The life of President Edwards:

Front matter

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Chapter I

His Descent. Family of Edwards. Family of Stoddard. His Father'sFamily • • . 9

CHAPTER H.

His Birth and Education. Earliest Productions of his Pen. . 19

CHAPTER HI.

Habits of Study. Early Productions. Notes on the Mind. . 33

CHAPTER IV.

Early Productions continued. Notes on Natural Science. . 41

CHAPTER V.

Early Religious Productions. " Miscellanies." " Notes on the Scriptures." Early Religious Impressions. His Personal Narrative. ........... &5

CHAPTER VI.

Licensure. Residence in New-York. Personal Narrative continued. His Seventy Resolutions. ....... 63

CHAPTER VII.

His Diary 75

CHAPTER VIII.

His Tutorship. Sickness. Invitation to Northampton. Personal Narrative continued. Diary concluded. ..... 96

CHAPTER IX.

Settlement in the ministry at Northampton. Situation of things at the time of his settlement. Attention to Religion in the Parish. Course of Study. Habits of Life. Marriage. Death and Character of Mr. Stoddard. Sickness of Mr. Edvi^ards. Death and Character of his Sister Jerusha. His first Publication. . . t07

CHAPTER X.

Remarkable Revival of Religion, in 1734, and '35. Its Extent and Power. Manner of treating Awakened Sinners. Causes of its Decline. Religious Controversy in Hampshire. Death of his Sister Lucy. Characteristics of Mrs. Edwards. Remainder of Personal Narrative. ........ liiO

CHAPTER XI.

Narrative of Surprising Conversions. His views of Revivals of Religion. Remarkable Providence at Northampton. "Five Discourses." Mr. Bellamy a resident of his family. History of Redemption. Extra-Parochial labours of Mr. Edwards. Sermon at Enfield. Funeral Sermon on the Rev. W. Williams. . . 137

CHAPTER XII.

Commencement of a second Great Revival of Religion, in the Spring and Summer of 1 740. Visit of Mr. Whitefield at Northampton. Impulses. Judging of the Religious Character of others. Letter b CONTENTS.

t(» his Daughter. Letter to a young Lady in Connecticut. Lay Preaching. Letter of Rev. G. Tennent. Sermon at New-Haven. Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God. Preface by Mr. Cooper and Mr. Williams. Mr. Samuel Hopkins. 146

CHAPTER XHL

Temporary Abatement of Religious Attention. Letter to Mr. Bellamy. Missionary Tour. Success at Leicester. Mr. Hopkins becomes a member of his family. Mr. Buell's successful labours at Northampton. Mr. Edwards' Narrative of the Revival at North-

^ ampton, in 1740, '41, '42. Covenant entered into by the Church. 157

CHAPTER XIV.

Mrs. Edwards. Her solemn self-dedication. Her uncommon discoveries of the Divine Perfections and Glory ; and of the Excellency of Christ. Remarks concerning them. ..... 171

CHAPTER XV.

Extent of the Revival of 1740, '41, '42. Auspicious opening. Opposed by its enemies ; and injured by its friends, c" Thoughts on the Revival in New-England." Attestations of numerous ministers. . Causes of its decline, t-^nfluence of Mr. Whitefield, Mr. Tennent, and others. Inflence of Mr. Edwards' Pubhcations in Scotland. Great Revival of Religion there. His correspondents in that country. Letter to Mr. M'CuUoch. Answer to do. Letter from Mr. Robe. 191

CHAPTER XVI.

First Interview with David Brainerd. Separations from Churches. Letter to Rev. Mr. Whitman. Correspondence with Mr. Clap. Character of that gentleman. Sermon at the Ordination of Mr. Abercrombie. Letter to Mr. M'CuUoch. Views of the Prophecies, relative to the Church. Sermon at the Ordination of Mr. Buell 203

CHAPTER XVII.

