M E M O I R
OF THE
REV. SAMUEL DYER.
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OF THE
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SIXTEEN YEARS -MISSIONARY TO THE CHINESE. -
BY
EVAN DAVIBS,
''AUTHOR OF "CHINA AND HER SPIRITUAL CLAIMS."
" If I thought anything could prevent my dying for China, the thought
would crush me." PAGE 271.
LONDON :
JOHN SNOW, 35, PATERNOSTER ROW.
1846.
c.
.' r < .' . C ! '. = c
' ". r 3 c c -
TYLER & REED,
PKINTEBS 3
BOLT COUKT, LOKBOK.
D\D \
TO
JOHN DYER, ESQUIRE,
THE FATHER,
TO THE REV. JAMES STRATTEN,
THE PASTOE,
OF THE LATE
REV. SAMUEL DYER,
AND
TO THE DIRECTOBS OF THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY,
OF A MOST
AFFECTIONATE SON,
HEAVENLY-MINDED CHRISTIAN,
AND
DEVOTED MISSION ARY,
IS DEDICATED WITH HIGH ESTEEM AND SINCERE AFFECTION,
BY
THEIR BROTHER IN THE KINGDOM OF JESUS CHRIST,
THE AUTHOR.
RICHMOND, SURREY,
April 2, 1846.
PREFACE,
A LATE authority has pronounced an unfavourable
opinion of many modern compositions of the class to
which the present volume belongs, in the following ex-
pressive language : " I own to you that I prefer the old
custom of prefixing a modest preface by way of Memoir,
to the. modern practice of writing huge narratives of lives
in which there are no events ; which seems to me a
tasteless parade, and a sure way of transmitting nothing
to posterity."* In the department of letters and phi-
losophy, the extensive information of Sir James Mack-
intosh, his great erudition, his undoubted taste, and hts
justly acquired fame, point him out as an authority
which will have no inconsiderable weight with every
wise man : yet the memorialist of Christian excellency
* Sir James Mackintosh, in a letter to Dr. Gregory. See Works of th;
Rev. R. Hall, A. M., vol. vi., p. 9, Svo edition.
Till PREFACE.
and evangelical piety, may have just reasons for prefer-
ring this modern practice, though his narrative may
contain no events in the conventional sense of that
phrase. In describing "the indignant struggles," to
ilse Sir James's own language,* " of a pure mind with
the low realities which surround it, the fervent aspira-
tions after regions more congenial to it" and in exhi-
biting how such a nature has lived " for men" by living
" with men," and served " God by the active service of
men," he may be induced to lengthen out his narrative
to an extent, beyond that of a "modest preface," that
may incur the censure implied above. Besides, Sir
James's canon, if meant to apply universally where
there have been "no events," would exclude a large
number who have been most devotedly active in the
service of men, from the privilege of benefiting their
posterity even by the " old custom," because that
very activity, in some instances, rendered it impos-
sible for them to erect any literary monument, to
which, as a leading path, a preface would look
"modest" and appropriate. During his mature
life, Mr. Dyer was too much engaged in serving his
* See Ha'l's Works, vol. vi., p. fl.
PREFACE. IX
generation to attend to any occupations of that kind :
we must have recourse therefore to a higher canon and
a different warrant in issuing these Memorials from the
press the Bible, and the experience of the Church.
To record the excellences of those who have " feared
the Lord" and "served their own generation by the
will of God," is a practice fully sustained by the inspired
volume. Although sustaining the practice, the example
of that volume might, the Author is fully aware, be
pleaded against a work of the moderate dimensions to
which it was thought advisable to extend this. The
memoirs of the Bible are at most mere sketches: but
it must be remembered that the Bible, while the most
practical of books, is nevertheless a repository of prin-
ciples condensed thought which can be fully appre-
hended and appreciated only by their application to the
minute affairs of life and the experience of the indivi-
dual heart, by their expansion. Hence the value of
Christian memorials : hence, too, the justification of their
detail and their length ; at least when they are executed
with judiciousness and care. Of their usefulness, the
practice and experience of the church in every age are a
full and uncontroverted attestation. Whether the author
X PREFACE.
in this instance has heen happy enough to contribute to
the stock of what is valuable, or so unfortunate as to
increase the amount of what is worthless s is a point on
which he cannot of course but feel some anxiety. Of
one thing however that Samuel Dyer was worthy of a
lasting monument his conviction cannot be stronger :
would that the family could have found some one of
greater ability, dexterity, and leisure, to erect it ! As in
their judgment no such person could be fixed upon whose
services could be secured, he undertook the task, and
he has tremblingly felt his responsibility : the more so
as it has never been his happiness to know another
individual in whom spiritual Christianity shone with
a lustre so steady and brilliant. To tarnish there-
fore a gem of the first water is, to say the least, no
small misfortune : he has prayerfully done what he
could. In every case he has consulted his conscience
as to the amount, meaning, and true application of every
expression he has used. Of the defects of the work, no
one can ever become more sensible than he is himself.
Would that for the sake of the cause the cause of mis-
sions for the sake of the deceased as well as the reader,
it had been more perfect !
PREFACE. XI
The volume itself will show that the Author has
been under obligations to many friends who have
kindly assisted him in many respects, and to whom it
is but due that he should thus publicly return his
thankful acknowledgments. Among these, the first
place is due to Mr. Dyer's revered Father, and to his
Pastor. To them he is indebted for the principal
materials of the volume. And to no one does he
owe a deeper debt of gratitude than to B. H. Cooke,
Esq., of Stoke Newington : his services in various
ways have been as kind as they have been valuable
as unremitting as they have been needful. The
reader, however, will not suppose from these acknow-
ledgments that the Author is anxious to make others
responsible for the deficiencies of his book to himself
alone are these .attributable.
It is right also that he should acknowledge the
kindness and readiness with which the Directors of
the London Missionary Society granted him full and
free access to any documents in their possession.
This is only one instance out of many in which
the writer has been laid under obligation to the
conductors of that Institution : and it is no small gra-
Xll PREFACE.
tification to have it in his power to bear public testimony
to their uniform kindness and Christian courtesy to him.
Such was his experience while a member of the same
mission of which Samuel Dyer was so distinguished-an
ornament ; and he must add, his attachment to them
and to the Society, whose proceedings they conduct, has
only increased since his connection with them has
ceased, and he has become an humble pastor.
In the compilation of this Memoir, the Author's
first aim has been of course to do justice to Mr.
Dyer's character, graces, and labours ; he next indulged
the hope that he might promote to some small extent
the cause in which his endeared brother fell ; where,
therefore, it may be supposed he has in any measure
deviated from the exact biographical line, he trusts the
reader will be prepared by this intimation to grant him
plenary indulgence.
" The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers
are few ; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, that
He will send forth labourers into his harvest," (C that
He will send forth" to the " LAND OF SINIM ;" many
who shall equal, if not excel, in zeal, toil, and love the
Rev. Samuel Dyer !
CONTENTS..
CHAPTER I.
EAELY LIFE.
Parents : Education : Early dispositions : Removal to a boarding-school :
The removal of the family from Greenwich to Paddington : Conversion :
Letters to his pastor : Becoming a sabbath-school teacher : Estimate
of his character by his fellow-teachers : Tablet set up in the school-room
at Paddington : This fact communicated : His reply : Becoming a
member of the church : Choice of a profession : Chooses the Bar :
Enters himself as a student of the Inner Temple : Proceeds to Cam-
bridge : Success there : His mind directed to missionary labours: Letter
to his father : Application to the London Missionary Society : His pas-
tor's recommendation : Conformity and subscription : Memoir of Mrs.
Mead -.Leaves Cambridge, being accepted by the Society . . Page 1
CHAPTER II.
STUDIES.
Mr. Dyer proceeds to Gosport : Appointment to the Chinese mission : Ex-
tracts from his letters : Satisfaction with his present position and prospects :
XIV CONTENTS.
Intimacy with Dr. Morrison : A letter from Dr. Bogue respecting Mr.
Dyer : Leaves Gosport : Studies in London : Enters the Mission College
at Hoxton: Extract from a letter from the Rev. J. Ketley: Also from
Dr. Henderson : Ordination at Paddington chapel: Rev. J. Stratten's
charge : Marriage and embarkation for the Straits of Malacca , Page 27
CHAPTER III.
LABOURS.
Mr. Dyer's original destination : The state of the mission to the Chinese :
Stays at Penang: The mission in that island: Correspondence, first
impressions and labours : The language, peculiarity of: Mr. Dyer's mas-
tery of: Schools, male and female : Typography : Mr. Dyer's prepara-
tion for a fount of metallic types : Communications on the subject :
.Mr. Dyer's emotions on : Multiplied labours : Trials : Contentedness :
Death of his first-born : Death of his excellent mother : Letters : To
his father 53
CHAPTER IV.
LABOURS (continued.)
Removal from Penaug to Malacca: Letters and feelings : " Gather up the
fragments" -.Method of study, an essay on : Xylography [i.e. wooden-
block printing] Lithography [i.e. stone-printing] Typography [i.e. metal-
type printing] ; as applied to the Chinese language ; an essay on the com-
parative expense of : Biblical criticism: Meaning of words: Apparent
contradictions reconciled : Deduction .116
CHAPTER, V.
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES.
Improvement of the Chinese version of the sacred Scriptures : Means by
which the missionary should seek the conversion of the Chinese, improve-
CONTENTS. XV
ment and preparation of books, &c. : Hints on Scripture translation :
Rules to be observed in translating the Scriptures : Remarks on
" Idiotisms" and "Barbarisms" in translations .-Extracts from a corre-
spondence with a brother missionary : The preceding observations origin-
ating in the imperfections of existing versions : Mr. Dyer engaged in
revising the Gospel of Matthew : Reasons for delaying its publication.
Page 163
CHAPTER VI.
VICISSITUDES, AND DEATH.
Settled at Malacca : Illness of Mrs. Dyer: Return to England .-Letters,
feelings : Safe arrival: Advocacy of the cause at home; instance of:
The feelings with which he was received at Paddington, and presentation
of the Encyclopaedia Britannica to him : Embarkation the second time
. for India : Letters from Cape Town, Calcutta, and Singapore ; Labours
at Singapore : Letter to his pastor : Extracts from his correspondence :
Missionaries repairing to Hong-Kong on the opening of China:
Mr. Dyer chosen Secretary : Attacked with fever : The Rev. A. J. Stro-
nach's account of Mr. Dyer's illness, death, and burial: An extract from
the " Singapore Free Press" 205
CHAPTER VII.
CHARACTER.
Prerequisites for missionary labours, Mr. Dyer's views of : Mental concen-
tration : General acquirements : Languages : Humility: Love; as a
son, brother, husband, father, and friend : Sympathy : Defects : Rare
combinations; Scholastic taste with mechanical genius; Ample acquisi-
tions, with complete and unimpaired humility; Perseverance in the higher
departments of mental pursuits, with aptness to attend to minor affairs :
Rev. J. Stronach's view of Mr. Dyer's character : Rev. J. Stratten's :
Devotedness : Useful lesson taught 259
XVI CONTENTS.
APPENDIX A.
A short sketch of the Chinese method of printing . . Page 289
APPENDIX B.
A selection of Letters . .293
i. Missionary Devotedness.
ii. OK Ms Garden.
iii. On Eternal Life.
iv. His last letter to his Children.
APPENDIX C.
Missionaries now labouring in China, and the Societies to which they
respectively belong 301
MEMOIR
OF THE
1EV. SAMUEL DYER.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY LIFE,
Parents : Education : Early dispositions : Removal to a boarding-school :
The removal of the family from Greenwich to Paddington -.Conversion :
Letters to his pastor : Becoming a sabbath-school teacher : Estimate
of his character by his fellow-teachers : Tablet set up in the school-room
at Paddington : This fact communicated : His reply: Becoming a
member of the church: Choice of a profession: Chooses the Bar:
Enters himself as a student of the Inner Temple : Proceeds to Cam-
bridge : Success there : His mind directed to missionary labours : Letter
to his father : Application to the London Missionary Society : His pas-
tor's recommendation : Conformity and subscription: Memoir of Mrs.
Mead : Leaves Cambridge, being accepted by the Society. :
THE reader, in perusing this volume, will be spared
the trouble of ascending a long list of progenitors to
find an honourable, noble, or, according to the con-
ventional notions of our artificial times, some worthy
origin from which descended the man of God whose
excellences these Memoirs are designed to bring before
the public. Principle, taste, and delicacy (as his father
, and many of his nearest relatives are still Irving) restrain
the author from yielding compliance with a common,
if not universal, practice on this head. As truth should
B
2 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
invariably guide the biographer in stating, selecting, and
grouping facts and circumstances, so the sentiments and
spirit of the departed should, where they can he ascer-
tained, give their tone or hue to the narrative. From
the whole character of Samuel Dyer it will be evident
that this resolution would have met with the approba-
tion of his judgment, as well as the feelings of his
heart. He was the last man whom we have known
to " glory in appearance" in anything external " and
not in heart." That kind of display would have^been
in utter discordance with his simplicity and habits.
The Rev. Samuel Dyer was the fourth son of John
Dyer, Esq., now of Upper Clapton. He was born on
the 20th of January, 1804, at the Royal Hospital for
seamen at Greenwich, of which his father held the
responsible situation of Secretary. His mother was an
amiable and well-educated woman. Her decided piety
and maternal solicitude must have found a most gratify-
ing reward in the distinguished excellence of her son ;
for she lived till her son Samuel was employed in the
service of her God as a missionary among the heathen.
Samuel's education was conducted, till he was twelve
years of age, under the parental roof, where he had the
unspeakably important and happy advantage of religions
instruction and pious example. In these youthful days
he was remarkable for great docility and equanimity of
temper, and distinguished for his application to learning.
His moral principles were strong even at this period ;
for boys whose habits were corrupt.were scrupulously
avoided by him at this early age, and those who de-
lighted in the vanities and follies of the world were no
EARLY LIFE. 3
associates for him. He acted then as if tinder the in-r
fraence of the conviction that ".a companion of fools
shall be destroyed." His amiableness became, when in
subsequent years under the sanctifying power of Divine
truth and Christian principle, a source of admiration
wherever he was known. Indeed, the loveliness of his
character associated him in every pious mind with the
apostle John. The apostle and the missionary were one
one in love and loveliness one in mind one in
labour they were one in Christ !
These earlier years were thus profitably spent under
domestic superintendence and tuition ; and the ground-
work of his future excellency and learning was no doubt
laid in these favourable circumstances. About the period
just specified, he was, however, sent to a respectable
boarding-school at Woolwich, superintended by the Rev.
John Bickerdike, a Dissenting minister, who writes of
his " much respected pupil/' " as a youth of quick and
retentive memory, clear of apprehension, attentive, per-
severing, full of emulation. With regard to religious
character/' he adds, "it is not so easy to speak posi-
tively at an age of such inconstancy ; but he was a very
well-disposed youth, and had my esteem, as well as the .
good-will of his school-fellows."
Under this excellent man he made great progress in
all the rudiments of learning to which his attention was
directed. Hitherto no other change had broken in upon
the uniformity of his educational and school engagements
except the regularly recurring intervals which the vaca-
tions of such establishments and occupations afford.
But in the year 1820, his father having succeeded to a
B 2
4 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
situation of trust and honour in one of the prin-
cipal departments of state, (the Chief-clerkship of the
Admiralty,) and resigning therefore the secretaryship of
the Hospital, removed from Greenwich to Paddington.
Having fixed upon that locality for permanent residence,
Mr. Dyer and his family, consisting of five sons and
five daughters, attended the ministry of the Rev. J.
Stratten ; and in the enjoyment of which they found all
their most devout aspirations could have hoped for in
this imperfect world. Here the family found themselves
at home in the house of their God. The pastor and the
people soon discovered in Mr. Dyer the requisite qualifi-
cations for the important duties of the deaconship, and to
this office he was therefore cordially elected. Here young
Samuel also found himself under influences, and engaged
in employments thoroughly congenial to his own taste.
This change marked an era, not only the most im-
portant in his earthly career, but unspeakably the most
important in the eternal existence of an immortal being.
We here approach the period of his conversion to God.
"What impression may have been made upon his mind
in previous years, and under other ministrations, it is
impossible now to say ; certain, however, it is, that in
his own judgment, all impressions and convictions prior
to 'his attendance on the ministry of Mr. Stratten were
evanescent, and unproductive of those results which are
the appropriate evidence of this vital change. To the
blessing of God on the ministry of the pastor of the
church at Paddington chapel he attributed the renewal
of ;his soul, and its emancipation from the bondage of
$in and .corruption. And he ever expressed his feelings
EARLY LI FE. 5
on this subject the highest of all obligations to human
instrumentality in language, however full and affection-
ate, that shows how painfully inadequate he felt any
such medium to be, to exhibit the emotions of his grate-
ful heart. The following letter, addressed to his beloved
pastor from Penang, will at once fix the date, and deter-
mine the means of his conversion. It is needless to
point out the depth of affection he reveals here, for it
will strike every reader. I shall nt>t add now any other re-
mark, but leave the letter to make its own impression, es-
pecially as the recurrence of similar epistles will demand
some observations in another chapter of these Memoirs.
" "My dear Brother, and father in Christ, whom I
love exceedingly in the gospel of our adorable Re-
deemer. It grieves me exceedingly, beloved brother,
to find from your favour of November that you have
not received either of my two letters in answer to your
acceptable presents. You must think me ungrateful,
and yet you do not drop a hint to that effect ; indeed,
your letter is so kind, that it has melted my cold heart.
In very deed, beloved brother, my inmost soul glows
with ardent love to you.
"I never felt in England as I have felt in India, towards
my parents, among whom I reckon yourself. "Were it
possible for me to take the wings of a dove, and fly
across seas and continents, I should like above all things
one short visit to the parental abode, that I might pay
yet one last tribute of filial affection. And methinks if
it be congenial with the state of the blessed, after having
entered the celestial portals, I shall first of all, in lowly
6 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
adoration, bow at the footstool of the Triune God, and
then I shall hasten with overflowing affection to receive
the welcome benediction of honoured and esteemed pa-
rents. But to sum up all in one word, pen and ink will
not express the glowings of my affections towards you
and other dear English friends.
" I am happy, oh, very happy, in this blessed work,
although the least and meanest of all the labourers in
the vineyard. The Lord is pleased to giveme his grace
from day to day ; so that although humbled to the dust
on account of my own weakness ashamed of my want
of love and zeal and shrinking into nolhing at the
thought of my insufficiency something helps me to
persevere. Oh ! it must be the grace of God, which is
as necessary from day to day as daily food.
" Paddington lives in my warmest affections. It was
there I kneeled on the separating line between Christ
and the world. I kneeled, and prayed for strength to
side with Christ ; I arose, and was inwardly assisted to
turn my back upon the world. And from that goo'd day
to this, Jesus Christ has been precious to my soul.
" To all Paddington friends, present my sincerest love.
Tell them I hope to see them soon, in * a moment,' as
the apostle speaks. We have one home, far away, but
we know not how near.
*l T> . ! *i> *P iji
" Especially, I remember our peaceful, quiet, harmo-
nious church-meetings ; they were happy seasons. Our
sacramental occasions at Penang remind me forcibly of
Paddington. We number twelve members ; an interest-
ing little group, all I trust disciples at heart.
EARLY LIFE. /
* * * * * *
"Pray for me, beloved brother, even as also you do.
If my sister Mary be at Paddington, tell her I will write
soon, D.Y. Much love.
I " Your very affectionate brother,
" SAMUEL DYER."
following letter, although it seems to anticipate
what is to be brought before the reader in a future
p4ge, is inserted here because it illustrates so strikingly
ijne sentiment by which the preceding epistle was intro-
duced. It is true, it refers to other topics, and so will
air letters written in the circumstances in which this was
penned ; but the depth of his gratitude, and the warmth
of his affection to the servant of God, who was honoured
to be the instrument of his conversion, are so apparent
in every sentence, that it will illustrate this point in his
character, in language more apt and beautiful than that
which any other pen could supply. And this is the
fitting place, if the .attentive reader will pardon the
anticipation of date. May Mr. Dyer's pastor find all
the children whom God hath given him in the gospel
of his Son prove, like him, to be his hope, his joy,
his crown of rejoicing, HIS GLORY, at the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ !
<e
"Malacca, Sept. 17, 1836.
My very dear and much-loved Brother, Ever do
you live in my warmest, affection; ever do I cherish
towards you the most ardent love ; and although sepa-
rated from you nearly ten years, the separation has not
8 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
made the slightest breach in my affection for you as my
father in Christ. "
" Oh how often do I think of the precious means of
grace which I once enjoyed ! I am sometimes afraid
lest I should be tempted to wish myself in the enjoyment
of them again : but no, I have no greater joy than to
forego them all for Jesus Christ, whom I love, ^tnd
whose cause I love far, far more than my life itself.
The late Mrs. Judson used to say, she was only sorry
she had no more to give up for her blessed Master : this
is that to which I would attain. \
" How truly sweet to think f now is our salvationv
nearer than when we believed !' You used to say a'k'the-\y
communion table, l One month nearer home :' we are ten
years nearer home than we were when we last took com-
fort together in that delightful thought ; soon, very
soon, we shall see Him, whom now, not having seen, we
love ! Soon you will welcome me to glory, or I shall
welcome you : till then, we have bid each other a short
farewell.
" After ten years' experience in the work of the Lor.^
among the Gentiles, you will suppose me capable ^of
giving some opinion of it. It is a most blessed work.
If some celestial messenger were to arrive from the
court of heaven and acquaint me with the circumstance
that my children would grow up to carry on my poor
labours ; and that they should live to be far more holy,
devoted, faithful, and laborious than their parents ; I
wo'uld sing with good old Simeon, ' Now, Lord, lettest
thou thy servant depart in peace.' But the work is
most arduous; and were I entering upon it now, I
EARLY LIFE. 9
should shrink back, and say, ' Nay, but, O Lord, let thy
servant hew wood and, draw water, for the service of the
sanctuary, but never, never let thy servant occupy the
sphere of a more devoted labourer.' Oh my brother,
I am ashamed, and do blush to lift up my eyes to heaven,
under a deep sense of my utter weakness and insuffi-
ciency for the holy work.
" However, I feel thankful to be enabled to say, that
from my very heart I love the c meekness and gentleness
of Christ,' though I have it not. I admire the 'love
that thinketh no evil, is not easily provoked, worketh no
ill to its neighbour,' though I possess it not. I approve
of that zeal which is full of fire, that faith which is en-
tirely dependent, that hope that endureth even to the
end, though those graces are mine but in a little measure.
" Happy, thrice happy shall I be, if in ' that day'
I may be found a gem, the least seen, in your crown of
rejoicing : and you with yours shall be a star in the
crown of our Divine Lord : and if through my poor in-
strumentality a single brand should be plucked from the
burning, it also shall adorn the crown of Jesus, while
I sing in holy rapture, ' Not unto me, not unto me, O
Lord, but unto thy name give glory.'
" Remember me most kindly to the church at Pad-
dington : please to tell them that we often pray, that
the prayers of British churches may come down upon
us, in large effusions of the Spirit of grace I Also re-
member me to the Sunday-school teachers : their work
is a holy, good work ; often are they remembered, when
incense arises upon an altar erected to the only true God,
in. the midst of idolatry, superstition, and vice.
10 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
" My dear Maria sends her love to you and dear Mrs.
Stratten. Farewell. "We meet soon in glory.
" Yours, my dear friend,
" In much affection,
" SAMUEL DYER."
The preceding letters are decisive on this point :
" this man was born" again under the ministry at
Paddington chapel. It was there the Lord called
Samuel, and it was there he answered, " Speak, Lord, for
thy servant heareth :" it was from thence he went forth
as the servant of the Lord and the messenger of the
churches on his holy mission to the heathen.
But to return from this digression from the consecu-
tive order of events. In these happy circumstances he
felt himself in his element. He soon joined the sabbath-
schoql, and in that delightful and sacred occupation his
intelligence, his humility, his zeal, and his general ex-
cellency were most pleasingly developed, and justly ap-
preciated, as the sequel will show, by his colleagues.
They did not, when he was gone, forget his labours or
his character. They must indeed have felt their own
loss deeply, still, they felt the honour conferred on them-
selves to be surpassed only by that conferred on him
when he was counted by the Head of the church, faith-
ful to be put into the ministry ; the ministry of the
gospel among the heathen. This was more than a re-
compense, and for which they did not fail to express
their gratitude, in a manner that not only reflected great
credit on themselves for discrimination and right feeling,
but also in a way that was thought adapted to stimulate
EARLY LIFE. 11
others to pursue the same persevering and self-denying
course as that Samuel Dyer pursued while it continued
his privilege and pleasure to be a teacher in the
Paddington chapel sabbath-school.
"The friends of the schools thought that the influence
of an example so bright of what was required in a
sabbath-school teacher, should be, if possible, perpetu-
ated, and that feelings engendered in the bosoms of his
fellow-labourers, by " faith unfeigned, sincere brotherly
love, patient continuance in well-doing, and the ornament
of a meek and quiet spirit," should not be left without
some appropriate expression. "To perpetuate the re-
collection of such an example of self-denial and mission-
ary zeal/' the idea of setting up a tablet with a suit-
able inscription in the boys' school-room was entertained,
and soon carried into effect. His dedication to the
blessed work must therefore have created no small excite-
ment among those with whom he had in former years
devoted so faithfully his untiring energies. Although at
this time young, yet the most prominent features of his
matured character were in progress of developement, as
the inscription on the tablet depicts with great accuracy,
the distinguishing traits of one that never failed, wher-
ever he became known in after years, to secure the
admiration of all capable of appreciating superior
worth. Those who have witnessed his missionary
career have borne, and will bear, willing and ample tes-
timony not only to the existence, but to the maturity,
of every characteristic discovered by his coadjutors in
the youthful teacher ; his manhood was the ripeness of
his youth. The following record of excellencies will
12 MEMOIR OP THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
therefore bring before the reader Samuel Dyer, as he was,
and as he continued to be to the period of his lamented
death, without any change, except of one who had left
first principles and gone forward to perfection. The
following is the inscription :
IN REMEMBRANCE
Of SAMUEL DYER,
Who was for several years a humble, pious, and faithful
Teacher in this School,
And who, devoting himself to the service of his blessed
Redeemer,
Was on the 20th of February, 1827,
Here solemnly set apart as a
Missionary of the Gospel,
And having left his native land for the shores of India, in the providence of
God, arrived safely at his destination, '
PENANG,
Or, Prince of Wales Island, in the China Seas,
August 8th, 1827.
Faith unfeigned, sincere brotherly love, patient continuance in well-doing,
and the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, endeared him to 'us while
he laboured here; and his memory will long be cherished with affec-
tionate regard by all who knew him. To perpetuate the remembrance of
such an example of self-denial and missionary zeal, this humble memorial
is set up,
" The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit," 2 Tim.iv. 22.
"When a copy of the above was communicated to him
by his sister, he returned the following simple and un-
ostentatious answer :
. "Penang, May 27th, 1829.
" My dearly beloved Friends and Fellow-labourers in
the cause of our Lord Jesus Christ, My sjsterhas just
sent to me a copy of the tablet which you have thought
right to erect, to keep me in remembrance. It would
be ungrateful of me to think lightly of your kindness.
I beg you will accept of my best love ; and allow me to
. . , EARLY LIFE. 13
express my attachment to you, which is not lessened by
my departure from you.
" The copy of the tablet excited peculiar feelings in
my mind : conscious unworthiness ; humiliation before
God; love to you; but I cannot describe my feelings.
Would that in very deed and in truth I WERE a man of
faith, love, and meekness : but it does not become me
to enlarge on this subject.
" Glad should I be, my beloved brethren and sisters,
if some of you would come into the Lord's vineyard :
there are varieties of spheres adapted to variety of
talents, that none may say, ' I am not able.'
" I offer to you the conviction of my maturest judg-
ment, that should any of you engage in the missionary
cause with proper motives, you will never, for a single
moment, regret the greatest sacrifice you may be called
to make.
"I rejoice at your now having a day-school on the
British system, and hope our dear sisters will not be
much behind their brethren. I hear often, and that
with much satisfaction, of your love and harmony : let
us all strive to breathe the. atmosphere of love : that so
we may have a foretaste of heaven, ere we reach the
blessed abode.
" It is also pleasing to hear of your unabated love to
our dear pastor ; my friends, I understand what your
privileges are, by communion with you in time past ;
but more so, by being a stranger in a dry and thirsty
wilderness, where scarcely any water is.
"We have had lately trials which have caused us to
mourn deeply : but the Lord does not permit us to be
14 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMTJEL DYER.
discouraged. Many thanks for your kind remembrance
of us at the throne of grace. I know you will not cease
to make mention of us to Him who hears and answers
prayer.
" "We enjoy a degree of health that amazes me : it is
the Lord : our times are in his hands.
" And now, my heloved, accept our united love : we
hope to meet yon beyond the skies ; for there, we trust,
is your home, and ours.
" I remain, my dear friends,
" Yours in tender affection,
"SAMUEL, DYER."
Such was Samuel Dyer as a sabbath-school teacher.
This estimate was formed by those who had ample
opportunity to judge from constant intercourse with him
in their common and delightful occupation, and with
whom he could not be but on terms of intimacy, and
who from very habit frequently become apt in the dis-
crimination of character at least during the incipient
stages of its formation ; and it must be a source of no
little gratification to those who may still survive, to find
the opinion they then formed confirmed by the evidence
of sixteen years of successful missionary toil.
In the year 1822 he was admitted into the fellowship
of the church at Paddington, and about the same time
it became necessary that he should make a choice of a
profession ; a conjuncture of the utmost importance.
The choice for eternity was made, that for time remained
to be considered ; the relative order in which, on every
principle of sound reason or religion, these things should
EARLY LIFE. 15
be placed ; an order which unhappily is seldom observed,
and which, in too many cases, would be branded as
enthusiasm. He chose the legal profession. During
this time he pursued his studies at home with great
ardour, and entered himself a student of the Inner
Temple, with a view of being ultimately called to the
Bar. Soon after this he removed to the University of
Cambridge, and entered as under-graduate of Trinity
Hall a LAW college. There he stored his mind with
classical, mathematical, and legal knowledge, with the
most unabated application. " There," writes his widow,
" the study of mathematics so enraptured him, that he
pursued it most ardently day and night, and grudged
every moment taken from it, except a short period for
devotion. So assiduous were his studies, that after re-
maining there only five terms, had he continued till the
examination, he would have obtained a scholarship."
At this period, every prospect before him was pleas-
ing and attractive. Everything promised success and
honour. His powers of application had not failed him.
The path before him appeared full of allurements, and
to turn aside from it would, on all human calculation
and worldly policy, be an instance of the most egregious
folly. But he reasoned on other principles, and came
to a different- conclusion. The first intimation of this
change was conveyed to his excellent father in the fol-
lowing letter, dated July, 1823:
"My very dear Father, I believe no one in the
family loves you more than I do, and that no one would
feel an entire separation from you more than myself ;
16 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
notwithstanding, I am willing that this should take place,
indeed my thoughts have been much taken up lately in
thinking that it may. The University of Cambridge
affords every attraction for me; there is, probably, a
scholarship waiting for me, and possibly, University
honours ; but these pursuits have already engrossed too
much of my attention, they have had possession of , my
heart, while the Saviour has been too much forgotten.
After much consideration and prayer to God, it is my
wish, (if consistent with your permission,) to be devoted
to the Saviour's cause, to be more immediately employed
in his service, to labour as a missionary in heathen lands.
.1 think the Lord has called me to do this. All the
motives which operate with me I purposely restrain the
mention of, until I know what is your opinion upon the
subject ; one, however, I think it right to tell you, which
if I ,know my own heart in this instance, is, a sincere
desire to spend the remainder of my days in pointing the
poor heathen to the Lamb of God.
* * * * # *
" Believe me to remain, my dear father,
" Your very affectionate and obedient son,
"SAMUEL DYER."
Unexpected as this communication was, yet from his
well-known piety, cautious and conscientious movements
in every preceding step of his life, his father had entire
confidence in the purity of his motives, his uni-
form prudence, and the soundness of his understanding ;
and therefore had no doubt that, before he came to a
decision on a subject so important to himself, to the
EARLY LIFE. 17
heathen world, and the cause of Christ, he had 'fully
counted the cost $ and by earnest and frequent prayer at
the throne of grace, had sought for wisdom and direction
from Him who knew the secrets of his heart, and would
direct and guide him to a wise and just determination on
so momentous an occasion.
As he would naturally he anxious to receive a reply
to the foregoing letter, his father, after maturely con-
sidering the subject in all its bearings, lost no time in
expressing to him his entire approval of his wish to
abandon the study of the law as a profession, and to
leave the University, if, after consulting with wise and
pious friends, it should be found that he possessed all
the requisite qualifications, natural and acquired, to he
a zealous, faithful, and laborious Christian missionary in
Gentile lands, and should be approved and accepted by
either of the Missionary Societies as an eligible candidate.
Thus was his father cordial and warm, yet cautious ; and
after mature deliberation he was encouraged to devote
himself to this holy service. Some circumstances led
him to hesitate as to which of the Missionary Societies
he should apply ; ultimately he resolved to offer his
services to the London Missionary Society. He did
not, however, come to this resolution till he had devoted
three days to self-examination, prayer, and deliberation.
He felt the necessity of seeking Divine direction in a more
special manner, as his mind was again perplexed on the
subject of subscription "to all and everything contained in
the Book of Common Prayer, "in case he entered the ser-
vice of the Church Missionary Society. At Cambridge he
had been in the same state of perplexity : he came,
18 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL, DYER.
however, to the same conclusion in each case. To bring
this topic, and the way in which he became connected
with the London Missionary Society, before the reader,
it will be best to lay before him the following application
to that Society.
" 4, Lower Lisson-street, Marylebone,
" June 23rd, 1824.
" Gentlemen, The purport of this communication is
to introduce myself to your notice, and to offer my ser-
vices for the promotion of the cause in which you are
engaged ; in doing which I suppose it to be proper to
state to you briefly my history and my views.
" From a veiy early age I had a predilection for the
Bar. This continued for some years, until it became
necessary for me to take some decisive steps. I then
entered myself as a student in the Inner Temple, and
about two years after became a member of the University
of Cambridge. It was my intention to graduate, and
after that to follow the profession. After I had resided
at Cambridge some time, I understood I could not gra-
duate without declaring myself a member of the Estab-
lished Church ; but as I foresaw that I could not con-
scientiously do this, I resolved to leave the UmVersity,
and did so in my fifth term.
\
" I think it was in the second term of residence that
I conceived a wish to become a missionary, from the
circumstance of reading the Memoir of one of your
missionaries, with whom I was in some measure ac-
quainted. However, this desire of going abroad was
EARLY LIFE. 19
stifled after a short time. I do not know if ever I
perused the Memoir since, but the same wish has been
called forth. When I left the University I directed my
attention to the ministry of the gospel ; and since then
my way seems gradually to have been made clear. I
am, therefore, induced to offer myself entirely and
without reserve to your disposal.
" I am, Gentlemen,
" Your most obedient servant,
"SAMUEL DYER.
" To the Directors of the
London Missionary Society"
To the Memoir referred to in this application we
shall have occasion immediately to allude. Before pro-
ceeding further in the narrative, it is but right that we
may exhibit his application to the Directors in its com-
pleteness, and show the esteem in which he was held,
and the full confidence that was felt in the maturity and
solidity of his judgment, and in the rectitude and piety
of his purpose to insert the following letter from his
pastor to the Directors.
" Paddington, JulyQth, 1824.
" Gentlemen, I have been on terms of close intimacy
and friendship with Mr. Samuel Dyer for some years.
He was received into the church of which I am pastor
in January, 1822. I have long admired in him a singu-
lar abstraction from the world, a remarkable degree of
self-denial, and what I think I may denominate a com-
c 2
20 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
plete devotedness to God. I can truly affirm that his
temper is meek, patient, and persevering. His literary
acquirements are very considerable. His aptitude and
facility hi the acquisition of language are well known to
his friends. I believe his talents to be of the most solid
and improving kind ; and I have great pleasure in re-
commending him to the Directors as a young man of no
ordinary promise in the cause of missions.
" It may be right to observe, that besides the sacri-
fice of his prospects at the Bar, he will have to relinquish
an annual income of which he is now in possession. I
commit the case, with full confidence, to the further
inquiry and decision of the Directors.
" I remain, Gentlemen,
" Your obedient servant,
" J. STRATTEN."
He was with the entire approbation of his friends,
and the warm recommendation of every one qualified to
^give an opinion, received as a missionary to the heathen
by that Society, an Institution which has been honoured to
send forth to the heathen world not a few pre-eminently
qualified for their arduous work. This selection of the
London Missionary Society was made by him, not as a
matter of. course, but of choice, after a season of per-
plexity, deliberation, and prayer. On the subject of
conformity to the Church as by law established, his father
states, " that he could not conscientiously subscribe, ex
animoyto all and everything contained in the Book of
Common Prayer, or be subject to forms or ceremonies
which might by possibility occasionally separate him
EARLY LIFE. 21
from missionaries or Christians of another denomination."
He could, therefore, not become the missionary of such
a church. This kind of apostolicity he could not com-
prehend, although his catholicity was, if anything,
excessive. This church would have excluded Mm from
a secular profession, by her terms of graduating at one
of the national seats of learning, unless he had degraded
himself hy violating his conscience. Samuel Dyer, with
all the charity and expansiveness of his heart, and the
suavity of his character, was not the youth, and never
became the man to do that, whatever the inducements
may have been which led him to reconsider the case so
seriously. For this there must have been some spe-
cial reasons. We know them not, but we know the
result.
The whole case is interesting, and demands an observa-
tion or two. To trace the operations of a mind like that
of Samuel Dyer so devout and prayerful, so jealous over
all his motives, and so circumspect and deliberate would
be an employment both gratifying as a subject of investi-
gation, and instructive to those who would appreciate
labours of that kind. But in many such instances,
where any great subject is involved, we find ourselves
painfully destitute of means to observe, step by step, that
process of mind which we know by inference from the
results .that have followed to have been of that character
that would benefit even the t church in general, but those
especially who might be placed in similar circumstances,
by its full disclosure in the minutest delineation. Such
is our position here ; at least, to a very great extent it is
so. Here is a young man preparing for an honourable and
22 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
often .a lucrative profession the profession of his choice,
chosen, too, hecause of an early hias of mind to it ~-
having become a member of an university where he had
the prospect before him, as the reward of successful
application, deemed bright and attractive by hundreds
of young men who resort to our national seats of learning,
of enjoying university honours and promotion. He
relinquishes it all" for a life, for aught he could foresee,
of suffering and privation, certainly of inevitable toil,
and that to be accompanied or succeeded by no earthly
reward. What, we are ready to ask, were the mo-
tives that influenced and decided such a mind, and
how came he to a conclusion so contrary to all he
proposed to himself at the time he entered Trinity
Hall ? Our information is not so full as we could have
wished, and the means of drawing accurate inferences
as to the working of his mind at this most critical
juncture are less ample than we could have desired.
Still we are not left to the alternative of conjecture or
silence. It was the grace and CALL of God. To this
conclusion, from the nature of the case, we must have
come, if the following interesting facts had ever been
unknown. We have already found that the subject of
conformity and subscription arrested him in his course.
These, however, did not point the new path to him
which he pursued to the close of life with the utmost
satisfaction, for he felt that his steps had been ordered
of the Lord. While a member of the University, one
of those events, regarded frequently unimportant and
accidental from their apparently insignificant character,
occurred, which turned most entirely his thoughts,
EARLY LIFE. 23
feelings, and energies, into a very different channel to
that which he contemplated at first. Happening to
meet, among other pamphlets, with a Memoir of Mrs.
Mead, the wife of the Rev. Charles Mead, of Travan-
core, he was induced to read it, and the result was his
choice of the missionary service. The pamphlet thus
honoured as the instrumentality owned of God in raising
up from the ranks of the church one of the most de-
voted missionaries that ever left the shores of Britain,
consists of a funeral sermon preached by the Rev. T.
Lewis, of Union chapel, Islington, delivered to the
congregation of which Mrs. Mead's father, the Rev.
J. Hunt, now of Brixton, was pastor, at Chichester,
on the 24th of May, 1818 ; to which is appended a
<c Brief Account of Mrs. Mead's Illness." The discourse
is founded on Rev. xii. 11, "And they loved not their
lives unto the death;" and entitled, "ALL FOR CHRIST
AND THE GOOD OF SOULS." All who knew Samuel
Dyer's character and spirit will at once perceive, that
not only the sentiment embodied in that title, hut that
its. very phraseology would find in his heart a sympa-
thetic chord that would vibrate in perfect harmony with
that devotedness which rendered it descriptive of the
life and end of Mrs. Mead. The whole discourse is in
perfect keeping with the title, in being a happy exhibition
of the existence, influence, and triumphs of a Divine
principle in securing "the devotion of the heart and
life to the service of Christ and his cause." " The
perusal of this," writes his widow, in " A Sketch of
Mr. Dyer's Life and Character," appended to a funeral
sermon for him, preached by his colleague, the Rev.
24 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
J. Stronach, Nov. 9, 1843, at the mission chapel,
Singapore, " so powerfully impressed his mind with the
importance of consecrating himself to missionary work,
that when he began to study .. . . . again, on
Monday morning, he found he could not proceed ; and
every time he read this Memoir it had the same effect :
so that at last he determined to give up the Bar, arid
devote himself to the work of Christ among the hea-
then. 5 * It may not he amiss, here to point out a dis-
crepancy between the preceding extract and his own
letter to the Directors, (page 19th,) where he says, refer-
ring to his reading this Memoir, during his second
term at Cambridge, "I do not know if ever I perused
the Memoir since, but the same. wish has been called
forth ;". by what, circumstances he does not proceed to
inform us.. The account of the widow may justly be
harmonized with his own, by a statement differing but.
little in phraseology, and not at all in spirit,: viz.,
"every time he called to mind this Memoir, and re^
fleeted on its great subject, it had the same effect," &c;
He leaves the University under these circumstances '-.
his impressions of obligations to God deep, and the
plans of his future life happily altered. He is impelled to
adopt a new course of life under the influence of power-
ful convictions on one of the mightiest themes that have
ever occupied the mind of man, or the energies of the
church. The way in which he was to carry out the
project that had forced itself upon his mind with such
mighty power was not at all clear, yet he had faith in
God, and confidence in his people. He committed . his
way. unto the Lord, and he brought it to pass. tha$
EARLY LIFE. 25
Samuel should go on an errand of merey to a people
of hard speech, and to a land afar off .
His father and his friends, although delighted with
his choice, were necessarily filled with solicitude as to
the way in which he should prepare himself for a work
so arduous as all concerned felt the duties of a mis-
sionary to the heathen to he duties demanding the
brightest talents, as well as the deepest piety. The
path was soon made plain to them ; one event led to
another, and they saw every desire of their hearts
accomplished. As he sought to enter the mission field
after deliberate choice under the patronage of the
London Missionary Society; and consequently, almost
as a matter of course, he repaired to the missionary
seminary at Gosport. This institution was, and had
been from its commencement, under the superintend-
ence of Dr. Bogue, a personal friend of his father.
Nothing could be more satisfactory than the upshot of
all that had taken place. All thanked God and took
courage ; for they could not but recognise the hand of
God in directing every movement of the past, and this
inspired all with the utmost confidence in regard to
the future.
With what different feelings and views, must Samuel
Dyer have repaired to Gosport, from those he entertained
on going to Cambridge ! ' His pursuits^ both present
and prospective ; the end he had in view in each case ;
the class of persons with whom he would have to
associate ; and the reward of his toil, Oh, how different !
All but the difference of two worlds ! Whatever amount
of pleasurable emotions he may have been the subject
26 MEMOIR OP THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
of on going to the former, nothing could exceed the
delightful satisfaction he experienced on repairing to
the latter. In one case, he was influenced by the
choice of his boyhood; in the other, it was a choice
made in maturer years, in the fear of God : the reward
of the one would be the honour that cometh from man
only ; in the other, the honour that cometh from God !
Having this, Samuel Dyer was satisfied satisfied then
satisfied at every subsequent period of his life, and
satisfied in his happy and deeply-lamented death.
CHAPTER II.
STUDIES.
Mr. Dyer proceeds to Gosport : Appointment to the Chinese mission : Ex-
tracts from his letters : Satisfaction with his present position and prospects :
Intimacy with Dr. Morrison: A letter from Dr. Bogue respecting Mr.
Dyer : Leaves Gosport: Studies in London : Enters the mission college
at Hoxton: Extract from a letter from the Eev. J. Ketley: Also from
Dr. Henderson : Ordination at Paddington chapel: Rev. J. Stratten's
charge : Marriage and embarkation for the Straits of Malacca.
WE are now about to contemplate the subject of these
Memoirs engaged in pursuits specially designed to prepare
him for the great work to which he most joyfully conse-
crated his powers and his life. In these engagements
his piety, devotedness, and adaptation to the labours
reserved for him by the providence of God in the vine-
yard were most happily brought out. On this ground,
if on no other, this period of his life is of greater im-
portance than the days of his youth. Still that portion
of his life is by no means destitute of instruction and
interest. Every reader will have perceived, for instance,
that an occasional discourse, having apparently only a
temporary or local interest, may in the arrangements of
the all-wise God be fraught with advantage of the highest
kind to untold millions ! A thought implanted in a
devoted heart may, when carried out into its legitimate
results, expand its volume and increase its power, till it
28 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL, DYER.
has the capability of blessing empires and generations
unnumbered and unborn !
Little did the revered senior minister of Union chapel,
Islington, think, when he reluctantly complied with the
request to preach the funeral sermon for Mrs. Mead,
and when he further yielded, not without some hesita-
tion it may be, to commit it to the press, that he was
labouring for the regeneration of China !. When he
penned the title, "ALL FOR CHRIST AND THE GOOD
OF SOULS," little did he think that it would perhaps,
under the blessing of God, engender a glowing thought
in one mind, at least, that would lead to important labours
bearing on the eternal welfare of a third of his race, in
all their future generations ! Little, too, could any
member of Samuel Dyer's family, who might observe
him reading the pamphlet referred to, think that in that
act, not at all adapted to attract special attention, the
stream of his future life would be diverged into a channel
not at all contemplated either by himself or any of his
friends ! And little would any one have thought that in
the expression, "All for Christ and the good of souls"
would be found a sentiment, if adopted as a motto, at
once descriptive, if but modified in the slightest degree,
"All for Christ and the good of CHINA," of the desires
of his soul, and the labours of his hands ! So it was.
Such is God's providence. Let no servant of the Lord
despair! He makes the affairs of the world and the
kingdom ,of Christ turn on the smallest pivots.
Having been accepted by the Directors, he repaired to
Gosport in the summer of 1 824, to pursue his studies,
with brethren intended for the same service, under Dr.
STUDIES. 29
Bogue. Had it not been, indeed, for the representations
of his revered father, who was then, as he still is, one
of the Directors of the Society, he would have been sent
out at once, as the committee before whom he appeared
for examination at the mission house were fully satis-
fied with his acquirements and character. In all exten-
sive missions there are positions that may be occupied
with the greatest advantage by any one whose education
has been respectable, and whose character and zeal stand
undoubted. And it has been the custom of all the
leading societies to send out individuals whose theological
training has not been extensive, ancl especially where
there has been full confidence in the diligence and ap-
plication of such useful agents, to occupy posts of this
kind. In this case, the respectability of his early educa-
tion and training, and that improved by five terms at
Cambridge, would seem to justify the propriety of con-
sidering seriously whether or not he might not be sent at
once to occupy some post of great importance that might
be easily selected for him. His father thought other-
wise, and the committee readily yielded to the represen-
tations he made. Mr. Dyer, therefore, was directed to go
to Gosport, and this afforded his father no small degree
of satisfaction, not only because it met his views, but
because he knew Dr. Bogue as a friend, and especially as
the Doctor's course of divinity lectures were believed, and
reported, by many, to be the most masterly of any deliver-
ed by any theological professor in the three kingdoms.
Still, the .position of a young man at Cambridge, with
the prospects of university honours, and that of the
same youth at Gosport, with the toils of a missionary
life before him, how altered ! In the estimation of the
30 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
devoted Christian how completely does the glory of the
latter eclipse that of the former ! So Mr. Dyer thought.
We shall see in the course of the brief correspondence
existing to the present time, referring to this period, how
fully satisfied he felt at Gosport. In writing to his father
soon after his arrival there, he shows in a hurried epistle
how great was his delight in the prospects hefore him, as
well as in duties then devolving on him : " I emhrace
the first opportunity of writing to you which my present
circumstances have yet aiforded. * * *
I have joined the classical classes, which are remarkably
well conducted by a very clever tutor. Two gentlemen in
the same class with myself have been, the one at a Scotch^
and the other at a Welsh university,* The Doctor's
classes are very interesting, and afford us plenty to do :.
but of these I cannot now give you a particular account,"
After referring to his lodgings, meals, washing, and such
other matters as his kind mother would be particularly
anxious about, he proceeds : " I am much obliged to
you for the information about my future destination.
Perhaps, if you were to make inquiry of Mr. Stratten,
he could inform you concerning the length of my stay
at Gosport, and if Dr. Morrison has said anything- to
him about it. There is no station which I would have
preferred to the Chinese : and the language will be
met, at least, if not encountered, with much pleasure.
Mr< S. perhaps can inform you by this time, whether
the , language will form part of my studies, and will
you be so kind as to say to him that all information
* Alas ! Wales is no.t blessed with such an institution. Of course some
cademy is meant.
STUDIES.
31
concerning the Chinese mission will be very accept-
able." In another letter, written soon after, he de-
scribes his own' state of mind, when he says, " You
will be glad to hear that I am very comfortable, and
am in need of nothing but more love to Jesus, and
more devotedness to his cause." In a letter that imme-
diately succeeded the one from which the above extract is
taken, after referring to his studies, and the advantages
of his acquaintance with mathematics, and his preaching
engagements on the sabbath, he proceeds in a strain
indicative of that admixture of feelings which will be
well understood and appreciated at least by all who have
been placed in similar circumstances : " I sometimes
think that I shall see but little more of my friends, and
the thought has pained me ; but never am I so desirous
of the work of a missionary as then. Willingly will I
forsake my friends for Christ, notwithstanding I love
them dearly ; and my sincerest prayer for them is, that
Jesus may be the constant theme of their heart. They
should remember that they must soon be called away to
another world, where I hope to meet them to part no
more for ever." The love of home, parents, and friends
reminded him, when called forth to an unusual degree,
of the great theme that demanded stronger love still.
No one loved his relatives and friends with a stronger
emotion than Mr. Dyer ; yet in proportion as that was
strong, did his love for the cause of Christ abound " to
the overflow," as he would express himself. Hence he
could say when "pained" on the reflection that he
should not see much more of his dear friends, " Never
am I so desirous of the work of a missionary as then"
32 MEMOIR OP THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
In the following letter his feelings on this subject are
more fully disclosed, and are the more interesting as he
was advancing in Christian labours and experience. "We
may remark here that his delight in the work of the
Lord was far greater than many of the servants of
Christ have been able to realize. To whatever extent
constitutional temperament may modify the feelings of
the heart, the spiritual law doubtless is that the amount
of joy realized in the service of the gospel is in propor-
tion to the depth of that piety, and the completeness of
that dependence on Divine aid in which it is prosecuted.
Of the holy delight yielded by the work of the ministry,
the life of Dyer, from its commencement to its close,
was a happy illustration. He began his ministry with
pleasure and satisfaction ; and . its duties during the
entire period he was permitted to pursue them yielded
to him the intensest spiritual joy. This letter must
have afforded no ordinary pleasure to a Christian parent.
