the Gospel in our possession. So, like the venerable, clericallooking and speaking, and acting doctor above, most of his co-presbyters-we may say, all the geologists whom the Almighty has loved with an everlasting love-shall be rescued out of the snare of the Evil One. O that the time were come! O that God would arise and favour Zion, and make all men to listen to His voice, in His true, and faithful, and unchange. able Word! The voice said, Cry; and he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass; and all the goodliness thereof as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it; surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the Word of our God shall stand for ever. Were all the wise men of Babylon, of Egypt, of Greece, and of Rome, and all who saw the inscriptions on the porticos and vestibules of their ancient temples consulted, they could scarcely find fault with such an exordium, when we are to relate some of the Occurrences of almost sixty years since. Passing over Borelands, and Lambholm, and Carse, washed by the mossy Kinnel and the muddy Ae, we commence at Moffatdale, where David Irving and his numerous family resided, near the grey mare's tail, in November 1794; Mr. Black, Leadhills, May, 1795; represented by Mr. Black, schoolmaster, Wistoun Mr. Charles Hope, Crookedstone, and his numerous and goodly family,-from whom Rev. William Hunter, Baldernock, is connected by Miss Margaret Hope, in November, 1795; Mr. James Moffat, Auchenhastening, in May, 1796, represented by Samuel Moffat, Esq., and others; Messrs. Andrew Dykes, St. Bride's Chapel and Hazelbank; John Dykes, Whitehouse; James Dykes, Hall of Kype, Nov. 1796; Major Arthur Forbes, Stewarthall, May, 1798; Mr. George Campbell, Ardtarig, and his numerous and beautiful family, in May, 1799, and 1800; Mrs. Major Campbell Forbes, from romantic Ormidale; and Mrs. Campbell, Ardtarig, for evenness of temper like Cowper's mother; and Mrs. Deuchar, of the Robertson's, long in Eddleston,-deserve, with many others, to be particularized. In 1800, Dr. James Finlayson, and his able lectures on logic; the mild, kind, and learned Mr. Andrew Dalziel. For three sessions we occupied the same seat with Lord Duncan's son, and Rev. George Lawson, Secession, Selkirk; Mr. David Deuchar, at the Cross and Morningside, in 1802; George Craigie, Esq., Dumbarny, and Lord Craigie ; Dr. Andrew Hunter, the excellent Professor of Theology. On all these we look back with respect and gratitude, as early friends. Mr. Dalziel was disinterested to his death-bed,

:

where I visited him for the last time, when Rev. James Traquair of Rhynd was waiting in the garden. Lord Craigie procured for me the promise of the first presentation of James Innes Ker, who succeeded to the dukedom of Roxburgh; but his lordship neglecting to apply, three were given away, when Dr. Singer said, I must leave Newcastle to stir his lordship up to apply; but being, shortly after, invited to preach at Chryston, this was unnecessary. His lordship made an apo logy for his negligence. Passed trials for license at Wamphray Manse, Dr. Crichton, afterwards of Holywood, in 1805. Received licence from the Presbytery of Lochmaben, 10th June, 1806. Preached first for Mr. Laurie, Lochmaben ; represented by W. F. H. Laurie, W.S. Preached next for Mr. Smail, Kirkmichael; represented by Miss Amelia Dobie, Kirkmichael. Preached first in Edinburgh for Dr. John Thomson, Haddow's Hole, father of Dr. Andrew Thomson, and by second marriage, John Thomson, late of Shettleston, now Free Church. Preached afterwards for Drs. Davidson, Colquhoun, Johnston, Ireland, Macnight, at Lord Craigie's desire, chummed with Dr. Hill, Professor of Divinity, Glasgow; for Sir Henry Moncrieff and Dr. Dickson, at the request of Lady Maxwell; for Dr. Jones, at the same lady's request, who applied for the church of Dunscore; but the application was a post too late. Preached for Mr. Savile and Joseph Robertson; for kind Mr. Bonar, Cramond; Thomson, Duddingston. Preached at Tranent, and for Dr. Rennie, Bo'ness; and, solicited by Rev. Alexander Weir, (father of Thomas Durham Weir, Boghead, Mrs. Lord Robertson and Mrs. Martin, Bathgate,) at Whitburn, where the favourable regard of Lord Torphichen was obtained; so that we might have obtained that church had it been known where we resided. Was called to preach at Dunfermline by means of Mr. Gilfillan, or Marion Law Gilfillan, who asked Dr. Colquhoun to mention a fit candidate for the chapel that originally belonged to the good Mr. Gillespie of Carnock, who was harshly, cruelly, and unjustly deposed by the General Assembly, 1752. Dr. Hodson, Blantyre, was a candidate; but the managers could not put him in after I was called. The first time, I was kindly entertained in the manse by Mrs. Greig, afterwards of St. Ninians; the next time I was called, my reception was far from being civil, in the house of one of the managers, whose sisters were equally prejudiced and senseless. I did not apply for the place. Dr. Colquhoun's recommendation was given unknown to me. His wife was for him recommending Mr. Macneil, who went to Dundee; but has been confined ever since, if he be alive. Robert Gilfillan,