Mistakes extensively prevalent at this time, as to the nature and evidences of True Godliness. " Treatise on Religious Affections." Design and Character of the Work. Republished abroad. Letter from Mr. Gillespie concerning it. Letter from Mr. Edwards to Mr. M'CuUoch. Reply to Mr. Gillespie. Proposal made in Scotland, for United Extraordinary Prayer. Efforts of Mr. Edwards to promote it. Letter to Mr. M'CuUoch. " Humble Attempt to promote Extraordinary Prayer." ...... 220

CHAPTER XVIII.

Arrival of David Brainerd at Northampton. His sickness and death at the house of Mr. Edwards. His papers. Death of Jerusha, the second daughter of Mr. E. Her character. Correspondence of Mr. E. with Rev. John Erskine. Abstract of Mr. E.'s first Letter to Mr. Erskine. Plan conceived of the Freedom of the Will. Death of Col. Stoddard. Kindness of Mr. Erskine. Letter of Mr. E. to him. Second Letter from Mr. Gillespie. Letter to Mr. M'CuUoch. Letter to Mr. Erskine. Letter from Mr. Willison. Life and Diary of Brainerd. Letters to Messrs. Erskine, M'Culloch, and Robe. Ordination of Rev. Job Strong. Anecdote of Rev. Mr. Moody. Letter of Mr. E. to his daughter Mary. Second Letter to Mr. Gillespie. ...... 247

CONTENTS. 7

CHAPTER XIX.

Commencement of Difficulties at Northampton. Case of discipline. Condnct of the Church, v Change, as to admission of members, effected by Mr. Stoddard. Controversy with Dr. Mather. Lax mode of admission, early introduced into Massachusetts. Reasons of its extensive adoption. Mr. Edwards makes known his sentiments. Violent ferment in the town. Causes of it. Mr. Edwards not allowed to preach on the subject. Publishes " Qualifications for Communion." The Town request Mr. Williams and Mr. Clark to answer Mr. Edwards' Treatise. Difficulties in the choice of a

Council, 288^*^J

CHAPTER XX. -

Mr. Edwards' own Narrative. History of his own Opinions as to the point in Controversy. Consequences of declaring them. Proposal to preach rejected by Committee. Proposal to publish. First movement of the Precinct, Oct. 16. First meeting of the Church, Oct. 22. Meeting and Votes of Do. Nov. 20. Reply of Mr. Edwards. Meetingof Precinct, Dec. 7. Meeting of Church, Dec. 11. Letter of Mr. Edwards. Preparatory Council agreed on, Dec. 12, - 313

CHAPTER XXL Meeting of Previous Council. Remarks of Mr. Edwards, on the question. Whether he ought not to be allowed to go out of the county, in the choice of a Final Council. Remarks of Mr. Edwards, on the question, Whether the state of things was ripe for a Final Council. Proposal of Mr. Edwards. Result. Adjournment. Measures of both parties, ....... 342

CHAPTER XXII.

Adjourned meeting of the Preparatory Council. Farther Remarks of Mr. Edwards on the question. Whether he ought not to go out of the County, in the choice of the Final Council. Council refuse to express their opinion on this point. - Mr. Edwards' Lectures on Qualifications for Communion. Attempted interference of neighbouring Clergy. Difficulties relating to choice of Final Council. Choice of that Council, May 3. Meeting and Result of that council, June 19. Protest of Minority, 371

CHAPTER XXIII.

Result of Council, and Protest, read. Farewell Sermon. Postscript of Letter to Mr. Gillespie. Letter to Mr. Erskine. Letter to Mr. M'Culloch. Marriage of two of his daughters... Forbidden to preach at Northampton. ' Exemplary conduct of Mr. Edwards. Proceedings of his Friends. Council. Proceedings of Church. Letter

of Mr. Hawley, 404

CHAPTER XXIV.

Review of the Dismission of Mr. Edwards. Causes. Conduct of the Parties. Designs of Providence, ...... 428

CHAPTER XXV.

