of the Hebrew with his propensity led him to the study of theology. He filled the office of tutor in the college, when an invitation was made to him from Connecticut to settle in the ministry. At this period, in the year 1778, the way was open to a professorship in the learned languages. On him the public eye was fixed. He under. took the duties, and entered the career of more splendid services in the republic of letters. His solicitude and labors were devoted to the institution,during its infantile state embarrassed by the revolutionary war. He alleviated the burthens of the reverend founder of this establishment; and administered comfort and solace to him in his declining days. From that period in 1779, Dr. Smith continued indefatigable in mental applications; faithful in the discharge of official duties; and active for the interest of the society, through scenes of trouble and adversity. The board of Trustees elect. ed him a member of their body. The church at the college, found. ed by my predecessor, intrusted with him, as pastor, their spiritual concerns, and were prospered under his prudent and pious care. God blessed his labors; a golden harvest reminds us of the last. I may add, that his qualifications, as a divine, were appreciated abroad; and have been acknowledged with marked respect by a public and honorable body. To the force of his various exertions, under divine providence, justice demands, that we ascribe much in the rise and splendor of this establishment. particular families? Human institutions cannot control the laws of na ture. Genius, restrained, can never advance. Happy, when education, and circumstances, conduct it in the course, which nature designed. Thus, in regard to him, whose merit now demands our tribute. While surveying the circle of knowledge, and justly estimating the relative importance of its different branches, still his eye was more fixed on classical science; and his attachment seemed to concentrate the force of genius in developing the na ture of language, and the principles of the learned tongues, on which the modern so much depend for their perfection. The Latin, the Greek, and the Hebrew were almost familiar to him as his native language. He clearly comprehended the Samaritan and Chaldaic; and far extended his researches in the Arabic. Some, perhaps, may think less of the importance of grammar; because, like the atmosphere, its use is common, though necessary. Will such believe, that the enlightened Greeks and Romans assigned a place to its professors, as well as to philo sophers and poets, in the temple of Apollo Could they conceive, that Suetonius devoted himself to write the history of Illustrious Grammarians? Plato gave rank to this art in his sublime works; and Aristotle more largely discussed its principles. A crowd of Stoic philosophers enlisted in the service. Varro, Cicero, Messala, and Julius Cæsar, treated of the same, and did honor to the subject. The eminent attainments of Dr. Smith in the knowledge of the lan The Creator, in his wisdom, has guages are attested by multitudes, not formed the individuals of the hu- scattered in the civilized world, man race with universal genius. who enjoyed his instruction. They Cicero appears to have been the on- will be attested, in future times, by ly instance, among the ancients, of his Latin Grammar, published about the same person embracing the va- seven years ago; and by his Hebrew rious arts and sciences, and excel- Grammar, which has since appeared. ling in each. One mind seems to In each of these works, in a masterhave been adapted to only one kindly manner, he treats of every matter of improvement, so that it might be matured, in its varieties, by the more effectual labors of all. But can this truth justify the usage of the ancient Egyptians, and as continued in India, confining the different professions to proper for the student to know. Each subject is displayed, in a new method, with perspicuity, conciseness, simplicity, and classic taste. His Greek Grammar, we may suppose, will exhibit the same traits, when it shall meet the public eye. This last labor he had finished, and committed to the printer, a few months before his decease. If we turn to take a moral view of this distinguished votary of science, new motives will increase our esteem. What shali I say of the purity of his manners, his integrity and amiable virtues? These are too strongly impressed on the minds of all, who knew him, to need description. He was possessed of great modesty, and a degree of reserve, appearing, at times, to indicate diffidence, in the view of those less acquainted. But this, itself, was an effusion of his goodness, which led to yielding ac commodation in matters of minor coneern yet, however, when the interest of virtue, or society, required him to act, he formed his own opinion, and proceeded with unshaken firmness. Those, intimately acquainted with him can bear witness; and it is confirmed by invariable traits in his prineiples and practice, during life. The virtues of Dr. Smith were not compressed within the circle of human relations, which vanish with time. Contemplating the first cause, the connexions and dependencies in the moral state, his mind was filled with a sense of interminable duties. He was a disciple of Jesus. The former president admired and loved him, and taught him theology. The latter as a divine, and Christian, embraced and inculcated the same doctrine peace on earth, and good will to all men. This amiable spirit actuated his whole life, and added peculiar splendor to the closing scene. His intense pursuits of science af fected his constitution, and produced debility, which, more than two years before, began to be observed by his friends. It gradually increased, but not greatly to interrupt his applications till six weeks before his death. While I revive the affliction at his departure, its accompanying circumstances will assuage