The life and times of the Rev. Robert Burns, D.D., F.A.S., F.R.S.E., Toronto :

Front matter

THE

A. H. U. COLQUHOUN

BY THE

Preface

The " Unfinished Autobiography," which forms so prominent a feature in the first part of this volume seems to have been written principally in 1867, — the year previous to its author's last visit to Fatherland. A few portions were penned during that visit.

The singular accuracy with which so many minute incidents are recalled, by one nearing fourscore, and the vividness and freshness with which they are related, make us regret the more that a work so successfully commenced should not have been carried to its contemplated completion.

It appears not to have been prepared consecutively, but in detached portions, on separate sheets, as he felt disposed. We have arranged them to the best of our ability, and have avoided intermingling editorial introductions or reflections, unless where it appeared necessary or desirable.

When the Autobiography failed us, we have drawn largely on his own letters and papers, and the willinglyrendered contributions of those with whom or for whom he laboured in his native and in his adopted country.

vi

PREFACE.

Hearty thanks are cordially tendered to the friends, too numerous to particularise, in the Province and beyond it, who have thus kindly substituted their many lights, radiating from different standpoints, and reflecting a variety of facts and phases, for the one which we could have but dimly supplied.

We would gratefully acknowledge, also, the services of the Rev. Professor Gregg, and }lr. John Young, of Toronto, who have largely remedied the difficulty connected with our distance from the place of publication, by the laboriousness and fidelity wherewith they have revised the manuscripts and proofs, and superintended their passage through the press.

We are fully sensible of the imperfections which must attach to a Work to whose preparation we could devote but fragments of time, amid the constant pressure of manifold duties. But if it serve, even in an inadequate measure, to embody and embalm the leading features of a remarkably forceful character, and the main facts of an earnest and eventful life, as well as, incidentally, to furnish a contribution towards the, as yet, unwritten history of Presbyterianism in Canada, our labour will not have been in vain.

Montreal, 1st August, 1872.

Chapter I. Early Days

Birth — First Remembrance — Lord Howe's Victory — Greenwich Hospital — Naval Heroes — Grateful Octogenarian — Kinneil House — Dr. Roebuck — Dugald Stewart — Heroes of Covenant — Flavel, a favourite — Boy Reader — Inner Life — Early Leanings — The Wooden Pulpit — The Drunkard of Fifty Years page 1.

Chapter II. Literary Education

School and College Days — Parish School — Boyhood Teachers — University of Edinburgh — Professors Hill, Dalzell, Finlayson — Robison, McKnight — Laidlaw, the Tutor — Logarithms on Portobello Sands — College Companions — Saturday Strolls — Courts of Session — Harry Erskine — Ponderous Judge and " Screeching" Lawyer — Book Auctions — Peter Cairns and Hammer Orator A1 — The 4 6 Sacra Lectio" — Lady Yesters — Rev. David Black — Stewart of Moulin — Dr. Balfour — Dr. Thomas Fleming — Thomas Brown — Earl Russell and Dugald Stewart — The Leslie Controversy — First Communion — Wilberforce's Practical View — Defoe's Eulogy on Bo'ness Men — Captain John Henderson — John Henderson, of Park — Last Visit to Haunts of his Youth — The Old Pit — Name notched on the Tree — Retrospect page 12.

Chapter III. Theological Education

Divinity Hall — Dr. Andrew Hunter — Pictet's Theology — Dr. Meiklejohn — Dr. Moodie — Elocution — Defects — Few " Serious" Students— Theological Society — Broad Church — Wright, of Borthwick — Darwinianism — Dr. Candlish's First Appearance — Wright's Deposition— Dr. Hamilton, of Strathblane — Sir Robert Spankie — First Theme — Scathing Criticism — Adelphi-Theological — William Peebles— Oak-tree in the 4 6 Meadows" — Geo. Whitefield — Silliman viii

