great difficulty in keeping my selection even within the bounds to which the work has finally extended.

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The individuals who have thus supplied some of the most valuable parts of the volumes, and have contended who should bear the most decided testimony to the character and talents of him whom they admired when living, and adored when lost;" though occasionally mentioned, in connexion with the correspondence, will, I am sure, experience some gratification in having their names more distinctly connected with this memorial of their departed friend. It is due from me to say, that without their aid I must have failed in doing justice to his character and history: it is due from the readers of the volumes, if they shall experience any gratification from those letters which I consider to be no less beautiful as compositions than they are admirable in sentiment: and it is especially due to that sacred and christian friendship which subsisted between them and him who has gone to receive an early and full reward. I earnestly pray that the band of youthful spirits united at St. Andrew's, may, "when the dispersed of Israel are gathered into one," be again united, to rejoice together in the fruits of their sacred association.

The following are entitled to an honourable place in this statement: Mr. John Adam of Homerton, between whom and the deceased there was a solemn agreement to labour together among the heathen, should Providence permit. Mr. Alexander Duff, still, I believe, a student, the earliest friend of John at the university. Mr. William Alexander, his latest companion while there, and who is still prosecuting his studies with a view to the christian ministry. Mr. Henry Craik, now at Exeter, between whom and John a most powerful attachment appears to have subsisted, which rendered his death almost overwhelming. Mr. William Tait, son of the Rev. William Tait of the College Church, Edinburgh; Mr. Herbert Smith of Egham, Surrey; Mr. James Lewis, Mr. Alexander Reid, and Mr. Robert Trail.

To other individuals I have also been indebted for some valuable contributions; but whose names I could not with propriety, mention. They will accept of my affectionate acknowledgments for the readiness with which they allowed me the use of the letters which I have published.

Besides those testimonies which I have used throughout the work, both to support my own opinion of the talents and character of the de

ceased, and to illustrate the various points of view in which they were contemplated by others, there is one which is entitled to a distinguished place in this memorial. Knowing that John had been a favourite pupil of Dr. Chalmers, and that between the doctor and him a very intimate friendship had obtained; before I did any thing myself, I wrote to Dr. Chalmers, to inquire if he could undertake the office of biographer, and offering him, in that case, all the information and documents I possessed. In answer to this, I received the following letter, with which I shall conclude this Preface; it confers a high value on the work that contains it, and shows the estimate which was formed of this admirable youth, by one of the most eminent men of the age.

My dear sir,

"St. Andrew's, Feb. 12, 1827.

I received your letter some days ago, but have been prevented by various engagements, from replying to it so soon as I could have wished.

I had been previously applied to from another quarter for a Memoir of John Urquhart; and felt myself obliged to decline in consequence of other engagements. I have less difficulty in pleading

the same apology to you; for your superior opportunities, and earlier acquaintance with him, point you out as the person on whom the task is most properly devolved.

He is altogether worthy of the biographical notice which you purpose. My first knowledge of him was as a student, in which capacity he far outpeered all his fellows; and in a class of uncommon force and brilliancy of talent, shone forth as a star of the first magnitude.

I do not recollect the subjects of his various essays; but the very first which he read in the hearing of myself and of his fellow-students, placed him at the head of the class in point of estimation; a station which he supported throughout, and which was fully authenticated at the last by the highest prize being assigned to him for those anonymous compositions which are submitted to my own judgment, and among which I decide the relative and respective merits, without any knowledge of their authors.

For several months I only recognised him as a person of fine taste and lofty intellect; which, beaming forth as they did, from one who had not yet terminated his boy-hood, gave the indication

and the promise of something quite superlative in future life. It was not till after I had for a time admired his capacities for science, that I knew him as the object of a far higher admiration, for his deep and devoted sacredness.

It was in the second session of my acquaintance with him, that I devolved upon him the care of a Sabbath school which I had formed. In the conduct of this little seminary, he displayed a tact and a talent which were quite admirable; and I felt myself far out-run by him in the power of kind and impressive communication, and in that faculty by which he commanded the interest of the pupils, and could gain, at all times, the entire sympathy of their understanding. Indeed, all his endowments, whether of the head or of the heart, were in the best possible keeping. For example,-he was alike literary and mathematical, and combined the utmost beauty of composition with the rigour and precision of the exact sciences. But his crowning excellence was his piety; that virtue which matured him so early for heaven, and bore him in triumph from that earth on which he hath so briefly sojourned. This religious spirit gave a certain ethereal hue to all his college exhibitions. He had the amplitude of genius, but none of its irregularities. There was no shooting forth of