one of his letters he speaks of having suffered from a severe attack of inflammation in the head, by which he was deprived of his reason for nearly a week, and confined to the house for almost three weeks. Having recovered from this attack he began, with earnestness, to consider all the reasons which were to govern him in the decision of the question, where he should spend the years of his college life. He concluded to go to Washington. He became a member of Columbian College in September, 1822.

Perhaps this chapter cannot better be closed than by presenting extracts from reminiscences of the early life of Mr. Stow, furnished by one of his warmest friends, Rev. E. Hutchinson, of Vermont.

"The name of Baron Stow brings up most precious memories, which extend back forty and fifty years. From childhood it was my privilege to know and love the good man who bore that honored name, for he was my teacher, pastor, and life-long friend. His first effort at teaching was in my father's school district, in the year 1818. There he began to show forth those great powers of mind which so remarkably distinguished him in after years. His accurate scholarship, thorough discipline, and wonderful faculty of drawing out his pupils and making them think for themselves, made his first teaching a sure success. During that winter occurred the great event of his life. The church were enjoying one of those old-fashioned revivals, or 'reformations,' as they were called, so common a half century ago, continuing two and three years, when God's people could, in the language of the old patriarch, 'stand still and see the salvation of God.' The young schoolmaster felt the Spirit's convicting power, but determined to resist it. At length the eventful evening came. The young people met for prayer at the house of the pastor, and he was induced to attend, resolving to close his heart against all influences that might be brought to bear upon him. The house was crowded, and the divine Spirit was there in mighty power. As one and another of his associates spoke, he trembled and resisted. At length the

pastor's little son was brought from his dying bed, by his own earnest request, to speak to his young friends of the love of Christ. All hearts melted, and God made the last message of that dying boy the means of salvation to Baron Stow. He at once raised the altar of prayer in his school, and as that young man bowed for the first time in prayer with his scholars, many of whom were older than himself, the stoutest hearts were subdued, and the majority of them were brought to Christ. He immediately became an active worker in the revival, and was soon looked upon by his elder brethren as designed of God for the Christian ministry.

"His baptism, which occurred soon after, was beautifully impressive, and is fresh in my recollection. It was midwinter. The ice was cut in the charming Sugar River, and the great congregation surrounded the place of burial; and as good Elder Howard buried him with Christ in baptism, and raised him from the watery grave, hundreds of voices joined in singing those favorite lines,

"Christians, if your hearts be warm
Ice and snow can do no harm;
If by Jesus you are prized,
Rise, believe, and be baptized."

As a member of Columbian College, Mr. Stow at once was brought in contact with congenial society. The change from the quiet scenes of his home among the hills of New Hampshire to the capital of the country must have been very great. He was now almost twenty years of age. He had learned the lesson of self-reliance, and had known something of the struggles and discipline through which a young man passes, who is seeking, with few resources, to obtain an education. Thus his character was in a good degree matured, and there was every reason to believe that he would derive the greatest benefit from the course of study upon which he was now entering.

Columbian College was the child of the Baptist Triennial Convention. Professor Gammell, in his excellent History of American Baptist Missions, says that "the constitution of the new society". the Triennial Convention -"was framed with but little experience, and almost without the aid of models; yet it was, perhaps, well suited to the condition and spirit of the denomination as it then was in this country. It originally contained provisions only for the support of foreign missions, but, at subsequent meetings, it was modified in several important particulars, and made to include both domestic missions and the establishment of a classical and theological seminary' for the education of young men especially for the gospel ministry. The introduction of this latter object into the organization of the convention had its origin

in the deep sense of the importance of a well-educated ministry, which at that time pervaded the minds of the fathers and the leading men of the denomination. This provision of the constitution gave rise to the establishment of the Columbian College at Washington, D. C., an institution which was managed by the Triennial Convention."

The first president of the new institution was Rev. Dr. Staughton, who was elected to this office, and entered upon its duties, in 1821. No man more thoroughly possessed the confidence of the denomination, or occupied a higher rank as an eloquent preacher of the gospel. The influence which Dr. Staughton exerted on the susceptible mind of the ardent, warm-hearted young man who had come under his supervision, was of the most positive and permanent character. A prince among pulpit orators, he left the impress of his teachings and his example on the whole professional life of his pupil. Other men who have gained a reputation in the denomination, who were connected with the college at the period of which we are writing, were Dr. Irah Chace, Dr. Alva Woods, Thomas Sewell, M. D., Professor William Ruggles, and President A. Caswell, among the professors, and Dr. R. Babcock, Professor J. D. Knowles, Professor T. J. Conant, and Dr. R. E. Pattison, among the tutors. Among the classmates of Mr. Stow were Dr. R. W. Cushman, Hon. Thomas D. Eliot, and Professor James Jones. With several of these gentlemen Mr. Stow's relations, during his whole life, were of the most intimate and endearing character.

The following letter to his old friend and correspondent, Alonzo King, is in his most pleasant vein, and happily contrasts with the somewhat morbid communication found in the first chapter. It gives us an insight into his college life and experience which we are glad to find.

COLUMBIAN COLLEGE, D. C., March 1, 1823. DEAR BROTHER KING: Your poetic effusion came safe to hand January 10, and ever since I have been invoking the muse; but she is as contrary as a yoked pig. She will not be compelled, and if I succeed

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in allowing her to follow, she hobbles sadly, and tumbles over every stick and stone. I thought of Polyphemus (I don't mean Brother Caleb) and Æneas, but you had spent all the force of epic on them, and I dared not approach the terrific scene of the eyeless, long-legged monster chasing the poor tempest-beaten Trojans through the Sicilian waves. I thought of Nimrod, and Cain, and Titus; but Lord Byron had stolen them away. I thought of Newport, and mused, and found somewhat to dedicate to Melpomene, but none to Venus. Juno, the goddess of marriage, and Diana, of claim a part. "Twould be a motley mess. I looked around on the groves, the hills, the great river, the Capitol, the shades of Mount Vernon, &c., &c.; but imbibed not one poetic feeling. And rather than give you blank verse, or rhyme upon stilts, I determined to answer in stiff, old-fashioned prose.

Alonzo, were you not really at home when you wrote last? I was, when I had read your letter. O, I am at Newport every time Somnus infuses her papaverous influence, and more than once in a week do I salute my dear brethren and friends in the land I have left. Home thrills in my soul, and draws forth a vain sigh for its comforts and pleasures. They are marrying and giving in marriage; some removing to other lands, others to "the land of silence and of death." A variety of feelings possesses my soul at different times. Yes, Baron is still the same old variable creature. I have not the same hypochondria as formerly, though often low-spirited.

My duties are such as employ every moment of my time, and leave no leisure for moping melancholy. By the request of the publishing committee of the General Convention, I have undertaken to conduct the Latter Day Luminary. This occupies every leisure hour. Dr. Staughton has just closed a course of lectures on natural history. These were very interesting. For seven weeks we have been permitted to go one day in a week to hear the debates in Congress, and the pleas in the Supreme Court of the United States. Many of these have been instructive and animating.

This letter shows us what he seldom reveals to us the playful side of his character. The daily duties which he was called to perform, and the pleasant surroundings of his new home, had their influence on his mind, and took his thoughts out of the channel in which they so frequently ran. Some extracts from his journal reveal his inner life, “the life hid with Christ in God." They furnish us, moreover, some hints which fill up certain gaps in his history, which we know not how otherwise to fill.