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Philosophy, and wrote respecting this then reckoned prince of metaphysicians, that he avoided every subject which involved any difficult discussion, and made up his lectures of detached hints and incomplete outlines, yet giving the best idea of Reid's philosophy as tending to a useless multiplication of principles, and shrinking from even the appearance of simplicity." Dr. Robison was his favorite, and his methods he followed. So late as one year before his death, Chalmers refers in a letter to his obligations to Dr. Robison, as being one instrument of his deliverance from philosophical skepticism, though the book to which he owed the most in reference to this matter, was Beattie's Essay on Truth. The single consideration which had the most weight to his mind, he speaks of as having been worked out in his Natural Theology, volume ii. page 169. That Chalmers was working himself out of a condition of mind which gave him no satisfaction, is evident from many things besides the prominence which he gave in his public prayers to this petition, "O give us some steady object for our minds to rest upon. One reason why he did not more readily enter upon the active duties of the ministry, may have been what he writes to a friend, "Our profession has also the misfortune to labor, and too deservedly, under general contempt." He kept all hopes of clerical preferment subordinate to his prospect of a Chair.

He became assistant minister at Cavens, in Teviotdale, in 1801. After accepting the duties of his parish, he speaks of it as "quite extensive," and yet promises to himself the accomplishment of parochial examination in a fortnight-the parish being divided into small districts, in which some farmer's house was his home for the time of examination.

In the following Spring, the charge of the mathematical classes at St. Andrews' became vacant, by the promotion of Dr. Brown, and Chalmers showed his ruling taste by seeking for the situation, and he obtained it. He vigorously applied himself to preparation for its duties, living aloof from the people about him, but yet yielding to many demands for his services on sacramental occasions, finding the journeyings contributive to health and strength. He entered on his duties as teacher, with the greatest ardor

and enthusiasm, imparting the glow and fervor of his own soul to his pupils, and investing their studies with a fresh⚫ness and novelty that only an original method could impart. Mathematics seemed the great power of redemption, holding within their mysteries all wisdom and knowledge, and to the steady pursuit of their honors, his scholars were stimulated by appeals and illustrations, as full of triumphant enthusiasm as ever poured from the tongue of the victor, when invoking his followers to the noblest rally. He attached his pupils to himself by the constant expression of the most generous impulses and sympathies, as well as by the fancy and poetry which he threw around his instructions; the consequence was, jealousy, interference, narrow criticism, and he spoke plainly his opinion of these things, not only at the close of the course, but also at the public examination, when he stepped forward to the table and most violently denounced a professor for giving testimonials to students without consulting_him, their teacher. An uproar took place, but when Chalmers was induced to pause, he proceeded with the examination in the utmost coolness.

The stroke had been struck which was to awake all the energy of the man to redoubled activity, never to sleep. It is astonishing what great things have sprung from anger-what efforts have been produced by that intellectual revenge which satisfies itself by excelling its rivals. Paul seems to count the virtues and graces of the Christians, as a sort of revenge upon their former sinful selves; and, in counting up the proofs of genuine repentance, he exclaims, "Yea, what revenge!" So now with Chalmers. Jealousy and pride of place turned their forces against him, and he was to know something that would sting him to the quick.

He was ordained as minister of Kilmany, May, 1803, in his twenty-third year, and entered vigorously upon the duties before him, making himself familiar at every fireside, and attaching every family warmly to him by his fervent expressions of genuine sympathy. Two of his sisters became his house-keepers, and the summer passed in duty well performed. But now came the withdrawal from him of his office of teacher, and this too, on the ground of inefficiency, which charge, if sustained, would

deprive him of all hope of preferment towards the professor's chair. Feeling himself deeply wronged, he made a bold stand for himself, and resolved to open mathemati- * cal classes on his own account, under the very shadow of St. Andrews'. It was a bold act, both as a matter of direct rivalry, and also because of the social and academic privileges which would be withheld from those who might favor his position by attendance. But he ventured, and succeeded. He preached regularly at Kilmany, and by December had three mathematical classes, and opened one for chemistry. He gloried in the labors involved, and seemed to regard as a condition of misery and disgust any condition of less industry. He triumphed, but a back-fire was kindled to cut off his progress, by the charge being brought against him in his Presbytery, that his lecturing was inconsistent with his ministerial employments; and this, too, when in Scotland the minister was called to serve all sorts of tables. He met his accusers with full as much indignation as wisdom, and secured another triumph among his parishioners by repeating his lectures to them, inducing the eulogium, that the minister was teaching the folks to clean clothes without soap. He declared that the only motive which swayed him, was to restore that academical reputation which had been violated by the aspersions of envy; and in his journal he enters this record, in reference to the day when he first stood up before his students: "It was to me a day of triumph. It is from that day I date the first rising of my literary ambition, an ambition which can only expire with the decay of my intellectual faculties." There was, indeed, something of the sublime in this picture of success, where an unbefriended youth, with nothing but his own genius to support him, stands up to brave the powers of the university, and all to wipe off a stain upon his academic honor, trusting to nothing but manliness, energy, industry and a boundless enthusiasm. These, indeed, were enough, and with them he rivalled what he called "a grasping monopoly" when, turning from all thoughts of despair, he made his appeal to an independent public. His chemical lectures were repeated the next winter at St. Andrews', completely had he triumphed.

