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LIFE 



OT 



JEREMY JBELKNAP, D.D. 



THE fflSTOBIAN OF NEW HAMPSHIBE. 



SELECTIONS FROM HIS CORRESPONDENCE 
AND OTHER WRITINGa 



OOLLBCTED AND ABBANOSD 

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HIS aBAND-DAUGHTBB. 



NEW YORK: 

HARPER AND BROTHERS, 

82 CLIFF STBEET. 

1847. 



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HARVARD COLLEGE LiBRA^ 



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Entered according to Act of Congreit, in the year 1847 

BY HABPEB ft BBOTHEBS, 

In the Cleik'e Office of the Dlrtrict Court of the Southern Diitriet of New Yorib 



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PREFACE. 



Thb subject of the following memoir lefl, at his 
decease, many letters and some other manuscripts, 
in the possession of his family, which were care- 
fully preserved, though at the time they had no 
thought of making them public. 

During the many years that have since passed, 
most of his contemporaries have disappeared. The 
results of some of his labors have been claimed for 
others, and some of his actions have been errone- 
ously represented. His name, already mdissolubly 
connected with the history of New Hampshire, has 
recently been given to a new county formed in that 
state, and has been used to designate several private 
corporations. Those who may desire to learn some- 
thing of his life and character may find that obitu- 
ary notices, and the periodical publications of 



PREFACE. 

former years, yield but scaniy and unsatisfactory 
information. 

These and other reasons have led his immediate 
descendants to encourage the publication of this 

volume, which is composed chiefly of his own 

>. 

writings. 

J. B. 

BoBTOir, July 19tJi, 1847. 



CONTENTS. 



Firefaee. 



T»et 



CHAPTER L 
1744—1767. 

Birth and Parentage of Dr. Belknap. — £R8 early 
Education. ^ College Life. — Schools at Milton 
and Greenland. — Studies for the Ministry. — 
Correspondence with Dr. Byles. — Invitation to 
Boston. — He proposes to teach the Indians. — 
Begins to Preach. — Half-^ay Covenant. — 3i- 
vitation to Dover. — Ordination 9 

CHAPTER n. 

1767—1774. 

. Bis Marriage. ^-Correspondence with Capt. Wal' 
dron, — Letters to Peter Thacher. — Letter to 
his Father. — Sandemanians. — Letter to Capt. 
Waldron. — Sermon on Military Dttty.—Cor' 
respondence with Governor Wentworth. — Letter 
to the Selectmen.' — Letter to a Collegian. — To 
Rev. John Stafford. — Spinning MaJtch 3d 



4 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER m. 
1774—1782. 

Journey to Dartmouth College, * — Correspondence 
with Colonel Phillips. — Excitement at Ports- 
mouth, — Address to People of New Hampshire, 
^-Address to British Officers, — Extracts from 
CommonpUice Book, — Breaking out of Hostili- 
ties. — Mr, Belknap is invited to be Chaplain to 
the Troops at Cambridge, — Visits the Camp, — 
Letters of Dr. A. Eliot 65 

CHAPTER IV. 

1782—1786. 

Condition of the Family. — Journey to White 
RUs. — Election Sermon. — Journey to Phila- 
delphia. — Parish Difficulties, — He leaves Do* 
ver.^- Letter to President WiUard, — Various 
Proposals of Friends. — Letter from Exeter... 102 

CHAPTER V. 

1784—1788. 

T%e History of New Hampshire. — Letter to Gen, 
Washington, and Reply, — Invitation from the 
Church in Federal Street, Boston. — Letter from 
Proprietors, and Reply, — Anonymous Accusa- 
tion, and Defence. — Installation. — Various 
Occupations. — Correspondence with Dr. Rush. 126 



OONTBNTS. 6 

CHAPTER VI 

1788—1792. 

ExertioTis to abolish the Slave Trade, — Three BiUs 
of SdUy and Certijicates of Manumission, — 
Letter of Cato Baker, — Anecdote, — Corres- 
pondence with Moses Brown, — Correspondence 
with David HoweU, — Adoption of Federal Con- 
stitution, — Visit of Washington to Boston, — 
Death of Mr, Belknap's son Samuel, — Sermon 
at the Installation of Dr, Morse, — Extracts 
from Letters of John Adams. — Degree of D.D, 
conferred on Mr. Belknap, — Increase of Fed- 
eral Street Society, — Century Discourse 159 

CHAPTER Vn. 

1791—1797. 

Bistoriccd Society of Masscu:husetts. — Correspond- 
ence toith Governor Wentworth. — ArUe- Colum- 
bian Discovery of America. — Third Volume of 
the History published, — Attempt to reprint it 
in a Newspaper prevented, — The Foresters 
published. — Extranet from the Foresters 184 

CHAPTER VUL 

1794—1797. 

American Biography published, — Judge Jaffs 
Opinion, — Extracts from the Preface of Hvh- 
bard's New Edition. — Letter to Mr. Hazard* 



6 CONTENTS. 

^'General Knox, — Dissertations^ Extract,'^ 
Psaims and Hymns, '— Letter from a Gentk" 
man of Portland. — Dislike to Controversy, — 
Anecdotes 212 

CHAPTER IX. 

1796—1798. 

Convention Sermon, '•^Missionary Visit to the 
Oneida Indians, — Letters from Dr, Clarke. — 
Correspondence with Mrs. John Adams. — Expe- 
dition to Cuttyhurdc. — Last Illness and Death, 
— Giaracter, — Hieological Opinions, — No- 
tice of Mrs, Belknap, — Dr, Belknap's Life of 
Dr. Watts 228 



JEREMY BELKNAP. 



CHAPTER I. 

1744__1767. 



Birth and Parewtage of Dr. Belknap, — His early 
Education, — College lAfe, — Schools at Milton 
and Ghreenland, — Studies for the Ministry, — 
Correspondence with Br. Byles, -^Invitation to 
Boston, — Se proposes to teach the Indiana, — 
Begins to Preach.— Salf Way Covenant, — Inr 
vitation to Dover. — Ordination. 

The name of Belknap appears to be of Nonnan 
ori^. It is found in the list of those among whom 
the lands of England were divided after the con- 
quest by the Duke of Normandy; and, in the follow- 
ing reigns, several of the name are mentioned as 
judges; as sheriffs, and as otherwise connected with 
the practice of the law. , It is also observed in the 
early records of the settlement of this country. 
How many of the name came over from England 
has never been ascertained. Abraham Belknap was 
a resident in Lynn, Massachusetts, m the year 163T ; 



10 LIFE OF DR. BMiKNAP. 

and the next year, in a division of lands there, he 
received forty acres. Joseph Belknap, one of the 
earliest members of the Old South Church, is the 
first of the family known to have lived in Boston. 
He died in 1712, aged 82, and is buried in the old 
burying ground adjoining King's Chapel. 

Jeremiah, a son of the preceding and grandfather 
of Dr. Belknap, owned houses and lands in several 
parts of Boston ; and a street, near gome of his prop- 
erty in the western part of the city, bears the n^me 
of Belknap. He had nine children, two of whom 
were sons ; the elder named Joseph, the younger, 
Jeremiah. The latter was the father of Jeremiah 
and Mary Belknap, who, in 1830 and 1832, made 
large bequests to the Massachusetts General Hos- 
pital. The elder son Joseph, father of the subject 
of this memoir, was bom on the 12th of February, 
1717, and married, on the 30th of July, 1741, Sarah 
Byles, niece of the celebrated Mather Byles. He 
carried on the trade of a leather-dresser and dealer 
in furs and skins, and had a shop in the front part 
of his house in Ann Street. 

Jeremiah Belknap was their eldest child. He 
was bom on the 4th of June, 1744. There were 
several other children, only one of whom, a daugh- 
ter named Abigail, lived to mature age. 

The earliest relic of Jeremiah's childhood is a 
paper containing notes of sermons preached at the 
Old South Church by " Dom Williams," in the year 



HIS EDUCATION. 11 

1T54. Each sermon is divided into its diflFerent 
heads, and carefully dated ; showing that the habits 
of order and neatness which distinguished him 
through life were thus early acquired. 

His education was commenced at the school of 
Mr. Lovell, where he must have been studious ; for 
he entered Harvard College on the 6th of Decemr 
ber, 1T58, in his fifteenth year. 

At this period he noted down the weather daily, 
and such events as were worthy of remembrance, in 
the first of a series of interleaved Almanacs, which 
he continued to employ in the same manner, with the 
exception of a few years, during his life. The most 
important events noted in this year are the reduc- 
tion of Louisburg and Fort Duquesne, and the 
expedition to Crown Point and Ticonderoga. Com- 
mencement day, the 18th of July, 1759, is remarked 
upon as " excessive hot ; " a quality which usually 
belongs to it now : but an item written in the follow- 
ing September is rather strange to those who are 
acquainted with Cambridge in these days : " A 
great many bears killed at Camb : and the neigh- 
boring towns about this time, and several persons 
killed by them." Beside these Almanacs, he had 
little manuscript books entitled " Quotidiana Miscel- 
lanea 1, 2, 3, &c.," into which he copied extracts 
from the various books he was reading or studying ; 
and the first entry in the earliest of these is an ex- 
tract from " Eckard's Roman History, vol. i. preface 



12 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

— page 1," which is interesting, as showing his 
estimation, at this youthful period, of a character 
he subsequently sustained so well : " There are 
required so many qualifications and accomplish- 
ments in an Sistorian, and so much care and nice- 
ness in writing an history y that some have reckoned 
it one of the Tnoat difficult labors human nature is 
capable of.^^ 

Among his college exercises, several of which are 
still preserved, is one styled a '^ Theme, being the 
employment of some leisure time, Nov. 4th, 1759." 
The subject treated is " The generous man is a 
blessing to all mankmd." It is divided into propo- 
sition, reason, simiKtude, example, testimony, and 
conclusion ; which conclusion is, " Wherefore every 
one who is in a capacity to do good to others is 
bound both by the laws of God and nature to do it ; 
and it behoves every one to relieve those of his fel- 
low-creatures who stand in need of it, as far as in 
him lies, that he may be at last remunerated by his 
God with this JSuge, ' Well done, good and faithful 
servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord ! ' J. Bel- 
knap, "t— How truly these were the sentiments of his 
heart, and how constantly through life he acted upon 
a principle thus early adopted, will be seen by the 
reader of the following pages. 

His college life was passed quietly in the pursuit 
of his studies, with some intervals occasioned by 
ackness. He was graduated on the 21st of July, 



ENGAGES IN TEACHING. 13 

1762, and on the 10th of August began to keep 
the public grammar school at Milton ; an employ- 
ment then, as now, often chosen by young men, 
while preparing for the business of after life. 

As the master of a public school, he held a 
responsible station for one so young ; yet he acquitted 
himself to the satisfaction of the town ; for, after 
leaving Milton a short time during the next winter, 
he returned at the unanimous request of the select- 
men, and remained until March in 1T64. 

He was one whom companions and firiends not 
only love, but reverence at an early age. The sin- 
cerity of his character, and his affectionate desire to 
serve those around him in any way in his power, 
even though he could not approve the matter him- 
self, are shown in the following extract from a letter 
written the autumn after he was graduated, to a 
young friend at Cambridge who had requested his 
aid in composing a theme on the Immortality of the 
Soul. He sent the theme, and in the letter he 
says: 

"MUton, October 81h, 1762. 
"Mt DEAREST FrIEIO), 

" I received yours of the 3d inst. and have 
endeavored to comply with your request ; whether 
satisfactorily or no, you may judge. As I never 
showed any reluctance in obligmg you in any re- 
spect, you may be assured that I did this with the 



14 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

greatest pleasure. And though I shall never be 
loth to serve you in the same manner, yet I cannot 
recommend it to you to pursue this method, but wish 
that you would endeavor to acquire a better talent 
at composition. It would be an unspeakable advan- 
tage to you. Do not let your genius lie uncultivated, 
and your abilities and faculties be any longer dor- 
mant, but only put them once in action, and they will 
continue to supply you with whatever you want in 
this way with the greatest ease. I speak experi- 
mentally." 

He continued to keep school while completing his 
studies for the ministry, and in December, 1764, he 
removed to Portsmouth in New Hampshire to takd 
charge of the English school, and boarded in the 
family of the Rev. Samuel Haven. The next sum- 
mer he kept school at Greenland, a small town six 
miles from Portsmouth, where he remained until 
called to the duties of a minister of the gospel. His 
conscientiousness was very great, and he forbore to 
preach, until he felt himself qualified. Meanwhile 
he suffered much from misgivings and fears. 

His parents anticipated with eager hopes the time 
when this their beloved and only son should enter 
into the Christian ministry ; and while lie was under 
the influence of feelings which made him fear he 
should disappoint their expectations, he wrote the 
following letter to his mother's uncle, Mather Byles, 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. BYLES. 15 

disclosing the state of his mind, and requesiing him 
*to communicate it to his parents : 

« September 5th, 1765. 

" Rev. and Honored Sir, 

"You have often talked with me about 
preaching, and I have seemed to decline it ; but I 
never gave you my reasons for it, nor could I have 
done it so clearly and distinctly by speaking, as I 
can by writing. 

" I think myself bound in duty to let my parents 
know of my grand objection ; but, having never yet 
revealed it to them, I hereby request you to do it, 
when you have opportunity, in such a manner as 
you think most proper. 

- "It is a fixed and settled opinion with me, that 
no person ought to take on him the office of a min- 
ister of the gospel, unless he has experienced the 
renovating power of it on his own soul ; but, un- 
happy me ! I have never experienced this, and 
therefore I dare not preach, though I have been 
much urged to it. 

"But now this thought will immediately start 
into your mind : How dare you join with the church 
of Christ in their sacred communion ? Alas ! dear 
Sir, when I asked admission into the church, I was 
deceived with regard to my condition. I had be- 
fore had many agonies of soul, and in the midst of 
these agomes resolved to be the Lord's ; but God 



.*► -x 



16 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

himself knows that I never experienced a saving 
change. I thought myself a proper recipient of the 
Holy Supper, accordmg to Dr. Sewall's descrip- 
tion, viz. — one that hungered and thirsted for right- 
eousness and salvation by Jesus Christ, and was 
content to be saved in the gospel way. .But since, 
I have found by undeniable evidence, that I am yet 
in a state of unrenewed nature, and farther from 
God than ever ; and, in consequence of this, I have 
for some time refrained my sacrilegious hands. 
• • « « • • • 

" This is my present condition. I request your 
most fervent prayers for me, and your best advice. 
" I am, Rev. Sir, with sincere esteem and respect, 
" Your unworthy Friend, 

«J. B.'* 

To this letter he received the following affection- 
ate reply : 

"My Dear Child, 

" It is with a mixture of pleasure and sor- 
row that I read your letter. I am pleased to see 
your great care not to enter the ministry in a state 
of unrenewed nature ; and I am grieved at your 
censure upon yourself. It is impossible for your 
imcle to write particularly to so general a state of 
the case ; but I wish I could have a personal con- 
ference with you. That divinity is undoubtedly 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. BYLES. 17 

true which Dr. Sewall gave you: *He that con- 
sents to be saved by Christ in his own way, has 
saving faith.' ' He who hungers and thirsts after 
righteousness, has a right to the Lord's table.' 
Nor have you informed me how you are certain 
this was not your case. Perhaps you are conscious 
to the prevailmg power of some temptation, which 
yet you abhor, and pray and watch against. But, 
while your sin really is your ^burthen, the way to 
obtain str^igth under it certainly is not to turn 
your back upon the Lord's table. God, who sees 
your infirmities, sees also your resistance, your 
agonies, your repentances. But I talk at random. 
Could I see you, I might perhaps speak more to 
the purpose. 

" I am pleased to see your regards to the work 
of the ministry. * 'T is what you choose.' And 
why do you choose it? Perhaps answering this 
very question to yourself may relieve your anxious 
heart. 

" May God bless you, my son, and sanctify and 
comfort you ; and introduce you, with thB noblest 
preparation, into the ministry. 

" So prays your affectionate 

"M. Byles.'* 

In the rejoinder to this letter of Dr. Byles, 
Mr. Belknap writes as though relieved in a meas- 
ure from his previous state of doubt and depression, 
2 



18 LIPB OP DR. BELKNAP. 

*' Greenland, October 7Ui, 1766. 

" Rev. and Dear Sir, 

*' I thank you for your kind letter, by my 
father. I hope your prayers and ihe prayers of 
my other friends have been presented on the 
golden altar before the throne of God, and been 
acceptable to him, as sweet incense. Pray to God 
for me, that I may not be mistaken in a matter of 
such everlasting importance ; that I may not build 
on a false foundation. I should be glad of a per- 
sonal converse with you on the important affairs of 
my soul and eternity, but am afraid I should not 
be able to express my thoughts with that freedom 
and ease that you would expect and desire. I be- 
lieve I shall not be able to come to Boston till 
November. In the mean time I beseech you, dear 
Sir, to use your interest at the throne of grace in 
praying that I may be thoroughly furnished to 
every good work. 

" Your dutiful and obliged.'* 

In November, 1765, the usher of the free gram- 
mar school at the North End of Boston died ; and 
the selectmen tmanimously elected Mr. Belknap to 
fill the vacancy ; requesting him to come speedily, 
as Mr. TVisweU, the master of the school, was very 
aged and infirm. 

This temptmg proposal he steadily declined, — 
thinking the increase of salary, and the more eligi- 



DTTITBD TO BOSTON. 19 

ble position it offered, no excuse for leaving unful- 
filled his engagement at Greenland. The prospect 
of home and friends failed to shake his sense of 
justice and ri^t, and he remained quietly where 
he was. A mutilated portion of his reply to the 
letter of the town clerk remains : 

**To accept your invitation at this time would 
be vastly less advantageous to the town of Boston, 
than detrimental to the people of this place ; and 
I am not willing to injure them in the least degree. 
A quiet and comfortable country life is the greatest 
temporal happiness that I wish to enjoy, and I am 
perfectly contented with my present situation.'' 

Shortly after refusing this inviting proposal, the 
reading of Wheelock's Second Narrative suggested --^ 
to his mind the idea of devoting himself for a time 
to the work of instructing the Indians at the school 
in Lebanon, Connecticut. In pursuance of this 
design, he wrote the following letter to the Rev. 
Mr. Haven, requesting his advice: 

" To the Rev*. Mr. Hayen, at Portsmouth. 

" Greenland, January iBt, 1766. 

" Rev"*. Am) Dear Sir, 

"Being prevented from visiting you, both 
by the severity of the season and the necessity of 
a close attention to the duties of my station, I 
take this method of asking your friendly advice 



20 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

on a point which at present engages most of my 
thoughts. 

^' I am sensible that a great load of guilt lies 
heavy on this land in neglecting the means which 
may be used for the conversion of our Indian neigh- 
bors and countrymen to Christianity ; and that it is 
the duty of every person, who professes a regard 
to the kingdom and interest of Jesus Christ, to 
contribute his part for this glorious purpose. 

"The Charity School in Lebanon seems to be 
the right plan ; inasmuch as divine Providence has 
so remarkably smiled on that institution, and hith- 
erto succeeded the design of it. It is, therefore, 
of the utmost importance that it should be con- 
tinued, and I am sincerely willing to lend what 
assistance is in my power. I do not suppose that 
it absolutely needs any of my help for its support ; 
but only ask you whether you would advise me to 
offer my service as a teacher to those poor aborigines 
there, for some months, without desiring any other 
reward than a subsistence during the time. I have 
thought much of it since I have had the pleasure 
of reading Mr. Wheelock's Narrative, [A Brief 
Narrative of the Indian Charity School in Leb- 
anon, Connecticut. Printed in London. 1766.] 
and my stipulated time at this place will cease 
about the beginning of next April, when I shall be 
at my liberty to tarry here or not. But as I do 
not choose to make such a proposal on a sudden, I 



CORRESPONDENCE. 21 

desire your kind advice. Please to confer -with 
Dr. Langdon on the subject, and let me know your 
joint serious thoughts concerning it. 

" I desire that this letter, and the contents and 
design of it, may be kept an inviolable secret from 
every other person. 

"With much esteem for you both, and proper 
respects to your families, I am 

" Tour friend and servant, 

"Jer. Belknap.** 

Mr. Haven's reply expresses his approval of this 
plan. He says, " I have taken your proposal into 
serious consideration, and am at present inclined to 
favor it." But Dr. Langdon "thinks proper to 
dissent from the above advice; ^ving this for a 
reason, that he supposes the school does not stand 
in need of such a charity." 

This project disturbed his parents very much, as 
we learn from a long letter of counsel written to 
Mr. Belknap by his friend and classmate, the Rev. 
Penuel Bowen : 

** Cambridge, 23d Jannaiy, 1766. 

"Dear Sir, 

" This being the first opportunity since the 
beginning, I now greet you upon the commence- 
ment of a new year ; and even the long-predicted 
1766, to be memorable for some extraordinary 
revolutions both in the natural and moral world. 



22 LIFB OF I»U BBLKNAP. 

A happy new year I wish you, from the profoundest 
part oi the ^ncerest heart. May this year be 

memorable for the repeal of the S ^p A — ^t, and 

other burthensome impositions; for the liberties 
and enlargement of America ; and for the exalta- 
tion of the English nation, both in spirituals and 
temporals, especially the former ; and, as a most . 
signal part of this, may proper methods be used 
for converting the heathen; and oh may they be 
attended and crowned with a blessing from on high ! 
Lastly, may this year be remembered with glad- 
ness for being that which may boast of ushering 
you, my worthy friend, into the office of a preacher 
of the gospel, and a minister of Jesus Christ. 

"I, having been to Boston this day, and having 
the favor and happiness of being one of your good 
parents' friends, had the pleasure of being pre- 
sented by your father with your last letter to him, 
wherein you say so much about gmng to Lebanon 
to keep Mr. Wheelock's school awhile gratis. The 
thought seemed no less new and surprising to your 
parents than to me ; and you seem to acknowledge 
it is new to yourself too, as you intimate the par- 
ticular cause of it now is your just having read 
Mr. Wheelock's Continuation, &c. Not that I can 
suppose, my friend, any thought of good to be new 
to you : I know it is your old habitual turn to be 
meditating the common good." 



DESIGNa FOR THE mm&TRY. 23 

He then asks him to consider whether it is not a 
sudden notion; if liiere is not some better way of 
promoting tins charity, smd reminds him of his 
parents' expectation that he would '^in proper time 
undertake the blessed work of preaching the gos- 
pel;" and says that any other change in his situa- 
lion would "rather give them pain than pleasure. 
You can hardly imagme how their comfort depends 
on you, and how they are grieved when your de- 
sires counteract their judgment. And, to conclude, 
my advice is, if they seem to wish you would not 
incdst in this matter, by no means to do it." 

What effect this letter had, does not appear; 
but the design was abandoned on his learning that 
the school was properly supplied with teachers, and 
that accordingly there was no need of his services. 

This defflre to teach the Indians probably arose 
from the disturbed and unsettled state of his mind 
as to his qualifications for a gospel minister ; and 
as soon as he was assured on Qiis point, he devoted 
himself to his appointed work. On this subject 
he says himself, 

" It has been my constant, habitual thought, ever 
since I was cap2J)le of judging, that I should 
preach the gospel. With this view, my parents 
educated me, and to this my friends have often 
urged and persuaded me ; but for a long time all 
these things were in vain. I knew myself to be 
destitute of the grand fundamental qualification of 



24 LIFE OP DE. BELKNAP. 

a true minister of the gospel, and was determined 
never to undertake preaching imtil I had obtained 
a hope in Christ. A glorious discovery of the 
riches and freeness of divine grace, and the infinite 
worthiness of the Lord Jesus Christ which I trust 
was made to my soul by the Holy Spirit, at once 
changed my views and dispositions ; and from that 
time I devoted myself to the service of God in the 
gospel of his Son, thinking it my duty to glorify 
God in this way. My qualifications have been 
judged of by others. My conscience acquits me 
of having any mercenary views: a decent, com- 
fortable subsistence, while I continue in this vale 
of tears, is all the present reward that I desire. 

"I know that God has no need of any of my 
services ; but if it shall please him to make me a 
humble, zealous, faithful instrument of building up 
the Redeemer's kingdom, and turning sinners from 
the error of their ways, I shall esteem it the 
greatest dignity and happiness I am capable of 
recei\dng." 

His first appearance in public aa a preacher 
was in Mr. Haven's pulpit, at Portsmouth. Mr. 
M'Clintock, the clergyman at Greenland, wrote a 
letter to Mr. Belknap's father on this occasion, in 
which he speaks of him as bidding fair tc^ be an 
eminent preacher, and says he thinks the people 
who may be so happy as to obtain him for their 
minister will in him receive a " precious gift of our 



THE HALF-WAY COVENANT. 26 

ascended Lord." In the same letter, mention is 
made of his valuable services as a teacher, and the 
loss his removal would be to the people of the 
town, as it was feared his successor would not have 
" such a natural, parental care for the welfare of 
the children." 

The half-way covenant he thought very unscrip- 
tural, and wrote to several clergymen for advice 
upon the subject. A letter written to Dr. Lang- 
don states the matter thus : 

" Tou know it is the prevailing practice in most 
of the Congregational churches of New England to 
administer the ordinance of baptism to the children 
of persons who are not in full communion with the 
church, and who are not thought to be imder any 
obligations, by virtue of their engagements in ovming 
the covenant^ to sit down at the Lord's table, with- 
out a second covenanting or formal admission to full 
communion. I have for some time had a doubt in 
my mind whether this custom can be justified by 
scripture ; and, as it seems probable that I shall 
soon enter on the important work of the gospel min- 
istry, it greatiy concerns me to be satisfied in this 
particular branch of it. If this distinction of full 
commimion and half communion has its foundation 
in the word of God, I desire with all reverence to 
admit and own it as of divine authority ; but at pres- 
ent I cannot see the grounds on which it is vindi- 



26 LIFB OF DB. BELKNAP. 

cated. Mj earnest desire therefore to joa is that 
you will be pleased to communicate your thoughts 
on this subject to me by letter, which will be es- 
teemed and acknowledged as a particular favor, by, 
Sir, 
" Your respectful and obliged friend and servant, 
" Jebemt Belknap." 

On this subject he wrote to his Mend Mr. 
Bowen who declined the labor of answering his 
important questions, but said : " Truly as to that 
matter of admitting to baptism without coming to 
the other sacrament, I believe that all admitted to 
baptism by the aposties were also counted qualified 
to partake the other sacrament, and doubtiess in 
general did; and it is my sentiment that so it 
should be at this day : but then after we have ad- 
mitted duly qualified persons to baptism, they may 
be left to themselves whether to come to the Lord's 
table or not." 

Mr. Bowen then expresses his joy, and that of 
Mr. Belknap's other friends, at his having become 
a preacher. He says, " I find you are fired with a 
laudable zeal in the good cause of Christianity : the 
great Head of influences raise you, by still greater 
gifts and graces, to tiie highest pitch of usefulness ! 
This, I know, is the height of your desires. You 
would not be famous but for doing good. Your 
praise beginneth to be in all the churches where vou 



THE HALF-WAY COVENANT. 27 

have labored in word and dpcirme. May it greatly 
increase and on good foundation ! '' 

The following is an extract from Mr. Belknap's 
reply: 

• * * "I desired to know your sentiments 
whether those persons who, though they profess faith, 
repentance, and obedience (which are all included, 
or ought to be, in owning the covenant), yet live in 
the habitual neglect of attendance at the Lord's 
table, have any right, according to the apostolic or 
gospel constitution, to present their children to bap- 
tism. I argue on the matter thus : If the children 
of any have a right to baptism, they must be those 
of believers. Now all true believers do (visibly at 
least as far as they are obliged to do it) yield 
obedience to aU the commandmeniB of Christ But 
when we see persons live in the constant habitual 
disregard of any one of his commands, especially 
one of his own ordinances, which he has appointed 
in his church to be a visible sign of membership 
am<Hig his people, and a standing seal of our engage- 
ments to keep his covenant ; I say, when we see per- 
sons do so, we cannot extend our charity to them so 
far as to think them true believers (I except cases 
of idiotism, infancy, sickness, or any other natural 
or providential impossibility of attending on the or- 
dinances) ; for Christ has ordained It as a test of the 



28 UFB OF DR. BELKNAP. 

sincerity of professors, that they keep his command- 
ments. 

" I can see no reason in the plea that though they 
think themselves so far interested in the covenant 
as to bring their children to baptism, yet they are 
afraid to approach the Lord's table on account of 
their unworthiness, &c. ; because I know no differ- 
ence, according to scripture, between the qualifica- 
tions requisite for one and the other. Are not bap- 
tism, and the Lord's supper, seals of the same cove- 
nant ? How, then, can we have a right to the one, 
and not to the other ? 

" I have taken pains to inquire into the rise and 
establishment of that arbitrary and unscriptural dis- 
tinction between owning the covenant and fulfilling 
the commandment, and find in the Magnalia" *** 
Here followed a quotation, which, in the copy pre- 
served, is omitted. 

" I might make many remarks on this passage, 
considering how artfully and cautiously it is worded ; 
but I shall only say, that, although it is far more 
likely a puny New Hampshire pedagogue should be 
mistaken, than all the reverend heads in New Eng- 
land consolidated into a grand synodical Caput Cap- 
itaie, yet there is at least a possibility that these 
venerable fathers were mistaken ; and it is my poor 
opimon that then the churches of New England took 
a grand leap in the dark from the primitive purity 
and simplicity of the gospel. If we must give im- 



THE HALF-WAY COVENANT. 29 

plicit faith to the determmation oi fathers and counr 
dhj let us throw away the Bible at once, and adopt 
the infallible decrees of Trent^ Nice^ Bort^ and 
Boston, as the pure, uncorrupted Catholic faith. 
For, allowing the members who composed all these 
celebrated councils aforesaid to have been honesty 
ffuilelessy unprejudiced meuy there is as much reason 
to adopt the decrees of one as of the other, however 
absurd and contradictory. But I think it is time 
that the Scripture should be regarded as the only 
infallible form of sound words, and all trimming and 
temporizing and truckling to the humor of a de- 
praved world entirely laid aside by the professors 
and preachers of a gospel which owes its origin to an 
independent God. 

* * * " There are some, and I may rank you 
among the number, who dare to think for themselves, 
and are not overborne by the torrent of prevailing 
custom, or browbeaten by clerical authority. You 
may show this letter to whom you please." 

For some months Mr. Belknap preached occasion- 
ally for the clergymen of the neighboring parishes ; 
and on the 31st of July, 1766, a committee of the 
parish at Dover invited him to preach there as 
assistant to the Rev. Mr. Gushing, whose health was 
very infirm. Dr. Langdon wrote to him at this time, 
advising him to accept the invitation, and said, 
' Perhaps Providence may open the way for your 



30 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

settlement there, which is a good situation for a 
minister, and probably will be more and mc»:e agree- 
able.'' 

He continued to preach at Dover to the satisfac- 
tion of the people ; and, the following winter, they 
gave him a call to settle as colleague of Mr. Cush- 
ing, which was accepted. Meantime the custom of 
the half-way covenant still troubled him, and he 
finally addressed the church upon the subject, in a 
letter which concludes thus : — 

" If it diould please God to settle me in a pas- 
toral relation to any church, it must not be expected 
that I should ever admit persons to own the cove- 
nant, without at the same time receiving them into 
full communion. God grant that I may never ad- 
mit them to this blessed privilege, unless they give 
evidence sufficient for a charitable hope, that they 
have believed in Jesus to the saving of their souls. 

" If you desire to know my sentiments on any 
other points, I am willing to declare them openly 
and unreservedly. I am 

" Your unworthy brother and servant in Christ, 

"Jer. Belknap.'^ 

A letter firom Mr. William Whitwell, of Boston, to 
Mr. Belknap, written about this time, is worthy of 
notice for the very concise definition of gospel 
preaching it contains. 



IS INVrrBID TO DOVER. 31 

Boston, 26th July, 1766. 

"To Mr. Jer. Belknap, Jun. 

** Whom I trust doth and will preach the 
Gospel, namely, Christ is the end of the Law for 
ri^teousness ; — he that belie veth shall be saved ; 
he that believeth not shall be damned. 

" Mr. Erskine's book accompanieth this, and is 
presented to him by, Sir, yours to serve, 

" Wm. Whitwell.*' 

There was but one sentiment among the people 
of Dover with regard to Mr. Belknap. After he 
had preached " as a probationer '* for a month, the 
church committee voted unanimously in his favor ; 
and at a meeting of the parish, the same imanimity 
prevailed. 

It was " unanimously voted, that said paridi pay 
Mr. Jeremiah Belknap one hundred pounds, lawful 
money, yearly or every year, as a salary from the 
time of his accepting said call, during the time he 
shall continue our minister, and in full therefor.'* 

Also, " unanimously voted, that tiie parish give 
Mr. Belknap one hundred and fifty pounds, lawful 
money, and to be paid at the following periods, viz. : 
fifty pounds in three months, and fifty pounds in six 
months, and fifty pounds in nine months next after 
his ordination, to be raised by the selectmen of said 
parish for the time being, which is to provide himr 
self a convenient house to dwell in during his minis- 



32 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

try amongst us ; or, instead of said one hundred and 
fifty pounds, that the parish shall provide him a 
convenient house, bam, and garden, during said 
tenn ; and that it is left; to his determination and 
choice to accept the said one hundred and fifty 
pounds, or the house, garden, &c." 

To these proposals he replied as follows : 

" To the Parishioners of the first parish in Dover : 

" Your late call and proposals to me made I have 
taken into serious consideration ; and as, from vari- 
ous concurring circumstances, the joint invitation of 
the church and parish here seems to be the voice 
of Divine Providence, I think it my duty with all 
humility to accept it, looking to the great Head of 
the Church for grace and strength to fulfil the duty 
of a gospel minister. 

" Concerning the proposals of settlement, though 
I had no objections to make to them, yet I did not 
think myself qualified to judge whether they were 
sufficient for my comfortable subsistence in life, if it 
should please God that I should have a family ; and 
therefore I thought it advisable to consult with some 
of my friends who were judges. Their opinion is, 
that, since I am to have no parsonage land, there 
ought to be added to my annual salary, as many 
cords of wood as will be necessary for the use and 
convenience of a family during the year ; but, see- 
ing you have your aged and venerable pastor to 



IS ORDAINED AT DOVER. 33 

care for in the decline of life, I sh^tU waive that mat- 
ter,— not without hope, that, should I live to see 
some of your present expenses terminate, you will 
make some provision of that kind for me, if you 
shall judge it necessary • The salary of £100 per 
annum I accept, on condition that two payments 
le made every year^ namely, one half at the end of 
every six months from the date hereof ; and as you 
have offered me the choice of a house, or £150 in 
lieu thereof, I accept the said £150, to be paid in 
the maimer proposed. 

" Having now devoted myself to the service of 
God in the gospel of his Son, and (as I trust), 
agreeable to the divine will, taken on me the care 
of your souls ; sensible of my own insufficiency to 
discharge this duty in a right manner, I must ask 
your earnest prayers for me, that I may obtain 
mercy of the Lord to be faithful^ and that my labors 
may be rewarded with abundant success ; so shall 
your souls be my joy and crown of rejoicing at the 
second coming of Jesus Christ. 

"Jeremy Belknap. 

"Dover, Januaiy 19tb, 1767," 

On the 27th of January, at ameetmg of the 
church, it was voted to send to twenty-two churches, 
and the ordination took place on the 18th of the 
next month. The sermon on the occasion was , 
preached by. the Rev. Dr. Haven, of Portsmouth, 
3 



34 LIFE OF DK. BELKNAP. 

CHAPTER n. 

1767—1774. 

His Marriage. — Correspondence mth Capt, Wal- 
dron. — Letters to Peter Thacher. — Letter to his 
Father, — Sandemanians, — Letter to Captain 
Waldron. — Sermon on Military Duty, — Cor- 
respondence tvith Grovemor Wentworth, — Letter 
to the Selectmen, — Letter to a Collegian, — To 
Rev, John Stafford, — Spinning Match, 

On the 15th of June, .1767, Mr. Belknap was 
married to Miss Ruth Eliot, daughter of Samuel 
Eliot, bookseller in Comhill, Boston ; a lady pos- 
sessing many amiable qualities. The following con- 
cise account of the wedding journey to and from 
Boston is taken from the interleaved Almanac for 
this year : 

" June 12th. Set out for Boston, lodged North 
HiU. 

13th. Travelled to Ipswich ; met Governor Went- 
worth on the road ; he entered Portsmouth this day. 

14th. Preached at Ipswich. 

15th. Reached Boston ; evening married, 

18th. Set out on our return, rode through the 
rain, and lodged at Hampton, Mr. Thayer's. 

19th. Got home to Dover in the evening safe and 
weU.'' 



LETTER TO CAPTAIN WALDRON. C<> 

Thomas Westbrook Waldron was, at this period, 
one of the most influential men in Dover. He was 
the first Yolimteer from New Hampshire in the ex- 
pedition to Cape Breton, in 1745, where he bore a 
captain's commission ; and he was subsequently a 
member of the general court. His friendship was 
much relied upon and highly esteemed by Mr. 
Belknapj^who, in returning to Dover from Boston in 
the spring of 1767, rode, on the journey, Capt. Wal- 
dron's horse, which died shortly after from some 
injury received. This occasioned the following cor- 
respondence : 

from mr. belotap to capt. waldron. 

"Sir, 

" I never heard till this day, that your horse 
was dead of the wound which he got by my riding 
him from Boston. Justice demands and gratitude 
obliges me, to offer a compensation. I therefore 
sincerely and readily make you an offer of my 
horse (valued at £12, which is the sum I gave for 
him), and will give you a promissory note of as much 
more as you shall judge will make an equivalent. 

" I am very sorry for your loss, and that I was 
the occasion of it ; but can truly say, I shall he glad 
if you will accept what I have offered above. 
" I am. Sir, with the greatest respect, 

" Tour obliged, humble servant, 
"Jer. Belknap." 

