A memoir of the life of James Milnor

Preface

As to his own part in the following Memoir, the writer desires to say, that in the use made of Dr. Milnor's diaries, journal, and letters, he has taken no other liberties than such as he supposed his friend would liimself have taken, had he attempted, while living, to prepare them for the press. Written as those papers .-^'were, amid the bustle of a busy life, and with no thought of their being ever embodied in their present form, they of course needed some revision. The clearing of the meaning of some sentences, by an occasional transposition in the order of their members, and by the occasional substitution of more exactly significant words for those which had been seized in the process of rapid composition, and which but imperfectly expressed the author's thought; and the softening, here and there, of a term, which in the confidence of familiar intercourse, was safe and proper, but which with a public necessarily ignorant of minute and explanatory circumstances, might be regarded as too strong ; these are the chief freedoms, wliich, in the execution of his task, he has felt at liberty to indulge. Generally, Dr. Milnor's expressions needed no correction. Many perso7ial references, however, both to himself and to others, have been dropped ; and as little, that could be painful to the feelings of the living, has been retained, as was consistent with fidelity to the character and views of the dead, and to those public interests and trusts under which he was called to act. Dr. Milnor lived to see the church pass into, if not through troublous times — times during which public feeling was often most painfully alive ; and he felt called to act in many stations where he became himself the occasion of much of the feeling by which the public was affected. It was therefore difficult, if not impossible, to write the life of such a man after he had left the stage, without sometimes reviving memories more or less unwelcome to not a few of his survivors.

It should be borne in mind, that in the following work are virtually two memoirs : one of Mr. Milnor as a man of the world,

4 PREFACE.

and another of Dr. Milnor as a Christian man. The former could not with propriety be omitted, because, though a distinct life by itself, with its own principles, character, and acts in full development, yet it is important to a just appreciation of the latter. In some things, Dr. Milnor as a Christian, is very like Mr, Milnor as a worldly man j in others, quite unlike. These lights of likeness and of contrast combine, or stand out in distinctness, to give us the true idea of the whole man. Even the false and dangerous notions of religion which he entertained in his days of darkness and self-righteousness, help to set forth in stronger colors those right conceptions of divine truth to which he was led by the great crisis of his life. Those, however, to whom the details of his early history would be likely to prove uninteresting, and who have kno\\ni, or wish to contemplate him as a Christian only, will find the former part of the work as brief as it could well be made, and will not have to turn over many pages before they reach what will more specially meet their wishes, and it may be, satisfy their desires.

And now, all that remains is to say, that although the writer has felt that he was dealing with a character of uncommon excellence, yet he has not felt that he was writing the life of a perfect being. However much, therefore, he has found in that character to commend, he has endeavored not so to shape his commendations as to make the praise redound to the man, instead of Him from whom alone cometh every good, and to whom alone, especially in the results of Christian excellence, all praise is due.

Part I. His Early Life, Legal Practice, And Political

CAREER.

Section I. — Quaker parentage — Family history — Youthful traits — Education — Law studies — Yellow-fever of '93 — Admittance to the bar — Debating societies — Commences practice at Norristown — Freemasonry — Return to Philadelphia — Early abolition society — Fire department — Yellow-fever of '98 — Retreat to Norristovm — Marriage — Read out of Quaker meeting — Reasons for keeping a diary — Character as a lawyer — Incidents of legal life — An honest lawyer — Business habits — Affecting incident — Value of business habits — A fashionable man of the world, 11

Section II. — Entrance on political life — Member of city-council — Milnor's popularity — Election to Congress — Takes his seat in the House-^First winter's letters from Washington — Speech in Congress — Second winter in "Washington — Extracts from letters — Speech — Dinner with the President — War fever — Washington gayeties and war debates — Mode of life — Domestic feelings — Prospect of long session — Grout — Secret debates — War impends— Is declared — Address of the Federalists — Eventful speech — Philadelphia newspaper report — Difficulty with Henry Clay — Challenge — Correspondence— Review — Third winter in Washington — Extracts from letters— Speech — Political excitement — Grrand national ball — Political asperities— Quincy's severe speech — Short session — Adjournment — G-out — Close of political life, 44

