gave ready utterance, before the class, to his sentiments about a composition, full of indications of genius, that had just been read by one distinguished student.

"I wish that I could give a lively picture of his class in its daily working-so regular, that it abounded little in singular incidents, yet so pervaded by a spirit of healthful happiness, and quiet and conscientious industry. I cannot forget the solemn sentences of prayer with which the public duties of each day were commenced by him, nor the tones of that voice, of which the very peculiarities and difficulties of its utterance acquired an interest-nor the usually easy and classic flow of his style, and his almost recluse-like manner when he was lecturing-nor the signs of deep emotion which he indicated, as once and again he came to passages in the history, fitted to teach and encourage by the example of extraordinary 'faith and patience,' or to rouse his indignation against blinded bigotry and intolerance, wherever these were displayed.

"It may be mentioned, that his entire course of lectures on Church History extended over a cycle of three sessions of College, and that the lectures were delivered on four days of each week. The first year's series embraced the external and internal history of the Church during the three centuries of the propagation of Christianity, till its establishment under Constantine; and part of these lectures form the substance of the published volume of his 'Elements of Church History. At the commencement of the second session, we were conducted from the era of Constantine to the thirteenth century, through the period of the gradual rise and ultimate consolidation of the Papal power. The course during the last session followed the fortunes of the Papacy, from the period of its climax till the Reformation, and then included a history of the Reformation in most of the countries of Europe.

"The period of his professorship is surely an era in the study of ecclesiastical history in this country. His labours

have sensibly elevated the place which the science of Church History holds in the minds of many of the younger clergy of Scotland. In his lectures, he presented his students with what may be counted, I believe, the best results of the most recent historical researches in Germany and elsewhere, invested with a peculiar interest to those at all accustomed to reflect, by the philosophic temperament and analytic spirit of one trained in the methods of logic, and in the inductive science of the human mind. His manner of instruction induced a more minute search of the original authorities, and especially of the Fathers and later writers of the Church, than was, I understand, at all usual in the preceding generations of Scottish students. At his oral and written examinations-to which the Monday of each week was usually devoted—while the questions put by him demanded a correct knowledge often of minute facts, they were very frequently so framed as to need some considerable development of the power of reflection before the answers could be adequately given. On the whole, his classifications, and customary mode of presenting what have elsewhere been counted the dry details of the history of the visible Church, awakened many to a perception of the beauty and value of Church history, as a science nearly connected at once with theology and philosophy, and fitted to give full exercise to all the higher faculties of mind.

"What may yet be the result of these quiet labours, it is not for me to conjecture; but, perhaps, a better wish cannot be expressed for the Churches of Scotland, in coming, and, it may be, troublous times, than that they may imbibe much of that calm and hallowed spirit of familiar and philosophic acquaintance with ecclesiastical phenomena, which were so conspicuous in one whose image the lapse of time cannot efface from the grateful memory of very many who have studied round his academic chair."

The following memorandum, found among his docu

ments, and bearing date at the commencement of a College session, shows his feelings in regard to his class, his lowly views as to his own fulfilment of his duties, and the strength in which he sought to perform these:

"STUDENTS."

"Want of feeling of responsibility in regard to them. "Want of secret prayer for their benefit.

"Want of speaking to them in private, as to their own souls, and their views, prospects, and responsibilities.

"Want of watching for seasonable opportunities for introducing a word of counsel-encouragement.

"Lectures not composed with a view to their benefit in every respect. More for my own credit and character, and in agreement to my own taste, than for their good.

"Prayer in morning in class, not studied beforehand with a view to their wants.

"In offering up prayer and delivering lecture, too much wandering of thought and self-seeking.

"In these deficiencies there is matter for the deepest humiliation and sorrow, for opportunities neglected, good omitted, evil occasioned. Lord, I am vile ; pardon my sin, and let not my transgression be laid to the charge of those who fail in consequence of my neglect, and give me grace, in time to come, to do all to the Lord, and to pray and watch for opportunities of usefulness, and diligently to improve them. In His strength I now bind myself, during the present session

"1. To set apart one hour every Saturday for prayer for my students, and for considering my failures and deficiencies in the past week, with corresponding resolutions of amendment in the succeeding week.

"2. To make it a distinct object daily, praying for assistance to supply the deficiencies and correct the errors mentioned in the preceding page.

"3. To make a study, as opportunity presents, of the

passages in Scripture that relate to my duties as a teacher, and to the duties of the young.

"4. To add to my resolutions from time to time, as new light shines.

5. To read the above at least once a-week,-strictly examining myself how far my conduct corresponds, and praying that God may search and try me.”

Added to these was the following:-"In looking at a student, ask, how can I do him good, or have I ever done him good?"

Dr. Welsh's ideas of the devotion required at the hand of a professor, especially in a theological Chair, to the peculiar business of his own class, were very strict; and he himself acted up to them. His predecessors had uniformly held a pastoral charge in conjunction with the professorship; but he abstained from all avocations that might interfere with its duties. Excepting for the evening sermon on the Communion Sabbaths, in St. George's Church, he seldom entered the pulpit. He declined, unless on rare and urgent occasions, to take part in public meetings; he refused all offers of literary employment, and, till the state of the Church became such as, in the demand for the immediate services of her sons, to outweigh every other claim, he refrained from engaging in the administration of her general affairs. This course of conduct exposed him, for several years, to much blame on the part of Christian friends, who either did not appreciate, or did not sufficiently consider, his motives, and who charged him with want of zeal in the cause of the Church, and even with indifference to the proclamation of the Gospel message. He generally bore these censures silently, nor did he ever take any means of publicly justifying himself; but he felt very strongly and keenly the injustice which was done him, and, on one occasion, when requested, during the College Session 1835-6, to take part in a course of public lectures, proposed to be given at the instance of a Society in Edin

burgh for promoting the interests of the Church of Scotland, he availed himself of the opportunity of stating fully, though in a private letter to the party through whom the request was made, his views and feelings on the subject. Long before his death, all such accusations as those above referred to, were put to silence; but still this letter will be read with interest, as showing his own sense of the duties of his office, and illustrating a striking trait in his character. It is as follows:

"I received your letter last night, and beg to state, in reply, that as I could not undertake the duty you mention without materially interfering with my professional avocations, I must respectfully decline to take a part in the series of discourses to be delivered. When I became a member of this University, I laid it down as a rule not to attend any public meetings during the continuance of the Session. I am aware that there should be no rule of this kind not admitting of exceptions-though the principle on which it was founded should not, I conceive, be departed from-that the business of a professor's class should occupy his first attention. Now, at the commencement of this Session, I announced a series of lectures on the history of the Papacy. My whole time is at present employed in collecting materials for these lectures, and in examining the exercises given to me by my students. And as I KNOW that I could not prepare such a lecture as would be suitable to the purposes of your Association, without occupying at least a week, perhaps a fortnight, I conceive the circumstances in which I am at present placed to be such as to render the observance of the rule I referred to a matter of positive duty.

"From the serious and earnest manner in which you write to me, something more is necessary to be said. You have often alluded to the subject-and so have other people -and as it is disagreeable to be making a constant parade of one's principles, I have put you and them off with any