revelation vanish. That of the resurrection appears as nothing in the eye of a person who contemplates, as he ought, the wonders of creation, which Mr. Kirwan, with great probability, has shewn not to have been all at once, but in succession, as new occasions required the production of new plants or animals; and those of this part of the world were probably subsequent to those of yours. Others also may be suffered to become extinct when there shall be no more occasion for them. He well observes, that beasts and fishes of prey, (and no doubt birds too,) were probably created a long time after the animals they preyed upon had become numerous.

This idea of successive creations, so agreeable to reason, and not contradicted by scripture, removes all the great difficulties attending the history of the flood and the ark, and is particularly pleasing as an evidence of the constant attention that the great Creator gives to his works, and makes it more easy to suppose, that when the general state of things shall require it, the resurrection of the dead, or any other exertion of Divine power that may be equally proper in itself, will certainly take place.

Having more time for reading than ever I had before, though I do not neglect my laboratory, I have perused with care many works which I had only looked into, or occasionally consulted before. I have found unexpected satisfaction, both instruction and amusement, in the Lettres Edificantes et Curieuses* of the Jesuits, and fortunately I got the new edition of 1781, by exchanging other books for them, when I was last in Philadelphia. I have actually read twenty-one volumes, omitting very little, though I did not intend to read more than a few of them.

The writers in general were very extraordinary men, and, I doubt not, of great piety and the best intentions, and seem to have been actuated by a truly Christian spirit. I am sensible that I could neither bear nor do what those missionaries did. When will rational Christianity make such exertions? Their labours and sufferings were so great, that I cannot think they were the mercenary and crafty persons that they have been * See supra, p. 461.

represented. Some of the letters are peculiarly edifying; yet, exposed themselves to the most grievous persecution, (which, however, they courted and rejoiced in more than became Christians,) they could approve of the persecution of the Protestants in France. But the same spirit we see in Calvin, and many of the most distinguished reformers. If you can meet with this work, you cannot but be pleased with many parts of it.

The various articles of news that you send me are very interesting and pleasing, especially those relating to the spread of Unitarianism. I wish I could give you a similar account of the state of things here, though I doubt not that prejudices are wearing out, and that truth will prevail in due time. I am glad to hear what you say of Mr. Palmer. As he returns in good circumstances,* I hope he returns as zealous a Christian and Unitarian as he was when he went.†

DEAR SIR,

TO REV. J. P. ESTLIN.

Northumberland, Dec. 12, 1801. I HOPE that now peace is made, the intercourse between this country and yours will be more regular.

I esteem you as one of the few who retain their integrity and zeal in these trying times, and some have fallen whom I should least have suspected of unsteadiness; so that really I do not know whom to depend upon. I rejoice, however, that you think the plague is in some measure stayed, though a fatal indifference to religion is taking the place of infidelity. This, to my surprise, has taken place here, perhaps, to a greater degree than with you, and it seems to be the effect of the unbounded liberty we here enjoy. There is no cry of the oppressor and the oppressed, which, though an evil, serves to excite attention and discussion of the points of difference. There is nothing of this kind here. Except one small pamphlet in defence of the doctrine of the Trinity, published after the

Alas! he did not return, (see supra, p. 221, note †,) nor, though never indigent, was he, I believe, in what the world calls "good circumstances." ↑ Orig. MS. ↑ Bristol.

delivery of my Discourses in Philadelphia, and which drew no attention, there has not been, that I have heard of, a single pamphlet relating to any controversy in religion. Of course, the people are very ignorant; and yet there is great bigotry among those who pretend to any religion, especially the Presbyterians. The Episcopalians are far more liberal.

P. S. I have received your sermon on the Sabbath,* and that which you delivered at the Unitarian Society, and like them both very much; but you pay me too high a compliment. All your publications are calculated to do much good.†

TO REV. T. LINDSEY.

DEAR FRIEND,

Northumberland, Feb. 14, 1802. It is now a long time since I have heard from you or Mr. Belsham; but this is a time of the year when there are few arrivals at Philadelphia, and few ships go from it; so that you may be as long in hearing from me. Though our rivers are unfrozen, it cannot be known with you that they are so, and, therefore, ships do not usually come to us. The winter here is uncommonly mild. We have had no snow that remained more than about a day, and that very slight. No person living remembers so mild a season.

You mentioned Mr. Maseres § having sent me the third or fourth volume of his Scriptores Logarithmici. I have only the two first volumes.

