On referring to the synod's minutes of 1799, it was unanimously resolved, that by the phrase, implicated in treasonable or seditious practices," the synod did not mean to express any thing more than that dr. Dickson and Mr. Smith, two of the persons therein alluded to, had been confined by government, UNDER SUSPICION OF TREASON AND SEDITION, and that this synod now attaches no other meaning to that expression, and if that expression has been otherwise understood, or applied, the meaning of the synod has been misconceived. Resolved unanimously, that it is the opinion of this synod, that in the narrative published by dr. Dickson, there are a number of gross mistatements and misrepresentations, highly injurious to the reputation of the ministers of this body. The synod having thought proper that dr. Dickson should publicly retract his mistatements and misrepresentations, and dr. Dickson having expressed a wish that the synod should prepare a declaration to that effect, the synod appoint Messrs. John Thompson, James Horner, Samuel Hanna, William Wright, and James Bankhead, to meet this evening, and draw up a form of declaration for dr. Dickson to sign. Friday Friday morning, July the 3d. seven o'clock A, M. The committee appointed to draw up a form of declaration for dr. Dickson's signature, submitted it to the synod, which, after an amendment, was approved of, and handed to dr. Dickson for his consideration until next sederunt. The declaration is as follows: From a sense of the duty which I owe to myself, to the public, and especially to the rev. synod of Ulster, I feel myself called upon to acknowledge and declare in the most solemn manner, that my publication entitled a " narrative of the confinement and exile of William Steele Dickson, D. D. contains a number of mistatements and misrepresentations (partly arising from misconception) injurious to the character of the ministers of this body, and to the presbyterian cause; and I hope this rev. body will now accept my acknowledgments of my deep regret, and sincere contrition for hav ing published them. Friday, half past ten, A. M. Dr. Dickson having considered the form of declaration offered to him by this synod, expressed his determination to decline giving it his signature. Moved, that dr. Dickson be suspended ab officio, until he shall publicly retract his mistatements and misrepresentations respecting the ministers of this body, in a manner satisfactory to the synod. To this motion the following amendment was moved, and agreed to, that the consideration of this business be postponed till the meeting of the synod next year, to allow dr. Dickson an opportunity of publicly retracting his mistatements and misrepresentations. Resolved unanimously, that this synod return dr. Black their hearty thanks for the display of zeal and ability manifested by him in vindicating the honor and character of this body from the aspersions contained in dr. Dickson's narrative, and that he be requested to publish his statement in vindication of the ministers of the synod. Dr. Black was thanked accordingly from the chair, and promised to comply with the request of the synod. THOMAS CUMING, clerk of general synod." That the preceding report, and the minute subjoined, deserve some attention, will be admitted by all who read them, that they refer to, or or implicate matters deserving the most serious consideration of the presbyterians of Ulster appears to me equally obvious. And that they involve interests dearer than life, to every man of truth and honor, and much more to a minister of the gospel, every mind possessing virtuous sensibility, must feel. They contain in their substance, and exhibit in their complexion, matter which will leave a stain, wherever it may fall, dark, deeply ingrained, perhaps inde·lible. That I should be at case, even under a supposition, that this stain may be impressed on my name, cannot be conceived. Whether or not, it ought, the readers of my narrative shall soon have as fair an opportunity of judging, as I can supply. The proceedings of the last synod have given the business an importance, to which it could not, otherwise, have preferred any claim, and opened an ample field for surmise, rash judgment, and unguarded censure, under the impulse of feeling, rather than the guidance of information. To the attentive reader it must appear, that the "mistatements and misrepresentations," charged in the synod's minute, are neither limited in number, or defined in quality, and, consequently, cannot be distinctly acknowJedged, retracted, or repelled. It is true, dr. Black, * Black in the display of his zeal and abilities, mentioned six. But, as I neither took notes, nor employed any other so to do, I cannot pretend to recollect them clearly, or specify them correctly. This has obliged me to delay my retractations, or refutations, or whatever they may be, much longer than I wished, or intended. I may add much longer than I expected, as the publication of dr. Black's zealous and able statement, in vindication of the ministers of the synod would have supplied the defects of the minute. In the expectation of this, I was encouraged, by the doctor's having addressed the synod from a written paper, and promised to comply with their request to publish his statement, as soon as he should have recovered from the fatigue to which he had been lately exposed. However, having heard of his labors in the metropolis, and some other places, in the laudable search of information and instruction on interesting subjects; knowing the length of his journeyings, and having witnessed his extraordinary exertions, both of body and mind, at Cooks-town, " in vindication of the ministers of the synod"; I' became apprehensive, on recollection, that his weariness and debility might be of some duration. Under this apprehension, I took the liberty of troubling the doctor with a letter, dated July 16th. requesting |