BIRTH OF BISHOP WALLACE—SUMMONED BEFORE THE JUSTICIARY COURT OF PERTH—OUTLAWED—BISHOP WALLACE BY SPECIAL INDULT CONSECRATED BY BISHOP GORDON ALONE—A SECOND TIME OUTLAWED—REMAINS IN THE COUNTRY—BISHOP GORDON S AFFECTION FOR THE HIGHLANDERS—DEATH OF BISHOP WALLACE, 1733.

Mr. Wallace was the son of the Provost of Arbroath, and is supposed to have been born about 1650. He was educated as a Protestant and licensed as an Episcopalian minister. It is probable that he became a Catholic some time before the Revolution. But the precise time is not known. He was tutor for some time to the Duke of Perth’s children and travelled with them through France and Italy. When these duties were at an end he repaired to the Scotch College of Paris and lived there retired for a considerable time. When Bishop Gordon returned from Rome in 1706, he prevailed on Mr. Wallace to accompany him to Scotland and prepare for the labours of the mission. He was ordained priest in April, 1708, and stationed at Arbroath. In the following year he was summoned before the justiciary Court of Perth for “apostatizing to the Popish religion” and for “trafficking and perverting others.” He declined to appear and was outlawed.

In 1719, Bishop Gordon solicited from the Holy See and obtained the appointment of Mr. Wallace as his co-adjutor. On 30th April, 1720, the Briefs were expedited by which he was created Bishop of Cyrrah. In the following October, he was consecrated at Edinburgh by Bishop Gordon alone, assisted by two priests. This departure from the usual form of consecration was sanctioned by a special indult. It is also to be remarked that the elected bishop was of greater age than Bishop Gordon, having attained his sixty-sixth year. It was on account of his great merit that he was chosen, and also in order to put an end to the intrigues that were begun in favour of some other party. His new dignity was far from being a bed of roses. In 1722 he was arrested by order of the magistrates, whilst he was hearing confessions in the lodgings of the Duchess of Gordon at Edinburgh. The duchess was still in bed. But the constables of the City Guard who had charge to execute the warrant, insisted that she should rise and conduct them over the house. Eleven other Catholics were seized, and of these some were dismissed, others sent to prison. Suspecting the Bishop, from the gravity of his demeanor, to be a priest, they conducted him to prison under a strong guard. It would have fared still worse with him if they had imagined that he was anything more. He was liberated on bail; but, as on a former occasion, refused, to stand his trial, and was outlawed. He remained in the country, however, and frequenting only places where he, was not much known, he managed to do good service. It would appear that later on he could use more freedom; for, Bishop Gordon left to him the prin­cipal charge of the Lowlands, whilst he himself devoted his energies to the people of the High­lands, for whom he had conceived so great an affection.

The Bishop’s friendship for his Highlanders was strongly expressed in a letter he wrote to the agent at Rome in the year 1711. It would appear that some people expressed surprise that he should have been able to stay in those mountainous districts with an amount of comfort which it was impossible for others to experience. “I never,” was his reply, “had more comfort, every way, than among those people; and am so far from wearying of them that I long to shut myself up forever with them. I do not question but I should do greater service there than anywhere else; and if it were the will of Propaganda, I would confine myself so long as I live, among our hills and consecrate my days to serve the poor people that live in them.” It was less difficult for Bishop Gordon to live in the Highlands, as his co-adjutor, Bishop Wallace, had for some time been charged with the weight of duty in the Lowlands mission. The latter Prelate continued to be engaged in these labours till the close of his days. He died at Edinburgh on the 11th July, 1733.