ployed by the proprietor, and then locked up for further hearing."

Our letters of introduction enabled us to pay our respects to some of the chief political personages in the States. Among them Chief Justice Chase, at whose hospitable house we passed a pleasant evening. His son-in-law, Senator Sprague, ex-governor of Rhode Island, was among the guests. Mr. Chase kindly facilitated our visit to the President, Mr. Johnson, at the White House. The difficulties, however, are in no cases great. On certain days and hours all callers are admitted. The restrictions of court officialism are unknown. When we called, at about eleven o'clock in the morning, we found the entrance hall open. An attendant directed us to a spacious saloon, somewhat scantily furnished. We were informed that the President would shortly be in his "office" upstairs, and would probably be able to afford us a brief interview. Whilst waiting in this saloon, we had time to amuse ourselves with the numberless names and initials scratched upon the window-panes. We observed, also, that the curtains and chair-covers were much notched and frayed. Subsequent inquiry respecting this wanton destructiveness elicited the singular reply, that being a "free country," visitors, especially from the far west, had often felt themselves at liberty to "make free" with their own national property, by tearing off small pieces of drapery as relics for friends at home.

It was

After awhile we ascended a flight of uncarpeted and badly lighted stairs, to a shabby ante-room, where the visitor must still further wait until his turn for admission comes. furnished with about a dozen chairs of the commonest description. An office desk occupied one side of the room, on which slips of paper are placed for the use of those who have no address cards. The floor was bare and dirty, having, as its central ornaments, two immense spittoons. Two doors lead from this ante-chamber into the President's "office"-one for government clerks, the other for visitors. At the latter a door-keeper stands, in plain clothes, who takes in the names of those seeking admission. I saw no guard of any kind, either inside or outside the house-not even a policeman on duty.

All Congress men take precedence of other visitors. About twenty persons were standing or sitting about the room, most of them incessantly aiming at, but unfortunately not always hitting, the central ornaments. Among them I noticed a big, bronzed, and shaggy western farmer, with dusty boots and clothes, broad brimmed wide. awake hat, and looking generally as if he understood the doctrine of asserting rights far better than that of asking favours. Another person was an Irish woman with a baby at her breast. I asked her what might be her business with the President. She replied that "her husband had enlisted for a soldier, and she wanted to beg him off." As I thought her motive was as good as mine, if not better-mine being only curiosity-I heartily wished her success. Before long, however, her case was apparently attended to without her seeing the President. A very gentlemanly man, looking like a military officer, came and spoke to her, gave her some money, told her where she could find a lodging, and dismissed her with evident mutual satisfaction. After about an hour's detention we were admitted, and of course did little more than converse on a few generalities. We could not refrain from expressing our sympathy with the President at having to devote so large a portion of his time to matters of trivial importance. He replied that his duty to the people required it.

Our visit to Congress could hardly have been better timed. The reconstruction of the Union, after the war, was the political question of the day. The two Houses-one for the Senate and the other for the Representativesform the two wings of the Capitol. They are both open to the public without any order. Sittings commence, with an extempore prayer, at noon, and close at four. The Senate, or Upper House, is rather smaller than the House of Representatives. Both are handsomely carpeted. Each member has a separate chair with boudoir writing desk, waste paper basket, and spittoon. The Speaker's dais is in the centre of one of the sides, and the members' seats are arranged in a semicircular form, about six deep, on a slight incline, in front of him. A large gallery behind the Speaker, but facing the members, is appropriated to ladies. It

will accommodate about two hundred. The gallery for the diplomatic corps and distinguished visitors is in front of the chairman; those at the sides for the public generally. The reporters sit on the floor of the house around the chairman's dais. Rooms, comfortably furnished, are provided for their use, in one of which they can telegraph to any part of the States. The ladies also have withdrawing rooms attached to their gallery.

Through the kindness of Mr. Senator Sprague we were permitted a seat on the floor of the Upper House, and heard, among other speakers, Mr. Sumner. The attention paid to the speaking was not great, most present being, occupied at their desks. Some confusion seemed to me produced by the continuous moving to and fro of small boys acting as messengers. They sit on the steps of the dais: members requiring them give a sharp double clap with the hands, which often sounds to a stranger like an emphatic approval of some debater's eloquence.

