you the present trouble. You will see by the prayer inclosed what is designed, and the difficulty of proceeding in any other manner at present.

"If your Board shall see fit to return answer in favor of my request, I pray you would not fail to make as speedy return to me as may be; for I would not fail to have every thing done that is necessary and suitable, to put Mr. Brainerd under all advantages possible to serve the design in the proposed tour.

"Please, sir, to accept sincere respects

"From your unknown friend,

"And very humble servant,

"WM. PEARTREE SMITH, Esq.”

"ELEAZAR WHEELOCK.

Why Mr. Brainerd failed to carry out the suggestion of Whitefield and the desire of Dr. Wheelock, that he should go with Occum to Europe, and why the Rev. Nathaniel Whitaker, of Norwich, Conn., took his place, we are left to conjecture. The mission realized fifty thousand dollars; and, though the Indian school finally died out, Dartmouth College arose as the result of the mission. We are sorry, on his own account, that Mr. Brainerd lost the personal benefits of the contemplated European tour. The modesty that declined notoriety and despised intrigue and spiritual ambition made it more desirable that his friends should give him position and prominence. It was hard to find one willing to labor in the wilderness for the poor Indians, but easy to select a man ready to travel for them in Great Britain. Desirable posts in

Church and State never "go a-begging." The Rev. Mr. Whitaker performed his duties with energy and success in Europe. He went recommended by Sir William Johnson, Lord Sterling, and General Thomas Gage, by six royal Governors, many eminent judges, senators, lawyers, and merchants, and by fifty-eight of the leading clergymen of all denominations in America. This gave the mission weight in England, while the novelty of the Indian Occum's preaching drew crowds to hear the appeals of the mission. The Rev. Mr. Whitaker also published his appeals in a little book, issued in London, 1765. He was the right man in the right place.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

MR. BRAINERD DECLINES TO GO TO NEW YORK-HIS LETTER OF CONDOLENCE-HIS SALARY-DISAPPOINTMENTS IN HIS INDIAN YOUTH.

1765.

THE Synodical "Commission," of which Mr. Brainerd was for several years a member, was a committee ad interim" borrowed from the Scotch judicatories. It had, during the year, the authority of the Synod itself, and its sessions were as formally opened with a sermon. Mr. Brainerd's continued membership of this committee marks his status among his brethren.

*

The Synod, as usual, granted Mr. Brainerd the interest on the Indian fund "as an addition to his salary." They also

"Ordered, that a collection be made for propagating the gospel among the Indians, and for teaching their children; and that the several Presbyteries take care it be made in all their congregations, as well in those that want as in those that have settled ministers; and that

* "I have before me, in a pamphlet, a sermon preached before the Commission of the Synod at Philadelphia, April 20, 1735, by E. Pemberton, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in the city of New York. The dedication 'to the Reverend Commission of the Synod' refers to its having been 'preached in obedience to your commands.'"-Dr. Hall's History of the First Presbyterian Church, Trenton, p. 94.

each Presbytery appoint some member to bring into next Synod a particular account how every congregation in their bounds has complied with this order."*

New appeals from aggrieved parties were given entirely into the hands of two committees, to meet at the residence of the parties "to issue and determine both those matters." As a peace-maker, Mr. Brainerd had a place on each of these committees.

The Rev. Dr. Wheelock, writing to Sir William Johnson, says:

"The Board of Correspondents in New Jersey have been applied to for Mr. Brainerd for the Oneida mission; but, for several reasons, he cannot be obtained."+

The following letter of condolence to an afflicted friend presents the writer in a very amiable light. The lady addressed we have already described:

MADAM:

NEWARK, September 16, 1765.

I have lately had the mournful news of the much lamented death of Colonel Williams, your honored and very worthy consort. I heartily condole with you in this great and public loss,-great to many, but greatest of all to you. But, whoever is the loser, he is doubtless an infinite gainer. He has exchanged darkness for light, and a vale of tears for a crown of glory; left a world of sin and sorrow for the perfection of holiness and everlasting

+ Documentary History of New York, vol. iv. p. 357.

See p. 316.

joys, where he has the beautiful sight of Christ and the blissful enjoyment of him, and out of all danger of ever losing the glorious vision and blessed fruition while time and eternity endure. This, madam, must needs be matter of unspeakable comfort to you under the afflicting hand of God, in the sore bereavement you have lately been exercised with, and especially as you expect shortly, through Infinite Grace, to ascend yourself and join the same glorious company,-I mean the general assembly, consisting of angels, archangels, and the spirits of the just made perfect,-there to spend a blessed eternity; not in the company of your dearest earthly friend only, but in the enjoyment of God and Jesus Christ, the common friend of lost and perishing man. May these and the like considerations support you under the heavy stroke; and may you sensibly have the comfort of that blessed promise: "All things shall work together for good to them that love God." That the Lord may favor you with much of his divine and gracious presence, much more than make up the loss you sustain in the death of a most valuable man and the dearest of earthly relations, and after many profitable and comfortable days on earth admit you to join the adoring hosts above, and spend a blessed eternity in the rapturous vision and fruition of God and the Lamb, is the unfeigned desire and prayer of, madam,

Your obliged, humble servant,

To Mrs. WILLIAMS, widow and relict of

JOHN BRAINERD.

Colonel Elisha Williams, late of Wethersfield, Conn.

We ought, perhaps, here to remind the reader that, though we have hitherto regarded Mr. Brainerd mainly as a laborer among the Indians of Bro