was his Business with me?"

C. The reason of my waiting on you is, that I know you are disposed to do
for me a Thing which none of your Brethren in Nithsdale will so much as
attempt, tho' it serve to ever so good Purposes. I told him I would never
refuse to do a Thing to serve a good Purpose, If I thought I was obliged
to do it as my Duty. He answered, since I had undertaken what he found few
in Nithsdale would, for he had tryed some upon that Subject, who were more
obliged to him than ever I was, or to any Person living: I drew my Horse,
and halted in Surprize, asking What I had undertaken? He answered, that on
the Sabbath last, I had heartily condemned M{r}. Paton, and the Rest of
the Ministers in Dumfries Presbytery for dissuading Dr. Menzies's Man,
from keeping his Appointment with me, and that if you had been in their
Place, you would have persuaded the Lad to do as I desired him; and that
you would have gone with him, lest he had been feared; and that if you had
been in Mr. Paton's Place, you would have delivered my Commissions your
self, since it tended to do some People Justice.

O. Pray, Coul, who informed you that I talked at that Rate?

C. You must know, that we are acquainted with many Things, that the Living
know nothing about. These Things you did say, and much more to that
Purpose, and all that I want is, that you fulfill your Promise, and
deliver my Commissions to my loving Wife.

O. 'Tis a Pity, Coul, that you who know so many Things, should not know
the Difference between an absolute, and a conditional Promise. I did
indeed at the Time you mention, blame Mr. Paton, for I think him justly
blameable, for hindering the Lad to meet with you, and if I had been in
his Place, I would have acted quite the Reverse: but did I ever say, that
if you would come to Innerwick, and employ me, that I would go all the way
to Dumfries upon that Errand? That is what never so much as once entered
into my Thought.

C. What was in your Thought I do not pretend to know; but I can depend
upon my Information, that these were your _Words_: but I see you are in
some Disorder, I will wait on you again, when you have more presence of
mind.

By the Time we were got to James Dickson's Inclosure below the Churchyard,
and while I was recollecting in my mind, whether ever I had spoken these
Words he alledged, he broke from me thro' the Churchyard with greater
violence, than ever any man on horseback is capable of, and with such a