One of the clerks of the Military Committee conducted me over the entire building. We passed through several committee rooms, all well furnished; examined the large historical cartoons under the central dome, and also ascended to its summit. It is constructed of iron. A bronze statue of Freedom, twenty feet in height, stands on the pinnacle. A spiral staircase, placed between the outer and inner dome, leads to the top. A fine view over the city, the heights of Georgetown, and across the river Potomac into Virginia, is thence obtained. From this lofty altitude we descended into the depths for the purpose of seeing the ventilating apparatus, by means of which the air in the two houses is said to be renewed every five minutes. A large fan, driven by steam, supplies, per minute, 100,000 cubic feet of air, which in the winter is warmed by steam pipes.

I greatly admired the Congressional Library. The rooms are fitted with iron cases, and iron ceilings, roofed with copper laid on iron rafters, and lighted by ornamental skylights. Any books can be examined by the public on the spot; but only members of Congress and executive officials can take them away for perusal. The private rooms for the use of the President of

the Senate are constructed of highly polished marbles. There are several fine groups of statuary both in and about the building-one of the finest is on the pediment of the portico, representing "America as it was and as it is."

We were much indebted to Senator Harris, an intimate friend of the lamented President Lincoln, for facilitating our acquaintance with notable persons and places at Washington. His son and daughter were in the box at the theatre with Mr. Lincoln on the evening of the assassination. The whole interior of the theatre, where this foul deed had been perpetrated, was being cleared away when we visited it.

At the War Office we were introduced to General Grant. He was at work at his desk smoking a cigar. He informed us that he had just been sitting for his likeness, and expressed an opinion that leading a forlorn hope was infinitely preferable.

At the Treasury I observed a large number of young women acting as clerks. There we were shown a quantity of silver and other valuables which had recently been captured in the baggage train of Jefferson Davis on his escape from Richmond. The silver was in solid lumps, just as it had been melted down, the residuum, no doubt, of many a contribution of family plate to the Southern cause.

A ramble through the long galleries of the Patent Office gives a vivid idea of American powers of invention.

One pleasant evening I strolled out to Long Bridge,—a wooden and dilapidated structure over the Potomac. It has been rendered memorable by the wild scene of confusion which was witnessed upon it when the Northern army "skeddadled" across it after the battle of Bull Run. The repairs of the portion of the bridge which had been broken to intercept the dreaded pursuit by the Confederates were unfinished.

An agreeable and interesting excursion was made to the confiscated residence of the late General Robert Lee at Arlington. We crossed the Potomac by a wooden bridge, over which was written, "horses must not go off a walk." The late General's house stands in the midst of beautifully wooded grounds, with a fine view over Washington. It had been stripped of

all its furniture excepting a few indifferent pictures. A large portion of the estate has been turned into a soldiers' cemetery, where 15,000 of those who fell in the war lie buried. On many of the graves the only inscription was, "Unknown U. S. soldier." Here and there were large white boards inscribed with poetical effusions, not of much literary merit. I copied the following as a sample:

"The neighing troop, the flashing blade,
The bugles stirring blast,
The charge, the dreadful cannonade,
The din and shout are past;
Nor war's wild note, nor glory's peal,
Shall thrill with fierce delight
Those breasts that never more may feel
The raptures of the flight."

The last word must have been either a blunder--“ flight" being put for "fight" or else a satire upon some of the early defeats of the Northerners. I have transcribed it correctly.

A negro man and his wife, formerly slaves of General Lee, occupied a cottage on the estate, and had charge of the house. On admiring a plump little specimen of black humanity which the mother was rocking in its cradle, as she plied her needle, the good woman looked up with a bright smile, saying, "Ah! sir, I have had eight babies, but that is the first free born."

Not far

distant was the Freedman's village, which had been formed for fugitive slaves during the war. Since the restoration of peace many had returned to their previous homes, but about 1,500 still remained, chiefly old men and women, and young mothers with their babies. Those past work were comfortably housed, and seemed very cheerful. Several women and elder girls were learning to sew. In the school house old and young are taught together. Almost all the refugees had been field hands. Some of the women were singularly unprepossessing. We were amused by the frightened cries of a child whose colour and dress somewhat closely resembled one of those big black dolls occasionally suspended over the shop doors of marine storedealers. On attempting to pacify its fears, an elder sister told us, "Please, sar, she is afraid of white people." It was thus our turn to find ourselves at a discount on account of the colour of our skin. We were gratified at finding even the oldest among these poor oppressed people most anxious to learn

to read. One very old man, reputed to be 110 years of age, was introduced to us by the name of "Lord Cornwallis," in consequence of his having seen that General in his early days. On telling us, as he talked about the years he had spent in slavery, that he had had six masters, he promptly added, with the peculiar negro expression of intense delight, "but no massa like the Lord Jesus."

