Produced by Al Haines. [Illustration: Cover] [Illustration: Title page] THOMAS CHALMERS BY W. GARDEN BLAIKIE FAMOUS SCOTS SERIES PUBLISHED BY OLIPHANT ANDERSON FERRIER — EDINBURGH AND LONDON The designs and ornaments of this volume are by Mr. Joseph Brown, and the printing from the press of Messrs. T. and A. Constable, Edinburgh. PREFACE I cannot send forth this little sketch of the Life of Chalmers without expressing anew my admiration of the four-volumed biography by my late beloved friend, Dr. Hanna. It is not only admirable as a portrait, but it cannot be read by any sympathetic reader without a sense of humiliation, and without a great stimulus to higher things. It is much to be regretted that Dr. Hanna was unable to carry out the purpose which it is understood that he cherished, of condensing the work into a single volume. Other memorials of Dr. Chalmers have been given to the world. Among these may be noted:— 1. A Biographical Notice of the late Thos. Chalmers, D.D., LL.D. Read before the Royal Society of Edinburgh. By the Very Rev. E. B. Ramsay, M.A., 1850. 2. Chalmeriana; or Colloquies with Dr. Chalmers. By Joseph John Gurney, 1853. 3. A Selection from the Correspondence of Thos. Chalmers, D.D., LL.D. Edited by Rev. W. Hanna, LL.D., 1853. 4. Mr. Isaac Taylor’s elaborate articles in the _North British Review_, 1852 and 1856. 5. Thomas Chalmers, a Biographical Study. By James Dodds, 1879. 6. Thomas Chalmers. His Life and its Lessons. By Rev. Norman L. Walker, 1880. 7. Thomas Chalmers, D.D., LL.D. (Men Worth Remembering). By Donald Fraser, D.D., 1881. 8. Thomas Chalmers, Preacher, Philosopher, and Statesman. By Mrs. Oliphant, 1893. 9. Recollections of Dr. Chalmers by Professor David Masson, in _Lowe’s and Macmillan’s Magazines_. 10. Recollections by the Rev. Dr. Macaulay in the _Leisure Hour_. 11. Funeral Sermons and Lectures by Rev. Dr. Cunningham, Rev. Dr. Jas. Buchanan, Rev. John Bruce, Rev. W. K. Tweedie, Rev. John G. Lorimer, Rev. James Julius Wood, Rev. J. A. Wallace, Rev. John Gemmel, Rev. David Couper, Rev. W. Tasker, Rev. A. J. Ross, Rev. Dr. W. Lindsay Alexander, Rev. Dr. Sprague (Albany, New York), Rev. Dr. Sharp (Boston), Rev. Professor Edwards (Andover), Rev. Dr. Smyth (Charleston), etc. etc.