after the patron having announced his determination to break in, in the present instance, on a practice which he conceived, if continued, might be brought to bear the construction of a claim of hereditary succession, it was in his having, in the successor of his father, one with whom he had lived for many years in habits of the most intimate friendship, and which remained uninterrupted to the hour of his death.

That the disappointment was bitterly felt, is undoubted. To depart from the place of his birth, endeared to him by every tender recollection, and still more hallowed in his estimation by its being the scene where his forefathers had lived, ministered, and died, and to dissolve an union with a people, with whom from infancy he had associated, and, still more, amongst whom in his sacred vocation he had acted acceptably and successfully for more than three years, was anticipated with the most heart-rending pain. To go forth into the world with the slender provision which his father's death had left him, to have an only sister totally dependant upon his exertions for support, -to be ignorant in what manner these

were to be directed, or indeed where he was to obtain a home, presented a prospect truly agonizing. But in this lacerated state of his feelings, he confided in that God, who hath promised to

66

preserve the fatherless ;" and acted with that meekness of spirit, which marked the most implicit submission to the divine will, and trust in the divine goodness, and shewed the powerful influence over his own heart of those doctrines of religion which he had so shortly, but so diligently taught. The disappointment was not less acutely felt by the parishioners of Maderty. But whatever feelings of dissatisfaction may have been in private entertained, every public symptom of them Mr Ramsay strenuously opposed; and was unwearied in preparing them for kindly and cordially receiving their new minister. And if any remained, they soon were, after the induction of Mr Touch, totally dispelled, by the suavity of his manners and the excellence of his preaching.

His prospects at this time were indeed most unpromising. The sister and brother mutually dreaded separation, and yet, any means which presented them

selves, whereby he could obtain employment, threatened such an event. His friends offered to use every exertion to procure for him the situation of domestic tutor, or of assistant to some elderly clergyman. To these situations, in other respects desirable, he was for the above reason averse. In such circumstances, divine providence graciously interposed, and in the death of the Clerk of the General Session of the four parishes of Perth, opened to him a situation of trifling income indeed, but possessing the double advantage of affording some means of independence, and of gratifying his earnest wish of continuing his residence with and protection to his sister. Hitherto that office had been held by a layman; but an application to the Magistrates by the ministers, that a probationer to the Church should be appointed, who might relieve them from the duty of the exercise on the Sunday evening, paved the way for his nomination. To this office he was appointed during the winter of 18161817; and in June of the latter year, he removed with his sister from the manse of Maderty to the town of Perth.

During the remaining three years of

his short career, he was actively employed in fulfilling the duties, secular and spiritual, of his new appointment. As the former occupied but an inconsiderable portion of his time, much of his thoughts and labours were devoted in adding to his stock of knowledge as a Christian teacher, and in preparing discourses for public delivery. The active and obliging turn of his mind made him a willing and ready assistant to all the clergy in the environs of Perth; and every neighbouring congregation can testify the ability and energy with which, as a ministering servant of Christ, he urged the solemn and important truths of the gospel. His zeal for the honour of his God and Redeemer, and his desire to oblige, induced him to make greater exertions than his constitution was capable of bearing, and which the activity of his mind, and the liveliness of his spirits, led him to continue much longer than was advisable. But his course was now, in the allotments of providence, drawing to a termination. In the summer of 1819, he was troubled with a cough and pain in the breast, which occa

sionally caused him considerable uneasiness. Still, however, throughout the summer and autumn, he persevered in giving as usual his assistance at the sacraments in the neighbouring parishes.

Before his complaint assumed a threatening aspect, a prospect opened, in the vacancy of the West Church of Perth, by the death of the Reverend Mr Kay, whereby a stated appointment, with a permanent independence, might be ob-. tained. This situation was in the gift of the Town-Council of Perth. The friendly intercourse he had always had with many of its members, the general estimation in which he was by all ranks held, and the acceptable manner in which he was universally regarded as a preacher, entitled him, without presumption, to anticipate a favourable result. The clergy, and persons of influence, both in and out of council, came voluntarily forward offering their aid to promote his views; and under divine providence every thing seemed in a favourable train to terminate his state of severe labour and uncertain emolument, to direct his talents and exertions in one line of usefulness, and