326
Cormitonteuct.
GOOD DEEDS NEVER DIE.
BY REY. DANIEL MARCIE, D. D
Every world in the material universe
is bound to every other by immutable
law, and no atom is ever lost from the
immensity of things created. The cir
clet of waves produced by the fall of a
pebble travels to the uttermost parts of
the sea. The blow that I strike with
my hand is felt around the earth and
beyond the stars. Much more pervasive
and enduring are those moral influences
that form the character and fix the
destiny of immortal beings. Every act
of duty starts a wave of light and of
blessing that shall roll and expand for
endless ages. It is the sceptic's dismal
philosophy which says " the good that
men do in their lives is interred with
their- bones." In the service of Christ
effort is success and a right purpose is
victory, and no faithful laborer can fail
to find many among the host of the
redeemed to call him blessed.
Not many years ago, a European
philosopher, unrolling the - countless
bandages of an EgYptian mummy,:found
a few grains of wbeakin the black:+and
withlkrecl hand. Qurrosity , led hitti
plant the kernels inAlie of
the north. The gerrei of,l ifs which had
been i \ mprisone.d three - thorisand yei‘rs
in the dark charnel of death, responded
to the touch of warmth and moisture
and light, and shot forth the green
stalk and matured the ripened grain.
And now, year by year, broad fields
sown from the produce of those revived
kernels of Egyptian wheat wave their
rich harvests beneath the autumnal sun,
and thousands . of - lives are sustained by
food, the fruitful germ. of which was so
long imprisoned in the house of death.
And so the laborer in any department
of Christian service, by precept or by
example, may drop the seed-corn of the
divine word into the cold, dead heart of
the world, and many seasons may pass,
and ho may see no signs that the seed
sown in patience and in Borrow will
ever germinate or oven retain its life.
Ho may go on year after year, faithful
though despondent and sad of heart,
making ten thousand unrecognized, un
applauded efforts for the good of others,
and at last he may go down to the
grave, feeling that nothing of all that
he has done will live after him to bless
the world or to cause his name to be
remembered with gratitude. And yet
the countless years of heaven alone
may be sufficient to estimate the blessed
fruit springing from that life of toil, of
patience, and of disappointment. It
may yet be found that the most needed
and successful laborers in God's great
vineyard of the world were they who
were willing to toil on without apparent
or applauded success, but simply because
they believed that no right purpose, no
well-meant effort could ever fail of its
appropriate result or be forgotten before
God. The great contest which truth is
waging for the mastery of this world
continues through all the ages, and the
delay of a year or of a century is no
indication that truth has lost its power,
or that the divine purpose is defeated.
Two hundred years ago, John Flavel,
of Dartmouth, in England, driven oat
of his pulpit by the persecuting Act of
Uniformity, was preaching in an open
field. With his wonted earnestness and
affectionate fervor of address, he spoke
of the dreadful curse resting on all who
love not the Lord Jesus Christ Among
the listeners on that day was a youth of
fifteen, who heard the solemn words of
the preacher, and went away as though
he heard them not. Some of noble
birth and of high intellectual culture
were so deeply affected that they fell
senseless upon the ground. But that
thoughtless young man only listened
and looked on, as if he were a disin
teres(ed spectator. Soon afterwards
he began a roving life upon the seas,
and finally settled down fora permanent
home, a faithless and a prayerless man,
in America. Meanwhile, Flavel con
tinued to preach the gospel which he
loved; amid persecutions and many
sorrows, and when the last joyful sum
mons came, he went home to God in
peace. And eighty-five years passed by,
from that day of field-preaching at
Dartmouth, and the boy of fifteen was
now a man of a hundred years and still
a wanderer from God. The quick sus
ceptibilities of youth had died in his old
and guilty heart long ago. No ordinary
faith could have believed that the seed
corn of divine truth planted by John
Flavors preaching eighty-five yetirs be
fore, on the other side of the ocean, still
survived and was destined to iilpring up
and bear fruit unto life eternal. But
so it was. It chanced on a certain day
that he found:hiniself alone in an open
field belonging to his own farm, with
no weeping multitude around him '.to
awaken his sympathies; no preach . -
errs aoliimn, voice to tell him_of his sin.
Moved, lie knew not how, that old man,
e4l,
in his hundredth year, passing over all
the intervening space of time, felt him
self back again in the field at Dart
mouth, hearing the fearful words, "If
any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ,
let him be accursed." And the message
of heaven, which the thoughtless youth
so easily rejected, was mightier when
speaking from the remembered past
than when heard from the living voice.