Proposals from Stockbridge, and from the Commissioners. Visit to Stockbridge.- Indian Mission. Housatonnucks. Mohawks. Dissensions of English inhabitants. Mr. HoUis' munificence. Letter to Mr. Hobby. Reply of Rev. Solomon Williams. Letter to Mr. Erskine. Letter to Mr. Gillespie. First Letter to Mr. Hollis. Removal to Stockbridge. Letter to Hon. Mr. Hubbard. Petition to General Court, 449

8 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXVI.

TiCtter to Sir W. Popperell. Letter to Lady Pepperell. Letter to his father. Arrival of Mr. Hawley. >.' Increasing importance of Indian Establishment. Schemes of its enemies. Firm stand taken by Mr. Edwards. Letter to Mr. Oliver. Letter to Commissioners. Difficulties of the Mission. Answer to Mr. Williams. Letter to the people of Northampton. Marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Burr. Letter to Mr Erskine. Letter to Mr. HoUis. Letter to Mr. Hubbard. 474

CHAPTER XXVII.

Vote of thanks of Commissioners. Sermon at Newark. Measures ;

of the enemies of the' Mission defeated. Letter to Mr. Oliver.

^.--Freedom of the Will. Letter to Mr. Erskine. Deposition of Mr. '

Gillespie. Letter to do. Letter to Mr. M'Culloch. Report of Indian Agent. Reply of Mr. Edwards. Further defeat of the enemies of the Mission. _..-.-- 601

CHAPTER XXVIIL Letter to his eldest son. Return of greater part of the Mohawks. Letter to Commissioners. Mission of Mr. Hawley to Onohquauga. Remainder of Mohawks directed to return. vFireedom of the Will. Letter to Mr. Erskine. Proposal of Society in London. Letter to Mr. Gillespie. Design and character of the Freedom of the Will. Letters from Mr. Hollis. Surrender of Mohawk School to Mr. Edwards. Entire Defeat of Enemies of Mission. Return of remaining Mohawks, 525

CHAPTER XXIX.

Sickness of Mr. Edwards. '* God's Last End in Creation." " Nature of Virtue." Mr. Edwards' second son resides at Onohquauga. Dangers of the War. Letter to Mr. Erskine. Letter to Col. Williams. Lord Kaimes. Letter to Mr. Erskine. Letter to Mr. M'Culloch. Letter of Mr. Bellamy. Treatise on Original Sin. Letter to his Father. Letter to Mr. Erskine, . . . 542

CHAPTER XXX.

Death of President Burr. His character. Mr. Edwards chosen his successor. Letters of Mrs. Burr, — To a gentleman in Scotland — To a gentleman in Boston — To her Mother. Letter of Mr. Edwards, lo the Trustees of the College. Letter of Mrs. Burr, to her father. Letter to Mr. Bellamy. Council dismiss Mr. Edwards. Inauguration as President. First Sermon at Princeton. Sickness. Death. Letter of Dr. Shippen. Letters of Mrs. Edwards, and of her daughter, to Mrs. Burr. Death of Mrs. Burr. Death of Mrs. Edwards, 564

CHAPTER XXXI.

Concluding Remarks, 584

LIFE

OF

PRESIDENT EDWARDS.

CHAPTER I.

His Descent. — Family of Edivards. — Family of Stoddard.-^ His Father's Family.

The number of those men, who have produced great and permanent changes in the character and condition of mankind, and stamped their own image on the minds of succeeding generations, is comparatively small ; and, even of this small number, the great body have been indebted for their superior efRciency, at least in part, to extraneous circumstances, while very \'ew can ascribe it to the simple strength of their own intellect. Yet here and there an individual can be found, who, by his mere mental energy, has changed the course of human thought and feeling, and led mankind onward in that new and better path which he had opened to their view.

Such an individual was JONATHAN EDWARDS. Bora in an obscure colony in the midst of a wilderness, and educated at a seminary just commencing its existence ; passing the better part of his life as the pastor of a frontier village, and the residue as an Indian missionary in a still humbler hamlet j he discovered, and unfolded, a system of the divine moral government so new, so clear, so full, that while at its first disclosure it needed no aid from its friends, and feared no opposition from its enemies, it has at length constrained a reluctant world to bow in homage to its truth.

