Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-09-18
COMMUNICATIONS.
THOUGHTS AND REMINIscENcEs.-No. !
The LATE DocToR CHALMERS.


by their writings and their eloquence, wider OF
more sautary influence than this celebrated Scotch
Divine. The most attractive and effective preacher
in Great Britain, his researches were not confined
/ to theology, but in moral and mental philosophy
and political economy he was an eminently in
structive and successful writer. His pre-eminen
abilities were set off by the most unpretendng and
amiable manners, and fund Of good humor and
kindly affection were ever blended with the rich
intellectual treasures of his conversation.
1t was at the meeting of the British Association
IN Glasgow that had the pleasure of hearing from
this venerable man a statement of his own expe-
rence In the management Of the interests of the
poor, while he minister Of ST. Johns Parish
ir that city, and defence of his views on the SUBJ
ject of laws and relief for pauperism. DR.. Chal-
mers was then Judged rising of sixty, in person
not tall, and rather stout with broad, cheerful in.
tellectual countenance, light eyes, hair gray, and
his aspect at first sight rather expressive of bene-
violence than of extraordinary genius. His broad
Scotch accent, and a manner without grace, but
perfectly natural, are soon forgotten in the warm
sincerity and deep heartfelt of his tones
and his sentiments and his effectna efforts to i'm
press what he deems truth upon the minds Of his
audience. Humorous illustrations were occasion
ally introduced and he controlled with vast power
the feelings of his hearers, now convulsing them
with laughter, touching their hearts with COM
passion as to fill their eyes with tears. His own
experience, which had not been small, led him to
insist upon the advantages of voluntary relief for
the poor over legal provision, except in cases of
lunacy, sickness, some disastrous visitation of
Providence wholly incapacitatng the subject of it
for exertion. He would rely upon Christian visi-
taton among the poor, and endeavors to bring up
their characters, and bring out all their abilities for
their own support; make them little more indus
trious, frugal, afectionae towards each other more
temperate; and, finally, would press upon the rich
the duty of private almsgving in such away as
not to weaken in the minds of the poor sense of
self-respect and independence. He felt an ardent
attachment to the aboring classes of society, and
were he in his youth would rejoice to devote him
self especially to them. His efforts, while pastor
of ST. Johns church, in connexion with which he
had established system of parochal management
and visitation for the poor, had proved entirely
cessful. On this occasion DIR. Alison, dstin-
guished and most benevolent physician (son of the
hghly-gifted author Of the work on tase) dissened
from the general theory of Dr. Chalmers and urged
with great force of argument the absolute necessi-
ty, in region where poverty was SO prevalent as
in Scotland, of some legal provision for the poor.
He admitted that in some districts, and under
system of voluntary effort conducted by the ener-
gies and humanity of mind like that of his emf
nent friend, adequate relief might be secured 10 the
INDECENT, but insisted that the evil of poverty was
SO great and appalling in Scotland as to leave no
ground for hope that Christian charity could among
individuals, be sufficiently stimulated and so skill
fully applied as TO meet the exgencies of the case.
Nearly one-third of the population of Edinburgh
require more or less aid during half the year.
Typhus fever, produced by i'll ventilated apart
mens and scanty and unwhoesome diet, exists at
all times both in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and,
what will strike Americans with surprise, there ex-
A. LII.
of the houseless, which, in one year, has extended
shelter and food for the night to more than sirteen
thousand different individuals One or two of the
works of DIR. Alison on the necessity of poor
law system for Scotland have seen, which evince
thorough research, excellent Judgment and the
purest and most generous spirit Of humanity.
BuRNs-HIs BIRTH-PLAcE AND MONUMENT.
BY the railway, through Paisley, proceeded on
fine day through country not unlike New Eng
land to the old town of Ayr, near which is the cot
tage in which Burns was born, and at a little dis
tance, the banks of the Doom, his monument
Passing along the railway you have fine view of
the mountains beyond the Clyde, some OF the bold
est and loftest in Scotland. Through the town of
Ayr runs shallow stream bearing the same name
fastened to the " King at Arms inn and in COM
pany with young English officer "a pilgrim like
myself TO the scenes rendered ever memorable by
the genius of Burns) took noddie," and drove
Immediately towards the monument, about two
miles from the town. The country was nearly
level, but, as we approached the |" Bonny DOOM
very lovely, and laid out with taste, as by persons
who had selected it for residence on account of
the interest thrown over by Scotland's enchant-
ing and incompatible bard. As we came near to
the bank of the Doom the trees are more nume-
rous, and the road turns and winds about, so that
we are close to the cottage in which the poet first
drew breath before it is seen. Aloway kirk, the
walls of which alone standing, is few rods on
the right, surrounded by ancient graves and decay
ing grave-stones, this side the monument which
stands on the brow of the hill, overlooking the
sweet stream with which Burns has connected our
sympathies and affections, and which flows in
valley just below, over which are two stone
bridges on arches, the first ancient, on the left and
highest up the river, and mentioned in Tam O'Shan-
ter. The view from the monument is charming,
and the Doom flows through valley sixty or eighty
feet below, at probably distance of less than one
hundred yards. The yard around the monument
is neatly enclosed and planted with flowers and
shrubbery. Many roses were in fiM bloom. The
man who attends this beautiful spot relies upon the
donations of visiters for the means Of preserving il
in order and for his support. The lower part of
the monument is of sandstone, and within it is an
apartment in which is shown snufbox made of
the wood of Aoway kirk, and several editions of