512 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF THE LATE REV. DR CHALMERS. 



the lap of grandeur, as when, at the base of a lofty precipice, some spot of verdure 

 or peaceful cottage home seems to smile in more intense loveliness, because of 

 the towering strength and magnificence which are behind it." 



In a very striking Sermon on the " Paternal Character of God," when draw- 

 ing " the picture of moral and pleasing qualities of mind and affections, apart 

 from the love of God, or from the influence of divine grace upon the soul," he adds 

 this beautiful illustration : " There is beauty in the blush of a rose, and there is 

 beauty of a higher character in the blush that mantles the cheek of modesty, and 

 yet there may be just as little of loyalty to God in the living as in the inanimate 

 object." 



Of his speaking at public meetings, I had fewer opportunities of judging than 

 I have had of his pulpit discourses. On some of those occasionSi he produced 

 great impression. But, perhaps, the most distinguished of such appearances was 

 on occasion of a public meeting held in Edinburgh, in the year 1829, on the sub- 

 ject of a bill then pending in Parliament, commonly called the Catholic Emanci- 

 pation Bill. Dr Chalmers, in opposition to the views of the generality of those 

 with whom he usually acted in public affairs, civil and ecclesiastical, was in 

 favour of that emancipation, and of the admission of Roman Catholics, Peers and 

 Commoners, into the two Houses of Parliament. The effects of that speech have 

 been described as something very remarkable. An excitement and enthusiasm per- 

 vaded the large and closely-crowded assemblage, seldom witnessed in modern times. 

 I heard our most distinguished Scottish critic, who was present on the occasion, 

 give it as his deliberate opinion, that never had eloquence produced a greater effect 

 upon a popular assembly, and that he could not believe more had ever been done 

 by the oratory of Demosthenes, Cicero, Burke, or Sheridan. And this was a case 

 simply of eloquence. For the speech delivered was not remarkable either as to 

 ai-gument or literary composition. It was reported in the newspapers at the time, 

 but has not been deemed worthy of being included in his collected Works. I shall 

 refer to one incident only connected with his speaking in the General Assembly, 

 —and the result was the more remarkable as the reply must have been unpreme- 

 ditated. He had spoken very strongly against the principle of a clergyman hold- 

 ing the two offices of Professor and Pastor. It was alleged against him that such 

 opinions were, at any rate, inconsistent in him, inasmuch as he had himself been 

 an aspirant for the Chan- of Mathematics, and justified the union of professional 

 and pastoral duty. His answer to the charge was striking,—" I feel obliged," he 

 said, " I feel obliged to the Reverend Gentleman for reviving my pamphlet, and 

 for bringing me forward to make my public renunciation of what is there written. 

 I now confess myself to have indeed been guilty of a heinous crime, and I now 

 stand a repentant culprit before the bar of this Venerable Assembly." After stat- 

 ing that he had then certainly maintained that a devoted and exclusive attention 



