Upon this, the master of the table, a person of very frank and candid disposition, cut short the debate by saying, “Come let us call another cause; we thought this man mad, and he is in good earnest proving that we are so.” On the whole, this well-judged circumstance saved him a good deal of further trouble. When his former acquaintances observed that he was still conversable and innocently cheerful, and that he was immovable in his resolution, they desisted from further importunity. And he declared, that, instead of losing one valuable friend by this change in his character, he found himself much more esteemed and regarded by many, who could not persuade themselves to imitate his example. Nothing remarkable appeared in the Colonel’s life from this period till the year 1726, when he married the Lady Frances Erskine, daughter to the Earl of Buchan, by whom he had thirteen children, five of whom survived their father. Before the close of these short memoirs, it may not be improper, or without its use, to give the reader a sketch of the character of this excellent man, with reference to his particular relative situations; in some or other of which the reader may certainly find a model worthy of his imitation. To view him first in the calmness of domestic life, and at the head of his affectionate family, it will naturally be supposed, that as soon as he had a house, he erected an altar in it; that the word of God was read there, and prayers and praises constantly offered. These were not to be omitted on account of any guest; for he esteemed it a part of due respect to those that remained under his roof, to take it for granted, they would look upon it as a very bad compliment, to imagine they would have been obliged by his neglecting the duties of religion on their account. As his family increased, he had a minister statedly resident in his house, who discharged the offices of tutor and chaplain, and was always treated with kindness and respect. He was constant in his attendance on public worship, in which an exemplary care was taken that the children and servants might accompany the heads of the family.