our sorrow. The thoughts of his resignation to divine providence, through all the stages of a disease, that rapidly preyed upon his vitals, his composure, serenity, and christian confidence, remain for the consolation of his friends, and instruction of all. Such is the character of Dr. Smith, which I have endeavored impartially and faithfully to depict. Some, there are, who, by a flash of achievement, have, like Pisistratus and Demetrius, received the burst of applause from a deluded people. Many surrounded with trappings of wealth, many, decorated with titles, many, descending from ennobled ancestors, have been flattered, while living, by parasites, celebrated at their death by hirelings, and to their memory statues and monuments were erected. But such glory vanishes, like the falling star, and its possessors are consigned to oblivion. How different is the honor consecrated to merit; to the memory of him, whose departure we now lament! The fame of Dr. Smith does not arise from wealth, nor descent from titled ancestors. It has no borrowed lustre. He was indebted wholly to his genius, his labors, and his virtues. His monument will exist in the hearts of his acquaintance; and in the future respect of those, who shall derive advantage from his exertions. In the immense loss, which his dear family sustain, they have saved a precious legacy; his example, and lessons of social and religious duties. The church, with mournful regret, will retain the tenderest affection for their venerable pastor. What shall I say of this seat of science now covered with cyprus? Those, who have trod its hallowed walks, will never forget his instruc tions, nor the benevolent effusions of his heart. Where, in the ranges of cultivated society, is one to be found, qualified with those rare endowments, which can supply the chasm made by his death? Is it to be conceived, after our just survey of his character, that this eminent scholar, and amiable man, should be destined to endure the persecutions of any enemies? We listen with admiration to his expiring words. All, who attempted to injure me, I forgive; and I pray God to forgive. His name will outlive the attacks of barbed malice. His memory will be esteemed and honored in succeed. ing times, by the friends of science and religion. "Smitten friends Are angels, sent on errands full of love; For us they languish, and for us they die; And shall they languish, shall they die in vain 35 YOUNG. Miss SALLY HURD, late the only surviving daughter of Dr. ISAAC HURD of Concord, early made a public profession of religion, and became a member of the church in that place. Placid serenity, charity, and submission were characteristics, which habitually beautified her life; and she ever displayed an uncommon degree of filial affection. In the month of June last she question ed her father respecting her sickness, which was a gradual decline, saying, I view this my important and last sick ness; adding that for three years she had expected complaints of this kind would soon terminate her life; and with the greatest composure said, God's will be done! About two months before her death, she settled all herworldly affairs, saying she wished to have no earthly concerns interrupt her devotion; after which she was wholly devoted to God, declining seeing any one, excepting her family connexions, her minister, and watchers. She was reserved in conversation, but treasured every thing, which led to the great end she had to accomplish. She observed to a friend, I have been confined in this chamber six months, during which time I have enjoyed five of the happiest months, I ever knew. "During the last three months of her confinement," writes her father to a friend, "she suffered the most exquisite pain, I ever knew in sickness of a chronic nature; but scarcely did we ever hear a groan pass her lips. She appeared several times, as though she would soon' depart. After her revival she thus expressed herself, O, my dear father! I hoped to have been with my heavenly Father before this time. But he thought otherwise; therefore it is best. I desire to wait patiently his holy will." Through the whole of her sickness her patience was uncommon. If any thing like a groan escaped her, she immediately reproved herself by saying, I was I could have borne it. Why wrong. should I complain, when my Savior suffered so much for me. Rarely does an instance ocear,of a person so much blessed with the light of God's reconciled countenance, as she was, particularly near the close of her life; for her views appeared continually brightening. As her body decayed, her intellects were more invigorated; and she appeared to enjoy constant communion with God. She said, that during ber life and sickness, she had experienced a gloom, which gloom she would not have parted with for all this world. She was asked,if she meant by that gloom,that uncertainty of future happiness, which made her fear to die? O, no; but a gloom, which had a tendency to make my devotion more humble and sincere. Early in the morning of her last day, Nov. 29th, she expressed herself with great energy, This day, this glorious day, I have long looked for. I have been anticipating it ever since I was twelve years old. Upon her asking her father, if he thought she could continue till noon, he told her, he thought she might possibly until toward night. She with a sigh replied, Oh! I was in hopesI am sorry. I do wrong. It looks like impatience. I desire to wait God's time. About eleven o'clock, she with the greatest ecstacy exclaimed, Oh, my God! I love thee. I adore and bless thee. My dear Savior has plead for me: and all my sins are forgiven. I am sure of it. On this day, this glorious day, an gels will waft me to my dear Savior. He will present me to my God, who will receive me to endless bliss. About two, she, with a countenance animated with heavenly joy, again exclaimed, My God, I love thee! I adore, I bless