Ever believe me, my dear Mrs. Parker, very perfect one. No. CXI. BURNTISLAND, 5th September, 1837. MY DEAR MRS. PARKER-It is very much to the regret, both of Mrs. Chalmers and myself, that our engagements have so multiplied upon us as to make it impossible that we should visit Fairley this season-the place of all others in which it is my delight to live and to luxuriate, for nowhere do we enjoy more of kindness within-doors, and more of beauty all around us. I have great reason to be thankful that Mrs. Chalmers enjoys so much better health this season than she has done for several years. It is of mighty advantage to her that we now live out of Edinburgh, and, between Morningside and Burntisland, I trust that, through the blessing of God, she may be long spared to me. May He, who is the Giver of all that is necessary both to life and to godliness, shed all blessings, spiritual and temporal, on yourself and all the members of your family. Ever believe me, my dear Mrs. Parker, yours with greatest esteem and regard, THOMAS CHALMERS. No. CXII. LONDON, 15th July, 1838. MY DEAR MRS. PARKER-I should have written you long ago; but Mrs. Chalmers's repeated illnesses have protracted our stay in France, and so prolonged our journey homeward, that I have waited till now in vain ere I could state, with any degree of certainty, the likelihood of our future movements. We are now thus far on our way to Edinburgh, and should have been in the steamer which went off last night but for another relapse, which we are hopeful, however, will, through God's blessing, allow of our taking the next opportu nity by sea, which is on Wednesday evening, taking us home on Friday, the 20th, from which day I am quite at your disposal. May I therefore beg that you will write me at Edinburgh on receipt of this, and tell me the day that you have fixed upon, when I shall hold myself in readiness to leave home two days before it. I quite lay my account with the possibility that, in consequence of my delay, you may have made another arrangement. This would deprive me of the gratification of seeing Miss Parker before her change of state, but not of visiting Fairley, as I am engaged to visit Sir Andrew Agnew as soon as possible after the 1st of August, and I could not do better than take Fairley in my way. I do hope that these unlooked-for postponements on my part have not embarrassed you. A few days at home would certainly be convenient; but, to make it possible for me to move any day you may choose to name, I have sent some commissions forward to Edinburgh by post. I feel the greatest possible interest in you and yours, though I have not had the opportunity of expressing all my sympathies on the late melancholy event in the history of your bereaved household. May these affecting changes teach us to sit loose to a world that will soon pass away from us, and to seek our portion in Him who is the same to-day, yesterday, and forever. Ever believe me, my dear Mrs. Parker, yours most affectionately, THOMAS CHALMERS. No. CXIII. EDINBURGH, 5th November, 1838. MY VERY DEAR MRS. PARKER-I can not, now that Margaret is on the eve of returning to us, refrain from pouring forth the feelings of a most cordial and affectionate gratitude for all the goodness that we have reached at your hands; and it is my prayer and my trust that the friendship begun here, and the fruits of which we have so richly experienced, may at length be transplanted and take root in Heaven, where * The death of Mrs. Parker's youngest son. may it be God's blessed will that the two families shall meet in full company together, and partake in the services and the joys of a blissful eternity. Anne and the baby are with us. He, I do fear, is in a very precarious state, though somewhat better to-day. Mr. Hanna is at Belfast; and we have just heard from him of the death of his younger brother, John-the last son but himself, and a sad blow, in which you, my dear madam, will know fully to sympathize with both the parents. I ever am, my dear madam, yours most affectionately, THOMAS CHALMERS. No. CXIV. EDINBURGH, 1st June, 1839. MY DEAR MRS. PARKER-I should long ere now have communicated the intended marriage of Eliza with Mr. M'Kenzie, the minister of Dunkeld. I have long felt that ours is more a family relationship than an ordinary friendship, and nothing but the extreme pressure of employment would have prevented an earlier notice of this arrangement. It is proposed that the marriage shall take place in August. I feel somewhat languid and overdone after the fatigues