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 Srrrrit of Gop 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 word.” 
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 office 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 my 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 enthusiastic admiration of the polished and refined man- 
ners of an English dignitary of high birth and station, in whose company we had 
been. 
In his ordinary conversation, there was constantly occurring some appro- 
priate and striking expression. In fact he neverexpressed 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 important 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 

