by its own unworthiness. The feelings of a student are commonly sensible; of a charity student, tender; of a sick charity student, the most delicate. Judge, then, how I felt while reading your letter a letter not dictated by selfishness, nor written with the pen of indifference; but a letter written by a pen dipped in benevolence, and guided by the fingers of love. I shall say no more on this point, for my pen is too full. I shall accept of your kindness, nor will I attempt to thank you-for I should do injustice to my feelings, and perhaps appear ridiculous: but I may pour out my thanks in secret, even to my Heavenly Father, and malevolence shall never accuse me of insincerity. I took the liberty to show your letter to President ; it affected him little less than it did me. He feels much more alarmed about me than I do about myself, and advises me to leave college immediately, or to put myself under the care of Dr. I have done neither. I am hindered from the latter by the fear of expense; and from the former, because I wish to stay till after the examination. I shall then, if health permit, leave college a fortnight from next Thursday night; and, if possible, be in -- a fortnight from next Saturday. I know not that I shall be able to walk this distance in two days, especially as I shall have a great coat, and some few clothes to carry; but if not, I trust the Lord will provide for me. As to clothes for my journey, tell my dear mother that I do not know that I shall need more than I have. The ladies in have been exceedingly kind to me. I shall wear a black suit which they gave This suit is much too good, but I have no other; and my next clothes must be made, according to the plan adopted by the students in college. me. I would speak concerning the state of religion in this place, but I dare not: we stand in the most awful state of suspensea cloud seems ready to burst upon us, but Christians will not pray with sufficient fervency to pierce it. Oh pray for uspray for -, pray for I will give you further particu lars when I see you. I must now close, though I know not how to do so, but writing gives me pain. I hope to see you before long, and talk face to face-though I cannot then appear like myself. I shall certainly fetch proper testimonials of my character. Standing as I do, perhaps upon the very verge of the grave, I can have no motive to impose upon you. I hope you did not suspect me. Salute your good people in my name. Tell them I may not be what they expect; tell them that my life may not be useful; tell them that the unsuspecting traveller may soon press beneath his feet the sods that shall cover my poor remains ; tell them I may be a hypocrite; I may be a Judas; tell them this, and tell them that whatever else I may possess, so long as I live, they will find that your unknown, though ever affectionate son, &c. Oh! sir, when a minisP. S. I found $3 enclosed from you. ter gives to me my heart aches. I fear you could not do this consistently with duty. It is the greatest present I ever received from an individual. I feel as though I was doing wrong to take it. Oh, it makes me feel little-it makes me feel ashamed to live on the charity of others. I suppose I inherit too much of my father's independency of character-pride. Till I see you, thanks-tears, prayers. Adieu. THE SEQUEL. 9 arrived at Our young friend and correspondent our house on Tuesday evening, much sooner than he had proposed, or we expected; his departure being hastened by his failing health. We found him a very observing, ingenuous, intelligent, affectionate and interesting young man, and hopefully possessing the greatest of all accomplishments-piety. He brought ample, and very honourable recommendations from President , and others of the faculty of the -, his Tutor, Mr. college. His state of health was as critical as he had represented. The attending symptoms of pain in his breast, cough, and night sweats, were threatening; so that our fears and hopes about his eventual recovery, were equipoised. The account which he gave us of the rapid progress of the revival in and, was very animating, and the interest he appeared to In his countenance, figure, take in it tended to endear him to us. air and manners, I recognized a resemblance of his father; the friend I once so highly valued, and whose memory will ever our fabe dear to me. I put him under the care of Dr. mily physician, a gentleman of experience and eminence in his profession, who prescribed for him, and attended to him while he staid. During his continuance with us, his health appeared stationary. He tarried till Friday morning, Sept. 8th, and then I was happily successful in hiring took his departure for. him a horse, and obtaining for him by charity a sufficient sum to defray the expenses of his journey, and rejoiced much, in being able to redeem the pledge I had given him in the promise of assistance. In the whole affair, I could not but notice with admiration the hand of Providence, so manifestly displayed, in all the circumstances and events which brought him to our acquaintance, and led to so interesting a sequel; thence gathering a pleasing hope, that it may be the gracious purpose of Him, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working, to restore this highly promising young man to health, and prepare hig for service and useful ness in the Saviour's kingdom on earth. May God grant this desirable issue.. At his departure I gave him letters of introduction to the following gentlemen on his route: [Here follows the names of 12 highly respectable gentlemen.] After a prosperous journey, and an interesting visit to his sisters and friends in, and experiencing much kindness and hospitality from his new made acquaintances on the way, he returned here on Tuesday, October the 17th. His health was improved; his threatening symptoms gone; his strength and appetite daily increasing. On Tuesday the 24th he left here in good spirits, to resume his studies at college. Thus our hopes are realized; our prayers graciously answered; and let the praise be given where it is due.