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TRAVELS: 
 
 COMPRISING A 
 
 JOUENEY FROM ENGLAND TO OHIO, 
 
 TWO YEAES IN THAT STATE, 
 TRAVELS IN AMERICA, &c. 
 
 TO WHICH ARE ADDED 
 
 THE FOREiajN^ER'S PROTRACTED JOURNAL, LETTERS, &c. 
 BY JOHN EYEE. 
 
 'Let the righteous smite me friendly." 
 
 FOURTH THOUSAND. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 SOLD AT RIKER'S, 129 FULTON ST., AND RAYNOR'S, 76 BOWERY. 
 
 1851. 
 

 2.^ 
 
 B. CRAIGHEAD, PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER, 
 112 FULTON STREET. 
 
P E E F A C E. 
 
 The following pages were begun at sea by a person from 
 England, and continued through his journey up into the 
 state of Ohio. They have indeed been corrected, and 
 enlarged by some additional matter and travels since that 
 period, but the additions were added probably on travel, and 
 at a distance from home. As to the extent of the work, it 
 had recently been intended by the writer to bear the following 
 title, namely, " The Christian Spectator : including a 
 Journey from England to Ohio, Two Years in that State, 
 Travels, &c." But for want of means to publish in a large 
 form at present, he has come to the conclusion to pubhsh 
 only a part of it till a future period. 
 
 At a time when thousands were leaving their native 
 countries in Europe to find a habitation, and the comforts of 
 life in a foreign land — when the tide of emigration drew 
 many after them, though not under the same obligations to 
 remove as their acquaintances, who had gone before them, 
 and when some more especially have given up a successful 
 hue of business to follow their friends or acquaintances to a 
 distant country, it is not surprising if a few individuals, imder 
 such circumstances, should find themselves disappointed, and 
 meet with difficulties abroad equal to those they had to 
 
IV • PKEFACE. 
 
 encounter at home. This, however, is seldom the case 
 among laborers and industrious men. It generally happens 
 among such people as give up a good inheritance at home, 
 at the hazard of finding a better one abroad. It seldom 
 happens that working men are injured by coming to 
 America ; on the contrary, there are many who have had, 
 and who still have, cause for thankfulness that there w^as 
 such a country to repair to, and there are but few among 
 the industrious and healthy, and people of tolerable genius, 
 who cannot find something to do, and some way to hve, 
 though they could not hve in Europe. 
 
 Hence it is not the writer's intention to speak hghtly of 
 Ameiica, inasmuch as in many instances it has been the 
 industrious man's home, and he has the satisfaction to say 
 that he has found many veiy^ humane and kind people in it. 
 To laboring and industiious people, in thousands of instaneeSy 
 America has proved a blessmg — nay, it has been a place of 
 refug-e to the oppressed from many nations, and even men of 
 property, it is probable, have accumulated wealth as rapidly 
 as in any other part of the world ; and Avho, with content- 
 ment, may find everj^hing in moderation to satisfy their 
 desires, as welt as in other nations. It frequently happens, 
 indeed, that foreigners cannot follow the same employments 
 in America as in the country from whence they came ; that 
 some others have considerable trials to mortify them before 
 they can live comfortably ; and that a few individuals among 
 them have to suffer some hardships for a season, before 
 unknown. Hence, in order to give the reader some account 
 of emigi'ation, and the troubles connected with such an en- 
 terprise, the writer wrote the following pages, now given to 
 the public. 
 
 But such a work was attended vnth diflSculty ; for to write 
 at sea, without a table, or chair to sit upon ; to possess any 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 sedateness of mind amidst such a. company, without any- 
 place of retirement to sit alone ; to be destitute of a concord- 
 ance, dictionary, the Scriptures, or an}" other books ; and to 
 complete a work for publication while travelling, without any 
 regular place of abode, vras not easy to accomphsh. From 
 a consideration of such cu'cumstances, as well as a conscious- 
 ness of his want of ability for writing, the author solicits the 
 lenity of the reader for any deficiency he may find in the 
 %vork. 
 
 It was not, however, his intention to give an account of 
 iiis journey exclusively, or to speak solely of anything that 
 might ti'anspire on such an enterprise. He did not write 
 altogether for that pm'pose ; but he wrote in part to employ 
 bis time usefully, and to put down such reflections as might 
 occur to his mind, on such an occasion, for the benefit of his 
 own soul, and of others also. Is not this of the utmost 
 importance ? Should not the soul have some refreshment 
 as well as the body ? Does man live by bread alone ? And 
 is it not true that young people, and all people of reflection, 
 want some useful employment to keep them from exill 
 May God bless both the writer and reader, and that after 
 their labors and travels on earth, they may happily meet in 
 heaven, which is the prayer of the 
 
 AUTHOR. 
 
 Albany, Nov. 14, 1838. 
 
TRAVELS. 
 
 Our removing from the docks to lay at anchor. — An unpleasant occur- 
 rence among the sailors. — Some men at an unseasonable hour in the 
 morning before we set forward, came apparently in search of some 
 one they wanted to find. — A steamer came to set us forward and 
 unexpectedly brought about thirty persons, which made considerable 
 confusion. — After more than one day and two nights sail the captain 
 sent a family of nine persons back. — Reflections, &,g. 
 
 June 21, 1832. 
 
 Although the lime for our sailing was set for 
 Tuesday the 12th, yet we did not get out of the docks 
 till Saturday the 16th ; when we removed a small 
 distance from Liverpool, where we laid at anchor till 
 Monday afternoon. The ship we sailed in was a 
 fine vessel, about seven feet and a half between decks, 
 and spoken highly of by almost all people on that ac- 
 count, room, &c.*' The berths were all taken be- 
 fore we put to sea, unless a very few individuals were 
 wanting ; and although it is customary to have a row 
 
 * The dimensions of it are nearly as follows : — Forty yards in length 
 and ten in width, masts about five feet eight inches in circumference, 
 and about twenty yards high, sixteen or twenty sail cloths, some of the 
 largest containing at least perhaps a hundred yards of cloth in each. 
 
FROM ENGLAND 
 
 down the middle, yet there were none in this vessel ; 
 and one of the agents said in my hearing, if I am not 
 mistaken, that they did not expect they should want 
 any. Moreover as the time for sailing was more than 
 up when we left the docks, and laden perhaps with 
 forty or fifty hogsheads of water down the middle, 
 (and put to sea in this state of preparation,) we did 
 not expect any of course : and hence we were flat- 
 tered with sailing in as fine and comfortable a vessel 
 as any that were going to America.* 
 
 Before we launched forth a circumstance happened 
 that was rather shocking to think of One of the 
 sailors wanted to go on shore, but another held and 
 prevented him. Whether the one who held him was 
 in earnest I know not. Continuing to attempt land- 
 ing, and the captain unfortunately being there, he 
 fell roughly upon him, knocked him down, and began 
 beating him wdth all his might in a very severe man- 
 ner. This treatment enraged the man, and provoked 
 him to draw his knife out of its sheath to defend him- 
 self. Hence, after he had disentangled himself from 
 his struggle with the captain, he stood with his knife 
 drawn in the midst of them, and no man durst take 
 him. One or two of them laid hold of his elbows, as 
 they knew he had no evil intention towards them ; 
 but they could not get the knife away from him. One 
 of the passengers said, "shoot him." Some time 
 after the captain went on shore ; and the sailors, not 
 
 * I have been since informed, I think, by one who came over at the 
 same time, that near the English or Irish coast this vessel was lost. 
 
TO NEW YORK. 
 
 knowing but he consented, let the man go also : but 
 it seems that this was not the captain's intention. 
 Hence, late at night, when he came on board and 
 understood that the man was gone, and had not re- 
 turned, he swore at a strange rate. This storming, 
 passionate rage, like an uncontrollable tempest, con- 
 tinued for a considerable length of time. After a 
 while he fell upon one man and beat him in a very 
 severe manner ; and continued to swear and rage 
 and threaten till he had avenged himself, and his 
 madness was over. The passengers I suppose, were 
 all in bed, and therefore did not behold the brutal 
 scene ; but it was plainly heard and sufficiently un- 
 derstood. O Saviour of men, give me the mind that 
 was in thyself; that whether travelling by sea or 
 land, or tried by perplexing circumstances, I may 
 manifest the same spirit. Assist me by thy grace to 
 possess my soul in patience, and suffer me not to give 
 place unto wrath, whatever I may be called to do or 
 to suffer. 
 
 One Monday morning, as early perhaps as three 
 or four o'clock, some men came down the hatchway, 
 looked into some of the berths and asked "where 
 are you from ?" Some people they seemed to pass 
 by, and others probably being asleep heard them not. 
 An Irish woman being awake, asked, " are you going 
 to give us some grog this morning ?" Others began 
 to compliment them with their drollery. One asked, 
 " have you found the persons you wanted ?" From 
 which question it appeared that they were in search 
 of some one who had escaped from them, and pro- 
 
 1* 
 
10 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 bably this was an incontrovertible fact, for in the 
 afternoon there was a person brought on board said 
 to be under an arrest for debt. 
 
 But before we set sail there came a steamer to set 
 our vessel forward, and in this vessel about thirty- 
 persons, who, together with their luggage, were to 
 be crammed in amongst us. Having all our goods 
 placed and arranged as well as we could place them 
 for our comfort, and as emigrants supposing that we 
 had a full complement, this extra company caused 
 such confusion, as without some difficulty cannot be 
 described. Their luggage was let down the hatch- 
 way close to my berth, and stowed upon our things 
 and about us till we could hardly stir. Some of the 
 casks of water which lay down the middle of the 
 vessel, (perhaps of two hogsheads each) were to be 
 drawn up, the luggage moved, and new berths built 
 for their slccommodation. A few people the first 
 night were accommodated with a place of rest ; oth- 
 ers sat or laid themselves down as they could in their 
 clothes till morning. Some were obliged to sit up a 
 
 second night. A Mrs. B y from Oxford, with 
 
 husband and seven children, who said she had not 
 had her clothes off for seven nights, came and laid 
 herself down once or twice in that manner. A Mr. 
 
 and Mrs. B d with their family came with them. 
 
 "Where is our berth ?" asked Mrs. B d. To 
 
 which one replied, '' on those casks." She exclaimed 
 in trouble enough, " the Lord have mercy upon us. 
 
 Mr. B y, we are sadly taken in." There was 
 
 another family in this company consisting of nine 
 
TO NEW YORK. 11 
 
 persons, of the name of P h from Sysham in 
 
 Northamptonshire. This family, or some part of them, 
 if I am not mistaken, sat up cheerfully two nights 
 till a berth was built for their accommodation ; but 
 alas ! sorrow cam.e in the morning ; and whether 
 they laid down with comfort I know not. For in 
 the morning Captain ****** said he had been 
 imposed upon by their sending so many, and that if 
 he took them all to New- York he should be fined 
 such a sum of money ; so he got a fisherman after 
 more than two nights and one day's sail to take them 
 back in a rough sea and so many miles from land. 
 And there was no saying nay ; for this man was so 
 firm and so arbitrary in his purposes that in such 
 circumstances no one could expostulate with him ; 
 so they let them down into this little boat tossed 
 about like an egg-shell so many miles from land ; 
 and which it was said were bound not for Liverpool 
 but to the Irish coast. Alas J what a contrary event 
 was this ! There were none on board, I presume, 
 but saw their difficulty and were sorry for them, but 
 no one could assist or knew how to speak in their 
 behalf. A stout young man of the family objected, 
 
 but made no great resistance ; and Mrs. P h it 
 
 was reported as if anxious to get out of her trouble 
 uttered the desponding yet presumptuous expression 
 " I wish I may be drowned." This was a sad dis- 
 appointment and equally terrifying in aspect. How 
 true it is that " man is born to trouble, and that 
 one half of the world knows not what the other half 
 suffers." 
 
12 FROM ENGLAKD 
 
 What precarious circumstances men are placed 
 in ! and what dangers surround them both by sea 
 and land! How desirable for our safeguard is the 
 protection and guidance of a gracious and all wise 
 Providence ! This family, as it seemed, had suffered 
 loss in their temporal circumstances, and were mak- 
 ing an enterprising effort to emigrate to a distant 
 country to repair their loss or to obtain as an indus- 
 trious people a home and the necessaries of life. 
 
 They came from S -m in Northamptonshire, 
 
 where they rented a farm under the duke of , 
 
 at which they sank eleven hundred pounds in six 
 years. They lost about twenty horses, forty cows, 
 and the last year about a hundred and fifty sheep. 
 And in addition to these losses, if they were correct 
 in their statement, they had a rich brother who got 
 some land from them to the amount of about sixty 
 pounds per annum. They seemed like a plain and 
 an industrious people, and these adverse circumstan- 
 ces appeared to be their lot without neglect or mis- 
 management of theirs. Under these circumstances 
 they were disposed to go to America ; they had made 
 every necessary preparation, and proceeded as far as 
 Liverpool to set sail. At this juncture a vessel had 
 put to sea and laying at anchor some distance from 
 land. They were informed of the circumstance, and 
 much urged forward, probably as favorable to their 
 journey, although they had not an opportunity to see 
 and judge for themselves. To save time and ex- 
 pense they might think it an auspicious circumstance, 
 and therefore readily consented to hurry forward to 
 
^ TO NEW YORK. 13 
 
 embrace so favorable an opportunity to make the 
 most rapid progress in their journey. Hence they 
 were carried to the vessel and set forward that after- 
 noon. They travelled the rest of the day and night 
 — the following day and the next night, and then the 
 Captain forced them back in a fisherman's boat. 
 Admitting that we had been travelling forty hours 
 at five miles an hour would make it two hundred 
 miles from Liverpool. This seemed not only like a 
 blundering mistake but a circumstance shocking in 
 its consequence. " How ought we then on earth to 
 live," and how well it is when we can meet with all 
 the adversities of life by having our feet on a firmer 
 base than this earth with all its appendages can af- 
 ford — when we can say 
 
 *' Though waves and storms go o'er my head, 
 Though strength, and health, and friends be gone ; 
 Though joys be wither'd all and dead. 
 Though every comfort be v^dthdrawn ; 
 Gn this my steadfast soul relies, 
 Father, thy mercy never dies." 
 
 Such are the dangers we are exposed to by sea 
 and land, and such are the troubles some people 
 meet with. And men are such beings that self-inte- 
 rest and want of charity lead some to deprive the 
 defenceless of their right, and others to oppress them 
 in their indigence, when they cannot defend them- 
 selves. It appears to me, that if this captain, through 
 inattention, had been imposed upon, he ought to 
 have borne the consequences — that he ought to have 
 carried them back again, or forward, and contrived 
 to have, landed them, or have been subject to the 
 
14 FROM ENGLAND ^ 
 
 penalty, and not have exposed the lives of such a 
 company by forcing them out to sea in the manner 
 thus described. What is your opinion, reader ? Be 
 what it may, it seems that there are some people 
 whom we cannot reason with, and some circumstan- 
 ces which we are imperceptibly led into out of which 
 there appears no safe way to escape. 
 
 Once more : Our journey through life, in many 
 instances, may providentially lead us to pass over 
 the great deep ; and many thousands, in late years, 
 have found it necessary, both for their own and 
 their children's good — and among the numbers who 
 have emigrated already, not a few have had cause 
 to be thankful that there w^as such a country as 
 America to repair to. Have you any inclination, 
 reader, to follow them ? If so, consider whether 
 you have a sufficient reason to justify you in so 
 doing. Have you any impression that you ought to 
 go, or do circumstances make it necessary ? Stop, 
 and consider. Are you determined ? Then beware 
 of men. Ask counsel of Him who is infinite in wis- 
 dom. Does his Spirit, or Providence, call you, 
 like Abraham, to go and sojourn in a strange land ? 
 Wait upon him for direction, who is wonderful in 
 counsel. Remain at his feet till you have no doubt 
 of it. Pray for His protection and blessing, and at 
 length commit yourself into his hands as unto a 
 faithful Creator. Take not a place till you have 
 seen the room of the vessel, nor suffer a self-interested 
 people to send you blindfolded to sea, when you must 
 go, be the circumstances ever so unpleasant. 
 
TO KEW YORK. 16 
 
 No. II. 
 
 Danger nigh — the wind became boisterous and the sea rough — three 
 days very tempestuoup, &c. — Nevertheless the passengers continued 
 in good spirits. — Some people are mistaken who think that crossing 
 the sea is a pleasant journey. 
 
 Last evening after going to bed it rained hard, the 
 wind was boisterous, and the captain called all hands 
 to help as if danger was nigh. Some of the passen- 
 gers said that we were in danger from rocks, not 
 having got clear of the Irish channel. This day we 
 have had a strong gale, and the vessel heaved us up 
 and down as much, or nearly, perhaps, as if we had 
 been in a swing boat. The sea appeared to be 
 hoary, or to boil like a pot of ointment. The por- 
 poises floated on the surface of the water, which is 
 said to be a sign of bad weather. 
 
 Saturday and Sunday were very windy. It seem- 
 ed as blustering as when on land it strips build- 
 ings and blows down large trees. The sea beat 
 over the vessel, and came down the hatchway. 
 Boxes, kettles, and other things, would tumble against 
 us unless tied, and in general the vessel was as slop- 
 ing as a flat-roofed house. Consequently, many were 
 very sick ; nor could we scarcely get out, stand to 
 get a cup of tea, or do anything. 
 
 " Still by me, O my Saviour, stand, 
 
 And guard in fierce temptation's hour ; 
 Hide in the hollow of thy hand ; 
 Show forth in me thy saving power. 
 
16 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 Still be thy arms my sure defence, 
 
 Nor earth, nor hell shall pluck me thence !" 
 
 On Monday, July 2, the wind was blustering. On 
 Tuesday, more so ; but on Wednesday it became 
 more terrible, and of course the sea much more 
 troubled. We could not light any fire, the wind was 
 so furious, and the sea as if it would have swallowed 
 us up. I knew not that I recollected it more blus- 
 tering on the land in my life. Merciful Protector of 
 men, save me in every danger ! Could a person 
 have flown so many hundred miles, and have taken 
 an elevated stand at a distance, he might have seen 
 the vessel encountering the storm and tempest. Had 
 he been an artist, with his palette and materials for 
 painting, he might have sketched out the unpleasant 
 scene. Could he have come down to the steerage, 
 he might have witnessed the situation of emigrants 
 and their perils on the sea. I did not know but the 
 Prince of the power of the air was going to raise as 
 powerful a storm as that which smote the Patriarch's 
 house and buried his family in the ruins thereof; or 
 that an angry God was going to fulfil that irrevoca- 
 ble sentence which has assured us that we shall 
 surely die. The air appeared as dark, perhaps, as 
 in the dead of winter, and the evening brought not 
 a brighter scene. During our passage, it was re- 
 ported that the captain said that he should not be 
 believed, if he told the people in New York what 
 weather we had had in our journey. At the height 
 of this tempest, I went down into the second cabin. 
 
TO NEW YORK. 17 
 
 and told awoman-that I should like to find a serious 
 person or two to join me in prayer ; whence I re- 
 turned to a person from Derby, who agreed to unite 
 with me. " Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget 
 not all his benefits." Truly, there is nothing like 
 prayer, either at home or abroad ! Prayer ardent 
 has shut and opened the heavens ; dried up the sea ; 
 disconcerted the schemes of armies, and bound the 
 most inveterate enemies as with chains. Elias 
 prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained 
 not on the earth by the space of three years and six 
 months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave 
 rain and the earth brought forth her fruit. 
 
 The evening continued dark and gloomy, the 
 sailors sat solitary, and the passengers were shut 
 down without any light, as in a prison-house on the 
 sea. The wind and the waves roared as with the 
 voice of many waters, and having been troubled 
 for such a length of time grew not better but worse. 
 Sometimes the waves would dash against the side, 
 and go over our heads. The vessel would so roll on 
 her side as to throw people violently against each 
 other, or against some thing that might much injure 
 them. At night I was afraid that I should fall asleep 
 and pitch out of my berth, so I reached a cord and 
 put it round me, and fastened it to one of the wooden 
 slips above me. 
 
 " To the haven of thy breast, 
 O Son of man, I fly ! 
 Be my refuge and my rest, 
 For oh, the storm is high ! 
 
18 FKOM ENGLAND 
 
 Save me from the furious blast — 
 
 A covert from the tempest be : 
 Hide me, Jesus, till o'erpast 
 
 The storm of sin I see. 
 
 " First and last in me perform 
 
 The M^ork thou hast begun : 
 Be my shelter from the storm. 
 
 My shadow from the sun. 
 Weary, parch'd with thirst, and faint 
 
 Till thou th' abiding spirit breathe. 
 Every moment. Lord, I want 
 
 The merit of thy death." 
 
 Our situation, to a people unaccustomed to a sea- 
 faring life, was trying, and when we went to bed 
 there appeared no signs of alteration. At length, 
 however, I fell asleep ; and when I awoke in the 
 night, and found at intervals the ship more still, I 
 was in hopes that the storm had ceased. When we 
 rose in the morning, lo ! there was a calm. 
 
 But the people, in general, were in good spirits, 
 and notwithstanding the dangers of the sea and the 
 difficulties attending such a voyage, the thoughts of 
 arriving in this land of liberty pretty well buoyed 
 them up to cheerfulness. Some of them having been 
 oppressed with poverty and exercised with want of 
 success ; others having had some relations there be- 
 fore, whom they wanted to see — they lived in hopes 
 of seeing an end to the painfulness of a sea voyage 
 by having their griefs redressed in the land to which 
 they were bound. There was one man who had 
 been in New York before, and was going over a 
 
TO NEW YORK. 19 
 
 second time, and said he would sooner be in America 
 with or without a shilling, than be in England with 
 five hundred pounds ! 
 
 Imagination leads some people to suppose that 
 crossing the ocean (especially to a contemplative 
 mind) is a pleasant journey, but indeed it is a time 
 of but little enjoyment. They suppose that the 
 beauty of the firmament in a clear day — the large 
 expanse of water in an ocean — the smoothness of 
 the surface in a calm, and the majestic folding of the 
 waves in a gale of wind — the rippling of the stream 
 — the noble appearance of a large vessel in full sail, 
 &c., are delightful ; but experience teaches other- 
 wise. If it is pleasant to take an occasional excur- 
 sion on the water, there are many things annoying 
 and disagreeable among a ship's company, emigrat- 
 ing to a distant country. To enumerate a few : — 
 First, the tossing of the vessel brings on the sea- 
 sickness — and although some may not be sick, yet 
 they are obliged to be among and surrounded, per- 
 haps, by fifty at one time who are so. Secondly, 
 after being sick, and continuing in a dense salt 
 atmosphere, a person during the whole voyage pro- 
 bably can never relish his food. Thirdly, for want 
 of experience, he is furnished with such food as he 
 could not relish on land. The beef and bacon cured 
 by some people, and sold to passengers for such a 
 journey, is so unsavory that it is sufficient to starve 
 a person, or make him sick. Fourthly, he is obliged 
 to be surrounded by people he cannot retire from, 
 and in such a company there are, perhaps, some 
 
20 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 reading and others singing — some fiddling and others 
 dancing — children crying and men swearing. These 
 things, together with some others that might be men- 
 tioned, the difficulty of cooking a little food, and the 
 want of some things that under afflictive circum- 
 stances might be procured on the land, make it not 
 a pleasant but a disagreeable journey. 
 
 No. III. 
 
 Peiils and dangers will not long deter men from folly. — The ques- 
 tion " Is there any harm in dancing ?" answered, &c. 
 
 There are no perils wicked men get into that will 
 deter them from folly ; for if they are brought to 
 their wit's end, and to the very brink of destruction, 
 they return to their evil practices as soon as the 
 danger is over. This is the case here : no sooner 
 scarcely had the storm ceased, than they began with 
 fiddlincT and dancins;. Alas ! what foolishness and 
 presum})tion. Is this the way, O vain man, of show- 
 ing thy gratitude for a deliverance from what in a 
 few days must have ended thy life ? 
 
 The reader will probably ask, " Is there any harm 
 in dancing ?" I believe there is, and that it must be 
 classed among the vanities of this present world — 
 among the works of darkness rather than light. I 
 believe no righteous person can join in such an 
 
TO NEW YORK. 21 
 
 assembly : First, because the righteous, in no age of 
 the world, have followed such an amusement. 
 Secondly, because it is followed at the present time 
 exclusively by the thoughtless and gay — the dis- 
 sipated and licentious — by the ungodly and men of 
 this world. And, Thirdly, because lovers of plea- 
 sure shun it in affliction — at the decease of their 
 dearest friends — during storm and tempest, or heavy 
 thunder and lightning. There has not been one 
 instance, I presume, where a righteous man has had 
 recourse to music and dancing to find comfort in 
 affliction ; but there have been thousands of people 
 who have repented of the evil, and given themselves 
 unto prayer. 
 
 Are you not convinced, reader, that the way that 
 leads to everlasting life and glory is too narrow to 
 admit of dancing ? If you are, will you persist in 
 such folly ? Dare you dance on the brink of a pre- 
 cipice, or still pursue a course that leads to hell ? 
 Could it be possible that if death should arrest a per- 
 son in the way to hell, that he could have the least 
 hope of heaven ? Is not su(;li a case a hopeless one? 
 And if dancing, dressing, self-indulgence, living with- 
 out repentance, fasting, and prayer, may be admitted, 
 in what sense do you consider the way to heaven to 
 be a straight and narrow one ? Turn you, then, 
 from your evil ways that your souls may live. 
 " Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unright- 
 eous man his thoughts : and let him return unto the 
 Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our 
 God, for he will abundantly pardon." — Isaiah Iv. 7. 
 
22 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 No. IV. 
 
 Want of experience makes a sea voyage more unpleasant than it 
 otherwise might be. — Some information given in regard to prepar- 
 ing for such a journey, &c. — But the most important of all journeys, 
 together with a preparation for it, is from this world to that which 
 is to come. — Reflections. 
 
 Emigration would be more pleasant, both with 
 regard to a journey at sea, and settling in a strange 
 country, if experience was not wanting ; but in such 
 enterprises, as well as all others, there are many 
 things to learn. Hence, some people set out on such 
 a journey without making preparations that would 
 be to their comfort, and some others locate them- 
 selves in places which discourage them. 
 
 In order to explain myself on the first particular 
 here mentioned, I shall put down a few things which 
 should be regarded. A little information in reference 
 to providing for such a journey may be useful. 
 Hence, let the reader CTbserve that at this time of 
 emigration, there are tradesmen at Liverpool who 
 make considerable business in furnishing travellers 
 with what is necessary for their journey. Such 
 people are useful, as they pretty well know by much 
 experience, what is necessary ; but travellers being 
 strangers to them, they are apt to recommend too 
 much of some things that are almost useless, and too 
 little of others that are extremely necessary — though 
 recommending indiscriminately to the robust and 
 
TO NEW YORK. 23 
 
 healthy, the sailor and the countryman, the delicate 
 and sickly, without making a proper distinction be- 
 tween them. The effects of the water, confinement, 
 &c., give people unaccustomed to a sea-faring life 
 such an electrifying shock, that could they have 
 what is suitable to their condition they would find 
 it greatly to their comfort. Here are a number of 
 families on board, and every family, I suppose, is 
 plentifully provided with biscuits ; but not an indi- 
 vidual, probably, w^ho likes, and but few that can 
 eat them. Some have a hundred weight, and if in- 
 formation be correct, some others more than double 
 that quantity, who will not probably eat a half nor 
 a quarter of them. 
 
 This seems almost universally a useless article, 
 unless people were kept out at sea till they recovered 
 themselves, or were starving. To avoid eating 
 them, people are baking cakes in the pan every day. 
 The beef and bacon, likewise, that these merchants 
 furnish passengers with, by whomsoever it is cured, 
 or wherever it comes from, is so different to home- 
 cured meat, that the taste of it is almost sufficient 
 to make people sick. 
 
 To avoid the difficulties some have fallen into in 
 this respect, let passengers use a little caution. Let 
 them first purchase as much bread as they can eat 
 while it is good, and providing they can find some 
 as well baked and made of as good yeast as is some- 
 times sold in England, they might lay in as much as 
 would last a week or a fortnight. Secondly, they 
 misht cut some well-baked bread in slices, and well 
 
24 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 toast it — and providing it was good and well packed, 
 they probably might take a sufficient quantity to last 
 the whole voyage. Thirdly, let them lay in a proper 
 quantity of flour, rice, and potatoes. There is 
 scarcely anything more palatable to people on sea 
 than potatoes roasted. Fourthly, take some good 
 home-cured bacon, and put some beef in pickle for 
 yourselves. Fifthly, provide some coffee, tea, and 
 plenty of sugar — ten pounds of sugar would not be 
 too much for a six weeks' voyage to some individuals. 
 In addition to these things, it would probably be pru- 
 dent to purchase some gingerbread, oranges, plums, 
 and wine, as your better judgment may determine ; 
 inasmuch as it will be too late to procure such things 
 after you have put to sea. I might, however, have 
 observed, that it would be best to take some biscuits, 
 in case they could not be dispensed with. 
 
 But the most important of all journeys, and which 
 we have to prepare for, is to eternity. Eternity ! 
 O eternity ! Who can comprehend its meaning ? or 
 who can measure the length and breadth of eternity ? 
 Yet it is not far from every one of us. There is but 
 a little line of separation between us and this vast 
 ocean. How important, therefore, that we make a I 
 proper preparation for it. When on the Atlantic, 
 we cannot step out into a village or shop for any- ; 
 thing neglected, and when launched forth into vast ,; 
 eternity, it will be more impossible, and no hopes of 
 reaching an opposite shore. O vast eternity ! it j 
 swallows up time and all its inhabitants ! The king 
 and the beggar, the philosopher and the husbandman, 
 
TO NEW YORK. 25 
 
 pass into it. Neither parents nor children are ex- 
 empt. The master and servant, the old and the 
 young, the corpulent and the lean-fleshed all go 
 together. Here is no exception — no, not one. It 
 has received every individual from the beginning. 
 The inhabitants of villages, towns, and whole em- 
 pires have been carried aw^ay. And the millions that 
 have ever trodden upon the earth, have already, or 
 are still passing into this ocean. 
 
 If then so many millions have passed away already, 
 and that after this transition shall be the judgment, 
 where shall a place be found to contain so vast a 
 multitude ? Will the whole earth be a sufficient 
 space for them ? How many square miles will be 
 sufficient for the countless millions ? — the old, the 
 young, the middle aged, the righteous, and the 
 wicked ? Will they not be caught up to a more 
 extensive plain, to appear before the awful tribunal ? 
 Who can tell the place where His august Majesty 
 will hold this solemn court ? O reader ! how will 
 you appear in that day ? 
 
 And if every secret thought, as well as the most 
 criminal offences, shall be brought into judgment, 
 what length of time will this occupy ? This is our 
 day, reader : that will be the day of the Lord. Will 
 it be a day of a thousand years, or ten times as 
 much ? Be it as it may, will it be a day of joy, 
 exultation, and triumph, or will it be a day of unut- 
 terable anguish, lamentation, and woe ? What gay- 
 est thou ? May it be 
 
 2 
 
26 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 " Our sole concern, our single care. 
 To watch and tremble, and prepare 
 Against that fatal day." 
 
 As it regards our journey across the ocean, we 
 are in hopes of reaching b3^-and-bye the banks of 
 Newfoundland, said to be about twelve hundred 
 miles from New York, and which sailors compute in 
 general to be about eight days' sail. So time goes ! 
 And so our journey, and labor, and life diminishes. 
 Thus does one hour, and one year succeed another : 
 and every hour brings us nearer our eternal home. 
 If we are prepared, it will be well v»^ith us ; but if not 
 prepared, we shall repent in vain. If we die in our 
 sins, we shall be ingulfed not in the bottom of the 
 sea, but in the whirlpool of endless despair. Ah, 
 reader, how important the work that lies before us ! 
 How desirable to leave the stage of life rejoicing ! 
 how blest are they who die happily ! If we die the 
 death of the righteous, we shall rise to joys that are 
 immortal and lasting as the days of heaven ; yes, if 
 this should be our case, we shall leave this gloomy 
 region for a happier clime— we shall pass from this 
 vale of tears to a state of bliss — we shall exchange 
 our sorrows for endless joys, and bid adieu to our 
 troubles for a state of pure enjoyment : where there 
 is joy without sorrow, and pleasure without pain. 
 In a word, we shall leave the storms and tempests at 
 sea, for the gentle, the pleasant, and never-ceasing 
 gales of Paradise. Let us, therefore, and imme- 
 diately, prepare for so important a journey. 
 
TO NEW YORK. 2*7 
 
 " Then let us lawfully contend. 
 
 And fight our passage through — 
 Bear in our faithful minds the end, 
 And keep the prize in view." 
 
 No. V. 
 
 Inoculation or vaccination of importance previous to such a journey. — 
 The consequences that we are otherwise liable to. — Wisdom neces- 
 sary to direct us. — Reflections, &c. 
 
 It is a matter of considerable importance that 
 people get inoculated or vaccinated before they un- 
 dertake such a journey, for if they do not they are 
 liable to take the infection previous to their going on 
 board and setting the distemper on the ship's com- 
 pany, or they are in danger of taking it of others if 
 it unfortunately breaks out after they get to sea. 
 And if this happens without the loss of one person's 
 life, yet it may draw after it one consequence that is 
 serious — namely, the penalty of lying at quarantine 
 on a foreign coast. This was what we were in dan- 
 ger of; for a child belonging to a man and woman 
 from Oxford fell sick of the small pox about the third 
 day after we put to sea. The captain would have sent 
 the mother and child to shore the day previous to 
 
 sending the P h family, but happy for them, the 
 
 boatman would not take them. I say happy for them, 
 for if this boatman would have taken them they 
 would through this sad circumstance ha-" ' "'^"^ 
 
28 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 (if I am not mistaken,) to the Irish coast, while the 
 husband, if he had went forward as was proposed, 
 would have gone to America. If this had happened, 
 how would these people, sent out by the assistance 
 of friends— how would they, I ask, have met together 
 again ? And if the husband had gone with the wife 
 and child, how could they, after paying their passage 
 at Liverpool, have raised the money to prosecute 
 their journey ? Alas ! how we are surrounded with 
 dancrers ! How necessary then to enter upon emi- 
 grat'ion with caution ! How important is wisdom to 
 direct us ! And how ought we to pray for divme 
 protection to secure us from evil ! 
 
 The consequence of this circumstance was trivial 
 to all, excepting the father and mother of the family. 
 No other person, through a gracious providence, took 
 the infection, but it was attended with considerable 
 difficultv to Mr. and Mrs. C . In order to pro- 
 vide for them without any injury to the passengers, 
 the captain commanded the mother and child to be 
 put in a boat on the top of the deck, and for a cover 
 from the inclement blast of a storm and the night 
 air, they overwhelmed them by putting another boat 
 over them. This is not the only individual I could 
 mention, who was taken with this disease on the 
 ocean. How necessary, therefore, is wisdom to di- 
 
 rect us . 
 
 I said wisdom! "But where shall wisdom be 
 found? and where is the place of understanding?" 
 Man is given to folly, and abstractedly considered 
 has no inclination to search after it. Man? "Man 
 
TO NEW YORK. 29 
 
 knoweth not the price thereof ; neither is it (origi- 
 nally) found (among any of his unregenerated breth- 
 ren) in the land of the living/' It is not to be found 
 in its original abode upon the face of the earth, nor 
 does it dwell among the proud sons of men. Hence 
 it is not to be purchased upon land, and if it was, 
 emigrants passing over the ocean could not reach it, 
 nor is it found in any such manner upon the sea, for 
 " the depth saith, it is not in me : and the sea saith, 
 it is not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, 
 (though that will purchase any earthly treasure,) 
 neither shall silver (to any amount) be weighed for 
 the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the gold 
 of Ophir, with the precious onyx, (nor all precious 
 stones upon earth) or the sapphire. The gold and the 
 crystal (both together) cannot equal it : and the ex- 
 change of it shall not be for jew^els of fine gold. No 
 mention shall be made of coral or of pearls : (such 
 things deserve not to be named,) for the price of 
 wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia 
 (though superior to all jewels and precious stones) 
 shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure 
 gold. Whence then cometh wisdom ? and where is 
 the place of understanding ? Seeing it is hid from 
 the eyes of all living and kept close from the fowls 
 of the air. Destruction and death say we have heard 
 the fame thereof with our ears. God understandeth 
 the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. 
 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth 
 under the whole heaven ; To make the weight for 
 the winds, and he weigheth the waters by measure. 
 
 I 
 
30 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for 
 the lightning of the thunder : Then did he see it, and 
 declare it ; he prepared it, yea and searched it out. 
 And unto man he said, Behold the fear of the Lord, 
 that is wisdom ; and to depart from evil is under- 
 standing." Job. xxviii. 12-28. 
 
 Hence wisdom in the sight of God is to depart 
 from evil ; to fear, to love, to honor, and to seek and 
 obtain his favor ; and nothing on earth is or ever 
 can be set in competition with it. 
 
 " Happy the man that finds the grace. 
 The blessing of God's chosen race ; 
 The wisdom coming from above. 
 The faith that sweetly works by love. 
 
 " Happy beyond description, he 
 "Who knows ' the Saviour died for me !' 
 The gift unspeakable obtains, 
 And heavenly understanding gains, 
 
 " To purest joys she all invites, 
 Chaste, holy, spiritual delights ; 
 Her ways are ways of pleasantness. 
 And all her flowery paths are peace. 
 
 " Happy the man who wisdom gains ; 
 Thrice happy who his guest retams ; 
 Her owns, and shall for ever own. 
 Wisdom and Christ, and heaven are one.** 
 
TO NEW YO^K. 31 
 
 No. VI. 
 
 The different kinds of fish and fowls seen on our journey. — Different 
 kinds of creatures in creation contemplated, and their various modes 
 of existence. — Some reflections. 
 
 Some people have spoken as if there were as many- 
 kinds of fish in the sea as animals on the land, and 
 which are of the same species and resemble each 
 other, as sea horses, cows, sheep, hogs, &c. But this 
 assertion does not seem to have its foundation in 
 truth. All I have seen in my journey of the fish or 
 fowl kind have been the porpoises — something which 
 the mate supposed to be a shark — a few gulls, and 
 some little birds like swallows. These little innocent 
 birds have followed us nearly all the way : they em- 
 ploy themselves by flying in the track of the vessel, 
 and have lately increased in number. Where they 
 rest at night I know not ; not on the vessel we might 
 suppose, because one day or two they disappeared ; 
 not on the land I flatter myself, because we are per- 
 haps five hundred or a thousand miles from the near- 
 est, and we may think it incredible for them to sit on 
 the water — especially in a rough sea, because when 
 calm they seem to tread it in a fluttering attitude, 
 and seldom settle. 
 
 On Wednesday the 18th, I went on deck to see a 
 whale, but which was at some distance. It seemed 
 to blow the water a considerable height, making a 
 sort of vapor as out of a boiling furnace. At another 
 
32 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 % 
 
 time I saw a number of fish near the vessel, rising 
 one after another, and pitching into the sea with a 
 motion as slow as that of an elephant, and which 
 Avere perhaps twice or thrice as large as an ox. 
 These fish, if report was true, are sometimes about 
 thirty feet long. 
 
 How wonderful and diversified are the works of 
 God ! Look at the few things under thy immediate 
 observation. Here are creatures who can live only 
 on the earth, and who are obliged to construct this 
 large vessel to sail over the ocean, as men ; here are 
 other creatures that can live only in the water, as 
 fishes ; other things that can live in and pass through 
 the air, as birds. Observe these little creatures fol- 
 lowing the ship, and living upon the crumbs that fall 
 from the table, upwards of a thousand miles from 
 land. Consider again that there are other things that 
 can live in the water and out of the water, as the 
 crocodile, other creatures that can live in the earth, 
 and out of the earth, as the worm that crawleth upon 
 the ground. Look at these things and wonder ; con- 
 template and adore — adore Him whose forming hand 
 made all these things and created thee also out of 
 the dust of the earth — whose providence hath pre- 
 served thee hitherto from sinking into the mighty 
 waters, or from falling into the grave to rise no more. 
 
 " Thou hast created all things, (saith St. John) 
 and for thy pleasure they are and were created." 
 And in the beginning they, like ourselves, were inno- 
 cent, harmless and immortal. It was sin only that 
 brought death and destruction into the world — death 
 
TO KEW YORK. 33 
 
 and destruction upon man, madness and mortality 
 upon the creature. If this is not admitted it follows 
 that the gracious and wise Creator of all things had 
 pleasure in making them only to die and perish. But 
 he made them for his own glory, and he looked upon 
 them and pronounced them very good. They were 
 all harmless, and in a certain degree all happy. The 
 fierce lion and the gentle lamb could eat together, 
 and the wildest creature that now ranges the plains, 
 and the most defenceless animal that lives upon the 
 earth, might have laid themselves down without any 
 danger. But how has fierceness, ferocity and cruelty 
 taken possession of many of theai ! And how death 
 has entered into the world, and destroyed his millions, 
 and laid their honor in the dust ! He has depopulated 
 towns, cities, kingdoms, and swept away the inhabit- 
 ants of whole empires, as with the besom of destruc- 
 tion. 
 
 But if all things were created for God's pleasure, 
 and his mercy is over all his works, will he suffer 
 the creature — anything that hath breath — to be blot- 
 ted out of creation, and annihilated wholly and 
 solely for man's transgression ? Shall the laborious 
 and useful ox that treadeth out the corn, and the 
 innocent lamb without any criminal ofTence, suffer 
 death and be annihilated, without enjoying life and 
 the happiness for which they were created ? Shall 
 God's glory and purposes be disconcerted through 
 the disobedience of one or two of his creatures ? 
 Will he suffer such a chasm to be made in the work- 
 manship of his hands? "For the earnest expecta- 
 
 2* 
 
34 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 tion of the creature (saith St. Paul) waiteth for the 
 manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature 
 was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by 
 reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope ; 
 because the creature itself also shall be delivered 
 from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious 
 liberty of the children of God. " For we know that 
 the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain 
 together until now : and not only they, but ourselves 
 also, which have the first fruits of the spirit, even 
 we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the 
 adoption, to wit the redemption of our body." — - 
 Rom. viii. 19-23. 
 
 If, then, God created all things for his glory, and 
 has made a gentle and perpetual gradation from the 
 highest intelligence in heaven to the poorest clown 
 that lives upon earth ; and if there is a gradual 
 descent from the rudest rustic to the worm that 
 crawleth upon the ground, — supposing, I would say, 
 that there is a gentle gradation from the highest cre- 
 ated beings in heaven to the poorest creature on earth, 
 is it likely that God will permit man's folly to bring 
 death into the world, and thus for ever destroy and 
 annihilate so great a part of the workmanship of his 
 hands ? What if his all-creating hand should pre- 
 serve and restore them to their original state of 
 purity and perfection ? Has he not said, " Behold 
 I make all things new ?" And has he not a right to 
 do what he will with his own ? Is thine eye evil, 
 because he is good ? Reply not, therefore, O vain 
 man, against God, because in an inferior sense he 
 
lO NEW YORK. 35 
 
 laketb care for oxen, but rejoice inasmuch as wiiile 
 his mercy is over ail his worlds, he has through his 
 great goodness made it possible for thee to enjoy a 
 mansion in heaven. 
 
 No. VIL 
 
 The subject of seeing land much agitated among the passengers, &c, 
 - — Some things annojdng and troublesome to the writer. — His prac- 
 tice of keeping up a little religious devotion during his passage.— 
 Reflections, &,€. 
 
 There has been a gre^it deal of talk among the 
 passengers about seeing land, but they are almost 
 wearied with talking, and well nigh given it up. 
 Thus hope deferred maketh the heart sick. To get 
 out of this situation is desirable, and nothing is more 
 pleasant to the worn-out mariner than the desired 
 haven. But ont thing is to be desired more than 
 the landscape — naiuely, a good conscience — purity 
 of heart. O Saviour of men ! grant me this request 
 before I die, that I may see thy providential hand in 
 all thy dealings with me, and also that view of thy- 
 self promised to the pure in heart in thy word. 
 Grant unto me this unspeakable blessing, that I may 
 be satisfied though I should be detained on the sea 
 and never see land — though my future habitation 
 should be in the humble valley, and not on prospec- 
 
36 If ROM ENGLAND 
 
 tive hill — or though I might have my dwelling in a 
 poor cottage and be obliged to look through the lat- 
 tice, while others live in a palace and fare sumptu- 
 ously every day. 
 
 What has been annoying to me in my journey is : 
 First, the profane language of many of the passen- 
 gers, who have frequently used expressions too vile 
 and wicked to mention. Secondly, I am situated 
 with some who are not agreeable, and who have 
 given liberty to another to intrude into our scanty 
 allowance of room, who utters so many oaths and 
 uses such low witty expressions, as it were from 
 morning till night, that it makes it more unpleasant. 
 Thirdly, the provisions and confinement, the journey 
 and effects of the sea make me so ill. And fourthly, 
 some of the sons of Belial have been perpetually 
 insulting and teasing me. 
 
 During the whole voyage I made it a point of 
 duty to kneel down by the side of my berth to ask 
 the pardon of my sins, God's blessing and protection 
 — and by the blessing of God, though on the sea and 
 tossed about, 1 slept some part of the time comfort- 
 ably and in peace. This circumstance, however, 
 was one thing that led them to mark me out for 
 insult and persecution, though others had some re- 
 spect for me on that account. They insulted me 
 considerably, and one time they came and pulled my 
 bed-clothes from me. One night they drew a blanket 
 away some distance from me, and lest I should lose 
 it, I afterwards got a cord and fixed it to a slip of 
 wood belonging to my berth, before going to bed, 
 
TO ^EW YORK. 37 
 
 during my journey. I say lest I should lose it, for in 
 such circumstances, and among such company, it 
 was very probable. At the time that extra company 
 of thirty persons was sent amongst us, I and another 
 man lost our biscuits, and could never find them 
 afterwards. Before we arrived at New York I lost 
 my piece of soap that I kept for washing. One 
 night these rude people disturbed the family that lay 
 
 next to me, and Mrs. S being terrified, made 
 
 an alarm by crying out " Captain ! captain !" &c.. 
 who ordered a light to be brought down into the 
 steerage — and on her husband threatening to stab 
 them, they disturbed them no more. 
 
 I have observed the day as a kind of fast-day, for 
 which I am thankful : to God be the glory. What- 
 ever other people say or do, 1 hope Providence will 
 order all things for my good, and that grace will 
 enable me more or less to attend upon this duty. I 
 find it productive of a degree of purity of mind, 
 which I cannot enjoy in the neglect of it. Not only 
 so, but 1 believe it is good for body as well as mind, 
 and that it kept me from being sick when, perhaps, 
 no less than a hundred were so in the vessel about 
 me. I do not think it everything as a religious duty, 
 but it is something — nay, it is an indispensable duty, 
 in order to make progress in the divine life. God 
 has commanded it, and as creatures we are bound 
 to obey. Hence, while we neglect it, he has some- 
 what against us. And if he has not, still we are 
 enemies to ourselves, if he has instituted it for our 
 good. How is it that so few arrive at purity of 
 
38 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 heart among professors, and so many turn back to: 
 sin and folly? Is there no balm in Gilead ? No 
 physician there ? Or are the means instituted for- 
 our recovery ineffectual ? How is it that so many 
 are saying — 
 
 " I am all unclean, unclean — 
 Thy purity I want ; 
 My whole head is sick of sin, 
 And my whole heart is faint V 
 
 How is it that so many are speaking the same 
 language of complaint and their barrenness year 
 after year ? And how is it that so many old profes- 
 sors will fly to St. Paul's words, in his seventh chap- 
 ter to the Romans, instead of quoting the eighth — - 
 where he says, *' For the law of the spirit of life in 
 Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin 
 and death ?" How is it, I say, that they are saying 
 all their lives, or to hoary hairs, " I am wretched, 
 sold under sin — O wretched man that I am," &c., 
 when the promise is, " I vv^ll circumcise thy heart, 
 and the hearts of thy seed, that ye may love the 
 Lord thy God with all thy heart, and soul, and 
 strength ?" Is such language that of matured ex- 
 perience, or the language of living faith in the Son 
 of God ? Do such people experience the fulfilment 
 of God's promise, where he says, " Then will I 
 sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be 
 clean : from all your filthiness, and from all your 
 idols will I cleanse you. A new heart, also, will I 
 give you, and a new spirit will I put within you j ; 
 
TO NEW YORK, 3v 
 
 and I will take away the stony heart out of your 
 flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I 
 will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk 
 in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and 
 do them ?" — (Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 26, 27.) Do such 
 people as are always talking about their uncleanness, 
 their barrenness, and unbelief, experience this pro- 
 mise given unto them ? or does their experience 
 accord with St. Paul's, where he says, " I am cru- 
 cified with Christ ; nevertheless, I live : yet not I, 
 but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now 
 live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, 
 who loved me, and gave himself for me." — Gal. ii. 20. 
 O my Saviour, cleanse me from all unrighteousness, 
 that my soul may live ! and that I may praise thee 
 in the morning, in the evening, and at noon-day— 
 and without a faltering tongue ! Give me 
 
 " A heart that no desire can move, 
 But still to adore, believe, and love, 
 Give me, my Lord, my life, my all." 
 
 Nevertheless, allowances must be made ; for 
 charity hopeth all things for the best, in reference 
 to the penitent and afflicted, however deficient they 
 may sometimes appear in experience, or however 
 imperfect their works may be. Circumstances alter 
 cases. The poor widow's mite was received with 
 a greater expression of approbation than the offering 
 of those who cast in much. The thief on the cross 
 was accepted, though under his distress he could not 
 go and make confession by being publicly baptized. 
 
40 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 The infant, the sick, the aged, the man of hard labor, 
 and the woman with a large family, cannot conform 
 to the same rules exactly as the man who has no 
 trouble or business on his hands. And supposing 1 
 could attend upon every mean in the most regular 
 manner, what then ? Would that save, or recom- 
 mend me to God ? Should I be more acceptable to 
 Him who delighteth to show mercy ? I mean to 
 say, would that secure my sanctification in any 
 limited space of time, any more than the man 
 oppressed by servitude, providing he sought it by 
 prayer and believing ? After all, I should be an 
 unprofitable servant. My only hope would be in 
 Christ Jesus. He only is worthy to receive honor 
 and glory. My salvation was purchased by his pre- 
 cious blood. He began the work in me : he must 
 carry it on, and by his grace I must be finally saved. 
 Heaven is a free gift, after all that we can do ; for 
 God would have been gracious unto us had he 
 promised us only a cottage on earth, instead of a 
 mansion in heaven. " When ye shall have done all 
 those things which are commanded, you say we are 
 unprofitable servants ; we have done that which was 
 our duty to do." — Luke xvii. 10. Besides, God sees 
 good to try his people, let their sincerity and striving 
 be what they may. It pleased him to try his ancient 
 people in the wilderness, to see whether they would 
 serve him or not. There is a gradual process in 
 almost everything. Life has its successive stages : 
 men are not born at full stature, nor do they acquire 
 knowledge but by daily study. Let it be further , 
 
 I 
 
TO KEW YORK. 41 
 
 observed, that the man born to ten thousand pounds' 
 fortune, for want of experience, often casts it all 
 away, while the man who accumulates that sum 
 learns to estimate its value and preserves it. These 
 and many other considerations, when taken in con- 
 nexion with the wisdom of God, which regulates his 
 conduct in bestowing his favors, should prevent us 
 from judging or thinking lightly of our brethren, 
 because they do not believe immediately unto full 
 salvation as we do. Lord, sanctify my spirit. 
 
 " Turn the full stream of nature's tide ; 
 Let all our actions tend 
 To thee, our Source : thy love the guide : 
 Thy glory be the end. 
 
 " Earth then a scale to heaven shall be ; 
 Sense shall point out the road ; 
 The creatures all shall lead to thee. 
 And all we taste be God." 
 
 No. VIII. 
 
 First view of America. — Our journey near its termination. — Report of 
 the cholera, &.c. — A pleasant prospect on the American coast. 
 
 It is taken for granted that land may be seen. 
 Mr. R — some time ago laid a bottle that he should 
 see the light-house before he went to bed ; and not 
 seeing it according to his wishes that evening he has 
 
42 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 been sitting up the two last nights ; so this witty man 
 to win the bet has forfeited his rest and brought him-' 
 self into derision. Sometimes the wise are taken in 
 their own craftiness. How much better it is to be 
 rather diffident than too positive ; to be within com- 
 pass rather than in almost every expression to far 
 outleap the bounds of truth ! For my part I do not 
 like on any account to forfeit my rest : much less 
 would I wish to forfeit it through betting for a bottle 
 of beer. 1 want all the rest I can get, and yet by 
 the blessing of providence I slumber in peace. I 
 have also undergone the journey, considering my 
 weakness, as well as I could have expected ; but the 
 diet, the sea, &c., have greatly saddened my spirits ;; 
 so that I cannot rejoice and laugh with others if I 
 would. Well, be it so, for I do not repent of being; 
 serious, inasmuch as if I am ever happy it must be ini 
 a serious frame of mind. It is written " wo unto 
 you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep ;" 
 and I take it for granted that as much as we are? 
 possessed or led away by this spirit, a proportionable ). 
 degree of sorrow shall be given unto us. We may 
 indeed and ought to rejoice, but it should be withi 
 reverence ; with awe — with trembling. We may 
 rejoice, but it should only be when we have done well. 
 Is not joy in the Holy Ghost always accompanied! 
 with the most profound seriousness of spirit ? If so, , 
 let us guard against what may injure us — against t 
 everything that may offend the majesty of heaven or •, 
 grieve his Holy Spirit. And if we must be serious jj 
 t© be happy, and men must not offend with their ■ 
 
TO NEW YORK. 43 
 
 tongues to be perfect men, it is also necessary that 
 we be perfectly temperate to preserve seriousness of 
 spirit, as a degree of intemperance sensualizes every 
 , power of the soul, and unfits us for communion with 
 God. 
 
 " Still let us on our guard be found 
 And watch against the power of sound. 
 With sacred jealousy : 
 » Lest haply, mirth should damp our zeal. 
 
 And laughter's charms bewitch and steal 
 Our hearts away from thee. 
 
 ** With calmly reverential joy, 
 O let us all our lives employ 
 
 In setting forth thy love ! 
 And raise in death our triumph higher. 
 And sing with all the heavenly choir 
 
 That endless song above." 
 
 Our time is rapidly passing away, and our journey 
 over the Atlantic will soon be brought to its termi- 
 nation. Last night after we were in bed Mr. E , 
 
 a passenger, was saying we had sailed (as I under- 
 stood him) upwards of ten thousand miles since we 
 left Liverpool. It is reported that thousands have 
 died at New York of the cholera within a short space 
 of time : so it has got there before us and we are 
 literally running into the midst of it. May God pre- 
 serve me and all who have shown kindness unto me, 
 and turn the hearts of the rebellious by this alarming 
 judgment ! We have also an island before us, where 
 I suppose we must go on shore and remain a short 
 
44 FROM ENGLAND 
 
 time. So we arrived opposite Staten island on Sa-J 
 turday evening, just six weeks after we came out of:' 
 the docks at Liverpool. 
 
 Here the prospect is rather romantic, yet beautiful. 
 Romantic — wild with cliffs and hills, barren land and! 
 fruitful fields : one piece rising above another, and!; 
 the hindmost being elevated sufficiently to look into) 
 the sea and commanding in prospect New York,, 
 about six or eight miles distant from us. Beautiful-^- 
 houses and cottages before which there are greehi 
 pieces of grass-plat inclosed, the houses also neatlyVI 
 constructed and painted as white as chalk. In onee 
 direction there are three hospitals, as it were on threes 
 hills, rising above the cottages that stand before« 
 them : — the hospitals being distant from each other 
 about two or three hundred yards : and not only so,)! 
 but they are painted white and beautifully adorned! 
 with round pillars, and colonnades above each otheri 
 in front. 
 
 No. IX. 
 
 The passengers commanded to wash all their linen before landing. — 
 The difficulties of the day following in removing from vessel tC' 
 vessel, and landing to have our goods inspected, and afterwards', 
 proceeding to New York. — Our short stay in the city on account 
 of the cholera, &c. 
 
 Cessation from labor is pleasant to the heavy 
 
TO NEW YORK. 45 
 
 laden, and rest is sweet to a laboring man ; but this 
 is a day of confusion after a tedious journey. In 
 consequence of the small pox breaking out after we 
 left Liverpool, there was a command given that all 
 the linen and blankets belonging to the passengers 
 should be washed before they went to land. So here 
 
 ! was about six weeks' linen for about a hundred and 
 sixty or seventy people to be washed, without a cop- 
 per or furnace to heat the water ; and which w^as to 
 be heated in kettles, saucepans, &lc., over a common 
 
 : grate on deck. This wants no comment. No such 
 drying yard I presume could be seen in England as 
 this scene afterwards exhibited — the sailors drawing 
 up lines in all directions, perhaps twenty feet high, 
 some over the vessel and some over the sea. Old 
 men and women, young men and maidens, all united 
 
 I in the important labor. O that my heart was fixed, 
 
 I and that I could say, 
 
 " Thou, O Lord, in tender love, 
 Dost all my burdens bear. 
 Lift my heart to things above, 
 And keep it ever there ! 
 
 " Calm on tumult's wheel I sit, 
 'Midst busy multitudes alone. 
 Sweetly waiting at thy feet, 
 Till all thy will be done." 
 
 Tuesday, 31. Last evening we were informed that 
 
 ' we must rise early, and that a vessel would come to 
 
 take us forward ; from whence we proceeded to 
 
 Staten Island to put goods, boxes, &c., on shore to be 
 
! 
 
 46 FROM ENGLAND TO NEW YORK. 
 
 inspected by the doctor, and to have every box, bed,, 
 parcel, &c., laid open to the custom-house officer. 
 What a day's labor was this ! — that is, of so many, 
 people and families packing up every article, hauling] 
 them first on deck and then on another vessel — with 
 much labor landing them on the island, spreading, 
 them open, then hauling them on the vessel a second 
 time and proceeding to New York ! However, abouti 
 three or four o'clock in the afternoon we landed ati 
 New York, and first set our feet on the shore ini 
 America. 
 
 The cholera being in New York, several of us 
 were disposed to go forward ; not supposing we cou 
 run away from this contagious disease, and yet think- 
 ing it prudent probably not to run into it. Hence I 
 saw but little of the city : nevertheless what littlee, 
 part I reviewed led me to think that many of the( 
 buildings were equal to many in London, and that 
 the signboards were as neatly painted, though the( 
 houses in general are not built in so uniform a man 
 ner as those built in the west end of the town withinr 
 these fifty years last past. In some places there are- 
 rows of trees planted in the streets ; some standing, 
 in the pavement, which tempers the heat at noon- 
 day, and which makes the habitations pleasant fon 
 those who dwell in them. This makes many villages; 
 and towns very pleasant, and what is more common 
 and necessary in America than in England. Indeed 
 we are favored : the weather being cool and shady 
 and in that respect for aught I know as pleasant as; 
 it is in spring in England. 
 
FROM NEW YORK TO OHIO. 47 
 
 No. X. 
 
 Our rapid setting forward for Albany and Ohio. — The scenery and 
 objects beheld on the Hudson river. — The weather fine, the 
 scenery grand, and the journey pleasant. — But amidst the happiest 
 circumstances, affliction and death are near at hand. 
 
 , To save time and expense, as well as to avoid 
 presumptuously running into the midst of the cho- 
 lera, several of us went and slept on the boats which 
 were going to Albany. We did not do this, I pre- 
 sume, because we thought we could run away from 
 this alarming disease, but we did not think it impru- 
 dent to keep away from it. I remembered what a 
 young gentleman had said on the Atlantic about the 
 mosquitoes, and hearing one of them or something 
 else after I went to bed, I rather expected them to 
 be troublesome, but I found not much difficulty from 
 this quarter. These things in America are much 
 like the same in England, only more numerous. 
 . We are now travelling up the Hudson river, 
 which in some places is as wide as the Thames in 
 London, and in others perhaps much wider. The 
 banks in some places rise by rapid ascent, and in 
 others by a gentle process ; in some places more 
 thinly interspersed with trees, putting forth their 
 green foliage and spreading their branches around 
 them, and in other places they are clustered and 
 crowded together like the thick wood. Indeed, 
 there is a diversified scenery of hills and chasms, 
 
48 FROM NEW YORK 
 
 which is alternately beautified with small and green 
 trees, and pleasant prospects. In one place there( 
 are small cottages like hermits' cells, pent up by thet 
 hill and the river, apparently inaccessible to travels 
 lers ; while at some distance there are a few genteeler; 
 houses. Sometimes our sight is much limited by the* 
 banks of the river, but in other places we have ai 
 more extensive vision, where by looking across thet 
 country we see mountain rise above mountain at a 
 great distance. What diversified scenery ! Moun- 
 tains, hills, fields, woods, cliffs, and rocks ! But 
 where is there any permanent possession in this: 
 world ? On what rock can we find a place of secu^ 
 rity for one day ? And where are the riches — the 
 durable riches that will not slip through our hands 
 into the possession of others ? Are they in posses- 
 sion of the rich in England ? No : if they were, 
 the poor could not obtain them. Are they enjoyed 
 exclusively by the rich and speculating men in 
 America ? No, they are not. Who, then, has any 
 knowledge of them ? Who ? The poor in spirit — 
 the pure in heart — and the man who has had his 
 heart emptied of this present evil world and filled 
 with God. 
 
