The Sun.
London, England, 1829-04-11 00:00:00

THE REV. THOS. CHALNIERS, D.D.

Dr. Chalmers was born (about 50 years ago) in the
small borough of Anstruther-Wester, in the county of
Fife. That borough, and the neighbouring one of Au-
struther-Easter, have always had a soul of literature. The
Doctor's father was a clothier and draper, a man of the
most exemp'ary piety, of well-informed mind, great libe-
rality of sentiment, and the most delightful manners. He
had many sons and daughters, the greater part of whom
have fallen victims to disease, at the most promising period
of life; and he had to sustain one of the most painful fa-
mily afflictions to which man can be subjected. But still
be was resigned, cheerful, and even playful, and showed
that the most punctual attendance to the duties of religion
(for there was religious worship in his family every morn
ing and evening), instead of damping the pleasure of soci d
intercourse, imparts to it its highest zest. We have deemed
it proper to state this circumstance (which we do
from the very delightful recollection of our per-
sonal knowledge) in order that we may be spared the for-
mal refutation of a calumny which has sometimes been
brought against Dr. Chalmers, both by the unthinking
part of the public, and by those pseudo-religionists who
can find no Christianity but in a mysterious and miracu.
lons conversion,—the class of persons whom Chalmers
used so well to characterize as " gossiping malignants."
Those persons have said that Chalmers was at one time a
sceptic, and that he was converted in we know not what
wonderful manner, Now, spelt from our personal know •
ledge that such is not the fact, we appeal to the under-
standing of any unbiassed reader, whether one who had
been instructed in his early years by the precepts and the
example of such a father, and who continued with him in
the reciprocal affection of a loved and loving man, could
have been a sceptic on those great doctrines of which
he witnessed such delightful effects. To have done
so he must have been equally destitute of discern-
ment and feeling,—qualities without which no man
ever was, or ever can be, the tithe of a Dr. Chalmers.
From his earliest years Dr. Chalmers was enthusiasti-
cally fond of reading, so that when a little boy in the
chimney corner with his book, he got the name of " the
minister," not with any view of his future profession, but
from kis delight being in books. A t the same time he
was a most active and energetic boy, and when he did en-
ter into sports he took the lead. In very early life, in-
deed, that restless activity of mind, and that determine-
tien to seize and to master all subjects, even the most con-
trary, which has enabled him to do so much more than
almost any other man of his time, were abundantly con-
spicuous. His progress at school was rapid ;
_lle went
early to college, and, while but a youth, he did the duty of
mathematical professor. Though above the average, his
attainments in classical literature were not very great.
The bent of his mind lay more towards subjects of which
the practical application was more obvious. He was a
mathematician, a natural philosopher, and, though there
was no regular professor of that science at St. Andrew's,
a chemist.
About the close of the last century lie was admitted to
orders, and soon after went to assist the Rev. Dr. Char-
teries, a venerable and eminent preacher near the border.
Some years after this the College of St. Andrew's ap-
pointed him to the church of Kilmeny, where he set
about the discharge of his duties with great energy, but
he was not very popular at the outset. This arose, in
part, from the want of mental correspondence between the
inhabitants of a country parish and a man of so much
energy as their pastor, and partly from that very energy it
self He had the utmost dislike of gossiping, cared not
much for forms of rustic politeness, and could not find
half occupation for his time in his parochial labours..—
Accordingly, he took to a number of other avocations ;
he lectured in the different towns on chemistry and
other subjects; he became an officer of a volunteer corps,
and he wrote a book on the resources of the country, be-
elides pamphlets on some of the topics of the day: and
wheel the " Edinburgh Encyclopedia" was projected, he
was invited to be a contributor, and engaged to
furnish the article " Christianity ;" which he after-
wards completed with so much ability. Even then
he was a most wonderful man. All life and energy,
he was here, there, and everywhere, both bodily
and mentally. Mathematics, botany, conchology, astro-
nomy, politics, political economy, theology, polemics,—
he was at them all ; and yet his most intimate friends
hardly knew when he studied. Indeed the whole of his
progress seemed more like the inspiration of heaven, than
that of any other man that we ever knew or heard of.
Mention a new subject to him, with which you had made
yourself familiar, and in a week after he would beat you
;vim it ; the cause seemed to be this ; he did not plod over
books, and books, and become the retailer of recorded
opinions, He thought himself, set every one with whom
lie met thinking, and then generalized the whole. We
have often been quite astonished at the quantity of informa-
tion which we have acquired during a few hours' conver-
