34
Life of Dr. Morrison.
JAN.
committee of the Ultra-Ganges Missions; and in case of the failure of re- gularly appointed Trustees, and of such senior meniber and committee, the management of the College shall devolve on the above named Missionary Society in London.
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“Sealed, signed, and delivered, at Canton, in China, where no stampsˇare used, this twentieth day of March, A. D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty.
(Signed):
ROBERT MORRISON.
In the presence of us, who have hereunto set our names,
"J. B. URNSTON,
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“Chief for all affairs of the Honorable East India Company in China. ·
"J. REEVES."
On thinking of our revered friend and on perusing his memoirs, we are again and again constrained to use the common saying, He was far before his generation.' The object at which he aimed was great, and the means which he set on foot, or which he sought to iustitute, were, as far as a mortal could make them, proportionately. great. And though the result of such agency might not immediately or speedily appear, he was still encouraged by a confidence that "the anticipated harvest should be fully reaped." With such expectations it was that, in conjunction with the late sir T. Stamford Raffles, Dr. Morrison aided in commencing the "Singapore Institution," the object of which was to exert that influence on "the islands of the Archipelago, and the continental nations of Eastern Asia," which it was intended the Malacca college should use in enlightening and evangelizing China.
We would request the reader to peruse pages 186-190 of the second volume, which will throw some light on the formation of this institution.
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In the close of the same year, 1823, we find the subject of this inemoir returning to England with a view to recruit his strength; which had been for seventeen years spent in China, and to promote the great objects of his mission. It was by no means his original intention to detain himself long in his native country; but he saw fit to prolong his stay with a view to the formation of a Universal Lan; guage Institution. (See p. 298.) In this he met with some success.
"A universal language institution was formed, and brought into operationi and so far as there was opportunity of judging, the result was likely to prove successful; while from the catholic principles on which it was based, and the patronage it had obtained, there was every reason to hope for its continu
ance."
But, alas! the mover was not so supported as he should have been. The language institution waned with the departure of Dr. Morrison
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