hour without mixed feelings of 
 surprise and admiration. 
 
 He was led, too, in consequence of the strong im- 
 pressions then made by the instructions of the living 
 teacher, to doubt whether the popular estimate of the 
 means of knowledge anterior to the discovery of the 
 Art of Printing, is not, in some measure, both inade- 
 quate and incorrect. There were then, indeed, few 
 books. Their scarcity and costliness rendered them 
 wholly inaccessible to any but the wealthy and the 
 powerful. However eager a poor man^s desire for 
 knowledge, he could very seldom obtain it by read- 
 inv;. We are, perhaps, sometimes ready to carry 
 our pity for them on this score to an extreme. They 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 213 
 
 were, indeed, destitute of a privilege of immense 
 importance. But the multiplication of books has its 
 drawbacks as well as its advantages. They had an- 
 other source of instruction in some respects superior 
 to that which we now enjoy. They were in the 
 constant habit of travelling to different and distant 
 parts of the world, as far as they were able; and of 
 conversing and disputing with the greatest and most 
 learned men wherever they went. Thus the ancient 
 Greeks and Romans, anterior to the advent of the 
 Saviour, pursued knowledge. Thus Roger Bacon, 
 John Duns Scotus, and many of the most profound 
 men of the middle and subsequent ages, constantly 
 sought to strengthen and furnish their minds. They 
 went to different Universities, residing several years 
 in each, for the purpose of free, unreserved personal 
 intercourse with the great men in each; that they 
 might not only gain the know^ledge which these men 
 possessed, and were ready to impart; but that they 
 might, by the literary and scientific conflicts, in other 
 words, by the intellectual pugilism, then fashionable, 
 acquire a wakefulness, an adroitness, and a vigour of 
 mental action which unceasing oral disputation is pe- 
 culiarly adapted to nurture. It is not intended in 
 these remarks, as all will understand, to undervalue 
 books. They are a gift of inestimable value. But it is 
 intended to estimate more highly than many seem in- 
 clined to do, personal communications and conflicts; 
 and to represent tiie latter source of instruction as pre- 
 ferable, on some accounts, to books. The knowledge 
 acquired by unlimited reading, may be more exten- 
 sive; but that which is gained by conversation, and es- 
 pecially by unreserved discussion and oral controver- 
 
214 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 sy with superior minds, will generally be found to have 
 about it a life, a distinctness, a clearness, and an adhe- 
 sion to the mind, which do not ordinarily appear in an 
 equal degree in the mere devoiirer of books. It is cer- 
 tain that the writer of this Memoir, when he left Car- 
 lisle, in the spring of 1792, carried with him a deeper 
 impression than he ever had before, of the immense 
 advantage to be derived from coming into contact 
 daily with an acute, active and richly furnished mind, 
 from which, as much might be learned in one hour, 
 (especially on subjects concerning which books rare 
 and difficult of access, are the only sources of in- 
 struction from reading,) as from the private study 
 of a week. He left it also with no small regret 
 that he had not derived from the enjoyment of 
 this privilege more ample benefit; and a conviction, 
 that if he had been more aware of its value at the 
 time, and more awake to its importance, it might 
 have been made far more productive of fruit than it 
 was. Alas! it was with him, as with most others, 
 that the most precious advanta|j;es are seldom ade- 
 quately appreciated until the possession of them is 
 withdrawn. 
 
 Happy are they, who, sensible of the defects of an 
 intellectual culture formed by mere reading, habitu- 
 ate themselves to the mingling of reading with close 
 thought; to independent inquiry; to impartial can- 
 vassing and sifting of the opinions proposed in books; 
 to pausing, and comparing book with book; and, as 
 far as possible, to the conversation of sound and strong 
 minds, accustomed to think, and disdaining to walk 
 in trammels. Without these adjuncts to reading, 
 there is little hope of forming that robust mental 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 215 
 
 structure; that intellectual promptness, vigour, and ac- 
 tivity which so eminently characterized men formed 
 in the middle ages, by travel, by oi-al communication, 
 and by personal conflict. 
 
 The compiler of this volume has never seen a man 
 so well adapted to benefit those around him, in these 
 respects, as Dr. Nisbet. The rapidity and force of 
 his mind in conversation; the pre-eminent richness 
 of his mental furniture; his vivacity; his wit; his in- 
 exhaustible stare of striking anecdotes, and of happy 
 classical allusions, rendered him at all times a most 
 instructive and entertaining companion; and served 
 more indelibly to impress upon the mind what canie 
 from his lips than from those of almost any other 
 man. 
 
 The writer was not so happy as to enjoy the pri- 
 vilege of hearing any part of Dr. Nisbet's course of 
 theological lectures. Their delivery had been com- 
 pleled ten months before he took up his temporary 
 abode in Carlisle; and they were never repeated to a 
 second class. A number of individual students, in- 
 deed, from time to time, resorted to him for direc- 
 tion in their studies; but the regular formation of a 
 theological class was never again accomplished. The 
 reasons of this reflected little credit on the youthful 
 candidates for the ministry at that time. Some were 
 discouraged by the prospect of a course of study 
 which was to extend to between two and three years! 
 This seemed a long time to those who imaginedthat 
 an adequate course of theological instruction might 
 be brought within a much shorter compass, and whose 
 parents, still more impatient, could not be persuaded 
 that such a long, and, as they thought, tedious train- 
 
216 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBEti 
 
 ing could be necessary to prepare candidates for the 
 ministry for their work. They saw some other de- 
 nominations, with none of these advantages, and in- 
 deed with scarcely any study, sending forth scores of 
 popular men; and hastily supposed that so much pro- 
 tracted labour in preparing for the ministry could not 
 be needful. 
 
 It was understood, too, that the requisition of the 
 learned and venerable lecturer, that every member 
 of his Theological class should commit to writing the 
 whole of each Lecture, as it fell from his lips, was 
 regarded with aversion, and deemed a drudgery too 
 severe to be pursued through several years. This 
 requisition would never have been made in other 
 circumstances. But the Lecturer well knew that 
 books were extremely scarce, especially in the west- 
 ern parts of our countr}^; and that, therefore, the pos- 
 session of a complete system of Theology, j)repared 
 with great care, would be a treasure of permanent 
 and peculiar value. Even this, however, was not 
 properly appreciated by short-sighted young men, 
 and still more short-sighted parents. On these ac- 
 counts, a second class was never formed; and, al- 
 though the Lectures in question were copied by seve- 
 ral Theological students who had not tlie privilege of 
 hearing them delivered, and were read in manuscript 
 by a number of the neighbouring divines, they were 
 never again repeated in public. 
 
 When we contemplate the deplorable mistake un- 
 der which a large portion of American candidates for 
 the ministry, as well as others, appear to labour re- 
 specting the requisite extent of professional study, 
 we cannot wonder that enlightened and reflecting 
 
Residence in the united states. 217 
 
 men regard it as deeply humiliating. That this mis- 
 take should still continue to be indulged by so many 
 theological students, after all that has been said and 
 done by the General Assembly of the Church, as 
 Well as by individual ministers, to cojrect the evil, 
 is indeed astonishing, and only to be accounted for 
 on principles which reflect great discredit on the 
 judgment of those wlio allow themselves to be the 
 dupes of the error in question. Wiien one who un- 
 derstands the nature and importance of mature study, 
 sees so many of our aspirants to the sacred office con- 
 tenting themselves with a superficial course, can he 
 be at any loss to explain why it is that so large a pro- 
 portion of their number are consigned to obscuritj', 
 and comparative uselessness all their daj's; why their 
 leanness appears so conspicuous in all their public 
 and private ministrations? 
 
 No one, of course, will wonder, that Dr. Nisbet, 
 after coming immediately from the Colleges and 
 Theological Halls of North Britain, in which a train- 
 ing so extended and mature was then, and still is, 
 demanded, should have been surprized and deeply 
 revolted at the superficial plans and habits of study 
 which he was constrained continually to witness, and 
 yet had not the power to correct. Had he not felt and 
 spoken respecting this infatuation very much as he 
 did, it would have warranted an imputation either on 
 his discernment or his faithfulness. If he fell into 
 any mistake on this subject, perhaps it was in not 
 making a more adequate allowance for the intrinsic 
 difficulties of the case; and in not setting himself to 
 obviate the evil by means more accommodated to the 
 Btate of things on this side of the Atlantic, than those 
 19 
 
218 MEMOIR or DR. NISBET. 
 
 which were suited to European habits. It was, no 
 doubt, a severe trial to a man long accustomed to the 
 best literary society, to ample libraries, and to bands 
 of youth taking large views, and cherishing ardent 
 desires of knowledge; to find so many of the young 
 men committed to his care unwilling to submit to the 
 labour of study ; complaining of hardship when it was 
 required of them; and considering it as a great pri- 
 vilege to bear the name, and be decorated with the 
 honour of college students, with few or none of their 
 appropriate attainments. Who, in similar circum- 
 stances, could have had reason to be confident that 
 he would have been more patient, or less disposed to 
 direct toward the glaring evil the artillery of indig- 
 nant wit ami withering sarcasm, than was this great 
 and good man? 
 
 The following letter from Lady Leven is the last 
 found among Doctor Nisbet's papers from that excel- 
 lent and remarkable woman. The infirmities of age 
 were now creeping upon her; her health soon after- 
 wards declined; and although her decease did not 
 occur until 1798, her latter years, it is believed, were 
 passed in much feebleness. 
 
 " Melville House, August 22d, 1793.'' 
 " Dear Sir,'' 
 
 " I have just received your letter and parcel, which 
 has roused me as from a dream, and awakened in me 
 sincere regret for having never acknowledged your 
 former long letter. To convince you that I had in- 
 tended it, 1 send this sheet, upon which 1 had begun 
 an answer; but having let that opportunity slip, have 
 never found a more convenient season. I think my- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 219 
 
 self that I have become unfit for writing; letters. If 
 ever I had any capacity that way, it is much impair- 
 ed. But I cease from apologies, and admire your 
 goodness in forgiving this seeming neglect; but in 
 deed there is nothing real in it. You have laid me 
 under a great obligation by the treasure you have 
 sent me, and for which I return a great many thanks, 
 I have not yet proved them; but I know they need 
 no proof, as they are from the same tree from which 
 I have tastpd such sweet fruits formerly." 
 
 ** I wonder Mr. Martin did not deliver the com- 
 mission which I gave him to thank you, and make my 
 excuse for not writing when he did. He is not 
 happy, having gotten his son a preacher and a kirk. 
 It gives me great pleasure to find that your health is 
 so good. It sometimes comes across me that you 
 will yet land on your native shore, and during the 
 remainder of your life, enjoy the society of some old 
 friends, among whom I rank myself. I am frail and 
 feeble as to health; at the same time I wonder that I 
 am so welL It is, indeed, a singular mercy to be 
 free from many of those distresses incident to old 
 age. My dear friend (the Earl of Leven) is surpris- 
 ingly healthy; and all my children and grand chil- 
 dren enjoy good health, I must tell you a circum- 
 stance that is matter of wonder and praise. Our son 
 John, in the guards, returned to Britain just when 
 the army was preparing to attackValenciennes, which 
 was a very unlooked for event by his anxious friends; 
 and as comfortable as unexpected. The cause was, 
 that three companies were to be raised, and added to 
 the regiment; and he was appointed to one of them, 
 which gives him the rank of Colonel, besides, 
 
220 ME3I0IR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 bringing him home. I leave it to you to reflect- 
 how this ought to affect tender parents. Yet we 
 ought always to ' rejoice with trembling.' not know- 
 ing wliere our danger or safety lies; but, in the 
 mean time, it is relieving.'-' 
 
 ''The situation of our troops before Valenciennes 
 engrosses the attention of all ranks and denomina- 
 tions at preseiU. What wonderful havock and bar- 
 barities have been committed since I wrote you last! 
 What the end of these things will be, is only known 
 to Him that knoweth all things. that men would 
 become wiser and better by the jud<^ments of the 
 Lord, since goodness and mercy have failed of bring- 
 ing them to repentance!" 
 
 "Mr. Martin will write you all the news. I am 
 a very bad retailer; and indeed the most rapid 
 sketch would fill a volume. I will send you some 
 newspapers, in which you will find much true and 
 much false. The siege of Valenciennes engrosses at 
 present the attention and anxiety of the public. May 
 Divine mercy prevent dreadful consequences I I dare 
 say people in Philadelphia constantly get the news- 
 papers from Britain. S^o'ch newspapers will, of 
 course, suit your taste best. We are all quiet at pre- 
 sent. No sickness or pains are troubling our consti- 
 tution. It is thought that the many late receipts for 
 curing public disorders have had a good etfect. The 
 'rights of man' have been of more use to show them 
 their wrongs (by many just commentaries published 
 on this subject) than any method that would have 
 been discovered.'' 
 
 "Aug. 25. The news of the surrender of Valen-. 
 ciennes, came to our ears, and is indeed wonderful 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 221 
 
 in our eyes. I wish it was more believed to be the do- 
 ing of the Lord. But nothing yet has been said, in al 
 the accounts, which ascribe this wonderful success to a 
 higher power than that of man. That such an event 
 has been brought about with the loss of so few men, 
 is indeed marvellous. I will send you newspapers, 
 and leave all remarks to your own invention, which 
 is not only fertile, but witty and wise.^' 
 
 "I have just finished reading your * Notes,' which 
 I had not perused, when I began this letter. I thank 
 you very much for them. They have no fault but 
 a small one. If ever you favour me with any more, 
 you must, if you please, stretch out your hand writ- 
 ing, in pity to my dim sight. I have great reason, 
 however, to be thankful that my sight is no worse. 
 My Lord read some of them easily by candle-light. 
 Would you have any objection to our publishing 
 some parts of these Notes, if Dr. Erskine approved? 
 There are some remarks that would be well timed, 
 and might be useful. The author might, or might 
 not be concealed." 
 
 " Dr. E. published a Sermon sometime ago, which 
 he was solicited to do, which I will send you. He 
 preached a Sermon at Doctor Robertson's death, 
 which, together with a Lecture, were esteemed mas- 
 ter-pieces, and nothing but the state of his health 
 prevents his complying with the many earnest soli- 
 citations to publish them. It is with much pleasure 
 that I venture to say, he is continuing better, and 
 preaches often, though very poorlj'. He is a won- 
 derful man! Dr. Gillies is also much recovered. 
 He has, at last, been prevailed upon to take an as- 
 sistant. Mrs. Gillies died last winter, after which 
 19* 
 
222 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 Mrs. Leslie staid with him near half a year. He is 
 always anxious to hear about yotr/' 
 
 " [ take for granted that Mr.MartHi keeps you in- 
 formed with regard to church-matters. 1 hope, in 
 time, they will improve, and truth prevail against 
 error; as inquiry has been making concerning this 
 subject at Drs. Erskine and Hunter, and their party." 
 
 " Oh! it is strange to reflect that America is so 
 much in tlie French interest! I should imagine this 
 partiality to be only apparent, and that Britain will 
 still have a hold of their hearts. Though parents 
 may have been thought harsh and severe in their 
 measures, yet they are parents still; and ' blood is 
 stronger than water,' as the proverb says. Perhaps 
 they may yet unite, and take one of our princes to 
 rule over them. What says Nosh^odamifs concern- 
 ing the present' times and prospects? I hope some 
 body sent you Mr. Fleming's prophetical conjec- 
 tures concerning many things. I have but one 
 copy." 
 
 ^'Now, that I have entered upon small talk, I 
 shall rather tire than either edify or amuse you. It 
 is, however, a gratification to me that I have covered 
 so much paper, in ' cracking' with my worthy 
 friend in a far country; but would much rather doit 
 at Melville fire-side. It is always a great pleasure 
 to me to hear from you. Let me know what is do-, 
 ing, either public or private; how you are now with 
 respect to temporal concerns; and how religion ad- 
 vances, ordeclineg; whether there is any encourage- 
 ment for good ministers, if we could spare any from 
 our small stock. Indeed, it is not the best here that 
 generally meet with the greatest encouragement. 
 
 J 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 223 
 
 Perhaps you could send us a sample of ^owr divines, 
 I should like to see some of your raising, if they an- 
 swer your wishes and care. Many of ours are of 
 the fashionable sort, and seem to have learned a new 
 creed. I do not know how they can sig;n the Confes- 
 sion of Faith with a safe conscience. TVe do not hear 
 many of them preach, but we hear much of them. 
 Their burden, indeed, seems to be light, and they 
 seem to have laid aside every weight, and all beset- 
 ting sins, and teach me so to do; but not in the way 
 that He teaches who taught as never man taught, 
 and that cannot be learned by the precepts of men. 
 They have never yet learned of Him who said: 
 *Take my yoke upon you.' Though I fear this 
 class of divines, old and young, are too numerous, 
 yet there are many excellent pious young men. But 
 I must not waste my paper, having to thank you for 
 another letter, just now received, bearing date June 
 14th. I take this as a great mark of kindness, espe- 
 cially when I was appearing to you under the mask 
 of unkindness, forgetful ness, &c.; a very unfair copy 
 of my countenance toward you, my worthy old 
 friend. I desire that whatever appearances may oc- 
 cur in that false light, you m.ay regard and treat as 
 not even the shadows of the truth; which, however, 
 I have already told you at the beginning of this let- 
 ter. I am sorry you should make any apology for 
 your excellent 'Notes,' which we highly prize, and 
 wish that they and more of the same useful tendency, 
 were in print." 
 
 I am sorry for what you write concerning . 
 
 It does not correspond with his former professions of 
 friendship. He must ever have my regard and good 
 
22i MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 wishes, as in duty bound. But many are the chan- 
 ges which a little time produces in this uncertain 
 state of things. Blessed be God! Mhe foundation 
 of the Lord standeth sure.' This is firm footing; 
 all is sand beside.'' 
 
 "I cannot pretend to answer your letter, further 
 than to say, that I approve of all the solid reasoning 
 which it contains; that I beg the continuance of so 
 edifying a correspondence; and that you inform me 
 concerning the situation of your family. I beg also 
 to be informed how Doctor Witherspoon stood the 
 operation which he underwent, and whether it had 
 any good effect, which I sincerely wish; and would 
 request, that, if you have any correspondence with 
 him, you would say, in your next, that I remember 
 htm with esteem and good wishes. My good friend 
 sends his best regards to you. He is much enter- 
 tained with 5'our correspondence. Lord Balgonie's 
 family is well. He has four promising sons. Lady 
 Ruthven has two sons and five daughters; all healthy 
 and thriving, so far. Her eldest son has been above a 
 year in England, with Mr. D'Courcey, who was in 
 this country long ago in Lady Glenorchy's family, 
 and is now settled at Shrewsbury. All the young 
 man's tutors approved of his going there; and we had 
 a visit from him and Mr. D'C. this summer. He is 
 much improved, and much beloved by every body. 
 I write you this as a matter of great thankfulness. 
 The girls are all very promising. Sir J. and Lady 
 Jane are well, and their only daughter, a fine tall 
 girl. Have you any grandchildren? Where and 
 how are your young people emploj-ed? How does 
 dear Mrs. Nisbet keep her health?" 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 225 
 
 " I am afraid you will find my letter to contain 
 very little for your edification, — I ought to have said 
 information. Whatever it contains, I intend it as a 
 proof of cordial good will, which you must accept 
 for the deed. 1 can have no doubt concerning your 
 usefulness, though it may not appear consjjicuous to 
 yourself. Being content with Matthew, Mark, Luke 
 and John, is a hapjjy sign, though not a 'sign of the 
 times.' To whom can we go, or to whom should 
 we go to seek the truth, but to the precious word of 
 God which testifies it; and though all men should 
 become liars, this foundation standeth sure. You 
 complain of pieaciiiug to a dead peoplp. I wish I 
 could tell you it would be diflferent if you were here. 
 A deep sleep seems lo prevail over all ranks, so far 
 as I can see or hear of. What says Mr. Martin? I 
 have acccsa to see no cluirch that. i.s differently situa- 
 ted. With esteem and friendship, believe me^ dear 
 sir/' 
 
 " Your humble servant, ^* W. Leven." 
 
 " J?ey. Br. NIsbet." 
 
 "P. S. I thoiiglit that I had written to you that 
 the author of Horse Soli t arise is a Mr. Serle, who 
 was secretary to Lord Howe, during the last war; 
 and now enjoys a place under government of about 
 twelve or fifteen hundred pounds sterling a year; as 
 they know him to be a man of business, as well as of 
 learning and piety. He has WTitten many pious 
 small tracts, for the use of the poor, &c. I sent you 
 his * Christian Remembrancer.' He is a very sin- 
 gular man in his generation. Tell me your opinio^ 
 of his publications," 
 
226 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 In ihe spring of 1792, Doctor Nisbet paid a visit 
 to Governor Dickinson, whose reputation and muni- 
 ficence had induced the Trustees to give his name to 
 the College over which the subject of this Memoir 
 presided. Mr. Dickinson was now residing in Wil- 
 mington, in the state of Delaware, in the enjoyment 
 of the otium cum dignitate which became an afflu- 
 ent, enlightened, retired statesman. This visit ap- 
 pears to have been a highly gratifying one on both 
 sides. Mr. Dickinson seems to have retained, what 
 some other members of the original Board of Trus- 
 tees did not, — a deep sense of the obligation, result- 
 ing from their wi'ilten pledges, in calling Dr. Nisbet 
 from Scotland, to consult, and endeavour to secure, 
 his personal comfort. He, therefore, ever treated 
 him with the most pointed attention and respect. A 
 gentleman who happened to be a witness of the in- 
 terview and conversation between these two gentle- 
 men, during the first evening after Dr. Nisbet's arri- 
 val, gave the writer of these pages an account of it, 
 which was in no small degree interesting. 
 
 The conversation on that evening turned on the 
 following subject — " The probable effect of a zealous 
 and ardent prosecution of the study of the physi- 
 cal sciences on the religious character; or, the ten* 
 denc}' of a long continued and earnest investiga- 
 tion of the wonders of nature to produce a forgetful- 
 ness of the Creator and Governor of the world." In 
 this conversation Dr. Nisbet, as was expected and 
 desired, took the lead. He maintained the position, 
 that unless the grace of God produced a different 
 effect, the more intimately men became acquainted 
 with the works of nature, the less mindful were they 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 227 
 
 of their great Author. The gentleman who made 
 report of this conversation, represented it as one of 
 the most rich, instructive and interesting intellectual 
 feasts that he ever enjoyed. At the close, Mr. Dick- 
 inson said to him — " Doctor, what you have said, 
 would form an invaluahle octavo volume. I would 
 give a large sum to have it in that form." He urged 
 his venerahle guest to pay him an annual visit. And 
 on Doctor Nisbet's return home, he received notice 
 that Mr. Dickinson had deposited five hundred dol- 
 lars in one of the Philadelphia banks, subject to his 
 order, for bearing the expence of the future visits 
 which he had solicited. Accordingly, for several years 
 afterwards, he continued to pay an annual visit to 
 Mr, Dickinson, and was always received and treated 
 as might have been expected on the part of one who 
 made a proper estimate of the talents, learning and 
 piety of his guest, and who remembered the solicita- 
 tions and promises which had allured him from his 
 native land. 
 
 These journeys were always made on horseback. 
 The running of public stages between Carlisle and 
 Philadelphia, had then, either not begun, or the es- 
 tablishments were on such an uncomfortable footing, 
 and the roads so bad, that the most eligible mode of 
 travelling, for him, was on the saddle. He preferred 
 it to any other within his reach. 
 
 In the year 1793, Dr. Nisbet passed through an 
 ordeal which was in no small degree trying to his 
 feelings, and those of his family. In the progress of 
 what was called the "Whiskey Rebellion,"* in that 
 
 • A rebellion in Pennsylvania, occasioned by the tax laid by the 
 government of the United States on the distilling of ardenl spirits. 
 
2,28 KEMOIR OP DR. ^^ISBET. 
 
 year, which called out the military force of the 
 United States, with Washinglon at its head, to put it 
 down — the popular excilemeut at Carlisle was tre- 
 mendous. On this occasion the suhject of the 
 present Memoir concurred with his colleague, Dr. 
 Davidson, in opinion that it was proper to say some- 
 thing from the pulpit adapted to allay the dieadful 
 tumult. Dr. Davidson in the morning, gave a ju- 
 dicious, hut modest and mild discourse, which though 
 not very acceptable to the populace, gave hut little 
 offence. Dr. Nisbet in the afternoon, spoke out a 
 little more jjlainly. His text was, 1- Thessalonians, 
 iv. 11. 'And that ye study to be quiets and to do 
 your ou'7i business, and to itork with your own 
 hands, as ice ccmmandcd yen. In this sermon he 
 endeavoured to show, with much force of reasoning, 
 drawn from Scripture and experience, and not with- 
 out some fignificant occasional glances of a satirical 
 kind, that all men were not equally fitted to be 
 Philosophers, Legislators, and Statesmen; but that 
 some were intended for working with their hands. 
 This sermon gave great cffence to a portion of the 
 congregation; some of whom remarked, that '^ such 
 doctrine did not suit this side of the Atlantic." 
 Accordingly, a few days afterwards, when the Whis- 
 key insurgents came into Carlisle, from the adjacent 
 country, to erect a Whiskey or Liberty Pole, it was 
 feared, by many, that Dr. Nisbet's Iiouse would be 
 violently assailed by the mob. Some respectable 
 friends and neighbours offered to remain in his 
 house for the purpose of del^ending it, if attacked. 
 He declined however accepting tlie offer; wisely 
 judging that if such an assemblage were known of, 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 229 
 
 it might invite attack. The result showed that pro- 
 vision for defence was not wholly unnecessary. The 
 mob were actually and furiously proceeding to the 
 President's house, but were stopped by a friend, 
 who informed them that his younger daughter was 
 lying very ill, and that to attack his dwelling, under 
 such circumstances, would be brutal rather than pa- 
 triotic. This remonstrance prevailed with the infu- 
 riated multitude to retire. 
 
 Is it wonderful that this venerable servant of God 
 should have received, from such scenes, impressions 
 of an unfavourable kind concerning the population 
 and institutions of our country? Here was a man 
 eminent for his learning and piety, who had, in his 
 own country, warmly espoused the cause of America 
 in our revolutionary war; who had fearlessly preach- 
 ed and prayed against the measures of his own gov- 
 ernment in that contest, yet without suflfering any 
 violence; who, on coming to a land of boasted free- 
 dom, for the simple declaration of his opinions, could 
 scarcely be protected from the lawless ferocity of a 
 mob! 
 
 The following extract of a letter addressed by Dr. 
 Nisbet to his old friend, Dr. Witherspoon, December 
 3, 1793, a few months only before the death of the 
 latter, v/ill give a characteristic view of the state of 
 mind of the writer at that time, and of the aspect of 
 various things in our country: 
 
 "The consequences of the yellow fever in Phi- 
 ladelphia, and the reports of its having been in this 
 place, have prevented the return of more than half 
 of our students from the southern States; and I am 
 afraid that some of the students themselves have had 
 20 
 
230 MfiMotR oj* t)R. ms-^tf. 
 
 a hand in the affair, and misrepresented the situation 
 of this place, in order to prevail with their parents 
 not to send ihem back, as their indolence and their 
 aversion to study are inexpressible, and the indul- 
 gence that is given them by their parents, is almost 
 boundless. One C— , from North Carolina, who was 
 certified to us as qualified even to teach the ancient 
 languages, (although he was afraid of being examined 
 in them,) and as well acquainted with almost every 
 . part of philosophy, is gone, as 1 fear, to your College, 
 because we would not admit him into the Philo- 
 sophy class, in the middle of the course, in hopes of 
 obtaining a degree without any examination or fur- 
 ther instruction. I wonder that you did not men- 
 tion him in your letter. But it is probable that he 
 would not mention to you that he had ever been in 
 this place.'' 
 
