ber me cordially, if you please, to the little circle of my acquaintances in Kentucky, for I think of them often with great pleasure."

On the 15th of July, he announced, in a brief letter to Mr. Cornelius, the death of a mutual Christian friend, (Mrs. Brand,) a member of his church:

"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.' Ah, my dear friend, when you lose an ardent, and glowing, and praying Christian, you see others around you to supply the void; but I have lost the greatest pillar in my little church. God however is just, and I will not murmur. Last Sabbath was our communion; some of the Methodists joined us, and in all we had forty-two. This, though to you it would seem an inconsiderable number, is one which glad. dens my heart, and enlivens in some degree my desponding hopes."

He then mentions nine new communicants, and adds:

"The season was the most solemn I have ever witnessed, rendered so especially by the death, during the previous week, of the lamented Mrs. Brand."

He speaks of several others, in regard to whom he indulged hopes that they would belong to their number, and observes, "So you see we have a few drops occasionally descending on this thirsty hill of Zion."

The following is his last letter to Mr. Cornelius :

"NEW-ORLEANS, 16th August, 1820. "My dear Cornelius, I have waited long but in vain,

of Christ and the good of man, abides in the hearts of thousands, in nearly every portion of the Union."

for a letter bearing the post-mark of Salem. Do not suppose that I mean to censure, for none better than myself can appreciate the excuse which your numerous and arduous avocations furnish. Let me merely add, lest you forget it, that to hear from you gives me at all times the purest pleasure, and especially in our dreary summers. My design in writing at this time is to give you a correct idea of the health of New-Orleans. Cases of yellow fever have occurred-say half a dozen deaths, and twice or thrice that number of recoveries. Upon this statement you may depend, and should a merciful Providence spare my life, I shall try to keep you regularly advised on this subject. None of your friends have fallen, or are sick in short, the city is universally healthy, and we cherish the hope of escaping the present season, the havoc we witnessed in the last. Be good enough to write when you conveniently can. Our regards to Mrs. C., and believe me as ever, SYLVESTER LARNED."

Mr. Cornelius replied to the epistle of the 15th of July on the 18th of August, in the spirit of exalted friendship, and fidelity to their common Lord. Having mentioned, in apology for his long silence, that for the three months previous he had been incessantly engaged in the service of the American Board of Foreign Missions, that he had travelled from Maine to Pennsylvania, and preached nearly every day, he said:

"This afternoon your last of the 15th ult. arrived, and awakened such feelings, that although in the midst of a laborious preparation for the Sabbath, I resolved immediately to write something. And first of all, suffer me to express my deep sympathy with you in all your cares, and labors, and trials. I know they must all be great, and when I think

of you as bearing the heat and burthen of the day, and bearing them alone, my heart is pained for you."

Having alluded to the illness of Mrs. Larned, he continues :

you

"My heart bleeds for you in all these trials, and I pray God will consider each affliction, by itself, a messenger of good. I have never had a doubt, that if you were a child of God, you would be obliged to make your way to Heaven through tribulation. The exhortation of Paul is full of meaning, 'My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.' And why not rejoice if God intends by such visitations to alienate our affections from the world-to make us better men and better ministers. Your dear wife's health, I doubt not, will be watched over with the care of a most affectionate and solicitous husband. For her sake, if not for your own, I sincerely desire, you will not continue in the city during the sickly season. Precaution is as much our duty as preaching, nor can we be justified in destroying or hazarding too often, that health on which our whole usefulness depends. The death of Mrs. Brand, I can easily conceive, must be a heavy stroke; it is to me at this distance, and must be far more so to you, under the peculiar circumstances of your church. While reading it, a remark occurred to me often mentioned by Dr. Worcester, in regard to his own experience, that whenever he had attempted to lean upon any individual in his church or congregation, as a chief support, God, in some way or other, would remove him; and here again, it may be, that God designs you should more earnestly and confidently look upward. But, in the midst of your trials, you certainly are not without your encouragements. I say it with much assurance. Rarely has any young minister been permitted to do so much, in so short a time,

for the interests of Christ's church; and when you are dead, much precious seed will, doubtless, spring up to reward your greatest toils and self-denials. And what is our life? How soon gone! Once arrived in Heaven, how shall we rejoice in having made any sacrifice, however great, for the sake of bringing many souls to participate in the endless bliss of that glorious state. But you need not my words to encourage you. The word of the everliving God is your

hope and dependence."*

It is presumed Mr. Larned was never permitted to read these words of piety and affection, and he who penned them, little imagined, how to us they would seem like prophetic oracles, casting a symbolic significance towards eternity.

The terrible epidemic spread with rapidity, and assumed its most malignant aspect. Impelled by his natural humanity, and more by his Christian benevolence, Mr. Larned was unremitting in his attentions to all classes of the sick and dying, nor could friendless and afflicted strangers escape his observation, or find it necessary to solicit the assiduities of his kindness. His brother George was at the Bay of St. Louis. To him, seven days before his death, he addressed the following, his LAST LETTER:

"NEW-ORLEANS, 24th August, 1820. "Dear George,-As Sarah writes by this opportunity, I shall confine myself to a very few words. The most I can

* In this, as in an earlier letter, Mr. Cornelius alludes to the fact, that during the previous summer, in a weekly meeting of clergymen for prayer, in Salem, he (Mr. Larned) and his great work had been constantly remembered, and that they would continue to invoke blessings upon him and his exertions.

tell you, under the head of news, is, that several cases of fever have occurred since your departure; a large portion of which are now undecided. You will have heard by this time, that Peter V. Ogden is no more. The younger Inskeep and Sampson are extremely low, so much so, that both their tombs are built, though they may recover. Among the other sick, are, Major L, young M. C., TMrs. and Miss S

W

the lawyer, Miss M

Of these cases

H― of Baltimore, B― of Philadelphia, and others, whom you would not be likely to know. I am not sufficiently informed to speak positively, except that the names underscored are said to be recovering. You ask about my health. Through the mercy of Providence, I am well, as is Sarah. My present design is, to remain in town. I throw myself into the hands of a wise God, and hope for grace to meet all his allotments. Sure I am, that if he choose to take me from the world the present season, I have no word of objection or demur to utter. I rejoice that you are at the Bay. Stay there till health is entirely restored in town. You have had three letters, all of which I detain. One, by the way, I have answered. Remember me to, &c. Very cordially and truly, &c. SYLVESTER LARNED."

Thus calm, collected, confiding in the wisdom and will of his God, stood this young minister, amid the gloom and ravages of that fearful pestilence, knowing in whom he had believed, and prepared to enter at any moment the dark portals of death, at the word of his all-conquering Leader. He remembered his Cross, and his resurrection, and that he dieth no more, and that he hath ascended to prepare mansions for his disciples, that they may be forever with him and behold his glory, the glory he had with the Father before the