A memoir of the life of James Milnor, D.D. : late Rector of St. George's Church, New York

Preface

In accounting for the delayed appearance of the following Memoir, it is proper to state, that the work of collecting its materials was obstructed by an effort to recover the foreign correspondence of Dr. Milnor, particularly that part of it in the hands of his friend the Bishop of Calcutta. About the time of Dr. Milnor's death, Bishop Wilson visited England for the improvement of his health. "While there, it was ascertained, that he had left Dr. Milnor's letters among his other papers at Calcutta, Hence, much time was lost in waiting for his return to India, in the hope that something valuable from that quarter might at length be recovered. After all, however, it was found necessary to proceed to the work with such materials only as had been gathered in this country. Accordingly, the documents were put into the writer's hands, and he at once addressed himself to the task of their examination and arrangement. In this, much time was necessarily consumed. Large masses both of manuscript and of print required reading, which were of no use. And when at last the required selection had been made and arranged, the labor of composition was constantly impeded by the daily and unshared care of a parish. Nor was this all ; for when that labor had been brought to a close, the work of publication was still longer postponed by the writer's recent unavoidable absence from the country.

As to his own part in the 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 himself 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 tnere, 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

4 PREFACE.

the chief freedoms, which, in the execution of his task, he has felt at liberty to indulge. Generally, Dr. Milnor's expressions needed no correction. Many personal 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, 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 ; 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 known, 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 har — Debating societies — Commences practice at Norristown — Freemasonry — Return to Philadelphia — Early Abolition Society — Fire Department — Yellow-fever of ; 98 — Retreat to Norristown — 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 — Diary — Member of city-council — Troublesome political editor — The elder Adams — French Jacobinism — Milnor s popularity — Election to Congress — Takes his seat in the House — First winter's letters from Washington — Speech in Congress — Summer of 1811 — 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 — Gout — 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 — Grand national ball — Political asperities — Quincy ; s severe speech — Short session — Adjournment — Gout — 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 — Forms of prayer — 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 — General Convention at New Haven. . . . 85

Section II. — Thomas Bradford- — Anecdote in a law-office — Remarkable incident — Religious letters from Congress to Mrs. Milnor — A praying Congressman — Religious letters continued — Weariness of politics — Solemn morning walk, Dec. 22, 1812 — Unfriendly influence of politics, . . 110

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, . .133

Part III. His Ministry From 1814 To 1830

Section I. — Theological studies — Norristown — Lay-reader — Reflections on a change of profession — Prayer — Rules of life and study at Norristown — Visit to Rev. Mr. Bull — Journey into Virginia- — Dangerous illness — Invitations to Baltimore and Richmond — Replies — Praying spirit — Return to Philadelphia — Temporal affairs — " Evangelical Society" — Letter to Aquila M. Bolton — Preparatory studies completed — Examinations — Ordination — First sermon— Assistant in the Associated Churches — Ordained Presbyter — Interest in the Bible cause — Letter to an afflicted mother — Correspondence in reference to St. George's, New York — Call — Visit to New York — Letter from Bishop White — Acceptance of the Rectorship of St. George's — Settlement in New York, 177

Section II. — American Bible Society — Correspondence with a doubting parishioner, and a cavilling inquirer — Opening of new Sunday-school rooms — Murmurs — Letter to Mr. Mcllvaine — Glance from 1817 to 1821 — Ingenuous acknowledgment — 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, . . . .218

Section III. — 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 — General Convention of 1826. 1827. State of St. George's — Dangerous accident in returning from Flushing— Death of Rev. Mr. Duffle. 1828. State of St. George's— Milnor Professorship. 1829. Course of lectures — " Protestant Episcopal Clerical Association of New York." 1830. Letters to Wm. H. Milnor, and Rev. J. P. K. Henshaw — African Mission school — Review, . . . 250

PART IY.

