persuaded that the time was come in which a mighty revolution was to be wrought in the Christian Church. The poor Genoese pilot knew in his heart that he had, as it were, but to stretch out the wand of his courage and skill, and call up a new continent from the depths of the sea;" and our departed friend beheld in the flames of Fort Sumter the beacon-light which heralded the return of the nation to the principles and practices of the fathers, and to the true spirit and genius of the Constitution. Through all the varying fortunes of the conflict he preserved the equanimity of his spirit: saddened, but not disheartened, by disaster; gladdened, but not transported, by success. When others were ready in their joy to proclaim the conflict ended, he saw that the war was yet in its earlier stages, and directed his business accordingly. It was my privilege frequently to be with him when the news of the day reached us in the afternoon papers; and he would sometimes ask me to take the paper and read over the chief topics of intelligence. I shall never forget, that, on one occasion, while yet the great question was undecided, as I read some items of interest from the army, he inquired if any progress was made towards the solution of the great political problem respecting the African race. I read to him all that the paper contained upon that aspect of the question, in which there was nothing of special encouragement. He threw himself back in his chair, and remained for some time absorbed in thought; then rising, with that expression of countenance which showed that all the great moral elements of his nature were in their highest action, yet perfectly self-possessed, he said, in tones of the deepest sorrow, "I had hoped that Mr. Lincoln would get his eyes opened before this time." Then, pacing his room, he remarked, with deep solemnity, "If I were forty years old, I would not be here." He soon resumed his seat, with a look which spoke with emphasis the great thought of Milton,— "God doth not need Either man's works or his own gifts. Who best They also serve who only stand and wait." The whole scene was one not of interest merely: it was a true exhibition of the moral sublime. It was one of those occasions where a great soul imparts to action and to language a fulness and a depth of meaning far beyond what is contained in any or all of the lexicons. The words might have been uttered by many a trivial spirit, without producing any effect; but the action in this case was far beyond the reach of ordinary men. He seemed for the moment unreconciled to the lot to which his years and his infirmities consigned him, and like Achilles, when he looked out upon the field of conflict before Troy, and wished that the Greeks and Trojans might destroy each other, and make way for better men. He was, however, far from being censorious in his remarks upon the action of the administration. He well understood the difficulties of their position; he knew that it was far easier to criticise and complain than to plan and execute. He must, however, at times, I think, have experienced a feeling like that of La Grange, when he sighed to think that it had not fallen to his lot to be born in Newton's time, and have the first chance at the great problem of the universe. Conscious as he must have been of his ability to grapple with these great questions which have convulsed the world in our time,-questions that he so thoroughly understood, and the solution of which by the stern logic of events has followed so implicitly the logic of his reasoning,-the desire must have arisen in his mind, (as it certainly did in the minds of others,) not from vanity, but from virtue, that the force of his great abilities might be brought to bear on issues that have changed the course of our country's history. He knew, to use the bold figure of Macaulay, that it is the nature of the devil of tyranny to tear and rend the body which it leaves; but he regarded the convulsions of the terrible exorcism as of little account in comparison with the torments of perpetual possession. In regard to slavery, the commencement of the Rebellion found him just where it is hoped it will leave the na tion. He had early studied this great system of wrong in theory and in its practical effects, in the Old and New Testaments, and on the Southern plantation.* He * Reference has been made in a preceding note to a Southern tour which Mr. Greene made many years ago. His observations during this journey greatly strengthened his opposition to slavery. It was, I think, while he was stopping at a public-house in Richmond, that the following incident occurred. A gentleman in Richmond, with the reputation of a good and kind master, owned a faithful and valuable slave, who had been promised, as a reward for his fidelity, that he should never be sold. But his master, becoming involved in debt, felt obliged to resort to the readiest means for raising the necessary amount, and this seemed to be to sell his faithful slave to a slave-broker from the far South. After concluding the bargain, and signing the papers, he called the slave to him and said, "John, I am sorry to inform you that such is my urgent need of money that I have been obliged to sell you; you have been a faithful servant, and I am very sorry to part with you; I hope you will fall into the hands of a hated it in its whole history and philosophy with that perfect hatred which he bore to oppression and wrong at all times and under all circumstances. His charities were never more frequent or generous than to all objects that promised relief and encouragement to the African race. He was not noisy in the proclamation of his views upon this subject, nor did he hesitate for an instant to incur whatever reproach might be connected with an honest and manly statement of his con kind master." The negro dropped his head on receiving this announcement, and stood in silent sorrow for a moment; then, raising his eyes to his master, he replied, "I think, then, Massa, you ought to sell my wife with me." "I did not think of that," replied the master; "I had forgotten that you had a wife; but I will do so; your wife shall go with you." He called the broker, and stating to him the circumstance, requested him to buy the wife of the slave whom he had already purchased. The broker objected. He said the wife would only be an incumbrance, &c. master, "give up the bargain which we have just made." should not do that; he had fairly bought and paid for his slave, and he should insist on the bargain. The poor master was helpless, and, calling again to him his former slave, informed him of the unavailing efforts which he had made to meet his wishes, and that he must go. The slave went directly into the back-yard, where stood a chopping-block, and taking the axe in his right hand, he cut off his left hand by a single stroke. "Then," said the "No," he said, he He travelled for some distance in Virginia in company with a planter of that region, who, finding that Mr. Greene was from a free State, was very ready to enlighten him upon the blessings of their peculiar civilization, dwelling with great earnestness upon the peaceful and happy condition of the slave population. In the course of their conversation the planter alluded to his own children, whom he spoke of with parental interest and solicitude. 66 I suppose you bring up your sons and daughters to the hardest labor, and in utter ignorance, do you not?" said Mr. Greene. "What do you mean, sir?" replied the planter; "do you mean to insult me, sir?" "Not at all, not at all, sir,” rejoined Mr. Greene; "you show a father's interest and affection for your children, and I supposed you would certainly endeavor to secure for them what you have been representing as the happiest condition of human existence in the case of your slave population." The planter was silent. victions. His history, in respect to this one question, would fill an interesting volume. After what I have said, it is almost superfluous to remark that his moral sense was as delicate as his courage was strong. In all his transactions with other men, where his personal interests were involved, he was careful to regard their rights before his own. I have often heard the remark made, "If I wished to get an advantage of Mr. Greene, I would put myself completely in his power." In pecuniary transactions he has been known to pay thousands more than his judgment dictated was due, that he might not incur even the suspicion of unduly favoring his own interests. In one of the most trying junctures of his life he submitted his destiny entirely to the disposition of another party, and abided by their decision. In short, the moral faculty in his nature exercised the control to which its rank entitles it. The force of his nature was due not more to the strength of its individual elements than to their perfect correlation and subordination. Hence there appeared a remarkable symmetry in his character. There was no harsh or abrupt transition as you passed from its moral to its intellectual aspects. An equal power of will, with less of intellect and conscience, has produced a man of uncontrollable obstinacy; while an equally sensitive conscience, unguided by intellect, or not enforced by the requisite propelling power of the will, has resulted in nothing more than a well-meant feebleness and imbecility. In the exercise of these high qualities he exacted from his physical powers an amount of service that seemed incredible. Notwithstanding the careful husbandry of |