MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 



Ill 



subject-matter of their respective memoirs. Of course we 

 have no intention to state that, either in the history of 

 nations or individuals, much that is useful, as well as what 

 is interesting, may not be obtained from the more stirring 

 events which may have occurred in each; but we still 

 maintain that there is not, in general, sufficient attention 

 given to the more still and peaceful tenor of a nation's or 

 individuaFs life, when the very circumstances of their 

 respective repose enable them to collect all their latent 

 energies to effect the design which the Supreme Author 

 of their destinies had in view — the development, namely, 

 of their moral and intellectual powers (for nations, too, as 

 well as individuals, have a moral character and obliga- 

 tions) for their personal or social progressive amelioration 

 and prosperity. In either case, in a period of peaceful 

 repose, the history and progress of a nation or individual 

 resembles the still and placid stream, whose passage, scarce 

 ruffled by a ripple on its waters, glides by an almost 

 imperceptible movement in its channel, spreading fertility 

 in its onward course — noiseless, and unaccompanied by the 

 fretful clamour which marks the passage of the mountain 

 torrent. By the latter may be indicated the more stirring 

 and active scenes of a nation's or individuaFs history, 

 which too frequently, as already observed, attract the 

 vulgar gaze and admiration, however delusive may prove 

 their brilliancy, and however injurious or destructive may 

 prove its course. The dancing sparkle of the sunbeam 

 on the spray of the dashing and foaming mountain torrent, 

 reflects not seldom the deceptive brilliancy of more stirring 

 acts of national or personal history, as the ravages which 

 such a torrent commits have too lively a counterpart in 

 the little utility, or positive injury, which such actions 

 sometimes occasion. 



The improvement and utility to which above reference 



