He graduated in 1718, and became finally minister of Gretna
Green, and the author of some Latin poetry, preserved in MS.
Some information regarding Gatt, and a specimen of his poetry,
will be found in Scottish Notes and Queries^ Vol. IX. The
sacrist, John Hay, was dismissed.*



INTRODUCTION. xlv.
Upon the suppression of the rising, the Government
appointed a Commission to visit the Universities of Aberdeen.
It met in Edinburgh in 171 7. The records of this Commission
have, unfortunately, not been traced. The College possessed a
copy, which, as we know from a Senatus Minute of 1763, was
at that time accessible to all the members. A reference occurs
again in 1786, when Principal John Chalmers was accused of
destroying this copy. All that we know, then, is the bare fact
that the Commissioners deposed the Principal, the civilist, and
the two regents. The new Principal, George Chalmers, produced
his presentation in the Senatus on the 22nd November, 171 7,
when Dr. Middleton appeared and protested. When the two
new regents, John Ker and Daniel Bradfut, were admitted,
their predecessors also protested. The minutes speak of these
protestations as being '* subjoyned " ; but this, unfortunately, is
not the case. Considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining
access to the rooms of the dispossessed officials, who took this
method of showing their indignation at the treatment which they
had received from Government.
The King's College Minutes contain no reference to the
political situation of the year 1745, beyond that, in 1746, it was
resolved ** to pursue William Moir of Lonmay for the cess and
levy money which he exacted from the Collie for the service of
the Rebels."

2. MaHschal College.