Section I. — American origin of the idea — Action of St. George's Vestry

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, 299

Section II. — Liverpool — Mr. Sands — Curious chair — Deaf and dumb instruction — Birmingham — Dr. Squiers — Mr. Gillet — Dinner at the high-bailiff's — Clergy of Birmingham — Dr. Kewley a Jesuit — First Sabbath in England — Rev. Mr. Morgan — J. A. James — Journey to London — Arrival, . 312

Section III. — 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 — British Museum, and T. Hartwell Home — Samuel Charles Wilkes — Zachary Macauley — Methodist Missionary House — Prayer-book and Homily Society, and Mr. Pritchett — Irish Society Anniversary — Hibernian Society — Statistics — Second Sabbath in London — Bridewell chapel, St. Paul's, and Fleet-street — The Rev. Mr. Denham, 317

Section IV. — Week 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. Charles Grant, 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. Gilliat — Mr. Mcllvaine's arrival — Blackheath Branch Bible Society — Third Sabbath in London, 331

Section V. — Further Anniversaries — Religious exercises of the week, at breakfasts and dinners — Baptist Noel and Waltham-stow — -Critique on country residences — Daniel Wilson, and breakfast at Islington — Lord Bexley — Anniversary of the Reformation Society — Bishop of Winchester, and St. James' Square — Guernsey custom — Capt. Gordon, and St. James' Place — Discussion revived — Animated scene at one of the anniversaries — Clarkson, Wilberforce, and others — Mr. Ewbank and Mr. Peckham, . 343

Section VI. — Sabbath at Camberwell — Melvill — Dulwich College — Greenwich Hospital — Breakfast at J. Haldane Stewart's — Caledonian chapel, and Dr. Chalmers — Social engagements — Woolwich, and Dr. Gregory- Sabbath at Paul's Cray, and John Symonds — Institution for Deaf and Dumb, and Mr. Watson — Dinner 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 Gurney — 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, . . .353

Section VII. — Visit to Paris— Accident on the Thames— From Calais to Paris — Beggars — Paris — Catholic service at St. Roche's — Vaults under the

Pantheon — Bishop Luscomb — Visits to distinguished citizens — Professor Kieffer — M. Monod fils — Institution for the Deaf and Dumb — Sunday in Paris — Paroxysm of gout — Teacher for the New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb — Mons. and Mad. Serrurier — Reminiscence of political life — M. Vaysse, Jr. — Dinner with M. Vaysse, Sen. — Literary company — Symptoms of revolution — Versailles — Return to England, . .376

Section VIII. — 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 IJndercliff — 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 — Return to Newport, .... 385

Section IX. — Departure from the Isle of Wight — 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 Hob art's letter on Dr. Milnor's speech — Controversy in New York — Dr. Milnor's reply — Mr. Pritchett's letter — Other letters — Departure from Bristol — Election mob — The four daughters of Droitwich — Election canvass at Bridgenorth — Rotten borough system — Lovely scenery — Beautiful vale of Llangollen— Romantic scenery — Welsh language — Passage of the mountains — Snowden — Magnificent scenery — Bangor — Suspension bridge over Menai Strait — Anglesea — Holyhead — Embarkation — Sleep in a storm — Janting-car — Dublin — Rainy ride to Belfast, . 395

Section X. — Tour through Scotland, and north of England — Arrival at Glasgow — Contrast with Ireland — Institutions of Glasgow — Statistics — Social engagements — Temperance meeting — Deaf and Dumb Institution — Departure for Edinburgh — Dr. Byrne, and the General Assembly — A Scotch discussion — John Sheppard — Mrs. Sheppard and Lord Byron — Long walk to Arthur's 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, 429

Section XI. — 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 — Prof. Farish — Mr. Simeon — Pleasant travelling companion — Anecdote — 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, 446

PART Y.

HIS MINISTRY FROM 1830 TO 1845.

Section I. — Kenyon College, and Milnor Professorship — J. M. West — State of St. George's — Letter to a clerical correspondent — Clerical removals- Literary Convention — Letters to his son — Cholera season — Eleanor's illness— Journey into Maine — Extracts from letters— better to his son against entering the Navy — Letter to Bishop Mcllvaine — Bristol College — Mission to Green Bay— Illustrative letters — Results of the mission, . . 460

Section II. — -Letter to Bishop Mcllvaine— Episcopal periodicals — Visit to Boston, Massachusetts Convention — General 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 Secretaryship — Proposed mission to Persia — Tour to Cleveland — Ohio Convention — Letters on his tour — Close of labor as Secretary and General Agent, . 488