Contents

— Dr. Codman, of Boston — The Race of Reconciliation — Prevalent Arminianism — Harvard — Cooper on Predestination — Lights of the Edinburgh Pulpit, Black, Fleming, Campbell, Jones, Peddie, Struthers— Colquhoun, of Leith — The two Dicksons — Dr. Davidson— Dr. Walter Buchanan — "The Apostle of the North" -Dr. McAll, of Manchester— Singular Meeting with Dr. Mc All— The Illustrious Triumvirate, McCrie, Thomson and Chalmers — Tutorship at Cramond — The Bonar Family — Matrimonial Connexions — Licensed, March, 1810 — First Sermon at Cramond — Four months at Perth — Perth Friendships page 26.

Chapter IV. Paisley Ministry

Paisley Worthies — Communion Cups — The Paisley Weaver — The Candidates — Laigh Kirk — John Neilson — The Election — Ordination— The Scottish Lecture — The Paper Man — Pastoral Visitation — Church Catechising — Sabbath Schools and Bible Classes — Letters to his Sister — The Unreadable Manuscript — Domestic Bereavements — Mrs. Burns' Correspondence with Mrs. Briggs - Glimpses of Home and Church Life — Mrs. Burns' Death, 14th Nov. 1841 — Letter of Sympathy from Dr. Chalmers — Missionary Work — Charge to Rev. John Macdonald, of Calcutta — Testimonies as to success in Paisley — Letter from Mr. Bonar, of Cramond page 43.

Chapter V. Church Courts And Societies

Paisley Presbytery — Three Parties — Fleming, of Neilston, and Patrick Brewster — Logan, of Eastwood— Death-bed Visit — Father of Free Church — Macfarlane, of Renfrew — Smith, of Lochwkmoch — Findlay — Rankin — Snodgrass — Stewart, of Erskine — Scott, of Greenock — Patrick Macfarlane — Douglas — Telf er, Monteith, Boog, McNair, Thomson — First Appearance in General Assembly — Moderatorship Controversy — Chalmers and Lee — Moderates and Wild Men — Clerical Literary Societies — Moral Philosophy Chair, St. Andrew's — Dr. Chalmers Appointed — Letter from Dr. Chalmers page 67.

Chapter VI. Interest In Foreign Missions And Home Poor

Lurid Star of 1784— Rise of Modern Missions — Any Word from the Duff? — A Thousand Pounds from Paisley — Haldane, Bogue, Ew-

CONTENTS.

ix ing, Innes, Simeon, Fuller, Rowland Hill, J. Haldane, John Aikman — Sabbath Schools — Tract Societies — Scotch Congregationalism— London Missionary Society — Movements in Old World and New — Dr. Duff — First Mission and Return — letter from Colin Campbell — Secretary of Bible Society — Sabbath School Report — Labours for the Poor— Working Classes aloof from Church — Eforts in behalf of — Henry Dundas and Sir Harry Moncreiff — Publication of Work on Poor — Favourable Criticisms — Alexander Dunlop, in 1825 — Westminster Review in 1870 — Interest in Charitable Institutions — Emigration Societies — Visits to London — Bonfires of Papers — Provost Murray — Philosophical Institution — Water Works — Savings Banks — Reform Bill — Free Trade — Lectures — Principal Willis page 81.

Chapter VII. Visits To Oxford And Cambridge

Day at Oxford in 1812 — John Gibson Lockhart, his Guide — Martyr's Pillar — Baliol, the " Scotch" College — English Universities adverse to Scottish Patriotism and Presbytery — Lockhart boasting of Dr. Parr — Scotland not afraid of Comparison — Hinton, the Baptist — Bishop Daniel Wilson — Sabbath at Oxford, 1834 — Four Services — St. Mary's University Church — Ebion, the Typical Dissenter— Ritualism of Oxford — Praises of the Dtad — Heard John Angell James — Howard Hinton — Requests for Prayer — The Venerable Celt — Visit to Cambridge — Professor Smyth's Lectures outside the walls — For Practical uses Scotch Colleges better — Intercourse with Charles Simeon — High Churchism — Hospitalities — Sizers, Commoners and Peers — Reign of Cas';e page 99.

