BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 41 5
entered as a student at the Divinity Hall, obtained license as a preacher from
the Presbytery of Cupar-Fife, some time, it is understood, in the year 1776.
His sermons attracted general notice, and gained him the esteem of many of
the leading men of the Church. In 1777, he became assistant to the late Mr.
Gibson of St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh; and, in 1780, he was presented by the
Marquis of Lothian to the Church of Newbattle, within the Presbytery of
Dalkeith. In that year he married Susan, only daughter of Sir William
Moncreiff, and sister to the late Sir Henry Moncreiff Wellwood, Bart., by
whom he had a numerous family.' He remained at Newbattle for six years,
and his memory was long cherished with affectionate regard by his old parishioners.
In 1786 Mr. Paul, on a recommendation from the heritors of the parish of
St. Cuthbert's to the late Lord Melville, received a presentation from the Crown
to be one of the ministers of that parish, in the room of his late friend Mr.
Gibson; and by this appointment he became the colleague of his brother-inlaw,
Sir Henry Moncreiff. United by close ties of relationship, they were at
the same time men of a congenial spirit, and probably no church in Scotland,
where there was a collegiate charge, had two more able men as its spiritual
guardians,
In 1794 he was appointed, by his late Majesty George 111. one of his Chaplains
for Scotland. He continued to discharge the arduous duties attendant
upon his charge with unwearied assiduity till the period of his death, which
happened on the 27th October 1802,
The manner of Mr. Paul in the pulpit was attractive and commandingpersuasive,
and not unfrequently pathetic or forcible, as the occasion required.
While the young and the diffident, in the course of his parochial visitations,
were encouraged and brought forward, those who were of a contrary character
met with severe rebuke. From such a man, indeed, even a look was sufficient.
On one occasion, a young lady of respectability in the parish, and of great personal
attractions, from thoughtless levity stood up in church during sermon in
the front of the gallery, exhibiting a beautifully formed arm, bare almost to the
shoulder, which attracted the eyes of the entire congregation towards her.
The reverend clergyman, who knew her and her family well, was disturbed.
Although unwilling to hurt her feelings, he was determined to repress so
unbecoming an exhibition. Turning to the place where she stood, and pausing
in his discourse, he fixed on her for a few moments an eye so full of reproof
that the lady's vanity gave way under his gaze, and she sat down abashed in
her seat.
With the manners of a perfect gentleman, Mr. Paul possessed an independence
of spirit by no means suited to the meridian of a court, At one of the
elections of the Scottish Peers in Holyrood House, about the close of last
These were his son Robed, manager of the Commercial Bank of Scotland; John, one of
the ministers of the West Church; William, chief partuer of the firm of Paul, M'Kenzie, and
Moncrieff, accountants in Edinburgh ; and Henry, manager of the City of Glasgow Rank, Glasgow.
