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was forgotten. Dr. Wheelock was at this time also responsible for many debts contracted on the credit of the fond of the school. The Hon. John Phillips LL. D. founder of Phillips's Exeter Academy, supplied 3333 dollars in this extremity, for the use of the school, as well as some donations to the college. The late Mr. John Thornton is also described as having been a forward benefactor during this crisis of the undertaking. The amount of his gifts to the college and school is not stated. They appear to have been liberal and successive. The grant of a pension of 100 dollars a-year to Mr. Occam is specified. A narrow and ordinary mind would easily find arguments against the extension of any great liberality to this remote American institution at the era in question. It might be objected by the Englishman, that America having now broken with Great Britain, it was doubtful into what hands the money subscribed might pass, and that it might probably subserve the purpose of hostility towards the mother country. The American, on the other hand, might fear, lest he should encourage a college and school which were too much in the English interest. Each might complain of the declension of the beneficence of the other; and the very magnitude of the aid required might be urged as an argument in favour of a total suspension of the under taking. Dr. Wheelock, as appears by some of his letters, drew, in March 1775, for near 6001. more than proved to be deposited in the hands of the Treasurer of the London Trust, and was under a serious, though happily an unfounded, apprehension, lest his bills should be dishonoured." I have sent," he also says, " to Connecticut upon the almost hopeless errand to hire 6001. sterling, and propose to mortgage my patrimony, and all my interest there, as security for three or four years, rather than send these boys away." The political principles which he entertained at this trying period

shall be given in his own words :"There appears," says he, alluding to part only of the province in which he lived, "to be a large combination, who, under pretence of defending the cause of liberty, are foriously acting in direct opposition to those who are soberly contending for it.”

The college was situated near the frontiers of the American territory, and was on that account exposed to many terrors of war, and to the danger of incursion from the Indians. The fleet and army under Gen. Carlton, in passing up Lake Champlain, came within 60 miles of it, and the force under Burgoyne took the same route. "Its light" is said to have been " obscured, its usefulness abridged, its resources almost annihilated," under all these accumulated troubles; but the pious President trusted in God and persevered in his exertions. The very building, on account of its having been too hastily put together, became in a few years untenantable. The old man was anxious that the new college should be accomplished before his death, and that it should' be erected on a larger scale. The Legislature of New Hampshire was prevailed upon to afford about 1600 dollars for the undertaking, and nearly an equal sum seems to have been raised in America by private subscription. Still, in consequence of the confusion of the times, the edifice made little progress. "Dr. Wheelock, like the father of Solomon, be gan the work, but left the finishing of the building to his son and suc cessor." He did not live to see peace dawn upon his country. The severities of his life in the wilderness, his solicitude for the conversion of the Indians, and the disappointments he endured in respect to some of those whom he had educated; the pressure of continual business, the embarrassment of his affairs produced by the war, and the gloomy circumstances as well as prospects of his native country, both as to its political and its reli

gious interests, are represented as
having tried to the utmost his weak
and declining constitution. He re-
lieved himself first by an inter-
mission of his correspondence, and
then by gradually retreating from
some of his other occupations. Being
often unable to walk in consequence
of an asthma, he was carried to the
chapel. When incapable of this
little journey, he performed the
public worship at his own house.
had been his prayer that he might
not outlive his faculties, and he con-
tinued to give religious instruction
to the last. In January 1779, some
epileptic fits brought him very low.
He revived, and rode on horseback;
but in April he relapsed, and the
24th of that month is stated to have
been both his last and his happiest
day. He conversed on the morning
of it, on several topics; some relating

It

to that world which he was on the point of entering. During his dying hour he repeated in the presence

"

of his wife those words of the Psalmist," Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff comfort mie. "Oh my family, be faithful unto death," were the last words he uttered. He died at the age of 68, having lived nine years from the founding of the college, and 25 from the time of his extending the benefit of his school to the Indians.

For the several duties of president of the school and college, professor of divinity, and pastor of the church in the college, Dr. Wheelock received no other compensation than a supply of provisions for his family; and having advanced between 3 and 4000 dollars out of his own funds for the use of the institution at the season of its chief difficulties, he, by his last will, bequeathed to it this sum, reserving only an annuity of about 160 dollars to his eldest son, an invalid. He also left to the school some other legacies. The following curtailed extract from a narrative of his own will thew the ground on which he made

these large sacrifices. He devoted indeed, not his substance only, but his health, strength, and life, to the undertaking." I have some time," he says, "found faintness of heart; but the consideration which, above all others, has been, and is, my sovereign support is, that it is the cause of God. In him, and in him alone, do I hope to perfect his own plan, for his own glory."

