At the commencement of his Presidency the Professorship of Theology was vacant. The Corporation proposed to appoint him in form to the office. For the first ten years he would consent to none but an annual appointment. In 1805 it was made permanent. During the whole period he preached twice every sabbath; with almost no assistance from his brethren; and very rarely having an opportunity to exchange with the neighbouring clergy. Early in the year following his induction, he commenced the delivery of a Series of Lectures on the Evidences of Divine Revelation. This was no part of the duties of either office; but owing to the extensive prevalence of infidelity in the country at that period, he viewed it as necessary to guard his pupils against the contagion. These lectures were not written out: the weak state of his eyes forbad his employing them for such a purpose. After collecting materials for about fifty, the same difficulty compelled him to desist, and prevented him from delivering even the whole of that number. They were on a plan entirely new; and were listened to with great interest. Had not the battle with Infidelity been fought, and the victory won, we should regret, still more than we now do, that they were left unfinished. No one, not personally acquainted with the facts, can realize how great, at this period, were his sufferings from weakness of sight. For years it was with extreme difficulty that he could read or write even a sentence. He was greatly alarmed, for a long period, with the symptoms of an approaching gutta serena. Repeatedly the pressure on the brain was so great as to produce momentary blindness, and obviously to threaten apoplexy. Occasionally, for weeks together, the anguish of his eyes was so intense, that it required powerful exertion to draw off his mind to any other object. And often, after attempting in

vain to sleep, he has risen from his bed; and, to promote a free perspiration, has walked for miles in the middle of the night.

In the prosecution of his duties as Professor of Divinity, he early began to deliver the Lectures in these Volumes. His practice was to preach one on the morning of each sabbath in term time. By this arrangement he finished the course once in four years. Thus each student, who completed his regular Collegiate period, had an opportunity to hear the whole series. He first conceived the plan of the work at Greenfield. While there, he completed it, in short notes, in about one hundred sermons; and delivered them twice to his people before his removal. At New Haven, he twice went through with them in the same state; frequently however adding to their number, and altering their arrange

ment.

In 1805, when he was permanently appointed Professor of Theology, the Corporation allowed him fifty pounds per annum to employ an amanuensis. Though the compensation was trifling, yet the place was coveted, and regularly applied for, a length of time before it became vacant. He began immediately to write out these Lectures; and wrote one a week during term time, or forty a year until they were completed. If not prevented, he commenced this task on Monday morning. His progress depended, with the exception of casual interruptions, on the rapidity of the amanuensis; which always fell short of the rapidity with which he dictated. Sometimes, though rarely, the sermon was finished in a single day; usually in the course of the second day. The remainder of the week was employed in writing his Travels, and Occasional Sermons. When in

terrupted by company, if propriety did not forbid, he would proceed with two trains of thoughts by the hour together; conversing with the company; and also dictating to his amanuensis.

By a standing rule of the College, the President annually delivers a valedictory Sermon, on the sabbath preceding the Commencement, to the Candidates for the Bachelor's Degree. Perhaps no part of his clerical labours excited more public attention, or were listened to with a livelier interest than the Sermons delivered on these occasions.

In the year 1797, he was applied to by the General Association of Connecticut to revise Dr. Watt's Version of the Psalms; to versify such as he had omitted; and to make a selection of Hymns suited to the general purposes of public worship. The work was completed in 1800, and laid before a joint Committee of that body and of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church; by whom it was approved and recommended to the use of the Congregational and Presbyterian Churches throughout the United States. In the performance of this difficult task, he made alterations, of more or less consequence, in a considerable number of Dr. Watt's Psalms; and composed thirty-three entire psalms, containing about twelve hundred and fifty lines.

From the time he recovered his health, after the severe attack of colic already mentioned, he habituated himself to a steady course of vigorous bodily exercise. While at Greenfield, notwithstanding the multitude of his avocations, he walked, and rode on horseback, extensively; and constantly cultivated a large fruit and kitchen garden with his own hands. For this particular species of labour he had a high relish. His garden was distinguished for its beauty

and its productiveness; for the excellence of its vegetables, the abundance and delicacy of its fruits, and the choice variety of its flowers.

Nor did the habit cease with him after his removal to New Haven. He there pursued the same course, making it his constant practice, through the whole season for gardening, to work at least an hour every morning before breakfast. In other parts of the year, he walked much and daily; rode frequently; and often, in the winter, when no other mode of exercise was convenient, he would cut his firewood.

On this subject he exhibited the strictest uniformity and perseverance; and both by precept and example inculcated upon his pupils the necessity of a similar course. With reference, in a considerable degree, to the same object, in the year 1796, he commenced journeying on horseback, or in a sulky, during the College vacations, particularly in May and September. This practice he continued through the remainder of his life, except the last year, when he was severely attacked by the disease by which it was terminated. In these various journies, it is computed that he rode about twenty thousand miles. His excursions were chiefly confined to the New England States, and the State of New York. He experienced the highest gratification from the beauties of scenery; and scarcely a spot can be named within those limits, where those beauties are to be found in high perfection, which he did not visit and describe. For his own amusement, he took notes of the most material occurrences of his several journies; and afterwards wrote them out for the gratification of his family. This suggested to him the idea of collecting materials from time to time for one or more volumes of travels; in which should be comprised, not only an account of the climate, soil,

mountains, rivers, scenery, curiosities, and general face of the country over which he passed; but of the state of society, of manners, morals, literature, and religion; the institutions, civil, literary, and religious; and the character of the governments and laws, of the above-mentioned States. To the performance of this task he was greatly prompted by the very unfair, and illiberal accounts, which are given of us by foreigners, who have done little else than caricature both the country and its inhabitants. In his opinion also there was something peculiar in the circumstances of this country, which would render its history interesting to the philosopher, the statesman, and the Christian. These circumstances arose from the singular character and romantic history of the aborigines; from the recent date of its settlement by civilized inhabitants; from the character, views, and history, of its first settlers; from the advancements it had made in wealth, science, the arts, the character of its government, laws, and institutions, and, in short, from its progress in all the great objects of a civilized and Christian community, in the course of a hundred and eighty years.

On these journies, he visited great numbers of the most intelligent and respectable inhabitants of those tracts of country over which he travelled; and derived, from his conversation with them, a great collection of facts relative to the general state of morals, manners, and religion. The information thus gained was arranged, reduced to writing, and prepared for publication: the whole forming materials for three octavo volumes. It is believed, by those who have had opportunity to examine the manuscripts, that no work has appeared, which contains so much correct information, concerning the subjects of which it treats, as this. It is also believed, that, should it