BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 223
'No. CCXLV.
REV. DR. JOHN COLQUHOUN,
OF THE CHAPEL OF EASE (NOW ST. JOHN'S CHURCH) LEITH.'
DR. COLQUHOUwNa s the son of a small farmer on the estate of Sir James
Colquhoun, Bart. of Luss, Dumbartonshire, where he was born on the first of
January 1748. He received the rudiments of education at a neighbouring
school under the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge in Scotland ;
and, as an instance of his early thirst for religious information, it is related
that a perusal of Boston's Fourfold State having been recommended to him by
his teacher, he travelled to Glasgow, a distance of nearly fifty miles going and
returning, in order to procure a copy of the work. Manifesting a decided inclination
for the ministerial office, and having made some progress in the Latin
tongue, he became a student at the University of Glasgow about the year 1768.
Here he continued to prosecute his studies in the languages, in philosophy, and
in theology, for the greater part of ten years. He then repaired to Edinburgh,
attended the University for a season ; and returning to Glasgow, waa licensed
by the Presbytery of that district early in August 1780.
A vacancy having about this time occurred in the New Church or Chapel,
South Leith, Dr. Colquhoun received a call to be its pastor, and was ordained
on the aid of March 1781. From that period, throughout the greater part of
half a eentury, he continued to discharge the duties of his office with distinguished
zeal; and, until within a few years of his death, with the happiest
results to a respectable and numerous congregation. Taking little part in, and
almost unconscious of what was going on in the world around him, his time
was exclusively devoted to study and to his pastoral cares, seldom if ever absenting
himself from his charge, save when called away to aid in the sacramental
dispensations of his brethren. To the young, especially such as were desirous
of communicating, he afforded ample instruction by his monthly meetings for
that purpose ; and not the least interesting and salutary portion of his labours
were the weekly conversations held on the Friday evenings at his own house.
The Chapel (built by subscription) waa opened for public worship on Sabbath, the 12th of
December 1773, and continued to be regularly supplied by ministers and preachers in connection with
the Church of Scotland. In November 1775, the Rev. Mr. Burnside, having been elected by the
%stew, members of the congregation, heads of families, and renters of seats, waa regnlarly ordained
as minister of the Chapel, by the presbytery of Edinburgh.-Mm~ of tha Munagerk Mr, Burnside
was translated to Dumfries in 1780. A ea11 was then given to the Rev. Walter Buchanan (late
of the Cauongate), which waa at first accepted, but afterwards declined, in consequence of an invitation
to Stirling. nr. Colquhoun was thereafter chosen.