| Title: | Alex McLeod, New York to Revd William Stavely, [?] |
|---|---|
| ID | 1735 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | McLeod Staveley, Alex/77 |
| Year | 1818 |
| Sender | McLeod, Alex |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | Presbyterian minister |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | New York, USA |
| Destination | Ireland |
| Recipient | Rev. William J. Stavely |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | penfriends, distant relatives? |
| Source | D/1792/E: Deposited by late Rev. J.C.K. Armour and the Rev. S.S.S. Armour. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N. Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9707029 |
| Date | 24/02/1818 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 28:07:97. |
| Word Count | 890 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | New York 24th Feby [February?] 1818 Revd [Reverend?] and Dear Sir Probably this letter will be handed to you by your Cousin Cornelius Agnew, whose name will be to you a sufficient introduction. Mr Hugh Wilson also sails tomorrow for his native land & will endeavour to see you. To them I refer you, for particular information. Mr Wilson is a traveller well informed, & with all an amiable man - a member of our Church. He is acquainted with our people from New York to Carolina. With general concerns I shall make you acquainted myself. In September our Synod met in Goldenham about seventy miles to the North of this city. The place not sufficiently central, the most important business was referred to the next meeting in expectation of a more full assembly of our ministers. The establishment of our books of discipline &c. & the adoption of a form of a Covenant, together with a decision upon the Theological Seminary were thus postponed until we meet in Pittsburgh on the last Wednesday of May next. Professor Wylie laid down his professorate, and would not be induced to continue his labours instructing the Students of Theology, as his health was impaired by the greatness of his necessary toils. Another arrangement could not speedily be adopted. In the mean time he gives to the Students, who still remain in Philadelphia, his advice to direct their reading. In September also, the Northern Presbytery, translated the Revd [Reverend?] Wm [William?] Milligan from his charge in Goldenham to the Congregation of [Ohyegale?], Vermont, left vacant by the removal of Mr Gibson to Canonsburgh, Pennsylvania, & they forthwith ordained to the pastoral office of Goldenham Mr James R. Wilson, who had been teaching a classical school in Philadelphia. Both these settlements were, at the time very popular, & still promise much good. Mr Wilson is one of the best scholars & powerful orators of the age. The volume, which I send you, will be proof of his industry. Mr Milligan has just entered upon his proper element. Perpetually active, ready, ardent, & unmarried, but not addicted to patient thought, or though a scholar, habituated to discrimination in matters of taste, he [----?] upon every object by either hacks or bruises as he can. The package which accompanies, this will show him to you as an author & the inclosed paper will indicate his present designs through the press. My Co-Presbyters, Msr [Minister?] Wilson, Mr Master & Milligan are men who make me always happy when I meet them Sound men, and true. They love their Master, they love his Service, the [they?] love one another. In the bounds of this little Presbytery we will immediately plant three other honest ministers; & would find ample labour & their daily bread to several others if we had them at command. All our licentiates are gone to the Southwest, & we have none ripe for licence this Summer. It is a fine time for emigration. Can you not send us an honest enterprising Hybernian [Hibernian?]? We have forgotten your Graham, & pardoned your country, or rather ourselves for having dared to restore your outcasts. But we have need of help: and though we must labour, we have ample excitement, and at least a maintenance. Oh, for a few good Volunteers from Europe - good Soldiers of the Cross of Christ! Our last licentiates, Crawford, Gibson, & Johnson are all popular; but there is no probability of their being permitted to return to us in the North. Crawford has too good a situation hastily to leave it: Gibson and Johnsons congregations are in the West, & the call for their services there are numerous & pressing. If Johnson studies as he ought, and behaves as he has done he will be unquestionably the most eloquent preacher on this side of the Atlantic. I leave to those who will have the opportunity of conversing with you the detail of news: but I must mention that my youngest son, born the day I was ordaining Wilson, bears my own name connected with yours. I had a William & a John; & in this instance I thought of associating [Alex-----?] [Alexander?] with Stavely, a name which I have been accustomed to [-----------?] of my expousals to the Covenanted cause, & which [-----------?] dear to me from family connection, and Christian correspondence with the venerable man from whom you have it by inheritance. I send you also a set of the Evangelical Guardian of New York. so far as it has yet gone. In the department of Reviews you will recognise the pen of your correspondent; that is all of the work that he brings to me. When you have looked over these magazines,I will thank you to send them to Stephen Young Paisley to whom I am indebted for such communications; & when a column is completed you may expect a copy for your own library. It was my intention to publish this Season a Volume of Lectures on the points in dispute with the [Hoplainsians?]; but my agency in providing for erecting a new Church, & my expected journey to Pittsburgh prevented me from preparing for the press. With my best wishes for your domestic & public happiness & usefulness I remain Yours in the Gospel of our Lord Alexn [Alexander?] McLeod. |
