1

respect to desultory reading. This bane of real study, (haud inexpertus loquor,) is opposed no less to the true enjoyment of letters, than to deep proficiency. There must be a stretch of mind to give the highest intellectual pleasure; and continuance at one department of study is necessary, if we would engender that happy enthusiasm which ensures success. None of my studies have afforded me more gratification than those which I have pursued with a strict method, and with an attention almost undivided to my peculiar branches. I have merely looked at Hopkinson's defence. To confess the truth, I am unable to lash myself into any warmth of interest in these details: it would be quite as refreshing to me, to peruse the commodore's log-book. I rejoice, however, in his acquittal. My reading has of late been purely theological, if I except a little dipping into some of the unequalled descriptions of the "Faery Queene." "Horsley's Tracts against Priestly," I thought the most triumphant confutation I had ever read, until I fell upon "Magee on the Atonement," which I may safely declare gave me as much delight as any book I have ever seen, of a speculative kind. The nakedness of Unitarianism is there exposed with the most invincible argument, and the keenest satire. "Outram on Sacrifices," "Sermons de Durand and Bourdaloue," "Claude sur la Composition," &c., have taken up some of my time. I was at a friend's house the other day, where I heard a young lady from New York sing in exquisite style, "Like the gloom of night retiring; you may be sure that my mind reverted to the soirée in Street. I soon go beyond the reach of music, among the mountain tops of Virginia, except such music as the north wind plays map of Virginia at the smooth face of the counties Bath, Greenbrier, and Monroe, and you will see how I shall be cradled among the cliffs. Is there any fast, festival, or high day in any of your Popish places in the city, shortly? I have as you know a great hankering after such things: and I have been so lamentably disappointed in my various attempts to hear Harold preach, that I feel willing almost to travel forty miles if I had the certainty of so doing. Apropos of Popery. My good friend and correspondent, Etienne Frontis, formerly of the Seminary, is now preaching in Monroe county, Michigan. He gave notice a few weeks ago that he would preach in French. The priests took the alarm, and threatened excommunication to any who should

among the recesses of the hills. Look upon the

1 Of Commodore Stewart, then before a court-martial.

2 Dr. Harold was for many years the most prominent Roman Catholic clergyman in Philadelphia; and not only as an orator, but as a polished gentleman.

go near the heretic. On Sunday morning the Priest, (Bellami,) who is just from France and knows not a word of English, preached on the subject; said the Protestants were divided into hundreds of sects, used a corrupt and false Bible, and that no good Catholic would go. Frontis made his discourse almost entirely from Scripture quotations, using the Catholic authorized version of De Sacy. Twenty of the Catholics heard him. The next Sunday Bellami said it was a pack of lies, that he was un ministre de démon, and the like gentle expressions, and excommunicated five persons. In the evening, at vespers, he looked round, and saw one of these men in his usual place; he threw off his vestments, and called on the people to turn out the heretic. "Turn him out yourself," said a loud voice from the crowd. Two men pulled off their coats to assist the priest, but the culprit, who had hitherto requested them not to interrupt his devotions, put himself into an attitude of carnal defence, and threatened to knock down the first who should touch him. None ventured on so stubborn a heretic. This excommunication was done by order of the Bishop Richard, who lives at Detroit, is a Jesuit, and a member of Congress from that territory.

I find it rather difficult to obey you with regard to disbelieving all reports of the yellow fever. We have some stories quite plausible of the existence of that malady in your city. HowI trust it will prove false. There have certainly been several cases in New Jersey, and at Bristol. It requires, I believe, some rare symptoms to indicate yellow fever to your Board of Health.

ever,

CHAPTER IV.

LETTERS WHILE A LICENTIATE.

1825-1827.

NEW BRUNSWICK, October 19, 1825.1 Where should I be but in New Brunswick? Here therefore I am, attending the meeting of the Synod of New Jersey, and enjoying the company of one or two friends. On returning home, I spent part of a day, and might spend many, in looking over the library of Professor Patton, which I had never before seen. In his own department, (languages,) his collection is superior to any thing I ever saw. He has the best editions, ancient and modern, of all the classics; and every book which can be named affording any facility in these studies. I found there also a uniform edition of the whole range of Italian literature; and all the German writers of eminence. Among other curiosities which his residence in Europe enabled him to pick up, he showed me a Danté of A. D. 1497, and an immense work containing views of all the ancient ruins of Rome. His collection of Atlases and Plates is noble indeed. I went to Freehold on Saturday and preached twice. The only business of importance which has presented itself as yet to the Synod, is the case of two complaints; one is from the congregation of Wall street, N. Y., against the Presbytery of Elizabethtown, who have refused to put their call into the hands of Dr. McDowell: another is the appeal of - who has been suspended from the ministry of the Gospel. 20th. Mr. Hamilton, of Newark, preached a very long sermon last night upon Slavery.

