John Murray

“ Prudence again was ready with her expostulations: "Well, and what are you to do now? you have been thus far brought on by an obliging friend; you have fifty miles more to ride, through a country, not an individual in which you have ever seen, and you have not a penny in your pocket." Again, I say, am I not here, as in Philadelphia, under the care of that beneficent Being, who holds the universe in His hand? I will go on. Just as I raised my foot to the stirrup, the master of the house appeared. "One word, sir, if you please, step in for a moment." I once more entered the hospitable dwelling. ”

“ John Murray has not been cheered by the acclamations which greeted his illustrious predecessor, if the weight of a great accepted authority and of preconceived impressions has kept down the admiration which ought ever to reward the happy suggestions of laborious research, he has had at least the great satisfaction of observing the silence of any effective criticism. ”

“ Hardly less fictitious seems to be the dispute between the Scottish king and a Murray, in relation to the tenure. The Murrays first became connected with Selkirkshire in 1461. John de Moravia then acquired the lands of Philiphaugh, and was afterwards appointed Custos of Newark Castle, and came into possession of Hangingshaw and Lewinshope. All of these are attributed to the Outlaw in the ballad. This John Murray was a contemporary of Boyd, Earl of Arran, and of the forfeited Murray of Traquair, but, with all this, nobody has pitched upon him for the Outlaw ”

“ John Murray, (settled Minister of the Independent Church in Gloucester) for more than fourteen years past, hath occasionally laboured among us, in this place, much to the edification, and consolation of God's people; and we bless God, therefore, and most sincerely pray, that the good will of Him who dwelt in the Bush may accompany him on his way, and bring him back to his numerous friends, richly laden with the blessings of the Gospel of peace. ”

“ No one better supported the dignity of the profession than Charles Murray, a son of Sir John Murray, of Broughton, and originally intended for the medical profession. In his younger days, before he fell into the line of old men, at Covent Garden, [267] he was playing at Wakefield, where he so spiritedly resented an insult flung at him as an actor, that the party he thereby offended made a public quarrel of it, and the town was divided into two factions. ”

“ I take this opportunity of saying that, however much we may differ upon matters of business, I most sincerely wish you well.
JOHN MURRAY. In the end they agreed to draw lots for the house, and Murray had the good fortune to remain at No. 32, Fleet Street. Mr. Highley removed to No. 24 in the same street, and took with him, by agreement, the principal part of the medical works of the firm. Mr. Murray now started on his own account, and began a career of publication almost unrivalled in the history of letters. ”

“ John Murray more than the author of this memoir, who, indeed, out of respect for his Christian virtues and excellence, bears his name; but these records must be faithful in all respects. So far from Mr. Ballou's having obtained the opinions which formed the great and distinctive features of his doctrine from Murray, that venerated minister did not [Pg 48] believe the creed of Universalists as taught by the subject of this biography, namely: that the Bible affords no evidence of punishment after death. Even at the time of Murray's death he held most tenaciously to his early belief ”

“ Murray, how greatly you succeed, when engaged upon a theme which I emphatically call your own. I love to hear you speak upon any subject; but on this, you are, I had almost said, divine; your whole soul seems engaged, when dwelling upon the Redeemer, and His love to man; nothing but the voice of the God who made you, and who hath so wonderfully endowed you, can exceed the honied accents of your heaven-inspired tongue. Do you wonder that I am daily wishing myself among the number of your hearers, your happy hearers! ”

“ Aside from Jonson and Beaumont, the men of literary accomplishments who were in the King's immediate circle were for the most part Scotchmen, long in the service of the King, and with tastes and training similar to his own. To this group belong several members of the Murray family: Sir David, Prince Henry's master of the robes; Sir Thomas, tutor and secretary to Charles, and the predecessor of Wotton as Provost of Eton; John Murray, a gentleman of the King's privy chamber; and Sir Patrick Murray, also a member of the royal household. ”

“ The edition of Dioscorides, 'Opera,' 1529, belonged, respectively, to Lord Burghley and Sir John Cheke.
The library of Mr. John Murray, the eminent publisher, of Albemarle Street, is a small one, but every item is either excessively rare or unique. Its formation was begun by [308] Mr. Murray's grandfather, whilst his father made considerable additions. Naturally, it is very strong in manuscripts and first editions of Byron. It contains, for example, not only the original manuscript of 'The Waltz,' but the several proof-sheets up to a very fine copy of the perfect book. ”

“ John Murray, of Albemarle Street, occasioned by his having undertaken the publication, in London, of Blackwood's Magazine." "The curse of his respectability," he was told, had brought the letter upon him. "Your name stands among the very highest in the department of Literature which has fallen to your lot: the eminent persons who have confided in you, and the works you have given to the world, have conduced to your establishment in the public favour; while your liberality, your impartiality, and your private motives, bear testimony to the justice of your claims to that honourable distinction." ”

“ Murray laying his spread hand upon his breast, answered: "Sir, I feel such a consciousness of innocence here, that I know not what it is to fear. It is with perfect composure that I commit myself to God, and the Laws of this Commonwealth. If I have broken any law, let me be punished by law; but I bless God I am not a lawless person. Sir, I am a stranger to fear, I have committed no action worthy of punishment. Sir, I know not what it is to fear. No man can have any power over me, except it be given to him from above, no injury can be done me, but by the permission of my God. ”

“ I could not endure to see, or be seen, in the vicinity of the abode which I had quitted; and I made immediate preparations for my departure. I tendered, to my disconsolate mother, the money I had received from Mr. Little, not a penny of which she would accept: "No, my beloved child, if you must launch out upon the wide ocean, into a world of which you know but little, you will find this sum, large as it is, far short of your exigencies. Through your filial exertions, I am established in a dwelling, far beyond my most sanguine expectations, or even wishes ”

