New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-19

the copyright to certain booksellers. There hau
been eleven editions of this work printed in TINS
country in 1s45 and | believe that 1T is stu
gratutousy circulated here either by the Society OF
Friends or the representatives OF the conquer
Upon his recovery from an alarming access OF Ill
ness Murray struck by the Deficiencies OF eAls'ins
English Grammars was moved to write new ono.
lie conceived such is his own modest language
that "a grammar containing a careful selection OF
the most useful matter and az adaptation oil II TO
the understanding and the gradual progress OF
learners with n special regard to the propriety and
nurtv of the Illustrations. wOuld be some improve
ment upon the English Grammars which had fallen
under his notice." The first edition appeared in
England in 1895. There is no evidence that
Murray had any special pathological qualifications
for the work. or indeed any qualifications nj all
except those of good sense. methodical tact ana
patient industry. He acknowledged in his INTRO
duction that he was principally indebted for his
materials TO Harris, johnson, LOwth, Priestley
Beatte. Sheridan, Walker, Coote Blair and Camp
bell. Grammar had never particularly engaged his
attention. The book was written in less than
year during which several weeks were lost throngh
illness Originally the manual was designed foi the
use of n small female school near the authors resi-
dence. and he had no idea of the enormous circula'
ton VIII ch awaited it. He intended only compila
work for this reason perhaps has received an
unusual amount of appreciation from trustworthy
sources. Dr. Blair thought it by much the best
grammar of the English language eXtant' Ihere
were of course, dssenters from tins lavoraple
criticism. Rdcl1roOds Magazine once spoke OF the
book as " full of atrOciOus blunders.' 10 late as
1887 when millions of copies had been sold, and
worn out by generations of unhappy children, the
English Cyclop+dia spoke OF the Gran mar as " en-
titled to little praise beyond the care with which
the materials have been arranged" All subse-
quent grammarans have disparaged Murray but
This | suppose need not be wondered at They all
admit that he was an excellent and conscientious
man. although quite unfit for the task which he I'M
dertook There must, however. have been some
reason for the extraordinary success which he
achieved. particularly in the almost universal adop-
ton of his abridgemcnt of the larger volumes He
has lost this implied supremacy. but 1t was a long
time before he lost it, Other school books he pub
Nsbed which were also widely adopted; but of
these no critical estimate need here he made.
In writing and publishing, Murray bad no designs
Of q pecuniarv nature. As his private fortune was
sufficient for his wants, and as he had no children
to provide for. lie early determined to apply the
profits of his publications to charitable purposes
Long before ne died, he left of making books and
printing them because an author ought & tcrmi
turn; and before he incurs the charge Of being ~ IN
fected with the morbid humor for writing Is NOT u
have the discretion to know when to stop Ills
was wise resolution and his reasons for making II
were euually wise. With similar good judgment he
closed his autobiography when there appeared To
be nothing more in his simple ana blameless life
worth recording. He lived, however, for many
wears after; ami his Memoirs continued by
friend. For long time he was quite Incapable OF
the smallest degree of bodily eXcrtion, without
increasing the muscular weakness of his limbs
For sixteen years he WAS wholly confined to the
house He suffered from acute attacks of the
stone but when relief came. lie busted himself with
Ievisions of his books, and with writing little
moral and religions pieces He had many visitors,
and among them. in 1908, Richard Iovel Edge
worth and his daughter Maria, who subsequently,
spoke of " the benevolent looks of Mrs. Murray,
when she offered them some cake and wine" The
Edge Orths thought Mr.. ana Mrs Murray the
most striking example OF domestic happiness and of
religion without OstentatIOn, or the spirit OF dog
matizing which they had ever beheld.' Silll1nan,
our American pre- fessor of chemistry came also to
Iloldgate. and found IN his host equanimlty and
sweetness of department joined with serene ana !
happy chcerfulness" Dr. Griscon, our other pro
fessor of chemistry of these days, also discovered in
Murray meekness patience and humility. with |
mind still clear sound and discriminating" Miss
Frank who finished the Memoirs, puts tho following
interrogatcry to the reader: Who would not |
rather be Mr. Murray confined to his sofa than !
Napoleon the guilty pOssessOr of an usurped crown
and the sanguiDary OppresSor of Europe Iefhaps !
the response to this question would depend hluch |
upon the person to whom 1t was addressed.
When the Memoirs were first published remem- |
Der that great fun made OF them IN re L0hd0R !
Ouarferig RerietC and particularly of the account |
given of Murray's personal and daily HABITS III |
was thought to be of little Importance that the /
author of the English Grammar rose early In The /
that he recned upon soia Drought ny /
him from America that at meal-tlncS the table |
was moved to his side that portable writing desk
was generally before him that his VIE sat on /
chair close by him. that he was protected against
drafts by small screen; that an awning was
placed over his sOnth window to shade OIL the RAYS
of the that he had uTe even III the hottest
weather to carry OF the nOXlOus Particles OF air;
he kept two thermometers in hi, room the ten
perature of which was usually from O30 10 TO-;
that he always dozed for half an hour after dinner
that lie went to bed at 10 o'clock =. M that he ana
not tobacco IN any form that ne dranN no
spirits and never mole than hal gldSs OF WINE OF
a gill OF LondOn porter; that he liked MIX rice,
chocolate vegetables. meat, pudding, Strawberries,
grapes and plums; that lie was thoroughly con
hand simply; that his appetite was usually GOOD.
Elizabeth Frank meant no harm IN stating these
personal particulars. In her eyes Liudley Murray
was great man, and as we have already noticed
she regarded him as much more Important per
,onage than Bonaparte. Why should not the world
know something OF his manners ana medicines, OF
his food ami fashion Of life There ~, after al,
esson here of the success with which the life even
Of a great invalid can he prolonged by method ana
intelligent prudence. We may DC sure that few
men would have lived for eighty -one years under
,uch hard conditions. Murray provided by his last
vii for continuance OF those benevolent and
charitable donations which all his life he had been
making. ! presume that a portion OF his for
unc is still employed IN doing good here in New
York for he lett permanent iun TO he used here
n liberatmg black people held as slaves, when IS
now longer necessary; in assisting them when
reed which may he neediul still. lie lett some
hing TO be used in the ameiiOration OF the condI-
ion of the American Indians; and in purchasing
mi distributing books tending To promote piety
md virtue and particula ily his own book on The
lnNnr OF Rnllrlnn-N Ihesn lrmSLe haNe no Mnnhl.