America, and the American Church

Front matter

METHOXHST CAMP-MEETING m KENTUCKY .n NIOHT / .,»,(//-<,,, AMERICA, AND THE AMERICAN CHURCH. BY THE REV. HENRY CASWALL, M.A. RECTOR OF CHRIST CHURCH, MADISON, INDIANA, AND LATE PROFESSOR IN THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE DIOCESE OF KENTUCKY. TEN YEARS RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. & F. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL. 1839. LONDON: gilbert and rivington, printers, st. John's square. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD KENYON, THE ABLE DEFENDER OF THE CHUHCH OF ENGLAND, AND THE WARM FRIEND OF THE CHURCH IN AMERICA, THIS VOLUME IS, WITH PERMISSION, INSCRIBED, AS A TOKEN OF SINCERE RESPECT, BY THE FIRST-ORDAINED GRADUATE OF KENYON COLLEGE. A2

Preface

. At a period when the opponents of the Church of England are actively engaged in attempts to un dermine her influence and destroy her reputation, it appears to the author that no work can better exhibit to the British public the vital energy of the Episcopal system, and the real benefits of an adherence to its essential principles, than a circumstan tial account of the American Church. The contemplation of a remote branch of the English establishment rising from its ruins, and not merely sustaining itself, but increasing with unprece dented rapidity, will induce Englishmen, it is hoped, to prize more highly those blessings which they now enjoy, and which so many in America are labouring to extend. The view of a thousand republican clergymen, and five hundred thousand republican laymen, contending for a liturgy and for the " sacred regimen '' of bishops, will be sufficient to prove that a3 VI

PREFACE.

. the system which has flourished under the tyranny of the Roman empire, and the constitutional monarchy of England, contains in itself nothing repugnant to the principles of political self-government. At the same time the wonderful progress and improvement of the American Church serve to confute the Romanist, who asserts that the Church of England is sustained merely by the secular arm, and that in the event of her losing that support, she must of necessity become extinct. The author has carefully avoided political discus sions. Yet, as he may appear to speak occasionally like a republican, he deems it incumbent on him to state, that he regards the American form of government as being, on the whole, well adapted to the present condition of the people, and to the independence which naturally belongs to the pos sessors of a territory more than sufficiently ample for the population.

But, though he may be a republican in America, he is satisfied that he never could become a republican in England. In like manner, he admires the popular constitution of the American Church, chiefly on account of its fitness to the peculiar habits and feelings of the nation. It is a beautiful scheme, by which, on the one hand, the proper influence of the three orders in the ministry is maintained ; while, on the other hand, the voice of the people not only receives due

PREFACE.

. VII respect, but exerts as much authority as the most democratic Christian could desire. Although the author considers that many regulations similar to those of the American Church might be adopted in England with safety and advantage, he believes it must be plain, that a large portion of the peculiarities of the system are exclusively American, and would be exotics in any other portion of Christ endom. The reader is supposed to be acquainted with the general features of the political government of the United States, since they have been often and well explained by travellers and other writers. For in stance, it is taken for granted, that he is aware of the fact that every State is a distinct sovereignty, possessing its own legislative, executive, and judi cial departments, while Congress provides for the general welfare of all, and their necessary inter course with foreign powers.

The present object of the author is merely to give such a description of America as will add interest to his work, and afford a sufficient ground-work for his more particular account of the Church and its institutions. It may be said, that the author has given too favourable a character of the American people. In reply to this he can only aver that he has stated all those facts which he considered necessary to the illustration of his subject; and that he has not a

PREFACE.

. intentionally concealed what he believes to be wrong, nor unduly extolled that which he considers to be praiseworthy. He is persuaded that many writers on the United States have attacked human nature in general, while they intended to be severe on the Americans in particular, and he has endeavoured to avoid the error into which they have fallen. He believes that the circumstances in which he has been placed, have qualified him to judge impartially, though not infallibly. On the one hand, as a British subject, he is attached to his country and his sovereign by a thousand early associations ; on the other hand, he loves America as the birth place of his wife and children, and as the residence of some of the purest characters which the world has produced. He believes, also, that he has seen enough of America to correct the first vague impressions, whether painful or agreeable, experienced by every one on his first arrival in a foreign country.

He has resided nearly ten years in the United States, and has travelled no less than eight thousand miles within their spacious boundaries. As a student, he has mingled with students, as a teacher with teachers, and as a clergyman with clergymen. He has seen society in the log-cabin as well as in the drawing-room, while in his pastoral capacity he has been called to study the foibles of his parishioners, no less than their excellencies.

