s a striking example. We have heard him say, in one of his
early diaries: "I have clearly seen, for what service I am designed in the
church militant here on earth; therefore, through the assistance of divine
grace, I hope to pursue nothing but in subordination to this main design."
The service to which he was called was the Christian ministry; and, laying
aside every meaner ambition, and indeed every other object, he addressed
himself to preparation for this service as the labor of his life. He
cultivated those habits of mind and body, and confined himself to the
acquisition of those branches of knowledge, which, while they left his
heavenly gift free and unsullied, would best subserve the exercise of it.

His industry and perseverance were remarkable. In none of his pursuits
were these qualities more conspicuous than in his study of languages. It
cost him, especially, an almost incredible amount of labor to master
French. The slight elementary knowledge of this language which he acquired
at Bentham cannot have given him so much as an insight into it; his
acquaintance with it may be said to date from his visit to Congenies, when
he had reached his fortieth year. Yet, by indefatigable exertion,
maintained during many years, he became able to write and speak it
fluently, though, not correctly, and even to preach without an
interpreter. The difficulty which he encountered in the acquisition of
languages, from the late period of life at which he commenced, was
enhanced by his ignorance of Latin, that best trainer of the youthful
faculties, and by a natural inaptitude for the memory of words. A proof of
the latter occurred when, with his quick-witted wife, he was occupied in
conning over the Italian and Modern Greek Grammars, in preparation for
their journey to the Ionian Islands. The difference in their natural
capacities in this respect is shown in her playful expression; "I got my
lesson in half an hour; while John has been three or four hours over his,
and does not know it yet."

But although slow in study, he was quick and shrewd in the observation of
actual life. This was apparent in his daily converse; and it may also be
continually traced in his Diary, where, describing those with whom he
became acquainted in his numerous travels, he seizes, on the prominent
feature of their mind or manners, and with a word affixes to each his own
particular mark. Of the hundreds of individuals who rise into view one
after another i