While

an ocean of apparently unbroken forest. standing here, the Bishop explained several of his plans, and mentioned some of his numerous discouragements. At this moment he was almost destitute of funds, but he trusted that God would continue, as heretofore, to supply him, like Elijah in the wilderness. He often felt ready to sink under despondency; but the countenances of his noble English benefactors appeared to him in his dreams, and admonished him not to be disheartened. From the College we descended to a piece of ground but partially cleared of trees. "This," said the Bishop, "is Sutton Square, so named from his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury." A little further on he informed me that I was in Bexley Square, and still further to the right was a thick portion of forest which he declared was Burgess Street, called after the name of the venerable Bishop of Salisbury. In another part of the surrounding woods he showed me the unoccupied site of a Church, to be denominated Rosse Chapel, from the Countess Dowager of Rosse. A large cucumber-tree occupied the place of the future altar, a spreading sumach stood in the place marked for the font, and a stately sycamore supplied the absence of the steeple. The parish was denominated Harcourt, from another benefactor, Sir Harcourt Lees; while Sir T. D. Acland had supplied a name to the printing-press, from which prayer-books and tracts were hereafter to be diffused throughout the diocese. Near the site selected for the Church, the Bishop pointed out the grave of an old man, the first person who had died

C

at Gambier. He had caused a railing to be erected round the grave, and with his own hands had trained a wild grape-vine to overshadow it. Near this grave he showed me a spot in which, he said, he hoped in a few years to lay his own weary body. He only prayed to be allowed sufficient time to see his town erected, and his College flourishing and complete. From the burial-ground we proceeded to the mill, passing through noble woods of oak, beech, hickory, walnut, and chestnut trees, constituting a portion of the College domain. Of the eight thousand acres in his hands, the Bishop had cleared the timber from eight hundred, which now produced wheat and Indian corn. On arriving at the mill, I found that it was designed for the double purpose of grinding meal, and of sawing timber into planks. The College lands were thus made to supply food for the inhabitants of Gambier, and materials for the construction of such buildings as might be required.

On my return with the Bishop, he assigned me a portion of an apartment in one of the plank edifices already mentioned, and took his leave. I retired to rest full of admiration for his character, and disposed by his example of self-denial, and his glowing anticipations of the future, to think lightly of present discomforts, and to look forward to better things

to come.

27

CHAPTER II.

BISHOP CHASE AND KENYON COLLEGE.

Brief memoir of the Bishop's previous life.-Situation and circumstances of the College.-Character of the Students.-Religious influences exercised by and among them.

WHILE considering the eventful history of the human race, and the manifold changes which have marked the progress of society, it is cheering to be enabled to trace the beneficial effects which have been sometimes produced on the character of nations, by the energy of solitary individuals. From such individuals it is impossible long to withhold the meed of admiration; and although by their contemporaries they may be little esteemed, though their immediate associates may be unable to appreciate the greatness of their conceptions, though even many real blemishes and infirmities may partially obscure the lustre of their virtues, impartial posterity will ultimately award them the honour which is their due, as chosen instruments in the hands of the Almighty.

But, in order to constitute a character adapted to the accomplishment of beneficent and difficult designs, a peculiar and uncommon combination of qualities is absolutely necessary. Strength of mind must be united with readiness of invention, and the ardour of a sanguine temperament must be blended with constant perseverance and submissive patience. There must be clearness of perception to soar above the prejudices of the vulgar, while there must be hardihood of nerve to remain unmoved by the sneers, and open opposition of adversaries. A firm conviction of being engaged in the cause of Truth and Duty, must be coupled with a settled determination to maintain that cause at all hazards, while a constant trust in God must be accompanied by deep submission to the divine will, and an habitual expectation of providential assistance.

A combination of qualities such as these, might be found in the remarkable person, to whom the last chapter has already introduced the reader. It is considered, therefore, that no apology will be necessary for the insertion, in this place, of a brief memoir of his life and labours prior to the year 1828.

Philander Chase was born at Cornish, on the banks of the river Connecticut, on the 14th of December, 1775. His ancestors were English Puritans who migrated to New England, from the county of Cornwall, during the reign of King Charles the First. His father was a Deacon of the same persuasion, and is described by him as having possessed great vigour of character, together with a discriminating judgment and religious habits. The

subject of our memoir has also spoken with much feeling of the lessons of piety and virtue communicated to him by his beloved mother; and thus, by both parents, he was trained up from early youth "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." In 1791 he entered Dartmouth College, a Dissenting institution in New Hampshire, and gladly exchanged the labours of agriculture for literary pursuits, with the expectation of becoming a Congregational (or Independent) preacher. Accidentally, as some would say, but providentially, as he always regarded it, he became acquainted, while at College, with the Prayer-book of the American Church, and lost no time in making known his favourable opinion of it to his parents and other relatives. Much ignorance and many prejudices were in the way; but the more the Prayer-book was examined by them, the more striking did its excellences appear. Amid the manifold divisions by which they were surrounded, the Prayer-book appeared as a light to guide them to the paths of peace; while amidst the multiform heresies which had grown up among the descendants of the Puritans, it seemed no less adapted to direct them to primitive truth. The consideration of the Liturgy and Creeds, led to an investigation of the claims of the Church to an Apostolical origin and constitution in her Ministry, and ultimately the family of the Chases abandoned the Independent ranks, demolished their old meeting-house, and erected a Church in its stead, not a voice being raised against the measure throughout the neighbourhood. As for Philander, he employed his vacations and his Sundays, by the advice