514 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF THE LATE REV. DR CHALMERS. 



manifest than at this ; nor can we better account for so goodly a creation, emer- 

 ging again into new forms of animation and beauty from the wreck of the old one, 

 than that the Spirit of God moved on the face of the chaos ; and that nature, 

 turned by the last catastrophe into a wilderness, was again repeopled at the ut- 

 terance of His Avord." 



We naturally feel an interest about the appearance and address, the personal 

 habits and peculiarities, of those who have been distinguished in their day and 

 generation. Such peculiarities, in the subject of this biographical notice, must 

 have been familiar to many now present. For upwards of twenty years I 

 enjoyed the privilege of friendly intercourse ; and it is a pleasing, though melan- 

 choly oifice of memory to recall those traits which rendered his society so inter- 

 esting, and so delightful. I think I can safely say I never left his company 

 without having some sentiments or expressions in mj"- mind which I felt were 

 worthy to be remembered. There was a mixture of guileless simplicity and acute- 

 ness, of playful humour and vigorous conversation, of urbanity and earnestness, 

 which cannot be forgotten. His face was at times radiant with benevolence and 

 kindly feeling. Like many powerful and striking countenances, the expression 

 was chiefly in the mouth. The eye was dull, and often inanimate, — this, in com- 

 bination with the massive brow, rendered the play of the lower part of the face 

 the more striking; — on those occasions especially, when, after being silent and 

 apparently abstracted, he would burst forth into some strain of admiration, or 

 some strong expression of his opinion regarding the topic of conversation, or not 

 unfrequently some humorous or ludicrous combination of thought. His habits 

 were social — he was hospitable, and enjoyed the hospitality of his friends. 

 Though, in his whole demeanour, utterly inartificial, he was eminently courteous 

 and pleasing in his address. Though as plain and unpretending in his manners 

 as possible, no man had a more acute perception of refinement of manners in 

 others. I recollect his entJmsiastic admiration, of the polished and refined man- 

 ners of an English dignitary of high bii*th and station, in whose company we had 

 been. 



In his ordinary conversation, there was constantly occurring some appro- 

 priate and strUving expression. In fact he never expressed himself exactly like other 

 people, and yet without any straining or affectation of effect. No man could have 

 been more conscientiously and sincerely attached to his own Church, both from 

 argument and from those numerous national associations and social feelings 

 which are sometimes more binding even than convictions of reason. He was yet 

 quite free from intolerance and bigotry, and illiberal prejudice. He admired and 

 loved what was great and amiable in those from whom he differed, and differed in 

 many impoi-tant principles. Thus, as appears from passages I have quoted, he 

 spoke with enthusiasm of the learning and the position of the Church of England. 

 He gloried in the grandeur of her Gothic architecture, as much as any of her own 