Part II. History Of His Religious Change

Section I. — Early moral traits — Aquila M. Bolton — Serious letters — Mr. Milnor's remarks thereon — Milnor a Universalist — Examination of the Christian evidences, and study of the Bible — Universalism renounced — A rational believer — Dependence on works — Second diary — Attendance on Presbyterian ministry — Probable influence of Bolton's letters — Begins to attend Episcopal church — Feeling after truth — New-year's reflections, 1810 — Dr. Pilmore — Election to vestry of associated churches — Hearing sermons — Inward struggle — Views of the Sabbath — First recorded prayer — Influence of early Quakerism — Review of religious progress to 1812 — Greneral Convention at "New Haven, 80

Section II. — Thomas Bradford — Anecdote in a law-office — Remarkable incident— E,eligious letters from Congress to Mrs. Milnor — A praying Congressman— Religious letters continued — Weariness of politics — Solemn morning walk, Dec. 22, 1812 — Unfriendly influence of poHtics, 102

Section III — Correspondence with Thomas Bradford — Letters — Epistolary account of conversion — Views of death — Letters to Mrs. Milnor — Solicitude for her conversion — Struggles with the world — Review, 122

Section I Theological studies — Norristown — Lay-reader — Reflections on a

change of profession — Prayer — Visit to Rev. Mr. Bull — Journey into Virginia— Dangerous illness — Invitations to Baltimore and Richmond — Replies— Praying spirit — Return to Philadelphia — Temporal affairs — Letter to Aquila M. Bolton — Preparatory studies completed — Examinations — Ordination — First sermon — Assistant in the associated churches — Ordained presbyter — Interest in the Bible cause — Call to St. George's, New York — Visit to New York — Acceptance of the rectorship of St. George's — Settlement in New York, 171

Section II American Bible Society — Correspondence with a doubting parishioner, and a cavilling inquirer — Opening of new Sunday-school rooms — Glance from 1817 to 1821 — Letter to Mr. Mcllvaine — Ingenuous acknov/- ledgment — Glance to 1825 — Perilous illness — Religious exercises — Public sympathy — Letter to Mr. Mcllvaine — Account of illness by Dr. Stearns and Wm. H. Milnor — Origin of American Tract Society — Sick chamber — Mr. Hallock — Espousal of tract cause — First sermon after recovery — Public organization of Tract Society — Dr. Milnor's agency — Delegation from New York to Boston — Dr. Woods, 201

Section HI. — 1825. Letters to a theological student — Bishop Hobart's return from Europe — Letter touching that return. 1826. Letters to Prof. Mcllvaine during the revival at West Point — Letter to the student touching his fourth of July address — Backslider reclaimed. 1827. State of St. George's — Dangerous accident in returning from Flushing — Death of Rev. Mr. Duffie. 1828. State of St. George's— Milnor professorship. 1829. " Protestant Episcopal Clerical Association of New York." 1830. Letter to Rev. J. P. K. Henshaw — African mission-school — Review, . . . 234

Part IV

Section I. — American origin of the idea — Views of Dr. Milnor in accepting the appointment — Engagements on the eve of departure — Instructions and commissions — Embarkation — Extracts from journal of voyage — Reaches

Liverpool — Deaf and dumb instruction — Birmingham — Clergy of Birming» ham — Dr. Kewley a Jesuit — First Sabbath in England — J. A. James- Journey to London — Bible Society's House — Mr. Brandram — Lord Teignmouth — Bromley and Beckenham Auxiliary anniversary — Clergymen's •widows — Dinner at Mr. Inglis' — Dr. Parker — Woolwich grounds — Royal marquee— First Sabbath in London — Bishop Blomfield — Preachers characterized— British and Foreign Bible Society — Counsellor Marriott — Religious Tract Society — St. Bartholomew's, and Rev. Mr. Wilkinson — Samuel Charles Wilks — Methodist Missionary House — Prayer-book and Homily Society, and !Mr. Pritchett — Irish Society anniversary — Hibernian Society — Statistics, 273