of the Assembly. If God be pleased to spare me, there are few things which I should like better on this side of death than an evening of life spent in complete retirement from all public business, and devoted to the enjoyment and converse of those Christian friends who are looking heavenward. Let us hope and pray that all our present divisions may be overruled for the good of the Church and the glory of the Redeemer. Mrs. Chalmers is at present in tolerable health, and all unite in most affectionate remembrances and wishes to you and yours. I am, my dear madam, yours very truly, THOMAS CHALMERS. No. CXV. BALBLAIR COTTAGE, 23d August, 1839. MY DEAR MRS. PARKER-I can not resist my inclination to tell you how much I have been gratified by my visit to the land of your nativity. I have been two nights here in a summer cottage of Mr. Dempster's of Skibo, now looking on the scenes of your infancy, and greatly delighted with the beauties of the neighborhood. Yesterday I went down to Dornoch, and on my way visited the Manse of Criech, determined to make myself personally acquainted with the localities of your birth-place. The old gentleman was at family worship; but we were conducted to the west room up stairs, whence I looked down upon the church with the old burial-place to the east of it, and from the gable window on the church of Kincardine, and the mountain barrier with Ducairn Brae and the hills of Strathcairn beyond it. We took a hurried leave of the old gentleman. I was delighted with the beauty of the ride all the way to Dornoch, which looked in its greatest perfection on a glorious sunshine day with its tide full. I can not imagine a finer feature than the Dun of Criech, and the exquisite little bay behind, and on the east side of it. Nothing could exceed the blandness and cordiality of our reception by Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy; when, besides his son George, we found Mr. and Mrs. M'Pherson of Golspie, with their two daughters, Mr. M'Kenzie of Rogart, Mr. Campbell of Kildrum, and Mr. M'Kay of Clyne. I had a meeting in the Cathedral of about 300, and was honored by the presence of Mr. Gunn and other grandees of the district. Mr. Dempster of Skibo was along with us; and we had a very pleasant dinner-party of twenty-two in the inn afterward. The Cathedral is a very interesting relic, now completely renovated and restored, of the olden time. Will you tell Dr. Rainy that far the most interesting geographical acquisition I have made was from a hill behind Balblair Cottage, whence I could see in greatest possible beauty, and through a clear atmosphere, the abrupt and precipitous outline of the hills in Lochbroom, Benmore, Assynt; the hills of Edderachillis; Benhope, which sends its waters to the Pentland Firth; Benklibreck, in the very centre of Sutherland; and the end of Loch Shin; and the beautiful Vale of the Oykel. Since beginning this letter I have been with General Munro of Teaninich, to Cromarty, Fortrose, Avoch-house, and Roxhaugh, in which places I renewed my acquaintance with the two Ladies Mackenzie, the latter of whom I had not seen for thirty-eight years. I am now at Rosskeen with Mr. Carment, and am going forward to Dingwall and Inverness. May the God of all grace bless and sanctify us and ours; and, with my best regards to Mrs. Cardwell, who I rejoice to hear from Mr. George is better, I ever am, my dear Mrs. Parker, yours most affectionately, THOMAS CHALMERS. No. CXVI. EDINBURGH, 31st January, 1840. MY DEAR MRS. PARKER-I am always delighted to hear from you, and only regret that the amount of other correspondence not so welcome or agreeable, should preclude my writing you so frequently as I could wish. Mr. Cochrane, our secretary, would reply to your letter in behalf of a new extension church, for which we shall most cheerfully do all we can. It is altogether a fit object for our largest possible aid; and I only regret that the unfortunate juxtaposition of another question now agitating the country, and menacing the Church, is for the present keeping our cause at abeyance, insomuch that our Supplementary Fund, which should by this time have reached £100,000, does not exceed £40,000-enabling us to allow, as yet, only £400 for each of the next hundred churches: I trust, however, that times will improve. With best regards to Mr. and Mrs. James Parker, and Mr. and Mrs. Cardwell, and earnest prayers for the spiritual wellbeing of all who are near and dear to us, ever believe me, my dear Mrs. Parker, yours most affectionately, THOMAS CHALMERS. |