cunning—lies and hypocrisy of wicked tyrants and covetous priests. Should the halcyon days spring up when every cruel yoke should be broken, and the oppressed go free—when there should be an equal distribution of labor, wages and food—when all the liberty that good laws, free from licentiousness, affords to all equally alike should be enjoyed, how would every benevolent heart rejoice at the change.

LETTER TO THOMAS BUCK.

Cheshire, Oct. 25, 1831.

My Good old Friend:—Your friendly letter of the 30th of August came safe to hand in due time. While the young are looking forward in hopes of brighter scenes, the old are retrospecting past events; your letter reminds me of days and circumstances long past. The last time I saw you, was at Waterlick, April, 1790. At your meeting-house I preached from a text that has been of use to me until this moment; it was, "God be merciful to me a sinner." The confession is yet true with me, and the prayer of it has been answered until now. I have been travelling and preaching from that date until the present, through infirmity of flesh and heaviness of spirit; but, have never risen to that sublime state of wisdom and zeal, which I anticipated at my beginnings. I have had my summers and winters, praises and reproaches, prosperity and adversity; and, having attained the help of God, I remain until this time enjoying good health. My heaviest trials have been of that character, that a communication of them to others, (if indeed that could have been done,) would only have added to their weight, so that the darkest part of the way I have had to walk alone.

I have seen a number of religious revivals within the limits of my ministration, and at this present time there is a shower falling in these parts. I have lately baptized forty, and others stand waiting. How it may ap pear to the solemn line of spectators, on the banks of the water, to see an old man, whose locks have been frosted with seventy-seven winters, baptizing without any inconvenience, I cannot say; to himself there is a solemn pleasure. I never baptized more than twenty-four persons at one time, and abundance of times no more than one; and, as I have baptized one thousand five hundred and twelve in all, I judge that I have been in the water for baptism more times than any man in the United States.

The excitement of Campbellism and anti-masonry, does not rage in this section of the country, but the missionary principle has strong advocates and bold opponents; whether one will completely triumph over the other, or whether there will be a settled division, I cannot determine. Without any aid from missionary boards or funds, I have followed the missionary work fifty-seven years; in which time I have travelled a distance that would girdle the globe four times, and still have health and spirit to per

severe.

In many revivals of religion that I have seen, something singular (in extraneous forms) has always been seen, so that no two of them have been alike; nor is it to be wondered at, when we consider the infinite means in Jehovah, and the constant changes in the fashions of the world. Taking my own judgment for a standard, some revivals are much more pure than others. The present excitement among us has many muddy appendages; such exertions are made by many, to unite the exertions of natural po:vers with the energies of grace, as are not common. When souls boast alone in the Lord, the humble hear thereof and are glad; but, when they are taught to boast of any thing else, the humble are sad. I confess that I have not acquired the art of welding cold iron and hot together. But we should always make allowances for the difference that exists between the wisdom and truth of God, and the weakness and corruptions of men.

He who is so fearful of gathering chaff that he will not reap, will certainly fail in gathering wheat.

You inform me that all the old preachers are dead, or past labor, and that a new set have risen up in their stead. It is to be hoped that the young will improve upon the old, by shunning their defects and imitating their virtues. Preachers should always be little enough for the meek and lowly Jesus, who made himself of no reputation. A great preacher of the gospel of humiliation and self-abasement, is a monstrous character. Be ye not called Rabbi—be servant of all—be thou an example to believers—let nothing be done through strife and vain-glory, etc.; are admonitions that I daily need, and perhaps my young brethren may need the

same.

The invitation which you gave me to come and visit Virginia, is full of Christian politeness. The kind reception and good success I have had among the people of Virginia, has endeared the very name to me; nor have I known a minute for forty years, that my attachment to the place and people has been chilled. My age forbids me to comply with your request, but my will says, "go," and which will finally prevail will be decided in the course of next summer. The wife of my youth is yet living; we have lived together in the connubial relation fifty-five years. We have nine children, seven of whom have made a profession of religion.

I try to preach about four times a week in average. My health and strength will admit of travelling twelve miles, and preaching every day. In this course of life I have been announcing Christianity for more than fifty-seven years, having more reverence for that preaching which shows how the Lord draws sinners, than I have for that which shows sinners how to drive the Lord.

The salutation of John in my own hand,

THOMAS BUCK, Esq., Frederic Co., Virginia.

