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value. His" Reflections on the Source of Incredulity with regard to Religion," and his "Letter concerning some Important Discoveries in Philosophy and Theology," did excellent service at the time of their appearance. But, after all that they, and such as they, have done, the subject is not exhausted: indeed, they have done little more than pitch their tents on the confines of a boundless territory, and make a few, sometimes cursory, observations on their respective vicinities. The field of Revelation presents a measureless abundance of subjects infinitely more than worthy of the highest exercise of your lordship's powers—subjects sufficient to task them to the uttermost for the space of ten thousand generations! What a prospect that field opens up to your lordship's inquiry! What a legacy of thought, argument, wisdom, and eloquence, in relation to the Inspired Volume, you may yet leave to mankind! With materials thence derived, you may construct a monument to your industry and genius which shall endure to the end of all things. But, O my Lord, this is the smallest consideration! Indeed, it is not admissible at all into the list of Christian motives. The thought of the love of Christ absorbs every other thought. In the world of perfect men, the glory of ONE Occupies the minds of all. The ransomed millions

resident in the Paradise of God, can endure no praise but that of him who was slain, and who redeemed them to God by his blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and in its celebration they are assisted by all the inhabitants of the heavenly world. Thus speaks the prophet of Revelation :-" "I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every

creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever." May He who is Alpha and Omega in heaven be the same on earth! May your lordship speedily occupy a foremost place among the best friends of his cause, and the most efficient promoters of his kingdom!

LETTER IX.

ON THE CHARACTER AND DEATH OF THE LATE
REV. JOHN WILLIAMS.

To the Rev. Timothy East, Treasurer of Springhill College, Birmingham.

MY DEAR SIR,-Your life has been signalized by two events of the highest importance to the good of mankind and the glory of Christ--the conversion of the late Rev. John Williams, and the foundation of Springhill College. The good in which the former of these events has already resulted, and the benefits which will flow to future ages from the latter, it is impossible to estimate. To you, as the "father in Christ" of the great South-Sea Missionary, the present letter is addressed, since I know of none to whom, with equal propriety, it could be inscribed. My object is, to delineate his person, talents, habits, and character, and to offer some reflections on his death.

"Vixêre fortes ante Agamemnona
Multi sed omnes illacrymabiles
Urgentur, ignotique longâ

Nocte, carent quia vate sacro."

The first thing, with regard to his person, that presents itself to us, is his great physical power, which materially contributed to success in his peculiar sphere of Missionary effort. He was massive rather than mus

cular, and strong without remarkable activity: his stature was somewhat above the middle size-the chest one of unusual breadth-the shoulders considerably rounded, and the whole frame bulky and broadly set. His aspect was a little singular: indeed, he was often taken for a foreigner. Few men, skilled in the physiognomical attributes of nations, would have pronounced him an Englishman; most would perhaps have found it difficult to determine whether he was of Welsh or of Scotch extraction, but to the one or the other of these countries-and more probably the former-they would have assigned him; though, perhaps, some would have pronounced him a German. The Welsh and Scotch, in several points, closely resemble each other; they are both generally of a dark com plexion, of hard features, of a somewhat heavy and rustic appearance, with but little of that airy, elegant, lofty, and, not seldom, reserved deportment, which are chief characteristics of the English. Mr. Williams was strongly marked by the simplicity, kindness, and cordiality of manner which distinguish the inhabitants of the Principality and of the North.

The

There was something strikingly peculiar in the aspect of Mr. Williams. Having been once seen, he was ever after easily recognised; and you could instantly point him out, at a distance, among ten thousand men. head was very large and long, and greatly wanting in that conical elevation so generally found associated with extreme benevolence-a quality for which, notwithstanding, he was so remarkable. The forehead was an oblong square, of no great breadth, and retired considerably. The countenance altogether was one of uncommon benignity; it had all the serenity of the finest summer's eve, shaded with a slight expression of sadness. The eye was soft and lustrous; it sparkled from beneath his dark brows, distinctly bespeaking the benevolence that glowed within. All his features were

rounded. This absence of every thing angular about his countenance strikingly indicated the cast of his mind and manners;-while there was nothing in his face highly expressive of either intelligence or feeling, every feature evinced simplicity of character, tranquillity of heart, and honesty of purpose. The entire visage, in fact, was so deeply stamped with the impress of good nature and good will, as to inspire every beholder with immediate confidence.

The intellectual corresponded to the corporeal part of Mr. Williams. He was decidedly a man of genius —of great genius-but of genius wholly mechanical. He was also strongly marked by the chief intellectual infirmity of most men of that class. His judgment, although sound, was neither strong, comprehensive, nor exact. Its moral movements closely resembled those of his bulky frame; they were heavy and lagging— wanting in rapidity, dexterity, and decision. He arrived at conclusions by a slow and circuitous process, and yet his long deliberation seldom added to the strength of his convictions. Like most men of great mechanical genius, he was unskilful in the collection, analysis, and balancing of moral evidence; and hence, at times, he had great difficulty in making up his mind to any particular course of conduct. He occasionally lingered long amid the tortures of suspense. after dropping his anchor, he was often driven from his moorings, and tossed on the billows of a painful uncertainty. He was for these reasons much at the mercy of counsellors; and often found that among their "multitude" there was fully as much distraction as safety." This infirmity arose in part from the "fatal facility" of his disposition. To few able men was the description of the poet less applicable,—

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"Justum et tenacem propositi virum,
Non civium ardor prava jubentium,
Non vultus instantis tyranni,

Mente quatit solidâ."

Even

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