The charter of the college gave to Dr. Wheelock the right of appointing his successor; and the person first in his nomination was his second son, Colonel John Wheelock, at this time in the army of the United States. On the cessation of hostilities, this gentleman made a successful visit to England, as well as other parts of Europe, in the cause of the institution. The Prince of Orange, in particular, gave a handsome donation. In 1786, the legislature of Vermont afforded to it 23,000 acres of land; and in 1789, the Government of New Hampshire made a similar grant. The college land let at a rent of from two to ten pounds for every hundred acres.

The new college was completed in 1787. It is situated on a gently rising eminence. In front of it is a On the further spacious green. "a meeting-house" side of it are with a handsome spire," a house for Moor's school, a large building for students, and other dwellinghouses. About fifty families of re spectability have migrated into the vicinity.

The situation proves healthy, the neighbouring village is pleasant, the country abounds with provisions, and the expense of living is very moderate. There are now generally about 150 resident students belonging to the college, and forty or fifty in the school. About 1200 young men in all have received the honours of Dartmouth College, of whom 280 have been ordained to the Gospel-ministry.

The ordinary subjects of study are, the classics, geometry, natural and moral philosophy, law, metaphysics, and theology. Lectures

on medicine and chemistry are delivered. The study of Hebrew and other oriental languages, as well as of the French tongue, is recommended. The punishments are, admonition, suspension, and expulsion. The library consists of about 4000 volumes. Stage plays are prohibited. "The orthodox and evangelical instruction given by the professor of divinity excites," it is observed, "the pleasing hope that morality and piety will long be the glory of this seminary.”

Such is the present state of this once weak, tottering, and almost forsaken institution. One priucipal feeling which the account is calculated to excite is that of respect for those persons who, being warmed with the love of God and their fellow creatures, deliberately resolve to devote their lives to some arduous and important service. Dr. Wheelock was a man of this class. It would be beside our purpose to inquire minutely into all the doctrinal points which he held, or into his sentiments on church government. He was evidently zealous for the honour of God, and for the promulgation of the name of his Redeemer. He felt also for the bodies as well as the souls of men. He united benevolence and piety; and his religion produced a decision of character without which he probably would never have proceeded to dedicate himself to the work to which his life was given. He pcrsevered amidst many discourage ments, exercising meekness and patience, enduring labour and fatigue, intent only on doing good.

How different is a Christian of this class from many who assume the Christian name; who expect, indeed, the same glory, honour, and immortality, but are far from seeking it by the same patient continuance in well-doing! Correct, possibly, in their morals, and prudent in their conduct, they are occupied in criticising the more bold and fervent men, whose faults they are quick to

perceive, while they are dull in discerning the excellency of the spirit. that is in them.

With our admiration of Dr. Wheelock, we ought, however, to unite some praise of those who encouraged and assisted him. Much honour is due to those Governors in America who countenanced the infant seminary; much also to the Earl of Dartmouth, its patron in Great Britain; and a large portion of it may be allotted to that Christian Merchant who, by interposing his liberal aid at a moment of extremity, a circumstance which has led to a detailed commendation of him in the volume from which this account is taken, infused life into the dying institution. The bounty afforded by his Majesty ought also to be recollected with satisfaction. The kings of England have generally been friends to civilization, and to the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts. Their praise is in all the churches.

On the generally beneficial consequences of this establishment it would be superfluous to dwell. It, however, deserves notice that the northern part of America, in which Dartmouth College is situated, is, at the present time,peculiarly favourable to Great Britain, and that both the political and the religious principles. instilled into the minds of the young students have probably contributed, in no inconsiderable degree, to the production of this British feeling.

The success in converting Indians appears, however, to have been much less than the zealous minds of Dr. Wheelock and his English friends at one time confidently expected. There is scarcely any great work of benevolence of which the result proves exactly that which its first patrons had anticipated. Providence is ever carrying on its own designs, and often effects its purpose by the instrumentality of good men disappointed of more than half their immediate object. A variety of prudential lessons has been derived from the experience of these worthy

persons, and a harvest of general good has been already reaped, which has compensated a thousand-fold for their expenditure of money and all their partial disappointments.

"Although Missionaries and other charitable societies," says the biographer of Dr. Wheelock, "have not met with all the success expected, yet great benefits have accrued to the new-formed settlements of white people." "Christian Societies of Missionaries have generally been too impatient to reap the harvest. They should recollect that the soil is uncultivated, hard, and barren; that much labour is needful. It is exceedingly difficult to infuse suitable conceptions of the plainest doctrines into the minds of Indians. Slowly do they admit the Scripture ideas of depravity, of the atonement made for sin by Jesus Christ; of repentance, faith, and holiness of heart and life. The native tribes of New England, who were instructed in the doctrines of Revelation by our pious ancestors, pretty readily admitted the history of the Old Testament respecting the creation, the fall of man, and the deluge; but when told of a Saviour and his sufferings for sinners, they cried out "Pocatnie?" Is it possible? To converse with savages on moral and religious subjects is to speak in an unknown tongue. Their language has no words to convey ideas with any precision on these important subjects."

