But the narrative is also intended to be a domestic one. It has, therefore, been the aim of his biographer to exhibit Bishop Hobart, not only as the ruler, but, as the man and the Christian; and to interweave, with the loftier features of the one the lovelier traits of the other. He has, therefore, painted him as in life he knew him, full of benevolence as well as zeal, and as condescending as he was fearless; uniting the warm heart and the open hand, and the kind manners of the humble, cheerful Christian companion with the dauntless spirit and uncompromising love of truth that should distinguish him who is called to govern or to teach.

With a view to unite these two pictures, the one personal, the other official, it has been the author's aim to make the former serve as it were, as a frame-work to the latter; or, rather, as the canvass and ground on which his policy and sentiments were to be wrought and woven, in order that incident might give interest to doctrine, and doctrine give importance to incident, and the whole become, to the rising generation of the clergy of our Church, a pleasing and instructive manual of the ministerial character.

This, however, the author is prompt to acknowledge, was but the IDEA that occasionally

flitted before his mind of what might be effected, with the materials he held, by talents and knowledge suited to the task, and the command of competent leisure. For himself, he was well aware, not only that the ability to realize it, under any circumstances, lay beyond him, but, also, that he was further disqualified for such an undertaking, by being enabled to devote to it only such hasty snatches of leisure as were afforded by a busy as well as an academic life. But still, with all its imperfections, he puts it forth, confident that he aims at good-trusting, under a higher guidance, in some degree to attain it— and deeply anxious to pay, in such manner as he may, to the Church of which he is a minister, or, rather, (with reverence be it spoken,) to its great spiritual Head, some small portion of that debt of consecrated powers which academic duties have hitherto, perhaps, too much withdrawn from their rightful destination.

Columbia College, March 10, 1836.

MEMOIR.

CHAPTER I.

From date of Ordination, 3d June, 1798, in the 23d year of his age, until removal to New-York, December, 1800.

Pastoral Charge of the Churches at Oxford and Perkiomen-Affecting Incident-Letters from College Friends-Removal to BrunswickResignation-Marriage with Miss Chandler-Rev. Dr. ChandlerLife-Services-Death-Mr. Hobart's Removal to Hempstead-Call to New-York, September 8th, 1800-Letter to Mercer-Traits of Character.

ON the Sunday immediately following his ordination, which took place 3d June, 1798, Mr. Hobart entered upon his ministerial duties: they consisted in the charge of two small country churches, viz. Trinity, Oxford, and All Saints, Perkiomen, distant, the one about ten, the other thirteen miles from the city of Philadelphia. The object of Bishop White in thus stationing him, as given in his own words, conveys a high compliment to his young friend: 'It was very near to my heart,' says he, 'that he should be settled so close to me as to be easily transferred to any vacancy that might happen in the ministry of the churches of which I am

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rector, or to add to our number (in the city) in the event of building a new church, which was then in contemplation.'

One of these rural parishes possessed the interest of what we must, in our recent history, term high antiquity. The congregation at Oxford was one of the earliest organized in the middle colonies, being founded by the labors of the Rev. George Kirk, a convert from the Quakers, who was sent out by the Society in England a general travelling missionary as early as 1702, previous to the appointment of any local ones in this country. His missionary field was the continent of British North America; his allowance 2001. a year; he accomplished his mission in two years, and Oxford was among the fruits of them.*

In this scene of humble duty Mr. Hobart continued to labor until the end of the year, as already stipulated. † How successfully, might be conjectured from the exhibition of character this narrative has already afforded. The surest pledge is to be found in the deep sense of responsibility under which he had entered upon them; the language, however, of one who followed him, affords a more direct testimony.

* History of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, by Dr. Humphreys, Secretary, &c. + Early Years, p. 233.

'His congregations,' says the Rev. George Sheets, 'were crowded, his pulpit talents greatly esteemed, and his person much beloved. I have conversed with several old parishioners who have a perfect recollection of him- they all loved him much, and greatly admired his preaching.' But his rising merit was soon acknowledged by others.

He had hardly entered upon his station before he was solicited to quit it. A call was given him as an assistant to the Rev. Dr. Magaw, in St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia. The letter by which the invitation was conveyed, was in the name of the rector and congregation, and concludes with these urgent words of entreaty —'We trust that you will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of CHRIST. The harvest is great, but the faithful laborers are few, therefore, come down and help us." Though Mr. Hobart's answer is not preserved, its tenor may be conjectured, since we know from the result that the offer was not accepted; declined, most probably, on the grounds already expressed by him, of unwillingness to enter so soon on the absorbing labors of a large city.church.

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In the mean time, his college intimacies, though broken, were not forgotten scattered though they were, his was not a heart lightly

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