PREFACE.

THE enterprise of missions has been a prolific source of biographical literature, of surpassing interest and value. But the multiplication of works in this department of reading, puts it out of the power of very many to possess all even of the most meritorious. It was suggested that a group in miniature of some whose devotion to missionary service hallows their memory in the churches, would find acceptance with a large circle of readers. The present work aims to supply the supposed demand. It does not profess to be complete. Undoubtedly there are names omitted that as well deserve a place in a catalogue of missionary worthies, as some that are here inserted, but the editor has not been able in all cases to secure the necessary materials; and he is conscious that, in respect to some whose lives were attempted, this deficiency has greatly impaired the interest that properly belongs to their character and memory. As the plan contemplated only persons actually engaged in missionary service, some who are highly honoured for their eminent usefulness in the cause were passed over. Men like Claudius Buchanan, Samuel J. Mills, and Luther Rice, were reluctantly postponed to others.

To some minds there may be suggested the contrary objection, that characters are included whose lives were not sufficiently eventful or important to find a place here, or to answer the expectations raised by the title. But true heroism in a Christian sense, which it is our faith will one day become the common sense of mankind, may be claimed for men whom the world does not now delight to honour. "I take goodness in this sense," says Bacon, "the effecting of the weal of men, which is that the Grecians call Philanthro

peia. . . . This, of all virtues and dignities of the mind, is the greatest, being the character of the Deity." It seemed desirable, moreover, to make such a selection as should exhibit different phases of missionary life, at different stages of progress and among diverse forms of heathenism.

It will be seen that originality is out of the question. A compilation, generally from the most common and accessible sources, was all that could be attempted in most cases. The editor has not confined himself, however, to the track of published biography, and he has been able to obtain some original materials of value to enrich the volume. Except where the facts stated are novel, or there is a conflict of testimony, no citation of authorities has commonly been thought necessary. The sketches of Martyn, Fox, Boardman, Abeel, Lowrie, and some others, are little more than abridgments of the biographies in common circulation, but as far as possible new information has been sought to illustrate the subject.

A history of missions has not been attempted. Except in the preliminary view of earlier missions, such historical statements only have been made as were requisite to the completeness of the personal narrative. The editor has sought neither to conceal nor to obtrude his own opinions on events as they passed in review, but in matters of difference between evangelical Christians, has studied to preserve entire impartiality.

The extent of the work made it impossible for one hand to execute it within a reasonable time, and a few of the sketches were contributed by other pens. To the gentlemen who have thus enriched the series, the editor and his readers are under great obligation. Encouragement and "material aid," have also been liberally given by several gentlemen, particularly by the Secretaries of the American Baptist Missionary Union, Rev. Dr. Anderson, of the American Board, and Rev. Dr. Sprague, to whom grateful acknowledgments are due.

A word on the orthography of oriental names. Should this volume fall into the hands of any who are versed in the languages of

Asia, they may be offended at a want of critical accuracy. But as it is written for English, and not for Chinese or Hindoo readers, it has not seemed worth while to sacrifice intelligibility to critical nicety. It may be respectfully suggested, that missionaries have sometimes been more nice than wise in this matter. Every body has heard of Juggernaut, but that monster has for some time gone incog., under the alias of Jaganath. Readers of Indian history familiar with the Mahrattas, might fail to recognise that people under the name of Marathis. It has even been discovered that the Mohammedans of India have discarded the Koran in favour of a book known as the Quran. In the present work, no system has been aimed at, but the spelling that was believed to be most familiar has been unhesitatingly adopted.

The work is submitted to the Christian public, with the prayer that it may do something to increase the missionary spirit, and so to aid, however feebly, in advancing one of the noblest of human enterprises.

BOSTON, January, 1852.

L. E. S.

INTRODUCTION.

BY REV. WILLIAM B. SPRAGUE, D. D.

THE chief end of Biography is to embalm virtue and perpetuate usefulness. It is proper indeed that there should sometimes be an enduring record of the lives of bad men; for the world needs warnings as well as examples; but no doubt, in ordinary cases, it is safest and best to let the memory of the wicked perish. But where an individual has lived a life of eminent virtue and honourable usefulness, where his career has been marked by great self-denial and unwearied effort for the benefit of his fellow-creatures, and he has been hailed, while living, as a great public benefactor, it is peculiarly fitting that the memory of such a man should not be suffered quickly to pass away; and Biography performs an office due alike to the living and the dead, in protracting his earthly existence after death has done all that it can do to terminate it. It is true, indeed, that a good man is represented on earth, after his departure, by a thousand nameless influences, even though his very name may be forgotten; but he survives in a still higher and more palpable sense, where gratitude and reverence unite with truth in tracing his course and delineating his character. It is by means of Biography especially, that we live among the people of by-gone ages; that we gather around us the great and good of other countries and other states of society; that we open our minds and hearts to the dictates of wisdom from voices that have long since been hushed in death; in a word, that we make the past subservient to the present, and receive into our own bosoms, the seeds of virtue and happiness from hands that had mouldered long before we had a being.

While the biography of all who have been distinguished for intellectual and moral worth and for a high degree of Christian usefulness, is worthy to be read and studied as a source of enduring profit-if I mistake not, there