Section H. — AVeek of the great anniversaries — Monday, May 3, Wesleyan Missionary Society — Dinner at Mr. Haslope's — .Tuesday, Church Missionary Society — Dinner at Mr. Solicitor Forster's — Wednesday, British and Foreign Bible Society — Lord Bexley, Bishop of Winchester, Bishop of Chester, Mr. Wilberforce, Dr. Milnor, Hon. (Jharles G-raat, M. P.. Daniel Wilson, etc Introduction to the bishops — Dinner at Mr. Williams" — Religious exercises — Thursday, clerical breakfast — Tract Society's western meeting — Prayer-book and Homily Society — Dr. Milnor's speech — Dinner at Mr. Bickersteth's — Literary company — Friday, clerical breakfast — London Jews' Society — Dinner at Mr. Hatchard's — Saturday, rural scene at Clapham — Mr. G-illiat — Mr. Mcllvaine's arrival — Blackheath Branch Bible Society — Third Sabbath in London — Further anniversaries — Religious exercises of the week, at breakfasts and dinners — Baptist Noel and Walthamstow — Critique on country residences — Daniel Wilson, and breakfast at Islington — Anniversary of the Reformation Society — Bishop of Winchester— G-uernsey custom — Capt. G-ordon, and St. James'-place — Discussion revived — Animated scene at one of the anniversaries — Clarkson, Wilberforce, and others — Mr. Ewbank, 291

Section III.— Sabbath at Camberwell — Melvill — Dulwich college — Greenwich hospital — Breakfast at J. Haldane Stewart's — Caledonian chapel, and Dr. Chalmers — Social engagements — Woolwich, and Dr. G-regcry — Sabbath at Paul's Cray, and John Symonds — Institution for Deaf and Dumb — Dirmer at Zachary Macauley's — Views of Millenarians, Irving, McNeile — Interesting intercourse with Daniel Wilson at Islington — Stoke- Newington, and Dr. Watts — Business with Church Missionary Society — Charity-school anniversary at St. Paul's — Joseph John Grurney — Sunday thoughts of home — Trait in morals — Visits about London — Missionary institution at Islington — Professors Pearson, Ayre, and Lee — Daughter of Legh Richmond — Turvey — William Allen, and Stoke-Newington — Hannah Kilham — Accident and peril — Sufferings, 313

Section IV, — ^Visit to Paris — Accident on the Thames — From Calais to Paris — Beggars — Paris — Catholic service at St. Roch's — Vaults under the Pantheon — Bishop Luscomb — Professor Kieffer — Sunday in Paris — Paroxysm of gout — Mons. and Mad. Serrurier — Reminiscence of political life--

Teacher for the New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb — Dinner with M. Vaysse, Sen — Literary company — Symptoms of revolution — "Versailles — Return to England, 335

Section V — "Visit to Isle of Wight — Contrast between France and England — Sabbath at Ryde — Mr. Sibthorpe — Scenery — Tomb of "Little Jane" — Brading church — Sandown bay — Scenery of "African Servant" — Naturalness of Legh Richmond's descriptions — Shanklin-Chine — Reading of " The Young Cottager" — Bonchurch and TJnderclifF — Appuldercomb — Scenery of " Dairyman's Daughter " — Dairyman's cottage — Arreton church — Newport— Mr. Mcllvaine ill — Trip to Southampton — ^Western tour — Carisbrook castle — Clerical mayor — Shorwell — Scenery — Freshwater-gate — Caverns — The Needles — R,eturn to Newport, 342

