ing their books without glossaries, and mingling in their domestic circles, with all varieties of rank and condition, before we can duly appreciate the character and genius of the people, or their position in the scale of nations. It is not otherwise that we can escape partiality or prejudice, or have a full and fair representation, in our estimate of so great an empire. Novelty,' it is said, 'is sure either to magnify or diminish the objects with which it is associated; and the sight of strange manners tempts the beholder either to despise them, because they differ from his own, or to regard them as incomparably superior. It is only by repeated investigations and comparisons, that even a patient student of human character will ascertain how far a first sight may have deceived, and how much must be blotted out.

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Dr. Morrison, after almost thirty years' experience, and with no inclination to reproach the Chinese, represents them as unfeeling, inhuman, and cruel;' 'dishonoring the seat of justice by magisterial commands, to slap a witness's face till the check swells, the skin breaks and bleeds, or the teeth are knocked out of the jaw; and to lay upon the ground an accused person, 'whose guilt is unproved, to be flogged with a bamboo; while females are tortured, their fingers and ankles being squeezed 'till they confess.' He speaks of their superstition in visiting the sick and diseased with cruelty and outrage, as well as neglect; expelling them from their habitation, and excluding mul'titudes of lepers from the comforts of social intercourse, the 'means of recovery, and the opportunity of working for their 'bread.'' The religious rites, &c., of the Chinese,' he declares, are ridiculous and cumbrous. They have in one street or an' other, and to one demon or another, perpetually, splendid illu'minations, music, theatrical performances, in presence of their idols; repasts of fruits and wine, and cakes, and fowls, and roasted pigs, &c., placed before them, with the burning of can'dles, small sticks, paper, and fire-works. I have seen them ' prostrate themselves to the full orbed moon, pour out libations ' and presents of fruit to her. The detail would be endless.' He represents their conduct to strangers and visitors from other lands as exhibiting the worst features of character, and the lowest degree of civilization: the most debasing selfishness.' So remiss in government, as not to give the protection of laws, and so unjust, as to apply all law and power to ruin an accused stranger; they carry on real tyranny and oppression under the semblance of justice;' and conceal a slow, grinding, and 'galling torture, under the guise of government;' unable to repress robberies, and the excursions of banditti, they insult visitors by styling them to their face, barbarians, demons, official liars, and plunderers, rude brutes, and foreign devils.' The miserable inefficiency of their police, or their destitution of all civic economy,

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experienced much of the kindness of youth, and the love of espousals;' and though the first flash of affection wore off, I trust my love to, and knowledge of the Saviour, have increased.' Vol. i. p. 53.

The early years of Robert Morrison were not passed in idleness or affluence. He wrought as his father's apprentice,-when his hours of labor were often from six o'clock in the morning till eight at night. But even then he eagerly snatched hours before as well as after the time spent in daily work, for reading, meditation, and prayer. To secure a larger portion of quiet in his retirement, his bed was removed to the workshop, where he often pursued his studies till one or two o'clock in the morning. It is one of the latest associations recorded of his pious and tender mind, how much delight he thus enjoyed. With what genuine pleasure he seems to refer to this scene in one of his last letters:

For the fond recollections of our childhood do not depend upon the superiority of the place in which it was spent ; nor even the circumstances of affluence or poverty. It is the time of life that gives the charm; whether riding on a five-bar gate or in a royal carriage. The happiest abode (so far as house goes) was my father's workshop, swept clean by my own hands of a Saturday evening, and dedicated to prayer and meditation on the Sunday. There was my bed, and there was my study. So I dare say my beloved son Robert,' &c. Vol. ii. p. 523.

To add to his facilities for growing in knowledge, he contrived throughout the day, while his hands were busied in the labours of this life, to feed his mind by placing open before him the Bible, or some other book. His hours of recreation, which were not devoted to visits of mercy among the sick or ignorant, were spent in a little garden, which he had consecrated to study, and devout communion. While he diligently occupied the hours of the sacred day in religious exercises, he gladly embraced seasons of Christian fellowship, on week evenings, with others who were like-minded: their place of resort was his father's workshop. By a journal which he has left, we can mark the first cravings of his mind for knowledge. I have adopted,' he writes, a number of studies-botany, and some other things; I do not 'know but it would be better to study my Bible.' And again, Much profit is to be had from reading the Scriptures at my ' work. O Lord, incline my heart to thy testimonies!' Owen's Life, Romaine's Sermons, Henry's Exposition, Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History, Marshall on Sanctification, Hervey's works, and the Evangelical Magazine, were the frequent companions of his retirement.

