opportunity of thanking you for your kind favor of 9th February.

I read the periodical which you had the goodness to send me, with much interest. The biographical sketches cannot fail of producing the most beneficial effects on the minds of all who read them. The notices of the various efforts now making for spreading the Gospel, are not only interesting, but refreshing to the hearts of sincere Christians. The selections are judicious, and frequently most impressive. I read with much pleasure your address on the beneficial effects of Sunday schools. How you find time to compose so many eloquent addresses and sermons is to me a matter of astonishment.

In this country the Church still creeps slowly, but on the whole gains ground. I was likewise abused for joining the Prayer-book with the Bible; but I have strong nerves, and when conscience approves, I am callous to slander. You will gain ground in spite of all opposition, and a short time will prove the soundness of the principles upon which you have acted.

I am, sincerely yours,

CHAPTER XIX.

A. D. 1818-Et. 43.

Address to Convention-Painful Duty-Mr. How-Letter to Dr. Berrian-Oneida Indians-Letter to the Bishop-His Answer-Visits them-Interesting Scene-Aged Mohawk Warrior-Young Onondaga-Visit of the Author-Prosperous Condition of the DioceseReligious Revivals; the Bishop's Opinion: their Result-Bishop Hobart's Explanation of Evangelical Preaching.

THE meeting of the Convention of 1818 was to the Bishop a period at once of the highest pleasure, and the severest mortification. The pleasure arose from the proofs afforded of the unprecedented extension of the Church during the past year, not only by its parochial reports but also by the unusually large assemblage of delegates representing it. The latter circumstance was so marked, that the Bishop opened his address with noticing it as 'gratifying evidence,' said he, of increasing zeal for the interests of our Church.'

6

The mortification arose from the misconduct of one who, from boyhood, had been to him as a bosom friend, and, for several years past, his assistant in the Church, and coadjutor in all his labors for its defence and advancement. Far be it from him who now records his humili

ating fall to dwell one moment beyond the needful moral, on this sad tale of human infirmity. From such a height did he fall, and so low, that, when first known, the instinctive exclamation of every heart was,-LORD! lead me not into temptation, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.'

If such was the shock to those who knew him but as a Christian minister, what must it have been to one who loved him as a brother, and rested upon him as a bosom friend and counsellor. Nor was he called only to mourn over it in secret. As head of the Church it became his duty to publish it to the world, and, not only that, but to inflict, as it were, with his own hand, the merited punishment. To such a heart it was more than a Roman trial. to one who held, as he did, life cheap, when compared with duty, it would have been easier, far easier, to have passed upon him the sentence of death than of degradation.

For

What he felt upon the occasion must be conceived, for it was not expressed; his words conveying it were few and stern; It is incumbent upon me,' said he, on conviction, to inflict upon him the sentence of degradation from the ministry, and I shall, without delay, discharge my duty in this business.'

But even convicted unworthiness could not

tear him from his heart. From among the papers of that unfortunate man, of whom, though still living, we may yet speak as dead, and raise this tablet, if not to his memory, at least to others' warning; from among these have been saved, as relics, two letters (would there had been more!) from his mourning friend, which must have wrung from him bitter, and, may we not hope repentant tears. The first is of a date a short time subsequent to his final sentence. The second, from the Bishop, bears date but a few weeks previous to his own removal to a better world.

TO THOMAS Y. HOW, ESQ.

'New-York, March 17, 1819.

Scarcely a day passes, my dear How, in which I do not think of you. But the scenes of our friendship, once so interesting, and a source of so much enjoyment, appear now a dreary waste. You, who know my heart, and know how much of its happiness is placed in the exercise of friendship and affection, can estimate what a loss I have sustained in your separation from me. Did I think you corrupt and abandoned, I should feel less; but believing, notwithstanding your great and grievous sins, that your heart is not depraved, that your principles and feelings were all hostile to the course which you were pursuing, and that now sincere and deep penitence occupies your soul, the impossibility of our former intercourse of affection is most distressing to me. Often I think of going to your study in the confidence of

reposing on the bosom of affection; but you are away, and perhaps, as it regards our future personal intercourse in this world, for ever. I must not, however, dwell on this subject. May GoD pardon, bless, and save you, is my prayer. Your letter to the Messrs. Swords was delivered. They will write to you on the subject of it, and will send you the books you requested, and the numbers of the Bible.

Take care of your soul. Humble penitence, lively faith, firm resolutions, constant prayer and watchfulness, you will, I trust, cherish and practise. And may GOD pardon, bless and save you, through his Son JESUS CHRIST, is the prayer of

Your affectionate

Let me hear from you; don't fail.

J. H. HOBArt.’

On the back of this letter appear, in the hand-writing of him to whom it was addressed, convulsive efforts as it were to draft an answer. Nothing, however, is legible but mere snatches of thought or feeling, as I have '-' My dear Hobart'-'I am aware,' &c. &c. It is a dark and fearful picture, to see the hand of genius thus paralyzed by remorse; but, 'Let him who thinketh he stand take heed lest he fall.'

'Alas! my brother, round thy tomb,

In sorrow kneeling, and in fear;

We read the pastor's doom,

Who speaks and will not hear.'