The two families, from which the subject of the present memoir was immediately descended, are those of Edwards and Stoddard.

The family of EDWARDS is of Welch origin.

The Rev. Richard Edwards, the great -great -grandfather, and earliest known ancestor of President Edwards, was a cler- VoL. I. 2

10 LIFE OF PRESIDENT EO WARDS.

gyman in London, in the time of Queen Elizabeth. He came, according to the family tradition, from Wales to the metropolis, and was of the established church ; but in what shire his family lived, or of what church in London he was the minister, is not known. His wife Mrs. Anne Edwards, after the death of her husband, married Mr. James Coles ; who, with her son, William Edwards, then young and unmarried, accompanied her to Hartford in Connecticut about the year 1640, where they both died.

William Edwards, Esquire, the great-grandfather, resided in Hartford, and is supposed to have been by profession amer^ chant. His wife whose christian name was Agnes, and who came when a young lady with her parents to America, had two brothers in England — one the mayor of Exeter, the other the mayor of Barnstable. Their marriage occurred probably about the year 1645. It is not known whether they had more tlian one child.

Richard Edwards, Esquire, the grandfather, so far as can now be ascertained the only child of William and Agnes Edwards, was born at Hartford in May, 1647, and resided in that town during his life. He also was a merchant and a man of we;ilth and respectability.* At an early age he became a communicant in the Presbyterian church in Hartford, and adorned his profession by a long life of conscientious integrity, and unusual devotedness to the prosperity of religion. He married Elizabeth TuTHiLL, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Tuthill, who came from Northamptonshire, in England. Mr. Tuthill was a merchant of New-Haven, and one of the proprietors of the colony attempted on Delaware Bay.f By this connection Mr. Edwards had seven children, the eldest of whom was the Rev. Timothy Edwards. After her decease, he married a Miss Talcot, of Hartford, sister of the Hon. John Talcot, by whom he had six children. J He died April 20, 1718, in the 7 1st year of his age ; exhibiting, during his last sickness, a l^right example of christian resignation and triumphant faith.§

The family of STODDARD is of English descent.

Anthony Stoddard, Esquire, the maternal great grandfather of President Edwards, and the first of the family in this country, emigrated from the west of England to Boston. He had five wives ; the first of whom, M«.ry Downing, the sister of Sir George Downing, was the mother of the Rev. Solomon

* T learned these particulars at East Windsor, in 1823, from two parishioner^ of his son, the Rev. Timothy Edwards, both of them upwards of ninety years «f age.

t Trumbull's Hist, of Connecticut, Vol. T. pp. 173, 197. and 2pi, X See Appendix A. 5 See Appendix B,

Life of president edvVarbs. i i

Stoddard of Northampton. His other children were Anthonyj Simton, Samson, and Israel*

The Rev. Sor.oMON Stoddard, his eldest child, and the maternal grandfather of President Edwards, was born in 1643, and received the degree of A. B. at Harvard College in 1G62. Soon after his licensure, the first minister of Northampton, the Rev. Eleazer Mather, then a young man, died ;* and the parish applied to one of the ministers of Boston to designate a successor. He advised them at all hazards to secure Mr^ Stoddard. When the parish committee applied to him, he had already taken his passage for London, and put his effects on board the ship with the expectation of sailing the next day ; but, through the earnest solicitation of the gentleman who had recommended him, he was induced to relinquish the voyage and go to Northampton. He began to preach there in 1669, soon after the death of Mr. Mather, and on the 4th of March, 1670, received a unanimous call from the church and people of that village to become their minister; but was not ordained until September 11, 1672. On the 8th of March, 1670, he married Mrs. Esther Mather, originally Miss Warham, the youngest child of Rev. John Warham,! of Windsor, in Connecticut, and widow of his predecessor, who had left three children. { Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard had twelve children : six sons and six daughters. § He was a man celebrated throughout the colonies for his capacity, his knowledge of men, his influence in the churches, and his zeal for vital religion ; and will long be remembered for his valuable writings, which have often been published on both sides of the Atlantic. || He was the minister of Northampton from 1672 until his death in 1729, and left impressions of a character strongly marked for originality, for talents, for energy and for piety, on the minds of its inhabitants, which the lapse of a century has scarcely begun to diminish. We shall have frequent occasion to refer to him, in the progress of this memoir-