"But," it is added, "we should not despond though success should not answer our hopes. Enough is effected to shew that our labours are not in vain. Morning and evening we should sow the seed: when the harvest may reward the labour we know not, but we are sure that the joyful moment will come. Ages elapsed after the preaching of Christ and his Apostles, before the Roman Empire became Christian. If, with all the advantages derived from the miracles and resurrection of Christ, and from the success and the miraculous gifts of his Apostles, it was found so difficult

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by their successors to turn the nations to their Saviour, we must not expect that the benighted Indians will at once embrace the Gospel." In America, a goodly number of Christian ministers, respectable for their talents, learning, and piety, bave constantly devoted themselves to the service of the Indians. They have lived among them, learnt their language, and devoted themselves to the work. The Rev. John Elliot obtained by his labours the title of the Apostle to the Indians. He collected them in villages; taught them husbandry and the mechanic arts, as well as prudence in their affairs; instructed them in the ap、 pointment of magistrates, judges, and courts; established schools; formed for them catechisms; and translated into their tongue the whole Bible, as well as many pious tracts. He traversed the wilderness himself, and formed churches, among which were preachers of their own nation. These Indians prayed with their families, attended public worship, and laid aside many of their savage habits. The blessing of Heaven has attended these and similar labours to the conversion of multitudes."

It deserves to be remarked, that Dr. Wheelock was for a time much opposed. "His plans," it is said,

were contemned;" and "if any thing appeared amiss in his arrangements, he was severely reproached by his enemies," Missionaries must expect very hard measure from contemporary men of a cold worldly disposition. The time perhaps will come, when those labourers in our Asiatic empire, who are now the subjects of so much jealousy and animadversion, will be remembered only as the most forward of the benefactors of that continent; and as the Western world have manifestly profited by the rude piety of some of the first emigrants from this country, as well as by that ardent English zeal which sustained their early schools and missions, so, also let us hope that at some future

day the Eastern Hemisphere will exhibit abundant proof of its obligation to our munificence, will deduce from us its history of many a school which has expanded itself into a college, and will become adorned on every side with the monuments of British piety. H.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. A DETAILED and apparently authentic Report has been printed of the Proceedings under the Commissioners for Gaol Delivery for the County of York, held in January 1813, on the occasion of the disturbances in those parts; and in a short preface to that report, it is stated, that the evil in question, "was raised to its height by the religious fanaticsm which unhap pily exists in an excessive degree in those populous districts."

It was natural to expect that this observation would be supported by some part of that detailed account of the proceedings themselves which immediately follows, and which constitutes the substance of the work; but I have looked in vain over the 213 pages of Evidence and Speeches for any such passages, and I cannot help lamenting that the anonymous writer of the preface should have failed to furnish the public with any documents whatever which prove this material point. I am aware that Methodists abound in these districts; but I have heard that the Methodist preachers expressly cautioned their followers against any participation in the deeds of the insurgents, and thus contributed their part to the removal of the delusion.

It may possibly be said, that Methodism may nevertheless have predisposed the minds of the lower orders to insubordination, and may have produced evils which, when risen to their height, the very teachers of it may have perceived and may not have been able to suppress. But surely this ought not to be presumed without evidence, CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 145.

and it is of the want of evidence that I complain. Methodism, let it be remembered, has established itself in some of the most profligate quarters of this country; and it is one part of its praise, that it has directed itself to these places. Is it then fair to impute to Methodism that insubordination which is the natural result of profligacy, wherever profligacy and Methodism coexist? Mr. Wesley was remarkable for his success among the colliers at Kingswood. If among these colliers, outrages like those in Yorkshire had arisen, would it have been reasonable to charge them on Mr. Wesley, on the ground of the co-existence of Methodism and profligacy in that district?

But I will not at present pursue this subject. My chief purpose is to draw attention to the passage to which I have referred; and in particular, to invite information from those who may have the means of giving it, in consequence of residence in the disturbed districts.

I will, however, remark briefly, that I do not consider the mere administration of an oath by the insurgents to their deluded followers to be any proof of the general prevalence of fanaticism among these people. Oaths of a somewhat similar description have been administered by evil-disposed persons on various other occasions; in the case, for example, of those Jacobinical Societies which it was some years ago the object of Parliament to suppress. The members of those societies were characterized, as I apprebend, like the French Societies from which they sprung, not by religious fanaticism, but rather by a contemptuous disregard for ail religion.

I am,

&c.

T.

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