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aware they spake with their wonted candour and frankness, judging like rational men, from documents and circumstances before them, and in accordance with common usages; and thus it was apparent that they were not, as yet, influenced by any secret or combined efforts, if such had heretofore been exerted by any individuals.

After tea, the session was immediately resumed; of course, my request would be the first business in order. Mr. Miller then made the motion, that my request should be granted, viz. to defer the trial until the September session, for the reasons which had already been suggested. The Rev. Samuel J. Mills seconded this motion. At this instant, the Rev. Peter Starr arose and elbowed, I think, Mr. Miller, another Rev. clergyman did the same to Mr. Mills, and a third proceeded in the same manner with another member, all of whom immediately passed out at the door. Astonishment seized me! It was, indeed, evening, but candles had been previously lighted up! My feelings and surprize were indescribable! I looked around, as if unwilling to believe my own senses! Thought I, has the benevolent gospel of the Prince of Peace taken its flight? I arose and addressed the venerable Mr. Hallock: "Mr. Moderator, I am here arraigned on a complaint. My own reputation is as dear to me, as that of others to themselves. I ask for nothing more than an unbiassed and Christian examination of facts, and a decision correspondent with them. This I had expected from this venerable body. I had expected the can. dour and meekness of the gospel, in a trial where the honour of religion, as well as private reputation, were deeply concerned. I could not have indulged the belief, that efforts so bold and unprecedented, even before merely civil tribunals, would have been hazarded, where undue influence must necessarily be resorted to, as the only alternative to accomplish nefarious designs. You have witness

ed the singular transactions, and time must decide the consequences."

Reader, judge of my yet greater astonishment, when these Rev. gentlemen returned to the room, after an absence, of perhaps three or four minutes, and the Rev. Mr. Miller, who had just made the motion to defer the trial, observed to the moderator, that on further reflection upon the subject, he was induced to consider the charge to be of a very aggravating nature; that it would be improper to defer the trial; that he would withdraw the motion he had already made, and move that they proceed immediately to trial!! The Rev. Mr. Mills withdrew his seconding of the former motion, and seconded the latter! I remonstrated against it; and suggested the impossibility of proceeding to trial at that time, without witnesses, as it would be impossible to give the subject a candid examination and come to the merits of the case; and that important witnesses, necessary to be improved in the trial, had left the state for the summer, previous to their commencing their prosecution; an inconvenience which I could not possibly have foreseen or prevented. I claimed only the privilege of defence. It was then strenuously urged, that they should adjourn for only two weeks. This, I replied, would unavoidably deprive me of the opportunity of defence, which I claimed to be my right and my duty. But it was still pressed. Thus hemmed in, by a seemingly incredible procedure, and having received credible information, that one of the active Rev. members present had made the declaration, precisely eight days before, "that he would have me silenced in eight days, and he had got a number of his brethren to join him," and that recent transactions must confirm this declaration, I consented to an adjournment of four weeks; and assured them I would suffer the inconvenience of absent witnesses, and the non-accomplishment of my intended journey. But I

should claim that the adjournment should be to my own house in Ellsworth, and at my own expense, as I deemed it reasonable that the trial should be held, where it was alleged the crime was committed; and also the average of travel would render that the only suitable place. This last part of the proposition was strenuously opposed, and, indeed, the first part was altercated. It was finally agreed the trial should be adjourned for four weeks; but it was objected to meeting at my house, and assigned as the reason for the refusal, that if they should not condemn me, the world would say, I had overloaded them with kindnesses, and thus had purchased a liberation from just censure. They finally resolved to meet at the meeting-house in Ellsworth, on the 11th of July, 1815, at 11 o'clock, A. M. and each member defray his own expenses.

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It was now about nine o'clock at night, and many dispersed for lodging to neighbouring houses. Early the next morning we reassembled at Mr. Millers. Immediately after breakfast, the Rev. Mr. Starr requested a private conversation. fully retired with him. It was at once apparent, that the whole of the preceding night had not, by all the members of the association, been wholly devoted to repose. As the subject of commencing a prosecution had succeeded by the joint efforts of some individuals, or, in modern language, by caucusing, it was obvious that the system was not yet wholly abandoned. Mr. Starr observed to me, that he should commence a new deal. I replied, he might adopt such measures as he judged suitable; that I asked for nothing but the light of truth, allowing for the common frailties of man. Starr then said, "that he had to accuse me, in the first place, of unfaithfulness in the ministry, both before and since my dismission from my church and people." I replied, that was a very serious charge; and it was obvious from the manner in which he had stated it, no minister could stand before it. I

Mr.

remarked to this effect, that it was needless for me to make any reply, as neither he or any other person, before, had ever suggested the idea of unfaithfulness in ministerial labours; but, on the contrary, he would well remember that he had repeatedly cautioned me against being so laborious in the ministry, lest I should destroy my health and constitution, by overexertions, and too frequent labours in the desk, and out of it: that to be faithful, in the sense which he evidently designed to communicate, transcended the ability of any finite being; that it must be clearly obvious he was not discharging a duty suggested by himself. That I had indeed the fullest confidence in the rectitude of his intentions; but that an obvious advantage had been taken of his second childhood, and, I presumed to say, that he would yet see and realize that his efforts would prove sources of future contrition. I then requested him to proceed. He stated that he had another charge, the substance of which was contained in the complaint already filed, viz. a breach of promise, made at the time of my dismission from my pastoral charge; that I engaged I would extricate myself from worldly cares, into which I had been drawn, within the period of eighteen months or two years, and would return to the ministry; and that I had not fulfilled this engagement.' I replied, "Father Starr, you were the Moderator of the Consociation at the time of my dismission. I ask you if such a promise was ever made by me, or could possibly be inferred from what was observed at that time?" He remarked, "such is the charge that I have to exhibit against you." But, I rejoined, has the charge the shadow of foundation? He would not assert it, but again replied, "such is the charge I have to exhibit." observed, I am surprised that you prefer a charge, which neither yourself, nor any other member who composed the council, would presume to assert has the shadow of truth; and I cheerfully appeal to

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you to assert the fact. He again repeated, " such is the charge." I replied, Mr. Starr, I distinctly recollect, and I presume it is still fresh in your own remembrance, that the question was put to me at the time of my dismission, how long it would probably take me to disengage myself from those secular concerns in which I was ensnared, that I might be enabled to devote myself wholly to the ministry; whether I might not accomplish it in eighteen months, or two years? My reply was, I cannot tell; I wish it accomplished as soon as possible; and that I immediately consulted with those, on whose judgment I supposed I could place reliance, and adopted and pursued such measures as appeared to me the most likely to accomplish the desired object. And I now ask you to say, whether any thing more was suggested or implied? He answered, "he should not say." Mr. Starr now observed, he was through. To whom I replied, if you have no other charge, permit me to inquire, whether you can justify your proceedings in relation to the Tallmadge charge, on which you proceeded to take a first and second step, and thus to publish a slanderous report? His reply was, "he had done right," as Mr. Tallmadge had expressed to him the grievance as he had alleged. I then took the letter of Mr. Tallmadge from my pocket and presented it to him, asking him if he knew the hand writing. He said it was Mr. Tallmadge's. I desired him to peruse it, which he readily attempted. Symptoms of uneasiness, paleness, and an evident tremor, were clearly visible at the perusal. I asked him how his charge was reconcilable with the contents of that letter, which was sent to me unsolicited by any being; but must obviously have originated from a conviction of the injury he had wrongfully charged upon me, and had been written for the purpose of repelling so foul an aspersion; that Mr. Tallmadge, of all persons, must in that case necessarily have been the first to be ag