PUBLIC DINNER. 211 



The toast of the Church of Scotland called up the Rev. Mr Stewart, 

 who, having shortly referred to the Church, added his warmest wishes 

 for the welfare of Mr Miller. By his departure he would lose a valued 

 friend and a most enlightened hearer, but he rejoiced that he was to 

 enter on a more extensive scene of usefulness. (Cheers.) 



Mr Carruthers returned thanks for the toast in honour of the press, 

 and stated the great gratification he enjoyed in being amongst them 

 that evening. He had early discovered in their respected guest the 

 germ of those fine talents and moral dispositions which had elevated 

 him in the scale of society, and rendered his progress in life and the 

 development of his mind an object of the deepest interest and solici- 

 tude. In him the manifestations of original genius had not been ac- 

 companied with any of those debasing and revolting alloys which were 

 sometimes mingled with it ; he had advanced onwards by a straight 

 path and a spotless life. There was a fine passage in Pope, where the 

 reproaches and detractions which envy sometimes throws around 

 merit were compared to the vapours that rise around the sun ; instead 

 of obscuring the great luminary of day, they only added to its bril- 

 liancy, and formed a new temple for its effulgence. In like manner, 

 the early difficulties of their friend in the acquirement of knowledge, 

 his solitary hours of study, amidst hardships, toil, obscurity, and neg- 

 lect, but enhanced the merit of his present position, 



' For even those clouds at length adorn his way, 

 Reflect new lustre and augment the day.' 



He trusted his friend was destined to run a long career of usefulness 

 and honour, and he might rely upon it, that his townsmen and his 

 early friends could never become indifferent to his future fortunes. 



Speeches alternated with songs, and cheers were liberally allotted 

 to both, until, after an evening spent with utmost hilarity and good 

 humour, without one jarring word or circumstance, the party broke up 

 about ten o'clock. Mr Miller next day left Cromarty for Edinburgh, 

 carrying with him, we need hardly add, the prayers and good wishes 

 of his friends and townsmen. 



Such, very considerably abridged, is the account of 

 this festivity, surely one of the best of its kind, and that 

 a good kind, which adorned the columns of the Inver- 

 ness Courier. 