 The day is fine, the scenery grand, and the journey 
 far more pleasant than when we were on the ocean. 
 There is a fine gale of wind tempering the heat of 
 the sun, which is also shaded with some light and 
 flying clouds — insomuch that we find no inconve- 
 nience from heat any more than in England. But io 
 one journey added to another in this way there is 
 
TO OHIO. 49 
 
 but little rest, and there is no firm standing on the 
 unstable element. The stubborn soil requires a yoke 
 of cattle or a team of horses to remove it, but on the 
 water there is no sitting or standing. Here, then, is 
 not our rest. Let us, therefore, arise, take each one 
 his staff, and be in readiness to depart. Have you 
 considered, reader, the uncertainty of human life ? — 
 that although the day is far spent, you may not reach 
 the evening, or remain in time till the morning light ? 
 What, then, are all the nations of the earth, and the 
 glory of them ? They can give no real satisfaction 
 at our departure out of time into eternity, nor pro- 
 cure peace or solid rest previous to our exit. Where, 
 then, is the consistency in laying up ten thousand 
 times mc^-e than our wants require ? What folly is 
 greater than that of the man who builds a house and 
 furnishes it, and immediately sets sail for a distant 
 country ? Yet the riches of many, in reference to 
 their own enjoyment, are procured and laid out to 
 as little purpose. Oh ! that we may find our way 
 to Mount Zion, the city of angels and of God, the 
 haven of eternal repose ! There the wicked cease 
 from troubling, and there the weary are at rest ! 
 
 Alas ! here is sickness, and the want of many 
 things, and in the most happy circumstances we are 
 but one step from sorrow and distress. Amidst all 
 the scenery with which we are surrounded, and 
 considering the pleasantness of the day to solace our 
 minds, as travellers — having cause for thankfulness 
 that we escaped the dangers of the sea and the 
 inconveniences necessarily occasioned thereby, and 
 
 3 
 
50 FROM NEW YORK 
 
 having had our minds comforted and bodies refreshed 
 with what is requisite to sustain us under our trials 
 as mortals — yet we are not secure from the pesti- 
 lence that walketh in darkness, nor from the arrows 
 that fly at noon-day. Death is at the door and try- 
 ing to make an entrance into our camp. It is but a 
 
 little time ago since Betsy , a young woman 
 
 from Oxford, informed me that they had taken a 
 man down who had fallen of the cholera. I looked 
 down the hatchway and beheld the sick man whom 
 the doctor was bleeding, close to my bed, and seated 
 upon my box ; so, after all our travels, we are not 
 above one remove from death's door. O death ! 
 how terrible art thou to the wicked, and to men in 
 the midst of life and endowed with great earthly 
 possessions ! How impartial in thy administrations ! 
 How certain when invested with commission ! 
 " What ! grant no favor ? — Not to arrive at home 
 and set the house in order ? Not to bid a friend 
 farewell ?" No : there is no pleading with death ; 
 but thanks be unto God w^ho giveth us the victory 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ. O thou Saviour of 
 men, be all in all to me ! 
 
 " In want, my plentiful supply — 
 
 In weakness, my almighty power ; 
 In bonds, my perfect liberty ; 
 
 My light in Satan's darkest hour ; 
 In grief, my joy unspeakable ; 
 
 My life in death ; my heaven in hell." 
 
 The man, after being blooded, became insensible, 
 
TO OHIO. 51 
 
 as he afterwards told me ; and when he came to 
 himself was in great pain in his bowels. He vomited 
 — was cramped in his hands and feet — clenched his 
 hands, and said he could not endure it long. The 
 doctor laid a large mustard plaster on his bowels, 
 afterwards gave him a little brandy — and at evening 
 the pain ceased. In the morning he was enabled to 
 rise and walk. 
 
 No. XI. 
 
 Our arrival at Albany and departure from it. — The woodland appear- 
 ance of the country, &c. — Our passage through a curious rocky 
 chasm, called " The Little Falls." — Passed by some rich swarded 
 and arable land. — Remarks on the rich, romantic, and yet desplate 
 appearance of some parts of the country. 
 
 Having arrived at Albany, which is about a hun- 
 dred and sixty miles from New York, as soon as an 
 opportunity could be conveniently obtained we set 
 out in a canal boat for Buffalo, a space of three hun- 
 dred and sixty-three miles. On Saturday morning, 
 we were travelling just by the Mohawk River — 
 only the tow path separating it and the canal. This 
 river, as I w^as informed, is between two and three 
 hundred miles in length, and probably two hundred 
 yards wide. It ran currently over the stones, and 
 yet at that time of the year did not appear above two 
 or three inches deep in water. Afterwards the 
 
52 FROM NEW YORK 
 
 canal' went over it — there being between twelve 
 and twenty arches to let pass the shallow stream. 
 Here the country is pleasant and the heat no more 
 intense, as I know of, than it is in England. But I 
 
 ' do not see so good a quality of meat, vegetables, iS:c., 
 thougli it may be owing probably in part to the 
 markets beincr deserted on account of the cholera. 
 Nor are the fields stocked with sheep and other 
 cattle, as in the island of Great Britain. 
 
 How woodland the country ! We have travelled 
 hundreds of miles, and we see woods and trees with- 
 
 . out measure or end. Yet it is not unpleasant. Our 
 sight ?s not bounded by a thick fog, or the solitary 
 appearance of an untrodden path. We can see to 
 the top of the hills though in the valley, and trace 
 the footsteps of nature as in our native land. We 
 hear the singing of birds, and behold the hills and 
 vallevs covered with ffrass. The farmer has alreadv 
 gathered his wheat into the barn. The sun shines 
 as warmly by day, and the moon visits us with her 
 glimmering taper by night. Here are both the com- 
 forts and, at least, some of the superfluities of life — 
 corn, and wine, and oil — some of the finest wheat 
 for bread, and the purest streams to quench our 
 thirst. But the best of all is, there are social friends 
 and spiritual enjoyments, the bread of life, and the 
 presence of Him who filleth both the heavens and 
 earth with his glory. And that while He by whom 
 kings reign ii^ Europe, and princes decree justice in 
 difterent parts of the world, recognises, controls, and 
 governs them as he sees good — that while lie rules 
 
■\o ciiun 53 
 
 ill lu\i\ oil. mill owns {\\c ijihabitanis in (uvat l>ritaiii 
 as a braiu'li o\ his iiiU'llii;iMit family on t\iith.- lu^ 
 also beholds \\\c coutiiiont oi' Ami>iica. aiul riH-og- 
 uiscs it also as a part i>l his lootsto(>l. \ i\s, ilo is 
 \\cvc. His broad ovo discovus tho whole rontiiRMit 
 at a ij;laiu't\ and his trnder nierrii's are «)vor all his 
 works. He t'eedelh the ravens that cry in tho 
 unenltivat(Hl wilds, and the younii; lions oi' the forest 
 are feil bv his all-sustainini;- hand, lie heareth the 
 cry of the poor, and extendeth merey to tlio prisoner, 
 and his i)rovidential arm is stretched out in behalt 
 oi' the oppresseil, and also to supply the wauts ot tho 
 destitute. 
 
 " ir.Mppy llu' lUMii \\ lioso liopos irly 
 Oil IsiiU'l's (Jod ; ho uv.xdc iho sky, 
 
 Aiiil oartli. Jiiiil s(>!is, with nil tltoir liaiu ; 
 Mis Imlh lor i-vrr staiuls sih-uiv ; 
 Jlo H.'ivos \\\o oppio-soil, ho tooJs tho poor, 
 
 Ami noiio shall liiul his promi.so vain. 
 
 •* Tho Ijonl pours oyosi.",lit on tho hliiui. 
 'I'lio I.onl supports tho fiiiiitiiij^ miuil ; 
 
 Mo soiuls llio l;ih'riii!>, ooiisoioiioi' poaoo ; 
 llo helps tho straiifvor in liistross, 
 Tho widow and iho lathorloss, 
 
 And I'.ranls llio pnsonor swoot roloaso." 
 
 On Sunday (as it appcvirs) we passed throuoh a 
 curious kind iA roekv tdiasni ealleii " Tlu^ l^ittlo 
 Falls ;" the eanal running in a serpentine, windini; 
 inanner, between them. The bank on one side is 
 perhaps one hundred yards liigU. and so steep that 
 
54 FROM NEW YORK 
 
 no person could ascend to the top, and yet covered 
 with firs of considerable size : on the other hand it 
 falls back, and yet rises, as it were, one piece above 
 another — here — there — yonder. In another place 
 they were bare for yards. At a little distance they 
 were like a number of tomb-stones, many tons' weight : 
 they were separate, yet on or below the surface 
 probably all joined together. Some travellers might 
 call this beautiful scenery, but for my part I like to 
 see some rich pasture land well stocked with cattle, 
 or a large field of the finest wheat. A short time 
 afterwards we opened into a fine extent of country, 
 with large fields interspersed with single spreading 
 trees, like English elms or oaks, yet upon the whole 
 void of neatness for want of better cultivation, Eng- 
 lish inclosures, fences, &;c. But the world and all 
 things therein were not made in one day. 
 
 There appears, indeed, to be some rich pasture land 
 in this part of the country, a little like the old inclo- 
 sures, so called, in England — land if well cultivated 
 would feed the largest ox or produce the finest wheat. 
 But what a desolate appearance in many places ! 
 There is no appearance of a house being left deso- 
 late, or a mansion in ruins ; but it is the dreary ap- 
 pearance of the country itself. It is in some respects 
 like a nation forsaken. I know not how many hun- 
 dred thousand men might be usefully employed in 
 this State alone — how many it would take to burn 
 up the rotten wood, or how many might employ 
 themselves for twenty years in clearing it up, drain- 
 ing, trenching, and inclosing it with live fences 
 
TO OHIO. 55 
 
 Here are thousands ana ten thousands of acres, and 
 millions of trees, many of which are like trees twice 
 dead, and plucked up by the roots. Yet much labor 
 has been wrought in so short a time, and truly Ame- 
 rica is a fine country : notwithstanding the fact that 
 millions of acres lie uncultivated, and millions more 
 want much labor for further improvement. Look at 
 the wide expanse that lies before thee. Stand and 
 consider, O my soul — contemplate for a moment and 
 inquire — inquire whether thou art making that im- 
 provement thy state of probation requires of thee. 
 Art thou barren and unfruitful ? Dost thou bring 
 forth any fruit unto righteousness, or art thou dead 
 and void of all spiritual life ? If thou art alive unto 
 God, dost thou labor so to live as to keep a con- 
 science void of offence, both towards God and to- 
 • wards men ? If thou art not, dost thou humble thy- 
 self by repentance, and giving thyself unto prayer ? 
 Art thou in either case serious, humble and watchful ? 
 O my God, give me repentance unto eternal life, and 
 empower me to bring forth the fruits of righteousness 
 to the glory of thy Holy name. 
 
 No. XII. 
 
 Affected with the heat of the weather. — A log house a comfortable, 
 decent habitation, &c. — Passed by some excellent land. 
 
 Yesterday was the warmest day I have witnessed 
 
56 FROM NEW YORK 
 
 in America. The heat was well nigh too much for* 
 me ; so I observe this as a kind of fast-day, which I . 
 hope will do me good. This is productive of a de- 
 gree of seriousness and fixedness of thought, which I 
 cannot enjoy without. 
 
 About this time I had the curiosity to walk over 
 one of the bridges, to look into a log house which I 
 had not seen in England, and found it a comfortable 
 place ; sufficient, perhaps, to hold a tolerable family. 
 The bed in one room was clean, and good enough for 
 an humble family in any nation. The woman was 
 genteel in person, of civil behavior, and polite in 
 her manners. Since that time I have felt myself 
 much attached to the country people in America for 
 their humanity and kindness. And some time ago 
 I went into a shop where a man was speaking of an- 
 other who was cursing and swearing because his 
 master did not give him enough for his labor, and 
 then began profanely to make a song about the cho- 
 lera ; soon after which, he was taken, sat down and 
 died. Another person was speaking of a woman 
 going to a doctor, who ridiculed her ; but he was 
 soon taken with the disease and became a corpse. 
 So foolish are men that many of the wise (as it would 
 seem) and of the best education are taken in their 
 own folly. Alas ! how many dangers surround us ! 
 And how near is death sometimes when we think 
 not of him! He is like an enemy lurking in secret 
 places. One thing that is extremely annoying to 
 think of is the sight of these bridges over the canal. 
 I nearly got knocked down two or three times. At 
 
TO OHIO. 57 
 
 one time a poor Frenchman, (I think he was,) to save 
 me pulled me backwards as I was sitting on a stool. 
 Not a few I presume have been sadly bruised, had 
 their bones broken, or killed on the spot. Merciful 
 God, save me, though ten thousand fall at my right 
 hand ! Let no plague come nigh my dwelling. 
 
 " Ah ! little think the gay, licentious crowd. 
 Whom pleasure, power, and affluence surround, 
 They, who their thoughtless hours in giddy mirth. 
 And wanton, often cruel, riot waste ; — 
 Ah ! little think they while they dance along. 
 How many feel this very moment, death. 
 And all the sad variety of pain." 
 
 We lately came by some land which I think would 
 make an excellent farm ; the grass appeared so green 
 and the soil so good, but which seemed to want more 
 hands to manage, and mo/e strength to bring it into 
 a good state of cultivation — land vv'hich many far- 
 mers in England would like to take, and which would 
 produce five quarters of wheat, or six quarters of 
 barley to the acre. Nearly the same time I noticed 
 some pasture land of so beautiful a green, and ap- 
 parently of so rich a quality, that I do not remember 
 seeing a better swarded piece in that country. 
 
58 FROM NEW YORK 
 
 No. XIII. 
 
 Arrival of Brother and Sister *****"*, and their family from Eng- 
 land. Mr. ****** attacked with the cholera the next morning, , 
 and died the day following about noon. 
 
 On Wednesday, September 5, brother and sister 
 ****** ^^^ their family, after a journey of upwards 
 of 4000 miles, arrived in safety. To God be endless 
 praises given. Sister ****** expressed her desire 
 of kneeling down and giving thanks for their pre- 
 servation, and immediately from the beginning in the 
 new country, to introduce family prayer — it being a 
 kind of new era in their earthly pilgrimage. Hence, 
 after a few words speaking, we sang, 
 
 " Praise God from whom all blessings flow," 
 
 • 
 
 and united in prayer, and the next morning we read 
 a portion of Scripture, and attended to the same duty. 
 Some time after breakfast Mr. ****** showed 
 symptoms of being ill, and began to complain of 
 much pain in his bowels. Soon after his voice much 
 altered, insomuch that at one time I knew it not till 
 1 1 turned round to look at him. Afterwards he was 
 much cramped in his hands, fingers, legs and feet. 
 He lay down. Some time afterwards, standing out- 
 side the house, I heard him groan, and going in saw 
 
TO OHIO. $9 
 
 -standing before, and as it were supporting him, 
 
 saying my dear father, &c., and the latter returning 
 the same endearing expressions, as my dear boy, &c. 
 He seemed to have the appearance of death in his 
 countenance — had risen from his bed as it were in 
 an insensible state, or through the violence of his 
 disorder, when he was incapable of getting up and 
 standing alone. 
 
 After this occurrence I went into a w^ood very 
 near the house, where no mortal eye could see me, 
 to spend a Httle time in prayer; not'so much to ask 
 for his restoration, as to pray that his affliction might 
 lead to repentance and salvation. If I erred in this 
 respect may God pardon me. A medical gentleman 
 was sent for, who arrived in the evening. Heated 
 stones or bricks, a blister for the stomach, a plaster 
 of mustard for the bowels, <&;c., were applied to pro- 
 duce perspiration, and before morning the spasms or 
 cramps ceased. Some time during the night the doc- 
 tor expressed but little hopes of his recovery, and on 
 being asked, he prayed with him. In the morning 
 myself, and afterwards two of the family also prayed 
 with him. At one time in the morning he seemed 
 tolerably easy, breathed regular, and the doctor said 
 we had managed well so far ; that the disease was 
 in some measure under control, and he entertained 
 hopes of his life ; but towards the middle of the day 
 he breathed short, and about noon he breathed his 
 last. Thus it was that he escaped the dangers of the 
 sea, and all others connected with such a joupney, 
 and arrived at the place of his destination as it were 
 
60 FROM NEW YORK TO OHIO. 
 
 to lie down and die. And thus it was, that on Tues- 
 day, September 4, the family arrived at Mr. T. s, 
 
 a gentleman formerly from England ; on Wednesday 
 evening, they arrived at the end of their journey ; 
 on Thursday morning he was taken ill ; and on Fri- 
 day about noon, he expired. 
 
 END OF PART I. 
 
PART 11. 
 
 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 No. XIV. 
 
 The established fame of Ohio, and reports recently received from emi- 
 grants by their friends in Europe are inducements to many to repair 
 to the State — though afterwards found not to suit every one. — 
 Difficulties of some people pointed out in the character of Latimer. 
 — The dispensations of Providence diversified, in the account of 
 Alonzo, Ambrose, and Fortunatus, &c. 
 
 The fame of Ohio having gone into almost every 
 nation upon earth, and which had become somewhat 
 familiar to me also ; and having heard of some from 
 England whose account was inviting to strangers, I 
 immediately made my way up into that part of the 
 country likewise : — and although in some parts it is 
 of the richest soil, and covered with the largest tim- 
 ber ; although the improved land will produce the 
 finest wheat, and some of the dainties of life in abun- 
 dance ; and although people can enjoy many religious 
 privileges, and associate themselves with many 
 Christian people, yet it is not the best place for every 
 one. It may be an excellent place for laboring men 
 with famihes, who could not get a foot of land in 
 Europe ; or for young men, either from Europe or 
 
62 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 America, who want to get a farm of their own, and who 
 for a few years can labor hard and endure privations 
 connected with such circumstances ; but it may not 
 suit some other people. For individuals who have 
 been delicately brought up in the most civilized coun- 
 try, as England, or some other nation in Europe ; 
 for clerks, store-keepers, and such people, from New 
 York, or some other parts in the Eastern States of 
 America — for such people I would say, to go there 
 to follow farming and enjoy the pleasures of rural 
 life in such a new country, as some people have been 
 tempted to do, appears an error that many have had 
 to repent of 
 
 In order to show the reader the difficulties of some 
 people who have gone too far west, I shall give him 
 a short account of a person whom, for distinction 
 sake, I call Latimer. He was professedly a religious 
 character, and a sober-minded man — a man of fru- 
 gality, honesty, and integrity ; but for a season, with 
 all his prudence and every other concomitant virtue, 
 he was not in pleasant circumstances. Unacquainted 
 with the occupations of the country, and having no 
 mechanical trade, like many others ; and emigration 
 being attended with some difficulties which even the 
 prudent man, in every particular, could not guard 
 against, he found in the enterprise an exercise of 
 patience. Not being able previously to form a pro- 
 per conception of a distant land, and not having a 
 competency to meet his wants in time of advt^.sity, 
 the difficulty was, when former sources had failed, 
 ^how to find others to supply their place. But such 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 63 
 
 is the wisdom of God, that even the most innocent, 
 the most prudent, and virtuous, are led into difficul- 
 ties, that their graces may be tried, and that divine 
 goodness may be conspicuously manifested in their 
 deliverance and more extensive good. 
 
 The situation in which Latimer had a transient 
 location at first, in some particulars, was pleasant. 
 In that place there was a fruitful soil, and it was in- 
 habited by a moral and kind people. The neighbor- 
 hood was not crowded with inhabitants, nor were 
 there any profane characters to corrupt others. 
 There was no grocery, no tavern, nor any standing 
 idly at the corners of the streets. There were few 
 apparently but who had some regard for religion, or 
 had some little form of devotion in their families. 
 And not only so, but he considerably liked the sim- 
 plicity of the people — a people in whom he found 
 much humanity, together with a plainness which ap- 
 pears the farthest remove from haughtiness, and such 
 a high polish in manners as too often leads people to 
 despise others not like themselves. These things 
 considerably pleased Latimer, and gained his affec- 
 tion ; and he was often gratified afterwards, when 
 talking to people of his own nation, of the kindness 
 of many he had known in the States. 
 
 But as all situations in life, and all nations on 
 earth, may have their advantages and disadvantages, 
 so there were some things unpleasant in Ohio. La- 
 timer was not a man of a robust constitution, like 
 many others. He had not muscular strength like 
 men of the field, nor' could he follow the same occu- 
 
64 TWO YEARS IN OHIO.^ 
 
 pation in America as in England. In his native 
 country he had not been obliged to rise and retire 
 with the sun, nor to labor beyond his strength for 
 his daily bread : but in Ohio there was nothing be- 
 fore him as a permanent resource but hard labor. He 
 had not lacked the plainest necessaries of life, nor 
 suffered any great hardships in any respect, previous 
 to his coming to America ; and hence to be confined 
 in the woods some miles from a viHage, where only 
 the necessary comforts of life could be purchased by 
 those who had money ; to be obliged to live on In- 
 dian bread and salt pork, without a little supply of 
 fresh meat under bodily weakness and constitutional 
 debility ; to be entirely deprived of a little beer, cider, 
 or wine, however necessary or previously accustomed 
 to them ; to lack some of the plainest comforts of 
 life, as milk, butter, and cheese ; to be situated in 
 a place where trifling things, as a little yarn for 
 mending, or soap for washing, could not be obtained 
 without going a mile or two on such an occasion ; 
 and to be obliged to go miles to get a little corn 
 ground for bread, or taking a day's travel to procure 
 what a shilling would purchase in a few minutes in 
 England ; to be thus situated, I say, to some people, 
 or to such a person, was unpleasant. Amidst these 
 difficulties Latimer was obliged to remain for a sea- 
 son where he was, not able to go further, or return 
 back ; but he endeavored to use all the economy he 
 could, and to exercise patience under his necessary 
 trials. What a blessing amidst the disappointments 
 of life is resignation ! It makes as it were hard things 
 
TWO YEARS IX OHIO. 65 
 
 to become easy, and crooked paths to become 
 straight. 
 
 How diversified are the dispensations of Provi- 
 dence towards us ! We may see this exemplified, 
 if we turn our eyes for an instant to the three fol- 
 lowing characters ; namely, Alonzo, Ambrose, and 
 Fortunatus. Alonzo we will suppose, had nearly 
 ten thousand dollars for his fortune. He was a youth 
 of respectable parentage, apparently promising in 
 regard to talent, and of good moral character ; and 
 his fortune enabled him to enter into a line of busi- 
 ness far beyond that of Ambrose and Fortunatus. 
 Hence he entered into partnership with a rich man, 
 in which, had business and prosperity attended his 
 career, like some others, he might have been ele- 
 vated to a distinction but little below princes; but 
 some time afterwards his talents for business proba- 
 bly did not equal what had been anticipated ; or 
 his success in accumulating wealth did not secure to 
 him what it had done to others ; and want of success 
 often brings a person's character into disrepute. Im- 
 mersed in business, Alonzo became more and more 
 embarrassed in his circumstances, till he lost all. 
 Gradually sinking in this manner, he became dis- 
 pirited and so impoverished, so friendless and so des- 
 titute, that at length he had no place to lay his head. 
 Alas, poor fellow ! such was Alonzo's misfortune, 
 and such was the gradual process and remediless 
 depth of his degradation, that he scarcely had strength 
 or spirits to do anything for years afterwards. Am- 
 brose, on the contrary, through the impoverished 
 
66 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 circumstances of his parents, had no more than about 
 one hundred dollars to begin the world with ; but 
 being steady and industrious, and providence opening 
 a door of success to his elevation, he prospered till 
 he had accumulated a considerable fortune. Stimu- 
 lated by success, and unwearied in his exertions, 
 Ambrose gradually ascended, and Alonzo descended, 
 till like the preponderating balance in point of wealth 
 they had exchanged circumstances in life. But 
 Fortunatus, anxious to do well as any one, as far as 
 we can judge of a person by his sobriety and uniform 
 life — having a character apparently as unimpeacha- 
 ble or more so than Ambrose, yet he neither had 
 much of anything to begin with, nor found any great 
 success to his elevation in life. Thus some people 
 in the lowest circumstances are elevated into honor 
 and the highest circles in society, while others, by a 
 gradual process, are brought down to suffer almost 
 the want of all things : and some of the best charac- 
 ters, during the term of life, are immersed in po- 
 verty ; while the wicked, in many instances, possess 
 more than is necessary. Such are the scenes and 
 circumstances, though unseen in the morning of our 
 days, which we may be called to pass through ; and 
 such are the adverse leadings of providence in point 
 of worldly emolument, that the delicate female, in 
 her turn, Ms brought low, sent to a distant country, 
 reduced to widowhood and want, and obliged, in the 
 afternoon of life, to earn her daily bread by washing, 
 or other like laborious employment. 
 
 Such was the difference in the foregoing charac- 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 67 
 
 ters, and such are the prosperity and downfall of many 
 others ; but resignation in a great measure supported 
 Latimer, and brought him through his trials ; and 
 although I would not say that he possessed the 
 , charity that beareth all things, yet h e took delight in 
 repeating the following lines, which I here insert for 
 the contemplation and benefit of the reader. 
 
 " To do, or not to do ; to have 
 
 Or not to have, I leave to Thee : 
 To be, or not to be, I leave : 
 
 Thy only will be done in me : 
 All my requests are lost in one, 
 Father, thy only will be done. 
 
 " Suffice that, for the season past 
 
 Myself, — in things divine I sought, 
 For comforts cried with eager haste. 
 
 And murmured that I found them not ; 
 I leave it now to thee alone. 
 Father, thy only will be done. 
 
 " Thy gifts I clamour for no more, 
 
 Or selfishly thy grace require. 
 An evil heart to varnish o'er ; 
 
 Jesus, the Giver, I desire ; 
 After the flesh no longer known : 
 Father, thy only will be done. 
 
 " Welcome alike the crown or cross ; 
 
 Trouble I cannot ask, nor peace. 
 Nor toil, nor rest, nor gain, nor loss. 
 
 Nor joy, nor grief, nor pain, nor ease. 
 Nor life, nor death ; but ever groan. 
 Father, thy only will be done." 
 
68 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 No. XV. • 
 
 Latimer from the beginning conceived a favorable opinion of liis 
 American friends, but afterwards found some difficulties, &.c. &c. — 
 These things mentioned to give a faithful history of his journey.. 
 The propriety of speaking the truth in a free country, but liberty 
 abused by wrong notions m some instances and characters. — No 
 apology necessary for speaking the truth in its purity on any occa- 
 sion. 
 
 It has been observed that Latimer had conceived 
 a favorable opinion of his American friends on ac- 
 count of having located himself in a neighborhood in 
 which there were a moral, humane, and a religious 
 people ; but he unfortunately (after that time) got 
 into some difficulties with a few individuals who 
 seemed to deviate from the character manifested by 
 the inhabitants in general. To give a few instances, 
 I shall go back to the time of his landing in Ohio. 
 This was on Sunday morniftg, and although this cir- 
 cumstance was of trivial consequence, yet to people 
 of but little property in connexion with other expen- 
 ses in travelling may be considered of more impor- 
 tance. Hence let it be observed that on the arrival 
 of a steamboat, at such a time of emigration espe- 
 cially, there are tavern keepers in attendance with 
 their cards and solicitations to get passengers to their 
 inns. This was the case on this stranger's arrival : 
 and one of these gentlemen strongly invited him to 
 his house. But Latimer considering it prudent to 
 use all the economy he could in a country where he 
 had not learned to earn anything ; having paid one 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 60 
 
 bill of fare after another, and occasional expenses 
 always unavoidable on travelling ; and not knowing 
 but he might get into some private house, as in Eng- 
 land, he declined going. The tavern keeper offered 
 to carry up his baggage (which stood on the shore) 
 gratuitously, providing he w^ould consent to go, but 
 the other still declined his offer. The one kept en- 
 treating, the other refusing. One, probably, thought 
 that the other had a quantity of European specie, 
 but the other w^as rather dispirited for want of more. 
 Thus a considerable time passed away, and the 
 tavern keeper kept to his post. At length Latimer 
 consented to go on such and such conditions — that 
 is, provided he might use up some provisions he had by 
 him, without being confined to his table perpetually, 
 or to his house for any length of time to his disad- 
 vantage. Hence the tavern keeper drew up his lug- 
 gage according to his own gratuitous offer. This 
 stood together by the waiter side, so that there could 
 be no misunderstanding between them, and which 
 amounted to about four hundred weight ; but he little 
 thought at the time, that the tavern keeper, on any 
 account whatever, after'all these voluntary promises, 
 could ever have charged him for drawing up his 
 luggage. 
 
 Latimer remained a short time at this house, but 
 in order to save expense he did not go to have three 
 meals a day at the landlord's table : his charges for 
 board exclusive of any table beer being two shillings, 
 both for breakfast, dinner and supper. Latimer was 
 in a new country, and not a mechanic, and therefore 
 
J^Q TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 knew not where his money in future was to come 
 from. He was also not only scrupulously exact in 
 his dealings, but he wanted to keep to that Apostolic 
 advice which commands, " Owe no man anything, 
 but love one another." 
 
 In this situation, however, he could not remain 
 long, where all was going out and nothing coming in. 
 Hence he shortly came to the conclusion to make an 
 excursion a few miles further into the country, and 
 when he was going away, because he had not spsnt 
 so much as the tavern keeper probably had antici- 
 pated, he would charge him for drawing up his lug- 
 gage. Latimer was surprised that he should show 
 himself so little, and made an objection to the pay- 
 ment ; but the landlord pretended that he meant his 
 small luggage, and began to talk about suing him at 
 the law ; he paid him and left the house. 
 
 A second circumstance was the following : Seve- 
 ral weeks afterwards he made some trade with an- 
 other person, who deceived him in the bargain, and 
 being grieved, he went and expostulated with him ; 
 told him in the interview that he did not keep so 
 strictly to the truth as he should do, and that he 
 ought to make him some abatement in consequence 
 of having deceived him ; and although he never 
 used an angry expression, or said that he would not 
 pay the amount, yet this person being offended at 
 this plain dealing, went without any hesitation al- 
 most immediately, and put it into the hands of a 
 judge to sue for it. When Latimer knew this, he 
 went and paid him. 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 7l 
 
 A third circumstance was his having some trade 
 with a storekeeper, the particulars of which were as 
 follows : He had some things to dispose of which he 
 took to the store, one of which was called a cash 
 article, but wanting some goods occasionally he did 
 not ask for any money, intending to have their value 
 in tea and such things, as he wanted them. Some 
 time afterwards he purchased something out of the 
 store to the amount of three dollars ; and after he 
 had agreed and taken possession of it, to the best of 
 my recollection, the storekeeper insisted on having 
 t|ie cash, although he had his property in store as 
 above mentioned. Latimer, not understanding such 
 a dishonorable way of deaUng, would have reasoned 
 the case with him ; but he replied that he would have 
 no reasoning, and that if he did not pay it he would 
 make him. Latimer told him that if it was right, he 
 should have it, and immediately went to the judge 
 and mentioned it to him ; and while he was talking, 
 the storekeeper sent the bill f()r the judge to sue and 
 collect it. The judge being rather moved with in- 
 dignation at such conduct, told the clerk that he 
 would have nothing to do with it that day, but added, 
 "I will be accountable for the money." However, 
 as soon as he had seen the storekeeper's determina- 
 tion and learned this new fashion of dealing (not 
 known probably in Europe), he went and paid the 
 money — not that it was right, but because he never 
 liked to dispute with any one. Such things as these, 
 if perpetuated, were sufficient to annihilate the 
 
12 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 esteem he had formerly conceived and still hoped 
 to retain towards his American friends. 
 
 But why are these things mentioned ? Why ? 
 Permit me rather to ask why should they not be 
 mentioned ? Is it not equally just to detect evil in 
 one persoii as well as another ? Would an indi- 
 vidual be a friend to mankind if, after travelling over 
 seas and oceans, he did not leave a beacon to point 
 out the rocks and shoals upon which he had split, 
 been foundered, or injured ? And is it not flattery 
 to be always praising a friend for his graces, without 
 any regard to his vices or imperfections ? The pocu* 
 fellow who has lost his property and his reputation, 
 and labors under afflictions and an humbling provi- 
 dence, is frequently spoken evil of whether right or 
 wrong. If the cold hand of charity is shut against 
 him, when pain and weariness press hard upon him 
 — or if sickness, infirmity, the wants of a family, in- 
 duce him to use a word to move an individual to 
 ■ administer to his wants — if under such circumstan- 
 ces, I would say, his word can be criticised and 
 found to vary from the truth, he is represented as an 
 impostor ; but if the rich trader in the market-place, 
 or behind the counter, twenty times a day deviates 
 from what upon examination is not strictly true, he 
 may pass on as a respectable man : shrouded in his 
 wealth, while he continues to trade and get money 
 the wgrld will speak well of him. And if the best 
 of men, the wisest councils, the most orthodox 
 churches, are liable to err, and the most sacred 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. ^8 
 
 offices are sometimes filled with erring mortals, is it 
 wrong to speak of them ? 
 
 Have you not said that this is a free country ? 
 If so, in what sense, or to what extent do you carry 
 your meaning, when you use the expression ? It 
 cannot be free to do evil if you regard the honor of 
 your country, because sin is a reproach to any peo- 
 ple, and must be a violation of your duty to Him 
 whom you are bound to revere with the deepest 
 veneration ; nor can it be free to commit evil against 
 your neighbor, whom you are commanded to love. 
 And yet, how often will people use this expression to 
 tolerate their evil deeds ! The poor drunkard will 
 say this is a free country, because he desires more 
 than is good ; the common swearer, because he fears 
 not an oath ; and the pleasure taker, because he 
 wants to go to the ball, the theatre, or to a distant 
 village on the Sabbath. I have frequently seen 
 young men walk clattering through a congregation 
 on a Sunday, in the middle of a discourse ; others 
 have lain down on their backs ; and yet others, con- 
 trary to good order, have let children run about and 
 play, to the annoyance of a minister and a great part 
 of the audience, without any reproof : and this seems 
 to have been tolerated through this wrong notion of 
 liberty, and because it was in a neighborhood where 
 a more polished society had not chased it out. 
 Thus, when sitting in a chair, some have not only 
 leaned back against the wall, or other partition, but 
 nothing else would do than they must put out their legs 
 before others, or raise them as high as the shoulders 
 
 4 
 
74 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 of the next person. Such things were done because 
 this was a free country. But liberty should encou- 
 rage and teach people to do everything that is good ; 
 for everyone that departs from what is right, good 
 order, and good manners, he infringes in some way 
 or other upon the comforts, the rights, or liberties of 
 others. Hence it is free only to do that which is 
 good, and instead of talking about a free country 
 tolerating that which is evil, we should rather say 
 that all evil is a violation of some law — a violation 
 of good manners and good order among human 
 beings in every nation ; and in proportion as such 
 things are practised, they are a reproach to people 
 guilty of them in any nation upon earth. If they are 
 men, they are rational beings endued with reason to 
 teach them right and wrong ; and if they are pro- 
 fessors, their I'ule both for faith and practice teaches 
 them that charity does not behave itself unseemly. 
 
 Is any apology necessary, then, in speaking of 
 acts of wickedness, whether it be in an individual, a 
 society, a church, or a nation, w^hile we speak the 
 truth as it is in Christ Jesus ? Should falsehood be 
 practised and truth lie dormant and silent ? Nay, 
 ought not acts of wickedness to be pointed out in the 
 extortioner as well as in the loose manners of the i 
 dissipated character and the drunkard ? And is it ; 
 any reproach to the sober and temperate citizen to • 
 speak of his neighbor, though given to much wine ? ' 
 Nay, does any private Christian cast any unjust ; 
 reflection upon the community, by speaking of every " 
 act of injustice, any more than a minister does upon , 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 75 
 
 f 
 
 a whole congregation when he points out some 
 among them as dishonest men ? Not at all. Let 
 the truth therefore be spoken occasionally in the 
 plainest terms, that others who have been biased by 
 flattering reports may judge correctly and shun the 
 evils their predecessors have fallen into. 
 
 But, O my soul, beware and guard against the 
 deceiver within, and so watch unto prayer that 
 whilst thou art called to contend with men thou 
 may est not be betrayed by the own bosom foe — a 
 deceitful and wicked heart. 
 
 " But, above all afraid 
 
 Of my own bosom foe, 
 - Still let me seek to thee for aid. 
 To thee my weakness show^ : 
 Hang on thy arm alone, 
 
 With self-distrusting care. 
 And deeply in the spirit groan 
 The never-ceasing prayer." 
 
 No. XVI. 
 
 To pass through a country to notice its defects without enumerating 
 its beauties is unjust ; but previous attachments often deprive us of a 
 right judgment. — Latimer, as a man of impartiality, saw many 
 beauties in America notwithstanding his pre-pos&ession. — He never- 
 theless could not enjoy his religious privileges as formerly, &c. — His 
 candid acknowledgment of a deal of good, though mixed with some 
 evil. — Small things which will be brought into judgment are not 
 trivial, dtc. — Heads of self-examination for the reader. 
 
 To pass through a country to spy out its defects 
 without enumerating its beauties is unjust, and to 
 
76 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 speak evil of a people who have invited us to dwell 
 amonsT them, and who moreover have treated us 
 kindly as strangers, is no small instance of ingrati- 
 tude ; but to praise a country far beyond its merits 
 (as a land flowing with milk and honey) without 
 giving an impartial account of the advantages and 
 disadvantages of living in it, is the way to mislead 
 others. But most of us have our attachments and 
 prejudices, and so long as we cannot divest ourselves 
 of them it is difficult, in the strictest sense, to do 
 justice to the subjects we speak of These attach- 
 ments may be good or evil — they may be, from a 
 just estimate of a thing, more excellent than another, 
 or they may be the fruits of a disaffected and an 
 unthankful heart. For instance a person may feel 
 an attachment to another more excellent than his 
 neighbor, as the Saviour of the world did toward the 
 beloved disciple ; or he may esteem another on some 
 inferior account ; or yet a third person for some 
 reason or other, who is unworthy of his esteem. He 
 may feel an attachment to his native country, he 
 may remember many privileges he enjoyed under 
 the paternal roof; recollect with pleasing reflection 
 the sweet-scented bower — the shady grove — the 
 ancient avenue — the solitary walk, or the dear 
 blessed bible that lay on the stand. As a poet, he 
 may remember the ancient oak under whose shade 
 he sat at noon to contemplate the subjects he has 
 written upon ; and as a Christian, he may remember 
 with lively emotions of affection the people among 
 whom he received his first religious impressions ; a 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 77 
 
 few individuals more especially with whom he took 
 sweet counsel and walked to the house of God in 
 company — yea, a few whom he loved as his own 
 soul. St. Paul remembered the day of his conversion 
 and frequently spoke of it, with the circumstances 
 connected therewith, for years afterwards. In like 
 manner the modern Christian, when providence has 
 removed him from his native place — Avhen trials and 
 afflictions have depressed his spirits — when a fiery 
 trial is sent to try his faith, and when he has located 
 himself among a foreign people, lonesomeness may 
 lead him to look back to former times and say, 
 
 " Where is the blessedness, bestowed 
 On all that hunger after thee ? 
 I hunger now, I thirst for God ; 
 
 See the poor fainting sinner, see. 
 And satisfy with endless peace, 
 And fill me with thy righteousness. 
 
 " Shine on thy work, disperse the gloom I 
 Light in thy light I then shall see, 
 " Say to my soul, * Thy light is come ; 
 Glory divine is risen on thee : 
 Thy warfare's past ; thy mourning's o'er. 
 Look up, for thou shalt weep no more.' " 
 
 But attachments to former places and circum- 
 stances do not always prove their peculiar excellence ; 
 they only show in many instances the uneasiness 
 occasioned by people being removed from a native 
 place, where everything in which they were brought 
 up had become familiar to them. Hence although 
 Latimer had his warm attachments, yet he was a 
 
78 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 man of candor, a man of judgment and a man of 
 experience. As such he looked on all sides and 
 counted both the difficulties and advantasjes of his 
 situation, and in looking at past, present and future 
 things, together with the circumstances and kindness 
 of some people, he considerably liked many things 
 in America in preference to things in the country 
 from whence he came. He liked the simplicity of 
 the inhabitants of Ohio, their plainness, their homely 
 habitation, their log house, the warm fire on the 
 hearth, their freedom from all obligation to manners 
 and ceremony, their liberty, &c. He liked to see a 
 wealthy man in a low crowned hat, because it was 
 a contrast to that universal formality he had seen in 
 his own country — a formality which in some respects 
 was carried to such a height that a man sometimes 
 was ashamed to go out unless he was dressed like his 
 neighbor. It afforded some pleasure in his situation 
 
 to see the ladies and their friends ; Madam 
 
 and her daughters, the farmers' wives and their hired 
 girls, with their hair cut short and without 'a curl or 
 wreave in them, because it was such a contrast to 
 the fashion of the day. It seemed to him like cutting 
 pride through the middle. And although this last 
 particular was not in accordance with the Apostle's 
 advice, yet it was less criminal perhaps than the 
 custom and folly of spending so much time in curling 
 and plaiting the hair, and which rendered them 
 unfit for anything but to be looked at when it was 
 done. Nevertheless, there were some customs he 
 did not like, and although this did not imply that 
 
TWO YEARS IX OHIO. 79 
 
 such things were always wrong, yet it is very proba- 
 ble that they were so ; and be as it might, it will 
 appear too partial not to mention them. A person 
 may dislike things and customs that are excellent 
 because they are contrary to what he has been 
 accustomed to, and because they were not fashion- 
 able and in use in his own country. 
 
 In the first place, I shall observ^e that he could not 
 enjoy his religious privileges in Ohio as in his native 
 country. He had been closely connected with a 
 religious society for years, and had labored to walk 
 worthy of the vocation wherewith he had been 
 called. His affections were with the people ; he was 
 jealous of the same cause, and hence he wanted to 
 see a uniformity among them, all the world over. But 
 he readily acknowledged that among the farmers and 
 country people there was a more general regard for 
 religion than in England. There appeared but few, 
 comparatively speaking, but had some respect for 
 religion, or some little family devotion among them ; 
 that the people in general, whether professors or 
 profane, were nevertheless kind to strangers, and 
 being of a sensible disposition and grateful for favors 
 conferred upon him, he could not but acknowledge 
 his obligations to many of them. At one time he 
 called at a house to take breakfast, where the good 
 woman, as well as another of the family, being of a 
 candid and social temper, they fell into conversation 
 about the difference and strifes — the troubles and 
 also the relationship that subsisted between England 
 and America. The landlady in effect observed, that 
 
80 TWO rEARS IX OHIO. 
 
 they had and were still accustomed to welcome the 
 English to their shores ; that they behaved with 
 hospitality towards them, treated them kindly, &c. 
 Latimer acknowledged all this, and was ready to 
 enumerate every thing he could think of in their 
 favor. After this he took occasion to impress her 
 mind with the propriety of so doing, and exhorted 
 her never to forget it. He reminded her that they 
 were related to each other ; their temporal and 
 spiritual good under an all-wise providence were 
 given through their hands, and that whatever had 
 occurred between them, yet nine-tenths of the people 
 in England had no ill will against them, nor any- 
 thing to do in such matters. 
 
 Although there was a considerable regard for re- 
 ligion among the country people, and many belong- 
 ing to no church had family devotion among them, 
 yet there were many others called members of reli- 
 gious societies who were not serious. In many, re- 
 ligion seemed to be very shallow, and in others you 
 could scarcely discern any trace of it in their walk 
 and conversation. This was the case not of one 
 denomination only, but others also ; and it was easily 
 discernible in some people by the words that pro- 
 ceeded out of their mouths. Some people could not 
 be free from profaneness, by a counterfeit kind of 
 oath too commonly used in America. They would 
 say " darn it," " blast it," " rot it," or " burn it." Oth- 
 ers would use the words, " good land," as a substitute, 
 probably to avoid profaning the sacred name by 
 whom the heavens and earth were created. Some 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 81 
 
 Others did not sufficiently order their conversation 
 by that word which commands " let your yea be yea 
 and your nay be nay," by using that common ex- 
 pression "it does not begin to be so large or so high 
 as another," when they probably were comparing a 
 house of three stories high with another of four ; or 
 at most as if an object of one foot in height was no 
 part of another often thousand. 
 
 Should the reader make an objection and say that 
 such things are too trivial to mention, permit the 
 writer to ask whether anything can be too insignifi- 
 cant to write upon which the judge of all the earth 
 will not think too trivial to bring unto judgment? 
 Will the solemnities of that day exhibit the most 
 trifling action as a subject of little importance ? 
 " Ye call me master and Lord," saith Christ, " and 
 ye say well, for so I am ;" and when we speak the 
 truth as it is in him, or do the most trifling action in 
 obedience to the will of God, do we not do well ? 
 Yea, better than the man who storms and takes a 
 city ? And if the most trifling actions in obedience 
 to the will of God are good, are not others of an op- 
 posite character proportionally criminal ? Can a 
 professor of religion use the language of the world, 
 and yet appropriate to himself the character and 
 spirit of an apostle ? Do childish expressions be- 
 come a saint, or can any one who uses them be con- 
 sidered a worthy disciple of Christ Jesus ? Would 
 the gravity of Elias approve of them any more than 
 his sanctity would approve of a coat of many colors, 
 or a laced coat ? " Darn it !" what does this mean ? 
 
 4* 
 
82 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 It may indeed be good sense enough when we talk 
 about mending a sack for a farmer, or mending a 
 stocking for one of the family ; but when we apply 
 it to an implement of husbandry, or to a fellow being 
 with an immortal spirit, it is a profane and wicked 
 expression. And the phrases above referred to, as 
 darn it, curse it, burn it, &c., are wicked expressions, 
 and may all amount to the same thing, because the 
 first may mean to damn with a greater or less dam- 
 nation, and the last may mean to burn a finger with 
 a candle, or to burn for ever in the nethermost hell. 
 Beware, therefore ! beware mo'e especially, ye pro- 
 fessors of religion, that no such words come out of 
 your mouths, as becometh saints. 
 
 " Lo ! God is here ! let us adore, 
 
 And own how dreadful is this place ! 
 Let all within us feel his power, 
 
 And silent bow before his face ; 
 Who know his power, his grace who prove. 
 Serve him with awe, with reverence love. 
 
 " Lo ! God is here ! him day and night 
 The united choirs of Angels sing ; 
 To him, enthron'd above all height, 
 
 Heaven's host their noblest praises bring : 
 Disdain not, Lord, our meaner song, 
 Who praise thee with a stammering tongue. 
 
 " Gladly the toys of earth we leave, 
 
 Wealth, pleasure, lame, for thee alone. 
 To thee our will, soul, flesh, we give : 
 take, seal them for thine own : 
 Thou art the God, thou art the Lord ; 
 Be thou by all thy works adord." 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 83 
 
 Hence in conclusion, reader, I should hope that 
 as a professor of religion you let no profane language 
 proceed out of your mouth, nor anything but what 
 tends to the edification of others ; that you practi- 
 cally endeavor to imitate in your conversation, the 
 perfect man who offends not with his tongue, or 
 follow the bright example of Him in whose mouth 
 guile was not found. If you sustain this character, 
 permit me to throw upon these sheets a few heads of 
 self-examination for your serious perusal and daily 
 
 consideration. 
 
 Have I the mind that was in Christ Jesus, and do 
 I walk as he walked ? Is my outward deportment 
 among men upright, grave, temperate ? And if so, 
 do I keep myself from uniting with them so as not to 
 sanction their evil deeds by drinking into their spirit, 
 or in any measure to partake of their sins ? Do I 
 strive to keep aloof from their practices so as to set 
 them an example ? '' Ye are the salt of the earth," 
 saith Christ, but can I say that I sustain that charac- 
 ter ? Do I season others by my counsel, conduct, 
 purity ? Can I say that I restrain them from evil, 
 allure them to virtue, or bear testimony against their 
 
 iniquities. 
 
 Have I meekness ? Are my affections and pas- 
 sions kept as in an even balance, that I am never 
 vainly elated with trifles and worldly prospects, nor 
 irritated to speak useless, angry, or peevish words ? 
 Am I the same person at home and abroad, and uni- 
 formly the same through the week, as on the Sab- 
 
84 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 bath ? Do I keep myself from intemperate laughter, 
 and lightness of spirit ? And am I free from a pas- 
 sionate and hasty manner of speaking to my domes- 
 tics, children, or others in trade ? 
 
 Am I grateful — at least so far as to be content 
 with such things as I have ? Do I desire another 
 situation in preference to my own, or covet more 
 than providence has given me ? Am I guilty of 
 murmurings ? Some men appear all the time to 
 hanker after as much more as they possess. If they 
 have in possession ten thousand dollars, they want 
 twenty thousand ; and if they arrive at the posses- 
 sion of so much, they probably fix their minds upon 
 an estate that costs forty thousand : to purchase 
 which they still remain too poor to allow themselves 
 what is good. Can such anxiety dwell within me if 
 I am duly sensible of providential mercies, or if I am 
 content with such things as I have ? 
 
 Is my conversation such as becometh the gospel 
 of Christ ? Do I strive in a proper degree to have 
 it in accordance with the scripture, and so spiritual 
 as to minister grace to people I converse with ? 
 When conversing upon business, do I carefully avoid 
 the vulgar phrases and common-place expressions 
 adopted by the men of this world ? As a perfect 
 Christian, am I striving to avoid the extremes and ill 
 manners of people who will give honor to no person, 
 and those who use a thousand fawning and useless 
 ceremonies ? How can I conduct myself as not to 
 transgress against the word of our Lord, which com- 
 
 j 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 85 
 
 mands, " call no man your master," and the words 
 of St. Paul, which command me to be courteous and 
 to honor all men ? 
 
 Am I just in my dealings, trading only to procure 
 the comforts of life, or at most so far as I can do it with- 
 out infringing upon the rights of others ; using no 
 dissimulation or unfair means to induce others to 
 trade with me ? Do I try to keep invariably to my 
 word without drawing back ? And amidst the bus- 
 tle of transacting business do I endeavor to avoid 
 using a thousand superfluous words like an auction- 
 eer in the public market ? 
 
 Finally : do I give myself unto prayer ? If I am 
 not saved from sin am I by this means perseveringly 
 seeking for this great salvation ? If by grace I am 
 already saved, do I pray for others, and for the pros- 
 perity of Zion ? Oar Lord had no sin, and yet he 
 often retired from the multitude to intercede for them; 
 and St. Paul wrestled not against flesh and blood, 
 but against principalities and powers, and wicked 
 spirits in high places. 
 
 Gracious Redeemer, let thy bright example be al- 
 ways before me, and endue me with thy grace, that 
 my life and conduct may be a, copy or transcript of 
 thine : — put thy spirit upon me to empower me to 
 follow thee in the regeneration and trace out thy 
 footsteps to the kingdom of glory. 
 
 " God, most merciful and true ! 
 Thy nature to my soul impart ; 
 'Stablish with me the covenant new. 
 And write perfection on my heart. 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 To real holiness restor'd, 
 
 O let me gain my Saviour's mind ! 
 And, in the knowledge of my Lord, 
 
 Fulness of life eternal find." 
 
 No. XVII. 
 
 We all have our peculiarities, attachments, &,c. — But, as an impartial 
 obsei-ver, Latimer saw that in settling in a new country there must 
 necessarily be many inconveniences, which would require patience, 
 forbearance, fortitude, &c. — As a man of peace, he was grieved at 
 too much contention about politics, &c. — Amidst such a diversity 
 of characters, circumstances, customs, &c., it is difficult for a writer 
 as a foreigner to speak his mind without giving offence. — Admitting 
 America to be the most happy country on earth, an inquiry is made 
 of the reader, whether he properly appreciates his national privi- 
 leges? — The most effectual method of securing such blessings con- 
 sidered. 
 
 We all have our peculiar attachments, and reluc- 
 tantly depart from customs we have been brought 
 up to ; and indeed our attachments may be towards 
 objects of superior excellence to others, and our 
 ways, though not esteemed by others, may be best ; 
 as one man may be more excellent than his neigh- 
 bor, and his character more worthy of imitation. 
 Thus Enoch walked with God, and Job had no 
 competitor on earth ; and hence in their generation 
 they were examples both in faith and practice to 
 others, and not others to them. Latimer had his 
 attachments, and as a mortal man he had his 
 infirmities likewise, but he was a man of candor 
 and a man of peace. He had to be thankful that 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 87 
 
 he was united to a people who had as pure a 
 system of religious discipline as any denomination 
 on earth, and which no ordinary man or people 
 could alter for the better. He wished all good to 
 America, and he loved the inhabitants of the 
 country dearly ; especially if he found them true 
 to their own principles, when they affirmed that 
 they scorned to retaliate, and were averse to war. 
 He was always happy to see anything that mani- 
 fested a better spirit and example than what he 
 saw in his own nation, or among his native people ; 
 and he would readily confess that, amidst all the 
 difficulties he found in the country, there were 
 many blessings to be thankful for, and that there 
 were advantages to the stranger which he could 
 not have enjoyed under the same circumstances 
 in his own country. 
 
 Hence, Latimer was not a prejudiced and partial 
 observer, but had sufficient experience and candor 
 to speak the truth. He knew that settling in Ohio 
 must be attended by many inconveniences to some 
 people ; yet there were advantages extremely bene- 
 jficial to others ; that settling a new country by 
 people out of many nations must be attended by 
 many difficulties and privations, which required 
 patience and forbearance ; that some new arrange- 
 ments, even in a religious society, and a conformity 
 thereto might be necessary ; and that some things 
 new to him might be occasioned by a departure 
 from what was original in his own people, instead 
 of those with whom he then dwelt. He did not 
 
88 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 forget that men were fallen beings among the most 
 civilized nations, and that in such a place as Ohio 
 there was such a contrast in the circumstances 
 between an old and a new country, that made it 
 impossible to maintain the same order and decency 
 in some particulars as in other places. Hence he 
 never liked to mention anything to their reproach, 
 Bor indiscriminately attach to decent Americans 
 what perhaps belonged to the poor, illiterate settlers 
 from Europe. He easily saw, and readily acknow- 
 ledged, that many among the poorest class in 
 America were industrious, clean, and a sober- 
 minded people; and he looked upon it as a mean 
 thing to speak lightly of any, merely through 
 indigent circumstances, among whom he came to 
 live and to settle. 
 
 But there was one thing more that grieved the 
 piind of Latimer, and that was, so much contention 
 about politics ; and although this is not known so 
 much among the country people in Ohio, nor so 
 proper in its application to that state as some 
 others, yet in other states and large cities it is a 
 subject too warmly contested ; at least, it is 
 agitating and unpleasant to peaceable men. He 
 had previously heard how admirably public affairs 
 were conducted in America ; he remembered how 
 she had signalized herself by the phrase " The 
 United States," which had become familiar to the 
 nations of Europe, and which implies union, con- 
 cord, and brotherly love ; he had probably heard 
 other things spoken to the praise of the country, by 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 emigrants writing back to their friends in England ; 
 he had also conceived a favorable opinion of the 
 Americans, by going at first into a friendly and 
 peaceable neighborhood, where there was no voice 
 of complaint, as it were, heard in the streets ; but 
 when he came to see so much contention at elec- 
 tions, and to hear rulers and governors spoken evil 
 of without restraint, and represented as the worst of 
 characters, and dishonest men, he was grieved. I 
 say he was grieved ; for he had seen traits in the 
 character of some peaceable Americans, which had 
 gained his esteem, and he wanted to find them 
 uniformly the same from first to last. He had 
 received instances of kindness which had endeared 
 them as a people to him, for which he was grateful, 
 and he was unwilling to hear any evil. 
 
 * * * ^ * * 
 
 There is, however, considerable difficulty for any 
 foreigner under such circumstances to speak his mind 
 impartially, without giving offence, though he may 
 not speak a word contrary to good will and affection ; 
 for if he is ever so grateful for favors received, and 
 greatly attached to the people among whom he lives 
 — if he speaks twenty times in favor of this new 
 country, and all his words are in accordance with 
 the purest truth, yet there may be many customs in 
 a nation so remote from his native land, to mention 
 which frequently offends others. These customs 
 may be more excellent than others in his native land, 
 and they may be so numerous, that no native of 
 
90 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 America can have any conception of them ; yet not 
 being familiar to him as a foreigner, he speaks of 
 them not as a prejudiced or unthankful spectator, but 
 as a faithful historian, and the bare mention of them 
 is unpleasant. One thing of this kind contrasted 
 against another may outweigh twenty more. An 
 alderman in effect told me very lately that the Eng- 
 lish (referring to people who travelled through the 
 country) were a set of liars, and wanted " hanging 
 up right off." But whether this gentleman spake 
 like a Christian or not, or whether he was fit for a 
 president or judge, is yet to be proved. It is true 
 that one warm-hearted American talks about his 
 country, and another declares that there is no better 
 government than that of the English on earth ; and 
 when an Englishman comes into company with the 
 two former, and they all have their peculiar senti- 
 ments, they make a jangle where they ought to give 
 thanks. It need not, however, be controverted by 
 any candid person, when we say, that there are many 
 good things in America, which some natives and 
 foreigners are not sufficiently thankful for, and there 
 are also many things and privileges in England which 
 cannot be exceeded by any nation on earth. But 
 should any person have been offended at Latimer for 
 speaking his mind on any subject whatever, either 
 in a religious or political point of view, because he 
 was a stranger ? If so, in what sense do you call 
 this a free country ? And can any native consis- 
 tently find fault with a stranger for speaking with 
 affection, while he speaks all manner of evil of oth- 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 91 
 
 ers, and excuses himself by saying that the country 
 is free ? 
 
 But admitting this republic to be the most favored 
 and happy country on earth, do you properly appre- 
 ciate your privileges, reader, so as to secure and per- 
 petuate them ? A man may have an abundance of 
 wealth to-day, and in a short time it may all be taken 
 from him ; and the happiest and most powerful nation 
 on earth may be impoverished and overthrown. To 
 say that no nation on earth can invade your land to 
 injure. you, is saying but little. Evils may come as 
 it were a thousand different ways, from which there 
 will be no way to escape. Let a nation fill up the 
 measure of its iniquities, and then how easy it is with 
 God to set every man's sword against his fellow — to 
 bid the sword go through the land ! How easy could 
 he send the pestilence and cut off one half or two 
 thirds of the people among you, from one end of the 
 country to the other ! And how easy could he blast 
 your crops before harvest, spoil the labor of the hus- 
 bandman, or inundate your cities and country with 
 water ! Let an individual forfeit the protecting hand 
 of providence, and he soon falls by the sword, by the 
 beasts of the forest, by the carriage wheel, by falling 
 over the precipice, or by some other disaster ! And 
 when a nation is made ripe for destruction, it is 
 broken up or laid desolate, and a thousand years 
 cannot remove the evils occasioned thereby ! Wit- 
 ness the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion 
 of the Jews to this day ! Recall to your remem- 
 brance the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, and 
 
92 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 shall you remain unnoticed, or go unpunished ? 
 Shall one city or nation after another be visited, and 
 others equally criminal escape the just judgment of 
 Him in whose sight every nation is equally insigni- 
 ficant and easy to punish ? But supposing no na- 
 tional calamity happens — supposing a gracious provi- 
 dence spares the nation for the sake, and in answer 
 to the prayers of the righteous that are in it, can you 
 have any hopes of escaping on that acconnt ? By 
 no means. " Though hand join in hand, the wicked 
 shall not go unpunished." And though all remain in 
 peace about you, yet distress and calamity will find 
 you out. You will be met, sooner or later, with one 
 sort of punishment or another. You may be smitten 
 in the height of your prosperity with blindness or a 
 stroke of the palsy ! Your mind may be deranged, 
 or the strength of your body broken down by per- 
 petual sickness ! Your only son may be taken from 
 you, or the desire of your eyes at a stroke ! Your 
 business may fail for want of power to manage it — 
 or your property may be all diminished and poverty 
 come upon you as an armed man. 
 
 Do you ask what we shall do to secure and 
 perpetuate the lational privileges we enjoy ? I 
 answer. First, repent of your ingratitude for what 
 you have already received, and give God the praise 
 both for past and present mercies ; and as sure as 
 he has given them to you in times past, so sure 
 will he perpetuate them to you, unless you forfeit 
 them by ingratitude, or cause him to take them 
 from you for your iniquities ; for the gifts and 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 93 
 
 ■ callings of God are without repentance. Rom. 
 xi. 29. Secondly, mind your business only, and let 
 others mind theirs. You, as well as every other 
 individual, have the privilege of voting and choos- 
 ing your own governors, and when that is granted, 
 should you not submit to their administration, as 
 long as they are appointed by you to such offices ? 
 What are rulers for, if they are to do nothing 
 without asking the consent of every individual, 
 which is impossible ; and which, if required, would 
 prevent them from doing anything, or being any 
 governors at all ? It is but a little while since a 
 young man, when the president issued his procla- 
 ; mation against people going to Canada, said he had 
 ^1 better not have done it; and on being reproved, he 
 defended himself by saying that a young man like 
 himself might know what was right as well as he 
 did. But if so, why is it necessary to require a 
 person to be forty or fifty years old before he can be 
 chosen to that high office ? And where is the 
 wisdom of the people in choosing a man as chief 
 magistrate, who wants reproving by another of 
 slender capacity, not more than about twenty years 
 of age ? Thirdly, whatever objections you have 
 against any motion that is made, or any law that 
 they establish, let it be done with temper, and in 
 lanoruase that no man can condemn. Slander and 
 abusive language do not become any honorable 
 man upon earth. Fourthly, break off your sins by 
 l| repentance, and your iniquities by turning to God. 
 Let drunkenness, profaneness, sabbath-breaking, 
 
94 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 gambling, and lying, be laid aside. Let infidelity and 
 every species of wickedness be banished out of the 
 land. In order to this, let every individual reform 
 himself, and it will be done. Indeed, national guilt 
 requires national repentance — public and general 
 days of confession by fasting and prayer — an actual 
 returning from evil, and reforming abuses that have 
 crept in — putting out wicked men, and inflicting 
 penalties adequate to crimes. Hence, David exe- 
 cuted judgment upon the guilty; Josiah cleansed 
 Judah and Jerusalem of idolatry, and the King of 
 Nineveh commanded, " Let neither man nor beast, 
 herd nor flock, taste anything : let them not feed 
 nor drink water." It has been said, to the honor of 
 America, that its sessions in Congress were opened 
 with prayer. And has this rule been always kept 
 up, or is it at present attended to ? You indeed are 
 not under a monarchical, but a republican govern- 
 ment ; and this implies that you are bound to 
 govern yourselves, or otherwise you are doubly 
 guilty. That man who has every privilege he can 
 ask for, and yet acts wickedly, is more ungrateful 
 and guilty than he that is bound; and he that digs 
 up the foot-path because he has unlimited liber4y, is 
 a fool. Yet, some men with everything are 
 unthankful ; and the more liberty they have, so 
 much more they will abuse it. Do you suppose 
 that rulers would be permitted to oppress and take 
 away what heaven graciously bestowed upon you, 
 if you always kept to that which is good ? Oh! 3'e 
 inhabitants of a free country and men of liberty, 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 95 
 
 be thankful for your privileges; avoid perpetual 
 wrangling and finding fault with everything, and 
 forget not that it is written, " Whoso offereth praise 
 (for providential and gracious mercies) glorifieth 
 me; and to him that ordereth his conversation 
 aright will I show the salvation of God." Psalm 
 1. 23. 
 
