lessons from Dr. Robison, his friend, Mr. Shaw, was acting as assistant to the Rev. Mr. Elliot, minister of Cavers-a parish in Roxburghshire, lying along the southern banks of the Teviot, a few miles below Hawick. Having the prospect

of removal, by the promise of a presentation to the neighboring parish of Roberton, Mr. Shaw thought of his college friend as his successor, and endeavored to interest in his favor Mr. Douglas, the chief resident landholder in, and patron of, the parish of Cavers. It seems,' says Mr. Chalmers, in a letter to Mr. Shaw, dated at Edinburgh, June 1st, 1801; it seems that you had mentioned me to Mr. Douglas. He asked Leyden about me, who carried me to his house on Thursday last, where I dined. Not a single word, however, passed upon the subject, and I am quite uncertain as to his intentions. You must now see, my dear sir, the impropriety of my taking any step without the knowledge of Mr. Douglas; and that my business at present is to remain passive till something more transpire upon the subject. I have left my direction with Mr. Leyden, and wait for any proposals from Mr. Douglas that may occur.' "This letter was grounded as a misapprehension. It had not been to Mr. Douglas, as patron of the parish, that Mr. Shaw had applied: the assistantship in this case did not involve the succession; it was by the minister that the appointment was to be made, and it was from him only that any proposal could emanate. Mr. Shaw suggested that Mr. Chalmers should come without delay and preach at Cavers, that by his becoming favorably known to the parishioners, Mr. Elliot might be induced to appoint him as his assistant."

Mr. Chalmers had apparently mistaken the nature of the appointment, and taken a mere assistantship for the better appointment of assistant and successor. The worst position of the two was not, at the time, unacceptable to a young man who desired to be independent, and was, to some extent, burdensome on his family. After several negotiations, he arrived at the determination to regard this southern parish as an intermediate place, having first secured something better in Fifeshire. The parish of Kilmany had become vacant while the negotiations regarding Cavers were in progress. This vacancy was caused by the death of Dr. Wilson, the Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the University of St. Andrews. The presentation was in the gift of the Professors; and they, to spare themselves from discussion, had agreed to exercise the right of presentation to parishes in the gift of the body, alternately. The fortunate Professor at the time was Dr. Adamson, who had the Civil History Chair, and was a distant relative of Mr. Chalmers, for whose benefit he determined to exercise his privilege. Some time elapses often between a vacancy and a new presentation in

Scotch parishes; and Mr. Chalmers believed that he might occupy this time advantageously at Cavers, but he was unwilling to incur fore accepted Mr. Shaw's proposal to reside the expense of taking up house, and therewith him at the manse of Roberton; thus commencing his career as a non-resident. Some objections were made to the arrangement, but it was ultimately completed; and at pages 54, 55, we meet the following piece of worldly wisdom :

"Having secured a majority of votes among the Professors at St. Andrews in favor of his presentation to Kilmany, Mr. Chalmers joined Mr. Shaw at Roberton.

"Roberton, January 13, 1802. "Dear Father,The people in this country are kind and hospitable in the extreme. You cannot conceive the kindness both Mr. Shaw and myself have experienced from the farmers around, in sending us peats, hay, straw, &c. Parochial examinations are quite common in this country. I begin that duty on Monday fortnight, and, as the parish is extensive, it will take me upward of a fortnight to accomplish it. The mode is to divide the parish into a number of small districts, in each of which you are accommodated with lodgings, &c., in one or other of the farmer's houses. I am now quite free from sore throat, and the people in Cavers have not lost a Sunday since my arrival. They are quite satisfied with my non-residence I am yours affectionately." "

It should be mentioned that Kilmany became vacant in consequence of Dr. Wilson's death, only by the translation of Mr. Cook to the Chair of Church History; and thus the interval to be filled up was longer than usual.

In the autumn of 1802, Mr. Chalmers left Cavers, and spent the winter as a mathematical teacher in St. Andrews. The session did not pass without some bickerings between him and the Professors, and it closed in a storm. Their opinions and practice did not correspond exactly with those of the indefatigable teacher, who, whatever might have been his views regarding religion, was at least a most industrious and zealous-even a highflying-mathematician. After the close of the session his ordination to Kilmany was fixed, and his father urged him to devote some time for reflection on the serious nature of the responsibilities that he was to assume; but Mr. Chalmers objected to this course, arguing that if he had not his mind in a right condition before that time, it was vain to think that the extraordinary effort of a few days will very essentially contribute to pre

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Tuesday, April 21st.-Accompanied a party to a pottery about a mile and half up the river. Was delighted with the elegance and simplicity of the process [which is most minutely and graphically described].

