A case of considerable novelty, and presenting some rather amusing
features, has lately been, at more than one sederunt, under the consi- deration of the Presbytery of Brechin. Some time ago, the Reverend Mr. Norval of Kirriemuir (a native, we believe, of Glasgow), was pre. seated to the church and parish of Brechin. In accordance with the rules of the Church, the Presbytery appointed him to preach in that church two consecutive Sabbaths, an appointment which Mr. Norval of course fulfilled ; and, as it appears, wonderfully to the edification and delight of the parishioners. A rumour, however, arose in the parish immediately afterwards, that two, if not three, of the sermons preached by the reverend gentleman on these occasions were copied verbatim from sermons on corresponding texts published in the present year by the Reverend Henry Melville of Edinburgh. Several of the parishioners became at last so convinced that this rumour was correct in point of fact, that they brought the matter, by petition, before the Presby- tery ; while another portion of the parishioners also presented a petition, craving that the settlement of Mr. Norval should be immediately pro- ceeded with. The Presbytery instituted proceedings in the ease, heard evidence in support of the allegation that the sermons were mere copies of those published by Mr. Melville, took also into consideration certain admissions made by Mr. Norval, and on Wednesday last came to a deci- sion, finding the charge of his having wholly copied the sermons from Mr. Melville not proven ; but, at the same time, found it proved that there was such a "sameness in the plan, u rrangement, illustration, and lan- guage," between the printed sermons and those preached by Mr. Norval, as fully bore out the alternate allegation, that " all the material parts of the sermons preached by him were copied from the printed sermons." Considering the novelty of the case, however, the Presbytery resolved to refer the whole matter to the Synod of Angus and Al earns, for ad- vice and directions. An appeal against the judgment of the Presbytery was taken by the presentee.—Glusgow Argus.
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