Section VI — Departure from the Isle of AVight — Tour through England, "Wales, and Ireland — Southampton — ^Winchester, cathedral and school — Exeter — Scenery — Expensive road — Humorous signboards — Ilfracombe — Romantic position — Ancient church — Linton — Striking scenery — Porlock — Amusing colloquy with an innkeeper — Progress to Bristol — Mr. Prust — Clifton — Robert Hall — Visit to Hannah More — Bishop Hobart's letter on Dr. Milnor's speech — Departure from Bristol — Election mob — The four daughters of Droitwich — Election canvass at Bridgenorth — Rotten-borough system — Lovely scenery — Romantic scenery — AVelsh language — Passage of the mountains — Snowden — Ma.gnificent scenery — Bangor — Suspension-bridge over Menai Strait — Anglesea — Holyhead — Embarkation— Sleep in a storm — Jaunting-car — Dublin — Rainy ride to Belfast 354

Section VII. — Tour through Scotland, and north of England — Arrival at Gr\asgow — Contrast with Ireland — Institutions of Glasgow — Statistics — . Social engagements — Temperance meeting — Deaf and Dumb Institution — Departure for Edinburgh — Dr. Byrne, and the Greneral Assembly — A Scotch discussion — John Sheppard — Mrs. Sheppard and Lord Byron — Long walk to Arthurs-seat — Dr. Chalmers — Episcopal clergy — Breakfast at Dr. Chalmers' — Discussion — Holyrood House — Asylum for Deaf and Dumb — Journey among the Cheviot hills — Assize Court at Carlisle — Lake scenery— Kendal and Manchester — School for Deaf and Dumb — Sabbath in Manchester— The Rev. Mr. Stowell — Remarkable infant-school teacher — Journey to Sheffield — Derbyshire scenery — Sheffield — Montgomery — Social and religious scenes — Bible Society meeting — Valuable acquaintances — ■ Vicar of Sheffield — Affecting parting with Montgomery — Touching reminiscence— Return to London — Business engagements — Recurrence to Bishop Hobart's letter — Adieus of the Bible Society — Lord Bexley — Parting dinner with Zachary Macauley — Robert Owen and his schemes — William Allen — Parting dinner with Lord Bexley — Visit to Cambridge — • Professor Parish — Mr. Simeon — Parting visit to Lord Teignmouth — Departure from London — Mrs. Dixon of Henley — Religion at an inn — Oxford — Embarkation at Liverpool, 27th of September — Reception in New York — Reputation of Dr. Milnor in England — Results of mission, . . . 373

Part V. His Ministry From 1830 To 1845

Skction I. — Kenyon College, and Milnor professorship — State of St. Greorge's — Letter to a clerical correspondent — Clerical removals — Literary convention— Letters to his son — Cholera season — Extracts from letters — Letter to Bishop Mcllvaine — Bristol college — Mission to Grreen Bay — Results of the mission — Visit to Boston, Massachusetts Convention — Greneral Convention, 1835 — Reorganization of Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society — . Secretary and general agent — Generosity — The Rev. J. W. Cooke — Labors as secretary and general agent — Reappointment declined — Influence on our missions — Letters during his secretarj'ship — Tour to Cleveland — Ohio Convention — Letters on his tour — Close of labor as secretary and general agent, 403

Section' II. — Rev. Mr. Cooke — Letters from Lord Bexley and Montgomery — Tractarianism — Letter to Bishop Smith on church views — Board of ilissions at Baltimore — Letter to Bishop Mcllvaine — General Convention, 1838 — Division of the Diocese of New York — Northern tour with Bishop Meade, 435

