Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 177

1842.

A Chinese Chrestomathy

139

him-acting in either of these capacities—is broad and rich enough to gratify his highest anticipations; and both he and his friends will be disappointed if his labors here are not distinguished beyond those of most nieu who have to earn their bread and their honors in forci¿n lands. A reference to the last number, page 114, will show the read. er how Mr. Morrison, and the others connected with the British government, are now employed.

Besides these gentlemen-and we beg they will excuse our passing notices of them as sinologues—the names of several others deserve to be mentioned. The Rev. Walter II. Medhurst-whose son we have mentioned above, emulous of his father-is the author of a Chinese dictionary of the Fukien dialect; of China, its State and Prospects; &c. lle commenced the study of the Chinese language, we think, in 1816; and his acquisitions, in this department of learning are such (taking them all in all) as to make him second to no foreigner now living. Mr. Medhurst still continues the study of the language at Batavia, and is at present employed in preparing and printing a new dictionary of this language. He has written much in Chinese, and has labored long on the revision of the Bible in this language.

With Mr. Dyer, formerly of Penang, who has recently returned from a visit to Europe, we have no personal acquaintance, nor have we with but few of the many who are now engaged in studying Chi- nese at the Straits of Malacca and in Siam. Mr. Dyer has been much and very successfully employed in manufacturing Chinese me- tallic types, and his knowledge of the language, we suppose, is second only to that of Mr. Medhurst. The Rev. A. Stronach, now at Pc- nang, has not been long engaged in the study. So with others, at Malacca, Singapore, Batavia, Bangkok, &c. In addition to his at- tention to the study of the language, Mr. Stronach has taught a school of Chinese boys, a report of which he has kindly sent to us, and we shall take an early opportunity to lay the same before our readers.

At Malacca, the Rev. James Legge, n. n., now at the head of the Anglo-Chinese college there, has been about two years engaged in studying the Chinese language, and for a part of the time directing the education of the students in the college. Since Dr. Milne's death at Malacca about twenty years ago, that school and the others about it have not enjoyed the degree of prosperity which that good man so anxiously sought for. As a Chinese scholar, his success was emi- nent. Of his successor, some have returned to Europe: professor Kidd is among this number: others have died. Under the care of