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 His own. It may be called 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 ground, it is characteristic and becoming, because 
it 1s 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 only. 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 admirers. 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. 
Secondly, As affecting the happiness of mankind, and as bearing 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 all 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 degradation. The energetic and benevolent spirit of CHALMERS saw 
and felt the connection between a well-doing and a well-living population. He 
felt how much, under the Divine blessing, might be done by rulers and statesmen 


