1754 HUGH BLAIR, M.A.; trans. from Canongate, Second Charge; called 8th March, and adm. 11th Oct.1754; trans. to Trinity Parish 28th Feb. 1756. A delay having occurred over his admission to Trinity Parish, his translation was fixed for St Giles instead, 15th June 1758. This was affirmed by the General Assembly 2nd June 1758.-[Acts of Ass., 1758; Kay's Portr., i.; Morren's Ann., ii.; etc.]

1758 WILLIAM ROBERTSON, trans. From Gladsmuir; called 13th Aug. 1756, but, owing to delay in the translation of Dr Blair, not adm. till 15th June 1758; trans. to Old Greyfriars 29th April 1761. The kirk-session appealed; the translation, however, was confirmed by the Synod 5th May, and by the General Assembly 26th May thereafter.-[Carlyle's Autob.; Acts of Ass., 1761; etc.]

1761 JOHN HYNDMAN, born 1723, son of John H., shipmaster, Greenock; educated at Glasgow Univ.; ord. to Colinton 25th Nov. 1746; trans. to St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, 20th Feb. 1752; D.D (King's College, Aberdeen, 1761); called 25th June, trans. and adm. 26th Oct. 1761; died 10th Aug. 1762. Carlyle of Inveresk, one of his intimates, characterised him as "a clever fellow, a good preacher, and a ready debater." He marr. 5th Jan. 1747, Margaret Dalrymple of Dreghorn, who died s.p. Dec. 1811. Publications-A Just View of the Constitution of the Church of Scotland, and of the Proceedings of the General Assembly, in Relation to the Deposition of Mr Gillespie (Edinburgh, 1753, anon.), (which called forth other pamphlets, particularly Witherspoon's Ecclesiastical Characteristics); a Sermon on Proverbs xiv. 34 (Edinburgh, 1761).-[Reg. (Bur.), Carlyle's Autob., Murray's Biog. Ann.; Morren's Ann., ii.]

1764 JOHN DRYSDALE, trans. from Kirkliston; pres. by the Town Council1st Dec. 1762, by a majority of 23 to 5, the first instance of an appointment by presentation since the Revolution. A protracted litigation ensued before the civil and ecclesiastical courts.

It was maintained that the Town Council had only a joint right with the ministers and elders, or general session, to call and settle ministers in the city, but the Court of Session found, 18th Feb. 1763, "that the Magistrates and Town Council have the sole privilege, exclusive of, and without consulting the ministers and kirk sessions, of presenting ministers to all the vacant churches within the city,"' which decision the House of Lords armed 13th March 1764. The General Assembly, 17th May following, sustained the call, and he was adm. 14th Aug. thereafter; trans. to the Tron Parish 29th April 1767.-[Scots Mag., 1764, xxvi., pp. 237-48; Morren's Ann., ii.; Carlyle's Autob.; Kay's Portr., i.]

1767 WILLIAM GLOAG, trans. from Cock pen; called by the Town Council and general session 27th Feb., and adm. 22nd Oct. 1767; trans. to the New North Parish 21st July 1772.

1772 JAMES MACKNIGHT, D.D.; trans. from Jedburgh; called 98th Nov. 1771; adm. 21st July 1772; trans. to the Old Kirk Parish 26th Nov. 1778.

1778 THOMAS RANDALL, trans. from East Parish, Glasgow; called 30th March, and adm. 26th Nov. 1778; trans. to the Tolbooth Parish 9th June 1785.

1785 WILLIAM SIMPSON, trans. from Morebattle; pres. by the Town Council, and adm. 9th June 1785; trans. to Tron Parish 2nd Aug. 1789.

1790  JAMES FINLAYSON, M.A.; trans. from Borthwick; holding in conjunction the professorship of Logic in the Univ. of Edinburgh; pres. by the Town Council 30th Dec. 1789; adm. 29th July 1790; trans. to Old Greyfriars 9th Jan. 1794.

1794 DAVID BLACK, born 1762, son of David B., min. of Perth; educated at Univ. of Edinburgh; licen. by Presb. of Perth 25th Aug. 1784; ord. to St Madoes