of his dead wife's memory, the preservation of the mementos which belonged to her, the judicious advice to his daughters on their entering life, the attention to public business, strenuous but serene, the biblical allusions in private conversation, the transcribing of extracts from works on divinity in a memorandum book, the considerate terms used regarding the Natives, the devotion to missionary effort, the historic lore, the fondness for searching out ruins, the tall and spirit-like form, the calm and lofty soul — are all to be found in this portrait. The presentiments of failing health and possibly approaching death are just those which Thomason must have uttered. Several parts of the book, then, are to be accepted as an account of his inner character, depicted by the accomplished hand of his own daughter, who was constantly with him to the last. The same book contains a lovely description of the Táj at Agra by this gifted lady, emulating that given by her mother in 1837. She also represents in graphic terms the beauties of Náini Tál, that being the place whither her father was proceeding when arrested by death. She was married there, and when penning this gay word-picture, little thought it would be her fate to die there also[1].
- ↑ She married William Johnston, of the Bengal Civil Service, at Náini Tál in 1854, and died at Náini Tál also, in 1864. Her other novel, entitled Gifts and Graces, has a character Mr. Neville, who, although he resides in England, is a counterpart of Thomason, and this part of the book affords collateral testimony from his own daughter.