PREFACE.

. IX Regarding his subject more as a traveller and a spectator, than as an essayist, he has been con strained to give more prominence to himself and to his own experience than he would otherwise have desired. Yet he has endeavoured to avoid a weari some uniformity ; and he hopes that by presenting his description in the varied form of letters, jour nals, narratives, and biographies, the interest of the work to the general reader will be materially en hanced. If it should throw any light on the fundamental principles of ecclesiastical polity ; if it should in any degree promote charity between two great nations, and a spirit of Catholic union be tween two important portions of the One Apostolic Church, the author will consider himself amply rewarded for his novel and laborious under taking. Madison, Indiana, United States, 1838. A CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Letter To

A FRIEND VOYAGE AND JOURNEY FROM ENGLAND TO OHIO. PAGE Packet-ship. — First night at sea. — Calm. — Banks of Newfoundland. — Storm. — First sight of land. — New York harbour. — First view of New York. — Sunday in New York. — Episcopal service. — Methodists. — Voyage to Albany. — Stage-coach. — Canal-boat — Little Falls. — Indians. — Auburn, Geneva, &c. — Falls of Niagara. — Island at the Falls. — Sandusky. — Arrival at Gambier 1

Chapter II. Letter To

A FRIEND. GAMBIER AND ITS VICINITY. Caution necessary in judging of America. — History of Bishop Chase. — His appearance. — His labours. — Situation of Gambier. — Climate of Ohio. — People. — Inhabitants of Gambier. — Students in Kenyon College. — Their character. — Their Sunday-schools CONTENTS.

Chapter III. Letter To

A FRIEND. OHIO. PAGE General description of Ohio. — Knox County. — Description of two townships. — Their inhabitants. — Character of the inhabitants. — Author lost in the woods. — Log-cabin. — View of the country and people. — Newark. — Columbus. — Legislature of Ohio. — Episcopal worship at Columbus. — Antiquities at Circleville. — Chillicothe. — Cincinnati. — Return to Gambier ,41

Chapter IV. Religion And The Church

' Relation of the Civil Government to Religion. — General Christianity prevalent — Relation of the Episcopal Church to the people. — Parochial organization.— Diocesan organization. — Convention of a Diocese. — Standing Committee 58

Chapter V. The Same Subject Continued

General Convention. — Its various powers. — The Church wholly independent of the State. — Distinctions in the Ministry. — Probation of Candidates. — Deacons. — Priests. — Bishops. — Influence and standing of a Bishop. — Ecclesiastical Trials.— Mode of trial in Ohio. — Resignation of Bishops. — Assistant Bishops CONTENTS. XIII

Chapter VI. The Lay-reader

PAGE Emigrants to the West. — Early years of Mr. Gunn. — He reads the Service in Connecticut and in New York. — He emigrates to Ohio, and reads the Service at Portsmouth. — Bishop Chase visits Portsmouth. — The Lay-reader's labours terminate. — He becomes blind. — He gives a third part of his property towards the building of a Church. — He addresses his descendants on his death-bed. — He dies. — Episcopal Parish at Portsmouth. — The Author resigns his charge 91

Chapter VII. Journey From Portsmouth To Andover

Liberality to Clergymen in America. — Ohio canal. — Moravians. — Schooners on Lake Erie. — Cloud proceeding from the Falls of Niagara. — Buffalo. — Rochester Report of St Luke's Church. — Albany. — New York. — President Jackson. — Hell Gate. — Newport — Episcopal Church. — Providence. — Boston. — Convention of the Church in Massachusetts. — Ride to Andover 106

Chapter VIII. New England

General description. — Religious divisions. — Unitarianism. — Harvard University. — Andover Seminary. — Episcopacy in New England. — Clerical Associations. — Visit to Bishop Griswold. — His residence. — Description of Salem. — Marblehead. — Episcopal Parish near Andover. — Visit to Vermont — Sleigh-riding. — Snow in New Hampshire. — Shakers at Lebanon. — Bethel in Vermont — Episcopal Church. — Its Rector. — Return to Massachusetts CONTENTS.

