When we arrived, the entrance-doors were open; and on being conducted, by a single servant, to what we thought an ante-room, we found the general himself waiting to receive us. We were soon led into the dining-room. The table was laid only for six persons; and it was meant to show us respect by receiving us alone. Mr. Post, whom the President regards as his minister, was requested to implore a blessing. Four men were in attendance, and attended well. Every thing was good and sufficient; nothing overcharged. It was a moderate and elegant repast. After dinner, we retired to the drawing room. Conversation was there renewed; and by the general on the Bank affairs. It was a delicate subject; we passed from it to other interests of the new country. On leaving, the President inquired of our route; and when he found that I was designing to travel into the west, very obligingly pressed me, if I should visit Tennessee, to tarry at the Hermitage, the name of his estate in that country, and to which he retires in the summer. While at Washington, I first witnessed the windstorm, which is common in this country. It is peculiar-sometimes awful. The morning had been hot, and the sky fair; I had been to the Senate, and was now resting and writing in my chamber. Quietly the soft and refreshing breezes went down; a haze came over the sun, so that it shone as behind a gauze curtain. Every noise was stilled, except that of the frog, which was unpleasantly audible. The sky got silently darker and darker; the atmosphere became oppressive; and not a breath of air was felt. Suddenly, in the distance, yon would see things in commotion; and, while every thing was yet quiet about you, you might hear the distant roaring of the wind. Then the cattle run away to their best shelter; then the mother calls in her heedless children; and the housewife flies from story to story, to close her windows and shutters against the entrance of the coming foe. Now the dust, taken up in whirlwinds, would come flying along the roads; and then would come the rush of wind, which would make every thing tremble, and and crashing around you. You would expect the set the doors, windows and trees flying, creaking, torrent to fall and the thunder to roll; but no, there and wind alone; and it wanted nothing to increase was neither rain nor thunder there. It was wind, minutes, and then passed as suddenly away, leaving its power on the imagination. It raged for a few earth and sky as tranquil and as fair as it found them. It is not easy to account for this very sudden destruction and restoration of an equilibrium in fine illustration of some striking passages in holy The phenomenon, however, supplies a Scripture. nature. The President regularly attends on public worship at Mr. Post's, when he is well. On the following Sabbath morning I was engaged to preach. Himself and some fifty or sixty of the Congress were present. His manner was very attentive and serious. When the service had ended, I was a little curious to see how he would be noticed. I supposed that the people would give way, and let him pass out first, and that a few respectful inclinations of the head would be offered. But no; he was not noticed at all; he had to move out, and take his turn like any other person, and there was nothing at any time to indicate the presence of the chief magistrate. You might be disposed to refer this to the spirit of their institutions; but it has a closer connection with the character of the people. They have, in most of the States, less aptitude to give expression to their sentiments than the English. When afterward the general was passing through Lexington, on his way home, where a strong feeling existed on the part of the merchants against him, Inary of some celebrity: it is a great help to the Cainquired if any marks of disapprobation were offered to him. The reply was, "O no, we merely kept out of his way, and allowed him to change horses, and go on without notice." I think it may be safely said that John Bull would have acted differently in both cases: in the one, he would have offered some decided marks of respect; and in the other, he would not have been backward to show that he was offended. It was at Washington we first saw the slave-pen. It is usually a sort of wooden shed, whitewashed, and attached to the residence of a slave-dealer. Slaves are bought up here, as at other places, to forward to the south: the gain is considerable, and the inducement in proportion. The slaves have great horror of this. One poor woman, who was expecting to be thus transferred, lately escaped; and on being pursued, she jumped over the bridge, choosing death rather than such a life. But I shall have other opportunities for this subject. There are here a great many of the colored people who are free; and they appear to thrive. They attend in large numbers to worship, and have lately purchased the place in which Mr. Post's congregation did formerly assemble. I attended on one occasion: it was full, and they were very serious. They are Episcopal Methodists; their bishop was with them, and they were holding a conference. It was a high time. It was remarkable to have a white person among them. On leaving, they were happy to be spoken to, and free to converse. I also was happy to realize that they held with us a common faith and the common hope