Letter To Robert Tennant
On being invited to consider a "Call" to Glasgow
"Kilmany Manse, November 22, 1814.
"My DEAR Sir,
Since my letter
of yesterday, (which I fear will not reach you before you get this,) I have to
inform you that I took the liberty of showing your letter to the most active
and intelligent promoter of the petition* taken notice of in my other letter.
He had been bethinking himself a good deal of the subject before, and on
reading yours he tells me that he cannot think of urging the prayer of that
petition any longer, and is much impressed with the manly and disinterested
stand which my supporters in Glasgow have made against such powerful opposition
as you have met with. This is to me a very important circumstance, and worthy
of being transmitted to you. The longer I wait I am the more satisfied with
having been kept free of all engagements upon this subject, and having
committed myself to the progress of events. In the one case I would have come
in among you on the restraint of a hasty promise - in the other I bring a mind
at liberty to decide on every circumstance as it occurs; and how delightful if;
up to the final step of this affair, principle shall have been left to free and
unfettered operation. Ah! my dear Sir, there is nothing like leaving room to
the evolutions of Providence in these matters, and it is wrong to anticipate
them. If you do not disapprove of it, I shall show yours, after cutting away
the single line about bribery, to some of the chief people in my parish.
I
have to repeat my kindest compliments to your fellow-travellers.
I am, my
dear Sir, yours with much regard,
THOMAS CHALMERS.
Footnote * Mr. Robert Edie.
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