AN ACCOUNT OF THE RELIGIOUS AND LITERARY LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE, LL.D., F.A.S., &c. BY A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY. Habuit a natura, genus quoddam acuminis, quod etiam arte limaverit, quoderat in reprehendis Χαριτι δε Θεού, εἰμι ὁ ειμι. VOLUME II. NEW-YORK, PUBLISHED BY B. WAUGH AND T. MASON, FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AT THE CONFERENCE J. Collord Printer. 1833. C57453 1.2 PREFACE TO THE SECOND VOLUME. In the preface to the first volume of this work it was stated, that Dr. Clarke could never be induced to write more of his life than that portion of it which has already appeared before the public. This resolution was a subject of much regret to all his family, and to none more so than to the continuator of these memoirs,-his youngest daughter. One day, while she was strongly urging her father upon the subject, and was giving reasons for her importunity with that zeal which affection excited and a conviction of the importance of her request sustained, he listened for some time, and then, in the midst of her pleading, he said, "Mary Ann, why do not you yourself undertake the work? I will give you every assistance to carry it on, so far as materials are concerned; my journals, my commonplace book, my letters, my memoranda of events and thoughts, are all at your service; whatsoever requires explanation I am here to make clear, and any information which you need concerning facts or persons, you shall have; be yourself the continuator, and let me be solicited no farther on a point concerning which I have long made up my mind ;" and immediately he took her into his study, and laid before her a mass of materials, and gave a variety of details, all of which seemed to promise that it would not be so hopeless for another to execute the task as had been previously supposed. Under the impression of this feeling, she returned home; but when she coolly and calmly reflected upon what was implied in the work thus undertaken, her courage failed, and she wrote to Dr. Clarke, stating her doubts and fears and incapacity: this letter obtained an answer calculated to relieve her apprehensions, containing, in addition, an exhortation to persevere in the undertaking, couched in such strong language of affection, that the wish which it expressed was immediately felt by her heart as a positive command. She therefore undertook the office of biographer, induced by her father's express desire; and with much anxiety, laboriously arranged, connected, and dilated the materials and memoranda committed to her care. Such is the origin of Dr. Clarke's youngest daughter becoming the continuator of her father's memoirs, an office which she assumed with feelings little short of dread; because, as her love and admiration of her parent were intense, so was her anxiety, lest his fame and due estimation should be injured by any want of skill or care or talent in his biographer. State University of lowa |