some years before his death, he had withdrawn himself in a great measure from professional employment, and amused his leisure by writing a detailed account of the principal works he had planned, and lived to see executed. He died September 9, 1834, in his seventy-ninth year, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
THOMSON, Andrew, D. D., an eminent modern divine, and leader in the national church courts, was born at Sanquhar, in Dumfries-shire, July 11, 1779. His father, Dr John Thomson, was originally minister of Sanquhar, afterwards of Markinch in Fife, and lastly one of the ministers of Edinburgh. In early life, the subject of this memoir exhibited no indications of those singular talents which afterwards distinguished him; and he was several years at college before he discovered any predilection for that profession of which he was destined to become so great an ornament, or felt the influence of that spirit which is so necessary for its effectual exercise. The precise period when he first turned his attention to the ministry, is not known; but, in 1802, he was licensed to preach the gospel by the presbytery of Kelso; and, on the 11th of March of the same year, was ordained minister of the parish of Sprouston: shortly after which he married, and, by a happy union, added greatly to his felicity.
Though Dr Thomson's earlier years presented no indications of those powerful talents which raised him, in more advanced life, to a high place amongst the eminent men of his country and time, he had not long ascended the pulpit before these talents became conspicuous. During his ministry at Sprouston, he was distinguished by that unbending integrity of character, that zeal in the sacred cause to which he had devoted his life, and that vigorous eloquence which procured him so high a reputation in the elevated sphere in which he was afterwards placed. Dr Thomson now, also, began to take an active part in the business of the church courts, of which he was a member; and further aided the interests of religion, by publishing a catechism on the Lord's Supper, which subsequently passed through many editions, and has proved eminently beneficial and useful.
In 1808, Dr Thomson was removed to the East church of Perth, where he laboured, assiduously and successfully, till the spring of 1810, when he received a presentation from the magistrates and council of Edinburgh to the New Grey Friars' church in that city. He was now in a situation, where his singular talents could be fully appreciated, and where they had a field wide enough for their exercise: of these advantages he did not fail to avail himself. He applied himself to the discharge of his sacred duties with redoubled ardour, and with a vigour and activity both of body and mind, that at once procured him an extraordinary share of public admiration. His powerful eloquence and fearless character, pointed him out as no ordinary man, and made an impression on the public mind, which has but few parallels in the history of ministerial labours. Indefatigable and zealous, in a singular degree, he left no hour unemployed, and no means untried, to forward the good work in which he was engaged. He laboured incessantly; and such was the vigour and grasp of his comprehensive mind, and the versatility, as well as brilliancy of his talents, that he could, at one and the same time, bring the most various and wholly different means, to bear upon the one great end which he had in view, the spiritual and temporal happiness of mankind. To the discussion of every variety of subject within the sphere of his calling, he came alike prepared, and on each shed the strong light of his powerful intellect, exciting the admiration of all who heard him, by his manly eloquence, and convincing most, it is to be hoped, by the force of his reasoning.
Among the other means to which Dr Thomson had recourse to promote the interests of religion was the publication of a periodical work, entitled "The
