Edinburgh,
Monday 31st Jan
1870.
My Dear Father,
Thomson proposed me in Kirkaldy,[2] but a note being taken I among others was thrown out.
Perth I am a little surprised at as Laidlaw[3] made a half promise to look on the matter favourably. However he didn’t say he wd. do anything in the Presby.
I have just got a note fr. Tait saying that a proof of my French Transl. of my “Mill” paper has been sent him which I must go and help to correct tonight. This is rather gratifying.[4]
I was at Rainy’s on Thursday at dinner and had a good deal of talk with him. I fancy he wanted to draw me out. He wishes to have some private talk with me soon. Lindsay I suppose has dropped you a line about Candlish who admits that my testimonials outweigh the claims of all except Meyer. The New College men are all very hearty which is a great point.
I don’t think I have any further news except that Rainy told Davidson that Salmond’s paper in the B&F[5] was a very mediocre production.
Your aff. Son
Wm R Smith
P.S. You should by all means come up at next Committee meeting. My bed is quite big enough.
[1] CUL ADD 7449 C131a
[2] Kirkcaldy Presbytery in fact nominated only Meyer and Salmond for the chair (PFCA, 1870). As Black’s father was a member of that presbytery, WRS had been confident of its recommendation.
[3] Laidlaw, Dr John (b.1832): had ministered at Perth West Free Church from 1863. From 1881 he held the chair of Systematic Theology at New College.
[4] The paper (“Mr Mill’s theory of geometrical reasoning mathematically tested”) was subsequently published in the Revue des Sciences.
[5] The British and Foreign Evangelical Review.