His entire career was indeed but a prolonged illustration of the lines which he himself addressed to his deceased friend, Dr.John Reid, a likeminded man, whose memoir he wrote:-- "Thou wert a daily lesson Of courage, hope, and faith; We wondered at thee living, We envy thee thy death.
Thou wert so meek and reverent, So resolute of will, So bold to bear the uttermost, And yet so calm and still.".