"My dearest Father, I have just received your
short letter, containing ^610, for which accept many
thanks. I have received my appointment for to-mor-
row at Botley, to preach in the afternoon and evening.
It is a village thirteen miles from Gosport. I look
forward to my engagements with some degree of plea-
sure, and trust the Lord Jesus will acknowledge and
bless my feeble efforts to serve him.
* * *. * * *
. "My prayer for you and the family is, that peace,
and love, and harmony may reign throughout. Give
my love to dear mother, and say two or three lines from
STUDIES. ' 33
her will be peculiarly welcome. I do not ask a long
epistle. Tell my brothers and sisters that they still
have a brother's love, arid a brother's prayers; and
although it is probable they will not see much more of
me in this world, let us all strive that it may not be an
everlasting separation. Remember me to Mr. Stratten.
I hope to have an opportunity of writing to him before
long ; at present opportunities are literally scarce, and I
can hardly write without neglecting some duty. I shall
conclude this brief epistle by quoting the sentiment of a
pious female now in glory, that c whether in England or
in India, my heart shall never cease to bear an affection
towards those who have been my companions and my
guide, from my infancy to my riper years.'
" Believe me to remain, my dearest father,
" Your affectionate son,
"SAMUEL DYER."
The following letter to his beloved pastor v/iil bring
his feelings at this time, and his affection, piety, hu-
mility, and devotedness, still further before the reader :
"My dear Friend, I feel persuaded that after so
long an intimacy, you would rather I address you after
this manner than in any other terms. I do very highly
esteem your friendship, and should be ungrateful did I
not feel thankful to the God of providence, who first
brought me to an acquaintance with you, and afterwards
changed my heart so that I delighted in your society.
<f You will rejoice to hear that I am very comfortable
in, my present situation and engagements, though you
34 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
are fully aware of the temptations which they hold out
to me as a student, how difficult it is to keep the mind
supremely upon God, amidst its various avocations. We
cannot, indeed, see into the future to learn whether
we shall hereafter grow lukewarm and indifferent to
Divine things ; but this we can do, we can praise God
if we are still seeking him with our whole hearts, and
we can pray that he would hold us up in his paths, that
our footsteps slip not.
"You are already aware that I have commenced
preaching in the surrounding villages. I am at present
obliged to read much, which hinders my heart from
expanding during the sermon to a considerable extent,
so that what I say to them is rather what I did than
what I do feel. Time, however, I hope, will give me
more courage on this account. I am by no means sorry
that my destination is Singapore, because I shall do
better as a pioneer, than as an officer in the army of the
Lord Jesus.
" If you have an opportunity, perhaps you will ask
Dr. Morrison when he wishes me to commence the Chi-
nese language ; not that I am anxious to begin before
it is proper, but the decision of this point will in a small
measure affect my present studies.
* * * * * *
"There is one class of books which I seem to
stand much in need of, and you have kindly offered to
supply my wants as far as you may be able. I mean the
memoirs of pious individuals.
" I need not say you hold one of the chief places in
my regard and affections. It seems probable that we
STUDIES. 35
shall not meet very often again in this lower world, but
your kindness shall be repaid in the manner I have heard
you say you wish. We will both of us labour in our
appointed sphere till God shall call us home ; and when
we meet around the throne of glory our love for one
another which has commenced on earth, shall endure
through the ceaseless ages of eternity.
" Believe me to remain, my dear sir,
" Your very affectionate friend,
" SAMUEL DYER."
Mr. Dyer, as we have seen, had chosen the bar, and
the choice was the result of a predilection imbibed
during the period of his youth and unregeneracy ; and
however honourable the pursuits of that profession may
be, they were not such as to yield complete satisfaction
to such a mind as that of Samuel Dyer constitutionally
was. He may not have been able to see why, but he
felt, as the following extract of a letter written to his
father from Gosport will show, there would, in its engage-
ments, be a want of congeniality to his taste. The fact is,
benevolence was the predominant quality of his heart,
and the exercise of that virtue alone would have afford-
ed him mental and permanent contentment. When
renewed by the power of God, that virtue became one
of the graces of the Spirit, and nothing but the practi-
cal development of that grace on the most extensive
scale, in the highest sense, could have yielded him satis-
faction and peace. The ministry of the gospel among
the heathen afforded the only occupation congenial to
his disposition and holy zeal. He was by nature, grace,
and choice a MISSIONARY.
36 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
" My father and mother and the whole family are
much in my affections, thoughts, and not forgotten in
my prayers. I thought of you on Saturday last, and
suppose you thought of me. . Dearly as I love you all, 1
thank the Saviour that I am situated as I am. At no
period of my former life could I say that I was content,
but now my soul blesses the Lord for leading me as he has
done. Difficulties must be the lot of every man till he
goes to his eternal home, and some of the Redeemer's
servants experience trials unknown to any but the Lord;
" but all will be well ere long. We would not and we can-
not live here always. You have nearly reached the goal,
and I trust rejoice in the humble hope that when absent
from the body you will be present with the Lord."
In such a frame of mind as that displayed in this
extract did he pursue his studies at Gosport. When he
looked on the way in which he was led there, his heart
was filled with gratitude ; and when he looked forward
it was filled with joy. Every review strengthened his
faith in God's grace to give him adequate support to
discharge any future duty, however arduous it might
prove to be ; and the invisible hand that had guided
him so far he could see beckoning him to advance, and
at the prospect his delight abounded. This was not the
mere flush of a first love, as .subsequent years have
proved. Even in the missionary enterprise the love of
some has waxed cold, and their zeal has evaporated ; but
it was not so with Samuel Dyer. His piety was of so
elevated a character that ordinary deteriorating influ-
ences and temptations could not reach it. Those
studies, for instance, such as classics and mathema-
tics, commonly complained of, as exerting a --, deadening
STUDIES. , 37
power over the piety of many, whether at the uni-
versities or institutions of minor note, kindled his de-
votion, as he saw in them, now his course was taken,
and Ms purpose fixed, auxiliaries to his future useful-
ness. So among the heathen his fervour of spirit con-
tinued unabated. He neither lost his " first love," nor
turned aside from his " first works."
Having been appointed to the Chinese mission, and
Dr. Morrison heing at that time in England, it was hut
natural that he should he introduced to one of so much
experience, and that he should look to him principally
to guide his future movements ; and on the other hand
it was equally natural that the Doctor should take a
deep interest in one who was to be his future fellow-
labourer in the great cause to which both had with
equal devotion consecrated their lives and energies.
This of itself was sufficient to create no ordinary
friendship, but there were circumstances which gave
additional interest to this connection. Dr. Morrison,
when a student, had become intimately acquainted with
Mr. Dyer's family. At that time a son of a Chinese
mandarin was in England; (Yong-sam-tak,) who resided
at Greenwich, and this induced the Doctor to go and
live under the same roof, that he might learn Chinese
from that native, of the Celestial Empire. Both were
frequent visitors at Mr. Dyer's apartments at the hos-
pital, and it must have been no small gratification to
the Doctor to find, on his return to England twenty
years afterwards, the babe he may have recollected at
Greenwich, prepared, through the good providence and
grace of God, to go out with him on that embassy of
38 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
love ; while preparing for which tie had become acquaint-
ed with the family. A happy and intimate friendship,
therefore, subsisted between the Doctor and Mr. Samuel
Dyer through life. It is much to be deplored that but
little of their correspondence has been preserved. The
following letter, however, written by Mr. Dyer, when at
Gosport to the Doctor, will be read with some interest,
as it exhibits much of the character and temper of its
writer :
"Your letter of the 17th ult. (December, 1824,) came
to hand duly, and brought the welcome news of my
appointment to China welcome, as my destination is
fixed.
" I have not yet heard from the Directors, and con-
sequently am still in suspense as to the time of my
departure. As it regards my relationship to them, I
feel myself bound to obey their summons,, and shall
get ready at their intimation. As it regards myself, I
am very happy where I am at present, and shall be just
as happy to leave Gosport when duty bids. I shall be
ready at a few weeks' notice : however, I wish to be
passive, and leave the period of my departure to the
discretion of my friends and the Directors. I therefore
request you, if convenient, to consult with my father
and my pastor, Mr. Stratten, and then urge the matter,
as you think proper, with the Directors.
" You kindly permit me to speak freely as to any
predilection I may have for preaching or scholastic
pursuits. I think I have more talent in the latter, yet
feel the. need of much additional application before I
could undertake the Professorship of Greek and Roman
STUDIES. 39
literature. While, however, I beg you to choose my
duties for me, I could wish, when you favour me with
another epistle, you would advise me as to giving much
attention to Classical Literature. I confess I should
not like to be entirely engaged in teaching classics ;
especially if the pupils were not intended for ministerial
labours ; because I wish to be personally instrumental
in leading sinners to Jesus : while, on the other hand,
I hope my talents and acquirements may be made
useful. Your decision on this point will be received
with willing compliance ;" for Dr. Morrison had addressed
a letter to him, to which the above was an answer, in
which the Doctor states, " the next step, after you hear
officially from one of the Secretaries, will be for you to
settle in your own mind, and by the advice of your
friends, when you can be ready to take your departure."
He was ready.
Thus was Mr. Dyer most assiduous in his stu-
dies, full of faith and love, ready to engage in any
service to which he might be appointed. These ex-
cellences could not but be discovered by one of so
much experience and penetration as Dr. Bogue. The
following letter, therefore, from the Doctor to his re-
vered father is inserted entire, because it not only con-
firms what has been stated above, bnt because, also, it
is characteristic of the first tutor of the Missionary
Seminary. Dr. Bogue would express himself with
caution, as every judicious person in his situation would,
respecting one so young, and one who had seen but
little of mankind and the world, at that time ; the
language, therefore, of the following excellent letter
40 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
does not express, we may reasonably conclude, all the
writer felt, but it expressed enough to have warranted
high hopes as to future efficiency in the great work
the mission to the Chinese for which it was clear
Samuel Dyer was qualified above many. In the course
of the narrative we shall find many confirmations of
all the anticipations then entertained by his friends.
" Gosport, February 22, 1825.
" My dear Sir, Your son left Gosport sooner than I
expected, so that I had not an opportunity of writing
to you by him, as I intended. I have been exceedingly
pleased with him in every respect. He is quite a pat-
tern of piety, humility, modesty, and zeal ; and at the
same time, diligent in his studies, and possessed of
good abilities, which he cultivates with due care ; so
that there is every prospect of his proving an invaluable
missionary to the heathen.
"Unhappily, he has exerted himself in his mental
pursuits beyond his strength, and this, not merely nor
perhaps so much at Gosport, as during a year or two
before, at Cambridge ; and he now feels the effects of the
whole on his bodily frame. A medical gentleman of very
considerable skill, who is surgeon of his brother's ship,
has advised him to abstain entirely from study for two
or three months, and to attend only to the regaining of
strength, which he hopes he will be able to accomplish.
"We shall then hope to see him again resume his
studies. He will, I think, do exceedingly well for the
office assigned him in the college of Singapore ; but
the foundation of missionary qualifications must be laid
STUDIES. 41
in a thorough course of theological study, which it is
here our endeavour to attend to in the hest manner we
are able. All missionaries should he first-rate divines.
An error taught hy them, or a doctrine perverted, or
even forgotten, may have extensively pernicious effects
on the people of the country in which they are attempting
to plant the Gospel.
"I am very much interested in your son's welfare,
and beg he will write me after he has been some weeks
with you, and give me information concerning the state
of his health.
'"With kind regards to Mrs. D. and family, especially
my friend Samuel, and earnest prayers for your temporal
and spiritual prosperity,
" I am, my dear Sir, with great esteem,
" Your very affectionate friend and servant,
"DAVID BOGUE."
Wherever he went he was esteemed, yea, admired ;
there was such a combination of "piety, humility,
modesty, and zeal," apparent in all his actions, as to es-
tablish the fullest confidence in the bosom of every one
interested in him, that he would prove " an invaluable
missionary to the heathen." When he left Gosport he
entertained fully the idea of returning to resume the
studies he was obliged, with great reluctance, partially
to relinquish. On the 25th of October, in that
year, Dr. Bogue finished his work on earth, and was
called to his reward in heaven ; so that his studies, while,
he remained in England, were conducted under other
but able superintendence. From the time, however, he
42 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
left Gosport till his embarkation somewhat more than
two years there is a complete blank in all the papers
that have reached me. For the sake of completeness in
the narrative, if on no higher ground, I felt it was my
duty to seek, in every quarter from which I could obtain
any information, documents by which to fill up the chasm
referred to. I have, however, succeeded, but to a very
imperfect extent. The first application was, of course, to
his excellent father, who writes to me thus :
" The blank in the correspondence now in your posses-
sion, regarding my missionary son, to which you refer in
your kind note of yesterday, can be shortly and satisfac-
torily explained.
(e During his continuance at Gosport his health had
materially suffered from intense application to study,
and too much exercise in walking to and from distant
villages on the sabbath-day in his Master's work, accom-
panied by abstemiousness. On his return home to
Paddington, by the advice of Dr. Bogue, for the recovery
of his strength, he was for a short time under medical
treatment, still pursuing his studies, until he became
convalescent, when he took lodgings at Islington, with a
view of pursuing theological studies under Dr. J. Pye
Smith at Homerton, instead of returning to Gosport.
This arrangement was made that he might also avail
himself of the large collection of Chinese works deposited
at the mission house by Dr. Morrison, towards the attain-
ment of that language. His time, therefore, while at
Islington, was devoted to those two objects, and making
himself acquainted with the arts of printing, punch-
cutting, and type-founding. Afterwards he was placed
STUDIES. 43
under Dr. Henderson, to prepare himself by more ex-
tended philological learning and other subjects to enter
into the missionary field ; and there continued till his or-
dination and departure for the Straits of Malacca. The
whole, therefore, of the two years, from the time he left
Gosport to his embarkation, were devoted to the attain-
ment of such branches of knowledge as were calculated
to qualify him for the various objects connected with
missionary life."
After the lamented death of Dr. Bogue, it was thought
desirable to remove the missionary seminary from Gos-
port to London, and Dr. Henderson, now of Highbury
College, was appointed to succeed Dr. Bogue. The
premises previously known as Hoxton Academy became
vacant on the erection of Highbury College, and were
taken ' by the London Missionary Society for their
seminary. And on the 28th of September 1826, the
missionary students met at Hoxton, and among them
was Samuel Dyer. Here he applied* himself with un-
abated assiduity to all his studies. " As a student,"
writes one of his fellow students, to me,* "he was re-
markable for diligent attention to study. His chief at-
tention was given to the Chinese language, in which he
had made sufficient progress to read the sacred Scriptures
devotionally. And truly he loved the Bible, for he made
it his constant companion and his counsellor. At
College, I never once observed him gossiping; never
once remember to have seen him conversing with a
brother student at times which were proper to study.
He was remarkable for his observance of order, time,
* The Rev. Joseph Ketley, now of Georgetown, Demerara.
44 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
and place. His punctuality was complete. He was
very desirous of being fitted for his work, and though
he looked forward to it with pleasure, it was' yet with
much anxiety, lest he should be found neither faithful
iior useful. His experience taught him implicit depend-
ence on the grace of Christ."
Of course I applied to Dr. Henderson, for any in-
formation which it might be in his power to give, or a
statement of the impressions he might still retain of his
excellences or his character. In answer to this applica-
tion, I received a kind letter, the greater part of which
I have much gratification in transcribing : " I wish,"
writes Dr. Henderson, " I could furnish you with the
information you want, relative to my late lamented friend
Mr. Dyer ; but I have no written memoranda on which
to fall back. I retain, however, a most lively recollection
of his conduct and character during the period of his
residence with us at the Mission College, Hoxton. It is
no injustice to our other brethren who studied with him in
that Institution, to say, that for depth of piety, amiable-
ness of disposition, ardour in the pursuit of knowledge,
closeness of application, success in study, and simple-
hearted devotedness to the great object which they all
professed to have in view, he was surpassed by none.
He was a universal favourite, a wise and faithful adviser,
and ready at all times, and in every way, to assist his
, fellow students. I need not add, that I. took the deepest
interest in him ; and it gave me singular pleasure, after
he went to the East, to receive information either directly
from himself, or through his honoured and venerable
father, and other channels, respecting his success in
STUDIES. 45
the great work to which he had devoted his life. His
rapid progress in Hebrew convinced me that he would
find no difficulty in mastering any language that he
might he called to learn ; the Chinese itself, notexcepted.
"We are much called to abound in prayer to the
Lord of the harvest, that he would raise up many of a
kindred spirit ; men who will be ready to make any
sacrifice for the glory of Christ and the salvation of the
heathen, not seeking their own things, but the things
which are Jesus Christ's."
He enjoyed, however, the able instructions of Dr.
Henderson but for a very short period, for on the 20th
of February 1827, he was ordained at Paddington
chapel as a missionary to the heathen : on the 1 Oth of
the following month he quitted the shoves of England
amidst the prayers, tears, and best wishes of many.
His ordination at Paddington chapel was a season never
to be forgotten by those who were present. His " Con-
fession of Faith," although short and simple, was such
a statement of past occurrences in his own short his-
tory ; of experience and feeling ; of courageous resolu-
tion and implicit dependence on Divine grace ; of truth
to be taught to the heathen, and of the spirit in which
that truth was to be made known ; of fears felt, and of
love by which the power of that fear was more than neu-
tralised ; and of trust in the power and presence of Christ
that the congregation was subdued under the sacred and
mighty influence that pervaded the whole assembly, and
constrained it to say, " God is in our midst to-night."
Dr. "Waugh offered the ordination prayer. Feeling was
deepened, and some, it has been subsequently ascertained,
46 'MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
yielded up their hearts as living sacrifices unto God,
that night, and became from that day forth the follow-
ers of that Saviour who had called Samuel Dyer to
serve him among the heathen. Their conversion, their
renewal by the Holy Ghost, sealed the service of that
night with the approbation of God.
His pastor, the Rev. J. Straiten, delivered to him the
charge. It was founded on 2 Tim. iv. 22 : " The
Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit." After a number
of introductory observations, most appropriate and
touching, in which Mr. S. proceeds in the following
strain a strain in which every testimony hitherto borne
to Samuel Dyer's excellences was abundantly sustained,
but in a manner that was adapted to check him with
the utmost delicacy, when he was in danger of carrying
to extreme what in itself was highly commendable :
" There are many things proper to be said oil such
occasions as the present, which I deem it unnecessary
to say to you. I shall not caution you against vanity
and elation of mind, but rather employ the language of
God and the people to Joshua, ' Only be strong and of
a good courage ;' I would remind you that we may
injure our usefulness by too low as well as too high an
estimate of our own gifts and qualifications. Neither
need I warn you against ease and self-indulgence, but
rather call to your remembrance the advice of the
apostle Paul to Timothy, 'Drink no longer water, but
take a little wine, for thy stomach's sake.' It is proper
to -say to you, though by no means a common fault,
there may be an excess of self-denial. I shall not
warn you against indolence or inexertion of mind, against
STUDIES. 47
squandering away your precious and irrecoverable mo-
ments, but assure you that we Inswe flesh as well as spirit,
and that the animal nature sometimes requires relief
and relaxation. It is greatly to the honour of the
profession you have chosen, that, for one missionary
who has loitered in the vineyard, there are ten who
have fallen victims to multitudinous labour, and insup-
portable application. It is the part of wisdom to avoid
both extremes : with the spirit of power and of love,
God hath joined that of a sound mind ; and a word to
you on this subject, though I deemed it necessary, will
be sufficient." Then the discourse proceeds to inquire
and describe what is meant by the presence of the Lord
Jesus Christ in his sympathy and tenderness, in his
constant and gracious care, and in the manifestations of
his will and mind : then to show how much he would,
need his presence and support because the treasure
he carried to the heathen was valuable beyond all price,
but deposited in an earthen vessel ; and because he
would have to encounter violent temptations, corrupt
and sceptical men, lukewarmness, insincerity, and oppo-
sition, and the vile practices of idolatry : then the
promise of Christ himself ; the fact that he was to be
employed in the Redeemer's work ; that he was called
to that service ; the experience of his predecessors, and
victories already won, were adduced as reasons why he
should expect the presence of Christ. He was then
exhorted to " expect PERSONA-L success. We are
engaged," proceeds the discourse, (C in no hopeless
enterprise and speculation. The faith and patience of
the church have been almost sufficiently tried. Yo\i
48 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
may live to see at Malacca and among the Chinese the
very counterpart of the events at Tahiti and in the
Southern Isles. Oh! the object is immense, and most
magnificent. It will he a glorious day -when China is
morally stormed and revolutionized and enlightened :
when Christianity shall have overthrown the supersti-
tion of ages, and scattered the dense darkness of cen-
turies, and destroyed all the vile creatures which have
had in it their habitation and their home, and trans-
formed that country into the garden of the Lord.
That day, my brother, shall come. We can take our
standing on the oath and promise of God, and assert
it with all confidence and certainty. May you be the
honoured instrument of its progress and acceleration !
" Hereafter, in heaven I may take yoxi by the hand,
remembering the interesting moment and occasion on
which this sentiment was uttered, and with complacency
we may both look down on China evangelized. You
may see, and you may execute, great and incredible things
while you live. From small causes astonishing eifects
may sometimes proceed. Your preaching, and books,
and translations, may have a deep and mighty influence
upon the state of Chinese society, and be extended to
the remotest generations.
" Unite these scattered thoughts : you are weak and
helpless, and therefore you shall be ' strengthened with
might in your inner man. 5 The promise respecting it
is strong and faithful ; you are engaged in the Re-
deemer's own work, to which you are called and com-
missioned ; your predecessors have never been left, and
the cause is destined to have universal and unclouded
STUDIES. 49
victory. Be assured, c the Lord Jesus Christ will be
with thy spirit/ "
After dwelling on PRAYER his mvn and that of the
church and DILIGENCE in the way of duty, as the
means by which the presence of Christ was to he
obtained, his pastor proceeded to show what the pre-
sence of Christ would do for him, and the charge closes
in the following fervid strain in illustration of that topic.
" It will make you courageous and indefatigable.
YOU may be placed in circumstances where self-posses-
sion is of the highest consequence, and the presence of
Christ will inspire it. You must be dauntless when
you are assailed for your faith, and make your attack
and retort with all suddenness and brilliancy, so as to
produce invincible conviction ; and this fearlessness and
intrepidity of spirit is by Jesus Christ.
" It will make you wise and prudent. . There is a
certain largeness, magnanimity of wisdom, which is
infinitely remote from craft and human policy ; ^-there
is a manly prudence, which disdains and despises all
cunning and artifice. This is the wisdom and prudence
of Christ.
" You will have your eyes about you not to encounter
needless danger, but to embrace opportunities, to avail
yourself of passing advantages, to employ the best
means, and to lay your plans well. Intrepidity without
wisdom is the desperation of a fanatic; and wisdom
itself, without courage, will never escape the contempt
and obloquy of cowardice. ' This, also, cometh from the
Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excel-
lent in working.'
E
50 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
" It will make you gentle and affectionate. You will
be tender in your spirit, and persuasive in your manner.
Christ himself was love and gentleness embodied in
their fairest exhibition, and most perfect form. You
must aim to be like him.
" It will make you patient and persevering. If
Christ be with you, you will not turn back, saying,
* There is a lion in the way.' You will stand in the
evil day in full armour, and having done all, stand.
Think of the expression of the apostle, * in much
patience.' Go on, my brother ; if you fall, fall .at your
post ; if you perish, let it be in your work ; and your
record is on high, and your recompense with your God,
and yours shall be a crown of no ordinary splendour.
You shall shine in the firmament of God for ever.
" In a word, it will make you like himself. Behold-
ing his glory, and realizing his presence, you will be
changed into his likeness. His mind will be in you.
You will be conformed to that perfect model. You
cannot wish for more : we cannot wish more for you.
You shall be conformed to him also in his glory:
{ If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him ;'
we shall sit down with him on his throne, and be
glorified together.
"I venture to add three or four principles which
ought ever to be fixed and permanent in your mind.
First. The whole system of idolatry against which you
set yourself is base, and vile, and mischievous. It is
ruinous to the present and everlasting interest of man,
and obnoxious and offensive to every perfection of God.
It is the most intolerable noisomeness, and the most
STUDIES. 51
detestable abomination which has ever afflicted the hu-
man family. Second. The gospel which you carry is
of inestimable worth. It is precious beyond all price ;
it is a balm for every woe ; the antidote of death, and
the harbinger of immortality. It secures glory to God
in the highest, and advances to the utmost the present
and everlasting happiness of man. Third. If you die,
you have attempted a great work. You have essayed a
noble and generous enterprise. You have acquired even
in your fall eternal honour. You shall not be deplored.
We will have an anthem and a jubilee over you. ' He
is gone/ we will say, ' to his coronation and his triumph.'
Fourth. It shall succeed in other hands. Where you
have planted your feet, or shed your tears, or breathed
your sighs, or poured out your blood, or yielded up your
spirit, there Christ shall reign, and the cross be victo-
rious, and halleluias shall ascend from all voices to the
throne of God and the Lamb.
" I charge you, therefore, before God and this people
and the elect angels, that you ' keep this commandmen
without spot until the appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ.' Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay
hold on eternal life, to which you are also called, and
professed a good profession, before many witnesses. Go,
therefore, in comfort, in elevated and enlightened con-
fidence, in high hopes, in holy satisfaction : and the
.Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, the angels and
this congregation will conspire in the language of the
prophet, and say, ' Thou shalt go out with joy, and be
led forth with peace : the mountains and the hills shall
E 2
52 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of
the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn
shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier shall
come up the myrtle-tree, and it shall be to the Lord
for a name, for an everlasting sign which shall not be
cut off.' Amen."
I have given a lengthened abstract of this discourse,
not only because of its intrinsic excellence, but princi-
pally because it made an impression on his own mind
which was never effaced, as well as on the assembled
multitude who witnessed the solemnity. The ordination
of Mr. Dyer is spoken of in many a circle as a season
of all but unparalleled interest in the history of the
church at Paddington chapel.
While among them he was, as we have seen, greatly
esteemed ; and now he is gone to his reward his memory
is fragrant, and they bless the Lord for all the grace
bestowed on him, and because on him on themselves
too, for few churches have been so privileged as to
have such a representative among the heathen.
"Mr. Dyer was soon afterwards married to Miss
Tarn, the eldest daughter of Joseph Tarn, Esq., one of
the Directors of the London Missionary Societyf a lady
in every way well qualified to become the wife of such
a missionary ; and on the day specified before they sailed
for the Straits of Malacca." As Mrs. Dyer* is still
living it would be deemed unsuitable to say more than
is contained in the above extract from the correspon-.
deuce of Mr, Dyer's father with myself.
* Now Mrs. Bansum. Mr. Bansum is a German missionary labouring
at Penang.
CHAPTER III.
LABOURS.
Mr. Dyer's original destination : The state of the mission to the Chinese:
Stays at Penang: The mission in that island: Correspondence, first
impressions and labours : The language, peculiarity of: Mr. Dyer's mas-
tery of: Schools, male and female : Typography : Mr. Dyer's prepara-
tion for a fount of metallic types : Communications on the subject :
Mr. Dyer's emotions on : Multiplied labours : Trials : Contentedness :
Death of his first-born : Death of his excellent mother : Letters : To
his father.
IT was the intention of the Directors, in accordance
with the unhesitating recommendation of Dr. Bogue,
that Mr. Dyer should be appointed, if not to the princi-
palship of the Anglo-Chinese College, to a position in
that institution, it was hoped, that would have afforded
a full scope for his learning, acquirements, and graces.
This was the position he contemplated himself when at
Gosport. Every one saw that he had qualifications for
such duties. It was thought, too, by Dr. Morrison, that
he was the man for such a post. How frequently, how-
ever, are what we may deem the wisest and most
matured plans set aside by circumstances which none
can control ; and how difficult often it is to acquiesce
in arrangements which bring our prudence to nothing,
and leave us little else as the result of our planning
54 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
than lamentations over our disappointments ! God's
providence assigned Mr. Dyer other duties than those
devolving on a teacher in a scholastic establishment.
To enable the reader, however, to comprehend more
fully the state of the Chinese mission at this time, and
the. feelings which consequently animated the bosom of
the subject of these Memoirs, we shall present a brief
account of it here. The Protestant mission to that
empire was commenced soon after the beginning of
the present century. It is needless to say, that Dr.
Morrison was the first missionary. He was directed, as
he acquired the language, to compile a dictionary, to
facilitate its acquisition by future missionaries, and to
translate, as soon as he found himself competent to the
task, the Holy Scriptures. Dr. Morrison had to a most
unusual degree the requisite powers for these duties.
He was a man of deep devotion, of most unbounded
application to any work he undertook and he never
undertook what was mean and paltry, of adequate
learning, and a man of indomitable perseverance. He
accomplished his task; and accomplished it, too, in
a manner that will surprise posterity more, perhaps,
than it does many in the present day. But he was
not satisfied with all this; the version of the Sacred
Scriptures, his grammar, his ponderous dictionary, his
other translations and compilations and they were nume-
rous ; for he had other plans in view, some of which he,
carried out, if not to his entire satisfaction, to a happy
degree of completeness. These indicated a comprehen-
siveness of mind, and a nobleness of soul, that was some-
times but imperfectly understood : and the more so, as he
LABOURS. 55
had not always, perhaps, complete control over his
patience to bear with those of lower stature, and who
could not, consequently, command so wide a range as
himself: hence, he was liable to be misapprehended,
where he ought to have been admired. However, to
analyze Dr. Morrison's character or labours is not the
object now in view ; but as he was the founder of the
Anglo-Chinese College, an allusion to himself and his
plans was both just and inevitable. Among other mat-
ters of first importance, Dr. Morrison contemplated the
establishment of a college on an efficient and liberal
scale, from an early period of his residence in the
country, in which the cultivation of English and Chinese
literature, with an especial reference to missionary pur-
poses, was the great object proposed. It was hoped
that Europeans might be disposed to avail themselves
of the facilities it would afford to acquire a knowledge
of the Chinese with other Ultra-Gangetic languages ;
and that many natives might be disposed to receive
instruction within its walls in Occidental literature,
sciences, and arts. Hence the establishment, and hence
its name Anglo-Chinese College. Dr. Morrison con-
tributed one thousand pounds towards the erection of the
college premises, and a hundred per annum for the first
five years. The foundation-stone was laid in the month
of November, 1818. Dr. Milne became its first prin-
cipal. Its plan was noble and comprehensive ; worthy,
indeed, of Dr. Morrison's liberal mind, principles, and
habits. The only fault it had, if fault it be, was, that it
was in advance of the state of things at that period ; its
labours must therefore have been, as they still are, and
56 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
for a long time to come will be, elementary, and alto-
gether below what we are disposed to expect in a college,
when we attach the idea we do in the west to such an
establishment. To a representation like this. Dr. Mor-
rison would reply, in his characteristic manner, that,
as the man bears the name he did in childhood, why
not give, in like manner, to the infant institution at
Malacca the designation of its manhood? Such was
the institution for which Mr. Dyer was originally de-
signed. He even left England with this view.
Such was the state of the Chinese mission when
Mr. Dyer joined the band of devoted men on the con-
fines of that mighty empire only seven in the year
in which he went out, and that number was soon
after reduced by death and sickness. Much had been
done, much was doing, and much was- to be done- the
work was only begun ; it is in its beginning still,
nevertheless, advancing. The amount of what has
actually been accomplished, it is, perhaps, impossible
to ascertain. No one was prepared to say that the
work which God enabled the missionaries to achieve at
Madagascar, for instance, was of so genuine a character,
until trials developed its nature, and, indeed, proved
its extent. At least, the churches in this land were
delighted to a degree and in a manner that proved they
had not anticipated such stedfast faith in the African
believers as they found animating their souls in the
midst of persecution and death ; so, should circum-
stances arise adapted to test those among the Chinese
who have heard the truth, we might find that the
amount of what is done is much greater than we are
LABOURS.
57
prepared to suppose. We know but little of hidden
man. Of the moral influence that may pervade any.
community at a given time, we have often but the most
imperfect apprehension.
When Mr. Dyer reached the Straits of Malacca,
however, a variety of considerations led him to resolve
to stay at Penang ; at least till the judgment of- the
Directors on the representations he -and his brethren
made to them, could be obtained. The commence-
ment of the mission to Penang dates back as early as
1816, when Dr. Milne visited the island. The imme-
diate object of this visit was to present a petition to
the Governor in council for a grant of land on which
to erect mission premises at Malacca. Dr. Milne,
nevertheless, availed himself of this opportunity to dis-
tribute the Sacred Scriptures and tracts among the Chi-
nese of the settlement, and to gather all the informa-
tion that might enable the Society to act with prudence,
in case it should be thought desirable, at a future
period, to send missionaries to that beautiful island.
Three years afterwards, (in 1819,) Mr. Medhurst paid
a visit " to distribute tracts, and establish schools, for
which the support of Government was obtained, and
then made way for Messrs. Beighton and Ince, who
occupied the station as resident missionaries." " To-
wards the close of the following year, however, the
author again visited the island, and settled at James
Town, in the midst of a small population, having charge
of a native orphan school, consisting of about twenty
individuals, who resided in the missionary's house, and
under his own eye. A dispensary was likewise opened
58 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
for the sick poor, and visits paid to the heathen in their
dwellings, while Divine worship was regularly conducted
with the inmates of the mission family and a few
neighbours."*
Messrs. Beighton and Ince the former in the Malay,
and the latter in the Chinese department of the mission
settled at George Town. Mr. Ince laboured with
assiduity in establishing and superintending schools, in
distributing Christian tracts, and in conversing with,
and preaching to, the people, on the fundamental truths
of Christianity, till he was called to his reward and his
heavenly rest in 1825. From the lamented death of
Mr. Ince, till August, 1827, when Mr. Dyer arrived at
Penang, there was no one to superintend the Chinese
branch of the mission, except, indeed, what little atten-
tion Mr. Beighton was able to bestow upon it. This
oversight was necessarily imperfect; for Mr. B. had
more than enough to occupy his time and exhaust his
energies in the Malay branch of the mission; and
besides, he knew nothing of the language of the Chinese.
"With the exception, therefore, of a single school, which
was in a dwindling and inefficient state, there was scarcely
a trace left of the operations of Mr. Beighton' s late ex-
cellent and amiable colleague, when Mr. Dyer reached
Penang at the date mentioned above. Mr. Dyer, there-
fore, felt he was called upon to stay at this station, as
there were brethren both at Malacca and Singapore,
labouring with constancy and success in their various
departments. On his arrival, Mr. Dyer, in writing
home to the Society, states his reasons for staying at
* Medlmrst's " China," &c.
LABOURS. 59
Penang in the following terms: "Upon our arrival
here, we found that Mr. Beighton was gone to reside
upon one of the, Penang hills for the benefit of his
health : he had been dangerously ill. Mrs. Beighton
has been strongly recommended to take a voyage to
China for the benefit of her health. No missionary
was here as a Chinese labourer. Mr. Kidd was here
for a little while after Mr. Ince's death. The Chinese
department of the mission has fallen to the ground,
except a boys' school," &c. After alluding to other
considerations, he proceeds to say, " Under these cir-
cumstances, it appeared to us to be the path of duty
to remain at Penang, at least for some time. I have
written to the brethren of the Ultra-Ganges mission to
consult them ; as, also, to the deputation.* Messrs.
Thompson, Tomlin, and Smith, are at Singapore ;
Messrs. Collie, Humphries, and Kidd, are at Malacca :"
so, " I have made up my mind to stay at Penang, * * *
if permitted to do so. From what Mr. Beighton has
said to me, I fully expect the concurrence of the depu-
tation ; and I think all the brethren will be favour-
able indeed, no important purpose can be accomplished
by my removal." Thus his original destination was
changed by circumstances, and in a manner he did not
at all anticipate. This, however, did not by any means
grieve him, as he was always ready to obey with the
utmost cheerfulness the calls of duty.
At this island, a gem of the sea, Mr. Dyer had ample
scope and abundant facilities for the exercise of his
genius, his energies, and his piety. The Chinese .popu-
* Messrs. Tyerman and Bennet.
60 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
lation amounted in round numbers to about ten thousand.
He devoted himself to the duties of his great commission
with unremitting assiduity, as the following extracts from
a letter addressed to a beloved sister will show. They
are introduced both to show what were his first impres-
sions, and also his first engagements. "You will be
surprised to find my letter dated at this place, (Penang,)
much more, when I tell you, that in all probability we
shall remain here. ******
Penang is a very pretty place ; woody in the extreme,
as are all the neighbouring islands. * * *
There are several lofty hills, to which Europeans resort
for the benefit of their health : from the foot of the hills
to the sea is a gradual descent ; so that good water, the
source of which is a waterfall, from one of the hills, is con-
veyed in an aqueduct of clay to the English town, and it
goes through our grounds. We reside within two hun-
dred yards of the sea. I suppose this season (Septem-
ber) to be the least pleasant of any throughout the year ;
it is the rainy season, yet it is far frbni being disagreeable.
"We have rain every day, but then it is in heavy showers,
which are followed by sunshine. During this season it
is pleasantly cool in the daytime. The nights are always
cool. We are, however, obliged to be exceedingly careful
of getting wet, as it is generally attended with unpleasant
consequences. * * * Most Europeans
have conveyances, and indeed this is a necessary article
of a missionary's furniture, as he is obliged to go out at
all times in the day, and sometimes long distances. I
believe Penang equally healthy with Singapore ; but the
most healthy place in India requires that we whould be
LABOURS. 61
very careful of exposure." The preceding extracts,
free, familiar, and natural, are from a brother to a sister.
The following, from the same letter, exhibit more
fully the missionary, his feelings, impressions, and pur-
poses. "You will rejoice to learn that we have had an
almost unspeakable advantage in learning so much of
the language before we arrived. Before three days had
elapsed, we could make ourselves understood by our
Chinese teacher by writing on paper, and before three
weeks had elapsed, we could converse with him on
several subjects in the Fuh-keen dialect, without the
medium of paper. This is not the dialect we learned
in England. This morning I held the following dialogue
with my teacher, getting him to write one or two diffi.
cult words.
" Samuel. Do the Canton people worship idols ?
" Teacher. Yes.
" Samuel. Is that right, or not ?
" Teacher. Not right. It is right to worship Jesus the
Lord of heaven.
"Then I read to him several passages from the Bible.
The following is his remark, which he wrote on a
piece of paper, and I translate it literally. ' Have men
believing in Jesus' s books, if they read them, of neces-
sity they will obtain good ; and after death they will
ascend heaven's temple : those who do not believe shall
descend to earth' prison as guilty men. 5 I will write
in Chinese, in . case Mr. Wilkins, or somebody who
knows Chinese, should call upon you." (Then follows
the Chinese, but for obvious reasons not transcribed
here.) "I am. fully persuaded, however, that it is con-
62 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
fession without principle : and in this way he will con-
sent to everything almost ' I can propose. 5
"This is the time for the great Chinese feast at
Penang. I went to it on the first and second days, and 1
distributed several tracts and parts of the Bible in
Chinese. They received them very willingly, and my
teacher assisted me very zealously in distributing them ;
his idea is, they will make men good, but he does not
understand the nature of salvation from sin. I saw at
the feast a hideous looking monster to which they bow
down to worship. I saw them fall down before it, (at
least several persons,) with their heads touching the
ground. I saw little children about six or seven years
of age dressed up and taught to how down to the
monster. It was of most ugly form, having apparently
two eggs with a large black spot upon them for eyes, and
it had a savage countenance. There was a table before
it, on which I laid eight copies of some of Paul's
epistles, and when I returned the second time they were
gone. The feast lasts nine days more, and I hope to
distribute more tracts, trusting that they shall be ac-
companied with the Divine blessing. I cannot preach in
the Fuh-keen dialect at present, but I hope to do so in
a few weeks. "We hope shortly to have four Chinese
schools ; two for boys and two for girls. We have
obtained two temples for the boys' schools, as well as
two schoolmasters for them. We have also obtained
one schoolmaster for girls, and ten girls. But we can
do very little this way now, because of the Chinese
feast. I have also made an attempt to establish a school
for teaching English to adult Chinese. By teaching
LABOURS. 63
them, I shall learn their language better, and when able,
I shall preach to them. However, I shall only have
six for an hour in the evening, and shall continue to
teach them only so long as I may see any benefit arising
from it.
"In our domestic capacity we are very comfortably
circumstanced. In India we are obliged to have a great
many servants, simply because one servant will only do
certain things. "We. have no less than five. They are
all Malays but one, who is a Bengalee. We are, there-
fore, obliged to learn to speak Malay as well as Chinese.
That language is very easy, and will enable us to con-
verse with almost every man on the island. * *
All we need to make us happy is our heavenly Father's
smiles a heart which can enjoy the surrounding beau-
ties, and yet feel itaelf a stranger in a strange land. We
have an abundance of work before us, and should be
glad to live many years to do it ; yet in Indian climates
all should specially live like those who are shortly to
depart hence, because a man may be in good health to-
day and to-morrow in the grave.
"Last evening Mr. Beighton and myself went again
to the Chinese feast ; not many people assembled, on
account of the rains being so incessant. However, we
circulated several Malay and Chinese tracts. We went
into the great temple with some books in our hands ;
several Chinese followed us in, whom we supplied, and
then placed ten gospels of Mark upon the table before
the altar, (and the god ;) so you see we have hitherto
faced the enemy without danger. I long for the day
to come when I shall be able to speak to them, and call
64 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
'
upon them to renounce idolatry. * * * There
is much here to contribute to the enjoyment of a mis-
sionary, if his heart be but intent upon the Saviour's
work. One evening I went out to walk ; all was silent,
except that a few came to draw water from the aqueduct
which runs through the spot where I stood. The sun
went down pleasantly, and the clouds long retained their
lustre. Every surrounding object encouraged the spirit
of devotion, and I quite rejoiced to be situated as I was.
Glad should I have been, like the Saviour, to have con-
versed with those that drew water, but I could not
they were Malays."
The above was written in September, 1827; and in
October he writes to his friends a lengthened account
of his feelings and labours ; from which the following
extracts are taken ;
" I send you, shall I call it, the pledge of the Re-
deemer's triumphs in China. In one of my journeys
I met with a Chinaman who willingly gave me the in-
closed idol. The same day another man gave me a
large one, but if I send it it must be by another oppor-
tunity. The Chinese universally worship idols. You
cannot go into a Chinese house, except he be a Roman
Catholic, but it has an idol, an altar, and incense. * *
* * * If a man have no idol, other Chinamen
will say he is a bad man ; so all, with scarcely one ex-
ception, have them. The field of labour is extensive in
Penang. There are several thousands of Chinese, and
also people of twenty or thirty other countries ; but the
main population is made up of Chinese and Malays.
George Town, near which we live, is crowded with in-
LABOURS. 65
habitants. * * * * The Chinese are
a very affable people ; and in every respect it is pleasant
to have to do with them. They have not once disputed
my representations. They will assent to all I say about
Jesus Christ, without arguing against, or believing what
is said. Even my teacher says that if people say they
are not guilty, they are self-righteous and cannot be
saved; that Jesus Christ received the punishment for
our transgressions; that if men believe the gospel they
shall behaved. And, moreover, he is active and zealous
in telling others the same truths ; but still there is
something wanting in him to constitute a true believer.
" Yesterday I went to a distance from home, as far as
my horse could go, to visit some Chinese and distribute
books, and returned in the evening. The reception I
met with was very gratifying. Having distributed my
books, I dined with a Chinese. Five of us sat down to
table -our host, my teacher, two others, and myself.
The entertainment was very good in their way. I was
quite welcome, and asked to come again and remain all
night. Just as I was leaving the village my host, seeing
a man from the interior bringing oranges to Georgetown,
purchased a few and put them in my palanquin. I
mention this that you may know we are among a hos-
pitable people.
" My journal is necessarily very barren just now, con-
taining little else but an account of the distribution of
books. I can converse with my teacher on any subject,
and can preach so as to be understood by all ; but as the
Chinese mutter very much, I cannot understand them.
* * We are devising plans of future usefulness.
66 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER-
One is for instructing female children on the Lancasterian
system, to be under Maria's daily superintendence. We
hope to obtain at first fifty girls in daily attendance, to
instruct them in reading and working, but above all in the
affairs of another world. Schools here do not flourish
without the most vigorous superintendence, and Maria
is well able to take the charge. * * * *
I have lately been a journey to the interior, or south-
ward of Penang. I was absent from home and Maria
four days, for the first time. The purport of my journey
was principally the distribution of books, and to know
the number and state of the Chinese in other parts of
the island. I was everywhere kindly received. One
day I wandered with my teacher a long way into some
pepper gardens. At last, benighted, we arrived at two
or three lonely houses. We took tea, distributed books,
and returned. We had, however, got into a labyrinth,
and were obliged to seek a guide to lead us out. After
my return I was very much pleased that one man from this
remote place should come many miles to ask me for the
whole Bible. He listened to me attentively while I
spoke of Jesus Christ ; and I then sent him away with
the New Testament, promising that I would give him
the Old the next time he came."
The following extracts from a letter written to his
beloved pastor, about this time, will bring his occupa-
tions and spirit more fully before the reader :
'" You will doubtless have heard that we have made
up our minds to remain at Penang ; especially since
the brethren of the Ultra Ganges mission advise us to
do so. I assure you our circumstances are just what we
LABOURS. 67
would have them to be. When in England I frequently
looked .forward to a change of circumstances for the
better," ('. e., when contemplating his original profession,)
" but it is not so now. We are quite content, and would
not but be as we are. You will not suppose by this that
we are enjoying heaven upon earth.. This cannot be
while there remains a corrupted nature ; but the burden
we are called upon to bear is the very one we wish to
bear. The work is what we would choose again were we
now in England.
- * # * * . *
" At present I cannot do much actual work, but am
endeavouring to do a little. I have three Chinese
schools, and daily hope for a fourth ; all which I can
conduct with ease. These schools contain about fifty
children, who are all learning Scripture truths. Many
Chinese come to see me. Some want medicine, &c,, to
whom I endeavour to declare the gospel. Unhappily
they assent to what I say, arid there it drops. However,
it is for us to sow the seed, and we know not which
shall prosper, this or that. All willingly take Christian
books : in this they differ from the Malays, who will
not. The Roman Catholics here have rather a firm
footing. Their influence is considerable ; so much so
as to receive a monthly allowance from government for
schools. Their converts are not a few in number.
The Lord knoweth why Popery is permitted to triumph,
we only know this, that 'He hath done all things well.'
" It is now some days since I have been able to writs
F 2
68 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
aline. I have been very busy with Mrs. D. in estab-
lishing a female Chinese school. Thanks be to our
heavenly Father we have succeeded thus far. In nine
days we got twenty-three children. All 'come willingly,
and go apparently much pleased. We expect eventually
to have fifty children. The parents and friends who
come to see, are apparently pleased, and some astonished
at the order and behaviour of the children. On Sunday
last, they learnt a prayer in the morning, and hymns in
the afternoon. It is our intention to press upon them
the duty of praying to God morning and evening ; and
in a few Sundays to teach them to sing hymns to their
Bedeemer. Last Sunday morning they knelt down for
the first time with the schoolmaster and my pundit, to
pray to the true God. I do not think many understood
what I said, but the very gesture of kneeling was
pleasing and encouraging. They read Christian books,
and no others ; and I know you will join in praying for
and in expecting a blessing.
" A few days ago I took my stand in a hired Chinese
house in the midst of hundreds. I go every day and
work there, instead of working at home ; but I cannot
do much, for every day Chinese come to hear what I
have to say, sometimes one or two, at other times
three or four, to-day seven. They listen, and generally
assent to all I say, as good. Occasionally they ask me
questions. Yesterday, one man asked me if it was
lawful to drink wine ? They mean by wine, brandy and
gin. They know these come from England, and they
have universally a strong impression that ALL English-
men drink freely of these spirits, so that it was a very
LABOURS. 69
cunning question; for they think that as I am an
Englishman I shall of course plead for this vice." Oh !
this vice, and the traffic in opium, have been a hindrance
of inconceivable power and magnitude to the progress of
the gospel in Eastern Asia, and among the Chinese !
He proceeds : " I am somewhat at a loss to know what
to do. My Chinese aifairs are so multifarious that I
cannot get one hour a day for private reading ; and they
increase rapidly upon me. If I could live without food
and sleep, I have more than enough to keep me fully
employed. In this case, what am I to do ? Am I to
steal an hour a day, and say no matter, however import-
ant, shall intrude ? * * * *
But indeed I know not how to steal an hour, or which
to steal ; so I shall not he a very wise man at this rate,
should I live till seventy. However, this is not my
chief complaint. If I were a holy man, a child of a
filial and affectionate disposition towards our heavenly
Father, I do not think the want of learning would much
distress me, when I think my Master's work calls for
every moment of my time." * * *
The month after this, (January 1828,) he reports,
" On Sunday last I preached two sermons in Chinese.
My congregations were small, hut very encouraging. In
the morning, at half-past nine, I had six hearers, and in
the afternoon, at four, five hearers. I hope these ser-
vices will be regular every sabbath, and will eventually
increase in numbers." After this he proceeds to describe
the apathy of the people ; a subject to which painful
references will have to be made in the course of these
Memoirs frequently again. The following extracts must
70 MEMOIR OP THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
be added to those already quoted, that we may be the
better able to appreciate the amount of his labours, and
the spirit in which he discharged the duties that pressed
in crowds upon him, and must press on every missionary,
especially when alone in bearing his burden. "We have
been at Penang one year on the 8th of next month ;
and never for one moment have we been permitted to
regret our external circumstances. The language has
engaged our main attention, and I am astonished at
its difficulties ; for although we had peculiar advantages
and could soon make ourselves understood by a few,
whose dialect comes nearer to the Mandarin, the
mass of the people are .Fuh-keen, and so diverse is the
spoken language of some of the provinces of China,
that a Canton man, for instance, is a barbarian to a Fuh-
keen man, unless they know each other's dialect. The
Fuh-keen has already cost me much labour and toil ;
and it is likely to cost me still more. * * * * As
yet, I have not been able to do much in the way of
verbal communication to the Fuh-keen people, but am
exceedingly anxious that a new year may witness new
exertions, especially in regard to preaching. The He-
brew, Greek, Latin, and French," (languages which he
understood very accurately,) " all appear to me to bear
no comparison in point of difficulty with the Chinese ;
and what is. very painful, when I am pretty well ac-
quainted with the Fuh-keen, the Macao and Canton
people will understand little or nothing of what I say.
If native teachers are wanting anywhere, they are among
this people for by the time a man is fitted for his
work his constitution is impaired, and he must soon
LABOURS. 71
depart hence and be no more." Again, in another
letter, soon after this, to his honoured father, he writes :
" You ask concerning my ability to make my message
understood by the heathen. The farther I proceed in
the language, the more difficult it appears to me. I
am astonished at its difficulties. Though the grace of
God has been given to us to persevere to this day, I
am glad I did not know the difficulties before they were
half encountered, otherwise I might not have had courage
to grapple with them. However, I can understand the
Hok-keen people, and they me ; and many have heard
my message. But they listen to me with much in-
difference. Thousands of simple and important tracts
also have been distributed, many read ; but as yet, not
an individual puts the question of the jailor. The
inefficiency of my labours makes me feel my impo-
tence ; but there is no restraint unto the Lord to save
by many or by few. * * * * * Some have
occasionally excited hope ; but in the end I have always
found them actuated by interested motives. And one
who for a time came to me twice on the sabbath-day,
now works again on that holy day."