Went to the School

for the Blind, a truly admirable institution. They have an hour for music-the effect was in the highest degree interesting, and the allusion to their own situation most pathetic. Dined in Mr. MacCorquodale's. The only gentleman was a Mr. Duncan MacCorquodale, a military gentleman, of an appearance rather unfashionable, but accompanied with a most interesting modesty. To such as these I feel attached by an impulse the most kindly and benevolent, and cannot but spurn at the heartless formality of those who could triumph in the timidity of the inexperienced. Oh, how I like the untrained originality of nature! Oh, how I dislike the trammels of a cold, lifeless, and insipid formality!

"Friday, April 24th.--I spent the forenoon with Dr. Traill, a chemical lecturer and practitioner, with a great deal of ardor and philosophic simplicity. He showed me his chemical apparatus. The most interesting was-1. An apparatus for decomposing water [minutely described and diagramed] 2. A glass apparatus for decomposing water by galvanism [the form of two vessels drawn, and the manner of using them detailed].

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Saturday, April 25th.-Walked to the Botanic Garden, and spent two hours in it. Found it of this form and dimension. [Here follow plan and measurements, with notices of its rarest plants.]

"Sunday, April 26th.--Preached in the fore noon for Mr. Kirkpatrick, on the comforts of religion, and in the afternoon on drunkenness, the former with far more effect and impression than the latter. In the afternoon we met at three o'clock, after dinner, which has the effect of making both a drowsy preacher and a drowsy audience. Mrs. H. evidently reluctant in her testimony of approbation-disposed to overrate the deficiencies of manner and pronunciation; and asleep in the afternoon."

He visited all the lions of Liverpool, and the last was the "Union Guineaman," a vessel going out of dock to the African trade, as the name would imply. In his journal he says:

"We had the music of benevolence to drown all the relentings of nature, and ladies waved their handkerchiefs from the shore to sanctify what was infamous, and deck the splendid villany of the trade."

The period is not long since the people of this country bought and carried slaves on their own account, and they should not now be very uncharitable toward their neighbors whose conversion has been doomed to occur some half century after their own change. Mr. Chalmers' " notes by the way," through the heart of England, at any time of his life,

would have been instructive. Some of them are inserted in this volume, and we confess that if more of them exist we should like them all. Blenheim is a thoroughly public place. It is almost public property, so connected is it with some of the brightest of military achievements in our history. Mr. Chalmers being then a clerical soldier-a volunteer of Fife-was drawn by a kindred spirit to Blenheim; and the house built by the nation, like the estate bought for the great Marlborough, delighted him much :—

"Thursday, April 30.-Left Birmingham for Woodstock, at seven in the morning, where I arrived at four in the afternoon. There was only another passenger in the coach, and he was inside a sensible, discreet, cultivated man, whom I afterward learned to be a Fellow of Oxford, and who had evidently a little of the rust and embarrassment of a learned profession. I parted with him at Woodstock. I was immediately conducted by a person from the inn to the gate of Blenheim. For a particular account see Guide, which seems to be written with great taste and power of description. The pleasure I felt was heightened by a variety of circumstances which supplied associations of grandeur. In addition to the stateliness of actual display, I had the recollection of its origin, the immortality of its first owner, the proud monument of national glory, the prospect not of a house or scene, or a neighborhood, but the memorial of those events which had figured on the high theatre of war and of politics, and given a turn to the history of the world. The statue of Louis XIV., placed upon the south front, and taken from the walls of Tournay, gives an air of magnificence far beyond the mere power of form or of magnitude. It is great not as a visible object, but great as a trophy, great as it serves to illustrate the glory of England, and the prowess of the first of warriors. I spent two hours in the garden. Never spot more lovelynever scene so fair and captivating. I lost myself in an Elysium of delight, and wept with perfect rapture. My favorite view was down the river, from the ground above the fountain. The setting sun gleamed on the gilded orbs of Blenheim; through the dark verdure of trees were seen peeps of water, and spots of grassy sunshine; the murmurs of the waterfall beneath soothed every anxiety within me; the bell of the village clock sent its music across the lake on my left. I sat motionless, and my mind slumbered in a revery of enchantment.'