1 Mr. Alexander was licensed as a probationer for the ministry, October 4, 1825, by the Presbytery of New Brunswick in session at the village of Cranbury. His trial-sermon was on John iii. 3. The first discourse, under his license, was preached in the lecture-room of the Cedar Street church, New York, on the 8th October, from Jeremiah ii. 19. On the next day, which was Sunday, he repeated the sermon in one of the churches of Brooklyn, and preached in the Cedar Street church from Galatians ii. 16.

HOME, November 14, 1825. I am so shortly to bid adieu to Princeton that I am more sensible than ever of the pleasures it has afforded me as a home. Since I saw you, I have been called to preach every Lord's day; and as this has always been out of Princeton, it has laid me under the necessity of riding up and down continually. Brunswick detained me a willing prisoner during the session of Synod; thence I went to Freehold-Trenton-Lawrenceville-Cranbury -and have just arrived here, after riding in the face of a cold November storm.

From your letter, you seem to be truly alive in Philadelphia. Surely you have no excuse for not being orators, when so much eloquence is sounding in your ears. I have been introduced to a Dr. Barber, an Englishman; but as he is of H. M. navy, it cannot be the lecturer [on elocution] of whom you tell. Griscom, you remember, speaks at some length of Thelwall and his system. I have no faith in these systems-being of the creed "Orator nascitur" &c. The Seminary has commenced with more than a hundred students; among the rest a coloured man from Schenectady-a very sensible, genteel personage. Our Legislature gave me amusement while I was in Trenton. The motion for an adjourned "Setting" (so the mover proposed it) was lost. I saw Seixas and his [deaf and dumb] pupils there, seeking patronage. Some of our Princeton folks have petitioned for a bank. What next? The proposed canal [Delaware and Raritan] will come, it is thought, within a mile and a half of Princeton. We are pleased with the thought of being able then to get Lehigh coal, with less expense of transportation.

My departure towards Virginia is fixed (Deo volente) at the 1st December. I feel not a little anxious with regard to my future course Yet two things support me: 1st. I have devoted myself to a good work, and am willing to be spent in it. 2d. I am under the care of a merciful Providence, by which all things will be conducted aright. Something of my own insufficiency I feel deeply feel-and sometimes am conscious of an ardent desire to live only for the work of Christ: but alas! my ordinary tempers and manners savour little of the cross. Yet I know the excellence of what I try to preach, and am ready at all hazards to proclaim it, and recommend it to others.

BALTIMORE, December 5, 1825.

The introduction you were so good as to give me to Mr. Laussat1 has proved a source of much satisfaction: his company

1

Antony Laussat, then a student of law, and afterwards a member of

1

rendered agreeable the passage which would otherwise have been almost insufferable. To him I refer you for all the curiosities of our journey, viz., the circus riders, the odd and ludicrous disputes of the stage coach, the enlightened Senators, &c., &c., to the end of the chapter on steamboat adventures. On arriving here I went to Barnum's great establishment, which, extensive as it is, sinks to nothing in comparison with a new hotel which he is erecting, and which is larger than the New York City Hotel. After breakfast, I went to the house of the Rev. Mr. Nevins. He resides in a very large and handsome mansion in Belvidere street. No one could be more cordial and friendly than he has proved himself. On Sunday morning I heard Mr. Nevins preach, and there is no man living, whom, with my present knowledge of men, I should prefer to him as a preacher after my own heart. In the afternoon I filled his pulpit, and at night that of Dr. Glendy. At the latter place, I was pleased with discovering, after sermon, Mr. Laussat. Had I discovered him before, I should have felt less at ease. Last night I was inveigled into an address at the Monthly Concert of prayer. Baltimore surpasses my highest expectations. I looked for much splendour in this great emporium and thoroughfare, but so much elegance, and neatness, and commercial bustle, and public improvement, I was not prepared to find. And the people whom I have as yet seen, are in manners and kind attention, superior to any class of persons I have ever known. There is something in the dialect of the Marylanders, especially as it flows from female lips, which is truly enchanting, being a golden mean between the curt and succinct enunciation (ut ita dicam) of the Yankee, and the fullmouthed rotundity and carelessness of the Virginian. It is worth your while to come to Baltimore, were it only to see the painting by Paulin Guerin, presented to the Cathedral here by Louis XVIII. Nothing in the arts ever so transfixed me. It is the taking down Jesus from the cross. The Cathedral itself I take to be the noblest piece of ecclesiastical architecture in the United States. It has a noble simplicity of design which enables you at a coup d'œil to apprehend its vast expression of sublimity. It is filled with paintings. The Unitarian synagogue which stands opposite is elegant. The Exchange contains a large hall or dome similar in its impression to the interior of your Bank. The Atheneum, Masonic Hall, Court House, Washington Mon

the Philadelphia bar, but removed by death at an early period of what had already become a distinguished career. He died in 1833.

1 On Wednesday of the same week he preached in the lecture-room of the First Church, and on the following Lord's day twice in the Second Church, (Dr. Glendy's,) and once at the Orphan Asylum.