The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

'LETTERS, TiAACTSj b'J.2^^;. udeats had, for argument's fake, and without bein^^thought' liable to any ceiiiurc, embraced either fide ofthefe feveral quellions, and endeavoured to fupport,the fide they were to maintain with whatever argumentsthey plcafed. And [ cin with great truth affirm,that the witnefTcs who appeared the moft favourableto the pannel, as they feemed to have thecleared ideas of the points in queftion, fo they werecertainly in rank and ftation rather fuperior to thofev/ho were lefa favourable to him ; the^f were either oftlie fuperior and moft enlightened part of the ftudents,or advocates, or young gentlemen of family andcftate in the neighbourhood of Clutha, together v/ithtwo of the judges themfelves. By five or fix witnefles,who had been,, at the tim^ libelled,in the parliamentof Oceana, and had heard the ftuxient's fpeech,it was clearly proved, that no impious or oltenfi.ve exprclTion,as they judged, was uttered by him. Bytwelve witncfies all concurring, it was as clearlyproved, that the expreflions about faith and repentance,and about the inhabitants of Clutha, did notfeem offenfive Vv^hen delivered.; and that- in neitherof -thefe numerous aiTemblics vfis the iludent interruptedor called to order, though in one of them therewere prefent feven of the profefTors, and in both ofthem a nurnber of the moll rcfpcclable citizens ofClutha : And bcfides it was clearly proved, as I hintedbefore, that till the profeilbrs began to take theprecognition, there was no fama clam:)fa in the city,nor any complaint or difguft againft the ftudent forthe exprefiions he was now profecuted for ; but that,on the contrary, the citizens were highly pleafed withthe fpeech, formed a favoi^ble opinion of the ftudent,a« being a lad of parts and genius, and beganto think more favourably of the college than they haddone for many years before.Chap. 28. On the fame day in which the proof%yas concluded on the fide of the profecutor, and alioLl 2