Such extracts as the above might be copiously made
from letters before me ; but lest the reader should be
wearied by sameness and prolixity, we will desist from
any further quotations here. The Language, of course,
as we have seen, was the first object of his attention.
On the advantages he had enjoyed in England he
always set a high value. "Oh! the immense advan-
tage we have had in our native country in learning so
much of the language there ! Let all missionaries learn
72 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
as much as they can of the language in England," was
a recommendation he never ceased to urge.
Even to this day some diversity of opinion prevails as
to the ease or difficulty with which the Chinese language
can be acquired. Some, drawing their conclusions from
individuals endowed with extraordinary powers of ac-
quisition, have formed the opinion that there is no
peculiar difficulty to he encountered : some, on the
other hand, looking at a period when there were few
or no facilities for the undertaking, have magnified
the difficulties heyond all due bounds. Both extremes
may become sources of serious mischief in missionary
circles. In the one case, young men of first promise as
a whole, of adequate talent, of well-regulated judgment,
and of devoted piety, may be deterred from consecrating
themselves to the great work to be if the church is
but faithful to the design of her Lord and to the prin-
ciples on which she is constituted now carried on in
China. To such a result it is hoped these pages will
have no tendency. In the other case, the opposite
mischief may ensue.
The following observations on this subject cannot, it is
presumed, but prove interesting as matters of information,
while they at the same time set before the reader the
labours which Samuel Dyer so successfully prosecuted.
The language, or rather languages of China differ from
all those yet known to the nations of the west in
almost every point in which languages can differ from
one another. That which is spoken is not, and on
their system cannot be, written : and that which is
written has no alphabet, nor yet anything approaching
LABOURS. 73
in the remotest degree to the alphabetic system. In
order therefore to communicate oral and written in-
structions to the Chinese two languages have to be
acquired, each possessing difficulties of a very peculiar
character. This Mr. Dyer always felt. He could speak
other dialects, but the Hok-keen was that in which he
was most at home. The ability to speak he acquired
to such a degree of perfection as to astonish all who
could at all appreciate the difficulties of the acquisition,
or comprehend the amount of application and labour
necessary to give the ease and accuracy with which
he communicated his thoughts on any subject to which
his attention was directed. A correct ear is, to an adult,
at least, indispensable to learn the language with any-
thing like ease, and to give full effect to its intonations :
a tenacious memory is no less indispensable a pre-requi-
site : and a power of application, beyond what is
required by any other language yet known to Euro-
peans, must be added to every desirable or necessary
endowment besides, otherwise success will prove both
slow and remote.
To give the reader some slight conception of the
peculiarities and intricacies of this singular tongue,
I will abridge into as short a compass as I can,
the statements of Mr.. Dyer himself, in a manuscript
Essay in my possession, which, for my present pur-
pose, I prefer to the more elaborate Essay published
by him at Malacca.* The whole number of enunciated
* "A Vocabulary of the Hok-keen dialect, as spoken in. the country of
Tsheang-Tsheu. To which is prefixed a Treatise on the Hok-keen Tones,
Printed at the Anglo-Chinese Press. 1838. (Price one Spanish dollar.)"
Of 'this pamphlet there was a subsequent enlarged and improved edition ;
74 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
sounds in the Hok-keen are resolved by the Chinese
themselves into fifteen initials and fifty finals. Any
particular sound, therefore, they divide into its initial
and final : thus, for instance, the enunciated sound that
might he represented hy the following combination of
characters, "Kim," would be resolved into the initial
"K," and into the final "im"="Kim." As any of
the fifteen may combine with any of the fifty, we have,
by multiplying fifteen by fifty, seven hundred and fifty
distinct enunciated sounds to form the basis of the
entire language. Each of these is again varied by eight
tones. Two of these tones, however, happen to be pre-
cisely alike, so that 7 times 750=5,250, will give all the
possible variations of sounds in the whole language.
The actual number in use does not by any means
amount to so large a sum. The language, as far as
pronunciation is concerned, is monosyllabic, though in
point of sense there are many characters which stand
related to other characters, with which they are in
juxta-position, much in the same way as our inseparable
particles dis, un, con, &c., do to the words with which
they are united. Some might be disposed to compare
our language on the above principle with the Hok-keen
but I have been unable to obtain a copy of it. It exhibits all the talent,
accuracy, and ingenuity of the author. The curious reader may find, also,
much information on this and cognate subjects in the Preface to Mr. Med-
hurst's Hok-keen Dictionary. This is upon the whole, a most valuable work.
Should there ever be a call for a second edition its laborious author will be
' able to correct and improve it altogether. The subject of Chinese Lexico-
graphy has secured the attention but of few scholars. Still, considering the
circumstances of the case, the Dictionaries already in existence have a sur-
prising degree of merit. Dr. Morrison's deservedly stands at their head :
not only because of its extent, but on account of every good quality that
should distinguish a Lexicon.
LABOURS.
75
dialect of the Chinese, and say that, taking our alpha-
bet as they stand, amounting to twenty-six, the initial
sound of every word therefore must be one of that
number, which when multiplied into itself would give
676 as the enunciated sounds in our language. That
would be correct, if our language was monosyllabic;
but as on the contrary it is highly polysyllabic, and
as their initial sounds are only fifteen, whatever advan-
tage their larger number of finals might appear to afford
them, it will be obvious that our own language exceeds
theirs to almost an inconceivable degree in distinct and
diversified enunciations. In whatever tone, moreover,
we may utter our words, our language is a practical
medium of communication. Not so the Hok-keen :
correct intonation is essential to intelligibility. Hence
to one who does not understand the Chinese, it appears
to consist of but few words ; and a continued discourse
appears to be but the monotonous^ repetition of this
contracted number. This combination of defectiveness
with delicate refinement is a machinery that requires
a correct ear at least to work it at all. From the above
brief statement, the reader will be able to apprehend
something of the difficulties attending fluent and effective
speaking in a language thus constructed, when that is
acquired in adult age. Of this Mr. Dyer was a perfect
master a mastery which the Chinese themselves never
failed to extol.
These observations on the character, peculiarities, and
defects of the language, might be extended to a volume ;
but I must only add one more. In no language does
the, ability to speak it involve the ability to read or
write it ; but in the Chinese these processes are less
76 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
connected than they are in any other, and the reciprocal
assistance which the one process affords to the other is
therefore much less. This fact augments in no incon-
siderahle degree the labours of the missionary to the
Chinese.
Mr. Dyer was as accurately acquainted with the
written language of that empire as he was with the
spoken language of the province of Hok-keen. In conse-
quence of other labours, however, to which a prominent
place is yet to he assigned hi this volume, las-reading -in
Chinese authors was not so extensive as it would have
been had he chosen to confine himself to their ponderous
and multifarious literature, and so qualified himself for
his work. The philological acquirements of Mr. Dyer in
every language he had studied were distinguished by their
accuracy. So they were in this. The sacred languages
he had studied with care, diligence, and success. But as
we shall have occasion to refer to these topics hereafter,
we must dismiss them now with the single observation,
that when he felt himself prepared to expatiate with
ease on the great doctrines of the cross, he was of opinion
he was justified in devoting the time in which the people
were employed in their daily avocations to other engage-
ments than the study of their classics and literature
engagements, nevertheless, most ultimately connected
with the advancement of the great work to which he
had devoted his undivided energies. Still he never omitted
entirely the study of the language ; and as his arrangement
in every department of his work was always complete, in
this as well as in every other, he treasured up every tittle
in the shape of idiom or expression in its appropriate place
which could by any possibility aid him in revising the
LABOURS. 77
Scriptures, and in the composition of Christian books for
,the use of the people among whom he lahonred. In this
department of his work, if it should prove to he God's
will, he hoped to spend many years of his consecrated
life, and in the contemplation of this, his very soul
exulted in the liveliest strains of satisfaction and joy.
Among these labours SCHOOLS and PUNCH-CUTTING
hold the most prominent place.
The attention he bestowed on the establishment of
schools from the commencement, and the efforts he put
forth both to superintend them so as to secure their
efficiency, and to improve them, were most unremitting,
and, like everything he did, most praiseworthy. He
tried with much patience and assiduity to adapt the Lan-
casterian to the Chinese plan ; and for a time the trial,
while worked under his personal superintendence,
proved successful and satisfactory. From the extreme
difficulty of securing the co-operation of the masters, he
was reluctantly obliged to adopt their own system as to
the manner of carrying on the routine duties of the
schools. Although they were not as efficient as he could
have wished, because in a great measure of their invete-
rate attachment to old plans, and that feeling cannot
exist in a stronger form than it does in the Chinese mind,
yet they answered many important purposes . Many of
the truths of Christianity were taught, both by reading
the books used in these schools, and during the visits of
the missionary ; especially on the sabbath, when he
deli vered a short and plain address on some Scripture
doctrine or duty to the teacher and children in each
school-room. And sometimes a few of the neighbours
78 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
would join* the master and his charge in listening to these
addresses. The schools, therefore, formed a link of
connection between the missionary and the people ; and
to multiply the points of contact is a matter of the high-
est importance. On this ground the Medical department
of the mission to China has high value.
Either Mrs. Dyer or himself visited these schools
daily, to supply their wants and to see that the children
were collected and the masters were at their posts. The
establishment of Female schools cost both Mr. and Mrs.
Dyer much anxiety and no small amount of labour.
Their success was as full as could be expected under the
circumstances in which they originated.
It was new as a missionary effort, at Penang at least,
if not in the Chinese mission. There was therefore no
experience, the result of past success or failure, by
which they could profit. And besides, it was breaking
in. upon Chinese habits and notions : they teach their
daughters embroidery and needlework, but letters are
supposed by the mass of the people to be beyond and
beside the province of the female. Still for the sake
of the former they submitted to the latter. This inroad
on the settled notions of the people themselves, which
at the same time was a first trial of the kind in
that part of the mission field, would call forth much
thought, fervent and frequent prayer as well as much,
exertion, and that often repeated. Whatever ingenuity,
piety, and perseverance could accomplish was attempted
by Mr. Dyer. The result was sometimes partial success
and then failure. Such it was to be anticipated would
be the case. And the subject of female schools will
LABOURS.
79
continue to be a topic of much anxiety to all missionaries
to the Chinese for years to come. There are many cir-
cumstances that render efficiency a most difficult attain-
ment in the working of these institutions. Mr. and
Mrs. Dyer felt all this. Both attached, justly, great,
very great importance to female schools. Partial success
when followed hy a disappointment of former and fondly-
cherished hopes, enables us to understand very fully the
cast and tone of the following communication to the
Directors:
" Another six months have closed upon us, and the
termination of them calls for another epistle from me on
the subject of the Chinese mission at Penang. It will
cause you pain, as it does me, that no fruit has yet
appeared in this barren wilderness ; and sometimes I am
afraid that you, and our friends the Directors, should be
discouraged. Peradventure, in my case, you may be
disposed to lay the blame on me that there must be
some serious defect either in the closet, or in the spirit
of carrying on the work ; and^far be it from me to seek
to justify myself on this matter. I keenly feel my utter
insignificance, and am ready to acknowledge that I am
but as dust and ashes. Many a time have I felt the
force of what our Saviour has said : < Without me ye
can do nothing ;' and my own mind is deeply convinced
that nothing but the grace of God can help us in, and
bear us through our work. You will not suppose thai
I am discouraged ,- I hope it is not so. My heart beats
with joy that I have been permitted to leave my father's
house and my native land for a work so truly blessed.
But I must acknowledge that, under a sense of my own
80 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
weakness and insufficiency, I sometimes wonder that I
have been called to this arduous work. My efforts for
the Saviour's glory would have heen equally weak and
insignificant in my native land ; and I think I can truly
say that insignificant as they are, I had far rather
that they should he made in this land, far off, among
the Gentiles. God makes us very happy and contented
with our appointed sphere of lahour ; and I think you
will suppose with me, that this is no mean evidence of
our being in the path of duty. I helieve, with assured
expectation, that God will one day appear in hehalf of
China, and cannot help hoping that he will take occa-
sion of our weakness to exalt his own glorious name.
Oh ! how joyfully would we then sing in holy triumph,
' Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name
give glory.' I am sorry to inform, you that for about ten
months we have been without Chinese Female schools.
This has been no small trial to us, and especially to
Mrs. Dyer. She is very desirous to lahour for the
spiritual interests of Chinese females. But since the
commencement of last year every plan to obtain female
scholars has failed ; and although we have offered very
strong inducements of necessity of a pecuniary nature,
we have not been able to obtain a master. At last I
wrote a kind of handbill, in Chinese, stating our wish to
instruct their children, our terms of paying the master,
and moreover, that we were in want of a master. This
handbill I circulated myself through the town, leaving
one at every house, or nearly so ; but as yet we have
met with little encouragement."
In a subsequent communication, he writes on the same
LABOURS. 81
subject : " We have been very much tried with respect
to girls' schools. Mrs. Dyer's 'school, which was quite
in a flourishing condition a few months since, is not now
in existence, and though some of our most strenuous
efforts, since we have been in Penang, have been made
in behalf of girls, they have not succeeded; and we
have had to sorrow over many a disappointment. How-
ever, I trust our views are quite stedfast as to the im-
portance of the work. We are quite dissatisfied at not
having a girls' school, and by the grace of God no
effort shall be wanting on our part to accomplish an
object so near to Mrs. Dyer's heart. I hope we can say
we have no wish to live, save that we may live to Christ,
and spend and be spent in his cause." Their efforts at
last proved successful ; and these institutions became
objects of interest both at home and abroad, and sources
of real pleasure and joy to those who established them.
And the great day of account may prove that they were
means of more extensive usefulness than any are pre-
pared to imagine. They tried the faith and patience of
Mr. Dyer, and proved that he possessed cool and un-
flagging perseverance a quality of mind and habit of
incalculable value to the Christian missionary among a
heathen people.
However incessant and assiduous their attention to these
schools may have been at first, and continued to be, espe-
cially on the part of Mrs. Dyer, to the close of her late hus-
band's life, yet in our narrative these labours must give
place to those he bestowed on the subject of Typography.
The time, ingenuity, and perseverance, he expended on
that matter, in the midst of very many discouragements,
82 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
exceeded all that well can be conceived by those who
have had no experience in such matters. His disadvan-
tages were many. There was no one he could consult ;
experiments and books were his only assistants. He
frequently said, when referring to his labours in punchr
cutting and type-founding, he most thoroughly under-
stood why it was necessary to serve an apprenticeship to
any handicraft that was to be acquired.
It was necessary, however, to go through much pre-
liminary toil, of the most uninteresting kind in itself,
ere he was prepared to begin cutting and filing punches,
striking matrices, and casting type. To have proceeded
thus at once, upon the supposition that punches were to
be cut for the entire language, it was clearly seen, would
involve an expense which no one was prepared to meet,
or sanction. The language, it was known, consisted of
about 40,000 characters, and upon the supposition that
each punch could be cut, and a matrix struck, at half-a-
crown even, the whole set would cost J65000. Mr.
Dyer, however, before he left England, was asked by an
eminent founder in London two guineas per punch being
80,000 guineas for the whole. Such was the statement
made to him before his departure from this country.
It appeared, therefore, that there was no alternative
but to continue the old system of stereotyping by
means of wooden blocks.*
It remained for Mr. Dyer to show that this view of
the case was erroneous at least fully and practically
so, as far as missionary purposes were concerned. It
had not occurred to those who had takeia^ the gloomy
* See Appendix A.
LABOURS. 83
view of the case, that there might be among the 40,000
characters many, and perhaps very many, that in Chris-
tian books would never be required. Suppose, to illus-
trate the subject a little further^ it was required to cut
punches for English words, and not letters, it is obvious
that the words logotypes and xylography, for example,
would very seldom occur and indeed would not occur
at all at the commencement of missionary operations.
So instead of cutting punches for all the words of John-
son's Dictionary, or any other more complete vocabulary
of the English language, it would be necessary to make a
selection of words that would be required for missionary
operations. This was just the Herculean task Mr.
Dyer undertook. In this he had no predecessors, from
whose mistakes he could profit, and whose success he
could carry further toward perfection. There was no me-
thod by which he could come to a right conclusion on
this matter, but by simple calculation of the characters
actually used in books read by the people, or intended
for their use by those who had learned their language.
To take the whole of their ponderous literature, even if
that had been a possible thing, would of course stultify
the object he had in view. He had, therefore, first of
all, to make a selection of works. His ultimate object
the compilation of Christian treatises and the revision,
of the Sacred Scriptures was his only guide-post here.
He saw, therefore, that he must select such native works
as have the nearest affinity, in point of style and thought,
to the object contemplated. Of Christian works already
in the language, he selected of course Morrison and
Milne's version of the Scriptures, and some tracts besides.
G 2
84 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
Great judgment> it is obvious, was required here, too, in
making a selection of sufficient extent and variety, and
still sufficiently limited not to bring into the calculation
characters that might never be required in a Christian
treatise. He selected fourteen works in all according
to the testimony of all who have expressed an opinion
on the matter, he was most happy in this choice. Then
he had to set down, and note every character occurring
in a portion of all these works sufficiently extensive for
the purpose contemplated. His object at first was to have
afount that would set up five forms of octavo at once. But
to render the fount practically useful, it was necessary
not only to note down the characters that occurred in
these works, but also the number of times each occurred
in the space he had allotted to himself. By this process
alone could the proportion of characters in a fount be
found out.
This calculation cost him months of incessant appli-
cation, and by it several matters deemed doubtful
before, were finally set at rest. First, it was ascer-
tained that less than 5000 characters in variety would
answer nearly all the purposes of the Christian mis-
sionary ; and that a further variety of about 1800 would
answer almost any literary purpose whatever ; so that
matrices and punches would cost considerably less
than J01000. Secondly, it proved that by a proper
adjustment of cases in the printing-office, the space
occupied by the type would not be of any great practical
inconvenience. This was at one time supposed to be an
insuperable objection to the project of printing Chinese
by metallic type. Thirdly, it discovered the positive pro-
LABOURS. 85
portion required in a fount, at least to such a degree of
accuracy as not to involve any serious error. This will
prove the foundation of future calculation and operations
to those who shall enter into Mr. Dyer's labour in the
department of type founding.
Mr. Dyer himself drew up a paper on this subject,
which will lay the whole plan before the reader much
better than any abstract could do. As it would not inter-
est the general reader to insert Chinese characters, some
parts of this paper must be omitted.
" Chinese metal types may be compared to English
logotypes, where one type contains a complete word ; for
in Chinese one character expresses a complete word,
and not a single letter, or even a single syllable of a
word.
" In forming a fount of English logotypes, of course, it
would be desirable to have more types of such words as
occur more frequently, and fewer types of such words as
occur less frequently ; in fact, to have a due proportion
of types according to the proportion of times in which
each word occurs, as near as that proportion can be
ascertained: e.g.
"Suppose the word 'the' occur oftener upon an
average calculation than the word f and,' and this again
oftener than the word ' that,' it follows, that we want
more types of the word 'and' than of the word 'that,'
and still more of the word 'the,' in order that there
may be a due proportion of each ; in fact, the propor-
tion of types should be calculated just in the same way
that the proportion of each particular LETTER has already
been calculated for the use of English printers.
86 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
" But as some words occur oftener in one book than in
another, owing to a diversity of style, subject, &c., the
fount, in order to be generally useful, must be calculated,
not from one book alone, but from many ; and those of
diverse style, subject, &c. It is in this way the present
estimated proportion of each particular Roman letter has
been obtained.
" Precisely this plan should be adopted in forming a
fount of Chinese logotypes. (For it is almost necessary
that Chinese metal types be of this description.)
"Chinese metal types are exceedingly desirable, in order
that we may be able to combine the Chinese character
with the European. This circumstance, however, we
suppose, can only be duly appreciated by those who are
acquainted with Chinese literature. Dr. Morrison's
Dictionary could not have appeared in its now elegant
state, but for Chinese metal types of some kind. The
same may be said of Premare's Notitia Linguae Sinicse.
It is true, that Mr. Davis' s Tract on Chinese Poetry is
printed very handsomely with wooden blocks, but then
the wooden blocks, I imagine, do not combine with the
metal, strictly so speaking ; they only unite with it as
wood-cuts.
"How far are metal types desirable, with respect to the
printing of the Chinese Scriptures and Tracts ? See Bib.
Soc. llth Report, p. 147. Dr. Marshman's opinion is
this : ' One instance of their utility you have already
seen, in our being able to get, and correct, ten or twelve
proofs of one sheet, before we finally strike it off. This,
however, we could not have done in wood. Then, all is
immovable ; no improvement after the chisel has begun
LABOURS. 87
its work, but by means almost equally expensive with
cutting a new block ; and if we correct say ten or twelve
times, only think of the expense of getting ten or twelve
fair copies of each sheet. But the moving of a few
characters up or down, or the replacing them with others,
is the work of a far less number of minutes. Another
advantage arises from the difference between metal and
wood, in point of durability/ &c., &c. The Doctor
goes 011 to calculate the difference of expense between
the two methods, and makes out a saving of two-thirds
by the use of metal.
" We believe the only three founts in existence are
at Canton, Malacca, and Serampore ; they are all defi-
cient, inasmuch as fresh characters must be supplied, as
required, while any work is passing through the press ;
at least if that work contain characters, or more cha-
racters of one sort, than have been employed in printing
any preceding work ; which will generally be found to
be the case in printing a work of any extent.
"We believe the whole of these types have been engraved
upon the face of the metal ; but whether it be owing to
the difficulty of engraving on so hard a substance as the
metal, or to any other cause, it is a fact, that they are
not only inelegant, but possess an air so foreign, that it
is by no means advisable to print the Scriptures and
tracts with them, while we can obtain wood-blocks ; for
these latter far surpass anything we have yet seen
printed from metal, either at Canton, Malacca, or Se-
rampore.
" The small fount sent from England has been tried
with admirable success ; we have not heard a dissen-
88 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
tient voice ; the only defect seems to be the smattness of
the fount.
" There is no doubt but metal types may be made by
means of punches, in the usual way. Mr. Figgins, a
respectable type-founder in London, attempted it with
great success. Had he been familiar with the character,
his success would have been still more complete. But
then his method involves such an immense expense,
owing to the variety of the Chinese character, that it is
to be feared we must wait long for a fount obtained by
this method.
" By preparing a set of blocks, and forming from them
a set of stereotype plates, cast the common height of
metal types, and then sawing the metal plates into pieces,
(a process which has succeeded very well on a late ex-
periment upon a ' small scale,) metal types may be
obtained without punches, and the character will be a
fac simile of the original blocks.
" The original blocks must contain such an arrange--
meat of the characters, that when the process is com-
pleted, there will result a due proportion of each cha-
racter.
"The variety of character occurring in those portions
of the fourteen authors alluded to, was only 3240, of which
several hundreds occur exceedingly seldom ; but as not
only these, but several thousands more, are necessary to
make the fount tolerably complete, they must of course
be cast, though in the proportion of 2, 3, 4, &c. to 700.
" It is proposed to cast a variety of 12,000, or 13,000
characters ; these, when cut, will occupy the space of
200 blocks, more or less ; these blocks to be cast once,
LABOURS. 89
twice, thrice, &c., in order to give the due proportion of
every character.
" Successful as our late experiment has proved, there is
one serious difficulty attending it ; a fount in constant
use may last, say five or seven years, and then it must
be recast ; now the difficulty and expense of procuring a
new fount every seven years is very great, unless we had
the means of casting them in Iridia. Having most
maturely weighed the matter for six years, I am per-
suaded that, however successful our present plan is, we
ought to COMMENCE punch-cutting. I am not disposed
even to contemplate the subject of cutting 14,000 punches,
but we onght to commence; and my arguments are
these :
"A punch is the foundation of perpetuity ; and a
single punch for any character would furnish as many
as are wanted of this character, in Malacca, Canton,
England, or anywhere else; and so to any extent of
variety.
" If the punches of the most important characters in
the language be cut, we could recast the mass of cha-
racters ourselves ; and the mass of character being recast,
the remainder of the fount would wear at least twenty
years.*
" The further we proceed in punch-cutting, the greater
the advantage ; it is not the cutting of a punch for a
character which only occurs two or three times in a
whole volume, but the punches should be cut according
to the preceding calculations ; so that the most important
character in the language is cut firsthand so all the way
* " The types cast from matrices can easily be made to agree with th^ types
cast from blocks, provided the characters themselves are the same size.
90 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
down, gradually descending to characters of less import-
ance.
" If we had only 100 punches, and these were the first
100 in the calculations before alluded to, they would he
of immense service to us. The MASS of the language is
not much more than 1200 (twelve hundred) in variety ;
and we might in due time accomplish these ; and by
that we might see our way more clearly as to the desir-
ableness of proceeding.
"As the Archipelago is now opening extensively, and
we are now wanting types in Cambogian, Laos, &c., and
our opportunities are enlarging, it is very desirable that
we should have a worker in steel on the spot ; we could
then proceed with Chinese, Japanese, Cambogian, Laos,
&c., punches ; and if we only had aperson who understood
the whole, we could employ native Chinese under him,
and cut many punches at one rupee each, or 2s. English.
Such a person might assist the mission in other ways,
but his main employment would be punch-cutting.
" If such a person were sent out, doubtless he should
breathe an ardent missionary spirit; should be above
filthy lucre ; and willing to do anything for the fur-
therance of the gospel of Christ. He should be well
acquainted with printing and stereotyping, but espe-
cially with type-founding. "We can easily procure much
assistance, if we had only some one to superintend, and
do the nicer parts of the work.
" Of course he should be amply furnished with tools,
particularly files.; should bring a complete set of type-
founder's moulds, at least of the middle and larger sizes,
say from Brevier to two-line English.
" His salary might be paid in part by an annual allow-
LABOURS. 91
ance, and in part by a small stipend for every punch ; if
so, I would do my utmost in India to pay the latter,
and have no doubt of getting considerable aid, at least
for Chinese punches ; say one rupee per punch. I my-
self will gladly pay for the fir stone hundred punches.
" Ohhow delighted would I he to hail so useful a man
to this heathen land ! and methinks, any one who could
and would leave his native land for such a work, might
well leap for joy to he so usefully employed.
" If there were an objection on the part of the individual
to leave England for life, he might do it, say for five
years : in that time much might be done, and we should
ourselves get into the way of it, so as to be able to manage
without him.
" In case the punches were cut under my own eye, I
could effect the matter at a great saving of expense, as
may appear from what follows :
" Amultitude of characters are composed of two distinct
parts, the radical and its component ; and these parts
may be cast separately, without the slightest detriment
to the character,
"A certain 300 of the 14,000 (thousand) in the fount
have the same radical ; this radical sometimes occupies
half of the square, (all Chinese characters occupy the
same space exactly, i.e., a square,) sometimes one-third ;
hence two punches will be enough for the radicals of a
certain 300 characters ; here there is a saving of 298
half-punches, or 149 punches.
"Again, a certain 240 (of the 14,000) have the same
radical ; and, as before, two punches would be enough
for the radical parts of the 240 characters ; and here is
a saving of 238 half-puches, or 1 19 punches.
92 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
" Again, of the 238 component parts of the latter set of
punches, 70 are the same as component parts of the
former set of 300 ; here then is a saving of 70 half-
punches more, or 35 punches.
Of the first set of 300 there may be saved 149
second .240 119
Two sets together 540 35
Deduct . . .303 303
237 Amount of punches required.
"So then 540 characters may he procured from as much
work as would occupy 237 complete punches."
In the following short extract of a letter to the
Directors of the Society, written on this subject, his
plan is further developed :
"Friends in China have greatly encouraged me to
continue my efforts for procuring Chinese metal type,
and I have in hand two plans, both of which through
the Divine blessing have been attended with conside-
rable success. One is for a temporary fount, while a
permanent fount is preparing against the time when the
other will be worn out. The other plan is the perma-
nent fount, which can scarcely come much into use,
unless we enlarge our operations, in less than seven
years, at most only partially. The temporary fount is
preparing through the medium of wooden blocks, just
now packed for England ; the permanent fount through
the medium of steel punches, which will be cut and
LABOURS. 93
type cast in India. The calculations are very tedious,
but, I am happy to say, far advanced. I am obliged to
be cautious, as I shall be the responsible individual for
the due proportion of each character. If any think I
procrastinate, I can only answer, that every day enriches
the calculations, and could they see the autographs,
they would at least see that much time has been con-
sumed upon them. I simply mention this, in conse-
quence of complaints which have reached me. Perhaps
it will be three or four months before all is ready for
cutting." Dr. Morrison entered most warmly into all
these plans of Mr. Dyer, and encouraged him to pro-
ceed by all means in his laudable undertaking. He
writes to the Doctor in the midst of these calculations,
in a manner that will at once show that he was the very
man for the undertaking : " I have purposely delayed
answering [your letter] till the last opportunity of
writing to you, that I might be able to state the pro-
gress of metal type calculations. I feel it to be a re-
sponsible undertaking ; because in so large a concern, if
the prbportion be not a due proportion, the expense,
great enough at least, will be the greater ; and in case
of deficiency of some characters, and excess in others,
the blame will justly rest upon that individual who
presumes to make the calculation. On this account, I
have hitherto put upon paper every item of progress in
the calculation, that the principles upon which it is
made may be apparent to all. I do not expect, of
course, to have exactly enough ; neither more nor less ;
but I hope the proportion of the main body of charac-
ters will be tolerably correct.
94 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL, DYER.
" By my notes I find that the variety of characters^
near or about, for twenty pages, or two forms and a
half, printers' sheets, of the four books, (of Confucius,)
is 703 ; of which 309 only occur once. The additional
variety in twenty pages of the Sam-Kok* (they contain
a vast deal more matter than the same number of pages
of the four hooks) is 929, of which 400 occur only
once. And the still additional variety in twenty pages
of Matthew's Gospel is 225, of which ninety-one occur
only once. The still further additional variety of twenty
pages from the works of Choo-foo-tsze is not quite com-
pleted, but I expect it will be small ; and it will dwindle
to almost nothing after the calculations are made from
ten distinct authors. I should almost be inclined to
think that not more than 2,500 or 3,000 characters
occur more than once, upon an average, in twenty pages,
though several thousand more occur once. However,
upon the plan of casting them from blocks, they will
not be more expensive to cast than those which must be
cast a hundred times ; and while it might seem almost a
pity to give a guinea for a punch of a character occurring
but once in five volumes, as in the case of many charac-
ters in the four books, on our present plan it will not
be more in proportion than any other character.
" I am almost afraid to give you these imperfect notes,
lest they should lead you to imagine many little consi-
derations to be unthought of by me. However, for
the present, let these suffice. I have pondered the
matter nearly six years. I have thought, and planned,
* A boot, which though not one of their ancient Classics, is nevertheless
esteemed hy the Chinese for the purity of its style, &c.
LABOURS. 95
and compared, and advised, and read, and prayed ; and
if I may yet be the humble instrument of advancing
this matter, it shall be the joy and rejoicing of my
heart to sing : ' Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but
unto thy name give glory.' "
After having thus laboured for years, in planning and
calculation of the driest kind, in finding out the pro-
portion of one character to another, as well as in find-
ing out what characters were really used in fourteen
standard works, in the language ; and having succeeded
to his full satisfaction, he writes, exulting in the Lord
for the grace and help he had received, to Dr. Mor-
rison :
" My dear Brother, Never did I write with greater
pleasure to you than I do now ; as I am literally con-
strained to sing, ' Blessed are my eyes for what they
see. 5 I am delighted to inform you that we are cutting
steel punches for Chinese metal types at Penang, under
my own eye. A specimen I send per Capt. Gottlieb, by
which you may judge of the rest. I trust the Lord
will give prosperity ; and then how exultingly will we
exclaim, ' Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto
thy name give glory.'
"I am not aware of any impediment to this good
work but want of funds ; my. own will soon be exhaust-
ed, and I know not where to look for funds but to the
deeply interested friends of China. Do send me funds.
Ask everybody you know to help. Do not let so fa-
vourable an opportunity pass unimproved. I am going
on in dependence upon your anticipated aid.
96 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
'! My mind is satisfied as to the validity of our pre-
sent plan: if we can only cut 100, these will be the
most important in the language, and capable of com-
bininff with those metal types which we are casting,
through the medium of blocks. The temporary fount,
that which we are to use while our punches are cutting,
is going on very well. I have received several of the
blocks from Malacca, and as soon as possible I will
despatch them to England to have them cast. It will
be my anxious desire to provide as many sets of ma-
trices from the punches as may be needed ; and I do
sincerely hope, through God's blessing, that what you
send us for punches shall one day be returned in ma-
trices." He writes to the Doctor again : ".At present
the work is going on with spirit and zeal. * * By
the time I hear from you I hope to be in debt. * *
I scrutinise every character before I receive it from the
cutter, and allow none to pass but beautiful and well-
cut characters. I consult many authorities for the best
formed characters, but the principal guides are Kang-
he ['s Dictionary,*] and the Malacca cut characters.
Do ask all who take an interest in this work to help.
Collect if possible a few hundred dollars, of which I
will render a faithful account. By the grace of the
Lord Jesus I will never leave this work till it is accom-
plished ; and pray for n\e that the Lord would be
pleased graciously to grant success."
Confidence in the soundness of his calculation being
* Often called the Imperial Dictionary, because it was compiled by order of
the Emperor KANG-HE. It is the groundwork of Dr. Morrison's Dictionary.
LABOURS. 97
fully established, and the practicability of cutting
punches and striking matrices being tested by experi-
ment, he writes to his father : .
" With respect to Chinese metal types, I am bring-
ing the whole matter before the Directors. I hope
the Board will take into consideration my proposal
for sending out an engraver and worker in steel.
I should think such a person might be found, who
would come out, say for five years. Of course, he
must not only be a pious man, but a man who loves the
cause of Christ among the heathen ; however, it is not
necessary that he should be a well-educated man. Be-
sides the assistance he might render in Chinese, there
are various other languages in which he might prepare
type ; as, for instance, the Cambojian, Laos, &c. It
will be seen from the paper referred to, that however
well the plan for forming Chinese metal types from
wooden blocks may succeed, yet nevertheless it is desi-
rable to commence punch-cutting; and if it be done
under my inspection, I think I possess sufficient ac-
quaintance with everything relating to types and print-
ing, to be able to superintend it. As to remuneration,
he might be paid in part by an allowance, say of 100
per annum, and in part by a small stipend upon each
punch. I trust if a person be sent it will be some one
above filthy lucre ; and he might make himself useful
in Malacca (my future station) in as many ways as his
zeal can contrive ; there, there seems to me a wide and
effectual door for usefulness.
" He should bring out with him a good supply of all
necessary tools, a few type-founders' moulds, from
H
98 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
brevier to two lines pica, inclusive ; should understand
stereotyping ; and, indeed, have a general acquaintance
with type-cutting and type-casting. And if an assur-
ance of a hearty welcome be any inducement, let him
be assured that there are hearts that would leap again
for joy to welcome such an artizan to the borders of
idolatrous China.
" I will only add, that I will exert my utmost endea-
vour to procure the stipend, so as to relieve the Society
to the very utmost of my power. I think friends in
these parts are sufficiently interested to help. I myself
would gladly discharge the stipend upon many a punch,
because I feel it a matter claiming my assistance PRIOR
to some objects to which I now contribute, such as the
forming of type in other languages."
The Directors recorded their views on this subject,
and solicited assistance in the Chronicle of the Society,
in the following language :
" Deeply convinced of the importance of availing
themselves of every means that promises to afford
additional facilities for diffusing a knowledge of the
gospel among the inhabitants of China, the Directors
are anxious that the fount of types for which Mr. Dyer
has sent home the blocks, should be sent out without
any avoidable delay ; and they feel persuaded that the
extra expense it will involve will be cheerfully met by
the friends of the Society. As many individuals are
peculiarly interested in every effort for the moral reno-
vation of China at the present time, and would feel
pleasure in promoting any measure having this specific
object in view, the Directors will be happy to receive
LABOURS. 99
special donations or contributions, towards the prepara-
tion of a fount of types from the blocks Mr. Dyer has
sent over, or for the purpose of obtaining punches, from
which a perpetual supply of Chinese characters may be
obtained. The expense of this latter plan will be heavy,
but when the magnitude of the work, and the many
millions, by whom the books thus prepared may be read,
are considered, it will commend itself to the generous
attention, not only of the friends of the Society, but
also to other intelligent and benevolent portions of the
community. Every contribution or donation either
towards the preparation of a fount of types from the
blocks cut in China, or the cutting of punches for more
permanent use, will be gratefully received, and faithfully
appropriated, according to the wishes of the contri-
butors.
" China, at the present time, claims in an extraordi-
nary manner, the attention and the prayers of the people
of God, that the way of access to her vast population
may be opened, but especially that He who has the
hearts of all at his disposal, would incline some of the
many in our native land, who are qualified to serve him
in this important field, the most important and extensive
that ever invited the labours of the Christian missionary,
to direct their attention to its claims, and bend then-
energies to the moral and spiritual emancipation of its
inhabitants. If the accounts we receive are well found-
ed,' the millions of China are perishing for want of
preachers. ' The same Lord over all is rich unto all
that call upon him ; and whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved : but how shall they
H 2
100 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
call upon him in whom they have not believed? and
how shall they helieve in him of whom they have not
heard ? and how shall they hear without a preacher ?
and how shall they preach except they be sent ?' There
are institutions that would rejoice to send forth preach-
ers ; the Directors of the London Missionary Society
would gladly, at once, more than double the number of
Chinese missionaries now in the field ; but the service
to be acceptable or efficient, must be a voluntary offering
on the part of those who go forth ; and deeply feeling
this, and earnestly desiring that the attention of those
entering the ministry, those preparing for it, or those
qualified to engage in the work, by the natural or ac-
quired endowments which the great Head of the church
may have bestowed, may be directed to this field, they,
would abound more in prayer themselves, and would
recommend to the Christian youth throughout the land,
immediate and solemn self-examination as to the duty
of personal consecration to this work ; and they would
invite the British churches to join in most fervent prayer
that the Lord may give the word, and great shall be the
multitude of the preachers."
"When he had got through this fount he contem-
plated one of a smaller size, to be used sometimes by
itself, and sometimes for notes, &c., in connection with
the larger. He expresses his views on this, and on
other matters connected with type-founding, in a com-
munication to the Society :
" The Directors are aware that for many years I have
been employed in making Chinese types, and through
the Divine blessing the work has been accomplished,
LABOURS. 101
and God has prospered it beyond my most sanguine
expectations. I am aware that the type already cut is
large, but two facts should be borne in mind in judging
of them. One, that they are smaller than the characters
in the last edition of Dr. Morrison's version of the
Sacred Scriptures printed at Malacca ; when it was quite
optional with the missionaries to cut the blocks large or
small, both being equally easy to the block-cutter ; and
the present type runs eleven to ten of that edition.
The other, that when we first commenced making
metal types, it was expedient to select a size which
presented but little difficulty to the workmen. But
now the impediments in the way of cutting smaller
punches are completely removed, and we can cut the
smaller fount at a lower cost than the larger.
* * * * * *
" The expense of the larger fount (that is, of punches
and matrices) was considerably increased by the circum-
stance of my not being acquainted with the art of
punch-cutting in the outset, as much expense was in-
curred by experiments which did not succeed. Oi
course this will be avoided now, and the actual cost per
punch will not be much more than two-thirds of the
larger size.
"I have no hesitation in stating my most decided
opinion that it is desirable to proceed with the smaller
type, for we can now bring four types into a space a
little larger than that required for one of the larger
types. Here, perhaps, I should notice the Parisian
type, by M. Pauthier. The workmanship of these ap-
pears to be exquisite, considered as the effort of an
102 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
European artist ; but the character is such, in respect
to its form, as to render it very inexpedient to use it for
printing books intended for the Chinese. It is inelegant ;
the parts are very much out of their proper proportions ;
and out of about 300 that I have seen, not ten could
be selected as equal to what would be cut by a Chinese
artist ; to which may be added that the system of divid-
ing the character into parts, like the French types, en-
sures an improper form in more than one-half of the
characters in the language. On this subject I am fully
prepared to give any requisite information."
The more praise is due to him, because although he
had seen the process of type-founding before he left
England, yet to mechanical or manual operations he was
a stranger ; nevertheless he acquired in a short time the
utmost dexterity in finishing off the punches, so as to
give them that form that would lead a Chinaman to pro-
nounce them beautiful. To send out a punch-cutter
was therefore the less necessary, and was not ultimately
so urgently pressed by himself. Still he regretted that
this manual labour abridged his time for other duties ;
for every punch was tempered by his own hands ; every
matrix was struck under his own eye and superintend-
ence ; and the ingredients for type-metal were prepared
for fusion by him personally.
The machine for striking the matrices was erected,
under the simplest kind of shelter, just sufficient to
throw off the rains, at the end and against the wall of
his own dwelling. His foundry for tempering punches
and casting type was in a small out-house of a very
common kind ; and the table of his own study, where
LABOURS. 103
he had made the preparatory calculations, was his
finishing shop. Here he kept his files and gravers, and
examined, with microscopic accuracy, every stroke in
the punches as they were hrought in by the head cutter,
when he pronounced them passable or not.
His fount is thoroughly Chinese in the style of the
character, and nothing else attempted as yet, approxi-
mates to it in that essential quality. That of M.
Pauthier may do well for European scholars, and may
secure much admiration, but never from the learned
of China. The character is Chinese, no doubt, but
the taste displayed in its execution is French.
In the midst of this incessant toil and application
did Mr. Dyer spend eight years of his missionary life
at Penang. Although the labours at which we have
glanced occupied so large an amount of his attention
and energies, no duty seemed to be neglected. By the
most rigid economy and arrangement of time he found
leisure even for everything that was missionary in its
character. He took his full share of English duties ;
he taught Bible-classes ; he held religious services with
the European military in the settlement ; he took an ac-
tive part in the establishment and the periodical advocacy
of the Penang Temperance Society. Family and social
duties were not only not omitted but received devoted
and punctilious atttention.
While these labours .were approaching to a close at
Penang, that they might be resumed with fresh vigour
at Malacca, to which station Mr. Dyer was, at the
request of the Society, about to remove, the writer
of these pages being appointed to succeed him, met
104 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
him for the first time. His intercourse with Mr.
Dyer, together with that of another missionary, the
Rev. Samuel "Wolfe, who entered his rest in about
eighteen months after his arrival in the Straits of
Malacca, was most pleasant and profitable. Some"
impressions and anecdotes might be inserted here, but
to avoid the appearance of egotism and the charge of
prolixity, one only shall be recorded. Strangers, on
coming to a new settlement, are naturally anxious to see
the lions of the place. Among the wonders of Penang
is a waterfall, which lies about " four miles to the south-
ward of the town, and amply repays the labour of a
visit. * * * After ascending the hill for
a considerable 'distance, the narrow and rugged pathway
leads directly to the foot of the fall, and the appearance
of it is picturesque and striking in the extreme. Enve-
loped in the bosom of a deep jungle, only about seventy
or eighty feet of the torrent is visible, the upper part
of which is partially broken into three successive leaps."
* Mr. Wolfe, myself, and Mr. Dyer, started early one
morning on a visit to this beautiful cascade ; and after
viewing it with deep interest, and looking round on
the scenery and seeing it was all "nature's own," Mr.
Dyer, whose heart was always in tune to praise God,
poured forth his soul in prayer to the God of nature and
the God of missions, in such a strain as deeply to im-
press us with the idea God is here, and this is in truth
a man of God ! His unaifected humility, his devotion 5
the locality, we ourselves in a strange land, about to
attempt new undertakings, our recent debarkation from
the midst of an ungodly crew, all, everything, contri-
' , LABOURS. 105
buted to deepen the impression ; and it is never to be
effaced ! This is only a specimen of what Samuel Dyer
habitually was.
During this period there had been much to call forth
his exertions and to exercise his ingenuity, much also
to exercise! his patience, to try his faith, to test his
love, and to prove the genuine character of his piety in
all its aspects : sometimes in bearing with the heathen,
sometimes with his brethren, and often in yielding re-
signation to the will of God. Besides the extracts already
given from his letters on . this subject during his re-
sidence at Penang, others might be given as illustra-
tive of his character, his piety, and his excellency ; but
the fact is, he was so fully employed that he had no
time to disclose his feelings at any length, and his let-
ters generally are, on that account, letters of business,
with here and there a burst of holy emotion in con-
nection with views of himself, his God and Saviour, his
work, and his delight in the prospect of a happy immor-
tality. Any lengthened extracts would therefore be
so intermingled with matters which the reader would
be scarcely able to comprehend; and such subjects,
although to him and his correspondents important at
the time, could not possess a sufficient amount of
interest to warrant their insertion, and the attempt to
make them intelligible for general perusal.
Few ever committed their way more fully unto the Lord,
and very few ever leaned less to their own understanding
than did Mr. Dyer. He most happily felt that God
was his Father, and all the filial affections were always
delightfully displayed when his faith was tried in the
106 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
arrangements of Divine wisdom. When afflicted, what-
ever the nature of the affliction may have heen, he
manifested a spirit of entire submission to the will bf
Him who
" overrules all mortal things,
And manages our mean affairs."
Mr. and Mrs. Dyer were called to part with their first-
born at Penang ; and in that afflictive dispensation
although his loving heart felt most severely the pangs
of separation, he nevertheless showed not only in whom
he trusted, hut also how immoveahle was that trust.
In writing to his father of this affliction, he says : " It
was indeed a severe loss : we were scarcely aware how
we loved the little darling till she left us ; and now she
is gone, she still lives in our affections. We could almost
have wished that this one comfort might have heen
spared to us : hut no, our hearts still need a weaning
from the world; and peradventure our sweet babe would
have shared too largely of our hearts. In agony of
spirits we bid her a long farewell ; but we shall see her
again, as she is gone before us to our Father's house.
We sorrow not as those who are without hope."
" The intense wish of our hearts was that we might
nurture her to carry on our work when we were in glory ;
but she is gone thither to await our arrival." He writes
to his sister, on the subject of trials in general ; and
after referring to the loss of their little one in a
manner that would gratify a member of his own family,
he proceeds in the following language : " Our work is
hard very hard ; and our trials neither few nor small ;
and many a wound comes from an unsuspected quarter.
LABOURS. 107
However, God supports our minds that we faint not ;
and by his grace we continue to this day. The Lord
enables us to rejoice in our labours, though, at pre-
sent, we see no great success : and by his grace we will
persevere till he calls us to our rest.
ijj 3)? 5[J SfS *n *P ** !*
" I trust I feel perfectly content to be circumstanced
just as I am ; for I feel assured He orders everything
for the best : my mind rests quite satisfied with our
heavenly Father's arrangements for us." Though satis-
fied with his position, his work, yea, and even with his
trials too ; he proceeds to say, " I do not think, how-
ever, it is inconsistent with personal contentment to
desire a fellow-labourer. I should feel sincere gratifi-
cation in hailing a fresh labourer to this vineyard ; but
if it should be another messenger from the church at
Paddington, and if he should be of a meek and quiet
spirit, with what holy delight would I receive him ! In
labours where we can unite, as among the Europeans,
Mr. Beighton and I feel that we are on this common
ground strong ; for- we are instrumental in strengthen-
ing each other : and we are quite united. But when
he goes to the right to the Malays, and I go to the left
to the Chinese, then we both feel that we are both weak ;
for so totally different are our respective labours, that not
many opportunities offer of mutual assistance." Thus he
pleaded for a fellow-labourer. While at Penang, however,
he had to bear the burden and the heat of the day alone.
Whatever may have been his trials, and from what-
ever quarter they may have come, and however
heavy he may have felt them to be, still he writes
108 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
home to his friends : " When you remember us,
always think of us if not as happy, yet as quite con-
tented :. the alloy to our happiness is not an alloy to
our contentedness. We suppose the same alloy would
interfere as much with our happiness in England. It
is not, dear friends, that we have left you never to see
your faces in the flesh again ; in this we glory as our
privilege, though we loved you much : neither is it the
want of things temporal, for we have all that heart can
wish : but the alloy to our joy is, that we do not serve
our blessed Lord and Master better : and that -we are
not more zealous and active in his cause. Were our
hearts but filled with love to the Saviour did they but
bleed with pity over those who are without God and
without hope ; and did our love and pity but constrain
us to spend and be spent in doing good to man and
glorifying our heavenly Father, we could desire no
more." This admixture of contentment and its con-
trary will be perfectly understood by all who are
acquainted with the heart and its plague. He pro-
ceeds :
"We hope, dear friends, you will all do your utmost
to serve the cause of the Lord Jesus : and especially we
hope that none of you will rest content without an
assurance that you have an interest in the precious
blood of Jesus. Pardon us, dear friends, we say it in
kindness and in love, there are some of you concerning
whom we stand in doubt. Oh! beloved friends, we
shall never see you again in this world, but shall we
not see you at the right hand of Jesus in the day
when he comes to judgment? God forbid, that we
LABOURS. 109
should behold one another afar off ! But on behalf of
many, I should say most, we greatly rejoice, in the
assurance that we shall see you again, and it will be a
blessed meeting, and the tears of separation shall flow
down no more." Whatever distinction there may be
between contentedness and happiness, few would say
that the idea of the latter term was not realized in his
experience. He was a happy man, a happy Christian,
and a happy missionary. Thus he writes home to his
former colleagues in the sabbath-school :
" Happy, thrice happy they who are travelh'ng to
Zion with their faces thitherward : thither you have
bent your steps, and thither, likewise, I trust I am
bound. Who would live always that has a hope so
bright, so glorious, to live beyond the grave as Chris-
tians have ? No, our home is above ; and there I pray
our desires and affections may be.
" It is a very interesting employment to be directing
others toward the holy city ; and the labours of the
sabbath-school, in which I trust you continue, are by
no means the least interesting in the traveller's toils.
Incalculable good is accomplished in Sunday-schools,
which never makes its appearance till years after. His
Majesty's ship is in the harbour here now, and
has a crew of five hundred men ; and though I have
asked many of them if they ever went to a Sunday-
school, I have only found one who did. As one might
expect, they are a most profligate, drunken crew. 'This
one man I called into my house as he was passing by
one day ; and although he had been much led astray by
his shipmates, he seemed to me to be one whose con-
110 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
science would not allow him to rest. He spoke very
feelingly of a pious minister whom he remembered, and
he listened with much attention to my instructions. I
gave him a Testament, for which he seemed very grate-
ful, and he most willingly consented to distribute some
tracts among his shipmates.
" I am quite sure when I mention our beloved pastor,
you are ready to sympathise in every expression of
esteem and attachment from me. Oh, how do I prize
his instructions, now that I shall hear them no more !
How do I remember his going in and coming out among
us, now that I see him no more ! My dear friends,
learn hence to value such a ministry !
" If any of you should be at all desirous of engaging
in the missionary work, there is no occasion to hesitate
on account of the difficulty of a foreign language, as the
Malay is as astonishingly easy as the Chinese is astonish-
ingly difficult. I never knew a more simple language.
We have only, now, two Malay missionaries at the three
stations, Singapore, Malacca, and Penang, and they are
both in a very precarious state of health. However,
I would say that a missionary in these parts must be
willing to be trampled upon ; he must be of a very
gentle, quiet spirit ; he must calculate upon trials un-
thought-of in England, and yet he may rest assured of
supporting grace in time of need.
" If any one following Divine guidance is willing to
come', my arms should be extended wide to receive him ;
and coming from the church at Paddington, and from
the Sunday-school, I should, with very peculiar pleasure
welcome him to the shore of India."
LABOURS. Ill
The death of his tender and excellent mother at
this time, called forth in the hosom of one of such
matchless affection as Mr. Dyer, peculiar emotions.