 No. XVIII. 
 
 Latimer as an emigrant being feeble, without property, and no mecha- 
 nic, was in rather trying circumstances. — Previous to leaving Ohio, 
 he took a travelling excursion : the different characters he met with 
 in his journey, &c. — His departure from the state, &c. 
 
 It has been observed that Latimer was not in 
 pleasant circumstances. He was a stranger, and 
 of a delicate constitution ; and he had not a com- 
 petency to support himself, like some others under 
 such circumstances. He knew no mechanical 
 trade, and the labor of the field was too much for 
 him. Nor is this a solitary instance ; for there 
 aie many, as teachers, excise officers, druggists, 
 and others, perhaps, who cannot follow the same 
 occupation in that westei'n country as in England. 
 What could such a man as Latimer do in this 
 situation, and under such circumstances ? He 
 was like one hedged in on every side ! He was 
 in a land of strangers, and had the same wants as 
 others, but had no home of his own. To have no 
 
96 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 employment was trying to one whose industrious 
 and moral character was unimpeachable, and to 
 have no resource must ultimately lead to poverty 
 and distress. But it sometimes so happens to the 
 best of men, and such are the mysteries of provi- 
 dence, that the eyes of the wicked often stand out 
 with fatness, while the righteous have no place to 
 lay their heads. Thus Job lost his all, Lazarus had 
 dogs for his comforters, and the Son of God, though 
 proprietor of the universe, was dependent upon 
 Mary, Joanna, and others, for his subsistence. 
 Under such circumstances, a person is often obliged 
 to endure many things, however unjust and oppres- 
 sive. 
 
 Previous to leaving Ohio, he took a travelling ex- 
 cursion for a few miles through the country, in order 
 to turn into cash some articles he wished to dispose 
 of; and although he greatly esteemed many of the 
 inhabitants for their plainness and kindness, yet there 
 were some exceptions. Having travelled one day 
 till near evening, and being in a solitary place, re« 
 mote from any village, he called at a house and asked 
 whether he could get some tea, and also whether he 
 could remain for the night. Both these requests, 
 worthy of American humanity and hospitality to 
 strangers, were immediately granted : at least so it 
 seemed for that time. Being winter or in time of 
 snow, it is not surprising that his feet were wet, and 
 having on a pair of boots which he could not get off 
 without difficulty, he asked the man of the house 
 some time afterwards whether he would pull them off 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 97 
 
 for him ; to which question the other replied, " I will 
 cut them off." After this period he told Latimer 
 that he would make him a boot-jack if he liked, and 
 the latter not suspecting anything more than that 
 his host was joking him, might probably make some 
 reply which the man, as we may suppose, took an 
 advantage of in order to make one ; and hence in 
 the morning he would charge him for this piece of 
 work, and not only so, but he demanded double ex- 
 pense for board likewise. Not having taken a shil- 
 ling the whole day before, and being short of money, 
 Latimer was grieved on being so unfortunate as to 
 fall into the hands of such a man — a man who had 
 sufficient inhumanity and ferocity to rob a person 
 almost destitute. This circumstance not only occa- 
 sioned some w^ords, but extorted some complaints 
 against such usage ; and pretending that he would 
 make complaint before a magistrate, he left the house. 
 This he did as it were immediately ; but there being 
 no one in the neighborhood, he went and related the 
 affair to a member of a religious society who went 
 back with him. This young man was considcFed a 
 moral and pious person, and he believed Latimer's 
 testimony ; but for want of a manly and independent 
 spirit, or to avoid gaining this man's ill-will, he did 
 not speak a word in Latimer's favor. This man was 
 of such an uncourteous and savage disposition, that 
 although Latimer did not reprove or give him an 
 uncivil word ; and although he was a stranger and 
 found no fault with anything, yet without any pro- 
 vocation he demanded about twice as much as others 
 
98 TWO YEAliS IN OHIO. 
 
 for his entertainment, and seemed anxious to gratify 
 himself in beating him for making an objection. 
 At a distant part of the country in winter (though 
 
 since that period) he called at the house of Mr. B 
 
 whose kindness, worthy of American hospitality, bade 
 him welcome for the night : on which evening a 
 Universalist came to preach in a school-house near 
 by. This did not seem like an appointment to call 
 sinners to repentance, nor an invitation to assemble 
 together the sober-minded inhabitants to hear the 
 word of life, which is able to make them wise unto 
 salvation ; but a call to such characters as like to 
 hear that where sin had abounded it might still if 
 
 not much more abound. Hence at Mr. B 's 
 
 several people came in after the meeting was over, 
 
 among whom was Mr. C , who with much pro- 
 
 faneness acknowledged in a merry, boasting kind of 
 manner, how he had plagued a certain individual, 
 and that he had privately injured him by throwing 
 down his fences, girthing trees, and cutting the tails 
 of his horses or cattle, to the amount of about three 
 hundred dollars. This man, if I understood his 
 character and circumstances rightly, was not a 
 single .person, nor an untamed and uninstructed 
 youth, but a married man — an American farmer, and 
 as he probably would want to call himself a respect- 
 able citizen : and hence we see that while there are 
 many people in America who are worthy of our 
 highest esteem for their humanity, their good morals 
 and kindness — nay, and worthy to be imitated in 
 some particulars by people in every nation in Europe, 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 99 
 
 yet there are others who not only love darkness 
 rather than light because their deeds are evil, but 
 characters without any apparent remorse will ad- 
 vertise their wicked acts as it were, by day, and 
 
 even before strangers will glory in their shame. 
 
 # # -:r * 
 
 After Latimer had remained in this new and un- 
 cultivated state, not less perhaps than eighteen 
 months, and suffered many difficulties, he took his 
 departure and travelled somewhere towards the New 
 England States, which was more suited to his cha- 
 racter than Ohio ; and 1 have the satisfaction to 
 state, that by his economy he found means of ob- 
 taining from one to three dollars per day ; acknow- 
 ledged in some particulars the superior advantages 
 of this republic ; located himself more particularly 
 among a people whom he esteemed with much affec- 
 tion ; and could with much propriety speak many 
 good things of America. 
 
 No. XIX. 
 
 Ohio is still (1832) in some parts an uncultivated part of the country, 
 &c. The writer's attempt the first winter to teach a district school, 
 
 &c. Stationed the first week for board, &c., at Mr. B 's. A 
 
 social party of neighbors came to spend the evening, &c. — But the 
 
 next day Mr. M came to school, as it seemed, to find occasion 
 
 against me. Nevertheless there are many very kind people among 
 the farmers and country people. A short sketch of the character 
 and manners of Mrs. Challenor. 
 
 The fruitful state of Ohio, in some parts of it, is 
 still an uncultivated wild, and more so probably than 
 
100 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 a person in England will conceive of. Instead of 
 finding it a woodland wilderness, where in some 
 places there were a few solitary oaks and an acre of 
 land grazed by deer and other cattle — a wild which 
 was alternately interspersed with vacant places and 
 ornamented with beautiful pieces of grass, as we 
 could sometimes see in forests in England — instead 
 of finding such a resemblance I would say, when 
 making comparisons between different places, it was 
 covered with wood and perpetuated as it were for 
 hundreds of miles together. At least this seems to 
 have been its state in general (prairies excepted) 
 previous to making any inroads and clearing by the 
 settlers. And where it is still wild it is covered with 
 large and small timber, to such a degree that the sun 
 can scarcely penetrate to shine upon the surface of 
 the earth during the summer. In some places large 
 trees had been blown down, and in their fall had 
 broken down others, and made such heaps and ranges 
 of wood that a person could not make a straight 
 course from one road to another. Among the wood 
 thus fallen, there were trees, we will suppose, which 
 had lain from one to a hundred years, and so rotted 
 and moulded down that by stepping on a part which 
 probably might have previously been decayed, a per- 
 son might sometimes sink nearly half a leg deep. 
 The trees, in size, we will suppose to be from one to 
 four feet in thickness, and calculating upon forty 
 trees to an acre» besides the underbrush, and each 
 tree to be cut from nine to fourteen feet in length, 
 previous to burning, makes a deal of labor in clearing 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 101 
 
 up a farm. And what progress would people make 
 in such an undertaking, were they to attempt to 
 stock them up by the roots, as it has been reported 
 some Englishmen at first attempted to do ? The 
 earth being covered to such a degree, and the leaves 
 falling and rotting upon the surface annually, makes 
 the soil black like an old dunghill. The climate 
 being more warm than in England, and the timber 
 thus thick and perpetuated in such a manner, there 
 is no cheering breeze can penetrate into the interior 
 part of the woods. Hence in warm weather, it is 
 too sultry even in the shade to enjoy the reading of 
 a book, or to spend a little time in an act of devotion. 
 And furthermore, under such chxumstances, the 
 swamps and stagnant waters give birth to the mos- 
 quitoes, which are too troublesome. 
 
 The first winter J. went to teach a district school 
 in the country, but could not succeed. I obtained a 
 certificate of the examiners, and was in hopes of re- 
 maining there during the wanter, but unfortunately 
 dropping into a neighborhood where religion was 
 scarcely enjoyed or professed — a neighborhood, in- 
 deed, where infidelity was rather esteemed in pre- 
 ference to Christianity, and where prayers or reading 
 the scriptures were not even allowed in the school, — 
 a place this, I would observe, had my qualifications 
 been of the first order, I probably could not have 
 been very comfortable. I was indeed anxious to stay, 
 and expostulated with them in order thereto ; re- 
 questing at least the privilege of a fair trial, that I 
 might be proved : but no entreaty could procure this 
 
102 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 favor, and whetlier I could have stayed my three 
 months had this been granted, I know not. 
 
 The first week I was to board at Mr. Boston's, (as 1 
 shall speak of him) who was rather illiterate and a 
 plain man, both in person, circumstance, and family. 
 He not only was no professor of religion, but opposed 
 
 to it : and Mrs. B 's principles, in a moral point 
 
 of view, accorded with those of her husband. And 
 although most of the inhabitants in the States are a 
 humane people, however averse they may be to re- 
 ligion, yet this was a strange place to me, strange 
 circumstances to be under, and strangers were w^e 
 to each other. Soon after my going there, Mrs. 
 B asked me whether I had any books. I in- 
 formed her that I had some of the best books, and as 
 a proof of it, among others, mentioned the New Tes- 
 tament. This she made light of, and in efiect, said 
 that she would prefer, or rather read some great lie. 
 "Do you think there is such a place as that which 
 
 we call Hell ?" asked Mrs. B . " What saith the 
 
 scripture ? * The wicked shall be turned into Hell,' " 
 I replied. *' Oh ! that means the grave," answered 
 Mrs. B. 
 
 During the week, a few neighbors came to spend 
 
 the evening in a social manner with Mr. B and 
 
 his family, and as I had seen the plainness — the 
 simplicity, and the kindness of my American friends, 
 we conversed familiarly together ; but as I had made 
 a profession of religion previous to that time, and 
 the company being no advocates for it, there was 
 not that harmony in feeling and sentiment as there 
 
 IL 
 
TWO YEARS IX OHIO. 103 
 
 Otherwise would have been. There was, however, 
 no offence given to any one ; but after conversing a 
 considerable length of time, I gave my opinion on 
 something that had been spoken, which did not 
 exactly accord with the sentiments of the company. 
 Hence, what I had said, in a short time gave a sort 
 
 of impulse to the zeal of Mr. B , and moved him 
 
 to make a kind of speech in substance like the 
 following : 
 
 " 1 believe the world will stand ten millions of 
 years — that summer and winter, and one season will 
 succeed another as formerly — that generations will 
 spring up and pass away, as they always have done 
 hitherto — that nations and empires will rise and fall, 
 flourish and decay, and that the world will go on in 
 future, just as it has done until now, &c." One of 
 the visitors, some years previous to that time, had 
 been convinced of the folly of sinful practices ; but 
 at this time, as it appeared, had yielded to live 
 according to the course of this world ; as if a life of 
 virtue was impracticable. This man, as it appeared, 
 was trying to rest himself upon the doctrine of 
 universal salvation. But, alas ! this is a bed too short 
 for a man to rest himself at ease and safety in, for 
 " there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." 
 Isaiah Ivii. 21. 
 
 But the next day another person came to the 
 school in order, as it seemed, to find out some excuse 
 to deprive me of it, and the following evening, or the 
 next probably, they gave me to understand their 
 intentions ; which, in this instance, were like the 
 
104 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 laws of the Medes and Persians, which could not be 
 altered. Nevertheless there are many in the country 
 who, although they possess no religion, are in truth 
 a kind and humane people : and I still remember 
 with esteem and gratitude some of my American ' 
 friends, and admire the stations in which they live. 
 A people who are blest with liberty ; the comforts of 
 life independent of any one, and peace without any 
 man to injure them by terror : and a people who are 
 sufficiently plain and hospitable to admit a Lazarus 
 as an equal visitant to their tables. And although 
 necessity may oblige many of them to lay their 
 produce in their chambers, or mend their apparel 
 with divers colors, yet they are worthy of the highest 
 esteem for their industry, economy, cleanliness, 
 kindness, &c. 
 
 Since that time, I have found many kind people 
 in these peaceable cottages, and admired their plain- 
 ness and contentment — their freedom from worldly 
 ambition, and the retirement they seemed to enjoy. 
 How plainly may we see an equal degree of happi- 
 ness in the humblest circles of society, as we find 
 among the most wealthy in the most opulent circum- 
 stances ! The latter finds such an increase of goods 
 that he is brought into difficulty, and at length 
 exclaims, " what shall I do ? I will pull down my 
 barns and build greater," &c., while the former, with 
 a degree of gratitude and patience, finds his way 
 through every crooked path and perplexity in life. 
 Not that there was anything to envy, in the family 
 alluded to. except they had the plainest comforts of 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 105 
 
 life, while some are destitute. Nor could I admire 
 
 the conduct of Mrs. B , who churned her butter, 
 
 cleaned her house, and as it would seem, did her 
 Saturday's work on the Sabbath ; about which time, 
 a young man came in and read or sang over a num- 
 ber of wanton songs. She could notice a word 
 improperly spoken, but v/ould use others too indecent 
 and vulgar to be uttered in the street. Hence I 
 would like to recommend to her notice and practice 
 the graceful manners of Him who used the endear- 
 ing appellation woman, when he said — Simon, seest 
 thou this — woman ? And the blessed relationship in 
 which she stood with him, notwithstanding this plain 
 term, when by virtue of his favor he looked with 
 complacency upon her, and declared she loved much 
 because she had much forgiven. 
 
 But Mrs. Challenor, (as I shall speak of her,) was 
 a different character. I was at her house occasion- 
 ally, for a considerable length of time, and think I 
 may say with the strictest truth, that I never heard 
 her speak a word which deserved reproof She 
 avoided all flattering and fawning expressions on the 
 one hand, and what were annoying and vulgar on 
 the other. I never heard her require a child to 
 substitute the word Ma, or Mam, for the more 
 endearing and scriptural word Mother ; and much 
 less, I presume, would she approve of it in a daughter 
 grown up to womanhood — a term, if proper to any, 
 most proper to children. Nor did I ever hear her 
 speak a word of an absent person, which would 
 annoy or hurt the feelings of the poorest man. She 
 
 5* 
 
106 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 knew how to " honor all men." She avoided lavish- 
 ing unscriptural titles upon her own sex, while she 
 could violate or depart from an example commanded 
 by an Apostle. 1 Peter iii. 6. Meantime she did 
 not consider that she acted derogatory to that reve- 
 rence and submission she owed to the person with 
 whom she was made one, when she independently 
 purchased at her own pleasure, what were necessary 
 for her own house, or for the use of her family. She 
 considered herself not a slave or a child, but intrusted 
 with the management of her house, and a fellow- 
 helper with her husband ; while she economically 
 endeavored to promote the welfare and peace of 
 those committed to her care. 
 
 " Mild, sweet, serene, and tender was her mood. 
 Nor grave with sternness, nor with lightness free ; 
 Against example, resolutely good, 
 Fervent in zeal, and warm in charity." 
 
 I have thought she was the nearest portraiture of 
 charity, which is kind — unprovoked, merciful, gen- 
 tle — uniformly the same, and which never faileth of 
 anyone I have ever known. In a word, with much 
 propriety it might be said of her, that 
 
 " Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye. 
 In all her gestures sanctity and love." 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 107 
 
 No. XX, 
 
 Want of a proper emplojinent made such a situation unpleasant — and 
 some Americans, as well as Europeans, after such a removal, feel 
 themselves lonesome, disappointed, &c. — Many difficulties and dis- 
 pensations of Providence in life, call for patience, reflection, prayer, 
 &,c., 6cc. — Such a place more suitable to young men, laborers, men 
 of property, and mechanics. — Teaching a difficult business to follow 
 to any good purpose, even in as well qualified persons as Philetus, 
 Calistus, and Erastus. — Reflections. 
 
 I REMAINED about two ycai's in Ohio, and by the 
 blessing of God, even in this woodland and wild 
 country, I was not altogether destitute of comforts 
 and friends; but not finding it practicable to employ 
 myself in what I had been follov/ing in England, it 
 was like a season of imprisonment to me. Hence, 
 some people, by going too far west, find themselves 
 in unpleasant circumstances. Nor is this confined 
 exclusively to Europeans, but it has been the case 
 with some Americans likewise. I saw a woman 
 one sabbath, who was crying and sobbing as if she 
 was inconsolable, because her husband had sold off 
 his property in some eastern state, and had brought 
 her into such an uncultivated place. Some others, 
 anxious to do better, when they were tolerably well 
 off", have removed west; but instead of accumulating 
 great riches, have not only sacrificed the comforts 
 of life at great hazard, but have returned back at 
 great loss. And for any people who are well set- 
 tled, whether in Europe or the eastern states of 
 
108 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 America, to go too far west, is like taking leave 
 of their pleasant situations, to dwell in solitary 
 places, where they can never find the same satisfac- 
 tory society, nor get a home into the same state of 
 cultivation, while they live. It is nevertheless an 
 excellent undertaking to thousands of others, who 
 are young and in different circumstances. 
 
 Not knowing how to employ myself to advantage, 
 like men of hard labor, I used to take a seat among 
 the trees, and spend my leisure hours in writing ; 
 and although I knew not how or where to begin, to 
 give any description of the country or the place I 
 was in ; yet at length I wrote and improved several 
 publications. But it should be observed, that I have 
 not willingly spoken anything lightly of Ohio, or of 
 the country at large. No, I like the people consi- 
 derably, and trust I wish them all temporal and 
 spiritual blessings ; and nothing would give me 
 greater pleasure concerning them, I presurne, than 
 to see them, (as individuals, or as a nation,) set an 
 example to all nations of the earth. It may, indeed, 
 have been my intentions to give some account of 
 such an enterprise, and the difficulties of some peo- 
 ple who engage in it. Is not this of considerable 
 importance ? Should not even the man who intends 
 running a race for heaven, which is infinitely supe- 
 rior to any earthly inheritance, first sit down and 
 calculate upon the difficulties he may expect to 
 meet with in his journey ? Did not our Lord warn 
 people of the dangers they would be exposed to, 
 instead of flattering them with promises of perpetual 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 109 
 
 enjoyment ? And is there anything wrong in warn- 
 ing people of difficulties that may lie in their way 
 to opulence and honor? Is speaking of the trials 
 attending emigration, bringing any evil report on 
 the country, or of the inhabitants who live in it? 
 Not at all. Nor is it any contradiction in me to 
 say, that it is a worthy undertaking to thousands ; 
 that many thousands already have been unspeakably 
 thankful that they came over ; that there are many 
 respectable, peaceable, and pious men in the west ; 
 and that Providence has been calling the inhabitants 
 of many nations to cultivate and populate that ex- 
 tensive and wild part of the globe. O my God, give 
 me to see thy hand of Providence, and administer to 
 my wants ; give me a lot among thy people, and 
 number me with thy saints in glory everlasting ; 
 and if thy Providence calls me into the lonesome 
 shades of a new country, reveal thyself unto me 
 there, and let thy presence and love make my para- 
 dise and heaven. 
 
 " Open, Lord, my inward ear. 
 
 And bid my heart rejoice : 
 Bid my quiet spirit hear, 
 
 Thy comfortable voice ; 
 Never in the whirlwind found, 
 Or where earthquakes rock the place. 
 
 Still and silent is the sound. 
 The wliisper of thy grace. 
 
 " Thou didst undertake for me. 
 
 For me to death wast sold ; 
 Wisdom in a mystery 
 
 Of bleeding love unfold : 
 
110 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 Teach the lesson of thy cross ; 
 Let me die with thee to reign ; 
 
 All things let me count but loss, 
 So I may thee regain." 
 
 There are, however, many difficulties to encoun- 
 ter on this tempestuous sea of life, and many dis- 
 pensations of Providence which call for the exercise 
 of patience, reflection, and prayer. This I found to 
 be an undeniable fact in my excursion, and hence, 
 being unable to employ my time to much purpose, 
 or return back after my arrival, I many times 
 wanted to find a solitary place, where I could spend 
 a little time in secret devotion ; but this I could r^ot 
 easily do to my satisfaction; for the heat in summer, 
 without a refreshing gale of wind, was too sultry 
 and too relaxing to my spirits ; and in winter, a 
 small distance from a good fire, it was too cold for 
 such an enjoyment: so I used to walk up and down 
 the road for an hour, more or less, and employ my 
 time and strength in that position, in lifting up my 
 heart to God. For, 
 
 " When torn in the bosom by sorrow and care, 
 Be it ever so simple, there is nothing like prayer ; 
 It eases, soothes, softens, subdues, yet sustains ; 
 ^ Gives vigor to hope, and puts passion in chains. 
 
 Prayer, prayer — sweet, sweet prayer ; 
 Be it ever so simple, there is nothing like prayer. 
 
 " When forced from the friend we loved dearest to part, 
 What fond recollections still cling to the heart : 
 Past scenes, past enjoyments, past converse, we share ; 
 Oh ! how hurtfully pleasing till hallowed by prayer. 
 Prayer, prayer — sweet, &c. 
 
TWO TEAKS IN OHIO. 
 
 Ill 
 
 '* When pleasure would woo us from Piety's arms. 
 The syren eings loudly, or silently charms ; 
 We listen, love, loiter — are lost in the snare ; 
 But looking to Jesus, we conquer through prayer. 
 Prayer, prayer — sweet, &c." 
 
 I had formerly, for a season, accustomed myself 
 to rise, and spend an hour before breakfast in retire- 
 ment. I had occasionally retired to some grove in 
 England, where the climate being more temperate, 
 I generally found a gale of wind in the hottest 
 weather, sufficiently refreshing to enable me to 
 remain for a while without any inconvenience ; but 
 here I could not do it. But blessed be God, that he 
 is not confined to times or seasons, nor requires, 
 under peculiar circumstances, what is impracticable, 
 in order to enrich the poor and needy. And blessed 
 be his holy name, that he has said, "I will have 
 mercy and'not sacrifice." The spirit may be willing, 
 but the flesh is weak— nay, rebellious ; but we have 
 an advocate with God, who has entered into the 
 heavens. He has carried our burdens and borne 
 our sorrows : and who ever liveth to make interces- 
 sion for us. Thanks be unto God for his unspeaka- 
 ble gift ! 
 
 The first spring I was taken with the fever and 
 ague, and having been previously enfeebled by great 
 debility, occasioned originally by a fever, the provi- 
 sions did not agree with my state and constitution. 
 Such a place may suit young men who are stimu- 
 lated for four or five years by a desire of obtaining 
 a farm and a situation for life ; nay, it is a matter of 
 
112 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 unspeakable thankfulness, that there is such a place 
 for laboring men, and such who are destitute, to 
 repair to — for men who want to purchase land for 
 employment and sustenance for themselves and 
 families. It is also a good place for any people who 
 want to purchase land for their own cultivation, 
 providing they have a sufficiency to procure the 
 plainest necessaries of life, while they can raise 
 some produce for their subsistence. And further- 
 more, it is a good place for mechanics and laboring 
 men, who can earn a dollar or two per day, and who 
 fix their location in a village, where they can pur- 
 chase almost everything that is good ; but it is an 
 unpleasant enterprise for some characters, of a deli- 
 cate texture, who go empty-handed, without finding 
 a suitable employment, and where they never can 
 be benefited by such an adventure. 
 
 I had some years been employed in teaching a 
 school in England, but here I could not do it ; and 
 even foreigners of the best qualifications, found it 
 impossible to do much good in that useful branch of 
 business. Our pronunciation is different — some 
 people have an antipathy against foreigners, though 
 bone of their bone and flesh of their flesh ; but the 
 uncultivated state of the country more especially — 
 its infantine situation, circumstances, &c., are its 
 greatest hindrances. — As a proof of this, I shall men- 
 tion the following characters — namely, Philetus, 
 Calistus and Erastus. First, Philetus, as I shall speak 
 of him, was a man of an excellent education. His 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 113 
 
 abilities for flourishing — for plain and ornamental 
 writing, and for penmanship in general, was equalled 
 but by few in England or elsewhere. He had a 
 school in the same neighborhood, but was soon de- 
 prived of it. A pious female told me, if my memory 
 does not deceive me, that she never had her children 
 brought forward with equal rapidity, before that time,, 
 or after that period ; but there was a family or two, 
 who were disposed to seek occasion to get him out 
 of his school ; and hence, by and bye they withdrew 
 their children, which caused others to do so likewise. 
 This was almost sure to be the consequence, if the 
 stipulated sum was to be paid for twenty children as 
 well as for thirty or forty. The second person, 
 Calistus, as I shall call him, a well qualified teacher, 
 set up a school, in which he taught both noons, and 
 in the evening ; but who nevertheless was going to 
 decline teaching, (the last time I saw him,) and 
 seemed disposed to try a little business in a sort of 
 grocery. A third instance was that of Erastus, (for 
 distinction sake so named.) who taught a school at 
 M — n, a fine little village, about forty or fifty miles 
 beyond the town where Calistus lived. He was un- 
 doubtedly qualified for teaching in a better place, yet 
 he did not succeed to any good purpose. The boys 
 mimicked him in his words, and for some other small 
 reasons, prejudice was raised against him, and he 
 was obliged to leave the place. Since that time, at 
 a populous town in the State of New York, I was 
 informed of another. " Ah ! poor fellow !" said the 
 
114 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. / 
 
 man who informed me of him, "when he was in 
 England he had a hundred pounds per annum, but 
 now he is obhged to work round at hard labor." 
 
 Are you inclined to emigrate to the western part 
 of the country, reader ? To Ohio, Michigan, Ilhnois, 
 Indiana, or to any other state or territory ? If so, 
 allow me to say that it is a good and successful work 
 to many. The land wants cultivating, and Provi- 
 dence is apparently calling the inhabitants of the 
 earth to populate and inherit that part of the globe. 
 And although it is not a proper place and undertak- 
 ing for the aged and infirm, yet it may be to you. 
 But do you acknowledge God in all your ways, that 
 he may bless and direct you in all your undertakings 
 and labors ? Alas ! you have not perhaps been 
 thinking of the importance of such a duty. It may 
 be that you have hitherto lived without a Christian 
 hope, or without any regard to God's favor in the 
 world. Oh ! stop and consider where you are, and 
 what you are going to do. Fall upon your knees 
 and confess your sins before the Lord. Repent of 
 your transgressions — seek God's favor and protec- 
 tion, and while the circumstances of life make it 
 necessary for you to labor for the bread that perish- 
 eth, say, " Prosper thou the work of our hands upon 
 us, O Lord ; Oh ! prosper thou our handy work." 
 
 In conclusion, we may observe, that many find a 
 permanent home, and cannot be too thankful that 
 they emigrated to that fruitful state : while others, 
 as Latimer, Philetus, Calistus, and Erastus, find 
 many difficulties, and are a long time before they 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 116 
 
 know where to settle or labor to advantage. And 
 although our emigration may be providential, and 
 we may be engaged in the most worthy and inte- 
 resting enterprises, yet there may be many difficul- 
 ties in our way, and many trials to endure in the 
 accomplishment of the work we are engaged in. 
 Let us further notice, that as sojourners on earth, 
 we are as it were led into a sequestered nook where 
 two seas meet — sometimes our car gets fixed in the 
 mire, and sometimes we get entangled and bound as 
 with chains of iron ;— till the same providential hand 
 which brings down and raises up, snaps the links in 
 sunder, or 
 
 " Gently breaks the bands and sets us free." 
 
 This being something like the experience of the 
 unworthy writer of these lines, let it suffice to say, 
 that after a trial of patience and getting some matters 
 arranged, he took his departure ; and by a circuitous 
 route, which intersected itself perhaps a thousand 
 times over, and after crossing the canal, the lake, 
 and the swamp, he fortunately at length arrived at 
 this old settled place. 
 
 " Strangers and pilgrims here below, 
 
 This earth, we know, is not our place. 
 But hasten through the vale of woe. 
 
 And restless to behold thy face, 
 Swift to our heavenly country move, 
 Our everlasting home above." 
 Oct. 22, 1838. 
 
116 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 AN ADDRESS TO 
 
 LOVERS OF LIBERTY. 
 
 July 30, 1834. 
 Christian Friends : — You have lately seen 
 another anniversary of your national liberty as an 
 independent people, on which day,* above all others 
 in the year, you think probably you have cause to 
 be thankful and to rejoice. And, indeed, on many 
 accounts, you are a highly favored and a happy 
 people. God hath not dealt so, says David, with 
 any or with every nation ; wherefore, receive the 
 blessings of Providence with thankfulness, and ren- 
 der unto God according to all his benefits, that you 
 may be accounted worthy to retain the same, and 
 to receive still greater favors in time to come. You 
 have liberty to settle, to trade almost where you 
 like, and to enjoy every privilege of civil and reli- 
 gious men, as you think proper. You may buy, sell, 
 and get gain ; you may travel by land or by w^ater ; 
 you may cultivate as much land as you have power 
 to do ; and you may embrace what opinions you 
 think proper, associate with the sect you like best, 
 or improve your mind by studying almost any art or 
 science you are capable of. If, then, this is your 
 
 * This address was written, as the date shows, soon after the fourth 
 of July, but not published. 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. llY 
 
 j prerogative, rejoice in your liberty, and as far as in 
 your power, without infringing on the rights of 
 others, assist any who have need, by delivering 
 them from the yoke of bondage. 
 
 The privileges you enjoy, if properly improved, 
 may empower you, like nursing mothers, to open a 
 door, and give an invitation nearly to all who are 
 oppressed on the face of the earth. Be not, there- 
 fore, forgetful to entertain strangers. How many 
 have emigrated already as industrious and peaceable 
 famihes, from different nations in Europe ! And 
 you can invite many thousands more to your peace- 
 ful shores ; nay, you may be greatly instrumental in 
 emancipating others who are still in bondage or 
 destitute — breaking every yoke, opening the prison 
 doors, and saying to the prisoners, " go forth." And 
 while you are inviting others to your shores, and 
 thousands are annually repairing hither, you are 
 proportionably increasing in strength and opulence, 
 and bidding fair for becoming both the richest and 
 the greatest power on earth. 
 
 But permit me to tell you, that some people have 
 wrong notions of liberty, and there is a liberty 
 which others have but little conception of So 
 some people imagine that to be under a monarchical 
 government is to be under an arbitrary or tyranni- 
 cal one, and that all kinds of servitude are a degree 
 of slavery ; whereas, our happiness might possibly 
 be augmented under the one, and we might enjoy 
 the sweetest liberty under the other. Our happiness 
 consists, not in being independent, but rather by be- 
 
118 I TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 ing made sensible of our dependence on Him by 
 whom kings reign and princes decree justice ; who, 
 while he ruleth among the armies of heaven, also 
 fixes our habitations on earth ; and who, in the 
 order of his providence and government of the 
 world, hath ordained thrones, governments, domi- 
 nions, principalities, powders, &c., and who sets up 
 one and puts down another. Who maketh thee to 
 differ, and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? 
 Others think to be under any obligation to pay 
 respect to authority, superiors, or age, is an infringe- 
 ment on their liberty ; whereas, there is an honor 
 due to all men. Some speak as if their liberty 
 authorized them to do "just what they have a mind 
 to," and that they may plough on the Sabbath, ride 
 to different places for amusement, drink to excess, 
 curse and swear without any provocation, as much 
 as they please, and no person is to reprove them. 
 But who, besides infidels and the most immoral 
 characters, supposed that men might gather their 
 harvests, attend their sugar works, and go out 
 a-hunting ; or women might mend their linen, and 
 employ themselves in any acts of domestic labor, in 
 America any more than in England, because they 
 say this is a free country? Brethren, this is a wrong 
 notion of liberty, and these things are the fruits of 
 depraved minds, a want of cultivation of manners, 
 and will at length be found contrary to what a bet- 
 ter education, or wdiat charity must sooner or later 
 teach every one. Under what government soever 
 we may be placed, we are under the law to Christ, 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 119 
 
 a breach of which law is sinful; and sin, saith Solo- 
 mon, is a reproach to any people. Besides, he who 
 commits sin is the servant of sin, and thereby 
 enslaved by the devil, — the worst kind of bondage 
 on earth. 
 
 , Liberty signifies a power to do or forbear to do 
 any particular action, or freedom from any servitude 
 or bondage. But I shall speak of it, First, as the 
 liberty of a Republican Government : Secondly, the 
 liberty of Christ's kingdom. 
 
 First ; The Liberty of a Republican Government. — 
 This is called a free country, and hence here people 
 are at liberty, at least in many things, to do, or not to 
 do, to have or not to have, as they think best. Here 
 you may pitch your tent, purchase a little freehold 
 estate, and live in a great measure independently of 
 I others : — You may sit under your own vine and fig 
 i tree, without any daring to molest you, or without 
 being under the necessity of being infringed upon in 
 your rights and liberties. You can raise the finest 
 wheat, and every substantial article, for the suste- 
 nance of life : nay, you may have the superfluities, 
 as well as things more necessary. You can procure 
 some of the finest summer fruits, corn, and wine, and 
 oil, and in such abundance, as to supply your wants 
 in the depth of winter. In summer you may retire 
 into the shady grove, and escape the scorching rays 
 of a mid-day sun, and also find a proportionable de- 
 gree of fuel in the sharpest weather, to warm your 
 apartments. You may solace yourselves with social 
 company, or live retired in the thick wood. There 
 
 I 
 
120 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 is, however, a better inheritance than this ; an in- 
 heritance incorruptible, undefiled, and which fadeth 
 not away — an estate which passeth not from heir to 
 heir. 
 
 But government is not to be despised — and the 
 best government is that which secures the most 
 privileges to the people, and which the most effec- 
 tually suppresses vice and wickedness. It becomes 
 authority to govern, when justice is administered in 
 righteousness — is an honor to a nation to enforce its 
 laws, and it equally becomes every man to submit to 
 be governed without complaint, when the best ends 
 are attempted by the higher powers, as it is the duty 
 of governors to administer justice. And hence, if 
 the scriptures are the word of God, and the law of 
 God the basis or foundation of human law, the more 
 laws are enacted to prohibit the breach of the law of 
 God, and which lead to the fulfilment of them, so 
 much the better. In this respect Christ has set us 
 an example, and St. Paul says : " Let every soul be 
 subject to the higher powers." What should we 
 think of a republican family where every member 
 contended for a share of what only belonged to the 
 head of it ? Eli was guilty, because he did not, with 
 parental authority, restrain his children from wicked- 
 ness ; while Abraham gained the approbation of 
 heaven, and was called the friend of God. And men, 
 notorious for wickedness, where fairly convicted and 
 justly punished, will acknowledge the justice of the 
 sentence passed upon them. Not only so, but go- 
 vernment will always be the greatest blessing we can 
 
TWO YEARS IX OHIO. 121 
 
 enjoy, while there are so many who know not how 
 to govern themselves, and so many who have not 
 principle to do so. It is this, next to the gospel of 
 Christ, which will distinguish a people from the un- 
 civilized nations of the earth, and a nation will rise 
 in fame in proportion to the excellence of the ad- 
 ministration by which they are governed. Some 
 people, indeed, are dissatisfied with the best govern- 
 ment, and contend for a system that will set people 
 (according to their account) upon an equality with 
 each other ; but this is an absurdity indeed, seeing 
 government implies governors, and a people go- 
 verned : and seeing also a wise Providence in the 
 first instance, makes us to differ, and continues to 
 make a wider difference, frequently, during the term 
 of life. He confers his gifts as he sees good, by 
 setting up one and putting down another, and by 
 sending health or sickness, prosperity or adversity, 
 at his sovereign and righteous pleasure. 
 
 Consider, brethren, how highly you are thought 
 and spoken of in different nations in Europe. How 
 many have heard of your fame — your liberties, and 
 have forsaken their native countries to dwell among 
 you. " The United States," as a phrase, conveys 
 something pleasing to the minds of Europeans, similar 
 to the words of David, where he says, " Behold how 
 pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together 
 in unity," &c., and the sound of your fame probably 
 has gone out into all the earth. Many have been so 
 enamored with the country, and have sent such 
 flattering accounts to England, and perhaps to other 
 
 6 
 
 I 
 
122 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 nations, that they have been instrumental in bringing 
 many others after them. And is it not of the last 
 importance to inspect our morals for the general 
 good of our countrymen, and also for those out of 
 other nations who come to settle among us ? Ame- 
 rica for some years has been rising into great fame, 
 and increasing greatly in population ; and it plainly 
 appears, that Providence has not only made it a place 
 of refuge for many Europeans, but that He, at whose 
 command nations and empires rise and fall, flourish 
 and decay, is calling many thousands to cultivate 
 and populate this vast part of the globe at the present 
 day. And is it not of the last importance that we 
 look well to ourselves ? Who does not see that the 
 same power which raises people to honor and glory, 
 thrusts them down also afterwards, for the misim- 
 provement of the talents committed to their care ? 
 It is written that Hezekiah rendered not unto the 
 Lord according to all his benefits. And shall we 
 overlook the blessings we enjoy, and lose what he 
 is waiting in future to bestow upon us ? God for- 
 bid ! Let us rather fix our full eyes upon the hand 
 that lavishes his mercies upon us, and unitedly raise 
 our hearts and voices, as with ten thousand tongues, 
 to give glory to Him who sitteth upon the throne, 
 and to the Lamb for ever. 
 
 This is a free country, and every one may do what 
 he has a mind to, providing he does nothing in hos- 
 tility to the government, and providing he wishes no 
 ill but all good to his neighbor. But many people 
 use this expression when they have a mind to do 
 
 i 
 
I 
 
 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 123 
 
 j wrong, to act contrary to an independent spirit, and 
 infringe upon liberty, or as a cover to some dis- 
 honorable or selfish action. So, says one man : I 
 will go where I like, or eat and drink what I like, for 
 this is a free country ; but who does not see that a 
 man in Great Britain may say he will do as much 
 as this, and run any length in wickedness, without 
 any man hindering him, if he is resolved to do so. 
 Another greatly injures his wife, who should be as 
 dear as life unto him, by attempting her life, and 
 afterwards exclaims : " a man cannot have a little 
 riot in his own house, in this free country, without 
 the interference of his neighbors." Who does not 
 
 i see that talk about a free country, and an indepen- 
 dent spirit, when we want to justify evil practices, is 
 ridiculous. In what sense then is this country free ? 
 To say that it is free to commit evil against any law, 
 either divine or human, that is for her good, is a 
 reproach to sensible and moral men. We may say, 
 therefore, that it is free to do good, and which must 
 be kept to, if men maintain a spirit of independence ; 
 for all infringement takes away liberty, and as far 
 as any man infringes upon the rights of another, be 
 it more or less, so far he departs from an independent 
 spirit, by striking a blow at the liberty of another. 
 In other words, that men may enjoy the liberty that 
 belongs to them, and people act with consistency 
 when they use the phrase " this is a free country," 
 &c., they must endeavor to walk by this rule : 
 ** Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, 
 do ye also unto them." And that the men who 
 
124 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 enjoy and possess most of the charity which suffereth 
 long and is kind, envieth not, seeketh not her own, 
 thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoic- 
 eth in the truth, beareth all things, belie veth all, 
 things, hopeth all things, and endureth all things, are 
 the greatest lovers of liberty, and manifest the mostt 
 independent spirit. 
 
 Are you satisfied and thankful, brethren, when 
 you have the liberty to choose your own representa- 
 tives, senators, and president, and when they aim at 
 what is good, according to the best of their know- 
 ledge, and, as it were, to the utmost of their power ? 
 If not, you are not of an independent spirit, for you 
 are unthankful, and want something that God, in the 
 order of his providence, has not given you. Is it 
 good to complain ? Are not such people, as the 
 Apostle says, unthankful and unholy ? Is it good 
 for religious and pious men to trouble themselves 
 much about politics, when they have but little or 
 nothing to do in the government of a nation ? 
 Would it not be all right, and equally as right, if 
 thousands were only to make it the subject of their 
 supplications to Him who hath the hearts of all men 
 in his own hand, and who will administer justice 
 and what is good to those who put their trust in 
 Him, whether it be to an individual, a family, or a 
 nation ? Let us leave it to him who is not only the ^ 
 judge but the governor of kingdoms, and also of the \ 
 whole earth. But is it not right, you will ask, to ; 
 inform ourselves, and to endeavor to guard our 
 liberty and national privileges ? Undoubtedly it is 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 125 
 
 the duty, more or less, of every man in the United 
 States ; and there are no people so proper as sober 
 and religious men : — only let it be done in wisdom, 
 and with temper, and it is a work probably which 
 becomes the wisest of men. The evil is, many 
 injure themselves by studying it when they can do 
 no good, and serious men are anxiously concerned 
 when they should leave it — that is, after doing what 
 they could, they should leave it to him who can 
 order all things for the best, or who in due time can 
 bring good out of evil. 
 
 It is undoubtedly no small privilege, that there is 
 a fair and free representation ; that is to say, that 
 every man has a right to vote, and to have a voice 
 among his fellow-countrymen. Let this be main- 
 tained, and you will always remain free in compari- 
 son to many, nor will any have power to hurt you. 
 Meantime, show yourselves worthy of the privileges 
 you are favored with. Does it not become such 
 individuals to show a magnanimous spirit, and 
 should not such a nation be an example to others? 
 I Liberty is an unspeakable blessing, brethrejj ; and 
 lyou who have it should neither abuse it nor lightly 
 icast it away. It does not become wise men to 
 break a jewel, or cast precious stones into the mire. 
 A man of eminent piety should never be overtaken 
 with acts of rashness or habits of unclean living. 
 Nor should a man of great sanctity dishonor his 
 character, by acting contrary to that gravity which 
 has distinguished him from other men. Hence, if 
 Providence has favored you with liberty, which 
 
126 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 many on the face of the globe are not blessed with, , 
 beware that you do not forfeit it, by rendering your-- 
 selves unworthy of it, and causing the great giverr 
 of every good and perfect gift to withdraw his bless- - 
 ings, and give your liberties to others, who will! 
 brins: forth the fruits thereof. 
 
 Secondly. The Liberty of Christ's Kingdom. — 
 The best kind of liberty is that which the Christian i 
 enjoys, and of which our blessed Lord speaks wheni 
 he says, " If the Son shall make you free, ye shall bes 
 free indeed." This is a liberty from sin, and whichi 
 is only known by becoming subjects of Christ'ss 
 kingdom, in which we take him for our Prophet,: 
 our Priest, and our King. In this kingdom there ist 
 righteousness, which excludes all guilt ; peace,ii 
 which shuts out every painful fear; and joy, whichi 
 causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus, and chasess 
 away every doubt respecting our present state andi 
 future happiness. The subject of this kingdom! 
 being delivered from all anxious cares of merely aa 
 political or worldly nature, studies how he can fulfill 
 his dijj;y to God and man, by loving the Lord withli 
 all his heart, and his neighbor as himself. This ist 
 the great business of his life, and this strikes a blow^ 
 at all strife and contention, animosities, surmising,^! 
 jealousies, whisperings, tale-bearings, discontent-- 
 ments, murmurings, cavillings, evil-disputings, &c.,, 
 and lays, as it were, the foundation of a solid and 
 lasting peace. Or in other words, Christ, who is the 
 foundation, having set up his kingdom in our hearts, 
 we cease from our own works — the works of thet 
 
TWO YEARS IX OHIO. 127 
 
 flesh and the carnal mind, which occasion so much 
 pain, and which are so fatally destructive of our 
 happiness. And as much as we cease from our 
 own works, and exercise faith in Christ Jesus, so 
 much in proportion does our peace increase, till we 
 enter into the rest that remains for the people of 
 God. In this kingdom there is liberty from the 
 dominion and slavery of sin and Satan. There is 
 peace such as the world cannot give nor take from 
 us — and rest wherein no man can give trouble. 
 For saj^s Christ, " If the Son shall make you free 
 you shall be free indeed." Now, can any power 
 bind those whom Christ makes free — rob them of 
 their peace, or violate their rest ? 
 
 Are you a lover of liberty^ reader ? If so, what 
 liberty is the object of your choice ? Do you wish 
 for liberty to sin as much as you can, or that which 
 frees you from it, and introduces you into the king- 
 dom of God ? Oh, happy liberty this ! Blessed man, 
 %vho is introduced into this kingdom ! Desirable 
 state of rest! Alas! that we should be so sottish 
 and bewitched as to be contending about liberty 
 while we are bound by the iron chains of Satan. 
 What think you of the liberty of Christ's kingdom? 
 Have you any scruples about it, or objections to it ? 
 St. Paul speaks of it as joy in the Holy Ghost ; and 
 hence it has caused the lame to walk and leap for 
 joy, enabled others to shout aloud the praises of 
 God, and inspired others with the most noble mag- 
 nanimity of soul, who have braved the threats of the 
 tyrant, and, when called to it, have resisted unto 
 
128 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 blood, striving against sin. Had Zimri peace, asked 
 Jezebel, who slew his master ? No, but Elijah had, 
 though she sought his life to take it away. Had 
 Belshazzar peace at his impious feast, when the 
 thoughts of his heart troubled, and his knees smote 
 one against another ? Yet who can but admire that 
 sedate and dauntless state of mind, that intrepid 
 tranquillity, which armed Shadrach, Meshach, and 
 Abednego, against fear, as scarcely to change their 
 countenances, but led them to stand unmoved, with- 
 out betraying their cause ; and who, after all the 
 terrifying appearance of the furnace, had peace and 
 liberty in the midst of the fire ? 
 
 Have you as yet considered the privileges of the 
 subjects of this kingdom ? Let us, in conclusion, 
 notice the three following propositions, which thij 
 scriptures authorize us to make, and which are 
 worthy of our further notice. First, there is no 
 condemnation. Secondly, there is assurance for 
 ever. And thirdly, it is an incorruptible inheritance 
 which passeth not from heir to heir. 
 
 First, there is no condemnation ; for the subject 
 of this kingdom having believed with his heart unto 
 righteousness, and cast his whole soul on the sin- 
 atoning victim whose blood washes away the foulest 
 stains, he feels that he is made free, and brought into 
 the liberty of the children of God. Hence, he can 
 take up the language of the Apostle, and say, 
 " There is now no condemnation to them that are 
 in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after 
 the spirit. For the spirit of the law of life in Christ 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 129 
 
 Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and 
 death." *' For what the law could not do, in that it 
 was weak through the flesh, God sending his own 
 Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, con- 
 demned sin in the flesh ; that the righteousness of 
 the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after 
 the flesh, but after the spirit." And now, says he^ 
 he hath forgiven all my trespasses. I have no guilt 
 upon my mind, no condemning conscience, no dread 
 or fear from the wrath of God, or of future punish- 
 ment. Hence, he cannot but rejoice in God his 
 Savior, through whom he hopes to live for ever- 
 more. He cannot but rejoice when he sees his 
 iniquities blotted out as a cloud, and his transgres- 
 sions as a thick cloud, and knows by happy 
 experience that his name is written in heaven. 
 Oh ! what a happy state of liberty, thinks he, I am 
 now brought into ! I am blessed with the favor and 
 the peace of God. Some time ago I was groaning 
 under a guilty conscience, and my iniquities were a 
 burden too heavy for me to bear. My sins were 
 ever before me, and bound me down as with ten 
 thousand ties. If I looked up to heaven, I saw an 
 angry God, and the thought of meeting him in 
 judgment was more terrible than the grave. Oh ! 
 who can stand before him when he is once angry ? 
 Who can bear the weight of his avenging hand ? 
 But blessed be his name, his anger is turned away, 
 and now his comforts delight my soul. 
 
 Secondly, there is assurance for ever ; that is, as 
 long as He holds fast his confidence, and Satan 
 
 6* 
 
130 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 gains no advantage over him. And from the 
 abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Yes, 
 he will be speaking of his praise from day to day. 
 And the language of God's redeemed is, "I will 
 bless the Lord at all times ; his praise shall be 
 continually in my mouth! I love the Lord because 
 he hath heard the voice of my supplications. He 
 hath brought me out of the horrible pit, set my feet 
 upon a rock, and established my goings. He hath 
 also put a new song into my mouth, even of praise 
 and thanksgiving unto God. Bless the Lord, O my 
 soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name." 
 Having obtained an assurance of his favor, confi- 
 dence in the faithfulness of God, arms him with 
 boldness to lay hold of the hope set before him in 
 the Gospel. He reads that all the promises are yea 
 and amen in Christ Jesus, providing he embraces 
 them by faith, and ceases not to run the Christian 
 race with patience, by keeping his commandments. 
 Nothing shall harm me, thinks he, while I follow 
 that which is good ; and when anything troubles 
 me, I carry it to him who both hears and answers 
 my prayers. I trouble myself not with the cares 
 and vexations of life, and when my body turns to 
 the dust, the spirit will return to God who gave it. 
 Prospective views of a better inheritance open 
 before him, and enable him to say, " I know that 
 my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the 
 latter day upon the earth ; and though, after my skin 
 worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see 
 God." Yea, though my mortal part decay, and my 
 
TWO YEARS IN 0HIO» 131 
 
 body turn to corruption, yet I shall rise to joys that 
 are immortal and lasting as the days of heaven. 
 *^For we know that if our earthly house of this 
 tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of 
 God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the 
 heavens," Who shall separate us from the love of 
 Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, 
 or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ?" " Nay, 
 in all these things we are more than conquerors 
 through him that loved us. For I am persuaded 
 that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor princi- 
 palities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things 
 to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other crea- 
 ture, shall be able to separate us from the love of 
 God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 
 
 Thirdly, it is an inheritance incorruptible, for thus 
 saith the Apostle. " Blessed be the God and Father 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his 
 abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively 
 hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from, the 
 dead. To an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, 
 and that fadeth not away." And although the full 
 enjoyment is in anticipation, yet we may look upon 
 it as already in possession. For he that belie veth 
 hath eternal life, and if a m.an keep my saying, saith 
 Christ, he shall never see death ; that is to say, death 
 loseth his destroying power, and becomes the en- 
 trance into, or only opens the gate into eternal life. 
 Blessed be God ! who by his son Jesus hath destroyed 
 him that hath the power of death, which is the devil. 
 Here, then, is the liberty of the children of God. 
 
132 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 Here is an inheritance that is incorruptible — an es- 
 tate that passeth not from heir to heir. David com- 
 pares the righteous man to a tree planted by the 
 water side, which not only brings forth his fruit in 
 his season, but his leaf also, says he, shall not wither. 
 Hence he is, as it were, an emblem of real and per- 
 petual life. In this figurative language, there is 
 nothing denoting death ; no blasting or mildew, rot- 
 tenness or decay ; no mention of weakness, sickness, 
 or affliction, but of life ; like a tree that spreads its 
 branches to the river, shoots up in height towards 
 Heaven, and puts out its beautiful foliage like the 
 thick wood. Thus it is an inheritance incorruptible 
 and undefiled, as it holds no fellowship with sin, death, 
 and Satan ; and which fadeth not away, adds the 
 Apostle, nor can it be transmitted from heir to heir. 
 Oh ! reader, have you been talking of liberty and 
 boasting of your freedom, while you have been stran- 
 gers to it by being bound by Satan, the worst of 
 tyrants ? Shake off that iron yoke and put on His, 
 which is easy, and whose burden, which is light. 
 How often does this betrayer of mankind lead them 
 into bondage while they are contending for liberty ! 
 Is there not frequently more strife and contention, 
 and more hatred and malice conceived through 
 electing a representative — a senator or president, 
 than a little, and which frequently lasts for years ? 
 O ye advocates for liberty, cast ofT the works of 
 darkness, and put upon you the armor of light ; lay 
 hold of this liberty and proclaim it to the captives ; 
 confess that in times past you were in bondage in a 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 133 
 
 free country, while many in Europe and other parts 
 of the globe enjoyed a liberty which till now you were 
 a stranger to, and for ever hereafter stand a candidate 
 for the liberty which I am trying to recommend, and 
 which makes every one who finds and retains it, to 
 be free indeed. Get this peace and this assurance, 
 the favor and the love of God, and you will be safe. 
 You will have nothing to fear, though troubles assail 
 you. If dangers should surround you, and misfor- 
 tunes should be your lot ; if affliction should attack 
 you, and death should look you in the face ; if friends 
 should forsake you and enemies should unite against 
 you, you will not be injured while under the protect- 
 ing hand of God. For the Lord God is a sun and 
 shield, and a strong tower, into which the righteous 
 run and find safety. 
 
 To conclude : Are vou destitute of Christian 
 liberty ? It is offered without money and without 
 price. Are you desirous of obtaining it ? Hear ye 
 then the word of the Lord : " Ho ! every one that 
 thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no 
 money, come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine 
 and milk without money and without price. Where- 
 fore do ye spend money for that which is not 
 bread ? and your labor for that which satisfieth not ? 
 hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is 
 good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." 
 Thus hath the Lord invited us to come unto him, 
 and assures us, under the terms of wine and milk, 
 that he hath and will give whatever we want ; yea 
 to all men liberally and upbraid them not. Come, 
 therefore, reader, that your soul may live. 
 
134 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 AN ADDRESS ON THE 
 
 PREVALENCE OF THE CHOLERA.* 
 
 " Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." — St. John v. 14. 
 
 Monday^ September 1, 1834. 
 Christian Friends : — The Prophet asks, " Is there 
 an evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it ?" 
 and God himself speaks in his own person, (if I mis- 
 take not,) when he threatens to send blasting and 
 mildew, the plague, pestilence, and famine among us, 
 for our iniquities. And considering Him as Creator 
 and Governor of the Universe, who, while he reigns 
 above, also rules the inhabitants of the earth ; 
 whether he afflicts by his own hand or sends the 
 destroying angel among us, we must attribute the 
 giving of life to him and acknowledge that he also 
 lakes it away as he sees good. Of late we have seen 
 his judgments by sending the Cholera among us, not 
 known in America, until about two years ago — that 
 was in the year 1832. And what devastation this 
 pestilence makes among men ! It is true it has not 
 raged with such fury in all places as in some others, 
 yet perhaps it has entered no place without laying 
 some in the silent grave. A man in health in the 
 morning, is perhaps dead at noon ! A husband is 
 torn away from his wife at a stroke, or a wife is per- 
 
 * The following Address was previously printed with the " Address 
 to Lovers of Liberty," and therefore the writer begs leave to insert it 
 in the same manner as formerly. 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 135 
 
 haps wrested from the embraces of her family or her 
 husband's arms. One grave, it maybe, is opened to 
 receive two or three members of the same family, or 
 a number are buried in a pit together. This is the 
 case if report be true, when it appeared in England 
 that same year ; and according to this information, as 
 stated in a letter from the same country, it was said 
 that fifty thousand died at Paris about the same 
 time. And this destructive disease ran as it were 
 through the island, not only the populous towns and 
 cities, but it visited the villages in the interior of the 
 country ! Alas ! who is secure against the arrows of 
 death ? — Who can avoid the destruction that wast- 
 eth at noon day ? Death is not to be bribed, nor 
 does he always give any previous warning. The 
 man with large property is obliged to leave it — 
 the man with fine clothing is stripped of his raiment ; 
 and though one may have his barns filled with trea- 
 sure, and the other sway a sceptre, both are obliged 
 to obey this messenger's command ! Death regards 
 not a whole Empire. — Though a man is just mar- 
 ried and settled in life — though he may have an 
 affectionate wife and a lovely rising family — though 
 he may have a prospect of gaining much wealth and 
 rising to the most popular fame, yet he is obliged to 
 go as at an hour. One day he lives ; the next, per- 
 haps, he is in a world of spirits ! Hence, there is 
 not time always to set his house in order, or to bid 
 his friends farewell. If he is on a journey he some- 
 times is laid at an inn, and if at home his reason or 
 speech may be taken away. Thus, at mid-day or 
 
136 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 mid-night, in the morning, at evening, or noonday, 
 we are liable to feel the power of his destructive 
 hand. Sometimes the healthy dies and the man of 
 infirmity lives for years. — A wife is taken away at a 
 stroke ! A husband languishes a few hours, and ex- 
 pires ! A child gasps and dies ! — I shall never forget 
 her, said a friend to me. I had just begun to know 
 the value of her, and to love her. Another perhaps 
 thinks I have lost the only friend and staff of my 
 family who can help me in my present circumstances, 
 or teach me how to bear the sorrows of widowhood. 
 It appears a loss that heaven itself cannot repair. 
 The only friend I had on earth is for ever gone. O 
 Death ! how terrible art thou, to take away the dear- 
 est object of my ardent affection ! Another sits in- 
 consolable, and weeps for years. 
 
 And how does this conqueror attack his victims, or 
 where does the operation of his power begin ? Does 
 he begin at the head or the feet ? — the extremities 
 or the vital parts ? — does he attack the stomach or 
 stop circulation ? If so, how does he do this ? What 
 means or instruments does he use to effect his pur- 
 pose ? Who can tell ? or why the man in perfect 
 health one day becomes sick and expires the next ? 
 What is the nature of this disease, and from whence 
 does it proceed, which is so rapid in its progress — 
 which in some cases supersedes the most unremit- 
 ting attention and skill of the physician — which can- 
 not be retarded in its career, and which bids defiance 
 to human help and the power of medicine ? What 
 can we say to these things, but how unsearchable, 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 137 
 
 O Lord, are thy judgments, and thy ways past finding 
 out? 
 
 Scripture speaks of our Creator as a God of love — 
 that he is merciful and gracious — that he doth not 
 willingly afflict the children of men, nor desire the 
 death of a sinner ; and hence it appears that there is 
 always a cause for sending his judgments among us. 
 It also informs us that he is just and righteous in all 
 His ways. Should we not then fear his great name 
 and inquire into this great evil ? We should exa- 
 mine ourselves and be assured. 
 
 First, that these calamities are inflicted by him or 
 by the executors of his judgments. Secondly, that 
 He doth not send them willingly. Thirdly, when he 
 sends them He does it in wisdom and righteousness ; 
 and fourthly, that we should repent and turn from 
 our iniquities. Alas ! brethren, it is too true that we 
 have sinned against the Lord. 
 
 Some by profaneness, some by Sabbath breaking, 
 and others by drunkenness. 
 
 Are there not many profane characters in this free 
 and enlightened country ? The prophet said, because 
 of swearing, the land mourneth. St. James said, 
 my brethren, above all things, swear not ; and our 
 blessed Lord commands, " Swear not at all," and 
 yet how many are there who swear without end — 
 swear when they are angry and when they are 
 pleased — swear to threaten, to caress, to make 
 merriment, or as it were, for anything or nothing. 
 Is not this like provoking the Lord to his face ? 
 Alas ! what presumption ! what if he should say in a 
 
138 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 voice of terrible majesty, " As he loved cursing, so 
 let it come unto him, let it come like water into his 
 bowels, and like oil unto his bones." What a miser- 
 able wretch should you then be ! And will you 
 persist in your profaneness ? What if he should 
 command the executors of his wrath to take you 
 hence, by saying, " Take him from earth, and let him 
 live in hell !" And will you swear another oath ? 
 Could you make yourself strong in the day of his 
 vengeance, as to find ease amidst such exquisite 
 torments ? Would there be any comfort there ? 
 Would not the breaking of thy bones be intolerably 
 painful, or having one foot only in the burning fire ? 
 Do you say, " I do not believe in such a state of 
 punishment." Why then you do not believe in the 
 word of God, for that says : the smoke of their tor- 
 ment ascendeth up for ever and ever. Oh ! remember 
 that rejecting the only and sure guide to heaven is the 
 direct way to hell ! The fool hath said in his heart, 
 there is no God, and will you utter it with your lips ? 
 If you do not believe the scriptures, what do you 
 believe in ? You believe in life and death, but you 
 can go no further — you cannot comprehend the one, 
 nor tell what occasions the other. In like manner, 
 the Sabbath is profaned, and the people go any- 
 where, or do anything contrary to that command 
 which says, " Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep 
 it holy." Others drink till, being stupified, they can 
 think but little either of the destination of the wicked 
 or the joys of Heaven. 
 
 What is strange, and perhaps a greater piece of 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 139 
 
 folly still is, that when God sends his judgments 
 among us, men laugh and make sport with them. 
 How absurd and ridiculous is this ! how shocking ! 
 how presumptuous ! When the earth opened her 
 mouth and swallowed up Korah, Dathan, and Abi- 
 ram, the people fled, and said, lest the earth swallow 
 us up also. But men in this day make a jest and 
 sport with the judgments of God ; and not a few, it is 
 probable, have gone down quick into the pit for so 
 doing. It is presumptuous to sport with death at 
 any time, but more especially at such a time as this. 
 How many have fallen as it were by such folly ! 
 
