134 TRINITY—THE TRON [PRESB. OF of the Jure-divino-ship of Hereditary In- defeasible Monarchy enquired into and exploded (Edinburgh, 1749); A Second Letter to Mr Thomas Rvddiman (Edin- burgh, 1749).—[Test. Beg., Chalmers's Life of Ruddiman, Morren's Ann., Warrick's Moderators, Diet. Nat. Biog.] ROBERT DICK, born 1722, son of 1758 James *-*., min. of the Wynd Church, Glasgow; M.A. (Glasgow 1744); licen. by Presb. of Hamilton 14th Jan. 1747 ; ord. to Lanark (his settlement being violently disputed) 4th Oct. 1750 ; trans, to New Greyfriars 11th Oct. 1754; trans, and adm. 15th June 1758 ; D.D. (Edinburgh, 13th March 1759); died 24th Aug. 1782. He was one of the ablest and most dis- tinguished ministers of his day. He marr. 29th June 1756, Grizel Ford, who died 16th June 1822, and had issue—James, born 9th May 1760, died 20th June 1769 ; Elizabeth, born 10th Oct. 1762 ; Gruel, born 19th Aug. 1764, died 28th Oct. 1765; Robert, W.S. apprentice 1781, born 22nd July 1765; Isabella, born 28th Oct. 1766, died 3rd Oct. 1767; William, born 12th Oct. 1768, died 3rd Aug. 1769 ; Isobel, born 29th Dec. 1769, died 16th Nov. 1792. Publica- tions—Two single Sermons (Edinburgh) ; The Simplicity and Bopularity of the Divine Revelations and their Suitableness to the Circumstances of Mankind (1758) ; The Counsel of Gamaliel Considered (1762) ; True State of the Case (Edinburgh, 1763). —[Moncreiffs Life of Erskine, Mackenzie's Life of Home, Morren's Ann., Carlyle's Atitob."] THE TRON KIRK. [Christ's Kirk at the Tron, so called from the great beam, the public weighing-place of the city. The foundation stone was laid 4th March 1637, and the church dedi- cated 1641. The present building is but a fragment of the original structure, whose stately proportions were mercilessly despoiled on the formation of Hunter Square and the South Bridge. A notable feature of the interior is the oak roof, not unlike that of the Parliament House. The steeple dates from 1826, its predecessor being destroyed by fire 15th Nov. 1824. The General Assembly met in the Tron Kirk from 1830 to 1840.] WILLIAM COLVILL [COLVILLE], 1641 M.A. (St Andrews 1631); min. of Cramond in 1635 ; trans, to Trinity College, Edinburgh, in 1639 ; trans, and adm. about 24th Dec. 1641. Five days after the battle of Kilsyth (15th Aug. 1645), he obtained a protection from the Marquess of Montrose, and was accordingly regarded with grave suspicion. He was suspended by the General Assembly in July 1648, and dep. 26th July 1649* for maintaining the lawfulness of the Duke of Hamilton's Expedition into England. For a time he ministered in the English Church at Utrecht. In April 1652 he was elected Principal of Edinburgh University, but having been carried prisoner to the Castle for praying for Charles II., he was not permitted by Cromwell's Government to take possession of the office, which was declared vacant, 17th Jan. 1653. He re- ceived, however, a year's stipend (2000 merks) in consideration of having dem. his charge in Holland. On 8th Nov. 1654 he was reponed by the Synod of Lothian (there being no General Assembly during the Protectorate), and became min. of Perth. On Leighton's resignation in 1662, he was again app. Principal of the Univer- sity, and died (buried 3rd June) 1675. He marr. (1) Marion Brisbane, and had issue —John, M.A., advocate, died 1679 ; Alex- ander, bapt. 12th May 1643 ; Janet, bapt. 24th Sept. 1646 ; Matthew, bapt. 8th Oct. 1647 ; Thomas, bapt. 27th May 1649, died before 16th Nov. 1678 : (2) Marion Fyfe, and had issue— James, bapt. 18th July 1655. Publications—Ethica Christiana— Sermons on the Righteous Branch. See a rare pamphlet, Submission to the Censures of Suspension and Deposition exemplified in the case of the Very Rev. Mr William Colvill, sometime one of the ministers of Edinburgh, and afterwards Brincipal of the College there. From authentic and unquestionable vouchers (Edinburgh, 1734).