have so imbittered the recollection of later years, let us cherish the memory of Dr. Chalmers, as a fellow-countryman who elevated the pulpit oratory of Scotland to a standard not surpassed by a Bossuet or a Massillon; and with whose philanthropic exertions even the names of Howard and Wilberforce may find honoured association! Needless it is to say, that Dr. Chalmers was a man of unaffected personal piety. For some time he had wisely retired from the turmoil of active life, feeling, as it is believed, that the hour of his departure was at hand. At last it came-suddenly, but not unexpectedly. His passing spirit scarce tasted the bitterness of death" and he was not, for God took him." The foregoing Memoir was written and appeared in the pages of the Aberdeen Banner just five days after the death of the great and good Dr. Chalmers. Sacred to the Memory OF GEORGE GRAY, SURGEON IN THE HONOURABLE THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S IITH REGT. NATIVE INFANTRY. HE WAS BORN IN ABERDEEN, APRIL 1, 1806; HE DIED AT BEEJAPOOR, ON HIS MARCH TO KULLADGEE, IN THE SOUTHERN MAHRATTA TERRITORY, JUNE 19, 1832. Fain would Affection mark his early grave THE REV. DR. BLACK. Pulveris exigui munus.—HOR. THE life, just closed, of this remarkable fellowtownsman deserves notice far more adequate than it is likely to obtain. In his case are wanting some of those materials with which, in some cases, the biographer labours in a Vain attempt to give a deathless lot To names ignoble-born to be forgot. Dr. Black has not, it is believed, left any substantive work in evidence of his vast and varied learning, and his powerful grasp of mind. It is from other sources that some idea of the man is to be gathered. The subject of notice was born in Aberdeen, in the year 1789. His father was a market gardener, and occupied a small, old fashioned wooden tenement of his own, near the point where Justice Street joins Castle Street. Here, his only son, the future Professor, first saw the light. The father died during the son's boyhood, but the mother survived for many years. She was a very shrewd, managing L person, and presented in this respect a remarkable contrast to her "Sandy," who was neither then, nor ever afterwards, an adept in the ordinary ways of the world. From his earliest years he showed a turn for book-learning and a remarkably tenacious memory. The competent means of his parents, and the cheapness of local education, secured for him the elements of classical learning; and a bursary introduced him as a student at Marischal College. He was one of several who competed for the "Silver Pen," a prize for proficiency in Greek; but the successful candidate was Mr. William Morren. After graduating, Black resolved to adopt the medical profession, and with this view he became apprentice to Dr. George French, Professor of Chemistry, and one of the Physicians of our Infirmary. But the surgical operations were too much for his sensitive nerves, and he exchanged the study of medicine for that of divinity. About this time he seems to have become immersed in a very extensive and systematic course of study. With the whole range of classic literature he cultivated a most profound and critical acquaintance. In all the writings of the Christian Fathers he was deeply versed. Such was the familiarity which he attained with Latin and Greek, that he could converse and correspond in both languages with ease and elegance. As subsidiary to his theological studies, he became master of Hebrew, Arabic, and the cognate Eastern languages. With French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Modern Greek, he acquired entire familiarity. He was well skilled in all the systems of mental philosophy. As a matter of course, he had studied all the branches of theology, and was so well read in the Scriptures as to be talked of as a living concordance. He was well acquainted with the whole range of English literature, and with the history of all nations. He was a good chemist, and a proficient in botany. In fact, with the exception of the exact sciences, there were few subjects not within the cyclopædical range of his acquirements. All were the fruit of incessant study by day and night. Even at meal times he had ever one of his beloved books. He learned with great facility, and never forgot what he had learnt. The uniform course of his study was never interrupted by feeble health, a touchy temperament, adverse fortune, or the distractions of society. In due time he was licensed as a probationer of the church. From the very first he proved an acceptable preacher, more especially to the congregation of the old East Kirk. His sermons were all written fully out, and were composed with great care. They were strictly evangelical, but embraced a variety of subject and disquisition commensurate with the extensive learning and mental power of the preacher. His manner and delivery were modest, plain, primitive, and impressive, notwithstanding a |