rightly estimating the importance of his own personal supervision, built a cabin on the hill on which the college was to stand.

On his visit to the east to attend the meeting of the General Convention, the bishop made a tour, during which he collected a large sum in aid of his project. A portion of the buildings was commenced on his return, and in good season completed. Scarcely, however, had the institution gone into operation, when a difficulty arose between the bishop and the professors, as to the limits of the power of the former as ex-officio president. The matter was brought into the Convention of the diocese in 1831, and a report made, virtually endorsing the professors. The bishop said nothing, and the report was unanimously adopted. He retired from the Convention and tendered his resignation, which was accepted. He soon after removed to Michigan with his family, where he occupied himself with his wonted energy in missionary duty as a presbyter, until he received, in 1835, an invitation from the small handful of clergy and laity which composed the diocese, to become the first Bishop of Illinois. He accepted the appointment, and soon after, undaunted by the hard requital his former labors had received, began his exertions for the foundation of a Theological Seminary and College. He sailed for England in October, to appeal again to his old friends for aid, and the appeal was liberally responded to. Further donations in the Eastern States enabled him to buy land, and commence building. The corner-stone of the new institution, Jubilee College, was laid on the fourth of April, 1839, on a large and beautiful tract of land, secured by the bishop's wise forethought, as a domain and future source of revenue. He next passed a year in traveling through the States, north and south, soliciting funds to establish scholarships, and was tolerably successful in his efforts. His Reminiscences were written and published with a view to advance the same cause. Jubilee College was built and opened, and the good and venerable prelate, by virtue of seniority the presiding bishop of his church, was enabled to enjoy for some years the spectacle of its harmony and usefulness. His cottage home, Robin's Nest, was not far off, and it was here that on the twentieth day of September, 1852, he closed his long life of labor and usefulness, a career unequaled in its results by that of any clergyman in the United States.

Bishop Chase's Reminiscences fill two large octavo volumes, a large portion of which, however, is occupied by letters addressed to him, and documents connected with the Ohio controversy, and other events of his life. The work abounds in passages of great beauty, the character of which may be judged from the extracts interspersed in our narrative. They remind us of the heartfelt simplicity of Izaak Walton. The same noble trait was a characteristic of the discourses and conversation of the man. But while harmless as the dove, he was also wise as the serpent. His conduct in relation to the endowment of his colleges shows that he was a shrewd and able man, not slothful in business." With his personal humility, he properly combined a high sense of the dignity of his office.

Bishop Chase's countenance expressed singular determination, combined with benevolence. He was tall and well proportioned; and arrayed in the flowing vestments of his office, with the dark velvet cap, which he wore continually after a severe illness brought on by exposure, and which he describes with his wonted quaintness, as "a thick covering to his head, in the shape of a night cap," his form seemed to fill up as amply to the eye as his career and words to the mind, the full ideal of a Bishop."

The second of these portly volumes brings us down to the authors of the present day, with a few exceptions; we had marked a number of pages for choice extracts, that our readers might see how the Bishops and Clergy of the Church, as well as her distinguished laymen, appear on the pages of the Cyclopædia. We intended to quote what the authors have said of the lamented Wainwright, the learned Drs. Jarvis and Turner,

the eloquent Dr. Hawks, the beloved Croswell, and many others among the clergy, and also of Binney, Verplanck, Reed, Mrs. Sigourney, and the like, among our Church laity. We intended, too, to give the reader some choice specimens of the products of our Literature not directly in connection with the Church; but we find that we must forego the pleasure of further quotations from these volumes, and devote what remaining space is left to us to some more general remarks, in compliance with our promise on a previous page.

There can be no doubt whatever that the authors of the Cyclopædia of American Literature are entitled to very great praise. They undertook a work of vast difficulty; a work requiring many years of research and study; a work which no man would covet who knows what it is to deal with that genus irritabile, the writers and makers of books. They entered upon this work with zeal and energy, with the most liberal views and purposes, and with a feeling of devoted love for their country and her just claims to honor in the field of Literature and Science. And now that their work is before the public, let the public judge if it be not a great work which they have accomplished; not a perfect work, not a work which will not require much careful revision, some changes, some excisions, and many additions; but a truly great work, for which they deserve the respect and esteem of all lovers of their native land. Our business is not that of laudation; we deal not in indiscriminate praise; we are quite conscious that the Cyclopædia is not altogether what we should have liked, and that, both in omission and commission, it is open to criticism. We could point out a number of names which have been omitted, names whose claim to recognition in a work of this kind, cannot be questioned. We could also put our finger upon quite a number of names which, in our opinion, are little entitled to notice in any way, and certainly are not worthy of occupying the space which the amiable authors have allowed them.

In this connection, we may, perhaps, also be permitted to say, that in the wide sweeping of their drag-net, which has embraced almost everything in the shape of Literature, which has ever been issued from the American press, the authors have found no place for even a recognition of the Church Review; a quarterly of already more than eight years standing, and which has given to the world some of the best literary efforts of several of the best belles-lettres scholars in the country-efforts which have commanded marked attention in the first literary circles abroad. We see, however, that they have not forgotten the "Literary World," a weekly paper,

which finally died on their own hands. We do not complain of this omission, as we certainly need not have felt greatly flattered in seeing the Review included in such a motley list of the literary organs, agencies, and instrumentalities of the country. And yet we can hardly be expected to overlook this illustration of the authors' taste and judgment, or knowledge.