•*July 15th, 1767. 



86 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

Captain Waldron replied as follows : 

"Rev. Sir, 

"My horse .slipped his wind the 20th June 
last, under the care of Farrier Coleman. If some 
unconcerned, officious gabbler had not blabbed the 
secret, I trust a jubilee year from that Hegira would 
have passed, without its reaching your ears. 

"I never had the slightest thought of your 
maldng any satisfaction for him, and now freely 
declare, that I disclaim any demand that could b© 
made relative thereto on Mr. Belknap by his 
" Most respectful, humble servant, 
"Thomas W. Waldron." 

July letii, 1767." 

Peter Thacher, the eldest son of Oxenbridge 
Thacher, who was an eminent lawyer in Boston, 
was one of Mr. Belknap's early friends. Their 
acquaintance commenced at Milton, when Peter was 
only twelve years old ; a very young companion, it 
would seem, for Mr. Belknap ; but he was of a seri- 
ous nature, so that it was said of him, " he was 
never a child." In one of his letters he mentions the 
conduct which secured his regard. 

"Do you not remember, when you kept school at 
Milton, how openly and unreservedly you treated 
me ; how you admitted me to your confidence, 
although I was a child ? That treatment won my 
soul." 



LETTBR TO PETER THAOHEB. 8T 

In 1765, Oxenbridge Thaeher died, and his son 
Peter entered Harvard College at the age of thir- 
teen years. He continued to correspond with Mr. 
Belknap. He thanks him for " kind, friendly, father- 
like advice ;" and, conscious of possessing no ordi- 
nary powers of mmd, he says : " I Am very sensible 
there is a great talent put into my hands, and I 
beg your prayers that I may improve it to the best 
advantage.". To do this, he resolved to become a 
preacher. In February, 1769, he wrote to Mr. 
Belknap as a ^^ friend and father," to announce his 
determination, and request assistance and advice in 
his studies. In compliance with this request, the 
following letter was written : 

TO MB. PET^EB THACHEB, AT COLLEGE. 

"Dbab/Sib, 

" I am extremely pleased with your late letter. 
It is not a want of regard, but of leisure and oppor- 
tunity, that has prevented my writing to you for 
some time past. However, I will now break through 
all impediments, and express to you tke joy I con- 
ceived at reading your letter, and endeavor to give 
you some cautions and advice which you have re- 
quested. I trust yoXL will receive them with candor, 
and not think me dictatorial. 

" Nothing would please me more than to hear of 
your entering Christ's kingdom, and determining to 
devote yourself to the gospel ministry. In order to 



88 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

this, it is essentially necessary that you be renewed 
after the image of God. " The change you have 
experienced, you trust is saving." I have no rear 
son to suspect you of insincerity in this declaration ; 
but let me remind you of these words, 1 Kings xx. 11, 
* Let not him that girdeth on his harness, boast him- 
self as he that putteth it off.' You are but just set- 
ting out in the Christian ministry, and you must 
expect to meet with many diflSculties and discourage- 
ments ; you will find many things to damp your 
hopes, and shake your confidence, if you are a true 
Christian. The more you grow acquainted with 
your own heart, the more odious will you appear in 
the sight of God, and the less reason will you have 
to value and approve yourself. You will find that 
the assurance of hope is not to be obtained, but by 
the most laborious and painful pursuit ; that you 
cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven, but through 
much tribulation. You must remember, that hu- 
miUty and meekness are distinguishing marks of a 
Christian, and self-flattery a certam mark of an 
hypocrite. Let not my friend think that I suspect 
him of hypocrisy, but only that I am giving him 
some faithful cautions, which I find of unspeakable 
use and service in the Christian life. 

" As to your studying Divinity, I would impart 
my very soul to you in Christian tenderness and 
faithfulness. In the first place, you must remember 
that Divinity is the knowledge of divine things, and 



LETTER TO PETER THACHER. 39 

not human opinions : therefore, in the pursuit of 
this noble science, you must take this for your motto, 
Isjuah ii. 22, * Cease ye from man, whose breath is 
in his nostrils ; for wherein is he to be accounted 
of?' 

" Would you know the virtues of any particular 
sort of water, it would be more irrational to seek it 
in the muddy streams, than in the pure original 
fount ; so, if you would know the truth as it is in 
Jesus, you must not seek it in the writings of unin- 
spired men, but in the oracles of unerring truth. 
Divinity is not the art of disputing about divine 
truth, nor of puzzling yourself and others with meta- 
physical subtleties ; but it is the knowledge of God 
and Christ, and the Gospel. And where is this to 
be found, but in the revelation which God has made 
to the world ? To these pure and unerring oracles, 
I would direct you ; there you may search for and 
receive divine truth, without the least suspicion of 
being deceived, provided you come with an humble, 
meek, and teachable soul, as a new-bom babe desir- 
ing the sincere milk of the word, &c. 

" But, if you make systematical and polemical 
authors your chief study, you will be in danger of 
having your mind turned away from the simplicity 
of the Gospel, and of being led into some scheme of 
religion that will be set up as an idol in your heart, 
and be made use of as a standard to try aU other 
opinions by. Many persons are carried away with 



40 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

the reigning opinion in the place where they hap- 
pen to live, and yet their minds are so prejudiced in 
favor thereof as to be deaf to the conviction of 
its falsity. 

"But let my dear friend remember, that he is to 
call no man master.; for one is his Master, even 
Christ. 

" As to directing you to books, I would be very 
cautious ; and I would advise you to take heed how 
i you hearken to the advice of any men, how great 
\ soever be their knowledge and attainments. What- 
I ever books you are directed to, read them as the 
j opinions of men only ; for there are many deceivers 
\ gone forth into the world, and it is not safe for you 
* to ^ve implicit faith to any of them. 

" Another hint may be serviceable, that is, when 
you are studying divine truth, remember that it is 
not a speculative science like mathematics, or astron- 
omy, but 't is of the utmost importance to your own 
soul; 'tis the knowledge of what is necessary to 
your own eternal well-being. Let this influence you 
to make personal and particular application to your- 
self of what you read: thus you will not only im- 
prove your imderstanding, but grow in holiness, 
which you will find of unspeakable advantage to 
your future ministrations, especially in private visits 
and conversation. A minister must not only know 
divine truth as a distant, speculative notion, but have 
it in his heart as a living, operative principle. There 



LETTER TO PETER THACHER, 41 

is a coarse proverb somewhere, that sound may pass 
through a ram's horn without straightening it, which 
may be very well applied to many that preach the 
gospel now-a-days : they only are instruments, of 
conveying sound to the ears of their auditors, and 
that sound affects themselves no more than if it were 
of no importance. The Lord keep you and me fipom 
being of this unhappy number. 

" In searching the scriptures, it will not be of any 
real advantage to you to run to comments whenever 
you meet with a passage whose meaning is not obvi- 
ous : use a Bible with a translator's margin. 

" The shortest way of coming at the truth is the 
best. I would have you prefer such books as aim 
directly at it, without a tedious, circumlocutory string 
of arguments to prove self-evident propositions, 
which is often the case with polemical and system- 
atical writers : perhaps Dr. Doddridge's lectures 
may serve instead of a vast catalogue of authors, 
as he shows their various opinions in a clear and 
compendious view. 

* * * " The lives of good ministers. * * 

" A preacher ought to be conversant with the his* 
tory of the church, where he will find indeed much 
to exercise his patience, especially from the time 
when the heathen persecution ceased, to the reform- 
ation ; but the whole is improving, and much of it 
will serve to show the folly of departing from the 
word of God, and recurring to the opinions of men. 



42 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

" For experimental divinity, Mr. Edwards on the 
Affections, and Stoddard's Safety of Appearing, are 
excellent ; but even these must be read with circum- 
spection. Mr. John Erskine gives a clear account of 
Faith, &c." Here the rough draught of the letter, 
from which the above is copied, terminates abruptly. 

The attempt to reform the church, so conscien- 
tiously made, disturbed his friends ; and some ex- 
tracts from a letter to his father, in reply to one 
expressing uneasiness on this account, show the sin- 
cerity and purity of his intentions, and give his rea- 
sons for opposing the prevailing custom : 

"JulySlst, 1771. 

"Hon. Sir, 

" I am sorry that any thing which you have 
heard of me gives you uneasiness. What I have 
done was the free and voluntary act of my own 
mind, upon a deliberate and full conviction of its 
being agreeable to the will of Christ, and an indis- 
pensable duty required of me as his servant. 

"The Puritans 

in England carried their ideas of reformation farther 
than any set of men in their day ; and some of 
the first settiers of New England, who were of this 
stamp, set up churches very near the ancient apos- 
tolic model ; but has it not been the common topic 
of our Fast-Day sermons for seventy or eighty years 
past ? ' How is the gold become dim, and the fine' 



LETTER TO HIS FATHER. ^ ' 43 

gold changed ! ' * We are become the degenerate f 
plants of a strange vine/ &c. Upon these occasions' 
how common is it to lament the sad degeneracy of 
the times, and urge the necessity of reformation, 
bringing into view the pious example of our fore- 
fathers, and contrasting it with the appearances of 
the present day, praying for a revival of religion, 
and the outpouring of the Spirit ! But after this 
annual task is over, what becomes of the desired 
reformatbn ? Who stirs a step towards it ? It is 
all blown away in the wind, and we hear no more 
of it till the next anniversary. Is not God mocked 
by such prevarication ? Does not his jealousy bum 
against such a nation as this, who draw nigh to him 
with their lips, while their heart is far from him ? * * 
" The voice of Christ to us is, Repent and do the 
first works ; but who hears and obeys it ? K an 
individual is so affected with the solemnity and im- 
portance of this voice, as to think himself inexcusar 
ble in not obeying it, what must he do ? Must he 
wait for the whole body of the clergy to unite in 
this work, to deny themselves, and forsake all to 
follow Christ ? As soon may he expect to see the 
scattered stars in the firmament unite into one com- 
pact body like the Pleiades. The body of the clergy, 
in all ages and nations, have always been the most 
bitterly set against reformation ; and why the clergy 
in New England should be thought any more dis- 
posed to it than those of other countries, no man can 



44 MFB OP DR. BELKNAP. 

tell. The reason is plain and evident : their interest 
is too nearly connected with the corruptions of re- 
ligion in the present day, to suffer them to discoun- 
tenance it. For instance, what would become of 
their interest if they should discountenance the pre- 
vailing mode of owmng the covenant, considered as 
a distinct thing from admission to full communion ? 
* • * * " How was Mr. Edwards, of North- 
ampton, treated, because he could not remain un- 
equally yoked with unbelievers ? 

" If a general reformation in this and other re- 
spects is not to be hoped for fromi the united efforts 
of the clergy, what must a poor individual do, who 
is determined to live godly in Christ Jesus, and 
follow after that purity in faith and practice which 
he believes Christ requires in his people now, as 
much as he did in his primitive churches ? What 
but make known his sentiments, with the scriptural 
reasons on which they are founded, to the particu- 
lar sooieiy with which he is connected, to see 
whether they will hear the voice of Christ or no ? 
This I have done, and have done it in a way that 
I thought liable to no exception, namely, by confer- 
ence. * • • • 

" I desire your prayers that I may be directed by 
God, and enabled to seek the true interest of relig- 
ion, though it should prove to be a distinct thing 
from my own temporal interest, &c. 

"Yours, J. B. 



» 



THE SANDEMANIANS. 46 

In consequence of his exertions, all the former 
members of the church renewed their covenant, ex- 
cept " scrupulous consciences or scandalous sin- 
ners.'^ The children of the former were admitted 
to baptism ; the latter were denied the privilege, and 
admonished to repent : but no new members Were 
adnutted without acknowledging their obligation to 
attend the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, and their 
intention by the help of the divine Spirit to act 
accordingly. 

The sect called Sandemanians appeared about 
this time in New England. The chief of this relig- 
ious party, firom whom their name is derived, was. 
Robert Sandeman, first a Congregational preacher 
at Edinburgh : he was a disciple of Mr. John Glas, 
from whom this denomination are called Glasites in 
Scotland. Sandeman came to New England, about 
the year 1764 ; his peculiar doctrines attracted 
much attention ; and societies were formed in Boston, 
Portsmouth, and several other places. 

This zealous reformer, with some of his allies, 
would have been very glad to have nimibered Mr. 
Belknap among their converts ; and his dissent from 
one prevailing custom of the New Engjand churches, 
probably gave them some hope of success. Their 
efforts for this end were unavailing, as the penetra- 
tion of that gentleman was not slow in discovering 
their design, though craftily hidden under various 
pretexts ; and all they effected was a misrepresentar 



46 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

tion of his character by Robert Sandeman, in a 
letter to one of his friends in London, which was 
read in their public meeting, April, 1769. 

The paragraph is as follows : 

" Mr. Belknap, a preacher at , who is so ex- 
asperated and wilfully blinds his eyes from the truth, 
that he has raised a bone of contention among his 
people. I had a long conference with him on the 
scriptures, but he is wilfully obstinate in his way. 
Thus we see the words of our Saviour justly come 
to pass, that they will not come unto him, &c." 

The above paragraph is an apt illustration of the 
way in which malice defeats itself. These violent 
expressions, instead of injuring the person to whom 
they were applied, only serve to show clearly the 
vexation and disappointment of Sandeman himself, 
at having failed to gain so important a convert ; and 
the blow aimed at Mr. Belknap's character recoils 
upon his own. 

He died m Danbury, Connecticut, 2d April, 1771, 
aged 53 years. His epitaph contains the distin- 
guishing tenet of the sect — "that the bare work 
of Jesus Christ, mthout a deed or thought on the 
part of man, is suflScient to present the chief of sin- 
ners spotless before God." 

For a further account of this sect, the curious 
reader is referred to the " View of Religions, by 
Hannah Adams." They seem to have passed quietly 
away, leaving behind scarcely a trace of their 



HISTORICAL INQUIRIES. 47 

existence except a few forgotten vohunes, and their 
place is occupied among us by more modem extrav- 
agances. 

Mr. Belknap was very modest in estimating his 
own powers, and willing to be guided in the use of 
them by friendly advice, as is shown by the follow- 
ing letter to Captain Waldron : 

'' Sir, 

" You cannot help having observed in me an 
inquisitive disposition in historical matters. I find it 
BO strong and powerful, and Tvithal so increasing with 
my opportunities for gratifying it, that it has become 
a question with me, whether I might not freely in- 
dulge it, with a view to the benefit of my fellow-men, 
as well as for my own improvement. As it is natural 
for us to inquire into the ancient state and circum- 
stances of the place of our own abode, and to enter- 
tain a peculiar fondness for such inquiries in prefer- 
ence to more foreign matters ; so I have applied 
myself in some leisure hours (making it of late my 
principal amusement) to learn what I can from 
printed books and manuscripts, and the information 
of aged and intelligent persons, of the former state 
and affairs of this town and province. 

" The knowledge I have yet obtained is at pres- 
ent very imperfect ; but I find a disposition to pursue 
it with a view to the collecting some memoirs, which 
may in future time, after much reviewing and cor- 



48 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

recting by myself and others, be made public. And 
as I have never in a formal manner acquainted you 
with it, I now take this method of doing it for this 
reason, namely, because I have such a value for 
your judgment, and must depend so much on your 
favor and assistance in the prosecution of such a 
work, that it would be arrogant in me to determine 
to pursue it without your approbation, and the 
promise of your help ; and I am loth to put you to 
the trouble of an immediate answer, but should be 
glad if you would think of it, and let me know your 
mind at such time and in such manner as will best 
suit you. 

" I desire you would speak freely ; and if you 
think that my age or abilities, or circumstances as a 
minister, or opportunities for collecting fit materials, 
or any other matters, are objections against my un- 
dertaking it, I shall immediately give up all thoughts 
of making public any thing of the kind, and shall 
confine myself entirely to my own amusement. 

"July 17th, 1772." 

A muster of militia was to take place in Dover in 
November, and Captain Waldron expressed a wish 
to Mr. Belknap, that he would preach a sermon to the 
soldiers on military duty. At first he declined, think- 
ing the subject not a fitting one for a clergyman ; 
but his own words are the best. 

" Such a discourse, on such an occasion, delivered 



INVITED TO ADDRESS THE MILITARY. 49 

by a statesman, with that flow of pathetic eloquence 
which the subject naturally tends to inspire, would 
be a most graceftd and pleasing entertainment, and 
might be reckoned the most useful performance of 
the day ; but for me to attempt any thing of the 
kind, would, I think, be rather improper. 

" The business of a gospel minister is to promote 
the kingdom of the Prince of Peace^ by enlightening 
the conscience, or reforming the morals of mankind ; 
but I do not at present conceive how such a formal 
discourse can tend to either of these purposes. 
Perhaps you may think that the same objection will 
lie against my engaging in another design, with 
which you are already acquainted ; but if I did not 
think it might be so managed as not only to be a 
detail of facts, but also a conveyance of reflections 
tending to the advancement of religion and morality, 
I would entirely lay it aside as unbecoming my pro- 
fession. ^An historian,' says a judicious author 
at my elbow, ' ought to demand of himself, at every 
touch, whether that reflection will assist in promot- 
ing the knowledge, virtue, and happiness of human 
nature : he ought to reject whatever does not carry 
that end in view.' " 

A week later, Mr. Belknap wrote as follows : 

" Sir, 

" My attempts for obtainmg a conference 
with you uDon the subject of your last week's letter 
4 



50 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

having proved ineffectual, I am not apprised of yoar 
sentiments on the objection which I made to the pro- 
posal. My desire . of gratifying you, added to the 
natural love which I bear to my country, and will- 
ingness to promote its best interests, has led me 
further to consider the matter which you referred to 
my attention ; and I have placed it in such a point 
of view as I think brings it under a moral consider- 
ation. 

^' War (though in some cases lawful and neces- 
sary) is such an evil as ought to be dreaded, and 
guarded against as much as is in the power of hu- 
man wisdom. Every community ought to use the 
most likely means to guard and protect itself against 
«very kind of injury, and maiutain that public peace 
which is so desirable and essential a part of public 
happiness ; without which, life, liberty, and prop- 
erty, cannot be safe. And if it should appear that 
the promoting military discipline is a means of pre- 
serving peace ; of rendering ourselves formidable, 
so as to keep an enemy from disturbing us ; then it 
ought to be encouraged as such, and not as a means 
of destroying mankind. 

" If I surround my house with sharp palisadoes, 
it is not from a desire of hurting my enemies, but to 
keep myself secure : if they will assault me, they 
must take the consequence." 



SERMON ON MILITARY DUTY. 51 

The sermon was accordingly written, and was 
preached at Dover, Nov. 10th, 1772, before his 
Excellency, John Wentworth, Esq., governor of His 
Majesty's province of New Hampshire, at a re- 
view of the second regiment of Foot in said province ; 
and met so favorable a hearing, that the officers re- 
quested a copy for the press, which was granted. 

This discourse was referred to by Governor Went- 
worth, in a letter to Mr. Belknap, written more than 
twenty years after its delivery, as having convinced 
him of the folly of attempting to destroy Christianity 
by force of arms, and afforded him consolation dur- 
ing the calamitous events of the French Revolution. 

The text was that reply of Jesus to Pilate, " K 
my kingdom were of this world, then would my ser- 
vants fight, that I should not be delivered to the 
Jews y but now is my kingdom not from hence." A 
few extracts will serve to show how the subject is 
treated. 

" The meek and compassionate Redeemer of the 
world, who ^ came not to destroy men's lives, but to 
save them,' though he commands his disciples to 
* live peaceably with all men, to be tender-hearted 
and forgiving, even toward their bitterest personal 
enemies,' yet does not expect that, considered as 
members of civil societies, they should tamely sub- 
mit to such injuries as tend to overthrow the peace 
and safety of the kingdoms of this world in which 
they dwell." 



52 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

" What a striking proof of the lawfuhiess of self- 
defence has our blessed Lord gi^en us in that noble 
testimony which he bore to ' the truth,' when he 
stood unjustly arraigned before Pilate's bar, ex- 
plaining and vindicating his claim to the kingdom 
of Israel ! In answer to Pilate's demands, * whether 
he was king of the Jews,' and * what he had done,' 
our Lord declares, ' My kingdom is not of this 
world : if my kingdom were of this world, then 
would my servants fight, that I should not be deliv- 
ered to the Jews ; but now is my kingdom not from 
hence.' By this * good confession,' he cleared him- 
self from the charge of being an enemy to Gsesar, 
and proved that he had no design to set up as a 
rival to the Roman government, yet still holding hia 
claim to the title of King, and declaring the nature 
of his kingdom to be entirely different from all the 
kingdoms of this world, which cannot subsist with* 
ont the means of self-defence. It is plain that 
Christ did not allow his disciples to fight in his de- 
fence ; for he had just before reproved Peter for 
drawing his sword and smiting the High Priest's 
servant, and it is as plain from our Lord's own de- 
claration, that if his kingdom had been of this world 
he would have allowed them to fight for him." * * 

"That Christ makes a distinction between his 
new kingdom and the ancient kingdom of Israel, 
appears from this clause, * but now is my kingdom 
not from hence.' The word now implies that there 



SERMON ON MILITARY DUTY. 53 

was some alteration made in the nature of his king- 
dom, or that what was before his kingdom did now 
cease to be so, and give way to a mor^ pure and 
spiritual dispensation." ♦ * * 

" We are, then, to consider our Lord's words as 
holding forth to us these two contrasted truths : 
That when God's kingdom subsisted under a tem- 
poral form, as a kingdom of this world, it was both 
lawful and necessary that it should be defended by 
the sword. But, 

" That that ancient constitution is now dissolved, 
and the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom, not 
of this world, and therefore not capable of being 
defended by the sword." 

"Whoever understands the nature of Christ's 
kingdom must be sensible that an attempt to de- 
fend it by arms would be equally rash and ridicu- 
lous, it being absolutely impossible to do it. Men 
may defend what they call the kingdom of Christ ; 
they may defend a form of Christianity which has 
been interwoven with their civil government, and 
makes a part of their constitution. Such establish- 
ments may be defended and maybe destroyed by 
the sword ; and if every such establishment were 
actually destroyed, the kingdom of Christ would 
still subsist unhurt ; for it is not in the poorer of men 
or devils to. abolish that glorious constitution which 
is " built on the foundation of the aposdes and pro- 



64 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

phets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief comer- 
stone.' " * * * 

" It is in vain, then, to think of using the sword 
in defence of Christ's kingdom : it is so spiritual and 
heavenly in its nature, that no weapon formed 
against it shall prosper, nor can any weapon used in 
its defence be of the least avail. It is able to sub- 
sist in the world, not only without help from the 
kingdoms of the world, but even in defiance of all 
their art and strength, all their malice and emmty, 
against it. And as it receives no support from, so 
it does no injury to them. It does not interfere 
with any of their natural rights and privileges. It 
makes no alteration in their constitutions. It does 
not deprive the prince of the allegiance of his sub- 
jects, nor the subjects of the protection of their sove- 
reign ; but it leaves all matters relating to civil 
society and government in the same state as it found 
them, only enforcing the natural duty of subjection 
and obedience to the higher powers from the noblest 
motives ; and as to the natural right which all the 
kingdoms of this world have to defend themselves 
by the sword, Christ has never made the least alter- 
ation, but has rather implicitly recognized and 
allowed it." 

The Governor had a high opinion of Mr. Belknap, 
and wished him to educate his nephew. To induce 
him to undertake this charge, he wrote the following 
letter : 



CORRBSPONDBNCB WITH GOV. WENTWORTH. 55 
"Portsmouth, Janaary 1st, 1770. 

"Rev. Sir, 

" Being very solicitous for the future wel- 
fare of mj nephew Mark Wentworth (who is now 
more thsm seven years old), which I know wholly 
depends on a wise, kind, and virtuous education ; 
and considering the utter impossibility of my having 
sufficient time to undertake so important and so 
interesting a charge ; I am therefore induced to 
request this essential favor of you. This boy is 
intimately dear to me. Fine health, a good dispo- 
sition, and great vivacity, promise every improve- 
ment if under your care. Permit me, then, to beg 
you '11 receive him into your family : under such 
circumstances, I shall delight in any expense, and, 
relying on your goodness, have no terms to propose, 
only that you '11 take the lad, and give me leave to 
embrace yours : which will extremely oblige, . 
" Reverend Sir, 

"Your most obedient Servant, 
"J. Wentworth." 

The following is an extract from the reply to this 
letter : 

"Dover, January 8th, 1770. 

" Mat it please tour Excellenct, 

" I acknowledge myself much honored and 
greatly obliged by your Excellency's good opinion 
of me, implied in the very important request made 



56 LIFE OP DR. BBLKNAP. 

by your letter of the 1st inst. Penmt me, Sir, to 
express my sincere wish, that I may not be so un- 
happy as to forfeit your favorable sentiments, by the 
answer which I am obliged to return. 

" Were my situation such as to permit my close 
attention to the business of education, nothing would 
equal the pleasure with which I should embrace such 
an opportunity of showing my duty and respect to 
your Excellency, and my tender regard to the child 
who is the object of so much affection. But divine 
Providence has committed to my immediate and par- 
ticular charge an increasing family, the due regu- 
lation of which requires as much of my time and 
thoughts as will consist with the pastoral care of a 
great number of immortal souls, to whom I must 
devote the principal part of my time ; being obliged 
thereto, not only by my solemn vows, but by their 
kindness to me, and the competent provision which 
they have made for my support. 

" That sense of my duty which lies always on my 
conscience, forbids my admitting of any unnecessary 
interruption to its faithful discharge ; and that im- 
provement of my time therein, which I am bound to 
by the most sacred engagements, leaves me ho va- 
cant hours for so constant, regular, and critical an 
attention, as the education of a child of such a rank 
in life, and such raised expectations, demands ; and 
should I give him only such an irregular and im- 
methodical education as my present circumstances 



DECLINES THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH. 57 

will allow, it would be a mispence of money, and 
would afford neither profit to the child, nor credit to 
myself. 

" If, to use your Excellency's words, you * find 
the utter impossibility of your having sufficient time 
to undertake so important and interesting a charge,' 
by reason of the public business with which our gra- 
cious sovereign hath intrusted your Excellency, I 
may justly hope to stand excused in your view from 
enga^g in that which would in any measure hin- 
der me from faithfully discharging the trust com- 
mitted to me by the Supreme Ruler. 

" Captain Waldron has made me a visit, to sec- 
ond your Excellency's request, and offer me his son 
of the same age as a companion to your nephew ; 
and could I attend the business, I would readily un- 
dertake it; but I find so many weighty reasons 
operating the contrary way, that I must deny my- 
self the pleasure which would otherwise result from 
it; nor is this the only time that I have been 
obliged to withstand pressing requests of the same 
nature from kind and worthy friends both here and 
elsewhere." 

The ^ competent provision,' mentioned in this let- 
ter, was a salary of <£ 100 a year, to be paid once in 
six months ; and the failure of the parish to fulfil 
their obligations in this particular, finally caused his 
departure from Dover, after a great deal of suffer- 



68 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

ing. A letter to the selectmen in October, 1773, 
showB the difficulty with which any payment was 
obtained. 

"Gentlemen, 

" As the appointment of the same person to 
be collector both of the province and parish taxes has 
been a detriment to me, because my salary has not 
been paid so punctually as when the collector for 
the parish had no other office ; and as I understand 
that the collector this year has an additional service 
to perform, and is to pay a large sum to the county 
treasurer in December, and to the province treas- 
urer in January, whereby I have reason to fear, 
from former experience of this kind, that I shall not 
be able to obtain from him a seasonable supply of 
money for necessary purposes at this time of the 
year ; this is therefore to put you in mind, that, by 
the terms of my settlement which you may see in 
the parish records, I have a right to the payment 
pf my salary every six months ; and if these terms 
were complied with, I should have had fifty pounds 
paid me by the 19th of September. 

"I desire therefore. Gentlemen, that you would 
consider my claim of fifty pounds in September to 
be prior to the demands, either of the county or 
province treasurers, and would direct the collector 
accordingly. 

" That the payment of it may not be difficult, I 



LETTEE TO A. COLLEGIAN. 69 

shall consider what I have received by the contribu- 
tion, and. of particular persons with whom I have deal- 
ings, as part of it ; so that I suppose, if ten or fifteen 
pounds is paid me by the collector by the 19th of 
November, it will be suflficient to answer my present 
purposes." 

Mr. Belknap possessed one important qualificar 
tion for the ministerial office, which requires him 
who holds it to be the adviser or reprover, as occasion 
demands, of those who are under his pastoral care ; 
by this is meant a singular felicity in expressing dis- 
agreeable truths in a pleasant manner, so that no ill 
feeling was roused in the person addressed. One 
of his friends used to say he was the only person 
within his knowledge, who could communicate to par 
rents the fact of a child's want of capacity, without 
giving ofiFence ; and he says himself, ^ Where the 
matter of any subject is in itself disagreeable, it is 
no easy thing to represent it in such a manner as 
will make it agreeable.' Yet the following letter to 
a young collegian, though on a very unpleasant sub- 
ject, his own follies and sins, is written in a spirit so 
truly kind and Christian, that it could hardly have 
been unwelcome or disregarded : 

"Dear Sir, 

" I hardly know how to address you on such 
an occasion, as letters of this kind seldom gain a 



60 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

fevorable reception, and I have exposed myself to 
resentment by such means ; but an honest regard to 
your welfare must prevail over every other consider- 
ation, and I am certain I cannot deserve contempt, 
though I should chance to experience it. 

" My indistinct knowledge of particular circum- 
stances may apologize for mistakes ; but the common 
report concerning your behaviour, and my knowledge 
of the temptations of a college life, have for some 
time past given me great concern on your account, 
and strongly urged me to write to you ; but hoping 
that the advice of your worthy President, whose 
friendship for your family is very great, would have 
some good effect upon you, I forbore till I heard 
the melancholy account of the public disgrace to 
which you have exposed yourself. And now, my 
dear friend, I must express my very hearty sorrow 
to you on the occasion. 

" I have been a witness to the tender solicitude 
of your worthy parents concerning you, ever since 
you have been at college. When they have exerted 
themselves so much beyond their ability to give you 
an education, and experienced such kind assistance 
from their friends in hope that it would turn to good 
account, and that, all would be richly repaid by 
your improvement in knowledge and virtue, and 
other amiable accomplishments for usefulness in the 
world, — -how mortifying must it be to them to hear 
of your unworthy behavior, and exposing yourself 
to ihe reproaches of a malignant world ! 



MINISTERIAL TRIALS. 61 

" Were the eccentricities of your conduct con^ 
fined within the circle of your intimate acquaintance, 
or known only to God and yourself, they would call 
for deep self-abasement and humiliation ; but when 
they are so public, how much louder is the call to a 
serious consideration of their unhappy effects on 
your own reputation and usefulness, as well as their 
pernicious influence upon others ! 

" My dear friend, I am far from thinking you the 
worst or most abandoned of sinners. I know very 
well the temptations to which you are exposed, hav- 
ing experienced them all ; and I know the good 
effects of faithful admonition. You cannot but 
know, in your retired hours, that you have disgraced 
yourself and offended your best fnends, however 
fond a youthful imagination may be of palliating 
crimes ; * *. * and you cannot take it amiss, that 
I should assume this character, and advise you to 
wipe away the stain you have brought on your char- 
acter, by a serious repentance and visible amend- 
ment." 

Mr. Belknap's life was now one of constant and 
laborious occupation. Devoted to the duties of 
his calling, to which he would gladly have given his 
whole tinie, the failure of the parish to pay him his 
salary, which was barely suflScient for the support of 
his family, obliged him to practise the most severe 
economy in the management of household affairs ; 



62 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

and, as his children advanced, the want of a school 
compelled him to become their instructor. 

The unsettled state of public affairs, the prevailing 
discontent with the mother country, and the effects 
which the policy pursued were producing, are thus 
forcibly described in a letter to Mr. John Stafford, 
a dissenting clergyman in liondon : 

^* The paper on which I write is the manufecture 
of this country, where many valuable arts and man- 
ufactures, unknown till of late, are now gaining 
ground, and yield a pleasant prospect of our future 
wealth and greatness. If tiie present despotic sys- 
tem formed on your side the water is continued, 
we expect to see our seaport towns diminished ; but 
our inland territories will be vastly improved, and a 
foundation laid for a considerable ^npire in time to 
come. Your ministry and parliament are undesign- 
edly taking the most direct steps to accomplish this 
end. Had the lenient spirit of George tiie Second's 
reign continued to this time, our pockets would have 
been emptied, and our lands mortgaged to the Brit- 
ish merchants, while we should have had nothing to 
show for them but idle superfluities. 

" But the rage of jealous prerogative has awak- 
ened our native spirit of freedom, and taught us the 
wisdom of saving our money, and improving our own 
country. Your manufacturers are frequently com- 
ing over to us ; and every regiment sent to keep us 



LETTER ON POLITICAL AFFAIRS. 63 

in awe, furnishes artists of various kinds, who prefer 
a quiet settlement in their 'proper business, to the 
noise and discipline of a camp, and, by deserting 
their military slavery, serve this community in an 
honorable and important way. 

"The tyranny formerly established in Great 
Britain drove our forefathers hither, and began the 
settlement of this valuable country. Wiser princes 
who succeeded, reaped the benefit thereof, in the • 
commerce, bravery, and affection of this people. 

"The tyranny now establishing will, while it 
subsists, hinder our being serviceable to the British 
kingdom, but will cause such a vast increase of 
power as will make future monarchs esteem Ameri- 
can loyalty the brighteist jewel in their crown. 

" These sentiments are not the reveries of enthu- 
siasm, but the most probable consequences that can 
be foreseen. However, I can venture to assure you, 
there is not a man in America who would wish for 
a divorce from the British nation, if the equity and 
moderation of the last reign could be restored." 

Dover, which is now one of our principal manu 
facturing towns, had not at that time made use of 
the power to create wealth that lay concealed in the '^' 
waters of the Cocheco ; and the force of steam was 
yet undeveloped, so that all the spinning and weav- 
ing was household labor. To encourage industry, 
spinning matches were held from time to time ; mi 



64 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

an account of one at Mr. Belknap's house is given 
in a small memorandum, as follows : 

"After the laudable example of the ladies in 
divers towns of this and the neighboring provinces, 
on Thursday last, about forty ladies met at the 
minister's house in Dover, some of whom brought 
with them flax and cotton to spin, and others the 
yam ready spun ; and, after spending the day in a 
very industrious and agreeable manner, they gene- 
rously presented to Mrs. Belknap the fruits of their 
labor, which amounted to 242 skeins of seven knots 
each, beside the surplus of their materials, which 
the time did not allow them to spin. They behaved 
with the utmost order and decency, and were enter, 
tained with the best refreshments the season afiForded, , 
which were kindly and plentifully supplied by those 
who were well-wishers to industry.'* 



JOURNEY TO DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. 65 

CHAPTER m. 

1774—1782. 

Journey to Dartmouth College, — CorreBpondence 
mth Colonel Phillips, — Excitement at Ports- 
mouth, — Address to People of New Hampshire, 
—Address to British Officers, — Extracts from 
Commonplace Booh, — Breaking out of Hostili- 
ties, — Mr, Belknap is invited to he Chaplain to 
the Troops at Cambridge, — Visits the Camp, — 
Letters of Br, A, Eliot, 

In the summer of 1774, Mr. Belknap journeyed 
to Hanover, to attend the Commencement at Dart- 
mouth College. The distance to be travelled from 
Dover was one hundred and thirty miles, which oc- 
cupied nearly six days. He left home on Thursday, 
August 18th, at six o'clock in the morning. The 
first day's ride was enlivened by such companions 
as chance threw in his way ; the second day he 
joined several gentlemen who had the same object 
in view ; and before they reached their destination, 
the party consisted of eight or ten, who at Lime 
were joined by a number of gentlemen from the 
College, to which they rode through the rain, and 
arrived about two in the afternoon of Tuesday the 
23d. The intervening Sabbath was passed at Ply- 
mouth, and Mr. Belknap's journal says : 
5 



66 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

" Bj mvitation from Mr. Ward, the minister, I 
preached. The congregation was considerably large 
and very attentive ; the meeting-house small, but 
well-contrived. Mr. Ward informs me the church 
consists of forty members, has two ruHng elders and 
two deacons. There have been two seasons of re- 
ligious impression among them, one about four, and 
the other five years ago, when divers were added to 
the church. The way of admitting members is by 
relation ; the practice of owning the covenant is Isdd 
aside. Mr. Ward appears to be, and bears the 
character of, a very pious, meek, and charitable man. 
He^as eleven children." 

The following account of his visit is transcribed 
from the same journal, which gives curious but inter- 
esting details of the early condition of this literary 
institution: 

" Dined with the President (Eleazer Wheelock), 
who appeared somewhat disappointed at the Gover- 
nor's not coming. After dmner, walked down to 
Connecticut river opposite to the college, where is a 
ferry, — observed on a tree where the bark was cut 
ofif, the figure of an Indian painted, which was done 
by one of the Indian scholars. 

"At evening prayers, by the President's desire, I 
preached a sermon in tiie college hall; — supped 
and lodged at the President's. In the evening, the 
front of the college was illuminated. 



DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. 67 

" The plain where the college stands is large and 
pleasant, and the land good. The college is about 
seventy or eighty feet long and thirty broad, con- 
taining twenty chambers. The hall is a distinct 
building j which also serves for a meeeting-house ; 
and the kitchen is in one end of it. The President's 
house stands on a rising ground east of the college ; 
and to the north of this is the place proposed to build 
the new college, near a quarry of grey stone, which is 
intended for the material of the building. There is 
another quarry much larger, about three quarters of 
a mile distant. The tutors are Messrs. Woodward, 
Ripley, Wheelock, and Smith ; the two former are 
married to the President's daughters. Several 
tradesmen and taverners are settled round the col- 
lege, in good buildings, which gives the place the 
appearance of a village. 

