Carmichael was a most affectionate, friendly man, but withal a little warm in his temper, and became involved in consequence in scenes which seem somewhat inconsistent with the supposed calm of an academic life.The college corporation was evidently much agitated by internal feuds, and Carmichael takes his part in them, commonly siding with the party of independence against the Principal.In 1704, joined by Mr.Loudon, he protests that several things minuted as Acts of Faculty were written and signed privately by the Principal.The Faculty finds the charge unfounded, and suspends the two from their functions.Subsequently they ask forgiveness, and are restored.In 1705, Mr.Law, one of the Regents, complains that some expressions had been uttered against him by Mr.Carmichael, who is gravely admonished, and exhorted to avoid every thing irritating towards his colleagues in time to come.In 1717, there are hot disputes as to who should elect the Rector.The Masters combine against the Principal, call the students to the common hall, and choose their man.But, in 1718, the Commission for the Visitation of the College finds some of the Masters, including Carmichael, guilty of great disorder in the election of the Rector; and they are discharged for a time from exercising any part of their office (such as choosing professors), {39} except the ordinary discipline in the class.In 1722, a bonfire was kindled by the students on a decision in favor of the election of Lord Molesworth (we shall meet with him again in these articles) to Parliament, and Carmichael rushes into the heart of the mob, and gets into trouble in extinguishing the flames.In November, 1728, we find him joining in a protest against the claim of the Chancellor to sit and vote.It was by such disputes that the constitution of the Scottish colleges came to be settled.
Patriotic exertions helped to relieve the sameness of the college life, and in these the collegiate body in Glasgow (it was different in Aberdeen) are of one mind.In 1708, the kingdom is threatened with "an invasion of French and Irish papists," and the Masters agree each to maintain a number of foot soldiers; and Carmichael signs for five men.
In September, 1715, the rising in the north of Scotland in favor of the pretender becomes known.The Faculty agrees to raise fifty men at sixpence a day; the Principal provides eight, the professor of divinity five, and Carmichael subscribes for four.It was by such active exertions in the south of Scotland that the progress of the Rebellion was so speedily arrested.
In his later years, as he became known, Carmichael carried on a correspondence with Barbeyrac and other learned men.He had a numerous family, "who were all a comfort to him, except one, who was a cause of great distress." Wodrow says, that " in his advanced years he was singularly religious.I know he was under great depths of soul exercise, and much the worse that he did not communicate his distress to anybody almost." This is the only record we have of a Scottish metaphysician having had his" soul exercises;"but surely there must have been others who had their conflicts as they dived into the depths of the human soul.
For the last two or three years of his life, he had a cancerous wart, which spread over one eye and across his nose to the other eye, and at last carried him off.During all his illness he remained a hard student and serious Christian.He died, November 25, 1729.On his death the English students leave the university, the attendance at which is reported by Wodrow as very thin in December; and it does not seem to improve till Hutcheson commences his lectures in the following October.{40}