It is remarkable that in the year 1784, when the great actress Mrs.Siddons first appeared in Edinburgh, during the sitting of the General Assembly, that court was obliged to fix all its important business for the alternate days when she did not act, as all the younger members, clergy as well as laity, took their stations in the theatre on those days by three in the afternoon." Drs.

Robertson and Blair, although they cultivated the acquaintance of Mrs.Siddons in private, were amongst those clergymen, referred to by Dr.Carlyle, who abstained from attendance in the theatre; but Dr.
Carlyle states that they regretted not taking the opportunity of witnessing a display of her talent, and of giving their sanction to the theatre as a place of recreation.

Dr.Carlyle evidently considered it a narrow-minded intolerance and bigoted fanaticism that clergymen should be excluded from that amusement.

At a period far later than 1784, the same opinion prevailed in some quarters.

I recollect when such indulgence on the part of clergymen was treated with much leniency, especially for Episcopalian clergy.