Then firstthe aged sinner found strength
to roll the burden of the threatened
curse from his heart, through the exer
cise of penitent and trusting love. He
lived to Thu extraordinary age of a
hundred and sixteen years, believing
and rejoicing in the Saviour, whom, for
a century, he had rejected. And the
awakening call of duty, which roused
him from the sleep of impenitence and
unbelief, came from the remembered
words of one who bad rested from his
labor for more than a •half century.
Such is the persistency with which the
truth retains its, life and germinating
power, even when sown in the uncon
genial soil of the depraved heart. And
one such example of effort apparently
lost, living and working for good long
after the laborer himself has forgotten
his" work, may give us hope and 'en
couragement as we sow the seed of
life, beside all waters, morning, evening
and at noon of day, withholding not our
band.
OPEN AIR MiJETINGS,
BY EDWARD PAYSON HAMMOND
MY DEAR Bao. .14IEztas :—At your re
quest, I am induced to jot down a few
more thoughts with regard to the im
portance of united, earnest efforts on a
large scale for the salvation of the mass
es in our land, who seldom, if ever, at
tend the house of God. In my last you
will remember that I attempted to
show, by the blessed results which at
tended the "Open Air Meetings" in
Scotland, what might be done' by the
same agency in the United States.
I am aware that the season is too far
advanced to attempt anything of the
kind at present; but I am satisfied that
if the candid and prayerful attention of
some of the leading minds of the clergy
and laity of our country could be fixed
on this subject, and their sympathies
heartily enlisted, vast results might be
achieved.
OPEN AIR MEETINGS FEASIBLE
But you ask—how could ten or fifteen
thousand be gathered, to listen for two
days to the simple gospel, which they
can hear in any city or country church ?
I see no reason why the- same means
which were so successful to bring and
hold together between ten and fifteen
thousand in Huntley, Aberdeen, Perth
and Glasgow, might not be crowned
with a like blessing on this side of
the Atlantic.
Suppose it should be known, far and
near, that many Christians in the differ
ent churches in and about Philadelphia,
were praying earnestly for the Holy
Spirit to be poured out on Open Air
Meetings, to be held in Some large park
in the vicinity of the city,and that over
one hundred of the most earnest and de
voted men from all parts of the land
were to address the people who should
assemble : that among these ministers
and laymen were men like Rev. Dr. T. H.
Skinner, Rev. Dr. Kirk, Prof. Park, Ex-
Gov. Pollock, Rev. H. W. Beecher, A. A.
Willets, the lamented Governor Briggs,
and John B. G-ough- 7 Would there not
be enough of the rich and poor, the ig
norant and the learned, who would find
time during two days to, come and lis
ten for an hour to the simple word of
Eternal Life ?
Bat, you perhaps say, would a man
like John B. Gough leave his lecturing,
for which he receives a hundred dollars
a night, to come from his beautiful resi
dence in Massachusetts away to Phila
delphia to preach the gospel? I an
swer, Yes ! and I have good reason for
saying so. In the first place, I knoW
him personally to be an earnest ortho
dox Christian. While spending three
days together under the same roof in
Rochester, I took the opportunity to
speak with him on this and kindred
subjects. -I found them dear to his
heart. He knows what seasons of deep
religious interest are, and loves above
everything else, to see poor loSt sinners
seeking an interest in Him who came
to seek and to save the lost. Besides,
he does not lecture in the. summer
months.
Others, who are not so widely known,
but whose hearts are full of compassion
for the perishing, and who know how
to wield with diverse power "the sword
of the Spirit," would make willing sac
rifices to be present; and, what is of far
greater importance, I believe that, in
answer to the united importunate prayer
of God's people, the Holy Spirit would
be poured out, and that as when " they
came out of every town Of Gallilee, and
Judea; and Jerusalem," " the power of
God" would be present to beak
3,
PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1864.
With TERN present, why might it not
be said, as upon that occasion, recorded
in Luke vi : 19, when the whale multi
tude s3u,Ot to touch Him " tbere went
virtue out of him, and healed them all?"
SUCCESS OF THESE MEETINGS TN SCOT
LAND.