Chapter VIII. Authorship

Wodrow Manuscripts ; Sixty Vols, discovered : Use by Dr. McCrie and Wodrow Society — Landsborough, of Stevenson — Warner of Ardeer — More MSS. — Editing of Wodrow's History of Church of Scotland — Presentation of the Book to William IV. — Narratives of interview with the King — Graphic Pen Picture — Bearer of Present to Queen Victoria — Dr. Andrew Thomson — Staiting of the " Christian Instructor" — At bar of General Assembly — Inter course with Thomson — Letters from Thomson — Sacramental Exchanges— R. A. Smith — Tune of St. George's, Edinburgh — Marcus Dods, Senr. — Archibald Bennie — Contributors to the "Instructor"— Dr. Burns' Contributions for Twenty- Seven years — Three years' Editorship - Dr. Grierson of Errol — First Literary Effort — List of Literary Contributions page 108.

CONTENTS.

Chapter IX. Controversies

Popery Controversy — Dr. Chalmers' Sermon before Hibernian Society— Dr. Burns' Letter — Germ of McGavin's " Protestant" — Plea for Thanksgiving Day in 181 7 — Wightman's Joke — Hamiltonian Lecture — Popery a Specialty — Combats Cahill — Vicar- General Hay — Apocrypha Controversy — Haldane's Umbrella — Dr. Thomson — Bible Purity — Keen feeling — Part taken by Dr. Burns — Pluralities — Case of Dr. Ferrie — Case of Principal Mc- Farlane — Work by Dr. Burns on Pluralities — Gareloch Heresy — Campbell of Bow — His Errors — Trial and Deposition — Dr. Burns' " Gareloch Heresy Tried" and " Reply to Layman" — Curious Mistake— Voluntary Controversy — Marshall and Balantyne — Dr. Burns' Synod Sermon — Other writings on subject — Contests with Mr. Smart and Dr. Baird — Private Friend»hips unbroken — Charles Leckie page 122.

Chapter X. The Ten" Years' Conflict

iSomerville's Autobiography — Secession Churches Lights in Darkness— Historical Illustrations — Root and Branch Petition — Two Errors of the Church — Sir Daniel Sandford — Dr. Burns on two Deputations to Prime Minister — Meeting with Lord Brougham — Conference at Lord Moncrieff's — Veto carried — Anti -Patronage Resolutions — Sir George Sinclair — Drs. McCrie and Burns and Laudian Librarian of House of Commons — Precious MSS. burned — Dr. Burns a witness before Committee of House of Commons — Dr. Burns and Dr. Cunningham — Procurator's Speech — Leader's League — Great Meeting in West Kirk, Edinburgh— Dr. Cunningham in Assembly of 1842 — The Forty — Dr. Burns' Anti-Patronage standpoint — The Disruption — Great Activity — New Church — United Communion — Happy days page 138.

CHAPTER XL

GLASGOW COLONIAL SOCIETY.

The Emigrant's Cry — The Society Organized — His Secretaryship — Associates — Dr. Candlish offered Ancaster — Letters from Dr. Candlish — Rev. H. Gordon — Visit to Paisley — Rev. T. Alexander's Notices — Dr. Bayne and Matthew Miller — Dr. Welsh — Highland Trip — Mr. Clark, of Inverness— Sir Andrew Agnew — Visit to Lochnaw Castle with Dr. Chalmers — Dr. Macintosh Mackay — First suggestion of Queen's College — Efforts in behalf of the College — Dalhousie College, Halifax — Marcus Dods, of Bel-

CONTENTS.

xi ford — Colonial Correspondents Drs. Mathieson, Machar and

McGill — Clugston, Rintoul, Romanes — Principal Camp bell — Hon. W. Morris — Mr. Alexander Gillespie — Dr. Kirkpatrick, of Dublin— Very interesting statements of Dr. Henderson, of Glasgow, and Dr. Beith, of Stirling ....page 152.