 " I have been informed that at the College at ■ 
 
 they have no public lessons, and the students are not 
 bound to give attendance at the institution; but that 
 their teachers give them books, from time to time, 
 from which they make extracts, or compose speeches, 
 which they recite when they return to the College; 
 and that the whole of their education is conducted in 
 this manner. If students succeed in this wa}', 1 
 think that they will not be much indebted to the la- 
 bour of their teachers. But every thing is supposed 
 to be so much improved in the present age, that I 
 should not be surprised to hear of students receiving 
 degrees without any study at all; and the practice at 
 
 , if my intelligence is to be depended on, 
 
 seems to come very near it." 
 
 " I hear that some of the * friends of the people ' 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 231 
 
 have come over from Scotland this year, and pub- 
 lished the most dismal accounts of the situation of 
 that country, which are contrary to all the intelli- 
 gence that I have from my correspondents. I sup- 
 pose that you have already heard of the arrival of 
 Dr. Priestley's son in this country, from France, and 
 that his father is expected soon to follow him from 
 England. Is it not somewhat surprising that this 
 young man, who, scarcely a year ago, gave public 
 thanks to the National Assembly of France, for the 
 immense honour they had dotie him, by adopting 
 him as a French citizen, should have so soon become 
 sick of Miberty and equality,' and come over to 
 this country, where we have only liberty? But as I 
 hear that the expenses of the new play-house in 
 Philadelphia are not yet defrayed, I am afraid that 
 the Doctor will not find subscribers for building him 
 a place of worship, and paying his salary, unless Con- 
 gress shall be pleased to vole him a pension, as a 
 French citizen in distress, or to give him a salary 
 for officiating as their chaplain, and should turn this 
 office into a church-dignity in his favour." 
 
 "By the way, I have seen the plan of the Federal 
 City, and agree that it resembles the New Jerusalem 
 in one respect; for, as St. John testifies, that * he saw 
 no temple there;' so I find no plan or place for a 
 church in all that large draught. But I cannot add 
 what he mentions in the next verse, as I believe that 
 our people will be well enough contented with the 
 light of ' Liberty and Equality,' together with that 
 of French lanterns and Atheistical philosophy. Yo\i 
 do not mention whether the 'citizen Minister' has 
 been successful in making proselytes for his repub- 
 
232 MEMOIR OF 0R. NISBET. 
 
 lie in the city of New-York; nor whether the gene- 
 rality of the citizens have left off wearing breeches. 
 You ought to have informed me too, as you live so 
 near the source of light and information, whether 
 wooden shoes are worn by the majority of the people; 
 whether soiip maigre is in great request at their 
 tables; and what is the current price oi frogs in their 
 markets. But it appears that you have too little cu- 
 riosity with regard to the affairs of your neighbours." 
 
 " The subscription by the opposition party in Eng- 
 land, of a large subsidy, and a permanent annuity to 
 Mr. Fox, in my opinion, does little honour, either 
 to the givers, or to the receiver. Patriotism seems 
 to have run very low in England, if the people could 
 find no more proper object for their bounty and con- 
 fidence, than a man who has spent his whole life in 
 the pursuit of wine, women and cards; and who only 
 attended to the affairs of the public in the intervals 
 of his debauchery. A similarity of character in his 
 subscribers may be naturally inferred, from their 
 choosing him as the object of their bounty. Besides, 
 it does little honour to their understanding that they 
 have attempted to limit a professed gambler, and ta 
 make his annuity inseparable from his person. As 
 if that could not be staked on a card, as well as any 
 other possession. Accordingly the newswriters pre- 
 tend that this ^ man of the people' has already lost 
 his inseparable annuity at play, to a Scotch Lord, so 
 that he has nothing remaining except the title of 
 ^king of the beggars,' which is likely to be more 
 inseparable from him than his annuity." 
 
 About this time his faithful correspondent, Dr. 
 ^rskine, was assiduous in keeping hinx informed. 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITIJD STATES. 233 
 
 of the various events in Scotland which might be 
 supposed to he interesting to his American friend. 
 Tliough Dr. E. had many correspondents on this side 
 of the Atlantic, the number which he addressed to 
 Dr. Nisbet is really surprising. Out of many which 
 might be inserted, all of which would be interesting, 
 the following is a small specimen: 
 
 ''Edinburgh, August 12, 1793.'' 
 " Dear Sir,'' 
 
 " I received your letters of 30th January, and June 
 4th, and have not sent you a parcel since the 14th of 
 February last, which I am glad went safely to your 
 hands." 
 
 ^' The Rev. Mr. Dunn, of Kirkintillock, was im- 
 prisoned in Edinburgh Tolbooth, for three months. 
 The ground of the sentence was, his cutting some 
 leaves from the minutes of a Society of * the Friends 
 of the People,' which might have authenticated a 
 charge of sedition against them. But I believe some 
 passages of his Synod Sermon on Rev. xxi. 5, occa- 
 sioned a severity which to many appeared too great. 
 Some passages of the Sermon were thought to favour 
 sedition; and though, from his explications in other 
 parts, I hope he had no such design, I think he very 
 improperly wrested and misapplied his text. None 
 of the anonymous pamphlets were written by me. 
 That against Mr. Dunn, is generally ascribed to Mr. 
 Moody, of St. Andrew's church. Dr. Porteous, of 
 Glasgow, a keen supporter of the slave trade, and of 
 the measures of our ministry in the war with France^ 
 has published a Sermon, Jeremiah vi, 16: Thus 
 taith the Lord, stand ye in the wa^s, &c. which 
 20* 
 
234 MEMOIR OF ]>R. NISBET. 
 
 many think has gone as far to one extreme, as Mr»' 
 Dunn's sermon to the other. Both of them are able 
 men, and diligent and useful ministers; and, I believe, 
 prompted in this instance by an honest zeal, the one 
 for reforming things amiss in the constitution or ad- 
 ministration of goveraraent;. and the other for pro- 
 moting good order, and a just subjection to lawful 
 authority. But the zeal of neither has been, I think, 
 according to knowledge:. — and both verify the max- 
 im, that not only stulti, but sapieiites dum vitia 
 fugiunt^ in contraria currimt. Indeed Paine, and 
 many of the anonymous writers on the same side, 
 have probably — ^some with design, and some without 
 it — vented sentiments which lead to violent means 
 for essentially altering our constitution, and even to 
 an equalizing of property; and many of the replies, 
 in their loyalty, have forgotten whig principles, 
 and vindicated as necessary government carrying on 
 their measures by bribery and corruption. Dr. 
 Hunter, however, Mr. M'Gill, of Eastwood; and 
 Mr. Somerville, of Jedburgh; have steered clear of 
 these extremes. On the other band, many, who had 
 no other design, have been unjustly branded as. 
 friends of sedition, especially by those who belong 
 to the moderate party. Mr. Thompson, of Ochil- 
 tree, and Mr. Davidson, of Dundee, are instances of 
 this; of whom ill-natured calumnies have been in- 
 vented anxl spread, and found too ready a belief 
 from those whose distance and circumstances did not 
 allow them to examine the change." 
 
 " I know not how this war is more unpopular 
 than that with America was, though administration 
 plead aecessity, as France, when pretending friend- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 235 
 
 ship, by secret emissaries, was encouraging disaffec- 
 tion and rebellion. Yet this notwithstanding, though 
 many disapprove particular measures of government, 
 our enemies are much mistaken, if they flatter them- 
 selves that we wish to get rid of our king and con- 
 stitution. There are some such among us;^ but their 
 aumbers, rank, character and influence are not alarm- 
 ing. It is fortunate for the interest of religion, 
 that some, unjustly termed Uhe wild Clergy,' were 
 the earliest to warn against and reprave the riots of 
 179^; and that Palmer, the head of all the professed 
 Socinians here, is thought to have been active in 
 spreading seditious papers. " 
 
 " You have, no doubt, heard of my colleague, Dr. 
 Robertson's death. Our opposite sentiments and 
 conduct as to Church policy, and the late American 
 war, did not hinder our mutual regard. He endured, 
 for six weeks before his death, violent pain, with 
 much fortitude and resignation. He was no friend 
 to the Ayrshire doctrines as to the divinity and 
 Atonement of Christ; and I have reason to. think our 
 sentiments as to the present posture of afl'airs, were 
 much the same. The Sabbath after his burial I 
 preached two sermons; the first on 1 Peter, i. 12 — 
 15; and the second on 1 Chronicles xxix. 12: In thine 
 hand is to make great — which I have been much 
 urged to publish; though publishing the first is im- 
 possible, as nothing of it was written, except what 
 related to. my colleague's character, Mr. Baird, 
 who has been only nine months a minister of Edin- 
 burgh, succeeds him as Principal of the University. 
 His diligence in public and private ministerial duties, 
 persuade me that he will do no dishonour to that 
 
236 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 office; although those who wished it for the aged Dr. 
 Blair, or the eloquent Dr. Hardie, make a great out- 
 cry against Provost Elder, for doing for his son-in- 
 law what, perhaps, in a similar case, they would have 
 done for theirs." 
 
 "I herewith send you a small bundle of books, 
 chiefly German periodicals." 
 
 " I find that the observation which I ascribed to 
 Mr. Nathaniel Mather, was indeed the observation 
 of Mr. Samuel Mather. You will find it in Dr. Cot- 
 ton Mather's Magnalia, Book IV. p. 152. With 
 best compliments to Mrs. Nisbet and your family, 
 in which my wife and family join," 
 " I am, dear Sir," 
 
 *^ Yours, affeclionately," 
 
 "John Erskine." 
 
 « Rev. Dr. NisUt.'' 
 
 From the same 
 
 '^ Edinburgh, July 24, 1797." 
 *' Dear Sir,'' 
 
 "Four days ago, I wrote you a hasty line, which 
 was all that my time then allowed, being much oc- 
 cupied by my * Sketches,' vol. ii. I was favoured 
 the day after with yours of May 2.2d. My parcel to 
 you goes under cover to Mi'. Samuel Campbell, b-y a 
 ship from Leith for New York. I send this letter 
 by another hand, ii> the same ship, that it may go by 
 post from New York, and inform you of the parcel." 
 
 " The ignorance of Church history, and especiaUy 
 of the Church history of the present century, appears 
 to me very deplorable, and to mislead many well- 
 wieaning men. My second volume is almost coa- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 237 
 
 fined to the modern history of Popery; and, I think, 
 shows that, though Louis XVI. and the unfortunate 
 King of Poland, were of tolerant principles, and the 
 Emperors Joseph and Leopold not only friends to 
 liberty of conscience, but promoters of the reforma- 
 tion of some of the greatest abuses of Popery; yet 
 that the absurdities, idolatries, superstitions, and per- 
 secuting spirit of a great part of the Popish Church, 
 remain the same. I think I have also given some 
 reasons in opposition to the Seceders and others, who 
 think as ill of Popery as I do, that the extremes of 
 atheism, of infidelity, and of a levelling, anarchical 
 spirit, when the evils engendered by them are for 
 a time felt, will stimulate men to fly from them to 
 the opposite evils of arbitrary power and superstition, 
 being ignorant of the true cure in genuine Chris- 
 tianity." 
 
 "The bad efiects of the revolution in Holland will 
 not, I suppose, immediately appear; as many of the 
 worthiest ministers there continue to be supported 
 by their wealthy hearers, and continue to preach and 
 to write as formerly on the great doctrines and du- 
 ties of Christianity. But as no clergymen are to be 
 paid by the state, if (which appears to me probable 
 from the speeches which are published) private do- 
 nations to religious purf)oses are to be considered as 
 sacred, the consequence will be the Roman Catholics 
 in Holland will return to the possession of the many 
 legacies and endowments made in their favour be- 
 fore the Reformation; and, consequently, will be 
 able to maintain their clergy at less expense, which 
 must tempt covetous worshippers, of little conscience, 
 at once to go over to their communion.'* 
 
238 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 "The Rev. Dr. Peirson, minister of the English 
 church at Amsterdam, has been one of the greatest 
 sufferers by the revohition. Apprehending it, he 
 had sent on board an English ship silver plate, 
 jewels, &c. belonging to his wife, and very valuable 
 furniture, worth nearly £1400 sterling, which was 
 seized in the Texel, by De Winter, then in the 
 French service, and now the Prince of Orange's 
 successor as Admiral of Holland. De Winter did 
 not report the capture to the French commissaries. 
 His roguery and meanness were condemned; but the 
 Doctor could procure no restitution. On the first 
 day of June, 1795, it was moved in the Classis at 
 Amsterdam, to congratulate the municipality of that 
 city on the treaty between France and Holland. 
 The Doctor opposed the motion, and said, that the 
 day of signing that treaty appeared to him the most 
 sad and dismal day Holland had ever seen. The 
 motion was over ruled by a majority of two votes, 
 which discouraged attempts at procuring such con- 
 gratulations from other classes. The rulers were 
 amazed at the Doctor, and became more so on his 
 refusing a declaration, when summon<ed before the 
 municipality on account of that speech, of submission 
 to the new government, and that he never would do 
 any thing for re-establishing the Stadholder. This 
 lie thought he could not do without renouncing his 
 allegiance to his native sovereign, and leaguing him- 
 self with the king's enemies. On the 14th of July, 
 1795, the municipality suspended him from his oflfice 
 and benefice, worth about £200 sterling: and on the 
 20th of July they dismissed him from his office, and 
 prohibited his leaving Amsterdam without the con- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 239 
 
 sent of the Committee of Vigilance, whom they ap- 
 pointed to keep a watchful eye over him. For a 
 year and nine months he was thus under arrest, in 
 his own house, and spies employed to watch his mo- 
 tions. This year, on the 14th April, the Committee 
 of Vigilance forced him thence, and put him in pri- 
 son, none having access to him except the jailor and 
 his servants; he and his lady not being allowed even 
 to write to each other without their inspection. The 
 first ten days, she was not allowed to send him any 
 victuals. On the 27th of April, they delivered him 
 up to the Committee of Justice. Both friends and 
 foes exclaimed against these proceedings. It is be- 
 lieved that nothing criminal can be found against 
 him; and he says, with firmness, the motto of arms 
 shall be * death rather than disloyalty.' I have 
 heard of no later accounts of him than those bearing 
 date the 15th of May last. He got a good deal of 
 money with his lady; and his losses are supposed to 
 amount to £2500 sterling; and it is supposed that 
 the expenses of lawyers, &.c. may amount to several 
 hundred pounds more. When so much has been 
 done for French emigrants, I hope our administra- 
 tion will not neglect a native of Britain, who, for 
 his attachment to his king and the Prince of Orange, 
 expressed, perhaps, with more honesty than pru- 
 dence, has sufiered so severely. As these things 
 have not appeared in our prints, and probably will 
 not in yours, I have given them thus* fully.'' 
 
 " I will mention another and more agreeable anec- 
 dote, which I had from a friend near London, to 
 whom it was related by one who had it in that city 
 from the Polish General, Kosciusko. The Empe- 
 
240 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 ror Paul came to him in prison, incog. After in» 
 quiring about his health, he asked the General if he 
 wished to be set at liberty? The answer was, * cer- 
 tainly, but I know not how to obtain it.' The visitor 
 replied — * I have some interest at court, and if you 
 will tell me what you would do if you had your li- 
 berty, I will use it in your behalf.' The General 
 replied — * I would go to America.' On which, the 
 unknown visitor said — * I am Paul, the Russian Em- 
 peror; my mother is now dead; and you are this 
 moment at liberty to go where you please. I shall 
 order £8000 to bear your expenses to America.' 
 My correspondent says, he has a pension there, and 
 will get any quantity of land he can reasonably ask. 
 He has a most painful and disabling wound in his 
 thigh, so that he cannot walk. As soon as he came 
 to London, WaronzofT, the Russian Ambassador, no 
 doubt by order of his generous master, waited on 
 him, showed him the utmost respect, and asked him 
 if he would permit him to send his physician to him? 
 The general consented; and the ambassador sent his 
 physician, who took with him some other physi- 
 cians and skilful surgeons, who thought it would re- 
 quire two or three years for him to recover strength 
 in his limb; but that he would be always lame. The 
 American consul at Bristol took the general from 
 the hotel, and entertained him at his own expense 
 until he embarked for America. By accounts, both 
 from London and Bristol, he is a most modest and 
 unassuming man." 
 
 "As ships sometimes sail from Philadelphia, and 
 more frequently from New York, for Scotland, when 
 you have an opportunity, write by Mr. Ebenezer 
 
iJESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 241 
 
 Hazard, Philadelphia, or Mr. John Thompson, New 
 York, merchant in Queen street, and every thing 
 you commit to them will be correctly forwarded/' 
 
 "I was confined about ten weeks, the end of the 
 last and beginning of the present year, but since have 
 preached as usual. My wife has had no return of 
 dangerous distress, but has had, for four months, 
 rheumatic pains, which have prevented her visiting 
 and being out at night, but have not hindered her 
 going to church, and sometimes taking an airing in 
 a chaise. I am, dear sir, yours, affectionately,'^ 
 
 '^ John Erskine." 
 
 " Rev. Dr. Nisbet." 
 
 ^^ P. S. Dr. Snodgrass, of Paisley, died last month. *' 
 
 From the same. 
 
 " Lauriston, Octoher 2d, 1797." 
 ''Dear Sir,'' 
 
 " I chuse not to write what you will see as early, 
 if not more so, from the public prints. The follow- 
 ing anecdote may not be disagreeable:" 
 
 " The Stadtholder and suite were expected at Col- 
 chester, on their flight from Holland, late on Friday 
 night. Mr. Sterry, a worthy clergyman there, sent 
 word to the proper quarter, that he would gladly 
 give the best accommodations in his power to some 
 of them. Accordingly, M. De Lorry, and one or 
 two more, came to Mr. Sterry's house, near 12 
 o'clock at night; and as they had hardly slept any 
 for the six preceding nights, requested to be imme- 
 diately put to bed. In the morning they signified 
 their inclination in every thing to conform to the 
 21 
 
242 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 usages of the family; attended family worship; and 
 breakfasted with them; Mr. S. desiring them to send 
 for their servants, and, while the Prince remained in 
 Colchester, to use all the freedom in his house they 
 would in their own. On Saturday Mr. Sterry 
 was introduced to the Stadtholder, and expressed his 
 concern for the occasion of his visiting England, and 
 his thankfulness that God had preserved his high- 
 ness in the danger to which he was exposed. The 
 Prince received him with great cordiality; signified 
 that he would be his hearer on the next day; and re- 
 quested the loan of a prayer-book, that he might pre- 
 viously read the prayers and lessons of the day. On 
 the Sabbath, Mr. Sterry preached from 1 Chron. xx. 
 12, and first viewed sin as the cause of all calamities 
 and danger; and lastly, the proper consolation under 
 such circumstances. The Prince stood during the 
 whole of the sermon, and discovered the most seri- 
 ous attention. M De Lorry told Mr. S. that the 
 Prince was well acquainted with his Bible, and fol- 
 lowed a plan and order by which he generally read 
 it through thrice every year. On Monday Mr. Ster- 
 ry waited on the Prince before his departure, who 
 thanked him for his hospitality to the gentlemen of 
 his suite, and signified the pleasure w'lih which he 
 had, on the preceding day, heard his<reasonable and 
 useful discourse. One of the gentlemen in the Prince's 
 suite had been, on some occasion, in the French 
 army, under Pichegru, where he observed an order 
 and subordination much superior to that in the 
 armies of the allies and emigrants: and he under* 
 stood this strict order had been established by near 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 243 
 
 2000 men being shot, for plundering and other 
 crimes.'^ 
 
 " Some very able and pious Missionaries have been 
 sent to different parts> from the various societies 
 in England and Scotland. Mr. Clark, at Sierra 
 Leone, whose labours were so much blessed in this 
 city, to a Sunday morning school, and to boarding 
 schools, where he occasionally exhorted, united zeal 
 with prudence; and there are now promising appear- 
 ances of his usefulness. A Dr. Vanderkemp, from 
 Holland, studied medicine in Edinburgh more than 
 twenty years ago, and pubh'shed an uncommonly able 
 and ingenious Thesis. Afterwards, he made a great 
 figure, first in the medical line, and subsequently as 
 an officer in the Dutch army. But all this while he 
 was a thorough sceptic, or rather desplser of Chris- 
 tianity. On a fair and promising day, he, his lady, 
 and his only child, went on a pleasure party on the 
 water. A sudden water-spout overturned the boat; 
 his lady and child perished; and he was preserved in 
 a manner next to miraculous, by a boat from the land 
 being driven to the place where he was about to sink. 
 This deliverance, however, made no saving impres- 
 sion on his mind . But on a certain occasion worldly 
 motives led him, notwithstanding his unbelief, to at- 
 tend and partake of the Lord's Supper. A deep 
 conviction of guilt was made upon his mind, and his 
 heart was soon opened to the King of glory. He 
 immediately determined to devote himself to the ad- 
 vancement of the Redeemer's kingdom; and being 
 warmly recommended by some worthy Dutch minis- 
 ters, he has offered himself to the London Missionary 
 
MKXOim OF 9X. inSBCT. 
 
 V. to so as ai MisskwvT whithcfsoeTcr tk^ 
 ^ to scad lum.'^ 
 
 50Be HieBibcrs of oor EdmlMiT^ 
 
 ~^ve HMde excorsioos, ospeoaHy 
 
 lod p re a U ie d witkoot ordi> 
 
 ^r rece ive d my letter and 
 
 Julv. When too hare 
 
 D irom Newr-Yorkj 
 
 ^T^.JokoThoBBp- 
 
 JCis of COOFtT- 
 
 ._v yours,*' 
 
 *^T J was-dated the 1st 
 
 : el were sent o« 
 
 ^ Xotwithstatmlir - :* oar allies 
 
 IB SwiixeKaod, It^ly ii^d Z . of the 
 
 French aod SpMiish fieeisi^.:. . .^ming 
 
 event, which I leu* b little bid Whether 
 
 the J are intended ibr the Bist I or 
 
 fix- Irebnd, if providence pre - 
 ■weting them, or giving them 
 qpi tom maj prove moat d 
 of <Mu- eonntrj b still more 
 
 e^try senenllj cry ont a^i 5. 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 245 
 
 their manner of spending the Sabbath makes their 
 sincerity doubtful. The peculiar doctrines of the 
 Gospel are seldom preached upon by some who do 
 not directly oppose them: or, if mentioned at all, are 
 expressed in cold and ambiguous language. Many in 
 the lowest ranks are tinctured with infidelity. Mr. 
 Robert Haldane, of Airthrie, who, some years ago, 
 broached anti-monarchical tenets, has formed a new 
 sect, and applied considerable sums for carrying on 
 their designs, a full account of which they, very pru- 
 dently, have not published. His brother, at first a 
 lay-preacher, but now ordained, and Mr. Ewing, wha 
 lately renounced his connexion with the Church of 
 Scotland, now profess the Tory creed of passive obe- 
 dience and non-resistance. They bring a succession 
 of ministers from England, who, on Sabbaths, preach 
 in the circus, or itinerate through various parts of 
 Scotland, for five or six weeks, and then return home. 
 Their professed object is, to carry the pure gospel to 
 those parts of the country which are most in want 
 of it. Yet their chief efforts have been directed 
 to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Dundee, and other 
 places blessed with faithful ministers, of different de- 
 nominations; and their adherents are chiefly gained 
 from some of the most sound and able, whom they, 
 or the strangers they employ, insinuate are cold° 
 hearted, because they give not their countenance to 
 lay-preaching, and other irregularities. I am sorry 
 that some who hourly declaim against these men, 
 promote the growth of their party, both by an unpo- 
 pular manner of preaching, and by pushing with suc- 
 cess some late measures in our General Assemblies; 
 ^1* 
 
^46 MEJVrOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 for example — laying difficulties and restrictions an 
 new Chapels of Ease, which are like to drive many 
 from our Church; — an act last May, declaring it 
 against the constitution of our Church to admit any 
 into our pulpits who have not been licensed and or- 
 dained by her Presbyteries; — -and a warning then 
 very properly emitted, against the circus people; 
 but which has much defeated its own design, by a 
 vague charge against them, as entertaining designs 
 hostile to civil government. For though there may 
 be suspicions against some of them, they amount not 
 to conclusive evidence. Had only the evil tendency 
 of their party been asserted, this might have been 
 easily proved, not only by the jealousies and divis- 
 ions which they have excited among men whose 
 union in the present crisis was important; but by 
 some of the ablest of them maintaining that even de- 
 fensive war is unlawful, which must check all effec- 
 tual opposition to a French invasion. ^^ 
 
 ^^ We have agreeable accounts that Dr. Vander- 
 kemp has been well received at the Cape of Good 
 Hope, and is soon to enter on his mission. In his 
 voyage, he was the means of preventing, by his per- 
 suasion, the execution of the conspiracy for murder- 
 ing the captain and sailors, and delivering the ship 
 to the French; and also of converting several of the 
 convicts, who were on their way to Botany Bay. 
 But I am sorry to add, accounts received this day 
 make it probable that the ship Duff has been cap- 
 tured in her second missionarj' voyage; though oux 
 enemies, on learning her destination, have set the 
 njissionariQS at libertyc'^ 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 247 
 
 " I send herewith a small parcel of books, of 
 which I beg your acceptance; and am, as ever, 
 ^' Affectionately, yours,'* 
 
 *' John Erskine." 
 
 In 1795, Dr. Nisbet's young,est daughter, Alison, 
 was married to Dr. Samuel M'Coskry, an eminent 
 physician, residing in Carlisle. By him she had a 
 number of children, several of whom still survive. 
 Of these notice will be taken hereafter. This mat- 
 rimonial connection of a second member of his fa- 
 mily formed another tie binding the Doctor to his 
 adopted country, and precluding all thought of a re- 
 turn to Scotland. 
 
 The light in which Doctor Nisbet regarded the 
 French revolution, was alluded to in a preceding 
 chapter. Every reader will recollect that the pe- 
 riod covered by the dates of the foregoing letters, 
 was precisely that which presented the most thrill- 
 ing and revolting scenes of that great national catas- 
 trophe. From the first, he regarded it not only 
 with suspicion, but with fixed aversion, and even ab- 
 horrence. He considered it, from the outset, as ori- 
 ginating with the infidel jjiiilosophers of France, for 
 the overthrow of religion and of all government. He 
 was accustomed to remark, that, many years before 
 the revolution commenced, he had discovered the 
 seeds of it vegetating and springing up in a variety 
 of forms, and all indicating the exploding and de- 
 structive materials that were at work. He remarked, 
 that even in such an article as the French fans, and 
 other similar manufactures imported from that coun- 
 try years before, it was easy to discover the presence 
 
248 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET, 
 
 of principles and feelings at war with all morality 
 and all order. 
 
 It is well known that at the commencement of the 
 French revolution, and even after it had made consi- 
 derable prog;ress, a large portion of the friends of ci- 
 vil and religious liberty in the United States regarded 
 it with a favourable eye. Recollecting the friendly 
 aid yielded to us by France in the course of our re- 
 volutionary contest; and considering that nation as 
 engaged in a struggle, very similar to our own, 
 against oppression, multitudes of our citizens not only 
 wished well to what they deemed an effort to esta- 
 blish republicanism in France, but were strongly 
 disposed to make common cause with her in her 
 war with England. This, it is well known, gave 
 rise to much diversity of opinion in our country; 
 excited the most ardent party feelings; and agitated 
 the nation in a most distressing and alarming man- 
 ner for a number of years. 
 
