New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-10


ter, which be retained until 1852 He brought 20 this
work remarkable falBess OF knoEledge, excellence OF
taste and skin in historical Investigation. Il was his
wish TO make il great ssorehouse of facts for pres
ent and future generations Il in fact gave Rev ui'
pulse statistical inquiries and embodies ndpensa-
bic materials fcr American ecclesiastical history la
some particulars" ssys Professor Park the Quarterly
Register gives an exact representation of Mr. Edwards
mind and heart IL dscloses bis sctiye beneyoeRes,
his statistical knowledge bis miscellaneous read
ing his retentiye memory, his fondness of generaEa-
tons bis delicate, almost evanescen Wit. Ia the Sc
verey historical style Of the Register, We cannot ex
poet TO End very broad indications Of the humorous
vein which ran through his Preside conversation, Jet
there are signs Of it some Of his qaet aud pro-
sale paragraphs. While in the Education Rooms, or
the Merchants Reading Room, or the A,heaeum Of
Boston, he would Peruse the more important newspa
pers magazines and quarterly periodicals Of the world
and then during his walk homeward through the
Of the city, would classify the Information Which he had
thus acquired To those who met him walking solitary
on the pavement he seemed to be lost Ia thought for
he was arranging the materials for paragraph il the
Register Psge ster page of his reviews he prepared
on Boston Common, or on stase-coaeh or steamboat,
He had faculty, well fondness, for gathering
together the results of his previous Investigations while
he was walking or jOurneyiHg from place TO place"
In 1883, he estsb shed the American Quarterly OBJ
server, periodical intended to foster the interest of
the clergy in good learning by opening
through which they might communicate their thoughts
to the world. He published three volumes Of the o.
server when he united it with the BIBLICAL Repository,
which had been conducted for four years by Professor
Robinson. He remained sole editor Of these combined
periodicals from January 1895 TO January lSiS. Six
years after he withdrew from be became the princi-
pal editor of she Bbotheca Sacra aud theological Re-
views Of which work he had the cbefcare With the ex-
cepton Of two years from 1874 20 1>52. For twenty
three years he employed in conducting important
works IN periodical literature and with the aid OF
several associates, he has left thrtyoDe vol.
the fruits Of his diligence aud zeal. He COM
bned facility Of execution with great psinstakDg aud
careulness He often compressed ntO few brief SEN
fences the results OF extended and prolonged re-
search In order prepare himself for writing two or
three paragraphs geology he has been known read
an entire and elaborate treatise on that science His
industry surprised men for while he had rvo periodic
ais under his editorial care he often engaged nde
in Boston or les suburbs, aud in experimenting the
American reprints Of English works. Besides attend
ing TO the proOsheets If hs own Quarteres he would
sometimes correct more than hundred pages every
week, Of the proOfsheets Of other volumes and would
often compose for them predatory or explanatory notes
Thar he was Immaculate bis supervision Of the press
he ~ouid be the last pretend. The volumes which
be edited contain unuumoered proper names dates
numerals references TO initial lo,ters ETC. ere. The
labor Of revising chem was dscouraging; their number
increased the difficulty and suggests paistion for any
errors which escaped him. He was panied by tue
smallest mistake which be made yec deemed 10 his duy
suffer the pain, rather than remit his efforts for the
elevation of periodical literature Amid All the
drudgery and perpexties of bis editorial lfe his rule
was never 20 let day pass by without refreshing his
taste with the perusal Of lines from favorite
poet such as Virgil or Spenser"
Mr.. Edwards wished 70 raise his more erudts jour.
mails above merely secaran influences and concentrate
the choicest talent of different parties in one literary
brotherhood. Some Of his reviews wero published
amid the din Of ecclesiastical warfare but il was nor
permitted to disturb the serene spirit of Christian
science which beams from their pages He shrank from
the trucuent disposition which often conamnates the
periodical press, and which in his view ostered by
the habit Of anonymous authorship. In his wish 20
preserve bis journals from a morose and fault-fnding
spirit he times erred as we think on the other
side. His critical lenty was exercised at the expense
of literary Justice Thus he refused TO publish an ar
tcle exposing the bunders Of divine whose faith he
dsapprOyed for the purpose of checking the tendency
of opposing the doctrines Of misbeeyers by an assault
their character On another occasion he was urged
expose the plagiarisms which had been detected in
theological opponent but he declined the appeal through
sensitiyeness to the evils of personal strife But this
was certainly an excessive indulgence of an amabe
temper The exposure Of literary humbug one of the
first duties of the critic and he who hestaes 20 draw
blood when necessary gratifes an efemnate disposition
at the expense Of the public A reviewer need not be
eGecutoner but as invested with judicial functions
he is bound to tell the truth, cut where it may
Throughout his public life, Mr Edwards took deep
interest in the cause of the African race His first
printed pamphlet plea for the slave Hi. first ad
dress from the pulpit was the evils Of slavery He
thought at time of devotng his entire life TO the
benefit OF the oppressed African. The subject took
hold Of him With such power thar il was almost mpos
sble to Danish il from his remembrance, and inages
of suffering haunted him like spectres While he was
" pursuing his theological studies he heard that col
Ored youth had come 70 Andover 70 enjoy the privileges
OF the Seminary Some Of his felOw. students had an
instructive reluctance to be in company with the stran
ger but Mr. Edwards, sensitive he % the rdicule
Of men, shrinking from all appearances of eccentrcity
seuPuous in bis regard 70 all the rules of neaness and
refinement and seemlness invited the sable youth TO