might call unimportant traits of character, he won insensibly the love and veneration of all who approached him. The strong features of his mind might sometimes be the occasion of dissatisfaction with him, but the habitual kindness of his heart and of his manners, combined with the manifest uprightness of his intentions, and the nobleness of his sentiments, conspired to bind to him his friends in the strongest bonds of affection and respect. His ability to direct successfully the internal economy of a college, was partly made up of the qualities just delineated. In addition, he had a sincere and constant love to his engagements. He was looking forward to no other employment. He was eminently fitted for a course of such labor as he passed through. The circumstances of his early days, his education, his early associates, all conspired to fit him for a life of hard service. "While he was at Williams college," says one of his associates, "the administration of the discipline of the institution was sometimes rendered exceedingly difficult and delicate, by circumstances of uncommon occurrence. His administration, notwithstanding, was energetic. The authority he was appointed to exercise, he never suffered to fall into disrespect. When any matter between him and the students came to stand on the ground of authority, he was very firm; and when he perceived that decided measures were necessary, he went forward fearlessly. But it was his great excellency, that he rarely failed to bring even difficult points to a satisfactory conclusion, without resorting to the exercise of naked, outright authority. He commonly succeeded in persuading young men to comply with his requirements; and those, who went to him with feelings of unyielding obstinacy, often left him, supposing that they had taken his advice, rather than submitted to his commands." "He was modest even to a fault; or, if that is a virtue which cannot exist in excess, he had some defects, usually thought to grow out of it. His form was large, and might have been imposing, but he did not avail himself fully of the advantages which Providence had given to him. On some occasions, he was a little embarrassed, so as occasionally to cause regret to his friends. He felt this himself, but had not the courage or the selfcommand to correct it. We have spoken of this defect as connected with modesty, but it should, perhaps, be referred, in large measure, to pride. A man allows himself often in faults, because he is ashamed to take such measures for their correction, as would amount to a confession of them; and the degree of exertion, which must be made before they can be corrected, will not be made, until the man is stimulated to it by a stronger and a more habitual sense of their magnitude than it is pleasant for him to feel.” As a director of the studies of the senior class, Dr. Moore appeared to very good advantage. He had a strong attachment to the studies of moral and metaphysical philosophy. Only a few years before his death, he amused himself for several days, in one of the college vacations, in the examination of some curious properties of certain numbers which he had never seen investigated. He was not very extensively read in metaphysical and ethical books, but he had thought profoundly on most of the metaphysical questions which are abroad. He happily exposed much that is called philosophy, as well as the fallacy of more refined systems.* In rela * In his sermon entitled "Stewards of the Mysteries of God," there is an extended note, exhibiting with great ability what he considered to be the defects in Dr. Thomas Brown's theory of Cause and Effect. tion to subjects upon which he had not thought maturely, he was commonly slow to pronounce an opinion. Indeed, he was not ready in conversation, except on such topics as were familiar to him. He was exact and methodical in the communication of his ideas. But his imagination was not rapid in its movements. The operations of his mind, some might possibly say, were mechanical. He lacked fluency and copiousness of expression. Of course he was not abundant in embellishments, and perhaps not so ample in illustration as might be desired. But, if he was less attractive, and even less interesting, through the influence of the cause just mentioned, he was, probably, on the whole, not less useful as instructor. He sometimes introduced a figure into his sermons, with singular propriety and effect. His public duties did not allow him, of course, much time to peruse works of taste and imagination. It has been mentioned before, that Dr. Moore's connection with Williams college was, in some respects, exceedingly delicate and embarrassing. An attempt was made by the trustees to effect the removal of the institution to Northampton, or to some town in Hampshire county. The consent of the legislature, however, could not be obtained, and the measure failed. Dr. Moore, though decidedly favorable to the removal from the beginning, conducted through the whole period, as all parties will now acknowledge, with entire Christian integrity and honor. In the spring of 1821, he was invited to preside over the collegiate institution at Amherst; and in the September following, he was inaugurated as its first president. Demands were now made upon him for all the courage, wisdom, patience, and energy which he possessed. A new seminary was to be organized and established; the confidence and support of an enlightened community was to be secured; many prejudices and conflicting interests were to be met and overcome, and a legislative sanction to the measure was to be obtained in the face of a powerful opposition. The amount of labor which he performed for nearly two years, was very Besides attending to his appropriate duties as president, and as chairman of the board of trustees, he heard the recitations of the senior class, a part of the sophomore recitations, performed several journies to Boston to promote the interests of the institution, and solicited, in a number of places, pecuniary aid in its behalf. His constitution, which was naturally strong, had been, to a considerable extent, impaired, by his incessant anxieties and labors. On Wednesday the 25th of June, 1823, he was attacked with a bilious colic, and died on the Monday following, in the fifty-third year of his age. During his short sickness, the college was literally a place of tears. Prayer was offered unto God for him unceasingly. We have never seen more heartfelt sorrow, than was depicted in the countenances of nearly a hundred young men-all of whom loved him as their own father. But while they were filled with anxiety and grief, Dr. Moore was looking with calmness and joy upon the prospects which were opening before him. The omnipotent Redeemer was present with the consolations of his grace. While flesh and heart were failing him, Christ was the strength of his heart, and the anchor of his soul. He repeatedly expressed his deep and affecting sense of the goodness of God to a miserable sinner, and his humble confidence in the all-sufficiency of the atonement. And when his voice failed, and