I never can forget the sight that I
witnessed, upon the Glasgov Green,
when thousands upon thousands were
gathered for two days to 'listen to the
gospel. Richard Weaver, the converted
pugilist, and Reginald Radcliffe, were
among the speakers. These two men
have helped to conduct hundreds of
open air meetings. The name of the
former, anywhere in Great Britain, was
sufficient to draw together, in the vicin
ity of any large city, as man Y as could
well listen. On that occasion it was
estimated that 15,000 were pr:sent. In
order that all might hear wi hout diffi
culty, two stands were erectes.
Some of the churches in the vicinity,
with the theatre of which I spike in my
1:t
last, were used for inquiry eetings.
Much the same results followe the two
days' open air meetings in GI sgow, as
in Huntley. At night the City Hall
was packed with three or foui'thousand
solemn listeners.
At Perth, after one of the ,series of
open air meetings, a large City Hall,
holchng three or four thousand / was fill
ed nightly for weeks, and the work of
the Holy Spitit spread through tbe city,
and advanced into the country around
with great power. ' i
I speak of this to sbow th,)4t, it was
no spasmodic excitement mOvino• the
masses. Some of the most dront and ju
dicious ministers, of different denomina
tions in all Scotland left their testimony
on record that they believed the Spirit
of God had been present with convin
cing power, to seal the truth upon the
heart.
In Aberdeen, the great open air meet
ings were held during the middleof the
week; but when Saturday 'came, though
all whose names would be most likely
to draw a crowd had gone to their
homes, still it was estimated by the
secular press that nearly 15,000 were
present, and I well remember that hun
dreds were at times on that occasion in
tears. From the momentum given to
the work of the Lord by these meet
ings, a great awakening at once spread
through the city.
It was not an unusual thing even on a
weekday, to see large audiences in the
open squares in Aberdeen, attentively
listening to simple gospel truth, as it
fell from the lips of some ministers, or
perchance of some who had but recently
learned " the new song." Rev. James
Smith, of the Established Church of
Scotland, told me that be had only to
hold up a Bible and to sing a Psalm, to
call an audience. A day or two after
the .open air meeting, a union religious
service was being held in the North
Church in the evening. Tho crowd was
so large that many could not gain ad
mission. One or two speakers address
ed the hundreds about the door.
REMARKABLE CONVERSION IN ABERDEEN
As sounded out upon the still evening
air the words of the Lord Jesus, " He
that believeth shall be saved, and he
that believeth not shall be damned,"-a
company of young men pa,ssing on the
opposite side of the street listened only
to jeer and scoff. On returning home
that night, one of these yoUng men
could not sleep. Those solemn words
still rung in his ears,"He that believeth
shall be saved, he that believeth not
shall be damned." In vain he turned
from side to side, still those , awful words'
disturbed his rest. A' cold sweat stood ,
upon his brow. He dared. not sleep.
He feared he might awake amid the
wailings of the lost. He arose and
dressed himself; and though it was
midnight, he walked up ana down the
streets, asking the police where the man
was who .was preaching on the steps of
the church. At length he found the
hems of. Rev. James Smith and tang
the bell. The servant refused him ad
mittance, but ,he would not go till be
had seen the minister. Between twelve
and one o'clock at night, that wicked,
dissolute young man, as Dr. Smith be
lieved, looked with " saving faith" to
the Lamb of God, and was by the re
generating power of the Holy Spirit
made " a now creature."
The next morning he came to my
room, with a beaming countenance, to
tell of the wondrous change he had ex
perienced. Will not this " brand pluck
ed from the burning" praise God to all
eternity that open air meetings were
held in Aberdeen ?
SCOTLAND AND THE . UNITED STATES
I have thus been led to speak of these
great meetings, and of some of their
fruits, to encourage the hope, in this
country, that like- results might flow
from similitr efforts. If the need of
such meetings was felt by the best and
most influential men in Scotland, 'where
the• Sabbath is so universally observed,
and where the Bible is so much rover.-
enced and 'had, surely we too, in the
UnitedStates,need something of the kind.
There is nothing either in the character
of our inhabitants, or in the nature of
our climate to militate against the pro
posed plan.
In my next I shall attempt to state a
few facts with regard to the utility of
occasional open air meetings.
