claim to my attention from being named after me, but I will not promise to love him more than the rest. May my dear sister derive all that happiness from her children of which her affection and attention to them make her so truly deserving."

Among the youthful and cherished companions with whom Mr. Hobart was surrounded, there was one who did not appear to yield in attachment to the rest, though differing from him in his system of faith, which is so often the occasion of alienation and dislike. This was the distinguished Dr. Kollock, who enjoyed the highest reputation at College, was made divinity professor at an early age, and rose to an almost undisputed pre-eminence among his Presbyterian brethren as a preacher, by his glowing and impassioned eloquence. The following letters from him, which are by turns both gay and grave, breathe that spirit of kindness and liberality which marked all his communications and intercourse with his valued friend:

"Nassau-Hall, June 11th, 1798. "I have too long neglected to answer your agreeable letter, but you know that our resolutions on this subject are often unavoidably broken within the walls of a College, though our affection may remain undiminished..

"I have at length finished Patrick, and begun Lowth. The former is like a desolate field, where the soil may produce some valuable plants, but all the surrounding scenery appears unengaging; whilst the latter resembles those fields of Arabia which he describes, where the lofty oedar, the medicinal balm,

and the fragrant flower bloom beside each other. I think, however, that he is too lavish of his corrections of the sacred text; for though some of them are absolutely necessary, yet I do not think that any should be introduced merely to cause a parallelism of the lines, or to add to the beauty of an expression. It is of too much consequence to establish the belief of the people concerning the general authenticity of the Scriptures, to permit such freedom.

"H has been confined to the house by his foot; he frets and fumes about it, to borrow Falstaff's expression, like a piece of gummed velvet.' Mstudies yet extremely hard; every day I see new cause to admire the strength of his judgment and the tenderness of his heart.

"I suppose that by this time, my dear friend, you have become a minister of Christ. I pray God that you may be happy, zealous, and successful; that the blessed Spirit of grace may rest upon you, and make your preaching efficacious for arresting the presumptuous and deluded sinner, for pouring consolation into the wounded conscience, and for building up the saints in holiness and faith. May you pass through this life supported by your Saviour; and when you stand before his tribunal to render your final account, may you see many souls who have been converted by your ministry, and who shall be crowns of your everlasting rejoicing. Oh! my friend, may we both meet there, and, though bearing different names here below, may we both be interested in the salvation of the common Redeemer."

"Elizabeth-Town, Oct. 24th, 1798.

"The letter of my dear friend would not have remained so long unanswered, had not a fit of sickness debarred me from the use of my pen; I now resume it for the first time after my recovery.

"What is that undefinable charm which attaches us so strongly to the scenes of our youth, and so highly endears to us our native home? Five months have swiftly flown; they were spent with friends most dear to me, and in occupations most pleasing, yet I return with joy to Elizabeth, and visit with delight those places which recall times that are past.

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My principal study during the last session, was 'Warburton's Divine Legation.' He seems to have chosen this topic, that he might display his almost unlimited knowledge, since there is scarcely a subject of science which he has not introduced into it. He abounds with much rude railing, and has a number of very singular paradoxes, but his leading proposition is proved with a strength of argument which is, I think, irresistible. Whatever may be your opinion of his primary argument, you will be highly pleased in reading him.

"The question so bitterly agitated between our Churches on the question of original sin, has been the subject of my meditation for some time past; and you will, perhaps, smile when I tell you that I have found myself obliged to renounce the sentiments of the rigid Calvinists. The doctrine of imputation, as held by them, appears to me inconsistent with the justice of God. I can very readily grant, that, in consequence of the sin of Adam, VOL. I.

9

mankind should become subject to temporal death, since immortality was not a debt but a free gift, and we could have no claim to it, though we had remained for ever innocent. I can likewise allow that mankind have hence received a moral taint and infection, by which they have a propensity to sin; but my mind revolts from the idea, that I should be sentenced by a God of justice and mercy to an eternity of misery, because of the transgressions of one who sinned before I was born, and in a capacity of knowing or hindering what he did. On this ground I think we may both meet.

"H-has left Mrs. Knox's, and taken up his residence in a solitary hamlet entirely encircled by the woods. He thinks, perhaps he thinks with propriety, that he can there cultivate the better affections of his nature, and prosecute his studies with greater advantage than at Princeton. He may plead Milton's authority for the latter part of his sentiment, who very elegantly tells us that

• Wisdom's self

Oft seeks to sweet retired solitude,

Where with her best nurse, Contemplation,

She plumes her feathers, and lets grow her wings,

That in the various bustle of resort

Were all too ruffled.'

I should have preferred for my retreat, however, that season when all nature puts on an aspect of cheerfulness. But I believe that my disposition is not sufficiently romantic to be invariably pleased with retirement; for, after the novelty of the landhas ceased, I have beheld them with a sigh,

scapes

and exclaimed,

The society of one dear friend would be worth them all."

He resided at Princeton until the spring of 1798, when he returned to Philadelphia, and was ordained in the month of June, by Bishop White. There he had frequent opportunities of enjoying the society of this most amiable man and distinguished divine, and of profiting by his counsels concerning his studies. In allusion to this period, the Bishop, with that modest simplicity which is natural to him, makes the following remarks:

"Although his signal proficiency was the fruit of his own talents and industry, yet I have ever since pleased myself with the hope that he may have derived some little aid from what it occurred to me to suggest to him. To this satisfaction I have given vent in my printed sermon, delivered nearly twenty years ago, at his consecration to the Episcopacy."

Having known him from his childhood, watched his progress in the various stages of his education, and rejoiced in the success of his literary efforts, the Bishop now felt a deeper interest in his young friend than ever, from the paternal and sacred relation in which he had been brought to him. He was, therefore, exceedingly anxious to keep him near to him, with a view to his settlement, either in the parish of which he was Rector, in case of a vacancy, or to add to the number of his clergy, in the event of the building of a new church in Philadelphia, which was then in contemplation. In compliance with these kind views and wishes, Mr. Hobart accepted the charge of Trinity Church, Oxford, and All Saints', Pequestan.