his eyes were growing dim, and closing in death, he could still whisper-"GOD is my hope, my shield, and my exceeding great reward." The funeral solemnities were attended on the Wednesday following, in the presence of a large concourse of people from Amherst, and from the surrounding region. An appropriate sermon was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Snell, of North Brookfield, from the passage, Job, xxv. 2, "Dominion and fear are with Him." The remains of Dr. Moore repose in the buryingground of the first parish, beneath a neat marble monument erected by the trustees of the college. The institution at Amherst, was furnished at the time of his death, with two college buildings, a president's house, a small chemical and philosophical apparatus and library, a competent number of instructors, and one hundred students. Dr. Moore lived to celebrate its first anniversary-to witness a revival of religion, which was immediately followed by the most happy consequences in relation to the prosperity of the college-and to rejoice in the fact, that more than eighty of the students were hopefully religious, and preparing for extensive usefulness among their fellow men. For nearly thirty years, Dr. Moore occupied stations of great importance, and in discharging the duties of them all, was uniformly and eminently successful. Every enterprize, with which he was concerned, prospered. We close this imperfect memoir, with an extract from the inaugural address of his successor in the presidency of Amherst college-the Rev. Dr. Humphrey. "It is a deeply afflictive and mysterious dispensation of Providence, which has so lately bereaved this infant seminary of its head, and by which I am now brought with inexperienced and trembling steps to its threshold. If prayer offered to God without ceasing for Dr. Moore, on his sick bed, could have prolonged his invaluable life; if professional assiduity could have warded off the fatal stroke; or if agonized affection could have shielded him in her embrace, he had not died and left this favorite child of his adoption to an early and perilous orphanage. Committed to his paternal guardianship in its infancy, there was but one earthly object dearer to his heart. While, therefore, he daily commended it to the benediction of Heaven, and rejoiced in the rapid developement of its powers, he did all that experience, affection, and assiduity could do, to cherish its growth, and to lay deep the foundation of its future usefulness. So completely had he identified himself with its interests, that no hostile weapon could reach it without first piercing his heart. He felt all its perplexities and adversities as if they had been his own and as some compensation for these, he enjoyed, in a high degree, its brightening prospects; its youthful and buoyant anticipations. "With what ability Dr. Moore presided over this institution; how cheerfully he devoted to it all his time and talents; with how many difficulties he had to struggle, when every thing was to be done and the means of doing were so scanty and precarious; with what filial love and veneration he was regarded by his pupils; how liberal and disinterested were all his views and measures; how successful were his appeals to an enlightened Christian public in behalf of the seminary; and how his dying eye kindled with joy and thankfulness, when he was told that an important measure for increasing the funds had succeeded-all these things are best known to those, who were most intimately associated with him in his plans and labors, and they will be long and gratefully remembered. "The question has often occurred to a thousand anxious minds, How could such a man, in such a station, and at such a time, be spared? And who can describe that deep and electrical throb of anguish, which smote the heart of this institution, when he breathed his last, and every student felt that he had lost a father? O what a shuddering was there within these walls, when that funeral pall, which hung portentous for a few days in mid heaven, was let down by hands unseen upon yonder dwelling! That pall is not yet removed. It conceals at once from mortal view, the venerated form of our departed friend, and the awful depths of infinite wisdom in taking him away. And who, since the dying agonies are over, would call the sainted spirit back, to revive the troubled dream of life in a sleep that is now so peaceful? I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.' "If Dr. Moore himself wished to live yet longer, it was, we confidently believe, more for the sake of others, than for his own. And while he did live, it was his ardent devotion to the interests of the church and of sound learning, which prompted him to efforts beyond his strength, if not immediately prejudicial to his life. It certainly would have gratified his benevolent heart, to have been permitted to see the institution over which he presided, relieved from all its embarrassments, and taking rank in form, as well as in fact, with the older colleges of New England. And if faith is any thing, it can scarcely be said, that he 'died without the sight.' With what confidence he spoke of the future prosperity and usefulness of the seminary, particularly towards the close of his life, many who hear me can testify. "If we estimate the length of life, by what a man actually accomplishes for the best good of his kind, we shall see, that Dr. Moore, though taken away in the high meridian of his usefulness, was 'old and full of days.' To say nothing here, of the ability with which he filled other important stations, and of the good which he did in them all, the services rendered by him to this institution, within less than the short space of two years, were sufficient to entitle him to the gratitude of thousands now living, and of far greater numbers who are yet to be born. Broad and deep are the foundations which he assisted in laying upon this consecrated hill. Strong was his own arm-freely was it offered for the great work, and powerful was the impulse which his presence and ever cheering voice gave to the wakening energies of benevolence around him. But highly as his various plans and counsels and labors are now appreciated, future generations, in walking over this ground, with the early history of the college before them, will, there is little reason to doubt, place him still higher among its distinguished benefactors. It will then more fully appear, what and how much he did, to give shape and character to an institution, which we believe is destined to live and bless the church, in all coming ages." PRINCIPAL AMERICAN WRITERS. THE following Alphabetical list of American writers, is intended as a conclusion to the Literary Chronology, published in our last number. The first column gives the names; the second the dates of the birth and death of the authors; the third their principal residence; the fourth the nature of their writings. Barnard, Edward Barnes, Daniel H. Bartram, William 1743 Williamsburgh,Va. 4 vols. Sermons. 1751 Neshaminy, Pa. History Revivals of Religion. Orations, Star in West. Do. |