thee. My Savior has plead for me. My sins are all forgiven, I am sure of it. Angels will waft me to my Savior; my Savier present me to my God. Yes, I am sure of it. Oh, what a glorious day will this be to me! Soon after this, exchanging with her parents and brother the tenderest tokes of affection, she again took leave of them; and, about a quarter before three, in broken accents breathing, Christ Jesus receive me! died without a struggle or a groan, aged twenty-eight years. TO CORRESPONDENTS. A Probationer for Eternity has our best wishes. His letter is serions and pertinent; but it would not comport with the rules, which we have prescribed to ourselves, to give it a place in this publication. It would do better for a private than for a public communication. A Sketch, &c. of Mrs. Sarah Gray shall appear in our next. As we are very much disposed to acquit Mr. Allen of conscious partiality in his selection of names for honorable mention, and as we have prescribed it to ourselves as an inviolable rule not to engage in any disenssion of a political complexion; agree. ably to Mr. A.'s request, but without any particular rejoinder, we subinit his remarks n our review of his work to the judgment of the candid public. Ir appears that, after this, when conversing with his friends he expressed some uneasy appre hensions, as he could not date his conversion at any particular period, or trace that regular progress of the divine work on his heart which some authors and other Christians have described; and hence he was ready to fear that his former hopes would be found delusive. He said, that he had ever been sensible of the importance of religion ; but that, when there is a considerable knowledge of the truths of the gospel, it was difficult to distin. guish between that and the work of the Spirit; 'but,' he added, 'that, utterly disclaiming all hope on the ground of personal merit, we must all, as sinners, whether greater or less, be saved in the same way, through the righteousness of Christ.' But, whatever uncertainty he might have felt on this occasion, at another time he told his father, That he had that day had such a view of the love of Christ in dying for VOL. II. New Series. sinners, and such a belief of his interest in it, as was almost too much for him. He thought that he could not have borne more. He was concerned that, in consequence of being exceedingly nervous, he was prevented from always discovering that exemplary patience and composure, for which he had generally This he been so remarkable. would frequently lament, as he thought it might have an appear. ance of tacit murmuring against God, which grieved him exceedingly. A few weeks previous to his death, he said, That, on looking back on his past life, he wonder. ed that his ardor had been directed towards objects so comparatively trifling, and that his mind had not been more fixed upon the cause of Christ, the promoting of which he now considered as the grand object of life. Headded, that, if he felt a wish to live, it was that he might devote himself more entirely to God, and testify his love to that Savior 2R who had shewn such love to him. At the same time, he repeated this verse of Dr. Dod. dridge: 'Tis to my Savior I would live, Such bliss as blossoms at his side.' 'My views,' said he, upon the subject of redemption, are very different now from what they once were. I once thought too much stress was laid on it by many; but now I find it to be the grand pillar of christianity. What a mercy it is,' he added, that all is done for us, and that we have nothing to do but to accept of salvation! When we are enabled to rely entirely on Christ, then it is that we taste the comforts of religion.' When some person had been speaking of the blessing of health, I do not think,' said he, a state of affliction the most undesirable for a Christian. Far from it. I trust I shall ever have reason to bless God for this affliction, and for all his myste. rious dealings with me, by which he has brought me to a much greater knowledge of himself. On its being suggested to him, that it was a mercy he was not in great pain, and still more that his mind was so supported, he said, Yes; but I have been much distressed the past night; yet I was enabled again to cast myself on my Savior; and 1 trust that he has accepted me. I have given myself up to him before; and, I trust, he will not now forsake me. I have at times felt my faith so strong, that I have thought that, if an angel from Heaven had come to me, with an assurance of my salvation, I could not have more firmly believed it.' He then repeated, with peculiar animation, the following verse from Dr. Dod. dridge : On thy dear cross I fix mine eyes, 'Such,' added he, has been my experience.' When his friends said that they had hoped it would have been the will of God to lengthen his life, but that it would be selfish to detain him here with such happiness in view, 'Yes,' he replied, 'I have no wish to live. Heaven is a glorious place! My prayer is, That I may possess, not mere. ly a firm reliance, but a triumph. ant hope in the prospect of death! this, I trust, my heavenly Father will grant me! On his being informed by his father, that his medical attendants had pronounced his case to be hopeless, he expressed surprise; but without any change of countenance. He said that, though he had, for several days, believ ed himself to be in a very criti cal state, he had looked forward to weeks, or, perhaps, months of longer life ; but I have a bright prospect,' he added, beyond the grave! and, though I feel myself a vile, unworthy sinner, yet. I trust that God has accepted me, through my blessed Redeemer. I have felt the sweet drawings of his Spirit, and the assurances of his love. Yes; Jesus is mine, and I am his! I know that he has loved me! I regret that I have done so little for him in life: and had hoped to be raised up, that I might honor him by some emi |