CHALMERS, THE REV. DR. THOMAS, was born at Anstruther, in Fifeshlre, on the 17th of March 1780. He was the sixth child of a family of fourteen, born to Mr. John Chalmers, a dyer, shipowner, and general in Anatruther, by his wifo Elizabeth Hall. Educated first at the pariah school of Anstruther, and next at the University of St. Andrews, he very early displayed powers of no common order—lees however in the formal business of the classes, than in his general intercourse with his fellow-students. Having chosen the clerioal profession, and gone through the usual theological studies at St. Andrews, he obtained, when yet not past his nineteenth year, a preacher's or probationer's "licence" in the Scottish Church. His first sermon however was preached in England, in the Scotch church in Wigan, on the 25th of August 1799, during a visit to an elder brother. The winter of that year and also that of the next were spent by him in Edinburgh, where he occupied himself In teaching, and also its atteadiag the clams. of Duo1/1 Stewart, Rehire°, I'layfair, and then is the height of their fain.. It was at this time that his patsies foe tuathemetlee and natural sciences as well Al his tendency to original *peculation on moral and Asocial subject., first eouapiououaly revealed thecoselvea After a period of desultory occupation, first se arietaat to the clergyman of Carers in Itomburghshire, and then as isiestant to the mathematical professor at St. Andrews, he was amainated to the living of 'Wawa'', in his native county of lifeshire; into which pariah he was inducted on the 12th of May 1803. lie was than twenty-three years of age, and be continued in the position of parish clergyman of iiihnany till Jnly 1815. These twelve years fanned a very eventful period In his mental history. On adopting the elerioal profession he had brought into it no very decided views in doctrinel theology. lIe was attached to whet was called the "Mode rate,' as distinct from what was called the " Evangelical" party of the Scottish Church. lie was of opinion too, that by devoting a day or two each week to the preparation of his sermons and to official clerical actor, a clergyman could amply discharge all his proper duties, so as to have the rest of his time at his disposal fur whatever other occupations interested him. He carried this view into practioe. During the first year of his incumbency he varied his professional work at Kilinsoy by courses of lectures on mathematics end chemistry at St. Andrews. /lie preference at this time for professorial over clerical work, and for natural science over theology was indicated by his being candidate in 1801 for the chair of Natural Philosophy at St. Andrews. With even lee chance of success he offered himself in the following year as a candidate for the mathematical chair in Edinburgh, vacant by the transference of Mr. Playfair to the natural philosophy chair on Robiaon's death. Mr., afterwards Sir John, Leslie, obtained the post, and it was with reference to an argument iu Leslie's favour urged at the time by Playfair, to the effect that " the vigorous prosecution of mathematical or natural science was incompatible with clerical duties and habits " that Mr. Chalmers made his first literary appearance. In reply to Mayfair he published an anonymous pamphlet., vehemently defending the clergy against what he regarded as a "cruel and illiberal insinuation "—a pamphlet, the main tenor of which, if not its epecifio *testaments, he heed to disown. Ilia next publication was in 1807
when, his thought.. on political economy receiving a stimulus from the agitation caused by Napoleon's decrees against British commerce, he lamed a pamphlet entitled 'Inquiry into the Extent and Stability of National Roseanne? Thls publication had success sufficieut to inspire Lim for • time with the idea of coming to London to increase his literary connectioua. Cirournstances preventing him from realising this ides, be cootinued at Kilmany, with a growing reputation for ' various attainment', as well as for extraordinary energy, accompanied with some eccentricity, of character and manner. In 1809 he made his first speech in the General Assembly of the Scottish Church—the some of so many of his oratorical triumphs in after life. In the same year be became a contributor to the 'Edinburgh Encyclopaedia' under the editorship of Dr., now Sir David, Brewster; and it was pertly his studies while preparing an article on 'Christianity' for that work, and partly to the solemnising effects of a severe illness which, during the winter of 109-10 brought him to the very brink of the grave, that he attributed the great moral and spiritual change of his life. Then, for the first time, as he thought, be saw Christianity in its true light; and then for the first time also were his views of the duties of the olswiesal office, ILI he thought. sufficiently deepened and enlarged. Exter nally the change exhibited Itself in this, that whereas hitherto he had Woofed to the "Moderate' party In the Scotch Church thou in the majority, he now ranked with the " Elvangelled " party, which formed but a minority. But the fruits of the change were more immediately enable in his own altered manner of performing his clerical duties'. Not giving up his studio. in natural science and iu political economy, bet aerrying them on with the same seal as before; contributing also to the 'Christian Instructor; the 'Eclectic Review,' and other 1 was now obeerved that in all that Mr. Chalmers did the ome. of • deep sense of religion, and a conviction of the paramount claim. of Christian faith on the thoughts of man, were discernible. Always eloquent in the pulpit, his eloquence now burst forth in straiu3 of Neale parse' and fervour as had never been heard from him before; and from ter and near people went to hear the wonderful minister of Kilasany. Bibles and missionary aocieties, for which he had formerly cared but little, DOW occupied much of his attention; and, instead of confining his taissisterial studies to his weekly sermons from the ul im began a regular organisation of Ills pariah with a view to soaks himself fauelllor with the interest, of every individual In It, and to provide for all its spiritual as well as Intellectual and economic west& In the midst of thew user occupations, which he prosecuted with his constitutional entbusimm, he married, in 1812, Mies Grace Pratt, the daughter of • navel captain in the army. In 1813 his article on • Christianity' appeared in the 'Edinburgh Encyclopaedia; sod is the ems year it was published, with addition*, in a separate velum. as a trestle( on • The Evl leases of Christiaulty.' The following two years were spout in assiduous paroehial work, iu theological steadies, and in the composition of 000soioual works ou various topics, ioelioltog one on the reeencaliation of al:whiten and geology.