gregational Society took place. The services were highly interesting. The Rev. Mr. Brazer made a most impressive and appropriate prayer, characterized by his peculiar felicity of thought and expression. An address, with which we are permitted to enrich our columns, was then delivered by the Rev. Mr. Upham. This beautiful performance will best speak for itself, although it will lose much of the force which was derived from the very eloquent manner in which it was delivered.

During the delivery of the address, a silver plate was deposited under the stone by the venerable Peter Lander, the oldest member of the society, the inscriptions on which were previously read by the venerable Timothy Pickering, one of the society. The corner stone was then laid and the address concluded. The benediction, by Mr. Upham, concluded the ser

vices.

A large concourse attended the ceremony, among whom were the venerable Dr. Holyoke, now almost 98 years of age, and Stephen Higginson, Jun., Esq., a lineal descendant of the first pastor.

The direct descendants of Gov. Endicott, and the pious and eloquent Higginson, the first pastor, are now members of this religious society.

Address delivered at the Laying of a Corner Stone of a new Meeting-House of the First Church in Salem.

MY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS AND BRETHREN,

We have assembled here to perform a service, simple in itself, but leading to associations which are dear to the heart, and sink deep into the mind. We are now to consecrate the foundation of a Christian Temple, and to place beneath this, its corner stone, a brief inscription to the great Almighty Being to whom we dedicate it. In performing this service we do not only follow a custom prevalent among us, but we do what is recognised to be a duty and is prompted by our feelings.

That is is our duty, we are convinced by the consideration of a single circumstance. When the venerable building which last stood on this consecrated spot was removed, with what solicitous curiosity did we examine its foundation, in the desire of discovering some inscription placed there by men who lived four generations before us, concealed for more than a century from all eyes until ours should fall upon it! Our hope did not wholly leave us until the last corner had been taken away, and the disappointment which we then suffered is still fresh in our minds. We will spare those of our remote posterity, to whose lot it may fall to remove this foundation, a similar disappointWe will endeavour to secure to them the gratification for which we have been seeking in vain.

ment.

With these views we proceed to deposit beneath this corner stone, where the light of the day will never reach it until it shines upon the demolished and scattered ruins of these solid

walls, the plate upon which are engraven the inscription and notices which will now be read to you.

[Here Col. Pickering read the inscription on the Plate; the following words are engraven on one side of it:

"To the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our God and the God of our Fathers, the Descendants of Higginson, Endicott, and the other New England Pilgrims, who here gathered the first American Congregational Church, Aug. 6th, A. D. 1629, have laid this Corner Stone of the Fourth Edifice erected on this spot, for Christian Worship, April 27th, A. D. 1826, under the ministry of the Rev. John Prince, LL. D., Rev. Charles W. Upham, Associate Pastors. 'Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”]

and

When, after the succession, as we trust and pray, of many generations, our distant descendants in removing this temple, time-worn and dilapidated as it then will be, shall find this memorial of our interest in them, their minds and hearts will instantly come back to us through the long interval, perhaps of centuries; they will bless our memory for having raised the altar around which their Fathers had gathered, and spread out the roof beneath which they had been sheltered in worship; and when they reflect that four edifices of wood and one of more durable materials have risen successively, and successively sunk into ruin on the same spot, but that the Gospel has been constantly preached there, they will fully recognize the sublime truth contained in that prophetic declaration of our Saviour which we have inscribed here, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

We now, in the sight of God, and in the presence of all who are here assembled, devote the building, upon the foundation of which we are standing, to the accommodation and support of a community of Christian worshipers. We bid these walls to rise in the name of Higginson, Endicott, and all our honoured and pious ancestors, the Pilgrims of New England, who here first consecrated a Christian Sanctuary on the borders of a rude ocean and a still ruder wilderness. We bid them rise in the name of that glorious company of saints and martyrs, who, in every age of the church, have toiled, and suffered, and died in the holy cause of Christian truth and Christian liberty. We bid them rise in the blessed name of him who is the great head of the church.

And it is our devout and fervent prayer, that on this spot for ages yet to come, the eternal and immutable principles of sacred truth and of religious duty may be proclaimd-that the cause of free but sober inquiry, and of pure, and rational, and soul-redeeming Christianity, such Christianity as allures the convictions of the understanding as well as the feelings of the heart, may for ever be cherished and defended here-that the poor and the desolate and sorrow-stricken may here always find peace and comfort to their souls-that a light from heaven may break

through the clouds which cast their gloomy shadows over this scene of our existence, and shine down upon those who may successively come up here to catch a glimpse of that better world towards which God in his mercy is calling us. Here may affliction always be soothed-here may a lasting consolation be extended to the bereaved-here may a heavenly hope ever spring up in the bosoms of the desponding-here may a bright pathway from the spot where we stand, to the world above, he for ever kept open, along which, as in the dream of the Patriarch, pious spirits will be mounting upwards, and gracious influences passing down. And when the great shepherd shall collect into one fold in heaven his scattered flocks, may there be a long, and innumerable, and a shining train of saved and rejoicing spirits, clad in garments of light, with crowns on their heads, who will look back to the spot and to the temple which is now rising, and exclaim, "thou art blessed forever; for to us thou hast been the gate of Heaven."

Deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

By an extraordinary coincidence these two extraordinary men died on the same day, that day July 4th, the anniversary of American Independence and the Jubilee or 50th year anniversary. Both had been engaged in the drawing up of the Declaration of Independence; both had been in diplomatic capacities in the service of their country; and both had been Presidents of the Republic. The funerals of both were public and honourable to the American Character.