The Rev. Timothy Edwards, the father of President Ed^ wards, was born at Hartford, May 14, 1669, and pursued his studies preparatory to his admission to College, under the Rev. Mr. Glover of Springfield, IF a gentleman, distinguished for his classical attainments. In 1687, he entered Harvard College, at that time the only seminary in the colonies ; and received the two degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts on the same day, July 4th, 1691, one in the morning and the

* Mr. Mather was ordained June 18, 1661, and died July 24, 1669.

1 See Appendix C. t See Appendix D. ^ See Appendix E^

|] See Appendix F, t Records of East Windsor*

12 T.IFE OP PRESIDENT EDWARDS.

Other in the afternoon : — " an uncommon mark of respect paid to his extraordinary proficiency in learning."* After the usual course of theological study, at that time longer and more thorough than it was during the latter half of the following century, he was ordained to the ministry of the gospel in the east parish of Windsor in Connecticut, in May, 1694.

Windsor was the earliest settlement in that colony, the first house having been erected there in Oct. 1633. The original inhabitants came from Devonshire, Dorsetshire and Somersetshire, in England. They arrived at Boston in the beginning of the year 1630; and planting themselves at Dorchester in Massachusetts, were there formed into a congregational church on the 20th of March ; when the Rev. John Warham, previously a distinguished clergyman in Exeter, but ejected as a non-conformist, was installed their pastor. Finding themselves straitened for room at that place, in consequence of the great number of emigrants from England, the church with their minister left Dorchester, and planted themselves in Windsor, in the summer of 1635. This town, lying immediately north of Hartford, and delightfully situated in the valley of the Connecticut, originally comprehended a very large tract of land on both sides of the river, and is distinguished for the fertility of its soil, and the beauty of its scenery. The inhabitants constituted one parish until the year 1694 ; when those residing on the eastern side of the Connecticut, " finding it inconvenient to cross the river, and being grown sufficiently numerous to support public worship among themselves, proceeded to build a church, which stood near to the present burying ground, and invited Mr. Timothy Edwards, son of Richard Edwards, Esquire, of Hartford, to be their minister. "f

Mr. Edwards was married, on the 6th day of November, 1694, to Esther Stoddard, the second child of the Rev. Solomon Stoddard, who was born in 1672. His father, immediately after his settlement, purchased for him a farm of moderate extent, and built him a house which was regarded at the time of its erection, as a handsome residence. I saw it in 1803 ; it was a solid substantial house of moderate dimensions, had one chimney in the middle, and was entered like all other houses of that period, by stepping over the sill. In this house his children were born, and he and Mrs. Edwards resided during their lives. They had one son and ten daughters, whose names follow in the order of their births — Esther, Elizabeth, Anne, Mary, Jonathan, Eunice, Abigail, Jerusha, Hannah, Lucy and Martha. {

In the spring of 1711, Mr. Edwards and the Rev. Mr. Buck-

*Re cords of East Windsor, t Records of East Windsor, t See Appendix G.

LIFE OF PRESIDENT EDWARDS. iB

ingham of Milford, were appointed by the legislature of the colony, the chaplains of the Connecticut troops in a military expedition, designed for Canada. He left Windsor for New- Haven in July. A fleet consisting of twenty men of war and eighty transports, sailed for Canada on the 30th of that month. Three companies under the command of Lieut. Col. Livingston, marched from New-Haven for Albany on the 9th of August, with whom went Mr. Edwards and Mr. Buckingham. The country through which their march lay, was at that time chiefly uncleared ; and the troops were obliged two nights to lie out in the forest. They reached Albany on the 15lh, and found there, including their own regiment, about 1100 whites and 120 Indians. The following letter, addressed to Mrs. Edwards from Albany, not only details the state of the expedition, but unfolds the character of the writer, and the circumstances of his family.