We spent a Sunday at Washington. My honoured companion was invited to preach before Congress. I attended service at two of the coloured churches -in the morning at the Presbyterian church, which I was informed was considered the "fashionable" place of worship for the negro population. Most present appeared from their dress in comfortable circumstances. black minister, with a very gentle and pleasing expression of countenance, preached a quiet practical sermon. Very few in this congregation had been slaves. The service was devout and well conducted.

A tall

A different class of persons had assembled at the first Baptist church in 19th street, to which I went in the afternoon. The church was full, and the excellent minister told me that all but about thirty or forty had been slaves until President Lincoln's proclamation. The women, who occupied the centre, were most gaily adorned, their head gear consisting of a wonderful profusion of flowers and ribbons. I had engaged to preach at this service. A terrific dust storm, followed by torrents of rain, but soon over, had a little detained me. On ascending the platform, and seating myself on the sofa appropriated to the use of the minister, fan in hand, (for it was oppressively hot,) I could scarcely refrain from a smile at the strange spectacle of black faces and gaudy dresses which presented itself before me. I had the honour of being the only white person in the assembly. When I entered, some of the congregation were holding a prayer meeting in one corner of the church, whilst others were conversing freely together. I shall not soon forget the heartiness with which one good man vociferously exclaimed in his prayer-" When, Lord, you did take thy servant out of the pit, you did make him laugh, Lord. Yes, you did make him laugh and cry, Lord"-a

sentiment loudly responded to by those near him; so again when he prayed, "O Lord and Master, send thy mighty angel down to tell poor sinner glad tidings, and shake him over hell-fire in mercy, and make him turn to thee."

The minister rather abruptly brought the prayer meeting to a close with the announcement-"Time having arrove for service, the choir not having come, let us sing; brother so and so, you lead." The audience listened very attentively to the few words of address given them. At the conclusion it was stated that a Primitive Methodist from the Far West would preach in the evening, and as it was added that "he was a very great preacher," I resolved to be among his audience. He certainly possessed a very great voice, and threw himself into a very great excitement, but he was often wildly incoherent, though now and then he said some good things easy to be remembered. Religion," he exclaimed, "makes us go on and on, like a fatted calf at the stall, until he is fitten meat for the Master's use." But better than this indeed the best thing of all, and well worth recollecting was his description of the grace of God when its power is experienced. "It comes," he said, "and breaks up at once the devil's housekeeping in the soul." His concluding appeal was based upon the gratitude they all experienced and the warm affection they all felt toward

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President Lincoln for giving them freedom; but if so thankful to him, how much more to Jesus Christ for the freedom He had given them; and as none would refuse that which Mr. Lincoln had rendered possible, so, he trusted, none would refuse that of Christ.

I often conversed with those who had just emerged from slavery. Their gratitude was intense. One man dwelt much on the hardship, as a slave, of having every book taken "Ah!" he said, "if any one away. had told me before the war that we should all be free now, I never would have believed him." Sometimes their answers to our questions evinced a good deal of naiveté. I remember my friend saying to a Northern coloured I suppose in the days of slavery you could not have gone to the South;" to which he instantly replied, "O yes, I could ;" and then laughingly added, "I could easily have gone there, but the difficulty would have been to have got back."

man,

Close to our hotel at Washington were "the Fenian Head Quarters,' with an extensive display of Fenian Bonds on the "Irish Republic" exhibited in the office window. What might be their market value we did not inquire. The only answer received, when commenting upon the apparent unfriendliness of such a display, was, Well, I guess, it's a free country.”