FUNERAL OF JEFFERSON.

(From the Richmond Enquirer, July, 14.)

The proceedings of Tuesday last furnished the strongest tribute which could have been offered to the memory of illustrious Jefferson. The soldiers of the Revolution, the Ministers of Religion, the officers of the Federal and State Governments, citizens, military and soldiers, the teachers and their pupils; all descriptions of people, united in "doing honour to the man who had filled up the measure of his country's honour." The exhibition was the spontaneous offering of a free people to their distinguished benefactor. It was a brilliant illustration of the purity and beauty of our political institutions. There was no compulsion; no adulation; no sacrifice at the shrine of a deceased despot; no humiliating effort to propitiate his "legitimate successor." It was the "unbought offering” of an independent people. The hearts of freemen poured themselves forth in paying the last tribute of respect to the ashes of their benefactor. The unbidden tear was shed in the fulness of gratitude to one of the most distinguished fathers of the Republic. Compare such an affecting and simple scene as this, with all the splendid pa

geantry, with all the "mockery of woe" which surrounds the bier of a monarch or a conqueror, and how completely does the latter dwindle into insignificance!

Notwithstanding the shortness of the period which had been allotted for the exhibition, all the arrangements were complete. The orator, and the ministers of religion, were prepared for their various exercises; and the awning, which had been commenced on the Capitol Square on Monday morning only, was completed by 10 o'clock on Tuesday. A canvas covering had been spread over the large Lafayette arch to the east of the Capitol, and wings thrown off to the right and left, and in front, sufficient to accommodate an immense multitude. In the rear of the arch a light platform was erected, canopied with crape, for the reception of the orator and the ministers of religion.

The day was uncommonly pleasant. At half after 10 o'clock, the procession began to move from the Henrico Court-House, according to the order which had been published by the Committee of Arrangements. A detachment of the Light Infantry Blues with music-then the members of the Executive Council -Ministers of religion-the soldiers of the Revolution-the officers of Government-Judges and officers of the Federal and State Judiciaries-Committee of Arrangement-Municipal Authorities of the City-Justices of Henrico county-Debating Societies Teachers with their Schools-Citizens, Strangers, and Uniform Companies.

The lengthened procession, four deep, extended from the Union Hotel to the United States' Bank. The whole march through the different streets which had been designated was conducted with the utmost possible order. A few minutes before 12 o'clock, the procession entered at the Eastern Gate of the Capitol Square. At this point of time the scene was exquisitely beautiful and impressive. It pleased the eye of taste, whilst it delighted the soul of the patriot. The whole area under the awing was filled by a numerous assemblage of ladies and gentlemen. The military, and many citizens who were unable to obtain seats, were stationed around. All was order, and a solemn silence reigned through an assembly estimated to contain at least 5,000 persons.

The exercises were commenced with music: Bishop Moore, of the Episcopal Church, then put up the following prayer:"Almighty and Eternal God, the Creator of all things, and Judge of all men! Whose glory the heaven of heavens cannot contain-whose delight is among the children of men; and whose tender mercy is over all thy works. Look down, we beseech thee, in indulgent goodness upon us, thy unworthy servants, and while we confess our obligations to thee, for the numerous blessings we enjoy, be thou pleased to impress our hearts with such a sense of gratitude that we may be ashamed to offend thee. May we shew forth thy praise, most merciful

God, not only with our lips, but in the language, the expressive language of holy and virtuous lives.

We thank thee, heavenly Father, for the civil and religious blessings with which as a nation thou hast favoured us-for that form of government which secures to us liberty without licentiousness; and protects us in the enjoyment of the sacred rights of conscience.

"We invoke thy blessing, oh merciful God! upon all our rulers. Direct them, we beseech thee, by thy counsel-save them from the unhallowed influence of prejudice, and may all their proceedings be such as thou wilt approve and bless. Inspire the minds of the people with a spirit of due subordination to the laws of our favoured country. May we always bear in mind that our rulers have difficulties peculiar to the stations they occupy; and may those difficulties inseparable from their office, influence us to supplicate God in their behalf, and produce in our minds a spirit of indulgence towards them.

"In particular, we commend to thy care and protection the President of these United States. Teach him, oh, teach him, most gracious God, to consider himself the Father of the nation over which he has been called to preside. May the interest of the whole American family form the object of his paternal regard the subject of his continual prayer and supplication. May no sectional partialities lead him astray from the path of official duty. May no sectional jealousies take possession of his mind, or the minds of the people committed to his charge, and may that happiness we have heretofore enjoyed be continued to our latest posterity.

"Bless, we beseech thee, the Governor and Magistracy of this state. Direct them in all their doings with thy most gracious favour, and further them with thy continual help. Grant that they may prove themselves the nursing fathers of thy church and people. May the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ be precious to their hearts, and may they enjoy the consolation flowing from the gospel of thy dear Son.

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Peculiar, blessed God! are those circumstances which at this time engage our attention. Be thou pleased to impress our hearts with that solemnity becoming the occasion; and while we are dwelling in reflection upon the memory of those whose removal from the vale of tears has excited the noblest sensibilities of our natures, may we remember thee as the Author of those blessings secured to us by their labours: and reverence them as the honoured instruments of thy favoured loving-kindness towards us. Oh raise, thou God of love, raise up from among us other patriots, whose bosoms may burn with holy ardour in the cause of liberty and virtue, who may defend that government which has been sanctioned with thy blessing, which has rendered us victorious in war, and prosperous in peace. We thank thee that thou didst spare those ven