GREAT EXCITEMENT—WICKEDNESS OF GLASGOW SYNOD—SACKING OF MR. M’DONALD’S HOUSE—MR. BAGNALL—IRISH RELIEF BILL PASSED—REJOIC­INGS OF PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS—THE LORD ADVOCATE REFUSES TO PRESENT THE ADDRESS OF THE GLASGOW AND AYR SYNOD—A HIGHLAND LAIRD INVEIGHS AGAINST BISHOP HAY—HIS PATIENCE—ADMIRATION OF MR. MENZIES—BOURGOYNE, CONWAY AND OTHER GENERALS ALWAYS FRIENDLY—ADDRESS OF SCOTCH CATHOLICS PRESENTED TO THE KING— DEATH OF BISHOP GRANT—HIS CHARACTER—BISHOP HAY VICAR APOSTOLIC OF LOWLAND DISTRICT—FANATICAL VIOLENCE—RIOT AT EDINBURGH— DESTRUCTION OF THE CHURCH AND HOUSE SO RECENTLY BUILT.

The excitement of the time was not destined to end with a mere war of words. The unreasoning multitude resolved on something more. On the 13th of October the Synod of Glasgow issued its wicked resolutions against “Popery,” and on the following Sunday the fanatical Presbyterian populace of that city took it upon itself to execute them. Among the numerous strangers who had come to reside in Glasgow there were a few Catholics. They had no church or chapel, and hence met on Sundays at the house of one of their number, Donald MacDonald, a comb manu­facturer, who bore the reputation of being honest, industrious and inoffensive. A priest occa­sionally visited them from Edinburgh. In his absence they had prayers in common. On Sunday, 18th October, Rev. Robert Menzies, of Edinburgh, celebrated mass for this pious congregation. It was scarcely over when a mob was observed assembling round the house, and exclaiming against the impudence of those people who dared to bring “Popery” into that Presbyterian city, after the Synod had so determinedly protested against it only a few days ago. Before the Cath­olics could get, away to their homes, which they tried to do as quietly as possible, the mob broke into the house, threatening them and uttering savage cries and imprecations. MacDonald showed the rioters over the house, where, however, to their great disappointment, they could find no signs of “Popish” worship. To make amends, and becoming more violent, they smashed the windows, tore the doors off the hinges and rifled the house of everything they could carry away. Mr. Menzies had managed to secure the altar furniture. He then mingled in the crowd, and for self-preservation, joined in the cry “where is the priest?” Macdonald’s wife, who was a Protestant, endeavoured to steal out, in order to give notice to a magistrate, but she was inter­cepted by the mob, and so maltreated, that she was obliged to take refuge in a friend’s house. The riot spreading, many persons were wounded with stones, and respectable parties were stopped and assaulted in the streets, on the bare suspicion of being Catholics. A French gentleman who had resided for some time in the city as a thread manufacturer, under the protec­tion of the Board of Trustees, was especially an object of vengeance to the mob, as was also an Englishman of the name of Bagnall, who had introduced into Glasgow, the manufacture of Staf­fordshire ware. The law officers of the Crown, although friendly to Catholics, advised them, in reply to their application, to waive their rights and make no resistance; but, as soon as possible, to publish a good refutation of Drummond’s tract. They might also have expressed the hope that their synod would teach the people more wisely in the future than it had done in the past. It is quite possible, however, that they could not entertain any such hope.

In view of such occurrences and the general clamour it is by no means surprising that the Cath­olics felt alarmed in regard to the fate of the promised Reliet Bill. The Ministry were friendly, Sir John Dalrymple zealous in the cause, and the. Lord Advocate true to his plighted word; but, might not Parliament be swayed by the extraordinary demonstrations that were taking place in Scotland? There was much encouragement to be derived from the passing of the Relief Bill for the Irish Catholics. This Bill had received the Royal Assent in the National Parliament of Dublin on August 14th, and, with the exception of some murmuring on the part of the Whigs out of doors, and a few incendiary riots in the counties of Down and Antrim, was cordially welcomed by the nation at large. The town of Loughrea was illuminated, and the Protestant people there, with Lord Clanricarde at their head, spent an evening in festivity with their Catholic fellow townsmen. There was no reason why Scotland should be an exception to the cordiality shown throughout England and Ireland, in the performance of an act of clemency and justice towards the Catholics. A meeting of the principal Catholic proprietors of Scotland was held on the 14th of August, with a view to consider what it was best for them to do in order to secure the passing of the measure for their relief. Bishop MacDonald attended, together with several of the leading Highland Catholics. The Lowland interest was also well represented. Bishop Hay persuaded the meeting, but not without some difficulty, to adopt resolutions which were to the following effect: “That Lord Linton, Mr. Maxwell, of Munshes, and Mr. Glendonwyn should wait on the Lord Advocate at Melville Castle and thank him, in the name of the Catholic people, for his past favours and his promise of future services. That they should also inform him that the heads of the proposed Relief Bill were under the consideration of a meeting of the Catholics at Edin­burgh. It was also resolved that Mr. Crosbie, advocate of the Edinburgh bar, should be appointed to prepare the Bill accord to the model of the English Bill, and that a rough draft of it should be sent to him by the meeting. The Bill, when approved, it was agreed, should be shown to Premier Lord North, before the meeting of Parliament. A voluntary subscription for defraying expenses was decided on, and it was finally resolved to make an offer of raising a Catholic regiment of 1,000 men for the public service. There was not so much unanimity in regard to this last proposal. The Highland proprietors, already accustomed to recruiting, willingly agreed to it; but the Lowland gentlemen strenuously opposed it. This, no doubt, they were entitled to do. But it was highly unbecoming that one of their number should take occasion, as he warmly and bitterly expressed his opinion, to inveigh against what he called the innovations on the principles and practice of the Catholic body and of their forefathers, which Bishop Hay had introduced. This attack on Bishop Hay was quite unjustifiable, as whatever changes he had made were effected concurrently with his superior, the senior Bishop, and with the sanction of the Holy See. The Bishop said not a word in reply; but received the severe, abusive and unmerited criticism with the greatest meekness and humility. The late Mr. Menzies, of Pitfodels, who was present, was so struck with the conduct of the Bishop, that believing he beheld a living saint, he ever after entertained the greatest esteem and friendship for Bishop Hay.