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WE are glad to know that many of our readers highly esteem the Sword and Trowel, and regularly see it from month to month. It is one of the best edited of our magazines, and thoroughly deserves the large circulation it secures. The first number for this year, amongst several valuable and stimulating articles, contains matter of special interest to General Baptists. Although we are not in the habit of lauding Dan Taylor in the exaggerated language used by some religious bodies in speaking of their fathers, founders, and reformers, yet we have an intense admiration for the energy, perseverance, and indomitable industry of the Wadsworth preacher-an admira

tion that grows stronger and stronger the more we hear and read about him. Therefore we cordially welcome the warmly appreciative words concerning him uttered by Mr. Spurgeon, and readily give them a place in our own periodical. It does not surprise us that the hard-working minister of the Metropolitan Tabernacle should be pleased with the story of Dan Taylor's life. He himself is a skilful organizer, an admirable tactician, an earnest soul-winner (too earnest to be kept from useful labour and hearty sympathy with us by the influence of our "school of thought"), and withal a gigantic worker; and in a less degree Dan Taylor was the same. Mr. Spurgeon

has founded a Pastors' College, started a magazine, written books, engaged in controversies, preached all over the kingdom; and Mr. Taylor did the same though on a smaller scale. Men who work hard love the society of hard workers. It braces the energies, drives off fits of indolence, and prepares for fresh endeavours. An author, himself a parson, and therefore well acquainted with the subject, says, "all parsons are indolent, but some of them conquer their indolence." We also, knowing something about it, verily believe it, and wish that the disease could be kept to the parsons; but alas! it seems to afflict men generally. But certainly one of the best medicines we know for its removal is a draught at the pure spring of Christian biography, such as that of Dan Taylor. It is of this Mr. Spurgeon says:—

"One is tempted to inquire whether we of this age are made of the same materials as our predecessors of the last century. We find ourselves very soon wearied where they went onwards with ease. We find the worthy Dan Taylor riding his pony sixty miles one day, fifty-five the next, preaching the same evening, and then writing to a friend that he and his pony are in good spirits. The Society for Preventing Cruelty to Animals was not then in existence, or his reverence would have been locked up. He usually performed his journeys on foot, and we find him preaching in the morning and afternoon at Wadsworth, and then walking fourteen miles to take the evening service at Burnley, and finishing up the Sabbath by walking back again; yet he was up early the next morning at his usual toil. Surely this Dan was 'a lion's whelp, and leaped from Bashan.' He finished one of his long excursions by an open-air service at Epworth, Lincolnshire. He preached at the water-side, and baptized. At noon he preached again, and intended to leave that evening, being Friday, for home; but he yielded to the pressure put upon him for another sermon, and so after preaching again he went to bed. Next morning he started on what he called his frightful journey.' He rode Mr. A.'s galloway twenty-four miles, and walked the remain. ing thirty-eight through the rain and the deep mire, which, he said, 'tired him very substantially.' He, however, took so much rest in sleep, that the next day, Sunday, he

·

preached three times and kept a children's meeting, a leaders' meeting, and a short church meeting, with moderate ease and pleasure.

No doubt the muscular strength of the brother was very great, and those of a weaker organization cannot be expected to do as much, but at the same time we must not allow our standard of work to sink too low. Soldiers of Christ must endure hardness. Ease and the Christian ministry ought not to be associated even in imagination. Young men, with your early vigour still upon you, work while your day lasts! Hearken not to the siren notes of indolence, but spend and be spent in your Master's service. Despise wind, weather, and weary ways, and to win souls defy fatigue and hardship."

Further on we meet with the following notice of Dr. Underwood's Monograph on Dan Taylor :

"Some months ago we absorbed this book into our mental constitution and felt the better for it; we ought, however, to have commended the feast, but by some very accountable means we forgot to do so. When a man is beset by ten thousand cares he cannot but omit something. In this little monograph we have the life of a plodding, persevering preacher of the word, whose personal influence and piety saved the General Baptist denomination from utter destruction, and raised upon the ruins which Unitarianism had made a noble and useful Christian community. We belong to another school of thought, but our General Baptist brethren are so thoroughly evangelical that our differences are lost in our unities. Dan Taylor will be better known through this book, and better appreciated, while the pains-taking author will gain not a little in literary reputation; for it is no small schievement to have condensed so much into such narrow space, and yet to have avoided the disorderliness of overcrowding."

May these words induce many of our young people to make themselves familiar with this biography! May the evangelical doctrines, sublime unselfishness, and inextinguishable zeal for the salvation of all men, which marked the career of Dan Taylor, ever continue to prove our spiritual affinity with "the holy church throughout the world," and to make us "a noble and useful Christian community."

J. CLIFFORD.