Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-02-18
The Late S. Wells WilIiams.

A Sketch of His Life and Services-Ea1s
Distinguished Career an OrientaI
Scholar.
Professor Samuel Wells Williams, of Yale
college, died at his residence, No. SO College
street, at $40 O'Clock on Saturday evening.
His age was II. He had been in failing
health for some months. On the last day of
January, two years ago, he met with severe
fall on Chapel street and fractured his left
arm near the shoulder. His health had been
previously undermined by arduous and pro-
tracted mental labor, and few months after
his fall a partial paralysis of the brain ensued.
He was not rendered unconscious, but was
disabled from his literary work and for
time was bereft of his power of speech. He
gained slowly, however, and the following
summer improved much at Litchfeld and
last summer gained also during a stay at
Holderness, in the White Mountain region,
near Lake Winnipiseogee. Since December
last he had been gradually weakening. He
was last on the street during the week fol-
lowing New Years. Inability to assimilate
his food was the feature of the disease which
terminated his useful and valuable life. His
wife died about three years ago. She was
from Plattsburg, New York. Her death was
great loss to the deceased and no doubt
hastened the decline of his health. He leaves
two children, one of whom is Mr.. Frederick
W. Williams, of this city, assistant librarian
at Yale, the other the wife of
Hon. Thomas Grosvenor, late of the English
diplomatic service in China. They recently
returned from that country and are visiting
at the paternal residence, Moor Park, just out
of London Deceased leaves also two broth
ers, Mr.. Robert Williams, of Utica, N. Y,
and q. Dwight Williams. who for the past
two years has resided with deceased, and
who for twelve years resided in China, hold
ing an important official position. The late
Professor Williams had long since earnsd
worldwide fame as an Oriental scholar. He
was native of Utica, N. Y, and school
mate of Professor Dana the eminent geolo-
eist of Yale, who is native of Utica. He
graduated at the Polytechnic school at Troy
and soon after embarked in his life long
work in China. He went there in 1888 and
Joined the famous DIR. Morrison, the first
English missionary to China, and DR.. Bridg-
man, the American missionary. With the
latter he edited the Chinese Repository, and
after preparing himself sufficiently in the
Chinese language took entire charge of the
magazine and continued its publication till
1882. During that time the entire charge of
the mission printing devolVed upon him and
he was the author of many valuable works,
In 1885 he removed to Macao to complete the
printing of Medhurst's Hokkeen dictionary;
and in July, 1887, he went to japan in ves-
sci sent by G. w. King, of Canten, to return to
their homes seven shipwrecked Japanese.
The vessel was driven away from two ports
by cannon balls, and the men were brought
back to Macao. Mr.. Williams obtained from
some of them an acquaintance with their
language, translated tre-tise on smelling
copper from the original, and made version
of the book of Genesis and the gospel of st.
Matthew into the Japanese. After the pub
LEGATION of DIR. Bridgman's 'Chinese Chres-
tomathy," to which Mr.. Williams con-
tributed about one-third, he printed
in Chinese his "Easy Lessons in Chi
nese'' in 1841, English and Chinese Vocab- |
ulary" in 1913 and s'Chinese Commercial
Guide" in 1914. In November, 1874. he set
out for America, passing through Egypt, |
SYRIA and Europe and reaching New York in |
October. 1916. The project of casting font |
of movable Chinese type in Berlin had been |
started. and to obtain funds for the enter |
prise he delivered lectures on the condition of |
China, which were afterward enlarged and
published under the title of ''The Middle |
kingdom in volumes, IL mo-, New York, |
1s4S Soon after the publication of this |
work the faculty of Union college confer |
red upon him the degree of LID.
In 1853 he accompanied Commo-
dore Perry's expedition to Japan as inter- t
prefer. In 1855 he was appointed secretary |
and interpreter to the United States legation
and took charge of it until the arrival of the |
minister. Mr.. Parker. He was charge
d'affaires for a considerable period during
the changes of ministers. He published In
1876 ssTonic Dictionary of the Chinese
IangnaOe. !" and In 1858 went with Mr.. Reed
70 flemish to assist in the negotiations con-