The Government was still friendly, as shown by the refusal of the Lord Advocate to present to the King and Parliament the hostile addresses of the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr, reminding them that their General Assembly had denied that “Popery” was on the increase, and severely condemning the terms of the addresses.

As has been seen, Generals Bourgoyne and Conway took pains to befriend the Catholics. They were not alone, in this respect, among our army men. A body of Catholic soldiers had expressed a wish to attend Mass at a public chapel. The Major commanding forbade them to do so, as a measure of precaution. Bishop Hay represented the matter to the Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Adolphus Oughton. The General replied through Sir John Dalrymple, regretting that he was from home when the Bishop called on him, and adding that he had seriously considered the note and narrative which he had left for him, and which he had characterized as being thoroughly candid and fraught with that spirit of moderation which becomes his (the Bishop’s) character, and which the circumstances of the times seem strongly to require. “Happy is it for the Roman Catholics,” he says to Sir John, “that your worthy friend is now at their head, from whose gentle­ness of temper as well as solidity of judgment, I trust, such measures will be taken as may most effectually dissipate these threatening clouds.”. .. . The General granted permission to the men to “drop into chapel, a few at a time, but they must not go in a body, for fear of a disturbance.”

It was made an objection to the Catholic claims, that “Popery” was increasing. This was by no means the case. Many of the Highland Catholics when emigration to America became impos­sible, settled in the towns; and this circumstance gave an appearance of increase which did not really exist. In all Scotland they were but a mere handful, compared to the numbers of Catholics in England and Ireland which had been favoured with a mitigation of the penal laws. In those two countries, they were computed to be one hundred and fifty times more numerous than in Scotland.

While the fear of an imaginary increase of the professors of the hated religion, together with an equally groundless dread of the action of “Romish” schools and priests, and Jesuits without number, was agitating the minds of the populace, the venerable Bishop Grant was called from this earthly scene and its many troubles. Thirty years before, he had undergone, with unshaken constancy the ordeal of a like, if not more terrible, storm of hostile agitation. He was saved from witnessing the violence of the tempest that was now in preparation. The journey to Scalan had exhausted his already enfeebled constitution; and although his friends still hoped that he would be spared to them over the winter, he departed this life at Aberdeen, on the 3rd of December, in the forty-fifth year of his priesthood and the twenty-fourth of his episcopate. He was interred, with becoming honour, in the Snows Churchyard (Sta Maria ad Nives). Such letters of his as remain give indication of a highly cultivated and refined mind. His best eulogium will be found in the words of Bishop John Macdonald: “He was one of the few who in their whole life escaped all censure, because censure could find no access to one who entered on the stage of the world with the maturity of old age, and whose conduct from the beginning was regulated by the most solid maxims of prudence and religion.”—Bishop Macdonald to Bishop Hay, Jan. 4th, 1779.

Bishop Hay now became, by right of succession, Vicar-Apostolic of the Lowland district. At the same time, the Scotch College at Rome was restored to the Cardinal Protector; and the Bishop congratulated His Eminence on his good fortune, whilst intimating to him his own change of position. The Principal of Valladolid wrote his congratulations, saying also: “How critical are the circumstances in which you come to that office!”