 In this period of painful agitation, Doctor Nisbet 
 could not think it his duty to conceal either his 
 opinions or his feelings. He expressed both from 
 time to time, with candour and freedom. And al- 
 though he resided in a State which was greatly torn 
 by party conflicts on this occasion, and occupied an 
 office which some considered as dictating a cautious 
 reserve on such a subject, his characteristic honesty 
 would not allow him to take such a course. He 
 spoke freely and openly in private and in public, 
 and bore a decisive testimony against what he deem- 
 ed a system of infidel profligacy and crime, under 
 the guise of a love of liberty. In addressing the 
 students of the college, as their official instructor and 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 249 
 
 guide, and even on some public occasions, he warned 
 his hearers against the impiety and the enormous 
 cruelty and Jicentiousness exhibited on a theatre 
 from which every channel of Intelligence brought 
 the most revolting and heart-rending accounts of 
 bloodshed, and every species of Inhuman and anti- 
 christian practice. This freedom of censure, of 
 course, gave offence to the advocates of the French 
 party, as they were familiarly called; and, perhaps, 
 deterred some parents iVom sending their sons to the 
 College over which he presided. Violent politicians 
 represented him as an enemy to civil and religious 
 liberty; and inferred, that he who thought unfavour- 
 ably of the French revolution, must have been 
 equally unfriendly to that revolution which gave in- 
 dependence to our own country. It was In vain 
 that he appealed to his uniform course in favour of 
 America, and in opposition to the war waged against 
 us by the British government, before he came to 
 our country. It was In vain that he urged the utter 
 dissimilarity of the struggle in France to that which 
 gave freedom to the United States. He insisted, 
 that the American revolution was commenced on 
 just and solid giounds; was carried on by honest, 
 enlightened, noble-minded patriots; was prompted 
 by a sincere love of rational liberty; and established 
 on a basis which sound political and religious prin- 
 ciples equally approved. While it was, in his opin- 
 ion, notorious that, although there had long been in 
 France grievious oppressions and abuses, which 
 needed correction; yet that the revolution in that 
 country, so far as its leaders were concerned, was 
 begun in Atheism; continually actuated, not by pa- 
 
250 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 triotism, but by a hatred of all religion; by the bas- 
 est selfisliness, and by that savage disregard of all 
 moral obligation, and all sober government, which at 
 once disgraced and defeated their professed object of 
 pursuit. 
 
 Under these painful impressions, no wonder that 
 he allowed himself to speak on this subject in terms 
 of the strongest detestation. The following anec- 
 dote, while it may amuse the reader, will serve at 
 once to illustrate and confirm our representation of 
 his feelings. Sometime about the year 1794, when 
 he happened to be in Philadelphia, a gentleman of 
 his acquaintance said to him — "Well, Doctor, what 
 are we to think of the French Revolution now?" 
 *^ Indeed, man," said he, — "I can give you a better 
 account of that matter now than ever before. What 
 I am about to tell you is no fable, but a fact that re- 
 allj happened in my neighbourhood lately. A poor 
 old woman, who is no politician, but a plain, serious 
 body, who had been for some time in a gloomy state 
 of mind, anxious about the salvation of her soul, (a 
 thing, by the vvay, that no politician ever thinks of,) 
 dreamed that she died, and went to the bad place. 
 It seemed to her like a great inclosure, surrounded 
 by a high, massy wall. She knocked at the door, 
 when who should open it but his Satanic Majesty 
 himself. The old woman expressed her surprise 
 that he should stoop to such an office, and her won- 
 der that he had not sent one of his imps or under- 
 strappers to open the door. * Indeed, good woman,^ 
 said he, ' the devil an imp or understrapper have I 
 left in all my dominions. Hell is completely empty. 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 251 
 
 They have all gone to help on the cause of liberty 
 and equality in France." 
 
 It is hardly necessary to say, that such language 
 was deeply revolting to many. It was often made 
 matter of heavy complaint. Still, although this ve- 
 nerable man continued, while he lived, to endure the 
 suspicions, and even, in some cases, to be loaded with 
 the abuse, of violent demagogues; yet such was his 
 established character for integrity, benevolence and 
 ardent piety, that even the violence of party spirit 
 was disarmed, and all regarded him with real vene- 
 ration, as an honest. Christian patriot. And even 
 many of those who once disapproved of his senti- 
 ments, and who hesitated about committing their 
 sons to his tuition, lived to see the time, (though, w^ilh 
 regard to many of them, he did not live to see it,) 
 when they were constrained to acknowledge, that his 
 judgment on this subject was more sound than their 
 own, and his prediction of the result, more in ac- 
 cordance with the actual catastrophe of that awful 
 drama. 
 
 Candour seems to require from the author of this 
 Memoir the acknowledgment, that the last remark 
 applies in some measure to himself. He was among 
 the thousands of his countrymen who regarded the 
 French Revolution, in its early stages, witii a favour- 
 able eye, as the triumph of the spirit of liberty over 
 misrule and oppression; and as promising, notwith- 
 standing all the crime and bloodshed with which it 
 was attended, the ultimate reign of freedom and good 
 government. Such were the hopes which he once 
 entertained; and to which, almost without hope, he 
 clung, long after every truly favourable aspect had 
 
252 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 vanished. During this period he maintained an in- 
 teresting; and delightful correspondence with the ve- 
 nerated Friend, whose memory it is now his privi- 
 lege and his pleasure to endeavour to embalm. In 
 the course of this correspondence that friend poured 
 out his whole heart with the freedom of a father to a 
 son. He frequently, indeed, uttered sentiments in 
 reference to the French Revolution which the pre- 
 sent writer could not t/ie?i adojjt, and some to which 
 he is constrained i/et to demur. But never did he 
 pen a line which impaired the writer's confidence in 
 his piety, his benevolence, or his genuine Christian 
 patriotism. Never did the writer suffer, for a mo- 
 ment, this honest, candid expression of his corres- 
 pondent's feelings, to impair his deep veneration. 
 And, in the end, he was constrained to say, with 
 regard to most of the points then in discussion, that 
 his venerable friend was more sagacious and wise 
 than himself. And if that friend was sometimes 
 driven by the enormities of French anarchy, and by 
 the real anomalies and excesses of American demo- 
 cracy, to express sentiments which sometimes appear- 
 ed to militate with the principles of true republican 
 freedom, no one who knew how to appreciate ster- 
 ling integrity, and pre-eminent' w^orth, could regard 
 them in any other light than as venial mistakes aris- 
 ing from the extreme sensibility of a great and good 
 man. The truth is, no one who remembers the 
 course of events in the United States, during the 
 nineteen years from 1785, when Doctor Nisbet be- 
 came an American citizen, until 1804, when he died, 
 will find the least difficulty in understanding why a 
 Bteady friend to the rights and happiness of man 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 253 
 
 should sometimes utter language manifesting painful 
 disappointment with regard to the past, and deep ap- 
 prehension with respect to the future. 
 
 The following letter from Dr. Nisbet to the author 
 of this Memoir, is a specimen of the intercourse 
 which subsisted between them in that trying and 
 agitating period of our country's history. 
 
 " Carlisle, July 6, 1798.'^ 
 « Dear Sir,'' 
 
 "I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you 
 for a long time; and in my visit to Philadelphia in 
 May jast, did not find you there occasionally, as I 
 had done sometimes before. I had resolved to visit 
 New York, but found it impracticable. I had sus- 
 pected that some coldness had taken place on your 
 part, from I know not what cause, as I am not con- 
 scious of having given any occasion for it. I cannot 
 persuade myself that the free communication of my 
 sentiments would have given you offence, nor that 
 you should have taken to yourself any thing that I 
 have said of American sans culottes. I can assure 
 you that it was merely in jest that I addressed you 
 in that character; and if I had not thought that you 
 were a sincere friend to the government under which 
 you live, I should have had no desire to correspond 
 with you.* I acknowledged my obligation to you 
 for getting my box of newspapers and pamphlets out 
 of the Custom-house, but never heard whether you 
 received my letter.'' 
 
 " So great a change of sentiment has taken place 
 
 * The Doctor's suspicions were wholly groundless. The remotest 
 thought of offence had not been entertained. 
 22 
 
254 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 among our citizens, in appearance at least, since my 
 last letter, that I think I may now write you with 
 some confidence, as one of the majority, without 
 fearing to give you offence. The immense reve- 
 rence which our citizens had for the terrible Repub- 
 lic, is beginning to abate, and some of them even 
 begin to suspect that Talleyrand might possibly be 
 in the wrong, when he demanded only the small sum 
 of twenty five millions of dollars from us by way of 
 tribute; though others affect to wonder that he asked 
 so little. They say that the French are still willing 
 to be on friendly terms with us. Now as friendly 
 communication consists in giving and receiving, when 
 they found us averse to giving, they endeavour to 
 try our friendship in the way of r^^ceiving, having 
 lately made us a present of 700 sa?is culottes, inclu- 
 ding 300 negroes and mulattoes, of equal value with 
 the rest. You might have heard that nine vessels, 
 laden with these precious commodities, are now at 
 Philadelphia, and that twenty-nine other vessels, no 
 less richly laden, are soon expected there. We hear, 
 likewise, that some vessels are gone to New-York; 
 though perhaps your aristocratic Governor may not 
 be willing to receive them, especially if their num- 
 ber is less than that of those who are sent to this 
 state. But ive are happy in having a Governor 
 wholly devoted to the sans cu/otte interest, who, 
 though he scruples to receive the negroes and mulat- 
 toes, on account of the law ogainst the importation 
 of slaves, yet has no objection to receive tiie French 
 citizens, as those that we have got already have not 
 been so diligent in burning our towns, and revolu- 
 tionizing our citizens as the Directory had reason to 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 255 
 
 expect. But as Congress have taken the business 
 into their hands, it is to be feared that they may de- 
 clare against all communication with the French, 
 either in the way of giving or receiving. And if 
 this is the case, how shall B — receive his pension? 
 What will become of J — , and G — , and G — , and all 
 those who depend on the bounty of the terrible Re- 
 public?" 
 
 "J^iu- democrats will, no doubt, be glad that M. 
 Genet has received a large packet from the Directory, 
 which will be a seasonable supply to them after the 
 great expenses they must have incurred by celebrat- 
 ing the successes of the terrible Republic. Do you 
 know whether he makes his distribution at his coun- 
 try seat on Long Island, or in the hall of the demo- 
 cratic society in your city? I hear that New York 
 has been affected, though very moderately, with that 
 change of opinion which has taken place in this state; 
 though I believe that many of our new converts are 
 not sincere. We are impatient to hear of the inva- 
 sion of England; but that project is now said to be 
 laid aside, which must occasion great sorrow to our 
 democratic societies. If our government is able to 
 prevent our citizens from trading to the West Indies, 
 the French might probably be soon starved out of 
 those islands; but as we hear that many American 
 citizens are found on board those privateers which 
 are desti-oying our trade, it is probable that those of 
 the same disposition, who remain at home, may be 
 no less (liligent in supplying the French with provi- 
 sions; and we hear that some lately supplied them 
 with arms and ammunition. We are really a divid- 
 ed people, as Talleyrand says; though I hope not SQ 
 
256 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 mucli divided as he supposes. If our government 
 had the courage to seize and hang some of those mis- 
 creants who rob their countrymen, it might, perhaps, 
 be a terror to the rest.'^ 
 
 " We have heard nothing, as yet, of the success of 
 our armed ships. The French have done their ut- 
 most to intimidate our seamen, by declaring that 
 they will give no quarter lo such as make any resist- 
 ance to the terrible Republic. Who would have ex- 
 pected to live to see the Pope become the poorest 
 clergyman in Christendom? Yet this is the case at 
 present. Had it happened in the reign of Ganga- 
 nelli, who was a Franciscan, it would have been 
 much less calamitous, as it would have only given 
 him an opportunity of performing his vow of pover- 
 ty, which he had taken in entering into that order. 
 Some are weak enough to think that Popery is at an 
 end, by this misfortune of the Pope: but Popery 
 exists in the minds of men, and exists not in the 
 pockets of the Popes, or in the walls of Rome." 
 
 '^ I long to hear that the French army has turned 
 against the Directory, and that their new conquests 
 have revolted, as I suppose this must happen some 
 time or other; and until that infernal republic is 
 overturned, I see no prospect of peace for America, 
 or the rest of the world. It is happy for us that the 
 ports of France are blockaded up by the British 
 fleets, though many of our wise citizens would wish 
 that those fleets which are our present protection, 
 were sunk in the ocean. You must have read Pro- 
 fessor Robison's ' Proofs of a Conspiracy.' It might 
 have been entitled * Satan's Invisible World Disco- 
 vered;' as it lays open a scene of villany worthy of 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 257 
 
 that great philosopher, and calculated for extending 
 his dominions over all the world. I know that 
 some of our scms culottes affect to treat it as a work 
 of mere imagination, though tlie facts related in it 
 are clothed with complete historical evidence. Per- 
 haps they may say the same thing of the account of 
 the behaviour of the French in Suabia, v/hich has 
 been lately published: but facts cannot be put out of 
 existence by reasonings, nor erased from the records 
 of time, in order to save the reputation of republican 
 soldiers. If an account of all the enormities com- 
 mitted by the French in sundry parts of Europe, 
 could be collected, it Would compose the most shock- 
 ing volume in all the history of mankind. Yet there 
 are not a few among us, who wish to see them in 
 this country, and who hope, by their assistance, to re- 
 generate, that is, to overturn the federal govern- 
 ment." 
 
 " I shall be happy to hear from you with your con- 
 venience, and to be assured that I have given 
 you no offence; being, my dear sir," 
 " With much regard," 
 
 " Your sincere friend," 
 
 " Charles Nisbet." 
 
 ''Rev. Dr. Miller, New York.'' 
 
 After perusing the foregoing remarks and let- 
 ter, the following letter, to a venerated friend in 
 Scotland, will not surprise the reader: 
 
 *' To the Rev. Dr. Paton, Craig, near Montrose, North Britain." 
 " Carlisle, October lOth, 1799." 
 " JRev. a?id dear Sir,'' 
 
 " I was favoured with yours of the 23d of July, a 
 
 22* 
 
25S MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 few days ago. I answered that of March 12th, soon 
 after I received it. I have reason to be thankful 
 that 1 and my wife and family are still in pretty 
 good health. Though the yellow fever is raging in 
 Philadelphia and New York, this season has been 
 with us very healthy. It is long before we can hear 
 of the transactions of Europe. We are impatient to 
 hear of the success of the secret expedition from 
 England, — the fate of the French fleet, — and that of 
 Buonaparte's army in Syria, as well as of the issue of 
 the * infernal' commotion in Paris. The success of 
 the Russians in Italy, and of the Austrians in Swit- 
 zerland, leads us to hope that that great nest of vipers 
 which has so long plagued France, and all Europe, 
 will soon be crushed. But you will have the satis- 
 faction of hearing it long before us. I am sorry for 
 the consequences of restraining the missionaries, and 
 the erection of a new society of Dissenters among 
 you.* Being hindered from preaching to the heathen 
 abroad, they have revenged themselves by preaching 
 it to the heathen at home, of whom no doubt you have 
 not a few. And though this may be called preaching 
 Christ out of strife and envy, yet your General As- 
 sembly have shown a spirit directly opposite to that 
 of the Apostle Paul, who tells us that he rejoiced on 
 an occasion of the like nature; whereas they have 
 been so far from rejoicing, that they have got into a 
 violent passion against the missionaries, and forbid 
 their members to encourage them, or to employ them, 
 by which means they have erected a new sect of 
 
 * There is here a reference to obstacles thrown in the way of 
 missionaries in the east, by the British government, together with 
 the consequences of these prohibitory acts. 
 
RESIBENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 259 
 
 Dissenters, who will naturally associate with the en- 
 emies of government, after having been so ill treated 
 by it.'^ 
 
 "When Mr. Whitefield itinerated in Scotland, 
 some ministers employed him, and others not; but 
 when an overture was brought in to inhibit them 
 from employing him, the Assembly v^isely rejected 
 it, and declared that the employing or not employ- 
 ing Mr. Whitefield, should not be made a term of 
 communion; by which moderate conduct, no schism 
 took place. How wise would it have been to have 
 imitated this conduct on the present occasion! Soon 
 after, Mr. Whitefield came over to America; but our 
 clergy at that time not being so wise as yours, those 
 who employed him broke off all connection with 
 those who did not, and these with the othd's; by 
 which folly, a schism took place in the Presbyterian 
 body, which was scarcely at an end when I arrived 
 in this country. But your General Assembly have 
 chosen to imitate the folly of this latter course, rather 
 than the wisdom of their own predecessors. I have 
 never heard of any measure of the British govern- 
 ment since the Revolution, that even resembled per- 
 secution; but this violent proceeding of Henry Dun- 
 das amounts to persecution in the most gross and 
 criminal sense of the word. Mr. Dundas is like the 
 dog in the manger, in the Fable of JEtsopj as he will 
 neither profit by the Gospel himself, nor suffer 
 others to profit by it, if he can hinder them. Such 
 conduct was never heard of in any other Christian 
 country. The Roman Catholics have been com- 
 mended even by Protestant writers for their dili- 
 gence in propagating their religion in Heathen and* 
 
260 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBE'F. 
 
 Mahommeclati countries. But no Roman Catholic 
 missionary was ever prohibited, either by any Pope 
 or Roman Catholic Prince, from visiting any country 
 whatever with the view of propagating the Chris- 
 tian religion; far less did they ever attempt to ex- 
 clude them from any part of their own dominions. 
 Such cruelty and absurdity seem to have been reserved 
 for Protestant governments; and I am sorry that the 
 only instance of it should have been found in the 
 government of GreatBritain. The Assembly ought 
 rather to have petitioned government to permit the 
 emigration of these innocent ecclesiastics, and endea- 
 voured to convince them that the Gospel was never 
 reckoned a contraband commodity by any Christian 
 nation, nor supposed to have a tendency to produce 
 any harm to society: that if government did not 
 think these missionaries the fittest persons for propa- 
 gating the Christian religion, the design, at least, was 
 laudable, and their zeal might evaporate, not only 
 innocently, but profitably in India; whereas if it were 
 violently restrained, it might produce a convulsion 
 that might endanger both Church and State, as has 
 actually been the case. The Missionaries must 
 know that they have been unjustly and cruelly treat- 
 ed by government, and they must feel the indignity 
 of being the only persons that are oppressed in a free 
 nation. And can it be expected that they will he 
 friends to that government which has made them the 
 only victims of its injustice? The Roman Catholic 
 clergy of France were kindly received and support- 
 ed, and permitted to propagate their religion in Eng- 
 land; but it seems that Protestant clergymen are 
 dangerous persons, and not fit to be tolerated even 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 261 
 
 in a heathen country! Such persecution may be ex- 
 pected to draw down the vengeance of heaven on the 
 government that is guilty of it; and 1 confess I am 
 more apprehensive for the fate of Great Britain, on 
 account of this unexampled persecution, than from 
 all the armaments of the French, and all the plots of 
 revolutionists and reformers.^^ 
 
 " But while I say this, I do not commend the con- 
 duct of the Missionaries. They ought rather to have 
 gone to the East Indies by way of Cape Horn, or 
 through Turkey and Persia, than to have encouraged 
 division, and kindled the torch of discord in their 
 native country." 
 
 " Unius ob noxani et furias Henrici Dundas." 
 
 "But in this case there seems to have been a strife 
 betwixt the JNIissionaries, Henry Dundas, and the 
 General Assembly, which of them should show them- 
 selves the greatest fools. And, in the competition, 
 the General Assembly, who had the example of the 
 others before them, are, undoubtedly, entitled to the 
 preference." 
 
 " I have not yet seen Dr. Erskine's Sermons; but 
 I suppose that they are in a parcel which he informs 
 me that he had sent, but which I have not yet receiv- 
 ed. I congratulate you on your new church, and 
 think that, excepting its size, it will be better filled by 
 an old minister, such as you, than by many of those 
 who have lately come up. Your heritors ought to 
 give you an assistant after so long an incumbency; 
 but generosity to ministers is none of the vices of 
 the present age. When the inhabitants are once 
 
262 MEMOIR OF DR. NISEET. 
 
 assembled in their winter quarters, I shall direct in- 
 quiry to be made for the person you mention, though 
 it is very difficult and often impossible to discover 
 emigrants in a country, where few people continue 
 any time in the same place. The summer has been 
 very hot and dry in this country, though the heat 
 did not set in early. The springs were mostly dried, 
 and the grass and hay consumed by the grasshoppers, 
 before the sun could burn it up; and the cattle would 
 have perished for want, if we had not got plentiful 
 rains in the end of August, and the beginning of Sep- 
 tember, which produced a new crop of grass. The 
 wheat crops were scanty, and the potatoes, indian 
 corn, and buckwheat, were almost totally ruined by 
 the drought. Our vessels are daily taken and plun- 
 dered by the French; but our citizens do not com- 
 plain, as they say the French are their friends. But 
 when any of them are taken by the English, with 
 French or Spanish property aboard, they cry out 
 bitterly, and set no bounds to their resentment. We 
 are a weak, foolish, and divided people; and nothing 
 prevents our being subdued by the French, but that 
 the English fleet keeps them at home, and gives them 
 full employment. But we are so far from being 
 thankful to them for this service, that they are the 
 constant objects of the imprecations of the sans cu- 
 lotte paity among us. A republic is often said to be 
 the cheapest form of government; but if we consi- 
 der the frequency and expense of elections, it may 
 be said to be the dearest of all. This year, we have 
 an election of a Governor; and I believe it will cost 
 this State more than half a million of dollars, by the 
 mere interruption of business, and, perhaps, a great- 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 263 
 
 er sum in drink, canvassing, and distributing hand- 
 bills. But this is not all. The king of Spain, whose 
 ambassador here is son-in-law to the democratic can- 
 didate for Governor, is supposed to have expended 
 a greater sum still in private donations to dema- 
 gogues and agents, for procuring votes, which will 
 be charged for secret services/^ 
 
 " If your people were wise, they would see that 
 the right of universal suffrage, which they so fool- 
 ishly contend for, is a nuisance and not a blessing, as 
 it reduces elections to a mere lottery, in which de- 
 magogues have the disposal of the prizes, and ninety- 
 nine parts in a hundred of the electors know nothing 
 of either of the candidates, and often care as little. 
 We are not yet certain that the democratic candi- 
 date for governor is chosen, as the election was only 
 on the Slh instant, and all the votes in the different 
 counties must be sent to the capital and numbered 
 before the successful candidate can be declared. But 
 as he had aids to which the other candidate had no- 
 thing to oppose, it is considered as almost certain 
 that he will have the majority." 
 
 "The JNIillennium has been of late a subject of 
 speculation here. Some of our ignorant clergy have 
 imagined that it began with the French Rovolution! 
 But it is strange that tlie reign of Atheism should be 
 called the rei^n of Christ. A minister in jNew Jer- 
 sey lost his senses by studying tlie prophecies re- 
 specting th.e Pvlillennium, or rather by endeavouring 
 to reconcile it to his own notions. After having set 
 a day for its commencement, and being disappointed, 
 he turned Anabaptist, and re-baptised some of his 
 congregation, wdio were as mad as himself. In a 
 
264 MEMOIR Of DR. NISfiEf. 
 
 little while he turned Episcopalian; ant! soon after* 
 wards he expended an ample patrimony of his own, 
 and all that he could collect from hisfriends,in erecting 
 immense buildings, for stowing the goods and money 
 of the Jewish nation, which he imagined they were 
 to leave in his custody, while they were to proceed, 
 poor and penniless, to take possession of the land of 
 Canaan. It is plain that he knew nothing of Jews 
 when he imagined that they were to leave their mo- 
 ney and goods behind them; though, if they expect- 
 ed to be restored by Buonaparte, that would have 
 been a very wise measure, as he would have imme- 
 diately confiscated them for the benefit of the ' great 
 nation.' But this reverie took place long before 
 the expedition to Egypt. Enthusiasm and Infidelity 
 seem mutually to produce each other. I have just 
 now been reading a German newspaper, published 
 at York, in this neighbourhood, wherein it is assert- 
 ed ihat Buonaparte is the Saviour mentioned in 
 Isaiah xix. 20; that Bonnier and Eoherjot are the 
 * two witnesses^ mentioned in the Revelation, and 
 the two olive trees in Zechariah, as being ministers 
 of peace. And I was lately assured by a clergyman 
 of credit, that a distinguished Physician of Philadel- 
 phia had given it as his opinion, that the expedition 
 of Buonaparte into Syria was to be understood by 
 the ' high way out of Egypt into Assyria,' Isaiah xix. 
 23. Dr. Bryce Johnston's commentary on the Reve- 
 lation is the best that I have met with; though the 
 Millennium is still, and ought to be, as long as it is 
 future, involved in obscurity." 
 
 "The Socinian and anarchical publications in 
 England and Germany, seem to be more prejudicial 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 265 
 
 to religion than direct infidelity, as they seduce many 
 to renounce Christianity before they are aware of it. 
 Buonaparte's adventures seem to be almost at an end 
 by the defeat at St. John D'Acre, and Sir Sidney 
 Smith has had a noble opportunity of being revenged 
 on the French, for the cruel usage he met with v^^hen 
 a prisoner among them. It is manifest that the 
 French despair of Buonaparte's success, by their 
 having denounced those who sent him on his anti- 
 Crusade, and by their sending him no reinforcements. 
 Italy seems to be once more free, as we expect soon 
 to hear that the French are driven from Geneva; and 
 the deliverance of Switzerland may, perhaps, be as 
 sudden as its conquest. When will men be at peace 
 with one another? The eighteenth century seems 
 to go out very bloody and threatening, and God only 
 knows how the nineteenth is to set in.'^ 
 
 "I am rather uneasy at the rendezvous of the 
 French and Spanish fleets at Brest; though it announ- 
 ces their complete disappointment with respect to 
 their interests in Italy and Egypt. It is too near 
 England and Ireland to be beheld without concern. 
 As in the American war, the combined fleets only 
 played at bo-peep with the English, and returned, 
 without doing mischief, to their native shores, I have 
 hopes that the same will be the case at present, espe- 
 cially as they were both stronger and more united 
 than they can be now. Yet till they are disposed of, 
 or driven away with disgrace, I am not without ap- 
 prehension for Great Britain. There are still many 
 traitors and malcontents in all the three kino-doms: 
 so that perhaps Henry Dundas may not find it so 
 easy to keep the French out of England, as to keep 
 23 
 
266 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 the missionaries out of India. But I hope for better 
 things. We are told that the secret expedition to 
 Flanders or Holland is not to be given up on account 
 of the return of the hostile fleets to Brest, and the 
 French Directory are so distressed at home, that they 
 cannot find out any army that could be formidable 
 to Great Britain, especially after Buonaparte had de- 
 clined that expedition, and chosen rather to engage 
 with Turks and Mamelukes. The state of suspense 
 is a painful one; yet in this I must be content to re- 
 main, till I hear of the destruction or dispersion of 
 the combined fleets, on which I think the safety of 
 this country, as well as that of Great Britain depends 
 at present. Our malcontents would hide their dimi- 
 nished heads, and disown their rebellious principles, 
 when they were no longer supported by the French 
 Republic, or encouraged by successes." 
 
 "The Pope is, infallibly, in a ticklish situation in 
 France, and the respect paid him by the remains of 
 the Roman Catholics will, perhaps, cost him the loss 
 of his head, unless the Directory have hopes of a 
 ransom from the Catholic princes in the negociations 
 for peace, which I hope is not far oflf; though I think 
 no armistice ought to be agreed to, till France is 
 stript of all her conquests, and content to submit to a 
 limited monarchy. Indeed, an absolute one is too 
 good for them. If it be true that the king of Prussia 
 has acceded to the coalition, the business might soon 
 be over. R€member me kindly to any in your 
 neighbourhood who have not foigotten me, and let 
 me hear frequently of your welfare, and that of all 
 friends with you. I remain, with unfeigned esteem, 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 2^7 
 
 Rev. and dear Sir, your very humble servant," 
 
 " Charles Nisbet." 
 '' l^^:^^.rMiUer, 'New York,'' 
 
 The venerable friend and correspondent to whom 
 the foregoing letter was directed, was considerably 
 more advanced in life than Dr. Nisbet, and survived 
 him for several years. He died in the year 1811, full 
 of yeai*s, and of those sanctified honours with which it 
 is the happiness of the piaus and devoted minister of 
 religion to close his fitithful labours. 
 
