Indeed the whole letter, as illustrative of his character, and habits of thought and expression at this time, merits preservation.

"THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, PRINCETON, "Nov. 20th, 1814.

"My Dear Sister,-In order to preserve my character as a young man of veracity, I am seated to write you a letter; but what to say I am utterly at a loss. The truth is, my log-book, if you had the whole of it, would not be amazingly interesting; for, though I am placed beyond the very frontier of old associations, I have hardly had time enough since I left you to acquire any new ones. But to begin in regular style : When I arrived in Albany, I met George; but as you have probably seen him I shall not tell you of any wonderful things that took place while we were together. In New York I quartered with a gentleman by the name of W-, and the topics of conversation were, of course, not unfrequently confined within the room where you now sit reading. After spending six days in the great city, hearing the Thunderer* preach, seeing all the curiosities, &c., &c., I took the steamboat for Princeton. Judge of my feelings in landing the first man I saw in New-Jersey was my father! I could only speak to him, when the infamous horns blew us apart, and I again set forward. But you must tire. Suffice it to say, that with the privilege of a drunken driver, and a furious set of horses, we broke down only twice, and arrived here only five hours later than we expected. Princeton is on a hill, the only hill I have seen in the State. I tell the Jerseyans they are deficient in one ornament which New-England possesses, in those noble mountains which seem left by Nature not only for their splendid display of sublimity and beauty, but as specimens of the spirits that thrive under their brows. The people in this quarter are crowded into villages, between which you will see nothing but a long Arabian kind of desert, which presents a striking contrast to the Eastern States, that are so elegantly dotted over with the marks of cultivation.

"But to return to Princeton. It is a small village, containing nothing remarkable but the literary and theological institutions. The first is represented, here at least, the finest in the country. It has at present say 130 students; the Divinity College has just 40. For the last there is no building yet erected, but a foundation for one is laid, and the thing begins to move forward with rapidity and success. Our professors are Doctors and, in whom every one appears to have unlimited confidence. So far as I have had opportunity to judge, I should pronounce them men 'full of faith and the Holy Ghost.' The young men under their care are generally genteel, friendly, and pious. Indeed, one of the traits almost every one here possesses is, particularly, politeness. I don't know that Princeton is remarkable for its piety; but, situated between the two great cities of America, and settled in no small degree by the first families, it can hardly fail of being polished. Mr. Post is my room-mate, and, thus far, every thing I have seen promises to make me happy; and I can only say, that if I do not improve in the facilities of every kind which surround me, and, above all, in the piety and humility of the Gospel which I am preparing to preach, the fault is my own. I must not forget to mention, for Sarah's sake, that the new pronunciation is in vogue here, 'to the nines': duty is called juty; virtue, virchue; tune, chune; pursue, purshew, &c. For the sake of appearing like others, and avoiding obstinacy, I, even I, have adopted the new system, though I do actually despise it as much as ever, and a little more. Give my love to Sarah, Aunt H-, the Major, Mary, Sally, and Harriet, and do not write to me, I beg of you.

"I remain, as usual,

"Your affectionate brother,

"SYLVESTER."

During his residence at Princeton, though he was accustomed to give much less time than others to his studies, he made rapid improvement, and was always prepared for examination on the subjects which occupied the attention of his class. What many of his companions investigated slowly, and acquired with difficulty, he perceived at a glance, and immediately made his own. The energy, originality, and comprehensiveness of his mind enabled him to bring under examination at once the complex parts of a great subject, to seize upon the best methods and examples for illustration, and the strong arguments by which it might be enforced.

To a near relation, whose husband had experienced heavy pecuniary losses, under date of 31st May, 1816, he thus writes:

"You are supposing, I fear, that you are in uncommon affliction; but have you ever inquired who gave you a kind and affectionate husband? who has blessed you with three dear children, on whom your fondest hopes delight to repose? why your parents, your brothers and sisters, are continued to you? why you are permitted to enjoy the Gospel, and to anticipate a home of everlasting rest? These questions should be asked whenever the murmur or complaint is about to arise. View this and every other affliction as the chastisement of a heavenly Parent. Have you received good at the hand of God, and shall you not receive evil?' Let every thing of this nature lead you nearer to God, wean you more from the world, and you may yet, like the Apostle, 'rejoice in tribulation. In a temporal view, I have only one thing to fear-that your noble-hearted husband may be tempted to despond; but I hope and pray it may not be so. He has talents of the first rank-he has perseverance al. most to a maxim, and he has a generous heart. With these he may easily recover; and if he can once recover from this shock, his second trial will be surer-he will learn prudence and coolness-so that this present trial may prove an advantage to him."

After alluding to some obstacles in the way of his continuance at Princeton, which, however, had been overcome, he thus speaks in a letter to his sister, June 6th, 1816:

"Many of my friends may, perhaps, be disposed to inquire why, amidst so many obstacles, I should persist in the study of divinity. I answer, my profession has been cautiously and conscientiously adopted. A sense of duty alone could have driven me forward when I was sensible how many sacrifices I must make-how many prospects relinquish. To this sense of duty I have adapted my conduct; by it I have suffered myself to be directed; and thus far I do not repent. I am well aware how often it is said that a temper like this savors of bigotry and enthusiasm; but it has been my duty to cultivate it, and I am not sorry. If the great Head of the Church be pleased to make me an instrument of advancing the temporal and spiritual interests of men in any degree, it will be a compensation more than equal to every sacrifice and every privation."

At this period, he not only added largely to his stores of theological, but of general knowledge, and

assiduously cultivated both his intellectual powers and personal piety. He also engaged with ardor and resolution in many active duties, and kindly sought to benefit the members of the college. In a sketch of his life which appeared in the Presbyterian Annual for 1832, it is stated, "that he exerted a great influence over the minds of the youth generally; and it is believed that in more cases than one, he was the honored instrument of converting to God those who have since preached the Gospel themselves." His religious feelings became more vigorous and warm during the last years of his connexion with the institution. He spent a short time in Elizabethtown and Newark during a period of much attention to religious subjects, and from these places returned with higher purposes of intellectual and spiritual improvement, for the promotion of piety among the members both of the college and seminary.

The following letter of condolence, addressed to his brother George on the loss of his wife, is an effusion of much tenderness, blended with religious sentiments appropriate to the sadness of the occasion :

"PRINCETON, 24 Feb., 1817.

"My Dear George, - Will you consider it an intrusion on the sacredness of affliction, if I offer the sympathy of a heart which bleeds with your own? Rest assured, it is not the dictate of custom, but of friendship and feeling, that moves my pen. Most sincerely can I say that my tears flow with yours. Had I never known our dear Emily, still I could weep that an affectionate brother was widowed of his hopes and happiness. But I did know her. I had witnessed the loveliness of her character: I had seen the opening of that