Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/116

100 number of the Psalms in the old Scottish version, and remarked that, though they had not the smooth flow of some later versions, they yet had the merit of keeping close to the original. He then repeated to the child Montgomery’s version of the 72d Psalm, telling him that he knew the author well, and esteemed him highly.

“On my apologizing for certain forms which, as a Presbyterian, I observed in my family, he earnestly replied, ‘Go on in thy usual way; I don’t want thee to change.’

“After I began to publish books, he manifested a warm interest in their success. Each visit he made, he questioned me regarding their sale, and often did his eye kindle with animation, as I related to him the large sale of some of his favorite authors I was often surprised by his largeness of view. He did not disparage books because there were some things in them contrary to his views of church order, but would remark, ‘The spirit of this book is excellent, though there are some particulars in which I do not agree with the author.’ In fact, few critiques upon our publications have been so highly valued as those from his pen.”

In Dr. Griscom’s Autobiography, after a sketch of some length of his friend Robert Carter, we find the following words: “I make this statement as a preamble to the fact that he so abounds in gratitude for the friendship which I was at first induced to treat him with as to present to me copies of any work that issues from his press which I have any wish to read. I have from this source received an accession to my library of more than two hundred volumes. I could not do less than commemorate such disinterested kindness, such an effusion of gratitude, at once challenging and receiving the grateful emotions of my heart.”