“ They will unquestionably make provision for you." But this would be leaning upon an arm of flesh; it would be making provision for myself. "What will you do at the first stage? you will not be able to purchase any thing, either for yourself, or your horse." If I meet with no support, I will return immediately; by this I shall know, if it be the will of God I should proceed. "And will you really go on in this way?" Most assuredly, and I was on the point of mounting my horse, when a gentleman crossed the street. "Are you going out of town, sir?" Yes, sir. ”

“ What do you mean, sir? "I must go on in my own way, I am a poor ignorant man, I neither know how to read, nor write; I was born in these woods, and my father did not think proper to teach me my letters. I worked, on these grounds, until I became a man, when I went coasting voyages from hence to New-York. I was then desirous of becoming a husband, but, in going to New-York, I was pressed on board a man of war, and I was taken, in admiral Warren's ship to Cape-Breton. ”

“ The impressions are too lasting to be effaced, and so deeply are they marked together, that, when the ideas of the great redemption arise in my mind, those of Relly and Murray, are inseparable therefrom, as the mediums through which sublime truth beamed upon my soul. I am desirous of anticipating that adult age, you so beautifully describe, when knowledge shall be conveyed, not by the obstructed tongue, or tardy pen, but by intuition. ”

“ For the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved; yet so, as by fire.
Mr. Murray's last marriage was the result of a strong and holy friendship, founded upon the Rock of ages; and, originating in devout admiration of redeeming love, it is fervently hoped, and unwaveringly believed, that this Union will be perfected in another and a better World. ”

“ Had we seen a spectre, we could not have been more appalled. He stood for some moments speechless, until fixing his eyes indignantly on my face, which was certainly covered with confusion, in a very pointed and significant manner, he said, "So, sir;" and, taking his daughter by the hand, he conducted her from the parlour, leaving me to my own reflections. Words are inadequate to a description of my agonies, during the residue of that night. An idea of Miss Little, in any other character than that of a very dear sister, had never crossed my mind ”

“ Then, having kissed each of the children, and spoken a few words to Wild Bill, he took the woman's hand, and said,—
"The sorrers of life be many, but the Lord never forgits. I've lived ontil my head be whitenin', and I've noted that though he moves slowly, he fetches most things round about the time we need 'em; and the things that be late in comin', I conceit we shall git somewhere furder on. Ye didn't kill the big buck this mornin', but the meat ye needed hangs at yer door, nevertheless." And, shaking the woman heartily by the hand, he whistled to the hounds, and passed out of the door. ”

“ My pride was hurt, and I determined to ascertain the exact sentiments of my associates, respecting this interview. Poor soul, said I, she is far gone in error. True, said they; but she is, notwithstanding, a very sensible woman. Ay, ay, thought I, they have assuredly discovered, that she has proved too mighty for me. Yes, said I, she has a great deal of head knowledge; but yet she may be a lost, damned soul. I hope not, returned one of my friends; she is a very good young woman. ”

“ But I had occasion to reproach myself for my suspicions, for no sooner was I conducted to his dwelling, than he caught me in his arms, and expressed the highest satisfaction. Upon introducing me to his lady, he said: "My dear, this young man is the eldest son of one of the best men I ever knew. No man ever possessed a larger share of my venerating affection: I love this young person as his son, and I love him for himself ”

“ Murray continued in the army so long as his health would permit, but being violently seized by an indisposition, which terminated in a bilious fever that precipitated him to the gates of the grave, he was, by the Physician of the Brigade, conducted to Gloucester; and no sooner was his health re-established, than his strongest feelings were powerfully excited, by the sufferings of the sons and daughters of want in that town. War of any description, is particularly oppressive to its inhabitants, seated upon the margin of the ocean, their subsistence is principally derived from the deep. ”

“ No one can ever say, that we were backward, in doing every thing in our power to serve and oblige every gentleman, that ever came into our house: and, though I say it, that should not say it, I believe there is not a house, in our way, in London, that has ever had more good people in it, as a body may say, than ours; and, says I, Lord, sir, says I, you need not for to make yourself uneasy; it is no crime, says I, to be in difficulty, or the like of that; the best people in the world, says I, are in the greatest difficulties, says I ”

“ God's way is in the great deep, we ought to acquiesce in all the dispensations of our Creator. You, my dear son, are as clay in his hand; God is as the potter, who will do with you as seemeth good in his sight. Who can resist his will?" Thus did this dear lady speak peace to a mind, that had not, for a long season, received such strong consolation.
I was urged, while in the city of Cork, to relinquish my purpose of going to England. The Methodists solicited me to repair to Limerick, where a preacher was much wanted ”

“ I am sure, I have had my share of troubles and difficulties in this world, says I; but I had better, says I, have them here, than in a worse place: I hope, I shall atone for all my sins here." Thus did this creature's tongue run, and would have continued so to do, had not my brother asked, if I had breakfasted? "Ay, sir, I am glad to hear you say something of that. The poor gentleman has not seemed to care any thing about eating, or drinking: for my part, I was frightened, in the dread of the poor gentleman's dying in the house ”

“ Arriving in sight of Newport, Mr. H⸻ said: "There, sir, is my meeting-house; at a little distance from thence is my dwelling-house, and my friends are mulitplied." Well, sir, I have no home, meeting-house, nor friend, in Newport. Yet, I repeat, before I leave that city, I expect to have more than one home, and many friends. "Well, now I think of it, there is one man, who has a little place, in which, possibly, you may get leave to preach; I will direct you to a man, who has some acquaintance with him." I will thank you, sir, to inform me where my horse may be taken care of ”