 The following extract I take from what I wrote 
 when I was coming up the country about two years 
 ago. " Lately I went into a shop, and the man was 
 speaking of another who was cursing and swearing 
 because his master did not give him enough for his 
 labor ; and then profanely began to make a song 
 about the cholera, soon after which he was taken, 
 sat down, and died. Another was speaking of a 
 wom.an going to a doctor, who made sport or ridi- 
 culed her, and he was soon taken and became a 
 corpse." A letter which I received from England, 
 stated, " that a poor creature in a drinking party was 
 acting a person in the agonies of the cholera, rolling 
 and twisting himself about, and calling for brandy, 
 and the next night was a corpse. Another published a 
 playbill, the farce of which was to be the Cholera, 
 but before the time came it was to be acted, he was 
 called to the bar of God to give an account of his 
 deeds." I might also have mentioned one on the 
 
140 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 tow boat, who was taken, confessed how he had 
 mocked at it, but would do so no more. He re- 
 covered. If report be true, and if the writer mistakes 
 not, it was derided and made songs of, after it broke 
 out in London, and it is concealed or denied in 
 America. Is it good and right to conceal and deny 
 it for the sake of trade ? And is it not presumption 
 of a glaring kind to make songs of it? Oh ! that men 
 were wise, that they would consider and prepare for 
 their latter end, and endeavor to avert God's 
 righteous judgments by a general humiliation and 
 confession of their sins. 
 
 In conclusion, let us notice first, the portion of the 
 wicked ; and second, the heritage of the righteous. 
 " Upon the wicked," says David, " he shall rain 
 snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest," 
 &c. Evil doers shall be cut off — the wicked shalt 
 perish — when the wicked are cut off thou shalt see 
 it. St. Paul speaks as follows : " In flaming fire, 
 taking vengeance on them that know not God, and 
 that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." 
 Our Lord says, " These shall go away into everlast- 
 ing punishment." 
 
 Secondly, the heritage of the righteous. 1. He is 
 blessed both in his person and his labors. Blessed is 
 the man, says David, that walketh not in the counsel 
 of the ungodly, &c. He shall be like a tree planted 
 by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in 
 his season ; his leaf also shall not wither, and what- 
 soever he doeth shall prosper. 2. The Lord is their 
 shepherd to provide for them — to give them rest — to 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 141 
 
 satiate them when thh'sty — to restore them in afflic- 
 tion — to lead them forth in the paths of righteous- 
 ness — to provide for their necessities, and to comfort 
 them in the hour of death (Psalms xxiii.). 3. The 
 Lord is their protector and Saviour — by being a 
 secret place and refuge for them ; by being their 
 fortress and deliverer to save them. And what does 
 he save them from ? The same inspired writer says, 
 from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome 
 pestilence — from the terror by night, and the arrow 
 that flieth by day ; and though a thousand shall fall 
 by thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, it 
 shall not come nigh thee. There shall no evil befall 
 thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwell- 
 ing. And though it may please God to take the 
 righteous by the same disease, he assures us that it 
 shall be well with the righteous. Fly, therefore, 
 reader, to Him who is able to save, and can show 
 himself thy friend in such time of trouble. 
 
142 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 TO MISS H. 
 
 Waterloo, September 5, 1835. 
 
 My Dear Friend : — 
 
 It rather extorted a smile when I said you were 
 not uniform with others, and with people of the same 
 denomination in England ; especially when I began 
 with so small a matter as sitting down to ask a bless- 
 ing at table. This, however, being a point at hand, 
 it led to matters more remote, which I had in con- 
 templation. Doctrine and discipline, experience and 
 practice, should go together. I quite agree with Mr. 
 Wesley, where he says, " I always use a short private 
 prayer when I attend the public worship of God. 
 I stand when I sing the praises of God in public. I 
 always kneel before the Lord my maker when I pray. 
 I generally in public use the Lord's prayer, because 
 Christ has taught me when I pray, to say 'Our 
 Father.'" 
 
 Although I like the public means of grace, and the 
 accommodations of our church, which are worthy 
 of the highest esteem, and to be taken for example 
 by many others, yet I have regretted the difference 
 in some particulars between one and the other in 
 some parts of America. I should like to see Metho- 
 dism uniformly one and the same in discipline, all 
 the world over ; not only as a distinguishing feature 
 from all other denominations, but because it is equally 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 143 
 
 dear to people from England as it is to any others in 
 any part of the globe besides. People who have 
 embraced religion since their arrival know not the 
 difference, but some have joined other denominations, 
 and others have left to know them no more. This 
 has been occasioned in some probably for want of 
 sufficient stability to stand firm against the dissipat- 
 ing shock of such a removal — the peculiar circum- 
 stances in w^hich some have been placed in after- 
 wards, and in others through the adverse order of 
 things, and the intemperate zeal of different societies 
 they happened to fall into. The difference in some 
 particulars referred to, I state as follows. 
 
 In England, divine service in our chapels invari- 
 ably begins with singing and prayer — the manner 
 of which is, the minister audibly and deliberately 
 gives out the page and about two verses to allow 
 preparation for singing — he then gives out the hymn 
 as they sing by two or three lines according to the 
 metre. The first prayer is always concluded by the 
 Lord's prayer. Then the book and chapter are 
 given and the lessons read, which are followed by 
 singing a second time. Then the book, chapter, and 
 text, are given for the sermon ; after preaching fol- 
 lows singing a third time ; the concluding prayer and 
 the benediction repeated while people are kneeling. 
 But in many parts in the States, the minister begins 
 with reading the scriptures like some denominations 
 of dissenters ; the whole hymn perhaps is read over — 
 the two first lines of each verse only are given out, 
 and sometimes not any. The Lord's prayer is wholly 
 
144 TWO TEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 omitted. The text for the sermon is first read over — 
 the book, chapter, and verse, repeated afterwards. 
 After the last prayer, the minister and people rise 
 from their knees to pronounce and receive the bene- 
 diction. I once asked a person why they acted so 
 diverse from each other ; to which he replied that 
 every man felt himself at liberty to act in an inde- 
 pendent manner, whereas I supposed that independ- 
 ence belonged only to God — that methodism so 
 called, inculcated harmony in the church militant, 
 and that perfect order is the law of heaven. For 
 my part I should like to see a uniformity in these 
 particulars in the same people, all the world over, 
 and this might be maintained consistently with all 
 the liberty which Christians need wish for ; and like- 
 wise as what the founder of methodism put into an 
 organized form (and warned people from acting in- 
 dependent of each other), no men in England or 
 America, have hitherto known how to alter for the 
 better. 
 
 Some other particulars, though not essential to the 
 pure worship of God, were not pleasant to me. I 
 speak in reference to the manner in giving out the 
 hymns — a want of pathos — the peculiar emphasis 
 and dropping the voice at the end of every line — 
 using such a familiar way in the word Come, when 
 addressed to the Father, Son, or Holy Ghost, with 
 a period after it, passing over the end of a line to stop 
 at a comma, as to break the tone of the rhyme — 
 and the singing a number of verses in which the 
 congregation could not unite together. In public 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 145 
 
 people meet together for joint worship, not to confine 
 it to individuals — and hence I am inclined to think, 
 that giving out the hymns in a full congregation in 
 a solemn and impressive manner, cannot be improved 
 upon — that it does no violence to the singing, and 
 that it is what some pious souls like as much as any 
 |i other part of divine worship. It is just, however, to 
 ' observe that where meetings are well conducted in 
 America, they exceed in some particulars the same 
 
 means in England. And that the singing at 
 
 Church in New York, the administration of the 
 Lord's Supper, with the accommodation of the poor, 
 are more praiseworthy than at the chapel in City 
 'Road, London, and that the partiality spoken of by 
 St. James, in the latter place (while poor members 
 are passed by), is very reprehensiblco 
 
 Another practice which was not pleasant, was 
 having meetings so late in the evening. Early 
 candle-light was the time generally announced, which 
 in summer was perhaps after eight o'clock ; with 
 which and walking home, would make bed-time very 
 late, whereas in England, on Sunday, the set time in 
 cities was. six in the evening — an hour here I never 
 knew but in one place, not in a thousand miles. 
 Since this was written, I have known six o'clock 
 given out at two other places. 
 
 But the contrast between an old and such a new- 
 settled country is very great. There must necessa- 
 rily be a great difference in many things — a differ- 
 ence with regard to the common comforts of life^ 
 and the difliculty in procuring them — the necessity 
 
 7 
 
146 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 of mingling with all people in social and religious 
 privileges — the want of regularity and time as for- 
 merly, and the unavoidable necessity of departing in 
 some measure from the same order, through the heat 
 in public worship. 
 
 Remote from society in some places there can be 
 no evening service, no regular weekly prayer meet- I 
 ings — no truly serious friends to converse with — no 
 warm-hearted neighbors to comfort with religious 
 conversation, none who can animate you by speak- 
 ing of the deep things of God, and thereby provoke 
 you to love and good works. Wherefore I cannot 
 recommend such an uncultivated part of the world 
 to a person who for many years has enjoyed religious 
 privileges in New York or from any city in Europe, 
 without a call for such a removal. And although 
 such things as above mentioned, may not prevent 
 people from worshipping God in spirit and in truth, 
 yet as all have their attachments and feel equally 
 interested in the same cause, it would seem prudent 
 and more to the satisfaction of all to keep as uniform 
 as possible all the world over. 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 LETTER 11. 
 My Dear Friend. 
 
 To glory in the cross of Christ, in a practical 
 point of view, I presume, is to glory in doing and 
 suffering the will of God ; and, as Christ is our pat- 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 147 
 
 tern and lawgiver, it implies that we imitate Him in 
 his private and public character, and take his word 
 for our rule in lite. His great object was to redeem 
 the world — to teach people to worship God, in spirit 
 and in truth — to imitate Him in His actions abroad, 
 and in the administration of His ordinances at 
 church. In the beginning He had no temple, but 
 borrowed a room to celebrate the passover, where 
 He instituted the Lord's Supper, sang a hymn, and 
 retired to the Mount of Olives. 
 
 Admitting that a commodious place for Divine 
 Service is indispensable, yet taking Christ's plain- 
 ness for example, by a parity of reason all unneces- 
 sary expenses should be retrenched as much as possi- 
 ble. To depart from this rule is not to glory in the 
 cross of Christ, but in our own vanity ; and all finery 
 and useless embellishments is like setting up idols in 
 the house of God. Neatness and convenience should 
 be studied, but not extravagance. Such conduct 
 leads to oppression, instead of feeding the hungry and 
 clothing the naked ; which acts of mercy are among 
 the good deeds most acceptable in the sight of God, 
 as the perfection of Christianity. 
 
 But some say, that " a place cannot be too grand 
 for the house of God." Not if that had been follow- 
 ing our Lord's example, and had been his method of 
 gaining the hearts of the people. But as such a 
 course is contrary to his example, and against his 
 interest, it is only cherishing errors and gratifying 
 the vanity of people, instead of being to the glory of 
 His great and holy name. 
 
148 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 Others argue that a good choir and music will 
 draw people to hear, and thereby be the means of 
 their conversion ; but no arguments can be offered 
 to justify evil that good may come. Our Lord, the 
 founder of the Christian church, with his disciples, 
 sang a hymn, and used only vocal music. Nor can 
 it be proved that instrumental music should be used 
 in the Christian church. What David says upon 
 this subject is not valid, seeing the Jewish is no 
 example for the Christian church. Neither do I 
 know that David was worthy of commendation for 
 all he says upon music. Yet I know it is written, 
 " Woe unto them that are at ease in Zion ;" and that 
 denunciation is carried forward against them that lie 
 upon beds of ivory — that chant to the sound of the 
 viol — invent to themselves instruments of music like 
 David, but are not grieved for the affliction of 
 Joseph. Amos vi. 1-6. Whence it appears that 
 to grieve for the affliction of the poor and administer 
 comfort to them, is religion in the strictest sense of 
 the word, and highly acceptable in the sight of God ; 
 while decorating a place of worship, the sweetest 
 music and the highest degree of eloquence in preach- 
 ing is never spoken of under the same approbation. 
 
 Indeed rich people sometimes will make large pre- 
 sents to embellish a church — as a mahogany pulpit, 
 an organ, or a splendid chandelier — and, in a certain 
 way, it shows their good will ; but as it is an act of 
 fondness, like that of the Galatians, rather than of 
 pure love, or what is necessary — as it is not follow- 
 ing Christ's example, but, like a bribe, may have an 
 
 I 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 149 
 
 ill tendency instead of any good one ; — and as it is 
 infinitely more important to secure the favor of 
 Heaven than to gratify the fancy of any, however 
 rich, such things should be impartially determined 
 by people of mature experience on so important an 
 occasion. Holiness, not grandeur, becometh Christ's 
 church for ever. 
 
 Yours, &LC. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 Brother ***** : — 
 
 For many years I have believed the doctrine 
 of Christian perfection, but never professed to enjoy 
 that state of salvation, nor the witness of it. By 
 Christian perfection I mean the perfect love of God ; 
 and which, in Scripture language, is loving God with 
 all the heart, and my neighbor as myself I should 
 be glad to have any information that would lead to 
 the possession of it ; but, if possessed, whether it is 
 wise to urge it upon others, as if a person could 
 command it, or every real Christian enjoyed it in 
 the same manner — or whether it is wise to charge a 
 person with unfaithfulness for not enjoying it — 
 demands your serious consideration. Such conduct 
 does not appear to be the fruit of it. To sincere 
 seekers, it should be clearly defined ; its beauties 
 exhibited; its certainty in promise asserted ; and its 
 
150 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 advantages as a present reward, together with its 
 fruits and enjoyment as a pledge of their future 
 crown of rejoicing in the kingdom of heaven. It 
 does not appear that Mr. John Wesley ever pos- 
 sessed the witness of it like many others; nor did 
 he perplex any, instead of showing its beauty, and 
 inviting them in an easy way to the attainment 
 of it. 
 
 A person deeply convinced of sin, and groaning 
 for redemption, neither wants reproof nor charging 
 with unfaithfulness ; but he may want information 
 and encouragement ; w^herefore, to urge the sincere 
 seeker, regardless of wisdom, is not good. But 
 some zealous souls will say, " You may have it 
 now, or it is your own fault;" whereas our Lord 
 says, " If thou canst believe, all things are possible 
 to him that believeth." Another will say, " You do 
 not believe right, or seek it by faith ;" but our Lord 
 says, "Ask and ye shall have," &c. Others say 
 you seek, but you put it off, or mean at a future 
 time ; but a sincere seeker's prayer implies the 
 present, not a future period. A fourth will say, 
 " It is for want of faith ;" but if faith is lacking, is 
 not God able to give it, as well as the increase and 
 the fruits of it? Can we suppose that a sincere 
 seeker will ask in unbelief, or not with all the faith 
 he is capable of? If so — if he does what he can — 
 can an angel do more? What, then, is wanting? 
 I answer, perseverance ; in order to which, sympa- 
 thy and encouragement is of vast importance. 
 
 From such reflections, though I respect your sin- 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO, 151 
 
 cerity, yet I am not convinced that your zeal is 
 governed by the wisdom that cometh from above ; 
 and hence I have often reflected upon the modern 
 method of urging people to the altar- pi ace, without 
 first convincing them of the necessity, and begetting 
 in them a real desire to flee from the wrath to come. 
 Mr. Wesley, in his Journal (Sunday, August 10, 
 1840), says, " I earnestly warned all who had tasted 
 the grace of God, ' Not to think they w^ere justified 
 before they had a clear assurance that God had for- 
 given their sins, bringing with it a calm peace, the 
 lov^e of God, and dominion over all sin.' " And in 
 his Sermon on Enthusiasm he uses the following 
 words : " Never dream of forcing men into the ways 
 of God. Think yourselves, and let think. Use no 
 constraint in matters of religion. Even those who 
 are furthest out of the way never compel to come 
 in by any other means than reason, truth, and love," 
 Supposing by force of persuasion you prevail on a 
 person to go forward, what does it amount to ? Does 
 it accord with our Lord's words, where he warns 
 them to count the cost ; cautions them in saying the 
 foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, 
 and that except a man forsake all, he cannot be his 
 disciple ? And do not these words inculcate cau- 
 tion, and imply the necessity of their being con- 
 vinced of their lost estate, ere they will apply for the 
 balm in Gilead, or accept of the Great Physician 
 there? And does not the Spirit of God strive with 
 sinful men, till being beaten out of every refuge of 
 
152 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 lies, they are led to flee for refuge to the hope set 
 before them. 
 
 I would not forget that it is written, "Compel 
 them to come in ;" but as it is equally true that there 
 is a wrong way as well as a right one — a climbing 
 over, instead of entering by the door into the sheep- 
 fold — and that our Lord cautioned his hearers, that 
 they might not mistake the wrong from the right 
 way, 1 take it for granted that we should act with 
 
 wisdom, and follow his example. 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 Newark, Sept. 11, 1835. 
 My Dear Friend : — • 
 
 Leaving things of minor importance, let us 
 endeavor to lay aside every weight and the sin that 
 so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the 
 race set before us. May we press towards the mark 
 for the prize of our high calling of God in Christ 
 Jesus. I thought of speaking of a few more things 
 which I have witnessed, but let it suffice for the 
 present, if I call your attention to what may be both 
 your and my highest interest to study and seriously 
 contemplate. 
 
 You are aware that religion is of the utmost 
 importance ; that our profession makes us responsi- 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 153 
 
 ble as creatures who believe and embrace the system; 
 that the goodness of God as our Creator lays us under 
 an obligation to love and obey him ; his promises 
 excite gratitude and engage us to lay hold of them ; 
 that if we enlist under Christ's banner, his commands 
 bind us to faithfulness ; his invitations invite and 
 allure us ; his faithfulness towards them who have 
 trusted in him, assures us that we shall not be con- 
 founded ; the attainments of some provoke us to 
 tread in their footsteps ; the honor God hath con- 
 ferred upon a few individuals ought to stimulate us 
 to follow their example ; and our own welfare, when 
 considered in reference to our eternal state, should 
 finally lead us to brace or gird up the loins of our 
 minds, to lay fast hold, persevere, and endure unto 
 the end. 
 
 But the attainments some have made, when con- 
 trasted with others, provoke us to aim at the same 
 consummate state of grace. When we read of 
 Enoch, who walked with God ; Job, who had no 
 competitor ; Daniel, a man greatly beloved ; and his 
 three friends, who possessed such confidence in God 
 and such sedateness of spirit, that they could brave 
 the furnace without change of countenance ; we are 
 led to admire their courage, and say. Blessed be the 
 God of Enoch, of Job, and of Daniel ; and blessed be 
 the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego : let 
 their God be my God, my guide unto death, and my 
 portion for ever. 
 
 You will perhaps say, " Is it possible to obtain the 
 same state of grace that these faithful servants of 
 
 7* 
 
154 TWO YEARS IK OHIO. 
 
 God arrived at ?" Why not ? We have the same 
 promises, and God is the same yesterday, to-day, and 
 for ever. Enoch's walking with God was matured 
 by a gradual process. Abraham proceeded from 
 step to step, before he obtained the promise God 
 gave unto him after he had offered up Isaac. There 
 was a time when God called Abraham from among 
 his kindred and his father's house : after this he 
 appeared and commanded him to walk before him 
 and be perfect ; and yet, after this, he commanded 
 him to offer up his son Isaac, his only son, whom he 
 loved. This was called tempting Abraham ; that is, 
 trying him, to prove whether he would serve God, 
 come poverty or affliction, prosperity or adversity, 
 life or death. On his obedience depended the favor, 
 the honor God was about to confer upon him ; and 
 it was not till after this that God declared, " By 
 myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because 
 thou hast done this thing and hast not withheld thy 
 son, thine only son, that in blessing I will bless thee, 
 and in multiplying I v/ill multiply thy seed as the 
 stars of the heaven and as the sand which is upon 
 the sea shore," &c. It was then that God confirmed 
 his covenant with him, declared that in his seed the 
 nations of the earth should be blessed, and when he 
 was more emphatically called the friend of God. 
 You will perhaps again ask, *' Do many professors of 
 religion, in this day, obtain the same grace ?" N'ot 
 many : their hearts are too carnal ; they are too 
 much engaged with worldly things ; they do not use 
 the same means, nor seek it with the same faithful- 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 165 
 
 ness and perseverance. Their hearts are hardened ; 
 their ears are closed, that in this sense they cannot 
 hear his voice. Hence, they do not give all dili- 
 gence in using the means instituted for their resto- 
 ration. But, "will God condescend to bless me 
 and give me the same acquaintance with himself?" 
 Does he still deign to visit and dwell with sinful man 
 upon the earth ? Will the unsearchable be found, or 
 God appear to me? 
 
 " Will He forsake his throne above, 
 Himself to worms impart V 
 
 We have his promise. Hear the word of the 
 Lord : " If any man serve me, him will my Father 
 honor. If a man love me, he will keep my words : 
 and my Father will love- him, and we will come unto 
 him and make our abode with him. Behold, I stand 
 at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice 
 and open the door, I will come in to him and sup 
 with him and he with me." St. John saith, " Truly, 
 our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son 
 Jesus Christ." And why should not we obtain the 
 same grace, if we use the same means for that 
 purpose ? Undoubtedly the promise is to us and to 
 every faithful believer to the end of time. 
 
 Permit me to lay before you an extract from what 
 I wrote a few months ago upon Gen. v. 24. "And 
 Enoch walked with God," &c. But what does this 
 imply ? or what is implied in walking with God ? 
 
 First, it implies reconciliation. By the fall the 
 union between God and man has been broken 
 
166 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 asunder ; man has become sinful and corrupted ; 
 the carnal mind which he possesses is averse to and 
 at enmity with God. And where there is enmity 
 there can be no union ; for enmity implies opposi- 
 tion, leads to hostility, rebellion, violent contention, 
 and open war. Hence, there must be reconciliation, 
 inasmuch as contending parties cannot associate 
 together. Can two walk together, asks the prophet, 
 unless they be agreed ? No. What communion 
 hath light with darkness ? And what concord hath 
 Christ with Belial ? None at all, nor has man, in 
 his fallen state, any fellowship with God ; but he sets 
 himself in battle array to oppose him. Wherefore, 
 man must be brought back ; and blessed be God, He 
 on his part has given us his Son and w^ord of recon- 
 ciliation. He has done his part ; He is ready ; He 
 is willing. Shout, O heavens, and be glad, O earth. 
 Let all the inhabitants of the skies lift up their voices, 
 and let even the trees of the wood rejoice and sing. 
 But man must be humbled ; he must lay down his 
 weapons of war, and fight against his God no more. 
 He must also ask and obtain the favor of God. 
 
 Secondly, it implies experimental knowledge. 
 God is known only by experience, or as he com- 
 municates himself by the Spirit. If two walk 
 together, and have no knowledge of each other, 
 it is a mere accidental intercourse — a meeting of 
 strangers. It is like walking with a man in the 
 dark. But God is light, and in Him there is no 
 darkness at all. No two persons will associate 
 together a dozen times, without some knowledge 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 157 
 
 of each other ; much less can they walk together 
 for three hundred years without it. But this 
 knowledge is experimental. It is not a speculative, 
 superficial, or historical knowledge, but a real, an 
 affectionate, and loving one, known only by an 
 experimental touch of Him. He that hath seen me, 
 saith Christ, hath seen the Father. Hence it 
 appears, that to have intercourse with Christ in the 
 flesh is not this knowledge ; and yet, by the Spirit, 
 believers may know both the Father and the Son. 
 
 Thirdly, it implies friendship. Christ calls us 
 friends, and in friendship there is love ; and some- 
 times such love that a man will lay down his life 
 for his friend. Though enemies will not remain in 
 the same room with each other, yet friends, real 
 friends, will not long be divided. Though moun- 
 tains rise, and oceans roll between, they cannot, in 
 one sense, divide them. They will still inquire, 
 pray for, and write to each other. There is a 
 brother born for adversity, and a friend that 
 sticketh closer than a brother. Such a friend was 
 Christ, and he has promised not to leave nor forsake 
 us. He calls us his bride, and he hateth putting 
 away by divorcement. He died that we might 
 live. He gave up the ghost to unite us more fully 
 unto himself, and to prevent this separation. What, 
 then, will such a friend not do for us ? He will do 
 all for our good. He will lend us his hand. He 
 will deal out his property. To deliver us from 
 distress, he will make our troubles his own. He 
 will promote our interests in health, soothe our 
 
168 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 sorrows in affliction, and make his necessities give 
 place to our extremities. The most he can do is to 
 lay down his life for us. This did the friend who 
 sticketh closer than a brother. 
 
 Fourthly, it implies an equality of social inter- 
 course. Such friends will withhold nothing, but 
 unbosom their whole minds to each other. Their 
 wants, their possessions, their hopes, their fears, 
 their family connexions, their spiritual improve^ 
 ments, their enjoyments, will all be topics of con- 
 versation. There will be no reserve, but they will 
 converse in the morning, at evening, and at noon, 
 day. Halleluia ! 
 
 Fifthly, it implies progression : he walked. The 
 experience of the young convert is immature, in 
 comparison of the father in Christ Jesus. The path 
 of the just shines brighter and brighter to the per- 
 fect day. Enoch was established in this grace by 
 perseverance. When a traveller sets out on a long 
 journey, it is new to him, and for a while he 
 remains comparatively in the same neighborhood ; 
 but by and bye he loses sight of home, adds distance 
 to his few steps at commencement, loses all desire 
 to return, looks forward to a better country, and 
 becomes anxious to reach the place of his destina- 
 tion. The young convert talks about his first love, 
 peace, joy, &c. ; but the old soldier tells you what 
 conflicts he has passed through, the distresses he 
 has had to endure, the tribulations he has come out 
 of, the enemies he has had to contend with ; how 
 he has won the battle, gotten the victory, kept the 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 159 
 
 faith ; and what comfort he now finds in the 
 assurance that neither death, nor Hfe, nor angels, 
 nor principahties, nor powers, nor things present, 
 nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any- 
 other creature, shall be able to separate him from 
 the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus his Lord. 
 Hence, being crucified to the world and the world 
 to him, he loses all relish for earthly enjoyments, 
 and longs for heaven. 
 
 I do not suppose that any lukewarm professors 
 can be said to enjoy the same state of grace spoken 
 of in reference to this holy man, nor that this phrase 
 can be appropriately applied to babes, whatever 
 their enjoyments, or however clear their evidence 
 may be ; for I take it for granted, that it indicates 
 an established state of grace, deadness to the world, 
 and a more uniform life than many people manifest. 
 Nor do I look upon it that a great show of zeal, 
 noise, shouting, clapping the hands, stamping with 
 the feet, rattling the seats, &c., are the fruits of it, 
 but rather a proof to the contrary. However it be, 
 may God bless the writer and the reader with the 
 wisdom that is from above, which is first pure, then 
 peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of 
 mercy and good fruits, without partiality and with- 
 out hypocrisy. 
 
 Yours respectfully, &c. 
 
 J. E. 
 
160 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 TO MR. ****** 
 
 Newark, September 15, 1835. 
 Dear Friend : — 
 
 1 congratulate you on espousing the temperance 
 cause ; I believe that it has done nnuch good, and 
 ascribe the honor attached to this institution, exclu- 
 sively to the people of this country. The man who 
 is not temperate cannot enjoy religion, and it is in 
 part owing to this, that many professors do not grow 
 in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sa- 
 viour Jesus Christ. Intemperance sensualizes every 
 power and faculty of body and soul ; and while this 
 is the case, it gives Satan leave to keep his seat in 
 our hearts. I not only consider it right to be tem- 
 perate in all things, but that fasting also is an indis- 
 pensable duty. It is probable that sanctification was 
 never obtained and retained without it ; and if not^ 
 we may say that this kind of devils goeth not out, or 
 this blessing is not obtained, but by prayer and fast- 
 ing. Hence, I approve of temperance as much as 
 you do, and perhaps more so ; for I consider that a 
 man, in a sense speaking, should be perfectly tem- 
 perate in order to be what he should be ; and if a 
 man, according to St. James, must not offend with 
 his tongue, to be a perfect man, and intemperance 
 sensualizes and gives strength to every passion which 
 causes him to transgress, he must be so temperate as 
 to suppress his fiery passions and fleshly appetites, 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 161 
 
 which cause him to speak rashly with his Hps ; and 
 also, because intemperance itself, as well as evil 
 speaking, is a sin. 
 
 But beware how you think lightly or speak evil of 
 others without a cause. It is necessary that some 
 should live upon milk, eat herbs, and drink water ; 
 while it perhaps is good that others should take meat, 
 drink a little strong beer, or take a little wine, for 
 their stomach's sake. It might be proper that Daniel, 
 who inured himself to pulse, to obtain greater purity 
 of soul, should sometimes regale himself with a little 
 rich food, to prevent being too much impoverished, 
 and to put his stomach into a right tone ; and also 
 the duty of Timothy to give a little latitude to his 
 appetite, rather than injure himself by perpetual ab- 
 stemiousness. A person of experience, and espe- 
 cially one of very regular living, should, in a sense 
 speaking, be his own physician ; at least, he can 
 judge for himself in many things, better than any 
 other man. And should we not be careful to exer- 
 cise charity towards each other ? The man who 
 exhausts his strength by hard labor ; a second on 
 travel ; a third struggling with a complication of 
 diseases or borne down by infirmities ; a fourth in 
 declining years ; or a fifth who has come from a far 
 country and is now in a climate so different from 
 whence he came ; cannot abide exactly by the same 
 rules as the young, the healthy, nor as natives of this 
 country, or an individual, it may be, who lives a se- 
 dentary life. Hence, when we see a man of as sober 
 habits as ourselves, let us remember St. Paul's words 
 
162 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 in reference to things indifferent ; that while we eat 
 as we think best, not to despise him who does ac- 
 cording to his own will, and not according to ours. 
 
 Although I ascribe much good to the Americans 
 in putting away ardent spirits and strong drink, yet 
 their manner of living, in many cases, is perhaps 
 neither very temperate nor productive of the best 
 state of health. Among wealthy farmers and people 
 of opulence, it is many times too rich. They have 
 too many sorts of food at one time ; too great a va- 
 riety. And among this variety, there appear things 
 so contrary in their digestive quality (if I may so 
 speak) that while one does good another does harm. 
 No man, for instance, can eat sugar and salt together, 
 nor mix a nauseous medicine with nourishing food, 
 and remain in health. Such things, when taken to- 
 gether, would soon make a man sick ; and to eat so 
 many kinds of rich sauce, meat and tea, all at one 
 meal, is contrary to temperance, prevents nourish- 
 ment from the best of food, and is destructive of 
 health. Why should people be so luxurious, in addi- 
 tion to all these things, as to have three kinds of 
 bread at one time ? Christianity is the same yester- 
 day, to-day, and for ever, and no man can indulge 
 his appetite beyond measure, and enjoy the same 
 purity of mind he otherwise might do, than he can 
 put on a laced hat and an embroidered coat, and 
 remain in the plain apparel that should distinguish a 
 saint from other men. Some people suppose that 
 tea is injurious ; but I never was so comfortable, for 
 years, after any other meal. Others say that fresh 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 163 
 
 meat is unhealthy ; but I beheve that custom and 
 other things rather make it appear so, than be so in 
 reality ; and that if they were to eat it in general 
 once a day, with a wholesome vegetable, abstaining 
 from too great a variety, there are many who might 
 gain strength and a better appearance ; and that it 
 is so much salt meat, fish, &c., which wastes people 
 and gives them an unhealthy look. 
 
 Farewell. Be sober, be vigilant ; because the 
 world, the flesh and the devil unite themselves 
 against you, and so powerfully that it is necessary 
 for you to pray always and not faint. In the mean- 
 time be wise ; try to discriminate between the leaven 
 of the Pharisees and the precepts of the Gospel. 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 TO A FRIEND. 
 
 Sir : — Your saying, " We are rather sceptical in 
 such things," &c., proves nothing, I presume, against 
 the truth of them ; but it may be an indication, more 
 or less, of your lacking, in a measure, the faith of the 
 gospel — the faith once delivered to, and possessed by 
 the saints. And although such things are not posi- 
 tively revealed in the Scripture like some other 
 truths, and consequently not essentially necessary 
 for us to receive and embrace in order to salvation, 
 yet the traditional accounts we have handed down 
 
164 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. „ 
 
 i 
 
 to US, and partly through this medium, are sufficient t 
 to caution us against rejecting them. The accounts > 
 which I refer to are the following, viz. the testimony 
 of one of Job's friends, who declared "a spirit passed 
 before my face," &c., chap. iv. 15, And the imagi- 
 nation of the disciples, which immediately led them 
 to suppose that they had seen a spirit. — Luke xxiv. 
 36. " Seen a spirit !" — Was it possible, if no such 
 thing had ever happened ? Or was it likely that they 
 would have suggested any such thing ? By no 
 means. — And yet some people try to deny that there 
 is any such thing. Such facts, therefore, to mention 
 no more, sufficiently prove that such things have 
 happened, and that traditional accounts had been 
 handed down from time to time from all generations as 
 they now are. Some people say, to tell such things 
 before children will make them timid ; and we may 
 add, that to let such things be denied and trodden 
 under foot, will cause infidels to rejoice and sin with 
 greater boldness. Besides, whatever courage may 
 be gained by a principle of infidelity, wants taking 
 away; but if people make an improper use of facts 
 like these, the fault is theirs. Having premised thus 
 much, I beg leave to ask, how any person, with any 
 consistency, can absolutely deny the following four- 
 fold testimony, which, if my memory does not deceive 
 me, I heard a minister declare in a chapel in 
 England ; I knew him well, but I give the account 
 from a printed periodical in America, as follows. 
 
 " A sister being married to a gentleman in the army, 
 we received intelligence that the regiment to which 
 
TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 165 
 
 he belonged, had orders for one of the Spanish Isles 
 in the Mediterranean. One night about ten o'clock, 
 sixteen years since, in the town of Doncaster, in 
 Yorkshire, as his wife, his child, an elder sister, and 
 myself, were sitting in a back room — the shutters 
 were closed, barred, and bolted, and the yard door 
 locked — suddenly a light shone through the window, 
 and illumined the room in which we were sitting : 
 we looked, started, and beheld the spirit of a mur- 
 dered brother, — his eye was fixed on his wife and 
 child alternately, — he waved his hand, smiled, con- 
 tinued about half a minute, and vanished from our 
 sight. The moment before the spirit disappeared, 
 my sister cried, ''He's dead, he's dead,'' and fainted 
 away. Her little boy ran towards the apparition, 
 and wept because it would not stay. A short time 
 after this, w^e received a letter from the colonel of 
 the regiment, sealed with a black seal — the dark 
 emblem of death — bearing the doleful, but expected 
 news, that on such a night, answering to the same 
 on which we saw his spirit, my brother-in-law was 
 found weltering in his blood, having been murdered 
 by the Spaniards, when returning from the mess- 
 room : the spark of life was not quite extinct when 
 he was found ; and the last wish which he was heard 
 to breathe, was that he might see his wife and child 
 once again ; which was granted him in a certain sense, 
 for the very hour he died in the island of Minorca, 
 in that same hour his spirit appeared to his wife, his 
 child, an elder sister, and myself Before this event, 
 though a boy of nine years only, I was a complete 
 
166 TWO YEARS IN OHIO. 
 
 atheist, having been taught by my father to disbelieve 
 everything except what I saw : but by this circum- 
 stance, I was convinced of the reality of another 
 world's existence ; and by the solemn impression 
 that it made upon my mind, I was led to pray for 
 mercy ; which mercy I found at the foot of the cross, 
 and now feel the Holy Spirit preparing my soul to 
 enter those eternal and invisible regions — the world 
 of spirits. My sister, from the night that she saw 
 the spirit of her departed husband, and before she 
 received any intelligence of his death, went into 
 mourning for him, — nor could my father prevent it, 
 by any argument. He endeavored to persuade us 
 we were all deluded and deceived, yet he acknow- 
 ledged that the testimony which the child gave, 
 staggered him ; but when the letter arrived from 
 the colonel of the regiment, with the awful tidings 
 of his death, he was struck dumb, so to speak ; and 
 had nothing more to say. My two sisters are yet 
 living, and can testify to the truth of this account ; 
 besides which, at least one hundred persons can 
 prove our mentioning the hour the spirit appeared, 
 several weeks before we received the melancholy 
 letter ; and that the letter mentioned the night and 
 the hour as the same in which we beheld his spirit." 
 I have heard and read many accounts of this kind, 
 but never found one established upon the testimony 
 of so many individuals before, and which I think 
 sufficient to convince us that all such things are not 
 imaginary, but sometimes infallibly true. 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
PART III. 
 
 THE 
 
 EUROPEAN STRANGER IN AMERICA. 
 
 The dispensations of Providence towards individuals diversified. — 
 The publisher's obUgation to travel, and departure from Ohio. — 
 
 Arrival, and prints a work at Buffalo. — Resides at through the 
 
 winter. — To do good amidst the different professions, sects, forms 
 of worship, &c., requires more than mortal power. — But the citizen's 
 and stranger's call are different. 
 
 Le Roy, March 7, 1837. 
 The dispensations of Providence towards indi- 
 viduals of the human family are, in some respects, 
 as various as men are numerous. Hence we see 
 some men located to one spot, while others are called 
 to sail from port to port, or from nation to nation. 
 The European leaves his native country to sojourn 
 in a strange land — the New England citizen sells off 
 and emigrates to a western teritory — the mechanic 
 is employed in the curious arts of brass and other 
 metals — the machinist is endowed with a talent of 
 invention for transportation ; and while the husband- 
 man is cultivating his farm, and some men have their 
 hands full of earthly blessings, others are obliged to 
 travel by land or by water to procure, day by day, 
 the necessaries of life. 
 
168 FROM OHIO 
 
 Being under what I call a providential necessity 
 to do something, in April, 1835, I left the western 
 part of the country to travel to the east. In a short 
 time I arrived at Cleveland ; and finding some diffi- 
 culty in getting my trunk sent after me, I was tempted 
 to hazard my life on the lake at that early period ; a 
 period not only when the lake was rough and the 
 weather stormy, but before the large boats had begun 
 to run — but after an unpleasant journey, by the 
 blessing of God, I arrived in safety at Erie. This 
 was a hundred miles, and half way to Buffalo ; and 
 there being no passage any further for the ice, I set 
 forward by land. I was glad to set my feet on shore 
 in safety ; and blessed be God that the boisterous 
 winds did not send me further adrift on the mighty 
 waters, nor the devouring waves bury me in their 
 unfathomable depths, as in the bottom of the sea. 
 
 After arriving at Buffalo, I hastened to get the 
 work printed I had been improving during the win- 
 ter. And after getting that completed, I canvassed 
 the country in my way till, in summer, I arrived at 
 Newark. At this place I wrote to Ohio for my 
 things ; and remained there and about the neighbor- 
 hood during the next winter. I was at this place 
 when the deep snow fell, about January 8, 1836, and 
 where my things remained, till, about November, 
 1837, 1 removed to Syracuse. How life, as well as the 
 season, is divided into different stages ! and what a 
 variety of scenes and troubles, unknown in the 
 morning of our days, we are called to pass through ! 
 Some have almost an unclouded day of prosperity, 
 
TO NEW YORK. 169 
 
 but others almost an uninterrupted train of adversi- 
 ties and afflictions ! Some are confined to one spot 
 or village, while others are called to traverse a great 
 part of the globe without any stationary place of 
 abode. Some have riches, but cannot enjoy them ; 
 and others have poverty, misfortunes, and afflictions, 
 which prevent them eating with pleasure. 
 
 Hence I remained at Newark the first winter after 
 leaving Ohio ; and it was probably on May 17, 1836, 
 when I left that village to take my summer's journey, 
 on which excursion 1 was gone about seventeen 
 or eighteen weeks. And, truly, had I strength, had 
 I also a heart disposed and a mind capable of it, I 
 have had many opportunities of speaking a word, 
 and leaving some mark of devotion in many a soli- 
 tary place. But, alas ! I have not sufficient grace 
 to make " Jesus all the day long my joy and my 
 song ;" I have not strength and patience to endure 
 the toils and labors of my employment. My strength 
 is exhausted in trying to procure the common com- 
 forts of life — in creeping along through the day, and 
 finding^ a recess when the shadows encircle me. 
 Merciful God, assist me ! Hast thou not promised 
 everything that is necessary for my wants ? Didst 
 thou not mercifully deliver thy people from oppres- 
 sion in the land of Egypt ? And dost thou not set 
 apart the man that is godly for thyself? Hast thou 
 not promised that the meek shall inherit the earth, 
 and that their bread and water shall be given them 
 equally as well as if they were ever so solicitous or 
 anxiously careful ? Oh ! be mindful of thy promise, 
 
 8 
 
 i 
 
l70. FROM OHIO 
 
 and save me from oppression, anxiety, and want ! 
 Blessed be thy holy name for past mercies, and for 
 thy word of promise for future blessings, and let all 
 the nations say — Amen. 
 
 But to do good in this age of profession, wants not 
 only strength and patience, but more than the wisdom 
 of Solomon, to discover where religion is enjoyed 
 and where it is not ; and when this discovery is 
 .made, it wants more than the power of mortal man 
 to arouse sinners and formalists out of their slumbers 
 and stupidity ! What is the state of your mind, 
 reader ? Stand still for a moment and consider — 
 inquire and examine thyself whether thou art not 
 dead in trespasses and sins. Look to thyself, profes- 
 sor, and ask, whether thou hast not a name to live 
 while thou art dead ? Do you enjoy a knowledge of 
 salvation by the remission of your sins ? Have you 
 the full assurance of faith so that Christ is formed 
 within you ? The number of professors and mem- 
 bers of different churches who sit in time of prayer 
 in public worship, and others who neglect to bow 
 their knees at rising up and going to bed, or with 
 their head at family devotion — and the different 
 modes of worship by so many denominations and 
 people, who say this is a free country, and every man 
 may do what he has a mind to, makes it difficult to 
 tell where piety is to be found and where it is not. 
 But can any people be pious or devoutly engaged in 
 religious service, who refuse to kneel before the 
 Lord their Maker ? Here, perhaps, is a man who 
 attends to family devotion, and his wife and some of 
 
TO NEW YORK. iTl 
 
 his household make the same pretensions to experi- 
 mental religion, and yet they sit at ease as if they 
 were unconcerned in the matter. And considerinir 
 the number who pretend to keep Saturday night as 
 part of the Sabbath, and begin to knit or sew as soon 
 as the sun is down on Sunday — the sect who pretend 
 to keep the seventh day (Saturday) as the proper 
 day for the Sabbath — the Society of Friends, who 
 can dispense with preaching, baptism, and the sacra- 
 ment — some perfectionists, who say that they have 
 found Christian liberty, can pray always, and are not 
 under obligation to any public or private acts of 
 devotion whatever — the new measure men, who 
 declare that a change of purpose is conversion and 
 regeneration — the Shakers, who make dancing a 
 part of their public devotion — and the Cniversalists, 
 to mention no more, who say that there is no place 
 of future punishment, which gives unprincipled men 
 boldness to work in the fields on the Sabbath, and 
 yet pretend that they are of a religious order as well 
 as other people — such a promiscuous mixture of good 
 and evil, I would say, is rather confusing to many 
 serious characters, and equally difficult to others to 
 know how to distinguish between the precious and 
 the vile. Opposition and diversity, in some instan- 
 ces, arise from ihe present disordered state of things, 
 and in themselves are evil ; in some others they are 
 from God, and, under his wise control, are attended 
 with good. In some instances, opposition arises from 
 the wicked purposes of designing men ; in some 
 others, it is occasioned from that diversity in the 
 
1*72 FROM OHIO 
 
 dispensations of Providence, which renders it impos- 
 sible for every man to see alike. When opposed to 
 good, abstractedly considered, in every instance it is 
 sinful ; but when it arises from the different tem- 
 perature of the minds of men, and not from the 
 perverseness of their wills, it is frequently good in 
 carrying on the designs of the grace and mercy of 
 God. Thus it was that the zeal of Peter might be 
 an excitement to some of the rest, and the calmness 
 of John might correct the hasty zeal of the former. 
 Luther's zeal was wanted in the reformation, and so 
 was Melancthon's calamess to heal the wounds of an 
 intemperate zeal. Whitefield probably set Wesley 
 an example, and led him into the field ; but the 
 caution, forbearance, and steadiness of the latter, were 
 a lasting lecture to the former. It is by a wise and 
 gracious opposition that erroneous doctrines are 
 detected, and unbecoming practices are restrained. 
 
 Hence, the doctrine of unconditional election to 
 eternal life, and finished damnation from the pulpit, 
 is not heard of — the wild screaming zeal of the 
 young enthusiast, and the roaring noise of the 
 ranter, are restrained by the warm, yet consistent 
 zeal of the Father in Christ Jesus — and the drowsy, 
 lukewarm formalist is excited to love and good 
 works bv the successful exertions ^of others. In 
 England, when people went into the sanctuary of 
 the Lord, it was customary for them to kneel down, 
 and use a short but silent prayer ; but many people 
 of the same denomination in this country make no 
 practice of such a duty, and many seats are so con- 
 
TO NEW YORK. l73 
 
 structed, that others are prohibited for want of 
 room. Gracious God, teach me what is essential to 
 know how to act in different places, and how to live 
 among all kinds of people ; how to behave myself in 
 thy sanctuary, and how to live as I should do when 
 abroad in the world. Give me that self-government 
 which shall keep me from going beyond my strength 
 in one thing as to neglect others. And so assist me 
 by thy Holy Spirit, that while I converse with my 
 fellow-creatures, my conduct may teach them thy 
 precepts ; and my words, seasoned with grace, drop 
 as precious seed into their hearts, which shall bring 
 forth fruit to perfection. 
 
 To labor to a good purpose requires both wisdom 
 and strength, and to do a perfect work requires a 
 perfect hand ; but I have not strength like other 
 men, and such are my infirmities that no man 
 knows my errors. My health is not good ; and I am 
 often led to reflect on my peculiar situation. I sup- 
 pose it is years ago since a fever so affected my 
 stomach, and at length so debilitated my whole 
 system, that I have not had a day's health from that 
 time. It is true I have greatly out-grown it, and I 
 ani tolerably well in my way. The fever that set- 
 tled upon me continued to burn both day and night 
 for months and years, till in a measure it burnt out. 
 But it has enfeebled my frame, and deprived me of 
 strength like other men. Hence, I am like an inva- 
 lid, destitute of a home and separate from all com- 
 pany. I travel into the woods and country, and 
 have my lodging among strangers. It is true that 
 
174 FROM OHIO 
 
 many people in this country are much more kind 
 and friendly to foreigners than they are in England; 
 but to have no stationary place is my affliction — no 
 regular place to lay my head at night, or rest at 
 noon, is not pleasant. Oh, my Savior, give me thy 
 yoke, which is easy, and thy burden, which is light! 
 Pardon my remissness in time past, and enable me 
 now to live. Help me to gird up the loins of my 
 mind, and hope unto the end — to arise out of the 
 dust, and go forward without a murmur and without 
 complaint. Empower me to teach some to walk 
 in a perfect way, and to say to others, " Be ye 
 followers of me as I follow Christ." Is the Lord's 
 hand shortened, that it cannot save ; or his ear 
 heavy, that it cannot hear? Is there anything too 
 hard for the Lord ? anything impossible with God ? 
 Cannot the Lord do a great work in a little time ? 
 He can. I will therefore say, 
 
 *' Open my faith's interior eye, 
 
 Display thy glory from above ; 
 
 And all I am shall sink and die. 
 
 Lost in astonishment and love. 
 
 • 
 " Confound, o'erpower me by thy grace, 
 I would be by myself abhorred ; 
 All might, all majesty, all praise, 
 All glory be to Christ my Lord ! 
 
 " Now^ let me gain perfection's height. 
 Now let me into nothing fall. 
 As less than nothing in thy sight ; 
 And feel that Christ is all in all." 
 
TO NEW YORK. l75 
 
 But have I not been erroneous in my reflections ? 
 It is sometimes said. " Ever}^ man to his trade;" and 
 hence is it not absurd to suppose that I can do the 
 work of an evangelist, or that I have the responsi- 
 bility of a citizen ? Is not this mistaking my provi- 
 dential call ? I am a stranger in the strictest sense 
 of the word. First, by being a foreigner in the 
 country ; and, secondly, by being perpetually on a 
 journey from place to place. And is there not a 
 difference between the call and duty of a citizen, 
 and that of a stranger ? "I was a stranger," said 
 our Lord, " and ye took me not in." But did he 
 charge the poor, harmless stranger with neglect for 
 not taking the citizen in? The citizen is blessed 
 with a local situation ; the stranger has no place of 
 his own. The former has property, or a permanent 
 home ; he is a man of influence, and has children, 
 servants, or workmen under him; but the latter has 
 no name in the streets, no hiding-place from the 
 storm, no power to defend himself, his word is not 
 heard. We may make a contrast between them by 
 comparing them to two men coming over the ocean 
 as captain and mate ; supposing the former to keep 
 his standing, and the other to have fallen overboard. 
 Hence the captain has a permanent standing, can 
 look out for the storm, he can give timely directions 
 to his men on its approach, walk the deck for the 
 sake of contemplation, retire into a corner and pray 
 to Him who commandeth the winds and the sea to 
 obey his voice ; but the mate, poor fellow, is exposed 
 to the violence of the waves, where the most he can 
 
176 FROM OHIO 
 
 do is to keep his head above water. Such is his 
 situation, that he has no time, like the other, for 
 reading, contemplation, or prayer ; but like Lazarus 
 at the gate, while the rich man fares sumptuously 
 every day, he is obliged to submit to the humbling 
 dispensation of Providence for a few fragments to 
 keep him alive. Under such oppressive afflictions. 
 Job, the perfect man, lost his patience, and uttered 
 things that he understood not. And it is not sur- 
 prising if the stranger, through weariness, should 
 grow peevish, and incur the displeasure of the un- 
 charitable, by not showing himself proof against all 
 that may assail him. Contrasting, therefore, the 
 difference between the citizen and the stranger, and 
 the respective spheres of 'action which they are 
 called to move in, we may conclude by saying, that 
 while the citizen is authorized and capacitated to 
 govern others, the perfection of the latter consists in 
 patiently enduring under his difficulties, and govern- 
 ing himself. 
 
 The following lines, written (according to report) 
 by a young lady in England, who was turned out of 
 home for embracing religion, I give to the reader : 
 
 " Jesus, I my cross have taken. 
 All to leave and follow thee ; 
 Naked, poor, despised, forsaken, 
 Thou from hence my all shall be. 
 
TO NEW YORK. 177 
 
 Perish every fond ambition. 
 
 All I've sought, or hoped, or known ; 
 Yet how rich is my condition, 
 
 God and heav'n are all my own. 
 
 " Let the world despise and leave me — 
 
 They have left my Saviour too ; 
 Human hopes and looks deceive me, 
 
 Thou art not, like them, untrue ! 
 And while thou shalt smile upon me, 
 
 God of wisdom, power, and might. 
 Friends may hate and foes may scorn me, 
 
 Show thy face, and all is right. 
 
 " Go then, earthly fame and treasure. 
 Come, disaster, shame, and pain, 
 
 In thy service pain is pleasure, 
 With thy favor loss is gain. 
 
 I have called Thee, Abba Father, 
 I have set my heart on thee ; 
 
 Storms may howl and .clouds may gather- 
 All must work for good to me. 
 
 ** Men may trouble and distress me, 
 
 'Twill but drive me to thy breast — = 
 Life with sorrows hard oppress me. 
 
 Heaven shall bring me sweeter rest. 
 Oh ! 'tis not in grief to harm me 
 
 While thy love is left to me ; 
 Oh ! 'twere not in joy to charm me, 
 
 Were that joy unmixed with thee. 
 
 " Soul, then know thy great salvation. 
 Rise o'er sin, and fear, and care, 
 Joy to find in every station 
 Something still to do or bear. 
 8* 
 
178 FROM OHIO 
 
 Think what spirit dwells within thee, 
 Think what heavenly bliss is thine, 
 
 Think thy Saviour died to win thee — 
 Child of heaven ! canst thou repine ? 
 
 " Haste then on from grace to glory, 
 
 Armed by faith and winged by prayer. 
 Heaven's eternal day's before thee, 
 
 God's own hand shall guide thee there ; 
 Soon shall end thine earthly mission, 
 
 Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days, 
 Hope shall change to glad fruition. 
 
 Faith to sight, and prayer to praise." 
 
 No. II. 
 
 Occasional journeys in summer, pleasant, &c. — Difficulties of travelling 
 in winter. — Uncertainty of human friendship exemplified in the family 
 of Mr. *******. — Reflections, &c. 
 
 An occasional journey to see a friend in the sum- 
 mer is pleasant, but when it is perpetuated for months 
 together on business, it becomes wearisome ; and, if 
 I am under an obligation to travel to gain the com- 
 forts of life, the grand point is how to accommodate 
 myself with ease and satisfaction as if I was at home — • 
 *' sweet home " — and how, as a Christian, I can 
 enjoy the same tranquillity and abstractedness of 
 mind as if I were stationary and sat in a study of my 
 own. It is true my way of travelling is different to 
 many others, but a grasshopper is a burden to some 
 people. In travelling there are some pleasures to be 
 
TO NEW YORK. 
 
 1'79 
 
 enjoyed, and some hardships to be endured. In such 
 a capacity a person may see the country and different 
 parts of the world— nature when dressed in all her 
 beauty— romantic and pleasing landscapes— seas, 
 lakes, rivers, ports, cities, and a variety of scenery. 
 In summer, upon the whole, it m.ay be tolerable; but 
 in winter there are many storms, both by sea and land. 
 Travelling on foot in winter is grievous ; and last 
 winter, perhaps, was the severest known in this part 
 of the country for many years. This has been much 
 acknowledged, AboufJanuary the 8th (1836), the 
 snow fell probably four or five feet upon an average, 
 and lay till April. This injured the wheat; and 
 corn being damaged by much rain in the spring, 
 provisions of all kinds grew very dear. Arriving at 
 the village about that tim.e, I fortunately v/ent into 
 the hou^e of Mr. and Mrs. *******, who let me 
 remain a few weeks during the stormy wind and 
 tempest. Mrs. ******* behaved as the kindest of 
 friends, and seemed to possess both an understanding 
 and sympathy suited to my wants. She behaved 
 like a mother or a friend in the time of need— a 
 sister born for adversity, or a person possessed of the 
 charity which seeketh not its own but a stranger's 
 good. The peculiar circumstances which she previ- 
 ously passed through, had prepared her mind for the 
 reception of my book, and which she read apparently 
 with considerable pleasure. 
 
 For grief, unmix'd with joy, had pained her soul. 
 
 This publication led her to respect me, and to treat 
 
180 FROM OHIO 
 
 me with kindness. She put confidence in me ; spoke 
 of me in the kindest terms, and proclaimed the 
 grateful sentiments of her heart, as if she was not 
 worthy. . This kindness continued for weeks, and, 
 as a family, we lived together in great harmony ; 
 but, alas ! charity grew cold, good will well nigh hid 
 herself from me, and Mrs. *******, in the character 
 of a warm friend, scarcely knew me any more. 
 This may be tolerably well understood, if I can 
 indite it with sufficient clearness in the following 
 statement : 
 
 At the end of four weeks we settled accounts for 
 my board, and for what she had had of me ; and, 
 during that time, she had generously taken more 
 things of me than what my board came to ; and what 
 she took she took honorably, or in a manner that 
 became a friend indeed : that is to say she took them 
 at my price, without trying to beat me down below 
 what I could afford them at. How pleasant is such 
 behavior in a time of difficulty, and how consoling 
 is sympathy in a day of adversity ! She kept no 
 account on her part, but, as I understood her, left all 
 to me ; and truly, as a family, we lived in such mu- 
 tual accordance as I had scarcely found in the coun- 
 try. Though not united at that time with any 
 religious society, yet they kept up family devotion. 
 Mr. ******'^ and sometimes Mrs. ******* alter- 
 nately engaged in family prayer. I trust in my turn 
 I sympathized with them when contemplating their 
 previous trials (whether innocent or not so) in the 
 manner they had been used by others. They were 
 
TO NEW YORK. 181 
 
 not in opulent circumstances, nor well prepared to 
 take in a boarder ; and hence, after settling accounts 
 as above mentioned, I asked what I should give them 
 and find my own provisions, according to our custom 
 in England. Mr. ******* left it to Mrs. ******* ; 
 and she, according to her wonted kindness, asked me 
 what I would give her. I told her ; and after a short 
 pause she accepted it, and was quite contented. 
 The sum I offered was four shillings per week ; and 
 there was not one syllable or one look which showed 
 any hesitation or dissatisfaction. This went on for 
 weeks, and we lived in great peace ; but sometimes 
 our dearest friends disappear, and sometimes the 
 calmest evening is succeeded by a stormy day. 
 
 About five weeks after our balance, and after, as 
 it were, I had cast my account away, she would have 
 a settling from the beginning. She pretended that 
 her husband was not satisfied with what I paid — that 
 my settling with her stood for nothing, and hence 
 she wanted to charge me eight shillings instead of 
 four shillings per week, which we had agreed for. 
 At the time we settled as above mentioned, they 
 spake of three weeks, but I told them it was four ; 
 and this, at that time, was not only easily recollected 
 but gave perfect satisfaction, nor did I suspect any- 
 thing to the contrary for a long time afterwards. 
 But at this time, about five weeks from our settling, 
 she not only wanted to charge me eight shillings per 
 week instead of four, but wanted to fix the time of 
 my coming two weeks sooner than what we had 
 settled for. At length, after debating and reasoning 
 
182 FROM OHIO 
 
 the matter over, Mrs. ******* pretended that she 
 had found her account ; but this made the matter no 
 better at all ; for if she kept no account, but trusted 
 to mine when we .settled, and appeared well satisfied 
 for such a length of time, was it possible to find one 
 five weeks afterwards ? Alas ! alas ! that peace 
 should be so injudiciously destroyed on such an oc- 
 casion ! How difficult a thing it is to live at peace 
 with some people ! I was very sorry, inasmuch as 
 they had behaved with such kindness, and on which 
 account I knew no people in the place whom I es- 
 teemed with the same gratitude, good will, and affec- 
 tion. But such is human nature, and such is the 
 confidence we can place in mortals. She pretended 
 that Mr. ******* had made some objections since 
 our agreement ; so that was sufficient, it seems, to 
 charge me double to what she agreed to, whether I 
 understood anything about it or not, and with what 
 she had been authorized to contract for, and had been 
 so well satisfied. Mrs. ******* seemed as if she 
 could detain m}^ things for payment, but, on men- 
 tioning the difficulty to a justice in the village, I 
 found it otherwise : nor did all people think them 
 just in their demands on one hand, or conceive any 
 prejudice against me on the other. At length, how- 
 ever, I told Mr. ******* that I would give him ten 
 shillings more than I had agreed to if he was not 
 satisfied, providing he would give me a receipt, which 
 he immediately consented to ; and when Mrs. ******* 
 knew this she was silenced, and, as it were, said no 
 more. 
 
TO NEW YORK. 183 
 
 Reflecting upon this circumstance, I shall, First, 
 notice the uncertainty of human friendship ; Second- 
 ly, observe that some people, through the circum- 
 stances they are under, must necessarily suffer 
 wrong ; and, Thirdly, caution the reader against 
 imposing upon such characters. 
 
 First : how inconsistent are mortals, and how un- 
 certain is human friendship ! A person may show 
 himself warm and affectionate to-day, but to-morrow, 
 perhaps, he is not to be found, or in a little time after- 
 wards, in that character or relationship, he knows 
 me no more. Self interest, which may be awakened 
 by some new project or some new object, presents 
 itself, and dissolves that warmth of affection which 
 manifested itself so conspicuously. Want of success 
 in business soon raises suspicion in the man of the 
 world, and he considers the man unworthy of his 
 friendship who does not prosper like himself; but if 
 he can do independent of his help, he is ready to lend 
 his assistance. Affliction turns the most healthy 
 and beautiful persons into loathsome objects, and 
 causes one friend to desert another. Death separates 
 the most intimate friends, and in one day sometimes 
 dissolves the closest and most sacred union. Mo?'- 
 tals cannot always manifest it. A king sometimes 
 is obliged to flee for refuge ; a merchant is arrested, 
 and a tradesman, through sickness, is incapable of 
 business. One prejudices the mind of my best friend, 
 or another raises a slander against me. A failure in 
 business or embracing religion frequently separates 
 
184 PROM OHIO 
 
 those who were formerly united by the cords of 
 friendship. 
 
 Secondly : Some men must necessarily suffer 
 wrong from the fact that they do not stand upon 
 equal ground to defend themselves. This may be 
 easily seen by observing the various dispensations 
 and distribution of the gifts of Providence. Want 
 of health, strength, intellect, and worldly prosperity 
 expose some people to abuse from the slanderer. 
 The man seeking a home in a new country as op- 
 posed to the native or wealthy citizen — the poor in 
 any nation as contra-distinguished from the rich — 
 the want of knowledge and judgment, where even 
 riches are not wanting, will frequently expose men 
 to imposition. Self interested men who fear not 
 God, will generally take advantage rather than suffer. 
 Hence a powerful prince, with a large navy of ships 
 and strong forces on land, will too often intrude 
 upon the rights of a weak nation. An unjust judge 
 will give judgment in favor of the oppressor. Mas- 
 ters will deprive their servants of what is right ; and 
 the most powerful animals will seize upon and devour 
 smaller ones ? It was said of David, that " the 
 enemy shall not exact upon him ; nor the son of 
 wickedness afflict him," Psalm Ixxxix. 22 ; by 
 which promise made unto him from Jehovah, I un- 
 derstand that he should be a man of such muscular 
 strength and firmness of mind, and so protected by 
 the providence of God, that he could deal with all 
 men either to advantage or without imposition. 
 And hence, as a prince, a farmer, a tradesman, or a 
 
TO NEW YORK. ' 185 
 
 military character, he would be so judicious and 
 cautious on his part in all his motions, so firm and 
 resolute in his purposes, and so protected by provi- 
 dence, that all he engaged in should finally prosper. 
 But not so with some people ; not so with the poor, 
 who are obliged to crouch down under the heavy 
 hand of extreme poverty. No : poverty, afi[liction, 
 a frowning providence, and the peculiar circum- 
 stances some are brought into, lay them open to in- 
 sult and abuse from every idle spectator. A man of 
 influence and strong mind will probably accuse an- 
 other less guilty than himself, and carry his point 
 against him, contrary to either charity or justice. 
 But when he has done this, sin lieth at the door, 
 which, in its proper time, shall not be forgotten ; and 
 hence we see that all things are not just, and also 
 that all people cannot defend themselves. This 
 brings me. 
 
