Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 42

1841

Life of Dr. Morrison.

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ART. IV. Memoirs of the life and labors of Robert Morrison D. D., F. R. S., &c. Compiled by his widow. London, 1839. 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 362, 421

WITH thankfulness, coinmensurate to the eager expectation with which we have looked for its appearance, do we now receive this detailed account of the youth and education, the early efforts and matured labors, of a valued and venerated friend. In a series of faith- ful sketches,--the chief incidents of his life, delineated for the most part by his own hand, and his personal characteristics portrayed by those who knew him well, the loved wife and tried friends,--we are vividly reminded of one who lived among us, and with whom was our daily walk and conversation. Of these sketches, Mrs. Morrison thus speaks: "In the compilation of the work, it has been the constant aim of the writer to elucidate social, moral, and intellectual traits · of character, by a simple narrative of facts, which supplies in itself such evidence of sound wisdom and true piety, as to render unne- cessary the aid of editorial embellishment, or indeed any originál composition, further than was requisite to unite the different portions. of the narrative, and explain their mutual connection and depen- dence. But while fidelity and simplicity chiefly characterize the narrative, it is hoped that its deficiencies will be satisfactorily sup- plied by the very comprehensive analysis of Dr. Morrison's literary labors, given in the appendix, by one whose extensive acquaintance with the language and literature of China qualified him to fill the office of principal in the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, and now fits him for the professorship in the same department in the Universi- ty College, London.”

This is, indeed, so far as it goes, what biography should be, espe eially the biography of one whose literary life and extensive corres- pondence have afforded such ample materials for the depicting of himself. It sets before our eyes the person to be portrayed, in the same form and stature in which he appeared when living, neither exalting him to gigantic shape, nor reducing him to dwarfish size, according to the dimensions of the writer's own mind. And we are speaking not our own sentiments alone, but those also of others who have read this life, when we satisfy ourselves of the accuracy of the plan, by remarking that in these sketches, the lineaments of ripe age are most readily recognized in the self-drawn portraits of youth. Yet, with all this, it may be doubted whether something more might

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VOL. X, NO, 1.