Section III — Oxford Tract controversy — Letter to Bishop Mcllvaine — Gloomy forebodings — Charge on Justification — From Dr. Sparrow, resigning the Milnor professorship — To Bishop Mcllvaine, "Oxford Divinity" — Letter to Dr. Beasley — Visit to Alexandria — Letter from the Bishop of Calcutta — Splendid tribute to Bishop Mcllvaine's "Oxford Divinity" — Answer — From Bishop Meade, ]\Iissions to Western Asia — Letter to Bishop Mcllvaine, Dr. Fuller appointed " Llilnor Professor " — Maryland State Colonization Society — Carey ordination — Letters from Bishops Meade and Smith — Semi-annual Bible Society meeting at Cincinnati — Dr. Milnor appointed to read an essay on " The Rule of Faith" — Letter to Bishop Smith, Oxfordism — Stormy Convention in New York, 1843 — Letter from Dr. Aydelott, Dr. Spring's essay on " The Rule of Faith" — The Rev. P. P. Irving assistant at St. George's, 446

Section IV. — Dangerous attack of gout, 1844 — Letters on recovery, from Bishop Eastburn, and Mr. Irving — From Bishop Mcllvaine — From the Bishop of Calcutta — Love of repose — Visit to Middle Haddam — Heavy domestic affliction — General Convention of 1844 — Ecclesiastical trial — Dr. Milnor's testimony — Bishop Smith's tribute to Dr. ^lilnor's conduct at the trial — His son's "Recollections" — Longings for repose, not for inaction — Free-chapel movement — Vigorous old age — Impressive incident at a meeting of the Directors of the Deaf and Dumb Institution — Sudden death — "Wm. H. Milnor's account of the closing scene — Habitual preparation for sudden death — Public demonstrations of grief — The funeral — Discourses on his death, 480

Part VI. Retrospect Of His Life And Character

1. His connection with the Bible Society — Principle of action — Dr. Brigham's statement — Influence of Dr. Milnor in the Society. 2. His connection with the Tract Society — Carrying out of principle of action — Mr. Hallock's statement — Illustrative documents — Preciousness of Dr. Milnor's name in the tract cause. 3. His connection with the cause of education. 4. His position in the Episcopal church — A sketch — Prominence of Dr. Milnor in the evangelical cause — His relation to the Church at large, and to the Diocese of New York in particular — Anecdotes. 5. Traits of character — Illustrative anecdotes and views — Intellectual traits — Theological traits — Pulpit traits — Dr. Cutler's sermon — Domestic traits, hospitality, cheerfulness, the Christian gentleman, benevolence — Mr. Peet's sermon — Death to the good man never sudden — Anecdotes — Habits of sermon-writing, and pastoral duty — Favorite allegory — Idea of true Catholicism — IndilTerence to official elevation — Close, 499

MEMOIR.

Part I. Early Life, Legal Practice, And Politi- Cal Career

SECTION I.

It is peculiar to the true children of God, that before they reach that perfect life wliich awaits them in heaven, they will have hved two blessed and beneficent lives on earth. This made the apostle say of the faith of Abel, " By it he, being dead, yet speaketh." For thousands of years, men have had a knowledge of the name, and faith, and gracious acceptance of that early saint. Through that whole period, indeed, he has been sleeping among the dead. Yet has he all the while had a most precious life among the living. In the experience of eminent saints, the one of these two lives is, at the longest, short ; the other is, at the shortest, long. The one is spent by the hving among the hving ; the other Cometh up to the living from among the dead. The one is the light of labor, and example, and influence, moving rapidly towards the grave ; the other is the power of faith, and love, and suffering, coming back in perennial memories from the tomb. In the one, the faithful may see rich fruits from the short summer of their toils ; in the other, they will hear of fruits richer still, because so many ages shall he witliiu their harvest-time. In the former, faith sometimes does its work, like Abel's, in one great sacrifice ; in the latter, that faith, living in some God-inspired record, often carries on its work through long generations, and over distant realms.

To those who have finished well the former of these two lives, rehgious biography seeks to secure the most beneficial results of the latter ; and whether that biography swell to volumes, or be but as the brief paragraph wliich has brought down to our laiowledge the triumph of Abel's faith, yet, if it include all and only what God would keep ahve, it doeth excellent work, and shall have unfailing fruits. Such is the work at which the writer has aimed, in penning the following memoir.

