whole of the Bishop's official correspondence with the Society at my disposal; and especially to Mr. Eugene Stock, who has most kindly revised such statements as refer to the history of the Society. Other friends have also contributed letters and personal reminiscences, for which I am grateful. With regard to the illustrations which are scattered throughout the volume, they are all, with one or two exceptions, reduced from the Bishop's own sketches. Some of the pen-and-ink drawings are exact facsimiles; and even the full page engravings follow his pencil very closely. The details of the Bishop's death are collated from the different accounts given by those who were either eyewitnesses, or who repeated what had been told to them by those who were present. These accounts slightly vary, but they do not contradict each other in any material point. At the very last moment, when this book had already gone to press, the precious little diary, to the pages of which the Bishop committed his last writings during his imprisonment in Busoga, was most unexpectedly recovered and sent home. The printing of the book was at once stopped, and the last sixty pages have been rewritten so as to incorporate into them the valuable knowledge thus acquired. Space has not permitted me to enter the whole journal unabridged, but very full extracts have been made from it. I may say, indeed, that nothing which could throw any light, either upon the Bishop's state of mind, or upon the circumstances of his case, has been omitted. I now commit this book to the prayers of God's people. It has been my endeavour, in the pages which follow, to let James Hannington reveal himself as he was, in order that those who did not know him in the flesh may learn the secret of that nature which laid so firm a hold upon the hearts of a large circle of devoted friends, and which seldom failed to leave its deep impression upon all those with whom he was associated. My own earnest desire is that the example of his noble self-denial may stir up others to emulation, and brace those who read to follow in his footsteps and to "lay aside every weight, and run with patience the race that is set before them." Edinburgh, Nov., 1886. E. C. D. |
