ductions of nature, more exquisite than those of art, flow not from any fortuitous concourse of elements, but from design; but design, wherever it is found, implies mind; something which, when it acts, both knows what it is doing, and knows that it knows it-KNOWs its KNOWLEDGE; the character that distiguishes the human kind from other animals-something that is furnished with ideas of its intended works, agreeably to which ideas those works are fashioned. The whole visible world is nothing more than so many passing pictures of those invisible archetypes. Through these the universe attains even a semblance of immortality, and continues throughout ages to be specifically ONE amidst all those particular changes that every moment befal it. It is in these comprehensive and permanent forms that the Deity views at once, without going abroad, all possible productions, both present, past, and future. This intellectual system Dr. Chalmers embraced, and sought for every opportunity to shew, from the pulpit and in private conversation, that it was perfectly consonant with the doctrines of the Christian religion, which teaches that "God is all, and in all." Even the doctrine of the Trinity is taught in the writings of Plato.

Though Dr. Chalmers never published any translation or commentary on Plato, he was not a little active in maintaining his system, and VIVA VOCE. He would go a great way to converse with Dr. Oswald, Dr. Reid, and others of those who have been distinguished, sometimes by the name of the common sense philosophers. He shewed, that the same sceptical arguments that have been urged by

bishop Berkley and Mr. Hume were thrown out by the antients, as appears from Plato and his commentators, who considered them as idle dreams, from which men were soon recovered by the force of nature; which, by the concession, and in the language of Mr. Hume, "always has and always will maintain her rights," and that nothing more than this, is in fact contended for by the school just mentioned. "We believe, because we must believe,' says Dr. Reid, "though we cannot tell why.

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It may, perhaps, be wondered, that Dr. Chalmers, who was for so many years a member of the presbytery of St. Andrews, was not called to be principal of one or other of the colleges there. But this wonder will cease when we consider the qualities and circumstances that sometimes push men into provostships or principalities both in that and some others of the Scotch and perhaps all universities. Perhaps, indeed, Dr. Chalmers, whose living was a very good one, would not have exchanged Kilconquhar and its vicinity, to which he was attached by birth, by a very general acquaintance with people of distinction, and with one family of distinction by marriage, for even the office of principal in any of the colleges of St. Andrews, but he never had the offer. I have been informed by the gentleman to whom I am indebted for this account of Dr. Chalmers, that he left behind him a manuscript containing a comparison of the style and manner, or eloquence, of Xenophon, with that of Plato, where he gives the preference to that of the latter, in oppposition to the common opinion which gives it to Xe-. nophon. The publication of this would be a high gratification to all, and there were not a few who knew Dr.

Chalmers either personally or by reputation. Amidst that variety of beautiful country seats which now drew my attention, I had not time to visit any other than that of the earl of Balcarras, which is situated on an eminence, with a gentle declivity to the south, about three miles north from Elie, or the Elie, as it is called, and two from Kilconquhar. The house, though neither modern nor of any gothic magnificence, is sufficiently spacious and commodious, and derives a venerable air from an adjoining grove of old trees, and a chapel still entire, and kept water-tight. There is an excellent library, with an admirable collection of books of history, and some curious manuscripts. The land around Balcarras, and I believe the whole estate, is inclosed, and properly divided into fields by stone dykes. The late earl having seen many improvements in agriculture in different countries, in the course of a long service in the army, imported them when he retired to his own estate, which, though of small extent, he raised to very considerable value. He was accounted the best farmer in the East Nook of Fife; and would have been reckoned the best in all Fife, if the palm in agriculture had not been disputed with him by other military gentlemen, such as Colonel, afterwards General, Skeene, and Major Law, who displayed equal skill in the cultivation of their respective estates in the vicinty of Strathmeiglo and Falkland.

The house of Balcarras commands a noble view of the coast and Frith of Forth winding round the part of the coast comprehended in this view, almost in a semicircular direction. You see the whole coast

of Mid Lothian, and East Lothian, and as far as St. Abb's Head, not far from the town of Berwick, which enlivens the prospect by many interesting recollections. North Berwick Law, the stupendous rock, called the Bass, and the Isle of May, appear as so many floating islands, or castles, in the sea. On the east side of Balcarras House is a crag, rising in the midst of rich fields, from which this grand and beautiful prospect is enjoyed to great advantage; and on the east side of the crag, à den, above noticed, about a mile in length, with a stream of water running through the midst of it, and rendered vocal by the music of the birds that are attracted to this Elysium by the shrubs and trees. From Colinsburgh, a neat village holding of the lordship of Balcarras, I passed to Pittenweem, once a place of very considerable trade, and still not a little enlivened for a royal burgh in this quarter, by salt works, collieries, and fishing. Sir John Anstruther, the chief proprietor in this parish, has been very instrumental here, as in the parish of Ely, in awakening a spirit of industry. At the inn, where I fell in with some of the townspeople, I was amused with a number of traditionary anecdotes concerning a visit that was paid to the good town of Pittenweem by King Charles II. accompanied by a number of his courtiers, who were elegantly entertained by the baillies and town council. An extract of the records of council respecting his entertainment is inserted in Sir John Sinclair's Statistical Account of Scotland. But what induced his majesty to pay a visit to Pittenweem I have not learnt. After the defeat of the Scotch army under General Leslie by Cromwell,

near Dunbar, Sept. 1650, Charles put himself at the head of the remains of his army; and these he farther strengthened by the royalists, who had for some time been excluded from his service by the Covenanters.

To strengthen the royal party still farther, he was, on the 1st of January, 1651, solemnly crowned at Scone, the parliament in the mean time being assembled at Perth, "where Charles," says Mr. Hume, was little better than a prisoner, exposedto all the rudeness and pedantry of the ecclesiastics. The clergy never could esteem the king sufficiently regenerated; and, by continual exhortations, remonstrances, and reprimands, they still endeavoured to bring him to a sense of his spiritual duty." It was at this period that Charles, whether for the purpose of conciliating the attachment of a town, at that time it would seem of first rate importance, or merely as a relaxation from the severities at Perth, made an excursion to Pittenweem, attended, no doubt, by the earl of Argyle and the other chiefs of the Covenanters, who were unwilling to trust him in any other hands, or that he should go out of their sight.

Who were present with the king at the entertainment of Pittenweem cannot be a matter of great curiosity to any others than the burghers of that place. No doubt the principal nobility and gentry thereabouts were invited; and, above all, the knight of Anstruther, so near a neighbour, and HEREDITARY CARVER to the kings of Scotland, must certainly have been present. From the specimen I had of the manner in which one may live at

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