 Toward the close of A. D. 1800, the last year of 
 the 18th century, the writer of this Memoir, then a 
 pastor in the city of New-York, resolved to take 
 public notice of the close of one century, and the 
 commencement of another, in a discourse from 
 the pulpit. This purpose he accordingly fulfilled 
 on the first day of January, ISftl; and out of that 
 Sermon afterwards grew, unexpectedly, the enlar- 
 ged plan which issued in his "Retrospect of the 
 Eighteenth Century," in two actavG volumes. A 
 few weeks before the day just mentioned, he ad- 
 dressed a letter to his learned and venerated Friend 
 at Carlisle, intimating his purpose, and soliciting 
 from him any suggestions which might aid in execu- 
 ting his plan. That Friend was then in advanced 
 life, in declining health, and in circumstances, on a 
 variety of accounts, unfavourable to any response on 
 an extended scale. Yet his compliance with the 
 request made, was prompt, and as will be seen, both 
 extended and able. The following characteristic an- 
 swer will show a mind awake to all the occurrences 
 of the day, and especially sensitive with regard to 
 every thing which had a bearing on the interests of 
 good morals and religion. 
 
268 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 " Carlisle, IGth Dec. 1800." 
 '' Bear Sir,'' 
 
 " Your design of preaching the funeral sermon of 
 the ISth century is pious and rational. It is fit that 
 you should celebrate the Mother that bore you; and 
 her character is large and various enough to afford 
 numerous topics of praise and blame." 
 
 "Perhaps the most distinguishing character of the 
 age, is the spirit of free inquiry, which has been so 
 prominent, and which indeed has been carried almost 
 to madness. I was born in the thirty-sixth year of 
 it, when it was rather past its vigour; and, of late? 
 when it seems to be past child-bearing, it teems with 
 the most monstrous and mis-shapen productions. 
 Air-Balloons; the Rights of Man; the Sovereignty of 
 the People; and the Guillotine, are the productions 
 of its dotage and decrepitude. The arts of destruc- 
 tion have been improved beyond the examples of 
 former ages. Fusillades, Royades, and massacres of 
 six, seven or eight hundred men or women at a time, 
 have been among its chief discoveries. Its love of 
 scepticism has only been equalled by its hardiness 
 of decision. Having proscribed the love of system, 
 it is not shocked with the grossest contradiction. 
 Hence an unrestrained liberty of thought, speech, 
 publication and action, has been combined with an 
 obligation to universal soldiership, though no two 
 things more incompatible with each other can be 
 conceived by the human imagination. And as old 
 people are twice children, the present age, in the 
 progress of decrepitude, is busy in vamping up old 
 publications, and reviving old exploded errors, such 
 as Atheism, Socinianism, and what seems the la,st, 
 
BESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 2Wr 
 
 stage of delirium, the indifference to all opinions in 
 religion. Yet this is established by the constitution 
 of the United States, and in all our state constitu- 
 tions. The equality of the opinions of one God, 
 twenty Gods, or no God, is affirmed in Mr. Jeffer- 
 son^s ^ Notes on Virginia,' and seems to be becom- 
 ing the established creed. By the way, I have just- 
 heard with sorrow that he has been chosen Presi- 
 dent of the United States, and Burr Vice-President. 
 God grant us patience to endure their tyranny! 
 Though it would appear by Buonaparte's drinking 
 to the " Sixteen United Departments," at the enter- 
 tainment which he gave to our Ambassador, that he 
 considers the sixteen United States as a part of his 
 dominions. You must not forget some great * disco- 
 veries-' which have been made in the course of the 
 century which you propose to celebrate. Dr. Hurt^ 
 ley has discovered that the soul of man is material, 
 by which Dr. Priestley, and some of our own dis- 
 tinguished Savans, have been greatly enlightened. 
 Lord Monboddo, in his " Essay on the Origin of Lan- 
 guage," has discovered that all men were originally 
 beasts, and by passing successively through the state 
 and nature of Dogs, Foxes, Jackalls, Monjieys, ^nd; 
 Ourang Outangs, at last arrived at the vocality and, 
 rationality of human nature. His Lordship consi- 
 ders the race of Monkeys, Baboons, and.Ourang Our 
 tangs as nations imperfectly civilized, but in the way 
 to perfection. Mr. Taylor has discovered the re- 
 ality of the mythology of the ancient Greeks, and; 
 revived the worship of Jupiter, and the other fabur 
 bus deities of Homer. He has made many disciples;; 
 but I know not whether he has. obtjiined Buona- 
 23* 
 
270 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 parte's license to visit Paris, and pay his devotions 
 to the Farnesian Hercules, the Apollo of Belvidere, 
 and the Medicean Venus, or is obliged to worship 
 such copies and casts of them as England may afford. 
 Biionupnrte, while in Egypt, discovered the truth 
 and divinity of the Mohammedan religion, which 
 has been again discovered by Menoii, his successor, 
 even after Buonaparte had subsequentl}^ discovered, 
 in France, the truth of the Christian religion. Tho- 
 mas Paine has discovered that the people have a 
 right to change every form of government every 
 hour, if they please. And the constitutional Clergy 
 of France have discovered that Christianity is an im- 
 posture. At the same time, the whole people of 
 France discovered that the body of a naked prosti- 
 tute was the supreme object of religious worship. 
 Such discoveries surely cannot be matched in any 
 age or nation. Yet, after Nature and Reason had 
 been proclaimed to be the only Gods, Robespierre 
 discovered that there was a Supreme Being; though 
 afterwards, on recollection, he discovered that the 
 ^sovereign people' were the Supreme Being, and 
 swore by them accordingly. It has been discover-, 
 ed that Republics are fond of peace, and that mon- 
 archs alone make war, by those who have destroyed 
 all the Republics in Europe, except Hamburgh. 
 Buonaparte has discovered that Liberty and Equal-. 
 ity consist in an unconditional submission to the or- 
 der of one supreme Consul; and the whole people of 
 France, the owners of this Liberty and Equality, 
 have ratified the discovery. The Democrats of Ame- 
 rica have discovered that it is for the interest of 
 Christianity to elect a President who ia indifferent 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 271 
 
 whether the people believe that there is one God, or 
 twenty Gods, or no God at all. May not this cen- 
 tury be denominated the age of discovery? Mr. 
 Godwin has discovered that government, religion, 
 morality, marriage and property, are so many en- 
 croachments on the liberties of mankind, and that 
 gratitude is a vice and not a virtue.-" 
 
 ^' Among the inventions of the eighteenth cen- 
 tury, you must not forget to commemorate the fact, 
 that a Deistical meeting was established in London, 
 by David Williams, originally a dissenting minister. 
 In this place of worship they had sermons, prayers, 
 &c. as in ordinary Christian assemblies. The Deists, 
 however, soon became weary of hearing sermons; 
 and Williams, after two years, went over to France, 
 and, by an easy transition, became an Atheist; came 
 back to England, and formed a Liturgy, and a sys- 
 tem of Psalmody, adapted to atheistical worship! 
 Dr. Theophilus Lindsay, a clergyman of the Church 
 of England, resigned his living in the establishment, 
 for a better one among the Unitarians in London; 
 and prevailed on five other established clergymen 
 to do the same, though they did not gain so much 
 by the exchange as he did. They all became Socin- 
 ians. One clergyman of the Church of Scotland re- 
 signed his charge for the same reason; and a popular 
 Seceding minister declared himself a Deist. Several 
 dissenting ministers in different parts of England 
 put otf the clerical and Christian character at once, 
 and professed themselves Deists.^' 
 
 " The revolutions of America, France, Venice, 
 Rome, Holland, Naples, and Switzerland, are among 
 the most remarkable events in this century, and 
 Ukely to give birth to many others, and have entire- 
 
272 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 ]y changed the relative sidiation of the powers of 
 Europe. The increase of infidelity and atheism, 
 and the progress that the French Propagandists have 
 made in demoralizing the minds of men, in order to 
 grind them down into * citizens,' is very alarming, 
 as it has extended to the greatest part of the civilized- 
 world, and seems to be still growing. The suppress- 
 sion of the Jesuits would have been noticed as a sur- 
 prising event, if it had not been followed by many 
 others of a much more surprising character. The 
 unprincipled persecution of the French clergy, by 
 pretended philosophers, who professed to abhor all 
 persecution, might have been noticed as a signal 
 contradiction, had not the promoters of it renounced 
 all system and consistency of opinion. The murder 
 cf the kings of France and Sweden, and the poison- 
 ing o£ an Emperor and Empress of Germany, are 
 among the early triumphs ot Liberty and Equality, 
 though those things were reckoned crimes in former 
 ages. An ignorance and contempt of antiquity, and 
 a boundless rage for theory and experiment, has 
 been one of the distinguishing features of this age; 
 and though the rage for Liberty and Equality in 
 France has been obliged to suecumb into submission 
 to one person, this circumstance has not in the least 
 abated the same rag^ in America, which may soon, 
 perhaps, lead to a similar despotism, or, what is more 
 probable, in subjection to the despot of France. This 
 century is likely to expire in blood, as the prospect 
 of a general peace in Europe is still at a distance. 
 The number of the victims of war in this century, 
 would constitute a very great and powerful nation^ 
 especially if we include their possible posterity." 
 *^ With regard to:the g.reat works of the eighteenth. 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 273 
 
 century in Poetry, History, the translations of classic 
 authors, Greek and Latin, and especially the princi- 
 pal works which belong to the department of Theo- 
 logy, Biblical Criticism, and Ecclesiastical History, 
 I have reason to know that you need no suggestion. 
 They are too familiar to your mind to require the 
 least hint from me. But I hope, that in treating the 
 Biblical and Theological part of your subject,* 
 you will devote particular attention to the rise and 
 progress of what is emphatically called Rationalism 
 among the divines of Germany. This is so promi- 
 nent, so painful, and, at the same time, so instruc- 
 tive a feature in the ecclesiastical history of the 
 18th century, that your readers, (if you should print 
 what you deliver,) will, no donbt, expect a special 
 notice of a matter so much talked of in every eccle- 
 siastical circle. And as my reading in German has 
 been probably more extensive than yours, (I do not 
 remember whether you read German at all,) I will 
 give some sketches on the subject. The Divinity of 
 Christ was the first doctrine attacked by the Neolo- 
 gists, or New Reformers; and on this head some em- 
 braced the Arian, and some the Socinian system. 
 The next was the Atonement, or Satisfaction of 
 Christ, in attacking which they pretended that all 
 those expressions of our Saviour and his Apostles 
 from which this doctrine was inferred, were only in 
 
 * This part of the original plan of the " Retrospect of the Eigh- 
 teenth Century" was never executed. When the author had com- 
 pleted the first part on " The Revolutions and Improvement in Sci- 
 ence, Arts, and Literature, during that period," the remainder of the 
 subject appeared so to swell under his hands, that he did not dare to 
 pursue it. 
 
274 MEMOIR OF DB. NISBET. 
 
 condescension to Jewish prejudices. Under this 
 head they reckoned the quotatio-ns fronn the Old 
 Testiment prophecies applied to Christ; his being 
 called the Messiah, the Son of God, — the Redeemer 
 of Israel. They denied that his death was a sacrifice; 
 but insisted that it was a mere martyrdom; that he 
 was only a teacher of morality, and natural religion, 
 and that by his doctrine he redeemed his followers 
 from idolatry and superstition, from Levitical cere- 
 monies, and Jewish prejudices. The third doctrine 
 that was attacked was that of Original Sin, or the cor- 
 ruption of human nature, and the loss of God's im- 
 age by the fall, the belief of which thej^ contended, 
 was inconsistent with our natural notions of the Di- 
 vine goodness and justice. The fourth doctrine was 
 that of Faith. The new reformers contended that 
 all that the Scriptures mean by Faith, is only the re- 
 ceiving the doctrines of Christ as true, and living 
 according to them; and some openly asserted that 
 we are not boaad to believe the history or miracles 
 of Christ and his Ap.ostles, but merely the moral 
 precepts. The fifth doctrine was that of the Sacra- 
 ments, to which the Reformers ascribed little or no 
 virtue. The sixth was the existence of Angels and 
 Devils, which the Neologists denied, and the eternity 
 of hell-torments, which they maintained to be con- 
 trary to all reason,. They likewise rejected Creeds, 
 and Confessions of Faith, as altogether inconsistent 
 with freedom of inq^uiry. This led to a contempt 
 of the Scriptures, and a doubt of their divine inspi- 
 ration, or confining it to a part of the Scriptures, 
 Some confined inspiration to the New Testament. 
 At last they asserted that nothing in Scripture ought 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 275 
 
 to be believed as coming from God, except what 
 tended to promote the moral perfection of man. 
 Their rules of criticism and exposition of the Scrip- 
 tures were adapted to this supposition; and they 
 seemed to labour to alter the Christian faith, so as 
 to render it more palatable to the Deists." 
 
 " The philosophy of Leibnitz and Wolf, which en- 
 joins on all men to think for themselves, and to be- 
 lieve nothing of which they could not form distinct 
 ideas, contributed greatly to the success of the New 
 Reformers; and led them to expunge all mysteries 
 and miracles out of their creed: and the translation 
 of the works of the English Deists into German gave 
 them still greater assislance* Commentaries, Dic- 
 tionaries, and Literary Journals were employed for 
 propagating and recommending their new doctrines, 
 by which means many were led to adopt them who 
 had never read the Socinian or Deistical writers. 
 In 1779 Dam published a translation of the New 
 Testament according to these views, which he had 
 conceived from 1758. He maintained that the books 
 of Moses are only so far inspired as they lead to 
 God; that the history of the fall is a fiction; that the 
 book of Job is likewise a fiction; and that there are 
 many falsehoods in the books of Samuel and Joshua; 
 that the Psalms contain contemplations of the divine 
 perfections, but no prophecies; that all the books of 
 the Old Testament are mere human writings; and 
 that the historical books of the New Testament are 
 written in the taste and manner of the ancient Jews, 
 in which truth and fiction are mingled; that Jesus is 
 called the Son of God merely because he was a very 
 good man, both in his life and doctrine: that he was 
 
276 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 the son of Joseph and Mary; that his doctrine is pure 
 natural religion; that the truth of his doctrine does 
 not depend on miracles or prophecies, hut on its in- 
 ternal worth: that his death was not a sacrifice or 
 atoneinent for sin; nay that he did not really die on 
 the cross, but fell into a fainting fit; and that he was 
 taken out of his grave, and restored to life and health, 
 after which he left the country of Judea. They 
 maintained that he did not ascend into heaven; and 
 that the effusion of the Holy Ghost on the day of 
 Pentecost was no miracle, but the effect of a thunder 
 gust, and the credulity of the multitude. That when 
 the Evangelists relate miracles, they are always to 
 be explained according to the laws of nature. That 
 there are no mysteries, nor revealed religion. That 
 the chief object of Christianity is morality, and no- 
 thing more. That the doctrine of the Trinity is not 
 true. That there are no angels nor devils: and that 
 when devils are mentioned in Scripture, they are to 
 be interpreted as meaning either bad men, or grievous 
 diseases. That the image of God consists only in Rea- 
 son which man has not lost. That the resurrection of 
 the body is only a figurative representation of the 
 souPscontinuing to exist after death. That the punish- 
 ment of bad men after death shall have an end. That 
 what the Scripture says of the day of judgment, and 
 the end of the world, is a mere allegory. Such in 
 general are the doctrines of the New Reformers, 
 though they are not all agreed among themselves. 
 Professor TollneVy'dX Frankfort on the Oder, depart- 
 ed in several points from the established Confession, 
 but he w^as more discreet and less insolent than many 
 others. Sleinbart, his successor, went further, and 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 277 
 
 rejected every ihm^ positive in religion, that is^ all 
 mysteries, together with the satisfaction of Christ, 
 and the corruption of human nature. lie published, 
 in 1778, his book, entitled ^ The Philosophy of Chris- 
 tianity separated from Hypothesis.^ Professor Base- 
 dow, curator of the Philanthropin at Dessau, was one 
 of the first and most zealous Reformers; but he was 
 so honest as to confess that he was neither a Luthe- 
 ran nor a Calvinist. *^. PF. Teller, oi Berlin, pub- 
 lished a Dictionary of the New Testament. His 
 system was not just the same as that of Dam. The 
 Old Testament, he said, was for the Jews, the New 
 for Christains; of course all those ideas and express- 
 ions which the New Testament borrows from the 
 Old, do not belong to Christian doctrine. He taught 
 that the Old Testament was inspired only in so far 
 as God is the author of all spiritual good; that Jesus 
 is God's only-born Son, by his partaking of the di- 
 vine nature, and being an extraordinary messenger 
 sent from God to men, and adopted by God for 
 his Son; that he is our Redeemer, Mediator and Sa- 
 viour, as he has delivered us from the torment of a 
 guilty conscience, and given us assurance of the fa- 
 vour of God; that as Mediator, he has by his sacrifice 
 been Surety for men, that God would have them all 
 to be saved ; but that his death is only called a ^ sacri- 
 fice,' in compliance with the Jews, who were accus- 
 tomed to sacrifices. Eberhard, formerly minister at 
 Charlottenburgb, near Berlin, and now professor of 
 Philosophy at Halle, belongs likewise to the New 
 Reformers, as appears by his * Apology for Socrates.' 
 Ludke, a minister of Berlin, in his treatise on * Tole- 
 ration,' and Busching,\.\\Q consistorial counsellor, in 
 24 
 
278 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 his treatise on ' Confessions,' evidently avow their 
 connestion with the same class. Spalding and Sem- 
 ler, but especially Dr. Bardt, and Nicolaiy of Ber- 
 lin, have contributed signally to the propagation of 
 the doctrine of the New Reformers, which being so 
 nearly allied to Deism, gave countenance to professed 
 infidelity. i>e5A>/n^ published the ' Wolfenbuttle 
 Fragments,' which had a great run in Germany. The 
 tendency of all these fashionable writings was to 
 render the old doctrines contemptible. These doc- 
 trines were on all sides exposed to ridicule, as irra- 
 tional, absurd and pernicious; and the teachers of 
 them were held up to view as bigots, blockheads, and 
 ignoramuses, &c. Many treatises were published 
 against the new doctrines; but these, by being mis- 
 represented and abused in. the fashionable journals, 
 were little read. John Frederick Teller, superin- 
 tendent of Zeitz, wrote a Dictionary of the New 
 Testament, in opposition to his brother, before men- 
 tioned: but without naming him. But it would be 
 endless to enumerate all the answers that have been 
 made to the New Reformers, especially as tliese are 
 not perfectly consistent with each other, or with the 
 doctrines of the first Reformers. But many of them 
 are excellent; — John E. MebiiiSy a Dutch minister, 
 has published three volumes of Letters against 
 Steinbart'sFhilosophy of Christianity, and a humour- 
 ous performance entitled 'Letters from a Travelling 
 Jew,' exposing these doctrines to deserved ridicule. 
 A treatise entitled ' The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing,' 
 without the name of the author, was printed in 1783, 
 but it never appeared in the Booksellers' shops, as it 
 not only refuted the doctrines of the New Reformer* 
 
RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. 279 
 
 by arguments, but exposed them to deserved ridicule, 
 the author having a talent for humour. This trea- 
 tise is highly commended by the orthodox journalists, 
 and seems to have made a considerable, though tem- 
 porary impression." 
 
 "As to religious revolutions in Holland, Switzer- 
 land, Denmark and Sweden, I know but little; but 
 as French fashions have long prevailed in those coun- 
 tries, it cannot be wonderful if French infidelity 
 should likewise become fashionable among them.'' 
 
 " With regard to the most important of all sub- 
 jects, to wit, the state of orthodoxy and vital piety 
 in the Church, I fear you will be obliged to represent 
 it in the Eighteenth Century as every where decli- 
 ning^ and in most places, awfully declining. In 
 the Reformed Churches of Germany, France, Hol- 
 land, Svvitzerland, and Geneva, this representation, 
 we all know, applies in a most distressing degree; 
 and even in Great Britain, with few exceptions, it is 
 also applicable. We have sometimes hoped that a 
 revival of evangelical preaching, and of attachment 
 to Gospel truth, was beginning to dawn on Scotland 
 toward the close of the century. But, if I mistake 
 not, it is certain that a more decisive revival of true 
 religion has, within a few years, taken place in Eng- 
 land, both among some portions of the Dissenters, 
 and still more remarkably in the established Church; 
 under the ministry, and from the writings of such 
 men as Romaine, John Newton, Simeon, Cecil, Scott, 
 and others, distinguished for the general soundness 
 of their opinions, and the fervour of their piety. 
 When Romaine and Hervey arose, in the early part 
 of the century, to plead for evangelical religion, thcsy 
 
280 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 stood almost alone among the clergy of the establish- 
 ment. The spiritual desolation of the Church of 
 England was then deplorable. A gratifying change 
 has since taken place: but even yet I hear of scarcely 
 any participation in this revival in the Miigh places' 
 of that Church." 
 
 " Thus have I gleaned, with great weakness and 
 imperfection, a few hints concerning discoveries and 
 improvements in the century just about to expire, 
 and to which you may think proper to refer, either 
 in the text or the notes of its funeral Sermon. You 
 had no need to be apprehensive that your queries 
 would give me trouble. They do me honour. I 
 should be glad if I had such a man as you in my 
 neighbourhood, who might put such questions to me 
 every day. May the next century bring you peace, 
 happiness and success in your ministry, and better 
 prospects to the public than we have at present!" 
 
 ''^ I remain, with sincere and unaltered esteem, 
 Dear Sir, your very humble servant," 
 
 " Charles Nisbet ." 
 
 ''Rev. Mr. Miller, New York.'' 
 
 In tlie perusal of the foregoing letter, it ought to 
 be borne in mind that it was written forty years ago, 
 when the errors and leaders of the Ratioiialists of 
 Germany were less extensively and familiarly known 
 than they have since become; and, of course, that the 
 sketches concerning them which it contains, were 
 then of greater value than they would be now, when 
 information on the subject is much more common. 
 Still they indicate a mind alive to every thing which 
 had a bearing on Religion, in every part of the world.. 
 
RESIDENtJE IN THE UNITED STATES. 281 
 
 And, probably, there was not another individual in the 
 United States, at that time, when an attention to Ger- 
 man literature had gained so little popularity even 
 among the literati of our country, who had kept him- 
 self so well informed concerning every important 
 movement in that cauntry; — a country which, ever 
 since his day, has been teeming with literary and 
 theological labourers greatly beyond any other section 
 of our globe; and which has exceeded all others in the 
 strange, grotesque, and impious productions of the 
 press, as well in the science of Mind, as in that of 
 Theology. 
 
 24* 
 
2S2 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 His last Illness and Death. 
 
 For a number of years before his decease, Dr. 
 Nisbet was not only diligent but uninterrupted in 
 his attendance on the duties of his office. From, 
 the time of his recovery from the severe illness 
 which reduced him so low soon after his arrival in 
 the country, until the access of that disease which 
 terminated his life, such were his fidelity and zeal, 
 that he had scarcely ever been prevented, for a sin- 
 gle day, from attending on the public duties of his 
 station. He shrunk from no reasonable task, and 
 was ever ready to undertake any labour which pro-= 
 mised real benefit to the institution committed to his 
 care. Indeed, literary labour, and especially that 
 which consisted in imparting the elements of know- 
 ledge to ingenuous youth, appeared to be the delight 
 of his heart. 
 
 He was often, indeed, not a little distressed to find 
 the Trustees of the College entertaining opinions so 
 entirel}^ different from his own, respecting the time 
 necessary to be bestowed on a course of study, and 
 in regard to the best means of conducting the affairs 
 of a literary institution. Instead of enlarging and 
 improving the system of public instruction, they 
 were rather disposed to make it more narrow and su- 
 perficial; and a course already meagre, still more 
 ineagre, and adapted to disappoint the friends of 
 
mS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 2 83 
 
 sound learning. Accordingly, the Trustees, several 
 
 years before the Doctor's death, directed the course 
 of study in the College to be shortened, and required 
 as much to be done in one year as had formerly oc- 
 cupied two years. To this measure, he strongly 
 objected, as a kind of literary quackery; as adapted 
 to deceive the public; to impose upon young men 
 seeking a liberal education; and as pandering to po- 
 pular ignorance and parsimony in a manner disgrace- 
 ful to the guardians of education. His remonstrances, 
 however, were in vain; and there is every reason to" 
 believe that the mortification and discouragement 
 connected with this measure, and some others of a 
 similar kind, and indicating the same spirit, preyed 
 upon his mind, and convinced him, that the great 
 hope which had brought him to the country, that 
 he might be instrumental in raising the standard of 
 knowledge and public improvement, could no longer 
 be cherished. His letters, about this time, bear the 
 marks of great, depression of spirits, and the gradual 
 departure of those fond expectations which he had 
 once entertained of extensive usefulness to the cause 
 of Literature in the United States. 
 
 A few months before his. death, in addressing the 
 students of the College, he expressed himself thus: 
 " You have studied at a time when the most false 
 and absurd opinions concerning learning have been 
 current, prevalent, and even rampant. We mean 
 those opinions which suppose that a liberal educa- 
 tion may be attained in a very little time; that the 
 study of the ancient languages is useless; that edu- 
 cation may be completed in the space of a year; that 
 two years is too long, and that a great part of the 
 
284 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 time of education ought to be allotted to amusement, 
 &c. The encouragement that has been given to 
 these opinions among us, has been of far greater de- 
 triment to this Seminary than the most active malice 
 of its numerous enemies; as they have rendered it 
 impossible for its numerous friends to recommend 
 or defend it. Who would undertake to recommend 
 a Seminary that produces yearling graduates, and in 
 vs^hich the studies of youth are conducted in the 
 most expeditious manner? We ought not to wonder, 
 therefore, that those gentlemen in other States, who 
 have received advice from the newspapers of its pre- 
 sent state, have given it no countenance, though pre- 
 viously disposed to encouraged it.'^ And, in the last 
 address which he made to the students before his 
 decease, the following strain of remark sufficiently 
 indicates the bitterness of spirit with which he con- 
 templated his situation. " While this Seminary con- 
 tinues to exist, though in a degraded state, when 
 compared with others, we shall think it our duty to 
 do all that our circumstances permit, for the instruc- 
 tion of those who are committed to our care. It is, 
 indeed, to be lamented that the teachers of youth 
 among us, owing to the disgraceful subjection in 
 which they are placed, cannot do what they would 
 for the improvement of their pupils. To raise ex- 
 pectations which cannot be fulfilled; to undertake to 
 accomplish what they know to be impracticable; to 
 promise to do as much in one or two years, as other 
 Seminaries can do in three or four, is undertaking 
 an impossibility. Men of learning and experience 
 would disdain to use the language of quacks and im- 
 posters; and they would be inexcusable if they did 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 285 
 
 it of their own accord. But when it is imposed on 
 them by others, without their consent, their situa- 
 tion is singularly calamitous, and their circumstances 
 make them resemble a sect under persecution . But, 
 as in this new country, every thing is in a state of 
 infancy; and as in the imperfect state of human af- 
 fairs, a considerable time is necessary before rational 
 opinions, and salutary institutions, can be introduced, 
 the teachers of youth must be contented to do what 
 they can, though they have it not in their power to 
 do what they would." 
 
