We are done at last, and we are done for ever, in Scotland, with patrons and with presenters; but I daresay our most Free Church people would be quite willing to surrender their dear-bought franchise if the old plan could even yet be made to work in all their parishes as it worked in Mansoul.

For not only was the presented minister in this case a well-read man; he was also, what the best of the Scottish people have always loved and honoured, a man, as this history testifies, with a tongue as bravely hung as he had a head filled with judgment.

In Scotland we like our minister to have a tongue bravely hung, even when that is proved to our own despite.

When any minister, parish minister or other, is seen to tune his pulpit, our respect for him is gone.

The Presbyterian pulpit has been proverbially hard to tune, and it will be an ill day when it becomes easy.