Friday, June 19, 1801. This day I entered with Mr. Laidler to learn Latin. I paid ten shillings and sixpence, the entrance money, and

often expose the lives and property of their people to destruction; they have exhibited in such times of privation and suffering, 'a character the very opposite of generous and disinterested; no aid has been afforded even to natives ruined by fire, selfish'ness restraining them from united efforts and partial sacrifices; but to Europeans burnt out, and left houseless and fasting, none of the Hong merchants, who had often experienced their friendship, and had themselves escaped the fire, having houses and warehouses of their own still standing, volunteered a night's lodging, or a single meal. They were Fan-kwei (foreign devils) 'to whom it was left first to solicit assistance before it should be afforded, by the civilized Chinese' (vol. i. pp. 163, 164; vol. ii. pp. 7-39, of the Appendix).

To this people Dr. Morrison was the first Protestant missionary; and in this character was sent forth from British Christians, when there were neither grammars nor lexicons suited to the English scholar, and when only fragments of a manuscript translation of the New Testament existed in the language of China. The youngest son of James Morrison, an industrious, pious, and honest tradesman, who had removed from Dunfermline, his native town, to Northumberland, his birth took place near Morpeth, in January, 1782: but the family went to reside in Newcastle, in 1785, where the early years of young Morrison were spent. The subject of this memoir enjoyed the affectionate instruction of a maternal uncle in the pursuit of elementary learning; and was, by the catechetical exercises of their family pastor, the Rev. J. Hutton, led on in the study of the Scripture. Under the direction of this good man, the pupil exhibited an instance of persevering application, which gave promise of future success. When in his thirteenth year, he repeated one evening the whole of the 119th Psalm, Scottish version. Describing the state of his mind when subdued to the power of divine truth (about fifteen years of age), he makes no display of a presumptuous or self-righteous spirit.

'I was much awakened to a sense of sin, though I cannot recollect any particular circumstance which led to it, unless it were that at that time I grew somewhat loose and profane; and more than once being drawn aside by wicked company (even at that early time of life), I became intoxicated. Reflection upon my conduct became a source of much uneasiness to me, and I was brought to a serious concern about my soul. I felt the dread of eternal damnation. The fear of death compassed me about, and I was led to cry mightily to God, that he would pardon my sin, that he would grant me an interest in the Saviour, and that he would renew me in the spirit of my mind. Sin became a burden. It was then that I experienced a change of life, and I trust a change of heart too. I broke off from my former care. less companions, and gave myself to reading, to meditation, and to prayer. It pleased God to reveal his Son in me, and at that time I

experienced much of the kindness of youth, and the love of espousals;' and though the first flash of affection wore off, I trust my love to, and knowledge of the Saviour, have increased.' Vol. i. p. 53.

The early years of Robert Morrison were not passed in idleness or affluence. He wrought as his father's apprentice,-when his hours of labor were often from six o'clock in the morning till eight at night. But even then he eagerly snatched hours before as well as after the time spent in daily work, for reading, meditation, and prayer. To secure a larger portion of quiet in his retirement, his bed was removed to the workshop, where he often pursued his studies till one or two o'clock in the morning. It is one of the latest associations recorded of his pious and tender mind, how much delight he thus enjoyed. With what genuine pleasure he seems to refer to this scene in one of his last letters:

For the fond recollections of our childhood do not depend upon the superiority of the place in which it was spent; nor even the circumstances of affluence or poverty. It is the time of life that gives the charm; whether riding on a five-bar gate or in a royal carriage. The happiest abode (so far as house goes) was my father's workshop, swept clean by my own hands of a Saturday evening, and dedicated to prayer and meditation on the Sunday. There was my bed, and there was my study. So I dare say my beloved son Robert,' &c. Vol. ii. p. 523.

To add to his facilities for growing in knowledge, he contrived throughout the day, while his hands were busied in the labours of this life, to feed his mind by placing open before him the Bible, or some other book. His hours of recreation, which were not devoted to visits of mercy among the sick or ignorant, were spent in a little garden, which he had consecrated to study, and devout communion. While he diligently occupied the hours of the sacred day in religious exercises, he gladly embraced seasons of Christian fellowship, on week evenings, with others who were like-minded: their place of resort was his father's workshop. By a journal which he has left, we can mark the first cravings of his mind for knowledge. 'I have adopted,' he writes, ' a number of studies-botany, and some other things; I do not know but it would be better to study my Bible.' And again, Much profit is to be had from reading the Scriptures at my ' work. O Lord, incline my heart to thy testimonies!' Owen's Life, Romaine's Sermons, Henry's Exposition, Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History, Marshall on Sanctification, Hervey's works, and the Evangelical Magazine, were the frequent companions of his retirement.

Friday, June 19, 1801. This day I entered with Mr. Laidler to learn Latin. I paid ten shillings and sixpence, the entrance money, and