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MEMOIR.

INTRODUCTION.

Ir "history ought to be re-written," may it not be said, with equal truth, that biography has been highly defective, not in its style or manner of composition, but in its subjects? It has seized, for the most part, on the lives of the famous: the world's warriors and heroes, tyrants, and men of blood; not omitting its criminals, and those who have become notorious from selfishness, ambition, pride, and lust. True, it has embraced the noblest men of genius, in literature, science, and art; with many who have deserved its embalming power for their virtues, but how small a space has it allotted to unpretending worth; to moral and religious merit alone; to the self-sacrificing, philanthropic, and quiet laborers for God and humanity! How many of this class have sprung up to bless the walks of private life; exhaled the

sweetness of pious and benevolent souls, made their sacrifices, toiled their hours of duty, and passed away without memorial save in the hearts of those who knew and loved them, and leaving their names unrecorded except in "the Lamb's book of life!"

Pictures or sketches of such should be scattered throughout society. They would encourage goodness. They would strengthen virtue. They would silently admonish the selfish and vicious. They would assist in guiding the minds and blessing the hearts of our children. And that biography has so far overlooked them; that it has so often passed them by to seize upon examples of at least questionable influence, is doubtless chiefly owing to that false system of education which teaches us that goodness is no necessary element of true greatness; that a desirable eminence may be attained at even the sacrifice of virtue; and that we may win distinction and an enviable renown the more surely to kill with a Wellington than to heal with a Howard.

It is from considerations like these, principally, that the following memoir is given to the world; that an outline of Sanford's brief and unpretending history has been drawn from the archives of private friendship for the public eye; and that

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