^' To Mrs. Esther Edwards, on the east side of Connecticut River, in Windsor.

''Albany, August 17, 1711.

" My dear and loving wife,

" The last Wednesday we came to this place. That we might not travel too hard for the footmen of our troops, (which consisted but of half the regiment, the rest not marching out of New-Haven when we did,) we spent seven days in the journey, which Col. Livi^g^ton judges to be about 160 miles, and I am apt to think it may not be much short of it. I lay with our troops two nights in the woods. I took cold in my journey, and have something of a cough, and am otherwise not much amiss. Notwithstanding this, 1 am able to travel, and hope I shall be so through the whole journey. Col. Livingston has been very careful of me, so that through the whole march, both as to diet and lodging, I fired as well in the main as himself. The rest of the officers and the troops carry themselves as well to me as I can expect or desire.

" Here are about 1100 white men (or will be, at least, when the rest of the regiment come up, whom we expect to-night,) and 120 Indians, beside what are expected of the Five Nations, which many here think will be 1600 or 1800 men, but Col. Schuyler told me that he did not expect more than 1000. About 200 or 250 more whites are expected ; so that the whole army that goes to Canada is like to be about 2500 men ; to carry whom over the lake, there are provided, as I am told here, 350 batteaux and 40 or 50 bark canoes. The Governor of New-York and the General are here. The general is in great haste to have the forces on their march; so that Col.

14 Lli'E OF PKESIDENT EDWARDS.

Schuyler's regiment was, as I understand, ordered to march out of town yesterday; but as I slept last night, and still \m, on the east side of the river, I am uncertain whether they are yet gone. The General told Col. Livingston, and me also afterwards, that we must march for Wood Creek to-morrow, but I am apt to think we shall hardly march 'till Monday.

" Whether I shall have any time to write to you after this I know not ; but however that may be, I would not have you discouraged or over anxious concerning me, for I am not so about myself. I have still strong hopes of seeing thee and our dear children once again. I cannot but hope that I have had the gracious presence of God with me since I left home, encouraging and strengthening my soul, as well as preserving my life. I have been much cheered and refreshed respecting this great undertaking, in which I verily expect to proceed, and that I shall, before many weeks are at an end, see Canada; but I trust in the Lord that he will have mercy on me, and thee, my dear, and all our dear children, and that God has more work for me to do in the place where I have dwelt for many years, and that you and I shall yet live together on earth, as well as dwell together forever in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ, and all his saints ; with whom to be is best of all.

" Remember my love to each of the children, to Esther, Elizabeth, Anne, Mary, Jonathan, Eunice and Abigail. The Lord have mercy on and eternally save them all, with our dear little Jerusha ! The Lord bind up their souls with thine and mine in the bundle of life. Tell the children, that I would have them, if they desire to see their father again, to pray daily for me in secret ; and above all things to seek the grace and favor of God in Christ, and that while they are young.

" I would have you very careful of my books and account of rates. I sent you from New-Haven a 40s bill in a letter by Lieut. Willis, and since that, ordered the Treasurer to deliver to my father six pounds more for you. You may call for it or send for it by some sure hand.

" Though for a while we must be absent from each other, yet I desire that we may often meet at the throne of grace in our earnest prayers one for another, and have great hopes that God will hear and answer our prayers. The God of grace be with you. I am thy loving husband,

Timothy Edwards."

On Monday, August 20th, they marched for Wood Creek. At Saratoga, in consequence of the fatigues and exposure of the march, Mr. Edwards was taken severely ill. On the 4tb of September, being unable to proceed with the army, he was conveyed in a boat to Stillwater. Thence he was carried back through the woods to Albany, where he arrived in three days in a state of extreme danger. On the 10th he wrote to Mrti. Edwards as follows.