The Secretary of the Society (then the Rev. W. Ellis)
informed him of the event, to whom in acknowledging
his attention in giving him the information, he addressed
the following letter, which I insert entire, as it em-
hodies much of the spirit and manner of the deceased.
(f I had finally bid adieu to my beloved mother seven
years before she died ; but distance of time and place
had rather cemented my heart closer to my family, than
weaned my affections away. This is now the fourth
breach in seven years ; two sisters, a sweet little darling
babe, and a dear mother : but they are all in glory, and
I shall see them as soon as I should have done, had they
continued on earth, (save my little babe.) Oh, it is
truly delightful to think that we are to meet our departed
friends so soon, and then both they and we shall be
beauteous and pure in the righteousness of our adorable
Redeemer !
" The time is very short, and were we more intent
upon the glory of Immanuel, more holy, more heavenly,
more spiritual, the time would seem to us to roll still
more quickly ; but however we may long to depart, that
we may dwell in our happy happy home, far away beyond
the skies, it is a blessed thing to stay, if we may but
serve the Saviour in his kingdom.
"Yours, my dear sir, is an interesting post. You
are a kind of centre point, from whence diverge help,
encouragement, sympathy, and kindness in every direc-
tion. Your letters alwavs ' kind cheer and animate
112 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
us ; and we from this point of the circumference are
frequently looking towards the centre, hoping for and
expecting all the aid you can possibly afford us : and we
do not look in Tain.
" That our heavenly Father would he pleased long to
spare you a blessing to the church, a hlessing to our
Society, and a hlessing to all its missions, as well as [to
render you] hlessed in your own soul, is the prayer of .
" Your very affectionate hrother in Christ,
" SAMUEL DYER."
The sentiment in the first paragraph of the preceding
letter is subdued, beautiful, and eminently Christian;
but on the subject of the death of his mother, his feel-
ings are portrayed in the following letter to his father,
in a manner that will be fully understood perhaps only
by a dutiful and affectionate son or daughter placed in
similar circumstances :
" My dear and honoured Father, Yesterday I received
the tidings of my dear mother's departure for glory.
Your letter, (for I know you have written) has not
arrived: but yours to Mr. Beighton arrived by the Hy the,
after a passage of only three months and twelve days ;
as also a letter from Mr. Ellis, who mentions the circum-
stance.
" I weep and mourn not to think my dear, dear
mother is now in glory; this is a cause of joy unfeigned
not to think she is far away from this world of sorrow ;
I love to think her sorrows are for ever terminated
but I weep and mourn to think that I was not a more
LABOURS. 113
dutiful son while she was continued to us. Often since
I have been in India I have wept in thinking over my;,
.want of dutifulness to my parents : not that I am con-
scious of any glaring hreach of filial duties ; neither I
think, would they charge me with this hut I feel that
I have not heen sufficiently considerate of parental feel-
ings and parental wishes ; and when my will was opposed
to theirs, I have not heen sufficiently tender in my non-
compliance. I hardly know how it is, but it is a most
tender point with me, and has been so the last five years :
I think of home with feelings of sincere attachment, and
then I think, Oh ! could I but see my dear parents once
again, I would try to be the consolation of their declining
years : I would do all I could to cheer them, till they
entered in at the ' gates of the city !'
"My beloved father! had I been with you when
my mother bid adieu, my tears should have mingled
themselves with yours and those of my brothers and
sisters. My heart - also should .have bled, even as it
does at present. I should have said Amen, when you
and they exclaimed, ' Thy will be done !' My inmost
soul should have melted in the mutual sympathy. And
when my mother took her flight, she should have borne
away my heart also to the heavenly world !
"I scarcely know how to write ; there is a burden on
my mind : I wish I could feel sure that my surviving
parent forgives my past want of tenderness, and want of
consideration ; but sometimes I doubt, and then I cannot
but weep and mourn.
" But if I write further in this pensive strain, you will
begin to think me unhappy. Oh ! no, I am very very
i
114 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
happy. Happy to bear, in my humble way, the name
of Jesus in this Gentile land. Happy to tell with
stammering lips that Jesus died for the chief of sinners.
Happy to hear the burden and heat of the day. Happy
to carry from house to house the bread of life. Oh, I
am very very happy ! And although I do most tenderly
love you all, I do hope I may- never turn my back on
benighted, much-loved China."
In this strain he poured forth his grief; and the
son who can find in his own bosom no chord sym-
pathising with his plaint is to be pitied, and his
mother still more: and clear it is that such an one
can never yet have seen either pathos or beauty in
David's wail over his son Absalom; although here
the relationship is reversed, and the circumstances
of the case differ in their moral character heaven-
wide, yet in the distracting anguish of a bereaved heart
there is identity- there is nature! The above ex-
tract closes with " much-loved China," a topic that
always fired his zeal to its highest pitch, and in the
midst of his lament he fills the intermediate part of his
letter with " type-operations, founts, missionaries, tracts,
stations," and the et ceteras of his occupations ; and
closes his letter with another burst of feeling, expressive
of deep solicitude for his dear father his "intense
desire that God Almighty would bless" and sustain him
in his heavy trial. Such is the life of every devoted
servant of Christ a life of labour, of trials, and emo-
tions in heathen land, from many causes, peculiarly so
emotions sometimes of a depressing character, and at
others happy and exulting. To the labours of Mr.
LABOURS. 115
Dyer we must again return, for his life was a life of
service. His emotions only appear at intervals, when
called forth; in the work of the Lord he was without
any intermission employed as a servant of Christ,
therefore, we have principally to contemplate him.
i 2
CHAPTER IV.
LABOURS (continued.)
^
^Removal from Penang to Malacca :-r-Letters and feelings : "Gather up the
fragments" : Method of study, an essay on : Xylography [i.e. wooden-
block printing] Lithography [i.e. stone-printing] Typography [i.e. metal-
type printing] ; as applied to the Chinese language, an essay on the com-
parative expense of: Biblical criticism : Meaning of words : Apparent
contradictions reconciled : Deduction.
Mr. DYER was prospering in his work, and thoroughly
contented in his relative position, at Penang. "We have,"
he writes a short time previous to his removal, after refer-
ring to a recent addition to his family, "many kindfriends,
and every needful comfort : I am constrainedmore earnestly
than ever to desire that God would he the God of my
family : and as long as our little ones may live, we would
lend them to the Lord. For I often feel it to be the
ultimatum of my earthly wishes for them, that they may
he devoted and faithful missionaries of the cross of the
Saviour." At that settlement he was ardently loved
by every member of its comparatively contracted Euro-
pean community, and highly esteemed by the natives ;
and he was prosecuting his labours with vigour and
success. Still on many grounds it was thought desir-
able that he should remove to Malacca, and that his place
at Penang should be supplied by a new missionary.
The reasons that induced the Directors to propose
LABOURS: 117
these alterations were communicated at length to him ;
and with their suggestions he very cheerfully complied.
It was stated, that a delightful change had taken place at
home in the views and feelings of the Christian puhlic
in favour of China, that the anticipation was entertained
that Divine Providence would open the way for mission-
ary operations in that vast empire, now not a matter of
anticipation, but happily of fact that the Directors
thought it desirable therefore to increase the efficiency
of the Anglo-Chinese College, and to augment their
operations at Malacca then the chief station of the
mission to the Chinese and that by these arrangements
they should be able to enter at so wide a door, should it
be opened, with the greater advantage. They urged also
the fact, that his qualifications were, in many important
respects, peculiarly adapted to that station ; and that by
his removal thither they hoped to render his valuable
attainments more extensively useful. Mr. Dyer there-
fore left Penang about the close of September, 1835.
In the following December he writes to his honoured
father : " You will be very desirous to hear from us after
our arrival at Malacca, where we have been, in compliance
with the Directors' urgent wishes, six weeks. I am
happy to say that we are in every sense comfortably
settled, and we have now pretty well recovered from the
fatigue of moving, and are fully occupied with work
congenial to our minds."
*[ rjJ rj rfi JjC J|{ [
"I am very much inclined to think the gloom which
has so long overcast our Ultra-Ganges mission is passing
away : to me things never appeared more bright than
118 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL, DYER.
at present. * * * * * I think .
the Chinese mission has commenced a new era with the
printing of 'Medliurst's Harmony of the four Gospels;'
this is to be followed as soon as possible by a revision
of the Chinese Scriptures. Certainly we never had any
portion of the Scriptures in so intelligible a form before.
It is with the greatest pleasure I issue directions for
printing these precious volumes : at present we have four
men constantly employed in this work.
"You will be pleased to hear that I have received
very much encouragement from America. Ten days
ago I received a letter, bringing me tidings of 200 dollars
for my types, from the American Board of Foreign Mis-
. sions, and another from the American Tract Society,
promising considerable assistance. The work prospers
through God's blessing, and we are making progress
from day to day. You would be delighted to see by what
various providence God has sent me the means of carrying
on the work. We have always been cash in hand, and
I am forcibly reminded of our family motto 'Deus
providebit.'
"A few days since Leang Afa put into my hands a
paper, stating that four persons (Chinese) were desirous
of being admitted by baptism into the visible church of
Christ; I have not yet been able to make due inquiry;
but Afa is a good man and a true disciple, very well in-
formed and an intelligent writer.
" Afa has written nine very good tracts : these have
been cut at the expense of the Tract Society, and we
are about to strike oif large impressions of them.
LABOURS. 119
" Maria has raised two girls' schools, and opens a third
(D.V.) in two or three days hence. I cannot but think
it is God who hast sent us hither because he has a work
for us to do. Pray for us, my dear father, that we may
have more abundant grace, and be full of faith, and love,
and zeal, in the Saviour's blessed work.
"The files promised by the Society have not yet arrived.
Kindly remember that every contribution of 2*. 10</.
[the price of cutting a single punch] carries us one step
forward. Friends at Penang have raised enough to
cover the expense of 400." In no communication,
scarcely, did he forget Paddington : " Remember me
most affectionately," he adds, "to all Paddington friends
and Sunday-school teachers, whose memento I am truly
thankful with. How delighted I should be to see
some of them in this land of darkness, devoting them-
selves to the Lord's work among the heathen ; for indeed
it is a most holy delightful work.
"My most kind love to my brothers and sisters. Oh !
if some of them would come here and labour in these
Gentile lands, my very inmost soul would rejoice ; for I
desire nothing more earnestly for any one of them, than
the most entire and unreserved devotedness to the ser-
vice of the Saviour."
*r JjC ifc jjC if? } ;Jc
"Happy, very happy should we all be to see you once
more, my dearest father, happy to receive your parting
blessing : but no, you have given me up to the service
of Jesus Christ, until we meet in glory : and although
it would be to me a source of most exquisite delight to
minister to you in your declining days, yet through the
120 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
grace of God I hope never to turn my back on much-
loved China. I feel that China and the cause of Jesus
are dearer to me than anything else yea, than my life."
With such views and feelings did Mr. Dyer enter on
his duties at Malacca. His life there about -four years
in its duration had its " lights and shadows ;" and
many a sigh and many a song alternately rose from that
spot to the ear of his God. But whether in the storm
or the sunshine, his confidence in the faithfulness and
wisdom of his God was unwavering ; his heart was full
of love, and his hands full of labour.
ORDER was a prominent feature of his mind. Every-
thing therefore that he did was done as a part of &plan. He
abridged his toil and facilitated his progress by a variety
of methods : and he intended to do the same for his
successors, if God had thought fit to prolong his life so
as to enable him to give a tangible form to his intentions.
He had accumulated large stores in many departments
of philology in most of the languages that could be of
any service to him as a missionary to the Chinese. The
following papers will show how fully he exhausted every
subject which he made his study.
In flos first, there are some of the happiest illustra-
tions, not only how a methodical missionary may make
everything subserve his purpose, but also of the diffi-
culty of catching the idioms of a strange language. If
I might arrest the attention of the reader, I would
entreat an attentive perusal of this paper ; it will throw
much light on many first versions of the sacred Scrip-
tures in recent times. These versions, everything con-
sidered, have in them both as to number and excellency
LABOURS. 121
all but the elements of miracles. Of these, the CHINESE
VERSION will come under notice in the next chapter, so
this subjectmust be dismissed now. And indeed, although
translations and philology were the topics principally con-
templated in the paper to which attention is thus soli-
cited, yet as it is noteocclusively applicable to these subjects
it is inserted here. The second paper will combine
with this in showing how invaluable a missionary Mr.
Dyer was, and what a loss, according to human calcula-
tion, the Chinese mission has sustained in his death.
He answers however the purposes of the " ONLY WISE
GOD" more fully where he is and as he is now than he
could possibly have done on earth, so it is our duty to
acquiesce in arrangements which are, all, perfect as well
as always gracious.
" Gather up the fragments that nothing be lost," was
a maxim frequently in the lips of Mr. Dyer ; and this
paper, developing " A PLAN" he had adopted " FOR
FACILITATING REFERENCES TO ANY SUBJECT OF READ-
ING OR STUDY," was intended to help his fellow-labour-
ers in attaining to a habit the benefits of which he had
experienced himself. It was addressed under the assumed
name of <j!uXoXoyos, to the editor of the Calcutta
Christian Observer. A little attention will show its
ingenuity ; and to one of Mr. Dyer's habits, the advan-
tages it afforded must have been incalculably great.
"I beg to call the attention of your readers to a
little plan, which may possibly be familiar to some of
them, but which I myself have seldom seen put in
practice ; though I have experienced the utility of it
122 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
for the last eight years. I will only just remark, that it
was suggested to me by one of the most eminent of the
translators of the Bible in the present day.
" The object of the plan is to treasure up, and to be
able with ease to refer to, any subject of reading or
study, even after it has escaped the memory : and we
know how very few are able to retain correctly one-
tenth portion of what they read.
" The plan itself is, to take a number of slips of
paper of any convenient size ; and making one memo-
randum upon one paper, any number of memoranda
may be so arranged as to enable the person who collects
them to refer to them at pleasure ; <?. g.,
" In reading a certain native author, I of course met
with many words whose meaning was as plain as the
sun at noon-day, such as the common names of things,
pronouns, conjunctions, &c., ^and as these were to be
met with in every line, there was no need of making
any memoranda of them. Again, there were some
things so obscure that I could affirm nothing of them,
and so I made no memoranda (i. e., in this collection)
of them ; but there were likewise words and expressions
not a few, whose meaning I supposed myself to have
rightly apprehended ; and yet they were not so common
as to be apprehended without diligent search. Of these
I made a collection, putting one memorandum upon one
paper, and afterwards arranging the collection. I will
give you an extract of what I actxially collected :
LABOURS. 123
4 * Physiognomist [Native expression.] [Author.] [Page.]
3. * Place, to '
7 * Population
1 * Precarious ,
6 f Predetermine
2 f Prime of life
5 -f- Public-house
" Here the column of figures is supposed to repre-
sent the order in which the words occurred in reading.
The words marked * to my surprise, on comparing
them afterwards with my English-native dictionary, all
gave in the fourth column an additional native expres-
sion to what was there found ; and the words marked f
were not to be found at all : and in case of doubt, from
the fifth and sixth columns the authority could be
referred to. The alphabetical arrangement was made
from day to day, continually slipping into their proper
places the memoranda for the day. When they amounted
to about 500, they were sown slightly together as a
book ; and another similar collection commenced. This
second collection now amounts to about 400 more ; and
shortly it is intended to unstitch the first collection, and
putting the latter in their proper places in the alphabetical
order, to make one, and then another collection will be
commenced, and in its turn combined with the for-
mer. And I imagine that 850 out of the present 900
memoranda contain additional information to what is
in my English-native dictionary ; and yet I do not mean
"to insinuate the slightest idea that the dictionary in
question is not what it ought to be, but would only
show that every student may add his own contributions
to those of his predecessors. And if I may speak of
124 MEMOIR OP THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
myself, I have not at all been conscious of toil, as I
should have been in sitting down to compose a vocabu-
lary. I often think, if the motto be ' nulla dies sine
linea,' we shall have more than 300 lines by the close
of the year.
" Thus much of an easy plan of vocabulary-making,
which he who translates into native languages will find
of immense practical utility.
" We will now proceed to apply the plan to the illus-
tration of Scripture.
" Suppose when we meet with an illustration of any
passage, we put the passage on one of the slips of paper,
and arrange the memoranda in the order of the books
of Scripture, thus : :
6. Gen. iii. 8, vide Calcutta Christian Observer, vol. i.,
page 301. -
4. Gen. xlix. 1 28, do. Critica Biblica, vol. i.,
page 226.
2. Numb..xxii. 20, do. Calmet's Fragments, No. 204,
and No. 539.
5. Job xlii. 11, do. Blayney on Jeremiah, page 306.
1. Zech. i. 20, do. Camp, on Gosp. Matt. xiii. 55.
3. 1 John ii. 2, do. Calm. Die. in verb " Propitia-
tion." [Additions.]
" Where, as before, the column of numbers is sup-
posed to represent the order in which the illustrations
are met with, and the next their Scripture order, for
the, sake of easy reference, and any new memoranda
may be slipped into their proper places.
"In this manner I have collected about 1,400 refer-
ences to illustrations of Scholia on Matthew's Gospel
LABOURS. 125
alone ; and in a minute or two I have before me all that
I have read on any given passage.
" The plan in one way or other is applicable to
every species of study, or desultory reading. I have
applied it to the illustration of Hebrew, Greek, and
Native words. It is evident that it may likewise be
applied to subjects, poems, &c.
" Nor let the reader suppose that the plan requires
much time : with a number of slips of paper already
cut to size, he has nothing more to do than just to make
a reference, and at his leisure to slip it into its place.
To prevent the papers becoming disordered, two thin
boards of the same size may be provided, and the -whole
tied round with a string. If a book be taken out of
doors to read, a mark may be made in the margin, and
the references collected at pleasure. The expense of
paper need be an objection to few, as the commonest
white paper answers every purpose.
" But the reader may be disposed to ask, Why not
make the references in the margin of the Bible or
dictionary, especially if they be interleaved? I have
tried this plan likewise, but have not found it equal to
the one now proposed : because if the references mul-
tiply ad infinitwm, the interleaved Bible is filled up on
many more important passages, and the references are
liable to confusion; whereas the present plan literally
admits of references ad infinitum; and the circumstance
of confused references soon discourages the student in
his plan. Besides, on this plan it would be necessary
to have a Bible, Native Dictionary, Greek and Hebrew
Lexicons, &c., all interleaved.
126 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
" I ought to have mentioned the degree of precision
with which the references may be arranged. Now
suppose I have read the views of twenty authors, on
any given passage of Scripture ; and after a time I call
to mind that a certain author has made judicious re-
marks on the passage, which I shall he glad to refer
to ; or suppose the inquiry he, if a certain author has
said anything on the passage in question, I refer to my
index, and instantaneously have the required informa-
tion. Thus, suppose it be required to know if Owen
has said anything on the subject of the Saviour's temp-
tation, (Matt. iv. 1,) I seek in my index, arranged
according to the hooks, chapters, and verses of Scrip-
ture, for Matt. iv. 1. Between Matt. iv. 1 and Matt.
iv. 2, I find twenty slips of paper ; and these are
arranged alphabetically, either according to the authors'
names, or according to the names of their works. In
this secondary arrangement I seek for 'OwEN,' and
directly find what I want without having to wade
through a mass of materials having little or no ar-
rangement.
" On the interleaving plan, the student must carry
his interleaved books with him : or else he must tran-
scribe (a labour always annoying to a student) his mate-
rials on his return home ; whereas, the slips of paper
have only to be put into their respective places, and all
that he need take with him is his author and a few
papers.
" If it should be desirable to make extracts, one or
more papers may be placed immediately behind the
first, for the continuation of such extracts as are too
LABOURS. 127
\
long for one.; and if hereafter any memorandum may
be deemed useless, it may be withdrawn without detri-
ment to the rest, or disfiguring the whole.
" I would not be thought to disparage the plan of
interleaved books, because some may much prefer them ;
but my object is to suggest hints upon another plan,
which often appears to me more convenient. I say
often, because I myself am thankful for the interleaving
mode, in some cases where it is found practically to excel
the one proposed. >
"This leads me to speak of another plan, which I
have found of immense utility in translating into a
native language, and revising the already existing trans-
lations of the same. .
" 1st. Every native author that I read is divided into
chapters and verses ; or volumes, pages, and verses,
as the case may be ; being numbered with a pen in
red ink, calling each line a verse.
" 2nd. Every work has a mark which always desig-
nates that work, such as -^- || = A. B. C., &c., and
is written on the cover.
" 3rd. All students know that the exact meaning
and use of a word may be gathered more correctly
from the context, with which it is more immediately
connected, than from any dictionary of the language.
" 4th. If a certain word be met with and sought for
in a dictionary, and a short note be inserted in the mar-
gin, thus, 17 529; i. e., see native author marked
thus, 17 chap. 529 verse, it is plain that the next
time the word is required, not only may the dictionary
be consulted, but the place where it occurred before and
128 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
the context may be referred to. And if there be twenty
references of this kind, the use and meaning of the
word may be pretty well ascertained upon the be'st
native authority.
" In order the more effectually to be enabled to con-
sult native authors for the use and meaning of words,
a writer was employed to transcribe all the words in the
language into a blank ruled book, leaving for every
word a space for about twenty references ; which space
he filled up thus, in native character, (putting the same
into European character, thus :)
A
A
B
B
Native' word
| 1.J5
i i.?y
| 1.150 | 2.91
|5.7|
3.569 i
17.141
].IS |
1.84
i
II
II
II
10
II
.76 |
II
19.100
1 3.5 |
8.19
i
1 3- 8 1
3.15 |
5.90)
5.127 |
18.2 |
B
B
B
C
C
C
C
C
D
Native word
1.1.501
| 3.10
| 5.49
1 18.2 |
19.5 |
19
.17 |
J9.54 |
19.87
I 4.9
i
A
A
| 7.18
A
B
B
B
B
B
i>
,
| 6.4
| 9.23
| 1.15
| 1.28
| 1
.101
1 3.9 |
12.5|
" In this way, between 30,000 and 40,000 references
have been collected by a heathen writer, without any
trouble on the part of his employer, and yet his em-
ployer turns them to Christian purposes, making use of
them as a kind of native dictionary. But to be more
explicit.
" In Matthew -viii. 2, we have the word- KaOaplo-ai,
meaning, to cleanse : but in the native language to which
I allude, the idea is expressed by a variety of words,
such, as * wash-cleanse/ ' heal-cleanse/ ' sweep-
cleanse,' &c. Looking in the index for the native word,
cleanse, and turning to the references, I found among
LABOURS. 129
others the very expression I wanted, namely, heal-cleanse ;
I had no idea of these shades of meaning, hefore I
turned to the word cleanse, in the index of reference's ;
much less that I should find an expression so apposite
to the place, (Matt. viii. 2,) as 'heal-cleanse.'
" I have seldom consulted this index in vain : to me it
is such an invaluahle treasure, that I, make a point of
referring to it in all cases of difficulty ; and when it does
assist, the assistance is valuable, as it furnishes classical
authority for every expression.
" Again, to show the use of this index in writing tracts
it was required to write in the native language : ' In
this world we frequently shed tears,' in contradistinction
to the idea, ' God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes.' The expression 'frequent tears,' would have
heen unidiomatical : turning to the index, and from it
to the references, the expression was found, 'frequently
flowing tears fill the face.' This was exactly what I
wanted to say, hut should have thought long hefore I
had hit upon so idiomatical an expression ; hence it was
selected for my purpose.
" We proceed to notice how this plan may be otherwise
applied suppose I am reading a native author, for ob-
taining an acquaintance with the language, and while
reading the author, called [] at vol. i. chap. i. page 12,
[i.l 12] there occurs this expression: e The winds blew,
and the floods overflowed,' the idea suggests itself, that
this may afford some help in revising Matthew vii. 25
27. Without stopping at the time to consider this
point, in an interleaved native Bible, at Matthew vii. 25
27, this note is made [ i. 1 12,] and when the hour
K
130 MEMOIR OP THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
comes for this employment, the point may be examined ;
and if the expression prove to be more intelligible, sim-
ple, and idiomatical, than the one employed in the exist-
ing translation, the latter is crossed through with a pen,
and the former written by its side as a correction : on
this plan, there are in the gospel of Matthew alone some
hundreds of corrections" of the present translation : and
hereafter they, may be re-examined, as the authority for
the expression is always, given.
" I will only mention one more application of the plan.
Under the word KaQapifa 2, in Schleusner' s Gr. Lex.
N. T., I find I have inserted the native word correspond-
ing to ' heal-cleanse/ with this reference, *j"j" 1.11:
probably the same word may suit in the other places
given under this paragraph.* And when I come to
translate Mark i. 40, and meetingwith the word Kadapiarai,
this word is sought for in Schleusner, and an apt trans-
lation of it into the native language is given in the
margin, without further trouble : and the authority quot-
ed, to afford opportunity of re-examination if need be.
" The only serious objection that any one has yet made
to the plan, is this, that it takes up time ; but none need
adopt the plan any further than they find it practically
useful. I conceive the consumption of time is amply
repaid ; especially if a native be employed as much as
possible in the native portion of the labour.
" If references to European authors are intended for the
public, they should be made to suit any edition of the
works quoted : and the edition used should be specified.
* " I am far from thinking that Schleusner places in the same paragraph
[quotations ]always bearing the same meaning."
LABOURS. 131
" In conclusion : it should be carefully distinguished,
when to use the interleaving plan, and when the other.
If memoranda are likely to he collected ad infinitum, the
latter is the preferable plan ; if the references be limited,
or intimately connected with the lexicons, the mar-
gins, or blank leaves may suffice ; and be more
convenient."
The following paper is not less characteristic of Mr,
Dyer than the preceding. It may make a larger demand
on those sentiments and feelings with which many, at
least, peruse the memoirs of departed worth. If
biographies are intended to exhibit labours, habits, and
tastes, as well as developed principles, and so to delineate
character, it would be injustice to Mr. Dyer to withhold
this comprehensive, cautious, and candid document out
of any delicacy lest our accustomed usages in the com-
pilation of memoirs should be violated. It was inserted
in the Chinese Repository a few years since, and titled,
" An Estimate of the proportionate expense of Xylogra-
phy, [i.e. wooden block-printing,] Lithography, [i.e. stone
printing,] and Typography, [i.e. metallic type printing,]
as applied to Chinese printing ; View of the Advantages
and Disadvantages of each.
" In order to judge of the proportionate cost of the
different modes, we must calculate the cost of printing
a given amount of books, say 2000 copies of the Chi-
nese Bible. The modes of printing, which at the present
time deserve particular attention, are these three viz.
first, xylography ; second, lithography ; and third, typo-
graphy. We shall consider the expenses of each of these
K2
132 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
modes, and then notice some of their advantages and
disadvantages.
"I. By Block printing.
s. d.
The expense of the passage of nine workmen to and
from China, at 20 doll, per trip, is 360 doll., or . 72
Of 2000 blocks, at 5 doll, per hundred, is 100 doll., or 20
Tools, gravers, &c. 10
Transcribing 2689 pages, at 9d. per page. . . 100 16 9
Catting 1,161,648 characters, at Is. 3d. per cent . 726 8
Printing and binding 5,378,000 pages, at Is. 8d. per
thousand 448 3 4
Of 209 peculs of paper, at 2 10s. per pecul. . 523 15
,1900 15 9
"The octavo edition of the Bible contains 352 charac-
ters on each page, to which must also be added for the
stops, marks, verses, and border, 80 characters more,
making 432 characters per page ; which for 2689 pages,
is 1,161,648.
" The above is the charge at Malacca, according to Mr.
Kidd, who says that 3250 characters can be cut for ^62
sterling ; and agreeable to Mr. Hughes' statement, in the
British and Foreign Bible Society's report for 1833, that
100 copies of the Scriptures can be taken from the
blocks for 105 doll. This is also the rate at which such
work has been done at Batavia. But in China itself, the
work can be done much cheaper, as may be seen in the
Evangelical Magazine for August, 1826, where it is
stated that the Chinese New Testament, containing
227,300 characters, was cut in Chinafor 500 doll., which
is at the rate of 11^. per hundred characters ; while the
LABOURS. 133
transcribing of the same is said to have cost 50 doll.,
or 4|<. per page. The passage of the type-cutters would
also have heen saved, and the paper and blocks might
have been procured cheaper, say, 2 5s. for the former,
and 4 dolls, for the latter ; which altogether would make
a saving of 365 19s. The time occupied in the above
undertaking, by nine type-cutters and five printers, would
be somewhere about three years.
" II. By Lithography.
s. d.
For two lithographic presses, with stones . . . 100
Materials, repairs, &c. . . . . . 100 o
Transcribing 2689 pages twice over, at Qd. per page 201 13 6
Fruiting 5,378,000 pages, at 1*. per thousand . . 268 18
Folding, collating, stitching, and cutting the above,
at 3d. per thousand 6746
Paper, the same as in the first statement . . 523 15
1261 11
"The folding, cutting, &c., costs much less when
the sheets come from a lithographic or typographic
press, than when the same work is done by block
printing. For in block printing, each sheet of two pages
is printed separately, and folded in the middle ; thus
the leaves present only one even side, and in collating
cannot be arranged without carefully placing every
separate leaf exactly over the other, which occupies
much time ; whereas when printed in sheets and folded,
two even sides are presented, and when collated a single
knock on the table brings the whole to a level. The
134 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
time occupied in the above work by one transcriber,
four pressmen, and one binder, would be two years.
" III. By Typography.
s. d.
3000 punches can be furnished hy Mr. Dyer, at
Penang, at 68 cents each, which is 2p40;dolls., or 408
1000 Ibs. weight of Chinese type can be furnished
by the same, at 2s. per lb., which is . . 100
One iron press, cases, furniture, &c. . . . 100
Composition, 2689 pages, at 2s. per page . . 268 18
Printing 5,378,000 pages, at 6d. per thousand . 134 9
Folding, stitching, &c., at 3d. per thousand . 67 4 6
Paper, 168 peculs, at 2 10s. per pecul . . . 420
.1498 11 6
" The types being somewhat smaller than those used
in the octavo edition, less paper will be required. Mr.
Gutzlaff proposes to procure matrices at 6d. apiece;
but the steel for the punch and the copper for the
matrix would nearly amount to that sum, so that there
is perhaps some mistake in his calculation. The time
required for the punch-cutting cannot be stated pre-
cisely ; but for the printing it would be, for two com-
positors, two pressmen, and one binder, one year.
* ' Thus the entire cost of each being reckoned, the
balance will appear at first in favour of lithography for the
first 2,000 copies of the Scriptures, but permanently in
favour of typography. When these are struck off, if
executed by means of block printing, we possess a set
of blocks adapted for printing the Scriptures alone,
already much worn, and capable of yielding only five
more editions ere they are completely spoiled. . If the
LABOURS. 135
work is done by means of lithography, we possess, after
its completion, two presses and materials for future
operations. But if the work is performed hy means
of metal types, when finished, we have a set of punches
and matrices remaining, from which millions of types
may be cast, sufficient to supply the whole world ;
besides a complete fount of Chinese types, from which
fifty more editions can be taken, and an iron press and
furniture that will last for twenty years. Besides which,
the recomposition and printing of every successive edi-
tion from the metal types will not cost much more than
the mere striking off the same quantity from the wooden
blocks.
"I. The advantages by xylography. 1. The expense
of starting such an establishment is much less than
would be required for either lithography or typography.
2. An edition of 2,000 copies of the Scriptures may be
printed at intervals, according to the demand for books,
or the supply of paper. 3. The Scriptures, when once
cut, remain always the same, without the need of cor-
rection or of revision at every successive edition. 4.
Much trouble is thereby saved to the superintendent,
who has only to order so many copies to be printed, and
it is done without his interference or anxiety. A mis-
sionary just arrived in the country may give out the
blocks of his predecessor, and commence printing im-
mediately. 5. In travelling, a tract of a few blocks
may be packed in a very small compass, and printed
from at every successive stage. 6. The whole work
may be performed by the Chinese themselves, without
the aid of European machinery or workmen. 7- The
136 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
type-cutters may be brought under religious instruction
while employed in preparing the blocks ; one has already
been converted by this means, and is now an evangelist
in China. This advantage, however, is not peculiar to
block-printing, though it is perhaps greater in this than
in the other modes.
"Disadvantages. 1. The blocks, after an edition of
10,000 is struck off, are no longer capable of giving
good impressions. 2. The blocks are liable to be de-
stroyed by white ants ; and if the establishment be
extensive they occupy much room. The octavo edition
of the Scriptures, in 2,680 pages nearly, reckoning two
pages for each block, would amount to 1,340 blocks,
which, at twenty blocks per cubic foot, would occupy
sixty-seven cubic feet. 3. If one block be lost or
injured, the whole set is worthless, unless a type-cutter
be at hand to supply the deficiency. 4. When once
cut, the blocks are incapable of correction or im-
provement without great expense, and spoiling the
beauty of the page. 5. By means of block-printing,
crude and ill-digested works are perpetuated ; and as it
is easier to print from old blocks than to make new
ones, the first productions of missionaries are still
given forth, after twenty years' experience and know-
ledge of the language should have enabled the labourers
to produce something better. 6. Block-printing pro-
duces too little variety in our productions, and the
heathen in the vicinity get acquainted with our tracts
before they are put into their hands, complaining of
each that they have seen it before, and crying out for
something new. 7. The type-cutters are generally a~
LABOURS. 137
troublesome set, and occasion a missionary much vex-
ation in endeavouring to keep them in order. Besides
which, being necessary to the establishment, their whims
and caprices must frequently be borne with. 8. Type-
cutters can be procured from China alone, and never leave
their country without an express engagement ; this ren-
ders us entirely dependent on China for supplies ; and
should our agents in China be withdrawn, or type-cutters
be strictly prohibited from leaving their native land, the
work must come to a stand. 9 . The expense of carrying
on type-cutting after the materials are furnished, is
more than double that of metal type printing.
"II. The advantages by lithography. 1. Small
editions may be printed according to the demand for
books, or the supply of paper. 2. Every successive
edition is capable of improvement and alteration to any
extent. 3. Hand-bills and small tracts for particular
purposes may be got up and struck off at a very short
notice ; for where a tract of six pages would employ a
type-cutter a month before a single copy could be pro-
cured, in lithography the whole could be completed in
two or three days. 4. Small stations occupied by only
one missionary, or sequestered parts, where there is not
much demand for tracts, arid which consequently cannot
sustain the expense either of a xylographic or a typo-
graphic establishment, might conveniently employ one
lithographic press, which a single individual might
manage. 5. Lithography is well adapted for printing
alternately in various languages, for mixing different
characters, or publishing books in a new character, for
which no types have yet been formed ; further, a litho-
138 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL, DYER.
graphic press is useful for graphic representations, for .
printing in the running hand of any language, or for
producing bold and elegant forms of the character, so
much esteemed among the natives of the east. A
Japanese vocabulary and a Corean dictionary would not
have appeared, had it not been for lithography.
"Disadvantages. 1. The slowness of execution,
owing to the additional work required in lithographic
printing, by wetting the stone every sheet, and cleaning
it every ten. 2. The rapidity with which the stone
spoils, requiring it to be re-transcribed and re-transferred
every one or two thousand sheets, which in large editions
of 10,000 occasions much loss. 3. The uncertainty
attending lithographic printing, sometimes arising from
the change of the atmosphere, sometimes from the de-
fection in the material, and sometimes from the inatten-
tion of the workmen. 4. The irregular appearance of
a book printed by lithography, owing to some sheets
having been printed better, and others worse. 5. The
expense at the first outlay is greater than in block
printing.
"III. The advantages by typography. 1. It is
equally adapted to large and small editions, and for
periodical as well as standard works. A few pages may
be set up, and printed off in a few days; and the form
once on the press, it may be worked for 1, or 100, or
100,000, as the case may require. 2. It is calculated to
last long ; and if the metal be good, millions of tracts
may be printed ere the types are worn out. 3. There is
a great saving of time and expense, as compared with
block and stone-printing ; and where the object is the illu-r
LABOURS. 139
mination of one-third of the human race, the faster we can
work, and at the least cost, the better. 4. The printing
from metal types can he made to appear much more
beautiful and more pleasing to a Chinese eye, than the
printing by wooden blocks, as has been already proved in
the large characters of Morrison's dictionary; and we
hope will still more clearly appear when Mr. Dyer has
completed his fount. 5. In printing by metal types, we
can be entirely independent of Chinese printers ; as any
common Chinese scholar may compose the pages, and
any Malay coolie may work the press. 6. In typo-
graphy, the correcting of the press is extremely easy,
and improvements may be made to any extent. 7- The
first cost of metal types may be great, but they may be
used for twenty years without stopping, and afterwards
may be sold for old metal. 8. Another advantage of
movable metal types is their being easily combined
with European letters, in the printing of dictionaries
&c. 9. The press employed for printing Chinese may
be used at intervals for printing in any other language.
10. The space occupied by a set of Chinese types is not
great, as nine characters will fit into a square inch, and
one square foot will easily contain 1000 characters, in-
cluding the sections between, which must be of plate
tin : a pair of common printing cases occupies only nine
square feet ; thus three or four pairs of common printing
cases would contain 30,000 characters. Whereas the
blocks of the Scriptures alone occupy 67 instead of
2| cubic feet. 1-1. The white ants cannot do the least
injury.to metal types, and nothing will destroy them but
use or fire, and even then the metal is still saleable.
140 MEMOIR OF THE REVi SAMUEL DYER.
"Disadvantages. 1. It is difficult -to carry on a
movable type establishment without the aid of a Euro-
pean printer, who would require as much salary as ten
Chinese put together. This objection, however, would
be obviated, did the missionary himself know but a little
of the art of printing. 2 . Though the fount may contain
3000 varieties, and amount to 30,000 characters, yet
it is possible that unusual characters may occur in the
course of printing, or more of one sort be required than
have been calculated on, in which case the work must
stop until the necessary characters be cut or cast for the
purpose; it maybe observed, however, that the addi-
tional characters being very few, may be easily cut on a
piece of tin. 3. Printing from metal types requires an
expensive press. This press may, however, be used at
intervals for printing hi other languages : thus the whole
cost of the press ought not to be charged to Chinese
typography alone ; besides which, almost every mis-
sionary station already possesses such a press. . 4. In
case of our adopting metal types generally, what is to
become of our wooden blocks, already cut and lying
ready for use ? "We answer, print from them in the
usual way, as long as they will last, and then let the
Scriptures and tracts be improved in future editions at
the letter-press. 5. Metal types being all of one size,
will not do for the printing of commentaries, or even
the insertion of a single note, unless two sets be pre-
pared, one large and the other small. To which it may
be replied, that founts of small characters already exist
at Malacca and in China, which might be used for
notes, &c.
LABOURS. 141
" Thus, upon a review of the whole, it will appear that
printing Chinese by metal types is greatly preferable to
every other method ; that it is highly desirable and ex-
ceedingly practicable to procure such types. Mr. Dyer
should therefore by all means be encouraged to persevere
in the punch-cutting, for which d6400 will be sufficient
to complete a set of 3000 varieties ; that while the punch
cutting is going on, the work of casting should proceed
also, for which IQQ would be sufficient for the casting
of each fount of 30,000 characters.
"The Anglo-Chinese public are perfectlyable to provide
both , these sums, and a subscription for that purpose
ought to be immediately begun. Then, should Mr. Gutz-
laff require 2000 Bibles, and 10,000 tracts, they can be
furnished in one year at half the cost of block-printing,
and should the various missionary societies engaged in
the evangelization of China require founts of Chinese
metal types, or should government agents and literary
institutions be desirous of possessing them, they will be
able to procure them at \ 00 each fount. This is one
of the grandest objects ever presented to the attention
of a benevolent public, and if it be left undone
for the want of a few hundred pounds, many thousands
must be thrown away in the lapse of a few years to pro-
cure the same quantity of work done by block-printing.
China is now opening her doors ; her teeming millions
are ready to receive the word of life ; and the lever that
shall move this world is doubtless, under God, metal-type
printing."*
* " We tender," observes the editor, " our best thanks to our correspondent
for his remarks and statements concerning Chinese printing. The press is
everywhere a powerful engine : out nowhere else does it seem destined to act on
142 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
The preceding papers show how fully Mr. Dyer con-
templated substantial usefulness in all he did. His
ingenuity was never expended in what was frivolous or
unimportant. He had hut one ohject in view the evan-
gelisation of China. This was his magnetic pole.
Wherever he was and whatever he did, China was con-
templated hy him as the great ohject for which >he lived
and laboured.
The school operations at Malacca were the same in
character with those at Penang. His punch-cutting and
type-founding were only a continuation of what he had
so successfully commenced at the latter place. His lite-
rary labours were however somewhat increased. He
proceeded with the revision of the sacred Scriptures
with more vigour than at Penang. Reserving this
topic to a future section of this Memoir, we must not
omit here a reference to his papers on Chinese philology
and criticism, in a monthly publication issued from the
Malacca press during his residence there. These will
such a mighty mass as in China. We shall soon refer to this topic again, and
shall then, we doubt not, have good reports to make concerning the progress
of metal types. Mr. Gutzlaff s intention was (and is, we believe,) to procure
matrices without the use of punches, by drilling instead of punching metal.
We_are apprehensive, however, that ' the Chinese have neither the genius
in the head nor the power in the fingers,' to give complete success to this
plan." [From the phrase "punching the metal," it is difficult to know what is
meant, or what Mr. G.'s plan was. It would seem he intended " drilling," not
the " metal," but the " matrix," for the former is never punched but cast. If he'
contemplated drilling the matrix, his plan amounted to an impossibility : if he
intended cutting the character by drilling, or any other process on the face of
the metal, which indeed the note prevents us from supposing, his plan amounted
to an absurdity. In either case it illustrates the manner in which our good
friend Mr. O. has often jumped to a conclusion. ED.]
LABOURS. 143
show to every one capable of appreciating their excel-
lence, that he had not spent his time in mere manual
operations, but that he had been a diligent and successful
student of Chinese. Indeed, there is hardly a paper in
that periodical worth reading, but what is the production
of his pen. It would be impossible to do justice to those
admirable documents without transferring them entire
into these pages, and that cannot be done without a large
quantity of Chinese type : and this fact sets the matter
aside entirely. If it did not, most readers would ask, of
what value to us are they? And to the question a %
satisfactory answer could not be given, perhaps. But to
the student of Chinese they would repay the trouble and
time of a repeated perusal. Although we must omit
transcribing that class of articles from the numbers,
of the periodical referred to, yet the reader will be
pleased with the following short article as a happy illus-
tration of a method by which a subject BIBLICAL.
CRITICISM considered dry and unprofitable, by many
readers, may be rendered instructive and interesting.
The subject is, "THE KINGDOM or HEAVEN," Matt,
iii. 2.
" The original Greek rendered literally is more pro-
perly the kingdom of the heavens, following the Jewish
phraseology p^^ fttDyp malcuth shamayim.]
" I. Heaven in the Scriptures and the Jewish writings
is used as equivalent to God. Thus, 'Hezekiah the
king, and the prophet Isaiah, prayed, and cried to
heaven," p^t^n hash-shamayim,^ 2 Chron. xxxii. 20.
Comp. 2 Kings xix. 14, 15, and Isa. xxxvi. 14, 15.
144
MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
And the wicked are said to set their mouth against the
heavens, [P.^ptt?? 5ash-$hamayim,~] Psa. Ixxiii. 9 ; while
Daniel informs the proud king of Babylon, ' thy king-
dom shall he sure to thee, after that thou shalt have
known that the heavens [S*pt7 shemaiya] do rule,'
Dan. iv. 23.* So in the New Testament ' The bap-
tism of John, whence was it 1 from heaven or of men ?
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we
shall say from heaven, he will say unto us, Why then
did ye not believe him?' Matt. xxi. 25, comp. Mark
xi. 30, 31 ; and Luke xx. 4, 5. 'Father, I have sinned
against heaven, and before thee,' Luke xv. 18 21. ' A
man can receive nothing, except it be given him from
heaven.' Hence :
"XL. The kingdom of heaven in Matthew, to whom it
is peculiar, is the same as the kingdom of God in the
other evangelists ; as will be evident from the variation
of the word in the following passages :
" The kingdom of heaven is
at hand, Matt. iv. 17.
" Blessed are the poor in spi-
rit ; for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven, chap. v. 3.
" He that is least in the king-
dom of heaven is greater than
he, chap. xi. 11.
" It is given unto you to know
the mysteries of the kingdom
of heaven, chap. xii. 11.
" For of such is the kingdom
of heaven, chap. xix. 14.
" The kingdom of God is at
hand, Mark i. 16.
" Blessed be ye poor ; for
yours is the kingdom of God,
Luke vi. 20.
" He that is least in the king-
dom of God is greater than he,
chap. vii. 28.
" Unto you it is given to
know the mysteries of the
kingdom of God, chap. viii. 10.
" For of such is the kingdom
of God, Mark x. 14.
* In the English version, 26 verse.
LABOURS. 145
"III. Both these expressions refer to the prophecies
of Daniel, chap. ii. 44. 'And in the days of these
kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which
shall never he destroyed ; and the kingdom shall not he
left to other people, but it shall hreak in pieces and
consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for
ever:' and chap. vii. 13, 14; where, after the descrip-
tion of the fonr earthly and tyrannical monarchies, and
the destruction of them, it is added, ' I saw in the night
visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came
with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of
days, and they brought him near before him. And
there was given him dominion, and glory, and a king-
dom, that all people, nations, and languages should
serve him ; his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which
shall not be destroyed;' which denote the beginning,
and the spiritual nature of the reign of Christ, which
was to subsist first in more imperfect circumstances on
earth, but afterwards was to appear complete in the
world of glory ; being universal in its extent, and eter-
nal in its duration. Hence,
" IV. The kingdom of heaven implies,
"1. The manifestation of the Messiah. Thus in
Matt. xii. 28, ' But if I cast out devils by the Spirit
of God, then the kingdom of heaven is come unto
you ;' i. e., hence it is the manifestation of the Messiah.
The Baptist, therefore, in the passage quoted at 4he
head of this paper, by his preaching, would stir up
the minds of his hearers to meet the coming of the
146 'MEMOIR OF THIS IftEV. SAMUEL DYER.
Messiah, who was shortly to be manifested, with suit-
able repentance and preparation.
"2. It more particularly signifies the state of the
Messiah's spiritual kingdom on earth; or that gospel
state and government of the church which he has set;
up ; with the benefits belonging to them who should,
by faith in him, become the subjects of his kingdom,
and submit to be governed by his laws : thus, ' Jesus'
preached the gospel of the kingdom of God,' Mark i.
14; 'and spake unto them of the kingdom of God,'
Luke ix. 11; sent his apostles ' to preach the kingdom
of God,' Luke v. 2 ; and told the Jews, ' The kingdom
of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation
bringing forth the fruits thereof,' Matt. xxi. 43. ' But
why,' says Dr. A. Clarke, 'is this called a kingdom?
Because it has its laws, all the moral precepts. of the
gospel ; its subjects, all who believe in Jesus Christ ;
and its King, the Sovez'eign of heaven and earth. N.B.
Jesus Christ never saved a soul which he did not govern;
nor is Christ precious to any man who does not feel a
spirit of subjection to the Divine will. But why is, it
called the kingdom of heaven? Because God designed
that his kingdom of grace here should resemble the
kingdom of glory above. And hence our Lord teaches
us to pray, Thy will be done on earth as it is in
heaven.'
. " 3 ; It denotes ' the true knowledge of God, accom-
panied with that worship which is pure and holy ;' or,
in other words, the love, fear, and service of God, which
are the characteristics of all his real subjects.
LABOURS.. 147
- , "4. The kingdom of heaven, or of God, in the Scrip-
tures, unquestionably denotes the state of glory, or that
heavenly kingdom, in which all pious persons, or those
who are the subjects of Christ's kingdom of grace on
earth, shall enjoy endless felicity with God in .heaven.
As when it is said, 'Blessed are they who are persecuted
for righteousness' sake ; for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven,' 'Matt. v. 10. * Great is your reward in heaven,
Matt. v. 12. 'Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, hut he
that doeth the will of my Father,' Matt. vii. 21. <Jt is
better to enter into the kingdom of heaven with one
eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell,' Mark
ix. 47."
The following short paper " ON THE MEANING OF
WORDS," will both delight and instruct the young es-
pecially. On this ground, after some hesitation, I have
resolved on inserting it ; and the fact that it is quite
characteristic of Mr. Dyer's habit of accurate study and
observation, will show to every reader who may not feel
any peculiar interest in the subject of it, the propriety
of that resolution. A paper or two of a similar cast will
follow.
" In ascertaining the meaning of words, we are not to
conceive the meanings given by lexicographers as abso-
lutely decisive : particularly in languages but partially
understood. . Lexicons are valuable, inasmuch as they
.suggest the results of the researches of others: but
still such results are mere opinions opinions worthy,
it may. be, of much deference on the part of those who
L 2
148 MEMOIR OJ? THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
are less informed; but the amount of this deference
will be in proportion to the ability of the lexicographer.
Still, as we have the same opportunities of examining
for ourselves, as he had, we are not to give his opinions
implicit credence.
" The manner in which a lexicographer comes to the
meaning of words, is, by comparing different places in
which such words occur : and this we can do for our-
selves : but yet he may have classified the places into
different shades of meaning : and thoughts may have
occurred to him why a place may have one shade of
meaning rather than another ; all this is real and most
valuable assistance : but we are to test such thoughts to
the utmost. . . .
" Suppose a foreigner, desirous to acquire a critical
acquaintance with the English language. He has already
a slight acquaintance with it, but wishes to investigate
it thoroughly. He meets with the word ASTRAY, and
wishes to ascertain its real identical meaning. For this
purpose, he collates various places where the word
occurs, say, various places in the Bible. He com-
pares the following passages: Ps. cxix. 176 ; Matt,
xviii. 12, 13 ; Deut. xxii. 1.
" Ps. cxix. 1 76, reads thus : ' I have gone like
a lost sheep.' He inquires what is wanting. He con-
cludes from the word like (which he is supposed to
know already) that it is something analogous to lost ;
from the word gone he concludes, that it is something that
qualifies this verb. "What then will supply the blank but
wrong; amiss ; into error? A lost sheep is not only absent
frpm the flock; but absent in some unknown place. This
LABOURS. ' 149
then must be the meaning of the word astray as applied to
sheep. As applied in the passage before us it may be
somewhat modified : but the foreigner might well con-
clude he had got the radical idea of the word.
"This idea is confirmed by collating Matt, xviii. 12,
13, where in connection with the phrase gone astray,
occurs the word seek, the whole passage likewise applying
to sheep.
" By collating Deut. xxii. 1, the very same idea is
further confirmed by the phrase ' bring them again to
thy brother/ These three passages would be enough
to convince the foreigner that he had obtained the right
meaning of the word : his next inquiry would be as to
its application.
"1. There is a going astray from the flock like a
sheep. Ps. cxix. 176 ; Matt, xviii. 12, 13.
" 2. There is a going astray after the wicked woman.
Prov. vii. 25.
"3. There is a going astray after idols. Ezek. xiv. 1 1 .
" If now he refers to his dictionary and finds the
writer saying, 'ASTRAY: out of the right way' his
mind is fully satisfied ; not from the ipse dixit of the
lexicographer, but from his own observation agreeing
therewith.
" Let the same mode be adopted with respect to a
Hebrew word ; say the word BOSH p^ 3 -] As before, the
student is supposed to have at least a slight acquaintance
with the language, but is desirous of examining it
critically. /
" In Isa. xlix. 23, Jie reads, * They shall 'not
that wait for me.' They shall not what?. He would
150 MEMOIR OP THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
plausibly conjecture, "they shall not wait in 'vain : and he
would compare other places to test his conjecture. In
the following passages, the subject treated of is false
confidence, confidence in idols, &c. : Isa. i. 29, xlii.
