Clerical Intrigue and Counter Plot: a humorous romance ... With ... illustrations

Preface

. That learned and witty Spaniard, Balthazar Gracian, has laid down in his amusing hook, El Oraculo Manuel y Arte de Prudencia, published upwards of two hundred years ago, the maxim — '•Never give satisfaction to those who demand none." He thinks that to afford too much in the way of explanation to those who do not expect any, is decidedly foolish ; and that to make an excuse before its time is tantamount to self-accusation — a premature apology being, in his opinion, calcalated, besides, to awaken hostility that might otherwise have slept. There is a good deal of truth in the apothegm of the worthy old Don. If it had been universally acted upon, a few good Prefaces would doubtless have been lost to the world ; but, on the other hand, people would have been saved the trouble of reading through a great many bad ones, and the necessity, in many cases, VI

PREFACE.

. of inverting the pathetic language of Job, by ex claiming, " Oh ! that they were not printed in a book." While, however, we do not suppose that the public will care much about the origin or in tention of the following chapters, it may not be amiss to say something by way of explanation, keeping carefully in view the advice of the venerable Balthazar. Any one who takes the trouble of noting what are called the signs of the times, must be struck with the fact that Society — social, political, and religious, in these realms, is undergoing a rapid, although Bilent and almost imperceptible, change. Who would have predicted, some sixty or seventy years ago, the wondrous results of practical science in our time — the era of the steam engine and the electric telegraph ? What artizan of those days of close boroughs and trade monopolies would have dreamt that they should be all swept away, and that he himself would be entitled to vote for a Member of Parliament — perhaps to sit in the House of Com mons itself, instead of being represented by the everlasting -'Bailie'' of his native town?

Who, except some prophetic individual of the Dr Cum ming school, would have imagined that in Italy and Spain the Papacy would lose its authority — that sturdy monks would have to leave ancient

PREFACE.

. VII monasteries -- void, redd, and patent," and that, as the Romish Faith, its institutions and ceremonies, were in course of being uprooted from Italian and Spanish soil, they should be spreading over the length and breadth of Protestant England ; while the Irish Church would be blotted out of existence to soothe the clamours of emancipated Romanists? But above all, who would have been bold enough to say that in Calvinistic Scotland the authority of the Decalogue would be scouted even in the pulpit of the c- Auld Kirk " itself, and that the odious " kist o' whussels " should again make its appearance within its sacred walls? Whether the Church ought to remain stationary, or should progress in the matter of doctrine and ritual — whether psalms should be sung standing or sitting, or prayers be listened to in a kneeling or in an upright posture, we do not pretend to say.

The Church of Scotland may or may not be behind the age in these and in other things of equal importance ; but there is one matter at least, and that of a very vital description, in which she is not merely behind the age, but with regard to which she stands alone — to wit, in her ecclesiastical law and procedure. The object of the following chapters is to show the working of this system, by tracing a case of dis-

PREFACE.

. puted settlement, from its germination in the cabals of a. certain class of objectors, to its commence ment in the Presbytery, and final disposal by the General Assembly ; to bring the reader, so to speak, behind the scenes, and to lay bare the mo tives and intentions which, in many instances, in fluence the various actors in this clerical drama. The scenes and characters are not ail fictitious. Some of the dramatis personœ are still living. While what is written is, to a certain extent, in the form of burlesque, it would not be possible to write a more complete travesty upon judicial procedure than what is recorded in many of the printed cases which have come before the Assem bly. Objections of the most ridiculous character, got up, perhaps, by a few malignant and interested men_, are attempted to be supported by evidence of such astounding absurdity, eagerly listened to and willingly accepted by Church Courts, that a century or so hence, when the world, let us hope, will be wiser and better than it is now, the antiquarian who disentombs some of these cases will stand aghast at the ignorance, hypocrisy, and caddishness which they almost universally display.

It is to be hoped that long ere that time arrives, Ecclesiastical Courts, as now constituted and worked, may be thiDgs of the past — that men of learning and

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. IX piety, on entering the Church as its ministers, may no longer be exposed to vexatious and frequently malicious opposition, involving them in long months of tormenting anxiety, and in expenses which, even when they are successful, it may take the savings of a lifetime to defray ; and that the people may not be compelled to vindicate conscientious objections to an unsuitable minister through the medium of a keen and protracted litigation. The direct cause of this state of matters is un doubtedly the law of patronage as exemplified in the practical working of Lord Aberdeen's Act, a measure which constitutes the right to object to a presentee, and regulates the form of procedure to be followed out, supplemented by various Acts of Assembly ; but in the following pages its working and effects, in the case of a disputed settlement, have been displayed in a favourable light, for they show only the cabal of a few interested individuals, successful for a time, while in the end, the people were triumphant ; but, alas ! this is not always the result.