Chapter IX. The Church In Hartford, New York, Philadelphia

&C. PAGE Author appointed to a Professorship in Kentucky. — Commences a tour in behalf of the Kentucky Theological Seminary. — Bristol. — Providence. — Church at Newton.— Good-Friday in Hartford. — Church in Hartford. — Washington College. — Its income and resources. — Voyage to New York. — Prosperity of the Diocese of New York. — Bishop's Address. — Episcopacy in New York and Brooklyn. — General Theological Seminary. — Character of the New York Episcopalians. — Journey to Philadelphia. — Diocese of Pennsylvania. — Episcopacy in Philadelphia.. — Society in Philadelphia. — Return to Hartford. — Journey to the West. — Kenyon College revisited. — Arrival at Lexington.. 142

Chapter X. History Of The American Church

General remarks. — First Settlement of America by Episcopalians. — Emigration of numerous Dissenters. — Gradual increase of the Church. — Opposition of the Puritans. — Cromwell's persecution of the Cavaliers. — Church established in Virginia. — Sustained in New England by the Propagation Society. — Character of the Clergy. — Disorders ascribed to the want of Bishops. — Rapid growth of Dissent attributed to the same cause. — Episcopalians endeavour to obtain Bishops without success. — Puritans oppose Prelacy. — Ruin consequent on the Revolution.. — Episcopal candidates still ordained in England.— Origin of the General Convention. — Consecration of Bishop Seabury 161 I CONTENTS. XV

Chapter XI. The Same Subject Continued

PAGE First General Convention. — Various opinions in the Church. — Influence of Dr. White. — Prayer-book altered. — Address to the English Prelates. — Reply from the English Archbishops. — Election and Consecration of two American Bishops. — Constitution of the Church revised.— Dr. Coke proposes a reunion of the Methodists with the Church. — Assistant Bishops appointed. — The House of Bishops acquires the right of negative. — Increase of the Church. — Western country nearly lost to the Church. — Diocese of Vermont organized. — General Theological Seminary and Washington College instituted. — Bishop Chase and others consecrated. — The Church quadruples its numbers in twenty-fouryears. — Missionary Society established. — Alexandria Seminary, Kenyon College, and Kentucky Seminary instituted. — General Convention of 1835. — Missionary Bishops.— Death of Bishop White. — His character 178

Chapter XII. Education

Arrival at Lexington. — Common schools in New England, New York, &c. — Benefits of common schools. — Inadequate remuneration of teachers. — Grammar schools. — Colleges. — Their number, students, classes, and teachers. — State Colleges. — Theological Seminaries. — Their number, students, classes, and teachers.— Course of study in Kenyon College and Theological Seminaries.— Female schools. — St Mary's Hall. — Republicanism of students. — General remarks on American education CONTENTS. XVI

Chapter XIII. Lexington

&C. PAGE Incorporation of the Theological Seminary. — Its Professorships. — Duties of the Professor of Sacred Literature. — The Students. — Course of study in Sacred Literature. — Description of Lexington. — Churches. — University. — Property of the Seminary. — Inhabitants of Lexington. — Kentuckians. — Population of Kentucky. — Slaves. — Sects. — Literary characters in Lexington.. — Dr. Cooke.. — His offices in the Church. — Religious papers in America. — Episcopal papers. — Church Advocate. — Christmas Address. 214

Chapter XIV. Prayer Book Of The American Church

Propriety of alterations. — First plan of an altered Prayer Book. — Objections of the English bishops. — Further deliberations in Convention. — Subsequent alterations. — New Offices. — Comparison of the American Prayer Book with that of England. — General inference 234

Chapter XV. Missionary Operations Of The Church

Trial of the Bishop of Kentucky. — Author becomes a Missionary. — Madison described. — Indiana.— Bishop Kemper's early zeal for Missions. — Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. — Its resources. — Present organization. —Systematic offerings. — Their results. — Missionary operations. — Importance of Domestic Missions. — Account of the Rugby Missionary CONTENTS. XVII

Chapter XVI. Church Buildings In America

PAGE Erroneous ideas in England. — Real condition of Church edifices. — Variety of places of worship. — Scene in an arbour at Gambier. — Log-church. — Village Churches. — Organs. — Pulpit and Desk. — Al tar and Font — Pews. — Sign oftheCross. — Christmas decorations. — Parsonages. — Burial grounds. — City churches. — Western churches. — Splendid decorations. — Church Building Society 273

Chapter XVII. Clerical Duty And Compensation

Definition of a Parish. — Institution of a Clergyman. — Clerical Costume. — Sunday Services. — Performance of Worship. — Character of Sermons. — Sunday Schools. — Baptisms. — Confirmations. — Marriages. — Churchings. — Funerals. — Registers. — Further Parochial Duties. — Pluralities. — Extra parochial Duties. — Examinations. — Ordinations. — Standing Committees. — Ecclesiastical Legislation.— Trials. — Church politics. — Sources of Compensation. — Endowments. — Pew-rents. — Voluntary Contributions. — Presents. — Money more plentiful than men. — Remarks on the Voluntary System 292

Chapter XVIII. Non-episcopalians And Roman Catholics

Origin of the American Sects. — Their relative numbers. — Their Unity of Doctrine. — Recapitulation of the Sects. — Revivals. — Religious eccentricities. — True method of Christian Union CONTENTS.

