Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 43

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Life of Dr. Morrison.

JAN.

not be superadded with advantage. Single portraits and separate sketches afford but glimpses of the man at specific periods, in a few only of the more marked characteristics, or incidents of his life. These we would not have altered or remodeled at the fancy of an- other. But might not one who had carefully studied these portraits, and sketches, and to whom also the man whom they represent had been well known,-with advantages of such a nature, might not such à one have presented to us a more complete and more perfect paint. ing? A painting wherein might be intimately conjoined (as on canvass Chinnery has not unsuccessfully aimed at conjoining), historical delineation with personal portraiture,-that we might see the man's life as a whole,—before tracing the features in each suc- cessive sketch. Such a painting would be, as it were, an index- picture to the separate and minute etchings. But if it were what we mean, it would be far more than this: for the painting that we seek should show, with accuracy of delineation and mellowness of color- ing, the man's own peculiar features, as displayed to view in all that he did or suffered, and should draw together around him, not the work of one day or one year, but the associated toils and endurances of youth as of age, of the plodding student and the earnest inquirer, as well as of the laborious scholar and the devoted missionary.

From one to whom Dr. Morrison's life, as well as the features of his mind, were so well known, we did hope,-we do still hope,-for such a portraiture. But that we have it not yet, is doubtless attribu- table to Mrs. Morrison's ill health, and the cares of a young family, combined perhaps with diffidence of her ability to do justice to a subject to herself so especially interesting. To attempt even an out- line of what Mrs. Morrison has declined to undertake will not, in this brief notice, be expected of us. Rather will we look to receive, hereafter, as the fruits of renewed health and increased strength such a view as we now seek of our friend's life. A view, it will be not simply of incidents and labors, but of a human mind of no low order, developing, in the varied incidents of fifty years, and the ar duous labors of a quarter of a century, many high powers and fine sensibilities, raising with itself our minds to the thankful adoration of Him who has endowed man with such capabilities. As one of lofty mind-when contemplating the influence of a parent over him in early years, not in any single trait but in all the character and con- duct-was so struck with admiration as to exclaim, 'O God, I thank thee for my father,'-so, in a kindred spirit, should we regard the me- mory of our departed friend, to whose walk and converse we are so