particularly excited their feelings. Having laboured for more than three years in a spiritual capacity amongst them,having during that time, by his private qualities, gained their affections, and by his public appearances commanded their esteem,-and being in the near prospect of obtaining a permanent establishment in their city, he was almost instantaneously removed from amongst them. Every thing, his youth, his manners, his abilities, his conduct,-conspired to deepen their sorrow for his departure. What of respect, earthly affection and friendship can pay to the cold remains of those who are beloved, was offered by them at his funeral on the 7th. A most numerous concourse of mourners of every class in society attended. The magistrates, the established clergy and others of all persuasions, and the principal inhabitants of the town, paid their last tribute of respect to his memory, by attending his corpse to the precincts of the town on the way to Maderty, in the burial ground of which reposed the dust of many generations of his relatives. The reception which the inhabitants of his native parish gave to his remains, bore

the most ample testimony to his worth, and presented a scene so truly affecting, as can never be effaced from the memory of those who beheld it. The whole male population, under the direction of the aged and respectable members of the session, drawn up in two lines, received, with heads uncovered, in mournful silence, the clay-cold body of their former companion, friend, and pastor, and conveyed it to the low and narrow house,

Few have at so early a period of life descended into the grave more universally regretted. There was in his personal appearance, and still more in the frankness of his address, something particularly attractive; and the more intimately he was known, the more these external graces were found to be the genuine dictates of the kindness and simplicity of his heart. Perfectly devoid of every inclination to envy or detraction, he was scarcely ever heard to utter an expression of ill-will or abuse. Though in the course of his life he encountered the opposition, and even the unmerited reproach of many, yet seldom was he known to indulge in any word, and never in any act, of retaliation. The for

bearance which in such circumstances he exercised, was formed upon the example of Him, "who, when reviled, re"viled not again, and when persecuted, "threatened not." His behaviour, as a son and brother, was most affectionate. His attachment to his friends was warm and permanent; and in every opportunity presented, of promoting their good, he was most active and persevering.

His excellence as a public speaker was of no ordinary kind. His clearness in comprehending his subject, and distinctness in the mode of unfolding it to others, were seconded by a retentive and ready memory, which gave freedom to a delivery at once solemn and animated. His voice, clear and strong, well corresponded with the energy of his address; and if any retired displeased with the doctrine, or offended with the composition of his discourses, none could find fault, either with the sincerity of heart or earnestness of manner displayed by the preacher.

Of his talents, the discourses now published afford imperfect evidence. They were never intended for publication, and the duty undertaken in preparing them

for the press was regarded as too sacred to allow any farther interference with their plan and execution, than merely to correct any slight inaccuracy of expression, which, admitted in the hurry of composition, had inadvertently been permitted to remain. The notes and corrections which they have occasionally interspersed through them, mark the gradual improvement of his intellectual powers, and extension of his religious knowledge, and afford a favourable presentiment of what may have been expected from more leisure, improved faculties, and regularly directed exertion. All of them, however, evince his extensive acquaintance with scripture, the soundness of his religious views, and the evangelical turn of his mind. Strenuous in upholding the righteousness of Christ, as the sole means of pardon and salvation to a sinful world, he ceased not to impress upon believers the necessity of conjoining with their faith and love to the Saviour, that " holiness, without "which no man shall see the Lord."

The number of subscribers for this work has far exceeded the most sanguine

calculation. This, no doubt, is in part to be ascribed to the zeal and activity of those friends who kindly undertook to forward the measure; but at the same time it bears no small testimony to the excellency of Mr Ramsay's character, indicating the general esteem in which, during life, he was held, and the regret felt at his death. To his relations and acquaintances, this publication will be hailed as the memorial of a friend, whose many excellencies cannot soon be forgotten. To those who have sat under his ministry, and who will recognise in it many discourses which they heard with approbation, it will excite recollections which cannot fail to be productive of lasting good, while it presents truths, that powerfully tend to qualify for the observance of every moral and spiritual obligation in time, and to prepare for eternity. And to all who have subscribed for this work, it must certainly afford a gratification of the purest kind, that while they are possessing themselves of a source of valuable instruction, they are at the same time contributing to the comfort of the only surviving member of the Author's family.