Some of my late letters will, probably, give you some alarm respecting my health. It is true, that the various illnesses of the last year, the fever at Philadelphia, and the ague here, have shaken and reduced me very much; and though I am now recruiting again, I think it necessary to lose no time in doing what I am yet capable of.

I am sorry to give up my fond wish to see you, once more, on this side the grave, which I hoped the peace would give me

* "An Apology for the Sabbath." N. A. Reg. XXII. [243], [244]. + Orig. MS.

Essex Street.

§ I. 411, note §. See Mem. of Lindsey, p. 433, note.

an opportunity of doing; but this must be abandoned to considerations of greater urgency and importance. The expense attending a visit to Europe would be very great, and will print several volumes of my works.

P. S. Since the preceding was written, I have received yours of Nov. 17, and thank you for the copy of the note on Is. liii., &c. I shall certainly reconsider the subject, and even rejoice if I can see reason to change my late opinion,* which, however, was not formed hastily.†

DEAR SIR,

To MR. J. H. STONE.‡

Northumberland, Feb. 19, 1802. AT length I have had the satisfaction I had almost despaired of, to receive a letter from you, and one that interests me exceedingly; especially with respect to the ecclesiastical state of France and the character of the Emperor of Russia; § from whom I now expect great things. ||

* See supra, pp. 403, 444.

↑ Orig. MS.

+ Paris. § Alexander. His father, the Emperor Paul, had "expired suddenly, Mar. 23, 1801." See N. A. Reg. XXII. 260, 261.

This expectation of "great things," in an imperial abundance, Mr. Russell, also, appears to have indulged. Thus, writing to Mr. Belsham, from "Paris, 21st August, 1802," after referring to "the excellent letter Mr. Jefferson addressed to Dr. Priestley," he adds,

"I doubt not, you have frequent occasions of rejoicing in the continued accounts you receive, of the only competitor Mr. Jefferson appears to have, amongst the rulers of the earth, the Emperor of all the Russias. His late preceptor, Colonel La Harpe, recently returned from a visit to Petersburgh, has furnished a variety of truly interesting anecdotes respecting him.

"His desire to do good was beyond principle; so ardent and unceasing was it ever found, that it uniformly appeared as a passion. When speaking of his people, he was never once heard to call them his subjects, but his fellow-citizens; when speaking of himself, never once to use the title of Emperor, but expressing for his people the affection of a father rather than the authority of the magistrate.

"He expressly enjoined upon La Harpe, not to come near him on the day of his coronation. After it was over, he told him, that the ceremony he had been obliged to submit to, was the severest mortification he had ever experienced; and so much had it humbled and agitated him, that, had he accidentally met his eye, he should certainly have sunk under the consciousness of his situation." (Dictu mirabile monstrum.)

At the conclusion of these "interesting anecdotes," ad captandum vulgus,

I am concerned that you had not received any of my letters, especially by Mr. Letombe, the late Consul. On him I had the greatest dependence. I also wrote to M. Adet and M. Talleyrand, but have had no answer. I had lately a short letter from Mr. Russell, referring me to a larger, which has not come to hand.

I shall rejoice if the communications between the two countries become open and regular, and especially if I can be in the way of receiving books, &c., from France; and now that there is peace, I do not despair of it. As to my visiting Europe, it is now too late in life to think of it, and my health has received a rude shock by a fever I had at Philadelphia, and the ague since, though, I thank God, I am now very well. Were I younger, and could I speak French fluently, I should not hesitate about it.

Your undertaking to translate and publish my "History of the Corruptions of Christianity," is very flattering to me, and I hope will do some good, probably more than my being with you. This could only excite attention for a short time. If I should come, I should be happy to be under the same roof with you. Could I be persuaded that any good could arise to rational Christianity by my removing to France, I should not hesitate about it, though I am situated here, in all respects, as much to my liking as I could possibly be any where, and have every convenience for making experiments. But I am about to print, at this place, two pretty large works; the Church History to the present time, and Notes on all the Books of Scripture, and I cannot remove till that be done; so that there will be time to consider of the measure.

You do not say whether you have received a copy of my

but which had now caught a superior mind, Mr. Russell exclaims, "What renovations amongst mankind may we not hope for!" Orig. MS.

Among the public compliments to the allied sovereigns, in 1814, Alexander appeared in a transparency, in the act of assisting to recover a poor Pole from death by drowning, which occasioned the following Impromptu by "Plain-Truth:"

Audi alteram partem.

Imperial generosity! how pleasant!

Poland enslav'd, and sav'd one Polish peasant. M. R. IX. 363.