Chapter XII. Visit To The United States And Canada In 1844

Appointed Delegate of Free Church — Autobiographical Account — References in Dr. Cunningham's Life — Pastoral Letter — New York — Philadelphia — Princeton — Study and Grave of Witherspoon — Boston — Dr. Codman — Harvard University — Elliot's Bible — Mount Auburn — Met Daniel Webster — The Indian examined— Dr. J. W. Alexander's notices — Drs. Blagden, Bethune, and Boardman — Visit to Canada — Mr. Redpath — Mr. D. Fraser — Narratives of Rev. W. Smart, T. Alexander, and H. Gordon — American Notes — Baltimore —Dr. R. Breakinridge — Methodist churches — Washington Monument — At Bishop Waugh's — Bishop Soule — Petersburg — North Carolina Statesman — Slave-selling — Tobacco-spinning — Richmond — Field slaves — Governor Macdonell — Richmond Theatre — Slave Market — Old Mammy — Fredericksburg— Washington — Visit to President Tyler— Congress — Senate — Quincey Adams, Crittenden, Buchanan, Attorney-General Watson — Alexandria — Mount Vernon — Alms House — Girard College — The Mayor — Princeton again — Miller's class — Talk with Dr. Alexander, Senr. , on New School — Newark — Elizabeth — New York — Yale College — Silliman absent — Boston — The Beechers — Harvard again — Lowell, the "Paisley of America" — Heard Daniel Webster — Journey to Buffalo — First Sight of Canada — Jottings on places visited in Canada and Nova Scotia — Leave Halifax third of June by "Britannia" — Dr. Chalmers' Letter of Thanks — Report to Colonial Committee — Visit to the Marquis of Breadalbane — Letter from Taymouth Castle — Queen's touching references — Visits Synod of Dumfries — Janet Fraser — Marriage . . .page 175.

Chapter XIII. Translation From Paisley And Settlement In Canada

Overtures from Canada — Montreal and Toronto — Letters from Mr. Redpath — Call from Knox Church — Colonial Com. Reasons —Appeals from Mr. Isaac Buchanan and others — Letters from Dr. Burns when deciding for Canada — Pastor of Kilsyth — Preparations for leaving — Dr. Black's Paris Polyglott — Farewell Sermon — Ship Erromanga — Greenock gathering — Dr. Keith — Voyage out — Note from the Gulph — Life on the Ocean — W. C. Burns — Communion at Quebec — Tabernacle at Mjntreal — Dr. John Boxii

CONTENTS.

nar — Sabbath at Kingston — Induction at Toronto — Temperance Advocate — Paisley Remembrances — Session Clerk — Dr. McKechnie, Sheriff Campbell — Dr. James Buchanan page 20L

Chapter XIV. Pastorate In Toronto

Union of Pastorate and Professorship, temporary — Pastoral duty — Young Men — Mutual Improvement Circles — Moderatorships — Visits to the Churches — Rev. J. V/. Smith — Rev. T. Wardrope — First Ordination — Crowding Work — Wayside moralizing — Selection of Texts — Work in Western and Central Canada — Letter to an old College Friend — 1847 — Address from Knox's Church — Nova Scotia Tour — Results — Burning of Knox's Church — Foundation laid of present erection — "Mare Magnum Controversy" — " Laigh Kirk" — Church Opening — Letters in 1850 — Varied occupations— Saugeen District — Seventy-first Highlanders — Fight for Freedom of Conscience — Eldership — John Burns — Dr. Duff's Visit — Two Letters from Dr. Duff — Dr. Guthrie — Serious illness — Dark cloud with its silver lining — Letter from Earl of Dalhousie — Suffering and succouring — Letter to Rev. James Clason — Weeps with those that weep — Friend of Poor — The Twenty Dollar Bill —The Pulpit Bible— Ministers' Widows— The Fallen Brother- Professor P. C. Macdougal — Life Insurance — Widows' Fund — Mr. Gordon, of Gananoque — Ottawa Visit — The delighted Farmer's Wife — Bridal Feast — Public Questions — Family Compact — Letters to Lord Elgin — Detection of Impostors — The Jewish Society — Lublin — The Priest from the Vatican — Results of Ministry page 215.