of salvation. the city. He is a Scotchman, and happy to com- tholic interest, and is nourished from Europe. It is We could not quit this neighborhood without visiting Mount Vernon, the place where Washington lived and died, and is entombed. We left early in the morning, with Mr. Post, by steamboat to Alexandria. This town is on the margin of the river. It presents what is, in this country, an unusual spectacle, of a place in a state of declension. It had a population of 10,000 persons, but it has now not more than 7,000, and there is an air of desolation on it. We engaged a carriage here to take us to Vernon, a distance of nine miles; and we were two hours and a half going, with good cattle. However, it was a fine spring morning; the hillsides were pretty; most of our way was through the forest, and the woodlands were bursting into life. We were not sorry to feel that we were getting out of the world; and were much delighted with the number of wild-flowers which were expanding to the sun. The ground-honeysuckle, and the brilliant dogwood, especially engaged us. About a mile and a half before you reach the house, we entered the estate. It is in fact a continuation of the forest; as wild, as quiet, and as LETTER IV. beautiful. We were received by a black servant, old and worn out in the service of the family. We presented our cards, and the servant was instructed MY DEAR FRIEND:-We remained nine days at to attend us over the grounds. We walked quietly the capital; and might have remained longer to round. They assorted with our feelings. Every advantage, but the meetings at New York were thing had an appearance of desertion and decay. coming on, and it was needful to hasten thither. I No hand of repair had seemed to have passed overlooked to these meetings with something more of the cottage, the garden, the plantations. We were confidence and pleasure now, as my strength was about to visit the dead, and all was dying around considerably recruited; although I was still sufferus, except only vegetation, and that had been allowing from cold and partial loss of voice. This cold ed to grow so thick and high, as to throw heavy shadows and quiet solemnity on all things. At length we descended a bank, and stood before the tomb of Washington. It is built of brick, with an iron door. All, except the face of the vault, is hidden; it is grown over with dwarf cedar and forest-trees. I cannot tell you my emotions. chiefly longed for hours to rest there in silence and solitude. I We went to the cottage. The interior was in harmony with all the external appearances. We were received in the library; it was just as the general had left it. We saw the curiosities: they were just where he had placed them. The inmates, too, were affectingly in keeping. Three females: a widow, an orphan, and an unprotected sister. And they moved and spoke as if the catastrophe had just happened, and they had dried up their tears to receive us. I shall never forget that day. I have had more pleasure and more melancholy; but I never had more of the pleasure of melancholy. Mrs. Jane Washington was indisposed; but she sent us kind messages as to Englishmen, and some small remembrances of the place and the departed. We wound our way quietly from the cottage, and we soon left the domain, perhaps for ever, which was once dignified by the presence, and which is still sacred by the remains of Washington: Forgive me, my dear friend, this ebullition. I never can turn to the name of Washington without enthusiasm. But I will glance at a more sober and worldly view of the case. It is said the government made an offer to purchase the property of the family. How could they make such an offer! How noble it was in the family to decline it, since it would have brought them moneyed advantage, and they are in confined circumstances! Again: How can the people suffer the place to pass to ruin, and the remnants of the family to exist without the means of sustaining it? Surely, if the people of America really knew the state of the case, they would rather sell New York than suffer such things to happen. was brought on by one of those sudden changes of temperature to which this climate is subject. On the previous day to our arrival at Washington, the glass was at 80°, and the day before we quitted it, it was at 48°; and we were shivering with cold, and thankful for good fires. Later than this, even in the middle of May, it was colder still; we had severe frosts, which cut off all the fruit; and snow fell in abundance in the state of New York. On returning to the place which we considered our home, we were received into the family of Mr. Boorman, of Washington Square; an arrangement kindly suggested by Dr. Cox, and none could have afforded us more real comfort. We found ourselves fully engaged for the following Sabbath, the 4th of May; but in consequence of the affection of voice from which I still suffered, I could in the issue only answer for a portion of my engagements. I was fixed to preach in the evening at the consecration of a new church in Brooklyn. What is called the consecration of a church among the Presbyterians is only what we should call an opening; and as, at this opening, a collection was to be made, I was very unwilling to disappoint them. The occasion was an interesting one. The church was handsome, and well