17,xliv. 9, 1.1"; 2 Kings xix. 26; Hos. iv. 19 : and it is
predicated of such as cherish false confidence, that they
'shall ;' wait in vain; be disappointed; the
idea just suits ; and the student's conjecture becomes
strengthened into an opinion.
"By pursuing the investigation, and examining Isa.
Ixv. 13, he finds that the word BOSH contains in it
something adversative to 'rejoice.' .By a further collation
with Isa. xlv. 24, 25, he finds an antithesis in the word
^glory.* And in many other places he finds the same
radical idea of waiting in vain; disappointed ; ashamed ;
agreeing in every instance, only with different shades of
meaning, Ps. vi. 10, xxxi. 17, Ixxxiii. 17, xcvii. 7,
cxxix. 5 ; Isa. xli. 11, Ixvi. 5, &c.
" Thus he forms his own opinion of a word, independ-
ent of a lexicon; and he is prepared to profit by the
opinions of the lexicographer, inasmuch as he can test
them for himself without credulously receiving his ipse
dixit. He not only obtains with precision the meaning
of words, but he becomes acquainted with words in their
connection, and' not in their isolated form,
'"Suppose now he wishes to write or translate, and is
desirous to express in English the idea of moral aber-
ration ; were he to be guided simply by a dictionary, he
might say went wrong; went amiss ; went erroneously;
either of these would express his idea, but neither of
them with propriety. Were he speaking of the turn of
LABOURS. 151
affairs, he might say, they went amiss ; were he speak-
ing of his watch, he might say it went wrong ; were he
speaking of a person who went to a certain place, .when
he ought not to have gone, he might say he went erro-
neously so ; but if he would speak of moral aberration,
none of these would suit. He examines several places
where the word went occurs, and he finds that the proper
adjunct of went, to express his idea, is, ASTRAY ; and
he forthwith selects the expression for his purpose.
" By this process, as a writer or translator, a vast
variety of unidiomatical expressions may be avoided :
what should we think of 'afar man,' for, a stranger ?
' the fire eat it up,' for, the fire consumed it 1 'leaden
water ',' for, lead in a state of fusion? And yet, how-
ever unidiomatical these expressions are in English, they
are perfectly proper in other languages.
"The remedy against such errors of composition and
translation, is, not a lexicon, however good a one it
may be ; inasmuch as the best of lexicons, for the most
part, quote but unconnected phrases : the remedy is rather
a concordantial index ; such an index as is given at the
end of many of the Delphin classics ; such an index
as Schmidius to the New Testament ; Trommius to the
Septuagint; Buxtorffto the Hebrew Bible ; : Schaffto
the Syriac Testament : had we such indices to Malay,
Siamese, Chinese, &c., authors, they would beinvaluable :
they would enable us mostly to obtain the best mode
of expression ; they would assist us frequently to find
phrases in doubtful cases ; they would afford us autho-
. rity, better to be trusted than living teachers; and
they would help us to avoid many improprieties of diction.
152 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
"We leave these few remarks to the consideration of
writers and translators in the oriental languages ; and
we hesitate not to affirm that a concordantial index upon
some good classical author is even more valuable than a
good dictionary ; and he who would perform the .task*
however dry he might find it to be, would most essen-
tially aid the labourers in the Lord's vineyard/'
Such a concordantial index he had prepared to assist
him in his Chinese labours, and on it he set the highest
value. The reader will not forget the assistance such
an index was supposed to have rendered, in finding out
idiomatic phraseology for the expression "make clean"
[ttadaptW] in Matt. viii. 2 ; and for the phrase, "In this
world we frequently shed tears" The ingenuity of Mr.
Dyer's plans in accumulating assistance of every kind
and from every source, if it could be fully brought before
the reader, would at least impress him with the fact,
while contemplating the loss of so much real worth,
and adapted instrumentality, that God's ways are not
as our ways ; and that the progress of his cause, he has
resolved, shall depend on no might but his own.
The preceding, as well as the following paper, it
must be remembered, was intended, in part at least, for
the edification of juvenile readers ; still he had an eye,
it is obvious, to his brethren in the mission, as he calls
the attention of " writers and translators in the orien-
tal languages" to the hints which his articles supplied
so abundantly. And, indeed, not only writers in foreign
languages, but readers in their own, may happily profit
by them.
LABOURS. 153
Philologically considered, this paper, ")N APPA-
RENT CONTRADICTIONS RECONCILED" is one of
great importance. If he had selected passages in which
any theological difficulty occurred, he could not have
exhibited so fully, and so successfully, the principle
by which apparent difficulties may be set aside,
and by which the meaning of God's word may be
brought out with clearness and exactitude. Every
biblical student knows that much is to be done yet, m
what is called the "religious world," before philology,
as & science, shall have her legitimate influence in decid-
ing controversies, that are still distracting the church
of Christ. While he that runneth may read the plan
of redemption, the translator of the " lively oracles" of
God must spend many a prayerful and anxious season
over the idioms and laws of language the jus et norma
loquendi especially over those of the sacred languages,
as well as those also into which the truth of God is to
transferred, before he is prepared for a work of such
responsibility. This, and subsequent papers will show
that Mr. Dyer had qualified himself, in no ordinary
degree, for such labours. The improvement of the
Chinese version of the sacred Scriptures was the ONE
OBJECT he had in view, in this, as well as in every
other paper introduced into these pages. What, after
deliberate and repeated examination, he deemed defects,
suggested them all. The following is the article that
suggested the preceding remark :
"As all the writers of the New Testament were
either natives of those regions, where Syro-Chaldaic
was spoken, or were foreigners, who read and wrote
154 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
Greek, it is evident that many idioms of .the ancient
Hebrew would reach them all. For, in the first place,
it is easy to see that those who lived in Judea and its
environs must have heen familiar with the phraseology
of the Hebrew Scriptures; which it is reasonable to
suppose were, in that land, read by some, and heard by
all. To those, also, who were thus privileged, many
of the ancient Hebrew idioms were doubtless transmitted
through the Syro-Chaldaic or colloquial language of the
country. It is, moreover, an undoubted fact, that many
of the ancient Hebrew idioms were conveyed through
the medium of the Septuagint, to all those who read
that ancient Greek version. For that invaluable treasure
was to them the law of the Lord, or statute-book of Je-
hovah ; in which the blessed man delights, and in which
he meditates by day and night, Psa. i. 2. And it is
perfectly natural to suppose that such reading and
meditation had as great a command over the style of
the ancients, as our reading and meditation have over
ours. In short, every writer must think before he
writes ; and as men naturally think in the language
with which they are most familiar ; and as the phrase-
ology of that language is furnished from conversation,
and from books, which are the conversation of the
dead or the absent, it may readily be conceived that
books affect our modes of speaking or writing, in pro-
portion as they are read and admired. In the apostolic
age, however, there was not so great a multiplicity of
books, to diversify men's style, as there is in our
days ; and this absence of boundless variety gave an
ancient book such an influence over the style of its
LABOURS. 155
assiduous readers, as rarely falls to the lot of modern
publications, or even of our authorized version of the
Bible itself.
"As, therefore, the Hebrew mode of speaking or
writing affected, more or less, the style of all the sacred
books -of the New Testament, it is manifest that this
common characteristic of the whole of those writings
rendered the respective books capable of illustrating one
another ; and as the said characteristic was partly der
rived through the medium of the Septuagint, and partly
from the Hebrew Bible itself, it is at once obvious that
the capability of mutual illustration attaches to the
Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, and the New Testament ;
not only separately, but conjointly.
"In order to illustrate these observations, reference
may be made to two parallel passages ; which contain
Satan's address to our Lord, when the object was to
induce the Saviour, in a time of apparently pressing
necessity, to distrust Divine providence, and have re-
course to an unhallowed expedient. Now, in strict
accordance with the Greek, we read in Matt. iv. 3,
that Satan said, 'Command that THESE STONES be
made LOAVES ; l and in Luke iv. 3, the literal English
of the original is, ' Command THIS STONE that it be
made a LOAF ;' so that in the latter passage, there
seems to be a twofold contradiction to the former. But
had the prince of darkness adverted to the fishes of the
sea, instead of the surrounding stones, a strictly literal
translation of the Greek words for fish and fishes,
though varying in the expression, would have agreed
in the sense. For, in that case, we should hav.e read, in
156 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
Matthew, * Command that the FISHES of the sea he made'
bread; 3 and in Luke the language would have been,
'Command that the FISH of the sea he made bread.'
" The fact is, that if the variation of expression in
question ever hecomes a difficulty, that difficulty is
founded on a mistaken notion of grammar. It is hy
no means true, that when a word is not in the plural,
it must necessarily imply one single ohject. Suppose,
for instance, that one man should call a thousand scat-
tered straws, THESE STRAWS; and that another man
should call the same thousand straws, THIS STRAW, is
it right to suppose, that hecause the word straws is used
for many, the word straw means one only ? In strict
propriety, then, there are, at least, three distinctions of
number ; namely, the singular, when . we say ONE
STRAW ; the pluraly when we say MANY STRAWS ; and
the incorporative, when we say MUCH STRAW, in refer-
ence to many straws. Sometimes, too, another word is
used for the incorporative number. Thus we say, ONE
LOAF, MANY LOAVES, and MUCH BREAD ; ONE BEAST,
MANY BEASTS, and MUCH CATTLE.
" In order, then, to reconcile the apparent contradic-
tions between the statements of Matthew and Luke,
it is only necessary to show that the Greek words used
in the singular by Luke, mean not one single object, but a
plurality of objects ; just as the English expressions, this
fish and this straw, may mean as many fishes or straws,
as the plural expressions, these- fish or these straws.
"In pursuing this investigation, a passage quite to
the purpose presents itself in Rev. xvii. 4. For John,
speaking there of the harlot of Babylon, says, (if we
LABOURS. 157
.translate literally,) ' She was arrayed in purple and
scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and PRECIOUS
STONE, and pearls/ In this case, every man may see
that not a single gem, hut a profusion of them is in-
tended. It is with perfect propriety, therefore, that
our translators have expressed the Greek singular hy an
English plural.
" But John's expression may he traced to the Septua-
gint, where we have both John's adjective and his sub-
stantive, not only in the same order, but in the same
number, and with a similar reference to multiplicity.
Nay, what is still more, the Hebrew itself has the same
order, and the same singular number in the expression,
with the same plurality of meaning in the sense. In
these three particulars, we find a triple coincidence when
we compare the Greek of John, in the passage already
quoted, with the Greek and the Hebrew in 1 Kings x. 2,
11; 2Chron. ix. 1, 9, 10, andxxxii. 27. In these pas-
sages it will he found, that the strictly literal translation
PRECIOUS STONE means, in four instances, a vast profu-
sion of precious stones brought by the queen of Sheba
as a present to king Solomon ; in one instance, it means
the abundance of precious stones brought by Hiram's
navy from Ophir; and, in the instance last quoted, we
read, (if we adopt a literal translation,) f Hezekiah had
exceeding much riches and honour : and he made him-
self treasures for silver, and for gold, and for PRECIOUS
STONE, and for spices, and for shields, and for all
manner of pleasant jewels.'
" Independently of the Greek, too, the Hebrew alone
adopts the singular form and plural signification in eben
158 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
, the word for stones ; and when eben [?5^] thus
implies multiplicity, that word and its plural are con-
vertible terms. Thus, in Isa. xxx. 30, the Hebrew
expression for a profusion of hail-stones is, '-the STONE
of hail;' whilst in Josh. x. 11, a similar profusion is
called ' the STONES of hail.'
""What is also very much to the present purpose, the
Septuagint itself contains striking instances of both a
.singular and plural for precisely the same objects. Thus,
in Isa. xxxvii. 19, and 2 Kings xix. 18, we have two
counterparts just like those in Matt. iv. 3, and Luke iv.
3 ; and in the former of these counterparts in the Sep-
tuagint, the Greek plural of litJios \\idos] is used, as it
is in Matt. iv. 3, whilst, in the latter counterpart, the
Greek singular is used, as it is in Lukeiv. 3, Moreover,
to perfect the comparison, it may be observed that the
Hebrew word for which the Greek words for stone and
stones are a translation, is precisely the same in both
passages, just as Satan's Syro-Chaldaic word was one,
whether used as the basis of Matthew's translation or of
Luke's.
"Nor are we less happily furnished with a completely
ramified coincidence in the original words for loaf and
loaves. For, with respect to those words, we have, even
in the very same chapter, two counterparts, in which,
as in the preceding instance, the Hebrew word is the
same whilst the Greek singular is adopted in one case,
and the plural in the other. Thus, in 1 Kings xviii. 13,
the Greek plural of artos [fipros] is used, as it is in
Matt, iv, 3 ; and in 1 Kings xviii. 4, the Greek singular
is used, as it is in Luke iv. 4,
LABOURS.
159
" It only remains now to remark, that in all the cases
adduced to exemplify the use of the singular and plural
as convertible terms, a multiplicity of objects is intended
in every instance. Thus, * the STONE of hail,' as well
as f the STONES of hail,' means all the hail-stones of a
desolating storm. And if we examine 2 Kings xix. 18,
we shall find that the Greek singular, like the plural,
means all the STONES that had composed all the stone
gods of all the heathen nations that the kings of Assy-
ria had laid waste. Similar observations also apply to
the Greek plural in 1 Kings xviii. 13, as expressing the
meaning of the singular in the 4th verse ; for, most un-
questionably, that singular refers not to one loaf only,
but to the many loaves expressed by the plural, and with
which Obadiah fed a hundred . prophets in the time of
the famine in Samaria.
" The English word bread, then, being in the incorpo-
rative number, is adapted to express not only the Greek
plural of Matt. iv. 3, but also the singular of Luke iv.
3 ; and our word stones, likewise, referring to multipli-
city, is a proper term, not only for the Greek, plural in
Matt iv. 3, but also for the Greek incorporative number
in Luke iv. 3. Thus we shall read in the former pas-
sages, * Command that THESE STONES be made BREAD;*
and in the latter, ' Command THESE STONES that they
be made BREAD.'
"Thus, every vestige of seeming contradiction ceases to
exist, and the appearance of difficulty is ascertained to
have been like Joseph's speaking roughly to his breth-
ren. For, instead of being against the truth > such diffi-
culties> when solved, become powerful friends to the
160 MEMOIR OP THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
truth. Therefore, to take up prejudices against 5 the
volume of iuspiration on account of such apparent diffi-
culties, is to imitate the conduct of the slothful man,
who says, ' There is a lion in the way ; a lion is in the
streets,' Prov. xxvi. 13. Under such false views of Di-
vine truth, however, many a man has doubtless despised
that guide, which is a pillar of fire to the believer, and a
pillar of cloud to the unbeliever. But, diversified as the
minds of men may be, the counsel of God shall stand :
and many will ultimately find, that the most unwise
thing they ever did upon earth, was to reject, without"
adequate examination, a book that might, under the Di-
vine blessing, have made them wise unto salvation, and
which, notwithstanding their own unbelief, shall have
been the power of God unto salvation (Rom. i. 16) to
'a great multitude which no man can number, of all na-
tions, and kindreds, and people, and tongues.'
" This subject I conceive to be of the utmost import-
ance, viewed in connection with translations for the
heathen. Much stress is not to be laid upon the pas-
sages reconciled, but.there are general principles involved,
and on that ground I venture a few remarks upon Matt,
iv. 3, and Luke iv. 3, as translated into Chinese the
importance of reconciling these two places to the Chinese
reader I wave, but hope to establish a general principle
of much importance to the translator.
"It should be remembered, that a Chinese noun is
either singular or plural according to the context ; and
although the plural can be made by auxiliary words, it
is not usual to do this, except where the plural needs to
be specially marked : or at least, the plural is constantly
LABOURS. 161
indicated only by the context. Examples occur in evqry
page of Chinese authors, so they need not be quoted.
" If this be granted, it follows, that the Chinese trans-
lator is not to be pertinacious in forming his plurals by
auxiliaries, seeing that the same thing is more frequently
done by the context.
" To apply this to the case in hand, we observe that the
Chinese version by Morrison and Milne renders Matt,
iv. 3, thus,
this \ stone \ fa bread
Command \. several V, to be J bread
these ( stones ( I breads
" Here the word several being supplied as an auxiliary,
the passage must necessarily be read
Ca bread
Command these several stones to be < bread
(Jbreads
but there is nothing to make the word for bread necessa-
rily in the plural ; it may be understood by the reader
either as one loaf or as bread ' incorporatively ' or as
several loaves.
" The same version renders Luke iv. 3, thus
this ~) stone ) fa bread
Command > > to be changed into < bread*
these j stones j ( breads
Now seeing the version in Matt, could be read in the
plural equally well without the word ( several ' and the
version of Luke is also either singular or plural, I am
" * Why a different word for bread is used in this place, it is difficult to say :
seeing the Greek word is the same in both places : the word in Luke seems
rather to denote rations."
M
162 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
disposed to say, omit the several in Matthew ; for nothing
is gained by the retention of it, nothing is lost by its
omission ; hut by the omission, the two places are har-
monized : and should anyone plead for the word several,
I would ask, and why not make the word for bread evi-
dently plural, by some plural particle ?
" The translator of the Bible into Chinese has shackles
enough if he adhere to the rule e without note or com-
ment :' if he say, ' I will be singular where the original
is singular, and plural if the original be plural, ' he is so
far right ; but if he say I will make my plural by an
auxiliary particle if the original be plural, I think he is
wrong: because the plural is constantly equally well
made by the context ; and to force in the plural particle
may destroy the ' harmonious flow ;' may cause barba-
risms ; and darken what the translator wants to be clear
and intelligible to all.
""V^e repeat our deduction: viz. The Chinese trans-
lator should not be pertinacious in forming his plurals by
auxiliaries, a deduction, the importance of which will be
readily seen by any reader of our present Chinese
version."
CHAPTER Y.
CHINESE VERSION OP THE SCRIPTURES.
Improvement of the Chinese version of the sacred Scriptures : Means by
which the missionary should seek the conversion of the Chinese, improve-
ment and preparation of books, &c. : Hints on Scripture translation :
Rules to be observed iu translating the Scriptvtres : Remarks on
" Idiotisms" and " Barbarisms" in translations: Extracts from a corres-
pondence with, a brother missionary: The preceding observations origi-
nating in the imperfections of existing versions : Mr. Dyer engaged in
revising the Gospel of Matthew : Reasons for delaying its publication.
AT the close of the preceding chapter we inserted several
papers from the pen of Mr. Dyer of a philological cast.
They will prepare the reader for this chapter, which will
emhody other papers of a similar kind. They will set
hefore him Mr. Dyer's caution, as well as develope his
acquirements. The improvement of the Chinese version
of the sacred Scriptures is, it must not be forgotten, the
ANIMUS of these papers. Every suggestion he offers
has its origin in defects he had discovered, or thought
he had discovered, in the existing version in that lan-
guage. The reader will see how guarded he was, lest in
stating his views he should oifend. He loved Dr. Mor-
rison intensely, and gloried in his version, and looked
upon it "as a pledge of the conversion of China to God"
His devoutest moments, his holiest raptures in beholding,
by faith, the conversion of the world to the Son of God,
M 2
164 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
with, unceasing thanksgiving to the Source of all grace,
were associated in his mind and in his heart with that
version. He was the last man to be discontented with
things that he ; if anything, the tendency of his mind
was the reverse of this ; new things, new arrangements,
and new projects, had no charm for him because they
were new, hut if valuable and useful, then he adopted
them. These papers may show that he was mistaken,
only, if at all, in very minor matters indeed ; they will
show that he was intelligent and that he acted always from
deliberate conviction.
He never attempted to read everything in Chinese or
in any other language, but no man ever laboured harder
to acquire an accurate knowledge of the idioms and purity
of that language. It is easy to read much, and to know
but little, in this as well as in every other department of
literature. His habit was to read less, but well, so that
his knowledge was not only in truth greater than if he
had extended his reading over a larger surface, but it was
compact, and always at command, ready for use. So he
was an accurate, as well as a practical man. He first of
all surveyed his field, mapped its outlines with precision,
and then not only devoted his energy, but directed un-
deviatingly all his labours to fill up that outline. This
remark will be illustrated by the following observations,
"ON THE MEANS," by which "the conversion of the
Chinese to the Christian faith" should be attempted.
" The missionary who goes forth to preach the gospel
to China finds himself debarred a local residence within
the confines of the Celestial Empire. Or if he be per-
mitted to reside without the walls of the city of Canton,
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 165
he is much shackled in the performance of what he deems
direct missionary labour. Thus shut out of China Pro-
per, and still breathing an earnest desire for its conver-
sion to Christianity, he looks around him for some out-
post, where he may narrowly watch the political move-
ments of the authorities of the empire, if peradventure
an opening should present itself for him to locate himself
upon its shores : where he may study the history, statis-
tics, and moral position of the people where he may
examine the mental aspect of the different classes of
society. He will endeavour to settle down as near to
the empire as practicable, consistent with other objects
he has in view. For he will choose rather a spot
where there are already some thousands of Chinese
emigrants where he may come in contact with Chinese
manners and customs where he may preach the gospel
to some, who, returning to their own country, may carry
the tidings of a Saviour crucified for the sins of men
where he may put the wheels of machinery in operation,
which shall tend to the furtherance of the gospel
where he may embrace every possible opportunity to
' Tell to sinners round
What a dear Saviour he has found.'
" Having thus located himself, pro tern,, (we say pro
tern., for where is there a missionary to the Chinese who
would not embrace the first opportunity of taking up his
residence in China Proper ?) he draws out his plan of
operations. This plan may be supposed to branch out
more prominently in two directions.
"I. The acquisition of the language. II. The various
modes of employing his attainments.
166 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
"In applying to the language, he finds the written
medium of communication to be the same from one end
of the empire to the other, and even beyond its confines.
He moreover finds that the pronunciation of the cha-
racter is diverse ; but that the more correct mode of pro-
nouncing it is according to what is called the Mandarin
or Court dialect. Many a missionary having arrived
thus far, has, like myself, set it down that this is the
dialect of most importance to be studied : not consider-
ing that hi his present out-post, he may never meet with
a man who can speak Mandarin ; and, for aught that
as yet appears, he may not during his lifetime come in
contact with a Mandarin. On more mature considera-
tion, it would probably seem advisable to speak the lan-
guage in the dialect spoken by those emigrants by whom
he may be surrounded in his present location ; which
would most likely be one of the dialects spoken either
in the provinces of Canton or Hok-Keen. The advan-
tage of this would be, that he would in due time be qua-
lified to become useful to those emigrants themselves ;
and when China is open, it is as likely that he might
locate himself in Canton or Hok-Keen, as in any other
part of the empire ; and he would find himself imme-
diately at honie in the language, and surrounded by
hundreds of thousands who could speak no other dialect
than what he himself speaks.
"'As there is a great diversity of dialects in these two
provinces, and as there is as much difference between
some of them as there is generally between any two
languages derived from one stock, some discretion is
necessary in making a choice. The Canton, as spoken
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 167
In the city and surrounding district, and the Chang-chew,
as spoken in a district of Hok-Keen of that name, appear
to be the two principal and most generally useful in the
islands of the Archipelago. However, the Chinese seem
to emigrate somewhat in clans ; so that at one port a
majority of emigrants will he from one district ; at another
port, a majority from another district : and for the most
part the traders are from Hok-Keen, and the artizans from
Canton. It is consequently desirable that the mission-
ary should ascertain from what district the emigrants
come, and fix his choice of dialect accordingly.
" Having determined upon the dialect to be acquired,
it is extremely desirable that the missionary should
commit to paper every expression he acquires : for as
yet, our provincial aids are very scanty. However
incorrect as to sound, orthography, or intonation, let
not a scrap of information be lost ; for hereafter it may
admit of such correction as may render it of service to
those who succeed us. This leads us to notice,
"II. The various modes in which the missionary may
employ his attainments.
" 1 . He may facilitate the acquisition of the language
to those who come after him. This idea is one of .amaa- ~~~
ing importance with respect to a language so difficult.
Suppose a missionary could indeed save his successors
two or three years' toil, the value of such a saving it would
be difficult fco estimate. We conceive, therefore, that
one idea kept constantly in view in our own studies,
should be the smoothing the way for those who come
after us. In this sense we are pioneers : we meet with
obstacles which can only be removed by our own skill
168 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
and industry ; we might, indeed, scale those obstacles,
and leave, others to scale them as we do ; hut if we
remove them, we save the time, the strength, and
energies of our successors, and they will he better able
to attack the strongholds of the enemy.
" That our plans in this respect may take a specific
turn, we should consider what is now wanted ; what
assistance we should be thankful for if we now had it.
" (I) A vocabulary of phrases in each dialect. (2)
A comparative vocabulary of the Hok-Keen dialects.
(3) An illustration of the Hok-Keen tones, and the
mode of acquiring them with precision, without being
dependent on the aid of a teacher. (4) Grammars of
the dialects. (5) Critical illustrations of the particles.
(6) Idiomatical researches.
" We do not suppose that any one individual could
bend his attention to all these, without intrenching
upon other duties ; but by tracing the outline of a plan,
it may be filled up as opportunity presents ; and even
though the outline should be imperfectly filled up, as
far as it was filled up it would be very valuable.
" 2. He shoula. never lose sight of the improvement
of the existing versions of the Scriptures. "Whatever be
said in prli^ Of the present translations, they are
capable of vast improvement. Not so much for the
sake of circumscribing, as of giving definiteness to our
plans, it would seem well for each missionary at the
outset to determine in his own mind upon a portion
of the Scriptures, say the Psalms, or a Gospel, of whicn
he will never lose sight throughout his career : we do
not mean anything that shall interfere with a general
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 169
plan of co-operation in the revisal of the Scriptures ;
but a private aim ; a kind of point of concentration
for his studies ; in fact, a revision of a portion of the
word of God, to which he will make his Hebrew, his
Greek, his Latin, his Chinese, and any other language,
each contribute its quota : and should it so happen
that two individuals should fix upon the very same
portion, the ultimate advantage would be double.
"3. The preparation of suitable books for the hea-
then is another object of paramount importance. We
do not mean that much can be done in this way, in a
language like the Chinese, for years after first setting
down to it ; but it should be an object constantly kept
in view. There is a need of caution in this matter. A
tract may be written, and blocks may be cut, say at
the expense of fifty dollars, and an edition of 1000
copies printed : but if the tract be not an eligible one,
there may be no further demand for a future edition.
Now a set of blocks will print at least 20,000 copies,
before they are worn out ; consequently, if there be no
demand for a second edition, nineteen-twentieths of the
cost of the blocks is entirely lost ; for it lies by in
useless blocks. Hence the importance of great atten-
tion to a tract, before it be stereotyped or cut in wood.
With respe_ct to the translation of English tracts into
Chinese, a mistaken idea exists in the minds of many,
that if the English tract be put into a Chinese dress,
and fairly translated, the tract will then be as suitable
to the Chinese reader as the English tract to the English
reader ; but no there is scarcely an English tract to
be Tound, but what pre-supposes some degree of know-
170 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER,
ledge, which knowledge children in a Christian land
acquire from their infancy ; hut this antecedent know-
ledge the heathen possesses not. It thus becomes
necessary to paraphrase, hy the constant recurrence to
the most simple truths ; such as the attributes of the
Deity ; the fallen condition of man ; the plan of re-
demption, &c. To illustrate this idea; An English
tract commences thus ' Man by nature is lost, ruined,
and undone ; he is alienated in his heart from the only
living and true God; his affections are estranged from
his best Friend and Benefactor ; his whole soul is pol-
luted and denied by sin,' &c. This may be all very
suitable in an English tract ; but should a Chinese
tract be thus commenced, the reader in the very outset
has no . sympathy with the ideas : he does not admit
those truths which merely nominal Christians, admit,
although they do not believe them in their hearts. In
Chinese, therefore, we must go further back : we must
go beyond the fact of our being conceived in sin ;
beyond the fall of our first parents ; beyond their
original rectitude ; we must go hack to the idea of
their coming from their Maker's hands ; somewhat
thus : About six thousand years ago, the only true
God created the heaven and the earth; he moreover
formed from the dust of the ground a man and a
woman, who were the ancestors of the whole human
family. These, as they came from their Maker's hand,
were holy and pure, without a fault. They were con-
stituted husband and wife, and begat offspring. They
might have long continued in the holy state in which
they were originally formed ; but, alas ! they sinned
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 171
against their Maker, the only true God, and thus their
holy nature became quite changed. Now had they
continued in their holy state, without sinning against
their Maker, their posterity would have been holy like
them ; but since their holy state became quite changed,
their posterity inherited their sinful state ; and thus
now all mankind are corrupt/ &c. This may seem
very prosing and circumlocutory to the English reader,
but to one acquainted with the total absence of Christian
ideas in the Chinese mind, it will appear needful. We
are rather particular in noticing this, because we have
seen tracts far in advance of Chinese mind : and per-
haps there is not so much need of new tracts, as of a
thorough revision of some of those already in existence.
At least, we hope these suggestions may not be alto-
gether unacceptable to those who are intent upon the
preparation of suitable books"
The following " HINTS ON SCRIPTURE TRANSLA-
TION" are in admirable keeping with the preceding
cautious observations ; indeed, they are a happy illus-
tration, in one department, of what he would have to
exist in all.
"Many erroneous ideas are conveyed to the minds
of the unlearned readers of the Holy Scriptures, by
the injudicious substitution of modern tenns for ancient
names, in the present authorized English translation. We
do not now complain of the translation as a whole, hut
simply refer to the rendering of certain weights, mea-
sures, coins, and Jewish antiquities. Some of our ori-
ental translators have, in this respect, and in some
instances, taken the English version for a guide; but
172 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
a single instance is sufficient to point out how unsuit-
able a guide it is; for in the parable of the labourers
sent into the vineyard, how readily is the idea conveyed
to the illiterate, that the lord of the vineyard paid his
servants very badly ; ' And they received every man a
penny,' Matt. xx. 9 ; whereas no such idea has place
in the original. That this is a subject of much im-
portance, may be inferred from the circumstance, that
by far the majority of copies of the Scriptures in the
oriental languages come into the hands of the poor
and unlearned ; and moreover, it is an error most easily
fallen into, from the example, not only of the English
version, but likewise of many other modern translations
into the European languages.
" If we refer to Luke xvi. 6, 7, the English version
most manifestly conveys the idea, that the obligation of
the two debtors was unequal : this is the consequence
of rendering two Greek, terms by the same English
word, ' measure ;' besides, the English word is inde-
finite, whereas the original words have a determinate
sense.
"Again, in Rev. vi. 6, 'A. measure of wheat for a
penny ;' the writer evidently intends to convey the
idea either of plenty or scarceness ; but-in the transla-
tion, neither of these is suggested ; it would have been
better to have said, ' A choenix of wheat for a penny,' *
because it would have led the unlearned reader to in-
quire the definite quantity denoted by a choenix, and so
to ascertain whether a time of plenty or a time of
scarceness was predicted. But in some languages, the
* " We pass over, at present, the improper use of the word penny."
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 173
original might be well translated into a measure of
somewhat corresponding value, where such a corres^-
ponding term, or nearly so, exists.
" These passages are noticed at present, for the sake
of alluding to translations in the oriental languages.
Certainly it cannot be right to imitate these errors of
our English translators ; and the only remaining modes
are, the retaining of the original words in the transla-
tion, or the rendering them by terms nearly correspond-
ing in sense exact corresponding terms we shall rarely
find.
"Now the first of these modes has its difficulties,
particularly in modern translations for the heathen ;
because the more foreign words we retain in the trans-
lation, the more difficult for the heathen to understand
our meaning. We should bear in mind, likewise, that
our books find their way where there is no teacher to
explain them. Yet it must be allowed, that sometimes
there is an unavoidable necessity for retaining the ori-
ginal words, for want of words bearing any degree of
approximation to them, by which to render them. In
such cases, why not insert a note in the margin, ex-
planatory of the meaning of the original word? Be-
cause the Bible Societies do not patronise c note and
comment ?' This is not absolutely the case ; for a Bible
now before me, bearing the impress of the British and
Foreign Bible Society, 8vo, 1817, has the following note
in the margin of Rev. vi. 6 ; ' The word chcenico sig-
nifieth a measure containing one wine quart, and the
twelfth part of a quart.'
"In such cases as it may be practicable to do so, it
174 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
is advisable to translate the terms alluded to ; but it
must ever be remembered that the Bible is an ancient
book, and the injudicious use of modern words would
destroy one peculiar characteristic of the book, which
it is most desirable to retain.
" We proceed to notice more particularly some places
in the New Testament, where there is a reference to
measures, &c.
Batos (Baroe) . . . Luke xvi. 6.
Koros (Kopoc) . . . Luke xvi. 7.
1 c * f^.' \ cMatt. xiii. 33.
, Saton < Sa7 " OJ/ > ' ' ' fruke xiii. 21.
Chcenix (Xotvt) . . . Rev. vi. 6.
rMatt. v. 15.
Modios (Mo&off) J Mark iv. 21.
I Luke xi. 33.
Metretes Merjjrjje . . . John ii. 6.
"These six terms are rendered in the authorized
English version, by the words, measure, bushel, and
firkin. After deducting the parallel places, Luke xiii.
21, Mark iv. 21, Luke xi. 33, there remain the follow-
ing : Luke xvi. 6, 7, Matt. xiii. 33, Rev. vi. 6, Matt.
vi. 15, and John ii. 6. Of these six places, those in
Matt, appear to be indefinite in their meaning, as it is of
little consequence to the meaning of the" parable of the
leaven, what was the exact capacity of the measure in
which the leaven was put. So, likewise, it is of little
consequence, what was the exact capacity of the mea-
sure under which the lighted candle was placed. On
this consideration, the use of the word bushel is to be
objected 'to, because it suggests that that measure was in
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 175
use among the Jews, which is not true; however, it
must be admitted, that the passage and its parallels do
not suffer much from the use of the word bushel.
" It is otherwise with the words batos (/3aroe) and
koros (Kopoe) ; there is a relative value between these
terms, which is quite lost sight of by translating both
measure, as in the English translation ; and in translat-
ing for the heathen, we think that well-known terms
should be sought for ; (if ancient, so much the better ;)
terms which approximate in some degree to the relative
value of the original terms ; and in case such cannot be
had, as a last resource, we must use the original terms
themselves; and, as we have shown above, that even
the Bible Societies sanction the explanation of the terms
in the margin.
" The next case we notice, is that of the word chcenix
(xolvi?), Rev. vi. 6. Here our English interpretation
is decidedly objectionable ; if the word be translated,
some word must be used which shall definitely convey
the idea of scarcity. The exact value of the chosnix
need not be insisted upon ; but there must not be much
discrepancy between it and the word by which it is ren-
dered, otherwise the main idea of the passage will be
quite obscured.
" The only remaining word to be now noticed is the
metretes (juerpjjrij'e), John ii. 6. This word seems at
first sight to be indefinite ; and yet it was no doubt then
understood to refer to a definite measure, probably the
bath ; much as the Malay sa-para, although in itself
indefinite, is frequently used in a definite sense. The
word firkin is objectionable, because, as Campbell justly
176 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
observes, ' Words which are exclusively appropriated to
the measures of modern nations can never be used with
propriety in the translation of an ancient author.' The
word measure would be objectionable, because the con-
text evidently conveys the idea of a goodly quantity of
water ; and if this idea be conveyed, exactness of cor-
respondence is of little consequence, while a near ap-
proximation is of great importance.
" We conclude by noticing three leading ideas claim-
ing due attention on the part of the translator for the
heathen ; viz.
"I. Indefinite expressions should be avoided, where
the sense is definitive.
" II. Modern terms should not be injudiciously used
to express the original, however near the correspondence
between them may be.
"III. Foreign words should be as sparingly retained
as possible ; but when it is necessary to retain them,
their meaning should be inserted in the margin, at least
in such places where the authorised English translation
inserts it."
He adds to the preceding remarks :
" In perusing published and unpublished correspond-
ence, relative to translations of the Scriptures, I have
not unfrequently met with an observation to the follow-
ing effect, ' I hope to complete in months
from this date.' Such a remark, in my humble judg-
ment, is quite out of place, applied to translations of the
Bible, in whole or in part. It pre-supposes no great
difficulty in the work of translating. It presumes the
translator will meet with no serious impediment to his
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 177
undertaking. Whereas, in rendering the most familiar
portions of Scripture into a foreign language, at least
into the languages spoken ultra-Ganges, the translator
must pause and consider, and examine and re-examine,
if he would be faithful to the original, and, at the same
time, intelligible to the reader. A translator may un-
derstand his own language, \i. e., what he intended by
the language he uses in his version,] but does his reader
understand it ? This is really a most momentous inquiry,
and unless he gains this point, his labour, however
great, . . . goes for nothing.
" But the great evil arising from such a preconcerted
plan, of accomplishing a certain quantum in a certain
time, is haste. The work is hurried, because of the
great importance of getting it in circulation as soon as
possible. But positive harm is done by this ' more
haste than good speed ' in more ways than one ; for
when a translation or a revision has once occupied its
position in public opinion and public patronage, there is
no small difficulty in ejecting it, in favour of a produc-
tion vastly more worthy of patronage. I am inclined
to think the translator should first accomplish a few
chapters satisfactorily, even though they cost him one
year's toil, or even two ; and then let him accomplish
a single gospel, epistle, &c., even though it should cost
him two years' toil, or even five : and when this is
rendered easily, perspicuously, intelligibly, and withal
faithfully, then let him contemplate another portion. I
am far from being an advocate for delay, when myriads
of souls are perishing for lack of knowledge ; but I
think the delay would not be real : this would be the
N
178 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
speediest mode of accomplishing a translation in every
respect adapted to the wants of the heathen' around us.
With respect to the heathen, many portions of the Bible
could well hear to he delayed, until other portions were
well done."
The following " RULES TO BE OBSERVED IN TRANS-
LATING THE SCRIPTURES," contained in an article
inserted in the Calcutta Christian Observer, will hring out
still more fully his views on this most important subject.
"When I look abroad in the world, and behold the
glorious things which are now accomplished, I am often
constrained to sing, ( Blessed are my eyes for what they
see, and blessed are my ears for what they hear ; many
kings and prophets and righteous men of old desired to
see and hear these things, and were not permitted.'
" Among the hlessed things which are now accomplish-
ing, the translation of the Bible into the various lan-
guages of the earth appears among the foremost in point
of importance.
" As far as I am acquainted with modern oriental ver-
sions of the Scriptures, either hy personal knowledge, or
by information obtained by others, none more than I
would glory in the labours of the Serampore brethren,
of Morrison, Martyn, Milne, and others ; most gladly
would I bear their shoes ; and therefore you, Mr.
Editor, will not suppose that any disparagement of their
holy labours is intended by the remarks I now send you.
"Although much is accomplished, I believe much
remains to be done to many, if not most, of our modern
oriental versions, in order to render them more perspicu*
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 179
ous to the generality of readers, and particularly to the
poor and illiterate, with whom missionaries have most to
do. Probably all the versions are sufficiently intelligible
to the better informed class of readers, to lead the simple
inquirer to the cross of Jesus Christ. But it may be that
few of them are so simple and perspicuous as they might
be, so that it might be said, c He may run that readeth.'
"The general faithfulness of these versions to the
original is a fact to which we could produce hundreds
of witnesses, if need be ; and it is to be feared, that the
charge of unfaithfulness has originated (at least too
often) in an unhappy state of heart, rather than in
any superior degree of learning in those who make the
charge. Indeed, it is this very faithfulness which has
had a tendency to render versions less perspicuous than
they otherwise would have been; so intent have the
translators been on producing faithful versions, that in a
multitude of instances they have rendered the Hebrew
and Greek idioms, not by corresponding idioms in other
languages, but by corresponding words.
"To specify one single instance selected not for
its importance, but for the familiar illustration it
affords. In Matthew xiii. 52, 'we have the phrase
avdpa>7ra> oiKoSetriroTirj, which is literally rendered in our
authorized translation, ' a man that is an householder,'
but would more properly be rendered ' an householder,'
because this last expression in our language most ex-
actly corresponds to the phrase, avdpayrry olKobeffiroTy
in the Greek : nothing is gained by inserting the words,
' a man that is' nothing is lost by the omission ; I do
not mean to say that these words in the English transla-
N2
180 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
tion take much from the perspicuity ; but in the lan-
guage which more particularly engages my attention I
think it does ; and in other cases of a similar nature the
sense is greatly obscured, while the translation itself is
word for word, according to the original.
" Full well I know the principle of the Bible Society,
the only principle upon which it can publish translations;
but this principle, however good in itself, has certainly
proved unduly a snare to many : for faithfulness, I hum-
bly suggest, consists in exact correspondence, rather than
in exact similarity ; indeed, to be plain, that similarity
which would make what is perspicuous in the original
obscure in the version, is unfaithfulness : and if this
simple idea were kept in view, I presume translators
would be less shackled in their work.
" We hear of some who have made one, two, three, or
more versions of the Bible ; and no doubt there are
some most gigantic minds equal to the Herculean labour,
and in their presence we are constrained to feel ourselves
as grasshoppers ; but (and again I speak with diffidence)
perhaps some of our translators would have acted more
wisely, had they set themselves shorter tasks. No doubt
it is very desirable to have translations of the complete
Scriptures,. but it is more desirable that the labour and
toil employed upon the whole should be spent upon a
part, if thereby that part would be brought within the
comprehension of a greater number of readers.
"But as it is, the complete Scriptures have been
rendered into very 'many languages, and now is the time
when they should be closely examined, book by book,
and part by part, in order to secure their greater per-
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 181
spicuity; and in order to this, I conceive that no
missionary should set it down as a settled thing, that
the Scriptures are translated into the language hi which
he labours, and that there is nothing left for him to do.
Every missionary ought (I do not say to hecome a
translator, but) to do all he can to hnprpve the existing
Version, to mark unintelligible passages, (found to be so
in his intercourse with the people,) and to make memo-
randa of amendments and alterations.
"From these remarks we come to these particular
results :
"1. That every missionary ought to make his ac-
quaintance with a language bear as much as possible
upon the improvement of the version in that language.
"2. That it would be well for each missionary to
propose to himself a certain portion, which may en-
gage his more peculiar attention ; (say a single gos-
pel, or an epistle, or the Psalms ;) and this to be revised,
not in any given time, not in one year or five, but the
revision to go on from time to time, as other duties may
permit ; and when this single portion is most completely
revised, though it should occupy even ten years, it will
be time enough to propose another portion.
" 3. That the revision be conducted upon three prin-
cipal rules ; viz.
"I. Perspicuity and simplicity. II. Closeness to
the original, as far as is consistent with perspicuity.
III. Classical purity of language, as far as is consistent
with closeness to the original and perspicuity; ever
remembering that we labour principally among the poor
and illiterate.
182 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
" I wished to have placed No. II. first ; for we must
most strenuously plead for all possible closeness to the
original ; hut what is closeness to the original without
perspicuity ? No douht many, from its vast importance,
would place it first, hut perspicuity seems to me to he
worthy of precedence.
( ' We need not enlarge further upon the necessity of
perspicuity ; no translation of so simple a book as the
Bible can he good, without a very large measure of
perspicuity.
" Much less need we say about fidelity to the original ;
it were far more profitable to point out the liberty which
a translator possesses of departing in some instances
from the exact letter of the original, in order to attain
to the exact meaning.
"Upon rule III. we offer one or two remarks, for it is
desirable to attain to purity of diction, if it can be
done without sacrificing the other two. The finery of
Castalio's version, and the crabbed barbarisms of Arius
Montanus, are alike to he censured ; or if there be a
preference, surely it is not in favour of the latter. But
to illustrate the need of purity of diction, (i. e. } so
far as is consistent with perspicuity and fidelity,) we
take the first passage that has presented itself on open-
ing the Bible, Matt. xvii. 1, 'After days six, taketh
Jesus Peter, and James, and John, brother of him-, and
brinaeth them to a mountain high apart? Every one sees
here a want of purity of diction ; and yet the Greek is
pure enough, of which this is an exact translation; and
our authorized English translation of it is no doubt a
fair one, and the translators paid considerable attention
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 183
to purity of expression. Now I am the very last man
in the world even to hint that our oriental translators
have not aimed at purity of expression. Days of in-
tense application, and nights of severe toil, all hear
testimony to the strenuous endeavours to attain to it ;
but the simple idea I intend to suggest is this, and it
is an idea continually suggested hy the perusal of an
eminent oriental version, [i. e., the Chinese version,] that
after all that our honoured fathers and brethren have
accomplished, we shall find many passages obscure by
reason of ungrammatical and unidiomatical expressions.
" I had intended to adduce a few instances out of
many ungrammatical and unidiomatical places in the
oriental version with which I am more familiar, but I
find it awkward without quoting the version, and con-
sequently alluding to the translators. As my only aim
is to aid our holy cause, if I can do so by my humble
effort, I must enter my caveat against the supposition
that I would depreciate a single effort, either great or
small. Let me unloose the latchet of my brethren's
shoes, and I will reckon it my privilege.
"It only remains to sum up the whole. 1. Much is
done. 2. What is done will bear revision. 3. Every
missionary should do something in this revision. 4. In
this revision, let the objects be, perspicuity, faithfulness,
and purity of diction."
The principles laid down in this article are very
lucidly illustrated in the following admirable remarks
on " Idiotisms and Barbarisms." The Editors of the
Calcutta Christian Observer remark :
184 MEMOIR OP THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
"We hail the appearance of $1X0 [i. e., Mr. Dyer,] in
our pages, on the subject of translation. On a more
inportant field he could not well enter, nor one oh the
right cultivation of which more of the spiritual welfare
of millions must depend. His present remarks are
so characterised by diffidence, simplicity, and sobriety,
that we urge him with all earnestness to favour us with
a series of connected papers on the same engrossing
theme. Let him not in the superabundance of humility
and delicacy sacrifice a public good to the possible
wounding of private feeling. Besides, we see not how
feelings can be wounded. What has been the object
of all biblical translators ? Surely, to furnish a faithful
transcript of the blessed volume of revelation, in order
to teach and regenerate all nations. Must they not
then rather rejoice, when unnoticed mistakes are
pointed out, or valuable improvements suggested? If
they are sincere Christians, they must. Only let cor-
rections be proposed in the spirit of Christian charity*
and all they who love the souls of men must rejoice.
And sure we are, from the specimen now before us, that
nothing can ever proceed from the pen of Mr. Dyer to
occasion idle regret, or excite unnecessary irritation."
"The judiciousness and sobriety of the remarks con-
tained in the present article on idiotisms, confirm us in
the conviction of Mr. Dyer's qualifications to treat it
in a way which, while it can give no offence, cannot
fail to edify. We therefore repeat our earnest request,
that he leave not a stone unturned in the whole domain
of translation and revision ; more especially as it regards
the blessed volume of inspiration." . .
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 185
These observations, he informs us, arose out of his
own studies ; that is, as stated before, out of the defects
he discovered in the Chinese version of the Holy Scrip-
tures. Before Mr. Dyer's views on this subject of
overwhelming importance and interest are before the
reader, opportunities will offer to speak with high
admiration and devout gratitude to God of those
honoured and historic names, Morrison and Milne
names honoured by none with greater ardour than by
Mr. Dyer himself. If he could conscientiously have
said that that version was not substantially deficient in
the particulars discussed in these papers, as well as in
other respects, it would have afforded him the highest
satisfaction. He was so sensitive in this respect
sensitive, undoubtedly, to a fault that nothing but
a conviction of duty could have impelled him to give
an unfavourable opinion on such a subject. Now that
he is gone to his reward, we cannot but feel regret
that these papers are not more numerous, and more
ample in illustrations; and that the principles here
brought before us are not applied where obscurity
hangs over passages which are of first importance in
the revelations of mercy.
" I. The remarks which I shall offer on IDIOTISMS in
the ORDER and in the CHOICE of words, in connection
with Scripture translations, are just those which sug-
gested themselves in the course of my -studies and my
intercourse with the natives. Fearing lest any of your
readers should suppose that I intrude myself upon a
subject beyond my reach, I beg to say, that if they
would consider my observations as queries, and furnish
186 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL, DYER.
a reply, they may greatly assist me and my brethren in
the work of revision.
" In the present paper I shall point out some errors
into which translators have fallen, and I class the prin-
cipal under two heads, using the terms not opprobriously,
but for the sake of conciseness.
" I. Idiotisms. II. Barbarisms.
" I. Idiotism is when the manner of expression pecu-
liar to one language is used in another.
" Every language has an idiom more or less peculiar to
itself. In order that a translation may be good, it is
necessary for a translator to understand the idiom of the
language into which he translates : and his translation
is to be according to its manner of expression. If he
prefer verbal closeness to the original, in the construction
of his sentences, to the proper mode of idiom in the
language in which he makes the translation, his readers
will be liable to misinterpret, or remain in ignorance of
his meaning. The translator is particularly to bear in
mind his readers, and what impression his language will
make on their minds : he is to ask himself if his lan-
guage conveys the precise idea which the original con-
veys to his mind.
" Let us notice more particularly two kinds of idiot-
isms. 1. Idiotisms in the order of words. 2. Idiotisms
in the choice of words.
" Idiotism in the order of words is when the order
of words peculiar to the original is retained in the trans-
lation: thus, should TOV aprov fjfiGJv, Matt. vi. 1 1, be trans-
lated, the bread our, instead of our bread, this would be
an idiotism in the order of words : not that the idiotisms
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 187
are generally of this simple kind, but they are similar to
this. The following is an instance, which occurs in a
certain translation, Matt. viii. 28, 'When he was come
to the other side, met him two possessed with devils ;'
which ought rather to be, 'two possessed with devils
met him.' "We immediately detect the awkwardness of
the expression : and if the whole book were in this style,
we should greatly object to such a mode of translation :
in our English translation, the word e there' is inserted,
which makes the English idiom tolerably accord with
the Greek : but in the language alluded to, the word
' there' cannot be inserted, and without it, the render-
ing is an idiotism. If then our oriental translations (I
do not say as a whole, for they do not,) at all resemble
this, some in a greater, some in a less degree, do they
not need revision ? How much more then if such idiot-
isms invert the sense, as some of them do !
"We notice next, idiotisms in the choice of words.
"Idiotism in the choice of words is, when certain
words peculiar to the original are retained in the trans-
lation.
" What would a plain Englishman think of ' a thick
friend,' 'a far man,' 'a cold laugh?' And yet these ex-
pressions convey most aptly, in a certain language, the
ideas, ' an intimate friend,' ' a stranger,' ' a smile.' But
the expressions, ' a hard saying,' ' quick understanding/
' short memory,' if literally translated, would sound just
as awkward in the language alluded to, as the first ex-
pressions do to us : these phrases particularly illustrate
the case of the adjective ; that of the verb and adverb
is very similar. In order to prevent such idiotisms,
188 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
such expressions should be selected as are perfectly
idiomatical in the language of translation, and convey a
parallel idea to the original : a parallelism of words is
often very far from a parallelism of ideas.
"There are indeed some expressions, aptly termed
" Christian expressions/ to which nothing parallel may
be found, such as ' quench not the Spirit,' 1 Thess. v.
19 ; here the Greek has fffievwre, which is mostly used
as our word 'extinguish,' and particularly applies to
fire. Now the idea of extinguishing the Spirit will be
perfectly new, perhaps, in every heathen language : but
the phraseology is not to be rejected on that account.
