Had Carmichael or any other minister decked himself after this fashion, it had not fared well with him, but even the Free Kirk appreciated a certain pomp in Dr.Davidson, and would have resented his being as other men.

He was always pleased to give the history of the ring, and generally told a story of his ancestor, which he had tasted much more frequently than the sermon.

A famous judge had asked him to dinner as he made his circuit, and they had disputed about the claret, till at last its excellence compelled respect at the close of the first bottle.
"'Now, Reverend Sir,' said the judge, 'this wine has been slandered and its fair fame taken away without reason.

I demand that you absolve it from the scandal.' "'My Lord,' said my worthy forbear, 'you are a great criminal lawyer, but you are not well read in Kirk law, for no offender can be absolved without three appearances.' "My grandfather," the Doctor used to conclude, "had the best of that jest besides at least two bottles of claret, for in those days a clergyman took more wine than we would now think seemly, although, mark you, the old gentleman always denounced drunkenness on two grounds: first, because it was an offence against religion, and second, because it was a sign of weakness." Some old folk could remember the Doctor's father, who never attained to the Doctorate, but was a commanding personage.

He published no sermons, but as the first Davidson in Drumtochty, he laid the foundations of good government.