The extreme sensibility of Mr. Hobart, and the romantic character of his youthful attachments, though the source of the purest happiness and joy, were very often, also, the occasion of the greatest anguish and distress. He loved his friends with so much tenderness, that when he lost them, he was completely overwhelmed. Shortly after Mr. Skinner had left College, he formed an intimacy with an amiable and interesting young man, Robert Forsyth, of Augusta, which grew into the most perfect friendship during the life-time of the former, and which afterwards, in some measure, filled up the void that had been made by his death. This tie also was soon broken. Nothing can be more pathetic than the following notice of the event:

"Princeton, Aug. 18, 1797.

"My dear sister has no doubt seen, from the paper, that her brother is called to another trial— yes, he has again lost the object of a sincere and ardent affection. It seems as if I love with tenderness, only to be made miserable by the loss of those I love. But my idols are taken from me. I am taught that this is not my home; that here are not my joys. Ah! if you knew with what tenderness and fidelity I have loved and been loved, however enthusiastic my language might be, you would judge it to be sincere.

"I have received from those here who knew my affection for Forsyth, every attention and kindness. If it should please Providence to give me resignation to his will, and to save me from depression of spirits, I feel inclined, with greater zeal than ever,

to perform the duties of life; and while I am mindful of the uncertainty of its rational pleasures, to receive and enjoy them with humble thankfulness. Happy indeed should I be, under every loss, however severe, that I have still affectionate relations, to whose kindness and care I owe so much."

From Mrs. R. Smith to Mr. Hobart :

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Frankford-Hill, August 22, 1797. "You judge well, my dear brother, in assuring yourself of the entire sympathy of my heart in your present afflictive trial. I am sensible that the participation of grief, though soothing to the soul, avails little to lighten the weight of the blow. I need not present to you those motives of consolation which your own well-grounded piety will suggest; nor will it lessen the pangs of a heart like your's, to point out the grief which the unhappy mother of your deceased friend must experience: the first, when the burst of sorrow has subsided, will bring the consolation it never fails to impart, and the other consideration will be a spring of exertion to your own soul, to enable you to offer a support and comfort to her's. And I would entreat you, for the sake of your own dear parent and those friends who tenderly love you, not to yield to that depression of spirits of which you speak; exert every faculty of your soul against that cruel languor into which it will sink you—that death of usefulness and active virtue. Alas! even in its happiest state, how many trials does this probationary being present to us, which nothing but an early acquired fortitude, the result of a rational and well-grounded hope of

a better life, can enable us to support! Let this, my dear brother, while it teaches you resignation, temper the fervour and ardency of those affections, which, however amiable in themselves, will embitter too much your passing days, unless calmed by the full persuasion that they extend beyond the grave. They were given us by the eternal Author of our being, as sources of enjoyment, and not misery, while we look for their full fruition only in a more exalted state of existence."

In the course of this year he made a visit to Virginia, in company with Mr. Mercer. The kind and gratifying attentions which he received from the family of his friend, the frankness, warmth, and hospitality of the southern people in general, and the union of education, refinement, and taste with the simplicity of rural life, made so pleasing an impression on his mind, that the state of society seemed to him more like those visions of domestic bliss which the imagination sometimes forms, than a reality which he himself should ever have witnessed and enjoyed. The recollection of it was constantly before him, and he was daily and hourly confirmed in the plan which had occurred to him of settling in Virginia. This scheme, however, was by no means agreeable to his friends at home. Besides the opportunities which were offered of procuring a settlement in one of the vacant parishes in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, there was some reason to expect that he might receive an appointment in the city itself. The prospect of this appointment, it is to be inferred from a letter which he wrote to his sister about this time, was

peculiarly pleasing to her and his mother, as it would bring him once more into the bosom of his family; but so great was his repugnance to a city life, that he could neither indulge their wishes nor hopes. In order, however, to gratify them by a nearer residence, he relinquished his design of settling in Virginia, and concluded to take charge of some vacant churches in the vicinity of Philadelphia.

"Princeton, Feb. 2d, 1798.

"If my dear sister had opposed my strongest prejudices and wishes, the affectionate manner in which her reasons were addressed to me, would have operated strongly on my feelings; but when my plans for my future life were far from being settled, reasons drawn from the highest motives of usefulness and duty, and urged by one whose tender regard for my happiness I have so often felt, could not fail of determining my mind. In the hope, then, of uniting usefulness with retirement, so valuable to me, both as it subserves to study and cherishes virtuous feelings; and with the strong desire of yielding happiness to my friends, and deriving it myself from all these sources, I have concluded to direct my views solely to the congregations near the city: and I will inform Dr. White that, if they should be willing, I will engage with them for a year. If this determination affords you any pleasure, I wish you to believe, that one of its principal enjoyments to me will be, the opportunity it will afford of an interchange of affectionate attentions with those to whom nature and duty so strongly attach me,

"In all my plans, worldly objects have had but little place. If this be an error, it is one which my feelings make natural, and, I believe, invincible. I believe a life in the country can be more happy than one in the city; and though I do not say that no considerations will induce me to submit to the latter, yet they must be those of high commanding duty. In an unreserved and affectionate intercourse with my near connexions, in mutually bestowing and receiving kind and tender offices; more especially, in reclining with confidence on some sincere and feeling friend;-such are the enjoyments which I desire. Scenes of bliss like the last have for a moment delighted me, and passed away. It is only in a higher state of being that I can hope for the permanent possession of them.

"There is no duty more in unison with my feelings, nor of stronger obligation, than that which regards the tender parent to whose unwearied and solicitous care I owe so much. Whatever comfort I can afford her, will not compensate her for her kindness and goodness to me. For her faithful discharge of her duty to us all, I trust there is in reserve for her much higher happiness than she can receive here.

"I shall not be able to make the necessary preparations for taking orders until the fall, but, as I mean to leave College in the spring, I shall have an opportunity of embracing, in part at least, your plan of amusement and exercise for me. I often anticipate, with lively feelings, the pleasure I shall enjoy from the society of my friends, of which, of late years, I have had so little. Your last son has a