" Wednesday, Aug. 24th. — ^Walked to the mills, 
about a. mile distant. Here are a saw and grist- 
mill, and a house in which six scholars reside, who 
take the mills to the halves, and live a kind of philo- 
sophic, laborious life: they maintain themselves 
by their labor. Their house, which is entirely of 
their own construction, is a curiosity. It consists 
of one room and one chamber, the stairs outside. 
The chamber is arched with boards, for the better 
sound of the voice in singing. The chairs and 
tables are contrived in an odd manner, and they 
have a wooden clock. At the door is an upright 



68 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

pipe, with a spout like a pump, which is continually 
running with brook water, conveyed down a covered 
descent ; so that they have only to hold a vessel 
under it, and it is immediately filled. They have 
a neat poultry house, built of sawed strips of wood, 
in the form of a cob-house, with four apartments. 

" I went round and visited all the Indian scholars, 
most of whom could speak good English ; one little 
boy was so shy that he would not be seen. Here is a 
likely ingenious Frenchman, Joseph Marie Verrueil, 
who came hither of his own accord, and, being 
taught to read the Bible and judge for himself, has 
now become a thorough Protestant. 

" The President appears to be much affected with 
the reports that are circulated concerning the bad- 
ness of the provisions, on which account some have 
left the college. Last evening he entered into a 
large and warm vindication of himself, declaring 
that the reports are all false, and that he did not 
doubt but ' God would bring forth his righteousness 
as the light, and his judgment as the noon-day.' 
He has had the mortification to lose two cows, and 
the rest were greatly hurt by a contagious distem- 
per, so that they ^ould not have a full supply of 
milk ; and once the pickle leaked out of the beef 
barrel, so that the meat was not sweet. He had 
also been ill-used with respect to the purchase of 
some wheat, so that they had smutty bread for a 
while, &c. The scholars, on the other hand, say 



DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. 69 

they scarce ever have any tiimg but pork and greens, 
without vinegar, and pork and potatoes ; that fresh 
meat comes but very seldom, and that the victuals 
are very badly dressed. The trustees have drawn 
up something of a vindication, after a full inquiry 
into this matter. 

" I observed, in the President's prayers, such ex- 
pressions as these ; speaking of this institution, 
* Thou thyself hast founded it. Thou hast preserved 
and supported it, when its beginnings were small, 
and in the opinion of many contemptible, and thy 
gentleness hath made it great.' There seems to be 
also loo much said in the exercises concerning its 
enemies ; and the college is constantly spoken of as 
in a state of victory over them, which serves to keep 
alive a spirit that I think ought to be discouraged. 

" About eleven o'clock, the commencement began 
in a large tent erected on the east side of the col- 
lege, and covered with boards ; scaflfolds and seats 
being prepared. 

" The President began with a prayer in the usual 
strain. Then an English oration was spoken by one 
of the Bachelors, complimenting the trustees, &c. 
A syllogistic disputation on this question ; Amicitia 
vera non est absque amore divina. Then a clio- 
sophic oration. Then an anthem, ' The voice of my 
beloved sounds,' &c. Then a forensic dispute — 
JVTiether Christ died for all men ? which was well 
supported on both sides. Then an anthem, ' Lift 
up your heads, ye gates,' &c. 



70 LIFB OF DR. BELKNAP. 

" The company were invited to dine at the Pres- 
ident's and the hall. The Connecticut lads and 
lasses, I observed, walked about hand in hand in pro- 
cession, as 'tis said they go to a wedding. 

"Afternoon. The exercises began with a Latin 
oration on the state of society, by Mr. Ripley. 
Then an English Oration on the imitative artSy by 
Mr. J. Wheelock. The degrees were then conferred ; 
and, in addition to the usual ceremony of the book, 
diplomas were delivered to the candidates, with this 
form of words : ^ Admitto vos ad primum (vel secun- 
dum) gradum in artibus pro more Academiarum in 
Anglia, vobisque trade hunc librum, una cum potes- 
tate publico prelegendi ubicunque ad hoc munus 
avocati fueritis, (to the masters was added, fuistis 
vel fueritis) cujus rei haec diploma membrana scripta 
est testimonium.' Mr. Woodward stood by the 
President, and held the book and parchments, de- 
livering and exchan^g them as need required. 
Rev. Mr. Benjamin Pomeroy, of Hebron, was admit* 
ted to the degree of Doctor in Divinity. 

" After this, McGregore and Swetland, two 
Bachelors, spoke a dialogue of Lord Lyttleton's be- 
tween Apicius and Darteneuf, upon good eating and 
drinking. The Mercury (who comes in at the close 
of the piece) performed his part but clumsily ; but 
the two epicures did well, and the President laughed 
as heartily as the rest of the audience ; though, con- 
sidering the circumstances, it might admit of some 



DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. 71 

doubt, whether the dialogue were really a burlesque, 
or a compliment to the college. 

" An anthem and prayer concluded the public 
exercises. Much decency and regularity were ob- 
servable through the day, in the numerous attending 
concourse of people. 

" There is a very fine brass horizontal dial, fixed on 
a post in the President's yard ; it was given by Capt. 
Holland ; it cost ten guineas. The latitude of the 
place is 43^ 38' N. 

" I saw the hut where the President first lived ; 
it is a log-house, about twenty feet square, but will 
soon rot, it being built mostly of beech sticks. This 
is called the ' first sprout of the college.* The 
scholars bmlt huts round it to live in. It is really 
surprising to observe the improvements that have 
been made in four years. 

" The college library is kept at Mr. Woodward's. 
It is not large, but there are some very good books 
in it ; the seal is also kept there. They have two 
good globes of eighteen inches, and a good solar 
microscope. 

"Thursday, August 25th. The trustees were 
upon business all day. Colonel Phillips gave six 
hundred pounds for Christianizing the Indians. 

" I attended, with Beveral others, the examination 
of Joseph Johnson, an Indian, educated in this 
school, who, with the rest of the New England In- 
dians, are about moving up into the country of the 



72 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

Six Nations, where they have a tract of land fifteen 
miles square given them. He appeared to be an 
ingenious, sensible, serious young man ; and we gave 
him an approhamus^ of which there is a copy on the 
next page. After which, at three P.M. he preached 
in the college hall, and a collection of twenty-seven 
dollars and a half was made for him. The auditors 
were agreeably entertained. 
" The approharmbs is as follows : 

"These may certify all whom it may concern, 
that Joseph Johnson, an Indian of the Mohegan 
tribe, in Connecticut, has offered himself before us, 
who were providentially together, for examination 
as a candidate to preach the Gospel, with a principal 
view to the benefit of his own nation. We have ex- 
amined him as to his knowledge and understanding 
in the doctrines of the Gospel and experimental relig- 
ion, and other accomplishments needful for his use- 
fulness among his own nation, and also the churches 
in a Christian land, where in Providence he may be 
called and have opportunity to preach. We are well 
satisfied as to his qualifications, and heartily recom-- 
mend him for said purpose. 

Lemuel Hedge, of Warwick. 

Jeremy Belknap, Dover. 

JosiAH Dana, Lebanon. 

WiLLAM Conant, Lime. 

SiLVANUs Ripley, Tutor of Dartmouth College. 
"Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, Aug. 25th, 1774." 



RETURNS HOME. 73 

The next morning, Mr. Belknap commenced the 
journey home. The Sabbath was passed at Keene, 
where he says : 

"By desire of Mr. Jones, who is preaching 
here, I preached. The congregation pretty large 
and very attentive. Two prisoners in chains attend- 
ed meeting ; they are here under confinement for 
murder. 

" Mr. Blake, at whose house I kept, was taken 
from here by the Indians, in 1746 or 7, and kept 
two years. Much mischief has been formerly done 
here by them. It was formerly called Upper 
Ashuelot. 

"Wednesday, August 31st. Got home, and foimd 
all well there." 

On the ride up, one of his companions for a time 
was Colonel William Stark, brother to General Stark. 
While riding through Romney, he narrated to Mr. 
Belknap the story of their surprise by the Indians, 
when hunting there in 1752, which is detailed in 
the Life of General Stark, in " Sparks's American 
Biography." On his return. Colonel Phillips, of 
Exeter, was in company with him, the founder of 
Phillips's Academy at that place, and a man of rare 
benevolence, which the following incident will serve 
to illustrate. 

In 1776, when the war troubles were severely 
felt in Boston, a grandson of Dr. Sewall, who had 



74 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

been maintained in Harvard College for three years 
and a half by the charity of friends in that city, -was 
left without resources by the disperion of his bene- 
factors, which rendered it impossible to collect their 
subscription money. Mr. Belknap was interested 
in him, not only as a worthy youth, of excellent 
abilities, whom a liberal education would render a 
valuable member of society, but also as the grand- 
son of the religious teacher and friend of his own 
childhood, whose memory he fondly cherished. 
Accordingly, he wrote letters to several clergymen, 
asking them to interest their " wealthy and generous 
friends " in the matter. One letter was addressed 
to the Reverend Mr. Rogers, of Exeter, and occa- 
sioned the following correspondence with Colonel 
Phillips : 

<" Exeter, 2Sd March, 1776. 

"Rev. Sir, 

"The Rev. Mr, Rogers has made me acquainted 
with the (even) necessitous circumstances of a grand- 
son of the venerable and truly pious Br. Sewall, of 
blessed memory. 

" You are pleased, dear sir, to interest yourself 
in his behalf, and by this mean I come to share the 
sacred pleasure with you. My love to the good 
doctor and his church, afflicted and scattered 
abroad, and of consequence less able to afford relief 
in this case, induces me very eagerly to embrace 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH COL. PHILLIPS. 75 

8uch an opportunity of expressing a most cordial 
affection for one whom the good people of Boston, 
of that church in particular, must wish well to ; and, 
as I trust it is a service acceptable to God, how 
happy am I, and how thankful ought I to be ! 

" I now send you fifty pounds, hoping, if after the 
frugal expenditure thereof, there shoiild be occasion 
for more, you will be pleased to ^ve yourself the 
trouble — no! the pleasure-^ of letting me know 
what further sum would be serviceable. 

" I am, with respect, yours affectionately, 
" John Phillips." 

Mr. Belknap replied as follows : 
" To John Phillips, Esq., Exeter. 

"March 25th, 1776. 

" Worthy Sir, 

" Not only the generous donation which you 
have been pleased to make toward the education of 
a much esteemed youth, but the obliging manner in 
which it is conveyed, demands my thankful ac- 
knowledgments to the Giver of every good and 
perfect gift, that he has blessed you with such ability 
and inclination to be rich in good works. I thank 
you also, dear sir, for the honor you have done me, 
in passing it through my hands, and that you have 
thereby increased the ' sacred pleasure ' I feel, in 
being anywise instrumental to promote the comfort 
and usefulness of a descendant of that excellent 
person whose memory you so justly revere. The 



76 LIFE OF DR. BKLKNAP. 

assistance you have hereby afiForded him is so liberal, 
as, I imagine, will supersede the necessity of any 
farther application ; but should that necessity appear, 
I shall take the liberty you give me of mentioning it 
to you. 

" I am, Sir, with the greatest respect, your much 
obliged and very humble servant, " J. B. 

In June, 1774, during the excitement occasioned 
by the Boston Port Act, the town of Portsmouth 
chose a committee of correspondence, who sent a 
circular letter to all the towns of the province, and 
the form of a covenant, to be signed by all adult 
persons of both sexes, to the end that ho more 
goods might be imported from Great Britain. * The 
subsequent general agreement to that efifect is mat- 
ter of history ; but this was a private and premature 
attempt, and was looked upon by Mr. Belknap 
as highly improper and assuming, and he refused to 
sign the covenant. 

He said tyranny in one shape was as odious as 
tyranny in another, and that this attempt of a few 
unauthorized individuals to impose their opinions 
upon other people, under penalty of being consid- 
ered enemies of the common safety, was as danger- 
ous in its tendency as any acts of the British Parlia- 
ment it was intended to oppose, and unworthy the 
descendants of men who had fled to this country to 
avoid similar impositions in England. That it was 



ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF N. HAMPSHIRE. 77 

very oppressive and unjust to the merchants, who 
had ordered their goods, and would not have time to 
countermand them ; and that it would create hatred 
and ill will in the community, as those who did not 
sign the covenant would be looked upon as enemies 
to their fellow-citizens, merely because they differed 
in opinion on a point of a political nature, which 
ought not to produce any such effect. That such a 
measure concerned all the colonies ; and for one or 
two to come forward without the prospect of being 
supported by the rest, was to rush upon their own 
ruin. The result of the matter was, that the select- 
men and committee of correspondence in Dover met, 
and agreed to wait the decision of the approaching 
Congress upon the subject. 

The neighboring provinces were not slow to aid 
suffering Massachusetts, and provisions and other 
necessaries were sent to Boston for the poor. To 
assist in promotmg this work, Mr. Belknap wrote an 
address to the people of New Hampshire, on the 
Boston Port Act, which shows that the character of 
that city for benevolence was even then of long 
standing. It has since been well sustained. 

" To the inhabitants of the province of New Hamp- 
shire. 

" Remember them that are in b(hids as bound with 
them, and them that suffer adversity as being your- 
selves also in the body. 



78 life of dr. belknap. 

"My Dear Brethren, 

" Our late house of Deputies, which met at 
Exeter, haviiig recommended it to the several towns 
in this province to consider the distressed situation 
of our poor oppressed brethren in Boston, who are 
suffering the rigor of a cruel and unjust act of par- 
liament which deprives them of the means of subsist- 
ence for an indefinite time, and lend them what 
help we can afford to support them in their sufferings ; 
I beg leave to lay before you some considerations, 
which may serve to show you, not how much they 
needf for that your own humanity must inform you, 
but how much they deserve your assistance. 

" The people of that town and colony have ever 
been remarkable for their humanity and generosity 
to the distressed. Their bounty has been extended 
to Jamaica, Nevis, Carolina, and other places which 
havo suffered by fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and 
other calamities ; yea, London itself has experienced 
their kindness, when, by the fire in 1666, great num- 
bers there were reduced to poverty. 

"To their tender and benevolent hand this pro- 
vince in particular is greatly indebted, if not for its 
existence,, yet certamly for its protection and sup- 
port, both in matters of civil government, and in the 
furious Indian wars during those tortj years we 
were united to that colony. The settlement here 
must have been broken up, had we been left to stand 
alone, vexed as we were by intestine divisions and 



ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF N. HAMPSHIRE. 79 

the want of an orderly government, laboring under 
poverty, and attacked by a savage enemy, whose 
tender mercies were cruelty. The sense of their 
kindness was most gratefully expressed in a letter 
written by President Cutts and his council, in 1680, 
to that colony, upon the separation which then took 
place by the king's authority. And smce that time, 
every one that is acquainted with the state of this 
province knows, that it owes much of its importance 
to the neighborhood of the Massachusetts govern- 
ment. 

" Though the people of Boston have themselves 
suflfered greatly by fires, and by the frequent spread- 
ing of the small pox among tiiem, yet they have 
always been at a prodigious expense in supporting 
the poor, most of whom are not natives of the place, 
but strangers who have fallen in among them. For 
several years past, as I have it from the best au- 
thority, their annual poor's bill has amounted to 
about two thousand pounds sterling ; besides which, 
there is a voluntary quarterly contribution for the 
poor at a public evening lecture in Faneuil HaU. 

" Distressed persons of all sorts have ever found 
Boston the best place to go to for relief and assist- 
ance. Prisoners of war have found there the kind- 
est treatment, and returned capfives have been 
received with the tenderest commiseration. Mr. 
Williams, of Deerfield, in the narrative of his cap- 
tivity, bears them this testimony : " The charity of 



80 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

the whole country of Canada, though moved with 
the doctrine of merits, does not come up to the 
charity of Boston alone, where notions of merit are 
rejected." 

" Now shall such a people as this sufiFer unpitied, 
unassisted ? He who hath established this rule, 
* The liberal deviseth liberal things, and by liberal 
things shall he stand,' has disposed the hearts of 
our brethren in the southern colonies to contribute 
handsomely already ; and, when the crops come in, 
we expect they will do much more. And shall 
not we, though our ability is but small in propor- 
tion to theirs, do what we can to enable our breth- 
ren who are foremost in the conflict, to maintain the 
cause in which they are engaged by a firm and 
manly perseverance ? Will not such communications 
of charity strengthen the bonds of society, and endear 
us to each other ? And when a firm union is thus 
cemented, happy in our mutual affection, in the 
increased cultivation of our lands, in our frugality 
and economy, we shall securely bid defiance to all 
the enemies of our peace, and leave this land of 
Uberty a sacred legacy to pur posterity. 

* Terra potens armis, atque ubere glebse.* 

"Amicus Patri^." 

The conclusion of the above piece shows the 
writer to have been a true * son of liberty.' It was 
published in the New Hampshire Gazette, and was 



BRITISH TROOPS IN BOSTON. 81 

followed by a notification to convene in town meeting, 
to grant relief to the poor in Boston. At the time 
of its publication, the town-clerk of Boston was in 
Dover ; and the governor, in one of his letters to 
Lord Dartmouth on the state of the province, attrib- 
uted it to him as being a zealous leader of the popu- 
lar opposition. The letter forms No. 23 of the ^ 
appendix to the History of New Hampshire, and the 
mistake is corrected in a note at the bottom of the 
page, which is as follows : 

" The publication here referred to was written 
by a person whom the governor did not suspect, and 
the town-clerk knew nothing of it." Appendix, No. - 
30, gives the address itself, but with pio hint as to 
the authorship ; and were it not for the imperfect 
manuscript remaining among Mr. Belknap's papers, 
the writer would still be unknown. 

Governor Gage had, at this time, a large body of 
troops in Boston, to the great annoyance of the in- 
habitants ; and more were arriving as the crisis of 
the controversy between the mother <;ountry and the 
colonies approached. In September, Mr. Belknap 
wrote an address to the ofl&cers, calculated to make 
them very mtich ashamed of tjieir position. It was 
intended for the Massachusetts Spy ; where, how- 
ever, it did not appear. Whether it was printed 
elsewhere, is not known. 



6. 



82 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

" To the Gentlemen of the Anny, now encamped 
on Boston Common. 

"September, lt74. 
" Every one who understands the importance 
of your profession knows it to be noble, generous,.and 
humane ; noble, as it is influenced by the love of 
glory ; generous, as it disdains the low arts by which 
superiority may be ollien gaiined ; and humane, as it 
seeks the welfare of mankind. You are justly en- 
titled the guardians of the state, as the design of 
your equipment is to defend from every hostile 
attack that system of virtuous liberty which is but 
another name for the British constitution. Your 
valor and pnidence have been signalized in the 
greatest dangers, and you were in the road to honor 
and preferment. 

" But, gentlemen, I pity you, — what have you 
don6 to deserve such disgrace ? You are sent over 
into America for the meanest and basest purposes ; 
to terrify the wretched inhabitants of this oppressed 
town with the apprehension of being murdered in 
the streets in some insignificant night-brawl ; and to 
check that noble spirit which once animated their 
predecessors to brave every danger, to secure liberty 
and peace to their posterity, and which still breathes 
in our present exertions to tiie same worthy and vir- 
tuous purposes. 

" Were you employed like the victorious troops 
under the late illustrious Duke of Cumberland, to 



HIS ADDRESS TO BRITISH OFFICERS. 88 

Suppress a rebellion excited by the avowed enemies 
of the British crown, — had you any prospect of 
meeting an armed foe in the field of battle, and there 
^ving proof of your superior skill and courage, 
your breasts would ^ow with martial ardor, and you 
would have something in view, worthy the dignity 
and design of your noble profession. But, gentle- 
men, you must be ashamed when you consider that 
the noblest purpose for which you can be here em- 
ployed, though you are ever so successful, will not 
raise your characters above the rank of a constable 
or a watchman ; you will have nobody to encounter, 
unless some hdrbramed rioters should disturb the 
silence of the night with their senseless vociferations, 
and amuse themselves with the rattEng of broken win- 
dows. The highest manoeuvres in which you can then 
engage will be street firings, and the fiercest oppo- 
sition you can expect will be the tiirowing of brick- 
bats, in whiqh exercise the despicable, chimney- 
sweeper, perched on the top of his fuliginous pinnacle, 
will have a manifest advantage over you. 

" Should you be called to an . honorable engage- 
ment with an equal or superior number of troops, 
disciplined like yourselves, and any of you be slain 
in the battle, your names would be enrolled in the 
annals of fame, like the immortal heroes of Maror 
thon^ or the noble victims on the plains oi Abraham ; 
the glowing canvass would exhibit, and the immortal 
bard sing, your deathless actions to future genera- 



84 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

tions. But, alas ! gentlemen, though there be even 
a MiLTiADES or a Wolfe among you, the only 
honor you can derive fix)m falling in the service on 
which you are now sent, will be to have it said that 
you were trampled in a gutter, or scalded with hot 
water from the ladle of some American Amazon, 
who may be celebrated in a two-penny ballad, long 
after your names are forgot. 

" Such being^ the disgraceful service on which 
you are sent, it will not be strange if your mag- 
nanimous breasts glow with resentment at your base 
employers, and burst in vengeance upon them 
whenever you have an opportunity to do yourselves 
justice. 

" For ourselves, we fear not their utmost malice ; 
trusting in the goodness of our cause, and depending 
that gentlemen of true valor and generosity will 
scorn to degrade their characters so far as to be- 
' come instruments of oppression, and lavish those 
lives, in enslaving their fellow-subjects, which are 
too precious to be sacrificed but for the love of 
their country, and the preservation of its dearest 
interests." 

The following extract from Hume, and Mr. Bel- 
knap's observations upon it, give his view of the ques- 
tions at this time agitating all minds, and rapidly 
bringing on the revolution. 

" Mr. Hume, after giving some account of King 



THE REVOLUTION. 85 

Charles's principles of government (vol. 5, p. 204), 
says, — ' That these principles were derived from the 
\miform tenor of the English laws, it would be rash 
to affirm. The fluctuating nature of the constitu- 
tion, the impatient humor of the people, and the 
variety of events, had, no doubt, in different 
ages produced many exceptions and contradictions. 
These observations alone may be established on both 
sides, that the appearances were sufficiently strong 
in favor of the king, to apologize for his following 
such maxims, and that public liberty must be so 
precarious under this exorbitant prerogative, as to 
render an opposition not only excusable but laudable 
in the people.' 

" Much the same is the case in the controversy 
between Great Britain and the colonies concerning 
the right of taxation. There are precedents on both 
sides, and nothing explicit was ever so determined, 
as that both sides acquiesced, but different senti- 
ments and practices have prevailed at different times. 
It is pleaded by the defenders of the present reve- 
nue laws, 'that in every state there must be a 
supreme power somewhere ; and, in the empire of 
Great Britain, what power can claim or exercise 
supremacy, but the parliament ? However easily 
we might have allowed this sentiment at a time 
when the parliament were actually engaged in secur- 
ing or defending the general interest of the empire 
against foreign violence, yet our complaisance can- 



86 LIFB OF DR. BELKNAP. 

not lead us to subscribe to it when we see this power 
becoming a party in a quarrel between one part of 
the empire and another. 'Tis but begging the 
question to urge this in the dispute. 

" If the principles that brought on the revolution, 
and established the house of Hanover on the throne, 
are just, then the supreme power of government lies 
in the people ; consequentiy the people of America 
have a right to say who shall or who shall not gov- 
ern them ; and if they say that the parliament of 
Great Britain shall not govern them, then the claim 
exercised by the parliament is null ^nd void. And 
though, as in the case of Charles, above mentioned, 
appearances arising from some former precedents 
when the constitution was less understood, and not 
precisely defined, may be sufl&ciently strong in favor 
of the parliament to apologize for their making such 
a claim, yet our public liberty is so precarious under 
this exorbitant prerogative, that opposition in us 
* is not only excusable, but laudable.' " 

Concerning the order passed by the king in 
council, prohibiting the exportation of gunpowder 
and wariike stores to America, Mr. Belknap re- 
marks: 

" Luxury and effeminacy have always been found 
the surest means to corrupt and enslave, a people, 
while frugality and hardiness have always been 
favorable to liberty. Our taskmasters, it seems, are 
trying to reverse this, — they are shutting up our 



EXTRACTS FROM HIS COMMONPLACE BOOK. 87 

ports and ruining our trade, thereby stoppbag the 
sources of wealth, and consequently of luxury and 
effeminacy, and driving us into measures of frugality, 
economy, industry, and invention (for necessity is 
the mother of invention), and all this with a view 
of enslaving us. Admirable politicians ! If the 
event proves contrary to their expectations, they 
will have high reason to compliment their own 
sagacity ! May ihe councils of these Achitofels be 
turned into foolishness ! " 

The above is taken from a commonplace book, 
containing notices of events occurring in 1774, 
9iid some years after, iOrom which the following 
extracts may be interesting, as illustrating what is 
already publicly known. 

The feelings of the people, in the spring of 1775, 
varied with the varying news from England ; and 
the proposal of Lord North, which was carried in 
parliament, that if any colony, by their Governor j 
Council^ and ABaewhly^ would engage to make pro- 
vision for the support of civil government, and the 
defence, &c., the tax acts should be suspended with 
regard to them, but the troops to remain, and the 
refractory colonies ta be punished, — this was called 
joyful news ; " but,*' says Mr. Belknap, " for my 
part, I conceive it is nothing but a bait thrown out 
to divide us, and make us desert the Massachusetts 
government, who cannot comply with the proposal, 



88 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

without submitting to the alteration of their govern- 
ment, and acting with their new council." 

This state of suspense did not long continue ; the 
battle of Lexington putting an end to all conciliatory 
measures. 

The tories in Boston had constantly assured Gen- 
eral Gage, that the country people would never dare 
to face his troops, and he had been blamed in par- 
liament for doing nothing. 

On the 18th of April, he issued writs for callmg 
an assembly, to see if the people would join with the 
governor and council, in complying with the terms 
of Lord North's proposal : it was to meet on the 31st, 
and he was persuaded to believe, that if he should 
strike a bold stroke, and destroy the magazine at 
Concord, it would so intimidate the people and unfit 
them for defence, that they would easily be induced 
to accept the terms. " The ill success of the expe- 
dition fully demonstrated the falsehood of what he 
had been made to believe, and effectually taught 
him that this people were not to be so easily frighted 
as he imagined." 

The tidings of the breaking-out of hostilities 
reached Mr. Belknap, when he was at the ferry, 
midway between Dover and Portsmouth ; and he 
went directly to Boston, to provide for the safety 
of his parents, leaving the following note for his 
wife: 



LETTEES TO HIS WIFE. 89 

At Mr. Knight's, 9 H^* 

"My Dear, 

" Before you receive this, you will hear the 
awful news by the Express I met just now at the 
ferry, of the devastation the troops have made at 
Concord, and the commencement of a civil war ; 
which makes it absolutely necessary that I should 
proceed immediately to Boston (if it is not in ashes 
before I get there). I shall try to get a chaise at 
Greenland. As necessity has no laws, the people 
must excuse my absence next Sabbath, if I should 
not return before it. 

" Your affectionate husband, 

" J. B. 
" N.B. The Dragoons have arrived at Boston." 

From Cambridge he wrote again as follows : 

" Cambridge, Lord's Day morning, April 23, 1775. 

"My Dear, 

" I am arrived here, but cannot hear any 
news of my parents since this day week, when they 
were in Boston, where I suppose they are now, and 
must partake of the fate of the place. I think it 
best, and am advised by Dr. Langdon, to tarry in 
some of the neighboring towns a few days longer to 
see whether any way is opened for their escape. It 
is talked that an assault will be made upon the en- 
trenchments at the Neck, by pressing large bundles 



90 LEFB OF DR. BELKNAP. 

of welrscrewed hay forward to shelter our men from 
the camaon-balls. Dr. Warren, who is one of the 
Committee of Safety^ told me the town must be 
cleared, and would be soon. General Gage has 
made such a proposal to the Bostonians as the Bo- 
mans to the Carthaginians, that if they would deliver 
up their arms they should be safe. But they were 
not such fools as to comply. ♦ ♦ * ♦ 

" The army here is pretty well regulated. * * * 
Do n't let my gun and ammunition get out of the 
house, if you can help it. * * The posts are stopt, 
and the mails opened by the Committee of War sii^ 
ting here, so 'tis in vain to write by post. 

" Don 't be frighted at my situation, for well am I 
guarded by at least ten thousand men. There are 
here more men than they want. You will doubtless 
have many false alarms. The tones have ^ven out 
that they would keep us in alarm all about the coun- 
try, to divert and distract us. I have been in two 
already ; one at Newbury, and another at Maiden. 
Couriers are established between here and Newbury; 
it would be well if our people took some care of that 
kind. . 

" I add no more, but that all our trust and confix 
dence must be in God, and not in an arm of flesh. 
" Yours affectionately, 

"J. B." 



DEATH OF HIS MOTHER. 91 

He remained at Cambridge several days, finding 
communication with the town diflScult. The removal 
of his parents was finally accomplished, and they 
went to Dover, where they passed the remainder of 
their lives. His mother, whose domestic qualities 
and kindly affectionate character won the regard of 
all who knew her, died in 1784 ; her death was re* 
corded by Mr. Belknap, in the Almanac for that 
year, in these words : 

" Oct. 12th. My mother died this morning, as 
the sun was rising, aged 69." 

His pious and much honored father died the 30th 
August, 1797, aged 81. They are buried near 
each other, in the town burial ground on Pine Hill, 
Dover. 

In July, Mr. Belknap was chosen by the commit- 
tee of safety of New Hampshire, chaplain to their 
troops at Cambridge ; a service upon which he de- 
clined entering, but expressed his willingness to do 
his part towards supplying the army by preaching 
in turn with the other clergymen of the province, 
if such a plan should be adopted. The care of his 
people, his family, and his own precarious health, 
united in obliging him to decline the honor of a per- 
manent residence there in that character. 

In October he visited the camp at Cambridge. 
The following extracts are from a journal of occur- 
rences and observations during his stay : 



&2 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

" Oct. 19th. It being foul weather, I waa hin- 
dered from taking a view of the lines ; visited sev- 
eral friends, and rode to Roxbury ; lodged at Mr. 
Robert Pierpoint's, where General Ward resides. In 
conversation with Mr. Joshua Ward, aid-de-camp 
to the General, I found that the plan of indepen- 
dence w"as become a favorite point in the army, and ' 
•that it was offensive to pray for the king ; that the 
Continental Congress had prepared a league offen- 
sive and defensive between the several oolonies, 
which was to take place if the king should reject 
the continental petition. In this league it is stipu- 
lated that each colony shall have such a form of 
government as they shall choose, and that an annual 
Congress of the whole continent shall assemble by 
turns in each colony ,\o that they may be the better 
acquainted with one another, and the people with 
them. 

" Oct. 20th. By desire of Mr. Mansfield, the chap- 
lain, I prayed with General Thoms^'s regiment, 
quartered at Roxbury, and afterward visited the 
lines in company with an officer of the picquet guard. 
Nothing struck me ^ith more horror, than the pres- 
ent condition of Roxbury : that once busy, crowded 
street48-now occupied only by a picquet guard. The 
houses-^ are deserted, the windows taken out, and 
many shot-holes visible^; some have.been burnt, and 
others pulled down, to make room for the fortifica- 
tions. A wall of earth is carried?ttcross the street to 



EXTRACTS FROM HIS JOURNAL. 93 



• 



Williams' old house, where there is a formidable 
fort mounted "with camion. The lower line is just 
below where the George Tavern stood ; a row of 
trees, root and branch, lies across the road there, and 
the breastwork extends to Lamb's Dam, which makes 
a part thereof. I went round the whole, and was 
so near the enemy as to see them (though it was 
foggy and rainy) relieve their sentries, which they . 
do every hour. Their outmost sentries are posted 
at the chimneys of Brown's house. 

" After dining with* General Ward, I returned 
to Cambridge ; in the evening, visited and con- 
versed with General Putnam. Ward appears to be 
a cahn^ cool, thoughtful man ; Putnam, a rough, fiery 
genius. 

" In conversation with Mr. Ward at Roxbury, I 
learned that the reason of our throwing up the in- 
trenchment at Charlestown, on the night of the 16th 
June, was, that there had been intelligence received, 
such as could be depended on, that the regulars 
had determined to make a push for Cambridge after 
the arrival of their three generals and reinforce- 
ments, who landed a few days before. That Dr. 
Warren was the last man in the trenches after they 
were forced, and died on the breastwork, with his 
sword in his hand. That his body was stripped 
naked, and buried so ; his coat was sold in Boston 
by a soldier for eight dollars. His body was dug 
up several times, and buried again, to gratify the 



94 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

curiosity of those who came to see it. That (Hvers 
persons were permitted to go from Boston over to 
Charlestown to view the field of battle. 

" Oct. 21st. Detained at Cambridge all day by 
the rain. Met General Sullivan, who told me he 
was ordered t© Portsmouth on the report of the de- 
struction of Falmouth, and that General Lefe was 
ordered to Rhode Island, to defend them. ' Dined, 
by invitation, with Mr. Mifflin, Quarter-master-Gen- 
eral. The company present were Dr. Franklin, 
Mr. Lynch, of Carolina, anfl Oplonel Harrison, of 
Virginia (a committee from the Congress, to settle 
a plan with the generals for a new army, to be kept 
up till December, 1776) ; Genenil Lee, Adjutant- 
General Grates, Colonel Beed and Mr. Baylor, aid- 
de-camps to General Washington, Xieutenant-Gover- 
nor Griswold, and Judge Wells of Connecticut, and 
Mr. Leonard, chaplain. 

" General Lee is a perfect ori^nal, a good 
scholar and soldier, and an odd genius, full of fire 
and passion, and but little good manners ; a great 
doven, wretchedly profane, and a great admirer of 
dogs, of which he had two at dinner with him, one 
of them a native of Pomerania, which I should have 
taken for a bear, had I seen him in the woods. A 
letter which he wrote General Putnam yesterday, 
is a copy of his odd mind. It is, as nearly as I can 
recollect, as follows, being a letter of introduction of 
one Page, a church clergyman : 



GENERAL LEE. 96 

" HobgobUn HaU, October 19th, 1775. 

"Dear General, 

" Mr. Page, the bearer of this, is a Mr. Page. 
He has the laudable ambition of seeing the great 
General Putnam. I therefore desire you would 
array yourself in all your majesty and terrors, for 
his reception. Tour blue and gold must be mount- 
ed,^ your pistols stuck in your girdle, and it would 
not be amiss if you should black one half of your 
face. 

" I am, dear General, with fear and trembling, 
Tour humble servant, 

"Charles Leb." 

The following account of the death of this eccen- 
tric general, in Philadelphia, Oct. 2d, 1782, was 
communicated to Mr. Belknap, by Dr. Clarkson of 
that city : 

" General Lee died in the second story of a tav- 
ern, after a few days' illness, in some degree his own 
physician, and but badly attended, except by two 
faithful dogs, who frequently attempted in vain to 
awaken their dead master. They laid themselves 
down by his corpse for a considerable time ; so long, 
that it became necessary for new masters to remove 
ihem. He lies buried in Christ's Church Tard.> 
no stone marks his bed. Indeed those who saw his 
open grave can scarcely show the site, as it is con- 



96 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

tinualljr trodden by persons going into and coming 
out of church. Behold the honor of die great ! " 

" This Page is suspected by some to be a spy, as 
he has a plan of the lines, and is bound to Englan^. 
At table, the chief talk was about the best men for 
soldiers. General Lee said the Portuguese had the 
best materials for soldiers, if they were well disci- 
plined ; but that the Turks of Asia Minor were the 
stoutest men in the world. Adjutant-General Gates, 
who is an experienced officer, said he never desired 
to see better soldiers than the New England men 
made. All joined in execrating the Irish. Many 
of the riflemen are of this nation, who are continu- 
ally deserting to the enemy. Lynchy Harrison^ 
and Welhy mshed to see Boston in flames. Lee 
told them it was impossible to bum it, unless they 
sent men in with bundles of straw at their backs to 
do it. He said it could not be done with carcases 
and hot shot ; and instanced in Isle Royal, in St. 
Lawrence River, which was fired at in 1760, a long 
time with a fine train of artillery, hot shot, and car- 
cases, without effect. 

" General Washington was to have been at this 
dinner ; but the weather prevented. He is said to 
be a very amiable gentleman ; cool, sensible, and 
placid, and ^ resolute soldier. I had no opportunity 
to see him. 

" Oct. 22d. Preached all day in the meeting-house ; 
after meeting, I was again told by the chaplain that 



EXTRACTS FROM HIS JOURNAL. 97 

it was disagreeable to the generals to pray for the 
king, I answered, that the same authority which 
appointed the generals had ordered the king to be 
prayed for at the late Continental fast ; and, till that 
was revoked, I should think it my duty to do it. 
Dr. Appletpn prayed in thc^ afternoon, and mention- 
ed the king with much affection. It is too assuming 
in the generalS to find fault with it. 

" Oct. 23d. Mr. Mifflin assured me, there was 
no design to make an assault upon Boston very soon, 
and that it would not be done unless it was found 
that nothing else could, be done. Flat-bottomed 
boats are preparing, which will carry ^ixty or sev- 
enty men at once. Barracks are also building for 
the army's winter quarters. The army is healthy, 
and well supplied. I visited the works at Prospect 
HiU. The weather being hazy, I had not so good a 
view as I should wish ; but I could see the enemy's 
lines and buildings at Bunker Hill, and the desolar 
tion at Charlestown. Visited also the works at 
Plowed Hill and Winter Hill, and set out on my re- 
turn ^ at night got to Haverhill, where the rains had 
caused a great flood, in Merrimac river ; vast quan- 
tities of wood floated down, which was eagerly seized 
by the people along shore. 