Chapter XIX. Extraneous Influences On The Church

PAGE Influence of the State. — Of the Church of England. — Of the Dissenters. — Disposition to compromise.— High and Low Church. — Effects of the Dissenting influence. — Irregularities.— Uniform front of the Church 328

Chapter XX. Letter To

A CLERGYMAN PROPOSING TO EMIGRATE. When a clergyman should not emigrate to the United States. — Exclusion of American Clergymen from English pulpits. — Papers necessary to the emigrating Clergyman. — Books and Clothing. — Advice relative to the passage. — Methods of economy. — Advice on reaching New York. — Advice relative to conduct in society and naturalization. — Remarks on Slavery. — Conclusion] 344 Appendix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Ecclesiastical Map . . . .1 Log Sunday School . . . . .38 Ruins of the first Church built in America . . 162 Log Church . . . . . .278 Camp-meeting by night .... 316 N.B. These Sketches were taken by the Author. AMERICA and THE AMERICAN CHURCH.

Chapter I. Letter To

A FRIEND VOYAGE AND JOURNEY FROM ENGLAND TO OHIO. Packet-ship. — First night at sea. — Calm. — Banks of Newfoundland. — Storm. — First sight of land. — New York harbour. — First view of New York. — Sunday in New York. — Episcopal service. — Methodists. — Voyage to Albany. — Stage-coach. — Canal-boat — Little Falls.— Indians. — Auburn, Geneva, &c. — Falls of Niagara. — Island at the Falls. — Sandusky. — Arrival at Gambier. Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio; October 1828. My dear Edward, Having promised you a circumstantial account of my voyage and journey from England to this place, I hasten to fulfil my engagement : premising, however, that you must expect nothing of an adventurous character, or materially differing from a hundred narratives of the same kind already before the public. E After leaving you, I passed through a beautiful and romantic portion of our native island ; and on the evening of the second day arrived at Liverpool.

Here I ascertained that the line of New York packets had been so arranged, that two of those vessels regularly sailed every week. Accordingly, I took a berth on board the Canada of New York, a fine ship of five hundred and seventy tons burden, under the command of Captain Hugh Graham, and, proceeding to the packet office, paid thirty-eight guineas for my passage across the Atlantic. The whole of the following day was occupied in preparing for the voyage, by procuring a variety of articles of clothing. I have great reason to regret that my purchases were not much more extensive, since I have found that clothing of all kinds is more expensive in America than in England. At twelve o'clock on the next day, August 1 6th, I embarked ; not without some painful feelings, as you may imagine. In a few minutes afterwards, the Canada unmoored, left the docks, and entered the river.

Then her white sails were unfurled, and in a short time Liverpool disappeared. I must now describe the vessel and her inmates ; and I beg you to recollect this description will apply to the New York packets in general, equally with the Canada. Figure to yourself a number of genteel looking persons, of both sexes, occupying the after part of the wellwashed deck. Some are leaning over the stern, overcome with emotion, and some are casting a melancholy and lingering look upon the receding shore. Others are seated on the green painted hen-coops, apparently absorbed in meditation ; while not a few are pacing the deck with the coolness and indifference of those to whom scenes of this kind are familiar. The dingy looking steerage passengers, restricted to the forward part of the ship, are lounging over the bows, and watch ing each approaching wave : the sailors are busily engaged above in spreading the sails ; while the steersman is holding with his muscular grasp the polished wheel, and alternately casting his eyes on the swelling canvas aloft, and on the compass before him, which already fluctuates with the increasing motion.

You must now accompany me into the cabin. It is an elegant room, about fifty feet in length, and twenty in breadth. Four small windows at one end give you an alternate glimpse of the sea and of the sky, as the stern sinks or rises with the swell. Two doors at the other extremity give you an occasional view of the interior of the ladies1 cabin, where a handsome pier-glass and an elegant sideboard allow you to form some idea of the con veniences provided for the occupants. Two spacious sky-lights in the ceiling of the main cabin admit light upon a long table, on which the cloth is b2 aheady laid, while four black servants are arrang ing the materials of a comfortable hot dinner. A barometer, a glass lamp, and two inverted com passes, are suspended above. Ten doors on each side of the cabin, open into as many state cabins, each ornamented with fluted and gilded pilasters.

