The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-12 00:00:00

kEr. DR. MORRISON.

(raow A COMIRESPONDENT4
Among the presentations at the Levee' on Wednesday
last, was that of the Rev. Dr. Robert Morrison, by the,
Right Honourable Charles Wynn, on the occasion of his
return to England, and for the purpose of presenting to his.
Majesty a copy of his Chinese translation of the Holy'
Scriptures. This great and difficult work has been one of
the chief occupations of its distinguished author, during
the last seventeen years of his life, and certainly reflects
upon him the highest honour. When we consider, that
the people whom, under the blessing of Providence, it may
be the means of enlightening, are probably not less than a
third of the whole Lumen race, we must at once admit, that
this work clone would place 1)r. Morrison upon the very
first rank of the propagaors of the blessings of Christian
knowledge among mankind. He has not, however, con-
fined himself to the exercise of his personal talents only, in
this great and good cause ; but has, with a degree of t-
lity quite unexampled, appropriahri out of his own very
slender means, the sum of no It as than two thousand five
hundred pounds, to the foundation of an Anglo-Chinese
college at Ma!acci, for the cultivetioa, in that c ntral spot,
of Chinese and English literature, and the diffusion ulti-
mately, by such means, oi. Christianity among the natives
of China.

This institution, which his since received many subordi-
nate contributions, and which coutinnis to flourish under
the patronage and protection of our Govorinnent, is highly
interesting to the public at large, net only in a religious,
but also in a literary, political, and even commercial point of
view. If there is anything which the wit of man can con-
trive, by which (safely and henelleiahy to all parties) that
moral barrier ma y be gradually removal, which at present
excludes us, on the one part, from a complete knowledge
of the institutions and resources of China; and which, on
the other, blinds the Chinese to the advantage of our sci-
entific discoveries, our higher pitch of civilization—and,
most of all, our possession of the records of religious truth,
it is this An„ 10-Chinese college, the foundation of which
this country owes to the Rev. Dr. Morrison.
In the character of Dr. Mo. rison we have also before us
a most gratifying proof, that the wannest zeal for the inter-
ests of religion, is net incompatible with the most perfect
discretion, ar.d the most sober employment of our talents
in the promotion of the public good, in matters merely or
chicly connected with our temporal welfare. Throughout
his big residence in China, Dr. Morrison has so conducted
himself as to secure the perfect approbation and confidence
of the East India Company, and to be chosen by them to
be their confidential interpreter in all their transactions
with the Chinese government. In this capacity he has, on
various occasions, been extremely useful in reconciling
differences, and especially on a late occasion, in assisting
that able and excellent servant of the Company, Mr. Unn-
ston, who is now at the head of our affairs in that quarter,
in the re-establishment he has effected of our Chinese com-
mercial intercourse, on the most honourable and satisfac-
tory footing.
The East India Company have also taken under their
munificent patronage his very extensive and valuable dic-
tionary of the Chinese Language, and have printed it in
China at their sole expense. It is to be regretted that this
important work is not more known ; for it is, in fact, not
only the most perfect exhibition of that most curious and
singular langtag, in any European medium, bu! it actually
conveys, under the foram of a dictionary, such a mass of
new and curious information respecting China, as to ren-
der it a valuable acquisition ev.m to those to whom the
mere language itself is a matter of indifference.
The last instance which we shall quote of the liberality
and public spirit of Dr. Morrison, is Ms collection and an-
portation into tliis country of a most complete and valuable
Chirese Library, of not less than 10,000 volumes, which
he designs fur the use of the literary public of this coun-
try. It is to be hoped that this important acquisition will
be secured to the nation by purchase, and &peace' in the
British Museum.