"Whatever word is used in any given language for extin-
guishing fire, such word I apprehend is to be used in
this place. It must be remembered that the Holy Spirit
is often represented in Scripture under the figure of fire :
and not to use this very word, would be to detract from
the meaning of the passage. To extinguish the Spirit,
may, at first hearing, sound as awkward to a heathen, as
his e far man' does to us : but extinguishing the Spirit
is a ' Christian expression,' which no heathen expression
will suitably render.
" These hints are sufficient : there is no need to prove
elaborately that idiotisms do exist, nor to enter more
minutely into their nature, since enough has been said
for practical utility. In revising them, let us bear in
mind two things, more especially relative to idiotisms,
namely,
" First. That we aim to be idiomatical in the order of
words. Secondly. That we aim to be idiomatical in the
choice of words. And one word by way of caution :
CHINESE VERSION OP THE SCRIPTURES. 189
"That we never abate the energy of 'Christian ex-
pressions,' and Christian ideas, by using such as are
heathenish and unchristian.
" II. On Barbarisms in translations of the Sacred
Scriptures.
" I proceed to notice next the subject of barbarisms.
" Barbarism is the use of a foreign word. I am far
from asserting that all barbarisms are objectionable ; they
are more admissible in European than in oriental trans-
lations : and in the latter they are sometimes necessary
and convenient. It has often been found difficult to
translate the word jSaTm'fw : because as very much im-
portance is attached to this word by many, and as they
differ much in the precise meaning of it, it is seldom
practical to find a word in another language which shall
satisfy all parties : and the Society which publishes the
greater part of these translations is obliged to satisfy all
parties : the consequence is, that the word /3a7m'o> has
been most sadly barbarised, if I may be allowed the ex-
pression ; but yet these barbarisms seem to have had the
happy effect of satisfying most parties : as each person
could interpret the word according to his own idea of
its meaning.
" It is very needful to distinguish such places from
those where there does not exist this necessity for foreign
words, always bearing in mind this maxim, that if pos-
sible, barbarism should be avoided ; partly because it
greatly obscures the meaning, and partly because it often
needlessly offends the prejudices of the reader.
<c Let us notice particularly the mode of rendering the
names of Scripture coins, which will pretty well illus-
190 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
trate the subject, and we will confine our attention prin-
cipally to Matthew's Gospel.
" The principal corns are these :
"First, apyvpiov, Matt. xxv. 18, 27; xxvi. 15;
xxvii. 3, 5, 6, 9 ; xxviii. 12, 15. Second, dcro-apibi/,
Matt., x. 29. Third. Mdpaxpov, Matt. xvii. 24, his.
Fourth. KoSpavrrjs, Matt. v. 26. Fifth, orarijp, Matt.
xvii. 27. Sixth. rdXavTov, Matt, xviii. 24; xxv. 15,
16, bis, 20, ter., 22, ter., 24, 25, 28, bis. Seventh.
8rjva.pi.ov, Matt, xviii. 28; xx. 2,9, 10, 13; xxii. 19.
"Before I proceed farther, I should mention, that
among the people who speak the language to which my
attention is particularly directed, only two modes of
money exist : one is a weight for silver, rather more than
an ounce troy, and the other a small brass coin, some-
thing similar to an English farthing, but of less value.
"Here let us notice an observation of Campbell's,
very much to our purpose : ' It sometimes happens that
accuracy in regard to the value of the coins is of im-
portance to the sense secondly, it sometimes happens
that the value of the coin is of no consequence to the
import of the passage thirdly, it happens also some-
times, that though the real value of the coin does not
affect the sense, the comparative value of the different
sums mentioned is of some moment, for the better un-
derstanding of what is said.' Let us then classify the
passages above mentioned accordingly.
" 1. Matt. xxvi. 15 ; xxvii. 3, 5, 6, 9 ; x. 29 ; v. 26 ;
xx. 2, 9, 10, 13.
"2. Matt. xxv. 18, 27; xxviii. 12, 15; xvii. 24,
bis; xvii. 27 ; xxii. 19.
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 191
"3. Matt, xviii. 24; xxv. 15, 16, bis, 20, ter., 22,
24, 25, 28, bis ; xviii. 28.
" The places in Matt. xxvi. and xxvii. in the first
divisions are all alike, because they allude to precisely
the same thing, namely, the price for which Judas sold
his Master. Our English translation renders it [apyvpid]
by ' thirty pieces of silver.' Accuracy in regard to the
coin intended by the word dpyvpia is so far needful (and
only so far) that the idea of a small sum is to be conveyed
to the reader. Now, if in the translation alluded to it
should be said that Judas betrayed the Saviour for ^630,
(calling the weight of silver of rather more than an oz.
troy , for the sake of the argument,) an erroneous idea
would be conveyed : because the conclusion would be
drawn that Christ was sold for more than twice the actual
sum. But then in that language we have no other mode
of expressing the sum, unless we say, as in the English
version, 'thirty pieces of silver.' This is indefinite,
while dpyvpia is definite, meaning the shekel. But rather
than convey the certainly erroneous idea of ^630, it is
better to convey the indefinite one of thirty pieces of
silver, and by. no means employ a barbarism and say,
c thirty arguria,' because we cannot exactly express the
meaning of the word apyvpia.
"The next place is Matt. x. 29. Here a certain
degree of accuracy only is necessary ; the daadpiov was
quadruple the value of the KoSpavrrje, and this again
double the value of the XZTTTOV. Now although the
brass coin spoken of above agrees well with the Greek
\67rrov, yet no erroneous idea is conveyed by saying,
'Are not two sparrows sold for one C ?' (calling the
192 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
brass coin above referred to C,) because this, as aptly as
the Greek, conveys the idea intended, f that although
sparrows are almost nothing worth, yet God's providence
extends to them.' Now although C is only the eighth
part of aatrdpiov, it is a fair translation, because it conveys
the idea intended to be conveyed. And, inasmuch as C
is a coin of exceedingly small value, it is as accurate as it
need be. But to say that f two sparrows are sold for
one assarion,' is a barbarism which we should think
needless in any language.
""We proceed to Matt. v. 26. Here accuracy is thus
far needed ; namely, that the translation express the
jdea of paying ' the very last fraction.' "We can easily
perceive that C is a fair rendering of KoSpuvrij^ in this
place, as well as of aaaapiov in the former : at least it con-
veys no erroneous idea, and is far preferable to saying,
* till thou hast paid the very last kodrant/ which would
be a needless barbarism.
f f The last places under the first division are in Matt. 1
xx. Here accuracy is so far necessary, that as the Greek
Btjvdpiov conveys the idea of a fair compensation for a
day's work, (in those times, and in that country,) so like-
wise the translation should do the same. Our English
translation is certainly incorrect, and conveys an awk-
ward idea, namely, that the householder paid his labour-
ers very badly, which is not hinted at in the Greek.
What is to be done then in the language proposed ? To
say that the householder agreed with the labourers for
an H, or for a C, would be more erroneous than the
English f penny.' We are constrained to admit, that in
this particular language a barbarism seems 'needful hi
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 193
this place ; thus, ' when he had agreed with the labourers
for a denarius per day,' but a note should always accom-
pany the word denarius, intimating that it is a coin, and
expressive of its value.
" We next come to the places in the second division,
and first Matt. xxv. 18, 27. Here no accuracy is needed^
and ' money' or ' silver' will do in the translation.
"Again, Matt, xxviii. 12, 15 ; these places are very
similar to the former : ' money' or ' silver' will do in the
translation. Again, Matt. xvii. 24. Here there is some
accuracy in the Greek, because diSpa^a was the name of
that tribute which was exacted for the support of the
temple : but it does not appear absolutely necessary that
the reader in the present day should understand the
exact value of the tribute : it is sufficient that he have a
general idea : and to render the word ' tribute money/
seems far preferable to ' didrachma,' even though it
should be accompanied with a note.
"Almost the same may be said of the next place, Matt,
xvii. 27 ; with this exception, that as the <rrar^p was to
be given as the tribute of two persons, it is desirable, if
practicable, to express the two words in such a way, that
the latter may be understood to be about double the
value of the former. This is not always practicable :
and in such cases it seems better to say in the translation,
' thou shalt find a piece of money,' than to say, ' thou
shalt find a stater/ For in the former case the reader
cannot much mistake the meaning ; in the latter, the
meaning would be obscured.
" The last place under this division is Matt. xxii. 19;
here no accuracy is needed in the translation; it is
194 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
enough in my opinion to say they brought unto him a
coin: nothing is lost hy saying f coin ;' nothing is gained
by being more specific ; much is lost in an oriental lan-
guage by saying, they brought unto him a denarius.
"We now proceed to the next division : and first of
all, we notice Matt, xviii. 24. In this place there is a
comparative value between nvpiuv raKavrwv and tKarbv
Sqvapia in v. 28th ; and so long as this comparative value
is retained in the translation, it is not necessary to he
precise as to the sums. Now, ten thousand L is a suffi-
ciently large sum to denote a person's being immensely
in debt ; and one hundred C aptly expresses a compara-
tively small debt : I should indeed prefer a word which
would express the idea of a man's being involved beyond
the remotest possibility of payment ; but what is to be
done when the largest denomination is L? unless the
quantity be altered from ten thousand to ten millions.
Query ; is this proper? In my humble judgment 'ten
thousand L' is preferable to ' ten thousand talenta,' and
( one hundred C' preferable to ( one hundred denarii.'
"The only remaining places are Matt. xxv. 15, 16, 20,
22j 24, 25, 28. Here the comparison is between Svo and
kv, and the idea that lv is a sufficient sum to trade with,
must not be lost : if this idea be preserved in the trans-
ation, and also the comparative sums five, two, and
one ; the exact amount given to each servant seems of
little consequence. I am inclined to think in the parti"
cular language under consideration, it would be well to
say, ' five thousand L } for five talents : ( two thousand L'
for two talents, and f one thousand L' for one talent.
Thus we come tolerably near to the value of the talent,
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 195
(say one-third less,) and I should suggest that this is
much better than to say ' five talenta/ &c.
(( In the compass of twenty-seven verses, and in one or
the other of two versions now before me, I count thirty-
one distinct barbarisms ; while, if the above observa-
tions be correct, only four are needful, viz., in Matt. xx.
2, 9, 10, 13."
The following extracts from a correspondence he
carried on with a brother missionary, will at once show
his habit of accurate attenfton to the minutest matters,
and throw some further light on this important sub-
jectthe present version of the Chinese Scriptures
a subject in which he felt the liveliest interest, and
for the perfection' of which he was prepared to act a
most efficient part had God in his wisdom seen fit
to prolong his invaluable life :
"The [Chinese] particles require a volume: there
is not one of them to which justice can be done in a dozen
pages, [of letter-press.] I want to see our books more like
what they should be ; for, although I do not take quite
that gloomy view of them which you do, yet I admit
they are capable of vast improvement. We are yet in
the veriest infancy of the work in this respect. Cannot
we exchange thought upon some subject connected with
the language? What think you of substituting the
third person for the second in Biblical translations ? Is
anything lost by so doing? Is not much gained in
point of perspicuity, style, and purity of diction? Is
there any danger of deviating from the mind of the
Spirit by the change ? While we are solicitous to use
to the utmost the phraseology of the Spirit, is not the
o 2
196 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
use of the second person an item of the Greek, Hebrew,
and other languages, rather than the diction of the
Holy Spirit ? Had the Holy Spirit been pleased to
employ the Chinese language, would not the third per-
son probably have been used ? This last query weighs
much with me. However, the difficulty seems to me to
be this : in substituting the noun in the third person
for the pronoun in the first and second, we interpret
the pronoun. Now there are some cases where the
person referred to is quite %lear and certain j in such
cases, may we exchange it for the noun ? I think we
may. If by retaining the pronoun we be less intelli-
gible, why should we be obscure where the original is
clear, by not translating in accordance with native
idiom ? The original, you know, has the advantage of
gender, number, and case; but the Chinese has not
the full advantage of those variations in inflection.
This diversity suggests to us the propriety of taking
advantage of any idiom which compensates for such a
loss. In cases where the person alluded to is not
absolutely clear to every reader of the original, I think
we may not substitute the noun, because in that case
some might say we had put our own meaning upon the
pronoun ; we had made plain what the original had left
obscure.
" Now if I act upon these views, what objections can
be made to my translation ? You will readily perceive,
however, that these observations bear equally upon
substituting the noun for the third person, pronoun,
as well as the first and second : but my query was on a
point of idiom whether we might address a person as
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 197
absent, while present: 'Blessed is Mary among wo-
, men ;' or, ' if my Lord will, he can make me clean/ Now
one serious matter to be considered, especially in such a
case as the latter one, is, that we get over the difficulty
of the vocative case, a case very rarely to he met with
in native authors. In something very pathetic indeed,
you may find the vocative made by some most grave
and ' pathetic exclamatory particle : but the incessant
vocatives of the Greek would never be rendered in this
way by a native.. He would say, ' If my Lord will, he
can make me clean.' The worthy Doctor, however,
thought differently : he constantly makes the vocative
by the particle ' koo,' and some others ; but these ren-
derings are obscure to the reader ; and if obscure, how
much of the Doctor's translation is obscure ! ! for how
many times this mode occurs. It is not enough to be
able to quote classical authority for such a mode ; but
is this the usual mode with them ? Suppose Addison
to have used the expression, ' I wist not,' somewhere in
his writings ; he might have used it elegantly, and with
admirable effect: but if a foreigner would translate
into English, and because he had met with ' I wist not,'
in Addison for 'I think not,' he should invariably
say, ' I wist not,' he would become ridiculous ; and if
the expression were not considered as a foreignism, it
would be thought an English phrase foreignized. The
cases are I think nearly parallel, with this difference,
that he would be always understood ; whereas the Doc-
tor's ' koo' renders him I think very unintelligible to his
reader. Thus I conclude, it is better in such cases to
use the third person than the vocative. If this be
198 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL, DYER.
conceded, it is enough ; it will tend greatly to make
intelligible an immense portion of our present version."
The preceding extracts and papers enter more into the
minutise of grammar than the general reader may have
been disposed to anticipate ; but as Mr. Dyer stood alone,
or nearly so, when on a visit to this country, in advo-
cating a thorough revision, if not a re-translation of the
sacred volume, it was necessary to give a specimen at
least of those reasons that convinced him that he was
right ; and it would have been injustice to the deceased
not to have noticed such investigations ; for these, as
well as other labours, supply the materials for a true
account of his life and character. I must nevertheless
restrain myself in multiplying quotations of this kind,
hoping that at this point I shall prove to have been
both just to Mr. Dyer and sufficiently considerate of the
less learned reader.
I am fully aware that this is tender ground. I had
however no option : my duty was to give an impartial
exhibition, as far as I was able, of what Mr. Dyer was
in labour and opinions, as a Christian missionary among
the Chinese. Had I no view of my own on the subject,
I could not have done less with these papers, from the
pen of Mr. Dyer, before me. As this is not a fitting
place to enter into a full discussion of the subject of a
new version, or a thorough revision of the Chinese Scrip-
tures, suffice it to say that there is no difference of
opinion among the sinologues of the present day on the
point. The resolution of the conference, held three
years ago, at Hong-Kong, composed of both English and
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 199
American missionaries, was unanimous on this topic.
The views Mr. Dyer had entertained for years before
were confirmed by the united and deliberate opinion of
that assembly views hewas too diffident for alongperiod
to express even in the mild form in which they appear
in the preceding pages! Holding these opinions, as
he did, among his most settled convictions, yet his own
language is "No one can esteem more than I the
Herculean labour of Dr. Morrison, and no one would
plead its [i. e. his version's] merits more strenuously."
The following extract from a letter to the Rev. Alex.
Stronach, then labouring at Penang, written by him when
in England, will sustain the preceding statements. The
reader will not be displeased, I am satisfied, that I retain
the former part, although it does not refer to the version
or " the state of feeling in England," in regard to it, or
the mission to the Chinese in general. Further abridg-
ment would be unjust to Mr. Dyer, although it might
not be so to the subject.
" My dear Brother, Grace be with you and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
" I delight greatly in your plans and operations, which
you have so kindly detailed to me in two letters which I
have received from you. Happy shall I be once more
to see you, and to hear from your own lips what God is
doing by your instrumentality . We are with much joy
contemplating the period of our embarkation, which we
hope will be in July. China is very dear to us : and
our only wish is to live and die for China. Yes, I ven-
ture to think, that if my heart could be dissected, it
200 MEMOIR OF THE REV, SAMUEL DYER.
would be found that China is interwoven with every
fibre.
"My object in writing to you is to beckon to you
across the ocean, and across the hills, and to cry aloud,
' Only be strong, and of good courage, and the Lord
your God will give you the land.' Oh, I wonder exceed-
ingly that God should employ such unworthy instru-
ments as we are : and yet I think, had I a hundred
heads and a hundred hearts, they should all be inscribed
with ( Holiness to the Lord/
" I do hope you will direct your serious attention to
the present state of the Chinese Scriptures. Are you
satisfied with Dr. Morrison's ? Do you approve of Mr.
Medhursfs revision, adopted by the Americans ? To
morrow (D.V.) I have a meeting with Dr. Henderson
on this subject : but it is one full of difficulty. Brother
Kidd and I differ on this subject : if we could agree,
we might do something. HOWEVER, SOMETHING MUST
BE DONE. Oh, how we mar the work of God, and yet
how God condescends to work by his erring children !
"The state of feeling in England with respect to
China is not what it ought to be : there is amazing
apathy in some parts : in others, people do seem to be
interested. There is no restraint unto the Lord to save
by the mighty, or by them who have no power ; were it
otherwise, I would give up : but now I know that
" God is with us, this may cheer us
In the darkest day that is;
God is with us, and will hear us,
For the cause we plead is his :
God is with us,
All we need is found in this."
CHINESE VERSION OP THE SCRIPTURES. 201
"Something must be done," was strong and decisive
language for Mr. Dyer ; so it has been resolved.
There has been undue sensibility among some of Dr.
Morrison's admirers on this subject ; for it is no dero-
gation from Dr. Morrison's character, vast and espe-
cial acquirements as a Chinese scholar, and all hut
unparalleled labours, that a version (of the New Tes-
tament) which he executed within six years from the
date at which he commenced the study of the language
should be imperfect. The republic of letters has paid
a willing homage to the Doctor, and his name will go
down among the nations of the West, as well as among
the Chinese, as one of the most renowned benefactors
of his race. Dr. Morrison's reputation stands at a
height far beyond the reach of envy or detraction ; and
few praises, however lavishly bestowed, can ever add to
his fame : so that to indulge the former would be a
combination of weakness and wickedness, and in any
circle of ordinary intelligence to attempt the latter
would be a work of supererogation. For reasons per-
fectly understood the subject of the Chinese version is
a case no longer sub judice. The matter is decided ;
but decided in a manner that reflects the highest credit
on Drs.. Morrison and Milne. Theirs was a FIRST version
but a version that will stand in relation to the enlighten-
ment of China much in the same position with the version
of Wycliife in Europe and this is the honour assigned
by the unalterable and gracious decrees of Heaven to
DRS. MORRISON AND MILNE. This honour no man
can take from them. Has it been exceeded in the annals
of time ? Can it be equalled " in the ages to come ?"
202 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
STILL ; A REVISION, PURE, IDIOMATIC, AND FAITH-
FUL, AMOUNTING SUBSTANTIALLY TO A RETRANSLA-
TION, THE CHURCH MUST PROVIDE FOR CHINA.
It is therefore assuredly the bounden and instant duty
of that portion of the church of Christ which is seeking
the evangelization of China, to take prompt and decisive
measures, by multiplying men of first talent, promise,
and piety, on the coast of China, as well as by en-
couraging those from every nation now in the field, to
devote the most assiduous attention to and bestow the
utmost labour on this great work, that they may put
the Chinese in possession of the revealed will of God
in language that shall be like European versions in-
telligible at once to the peasant and the prince. And
in the meantime it must not be forgotten that the
present version has all the value it had twenty years
ago ; and is as capable as it was then of leading, a
reader, who is determined not to be foiled in his
efforts to know its contents by any rugged style or
foreign idiom, to the Lamb of God that taketh away
the sins of the world. China will, among her large
reading population, supply no small number of that
resolute description.
Mr. Dyer contemplated spending his future energies in
the work of improvement and this, with few exceptions,
all our Chinese publications it was his opinion needed
hadhe been permitted to see accomplished his plans in the
department pf typography. He regretted often, as we
have seen, the time he was under the necessity of spend-
ing in manual labour and seeing his qualifications for
the department of translation, we cannot but regret it too ;
CHINESE VERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES. 203
and the more so now he is gone to his reward and his
God. In the future part of this narrative we shall see
what he accomplished and what he designed. While at
Penang, however, he had proceeded far with the revision
of Matthew's Gospel, and the Bible Society had resolved
on printing it. His progress was not as rapid as he
desired, hut he had no alternative : for frequently he
wrote home in the strain of the following extract:
" My translation matters have stood still during the last
month, principally owing to the incessant attention which
I was obliged to give in putting workmen in the way of
cutting punches." The publication of that Gospel was
delayed for reasons which the following extracts will fully
detail : " Our conviction f of the necessity of a revised
version, of the Scriptures in Chinese for poor illiterate
emigrants from China and their descendants in the
colonies, is only deepened by a longer residence among
them. And it has lately been confirmed by the circum-
stance of Mr. Medhurst at Batavia having undertaken
a revision of the Gospels in the form of a Harmony.
And what is very remarkable, the style and idiom of the
two versions are as similar as it is well possible for two
perfectly independent revisions to be ; which no doubt
was the consequence of our being similarly situated, as
it respects the Chinese, and our wants being precisely
the same.
"As Mr. Medhurst' s Harmony is in the course of pub-
lication, and ourimmediate wants will be thereby supplied,
it is deemed advisable to defer the publication * *
until further communications have been elicited from the
brethren in the ultra-Ganges Mission." Again :
204 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
" Mr. Medliurst is just publishing a Harmony of the
four Gospels in Chinese, and that answers so much the
purpose for which my revision is intended that I am in-
clined rather to delay its publication, but have not made
up my mind. It is certainly desirable to have, as well
as the Harmony, a faithful translation. Dr. Morrison's
is not suitable to the illiterate emigrants of China. I
presume not to judge of its suitableness to the higher
classes of society. It is FAITHFUL to the letter,
faithful in the extreme : it may do in China. So Mr.
Medhurst thinks : he has told me as much. His Harmony
proves the same sentiment. How is it that -Mr. Medhurst
and myself have provided a work in the same style ? Is
it not that we both formed the same idea of what the em-
igrants required ? As Mr.Medhurst however is supply-
ing our immediate wants I am in doubt what to do."
"While in the midst of these labours he was, as we have
already seen, called to leave Penang for Malacca.
r CHAPTER VI.
VICISSITUDES, AND DEATH.
Settled at Malacca : Illness of Mrs. Dyer: Return to England : Letters,
feelings: Safe arrival: Advocacy of the cause at home; instance of:
The feelings with which he was received at Paddington, and presentation
of the Encyclopaedia Britannica to him : Embarkation the second time
for India : Letters from Cape Town, Calcutta, and Singapore : Labours
at Singapore : Letter to his pastor : Extracts from his correspondence :
Missionaries repairing to Hong-Kong on the opening of China:
Mr. Dyer chosen Secretary : Attacked with fever : The Rev. A. J. Stro-
nach's account of Mr. Dyer's illness, death, and burial: An extract from
the " Singapore Free Press."
TOWARD the close of the year 1835, Mr. Dyer was
settled at Malacca. Schools were established; the
printing-press was in full operation ; and his type-found-
ing, proceeding to his entire satisfaction. He had more-
over the assistance of Leang-Afa, concerning whom
nothing need he said here, as his praise is in all the
churches. To leave Penang was a trial to his feelings,
and was an interruption to his labours : he had therefore
no idea of removing from Malacca when he went there,
unless it was to go to China itself; whenever it should
prove hi the providence of God that the " celestial empire"
was opened to the Christian missionary. He had not
been there however four years ere he was called upon
to contemplate most seriously a return to Europe, on
account of the ill health of $Trs. Dyer. This measure
206 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
was a source of much anxiety to them : however he felt
.elieved by the circumstance that there was no diversity
of opinion as to its necessity. Medical advice was de-
cisive. After referring to that opinion, and that of his
colleague and other friends, he writes to the Society :
" Nothing could have been more distant from our inten-
tion than the prospect of a return to our native land :
we feel that we have given ourselves to the Lord's work
among the heathen. And I trust we do feel it to be the
very highest privilege we can enjoy on this side heaven
to be employed in so blessed, so glorious, and so holy a
work. Never are we more happy than when we can in
some humble way assist in this thrice blessed work : and
our only wish is to live for and to die in the cause of our
blessed Master. I cannot but hope that our visit may
be made to bear on the best interests of China." In
writing to myself at this time he enters more fully into
the case :
" My very dear and beloved Brother, You will proba-
bly have heard that my dear wife has been for several
weeks quite laid up ; having had rather a serious attack
on the liver. She has been brought into a very low state ;
so low indeed as to prevent the hope of her being ever
able to resume her duties, without a most decisive change.
Our medical adviser contemplated from the first an ul-
timate change : and ultimately he suggested the Neil-
gherries. He says her constitution is quite broken up by
a long residence in this climate. We felt that we were
then called to consider the subject seriously : the query
was, where were we to 'go? I objected to the Neil-
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 207
gherries, on the ground that the expense wouldbe probably
as great as a voyage to England, or nearly so : -she must
remain there at least twelve months; and so we should
be absent from our work eighteen months at the very
least, during which time our spirits would be completely
broken that we could do nothing for China. And then,
after all, a trip to Europe might be still necessary : and
the two trips would at least consume three years and a
half. I have, therefore, in conjunction with my friends
here, and after beseeching the Lord for his guidance,
come to the determination not to take any half-change,
but to go at once to Europe ; considering that the ex-
pense would not be much more ; the period of absence
only six months longer, and the whole of my time in
England I could make bear on the best welfare of China.
" Never did we contemplate such a change as this :
we had bid farewell to our dear friends until we met in
glory. When we leave, we leave our hearts in China
we go from home, not to home this is our home and by
the grace of our dear Lord Jesus never will we turn our
backs on China. Our only wish to live is for the glory
of the Saviour and the good of China : but if He is
pleased to say ' come ye and rest awhile ;' we will hum-
bly reply, c Nay but, dearest Lord, not to rest, but only
to serve thee and thy sacred cause in China another
" Still I shall bear every labourer, every plan, every
effort, upon my heart. My inmost soul leapt for joy
when you and brother Wolfe arrived. Happy, thrice
happy shall I be once more to join the little band of the
devoted missionaries in the Straits." " Dearest brother,
208 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
indeed we love you all never allow yourselves for a mo-
ment to think we love you not ; God knoweth, 2 Cor.
xi. 11."
In writing home to his father he says :
" Dear, oh ! very dear to us is beloved China. Dear,
thrice dear is every labourer in the vineyard ; and happy,
very happy are we to bear some humble part in this
most blessed work. Still do we hope to be permitted
to labour to enlighten benighted China, and still do we
humbly ask to be permitted to seal our labours with our
death in a heathen land. * , * * *
" You know, dearest father, we bade you and all our
friends farewell, till we met in glory. By the grace of
God, having put our hand to the plough we never will
look back. Should we return to Europe for a season, it
will be only to prepare for future labours. Our visit
must bear wholly on China we must leave our hearts
here ; we feel we only live for the glory of Jesus Christ
and the good of China; and we only desire to spend
and be spent in the sacred cause in which it has been
our privilege to labour for twelve years.
" "We have taken our passage in the John Dugdale of
Liverpool, bound for London : she is to sail to-morrow.
Singapore,, May 15. My dearest Father. My heart is
full. I verily believe there is no work under the whole
heavens which will compare in interest, in importance,
and in glorious results with the work of Christ among
the Gentiles. Oh ! to hew wood and to draw water in
such a service is a sacred privilege. We have often
provoked the Lord by our sins ; but still I hope he is
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 209
not removing us from his vineyard in his anger, to be
employed therein no more : and if we have found grace
in his sight, we will hope that he will again permit us to
lahour and toil in behalf of China. It is to us a source,
of much comfort that we leave amidst the approbation
and smiles and tears of all our friends, without one dis-
sentient voice, and until now leaving them I had not the
remotest idea of the large number of friends we possess,
who seem to vie with each other who shall sympathise
with us most and who shall be most kind."
The next communication his father received from him
was dated Deal, Sept. 18, 1.839. "Last night," he says,
" will never be forgotten by us, inasmuch as we weathered
the most terrific hurricane off the Goodwin sands which
you can possibly imagine, and were very nearly lost, for we
struck : but through the merciful interposition of our
heavenly Father we anchored safe in the Downs last
night, and landed this morning."
He returned to England, for we cannot say home,
with his whole soul full of China : this was apparent
to all who made his acquaintance in his native land.
The more he was known, the more he was admired ;
and as his retiring habits were so extreme extreme to
a fault it was necessary to make some little effort ere
his excellency and his worth could be discovered : and
the discovery always revealed his consecration to the
spiritual interests of the Celestial Empire. When he
appeared as the advocate of the mission to China
among the churches of this land, his statements,
though far from those deemed popular, yet were deeply
210 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
impressive : there was no declamation, but there were
facts, and these facts were always told in a style pecu-
liarly his own. Sometimes a feeling of deep devotion and
solemnity pervaded the meetings he addressed, which
could be produced only by a heart wholly consecrated
to God and the cause of truth, pouring out its fulness
in a manner which mere rhetoric and intellect can
neither effect nor counterfeit.
"The statements he made," (at the Norwich Mis-
sionary Anniversary,) writes a brother missionary, who
was present,* " though without any apparent emotion
in his own bosom, without display, without colouring,
without the remotest attempt at eifect made calmly,
deliberately, and with a tone of voice equal, and even
monotonous ; yet the statements he made told with
thrilling eifect on the auditory. They were not far-
fetched, not ideal ; they were his own, the statements
of a faithful labourer, giving a faithful account of his
labours. He did not tell us they were unwearied, but
it was plain to every one they were so ; he did not tell
us they were arduous, but it was plain to every one they
were so ; he did not tell us they were perplexing, but it
was plain to every one they were so ; he did not tell us
they were successful, but it was plain to every one they
were so. The detail was full, but not tiresome ; it was
graphic, but unlaboured, unwrought. It was the detail
of conscious integrity, conscious faithfulness, conscious
strength, conscious success, in a mighty achievement
for a mighty object the fruit of self-denying, believing,
prayerful, humble-minded labour. It was," it is further
* The Rev. J. Ketley, of Demerara.
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 21 1
added, "one of the most striking illustrations of the
infinite ease with which the ever blessed God could
accomplish his faithful word in the conversion of the
world by the instrumentality of his church that ever
illuminated uninspired minds. Indeed, I should hardly
think it possible that any thoughtful Christian who
heard him could ever after indulge the question of
unbelief, ' How can these things be V "
I will not weary the reader with details of missionary
meetings, although the documents before me might be
pleaded as a full justification for devoting a few pages to
some extracts, with illustrative and connecting observa-
tions. It is obvious, however, that the more spiritual
such meetings, the more folly will they answer the
design which ought always to be kept in view; and
it is gratifying to know that much improvement has
taken place within comparatively a short period. It
must not, however, on the other hand, be forgotten,
that it is quite possible to go to the extreme in decrying,
in the proceedings on missionary platforms, what is
neither inconsistent with the devoutest piety, nor offen-
sive to good taste. Mr. Dyer was successful beyond
many in keeping to the golden medium ; for when he
detailed what was frivolous or absurd in heathen prac-
tices, it was obvious that he had some great spiritual
principle in view, and the former he always brought
forward for the sake of the latter. He visited several
of the counties of England on these missionary tours,
and was refreshed by many ; and was himself, we can-
not doubt, the means of refreshing more. Wherever
p 2
212 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER,
he found a response to his appeals for China, his very
soul was filled with gratitude, and his lips with praise
to the God of missions. When this was not the case, no
acts of kindness and hospitality were lost upon him. He
recognised in the attention paid to him the goodness of
God, and the existence of Christian principle : ( ' Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my breth-
ren, ye have done it unto me." He spent about two years
in advocating the cause he had at heart ; during which
time Mrs, Dyer so far recovered her health and strength
as to warrant their return to their delightful work
among the heathen.
However desirable it may be to avoid undue length,
we must not pass over the feelings with which they
visited the church at Paddington, nor the marks of
esteem and Christian love with which they were received.
We have seen that Mr. Dyer loved his pastor with an
ardour seldom equalled, perhaps never surpassed. He
loved the church, he loved the schools, and he loved
the place ; for he was born again there. The pastor,
the church, and the teachers of the school, fully reci-
procated these feelings of Christian affection ; and often
did they prove the sincerity of their professions by
acts of substantial kindness and generosity. Among
such proofs, was a presentation of a copy of the last edi-
tion of the Encyclopedia , Britannica, just on the eve of
his embarkation, in the year 1841. This invaluable work
was presented to him in the school-room belonging to
Paddington chapel, amidst a numerous assembly, by his
beloved pastor, in his own name and the friends there
assembled. Mr. Stratten delivered an address to him on
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 213
the occasion, from the words of Paul to Timothy,
" Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace which
is iii Christ Jesus." Mr. Dyer replied in a strain and
spirit of humility, disinterestedness, and zeal traits of
character by which he was always distinguished. This
handsome present, with all his books, and his library
was one of considerable extent and value, he bequeathed
to the mission. There it will remain ; no small advan-
tage, itself a library of reference, to the mission ; a
memento of his own generosity, as well as of the
church from which he went forth to the heathen to
preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.
The following inscription, describing at once the
design of the donors and the estimate they had formed
of Mr. Dyer's character and labour, adorns the first of
the twenty-two volumes (quarto) of which the work
consists.
THIS ENCYCLOPEDIA
WAS PRESENTED TO THE REV. SAMUEL DYER, OF MALACCA,
BY THE MINISTER, CHURCH, CONGREGATION, AND ' SuNDAY-
SCHOOL TEACHERS OF PADDTNGTON CHAPEL, ON THE EVEN-
ING OF THE 15TH OF JUNE, 1841, IN TESTIMONY OF THEIR
RESPECT -AND AFFECTION FOR HIS PERSON AND CHARACTER,
AS A LABORIOUS, PATIENT, DISINTERESTED, AND SELF-
DENYING MISSIONARY OF CHRIST, AS A RECORD OF THEIR
HIGH ESTIMATION OF HIS SERVICES IN SURMOUNTING THE
DIFFICULTIES OF THE CHINESE TONGUE ; IN THE HOPE
THAT THESE VOLUMES MAY CONTRIBUTE IN ANY DEGREE TO '
ASSIST HIS ENDEAVOURS TO COMMUNICATE TO THAT EXTRA-
ORDINARY PEOPLE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE OF
214 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
ROPE, BUT ABOVE ALL THE GOSPEL OF OUR BLESSED LORD
AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST ; AND WITH EARNEST PRAYER
TO GOD THAT HIS LIFE MAY BE PROLONGED AND HIS USE-
FULNESS INCREASED WITH ADVANCING YEARS, AND THAT
FUTURE MISSIONARIES MAY WITNESS THE GLORIOUS AND
EXTENSIVE TRIUMPHS OF THE CROSS OVER THE VAST RE-
GIONS OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE, AND THAT AFTER A LIFE
OF HONOURABLE TOIL AND NOBLE DEVOTEDNESS TO THE
CAUSE OF CHRISTIANITY AND HUMAN HAPPINESS, HE MAY
RECEIVE FROM THE LORD THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE A CROWN
OF GLORY WHICH SHALL NEVER FADE AWAY.
SlGNvED ON BEHALF OF THE DONORS,
JAMES STRATTEN,
J. CLAYPON,
T. PARKINSON,
JOHN GOMM,
W. BAILEY,
JOHN TUDOR.
Thus "he left his native land the second time, contem-
plating years of happy toil, not now in an unknown re-
gion or tongue. Experience and success had brightened
every grace that adorned his character when he first
went forth to the Gentiles, and had prepared him and
strengthened every power for more efficient labour a
labour he looked forward to now with augmented plea-
sure, as he knew his work and his own aptitude to pro-
secute it.
He with his family embarked on the 2nd of August,
1841, on board the Plantagenet, bound for the port of
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 215
Calcutta. It was his happiness to have met with a lady,
Miss Buckland, in every way qualified to teach his
children, so that he was not called to leave any of them
in England for the sake of education. On this, as well
as on almost every other topic, great diversity of opinion
exists. Mr. Dyer's conviction was, that his brethren
in general were justified in sending or leaving their
children for education in this country, but as he was able
to make a satisfactory arrangement without submitting
to this painful necessity, he regarded it as an instance of
the kind interposition of his heavenly Father. This
lady gave him the most entire satisfaction. Most fre-
quent and honourable testimony is borne to her charac-
ter, devotedness, piety, and aptitude, in his letters now
before me. Nothing therefore he desired in returning
to England had failed him. Mrs. Dyer's health was
restored, his own spirits refreshed by Christian inter-
course with friends, pastors, and the Directors of the
Society his children in health and returning with him,
his happiness was as full as he ever expected it to be on
earth. He therefore bade adieu to his fatherland for the
last time, not indeed as a stoic, but as the devoted and
willing servant of Christ full of tender emotions
emotions -without whose susceptibility he could not be
so efficient a labourer among the heathen in the vine-
yard of Him whose
" heart is made of tenderness. 1 '
On the 2nd of August, he wrote to his father from
Portsmouth :
"My dearest Father, The ship arrived yesterday
morning. We embark after dinner. Wind contrary.
216 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
We are to weigh, anchor to : night. We had a quiet sab-
bath, and I was incog, till after the evening service, when
I went into the vestry to see Mr. Cuzens. Farewell.
Peace be with you. If possible, you shall hear with the
pilot ; but with this wind it may be some days hence.
All well. --Miss Buckland keeps up her spirits. [The
lady spoken of above as the governess of his children.]
^ tfc jfc 5fC 5ji V
"Our very kindest love to you and Mrs. Dyer, and
Harriet. 'The time is short.'" Two days after he
wrote by the pilot : " The last twenty-four hours have
been trying to our faith, and love, and patience. But
we find that as our day is, so is our strength. It is as
much as I can do to write you a line. All on board
have suffered from sea sickness except Burella, [his
youngest daughter.]
" We have now a favourable breeze ; and being a fine
clear day we see the cliffs of Albion, pardon me if I say,
I trust for the last time. You well know that it is not
a want of patriotism that induces me to say this, for the
land of my fathers is dearer to me than all lands, save
' the land which is very far off/ Neither is it the want
of filial affection, for I could not have left my honoured
father without the assurance that I should soon see him
again and be with him for ever. But when I think of
the 350 millions of China perishing for lack of know-
ledge when I remember that Jesus Christ died for our
sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole
world, oh ! then every object in this world dwindles into
perfect insignificance compared with carrying these glad
tidings to a dying world. Torbay, 5th. We now lie at
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 217
anchor, with a strong westerly breeze. We shall pro-
bably start finally this evening. Farewell, my dearest
father ; do all you can to send us missionaries ; if from
Paddington, how delighted should I be."
The next communication from him was dated at Cape
Town, and is inserted below. The reader will not fail
to derive pleasure and satisfaction from the paragraph
in reference to " pious Indians." Indeed a most inter-
esting volume might be written on the progress of
vital and spiritual piety among the officers, both civil
and military, in our Indian empire. "Would that some
one of sufficient leisure and acquaintance with Indian
affairs could be induced to undertake such a service !
Mr. Dyer himself was the means of bringing some
Europeans to the saving knowledge of the Redeemer.
Periang has been honoured of God to be the spiritual
birth-place of many who went there devoted to the
world and to pleasure, but left it the "lovers of God:"
and of them it will be said on the great and last day,
that they were "born there," and that Samuel Dyer had
begotten them through the gospel.
"Cape Town, Oct. 13th, 1841.
" My very dear and honoured Father, Through the
tender mercies of our God, we safely anchored in Table
Bay yesterday morning, being sixty-five days from Tor-
bay, and seventy from Portsmouth. This is about an
average passage ; and considering the winds we have
had, our ship has performed beautifully, beating every-
thing we have seen. In every respect we have had a
comfortable passage, and most cheerfully do we raise
218 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
our Ebenezer, for hitherto the Lord hath helped us.
Our captain is a perfect gentleman ; and our voyage
has been a complete contrast to our voyage home. No
passenger has been obliged to touch salt provisions,
hard biscuit, or to drink tea without milk. Fresh meat,
mutton and pork, bread, vegetables, preserves, fruits,
&c., all in the greatest abundance. In fact, the only
apparent, difference from a table on shore was, that these
good things would not stop in the dishes.
" Our cabin accommodation has been everything that
we wished ; there we were always quiet during our little
seasons of worship. We have had worship in the cuddy
every Sunday morning, when the captain read prayers,
and I preached a short sermon. But while our party
was a pleasant one, certainly much more so than the
party of the Roxburgh Castle, we found no one on board
altogether like-minded with ourselves ; however, there
was a respect for religion shown by all, and I think we
were none the less respected for being religious, and
maintaining our accustomed habits of family and social
worship.
" The present mail will bring you a letter from Miss
Buckland ; she very soon resumed her wonted cheerful-
ness, and she has proved a great comfort to us. Her
conduct has been so consistent as to gain the esteem of
all on board, and I think she has won the affections of
the children. She is a very amiable lady, and the very
person we wanted : not one word of regret at leaving
her friends has ever escaped her, and I think she is very
happy ; however, for this I must refer you to her own
letter.
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 219
" On our arrival in Table Bay, I forthwith wrote a line
to your friend Dr. Philip : he however is absent in the
interior for six months, visiting the different missionary-
stations. We called on Mrs. Philip, who was kind
enough to read to us two letters from the Doctor written
from Caledon : these were deeply interesting, describing
great advances in civilization and religion since 1839,
when he last visited the institution. He was accompanied
by a per son from India who visited our stations ten years
since : he was astonished at the change which he witnessed,
from which I conclude that the good work is in a state of
progress. What think you of 250 at a prayer-meeting
in the interior of Africa ? Perhaps curiosity may lead
you to count how many persons may be present at the
next prayer-meeting you attend, and I almost think you
will find the poor Africans not very far behind us in
England in their attendance at the house of God : espe-
cially when you take into account the sparse population
of the interior. A missionary from Caffreland is now
here : his accounts are of the most satisfactory nature :
things are advancing. If we had been living for twelve
months in a climate where the cold was many degrees
below zero, how thankful should we be if the thermo-
meter should rise, even though it should rise no higher
than 32, and we might be surrounded by ice ! It is the
comparative freedom from suffering which would prevent
every murmur. Here are myriads of immortal souls, who
for centuries have been many many degrees below the
moral zero, and now they are just beginning to warm by
the genial rays of the Sun of righteousness. Oh! blessed
be God who hath had mercy upon Africa. The tree of
220 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
life hath been planted in Africa : and its seeds, like the
seeds of certain flowers, have wings and plant themselves :
'and the fruit thereof shall, shake like Lebanon.'
"A great many Indians (as they are called, i.e. Indian
officers,) visit this settlement instead of returning to
England, because they can do this without losing their
pay and allowances. It is very remarkable that many
of these have been pious men : ' pious Indians ' is here
a kind of technical term, and goes current at Cape Town.
'Pious Indians!' Did the thing exist in A.D. 1800?
Was there such an one to be found anywhere ? And
now, within forty years, a class of individuals has arisen,
for whom a new name must be invented : and more-
over, those with whom the designation arose are only
the representatives ; the tithe of a larger number. If
the London and Baptist Societies had not sent mission-
aries to India, would these things have been so ? To my
mind, this is a proposition that admits of as forcible a
demonstration as Euclid's 'square of the hypothenuse
is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two
sides.' "Who would have predicted in 1800 that in 1841
the number of Christian officers in India shall be so
large, that a portion of them shall visit the Cape, suffi-
ciently numerous to call forth a distinctive name ? Who
that knew the state of India would have believed the
prediction ? My very inmost soul exults and leaps for
joy. Is this the fruit of missionary toil ? Then happy,
thrice happy am I if I may but hew wood and draw
water for the missionaries so employed. And the acme,
of my joy in this world shall be, that my little children
may hew wood and draw water too.
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 221
"We have all enjoyed very excellent health. I have
been able to pursue my Chinese and Hebrew studies with
considerable application: these have been a source of
amusement to me, when many others were weary with
wanting something to do. "We all unite in very kind
love to you and Mrs. Dyer and Harriet, and all my dear
brothers and sisters.
" Miss Buckland is very anxious for you to come and
settle at Singapore : she will probably express her wishes.
If I thought there was the shadow of probability of
such an event, I should be tempted to express my own
wishes too. But I do not expect to see you again, till
I see you in glory. Adieu, my honoured father.
" Your very affectionate Son,
"SAMUEL, DYER."
" Ship Plantagenet,
" 150 miles below Calcutta,
"Dec. \3th, 1841.
" My dearest Father, The pilot came on board this
morning, from whom I learn that if we write by the
December mail, we must send our letters on to Calcutta
before us, to be in time for the overland despatch. Our
voyage from the Cape (from whence I wrote to you per
Romeo, under date of Oct. 13th,) has been somewhat
tedious, but more favourable than that of any other
ship ; and the incidents of the voyage have been but few.
Nothing can be more monotonous than a voyage to the
East Indies at the season at which we left. Yet I think
our humble efforts to do good have not been in vain : and
this circumstance has supplied us with some little variety.
222 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
" After leaving the Cape, we had an admirable run of
200 miles per diem for thirteen successive days : but after
recrossing the line we experienced frequent calms.
What seemed to us somewhat mortifying was, that we
were at one time within 600 miles of Penang, but of
course the ship could not go so far out of her way to
carry us. We had no gale off the Cape, no hurricane
off the Isle of France ; and here we are, through the
tender mercy of our God, safely anchored off the
Hooghly, waiting for the tide.
" The same mail that brings this will bring you news
from Burmah and China, much more than I can learn
from the pilot : one thing perhaps may be interesting
to you, namely, the Assam tea trade is assuming a very
promising aspect.
" Our present intention is, to remain about a week or
ten days at Calcutta : and then proceed to Singapore :
in that case I shall probably leave a letter for you by the
January overland mail ; expecting that our stay will
furnish incidents. Sunsets, shark-catching, ship-speak-
ing, and the setting off of charts, constitute the princi-
pal incidents of our voyage from the Cape.
" Ever your affectionate Son,
"SAMTJEL DYER."
"Calcutta, Jan. 7tk, 1842.
"My very dear and honoured Father, We have
been here three weeks : I wrote to you by the last
overland mail, which letter you should receive about
the 8th of February. We expect to re-embark to-mor-
row, and in that case we shall hope to be at Singapore
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 223
about the end of the month. I cannot say that we are
pleased with Calcutta, and yet I can scarcely tell why.
There is certainly much to afford great delight, and yet
there is much to give great pain to the Christian. Oh !
the foul deeds which are perpetrated in this dark dark
land ! deeds which make one feel horrified to think
that human nature can sink so low : deeds, the bare
knowledge of which seems to defile and pollute the
soul and yet I wish friends in Britain knew them,
for then I think they would be all zeal, all fire, all
liberality, if perhaps they might raise human nature
from a state lower than that of the very brutes.
"The state of education among the natives is very
encouraging ; their attainments are considerably above
mediocrity. In Dr. Duff's school of 800 boys I pro-
posed the theorem, ' In a right-angled triangle, the
square of the hypothenuse is equal to the sum of the
squares of the two sides.' This was most readily de-
monstrated in two different ways, the teacher in this
branch being a native. A select class was thoroughly
instructed in nautical astronomy ; the youths could find
the latitude by an altitude of the sun, and the longitude
by lunar observation. They also proved the velocity of
light by. the eclipses of Jupiter's satellites. They were
not less informed on the grand doctrines of the cross,
and they admitted most readily that there was no way
of salvation save by the cross of the Saviour.
" Another school in connection with our own mission
contains 400 boys ; this is also in a prosperous state.
Some of the youths are connected with a temple, which I
went to see. This temple is in every sense a monstrosity
224 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
I know no other name by which to call it. The idol
was a large round black stone ; eyes, nose, and mouth
were hideously portrayed upon it, and a long golden
tongue was superadded which by the way is removed
when the temple is closed, lest it should be stolen. This
temple originally belonged to forty families. These
having increased in numbers, the attendance at the tem-
ple is 'apportioned out among those entitled to conduct
the worship : some have it for a week, some for a day,
some for an hour, and each is entitled to all the profits
accruing during his allotted period. The day I visited
the temple the worshippers were numerous, and the
profits of course large ; however, I learnt one most
interesting fact, the profits are much less than they
used to be a few years ago. And some youths of the
mission-school said, ' We know Christianity is true, we
know idolatry is false ; and we would be Christians, only
there are impediments in the way,' meaning public
opinion among themselves.
" There are at least thirty evangelical ministers of
various denominations in Calcutta : how many were
there thirty years ago ? I was invited to the monthly
missionary breakfast ; there were Presbyterian ministers,
Episcopalians, Baptists, and Independents ; eighteen
ministers met in conference about the best means of
doing good. I never saw such a sight as this in England,
unless at the Tract Society's house ; but there only one
plan was discussed, viz., the tract circulation. But here
good is to be done in any possible way of doing good ;
and a prayer-meeting was held, and two Episcopalian
ministers, one Presbyterian, and one Independent en-
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 225
gaged in prayer. If people want large hearts, let them
come to India, and learn to love all who love our Lord
Jesus Christ. I cannot hut think that such union is
well-pleasing in the sight of Him who prayed, ' That
they all may he owe.'
" I cannot hut think that the day is not far off when
this city will suddenly throw oif the yoke of idolatry.
The people are growing in knowledge ; they are begin-
ning to emulate European arts. The mint is the finest
in the world, worked by natives tinder European super-
intendence. Printing presses, superintended by natives ;
copper-plate engraving equal to British workmanship.
And now that coals are coming forth from the mines,
we may expect a new impulse to the arts. There is a
vast moral machinery at work ; and perhaps we may
yet live to see a nation ' born at once :' at least, my own
faith is strengthened exceedingly by seeing what my
eyes have seen in Calcutta.
" Still, Calcutta, as a place, is not like the Straits ;
there is a something in the social circle in the Straits
unlike anything I have seen here, and our climate is far
preferable. There is also a system of extortion prac-
tised among the natives, which appears to me abomi-
nable. Riding in a palkee, carried by four bearers, I
once made a small purchase in the street ; not having
change, I stopped to procure it at a money-changer's
stall : one of the bearers insisted upon receiving ' cus-
tom' from the seller, and even seized it before he could
get the change into his hand and there was no appeal.
The same bearer followed me into every shop, closely
watched the amount of my purchases, and in every
a
226 MEMOIR OP THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
case demanded his 'custom;' and in one case, not suc-
ceeding, he appealed to me, and so he lost it. If you
send a servant outside your door to pay a man who waits
for his money, your servant demands e custom ;' in fact,
I suppose no payment of any kind is made by a native
without demanding ' custom' : so that if a native makes
a purchase, he demands 'custom* of the seller. This
abominable system has become most grinding and
oppressive ; and a native esteems himself but too happy
if you put the money into his own hands.
