Mr Jo. Hamilton said, quhen it came to his voice for the naming of some to be in the list to be Moderator, that he would name them with this verbal protestation that his naming of them should not be prejudiciall to the exceptions they had to give in against the constitution of this Assembly; to quhich protestation and way of naming the list adhered Mr Jo. Menzies, the Presbitry of Pasley, with some others.
All this being done, the voice passing betwixt Mr Douglasse and Mr Blair, Mr Douglasse, by plurality of voices, was chosen Moderator, and this closed the first session.
Sess. 2ᵈ—July 17.—10 hours.
The Lord Commissioner presented a letter from the King, excusing his absence, entreating them to study unity, to censure these who wer contrary to the publick resolutions; and to that purpose the Lord Commissioner had a speech; after quhich
Mr Dickson propounded a motion for conference, quhich they promised to take into consideration after the appointment of the several comittys,—viz., one for examination of the Commissions proceedings—one for overtures and bills—one for contraverted Commissions—one for appeals, references, and reports—one for the synod books; all these to meet at 2 hours in the afternoon.
After all quhich, they fell again upon the motion of appointing a conference with unsatisfyed bretheren; qʳupon
Mr John Smith said, that a conference could not weel be while once the examination of the Commissions wer seen.
Mr Douglasse replyed, that for all that there might be ane amicable conference, without any prejudice.
Upon this motion there was a long debate by Mr Jo. Smith on the one hand, and several others on the other.