Chapter XV. Professorship

Rise of Knox College — Address to the Students — Mr. Gale — Toronto Academy — Higher Education of Women — Occasional Prelections — " Grinding"— Preparatory Training — Permanent Professor — Collecting for College — Varied Work — Journey with Mr. Fraser to Great Britain — Bursaries- -Circulation of Cunningham and Mosheim — Intercourse with Students — Severity towards Ignorance and Pretentiousness — Illustrative Anecdotes — Story Telling — Student's Testimony — C orrespondence — Pastoral Theology — Baptism — Pastoral Visitation — Catechizing — Family Worship— Education of Children — Standard of Discipline — Cases of Scandal — Causes of Discouragement in ourselves — " T'eazing slowness" — College Lectures— Church History— Apologetics -Plan pursued — Undying interest in Knox College— Montreal College — Old Students' Testimony page 244.

CONTENTS.

xiii

Chapter XVI. Missionary Labours

Dr. Burns a Missionary at large — Quebec and Vicinity — Rev. W. B. Clark — Laval University — Montreal the " New York of the North" — London — Immaculate Conception — Edgar's Variations of Popery —Huron College — Bishop Hellmuth — Orillia — Couchiching Lake —Preaching to Indians — Mr. Brooking — Kincardine — Highland Sacrament — Speaking to the Question — Artemesia — Ottawa — Nepean — Glengarry in 1848 — Rev. D. Clark — Rev. D. Gordon — Glengarry in 1854, 1858, and 1865— Immense Audiences — Elims in the Wilderness — " Tue days of Cambuslang are back again" — Owen Sound District — Rev. James Cameron — Triumphal Marches and Episcopal Visitations — the Runaway at the Rocky Saugeen — Hairbreadth Escape — Stage upset — Almost shot for a Bear — Snow on the Coverlet — the Snowed-up Train— the Wayside Shanty — John Gunn's (of Beaverton) Reminiscences — William's fatal Illness — Rev. Wm. Burns' Statement— Red River Mission, its Rise and Progress — In Search of a Missionary — Rev. John Black goes — Alexander Ross — Dr. Burns contemplates a Visit — Sir George Simpson — the Buxton Mission — Rev. Wm. King's Statement — Visit to United States and Great Britain with Mr. King — Across the Alleghany Mountains by Stage — the Pro- Slavery Doctor — Visits to Buxton — the Freed Woman Lydia and her Household baptized by Dr. Burns — Gould street Church, Toronto— Georgetown — Nova Scotia — Prince Edward's Island — Newfoundland — Letters of Lady Bannerman — Visits to Chicago, Elmira, and Monmouth page 259.

Chapter XVII. Missionary Sketches

Day-book Jottings — A Canadian Paisley — Dundas — Gait — Debate between Dr. Liddell and Dr. Bayne — Flamborough — Rev. Thomas Christie — Hon. Adam Ferguson — London — Communion in 1845 — Mr. John Fraser — Kingston — Rideau Canal — Mr. John Redpath — Bytown — Beckwith and Ramsay — Lanark- -Perth — Dalhousie — Dr. Boyd, of Prescott — Cote street Church, Montreal — Pointe aux Trembles — to Glengarry with James R. Orr — St. Eustache — Ste. Therese Jesuit College — From Montreal to Boston with Mr. Court — Intercourse with the Hon. Abbot Lawrence — Prince Edward Island — Bermuda — Morrison and Struthers — Cape Breton — Earlton — Truro — Opening of Chalmers' Church, Halifax — College at Halifax — Dr. Wilkes — St. John, New Brunswick — Portland— Dr. Payson — Boston — Quebec — Origin of our church there xiv

CONTENTS.

