PREFACE. I SHALL make no apology for writing the LIFE OF JOSEPH ADDISON ALEXANDER. If the facts recorded in these volumes be not a sufficient justification, there could be no other. Why the duty has been devolved on his nephew rather than upon some one else, is a question which need not be discussed here. It is enough to say that the work was undertaken not at his own instance but in compliance with the wishes of the surviving members of the family. The task, though a grateful, has been an arduous one. The thing aimed at has been not so much any mere literary excellence as an array of competent and incontrovertible testimony. The career of a quiet student affords small material in the way of biographic incident, but it is hoped that the remarkable private and domestic character, and personal traits and idiosyncrasies, of the subject of these memoirs, have not been lost sight of in the attempt to portray his life as a recluse scholar, as a teacher, as a minister of the Word, and as an author. The present biographer is indebted to so many sources, and especially to so many individual friends, for much of the substance of his narrative as well as for much that is valuable and entertaining in the way of criticism, description, and illustrative remark and anecdote, that he finds himself unable to make particular acknowledgments to them all, or even to cite every one of his authorities by In most cases he has done so, in the body of the two volumes which are now respectfully offered to the name. candid judgment of his readers. Where nothing is said to the contrary, it will be right to infer that any matter incorporated in the words of another was contributed originally to this work. Sometimes the language is much stronger than he should have dared to use himself, but is retained as showing his uncle's rare gift of inspiring his pupils with enthusiastic, if extravagant, admiration. To the rule of making no specific acknowledgments of personal obligation in the Preface, there must, however, be one signal exception; and that is in the case of a surviving brother of the deceased, and the editor of several of his posthumous volumes, the Rev. Samuel D. Alexander, D. D., of New York. Indeed so large and important has been Dr. Alexander's share in these labours, that it is only because of his earnest protestation, and inflexible purpose to the contrary, that his name is not associated with that of the nominal author upon the title-page. The first rough draught of the narrative was prepared by him, from the journals of his lamented brother, and his subsequent toils and efforts bearing in one way or other upon the book as it is now presented, have been excessive and invaluable. I may add that the reader will not stray far from the truth, if he will bear in mind that while we have both worked in the quarry and upon the block, the work of my relative and coadjutor has been mainly though by no means exclusively in the quarry, and my own principally upon the block, though also very extensively in the quarry. Each of us has exercised the powers of the veto and of elimination, though the present writer has reserved to himself the power of decisive choice in the few cases where there has been a fixed difference of opinion between us. Where the opinions of the subject of this memoir are given without comment, it is not to be taken for granted that they are also those of his biographer. We have discovered with regret that many errors have crept into the printing that could not be indicated within the ordinary limits of a table of errata. Some of these are trivial or will at once be detected as typographical mistakes, but others for which we equally repudiate the responsibility are more serious, or of such a nature as to baffle all curiosity as to their precise extent and origin. Under these circumstances we throw ourselves upon the mercy of those of our readers who, having suffered themselves in like manner and from the same cause, will, we trust, regard our frailty and unavoidable misfortune with indulgence. The writing of this work was not commenced until after the late war; and though the printing began as far back as November 1868, the publication has been delayed until the present moment for reasons which we the editors could neither remove nor modify. Some of these reasons might also be pleaded in extenuation of the manner in which the volumes are now put before the public. It is true the copy as furnished to the printer was in a state not at all unlike that of the leaves of the Delphic sibyl. But, to borrow a caveat from the Preface of " Alexander on Isaiah,” “instead of resorting to the usual apologies of distance from the press and inexperience in the business, or appealing to the fact that the sheets could be subjected only once" to our revision, we prefer to commit ourselves to the generosity of those who are willing to believe that in spite of present appearances we have made every reasonable effort to secure accuracy. For the foot notes that are given without signature, I am, except in one* instance, myself responsible. May the Lord make this account of the life of one of his devoted servants, instrumental to the promotion of his own glory! H. C. A. * The foot-note at the bottom of p. 45, should have been under the signa ture," R. B." CONTENTS. Parentage.-The Mother.-The Father.-The Old Pine Street Church.-James Alexander.-Lombard Street.-Old Philadelphians. --Germantown.-James Ross.-Anecdotes of Addison.-Princeton.-The College.-Nassau Hall.— Revolutionary Incidents.-Thirst for Knowledge.-Love of Books.—Rapid Growth.-Beginnings in Latin.-Introduction to Hebrew.-Other Oriental Languages.-Princeton under Dr. Green.-Passion for Music.-European and American Choirs.-Influence of this Taste on his Sermons.-Imagina- tion and Fancy.-Intellectual Amusements.-The Boyish Orator.-Facetious Turn. First Efforts at Verse.-Early Poetical Ventures.-Early Attempts at Rhyming.-Poetical Talents.-Early Teachers.-Jemmy Hamilton.— Salmon Strong.-Horace S. Pratt.-Classical School.-Robert Baird.- Talent for Writing.-Great Industry.-Facsimile of Arabic.-At School.- Trenton Reminiscences.-Traits of Character.-Personal Appearance.- Mr. King's Recollections.-Humorous Writing.-"The Medley."-Original Composition.-Stony Brook.-Mr. Baird.-Edward Irving.-James.-Ap- Dr. Lindsley.-His Pupils.-Power of Memory.-Princeton of 1824.-College Curriculum.-Old Commencement.-Princeton Society and Celebrities.- Mr. Janvier.-The McCarriers.-Jemmy McCarrier.-Mr. Alexander in College. His Speeches.-At College.-Habits and Appearance.-Quickness of Parts.-Many-sided Character.-Judge Napton.-Early Taste for Litera- ture.-Moral Habits.-Highly Gifted.-Character of his Mind.-Equality of his Faculties.-College Club.-G. W. Bolling.-Valedictory.-Clerk of Common Council.-First Letter.-Letters Received.-Visits Long Branch. Declines the Tutorship.-Charles Campbell.-Testimony of Professor Hart.— |