THE REV. JOHN SYM. 309 



clear, orderly, and vigorous, Mr Sym combined the deep 

 and reverential piety and the exquisite taste, which, to 

 devout and intelligent hearers, rendered his discourses 

 singularly attractive ; whilst his bright and manly bearing- 

 was the true interpreter of a soul generous, noble, and 

 loyal in a rare degree. To Mr Wilson, his able and affec- 

 tionate pulpit instructions had been a source of much 

 enjoyment and spiritual benefit ; and on the frequent 

 companionship of a friend so congenial and comparatively 

 youthful, he naturally reckoned as a chief solace of his 

 own advancing years. But Infinite Wisdom had other- 

 wise ordained, and in mid-time of his days, the active, 

 faithful minister ceased from his labours. 



TO SIR WILLIAM JAEDINE, BART. 



"■ Woodville, Blst Jan. 1855. 



"My dear Sir William, — We have just had a sore 

 distress in the sudden death of our faithful pastor and near 

 relative, the Rev. John Sym — a person to whom we were 

 all greatly attached, and whose loss to us is in many ways 

 irremediable. He leaves a widow and seven young chil- 

 dren. He and his family passed yesterday week with us 

 here. He had a slight inflammatory cold on the ensuing 

 day, which subsided or was subdued towards the end of 

 the week. But on Saturday some feverish symptoms 



