§ The Earl of Aberdeenrose to present a petition from die synod of Dumfries in favour of the bill which he had introduced for the settlement of the difference which at present unhappily distracted the Church of Scotland. The petitioners approved of the whole provisions of the bill. In other quarters, however, the measure had not been so favourably received. One gentleman, in a speech which had been published, severely reprobated the measure. Their Lordships need not be afraid that he was about to debate the subject with that rev. gentleman. But some of his arguments were of so extraordinary a nature, that he could not help adverting to them. It was by him asserted, "that even if there was nothing offensive in the bill, still it could not be permitted that the state should thus presume to dictate in a matter of this kind;" that "it would be a great and grievous act of national sin to sanction such a measure;" and that "the effect of such a proceeding would be to pull down the Redeemer from his throne, and trample on his glories." Such were the arguments made use of against the measure. He was, however, happy to say, that the reception of the bill, generally speaking, far exceeded his most sanguine expectations. From every quarter of the country—from the most enlightened, intelligent, and respectable of the clergy—he had received numerous statements, approving of the measure. He regretted exceedingly that the noble Viscount did not make up his mind on this subject a little sooner, so as to have enabled him (the Earl of Aberdeen) to bring in his bill before Easter. What might be the feeling of the General Assembly on the subject ultimately, it was quite impossible for him to say. He had heard that an overture had been made to them by the Synod of Lothian against supporting this bill; but if the approaching assembly would discuss the matter calmly and fairly, he entertained a strong hope that they would acquiesce in this measure, 239 and he was sanguine in the belief that it would be productive of those benefits which he was desirous should flow from it. The noble Earl then presented the petition, in which the petitioners declared, "that they were conscientiously and truly convinced, that by paying due obedience to the laws of the land, they did not sacrifice or compromise their religious principles."