Many cases have occurred where a cabal was successful, and the people were defeated. Patronage is a baleful and hydra-headed monster. Who will arise and help us to slay him?

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. X A state of matters such as that which now exists is injurious and demoralizing to all parties —to the people, the presentee, and the Church itself— and urgently calls for reformation. The magnitude of the task to be undertaken seems to frighten those whose duty it is to set about it. They are afraid to begin the work, although fully satisfied as to its necessity. Julius Cæsar was wont to say that great exploits should be engaged in without deliberation, lest a contemplation of the danger might damp the ardour necessary to carry out the enterprise. It would in the present case, at all events, be a lesser evil to venture upon the work without further consideration, than to be perpetually talking about the difficulty of accomplishing it. The quaint old author to whom we have already referred, furnishes us with a maxim which might sometimes perhaps be followed with advantage.

He recommends that -' what is easy ought to be entered upon as if it were difficult, and what is difficult as if it were easy ; the one for fear of slacking through too much confidence, the other for fear of losing courage through too much apprehension." Why not approach the matter of Eccles iastical Reform firmly and boldly, and be done with a system which, it is not too much to

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. XI say, is a blot upon our civilization, and a disgrace to Christianity? There are some evils which can only be successfully attacked when they are thoroughly ridiculed, and the present is one of them. How much did the cause of the Reformation owe to the colloquies of Erasmus ? Perhaps as much as to the fulminations of Luther. We know how keenly their pungent satire was felt by the Romish priesthood from the virulent attacks which they made upon the author. While we do not anticipate that anything that might be written against what, by a perversity of language, is called "church settlements,'' could call forth similar attacks in our day, yet, should it do so, it would be well for irate presbyters to remember the reply of Erasmus to the Romish Churchmen. " Theologi," says he, " queruntur se a nobis traduci, qui studia ipsorum tantis vigiliis adjuvamus, quum ipsi volentes, amplectantur talia monstra, quæ plus dedccoris adferunt ordini Theologorum, quam quivis quamlibet maledicus hostis posset ;'' which may be Englished thus : — " The clergy complain that they are traduced by me, who have assisted them by so many labours, while they themselves practise such monstrous things as bring more disgrace upon their order than the most malicious enemy could inflict,"

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. The system, in short, is radically rotten and indefensible, and must eventually be swept away. If the " Outs and Ins of the Veto Case " shall have any effect in showing the necessity for an immediate and thorough Reform, they will have accomplished a very necessary and desirable end. Hvndfoed Place, Govan Road, Glasgow, \"th March, 1869. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Png« Sketch of the Parish of Veto, in the presbytery of Dunderhead — Its peculiar attractions for a "young, vigorous, and energetio minister," and the requirements of the parish for such a pastor — A ppointment of a presentee — His trial discourses, .... l

Chapter II

Some account of the principal objectors, and their coadjutors — The Rev. Adam P. Sneaker, expectant presentee — Plans for a public meeting and dinner to the presbytery 'J CHAPTER HI. Huistan M'Huistan overhears a private conversation — Important consequences thereof — Gathering of tha clans for a public meeting — Proceedings of the elders, Alister Fillyerglass and Maccullamore Quaighhorn, . 2j

Chapter VII

Ministerial and legal guests desert the diet, pro loco et tempore, but return to the dessert — A lawyer in love with ,£15,000 — An amiable clerical sneak, and a poetical heiress — Ecclesiastical love in a drawing-room, and ludicrous denouement — Mrs Pry, the postmistress, with a confidante, over a cup of tea, , .