— Merle D'Aubigne — Metis — Portneuf — Rev. Alex. Young — St. Sylvester — Leeds — Student Missionaries — Kennebec — Inverness — Eastern Townships — Libraries — Danville — Richmond — Melbourne— American Land Company — Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in 1858 — Knox Church, Toronto — Dr. Topp — Newfoundland — History — Rise of Presbyterianism— Rev. M. Harvey — Literary Successes — St. John's described — Harbor Grace — Visit to Lower Provinces in 1849 — Lady Bannerman — Cape Breton — Fortress of Louisburg Thermopylae of the West — Mrs. Mackay in 1827 and " her little island" — Farquharson, the Pioneer — Dr. Hugh Mc- Leod's manifold labours — Stewart, of New Glasgow — Truro — Dr. Forrester — Theological College and Dr. Keir— Many Worthies — Nottawasaga — James Mair — Osprey — Artemisia — the Perth early Settlers — feullivan— Euphrasia and St. Vincent in 1859 — Meaford — Collingwood — Supplying for Mr. McTavish when at Red River — Perth — Rev. J. B. Duncan — Ramsay — Beckwith — Smith's Falls — Brockville — Sheriff Sherwood — Mr. Smith — Spencerville — Ottawa in 1859 — Quebec in 1863 — Mr. Crombie — Huron District in 1867 — Chicago : its History and Resources — Presbyterian Seminary— Christian activities of Chicago — D. L. Moody — Scotchmen and Canadians — First Scotch Presbyterian Church — Elmira — Highland Settlement — Monmouth — Dr. Wallace— Aurora — Rev. Ed. Ebbs— Evanston page 289.

Chapter XVIII. Pioneers Of Presbyterianism In Canada

Henry — Spark — Harkness — Bethune — Young — First Presbyterian Communion in Roman Catholic Church — Gabriel Street Church — First Presbytery — Forrest — Easton — Esson — Black — Robert Mc- Dowall, of Fredericksburg — The suspected Rebel — Niagara — Young, Bums, Creen, Fraser, McGill — Father Eastman and his "Seven Churches"— William Smart in 1811— The Stray Twelve Pounder— Incidents— Robert Boyd in 182] — William Bell in 1817 — Anecdotes — James Harris — Father Jenkins — Arch. Henderson — Father of our church — The First >ynod — John Crichton's Letters— Glimpses of Canada's destitution fifty years since — Letters from Dr. Mathieson, of Montreal — Rev. George Cheyne — Incidents— United Synod — Pioneers of the United Presbyterian Synod — Progress of the Canada Presbyterian Church page 340.

Chapter XIX. Miscellaneous

Domestic Character — Death of Two Children — Two Letters concerning, to Mrs. Briggs — Domestic Likings — Interest in Children's Welfare — Illustrations — New York Celebrities — St. Catharines —

CONTENTS.

XV

Dr. Kalley — His Jubilee — Letters to Mrs. Burns from Mission Field — Lindsay — Oil Springs — Present of Plans of the New Paisley to the Old — Educational Views — Love for the Students — First Letter to the Students — Mental Discipline — Letter to the College Committee — Vidimus of Views — Offers of Aid — More " Grinding" Needed — University Reform — Great King's College Meeting — Leaders in the Agitation — Dr. Burns' Address —Broad Foundation — Various interests to be represented — Religious Tests — Religion Pervading— Characteristic Sketches — Fond of Pen Pictures — His Brother William — Interesting Sketch — Chalmers as a Young Man — Sir James Hay — Dr. W. Symington — Parish of Dun — McCrie — Kilsyth — Revival Disruption — Temperance — Letter from Pastor of Kilsyth — Triumph in Death — Dr. Sprague, of Albany, and Annals of American Pulpit — Dr. Steven, of Rotterdam— Kev. James Mackenzie and Dr. Cunningham's Life — Sketch of Mary P , Grace abounding to the Chief of Sinners page 360