 "Some of those who have had the government of 
 Seminaries have greatly deceived themselves and th& 
 public, by appreciating the labours of learned m,en by 
 the standai;cl of mechanics and day-labourers, and im- 
 agining that the education of youth could be conduct- 
 ed on agricultural and mechanical principles. They 
 seem to have entirely forgotten that the will and ex- 
 ertions of the student are indispensably necessary ta 
 his receiving instruction; that the master can only 
 give lessons and exhortations; but that it depends 
 wholly on the will and inclination of the student 
 whether he will give any attention to them or not, 
 A remedy for this, though a very imperfect one, has 
 been proposed, by examination. But unless exam- 
 ination had a charm to draw out of the head of a stu- 
 dent what had never got into it, it is of no effect. A 
 student on examination can only repeat what he al- 
 ready knows and remembers; but he cannot repeat 
 any thing that he has lorgotten, or to which he had 
 never given any attention. Where such opinions 
 are formed by the managers of Seminaries, it is im- 
 possible that learning should prosper, as they proceed 
 
286 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 from a profound ignorance of human nature. The 
 human mind which is the object of education, is not 
 a mere passive subject, like arable land, wood, or 
 metal, which can make no resistance to the operations 
 of the husbandman or mechanic; — but it is a spiritual 
 substance, endued with understanding and will, the 
 former, perhaps, very weak, and the latter very 
 strong and obstinate; and if the will does not con- 
 sent to the cultivation of the understanding, all the 
 efforts of the teacher must be fruitless. It some- 
 times requires a long time to excite the attention of 
 youth, and to make them receive and comprehend 
 the ideas contained in their lessons; and oftentimes a 
 much longer time to make them delight in them, and 
 receive them with sensible pleasure; and till this is 
 the case no valuable progress can be made in learn- 
 ing.'^ for no one will learn any thing against his will, 
 or labour to understand what he dispises, and what 
 gives him no pleasure." 
 
 " Those who imagine that a liberal education 
 may be obtained in a year or two, do not seem 
 to consider tbis, but to suppose that scholars will 
 as freadily receive instruction as the earth yields 
 to the plough-share, or the hot iron to the stroke 
 of the hammer. But those who are practically 
 acquainted with education, know by experience that 
 this is not the case; but that many youthful minds re- 
 sist instruction for a considerable time, and occupy 
 themselves with any trifles rather than their lessons, 
 who, nevertheless, may afterwards be awakened to 
 attention, and be successful, and, in some cases, 
 even highly successful, in the acquisition of know- 
 ledge. Their time of awal^ening must be wateh'^ 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 287 
 
 ed and waited for, and much instruction must be 
 dispersed in the air, before they can be made to 
 receive any. We must follow nature; we cannot 
 contradict or control it. The quantity of knowledge 
 acquired by any student must be in the compound ra- 
 tio of his natural capacity, and the degree of his atten- 
 tion and willingness to learn. And this accounts in 
 the most satisfactory manner for the great difference 
 that we discover in the attainments of students who 
 have had the same opportunities for acquiring know- 
 ledge.'^ 
 
 " Hence we may see the absurdity and folly of all 
 short roads to learning. They all proceed on false 
 principles, and must end in miserable disappointment. 
 Quacks and projectors in education have indeed pro- 
 posed an endless variety of plans for diminishing 
 the labour, and shortening the time of study, by pro- 
 mising to teach as much in a few lessons as has been 
 hitherto done by the labour and application of seve- 
 ral years. In Germany and elsewhere, quacks have 
 undertaken to teach young men every science by 
 way of diversion: but not one real scholar has ever 
 been formed by these compendious methods, which 
 have never produced any thing else than dunces and 
 smatterers." 
 
 While these trammels on the discharge of his offi- 
 cial duties mortified and grieved him, he was not 
 free from embarrassment in regard to his temporal 
 support. The salary which the Trustees of the Col- 
 lege originally promised to pay him, was ^£2 50 ster- 
 ling, or about $1200. A few years before his death, 
 finding the number of students small, and the 
 finances of the Institution declining, they reduced 
 
2S8 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 his salary to ^800; a sum altogether insufficient for 
 the comfortable support of his family. Even this 
 sum, however, was miserably paid. Arrears were 
 allowed to accumulate to an extent mortifying to 
 him, and embarrassing to his family. Insomuch that, 
 at the time of his decease, these arrears had nearly 
 reached the amount of four or five years salary; and 
 were recovered at last only by a legal process. The 
 Church at Carlisle, to w^hich he steadily rninistered 
 alternately with Dr. Davidson, as has been already 
 mentioned, also stipulated to pay him a small salary 
 for his services. It was a mere pittance; but, pit- 
 tance as it was, it was never punctually paid; and a 
 considerable balance had accumulated at the time of 
 his death, which his executor recovered by a similar 
 process. It is unnecessary to say, that these things 
 could not fail to make a deep impression on one who 
 had laboured so faithfully and ably to serve the In- 
 stitution committed to his care; and who had left his 
 native country on the faith of the prospects and prom- 
 ises which have been already described. 
 
 About the beginning of January 1804, Dr. Nisbet 
 was seized with a severe cold, accompanied with in- 
 flammation of the lungs and fever, which gradually 
 gained ground until it terminated his life. After the 
 disease began to assume a threatening aspect, and es- 
 pecially within a few days of the closing scene, he 
 appeared to suffer exceedingly; but he endured it all 
 with remarkable patience and fortitude. He retain- 
 ed the possession of his mental powers to the last. 
 The only faculty which appeared to be strikingly 
 impaired was his memory, which in health, was 
 among the master powers of his mind. This pre- 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DilATH. 289 
 
 vented his holding much connected conversation 
 with those around him during his last hours. The 
 exercises of devotion appeared to occupy his heart 
 and his lips as long as he was able to utter them. 
 The last efforts of vocal utterance which could be 
 distinguished, were employed in articulating with 
 great tenderness, the name of his wife; and in say- 
 ing with peculiar fervour, " Holy, Holy, Holy!" 
 With these words on his lips, he gently fell asleep, 
 on the 18th day of January, A. D. 1804, having 
 within three days completed the sixty-eighth year 
 of his age. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to say, that the demise of 
 the venerated President, covered not only his family, 
 but also the whole College with the mantle of mourn- 
 ing. For, notwithstanding all the failures of the 
 Trustees of the College to fulfill their engagements, 
 and to provide for his comfort and that of his family, 
 these failures were rather to be ascribed to the de- 
 plorable scantiness of the funds committed to their 
 care, and the want of skill and enterprize in mana- 
 ging them, than to the want of respect or affection 
 for his high character. The decease of this excel- 
 lent man called into exercise and manifested a widely 
 extended and peculiar attachment and veneration. 
 The College — the town — the whole neighbourhood 
 were moved, and appeared as mourners. The fune- 
 ral was attended by multitudes. The Trustees, Fa- 
 culty and students of the College appeared in a man- 
 ner which marked their deep sense of the loss which 
 they had sustained. A sermon was preached on the 
 occasion by the Rev. Dr. Davidson, Vice President 
 of the College, and Pastor of the Church in Carlisle. 
 25 
 
290 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 Of this sermon it is judged proper to give the follow- 
 ing extract. 
 
 " We are called this day to perform a very mourn- 
 ful office indeed ! To convey to the house of silence 
 what was mortal of a highly respected Brother and 
 Servant of the lord. Great is the loss which we 
 have this day to deplore! The world is deprived of 
 a Scholar and a Divine worthy to be ranked among 
 the most eminent that ancient or modern times have 
 produced. The occasion will justify me in depart- 
 ing from our usual practice, and attempting a brief 
 sketch of so worthy a character. This tribute is due 
 to his great talents and services. Nor can I with- 
 hold it without doing violence to my own feelings. 
 Having been associated with him in the duties of 
 the same pulpit, and of the same literary institution 
 for nearly nineteen years, no one can have had a 
 better opportunity of observing and admiring his 
 extensive acquaintance with languages and science — 
 his benevolent aims and exertions — and his ardent 
 zeal for the interests of religion and learning." 
 
 " When some gentlemen of a truly public spirit 
 had obtained a charter for a College in this Borough, 
 (to bear the name of one of our earliest and most ac- 
 complished Patriots,) it was their wish to place at 
 the head of it some one who was distinguished in 
 the literary world; well knowing that the reputa- 
 tation and usefulness of such a Seminary would de- 
 pend greatly on the plan of education first adopted, 
 and the manner in which that plan was carried into 
 effect. A Seminary in a neighbouring State, had 
 risen to high reputation, under the direction of a 
 President called from North Britain;— a country 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 291 
 
 long and justly famed for its learned Universities, 
 and eminent scholars. It was expected by the 
 founders of this institution, that, under a similar 
 head, it might acquire an equal degree of celebrity, 
 and become equally useful." 
 
 "The Rev. Dr. Charles Nisbet was known to be 
 a scholar uncommonly well skilled in languages, an- 
 cient and modern, and in those sciences which are 
 most necessary to form the minds of young men. 
 But he was, at that time, and had been for more 
 than twenty years, comfortably settled as a pastor of 
 a large Church in Montrose; and to that people we 
 are assured he had officiated, during that time, with 
 such ability and assiduity, that they were greatly 
 attached to him." 
 
 " The Trustees, however, of the new College, hav- 
 ing unanimously chosen him for Principal, thought 
 it their duty to press him by every affecting argu- 
 ment, to the acceptance of an office, in which they 
 hoped he would be as comfortable as in his former 
 station, and far more extensively useful. Great was 
 the perplexity of his mind, during a whole year, be- 
 fore he could come to a final determination. To 
 leave a society so much pleased with him as their 
 spiritual teacher; to bid a last adieu to his native 
 land, and the companions of his youth; to cross an 
 ocean whose dangers appeared formidable; and to 
 cast himself among strangers, in a new world; what 
 a sacrifice of his feelings to a sense of duty did this 
 require!" 
 
 " He arrived here on the 4th day of July, 1785, to 
 enter immediately on the duties of his office; hoping 
 soon to see his prospects of usefulness realized. But 
 
292 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 how uncertain are all our possessions, and all our 
 prospects! Very soon after his arrival, by a violent 
 fit of sickness, he was rendered incapable of any 
 public duty. From the shock which his constitu- 
 tion then received, it seems never to have fully re- 
 covered; and such was his debility, and consequent 
 dejection of spirits, that a return to his native land 
 was seriously contemplated.^' 
 
 " As soon, however, as his health, in the follow- 
 ing season was, pretty well restored, he resumed his 
 former station. And now we see him entering on a 
 scene of active usefulness, which it would be great 
 injustice to his character to pass lightly over." 
 
 "Such was his desire to put this College on a most 
 respectable footing; and such were his ideas of the 
 evils of a superficial education, and the advantages of 
 a thorough and solid one, that he spared no pains to 
 have his pupils well initiated in every branch of use- 
 ful knowledge. His acquaintance vs'ith books and 
 languages was far, very far beyond what is common- 
 ly acquired by those who obtained a liberal educa- 
 tion. His memory was indeed extraordinary, and 
 retained with ease whatever was committed to it! 
 With the languages necessary to be known in order 
 to a critical knowledge of ancient authors, sacred and 
 profane, he was intimately conversant. The beau- 
 ties of the Greek and Latin classics lay unveiled to 
 his penetrating eye; and there was scarcely a re^ 
 markable passage which he could not accurately re- 
 peat at pleasure. To show still further the amazing 
 powers of his mind, and the abundant sources of his 
 knowledge, it is proper to mention, that his acquaint- 
 ance with the French, Uali,an, German, Low Dutch 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 295 
 
 and Spanish languages, gave him easy access to the 
 most celebrated works in these modern tongues. 
 Hence we see how it was practicable for him to com- 
 pose, and deliver, from day to day, (as he did in the 
 first years,) those Lectures on Criticism, Logic, and 
 Moral Philosophy, which have been so much ad- 
 mired." 
 
 " In addition to these duties, after he had been 
 some time here he undertook and executed another 
 very important work, — which scarcely any other 
 man in his circumstances would have attempted. 
 This was, to write and deliver, from day to day,, 
 for more than two years, a course of lectures on 
 theological subjects. These lectures form one of the 
 most valuable systems of Divinity that the world has 
 perhaps ever seen. And these he had the patience 
 to dictate to his pupils, (as he did also his philosophi- 
 cal lectures,) so that they could write down every 
 sentence." 
 
 "To complete his character let it be remembered, 
 that he was an eminent minister of the Gospel; and 
 that in addition to all his other labours, he preached 
 for the most part statedly, as one of the pastors of 
 this church. The soundness of his principles and 
 the solidity of his sermons are well known." 
 
 " The study of the holy Scriptures was his chief 
 delight, and in the exposition and application of di- 
 vine truths, he was indeed a master in Israel. How 
 serious and solemn was his manner! How plain 
 and perspicous his style, and perfectly free from 
 every thing pompous or affected ! He sought not the 
 applause of men, but the salvation of souls, and the 
 glory of his Redeemer. Ever solicitous to exalt the 
 25* 
 
2^4 MEMOIR Op DR. NI8BET. 
 
 love and grace of God, and to humble the pride of 
 man, salvation by grace was his favourite theme. 
 At the same time, no one could be a more severe re- 
 prover of vice, or more forcibly inculcate that purity 
 of heart and life, without which all pretences to faith 
 and religion are vain. — To you my friends, the peo- 
 ple of this congregation, there is a voice addressed 
 this day, calling upon you long and affectionately to 
 remember him, who has so long dispensed unto you 
 the precious word of life; to retain his instructions, 
 and continue stedfast in your Christian profession. 
 Remember also the excellent example which he set 
 before you. View him sustaining with propriety 
 every endearing relation, and with exquisite sensibili- 
 ty, attentive to every social duty. Was he not a most 
 agreeable companion, especially in his more tranquil 
 days.-^ Was he not ever most happy when in the com- 
 pany of his friends, and diffusing cheerfulness all 
 around him? Who could but admire his lively re- 
 marks, his quick replies, and the severe strokes he 
 was frequently aiming at what he conceived to be 
 the follies, the extravagancies, the injustice and im- 
 pieties that so greatly abound? To see religion flou- 
 rishing, and mankind rejoicing in its richest bless- 
 ings, together with the benefits of a wise and effi- 
 cient government, — this he earnestly desired, and 
 for this he fervently prayed.'' 
 
 "• His addresses to the pupils, and especially at 
 Commencements, contained most important direc- 
 tions for their conduct in life; and showed his great 
 detestation of every vice, and of slavery and op- 
 pression under every form. Those addresses alone 
 would make a considerable volume. — Let all the 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 295 
 
 sons of this Seminary affectionately remember the 
 exhortations received from him, who felt for them all 
 the solicitude of a Father.'^ 
 
 "Finally, let the Trustees and Patrons of this 
 Seminary, amidst all their discouragements (and this 
 which may appear the greatest of all,) be exhorted, 
 not to faint or grow weary in well doing. This 
 was an event sometime and certainly to be expected. 
 — An entire year has not yet elapsed, since your de- 
 ceased principal saw, to his great grief, the beautiful 
 Edifice, that you had nearly finished, envoloped in 
 flames. Yet you persevered in the good work you 
 had undertaken; and in lieu of that which you lost, 
 a much larger and more convenient building has ra- 
 pidly progressed, under your direction. how it 
 would have pleased him to have seen it completed, 
 and the institution, which has already sent forth so 
 many young men to fill important stations in society, 
 brought to the desired perfection, and placed on a 
 broad and permanent basis! — But such was not the 
 will of Heaven! His race of usefulness here was 
 run.'' 
 
 " Attacked with violence, on the first day of the 
 year, by a pulmonary complaint, that had been for 
 some time growing upon him, the remaining days 
 of life were spent with much bodily distress. But 
 when the important moment arrived, — quietly, with- 
 out a groan, he breathed his last; and committed, as 
 we have sufficient ground to hope, into the hands of 
 his Redeemer, a spirit ripe for glory ^ — and, bidding 
 a world of uncertainty and sorrow an everlasting 
 adieu, entered into the promised rest. — At a good 
 age, — -at the close of his 68th year— concluded his 
 
296 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 active and useful life. — May we all live the life, as 
 we would hope to die the death, of the righteous; 
 and may our last end be like his!" 
 
 Dr. Erskine, the excellent friend and affectionate 
 correspondent of the subject of this Memoir, died just 
 one year before him. In his will he bequeathed to 
 Dr. Nisbet a large part of his Library, as a testimo- 
 nial of respect and affection. No information, how- 
 ever, of this bequest reached America before Dr. 
 Nisbet's decease. In a few days after the death of 
 Dr. Erskine, his surving Son addressed a letter to 
 Dr. N. announcing the demise of his Father, but not 
 mentioning the legacy. Toward the close of the 
 year 1803, Miss Erskine addressed a letter to the 
 venerable legatee — announcing this token of her Fa- 
 ther's affectionate remembrance. But before this 
 letter reached its destination, Dr. Nisbet was no 
 more; and nothing further, of course, was said or 
 done respecting the bequest. 
 
 Soon after Doctor Nisbet's decease, the following 
 Latin Ode to his memory was prepared by Mr. 
 James Ross, who had once held a Professorship in 
 Dickinson College; and was, at the date of this com- 
 position, a Professor in Franklin College, Lancaster, 
 Pennsylvania; who knew him well, and was a warm 
 admirer of his character. It seems to have been sub- 
 mitted to the judgement and the disposal of the res- 
 pectable Gentleman whose name appears in the In- 
 scription, — and was probably by him committed to 
 the press. And although its claims on the score of La- 
 tin poetry are indeed very humble, yet as a testimo- 
 nial of respect from a most excellent man, it is wor- 
 thy of being here recorded.. 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 297 
 
 Ad GULIELMUM HAMILTON 
 
 SALUTEM. 
 
 Hos ego versiculos ; in memoriam viri integerrimi, nee non et ex 
 omnibus quos aetas prsesens, annis multis per orbem terrarum tulit, 
 doctissimi, tesserulam honoris, typis, ad Te, tuis mandandos, mitto ; 
 quippe qui te facilem et commodum meis, aliis occasionibus, haud se- 
 mel precibus dedisti. Ja. Ross. 
 
 In Obitura 
 Viri ckrissimi CAROLI NISBET, D. D. 
 
 Coll. Dickinson. Praesidis, qui octodecimo 
 Januarii, A. D. 1804, vita decessit. 
 
 Te quoque, qui nostris dignatus vivere Nisbet 
 
 Finibus, eripuit mors ! fera Te eripuit ! 
 Tu, tandem, fessus, metam finemque laborum 
 
 Docto, invenisti, corpore deposito. 
 Preclarus, turbas hominum, sociosque relictos, 
 
 Morte redemptus, nunc despicis altivolus. 
 Divitias quoque habes partas hie, munera culta 
 
 Mentis nempe bonae, quas dedit ipse Dkus . 
 Hsec autera, vestes, aurum, popularis et aura, 
 
 Grata licet quondam, et fulgida, diffugiunt. 
 Finito ergo opere, propter quod missus in orbem, 
 
 Tempore et expleto, convenit utiedeas. 
 Haud aliter servus, longas legatus in oras 
 
 Qui, domino, rediit, jam revocante domum. 
 Nuncius Ameiicorum hie tristes pervolat oras, 
 
 " Nisbet mortuus ! Heu ! doctus et ille perit !" 
 Mentibus, ore, oculis, Studiosi (Academia plorat) 
 
 Nisbet nunc quaerunt auxilio ut subeat ! 
 Nisbet namque docens, vestigia, quae sua, pressit ; 
 
 Non aliena sequens : legit at ille sua. 
 Nisbet eos docuit falso secernere verum, 
 
 Atque domique foris sedulus officio. 
 Nisbet eos dscuit rerum cognoscere causas ; 
 
 Nisbet et instituit quaerere vera bona. 
 O quoties, praeco pandis cum theraata sacra, 
 
 " Vivito" dixi " nee sit brevis hora tua ; 
 <' O felix, sortita Hunc, fausta Columbia, tellus ! 
 
 " Vivito Nisbet ! nee mors fera Te rapiat !" 
 
298 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET, 
 
 ' Fidite ne vestris ; heu ! vana opera omnia,' dixit, 
 
 ' Confugite ad Jesum, vita in eoque salus.' 
 Vivere si licuisset nunc, o si ! frueremur 
 
 Voce tua, aspectu, consilioque pio. 
 O utinam vixisses ! omnia namque videnur 
 
 Rapta simul Tecum, volaque nostra jacent ! 
 Ceciopidse Anytique reum flebantque Platona, 
 
 Nisbet, Te Juvenes non secus atque gement ! 
 Vivet in seternum virtus tua, nulla vetustas 
 
 Delebit famam, conspicuumque decus. 
 De patria que tua sors si certabitur olim, 
 
 Te volet esse suum hsec, illaque et esse suum, 
 Nulla aetasque futura tacebit nomina Nisbet, 
 
 Per terrarum orbem clara, negata niori. 
 Coll. Franklin Lcmcastria, Kal. Mart. 1804. 
 
 The Trustees of the College desired, and we are 
 assured, intended, to erect a suitable monument over 
 the grave of their venerated President; but their 
 poverty and a load of debt, together with their want of 
 zeal and enterprize, prevented the execution of their 
 wishes. At length however, this memorial of re- 
 spect was completed by the filial affection, and at the 
 expense, of his only surviving son, the Hon. Alex- 
 ander Nisbet, Judge of the city court of Baltimore. 
 The following is the epitaph which it bears, and 
 which is ascribed to the pen of the late Rev. Dr. 
 John M. Mason, who is universally known as hav- 
 ing been one of the most accomplished and eloquent 
 divines which have adorned the American Church, 
 and who was one of the successors of Dr. Nisbet, as 
 President of Dickinson College. 
 
 M.S. 
 
 Caroli Nisbet, S. S. T. D. 
 
 Qui unanimi hortatu 
 
 Curatorum Academise Dickinsoniensis, 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 29& 
 
 Ut Primarii ejusdem munia susciperet, 
 
 Patria sua, Scotia, n licta, 
 
 Ad Carleolum venit, A. D. 1 789. 
 
 Ibique per novem decern annos 
 
 Summa cum laude 
 
 Muneri suo incubuit, 
 
 Viri, si quis alius, probi piique 
 
 Omni doctrinaornatissimi, 
 
 Lectione immensa, memoria fideli, 
 
 Acumine vero ingenii facetiis salibusque 
 
 Plane miri, et undique clari. 
 
 Nemini vero mortalium nisi iis infensi, 
 
 Qui cum Philosophiae proetextu sacris insultant. 
 
 Familiae autem suae amicisque, 
 
 Ob mores suaves, benignos, hilares comesque 
 
 Unice delecti. 
 
 Animam placide efflavit 14mo. Kal. Feb. 1804, 
 
 Anno aetatis 68vo. 
 
 Abiit noster: proh dolor ! 
 
 Cui similem baud facile posthac visuri sumus ! 
 
 At quern Terra amisit, lucrifecit Ccelum, 
 
 Novo splendore 
 
 Corporis resuscitati, vitaeque eterni 
 
 Cum Domino Jesu, omnibusque Sanctis, 
 
 Ovantem rediturura. 
 
 Dr. Nisbet's person was, in height, rather below 
 the middle stature, and, in earl}' life, slender and full 
 of agility. He often said, that in his youth, in walk- 
 ing, it was easy for him to keejo pace with an ordi- 
 nary horseman; and that he frequently, on a winter 
 morning, walked twenty or thirty miles before break- 
 fast, without any painful effort. Before his arrival 
 at middle age, however, he became corpulent, and 
 continued so to the end of life. It came upon him 
 suddenly, like a disease; and no degree of abstinence 
 which he could adopt, appeared to arrest or diminish 
 it. Yet his corpulence did not interfere much with 
 
300 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 activity, even in advanced age. His motions were 
 habitually rapid, and such as might have been ex- 
 pected in one who had been once so remarkably 
 agile. He was characteristically quick in every 
 movement, physical and intellectual. There was 
 nothing sluggish or drawling in his constitution. 
 Neither did his corpulence interfere with his health. 
 This was seldom interrupted. He was, indeed, oc- 
 casionally troubled with some disorder of the sto- 
 mach, somewhat similar to the modern fashionable- 
 disease, called dyspepsia. He, however, very sel- 
 dom took medicine; but generally found himself en- 
 tirely relieved by a fast of twenty-four hours, which 
 was his unfailing remedy. 
 
 The Print prefixed to this Memoir is copied from 
 a painting taken about the fortieth year of his age; 
 which is said, by those who knew the venerable 
 original at that early period, to be an excellent like- 
 ness of what he then was. The Mezzotinto copy 
 here presented, is executed with admirable success. 
 
 Mrs. Nisbet survived the Doctor more than three 
 years. Her health and strength declined from his 
 decease. She departed this life on the 12th day of 
 May, 1807, in the hope and consolation of the Gos- 
 pel. She was an excellent woman, greatly aj,tached 
 to her husband, and peculiarly adapted and devoted 
 to his comfort. 
 
 The library which Dr. Nisbet left, was a peculiar 
 one. It was rather select and curious than large. 
 Such a collection of books is rarely found. Of what 
 may be called common-place works, he had compa- 
 ratively few. But of books singular in their charac- 
 ter, or very rare, he was a zealous collector. In thii 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. SOI 
 
 respect, his library was probably a unique in our 
 country. It comprised works not only in the Latin 
 and Greek, but also in the French, German, Spanish, 
 and Italian languages, all of which, it is believed, he 
 read with entire ease. As he made no will, this 
 collection fell, without any testamentary disposition, 
 into the hands of his widow and children. Some 
 years after his death, two of his grand children, viz. 
 the Right Rev. Bishop M'Coskry, of Michigan, and 
 Henry C. Turnbull, Esq. of Maryland, who had ob- 
 tained the disposal of the Library, generously made 
 a present of it to the Theological Seminary at Prince- 
 ton, as the most suitable ultimate destination of a 
 collection of books made by a Presbyterian minister, 
 whose ruling passion was the diffusion of human and 
 divine knowledge, and who had come to our coun- 
 try, as has been already stated, with the hope of be- 
 ing able to contribute something toward elevating 
 the standard of education, and especially of Theologi- 
 cal education, on this side of the Atlantic. 
 
 This donation to the Theological Seminary being 
 made at a time when it was uncertain whether heresy 
 or schism, or both, might not expose every thing 
 committed to that Institution to the danger of per- 
 version; the generous donors thought proper to con- 
 stitute the Presbytery of New Brunswick Trustees 
 of the Library, to guard against its being employed 
 to promote principles hostile to those of the original 
 possessor, and, in case of such perversion, to make 
 an ultimate disposal of it. This trust the Presbytery 
 has accepted. 
 
 The present chapter will be closed by a brief state- 
 26 
 
302 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 ment of the surviving children and descendants of 
 this eminent man. 
 
 At the time of his decease he left two sons, and 
 two daughters living. 
 
 His eldest son, Thomas^ survived him only a 
 short time. He was never married, and died with- 
 out reformation. 
 
 His second son, Jllexander, after graduating 
 in Dickinson College, studied law with Judge 
 Duncan, of Carlisle, and settled, in the practice 
 of his profession, in the city of Baltimore; where 
 his talents, integrity, and application soon secured 
 him a respectable amount of professional success. 
 He has occupied the ofiice of Judge of the City Court 
 of Baltimore for twenty-two years. He married 
 Miss Mary C. wings, of Maryland. They have 
 had seven children — three sons, and four daughters. 
 The daughters only survive. 
 
 The Doctor's eldest daughter, Mary, who, as was 
 before stated, married William Turnbull, Esquire, 
 died about twenty years after her father. She left 
 nine children; four sons and five daughters. Of 
 these, all, except one of the sous, are still living, and 
 in various highly respectable situations. 
 
 The Doctor's younger daughter, *^//.90?2,j^'ho mar- 
 ried Dr. M'Coskry, in 1795, was left a widow, in 
 the year 1818, and is still living. She has had six 
 children; three sons and three daughters. Of these 
 one son only, and two daughters survive. The son 
 is the Right Reverend Samuel M'Coskry, Bishop of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of 
 Michigan, Of the daughters, Mary, the second, 
 married the Rev. Erskine Mason, D. D. of the city 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 303 
 
 of New York; and Alison the youngest, married Mr. 
 Charles D. Cleaveland, late Professor in Dickinson 
 College, now Principal of a respectable literary In- 
 stitution in the city of Philadelphia. 
 