Chapter VIII

Edinburgh and Glasgow ecclesiastical lawyers — Messrs Horn & Poind, writers, Candleriggs, Glasgow, and Mr Gabby Garrempey, S.S.C, High Street, Edinburgh — The Rev. Mr M'Cringer tries to measure the presentee's trowsers and his powers of walking — Huistan M'Huistan and the Rev. Dr Browser, . ,

Chapter IX

A lawyer's plan for defeating a clerical stratagem — The presentee's powers of walking tested — Meeting of elders — M'Cringer's disappointment — Dinner at Dr Browser's manse, CONTENTS, XV Page 134 O-TO

Chapter X

Moderating in a call — Soenes thereat — Diamond cut diamond between a Gaelic and an English sermon — A clerical champion appears for the presentee, . .

Chapter XI

Objections to the presentee — Relevancy deferred — Scene at the reading and signing of the objections — Party fight at the close of the proceedings — The presbytery adjourn to dine with the objectors, and the presentee is escorted to his quarters in Porterbier, . . , 149 CHAPTER XIT. Matrimonial speculations of a lawyer and a minister- Expedition to Snuffmull in search of evidence against the presentee by an Irish clerk and Highland elder — ■ Results of the adventure — In the hands of the Irish police, 103

Chapter XIII

Settling the relevancy — Arguments for and against the relevancy of the objections — Scenes in the church — Characters of the Rev. Caleb Bouncer and the Rev. Dr Totty M'Killrussell, 182

Chapter XIV

Relevancy of the objections concluded — How the presbytery disposed of the objections to the presentee'3 red hair, his squint, and the smallness of his nose — A drunken beadle in trouble, 201

Chapter XV

"Our special commissioner" among the Highland innkeepers—Mr Charles Edward Puff, foreign and domestic correspondent of the Daily Flahbenjaster — His doings at the clachan of Brackaneckortwa, and the "inns" at Porterbier — Noctes Huistanianœ Chris tianœque, . . CONTENTS. XVI

Chapter XVI

Pago Disasters of a morning — Alarming news — Highland carousal— Nish ! Nish! Nish! -'**

Chapter XVII

Evening party at the manse — Speculations of Mrs Pry — Village gossip— A lawyer's declaration of love— The Rev. Havral Clash sings a comic song, . . . 2SS

Chapter XVIII

Murder will out — Apprehension and examination of a Highland sheriff officer and his concurrent — Dragging for the bodies — Scene on Lochspelding — How they manage judicial investigations in Ireland — Fato of Alister Fillyerglass and Timothy Casey, . . . 309

Chapter XXIV

State of parties — Machinations of the Rev. Mr. Sneaker — Designs upon the Widow M 'Creesh — Ingenious operations of Mr. Sharper Poind — The Law steals a march upon the Gospel — Unexpected meeting of the rivals — The Gospel at a discount, 525

Chapter XXV

Moody reflections of a disappointed divine — Hope begins to dawn — The Rev. Mr. Sneaker suddenly finds himself transformed into a lion — Flag of the church in the ascendant — Presbytery pronounce judgment against the presentee — A faithless swain and disconsolate fair one — A trip to Edinburgh, . . . 551

Chapter XXVI

Meeting of Assembly — Ecclesiastical rendezvous — Jovial doings at "The Ship" — How the members are canvassed — Evening sederunt — The Veto case comes on — Speeches of counsel — The Rev. Mr. M'Cringer makes a mull of it — The objectors and Presbytery of Dunderhead defeated — Scenes in the Hall — Exœwnt omnes — Conclusion, 579 ■i LOVE, LAW, AND THEOLOGY.

Chapter I. Sketch Of The Parish Of Veto, In The Presbytery Of

DUN- DERHEAD — ITS PECULIAR ATTRACTIONS FOR A "YOUNG, VIGOROUS, AND ENERGETIC MINISTER," AND THE REQUIRE- MENTS OF THE PARISH FOR SUCH A PASTOR— APPOINTMENT OF A PRESENTEE — HIS TRIAL DISCOURSES. HTHE Parish of Veto, in the West of Scotland, contains some three thousand inhabitants. Most of them are engaged in field labour, some are occu piers of small crofts, while many are located in the coast villages. The parish marches with the broad Atlantic. Its old, cold, and barn-like church stands close to the rocky shore of that stormy sea. Often does the quietness of the Sabbath morn appear to be doubly still by the deep and mournful sound of the billows, rolling almost, but not quite, up to the old foundations of the House of God — seeming, as they retire, to bow to the sacred edifice, and to say, " Thus far only may we go, yet we love to join our ocean bass, to the human voices which rise in song to the God of man and nature."

