BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3 8 i
is said that this is a Louse in fact, and that t4e veritas wnvicii a d ;an d mention is made
of a-decision in the case of Chalmers v. Douglas. I have always had a great veneration for the
decisions of your Lordships ; and I am sure will always continue to have while I sit here ; but
that case was determined by a very small majority, and I have heard your Lordships mention
it on various occasione, and you have always desiderated the propriety of it, and I thiik have
departed from it in some instances. I remember the circumstances of the case well :-Helm
Chalmers lived in Musselburgh, and the defender, Mrs. Baillie, lived in Fisherrow ; and at that
time there was much intercourse between the genteel inhabitants of Fisherrow, and Musselburgh,
and Inveresk, and likewise Newbigging ; and there were balls, or dances, or assemblies, every
fortnight, or oftener, and also sometimes I believe every week ; and there were card-parties,
assemblies once a fortnight, or oftener ; and the young people danced there also, and others
played at cards, and there were various refreshments, such as tea and coffee, and butter and bread,
and I believe, but I am not sure, porter and negns, and likewise small beer. And it was at one
of these assemblies that Mn. Baillie called Mrs. Chalmers a -, or an -- , and mid she
had been lying with Commissioner Cardonald, a gentleman whom I knew very well at one time,
and had a great respect for. And Mrs. Chalmers brought an action
of defamation before the Commissaries, and it came by advocation into this Court, and your
Lordships allowed a proof of the werites convicii, and it lasted a very long time, and in the end
answered no good purpose even to the defender herself, while it did much hurt to the pursuer’s
character. I am therefore for REFUSING a proof in this casc ; aud I think the petitioner in this
case and his Beetle have h e n slandered, and the petition ought to be seen.
“LORD METHVEN.-If I understand this a-a-&-interlocutor, it is not said that the a--a
-a-a-Egyptian Lice are Beetles, but that they may be, or -a-a-a-a-resemble Beetles.
I am therefore for sending the process to the Ordinary to ascertain the fact, aa I think it depends
upon that whether there be a-a-a-a-convicium or not. I think also the petitioner should
be ordained to a-a-a-produce his Beetle, and the defender an Egyptian Louse or Pediculus,
and that he should,tske a diligence a-a-a-to recover Lice of various kinds ; and these may
be remitted to Dr. Nonro, or Mr. Playfair, or to some other naturalist, to report upon the
subject.
He is dead many years ago.
‘($geed to.”‘
[No. CCCI.
REV. ALEXANDER EING,
OF THE RELIEF CONGREGATION, DALKEITEL
THE father of this gentleman was at one period a teacher at Lasswade,’ and
afterwards a minister of the gospel in connection with the Relief. Having
studied for the clerical profession, MR. KING, the younger, became a licentiate
of the same body; and, in 1799, obtained a call to the Relief Chapel in
Dalkeith.
During the few years he officiated there, he was greatly esteemed by his congregation,
as a young man of superior talent and zeal. His oratory was ’ A pretty correct version of “ The Diamond Beetle Case” appeared in an amusing volume, post
8v0, entitled “Literary Gems,” compiled by Yr. Jamea Shaw. Edinburgh: M‘Lschlan and
Stewart, 1826. ’ He taught the parish school, having probably been a licentiate of the Church of Scotland;
but, on being accused of inculcating doctrines or opinions at variance with the principles of the
Establishment, and proceedings having been instituted against him before the Pmbytery of Dalkeith,
at the instance of the eldera and minister of his parish, he joined the Relief body, and .soon thereafter
waa ordained to a pastoral charge.