and Polity. He had given sufficient promise of distinguished service to the seminary to make some of its friends very anxious lest he should be enticed, before the work of the Board. could be ratified, to some other quarter of our Church's territory. The Rev. J. B. Adger seems to have been amongst the anxious ones, as the following letter shows:

"COLUMBIA, S. C., September 4, 1854. "DEAR BROTHER: Your favor of the 31st of August came to hand by this evening's mail, and spurs my half formed resolution which for days I have entertained of writing you.

"The statement in the Watchman and Observer, to which you refer, attracted my attention at the time, as an instance of that idle gossip which creeps into our public journals, and which one knows not how to contradict. I know not who the writer is, but the statement is utterly without foundation so far as respects myself. The allusion must have been to the Augusta call; but that call was declined by me absolutely before the meeting of the Board. I have had no overtures from any quarter since you were in Columbia, and I am meditating no change of field whatever. In regard to Brother Thornwell, I am unable to answer your queries. He has been away since the first of August, and I have received no letter from him. In my late conversation with him, his mind was greatly perplexed. He doubtless has misgivings upon several points connected with the question of his transfer to the Seminary-doubtful whether the number of candidates for the ministry in the South is sufficient to warrant that increase in the Seminary which will justify his removal from the College; and doubtful whether the cheapness of living at Danville as compared with Columbia, will not decide the question with many to go to the former place, who might be expected to come here; and doubtful, in the most favorable circumstances, whether he may not do more for God and the truth in his present position. I think, however, he had not at all drawn back from the ground on which he stood, when you saw him last. During his travels, he has doubtless been thrown amongst those who are warmly attached to him, and who will oppose his resignation of the presidency. What effect, if any, their representations and solicitations may have with him I have no means of knowing. As you say. the suggestion of the Board seems to be the only alternative before the Synod; yet I cannot anticipate its consummation without pain. We give up a great deal in taking Thornwell from the College; and nothing but the sternest necessity justifies the sacrifice; yet that necessity, so far as I can see, does really exist. As to myself, I shall feel thankful to God if He shall turn the mind of the brethren at Synod to the choice of another, as was the case last year. My own judgment and inclination are decidedly against it-much more so than last year. And I do not hesitate to say, if the question was the same as last year, to elect me alone, I

should instantly refuse to serve. Constituted as the Seminary now is, without an able man in the Theological Chair, I could not entertain the thought for a moment; and if a really able man, say Dr. Thornwell himself, was now the professor of Theology, I should not feel that the Seminary was in such extreme distress as to require on my part the sacrifice of interest, of taste, and of feeling. But it is to secure Brother Thornwell to the Seminary as the teacher of theology, and for this alone, that I have gained my own consent to be wholly passive and allow the Synod to dispose of me as they see fit. If the vote divides upon Brother Thornwell, or he fails to serve, leaving the Seminary as it now stands, I shall not go into the chair of history-for as long as the students are dissatisfied with the instruction received in theology, nothing can raise the institution. If the matter is submitted to me, after all that has occurred, my way is abundantly clear to abide by the office of Pastor-for the way has been as singularly open to me to remain in the pulpit, as it has been closed to my going into a professorship. This fact joined with another that I have a decided love for preaching, and never one antecedent wish to exchange this for any other species of labor, would be conclusive, if I were to trust in my own judgment. I wish the Seminary to prosper-and to this prosperity, the services of Brother Thornwell seem to me to be necessary— and therefore I am willing to occupy the subordinate part which I do in this business. The Seminary being safe, I would be glad if the plan of the Board touching myself should fail. If it succeeds, I shall go into the institution without that glow of feeling which springs from the gratification of one's spontaneous and original choice. "I am rejoiced to hear the good news concerning Mr, and Mrs. Pelham, and will seek them out very soon. Present me most kindly to your good wife, and believe me

"Your most truly,

"B. M. PALMER."

The foregoing letter makes it clear that its author was being dragged off his pulpit throne; that he was unwilling to set his single judgment against that of his brethren; but that all his inclinations and all his motives were toward his teaching from the pulpit men and women in the sap and juice of life, in a wrestle with the world. A little later he wrote again to Mr. Adger, disclosing a similar attitude toward seminary work, a desire to take measures to secure Mr. Adger's election in his place, and disclosing also the heavy burdens he was bearing at the time.

COLUMBIA, S. C., October 13, 1854. "MY DEAR BROTHER: I do not know why I have taken up the pen, unless it is to exchange salutations with you. Dr. Howe handed me

your letter addressed to him, in which you invite an opinion from me respecting the appointment to the Presidency of Davidson College. Briefly, I would say that the College must, I think, ultimately prosper, though for a long time it will be labor under embarrassments. It is an infant institution, has scarcely the furnishing requisite for a college, labors under a low standard of scholarship which the local public opinion too much justifies, and has a corps of teachers scarcely such as you or I would select. The worst of all is an old and open feud between two distinct parties among the trustees and patrons of the college itself. When I add to these things, the trouble and responsibility of managing a body of students, and the necessity of taking the whole institution upon your shoulders, in order to lift it from the dust into something like respectability, I am sure you will not find the situation a sinecure. Nevertheless, I know no man so sure of success in this difficult undertaking as yourself, and I fully justify the wisdom of your appointment. But, my dear brother, if you have the least inclination for scholastic life, why not take the professorship of History in the Seminary? You will be nearer the great heart of the Church, will have associates whom you cherish, and preserve all the ties social, domestic and public which bind you here. As to eyes, you will have to study in either position; and though the range of investigation is certainly wider in the Seminary, yet this is fairly counterbalanced by the greater anxieties of the other position. Anxiety sends the blood to the head full as much as study; and the one place has scarcely the advantage over the other, all things considered, when it comes to eyes. You do not know with what real relief of feeling I would nominate you to Synod in my place. I have not one lurking desire for the chair, and only consented to be passive under the nomination, hoping thereby to secure Brother Thornwell to the Seminary. You will be fully as acceptable to him as myself, and I am sure much more acceptable to the Synod; as I am sure the same feeling exists, as last year, as to my relations to the pulpit. Pray think of this matter; and if possible, do not decide in favor of Davidson till after meeting of Synod.

"I have just returned from the meeting of the Seceder Synod, where Brother Banks and myself were very kindly received; and perhaps as much was accomplished as could be reasonably anticipated at the outset. A similar deputation was appointed to attend our Synod, and a committee raised to confer with any similar committee on our side. I was gratified to find nearly all the leading members anxious for the proposed union; but the body as a whole, and especially the members of the church at large, are scarcely prepared yet for such a result. I hope we will be patient and forbearing, as far as becomes a proper Christian self-respect; and if no more, intercommunion between the two branches will be effected.

"You will be sorry to learn that Dr. Howe is laid up with a serious