Round the church straggles a little kirk-yard, surrounded by a dilapi dated dyke of rude stones, and mottled here and there by hillocks covered with rank and attenuated grass. Here " The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." These hillocks are sheltered from the open blast of the ocean, and when elsewhere all is gust and fury, here, at least, the winds respect the dead — they enter only to mourn. The church and manse are surrounded by mea dows, sheep fanks, and distilleries. Black cattle crop the herbage upon the surrounding hills — a place, surely, where a parson with rural tastes might add considerably to his stipend if on good terms with his neighbours ! It was unquestionably a highly desir able parish for an unmarried man, there being several eligible young ladies connected with its bucolic and alcoholic aristocracy — and it was now vacant.

The Rev. Torquil M'Corkscrew, its pastor, had lately been gathered to his fathers. He had long and faithfully filled the rude pulpit of the homely kirk, and com fortably occupied the old manse, with its unfenced though productive glebe, and neglected but fruit bearing orchard. Like a sensible man, he had married early in life into one of the families, most likely to further the interests of an ecclesiastic with cattle breeding proclivities, and his disconsolate relict now hoped to retain possession of the manse and glebe until a new minister was inducted. The marriageable young ladies and their male relatives, naturally wished that a presentation should be given to one likely to follow the example of the departed M'Corkscrew. It was thus, probably, that it was discovered that the wants of the parish required the services of a "young, vigorous, and energetic minister."

To further so desirable an object, a reverend gentleman, who possessed much influence with Royalty, was asked to do what he could to procure a presentation for a certain " Dowb" who would have fulfilled all the conditions necessary, in the eyes at least of a few persons, who considered that they had the best interests of the parish at heart. Unfortunately for the wishes of the amiable family coterie, the Lord Advocate, who exercises the privi lege of disposing of Crown presentations to vacant benefices, did not entertain the idea that this section of the parishioners should have their choice of a pastor. Perhaps he did not see the necessity for their having a gentleman with merely the limited qualifi cations indicated. At any rate, he gave the presenta tion to one, who, although not juvenile, was vigorous and energetic.

Unhappily, however, he laboured under the incurable disqualification of being a married man. The consternation with which this news was received by the parties who thought that they had secured the ministerial succession to the defunct M'Corkscrew, may be easily imagined. Visions of flitting from the manse, of young stirks no longer brow sing upon ecclesiastical grass, and sheep driven to other than church folds, passed before their eyes, and they determined, with frowning brows, that, if possible, this thing should not be. They knew that opposition to presentees had been successful where family inter ests were the real, although, of course, not the osten sible cause of dissent. What was to hinder the '.ristocratic cattle feeders and their friends from influ encing the members of the congregation, most of whom were their own dependents, to oppose a presentee?

True, the day was gone by when a certain law of the church gave power to male heads of fami lies to reject a man without any reason assigned, and objections would now require to be stated and proved against the presentee, but then they knew that objections were thick as leaves in Vallambrosa, and that in many cases presbyteries were neither over particular in determining their relevancy nor scrupu lous in finding them proved. They were fully aware also, that they could command all but a mere fraction of the Presbytery of Dunderhead. The diminutive, long-nosed, oily-faced incumbent of a neighbouring parish — the recognised leader of that remarkable church court — had been tutor in one of their families, and through its influence had obtained his living. Besides, the members of Presbytery had often lived at heck and manger in their houses with the jovial hospitality of the good old times, when the boisterous ferries of Hebridean Isles refused to become placable, notwithstanding, it is to be hoped, the earnest prayers of belated guests for moderate weather.

There were few of them, moreover, who had not often been driven scot-free in comfortable dog-carts to the very doors of their distant manses. And, then, would not the Assembly (not to speak of the Synod) decide for the objectors, even as the said little oily man had often remarked, because it would be magis bono ecclesiæ that a presentee who was opposed, should be rejected, than that he should be inducted in the face of a reclaiming congregation ? Had not the Rev. Tryer Mussell been cast because one of his trial discourses was discovered by a distinguished divine, in a certain seaport town celebrated for rain, to bo copied from a book of old sermons, and tottied out of existence with a broken heart in consequence ; while a second presentee was kept out on the suspicion that his morality was not quite up to the requirements of TRIALS OF THE PRESENTEE BEGIN. 6 Law] and although the walk and conversation of a third had been unsuccessfully attacked, it was always thought that this was owing to some peculiar Luck.