. * * * * *
""In going up the river Ganges, my feelings were
incessantly wounded by the shocking scenes to be wit-
nessed ail the way up. When natives die, whose friends
are too poor to procure wood to burn the corpse, the
dead bodies are thrown into the river ; these float up
and down with every tide, and carcasses are constantly
seen floating with vultures perched upon them. But
these dead bodies are cast upon the shore, and then you
see dogs tearing out the entrails, vultures waiting with
the utmost composure, as if they knew from experience
that before all was gone the dogs would have eaten to
repletion and retired: and then crows in great numbers
waited till the vultures had finished their meal. ' All
this takes place perhaps ten yards from a spot where
natives are bathing ; and it seems as though all parties
were well content that thus it should be. And in looking
along the banks of the river, the horrid group is seen on
either side long before you approach it. I went about
four hours' journey, and in that space of time saw five
such scenes on the banks, one in the water, and two sick
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 227
persons brought down to the hanks to die. The day we
landed from the ship, the first object that caught my
eye was a dead body cast upon the shore, which the
boatmen passed with as much indifference as if it were
an object as common as the boats on the river. Re-
member me most kindly and affectionately to Mr. and
Mrs. Stratten."
Such is heathenism. Let Christians ponder. Much
has been done for Bengal : who has done it 1 There is
but one answer the church. Let her arise, and in the
strength of her God complete the conquest !
The next communication from Mr. Dyer is dated at
Singapore. Providence had smiled upon them all the
way ; their health had even improved, their spirits sus-
tained, and they were received by their friends in the
Straits with open, yea, rather by many of them with
thankful, hearts. Under date March 8th, he writes to
his father :
"It is now about ten days since we arrived here,
having touched at Penang and at Malacca, where I was de-
tained some time in order to the settlement of the affairs
of the college. Nothing could have been more kind
than our reception by the brethren at each place, and
it is a source of sweet satisfaction to us that on our
return we should meet with so hearty a welcome.
" I shall hope for another opportunity of addressing
you by this mail ; but lest I should be prevented I
send a few lines to inform you of our safe arrival and
good health. Mr. John Stronach, with whom I have
Q 2
228 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
the happiness to be associated, is a man with whom I
have the most perfect sympathy on every subject."
IJe entered with all his heart into his work at Singa-
pore. Mr. Stronach and he worked together, not only
with the utmost harmony, but with the utmost cordiality
and affection: each sought to assist, to comfort, and
to advance the other in his happiness and labour. It is
in the following strain he writes, referring to a previous
communication :
"Since then we have all enjoyed both health and
comfort : I do not know how to give you a better idea
of our comfort than to mention what Mr. Stronach says
in a letter to a relative, c We are as happy as ever
rather our happiness is increased by the arrival of the
Dyers. Mr. Dyer and I are like the pinions of a watch,
working in, and with, and by each other from day to
day. 5 You may be quite sure that such an expression
of feeling I can most cordially reciprocate. Our sojourn
at Singapore has hitherto been sweetly peaceful ; and
my prayer lies at the Divine footstool, and it has
ascended, so to speak, upon the sacramental altar in
seasons of fervent devotions that no root of bitterness
may spring up and trouble us." He adds, "Since my
arrival, Mr. Stronach and myself have very nearly com-
pleted a comparative vocabulary in two of the dialects
of China. "We have moreover got to the end of the
sixth chapter of my revision of Matthew's Gospel, re-
vising every verse and every clause. The revision of
the thirtieth verse of the sixth chapter cost us nearly
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 229
one hour and a half this day no one can appreciate
the difficulties of translating into an oriental language
hut those who have had to do with it. "We have con-
siderable advantages in this work ; we have two good
teachers, to each of whom the whole is submitted ; we
live next door to each other, and consult together every
day; we have each a good library; to which the other
has free access; Mr. Stronach is a good scholar, and
our views are so similar that we carry on everything
together.
" We visit the bazaar together almost every evening
in the week. We have a little chapel in the town,
where we preach and dispense medicines ; and we have
our hands as full as they can well be. The Chinese
types are not yet fairly under way, as my head man is
dead, and I have the establishment to remodel : but I
am happy to say I have every accommodation for the
work; nothing could be more convenient than the
premises which we occupy.
(< Mr. Grylls, who has served the schools at Penang
very faithfully, is compelled to return home on account
of his health. I shall give him a letter of introduction
to you ; I am sure you will be glad to see him, and to
entertain him the few days of his stay in London. He
leaves in the Alexander Johnson about the middle of
June."
In another letter he says,
"We are now most happily and comfortably settled
at our new station ; so happily that to me it is the ful-
filment of that promise, ' And it shall come to pass
that at eventide it shall be light/ * * * *
230 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
This, after my ' night of toil/ is like the heautiful sun-
shine of a lovely spring." Still he adds,
"And now, my dear father, happy as I am at my
station and in my colleagues, I wish still to think, and
to delight in the thought, ' the time is short' Soon,
our work will he done ; we shall see Him, whom, not
having seen, we love; hut while we are here, let every-
thing hear hut one inscription, 'Holiness to Jehovah,
Lord of hosts !' " And during the short time of life, he
was ever anxious that all should hear a part in his:
chosen work. After he left this country, an institution
was estahlished at Walthamstow, for the education,
of the sons of missionaries ; and in answering a
paragraph in a letter from his father respecting its:
establishment, he says : " The account of the mission-
ary hoys' school was deeply interesting; and nothing
more so than that my dear father is the treasurer. I
would that all the members of our family were mission-
aries that every heart were missionary that every
faculty and every power were missionary and that our
family might be a missionary family. And I love the
man exceedingly who feels it to be a privilege to hew
wood for the missionary cause."
In reference to his type operations he writes, in the
same letter : " My new types get on nicely ; you shall
soon have a specimen. God has prospered me by raising
up a young man who readily learns from me, what I
learnt when in England ; and if my life is spared, and
grace given, I shall yet sing my Non nobis Domine over
the Chinese types of smaller size. You will remember
that this is one-fourth of the size of the larger fount ;
and will condense our books into one-fourth of their
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 231
present bulk. This work has the concurrence and
sanction of my brethren in the mission : my premises
are just suited to my necessities, and nothing is wanted
but time, health, and grace, to complete the work."
He was engaged in other important departments ; hut
I shall quote his own language : " My vocabulary has
undergone a complete revision, additions to the amount
of its present hulk have been made : it is accompanied
by; a translation into another dialect in the Chinese, and
it is now transcribing for the press. Our time is also
partly taken up by translations and revision of the Chinese
Sacred Scriptures." They were cheered in the midst of
their toil with a small band of native converts. Of these
he writes in a pleasing strain. The following short
extract must be the only specimen:
" We have at this station a few native converts, who,
with one exception, seem to walk well. One is a very
talented man, and very docile. We are seeking to turn
his talents to account ; and at present he is composing
a tract with which we are much delighted. For beauty
of composition, interesting style, and general perspicuity,
I am persuaded it has not its equal in the Chinese
language. And the subject being the life of Christ,
we are anxious to get it into the hands of the people.'*
"Yesterday," he adds, "was the anniversary of our
leaving London for Singapore. Oh what a year of
mercies ! How much peace, how much joy, how much
comfort ! It has been one of my brightest years : if it
commenced in tears of separation, it has closed in tears
of gratitude; gratitude, that I am a missionary of the
cross gratitude, that I live only for China gratitude,
232 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
that my head and heart and hands are full. Farewell,
my dear father."
Writing to his dear pastor on this anniversary,
he penned the following letter, which throughout
is in his own peculiar style. Soon after this the
missionaries were called upon to take decisive steps as it
regarded removal into China Proper. He was permitted
only to see the land ; and lay down his life, which he
had not counted dear to him, on the borders of what to
him had all the attractions the land of promise ever had
to an~Israelite. But the letter explains itself:
" Singapore, August, 1842.
" My very dear Friend, To-morrow it will be one
year since we embarked for India. It has been a year
of mercies. The Lord hath 'set my feet in a large
room.' It has come to pass that at ' eventide it is
light.' This has been one of the happiest years of my
life. And I wonder, and am amazed at that infinite
wisdom Avhich has ' led me by a right way/ Even in
seasons of sorrow and darkness I have counted it my
glory and joy to serve the cause of Christ among the
Gentiles : how much more, when liberty, peace, and
gladness surround me on every side !
" You may have heard from my father that God has
given to us another babe, an f Ebenezer,' and Mrs. Dyer
is as well as I have ever known her to be. Our two
elder children are in a very hopeful state of mind ; Miss
Buckland is a very great comfort to us, and thus I am
not called, like many of my dear brethren, to leave my
children far away beyond the sea. I am happily asso-
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 233
dated with a fellow-labourer who loves me ; and I am
sure I love him. "We work together, as he says, like
the pinions of the wheels in a watch. Oh how ungrate-
ful should I be not to sing, 'Bless the Lord, O my
soul! 5
" My friend Mr. Stronach is of the same opinion as
myself, that at present it is most desirable for us to
remain here, rather than proceed to China. We have
full liberty to teach from house to house, and we proclaim
the Lord Jesus all through the town ; which is one of
considerable size. But the people are utterly given to
idolatry, and its insignia meet the eye in every house we
enter. Still we generally have a most attentive hearing ;
sometimes the people are inquisitive, and but rarely rude
and repulsive. We have a small group of native Chris-
tians, four or five in number, and, for the most part,
they afford us comfort ; and as a little church in a heathen
land we enjoy seasons of sweet refreshing, particularly
on our sacramental occasions.
"The very handsome and valuable present of my
Paddington Mends arrived in excellent condition, and,
as a book of reference, it is invaluable to our mission.
With the rest of my books, it is to remain, in perpetuo,
the property of the mission ; and I suppose there may
be no such book on the island besides. Please to give
my most kind love to my very dear Paddington friends.
You cannot tell them how much I love them, but you
can tell them I love them much.
"My hands are full. Translations, preparation of
books, preaching, type-casting, and printing, engage my
attention from day to day. God prospers us in these
various items of labour: but we long, and pray, and
234 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
intensely desire, to see the heathen destroy their idols,
and seek the way to Zion. Oh might I hut see a hon-.
fire of idols, I would sing and leap for joy, and with
good old Simeon almost wish to : he. gone hut no, I
would wish to stay ; yet only that the Lord Jesus might
be, glorified by my humble instrumentality.
"Our very kind love to Mrs. Stratten ; her contribu-
tions upon our departure were most acceptable. Neither
do I forget John ; only I could wish he might be a
missionary of the cross.
" In ardent love to you,
" And very affectionate esteem,
"SAMUEL DYER."
The following extracts from his correspondence at
this time, rather of a miscellaneous character, yet
not more so than the diversified nature of his incessant
occupations, must close all the account that can be given
of his proceedings and operations at Singapore. Some
of them will be found not only interesting, as all mis-
sionary intelligence ought always to he, but instructive
in the highest sense. In everything we see the man of
God in every case the most elevated piety always
the humblest submission the most entire consecration
strong faith and devoted love : this is instruction by
example : " whose faith follow."
"On the subject of Chinese types, a subject deeply
interesting to you, Mr. Medhurst writes, with reference
to some made at Berlin for Mr. Gutzlaff : 'They are
as far inferior to yours, as a clown is to a courtier : yours
have been surpassed by none that I have seen as yet :'
Non nobis Domine. Our small fount progresses very
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 235
satisfactorily: I hope to send a specimen to Mr. Tid-
man in a few days.
"Our Chinese girls' school prospers through the
Divine blessing : we have twenty girls ; they are good
children, give us no trouble, and are making good pro-
gress in an acquaintance with the truths of the Bible.
" Should you see or write to Mrs. W. Suter, please
to tell her that the copy of Maria Monk, which she gave
me, has made an amazing stir all over India. I sent it
to Calcutta, where it was reprinted ; and the sensation
occasioned by it at Calcutta and Madras is most asto-
nishing. In the providence of God a young lady has
been brought to our house, and is now with us, who
was in a convent, who was to have become a nun, but
who has renounced popery, and is now a humble disciple
of Jesus Christ. Her testimony to the hellish nature
of popery is most important. I can sometimes scarcely
believe my own ears, while she tells her simple tale.
Adulteries, murders, lying, gambling, drunkenness,
all going on within the walls of a convent, under the
name of religion many of which things she heard and
saw, and gloried in, and thought them holy. Oh ! were
it not that she is a good girl, a modest girl, a pious
girl, I could not credit the things she [reports as having]
witnessed ; yea, c an.d it is a shame even to speak of the
things which are done of them in secret.'
"We are all enjoying good health but our dear babe ;
he has been very dangerously ill, so that twelve days
since I did not think he would survive the night ; but
God has been very gracious to us, and he is now in
measure restored.
236 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
"My dear friend Mr. Stronach has also been danger-
ously ill ; so that he is now absent from Singapore, and
the work rests on my shoulders. But I expect him
back soon with his health recruited ; and I trust his
valuable life may be long spared a comfort to us, and
a blessing to China.
" Maria's health continues; she is as well as I have ever
known her to be ; what with her school and domestic
charge, and other matters connected with the work, she
has plenty to do.
" Our work goes on as usual. Our account for the
last year shows 244 punches to have been cut ; nearly
all of the smaller size ; but in fact we have not been at
work more than eight months. The foundry is now in
complete operation; and Malay, English, and Chinese
types are cast to the entire satisfaction of all the pai'ties
concerned. Our printing-office now, too, is in some
degree of activity, and doing something towards paying
its own expenses. To this we have now added a small
book-binding establishment ; so that we have the whole
affair pretty complete. Our evening visits to the Chinese
are very interesting, and very encouraging as far as it
respects our opportunities of preaching Christ and him
crucified. The people of Singapore are so far without
excuse, that from day to day we go about from house to
house preaching the Lord Jesus : we have attentive
audiences, although we see not yet the gospel brought
home with power to the heart. Our work has been
hindered by the illness of my dear colleague and that of
our dear babe, but I am happy to say we are all now
once more at work."
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 237
The following extract, will at least, as far as it goes,
gratify one class of readers those who are given to lin-
guistical studies and investigation. It will perhaps show
too that " confusion of tongues" is found by missionaries
to be a very palpable sort of thing in our world and even
the sceptic must see whether it originated at Babel in the
manner represented or not, that as the thing exists that
the manner therefore in which it came into being is very
secondary on the principle of FACT AND TRUTH the
principle by which he would fain persuade us he guides
his inquirers, and for the sake of which he institutes
any investigation at all. If he could deny the existence
of the thing, we might be able to exercise a sufficient
amount of patience to listen to what he might choose
to say about or against the account given of the origin
of this confusion. The Bible and the condition of the
world exhibit the most entire coincidence. Theories
adverse to the claims of the former, can therefore have
no weight in the face of that fact :
" Since my last, Mr. Stronach and myself have made
an attempt at the Hok-chiii dialect; Hok-chiu (or
Fuh-chiu) is, you will remember, one of the five ports
open to English traders. This dialect is totally different
from all ,the others with which we are acquainted, and I
believe has never yet been attempted by any European.
I have often explained to you that the dialects are
usually twofold a written dialect and a colloquial.
But in Hok-chiu, the colloquial is also twofold. Just
suppose the English
two-pence, , five-pence, , half-penny
tup-pence, fip-pence, na ha-penny,
and then apply the principle generally, thus :
238 MEMOIR, OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
How many months' voyage is it to England ?
How -ny unths' vege -sit England?
The same men will speak both ways in the space .of a
minute, and not be conscious of two different ways of
saying the same thing. This makes the acquisition of
the dialect extremely difficult. Moreover, there are no
less than seven different sounds of the vowel u, which
we are obliged to write in as many different ways;
thus :
" u the full u, as in rule.
" u the shorter u, as in bull.
" u the very short u, as in tun, gun.
" u (small) the faintest possible sound of u, as in
attempting to pronounce the word son (s'n)
without any vowel.
" li the u of the Scotch guid, (good.)
" u the same, but more open.
" ii the French u, as in I'une.
"As far as we can learn at present, there are few
people at Hole-chid who speak the dialects with which
we are familiar; this, if true, presents an almost insupe-
rable difficulty to our going there, as we should not like
to throw away what acquirements we possess. How-
ever, we expect to obtain further information when we
visit Hong Kong ; and in the meanwhile we hold our-
selves quite in doubt as to our future destination."
The above account of this singular dialect is to be
taken with due allowance for first impressions. Abso-
lute correctness will not be looked for. Such are some of
the general features of this hitherto "unknown tongue."
" You will be somewhat amused at an experiment we
have been -making lately. In casting types, you will
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 239
observe two feet upon which the type stands ; these are
given in the casting and by the mould. We do not
touch these feet in dressing the type, lest we should
alter the mathematical precision of the mould ; now
Mr. Medhurst has some types from Germany, which
are the tenth of an inch too high, consequently it was
required to cut the feet shorter. A Chinese pewterer
could not do this, neither could an European type-caster ;
but by combining the two professions into one, we can
now perform an operation I believe hitherto unknown.
I do not know that I should have mentioned this ; but
I remember what a deep end lively interest you take in
everything that relates to Chinese type-making, and all
the processes connected with it.
"June 12, (1843.) I have this day buried my poor
dear friend, of whom I think I wrote to you. Yester-
day morning about half-past four his bell rang, and I
went to his room : he was sitting up in the bed with
his servant, and he said to me, ' I am dying, sir : O
Lord Jesus ' He said scarcely anything afterward,
but lingered till nine in the morning, when he just
ceased to breathe. He had been with us about three
months, but from the time he came I knew he would
die in ,our house. Consumption wasted his frame, so
that at the last he seemed literally but skin and bone.
He came here without a friend, but he found out the
disciples of Jesus ; they recognized in him a fellow-
disciple, and they administered to him comfort to the
utmost of their power ; and we have thus been per-
mitted to give a cup of water in the name of a disciple.
Our heavenly Father has taken care to reimburse us, so
240 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
that we are not losers by contributing to the necessities
of our dear brother in Christ ; and I trust we are all
stimulated to follow; him who through faith and patience
has now inherited the promises."
The following lengthened extract is given because it
is a half-yearly report of the proceedings of the mis-
sionaries, drawn up by Mr. Dyer; and on that account it
seemed entitled to a prominence, as a specimen of their
correspondence with the Society; and it brings fully
that field of labour before the reader, as well as the
kind and amount of culture bestowed upon it :
" I have to address you on the progress of the work
at this station. Since my arrival here . . . I have
been permitted, in conjunction with my dear brethren,
to pursue uninterruptedly various plans for the ad-
vancement of the Redeemer's kingdom.
yf *[ ffZ ^- j& , ifi
ei I was happy on my arrival here in being able to
rent the mission-house belonging to the ' American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.' As
it stands close to the Society's house, and as that ad-
joins the house rented by Mr. Stronach, we are all near
to each other a circumstance that contributes much to
our comfort. Having procured the loan of the blocks
belonging to our American brethren, and having a grant
of dS50 from the Religious Tract Society, we have
printed the following tracts, 1,000 Milne's Two Friends
1,050 Medhurst's Commentary on the Ten. Command-
ments, 1,500 Miracles of Christ. Of books previously
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 241
in store, we have distributed 251 1, partly in our annual
visit to the Chinese junks, about 100 in number, and
partly in our evening visits from House to house. Our
plan is, as you are already aware, to go regularly through
the bazaars until we have made the entire circuit of the
town, visiting three or four families each evening, and en-
gaging them in conversation on the subject of religion.
These visits afford us constant opportunities of preach-
ing the word from house to house. On Friday evening,
we have a more orderly service in a room in the midst
of the bazaar ; this service is in Hok-keen, and Mr.
Stronach and I take it alternately. The congregations
are very fair, and at the close of the service we dis-
pense ointments to the afflicted members of the con-
gregation ; the Chinese poor being greatly troubled with
ulcers. In these ways we are sure that much of the
knowledge of Christianity is spread abroad among the
people the precious seed is extensively sown; and most
intensely do we long for the quickening influences of the
blessed Spirit to quicken it into life. As we have the
most unrestrained intercourse with the people, we find
our visits to them 'to be very pleasant ; and often we
return from them with joy that we have been permitted
to publish so freely the tidings of salvation, and the ac-
ceptable year of the Lord. The cases where we meet
with anything like rudeness are extremely rare, and
instances of cordiality and kindness are frequent ; and
the inquiry often is, why so long a time has elapsed
since our last visit.
" Our Tie"-chiu Christian teacher continues to give us
much comfort ; we have every reason to believe that
R
242 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
his heart arid life are under the influence of the gospel
He has heen very usefully employed during his leisure
hours in compiling a Life of Christ : this is a produc-r
tion highly creditahle to his talents, and one that pro-
mises to he very interesting to the reader. Of course
it will he subjected to the most rigid examination ; hut
however we may improve the sentiments and thoughts
of the tract, we can never improve the style and execu-
tion. He is a man of more than ordinary mind, and
possesses talents which would render him an acquisition
to any of our Chinese stations ; hut in case of our here-
after settling on the coast of China, his services will be
invaluable.
"As Mr. Stronach and I have heen associated in
study, as well as in the work generally, we have pur-
sued our plans conjointly. We have been doing much
to illustrate the colloquial dialects, particularly the Tie-
chiu, and what is usually called the Hok-keen. While
much has been done by others to teach the general
language of the empire, the colloquials have been too
much neglected ; and yet these are the dialects in which
preaching and vwd-voce instruction must be carried on.
With this view we have compiled a comparative vocabu-
lary of the two dialects above mentioned at least we
have provided the materials ; and the final arrangement
of these is in a state of considerable forwardness. As
a supplement to this vocabulary, we have prepared
various translations of minor pieces into the same dia-
lects, all adapted to facilitate the acquisition of them-
aids for which we should have been very thankful in
pur time had we possessed them. In this work we
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. - 243
have been guided by two fundamental principles. First,
While studying the language ourselves, it is well to put
our attainments in a tangible form for the use of those
that come after us, Secondly, In making this difficult
language easier of acquisition, we render important aid
to the holy cause to which we have devoted our lives.
" Another object, of our attention has been the revi-
sion of the Chinese Scriptures. "We have also various
religious services through the week; such as the Bible-
class for the Chinese converts and others, a short ser-
vice on sabbath morning, and a prayer-meeting on
Wednesday evening for the benefit of the mission
families ; besides our monthly season of communion,
when Malays, Chinese, and English unite to celebrate
the wonders of redeeming love, by partaking of the
Lord's supper. These, with the monthly missionary
prayer-meeting, are the stated services in which we each
sustain our part,
" At the suggestion 1 of Dr. Legge, the Malacca press
has been removed to this station he will doubtless
explain his reasons for the removal ; and as we could
receive the establishment without incurring any expense '
for printing-office, warehouse-room, &c., (as I occupy
the American mission-house,) we readily consented to
take charge of the same ; and we shall hope to report
in due time, the work which the press has been made
to do : we have not yet had charge of it a month.
" The progress of the Chinese types is very satisfac-
tory. On my arrival in the Straits I found the work-
men dispersed, and the head man was dead j so that the
process of teaching the art of type-casting was to be
R 2
244 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
commenced de novo. This occasioned the delay of a
few months ; but during the last three months we have
advanced steadily and uninterruptedly. We are now
cutting ahout forty punches of the smaller size per
mensem ; and the matrices are made upon a new prin-
ciple, far more convenient than the matrices of the
larger fount. With respect to the larger fount, we
carried on the work till within two days of my embark-
ing for England in May, 1839 ; and we continued the
same as soon as we were in a position to re-commence ;
so that you will perceive there has been no unnecessary
delay. We have likewise succeeded in establishing a
Chinese female boarding-school, and my premises are
sufficiently commodious to admit of the children resid-
ing in our compound. The school contains nineteen
children, whose parents have all agreed to let us have
them for different periods of time. Mrs. Stronach,
Mrs. Dyer, and Miss Bucklaiid each take part in the
instruction of the children ; and a considerable amount
of religious knowledge is daily poured into their minds.
I ought by no means to omit to mention that Miss
Bucldand is a very great acquisition to our family :
amiable, gentle, and pious, she fully comes up to my
wishes and expectations, expressed to you before I left
London.
" With respect to the actual progress of the truth,
we see nothing at present. very cheering, yet we are
certain that the minds of multitudes are brought in
contact with the truth we are certain that sufficient
light has been reflected into many minds to convince
them of the folly of idolatry, and the benevolence of
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 245
the gospel ; and we have never ceased to proclaim from
house to house, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy
of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save the chief of sinners.' The present state of
affairs with China opens the question, ' What do the
Directors wish us to do ?' I acknowledge myself fore-
stalled a whole year, and I believe no one expected such
news from China for twelve months to come. Well;
now China is open to the efforts of the church, what
are we to do ?
"The resolution of the Directors removing me to
Singapore, leads me to suppose that we are now to
advance : and we deem it our duty to hold ourselves in
readiness to do so. The papers will inform you that
five ports on the coast of China are open to missionaries ;
viz., Canton, Amoy, Fuh-eheu, Shang-hae, and Ning-po.
With us Canton is quite out of the question, on account
of the dialect. At Amoy, the missionaries of three
American Boards have already settled. Of the remain-
ing three places, Shang-hae is the place which would
suit us best, as respects the dialect there spoken ; nor
should we object to Fuh-cheu, in the province of Hok-
keen; yet there we should have to acquire another,
though a kindred dialect: of Ning-po, we have less
information. We are decidedly of opinion, that the
reasons which led to the establishment of Chinese
missions in the Archipelago, exist no longer ; the time is
come when every Chinese missionary must feel that he
ought to be in China. The period has arrived for which
the church has prayed, and which missionaries have
longed to see : the period when they might locate them-
selves in China Proper. Christians in England were
246 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER. :
wont to exclaim, e Oh that China were open ! ' and very
pften I have attempted to explain to our churches, that
when in the providence of God the time should arrive,
their responsibility will be great indeed ; the respon-
sibility of embracing the openings of God's providence.
Now, God has granted our petitions ; missionaries are
on the confines of China, burning with zeal to enter in ;
in this position we write to the churches and ask,
c Shall we enter ?' will you hold up our hands, as did
Aaron and Hur the hands of Moses ? "Will you send us
more men? Will you aid the Society by enlarged
pecuniary contributions ? Do you indeed bid us go
forward ? We only wait your signal, conveyed to us
through the Directors of the Society j if you exclaim,
1 Only be strong and of good courage, and the Lord yo.ur
God will give you the land ;' then we advance* And
while on the one hand we observe the pillar of fire and
of a cloud going before us, and on the other hand per-
ceive the church ready to follow where it leads, most
cheerfully, most exultingly, do we go to take possession
of the land which the Lord our God hath given to his
well-beloved Son for a possession. Well do I remember
the time when I thought that if I might but see the d^y
of Negro emancipation, I could be content to depart and
to be with Christ. I saw it, and it was a Jubilee. Then
I thought, oh, if I might but see China opened ! I
should certainly sing ' nunc dimittis' I see it ; this is
the day ; China is opened, and we shall see yet greater
things than these. The manner in which it has been
brought about, constrains .us to acknowledge, . ' This is
the finger of God.' And ,the prayers of the church
would seem to have been insincere, if the present glorious
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH;
247
opportunity should not be embraced to the very utmost.
But in this world, our very joys need chastening ; and
while We are exhilarating in glad tidings from China,
our mission family have been thrown into affliction.
My dear friend, and much-loved brother, Mr. J.
Stronach, has had a serious attack of illness. After a
week or two he began to rally, but then suffered a relapse *
The consequence is, he is compelled to take a trip to
Penang, hoping to derive benefit from a residence upon
the Hill. This is to us a great trial. Knit together in
love, united in study, in public exercises, and in all our
plans, we must now separate for a season, and I must
be lonely in my work. But our Father in heaven is in-
finitely wise ; and we are never more happy than when
we can say, ' My meat is to do the will of my heavenly
Father.' Mr. Stronach is now much better, and embarks
for Penang in a day or two."
It is not necessary to detain the reader with any
account of the Chinese WAR nor the traffic in OPIUM
one of the vilest that has ever polluted human hands-
as these matters must be well known ; but we may stop
a moment to recognise the inscrutability of Divine Pro-
vidence in bringing so much good apparently out of that
unmixed iniquity ! Here a third of the human family,
which despotism and exclusive national policy had shut
out from the remainder of their race from time almost
immemorial, was brought into partial contact and fellow-
ship with their brethren of other nations and distant
lands this cannot but prove advantageous to the Chi-
nese themselves in ways that cannot and need not be
enumerated here. To us, in many respects, a new world
on the same earth was opened ; other phases of our com-
248 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER,
mon nature were brought into view, so that the province
of knowledge, the domain of philosophy, science, and
literature, was, in many important departments, widened ;
this cannot hut tend to correct any misconceptions into
which we had fallen respecting that nature, and cannot
but prepare us for that extended fellowship the fellow-
ship "of all nations," which the brotherhood of the
gospel will secure in its holiest and most advanta-
geous form. Above all, therefore, " a great door and
effectual" was opened to the heralds of salvation to go
and " proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening
of the prison to them that are bound," all this, and
much more was brought about by an agency which must
be characterised not only as "earthly, sensual," but
" devilish." Out " of confusion and every evil work" did
this GOOD to the empire of China arise ! Let then the
church of Christ arise and shake herself from the dust
at the call thus addressed to her to " awake and put on
her strength" to meet the exigency of the case the
necessities of this new but dying world !
In these circumstances the body of missionaries to
r which Mr. Dyer belonged and the Society with which
they stood connected, felt that it was of the utmost im-
portance that all the labourers then in the field should
meet in conference at Hong-Kong. Mr. Dyer repaired
thither, but to return no more ! He left Singapore in
company with his beloved colleague, Mr. J. Stronach, on
the 18th of July, 1843, and reached his destination on
the 7th of the following month.
CHINA OPENED! This not only begins a new
epoch in the history of that empire, and in the social
relations and mutual intercourse of the world, but
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 249
it marks a new era in the operations and history of the
Protestant mission to that people. It is impossible yet
to say what the ultimate results of this altered state of
things will he ; but changes of a decided character in the
opinions, habits, and in the civil and social condition of
that remarkable race, will undoubtedly be among the
consequences of that OPENING. This therefore was a
critical juncture. To act wisely then was a point of
vital moment ! Many most important topics were to be
brought before the missionaries, when they met, for
discussion, arrangement, and final settlement. THE
SACRED SCRIPTURES and PUBLICATIONS ; the ANGLO-
CHINESE COLLEGE andEDUCATioN; PRINTINGPRESSES
and FUTURE MISSIONARY STATIONS ; THE ALLOCATION
OF THEMSELVES and NATIVE AGENTS ; and many kin-
dred and associated matters were among the topics that
required much deliberation and wise adjustment. The
brethren when assembled in conference, appointed Mr.
Dyer as their secretary. In this they displayed much
wisdom ; for his knowledge on every topic to be discussed
was extensive and accurate, and in case of a diversity of
opinion he was a man of peace, and he was moreover a
man of incessant application, so that nothing would be
left unrecorded nor imperfectly done. This however
entailed on him most onerous duties. Not only was it
necessary that he should be present at every session of
the conference, but it necessarily imposed upon him many
duties in transcribing resolutions and minutes, and in
condensing discussions and deliberations for the purpose
of transmitting them home to the Society, from which
the other members of the conference would be free.
250 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
Whether this had any influence in predisposing him
to an attack of the fever raging then, and still, at
Hong-Kong, it is perhaps impossible now to say; The
seeds of the disease that carried him off were undoubt-
edly lodged in his constitution on that barren but
FATAL rock : but submission, implicit and full, to infi-
nite wisdom and goodness, is not only a duty but a pri-
vilege we will therefore leave the discussion of its
healthiness, its value or its barrenness to those to whom
it may belong, to follow our dear friend through the valley
of the shadow of death, to that happy region, where
there is neither disappointment, disease, nor death !
The following extracts will supply all the information
that can be obtained respecting his last days on earth,
and his happy entrance into the joy of his Lord :
" The melancholy task devolves on us," write the Revs.
A. and J. Stronach to the Secretaries of the London
Missionary Society, " of communicating to you intelli-
gence of the death of our highly esteemed and much-
loved brother, the Rev. Samuel Dyer. This most
aiflictive event took place at Macao, on Tuesday, the
24th of Oct. last, [1843.] Upwards of a month pre-
vious to this unlooked-for termination of our brother's
labours, and while he was residing at Canton, he had a
severe attack of fever a disease which you are aware
was raging extensively at Hong-Kong, during the time
we were .holding our meetings there. Medical opinion
intimated it was probable that he had brought to Canton
the seeds of the fever in his system ; which in all like-
lihood had been introduced into it in consequence of
exposure to the sun while residing at Hong-Kong. How-
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH! 251
ever this may be, the fever reduced him very low ; and
though by the 9th of Oct. he had, through the blessing
of God on the kind and unremitting attention and me-
dical skill of Dr. Parker, become so far convalescent as
to justify his removal on board ship, with a view to his
return to the Straits, he still continued very weak,
and seemed to make but slow progress towards complete
recovery. At this however we did not feel much
alarmed, especially as medical advice authorized us to
anticipate this, but that sea air would speedily restore
the dear invalid to his former health. Our vessel stopped
on its way at Hong-Kong, and the intercourse he had
during our four days' stay there with the brethren who
came to visit him on board ship, (for he did not go
ashore,) was felt by our dear brother to be perhaps too
exciting in his weak state. For a day or two after our
arrival at Macao, however, (where the vessel again an-
chored to take in cargo,) we continued to entertain hopes
that all would still go well with him ; but on the even-
ing of the 19th of Oct., a burning fever once more
attacked him : and it was evidently our duty to have
him brought on shore, in order that he might receive
medical assistance. The kind attendance of Dr. Young
was immediately obtained, and a course of medicine
begun ; but the following evening a low species of deli-
rium came on, which continued with but a short interval
during the four remaining days of his life. The medi-
cal treatment adopted had -no eifect in checking the
disease ; and it became our melancholy duty to endeavour
to reconcile our minds to the thought that he, from
whose efforts in the new sphere of labour soon to be
252 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
opened up in China we expected so much, would be
speedily transferred from the scene of trial to that of
enjoyment. And we found this no easy matter. Our
hearts clung to our brother. Intensely did we desire
and pray for his recovery and his restoration to his be-
loved family and to the missionary field.
"In regard to his spiritual condition we felt no
solicitude ; we had the utmost confidence in his piety
and devotedness. An intimate intercourse and long
acquaintance with him had produced the strongest
conviction in our minds that he was safe for eternity.
When his delirium left him for a little and allowed
his mind free play, it exhibited the most unequi-
vocal evidences of love to the Saviour and delight in
the prospect of meeting him. Even when reason forr
sook her seat, his language showed his fervent reliance
on the righteousness of Christ, and his longings that
others also might place all their confidence in him.
" His dying experience was not of the rapturous or
overpowering kind. His disease had laid a powerful
hold on his bodily frame, and, as is often the case, he
experienced a corresponding depression of spirits. He
had from the first a strong conviction that he would
sink under the attack a conviction which was doubtless
produced by the strength of the disease. His depres-
sion of spirit was not in any degree the result of doubts
as to his acceptance with God, or of the attacks of his
spiritual adversaries. His hopes of heaven, if they
were not highly wrought or glowing, were at least un-
wavering. One night, when the disease lay very heavy
on him, he employed himself during the hours of dark-
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 253
ness in thinking on all those whom, as he felt quite
certain at the time, he would very soon meet in heaven;
and his entrance into it seemed so close at hand that, (as
he told us when he rallied a little,) he felt quite disap-
pointed when he found himself in the morning, still in
this world. Towards the termination of his illness, his
mind wandered a good deal, and reason was evidently,
possessed of hut partial sway ; hut the nature of his
feelings and views on religious subjects could not even
then be hid. The night before he died, while sleeping
in the apartment next to that in which he lay, I was
awakened by the sound of his voice, which he raised
to the pitch necessary to be heard by the assembly
which he evidently thought he was addressing. He
spoke in feeling language of the happiness of the
Christian, in having for his God such a glorious being
as the Scriptures display to us. Then, as if concluding
his address, he exhorted his hearers to betake them-
selves for pardon and peace to the Saviour of sinners,
and seek in him a righteousness which they never had,
or could have, of their own ; and when they came to
die, they would be admitted into the blessed assembly
of those who are for ever engaged in ascribing ' salva-
tion, and honour, and glory, and power to him who
sitteth on the throne and to the Lamb ! ' Though filled
with the saddest forebodings as to the result of a dis-
ease in which delirium had arrived at so great a height,
I felt a thrilling sensation of mingled awe and delight
when hearing language so strongly indicative of the
satisfaction derived by the sufferer from the pure truths
of the Bible. A few hours before his death, I told him
254 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
he would in all probability be soon called away from us ;
and although his mind did not" feel so much alive to
the communication as it would have done had it been
unaffected by disease, yet he evidently understood what
I said, and asked me to pray with him. In the prayer
he heartily joined, and with much both of intelligence
and feeling, continued in the exercise when I had
finished. * Blessed Jesus ! Sweet Saviour ! I go to be
with him who died for me. Though very weak and
. very sinful, his grace is sufficient for me, and I shall
soon be happy.' Such were his frequent exclamations,
serving to mark out most distinctly to the deeply
affected bystanders, that they were beside the death-bed
of a Christian. His latter end was emphatically peace ;
no doubts or. anxieties racked his mind ; pain was not
allowed to torment his bodily frame ; but calmly, and
without a struggle he breathed his spirit into the hands
of his God and Saviour ! And how blessed was the
exchange he made ! how enrapturing his emotions when
freed from his mortal prison-house, and carried by
angels into the presence of the Divine Redeemer ! If
we feel it so inspiriting to follow him in imagination into
the boundless bliss of heaven, how infinitely greater his
happiness who actually enjoys what we. so faintly con-
ceive !
"We have need of all the comforts which these
thoughts bring to our minds. We have lost an in-
valuable fellow-labourer. He who was privileged to be
his colleague in the mission at Singapore [Mr. J. Stro-
nach] feels deeply this loss. Long has he had the
sweetest fellowship with the dear departed : their views
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 255
of missionary work were exactly alike : they laboured
together with undisturbed harmony : they visited and
preached to the heathen in company, and breathed to
each other their earnest aspirations after more extensive
usefulness in some important part of the Chinese em-
pire. They had formed plans of study and of effort in
concert, which many long years were necessary to bring
into operation ; and they exulted in the prospect of the
ever-increasing enjoyment which would result from their
union. But God did not so order it and the survivor
feels the stroke a most severe one.
" To all appearance, too, the cause itself has suffered
a heavy blow. Our lamented brother was engaged in a
series of operations which only he was qualified to carry
out. A mass of experience had been acquired by him,
in regard to Chinese type-founding, which no one (and
the thought lay heavy on his heart during his illness)
was ready to carry into effect after" his removal. *
* * * Yhe dispensation thus assumes a very
mysterious aspect ; but we dare not for a moment doubt
the wisdom of Him who has inflicted the stroke he
is infinite in resources, and there is no searching of his
understanding. We therefore seek to realize the feeling
which he has enjoined on us, f Be still, and know that
I am God! 5
" The funeral, as is usual in these climates, took place
on the evening of the day on which our dear brother
was taken from us, and both of us took part in the
service. His grave is situated in immediate proximity
to those of Dr. Morrison, the Doctor's first wife, and
of his much-lamented son. The spot is a beautiful one,
256 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
and must excite feelings of no ordinary kind in every
pious visitor. Those whose entombed remains await
there, the trump of the archangel, were influenced by
a kindred spirit ; and doubtless they are even now
rejoicing in sweet fellowship around the throne of God
and the Lamb !"
To the Christian philanthropist few spots on earth
can have greater attractions among the monuments of
the mighty dead, than that where rest till the resur-
rection morn the remains of Morrison not only an
honour to our race, but to the best, the sanctified portion
of it, the church of the living God : where rest too
the remains of the first partner of his toil and mis-
sionary anxieties, the mother of his amiable and ta-
lented son John Robert : where rest also the remains
of that son himself: and now' must be added to that
honourable group the remains of SAMUEL DYER.
They are together there,- -and their mortal remains are
under the custody of our Redeemer and God, till they
rise again to meet their Lord in the air : but they are
together, too, before the throne of GOD and the LAMB !
Happy they ! happy in their life ! happy in their la-
bour ! happy in their death ! happy in their God ! and
happy in heaven THE JOY OF THEIR LORD ! Happy
group !
" Sweet is the savour of their names,
And soft their sleeping bed" the richest spot
in precious treasures within the confines of the CELES-
TIAL, EMPIRE !
" Mr. Dyer was well known as a most amiable, humble,
and devoted Christian, and as a most laborious and
VICISSITUDES AND DEATH. 257
zealous missionary. He left England and came to the
Straits in the year 1827 ; and during the sixteen years
which have elapsed since, (with the exception of the
time occupied by a visit to England) first at Penang,
then at Malacca, and last of all at Singapore, he exerted
himself for the furtherance of the Gospel among the
Chinese inhabitants of the three settlements. Not con-
tented with the usual course of missionary effort, he
applied himself to the compilation of vocabularies of the
Chinese language, to the illustration, in various ways/
of difficult points in that language, but principally to
the construction of punches and matrices for the casting
of two founts of Chinese type, a larger and a smaller.
It was to this last important object that he devoted him-
self with peculiar energy and success. A great propor-
tion of those Chinese characters which are most usually
met with in the classics and other generally read works
have been cast from punches and matrices prepared by
Mr. Dyer j and founts of this larger size of type have
been sent to various mission stations, and have been
universally admitted to be the most correct and the best
adapted to Chinese taste of any that have ever been
prepared. During the last eighteen months constant
additions have been made to these ; and a new fount of a
smaller size commenced and proceeded with, and the
appearance of these is equally beautiful with the larger.
He had accumulated a great mass of experience in regard
to this department, in the acquirement of which he
showed no small ingenuity, and devoted much manual
labour. In carrying on these efforts he was greatly
assisted by pecuniary contributions from those who took
258 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
an interest in the work ; but he also contributed largely
himself out of his own private funds. When, in ad-
dition to this, it is mentioned that he had constantly the
superintendence of a pretty extensive printing and bind-
ing establishment, and also of a foundry in which founts
of Siamese, Malay, and English, as well as of Chinese
types, were cast, it will be readily admitted that his life
was far from being either an idle or a useless one. These
pperations were conducted with the greatest regularity
and order ; and multifarious as they were, they did not
hinder him from engaging in direct missionary labours ;
and his very accurate knowledge of the Colloquial
Dialect which prevails most in the Straits, (the Hok-
kien, or Fuh-kien,) enabled him to communicate to the
heathen mind those truths of the Gospel on which he
placed his own hopes of salvation. His loss will be
severely felt not only by the mission here, and by the
Society with which he was connected, but by the Chris-
tian public at large ; especially when we take into
account the wide field now opening in the mighty
empire of China." Extracted from the "Singapore
Free Press" '
CHAPTER VII.
CHARACTER.
Fre-requisites for missionary labours, Mr. Dyer's views of: Mental concen-
tration : General acquirements : Languages : Humility : Love ; as a
son, brother, husband, father, and friend : Sympathy : Defects : Rare
combinations ; Scholastic taste with mechanical genius ; Ample acquisi-
tions, with complete and unimpaired humility ; Perseverance in the higher
departments of mental pursuits, with aptness to attend to minor affairs :
Rev. J. Stronach's view of Mr. Dyer's character : Rev. J. Stratten's.
Devotedness : Useful lesson taught.
A DEEP sense of obligation to God to employ his
energies and talents in that service in which the highest
amount of usefulness could be secured, was as we have
seen the sole motive that led Mr. Dyer to consecrate
his life to the missionary cause. For this work he had
a mind, both in its powers and affections, remarkably well
fitted. " He was truly," writes one of his brethren in
the mission, " a good man, and a worthy model for all
missionaries in his simple, sincere piety, fervent zeal,
humility, meekness, and love." If it were asked,
what excellency gave its character to all he was as a
man, and all he did as a member of the human
family, there could be no hesitation as to the
answer BENEVOLENCE ; indeed, without a large pre-r
dominance of this mental disposition, no one, except in
some minor department, will make an efficient mission-
ary. In discharging the duties of his choice, Mr.
Dyer's conviction from the first was, that nothing could
s 2
260 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
sustain him but the power of the Lord sanctified bene-
volence was indispensable. This was his abiding impres-
sion ; and his conviction on this subject gained strength
every year of his life : for his experience, as well as his
sentiments, taught him that the missionary ought to be
a spiritual man, for his work is in every view of it
pre-eminently a spiritual undertaking.
Personal piety, therefore, deep and commanding,
glowing into ardent, apostolic zeal he regarded always
as an essential pre-requisite for this holy service:
essential, not only as a matter of sentiment, but essen-
tial to himself; so that all was personal and practical with
him. This, however, although the foundation 'of the
missionary character, did not, in his view, constitute all
the necessary, much less all the desirable, qualifications
for the duties of this sacred calling. Every page of this
volume bears its testimony to the fact, that he thought
and felt, that a sound mind, a well-balanced judg-
ment, and all the powers requisite to act upon others and
to form and prosecute wise plans, much and varied
learning, the power of constant and unremitting appli-
cation, knowledge of the human heart, and dexterity in
turning everything to profitable and Christian account,
Were qualities necessary for the labours of every day.
Equally obvious has it been, that he possessed these
requirements, as well as a large measure of the meek-
ness and gentleness of Christ, in no ordinary degree.
He possessed the power of mental concentration
beyond most men of studious habits. Indeed, Mr,
Dyer, when a child, was attentive and thoughtful was a
studious school-boy : and when he left school, was given
CHARACTER.
261
to reflection and books. His mind was always at work :
it worked after the manner of a perfect chronometer ;
it lost nothing ; its movement was steady, regular, and
sure. "When he went to Cambridge, he found himself
therefore equal to all his studies, and more successful
than most of his companions. We have seen with what
energy he entered on the duties of his college ; and he
thought that the exercises of the class were more fitted
for boys at school than for young men at the University.
But then it is possible that he measured ,the capabili-
ties, acquirements,. and application of his class-mates by
his own ; so that the readings or prelections of the class-
rooms may have been more adapted to the majorityjhan
he ; supposed. .Yet, from the confident manner in which
he used to speak, there is ground to believe that there
was an unhappy degree of feebleness in conducting the
classes at Trinity-hall during his residence at Cambridge.
If while there he had selected and afterwards pursued
any one branch of science or literature, he would un-
doubtedly have excelled and acquired to himself a name ;
but happily he chose the name, and pursued the duties
of a missionary a nobler name and nobler duties than
the sons of science can confer or prosecute. He was
equal to anything that regular application could accom-
plish. Nothing distracted him : he pursued with quiet-
ness and regularity the line of thought he had set
before himself. Often have I heard those who knew
him express their astonishment at the amount of the
control he could exercise over himself. This will
account for the fact, that while there is an apparent
aptitude in some minds for specific pursuits ; such
262 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
as in some for mathematical, in others for philolo-
gical investigations, and in others for natural science,
or some other mental labour, Mr. Dyer appeared to
feel no difference : nothing seemed a drudgery to him.
He had hi& taste, and it was for languages ; much
therefore of the secret of this versatility was to be
found in his power of concentration. He could gather
up the whole strength of his mind for the object then
under consideration. His mind, however, did not seem
to be as rapid in its movements as that of many ; its
speed nevertheless was not inconsiderable, of this the
amount of his labours is a proof; but it was as uniform
and regular as the flow of time : and as his labours were
portioned out in precise allotments for the hours of the
day, he regulated all his movements by his time-piece.
Hence his success at Cambridge, as well as elsewhere ;
and had he remained there he saw that he would have
won the golden honours of his college, and would have,
in due time, risen into notice in the University. Such
were his flattering prospects prospects secured to him
by this power of mind. However attractive at first he
may have/eZ all this to be, when his eyes opened fully
on the spiritual world and the glory of the missionary
enterprise, he abandoned its contemplation to behold
the glory that excelleth ; and as he turned to the pros-
pect of a world redeemed by the instrumentality of the
church, he saw attractions enough to keep all the powers
of his soul fixed on the objects thus brought before
him and fixed they continued to be to the close of his
useful life. Then the power of abstraction and con-
centration was to him of the highest value ; it enabled
CHARACTER. 263
\
him to command a complete view of the great theme,
and so to prepare himself for his toil. He saw its
magnitude, and was overwhelmed : but he saw, too, in
the God of missions and in the Saviour of the world,
strength and grace enough to sustain the weakest in-
strument ; and he arose, and went forth in the strength
of the MIGHTY ONE of Israel.. This power was in
every sense the means of immense spiritual advantage
to him; for "with all his soul" he rested on God-
his entire soul was concentrated on HIM. JEHOVAH,
the revealed God of the Bible, was his stay.
His acquirements, in every department of study to
which he had ever directed his attention, were respect-
able. Yet his great humility and extreme diffidence
led him to think sincerely that he knew almost nothing
on any subject unless he had complete mastery of it :
and even then he spoke of his own knowledge in the
mdst measured terms. In the lower departments of
mathematics he was much at home. On natural science
in general he had collected much information. In the
technicalities of metaphysical systems I have no evi-
dence to show that he was at all versed; nevertheless,
his perception of moral relationships was assuredly strong
and keen, and his views of our mental powers and sus-
ceptibilities were clear and well-defined. He might
therefore have been a mental philosopher if he had
chosen to pursue the study of that science. Languages,
as stated before, had however the greatest attraction
for him : with those of the sacred Scriptures he was
critically acquainted. He read Latin with ease, and I
believe spoke French ; but, for want of practice, not with
284 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
much fluency. The Chinese, for all the purposes re-
quired hy the Christian missionary, he had thoroughly
mastered. Of the spoken language of the province of
Hok-kien his knowledge, whether in amount or accuracy,
was inferior to that of no one living ; his voice had just
the flexibility required to give full effect to all the into-
nations, as well as his mind all the aptitude for the
entire philosophy of that intricate medium of exchang-
ing thought, whether by means of the living voice,
the. pen, or the press. His ce Treatise on the Hok-
kien Tones" will prove the former, and his "Philolo-
gical Observations on Select Chinese Characters," in
a periodical published at Malacca during his residence
there, will prove the latter, assertion though only
specimens of his knowledge in each department. In
the perception of the niceties and the idioms of the
written, the rhythm and peculiarity of the spoken
language, he approximated nearer to a well-educated
native than almost any European who has acquired the
Chinese. His assistance in the Revision or re-trans-
lation of the Scriptures would therefore have been,
just as his services as a preacher of the everlasting
gospel were, invaluable. He had succeeded to admira-
tion in looking at everything with the mind and the eye
of a genuine Chinaman. Hence his language was so
pure, and his accuracy of utterance so great, that natives
looked upon him as a prodigy : hence, too, his steel
punches are so truly "celestial" that Pauthier's and
others will not admit of a comparison with them. He
not only knew the taste of the people among whom he
laboured, but possessed it if such a distinction he ad-
CHARACTER. 265
missible. This is a most difficult acquisition : few are
sensible to how small a degree they have succeeded in
this most desirable attainment. I do not mean that
Mr. Dyer was perfectly natwized (may the word he
coined ?) ; but the testimony of the natives themselves is
unequivocal and decisive on this point and this is
the best of evidence.
