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

I40(5 LETTERS, TRAC"PS, If't.them carrying a mr.ce over his fhculder, which theycalled the Iceptre wand ; IIa\dng in this folemn mvinuertraverfed the college court, and reached the hall,the rector took his feat, and after a {hort filencefpoke to this purpofe :" It was with great concernthat I heard of this afFair. I have now been fometime in tov/n, and might, if I had pleafed, been prefentat fome part of the trial ; but I did not choofeto countenance a trial, for which there appears to meto have been no ground, and in which fomany irregularfteps have been purfued. 1 am a friend to civilliberty, and I hope to religion alfo ; and I difiikeperfecution of every kind. I believe you the profefibrshad no bad intentions in this matter ; but thenmoil of you know little of la^w, a«d I am unacquaintedwith it, for I never ftudied it. I think, that bythis profecution you have brought difgirace uponyourfelves, and upon your univcriity. You haveconftituted yourfel\i]es into a criminal court : Uponwhat authority have you done this ? If it be by thebulls of ancient popes, thefe were abrogated by the reformation; and if after that era any criminal jurifciiclionremained to you, it hath been taken away bythe jurifdijlion act. I tliink, indeed,^ that like everyother college, you have right to exercife difcirlineover your lludents, with refpedi: to fmaller mifdemeanors,and to cenfure them by admonition, rebuke,or even expulfion j but if any fiiKitnt commitany great crime, he, like other fubjefts, is to be triedin the courts authorifed and eftablilhed by lav/. Bythe form of this trial, you feem to be aiming at fomeftvere punifnment ; and yet it is only words or expreffionsyou have libelled, which, in my judgment,are not atbionable or cognofceable in any court ofjaw, nor merit any fort of cenfure. I fear this profecution,contrary to your intention, will appear tobe ecclefiaftical tyranny. , know not what to do inthis matter : I had b&fore me lafl year tlie cafe of a.