* * The "sorrowful casualty" alluded to in Letter II. p. 643, was recorded in a respectable Magazine of the day as follows: "Doctor, an eminent physician of R, riding at full speed to visit a patient dangerously sick, was thrown from his horse, broke his leg, and wrenched the foot so as to dislocate it at the ankle. In this deplorable situation the Doctor remained near two hours before any assistance came. In the meanwhile be crawled to a rock by the side of a run of water, in which he laved the wounds and cleansed them from the clotted blood and the fragments of his stocking which had been impelled into them; and taking his instruments from his pocket, with astonishing fortitude proceeded to take up a principal blood vessel; and when found by his friends was discovered with a pencil in his hand, with which he had just concluded writing the following "Ejaculatory Sonnet. "Thy judgments Lord, are holy, right, and just, Though darkness shroud thy throne and cloud thy face, I cleave to thee and hope thy pardoning grace. "Firm is thy truth, thy promise ever sure, "Before thy throne I bow beneath thy rod, "Whate'er my doom, whate'er my state may be, "Much has been vaunted of the firmness of the ancient stoics; but he who can enter into the dreadful agonies of the Doctor's distress must confess, that the serene fortitude and true magnanimity of the Christian, by far excel the boasted insensibility of the stoic." We are sure the above correspondence will awaken the tenderest sensibilities and best feelings of our readers, and excite a deep interest in behalf of the young gentleman who is struggling with pecuniary embarrassment and various difficulties, to obtain the necessary education to fit him for entering the service of his Lord and Master, as a minister of His gospel. The Managers of education societies may learn how important it is that they confine the charities at their disposal to such a number of beneficiaries as they may be able to support, without subjecting them to such labour as tends to the injury of their health, and ultimately to frustrate the object they have in view. We shall only add, that we have the best authority for assuring those who are willing to spare a little from their abundance to aid the deserving and excellent young man, who has been thus "seeking the vestiges of a father" long since dead, that donations, sent to D. H. WICKHAM, Esq. No. 59 Fulton-street, New-York, intended for him, will be faithfully applied to aid him in completing his education. To the Editor of the Christian Herald. Sir, Few of those who had the happiness to know the late Rev. Samuel Bacon, during his residence in New-York, whilst arranging the voyage of the ship Elizabeth, Capt. Sebor, for Sierra Leone and Sherbro, on the coast of Africa, will readily forget him. His pure philanthropy, his ardent zeal, his fervent love of God, his disinterestedness, his affectionate heart, his gospel simplicity, and self-devotedness to the uninviting, unpromising, and almost ridiculed cause of bleeding Africa, recommended him to the mind and heart of every man who could feel affection, or admire benevolence. In the mysterious dispensations of Him, "who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters," this generous friend of the human race had scarcely touched the land, which his heart panted to improve, ere his dust was mingled with the dust of Africa, and his soul elevated to the glories of the heavenly world. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Where the mortal remains of Bacon rest, there is a hallowed spot. Succeeding ages will revere the grave of the first American martyr in the cause of Africa; whose soul glowed with desire to make amends for the bonds of her children, and to wipe away the stain on his own country, by rendering her the voluntary benefactress of that injured land. I had the privilege of being a friend, who saw his works, who heard his prayers, and helped him on his way. His "home" in New-York was with Mr. George Warner, of the same communion with himself, (the Episcopal Church.) In the journal kept by Mr. Bacon on his voyage to Africa, he inserted a few verses expressive of his feelings. Being favoured with a copy of them, from a much esteemed friend, I beg leave to send them to you. for insertion. They justify, as far as they go, the opinion which his friends entertained of him. A SUBSCRIBER. New-York, Feb. 20, 1821. EXTRACT FROM THE REV. SAMUEL BACON'S JOURNAL, While thought a homeward path has trac'd Back o'er the spreading ocean waste, There daily comfort gladden'd me; My heart has fixed upon the place, Where cheer'd with smiles and bless'd with grace A home! a home! that name belov'd, When tortures oft have sadden'd me ; No more perhaps a home will greet With thee, my last I found with thee. But cease the murmur! hush the sigh! My God, my home I'll seek with thee. Oh! Africa, I cross the wave* Thou long hast kiss'd the rod :. AN INQUIRING JEW. An interesting circumstance lately occurred at Plymouth, Eng. which should not be unnoticed. A respectable and candid Jew, a teacher of Hebrew there, expressed a desire to hold a friendly conversation with his converted brother, Mr. Solomon, on the subject of Christianity. A time was accordingly appointed, and in the presence of some Christian friends who were assembled, an amicable discussion took place. The Jewish teacher displayed a proper candour, and Mr. Solomon was enabled with meekness and fear, to give a reason of the hope that is in him, and to speak like a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. The discussion continued for three hours. We earnestly pray that the God of Abraham may follow it with his blessing. CITY AFFAIRS. THE CHRISTIAN AND CIVIC ECONOMY OF LARGE TOWNS. With regard to the local system, Dr. Chalmers recommends a trial, as the only thing necessary to prove its excellence. "Any one, or, at most, two philanthropists, may set forth upon such an experiment. "They will soon, in the course of their inquiries, be enabled to verify the actual state of our city families, and, at the same time, their openness to the influence of a pervading operation. Let them, for this purpose, make their actual entrance upon a district, which they have previously chalked out as the ground of their benevolent enterprise; and it were better, that it should be in some poor and neglected part of the city. Let the one introduce the other to every family; and on the simple er * Written at sea. |