 Thirdly : To caution the reader against imposing 
 upon such characters. Although some men, because 
 of transgression, are afflicted, and others are visited 
 through life for their sins, as David, yet it is not so 
 with every one ; and even where this is the case, 
 God forbids us to take vengeance. There are many 
 temporal evils from the hand of God, who is jealous 
 of his honor, and sometimes visits a proud and rebel- 
 lious people to the third and fourth generation ; but 
 he commands us as probationers to show mercy, and 
 declares, •' Vengeance is mine ; I will repay, saith 
 the Lord :" Rom. xii. 19. Besides, God not only 
 visits for transgression, but afflicts in mercy, as in 
 
186 FROM OHIO 
 
 the case of Job. He afflicts to humble and purify — 
 to exalt and glorify ; and his anger was kindled 
 against Job's three friends for not speaking what 
 was right, or for judging him unrighteously. God is 
 the creator of the poor, and has blessed them in that 
 estate ; and where people injure or oppress the de- 
 fenceless, the fatherless, the afflicted, or the stranger, 
 He marks their iniquity in a more awful manner. 
 He threatened to put out the name of Amelek from 
 under heaven, and to have war with him from gene- 
 ration to generation : Exodus xvii. 14. And to 
 Esau it is thus written, " For thy violence against 
 thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou 
 shalt be cut off for ever :" Oba. 10. Solomon 
 says, " Remove not the old land-mark ; and enter 
 not into the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer 
 is mighty ; he shall plead their cause w^ith thee.'' 
 Jeremiah also declares that ''their Redeemer is 
 strong ; the Lord of hosts is his name ; he shall 
 thoroughly plead their cause," &lc. Prov. xxiii. 10, 
 Jer. 1. 33. 
 
 Wherefore be admonished, reader ! Are you a 
 man of wealth ? — blest with a home and a perma- 
 nent business ? If so, " who made thee to differ 
 from another ? and what hast thou that thou didst 
 not receive ?" 1 Cor. iv. 7. Do you say that you 
 got all by your own strength, sobriety, and industry ? 
 If so, who gave j^ou your abilities ? And if it was 
 by your strength, how was it that you did not get 
 ten times more ? Your ambition w^ould have done 
 it had it been in your power. Now if you could not 
 
TO NEW YORK. 187 
 
 get as much as he who in the same time accumulated 
 twice or thrice as much as yourself, it is probable 
 that some people had not means of obtaining one 
 third, and others not one tenth part of what you 
 possess, and your efforts and wishes might have been 
 equally fruitless. Do you boast of the wealth of 
 your family and ancestors ? Alas ! two generations 
 back your family was not known, perhaps, among the 
 opulent. Are you a rich storekeeper — a large 
 trading merchant ? Your predecessors it is likely 
 began in the world by carrying their merchandise 
 from door to door. I do not want ****** here, in 
 
 effect, said Madam S , I can buy much cheaper 
 
 at the store, &c., although her husband began poor, 
 and (according to report) failed in his payments to 
 the amount of several thousand dollars. " I wish 
 there were no people allowed to travel," said the 
 storekeeper. " If I want anything," say others, " I 
 always go to the store. I never purchase anything 
 at the door, &c. &c." Now what is all this but to 
 deprive people in low circumstances of their right, 
 and as unjust as it would be to deprive you of trading 
 at all, unless you could purchase goods to an amount 
 far beyond your capital till you could find money to 
 begin in a store ? And what is it less than to say, I 
 am of too much importance to stoop so low as to 
 purchase anything at the door, although the property 
 I am living on was accumulated by such a begin- 
 ning ! Beware, therefore, that you do not rob others 
 of their right, but rather learn that lesson which 
 teaches, " as ye would that men should do to you, 
 do ve even so to them." 
 
188 FROM OHIO 
 
 No. III. 
 
 Journey to Canada, &c. — But every place has its advantages and dis- 
 advantages. — A speedy return to the States. — Temptations and 
 wickedness connected with the best occupations. — Reflections. 
 
 Previous to taking a final departure from the vil- 
 lage where Mr. and Mrs. ******* resided, in autumn 
 (1836) I went over Lake Ontario to Canada ; sup- 
 posing that if ever I returned to England, I should 
 like first to go over to the British dominions on this 
 side the water, that I might have an opportunity of 
 judging for myself which of the two nations I should 
 like in America in preference to the other. My in- 
 tention was to have remained there through the 
 winter, but, First, the custom house officer charged 
 me something considerable for my publications, 
 which I had not fully anticipated, and afterwards 
 told me, ihat if any person complained of me he 
 should inform against me for selling them, although 
 an attorney in England could not assure me that the 
 law was against it. The act not specifying books, 
 and therefore not clearly deciding upon that subject, 
 he said the matter would be whether the court would 
 denominate books among those wares and manufac- 
 tures which, as their own productions, people were 
 allowed to sell. Secondly : after seeing a little of 
 the country which did not seem so well settled ; 
 being among many of my own country people whose 
 county dialects, after being in the States, I did not 
 
TO NEW YORK. 189 
 
 like ; and finding the country not so advantageously 
 laid out for a person in my capacity, I soon came to 
 the conclusion of returning back. Hence I was not 
 much taken up with Canada ; for although there 
 seemed as much or more cash in circulation, yet the 
 people in Toronto, so many of them from England 
 and Ireland, were poor, and strangers in a foreign 
 land, that it did not answer my purpose to remain 
 among them. The country does not settle so 
 rapidly, appear in so flourishing a state, nor the in- 
 habitants in general so humane and kind, perhaps, 
 as the people in the United States. But thus much 
 does not prove that it has not equal advantages ; nor 
 does the rapid increase in the States prove its na- 
 tional excellence or superior virtue. An individual, 
 a family, or a nation, however unworthy, may pros- 
 per for a time, but it is by righteousness and the 
 blessing of heaven only that a nation is permanently 
 established and finally exalted. May God give re- 
 pentance for what has been transacted amiss on 
 either side, and dispose them to rectify every error. 
 And as far as they are worthy, may they be judges 
 among the nations to the confusion of tyrants, but a 
 praise to them who do well. I was, however, glad to 
 see divine service performed exactly the same at 
 chapel as in England, and I should like to see it 
 uniform all the world over. The setting out the 
 hymns — the singing, the preaching, and the whole 
 process, was carried through as among the same de- 
 nominations in that country ; but in which nation 
 (that is Canada or the States) there was the most 
 
190 FROM OHIO 
 
 spiritual life and religious devotion, I cannot deter- 
 mine. I admire the zeal of that man who lives 
 (rather than talks) great things ; and I hope equally 
 to despise the zeal which, in the sight of heaven, has 
 a name only to live while dead. It is my duty to 
 leave that to Him who is infinite in wisdom, and 
 whose prerogative only it is to judge — who looketh 
 not merely on the outward appearance, but who 
 searcheth the hearts of the children of men. 
 
 But how true it is that every place has its advan- 
 tages and disadvantages — that if we obtain one thing 
 we either lack or lose another ; and that there is no 
 place of perfect happiness on earth, but as we find it 
 in resignation to the will of God. So it is here. In 
 Canada there are some things I like, and some others 
 which I dislike in the States ; and yet so far as I 
 have seen of them, I prefer the latter to the former ; 
 nay, in some respects the people in the States are 
 dear to me. A man may have the most delightful 
 situation in the empire, and yet the pure spring of 
 water that runs by the poor man's shantee may be 
 lacking. Another may possess great riches, like 
 Abraham, and yet have no heir — " My only son and 
 only child," said the bereaved woman, " about 
 eighteen years of age, went out and was drowned.'' 
 A Lazarus may endure almost the want of all things, 
 and yet his poverty may be necessary to bring him 
 to a better inheritance than that of the rich man. It 
 was an eligible situation almost as any I have seen 
 in America, and fit for a squire's residence in 
 Europe, and yet, said the amiable woman, I have no 
 
TO NEW YORK. 191 
 
 money. " How is it," I asked, " that you have no 
 money ?" " My husband," she replied, " is such a 
 man for business, and he went and purchased another 
 farm, and now he is giving (to the best of my recol- 
 lection) twenty-five per cent for borrowed money ;' 
 and yet I think he is a good man. And Deacon 
 
 such a one is letting out his money at per cent." 
 
 This was the year probably when the banks in the 
 whole state had suspended cash payment — at which 
 time many let out their money at three or four per 
 cent, per month, which made from thirty-six to forty- 
 eight per cent, per annum. So this amiable woman, 
 of a delicate texture, genteelly brought up, and living 
 in a beautiful habitation, was spinning like other 
 hard working and poor women, till she, her husband 
 and estate could get clear of debt. And many 
 others, through pretended necessity or from absolute 
 covetousness, made themselves such extortioners as 
 to let out money, perhaps, at five times more than 
 the lawful interest. 
 
 From Canada I hastened back to the States ; and 
 being in that part of the country, I made an oppor- 
 tunity to go and see what is spoken of as one of the 
 greatest wonders of the world, Niagara Falls. From 
 this place, for the first time, I took the steam car on 
 the railroad for Buffalo. (Smart travelling this !) 
 At the latter place I got my book printed, entitled, 
 " The Beauties of America ;" but before this could be 
 accomplished, through the straits and difficulties of 
 being carried from one country to another, with some 
 other things, my mind was considerably exercised 
 
192 FROM OHIO 
 
 with trials. It is true I have but little patience or 
 strength ; but admitting this assertion as truth, it is 
 also true that the printer engaged to get it out in 
 
 such a time, and Mr. spake of doing it well, but 
 
 at the end of that time he had made but a poor 
 beginning rather than a good end, and when it was 
 done, it was a great deal worse than either of the 
 former ones. In this office there was a youth, who 
 had had so little experience in setting up, that his 
 labor was of small value ; and he was so full of 
 nonsense, impudence, and profaneness, that but few 
 perhaps exceeded him in wickedness. The man at 
 the press was but little better : he also was too full 
 of profaneness, vulgarity, and ill manners. I had 
 been at this printing office before, and had heard 
 language that would not be proper to commit to 
 writing. Alas ! alas ! that men in so many instan- 
 ces should abuse their liberty by drinking down 
 iniquity like water. And what would the world 
 think if they knew all the profane expressions uttered 
 in a printing office ! A place which, as it were, is 
 the source of all our moral and religious instruction 
 — a fountain from which proceeds the moral light 
 and good that is seen in the world — or rather a 
 channel through which we are supplied with all the 
 political, scientific, and religious knowledge enjoyed 
 and possessed by the wisest of men. Who would 
 believe that among people of education, as men in 
 such a respectable business there should be some, 
 who let themselves down to a level with the most 
 depraved sailors, draymen, scavengers, navigators, 
 
TO NEW YORK. 193 
 
 Billingsgate men, and the very vilest of people in 
 their language and conversation ? 
 
 People might suppose that to put a boy to such a 
 trade would be one of the most innocent, useful, and 
 best occupations in the world. But is it so ? Alas ! 
 what a variety of temptations he is exposed to, and 
 what an amount of iniquity he is liable to commit! 
 For, in the first place, as evil communications corrupt 
 good manners, so evil company and pernicious pub- 
 lications have a rapid tendency to perfect men in 
 infidelity. And where men are disposed to evil 
 already, and are proceeding to greater lengths of 
 iniquity daily, to place them in a situation where 
 playbills are printed, immoral newspapers are 
 exchanged, and where some of such a company will 
 get almost every evil work that is published, is the 
 way to perfect what is lacking in them. Secondly, 
 a person in that business may be tempted to print 
 anything for money, because it is his trade ; or he 
 may publish almost any book, however pernicious, 
 because it will sell. In such a capacity he may be 
 instrumental in instructing a whole empire, or he 
 may use his influence in corrupting millions. In 
 a word, he may do a deal towards making bad men 
 worse, till they have filled up the measure of their 
 iniquities and are ripe for destruction. 
 
 Hence, by travelling and having something to do 
 with men and books, I have been reflecting how good 
 and evil are in alliance with each other, and the 
 iniquity there may be in the best of occupations. One 
 man may be under the necessity of writing to procure 
 
 9 
 
194 FROM OHro 
 
 the necessaries of life — he may do this virtuously and 
 to the edification of others : another may \yrite what is 
 useless at best, and to accumulate wealth. And 
 although honest labor is both a duty and commenda- 
 ble, yet a man, perhaps, is under the necessity of 
 working on the theatre instead of a dwelling-house — 
 an apprentice is obliged to infringe upon the Sabbath 
 by working till two o'clock in the morning or disobey 
 his master — the woman of modest apparel, to work 
 in superfluities of gaudy attire, as ruffles, flowers, &c., 
 instead of what she would wish to recommend both 
 by precept and example. One of the most honorable 
 and useful occupations in the world is that of a 
 physician, yet he frequently charges an enormous 
 price and renders no benefit. In general people 
 expect the value in goods for their money, and the 
 laborer to fulfil his stipulated amount of labor for his 
 wages, but a physician charges whether he renders 
 any good or not. And where is the truth in adver- 
 tising medicines as infallible cures in all cases, and 
 which will procure long life to all who will persevere 
 in taking them? Are not such people traders in 
 falsehood, and possess an insatiable thirst for riches 
 rather than that they speak infallible truths ? And 
 do not the proprietors of those medicines aim at 
 enriching themselves and laying up riches as the 
 dust of the earth, rather than do all they should to 
 benefit others ? Yet such is the iniquity of some 
 people in the most honorable occupations in life ; the 
 temptations they are surrounded wdth, and the evil 
 practices they are liable to run into. 
 
TO KEW YORK. 195 
 
 No. IV. 
 
 Difficulties of letting out money exemplified, in a case between 
 Camberwell and Emerton. — Unforeseen difficulties arose without 
 any original intention to do wrong, and the case mentioned as a 
 caution to others. — Circumstances of the case, form of the note, 
 &c.— Emerton speaks to Mr. Landsman, and hears that Mr. Cam- 
 berwell had put his property out of his hands, &c. — Afterwards 
 requests Mr. Firmfriend's assistance. — A trial appointed, &c. — An 
 exhortation to be cautious. 
 
 Some time ago I was obliged to witness the follow- 
 ing circumstance, which more or less demonstrates 
 the truth of some foregoing remarks ; and although 
 it may be more or less foreign to my subject, yet I 
 hope the reader will excuse it and pardon the 
 digression. Let him also, especially if he is poor, 
 beware of men ! For is there any virtue in letting 
 another take thy bed from under thee ? Nay, should 
 we put too much confidence in princes ? There 
 were three persons originally concerned in the 
 matter, and whom I shall take leave to speak of 
 under the names of Camberwell, Morehonor, and 
 Emerton. Cambervv'ell and Emerton were from 
 Europe, but Morehonor was an American. They 
 were all members of the same religious society: the 
 two latter probably had been in the connexion for 
 many years, and the former seemed possessed of 
 considerable property, and suspected of no evil. 
 Camberwell talked of having a house and lot, free 
 of debt, worth two thousand dollars ; spake of having 
 
196 FROxM OHIO 
 
 money to collect for religious purposes, and that he 
 and Morehonor would give Emerton their joint note 
 for some. Under these circumstances, Emerton let 
 Camberwell a small sum of money, and Morehonor 
 endorsed the note given by Camberwell. 
 
 From what Mr. Camberwell had said, Emerton 
 thought that the money was to meet some payments 
 arising from expenses contracted in a religious 
 institution, and that both were equally responsible, 
 but he afterwards found that it was exclusively for 
 his own use — only Mr. Morehonor endorsed his note : 
 and had it not been for shutting up the banks and 
 the embarrassment occasioned thereby, he would 
 probably have paid the money without any difficulty. 
 Hence the affair is not mentioned to charge him 
 with any original intention to do wrong, but rather 
 as a caution to others in future ; and if any wrong 
 was committed, arising out of unforeseen events, let 
 Camberwell and Emerton have the blame due to 
 them and acknowledge their faults, but let More- 
 honor, who was not to blame, have the praise, and 
 be true to his own principles, like the just man who 
 " sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not." 
 
 Hence let it be observed that the money was let 
 and the note given under the following circumstan- 
 ces : Emerton was not only a person who was poor, 
 but he knew nothing about defending himself by 
 law, how to guard against the wise men of this world 
 or men of business. Depending, therefore, upon 
 Camberwell as a professor of religion and an honor- 
 able man, and placing more confidence probably 
 
TO NEW YORK. 
 
 197 
 
 upon Morehonor, who appeared like the most vene- 
 rable professor in that populous city, he did not sus- 
 pect any danger. Emerton being acquainted with 
 these gentlemen, he asked Camberwell what he would 
 give him for a sum of money for a short time, and 
 the latter (fixing his own price) offered him three 
 per cent, per month, which was a great deal above 
 the legal sum ; the lawful interest being no more 
 than seven per cent, per annum. The time was for 
 three months; and whatever Emerton might or 
 might not know about usury, he probably did not 
 know that there was any law which would absolutely 
 endanger the security, and besides he did not expect 
 that these men on any account would deceive him 
 by being unfaithful to their own proposal. Hence 
 he might suppose that he could innocently take the 
 note for security, and refuse taking the money, if 
 wrong, upon further reflection, although Camberwell 
 had offered it himself, and Morehonor had endorsed 
 his note as security for payment. The note was 
 written nearly as follows : " At three months after 
 
 date, for value received, I promise to pay to 
 
 dollars," w^hich sum included the interest ; so that 
 'no person from the note could discover the amount 
 . of interest upon it. Emerton having no knowledge 
 about letting out money, Camberwell told him it was 
 a real business note. During the time specified, 
 Emerton made a purchase in the country, and had 
 to go forty miles to fetch it ; but when demanded, 
 Camberwell said that he could not pay it. At length 
 Emerton said that he could not go back without it, 
 
198 FROM OHIO 
 
 and told Camberwell that he must consult some 
 friend on the occasion ; but he objected having his 
 credit in that way suspected ; and after he had men- 
 tioned it to a justice of the peace in the same society, 
 C accused him of going round the neighborhood 
 
 and talking about him. In a short time afterwards 
 he, in eftect, said, " I will now pay him just when I 
 please or think proper." Immediately after repeating 
 these words he left the room, without giving any 
 further opportunity to converse with him about it. 
 So Emerton's money was gone ; and having paid 
 part of the price for the purchase above mentioned 
 still in the seller's possession (who went and laid an 
 attachment on it for fear of consequences), he could 
 neither get this money back nor recover the other. 
 
 At the city where these three men lived, there 
 were two chapels and their respective ministers. 
 Camberwell and Morehonor went to hear Mr. 
 Landsman, as I shall call him, and Emerton heard 
 Mr. Firmfriend, so named. And after Camberwell 
 had left the room, as before stated, Emerton talked 
 with their minister upon the subject under considera- 
 tion. From him he heard that Camberwell had put 
 his property out of his hands ; and he spake, more- 
 over, as if he was going to leave the city to avoid 
 being sued at the law. He also talked with More- 
 honor, who informed him that Camberwell had said 
 that he probably could pay the money in about six 
 weeks. Hence he advised him to wait. But were 
 these testimonies, so far, in exact accordance with 
 each other ? At the end of that time Camberwell 
 
TO NEW YORK. 199 
 
 said that it was about a fortnight sooner than he had 
 proposed. At the fortnight's end he said that he 
 was waiting for a person's return from the west, and 
 wanted Emerton to wait a week for his arrival. 
 At the end of this week, Camber well seemed to dis- 
 engage himself from all obligation whatever, and 
 would not come to any compromise to pay it by any 
 other means, as giving his note for labor, goods, 
 board, or anything else ; nor w^ould he consent to 
 give Emerton a new note that Vv^as legally drawn up, 
 but said that the old one was good, if the other would 
 wait for a while till he could pay it. Such was the 
 difficulty this man brought himself into through this 
 circumstance, and such would have been the trouble 
 had he listened to him any further, that if ever he 
 obtained it, yet it would have been by more trouble 
 and expense probabfy than the money was worth. 
 Hence upon reviewing it thus far, and tracing it 
 through all its v/indings in this simple manner, the 
 reader may judge for himself whether Camberwell 
 could be depended upon any further when brought 
 to this crisis ! It had passed on nearly three months 
 over the stipulated time of payment already, and one 
 or two persons had found out that the interest, being 
 above the legal sum, could prevent its being obtained 
 by law : and what made it more hopeless still, was 
 that Morehonor was released from his bond on ac- 
 count of its being payable at the bank, and Emerton 
 being in the country at the time, and suspecting no' 
 danger, did not demand it. Under such circum- 
 stances, let me ask the reader whether there was not 
 
200 FROM OHIO 
 
 some danger of Emerton's losing his hard earned 
 money ? 
 
 After Emerton had had all this trouble, he went 
 to his minister (Mr. Firmfriend), renounced all un- 
 lawful interest, and requested his assistance ; and the 
 minister, like the good Samaritan, took hold of it, 
 pleaded his cause, and handled it in such a manner 
 that, although he could not get the money paid im- 
 mediately, through the scarceness of cash, yet he got 
 a legal and new^ note, in which Camberwell and 
 Morehonor bound themselves jointly and separately 
 to pay the money, with lawful interest, at a time 
 specified. This was an honor to the minister, and 
 it was likewise an honor to the latter venerable 
 character, who, after beins: diseno;ao;ed from his ob- 
 ligation, would pledge himself conjointly or separately 
 rather than Emerton should lose the money. " He 
 sweareth," saith David, " to his own hurt, and chang- 
 eth not." 
 
 In order to settle this affair in an amicable manner 
 they had a trial, at which two ministers and the 
 parties met together : and although Emerton at first 
 might be inadvertently led into this difficulty through 
 not understanding what usury was, or through temp- 
 tation from his own poverty — although he had in- 
 formed them that he would have no unlawful interest, 
 notwithstanding it was offered by Camberwell with- 
 out his asking it — although Mrs. Landsman, their 
 minister's ^^ ife, had said that her husband had been 
 obliged to give a hundred for four or five hundred 
 dollars for the year — that the money was worth that 
 
TO NEW YORK. 201 
 
 interest, and there was scarcely a citizen there but 
 had done it — and although the justice above men- 
 tioned had said that Cambervvell must pay the money 
 or leave that religious body of people, yet it seemed 
 that he had been tempted to plead his cause ; and in 
 so doing at the. trial, he pretended to deny that 
 Camberwell owed the money. This seemed strange : 
 and however excusable it might be in a public court 
 of justice, it did not look well here. But Mr. Firm- 
 friend was not to be moved — who soon beat them 
 out of all their vain subterfuges. Whatever men 
 in a civil court of justice might do and be blameless, 
 I do not see how religious men could deny such a 
 thing, or refuse to pay the money, without acting 
 contrary to truth and justice. It is, however, just 
 to observe that it was ceasing to pay cash at the 
 banks, and the general embarrassment occasioned 
 thereby, that at first, probably, prevented Camber- 
 well from paying the money ; yet, when he could 
 not, he ought to have given legal security, and not 
 have taken any advantage through what he proposed 
 himself. 
 
 In giving you this account, reader, I hope, First, 
 it will be a caution (especially if you are poor,) 
 against letting money go out of your hands without 
 good security, and that it will prevent your ever 
 letting it out upon usury, or unlawful interest. You 
 may let it out at five per cent, per annum in Eng- 
 land, or seven per cent, per annum in America, but 
 no more. This is not, but more is unlawful. Why 
 should you let another take your bed from under 
 
 9* 
 
I 
 
 202 FROM OHIO 
 
 you ? The law cannot defend you at an unlawful 
 interest. And if you are poor, would you gain 
 money by dishonest means ? Another thing, reader, 
 wants guarding against, and which has well nigh 
 ruined many — namely : signing notes, and thereby 
 becoming surety for others. Let one instance, out 
 of many, suffice : " My husband and I began poor," 
 said a woman, to the best of my recollection, " and 
 we had improved our land to the amount of about 
 five thousand dollars, when my husband signed for 
 a man, which took away our land, and left us nearly 
 five hundred dollars in debt." And many, very 
 man}^, people in America, have more or less been 
 taken in in the same manner. 
 
 Secondly : I hope it will be a means of preventing 
 rich men from offering an unjust reward for money, 
 and taking advantage of them through its illegality 
 afterwards. Such an action appears both mean and 
 cowardly, as well as unjust and cruel. 
 
 Thirdly : it may be an intimation of the scarceness 
 of cash — a scarceness that involved many, and made 
 it almost as difficult to obtain a few dollars in America 
 as it was to find a few guineas in England some 
 years ago. 
 
TO NEW YORK. 
 
 No. V. 
 
 203 
 
 Some Letters to Europe from America have been too flattenng.- 
 Hence an instance of distress is related in the case of an Enghsh 
 gentleman and his wife, a West India lady, who found a friend in- 
 deed in an American lady, &c. Nevertheless, circumstances like 
 these probably have not been very common, &c.— It is further re- 
 marked that poverty is net exclusively confined to foreigners. 
 
 Some people have written as if no person could 
 want scarcely anything that is good in America, but 
 there are some exceptions. Let the following ac- 
 count, taken from a New York paper, suffice as a 
 specimen. These people for want of health, property, 
 trade, or means to procure the comforts of life, at 
 length were brought into the deepest distress. The 
 account is as follows : 
 
 - Do you give out work here ?" said a voice, so 
 soft, so low, so lady-like, that I involuntarily looked 
 up from the purse I was about purchasing for my 
 darling boy, a birth-day gift from his dear papa. 
 " Do you give out work here ?" 
 "Not to strangers," was the rude reply. The 
 stranger turned and walked away. " That purse is 
 very cheap, ma'am." " I do not want it now," said 
 I, as taking up my parasol, I left the shop and 
 followed the stranger lady. 
 
 Passing Thompson's she paused— went in— hesi- 
 tated— then turned and went out. I now saw her 
 face ; it was very pale ; her hair, black as night, was 
 parted on the forehead ; her eyes, too, were very 
 
204 FROM OHIO 
 
 black ; and there was a wildness in them that made 
 me shudder. She passed on up Broadway to Green- 
 wich street, where she entered a miserable looking 
 dwelling. I paused — should I follow further? She 
 was evidently suffering much — I was happy — blessed 
 with wealth, and oh ! how blessed in husband, 
 children, friends ! I knocked — the door was opened 
 by a cross-looking woman. 
 
 "Is there a person living here who does plain 
 sewing ?" I inquired. " I guess not," was the reply ; 
 " there is a woman up stairs who used to work, but 
 she can't get any more to do, and I shall turn her 
 out to-morrow." " Let me go up," said I, as passing 
 the woman with a shudder, I ascended the stairs. 
 " You can keep on up to the garret," she screamed 
 after me — and so I did ; and there I saw a sight, of 
 which I, the child of affluence, had never dreamed ! 
 The lady had thrown oft' her hat, and was kneeling 
 by the side of a poor, low bed. Her hair had fallen 
 over her shoulders ; she sobbed not — breathed not — 
 she seemed motionless — her face covered in the 
 wretched, miserable bed, whereon lay her husband. 
 He was sleeping. I looked upon his high, pale fore- 
 head, around which clung masses of damp, brown 
 hair — it was knit — and the pale hand clenched the 
 bedclothes ; words broke from his lips. " I cannot 
 pay him now," I heard him say. Poor fellow ! even 
 in his dreams his poverty haunted him ! I could 
 bear it no longer, and knocked gently on the door. 
 The lady raised her head, threw back her long hair, 
 and looked mildly upon me. It was no time for 
 
TO NEW YORK. 205 
 
 ceremony ; sickness, sorrow, want, perhaps starva- 
 tion, were before me. " I came to look for a person 
 to do plain work," was all I could say. 
 
 " O, give it me," she sobbed ; " two days we have 
 
 not tasted food — and to-morrow "— . She gasped 
 
 and tried to finish the sentence, but could not. She 
 knew that to-morrow they would be both homeless 
 and starving. 
 
 " Be comforted, you shallwant no more." I kept 
 my word. In a few days she told me all — of days 
 of happiness in a sunny West India isle, her child- 
 hood's home. Of the deaths of father and mother ; 
 of a cruel sister and brother-in-law ; how she left 
 that home, hoping to find a brother in America ; how 
 she sought him in vain, but found, instead, a husband. 
 He too an Englishman, a sfentleman and scholar, had 
 been thrown upon the world. Sympathy deepened 
 into love — alone in a crowd, all the world to each 
 other, they married — he procured employment in a 
 school, she plain needle-work. Too close attention 
 to the duties of his school, long walks and scanty 
 fare, brought ill health, and confined him at length to 
 his bed. The shop, where his poor wife obtained 
 work, failed, and their resources were cut off. She 
 had looked long, weary days for employment. 
 Many had none to give, and others gave no work to 
 " strangers." Thus I found them — to comfort them 
 for a little time — then, I trust, they found indeed a 
 comforter in heaven. 
 
 The husband died first — died, placing the hand of 
 his poor wife in mine! I needed not the mute- 
 
208 FROM OHIO 
 
 appealing look he gave me. I took her to my own 
 happy home — it was too late ! 
 
 It was a very little time ago, I went one morning 
 to her room ; she had passed a restless night ; had 
 dreamed, she said, of her dear George — -she called 
 me her kind and only friend — begged me to sit a 
 Httle while beside her, and looked up so sadly in my 
 face that my own heart seemed well nigh breaking. 
 I left her not again. 
 
 In the still, deep night, I heard her murmur, *•' Sis- 
 ter Ann, do not speak so harshly to me : oh, mamma, 
 why did you leave me ?" Then again she said, 
 " Give me an orange, my sister, I am very faint." 
 Her soul was again in her own sunny (happy) 
 home. 
 
 " Lay me by my George, and God will bless you," 
 were her last words to me. I led my hushed 
 children to look upon her sweet, pale face, as she 
 lay in her coffin. They had never seen sorrow or 
 death ; and then I gave them the first knowledge of 
 both ; then I told them of the sin, the cruelty of 
 those who wounded the " stranger's heart." 
 
 Circumstances like these, it maybe, have not been 
 very common in America; and it is but just to say 
 that there are many humane people who are kind to 
 strangers, and ready to alleviate distress ; but there 
 are some of a distressing character ; and there are 
 many people among emigrants who, for a while, 
 have not known how to make their way to live. 
 Some spend nearly all in coming over, and others 
 are taken sick before they are naturalized, and 
 
TO NEW YORK. 20T 
 
 obliged to spend their money in medicines, board, &c. 
 A few unfortunately fall into the hands of wicked 
 men, who get their property from them ; and some 
 others, through the vast difference there is between 
 their native and new country, cannot follow the 
 business they were brought up to. And it may be 
 observed that where this is the case, they may soon 
 spend a deal of money in America as well as in 
 England ; for, in some places, as New York, Albany, 
 Utica, Rochester, Buffalo, and other places, house 
 rent is as high as in London, fuel and clothing far 
 more expensive, and board, with other incidental 
 expenses, as high in cities probably as in any popu- 
 lous town in Great Britain. 
 
 Nor is poverty in America exclusively confined 
 to foreigners. No : some people even among the 
 natives are poor. And is not this according to the 
 order of a wise Providence ? If so, is there any 
 counsel or strength against the Lord? Does not 
 the Scripture declare that the poor shall never cease 
 out of the land ? — and, consequently, that God hath 
 made and blessed the poor in their situation as well 
 as the rich ? Is it not an undeniable fact that all 
 people have not the same capacity for trade, labor, 
 and usefulness ?— the same health, strength, and 
 prosperity ; and that let a country be what it may, 
 it cannot secure to all both prosperity and riches ? 
 Besides, what could we do without diversity and 
 contrast? The brute animals, for wise purposes, 
 are not all of one stature. If the world was made 
 up of rich men, who would procure us fuel and the 
 
208 FROM OHIO 
 
 finest wheat ? And if these things are the fruits of 
 their labors, who are worthy of more esteem ? — or 
 what class in society is more useful than they are ? 
 In the summer I met a young man and woman near 
 Moscow, on their way to Mount Morris, who were 
 poor indeed ! " Won't they let us go over the 
 bridge," asked he, " without paying the toll ?" 
 *' How is it," asked I, " that vou are destitute of so 
 small a sum ?" This seemed to affect the young 
 woman almost to tears. 
 
 At another time, no great distance from Brock- 
 port, I remained at a farmhouse during the night, 
 where the good woman informed me that at the first 
 loghouse on my way there was a family very poor. 
 [ inquired the cause of their poverty, and she 
 answered, " It is for want of capacity." I was glad 
 to hear that she had more good sense and humanity 
 than to attribute all to idleness as some people do ; 
 for, as inconsistent as it may be, one man who 
 frequently gets drunk and tells many falsehoods in 
 trading with his customers, will often exclaim 
 against and cast reproach upon others guilty of no 
 such crimes, because they do not prosper as he does. 
 But how improper to do so ! How unjust is such 
 conduct ! For does not daily experience teach us 
 that men in general would rise above their present 
 indigence to possess double the property they have 
 already, if they had power or were permitted to do 
 it ? It does ; but they cannot, nor can others deliver 
 themselves at pleasure from abject poverty: and 
 hence such instances are sufficient to show us that. 
 
TO NEW YORK. 209 
 
 in a temporal point of view, the way of man is not 
 in himself, and that some people even in America, as 
 well as in England, are very poor. 
 
 No. VI. 
 
 Coming to America an advantage to most people, &.c. — Yet amidst 
 the beauties, riches, &c., in the country, the publisher's astonishment 
 at the scarceness of cash ! — At a loss to account for this deficiency. 
 Prohibiting one and three dollar bills in the latter part of President 
 Jackson's administration, &c., &.C., made an increase of difficulty. 
 
 It has been acknowledged already that coming to 
 America is an advantage to many, inasmuch as 
 hitherto there has been such a vast and extensive 
 field for trade and labor — that working men can 
 better provide for themselves and families — that 
 mechanics can find employment and good wages — 
 merchants a suitable place for an establishment, and 
 men of wealth can lay out their property to as good, 
 or perhaps to better advantage than in Europe. At 
 least property has been laid out to procure as 
 delightful situations, it is likel}^ for one half or one 
 quarter of the sum for families to live in, or to 
 accumulate as fast or more so, probably, than in 
 England. And there have been some people, though 
 without title, in America, who (as it appeared to me) 
 were possessed of property to an amount equal to 
 most of our richest noblemen in England. Witness 
 
210 FROM OHIO. 
 
 the Hon. ***** ^^^^^^^^ of ^ whose property, 
 
 according to report, has been estimated at upwards 
 
 of twenty millions of dollars. Mr. is said to be 
 
 worth upwards of a million per annum ; and Mr. A 
 
 at whose house I called, whom a tenant of his told 
 me that he had as much land as five hundred farms 
 which would average four hundred acres apiece. 
 
 Yet amidst all the beauties and riches seen in 
 America, there was one thing which was a mystery 
 to me — a subject too deep for me to fathom or un- 
 derstand — namely, a scarcity of money. And what 
 made me so sensible of it was, its being repeated 
 successively, as it were, by all kinds of people for 
 three or four years together. To hear people of so 
 much property say they had no money — to hear this 
 frequently declared by citizens, merchants, farmers, 
 and mechanics — to hear it repeated by their wives, 
 hired girls, daughters, tailoresses, dressmakers, and 
 young women working in factories — to hear this so 
 often mentioned by people apparently of the most 
 industrious habits and sober character — some of 
 whom, perhaps, could earn from one to two dollars 
 per day, who could always have work, and, as it 
 seemed, steadily kept at it — and to hear many of 
 these people declare it with every mark of sincerity 
 as religious characters, hundreds of whom, I presume, 
 have told me that they had not a cent in the world — 
 was one of the most mysterious things, as a person 
 from Europe, that I ever knew. In England, as it 
 appeared to me, most people (the poor excepted) 
 had generally some money by them, but in America 
 
TO NEW YORK. 
 
 211 
 
 even the rich were without it ; and amidst people 
 apparently of the first quality, in some parts of the 
 country, who were rich in houses, land, furniture, 
 &c., whose apartments were neatly furnished, pa- 
 pered and carpeted, and which, for beauty, neatness, 
 and grandeur, equalled many of the rich in England, 
 there was no money. I have travelled, I presume, 
 thousands of miles by land and hundreds by water, 
 and hence I speak experimentally of the matter in 
 general, and not contractedly, of particular cases. 
 Nevertheless, I admired the simphcity of a people 
 who, with one voice, so freely acknowledged it, and 
 the contentment they seemed to enjoy without it. 
 I reflected upon the following words, viz : " The love 
 of money is the root of all evil," and doubted whether 
 it could'^be possessed without loving it, and being 
 more or less corrupted by it ; for, by observing the 
 minds and characters of msLUj, I could not but notice 
 that many in America seemed more contented than 
 people in my own country ; and hence I concluded 
 that if money could not be possessed without pro- 
 ducing haughtiness, covetousness, peevishness, and 
 discontentment, it was a blessing to live without it. 
 It was, however, a trial to me in my circumstances : 
 yet amidst many difficulties, I found the inhabitants 
 in general, whether religious or irreligious, a humane, 
 and many of them, a kind people. When I have 
 travelled a whole day with but little success, and 
 found my body and spirits depressed with weariness, 
 I have been discouraged, and, to my grief, have com- 
 plained of my fate in travelling among people where 
 
212 FROM OHIO 
 
 riches and poverty were so blended together ; for 
 even when I found persons who wanted to trade 
 with me, this difficulty was in the way. Among 
 such people it very commonly happened that some 
 had six or ten cents instead of a shilling, and others 
 had fifteen or eighteen instead of twenty-five. Yet 
 among these people in the country, I generally found 
 a supply of my bread and water ; and nothing scarcely 
 has given me greater satisfaction than the conduct 
 of some Americans who have so kindly ministered 
 to my wants in such circumstances. Hence in re- 
 ference to some of them, I scruple not to say, " I was 
 a stranger and they took me in." 
 
 Whatever was the cause of this deficiency amidst 
 all the business, trade, and labor in America, I never 
 could understand — whether there was too little cash 
 in circulation for the population and business of the 
 country — whether it was a universal ambition to 
 double property, and consequently caused merchants 
 and men of business to withhold all to purchase a 
 double quantity of goods or land for speculation, 
 while they obliged every mechanic and laborer to 
 have so much weekly of their merchandise, or to 
 wait till they could pay them — and whether this 
 principle did not so universally prevail as to cause 
 every mechanic to withhold all to purchase a lot, and 
 another an additional farm, I could not tell. 
 
 During the latter part of President Jackson's ad- 
 ministration, the United States Bank was shut up. 
 Some time after this period, in York State, one dollar, 
 and, at a later period, three dollar bills were pro- 
 
TO NEW YORK. 213 
 
 hibited in their circulation ; and about the month of 
 May, 1837, all the banks in that state refused to cash 
 any of their notes for twelve months together. This 
 made considerable difficulty for that season ; and, 
 truly, when the whole complication of such causes 
 were brought into contact with each other — when 
 the effects of those causes were felt as having de- 
 manded specie alone for land in the west ; having 
 removed the deposits and shut up the United States 
 Bank — the necessity the merchants were under in 
 such circumstances, to keep all the cash they could 
 get to send to Europe to purchase goods — the de- 
 structive fires that had previously happened in New 
 York, &c., (fee, so drained the country of cash that 
 it was a difficult thing to find any. This pressure 
 gave rise to the " shin plaster" system ; and hence not 
 only corporations issued forth papers of fifty and 
 twenty-five cents each, but manufacturers, butchers, 
 and such people had recourse to the same means, to 
 as small an amount as six, if not three cents each. 
 If people had five dollar bills they could not change 
 thetii ; and if others, on a journey, wanted to put up 
 at a tavern they knew not how to entertain them. 
 They wanted to know whether they had the specie, 
 and if not they wanted not their custom. 
 
 An individual was speaking of a person whom a 
 landlord refused something to eat through this diffi- 
 culty, when he generously interfered and engaged to 
 be accountable for payment ; and it was generally 
 acknowledged that America had never seen such a 
 time before. It is true that in consequence of the 
 
214 FROM OHIO 
 
 labor there is in this country, and the humanity of 
 the inhabitants towards people in want, no individual 
 need starve; yet during the spring and part of the) 
 summer of 1837, by reason of the crops being injured 
 in the hard winter and spring of 1836, there w^ere 
 many even among farmers who were hard put to it. . 
 The wheat and Indian corn being injured, there was; 
 but little pork slaughtered the winter following ; and 
 hence many farmers themselves, in the summer of 
 1837, were out of meat, and many others well nigh 
 
 out of bread. It was reported that Judge had 
 
 a hundred bushels of wheat, but he was not willing 
 to sell it for less than three hundred dollars, and 
 hence some person or more broke into his barn and 
 bore part of it away. 
 
 But although I have glanced at the prosperity of 
 some and the afflictions of others, yet I hope it has 
 not been to tempt the reader on the one hand, nor 
 discourage him on the other. Nor would I forget to 
 recall his attention to more permanent blessings by 
 saying, provide for yourselves bags which wax not 
 old — a treasure in heaven where no thief approach- 
 eth nor moth corruptelh ; for where your treasure 
 is there will your heart be also. 
 
 Leicester, March 29, 1837. 
 
TO NEW YORK. 215 
 
 No. VII. 
 
 The contrast between Eastern and Western States. — Fruitfiilness and 
 barrenness of different soils. — Large wages of some and small 
 earnings of others, &c., &c., make it difficult to give other 
 nations a correct idea of the country. — Yet notwithstanding the 
 contrast between the amount of business and scarceness of cash, 
 some individuals can get money, probably, as fast in America as in 
 any other part of the world. — Many laboring men from England 
 have risen out of their poverty and become rich, &c. — Reflections. 
 
 From the preceding number it may be seen that 
 money is not so plentiful as some people, from various 
 injudicious reports, have been led to imagine ; nor 
 indeed is it possible to give people, either in Europe 
 or America, a correct idea of all parts of the country ; 
 for, considering the vast contrast there is between 
 the eastern and western states — the fruitfulness and 
 barrenness of the different soils — of the wages that 
 some people can obtain, and the little earnings of 
 others — the sumptuousness, vanity, and refinements, 
 in some particulars, in the east, and the plainness 
 and deprivations of the west — the mixture and sad 
 want of uniformity in manners between the worthy 
 American who characterizes his country for cleanli- 
 ness, plainness, simplicity, industry, and loose man- 
 ners, abruptness, and discourteousness of many — 
 among such a mixture of characters, customs, and 
 contrast in circumstances, I w^ould say it is impossi- 
 ble to give people a just idea of all parts of the 
 country. 
 
 Yet, notwithstanding the contrast between the 
 
216 FROM OHIO 
 
 amount of business and scarceness of cash, it is 
 possible that men of labor and mechanics can get 
 sufficient employment and good wages everywhere, 
 and that some men can find cash as plentiful as in 
 any part of Europe. Among such men are large 
 growers of wheat. Being on a trading excursion in 
 the summer, I came to a place where a number of j 
 men were building a house, and, according to cus- 
 tom (as with one voice) they frankly acknowledged 
 that they had no money, but they informed me that 
 the proprietor of the building (Farmer Coombs, as I 
 shall speak of him) had plenty, and that he was a 
 liberal-minded man. Some time afterwards I met 
 him walking towards the new building, and, being on 
 a journey for that purpose, I would have traded with 
 him, but I could not learn that he had more than his 
 men, or any more than a poor man in England. A 
 short time afterwards I entered his plain habitation — 
 an old log house. In this humble dwelling there was 
 probably a worthy family for plainness, industry, &c., 
 but a people who had nothing, as it might seem, 
 beforehand. Such was the appearance of things to 
 a stranger ; but it was undoubtedly in appearance 
 only ; for this man, notwithstanding the scarcity in 
 1836 (as before mentioned) had w^heat enough to 
 make him nearly ten thousand dollars — a sum rarely 
 equalled for one article by any farmer in Great 
 Britain or elsewhere. I mentioned this in company 
 afterwards, and, as a fact, it was doubted ; and, 
 hence, when an opportunity presented itself, I stepped 
 into the mill at , where I had a friend, who 
 
TO NEW YORK. 217 
 
 informed me that he must have brought wheat into^ 
 that mill to the amount of more than nine thousand 
 dollars, which, according to my calculation, is 
 upwards of two thousand pounds sterling. A rare 
 sum this for a single article of grain for one j^ear to 
 a common farmer. In addition to this sum, I was 
 informed that this man had sold a farm (probably 
 three years previous to that time), about three 
 hundred and fifty acres more or less, at forty -five 
 dollars per acre, which, in the amount, must be 
 between fifteen and sixteen thousand dollars, or at 
 least three thousand five hundred pounds sterling. 
 Nor is it an uncommon thing, in some parts of the 
 country, for a farmer to raise a thousand bushels of 
 wheat, which, as this kind of grain has been selling 
 lately, is exclusively a good compensation for the 
 
 labors of a man and boy for a season. Mrs. P , 
 
 a common farmer's wife, told me that they (meaning 
 her husband and one or more in the family) should 
 have about fourteen hundred bushels as one year's 
 produce. And when passing along the country, I 
 asked a farmer what might be the amount of one 
 year's produce from a hundred acres of land, to 
 'which he replied, " a thousand dollars." If this was 
 a just estimate, I suppose that such a one might 
 maintain a tolerably large family, under such circum- 
 stances, with half that sum, and keep the other half 
 for future purposes ; and if this was perpetuated for 
 ten years successively, it would put a rising family, 
 with God's blessing, into good circumstances, and be 
 a good compensation for labor. 
 
 10 
 
218 FKOM OHIO 
 
 Many laboring nien from England, by coming to 
 America, have risen out of their poverty and become 
 rich. They have been enabled to provide for their 
 families, and left them at their departure in com- 
 fortable circumstances. Others have found plenty 
 of labor, and had opportunities of putting their 
 children to respectable trades, which they could not 
 have done in their native country ; and when a 
 parent has been taken away, the surviving one has 
 found means of putting them into different families, 
 where they have been well educated, religiously 
 trained up, and, in many instances, have been used 
 with as much or more tenderness than by their own 
 parents. Humanity is a conspicuous characteristic 
 of the Americans ; and many orphans adopted or 
 taken in by such people, have, through their atten- 
 tion and kindness, become useful and honorable 
 members of society. Some others, we may suppose, 
 have left their mud-walled cottages in England and 
 erected their log cabins in the woods in America, 
 till, b}^ industry, they have cleared thirty, forty, or 
 nearly a hundred acres of rich land, where they have 
 spent their days in peace, and, in a sense speaking, 
 independent of all men. One man, within the 
 circle of my own knowledge (and there are probably 
 hundreds in America) so located himself as to place 
 six or seven sons in different farms round about him 
 — so arranged them as to have a neighborhood^ — a 
 little generation of his own name, and a great tract 
 of land occupied by his own progeny. 
 
 But when people rise out of their poverty and 
 
TO NEW YORK. 219 
 
 become rich, they too often imbibe such an avari 
 cious spirit that they are never satisfied. Much, too 
 often wants more. Prosperity seems to increase the 
 desires of men till they are as boundless as the sea. 
 They have much pouring in upon them, and yet 
 they are grasping at more. Hence they will always 
 be purchasing, and always in debt. They cannot 
 enjoy what they have, though enough, because they 
 want more. When they have one estate of good 
 rich land, they will purchase another — run in debt 
 for it — pinch and deprive themselves of many com- 
 forts, and labor during their term of life, to get out 
 of the embarrassments they are involved in, instead 
 of enjoying the blessings of Providence they had 
 previously in possession. I remained for the night 
 at the house of a friend, who in the morning spake 
 of a family on my way where I had an occasion to 
 call, whom she supposed to be tolerably rich ; but 
 while I was there, the good lady of the house 
 intimated that her husband was in debt, and during 
 my stay, I learned that he was owing something like 
 three thousand dollars. The fact was, this success- 
 ful man had a good farm., and he purchased another 
 before he could pay for it ; so this seemed to engage 
 their attention till paid for as if they had just begun 
 in the woods. And it is so common a case in 
 America, that as soon as some people are out of 
 debt and have a little money to deposit, they will 
 make another purchase, and keep repeating it till 
 they are bewildered in the midst of their possessions. 
 But is it true that money (as mentioned, page 211) 
 
220 FROM OHIO 
 
 must be loved by its possessors, and more or less cor- 
 rupt the heart of every one who is put in possession of 
 it, and, finally, extinguish in others the last spark of love 
 to God and man ? Is it impossible for the rich to enter 
 into the kingdom of God ? There is certainly great 
 danger of their being shut out, from our Lord's words : 
 as, "Woe unto the rich !" " It is easier for a camel to 
 enter through the eye of a needle, than for a rich 
 man to enter into the kingdom of heaven :" and there 
 wants a proportionable degree of caution and means 
 using to prevent the corrupting influence of riches 
 on the human heart. Money being the medium 
 through which we receive and can purchase every 
 temporal blessing, it enables people to gratify 
 every appetite, run the whole length of dissipation, 
 and keep any company. The poor, who are 
 dependent on them, crouch down with fear, and 
 honor them ; and when people can indulge them- 
 selves in everything, go where they like, and keep 
 any company — when their inferiors honor and 
 flatter them, and they have no adversity or aflfliction 
 as a counterpoise to prosperity, they too often give 
 way to such vanity and self-indulgence as destroy 
 them. Hence, under such circumstances, we should 
 be careful to prevent their corrupting influence upon 
 us, lest they should prove an insurmountable barrier 
 to our entering into the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 Nevertheless it cannot be that riches must inevi- 
 tably ruin any one. No. This will appear clear by 
 considering, First, that money (as well as other 
 things) was created by God hiuiself, and is pro- 
 
TO NEW YORK. 221 
 
 videntially made the medium of receiving all tem- 
 poral blessings ; Secondly, this being the only medium 
 through which our wants are supplied, no man can 
 live without the use of it either by himself or others. 
 Mary, Joanna, and others, ministered to our Lord 
 of their substance. And, Thirdly, some individuals, 
 as Abraham, Job, and Zaccheus, have been rich and 
 yet some of the most pious and best of men. But 
 not without gaining them honestly, and using them 
 to good purposes afterwards ; for " they that will be 
 rich (at all events) fall into temptation and a snare, 
 and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown 
 men in destruction and perdition."' 1 Tim. vi. 9. 
 Hence the love of money, which is called the root 
 of all evil, must be guarded against by the purest 
 and best of people, or else it will finally sink and 
 eternally ruin them ; and people who are successful 
 in all their undertakings, should take timely care to 
 counteract this avaricious principle, or else, like for- 
 nication or any other deadly sin, it will at length 
 pierce them through with many sorrows. 
 
 Are you a man of speculation, reader — a trader 
 in houses and land — a man of prosperity, and trying 
 to add house to house and field to field ? Are you 
 anxious to get rich ? Have you an estate or two in 
 possession already, and still rising early and late, 
 taking no rest, to gain more ? If so, how much would 
 you wish to have ? Is it the good of your children 
 only that you are seeking, or are you anxious to make 
 them rich without regard to consequences ? Stop, 
 and consider ! Pause for a moment, and ask your 
 
222 FROM OHIO 
 
 better judgment what is best for them. Ill gotten 
 and unsanctified wealth, perhaps, has ruined many. 
 Give a boy ten thousand dollars, and he is too rich 
 to begin to creep, and walk, and use the caution of 
 the poor man's son ; but by beginning on a large 
 scale, without either caution, experience, or acute- 
 ness, to get more, he sometimes loses all, and becomes 
 worse than others. Hence, study their safety by 
 plainness and bringing them down rather than raising 
 them to an unprotected elevation in their vain popu- 
 larity and aggrandizement. To be too anxious to 
 save a fortune for them — to give them a polite edu- 
 cation and send them to the dancing school to ac- 
 complish them — to take one step after another to 
 elevate them in the w orld without sufficient merit in 
 themselves to remain there — to introduce them into 
 the highest circles in society by making physicians 
 or lawyers of them, or raising them above what they 
 are qualified for, may prove fatal by finally degrading 
 instead of leading them to honor. How much better 
 is the character of a pious and humble mechanic than 
 a proud and discontented rich man, with all the 
 honors that can be conferred upon him ! It is better, 
 reader, to leave your children in circumstances suited 
 to their capacity, than to raise them above what they 
 are fit for, and bring them to poverty. Observe that 
 there is the blessing or curse of the Lord which you 
 may bring upon them. Saul forfeited his kingdom, 
 and Jonathan also suffered in the battle. The fami- 
 lies of Jeroboam and Ahab were disinherited and 
 cut off: and the leprosy of Naaman was denounced 
 
TO NEW YORK. 223 
 
 against Gehazi and his seed for ever. Hence, it 
 appears that we may not only bring a curse upon 
 ourselves, but, in a temporal point of view, upon 
 our posterity also, and which may remain for gene- 
 rations afterwards. And are 3'Ou not convinced that 
 you may imbibe such a spirit of covetousness that 
 nothing but bringing you and your children to the 
 most abject poverty can atone for ? No repentance 
 or sacrifice, probably, can be accepted without this — 
 that is, to some people and in some cases. And is it 
 not probable, in some other cases, that want of pros- 
 perity, extreme poverty, affliction, (fee, are occa- 
 sioned by a frowning providence for pride, oppres- 
 sion, injustice, and other sins formerly committed 
 and still unreDented of? 
 
 Would you wish, then, to leave a blessing upon 
 your property after you ? If so, permit me to drop 
 a few words for your serious consideration on this 
 subject. First, beware how you get your riches, 
 "Wealth gotten by vanity," saith Solomon, '* shall 
 be diminished ; but he that gathereth by labor, shall 
 increase." Prov. xiii. li. Some people withhold 
 the laborer's hire, others rob the fatherless, oppress 
 the poor, or obtain their wealth by dishonest means. 
 Beware how you follow such examples, and see that 
 you never purchase riches in so wicked and dishonor- 
 able a manner. Avoid all intriguing, tricking, and 
 gambling — all over-reaching, cunning, and unjust 
 measures — all usury, bad money, &c. Secondly, 
 devote what you have to wise and judicious purposes. 
 Many people get a deal of money and lavish it away 
 
224 FROM OHIO 
 
 upon useless objects. They do not consider that 
 their money (as well as their time and every other 
 talent) is a precious gift of God, which ought to be 
 used prudently for their own use and the benefit of 
 others. Thirdly, devote a portion of your income, 
 as an expression of gratitude, in a free-will offering 
 to the Lord. " Jacob vowed a vow, saying, if God 
 will be with me, and will keep me in this way that 
 I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to 
 put on, so that I come again to my father's house in 
 peace ; then shall the Lord be my God : And this 
 stone which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's 
 house ; and of all that thou shalt give me, I will 
 surely give the tenth unto thee." Gen. xxviii. 20-22. 
 Zaccheus still more liberally declared that he gave 
 half his goods to feed the poor. Follow these wor- 
 thy examples, reader, and present your offerings to 
 God by faith in Christ Jesus, and you will find them 
 to be a blessing to thyself and to thy children after 
 thee. 
 
 In conclusion, remember that it is your duty to 
 labor and gain by honest means all you can. This 
 is not wrong ; God has given you this privilege ; 
 nay, he hath called you to do so — to do what he hath 
 called you to with all your might. But then let it 
 be to minister to others of your abundance, seeing 
 there are so many in the human family who have 
 not a capacity to help themselves. And is it not 
 more honorable to administer to others ; more blessed 
 to give than to receive ? Let thy abundance, there- 
 fore, be liberally diffused among the poor, the 
 
TO NEW YORK. 225 
 
 afflicted ; to the stranger and the fatherless ; and 
 cause the widow's heart to sing for joy — " And I say 
 unto you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon 
 of unrighteousness ; that when ye fail, they may 
 receive you into everlasting habitations." Luke 
 xvi. 9. 
 
 " Hast thou not tried the earthly 1 — say, 
 Are not its pleasures for a day ? 
 Its splendors vanishing away ? 
 
 Oh, try the Lord and prove him ! 
 He veils his face, but not in wrath ; 
 No eye hath seen the glorious path, 
 The things thy Heavenly Father hath 
 
 Prepared for those that love him ! 
 
 " Let earthly things arrest thee not— 
 There is above a brighter spot. 
 And power to gain that blessed lot 
 
 To thee is freely given. 
 Seek not on earth thy Paradise : 
 Its hopes are vain — its friendship flies ; 
 And Oh ! for thee prepared there is 
 
 A Paradise in heaven !" 
 
 No. VIII. 
 
 Some places, as retired country situations, apparently advantageous 
 and more desirable than others, &c. — Some neighborhoods and 
 some individuals more conspicuous for kindness, hospitality, &c. — 
 A specimen of American plainness, humanity, &,c., in the religious 
 character, family, and country life of Mr. Truman (so called). — 
 God's regard for the poor, and an anecdote of a poor but pious man 
 in England — Reflections. 
 
 Although happiness is not confined exclusively 
 to the apartments of the rich, nor wretchedness found 
 
 10* 
 
226 FROM OHIO 
 
 only ill the habitations of the poor ; although virtue 
 may be found in the crowd, and vice in the desert's 
 w^aste ; and although there is no place so retired as 
 to secure our happiness, nor any employment with- 
 out guilt that can make us miserable : yet, in passing 
 through a country where there are such a diversity 
 of situations, there seem to be some places which 
 would be advantageous to live in, and some people's 
 lots much preferable to others. The situations I 
 have reference to are those plain, solitary, yet 
 pleasant habitations we sometimes see in the country, 
 and the people who inhabit them are those who 
 neither indulge themselves in luxuries, nor lack the 
 necessaries of life — a people whose care it is to re- 
 sign themselves to the order of providence, and de- 
 vote themselves to prayer and praise — who labor to 
 avoid a conformity to the spirit and manners of the 
 world, that they may slumber in peace, and that, after 
 the troubles and afflictions of life, they may find 
 health and happiness in heaven. Such people appear 
 free from painful anxiety either through fear or am- 
 bition ; are at an equal distance between poverty 
 and riches, and, in general, perhaps enjoy as much 
 peace as any people on earth. 
 
 In passing through the country, I found some 
 neighborhoods and some individuals who were more 
 conspicuous than others for kindness, hospitality, &c. 
 Some would entertain a stranger without any hesita- 
 tion — others would do it, but reluctantly ; but some 
 would not do it at all. Some people's hearts and 
 doors were open to a foreigner, but at others there 
 
TO NEW YORK. 227 
 
 was an insurmountable barrier — no room within, or 
 as it were, a lion in the way. When passing through 
 a neighborhood about fifty miles south of the canal, 
 I called at a respectable farmer's house, whose in- 
 mates, with courteous and christian-like behavior, 
 bade me welcome — a second let me rest at noon — 
 and another showed no mark of reluctance to my 
 remaining for the night. The latter was the plain 
 cottage of Mr. Trum.an, as I shall call him, and 
 whom I shall speak of a little further at large. 
 
 Being on a trading excursion, and late in the day, 
 J asked the privilege of Mrs. T. to tarry for the night, 
 and she made no hesitation. Their plain habitation 
 was probably a log house. In this retired spot, how- 
 ever, there were peace and plenty, kindness and 
 gentleness, and a manifestation of good nature equal 
 to my wants. Here was nothing apparently super- 
 fluous, nor anything wanting ; nothing fine, foppish, 
 or extravagant ; no useless ornaments or expensive 
 furniture to decorate the humble mansion : nor did 
 there appear any pride, contention, or discontent- 
 ment ; no corroding cares or distrust in the gracious 
 providence that had hitherto blessed them. No peev- 
 ishness, murmurings, or unthankfulness. Nothing 
 but what was simple and unaffected — a simplicity of 
 manners untarnished by formality, compliment, or 
 ceremony. Meantime, there was nothing contrary 
 to cleanliness, decency, and modesty ; no low ex- 
 pression, vulgar or profane language. '* Charity 
 behaveth itself not unseemly'' And all of one mind ; 
 there was no discord, no opposition, no dissenting 
 
228 FROM OHIO 
 
 voice. United in affection as parents and children, 
 and manifesting a parental tenderness on one side, 
 and a filial submission on the other, they could har- 
 moniously unite their strength together, and draw 
 as in an even yoke. Stimulated by parental love to 
 provide everything that would make their family 
 and household happy, and the children, as far as I 
 could see, being affectionate and peaceable towards 
 each other, there was an unbroken thread of har- 
 mony. 
 
 We will suppose that Mr. Truman was a son of 
 Abraham, because he partook of the same spirit and 
 did the same works. He entertained strangers. He 
 was probably a kinsman of the pilgrims, who, for the 
 sake of religion, fled to America, many years ago. 
 Being more or less wearied with my journey, and 
 desirous of restoring my exhausted strength by a 
 little rest, as soon as an opportunity presented itself, 
 I asked the privilege to retire. My request, though 
 not supper-time, was immediately granted. A door 
 was opened into a room where there were two beds— 
 in an adjoining apartment there were two beds more : 
 and whether these two peaceful rooms on the ground 
 floor were made by a leaning shantee or not I cannot 
 tell. Howbeit, the house was so small that the beds 
 filled the rooms ; the roof or floor above was as low 
 as an humble mind could wish them to be, and al- 
 though there was not a foot to spare for any other 
 furniture, or room probably to open the doors with- 
 out grating against the beds, the floor, or ceiling, yet 
 both rooms and furniture were clean and sweet as 
 
TO NEW YORK. 229 
 
 the morning air. In the evening (if I remember 
 right) they asked me to join them in prayer, and 
 thus mutually commend each other to God and the 
 protection of his providence. At bed-time the good 
 man waited upon me, to supply any lack for my 
 comfort till morning. Being grateful for his kindnress 
 to me as a stranger, and reflecting upon the happy 
 circumstances in which he was placed, I reminded 
 him of it by observing, " You are the happy man if 
 you can but think so," when he in effect replied, 
 " We will be contented." Hence, after making me as 
 comfortable as he could, he left me for the night to 
 my quiet repose. And, truly, I may say, 
 
 " Sweet were the comforts of that peaceful cot." 
 