JOHN LELAND.

ADDRESS AT SOUTH ADAMS, JULY 4, 1832.

Fellow-Citizens:—This day completes fifty-six years since the United States shook off the shackles of monarchy, and declared themselves free and independent. Bold and hazardous was the attempt, for a feeble band of three millions to rise up against the strongest monarch on earth. Long, expensive, and bloody was the conflict between the rights of man and the claims of hereditaries; but, with the aid of the God of armies, and the bravery and patriotism of the sons of liberty, after a seven years contest the object was gained—the states were acknowledged free and independent by Great Britain, and treated with as one of the sovereign powers on

earth.

To pay up the expenses of the revolution; to organize the state gov. ernments, and the colossus of a general government; to define the rights that may be surrendered to government by individuals, and what quantum of sacrifice was called for, and those rights which are inalienable in nature, and cannot be surrendered—to secure the states from the inroads and depredations of the Indian tribes, and the European powers, etc.; have been laborious tasks for the halls of legislation, the chair of the executive, and the bench of the judiciary. What has added to the burden, has been difference in principle—difference in measures, and the torment. ing ambition of some, who serve not the Lord Jesus, but their own bellies; seek not the good of their country, but their own elevation.

The costume of every American, should be a continental coat--a state jacket—a cap of liberty on his head—a sword of justice at his side—an independent mind for a shield, and the good of his country at heart.

Such are our institutions, that our political years, like those of the calendar, have their bissextile; every fourth year is leap; of course this present year is the period of leaping and running races for a chief magistrate. That the partialities and prejudices of the people should produce strife for pre-eminence, is to be expected; but, it should never lead to false statements, deception, or defamation of character. Men and measures should be animadverted upon with prudence, and results formed upon them with candor. Each individual should acknowledge the right of his neighbor to think and act, as well as claim the right for himself. While I, with pleasure, recognize and guarantee to all others their rights, as an obscure individual, I claim my own.

That our present chief magistrate was greatly admired, and always triumphant in the field of battle, is acknowledged by all; and, by a majority of the people, his firmness, patriotism, wisdom, and economy in the chair of state, have appeared equally splendid to himself, and advantageous to his country. His successes in negociations and treaties, have equaled, have exceeded the success of any of his illustrious predecessors. His friends consider him a Washington in the field—a Jefferson in the chair; and can his enemies deny it and substantiate the charge? And now, "shall Jonathan die who has wrought this great salvation for Israel? God forbid!." If he must be crucified, why? "What evil has he done? We have examined him, and find no fault in him." Is there a branch of Adam's line, under whose shadow we may expect more delight, or gather richer fruit than the Hickory produces? Have the people grown weary of the manna of equal rights, and freedom from bondage and debt, and long to return to Egypt, the iron furnace, to dig in Clay, and make their full tale of brick without straw to burn it with—to rear up lofty and useless pyramids? Would they forsake the waters of Shiloah that flow softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son? Do they wish to see another reign of terror, when a man may be persecuted for speaking or publishing his opinion on men or measures; or when aliens may be banished on suspicion, without proof or trial? Will they say to the bramble, "come thou and reign over us?" The subject reminds me of an instance that took place in Pennsylvania, in 1783. A German, by the name of Nathaniel, had removed from his native country into Pennsylvania; but, after the close of the war, he had a strong desire to return to Germany; his wife, however, was otherwise inclined, and addressed her husband as follows: "Nathaniel, why would you go back? In Germany I took my kent (child) upon my back, and went into the field, and labored five days. in a week for the Prince; and here I have all the time to work for myself; why would you go back, Nathaniel ?"

It is said by some, that General Jackson is old, worn out, and superannuated; unfit for the duties of an executive chief. It is true he is four months older than Mr. Adams, of whom there is no complaint. And it is as true, that he is twelve years younger than Chief Justice Marshall, who is still considered, by some, as the light of the world. He has borne much for his country, but has not been intemperate with wine, broken his rest at the gaming table, nor impaired his lungs to run down others, and rise upon their ruins. Moses spent forty years at school and at court; forty years in the bush keeping sheep; and forty years as chief magis. trate of the tribes. After all, when he was one hundred and twenty years old, his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. The messages, communications, and despatch of business performed by Jackson, warrant the attempt to try him a little longer.