SECOND, SIGHT CONTINUED—ALEX. CAMERON, BISHOP—REGARDING A BRITISH RESIDENT AT ROME—MISSION OF BALLOCH—THE BISHOP REJECTS UNNECESSARY CHANGES—WOULD HAVE CHURCH MUSIC BUT FOR THE TEMPER OF THE TIMES—THE MUNSHES PRIEST’S DOCTORS OF DIVINITY—BRIG­ANDAGE OF FRENCH SOLDIERS—PIUS VI. HURRIED AWAY FROM ROME— CONVEYED TO VALENCE—DIED THERE 29TH AUGUST, 1799, AGED 81—SCOTCH COLLEGE SEIZED BY FRENCH REPUBLIC—REV. P. MACPHERSON BRINGS STUDENTS SAFELY HOME—MR. MACPHERSON HIGHLY HONOURED IN LONDON—ASTONISHMENT IN POLITICAL CIRCLES—BISHOP HAY JUBILANT.

The question of second sight appears to have been a good deal studied at Rome. One of the Cardinals wrote a treatise on it; and while engaged in collecting facts and materials for this work, Bishop Hay took great pains in supplying him with cases that had occurred, chiefly in the Highlands; and such only as were well authenticated. The Cardinal’s object was to show that the faculty of second sight originated with the evil spirit. The Bishop held the same opinion as the Cardinal as to the origin of the faculty. Regarding the fact of its existence, there could be no question. There were two instances, particularly, which he was wont to relate, giving the proofs, the names of the parties, places, witnesses, etc. The first of these was that of a man, possessing the faculty of second sight, who declared that he saw a child, at the time in apparent health, running about the house, dressed in its grave clothes. In the other case was described circum­stantially, the accidental death of a man, at the time of the vision in perfect health.

The Rev. Donald Carmichael combatted the Bishop’s opinion which ascribed the faculty to the agency of the evil one. How could the devil know such and such future contingencies? The Bishop’s reply was that although the devil has no absolute knowledge of the future, he might have seen in the case of the child some indications of internal and mortal disease, not yet apparent to human perception. In the case of the man, the devil might have prepared the accident and made a pretty sure guess as to the event, even though it was no more than a guess or a conjecture. It would be interesting to know what the Bishop thought of the Lord President’s case, related above in Bishop Chisholm’s letter. Nothing short of absolute knowledge of the future which he denies, and which we must all deny to the evil one, could have enabled him through a seer, to give notice of the President’s arrival at the house of the gentleman where he dined so well. If the arrival was brought about by the power of the devil, he must, once at least, have mistaken his vocation when he refrained from wrecking the boat and drowning the learned judge and excellent man, together with his whole company. This would have been more in keeping with the character which Scripture gives to the fiend, who “goes about like a raging lion seeking whom he may devour.” (Sicutleo rugiens, quoerens quem devoret.)

It was arranged that the newly appointed coadjutor should be consecrated in Spain. The first news which he had of his appointment was in a letter from Mr. McPherson that reached him at the same time as an official intimation from Bishop Hay, written at Huntly. The Bishop was kind and complimentary. The agent’s letter was also very gratifying, and the more so as Mr. Cameron cherished a warm friendship for the Scotch agent at Rome and all his former associ­ates. Mr. Cameron’s promotion caused a vacancy in the Rectorship of the College of Valladolid. The Scotch Bishops, desiring to avail themselves of the privileges granted by a former King of Spain, Charles III., prayed that his successor, Charles IV., continuing the same privileges, would name to the office one of three whom they proposed. They, at the same time, commended the College to His Majesty’s favour.

About this time Sir John Hippisley informed Bishop Hay, that but for the irruption of the French into the Papal States, a British resident at Rome would have been appointed by the British Government. In the actual circumstances, however, there was to be only a Resident on the part of the British Merchants, in the person of Mr. Graves. No assistance had, as yet, been obtained from Government for the Scotch Mission. The worthy Baronet was still watching for an oppor­tunity to forward the matter.

There was some rather warm discussion between Bishops Hay and Chisholm in regard to the Balloch or Drummond Mission, where Mr. Andrew Carruthers was placed. It does not appear to have led to any important result; and hence no details need be given.

