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FRAGMENT.

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now."-Joнn xvi. 12.

Do not we who are parents know something, though in a small and human degree, of the truth contained in these words? How gladly would we impart to our children all that we know and feel; but their childish hearts cannot receive a tithe even of our finite human knowledge; much less can our hearts receive all the unsearchable riches of Christ, “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

I well remember the first letter which I wrote to my little boy, who was about four years old. I was staying in the country, and so I told him of the pony that I had been riding, of the ducks that swam in the river and landed in the garden, and such-like childish incidents. But how much more was in my heart to tell him, and yet how useless it would have been! I had indeed many things to say to him, but he could not bear them then.

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And if our human hearts long to make known to our children the truths that we have heard and felt, how much more does Christ our Lord desire that we should grow up into Him in all things," in order that He may unfold to us more and more of the wonders of that kingdom, which "is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."

Thus will the "many things" be revealed which Christ has still to say to those who "sit at his feet and hear his word." Thus shall we " grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," and become fitted to bear the full revelation of God's loving will; "to know even as we are known."

R. W.

MEMOIR OF JOHN STEWART.

THE following sketch of the career of the late John Stewart is presented here, because he was amongst those who a few years since started the idea which has now resulted in the issue of the Friends' Examiner. He anticipated the success of such a periodical with sanguine interest, and, having been long connected with the press, would have taken pleasure in contributing to its pages. Though not originally a Friend, he had acquired in early life, through the influence of old Scotch Independency, a strong and lasting bias to Christian principles and church discipline, kindred in many respects to those of Friends. His writings were chiefly in reference to politics and art, his treatment of which shewed a mind of no ordinary compass. To borrow the testimony of one of his most honoured friends, from his earliest connection with the press, his writings on art were powerful and conspicuous, his discernment of his subject was peculiar, while his command of language and singular discrimination in the use of terms conveyed his own feelings and ideas to others with an exactness very remarkable. The same ability characterized all his literary undertakings: his aim being always the elevation of his species through a conscientious cultivation of the true and the beautiful throughout the universe. Surely, then, his longindulged hope has not been altogether in vain, that he should leave behind him some

"Footprints in the sands of time."

The suggestion may be carried further:

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The late John Stewart was a native of Roxburghshire, having been born in the now flourishing town of Galashiels, on the 29th of June, 1814; but his residence was early removed to Edinburgh. When about three years old he had a virulent attack of measles, which, with the severe medical treatment, left an irradicable impression on his system. For some months he appeared totally blind, a circumstance that gave him ever afterwards an intense sympathy for those suffering from loss of sight. He was seven years old before his eyes were strong enough for him to learn to read, but the interval was amply employed in rude attempts at drawing, by which he was interested far more than by the games usual to childhood; unconsciously commencing even then that self-education to which he was so much indebted throughout his career, and the power for which was a leading quality of his mind. He made good progress at school, and after attending a drawing class, was by his own wish apprenticed to a house-painter in Edinburgh, not without hope of thereby attaining a professional reputation; for in Scotland, as in Italy, house-painting ranks in the department of the Fine Arts rather than in that of ordinary trade, and from it have arisen in both countries some of their most conspicuous artists. His spare time was consequently mainly devoted to picture painting; but his progress was checked by another serious and memorable illness of an inflammatory character, which invalided him for a whole year, and during which his life was for a while despaired of.

It was during his apprenticeship that John Stewart's first appearance in the public journals took place. In the latter part of his life, when his reputation as an art critic had been recognized both in Scotland and England, this first essay formed one

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of his most interesting reminiscences, and the reflection of that day's pride glowed on his countenance as he related how, when about 19 years of age, he wrote a criticism of the Exhibition of the " Royal Scottish Academy," and, scarcely hoping that it would receive much attention, affixed his own name and address, and dropped it into the "Editor's Box" of one of the newspapers. He watched with doubting expectation the issue of the paper, and was not a little delighted when he saw his "article" set in large type as one of the leaders. His reward seemed so complete that he never thought of receiving payment. One day, however, a gentleman called at the shop asking for Mr. John Stewart. With hesitation lest something were wrong, the apprentice lad answered the call, his identity with the authorship of the criticism was established, and the interview ended by an invitation to send more of such writing at any time. The result was that his pen was never after wholly laid aside until the last year's illness forced it from his hand.

Through many of his earlier years he had devoted much time to another branch of the Fine Artsvocal music. From practising with the choir of his church, he passed on to more public appearances; and several times took part in concerts in the Music Hall along with some of the well-known professionals of the day. This was almost the only particular in which he incurred the displeasure of his parents; but it is due to him to add that, many years later, in endeavouring to dissuade a young man from the same course, he told him that he had never taken half-a-crown in his life for all his singing, but he would since have given many half-crowns for half the time he had wasted over it.

The bent of his mind was always opposed to frivolity, yet sometimes the desire to take part in the relaxations of his companions prevailed over his books

and pencils. On one occasion his father found that with his brothers and others he had been taking dancing lessons, whereupon he held up his hands in astonishment:" He really thought that John would have had more sense. This acquirement was of little use to him, and he never allowed dancing in his family.

On the termination of his apprenticeship, being still far from strong, he resided for some time in an agricultural village a few miles west from Edinburgh, and there followed out his business, being employed by Lord Torphichen at Calder House, and other proprietors in that neighbourhood. There his health so far recovered, that he returned to Edinburgh, and entered into business on his own account in that city. His studies meanwhile were leading him deeply into the history of ancient and modern Art, and the abstract truths on which it is based, as gathered from biographies of the old and more modern masters of every school, and from historical and theoretical writings, for, having access to the public libraries, his acquaintance with works of this description became very extensive. The more he entered into the truths or principles revealed in these, the more their fitness to the pursuits of ordinary life unfolded to his perception. Hence the aim of his best literary efforts to introduce art as a basis of ordinary education. This interest in the advancement of the people was probably his introduction to the political interests of the day, and gave rise to the decided part he took in what are called Radical politics and Voluntaryism,-sharing in the efforts made from time to time to reform the parliamentary and local representation of the city, and contributing articles on these subjects to several of the leading papers, especially to the Scottish Pilot, for which also he reviewed works on the Fine Arts, and wrote critiques on the annual picture exhibitions. The columns of the Nonconformist also received his earlier papers.

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