The mizen-mast, encased with carved mahogany, passes through the dinner-table ; and a large gilt eagle spreads his wings over the seat appropriated to the captain. You may now form a tolerably correct idea of the home provided for myself and about twenty-eight others, during a sojourn of nearly five weeks. As the evening came on, many of the passengers began to suffer from the first attacks of sea-sickness ; but, happily, I was little affected by it. We were now fairly out among the broken waves of the Irish Sea, and the motion of the vessel became excessively unpleasant. There was, however, no alternative but to bear it ; as escape was, of course, entirely out of the question. I lay down in my berth, in one of the state cabins, and sought for rest, but in vain. The seamen on deck were running backwards and forwards, and throwing down huge coils of cordage ; while the timbers of the ship were creaking, and the cabin doors banging violently at every roll.

The sick were groaning with lamentable tones, the black servants were running from door to door, — children were crying, — pigs grunting, — poultry cackling, — and in short, every variety of acoustic torment was inflicted upon the distracted landsman. In the morning, the return of which was joyfully greeted, the high hills of Holyhead were full in sight, at the distance of fifteen miles, together with the adjoining coast of Anglesea. We then stood for the Irish coast, and having obtained a view of the hills in Dublin Bay, on the afternoon of the 18th, we went on the other tack, and came in sight of Small's lighthouse on the Welsh coast, at ten o'clock at night, on the 19th. We then stood for the south west, and the next morning I beheld the last mountain of Wales slowly sinking behind the horizon.

I watched it with melancholy interest until the evening, when it was at length hidden by the interposing waters. On the afternoon of the 21st we passed Cape Clear, the south-western extremity of Ireland, and immediately experienced the long and regular swell of the Atlantic. The wind now blew fresh from the west north-west, so that we made but slow progress towards our destination, being obliged to steer to the south-south-west. Continuing this course we found the climate daily becoming warmer ; and on the 30th of August, a fortnight after our embarka tion, we passed within a hundred miles of the Azores. In the course of the following week, we b3 were becalmed for two successive days. During this tedious interval the motion of the ship was most distressing, the swell being considerable, and the vessel rolling unsteadily, at the mercy of every wave.

The passengers endeavoured to amuse them selves with reading and writing, and occasionally with chess, draughts, and backgammon. Many, indeed, who had worn considerable dignity and gravity of appearance when they first came on board, now condescended to betake themselves to the diversions of school-boys. On the 4th of Sep tember, we were relieved by a brisk breeze from the north-west, which carried us through the water at the rate of ten miles an hour. We were at the same time gratified with the sight of several flying fish. A shark was seen under our stern, and two whales spouted within a mile of us. In three days from this period we approached the southern ex tremity of the great banks of Newfoundland, and for a time were incommoded by a dense fog. On the 8th the sea appeared luminous in the evening, and broad streams of light flashed from the bows of the vessel, like pure flame.

The following morning a vast shoal of porpoises was seen proceeding to the southward. These two phenomena were regarded as indications of the approach of a gale from the south. Nor did they in this instance deceive us. The storm commenced with violence at ten a.m., and its arrival was indicated by a sudden lurch of the vessel, by which many of the passengers were thrown down. All our sails were taken in with the exception of two, which being trebly reefed were allowed to stand. The cabin appeared dismal from the closing of the windows ; but more dismal were the wailings of some of the affrighted passengers. On the deck the sea was pouring in torrents ; and the captain himself, assisted by the mate, and clothed in a water-proof cloak, assumed the guidance of the vessel. On the following morning the tempest had subsided, and we were much amused by the gambols of several beautiful dolphins, which sported under the bows.

One of them was taken on a hook, and drawn on deck, amid the acclamations of the delighted spectators. He was immediately hung up to perish, that the passengers might have the gratification of beholding the rapid and surprising changes of colour, which come over the skin of the dying fish. During the night we passed near an iceberg. The thermometer sunk a number of degrees, and we heard the hoarse and hollow sound of the waves dashing against the floating island. On the following day, September 14th, at the request of the captain, I read divine service to the passengers in the cabin ] ; 1 The Author was not ordained at the time. — English Editor. _ a duty which had been unfortunately neglected on previous occasions, by reason of the weather, and other real or imaginary impediments. On Monday we perceived indubitable tokens of our approach to land.

