Resignation of Dr. Chalmers.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 32, 25 November 1843, Page 3

Resignation of Dr. Chalmers.

The Lord Provost (at a meeting of th.o Town Council, Edinburgh, on the 16th June,) rose and said, he had another communication to make to the Council, which he thought it better to make now. It is the resignation of one who.se appointment conferred honour on those who made it — and whose resignation, I am sure, you will receive with the grea .csfc sorrow. I hold in my hands the resignation of Dr. Chalmers, Professor of Divinity in the University, lam sure that at any time the loss of such a man — one of those spirits who rarely,' in successive generations, are given to the world for the accomplishment of so:na great ends — the loss of one of such gianr, intellect and talents could never be thought of without regret. But if in any circumstances that loss could be deplored, surely now in present circumstances, that loss must be very defeply felt. It would be altogether out of place were I to attempt an eulogy en Dr. Chalmers. He has by the brilliancy of his** genius, and by the transcendency of his talents, acquired a name of which not only he but his country may be proud. And his kws is also to be viewed with regret, vrlwn we

consider that it is not because of infirmity— not because of sickness or of age— but because he has felt compelled by what we must all ■ believe to be conscientious motives— com pelled by high and exalted principles— that he has given up those emoluments and preferments which the world values so highly. I will also 1 add, that the excellency of his character— his piety, his simplicity his unwearied benevolence— have won for him the regard and esteem of every feeling and rightthinking man. I will not say more. _ I could not refrain when announcing the resignation of such a man— l could not but take the opportunity of stating, in a few words, the hfti respect and deep veneration with which I personally regard him. I hope I have said nothing out of place — nothing which will cause any difference of opinion ; and permit me to conclude- by saying, that while we lament being deprived of his services, I trust he will be spared to continue m the course which he has hitherto followed— in promoting the welfare of his fellow-men, and in the service of his great Master. The letter of Dr. Chalmers was then readit was a simple announcement of his resignation. Mr Loo-an begged leave to move that the Ictter'should lie on the table till next meetin^" of Council, when he should propose a motion relative to the manner in which the resignation should be disposed of. He agreed in every word that had fallen from the Lord Provost. He could not but regret that the University had thus been deprived of one of its brightest ornaments, but he could not but feel the greatest admiration for the high ' ■Christian principle which had rendered the resignation necessary/ The Council then adjourned.— lb. The second reading of the Canada Corn B'.ll was carried by a majority of 209 to 109. The debate derived some interest from the 'brilliant speech of Mr. Sheil, who exposed powerfully the tricky dishonest conduct of '"Ministers in concealing this part of their plan from the agriculturists when their Tariff Bill and Com Bill were discussed, and in fact keeping it secret till it transpired via Canada. The absurdity of granting such a measure to Canada, -because it haxi been in rebellion, and withholding it from Nova Scctia and New Brunswick, for no intelligible reason except that they had been peaceable, was not overlooked. The matter, though of small importance, exhibits the shufflingpolicy of Ministers, who support themselves by temporary expedients, and acknowledge a principle without having the honesty to follow it out.— lb. Monument to Hampden. — After a lapse of Wo centuries since the death of John • Hampden, a monument is about to be raised to his memory on Chalgrove Field, Buckinghamshire, where he, one of the greatest men England ever produced, lost his life in defence of those liberties which were saved by the gallant struggles of the seventeenth century. The project of raising this memorial was suggested some time ago by Lord Nugent, ,who has written an appropriate inscription for the monument. Brazil. — Her Majesty's packet, the Linnet, Lieutenant Coghlan, from BraznV arrived at Falmouth on Monday, having sailed from Rio de Janeiro on the 21st of February, whence she has come direct, bringing on freight, in gold and diamonds, about £8,000. Mr. Ellis was expected to leave Rio about the beginning of March, in Her Majesty's ship Malabar, for this country, having been unable to effect a treaty of commerce, &c, with the Brazilian Government, although at the moment, or just prior to the packet's departure, an application had been made by the officials to our Minister to detain the Linnet f6r three days longer, which request had been refused. An announcement of the failure of two influential houses for very large amounts has been received by this conveyance, which failures were followed by the defalcations of several coffee-dealers. The exchange was firm' at 27d., the first houses having appeared anxious to draw at that rate ; and the amount of transactions for this packet was considerable, Commodore Purvis, in Her Majesty's ship Alfred, with the Partridge brig, and Ardent steamer, had left Rio de Janeiro for Monte Video. Accession of Austria to the Customhouse Union. — Tho Augsburg Gazette, of the 7th instant, announces, that the Austrian Government is making 1 arrangements to facilitate her accession to the -German Union of Customs. For this purpose she is about to suppress the internarcustom-houses which separate the provinces from each other, which is a measure indispensable for the complete arrangement of the affair. The Gazette observes, that " once the German Customs Union, shall extend from the North Sea to the Gulf of Venice, it will then become a power which may compel the most powerful nations to treat with it on terms of perfect equality."