'^ Oct. 24th. Got home, and found the town full of 
Portsmouth peoplcj who have been moving, with 
their effects, ever since the destruction of Falmouth, 
apprehending the -same fate.' ^ 
• • • 7 ^ 



98 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

The uncle of Mrs. Belknap, Doctor Andrew 
Eliot, pastor of the New North Church in Boston, 
sending Ins wife and daughters to Fairfield, where 
one of his sons was settled, remained in Boston 
himself through the siege, from a sense of duty to 
his people. Some extracts from his letters to Mr. 
Belknap, during this period, afford an interesting 
example of the steadfast faith and fervent piety 
which made the oppressed strong against the tyrants 
so vastly superior to them in wealth and power. 
The son here mentioned was the Rev. John Eliot, 
who, obliged to leave college on account of the dis- 
turbances, had gone to Dover to keep school, and 
was living with Mr. Belknap. 

« Boston, June 5th, 1775. 

"Dear Sir, 

" I just received a letter from my son, 
wherein he informs me of your very great kindness 
to him. It gave me unspeakable pleasure to find 
you had not forgotten him, as from some circum- 
stances I thought you had ; but I freely own, I 
ought not to have entertained the least suspicion of 
one of whose benevolence I had so much experience, 
both to me and mine ; but what gave me the greatest 
pleasure was, that he would have your advice, direc- 
tion, and assistance, at a time when he greatly 
needs it, and is deprived of the help of his father. 
You will advise him * ♦ ♦ ♦ jn short, iny dear sir. 



LETTERS FROM DR. ANDREW ELIOT. 99 

you must be a father to him, and do with him as if 
he were your own son. I commit him to God and 
to you. Whether I shall ever have it in my power 
to make you amends is uncertain ; at present, I am 
in a melancholy situation, and yet dare not leave it. 
I have a larger congregation than when I had only 
my own people ; and how can I go away, and leave 
them without ordinances ? My heart recoils at the 
thought ; and yet to tarry here long, will overwhelm 
me. I desire to do that which will be most agree- 
able to the will of God. Let me have your prayers : 
I doubt not your tender sympathy. I have very 
comfortable news from my son at Fairfield. ♦ * * 
You see I have my mercies anudst all my trials, 
and I esteem it no small favor that John will be 
with you. Blessed be God, I can leave myself and 
mine with him. What will be the end of these diflS.- 
culties between Great Britain and the colonies, God 
only knows. It is a dark day we live in ; but Infi- 
nite Wisdom directs all. I doubt not you will 
rejoice with me, in the thought of the divine gov- 
ernment, all will end welL 

"Could you see Boston, it would break your 
heart. God will revive it, and make it a quiet habi- 
tation. This is the fixed belief of your aflfectionate 
" Friend and humble servant, 
"Andrew Eliot." 



100 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

"August 3d. 

* * * " I can do but little for God and his 
people, but hope my tarrying here has been of use. 
I am continually employed in visiting the sick, who 
are numerous ; in attending the prisoners, though it 
has not been thought proper I should see them 
of late. * * * My situation is difficult enough ; 
but my ^od strengthens me. Things will, I am 
persuaded, issue well in God's time and way. I 
leave all with him. 'Tis a comfort that the gospel 
opens to us prospects far superior to any this world 
can yield. 

"November 19th. 

"I have no hope of leaving town this winter. 
God knows whether I shall survive the difficulties I 
am called to go through. Ton mnnot conceive tJie 
anxiety lam in. Nothing but the religion ofJesua 
Christ could mpport me. Whatever I meet with, 
nothing will erase till death the affectionate regard 
which is- due to you from your grateful and affec- 
tionate friend.'* ' 

« Boston, Maich 26th, 1776. 

. « My Dbah Sir, 

"I have only time to write v6ry briefly, in 
answer to your kind letter. Through the goodness, 
of God, I am" well, but have endured much. I have 
not received any remarkable insults from our late 
despots. . I kept as much - as possible out of their 



LETTERS FKOM DR. ANDREW ELIOT. 101 

■way./ I Hope the manuscripts in the Old South 
steeple are not meddled with. Dr* Byles is well ; 
he removed a few nights, I am told, during the can- 
nonade, by which he was endangered: I haye not 
seen him ^ce. It is surprising no one was killed, 
and only a boy hurt of the inhabitants, by all the 
shells ajid shot thrown in upon us of late. * * * 

"The British troops are not all gone from Nan^ 
tasket ; some departed, to-day; I never expect to 
see them or any other British soldiers in Boston. 

" God hatH done great things for us, whereof we 
are glad* God grant we may never forget his works. 

"My regards to your dear wife, your parents, 
and all friends. I have much to.write, but have 
time only to 9dd th^t I am, 

" Tours affectioiiately, 

■ *^A. EUOT.^' 

"lam told the province records are carried off, 
probably the Probate, I believe no other.'* 

Dr. Eliot died in September, 1778, and was suc- 
ceeded in his pastoral (rffice by his son, Dr. John 
Eliot.. : 



102 LIFE OF BR. BELKNAP. 

CHAPTER IV. 

1782—1786. 

Condition of the Family.- — Journey to White HiUa, 
— Election Sermon, -^ Journey to Pfdladelphia. 
— Pariah Difficulties. — He leaves Dover. — Let- 
ter to President Willard. — Various Proposals 
of Friends. — Letter from Exeter. 

In the autumn of 1783, Mr. Belknap sent his 
eldest son, Joseph, then nearly fourteen years old, 
to Philadelphia, where he was bound as an appren- 
tice to Mr. Aitken, printer. The following summer, 
the second son, Samuel, went to Boston to live with 
his uncle, Mr. Samuel Eliot, who was an importer 
of British goods. The other children, four in num- 
ber, two sons and two daughters, remained at home. 

In July, 1784, was accomplished the tour to the 
White Mountains, an account of which is given in 
the third volume of the History of New Hampshire, 
without any intimation, however, that the author 
of it was one of the company of gentlemen there 
mentioned. 

There were seven gentlemen in the party, three 
of whom were clergymen. On Tuesday, July 20th, 
they left Dover, and on Friday night they encamped 
at the foot of the mountains. The next morning 
the ascent was attempted. Dr. Fisher, of Beverly, 



JOURNEY TO WHITE HILLS. 103 

at the first steep ascent found himself disabled by a 
pain in the side, and turned back. Mr. Belknap's 
breath failed him after two hours' hard climbing ; 
and, upon a consultation, he decided to return to the 
camp alone. The rest of the party succeeded in 
gaining the summit of Mount Washington ; but the 
view was obscured by clouds, and they were obliged 
to pass the night upon the mountains, a fire they 
kindled being their only defence against the rain. 

An extract from Mr. Belknap's journal of this 
tour, says : 

" As we passed through Eaton and Conway, the 
appearance of so many persons, more than ever had 
been seen travelling that way, was very amusing to 
the people. We had three guns and one pair of 
pistols in the company, the barometers were slung 
across the back of one, and the sextant was carried 
in a large bag. This uncommon appearance was 
the subject of much speculation; and the good 
women, understanding there were three ministers in 
the company, were in hopes we should lay the spirits 
which have been supposed to hover about the White 
Mountains, — an opinion very probably derived from 
the Indians, who thought these mountains the habi- 
tation of some invisible beings, and never attempted 
to ascend them. 

" Tuesday, July 27th. This afternoon a thunder 
shower. The people of this place — called Mr. 
Whipple's plantation, who are five or six families 



104 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

— assembled in Mr. Whipple's bam, aud I preached 
them a sermon, Uie first oyer preached here, from 
1st Corinthians, vi. 19, 20 : 

" * What, know ye not that your body is tiie temr 
pie of tho Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye 
have of God, and ye are not your own ? 

« 'For yO are bought with, a price: therefore, 
glorify God in jrour body and in your spirit, which 
are God's.' 

*' Mr. Little, of Wells, baptised, eight of their 
children. Mr. Cutler, of Ipswich, made the con- 
cluding prayer. Thirty-eight people of the place 
were present, and seemed pleased with the attention 
paid them." . ^ 

Dr. Fisher was left behind at the Notch, io collect 
birds and other animal and vegetable productions ; 
and the rest of the party returned home. Mr. Bel- 
knap r€iached Dover on Saturday evening, July 31st. 

On June 2d,. 1785, by appointment of the Gen- 
eral Court of New Hampshire^ Mr. Belknap 
preached the Election Sermon, The next day a 
committee was appwnted to thank him for his " in- 
genious discourse," and request a copy for the 
press. 

The text was Psahn cxliv. 11, 16, and the sub- 
ject, the true interest of the State, and the best 
means of promoting its prosperity ; namely j . the 
education of youth, the improvement of the country, 
peace, and religion. 



HIS ELECTION SEKMt)N. 105 

" What will become of your republican goyerur 
ments," he says, " if ihey are not nurtured by 
public education, and strengthened by public virtue? 
If these points be not attended to, you may. expect 
a^ domineering aristocracy to succeed your present ^ 
democratic forms; and what that will didgenerate 
into, let th(^ nature of aspiring, ambition, and the 
histories of fallen republics, tell.'* 

The improvement of iidand navigation and the 
encouragement of home manufactures are stron^y 
recommended, and also the preservation of peace by 
every possible method, concerning which, he says : 

"It is a melancholy consideration, that one of 
the most effectual methods to preserve peace is to be 
prepared for war ; but such is the preset constitu- 
tion of things in this unhappy world, and such it 
will be till the gospel of peace shall so far prevail 
and ex^hd ii» influence, as that the nations will 
either avoid all occasions of controversy, or agree to 
refer their disputes to some arbitrating power, with 
a peaceful design to abide its determination. The 
distant hint of such a proposal does honor to the 
benevolent heart that conceived it, and will do more 
honor to the states or nations that shall publicly 
tecommend and adopt it.. But at present it seems 
as if tilings must go on in. their old course. The 
lust of power has been a ruling passion ever since 
the days of Nimrod, and th^re is no efiectual way 
to (5heck it, but by forcible resistance* Convinced 



X. 



106 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

that a nation cannot preserve itself from insult, but 
by rendering itself formidable, as a lover of peace 
I must wish to see my country prepared for war ; 
to see every cannon which now lies carelessly about 
our streets and wharves, and in our forts, properly 
secured from decay ; every musket and sword fur- 
bished and kept in the nicest order ; our militia 
officered, instructed, arranged and accoutred, and 
ready for the field on the shortest notice ; our arse- 
nals and magazines well supplied ; our fortifications 
repaired and strengthened, and garrisoned at least 
with invalids. God only knows who our next ene- 
mies may be, or how soon we may have occasion for 
our veteran officers and soldiers, and our foreign 
friends and allies." 

To promote the fourth and last object of national 
j)rosperity mentioned above, he recommends a na- 
tional religion, and then explains his meaning as 
follows : 

" Let no man here take an alarm as if by a na- 
tional religion I would recommend the establishment 
of any modes or forms in preference to others. The 
world has too long been abused with attempts to 
impose uniformity ; and our constitution has wisely 
avoided that fatal rock, on which conscience and 
truth have often suffered shipwreck. By a national 
religion I would be understood to mean an acknowl- 
edgment of the being, perfections, and providence of 
one Supreme God ; a sense of his moral government, 



JOURNEY TO PHILADELPHIA. 107 

both in this and a future state ; and a careful ob- 
servance of the eternal lawa of justice, truth and 
mercy, in all our public conduct. If these princi- 
ples be admitted into our national councils, and our 
national character be formed upon them, we may 
truly be said to have the Lord for our God, however 
different our speculations or practice may be as in- 
dividuals or religious societies. These are princi- 
ples in which honest men of all denominations will 
agree; and if, by a strict adherence to them, we 
acknowledge God in all our public ways, we shall 
have reason to hope and believe that he will direct 
our steps." 

Other extracts might be made of equd or greater 
interest; but the above will show that though so 
many years have passed since the discourse was de- 
livered, the truths it contains are not obsolete, and 
the practical application of some of them is equally 
important to us in our present condition. 

On the 17th of September, 1785, Mr. Belknap 
left home on a journey to Philadelphia ; on the first 
day, Saturday, proceeding only to Portsmouth, 
where he remained over the Sabbath. On the 21st 
he reached Boston, and stopped there for a week, 
preaching on the 25th at Charlestown. The follow- 
ing letter to his wife gives his prospects as to pur- 
suing his journey : 



108 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

"Boston, Tuesday, Sept. 27th, 1785. 

"My Dear Wife, 

" I am digappomted of my intended journey 
to Providence, by the means of a set oiF English 
factors, or something else, who, after I had engaged 
a passage for myself in the coach, went, and hired 
the whole of it to themselves ; and the base fellow of 
a coachman shut me out.- Your brother is vexed 
on the occasion as much asmyself. Another. coach 
is expected in this evening, and I have laid in for a 
place in it ; but as these stages do not go on any 
fixed day, but only as they find company; I may be 
detained here till Thursday : however, I have time 
enough before me, the whole month of October, at 
the end of which I hope to see you again. I have 
received fifteen dollars of my Charlestown friends, 
which has paid my expenses of outset, ajctd leaves 
me about seventy or eighty dollars for my further 
expenses. I hope to hear from you "?^hen I' get to 
New York, which maybe about the beginning of 
next week.'^ 

On Thursday, the '29th, the gtage coach was 
again ready, and Mr. Belknap took a place m it for 
Providence; the illness of a lady piassenger obliged 
them to pass the nijght at " Hatch V' in Attleboro', 
and they reached Providence the next morning. 
While here,. Mr. Belknap endeavorfed to gain infor- 
mation concerning the early history of the town. 



VISIT TO PROVIDENCB. 109 

On Sunday, he preached twice for Mr. Hitchcock ; 
and on Monday, he says : "Spent the day in 
searching among some of the ancient people, and 
those of a literary turn, for some anecdotes of Rog- 
er Williams and the old. settlers of this place. Da- 
rius Sessions, Esq., formeriy Governor, informed me 
that Williams came from Boston to Pawtucket river 
in the mnter, and that he passed it above the falls, 
<m the ice, and came to the high plain on the west 
side of Moshawsick river, from whence he saw the 
bay, which he was rejoiced to find was an arjn of 
the sea ; that he crosse4 Moshawsick creek, and on 
the eastern side found a spring issuing from under 
the hill ; of this he drank, having been without 
wafer for some tune before, the streams being fro- 
zen; and observing that- God in his providence had 
taken care for the supply, of their wants, gave the 
place the name of Providence, (xovemor Bowen's 
tradition differs from this only in one particular, 
namely, that he came down to Pawtucket river in 
a canoe, and up the stream to Moshawsick, and 
landed near the said spring. From the nature of 
the place and .the season of the year, I think the 
former account most probable. 

" Governor JBow.en also told me that the last in- 
terview which old Roger Williams had with Philip, 
Sachem of the Wampanoags, was just at the begin- 
ning of the troubles in.l675, wTien Philip with his 
* warriora had been driving cattle from. Rehoboth, and 



110 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

came to the hiU opposite Williams's house at Provi- 
dence. Williams took his staff, and crossed the wa- 
ter at the fording-place (where the mills now stand), 
to go and expostulate with them. Philip, seeing 
him, came down the hill to meet him, and forbade 
his going up, telling him the young Indians would 
kill him. Williams pressed for leave to go up, but 
Philip would not permit him ; he then expostulated 
on their warlike appearance, asked if any injustice 
had been done, and vindicated himself and his 
neighbors from any blame. Philip answered that 
his young men had grown jealous that the English 
wanted to dispossess them of the country, and were 
determined to make a bold push to exterminate them, 
and that he could not restrain them. He then led 
the old man back to the water, and stood by to see 
him safe over ; but, before he could ascend the hill 
to return home, the young Indians fired at him. 
They then held their feast. Williams never saw 
Philip after this.'' 

Mr. Belknap obtained, by the kindness of a 
friend. Governor Hopkins' account of the ' planting 
and growth of Providence ; and his journal contains 
the following observation on the principles of its 
founder: 

" Upon the whole, I think that although Roger 
Williams was right in his idea of liberty of con- 
science^ upon which principle the colony of Rhode 
Island was established, yet there ought to have been 



VISIT TO NEWPORT. Ill 

more care taken by the early settlers here for the 
cultivation of the minds of youth, by erectmg and 
endowing schools and seminaries of learning. In 
that case, youth, being properiy instructed and prin- 
cipled, would have known what use to make of 
their liberty y when they had come to years of un- 
derstanding ; but this early cultivation being want- 
ing, an unlimited liberty of conscience and freedom 
from the obligation of. supporting ministers, has in 
too many instances produced an unrestrained licen- 
tiousness of manners, and a careless disregard of 
virtue. Massachusetts on one side, and Connecticut 
on the other, were at the same time very strict in 
regard to settling ministers, and enforcing .the pay- 
ment of taxes for their support ; it may be that the 
Ehode Island people were fond of showing them- 
selves too much in the other extreme, and were led 
into more licentiousness by means of these exam- 
ples." 

" Tuesday, Oct. 4th, P. M. There was an 
incipient meeting of the Rhode Island Association, 
at Mr. Hitchcock's. Dr. Stiles, Mr. Rogerson, and 
ElUs of Rehoboth, White of Bristol, and Smith of 
Dighton, present. In the evening, a lecture, which, 
after much discussion, fell to my lot by vote to 
preach. Mr. Ellis prayed, and I preached from 
Acts xxvi. 28 : ' Almost thou persuadest me to be 
a Christian.' " 

The next day he sailed in a packet for Newport, 



112 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

where many sad marks were visible of its late sub- 
jection to flie British. The public library was 
pilfered by them of its most valuable books ; the 
elegant building in which it was deposited also suf- 
fered much damage. The meeting-houses were 
turned into . barrackis and storehouses, and some 
elegant buildings burnt or otherwise destroyed. 

After many delays, on Monday morning, Oct. 
1.0 th, between 8 and 9 o'clock, he. landed at Crane 
Wharf, in the city of New York. Of the passage, 
the following portion of a letter to his wife gives 
some accoimt : 

« New York, Oct. 1 1 th, 1 785. 

" My Dear Wife, 

"From the letter I wrote while at Provi- 
dence, you will See that I survived the storm which you 
mention, being all the time of it at Boston. Several 
squally days which we have had since, I was either 
at Providence or Newport, in one and the other of 
which places I was detained eight days, waiting for 
a fair wind and a freight of passengers. 

" On Friday last wp sailed ; but, before we left the 
harbor,* the wind came ahead, and we beat to wind- 
ward (a species of sailing I never before was ac- 
quainted with, and never wish to be again), till we 
found it impossible to weather iPoint Judith, and 
then we returned to port. Saturday morning, with 
three more passengers, seveu in all, we sailed again, 



ARKIVES AT NEW YORK. 113 

wifli B> feir wind, and had a very pleasant passage 
up the Sound, in- a yery swift-sailing sloop, with ev- 
ery desirable accommodatioa for eating, drinkiiig, 
and sleeping." . 

Among the passengers were a i^evflj married 
pair^ on their way to a new settlement, oni& hundred 
and thirty miles above New York, towards Albany. 
The letter continues : 

" I am. tre9,ted* here with every possible mark of 
attention^ by Mr. Hazard and his very cheerful and 
obliging wife.' I .hope to sj)end the next 'Sabbath in 
Philadelphia. I am sorry our people cannot get a 
supply of preaching) but it is impossible for me to 
return before the end of this month, do tixe best I 
can, trith the best mnds and w^ather.-^* 

Among other items, is tiiis, which still has interest 
for us: 

"At Providence, I met with Dr. Stales, who in- 
troduced me. to a very worthy family at Newport, 
by the name of Channihg; 

. " In short, I have met with as much good com- 
pany and good treatment as I could possibly wish ; 
and except the beating to windward, ou Friday last, 
which made me downright sea-^ick,. I have riot had 
an unpleasant hour since I left home. Adieu^ my 
doarj and believe me your most 

" Affectionate friend, 

"Jerb. BflLmSAP. 



8 



114 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

" Oct. 12th. A mail in to-day from the eastward, 
and no letter for me. I go to Philadelphia to-morrow." 
" Heaven bless you ! " 

The sittings of Congress had been removed from 
Philadelphia to New York ; and Mr. Belknap ^ves 
the following description of the room occupied by 
them, in the old City Hall, in Wall Street : 

" The chamber where Congress sits is ornamented 
with full-length portraits of the King and Queen of 
France, in rich frames, covered with a silk curtain : 
these pictures are highly finished, and were presented 
by the king to Congress. The President's seat is 
a plain arm-chair, on a raised step, under a green 
canopy. Over his head is a large sun, surrounded 
by twelve stars ; before him, a desk ; at his right 
hand, sits the secretary, with a green desk ; several 
ta|)les serve for the members, who sit in plain, green 
chairs. 

" Having spent four days at New York with my 
friend Hazard, who was so kind as to show me all 
worth seeing in the city, on the afternoon of Thurs- 
day, October 13th, I crossed Hudson's river to 
Paulet Hook, about sunset, to be ready to go in the 
New Flying Ikiligence the next morning. 

" Friday, 14th. Between 3 and 4 in the momr 
ing, I set off in the stage for Philadelphia. We 
rode nine miles to Bergen Neck, and then crossed 
a ferry, which brought us to Woodbridge. Just 



ARRIVES AT PHILADELPHIA. 116 

before we reached the second ferry, we perceived 
the dawn of day, and the sun rose when we had 
ridden two miles from it ; so that we had travelled 
sixteen miles and crossed two ferries before sunrise, 
and shifted horses twice. The third stage brought 
us to Brunswick, where we breakfasted. We here 
crossed the Earitan in a scow, open at both ends, 
to receive and discharge the carriage without unhaiv 
nessing or dismounting; and the scow was pulled 
across the river by a rope. We passed through 
Princeton about noon, and got to Trenton to dinner ; 
then passed the Delaware in another scow, which 
was navigated only by setting-poles. We then 
drove thirty miles over a plain, level country, at a 
great rate, and arrived at Philadelphia just at sun- 
set, being ninety-six miles. We changed horses 
seven times in this ]:out6, and the carriage four 
times.'* 

Here his first object was to see his son, who was 
apprenticed to Mr. Aitken, the printer of the first 
volume of his History. The meeting is thus de- 
scribed, in a letter to his wife : 

" I sent for Josey to the inn where the stage put 
up, and the dear child was overjoyed, and shed 
tears at seeing me. They had heard of my arrival 
at New York, and the family talk had ever since 
been about me. A lodging was prepared for me 
at Mr. Aitken's, and I was received with all the 
cordiality of an intimate friend. 



116. LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

" Saturday, 15th. . Attended a famous trial in 
the State House, where the King of France was 
plaintiff, and Robert Morris defendant. The jury 
gave it to the Mter. The judges were dressed in 
scarlet robes, and sat with their hats on. . Their 
names were McKean, Bryan, Atlee, and Rush. 
The lawyejbs had black coats, but np gowns." • 

On Sunday, Oct. i6th, in the moiming, Mr. Bd- 
faiap "attended divine worship at the Scots Seoe- 
ders' Church ; " in the Jtfteraoon, he preached for 
" Mr; DuflSeld, pastor of the old Presbytorian Soci- 
ety ; " and, rem^iining in Phila^elphiar through the 
neixt week, he preached oh the next Sabbath for Dr. 
Ewing and. Dr. Sprout, also presbyterian clergymen. 
. He visited :Bi3hop White, then Dr^" White, min- 
ister oftChrist Church, "an amiable . arid wor- 
thy man,", and saw, likewise. Dr. McGaw, another 
episcopal clergyman, whom he calls • " a sensible,^ 
mddest, cajidid man." The latter informed Mr. 
Belknap, that the late convention of the episcopal 
churqhes in Philadelphia- had agrieed upon a reform 
of the liturgy, &c. _Mr. Belknap says, ^'" There 
seems to be. a spirit of candor, liberahty, and inde- 
pendence, in all- their proceedings, which is a good 
sign of a further reformation. - . . - 
'/*^The presbyterians,.iB this part of the country, . 
seem to be forming an union, und laying aside their- 
former distinctions : this is another good sign. 

"The many religioxis distmctipus in tliis place 



THE PHILOSOPHICAL fiOCIBTY. 117 

have,, doubtless, some ill effect on the tempers of 
some of the people ;but there is observable, in the 
greater part that I conversed with, a spirit of can- 
dor and benevolence. Persons of various denomi- 
nations frequently assist.each other to build churches 
and schools. The . Quakers are . an opulent, and 
independent society ; some of the richest, of them 
ride in coaches and chariots, and their women wear 
umbrellas; and some of the. younger, hoops and 
sashes, android watches ; others are very plaiQ." 

• Of the Philosophical Society, of which he was a ^ 
member, Mr. Belknap gives the following account, 
in a letter to a friend : 

" As to the Philosophical Society, it is neglected 
by most of the members ; scarcely six or eight get 
togetiier, unless on $ome extraordinary occasion. 
One meeting happened while I was there, and I 
fiilly expected, to attend it ; but though at the ap- 
pointed hour I was in company with my very worthy 
friend. Dr. Clarkson, who is a member, and urged 
him to go, as he had partly engaged before, yet his 
indifference to the matter prevailed on me to sacri- 
fice my philosophy to friendship, and we spent the 
evening (as he thought) much more pleasantly. I 
afterward learned that there were five or six of them 
together ; and their entertainment was a piece that 
Dr. Franklin sent them, on a method to make chim- 
neys carry smoke well. As to printing another vol- 
ume of transactions, their papers have been scattered 



118 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

and lost in the late war'; but it is said they have 
enough to make another volume, if any body would 
put it forward. I hope the publication of ours will 
set them about it ; for they will not like to be rivalled 
by the New Englanders, being already before us in 
pmnt of improvements of almost every kind, not 
merely in their own opinions, but in the estimation of 
some candid countrymen of ours, who have visited 
them." 

On Monday the 24th, he returned to New York. 
The journey varied from that to Philadelphia, by a 
sail of fifteen miles, from Elizabethtown Point to 
New York. 

" Wednesday 26th, at half past 2 P. M., set sail 
in the Polly packet, Godfrey, jun., commander, 
for Ehode Island. The wind nortili-west, and a friesh 
gale, passed Hellgate rapidly, wind and tide in our 
favor ; had a steady fine gale all night, and made a 
long run ; course, east by north. On the morning of 
Thursday, Oct. 27th, at sunrise, found ourselves be- 
tween Fisher's Island and Stonington ;' at quarter 
before twelve, we landed at Newport ; the voyage 
twenty-one hours only, which is esteemed a very 
fine one. Dined this day with Mr. William Chan- 
ning, and lodged at his house, being persuaded to 
stay here over the Sabbath." 

On Sunday, Oct. 30th, Mr. Belknap preached in 
the morning, for the second congregational church, 
late Dr. Stiles', then President of Yale College ; in 



EMBARRASSMENTS AT DOVER. 119 

the afternoon for Mr. Hopkins ; and in the evening 
for Mr. Foster, a Baptist clergyman. 
• In the course of this journey, Mr. Belknap preach- 
ed for Preshyterian and Baptist clergymen, as well as 
for those of his own denomination, Congregationalists. 
This interchange'was cnstomary then, and must have 
had a beneficial influence in enlarging the views of 
the different sects, and promoting a spirit of tolera- 
tion and charity toward one another, of which there 
is always need in a religious community like ours, 
where every man is free to do that which is right in 
his own eyes, and yet, notwithstanding this privilege, 
is often ready to condemn his neighbor for looking 
in a different direction. 

On Monday, the 31st, he sailed up the bay to 
Providence ; and on Saturday, November 6th, he 
reached Dover in safety. His journal concludes 
with this statement, so satisfactory to the returning 
traveller, " Found all my family well." 

The embarrassment occasioned by the non-payment 
of his salary grew more and more distressing, and 
the unwillingness of the parish to do their duty was 
more and more apparent. In 1774, Mr. Belknap 
applied to them for a supply of wood, reminding 
them that he h^d relieved them from it at the time 
of his. settlement, on account of their aged pastor's 
requirements. Mr. Gushing died March 25th, 1769, 
at the advanced age of seventy-nine years ; and the 
necessity for this application so long after, shows the 



120 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

disposition of a people fix)m whom there MfBS eyery 
reason to expect a contrary course of action. Four 
years later, in.a letter to a Mend, which was never 
sent, he. thus describes his position ; 

" J scarcely think from what I have experienced, 
that I shall Be able to obtain the necessaries of life 
another year, without the ,mo8t strenuous exertions • 
of those who are my friends from principle ; and 
their influence. will not prevail on others to do their 
duty, so .that my support -is absolutely. become. a 
burden to a people who, I used to think, bore it 
cheerfully. . ' . 

".Was it owing to their poverty, or. sufferings in 
the cause of the country, I could not only bear it 
patiently, but should think it my duty to j)artake Of 
their sufferings to. the utmost possible degree; but, 
the truth is, they have been growing rich on the spoils 
of their country, and, you know the adage, 'Crescit. 
amor nummi quantum ipsa pecunia crescit.' - 

^" There are at this day hundreds of bushels of 
brea^-com . withheld for a price, It is with diffi- 
culty I can gejb a supply. I am a^ctually obliged 
to plant my own btead-com this* year, and expect 
to handle the hoe as a -common laborer, as. my- 
wife is forced to do the wheel, to the great in- 
jury of her health, and the neglect of the other 
necessary business of the family ; and my neighbors 
have their flocks and herds so mtdtiplied, that I can- 
not even get pasturing for my cows. 



HE LEAVES DOVEK; 121 

*' These things are a -continual source of vexation 
both of- body and mind; they take off my attention 
from my proper business, and Unfit me for the duties 
of my station." 

These troubles kept his mind in perpetual agita- 
tion, until the final decision to leave Dover^ in Sep- ^ 
tember, 1786 ; which was a great relief to himself 
and hi3 fnends, though it threw him upon the world 
with a family to support^and .only his own powers 
of mind to depend upon for subsistence. 

He bore his. trials with Christian fortitude. H^ 
did not speak harshly of those who had shown them- 
selves so unworthy; very few. of his friends were 
made acquainted with his difSculties ; and even to 
his own children, then and in after years, he was 
always silent oh the subject. 

A narrative of his efforts during four years to ob- 
tain compliance with a contract made by unanimous 
consent, and of the evasions and procrastinations by 
which tiiese efforts were defeated, was written by 
Mr. Belknapy and is still in existence ; but it may 
be passed over in silence,, as it relates to the actions • 
of a generation ttxat sleep with their fethers, and a 
better instructed people now occupy their placeg, 
some of whom have shown a respectful remembrance 
of his name. • . 

The only contemporary of Mr. Belknap now living, 
is the venejrable Dr. E25ra Green, of Dover, who 



122 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

was an active member of the parish, and was always 
his firm friend, and a worthy and honorable man. 
He is now more than one hundred and one years old, 
yet still retains his mental faculties, and cherishes 
the memory of his former pastor. 

On dissolving his connection with the Dover 
parish, Mr. Belknap wrote a letter to President 
Willard, of Harvard University, of which the follow- 
ing is an imperfect sketch : 

"Dear Sir, 

" The kindness which you have shown at 
several times in inquiring , into my circumstances, 
and offering your assistance in case of need, encour- 
ages me to inform you, that, after long waiting on the 
people of this parish for a just and amicable settle- 
ment, and finding no methods practicable to form 
such an union as would be mutually agreeable, I 
have now finally quitted them ; the relation being 
dissolved by mutual consent. 

" I am now again a candidate for the ministry, 
and can, if need be, procure sufficient testimonials 
from the neighboring ministers and other gentle- 
men. As Providence .has placed you in a situation 
which renders you capable of diffusive benefit to 
ministers and churches, it may be in your power — I 
doubt not it is your inclination - — to serve me as well 
as others in my circumstances. I wish to be ser- 



CONTINUES IN THE MINISTRY. 128 

viceable to the best interests of mankind, and to be 
still employed in the vineyard, if the Lord of it shall 
appoint me a pla<^e." 

He had no thought of leaving the ministry, hold- 
ing the opinion that any other occupation would be 
a descent from that dignified station ; but preached 
for several months to vacant parishes, where he was 
invited, obtaining the usual compensation, until he 
received an acceptable call firom a society in Boston, 
the ensuing winter.. During this time, he preached 
at Exeter, Concord, Beverly, &c., and his friends 
proposed various plans for his acceptance. 

•Dr. John Eliot suggested a belles-lettres school 
in Boston ; the proprietors of the Columbian Maga- 
zine, of Philadelphia, offered him one hundred pounds 
pcT annum, if he would edit that work ; and Mr. 
Matthew Carey, who was one of them, offered him 
twenty guineas for the historical part of an Ameri- 
can Annual Register, which he proposed to publish. 
These proposals did not reach Mr. Belknap, until 
he was otherwise occupied and engaged. 

The first place he went to on leaving Dover was 
Exeter ; and, while there, the insurrection broke out, 
of which an account is given in the History of New 
Hampshire. The following is an extract from a 
letter written on the spot, at the time of the oc- 
currence of the events which it describes : 



124 LIFE OP BE. BELKNAP. 

■ •* Exeter, 24th Sept, at night, 1786. 

• " The week past has. aflforded a very busy and 
important scene here. A party of about two hun- 
dred men, headed by the Chairman of a late con- 
vention, appeared in arms on the 20th inst., Wed- 
nesday last,, and beset the house where the general 
court" was sitting, to demand an answer, in hailf an 
hour, to a petition which they had before* sent, for an 
emission of paper money. They kept the court 
prisoners all the afternoon; but, as soon as it grew 
dftrk, a few old continental officers, with some others, 
formed an association, shouted ' Huzza for govern- 
ment! ' got out an old field piece, and set them 
scampering over the fences go as to release the mem- 
bers from their confinement. . The mob retreated 
about a mile or two, and passed the night in some 
houses and bams. In the Evening, Gen, Sullivan 
sent out expresses, and collected the militia and 
three companies ,of light horse ; early the next 
morning, he despatched a party of thirty horsemen 
by. a private road,, who came on the rear of tiie in- 
surgents; took possession of a bridge which cut off 
their retreat, and then advanced with the nulitia 
toward the bridge, where -thirty-nine. of; the insur- 
gents were made prisoners, without any other dam- 
age than a few slight cuts. Parties of light horse 
were afterward despatched as far. as Londonderry, 
and some more taken in their own houses, and 
brought here. They have been examined ; some of 



INSUBUBGTION AT EXETER. 125 

them appeared extremely humble aud . ashamed ; 
they were Jed into the mischief by. artful men, who 
haye kept" themselves out, of the way. The greater 
part wfsre released, and sent home ; but six^ of- the 
iriost eulpgible are in prison here, to be brought be- 
fore the Superior Court to-morrow. -^This evening a 
report is brought in,.that a rescue is to be.attempted ; 
and the Chief Justice- has issued a warrant for a- 
strong guard at the prison. - * * * * * * 

" Mbnday before sunrise. No/disturbance has 
happeuQd, so. I hope the culprits are Safe. The 
whole conduct of this • affair on both sides, I trust, 
will prove beneficial. The riotous spirit has met a 
severe' check, J^hich will give a deep wound to the 
knavish system; the hands of lawful government 
will be .strengthened; it will give a spur to .the 
militia^ and each side ' will now kuQw ,their own 
strength and weakness. ,Our General Sullivan be- 
haved with great prudence, firmness, and despatch ; 
and success crowned his exertions^ General. Ceily 
distinguished himself by rushing- sword in hand 
among, the* rioters, and pulling them out as a butcher 
would seize jsheep in a flock.- Several other conti- 
nental officers and soldiers did eminent servicow 
The rabble were atruck with a panic at the siffht of 
.the light hoi^se,. and the vety name of artillery. 
They fled .over fences. and into the. woods^ and scat* 
"tered in all dir.ections." 



126 LIFE OF DR. BELOTAP. 

CHAPTER V. 

1784—1788. 

The Matory of New Hampshire. — Letter to Q-en. 
Washington^ and Reply. — Invitation from the 
Church in Federal Street^ Boston. — Letter from 
Proprietors^ and Reply. — Anonymous Accusa- 
tion and Defence. — Installation. — Various Oc- 
cupations.^^ Correspondence with Dr. Rush. 

The next event of importance to be noticed in Mr. 
Belknap's life, and it is one of the most important, 
is the publication of the History of New Hampshire. 
In the preface to the first volume, he gives this ac- 
count of the causes which led him to engage in the 
work : " The compiler of this history was early im- 
pelled, by his natural curiosity, to inquire into the 
original settlement, progress, and improvement of 
the country which gave him birth. 

" When he took up his residence in New Hamp- 
shire, his inquiries were more particularly directed 
to that part of it. Having met with Some valuable 
manuscripts which were but little known, he began to 
extract and methodize the principal things in them ; 
and this employment was (to speak in the style of a 
celebrated modem author) ' his hobby-horse.' " 

The work was commenced during the administra- 
tion of Governor Wentworth, who was much inter- 



THE HISTORY OP NEW HAMPSHIRB. 127 

ested in its progress, and had the command of books 
and papers, which he lent to Mr. Belknap, or had 
transcribed for him. In a letter dated July 6th, 
1774, thaiJdng the governor for some papers and 
books, he says : 

" When I consider the trouble I put your Ex- 
cellency to, and the expectation you and other gen- 
tlemen may probably form from thence, I am 
ashamed to think that, after all, the mountain may 
bring fortii but a mouse, and that even that will be 
a long while in coming ; for I find, since my late 
sickness, that study greatly disagrees with my 
health." 