THE SYNOD OF WEST PENNSYLVANIA
EDITOR OF THE AMERICAN PRESBYTE
RIAN:—Tho Synod of West Pennsylva
nia held its annual meeting in this city,
(Erie,) commencing its sessions on Fri
day, September 23, and adjourning at 10
o'clock Monday night. The meeting
was the most interesting, instructive
and useful of any that it has been our
privilege to attend. This, no doubt,
was owing , in a measure to the peculi
arly impressive circumstances by which
we are surrounded as a nation, and the
Church of God as a body ; and this
Synod as a unit, deeply sympathizes
with the nation in her struggles to
maintain her independence, her benign
government, her sacred institutions, her
union and her unity. As the prosperity
and the valuable interests of the one
are intimately blended by the word and
providence, of. God, with the true pros
perity and interests of the other, It was
natural that the state, and condition of
our country, as well as the state and
condition of the Church of God, should
inspire and energize .the religious patri
otism as well as the pious faith and
humble, importunate prayers of the
members of the Synod. Never before
did it seem more apparent to all of us
that God in his infinite mercy most gra
ciously "remembered his word on which
he caused us to hope," and was present
with us to guide our thoughts—to unite
our hearth—to soften, subdue . and sanc
tify our passions and affections. Our
meeting was indeed, as our good Metho
dist brethren would say, a "love feast"
to all of us. It is a matter of congratu
lation that the Synod was exceedingly
delighted with the Christian hospitality
extended to them during their short so
journ here; and pendink the motion for
adjournment they perpetuated their
memories and experience by a recorded
tribute of their glad thanks to •the peo
ple, and of praise to God for his good_
ness and his mercy shown.
The subjects which, ecclesiastically,
moreparticularly occupied the attention
of the Synod, were missions, foreign and
domestic; the education of pious young
men for the ministry; publications, or
a religious literature; and the spiritual I I
condition and welfare of the Churches•
On the Sabbath the pulpits of five
denominations besides our own were
supplied by appointments of. the Synod,
in compliance with the fraternal requests
of their several respective ministers and
elders. This is beautiful in Zion. It is
a sign and pledge of better things to
come. May God speed the day when
all religious bigotry and sectarian prose
lytism and exclusiveness shall be ban
ished from the earth—when " with all
'lowliness and meekness, with long suf_
:faring, forbearing one another in love,"
'all who call themselves Christians will
" endeavor to keep the unity of, spirit
:in the bond of peace."
Some of the resolutions adopted by
the Syned were of course local in their
nature, and so circumscribed, in their
influence and operation, that it is need
less to report them generally. There
were : others adopted, however, which
may command the attention of your nu
merons patrons, and secure a perusal by
some. Such especially are those which
follow on the state of the country.
They have the right ring,—and are as
follows
The committee appointed to give ex
pression to the views of the Synod on
the state of the country, respectfully
report:
Ist. That in profound recognition of
a higher than human power as ruling
in the armies of Earth as well as Ilea
ven,we join' in the heartiest than ksgiving
to Almighty God for the recent succes
ses that have attended our arms.
2d. That we re-affirm and emphasize
our abhorrence of the purposes and aim
and animating spirit of the leaders of
this wicked and causeless rebellion.
3d. That we press upon ourselves and
people the duty of renewed and constant
prayer for a national spirit that shall be
"first pure, then peaceable," for com
plete and final victory, for the utter
overthrow and final extirpation of armed
treason, and for a peace that shall be
approved of. God as righteous, conducive
to the best interests of humanity, and
to the maintenance and ultimate tri
umph. of the principles of the Gospel of
Christ.
4th. That we deeply sympathize with
those who have been called of God to
climb their mounts of sacrifice and
lay lives precious and dear to them
upon the altar of patriotism, while we
humbly recognize in the trials of the
past and such discipline of sorrow as
may still be appointed for us, the divine
chastening for our sins:
sth. That we bless God for the hero
ism of our soldiers—for their fire and
fortitude and taith—for their patriotism
and prowess—their vigor, and valor and
victory. '
6th. That we urge upon our congre
gations to continue, while the war lasts,
to support by their liberal contributions
and their most faithful prayers the
United States Christian Commission,
upon whose efforts to evangelize the
army and navy of the Union has been
set the seal of the God of .Heaven.
In behalf of the Committee,
HERRICK JOHNSON, Chairman
Very unexpectedly we were greet
ed with the presence of the Rev. Dr.
Mills, who visited us for the purpose of
stirring us "by way of remembrance,"
upon the subject of education of pious
young men for the gospel ministry.
His visit was opportune, inspiring and
useful. The Presbyterian Church, in
our opinion, is indebted to no man,
more than to Dr. Mills, under the direc
tion of God, for the rapidly concentra
ting and growing energy and efficiency
which characterizes her courts and
membership in relation to her own in
stitutions. The secret of his success is
the obvious similarity of his views and
plans with the Bible model and apos
tolic precepts and examples.
