a12 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 occasions, 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 Caters, 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 
argument 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 Chair 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 