Esq., has paid a well-merited tribute to his mother's memory, which is inserted along with his beautiful village church. Mr. Brotherston, Alloa, was violently intruded; wanting only Principal Robertson's Riding Committee, and soldiers with their drawn swords. He confessed he had not above seventy, out of 800 communicants; but had not above the half; and would not have had so many, but for the improper influence exerted by the managers. These 750 communicants may be mostly gone who were first fixed by the words, Your fathers, where are they? But some of them may have representatives, who may have heard how uncomfortable Mr. Brotherston, Mr. M' Whir of Urr, and Mr. Murray of Dysart, were all in Dunfermline, because the first of them was violently put into the place that belonged to another. Mr. M'Whir offended, chiefly by once saying too particularly, Ye sinners of Torry burn. The relatives of Dr. Martin, Kirkaldy, Mr. Couper, Burntisland, and Mr. Doig, Torryburn, can best relate about Mr. Murray. These Free Churchmen were not always impartial. They might strongly and culpably lean to the side of mercy; but they should have judged just judgment without partiality, and without hypocrisy. We can never forget the good people of Dunfermline, of whose representatives we know none but those of Mr. Spouart, who, along with his brother, long under Dundas of Arniston, took me to Chryston, by simply mentioning my name, and the representatives of the family that made me be called to Dunfermline,-Robert, Henry, James, and Miss Gilfillan, now mostly domiciled at Leith. Before I was called to Dunfermline, Dr. Davidson sent a message by Mr. James Porteous, once known among the pious people of Edinburgh,-as the Mitchell's of Parsons Green can testify, now doubly connected with the family of Sir Thomas Dick Lauder of Grange, who now sleeps in the Grange Cemetery,to go and bring a report about the state of the High Bridge Meeting, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, after the death of Mr. Hutton. I remonstrated with Mr. Porteous about going at the people's expense, when I did not wish to go to minister in England, having refused a recommendation by Dr. Hunter. His message bore, that if I would not go as a candidate, Dr. Davidson wished me to go and bring him a report. I went, and preached three times on one day, for the first time, the last exhibition being, of course, entirely extempore. After Dunfermline was given, by force and fraud, to Mr. Brotherston, the people of Newcastle, who had sent me a call immediately after preaching, and had corresponded with me the while, insisted upon me coming to them, after Dunfermline