From Woodstock Mr. Chalmers walked to Oxford, on May Day of 1807; and an old journal belonging to an old gentleman of the present day, places the chances of forty years most palpably before the men of the current

Ministers do not walk long journeys now; but some time previously Mr. Chalmers had walked from Edinburgh to Liverpool.

The idea of Dr. Chalmers walking up to, Liverpool would have amused, if it had not startled, the younger class of his admirers in recent times. Men do not now walk, and they do not, therefore, know the country so well as their traveling ancestors; but the advantage is now, that more people travel than in 1807.

Another extract shows the contrast in traveling :

"May 3.--Left Oxford at seven in the morning, and landed in Ludgate Hill about seven in the evening."

Some parts of Mr. Chalmers' life in London present singular contrasts with his subsequent principles. His great purpose is served by their disclosure. His life illustrated two different modes of thought and action, and he wished the illustrations to be known and read. We take, in the first place, the work of two or three Sabbaths from his journal. They mark the progress of society in opinion and thought on the observance question:

"Sunday, Nov. 3.-Walked on London Bridge, round the Tower, along Cornhill and Cheapside to St. Paul's, where I heard service. After din

ner, we sallied out to Westminster Bridge, St. James's Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, and returned by Oxford Street and Blackfriars Bridge. Astonished at the display; the dress, the carriages, and company, gave a high idea of the wealth and extravagance of London.”

We need not say that London has now a finer display of wealth than in 1807; but we doubt whether the Sunday exhibitions of that period were not greater than at the present day.

From the next extract, we do not learn that the Scotch parish minister considered attendance on public worship necessary, unless in an incidental way, while in London:

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Sunday, May 10th.-The badness of the day prevented us from prosecuting any of our schemes. Walked out before dinner to Dulwich village, where we had the full view of the country, enriched and adorned by the neighborhood of the metro

polis. After dinner, a round by Oxford-street. We returned by Blackfriars, when, en passant, we had an opportunity of hearing the delightful music in Rowland Hill's, and the roaring enthusiasm of another preacher, whose sect was founded by a female mystic--Joanna Southcote."

vate chapel, where, at half-past eight, I was gratified with the entrance of their Majesties and the Princess Elizabeth. His manner is devotional vice most distinctly; and was much pleased with and unaffected. I heard them all repeat the sertheir frank, easy, and benevolent appearance. The view of Twickenham was most charming. Pope's house was among the delightful residences that we gazed on with rapture from the opposite side. The river was enshrined with pleasureboats, and the gay London parties walking and drinking tea on both sides gave cheerfulness and vicinity to the metropolis, pollutes all our rural animation to the prospect. The idea, however, of impressions of this fascinating scene-takes off all the pure interest which the idea of simplicity confers, and mingles with original nature the vices, profligacy, and corruptions of civilized life. We ascended Richmond Hill; eyed with rapture the country before us; saw in the rich scene that presented itself the wealth of the first city in the world, spreading its embellishments over the neighborhood. Took a boat to Kew, when we passed Ilesworth, and had a charming sail down the river. From Kew, we coached it to town, and reached Walworth by eleven in the evening."

These pictures of London in the olden time, as forty years are long ago, have a that London has, in the direction indicated, strange interest now to those who remember trebled or quadrupled all the signs of wealth and magnificence since 1807.

On his return to Scotland, the minister of Kilmany walked a part of the way, and we subjoin his account of another Sabbath-day's journey:

"May 31.-Started at seven, and walked to Bishopwearmouth. The country possesses no great decisive features. The bridge over the Wear is an astonishing piece of workmanship. I got under it in a boat, and made my observations [a minute description of the bridge is given] Falling in with a man who drove a post-office gig,

rode to South Shields. Crossed over to North Shields for twopence, in a sculler. From North Shields I proceeded to Tynemouth, with which I was delighted; the east fragment of the Abbey is particularly beautiful. Sailed up the river to Newcastle."

At

On the following Sunday he did, indeed, attend chapel, probably with some desire to see the king: