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his death; but others that he continued to mock at religion, and all that is seriouse. He was a Jacobite violent, and was consulted anent the Pretender's health. He was a man of great learning, and was sometime professour at Leyden, and till of late keeped a great correspondence w^t learned men abroad."—Analecta MS. Vol. III. p. 243. Adv. Lib.

The above character of Dr. Pitcairne, is by one who cannot be supposed to have admired either his political, or his religious principles. It is, however, valuable as giving the opinion of his talents, his politics, and religion, by the organ of a party, to whose views in church and state he was diametrically opposed. Wodrow's account of his moral and religious character, must, however, be received with caution. It is likely to have been formed, not from personal observation, but from the remarks of others whose party or religious spirit—or, perhaps, whose feelings smarting under the severity of his Satire—might be inclined to exaggerate his frailties in morality and religion. From letters preserved in Wodrow's collections there appears to be some reason for this remark. The Rev. James Williamson, Minister in Edinburgh, (son of the celebrated Mr. David Williamson) in a letter to Mr. Wodrow, 17th Oct., 1713, writes;—"I'm very apprehensive of some sad judgment on these lands, atheism and irreligion are so prevalent, notwithstanding of the Gospell light we have been priviledged with. That miserable creeture D. P[itcair]n has of late been very bussy for the D[ivel']s interest among people, but is now confined to his room and it's thought cant last long."^[1] It is certain that