William Leitch - Letters of recommendation 1859
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Transcription of first letter
Glasgow 14 October 1859
My Dear Sir
I ought to have written to you before you sailed, but unfortunately I let time slip away until it was too late. I hope this will find you safely returned home, and that you will have had the happiness on your return of finding your family and all your friends well.
I was very happy to hear that Mr Leitch had responded favourably. From all I have heard of him, I think he is the very man for the situation. He stands in high estimation here, both as a man and a minister. I know he is considered a good scholar and a man of more than ordinary attainments in science but what is of more importance he has not allowed scientific studies to divert him from the earnest prosecution of his duties as a minister. In the public business of the Church he has always taken a good share of work and has been especially useful on some of the missionary committees. You had good evidence when here of the thorough manner in which he has been performing his duties as Convener of the ?? Sabbath School Committee.
I have heard him preach twice and with much interest. He does not aim at an elaborate style of preaching, but what he says is said naturally and very earnestly, and it is always sound ??? preaching. One sees at once that the man is in earnest, and that his sole aim is to be useful to his ??? . He is a very amenable man to meet in private, and I find that those who know him intimately have deep personal affection for him. Indeed he seems exactly fitted for the office of Principal - for with every requisite qualification for the professorial duties, he is a man whom personal influence will be most excellent with the students, he is a genial kindly man who will make an admirable head of the institution and he will be found able and ready for every good work whether connected with the College or the Church. I trust the recommendation of Dr Barclay and yourself will be approved and that W. Leitch will be bound for Canada.
He will be much missed at home - but the field in Canada is a very important one, and there are few men so well qualified to occupy the post in it which is in question. As you have said, the character of the ministry of the Church of Scotland in British North America may depend very much (under the ???? ???) upon the Principal of Queen's College.
You will be glad to hear that the Synod Glasgow and ??? have had the subject of the ???? under their consideration, and that the Glasgow Presbytery are to have a conference on the subject very shortly. I shall look with interest for some notice of what your College board does in this matter of the Principalship.
With very kind regards ??? ???? ???? ???? Yours very truly Alex(?) Campbell
Alexander Morris Esq Montreal
Transcription of second letter
Manse of South Leith 4th October 1859
My Dear Sir, It is with a measure of reserve, and even of pain, that I congratulate you, and your colleague Dr Barclay, on the selection which you have made of a Principal for Queen's College. I believe I have many friends among the ministers of the church; but I have had two in particular more than friends, who in several branches of learning have been my master for the last twenty years, and to whom my house has been during that lengthy period, a second home. You have not only been successful in wiling away one of these two, you have even contrived to make me an accessory before the fact.
Mr Leitch immediately after receiving license as a preacher began his professional career as my assistant at Arbroath in October 1839. he remained with me in that station till towards the end of 1841, when restored health enabled me again to undertake all the duties of my office. He then became assistant to one of my co-presbyters, for whom he laboured till the autumn of 1843, when I had the pleasure of introducing him to the charge which he still holds in Monimail.
During the whole of these twenty years our interes??, auspicious began under my own roof, has con???? to be frequent, familiar and confidentially intimate. I have thus has the best opportunities of acquainting myself with Mr Leitch's character and requirments. The ???? is easily stated; I have known very few men of accomplishments equal to his, especially in ???? where he is a master, but also in mathematics, metaphysics, ???? and divinity; and I never knew any man who preserved the ??? mind, cautious, penetrating, discriminating, ???? in greater perfection. These qualities are attested by many able contributions to our periodical literature.
Of his social character I need only say that I never knew his temper to be ruffled and never heard of his being insolent in any ???? publicly or privately. What I should add here that his rare equanimity is in no wise ???? to indolence, ??? if me of the least ???? he is one of the most patiently laborious of men.
His religious views connect him quite decidely with what ???? as the evangelical school; and he has for many years taken an active interest in all the missionary work of the church to which he belongs. And finally his personal character as the man, the christian and the minister has always been such as to need no man's eulogy.
He will go to you if it shall please God that your arrangements should be completed, followed by many prayers, and by many regrets. We dare not ???? you your acquisition, but we cannot help regretting our own loss. We will pray and venture to hope, that the appointment may ????? with the old church's more mature wisdom, that American ???? which iis as full of a fine juvenile vigour and so ???? with high promise for the future.
I am My Dear Sir faithfully and affectionately yours ??Stewart?? DD Convener of
the Colonial Comm.
Alexander Morris Esg Barrister at Law Montreal
Transcription of third letter
Hatton House Ratho October 10th 1859
My dear Dr Patterson
I hasten to reply to your letter and to express my gratification that our excellent friend W. Leitch has been appointed to an office of such honour and importance as that of Principal and Professor of Divinity in the Kingston College, Canada. I have no doubt that the patrons have had very sufficient grounds for this appointment in the knowledge of Mr. Leitch's superior qualifications as a theologian as well as of his general intelligence and learning and his many personal estimable qualities. I know his careful and laborious researches on Entomological subjects, and I have had conversations with him on scientific topics connected with Physiology and Natural history which have impressed me with a high respect for his scientific attainments, and make me rejoice extremely to see these rewarded by the distinction to which Mr. Leitch has been called.
In writing to him I beg you to express my congratulations on his appointment, not unmixed with my regret that his labours are to be transferred to so great a distance.
I am very sincerely yours
Allan Thomson MD, FRS L&B
Prof of Anatomy in the University of Glasgow
Transcription of fourth letter
5 Oct-1859
I have great pleasure in certifying the very high opinion which with all his other friends - I have been led to form of the talents and character of the Revd. Mr Leitch of Monimail.
Others can speak with greater force and power than I can of the profound theological attainments of Mr Leitch, But perhaps I may be allowed to state that amid many many personal acquaintances among the clergy, I know of none who combines in a more eminent degree than Mr Leitch the study of physiological and natural science with the studies more peculiarly belonging to his own profession.
He has made very valuable and important experiments on the subject of Entomology; I have felt astonished at his academic knowledge of some of the most abstruse departments of physiology. Let me merely add that in my opinion Mr Leitch is by his whole caste and character ???? admirably fitted to rule with great sagacity and success over any institution which may be placed under his direction.
MJ Sampson MD
Professor of Medicine and Midwifery in the University of Edinburgh.