And again, in a subsequent letter : 

" I write like one that expected to live to finish 
what I have begun ; but, alas ! how uncertain is hu- 
man life ! My health is now in so precarious a situ- 
ation, that I am advised to abandon study, and 
betake myself to physic and exercise. What will 
be the event is known only to Him who superintends 
the universe ; but, if I should not live to perfect 
this work, my collections will be left in such a man- 
ner as that I trust they will not be lost or scattered ; 
and they may serve as a help to some other person, 
better qualified for such an undertaking." 
V' In his relation of events, he was very derirous to 
avoid that partial coloring which so often makes a 
history unfaithful, and took great pains to ascertain 
the truth for himself, that the work might be ori^nal, 



128 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

and not too dependent on previous publicationsj To 
form a* correct estimate of the labor of such -an un- 
dertaking, the condition pf the country mtist be con- 
sidered ; — without any written history of authority ; 
the materiab to Jbe gathered from jnaHuseripts- scat- 
tered hereakd there in the possession 6{ individuals, 
or from the lips of those who had passedthrough the 
scenes und events to be described ; and* the troubles 
of the existing war, which occupied men's minds so 
entirely, that.it was exceedingly difficult to gam at- 
tention for any literiiry object.- Notwitiistanding 
these^ and other difficulties, which made him doubt the 
•possible success of his labors, Mr. Belknap, encour- 
aged by discerning- friends, steadily persevered. 

The first volume was published in 1784 at Phila- 
delphia, under the superintendence of Ebenezer Haz- 
ard, Esq.,* Postmaster-genera,l, and compiler of the 
State Paperg ; a coUection of historical, docutnents^" 
in Jwo large quarto volumes, which iie labored with 
imceasing industry tp copoiplete ; contenting himself, 
like a. true patriot, with the bumble but iarduoua 
task of a compiler, whose work should form a foun- 
datiou for the future historian of his country. He 
was the most constant and confidential* con*espond- 
ent of Mr. . !3ejknap^ and executed the trust re- 
posed in him with the fidelity of disinterested friend- 
ship. . • . • ' ' 

The second and third volumes were published in 
Boston^ in 1791 and 1792. - 



THE HISTORY OF NBW HAMPSHIRE. 129 

In ihe preface to the third volume, the author 
says : 

" Twenty years have now elapsed^ since this work 
was first undertaken ; during w:hich time it has 
struggled with many embarrassments, and has more 
than once been thrown by as impracticable ; but 
the favorable reception it has met with from the 
public, and the continual importunity of its friends, 
have prevailed on me to complete it ; for which pur 
pose no pains have been spared. The receipt on 
the sale of the volumes hitherto^ falls short of the 
actual expense of the impression. How productive 
it may prove i^ future, is uncertain. As some en- 
couragement to the. work, the Legislature of New- 
Hampshire have granted fifty pounds, which I 
have received, and for which they again have my 
thanks." 

From this it appears, that the pecuniary reccmi- 
pense for labor continued at intervals through twenty 
yearSj was little or nothing ; but the reputation of 
the work, founded on its impartiality and. accuracy, 
and the sound and liberal views of the author, has not 
only been maintained, but increased; and thai writer 
who is confessedly the most . philosophical in his re- 
searches into the history and condition of our coun- 
try, M. de Tocqueville (Democratic en Amerique, 
Ist vol. note F, page 330), thus speaks of it : 

" The History of New Hampshire, by Jeremy 
Belknap, is a work held in merited estimation. The 
9 



130 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

author gives extremely precious details concerning 
the political and religious principles of the Puritans ; 
on the causes of their emigration and their laws. 
The reader of Belknap will find more general 
ideas and more strength of thought, than are to be 
met with in other American historians, even to the 
present day." 

In the third chapter of the first volume, which is 
especially commended by De Tocqueville, are the 
following remarks, concerning the civil and ecclesias- 
tical government of the infant Puritan colony : 

" As they were fond of imagining a near resem- 
blance between the circumstances of their settlement 
in this country and the redemption of Israel from 
Egypt or Babylon, it is not strange that they should 
also look upon their ^ commonwealth as an institu- 
tion of God for the preservation of their churches, 
and the civil rulers as both members and fathers of 
them.' The famous John Cotton, the first minister 
in Boston, was the chief promoter of this sentiment. 
,When he arrived, in 1633, he found the people di- 
vided in their opinions. Some had been admitted to 
the privileges of freemen at the first General Court, 
who were not in communion with the churches : 
after this, an order was passed, that none hut rmwr 
bers of the churches should he admitted freemen ; 
whereby all other persons were excluded from every 
office or privilege, civil or military. This great man 
by his eloquence confirmed those who had embraced 



EXTRACTS FROM THE HISTORY. 131 

this opinion, and earnestly pleaded ' that the gov- 
ernment might be conducted as a theocracy, where- 
in the Lord was judge, lawgiver, and khag ; that the 
laws which he gave Israel might be adopted, so far 
as they were of moral and perpetual equity ; that 
the people might be considered as God's people, in 
covenant with him ; that none but persons of ap- 
proved piety and eminent gifts should be chosen 
rulers ; that the ministers should be consulted in all 
matters of religion ; and that the magistrate should 
have a superintending and coercive power over the 
churches.' 

" At the desire of the court, he compiled a sys- 
tem of laws, founded chiefly on the laws of Moses, 
which was considered by the legislative body as the 
general standard ; though they never formally 
adopted it, and, in some instances, varied from it. 

" These principles were fundamentally the same 
with those on which were grounded all the persecu- 
tions which they had endured in England, and nat- 
urally led to the same extremes of conduct which 
they had so bitterly complained of in those civil and 
ecclesiastical rulers, from whose tyranny they had 
fled into this wilderness. They had already pro- 
ceeded a step farther than the hierarchy had ever 
attempted. No test-law had as yet been made in 
England; but they had, at one blow, cut ofiF all 
but those of their own communion from the privileges 
of civil offices, however otherwise qualified. They 



132 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

thought, that, as they had suffered so much in laying 
the foundation of a new state, which was supposed 
to be ' a model of the glorious kingdom of Christ 
on earth,' they had an exclusive right to all the 
honors and privileges of it ; and, having the power 
in their hands, they effectually established their 
pretensions, and made all dissenters and disturbers 
feel. the weight of their indignation. 

" In consequence of the union thus formed between 
the church and state, on the plan of the Jewish 
theocracy, the ministers were called to sit in council, 
and give their advice in matters of religion and 
cases of conscience which came before the court; 
and without them, they never proceeded to any act 
of an ecclesiastical nature. As none were allowed 
to vote in the election of rulers but freemen, and 
freemen must be church members ; and as none^ 
could be admitted into the church but by the elders 
who first examined, and then propounded them to 
the brethren for their vote, the clergy acquired 
hereby a vast ascendency over both rulers and peo- 
ple, and had, in effect, the keys of the state as well 
as the church in their hands. The magistrates, on 
the other hand, regulated the gathering of churches, 
interposed in the settlement and dismission of minis- 
ters, arbitrated in, ecclesiastical controversies, and 
controlled synodical assemblies. This coercive pow- 
er in the magistrate was deemed absolutely necessa- 
ry, to preserve * the order of the gospel.' 



BXTKACTS FROM THE HISTORY. 133 

" The principle on which this power is grounded 
is expressed in the Cambridge Platform, in terms as 
soft as possible, and (like divers other articles in 
that work) is curiously and artfully drawn up, so 
that there is an appearance of liberty and tenderness, 
but none in reality. For, although the raagistrato 
was not to restrain any good works, yet he was to 
be the judge of the good or evil of the works to be 
restrained ; and what security could churches have 
that they should not be restrained in the perform- 
iance of what they judged to be good works ? They 
might, indeed, think themselves safe, whilst their 
rulers were so zealous for the purity of the churches 
of which themselves were members, and whilst 
their ministers were consulted in all ecclesiastical ^ 
aflairs; but if the civil powers had acted without 
such consultation, or if the ministers had been in- 
duced to yield to the opinion of the magistrates, 
when contrary to the interest of iiie churches, what 
then would have become of religious liberty ? " 

The first and second volumes contain the history 
of the state from the discovery of the river Piscat- 
aqua to the adoption of the Federal Constitution ; 
and the third consists of a geographical description 
of New Hampshire, with sketches of its natural his- 
tory, productions, improvements, and present state 
of society, laws and government; all demanding 
different researches and results, many of which 
were obtained only by sending circular letters to 



134 LIFE OF DR. BBLKNAP. 

the clergymen and other principal persons in each 
town in the state, requesting communications on the 
various subjects of inquiry. 

In a notice of the work by the London Monthly 
Review for October, 1793, the hope is expressed 
that a geneitd account of the country may be un- 
dertaken ; and the opinion is advanced, that in such 
a work the natural history of the several states 
would be the most interesting topic, as we are desti- 
tute of antiquities, and the histories of the provinces 
will combine into one general account of the whole. 
Notwithstanding this opinion of the English Review- 
er, the omission of the third volume, in tiie edition 
issued by the late t)r. Farmer of Concord, since 
the expiration of the copyri^t, has mutilated the 
work, and done great injustice to the author. The 
agreeable style in which the descriptions of plants, 
animals, &c., are ^ven, makes it by no means the 
least interesting portion of the history ; and there 
are many observations on subjects important to the 
welfare of the state, which the author, undoubtedly, 
hoped would have a beneficial effect on its inhabi- 
tants. 

The volume closes with an address to the people 
of New Hampshire ; and the concluding paragraph 
^ves the author's idea of a happy people. He says : 

" Were I to form a picture of happy society, it 
would be a town consisting of a due mixture of hills, 
valleys, and streams of water. The land well 



EXTRACTS FROM THE HISTORY. 135 

fenced and cultivated ; the roads and bridges in 
good repair ; a decent inn for the refreshment of 
travellers, and for public entertainments. The in- 
habitants mostly husbandmen; their wives and 
daughters domestic manufacturers ; a suitable pro- 
portion of handicraft workmen, and two or three 
traders ; a physician and lawyer, each of whom 
should have a farm for his support. A clergyman, 
of any denomination which should be agreeable to 
the majority, a man of good understanding, of a 
candid disposition, and exemplary morals; not a 
metaphysical nor a polemical, but a serious and prac- 
tical, preacher. A schoolmaster, who should un- 
derstand his business^ and teach his pupils to govern 
themselves. A social library, annually increasing, 
and under good regulation. A club of sensible men, 
seeking mutual improvement. A decent musical 
society. No intriguing politician, horse-jockey, gam- 
bler, or sot ; but all such characters treated with con- 
tempt. Such a situation may be considered as the 
most favorable to social happiness, of any which 
this world can afford.'* 

The following paragraph shows the condition of 
mineralogy and its kindred sciences at that time, 
which contrasts strongly with their present and con- 
stantly increasing importance, even then foreseen by 
the writer : 

" Mineralogy is a branch of science which is but 
little cultivated. Men of genius and science have 



136 LIFE OF DIU BBLKNAP. 

not leisure to puraue objects from which present ad- 
vantaged cannot be drawn. The disappoiutments 
which have attended some expensive attempts, the 
air of mystery thrown over the subject by ignorant 
pretenders, and the facility with which every min- 
eral may be imported from abroad, have discouraged 
inquiries. But, from the specimens which have ap» 
peared, there can be no doubt of the existence of 
mineral and fossil treasures, in the se&rch of which, 
future generations will find employment." 

The first volume of the History was sent to Gen- 
eral Washington, in July, 1784, through Mr. Haz- 
ard ; but, by some delay, did not reach its 
destination till the following Jistnuary, when Mr. 
Hazard says, in one of his letters : 

" General Washmgton has received your History, 
and sends the enclosed acknowledgment of it, which 
I am persuaded you will consider as a pairt of your 
valuables. The General writes me about it as fot 
lows : ^ I thank you for your attention in this matr 
ter, and pray you to be at the trouble of forwarding 
the enclosed to that gentleman <^Mr. Belknap), /<?r 
whose pleasing remembrance of me I- feel myself 
obliged.^ This -sentence from 6-eneral Washing' 
tow is worth. more, and contains more honor, than 
all the monumental stones erected to the memory of 
British poets ! '* 

The following letter, to which Mr. Hazard en- 
closed the reply, was sent with the B^story : 



CORBESPONDENCE WITH WASmNGTON. 137 

"To GeNERAIi WASHINaTON: 

. « Dorer, N. H. July 19tli, 1784. 

" Great and Good Sir, 

"After the multitude of addresses "which 
have been presented to you in the course and at the 
conclusion of the late war, it would be needless for 
an obscure, individual to repeat the voice of admira- 
tion and gr^^titude which has resounded from every 
part, of America for the enunent services which you 
have rendered to this country. It shall be my part, 
Sir, to ask your acceptance of the first volume of a 
work, in which you will see the early struggles and 
sufferings of one of those states which now claina the 
honor of being defended by your sword. Though in 
the. late arduous contest it has not been so much ex- 
posed as in former wars, yet, having long been a 
nursery of stem heroism, it has bred an hardy race ^ 
of men, whose merits as soldiers are well known to 
their beloved general, and who will always glory in 
having assisted to plant the laurel which adorns his 
brow. 

" I am, Sir, with a degree of respect approachmg 
to veneration, 

" Your Excellency's most obedient servant, 

"J. B." 

''Mount Ydrnon, 5th January, 1785. 

"Rev. Sir, 

"A few days ago, under cover from Mr. 
Hazard, of Philadelphia, I was honored with your 



138 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

favor of the 19th of July, and the first volume of 
your History of New Hampshire. 

" For both, I pray you to accept my thanks ; 
but my acknowledgments are more particularly due 
for your favorable expression, in the former, of my 
past endeavors to support the cause of liberty. 

" The proof you have ^ven of your approbation 
of this is interesting : I receive it with gratitude, 
and am, with great respect, 

*' Reverend Sir, 

" Tour most obedient, humble servant, 
" Geo. Washington. 
"The Rev. Mr. Belknap." 

The church in Long Lane, now Federal Street, 
Boston, was originally Presbyterian, but had lately 
relinquished this form of government, and adopted 
the Congregational order. The foimder of the 
society, Rev. John Moorhead, came over from 
Lreland with the first members, who were mostly 
farmers, in the year 1727, to escape the enormous 
rent required of them for their lands. They erected 
a building at the comer of Berry Street and Long 
Lane, in 1729. It was a low wooden building of 
one story ; and, when the church was rebuilt, the 
original house was moved to Cow Lane, now High 
Street, and used as a bakehouse by a man named 
Kettle. 



IS INVITBD TO BOSTON. 139 

The society increased, and the pastor was much 
beloved ; he died December 3d, 1774, in the seven- 
tieth year of his age. The history of the church 
from this period to the settlement of Rev. Robert 
Annan, remains in obscurity: this took place in 
1783, and in 1785 he was dismissed by the pres- 
bytery at his own request. 

The invitation to Mr. Belknap was resolved upon 
at a meeting of the proprietors, and others of the 
church, January 28th, 1787, and is as follows : 

<* Boston, January 30th, 1787. 

"Rev. Sir, 

" Our manifest wants have long pointed out 
to us the necessity we are in of a gospel minister. 
The character we have had of you, and our own good 
opinion of your talents and ability, have induced us 
to come to a serious resolution of calling and inviting 
you to become our pastor, which we now do in the 
name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the 
great Head of his church, and on the behalf of our 
society. 

" We promise to love and obey you in the Lord, 
and assure you, that you shall be as honestly wel- 
come to us in all well-timed admonitions, as in your 
administrations of comfort and consolation to our 



" Suflfer us, we pray you, to subjoin the obliga- 
tions which we have laid ourselves under, for your 



140 LIFE OP DB. BELKNAP. 

comfortable support, so long as the Lord sh^ be 
pleased to continue you to be our minister. . 

" We are, Sir, with love and esteem, your most 
obedient and humble servants, 
"Simon Elliot, 
Rob. McNeill, 
Robert WiER, 
Jno. Boies, 
Moses Black, 
AiWHiBALD McNeil, 
Thomas Lamb, 



Proprietors^ 
Committee.^^ 



The obligation^ were, " to pay him for his sup- 
port, from the time he commenced his charge, the 
sum of two pounds eight shillings lawful money per 
week, or quarterly if he chooses it, during the whole 
time of his ministry among us ; and in case our 
society shall increase, and the pews be aU occupied, 
the salary shall then be increased to a comfortable 
support." 

This invitation was sent to Mr. Belknap on the 
2d of February, and his reply is dated, 

"Boston, Feb. 7th, 1787. 

"Gentlemen, 

" Be pleased to communicate to the church 
and congregation whom you represent, my accept- 
ance of the invitation which they have given me, to 
take the pastoral care of them according to the 
Word of God. 



HE ACCEPTS THE INVITATION. 141 

" The unanimity which you have discovered in 
this transaction, and the affectionate manner in wliich 
you have^ communicated your request, indicate such 
a spirit of love and fidelity, as gives me the surest 
pledge of peace and usefulness^ among you. 

," Fully convinced of the truth and importance of 
the Christian religion, and desirous to preach to 
others that Gospel by which I hope to be saved. my- 
self, I ask your prayers for me, and shall always 
depend on your hearty cooperation with me, in 
my. endeavors to promote the cause of truth and 
righteousness, and the welfare of the society. 

" From the character which you bear among your 
neighbors, as well as your own expressed in your 
votes, I have full reliance on your sincere intentions 
to afford me that comfortable support which will keep 
my mind free from embarrassment with regard to ex- 
ternals, and enable me to pursue my stiidies, and 
attend to the several parts of iny ministerial work, 
with ease and cheerfulness. 

" That the blessing of God m^y be on you and 
your families, that additions ,may be made to your 
number of such as shall be saved, and that you may 
be my joy and crown in the day of the Lord, is the 
sincere prayer of, 

" Your affectionate friend and servant 
in the gospel, 

" Jeremy Belknap. 

" To the Committee of the Congregational Society 



142 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

in Long Lane, to be commumcated to tiie said 
Society." 

The installation took place on the fourth of April. 
The writer of a sketch of Mr. Belknap's life and 
character makes the following remark on this 
event: 

" Nothing could have been more agreeable to the 
ministers and people of other churches, and to all 
who regarded the interests of the University of Cam- 
bridge, with which he became officially connected ; 
being fully confident that he would be a great in- 
strument in promoting the cause of religion and 
learning." 

Between the time when Mr. Belknap accepted 
the call, and the day appointed for his installation, 
some person who was apparentiy annoyed by the 
change in the church government, and by the liberal 
views of the chosen pastor, tried to persuade the 
brethren of the church, that he was a Universahst 
and a follower of Murray ; and to this end, an anony- 
mous letter was written to one of the deacons, an 
account of which, and the proceedings thereupon, 
Mr. Belknap has left recorded in the following 
words: 

" March 16th, 1787. — An anonymous letter to 
Deacon Wright, intimating that their pastor elect is 
a Universahst, wondering that they should choose 
such a man as much as if Murray himself were 



AN ANONYMOUS LETTER. 143 

chosen ; asking, * Is there not a man of discernment 
among you ? ' — advising them to put these questions 
to me : 

" Whether I believe that any of the human race 
will be miserable in a future state ? Whether I be- 
lieve that the punishment of the wicked will be of 
equal duration with the happiness of the righteous, 
and both with the existence of God ? Whether I 
believe that all children are bom into the family of 
Christ ? and concluding thus : * If he answers these 
questions according to the Galvinistic scheme, he has 
lately altered his sentiments.' 
" Signed, 

"Moorhead's Ghobt. 

"Directed to the once Presbyterian Society in 
Boston. 

" This letter was shown me in the afternoon. In 
the evening, the committee were to meet in order to 
regulate the intended instalment. I was invited, and 
met with them, and took the opportunity to tell them 
that such a letter had been received, 

" Who the writer is, and what his design, we can 
but conjecture, and that must be left to future inquir- 
ies ; but, as to the matters objected, it is proper I 
should give you satisfaction. I am not fond o^con- 
troversy, and always endeavored to avoid it ; but, 
when any proper occasion calls for a declaration of 
my sentiments, will freely do it. 



144 LIFB OF DR. BELKNAP. 

" My practice has always been to study the scrip- 
tures, in order to find out truth and duty. What 
there appears sufficient evidence for, I admit as 
truth : where the evidence is not sufficient to induce 
belief, I allow myself to doubt. This every man has 
a right to do. 

" As to the controversy about Murray, I never 
conversed with him but once : what he said was 
new and strange. On examining my Bible, I saw no 
reason to admit it, and therefore passed it by. 

" Some years ago, Murray came into my parish. 
Some peojde wished to hear him? and asked me for 
the liberty of the pulpit. I said it was mine 
when I. wanted it, and theirs when they pleased to 
use it. They got him to preach. I did not attend ; 
but, understanding that he had been on the parable 
of the tares and wheat, I took the liberty, which I 
thought it was my duty, to preach the next Sabbath 
against what I deemed the errors adopted by his 
followers. (Here I read the Bermon.) These were 
then my sentiments, and they are the same now. 
I never had a doubt, that faith, repentance, and 
holiness, or a change from a state of sin to newness 
of life, is necessary to prepare us. for heaven. . 

" When the Chauncy controversy came abroad, 
which engaged every body's attention more or less, 
it was natural for me to incline to one side or the 
other. I was inclined to call in question the im- 
mortality of the wicked in a state of future punish- 



HIS DOCTRINAL VIEWS. 145 

ment, thougli I had no doubt of the certainty of the 
punishment. There are difficulties attending the 
subject on every side in which it can be viewed ; and 
after much thought upon the matter, I am inclined 
to this opinion, that the revelation which God has 
given lis in the Scriptures is intended to regulate 
our present conduct in this world, and to give us to 
understand what will be the consequences, in the 
future state, of our good and bad behavior here. 

" I believe the resurrection of the just and the 
unjust ; that the life which the just shall receive from 
Christ, at their resurrection, will be immortal ; and 
that they shall never die any more ; but doubt 
whether it can be proved from the Scriptures, that 
the life which the wicked shall receive at their resur- 
rection is immortal — if it can, it will follow, that 
their misery will never end ; but am rather inclined 
to think, that the life which they will then receive 
will be a mortal life, that they will be subject to a 
series of misery and torment, which will terminate 
in a second death. Whether this second death is 
an utter extinction of being, or whether they will be 
delivered from it by another resurrection, are points 
which I cannot determine, nor do I think the Scrip- 
tures afford us full satisfaction on these subjects ; so 
that I expect no full solution in this world, and am 
fully contented with believing that the surest way 
for us is to believe in Christ, to fear God, and work 
righteousness, in obedience to the Gospel, and thus 
10 



146 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

secure our own happiness, without prying too curi- 
ously into the secret and future, designs of God. 
The apostles themselves declared, * We know but in 
part, and we prophesy but in part,' If the chosen 
and inspired ambassadors of Jesus Christ were im- 
perfect in their knowledge, how^an we expect per- 
fection in this life ? 

^' If, upon this declaration of my mind, you see 
fit to recommend to the society to recall the invita- 
tion they have ^ven me to settle with you, I am 
content. 

" The committee did not think the matters in 
question were so essential as to suspend their pro- 
ceedings. Some of them said they differed from me 
in their apprehension of these points; but as we 
agreed in the main truths of Christianity, faith, 
repentance, and holiness, and salvation through 
Jesus Christ, there was no need of further debate ; 
and then proceeded to make preparation for my in- 
stalment. 

" The names of the committee were Eobert Wier, 
William Mackay, Simon Elliot, Francis Wright, 
Moses Black." 

The Boston clergymen at that time, with few ex- 
ceptions, were obliged, by the inadequacy of their 
salaries, to resort to other means of support for their 
families ; and, for this object, Mr. Belknap received 
at his house a few young men to instruct in higher 



HIS POSITION IN BOSTON. 147 

branches than were taught in the public schools. 
One or two of them, whose parents resided at a dis- 
tance, lived in his family; but generally they were 
day scholars. He was a constant contributor to the /L 
Columbian Magazine ; the publication of the first 
volume, of his History had been rather a loss to him 
than a gsdn, in a pecuniary point of view ; the coun- 
try was so impoverished, that, as one of his Mends 
ssdd, most people loved money much better than 
books ; many subscribers did not fulfil their agree- 
ments ; some of the shopkeepers where the books 
were deposited for sale, failed ; and a needy clergy- 
man, to whom he had entrusted some, wrote him as 
follows: 

" I have sold your books, and got the money ; but 
I can 't spare it ! " So that the satisfaction of hav- 
ing advanced the cause of literature and the history 
of his country was the most solid one for all his 
labor. 

Notwithstanding these and other difficulties, Mr. 
Belknap's position, as a Boston clergyman, was much 
more advantageous for himself and the c(nnmuniiy, 
than it could have been, had he remained in Dover. 
There he was without literary associates or advan- 
tages, and always felt himself to be in a remote 
comer of the world, which obliged him to leave to 
others in more central situations the execution of 
plans for the public benefit, in which he took the 
greatest interest. Boston was then, as it is now, 



148 LIFE OP DR. BBI^NAP. 

highly favored in literary advantages. Here he 
was surronnded by congenial spirits, and found am- 
ple room for the exercise of his active mind and 
benevolent heart, in the promotion and encourage- 
ment of the numerous and growing schemes for the . 
welfare and improvement of his native place. 

The town was just recovering from the disastrous 
effects of the Revolutionary war, and, with the energy 
of newly restored freedom arid the revival of com- 
mercial enterprise, was laying the foundation of its 
present prosperity; but the ill consequences of the 
past disturbances were not wanting. Public morality 
was impaired ; ii^delity, with the evils of which it is 
the source, was widely extended ; . principles were 
unsettled ; the cause of education languished ; and 
the churches not only felt the influence of all these 
adverse' circumstances, but were disturbed by contro- 
versies more peculiarly their own. The difficulties 
of a minister's position, and the discouragements and 
trials he was called to encounter, are fairly set 
forth in Mr. Belknap's sermon before the Massa- 
chusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers in 
1796. 

Beside the Occupations mentioned above, he was 
one of the Overseers. of Harvard College, and one 
of the Library committee, a member of the Humane 
Society, one of the committee for visiting the public 
schools, and a member of the American Academy 
of Arts and Sciences ; he had been for some years 



MINISTERIAL DUTIES. 149 

an honorary member of the Philosophical Society in 
Philadelphia. He not only nominally belonged to 
all these associations, but actually labored to ad- 
vance their objects heartily and with steady and 
perseverinjg eflforts. > f 

The superintendence of the public schools was fiia ^ 
slight part of a minister's occupation. The selection 
of books, the arrangement and supervision of stud- 
ies, and the periodical examinations,.were principally 
committed to the clergy. The education of the 
young was a favorite object with Mr. Belknap, as he 
duly estimated its great importance to the welfare 
of the state ; and evidences are yet remaining, 
among bis papers, of the zeal with which he per- 
formed these duties. He took much pains to pro- 
cure the publication of suitable books for the young ; 
and his services in their cause are honorably men- 
tioned in the various notices of his character at the 
time of his decease, and remembered by some now 
living, who, as children, were won by the kindness 
and attraction of his maaner, and who speak of him 
with a warmth of feeling which nothing but a con- 
viction of his sympathy and love for them could 
have preserved through the trials and changes of 
so many intervening years. 

As an overseer of the college, he had duties to 
perform which were indefinitely extended by his 
filial love for it, and his pride in its advancement. 
It is only of late years that the .relations of the 



160 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

overseers to the college have been almost entirely 
nominal. When the Board was composed of the 
Congregational clergy of the six towns nearest to 
Cambridge, a continual oversight was exercised by 
its members. A close relation was maintained be- 
tween its head, its oflBcers and the clergy ; and the ad- 
vice of the latter was constantly sought, not only in 
emergencies, but in the regulation of its ordinary 
affairs. That Mr. Belknap lent them gladly all the 
aid in his power is evident from the frequency of 
his attendance in the various committees, and frt)m 
the careful consideration he gave to various plans 
for the improvement of the college. 

Mr. Belknap's historical pursuits required an ex- 
tensive correspondence ; and his desire of doing good 
to his fellow-men induced him to cooperate eagerly 
with the benevolent and philanthropic, in their en- 
deavors to lessen the burden of existing evils, or to 
improve the condition of social institutions. The 
following letter from Dr. Rush of Philadelphia, a 
zealous philanthropist, and Mr. Belknap's reply, 
show the efforts that were then making in the cause 
of Temperance, and the opinions of the writers on 
several other important subjects: 

"Philadelphia, JiUy 13th, 1789. ^ 

**Dbar Sir, 

" Mr. Hall, the printer, has neglected hith- 
erto to republish the essay upon spirits, probably 



CORRBSPONDBNCB WITH DR. RUSH. 161 

from an opinion that it was less necessary than for- 
merly. Much less rum will be used this year than 
last, in this and the adjoining states of New Jersey, 
Delaware, and Maryland. From the influence of 
the Quakers and Methodists in checking this evil, I 
am disposed to believe that the business must be ef- 
fected, finally, by reUgion alone. Human reason 
has been employed in vain ; and the conduct of New 
England in Congress* has furmshed iis with a melan- 
choly proof, that wa have nothing to hope from the 
influence of law^ in making men wise jwid sober. 

^^ Let these considerations lead us to address the 
heads and governing bodies of all the churches in 
America, upon the subject. I have borne testimony 
(by particular desire), at a Methodist conference, 
against the use of ardent spirits, and, I hope, with 
effect. I have likewise written to the Roman Cath- 
olic Bishop, Dr. CarroH, in Maryland, to set an as- 
sociation on foot against them in his society. I have 
repeatedly insisted upon a testimony being published 
against them by the Presbyterian Synod of this city, 
and have suggested to our good Bishop, Dr. White, 
the necessity of the episcopal church not standing 
neuter in this interesting business. Go thou, my 
friend, and in your circle of influence or acquaint- 
ance ' do likewise.' 

" You will find an essay upon the inutility of the 
Latin and Greek languages, in the last number of 
the Museum, which has been ascribed to me. I wish 



152 LIFE 01* DB. BELKNAP. 

it could be republished iq Boston. It has some 
able advocates in this city, particularly Dr. Frank- 
Un, Mr. Clymer, and Mr. Coxe. ***** 

" I am now preparing an address, to be delivered 
before the visiters of the Young Ladies' Academy, 
in this city, at the next quarterly examination, 
*upon the necessity and advantages of teaching 
children to read by means of the Bible.' I consider 
this as a matter of more importance in the world, 
than keeping up a regular gospel ministry ; and yet, 
strange to tell ! there are religious men, and even 
ministers of the gospel, who disapprove of it. The 
great enemy of the salvation of man, in my opinion, 
never invented a more effectual means of extirpatmg 
Christianity from the. world, than by persuading 
mankind that it was improper to read the Bible at 
schools. 

" The more I attend to the methods in which ed- 
i^cation is conducted in our country, the more I am 
disposed to suspect that our schools and colleges do 
more harm than good, to the interests of humanity, 
virtue, and religion. What are Latin and Greek, 
and mathematics and philosophy, if they do not lead 
us nearer to the Parent of the universe, and the 
Source and Centre of all perfection and happiness? 
" From, Dear Sir, 

" Yours, sincerely, 

''Benjn. Rush." 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. RUSH. 158 

MR. Belknap's reply. 

« Boston, July 29th, 1789. 

"My Dear Sir, 

" The originality and independence of sen- 
timent in your letters and other writings render 
them exceedingly grateful to me, although I am 
obliged sometimes to withhold my assent to what you 
deliver ; but when your thoughts coincide with my 
own, there is generated a double satisfaction. On 
the several subjects touched upon in your last, of 
the 13th inst., I could write a pamphlet, if it were 
necessary ; they having been frequently the theme 
of my contemplation. 

"With respect to spirituous liquors, I believe 
some good has been done ; but much more remains 
to be done. The distilleries her^ are so ready a 
source of gain, that till the auri sacra fames shall 
cease to be a ruling passion, I fear there will be no 
end put to them : however, we do what we can by 
way of precept and example, and we do not intend 
to be discouraged. The demand from abroad, I am 
told, increases, particularly from the north of Europe ; 
and. while the stills are kept going, there. will be a 
large home consumption. In an excursion of about 
eighty miles into the country, a few weeks since, I 
met many .loads of pot and pearl c^hes coming 
down; and, on my return, the teams which I met 
were loaded with dry fish, hogsheads of salt, and 



154 UPB OP DR. BELKNAP. 

barrels of rum. The thirst for spirits in the back 
country is so ardent, that in the fall and winter they 
will sell their wheat for this sort of pay, and then, 
in the spring and summer following, go forty or fifty 
miles after bread. 

" What you say on the use of the Bible in schools 
agrees perfectly well with my own idea, and, * strange 
to teH,' I have be«a obliged to controvert this point 
with men who, in other respects, are laudably zeal- 
ous and exemplary in the cause of religion and 
virtue. 

"But, my dear doctor, why banish Latin and 
Greek? Was not the New Testament written in 
Greek ? and may not the Greek and Latin Testa- 
ments, and the Selectee e Veteri, &c., lately reprint- 
ed in Philadelphia, and used in the schools there, 
have as happy an effect in impressing the minds of 
youth with religious sentiments, as the English Bi- 
ble ? I have not seen what you refer to in the 
Museum. The names which you have cited as * able 
advocates ' for the disuse of Latin and Greek, are 
truly respectable; I could also cite some very 
*able advocates' for the disuse of the Bible in 
schools : but both are cases which require to be de- 
cided by their own merits, and not by the respecta- 
bility of advocates ; though that may induce a more 
critical examination of the merits, since it must be 
presumed that such gentlemen would not patronize 
an opinion of so much ccmsequence, without very 



OORRESPONBEKCE WITH DB. BUSH. 155 

good reasons. I can conceive, and am by my own 
experience and observation persuaded, that, by a 
judicious attention to students while they are learn- 
ing the Biblical Greek and Latin, there may arise 
such a variety of questions and observations, as may 
not only make the study entertaining but instructive ; 
and that they may by gentle degrees be led into'an 
acquaintance with, and veneration for, the character 
and work of our blessed Saviour, at the same time 
that they are reciting the language in which his 
evangelists and aposties wrote, or into which their 
works have been translated. 

^^ That schools and colleges may be better con- 
ducted than at present, I am fully persuaded. It 
is, however, difficult, and in some cases impractica- 
ble, to alter old foundations ; but were I to be con- 
sulted in the establishment of a new college, I should 
utteriy discard the reading of the students in bar- 
racks, their eating in common, and the establishment 
of academical discipline separate from municipal 
law. I would have students reside in sober, decent 
families, and be under the same government with 
their fellow-citizens. At stated hours they should 
resort to the public rooms, to perform their exercises ; 
and they should receive the honors of the universi- 
ty when they are qualified. Are not your universi- 
ties upon some such plan ? Ours partakes too much 
of the nature of a monastic institution, and, like an 
antique building, needs many subsidiary props and 



156 LIFE OP DR. BBLKNAP. 

additional repairs. However, there are great ad- 
vantages to be reaped by an education in it, pro^ 
vided the students give their nunds to tiieir business ; 
and without that, no means will be eflfectual. There 
is a special injunction laid on the professors to take 
frequent occasion to introduce reflections on the be- 
ing, perfectipns, and providence of the Creator; 
and I believe this injunction is strictly attended to, 
as well by the professor of natural philosophy as 
by those of anatomy and botany : and these occa- 
sions perpetually occur, for — 

* There 's not a plant or flower that grows, 
But makes his glories known ; 
While clouds arise and tempests blow 
By order fix)m his throne/ 

" The main business of all philosophical researches 
is to fix our attention to the great ' Cause uncaused ;' 
and the deeper we penetrate the arcana of nature, 
the more reason do we find for wonder, love, and 
praise." 

At the Commencement of Harvard College this 
year, 1787, John Qumcy Adams was graduated. 
Mr. Belknap requested, for the press, a copy of tho 
oration delivered by him on that occasion. The 
young gentleman expressed himself highly honored 
by the request, but wished that his piece might ap- 



CORRESPONDENCE WTTfl J. Q. ADAMS. 167 

pear in company with the poem of his friend, Mr. 
Harris, and also that his name shbidd not he affixed 
to it. 

Mr. Harris positively refused a copy of his verses, 
and Mr. Belknap wrote again to Mr. Adams on 
the subject, as follows : 

* Boston, August 3d, 1787. 

"Dear Sir, 

"I have perused your oration with a repeti- 
tion of the pleasure wluch I enjoyed in hearing it, 
and am much obliged to you for putting it into my 
hands. But you have at tiie same time laid me 
under an embarrassment from which I wish to be 
relieved. ♦ * •»**#• 

" Nothing is more amiable in a young gentleman 
of acknowledged genius, than modetty ; but is it not 
an attribute of that wisdom which adorns tuodesty, 
that, it is ' easy to be entreated ' ? 

"Why, then, shovdd the refusal of Mr. H. influ- 
ence Mr. A, ? Can your modesty suffer by yielding 
to a proper solicitatiion ? * * * * * 

" And why should the name be suppressed ?— a. 
name which, calls up every grateful and affectionate 
feeling in the breasts of Americans ? . Without the 
name, your Alma Mater will be deprived of h^Qf the 
honor which she deserves ; but, if that be added, the 
friends of liberty and virtue will have the farther 
satisfaction to see the features of the parent in the 



168 LIFB OF BR. BELKNAP. 

son ; axul, may I not add^ your country will have a 
pledge of a succession of abilities in the same fam- 
ily^ still to aid her cause and espouse her interest. 

" I hope that further consideration will induce 
you to take off the embargo you have laid on my 
wishes, and beg you would, as so(»x as possible, let 
me again hear fix)m you." 

Mr. Adams finally left the matter entirely to the 
discretion of Mr. Belknap, who sent the Oration to 
Philadelphia, for publication in the Columbian Mag- 
azine. It appeared in the number for September, 
1787 ; and the author^s name was given. The sub- 
sequent history of Mr. Adams makes it interesting 
to see Mr. Belknap's early appreciation of the char- 
acter of a man who has devoted his life to the 
service of his country, and has enjoyed the highest 
honors and offices in her power to bestow. 



THE SLAVE TRADE. 159 



CHAPTER VI. 

1788^1/92. 