After listening to his statements and
address the Synod
Resolved, That in dependence upon
the grace of God, we all as ministers
of the gospel will preach upon this sub
ject ; and as office•bearers 'in the Church,
will exert our influence to secure greater
vigilance and activity, in seeking out,
and'persuading pious young men to de
vote and prepare themselves for the
gospel Ministry—as also to urge our re
spective church es to in creasing liberality
in their annual contributions to this in-_
estimably important . department of
Christian benevolence..
The closing session, of the; synod was
an intensely interesting one. The ex
pressions of love for the' church—of
confidence in God—of love for each
other individually, the confessions, the
promises and pledges made, and the
concluding prayer, all combined to ren
der the hour of adjournment solemnly
pleasant and full of hope for the future.,
We could not but deeply feel the inspi-i
ration of the sentiment:l)f the Christian
poet, as it lifted up our-hearts to God,
with, his, as ho sweetly sung,
"His grace will to the end,
Stronger and brighter shine ;
Nor present things—nor things to come
Shall quench the spark divine."
GEORGE A. LYON, Stated. Clerk
WESTERN MINISTERS.
MR. EDITOR :—The following article
is from the pen of the wife of a Presby
terian minister in Illinois. A republi
cation may be useful at the present
time, when so many of our ministers
and missionaries at the West are main
taining such a severe struggle with pov
erty. About the time it was first pub
lished a clergymen in New England
preached a sermon to his peopTe on
Home Missions. At the close he read
this article. The effect was that in-'
stead of obtaining, $250 or $3OO, as
they had generally done before, they
obtained eleven hundred dollars. Par
baps other ministers may do the same
thing and possibly with the same result.
To THE EDITORS OF THE INDEPEN
DENT :—Sume time since, in your paper,
I read an article entitled, I think, for
the paper is not before me, The
Wealthy Clergymen of New York City.!'
Although not surprised at the state!
ments, I have been unable to get it 0041 ,
of my mind. It sometimes comes right
between me and duty and often between
me and peace. I wish some one would
write to your paper an account of the
poor clergymen of the West, as a sort of
balance to that piece. It is true that
one half of the ministers ,do not know
what the other half are sufferiag. They
travel in, the West, stop in our large
towns, call on their brethren,- who in
siteh places are geriefouslY supported ;
but they see and know nothing of other
brethren scattered' all over these vast
prairies and along the line of every rad
road—faithful, devoted men, soldiers of
the Cross, loyal to their Head and King,
obtaining a bare subsistence—very bare:
Their salaries, alWays small, are quite
unequal to the present high prices- of
food and clothing. A box of clothing
from sympathizing Christians in the
East used to come to them like a ray of
sunshine to warm the soul arid relieve
the heart of anxious cars; but these are
now turned into other channels, and.
the pastor dispenses with his quarterly
and his newspaper, his wife dismisses;
her. servant, the children are deprived
of the means of education, and yet they
try to keep their courage up and their ay..:
mor bright. Sommtimes hisparish extends'
fifteen or twenty miles. Over this area'
he walks or rides in mud, snow and sun
shine—;in summer among the prairie
flowers in their sweetness and beauty—
always busy sowing the good seed along,
the way at the private residence, in thei
school-house, comforting the sick an i fi .
weary, himself often more comfortlesl
than they. His wife must always be
present at church, at the Sabbath-school,
at the various religious meetings and
benevolent societies, which depend"so
much upon female influence and exam
ple, and at the bedside of the 'sick and
suffering. She must be intelligent anti
devoted, "use hospitality without grudz
ing," be a model housekeeper, and keep
her children well instructed and tidy.
The rising Sun smiles on her'at her task,
and the weary hours at night find her at
work on the well- worn garments of the
little 8109410 M. Nor can she remit her
labor on account,of the ague, although
it steals the bloom from her cheek ~ and
the light from her -eye. Add to' these
the perplexities <of an uncomfortabte
scantily-furnished house, and the oft
returning ailments peculiar to this cli
mate, and none but the Father above can
know or appreciate the extent of her
sacrifices and sufferings. Her husband
sees her strength failing, and his heart
is sad. He looks about for relief Row
gladly would he adopt some plan to re
cruit her wasting energies! But pov
erty is inexorable, and she becomes a
ready victim to some prevailing epi
demic, and goes to her rest. Friends
mourn, and call it a "mysterious Provi
dence" that takes tier away when she is
so much needed.