" To Mrs. Esther Edwards in Windsor, N. England.

'' Albany, Sept. 10th, 17U.

" My Dear,

" I come last Tuesday from Saratoga towards Albany, very ill, in order to return home ; having been ill more than a month, and growing at last so weak that I could go no farther than that place, which is near fifty miles above Albany. I came to Albany in a waggon, lying along in a bed prepared for me, last Thursday night. Since then I have been at the house of Madam Vandyke, a Dutch gentlewoman, where I have been so kindly taken care of, that I am much better, and daily gain strength, and my lost appetite is somewhat recovered. I hope to be able to ride homeward next week,

*' Last Friday I sent Mr Hezekiah Mason to N. England, to acquaint my father and my friends at Windsor how it is with me, and to desire three or four of them to come hither and to bring an easy horse with them for me to ride upon, and to come provided to carry home my effects, and to bring a blanket or two with them in case we should be forced to sleep in the woods. I should have written by him, but was too ill to do it. This is the first day I have been able to sit up. If the neighbors have not started when you receive this, speak to Mr. Drake that they set out as soon as possible.

" I rejoice to learn, by a letter from my father, that you were all well on the 2d, and hope in the mercy of God to see you all ere long.

" Lieut. Silvy, sent over by the Queen to serve in this expedition, a stout, active young man, who came sick with me in another waggon from the camp to Albany, died this evening just by my lodgings. We came together from the camp sick, we lay together in one room by the way sick, we lodged just by one another several days in this town sick — but he is dead, and I am alive and recovering. Blessed be God for his distinguishing and undeserved grace and favor to me ! Remember my love to all the children. Give my resi^ects to Mr. Colton, who, I understand, stays with you. I wish you to provide something for my cough, which is the worst I ever had in my life Remember my love to sister Staughton and my duty to my father and mother, if you have opportunity. " I am your very affectionately loving husband,

Timothy Edwards,"

Owing to the lateness of the season and to numerous disappointments, the expedition was soon after rehnquished ; and in the course of the month Mr. Edwards returned home.

Mr. and Mrs. Edwards hved together in the married state upwards of sixty-three years. Mr. Edwards was about five feet ten inches in height; of 'a fair complexion; of a strong, robust frame ; full, but not corpulent. He was a man of polished manners, particularly attentive to his dress, and to propriety of exterior : never appearing in public but in the full dress of a clergyman.

The management not only of his domestic concerns, but of his property generally, was entrusted to the care of Mrs. Edwards, who discharged the duties of a wife and a mother with singular fidelity and success. In strength of character she resembled her father; and like him she left behind her, in the place where she resided for seventy-six years, that "good name, which is better than precious ointment." On a visit to East Windsor, in the summer of 1823, 1 found a considerable number of persons advanced in years, who had been well acquainted with Mrs. Edwards, and two upwards of ninety, who had been pupils of her husband. From them I learned that she received a superior education in Boston, was tall, dignified and commanding in her appearance, affable and gentle in her manners, and was regarded as surpassing her husband in native vigor of understanding. They all united in speaking of her as possessed of remarkable judgment and prudence, of an exact sense of propriety, of extensive information, of a thorough knowledge of the scriptures and of theology, and of singular conscientiousness, piety and excellence of character. By her careful attention to all his domestic concerns, her husband was left at full liberty to devote himself to the proper duties of his profession. Like many of the clergy of that early period in New-England, he was well acquainted with Hebrew literature, and was regarded as a man of more than usual learning; but was particularly distinguished for his accurate knowledge of the Greek and Roman classics. In addition to his other duties, he annually prepared a number of pupils for college ; there being at that time no academies or public schools endowed for this purpose. One of my aged informants, who pursued his preparatory studies under him, told me, that on his admission to college, when the officers had learned with whom he had studied, they remarked to him, that there was no need of examining Mr. Edwards' scholars.