built. It was the result of a revived state of religion in the place. It cost 20,000 dollars, and would accommodate 1,200 persons. It was very full. As the week of anniversaries opened, there were decided marks of activity and engagement in the religious community. Previously, too, a wise regard is had to method and accommodation. The pastors give notice to their congregations, that those persons who are desirous to entertain one or more ministers during the meeting, may communicatc their intentions either to himself or some elder appointed for that service. A counter notice is inserted in the newspapers, to inform the ministers visiting at the time, that accommodation will be provided; and directing them where to apply. At the place of reference an entry is made of all the friends who are prepared to accommodate; and the names of the applicants are filled in as they apply. The whole of this arrangement is effected on Christian principle, and it is on that account effectual. Of course, a respect is had to the requests of friendship, where they exist; but I could not learn that a minister ever failed of accommodation because he was either poor or unknown; nor could I find that, whatever might be the numbers, any suffered disappointment. There must have been from 300 to 400 ministers at this time in New York; but I believe none were necessitated to sojourn at the hotel or the lodging house. To facilitate also the attendance of strangers and the community generally, a small map is prepared of that portion of the city which is to be the theatre of pious interest and activity; and cards are printed containing a table of the meetings. I insert a copy of one; which, although it does not embrace the meetings of Baptists, Methodists, or Episcopalians, will show that the week is by no means an idle one. "AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY, at Chatham street Chapel, 10 o'clock, A. M. "REVIVAL TRACT SOCIETY, at Third Free Church, corner of Houston and Thompson streets, 4 P. M., and in the evening. "Convention of Delegates, AMERICAN TRACT SoCIETY, 4 P. M., at Society's house. "AMERICAN PEACE SOCIETY, at Chatham street Chapel, 4 P. M. "NEW YORK SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION, at Chatham street Chapel, half past 7 P. M. "CHILDREN OF THE SABBATH SCHOOLS appear in the Park at half past 3 P. M. "Morning prayer-meetings will be held at half past 5 o'clock on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, in Chatham street Chapel, and in Mr. Patton's church, Broome street, near Broadway." Had I leisure, it would not be desirable that I should attempt to describe all these meetings: for they are very similar to each other, and indeed very like our own; but I will endeavor to place one before you as a sample of the whole, as I believe this has not yet been done by any friendly hand. Do not, however, expect that it should equal in magnitude what we have seen in Surrey Chapel or Exeter Hall; for this would not be just. The states have at present no metropolis; the interest of their meetings, therefore, is divided among several places, rather than concentrated in one, as it is in London. However, if I succeed in placing it properly under your eye, you will not think it in considerable. If it does not equal our central, it surpasses most of our provincial meetings. Tract, the Home Mission, the Education, the Bible, The Societies creating the most interest are the and the Foreign Missionary. The last of these. was the last in order; but, as it surpassed, perhaps, all in impression, it is to this I will refer. The ordinary place of meeting is Chatham street chased and converted into a free church; and it is, Chapel. The place was a theatre; it has been puron the whole, deemed the best adapted to the purposes of public meetings. It has, like Zion Chapel, strong indications of what were its original uses. The platform of the stage remains. In the centre of the front line of the stage is a roomy pulpit. From the foot of the pulpit springs a gallery of seats, which rises backwards to the external walls, and fills the whole space over the stage. This is reserved for the ministers; and when it is filled by them, it presents to the eye, as you pass up the aisles, a striking and impressive object. On reaching the platform, and turning round, you have a face of things presented to you somewhat resembling what it would be in a similar position in Spafields Chapel. There is a considerable area, and over it two tiers of galleries. The place, I should think, will contain 2,000 persons; and filled, as it was on this occasion, there could not be less than 2,500. At this meeting of the Foreign Mission Society, the Hon. John C. Smith presided. Dr. Proudfit was called on to open the proceedings by prayer. Dr. Wisner then, as Secretary to the Society, was looked to for a report of its state and prospects. This was not the occasion on which that Society makes it full annual report; it was an auxiliary exercise, and the statement made was a mere abstract. That abstract, however, was wisely given; it was brief, clear, discriminating, and made to turn on vital and great principles of hope and of action; and it was delivered, not by dry and hasty reading, but with freedom and cogent earnestness. Mr. Winslow, an excellent missionary, who had returned from