The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-14 00:00:00

,"TV7,",

•

LINDLEY MURRAY, ET,

Tots Gentleman's" literary eharaCter, the exten-
sive circulation-of his works, and his solicitude for
the guarded education and the happiness of young
persons, will doubtless render some traits of his his-
tory interesting to the public, especially to those
who have derived benefit from his writings.
Mr. Mon any is a native of Pennsylvania, in North
America. He was born in the year 174.5. His pa-
rents were persons of respeEtable chara&er, who were
solicitous to imbue his mind with pious and virtuous
principles. He was carefully and regularly edu-
cated ; and shade a rapid progress in learning. His
father, who removed to New-York, and was a dis-
tinguished merchant •there, placed, him, at the age
of fifteen, in his counting-house, intending to form
him to mercantile business. But this employment
not agreeing with young
improving his mind, he solicited
permission to study medicine or law. His father,
perceiving his strong bent towards learning, pro-
cured for him a private tutor, a person of erudition
and respectability : under whose calls and direaion
he closely applied to liberal studies, and gratified
himself in his favonnite pursuits. At the age of
nineteen, he commenced the study of law, under the
auspices of a Gentleman eminent in the profession ;
and he had the happiness of having for his fellow-
student the celebrated Mr. JAY, late Plenipotentiary
to our Court. At die expiration of four years, Mr.
Mettitay was. admitted to the bar, and received a
licence to pradise, both as counsel and attorney, in
all the courts in the State of New-York. fir this
profession he continued, with increasing reputation
and suceess, till the.trouhles in America interrupted
all business of this nature. He then removed from
New-York, and spent some time in the country.
But impatient of an ii-taive life, and desirous of im-
proving his fortnne, lie returned to the city, and en-
;;;;;ed in the mercantile line. By his diligence, abi-
lities, ..nd respeitable connexions, he acquired, in the
course of a f,w years, a very handsome competency.
Ile then concluded to retire from business, and made
correzrtanient an-angement cf his affairs. He
purchased a beautiful country residence, a few miles
min flee city cf New-York, where he loped to en-
joy much pleasure in rural occupations, and in the
social rcoui se- of a wide circle of relations and
friend;. But timse pleasing prospects soon disap-
peare.i: fur not long ader his determination to re-
tire, lie was arrested by the hand of sickness. The
fiver with which he was afiliCted left a great weak-
ness in his limbs ; and his health and strength be-
came so much impaired as to induce him, by the
advice of his physicians and friends, to try the ait
and climate of Englvd. In the year 1 he came
to this country, and, in a short time, found himself
considerably relieved in the general state of his
health; but not to That deree as to render it pru-
dent for ;um to return to America. He settled in
Yorkshire ; and , purchased a house pleasantly situ-
ated aCiaut a milt from York, where he continues to
reside. The weakness of his limbs Tradually in-
creased, so that, for some years, he has found himself
incapable of walking more than a few steps in the
course of a day, without great inconvenience. He
is, however, able to ride in his carriage an hour or
two every day ; and in summer, he is frequently
drawn, about his garden, in a chair conveniently
made for the purpose. To a person distinguished
as Mr. MURRAY had been for health, strength, and
agility, this confinement must have been at first a
heavy misfortune., At present, no one would sup-
pose him to be under the influence of• affiiaion.
lime and refleaion seem to have perfetctly recon-
ciled him to his situation.

Deprived of the usual occupations and amuse-
ments of life, and of the common occasions of do-
ing good to others, he has very happily and gene-
rously turned his attention to compose literary
works, for the benefit chiefly of the rising genera-
tion. In this benevolent employ, he has found great
satisfadion ; and met with uncommon success. His
English Grammar, with the Exercises and the Key,
has been much approved by the public, and adopted
in most of the principal seminaries in England. It has
passed through many large editions in this country,
and been frequently re-printed in Ireland and America.
I he merit of this work, and the high charader given
of it in the different Reviews; induced his booksellers
to offer him a very considerable sum for the copy-
right, which he thought proper to accept. .The
copy-right of his Intredudion to the English Reader,
the English Reader itself, and the Sequel to that
work, together with the Abridgment of the Gram-
mar (all of which have been much commended for
their chaste and judicious execution), were disposed
of for very liberal prices. Mr. MURRAY'S latest
work is " I.e Ledeur Francois," a book on the plan
of the English Reader. It has already received
some very favourable and respedable public as well
as private testimonies ; and it bids fair to enhance
Mr. MURRAY'S reputation, as a writer who is soli-
citous to improve the taste and understanding, and
to form the heart of his young readers. The copy-
right of this work also has been disposed of very ad-
vantageously. But this Gentleman's views in writ-
ing are not mercenary. Having begun his literary
career from disinterested motives, he has constantly
devoted all the profits of his works to charitable pur-
poses : to the benefit of institutions for the relief of
the poor and distressed • to assist the needy in pro-
curing education for their children ; and to render
more comfortable those who are in straightened cir-
cumstances.

The work which Mr. MURRAY first published,
and which appears to afford him peculiar satisfac-
tion, is " The Power of Religion on the Mind, in
Retirement, Afflidion, and at the Approach of
Death." Having been himself struck and edified
with the sentiments expressed by a variety of cha-
raders, at the most solemn period of life, he natu-
rally thought that others would receive similar im-
pressions trom perusing a collection of such testimo-
nies. Animated by this expedation, he formed the
compilation, and interspersed it with many occasional
observations acid reflections of his own. The book
has passed through eleven editions. The first im-
pression was made wholly at Mr. MURRAY'S own
expence, and given away, chiefly in time neighbour-
hood of his residence. Perceiving that the wort
met with approbation, he enlarged and improved it.
In its present state it has been much pra►sed, and
warmly recommended to the perusal of all classes
of readers.

Time thus employed, and the rewards of labour
thus distributed, prevent that gloom vhich ill-health
and long confinement are so apt to produce, and
contribute ti► render Mr. MURRAY clicarful and
happy, ite a situation that many would think must