Mr. Robertson, the Benedictine friar from Ratisbon, desired the sanction of the Bishop to some unnecessary and inappropriate changes which he had introduced into the services for his small congregation at Munshes. He wished that English prayers, and long ones too, should be enjoined on all congregations before Mass; that the sermon should be delivered in the middle of Mass instead of being always preached before Mass began, as had been the custom in the Scotch mission from time immemorial, and that there should be music in his chapel. The Bishop patiently reasoned with him on all these points; and firmly refused to sanction such unnecessary changes. It would be appropriate and edifying to have suitable church music, the Bishop always thought, but the temper of the times must be considered. Mr. Robertson’s way of managing his congregation was very peculiar. A set of people called Elders formed his council, respecting the poor; there were lecturers and Psalm readers in the chapel on Sundays, and the council met at the village of Dalbeattie once a week, to discuss points of faith and controversy. At these coun­cils he sometimes presided himself; if not perhaps Thomas Copeland, John Rigg, (two tenants,) or some such Doctor of Divinity took the chair. Such like practices led to the opinion which came to prevail in the country, that Mr. Robertson’s prayers were not like those at Terreagles and Kirkconnell. Mr. John Pepper, the Chaplain at Terreagles, who first gave this information in a letter to Mr. C. Maxwell, expressed the opinion that a hard task was in preparation for Mr. Robertson’s successor.

As the occupation of Rome by the French affected the interests of the Scotch Mission, allusion to it here is not out of place. What the Romans dreaded for some time, fell upon the city with all its terrors. A French General, Duphot, happening to be killed in a riot which he himself excited, no better pretext was required by the Revolutionary Army. It was commanded by General Berthier, and unceremoniously entered and took possession of the city. It acted,. however, with what, for such an army may be called moderation. There was neither pillage nor massacre, and, as long as Berthier commanded, discipline was tolerably well maintained. The mean and cruel Massena soon succeeded, when there occurred serious, disorders. The houses of noblemen and other wealthy citizens were entered and objects of value carried off. Such brigandage touched the honour of the army; and the indignant officers presented to the General a strong and deter­mined remonstrance, to which were affixed several pages of signatures. Massena, in order to counteract this formidable opposition to thievishness, ordered a considerable portion of the army to quarters at some distance from Rome. The officers refused to obey; on which, Massena resigned the command and left the city. A greater robbery, meanwhile was remorselessly committed. The Holy Father was deprived of his temporal sovereignty, and deported, succes­sively, to Sienna, the Chartreuse (Carthusian Convent) of Florence, Parma, Turin, Besancon in France, Grenoble, and, finally, Valence, where Pius VI., exhausted by fatigue and anxiety, ended his days on the 29th of August, 1799, aged 81. The people, wherever he passed, were loud in their demonstrations of affection and veneration.
Three days after the removal of the Pope, the Scotch College was taken possession of in the name of the French Republic; but not without much show of civility. Mr. McPherson, the agent, remained a month longer, hoping to do something still for the service of the mission. His chief care, however, was the safety of the students. It is very noticeable that the French authorities gave him money for his and their journey, together with a passport through France and a letter to the Minister of the Interior, in case they should get into trouble. Mr. McPherson’s charge was a heavy one; but he acquitted himself of it with complete success. By 7th April, he had reached Genoa; and there, as well as at Civita Vecchia, he met with the greatest civility on the part of the French authorities. A few weeks later, he completed, without accident, the journey which he had so courageously undertaken, travelling from Marseilles through the heart of France, with his youthful charge to London.

In London Mr. McPherson was much honoured. He was an object of interest to His Majesty’s Ministers, to all of whom he was introduced by Sir John Hippisley. He had interviews with the Speaker of the House of Commons, and presentations to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. The whole political world was stirred by the presence of a man who had so fearlessly undertaken and successfully performed a journey which to all appeared exceedingly dangerous. Men’s admiration was all the greater as they still retained but too lively a recollection of the worst atrocities of the French Revolution. Mr. McPherson, himself, was very cool over the matter, and only hoped that the acquaintance of so many great people would prove useful to him on some future occasion. Bishop Hay’s anxiety was relieved, it was “a cordial to his heart,” he said, to receive the agent’s first letter from London, intimating his safe arrival. He immediately communicated the good news to Aberdeen and other places.