Chapter XX. Visit To Scotland And Last Days

Montreal — Mr. Dougall's notice — Free Church General Assembly of 1868— Delegate with Mr. King— Rev. Mr. Nixon's (Moderator) Address — Varied Work — General Assembly of 1869 — Delegate with Mr. Cochrane — Dr. Candlish — Sir Henry MoncriefF (Moderator) — Kindly utterances — Remarkable Gathering at Paisley— Professor Murray — Rev. W. Cochrane, M. A. — Presentation — Mr. Cochrane's Statement — Attention to Students — Interest in Canada — Seeking out Ministers — General Assembly 6 6 Ovation " — The Paisley Meeting — Reception at Dr. Richmond's — Controversial Likings — Mrs. Burns' Journal — Mrs. Briggs' Death — Paisley Friends — Advocates' Library — Wodrow MSS. — Last Days in Edinburgh — Missionary Designation — Meeting with Dr. Duff — Remarks of Dr. Duff — Dr. Guthrie — Parting — Voyage Home — Preaching on board " The Russia" — New York — Central Park — Princeton — Arrival at Toronto — Residence at Knox College— Last Sermon — Last Letter — Last Notes in Day Book — Last Article — Serious Illness — Drs. Constantinides and Bethune — Last Exercises — Death page 402.

Chapter XXI. Memorial Testimonies

Funeral — Funeral Sermons — Monument — Dr. Fraser, Middle Church, Paisley — Dr. Guthrie — Dr. C. J, Brown — Rev. Alexander Cameron — Rev. R. Wallace — Former Students — Rev. A.

xvi

CONTENTS.

Sanson — Episcopalian Testimony — Dr. Hugh McLeod — Reminiscences— ' ' The Apostle of Canada" — Visits to Newfoundland and Cape Breton — Dr. Ormiston, of New York — Characteristic Sketch — Philosophical Society of Paisley — College Board — General Assembly — "The Record" — Obituary Notice — Dr. Burns' last Article — Delineations of Character by Rev. J. M. King and Principal Willis page 423.

Appendix

T. Early History of Knox Church, Toronto, by the Rev. James Harris.

II. Reminiscences of Early Missionary Labours in Canada, by

the Rev. Wm. Ball and the Rev. George Cheyne.

III. Addresses delivered by Dr. Burns before the General As-

sembly of the Free Church of Scotland in 1863 and 1869 page 447.

LIFE AND TIMES

OF THE

REV. ROBERT BURNS, D.D.,

Chapter I. Early Days

HE day of my birth is entered in the public record as on the 13th of February, - 1789. My earliest distinct recollections reach no further back than the victory of Lord Howe, on the 1st of June, 1794. This was fresh on my mind when, in May, 1812, my first visit to London brought me into contact with that noble monument of a nation's gratitude to its brave defenders, the Naval Asylum of Greenwich Hospital. I was accompanied on that occasion by a kind friend, who had suffered the chopping away of the better half of the great toe of his right foot, the effect of which was a slight palpitation of limb, as he walked. On coming home from B sea, he became a manufacturer in Paisley, then at its prime ; made money, lived a useful and religious life, and died in hope. This friend was my befitting companion in the visit to Greenwich ; we chatted with the old sailors ; saw their neatly fitted up apartments ; and looked at their books. One of them was busily reading a large folio, which, he said to me, was, in his opinion " good for both worlds," a sentiment which I cordially seconded, on finding it to be Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. My next visit to Greenwich, was on June 1st, 1834, when William IV. and Queen Adelaide kept the anniversary of the battle, and when fourteen of the brave shipmates of Howe were still alive, hobbling about with something like quarter-deck authority, and hailing with patriotic cheers their unassuming and kind-hearted " Sailor King."

