endowments of our national church, must also be sacrificed as well as his professorship. Both offices were quickly reclaimed by the state, as he had anticipated from the beginning. All this would have been enough, and even more
than enough, for a bold and brave man in the full strength of manhood and
still eager for enterprise: but in the case of Dr. Welsh the fire of life was well
nigh exhausted; a mortal disease was silently and slowly, but securely drying
up the fountain-head of his existence; and he had arrived at that state in which every effort is weariness and pain, while tranquillity is prized as the
greatest of blessings. And yet he abandoned all, and braced himself anew for
fresh action, so that the rest of his brief life was full of exertion and bustle
The chief department that fell to his share was that of Education in connection with the Free Church; and his valuable services in the erection of schools and
the establishment of a college, will continue of themselves to endear his memory to the scholars of future generations. Of this new college, which commenced
its labours immediately after the Disruption, for the training of an efficient ministry, Dr. Welsh was professor in ecclesiastical history, while Dr. Chalmers
held the office of principal. Dr. Welsh also became editor of the "North British Review," and by his able management contributed to raise that periodical to the high literary standing which it quickly obtained. In 1844 he also
published his "Elements of Church History" in one volume, which was intended to be the first of a series extending to six or seven volumes, that should carry down the history of the church to the close of the sixteenth century. But his labours had already approached their close; and his inability to continue his college prelections at the close of the year, was the last of many warnings which he had lately received that his departure was at hand, and might probably be in a single moment. The disease under which he laboured
was one of those complaints of the heart, now so prevalent, but still so little understood, that often make sickness so painful and death so sudden. And
thus it was with Dr. Welsh. He had retired to Camis Eskin, on the banks of the Clyde, but without finding relief, and on the 24th of April, 1845, his
troubles were closed. A passage of Scripture had been read to him, which he turned into a fervent prayer, and as soon as it was ended he stretched out his arms, and instantly expired.
Such was the departure of one of whom it was stated by Lord Advocate Rutherford, in his place in Parliament, shortly after the event, that "within the last fortnight, a gentleman had been carried to his grave, who had commanded more private affection and more public regard than, perhaps, any other man who had recently expired—a gentleman who had taken a high and prominent position in the great movement that had separated the Church of Scotland—a gentleman firm and determined in his line of action, but at the same time, of all the men concerned in that movement, the most moderate in counsel, and the most temperate in language—a man who had never uttered a word or done a deed intended to give offence."
WILKIE, SIR DAVID.—While the wondrous discovery of the power of steam was going on, and those experiments commencing by which our whole island was to be contracted into a day's journey, the doom of Scotland's nationality was sealed. It was evident that our country would soon be absorbed into England, and Edinburgh be converted into a suburban village of London. But while our distinctive national manners were thus about to pass away, and even our scenery to be moulded into new forms, three Scottish master-minds appeared,
