The theory of the Solar System proposed by Professor Whewell, in the tenth chapter of his essay-his speculations in regard to the nature of the fixed stars and the constitution of the nebula-the religious aspect of the question-Sir David Brewster's Bible argument in favor of the doctrine of a plurality of worlds-all are points of interest which we had intended to consider, but which we find our present limits will not permit us to discuss. We have endeavored to weigh without prejudice the evidence afforded by recent investigations in regard to the physical constitution of the heavenly bodies, and-whatever the future progress of astronomy may indicate-we have no hesitation in saying, that the general tendency of telescopic discoveries during the last three quarters of a century, has been decidedly adverse to the theory, that the planets and stars are the abodes of sentient and rational existence.

ARTICLE III.

[From the manuscripts of the late Rev. Dr. HILL.]

REV. NASH LE GRAND.

The grandfather of the Reverend Nash Le Grand was one of the Huguenots who fled from the relentless persecution which followed the Revocation of the Edict of Nantz, and settled upon James River, a short distance above Richmond. The name Le Grand sufficiently indicates a French origin. His father, Peter Le Grand, removed to Prince Edward County, and became possessed of a farm within two miles of Hampden Sydney College, where he lived and died. His mother was sister to Col. John Nash, of Templeton, in Prince Edward; she had been nurtured in ease and affluence, was one of the most accomplished ladies of her day, associated with the first circle of society, and became one of the most pious and exemplary Christians to be found. But she, though brought up in affluence, was destined to pass through many and severe trials; all which

she bore with great patience and submission to the will of God. Her husband, Peter Le Grand, was a poor provider for his increasing family, and became very stern and rough in his common conduct toward those who were subject to his authority.

This induced Col. John Nash, whose daughter Dr. John B. Smith had married, to adopt Nash Le Grand, the eldest son of his sister, and who was named after his uncle. He took him into his family and defrayed all the expenses of his education.

In the year 1776, when the writer of these sketches entered college as a student, and became first acquainted with Nash Le Grand, he was living and prosecuting his further studies in college as a resident graduate. He was a remarkably handsome youth, and capable of being very polite and agreeable in his deportment to others, when he chose to be so; but he had a degree of hauteur and sternness about him, which made him unpopular among the students, except the few which he selected as his associates. His frame was tall and spare, yet well proportioned, and he was very graceful and easy in his movements and manners. With a fine open countenance, dark brown hair, a high forehead, a soft expressive eye, and a melodious and well modulated voice, in company that pleased him he displayed conversational powers seldom surpassed, including sallies of wit and amusing anecdote.

His mental capacity was not of the first order for close and clear reasoning or deep research, but every way sufficient to grasp common subjects, and exhibit them in a forcible point of light.

But with all these personal qualifications, he was vicious in his habits, profane in his language, and much given to frolicksome pranks and mischiefs, which the other students, and the fowls and pigs of the steward of college, could testify. This good steward was heard to say, when Mr. Le Grand professed conversion, "I am in hopes now I may have hogs which can walk upon four legs."

When the revival had fairly commenced, and prayer meetings were appointed in College and the neighborhood, as is contained more at large in Dr. Smith's memoir, in the spring of 1787, Mr. Le Grand kept himself at as great a distance from

these things as possible, was seldom seen at College, and shut himself up closely at Templeton, Col. Nash's residence, which he called his home, and commenced the study of medicine. But he could not shut himself up so closely, but reports of what was going on, who of his old companions were under religious impression, &c., would reach his ears and hold his mind very uneasy. While he was in this state of mind, the Rev. Drury Lacy was induced to spend a night at Col. Nash's. He was put to sleep in the same room with Nash Le Grand. During the night, such was the uneasy and unsettled state of Le Grand's mind that he could not sleep. Some time during the night, he found, by some means, that Mr. Lacy also was awake. Weary with tossing from side to side, and to beguile the tediousness of the slowly passing hours, he called to Mr. Lacy and asked him, if he would be so good as to suffer him to ask him a question. Leave was readily granted. "I wish, Mr. Lacy, to know what would become of a man who had led a vicious life, and had determined to reform, and had broken off from his wicked practices, and had commenced to seek religion, but had not yet obtained it, if he should die in that state?" "If that be all," said Mr. Lacy, "he must go to hell and be damned with the rest of a wicked world; many go that far, with the stony ground hearers, and never produce the true fruits of faith and repentance. It is not he that seeks religion, but he that gets it that shall be saved; for many at the great day shall seek to enter in and shall not be able."