 In a (e\v months after the decease of Dr. Nisbet, 
 an extended JMonody to his memory was published 
 by Charles Keith, M. D. a Physician, of Scotland, 
 who afterwards removed and practised his profession 
 in England. He considered himself as deeply in- 
 debted to the Doctor, for a large part of his early 
 education, and for his success in life; and was ar- 
 dently attached to his memory. After Dr. Nisbet's 
 death. Dr. Keith, in a letter to his younger son, Alex- 
 ander Nisbet, Esquire, of Baltimore, expressed him- 
 self concerning his reverend friend in the following 
 strong language. " Ever dear to me must be the Son 
 of my ever honoured and much lamented Friend. 
 Proud I am to have had such a Friend: for, take him 
 for all and all, I never knew his equal; and proud 
 you may well be to have had such a Father. His 
 death was to me a grievous affliction. His loss I can 
 never supply. But if I have lost so much in a friend 
 separated from me by the wide Atlantic, what must 
 not your mother and all of you have lo.st!" 
 
 After the decease of Dr. Nisbet, Dickinson College 
 continued still further to decline. Its deplorable 
 povert}^, and the still more deplorable want of zeal, 
 harmony and efficiency on the part of the board of 
 Trustees ensured an existence, if continued, sickly 
 and feeble. Five or six Presidents in succession 
 were appointed, but without any effectual relief; un- 
 til at length the Presbyterian board — for such was 
 the predominant influence which sustained the InstU 
 
304 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 tution — surrendered it into the hands of gentlemen 
 connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
 the United States. By the brethren of that denomi- 
 nation, the Institution has since been borne onward 
 and upward with commendable zeal, and with a very 
 respectable degree of success. 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 505 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 His Character, ^-c. 
 
 The attentive reader will have seen enough in the 
 foregoing statements and remarks to enable him to 
 make a distinct estimate of the character of Dr. Nis- 
 bet, without any formal attem})t to draw his por- 
 trait. Yet for the sake of furnishing a convenient 
 medium for presenting to the public some of the Let- 
 ters, and other testimonials which follow, and which 
 might have been greatly multiplied, this closing 
 Chapter is added to the foregoing. The writer ac- 
 knowledges, too, that in making this addition, he is 
 in some degree influenced by a lurking reluctance to 
 take a final leave of a character so endeared to him 
 self by a thousand most respectful and affectionat' 
 recollections. 
 
 Probably no minister in the American Church 
 naw living, was at once more intimately acquaintec 
 with Dr. Nisbet, and more capable of appreciating 
 his character, than the Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green, lat' 
 President of the College of New Jersey, and still, ii 
 a venerated old age, zealously and ably serving th 
 cause of evangelical truth and order. This Fathe 
 of ihe American Church, at the request of the write 
 of the present Memoir, transmitted to him the fol 
 lowing Letter, which is inserted for the double pur 
 pose of presenting to the public the interesting fact 
 and opinions vvliich it contains; and also, as a memo 
 26*. 
 
306 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 rial of that early and long continued friendship which 
 led to this union and co-operation in erecting an 
 humble monument to the memory of the illustrious 
 dead. 
 
 '« Philadelphia, Spril ^Oth, 1839/' 
 " Rev. and Dear Sir,'' 
 
 " I am now to fulfil a promise which you drew 
 from me, that I would furnish you with some of my 
 reminiscences of the late Rev. Dr. Charles Nisbet. '' 
 
 '' My first acquaintance with this eminent man 
 was at Princeton, shortly after his arrival from Scot- 
 land, in the year 1785. My impression and belief 
 is —although I cannot affirm it as a fact — that before 
 he went to Carlisle, he left his family in Philadel- 
 phia, and made a short visit to his old friend Dr. 
 Witherspoon. I was then a professor in the College 
 at Princeton, and was, as a matter of course, introdu- 
 ced to Dr. Nisbet, with whom however I had but 
 little intercourse or conversation. Nearly the whole 
 of what I distinctly remember of him, at that time, 
 is, that Dr. Witherspoon conducted him into the 
 college chapel, where he offered the usual evening 
 prayer with the faculty and students.'' 
 
 "It was not till the month of February, in 1786, 
 that I was licensed to preach, and not till tlie spring 
 of 1787, that I was settled in Philadelphia; and du- 
 ring this period I knew nothing more of Dr. Nisbet 
 than I have already mentioned, except that he was 
 established at Carlisle, as the President of Dickinson 
 College." 
 
 " Shortly after my collegiate connection with Dr. 
 Sproat, I obtaiaed — but from whom I do not remena- 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC 307 
 
 ber — a copy of a printed sermon delivered at Car- 
 lisle by Dr. Nisbet, soon after he had entered on his 
 official duties in that place. So far as I know, this 
 was the only publication that he made in this coun- 
 try. It has been, I find, a prevalent belief, that after 
 he left Scotland, (how it was before I know not,) he 
 never made a publication of any kind: but of the 
 sermon to which I have referred, I have a distinct 
 recollection; and I have a strong impression, yet not 
 amounting to confidence, that the text of the sermon 
 was Acts vii. 22: ' And Moses was learned in all the 
 wisdom of the Egyptians.' "' 
 
 "Dr. Nisbet was in the habit of visiting Philadel- 
 phia at the annual meetings of the General Assem- 
 bly of our church. When he was a member of that 
 body, he came here of course: and when he was not 
 a member, he selected this period to make an excur- 
 sion for the benefit of his health, and to see and con- 
 verse with his clerical brethren, from all parts of our 
 country; as well as to enjoy the company of a large 
 circle of friends in this city — friends among other 
 denominations of Christians, as well as his own. He 
 excelled in conversation, and greatly delighted in 
 social intercourse. I well remember to have heard 
 him remark, that at the meetings of our Presbyte- 
 ries, Synods, and General Assemblies, the private 
 and friendly intercourse of the ministers and elders 
 of our church, was, in his opinion, as useful as their 
 ecclesiastical acts as judicatories; and to me, he ad- 
 ded, far more pleasing,'' 
 
 " It was at an early period of my pastoral life, but 
 the year I do not remember, that at one of his an- 
 nual visits to Philadelphia, we renewed our former 
 
308 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 acquaintance; and from that time till his death, I had 
 much intercourse with him, both in personal con- 
 versation and in epistolary correspondence. Most 
 of his letters to me were of great length — closely 
 written, but as legible, nearly, as a well printed book; 
 for his hand writing was beautiful, and remarkably 
 distinct. He very rarely erased or amended a single 
 word that he had first penned. 1 once asked him 
 how he could do this, as I knew he never used trans- 
 cription. His reply was characteristic. 'Your 
 question, said he, is easily answered. I always write 
 what first comes into my head, and leave it to my 
 correspondents to erase and amend just as much as 
 they please.' I regret to say, that I have lent and 
 given away his letters, till I have not one remaining, 
 of those he addressed to myself. A long one to Br. 
 Witherspoon has come into my hands, which I hope 
 to insert in his life. " 
 
 "Dr. Nisbet, was, beyond comparison, a man of 
 the most learning that I have ever personally known. 
 Of this learning, however, he was 7iever ostentatious. 
 It discovered itself in his conversation and letters, 
 but without any thing like intentional display. In 
 my hearing, he never even adverted to his various 
 attainments. Yet from what I observed, and what 
 I have learned from others, I believe it maf be safe- 
 ly stated, that beside his own language, he was skill- 
 ed in Hebrew, including the Chaldee, Greek, Latin, 
 French, Italian, Spanish, German, and probably Erse. 
 Whether he was, or was not, acquainted with the 
 Arabic, Syriac, Persic or Sanscrit, I do not know. 
 With the ancient classics, and with the modern 
 tongues I have mentioned, his familiarity was great 
 
HIS CHARACTER, IJTC. 309 
 
 — in each, he had read a considerable portion of the 
 best authors. When he left Europe, he was suppo- 
 sed to be among; the best Greek scholars it contain- 
 ed. While at the University, 1 have been credibly 
 informed, that, during one of the vacations, he read 
 all the Homilies of Chrysostom. Of the Iliad of 
 Homer, he could repeat by memory a great, if not 
 the greater part. But he was not merely a linguist. 
 There was scarcely a subject, or topic, in any depart- 
 ment of liberal knowledge, and even in some of the 
 mechanic arts, with which he was not acquainted — 
 doubtless with some, more accurately and extensive- 
 ly than with others. Of what are usually called the 
 exact sciences, I think his knowledge was only gen- 
 eral. I have reason to know that he was an anato- 
 mist. Being greatly afflicted, in the early part of 
 my ministry, with weak eyes, and observing that, at 
 the age of about sixty, he never used spectacles, I 
 asked him what means he had used to preserve his 
 eye-sight, in what appeared to me a state of perfec- 
 tion. He took up the subject at once, and after ex- 
 plaining the structure of the visual organs, with ana- 
 tomical exactness, he applied the explanation to the 
 means which he had used, and which others might 
 use, to preserve them in a healthy state. By follow- 
 ing his directions, in connection with the use of some 
 additional means of my own devising, the complaint 
 of my eyes was gradually and entirely removed; so 
 that now, in the latter part of my seventy seventh 
 year, m}' vision is far better, than is common, in men 
 of my age." 
 
 " In stating my reminiscences, this may be as pro- 
 per a place as any other, to mention a remarkable oc- 
 
310 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 currence in the life of Dr. Nisbet, relative to an affec- 
 tion of his sense of tasting, the state of his stomach, 
 and probably of his whole corporeal system; a descrip- 
 tion of which I received from his own lips. He 
 said that at one period of his life, he was, for seve- 
 ral years, without any sensation of hunger, any de- 
 sire of food, or any relish of it, when it was taken; 
 so that if he had been starved to death, he thought 
 he should have died without any craving of suste- 
 nance. His general health, however, did not suffer 
 much; and he took his meals, both as to time and 
 quantity, as his judgment dictated, and without 
 loathing, but without any sensible gratification. At 
 length, having occasion to go to a distance in a stage 
 coach, he resolved to make the first stage, of some 
 twelve or fifteen miles, without his breakfast; and 
 that, on calling for it at the stage house, he, for the 
 first time in tvvelve years, ate a part of a beef-steak, 
 with appetite and relish. The whole time I was 
 acquainted with him, he was, in his person, fleshy, 
 without being corpulent, very active, and quick in 
 all his muscular motions. He dined with me a 
 number of times; and I remarked nothing peculiar 
 in his eating or drinking, except that he always re- 
 fused gravy with his meat." ^ 
 
 "Dr. Nisbet's extensive reading in the principal 
 languages of modern Europe, had rendered him well 
 informed of the state and tendencies of society, in 
 the several nations of that quarter of our globe. 
 Hence it was, that from the very origin of the French 
 revolution, he foresaw and predicted its desolating 
 course, and denounced it with as much decision and 
 bitterness as Edmund Burk himself. With the most 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 311 
 
 of my countrymen, I thought favourably of it at 
 first; and, in one of my letters, told him, that I 
 hoped it might be the design of God, in this provi- 
 dential dispensation, to make use of the rough hand 
 of infidelity to prostrate the barriers of Popish igno- 
 rance and superstition, and then to pour out his Spirit 
 on the immense population of that kingdom, and 
 produce a glorious revolution, in favour of pure reli- 
 gion, and the liberties of mankind. He answered 
 me by saying, that if it was a desirable thing to pull 
 down the Pope, and set up the Devil, it must be 
 confessed that a glorious revolution was going on in 
 France; and that if it was the design of God, in his 
 providence, to make the enormities perpetrated 
 among that people productive of any immediate 
 good, we could only say, * How unsearchable are his 
 judgments, and his ways past finding out!' My par- 
 tiality to the French revolution was terminated at 
 an early period of its progress, and the Doctor, from 
 that time, had no hesitation in giving me his whole 
 mind on the subject. From some cause or other, 
 he was able to predict coming events at that period, 
 even in opposition to existing appearances. Thus, 
 at the time when the Constituent Assembly had de- 
 creed that France should remain a monarchy, and 
 the people were enthusiastically swearing fealty to 
 their king, Dr. Nisbet wrote to me, as near as 1 can 
 recollect, in these words: ^ Poor Louis, he will have 
 a sham trial, and a real execution.' When I com-, 
 plimented him on the sagacity manifested in his 
 prognostics, he told me, that he deserved no other 
 credit for his predictions, than what was due to his 
 lucky interpretation of the prophetic enigmas of the 
 
312 
 
 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 celebrated Nostrodamus; that when he wished to 
 know what was to come next, he had only to con- 
 sult Nostrodamus, (no doubt, in his ' Centuries of 
 Quatrains,') and employ his skill in solving his pro- 
 phetic symbols; in which he had hitherto been very 
 successful. I told him, that since Nostrodamus was 
 80 sure a guide, I should like to know how the 
 French revolution was to terminate. * 0,' said the 
 Doctor, * it will all go to the Devil at last. ^ How 
 much, or how little, of exact truth there was, in this 
 statement about Nostrodamus, I pretend not to deter- 
 mine. Dr. Nisbet never trifled with truth, when 
 the subject was serious; but he both hated and ridi- 
 culed the French revolution, and that incessantly. I 
 could fill more than this second sheet of my remi- 
 niscences, with his ludicrous allusions to the events, 
 and the language to which it gave rise. I will men- 
 tion but a single instance. While the General As- 
 sembly of our Church was in session, in May, 1796, 
 a very valuable horse was stolen from me, out of a 
 pasture-lot in the vicinity of the city. Dr. Nisbet, 
 who was paying us his annual visit, on hearing of 
 this occurrence, hastened to my house, and some- 
 thing like the following colloquy ensued: * So,' said 
 he, ' 1 understand you have lost your hors^-' Yes, 
 Doctor, I replied, the night before last, a thief fancied 
 him, and I fear I shall never see him again. 'No 
 doubt,' said he, * it was done by one of the sovereign 
 people; he was taken, without your leave, by a pure 
 act of sovereignty. But, sir, it was only a forced 
 loan; it was an act of practical Liberty and Equal- 
 ity; the rascal thought that you had been riding 
 long enough, and that, by all the laws of equality, it 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 313 
 
 was his turn to ride naw; and so he made use of his 
 liberty to appropriate to himself a part of your pro- 
 perty, without your consent.^ ^' 
 
 "Lord Kames, in his Elements of Criticism, says, 
 * Memory and wit are often conjoined, sound judg- 
 ment seldom with either.' Of the justice of at least 
 the first half of this dictum of his countryman. Dr. 
 Nisbet might be referred to, as a striking example. 
 In memory and wit, I always viewed him as a pro- 
 digy. I do not mean to say, that his memory was 
 without a parallel; for both in ancient and modern 
 times, I have read of those who equalled him in this 
 faculty. But I can truly say, that I never myself 
 have known an individual that could pretend to be 
 his equal. Every thing that he had read, heard or 
 seen, seemed to be immovably fixed in his mind, and 
 to be ready for his use. Not only could he refer to 
 any fact or reasoning, in the numerous authors 
 which he had perused in various languages, but all 
 the incidents in the newspapers of the day, and in 
 other ephemeral publications that fell under his no- 
 tice, he never forgot. His letters to me sometimes 
 referred to occurrences in this city, which, although 
 on the spot, I had not observed, or had entirely for- 
 gotten, till he called my attention to them. He told 
 me, however, in one of the last interviews that I had 
 with him, that he found his memory was less faith- 
 ful and tenacious than it had formerly been. In re- 
 gard to his wit, it seemed to be instinctive, and to 
 gush out, almost involuntarily, on all occasions. 
 Sometimes it showed itself in that pleasant play of the 
 fancy which is denominated Humour; and sometimes 
 and oftener, it might be called broad Wit, irresistibly 
 27 
 
314 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 provocative of agitating mirth, or laughter. Too 
 often for his own quiet, it was satirical, or sar- 
 castic; causing loss of friendship in some who could 
 not make allowance for an overbearing propensity. 
 For truly, in him, satirical remark or allusion was 
 not prompted by a misanthropic or malignant spirit, 
 or disposition. On the contrary, he was benevolent, 
 compassionate and kind, in no ordinary degree. 
 Seldom have I known a man, more easily or certain- 
 ly melted by distress or misfortune; or more ready 
 to do all in his power to relieve it. After the dread- 
 ful calamity, the yellow fever of 1793, his sympathy 
 was so awakened by the death of his friends, that on 
 his next visit to our city, he exhibited little else 
 than sadness in his demeanour and conversation. I 
 once took the liberty to say to him, that it seemed 
 to me, that whether in the communications of others, 
 or by his own observation, his attention was drawn, 
 with somewhat more than ordinary force, to an ob- 
 ject, he speedily saw it in some obliquity of aspect, 
 in some grotesque or ludicrous form, that rendered 
 it ridiculous, or the fit subject of satire. He frank- 
 ly replied, * I think there is something in that.-* I 
 thought it an evidence of deep conscientiousness, 
 that, as far as possible, he restrained himself from 
 saying what would cause levity and laughter on the 
 Lord's day; and that he did not intentionally admit 
 any eifusion of wit into his sermons. You will no- 
 tice the qualification with which I have expressed 
 myself in the last sentence; for the truth was, he was 
 sometimes witty, and caused a smile, without intend- 
 ing it, or probably being conscious of it himself. 
 Thus, he once made me smile, while preaching for 
 me in my own pulpit; by comparing a man who is 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC 315 
 
 ^ carried about by every wind of doctrine,' and appa- 
 rently afraid to trust his own understanding to fix 
 him steadfastly in any article of his relij>;ious creed, 
 to a man who should make the experiment of tying 
 up his own eyes, to see how he would walk blind- 
 folded. Expressions of this character were so com- 
 mon with him, both in conversation and writing, 
 that I think he probably often used them, without 
 being at all sensible that they were ludicrous." 
 
 '' He never showed a note in the pulpit; and what- 
 ever he mio;Iu have done in the early periods of his 
 ministry, I am persuaded that while I knew him, he 
 rarely, if ever, wrote a sermon. His mind was so 
 stored with ideas on every topic of a religious kind, 
 and his acquaintance with the holy Scriptures was 
 so accurate and familiar, that with his ready utter- 
 ance, he could preach on any subject without much 
 labour of preparation. His public discourses abound- 
 ed in thought, and thought that was pertinent, useful, 
 and often striking; but he was loose and miscellane- 
 ous, rather than close and methodical. He always, 
 indeed, adhered to a general method, in the treat- 
 ment of his subject; but he was not solicitous to put 
 each expression in its most proper place, or to ex- 
 clude matter merely collateral, if it fell in his way. 
 His voice in preaching was articulate, but not power- 
 ful; not loud enough to reach the remote parts of 
 a large and full church, so as to be heard without 
 a painful listening. He was not aware of this, till 
 he heard of it in the way of complaint; and then 
 he altogether refused to attempt a publi*c service in 
 the larger churches of our city. * I cannot preach in 
 your mammoth houses,' was his reply to every in- 
 vitation, after he had formed the resolution I have 
 
316 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 mentioned. Yet he was always ready, and apparent- 
 ly gratified to preach in any place or circumstances, 
 in which he could he easily and fully heard. 1 once 
 accompanied him when he went, I believe on his own 
 voluntary offer, to preach to the convicts, in the pub- 
 lic prison of this city; and I was never better pleased 
 with any sermon that I heard from him, than that 
 which he delivered on this occasion.'^ 
 
 ^^In Theology, Dr. Nisbet was a decided Calvin- 
 ist, of the old school, and deeply read in the writings 
 of its most distinguished masters. Yet he was not 
 intolerant of other denominations, if they held what 
 he regarded as the fundamentals of religion. I never 
 heard him speak with severity of any religious sect, 
 except the Universalists. Of an individual of that 
 sect, whom he believed to be a very bad man, I once 
 heard him say, * His is the only good rogue's re- 
 ligion. He knoVvs, if that dont save him, he has no 
 chance at all.' " 
 
 "Of his general character as the President of a 
 College, I know but little. Living at the distance of 
 one hundred and twenty miles from Carlisle, and ha- 
 ving visited it but once during his presidency, and 
 that at a time of vacation in the College, I had no 
 opportunity to make any observations for r»yself. I 
 have always understood, that in the business of in- 
 struction, he never failed to perform with ability, 
 diligence and punctuality, every duty to which he 
 was pledged. I also know that he was greatly dis- 
 satisfied with the hasty and imperfect course of study, 
 which he found himself obliged to tolerate; and that 
 he gave great umbrage to some of the Trustees of the 
 Institution, by the severity of the remarks which he 
 made, on the disposition which he believed they 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC, 317 
 
 eherislied, to favour a superficial system of educa- 
 tion." 
 
 "In like manner, I must state, that I know but 
 little, from personal observation, of Dr. Nisbet's do- 
 mestic character. I have uniformly heard him repre- 
 sented as peculiarly amiable and kind, not only in 
 his family, but in alt his intercourse with othei'S, in 
 private life. When the General Assembly met at 
 Carlisle, in 1792, he invited a company to dine with 
 him, of whom I was one; and this, as far as I recol- 
 lect, was the only time, except on the following 
 Lord's day, that I ever made a part of his domestic- 
 circle. The dinner party to which I have referred, 
 was received and treated in a handsome style; and at 
 its close, the Doctor indul<red his witty and satirical 
 vein, bevond any thing that I had before witnessed. 
 At other times, it had broken out by flashes, with 
 distinct intermissions; but it now blazed forth in a 
 coruscation, with only fitful abatements, for more 
 than an hour." 
 
 " I conclude my reminisences of Dr. Nisbet, with 
 stating, that he was a man of as much genuine in- 
 tegrity as I have ever known. Whatever were the 
 subject, he abhorred, and denounced in unmeasured 
 terms, all hypocrisy and all disguise. His own sen- 
 timents and feelings he disclosed with the simplicity 
 of a child. Had he been more reserved, perhaps he 
 he would have been more happy; but he had no ta- 
 lent for concealment." 
 
 " Respectfully and affectionately," 
 " Yours," 
 
 " AsHBEL Green." 
 
 ''Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller.'' 
 27* 
 
318 MEMOIR OF D3.. NISBET. 
 
 The following letter from the Rev. Dr. Brown, 
 President of Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pennsyl- 
 vania, will show the estimation in which the subject 
 of this Memoir is held by another highly respected 
 head of an important literary Institution. 
 
 " Canonsburg, June 29, 1840." 
 " Reverend and Dear Sir,'' 
 
 " I have a very high regard for the memory of Dr. 
 Nisbet. It was my privilege to enjoy the benefit of 
 his instruction, for several j^ears, while a student at 
 College. I have an entire copy of all his college Lec- 
 tures as he delivered them. Afterwards 1 studied 
 Theology under his direction, and was favoured with 
 the reading of the manuscript Lectures which he de- 
 livered previously to a Theological class. 
 
 " Dr. Nisbet was certainly a very extraordinary 
 man. He appeared to have read and studied every 
 thing, and to have forgotten nothing. He seemed at 
 home on every subject; to be familiar with all distin- 
 guished writers, ancient and modern; and to be ex- 
 tensively and accurately informed on every depart- 
 ment of literature. He was master of at least twelve* 
 different languages, and could write and converse in 
 most of them with ease and fluency. In Latin par- 
 ticularly he could converse and write with great fa- 
 cility and elegance. As President of the College, 
 when present at the recitations or examinations of the 
 different classes, he appeared perfectly familiar with 
 
 *In a subsequent page the number of languages with which he 
 was familiar, is represented as Jiine. That representation was intend- 
 ed to be strictly within bounds. Dr. Brown tliinks the number was 
 greater. 
 
HIS CHRACTER, ETC. 319 
 
 every department, mathematics, the natural sciences, 
 and languages, as well as his own peculiar depart- 
 ment. He was so perfectly familiar with the Latin 
 and Greek classics usually studied in College, that 
 ^' without book," he could hear a recitation, and cor- 
 rect the slightest error. He appeared to have the 
 whole committed to memory. The power of his 
 memory was altogether extraordinary. 'The Task,' 
 a favourite poem with him, he was said to have com- 
 mitted to memory perfectly by two readings. He 
 could quote and repeat, with a familiarity truly won- 
 derful, most of the great Poets, Latin, Greek and 
 English. 
 
 '•' In Theology and the sacred Scriptures his knowl- 
 edge was extensive and profound. When 1 com- 
 menced the study of Theology under his care, he di- 
 rected me to read and study the Scriptu7^es, at first 
 'without note or comment;' and when any difficul- 
 ty occurred, to note the passage and present it to 
 him, at the time appointed for meeting him. The 
 moment he took the paper in his hand he seemed to 
 anticipate the whole difficulty, referred at once to the 
 connection, and commonly repeated literally, and 
 with the utmost readiness, the whole context; and 
 was prepared to throw the most satisfactory light 
 upon it." 
 
 '' It was my privilege to sit under his ministry for 
 several years. But I can give you no new information 
 on this subject, as you had the same privilege, though, 
 for a shorter time. After I became familiar with his 
 Scotch dialect and tone, I was delighted with him as 
 a preacher. There was, as might have been expect- 
 ed, in his discourse a rich fund of thought expressed 
 
320 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET* 
 
 with peculiar vivacity and force of language; and 
 when exposing error and vice, accompanied with a 
 vein of satire for which he was so remarkable. His 
 sermons, you know, were not written; but they were 
 very systematic, and always well arranged. He had 
 a singular command of that exhaustless fund of ideas 
 with which his mind was stored. When I heard 
 him in Carlisle, he seemed to limit himself exactly 
 to an hour, in every discourse, by the watch. But 
 this limitation of himself to the hour did not seem to 
 destroy, or even to affect, the proportion or harmony 
 of the different parts of his sermons." 
 
 " His plan of instruction in College was by Lec- 
 tures, which the classes were expected to write in 
 full. He delivered them with so much deliberation 
 and with such pauses, that, after some practice, we 
 were able to take down the whole. I have a full 
 copy of all his lectures taken from his lips as he de- 
 livered them. There were, however, few classes, all 
 the members of which would consent to sustain the 
 labour of doing this. His lectures were thought by 
 some to be too voluminous; but they were exceed- 
 ingly rich, and excellent in their kind. Besides a 
 thorough and philosophical investigation of his sub- 
 ject, it was always illustrated by appropriate anec- 
 dotes, characterized by that wit and vivacity for 
 which he was so distinguished. He seldom finished 
 a lecture without some exhilarating anecdote, and 
 some brilliant flashes of wit and humour, electrifying 
 the whole class." 
 
 " It has been often alleged that men who are re- 
 markable for memory and ivit, are commonly defi- 
 cient in judgment, and the power of close reasoning 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 321 
 
 and investigation. This rennark, which has almost 
 passed into a maxim, was not exemplified in the case 
 of Dr. Nisbet. His Lectures on Metaphysics, on 
 Mental Philosophy, and on the most difficult subjects 
 in Theology, exhibit a mind capable of the closest 
 reasoning, and the most discriminating and profound 
 investigation, whilst at the same time his lucid style, 
 and striking illustrations, throw an interest around 
 those subjects which are usually considered as dry 
 and unattractive." 
 
