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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