James Milnoe., late rector of St. George's church, New York, was born in the city of Philadelphia, on the 20th day of June, 1773. His immediate ancestors belonged to the society of Friends ; his father and mother, William and Anna Brientnall Mihior, being by birth and education members of that respectable body. Family tradition reports that they were both descendants of the early settlers of Pemisylvania, and has treasured facts showing that they were worthy of their descent.

His father was born in the state of New Jersey, settled early near Falsington, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, subsequently removed to his native state, and finally fixed himself with his household in Philadelpliia. The original orthography of the i'amily name was Milner, and so it is still written in England. When the subject of this memoir visited Great Britain, he found the Milners numerous in Lancashire. The name was changed to Milnor by the early pioneers of the family in this country.

William Milnor shared largely the respect of his people. To the plain manners and characteristic integrity of the Friends, he added great energy and a cheerful disposition. His cheerfulness was often tried, but never overcome, by that trying disorder to which he was a victim, the gout. Even when suffering the most violent paroxysms of his disorder, he always preserved his equanimity of temper. Under a pecuharly agonizing fit, he was once sitting with his feet on a pillow, swathed in flannel, and too tender to be touched

HIS EARLY LIFE. 13

without distressing pain, when his daughter's dress, in her attempt to reach something on the mantel, took fire. Upon rushing into the room, his son James found the old gentleman, wholly unconscious of pain, busily stamping out the flames with his gouty feet. In truth, the gout had left him, and he was liighly delighted with the suddenness of his cure. The next day, however, his delight ended in bitter disappointment ; for his disorder not only returned, but came back with strong reinforcements of violence.

According to the wholesome custom of those good old days, which provided every young man some sure means of iivehhood, William Milnor was early bred to the handicraft of a cooper ; but developing talents for other pursuits, he soon engaged in trade, and at the period which introduced the Revolution, was extensively concerned in a fishery. At the same time, he was factor to Col. Wasliington of Mount Vernon ; and a valuable correspondence, now in possession of the Milnor family, shows that for sound judgment and strict integrity, he enjoyed largely the confidence of that great man. From one of the letters in this correspondence, it appears that they had a joint interest in one of the fisheries. " I have not been unmindful of my promise," writes Col. Washington, " in respect to the fish-house. Before the next season, I shall have one erected for your accommodation, not doubting but it may turn out to both our advantages."

His connection in business with Col. Washington was proof of his high character, and had no little influence on his subsequent life. When the drama of the Revolution opened, his patriotism took fire ; and in spite of the discipline of the Friends, wliich is opposed to all war, defensive as well as aggressive, he at once applied for a commission in the army. His attachment to his old friend, who had by this time become General Wasliington, was perhaps the spark which kindled his patriotism into a flame, and made his subsequent disappointment so painful. The reasons for withdrawing his application for a commission are stated in the following letter

*' Honorable Sir — Your very kind favor of the 20tli of December came safe to hand, and gave me great relief I am happy, inasmuch as I have not displeased your Excellency in my conduct so far. I am unhappy, however, because I cannot get into the army. I had thrown in a petition for a captaincy, and had the greatest prospect of success. Mr. Frankhn, in consequence of your letter, had made the way clear for me ; my spirits were elevated, and there appeared nothing in view that could stop me. My wife, from continued assurances of my unalterable intention of going, had got nearly reconciled to it. But alas, a few days before the appointment of officers, the old ferry was to be let. I was immediately surrounded by my friends, insistmg that there was no fitter person for that business than myself ; and as it was a place of profit, I ought, in consideration of my large family, to prefer being with them to going abroad on any terms. Their reasonings, together with the entreaties of my dear partner, prevailed on me to withdraw my petition, and I am now a drudge at the old ferry, witliin two doors of where I formerly lived m Water-street. / thank my God, he has given me a persevemig disjjosition, equal to any task he is pleased to lay upon me m this life. I never found any prospect of fatigue an annoyance to any undertaking, when a probability of a good, genteel sustenance for my Httle flock offered in view ; and this business would be a very agreeable one to me, if these unhappy disturbances were at an end. But I cannot conclude this letter until I have assured your Excellency, that / shall remain a poor, unhappy ivretch, as long as I am chained, and cannot take an active part in my country's cause. Whether a true patriotic concern for my country, or secret thirst after honor, or both combined, is the sprmg by which my spirits are actuated, I have the vanity to believe that the former is the chief motive, and that only experience is wanted to make me a soldier. I sometimes please myself by thinkmg, that, when

