in which they had been left by the British and American armies, entirely uninhabited and uninhabitable, except that, on the lowest story, at the east end, Dr. Witherspoon had fitted up a room for his grammar school, and opposite to it, on the south side, another room was so far repaired as to be used for a dining room; and in the fourth story, the Cliosophic Society had repaired one of the half rooms, in the north projection of the college, in which their meetings were held. The Whig Society was not reorganized till the summer of my first session in college; and in its reorganization I had a leading part. In the two middle entries, rooms enough had been repaired to accommodate all the students, whose whole number was, I believe, little, and but a little, turned of forty. Some of the rooms in these entries still lay waste, and the whole building still exhibited the effects of General Washington's artillery, who, in the battle of Princeton, caused it to be fired upon, to drive out a corps of British troops, who had taken refuge in it. The walls exhibited the impression made on them by cannon-balls; one hole on this side of the college, in the projection, or near it, was very conspicuous. Another ball had entered the window of the room on the right hand of the entry, leading from the steps of the college, on the south side of the west end. The ball had ripped a path for its passage through nearly the whole length of the ceiling of the room, and had penetrated the partition wall, which separated it from the main entry. In this plight that room remained, through, I think, the whole of my first session in college. This hall had also suffered considerably. A cannonshot had destroyed the picture of King George the Second, which had hung in the recess on my right hand. There is testimony which is accredited, that the shot took off the king's head. That it destroyed the picture, is beyond a question. Governor Belcher's coat of arms, while I was a student, occupied the former place of the king's picture. The stage from which the daily orations of the college were delivered, occupied the space on the east side of the hall, from the passage on the south to the gallery. On the west side of the hall stood the frame of an organ; it had contained a handsome organ before the Revolution, but only the frame remained, while I was a student. The whole width of the projection in the third story, and opposite to this hall, was occupied by the library room; which also contained the wreck of the philosophical apparatus, which had escaped the military vandals, while they were quartered in the college. This remnant consisted of an electric machine, with a case of jars, a small telescope, and a few minor articles. Public worship, both for the students and the people of the town, who worshipped together, was celebrated in this hall. The church had, like the college edifice, been made a barrack for soldiers, who had run up a chimney in the place where the pulpit had stood; this continued standing during my first session in college, and how much longer I do not remember. The room occupied by myself and a classmate, was in the second entry, adjoining the projection eastwardly, on the north side. I can scarcely think, without emotion, of my studies and feelings, while I lived in that room, fifty-eight years ago. Dr. Witherspoon was in Congress when I entered college, and I had never seen him till about the middle of my first term, when he appeared in the pulpit, to perform the public service of the Sabbath; for he always preached, while a member of Congress, when he paid a visit to Princeton, or to any other place, whenever opportunity offered. The instruction of the college was wholly con

ducted, at that time, by Mr. Smith (afterwards Dr. Smith), then Professor of Moral Philosophy, and Vice-President, and by Mr. James Riddle as tutor. Dr. Witherspoon resigned his seat in Congress, in the fall of that year (1782), and in the following winter, he heard the recitations of the senior class, on his own lectures; and during the subsequent summer, he heard the Sophomore class on Xenophon's Cyropedia (which was his favourite Greek author). The class commonly went to the Doctor's residence at Tusculum, twice a week, to attend their recitations. The mathemetical studies, and those on geography, arithmetic, and algebra, were conducted by Mr. Riddle. Mr. Smith's department was Natural Philosophy, the Greek and Latin languages, and English Grammar. He also heard the recitations of one senior class on Montesquieu's Spirit of Laws. But this study was dropped after one or two years.

The commencement of 1783, at which I graduated, was one of note. The old Congress had been driven, by a disorderly corps of soldiers, from Philadelphia, and had adjourned to Princeton. They held their sessions in the library room of this edifice. Dr. Boudinot, a trustee of the college, was then President of Congress, and General Washington was in attendance, in the latter part of the summer and beginning of autumn, for the purpose of making arrangements for the final disbanding of the army, and the resignation of his commission, which took place at Annapolis in the following winter, to which place Congress adjourned when they left Princeton. On the arrival of the commencement, Congress, as a compliment to the college and their own president, as well as to the president of the college, who had recently been one of their own members, determined to adjourn, and to attend the exercises of the day. The church by this time had been repaired, and a large stage was erected, on which were seated all the members of Congress, two foreign ministers, and General Washington. At the close of the valedictory oration, which had been assigned to me, I had an address of some length, to the General. It was received with manifest feeling, and the next day he met me in the entry of the college, as he was going to a committee room of Congress, took me by the hand, walked with me a short time, flattered me a little, and desired me to present his best respects to my classmates, and his best wishes for their success in life. There had never been such an audience at a commencement before, and perhaps there will never be again. Dr. Witherspoon was of course highly gratified.