was lost. I, at last, agreed, if they would give a bond for £150 yearly, a free house, and garden. They gave a bond for £135, to rise £5 yearly, till it reached £150, and there to remain till the house was freed. We paid off £100 yearly, and were contemplating the purchase of an excellent house in Pilgrim Street for a manse, with a private road from it to the chapel, and the house in front; but all was stopped by the Messrs. Spouart's, then residing at Whitehill, Garnkirk, mentioning my name in Chryston, when I was sent for,-Dr. Colquhoun forwarding the letter. As I heartily wish peace and prosperity to the representatives of the 750 communicants at Dunfermline, and the Gilfillan's, and Spouart's, and of the then young, and bonny, and kindly Mrs. Greig; so I wish the good will of Him who dwelt in the bush, to the between 300 and 400 communicants, and the additional 400 hearers, who may remain, and their representatives, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, of whom I only see Mr. Blackie, publisher, Glasgow, and Mr. John Brewis, to be as yet alive. The call to preach in Chryston, arrived in July; and I went and preached in September, 1810, from Psalm exix. 97. I regret that the sermon is gone; because it pleased 500 hearers of the Gospel, at least ; and not a few of them believers of it. The Harveys, the Anguses, the Baxters, the Downies, Boweses, Reids, Starks, Waddels, Brashes, Burnsides, Wilsons, Martins, Provans, Watsons, Calders, Johnstons, Risks, Corbets, Grays, Cherrys, Tennents, Andersons, Lethams, Hendersons, Hutchesons, Coopers, passing other families, may be mentioned in Chryston. Every morning and evening, the sound of prayer and praise was heard in almost every house. Will Mr. Burnet bring his people so far? Will he ever equal Mr. Young in preaching? He may gain Mrs. Sprot with his courtesy; and Mark may follow, and even Mr. Campbell. He will not tell them their failings; but they may boggle at the draining Sustentation Fund, and the alarming cry, Give, give. Could he make them regular hearers, we would be gratified. Mrs. Miller was one that had weight in bringing me to Chryston; though I demanded and received about £8 for that day's preaching; because they had promised to pay my expenses, not knowing that I was in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. They never suggested that I rode my own pony when I charged coach hire. My sole reason for demanding it was, that I thought there could not fail to be some abler preachers in and around Glasgow; and they might say I had remitted it to gain the chapel. It might then have difficulted the great Dr. Chalmers, and the still greater Dr. Andrew Thomson, to

never

have gone far beyond me. As Mr. Brydone, schoolmaster, Tranent, father-in-law of Mr. Gellatly, engraver, said, him and me did not know our own worth. The sermon preached at Chryston, from Psalm cxix, 97, was burnt, with hundreds more in different states of preparation; for we preached the same sermon twice at Newcastle, Chryston, or Cadder. The first sermon may have been preached as often as Dr. M'Leod's vade mecum, from 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16, though his certainly deserved it; or Dr. Black's, preached once and again at Chryston, so that Mr. John Tennant, schoolmaster, persuaded himself he could nearly repeat it, on the promise made to the dying thief, (Luke xxiii. 43.) How often Dr. Mackellar preached his on Consistency, founded, it was supposed, on Coelebs in search of a wife,-Miss Stirling and it being, perhaps, on the anvil at the same time, he alone can tell. He rather too much pressed the getting it preached at Cadder, and got, improperly, the pulpit, when a preacher had offered his services for the day. Mr. John Park said, not altogether improperly, Ah! these good men, Mr. Lockerby. He and Sir James Forrest can say something rather untrue like still, even to get Dr. Candlish recalled, after he found he was not fit for a professor. They will remind others, Cæsar's wife should be above suspicion. I was completely happy in Chryston, from 25th April to 11th September; that the election of an assistant and successor took place. Mr. William Gray, Wester Muckcroft, and James Gray, Auchengeich, had kindly, without advising me, proposed me as one of the seven candidates; and the second or third Sabbath after I came to Chryston, on three days notice, I was called to preach at Cadder as a candidate,-perhaps Dr. David Dobie of Gartferry, being, to a certain extent, culpable. My books, and the sermons I had written fully out at Newcastle, not being arrived, I had no other alternative, but to go out to the bonny glen of Gartferry and Milbrae, and select for lecture, Matth. xvii. 1-8; for sermon, 1 John iv. 16, God is love,-passages I had never discoursed upon; so that I could not stop. The discourses were not obliterated by all the six other candidates; for the leading heritors, headed by Charles Stirling, gave me, though the only stranger, the preference not for my benefit. I had not a word written with pen or pencil; for I could not write among complete strangers, in a strange house of Mr. Dobie's, till I got the manse furnished. Perhaps few clergymen, save the like of Dr. Andrew Thomson, could have done the same thing. Had my friends been suspicious of guile or fraud, they would have carried the election, and saved some of themselves and me many hundreds of pounds. Charles Stirling and James Hill,