The Life of the Rev. Samuel Leigh, Missionary to the Settlers and Savages of Australia and New Zealand - With a History of the Origin and Progress of the Missions in Those Colonies #232425

By a mysterious arrangement of Divine Providence, the writer of this volume was brought into personal intercourse with the Rev. Samuel Leigh during the last year of his life. He stood by his side at a public meeting, when a sudden attack of congestion of the brain interrupted his speech on the Australian mission, and plainly indicated that his days were numbered. A friend of his, alike distinguished by eloquence in the pulpit and ability as a writer, said to him one day, " Mr. Leigh, your life has been such an eventful one, that I should like to record the main facts of it, and give them to the church." This spontaneous offer, from one of whom he entertained the most exalted opinion, greatly affected him. After alluding to it on the following day, in terms of respectful affection,he looked at the author, and said, significantly, " I have confidence in you." The writer excused himself, on the ground that no person, in his judgment, was qualified for such an undertaking, who had not made himself thoroughly acquainted, either by personal observation or a laborious process of reading and reflection, with the geography of the countries in which he had laboured, and with the genius, habits, and pursuits of the natives of those countries. As every day diminished the hope of Mr. Leigh's recovery, and enhanced the responsibility of the writer, he felt compelled, by the force of circumstances, to yield to what had obviously become his duty.