Ceylon, followed. He gave an interesting account of the condition of missionary work in India, with much pious feeling, and urged for support in correspondence with the opening prospects. A very good impression was made by his speech; shown not in audible admiration of the man, but in silent appreciation of the subject. Dr. Beman supported his resolution in a speech of different character, but not of contrary effect. It was argumentative, but popular, serious, and urgent, embracing large views of a great subject, and making strong claims on the conscience. The temper of the meeting was fully sustained by his address. I was expected to follow him with another resolution. I began by referring to my responsibility, for at that moment I deeply felt it. What was said was received with the greatest indulgence and attention; and I was thankful if it did not disturb or allay the state of feeling which happily existed. After a slight pause, the Rev. Mr. Blagden, of Boston, rose, and referring to the felt state of the meeting, proposed that contributions should be immediately made, and that we should resolve ourselves into a prayer-meeting, to seek the especial blessing.of God on our object and ourselves. The. president and one or two senior members about the chair, thought that they had better first pass through the usual and remaining business. This was conceded. Messrs. Alder, Matheson, Bethune, and Dr. Spring, followed. They spoke under some disadvantage. The general feeling required not to be excited by continued appeal; but rather to be re lieved by devout supplication. The business was disposed of. Notice was given that contributions should be sent to the collectors of the several congregations; and I was requested to close the meeting in prayer. I sought to be excused, but in vain. It was a most solemn and delightful occasion. The profound silence showed that all were engaged in one act; and sweet and refreshing tears were shed in abundance. That time is worth a thousand ordinary ones; it stands out in the places of memory as Bethel did in the recollections of the patriarch, never to be forgotten! Happy as the service was, it was generally regretted that the suggestion made by Mr. Blagden was not acted upon. Some 5,000 dollars would certainly have been added to the funds of the Society; and such an occasion, so seldom occurring, improved by special prayer, might have led to extraordinary results. To plead order under such circumstances, and to prevent the exercise of religious feeling, is reducing order to formality, and turning the good into an evil. However, the feeling was so strong after the disappointment it had suffered, and after the expression which had been given to it, that before the meeting separated, it was resolved to open two places for special prayer on the following Sabbath evening. These meetings were thronged, and most serious and interesting. The meetings were mostly held in the morning and evening; commencing at ten and half past seven, and finishing at an uncertain time. The evening meetings closed about ten o'clock, and the morning about two; the one I have described finished at half past two. The meetings, as a whole, were pronounced to be more interesting than they had ever been, and this was said in connection with the assurance that they had been much longer. The morning meeting had previously seldom exceeded two hours or two hours and a half. The societies which were not so fully supported, and which met in the evening, threw some singers into the gallery behind the rostrum, and relieved the meeting by one or two musical compositions. This was not, to my taste, an improvement. Had the whole assembly been challenged to sing, as an expression of the feeling which possessed it, it would have been natural and beautiful; as it was, it appeared too theatrical. It was a common thing to prepare printed slips, with the resolutions and names of the mover and seconder, as a bill of fare. Generally, the meetings were, in my judgment, delightful. There was more spirit and efficiency in them than I had been taught to expect; or than one might reasonably expect, in the remembrance that the platform meeting is of later date with them than with us. They are in no way inferior to our meetings at Bristol, Liverpool, or Manchester; and in some respects they are perhaps superior. They have fewer men that speak; but then they have fewer formal, inappropriate, and turgid speeches. There may be with us more play of talent, and more beauty of period; but with them there is less claptrap, less trifling, and no frivolity. They meet as men who have a serious business in hand, and who are determined to do it in a manly and serious manner; and they look with wonder and pity on the impertinence of a man who, at such a time, will seek to amuse them with pun, and humor, and . prettiness. The speakers, perhaps, ask more time to prepare than in England, but they do not lean more on their notes; and if they have less action, they do not create less interest. That interest is, indeed, not expressed as with us, by strong and audible signs, till one's head aches. I witnessed, in all the meetings, but one burst of this kind, and that was severely put down by a rigid chairman. But if the speaker has a worthy theme, and if he is worthy of it, he shall find, in commending it to the