Memoir of the Chisholm

THE CHURCH OF ROME. 227
niai, A remarkable instance occurred in
confirmation of this denial, at the last election
of the Chisholm for the county. A few mi-
nutes before the final close of the poll, when
his success was beyond all doubt, some of his
tenants, members of his clan and bearing his
name, who were Roman Catholics, came up
and recorded their votes against him. As the
act itself could not possibly have affected the
result of the contest, the performance of it
under such circumstances was calculated to
make it partake of the character of a personal
insult, The Chisholm was deeply hurt by it ;
and there were not wanting those who urged
him to remove them from his estates. But
to this he would by no means consent ; — he
suffered them, in no degree, to be molested
for an act in which he looked upon them
only as instruments in the hands of others ;
and continued gratuitous support to some of
their near relatives, who had been previously
aided by his bounty.
Another circumstance occurred, in the
month of February 1838, which shows in a
very remarkable degree, the forbearance and
kindness which he thought it his duty to ex-
q2