 Such is the situation of a country life, which, from 
 its quietness, is partially a life of tranquillity and 
 peace. Remote from the clamors of the city, and 
 the dissipation occasioned by a crowded population ; 
 untainted with pride contracted by associating with 
 people in fashionable' life ; distant from the vanities, 
 the temptations, and the foolish fashions of the mul- 
 titude ; not vexed with the filthy conversation of 
 wicked and profane men, independent of the rich, 
 nor under any obligation to submit to useless cere- 
 monies ; having no painful emotions from slander by 
 the intruding gossip who is listening after the news 
 of the day ; and being tolerably free from worldly 
 ambition, not having their desires excited by the fas- 
 cinating charms of increasing fortune, they appear 
 content with such things as they have, and spend 
 
230 FROM OHIO 
 
 their days in solitude and peace. Such, then, is the 
 satisfaction of those people who are content with 
 such things as they have — -the men who have what 
 is necessary, and yet are free from luxury and 
 worldly ambition. Many families of plainness and 
 kiildness I have found in the country, and Ltake 
 such people as Mr. Truman and his family as a 
 specimen of the original plainness and hospitality of 
 the true spirited American. And such are the com- 
 forts and pleasures of retirement — of a plain and an 
 industrious people whose lives and manneis exhibit 
 to others the beauties of religion in a country life. 
 
 " Tell me no more of earthly toys, 
 Of sinful mirth, of carnal joys, 
 
 The things I loved before : 
 Let me but view my Saviour's face, 
 And feel his animating grace, 
 
 And I desire no more. 
 
 " Tell me no more of praiee and wealth. 
 Of careless ease and blooming health. 
 
 For they have all their snares : 
 Let me but feel my sins forgiven. 
 And see my name enrolled in heaven, 
 
 And I am free from cares. 
 
 " Tell me no more of lofty towers. 
 Delightful gardens, fragrant bowers, 
 
 For these are trifling things : 
 The little room for me designed 
 Will suit as well my easy mind 
 
 As palaces of kings. 
 
 ** Tell me no more of crowding guests, 
 Of gaudy dress and sumptuous feasts. 
 
TO NEW YORK. 
 
 231 
 
 Extravagance and waste : 
 My little table thinly spread, 
 With wholesome herbs and wholesome bread. 
 
 Will better suit my taste. 
 
 " Give me a Bible in my hand, 
 A heart to read, and understand 
 
 This sure unerring word : 
 I'd urge no company to stay. 
 But sit alone from day to day. 
 
 And converse with the Lord." 
 
 Although poverty is not chosen, but abhorred hy- 
 men, and the greatest degree of it cannot be endured 
 without pain by the humblest characters; yet it 
 appears that God has a peculiar regard for those who 
 are the subjects of it. " Blessed be ye poor," said 
 Christ. " Hath not God chosen the poor of this 
 world (asks St. James) rich in faith and heirs of the 
 kingdom whichHe hath promised to them that love 
 him ?" Luke vi. 20, James ii. 5. Hence it appears 
 that God hath given them the first invitation to his 
 kingdom, and although poverty is irksome to flesh 
 and blood, yet in the order of Providence it may be 
 necessary to the soul's highest exaltation in the 
 kingdom of heaven. " We are heirs of God, and 
 joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with 
 him, that we may be also glorified together." Rom. 
 viii. 17. To suffer with him, is to be conformed to 
 his life and death; but how are the rich, in the 
 midst of their possessions, conformable to him who 
 had not where to lay his head ? 
 
 Look up, then, ye poor and afflicted ! ye desolate 
 
232 FROM OHIO 
 
 and forsaken ! Gird up your loins and suffer 
 patiently, and forget not that poverty and affliction 
 are no proofs of God's eternal displeasure. Humble 
 yourselves under his mighty hand, and remember 
 that he hath no pleasure in the death of a sinner, nor 
 willingly afflicteth the children of men. Let me 
 give you an anecdote which I received from the 
 mouth of a minister in England. " I went," said he, 
 " to visit a poor man in his affliction, who told me he 
 could not die happily, because he had debts he could 
 not pay ; supposing them to be a few shillings to 
 one, a few shillings to a second, and about the same 
 sum to a third person, not amounting to a pound in 
 all. I mentioned the difficulty to a few friends, and 
 we contributed a few pounds, which paid the debts 
 and left something for funeral expenses. When this 
 was done, the poor man was delivered from his 
 trouble ; and, stretching out his arms, he in effect 
 said : ' As sure as there is a God in heaven, I shall 
 go to him ; and not only so, but I know that he will 
 take care of my family.' I thought (said the mi- 
 nister) that I would take notice of this family ; and 
 when I was on a journey some years afterwards, I 
 went out of my way to inquire after it : and I found 
 that the eldest son was married and comfortably 
 settled on a farm as an occupier of land ; the second 
 son was in a situation of nearly a hundred pounds 
 sterling per annum ; and the third was in business 
 as a tradesman — and all of them members of a 
 religious society, or at least steady men, and hearers 
 of the gospel." Such were the words of this poor 
 
TO NEW YORK. 233 
 
 dying man, and such are the inestimable advantages 
 of religion at the hour of death. 
 
 Hence, in concluding this number, permit me to 
 notice further, First, the personal advantages of re- 
 ligion at the hour of death to this dying man ; and, 
 Secondly, the advantages of it to his posterity. 
 
 First, its personal advantages. " As sure as there 
 is a God in heaven, I shall go to him." In this lan- 
 guage there was no unbelief, no doubt or fear, but 
 the full assurance of faith ; and this assurance on the 
 borders of immortality ! Happy man ! Although 
 he had no estates or property to leave his children, 
 yet he had peace at last, and an happy assurance of 
 God's favor to himself and family, and that when 
 called to leave even his little cottage on earth, he 
 knew that he had a house above, eternal in the 
 heavens. No apparent derangement, but a calmness 
 of soul, and a rational use of all his faculties. He 
 could think and speak and glorify God. He could 
 take leave of his friends and familv as one who was 
 going a pleasant journey — going home. 
 
 " His God sustained him ia the final hour. 
 His final hour brought glory to his God." 
 
 Had it not been for the special favor of God in this 
 hour of extremity, he might have been deprived of 
 reason ; but in his favor there is life — life even in 
 death. Under his frown there is death even in the 
 prime of life. ''Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a 
 man keep my saying, he shall never see death." 
 John viii. 51. 
 
234 FROM OHIO 
 
 Secondly, notice the advantages of religion to his 
 posterity. " I know that he will take care of my 
 family.'' God showeth mercy (saith Moses) unto a 
 thousand generations of them that love him and 
 keep his commandments. Yea, and he does this to 
 a certain extent for the fathers' sakes. Hence, be- 
 cause Phineas was zealous in executing judgment, 
 he gave him and his seed after him an everlasting 
 priesthood. Unto Abraham God promised, " By 
 myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou 
 hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, 
 thine only son : that in blessing I will bless thee, and 
 in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of 
 heaven," &c. Unto David God promised, "If his 
 children forsake my law, and walk not in my judg- 
 ments, &c., then will I visit their transgressions with 
 the rod, and their iniquity with stripes ; nevertheless, 
 my loving kindness Will I not utterly take from him, 
 nor suffer my faithfulness to fail." And to the Re- 
 chabites, for their faithfulness, God declared, " Jona- 
 dab, the son of Rechab, shall not v/ant a man to stand 
 before me for ever." Num. xxvii. 13. Gen. xxii. 16, 
 17. Psa. xxxix. 30-33. Jer. xxxv. 19. Hence it 
 appears that some people have been so piously de- 
 voted to God, and so faithful in discharging their 
 duty towards him, that he has established his cove- 
 nant with them, and blessed the children after them. 
 
 Lastl}', we may observe that, by a communication 
 of his will to Abraham as a patriarch, and to David, 
 by the mouth of the prophets ; so, under the gospel, 
 by his Holy Spirit, God can give a man a satisfactoy 
 
TO NEW YORK. 235 
 
 assurance of his favor both to him and his children. 
 He had probably prayed for himself and family 
 for many years, and God had given him faith to be- 
 lieve that his petitions should be answered. " The 
 secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and 
 he shows them his covenant. Such are the advan- 
 tages and privileges of God's faithful people. He 
 blesses and he makes known his will to them. " Shall 
 I hide from Abraham," said God, " the thing which 
 1 do ?" And if not, will he withhold any important 
 intelligence from us, if w^e are equally faithful to his 
 commands by living unto him ? How desirable then 
 is the favor of God ! And how much better to leave 
 a family in his favor than with great riches! Let 
 me die the death of the righteous, and let my latter 
 end and future state be like unto theirs. 
 
 No. IX. 
 
 Whether a country life is most advantageous to piety or not, retire- 
 ment is of importance in all circumstances. — This duty must not be 
 neglected. — It is not only a duty, but a gracious privilege, &c. — 
 Faithfulness in opulent circumstances possible, exemplified in Abra- 
 ham ; his solitude, &c. — Reflections, &c. &c. 
 
 Whether a country life is more advantageous than 
 that of the city, or more desirable to the serious 
 reader, or not, an occasional degree of retirement is of 
 importance to all people. Man is such a compound 
 
236 FKOM OHIO 
 
 of flesh and spirit, such a mortal and such a sinner, 
 that food and rest, retirement and prayer, (if he is a 
 believer) are indispensably necessary to the welfare 
 of his body and soul. Can any individual remain in 
 health without a daily supply of bread and water ? 
 Does not the weather-beaten mariner want a quiet 
 recess in the peaceful harbor ? Can even the publi- 
 can utter his groans or give full vent to his grief 
 without entering into his closet ? And is it possible 
 for an established believer, a father in Christ Jesus, 
 or the most venerated character, to keep his soul 
 alive without it ? Did not our Lord himself retire 
 into solitary places ? If so, is it not essentially ne- 
 cessary to us as sinners ? Hence, whether we live 
 in the city or the country, a proper attention to this 
 duty is of great importance to our best interest. 
 
 Yes, an attention to this duty is of vast importance, 
 and if we would be eminent for piety, we must not 
 neglect it. The most devoted characters in all ages, 
 as Enoch, Abraham, Elias, and the apostles, enjoyed 
 solitude or retirement. Did not Enoch's walking 
 with God imply that he walked not with, nor in fel- 
 lowship with the world ? Does not his example 
 teach us that he turned his steps from, rather than 
 that he sought an intimate acquaintance with it ? 
 And does not the phrase, " He walked with God," 
 imply that he lived in his closet — enjoyed solitude — 
 and that he sought places suitable for reflection, 
 where he could hold communion with him ? — that 
 the shady grove, the solitary walk, or the midnight 
 shade bore no terrifying aspect to him ? And did 
 
TO NEW YORK. 23 Y 
 
 he not seek a greater abstractedness from, rather 
 than desire its friendship, its toys or vanities ? If so, 
 ought not we to follow him as he followed that which 
 is good ? Must not every one who would be like 
 him, seek after the same deadness to the world, or 
 follow him, in order to enjoy the same communion 
 I with God ? And if we do this, will not the same 
 course lead us to the same end ? Must not the same 
 exercise of faith and prayer, the same desire and 
 hope, the same method and means, the same efforts 
 and exertions, the same steadiness and perseverance 
 ' (when grounded upon faith in Christ Jesus,) lead us 
 i to the same devotedness and exalted station ? It is 
 I true that men, pious and godly men, must not go out 
 of the world and leave it in the hands of Satan, but 
 they must keep their distance. They must not re- 
 main so loner as to let wickedness leaven the little 
 spark of grace they have in them, instead of letting 
 ■ others feel the salutary influence of their company, 
 or bringing the rebellious over to godliness. Charac- 
 ters who are like lights in a dark place, must not 
 withdraw themselves and leave others to stumble 
 and fall into idolatry, but they must trim their lamps 
 and keep awake ; they must stand at a distance, and 
 shed their radiance upon others ; they must endeavor 
 to retain their savor, that, as the salt of the earth, 
 they may season and keep it from putrefaction. 
 
 Hence let us take it for granted not only that a 
 proportionable degree of retirement is essential to 
 our happiness and the good of others, but rejoice 
 that God has graciously given us such a privilege — 
 
238 FROM OHIO • 
 
 the privilege of waiting upon him alone ; and that 
 he has commanded us to use it, that we may be 
 happy and find rest to our souls. Yet many care- 
 lessly neglect it, and others, through a multiplicity, 
 of engagements, are carried down, as it were, into 
 an ocean of worldly cares that they cannot enjoy it. 
 Does not the pious farmer see and feel his danger in 
 this particular ? — the young man, who has lately 
 entered upon the business of life, and whose worldly 
 avocations crowd upon him so fast that he is obliged . 
 to deny himself or find loss in his soul ? Labor of 
 different kinds comes in in succession, and he iS' 
 anxious to do each in its season, and hence without 
 prayer, watchfulness, and retirement, he is carried 
 forward and onward, year after year, till, through a 
 multiplicity of business, though his land is cultivated, 
 his soul brings forth no fruit to perfection. Oh, my 
 Saviour, give me what is necessary and contentment, 
 and suffer me not to be drunken and surfeited with 
 the cares of this life. 
 
 But it is not impossible even in opulent circum- 
 stances to be faithful to God. No : Abraham was 
 rich in things pertaining to this life, nevertheless his 
 riches and worldly engagements did not prevent his 
 building an altar unto the Lord. He had a large 
 family, but he governed himself, and commanded his 
 household likewise. He had many things in connex- 
 ion with his family and the world — his flocks and 
 herds of cattle to engage his attention — but these 
 things did not hinder him from being sometimes 
 alone. O sweet retirement, when the heart is 
 
TO NEW YORK. 239 
 
 cleansed from the impure love of the world ! Happy 
 are the people who can enjoy and make a proper use 
 of it. And blessed is the man who, at all times, has 
 his heart free to wait upon the Lord. It was not in 
 the city or in the crowd, but in the plains of Mamre 
 and other places of retirement, probably, where 
 Abraham had many interviews with the Lord. Sit- 
 ting in his tent door, and, perhaps, contemplating the 
 perfections of Jehovah, or some former intercourse 
 he had had with beings more than mortal, he lifted 
 up his eyes, and lo ! three men stood by him. De- 
 siring to have some intercourse with them, as mes- 
 sengers from heaven, he ran and bowed himself 
 towards the ground : or, being of an humble, hospita- 
 ble character himself, he was not above entertaining 
 them though strangers. Hence he saluted them 
 (though in the name of the Lord) in the kindest 
 manner. " My Lord," said he, " if now I have found 
 favor in thy sight, pass not away, &c." " Let a little 
 water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, 
 and rest yourselves under the tree, &c." And 
 Abraham hastened and ordered some cakes, and ran 
 and fetched a calf, &c. How generous and kind 
 was such conduct ! Like the good Samaritan, he 
 entertained and supplied their wants to the full ! 
 What a spirit of hospitality was here 1 Here was no 
 pride to cause him to look above them — no haughti- 
 ness to give pain or force them from his door — no 
 want of humility necessary to honor them, nor any 
 lack of love to entreat them with kindness. O my 
 God, bless me with the finest feelings of sympathy 
 
240 FROM OHIO 
 
 the human heart is capable of — the tenderest pity 
 and the warmest charity. Enable me to enter into 
 the feelings and wants of others, that at least I may 
 learn to love though I cannot relieve them ! 
 
 Abraham was sitting alone. So it might seem to 
 all human observation, but the plains and the moun- 
 tains might be full of ministering spirits and chariots 
 of fire. The most solitary places, perhaps, are not 
 without their daily visitants. The most secluded 
 place in the wilderness, or the most crowded part of 
 the city, is not destitute of the presence of Him, who 
 filleth both the earth and the heavens with his great- 
 ness. Nay, when people appear the most alone, 
 they may have the greatest company surrounding 
 them. Abraham and Lot entertained angels An 
 angel appeared to Elijah, to Daniel, and others. 
 And what reason have we to suppose that these pure 
 and heavenly spirits are not encompassing us about 
 both by day and night ? " Are they not all minister- 
 ing spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall 
 be heirs of salvation ?" Hence may we not suppose 
 that they are daily patrolling our avenues, our walks, 
 and our gardens ? — the groves, the bowers, and the 
 most sequestered corners. And why should we think 
 it incredible that the spirit of a departed sister, 
 brother, or friend, frequently visits us, or that the 
 spirit of an affectionate parent hovers over us — that 
 one or more of our friends frequently look into our 
 chambers or our closets, and observe our actions ? 
 Is such liberty contrary to the laws of the invisible 
 world ? If it is not, and our secret actions are laid 
 
TO NEW YORK. 241 
 
 open to the world of spirits, as well as to the broad 
 eye of Him who will bring every idle word into 
 judgment, "what manner of persons ought we to be 
 in all holy conversation and godliness!" 
 
 How awful then is our situation ! and how neces- 
 sary it is to withdraw to inspect our actions, and 
 seek for grace, to live unblamably in it. For "the 
 world," says an English writer, " is a troubled ocean ; 
 and who can erect stable purposes on its fluctuating 
 waves ?" The world is a school of wrong ; and who 
 does not feel himself warping to its pernicious in- 
 fluences ? On this sea of glass, how insensibly we 
 slide from our own steadfastness ! Some sacred 
 truth, which was struck in lively characters on our 
 souls, is obscured if not obliterated. Some worthy 
 resolution, which heaven had wrought in our hearts, 
 is shaken if not overthrown. Some enticing vanity^ 
 which we had solemnly renounced, again practises 
 its wiles and captivates our affections. How often 
 has a word of applause dropt luscious poison into our 
 ears ; or some disrespectful expression raised a gust 
 of passion in our bosoms ? Our innocence is of so 
 tender a constitution that it suffers in the promiscuous 
 crowd. Our purity is of so delicate a complexion 
 that it scarce touches on the world without con- 
 tracting a stain. We see, we hear with peril. , 
 
 But here safety dwells. Every meddling and in- 
 trusive avocation is secluded. Silence holds the 
 door against the strife of tongues, and all the imper- 
 tinences of idle conversation. The busy swarms of 
 vain images and cajoling temptations, which beset 
 
 11 
 
242 FROM OHIO 
 
 US with a buzzing importunity amidst the gaieties of 
 life, are chased by these thickening shades. Here I 
 may, without disturbance, commune with my own 
 heart, and learn that best of sciences — to know my- 
 self. Here the soul may rally her dissipated powers, 
 and grace recover its native energy. This is the 
 opportunity to rectify every evil impression — to ex- 
 pel the poison, and guard against the contagion of 
 corrupting examples. This is the place where I may 
 with advantage apply myself to subdue the rebel 
 within ; and be master not of a sceptre, but of my- 
 self. Throng then, ye ambitious, the levees of the 
 powerful ; I will be punctual in my assignations with 
 solitude. To a mind intent upon its own improve- 
 ment, solitude has charms incomparably more en- 
 gaging than the entertainments presented in the 
 theatre, or the honors conferred in the drawing- 
 room. 
 
 I said solitude. Am I then alone ? 'Tis true my 
 acquaintance are at a distance. I have stolen away 
 from company, and am remote from all human obser- 
 vation. But that is an alarming thought. 
 
 " Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth. 
 Unseen both when we wake and when we sleep." 
 
 Far. Lost, Book IV. 677. 
 
 Perhaps there may be numbers of these invisible 
 beings patrolling this same retreat, and joining with 
 me in contemplating the Creator's works. Perhaps 
 those ministering spirits, who rejoice at the conver- 
 
TO NEW YORK. 243 
 
 sion of a sinner, and hold up the goings of the right- 
 eous, may follow us to this lonely recess, and even in 
 our most solitary moments be our constant attend- 
 ants. What a pleasing awe is awakened by such a 
 reflection ! How venerable it renders my retired 
 walks ! I am struck with reverence as under the 
 roof of some sacred edifice, or in the presence-cham- 
 ber of some mighty monarch. Oh ! may I never 
 bring any pride of imagination, nor indulge the least 
 dissolute affection where such refined and exalted 
 intelligences exercise their watch ? 'Tis possible that 
 I am encompassed with such a cloud of witnesses ; 
 but it is certain that God, the infinite, eternal God, 
 is now and ever wdlh me. The great Jehovah, be- 
 fore whom all the angelic armies bow their heads 
 and veil their faces, surrounds me, supports me, per- 
 vades me. "In Him I live, move, and have my 
 being." The whole world is his august temple ; and 
 in the most sequestered corner I appear before his 
 adorable majesty no less than when I worship in his 
 house or kneel at his altar. In every place, therefore, 
 let me pay Him the homage of a heart cleansed from 
 idols and devoted to his service. In every circum- 
 stance let me feel no ambition but to please him, nor 
 covet any happiness but to enjoy him. 
 
 " How sublime is the description, and how striking 
 the sentiment in that noble passage of the Psalms ! 
 ' Whither shall I go from thy spirit, or whither shall 
 I flee from thy presence ? If I climb up into the 
 heights of heaven thou art there,' enthroned in light. 
 * If I go down into the depths of the grave thou art 
 
244 FROM OHIO 
 
 there also,' in the pavilion of darkness. If I retire to 
 the remotest eastern climes where the morning first 
 takes wing ; if, swifter than the darting ray, I pass 
 to tlie opposite regions of the west, and remain in 
 the uttermost parts of the sea, shall I, in that distant 
 region, be beyond thy reach, or by this sudden 
 transition escape thy notice ! So far from it, that 
 could I, with one glance of thought, transport myself 
 beyond the bounds of creation, I should still be en- 
 circled with the immensity of thy essence ; or, rather, 
 still be inclosed in the hollow of thy hand. Awful, 
 yet delightful truth ! Let it be interwoven with 
 every thought, and become one with the very con- 
 sciousness of my existence ! That 1 may continually 
 walk with God, and conduct myself in every step of 
 my behavior, as seeing HIM that is invisible. 
 
 " They are the happy persons — felicity, true felicity 
 is all their own — who live under an habitual sense 
 of God's omnipresence, and a sweet persuasion of 
 his special love. If dangers threaten, their impreg- 
 nable defence is at hand. Nothing can be so near 
 to terrify, as their Almighty Guardian to secure them. 
 To these the hours can never be tedious ; and it is 
 impossible to be alone. Do they step aside from 
 occupations of animal life ? a more exalted set of 
 employments engage their attention. They address 
 themselves, in all their various acts of devotion, to 
 their Heavenly Father, wfio now sees in secret, and 
 will hereafter reward them openly. They spread all 
 their wants before his indulgent eye, and disburden 
 all their sorrows into his compassionate bosom. Do 
 
TO NEW YORK. 245 
 
 they withdraw from human society ? they find them- 
 selves under the more immediate regards of their 
 Maker. If they resign the satisfactions of social in- 
 tercourse, it is to cultivate a correspondence with 
 the condescending Deity, and taste the pleasures of 
 divine friendship. What is such a state but the 
 suburbs of heaven ? What is such a conduct but an 
 antepast of eternal blessedness." 
 
 No. X. 
 
 The duty and advantages of prayer contemplated, &-c. — Its importance 
 and effects when faithfully attended to, &c. — Notwithstanding its 
 importance many professors live too much in the neglect of it, &c. — 
 Nor is it expected that all people can attend to it alike. — A few 
 characters mentioned who have distinguished themselves by their 
 application to it. — Its design, effects, &:,c., &-c. 
 
 Having written a little in commendation of soli- 
 tude and a country life, permit me to spend a short 
 time now exclusively in contemplating the duty and 
 advantages of prayer — a duty this, perhaps, of all 
 others, the most important. Without it we can 
 never live to any good purpose — never enjoy our- 
 selves happily in our present situation — never answer 
 the noble end of our creation, as accountable crea- 
 tures, nor ultimately find our way to heaven. A 
 partial attention to it shows our ignorance of its im- 
 portance, while a proper conviction of our obligation, 
 
246 FROM OHIO 
 
 and an unremitting attention to it, leads to conse- 
 quences beyond our power of calculation. A privi- 
 lege this also, which, in importance, is not inferior, 
 perhaps, to the employment of angels, and which 
 connects itself with the greatest blessings heaven has 
 promised to bestow. 
 
 The importance of this duty is such that men ought 
 always to pray, saith our Lord, and not to faint ; and 
 St. Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to pray without 
 ceasing. A faithful attention to it has done wonders ; 
 and God always regards the prayers of persons, we 
 will suppose, in proportion to their faith and fidelity. 
 " The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man 
 availeth much." How much, we cannot tell. Mor- 
 tals cannot fathom its beneficial effects, nor calculate 
 its amount of good to man. What is there that has 
 not been done in answer to it ? It has opened the 
 heavens and dried up the sea. It preserved the He- 
 brews in the fire, and supported others while con- 
 sumed by it. The sick have been cured of the most 
 inveterate diseases ; devils have been cast out, and 
 the dead raised to life. Speaking of the ancient 
 worthies St. Paul says, '•' Who through faith (which 
 was animated and perfected by prayer) subdued 
 kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, 
 stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence 
 of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weak- 
 ness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned 
 to flight the armies of the aliens ; women received 
 their dead raised to life again, and others were tor- 
 tured, not accepting deliverance, that they might 
 
I 
 
 TO NEW YORK. 24*7 
 
 obtain a better resurrection :" Heb. xi. All bless- 
 ings — all necessary power and protection has been 
 given in answer to prayer, but no blessing or pro- 
 tection can be secured without it. In answer to 
 prayer, sinners have been converted, others have 
 been delivered from dangers, and prodigal children 
 have been reclaimed and returned to their father's 
 house. It is probable that there never was a soul 
 converted to God but in answer to prayer ; and it is 
 on this condition that the blessings of Providence 
 and grace are enjoyed and perpetuated unto us. 
 And this is all founded in Christ Jesus, who first 
 undertook our cause, purchased salvation for us, and 
 ever liveth to make intercession for us — our Lord 
 and Saviour, who is all in ail. 
 
 Such is the importance of this duty, and yet we 
 too little regard it, and many professors, in this day, 
 are living nearly in the neglect of it. Some have no 
 prayer in their families — seldom enter into their 
 closets, or bow their knees to Him who seeth in 
 secret. If this is our case — if, under such circum- 
 stances, we can be called pious people, yet we are 
 not eminently so. We cannot be reckoned among 
 the princes of God's people, nor numbered with his 
 first-born in glory everlasting. No : people who will 
 be eminent for piety, must be eminent for prayer. 
 They always go together. This is the love of God, 
 saith St. John, that we keep his commandments — and 
 these call us to repent and, believe — to watch and 
 pray with perseverance. Our Lord upbraided his 
 disciples for unfaithfulness — for asking so little — for 
 
248 FROxM OHIO 
 
 asking comparatively nothing in his name, and asked 
 whether they could not watch with him one hour. 
 Hence if it is true that whatsoever his disciples ask 
 in his name shall be granted — that God is faithful to 
 his own promise, and can do abundantly above all 
 that they can ask or think — and that although heaven 
 and earth may pass away, yet his words shall not 
 pass away without sooner or later receiving their 
 accomplishment, what enemies people are to them- 
 selves that they do not endeavor more to cultivate 
 this spirit, and avail themselves of so great a privilege ! 
 It is not, however, supposed that all people can 
 attend to the same rules of holy living as others, or 
 that all are equally blest with regard to privilege. 
 Consequently it will not do for the husbandman to 
 neglect his daily avocations, the mechanic his em- 
 ployment, the servant his master's work, nor the 
 mother the affairs of her family. By no means. The 
 minister is called to an holy calling, and can give 
 himself unto prayer — the individual v/ith a sufficient 
 competency, can have time to trade only with 
 heaven — and the pious female, in such circumstan- 
 ces, need not be hindered from serving God with 
 fastings and prayers, day and night. In these re- 
 spects, also, God hath made men to differ. Some 
 have less worldly embarrassment by having all things 
 provided, while others must labor for themselves and 
 families. God mercifully blesses some who have no 
 time — no place, at all times, to bow the knee ; but 
 this implies no guilt ; whereas to have opportunities 
 afforded and not improve them, is sinful. The thief. 
 
TO NEW YORK. 249 
 
 poor fellow, cried in his distress, " Lord, remember 
 me when thou comest into thy kingdom." "And 
 Jesus said unto him, verily I say unto thee, to-day 
 shalt thou be with me in Paradise." This was doing 
 above all he asked or thought of. But there are 
 some blest with opportunities they do not improve, 
 while others use their time and other talents to 
 greater advantage. 
 
 Mr. John Welsh, a Scotch minister (who, as his 
 biographer has informed us, was a holy and propheti- 
 cal man of God), was accustomed to spend eight 
 hours out of the twenty^four in private prayer. 
 Such was this man's importunity — such was his 
 faithfulness in this duty, and such were his pleadings 
 at a throne of grace. Surely this was striving for 
 all the power of godliness, and exerting his strength 
 to make sure work for eternity. This was living to 
 a good purpose., by warring a good warfare, and 
 fighting not as one who beateth the air. Such a life 
 of diligence, with a uniformity in other duties, would 
 procure the testimony of a good conscience — would 
 lead to the highest spiritual enjoyments, and finally 
 be crowned with the calmest and most triumphant 
 end. Oh, happy men that thus pray ! who pray till 
 their souls are absorbed and lost in God. This 
 seems to be the direct way to lose themselves in the 
 immensity of Him who is all in all. By such an 
 evangelical faithfulness, the believer leaves all his 
 doubts and fears behind, and obtains confidence 
 towards God — stands prepared to meet the afflictions 
 incident to his earthly pilgrimage, and becomes quali- 
 
 11* 
 
250 FROM OHIO 
 
 fied under the Captain of his salvation, to meet death 
 with all his terrors. 
 
 A certain divine in England, in effect said, that 
 he was much affected by reading an account of the 
 Farrar (or Farrer) family, at Little Gidding, in 
 Huntingdonshire, and desired to see such another 
 family in any of the three kingdoms ; a family, it 
 seems, much devoted to God, and which was made 
 the talk of the country for righteousness' sake. 
 Hence a certain individual made a visit, in order to 
 inquire into their way of living ; and among several 
 particulars he gave of their fidelity in a letter to a 
 friend, there stand the following : " There were every 
 night two (alternately) continued their devotions, 
 that went not to bed until the rest rose." The same 
 pious divine in effect, said, that he despaired for 
 many years of seeing any person stand in competi- 
 tion with Monsieur De Renty (a French nobleman) 
 and Gregory Lopez (a hermit in America.) And in 
 the life of the former it is stated (if my memory does 
 not deceive me) that he sometimes spent two, three, 
 four, or five hours in prayer in a day. From the life 
 of the latter, I insert the following quotation : " Being 
 one day in prayer in a church at Toledo, God gave 
 him a fuller and stronger resolution than he had ever 
 yet had of executing his design to live wholly to him. 
 But as resolutions of importance ought not to be 
 made but in consequence of much prayer, he passed 
 several days in prayer and watching in the church 
 of Guadaloupe, to obtain light how to proceed in 
 what he purposed ; and hereby he was more and 
 
"TO NEW YORK. 251 
 
 more determined to quit both the court, and his 
 friends, and native country, that there might be no 
 obstruction to the entire devotion of himself to God, 
 which his soul continually panted after." 
 
 Of Xavier, to the best of my recollection, it is re- 
 corded, that, when on a certain voyage at sea, he 
 accustomed himself to rise at midnight, and spend 
 the time, till the rising of the sun, in prayer ; that he 
 used to retire to a place of solitary seclusion for the 
 space of two hours after dinner ; and that he requested 
 a young man to call him at the end of that time, who, 
 on one occasion, found him so absorbed in God, so 
 wrapt up in his devotions, or, rather, so lost to all 
 things here below, and transported to heaven, that 
 he perceived him not. Finding him. seated with his 
 arms across his breast and his eyes raised towards 
 heaven, he left him undisturbed for the present. In 
 effect he declared that he could not interrupt the 
 repose of a man Vv'ho had the appearance of an angel, 
 and seemed to enjoy the pleasures of paradise. 
 Calling on him about two hours afterwards he found 
 him still in the same position, when, by jogging or 
 shaking, he brought him to himself; who, never- 
 theless, having been caught up, as it were, into the 
 heavens, found himself but little disposed to business 
 of earth ; and hence " we wull take another day," 
 said he, " to speak to the viceroy, for I perceive that 
 God intends having this day wholly to himself." 
 
 But we have also individuals of ancient as well as 
 of modern date who have thus distinguished them- 
 selves. We have scripture characters. Elias was 
 
252 FROM OHIO 
 
 a man who prayed earnestly, frequently, and with 
 im])ortunity. David declared that he gave himself 
 unto prayer, which implies a perpetual pleading with 
 God, beyond the practice of formal professors : and 
 some worthies of the Jewish captivity so lived that 
 they durst brave the threats of their enemies, and all 
 that they could do by fire and torture to afflict them^ 
 though it might cost them an immediate forfeiture of 
 life. In the New Testament we read of Anna, the 
 prophetess, who served God with fastings and prayers 
 night and day; of Cornelius, who prayed to God 
 always ; and our Lord, who continued all night in 
 prayer to God. 
 
 The design of prayer is to make us happy. God 
 commands us to use it to inquire of and show our. 
 dependence upon him ; and it may not be exclusively 
 intended to inform him of our wants, but, by its use, to 
 wean us from earth, and prepare us for blessings he 
 is waiting to give. It should be so used as to have 
 this happy efteet upon us. It can never be practised 
 too much, providing sin is given up — no work of 
 importance is neglected, and providing it be offered 
 up in sincerity. This is certain, from many of our 
 Lord's words in commanding it ; reproving his dis^ 
 ciples for asking so little, and by urging the duty 
 upon them by such gentle motives. " Could ye not 
 watch with me one hour ?" Who can tell how much 
 we are indebted to the prayers of the righteous for 
 our providential blessings and the continuation of our 
 gracious mercies — for our fruitful seasons, and the 
 preservation of our lives — for the averting of God's 
 
TO NEW YOHK. 253 
 
 judgments, and the lengthening out our tran- 
 quilhty ! / 
 
 But it is private prayer principally that is here 
 intended — which is recommended to others, and 
 which, also, is more proper in its application to sin- 
 cere professors of religion than other people. Art 
 thou a disciple of Jesus Christ ? and wouldst thou be 
 made holy ? If so, learn of him, and accept of salva- 
 tion on his own terms. His word is, enter into thy 
 closet and pray ; " ask, and ye shall have ; seek, and 
 ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto 
 you." Do worldly affairs engage thy attention ? 
 Yet even a«iidst all thy labors thou canst probably 
 bow thy knee for a few minutes two or three times 
 in a day. Have you much time of your own ? If 
 so, what an opportunity have you for drawing near 
 unto God ! And how favorably you are situated for 
 stepping aside from the common walks of life to ac- 
 quaint him with all your cares, your wants and de- 
 sires ! — of withdrawing from the world and walking 
 with God — of pleading with him for the entire de- 
 struction of sin in thy own heart and in the world — 
 of interceding with him for the conversion of sinners, 
 and praying that Christ's kingdom may come, and 
 his will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. 
 
 Stop and consider ! Have you not been unfaithful, 
 and are you not still living beneath your privileges ? 
 Do you ever spend one hour in private devotion, or 
 do you make it your daily practice in secret to draw 
 near unto God ? But it may be that you are alto- 
 gether a prayerless character — a sinner, in the fullest 
 
254 FROM OHIO 
 
 sense of the word, unconverted and unforgiven—- 
 having no hope, and without God in the world. Is 
 it so ? Do you close your eyes at night and rise in 
 the morning without making prayer unto God ? Oh, 
 remember that word, "except ye repent ye shall all 
 likewise perish :" Luke xiii. 3, 5, verses ; but re- 
 member, also, that he hath no pleasure in the death 
 of the wicked. Wherefore, confess and forsake your 
 sins and ye shall find mercy. Draw near unto God, 
 and he will draw near unto you. Ask his forgiveness 
 and ye shall receive it. Seek his pardoning love and 
 ye shall find it. Knock with perseverance at the 
 door of mercy, and even the gate of heaven and 
 eternal life shall be opened unto you. 
 Utica, June, 1838. 
 
 BOWER OP PRAYER. 
 
 " To leave my dear friends, and with neighbors to part. 
 And go from my home, affects not my heart, 
 Like the thought of absenting myself for a day 
 From that blest retreat I have chosen to pray — 
 I have chosen to pray. 
 
 ** Dear bower, where the pine and the poplar leaves spread. 
 And woven their branches a roof o'er my head ; 
 How oft have I knelt on the evergreen there, 
 And poured out my soul to my Saviour in prayer — 
 To my Saviour in prayer. 
 
 " The early shrill notes of a loved nightingale, 
 That dwelt in the bower, I observed as my bell ; 
 It called me to duty, while birds in the air 
 Sang anthems of praises as I went to prayer — 
 As I went to prayer. 
 
TO NEW YORK. 255 
 
 " How sweet were the zephyrs, perfumed by the pine. 
 The ivy, the balsam, and the wild eglantine ; 
 But sweeter, oh ! sweeter, superlative were 
 The joys that I tasted in answer to prayer — 
 In answer to prayer. 
 
 " For Jesus, my Saviour, oft deigned to meet, 
 And blest with his presence my humble retreat ; 
 Oft filled me with raptures and blessedness there. 
 Inditing in Heaven's own language my prayer — 
 Own language my prayer. 
 
 " Dear bower, I must leave you, and bid you adieu. 
 And pay my devotions in parts that are new. 
 Well knowing my Saviour resides everywhere, 
 And can in all places give answer to prayer — 
 Give answer to prayer." 
 
 No. XL 
 
 The contrast in scenery in some particulars between the two couH" 
 tries. — In America there is a deal of land uncultivated, and improved 
 land wants still a deal of labor. — The climate being warmer, the 
 surface of the earth bears a more barren appearance. — But, admitting 
 the difference, America is a fine country ; sometimes more pleasant, 
 and an advantageous location as a port, &c. — Liberty and inde- 
 pendence give rise to a diversity of works, patterns, and inventions 
 not seen in England. Family graveyards, monumental stones, &q., 
 on private estates, a novelty to foreigners, &.c., &c., &c. 
 
 How different the scenery in some parts of the 
 country, and also in some particulars in the city, to 
 England ; for although there are many pleasant 
 
266 FROM OHIO 
 
 prospects, and land apparently of the richest quality — 
 although vegetation is more rapid, and the land, in 
 many places, will produce as much or more of the 
 finest grain — although in many places it is orna- 
 mented with the neatest inclosures, and interspersed 
 with solitary, yet noble, trees, woods, &c.— although 
 in some of the New England States and the oldest 
 settled parts, the formation of the earth is grand, and 
 there may be many picturesque landscapes, as ex- 
 tensive plains, fruitful fields, &c., as beautiful in ap- 
 pearance, probably, as the most ingenious artists 
 ever exhibited to the eye of mortals, yet a great part 
 of the country remains a desert wild. Without 
 speaking lightly of this happy country, yet, for want 
 of more mature improvements, there must necessarily 
 be a considerable difference. In England there are 
 not only the richest pasture fields, &c., but oxen, 
 sheep, and all kinds of cattle, as it were, in every 
 direction. The fields are divided with living fences, 
 and the country diversified by woods, plantations, 
 copses, parks, &c. There is the old inclosure, the 
 rich swarded field, and the fruitful meadow. The 
 country in general has been drained, and the swamps 
 and marshy places converted into fruitful spots for 
 pasturage or for some useful grain. The rotten 
 timber and stumps have disappeared that their places 
 are not found, and, in a certain sense, there is not a 
 vestige of them left. The climate being more tem- 
 perate, and the earth frequently shaded with inter- 
 vening clouds, and watered sometimes by successive 
 showers of rain, there is an appearance sometimes 
 
TO NEW YORK. 257 
 
 of greater fruitfulness — vegetation apparently brings 
 forth more luxuriously — the well cultivated garden 
 is filled nearer to the brim — leaves at midsum- 
 mer, expand themselves so extensively as to make 
 some places like a shady bovver, and the whole 
 country a scene of fruitfulness. 
 
 " The hawthorn whitens, and the juicy groves 
 Put forth their buds, unfolding by degrees. 
 Till the whole leafy forest stands displayed 
 In full luxuriance, to the sigliing gales 
 Where the deer rustle through the twining brake. 
 And the birds sing concealed. At once arrayed 
 In all the colors of the flushing year, 
 By nature's swift and secret working hand, 
 The garden glows, and fills the liberal air 
 With lavish fragrance." 
 
 But in this new, and, in many respects, this fruit- 
 ful country, the labor and scenery are different. 
 There is still a deal of land (apparently as wild as if 
 it had lain from the creation) to be cleared, and 
 different kinds of labor to be performed. There is 
 much wood to be cut down, thousands of stumps 
 want removing, and many swamps and marshy places 
 want draining. In England the farmer has a flock 
 of sheep, divided and spread abroad in every direc- 
 tion, which wants the shepherd's attention, morning, 
 noon, and night ; but in York State and Ohio, in 
 many places, there are no such cattle, and but com- 
 paratively few anywhere. Hence the farmer as a 
 shepherd is not wanted. He is employed in clearing 
 and managing by his own labor what is already in a 
 
258 FROM OHIO 
 
 state of cultivation. In one place we see the wood 
 in its original state, or as it has been, probably, for 
 five hundred years — the underbrush and rotten tim- 
 ber promiscuously mixed together upon the earth ; 
 some of the largest trees fallen and beaten down, 
 others have so blocked up the path of the traveller 
 that he cannot make a straight passage in his course. 
 In another place there are trees, as it were, twice 
 dead, with their extremities decayed, which make an 
 appearance of desolation not seen in England. The 
 fields are divided by the rail zigzag instead of the 
 growing fence, and perpetuated for several hundred 
 miles together. The country being in this infantine 
 state, it need not be expected that there is the same 
 old swarded land in general, and the same improve- 
 ment in breeding cattle as in England ; and yet the 
 improvements are such that they could never have 
 been made in so short a time but by an industrious 
 and persevering people. 
 
 The climate being considerably warmer, the earth 
 in general, perhaps, bears a more barren appearance 
 than in England ; nevertheless, in cool, showery 
 weather in spring (as it were in 1836, '7, and '8) there 
 is a beautiful prospect of great fruitfulness. The 
 apple trees, in full bloom, are apparently as white as 
 if laden with snow in the depths of winter. The 
 land yields its increase ; and I have been inclined to 
 think (though I might have been mistaken) that in 
 general, with the same cultivation, it would produce 
 more wheat per acre than land in England. 
 
 But admitting the difference there may be drawn 
 
TO NEW YORK. 259 
 
 between the two nations, America is a fine country. 
 Where shall we find a more advantageous location 
 than New York for travelling from port to port, and 
 transporting ourselves hundreds of miles in so short 
 a time in every direction ? Here is not only a na- 
 tion, or an island, but a vast territory — a continent 
 equal to many of them. Where shall we find such 
 a vast expanse, such a widespread tract on the earth 
 besides ? Here are, probably, a dozen steamboats 
 steering daily different ways, and railroads, which, 
 conjointly, will convey a person, in a very short time, 
 a thousand miles into the interior of the country ! 
 By these means we may pass from port to port in 
 New Haven and Flartford in Connecticut, or we may 
 steer from village to village in Long Island ; we may 
 pass to New Jersey, or may take the North River, 
 and in a short time transport ourselves to Buffalo and 
 the western territories. And in what part of the 
 world may we see such rivers and lakes, such gulfs 
 and chasms, such rocks and precipices, such cata- 
 racts, waterfalls, and inland seas ? 
 
 America being a free country, and made so more 
 especially to the people through the circumstances 
 they are under ; — having in general an estate of their 
 own, and all men at present being able to find em- 
 ployment, labor, &.C., are circumstances which lead 
 to encouragement ; and a diversity of works, inven- 
 tions, patterns, and ways not seen in England : and 
 it is not to be wondered at, if they are sometimes as 
 novel as they are numerous. Hence we sometimes 
 see a farmer's house with its porch and portico — its 
 
260 FROM OHIO 
 
 columns or its colonnade ; neatly clap-boarded, and 
 painted white ; unsullied as it were by a spot, and 
 as beautiful according to its size as the nobleman's 
 mansion in England. A person would suppose that 
 the owner of it was independent of labor, but his 
 apparel and linen look as if he had been ploughing up 
 the fallow ; his countenance and skin, as if he had 
 been exposed to the morning and noon-day sun. 
 Hence an acquaintance with him soon shows his 
 industry, points out his occupation, and demonstrates 
 that he is a man of labor instead of sumptuousness, 
 uselessness, and effeminacy. The family, we will 
 suppose, are clothed, not in purple and fine linen, but 
 in a woollen dress of their own manufacturing ; the 
 wife weaves her own cloth, and they are all as plain 
 as the industrious poor in a cottage in England. In 
 one place there is the plain, humble log house, with- 
 out an ornament (comparatively speaking) or an 
 upper chamber ; in another, there is one of almost 
 equal obscurity, yet neatl}" furnished and hung with 
 paper. Here perhaps, we see a well-built stone 
 house, but the next probably is erected with unpo- 
 lished stone from the quarry; the former shows the 
 art of workmanship, the latter displays home industry, 
 as if erected by the owner himself In some houses 
 the workmanship is good, the sj'^mmetry beautiful in 
 appearance, the stones are neatly cut and well laid ; 
 but in others, the walls are remarkably rough, and 
 greatly besmeared, as it were, with untempered 
 mortar. In some buildings, indeed, it seems that 
 they intentionally forsook the systematical order of 
 
TO NEW YORK. 261 
 
 bedding the stones as used formerly, by promiscuously 
 putting them together ; stones of any shape or any 
 size, from four, eight, or twelve inches in length or 
 thickness, and by bedding large and small, round and 
 square, or well nigh all sorts and sizes together ; 
 which, nevertheless, are not only novel in appearance, 
 but neat, durable, and good work. Sometimes we 
 may see a strong-built house walled with pebbles, the 
 corners ornamented with freestone, and the windows 
 neatly shaded with the Grecian blinds so common in 
 the country. In many particulars indeed, there is 
 neatness, beauty, and grandeur among common 
 people in America, which we do not see in Great 
 Britain. The fine, figured cloth, with which their 
 apartments are carpeted, the beautiful colored paper 
 their rooms are hung with, the neat and numberless 
 patterns in the quilting and other parts of their fur- 
 niture, are not exceeded probably by anything in 
 common life in England. And I have thought 
 (though I might have been mistaken) that there is a 
 variety in the wood grown and used for tables, chairs, 
 drawers, &c., which, when ingeniously carved and 
 polished, cannot be seen everywhere. But are not 
 many professing Christians by far too lavish in the 
 use of these things ? Have you a single eye, reader, 
 and desirous of glorifying God in your house and 
 family, and also in your body and spirit, which are 
 his ? If so, can you indulge yourself in costly furni- 
 ture and such foppish apparel ? Do not all these 
 things show the pride, the extravagance, and the 
 corruption, instead of the purity of your heart ? Are 
 
262 FROM OHIO 
 
 such things the fruits of apostoh'c purity, or of a 
 world-renouncing and self-denying spirit ? But to 
 return. 
 
 In England, a whole lordship being the property 
 of one, and under the order of an individual as stew- 
 ard, or whole streets, as sometimes in London, being 
 built by one architect, many things must necessarily 
 in some respects be uniformly the same ; but in 
 America, every man, as it were, having his estate, 
 and to a certain degree his independence, will have 
 his way also. Hence it is that there is much diver- 
 sity about the country in many things ; one man will 
 have his house built after this fashion, and another 
 after that ; and although some men are as singular 
 as their privileges are numerous, yet there is a great 
 deal of neatness about the farmers and their habita- 
 tions in America. Uniformity, indeed, in many in- 
 stances, adds greatly to beauty. Witness some of 
 the streets built probably by one architect within 
 these forty or fifty years last past in London. But 
 there may be beauty in diversity ; for although uni- 
 formity in every house down a street, when neatly 
 erected, may add to the beauty of the whole, yet 
 churches, chapels, meeting houses, court houses, &:c., 
 generally stand alone. And here I have frequently 
 observed the novelty and diversity in many things 
 about these places in America. One place has its 
 tower or spire, its cone or cupola, while some others 
 are plain buildings, without spire or any ornament 
 at all. But it is disgusting to see the grandeur, the 
 foppery, and dandyism, some people attempt to bring 
 
 ii 
 
TO NEW YORK. 263 
 
 into a few places of worship, inasmuch as plainness 
 and holiness become God's house for ever. 
 
 In passing solitarily along the country, I was 
 agreeably surprised to see a little family graveyard, 
 with their monumental or gravestones, on this, on 
 that, or another man's estate. This is what I never 
 saw in England, and seemed like the ancient patri- 
 archal manner of interment, as when Jacob buried 
 Deborah, Rebecca's nurse, under an oak ; and also 
 Rachael, on his way to Bethlehem ; without regard 
 to modern ceremonies or consecrated places. Cere- 
 monies and good order indeed become rational crea- 
 tures so long as an improper stress is not laid upon 
 them. A graveyard ! ? A monument ! ? A private 
 place of interment — a part of the family sleeping in 
 the dust ! What, in the church or the common grave- 
 yard ? No, it was within a little private inclosure 
 in the orchard — the field or garden : sometimes one 
 awd sometimes the other. This brought to my mind 
 an idea of American liberty, and led me to reflect on 
 the strong attachments we may conceive to tradi- 
 tions, forms, and ceremonies, yet altogether unessen- 
 tial to eternal happiness. " Blessed are the dead 
 which die in the Lord." Here such rest eternally 
 from their labors, and their works as a sweet smelling 
 savor follow them. Oh, happy souls that so rest ! 
 The labors of mortal life have passed away, and the 
 sweat of the sorrowed brow runs down no more. 
 When located at New Haven, I walked into that ex- 
 tensive and populous graveyard, and took down the 
 following inscription, which I here insert for the 
 perusal of the reader. 
 
264 FROM OHIO 
 
 IN 
 
 MEMORY 
 OF 
 
 LUCRETIA- 
 
 WIFE OF 
 
 Aged 25 years. 
 
 She combined in her character and person 
 
 A rare assemblage of excellencies ; 
 
 Beautiful in form, features, and expression. 
 
 Peculiarly bland in her manners, 
 
 Highly cultivated in mind. 
 
 She irresistibly drew attention, love, 
 
 And respect : 
 
 Dignified, without haughtiness, 
 
 Amiable, without lameness. 
 
 Firm, without severity, 
 
 And cheerful, without levity. 
 
 Her uniform sweetness of temper 
 
 Spread perpetual sunshine around 
 
 Every circle in which 
 
 She moved. 
 
 " When the ear heard her, it blessed her ; 
 
 When the eye saw her, it gave 
 
 Witness to her." 
 
 In sufferings the most keen 
 
 Her serenity of mind never failed her : 
 
 Death to her had no terrors ; 
 
 The grave no gloom. 
 
 Though suddenly called from earth. 
 
 Eternity was no stranger to her thoughts. 
 
 But a welcome theme of 
 
 Contemplation. 
 
 Religion was the sun 
 
 That illuminated every varied virtue. 
 
 And united all in one 
 
TO NEW YORK. 265 
 
 Bow of beauty. 
 Hers was the religion of the gospel ; 
 
 Jesus Christ her foundation. 
 
 The author and finisher of her faith : 
 
 In him she rests in sure 
 
 Expectation of a glorious 
 
 Resurrection. 
 
 ANOTHER EPITAPH. 
 
 Not one short year ago. 
 
 Sweet sister, thou wast here. 
 And arm in arm we stood. 
 
 While fell the silent tear. 
 Now art thou gently laid to rest, 
 Sweet spirit, on thy Saviour's breast. 
 
 Oh, my soul, stand still and review the scene ! 
 Reflect upon the thousands that have been deposited 
 in this single burying ground, and the millions that 
 have lived and died since the world began. What 
 pangs and groans have been felt and uttered in the 
 deadly conflict ! What sighs and tears have been 
 heard and seen among bereaved survivors ! Death 
 rushes forward and sometimes takes away the person 
 on whom the family is dependent. And how impar- 
 tial, how general and universal at length are his 
 claims ! He spares none. Admitting that the in- 
 habitants of the earth are nearly a thousand millions 
 and that in twenty-seven years that number dies, 
 what a vast concourse of people when the countless 
 millions shall be assembled together ! Look forward 
 for only five hundred years, and behold not only thy 
 
266 FROM OHIO 
 
 own and the funeral of all thy friends, but generations 
 will have passed away, and their memorials well nigh 
 will have perished with them. In so doing, O my 
 soul, fly to Jesus, thy only refuge, that merciful, that 
 Almighty Saviour who can draw the deadly sting, 
 and transform the ghastly monster into a messenger 
 of peace. 
 
 Here, then, are a diversity of objects and various 
 degrees of scenery ! Here are habitations grand and 
 beautiful, and others, though comfortable, yet plain' 
 and obscure in the lowest degree. And here is room 
 and labor to engage the attention and strength of 
 millions, and some employments probably to suit the 
 smallest capacity in Europe. Are you destitute of 
 labor, reader ? There is enough in America to en- 
 gage your attention had you the strength of a thou- 
 sand men. Do you want a house and home for 
 yourself and family ? Here are comfortable and 
 eligible habitations beyond my calculation in this 
 country, providing you can make a purchase. Do 
 you want one that is spacious, grand, or costly ? 
 There are many both in the city, the village, and the 
 country ; some framed and neatly painted — others 
 of brick or stone, with the strength of a little 
 castle, and all as neat probably as any of the sort in 
 England. There are houses, as it were, of all sorts, 
 from a beautiful carved and painted one to the log 
 cabin, and from the strong built brick or stone one 
 to the slight and temporary shantee. There are also 
 situations not found in England, for you may have 
 an habitation by the side of the lonesome wood, or 
 
TO NEW YORK. 26*7 
 
 on the edge of an extensive lake — an expanse of wa- 
 ters of which, in the clearest day, you cannot behold 
 an opposite shore. You may pitch your tent on an 
 elevation of a mountainous height, where in prospect 
 you can command the neighboring country for a 
 considerable distance before you, or you may settle 
 on the flats below, where your sight will be obstructed 
 by the towering hill, that you will have but little to 
 gaze upon without turning your eyes inwardly — 
 and where a foreign invader would scarcely find your 
 quiet retreat. But, 
 
 " If the soft hand of winning pleasure leads 
 By living waters and through flowery meads. 
 When all is smiling, tranquil and serene. 
 And vernal beauty paints the flattering scene. 
 Oh ! teach me to elude each latent snare. 
 And whisper to my sliding heart — beware !" 
 
 No. XII. 
 
 Difference in many instances only accounted for by considering the 
 distinguishing hand of providence which made men and nations to 
 differ, &c. — The climate being diflferent, the land, labor, Sec, is so 
 also. — It being more warm, causes a rapid growth and an early 
 harvest. 
 
 The farmer with his implements of husbandry, and 
 his labor and manner of working, in many respects, 
 are diflferent to people of the same occupation in 
 England ; and there are many things to critical ob- 
 
268 FROM OHIO 
 
 servers which can only be accounted for by contem- 
 plating the diversity and harmony made by that 
 all-creating hand which hath made men and nations 
 to differ ; the order of his all wise providence over 
 different nations and individuals ; a distant climate, 
 together with the nature, manners, and customs oc- 
 casioned by such circumstances. How mysterious, 
 that every creature of the same species should so 
 much resemble and yet be somewhat different to all 
 others ; that every beast and every fowl of the air 
 has some distinguishing feature upon it ; that every 
 man should differ in countenance, weight, or stature, 
 from all others, and that nations and kingdoms made 
 by the same creating hand, as well as birds and beasts, 
 must necessarily have their distinguishing features 
 also. Yet, so it is ; and hence, though the English 
 and Americans are of the same origin, and may be 
 considered one and the same people, yet they differ 
 from each other. Here is a difference in general, 
 in person, feature, color — in tone of language and 
 their manner of living. There are indeed some traits 
 in the characters and some difference in the tempers 
 of the Americans which I like in preference to others, 
 though there are some customs which are unpleasant 
 to me. It is true, I cannot particularize in many 
 things which I have noticed, partly from want of 
 recollection, and partly from want of genius on so 
 critical a subject ; but, more especially, from my 
 inability to comprehend 
 
 " The smallest work of an Almighty hand." 
 
TO NEW YORK. 269 
 
 But without launching out into deep waters which 
 I cannot fathom, or meddling with things that are 
 too high for me, I must keep only to what is plain 
 to myself and easy of digestion to the reader. I 
 have observed that implements of husbandry and the 
 labor of the farmer are different. The climate being 
 considerably warmer than in England, the soil on 
 the low lands is not so stiff as the cold land in that 
 country ; and hence, while the farmer is obliged to 
 tear up the stubborn soil with four stout horses, 
 linked together in a single line, a pair abreast in 
 general is sufficient here, or a yoke of oxen. When 
 contemplating the heat of the weather and the rapid 
 progress of vegetation, I have had my fears on the 
 approach of harvest, lest the farmer should be in 
 arrears with his work, seeing his grass for fodder and 
 wheat harvest come in and v.ant cutting together. 
 But in a few days or a fortnight, they have well nigh 
 gathered in both one and the other. This shows the 
 rapidity and dispatch of American labor. A man 
 and a boy, I suppose, in the autumn, will prepare the 
 land and get in thirty or forty acres of wheat, and 
 the same hands are obliged probably to do the greatest 
 part of the labor towards getting it in, in harvest. 
 But the case is far different here to what it is in 
 England. The grass in this country, in general, is 
 cut down probably with far less labor ; they carry a 
 deal of it the next day without any more making ; 
 the wheat is cradled, by which method one man will 
 cut down as much in one day as several men can 
 reap ; the small quantity of barley and beans sown 
 
270 FROM OHIO 
 
 here, which require a deal of labor in England ; the 
 looseness and depth of American soil, which make 
 the land easy in cultivation ; their having but Httle 
 trouble with their flocks, &c., which make circum- 
 stances different here to what they have there, and 
 otherwise than what they will be here probably, 
 when they have brought the country into the same 
 state of cultivation. 
 
 The weather in summer is much warmer than in 
 England, and so hot sometimes in July, August, and 
 September, that it is as much as an Englishman just 
 arrived can well bear. This occasions a rapid growth 
 in summer, and brings the harvest forward, in general, 
 a month sooner perhaps than in Great Britain. In 
 Ohio, in January, 1833, (if I am not mistaken) it was 
 as warm and pleasant some part of the time, as it is 
 in May in England. A person could not labor with- 
 out taking off" his clothes as in the months of sum- 
 mer. If a fall of snow came down, it wasted and 
 imperceptibly went away ; and during a great part 
 of the winter, even when the earth is covered with 
 snow (the air being more pure and less accustomed 
 to chilling fogs) it is many times pleasant, and the 
 inhabitants seem less aflfected with coughs and colds 
 by far than in England. But in winter, when it is 
 cold and freezes sharp, it is severe indeed. Hence 
 in one night it will freeze a thick ice. The feet of 
 men, fowls, or cattle, in some instances, have been 
 greatly injured, and have been obliged to be taken 
 off. I saw a man near Rochester, who I understood 
 lost his feet or legs by the frost ; and Mrs. Ralcliff's 
 
TO NEW YORK. 2*71 
 
 brother, (an Englishman) as I was informed, had his 
 toes so frozen as to be obliged to have them off also. 
 In summer it is much warmer, and in winter it is 
 frequently much colder; insomuch that rivers, wider 
 than the Thames in London, are frozen over, and 
 people drive their loaded wagons and sleighs over 
 them as on the solid ground without fear. 
 Le Roy, September 17, 1837. 
 
 No. XIII. 
 
 Notwithstanding the difference in the climate, produce in some in- 
 stances exceeds that of Great Britain. — As a proof of this assertion, 
 the testimony of a weekly paper is given, a verbal testimony from a 
 farmer, and a quotation from a recent publication. — The abundance 
 in orchards, rapid progress in the growth of trees, &c. — Reflections. 
 
 Notwithstanding the extremes of heat and cold, 
 and the difference there is in the climate when com- 
 pared with Great Britain, yet the produce of land in 
 some instances exceeds what I ever heard of in that 
 country. To demonstrate the truth of this assertion, 
 I shall give an extract in the first place of what I 
 took out of a newspaper published in New York, 
 some time after my arrival in Ohio. It is as follows : 
 
 " The Onondaga Standard asks," says that paper, 
 " what the farmers down east will say, when we in- 
 form them that we can name individuals in this 
 county who have harvested the present season 1500, 
 
2l2 FROM OHIO 
 
 1800, and in one instance, 3000 bushels of wheat? 
 If our friends of Onondaga make these matters the 
 subject of such exultation, we may ask (and we do 
 it with no disposition to undervalue the blessings of 
 our neighbors) what must the farmers down east say, 
 when we tell them we can name persons in Livings- 
 ton county, who have harvested the present season 
 more than 7000 bushels each ; aye, and in one in- 
 stance, more than 4000 bushels have been cut from 
 one hundred acres of land, which, without the inter- 
 mission of a single year in twenty-five, have been its 
 crop. The county of Livingston contains twelve 
 towns, which will this year market her million bushels 
 of wheat." 
 
 December 21, 1833. 
 
 In addition to the foregoing account, I give the 
 following, taken from the verbal testimony of an 
 American farmer whom I rode with some distance, 
 near Nine-mile-creek, in the state of New York. He 
 appeared like a candid, sober-minded person ; and he 
 spake of one or more Englishmen, whom as farmers 
 he seemed to have an high opinion of. He men- 
 tioned, to the best of my recollection, an Englishman 
 who said (though I hope the reader will excuse the 
 vanity of such an expression) that the farmers 
 (probably of that neighborhood) did not know how 
 to raise a crop of wheat, and that he would show 
 them. This expression, however, he might utter in 
 jest, without a sufficient regard either to sincerity or 
 truth. Be this as it may ; after preparing his land. 
 
