OF ARTS AND SCIENCES : MAY 28, 1867. 307 



a ministry of twenty years. While sustaining this office he undertook 

 and completed the chief literary labor of his life, — the preparation and 

 publication of a compend of various expository and illustrative works 

 on the contents of the Holy Scriptures. This appeared from the press 

 during the years 1833-1838, in six imperial octavo volumes, entitled 

 "A Comprehensive Commentary on the Holy Scriptures," a list of twen- 

 ty thousand subscribers having anticipated its publication. He also, sub- 

 sequently, prepared his " Explanatory Bible Atlas." He was among 

 the very first in the circle of our literary men to cultivate and pursue 

 the study of the Oriental languages and literature; and, in connection 

 with our late President, the Hon. John Pickering, and the Rev. Dr. 

 Anderson, he led the way in founding the American Oriental Society. 

 He was also an active member of the Massachusetts Historical Society. 

 His acquaintance with the present State of Maine, while it was a 

 District of Massachusetts, and his known philanthropical and religious 

 interest in the aborigines, led to his appointment by this Common- 

 wealth to induce the Indians to exchange a roaming life as hunters 

 for that of permanent residents and tillers of the soil. 



For all his trusts and duties he proved himself a most faithful and 

 efficient agent. He gathered a large and valuable library, characteris- 

 tic in its contents of his own mind and tastes. He wrote for publica- 

 tion numerous papers, small and brief in their size and contents, but 

 requiring scholarship, research, and the exercise of intelligent judg- 

 ment, in their subject-matter. Some of these appeared in pamphlet 

 form, others will be found in the Collections, Transactions, or Proceed- 

 ings of the Societies of which he was a member. There are poetical 

 pieces above ordinary merit from his pen, and he left in manuscript 

 many valuable fruits of his industrious and lengthened life. 



The large and very miscellaneous library, the manuscripts and dia- 

 ries which this venerable man has left behind him, bear witness alike 

 to his conscientious industry, the wide scope of his mental activity, and 

 the pure and lofty aims of his heart. It is to be considered that he en- 

 gaged upon the most difficult linguistic studies, even of the languages 

 of China, Hindostan, Turkey, &c, before commerce or missionary zeal, 

 or the accumulation of the many facilities and the helpful apparatus 

 of our times had brought to the aid of the inquirer any external guid- 

 ance or labor-saving appliances. Yet, when actual need was felt in 

 our community of men and information for opening the way to the 

 extended intercourse and the Christian enterprise of the last forty 