JSfxertdons to abolish the Slave Trade. — Three Bilh 
of JSalej and Certificates of Manumission, — 
Letter of Cato Baker. — Anecdote. — Corres- 
pondence mih Moses Brown. — Correspondence 
with David Howell. — Adoption of Federal Conr 
sUtution. — : Visit of Washington to Boston. — 
Death of Mr. Belknap^ s son Samuel. — Sermon 
at the Installation of Dr. Morse. — Extracts 
from Letters of John Adams. — Degree of D.D. 
cortferred on Mr. Belknap. — Increase of Federal 
Street Society. — Century Discourse. 

In the month of February, 1788, three negroes 
were decoyed on board a vessel m Boston harbor, 
and taken to the Danish island of St. Bartholomew, 
where they were offered for sale. This infamous 
transaction excited great indignation in the commu- 
nity ; and Mr. Belknap consulted some of his friends 
as to the practicability of improving this feeling, to 
effect the abolition of slavery in the state. His 
brother-in-law, Mr. Samuel Eliot, agreed with him 
that the time was most opportune, but said the diffi- 
culty in such cases was, who should step forward, — 
and recommended him to suggest to the Association 



160 LIFE OF DE. BELKNAP. 

of ministers, at their next meeting, a petition to the 
General Court, whose session was then about to 
commence ; if he failed to. gain the cooperation of 
the ministers, to apply to the Humane Society, and 
at all events to have a petition drafted. 

This advice Mr. Belknap complied with : he drew 
up a petition, which his friends pronounced " incapa- 
ble of amendment," gained the support of the associa- 
tion, and of a large number of citizens beside. The 
blacks also presented a petition, written by Prince 
Hall, one of their number ; and there was one from 
the Quakers, presented at a former session, lying 
on the table. The effect of this movement, so judi- 
ciously timed, waa the passage of an Act, March 
26th, 1788, "to prevent the Slave Trade,, a^d for 
granting relief to the families of such unhappy per- 
sons as may. be kidnapped or decoyed away, from 
this commonwealth." 

Mr. Belknap had long been a friend to the free- 
dom of the blacks. He had published essays m 
their favor ; and, during the revolutionary war, seve- 
ral of them deposited with him the bill of sale, and 
certificate of manumission which they had gained by 
three years' service in the army. 

Three of these still remain among his papers, 
and they are given here as specimens. They were 
enclosed in sealed envelopes, marked as belonging 
to the person named within. 



MANUMISSION OF SLAVES. 161 

"Newport, Dec. 6th, 1773. 
^^I do hereby acknowledge to have received of 
Mr. Otis Baker, of Dover, in New Hampshire, one 
thousand four hundred pounds, old tenor, in full for 
a^egro boy named Cato, whom I have this day sold 
to him ; which negro lad to him the said Otis Baker, 
and his assigns for ever, I hereby promise to defend 
against the lawful claims of all persons whatsoever. 
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, 

"Henry Ward." 

"Dorer, June 4th, 1777. 
" This may certify all persons, that I, Otis Baker, 
do hereby give to the within-named Cato his free- 
dom, and discharge him from my service and the 
service of my heirs for ever. 

"..Otis Baker. 
^'Witnessy Jeremy Belknap." 

" Know all men by these presents, that I, George 
Waldron, of Portsmouth, in the province of New 
Hampshire, yeoman, for and in consideration of six 
himdred pounds, old tenor, bills of public credit to 
me in hand paid by Dudley Watson, of Dover, in 
said province, gentleman ; the receipt of which to 
full contents and satisfaction, I hereby acknowledge ; 
have bargained and sold, and herewith deliver imto 
the said Dudley Watson, one negro servant boy, 
about eight years of age, a slave bom in Portsmouth 



162 JJFB OP DR. BELKNAP. 

aforesaid, to serve him the said Dudley, his execu- 
tors, administrators, and assigns, as a slave for and 
during the life of the said boy named Glouster. To 
have and to hold the swd negro boy named Glouster 
to him the said Dudley Watson, Ins executors, ad- 
ministrators, and assigns, as a slave for and during 
the life of ihe negro boy ; and I, the said George 
Waldron, by these presents, fcr myself, my heirs, 
executors, and administrators, do covenant, grant, 
and engage unto and with tine said Dudley Watson, 
his executors,:.administrat6rs, and assigns, that I am 
the true and lawful owner of the said negro boy, 
and will warrant the right and possession of the said 
negro, against the lawful claims of all persons wtat- 
soever. — Witness my hand and deal, the 26th day 
of July, 1758. 

"Geo. Waldron. 



9 

Thos. W. Waldron, 
Nathl. Muohamorb. 

** Dover, June 4th, 1777. 
" This may certify all persons, that I, Thomas 
Watson, as administrator to the estate of my father, 
Dudley Watson, deceased, do hereby give the within- 
named Glouster his. freedom, and discharge him 
from the service of the heirs of said estate for ever. 

"Thomas Watson. 
" Witness^ Jerehy Belknap." 



MANUMISSION OF SLAVES. 163 

"Dover, July y* 19th, 1^56. 

. " RepeiveMi from Mr. Janres Ohesley, six hundred 
pounds old tenor, in full for one negro man-servant, 
named CorradaHj aged about sixteen years; which 
said negro I have sold to the said Chesley, the day 
and year above writtfen.— Witness my hand, 

"William Shackford. 
"TFi^w^M, Jos^ Hanson, 

Ephm. Hanson." 

" Dover, April 13th, 1778. 

"Received of the within-named Cory don the sum 
of seventy-five pounds lawful money, for which he 
is hereby discharged fropa the service of the heirs 
of the wiihin-named James Chesley, and is now 
free. 

" Otis Baker, one of the Administrators, 

her 

" Ltdia + Chesubt, Administratrix." 
mark. 

The certificates of manumission are all in the handr 
writing of Mr. Belknap. 

Cato Baker, the first of the above-named negroes, 
had received some education, enough to enable him 
to write letters during his term of service in the 
army. One of these, addressed to Mr. Belknap, is 
quite a curiosity in ortiiography and expression, and 
gives an interesting glance at the condition of the 
corps to which he belonged. 



164 LIFE OF BR. BELKNAP. 

" Danbury September 26th 1778. 
" Mr. Jaramiah Balknap j have met mih. this 
appettunity Rite to you and your famalay wall as 
thos few lin have left me. Sir j am wall in good 
health and j thank God for it of his good will he 
hath been my Gard in all those Beatle j have bein 
in and j had the small pox in Vally forg last march 
24d but now j am of Good health but now at this 
present time j have no money at this present times 
but j shall Draw som son and j will send it to you but 
j have Dron som mooney and j let it Go to Ltunant 
Ghas and to on anotheir for it is hard tim with ous in 
this prasent for Cloathing and for otheir thing me 
Drew one pound of beef and one pound of bread 
and one jiel of Rum Every otheir Day but our duty is 
not so hard as it was but we fair hard in Clothing 
for we are fost to pay for our Clothin. Whitch 
Doth mak me think it hard for bein that j Los all 
my Clothing now j am fost to pay for all. 

"Cato Baoaker. 

To 

Mr. Jermiah Balknap 

att 

Dover in 

Newhamshire.'* 

The following anecdote connected with this sub- 
ject, it is believed, has never been made public. In 
1790, a census was ordered by the General Govern- 



SLAVERY IN MAgSACHUSBTTS. 165 

ment then newly established, and the Marshal of 
the Massachusetts district had the care of making 
the survey. When he inquired for slaves^ most 
people answered hone, — if any one said that he 
had one, the marshal would ask him whether he 
meant to be singular, and would tell him that no other 
person had given in any. The answer then was,^^ If 
none are given in, I will not be singular ; " and thus 
the list was completed without any number in the 
column for slaves. 

Some of this improvident race hg-d sagacity 
enough to refuse the oflfer of freedom, and remained 
under the master they had served in their youth, 
that he might provide for and protect their old 
age. 

After the publication of the first volume of his 
History, in which are mentioned the early prol^bition 
of slavery by the first settlers, and the subsequent 
inconsistency of keeping slaves and at tiie same time 
struggling for our own liberty, Mr. Belknap receiv- 
ed the following letter : 

"Providence, 28th Ist Mo, 1786. 

"Respected Friend, 

"From observing in thy History of New 
Hampshire, an account of a negro's being ordered 
back from New England to Africa, that was unjustly 
brought from thence, and thy remarks thereon, I 
conceive thou art a friend to the liberty of that op- 



166 LIPB OP *DR. BELKNAP. 

pressed people, and of course opposed to that iniq- 
uitous trade to Africa for slaves, which remains to 
be carried on in seyeral of the United States, to the 
dishonor of the whole, and the Christian name in 
that heathenish country, where the name of Christ- 
ian, from the abusive treatment of those people by 
such as possess it, is abhorred. I have therefore en- 
closed thee three pamphlets on that subject, which 
perhaps may not all of Ihem have reached thee, for 
thy inspection and disposal where they may be usefid. 
I should rejoice thou hadst JEus a historian to record, 
to the honor of any of the states, prohibitory tewB 
agidnst the slave-trade to any part of the worid. 
Though a siananger, professmg myself a friend to 
liberty and mankind, however differing in sentiments 
as to non-essentials, I have taken this liberty, and 
conclude thy friend, 

"Moses Brovw/' 

The following is "an imperfect copy of the i^ply to 
this letter : 

" To Mr. Mosea Brown, of Providence. 

"Dorer, Jnijr 15fli, 1786. 

"Worthy Sir, 

"Tour very obli^g faVoi' of the 28thi 1st 
M* came to my hands yesterday, and I am particu- 
larly grateful to you for the pamphlets inclosed. 
The subject of them has long lain with weight upon 



OOIlRBSPONI>ENCB WIW MOSBS BROWN, 167 

my mind ; and what I have said in my History 
which you so kindly notice, is but a small, specimen 
of what I have thought and written .on the subject. 
It is a pleasing circumstance to me, that |K) many 
able pens are etiiployed, and so many pertinent and 
weighty arguments are used, and that the press so 
frequently .teems with productions, on the subject of 
the African slavery. •' The words of the wise are 
as goads ;.' iand Heaven .grant that these goads may 
wound and torment the consciences of all the abet- 
tors of slavery, till they find it hard to ^ kick against 
the pricks'! 

" Greait changes in the principles and habits of 
mankind must, in the nature of tbings, be brought 
about slowly ; but nil desperancbim ! Truth is great, 
and will prevail ; aii^ all lovers df truth, liberty, and 
reli^on, must unitie their endeavors, and persevere in 
them, until their voice shall be heard. I wish your 
society in England m^y petition and remonstrate 
anmially to the parliament, until ihey obtsdn their 
desire. Who knows but in tin^e there may be such 
a man as Joseph of Germany -on the throne of Brit- 
ain ; or such a man as Montesquieu may be at 
the head of her councils ? Blessed be the name of 
Anthony Benezet, for what he has written and done 
toward abolishing the trade in * daves and souls of 
men ; ' and let the highest praises be ^ven'to the 
memory of the latQ Dr. Fothergill, for that noble 
projection of sending . missionaries into Africa^ to 



168 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

persHade the negro princes to employ their people 
in cultivating the sugar cane in their country, and 
instruct them in the work, instead of selling them to 
foreigners for this purpose. Can you tell me, my 
dear sir, whether this proposal is likely to be 
executed ? 

" I wish with you that it may be in the power of 
future historians to record laws made in all these 
states for the abolishing of slavery. But quid le- 
ges sine moribivs vance proficiunt f I wish the time 
may come when the owner and master of every ves- 
sel employed in this sanguinary trade shall be con- 
sidered as a felon ; as guilty of a cruel, unprovoked, 
offensive war against the innocent, and punished as 
a murderer, whom vengeance suffereth not to live. 
But until this desirable change can be effected, I 
would recommend one method as a means of grad- 
ually extirpating the evil, and that is, making it a 
part of education to instil into the minds of children 
the principles of imiversal liberty, and an abhor- 
rence of slavery. If the Lacedemonians taught 
their children to abhor drunkenness by showing 
them a drunken man, may we not hope that, by rep- 
resenting to our children the horrors of predatory 
quarrels in Africa, the loathsome, dismal condition 
of a ship loaded with sick, dying, or discontented 
and mutinying slaves, and the rigors of a West In- 
dia plantation, we may be able to excite in their 
minds such an abhorrence of this diabolical traffic as 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH MOSES BROWN. 169 

may accompany every stage of their improvement, 
and every sphere in which they may act in future 
life ? And who knows what beneficial consequences 
may result from it ? It should be a frequent sub- 
ject of discourse in families, a theme of declamation 
in schools and seminaries ; and it is ho matter how 
numerous are the publications from the press on this 
subject. 

" I wish you, and all the friends of peace and 
liberty, the most happy success ; and if you can 
point out to me any method wherein I can assist in 
promoting the desirable object of our mutual wishes, 
I shall be glad to receive your communications and 
commands." 

Mr. Belknap was elected a member of the society 
for abolishing the slave-trade in Rhode Island ; and 
in 1790 he received a letter from the president of 
the society, expressing a desire that a similar asso- 
ciation should be formed in Boston, and that Con- 
gress should be petitioned on the subject. His reply 
shows a discernment and discretion which are very 
important in the treatment of this delicate question : 

"Boston, June 14th, 1790. 

"Sir, 

" Sometime ago I received a letter from 
you, expressing a desire that an association might 
be formed in this plaOe, for the abolition of slavery, 
wid to petition Congress for that purpose. 



170 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

/^ Having taken time to think and make inqmry 
on the matter, I am of opinion that such $sx associ- 
ation is entirely needless here, as we have no slavery 
to abolish ; all persons Who can claim the privilege 
of being descendants of Adam being declared free 
by our constitution; and I sincerely wish, that 
the multitudes of blacks among us might enjoy the 
«ame ble&sings which other people enjoy, as the fruit 
of their liberty ; but, alas ! many of them are in a 
far worse condition than when they were slaves^ be^ 
ing inca^pable of providing for themselves ilie means 
of subsistence, 

" As to the proposed application to Congress, if any 
such be made^ it can b^ considered only in the li^t 
of an a.dmonition to them to do the duty which they 
are bound to do by the. constitution. , I very much 
doubt the prudence or propriety of such an applicar 
tion from any body of men whatever, unless it 
should appe&r that Confess are negligent of their 
duty. Should I live to see that day, I hppe I shall 
not be wanting in any endeavors which may be in 
my power to cooperate with my fellow-citizens, in 
advising or remonstrating, as there maybe occasion. 

f ' I amsorry that I am obliged to differ in opinion 
from you, and the society in whoSe name you' write. 
I beg you to accept what I write with candot, and 
I am, sir, your very humble servant, 

"Jbebmy Belknap. 
" DAvm Howell, Esq.'* 



WASHINGTON VISITS BOSTON. 171 

The Federal Constitution was adopted by Mas- 
sacliufletts in 1788, and Mr. Belknap attended the 
debates of the convention,, and kept minutes of 
the proceedings; but tiiey are already matter of 
history. The inauguration t)f Washington, as 
President of the JFederal Union, took place April 
80th, 1789 ; and in October he Visited Boston, and 
was received with great* rejoicings. Mr. Belknap's 
interview with him is liius noted down in his 
almanac: 

*< 27ih. General Washington having appointed 
this day for the clergy of this town to wait upon 
him, we went at ten o'clock to 1& lodgings, and 
paid him our respects. 

" When I was introduced to General Washington, 
he said to me, 

" * I am indebted to you, ar, for the History of 
New Hampshire, and it gave me great pleasure.' " 

This is the only instance that appears of his re- 
cordmg the approbation of others, and it shows how 
highly he valued these few and simple words of 
courtesy from the Pather of his country. 

In the spring of this year, Mr. Belknap's second 
son, Samuel, died, an account of which wias written 
at the time by the bereaved parent, as follows : 

" March 28th. This evening, at half after nine 
o'clock, my dear son Samuel died, aged 17 years 
and three months. He had a long and pmnful Ul* 
ness, which he bore with the most exempli^rypar 



172 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

tience ; and the nearer he approached towards his 
end, the more did his patience shine. He had 
strong exercises of mind some weeks before his 
death, and obtained a comfortable hope in the mer- 
cy of God, through Jesus Christ, and gave us very 
good satisfaction respecting his repentance and 
fmth in Christ for salvation. His senses held till a 
few minutes before he expired. I asked him "wheth- 
er he could <3ommit himself into the hands of Christ ; 
he answered with a strong and lively voice, ' Te8.^ 
I asked him if he had a good hope of the mercy of 
God in Christ ; he answered, * Yea.^ I then prayed 
with him ; this was about half an hour before he 
died. Blessed be God for the consolation we have 
in his death ! He was a faithful, useful, diligent, 
and affectionate child." 

On the 30th of April, 1789, Mr. Belknap 
preached the sermon at the installation of Eev. 
Jedediah Morse, in Charlestown, from this text — 
1st Peter, v. 3 : "Neither as being lords over God's 
heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." This 
discourse he sent to the Vice-President, John Ad- 
ams, who, in a letter thanking him for the attention, 
makes the following observations : 

" The more the subject is considered, the sooner 
all men will be convinced, that human passions are 
all insatiable ; that, instead of being extinguished, 
moderated, or contented, they always strengthen by 
indulgence and gratification; and therefore, that 



LETTER FROM JOHN ADAMS. 173 

the only security against them is in checks, whether 
in civil or ecclesiastical societies. 

" This is no more true with regard to the love of 
power, than it is with regard to the love of riches, 
of fame, of honor, or of pleasure. While we see 
and acknowledge it to be the constitution of our na- 
ture ; the quality to which we owe our activity and 
industry, our virtues and our happiness ; we ought, 
instead of quarrelling with it, to be only on our 
guard against its tendency to abuse to vice and mis- 
ery when uncontrolled. 

" I thank you, sir, for giving me this opportunity 
of assuring you that I am, with great esteem, 
" Your most obedient servant, 

" John Adams. 
" The Rev. Mr. Belknap." 



An extract from another letter of the Vice-Pres- 
ident is subjoined, for the sake of the anecdote con- 
cerning Franklin, which it contains. 

" After the loss of Canada, the vast addition to 
the naval power and commercial advantages of Eng- 
land alarmed the French very much, and there is 
no doubt that the thought of assisting the British 
Colonies to throw oflf the yoke occurred to them ; 
as the loss of America, now rankling in the hearts 
and tingling in the veins of the English nation, is 
every day suggesting to them the project of assist- 



174 LIFB OP DR. BELKNAP. 

ing the Spaniards of South America to Separate 
from Spain. 

"Monsieur Le Eoy, a French academician, who 
had been acquainted mth Dr. Franklin in England, 
upon introducing him at Paris to some members of 
the Academy of Sciences, said: 

" * Voila Monsieur Frankland^ qui e$t de ce pay^$ 
la en Ameriquey qui nous debarraseera un jovr de 
ces Anglais.'' 

** This, Le Boy told me in presence of Dr. Frank- 
lin, who said he remembered it very well» This 
sentiment, I doubt not, had its influence in procur- 
ing Franklin to be elected a member of that acade* 
my. But it was a vague though general presenti- 
ment, and. no explicit advances were ever made to 
him, or any one else, by the French court, till 1776.'' 

At the Commencement in 1792, the degree of 
Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon Mr. Belknap, 
by Harvard University. This honor he would 
have modestiy declined, and was about to write a 
letter to the corporation of the College for that pur- 
pose, but was prevented by his friend. Dr. Clarke, 
who entreated him not to affront his Alma Mater by 
refusing the honor she offered for hig acceptance. 

The Society in Federal Street were very much 
attached to thdr pastor, and additions to their num- 
ber enabled them to increase his salary to a com- 
fortable support, so that he was no longer obliged to 
receive scholars ; and his life, after his removal to 



COMMEMOEATIVB BISCOURSB. 175 

Boston, was in every respect more free from Harass- 
ing care and anxiety than it had been for many 
years. 

On thB 23d of October, 1792, Pr. Belknap, at 
the request of tiie Massachusetts Historical Society, 
delivered a centennial diseourise, intended to com- 
memorate the discovery of Anierica by Christopher 
Columbus. In this disopurse, after giving an ac- 
count of the preparatory steps, and the final discov- 
ery of the continent, he proceeds to consider the 
effect it has had on the advancement of science, and 
on the civil and religious liberty of mankind. Some 
considerable extracts are giveli from this portion of 
tiie discoTirse : 

" It is both amusing and instructive to review our 
former notions of liberty, both civil and religious ; 
and to see what imperfect ideas we had on these sub- 
jects, derived by tradition from our European ances- 
tors. Like them, we boasted of English liberty ; 
as if Englishmen had some exclusive rights, beyond 
any other people, on the face of the earth. And 
what was English liberty ? Its origin must be 
sought in ancient charters, and particularly in magna 
eharta, granted by, or rather forced from, one of the 
worst princes that ever disgraced a throne. The 
liberties of Englishmen, after the Norman Conquest, 
were the grants of their kings ; and the prerogative 
was the claim of those kings to power and dominion 
supposed to be founded on a divine right. 



176 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

" In the early stages of our controversy, we had 
formed an idea of liberty, as an inheritance, de- 
scended to us from our ancestors, who were English- 
men ; some of whom, when they quitted England, 
had received of the then reigning prince, charters 
under the great seal; by which it was supposed 
that their privileges were confirmed to them and 
their posterity ; and the colonies which had these 
charters plumed themselves on possessing more and 
greater privileges than those styled royal provinces, 
which were governed by temporary commissions from 
the crown, revocable at the royal pleasure. 

" In like manner, our title to religious freedom 
was supposed to be derived, partly from the same 
charters and commissions ; in which, liberty of con- 
science was granted by. the king to such of his sub- 
jects as should settle in the plantations ; partly from 
acts of toleration, made in England, and construed 
to extend to the colonies ; and partly from our o\^ti 
laws made to favor the religious opinions and prac- 
tices of those who dissented from the majority. 
Religious liberty was not placed on its right foundar 
tion, nor derived from its true source. The world 
was not obliged to the statesman or the divine, for 
the first acknowledgment of this darling right ; but 
to the spirit of commerce, and to the interested views 
of the merchant. Religious toleration was intro- 
duced into the European countries for the benefit of 
trade. When the merchants of Holland struck out 



COMMEMORATIVE DISCOURSE. 177 

the idea, it was regarded by their neighbors with 
the same horror as a pestilence. It was imported 
into England with William, Prince of Orange, under 
whose patronage it was formed into a law ; but it 
has never been there so extensively admitted, as to 
put all sects and parties on an equal footing. 

" But though imperfection is more or less inter- 
woven with all human constitutions, yet a spirit of 
improvement is evidently pervading this country. 
Several of the first forms of government which were 
made for these states have been reviewed and 
amended. Eeligious tests have been gradually 
abolished ; and our national form of government is 
entirely free from them. It leaves reli^on where 
all civil government ought to leave it, — to the con- 
sciences of individuals, under the control of the 
Supreme Lord. 

* *•* **•*« 

" From our eixample of a government founded on 
the principle of representation, excluding all family 
pretensions and titles of nobility, other nations are 
beginning to look into their natural and original 
rights as men^ and to assert and maintain them 
against the claims of despotism. As far as the 
present struggle in Europe against civil and spirit- 
ual usurpation is conducted on virtuous principles, 
we cordially wish it success. But have we not rea- 
son to fear that the cause of liberty may be injured 
12 



178 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

by the intemperate zeal of its friends, as much as 
> by the systematic opposition of its enemies ? If 
-wisdom, harmony, and fortitude were combined 
with patriotism on the side of liberty, we might hope 
that the time was approaching, when an hereditary 
right to govern a nation would appear as contempti- 
ble as the royal touch for the king's evil, and when 
the loftiest prelates of Europe would find themselves 
reduced to the same level with the curate of a par- 
ish. But what scenes of anarchy and distress may 
take place before these desirable events, we must 
wait for time to unfold. 

m « « « «■««« 

" Let us now turn our attention to another sub- 
ject of debate, arising from the knowledge of this 
continent. If the Gospel was designed for an uni- 
versal benefit to mankind, why was it not brought 
by the apostles to America, as well as propagated 
in the several regions of the old continent ? To solve 
this difficulty, it has been alleged, that America was 
known to the ancients, and that it was enlightened 
by the personal ministry of the apostles. With 
equal propriety it might be solved, by denying that 
America was at that time inhabited by any human 
being ; and it might not be impossible to maintain 
this negative position, against any positive proof 
which can be adduced to the contrary. But both 
are attended with difficulties which require more 
light to unravel, than has yet appeared. If America 



COMMEMORATIVE DISCOURSE. 179 

was peopled at that period, perhaps the state of hu- 
man society was such, that the wise and benevolent 
Author of Christianity saw no prospect of success 
to the propagation of his Gospel here, without the 
intervention of more and greater miracles than 
were consistent with divine wisdom or the nature of 
man to permit. 

" Nearly akin to this, is another difficulty. The 
native inhabitants of Peru, for some centuries be- 
fore the Spanish invasion, are represented as wor- 
shippers of the sun ; whose universally benignant 
influence to the world they thought themselves 
bound to imitate. Accordingly their national char- 
acter was mild, gentle, and humane. They made no 
offensive wars ; and when they repelled the invasions 
of their savage neighbors, and conquered them, it 
was done with a view to reduce them from their 
native ferocity, under the government of rational 
and social principles ; and to incorporate them with 
themselves, that they might enjoy the benefits of 
their own pacific system* Their code of laws, de- 
livered by the founder of their empire, was a work 
of. reason and benevolence, and bore a great resem- 
blance to the divine precepts given by Moses, and 
confirmed by Jesus Christ. In short, they seem to 
have made the nearest approach to the system of 
Christianity, I mean the moral part of it, of any 
people .who had never been formally instanicted in 
its principles. 



180 THE LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

" It would seem, then, to human reason, that they 
were fit objects for an apostolic mission ; and that, 
if the pure, simple, original doctrine of the gospel 
had been preached to them, they would readily have 
embraced it. 

" But when we find that these mild and peaceful 
people were invaded by avaricious Spaniards, under 
a pretence of converting them to the catholic faith ; 
when, instead of the meek and humble language of 
a primitive evangelist, we see a bigoted friar gravely 
advancing at the head of a Spanish army, and, in a 
language unknown to the Peruvians, declaring that 
their country was given to his nation, by the Pope 
of Rome, Qt)d's only vicar on earth, and command- 
ing them to receive their new masters on pain of 
death ; when we consider this parade of arrogant 
hypocrisy as the signal for slaughter, and see the 
innocent victims falling by the sword of these minis- 
ters of destruction ; when we see the whole nation 
vanquished, disheartened, and either murdered or 
reduced to slavery, by their savage conquerors ; 
when, instead df the worship which they addressed 
to the luminary of Heaven, and which needed but 
one step more to conduct them to the knowledge of 
its invisible Creator, we see the pomp of popish 
idolatry, with the infernal horrors of the Inquisition, 
introduced into their country ; our astonishment is 
excited to the highest degree, and we can only ex- 



COMMBMORATIVB DISCOURSE. 181 

claim, ' Thy judgments, Lord, are a great deep ! 
and thy ways are past finding out ! ' 

" It would give me the greatest pleasure, if, in 
concluding this discourse, I could say any thing, with 
respect to the propagation of Christianity among 
the original natives of America, which could be con* 
strued into a fulfilment of the prediction of Daniel, 
concerning the progress of knowledge. 

" Every European nation, which possesses any con- 
siderable share of the continent, has made this de- 
sirable work a part of their professed design, in 
planting and settling the country ; and it must be 
acknowledged that some very zealous and well- 
meant endeavors have been made by men who had 
neither wealth nor power in their view ; but the 
success has not been answerable to the goodness of 
the design, nor to tiie wish^ of those who have en- 
gaged in it. K we survey the whole continent, 
from the first discovery of America to the present 
time, the number of converts to Christianity among 
the Indians bears but a small proportion to those 
who have been destroyed either by war, by slavery, 
or by spirituous liquors. And, with respect to many 
of those who have been called converts, it may justly 
be inquired, whether any thing more can be said in 
favor of their conversion, than that they have ex- 
changed their original superstitions for others more 
glittering and refined, . 

" If the truths of our holy religion are to be pro- 



182 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

pagated among the savages, it will become us to 
consider, whether we had not better first agree 
among ourselves what these truths are. For whilst 
tiiey see diversities of opinion among us, and that 
some of the more zealous advocates of particular 
tenets are endeavoring to instil the peculiarities of 
their respective sects among them, and to prejudice 
them against others ; the native sagacity with which 
these people are endowed, will lead them to avoid 
confounding themselves with our distinctions, and to 
retain the religion of their ancestors, till they can 
find one more free from perplexity than Christ- 
ianity appears by the diveirsity of our opinions con- 
cerning it. 

" It is also worthy of consideration, whether the 
vicious lives and conduct of our ovm people, and 
especially those on the frontiers, with whom the 
Indians are most acquainted, be not a great obstruc- 
tion to the spreading of divine knowledge among 
them. It is very natural to estimate the goodness 
of any religion by the influence which it appears to 
have on those who profess it ; and, if they are to re- 
gard the conduct of the people by whom they have 
been cheated, robbed, and murdered, as a specimen 
of the influence of Christianity on the human mind, 
it would be a greater wonder that they should em- 
brace it than reject it. ^ ' 

" K the Christian religion is to be propagated, 
without the assistance of miracles, among the savages 



COMMEMOBATIVB DISCOXJKSE. 183 

of this contment, it must be in some such manner as 
the Moravians have attempted. These people seem 
to have an art of attaching savage nations to their 
faith and manners, and of forming them into civil- 
ized and laborious society, beyond any other denomi- 
nation of Christians ; and, for the honor of the 
common cause, I cannot but ^ish them all that sup- 
port and encouragement which their zealous and 
benevolent efforts deserve. 

" It ia much to be wished, that the spirit of bigotry 
and the shibboleth of party were totally abolished ; 
that the Christian religion may appear in its native 
simplicity and purity ; and that the professors of it 
would distinguish themsdves by that love, that meek- 
ness, and gentleness, which marked the character 
of its author and his primitive followers. By these 
marks all men will know us to be his disciples ; 
our light will so^hine before men, that they will see 
our good works, and glorify our Father who is in 
heaven." 



184 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP* 

CHAPTER Vn, 

1791—1797. 

Hiitmical Society of Massackusetts, -^ Correspond- 
ence with Q-ovemor Wentworth. — Ante- Colum- 
bian I>iscovery of America. — Third Volume of 
the Sistory puhlished. — Attempt to reprint it in 
a Newspaper prevented. — The Foresters pulh 
lished. — Extract from the Foresters. 

\ The history of New Euglaud has always beeii 
identified with that of its chui;ches, and its miius- 
ters have been also its annalists and historians. It 
is mainly for his successful labors in this department 
of literature, that Dr. Belknap is entitled to grate- 
ful remembrance. Others had collected documents 
and materials for history from garrets and private 
repositories ; among whom the principal were, Hub- 
bard of Ipswich, Prince of Boston, and also Gov- 
ernor Hutchinson ; but neither of these had formed 
the design of a society, of united efforts, or (if we 
except Prince's collection in the steeple of Old 
South Church, part of which was destroyed by the 
British invaders), of a public place of deposit for 
the preservation of those frail materials, which with- 
out such means are scattered and lost before their 
true value becomes known. 



MASSACHXTSBTTS HISTOEIOAL SOCIETY. 186 

The Massachusetts EQstorical Society, instituted 
in 1791, owes its existence in the first place, un- 
doubtecQy, to Dr. Belknap. His historical research- 
es had convinced him of the importance of such an 
institution, for the collection, preservation, and mul- 
tiplication of important papers ; and the first plan of 
it is contamed in the following sketch, found among 
his papers, and marked " Plan of an Antiquarian 
Society, Aug. 1790." 

** A society to be formed, conasting of not more 
than seven at firsts for the purpose of collecting, 
preserving, and communicating the Antiquities of 
America. 

^^ Admissions to be made in such manner as the 
associated shall judge proper. The number of memr 
bers to be limited, 

"A President, Recording and Corresponding 
Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian, and Cabinet-keeper 
to be appointed* 

^' Each member to pay — — at his admission, and 

yearly. This and other money to be applied 

to promoting the objects of the society. 

" Each member, on his admission, shall engage to 
use his utmost endeavors to collect and communicate 
to the society, manuscripts, printed books and 
pamphlets, historical facts, biographical anecdotes, 
observations in natural history, specimens of natural 
and artificial curiosities, and any other matters 



186 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

which may elucidate the natural and political history 
of America, from the earliest times to the present 
day, and — 

" All communications which are thought worthy 
of being preserved shall be entered at large in the 
books of the society, with an index, and the origi- 
nals kept on file. 

" Letters shall be written to gentlemen in each 
of the United States, requesting them to form sim- 
ilar societies ; and a correspondence shall be kept 
up between them for the- purpose of communicating 
discoveries to each other. 

" Each society through the United States shali 
be desired from time to time to publish such of 
their communications as they may judge proper ; 
and all publications shall be made on paper, and in 
pages of the same size, that they may be bound to- 
gether, and each society so publishing shall be de- 
sired to send gratuitously to each of the other 
societies one dozen copies at least of each publica- 
tion. 

" Quarterly meetings to be held, for the purpose 
of communicating ; and in this State the quarterly 
meetings shall be held on the days next following 
those appointed for the meetings of the American 
Academy of Arts and Sciences. 

" When the society's funds can afford it, salaries 
shall be granted to the secretaries and other officers. 



MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETT. 187 

" Persons to compose the first meeting : 
Wm. Tudor, Esq., James Winthrop, Esq., 

Eev. John Eliot, . Jerb. Belknap," 
Eev. Peter Thachbr, 

To the gentlemen here mentioned were added five 
others ; and their first publications were made in the 
Apollo for 1792, a weekly paper printed by Belknap 
and Young. The former was Dr, Belknap's eldest 
son, then in business for himself. 

In 1794 the society was incorporated by the name 
of the Massachusetts Historical Society:' the num- 
ber of members at this time was twenty-nine. The 
first president was Hon. James Sullivan ; the Rev. 
James Freeman was the recording, and Dr.. Belknap 
the corresponding secretary. The library and mu- 
seum were deposited in an apartment in Faneuil 
Hall, and were removed subsequently to an upper 
chamber over the Boston Library, in Franklin Place, 
which was presented to the society by the proprie- 
tors of the building. 

The usefulness of the library was not limited to 
such narrow bounds as that of Prince had been by 
the terms of his will, in which he desires, in order 
that the collection may be kept entire, "that no 
person shall borrow any book or paper therefrom." 
This Dr. Belknap called imprisoning the books, and 
considered it a great hindrance to the benefit of the 
donation, a valuable part of which has since been 



188 UEB 0? DB. BEIiElfrAP. 

released, and, in the possession of the Historical 
Society, is subject to their more liberal regulations. 

In an account of the society contained in an early 
volume of their collections, they express a desire for 
the increase of the library and museum, and add as 
an inducement, " All benefactions will be thankfully 
acknowledged, and the names of the donors pub- 
lished ; " widch at the time had a good effect. 

According to the plan of the sketch quoted 
above; there are now similar societies in fourteen 
other states, as follow : 

Maine, Maryland, 

New Hampshire, Virginia, 

Vermont, North Carolina, 

Rhode Island, South Carolina, 

Connecticut, Geor^a, 

New York, Ohio, 

Pennsylvania, Kentucky. 

Some of the ori^al materials collected by Dr. 
Belknap for the society have been lost ; but enough 
remain to identify him with its promising begin- 
nings, and^ to indicate that he put it in a right course 
for the successful pursuit of its objects. He was a 
constant attendant at its meetings. He began and 
pursued an extensive correspondence over the coun- 
try, to enlist help in its designs ; and he contributed 
the results of his own investigations, not only to the 
published volumes and the cabinet of the society, 



CORKESPONDBNCB WITH GOV. WENTWORTH. 189 

but also to the more widely circulated papers and 
pamphlets of the day. 

Before completing the second volume of his His- 
tory, Dr. Belknap wrote to Governor Wentworth, 
then residing in Halifax, for some further informa- 
tion concerning his administration. This letter, the 
Governor's reply, and their subsequent correspond- 
ence, give a pleasing view of the character of a 
man who was forced, by causes beyond his control, 
to relinquish the government of New Hampshire, 
which he administered with integrity, and to the genr 
eral satisfaction of the inhabitants. 

"Boston, March 2l8t, 1791. 

"Dear Sir, 

"I have written you several letters, both 
while you was in England and since you have been 
in Nova Scotia, but never had the pleasure of a 
line in return. 

" When the first volume of the History of New 
Hampshire was printed, I gave one to Mr. John 
Pierce, to be sent to you. I have also delivered to 
him seversJ of your books, which I borrowed out of 
the library at Wolfboro' before it went to wreck witiii 
your other property, in our late tumults. 

"In the list of subscribers for my second and third 
volumes, I observe with pleasure your signature. 
Tins encourages me to hope, that, as you formerly 
patronized the work, you will not take it amiss that 



190 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

I should apply to you for some assistance. I have 
endeavored to explore every fountain of intelligence 
that is accessible, and have succeeded in some in- 
stances beyond my expectation; nor would I leave 
any method unattempted by which it is possible for 
me to obtain as complete a knowledge as possible of 
the persons and things concerning which I write. 

" For that part of the history of which you may 
say, with the ancient hero of Troy, ' quorum pars 
ma^wa/wzV I am furnished with * * * * 
With these and what I shall collect from the public 
records in New Hampshire, whither I am now going 
to complete my compilation, and what I have min- 
uted and remember of the transactions of that pe- 
riod, I shall form the chapter of your administration. 
But I do most sincerely wish that I could converse 
with you on some of thes^ various topics, because it 
is my intention and desire to give as candid an ac- 
count of things as is consistent with truth. 

"It is true I always was, and shall appear in 
^ this work to be, an advocate for the American side 
of the question, which was so long in debate witib 
Great JBritain, and which is now determined bj the 
Supreme Arbiter. But there were some things done 
by my countrymen which I did not approve at the 
time, nor has the length of time which has elapsed 
altered my opinion. One of these was the havoc of 
private property made by confiscations. On this 
and some other circumstances I could enlarge, but 



CORRBSPONDBNCE WITH GOV. WBNTWORTH. 191 

shall say no more than what is necessary to give a 
just idea of the subject. 

