the authorities positively refused to allow him to proceed, and the work of destruction went on. The chapel and house were soon reduced to ashes, and the rabble then spread themselves over the city, burning and destroying everything belonging to Catholics which came in their way. At this crisis Bishop Hay arrived from London, and, unaware of the state of matters, proceeded on his way home. The unusual crowd in the street, however, soon attracted his attention, and addressing a woman whom he met near the foot of Blackfriars Wynd, he asked her what it meant. " Oh, sir," she replied, " we are burning the Popish chapel, and we only wish we had the Bishop to throw him into the fire." — (Abbe Macpherson's Hist, of Scott. Missions.) The Bishop prudently turned aside, and found an asylum in the Castle, where a number of his flock had taken refuge.
The next morning the mob plundered the chapel-house in Blackfriars Wynd, and attempted to destroy the residence of Principal Robertson, who had courageously opposed their lawless proceedings on the previous day.
After a few days Bishop Hay returned to London, and, through the interest of Mr Burke and other influential friends in Parliament, succeeded in obtaining some indemnification for the sufferers in the riot. The erection of another chapel and chapel-house in Edinburgh, however, was retarded for many years. Dr Hay deemed it prudent to continue in his humble dwelling in Blackfriars Wynd, and to use the upper floor as a chapel. It was not till 1814 that St Mary's, Broughton Street, was built by his successor, Bishop Cameron.
Upon the death of Bishop Grant in 1778, Bishop Hay became Vicar Apostolic, and selected the Rev. John Geddes, his college companion, a clergyman of distinguished merit, as coadjutor.
