he church in Ulster (Dr. Reid's History of the
Presbyterian Church in Ireland, vol. ii. p. 57). As a further proof
of the estimation in which he was held by his brethren, when it was
proposed by the Assembly, in 1648, to recommend to the general
session of Edinburgh six ministers, that they might choose four from
these to fill their vacant churches, Mr. Hugh M'Kail was selected to
be one of the number (Baillie's Letters, vol. ii. p. 303). He was a
Resolutioner (Id. p. 387). He died in 1660 (Lamont's Diary, p. 121)
The editor of Kirkton's History of the Church of Scotland for the
purpose of bringing ridicule upon the presbyterian clergy of that
day, quotes a passage from the MS. sermons of Mr. Hugh M'Kail. We
are much mistaken, however, if on reading that passage and after
making some allowance for an antiquated style, and a certain degree
of quaintness, one of the characteristics of the age,--the impression
produced upon the mind of any candid person, who admires strong good
sense, though presented in a homely dress, is not in a very high
degree favourable to the character and talents of the author (See
Kirkton's History, pp. 227, 228). In the preface to Stevenson's
History of the Church and State of Scotland, reference is made to a
manuscript, having this title, "A true relation of the Prelates
their practice for introducing the Service book, &c, upon the Church
of Scotland, and the Subjects, their lawful proceedings in opposing
the same." This manuscript, Mr. Stevenson observes, was believed to
have belonged to "one of the Mr. Mackails, once famous ministers in
this church". Some information respecting it will be found in the
Appendix (pp. 191, 192) to Lord Rothess' Relation of Proceedings
concerning the Affairs of the Kirk of Scotland, printed in
Edinburgh, 1830. for the Bannatyne Club.--_Ed._]

91 [It appears from the dedication prefixed to the "Theses Theologicae,
Metaphysicae, Mathematicae et Ethicae, Preside Jacobo Darimplio, Glasg.
Excudebat Georgius Andersonus, An. Dom. 1646," that "Hugo Binningus"
graduated "ad diem 27 Julii, Anno Domini 1646." Under the ancient
Statutes of the University, no student was entitled to receive the
degree of master, till he had reached his twentieth year. But this
rule was not always s