Mr. Riddle resigned the tutorship, at the meeting of the trustees which preceded and followed this commencement; and my classmate, Mr. Samuel Beach, and myself, were elected tutors in his place. As it will serve to explain the principles on which the government of the college was conducted, under the administration of Dr. Witherspoon, I will state the advice, which in the kindest manner he gave to my fellow tutor and myself, after dining with him by invitation at Tusculum. "Govern," said he, "govern always, but beware of governing too much. Convince your pupils, for you may convince them, that you would rather gratify than thwart them; that you wish to see them happy, and desire to impose no restraints, but such as their real advantage, and the order and welfare of the college, render indispensable. Put a wide difference between youthful follies and foibles, and those acts which manifest a malignant spirit, or intentional insubordination. Do not even notice the former, except it be by private advice. Overlook them entirely, unless they occur in such a public manner, that it is known

that you must have observed them. Be exceedingly careful not to commit your own authority, or that of the college, in any case that cannot be carried through with equity. But having pursued this system, then, in every instance in which there has been a manifest intention to offend, or to resist your authority, or that of the college, make no compromise with it whatever; put it down absolutely and entirely; maintain the authority of the laws in their full extent, and fear no consequences." Such was the advice which he gave to us, and such were the rules by which his own conduct was guided in the government of the college.

To enable the trustees to complete the repairs of the college, the legislature of New Jersey made them a grant of eighteen hundred pounds, strictly appropriated by law to this sole object-nor was it fully adequate to that object. This is the only patronage that the college has ever received from the legislature of this state. And the tradition is, that the members who voted for the bill making the grant, were not returned as members at the next election. My view in the present address is to state facts, and not to make criticisms, otherwise I might say something on the liberality of my native state. Dr. Witherspoon used to say jocularly, that he was the most popular man in the state, that had any learning. He was once or twice a member of the legislature.

After I had held the tutorship for two years, I received the appointment of Professor of Mathematics. I held this appointment only a year and a half, when I received a call, which I accepted, to a pastoral charge in the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Huston was my predecessor in the professional chair which I occupied, and Dr. Minto was my successor, a man of erudition, of most amiable temper and manner, and, in every view, of estimable character.

It was, if I rightly remember, in the fourth year of Dr. Witherspoon's presidency, that a general revival of religion took place in the college. Several ministers of the gospel and several men in secular life, received in this revival those impressions of religion, which they carried with them through the remainder of their lives. With some of these I had in early life an acquaintance. With one I formed a most endeared friendship, and from him I received a number of particulars, which, of themselves, would enable me to contradict what I have heard (for I have not personally received), a statement made in the Life of Colonel Burr, that Dr. Witherspoon thought and spoke lightly of this revival, and that he was in fact opposed to it. But in truth, such a statement is so contrary to the known and avowed sentiments of Dr. Witherspoon, and even to what he declared, in his Lectures on Theology, were his chief motives in coming to this country, that it cannot be correct; and I feel bound to make this declaration on the present occasion. He might, and I know he did, endeavour to correct some irregularities and imprudences, which usually take place, when youth are under the excitement of strong religious feelings, but, that he rejoiced in the revival itself, instead of opposing it, there is every reason to believe.

Review and Criticism.

PRESBYTERIAN TRACTS, Vol. VIII. Issued by the Presbyterian Board of Publication.

THIS volume contains twenty-nine tracts on various important subjects. To the larger number of them are appended the names of their authors, whose reputation as evangelical and able writers is a sufficient guarantee of their excellence. The endorsement of those which are anonymous by such a Board, entitles them to the attention and confidence of the public. Like those in the preceding volumes of the series, they are highly adapted both to interest and benefit the reader.

LETTERS OF THE MADIAI AND VISITS TO THEIR PRISONS. By the Misses SENHOUSE: from the Presbyterian Board of Publication.