judgment and the heart, that he is addressing himself to a people who can wait on his lips with intelligent smiles, and silent tears, and with what, after all, perhaps, is the highest compliment, silence itself-deep and sublime-like the silence of heaven. Two things should be remarked before this subject is dismissed from your attention. The first is, that, at no one of these meetings, was a public collection made; and the other is, that, in connection with all of them, early prayer meetings were held at different parts of the town. At length this busy week came to its close. A week it was, in which I had made more acquaintance than in any similar period of time; in which the dwelling of our worthy host was made too much like a house of call; in which a field of service was opening before us, not only in the States, but over the Canadas; and in which my poor stock of strength was perfectly exhausted. LETTER V. MY DEAR FRIEND-I have now to introduce you to new and different scenes. Hitherto we had seen nothing of the rural population; nor had we found an opportunity of marking the effects of a very remiles from New-York, and in the State of Newcent revival. Morristown, which is some thirty Jersey, supplied the double occasion; and our kind friend Mr. Phelps, partly to meet this desire, and partly from a benevolent concern to relieve me from the pressure of too many engagements, proposed to take us thither. We readily accepted his offer, and left on Saturday for that place. We went by a steamer to Elizabethtown, and from thence by a coach, which was waiting the arrival of the boat. The road was bad, and the run heavy; but the country was varied and pretty, and all the objects were new. Apple orchards prevail greatly about here. That fruit has been cultivated extensively and profitably for distillation; but the Temperance Society has destroyed the trade. I saw, on the road-side, a good sized house just finished, and placed on stilts, with this notice on it: "TO BE SOLD AND REMOVED AT THE DIRECTION OF THE PURCHASER." Morristown is beautifully located. It is placed on ridges of land, which drop away into the valleys. The scattered cottages run round a green of irregular form, and having the Presbyterian church as a centre-piece; and from the green they run off again into the different avenues which lead to it, and are half concealed among the tress. The cottages are what is called frame buildings; they have a frame or skeleton of wood; and this is clothed externally with feather-edged boarding. The roof is covered with shingle; which is a sort of wooden slate, made either of pine or cedar. Every thing indeed is of wood except the chimneys, which are carried up in brick. When they are kept nicely painted, and have green Venitian shutters, as is mostly the case here, they look pretty, and will endure a long time. The church was raised of the same materials; with a tower and spire springing from the ground, and forming a projection on the front elevation of the edifice. This is the usual material, and the usual form given to it, in the construction of the rural church. Not being expected here, nor having even the knowledge of any person, we made our way to one of the two inns on the green; but before we could make our little arrangements, the rumor of our arrival had got abroad, and we were not allowed to stay there. Mr. Matheson went to Mr. Hover's, | mined on holding a protracted meeting in the month the minister of the Presbyterian church; and Mr. Phelps and myself accepted the invitation of Mr. Cook, a zealous member of the Methodist church, and who had first shown us kindness. The next day was the Sabbath. I declined all engagement for the day, not only as necessary to my state of health, but as I sought those opportunities of hearing and of quiet observation which were requisite to assist one's judgment. I had the less delicacy in this, as the ministers were all prepared to meet their flocks, and as Mr. Matheson had engaged to assist Mr. Hover in duties somewhat arduous. In the morning I worshipped at the Presbyterian church. The avenues and green were animated by the little groups hastening to the house of God; some sixty light wagons stood about the green and church fence, which had already delivered their charge. The people were all before the time. I should think twenty persons did not enter after me, and I was in time. There were, I should think, above a thousand persons present. The exercises were well and piously conducted. Mr. Hover read his sermon, but he read it with tears. It was on the duty of parents to their children, and it made a good impression. It was adapted to this end; for it was excellent in composition and in feeling. The people did not show much interest in the singing, nor all the interest in prayer which I expected; but on the whole it was, perhaps, the best time of both pastor and people; for they were still surrounded by the effects and influence of a revival which had lasted most of the winter. The particulars of this revival I will here put down; postponing any observations on the subject generally, till I can give it the full consideration which its importance demands. of February for some days, and by this means he brought to his youth, and his overladen hands, the help of some brethren in the ministry. It was conducted, I believe, with prudence and efficiency; and it advanced the good work which had been be gun. As the fruit of these exercises, the happy pastor was looking to receive nearly fifty persons to the communion of the pious at the next sacrament. It should be observed that their sacraments, and consequently their admissions, occur only once in three months; and that this circumstance gives to their amount of admissions an apparent advantage over ours. In the afternoon of the day I attended the Episcopal church. It is small and thinly attended.