Notwithstanding his great age, he continued to instruct and labour for his people, and when he was no longer able to preach, he bore them day and night on his prayers. His last sickness, was short. He said, "Lord Jesus, take me speedily nevertheless, thy will be done." A few hours before his death, he joined in an act of devotion, his hands clasped, and his heavenraised countenance, beaming with faith and love.

He died on the 1st day of June, 1826, at the age of eighty-six, having lived in his parish of Waldbach, more than sixty years. The grief of his people was affecting. From every part of that rocky district, they gathered in the midst of a heavy rain, to gaze on the lifeless remains of their pastor, and their friend.

The funeral procession stretched from the door of his house, to the mouth of his sepulchre, a distance of two miles. Every cottage poured out its habitants, and the children of the schools, walked two and two, chanting mournful hymns. They paused at the church, in whose burialground he was to be laid, and a minister ascending the pulpit, read from a paper, the farewelladdress, of their venerated sire.

We have room for only a few of his parting words: "O my dear parish! God will not forsake thee. Only cleave thou unto Him. Forget thou my name, if thou wilt, but remember that of Jesus Christ, whom I have preached to

thee. O friends! pray, that you may become the beloved sheep of his pasture. Dedicate yourselves to him.

"Adieu, dear friends, adieu! I have loved you much. God reward you for your services, your good deeds, the respect and obedience which you have shown to me, his poor, unworthy servant. O my God, let thine eye watch over this dear people. Let thine ear hear their prayers. Let thine arm be extended, to help and protect them. And And grant that young and old, teachers and scholars, ministers and people, may all in due time, meet together in thy paradise.'

The grave was dug beneath the shade of a drooping willow. Great was the weeping, when the body of the beloved pastor was let down into its silent depths, and when they realized that they should see his face no more. Then they treasured up with earnest affection, the words he had spoken to them, and the prayer rose up from every cottage home, as from a bereaved household, that they might be re-united with him, at the resurrection of the just.

HON. STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER.

STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER, was born in the city of New York, on the first day of November, 1764. He inherited an estate, or manor, anciently purchased of the Indians, by the Dutch government, afterwards confirmed by the charters of two English sovereigns, and retained in his family for five generations. Its original colonial extent, was forty-eight miles in length, and twenty-four in breadth, divided centrally, by the waters of the majestic Hudson.

With this inheritance, was connected the title of "Patroon," a word derived from the Latin Patronus, or Patrician, and signifying in modern times, the proprietor of a large domain, occupied by tenantry, and involving peculiar privileges. But by our revolution, the degree of jurisdiction formerly belonging to it, was made to conform in all respects to the nature of a republic; so that it has since implied only the possession of a vast estate, without any of those baronial powers, which two hundred years since, belonged to the patroons, or lords of the manor, of Rensselaerwyck.

The subject of this sketch, always rejoiced in that change of government, which, though it stripped him of those distinctions of high rank, to which he was born, elevated a whole nation to the blessings of freedom. His disinterestedness led him to rejoice in the good of others, and instead of clinging to any vestige of aristocracy, he was an advocate, and example of republican plainness and simplicity.

Being deprived of his father, at the age of four years, the formation of his character devolved on his mother, a lady of uncommon talents and piety. She was the daughter of the Hon. Philip Livingston, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. On her second marriage, with the Rev. Dr. Westerlo, of Albany, the young Patroon, then ten years of age, became a resident of that city, and profited by the kind regard, and Christian example, of that good Divine.

But especially was he indebted to his maternal guide, for the hallowed precepts which were early incorporated with his character. She impressed on him those stated habits of devotion, which he preserved unimpaired through life. She induced him in childhood, to read religious books; and not long before his death, when recounting his obligations to her, he blessed God with tears, for her care over him, in this respect; mentioning among the volumes placed by her in his hands,

Baxter's Saint's Rest, as one which had promoted his progress in piety.

His love for his mother was ardent, and he ever spoke of her instructions with gratitude. So precious did he consider every memorial of her, that a manual of devotion, which she had taught him to employ in his boyhood, he continued to use till his dying day, valuing the worn copy on which her hand had rested, more than the most splendid volumes. So sacredly was her memory venerated, that the mourning-ring, enclosing her hair, he wore constantly upon his finger, after her death, and directed that it should be buried with him.

When old enough to prepare for college, he was placed under the care of the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, of Princeton, New Jersey, performing the journey from Albany, on horseback. After two years of study, he entered Nassau Hall, but as that part of New Jersey was involved in the struggles of war, he removed to the university of Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he was graduated with honour, at the age of eighteen.

He was early elected to the legislature, and to the senate of New York, to the convention appointed to consider and revise the constitution, and to the office of Lieutenant-Governor. He occupied a seat in Congress, for several years, where his clear judgment, and incorruptible principles won for him universal respect.