We could also enumerate a few mistakes which we have discovered in our present examination of the volumes, and we presume that, without doubt, there are others in other parts of this extensive work. But when we have said this much, we have said enough-perhaps more than enough-in the way of criticism, which may appear unfavorable to the Cyclopædia. We entertain no unfriendly feeling, however; our readers will have noticed, in what has been said in the previous portions of this Article, that we have a very high respect for the authors of the Cyclopædia, and we are prepared to rejoice that the preparation of it fell into their hands, rather than into those of some one else. And we will say frankly, why we are especially glad that they entered upon this work. It is simply this: because they are Churchmen, and feel as Churchmen, in the work imposed upon them.

Let not the reader suppose that this is a point of little moment. They who know what scant justice the Church ordinarily receives at the hands of American popular book makers, no matter what the subject of the books may be, will appreciate the favor which these volumes have enjoyed in being prepared by Churchmen. They who have witnessed how little willingness there has been to admit the claims of Churchmen to any status in literature of any kind, will agree with us, that it is a matter of rejoicing indeed, that a Cyclopædia of American Literature, should issue from those who as loyal sons, desired that the Church should receive at their hands fair and just presentation of what she has done, in setting forward and adorning our national literature. Of course, we do not, for a moment, mean to imply that any injustice has been committed against those not in or of the Church; not at all. The large liberality of the authors has led them to expatiate freely and fully upon the merits of many a writer, whom, as a Churchman, we should feel bound to censure and condemn. They have striven to do justice to all; and we honestly think, that they have approached very near to that exact and impartial justice which all may claim in the field of literature, though half of these are enemies to the Church, and teachers of heresy and schism in its worst shapes. But, apart from this, we do rejoice that Churchmen have their claims respected and appre

ciated in a national work like the present; we do rejoice that they can be spoken of without flings and sneers, and in terms which show that the writer is not ignorant of the ordinary language and sentiments of Churchmen, and is able to speak of Church matters without perpetual and offensive, as well as ridiculous blundering.

And now, in bringing our review to a close, we beg leave to advert to the opening pages of the present Article, and to urge again upon our readers the importance of a thorough knowledge and appreciation of our National Literature. We shall not repeat our words; we shall not weary the reader by dilating upon this fruitful topic; we shall only ask him to deal fairly by himself and his native land, in this matter. And further, we shall ask him to look into the question of how far the Church and Churchmen have been concerned in bringing about the result to which our Literature, as a free people, has already attained. Let him enter upon this pleasant work at his early leisure; let him trace the footprints of the men who, laboring for Christ and the Church, labored also for the cause of sound learning, and a healthy, vigorous Literature. Let him note the books which they have produced, the character of their contents, the influence which they exerted, and are still exerting among our countrymen. Let him place fairly before himself the men of past days, no less than those now on the great stage of life, and then let him judge whether the Church has not a good and lawful claim to be in the front rank of those who are ministering to the intellectual and moral culture of Americans. He will find it a most pleasant, as well as most useful occupation. And, we doubt not, that it will stimulate him to do what he can, likewise, to make the Church more and more honored by her doing more and more for the cause of godly learning, and the purer and higher branches of polite literature.

But we have said enough. The Messrs. Duyckinck have added lustre to their already well-earned fame, in the walks of literature; and they are richly entitled to the thanks and praise which are accorded them in all directions. They have done more than increase their own reputation. They have proved that American Literature is a real, genuine, vigorous Literature, of which, too, no lover of his country need be ashamed, and which, if fostered, as it deserves, will demonstrate, that Americans are as capable of great and noble deeds in intellectual pursuits, as they have shown themselves to be in Physical Science and political advancement. God grant that with all this, it may never be forgotten, that it is RIGHTEOUSNESS which exalteth a nation, and that it is SIN which is a reproach, and a lasting disgrace to any people!

VOL. IX.-NO. I.

7

ART. VII.-WESTERN CHURCH EXTENSION SOCIETY.

As a movement has already been commenced which promises important results for the Church, and as it is one in behalf of which a deep interest is desired on the part of Churchmen, we give in the following pages, a brief sketch of its origin, progress, methods and designs.

It will have been noticed by the readers of our Church papers, that an Association was formed some time ago, called the "Church Land Association for the West." It originated with a party of gentlemen, clerical and lay, during an excursion on the Upper Mississippi, in the summer of 1854. "At a conference held on board the Steamer, it was determined that the Church needs, and must have, lots and lands in and about all the growing towns of our great Western World for the erection at a suitable time hereafter, of Churches and Parsonages. Locations must be secured now, whilst the price of land is comparatively low, and held by Trustees, until the organization of parishes, and then deeded over to the respective Vestries." It was also determined that the operations of the Association should extend to Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska. It was further determined that the sum of 10,000 dollars be raised immediately, (and if possible in sums of $500 each, from twenty persons,) for the purpose of purchasing lands and town lots under the direction of the Trustees."

We have here the brief history of the incipient steps in the formation of the Association. It appears that little was really done to give effect to the plan, until the following Spring, when, in May a meeting was held in the city of Milwaukee, Wis., at which time a Constitution was formed, Officers chosen, and a General Agent appointed. Several circumstances prevented his entering on the work until the month of October following. The Agent then visited the cities of Chicago and St. Louis, presenting the whole subject to the Episcopal congregations of those cities, and receiving much encouragement to push forward the enterprise.

After visiting Milwaukee, preparatory to a more extended application to the Churchmen of that city, he set out for the East. Stopping a few days in the city of BUFFALO, W. N. Y., and making known the objects of the Association to the large and flourishing congregations of TRINITY, St. PAUL'S, and St. JOHN's parishes, making small gatherings by the way, he con