My daughters join in love to Mrs. K—p, and Mrs. K-d, and yourself. My soul blesses you, and all yours ;-and I am,

"Your afflicted, but faithful friend,

"I. L. KIP."

"J. H. LIVINGSTON.

It has been intimated that after the death of the lamented Condict, Queen's College enjoyed but a small share of public patronage, and was, in appearance, gradually verging to a state of extinction. Such was the fact yet in 1815. Circumstances wore still a very unfavourable and discouraging aspect. There was now little probability of its ever becoming a literary institution of any eminence, and the Doctor, whose mind was intent upon building up a theological seminary of the first character, seized the conjuncture for the introduction of a plan, which he had many years before suggested to some of his particular friends, and which, as the attentive reader will readily recollect was, in effect, to convert Queen's College into a Theological College.

For some time before, as it would appear, he had seriously revolved the plan, and endeavoured to mature it to his own satisfaction. In a letter dated Sep. 3d, 1813, he presented it to Dr. Romeyn, and requested a communication of that gentleman's

ideas upon the subject. Whether the request was complied with, as Dr. R. was then about to depart for Europe, is not known; but in the letter referred to, he says "The whole question seems to be reduced to two points. Is it practicable? Is it desirable?—It is practicable. How it may be accomplished (a) on the part of the Trustees of the College, consistently with their charter; (b) on the part of the Churches, conformably with their supreme prerogative in every appointment of all theological professorships. Query. Whether such an arrangement will not reduce the Trustees to mere holders of the funds of the General Synod ? The Board of Trustees is composed of men of various denominations. It is desirable (a) on the part of the College, because, as a literary institution, Queen's College is not necessary; its funds are inadequate and will so continue, nor will, nor can it ever prosper in the neighbourhood of two powerful rivals; but by assuming a new form, it will be supported, become useful, and celebrated; (b) on the part of the Churches their funds will thereby be increased and rendered secure no separate interest in the institution will exist; the whole will be simple, singular, and respectable."

"The Lord, your good Shepherd, go before you,

shield you from every evil, and give you the desires of your heart. Live by faith. Remember always, and every where, whose you are, and whom you serve. Fear not: He will be your help and shield. My fervent wishes and prayers shall follow you. When you return in health, I shall probably be at home in rest with my Divine Redeemer and all those who have gone before me. If you never see me again, remember I was your father's friend and your friend. May you be long spared to be more faithful and more useful than I have been."

"I have endeavoured to recollect some friend in Holland to whom I could introduce you, but I do not know that any of them are left. Forty-three years have swept them all away. One name, however, was not in the list of the deceased which I last received. If he be alive, you will find in him a pious believer, a good scholar, and a celebrated poet. He was born and resided in the Hague, and was my bosom friend. His name is Petrus Leonardus Van de Kasteele.-He was a lawyer, and has sustained some public offices; but what, or where he now is, I do not know."+

*

*

*

† A letter has been found among the Doctor's papers from Dr. Romeyn, written when this gentleman was in Holland, to Dr. L. which, as it gives a view of the moral and religious state of that country at the time, we take the liberty to present.

At the session of General Synod held in Albany, June, 1815, the plan of a Theological College was

"Reverend and dear Sir,

" Utrecht, June 12, 1814.

"Little did I expect when I bid you farewell at Mr. Kip's, in New-York, that I would, in the course of Divine Providence, have had the opportunity during my absence abroad, to address a letter to you from this place-a place, the name of which must revive many tender recollections in mind." your

"I am now on my return to England by the way of Rotterdam, having visited besides Rotterdam and this place, Delft, the Hague, Leyden, Haerlem, and Amsterdam. To all these places, except Delft, I have been kindly furnished with letters from Dr. Wernnick, Minister of the Dutch Church in England, which procured a ready access to the persons addressed. These persons promptly furnished me with the information desired, which, if I live to return and have the happiness of meeting you, I shall take pleasure in communicating to you."

"The character of this people, my dear Sir, has greatly deteriorated in moral and religious excellence since your residence. The various revolutions which have taken place since 1787, and particularly since 1795, have had the most fatal effects upon the veracity and honesty of a large proportion of the community. Every revolution brought along with it a new administration of government, which endeavoured to support itself by oaths. These oaths so often repeated, and so often broken, ultimately destroyed the solemnity of the oath, which, in its turn, destroyed a proper regard to their promise in individuals. Besides, during the dominance of the French, the requisitions demanded were frequent,

submitted to this body in the Report of the Committee upon the Professorate, and adopted.

consisting of a certain proportion of the income and stable property of individuals. The payment of these was accompanied, in every instance, by the oath of him who paid. As these requisitions were heavy, the citizens were tempted to trangress, to save themselves from want. The judgments of God upon the country have not produced suitable humiliation and repentance in the inhabitants. The public worship of God is not so well attended as it used to be previous to 1795. The young and rising generation are very generally Frenchified, loose in their principles, and negligent of all religious duties. Great apprehensions are entertained by the pious fathers and mothers in this Israel, for the future, in consequence of this state in which the youth have fallen."

"The doctrines of grace are still taught in the universities and pulpits. The elder ministers are more engaged than the younger, and also more practical. Many, too many of the latter, and of students in theology, are desitute of personal religion, though not immoral. They are inclining to liberal views in religion, and approximating remotely to a scheme of doctrine, which is hostile to the truth as it is in Jesus."

"The good old works of Hellenbrook, Schortenghius, Brakel, &c. are going fast out of date. Among the more polished part of Christians their day is over; but among the lower classes they are still in some repute. The works of a Dom. Kist, in Dort, are popular above all other practical works. The character of his writings, as the evangelical clergy and laymen assure me, is sound and excellent. The works of Doddridge, John Newton, and Wm. Romaine, are also very popular, and doing much good.