MARSH, JAMES, D.D., 1794-1844; b. Hartford,Vt.; graduated at Dartmouth in 1817, and entered the Andover theological serninary, but suspended his studies there after the first year to return to Dartmouth as tutor. • Returning to the seminary in 1820, he grad uated in 1822. His studies at Andover extended beyond the ordinary limits, and included not only the modern languages, but the then new field of German erudition, and the works of Plato. He was also an appreciative reader of Wordsworth and Coleridge, and an article contributed by him in his senior year to the North American Review on ancient and modern poetry attracted wide attention. He also began at the same timen translation from the German of Bellerman's work on the geography of the Scriptures. His intense application to study injured his health, on which account, before his gradua tion, he visited the southern states. Though strongly disinclined to become a preacher, he was ordained as a Congregational minister in 1824. From 1824 to 1826 he was pro fessor of languages in Hampden Sidney college, Ya., giving a portion of his time, how ever. to the adjacent theological school. Here he began his translation of Herder's Spirit of Ilebrew Poetry, the hrst parts of which appeared in the Christian Repository at Princeton. In 1826 he was appointed president of the university of Vermont, and it was at his suggestion that some important changes were made in the courses of study he that institution. Finding the duties of president irksome, he resigned the post, and
accepted instead the professorship of moral and intellectual philosophy, which lie held to the close of his life. In 1829 he contributed' to the Christian Spectator a review of Stuart's Commentary on Hebrews, which contained the germ of his most characteristic writings. At this period he became acquainted with the writings of Coleridge, in which. he found much to confirm and strengthen his own convictions. His introduction to the first American edition of the Aids to Reflection won him a high reputation at, home and abroad. It was reproduced in London, and in 1853 prefixed to a complete American edition of Coleridge's works. In 1830 lie published a volume of selections from the old English divines, including Howe's Blesselness of the 16ghteous, and Bates's l'our Last T kings. In 1833 he completed his translation of Herder's SpiHt of Hebrew Poetry. Ile contemplated several important works, including a system of logic and a treatise on psychology, which he did not live to complete. His Remains, with a Memoir by prof. Joseph Torrey, appeared in 1813. He died in Colchester,Vt.