sation with Chalmers, upon a subject of which neither of
WI knew much at the outset.
As e friend his attachment and disinterestedness were
tosboinuled ; but he had a great dislike to forms ; and
though he was very hospitable, his friends very often found
him with an empty larder. One day three or four friends
c illed on him; he wee just setting out for Edinburgh, but
insisted on their dining with hint, which was readily
agreed to. After giving old Effie (Euphemia) the whole
of his establishment, her orders, they all sat down to that
tannbination of information anti glee, which shortens time
most by actually lengthening it in pleasure and utility.
Dinner was soon announced ; and two large covered dishes,
with e smoking plate of potatoes between, appeared on the
Ode. " Gentlemen," said Chalmers, " under this cover
there is a L: rd fish from Dundee, and under that cover
there is a hard fish from St. Andrew's; take your choice."
We have been at nsany and various feasts, but we have
seldom enjoyed an evering like that one.
Sometimes there was not even bard fish, but still there
was a resource. We have seen John Bouthron's " kail
pot," broth, beef, and all, brought over to the manse—
tv,;.•. have helped to bring it, John was a retired farmer,
a very pla!p.but pleasant old man.
The, grand festlure in the theology of Dr. Chalmers,
apart from his power :23 n practical divine, is his meeting
the sceptic on grounds, and ZZltnbating him with weapons,
of taking up what is
to which he cannot object. Insteti.l
called the internal evidence of Christi: 14Y, which is a
matter of feeling and not of argument, he rests :.!'e whole
upon the external, upon that which has the same eviciOce
as any other fact; and the truth being demonstrated upon
this basis, cannot be shaken. Now we know, that this
was the mode in which he proposed to treat the subject,
for we heard him mention it, a long time previous to his
tll nose.
Not very long after his recovery, Dr. Chalmers married
lady whose maiden name was Pratt; with her he got a
small addition to his fortune, and a great deal to the com-
forts of his borne, in which there were no more double
dishes of aalt•fish, or borrowing of John Bouthron's " kail
pot ;" and as he had less occasion to go abroad for society,
hie health was soon, in a great measure restored.
in a few years he was invited to St. John's Church,
Glasgow, (which had just been built,) in a manner highly
complimentary to his talents; and though many of his
44 dissuaded hint,. from an idea that the labour
ssouW be :..ao much for his bodily strength, and tried to
persuade hint tlutt be would be mere useful living in
comparative litera.:7 ease at Kilmeny, he resolved, at
all events, to go. The impression which he made at
Glasgow was very great: ; and his fame soon spread
over the whole country. When he visited London, the
hold that he cook on the minds of men was unprececkted.
It was a time of strong political Ogling; but t.-.en that
was unheeded, and all partas thronged to hear the Scot-
tish preacher. The very best judges were not: prepared for
the display that they heard.: canning and Wiflberforce
went together ; and got into a peo; near the door. '4e
elder in attendance stood close by the pen'. chalmers
!segan in his usual unpromising way, by stealing a few
near:), self- evident propositions, neither in the choicest
langtoge, nor in the most impressive voice. "If this be all,"
said Cani,:,ing to his companion, '° it will never do." Chal-
mers went a7—the shuffling of the congregation gra-
dually subsided. He got into the mass of his sub-
ject ;.his weakness bee.....me strength; his hesitation was
turned into energy; and, t,,-inning the whole volume 0-if
his mind to bear upon it, he pe,,,:ed forth a torreut of the
roost close and conclusive argument, ihiwith a the
exuberance of an imagination which ran over all na-
ture for illustrations, and yet managed and app...ed each
them with the same unerring dexterity, as if that sto;le
one had been the study of a whole life.—" The tartan
',eats us," said Canning, " we have no preaching like that
in England."--London Magazine.

The. Lords of Trade and Plantations had a

eeting yesterday. Those present were the President of
the Beard of Trade, the Chat.cellor of the Exchequer, the
Master of the Mint, and the Vice-President of the Board
of Trade. It was understood that the Meeting was re-
specting the Sik Trade. Mr. HUME, of the Custom-
house, was in attendance on their Lordships.

The Marquis de BARBACENA came to town
yesterday morning from the residence of the young Queen
of PORTUGAL, at Lalehsm. The Marquis had inter-
views with the Marquis de PALUILLA and with the
Brazilian Minister, and had also a conference with the
Earl of ABERDEEN', at the office of the Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs

FROM THE GAZETTE OF LAST NIGHT.

Lord Chamberhin's-Office, April 10, 1829.

Orders far the Court's going into mourning, on Sunday
next the 12th instant, for his Serene Highness the late
Landgrave of Hesse Hombourg, Brother in Law to his
Majesty, viz.
The Ladies to wear black silk, plain muslin or long
lawn, crape or love hoods, black silk shoes, black glazed
gloves, and black paper fans.
The Gentlemen to wear black cloth, without buttons
on the sleeves or pockets, plain muslin or long lawn cra-
vats and weepers, black swords and buckles.