 "And here I cannot forbear to give a little speci- 
 men of what I mean, extracted from one of his Lec- 
 tures on Logic. After treating on several sorts of 
 syllogism and modes of argumentation, he added:" 
 
 "Besides all the modes of argumentation already 
 mentioned, there is another more ancient and much 
 more in use, than any of the rest. This is com- 
 monly called the ay^gumenium bacculinum, or 
 club argument, and consists in using force in bring- 
 ing others over to our opinion. But all other me- 
 thods of reasoning ought to be tried before this is 
 used; yet in all governments this mode is absolutely 
 necessary for supporting the honour of the laws; 
 and indeed all government is only a jest without it. 
 But it is not only the nerve of authority, but the 
 soul of war. Whence Louis the 14th caused this 
 inscription to be engraved on his cannon — Ultima 
 ratio regum. There are some men of a nature so 
 stupid that this is the only mode of reasoning that 
 has any weight with them; and others are so stub- 
 born that even this mode of reasoning cannot change 
 their opinion; but it has this convenient quality that, 
 when it is vigorously applied, it either silences or 
 
322 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 convinces. It has the same property as the dilem- 
 ma^ viz, that it is apt o be retorted; and if the per- 
 son who uses it, has not a force superior to his respon- 
 dent, he runs the risk of being confuted; because 
 this mode of reasoning is of all others the most in- 
 fectious, and apt to be catched by the respondent, 
 the moment that it is used against him, which ought 
 to make young men very cautious in the use of this 
 argument, lest Ihey give their respondent an oppor- 
 tunity of refuting them. But the most warrantable 
 and safe use of this mode of argumentation is when 
 one acts as a respondent; and this is the only justifi- 
 able use of it in private life. There is no mode of 
 argument in which mankind are more liable to be 
 licentious and disputatious. Young men in particu- 
 lar are very prone to the use of it, though generally 
 forbidden by their teacher; and, indeed, they ought 
 not to be allowed the use of it until they are acquaint- 
 ed with the rules of logic, so as to know its proper 
 place, and the cases in which it ought to be used. 
 Of all modes of reasoning this is, undoubtedly, the 
 most generally used. Hence all history is full of it; 
 on which account it may be reckoned surprising that 
 Jiristotle has said nothing about it in his Organon; 
 and it was probably owing to this omissiot^that his 
 pupil, Alexander the Great, was so licentious in the 
 use of it." 
 
 " It is remarkable that although, in the common 
 mode of syllogistic disputation, there is nothing so 
 difficult as how to find a good middle term, on the 
 contrary, in this way of disputation, there is nothing 
 so easy. Almost every thing has been used as a 
 middle term in this method of disputation. Hence 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 323 
 
 Virgil says, Furor arrna lainistrat, because a stone 
 a stick, a fire-brand, or almost any thing within one's 
 reach, may be used as a middle term. School-mas- 
 ters make use of their ferula for this purpose, and 
 boys of their fists; and Horace tells us that the Thra- 
 cians made use of their drinking cups by way of 
 middl'e terms: — and the moderns have imitated their 
 example by using bottles and glasses for the same 
 purpose. As it is necessary in disputation that the 
 same person should not at once act as opponent and 
 respondent, this gave rise to the shield, the hemlet, 
 and the coat of mail, which served the same purpose 
 to the disputant as the denial of any of the premises 
 in ordinary logic, the effect of which is to render the 
 argument on the other side useless. But since the 
 invention of gunpowder, a new kind of middle term 
 has been introduced, which renders defensive armour 
 entirely useless. But the argumentuni baccidi- 
 nw??2 is safest in the hands of the civil magistrates, 
 because private persons are apt to use it with indis- 
 cretion. Young men ought not to be licentious in the 
 use of any sort of argument; but they ought to be 
 especially cautious in the use of the argumentuni 
 bucculi?iiim.'' 
 
 "The moderns have introduced into their logic, 
 an argument unknown to the ancients called argu- 
 mentuni ad crunienajn, i. e. an argument addressed 
 to the purse, which, however fashionable, has nothing 
 to recommend it, because it has no tendency to pro- 
 duce conviction. It may embarrass a poor respond- 
 ent, but cannot convince his understanding. Be- 
 sides, this mode may also be retorted." 
 
 " Another mode of argument is the argumentum 
 
324 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET» 
 
 juratorium, or attempting to demonstrate a conclu- 
 sion by oaths, instead of premises and middle terms. 
 This kind does not admit of any rule, being really a 
 breach of all rules, and commonly as unfriendly to 
 truth as it is contrary to delicacy and propriety. 
 Besides, swearing in common conversation has been 
 observed to be almost inseparably connected with 
 lying; so that one may pick out the lies out of any 
 mixed discourse, without any other guide than the 
 oaths by which they were accompanied. The fact 
 is, when a man is conscious that he is speaking the 
 truth, he will never suspect that it needs to be con- 
 firmed by an oath; whereas, when he knows that he 
 is telling a lie, it is more than probable that he will 
 swear to it.'^ 
 
 " I am doubtful whether there is any thing in the 
 foregoing reminiscences which will be of any use to 
 you, or which you do not know quite as well al- 
 ready. If any thing has been suggested which has 
 heretofore escaped your notice, it will give pleasure 
 to him who is very respectfully yours," 
 
 '' M. Brown." 
 
 « Rev. Dr. Miller:^ 
 
 More than thirty four years ago, when^ plan had 
 been formed for writing the life of Dr. Nisbet, which 
 was afterwards, for several reasons, for a time laid 
 aside, several ministers of the Church of Scotland 
 were requested to furnish materials for that purpose. 
 On that occasion, the following letter was received 
 from the Rev. Dr. Samuel Martin, of Monimail, a 
 very respectable and worthy Pastor of that Church, 
 which it is thought proper to give at large. A part 
 
aiS CHARACTER, ETC. 325 
 
 of the first paragraph was before quoted; but for the 
 Bake of the connexion, it is judged best to present the 
 whole letter at one view. 
 
 " Monimail, June 1 3, 1805." 
 " Dear Sir,'' 
 
 " You apply to one who is very willing to contri 
 bute his part for doing honour to the memory of our 
 friend, Dr. Nisbet. But, alas! I am not so well 
 qualified for this purpose as you seem to think. As- 
 suredly there are many who could furnish you with 
 much more ample details respecting his life and its 
 various events than I can, and who had better access 
 to him, and more ability to estimate his character 
 and endowments than myself To show you, how- 
 ever, that 1 respect Dr. Nisbet's memory, and that I 
 wish to oblige you, I shall frankly communicate, on 
 the spur of the occasion, what occurs to my recollec- 
 tion, as interesting, and worthy of being recorded in 
 a Memoir of that eminent man.'' 
 
 *' To go back, chronologically; perhaps the first 
 time that I distinguished Mr. Nisbet, was in the Di- 
 vinity Hall at Edinburgh. Dr. Hamilton, our wor- 
 thy and learned Professor, had appointed the im- 
 pugning and defending a Thesis, according to mood 
 and figure, in Latin. The Doctor was an excellent 
 Latin scholar himself, and seemed to be as much at 
 his ease in Latin as in English. The shrewdness 
 and ability, the command of argument and of lan- 
 guage in Mr. Nisbet, struck me much in those days. 
 This disputation was the more memorable, because 
 it was the only one I witnessed in the Theological 
 Class. 1 suppose the practice about that time — 1757 
 28 
 
326 MEMOIR OF DR. NI3BET. 
 
 — or 1758 — was becoming obsolete; though it is kept 
 up still, I believe, in some Presbyteries, in the licens- 
 ing of preachers, and in the secondary trials, before 
 ordination, in our Church/^ 
 
 " His command of Latin, which, at that time I ad- 
 mired, suggests to me the mention of his astonishing 
 memory. In this faculty, he exceeded all men that 
 I ever knew. A son of mine had returned from his 
 first session in the University of St Andrews, when 
 Dr. Nisbet paid a visit to the Earl of Leven's fami- 
 ly, and therefore was with me.* He asked the boy 
 what he was reading? He told him, such a book of 
 Homer. The Doctor then began, and recited many 
 lines of that book, without the least hesitation. I 
 asked him how it was possible tliat such a quantity 
 of Greek could remain in his mind? He replied, 
 * that he did not well know; that he read them, and 
 they stuck.' He assured me that he could once 
 have repeated the whole ^neid, and Young's Night 
 Thoughts. In his quotations from the Classics, and 
 from modern books, I had occasion often to admire 
 the strength of his memory, and the appositeness of 
 his references. Butler's Hudibras seemed to be per- 
 fectly familiar to him, and was often quoted with 
 happy effect. He was fond of wit, and the wit con- 
 joined with the learning of Hudibras, could not fail 
 to please him. Like other wits, he could be playful, 
 and descend to a play on words, very happily. For 
 example, I carried him, one night, through intricate 
 paths and windings, to him, at least, intricate and a 
 
 * Mr. Martin was, for some time, a Chaplain in the Eail ol Leven's 
 family. 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 327 
 
 labyrinth. At the end, he exclaimed—" Martin! 
 you will make an excellent commentator; you carry 
 one safely and skilfully through dark passages." 
 
 " Dr. Nisbet's appearances in the General Assembly 
 attracted my notice long before I was introduced to 
 his acquaintance. They were distinguished by 
 acuteness, and learning, and wit, and happy quota- 
 tions, and quaint allusions. He felt strongly. One 
 of his best friends used to say: — " Quicquid vult 
 valde vidt.''^ He was, therefore, I suspect, some- 
 times too severe on his antagonists in his opinions, 
 his conversations, and his public speeches. His 
 speeches generally were short. He was far from 
 being declamatory. Weak nerves and di65dence ap- 
 peared in his utterance; but his matter was excel- 
 lent; full of point, of argument, and of happy illus- 
 tration. The Docter had given offence to some by 
 quoting Scripture in the General Assembly. The 
 violent settlement of a minister, under the "Patron- 
 age Act," against the will of the congregation, was 
 the subject before the Assembly. Two members 
 had made flaming and menacing speeches in favour 
 of the settlement, and reprobating, in strong terms, 
 the sentence of the Synod refusing to let the presen- 
 tee be placed. After the preceding speakers had 
 done. Dr. Nisbet stood up, and spoke as follows: — 
 * Moderator, I was afraid the two last speakers 
 would have called for thunder and lightening to fall 
 on us and consume us. I have been often blamed 
 for quoting Scripture in this house. I shall not 
 trouble you with it just now; but will repeat (glanc- 
 ing an eye at the friends of Mr. Home, the celebrated 
 author of the Tragedy of Douglas,) a few lines from 
 
328 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET, 
 
 Shakespeare, which, perhaps, will be more to the 
 taste of some gentlemen. 
 
 " Could great men thunder 
 As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet ; 
 For every pelting petty officer, 
 
 "Would use his heaven for thunder ; nothing but thunder. — 
 Merciful heaven ! 
 
 Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, 
 Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak. 
 Than the soft myrtle : But man, proud man I 
 Brest in a little brief authority, 
 Most ignorant of what he's most assured, 
 His glassy essence, — like an angry ape. 
 Plays such fantastick tiicks before high heaven, 
 As make the angels weep ."* 
 
 "This electrified the Assembly; and by such 
 means he often carried his point." 
 
 "After I came to Fife, in 1776,1 had frequent 
 opportunities of meeting with Dr. Nisbet, in the 
 company of our common friend, Dr. Snodgrass, then 
 minister of Dundee. They were congenial spirits 
 in many respects. We enjoyed ' solid nights,' as 
 Dr. Snodgrass phrased it; rich with anecdotes, enli- 
 vened with wit and learning, and seria mistajocis. 
 Our union, however, became closer after he was in- 
 troduced into the acquaintance of the Earl of Leven's 
 family, and was a frequent visitant at JNlel ville House. 
 But I may say, in truth, our union became closer 
 still, after he went to America. I had urged him 
 exceedingly not to cross the Atlantic. I discovered 
 a degree of zeal on the question of his accepting or 
 declining of the invitation to be the President in 
 
 f Shakespeare — Measure for Measure — Act \\. Scene II. 
 
HIS CHARACTER, KTC. 329 
 
 Carlisle College, which showed to him that I was 
 greatly interested in him and his £aim\\y, I suppose 
 it was in some measure on account of the manifesta- 
 tion of tiiis interest, that I was favoured with many- 
 long and very entertaining letters from America, as 
 one of his friends, to whom he took pleasure in un- 
 bosoming himself without restraint. His espistles 
 were always highly grateful to me, and full of A7*- 
 betiana. The greatest number of them I have pre- 
 served; and did delicacy and duty permit freedoms 
 of this sort, which I think they do not, they would, 
 from the press, furnish the public with a very enter- 
 taining collection. They are conversations, unpre- 
 meditated; one topic slides into another; sometimes, 
 however, the transitions are abrupt and unexpected. 
 From his correspondence, though I had not known 
 him in any other way, I should feel myself warranted 
 in pronouncing Dr. Nisbet an excellent man; a sincere 
 Christian; a true patriot; a warm friend; and strongly, 
 verv strongly attached to the interests of religion, and 
 of mankind. His attachments to Great Britain seemed 
 to increase with his years and his experience. He 
 held revolutionary, and especially Galliean princi- 
 ples, in utter detestation. He considered the strength 
 and triumph of Great Britain, in her contest with 
 France, as, under God, the hope of the world. The 
 ' Grand Republic' was the object of his aversion and 
 horror. The transition from outrageous Republican- 
 ism, to the abject servility of the slaves of an upstart 
 Usurper, he considered as, at once, ridiculous, con- 
 temptible, and completely degrading. The doc- 
 trines of Deists, Socinians, and other innovators, 
 were as much abhorred as the levelling doctrines of 
 28* 
 
330 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBETT. 
 
 the infamous Paine, and of his disciples, whose blas»- 
 phemies had deserved no notice or reply,.but for tha 
 unhinging spirit of democracy and impiety, which 
 had crept forth at the time, under the specious ap- 
 pearances and names of ' Philosophy,' the ' Rights of 
 Man,' and general 'Philanthropy,' and 'Illumina- 
 tion.' " 
 
 " By distance of time and place. Dr. Nisbet's iiv 
 terest in his friends in Great Britain seemed to in- 
 crease. 'When I see,' said he in one of his letters-: 
 -— ' When I see the sun, moon and stars passing over 
 me, I am ready to envy them, and to ask tliem con- 
 cerning my Friends whom they have so lately visited 
 and are so soon to see again.' In the act of shutting 
 bis windows, he had happened to think of his friends 
 at Monimail: 'Ever since,' says he, ' I think of you, 
 and pray for you when I shut my windows at night; 
 and so I have connected the remembrance of my 
 friends with particular objects and incidents; and 
 thus I feel myself among them; though I do not just 
 go the length of saying, Sancte Martinty ova pro 
 nobis. ^ " 
 
 ^' Short and hurried as my sketch is, and, there- 
 fore, imperfect, it is all that my knowledge and cir- 
 cumstances admit of; and perhaps all that the limits 
 you can allot for a communication of this sort, can 
 receive. Such as it is, you are welcome to it, and 
 may dispose of it as you please. Others may furnish 
 you with a more perfect account; but none with a 
 more sincere regard for the character of Dr. Nisbet, 
 than his friend and admirer, and yowr obedient hum- 
 ble servant," '' Samuel Martin," 
 " The Rev. Dr, Miller, New York.'' 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 331 
 
 The foregoing communications will satisfy every 
 reader, if he were not before informed of the fact, 
 that Dr. Nisbet's intellectual powers were of a very 
 high order. That his memory was all but prodi- 
 gious, and his wit seldom equalled, all who knew 
 him, with one voice conceded. His memory ex- 
 extended to ivords as well as things, and seemed to 
 serve him without effort, on all occasions. This be- 
 ing the case, some may be ready to doubt whether a 
 mind so remarkable for the power of recalling past 
 impressions, and of tracing unusu-al and striking as- 
 sociations of ideas, would be likely to be a sound or 
 strong reasoner. But his power in the Judicatories 
 of the Church, and many of his sermons, as well as 
 several things which have appeared from his pen, — 
 especially his Review of the System of Mr. John 
 Wesley, before referred to, — clearly evinced that 
 his reasoning powers, as well as those of retention 
 and imagination, were remarkabl}^ clear and vigour- 
 ous. The rapidity as well as the vigour of his men- 
 tal operations, was noticed as striking by all who 
 conversed with him. If controversy had more 
 strongly called his reasoning talents into exercise, 
 there is every reason to believe there would have 
 been a display of them of the most honourable kind. 
 
 In love of knowledge, and in solid learning, this 
 eminent man undoubtedly exceeded even most of 
 those denominated the learned men of his age. He 
 had been a devoted student from his boyhood. He 
 read books, (as the writer of this Memoir has often 
 had occasion to observe,) in half, if not one-third 
 part of the time which it cost every other person he 
 ever saw. And he seemed to forget nothing that h© 
 
332 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 ever read. Studies of this kind could not fail of 
 leading to an accumulation of knowledge of the rar- 
 est extent and value. He seemed to have read 
 every book, and to have studied every subject which 
 the best informed person at any time in his com- 
 pany could ever mention. He, perhaps, more fully 
 deserved the title that was given him before he left 
 Scotland — a walking library — than any other man 
 in the United States. Often, very often, when convers- 
 ing in literary circles, after those around him had 
 been listening, with instruction and delight, to the 
 conversation of other remarkably well-informed in- 
 dividuals, the subject of this Memoir has surprised 
 the company with an exhibition of learning on the 
 same subjects of conversation so much more pro- 
 found and discriminating, as to preclude all compa- 
 rison with the attainments of any one else. 
 
 In what may be strictly called erudition, he was 
 truly great. By this is meant a profound acquain- 
 tance with the ancient Classics; with the Fathers of 
 the Christian Church; with the earlier as well as the 
 later Historians; with the principal Theological wri- 
 ters of all countries and systems; with the history of 
 knowledge; with the leading writers on the Philoso- 
 phy of the Mind, Moral Philosophy, Political Eco- 
 nomy, &c. On these, and the allied subj.ects, he had 
 few equals. In what are commonly termed the 
 Physical Sciences, though well informed, he was 
 not so profoundly versed, as in the branches of knowl- 
 edge just mentioned. He could, indeed, converse on 
 almost all of them in an instructive and entertaining 
 manner; — showing that his mind was awake to every 
 object of knowledge. But it was evident that he 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 
 
 333 
 
 had not directed to them his early, continued and 
 close attention. Indeed, when conversing on several 
 of the natural sciences, he has been often heard to 
 say — " The case is, all we know on these subjects is 
 just a few facts.^' 
 
 Dr. Nisbet's familiarity with the Greek and Latin 
 classics has been already more than once alluded to. 
 Of this many striking proofs and examples were con- 
 tinually occurring. A single one will suffice. Once, 
 not long after his settlement in Carlisle, when he was 
 dining with a select literary circle, a Lawyer of con- 
 siderable eminence, who greatly prided himself on 
 his acquaintance with the Latin and Greek langua- 
 ges, was of the company. In the course of conver- 
 sation this Gentleman quoted several lines in the ori- 
 ginal Greek from Homer's Iliad. When he had 
 finished his quotation, Dr. NIsbet said to him — 'Well, 
 mon, ga on; what yau've left is just as goad as what 
 you've taken.' The gentleman confessed that his 
 memory did not serve him. for repeating more. The 
 Doctor then began where he had ended, and with the 
 greatest ease repeated a considerable additional por- 
 tion. 
 
 But his knowledge of Languages was not confined 
 to the Latin and Greek. He was an excellent critie 
 in Hebrew literature. He also read French, Ger- 
 man, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese; the two first 
 named with perfect ease and familiarity; and all in 
 such a manner as to understand the scope, and to 
 relish the beauties of the principal writers in those 
 respective tongues. Judge Brackenridge, late of the 
 Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, in an eulogy on this 
 eminent man, partaking in some degree of his char- 
 
334 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 acteristio eccentricity, but abounding in just and ex- 
 cellent thoughts, — remarks that " he was not only a 
 master of the French language, so as to speak and 
 write it with entire facility; but that he also had such 
 an acquaintance with the Italian as enabled him to 
 read some of the best compositions in that language 
 with pleasure; and so much knowledge of Spanish 
 and Portuguese, as to read Don Quixotte and Ca- 
 moens in the original." Here were iiine languages 
 possessed and used by one man. And although, as 
 is well known, there have been examples, in ancient 
 as well as in modern times, of much larger attain- 
 ments in the department of language; yet it may be 
 doubted whether there have been many examples in 
 any age, of a man skilled in so many languages, who, 
 at the same time, had acquired so large an amount of 
 other and richer knowledge. To the acquisition of 
 some of these dialects he did not apply his mind un- 
 til late in life; and in making his acquisitions in this 
 field, he proceeded almost entirely by his own unas- 
 sisted efforts, without enjoying any of those facilities 
 which much travel, large libraries, and the constant 
 society and aid of great linguists, so richly afford. 
 As a Preacher Dr. Nisbet's excellence was great 
 and peculiar. In early life he was in the habit of 
 preparing for the pulpit by writing a portion, and 
 sometimes a considerable portion, of what he intend- 
 ed to deliver. But ii was only on special occasions 
 that he wrote the whole. What he wrote, he com- 
 monly committed to memory, which, with him, was 
 a very short and easy process. Two, or at most, 
 three readings of that which had been recently writ- 
 ten, would enable him to repeat it verbatim. He 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 335 
 
 was probably never known to carry a paper, or any 
 kind of help to his memory into the pulpit. Such 
 a mind needed no such aid. After became to Ame- 
 rica, he wrote but two Sermons; one at his inaugu- 
 ration as President of the College, which was print- 
 ed; and the other on the death of Washington, which, 
 though solicited by many to be published, was never 
 committed to the press. 
 
 In the later periods of his life, when the writer of 
 this sketch had an opportunity not only of hearing 
 him, but also of being much with him in private, his 
 preparation for the pulpit seemed to cost him very 
 little labour. Indeed, there appeared to be no partic- 
 ular portion of time set apart for it. Even the m.em- 
 bers of his own family never knew when it was done. 
 The truth is his mind was so richly furnished with 
 knowledge; his memory so extraordinary; his ima- 
 gination so much under his command; and all his 
 powers so prompt and obedient to his will, that it 
 seemed almost as easy for him to preach as to breathe. 
 Nor was his preaching by any means of that com- 
 mon place, declamatory character which too gene- 
 rally belongs to the extemporary speakers, in which 
 words are more abundant than thoughts; in which a 
 few grains only of wheat are to be found in bushels 
 of chaff. On the contrary, his sermons abounded in 
 thought, always instructive and weighty; often new, 
 striking and deeply interesting. 
 
 His delivery in the pulpit was not remarkably 
 graceful, or conformed to the rules of art. His voice 
 was small, scarcely sufficient to fill a large house, 
 without extraordinary effort. He made very little 
 gesture. He seldom rose to much vehemence; but 
 
336 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 poured out a flood of precious truth, good sense, and 
 unaflfected piety with a uniformity, and solidity which 
 never failed to fix and reward the attention of those 
 who were more intent on richness of thought, and 
 sound theological instruction, than on the ornaments 
 of rhetoric, or the graces of a fascinating delivery. 
 His style of speaking was remarkably clear, manly, 
 unafiected, direct, and adapted to please all classes of 
 intelligent and serious hearers. His powers of argu- 
 ment and of illustration seemed to be inexhaustible; 
 and when the hour (to which his sermons were usual- 
 ly confined) was out, he closed, not from the least 
 failure of matter, but rather from the unexpected and 
 regretted failure of time. An example of the rich- 
 ness and variety of his resources in the pulpit was 
 given in a former chapter, when speaking of his re- 
 covery from a severe illness, soon after his arrival in 
 Carlisle. On another occasion, when visiting a friend 
 in the ministry, that friend, having left the discus- 
 sion of an important subject unfinished in his morn- 
 ing's discourse. Dr. Nisbet, in the afternoon, took it 
 up, at the point where it had been left, and brought 
 it to a close in a manner equally instructive and in- 
 teresting: — and all this without retiring a moment 
 for study, or appearing to devote any time to prepa- 
 ration. 
 
 As a divine, Dr. Nisbet was a sound, old-school 
 Calvinist, He was a devoted friend of the West- 
 minster Confession of Faith; considering it as a most 
 lucid and happy exhibition of the system of doctrine 
 taught in the Holy Scriptures. The arrangement of 
 his course of Theological Lectures was in conformity 
 with the chapters of this Confession; and he constant*^ 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 337 
 
 ly inculcated the maxim, that, on the one hand, all 
 who professed to subscribe it only " for substance of 
 doctrine,'' were guilty of criminal deception; and, 
 on the other hand, that none could subscribe it sin- 
 cerely or consistently, but genuine Calvinists, or 
 those who so far adopted the Calvinistic system, as 
 to be decidedly opposed to all those opinions, in em- 
 bracing which Arminians and Pelagians differ from 
 Calvinists. All this was frequently evinced by the 
 tenor of his preaching: and especially by his Review 
 of the System of Mr. John Wesley; and also by man- 
 uscripts left among his papers, in which the subjects 
 of "Moral Suasion," and the "Nature and impor- 
 tance of Creeds," are distinctly and strongly discuss- 
 ed. Nor was this soundness in the faith a mere 
 frigid disposition to contend for a "form of sound 
 words." Those whp were honoured with his ac- 
 quaintance, or who frequently heard him in the pul- 
 pit, can bear witness with what pious fervour he 
 often spoke on these subjects, and how much his sen- 
 timents in regard to ihem evidently appeared to re- 
 sult not from simple attachment to forms, but from 
 a conscientious and cordial love of the truth, and a 
 deep impression of the importance of sound doctrine 
 in its bearing on vital religion. 
 
 He also manifested as rooted and firm an opposi- 
 tion to "New Measures," as to "New Divinity." 
 Several years before his death, when "new mea- 
 sures" were a novelty in the Presbyterian Church, 
 the writer of this Memoir had occasion, in corres- 
 ponding with his venerable Friend, to advert to the 
 remarkable revivals of religion which, about the 
 years 1800 and 1801, took place in several of the 
 29 
 
338 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 Western States, particularly in Kentucky and Ten- 
 nessee, attended with outcries, bodily agitations, and 
 various extraordinary characteristics. In the course 
 of that correspondence, a favourable opinion was ex- 
 pressed on the whole, of those revivals, by the pre- 
 vsent writer, amidst all the drawbacks and blemishes 
 with which they were attended. Dr. Nisbet, in re- 
 ply, gave a solemn warning of disasterous results; 
 predicted that the issue of the whole would be to 
 dishonour and depress real religion; and, while he 
 admitted that some portion of good might possibly 
 flow from them, expressed an earnest hope, that 
 every friend of truth and order would frown upon 
 them, as pregnant with mischief rather than benefit. 
 He gave it as his opinion, at that early day, that, al- 
 though the means em.ployed might result in the real 
 conversion of a few souls, the ultimate effect would 
 be to drive intelligent and sober people from the 
 house of God, and to multiply infidels. 
 
 As an Jlxitho}\ it has been already remarked, that 
 Dr. Nisbet published little from the press. A num- 
 ber, indeed, of the productions of his pen appeared 
 in the Magazines and Reviews of Britain, from 1756 
 to 1783; some of them known at the time of their 
 publication, and others not known until afterward, to 
 be his. But the only detached publication which 
 bears his name is the Sermon before alluded to, which 
 he delivered when he was inaugurated as President 
 of the College over which he presided. The ques- 
 tion has often been asked, why, in this publishing 
 age, a gentleman of so much intellectual wealth 
 should have had so little disposition to commit to 
 the press the productions of his mind? The pri- 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC 339 
 
 mary reason, no doubt, was his unfeigned and pecu- 
 liar modesty. His acquaintance with the great 
 works of learning and genius was so intimate; his 
 standard of excellence in authorship was so high; 
 and his impression of the difficulty of adding any 
 thing worthy of perusal to the literary stock already 
 possessed by the world, was so strong, that he was 
 indisposed lo run the risk of obtruding any produc- 
 tion of questionable excellence on the already over- 
 burdened and glutted literary market. Accordingly, 
 he resisted many solicitations to pi'epare for the 
 press that which had afforded much gratification in 
 the oral delivery. And when, in his last illness, he 
 was requested to permit the publication, after his 
 decease, of some of those Lectures which had been 
 listened to by his pupils with equal instruction and 
 pleasure, he received the proposal with manifest 
 aversion, and refused his assent. 
 
