and my thoughts; and I am confirmed in believing the one which I have now in view to be that to which, in the providence of God, I am called, because in no other can I be sure of the permanent approbation of my own mind, or find motives sufficiently powerful to excite its exertions.

"If you, Right Rev. Sir, shall approve my decision, my former habits of study will be revived and pursued with a diligence proportioned to the importance of their object; and though I do not expect by these means to escape from the recollections which depress me, yet I hope they will become less painful by being improved to the same great purpose.

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My highest wishes will be gratified, if I shall be able to fill up the residue of my life in the conscientious endeavour to incite all within my power to the love and service of Him who has ever continued to me the conviction and acknowledgment of his infinite wisdom and goodness; and who has made me to see and to know that in the Gospel of Jesus Christ there is unfailing support under all the circumstances of life, as well as abounding consolation and triumph for the mortal hour.

"I beg you to excuse the detail of motives and views into which this letter has extended, but which I thought necessary, to enable you to come to a proper determination upon the subject of it.

،، With perfect respect,

"I am, Right Rev. Sir,

"Your most obedient servant,

"CORNELIUS R. DUFFIE."

Mr. Duffie was verging towards middle age when he made his application to be admitted as a candidate for orders. He had received a liberal education, and prepared himself for the profession of the law; he never, however, entered upon the practice of it, but spent the greater part of his life in mercantile pursuits. But he still kept up his literary habits, associated with his college companions, and frequently employed his pen in writing the annual reports of our religious societies (of all of which he was an active and zealous member), in such a way as was equally creditable to his piety and taste. He was therefore prepared, without any extraordinary effort, for the change which he contemplated in his habits and pursuits. When he entered into the ministry, he was immediately surrounded by a number of his personal friends, who formed a small but select and interesting congregation, harmonizing with him for the most part, as well in their devoted attachment to sound Church principles, as in piety and zeal. In a short time the congregation was so much increased by his assiduous and faithful labours, as to enable them to erect a spacious and splendid edifice, which they completely filled; when, in the midst of his usefulness, he was suddenly called to render an account of his "stewardship," and to enter, as we doubt not, "into the joy of his Lord." It was my lot, as one of his early companions, to preach his ordination sermon, and within a few short years to unite in the last offices for him in his dying hours, and in the deep and heartfelt grief of

*

St. Thomas' Church, New-York.

his parishioners and friends at this sudden termination of his useful career.

A most interesting circumstance connected with theological learning in our diocese, occurred in the course of this year, which, from the agency that Bishop Hobart had in it, may very properly be noticed in an account of his life. Mr. Jacob Sherred, one of the Vestrymen of Trinity Church, who, by a long course of successful industry, had amassed a considerable fortune, and by his unostentatious but abundant charities was constantly relieving the poor and the needy, and drawing down upon him the blessings of those who were " ready to perish," closed his life by an act of munificence which, we trust, will be a memorial of him throughout all succeeding generations. He was without children, and with the exception of the pious and estimable lady to whom he was united, there were but few who had any very pressing claims on his recollection and kindness. Bishop Hobart regarded this as one of the cases where delicacy might be waved in the accomplishment of a great and important object, and he therefore urged him to make a bequest to the Theological Seminary, which might bear some proportion to his ample means. He was the more em

boldened in this application, because it met with the rare and disinterested support of the person who was chiefly concerned to prevent any diversion of the fortune from its natural course.

On the day of Mr. Sherred's death, or on the following day, the Bishop was dining with me, and his mind naturally turning to this subject, he indulged in a variety of conjectures as to the amount of the

bequest. The modesty and silence of the former in regard to his intentions, made the Bishop somewhat apprehensive of the result. "I am afraid," he remarked, "that it may not be more than a scholarship or a fellowship; but if it should be a professorship*-I always thought well of him-but I shall then think that he has acted nobly." The Bishop was impatient to learn what had actually been done, and left the table early. In a short time he returned almost breathless with haste, and, full of gratitude and joy, cried out, "He has left us half his fortune!"

From the great respectability and importance of the State of New-York, and the increasing number and resources of the Episcopalians in it, Bishop Hobart had before been strongly disposed to favour the establishment of a diocesan seminary. The munificent bequest of Mr. Sherred, together with the valuable grant of land from Mr. Clement C. Moore, which afforded a beautiful and convenient site for the institution, rendered this at once a practicable scheme. A regard to the promotion of those sound principles which he considered as vitally connected with the best interests of our Church, increased his anxiety for this arrangement. But still, from a spirit of conciliation, he was willing to give up the unrivalled advantages which, through the good providence of God, our own diocese enjoyed, and to share them with the Church at large. The constitution of the General Seminary was ac

Twenty thousand dollars were required for the establishment of a professorship.

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cordingly re-organized in such a way as to give a just degree of influence and control to the several dioceses; and the institution was transferred from Connecticut to New-York. The magnanimity of his conduct on this occasion has never perhaps been duly appreciated by those who differed from him in their views, while the policy of it was doubted by some of his friends. From the profound respect which was entertained for him by most of the clergy and laity of his own diocese, from their general accordance with his opinions, or their readiness to acquiesce in his wishes, an institution of our own would have been in a great measure subject to his control. The appointments would have been made with an exclusive view to the support of the principles and policy which it had been the ruling aim of his life to promote-to the inviolable union of evangelical truth and apostolic order. But though in the new arrangements great influence was given to the diocese of New-York in the management of the General Seminary, yet, if Bishop Hobart had attempted to act as he undoubtedly would have done in a diocesan seminary, it would soon have been seen that this influence was altogether impotent. The whole plan was formed in a spirit of compromise. There might be opposition to his views in the board of trustees, which he could not control. There might be reserve and silence in the faculty on points which he himself would have loudly proclaimed. He had given up what he might easily have retained, and never did any man make a greater sacrifice of his private feelings and wishes for the sake of general harmony and peace.