A grandsire by the father's side, and of my own name, was in 1643 named by the authorities as one of the Inspectors of the signing of the National Covenant at Falkirk, and a like relative by the mother's side, suffered in persecuting times for conscience sake. " Hilderston and his lady," the latter a daughter of Sir William Cunningham, of Cunningham Head, were both remarkable for their attachment to the Presbyterian principles of the Scottish Church, and their Mansion House at Hilderston was often the hospitable resort of the persecuted Covenantors. His son (afterwards Sir Walter Hamilton,* of Westport) retained the same attachment to Protestant and Presbyterian principles, which had characterized the family from the days of their illustrious ancestor, Sir James Sandilands, the personal friend of John Knox.-}*

My father, John Burns, belonged to a family of respectability and old standing in the town of Falkirk, Stirling-

* One of our early reminiscences is of father pointing out in a picture the figure of his maternal uncle, Sir W. Hamilton, Bart., of Westport, standing on a jutting ledge of rock at Quebec, and directing his brave men as they dragged the guns up the heights of Abraham, in the grey of that memorable morning of July, 1759, when Wolfe fell in the arms of victory, and Canada became a jewel in the crown of Britain. Major-General Ferrier, once Governor of Dumbarton Castle, was also an uncle. The distinguished metaphysician, Professor Ferrier, son-in-law of Christopher North, was nearly related. The names of Hamilton and of Ferrier are enshrined in our domestic annals. — Ed.

f New Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. II., p. 65.

EARLY DAYS.

shire, and till 1779 he was engaged in Scotland's "staple," the manufacture and sale of linen cloth. He was in that year appointed by Government to the office of Surveyor of Customs at the port of Borrowstounness. He held also for fifteen j^ears the factorship on the oldest, and not the least valuable, of the estates of the Duke of Hamilton — that of Kinneil. He was present, though merely as a spectator, at the battle of Falkirk, in January, 1746, and often entertained us round the family hearth with anecdotes of that stirring period.

He was one of many in Scotland whose religious character was formed in connexion with the visits and preaching of the celebrated Whitefield, who occasionally resided under his father's roof. The pastor of the parish at that time was Mr. John Adams, a first-rate man every way, once (though not a D.D.) Moderator of the General Assembly, and whose name and memory are still revered by many in the locality. He encouraged the visits of the eminent Englishman, introduced him to Mr. Lindsay, of Bothkennar, and other genial brethren around, of the true evangelical stamp, and shared with them and " good old Bonar," of Torphichen, as Whitefield calls him, in the revival feasts of Kilsyth and Cambuslang.

My father managed the affairs of the estate of Kinneil so long as age and infirmities would allow him. Amid the gatherings of the numerous feu duties of the town of Borrowstounness, many of them small, and of somewhat doubtful ownership, while many thousands of pounds of land-rents passed through his hands, and were transmitted to the Ducal Commissioner at Edinburgh, and at a time when banks in the country districts were unknown, not one penny was ever lost.

In the beginning of 1817 my father died, after a short illness, full of years. He was born in 1730, and his whole course of life had been marked by simplicity and godly sincerity, piety to God, high-toned and warm, integrity and benevolence towards men, singularly disinterested, His sons, eight in number, were all present at his funeral, all settled in different places and positions in life, four of

LIFE OF REV. DR. BURNS.

us ministers of the Established Church, and the other four occupying civil stations of respectability and usefulness.

The mortal remains of our nearest earthly relative sleep in the tomb of his forefathers in the ancient graveyard of Falkirk, famed as the resting place of Sir Robert Monro and his brother, both slain at the battle of Falkirk, June, 1746*

His wife was a daughter of Mr. Ferrier, of Linlithgow, lawyer, who held appointments in the legal department of Her Majesty's Customs there, and married the daughter and heiress of Sir Walter Hamilton, Bart., of Westport. Their daughter Grizzell Ferrier, was my mother, who died at the age of 53.

It may not be uninteresting to the general reader, and cannot be to his now numerous descendants, to peruse one of the MS. letters of this " old disciple," whose hoary head was a crown of glory, and whose children rose up to call him blessed. The one before us is addressed to his eldest son, the Rev. James Burns, of Brechin, father of the Rev. J. C. Burns, of Kirkliston, and of the wife of the Rev. Dr. Guthrie, of Edinburgh.