sect of Presbyterians, who dissented from the established church of Scotland in the year 1733. The following circumstance gave rise to this sect. Messrs. Erskine, Wilton, Moncrieff, and Fisher, ministers of the church of Scotland, obstinately refused, for several years, to obey the decisions of the General Assembly with regard to the settlement of ministers agreeably to the law of patronage: For this open contempt of authority, the Assembly, after many and repeated admonitions, were at last obliged to eject them from their respective charges. These four clergymen, when they saw matters carried this length, immediately complained of persecution; professed uncommon sanctity and austerity of manners; and cried out that the church was over-run with various errors, such as, a compliance with the law of patronage; the tenderness of the assembly to Professors Simson and Campbell, who were accused of Arian and Arminian heresies; and a multitude of practical deviations from the covenanted reformation of Scotland: They even inveighed against the conduct of the government for their ready admission of malignant and wicked men into places of trust in the army and state; for the loose and unlimited restoration of Charles II. to the throne; for the restoration of prelacy in England, which had been solemnly abjured; for restoring the superstitious Christmas vacancy; for the repeal of the penal laws against witches, &c. &c. These things, joined to the popular talents of some of the above ministers, alarmed the minds of many well-meaning people, and in a few years procured a numerous train of followers. Elated with this unexpected success, they soon split into two parties. The chief point of contest among the leaders of this sect was concerning the lawfulness of what is called the burgess-oath; and hence the one party have ever since been called Burghers, and the other Antiburghers. This division naturally weakened their cause, and diminished their number, which still seems to be upon the decline.