ston was surpassed by few. Nor was this judgment (if, without arrogance, the author may add his own) far wrong, for it requires but little observation of life to recognize the same elements of power in ruling talent, however diversely directed. Sagacity of foresight, rapidity of movement, concentration of effort, and perseverance of purpose, these are in the moral world what the four elements used to be esteemed in the material,

'That in QUATERNION run

Perpetual circle, multiform; and mix
And nourish all things.'

Or to use the language of an older philosophy, (if without impiety it may be applied to man,) these constitute, when united, those first sources of motion, (TO KOVV AKIVNOTOV, 'the first mover, himself unmoved,') that each, in his own little sphere, sets in motion the world around him. But, whatever may be thought of the philosophy, it is unquestionably the fact, that by the combination of these qualities is made alike the general and the statesman-the RULER under every form; whether by sea or land, these make the successful commander, though in each we find them united in different degress, with some one element preponderating. Thus, the secret of Nelson's victories lay, peculiarly, in concentration of effort; of Napoleon's, in rapidity of movement; of Wellington's, in sagacity of foresight; and of Washington's, in perseverance of pur

pose.

Now in all these four elements of power Mr. Hobart was remarkable. His sagacity and promptitude were subjects of habitual observation: concentration and perseverance were traits in him equally notable. What he purposed he seldom failed to effect. Baffled he might sometimes be in his means, but rarely in his end; for he had in perfection ingenium versatile,' a mind fertile in expedients. Failing in one, another was ready on the instant to supply its place; and the more frequent his defeat, the more energetic and resolute became his course.

To a mind destitute of principle, this were an element of mischief, but with him, of good; a good sometimes, it is true, so distant as to be unseen, or mistaken by those of narrower vision, but, upon a wider survey, always GOOD; for all his minor aims terminated in that great one, for which he offered his daily prayer unto GoD, THY KING

DOM COME.

The opinion of Rufus King, who, as has been well said, 'was an admirable judge of the wisdom and eloquence in others, of which he himself furnished so illustrious an example,' was to the same point. In after years,' says his son, (Charles King, Esq.,) adverting to the influence which the Bishop exercised in various deliberative bodies when they met, he used to speak with high admiration of his powers and promptness as a debater. He loften used to say, that if the Bishop had been a politician instead of a clergyman, he could not have failed of obtaining and preserving a great ascendancy in public assemblies, by those qualities of his mind which enabled him to perceive with intuition the weak points of an adversary's argument, and urge with convincing earnestness the strong points of his own. When to this was added that sincerity of purpose which was so obvious in all that he said, it may readily be believed that it was difficult to withstand him"."

It was in the Board of Trustees that Mr. Hobart's talents for debate, nurtured, as already stated, in the youthful arena, were first called forth into real action. At this period Bishop Moore was President of the college, and so continued until his attack of paralysis, in 1811. The subjects of debate that came up during this period were generally of minor interest, relating chiefly to points of discipline, or the supply of casual vacancies. The latter topic, however, always involved a question of principle, which brought into direct collision the leaders of the opposing parties, and made the election a point frequently of sharp contest.

b Berrian, p. 383, note.

On these occasions, Mr. Hobart early and decidedly took his stand, and although occasionally baffled by some overwhelming effort of his adversary, yet eventually succeeded in making it good. His principle was this-It is highly expedient that, in such a body as the Board of Trustees, all internal questions of contest should be carefully cut off, in order that they may be free to attend to their rightful duties, as the literary guardians of a seminary of education. Now that end can be attained only by giving to some one denomination or other, within the Board, such an undoubted numerical majority as may preclude all such party contests. To which denomination, then, is that control to be given? to which does it of right belong, but to the one from whom the endowment of the college comes, and comes upon conditions, and who have, therefore, a moral right to a preponderance in the body by whom that endowment is administered, and upon whom those conditions are obligatory. Whether it be regarded, therefore, as a question of expediency, or of right, the case, he argued, was clear-Episcopalians should hold the decided majority.

Whatever might then be thought of this reasoning, experience certainly proved its soundness. For, until it was adopted, the Board went on disputing instead of acting, until in the contest for power, the very object for which they fought was forgotten and almost lost. The college sank in reputation as well as in numbers, until, at length, its very warmest friends almost despaired of its resuscitation. Some laid the blame on the faculty, some on the trustees, some on want of patronage, others again, on its internal discipline, in having but a nominal and official president. All parties, however, agreed that something must be done, or the college would be for ever ruined. This, however, is in anticipation, since the contest which arose out of this condition of things did not take place until the year 1811.

But, in the mean time, subjects of minor controversy were not wanting, and in these skirmishes, preparatory

as it were to a general engagement, the Episcopal interest rallied generally around their youthful leader; while its opponents were marshalled under the guidance of one who seemed as a Goliath to him, 'a man of war from his youth.' Thus were first brought into contact and collision two of the most powerful minds which the ranks of the ministry have, in our day and country, produced. Men the very antipodes of each other in most points of character, and agreeing, perhaps, in nothing beyond the possession of great, or rather, pre-eminent talents, and the devotion of them to the worthiest of all causes.

CHAPTER VI.

Object of Mr. Hobart in his Publications-Attacked by Rev. Dr. Linn-' Miscellanies'-Answered by Mr. Hobart and others'Collection of Essays,' &c.-Reviewed in the Christian Magazine'-'Apology for Apostolic Order and its Advocates'— Justification of Manner-Character of Dr. Mason-Examination of the Argument-Result of it upon the Church-Letters.

THAT offences must needs come is one of the 'trials' of the Christian, but the 'wo' is upon him by whom they come.' This leads to the enquiry, In what spirit and with what motive did Mr. Hobart publish those opinions which all admit it was his duty to maintain?

On this point his exculpation is complete. He addressed himself to the members of his own communion; he wrote as a teacher to his own people, instructing them —which, as already seen, they stood greatly in need of— in the doctrines and discipline of their own Church; and in thus doing was answerable certainly to none without.

Nor were the positions laid down by him either novel or strange, that other Christian denominations should feel as if they had a right to take offence at their promulgation: they were doctrines as old as the earliest age of Christianity, and deduced from what all acknowledged, the union of the Gospel of CHRIST with the Church of CHRIST. That he taught these doctrines plainly was because he believed them truly: that he urged them warmly was because his heart was in the argument; that he devoted himself to the task was because he felt it his duty to instruct those whom GOD had committed to his carea:

a

Among the questions asked and answered at ordination to the priesthood, and consequently acquiring the solemnity of an oath or vow, was the following: Will you be ready, with all faithful diligence,