However all this may be, such at least were said to be the considerations which led to the formation of a cabal against the presentee to the parish of Veto before he had delivered his trial discourses, or had even been known to or seen by his opponents. Great, then, was the excitement when the day fixed by the Presbytery for preaching these discourses arrived. The church could not contain the numbers that flocked from all parts of the country, including the official members of Presbytery deputed to be pre sent, and who put up at the house of one of the lead ing objectors ! When the presentee walked up the pulpit steps, there was a general buzz among the congregation. " What a head of red hair he has !" said one of the embryo dissentients. "Take a note of it, Sheepshanks," said another; " we were tcld by Messrs Horn and Poind, the agents, to put down everything." « And, Helen !" excitedly exclaimed one of the lady coadjutors, "I declare he actually squints !"

" No doubt of it, Puncheon," said Sheepshanks ; " and did you not observe that his legs are decidedly TRIALS OF THE PRESENTEE BEGIN. 7 too short to do tho work of this large and hilly parish V "A most important objection," replied the other. "I must take a note of that for Poind." In this strain remarks were made and jotted down during the course of the sermon. It was found that the unfortunate subject of criticism turned his head oftener to one side of the pulpit than to the other, that he blew his nose very frequently, and with a sound so sonorous, that his hearers lost a great part of what he said, and were unable to follow him, particularly as his voice was too loud. The prayers were made the subject of comments of the same kind. "Eh! me, Flora," whispered Helen, "do you see how he opens his eyes !

Uncle never did that. I declare he has no unction, he doesn't look at all like a man who's in earnest." Happily for the presentee there were many of his hearers who thought very differently of his gifts and qualifications. The discourses having been duly delivered by the presentee to the member of Presbytery appointed to receive them, who (as an Irishman would say) happened " accidentally on purpose " to be the little oily man, instead of being lodged with the Presbytery clerk, were quietly placed in the hands of one of tha TRIALS OF THE PRESENTEE BEGIN. 8 objectors, with a view to being discussed at a meeting of the conclave. Whether the little oily man was present, and helped to draw up the objections, may be left to the imagi nation of the reader. The sermons at last found their way to the hands of the clerk of Presbytery, and in due time a day and place were fixed for moderating in a call to the presentee, according to the law and practice of the Church of Scotland.

Chapter II. Some Account Of The Principal Objectors And Their Coad- Jutors

— THE REV. ADAM P. SNEAKER, EXPECTANT PRESENTEE — PLANS FOR A PUBLIC MEETING AND DINNER TO THE PRESBYTERY. "I T was soon known throughout the parish that the presentee was to be opposed. No movement was, however, made by the people, but the cabal was active. There were four aristocratic gentlemen in this body. The first was Mr Sheepshanks, cattle dealer, a short, burly, fierce-looking fellow, with a face so like a sky terrier's that one sometimes wondered why he didn't bark. His lips, when he was irritated, disclosed a set of teeth which made you feel uncomfortable about the heels! He had driven cattle so long that he thought he could drive men too. He was the most energetic and determined of the objectors, not that he cared about the kirk himself — he was seldom or never inside of it, and, in fact, did not belong to the Church of Scotland.

The second caballer was Mr Puncheon, distiller, a hulking skunk, with a Bardolphian nose, who could with ease put two or three bottles of whisky under his SOME ACCOUNT OF THE OBJECTORS. 10 belt at a sitting, and could seldom sit at ease without doing it — a man whom it would be hazardous to send down a coal-pit without a Davy's lamp about his proboscis ! He was related to the M'Corkscrews. The third member of the cabal was Mr Porter, a brewer, a jolly, good-natured Englishman, and an Episcopalian. He confessed that he did not know what all the fuss was about, that he was an objector for the reason simply that others were, and because he thought the deceased M'Corkscrew had been a very decent fellow, and that the parish should, if possible, be kept in the family. The fourth member of the cabal was Mr Stirk, a drover, who was very seldom in the parish, but his mother had a bothie there, and he went to church about once a-year, but never sat at a communion table.