It was considered necessary at this time that Bishop Hay, together with Lord Linton, should proceed to London in order to promote the progress of the Relief Bill through Parliament. Letters of introduction to friends in London were given to Lord Linton by Sir John Dalrymple, so well known as a friend of the cause. They at once resumed negotiations with the Ministry, to whom the proposal to raise a Catholic regiment was very acceptable. Lord Germain, however, suggested a change of the wording, leaving the substance the same, in order that it might be legally accepted. The two ministers then desired that it should be presented to the King. This was done by Lord Linton at a levee. His Majesty, who had been prepared for it by Lord North, instead of handing it to the lord in waiting, put it in his pocket. It was intended to show what benefit the State would derive from the repeal, or even a mitigation of the penal laws.

As soon as it was known that measures were in progress for the passing of the Relief Bill, the agitation throughout Scotland raged with redoubled fury. The first step of the “Friends of Prot­estantism” was to place themselves in communication with Lord George Gordon, the head of a like fanatical association in England; and who, not many months later, acquired fresh notoriety by his violent and unlawful proceedings. There was no end to petitioning; and school boys were hired to give their names to swell the lists of good Protestants. Counsel were employed to plead against the passing of the Bill at the Bar of the Houses of Parliament; and inflammatory hand-bills were scattered among the people. Some of these are still preserved at Preshome. Among the rest, one of a very elaborate character, an impression on copper, representing “Sawney’s” opposition to the Relief Bill. The description of it is so disgustingly nasty, that our pen refuses to transcribe it. The fury increased as the time approached for the consideration of the Bill by Parliament. In the latter half of January incendiary letters were dropped about the streets of Edinburgh, and others were sent to some of the principal tradesmen and other respectable persons, conveying threats that, unless they “reformed,” their property, their chapels and even their persons would be given to destruction. Catholics were assailed in the streets, when recog­nized as such, with savage and outrageous cries, such as: “There’s a Papist, knock him down; shoot him!” It was no longer safe for a Catholic to remain in his own house. Some, about the end of January, actually abandoned their homes and went to stay with friends. It would appear that the intended riot broke out a little sooner than the leaders of the mob proposed. On January 29th they caused hand-bills to be dropped about the streets, inviting to do the Godly work on the following Wednesday. They ran thus: “Men and Brethren,—whoever shall find this letter will take it as a warning to meet at Leith Wynd on Wednesday next in the evening to pull down that pillar of Popery lately erected there.

“A PROTESTANT.
“Edinburgh, Jan. 29th, 1779.
““P. S. Please to read this carefully, keep it clean and drop it somewhere else. For King and country—unity.” Prefixed to this precious document were the names of the “Committee of the Protestant interest.” These very pious persons tried, afterwards, but in vain, to repudiate the incendiary placard. It was clearly proved to have been composed and circulated directly under their auspices, “for the Protestant interest.” The new building in Chalmer’s close, near Leith Wynd, had been in use as a dwelling house for about four months. But the chapel had not been opened for public service, although Bishop Hay had said Mass in it privately. During Saturday, January 30th, a mob of ill-disposed persons, gathered about the house, breaking the windows, insulting the Bishop’s servants and all who went in or came out. Next day, an alarming report ran through the city that an early day in that week had been fixed on for burning the new chapel, and the destruction of the chapel and priest’s, house in Blackfriar’s Wynd, together with the shops and dwelling houses of the principal Catholics in the town. On Monday morning the threatened victims of the fury of the populace besought the Lord Provost Hamilton to adopt vigourous measures for their protection. This dignitary and the other magistrates were suspected of collusion with the mob, One thing is certain; they were apathetic and indifferent, contenting themselves with vague assurances that there was no real cause for apprehension, whilst they made no preparation to meet a crisis which was becoming every hour more imminent, beyond issuing an order to the heads, deacons, as they were called, of the incorporated trades, to do their best to keep the young men under their charge from riotous and disorderly conduct. About noon on February 2nd, the mob again assembled around the new chapel house and began to pelt the inmates with stones. Mr. James Cameron and a young priest, Mr. Mathison, just arrived from Spain, sat down to dinner at two o’clock; but the shower of stones soon became so sharp that they could no longer remain with safety in the house. They managed with great difficulty to force their way through the crowd, to the other chapel-house in Blackfriar’s Wynd, taking with them the servants and as much of the chapel furniture as they could collect in a few hurried moments and conceal about their persons. Their departure was the signal for the mob to force the doors of the house, which was instantly filled with wild men, armed with hatchets and stones, under the powerful strokes of which the interior of the house soon became a complete wreck. The space of open ground around, and all the avenues leading to it, were at once filled with a dense mass of the rabble, and instantly was heard a general roar: “Set fire to it, set fire to it immediately!” This cry decided the fate of the building. Straw and barrels of tar were distrib­uted over the several floors, and the whole structure was speedily in a flame. which continued to blaze till ten o’clock at night. A venerable priest, long since deceased, who was acquainted with Bishop Hay, told his friends as a proof of the satisfaction this outrageous work afforded some parties, that an aged lady of the Presbyterian persuasion caused herself to be conveyed to a place from which she could view the burning edifice, and then spreading out her shrivelled hands, thanked the Lord that she was spared to warm her hands at the flames of “the house of sin!”