PAGE 338: CHAPTER VIII
walk, or to use any exercise, except that of riding
in a carriage. I am, however, comforted in believing that my life, in this confinement, has not been
entirely useless. I have composed a number of
little volumes for the benefit of the rising generation; and the success which has attended these
publications, affords me much comfort, and abundant cause of thankfulness, to the great Preserver
of my life.
"I am, with great respect and affection,
"Dr. Livingston's very sincere friend,
"LINDLEY MURRAY,
"Holdgate, near York,
Great-Britain, 1805."
His brother's letter is of a later date, and it
concludes as follows: "Almost as long as I have any
clear recollection of occurrences in my juvenile
days, I remember my friend. Doctor Livingston.
Even the simple circumstance of his putting his
hands occasionally on my Head, in a pleasant manner, when we used to meet at our old neighbour
Kipp's, at Kipp's Bay: — Since which I have entertained a regard for thee, and may now say, I
renewedly feel my mind impressed with a solicitude for
thy welfare in time, and for thy happiness in
|
PAGE 339: CHAPTER VIII
futurity. — May thy setting sun go down with increased brightness, is the sincere desire of,
"Thy well-wishing friend,
"JOHN MURRAY, Jun."
These expressions of respect have been transcribed, to give the reader an idea of what was the
Doctor's usual way of improving time in private
intercourse with his friends, and of his peculiar
faculty to conciliate the esteem of young persons,
and to rivet in their minds instructive or pointed
apothegms.
Men engaged in public life frequently complain
of indisposition, but while they appear to be tolerably well, or continue to discharge their duties,
their complaints are but little heeded by many, or
excite but little sympathy. The effect which those
anxieties, produced by certain domestic circumstances, or by their official responsibilities, or as is
sometimes the case, by both together — not to mention their labours, — can have upon the best human
constitution, is not considered. Their anxieties
and their labours are scarcely thought of — and that
is laughed at, as a mere imaginary or vaporish affection, which is, in fact, a real indisposition, and
without due care, may terminate in some dangerous
disease. — The Doctor rarely knew what it was to
|