An intimate friend of the late Rev. John Tait has favored us with the following brief sketch of the deceased gentleman's career:-

Mr. Tait was born at Moffat, in the south of Scotland, on the 2nd of November, 1809. From his early years he gave many indications of future eminence, and after passing through the usual curriculum of study with distinguished success, he was licensed as a preacher of the Gospel in connection with the Church of Scotland. His character and aims about this time were much influenced by intimate intercourse and association with such young men as James Halley, the eminent classical scholar, and Robert Johnstone, the devoted Madras Missionary; and, there can be no doubt that to these causes may be traced some of the prominent characteristics of his subsequent career.

His life and active service in the cause of his Lord and Master, may be said properly to have commenced at Glasgow about the time of his license when he labored for some time as a territorial missionary, and when he prepared that initiatory catechism which has been so largely used in sabbath schools in this colony. He subsequently labored at Greenock with much assiduity and acceptance, also as a missionary, but his desire from the beginning was rather to be engaged in some foreign field of service. When, therefore, the proposal of his emigration to Australia was submitted to him, he at once closed with the same, and having been solemnly set apart for the work, he came forth with the fixed resolution to spend and be spent in these colonies, and arrived in Sydney in September, 1837.

He was first settled in the district of Illawarra, and subsequently by the appointment of Synod in the town of Parramatta, where he continued for ten years. At both places he much endeared himself to those who enjoyed his instructions, and when he removed to Victoria from Parramatta he left amid the regret of the entire community. Some, indeed, from their attachment to his person and ministry actually following to his new sphere of labour.

We need scarcely refer to his abundant labours in this colony. He soon gathered around him a large influential and attached congregation, who increasingly enjoyed the rich instructions which from sabbath to sabbath he provided from a mind well stored with things new and old. For Mr. Tait was throughout his entire career a diligent and laborious student, and his discourses were at all times the result of careful preparation. A peculiar unction also accompanied his preaching, especially as he drew near to the end of his ministry, when many of his hearers felt as if fuller, and brighter discoveries of eternal realities were dawning upon his mind.

Mr Tait, however, must not he considered merely as the minister of the congregations with which he was successively connected, he was emphatically a minister of the Australian church, and to give a full view of his character and influence it would be necessary to write a history of the Presbyterian church in Australia. His high principle, his great wisdom, and his patient determination, gave him a leading place in the confidence of his brethren and the community at large, - so that in every movement connected with the condition of the church, and the vast interests of society, he always occupied a prominent position.

It would be out of place to notice him in the various discussions in which he was necessarily compelled to take part. These discussions were always painful to his mind, and he desired nothing more ardently than that the church should devote its whole energies to the great object of its mission, holding up the Saviour to the view of lost sinners, but when duty required a sacrifice of interest, when principles which he considered essential to the character of a church of Christ were in hazard, none was more ready to maintain them at any sacrifice.

With these feelings it is not to be wondered at when the hindrances to union among the different Presbyterian bodies were removed, none laboured more earnestly or more actively for the accomplishment of that union which has been so happily consummated. It is almost unnecessary to say that he never regretted the efforts he had made for this object and to the latest hour of his life he felt a deep interest in the prosperity and progress of the United Church. So far, however, was he from cherishing any unkindness to other denominations that in almost one of the last interviews one of his most intimate friends had with him, he spoke of the great work which other churches had before them, and which he earnestly desired they might be able faithfully and successfully to accomplish. And on these efforts, he added, the blessing of God will assuredly descend.

It will be wrong to close this notice without referring to the conscientiousness of Mr. Tait in fulfilling every duty which devolved upon him as a member of the various institutions with which he was connected. These were indeed so numerous that he required to make a selection, but whatever he took in hand was certain of being fully and faithfully performed, and it was only his singularly accurate habits of order which enabled him to accomplish so much - too much, indeed, for his constitution, so that under the pressure he sank into what may be considered a premature grave. He rests now, however, from his labours and his works will follow him.