HIS EARLY LIFE. 15

my wile has gained experience in our present business, and if the troubles should increase in the ensuing summer as it seems probable they will, I will place some steady hand to assist her, and again offer myself to my country."

In this letter breathes the true spirit of '76 ; and to those who were well acquainted with Dr. Milnor, it will be evident that one at least of the characteristic traits of the father — his inflexible, self-relying perseverance in any high and worthy pursuit — was largely inherited by the son. Although the former was constrained to abandon his suit for a commission in the army, yet he by no means remained idle during the great struggle on which his country was then entering. Even his position at the " old ferry," in his plain, Quaker garb, gave him no poor facilities for acquiring important information of the enemy's movements ; and of those facilities he made the most. He was one of the many, whom the clear-judging Washington had the good fortune to attach to liim, whose humble names have long since been forgotten ; but whose services, as in other matters, so especially in transmitting by various channels intelligence of great value . to the cause of the struggling colonies, were truly invaluable.

About the "old ferry," Mr. Milnor usually drove a chaise with an ingenious false bottom ; so that, though often suspected of being in the interests of the revolutionists, yet he was never detected by the enemy. Twice, indeed, he was obliged to fly for his life ; but the same good Providence which guided and guarded Washington, preserved liim harmless to the close of the conflict. His services were not confined to the conveyance of intelligence : he did much towards furnishing supplies for the patriot army.

His conduct during the Revolution, of course gave great offence to " the heads of meeting," and he was formally disowned. A few years before his death, however, he was reunited, and died in the society's connection, at the age of 73. His wife had preceded him to the grave Yet both hved long enough to see their country in peace and prosperity, and their youngest son settled in life, and as a lawyer rising rapidly to wealth and honor.

The children of the family were five, two daughters and three sons. The elder of the two daughters died at middle age. The younger, who was also the youngest child, was married to Dr. Joseph Klapp, a physician of eminence in Philadelphia ; and after a life of sufiering from a painful disease, borne with Christian patience, died a few years before her favorite brother James.

Of the sons, Isaac, the oldest, was a merchant, and a man of strong mmd and great energy. He died at middle age, of an acute attack of the gout. William junior was also a merchant, and stood high in the community. At one time he ably represented the city of Philadelphia in Congress. He was exceedingly attached to liis brother James, and it was evident to the family that his death was hastened by his grief for that dear brother's decease. He died about a year after the subject of this memoir.

In passing, now, from these brief notices of the family kindred of James Milnor, to a detail of particulars in the life of this beloved "man of God," we find, as in other cases, little in his childhood that calls for record. His school-boy days were bright and happy, because moral and industrious. At the Pennsylvania grammar-school, in his native city, he received the rudiments of his education ; and at an early age entered the university of Pennsylvania. A surviving schoolfellow and playmate, still living amid the scenes of their childhood, remembers well, that when a boy he was distinguished for the very traits which characterized him as a man, especially for soundness of judgment and kindness of disposition. By a sort of tacit election among his school-fellows, James Milnor was early raised to two important posts of distinction : that of judge in their boyish controversies, and that of a student for his class-mates, whenever it was their purpose to let play trench on the hours of study. They will-