There, amidst the excitement of the gold fever, he laid the foundations of Presbyterianism in Victoria, acting as pastor of the Chalmers Church Congregation till 1865, when, his health failing, he became an emeritus minister, retaining his standing in the Church without pastoral charge.

[1] Having received the rudimentary part of his education in his native parish, he entered the University of St. Andrews before he was fourteen years of age—too young, as he himself has often confessed.

Of himself he has been heard to say, “I have no great natural ability; and any measure of success to which I have attained has been won through hard labour and close application to present duty.”[1] He was licensed as a preacher by the Presbytery of Cupar on 5 October 1824.

In various ways his strength was overtaxed; he was in a state of physical exhaustion, nervous and irritable.

It was brought on, or at all events accelerated, by the illness of a brother, who had returned from America in quest of health.

And just at the time when a change was desirable, he received a presentation to the parish of Dunbog, in the north-west of Fife.

Having gone to Gibraltar, in the hope that the climate there would renovate his shattered system, and feeling greatly benefited by the change, he hired a hall in the principal street, where he preached morning and evening, the morning attendance being always crowded.

In view of this, and in particular, in recognition of an able and interesting volume produced by him, entitled "The Second Woe", the Senatus of St. Andrews University conferred on him the degree of D.D.

[3][1] The gold discovery in Australia was attracting universal interest and migrants were landing daily there in thousands.

The Free Church determined to strengthen the hands of the ministers already in Australia, by sending immediately other ten or twelve at least.

It was then in a state of strange transition; passing from a small town into the dimensions of a great and populous city.

Cairns at once commenced his labours, preaching in the Temperance Hall in the forenoon, and in Knox’s Church in the evening.

From his first public appearance it was felt by all classes that he was to wield an immense power in the colony.

He married 11 February 1834, Jessie (died 26 August 1906), daughter of — Ballingall, Ayton, and had issue — James Forbes