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A discussion now took place that was to draw Chalmers

out as an author. It was in reference to the controversy concerning Professor Leslie's appointment to succeed Professor Playfair in the mathematical chair at Edinburgh, at which time the latter had set forth the idea, that the clerical profession was, in Scotland, incompatible with the attainment of eminence in science. To this position Chalmers replied by the publication of his first pamphlet, in which he made the declaration, by "authority of his own experience," that a minister could have five days in a week for the pursuit of science, after having satisfactorily discharged the duties of his profession! Here was the low idea he cherished of the sacredness of that work to which he had been ordained. Twenty years afterward, this passage was quoted against him, and he manfully owned it as his publication-he owned the secret of it, his absorbing interest in mathematical studies, and added: "Strangely blinded that I was! What, sir, is the object of mathematical science? Magnitude and the proportions of magnitude. But then, sir, I had forgotten two magnitudes-I thought not of the littleness of time-I recklessly thought not of the greatness of eternity."

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The next period shows Britain roused against Napoleon, and Chalmers not only boldly preaching for loyalty, but also enrolled as chaplain and lieutenant in the St. Andrews' corps, full of royalty and patriotism. Connected with his interest in public affairs at this stirring period, was fidelity to all departments of domestic and social life. To test his faith in the capabilities of the ular understanding, he repeated his chemical lectures in place after place in his neighborhood, riding thither with his apparatus hung to the neck of his horse, who, on one occasion, received a new color by the breaking of a bottle. He preached regularly at Kilmany, and there superintended the education of two brothers, one of whom he took with him to St. Andrews', during the college season, and met all his expenses. Another brother, sick at his father's, called him to visit the paternal home, and there we see him standing by the bed-side when that brother breathed his last-the first death of a relative which Chalmers had seen.

Here we have an instance that may serve as a sample of the biographer's introduction, needlessly, of his own

opinions. One of the books which this brother had requested to be read to him, was Newton's Sermons, which, we are told, was one of the books which Chalmers had "denounced" from the pulpit; but it seems to us that his denouncing was right, as far as he carried it, for he asked, "When you are reading Newton's Sermons, and Baxter's Saints' Rest, and Doddridge's Rise and Progress, where do Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John go to?" He was right in this stroke, which is needed in many churches, against that use of books which makes them take the place of the Gospels, and in comparison with which, the New Testament seems tame.

Chalmers now finds time to visit London, and it is astonishing to see what a vast variety of observations were made by him, from flowers to cathedrals, relishing the music at Rowland Hill's chapel, Kemble and Mrs. Siddons at the theatre, Sheridan at an election dinner, and running the whole round of wonderful sights in the great world-city. Returning, he visits Cambridge, where the air smells of learning, and "the very women have an air of academic mildness and simplicity." He drinks in the beauty of every landscape, exults over every perspective, and poetizes and preaches, till at length he is at home again, showing how rich in impressions a journey may be to a man of generosity and broad views. He again became an author, on the extent and stability of national resources, to which subject he gave all his political knowledge, and in the treatment of which he showed his range of observation; but the sale of the publication did not meet his expectations, and fame did not follow as he dreamed it would.

Now came a sorrow, which may be regarded as having had the most marked influence on his spiritual beingthe death of his sister Barbara, to whom he was much attached. At the time when he was to devote himself to a scheme of literary ambition, he was called to see this sister fade, a victim to consumption, as was his brother. This death took a deep hold upon him, but he did not shrink into privacy, to work out the effect on his character by meditation, for we see him in the assembly, making his first speech in behalf of the increase of poor benefices; and, on the day of the national fast, he walks five miles