TO NEW YORK. 273 
 
 he sowed about seven bushels on an acre. The 
 people told him that it would be too much, to which 
 he replied he could make it less, but that if it was 
 too thin, he could not make it thicker ; and hence, 
 to prevent its being too prolific in the spring, or too 
 thick to ripen in the summer, he harrowed out as 
 much as he thought proper. His intention, probably, 
 in sowing that quantity, was, that he might have 
 enough on the ground, let the winter come as it 
 might ; and, by the blessing of providence, he had a 
 large produce ; for, although his seed brought forth 
 neither sixty nor a hundred fold, yet according to this 
 man's account, he had about sixty bushels to the 
 acre. 
 
 A recent publication makes mention of a field of 
 wheat in Michisran, of eighteen hundred acres, be- 
 longing to IMr. Jesse Smith, and adds : " If this crop 
 is equal to the average this season, it will yield at 
 least thirty bushels per acre, and equal to 54,000 
 bushels. Suppose the value to be one dollar per 
 bushel, $54,000 ; deduct, then, one fourth for preparing 
 the ground, seed, harvesting, threshing, &c., leaves 
 a net gain of forty-one thousand five hundred dol- 
 lars." 
 
 The fruitfulness of the country may be further 
 seen by observing the abundance in orchards, and 
 the rapid progress of vegetation in the length and 
 thickness of a year's growth on such and other trees. 
 Apple trees are frequently so loaded that it is with 
 difficulty they sustain their burdens ; branches are 
 bent towards the earth as under a burden too heavy 
 
 12* 
 
274 FROM OHIO 
 
 to be borne, and their fruit is sometimes left ungath- 
 ered in the depth of winter. I have seen trees laden 
 with fruit though naked of leaves, in the time of 
 snow ; and some people turn a number of hogs in to 
 eat them on the ground as they fall in autumn. 
 Peaches are grown in such abundance that I think 
 
 Mr. B , a common farmer, told me that he had 
 
 had as many as two hundred and fifty bushels ; and 
 some people have as many as two thousand bushels 
 of apples. Hence, we may say that there is an 
 abundance of summer fruits — as peaches, cherries, 
 grapes, oranges, &c. to satiate the appetite of man, 
 after partaking of bread, the staff of life. The 
 branches of peach trees are often broken down by 
 the abundance of their fruit ; and I think I once saw 
 •a tree of this sort broken down on all sides like an 
 ass borne down to the earth under his burden. A 
 peach stone, it was said in Ohio, would spring up 
 and bear fruit the third year ; and while a branch 
 will shoot and grow in one year about the length and 
 size of a cane in England, it will become like a small 
 crutch and proportionably longer in Ohio. Wheat 
 in the states in general, through its rapid growth and 
 the lightness of the crops, is more free from smut 
 and of a better quality than in England. 
 
 Such is the fruitfulness of the country in some 
 particulars, and such is the prosperity of some men ; 
 but while the merchant desireth wealth, and the 
 soldier to win the battle, good instructions and a 
 pure conscience are more desirable than gold to the 
 righteous. For " the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, 
 
 A 
 
TO NEW YORK. 2^5 
 
 peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith — 
 meekness, temperance ; against such there is no 
 law." Covet, therefore, earnestly, these things. 
 Leave desire, says Kempis, and thou shalt find rest. 
 Is your heart set upon and your whole strength laid 
 out to procure this earthly good ? If so, let me tell 
 you that riches profit nothing in the day of wrath ! 
 How much better to lay up treasure in heaven, where 
 even the nearest friend cannot take it into possession, 
 where thieves cannot steal it from you, but where it 
 will for ever remain your own property — durable 
 property, which passes not from heir to heir. Hath 
 not Christ declared that it is easier for a camel to 
 pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man 
 to enter into the kingdom of God ? And do you set 
 this scripture aside as frivolous or of small impor- 
 tance ? But further — permit me to ask where is the 
 wisdom of the avaricious man, who labors to the 
 very last to accumulate for another to enjoy ? Some 
 men toil and labor nearly all their days, and as it 
 were lay down their v/eary bones with scarcely an 
 hour's enjoyment of what they have been striving to 
 grasp for many years ! And what perhaps is more 
 surprising still, they sometimes labor to procure riches 
 for the people whom they hate and despise, instead 
 of those whom they esteem and love. The rich man 
 dies childless, and his property falls into the hands 
 of a family who despised him, or an opponent in 
 trade obtains the affections of his daughter or niece, 
 and at length the property of the latter falls into the 
 
276 FiiOM OHIO 
 
 hands of the former. So true it is that men heap up 
 riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them. 
 
 Byron, September 21, 1837. 
 
 No. XIV. 
 
 Worldly prospeiity alone cannot give happiness, &c. — Nevertheless^ 
 there is some pleasure in travelling, beholding the works of creation^ 
 scenery, &c., w^ith a call to reflection. — In retirement, a person can 
 examine himself, confess his sins, and give vent to the emotions of 
 his heart, &c. — Retirement is essential to our happiness, and natural 
 to a believer, &.c.— ^Further reflections. 
 
 How true it is, then, that the prosperity of this 
 world, abstractedly considered, is fleeting ; that it 
 cannot give happiness ; that it is interwoven and 
 intermixed with vanity and vexation of spirit ! Retire, 
 therefore, reader, at least for a season, and let me 
 converse with you in the interval on things of a 
 different nature. Lay aside thy covetous desires^ j 
 and retire into thyself, by reflecting on subjects of a 
 subhmer character! Come away from the habita- 
 tions of the rich ; withdraw thy affections from the 
 creature— the love of money and mere worldly en- 
 joyments. There is happiness separate from these 
 things ; there are riches, lasting riches, which end 
 not with life itself There is sometimes happiness 
 in obscurity, which is more to be desired than the 
 
TO ^•EW YORK. 277 
 
 pleasures of the palace or attached to the honors of 
 a court. Yea, we rnay be deprived of honor that 
 Cometh of men ; we may have our sight bounded by 
 a stone wall, and our light received through the 
 wooden lattice ; and yet enjoy more peace than the 
 men who have their portion in this life. Suppress, 
 then, thy covetous desires ; cease to do evil by thv 
 anxiety, and leave thy honest endeavors to Him who 
 feedeth the ravens, and promiseth, on condition that 
 you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteous- 
 ness, that all these things shall be added unto you. 
 Wherefore envy not the rich, nor covet their posses- 
 sions, but look into the habitations of the humble, 
 and desire the peace that they enjoy. God hath not 
 left the poor destitute, but hath pronounced them 
 blessed ; Luke vi. 20, James ii. 20 ; and it may be 
 that he hath called thee to endure poverty, in order 
 to show you " the true riches." Hence let me invite 
 your attention to the noblest subjects, by calling you 
 to a moment's reflection. Examine thyself, and take 
 a little cessation from the troubles of life. 
 
 It is true, there is some pleasure in travelling 
 abroad and beholding the wonders of creation, and 
 the labors of men ; the diversity of scenery in so 
 extensive a part to ramble in ; the different ways of 
 travelling not formerly known in old settled coun- 
 tries, as the rapid train of railroad cars and the steam 
 vessels ; the hosts of line boats and the packets ; the 
 landscapes of mountains and plains, rocks and gulfs ; 
 the extensive lakes, with the smaller ones not seen 
 in Endand ; the rivers and waterfalls, some of which 
 
2 78 FROM OHIO 
 
 probably cannot be equalled in any other part of the 
 world besides — to see the fruitfulness of vegetation, 
 and nature in all its beauty ; the farmer and the 
 work of the field ; the beautiful landscape of rich 
 pasture land and the widespread lake ; the different 
 kinds of buildings, from the prison-house sufficient to 
 hold hundreds of men, to the humble cottage in the 
 shady grove, or from the residence of the wealthy 
 citizen to the temporary abode among the rocks, by 
 the water side — to see all these things, I say, may 
 afford some gratification to the curious spectator : 
 but there is a pleasure in occasional solitude which 
 we cannot enjoy amidst the bustle of life. Come 
 away then, O my soul, and seek for a place of re- 
 flection — a place of retirement, remote from the busy 
 walks of men, where you may have time to enter 
 into thyself and give free scope to thy imagination 
 on things of the most interesting importance. 
 
 In that retired situation a person may examine 
 himself, and ask his past hours what report they bore 
 to heaven ; and what satisfaction he can take in re- 
 viewing the transactions of his former days ! There 
 he can confess his sins, weep over his past follies, 
 make resolutions for future amendment, and shed his 
 tears. He can give vent to the painful emotions of 
 a burdened conscience, smite his breast and pray 
 aloud. As a professor he can consult the oracles of 
 divine truth, converse as it were with the ancit^nt 
 patriarchs, study the will of God, and learn how to 
 find his way to heaven. And there he can wrestle 
 with the God of Jacob, seek for a deeper work of 
 
TO NEW YORK. 279 
 
 grace, and endeavor to lay faster hold of eternal life. 
 And do you despise solitude, reader ? Can you take 
 no pleasure in retirement — see no advantages or 
 blessings that may be derived therefrom ? Would 
 you willingly sacrifice the retirement of the closet for 
 perpetual company, and prefer the dissipation and 
 spirit of the world to a serious mind and a retired 
 situation ? Do you forget that you must die alone, 
 or that no one can accompany you through the valley 
 and shadow of death, and that reflection is necessary 
 to prepare and fortify you for so awful an event ? 
 Supposing you are called to transact business in the 
 city, yet how necessary is occasional retirement ! — 
 a few minutes twice or thrice a day — a longer time 
 at some more distant period ! Are you a professing 
 character ? If so, can you keep your soul alive 
 without it ? Public means are good, but private de- 
 votion is of vast importance. Wherefore, " when 
 thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou 
 hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in 
 secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall 
 reward thee openly." Matt. vi. 6. It is in retire- 
 ment that we obtain grace to qualify us to go abroad ; 
 and no man, says Kempis, is prepared to go abroad 
 but he who is willing to stay at home. There we 
 can arm ourselves against the temptations of the 
 world, the allurements of the flesh, and the assaults 
 of the devil. And there we may enjoy a peace which 
 the world knoweth not of, find an intercourse with 
 heaven, and hold communion with the Father of the 
 spirits of all flesh. 
 
280 FROM OHIO 
 
 Retirement, to professing Christians, is an impor- 
 tant duty, and as such it is essential to their present 
 and future happiness. It is by retirement and prayer, 
 under the influence of the Holy Spirit, that the spi- 
 ritual life is sustained ; and hence to live without it, 
 the soul must necessarily be starved, and religion in 
 process of time will die away. But it is not improper 
 to say that retirement is a natural consequence of 
 having religion implanted within us. As soon as a 
 child is born into the world, it feels its wants and 
 stands in need of support ; and the new-born soul, 
 in like manner, wants the sincere milk of the word 
 in the same proportion ; the Spirit of Christ and the 
 spirit of the world are opposed to each other, and 
 cannot live together ; and hence it is natural, as oc- 
 casion may require, to want hours of retirement. 
 But this is not absolutely and finally so compulsive 
 as to set aside the free agency of man. In like 
 manner have all devoted Christians occasionally with- 
 drawn themselves from the men of this world. Thus 
 Enoch walked not in fellowship with them ; Abraham 
 retired to a distant place to sacrifice ; our Lord went 
 into a solitary place, and there prayed ; and St. John 
 was in the Isle of Patmos when he received and 
 wrote the Revelations. Hence it is in retirement, 
 and by withdrawing from the world, that we are 
 made capable of the most intimate intercourse with 
 heaven. 
 
 Away then, reader, and retire for a moment from 
 these earthly scenes ! Retire, O my soul, from the 
 mere beauties of nature, and let not the fruitful fields, 
 
TO NEW YORK. 281 
 
 the cloud-capt towers, nor the extensive lake, carry 
 thee away so far as to cause thee to forget objects 
 more worthy thy pursuit. Let not travelling by land 
 or by water, or company, however agreeable, attract 
 thy mind and alienate thy aftections from Him who 
 is the fairest among ten thousand, and altogether 
 lovely. Suffer not a desire to follow the men of this 
 world in their speculations, however flattering the 
 prospect of gaining much wealth or living for many 
 years upon the earth ; nor yet let Satan overcome 
 thy determination to devote thyself to what is of in- 
 finite importance, though he should show thee the 
 empires of the earth and exclaim, "All these will I 
 give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me" — 
 let not all these things, I say, hinder thee from pur- 
 suing a nobler object in striving to find the narrow 
 path of true wisdom, the humble path of the most 
 devout and holy characters, and the straight and 
 sanctified path which leads the poor and needy to 
 the society of angels and their eternal reward. 
 
 O Jesus ! thou light and life of men, look upon 
 me, an abject creature, and empower me to forsake 
 the love of this present world, to live to thee and 
 thee alone. Regard my wants, and supply them out 
 of thy fulness, and let my happiness consist in hold- 
 ing communion with thyself. Thy presence con- 
 stitutes the bliss of angels : in thy favor there is 
 fulness of joy, and at thy right hand there are plea- 
 sures for evermore. Give me to know thee, to love 
 thee, and to delight myself in thee as my chief good. 
 Didst thou not come to seek and to save that which 
 
282 FROM OHIO TO KEW YORK. 
 
 was lost ? to restore the ruined ? to extend mercy to 
 the poorest, the most abject and destitute ? Dost 
 not thou bind up the broken-hearted, and proclaim 
 liberty to the captive ? Is not thy grace free and 
 unbounded to reach the case of the stranger, the 
 widow, and fatherless, and those who have none to 
 help them ? Does not wretchedness challenge thy 
 compassion, and move thee to pity and administer 
 comfort ? Why hidest thou thy face in time of 
 trouble ? There is nothing too hard for thee, "thou 
 sovereign Lord of all." Thou canst compel even 
 me, a reluctant creature, to obey thy voice. Speak, 
 Lord, and let thy servant hear thy word — let the 
 whispers of thy grace for the future remove my 
 deafness, thy touch chase away my foul leprosy, and 
 thy purity consume my desperate pollution. In 
 midnight darkness let me have thy smile, that sad- 
 ness and melancholy may flee away ; and grant me 
 thy benediction and favor in the morning, that my 
 soul may live. Oh, thou Saviour of men, who canst 
 visit and redress the wants of millions at one and the 
 same time, visit me in this solitary apartment, and 
 thy presence shall not only cause darkness to hide 
 itself, but sorrow and sighing also shall flee away. 
 Rochester, October 18, 1837. 
 
THE 
 
 FOREIGNER'S PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 
 
 It was June 14, 1847, if I am not mistaken, when 
 I went to Newark. Having scarcely been away 
 from New York since returning from England in 
 1843, I was afraid to venture ; for in addition to my 
 constitutional weakness 1 had previously so worn 
 myself down that I was unfit for it, and being taken 
 sick at Newburgh it injured me and rendered it im- 
 practicable. Hence I was afraid to go from home, 
 yet by the mercy of God I came back in safety. 
 To God be the glory. 
 
 I remained there about three weeks, and during 
 
 my stay I was agreeably surprised to find Mrs. B 
 
 and Mrs. R , who well remembered me. Hence 
 
 my circular and books, though trimal, have given me 
 some pleasure in time past, inasmuch as they have 
 made me acquainted with some people whom I highly 
 esteem, which otherways I should not have known. 
 For the good will those ladies manifested I return 
 them my sincere thanks. 
 
 After this, about July 20th, I went to Patterson, 
 where I remained ten or eleven days. I found here 
 
284 
 
 also, a person who remembered me. I had been 
 there some years before ; and it gives me some plea- 
 sure to find a person or family of such a description : 
 especially as no one has scarcely ever reproached 
 me on account of the books I have sold them. After 
 returning to New York I took a journey to Pough- 
 keepsie, Hudson, Albany, Schenectady, and back to 
 Catskill. At the first of these places, about August 
 2d or 3d, I was troubled for a length of time ere I 
 could find a suitable place, but was comfortably off 
 when I got to Mr. Gregory's Temperance Hotel. This 
 was a quiet, moral, and respectable place — there was 
 good board and good order — a good quality of bread 
 and God's blessing asked upon it. The servants were 
 in attendance with great simplicity to pass and re- 
 pass what was wanting. Blessed is the man who 
 feareth the Lord, and who greatly delighteth in his 
 commandments. 
 
 August I4th, if I am not mistaken, I went forward 
 to Hudson, but I did not succeed so well as at 
 Poughkeepsie. Hudson seems to have risen to its 
 height of prosperity. Hence there is no building 
 going forward ; no appearance of increase. 1 found 
 board at Miss Tooby's, and a civil people. It was 
 
 in the neighborhood of this place where Mr. A y 
 
 from England settled, purchased an estate, and mar- 
 ried Miss B , but who for years now has been 
 
 numbered with the dead. A moral character of the 
 
 Society of Friends. Mr. G married his daughter, 
 
 who is also dead, and thus property is not only trans- 
 mitted from heir to heir, but sometimes it goes into 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 286 
 
 families without a shadow of relationship otherways 
 subsisting between them. 
 
 August 2Sd, I went on to Schenectady. Here I 
 found a family who remembered •me. I boarded 
 with Mrs. Thayer, and in about a week returned to 
 Albany. 1 fortunately called on Mr. Maclntire, who 
 like a generous-minded gentleman administered to 
 my satisfaction. When there some years before, he 
 handed me a little note, and told me he did not want 
 any change. Hence I memorial this to the honor 
 of his character. May his reward be in heaven. 
 From this place I took boat for Catskill, and was 
 fortunately received, though late in the evening, at 
 Miss Lacy's boarding house. At this place I was 
 comfortably situated, and on leaving I took the 
 steamer and returned to New York. 
 
 September 29th, if I am not mistaken, I passed 
 over to New Jersey, and took the railroad for New 
 Brunswick. At this place I was troubled to find a 
 private boarding-house, but at length went to the 
 Bell Tavern. Mrs. Strong, the landlady, had for- 
 merly been associated with the people called Metho- 
 dists, and dealt kindlv with me. I was afterwards 
 kindly entertained by Mrs. Boudinot. And during 
 my stay I called at the solitary abode of Mrs. ****** 
 Alas ! how singular and heavy the sorrow of some 
 people ! Left a young widow ! her husband taken 
 away by an untimely death. Her mind surfeited 
 v^ith grief How truly she might say, " Is there any 
 sorrow like unto my sorrow ?" - 
 
286 
 
 " Give me to feel anothei-'s woe, 
 To hide the faults I see. 
 That mercy I to others show- 
 That mercy show to me." 
 
 • 
 
 October 12th, I went forward to Trenton. On 
 Sunday I heard Mr. A , at Chapel. After preach- 
 ing in the evening, he proposed spending some time 
 in a prayer meeting, when he in effect and modestly 
 said " Perhaps there may be one or more who desires 
 the prayers of God's people ; if so we will not require 
 them to come forward, but if they will rise up we 
 will give them our prayers." On being mildly en- 
 treated in this manner, five or six rose up — He pro- 
 posed praying for them in secret, and advised them 
 (if prayer was not answered) to meet again on 
 Thursday evening. This seemed to me the more 
 excellent way ; for is it not better to draw them by 
 affection than com])el them by terror ? Yet the 
 terrors of the law are necessary — they also have 
 their use ; nevertheless what do a thousand argu- 
 ments of persuasion and denunciations avail in 
 bringing them to the altar-place, unless the law is 
 made to reach their hearts ! 
 
 I was agreeably situated at Mr. Norman's, who 
 was a pious, unassuming character. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Methodist society. The board, lodging, 
 and company were good. On sitting down, he re- 
 quested me to ask a blessing at table ; and although 
 a class leader he called upon me to the last. I did 
 not choose to have that burden laid upon me, but 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 287 
 
 seeing them attentive, orderly, and manifesting no 
 prejudice while I remained, I submitted to it. He in- 
 formed me that Mr. A came to board with them 
 
 and attempted to set up family worship, but could 
 not succeed — that they had prayers but once, and 
 that some of the boarders would not come in till after 
 a blessing had been asked at table. Such is the 
 difficulty of being located in some places. For a 
 stranger to do this in a private manner, soon causes 
 the resentment of some people against him. Some 
 will pubHcly insult — others more decent will dislike 
 his company, and hence nothing is more certain than 
 that he who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall 
 suffer persecution. But for a decided Christian to 
 neglect it, is ceasing to confess Christ before an 
 ungodly generation. 
 
 Mr. N further informed me that he was at 
 
 Church where Mrs. was among the congrega- 
 tion, when a person rose up and said he thought it 
 his duty to say that such a person ought to be put 
 out of the church for her manner or untimely man- 
 ner of shoutino;. Since that time Mrs. H was 
 
 speaking of a church who used to hallo so violently, 
 ' and keep it up to so late an hour, that the neighbors 
 summoned them to court for disturbing the peace. 
 Now shouting is good, and the defect in my opinion 
 is in neglecting occasionally to put a proper qualifi- 
 cation to it — by faithfully defending what is good, 
 and wisely putting a check to vainglory. 
 
 The State House, so called, is a beautiful struc- 
 ture. The grass-plats, semicircular and serpentine 
 
288 THE foreigner's 
 
 walks are laid out in a tasteful manner and kept in 
 order. The building standing on the brow of the 
 hill, gives a fine prospect over the vale below, but 
 the water spreading over the plain gives the scene 
 a dilatory appearance, which rather spoils than beau- 
 tifies the whole. 
 
 Oct. 26. — I took the railroad to Philadelphia. 
 Nov. 2d, I went by the steamer to Wilmington. In 
 this way I am called to wander in order to live ; it 
 is a trial to me that I cannot settle, and yet it is 
 wisely ordered for good. It is true I have sometimes 
 taken one, two, or three dollars in a day, which if 
 perpetuated would supply all my wants, but to be 
 always moving is so unsettling to the mind that I 
 cannot rest. Hence I am a stranger in the full sense 
 of the word ; living in a foreign land and having no 
 cottage, or settled place of abode : intermingling with 
 all, and yet not substantially united to any people. 
 Being always unsettled and looking forward, I am 
 weary and fretful. But the Lord be praised that he 
 is the Creator and friend of strangers. He is so, 
 because He recognises and shows them mercy. 
 
 " He sends the laboring conscience peace. 
 He helps the stranger in distress." 
 
 Gracious God, pardon my murmurings, and help me 
 to reconcile myself to circumstances — to feel at home 
 everywhere. Give me patience which shall be proof 
 against every provocation — meekness to secure per- 
 petual tranquillity and resignation, that thy will may 
 be done. 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 289 
 
 1 am tolerably comfortable here, with Mrs. Lowe 
 and her daughters. The board and sleeping in 
 general are good — the company are a moral and 
 civil people. Nevertheless it is a difficult thing to 
 pass through all companies in peace. Offences will 
 come, but woe unto him by whom the offence 
 Cometh. 
 
 Philadelphia, Saturday, 30.— I called on a Chris- 
 tian lady to-day, who manifested all the courtesy I 
 wanted. In conversation I asked, " Have you ob^ 
 tained the pardoning love of God ?" " Yes," she 
 replied, " twenty years ago." She belonged to th& 
 Church of England. Hence if her testimony be true, 
 she is witness that God pardoneth and absolveth all 
 them who truly repent and unfeignedly believe the 
 gospel. 
 
 What I have seen of this city, I like tolerably well. 
 There is a neatness and plainness in buildings, and 
 a degree of civility in the inhabitants, which I respect. 
 The streets, I think, are more clean than in New 
 York — there is not the same clamor with milk 
 wagons, and the hand boards at corners are more 
 plainly painted as a directory to strangers. 
 
 With regard to spiritual blessings the poor have 
 the gospel preached to them, and it seems that peo- 
 ple generally kneel before the Lord their maker. 
 
 Seats in churches should always be so constructed 
 that they can do this. But where the practice of 
 rising to pronounce the benediction had its origin I 
 know not. It is not according to custom among the 
 same people in England. In that country, both in 
 
 13 
 
 I 
 
290 THE foreigner's 
 
 the English church and the Methodist chapels, the 
 minister would conclude while on his knees with 
 " The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of 
 God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with 
 you, &LC." Why, therefore, do they differ from each 
 other among the same people, in omitting the Lord's 
 prayer, setting out the hymns, reading the lessons 
 and text for preaching, and giving the book, chapter, 
 and verse, afterwards, or in rising from their knees 
 to pronounce the benediction ? This seems like de- 
 parting from the Apostolic order to the manner of 
 Solomon's blessing the people. For my part 1 should 
 like to see methodism uniformly the same all the 
 world over. It is however but just to say, perhaps, 
 that some things are better ordered here than in 
 England. 
 
 Nov. 30. — " Did you ever read Dickens's work," 
 asked a person, " after he went from America ?" " I 
 did." "Did he do right in speaking of America as 
 he did on his return to England ?" " Perhaps not." 
 But we too often blame others when the fault is our 
 own. We put confidence in people before we have 
 tried them, and suspect others of truly worthy 
 character. There is fondness which is ready to 
 pluck out its own eyes out of pretended kindness, 
 but is followed by ill will which would pluck out the 
 eyes of others. There is also vanity which prompts 
 people to show people all their treasures, through 
 w^hich folly Hezekiah had his treasures taken away. 
 God was displeased with him, and thus punished him. 
 The words, " Cast not pearls before swine !" teach 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 291 
 
 US to beware. Charity, indeed, refuses to think evil 
 of any one till she proves it, but then she puts no 
 confidence in princes. Hence, when people make 
 an expensive feast at a thousand dollars' cost, in- 
 stead of inviting the poor and pleading the cause of 
 every man's right, they depart from their own prin- 
 ciples of republicanism, and get punished for it. 
 Wherefore, let everything be done wisely, and in 
 order. 
 
 January 3d, 1848, I took the cars, and went to 
 Norristown. At this place I was comfortably situ- 
 ated at Mrs. Flukes, with Dr. Elsington, his w^ife, and 
 sister. Nevertheless there were some annoyances 
 without, for want of fidelity in the civil authorities, 
 but which had its origin, perhaps considerably, in a 
 neglect of parental government — the lack of training 
 up children in the way they should go. What is 
 here referred to, was the dissolute manners of young 
 people — their combination together, and patrolling 
 the streets — the insults they offered to people, and 
 their forbidding behavior. 
 
 Such scenes teach us the necessity of civil govern- 
 ment, which, when founded in righteousness, and 
 justly administered, I presume is according to the 
 righteous and holy will of God. In order to the 
 good of any nation, just laws want making and an 
 executive power to execute them. Nations, corpo- 
 rations, churches, and schools, want laws to regulate 
 and govern them, and under such regulations penal- 
 ties should be inflicted adequate to crimes. " Who- 
 soever sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood 
 
292 THE foreigner's 
 
 be shed," is a law never to be revoked. It was 
 given to Noah, embodied in the law of Moses, and 
 recognised under the gospel. " If I be an offender," 
 saith St. Paul, "or have committed anything worthy 
 of death, I refuse not to die." To let actual mur- 
 derers go free, brings guilt upon a nation, without 
 showing them any real mercy. With repentance, 
 there may be mercy for them ; to act contrary to 
 God's righteous command, may rob them of that 
 mercy. God has said, "whosoever sheddeth man's 
 blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Yet people 
 wiser than their rulers, or above what is written, say 
 put them in perpetual imprisonment, that they may 
 have time for repentance. What ! add disobedience 
 to crime, to secure God's favor ? Why was Abra- 
 ham called the friend of God, and David, a man 
 after God's own heart ? Was it not because Abra- 
 ham commanded his household after him, and because 
 David executed judgment ? 
 
 During my stay at Philadelphia, I boarded first 
 with Mrs. Hammer, and afterwards with Mrs. Tay- 
 lor ; the former was a firm believer in the doctrine 
 of Baron Swedenborg, the other perhaps a congre- 
 gationalist. At the former place, there was no un- 
 pleasant hostility against religion, but there were 
 men, women, and children, and there are some 
 mothers, who have not sense and piety — a right judg- 
 ment, authority, and fidelity to govern them as they 
 
 should do. Mrs. seemed independent enough 
 
 to send her boy to school, though serpents and scor- 
 pions were in the street, but Mrs. S C was 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 293 
 
 SO timid that she apparently would walk miles to 
 defend hers through a little smoke. She kept re- 
 proving him with unwearied attention, and he per- 
 petually set her word at naught. 
 
 January 26th, I took the cars for Burlington, in 
 New Jersey. At this place they left the baggage 
 car in the street, without information sufficient for 
 strangers, which gave me considerable trouble. The 
 passengers not leaving, and being informed we were 
 going further, I found my baggage on leaving the 
 cars at a distance behind me. After inquiring 
 for a boarding house and returning to the place, my 
 baggage was locked up, and the agent at a con- 
 siderable distance was to be sought out and resorted 
 to. This error cost me a deal of trouble, and such 
 irregularity greatly injures me. Nevertheless, I was 
 tolerably comfortable at length, when I got to Miss 
 Powell's, who had only two orphan children and her 
 little maid. The children she used with parental 
 tenderness, and yet governed them wisely. 1 was 
 also in the neighborhood of a revival of religion. 
 There was a protracted meeting, and the Lord was 
 humbling the hearts of the people. After the ser- 
 mon, on the invitation being given, about twenty 
 immediately walked forward, kneeled down, and 
 earnestly besought God's mercy and pardoning grace. 
 On the sabbath following, thirty-nine went forward to 
 be baptized. I never saw such willingness, or greater 
 simplicity before. A young woman told me, that 
 one evening there were seventy-five, another one 
 hundred went forward to be prayed for, and on Sun- 
 
294 THE foreigner's 
 
 day sixty joined the society. This was a rapid in- 
 crease. 
 
 " And can it be that I should gain 
 
 An interest in the Saviom-'s blood ; 
 Died he for me who caused his pain, 
 
 For me, who him to death pursued : 
 Amazing love, how can it be, 
 
 That thou, my Lord, shouldst die for me." 
 
 Feb. 4. — I gave some offence to-day by using the 
 word servant. The person seemed to be from Eu- 
 rope. But scripture speaks of disciple and master, 
 servant and lord, and common sense decides that all 
 persons taken into families to labor for their bread 
 must be servants to their employers. St. John calls 
 himself a servant of Jesus Christ's, and every wise 
 person knows that it is no small honor to be a ser- 
 vant of his. Let us, therefore, no more despise such 
 an appellation. 
 
 February 5th, I took the stage and rode to Mount 
 Holly. A protracted meeting is also held in this 
 place. It commenced at the beginning of the year, 
 and still continues, and although I hope to rejoice in 
 all good done, yet I am not assured of their being 
 according to the gospel, as some are. It is true, 
 many manifest a determination to embrace religion, 
 but if they are not convinced and brought to repent- 
 ance, what good will result from an effort occasioned 
 by extra persuasion ? Is there no danger of per- 
 suading, without convincing and bringing them to 
 repentance ? — no danger in thus persuading, and then 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 295 
 
 exhorting them to believe, as if deeply penitent, when 
 they are not? If so, will not such conversions lead 
 to hypocrisy ? " Who hath warned you," saith John 
 the Baptist, " to flee from the wrath to come ? Bring 
 forth fruits, therefore, meet for repentance, &c." 
 "If any man will come after me (saith our Lord), 
 let him deny himself, &c." Mr. John Wesley, taking 
 his stand in the open air, and sowing the good seed 
 at broadcast, it brought forth fruit. It wounded 
 some, and comforted others. The former came to 
 inquire what they must do to be saved, and we will 
 suppose that some among the whole brought forth 
 fruit to perfection. Mr. Moore, in effect, said that 
 the Wesleys did not design to force the world into 
 the foldj but to assist and build up such as God gave 
 his son Jesus Christ, by their ministry. 
 
 February 15th, I took the cars for Bordentown. 
 After looking about I went to the mechanics' board- 
 ing house, but at this place I did not remain. The 
 room was too cold, and for want of management 
 there seemed a lack of what was necessary to make 
 it comfortable. There v/as no carpet, home-spun or 
 factory — no glass, water-stand, or chamber furni- 
 ture — a broken chair, a fallen curtain roll, and an 
 appearance of desolation. Hence I mentioned my 
 want to a Christian brother, who consented to my 
 coming to stay with him ; but here I found difficulty 
 of another kind. Having purchased half-a-dozen of 
 small porter, which cost twenty-two cents (about 
 eleven pence English), he was so opposed to it that 
 he would not let it remain in the house ; although a 
 
296 
 
 doctor had told me that I ought to drink a pint of 
 beer every day, and my minister also had recom- 
 mended a little porter. But some people will insist 
 upon what is not commanded, and others will make 
 a man an offender for a word. In this manner they 
 lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and 
 turn aside the just for a thing of naught. But be- 
 ware of the leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees 
 which is hypocrisy. " Therefore, thus saith the 
 Lord who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house 
 of Jacob ; Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither 
 shall his face now wax pale. But when he seeth 
 his children the work of mine hands in the midst of 
 him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the 
 holy one of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. 
 They also, that erred in spirit, shall come to under- 
 standing, and they that murmured shall learn doc- 
 trine." Isaiah xxix, 22-24. 
 
 Feb. 18. — To Amboy — but I never like to enter 
 a village so late in the evening. By so doing I can- 
 not so well look out for a place of rest. Being about 
 nine o'clock, I was obliged to go to the tavern. I 
 had another covering brought me to keep me warm, 
 but alas ! there was no chair, no table, no article of 
 chamber furniture. There was no latch (if I mis- 
 take not) nor any key to the door. In this manner 
 I was left in a large wilderness house without any 
 protection, and without asking whether anything was 
 wanting or not : but is it not strange that people in 
 such a capacity should profess to receive and enter- 
 tain others, without proper regard to what is neces- 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 297 
 
 sary in winter for their accommodation through the 
 night ? After remaining at Amboy a few days, I 
 returned to New York, and about this time wrote 
 the following letter : 
 
 Sir : — Although I am obliged to you for the favor 
 you showed me, yet it was not altogether pleasant to 
 me, for there seemed a degree of austerity not ac- 
 cording to that word which says, " I will have mercy, 
 and not sacrifice." Had you understood this, you 
 would not have condemned the guiltless. For if 
 where there is no law there is no transgression, so 
 where a law remains inviolate, there is no condem- 
 nation. Whatever is essential to my health — to my 
 support on a journey, or my comfort in sickness, and 
 whatever is recommended by a physician, admitted 
 by a pious minister, or taken moderately by a sober 
 person, we may suppose not only harmless, but a 
 duty. I never like to reproach others for going to 
 what lengths they like in mortifying themselves, nor 
 do I like to put an iron yoke upon those whom I ought 
 to comfort. The words, " Mortify the deeds of the 
 flesh, endure hardness, war a good warfare, &c.," 
 though excellent, may be very improper in their ap- 
 plication to the weary and heavy laden — and the 
 rigid notion of obliging every member of a religious 
 society to comply with the obligations of total absti- 
 nence, is too severe. The founder of methodism, I 
 presume, never taught thus — nor St. Paul, who says 
 every creature of God is good, if taken with thanks- 
 giving. 
 
 Wishing you wisdom from above, which is first 
 
 13* 
 
298 THE foreigner's 
 
 pure, free from absurdity, then peaceable, not con- 
 tentious ; gentle, not arbitrary — easily entreated, not 
 despotic and stubborn — full of mercy and good fruits 
 — to teach by example instead of austere authority-^ 
 without partiality to yourself aud party, or hypo- 
 crisy, by letting your own virtues, not your lips, speak 
 the merits of your character to your praise, 
 
 New York, April 4, 1848. Yours, &c. 
 
 Tuesday, April 14th, I set forward for Buffalo, 
 and hence I took the steamer in the evening for 
 Albany, and the cars in the morning for Amsterdam. 
 My design in taking the evening boat and a berth, 
 was that by rest I might do it easier than by day, 
 and also that I might arrive at the latter place to my 
 Comfort the next evening. I found Mrs. Sample 
 still alive, and in tolerable health. She had been a 
 member of the Methodist society for many years, but 
 at present she was grieved at the difficulties there 
 had been among them. She said that they had con- 
 tracted a debt in building the chapel, in amount to 
 about one thousand four hundred dollars, and by 
 neglect had let it run up to eighteen hundred — that 
 one man in good circumstances had left, another had 
 left, and I think a third had left, and now they were 
 permitted to return by purchasing a pew at about 
 one hundred and twenty dollars, without proper hu- 
 miliation, which she thought was not right. Neat- 
 ness, convenience, and what is noble in a church are 
 good, but extravagance and superfluity are wrong, 
 and have burdened many. 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 299 
 
 On the 19th I went forward to Fort Plain, and 
 Friday, 21st, to St. Johnsville. Monday, 23d, I went 
 to the Little Falls. At Fort Plain Mr. and Mrs. 
 Isbell received me in a kind and christian-like man- 
 ner. Charity is pitiful, courteous, and affectionate. 
 
 Friday, 27. — This evening (at Little Falls) I went 
 to the prayer meeting, and was pleased to see the 
 good order and devotional spirit I found there. First, 
 no person was called upon, and yet no time lost nor 
 anything apparently out of order. Secondly, two 
 followed the minister in prayer at the first kneeling — 
 four prayed in succession the second — six the third, 
 four the fourth, and one in conclusion. Thirdly, 
 every one prayed rationally, as it were with the 
 spirit and the understanding. There was no back- 
 wardness on the one hand, or false zeal on the other, 
 and notwithstanding three, four, and six, followed 
 each other in succession, it was scarcely tedious 
 from the good sense expressed, and the spirit of de- 
 votion which pervaded the assembly. Hence there 
 were eighteen engaged in about an hour and a half. 
 
 At this place I was agreeably situated at Mrs. 
 Gray's : her family consisting of herself and two 
 daughters. Soon after coming. Miss Lydia, agree- 
 ably to good breeding, asked my name, which they 
 continued to use, contrary to the custom of others. 
 They also asked if I would unite in prayer with 
 them, gave their consent, and behaved like a serious 
 people. Indeed I found no forbidding or unpleasant 
 behavior in any respect, while I remained with 
 them. Wherefore my peace I leave with them. 
 
SOO THE foreigner's 
 
 Previous to my departure we heard of the shock- 
 ing disaster on the railroad. This was on Sunday. 
 The cars met each other, and killed three or four men. 
 What compensation can be made short of trying 
 them for manslaughter, and charging the company 
 with damages and consequences to individuals, and 
 the bereaved families ? Yet with many misfortunes 
 men remain presumptuous. 
 
 May 3d, 1 went on to Herkimer, and Mrs. Mat- 
 teson admitted me as a Christian, at a moderate 
 charge, till my departure. She believed in the at- 
 tainment of sanctification, though not in possession 
 of it. What does this imply ? Is it not an entire 
 change from nature to grace, possessing the mind 
 that was in Christ Jesus, and entire devotedness to 
 God? 
 
 Monday, 6th, I took the cars and went forward to 
 Utica, where I found board at Mr. Pollard's. The 
 family were from England, and a serious people. 
 Mr. P had been much afflicted with the rheu- 
 matism, and in the evening I pleaded the promise, 
 " Behold I will bring it health and cure, and will 
 reveal unto thee an abundance of peace and truth." 
 
 Tuesday, 16th. — What amidst my reflections is the 
 state of my religious experience? In effect I told 
 my Christian friends at church, that it was drawing 
 near forty years since I united myself to a Christian 
 society, and from that time I had been trying to 
 make my way heavenward — that some part of that 
 time I had spent much time in prayer — that never- 
 theless, I did not enjoy such communion with God, 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 301 
 
 such deadness to the world, nor such power over 
 sin, as at first I anticipated. Hence I am disposed 
 to speak diffidently — to say in the Apostle's words : 
 " I follow after, if haply I may apprehend that for 
 which I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." 
 
 " I want the spirit of power within ; 
 
 Of love, and of a heahhful mind : 
 Of power to conquer inbred sin. 
 
 Of love to thee and all mankind ; 
 Of health that pain and death defies, 
 
 Most vigorous when the body dies. 
 
 In a word to use the simplest language I can, I 
 want the kingdom of God fully set up in my heart — 
 so set up as to exclude every doubt and fear con- 
 cerning it — the sun of righteousness so risen as to 
 assure me that it is full noon with me, and such a 
 faith that shall assure me that Christ is formed in me 
 the hope of glory. Secondly, I want the fruits of 
 this grace to appear, that others may as clearly see 
 as I feel it. This is of importance, because Jesus 
 not only says " This is the work of God that ye be- 
 lieve on me whom he hath sent ;" but he has also 
 said " By their fruits ye shall know them ; Let your 
 light so shine before men, &c. ; Love your enemies, 
 pray for them that despitefully use you, &c., that ye 
 may be the children of your Father which is in 
 heaven." Gracious God, grant me the fulness of the 
 dispensation of thy spirit, to satisfy me and to enable 
 me to display the character that was in Christ 
 Jesus. 
 
302 THE foreigner's 
 
 Monday, 29. — Mr. P 's family has sufficient 
 
 good sense to promote peace by studying the law of 
 
 kindness. Mrs. P manifests the sympathy of a 
 
 mother — the daughters were quiet, unaifected, and 
 tolerably free from lightness — Elizabeth, especially, 
 seemed like a person of a meek and quiet spirit — a 
 person of much thought rather than much talk. But 
 is the kingdom of God set up in their hearts ? 
 
 In order that peace, affection, and unity may be 
 preserved, the law of kindness should be contem- 
 plated and practised. What is destructive of peace 
 should be carefully avoided, and what is promotive 
 of it should be practised. For instance, if one will 
 inculcate his own sentiments, and force others to 
 submit to what agrees only with his own opinion — 
 if he will insist that Methodism alone is Christianity — 
 that this or that denomination is superior to all 
 others, and that this or that government is exclu- 
 sively the one according to the will of God, such an 
 arbitrary way of acting will destroy all social enjoy- 
 ment, and in a while it will annihilate all friendship. 
 
 May 30th, I took the packet for Rome. The 
 morning was pleasant, by reason of the thunder 
 storm and the rain fallen the afternoon preceding ; 
 the dark clouds still overcast nearly the whole hemi- 
 sphere, and the journey was additionally pleasant 
 from being on the sixty-nine mile level without a 
 lock. I was also glad to hear the man at the helm 
 raise his voice and loudly exclaim Bridge ! For 
 how many there are as if stupid or void of humanity, 
 who well nigh run over a person, without warning 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 303 
 
 him till too late. At New York it is difficult to walk 
 in safety. People driving regardless of decency 
 or moral character, and being so many wagons, 
 coaches, omnibuses, and stages to guard against — 
 so many ways to look and dangers to beware of that 
 while a person cautiously guards against a number, 
 he perhaps runs foul of some horse or wagon, through 
 the unprincipled conduct of the driver, which he had 
 not eyes sufficient to guard against. 
 
 At I stayed at the tavern. The board was 
 
 good and reasonable as I could have found it else- 
 where. Nevertheless there was some lack in regard 
 to my lodging, which is often the case. The window 
 was so loose that with safety it could not be put up, 
 and the second day the wind blew it upon a bed post 
 and broke it. There were two skeleton pillows, a 
 dozen of which perhaps would be necessary for some 
 people to sleep with comfort. There was a bolt to 
 the door, but it could not be shut, and there was a 
 chore too often neglected by some people. 
 
 June 3d, I took the packet for Syracuse, and while 
 passing along I asked a person if he could direct me 
 to a boarding-house, when he mentioned the Globe, 
 
 and R 's Temperance House — that the charge 
 
 was about two dollars per week, but that I might get 
 it perhaps at the latter for something less. Hence 
 on landing there were different carriages soliciting 
 passengers to such and such hotels or boarding- 
 houses. Being much solicited to go free of cost, at 
 length I consented, but when I came to the house 
 they handed my baggage into the room, and then 
 
304 THE foreigner's 
 
 required me to stay at one dollar per day, or pay for 
 bringing up my luggage. This caused some disa- 
 greement, for on taking my trunks out Mr. R 
 
 pretended to detain them, or demanded two shillings 
 for carriage. But is there not a more honorable 
 way ? 
 
 Inquiring afterwards for a boarding-house, Mr. 
 Vanhusen thought he could accommodate me. His 
 charge was two dollars per week. When arrived at 
 his house, Mrs. Vanhusen objected for want of sleep- 
 ing room, and because the}^ shortly expected some 
 people. However, being late, I prevailed to stay 
 over the Sabbath. 
 
 Hence on Monday, our minister directed me to 
 
 Mrs. G , who received me as a boarder, but 
 
 having a mixture of brandy and salt for my knee, 
 recommended by Mrs. Pollard of Utica, she turned 
 against me and would not let me remain in the house. 
 Such is the weakness of some people ! Was this 
 according to that word, " I will have mercy and not 
 sacrifice," or did it savor of the leaven of Pharisees ? 
 
 At church their manner is to pray, one, two, or 
 three in« succession, w^ithout being called upon, and 
 there is a degree of seriousness and good order be- 
 coming a Christian people. 
 
 " But can it be that I should prove 
 For ever faithful to thy love ; 
 From sin for ever cease 1 
 
 Tuesday, 15th, I took the packet and went to Fayet- 
 teville. Being late, and having a prayer meeting at 
 church, I went in and called a person to the door to 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 305 
 
 inquire for a place for the night. He kindly gave 
 me leave to remain at his house, where I found a 
 plain habitation, a kind people, and comfortable ac- 
 commodation. 
 
 Saturday, 17th, I went forward to Manlius. Mr. 
 Caswell, the gunsmith whom I stayed with over Sun- 
 day some years before, was dead. Seeing his name 
 on the signboard, I got off of the wagon, and asked 
 the son whether he could take me in over the Sab- 
 bath. He directed me to the next house, but 
 
 Mrs. being very unwell, they proposed my going 
 
 to Mr. Hamlin's, who though not members of the 
 society, made no objection. Mrs. Hamlin said she 
 was willing if her husband was, who, when asked, 
 was equally so. Hence I was a stranger and they 
 took me in, and I found in them a kind and an agree- 
 able people. I am glad, therefore, to memorialize 
 their kindness. 
 
 Tuesday, 19th, I went to Jamesville, and found a 
 place at Mrs. Case's. The next day I walked for- 
 ward to Onondaga Hollow, and remained the first 
 night at Mr. Downer's, and the second at Mr. At- 
 well's, Methodist minister. After which I returned 
 to Syracuse. 
 
 Saturday, 24. — Passing along the street at Syra- 
 cuse, I saw a board at a clothing store, with the fol- 
 lowing words ; " Hold your horses." Asking the 
 shopman what it meant, he in effect said it was to 
 remind them of calling, &c. But if intended to ask 
 their custom why not choose some motto which be- 
 comes sensible and wise men ? 
 
3Q6 THE foreigner's 
 
 Monday, 26th, I went to Geddes, and remained at 
 Dr. Thompson's. Mrs. Thompson had been very 
 sick, and still remained very weak. In the evening 
 I told Mrs. Morse that I would join in prayer with 
 them, if agreeable, and if I mistake not pleaded the 
 promise, " Behold I will bring it health and cure, and 
 will reveal unto thee an abundance of peace and 
 truth." There are ten pillars at the front of the 
 house, which form, a portico of freestone turned like 
 wood I suppose by machinery, and ornamented at 
 top, each of which, as I was informed, cost five hun- 
 dred dollars apiece. As a stranger they took me in. 
 Hence at parting I made them a present of a book, 
 and left my peace with them. 
 
 Wednesday, 28. — For three or four years I scarcely 
 left the city of New York : my knees so failing I 
 could not walk without the help of the stage ; but 
 last summer I ventured to Newark, and since that 
 time I have been travelling pretty much ever since. 
 Indeed I do not object to selling my books, because 
 people seldom reproach me for what is written, but 
 one difficulty is, they carry me abroad that I cannot 
 remain in any one place I fix upon. I cannot sell 
 them as the baker does his bread, where a loaf is 
 wanted every day, and to be always shifting is like 
 having no home as a place of rest. But it seems 
 that this is my providential call or a state of bondage 
 I am under, and if so, may God give me strength to 
 prosecute the work He has called me to, or patience 
 to suffer his righteous will. 
 
 Under such a dispensation of providence I find 
 
PROTRACTEU JOURNAL. 307 
 
 access to all kinds of people, both rich and poor. 
 Sometimes I enter into the habitations of the afflicted. 
 One here and there perhaps, gives me a little history 
 of their trials, misfortunes, and afflictions — their be- 
 reavements, griefs, and sorrows, and I am disposed 
 to sympathize with them. In a little while I join in 
 prayer with them, and finally they dismiss me in 
 peace. At other times I enter the habitations of the 
 rich, and use plainness of speech in soliciting their 
 patronage, but I deplore my want of patience under 
 my infirmities. 
 
 Admitting my employment lawful, is it a useful 
 one ? Is it any benefit to society ? for, alas, how many 
 occupations there are in the world, many of which 
 are either useless or less useful than others. Your 
 occupation we will suppose an indispensable one, 
 while many others are either useless or less honor- 
 able. In like manner my occupation seems the only 
 one in which I can employ myself to earn my daily 
 bread, and which under Divine Providence I pray 
 that it may be sanctified to my good and the good of 
 others. Some have perhaps said that my books are 
 calculated to do good ; if so, may God prosper and 
 give them his blessing — pardon every wrong expres- 
 sion, and give repentance for any impure motive by 
 which they were dictated. But who is sufficient to 
 estimate the merits or effects of his own labors ? 
 Supposing your occupation is more honorable or 
 more useful than mine, was it purchased by merit, 
 or is it executed with purer motives ? Is the wor- 
 thiest man more independent than his neighbor, for 
 
308 THE foreigner's 
 
 what he professes and for what he enjoys ? Can we 
 look into futurity and judge the effects of our own 
 labors ? If every idle word shall be brought into 
 judgment, and every cup of water given to a disciple 
 shall be rewarded, can we calculate upon the ill 
 effects and consequences of the former, or estimate 
 the blessed effects of the latter ? Are not the effects 
 of benevolent institutions, Sunday-school labors, and 
 the preaching of the gospel, on the minds of the 
 present as well as future generations, hid from us ? 
 Very great effects frequently spring from small 
 causes. A little stream of water increases till it 
 becomes a great river, and hence my feeble attempts 
 at length may be productive of some good in future, 
 though I see it not. May I therefore continue to 
 hope in the Lord, whose mercies are great, for in 
 Him there is mercy that he may be feared, and 
 plenteous redemption that he may be sought unto. 
 
 But how mysterious are the ways of Divine Provi- 
 dence ! How unsearchable are the judgments of 
 God, and his ways past finding out ! Who can search 
 into futurity, or tell what a day or an hour shall bring 
 forth ! Nor can any man tell what lies between 
 the present hour and the latest step on his passage 
 to the grave. Nevertheless, experience has taught 
 him it may be that man is born to trouble — that per- 
 severance and courage are necessary to surmount 
 the difficulties he is called to contend with. As a 
 boy, he goes an apprentice to learn a trade, but being 
 an awkward genius, he perhaps wants twice seven 
 years to perfect him in it. At length he commences 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 309 
 
 business, but he has to struggle with adversity for 
 years ere he can manage with comfort. One person 
 can do nothing but what he sees another do, and all 
 must be acquired like his language, by perpetual 
 observation and practice. Some can improve them- 
 selves by books, without learning all by imitation, 
 but some have a kind of innate genius by which 
 they will invent without a model. One is suited 
 with the trade he is put to, another must seek out a 
 new one. One possesses industry, labors through 
 the day, and rests sweetly at night, but another is 
 restless, unsettled, a burden to himself and others. 
 Indigence cripples some industrious men for years, 
 who nevertheless at length rise out of their impove- 
 rished circumstances. Some have a good name and 
 a respectable character, but others have odious names 
 and are always suspected. 
 
 Monday, 10th, I took the packet, and passing Port 
 Byron and Montezuma, I arrived at Clyde. This 
 was about twenty miles from Weedsport, from 
 whence I came. At the latter place I remained over 
 the Sunday. The minister being gone to Conference 
 there was no preaching, but there was prayer meet- 
 ing in the morning and evening. Mr. B being 
 
 present, there was some additional life in service, 
 through the excess of zeal he manifested. But was 
 this the pure zeal of the gospel, or was it only an 
 earnest desire to attain it ? "I know not," says Mr. 
 Wesley, " when we had so noisy a congregation, so 
 that by their eagerness to hear they defeated their 
 own purpose." Journal, vol. vi., page 216. For my 
 
310 
 
 part I respect people who are anxious to obtain the 
 height and depth of divine love, but whether people 
 who make the most noise, halloo, clap, and rub their 
 hands, hav^e more religion than others I cannot tell. 
 
 Previous to leaving Weedsport, I prayed that I 
 might find a place suited to me, and so J did. Meet- 
 ing Mr. Dunham on the landing, he led me to Mrs. 
 Germond's, very near at hand. This was a plain 
 and peaceable habitation suited to my wants. 
 
 Friday, 14th, I took the packet for Lyons, and 
 went to Mrs. Burnet's to board, but the room being 
 very small, close, and being affected with the heat, 
 I removed to Mrs. Jameson's. During my journey, 
 I heard nothing more of the hosts of locusts that 
 swarmed so numerously in a region some time before. 
 In the neighborhood of Manlius, Jamesville, or Onon- 
 daga Hollow, if I mistake not, the air was charmed 
 with their noise, and one said they came in seven- 
 teen years — another said it was nineteen- years since 
 they were so numerous before. In the same neigh- 
 borhood there were great complaints of the insects 
 destroying the wheat, insomuch that on many acres 
 there have been but a few bushels of grain. Indeed, 
 in some parts of the country they have given up 
 sowing wheat through this destructive insect. This 
 is a distressing plague, but is there no remedy ? In 
 such a case vain is the help of man, but is anything 
 too hard for the Lord ? Why then are not such 
 things with becoming humiliation laid before him ? 
 Are there no men of faith and prayer left among us ? 
 Does God send the fruits of the earth and regard not 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 311 
 
 whether they are gathered or destroyed ? If not, let 
 us humble ourselves before him, confess our sins, and 
 make our intercessions to him to remove the evil. 
 Did he not cast out the locusts in Egypt, that there 
 was not one left ? 
 
 " wondrous power of faithful prayer, 
 
 What tongue can tell the almighty grace ; 
 God's hands are bound or open are, 
 , As Moses or Elijah prays ; 
 
 Let Moses in the spirit grOan, 
 
 And God cries out ' Let me alone.' 
 
 " Let me alone, that all my wrath 
 
 May rise, the wicked to consume ; 
 While justice hears thy praying faith. 
 
 It cannot seal the sinnei"'s doom : 
 My Son is in my servant's prayer, 
 
 And Jesus forces m.e to spare." 
 
 Some time ago I wrote part of the following letter, 
 which is here inserted. 
 
 Sir : — It is not my wish to contend with any one, 
 but under some circumstances it is difficult to avoid 
 it : nor do I like to withhold one penny justly de- 
 manded, if circumstances admit of paying it, but to 
 prove what is just is sometimes necessary, and to 
 refuse paying what is not so is justice to myself. 
 With regard to your demands, observe they were by 
 no means according to my order, and my circum- 
 stances oblige me to use economy. It arose from 
 being misinformed in regard to your charge, and 
 from the urgent invitations of your coachman under 
 that information. I had been informed that I might 
 
812 THE foreigner's 
 
 board at dollars per week and your coach- 
 man offered to take me free of cost. Being unwil- 
 ling to go, he would leave it to my option whether I 
 stayed or not, and still he was solicitous to take me : 
 nay, he apparently would take no denial. Hence 
 after consenting and arriving there and finding your 
 charge was inflexibly fixed at one dollar per day, I 
 was quite disappointed and could not stay ; but 
 having taken my baggage in, you wanted either to 
 oblige me to remain, or charge me for bringing it up, 
 contrary to the offer of your coachman. But was 
 this just ? 
 
 There is right and wrong to everything, but it is 
 difficult in the strictest sense of the word to do busi- 
 ness in accordance with justice and truth. Hence 
 I was deceived by the offers and entreaties of your 
 coachman. He did not tell me the charges of your 
 house so contrary to the information I had received, 
 but he offered and entreated me to go free of cost, 
 and was willing to leave it to my option to remain 
 or not, on my arrival. Hence would it not be more 
 just to give people a proper understanding of the 
 terms you fake them on ? My wish is to do right, 
 however short I come in practice — to pay every 
 one, that brotherly love may continue. Do you wish 
 to do the same ? If not, let these lines put you upon 
 reflection. Make justice, mercy, and truth, your 
 study. Your establishment is styled " The Temper- 
 ance House," wherefore, let not this Christian-like 
 phrase be coupled with or have any connexion with 
 extravagance or extortion. Let temperance as a 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 313 
 
 principle govern j^our whole family, and all within 
 your gates. Let it be seen not only in abstaining 
 from strong drink and intoxication, but let it charac- 
 terize all your dealings, your proceedings, tempers, 
 words, and actions. I am, Sir, 
 
 Yours, &;c. 
 
 At this place (Lyons) the minister on Sunday was 
 from home, and there was no preaching, but in the 
 evening at prayer meeting I was pleased to see the 
 good order and spirit of devotion manifest among the 
 people. No person was called upon, but they prayed 
 by two and two or three, with sincerity and great 
 devotion — not with vehemence but great desire — 
 not by using vain repetitions, but for essential bless- 
 ings. There did not seem to be any false zeal, but 
 a spirit of true devotion — no phrensied emotion, but 
 an earnest desire to obtain the kingdom of God, 
 which is righteousness and peace, and joy in the 
 Holy Ghost. 
 
 Friday 21st, I took the packet, and passing by 
 Newark, I came to Palmyra. After inquiring for a 
 place to board, I was directed to Mr. Newton's, who 
 kept the Bunker Hill Tavern. The gentleman who 
 directed me, gave him an excellent character, and 
 indeed he seemed worthy of it. His charges are 
 suited to my circumstances, and the board is good. 
 I have a comfortable room and lodging. There is 
 good order in the house, and an agreeable family. 
 Hence should such a person as this be reprobated 
 with publicans and sinners merely on account of his 
 
 14 
 
314 THE foreigner's ^ 
 
 occupation ? Rather let me say, may salvation come 
 to this house, and that with Zaccheus he may be 
 recognised also, as a son of Abraham. 
 
 Thursday 27th, I took the packet for Buffalo, and 
 arrived there on Friday, making a journey (from 
 April 14 to July 20) of fifteen weeks. Praised be 
 God! After landing I saw a poor woman who had 
 been killed by one of the bridges. Gracious God, 
 be merciful to her orphan children. 
 
 On landing I got into trouble by the hosts of car- 
 men and tavern keepers' servants, and boys, teazing 
 importunately to obtain passengers to the different 
 hotels. One wanted me to go to such a place, and 
 another elsewhere. One man took down one article, 
 and a boy another, and having six parcels which I 
 supposed they were only landing on the platform, I 
 soon found myself involved in difficulty through 
 taking them away. This is the fourth time, not- 
 withstanding all my caution, that I have had trouble 
 at different landings by such people. A boy took 
 down a small trunk, and another a small basket, 
 without setting them dovvD, and pretended that I 
 consented to go to the Clinton House. Yet, after a 
 deal of anxiety and contention, I found the trunk (if 
 I am not mistaken) on Huff's carriage, and the 
 basket at length before their hotel door. Such a way 
 of acting caused me a deal of trouble, and such a 
 manner of using unsuspecting strangers is very 
 unjust, but how to avoid what is not suspected, or 
 how to defend myself, if ever so careful, I know not; 
 for there is such a number of these people in a time 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 315 
 
 of confusion, who surround a person, that it is diffi- 
 cult to get clear of them. There is no denial they 
 will take, nor any rational argument that will satisfy 
 them. 
 
 Saturday, August 5th. — I am now at Buffalo with 
 my nephew and niece, Mr. and Mrs. B**** whom 
 I esteem for the kindness they have hitherto 
 manifested. Gracious God, bless thy servant and 
 handmaid with health, peace, and prosperity. Estab- 
 lish thy covenant with them and their children, for 
 ever. Amen. 
 
 Last night I was at the Love Feast at Swan Street 
 Chapel, and was pleased with the seriousness and 
 rational testimony the people manifested. Lord God, 
 bless thy people and save them from an impure zeal 
 on the one hand, and from dead formality on 
 the other. But what sayest thou, O my soul, to 
 these things ? Art thou alive unto God, and bring- 
 ing forth the fruits of righteousness to the glory of 
 his great name ? Alas ! I have but little to say to 
 such a question. Nevertheless, I trust I desire to 
 find repentance unto eternal life — to obtain the 
 mind that was in Christ Jesus — to have all my 
 words and actions as it becometh the Gospel of 
 Christ. And hast thou not said, " Ask and ye shall 
 have, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be 
 opened unto you.'' Gracious God, have mercy upon 
 me therefore, and as a returning prodigal receive 
 me, forgive my wanderings, heal all my backslidings, 
 and love me freely. 
 
 Monday, August 7th. — Yesterday morning Mrs. 
 
316 THE foreigner's 
 
 Curson died, and left a husband and eight children 
 to lament her loss. But she died in hopes of a better 
 resurrection. If ready, we need not mourn as men 
 without hope, but rather rejoice in hope of meeting 
 her happy spirit where death is swallowed up in 
 victory — " Blessed are the dead who die in the 
 Lord." Hence we repaired to the house, and saw 
 the corpse so lately captivated by the universal 
 conqueror — death. Says Young : 
 
 " Lovely in death, the beauteous ruin lay." 
 
 Tuesday, September 12th. — For a few days I have 
 been considerably afflicted. My stomach has been 
 out of order, my legs and feet have been cold. I 
 
 have lately entered on my — — year. Hence life 
 
 is rapidly passing away, and afflictions are warning 
 me of my approaching dissolution Glory be unto 
 God that I am still spared. May I give all diligence 
 to make my calling and election sure, and finally 
 commit my soul into the hands of God as unto a 
 faithful Creator. 
 
 Sunday, 17th. — This forenoon, for the first time, I 
 heard brother Fuller, the new preacher appointed to 
 this charge. I liked the sermon, his manner of giv- 
 ing out the hymns, and his purposes of being faithful 
 in visiting from house to house ; but it is a small thing 
 to express an intention rather than to fulfil it satis- 
 factorily with long suffering and fidelity. Lord 
 Jesus, assist thy servant. The singing I did not like, 
 it seemed too much confined to the choir; neither 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 317 
 
 were- the tunes such that the congregation could 
 heartily join with them. 
 