Few men ever discovered deeper or more genuine
humility than Samuel Dyer, while consecrating all his
mental acquisitions on the missionary altar. In some
it is found that what bears the semblance of this feature
is but another form of pride aifectation. In him
nothing was assumed all was real. His very soul
abhorred all hollowness, whether in the pretensions of
friendship or in the exhibition of disposition and tem-
per. There was a degree of universality about his
humility that was felt sometimes by his friends to be
even painful : and they may have thought that it was
morbid and that perhaps was the fact but never that
it was not the genuine and unsophisticated feeling of
his bosom. But as no man courted attention less than
he did, all this was only known to his friends, and it
wa"s necessary that the friendship should be close and
established. The following statement, made by a
fellow-student the Rev. J. Ketley, of Demerara, to
whose kind communication a preceding page is in-
debted delineates with great accuracy and truth this
feature of his character :
" He seemed always to have entertained a very low
estimate of his own piety and devotedness to God,
266 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
esteeming others in this as by far his superiors : while
those very individuals accounted themselves as far below
him in those graces which adorn the Christian (and the
missionary) character. Seldom did he appear to give
himself credit for integrity in anything, and yet it was
impossible for conscience to evidence a more scrupulous
exercise of truthfulness than was manifested in all his
intercourse. He was evidently accustomed to keep a
very narrow watch over' the motives of his own heart,
by means of which he was taught to keep at the re-
motest possible distance from the folly of trusting it ;
Prov. xxviii. 26, and iii. 5. He was careful to scru-
tinize every act and every engagement, and to suspect
his own motives in every undertaking ; so he was
enabled, far above Christians in ordinary, to detect the
evil the sins attendant on every good thing which even
a righteous man doeth, Eccl. vii. 20 ; Rom. iii. 23 ;
1 John i. 8. This will account for the bitter things
against himself, which in private intercourse not un-
frequently escaped his lips. He .was by no means fond
of complaining ; his was not a c voluntary humility ;'
his was not a talkative parade of whining pride, such as
marks the pretender to extraordinary meekness and
devotion ; far, far from it. There was a retiredness in
his habit : he was rather taciturn than loquacious ; so
that when he gave utterance to his feelings and senti-
ments, you felt persuaded that he meant what he said :
while the natural evenness of his tone of voice with his
uniform consistency, combined to clothe his intercourse
with a dignified sanctity, which led to after-reflection
and closer self-examination, Eph. iv. 29." "I found
CHARACTER.
267
him," observes Mr. Ketley, in a subsequent paragraph,
"a humble believer, most fully renouncing all self-right-
eousness, to trust the. perfect righteousness of the Son
of God : a watchful Christian, careful to lay aside every
weight, that he might press toward the mark and attain
to the resurrection of the dead : a faithful friend."
Again, " affectionate friendship ; self-condemnation aris-
ing from self-distrust ; high esteem of others, who felt
conscious of being far his inferiors ; expected pleasure
in missionary work, and a believing hope of future glory
for the sake of Christ alone," modified his experience,
and formed no inconsiderable part of his character.
The above paragraphs, prepared with care, I have
given entire, as they show clearly how matured his
character was when at Hoxton, as every one who knew
him in after years will recognize him in the above descrip-
tion. If it be possible for an excellency to become ex-
cessive, humility was so in Mr. Dyer. Esteeming others
better than himself was a maxim with the requirements
of which he complied in the most extensive sense ; so
thoroughly humble was the estimate he formed of him-
self, that he found something superior to himself in
every one with whom he associated. If to be the
servant of all is to be great in the kingdom of Christ,
then indeed Mr. Dyer must be ever regarded great
among the brethren with whom he laboured for the
benefit of China. He had hi this respect the mind
that was in Christ Jesus for he went forth to minister,
not to be ministered unto.
In some minds, even of the first order, one power is
268 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
often found to predominate to be oilt of all due pro-
portion as it regards the other powers ; so also in some
hearts, frequently one of the affections will by many
degrees exceed the others in its development and strength.
To say there was a perfect .balance between all the
affections of Mr. Dyer's soul would be saying too
much; yet if any one who knew him well were
asked in which was he most deficient, it would be
found a very difficult matter to answer the question.
It will not however be attempted : it would answer no
good purpose. He had his deficiencies.
As in the preceding observations on his acquire-
ments and powers of mind, so in these observations
on the affections, one or two points only will be
selected, for the sake of showing how the grace of
God was magnified in him. Love, in the most ex-
pansive sense, adorned all he was and all he did ; it '
was the element he breathed ; it was a component part
of his soul. As a son, his filial affection poured itself
forth as a perennial stream. Often must his letters
have proved a solace to his honoured father, and greatly
must they be missed now : in this respect he was
dutiful without being obsequious. If he sometimes
differed in judgment from his father he stated his
objections with clearness and modesty, always taking
the utmost care that no word or turn of expression
should be employed that could by any possibility have
the appearance of tartness, or of a lack of deference and
love. As a brother, he was most kind, ever solicitous
for the spiritual welfare of the members of his own
family. His love to them was thoroughly characterised
CHARACTER. 269
by Christian principle: his tender, appeals and bro-
therly anxiety present a specimen of faithfulness com-
bined with affection rarely, if ever, exceeded. As a
husband, no language can do justice to the intensity of
his affection. The wife of his bosom, then a widow,
writing to the Directors, under date Nov. 30th, 1843,
describes her loss, and his character, in the following
language :
"You will have heard from the Rev. J. Stronach of
the most distressing bereavement with which it has
pleased our heavenly Father to visit me. It is a be-
reavement of no ordinary nature, for my precious
husband was enabled by the grace of God to exhibit
an almost perfect model of a Christian character. He
had imbibed so much of the Saviour's spirit in his
deep humility, his intense zeal for his heavenly Father's
glory, his tender compassion for perishing souls, his
sympathy with those in affliction, his kindness and
affection to all around him, his unwillingness to think
evil of any, his indifference to everything earthly, and
his habitual heavenly-mindedness, that those who knew
him best were astonished that he was permitted to
remain so long on earth."
Then she proceeds, in the most tender and pathetic
language, to describe his affection for herself, and her
consequent loss ; and we can only say, that what he
was as a son, a brother, a friend, and a father,
he was as a husband, in love, in tenderness, in
sympathy, and assiduous and unremitting attention.
270 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
He was all that a fond wife could wish more than
falls to the lot of most to find in the companion of their
days : most abundant evidence of this is before me.
What he was as a husband there is only one on earth
can tell ; yea, even her pen and her tongue would fail
in describing his tenderness and his love. Never did
he utter one word that could bear an irritating con-
struction. When tried, as he often would be, by the
deceitfulness of the natives, by disappointed hopes,
by plans frustrated, or other annoying circumstances,
he manifested the meekness of his Master ; and he
would demean himself with the gentleness of Christ
before his household : he was an epistle of Christ
" known and read of all men."
What he was as a father, has appeared from docu-
ments in the course of the Memoir, and will be further
gathered from the beautifully simple letters inserted
in the Appendix. In his family he appeared to be
governed by the principle of intense and well-regulated
love. In everything, however, he was the missionary : in
health or in affliction, personal or relative, in whatever
state or circumstance he was, he felt himself and his to
be identified with the great work of evangelizing the
heathen. This peculiarity will strikingly appear in the
following letter. He was the fondest of fathers ; but
at A season when the minds of many would have been
overwhelmed with anguish, and unable to think of
aught but what might alleviate the sufferings or pro-
long the life of their most valued of earthly treasures,
at such a season, when his heart was bowed down under
the rod of .his Father in heaven, expecting every
CHARACTER. 271
moment the death of his child, he could pour out
his soul to a Christian friend in the following strain :
" My dear dear Sister, With a heart too hig for
utterance, I write to you one line. Our little sweet babe
is now on the very verge of Jordan j she appears to be
ready for flight. Sometimes I seem to say, go, sweet
babe, go and be another gem in the crown of Jesus.
Then I say, stay, sweet babe, stay, and go with me to
dear Penang, where we will all repose together in the
missionary grave.
"Do you ask me, my dear sister, what I think of
China, looking at it from the gates of the grave ? Oh,
my heart is big to the overflow : it swells, and enlarges,
and expands, and is nigh unto bursting :
' Oh, China, when I think of thee,
I wish for pinions of a dove,
And sigh to be so far away,
So distant from the land I love!'
"If I thought anything could prevent my dying for
China, the thought would crush me. Our only wish is
to live for China, and to die in pointing the Chinese
'To his redeeming blood, and say,
Behold the way to God !'
"Adieu. Accept my love, and that of my ever dear,
dear Maria."
Three days after he wrote to the same friend :
"Through the tender mercies of our loving Father,
272 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
our little darling seems to be recovering. Oh, how deep
has been our affliction ! But,
' His strokes are fewer than our crimes,
And lighter than our guilt.' "
The dear babe recovered; and long may she live to
tread in her father's steps ! May she find in these
pages some assistance in imitating the many excellences
of her father ; and when of age to appreciate the amount
of her loss, may she, with her surviving brother and sis-
ter, choose the God of their father, as " their own God
for ever and ever."
As a friend, how to do justice to him without incur-
ring the charge of exaggeration and excessive partiality ?
The writer of these pages might employ eulogistic
terms, hut he will quote the language of a missionary
brother who knew him well ; and so divide the blame,
and the burden of such a charge, should it ever be
made. After an apology, on account of ill-health and
weakness, for not having written before, the docu-
ment before him proceeds in the following strain, in ipsis-
simis verbis : " The first epistolary attempt I make
I dedicate to him, who has rarely been absent from my
thoughts, to whom my heart clings with the fondest
affection, and whose praises I am never wearied of sound-
ing to every one who will listen to them. Yes, my
beloved brother has been inexpressibly soothing and
comforting to me even in my lowest moments, and alto-
gether delightful in my more joyous seasons. To reflect
on the love, almost more than mortal, which you displayed
to me during so long and tiresome an illness as mine
CHARACTER. 273
was" . . ... [the manuscript is here imperfect, and I
will not attenfjl to fill it up by conjecture .] " Often do
I 'glorify God' in you. I think on Him the infinitely
gracious Redeemer, whose image you so heautifully in
your measure reflect; and I feel unspeakably thankful
that I can call you my dearest earthly friend,, and feel
assured the affection is reciprocal. The inference natu-
rally drawn from my reflections is, that if the sight of
what he has wrought in you of his own glorious like-
ness is so gladdening and exhilarating to my feelings,
how inconceivably more gladdening will be the vision of
himself, who is the centre and the source of all imagin-
able perfections. You will not complain of me for
writing thus ; I am but giving vent to- the bursting
emotions of my heart, and expressing, though but feebly,
feelings which cannot be satisfied while hidden in the
secrecy of my own .bosom. I have attempted to thank
you in words, but I always feel dissatisfied with the
unsuccessfulness of my eiforts : and I still feel that
nothing I can say or write can ever come up to an ade-
quate representation of the emotions you excite in my
mind. For the present however this must suffice."
How fully does the above statement disclose what he
was as a friend; and the following short note to Mrs.
Beighton, of Penang, will tend to illustrate the cause of
the emotions discovered above, by showing how deeply
he sympathised with those in affliction. It was addressed
to her on the death of a daughter, under circumstances
most trying to a fond mother :
"Very dear and beloved Sister, 'The thought of
274 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
home his spirit cheers/ thus have I sung a thousand
times since I have heen in India : and iiH^ a sweet song
tinder such a trial as yours. When in England my
pastor used to say on sacramental occasions, ' one month
nearer HOME.' With reference to your sojourn in India,
you may sing, 'twenty years nearer home.' Oh, my
sister, these are thoughts which bring with them feel-
ings of hallowed joy which words cannot describe;
they have in them a kind of innate power to harmonise
every chord of the Christian's heart.
Does he rejoice ? 'nearer home.'
Does he sorrow? ' nearer home.'
Does he believe ? f nearer home.'
Does he despond? 'nearer home.'
Is his heart almost broken ? ' nearer home.'
Is he almost impatient with delay ? ' nearer home.'
Is the loveliest flower of his garden, plucked ? 'nearer
home.'
"Beloved sister, we love you very much and we
loved Ellen too ; your tears fall not unwept your trials
affect us exceedingly we sorrow because you sorrow
we grieve over your grief still with sorrow in our bosom
and tears in our eyes, we try to sing, and our song.is,
'nearer home.' And what shall I say more; for if I
sing, this must be the burden of the song and if I
sigh, this the burden of the sigh!" The reader will
not fail to observe the exquisite touch in the last query:
"Is the loveliest flower of his garden plucked?" for
Ellen Beighton was a meek, retiring, pious, and lovely
plant, and to the eye and heart of a mother suffering the
pangs of a distressing bereavement, (for she was more
CHARACTER. 275
than two thousand miles from home when she died,) she
would appear to be the "loveliest flower in her garden."
Such were his letters when his sympathy was called
forth. And to every sentiment involved in the extract
preceding the above note as to his practical tenderness,
and as to the depth of his affection, I am prepared to
add my most hearty ' amen.'
Although in the several relations we have been con-
templating him, he appeared to be all but perfect, and
pride had been apparently eradicated and banished by
deep humility ; and although all wrath, malice, and evil-
speaking, had no abiding place in his heart, for as far as
man could see, his love was universal and omnipotent;
and although many will say that he was the most perfect
living commentary on 1 Cor. xiii., they had been privi-
leged to know ; that his whole mind and soul were cast
into the Christian mould ; that the apostle John was his
prototype and model, or rather their Divine master was
the exemplar of each, and they resembled one another,
because principally they both resembled Him; that
Samuel Dyer was a holy man, and that heavenly-minded-
ness was his habitual state : all this may be said, and
said with perfect truth of this man of God, without
claiming absolute perfection for him either before God
or man. Whatever excellency he had we magnify the
grace of God in it all : but the question may be put, and
it is but just to answer it with candour, had he no
defects? was there no flaw visible in his character?
As far as man could judge, and the appeal can be made
with confidence to all who knew him ^oett, he was among
the most perfect of his own class. And while among
T 2
276 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
that class he stood forth with a remarkable degree of
prominence, yet it must be admitted that there was one
point in which those who loved him most wished he had
been a little more fortified. It has been already observed,
that his humility was all but excessive. But whatever
may have been the cause, certain it was that in some
circumstances he could hardly make a just estimate of
matters of fact, that is, if Tie had to encounter a con-
trary opinion, and especially if that opinion should hap-
pen to be held with overbearing doggedness. In some
instances therefore he did not take the standing he ought
to have done. He seemed to be aware of this : for in
writing to one of his brethren in the mission, who was
anxious that he as a senior missionary should undertake
to bring forward some project of usefulness, he expresses
himself thus : "About the matter you propose, if you
knew what a shamefully timid fellow I am, you would
never set me to manage such an affair. If only a dog
moves his tongue, it is enough for me. No, we want a
man of energy like yourself. You have my HEART,
and were I at you should have my hands ; but my
lips are perfectly incompetent." Again, in another letter
referring to the same subject, he writes : " Your idea
of a f moral lion,' amuses me exceedingly: why, good
brother, I am. a 'withered leaf," and the slightest puff
makes me tremble in every nerve and sinew ; I do not
speak hyperbolically : I shrink from it with instinctive
dread, as you would from a viper." All this he felt
because there was a single opponent to the measure.
He was therefore sometimes too prone to mUke a larger
sacrifice for peace than the case required. When
CHARACTER. 277
however his judgment was fully convinced that principle,
truth, or uprightness, was to be the sacrifice, he could
take his stand, and that with immovable determination.
There are instances in which he nobly overcame his
timidity. Still this was his weak side. He gave up
plans and opinions too readily, and would even suspend
his proceedings, when his own judgment was fully made
up, if he discovered views differing from his own.
In whatever way the matter is to be accounted for-
what is to be set down to natural temperament, or
what to the neglect of some excellences in the culti-
vation of others, or how much to any other influence
certain it is, that he was deficient in moral courage ; ONLY,
however, when the opinion of others had to be encoun-
tered never when that quality required personal sacri-
fice, ox personal labour. With this exception, I have no
hesitation in asserting, without exaggeration or reserve,
that after a most intimate acquaintance of some years'
standing, I was unable to find a fault in him. He was
to me, always an object of admiration the more so
the better I knew him. His company, friendship and
correspondence, have been to me among the most
hallowing blessings the providence of God ever con-
ferred.
In estimating his character, it must be remembered
that the moral, or more strictly speaking the spiritual
rather than the intellectual feature gave to it its pro-
minency. In this consisted chiefly his individuality: in
the former he was equalled by few, very few ; in the
latter by, more. Among his acquaintances he stood
alone in this respect ; but in the advance of them all.
278 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
The elements of his character, when viewed separately
and apart, are adapted to call forth our admiration and
gratitude to the God of all grace, but our emotions will
be still further deepened when we view them in their
combinations. These were as rare as they were invalu-
able in their adaptation to make him an efficient mis-
sionary. Among the chief of these may be mentioned
Mechanical genius and Scholastic taste., Mechanic ope-
rations and scholastic pursuits are so diverse, that few
persons can be found who display anything like aptitude
for both. It would be difficult to say in which Mr. Dyer
most excelled. He was at home thoroughly so in
the investigations of philology : he was ready with his
pen, and precise in the expression of his thoughts : so
he was with files, chisels, and machinery. A literary
production filled and fired his soul in proportion to its
purity, elegance, and value : and so did the produc-
tion of the mechanic arts. When in this country a
library and a manufactory seemed to have about equal
attractions for him, supposing each to be good of
its kind ; and both, while they gratified his taste,
supplied him with matter for devout meditation. He
would write to his wife : " I had a fine opportunity of
seeing into the construction of railways as the Great
Western passes by ; and on Monday I hope to see -the
treadmill, as you know my maxim is to see everything."
Such was the character of his mind ; he could therefore
file off a steel punch, or strike a copper matrix, and write
an article on Chinese philology with equal readiness and
ease. These were the duties he had to discharge ; and he
was separated in the providence of God for such a post.
CHARACTER. 279
The amplitude of his acquisitions in his own depart-
ment cannot but have been apparent ; but that, in his
case, never interfered with his humility ; indeed the
amount of the one seemed to measure the depth of the
other. His humility, in truth, was, from the com-
mencement of his Christian course, so complete that to
all human appearance it could neither be improved nor
augmented; so that in after years, when he returned
for a " little season" on a visit to his family, friends,
and the scenes of his boyhood, those who remembered
him at the early period of his new life could only say,
that it had neither been diminished in volume, nor
defaced in beauty by acquirements and success.
Not only were ample acquisitions and profound
humility associated in him in the happiest manner,
but he had, moreover, the power of consecutive ap-
plication combined with great versatility. He could
take up any train of thought, any series of ope-
rations, after they had been broken in upon by things
of a totally diverse character and tendency, as if there
had been no interruption. He was never distracted
by diversity : his mind seemed at once to arrange
and group everything in its own place. There never
was any confusion in his proceedings, for there was
none in his mind. He had the power of pursuing at
any time what he may have left off twelve months before,
just as if nothing neither time nor other occupations
had intervened. We have said before that he had
complete command of himself : he could, in the midst
of a profound train of thought, turn with the utmost
coolness and deliberation to settle a difference, 'for in-
280 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
stance, that might arise among his children about their
toys, and that with as much tact and readiness as their
ayah, and return to his work again as if no interrup-
tion had taken place ; and apparently without feeling any
inconvenience, except the loss of time. However mul-
tiplied therefore his avocations, he could prosecute each
in its appropriate time, and so proceed through the
ample catalogue of his daily engagements as if his
operations had heen those- 1 of instinct repetition with-
out variety. His perseverance, even in the higher
departments of mental pursuits, did not disqualify him
to attend to minor affairs. As far, for instance, as those
of his household came under his own management or
notice, he was ready to attend to them without confu-
sion or displeasure. He was ready, for " every good
work," and to consider and arrange any family care.
His benevolence, self-denial, holiness, and various
excellences and graces, receive further illustration in
the following extracts taken from a Funeral Sermon,
preached at the mission chapel, Singapore, by his col-
league in the mission, the Rev. J. Stronach. The dis-
course is founded on Rev. xiv. 13. After expatiating
on " WHAT IT is TO DIE IN THE LORD," he proceeds
to describe the character of the departed, in language
and spirit both just and happy. Other extracts from the
pen of his gifted colleague enrich this volume. His
testimony is most valuable; as the opportunity he enjoyed
to know what Samuel Dyer was, was inferior to no friend
living. They esteemed each other ; and the disclosures
therefore of feelings, principles, views, and intentions, were,
in proportion, full, mutual, and complete. " In regard to
CHARACTER.
281
the devoted missionary," observes Mr. Stronach, "whose
death we are now attempting to improve, we are fully
borne out in saying, that as he was ' in the Lord' while
he lived, so he gave most satisfactory evidence of that
union in dying. Few who knew him will be disposed to
doubt this description of his life; and wewho witnessed his
closing scene, can bear abundant testimony to the peace-
fulness of his death. During a missionary career, extend-
ing through sixteen years, there must have occurred
abundant opportunities for putting his character' to the
test, and it is stating no more than the naked truth, to
say, that extensively known and respected as he was by
the public, those who knew him best loved him most ;
and their aifection was accompanied with no small degree
of reverence. When I use the terms suggested by the
text to describe his character, I shall not be . suspected
of a desire to eulogise man at the expense of the glory
due to God. It was ' in the Lord' that our deceased
friend and brother lived ; to Him therefore I ascribe all
those traits of moral and spiritual beauty which at-
tracted to him our ardent and ever-increasing attach-
ment. In doing this I do just what he himself would
have done, if he could have ever been brought to look
on his character as possessed of any beauties ; for his
humility was so great as effectually to prevent him from
indulging in any feeling of self-complacence. Humility
indeed was a most distinguishing feature both in the
man, the Christian, and the missionary. He was always
disposed to undervalue himself, his acquirements, and
his capabilities of usefulness ; and to feel thus lowly
was to him happiness. How often have we heard him
282 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
express the sentiment, the operation of which was mani-
fest throughout his missionary course, that it is an
unspeakable privilege to be employed, even in the
meanest possible way, in the advancement of the Re-
deemer's kingdom ! There was no desire for display,
no striving for effect, in anything that he did ; silently
and unobtrusively he went on his way, doing what few
could have done, but doing it as if no credit were due
for what he did. Akin to this part of his character
was his forgetfulness of self, whenever he could, at
whatever sacrifice of time and trouble, be serviceable to
others. Nothing seemed too much to require of him ;
and he would perform important services, which involved
much personal discomfort, with as much readiness, and
as little feeling of annoyance, as if they were the mean-
est trifles. So much pure unmixed benevolence as his
is rarely to be met with; and all the while he who
exhibited it seemed quite unconscious of having done
anything uncommon. He lived in the happiness of
those around him ; and like his great Master of whose
glory, however, we ought ever to remember, the assem-
bled excellences of all the good men on earth, and even
of the spirits of the just made perfect, afford but a
faint and dim representation he rejoiced above all
things in doing good : to this noblest of pursuits he
devoted his life, his talents, his all. He was a mis-
sionary of the right order : after he gave himself up to
the cause, which he did in early life, he unceasingly
directed all the efforts of his mind to its advancement,
He was a rigid economist of time ; and not an hour of
it was willingly expended on objects that had not a
CHARACTER. 283
direct bearing on the progress of the Gospel. He loved
to preach to the heathen the truths so precious to his
own heart ; and he sought to win them by conversation
from house to house, as well as by his public ministry,
to the Lamb of God who cou'ld alone take away their
sins. He loved to assist his brother missionaries to
acquire the language in which he had made such a
proficiency himself ; and it was always a pleasure to
him to be employed in removing obstacles out of the
way of those who might follow him in the study of so
difficult a tongue : and his private means, as well as his
time, were unreservedly consecrated to the advancement
of the highest interests of his fellow men, and the
glory of his Lord and Saviour. Much property, as
well as much personal labour did he devote to an under-
taking [the production of metal types] which, when
finished, will be a most important means of advancing
the gospel in China ; and was emphatically a cheerful
giver : every gift of his, whether to God or to man, he
gave ' not grudgingly or of necessity,' but willingly, de-
lightedly. His heart was large ; his affections were
strong as well as tender ; he was an affectionate hus-
band, a loving father, a warmly attached friend : and all
his excellences were the result of Christian principle
the genuine fruits of love to that Saviour with whom in
prayer he delighted to hold frequent fellowship. Such
is a meagre sketch of one whose character I had the
most abundant opportunities for studying closely, and
my delight in whose friendship never received a single
check from its commencement to its close."
To the above may be added the testimony of his
284 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
pastor, the Rev. J. Stratten, in a Funeral Sermon,
preached at Paddington chapel on the occasion of his
death, from Rev. ii. 10, "Be thou faithful unto death,
and I will give thee a crown of life." After giving a hrief
sketch of his history, labours, and death, to the crowded
congregation assembled on so solemn an event, Mr.
Stratten closed his discourse with the following just
observations :
" That he was sinless, I do not helieve : that he had
blemishes, I do not doubt : that he rested on Christ, in
his blood and righteousness for salvation, proof has
already been exhibited to you.
" But there were in him three remarkable qualities,
which singularly prevented the manifestation of any-
thing wrong or defective.
".First; great carefulness of his words. He was swift
'to hear, slow to speak. His sentences were short,
to the point, full of meaning and sweetness ; there
was no haste, no garrulity, no bitterness, no slander, no
vituperation or folly. He seemed to feel the force of
our Lord's maxim, - c By thy words thou shalt be justi-
fied, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.'
"Secondly ; he was patient. Certainly this was a
patient man. His patience was at times tried in some
conjunctures, not now to be explained, to the very
utmost* The apostle James makes this to be a high
point of excellence: 'Let patience have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting
nothing.'
" Thirdly ; deep and unaffected humility. I never
saw a lowlier man. He seemed as if he felt unworthy
CHARACTER, 285
even to loose the sandals of his brethren. He never
* smote his fellow-servants/ as if higher or holier than
they. He did literally esteem others as hetter than
himself.
"These are things that will hide almost all blemishes,
render them inapparent, and illustrate and set off to
advantage all the other virtues.
"Such, and very much more, was the Bev. Samuel
Dyer. He has left to his family, to this church, and
to the missionary cause, a spotless name and fame. It
is sad and sorrowful that so much excellence and use-
fulness, just about to open in more extensive and glowing
manifestation, as it seemed to us, should fall at once and
be entombed in an early grave ; but, lost to this world,
it is gathered home to glory and to God, to blow in
everlasting freshness, and beauty, and perfection in
heaven ! "We bow in deep submission to the holy will
of God ; desiring to imitate and follow this living spe-
cimen of apostolic purity, and piety, and excellence, till
we also are removed to that world where all mysteries
are to be explained, and we in like manner shall be
glorified."
Yea, "such, and very much more, was the Rev.
Samuel Dyer," it may be confidently added, at the close
of this more lengthened effort to exhibit his character,
his worth, and his graces.
He was emphatically a missionary : no other occupa-
tion would have suited his taste or his principles. His
devotedness was as complete as we can well conceive the
resolution of the human heart, when regulated by Divine
love, could make it. He had no misgivings or doubts ;
286 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYE*R.
he felt no longings for home or change. He had a
commission to .discharge ; and for that duty he had
powers, talents,, and aptitude, viewed as a whole, equal-
led by few, surpassed hy no one that ever laboured in
the same service in Eastern Asia : that commission he
felt he had received from Heaven ! He had a zeal that
regarded no sacrifices too great : fatherland, endeared
relatives, and friends, wealth, health, and life, were the
cheerful offerings : offerings made by many besides,
through God's abounding grace ; but by none with a
more thankful and unreserved consecration than, by
Mr. Dyer. To labour for China was the sole object of
his existence : to hew wood or draw water a favourite
expression of his own in such a service, was to him the
highest honour. To take possession of the empire by
dying and burial there, should it be God's will to grant
him no higher honour, filled his soul with rapturous
delight ; a delight that seemed to have no abatement
but one leaving his wife a widow, and his dear off-
spring fatherless if only his death should be in the
service of China, and his dust should rest in her soil.
"In the event we are now attempting to improve,"
observes Mr. Stronach in the discourse just quoted, "what
a striking instance we have of the difference between
God's ways and ours. So estimable a man, so lovely a
Christian, so useful a missionary, we should have
detained many years in this lower world, and thought
that in doing so we were advancing the general interests
of humanity, of the Christian church, and of the cause
of God among the heathen. We should have allowed
him to complete the work he had so auspiciously begun,
CHARACTER. 287
and so prosperously carried on. We should have allowed
him to see the fruit of his labours during many long
years ; his children arrived at mature age and treading
in their father's footsteps, many converts from idolatry
added to the church, and Christian truth widely diffused
in consequence of the plans he had put in operation.
And when his hour for departure actually arrived, we
should have had him removed to his final rest surrounded
by all the endearments of home, and bidding a joyful
farewell to his weeping but resigned and comforted rela-
tives. It is needless to point out in how many respects
the reality differed from what we should have naturally
wished for and expected. But the lesson which this
marked difference teaches, if it is a humbling, may be
likewise a useful one. 'Cease ye from man, whose
breath is in his nostrils, for wherein is he to be accounted
of?' The Creator of man works by whom he pleases.
Those seemingly best qualified to advance his purposes
he can easily do without. The life of no one is necessary
to the accomplishment of the good he intends to effect.
However seemingly irreparable the loss His cause may
sustain by the removal of a missionary from the field,
(and it is in this light that the surviving labourers in
the Chinese mission regard the event we are now deplor-
ing,) he can readily and with infinite ease make up, and
more than make up, the loss. Whilst we acknowledge,
then, the inscrutability of the Divine counsels, let us
confide in the boundlessness of Divine love. God's
ways are not our ways, but they must be infinitely better.
He has not forsaken his cause, though he has removed
288 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
one so well fitted to advance it. Onward will it proceed
in spite of every seeming check. Human instruments
are necessarily weak ; but He who condescends to employ
them is immutably Almighty and All-graciouSj 'the
same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.' "
APPENDIX A.
A short sketch of the Chinese method of printing. See p. 82.
To trace the history of this art in China would be interesting,
but as that would be foreign to the present purpose, I shall only
observe, that in the year of our Lord 935, the subject of printing
was introduced to the notice of the emperor Teen Fob. But this
was probably an official statement [not on the art but] on the
subject of printing, as it does not mark its origin.
The Chinese have three methods of printing. The first in-
vented, and that which almost universally prevails, is called " M5h-
pan," or wooden plates. It is a species of stereotype, arid answers
all the ends of it, as theletters are not distributed and recomposed,
but being once clearly cut, they remain till either the block be
destroyed, or till the characters be so worn down by the ink-
brush as to be illegible. The second is, " Lab-pan," or wax-plates;
and consists in spreading a coat of wax on a wooden frame : after
which, with a graving-tool, they cut the , characters thereon.
This method is rarely adopted, except in cases of haste and
urgency. In such a case a number of workmen are employed,
and a small slip of wood, with space for one, two, or more lines, is
' given to each, which they cut with great expedition; and when all
is finished, they join them together by small wooden pins: by
this means a page or a sheet is got up very speedily, like an extra
gazette in an English printing-office.
The third is denominated " Hwo-pan," or living plates, from
the circumstance of the characters being single and moveable as
TJ
290 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
European types: -whether these types are cut or cast is not ascer-
tained. The Chinese are not ignorant of casting, though they
do not use it to any extent. The imperial seals on the calendar
are cast. Copper vessels used in the temples, and bells, have
frequently ancient characters and inscriptions cast on them.
"Whether they have ever attempted to cast single characters or
form matrices, similar to those used in casting types for alphabetic
languages, does not appear. These " Hwo-pan," or moveable
types, are commonly made of wood.
The Chinese have six different kinds or rather forms of the
character, each of which has its appropriate name ; and all of
which are occasionally used in printing. That which, like our
Roman, prevails most generally, is called " Sung-te." To
write this form of character is of itself an employment in China:
there are persons who learn it on purpose to transcribe for the
press. Few of the learned can write it : indeed they rather think
it below them to do the work of a mere transcriber.
The process of preparing for and printing with the blocks, or
in the stereotype way, is as follows : The block or wooden plate
ought to be of the "Lee" or " Tsaou" tree. " The Lee and Tsaou"
they say, " are of a fine grain, hard, oily, and shining, of a sour"
ish taste ; and what vermin do not soon touch hence used in
printing." The plate is first squared to the size of the pages
with the margin at top and bottom ; and is in thickness generally
about half an inch. They then smooth it on both sides with a
joiner's plane : each side contains two pages, or rather indeed
but one page, according to the Chinese method of reckoning ;
for they number their leaves, not the pages of a book. The sur-
face is then rubbed over with rice boiled to a paste, or some
glutinous substance, which fills up any little indentments not
taken out by the plane ; and softens and moistens the surface of
the board, so that it more easily receives the impression of the
character. '
The transcriber's work is ; first to ascertain the exact size of
the page, the number of lines and of characters in each line, and
then to make what they call a " Kih," or form of lines, hori-
zontal and perpendicular, crossing each other at right angles, and
APPENDIX A, 291
thus leaving a small square for each character. The squares for
the same sort of character are all of equal size, -whether the
letter be complicated as to strokes or simple. A character with
fifty strokes of the pencil has no larger space assigned to it
than one "with barely a single stroke. This makes the page regular
and uniform in its appearance, though rather crowded where
many complicated characters follow each other in the same part
of the line. The margin is commonly at the top of the paper,
though not always so. Marginal notes are written as with us in
a smaller letter. This form of lines being regularly drawn out,
is sent to the printer, who cuts out the squares, leaving the lines
prominent ; and prints off as many sheets, commonly in red ink, as
are wanted. The transcriber then with black ink writes in the
squares from his copy ; fills up the sheet, points it, and sends it
to the block-cutter; who, before the glutinous matter is dried up
from the board, puts on the sheet inverted, rubs it with a brush
and with his hand, till it sticks very close to the board. He
next sets the board in the sun, or before the fire for a little, after
which he rubs off the sheet entirely with his fingers ; but not
before a clear impression of each character has been communi-
cated. The graving-tools are then employed, and all the white
part of the board is cut out, while the black, which^ shows the
character, is carefully left. The block being cut with edged tools
of various kinds, the process of printing follows. The block is
laid on a table ; and a brush made of hair, being dipped in ink, is
lightly drawn over the surface. The sheets being already pre-
pared, each one is laid on the block and gently pressed down by
the rubbing of a kind of brush, made of the hair [fibres?] of the
Tsung tree. The sheet is then thrown off ; one man will throw
off two thousand copies a-day. Chinese paper is very thin, and
not generally printed on both sides, though in some particular
cases it is. In binding, the Chinese fold up the sheet, turning
inward that side on which there is no impression. On the middle
of the sheet, just where it is folded, the title of the book, the
number of the leaves and of the sections, and sometimes the
subject treated of, are printed the same as in European books,
292 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
except that in the latter they are at the top of the page, -whereas
hei*e they are on the front edge of the leaf ; and generally so
exactly cut on the place where it is folded, that one in turning
the leaves sees one-half of each character one side, and the other
half on the other. The number of sheets destined to constitute
the volume, being laid down and pressed between two boards, on
the upper one of which a heavy stone is laid, then they are
covered with a sort of coarse paper, not with boards as in Europe,
The back is then cut, after -which the volume 'is stitched, not
in our way, but through the whole volume at once, from side to
side; a hole having been previously made with a small pointed
iron instrument. The top and bottom are then cut; and thus the
whole process of Chinese type-cutting, printing, and binding, is
finished. Though the transcribing, cutting, printing, and binding,
form each a distinct occupation, yet they can be all easily united
in one person.
The method of printing now described has existed in China
for upwards of nine hundred years, and has been applied to all
the various kinds of composition ; to books on politics, on his-
tory, on ethics, on philosophy, and on science, whether in poetry
or in prose : it has likewise been applied to all dimensions ol
books, from the elephant folio down to the one hundred and twenty-
eights; to all sizes of letters, from the twenty lines pica to the
diamond ; to all kinds of character, whether plain or hierogly-
phic, whether the manuscript or printed form ; to all sorts ol
ornaments and borders ; and in some cases to foreign languages
as well as native. Extracted from Dr. Milne's " Retrospect"
APPENDIX B.
A SELECTION OF LETTERS.
LETTER I. Addressed to Miss Buckland; on Missionary
Devotedness. See page 215.
"July 23rd, 1840.
" My dear Miss Buckland, Your favour reached me on Tues-
day ; and I should have replied to it sooner, but that since the
receipt of it I have been so fully occupied. I shall now, agreeable
to your request, enter somewhat into detail concerning the views
entertained by myself and Mrs. Dyer relative to the matter
of our correspondence.
" In the first place, allow me to inform you that we have
many years since consecrated ourselves, \nth everything that
we possess, upon the missionary altar. We deem it to be the
most exalted privilege we can enjoy on this side of heaven, to
give ourselves with all we have and are to Jesus Christ ; and
the only desire of our hearts is, to spend and to be spent in his
service among the Gentiles. "We are conscious of oh yes, we
are sometimes quite overwhelmed by reason of our utter insig-
nificance our inability to serve him as we ought ; yet we must,
we cannot but serve him in our way, and so teach the heathen to
love him whom we ourselves so ardently love.
" We have had experience in this service, having been about
twelve years in India; and when we look back upon the past
we are utterly amazed, we are altogether astonished, to observe
what difficulties, what trials, what perplexities, God has brought
us through : sometimes our hearts were all but broken ; at
294 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER,
others we were bowed down to the Very dust, and we seemed
crushed by the heavy load that pressed upon us ; and yet
glory be to the riches of God's grace, here we are ; and our
' Father was at the helm ;' he brought us through every storm :
the clouds have dispersed, and we saw the refreshing rays of
the shining sun.
" I mention these things, my dear young friend, not to dis-
courage you so far from discouraging you or any one, I would
say, ' Would God all the Lord's people were missionaries ;' but
I wish you to understand that no one can have any conception
of the trials of a missionary life but he who has been a mis-
sionarj% These trials consist not in the deprivation of the
comforts of life, the distance from friends, &c., but in things
which must be felt to be understood. But then there is grace
and strength in store for us ; these are not given to us now, in
anticipation, but they are reserved for us ; and we bear our
testimony, that as our, days have been, so has been our strength.
" But I do humbly conceive that when we devote ourselves
to missionary work, we should lay our all, yea, and our lives
too, upon the missionary altar ; and then come joy, come sor-
row; come success, come disappointment; come sickness, come
health; come life, come death; all, and everything, shall be a
sweet privilege in the service of such a Master as Jesus Christ.
" Having thus devoted ourselves to the service of the Sa-
viour, our only wish is to seal our labours with our lives ; and
although in the providence of God we are for a little season
in England, it is only that our usefulness may be prolonged in
India. India is our home : there we hope to spend the short
remnant of our days ; and there we hope, when our work is
done, to sleep in Jesus until the morning of the resurrection.
" But our most intense desire is, that when our own work is
done, our little children may -rise up to carry on our work : oh,
it is in very deed a most blessed work ; and often have we sough^
from the Lord this grace, that were it his will, we might just
see our dear children entering upon the work ; and then most
gladly, most cheerfully would we sing our ' Nunc dimittisj and
APPENDIX B. 295
say with good old Simeon, ' Lord, now lettest thou thy servants
depart in peace.'
" Now what we desire is, to find some dear sister in Christ,
who would with us renounce her all for Jesu's sake : who would
go with us far away beyond the seas ; and who would accept of
our proposal to be to her as a brother and a sister. We seek
not one to whom it would be a matter of convenience to go ;
because we know of nothing in India that could make a resi-
dence there even tolerable to such a person : but we seek one
who would share with as our cares, our anxieties, and our joys
and if we know our own hearts, she should have every sym-
pathy and kindness which it might be in our power to offer.
Remuneration is a thing utterly impossible to offer ; nothing of
this world's goods can remunerate a Christian for the trials of a
life in India : but if in things temporal you could consent to
share with us ; and if in addition you would accept of the esteem
of a brother, and the love and affection of a sister, then we
think we may venture to invite you to be a member of our family,
and go with us home to India.
" Our principal reason for desiring this is on account of our
dear children. As my dear wife has laboured hard for the best
interests of Chinese females, and still desires to do so, she has
been made to feel that she has not strength to do all that is in
her heart ; she therefore seeks the aid of a sister to instruct our
children. And I think it is no small or unimportant part of the
work, to train up labourers for future service in the vineyard,
If you would, in addition, as far as time and strength would
allow, unite with Mrs. Dyer in labours among the heathen, oh,
then we should find that we had a sister indeed.
)
" As it respects what you say, my dear Miss B., about your
own qualifications for missionary work, I verily believe none are
better qualified than those who feel their own unfitness and insuf-
ficiency ; because they are most likely to go to the Fountain-head,
for grace and strength according to their need : your conscious-
ness of your insufficiency I regard as an additional qualification.
" In relation to the other difficulties you mention, you have our
296 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
most affectionate sympathy. But when we think 'the time is
short,' 1 Cor. vii. 29 when we think that
'A few more rolling years at most
Will land us on fair Canaan's coast'
when we think that soon we shall see our friends again, and then
we shall meet to part no more ; when we think of what Jesus
did for us oh ! then methinks, much as I love my father much
as I love my friends, I would bid them all farewell, to go and
preach Jesus to the perishing heathen.
" Should you be enabled to resign your brothers and sisters,
whom you so ardently love; you will not be with those who can-
not feel for you; for we ourselves must likewise part with some
who are very dear to us, and so your tears of separation will not
flow unpitied, uncared for, or unwept. But then we will mu-
tually dry each other's tears : we will point each other to that
holier and happier wozid, where every tear shall be wiped away ;
and where, in the blissful meeting with our friends around the
throne of glory, our sorrows shall be turned into joy, and our
joy shall be full. Till then we'll sing, ' Come, Lord Jesus, oh,
come quickly.'
" I hardly like to mar my feelings by entering upon the mi-
nuter details of our plan. I can only express a wish that the love
and grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ might induce
you to say with Ruth, ' Whither thou goest, I will go ; where
thou lodgest, I will lodge : thy people shall be my people, and
thy God my God ! Where thou diest will I die ; and there will I
be buried.' Believe me to remain, my dear Miss B.,
" Your very affectionate friend,
" SAMUEL DYER."
LETTERS TO HIS CHJXBREN. See page 270.
LETTER II. To his eldest Daughter; on his Garden.
" My dear little Lily, When God made you sick of fever, I
thought that perhaps God was going to take you out of my
APPENDIX B. 297
garden, and to put you into his, garden above the sky : but as he
has made you nearly well again, I think perhaps he will let you
stop in my garden a little longer. You know I call my family my
garden, and mamma is the rose the sweetest rose, because she
is the sweetest flower in my garden ; Samuel shall be the violet,
because I am so very fond of that flower ; you shall be the lily
of the valley, because I want you to be humble ; and Maria shall
be the cowslip, because that is very useful : my little tulip God
has taken, and put into his garden above, because it was a very
beautiful flower ; and perhaps if it had stopped longer in my
garden, papa and mamma might have been too fond of it. But
when God is pleased to take my rose, and my violet, and my
lily, and my cowslip, and put them into his garden above the
skies, you will there see my little tulip : and you shall all be
more sweet, more lovely, more beautiful, more humble, and more
useful than while you are in my garden here.
" I am very glad God has made you well again ; and I like
you to love Jesus Christ more than me.
" Your affectionate papa,
" SAMUEL DYER,"
LETTER III. To his son Samuel; on Eternal Life.
" My dear little Boy, Your letter made papa's heart very glad,
because I like you to ask me questions ; and whenever you like
to ask me a question, I will answer it with great pleasure.
"You want to know the meaning of 'everlasting life:' now I
could write you such a long letter about this, that my sheet
would be quite full; yes, I think I could write a book about
everlasting life, because it is so full of meaning. Now let me
tell you a little about it. It means
" No more pain. You remember how much pain you had, when
your doctor put on a blister. You remember the pain, when
your teeth were pulled out. Well, everlasting life means, no
more pain. Again, it means
"No more tears. You know sometimes you cry because you
298 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
are afraid that if you die, God will send you to hell : and if
papa and mamma were to go' and leave you, I am sure you would
cry very much ; and sometimes you cry when you are hurt.
But everlasting life means, that God will wipe away all our tears,
and we shall never cry any more. Again, it means
" No more trembling for sin. You know you told me one night
that you trembled for sin : now this is very right, because Jesus
Christ tells us to repent, and trembling for sin is to begin to
repent. Oh ! if my little darling boy repents of his sins, this will
make his papa and mamma's hearts very glad. But then we do
not like trembling; and so, everlasting life u means, no more
trembling. Again, it means
" No more separation. You see papa is obliged to leave you
sometimes. But you would like me to be always at home. In
heaven, I shall not be obliged to leave you,
" But everlasting life means also to be like Jesus Christ; and
to be with Jesus Christ; and to wear a crown which Jesus
Christ will put upon our heads ; and to sit down with Jesus
Christ upon his throne ; and to listen to Jesus Christ's kind
voice ; and to see Jesus Christ's beautiful face ; and to wear the
beautiful robe which Jesus Christ will give to us ; and to hear
the angels sing ; and to sing too. Oh, my darling boy, I do
hope you will pray to God to make you fit for heaven ; because,
sometimes I feel almost as if I should be sorry in heaven, if
my little children were not there too.
" The little sister which you never saw, she knows what
everlasting life is, because she is gone to enjoy it. I am glad
she is in heaven ; but mamma and papa were very sorry to lose
her, because when she died, we had no little baby left, for you
were not then born: but now we have got three more little
children I am glad she is gone ; because perhaps if she was now
on earth she might be a naughty girl, and not pray, and make
me very sorry. But you know in heaven she cannot be naughty;
and so she is safe for ever.
" When I think about little Maria, who is buried at Penang,
then I think I should like next year to go back to Penang, with
APPENDIX B. 299
mamma and you, and sisters ; and I should like for us all to
live there : and then, when all our -work on earth is done, to die
there, and to be buried in the Missionary grave, close by your
little sister.
" Now I hope you will tell Burella and Maria something about
everlasting life ; and perhaps you could sometimes take them
into my little study, and pray for them, that God would make
them also fit for heaven. I am, my dear boy,
" Your affectionate papa,
" SAMUEL DYER."
LETTER IV. His last Letter to his Children^ [perhaps the last .
he ever penned.]
" Canton, Oct. 4, 1843.
" My darling children, Poor papa has been very ill, and can
now scarcely write, because very weak. Yes, I thought I should
never see my little darlings any more ; and that poor mamma
would be left alone ; and my dear children have no papa any
more. One day I thought I was just going to heaven. But
God has been very kind to me he has made me quite well
again ; and I am coming back to Singapore in a few days in a
ship called the Charlotte.
" When I was ill, I could think about nothing but the love of
God in sending his Son into the world to die for sinners. I
thought I was a wicked sinner, but my sweet little Bible told
me that Jesus Christ did not die for the good no, it was for
wicked sinners like me ; and that made me feel happy, very
happy indeed. And you, my dear children, if you look into your
hearts, you will see sin there ; and if you cannot see sin there,
ask God to give you his Holy Spirit to help you to see sin there,
for I am quite sure sin IS there: the Bible says so ; and you know
the Bible is the book of God, who looks into your hearts. Then
go to Jesus ; oh! go to Jesus ; and so kind is Jesus that he will
Avash away all your sins in his own blood : and then how happy
you. will be when you come to die !
300 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SAMUEL DYER.
" I am so happy to think that I shall kiss you all again soon.
Accept my kind love, my little darlings, for papa loves you very
much indeed, and dear mamma most of all, except Jesus Christ;
for I must, you know, love him most, because he has done so
much for me ; and dear mamma likes me to love Jesus Christ
best ; and she loves him best herself ; and so I hope do you.*
" Ever your affectionate papa,
"SAMUEL DYER."
* The reader will recollect that the anticipation of this note was never
realized; for on the 24th of October twenty days after the date of this
he entered his rest. Seep. 250.
APPENDIX C.
MISSIONARIES NOW LABOURING IN CHINA, AND THE SOCIETIES
TO WHICH THEY RESPECTIVELY BELONG,
I. London Missionary Society.
Rev. W. H. Medhurst, D.D.
Rev. J. Stronach.
Rev. A. Stronach.
Rev. W. C. Milne, A.M.
Rev. J. Legge, D.D.
Rev. W. Young.
Rev. W. Gillepsie.
Rev. J. Fairbrother.
W. Lockhart, M.R.C.S., Medi-
cal Missionary.
B. Hobson, M.B., Medical Mis-
sionary.
Rev, J. F. Cieland.
II. Church Missionary Society.
Rev. M. Smith. | Rev. M'Clatchie.
III. General Baptist Society.
Rev. J. H. Hudson. j Rev. Jorrom.
IV. American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions.
Rev. E. C. Bridgman, D.D.
Rev. P. Parker, M.D.
Rev. D. Ball, M.D.
Rev. D. Abeel, D.D.
Rev. Doty.
Rev. Cohlman.
Mr. S. W. Williams, Printer.
302 MEMOIR OF THE IlEV. SAMUEL DYER.
V. Self-supported.
Rev. H. Gumming, M.D.
VI. American Board of Baptist Missions.
Rev. L. Shuck.
Rev. J. Roberts.
Rev. D. Macgowan, M.D.
Rev. W. Dean.
Rev. W. Devan, M.D. ,
VII. American Presbyterian Board.
Rev. Mr. Lowrie.
Hopper.
Loyd.
Brown.
Culbertson.
Rev. Mr. Lomis. ]
_ _ Way.
Hepburn, M.D.
_ _ M'Cartie, M.D.
Mr. Coles, Printer.
VIII. American Episcopal Board.
Bishop Boone, D.D.
Rev. Mr. Woods.
Grayham.
Miss Jones $ Female Mis-
Miss Morss c sionaries.
IX. Morrison Education Society/.
Rev. S. R. Brown. | Rev. M. Bonny.
X. Colonial Chaplain.
Rev. V. Stanton.
XL Female Missionary (British.)
Miss Aldersey.
The cities at which missionaries are permitted to labour are :
1. SHANGHAE and its vicinity, with a population of about
500,000.
APPENDIX C. 303
2. NINGPO and its vicinity, with a population of about 300,000.
3. FOO-CHOW-FOO and its vicinity, with a population of about
100,000.
4. AMOY and its vicinity, with a population of about 130,000.
5. CANTON arid its vicinity, with a population of about 1 ,000,000.
6. HONG KONG and its vicinity, with a population of about
50,000.
.The profession of the Christian religion is no longer a capital
offence, and teaching Christianity is not now illegal in these
cities : but whether Native evangelists will be permitted publicly
to preach the gospel beyond the precincts of the ports opened
for commerce, is a point which can only be determined ,by
experiment. A population, exceeding that of the metropolis of
Great Britain, is now by law in a favourable position to be
evangelized. There are, including Native evangelists, about
fifty Missionaries ; half of whom may be considered effective,
from experience and the knowledge of the language. The above
statement will give about twenty-five labourers for more than two
millions of accessible population ; and who, if professing Chris-
tianity, would be protected by law ! " Awake, awake ; put on
thy strength, O Zion !"
. THE END.
Tyler & Reed, Printers, Bolt-court, London.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR,
In foolscap 8vo, cloth, lettered, price 2s.,
CHINA AND HER SPIRITUAL CLAIMS.
" "We very cordially commend it to our readers as an authentic and"
heart-stirring detail of matters most important in connection with the
Chinese mission." Evangelical Magazine.
" To those "who have not access to larger works relating to China, it
will be very acceptable ; it is the best work, of its extent, on missions
to China, which we have seen." Wesleyan Association Magazine,
" A fervent and eloquent appeal for the emancipation of China from
its heathenism." Mancliester Times,
" This is an earnest and powerful appeal in favour of the spiritual
claims of China. The moral debasement of that immense empire is
described in language at once elegant and impressive. We have a clear
statement of facts of facts which have principally come within the
range of the author's personal observation. Most sincerely do we hope
that this effort of Christian zeal will be productive of those further
efforts of Christian enterprise, which the magnitude and glory of the
proposed object so imperatively demand." Methodist New Connexion
Magazine.
" The estimable author laboured for some time as a missionary at
Penang, and has produced a work whereof the whole is very instructive
and inspiring. We have no hesitancy in commending this production
as a compendious statement of the condition of China and its popula-
tion ; and of the claims it has on the compassion and zeal of the
Christian Church.". Biblical Review.
A. M ^
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