*' If there are any other matters which, in your 
judgment, I ought to be acquainted with, and which 
I shall not be able to obtain without your assistance, 
will you be so good as to mention them to me ? I 
shall receive such commimication as a particular 
favor. 

" Our government appears at last to be happily 
settled, and every friend to virtue and good order 
must wish it permanency. I hope that twenty-five 
years of controversy and revolution will be suflficient 
for the space of time which I have to exist on 
this globe. Were I to live to the age of Methuse- 
lah, I should not wish to see another such period. 

" The publication of my work is unavoidably de- 
layed by the severity of the weather, which has 
made it impossible to procure the paper till spring. 
It is now making in Pennsylvania, and I have the 
prospect of receiving it in the course of next montti. 
You need not, therefore, fear that your communica- 
tions will be too late if they come by the end of 
May, or beginning of June. 

^^ I am, dear sir, with equal respect and affection 
as in 1773, 

" Your obliged friend and servant, 

"J.B. 
" To Gov. Wentworth, s^t Halifax." 



192 hTPn OF DR. BKLENAP. 

GOVBRNOR WENTWORTH'S RBPLT. 

•* Friar Lawrence's Cell, 

** Near Halifax, Maj 15th, 1791. 

" Mt Dbar Sir, 

"It is a long time since I have received 
such sincere pleasure as your letter of the 21st 
March has given me ; and I should have acknowl- 
edged it by the Alligator frigate, but she sailed so 
suddenly that there was not time to send to me 
here (about six miles from town) and return before 
she got away. Some of the letters you mention to 
have wrote to me I have answered, particularly those 
I received in England, and I think once from this 
country , but conveyances in our small coasters are 
very uncertain ; the skippers are generally illiterate, 
and do not think of any thing which does not imme- 
diately concern their cargo. By this means corres- 
pondence has hitherto been much obstructed. 

" The books returned to Mr. Pierce arrived safe 
during my absence into the woods, on my public 
duty, which has hitherto generally, taken from five 
to six months in every year, and I find has loaded 
my constitution with rheumatic complaints, but am 
in hopes rest and a more comfortable regimen will 
restore me. These I hope to enjoy this year, being 
about to sail for England on business that may de- 
tain me six months from this country. There and 
everywhere else, I shall rejoice to render you every 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH GOV. WENTWORTH. 19S 

agreeable service in my power ; for although my 
letters have not reached you, and I have not done 
my heart justice in writing more frequently, yet be 
assured, I have not known the least diminution of 
friendship and affectionate regard toward you ; I 
accordingly was much pleased on hearing you were 
continuing the History of New Hampshire, having 
received so much satisfaction from the first volume, 
and being myself more interested in the two next. 

" I herewith send you the papers you desire, as 
far as I can find them. Most of my papers were 
destroyed during the late tumults ; both public and 
private were at several times burned ; their loss has 
been often very inconvenient to me since, and is 
now particularly regretted, as they might have 
been useful to you. However, all that remain I 
confide to your friendly discretion, which will readily 
suggest *♦♦♦****** on a 
review of all my public conduct to this day, I acted 
with honest zeal for the King's service, and the real 
good of his subjects, which I always did, and do now, 
think are inseparable ; nor did I ever know any in- 
tentions to impose arbitrary laws qu America, or to 
establish any system repugnant to British liberty ; 
and I do verily believe, had true, wise, and open 
measures been embraced on both sides, that their 
union would have been many years established, and 
their prosperity wonderfully increased. The inde- 
pendence having been consented to by the govem- 
13 



194 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

ment which entrusted me with its powers, I do most 
cordially wish the most extensive, great, and per- 
manent blessings to the United States, and of course 
rejoice at the establishment of their federal constitu- 
tion as a probable means of their happiness. If 
1 there is any thing partial in my heart on this case, 
it is that New Hampshire, my native country, may 
arise to be among the most brilliant members of the 
confederation ; as it was my zealous wish, ambition, 
and unremitted endeavor, to have led her to, among 
the provinces, while under my administration. For 
this object, nothing appeared to me too much. 
My whole heart and fortune were devoted to it, and, 
I do flatter myself, not without prospect of some 
success. 

" If the bundle of papers prove useful to you, 
they will therein do me the best service ; if other- 
wise, I hope their being transmitted will serve to 
evince my ready disposition toward your wishes, 
which you may be assured you will find me at all 
times attached to, with all the steadfastness and zeal 
of friendship and respect. 

" I am, my dear Sir, very truly, 
"Tour sincere friend, 

^'"J. Wentworth. 
"Eev. Jeremy Belknap," 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH GOV. WBNTWORTH, 195 

FROM THif SAME. 

"Halifax, June 22d, 1792. 

" Be assured, my dear friend, I feel myself 
happy in your congratulations on my appointment 
to the government of this province. In every situar 
tion of life, the friendship of those I most esteem 
and respect must be numbered simong those things 
that I most covet." 

FROM THE SAME. 

"Halifax, 23d October, 1792. 

*'My Dear Sir, 

" Late last evening, I returned from an ex- 
pedition in the woods, after thirty-four days' absence ; 
the chief object of which was to open a road from 
the settlements at Poictou on the Gulf of St. Law- 
rence, to this place. This has been long wanted, but 
thought impracticable, from the expense, and the 
supposed difficulty of the country. Both are, how- 
ever, overcome, and a good cart-road is cut, made, 
and bridged, by which the inhabitants of that popu- 
lous, increasing, and fertile district have an easy 
communication with the capital, and can enjoy the 
benefits of its commerce, as well as all the advan- 
tages of law and government ; of all of which, they 
were before almost as much deprived as if they had 
been resident on the White Mountains. This has 
been accomplished without any burthen on the pub- 
lic, from a revenue which has always been disposed 
of by governors, but hitherto not appropriated to 



196 LIPB OP DK. BELKNAP. 

such purposes as I think it my duty to apply It. 
The distance is sixty-eight niles, of which I have 
cut, bridged, j«ad made entirely, forty, and made 
the remainder comfortable (except eight miles 
which was done before), and my funds diminished 
not <£150 currency. 

" This business prevented my receiving your let- 
ter of 27 th August, \mtil this morning. * ♦ * I 
have only time to give you the preceding reasons 
for the delay in answering it, and to assure you, I 
will endeavor to obtain the information you desire 
about the Ante-Columbian discovery of America. 

" I feel a friendly impatience to see the iiscourso 
you have this day delivered (the century discourse), 
and beg you to send me a copy by the first vessel. 

"The autimm is now so far advanced, and the 
various duties of my offices in this government, 
and in all the others as surveyor-general of the 
woods, are so urgent, and require so much my im- 
mediate attention, that I fear whether it will be in 
my power to indulge my wishes in a visit to my 
friends at Portsmouth and Boston, this season. 
However,! do not yet entirely give up the hopes of so 
desirable a gratification, which would be unfeignedly 
increased to me in your friendly embrace ; for I pray 
you to be assured, I am, my dear Sir, 

" Tour sincere friend, 

"J. Wentworth.** 
"Eby. Jbbbmt Belknap." 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH GOV. WENTWORTH. 197 

" I forgot to beg your assistance in procuring for 
me one of the Hebrew grammars published by Judah 
Monis, late of Harvard College, and used there, 
while I was an undergraduate. It is intended for 
my son, who is a student of Brazen Nose College, 
Oxford, and has a taste for the Hebrew language, iu 
which he made great proficiency while at Westmin- 
ster school. 

" Your friend, 

"J. Wentworth." 

FROM THE SAME* 

** Halifax, 7th Noyember, 1793. 

« My Dear Sir, 

"'Amidst the urgency of pubHc business, 
exceedingly increased by paying and dismissing 
upwards of one thousand militia-meh, who have been 
called in as a reinforcement to this garrison, I em- 
brace a few moments afforded me by Mr. Walter, 
to return my best thanks for your kind letter and 
the Hebrew grammar, which I shall send to my son 
by the packet arrived to-day, from New York, on 
her way to England, which I shall despatch in three 
days. 

" The preparations for defence, and the frequent 
alarms from New York [of a French invasion], 
have so continually excited the apprehensions of 
our inhabitants in this town for three months past. 



198 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

that my every moment has been occupied. The 
alacrity and public spirit of our militia has given me 
great pleasure ; and their orderly behavior, both on 
their march and while in town, has been equally 
honorable to themselves, and flattering to me. We 
have not had one offence tried or complained of. 
Every division were armed on their arrival in town, 
and the next day assiduously applied themselves to 
military exercises with so much zeal and diligence, 
that their proficiency surprises every body. One 
company marched one hundred and thirty miles in 
thirty-five hours. Two other companies, hearing 
many guns, ran thirteen miles in two hours, to come 
in time. Instead of drafting to complete the levies, 
many companies insisted upon their right to come ; 
and the officers were obhged to draft those that 
were to remain at home, and complete a second 
reinforcement when wanted. The Acadians are 
equally affected as the rest. Since my accession 
to the government, I have earnestly applied myself 
to comfort and establish them, by granting lands 
without fees, appointing magistrates among them, 
calling them to the grand juries and town offices, 
enrolling them in the militia, and aiding their priests. 
They sent me seventy-five volunteers upon this occa- 
sion, under command of an English half-pay officer : 
on their arrival, I gave the same arms and allow- 
ances as the rest. Their old captain told me they 
now first found themselves the same as Englishmen, 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH GOV. WBNTWORTH. 199 

and were perfectly happy, and would be as faithful 
to the king and province as any men in it. I con- 
fess recovering these poor people to their own hap- 
piness, and as the old man said to me, that I had 
made them forget all the miseries their people had 
formerly suffered, gives me infinitely more comfort 
than any other thing since my administration. I 
know yoijr benevolent heart will not only rejoice, 
but also congratulate me on this event." 

FROM THE 8AME. 

« Halifax, 24th July, 1795. 

"My Dear Sir, 

" The multiplied importunities of urgent 
business have lately interrupted the gratifications 
derived to me from private correspondence, and, 
among others, prevented my writing to you as 
often as I wished. I will no longer be restrained, 
however, from so pleasing an intercourse ; more es- 
pecially as it is, and has been some time, my wish 
to express to you the solid comfort resulting to me, 
in these distracted times, when the mighty power 
of France is madly employed tp destroy our religion, 
and thereby bury social order, with all its beauties 
and blessings, in barbarian ruins, from recollecting a 
sermon you preached at Dover, in New Hampshire, 
when I reviewed a regiment of militia there. In 



200 LIFE OP DE. BBLKNAP. 

that discourse, you convinced me, that the kingdom 
of Christ required not, arms for its defence, or sup- 
port, nor could possibly be subverted by them. 
From that hour my mind was satisfied, and I now 
am fully persuaded, that the unexampled efiforts 
of the French to exterminate Christianity will not 
. only be frustrated by the decrees of Heaven, but 
that it will be more signally established and extend- 
ed by their malice ; and, of course, that safety, 
benevolence, and all the other endearing charities 
of life, will still be preserved under that great shel- 
ter. Thus, although I see the ruinous torrent 
deluge many countries, yet I am persuaded, that 
bounds are set to their devastations, which cannot 
be passed. Where these bounds may be appointed, 
cannot be foreseen, — I most devoutly, hope, beyond 
the Atlantic, and that the pestilence may not pre- 
vail in America. It would be a sin truly diabolical, 
to plunge in darkness and horror the fair prospects 
which now shine on the American \mion. 

" In the course of your studies relative to the 
History of New Hampshire, it is possible you may 
have met with some papers or anecdotes concerning 
my family. If any have occurred, or that you can 
procure for me, they will be of great use, and most 
exceedingly oblige me especially — * * * 

" I know not how to apologize for asking this 
favor, which is so very interesting to me ; but, in your 
kindness and friendship, I trust for excuse, and in 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH OOV. WBNTWORTH. 201 

your extensive information for success, which will be 
thankfully considered by, my dear Sir, 
" Your sincere friend, 

J. Wbntworth. 

"P.S. Should any expense occur in procuring 
copies, searching records, or otherwise^ I will gladly 
repay it. 

FROM THE SAME. 

** Halifax, Kbya Scotia, Sept ISth. 1797. 

«Mt Dear Sir, 

" I am indeed exceedingly obliged and hap- 
py in your kind letter of the 17th August, which 
came to my hands the 12th inst. The inclosures 
are very acceptable to me, and I also beg to repeat 
my thanks for those communications you sometime 
since sent to me : those respectmg my family, thou^ 
not equal to legal evidence, yet had a good use in 
satisfying those who were to determine that my 
claims were well founded; and the deficiency of 
formal proof was supplied by the gracious commands 
of my sovereign, in whose wisdom our constitution 
places plenary powers in ^uch cases. The interest 
your friendship kindly takes in my happiness, justi- 
fies me in mentioning, that, in' the honors lately con- 
ferred, an addition to my arms was granted, 
signifying ability and fidelity in the public service. 
These, however, merited more by honest zeal than 



202 LIFE OF DR. BBLKNAP. 

brilliant execution, are a pleasing mark of appro- 
bation upon principles applicable to all forms of 
government. The next to this, I rejoice in and am 
proud of the affectionate remembrance of mj old 
friend, the highly respected President of the United 
States, and with perfect sincerity reciprocate his 
kmd expression ; for it is certain * I always loved 
John Adams.* Our youth was spent in confidence 
and intimacy, which discovered to me so many vir- 
tues and such preeminent abilities, that they created 
an esteem which has not since been estranged, and 
still affords me many hours of comforting reflection. 
Perhaps no man can entertain a more exalted opin- 
ion of our fiiend's political wisdom than I do ; nor 
is it impossible that it may exceed the wisdom of 
those you designate [the crowned heads of Europe] : 
the most of them I really believe it does. In that 
description, however, we have seldom the means of 
a due appreciation. Their wisdom is often imputed 
to others, and the reverse in its defect, redoubling 
the balance against their reputation. You could 
not more, safely anticipate my concurrence, than in 
the sentiment that my classmate is the most perfect 
choice that could mark the good sense and sound 
judgment of the United States. Nor are my best 
wishes wanting for his prosperous and long adminis- 
tration: therein, I verily believe, is included the 
greatest good that can be wished for the United 
States of America. ***** 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH GOV. WENTWORTH. 203 

*^ I may not reasonably enlarge this long letter 
with apologies* It is most my interest to commit 
myself to your fnendship, which has always been 
very good and very dear to 

" Your faithful and obedient servant, 

"J. Wbntworth." 

FROM THE SAME. 

<" H^ax, Nova Scotia, 2dd March, 1798. 

"My Dear Sir, 

" An unexpected urgency requiring the im- 
mediate sailing of the brig Earl of Moira, I have 
not a moment (which literally is my own) ; but I 
will snatch one wherein to thank you for your late 
very kind and acceptable letter, and to ask accept- 
ance of the picture of my late Grandfather, which 
you mentioned. It is an original, and well execu- 
ted. I am much flattered by its intended situation 
among the good men of my native country, to which 
I shall never cease to bear an honest affection. 
[This picture is in the collection of the Historical 
Society.] 

" You will have received the European news by 
the Halifax packet, arrived at New York, probably 
before ifc reached us, and therefore it will be un- 
necessary to trouble you on that subject, if time 



204 LIFE OF DK. BELKNAP. 

remained more than to assure you of the smcere 
regard and esteem of, Reverend and dearsiry 
" Your faithful friend, 

"J. Wentworth. 

" P. S. I have directed to you a pamphlet pub- 
lished by the late province of New York relative to 
their contest with New Hampshire for Vermont. 
Possibly.it may be acceptable for your Historical 
Society's collection, to which I shall gladly embrace 
any occasions that may arise of contributing my 
mite. J. W. 

"Rev. JfiRBMY Belknap." 

The result of the inquiry instituted by Governor 
Wentworth concerning the ante-Columbian discovery 
of America, as given in the advertisement to the 
second volume of American Biography, is, that no 
vestige of a settlement nor of grape-vines could be 
found ; and though the tale has been more recently 
related by Mr. Wheaton, in his History of the 
Northmen, it is since put at rest by the following 
note, in the first volume of " Scandinavia," by 
Crichton and Wheaton, Edinburgh, 1838, page 23: 

" The alleged discovery of North America, under 
the name of Vinlandy by the Scandinavians, in the 
year 1002, is not worthy of credence. The error 
appears to have been- the work of some designing 
interpolator of the old Icelandic M>S. Chronicles." 

In page 163 of the same History, is the following 



HISTORY OP NEW HAMPSHIRE. 205 

reference i " See an interesting dissertation on the 
alleged discovery of America by the Scandinavians, 
by J. H. Schroeder, in the Svea for 1818, torn. i. 
p. 197, a periodical published at Upsala.'' 

In 1792 Dr. Belknap published the third and 
last volume of the History of New Hatnpshire. No 
sooner was this work, which had . cost so much time 
and labor, completed, than an editor of a newspaper 
in Keene attempted to profit by it at the expense 
of the author, to which end he published the follow- 
ing notice : 

" In order to render this paper as useful and en- 
tertainmg as possible, the editor proposes in a few 
weeks to commence upon the Rev. Mr. Belknap's 
late History of New Hampshire, and continue a 
small part of the same weekly. As every member 
of the community is equally interested in this much- 
approved History, the editor flatters himself that 
the above attempt to please will meet with the ap- 
probation of his generous patrons. This iirformation 
is given to accommodate those who have a de- 
sire of becoming subscribers for the Cheshire Ad- 
vertiser, that they may apply in season, and not be 
disappointed of the first part of this valuable His- 
tory." 

This information reaching Dr. Belknap, through 
the kindness of his friend, Mr. Isaiah Thomas, of 
Worcester, occasioned the following letter to the 
gentleman so desirous to please his customers : 



206 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

"Boston, April 21st, 1792. 



"To Mr. 



" Editor of the Cheshire Advertiser. 



" I have observed in your paper of the 4th 
inst., that you have promised your customers ' to 
commence upon the Rev. Mr. Belknap's History of 
New Hampshire, and continue a small part of the 
same weekly, to accommodate those who have a de- 
sire of becoming subscribers for the Cheshire Ad- 
vertiser, &c.' As I am particularly interested in 
the success of that Uterary adventure, I beg you 
would set me down as a subscriber for the Cheshire 
Advertiser for one year, to commence from the 
first portion of ihe said History which you may re- 
print, and send the papers to me regularly by the post. 
If you are desirous of reprinting the certificate from 
the Clerk of the Federal Court, which secures the 
copyright of the said History to me and my heirs, 
agreeably to the laws of the United States, be so 
good as to let me know it, and I will send you an 
authenticated copy. 

" I am, sir, your very humble servant, 

" Jeremy Belknap." 

Thus, for a time, the threatened invasion of his 
rights was repelled ; but, a few years after, a New 
York printer was more successful in selling a Geog- 
raphy, into which were transcribed large portions of 
the work; and though an attempt was made to 



THE FORESTERS. 207 

obtain some remuneration from him, it was found 
nothing but the application of the law would have 
any effect ; and, this being too expensive a mode of 
settlement, the injury remained without redress. 

In this year also Dr. Belknap published " The For- ^ '"^^^ 
esters, an American tale, being a sequel to the His- 
tory of John Bull the Clothier, in a series of letters 
to a friend.'' It appeared first in successive num- 
bers of the Columbian Magazine, and was afterwards 
collected into a volume, which passed through two 
editions during the author's life. This little book 
gives a humorous account of the first settlement of 
the country, and the troubles with Great Britain ; 
it was printed anonymously, the copyright being 
secured by the publishers. The second edition ^ 
was printed in 1796, and two letters were added, 
continuing the story to that time. 

A description of the hostility of Massachusetts 
towards the Quakers and Anabaptists, and of the ex- 
pulsion of the former from the state, is given in the 
third letter as follows. It is headed, " John Cod- 
line quarrels with Roger Carrier, and turns him out 
of doors." 

" John's "family grew, and he settled his sons as 
fast as they became of age, to Kve by themselves ; 
and when any of his old acquaintance came to see 
him, he bade them welcome, and was their very good 
friend, a» long as they continued to he of Ms mind, 
and no longer ; for he was a very pragmatical sort 



208 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

of a fellow, and loved to have his own way in every- 
thing. This was the cause of a quarrel between 
him and Roger Carrier ; for it happened that Roger 
had taken a fancy to dip his head into water,* as 
the most effectual way of washing his face, and 
thought it could not be made so <5lean in any other 
way. John, who used the common way of taking 
water in his hand to wash his face, was displeased 
with Roger's innovation, and remonstrated against 
it. The remonstrance had no other effect than to 
fix Roger's opinion more firmly ; and as a farther 
improvement on his new plan, he pretended that no 
person ought to have his face washed till he was 
capable of doing it himself, without any assistance 
from his parents. John was out of patience^ with 
this addition, and plumply told him that, if he did not 
reform his principles and practice, he would fine him, 
or flog him, or kick him out of doors. These 
threats put Roger on inventing other odd and whim- 
sical opinions. He took offence at the letter X, and 
would have had it expunged from the alphabet, be- 
cause it was the shape of a cross, and had a ten- 
dency to introduce Popery.f He would not do his 
duty at a military muster, because there was an X 
in the colors. After a while he began to scruple 
the lawfulness of bearing arms and killing wild 

* Anabaptbts. 

t Roger Williams' zeal against the sign of the Cross. 



THE FORESTERS. 209 

beasts. But, poor fellow ! the worst of all was, ttiat 
being seized with a shaking-palsy* which affected 
every limb and joint of him, his speech was so al- 
tered that he was unable to pronounce certain letters 
and syllables as he had been used to do. These 
oddities and defects rendered him more and more 
disagreeable to his old friend, who, however, kept 
his temper as well as he could, till one day, as John 
was saying a long grace over his meat, Roger kept 
his hat on the whole time. As soon as the ceremo- 
ny was over, John took up a case-knife from the 
table, and gave Roger a blow on the ear with the 
broad side of it ; then with a quick, rising stroke, 
turned off his hat. Roger said nothing, but, taking 
up his hat, put it on again ; at which John broke 
out into such a passionate speech as this : ' You im- 
pudent scoundrel ! is it come to this ? Have I not 
borne with your whims and fidgets these many 
years, and yet they grow upon you ? Have I not 
talked with you time after time, and proved to you 
as plain as the nose in your face, that your notions 
are wrong ? Have I not ordered you to leave them 
off, and warned you of the consequences ; and yet 
you have gone on from bad to worse ? You began 
with dipping your head into water, and would have 
all the family do the same, pretending there was no 
other way of washing the face. You would have 

* Quakers. 
14 



210 LIFE 07 DR. BELKNAP. 

had the children go dirty all their days, under pre- 
tence that thej were not able to wash their own 
faces, and so they must haye been as filthy as the 
pigs till tiiey were grown up. Then you would talk 
your own balderdash lingo, thee and thouj and nan 
forsooth ; and now you must keep your hat on when 
I am at my devotions, and I suppose would be glad 
to have the whole family do tiie same ! There is no 
bearing with you any longer; so now, hear me, I 
ffve you fair warning: if you don't mend your 
manners, and retract your errors, and promise 
reformation, I'll kick you out of the house. I'll 
have no such refractory fellows here. I came into 
this forest for reformation^ and reformation I mU 
have.' 

" * Friend John,' said Roger, ' dost not thou re- 
member, when thou and I lived together in friend 
Bull's family, how hard thou didst think it to be 
compelled to look on thy book all the time that the 
hooded chaplain was reading the prayers, and how 
many knocks and thumps thou and I had for offering 
to use our liberty, which we thought we had a right 
to do ? Didst thou not come hitherunto for the sake 
of enjoying thy liberty ? and did not I come to enjoy 
mine ? Wherefore, then, dost thou assume to de- 
prive me of the right which thou claimest for thy- 
self?' 

" ' Don't tell me,' answered John, ' of right 
and of liberty ; you have as much liberty as any 



THE FORESTERS. 211 

man ought to have. You have liberty to do right, 
and no man ought to have liberty to do wrong.' 

" * Who is to be judge/ replied Roger, 'of what 
is right or what is wrong? Ought not I to judge 
for myself ? Or tibinkest thou it is thy place to 
judge for me ? ' 

" * Who is to be judge ? ' said John, * why, the 
hook is to be judge ; and I have proved by the book 
over and over again, that you are wrong ; and there- 
fore you are wrong, and you have no liberty to do 
any thing but what is right.' 

" ' But, friend John,' said Roger, ' who is to 
judge whether thou hast proved my opinions or con- 
duct to be wrong — thou or I ? ' 

" ' Come, come,' said John, * not so close, neith- 
er ; none of your idle distinctions. I «ay^ you are 
in the wrong; I have proved it, and you Icnow it. 
You have sinned against your own conscience, and 
therefore you deserve to be cut off as an incorrigible 
heretic' 

" ' How dost thou know,' said Roger, ' that I 
have sinned against my own conscience? Canst 
thou search the heart? ' 

" At this John was so enraged that he gave him 
a smart kick, and bade him begone out of his house, 
and off his lands, and called after him to tell him, 
that, if ever he should catch him there again, he 
would knock his brains out." 



212 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

CHAPTER Vm. 

1794—1797. 

American Biography Published. — Judge Jay*9 
Opinion. — Extracts from the Preface of Hub- 
hard^ s New Edition. — Letter to Mr. Hazard. 
— Q-eneral Knox. — Dissertations^ Extract^ — 
Psalms and Hymns. — Letter from a 0-entleman 
of Portland. — Dislike to Controversy. — Aneo- 
dotes. 

In January, 1794, the first volume of the 
American Biography was published, entitled, " An 
Historical Account of those Persons who have been 
distinguished in America as Adventurers, Statesmen, 
Philosophers, Divines, Warriors, Authors, and other 
remarkable characters." The first biography is 
that of Biorn, the discoverer of Vinland, in 1001 ; 
and the volume concludes with Henry Hudson, who, 
in the endeavor to find a north-west passage, dis- 
covered Spitzbergen in 1607, embracing a period of 
six hundred years. 

Biography, says a contemporary writer, " was a 
literary path hitherto unexplored in this country,'* 
when entered upon by Dr. Belknap. " No apology," 
says the author, ^' is necessary for this work, if its 
utility be admitted ; " and this, time has abundantly 



AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY. 213 

proved. His previous historical studies and pur- 
suits, as well as his accuracy and impartiality, emi- 
nently qualified him for its successful accomplish- 
ment. A letter from Judge Jay to Dr. Belknap, 
upon the subject, contains the following sentence : 

" To succeed in Biography has not been common. 
To collect, select, and arrange tiie necessary mate- 
rials, requires time and industry, as well as judgment ; 
and it always appeared to me to be a matter of re- 
gret, that although reputation was more valuable 
than property, yet less care and accuracy were gen- 
erally used in deciding on Uie former, than on the 
latter.'' 

A new edition of this work was published by 
Harper and Brothers, in 1842 ; the editor of which, 
Mr. F. M. Hubbard, gives the following testimony 
to the correctness and fidelity of the author : 

" In preparing a new edition of a work so highly 
esteemed for its exactness and impartiality, the 
editor has had a twofold labor. He has reexamined 
all the statements of facts made by Dr. Belknap, 
and compared them with tiie authorities he used, and 
with others which were not accessible when he wrote. 
It has been very seldom that he has found occasion 
to differ from Dr. Belknap, and that most frequently 
in cases in which documents recently discovered 
have iiirown light upon subjects which the want 



214 LIPII OF DR. BELKNAP. 

of them rendered necessarily obscure. It is believed 
that no work has been published of such magnitude, 
embracing such a variety of persons and events, and 
extendmg over a period of more than six hundred 
years^ in which so few, and those so unimportant, 
errors are to be found. The manuscript collections 
yet remaining, from wldch the work was originally 
written, prove a degree of careful (Hligencej and a 
discriminating and impartial judgment, which have 
been rarely exercised by the Mstorical inqmrer." 

The first suggestion of this work is contained in 
a letter from Dr. Belknap to his friend Mr. Hazard, 
in 1779. He says: 

" There is one thing I intended to mention to you, 
which, if it meet with your approbation, may serve as 
an underplot to your general design [of the State 
Papers] . In the course of your travels through the 
continent, and researches into antiquity, you will 
naturally become acquainted with the chara<;ters of 
many persons whose memories deserve regard, 
either as statesmen, scholars, patriots, or otherwise. 
Might not a collection of these, in the form rf a bio- 
graphical dictionary, be an useful work ? I have 
had thoughts of such a thing, and have made the 
beginning of a small attempt to execute it ; biit as 
your opportunities for perfecting such a plan are 
much superior to what mine are, or will probably 



AMERICAN BIOGBAPHY. 215 

ever be, I will gladly resign to you whatever I have 
done, or can hereafter do, toward it." 

Mr. Hazard's reply contains the following : 

" I am charmed with your proposal of an Ameri- 
can Biographical Dictionary, and will cheerfully 
contribute towards it any aid in my power ; but 
upon considering, according to Horace's advice, 

* Quid yaXeant humeri ferre, quid ferre recusant,' 

I dare not undertake it. When you attend to the 
magnitude of my present design, and recollect that 
at the same .time I am forming an American Geo- 
graphy, you will see the propriety of my declining 
it. As you have begun, I wish you would go on 
with it. It is unjust, and would argue base ingrati- 
tude, that the characters of worthy men should be 
buried with their dusf 

The next letter of Dr. Belknap is as follows: 

"May 12th, 1779. 

"Dear Sir,. 

" I am much pleased that my proposal of an 
American Biographical Dictionary meets with your 
approbation. The promise of your assistance in 
carrying it on is a great inducement to proceed in 
it ; but I had much raiiier you would take the work 



216 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

into your own hands. *The magnitude of your 
present design ' need be no impediment to it, as the 
materials lie all in your way, and you need only 
keep a memorandum containmg an alphabetical in- 
dex of names, with reference to the books and 
papers where the characters or actions of the per- 
sons are registered, which may be transcribed at 
some future period, when your other plans are com- 
pleted. This is chiefly the method which I have 
pursued : only where I meet with hints scattered in 
books or papers which may not be easily collected 
again, I have copied them. But I have done and 
can do but little toward it. Confined, as Pope says, 
to ' lead the life of a cabbage,' unable to stir from 
the spot where I am planted, burdened with the 
care of an increasing family, and obliged to pursue 
the business of my proper station, I have neither 
time nor advantages to make any improvements in 
science. K I can furnish hmts to those who have 
leisure and capacity to pursue them, it is as much 
as I can pretend to. If, upon further co^ideration, 
you should think more favorably of being the prin-* 
cipal instrument of perfecting the design, I will 
promise to forward it to the utmost of my power ; 
but, if not, I beg you would not only assist in it 
yourself, but engage a number of gentlemen in dif- 
ferent parts of the continent to make collections for 
it, and let some person whose situation is more cen- 
tral than mine be appointed to receive them. By 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH MR. HAZARD. 217 

this means, perhaps in a series of time the thing 
may be done ; but if it lie sole]y upon me, and I am 
to continue in my present situation, I am persuaded 
it never will." 

A letter from Mr. Hazard, dated Jamaica Plain, 
the following August, gives sortie id^a of the diflGi- 
culties a literary project had to encounter in such 
troubled times. He says : 

" I mentioned the dictionary to Dr. Gordon of 
this place. Dr. Stiles of New Haven, the Rev. Mr. 
Tennent of Greenfield, in Connecticut, and I think 
to several gentiemen in Philadelphia; but I men- 
tioned it as you preach sermons, in hopes that it 
might possibly take effect somewhere, but almost 
despairing of it at the same time. In short, the war, 
and the numerous avocations consequent upon it, 
have thrown every man's mind into such an unset- 
tled and confused state, that but few can thmk 
steadily upon any subject. They hear of useful^ 
designs ; they give you all the encouragement which 
can be derived from the warmest approbation of 
your plan ; they will even promise you assistance : 
politics intrude, and when you appear again, why, 
tiiey really forgot that the matter had been men- 
tioned to them." 

The second volume of the Biography begins with 
the life of Sir Thomas Smith, treasurer of the Virginia 



> 



> 



218 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

Company in England, and one of the assignees of 
Raleigh's patent ; and concludes with William Penn. 
Dr. Belknap lived to complete it, but not to see it 
published ; the printing being in progress at the 
time of his decease. 

Dr. Belknap's patriotism was active and vigilant 
to repel all assaults upon the honor of his country. 
General Knox, Secretary of War, on resigning his 
oflSce, addressed a letter to the President, Dec* 29th, 
1794, in which he lamented that " our modes of 
population had been more destructive to the Indian 
natives than the conduct of the conquerors of Mex- 
ico and Peru." This unjust aspersion roused Dr. 
Belknap in defence of his country, and he wrote a 
letter to General Enox, which was printed in the 
Columbian Centinel, of 24th January, 1795, show- 

I ing that the first settlers had bought their land and 
paid the Indians for itj and had made great efforts 
to civilize and christianize them ; and that the do- 

' crease of their number was not owing to the causes 
to which the General attributed it. Another instance 
of this watchfulness and care of the honor of the Uni- 
ted States is the correction of an error of Dr. Kippis 
respecting the conduct of the American Congress 
with regard to Captam Cook, which was published 
at the time in the CoUecti^ons of the Historical So- 
ciety, vol. iv. p. 79, &c. 

In 1795, Dr. Belknap published " Dissertations 
on the Character, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus 



DISSERTATIONS. 219 

Christ, and the Evidence of his Gospel ; with Re- 
marks on some sentiments advanced in a book enti- 
tled ' The Age of Reason.' " • 

This compendium, designed for those who have 
not leisure or opportunity to look into more volumi- 
nous works, does not pretend to any new arguments. 
An extract from the first dissertatioh, on the nature of 
that evidence by which the Gospel is supported, will 
give an idea of the manner of reasoning pursued in it. 

" Where there is a prospect of advantage, and of 
such vast, unspeakable advantage as the happiness 
of a future state, — a subject which has engaged the 
attention of good men in all ages, — surely it is ra- 
tional to admit that degree of moral evidence which 
is founded on credible testimony, — on testimony 
which cannot be contradicted by any testimony of 
equal credibility, and from the certainty of which 
no deduction can be made by any reasonable evi- 
dence of a contrary truth. 

" Such is the kind of evidence, and such is the 
degree of that kind of evidence, on which the facts 
which involve the gospel hope of eternal life are 
grounded. It is the evidence of testimony ; the 
testimony of Jesus Christ and his apostles. Jesus 
Christ came from heaven into this world, and pointed 
out to us the path of life by his doctrine and example. 
Having delivered his testimony, and confirmed it by 
a series of the most wonderful and beneficial works 
which were ever seen and known in this world; 



220 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

having voluntarily yielded himself to the power of 
death, and submitted to be laid in the grave ; he 
hath resumed his life, and returned to heaven. Of 
all this there is suflScient evidence ; there is written 
evidence ; there is evidence from the written testi- 
mony of credible witnesses, who could not be mis- 
taken, because they did not believe it themselves 
until, after doubting, they were convinced by the 
most infaUible and demonstrative proof; and who 
could have no interest in deceiving us, because they 
have ventured their own happiness on the credibiUty 
of the same truths. If, then, we have any idea of 
the benefit which is proposed to us by beUeving in 
Jesus Christ, and obeying his Gospel ; if we have 
any value for that salvation which is there revealed, 
ought we not to attend to this evidence ? And if 
it appears reasonable, and we have no contrary evi- 
dence to detract from its credibility, is it not wise 
and prudent for us to admit the truth of the facts, 
and the importance of the consequences deducible 
from them ; and, when we have admitted it, to build 
our hope and expectations on it ? Ought we not to 
exercise the same judgment and caution on this sub- 
ject, which we do every day on things of less con- 
sequence ? — and at the same time to place that 
confidence, and entertain that hope, which shall an- 
imate us to exertion ? Hope is the life of all busi- 
ness ; and what nobler hope can we have than the 
hope of eternal life ? Being persuaded of this 



PSALMS AND HYMNS. 221 

bnith, and possessed of this hope, we shall pursue 
with vigor the path of duty ; and the farther we ad- 
vance in the way of gospel obedience, the more 
comfort and satisfaction shall we find : the * righte- 
ous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean 
hands shall be stronger and stronger.' — Job xviii. 
9." 

In this year Dr. Belknap issued his collection of 
Psalms and Hymns. This compilation was gathered 
from a wider range of authors than those which it su- 
perseded ; it was extensively used by the Congrega- 
tional churches of New England for many years, and 
more recent compilers have acknowledged its value 
by transferring a large portion of its contents to their 
pages. The author says, in his preface : 

" In this selection, those Christians who do not^ 
scruple to sing praises to their Redeemer and Sancti- / 
fier will find materials for such a sublime enjoyment ; 
whilst others, whose tenderness of conscience may 
oblige them to confine their addresses to the Father 
only, will find no deficiency of matter suited to their 
idea of ^ the chaste and awful spirit of devotion.' " 

Several of the hymns are of his own composi- 
tion. Indeed, he frequently wrote occasional verses 
for the entertainment of himself and friends ; but, as 
he never considered these ephemeral productions as 
of any great value, it has been thought best not to 
introduce any of them into this volume, with the 
exception of a fragment found among his papers 



222 LIFE OF DB. BELKNAP. 

after lua decease, which was published in the oUtu-. 
arj notices of him at the time, and is inserted in its 
appropriate place. 

The readiness of Dr. Belknap to help all who 
needed or asked his assistance was remarkable, and 
induced applications from more indolent persons, who 
would gladly have avjwled themselves of his labors, 
instead of their own exertions. As an instance of 
this, a gentleman wrote him a letter from Portiand, 
to the following effect : 

" I am preparing something which will soon be 
delivered to the public. I find myself exceedingly 
cramped by the want of books this way. My own 
library is trifling. Will you permit me, for a mo- 
ment, to intrude upon your precious time, devoted 
to religion and science, by the following requests ? 

