(William), an eminent Scots Divine, whose merit and good fortune called him to act in great scenes, and to associate with men, to whose society and intercourse his birth gave him few pretensions to aspire. A small village, in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, was the place of his nativity. His father, of whom little is known, exercised the functions of a clergyman.

Young Carstairs turned his thoughts to the profession of theology; and the persecutions and oppressions of government, both in regard to civil and religious liberty, having excited his strongest indignation, it became a matter of prudence that he should prosecute his studies in a foreign university. He went accordingly to Utrecht; and his industry and attention being directed with skill, opened up and unfolded those faculties, which he was about to employ with equal honour to his country and to himself.

During his residence abroad, he became acquainted with Peninnyon Pagel, and entered with warmth into the interest of the Prince of Orange. On his return to Scotland to procure a license to teach doctrines which he had studied with the greatest care, he became disgusted with the proud and insolent conduct of Archbishop Sharp, and prepared to revisit Holland; where he knew that religious liberty was respected, and where he hoped he might better his condition by the connections he had formed.

His expectations were not vain. His prudence, his reserve, and his political address, were strong recommendations of him to the Prince of Orange, whose ambition and policy were to triumph over the obstinate bigotry of the Duke of York. The enemies of popery in England were numerous and powerful; and they had entered into a scheme for the exclusion of the Duke from the throne. To forward this scheme, Carstairs engaged in transactions of equal danger and importance. Secrets of high moment were intrusted to him. He entered into correspondence with personages of distinguished rank. He was employed in personal negotiations in Holland, England, and Scotland.

When the rupture between the Prince of Orange and the Duke of York came to extremity, Carstairs attended the former in his expedition to England, and was constantly consulted by him in all affairs of delicacy and moment. The Duke, irrefutable and feeble in proportion as his situation was interesting and difficult, fled from a people who had begun to sympathise with his misfortunes, and from a crown which his prosperity perhaps might yet have enjoyed if he had behaved with resolution. The man, whom the celebrated Turenne had extolled for courage and military sagacity, discovered the most shameful pusillanimity. The Prince of Orange was received by a great nation as its deliverer from civil and religious oppression.

The elevation of his matter promised great advantage to Carstairs. He was appointed the King's chaplain for Scotland, and employed in settling the affairs of that kingdom. William, who carried politics into religion, was solicitous that episcopacy should prevail. vail there as universally as in England. Carstairs, more versant in the affairs of his native country, saw all the impropriety of this project, and the danger that would arise from the enforcing of it. His reasonings, his remonstrances, his intreates, overcame the firmness of King William. He yielded to considerations founded alike in policy and in prudence; and to Carstairs, Scotland is indebted for the full establishment of its church in the presbyterian form of government.

The death of King William was a severe affliction to him; and it happened before that Prince had provided for him with the liberality he deserved. He was continued, however, in the office of chaplain for Scotland, by Queen Anne; and he was invited to accept the Principality of the University of Edinburgh. Placed at the head of the church, he prosecuted its interests with zeal and with integrity. Nor was his influence and activity confined to matters of religion. They were exerted with success in promoting the culture of the arts and sciences. The universities of Scotland owe him obligations of the highest kind. He procured, in particular, an augmentation of the salaries of their professors; a circumstance to which may be ascribed their reputation, as it enabled them to cultivate with spirit the different branches of knowledge.

A zeal for truth, a love of moderation and order, prudence and humanity, distinguished Principal Carstairs in an uncommon degree. His religion had no mixture of austerity; his secular transactions were attended with no imputation of artifice; and the versatility of his talents made him pass with ease from a court to a college.—This excellent person died in 1715; and in 1774 his state-papers and letters, with an account of his life, were published in one vol. 4to by the Rev. Dr McCormick.