This was a nail fixed in a sure place. "If that be so," said Le Grand, "and it looks like nothing but the truth; there is no time for me to be loitering in my bed." He instantly arose, dressed himself, went out into the garden, and spent the rest. of the night in bitter groans, lamentations and prayers to God, to have mercy upon him and pardon his numerous sins. From that time he became in earnest in seeking the salvation of his soul.

This took place about the beginning of the spring vacation in College. Cary Allen and the writer had gone down to the Guinea neighborhood in Cumberland, where the revival was going on with great power; these two students from college were diligently employed among their friends and relatives, holding

prayer meetings almost every night, and conversing with others during the day upon the subject of religion. Mr. Le Grand had heard what was going on in that neighborhood, and in the anxious state of his mind, after the conversation with Mr. Lacy the night before, in the morning he got his horse, and came down to Mr. Daniel Allen's, the father of Cary Allen, and step-father of the writer, where we both were. A more unexpected visitor could hardly have made his appearance among us. Le Grand was a perfect stranger in the neighborhood, and we, though fellow-students with him in college, having never been upon terms of intimacy with him, and having never known him but as a reviler and contemner of religion and pious people, hardly knew how to receive him, for we had not heard that he had any serious impressions, but supposed that he was still the same kind of person we had heretofore known him to be. We received him politely, and treated him courteously, though nothing was said upon the subject of religion. As evening drew on, we told him that we had made an appointment to hold a prayer meeting at night at Mr. Nathan Womack's, about two miles off, and ventured to ask him if he

would accompany us. He promptly agreed to do so, which a little surprised us, and made us begin to think that something more than common was agitating his mind. We then ventured to broach the subject to him, when he fully, and for the first time, opened his distressed state of mind to us, and told us that that was the object of coming so unexpectedly among us. We were still a little incredulous, like the apostles respecting Saul of Tarsus, but determined to proceed as if we had full confidence in his declaration. At the time and place appointed, the large room was filled with a crowd of serious worshippers. Religious exercises commenced, and it was soon visible, from Le Grand's dejected appearance, his deep drawn sighs, and his many tears, that none were more in earnest than he was. the exercises progressed his distress increased, so that it was with difficulty he could refrain from crying out. On his account, and some few others, whom we were endeavoring to counsel and direct, the meeting was prolonged to a later hour than usual. At length he began to give vent to heavy groans, and to exclaim, "What shall I do! What shall I do!" till at

As

length he fell prostrate from his seat upon the floor; perfectly silent, and apparently in an insensible state. He was taken up and laid upon a bed, where he lay in the same state, immoveable, until it was day. His respiration was very feeble, and barely perceptible,, his pulse very weak and a little tremulous, his flesh approaching to cold, and without muscular motion of any kind. We continued singing, prayer, and conversation in the room about him, till it began to be light; when he of his own accord began to move, first to sit up, and then to arise, praising God for the great things he had done for him, and appeared as joyful and happy as he could be, overflowing in love to God his Saviour, and his friends, and all creatures. He went to the door and saw the sun just rising, which he said, with all creation around him, wore beauties which they had never possessed before. He said he never lost his consciousness all the time he lay in that state, and that his mind was deeply exercised all the time, with terror or with joy.

It may be necessary to say a few things respecting the suddenness and remarkable manner of Mr. Le Grand's conversion, which was very much out of the common way that persons generally professed religion, and joined the church in this revival.

The inhabitants of those parts were better instructed and more enlightened than was usual with Virginians. They had been accustomed to hear a great deal of good preaching; the young people were children of the Church, who had been brought up by parents who were communicants, and had received what is generally called a religious education. When first awakened, they continued generally for weeks and months, and some much longer, under distress from the condemned sentence of God's holy and violated law, seeking to work out some sort of a righteousness of their own, as their legal and selfrighteous principles would prompt them. Dr. Smith would advise them not to be in too great haste in crying peace to themselves, and professing a thorough change of heart; but constantly to examine the foundation of their hopes, lest they should deceive themselves with a name to live while dead.

As there were no other sects among them, to try to proselyte them, Dr. Smith was not afraid of losing his young con