— There were not two hundred persons. The minister is, I believe, of worthy character, and seriously disposed; but he reads a sermon in essay style; fairly put together indeed, yet void of thought, of distinctness, and of point. It would provoke neither objection nor inquiry; and was therefore not likely to do good. The service closed as it began: the people were evidently not interested. Q what a lifeless thing professed religion may become, and what a responsibility rests with the minister, lest he should deprive it of life as it passes through his hands! On leaving the place, I took a circuitous and unfrequented path home, and was delighted with the scenes it presented to me. One spot especially dwells in my memory. You stood on a slope above the village; and in looking upon it, you saw only the turret of the hall, the spire of the church, and the angles of a few cottages through the foliage of the poplar, the oak, and the pine, which concealed all the rest. Here and there little parties appeared and disappeared, as they quietly moved on from the school or the church to their quiet home. Behind you were two verdant lanes, which promised to transport you from the world; while at your side the land broke suddenly away some hundred feet, and presented you with a small lake finely fringed with wood; and again it fell away, and ran into the distance, giving to the eye vale after vale, and hill after hill, beautifully formed, beautifully clothed, and in beautiful perspective. The sun was shining brilliantly on this distant scenery; and a fine dark cloud had risen like a curtain over the other portion of it, so as to throw as much of quiet animation into the whole picture as possible. It was a sweet study. From all I could learn, religion must have been low in this congregation previous to the revival; that is, lower than it usually is in our churches. There are many causes that might contribute to this; and chiefly, I think, it might arise from many persons, who, as they grow up, have no wish to be thought irreligious, and yet have no conscientious regard for religion; and who, feeling towards the predominant church as a sort of parish church, attach themselves to it, and thus from time to time infuse into it a worldly character. Several pious persons, principally the minister and elders, I believe, felt for the condition of the people, and the want of success in the ordinary means of grace; and they met together for prayer and consultation. The pastor engaged to bring the subject, as it impressed themselves, before the attention of the church; and special meetings for prayer and a special visitation, were determined on. The township was laid out in districts, and thirty-four visiters were appointed. They were to go two and two; and to visit every family and individual more or less in attendance at church. Their business was, by conversation and prayer, and earnest appeal to the conscience, to press the claims of domestic and personal religion on all; and this was to be done without mixing it up with ordinary topics of converse, or partaking of social refreshments, that nothing might interfere with the impression. The visitation was to be made within one week; this limitation was of great use; and as this people have much leisure at the period of the year which was chosen, it could be attended with no difficulty. The results were highly encouraging. Many Their minister came out from Ireland. He is an inwere revived, and many were brought under con- telligent, humble, picus man; and preached a sound viction and serious inquiry. The deputies reported and useful sermon. But he has no management of whatever was interesting to the pastor, and encou- his voice; it was at one elevation, and that the raged the people to communicate with him; and highest, throughout. By this means he lost the his hands were soon full of occupation. He deter-power to impress; and threatens, I fear, to wear In the evening I went with Mr. Cook and my friend to the Episcopal Methodist church. It is not large, and has been recently built. The men occupied one side of the place, and the women the other; an unsocial plan, and more likely to suggest evil than to prevent it. We were there before the service commenced. The silence was interrupted disagreeably, by continued spitting, which fell, to a strange ear, like the drippings from the eaves on a rainy day. They have the custom of turning their back to the minister in singing, that they may face the singers; and they have also the practice, to a great extent, of interlining the prayer with exclamations and prayers of their own. Such as these, for instance, were common:-Amen-Do so, Lord -Lord, thou knowest-Let it be so, Lord-Yes, yes, Lord-Come, come, Lord, &c.-You will recognize in this only what you have witnessed at home. |