 September 27th, I took an affectionate leave of my 
 friends, and rode to Batavia. The journey was 
 peaceable and a safe one. After arriving, I went to 
 the Genesee House, where the porter was civil, the 
 bar-keeper moderate in his charges, and the accom- 
 modations good. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all 
 that is within me praise his holy name. I had 
 prayed for direction to a quiet habitation. May all 
 iniquity come to an end, and the people in this 
 establishment follow after righteousness. 
 
 Batavia, Oct. 1st. — Being the quarterly meeting, 
 brother Filmore, the presiding elder, preached at 
 chapel last evening and this forenoon. At the Love 
 Feast there was a good spirit of devotion. The 
 people spoke rationally, plainly, and devoutly. Dur- 
 ing the meeting the minister said something about 
 zeal — some way or other suggested that the members 
 might be so warm as to discompose each other 
 through the partitions of the class rooms, &c., which 
 was well spoken, but which a certain brother made 
 some remarks upon, assuring him that there had been 
 no such thing ; 'but this was rather inexpedient, for 
 such cautions are necessary. Hence, from this 
 remark let it be observed that people should speak 
 intelligibly, zealously, and loud enough to be under- 
 stood — in the meantime they should speak in simpli- 
 city, and avoid outleaping the bounds of moderation 
 to the annoyance of others, and to the reproach of 
 
318 
 
 religion. Such things want qualifying by our teach- 
 ers. 
 
 But I like Love Feasts conducted as formerly, by 
 setting hymns composed for that purpose.. The first 
 is — 
 
 " Come and let us sweetly join, 
 Christ to praise in hymns divine ; 
 Give w^e all with one accord. 
 Glory to our common Lord. 
 Hands and hearts, and voices raise. 
 Sing as in the ancient days ; 
 Antedate the joys above. 
 Celebrate the feast of love." See the Hymn. 
 
 On giving round the bread, the appropriate verse — 
 
 " Be present at our table. Lord, 
 Be here and everywhere adored ; 
 Thy creatures bless, and grant that we 
 May feast iriParadise with Thee." 
 
 After eating and drinking, the following : 
 
 " We bless thee Lord for this our food. 
 But more because of Jesus' blood ; 
 Let manna to our souls be given, 
 Sent from the tree of life in heaven." 
 
 But when the service commences, with — 
 
 " Come on, my partners in distress, &c. 
 Except the Lord conduct the plan, &c. 
 Try us, O God, and search the ground, &,c." 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 319 
 
 Such hymns seem so inappropriate to the occa- 
 sion, that they alter the tone, so as to give a different 
 character to the meeting, for we do not meet to 
 celebrate a day of distress, but a feast of love. 
 
 Tuesday, Oct. 3d. — 1 took the cars for Rochester. 
 The day was very fine, being I suppose w^hat is 
 called " The Indian Summer." At the depot there 
 was contention between a colored young man and 
 a white one. A stout fellow took up the matter 
 against the colored one, and at length struck him. 
 The}^ commenced fighting, and laid hold of each 
 other's hair, and held as if determined to tear each 
 other to pieces, but the people would by no means 
 suffer them to continue the contest. The stout fel- 
 low in effect said that he did not allow a negro to 
 call him a liar : such is the case ; call the man a 
 drunkard, a swearer, or perhaps a rascal, and it is 
 borne with, but call him a liar, and he takes fire at 
 once, as if that was an insult to his honor which 
 must be avenged. But w^hy so ? If a man is a liar, 
 why should he revenge himself for being told of it ? 
 And had he any right to strike a man of color any 
 more than the other had to strike him for interfering 
 with him ? However, the company did well to end 
 the contest, and perhaps it would be well to arrest 
 every man w^ho strikes his fellow, and confine him 
 in the watch-house for twenty-four hours to prevent 
 such outrage. 
 
 When arrived at Rochester, I was conducted to 
 Mr. Clemenson's. He was an Englishman, and kept 
 a large boarding house. He offered me a room on 
 
320 THE FOREIGNER S 
 
 the second floor, but afterwards Mrs. C. said she had 
 engaged it to some ladies who were coming to 
 school, and therefore I was rather obliged to go up 
 to the third story. This I did not like on account of 
 my knees, and being obliged to travel up so many 
 steps in the city; but difficulties which will admit 
 of no remedy must be endured. Gracious Lord, have 
 mercy on me. 
 
 Wednesday, 4th. — I went in the evening with Mr. 
 Lane to class meeting, in which there were nearly 
 thirty persons. Beginning too late, and speaking too 
 long, the first hour was gone without making much 
 progress. Nevertheless some of the members spoke 
 with great simplicity of the love of God to their 
 souls. But I do not like the custom of having so 
 full a room, nor of prolonging meetings two hours 
 instead of one. Neither do I like using means to 
 prompt people to speak more than they should. The 
 pure love of God teaches people to speak with sim- 
 plicity, appear in their proper characters, and implore 
 the grace they want. 
 
 The next evening I went to the prayer meeting, 
 where there was a good spirit of devotion. One 
 sister distinguished herself by the feeling, pathetic, 
 and pure language with which she spoke. It seemed 
 that Christ was precious to her soul, and she made 
 prayer and praise, without any false zeal, or without 
 a stammering tongue. But it is unpleasant to me to 
 have meetings so late. What! are the people so 
 cumbered with worldly cares or so straitened in 
 circumstances, that they cannot spare an hour till 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 321 
 
 after it is dark to wait on the Lord ? The time set 
 was half-past seven, but for want of punctuahty they 
 make it later still : not occupying time to the best 
 advantage, and at length prompting each other to 
 speak when it is late, it is nearly ten at the conclusion. 
 This makes it necessary to hasten home and to bed 
 in a sweat, or carries people forwards, too near mid- 
 night ere they get to rest. 
 
 Sunday, 15th, I was at Buffalo Street Church, which 
 for room is a noble building. It will seat, probably, 
 on the ground floor, a thousand or twelve hundred 
 people. The altar place is noble in appearance, and 
 will hold probably near two hundred children. The 
 inside of the building is supported like an English 
 church, by so many large columns. But the singing 
 I could not admire. For the most devout and joint 
 worship, people should choose the most plain, familiar, 
 and suitable tunes. It seems to me that there are 
 some evils in this department of divine worship which 
 want removing. First, there are many good old 
 tunes so altered by the modern authors of music that 
 they are injured, and people who knew them for- 
 merly can scarcely sing them. Secondly, the tenor 
 or leading part so weak, is lost in the counter or 
 other parts, that the congregation can scarcely hear 
 it. And thirdly, this instrument with the manoeu- 
 vring and shifting about of the player, is like a clog 
 which prevents the congregation from singing in a 
 devotional manner, as they might do. Hence there 
 wants some method to select proper tunes, and reject 
 
 such as are improper for divine worship. 
 
 14* 
 
322 THE FOREIGNERS 
 
 On returning to my room, there lay a razor on my 
 trunk wide open — the paper and laver — shirt, vest, 
 shoes, brushes, comb, hair, &c., &c, we will suppose 
 all scattered about the room in disorder. Such is 
 the conduct of some people. Instead of having a 
 place for everything and everything in its place, they 
 leave things scattered about like children. 
 
 Monday, 16th. — Last evening I went to the prayer 
 meeting, where was a good spirit of devotion — an 
 earnest desire to know and do the will of God — to 
 obtain the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. But 
 there is not the congregation there was ten or twelve 
 years ago. And on making inquiry I heard that 
 Mr. ********* had left the city — that fatherly and 
 venerated character — the man who like David would 
 swear to his own hurt and change not. Inquiring 
 for Mr. ****** I heard that he was dead — that he 
 had backslidden and died in an hour. 
 
 Thursday, 19th. — I went in the evening to class 
 meeting. There were between twenty and thirty 
 persons present, among whom there were different 
 degrees of Christian experience. First there were 
 several of perhaps twelve years old — probably chil- 
 dren of pious parents, who from good example and 
 conviction, spoke good, but like children. Secondly, 
 there were others who spoke from experience more 
 rationally — more from reflection, and with the un- 
 derstanding — and thirdly, there was one man who 
 some would say was filled with faith and with the 
 Holy Ghost. As true as it is that all men have not 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 323 
 
 faith, so true it is that some who have faith have not 
 wisdom. 
 
 Tuesday, 31st. — After remaining a week at Mr. 
 C 's and about ten days at Mrs. White's, 1 re- 
 moved over the river to Mrs. MacCraggin's. She 
 was an industrious and an accommodating person, 
 but I did not Hke the company. Some people always 
 want authority to govern them, and that self-govern- 
 ment authoritative or influence from well-bred be- 
 havior is essential to liberty, 
 
 " Sou of thy Sire's eternal love. 
 
 Take to thyself thy mighty power ; 
 Let all earth's sons thy mercy prove. 
 
 Let all thy wondrous grace adore j 
 The triumphs of thy love display ; 
 
 In every heart reign thou alene ; 
 Till all thy foes confess thy sway. 
 
 And glorj' end what grace begun. 
 
 *' The«, sovereign Lord, let all confess, 
 
 That move in earth, or air, or sky : 
 Revere thy power, thy goodness bless. 
 
 Tremble before thy piercing eye ; 
 All ye who owe to him your birth. 
 
 In praise your every hour employ ; 
 Jehovah reigns ! be glad, earth ; 
 
 And shout, ye morning stars, for joy." 
 
 Friday, Nov. 3d, I took the cars to Canandaigua, 
 and on Sunday at church heard Mr. Arnold. I 
 much liked his plain manner of speaking — his manner 
 of giving out the hymns — the substance of his prayer 
 and his good doctrine in the sermon. He preached 
 
324 THE foreigner's 
 
 from 1 Cor. xiii., and I think from the first to the 
 eighth verse. I could wish that all men would speak 
 with equal plainness whether they could deliver the 
 same precious truths or not. I liked also the con- 
 gregational singing. The choir set tunes that they 
 could sing themselves and the people join with them. 
 This wants keeping too ; for the alteration in many 
 good old tunes for the worse is an evil which wants 
 guarding against, and the practice of choirs setting 
 tunes which the congregation cannot sing should not 
 be encouraged. Another evil is that the tenor part 
 is left to a few weak or female voices, which are 
 so silenced by the bass, that it sometimes is difficult 
 to sing even the Old Hundred with them. 
 
 In the evening I went to the prayer meeting, where 
 was a good spirit of devotion. I could scarcely help 
 noticing the prayer of one sister, who spake so boldly 
 yet modestly — so intelligibly, and with such an audi- 
 ble voice — so zealously and plainly, yet without 
 straining her voice or with a stammering tongue. 
 Mrs. A had her excellences also, and notwith- 
 standing her established condition, good understand- 
 ing and utterance, she prayed much that God would 
 have mercy upon us : as if in the most matured state 
 of grace, we still stand much in need of mercy. 
 Covet therefore, earnestly, the best gifts, and yet, 
 says St. Paul, show I unto you a more excellent way. 
 
 Friday, Nov. 10th, I went forward to Vienna, and 
 on Saturday in the afternoon, in distributing my 
 circulars, I asked at a number of houses whether 
 they would take me in for the Sabbath, but found 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 325 
 
 no admission till I came to the Rev. Mr. Latimer's, 
 who immediately replied, " Oh, yes." He made not 
 one word of objection ; nor did Mrs. Latimer, though 
 her hands were full of extra work which kept her up 
 till near midnight. " I was a stranger, and they took 
 me in." Mrs. Latimer (as well as her husband) is a 
 person of an amiable temper. Mild, benevolent, 
 kind, simple, and plain in her manners, very much 
 suited to my wants. May their reward be in 
 heaven ! 
 
 I have lately on several occasions put up at 
 taverns, and in many instances a person may be as 
 retired and comfortable as at private boarding 
 houses. But to stay a short time only it is some- 
 times difficult and more expensive ; for at some places 
 I am obliged to put up with a small chamber where 
 there is too little room. Sometimes there is notable 
 nor room for one — no nail to hang up a coat — no 
 ♦ washstand nor lock to the door — a broken window, 
 or nothing to keep it up — too little clothing to the 
 bed — not a sufficient complement of pillows, &c. 
 At some places there is an indispensable article of 
 furniture wanting, and some chambermaids leave a 
 chore which they ought to attend to. 
 
 Tuesday, 12th, I went forward to Geneva. On 
 Thursday evening I went to the prayer meeting, 
 where was a serious praying people. On Sunday, 
 brother D***** made an excellent sermon. At 
 the back of the pulpit there was a piece of paint- 
 ing in perspective so well executed that it looked 
 like the inside of a little room. The room or passage 
 
326 
 
 apparently was supported by seven or eight pillars, 
 besides what was behind the canvas, but the fringe 
 on the drapery rather betrayed its artificial than its 
 real character. But some little carved work 1 did 
 not admire. What is merely fine without neatness, 
 plainness, and dignity in the house of God, adds no 
 beauty to the scene in my estimation. The charac- 
 ter of Jesus in all his inimitable perfections is what we 
 should aim at in church, and out of it. In the even- 
 ing there was a prayer meeting, and a serious 
 praying people ; but Mr. ***** gave too long an 
 exhortation, which seemed not to accord with the 
 spirit and tenor of the meeting. So it seemed to me, 
 and I wish to observe in the fear of God that the 
 word should be faithfully preached — purity of cha- 
 racter inculcated — discipline enforced, and faithfully 
 attended to as the most effectual way of living to 
 God, and of reviving pure and undefiled religion 
 among us. Without this, all fondness, affectation, ♦ 
 forced tears and arguments will prove unavailable. 
 
 The cars stopping near Mr. Tompkins's Tavern, I 
 went and put up with him. The board and lodging 
 were good, and there were no very disorderly persons 
 in the bar-room. I slept in a small room alone, but 
 there being no key nor any pegs for clothes, it was as 
 narrow a compass as in which I could be comfort- 
 able. Mr. T****** agreed to my staying for 
 twenty shillings per week, but at the end of that 
 time he wanted to make an additional charge. He 
 pretended that he had more than two dollars and a 
 half for transient boarders — that I had a light up 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 327 
 
 Stairs, &c., but having fully explained myself at first, 
 and having had no light to my recollection to read 
 or write for half an hour, I gave up my board. 
 Indeed it is not good to be so near a bar-room, for 
 evil communications corrupt good manners. '' Have 
 no fellowship (says St. Paul) with the unfruitful works 
 of darkness, but rather reprove them." Let this be 
 done first by a spirit of sobriety that is unimpeach- 
 able, and such a temper of gravity that never smiles 
 at their iniquity ; and secondly, when they have seen 
 your character, remind them of their iniquity by a 
 well defined word of mouth, which if at a proper 
 time and properly spoken they cannot resist. Hence 
 on Mr. T.'s objection I removed to Mrs. Hosmer's, 
 who kept a victualling house at a small distance. 
 This old lady, it seems, was a member of the Metho- 
 dist Society, and who immediately called upon me at 
 table to ask a blessing, and otherwise to lead in 
 family worship. But I find some objections rise in 
 my mind to lead in such duties if seriousness, watch- 
 fulness, truth, and sobriety are not observed. 
 
 I never like this modern custom of darkening the 
 room. People can exclaim against taxing the win- 
 dows, yet more absurdly shut out the light as to 
 make rooms like midnight at noon-day. One said it 
 is because we love darkness rather than light ; others 
 will say it is to hide the dirt ; but Solomon says that 
 light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the 
 eyes to behold the sun. Let the light therefore come 
 in that the dirt may be made manifest, and that dirt, 
 pride, and darkness may be swept out together. 
 
328 THE foreigner's 
 
 Thursday, 23d, Thanksgiving day. My soul, give 
 thou thanks unto God, and render unto him accord- 
 ing to all his benefits. Lord God, have mercy upon 
 me in my stranger-like capacity. Accept of my 
 poor services — the will for the deed. 
 
 Saturday, 25th, I went forward to Waterloo. But 
 I never like to go into a place too late in the day, 
 and I prayed that God would lead me to a place of 
 habitation. Accordingly our minister, Mr. Mande- 
 ville, consented to my staying over the Sabbath, and 
 asking a person at church who lived next house to 
 him, Mr. M***** took me in without objection. 
 
 Although I like to see people zealously affected in 
 religion, yet I like to see a proportionable degree of 
 seriousness and gravity with it. Hence I never feel 
 comfortable when young men enforce the word by 
 perpetually clapping their hands. The gospel does 
 not want such a recommendation ; it should be 
 spoken in simplicity ; in the most definite, pure, and 
 affectionate manner. Its precepts should be practi- 
 cally regarded — discipline kept up and attended to — 
 then the blessings of God will be granted. But there 
 is a degree of zeal in some people which, while it 
 pleases some, greatly annoys others, and which I 
 think wants affectionately qualifying from the pulpit. 
 I have no greater joy (says St. John) than to hear 
 that my children walk in truth. 
 
 Thursday, 30th. — I do not like to be among children 
 if not well governed. I am sensible that children 
 may be kept from making outrageous noises or loud 
 crying, if wisely used and sufficiently admonished : 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 329 
 
 but in order to keep them quiet, it is necessary that 
 parents refrain from making far more noise to set 
 them the example ; for if parents on coming into 
 their presence make a practice of hallooing to divert 
 themselves, it is not likely that the children will be 
 very quiet, if slightly admonished. 
 
 Friday, Dec. 1st. — I called at the dwelhng house 
 of Mr. Bisdee, an Englishman, who formerly lived 
 at Skeneateles, but removed- to this place. He said 
 he removed from there to a farm, and sank, if my 
 memory does not deceive me, something like two 
 thousanddoUars, in which I suppose he included several 
 hundred sheep ; after which he came and began busi- 
 ness at Waterloo. O Jesus, save me from every 
 disaster, and from falling into the hands of wicked 
 and designing men. 
 
 Thursday, 9th, I proceeded to Auburn. For a 
 considerable time I w^as seeking a boarding house, 
 till at length Mr. Bragden let me remain for the 
 night, and in the morning Mrs. B. was so kind as to 
 make inquiry among friends, and found two for my 
 choice. Of the two Mr. Houlett's being the most 
 central, I took my abode with the family. Here I 
 w^as Vv^ith one of the second advent people, who like 
 to talk about Christ's second coming — the resurrec- 
 tion — the new earth, &c. &c. He was a man of 
 some candor, and moral in character, but whether 
 he was striving to live according to the precepts of 
 the Gospel, I do not determine. Indeed he requested 
 me to unite in family prayer, and ask a blessing at 
 table. In conversation I told him that I did not 
 
330 THE foreigner's 
 
 know it to be essential to inquire, understand, or 
 believe that doctrine at all — that the most important 
 matter was to repeat and believe the Gospel — to be 
 prepared for Christ's coming, and found watching. 
 
 Monday, Dec. 25th, I left Auburn for Camillus, 
 and on calling at Mr. Hoag's to inquire for a place 
 to stop, I came in contact with a girl, who mentioned 
 it to her mother, and she invited me to her house. 
 This was Mrs. Stebbins ; a more hospitable person 
 I have rarely met with. She was not forgetful to 
 entertain strangers. 
 
 Thursday, 28th, I went forward a distance up- 
 wards of fifty miles to Oriscany. I was received by 
 a brother Davis and his wife, two worthy people. 
 The factory being closed for weeks, the inhabitants 
 were in straitened circumstances. On Sunday I 
 went to church and heard brother Hervev, an 
 English local preacher, preach two good sermons, 
 and he pronounced the benediction while kneeling, 
 namely, " The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 
 love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, 
 be with you, &c." Where the practice of rising like 
 Solomon's blessing the people, had its origin, I know 
 not. I never saw it done in England. The singing 
 was devout and well conducted. There was indeed 
 a bass viol and a flute, but which in my opinion were 
 preferable to the seraphine. On New Year's day I 
 went forward to Troy a distance of about one hun- 
 dred miles. 
 
 " Strangers and pilgrims here below, 
 
 This earth, we know, is not our place ; 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 331 
 
 But hasten through the vale of woe. 
 
 And restless to behold thy face. 
 Swift to our heavenly country move ; 
 
 Our everlasting home above." 
 
 January 1st, 1849. — Arriving at Troy, I found 
 board at Mr. T 's. The people were accommo- 
 dating, and their board was at a moderate price, but 
 I did not remain with them more than about eleven 
 days. The house was not under such order as I 
 wished, nor were the boarders of so moral a charac- 
 ter as I wanted them. 
 
 Sunday, I4th, I went to North Street Church. It 
 is a commodious building, and will hold, perhaps, 
 fifteen hundred people. The painting at the back 
 of the pulpit is well drawn and well executed. At 
 a distance it looks like a passage supported by seven 
 columns which leads into a kind of dome, canopied 
 by a sky-light ; at the end of the passage on the 
 right and left there are little pillars, and a little 
 canopy like a porch, as if there was an entrance 
 into different apartments, one on each side ; but 
 when near, its beauty vanishes away. It then seems 
 like a flat piece of wainscoting, without any real 
 space or passage belonging to it. Hence it is the 
 perspective representation ingeniously drawn, that 
 deceives us. The painting on the front of the gallery 
 was neat in the pattern and well executed. 
 
 Friday, 19. — I am comfortably situated with Mr. 
 and Mrs. Kelly, who are a plain, peaceable people. 
 The boarders also are a peaceable company ; yet it 
 is unpleasant to be out on account of the ice and the 
 
332 THE foreigner's 
 
 boys travelling at the rate perhaps of twenty miles 
 an hour. A dozen sleighs travelling down hill with 
 the velocity of the steam cars. *' But there is a law 
 against it." If so, why do parents suffer their chil- 
 dren to violate the law ? Can the civil powers act 
 with fidelity and suffer laws to be violated without 
 administering justice ? I know him, saith God, that 
 he will command his household after him, and he was 
 called the friend of God. Thus Abraham was called 
 the friend of God, and David a man after God's own 
 heart. Wherefore ? Because one commanded his 
 household after him, and the other executed judg- 
 ment. 
 
 Saturday, 20. — At the present time there are two 
 persons on trial for murder : one for murdering an 
 old man and his wife, and robbing the house : the 
 other for murdering a man and taking his organ. 
 The evidence it seems is not altogether positive, 
 though apparently certain, and there is difficulty in 
 getting a jury. Moreover, many people have im- 
 bibed the notion that the murderer ought not to die, 
 under this enlightened age, though the Lord hath 
 spoken it. Put them in perpetual confinement, say 
 some people, that they may have time for repentance, 
 and that will be ten or a thousand times worse than 
 hanging them. But to the law and the testimony : 
 " At the hand of every man's brother will I require 
 the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by 
 man shall his blood be shed." This law seems to be 
 as eternal as the throne of Jehovah. It was given 
 to Noah antecedent to the law of Moses, embodied 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 333 
 
 in his law, and recognised under the gospel of Christ. 
 Moses says, " He that smiteth a man so that he die, 
 shall be surely put to death." St. Paul says, " If I 
 be an offender, or have committed anything worthy 
 of death, I refuse not to die." Gen. ix. 5, 6. Exod. 
 xxi. 12. Lev. xxiv. 17. Num. xxxv. 31. Deut. xvi. 
 18, 19, 20. Acts xxv. ii. 
 
 Nevertheless, many in the United States say that 
 life under this enlightened age should not be taken 
 on any account — not for murder. But let us inquire 
 First, whence arises this opinion, and secondly, 
 whether it is in accordance with the oracles of God ? 
 
 First, whence arises this opinion ? I answer, it 
 arises from people supposing themselves wiser than 
 they are, and that under this republican government 
 they have all an equal right and are capable of judg- 
 ing for themselves instead of being instructed by 
 others. Hence common people judge the law and 
 things they understand not. Moses says, " Judges 
 and officers shalt thou make in all thy gates, and 
 they shall judge the people with just judgment ;" but 
 common people pretend to judge, who are neither 
 appointed nor fit for it. 
 
 Secondly, is pardoning the guilty according to the 
 oracles of God ? Not anything can be more con- 
 trary, for God hath said, " Whoso sheddeth man's 
 blood, by man shall his blood be shed ;" but some 
 people say, let them live. Can this be right ? It seems 
 not : on the contrary, it is like adding one trans- 
 gression to another. There is pardon promised to 
 the penitent, but the way of transgressors is hard. 
 
^^^ THE foreigner's 
 
 Hence if a criminal is brought to justice, the com- 
 mandment is obeyed : pardon is promised if he asks 
 for \t ; but if the word is disobeyed, though he lives a 
 hundred years twice told, it may rob him of the 
 mercy promised to the penitent. 
 
 Once more, God has said, judges and officers shalt 
 thou make thee in all thy gates— that they shall judge 
 the people with just judgment— that they shall not 
 wrest judgment, respect persons, nor take a gift- 
 that they shall take no satisfaction for murderers 
 for blood defileth the land, and the land cannot he 
 cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by 
 the blood of him that shed it. '-Whoso sheddeth 
 man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Hence 
 to neglect executing judgment brings guilt upon the 
 nation, and is likely to prevent the criminal from 
 receivmg the mercy which may still be reserved for 
 him. So little do some people consider the injustice 
 they do to a criminal and their country, by being 
 wise above what is written, and by meddling with 
 things with which they ought not. 
 
 Sundai/, 2Sth, I heard in the forenoon, a plain 
 practical sermon from " Take heed how ye hear.'' 
 This was seasonable ; nevertheless, I did not like 
 to see men of high standing conforming to vain 
 customs. Nor did I like to hear a brother some 
 time before representing the case of one or more 
 penitents by praying for those ladies. Christ re- 
 ceiveth sinners, but scripture never teaches us to 
 
 represent them under that appellation. Miss R , 
 
 the quakeress, in effect said she went to the '- 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 335 
 
 church, and was disgusted to hear the preacher talk 
 so much about ladies. 
 
 Tuesday, 30.— I could scarcely help noticing the 
 Baptist church in Third street, as a model of plain- 
 ness and neatness — the well mounted spire, and the 
 whole building without any superfluous ornament to 
 decorate it — colored brown, like freestone, as opposed 
 to gaudiness, and though supported in front by six 
 large columns, with an equally beautiful gilt figured 
 clock, it is like something cast in a mould. Hence 
 it is like a model of neatness, and admitting that 
 nothing can be too noble for the House of God 
 yet unnecessary expense is an error. It burdens 
 people with a heavy yoke contrary to that of Christ's, 
 which is light and easy. A broken and a contrite 
 heart is regarded by the Lord— a meek and quiet 
 spirit in the sight of God is of great price, while an 
 embroidered coat or silk dress is not so ; and while 
 beauty connected with neatness is commendable, a 
 mahogany pulpit with a tenfold costly chandelier, 
 or the best toned organ though presented gratuitously 
 as a gift, it seems should be firmly rejected. Such 
 things are like the fruit of an extra degree of good 
 will (rather than pure charity), which purchases in- 
 fluence instead of brotherly kindness ; and if all things 
 are to be made equal, it brings a burden upon others 
 which such donors will leave a burdened people to 
 
 pay. 
 
 Thursday, Feb. 1st, I removed to Lansingburgli, 
 
 and found board at Mrs. Hoyt's, at twenty shillings 
 
 per week York money. I liked the family at Troy, 
 
336 
 
 and my situation on the ground floor ; and had I a 
 competency I would like to remain in a more sta- 
 tionary situation, with some peaceable people ; but 
 this I cannot have. However, Mrs. Hoyt was an 
 agreeable person. 
 
 Travelling for a time is pleasant, but to be confined 
 to it is like seeking rest without finding it. In such 
 a situation the body becomes weary and the mind 
 desolate. It is a stranger-like capacity — a state of 
 bondage without a home. In such a situation a 
 person cannot take a change of raiment — cannot rest 
 regularly as in one place — cannot have recourse to 
 books — take regular exercise nor lie down at leisure. 
 Hence, is this the will of God concerning me ? Is 
 this my providential mission — the divine appoint- 
 ment to which I am called ? If so, O my Saviour, 
 give me contentment. It is true that I find some 
 favor in the eyes of the people : my bread has been 
 given me, and my water has not failed. I found my 
 way to Mr. Van Pelt's, an habitatioQ where I found 
 an aged matron and her husband on the settee quite 
 worn out — upwards, it seems, of fourscore years of 
 age. She began to speak of her blindness, and I took 
 occasion to speak of the happy condition of one blest 
 with a well grounded hope of immortal life, on the 
 borders of the grave. Hence after some agreeable 
 conversation I asked ; " Shall we spend a few mo- 
 ments in prayer ?" which was readily consented to. 
 Lord God bless thy servant and handmaid. 
 
 But what can I do that I may be more devoted to 
 God, or what can 1 do to obtain the fulness of the 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 337 
 
 dispensation of his grace? This calls for serious 
 consideration, inasmuch as I have long professed to 
 follow Christ as a professor of, religion. Wherefore 
 I want to know assuredly that/ am accepted — that 
 he is well pleased with me, and\that I am living as 
 a faithful steward of his grace. In a word I want 
 the full assurance of faith, and the full assurance of 
 hope — a sure trust and confidence that all is well at 
 present, and a sure trust and confidence that all things 
 in future shall work together for my good. 
 
 What can I do ? I know not what I can do more 
 than I am doing. The prophet says, " It is good that 
 a man should both hope and quietly wait for the 
 salvation of the Lord." Gracious God, help me to do 
 this. To wait upon thee in all the appointed means 
 of grace — to guard all my steps — to watch against 
 every improper expression, and to wait by possessing 
 my soul in patience, and waiting upon thee in prayer 
 till I see thy salvation. 
 
 Monday, 12th, I walked over the river to Water- 
 ford, and found a ready reception in the family of 
 Mr. Evans. He was a goldsmith by trade, but very 
 plain in his house, family, and person. The plainer 
 the better, if decent in manners and kind in behavior. 
 Charity, says St. Paul, behaveth not unseemly, and 
 w^here she dwells there is more beauty in the scene 
 than is found in all high polish from education with- 
 out her. Blessed are the peace makers, the merciful, 
 and the pure in heart. 
 
 Some time ago I boarded in a different family, and 
 during the time I reflected on Solomon's words, viz. 
 
 15 
 
338 THE FOREIGNERS 
 
 " The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, 
 but he blesseth the habitation of the just ? Mrs. **** 
 was an accommodating person, genteelly brought up, 
 of an amiable temper, of rich parents, and was in 
 expectation of many thousand dollars. The children 
 were well instructed, amiable in behavior, and apt 
 to learn. But the most essential good was wanting. 
 
 Saturday, 17th, I went forward to Chatham, and 
 found an immediate reception at brother Robinson's. 
 He .was stationed there as minister. Blessed is the 
 man, says David, who considereth the poor: the Lord 
 shall deliver him in time of trouble. 
 
 With these people I was very comfortable. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Robinson were two kind and agreeable 
 people. Hence I like to memorialize them for it. 
 Their lodging was good, and their behavior was of 
 a simple and Christian-like character. There is 
 frequently some article of furniture wanting, but 
 here the complement was complete for the night ; 
 and not only so but Mrs. Robinson, with the thought 
 and care of a mother, furnished me with one which 
 no one to my recollection ever did before. It was 
 not a warming-pan nor a foot stove, but it was some- 
 thing very beneficial to temper the severity of the 
 cold in the depths of winter. 
 
 " Unfeigned love will let her actions speak. 
 Bind up a sore, and yet the deed conceal. 
 Nor tell the tale to Charity in haste ; 
 If best to let the truth remain unknown. 
 It rather runs in acts of kindness still ; 
 Till numerous acts like brands of living fire 
 Ignite some latent spark which kindles more ; 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 339 
 
 Till ardent love is raised into a flame, 
 
 To spread her fame abroad through all the gates." 
 
 Tuesday, 20th, I went forward to Stockbridge, in 
 Massachusetts, and found entertainment at Mr. Ban- 
 croft 's the minister. Mr. Bancroft was not at home, 
 and therefore I memorialize this to the honor of Mrs. 
 Bancroft. But at Stockbridge I found no success. 
 Poor Stockbridge ! I am going, said one, to Califor- 
 nia; to whom I replied, "Do not forget one thing — 
 that is to say, do not forget to lay up your treasure 
 in heaven." 
 
 Thursday, 22d, I went forward to Great Barring- 
 ton, and was received by brother Nixon ; but his 
 sister, Mrs. Pixley, falling sick, I removed to spend 
 the Sabbath at Doctor MacAUiston's. Mrs. Mac- 
 Alliston received me with simplicity in a Christian- 
 like manner. She made not one word of objection. 
 I am happy, therefore, to memorialize her kindness as 
 an entertainer of strangers. Blessed are the merci- 
 ful, for they shall obtain mercy. 
 
 St. James speaks of visiting widows and the fa- 
 therless in their affliction, as pure and undefiled re- 
 ligion—that is, like religion in its consummation. 
 Entertaining strangers, likewise, seems equally an 
 act of mercy, yet there are but few who will practise 
 it. They object that health is poor— that they have 
 no help, &c., but in many cases it makes scarcely a 
 quarter of an hour's labor. There are, however, 
 some who are very kind in this respect, and therefore 
 I like to record it to their praise. May their reward 
 be in heaven ! 
 
340 THE foreigner's 
 
 But at Church I did not admire the singing, for 
 the smatterers in music (as it appears to me) alter 
 good old tunes which they cannot mend ; the choir 
 chooses tunes unknown to the congregation, to keep 
 the singing to themselves ; and the tenor is led only by 
 a few women, or weak voices, that it is almost im- 
 possible to sing with them. I could wish, therefore, 
 that the Methodist Conference would pubHsh a select 
 number of tunes as well as hymns, for the use of divine 
 service, and establish the practice of using them. 
 
 Monday, 26th, I took the cars to Sheffield, where 
 Mr. Dickenson, the minister, expressed a willingness 
 to entertain me, but his family being sick he recom- 
 mended me to Mr. Callender's Tavern ; but there was 
 no wine, spirits, or beer there, nor any beer to sell in 
 the village. 
 
 Friday, March 2d, I rode about ninety-five miles, 
 and arrived in safety at New York. The Lord be 
 praised ! It was April 14th (if I am not mistaken) 
 when I set forward, and March 2d, when I returned, 
 making it a journey of forty-six weeks — comprising 
 about a thousand and forty miles. Glory be to God 
 for my safe return ! I little thought at one time of 
 ever travelling over that ground any more, but we 
 know not what is in futurity, or what a day or an 
 hour may bring forth. 
 
 April 4th, I went up into Mr. B 's bindery 
 
 'and walked into a corner, where the hatchway door 
 being open towards me, I did not observe it. I stood 
 talking with a person with my back towards it, but 
 a few inches from this precipice, and had I gone 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 341 
 
 one step backwards I probably should have spoken no 
 more. Gracious God, accept of my thanks for thy 
 preserving care over me, and stretch out thy hand 
 to save and rescue me when dangers are nigh. 
 
 " Still by me, O my Saviour, stand, 
 And guard in fierce temptation's hour ; 
 Hide in the hollow of thy hand, 
 Show forth in me thy saving power ; 
 Still be thy arms my sure defence. 
 Nor earth nor hell shall pluck me thence." 
 
 The danger incurred by leaving the door of a 
 hatchway in that manner without anything to guard 
 it is forbidden by the law of opening a pit, &c. 
 Exod. xxi. 33, and of battlements to houses, Deut. 
 xxii. 8 ver. Hence let every man beware how he 
 makes himself guilty of the blood of his neighbor. 
 
 Thursday, April 5th, I took the steamer for Port 
 Chester, Greenwich, Stamford, and Norwalk. At 
 Port Chester I called on Mr. Beal, who conducted 
 me to Mrs. Lyon's, who was of an accommodating, 
 agreeable temper, but company coming in or was 
 expected, after the first night I was obliged to leave. 
 Inquiring for a place to remain the night, and a boy 
 hearing one say we have no bed, he replied, "my 
 mother has one," and seeing her in the street, he ran 
 and asked if she would take me in, when she made 
 no objection. Hence as a stranger they took me in. 
 O Lord, have mercy upon her and her family, and 
 receive them to dwell with thee, in the kingdom of 
 heaven. 
 
 Saturday, 7th, I came to Greenwich, where Mr. 
 
342 THE foreigner's I 
 
 1^1 
 
 Goss, the minister, found a place for me at brother 
 Acker's. Having company, and Mrs. Goss too much 
 upon her hands, it was not convenient or they would 
 have let me remain with them. "I have seen sister 
 Acker," said he, " and as far as I remember you will 
 find her an agreeable person ;" and so I did : she was 
 good tempered, kind, sociable, and an accommodat- 
 ing person. I know not when I was located with a 
 more agreeable and happy couple. Reading and 
 family devotions we always attended. At my coming 
 away she did not require anything for my entertain- 
 ment; so to satisfy myself and encourage her little 
 handmaid, I made her a present of one of my books, 
 at the value of four shillings. 
 
 The annual custom of removing on the first of 
 May, I find is not confined to New York, but is much 
 practised in other places also. This causes a deal 
 of trouble to many, and yet there is scarcely any 
 remedy. Mr. ******'s house where I boarded was 
 about seven yards in front, the rent seven hundred 
 dollars a year — the store about five hundred more, 
 so that the whole of a moderate sized house is about 
 twelve hundred dollars a year ; a sum I suppose 
 nearly equal to £270 sterling. To mention one more 
 — an English family took a small store, one single room 
 in Broadway, the rent and taxes of which came to 
 about eleven hundred and forty dollars a year. What 
 an enormous sum for the rent of a house, for J pre- 
 sume that a house equal to Mr. ******'s, above men- 
 tioned, might be rented in some streets in London 
 at one fourth part of the mone}'. 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 343 
 
 Sunday, 8th, I was at church three times, and liked 
 the spirit of devotion tolerably well, but I do not 
 like meeting too late in the evening, nor the lack of 
 fidelity in beginning at the time. The time set was 
 
 seven o'clock, but Mr. L sat till about twenty 
 
 minutes after. In many other places in summer, the 
 time appointed is eight, and they are a considerable 
 time after ere they commence the service, and hence 
 they begin when at the latest they should conclude 
 and prepare for bed. This is a custom 1 have not 
 been used to. 
 
 Tuesday, 10th, to Stamford. Not finding a private 
 boarding-house I went to the Union Hotel, where I 
 had a pleasant room on the third floor. 
 
 Saturday, 14th, to Norwalk. At this place I found 
 some difficulty, but at length put up at Mr. Quin- 
 tard's. The village I suppose is two miles long. 
 Previous to coming away I heard that the cars ran 
 over a child. This perhaps was unavoidable, but 
 the ill manners of the boys on the platform w^anted 
 some authority to quell their rudeness and presump- 
 tion. 
 
 Friday, 20th, to Bridgeport. 1 went to Mr. 
 
 B 's, and Mrs. B directed me to Mrs. Stur- 
 
 tevant's, where I was comfortably situated with a 
 room and lodging. I simply want some coffee for 
 breakfast — some meat and one dish of vegetables for 
 dinner — ^some good tea with some bread and butter 
 in the afternoon. 
 
 " No foot of land do I possess, 
 No cottage in this wilderness, 
 
344 THE foreigner's 
 
 A poor, wayfaring man — 
 I lodge awhile in tents below. 
 And strangely wander to and fro 
 
 Till I my race have run." 
 
 But what a contrast in the circumstances of men ; 
 for this day I have been visiting some of the most 
 genteel and opulent families on Golden Hill. There 
 are a number of genteel habitations — the houses built 
 and ornamented in an eligible manner — the gardens, 
 walks, pleasure grounds^ laid out in a tasteful style, 
 and apartments furnished with a princely gran- 
 deur seldom exceeded. But it is WTitten, " Blessed 
 be ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." Luke 
 vi. 20. O my Saviour, let thy blessing pronounced 
 upon the poor be upon me — in giving me peace, 
 health, and prosperity — in giving me protection 
 through life, a peaceful end, and a joyful resurrec- 
 tion. 
 
 Friday, May 4th, to New Haven, where I found 
 board with Mr. Munson. Mrs. Munson, though no 
 professor of religion, was a very accommodating 
 person. She far exceeded many others, as having 
 the care of a mother, the tenderness of a nurse, and 
 the sympathies of a sister born for adversity. But 
 should there not be laws to prohibit the abuse of 
 what is good, without binding sober, debilitated, and 
 aged men by laws suited only to drunkards ? 
 
 A certain landlord, as it was recorded in England, 
 became a sincere convert to Christianity, and not 
 being a favorable calling, instead of giving up his 
 business, he adopted the following plan, viz. made a 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 845 
 
 resolution that he would draw no more than such a 
 quantity for any man. Hence a certain gentleman 
 went out on a hunting party, and made it his business 
 to call there to refresh himself. This he did to 
 try him. The landlord informed him that his wife 
 could cook a beefsteak fit for gentlemen, well nigh 
 as well as any other person. Well satisfied so lar, 
 they ahghted, and when dinner was ready they eat, 
 drank, and enjoyed the provisions set before them. 
 They continued to drink till they had had their 
 quantity, and were going beyond the stinted allow- 
 ance. Hence they called for more beer, but the 
 girl hesitated. More beer! they continued. A 
 whisper was heard that they had had their quantity. 
 *' What is the meaning of this hesitation ?" quoth the 
 squire. No more must be drawn, they were in- 
 formed. Consequently the landlord must be sent 
 for, but they had had their quantity, and that law 
 mu'st not be violated. The squire argued that it was 
 proper on such an occasion to deviate a little from 
 rule to accommodate a party of gentlemen— but no 
 more must be drawn. " Do you know whom you are 
 talking to— whom you are rejecting— to whom you 
 are indebted for your license, &c. ? Are you aware 
 that it is one of the magistrates who gives you your 
 authority— that if you will not draw any more, you 
 perhaps will not have a license more ? " " My rule 
 is to draw no more than so much for each man, and 
 that rule must not be broken." The squire argued, 
 but the landlord was true to his resolution, and in 
 reply to the authority, entreaties, and threats of the 
 
 15* 
 
1 
 
 346 THE foreigner's 
 
 magistrate, he finished the dispute with saying, " The 
 Lord will provide." Hence instead of suffering 
 for his refusal, his inflexible resolution was spread 
 abroad and applauded, insomuch that people called 
 on account thereof to the credit of the landlord's 
 reputation, and increase of his fortune. And inas- 
 much as the law of God is sufficient to suppress 
 every unlawful and wicked custom, should not some 
 law be enacted to put an end to drunkenness without 
 binding every temperate man as if guilty with the 
 rest ? 
 
 The law of God is sufficient to prescribe for and 
 of sufficient authority to put a proper restriction to 
 every vice, and that in addition to Temperance So- 
 cieties there wants a proper regard paid to intem- 
 perance by the civil powers, to suppress the evils 
 connected with it. There are also wise men suffi- 
 cient to judge, and of sufficient authority and fidelity 
 to execute laws indispensable to the welfare and 
 moral character of a Christian country. Let, there- 
 fore, proper authority be added to the worthy efforts 
 of Temperance Societies to promote that which is 
 good, with proper restrictions laid upon the guilty 
 without absolutely prohibiting what God has not for- 
 bidden, or proscribing what may be beneficial when 
 properly used. Let the Temperance Society get 
 every drunken man to sign the Pledge, and the civil 
 authorities lay such restrictions upon others to keep 
 them sober as are necessary, and then there will be 
 no need of binding every afflicted person by laws 
 suited only to drunkards. Every nation and every 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 347 
 
 society wants proper laws to govern them, and it is 
 to the honor of a nation to enact and execute laws 
 to the promotion of that which is good and to pro- 
 hibit that which is evil, while it is equally a reproach 
 to any people to say, " This is a free country — our 
 tongues are our own, and we will do what we have 
 a mind to ;" when they do it to cover their evil deeds 
 and to act in a lawless manner. 
 
 Sunday^ 13. — I liked the appearance of St. John's 
 Street Church. There was plainness, neatness, 
 beauty, and grandeur, without splendor. There was 
 no superfluous decoration on the pulpit, the ceiUng, 
 or the front of the gallery. Instead of the usual 
 perspective painting at the back of the pulpit, there 
 was a neat piece of scarlet canvas — a sort of ball as 
 if to represent the sun, and the canvas folded like 
 rays emanating from it without brightness — the pul- 
 pit plain, the piers on which the lamps were mounted 
 varnished dark like half mourning — the seats con- 
 structed for the people to kneel, and room for the feet 
 and hats beneath. I liked the prayers, which were 
 solemn, and the sermon well spoken. Moreover I 
 iiked the singing which was vocal, congregational, 
 and Vv^hich in my opinion should be preserved. 
 
 Monday, 28. — Between one and two o'clock this 
 morning, perhaps, the bells gave an alarm, a fire 
 having broken out, and according to report burnt 
 about nine houses. Had the roofs been covered 
 with tiles through the country twenty years ago, it 
 would have saved probably as many millions of 
 dollars. But what penalty does the law lay upon 
 
1 
 
 348 THE FOREIGKER^S 
 
 the incendiary ? And are not parents defective in 
 warning children against playing with fire ? When 
 I was in this city some years ago I opened Mrs. 
 Tisdale's door, and discovered a large bundle of 
 paper on fire put under the clap-boarded framework, 
 as it seemed by some ill disposed person, to set the 
 house on fire. What penalty, according to the law 
 of Moses, is such an offender worthy of? 
 
 New Haven is perhaps the most countrified place 
 for a large city, I was ever in. The square or plain 
 before the college probably contains from fifteen to 
 twenty acres, which is deeply shaded with elm trees 
 of full growth, and walks in all directions. It is 
 bounded at top by Yale College, below by the Ton^ 
 tine House. 
 
 Saturday, June 2d, I went to Meriden. Walking 
 up from the Depot I fortunately inquired of Mrs, 
 Prentiss, and she permitted me to remain at her 
 house. " If you can put up with our fare,'' said she. 
 Why, what I want is a cup of coffee for breakfast^ 
 some meat and one dish of vegetables for dinner, 
 and a cup of tea in the afternoon. More is unneces- 
 sary : but Mr. P^-^ — it seems was a temperance 
 man, and he classed drinking in moderation with 
 stealing. " Tell me/' said he, " how much a man 
 may steal and not be a thief, and I will tell you how 
 much a man may drink and not be a drunkard." 
 But such a comparison is improper, because one is 
 absolutely forbidden, the other is not so. 
 
 Thursday, 7th, I took the stage for Middletown, 
 and found board at Mrs. Wilcox's. For a length of 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 349 
 
 time I could not find a place of rest. Inquiring from 
 house to house, for a while I found no one who would 
 take me in. " Have you brought the cholera ?" asked 
 a person. " Be not forgetful to entertain strangers," 
 I replied, " as an antidote against it." David says, 
 *' Though a thousand fall at thy side, and ten thou- 
 sand at thy right hand, yet it shall not come nigh 
 thee." Would you not wish to comply with the 
 conditions, reader, on which the promise is given and 
 fulfilled ? O Jesus, let thy protecting hand be with 
 me. 
 
 " Still let thy love point out my way ; 
 
 How wondrous things thy love hath wrought ; 
 Still lead me lest I go astray ; 
 
 Direct rny Work, inspire my thought ; 
 And if I fall soon may I hear 
 Thy voice, and know that love is near/' 
 
 Sunday, 10th, I went to hear brother Scudder, 
 their new preacher, and liked his manner of giving 
 out the hymns ; the matter in his sermon, and the 
 clear, rational, and serious manner of delivering it, 
 The emphasis some lay on different words, and others 
 falUng their voice at the end of every line in setting 
 the hymns, is never pleasant to me. The singing it 
 seems is not accompanied by any instrumental music. 
 The church is an eligible building, apparently with- 
 out an unnecessary ornament. Mr. S — — 's text was 
 Gen. xxii. 1, 13 ; but where the custom of reading 
 the text first, and giving the chapter and verse after- 
 wards, and rising to pronounce the benediction, had 
 their origin, I know not. N.B. Preaching was given 
 
350 
 
 out for six o'clock in the evening. This is only the 
 third place, to my recollection, I ever knew it to 
 commence at that hour in America ; the time in 
 general at every large town, on the Sabbath in Eng- 
 land, and much more proper in my opinion than it 
 is at so late an hour in most places here. Merciful 
 God, make thy word spirit and life to me, and let me 
 into the rest that remains for the people of God. 
 
 " Unwearied may I this pursue, 
 Dauntless to the high prize aspire ; 
 
 Hourly within my soul renew, 
 This holy flame, this heavenly fire ; 
 And day and night be all my care. 
 
 To guard the sacred treasure there." 
 
 Monday, 18th, I went forward to Hartford. It 
 took about three hours' journey. There were twelve 
 in the stage and several outside. I previously prayed 
 that I might be directed to a suitable place of habi- 
 tation, and at length I found a tolerably cool room at 
 Mr. Glazier's in Front street. The Lord be praised ! 
 
 " Jesus, thy sovereign aid impart, 
 
 To save me from low-thoughted care ; 
 Chase this self-will through all my heart, 
 
 Through all its latent mazes there : 
 Make me thy duteous child, that I, 
 Ceaseless may Abba Father cry." 
 
 Sunday, 24th, I went to chapel and heard brother 
 Crawford, a man of becoming zeal, fervent prayer, 
 and a good preacher. In the afternoon, before ad- 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 351 
 
 ministering the sacrament he read the rules, and 
 made some worthy remarks upon them. Let these 
 rules be practised and lived up to — let them be seen 
 in the lives of the members, and then others shall see 
 their good works, and be led to glorify their Father 
 who is in heaven. The church appeared to be with- 
 out any useless ornament ; but I did not admire the 
 singing, which was too much confined to the choir. 
 
 Since my arrival I called one morning at Mrs. 
 Bull's in Grove street, and was requested to walk up 
 stairs, where I was kindly received by the old lady, 
 who appeared like an humble Christian ; and after a 
 little conversation, her nurse stept forward with the 
 New Testament and the Psalms, and in effect said, 
 " Read a Psalm, and pray with us." Hence my letter 
 discovers some people whom I shall be happy to 
 meet in the kingdom of heaven, but whom I should 
 never have known v/ithout it. 
 
 Friday, 29.' — It was yesterday, I think, that I called 
 at two gentlemen's houses, where they would not let 
 me leave my circular, and to-day a curious kind of 
 woman said that she had made a determination never 
 to receive any. In this way the world distinguishes 
 itself, and I have remarked that when people speak 
 they discover to others their own character ; for they 
 must speak either good, bad, or indifferent. If prac- 
 tically good, they will speak nothing but good : if 
 bad they will soon discover it ; if between both they 
 will speak useless, that is, idle words. 
 
 Since being in the city, I called on Mrs. Sigourney, 
 whose fame has gone forth to a considerable extent, 
 
352 
 
 and in whose writings there is couched a degree of 
 good sense and piety which have distinguished her 
 above many. She received me generously, and took 
 my four books. 
 
 Sunday, July 1. — According to report the cholera 
 rages with considerable violence. Lord God be 
 merciful unto me, and preserve me. Give me the 
 character to whom thy word declares ; " Thou shalt 
 not be afraid for the terror by night nor for the 
 arrow that flieth by day : nor for the pestilence that 
 walketh in darkness ; nor for the destruction that 
 wasteth at noon-day. A thousand shall fall at thy 
 side, and ten thousand at thy right hand ; but it shall 
 not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou 
 behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because 
 thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, even 
 the most high, thy habitation, there shall no evil be- 
 fall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy 
 dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over 
 thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Psalm xci. 5, 2. 
 Praise the Lord, O my soul ; and put thy trust under 
 the shadow of his wings. 
 
 Wednesday, July 4. — Celebration of Indepen- 
 dence ! O Liberty, thou gift of heaven, be always 
 mine ; but let me always celebrate this anniversary 
 with thanksgivings to the Lord. Lord Jesus, thou 
 procurer of every blessing, accept of my praise. 
 Nevertheless, I never like such a day as this. I 
 congratulate the inhabitants of this free country on 
 obtaining their independence, but this manner of 
 manifesting their thanks is not pleasant to me. To 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 353 
 
 let children of twelve years' old fire off four shillings' 
 worth of crackers in a day — to hear reports per- 
 petually from windows, and to be annoyed with loud 
 reports from morning to night, disturbs my peace. 
 Nor does so much freedom given to children, become 
 the most wise and pious people. 
 
 Monday, 9th, to Springfield in Massachusetts ; 
 where I found board at Mr. Bate's. From Hartford 
 to this place (about twenty-six miles), we came in 
 about one hour ; stopping about three times on the 
 way, so that I presume we travelled at the rate of 
 twenty -eight or thirty miles an hour. O Jesus, thou 
 Almighty Saviour ! let thy good hand of providence 
 be with me to save me for ever. 
 
 Wednesday, 11th, I removed from Mr. B' 's, 
 
 and began the following letter : 
 
 July nth, 1849. 
 
 Sir :— As long as there are many in the world 
 who have not sense to govern themselves, and many 
 others who have no disposition to do it, government 
 will always be necessary ; and as long as there is 
 good and evil in the world it will be necessary to 
 judge with righteous judgment. Hence under the 
 present state of things caution is necessary, for there 
 is much influence we have to contend with, and many 
 opinions we have to guard against. The scripture 
 teaches to avoid drunkenness and also to beware of 
 the leaven of Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Your 
 notions are no law to me, more than mine are to 
 others. Against some influence we have to contend 
 
354 THE foreigner's 
 
 is the arbitrary conduct you have manifested, to- 
 gether with the absurdities of some others. 
 
 I had called on several ministers who let me re- 
 main with them ; who, it seems, never sent people to 
 taverns ; but you, through your rigid imposition of 
 Temperance, so called, would force me to one : and 
 hence while I memorialize their Christian-like con- 
 duct to their praise, I left your house too much like 
 having occasion to wipe off the dust of my feet 
 against you. 
 
 I am not convinced that you have any authority 
 to exercise any influence, or use any argument to 
 dissuade me on the occasion. And if you have, what 
 does it amount to ? You probably suppose that Mr. 
 John Wesley sanctions all that you say, by what he 
 has written against the use of ardent spirits ; but I 
 believe no such thing. I believe he never spoke 
 against drinking a little porter ; because in his jour- 
 nal he says, The poor man brought us the best thing 
 he had in his house, viz. a glass of rum — because a 
 minister in Ohio told me that he had drunk punch 
 with him after dinner — because he recommends a 
 little mild ale after preaching — and because he said 
 he believed that his grandfather. Dr. Samuel Annes- 
 ley, would have lived longer had he not begun to 
 drink water at seventy years of age. Hence I think 
 you should learn to judge with righteous judgment, 
 and to understand what that word meaneth, " I will 
 have mercy and not sacrifice ;" that you may avoid 
 condemning the guiltless. 
 
 I was not sorry for removing, though I cannot ap- 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 355 
 
 prove of the manner in which it was done. From 
 your house I went to the Tavern, where after 
 remaining a week without a word of complaint, 
 the landlord pretended he wanted to take in twenty 
 men and put two in the room occupied by me. 
 Wherefore he wanted me to remove, but afterwards 
 said if I would advance a week's board I might re- 
 main, not without. Hence having no place to stop 
 for punctual payment, I left the city. In this man- 
 ner he demanded his due, but he showed me no 
 mercy. Such conduct I cannot reconcile with 
 honesty ; nor does it display the good sense, forbear- 
 ance, and the sympathy which should always charac- 
 terize the conduct of honest and good men. 
 
 Yours, &c. &c. 
 
 Thursday, 19th, I rode forward in the cars to 
 Worcester, and went to the Temperance Exchange, 
 where I remained at some years ago. This is a 
 good house for travellers to put up at ; there being 
 good board, good order, and moral company. How- 
 beit the heat has been very oppressive. The cholera 
 has prevailed to an alarming extent, and the com- 
 plaints for want of time, money, &c., are many. In 
 the midst of life we are in death. Lord Jesus, have 
 mercy upon me. 
 
 Wednesday, 25th. — In the evening I went to the 
 prayer meeting, where there was a serious minded 
 people, and they sang 
 
 " Jesus, I my cross have taken, 
 All to leave and follow thee, 
 
356 THE foreigner's 
 
 " Naked, poor, despised, forsaken, 
 Thou from hence my all shalt be. 
 Perish every fond ambition, 
 All I've sought or hoped or known, 
 Yet how rich is my condition, 
 God and heaven are all my own." 
 
 Yet I saw no more than one individual kneel down. 
 The rest, as it appeared, all sat. But does not un- 
 feigned repentance infallibly teach people the pro- 
 priety of humbling themselves before the Lord ? 
 
 Sunday, 29th. — To-day I have been to the 
 Church and heard a good discourse. 
 
 Wednesday, August 8th. — I took the cars for 
 Norwich, in Connecticut, making my way back to 
 New York. I found considerable difficulty in finding 
 a place to remain, but at length found board at Mr. 
 Ladd's. Their board was suited to my circum- 
 stances, but through the intense heat and such a 
 continuance of being out I had become so weary that 
 I wanted to return. Hence, Aug. 22d, I took the 
 Knickerbocker and came to New York. 
 
 " Strangers and pilgrims here below. 
 This earth we know is not our place, 
 
 But hasten through the vale of woe. 
 And restless to behold thy face, 
 
 Swift to our heavenly country move. 
 
 Our everlasting home above." 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 357 
 
 LETTER. 
 
 Madam, — Did you say that religion does not con- 
 sist in form, that is, in any outward act of duty ? 
 If so, permit me to tell you that I know it does not, 
 exclusively ; and yet form, as you call it, is so great 
 a part of religion, that it cannot exist without it. 
 To reject the form, therefore, is to reject and cast off 
 religion. Does it not consist in fearing God and 
 working righteousness, or in loving God and serving 
 him ? And has not God instituted means for that 
 purpose ? If so, how will you serve God without 
 those means, or work righteousness without any 
 form or outward appearance of it ? The poor leper 
 v^'ho was cleansed, returned and with a loud voice 
 gave glory to God, and by so doing his faith and love 
 were accepted, established, and perfected. But was 
 there no form in this ? Well, if acknowledgment 
 was right and necessary in this particular, it is so in 
 everything else. Our Lord says, " Whosoever, 
 therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I 
 confess also before my Father which is in heaven ; 
 but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I 
 also deny before my Father which is in heaven." 
 Matt. X. 32, 33. Now, without a form, a person 
 cannot confess Christ in any sense whatever. 
 Hence, I take it for granted that religion cannot exist 
 without a form, and that the form — the outward 
 signs, ceremonies, &c., with the spirit that actuates 
 
358 THE foreigner's 
 
 them, when united together, make up the whole 
 compact of religion, and that to take away any one 
 part is to violate the whole. 
 
 But what you seemed to contend for was, that re- 
 ligion did not consist, either in whole or in part, in 
 wearing plain apparel, that a person might be as 
 hnmble in fine clothing as in a plain dress, and that 
 it was an indifferent thing as to what they wore, &c. 
 But this is absolutely wrong ; for if religion consists 
 in loving God and keeping his commandments — if 
 the spirit and customs of the world are in direct op- 
 position to the spirit and simplicity of the gospel — if 
 God has denounced against jewels, trinkets, finery, 
 as the foppery of idolators, and recommended plain ap- 
 parel by precept and example to his followers — and if 
 he has shown us the opposite of what we should 
 wear by calling it the harlot's attire, then we cannot 
 follow the fashions of the world and be Christians 
 any more than we can follow them in other works 
 and be such ! Religion does not consist in a form, 
 did you say ? What do you call going to church, 
 using family devotion, asking a blessing, and return- 
 ing thanks, when taken in the abstract, but a form ? 
 and yet they are so much of religion that we cannot 
 have one without the other. Some people talk as if 
 a person might keep religion to himself, without 
 making any apparent profession whatever, whereas 
 this would be to deny Christ and renounce it. But 
 with regard to dress, as you mentioned it, let us look 
 at it and examine it. God has not overlooked it, and 
 should we pass over it ? Hence, let me tell you. 
 
PROTRACTED JOURNAL. 359 
 
 that SO far as thinking it an indifferent thing, I look 
 upon it as important in its place as anything else. 
 We say you honor God by repenting, believing, 
 obeying his word, &c., but you dishonor him by im- 
 penitence, unbelief, disobedience, &c. Again, you 
 honor God by the fruits of your faith — your serious- 
 ness, conversation, plain apparel, &:c., but you dis- 
 honor him by your lightness, your vain discourse, and 
 your unchristian-like dress. And do you suppose 
 these things wont be evidences either for or against 
 you as well as other words and actions ? Hence, I 
 conclude that religion, in part, consists in wearing 
 plain apparel, contrary to your objection, and that 
 the people who abide not by this rule, so far deviate 
 from it or show their deficiency in it : wherefore let 
 me wish you the whole spirit of Christianity — the 
 purity of heart which loves plain, but hates vain 
 things — and a modest boldness which dares be singu- 
 lar, and voluntarily steps forward to conform itself 
 to its great pattern in one thing as well as another ; 
 and that you may uniformly confess Christ in your 
 person, your actions, and your general character. 
 
 Yours, respectfully, 
 
 J. E. 
 
1 
 
 360 THE foreigner's protracted journal. 
 
 " Thou hast my flesh, thy hallowed shrine. 
 
 Devoted solely to thy will : 
 Here let thy light for ever shine : 
 
 This house still let thy presence fill : 
 O Source of life — live, dwell, and move 
 In me, till all my life be love ! 
 
 " O never in these veils of shame 
 (Sad fruits of sin) my glorying be ! 
 
 Clothe with salvation, through thy name. 
 My soul, and let me put on thee. 
 
 Be living faith my costly dress. 
 
 And my best robe thy righteousness. 
 
 " Send down thy likeness from above, 
 And let this my adorning be : 
 
 Clothe me with wisdom, patience, love. 
 With lowliness and purity : 
 
 Than gold and pearls more precious far, 
 
 And brighter than the morning star. 
 
 " Lord, arm me with thy Spirit's might. 
 Since I am called by thy great name. 
 
 In thee let all my thoughts unite. 
 Of all my works be thou the aim ; 
 
 Thy love attend me all my days, 
 
 And my sole business be thy praise !" 
 
 ]JD ^2 OaS> 
 

 
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