502 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF THE LATE REV. DR CHALMERS. 



their opinions from a partial adoption of Scripture truth, are persons who, " re- 

 tiring within the entrenchment of a few verses of the Bible, will defy all the 

 truth and all the thunder of its warning denunciations." 



His style, with all its peculiarities, was iiis own. It may be caUed man- 

 nerism ; but it is the mannerism of a powerful mind striving to express its own 

 conceptions without regard to rules of rhetoric or the discipline of schools. It is 

 the mannerism of genius, — one leading characteristic of which is to invest known 

 truths and ordinary objects with new and untiring interest, and with constantly- 

 fresh attraction ; and, on this groimd, it is characteristic and becoming, because 

 it IS his own ; and, accordingly, these peculiarities of style pervaded his ordinary 

 conversation and his familiar letters, just as much as they marked his more ela- 

 borate compositions ; and in the ordinary intercourse of life, expressions con- 

 stantly recurred to remind one of his writings. In fact, his language is merely 

 the vehicle or medium of expressing and communicating his ideas ; and we may 

 almost say he could not help it. There is a danger with him (as there is with all 

 imaginative writers) of his style being considered imaginative onbj. To many 

 minds declamation is irksome and wearisome in the highest degree, — to them it 

 conceals rather than develops the mental power which lies below the surface ; 

 and, not unfrequently, practical wisdom and sound argument are not duly esti- 

 mated, simply because there is a play of imagination around them, — the lustre and 

 richness of the setting obscures the pearls. Such authors are not unfrequently a 

 snare to their admu-ers. Mannerism in authors may be easily caught by those 

 who have no inspiration of their genius. Hence, of all writers and speakers Dr 

 Chalmers was one most dangerous for imitators (and amongst young and inju- 

 dicious students he had imitators). What was natural to him was constraint or 

 affectation in them. In fact, they became copyists more than imitators. Their 

 taking his style and manner becomes a literary larceny, rather than an honourable 

 and fair obligation. It is miserable to see men borrowing fine clothes which they 

 know not how to wear, — affecting a glow of eloquence to cover a vapid and com- 

 monplace conception of their subject. 



Secondlif, As affecting the happiness of mankind, and as hearing upon their 

 best and highest interests for time and for eternity, Dr Chalmers was, during the 

 whole of his public career, much occupied with the theories of Political Economy. 

 In aU ages of the world, how much of the misery of mankind may be traced to 

 the errors and mistakes of erroneous legislation. Bad laws on excise, — on poor 

 management, — on taxation, — on police or criminal jurisprudence, proceeding from 

 false views of political economy, have been the most fruitful sources of crime, of 

 misery, and degi-adatiou. The energetic and benevolent spirit of Chalmers saw 

 and felt the connection between a well-doinc/ and a well-/«i(H(/ population. He 

 felt how much, under the Divine blessing, might be done by rulers and statesmen 