The wind, too, was precisely in our favour, and we were advancing at the rate of eleven miles an hour. On Thursday, the 18th, at six o'clock in the morning, the great continent of the west was visible on deck. How eagerly did I scrutinize, with my telescope, every object of the New World that gradually arose above the blue horizon ! Soon I distinguished trees, then a fallow field, and afterward a farm-house, the windows of which I was soon enabled to count. Then I per ceived persons walking on the beach, and occasion ally stooping down, as if engaged in picking up shells. About ten o'clock a tall lighthouse with white walls and a blue roof came in sight. Soon the lofty groves of Staten Island appeared ; and soon afterwards a neat little village on the shore of Long Island. About noon, an elegant schooner rigged boat was observed steering directly towards us.

In a few minutes she came alongside, and her sails were lowered in an instant. A small boat then con veyed our pilot to us from this beautiful vessel. Other schooners of a similar description soon came up, from which issued the messengers of various newspaper establishments, all anxious to obtain the latest intelligence from Europe, together with accounts of our voyage, and of the number and names of the passengers. Our names, ages, professions, and allegiances were also entered in a book kept by the captain, and by him delivered to the proper authorities. About three o'clock p.m., we entered the Narrows, which constitute the southern approach to the harbour of New York. Two huge batteries frown upon the voyager from the opposite heights, and their numerous port-holes and long tiers of cannon appear sufficient to effect the annihilation of any unwelcome intruder.

All at once, on turning a corner just within the Narrows, we were delighted at perceiving New York with its numerous steeples and crowded shipping full in view at the opposite extremity of the bay, and at the distance of four or five miles. Vessels of all sizes were lying on the unruffled bosom of this magnificent harbour, while country-seats, with neat gardens, studded the sur rounding shores. Here the tide turned against us, and the wind also failing, we cast anchor. Many of the passengers, including myself, now went on board the pilot-boat ; but on account of the impediments already mentioned, we did not set foot on the American shore till eleven at night. We had left our baggage, with the exception of a few necessary articles, on board the Canada ; so after a slight examination by the Custom-house b officers, who neither expected nor received any fee, I proceeded with two others to the Adelphi Hotel, a spacious edifice at the lower end of Broadway, where, after partaking of an excellent supper we retired to rest.

During the night I suffered, for the first time, the tormenting sting of the mus quitoes; but happily soon lost all sense of their provocations in a quiet and refreshing sleep, undis turbed by nautical cries and marine tactics. On awaking in the morning, my first impulse was to run to the windows and obtain a glimpse of the New World. As my chamber was in the sixth story, I possessed an extensive prospect. The bay lay before me with numerous vessels at anchor, and steam-boats continually passing and repassing. Waggons, carts, hackney-coaches, and stage coaches, were driving up and down Broadway in great numbers, while in the opposite direction, a forest of chimneys reminded me that it was no in considerable city in which I had spent the night. On going down stairs, I found an excellent break fast on the public table, consisting of beef-steaks, lobsters, fricassees, stews, boiled potatoes, eggs, tea and coffee, bread and butter, warm toast, &c. all very good in their kind.

During the day I visited some of the public buildings, and was agreeably disappointed in all that I saw. I went also to the Custom-house, and obtained a permit to land my baggage, which I accordingly transmitted to my hotel in the care of a porter. The following day was Saturday, and being anxious to proceed to my destination, I busied myself in making inquiries respecting the cheapest and most expeditious route to Ohio ; and soon obtained such information as I needed. On Sunday, the hum of business was entirely sus pended throughout the city ; and an agreeable still ness universally prevailed. At eleven o'clock, I went to Grace Church, in Broadway, and obtained my first impressions of the American Episcopal Church. The appearance of the congregation was highly respectable ; indeed it appeared to contain none of the lower classes of society.

The church itself was beautifully clean and neat; and handsomely car peted throughout. The service is almost identi cally the same with that of the Church of England ; but the Litany is somewhat retrenched, the Nicene Creed is omitted in the Communion Service, the Lord's Prayer is not so frequently repeated as in England, and the President is prayed for instead of the King. Some minor alterations, chiefly verbal, are admitted; some of which are unquestionably improvements. As to the performance of the ser vice, I observed no clerk ; and the responses were made by the whole congregation. The singing and b chaunting were good, and conducted by skilful practitioners, assisted by an excellent organ. I perceived that the Prayer-book contained a collection of between 200 and 300 hymns, one of which was sung immediately before the sermon.