He too becomes exhausted with his
labors, and needs repose. Then it is
that the eye of-hope grows dim, the
heart sickens, ihe courage dies, and in
sadness and suffering he pines for the
dear voices and tender sympathies of a.
far-distant home. The foreign mis
sionary, himself enfeebled, or his Rife an
invalid, returds to his native shore,
cheered with the hope of renewed health
and vigor. But these men can have no
furlough without at once sacrificing the
slender support on which the very ex
istence of their loved ones .depends.
We read in the papers that "Rev.
Mr. —is contemplating a voyage to
Europe for his health;" that;"his people
have presented him with $l,OOO to de
fray his expenses, and supply the pulpit
during his absence." What paper ever
heralded a notice of like favor to a poor
minister, especially at the West ? He
is not so wild as to dream of a voyage
to Europe, but a journey of three or
four weeks, and a reunion of family ties
would be very grateful.
1 might tell you of my own struggles,
of my husband's labors and discourage
ments, of the sum total that measures
our expenses; thltt I have an aged
father and mother in New England,
whom I can never hope to see on earth,
and how I endeavor to repel this bitter
thought; but I will not say one word
about them, for I suppose I encounter
no more difficulties than I have reason
to expeCt while passing through an en
emy's country to my heavenly home.
But there is another side to this pic
ture. Though lam poor, and my lot in
life is bumble, what is it to me, since
"God is my portion." What though
others live in magnificent bouses, in the
midst of blooming beauty, and inherit
large estates? I have " a house not
made with hands eternal in the hea
vens." My Saviour has gone to prepare
for me a mansion which will surpass in
grandeur all the conceptions of earth,
and lam heir to an inheritance that
passeth not away.
What though they consume life in
gorgeous apartments, and recline un
wearied on soft couches to rest, while I
toil from early dawn till late at night?
When the six working days of life are
over, I shall lay my weary head on
Tens' bosom, and enjoy a Sabbath of
eternal rest.
What though their servants are obe
dient to every wish? I even now re
ceive the ministrations of angels.
What though they are enveloped in
the choicest fabrics, of the best har
monized colors? When I lay aside
this plain apparel, I shall be clothed in
a robe of pure and shining whiteness,
a golden crown on my head, and a harp
in my hand.
What though they pass'me unnoticed
in the walks of life, and overlook me in
their social gatherings ? I shall soon
be a companion of angels and the spirits
of the just made perfect. lam already
invited to the "marriage-supper of the
Lamb."
What though admiring friends are
basking in the sunlight of their splen
dor, paying them obsequious homage?
I have a friend who is " chief among
ten thousands and altogether lovely."
I call upon him and he answers me. He
is with me in trouble and delivers me.
In all my afflictions he is afflicted, and
he brightens every joy. He comes to
me in my sadness and tenderly wipes the
tear from my eye. He comes to me
in the still watches of the night and re
veals the secrets of his heart. He says
be "will never leave me nor forsake
me." "I shall be satisfied when I awake
in his likeness." E. A. K.
Illinois, San. 30th, 1864.
SANDWIOH ISLANDS.
Through the San Francisco Pacific,
we have a letter from Rev. J. S. Green,
of Makawao, S. I. which represents the
Islands as anything but quiet under the
late coup d'etat by which the king, at
the instigation of a Paseyite Bishop
sent over from England to "enter into
other men's labors," abrogated the con
stitution of the State. Under date of
July 15, Mr. Green writes:
" You will see . about the time this
resales you, the speech of the king
at the opening of the Convention.
I learn by letter that the discussions
in the Convention, are exceedingly
sharp. I have little doubt that shame
will be the portion of each of the king's
ministers, who have advised him to do so
foolish and wicked a thing as to meddle
with the Constitution. I hope we shall
soon hear that he has dismissed from his
service, these shameless ministers, and
sought other and better men. We shall
see what will be the result of this attack
on the nation's Constitution.
"I believe that no Americans, save a
few in the employ of the Government,
are in sympathy with the king and his
ministers in - their attack on the Consti
tution. The French, too, including the
Catholics, oppose any change being
made. The English prelates, it is
thought, favor change, expecting, doubt
less to make capital out. of it. The
Lord disappoint them we pray, and
save the nation from the devices of
wicked and unreasonable men."
THEY that drive away time, spur a
- free horse.