any good measure be relied on, as a substitute for those excitements to daily and diligent study which the university itself ought to furnish."

While Dr. Porter's stay in Charleston and the vicinity obviously promoted his convalescence, it gave him opportunity to pursue study with much greater facilities than he could have enjoyed at home. He was also usefully employed in raising funds for the American Education Society, and for indigent young men residing at the Theological Seminary. As the Education Society did not, at that time, extend appropriations to its beneficiaries in their professional course, Dr. Porter was, in this way, instrumental in affording very timely and important relief to many young men, who on account of indigence despaired of enjoying the course of theological instruction prescribed by the statutes of the seminary. Several, indeed, who are now occupying stations of distinguished usefulness, gratefully acknowledged to him their indebtedness to this aid alone, for ability to pursue a full course of professional study. Of the funds which he procured for the special benefit of young men at the seminary, he took the sole management while he lived.

While in Charleston, Dr. Porter met the lamented President Brown of Dartmouth college, who with his wife, having spent the preceding winter in the interior of Carolina, had just returned to that place with the design of proceeding homeward by land. This design, Dr. Porter, who viewed him as near his end, considered perilous, and attempted to dissuade him from it; but finding his purpose fixed, he kindly afforded him all the encouragement and aid in his power. In a letter to Mrs. Porter, he remarks," My expectation is that he will never see New England. It grieves me to think on the case of this respectable and afflicted man. But I will not say, 'how

dark are the ways of Providence!'-for there is no darkness except what results from my own defective vision: and I hope to meet this dear man, and that at no very distant period, in a state where it will be more manifest than hitherto it has been, that 'God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.'"

A few days before Dr. Porter intended to return to New England, an incident occurred, which, but for the kind interposition of his heavenly protector, might have terminated his life. The circumstances are thus related in the journal from which the preceding extracts are taken.

"Charleston, May 27, 1820. One week ago to-day, I stepped into a chair to ride down to the wharf, and inquire as to the practicability of sailing for Savannah, a measure I had for some time contemplated. In the middle of the city, near Union Bank, the horse took fright, and running a few rods, came directly against a brick wall at right angles with the street we had been in. Mr. C —, the gentleman who was driving, and myself, were precipitated on the side walk with great violence. I fell on my left side, receiving a contusion in the chest, just where my pocket book full of papers, was interposed betwixt my body and the stones of the side walk. At the same instant my head struck the pavement, just above my left ear and on the back of it, and my left hip was severely bruised. The horse was young and athletic, and frantic with terror. A post and a tree prevented his wheeling to the left; and in wheeling the other way, he passed directly over me with several violent leaps. At this moment he set his foot on my forehead, and another foot on my right leg. By the time he had gone back about five rods, where he dashed the chair in pieces, I had recovered my feet; and from the regular exercise of my mind, at the instant, perceived that my brain had not sustained a fatal injury. A crowd

of people assembled at once, proffering me their aid. I walked a few steps to a boarding house, and was soon visited by two respectable physicians. After blood-letting, by which the difficulty of respiration, occasioned by the concussion in my chest, subsided, I returned in a carriage to Mr. O'Neale's, where I received every attention, not only that my case required, but that the most assiduous kindness could suggest."

In a letter to Mrs. Porter of the same date, he adds:"I continued to mend of the soreness and bruises: on Wednesday rode out, and every day since; and to tell you all that need be said in a word, though I had a hairbreadth escape from instant death, and though I shall of course be thrown back some days, as to general health, it is my deliberate opinion that God does not design any lasting injury to my frail body from this occurrence. few days more of caution, as to cold and effort, will I trust remove all the inconvenience that remains of the fall. I give Mrs. O'Neale the credit of being the best nurse I have ever found, except my wife. Indeed this is pre-emiThe Lord

A

nently the region of kindness to strangers. bless this dear family, and reward them a thousand fold.*

* Mr. and Mrs. O'Neale, both since deceased, belonged to a circle of friends in Charleston and the vicinity, to whom Dr. Porter became strongly attached, and to whose generous hospitality he felt himself deeply indebted. Their kindness he mentions more frequently, because after having tendered to him the hospitality of their house as a guest, they consented, at his urgent request, to admit him as one of their family, and to receive such remuneration, as the usual charge for board could make, for services which to him were invaluable; and which can be adequately rewarded only by Him who hath said, that those who minister to his disciples because they are his, shall in no wise lose their reward. During several of his last visits to Charleston, he was permitted to find a home in this excellent family-a home rendered all that he could wish, by unwearied kindness.

"During repeated absences and long journies, in which I have been separated from you, my dear wife, this is the first time that I have been snatched from the door of death. God has protected me while travelling thousands of miles among rocks, and has sent me here to be dashed on those imported from my own country. May he give me grace to improve the residue of my spared life in an acceptable manner. I bless his name that in a moment when sudden death was before me, I had no distressing emotions. Though I have been an unprofitable servant, and there are many things which I wish and hope to do in my great Master's work, still, at my Master's call, I would desire to leave this world cheerfully and for some time have regarded it as my habitual duty to leave nothing unfinished, which should fill me with reluctance to obey that call, however suddenly it may come."

:

Dr. Porter reached Andover the latter part of June, and resumed his duties with health greatly improved.

From letters written the latter part of 1820 and the beginning of 1821, it appears that many of the friends of religion and learning in South Carolina, were very solicitous that Dr. Porter should succeed to the presidency of the college in that State, left vacant by the death of Rev. Dr. Maxcy. These letters contain urgent requests that he would permit himself to be named to the trustees for that office, and that he would give some encouragement that if elected, he would accept the appointment. It is not known what were his feelings on this subject, but we may infer that the considerations which induced him to decline similar calls to other institutions, would, if in this instance he had been elected, have prevented his acceptance.

CHAPTER VII.

Voyage to Baltimore-Letters-Voyage to Charleston-Memoranda -Returning, attends General Assembly-Consulted respecting presidency of Dartmouth College.

In the fall vacation of 1820, hoping to confirm his health to such a degree as would enable him to spend the approaching winter in Andover, Dr. Porter determined by advice of medical friends, on a voyage from Boston to Baltimore. Being, on this excursion, without companions of congenial feelings, and having but indifferent accommodations, he sought relief in noting the reflections suggested by his circumstances. To Mrs. Porter he thus writes:

"Schooner Helen, off Nantucket, Oct. 12, 1820. "My dear Wife,

"Friends who are sometimes separated, it is reasonable to believe feel an increase of mutual attachment from such separation. The constitution of human minds and the testimony of experience on other subjects, might lead us to expect this. The uninterrupted enjoyment of each other's society, which is allowed to most husbands and wives, renders their happiness, when it deserves this name, scarcely perceptible to themselves; whereas an occasional separation awakens the tender recollection of