Section III. — Rev. Mr. Cooke — Letters from Lord Bexley and Montgomery — Tractarianism — better against withdrawing from our Missionary organization, etc. — Letter to Bishop Smith on Church views — Board of Missions at Baltimore — Letter to Bishop Mcllvaine— Letter to H. Van Wagenen — General Convention, 1838 — Division of the Diocese of New York — Northern tour with Bishop Meade, 510

Section IV.— Case of G. Y. — Illustrative letters— Results of Dr. Milnor's efforts to save a fallen youth — Oxford Tract controversy — Letter to Bishop Mcllvaine — Gloomy forebodings — Charge on Justification — From Dr. Sparrow, resigning the Milnor Professorship — To Bishop Mcllvaine, "Oxford Divinity." 527

Section V. — 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, Missions to Western Asia — Letter to Bishop Mcllvaine, Dr. Fuller appointed " Milnor 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 — Business at Buffalo — Letter from Dr. Aydelott, Dr. Spring's essay on " The Rule of Faith" — The Rev. P. P. Irving Assistant at St. George's— Letter from J. Haldane Stewart, . . . . . . . . 553

Section VI. — Dangerous attack of gout, 1844 — Letters on recovery, from Mr. Irving, Bishop Eastburn, and W. H. Walter — From the Bishop of Calcutta — From Bishop Mcllvaine — Love of repose — Visit to Middle Haddam — Heavy domestic affliction — General Convention of 1844 — Ecclesiastical trial — Dr. Milnor's testimony— Latin letter — Bishop Smith's tribute to Dr.

Milnor's conduct at the trial — "VYm. H. Milnor's "Recollections" — Longings for repose, not for inaction — Free chapel movement — ■'Mr. Irving's letter— Action of the Vestry — 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, . 575

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 — Indifference to official elevation — Close, 597

.MEMOIR.

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

SECTION I.

It is peculiar to the true children of Grod, that before they reach that perfect life which awaits them in heaven, they will have lived 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 living among the living; 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 lie within their harvesttime. 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, religious 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 which has brought down to our knowledge the triumph of Abel's faith, yet, if it include all and only what God would keep alive, it doeth excellent work, and shall have unfailing fruits. The writer will add bu$ this, that such is the work which he would fain do in penning the following memoir.

James Milnor, 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 Milnor, being by birth and education members of that respectable body. Family tradition reports that they were both descendants of the early settlers of Pennsylvania, and has treasured facts showing that they were worthy of their descent.

Without attempting to trace minutely the genealogy of the family, it may still be proper to bestow some notice upon those with whom Dr. Milnor was immediately connected.

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 Philadelphia. The original orthography of the family name was Milner, and so it is still written in England. When the subject of this memoir visited England, 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, the father of the late rector of St. George's, shared largely the respect of his people and acquaintances. 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. Dr. Milnor has often been heard to say, that his father always preserved his equanimity of temper, even when suffering the most violent paroxysms of his disorder. He related that, under a peculiarly agonizing fit, his father was once sitting with his feet on a pillow, swathed in flannel, and too tender to be touched without distressing pain, when his daughter's dress, in her attempt to reach something on

HIS EARLY LIFE. 13

the mantel, took fire. Upon rushing into the room, he found the old gentleman, wholly unconscious of pain, busily stamping out the flames with his gouty feet. In truth, the gout had left him ; nighly delighted, too, 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 livelihood, 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 engaged in a fishery. At the same time, he was factor to Col. Washington 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."

The salting of fish appears to have been, even then, an extensive business in this country. Inspectors of these articles were appointed by several of the local governments ; and in Philadelphia, this post was held by William Milnor. It is important to note his connection in business with Col. Washington, as proof of his high character, and as having 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, which 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 Washington, was perhaps the spark which kindled his patriotism into a flame, and made so painful the disappointment which awaited him. The reasons for withdrawing his application for a commission are stated in the following letter.

To Gen. George Washington, January, 1776.

" Honorable Sir — Your very kind favor of the 20th 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. Franklin, 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, insisting 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, within two doors of where I formerly lived in Water-street. 2" thank my God, he has given me a persevering' disposition, equal to any task he is pleased to lay upon me in this life. I never found any prospect of fatigue an annoyance to any undertaking, when a probability of a good, genteel sustenance for my little 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 I shall remain a poor, unhappy iv retch, 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 spring 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 thinking, that, when my wife 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."