1850.
What I have Seen in Shánghái
341
and for
review of the whole is now in progress; and it is understood that as the delegates proceed therein, copies of each book will be sent im- inediately to the missionaries at the other stations with a view to obtain criticisms and suggestions for further consideration. For translating Osos and IIvsupa there is still a tie in the votes of the de- legates: for @sos, one part preferring shin, and the other a transfør of the Hebrew term, which they write Aloho P Пvrupa, one part preferring ling and the other shin.
In your April number is an article “On the term proper to be employ- ed in translating Elohim and Theos into Chinese,” by a Missionary. The views advocated therein do not differ materially from those which have appeared in former papers on this difficult subject, but I wish to draw attention to the article, for the purpose of correct- ing what I believe to be an erroneous statement on page 203, viz., that Shin was not regarded by Dr. Morrison as an adequate term for translating Elohim and Theos. This statement is put forth with some reserve by the writer as what "seens to have been." By others however, it is boldly affirmed that both Morrison and Milne discovered, towards the end of their career, the inadequacy of the old term, and resorted to various modifications of the same in order to express what they thought was included in the original words. I have sought in vain for any such statement as this, or any facts warranting it, in Dr. Morrison's own writings. It is contrary to repeated declarations I often heard from his own lips during the last four years of his life; and moreover I have documentary evidence that he did regard shin, and it alone, as an adequate translation of the words in question. Up to the very day of his death, he never, for one moment, that I am aware of, doubted the correctness of his translation of cog. That some called it in question, he did not complain; but that others, and those too who were in no better circumstances than himself to judge correctly in this matter, sought to bring it into discredit, was to him. (and not to him alone) a cause of sorrow.
During the long interval between his arrival in Canton, September 7th, 1807, and the day of his death, August 1st, 1834, Dr. Morrison enjoyed excellent advantages for acquiring an accurate knowledge of both the language and opinions of the Chinese-advantages such as few of his successors have yet enjoyed. His Chinese library was large and well selected; his reading in native literature, extensive and thorough; his assistants in the language were men of no mean abili ties; his intercourse with the common people constant; and often he was brought into contact with men of high literary attainments, as