CHAPTER VI.

Illness-Consulted respecting presidency of Hamilton and Middlebury colleges-Appointed President of University of GeorgiaAnswer-Consulted respecting pastorship of Presbyterian church in Columbia, S. C.-Voyage to Charleston-Journal-Efforts to raise funds for indigent students-Meets President BrownCasualty-Return to Andover-Consulted respecting presidency of South Carolina college.

VERY soon after his return, he visited by request a sick person in a remote part of Andover, and in consequence of exposure while performing this service, had a severe attack of pleurisy; a disorder of which he was ever after a frequent subject. The period which elapsed between his recovery from this illness, and the winter of 1819-20, he spent in Andover, diligently and happily engaged in the duties of his department, visiting occasionally in vacations the springs at Saratoga, from whose waters he frequently derived much benefit. He was not however permitted to continue his labors without repeated solicitations to accept other places of high responsibility. In July, 1817, he received a communication, the object of which was to ascertain whether if elected President of Hamilton college, as successor to Rev. Dr. Backus, deceased, there would be any prospect of his accepting the office. And in September of the same year he was officially offered the presidency of Middlebury college; the corporation of that

institution having delegated one of their number to consult him respecting the probability of his acceptance, previous to a formal election.

In November 1818, he was chosen President of the University of Georgia. That the literary and religious community of that State had become deeply interested in him, and entertained a high respect for his character, is evident from the entire unanimity which characterised this appointment; and from the numerous and urgent letters from men of the first respectability and influence, which accompanied or followed the announcement of his election. His answer to the trustees will best show how he regarded the appointment, and his reasons for declining it. In addition to the motives which urged his acceptance, mentioned in this document, were a noble spirit of liberality manifest in the proposals respecting his removal and subsequent support; and the fact that about that time an increased interest in the education of youth was awakened in that community,—that men of intelligence especially were uniting in vigorous effort to furnish among themselves adequate means of literary and religious instruction.

“To the Senatus Academicus, and the Board of Trustees, of the University of Georgia.

"Gentlemen,

"The official documents, announcing my appointment to the Presidency of your University were duly received. Permit me to return my sincere acknowledgments for this testimony of your friendly regard, and for the very handsome manner in which it is expressed. In forming my judgment on a subject of so much magnitude, as connected with the general interests of religion and learning, and so deeply involving my personal happiness, and that of my family, some delay was unavoidable.

"Several considerations have urged my acceptance of

this invitation. In the early endowment provided for your university, I have perceived an encouraging pledge of that public patronage, which is so essential to its prosperity. The aid which your President may probably render, in forming the literary institutions of a State rapidly advancing in wealth, inhabited by a people generous and enterprising, and destined to hold a distinguished rank in this great country, attaches a high importance, in my estimation, to the office which you have been pleased to confer on me. Your genial climate, too, would afford a refuge from the northern winter, peculiarly favorable to my health.

'But, gentlemen, after mature reflection on this interesting subject, I think it my duty to decline the station to which you invite me. I have considered my life as sacredly devoted to the Theological Seminary with which I am connected, and to serve the interests of which, I left an affectionate people, and a circle of beloved friends in Connecticut. The elevated objects for which this seminary was established, and the ample means with which it is furnished for the promotion of these objects, induce me to believe, that, so far as I have any capacity for usefulness, it may be more advantageously employed in my present station, than in any other to which I could remove. There is one more consideration, which of itself, perhaps ought to be decisive in this case; I mean the special relation which I sustain to a distinguished benefactor of this seminary, whose liberality towards it has scarcely any parallel in modern times. These views of the subject, especially the last, which will be readily appreciated by gentlemen of enlarged and honorable feelings, have presented an insurmountable obstacle to my removal.

"Allow me to add gentlemen, that I shall cherish a grateful recollection of your partial regard to me, and I

shall rejoice in any service, however small, which it may be in my power to render the literary institution of which you are the guardians.

"I am, gentlemen, yours, with sentiments of great respect, E. PORTER."

A few months previous to the invitation from the Georgia university, the committee of the Presbyterian church, in Columbia, S. C., appointed to procure a pastor, being aware that Dr. Porter's constitution but ill sustained a northern winter, and supposing that he might on that account prefer a southern residence, expressed their desire that he would consent to receive a call from that church.

During the autumn of 1819, he and his friends were apprehensive that a change of climate for the winter might again be indispensable. Unwilling to suspend his labors, however, unless compelled to do it, he continued them with occasional interruptions until February, when it became obvious that prudence demanded rest, and resort to a milder atmosphere. He embarked at Newburyport, Feb. 18, 1820, for Charleston, "having received," to use his own language, "every expression of paternal kindness," from his venerable friend and patron, Mr. Bartlet. The vessel did not arrive at Charleston till the 20th of March; the passage having been not only unusually protracted on account of "continual head winds," but unpleasant on account of "heavy breezes, and frequent thunder squalls." The voyage was, on the whole, favorable to his health. A few extracts from a very brief journal of this voyage, will interest the reader.

"During this passage, several things which have long been familiar to me, impressed my mind with increased interest.

"1. The power of habit.

"This appeared in the capacity of the seamen to walk the deck steadily during the rolling and pitching of the ship; in the skill with which they climbed ropes, and mounted to the top-yards and maintained their hold there to reef and unreef the sails, during a violent gale, in which they were swung from side to side, perhaps twenty feet in a second, with the rolling of the ship; while not one landsman in ten, if placed there, would keep his hold a second.

"Nothing in my experience compares at all to the motions of a ship, except those of land carriages. When one of these vehicles, by any sudden declivity or violence is thrown upon one side, so as greatly to change the angle of its axis with the plane of the horizon, the apprehension of upsetting inclines one instinctively to throw his weight toward the elevated side. This same motion on board a rocking ship, though so natural to a landsman that he will certainly adopt it on first going to sea, is needless, and to seamen appears ridiculous. Now, considering the contrast betwixt the feelings of a mariner, and mine, in a gale at sea, and this contrast resulting from the mere force of habit; it becomes a solemn question, how far even my religious opinions, and sensibilities, and associations, may be influenced by this invisible, but powerful principle,-habit.

"2. The influence of men's interest on their opinions. "Our sixteen days of head winds made us all weather prophets. And so it happened that we were generally agreed in construing the prognostics of each day in our own favor, while the fact almost as constantly turned out against us. When we spoke the master of a vessel and inquired his opinion as to the probable course of the wind, I could pretty accurately anticipate his answer if I knew. what point of compass he wished himself to steer. In the