students avoided him as they would have done Satan but on perceiving his intimacy with their own minister, and understanding, also, that he was reckoned a man of good parts, as well as a regular university education, some of them, the most intelligent we may suppose, sought his acquaintance, which, frank as he was, they easily obtained. Mr. Gray observed to one of these students, of whose capacity he had formed a good opinion, that there could not be a better course of practical logic, or a better introduction to reasoning and investigation on all subjects, than to study Euclid's Elements of Geometry. The student said, he certainly would. Mr. Gray sent him an Euclid. In eight days time he brought it back. "What," said Mr. Gray,

"O yes,

"have you done with Euclid already?' said the other, "I have read all the enunciations, which seem to be true enough, and very good reading. I did not trouble myself with the A's and B's."

Since the Seceder College was moved from Abernethey, it has been, on the whole, in an ambulatory state; moving from place to place, according to the residences of the persons appointed professors. It has happened in a good number of instances, that seceders, intending their sons for the ministry,, have sent them to one or other of the universities.

But this measure, which certainly shews not a little liberality for a seceder, proves almost uniformly fatal to the good man's design. The youth, in the course of their attendance at the universities, are either reasoned out of the peculiar tenets of their fathers, or laughed out of them; or, perhaps they acquire some degree of indifference to religious dis

putes, and are contented, in rebus dubiis, to embrace that system which promises, in an ecclesiastical benefice, the most convenient retreat, for the study of very intricate controversies. Among seceder ministers, I find, that there are some now who have obtained the degree of DOCTOR, from some one or other (Aberdeen I presume, or St. Andrews) of our universities. This doctorship may be considered as a capital era in the history of the seceders. This affectation of human distinction, and being called Rabbi, this acceptance of an honour, such as it is, from universities in close alliance, and, indeed, forming a part of the established church, would not have passed, in the pure periods of the secession, without severe animadversion; nay, probably even the total expulsion of the doctor from the witnessing remnant.

After refreshing myself and my companion, I mean my poney, at Abernethey, where, I shall only say, tea, and butter, and bread, formed only a slight proportion of my repast, at a very hospitable, though inelegant inn, or, indeed, rather ale-house, I went on, on the Cupar road, to take a peep into this part Of the eastern part

of the north boundary of Fife. I had formed some idea, in some excursions to Dundee, when a student at St. Andrews. In about half an hour after, leaving Abernethey, I arrived at Newburgh, a royal burgh, as above observed, though it does not now send a representative to parliament. In this ride, the course of the Tay was opened to my view, as far as the craggy hill and castle of Kinfauns, the usual residence of lord Gray, and part of the grand cliff of Kinnoull, within less than two miles of Perth. On the opposite bank of the Tay,

P. 212.

The Grand Cliff of Kinnoull from the South East, with a Prospect of the Tay, after its function with the Erne

Publikat Oct 1806 by J.Johnson.

about a mile below, is seen the massy old castle of Elcho, now in ruins, belonging, and giving the title of lord Elcho to the eldest son of the earl of Weemyss; and the whole east and north-east slope of the hill of Moncrieff, divided into neatly-inclosed and well-cultivated fields, interspersed with stripes of trees, or surmounted with large plantations of wood. I had a view also of BALTHAIK and GLENDOICK, gentlemen's seats, the former situated above a lake, in a kind of recess of the hills, that bound the Carse of Gowrie, and the other, at the bottom of one of these; both residences adorned with extensive and thriving plantations. The fine house and gardens, formerly belonging to Mr. Crawfurd, of Auchnames, at Errol, would also be distinctly seen, if they were not concealed with groves and allies of lofty trees,

NEWBURGH.

Newburgh consists of one very long street, on the south bank of the Tay, with suburbs at each end, and a lane, near the east end, leading to the shore. A hill rises on the south, the base of which, in that quarter, is covered with gardens and orchards, belonging to the citizens of Newburgh. On the shore are three continuous piers, which form very safe stations for trading vessels of almost any size. Many of these unload part of their cargoes here, before they proceed up to Perth, which does not admit of ships above two hundred tons. The principal manufacture of Newburgh is that of Silesias, Osnaburgs, and brown linens. A considerable trade