 As the President of a ColU^e, Dr. Nisbet had 
 many peculiar difficulties to contend with; but, 
 amidst them all, he maintained an honourable stand- 
 ing in the estimation of all sober and competent 
 judges. The learned Melchior Adam, who had 
 some experience on the subject, long ago observed: 
 " Sceptrum illud Scholasticum, plus habet solici- 
 tudinis quam pulchriliidinis, plus curse quam 
 auri, plus impedimenti quam argenti.^^ So this 
 great and good man found it. He was calledto pre- 
 side over a College in its feeble infancy; the funds 
 of which were never adequate to the support of its 
 officers; a large part of the Guardians of which were 
 by no means qualified to direct its affairs with wis- 
 dom or efficiency, or to second him in his efforts to 
 
340 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 promote sound learning; and most of the pupils of 
 which were altogether indisposed either to study, or 
 to fall in with the plans which he laid for their im- 
 provement. He was really required to '' make 
 brick without straw." No wonder that such a Col- 
 lege, however learned and able its Head, found in- 
 superable obstacles standing in the way of its pros- 
 perity. The Board of Trustees was by much too 
 numerous. It was romposed of most heterogeneous 
 materials. Some of them were persons of such 
 views and habits as rendered them a dead weight on 
 the whole establishment. Some of them took little 
 or no interest in its affairs. Others were disposed to 
 interfere with its management unreasonably and mis- 
 chievously. Indeed, their interferences with the 
 course of instruction, and between the Faculty and 
 students, were so frequent and serious as essentially 
 to invade the best interests of the College. Thus 
 they weakened the hands of the President and Pro- 
 fessors, and paved the way for vital mischiefs, in 
 regard both to instruction and discipline. 
 
 With respect to one branch of discipline, that is, 
 inflicting the penalties prescribed by the laws on in- 
 dividual students, the tendency of Dr. Nisbel^s mind 
 was to err on the side of undue lenity, rather than 
 that of over strictness. His peculiar benevolence 
 often led him — as some thought too often — to over- 
 look irregularities and disorders, or to arrest the 
 stroke of justice, when the interests of the College 
 demanded that it should fall on the head of the of- 
 fender. But, in regard to the discipline of his wit 
 and sarcasm, he was the terror of disorderly students. 
 Frequently, when the lash of the law either could 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 341 
 
 not be inflicted, or failed of making the proper im- 
 pression, he could, by a single sentence of caustic 
 wit, cover the delinquent with mortification and 
 shame. Indeed, there is reason to believe, that, in 
 more than one instance, young men were so deeply 
 and painfully stung by an unexpected stroke of sa- 
 tire, or sarcasm, that they had no other refuge from 
 the ridicule which it brought upon them, than to 
 leave the College. 
 
 Dr. Nisbet, after he came to America, sel- 
 dom attended the General Assembly of the 
 Church to which he belonged; and, when he did 
 attend, seldom took an active part in its procepd- 
 ings. The reasons of this were various. The 
 journey from Carlisle to Philadelphia, where the 
 Assembly usually held its sessions, was neither easy 
 nor convenient. He was generally obliged to per- 
 form it on horseback, which to one so corpulent as 
 he was in advanced life, was by no means comforta- 
 ble. But besides this, the great difference between 
 the supreme Judicatory of the Church of Scotland, 
 and that of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States, could not fail of diminishing his interest in the 
 latter. The General Assembly of the Church of Scot- 
 land, of which he was often a member, and in which, 
 when present, he commonly acted a conspicuous 
 part, at its great Session in May, attended only to 
 the great and leading portions of the business; leav- 
 ing the minor points, and the details of order to be 
 arranged by the Commission of the Assembly, which 
 sat at least four times in the year. The consequence 
 was, that the meeting of the Assembly in May, was 
 a great occasion, when the leading men of the Church 
 29* 
 
S42 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 were brought together to discuss points of thrilling 
 interest; when the great questions which divided 
 the Church, were, tVom year to year, decided; and 
 when eloquence of the highest order was annually 
 displayed . From such a body, and from such scenes, 
 it might be presumed that no one who could fairly 
 obtain a seat, would allow himself to be absent. 
 When the subject of this Memoir, in taking his seat 
 in that body, found himself associated with such 
 men as Robertson, and Blair, and Witherspoon, and 
 Erskine, and MoncriefT, and others, both clergymen 
 and laymen, well known to fame as masters of the 
 noblest ecclesiastical eloquence, no wonder that he 
 regarded the opportunity as, in every point of view, 
 deeply interesting, both as a feast of talent, and as a 
 contest for principle. 
 
 When he came to America, he found no such par- 
 ties in the General Assembly of our Church as he had 
 left in that of Scotland; such parties among us being 
 of far more recent origin. He found, too, that ques- 
 tions of great and general interest seldom arose in 
 our Assembly; and that by far the larger portion of 
 its time was generally occupied in details of routine 
 business, which, though very important to the order, 
 union, purity and prosperity of a church, were not 
 calculated to arrest the attention, and excite the high- 
 est efforts of the minds of its members. In these he 
 felt little inclined, or even prepared to take an active 
 part, and therefore, seldom put himself in the way of 
 it. And even when he did take a seat in the Assem- 
 bly, he found such a contrast, between the intensely 
 interesting questions, and the constant succession of 
 great speeches, which he had witnessed in his nativ© 
 laad^ and the general character of those which h^ 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 343 
 
 found in our supreme Judicatory, that it vvoiild have 
 been strange indeed if he had attended on them with 
 as much earnestness as in Scotland. Had he lived 
 thirty years longer, he would have seen in our Gene- 
 ral Assembly as many stimulants to ardent zeal, and 
 great efforts as he had left in his own country. 
 
 Accordingly, though he sometimes came to Phila- 
 delphia during the Sessions of the General Assem- 
 bly, it was more frequently for the purpose of relax- 
 ing himself during a collegiate vacation, or of meet- 
 ing clerical friends, than for taking a seat in the Body 
 as a mem.ber. This was once humourously recog- 
 nized by himself in a conversation with the late Dr. 
 Mason, of New York, with whom he happened to 
 meet on one of these visits. Dr. Mason said to him, 
 in that free and jocular manner for which he was re- 
 markable — " Well, Doctor, I find you sometimes 
 come to Philadelphia during the Sessions of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly. '^ '• Yes," said he, " I am not a mem- 
 ber, but 1 like to meet my friends, and see a little of 
 what is going on? Mason — " But do you not some- 
 times go in to the Assembly, and listen to its pro- 
 ceedings." Nisbct. — "Yes, I sometimes go in for 
 the benefit of hearing, and then I come out for the 
 benefit of not hearing.^' Mason. — " Well, Doctor, 
 which is the greater benefit?" Nisbet. — " Indeed, 
 mon, its hard to strike the balance." 
 
 And even when he was a member of the Assem- 
 bly, and felt it to be his duty to occupy his seat, he 
 seldom took any part in the debates, except on spe- 
 cial occasions, when something occurred in his opin- 
 ion seriously wrong, against which he thought it his 
 (]uty to bear testimony; or something ridiculousj. 
 
344 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 which tempted him to call into exercise his satirical 
 vein. On such occasions his speeches were always 
 short and pointed; and though not always successful 
 in the accomplishment of his purpose, yet never fail- 
 ed to make a sensible impression. This impression 
 was sometimes made by brief, dense argument com- 
 pressed into a few sentences; but much more fre- 
 quently, by an irresistibly ludicrous turn of thought, 
 or by a single sentence, conveying a thought more 
 powerful, if possible, than even direct argument 
 itself. 
 
 On one occasion, when he was a member of the 
 Assembly, the Records of the Synod of New York 
 were under review. They were put, as usual, into 
 the hands of a Committee, to be examined and re- 
 ported on to the Assembly. The chairman of this 
 Committee was the Rev. Dr. Green, who was always 
 a great favourite with Doctor Nisbet. Dr. Green, in 
 the name of the Committee, reported, that, among 
 other subjects of remark, they found on the records 
 of the Synod, a resolution adopted by that body, re- 
 quiring candidates t^or the ministry to study three 
 full years, after closing their Collegiate course, before 
 receiving license to preach. The Committee did not 
 undertake to pronounce this resolution wrong in it- 
 self; but brought it before the Assembly as an act cen- 
 surable as directly militating against a distinct clause 
 of the Constitution of the Church . When the report 
 of the Committee was under consideration, several 
 speakers took part in the discussion. Among the 
 rest. Dr. Green, the drafter of the report, spoke ably, 
 and at considerable length, in its favour. When Dr. 
 Green sat down, Dr. Nisbet arose, and said, with an 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 345 
 
 air and tone respectful, but intensely sarcastic, "Mr. 
 Moderator, T congratulate the friends of this report 
 in havinor found in Dr. Green so able and eloquent 
 an advocate of the precious rights of ignorance.^' 
 
 On another occasion, several years before, when 
 the " Directory for the Worship of God " was under 
 consideration, a Committee had reported a chapter on 
 the "Solemnization of Marriage." In the formula- 
 ry proposed by the Committee the following lan- 
 guage occurred — " You, Sir, take the woman whom 
 you hold by the hand, to be your lawful and married 
 wife &c. ;" and, " You, Mndam, take the man whom 
 you hold by the hand, to be your lawful and married 
 husband, &c." When this was read, Dr. Nisbet rose 
 and spoke thus — " Mr. Moderator, I do not like the 
 complimentary terms, Sir, and Madam, which oc- 
 cur in this form. If I were to address such language 
 to many plain people in the part of the country 
 where I live, they would either stare with astonish- 
 ment, or laugh in my face. This puts me in mind 
 of a new translation of the Bible vvhich I once saw. 
 That passage in one of the Evangelists vvhich says, 
 ' a certain man had two sons,' the polite translator 
 rendered thus — ' A certain opulent gentleman had 
 two sons;* — just as if none but opulent gentlemen 
 ever had sons!" This created a burst of laughter in 
 the Assembly, and the words to which he had object- 
 ed were expunged. 
 
 To the wit of Dr Nisbet repeated reference has 
 been made in the foregoing pages. Of this Judge 
 Brackenridge, in a eulogy already referred to, speaks 
 thus. 
 
 " The wit of Dr. Nisbet was of the most genuine 
 
346 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 quality. It showed itself chiefly in anecdote and 
 moral observation.. His anecdote of men and things 
 was inexhaustible. The talent of relating hriejiy 
 facts that ilkistrate a principle of human nature, or 
 the character of an individual, or the history of a 
 transaction, is a rare and most pleasing talent. Not 
 less is that of repealing what has been said or writ- 
 ten. It is not one in many thousands, even of the 
 liieratl, tliat has the judgment to use the proper 
 words, — fo U5e no more than are sufficient, — and to 
 present the i-A-cX or thought simply to the rnind. It 
 is a talent that is in a great degree the gift of nature, 
 though it may be improved by art. But illiterate 
 persons, in common life, are observed to possess it, 
 in a great degree, when the most improved of the 
 Acadeniies are without it. An anecdote or saying 
 may be ruined b}- the addition or the omission of a 
 single word, and the most delicate taste, from nature, 
 or from art, or both, is necessary to that terseness in 
 which the excellence consists. ' Brevity is the soul 
 of wit.' In this Dr. Nisbet excelled." 
 
 "To make the talent of wit a particular, and espe- 
 cially an oinament in a great man, may seem incon- 
 gruous, were we not to understand the wit of a Sage, 
 such as might become the banquet of Plato, or the 
 conversations of Socrates. In that point of view, it 
 detracts not from dignity, but rather adds to it. It 
 is ' the feast of reason, and the flow of soul.' His 
 combinations of ideas were quick and surprizing, to 
 illustrate a truth, or to answer an argument, and ex- 
 pressed with, j)erliaps, a smile, but the laugh was left 
 to others. I have never heard of his giving offence 
 to any one by his wit, or wounding the tenderest 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 347 
 
 mind. It was evident that there was no vanity or 
 ill nature at bottom; but a sincere desire to unite 
 pleasantry and instruction. It was not a sparkling 
 fire, but a playins; light; and brilliancy rather repress- 
 ed than encouraged. I do not know that he thought 
 he had wit, or ever meant to use it; but his own 
 mind presenting the incongruities of tilings, he seem- 
 ed to give way to an expression of the assemblages 
 which were upon his fancy, unconscious of the view 
 in which he placed the errors which gave rise to 
 them." 
 
 In the Christian's ]Mao;azine,* which the late Dr. 
 Mason of New York, edited for several years, with 
 so much honour to himself and insti'uction to the reli- 
 gious public, the following passage occurs. "The 
 late Rev. Dr. Nisbet, celebrated for his profound 
 erudition, and ready wit, being asked. How he would 
 define modern philosopliy? replied — ^ It consists in 
 believing every thing but the truth, and exactly in 
 proportion to the want of evidence; or to use the 
 words of a poet, in making windows which shut out 
 the light, and passages that lead to nothing.' " 
 
 Though the chief time and attention of this emi- 
 nent m.an were bestowed on Theology, and the aux- 
 iliary branches of knowledge, he found abundant 
 leisure to keep pace with the current literature of 
 the age, and commonly appeared more at home in 
 this department of reading than almost any of his 
 associates. In Poetry, he had a remarkably fine 
 taste. He not only admired, read, and had deposit- 
 ed, to a wonderful extent, in his memory, the best of 
 
 Vol. I, p. 284. 
 
348 MEMOIR OP DR. NISBET. 
 
 the older English poets; but he was also equally at 
 home in the writings of the purest and most respect- 
 able poets who figured in his own time. He was, 
 in particular, a great admirer of Coivper, and could 
 repeat, by memory, a large part of his "Task," and 
 other poems. 
 
 As ihe wit of Dr. Nisbet was exuberant and inex- 
 haustible; and as, on some occasions, adapted to call 
 it forth, he could wield with power the weapons of 
 ridicule and sarcasm, it might be supposed, by such as 
 did not know him, that he was wanting in tenderness 
 and sympathy. This, however, was far from being the 
 case. On the contrary, few men were ever more re- 
 markable than he for their feeling and benevolent 
 hearts. Of this, the writer of the present Memoir 
 has witnessed many striking examples. He will ad- 
 vert to only one. In the winter of 1791, the melan- 
 choly defeat of General St. Clair, by the Miami In- 
 dians, occurred, to the distress of the nation. A 
 large part of the American army which was engaged 
 in that expedition, had, on its way Westward, en- 
 camped, for a number of weeks, in the neighborhood 
 of Carlisle, and became considerably acquainted with 
 the inhabitants of the Borough. The present writer 
 was in Carlisle when the disasterous event occurred, 
 and had, for weeks before, heard the Doctor indulg- 
 ing his wit at the expense of the government of the 
 United States, and of that army and its prospects in 
 particular. When the news of its sanguinary de- 
 feat arrived, instead of receiving it, as those who did 
 not know him might have expected, with more than 
 his usual sarcasm, he was affected, melted, nay almost 
 overwhelmed by the sad intelligence. If he had 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 349 
 
 lost any of his nearest and most beloved relatives, on 
 that field of national disaster, he could not have mani- 
 fested more deep and heart-felt grief than he express- 
 ed, not merely in a single short paroxysm of feeling, 
 but for a number of days together. In short, it 
 opened a view of his character as highly honourable 
 to himself, as it was unexpected to those who were 
 but slightly acquainted with him. Indeed his whole 
 history exhibited him as kind hearted and sympa- 
 thetic to a degree greatly beyond what is common 
 in those who are popularly called benevolent men. 
 The Patriotism of Dr. Nisbet was ardent and 
 unquestionable. That he was a sincere and warm 
 friend of free government, none who knew him 
 will deny. It is true, indeed, he saw, or thought 
 he saw, much in the political disorders and excesses 
 of our country, for a number of years after he came 
 to it, which filled him with many fears for the sta- 
 bility of its government. On all that he saw he was 
 wont to express his opinions with a frankness which 
 became a consciousness of perfect integrity. These 
 opinions were not always palatable to those around 
 him; and sometimes, indeed, were incorrect in them- 
 selves, arising from that want of entire comprehen- 
 sion of the character and habits of the American 
 people, which was natural and almost unavoidable in 
 a stranger. In regard to these opinions, an able 
 eulogy of this venerable man, published many years' 
 ago, and ascribed to a layman of the highest respec- 
 tability in Pennsylvania, thus speaks: — "They gave 
 rise to rumours as unfounded in fact, as they were 
 disastrous in their results to the interests of the 
 College, — that he inculcated political doctrines which 
 30 
 
350 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 were hostile to republican government. On this 
 subject the writer of this notice can pronounce with 
 candour and accuracy, as he belongs to the party to 
 which Doctor Nisbet is supposed to have been inimi- 
 cal, and was not only educated at Dickinson College 
 during the period in question, but was also intimate 
 in that gentleman's family ; and he can assert with 
 perfect truth, no man was a more sincere friend to 
 rational liberty.'^* 
 
 The do7nesiic character of Doctor Nisbet was emi- 
 nently amiable and exemplary. In the relations of 
 husband, parent and master he exhibited a bright 
 example of the most vigilant fidelity, affection and 
 benevolence. No one could enter the door of his 
 dwelling without perceiving that his family was the 
 abode, not merely of order and harmony, but of the 
 most endearing attention and love. 
 
 Such was Doctor Chakles Nisbet — a truly great 
 and good man; — endowed with various intellectual 
 talents of the highest order; — in rich and solid learn- 
 ing excelled by few if any of the age in which he 
 lived; — as a man, peculiarly amiable and beloved; 
 as a friend and comjianion, interesting and attrac- 
 tive beyond all rivalry; — as a Christian, truly pious 
 and devoted, an Israelite indeed, in whom was no 
 guile; — as a Divine, profoundly learned, orthodox, 
 and in every respect eminently furnished; — as a 
 Preacher, not what the multitude call an orator, but 
 solidly and inexhaustibly instructive, and deeply in- 
 teresting to all intelligent and pious hearers; — as the 
 head of a College, Sond of instructing ingenuous 
 
 * Port Folio for January, 1824. 
 
HIS CHARACTER, ETC. 351 
 
 youth, large in his views, indefatigably diligent, and 
 ever recognized as tlie father of his pupils; as a Citi- 
 zen, truly and zealously patriotic; — and in all the 
 relations of domestic and social life, gentle, disin- 
 terested, sympathetic, amiable and beloved. 
 
 Dr. Nisbet, however, with all these accomplish- 
 ments, was not so well qualified as many inferior 
 men, to meet the exigencies, and encounter the diffi- 
 culties which attended his transfer of residence to 
 America. The Countess of Leven was undoubtedly 
 correct, when she intimated to him, in one of her 
 letters, that he was not fitted to engage in scenes of 
 hardy endurance and conflict. He laboured under a 
 nervous timidity which rendered it difficult for him 
 to meet physical danger with composure. He had 
 no taste nor fitness for resisting injuries, or contend- 
 ing with the unfeeling or unjust. His wit too, not 
 being always under the government of cautious re- 
 serve, sometimes led him to attack popular prejudi- 
 ces, or iniquitous actions in a style which many who 
 did not know his sterling honesty and benevolence, 
 were not always ready to excuse. To which may 
 be added, that the first fifty years of his life having 
 been spent amid European scenes and habits, he 
 never acquired a facility in making such allowance for 
 American scenes and habits, as the situation of our 
 country really required. 
 
 The period at which he came to our country, was, 
 perhaps, the most unfortunate that could have been 
 selected for transferring the residence of such a man 
 from the Old to the New world. It was a period, as 
 we have seen, of immaturity, of disorder, of com- 
 mercial derangement, of infant and struggling insti- 
 
S52 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 tutions, when few were prepared adequately to esti- 
 mate literary worth, and fewer still qualified to pat- 
 ronise and sustain it. Of consequence, great as the 
 subject of this memoir was, and was admitted to be, 
 by all who knew him, both his reputation and his 
 services would have been still more highly apprecia- 
 ted, and still more extensively useful, had he come 
 a few years later; or had he found on this side of the 
 Atlantic, as he would have found at a later period, a 
 larger number of congenial spirits, and a more faith- 
 ful fulfilment of the pledges which drew him from 
 his native land. 
 
ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 Page 184,/. 15. 
 
 Dr. Nisbet was, at no period of his life, inimical 
 to the character or ministry of Mr. Whitejield. Oa 
 the contrary, he was a warm friend to the doctrines 
 preached by that eminent evangelist, and considered 
 his ministry as greatly useful. He did indeed re- 
 gard some of the measures of that excellent man, es- 
 pecially in the earlier part of his course, as impru- 
 dent and disorderly; but these had all passed from 
 public view long before Dr. Nisbet came to America. 
 When the Countess of Leven spoke of his having a 
 " bad idea.of the Methodists since he went abroad/' 
 she evidently meant to use the term Methodist in 
 the comprehensive sense in which it has long passed 
 current in Great Britain, as including the adherents 
 of Mr. Whitefield^ as well as those of Mr. Wesley. 
 Dr. Nisbet was, indeed, warmly opposed to the Ar- 
 minianism of the latter gentleman and of his disci- 
 ples; and he also greatly disapproved of the shouting, 
 falling down, gj^oaning, &c., so common in their 
 public worship forty or fifty years ago, and no less of 
 their decrying learning in the gospel ministry, as 
 they habitually did at that time. The great change 
 which has taken place in the Methodist body in re- 
 gard to outcries and disorders in worship, and also in 
 30* 
 
354 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 respect to the increasing provision made for the lite- 
 rary training of their candidates for the ministry, is 
 known to every one. Their preachers are now very 
 seldom heard to declaim against a " book learned'' 
 ministry. But in regard to doctrine, had the ven- 
 erable subject of this Memoir lived to this hour, he 
 would have had undiminished reason to express 
 strong dissent from that body. Were he now alive, 
 and to go into a Methodist Episcopal Church, in many 
 parts of our country, he would still hear Calvinism 
 denounced by name in the most reproachful and vio- 
 lent language, as a " hateful abominable system,'^ as 
 a "doctrine of devils,'' &c.; and our Confession of 
 Faith quoted in a garbled manner, and loaded with 
 the coarsest abuse as the doctrine of Presbyterians. 
 Is it any wonder that a gentleman of Dr. Nisbet's 
 principles and character regarded all such things 
 with the strongest disapprobation; and that in wri- 
 ting to the Countess of Leven after his arrival in this 
 country, he should express that disapprobation in 
 very decided terms? She evidently mistook his 
 meaning, and considered him as having an unfavoura- 
 ble opinion of all il/eZ/zot/z.s'^A^, understanding the term 
 in the British sense, as including all professors of a 
 strict and serious religion. 
 
 Fage 328, /. 16. 
 
 " This electrified the Assembly .''^ It is well 
 known that, in the General Assembly of the Church 
 of Scotland, more liberty is frequently taken in em- 
 ploying the weapons of ridicule, sarcasm, &c,, and io. 
 
NorES. * 355 
 
 exciting and indulging bursts of laughter, than is 
 usual in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in. the United States. This arises from vari- 
 ous causes. The Assembly in Scotland is a more 
 numerous body than that in the United States, and 
 of course harder to keep in order. In the American 
 Assembly, professional counsel are never admitted 
 to plead causes; but in that of Scotland, they are 
 freely and constantly allowed to appear on behalf of 
 implicated parties; and they often, in spite of every 
 thing that can be done to prevent it, take unwarrant- 
 able liberties. Their very professions of respect are 
 often mingled with sneer and sarcasm; and they have 
 no hesitation in exciting, whenever it can serve 
 their turn, roars of laughter. This is not only un- 
 desirable, but it is also in a high degree incongruous 
 and unseemly. The author of this volume would 
 leave it as the suggestion (he will not presume to say 
 the cou)isel) of old age, and of some experience, that 
 every thing of this kind ought to be avoided in ec- 
 clesiastical judiciatories. When the ministers of re- 
 ligion come together to transact the business of the 
 Church of Christ, the very least that ought to be ex- 
 pected of them is, that perfect gravity, seriousness, mu- 
 tual respectfuluess, and brotherly kindness reign in 
 all their proceedings. Hovv revolting the levity, the 
 unbridled merriment, the keen retort, the unkind 
 turning a brother into ridicule, which are sometimes 
 indulged! Such scenes have frequently been exhib- 
 ited in Presbyterian judicatories, not only in Scot- 
 land, but in our own country, as would not have 
 been tolerated in the better days of the Church. 
 O.Lir fathers, Knox and Melville, in their day, or 
 
356 MEMOIR OF DR. NISBET. 
 
 Henderson^ Rutherford and Gillespie in theirs, 
 would have " groaned in spirit," and poured forth 
 the majesty of Apostolic rebuke, if they had been 
 witnesses of many a debate, which, within the last 
 half century, has passed without reproof. that 
 our sons may be, in this respect at least, wiser and 
 more examplary than some of their fathers have 
 been! What comfort, what dignity, what impress- 
 iveness would truly Christian habits in regard to this 
 matter impart to our ecclesiastical Assemblies! 
 
 Page 341, /. 10. 
 
 On the page above mentioned. Dr. Nisbet is repre- 
 sented as "seldom attending the General Assembly." 
 This may seem, at first view, to militate with a state- 
 ment of Dr. Green in page 307. But the truth is, 
 that from the time when the acquaintance of the 
 author of this memoir with Dr. Nisbet commenced, 
 until his decease, he seldom appeared as a member 
 of the Assembly, and it is not recollected that he 
 was in Philadelphia, during that period more than 
 two or three times in the course of its annual ses- 
 sions. In preceding years, with the recollection of 
 which Dr. Green was more familiar, he had been in 
 the habit of visiting Philadelphia more frequently at 
 that season. 
 
 Page 342, /. 10. 
 
 When Dr. Blair is mentioned, among a number 
 of others, as " master of the noblest ecclesiastical 
 
NOTES. 357 
 
 eloquence/' it is not meant that he was himself a dis- 
 tinguished speaker in the General Assembly. It is 
 well known that he seldom opened his lips in that 
 body, excepting to give a vote. But the character 
 of a gentleman of so much rhetorical taste and skill 
 could not fail of being highly exciting in its influence 
 on all who engaged in debate in his presence. 
 
 Page 345, /. 4. 
 
 The reader will do great injustice to the Rev. Dr. 
 Green, if he supposes, from the statement concerning 
 that venerable Father in the page above referred to, 
 that he is now, or ever was, a friend 'to- a short and 
 hurried course of theological study. On the contra- 
 ry, perhaps no minister of the Presbyterian church 
 has been more uniformly zealous and indefatigable in 
 his endeavours to induce every candidate for the 
 ministry under our care to avoid all haste in his 
 professional training. On the occasion to which the 
 above mentioned anecdote relates, he only meant as 
 a member of a Committee, to present for animadver- 
 sion the act of a Synod which was in conflict with 
 the Constitution of the Church, and which, while that 
 Constitution remained unaltered, he regarded as dis' 
 respectful and disorderly. 
 
DATE DUE 
 
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 IW5 
 
 
 
 M)|J 4,^.^ 
 
 MS..,. 
 
 
 
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 CAYLORD 
 
 
 
 
RE CLIPPER 
 
 raing, ISTov. 24, 1857, 
 
 Death of Judge Neshit. — Hon. Alexander 
 Nesbit, died at his residence, Montrose, Bal- 
 timore county, at an early hour yesterday 
 morning, at the advanced age of eighty 
 years. It appears that he arose and went to 
 his chamber window for the purpose of get- 
 ting iresh a^r. and in leaning out, lost his 
 balance and fell to the ground beneath. He 
 was taken up and brought into the house, 
 but died soon after. Deceased was a native 
 of Scotland, and emigrated to this country 
 when six years of age. He was the son of 
 Rev. Dr. Nesbit, for many years President 
 of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 
 at which place he was raised. He cAme 
 to this city and embraced the profession 
 of law when about 20 years of age, and later 
 in life was appointed one of the Judges of 
 the Criminal Court, in which position he re- 
 mained until that office was abolished by the 
 ne^ Constitution. Judge Nesbit was the 
 only survivfng member of the St. Andrew's 
 Society, who took part in its formation in 
 the year 1806, and for twenty-seven years 
 previous to his death was President thereof. 
 The annual dinner of the Society, which was 
 to take place in a few days, has been indefi- 
 nitely postponed, and the members will take 
 further action to show their respect for the 
 deceased. On the aunouncementof his death, 
 the va'-ious courts yesterday adjourned.