When it was ascertained that the presentee was a married man, these worthies resolved to drive him out of the parish, believing that having accomplished that, they would get their own choice of a minister. They were confirmed in this resolution by the Rev. Alister M'Cringer, of the parish of Ochonochree, the oily faced individual already mentioned as havinobeen tutor in one of their families, as well as by Mr Smites the schoolmaster, who was himself coming out for the ministry. Supported by these men they secured the services of the only two elders in the parish, to wit SOME ACCOUNT OF THE OBJECTORS. 11 Mr Quaighhorn and Mr Fillyerglass. M'Cringer was the leader of the Presbytery, in which he could command a majority, even when all the members attended its meetings. Several of that estimable body, however, were wont to absent themselves when anything disagreeable was to come up, or if present, they generally declined to vote.

Besides having the support of this influential individual, the objectors had the legal assistance of Messrs Horn and Poind, writers, Glasgow. With such powerful aid it is not surprising that they felt confident of success in carrying out their laudable intentions with regard to Mrs Dorcas M'Phillabeg or M'Corkscrew, relict of the deceased, and her amiable daughter, Miss Flora Letitia M'Corkscrew, as well as attending to the interests of that youthful " Dowb,'' the Rev. Adam Sneaker, between whom and the latter lady an affectionate intimacy had been established, with the expectation, on the part of the gentleman, of stepping into the manse and glebe. The acquaintanceship had been brought about hy Mrs Pry, the village post-mistress, a near relative of young Sneaker. " Never heed, ma callan," said she to the devout youth, who, shortly after the parish had become vacant, paid her a visit ; " altho' she's raither auld, and no verra bonny, she's plenty o' tocher, and ye'll be sure tae get the kirk."

REV. MR SNEAKER AND HIS AUNT. 12 " Do you think so ?" said he eagerly. " A've nae doot o't ; an' ye ken she's rale fond o' pootry, an' yere a great poet yersel', sae ye wad be weel matched." " Hum," said Sneaker, " I think my verses are not amiss, although that rascally editor of the Glasgow Kettle-Drum has declined several times to insert them." " Why d'ye no send them tae the Lunnon Times! Am sure they wad pit them in." "Well, I think I shall. I don't see why I shouldn't. I have seen much worse in its poet's corner when it does give space for a poem." "A think ye maun get intil the kirk an' manse first, and leave the pootry till aifter yere mairried." "But you forget, aunt, that I am not yet ac quainted with Miss M'Corkscrew, and I don't know that she would have me." " Losh me I" replied his worthy relative, " there's naething easier than gettin' acquant wi' her.

She's a great freen o' mine, and tells me a' her mind. A ken she's gey keen aboot gettin' a man, an' yere jist the verra ane that'll suit her. She's comin' tae tak' a dish o' tea wi' me the nicht, sae ye maun bide, an' a'll introduce ye." "Oh! but you know, aunt, I've promised faithfully to the Rev. Mr M'Sneevish, of the REV. MR SNEAKER AND HIS AUNT. 13 parish of Sneeshan, that I would preach for him to-morrow." "Hoots! awa, man; hae ye nae sense? A want ye tae preech in oor ain kirk the morn, — they've got nae supply, ye ken, an' it'll be a gran' chance for ye, aifter seeing Miss Flory, an' spoutin' yere pootry, an' getting the saft side o' her, tae wag yere pow in her faither's poopit." " But what am I to do with M'Sneevish V asked the already persuaded Sneaker. "Jist write him a bit caird letter that ye've been suddenly ta'en wi' the premunitories, and a'll gar Duncan yoke the post gig an' gang wi't the noo.

Am sure ye telt me that ye feelt raither queer last nicht?" said the pawky aunt. " Well, but he'll be sure to hear that I preached here." " Aweel, ye can jist tell him that ye got quat o' the premunitory symptoms wi' strong brandy an' murphy. A railly think a'll hae tae gie ye a glaiss, as ye're no lookin' jist sae weel as a wad like tae see ye whan Miss Flory's comin' here." It is needless to say that Sneaker took both his aunt's advice and her brandy — that he met the in teresting Flora, spouted his poetry, preached in the church, pleased the lady, but sadly displeased and disappointed M'Sneevish. THE PRESENTEE. 14 As already stated, all the family interest had been used to secure Sneaker's appointment to the parish, but without success. Poor Flora began to think that his attentions were not so marked after the Rev. Fergus Ochtertyre had received the presentation; and perhaps they were not; but although Sneaker did not recite quite so much of his poetry, he still had an eye to the main chance, and persevered, though with less heart, in his courtship, upon the assurance that his rival would be opposed and rejected.