" I wish to have, from your pen, a short sketch 
of the rise and process of the causes uMch finally 
produced the declaration of independencCy 4ih of 
July, '76. The favor shall be thankfully and^mJ- 
licly acknowledged. What men of science have 
emigrated to this country since the revolution ? 

" J^ tvithin a week^ Sir, after the reception of this 
letter, you will be so kind as to gratify me in my 
requests, you will confer an essential obligation 
upon me. 

" Reverend Sir, 

^' With perfect esteem and obligation, 

" I am yours, for ever.'* 



OCCUPATION OP HIS TIMB. 228 

This modest request was made to one who, " not 
by slighting any of the public or private duties of 
his office, but by superior economy of time and in- 
dustry, seizing the eariy hours of the day, superior 
to the enticements of indolence, abhorring idleness, 
finishing whatever study or inquiry he had begun, 
and using recreations and visits as preparations for 
serious pursuits, redeemed leisure to carry his re- 
searches into other fields of literature, suited to 
gratify his taste, and increase his usefulness." — (Dr. 
KirMand on Dr. Belknap.) 

The delay of the above letter rendered the appli- 
cation unavailing^ as it did not reach Dr. Belknap 
until after the time had elapsed within which an 
answer would have been of use. 

Of the constant and full occupation of his time, 
he says, in a letter to Dr. Lettsom : 

" I know what it is to have/wK employment, and 
that a man who wishes to fill up his time with duty 
is obliged to husband his hours, and even to borrow 
some from sleep to accomplish his purposes. Were 
it possible to buy time from idlers and loungers, 
there might be an accommodating bargain on both 
sides ; but, in the present state of things, we must 
be thankful that we can get time to do good in any 
way, as well as sorry we can do no more. He who 
* went about doing good ' will know how to estimate 
our services to his brethren, and will take it all as 
done to himself." 



224 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

Dr. Belknap's dislike to controversy is pleasantly 
shown in the reply to the following note : 

"Kind Sib, 

" In the year 1780 I printed a piece against 
your discourse from John xviii. : * If my kingdom 
were of this world,' &c. ; and in that piece I han- 
dled you severely. 

" Now if you was right, I have done very wrong, 
and it is expedient that my piece should be an- 
swered, if capable of an answer : therefore, if you 
are able, you will kindly undertake an answer, or to 
show the error. Otherwise, my cause is established, 
and you are found in an egregious deception. 

"Nov. 9th, 1796. W- S.'^ 



ANSWER.^ 



"If Mr. S. is dispose* to enter into contro- 
versy, he is very unfortunate- in the choice of an 
antagonist ; for if his performance has passed six- 
teen years without a reply, it is not probable that it 
will receive any at this distance of time, when both 
that and the sermon which gave occasion for it, are 
almost forgotten. Those who have read them can 
judge for themselves." 



99 



ANECDOTES. 225 

Here are several anecdotes preserved which 
illustrate Dr. Belknap's character. The following 
was related to the writer by Rev. Dr. Farkman : 

" A clergyman of a neighboring town, who was 
a native of Cbarlestown, had been very imprudent, 
when young, in building a house beyond his means, 
and was very unhappy that he could not pay the 
laborers employed upon it. He went to see his 
friend, and told him his troubles, not without a few 
tears, for he was easily moved. Dr. Belknap, after 
hearing his story, took from his desk and gave him 
a classical medal, with an unfinished or broken 
tower upon it, and a motto, signifying the wisdom 
of one who commences no more than he is able to 
complete ; as though he would say to him, for he was 
himself poor, * Silver and gold have I none, but 
such as I have give J/ unto thee.' The clergyman 
went away, feeling that he had received a rebuke, 
mild and classical, hvtt nevertheless a rebuke from 
his friend. In a few^ days came round the Thurs- 
day Lecture ; after which, Dr. Belknap sought his 
friend, and said to him, 

" You must dine to-day with Mr. Thomas Rus- 
sel, the rich merchant." 

" I do not know him, I am afraid to go," was the 
reply. 

" But you must : he expects you, and politeness 
requires that you should." 

Conquering his timidity, the clergyman accepted 
15 



226 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

the invitation ; and after dinner, Mr. Russell inquired 
into the state of his affairs, and when he was informed, 
asked what sum would relieve him. 

" I do not know,*' was the reply ; " but I think 
four hundred dollars would make me a happy man.*' 

The benevolent merchant gave him a check for 
five hundred dollars, saymg : 

" You may repay it when you are able, and 
never, if you are never able. Dr. Belknap told me 
of your distress, and I am happy to be able to 
relieve you.'* 

During the revolution, while poverty pressed 
heavily upon nearly all the inhabitants, a man in 
Dover had the large buttons on his coat made of 
sole leather, and came to show them to Dr. Bel- 
knap. 

" There,'* said he, pointmg to his leather substi- 
tutes, " you see I am not proud : I have leather 
buttons.*' 

" I see no proof of that," was the reply ; " I think 
you are proud of your humility." 

A rough countryman asked lum, one day, if he 
really beUeved there was such a man as Job. The 
Doctor took the Bible, and bade him read. 

" There was a man in the land of Uz, whose 
name was Job." 

" You see the Bible says so." 

" So it does," drawled out the man ; " and I am 
sure I don 't know any thing to the contrary," 



ANECDOTES. 227 

"Neither do, I," said Dr. Belknap, and thus 
ended the inquiry. 

In a mixed company, hearing a person speak in a 
very free manner against the Christian religion, he 



" Have you found one that is better ?" And, the 
reply being in the negative, added, 

" When you do, let me know, and I will join 
you in adopting it.'* 



228 LIFE OF DE« BELKNAP. 

CHAPTER IX. 

1796^1798. 

Convention Sermon. — Missionary visit to the Oneida 
Indians, — Letters from Dr, Clarke, — Corres- 
pondence with Mrs, John Adams, — Expedition 
to Cuttyhunh, — r Last lUness and Death, — 
Character, — Theological Opinions, — Notice of 
Mrs. Belknnp. — Dr, Belknap's Life of Dr. 
Watts. 

Dr. Belknap's sermon before the convention of 
the clergy in Boston, May 26th, 1796, has been 
referred to previously, as giving a fair representa- 
tion of the trials of a minister in our community at 
that period, many of which are equally real at the 
present time, as a few extracts will prove. 

" Both our public performances and our private 
conversation are exposed to the attacks of malicious, 
cavilling, and prejudiced tempers ; and he must be 
more than human, who can behave so uprightly and 
circumspectly as in all cases to avoid giving offence, 
especially when we consider that we can recommend 
no duty but what some person neglects, and con- 
demn no sin but what some person commits." 

Concerning the treatment of political subjects in 
the pulpit, he makes the following observations : 

" Another of the afflictions to which we are ex- 



EXTRACTS FROM CONVENTION SERMON. 229^ 

posed is the resentment of pretended patriots, when 
we oppose their views in endeavoring to serve our 
country. There is a monopolizing spirit in some ^ 
politicians, which would exclude clergymen from all 
attention to matters of state and government ; which 
would prohibit us from bringing political subjects 
into the pulpit, and even threaten us with the loss 
of our livings, if we move at all in the political 
sphere. But, my brethren, I consider politics as 
indirectly connected with morality, and both with 
religion. If the political character of a people is 
bad, their morals are equally bad, and their religion 
is good for nothing. The same man who appears in 
the character of a politician is also a subject of 
moral government, and a candidate for immortality. 
Therefore, if he act right or wrong as a politician, 
he acts equally right or wrong as a subject of God's 
moral government ; his character as a politician 
will be brought into the grand review at the last 
day, and his future state will be determined accord- 
ingly. This doctrine, I am sensible, is not agreesr 
ble to the practice of some men, who act with a 
tolerable regard to the principles of morality in their 
common business ; but, when they get into a political 
body, relax their ideas of morality, and endeavor 
to carry a point by any means whatever. Against 
such an idea of polities I think it my duty to pro- 
test ; for I believe that honesty is the best policy, 
both in private and pubHc life. * ♦ ♦ * 



230 LIFE OP DB. BELKNAP. 

" It is very strange that we may not preach on 
the same subjects which are recommended to ns as 
subjects of prayer. In the annual proclamations 
for fasts and thanksgivings, we are exhorted to pray 
and give thanks on a great variety of political sub- 
jects, foreign and domestic. And what good reason 
can be given why the same subjects should not be 
discoursed on, as well as prayed over ? It is ex- 
pected, that we bring them into the pulpit in our 
prayers, and it is by some people highly resented if 
we do not. When we have them in our mind as 
proper subjects for devotion, why should we hot 
speak and discourse on them for the instruction of 
our hearers ? Must we make an address to God on 
political subjects, and may we not make an address 
to our brethren on the same subjects ? I would not 
be guilty of so strange an inconsistency. 

"It should be considered that we are men of 
like passions with others. We feel ourselves inter- 
ested equally with our brethren in the same relig- 
ious, moral, and political matters ; and where there 
is freedom of speech, as I trust there always will be 
in this happy country, we ought not to be blamed 
if we use the liberty of Americans to speak our 
minds at proper times, and in a decent manner, on 
political as well as on moral and religious topics, 

"But 'there is a generation that are pure in 
their own eyes, though their teeth are as swords ! ' 
And how liberal are some tongues, some pens, and 



EXTRACTS FROM CONVENTION SERMON. 231 

some presses, with their abuse, when we appear 
warm and zealous in the cause of our country ! 
When we speak or write in support of its liberties, 
its constitution, its peace, and its honor, we are stig- 
matized as busybodies, as tools of a party, as med- 
dling with what does not belong to us, and usurping 
authority over our brethren. 

" Whatever may be the views of those who are 
of a different opinion from me respecting this matter, 
yet I consider their principle, that the clergy have 
no right to meddle with politics, and their endeavor 
to stop our mouths, as ' pregnant with mischief,' 
tending to keep the people in ignorance, and expos- 
ing them to be misled by those who would always 
pretend that the people shall govern, provided that 
they shall govern the people. 

" The time has been when some of these same 
persons were very fond of engaging the clergy in 
politics, encouraging them to write and preach, or, 
to use a phrase of their own, ' blow the trumpet,' in 
defence of the liberties of their country. But, alas ! 
how changed, how fallen! From such politicians 
and such patriots, the good Lord deliver us ! " 

The phrase, " blow the trumpet," is taken from 
the thirty-third chapter of the prophet Ezekiel, 
where it is made the duty of a watchman to give 
warning of an approaching enemy by this means ; 
and during the revolution it was applied to the 
clergy, who were urged to encourage and support 



282 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

the people, by preaching in aid of the cause of 
liberty. 

The following paragraph is not mthout more mod- 
em application : . 

" It is a fact, confirmed by long and repeated ex- 
J)erience, that the work which we are obliged to do, 
and the trials which we are called to endure, are 
more wasting to the health and spirits, than any 
kind of bodily labor which men usually perform. 
Exercise of body tends to confirm and establish 
the health ; but the exercise of the mind, which falls 
to our lot, often proves ruinous to the health, and 
wears away the constitution in a most unaccounta- 
ble manner. The thoughtfulness, the watchfulness, 
the self-denial, the anxiety, the close application, 
and intense stretch of the mental powers, in deep 
study and contemplation, which form an essential 
part of our work, are exercises unknown to the bulk 
of mankind* If, on any particular occasion, they 
are called to such kind of labor, how painful and 
tedious is it to them, and how eagerly do they em- 
brace the first opportuiuty to get rid of it ! But it 
is our constant employment. The inward labor of 
our mind, our conflicts with our own corruptions, 
and our application to sacred studies, are objects 
which the world does not see, and therefore can 
form no idea of them. Our public discourses are 
the result of deep thought and strict inquiry ; and 
yet how often does it happen, that; those discourses 



MISSION TO THE INDIANS. 



are least regarded ; whilst the tinsel trompeij of 
him ^ that beateth the air ' is admired as the per- 
fection of wisdom and rhetoric ! The beaten oil of 
the sanctuary is quickly consumed, and its light ap- 
pears to have been spent in yam ; whilst the twink- 
ling of an igni9fatuu% shall draw after it crowds of 
admirers ! If our brethren did but know the labor, 
the patience, the self application, the trials and dis- 
couragements which fall to our lot, they would pity 
us, and pray for us, rather than think our work light 
and easy." 

In 1796, the Board of Gommisfidoners of the 
Society established in Scotland, for Propagatmg 
Christian Knowledge, chose Dr. Belknap and Dr. 
Morse a committee to visit the Indians who were 
objects of their mission at Oneida and New Stock- 
bridge. This required a long and tedious journey 
of near six hundred miles in the heat of summer, 
and occupied nearly a month. Dr. Belknap left 
Boston on the 9th of June, and returned the 6th of 
July. The report which was made to the Commis- 
sioners was drawn up by him, and is published in 
the Historical Society's Collections. 

From Boston to Albany was five days' journey, 
including the Sabbath, which was passed at Pitts- 
field, where he preached for Mr. Allen. At New 
Lebanon, the condition of the Springs seems to have 
been much the same as now ; they had been in repu- 



^ 



234 LIFE OF BR. BELKNAP. 

tataon about thirty years, there were several boarding- 
houses in the vicinity, and a considerable resort of 
people from all parts. 

In going over the mountains in Berkshire, the 
carriage broke down twice ; but no great damage 
was done, except a little detention and working in 
the rain to repair it. An account of this was prob- 
ably written to his friend. Dr. Clarke, which occa- 
sioned the following reply : 

" Our brothers are well, and do not forget you at 
their social meetings. Do write often, and let all 
your letters assure us, that, though your carriage 
breaks down, your bones are whole ; though your 
beds are hard, your sleep is sound ; though your fare 
is coarse, your hunger is allayed ; and, though you 
part with your money, you keep your spirits." 

At Albany he was invited by Lieutenant-Governor 
Van Rensellaer to lodge at his house, and General 
Schuyler took him in his carriage to Schenectady; 
whereupon Dr. Clarke writes : 

" Before this reaches you, your mind will be at 
ease, both as to your family and your pulpit. It 
seems indeed to be at ease already, if I may judge 
from the tenor of your last letter. Caressed by 
generals and lieutenant-governors, visiting classic 
cities and breathing classic air, I think you have 



mSdlOH TO THE INDIANS. 235 

enough to make you happy. How insignifieant 
must Boston have appeared to your unagination 
when you were at Rome ! What majestic ideas 
must have possessed your mind when you were at 
Troy ! And how must Jerusalem have belittled all 
other cities which you have visited in the course 
of your travels ! I anticipate a most entertaining 
volume of travels as the fruit of your excursion. 
Do be very particular in your description of customs 
and manners. Let your readers know, whether at 
Bome you did as the Romans do ; whether you met 
with any Hectors at Troy, or were regaled with 
pork at Jerusalem." 

The informaticm gained concerning the Indians is 
contained in the printed report. Dr. Belknap was 
fidly convinced of the hopelessness of the endeavors 
to make them conform to the reUgion and mode of 
life of the Whites ; and this probably induced him 
to relinquish his connection with the society, which 
he did, not long after. They had no habits of indus- 
try, and thought it degrading to cultivate the soil ; 
" they must lay aside the character of hunters, be- 
cause their game is gone, and its haunts are rendered 
infinitely more valuable by cultivation. They can- 
not be warriors, because they have no enemies to 
contend with. K, therefore, tiiey continue to despise 
husbandry, the only remaining source of opulence 
and independence, they must either retire to some 



236 LIFS OF DB. BELKNAP. 

distant region of the American forest, or lire as 
spendthrifts on the price of their lands ; or become 
strollers and beggars ; till, like their brethren of 
Natick, they shall cease to have anj political exists 
ence among mankind." 

, This melancholy anticipation has been fully real- 
ized ; and in the midst of our happy homes and cul- 
tivated fields, our civilized society, and our Christian 
philanthropy, the history of the past will call forth a 
sigh for the sad destiny of the Indians, the original 
possessors of our country ; upon whom, notwith- 
standing the most earnest endeavors to improve 
their condition, the presence and prosperity of the 
white man has brought inevitable destruction. 

The wife of President Adams was one of the cor- 
respondents of Dr. Belknap, during the last months 
of his life ; and the following are extracts from some 
of their letters. 

FROM MKS. ADAMS. 

"Philadelphia, May, 1798. . 
• • * * « I take the liberty, Sir, of 
sending you a work lately reprinted here : it is called 
" Proofs of a Conspiracy against all the Religions and 
Governments of Europe, by John Robison, A.M. 
Professor of Natural Philosophy, and Secretary to 
the Royal Society of Edinburgh." It ought to be in 
the hands of every man of science in America, as a 
key to the mighty revolutions which astonish the 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH MRS. ADAMS. 237 

world ; and as a proof, if one could be wanting, that 
no free government can stand, which is not sup- 
ported by religion and virtue. 

" That our country may still be preserved from 
that dissolution of religion, government, and man- 
ners, which by the French revolution is spread- 
ing through the world, and laying them all prostrate, 
is devoutly to be prayed for by every friend of 
humanity. That your health may be preserved and 
your life of usefulness continued, to aid, as it has 
hitherto done, both religion and virtue in the worid, 
is the sincere and ardent wish of her who subscribes 
herself 

^* Your friend and humble servant, 

" Abigail Adams." 

REPLY. 

<^ Boston, May 30th, 1798. 

" Dear Madam, 

" Yesterday mommg, I had the honor of 
writing to the President, and enclosing a copy 
of my Fast sermon. At noon I had the very great 
pleasure of voting for him as President of the 
Academy, and of hearing his election announced by 
an unanimous vote ; and, before night, I received 
your obliging favor, with the book enclosed. * * * 
Your kind wishes for my health and usefulness re- 
quire my warmest acknowledgments of gratitude. 



238 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

It is every one's duty, at this critical time, to say 
and do all in Ins power to serve his country in its 
political and religious interests ; and I hope I shall 
not be backward in perfonning mine. Should there 
be any services in my power for the cause of truth, 
virtue, liberty, and humanity, or the public safeiy, 
I shall be happy to receive your commands, or those 
of the man you love best. 

" After our last Commencement, I sent Crovemor 
Wentworth one of our catalogues, and mentioned to 
him the pleasure I took in seeing the names of two 
of my Mends printed in capitals, in the class of 
1755, and also repeated some expressions of affec- 
tionate regard toward him, which I had heard a 
little before from the President. I added, respect- 
ing the latter, that I felt very happy in his advance- 
ment to the chief magistracy of the Union, because 
I believed there was as much, or more political wis- 
dom in his head than in any or all of the crowned 
heads of Europe. His answer, which was not de- 
signed for any eye but nune, I take the liberty of 
sending for your perusal. (See p. 202.) 

" Notwithstanding the dark and threatening as- 
pect in the political hemisphere, yet, under the pres- 
ent executive administration, I have as much tran- 
quillity of mind as -3Bneas enjoyed when navigating 
the strait between Italy and Sicily, under the con- 
duct of Palinurus, while Scylla and Charybdis 
frowned on either side, and -3Etna thundered over 



CORRESPONDENCE WITH MRS. ADAMS. 239 

his head. I pray most sincerely for the preserva- 
tion of the life, health, and vigor of our Palinurus, 
and hope he will not think of a retreat, till, like 
his friend Washington, he shall have the prospect of 
a successor to whom the helm may be safely trusted. 
Let his heart be fixed, and his confidence be in that 
Almighty power which ' rides the whirlwind and di- 
rects the storm. ^ I think nothing would be a more 
proper subject of his contemplation than the text of 
John Cotton's election sermon in 1633, which you 
may find in the book of Haggai, chap. ii. ver. 4." 

The text referred to is this : 

"Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel, saith the 
Lord ; and be strong, Joshua, son of Josedech, 
the high priest ; and be strong, all ye people of the 
land, saith the Lord, and work : for I am with you, 
saith the Lord of hosts." 

FROM MRS. ADAMS. 

« Philadelphia, June 11th, 1798. 

"Dear Sir, 

" The President was gratified in reading the 
expressions of friendship and kindness liberally be- 
stowed by the friend and companion of his youthful 
years. The school and the college are the sources 
of the dearest friendships ; the heart is then open 
to strong and deep attachments, and, where it meets 
with congenial sentiments, forms unions which death 



240 UFB 09 DR. BELOTAP. 

itself does not dissolve* I have seen these attach- 
ments transferred to the children, and this is one 
among muij other advantages derived from a public 
education. 

^^ The President joins his friend in the sentiment 
expressed bj him, that kings and princes have not 
an equal chance with their subjects ; from the re- 
sponsibUitj of their stations, their knowledge and 
talents are often unjusUy estimated ; they are fre- 
quently obliged to hear with the ears of those most 
interested to deceive them, and to see with eyes be- 
fore which a veil is drawn. 

" The President directs me to assure Dr. Belknap 
that he has no intention of becoming an imitator of 
Falinurus, by fallmg asleep, and losmg the helm 
napping; Uiough he will willingly resign it to a 
more watchful and skilful pilot." 

On the 20th of June, 1797, Dr. Belknap sailed 
from New Bedford to ascertain, if possible, the 
island discovered by Gosnold, in 1602, which in the 
first volume of the American Biography is supposed 
to be Nashawn. Finding this supposition incorrect, 
he went himself, with several other gentlemen, to 
Cuttyhunk, where he had the "supreme satisfao- 
tbn " to find the remains of the cellar of Gosnold's 
storehouse " on an islet in the middle of a pond of 
fresh water," as described in Gosnold's journal. 

The more accurate information gained by this 



HIS DEATH. 241 

visit to the spot required so great an alteration in 
the life of Gosnold, which had been given in the 
first volume, ttiat he re-wrote it for the second, 
where a description of the island may be found, 
page 114. 

We are now approaching the last scene of Dr. 
Belknap's life. For a year before his death, he was 
conscious that each moment might be his last, and 
he prepared himself and others for the final event. 
His correspondence during this time frequently ex- 
presses the entire uncertainty he felt of the contin- 
uance of his earthly existence. Two slight attacks 
of paralysis, which did not impair his activity of 
body or mind, impressed him with the necessity of 
being in readiness for the call of his Divine Master; 
and he redoubled his diligence, that he might ac- 
complish the more in the short time allowed him. 
In April, 1798, his friend Dr. Clarke died ; and he 
preached the funeral sermon, and wrote a sketch of 
his life and character for the Historical Society's 
Collections. When it appeared in their next publica- 
tion, his own character, by the hand of another 
friend. Dr. John Eliot, accompanied it. 

On the morning of the 20th June, 1798, at four 
o'clock, he was attacked with apoplexy, which de- 
prived him of the powers of speech and motion ; 
and he died before eleven. 

The manner of his death was singularly in ac- 
cordance with his own preference, expressed in the 
16 



242 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

fragment of poetry previously mentioned. It is as 
follows : 

** When faith and patience, hope and loye. 
Have made us meet for heaven above, 
How blest the privilege to rise, 
Snatched in a moment to the skies I 
Unconscious, to resign our breath. 
Nor taste the bitterness of death. 
Such be my lot, Lord, if thou please, 
To die in silence and at ease. 
When thou dost know that I 'm prepared, 
O seize me quick to my reward. 
But if thy wisdom sees it best 
To turn thine ear from this request — 
If sickness be the appointed way. 
To waste this frsmie of human clay ; 
If, worn with grief and risked with pain, 
This earth must turn to earth again ; 
Then let thine angels round me stand — 
Support me by thy powerful hand ; 
Let not my faith or patience move, 
Nor aught abate my hope or love ; 
But brighter may my graces shine. 
Till they 're absorbed in light divine." 

The funeral took place on the 22d of June. Dr. 
Kirkland preached on the occasion a sermon which 
expressed the sorrow of the community for the loss 
of one so loved and honored. Though many years 
have since passed away, the influence exerted upon 
society by the life of such a man does not cease 



HIS CHARACTER, 243 

inih his breath. He was an earnest mi successful 
laborer in the cause of learning and literature. To 
such men as Dr. Belknap we owe the advantages 
now possessed by the inquirer into the past history 
of our country. His patriotism was pure and feai> 
less, and he was ever ready to devote himself to 
his country's good. He was not remarkable for a 
splendid intellect or a wonderful genius, whose 
flights were beyond the comprehension of ordi- 
nary mortals, but for a character harmonious in 
all its parts; an industry unceasmgly exerted to 
promote the noblest objects ; a nice discernment and 
discretion which tempered his natural enthusiasm ; 
a heart truly beneficent, delightmg to bless all vrithin 
the sphere of its influence] and a life of purity and 
unaffected piety and devotion to his calling as a min- 
ister of the Gospel. He considered this relation as 
the noblest that man could sustam to his fellow-man ; 
and he faithfully fulfilled its requirements from the 
time when he entered upon its sacred duties, to the 
last hours of his earthly existence. 

As a preacher, he was earnest in his exhortations, 
but simple in his manner of address. His voice was 
clear and well modulated ; but he used no gesticu- 
lations to enforce his arguments. His sermons were 
eminently practical, and his aim was to improve the 
hearts and lives of his people, rather than to disturb 
their minds with the discussion of controverted 
points of Christian doctrine. His death took place 



244 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

before the fever of controversy, which has since so 
widely separated the congregational churches of 
New England, reached its height ; and mnch curir 
osity has been felt and expressed as to the probable 
course he would have pursued, had his life been 
spared. Thus much may be said with safety, that 
he condemned no man for speculative opinions. His 
own views of the doctrine of the Trinity are given 
in the conclunon to a Life of Dr. Watts, which he 
wrote and published a few years before his death. 
It was published anonymously in 1793, together with 
a Life of Dr. Doddridge by Andrew Kippis ; and 
the title of the volume is, "life of Watts Mid 
Doddridge." It has now become quite a scarce 
book. The Conclusion is added to this memoir, as 
containing Dr. Belknap's views on this subject, which 
he said were the result of thirty years' study. 

Dr. Belknap at his death left a widow and five 
children ; three of whom, one daughter and two 
sons, are still living. 

His volume cannot be fitly concluded without a 
tribute to the memory of the worthy and beloved 
companion of more than thirty years of his life. 
She died January 20th, 1809. The following no- 
tice of her character was written, at the time of her 
decease, by the late Hon. John Da^, always a 
highly valued friend of the family. 

" The amiable qualities and endowments of this 
respectable lady deservedly gained her the love and 



CHARACTER OF MRS. BELKNAP. 245 

esteem of her family and friends. To a cheerful, 
social, and friendly temper, she added the solid at- 
tractions of a cultivated mind ; and her deportment 
was uniformly regulated by the religion which she 
professed. For many years the estimable compan- 
ion of a man of distinguished reputation in the 
church and in the literary world, she cherished his 
memory with reverence and affection. It was often 
the occupation of her leisure hours to examine, ar- 
range, and peruse his extensive manuscript collec- 
tions, and to indulge a fond attention to his favorite 
objects, by a recurrence to his valuable library. 
These characteristics rendered her an interesting 
companion to those who had the pleasure of an ac- 
quaintance with that ornament to our country; it 
was a source of satisfaction to converse with her on 
his character, publications, and pursuits; for, in 
temper and in taste, she appeared the * softened 
image ' of their departed friend. Since his decease, 
her society has been limited to a small circle of 
friends, who will gratefully remember the sincere 
and affectionate interest which she manifested in 
their welfare. The duties of her station she dis- 
charged with fidelity and propriety ; the sorrows of 
life she sustained with composure ; enjoyed its vari- 
ous blessings with grateful cheerfulness ; and, during 
her last brief but severe illness, exhibited the peace- 
ful serenity and humble hopes which the Gospel 
inspires.'* 



246 Ura OF PR. BELKNAP, 



The fragment which follows in relation to the 
opinions of Dr. Watts, has an interest in connection 
with that controversy which began in the New Eng- 
land churches during Dr. Belknap's ministry, though 
it did not during his life involve the acrimony which 
afterwards attached to it. He took no very promi- 
nent part in the controversy. After Dr. Watts's 
death, much was said and written about bis precise 
views on the subject of the Trinity, and it was un- 
derstood that h^ had modified the opinions of which 
in his early years he had been a prominent ddvocate. 
The fact that his Psahns and Hymns were used so 
extensively in the New England churches, and that 
precisely the same modifications of theological opin- 
ion through which he was said to have passed were 
in progress here, turned much attention toward him. 
Dr. Belknap, in the preface to his own collection of 
sacred poetry for the churches, had adverted to the 
extreme views of the Trinity maintained by Dr. 
Watts ; and, of course, his own attention was partic- 
ularly engaged in the matter. It was known that 
Dr. Watts had expressed a wish to soften and modi- 
fy some of the expressions used by him in some of 
his poems, though the liberty to do so had been 
denied lum by the holder of the copyright. 

In the following piece, therefore, it was the object 
of Dr. Belknap to state the precise views held by 
Dr. Watts on the doctrine of the Trinity. It wiU 



HIS VIEW OF DR. WATTS* OPINIONS. 247 

be found, on perusal, to be a rather perplexed and 
aj)stru3e statement. Its perplexity, however, is inci- 
dent to its subject. Many sermons of the same sub- 
stance and tenor were delivered at the time ; and, if 
they did not minister to edification, they at least 
served to show that there was abundant i'oom for the 
exercise of charity upon subjects which it was so 
diflicult to state with perspicuity. 

" On a review of this publication, so far as it re- 
spects Dr. Watts's notion of the Trinity (which, I 
confess, it was a leading object with me to bring for- 
ward), I can easily imagine that some intelligent 
readers will be dissatisfied, and will think his scheme 
liable to equal objections with other schemes. I do 
not apprehend that it is incumbent on me to defend 
it, nor am I sanguine in my opinion that it is the 
true one ; though I confess that, in the main, it ap- 
pears to me at present to be nearer the truth than 
that commonly received as orthodox, which main- 
tains three real persons^ or distinct intelligent beings, 
in the Godhead. If I am mistaken, I should be 
truly glad to be better informed. Errare possum^ 
Soereticus esse nolo. As I can have no interest to 
serve in opposing any article of sound doctrine, 
neither have I any pleasure in dissenting from pop- 
ular opinions or modes of speech. I am fully per- 
suadedj however, that the mode of explication here 
brought to view is not so essentially different from 
some others which have been usually allowed to be 



248 LIFE OP DR. BELKNAP. 

orthodox, as some persons imagine. All that I here 
intend is to offer a few observations in proof of this, 
for the satbfaction of serious Christians, who have 
imbibed an early prejudice in favor of long-estab- 
lished systems, and certain human modes of speech, 
and who may be alarmed under a suspicion (which 
certain persons of better information have taken 
pains to promote) that my design is to promote 
Socinianiam or Arianism ; terms of reproach which 
too many (and some without understanding their 
meaning) are ever ready to apply to such as ven- 
ture to think for themselves, and to adopt language 
different from that which human creeds have stamped 
as sacred, though the most remote from the lan- 
guage of the Bible. If such will be attentive in 
reading, and candid in judging, I hope to convince 
them, whether they fall in with my mode of expla- 
nation or not, that I have done nothing against the 
truths hvtfor the truth. 

" According to Dr. Watts's view of the present 
subject — 'The Father, the Word, and the Holy 
Ghost, are the one living and true God.' To this 
proposition, I give my ready assent. And whoever 
does so, whatever be his peculiar mode of explicor 
tion, I will maintain has as just a claim to the charac- 
ter of Orthodox, as they who do it in the Athana- 
sian sense. And for any, who adopt that or any 
other mode of explication, to monopolize Orthodoxy 
to themselves, is a degree of presumption unbecom- 



HIS VIEW OF DR, WATTS' OPINIONS. 249 

ing fallible creatures, especially those who allow that 
the MODE of subsistence in the Sacred Three is not 
ascertained in Scripture ; and, indeed, it is incon- 
sistent with the avowed Catholicism of the ablest and 
best writers, who are the most partial to the general 
Calvinistic system. 

" With respect to the idea of Personality, as 
applicable to the Father, Son, and Spirit, Dr. Watts 
differed from many Trinitarians, as he denied, (and 
rUiink with very sufficient reason,) " that there are 
in Deity, Three Infinite Spirits, or really distinct 
persons, in the common sense of that term, each 
having a distinct intelligence, voUtion, power, &c. ; " 
thinking such a supposition inconsistent with the 
proper unity of the Godhead; which is doubtless 
one of the most obvious and fundamental doctrines 
of revelation. 

" But it is to be remembered, that, with regard 
to the definition of personality^ Trinitarians widely 
differ among themselves. While some suppose it to 
be REAL, others think it only modal, or nominal ; 
and others, somewhat between both. Some of the 
two latter classes have charged the former with 
TrUheism ; and to me it seems difficult to clear the 
doctrine from the imputation. Nor can I conceive 
what Tritheism is, if this hypothesis does not come 
under the description. To assert a mere unity of 
essence or*NATURE will not obviate the difficulty : 
for three divine persons, or beings, though of the 



250 LIFE OP I>R. BBLKNAP. 

same nature, or — in other words — all of them: 
EXACTLY ALIKE, (which seems to be the meaning 
of the term, and is the popular idea,) would be as 
really three Gods, as three human persons of the 
same nature, were thej in all respects alike, would 
be three men. Such a sentiment, I think, ought to 
be zealously opposed as heretical. 

" I grant, however, since they who maintain this 
doctrine do not see the consequence, but utterly 
disclaim it, and profess to believe in only one Gon, 
whom they worship as one Infinite Being, through 
one Mediator, it would be uncandid and unjust to 
pronounce them Tritheists ; and in my idea it would 
be schismatical, for this reason alone, to separate 
from their worship and communion. Many such, 
whom I have known, I venerate as the excellent of 
iiie earth. And whatever peculiar modes of speech 
they may adopt in controversy, their language and 
apparent ideas, when engaged in divine worship, 
are such, that, in uniting with them, I literally com^ 
ply with the apostolic injunction, Rom. xv. 6 : ' With 
one mind and one mouth to glorify Q-od, even the 
Father of our Lord Jems Christ,^ 

"But then on the same principles I must censure 
those Trinitarians as violating the laws of Christian 
candor, who upbraid such as hold the same general 
doctrine with the opposite heresy, and refuse to hold, 
commimion with them, because, on such a coniarover-' 
ted matter as that of peraonaiity, they express them- 



HIS VIEW OF DR. WATiS^ OPINIONS. 251 

selves diflFerently, and choose to adhere to the sim- 
plicity of Scripture language. This is particularly 
unbecoming in those who adopt the modal scheme^ 
since the difference between them and the followers 
of Watts can be but small, 

" As to those who think personality in the God- 
head to be iomewhat between a person and a modey 
if there be any rational idea included in the term, 
they who consider ' the Manifest Wisdom^ and the 
Active Energy of Deity, as the Word and the 
Holy Ghost,' may with good appearance of 
reason be admitted as coming within the same de- 
scription. And they who talk of three distinctions 
in Deity, without any definition of the term, have 
little reason to censure such as in fact equally main- 
tain three distinctions, but with a determinate mean- 
ing. 

"As to those who use the common Trinitarian 
language in the Babbllian sense, (which, upoik 
a close inquiry, I have found to be the case with 
some, and have reason to think it so with many,) 
they have little reason to cry out ' heresy ' at the 
mode, of interpretation for which I am here apolo- 
gizing. 

" That it should by any be stigmatized with the 
name either of Socinianism or Arianism, appears 
to me peculiarly uncandid and unjust. The Ante- 
Nicene Fathers evidently adopted this hypothesis. 
And if I understand the great reformer Calvin 



252 LIFE OF DR. BELKNAP. 

aright, he in like manner conceived of the Word^ 
and Spirit of God as the wisdom and power of 
Deity personified. The pious Mr. Baxter adop- 
ted a like personification, and severely reproves 
those orthodox men who anathematize them that es- 
pouse such a mode of explaining the Trinity.* Cer- 
tain it is that Socinians reject such kind of lan- 
guage, and disavow the notion of a Trinity in any 
form ; not now to say any thing of the atonement j 
which they universally deny, but which those I am 
defending as strenuously maintain. 

" As to Arians, properly so called, if I have any 
idea of their sentiments, they consider the Logos 
and the Holy Spirit as created beings ; which I 
think, with Dr. Watts, is an error, most manifestly 
repugnant to Scripture doctrine. 

"It is true. Dr. Watts maintained the Man 
Ohrist Jeaus to have been a created being. But if 
on that account his followers are justly charged with 
heresy, I know not who will be exempt ; for I sup- 
pose all will allow that Christ was properly man, and 
as such created. Some, indeed, maintain that he 
was a human person, as really as any other man is 
so, and on this ground deny that his Divinity was 
a real person^ distinct from that of the Father, (for 
otherwise there would be two persons in Christ ;) 
while others strangely and arbitrarily suppose, (to 

* Baxter's Works, vol. ii. page 132. 



HIS VIEW OF DR. WATTS* OPINIONS. 253 

avoid this last absurdity) that the method of Christ 
was merely a created NATURE. But both allow *the 
Deity of Christ to consist in the union of the God- 
head and the manhood in the person of Emanuelj 
so that in him God was manifest in the flesh.'* This 
general agreement I look upon as all that is essen- 
tial to true orthodoxy, and a sufficient bond of 
union. How much farther Christian charity may 
safely extend, it is not my present business to in- 
quire. I will only observe, that they who have 
investigated subjects of doctrinal controversy with 
the greatest care and impartiality will be the most 
ready to confess, that there are difficulties on all 
sides, where the Scripture has not explicitly decided ; 
and will see the greatest reason for diffidence of 
themselves, and candor towards one another. These 
are two principal lessons which I have learned from 
the study of more than thirty years, and these I am 
principally solicitous to inculcate upon others. K 
this publication should in any degree contribute to 
answer this end, I shall be thankful, even though it 
should expose me to the censures of some good men 
to whose esteem I am by no means indifferent, 
though their charity is much more confined than my 
own ; and whom, whatever they may think or say of 
me, I will love and honor." 



THE END. 



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