Christianity never shines with greater lustre, than when exhibited through the furnace of affliction or persecution. And false religion appears peculiarly odious, when arrayed in hostility against the humble followers of Christ. No one can peruse this volume, without being convinced, on the one hand, that Romanism is essentially anti-Christian in its spirit; and feeling, on the other, devout admiration for that worthy couple, who, for the sake of Christ and his gospel, "gloried in tribulation." If any one desires to enjoy that species of spiritual luxury, which arises from alternate emotions of joy and tearful sympathy, he will be likely to find it in reading these touching letters of the Madiai.

RELIGIOUS MAXIMS. BY THOMAS C. UPHAM, D.D.

The author of this small volume, just published by Wm. S. Martien, is not unknown to the religious public. The reader will find on almost every page, rich and striking thoughts, expressed in a strong and vigorous style. With some tendency to an extreme refinement of devotional feeling, the book may, nevertheless, be read with profit by those who are seeking (as every Christian should be), for a more elevated tone of piety.

EVIDENCE OF CHRISTIANITY. By REV. JOHN CUMMING, D.D.

The name of the distinguished author of this "manual," will excite high expectations, in the mind of the reader, that he is about to enjoy a rich repast from its perusal. He will not be disappointed. With a grasp of thought, and a pertinency and force of argument and illustration for which this writer is remarkable, he presents, in a brief and condensed form, the main evidences for the divine origin of Christianity. Mr. Dodd, of New York, has performed a valuable service in furnishing an edition for the American public. Books of this character will never cease to be demanded, so long as infidelity, in its various forms, shall beguile the young and inexperienced, and lure them from the path of

truth and virtue.

CONFESSIONS OF A CONVERTED INFIDEL. By REV. JOHN BAYLEY.

This book commences with a narrative of the author's infidelity and his conversion to the Christian faith; and is succeeded by some forty or forty-five articles on miscellaneous topics. The matter is generally good, and will be read with intérest by some classes of readers; but the book possesses too small a degree of literary merit, to be highly prized by themore cultivated and refined.

The Better LAND. By REV. AUGUSTUS C. THOMPSON.

The heavenly state furnishes a most attractive theme; and our author has discoursed upon it in "thoughts that glow, and words that burn." The book consists of sixteen chapters, written in chaste language, and embodying the teachings of Scripture on this interesting topic. Some of his ideas appear to be rather fanciful; but as a whole there is little room for criticism on this ground. The volume may be safely recommended to the people of God, as supplying them with "suitable food for their passage over Jordan.'

THOUGHTS ON THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY. BY A LAYMAN. Presbyterian Board of Publication.

This tract is multum in parvo. "A Layman" has grasped the main facts and principles relating to the resurrection, and has written a compendious and edifying statement of this great evangelical doctrine. The difficulty in regard to the rising again of the same body is met as follows: "Our personal identity will be preserved, but it is not probable there will be an identity of the particles of matter which composed the body at death. The Scriptures nowhere assure us that the identical body is to be raised by a reunion of its scattered parts. In the present life, the same particles of matter do not constitute our bodies from one day to another. It is thought by physiologists, that every particle of matter of which the body is composed, disappears, and is replaced by fresh accessions of matter in the course of about seven years.

"The same constant and unceasing change takes place also in the mind. No one can be to-day what he was yesterday. Each act of life changes the man. It takes something from his character, or gives something to it, and leaves him a different man from what he was. He may alter, but cannot go back. What he was is a memory, but can never be a reality again. And yet, notwithstanding this entire though gradual change of both body and mind, we remain the same persons from infancy to old age." THE PICTORIAL SECOND BOOK; or, Pleasant Reading for the Young. By COUSIN MARY. Presbyterian Board of Publication.

Our Board of Publication, like a great grist mill, is always grinding food for the masses. The product of its enterprise and skill is equal to anything in the market, and is warranted to be pure, nutritious, and well suited to all classes and conditions of society. The present work is specially designed for the young, and has all the qualities of an entertaining and instructive volume.

THE CLOSET COMPANION; or, Manual of Prayer. Consisting of Topics and Brief Forms of Prayer, designed to assist Christians in their Devotions. With an Introduction, by REV. Albert BarNES. M. W. Dodd, New York. 1854.

The spirit and aim of this attractive volume are excellent; and, so far