pily relieved from fulfilling my purpose by these Letters of "SHERLOCK." Please give him my respect and thanks.”

III. The Rev. NOAH LEVINGS, Elder of the second Methodist Episcopal Church, in Albany, in a letter to the author, under date of August 3, 1833, approves of the work in the following terms: "Having examined," says he, "the nine letters, signed "Sherlock," and addressed to Thomas Herttell, on the subject of Chaplains to the Legislature of the State of New-York, I beg leave to say, that I consider them in principle right, in argument sound, and in execution beautiful. These letters, together with the proposed notes, will, I trust, prove a valuable acquisition to the cause of truth.

"As to the propriety and even importance of imploring the blessing of Almighty God upon the legislative proceedings of the general and state governments, there can be no doubt in the mind of any unprejudiced person; but whether laws should be enacted to pay for these services, or whether ministers of the gospel should receive this pay when offered, are questions which perhaps are not so well settled. It is believed by some, that the pecuniary consideration in this question formed but the ostensible reason for the opposition to chaplains, while the real motive was opposition to prayer. Under these circumstances it were devoutly to be wished that by some means or other the legislature might be placed in circumstances under which the real motive might develope itself. With these views, I heartily recommend your work to the patronage of the public.

IV. The Albany Daily Advertiser, of August 16, 1833, has the following editorial notice:

"Prove all things: hold fast that which is good."-The following notice of a work, which will shortly be published, if sufficient patronage be obtained, we copy from the last number of the Albany Quarterly, to which we will barely add, that few men among us are better qualified to judge of the merits of such a work, than Dr. WILSON, the learned and venerable editor of this periodical.

9. Prepared for the press, Sherlock's Letters to Thomas Herttell, Esq., late Member of the Assembly of New-York State. "This defence of Christianity is eloquent and impressive. It will consist of about 300 pages, 12mo. It is designed to prove that the opposition to prayer in the halls of Legislation, is to be regarded with sorrow by every friend of his country. Though we do not pledge ourselves for all its illustrations, yet we can recommend the book, as calculated to promote the cause of truth and righteousness."

V. The following is extracted from the editorial department of the same paper, of August 27th, 1833.

A LAYMAN'S APOLOGY, &c.-From a short communication in one of the numbers of the Albany Evening Journal of last week, under the signature of "A Genuine Antimason," the public were left to infer that the work above mentioned has relation to Anti

masonry. In justice to the author, whoever he may be, whether Dr. PROUDFIT or Mr. SOUTHWICK, to both of whom the work has been imputed, we are called upon to say, that it has no connection whatever with party politics. To prove this, it is only necessary to mention that several hundred gentlemen of this city, many of them of the highest standing in all parties, have subscribed liberally for it. We understand, from unquestionable authority, that it is equally free from sectarianism.

VI. The Rev. JOHN B. STRATTON, Elder of the first Methodist Episcopal Church, in Albany, says of these Letters:-"I recommend them to the notice of the ministers and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the friends of virtue and religion generally, as being well worthy of their attention: And as I understand, the author is preparing them for the press, I have great pleasure in recommending their publication, believing that their circulation through the state would greatly subserve the interests of our country, and the cause of Christ.'

VII. The Rev. Dr. SPRAGUE, of Albany, in letters to the Rev. Dr. Matthews, Dr. Brownlee, &c. of New-York, speaks of the APOLOGY, as "an interesting and valuable work, which I have read with much interest;" and again, as a work, the circulation of which "will, I have no doubt, ultimately redound to the furtherance of the cause of evangelical religion."

VIII. The Rev. Doctors BROWNLEE, DE WITT, and KNOX, of the Dutch Reformed Church, in the City of New-York, have approved of the work, as follows:

A LAYMAN'S APOLOGY, &c.-This work I have read with great pleasure. It consists of Nine Letters, addressed to Thomas Herttell, Member of the Assembly for the city of New-York, 1833. That gentleman had taken an active and zealous part in the floor of the Assembly, respecting chaplains and public prayers. He and his associates labored in revealing to the Christian state of New-York, a secret, which they had discovered, namely that their legislators needed no Christian prayers; and that the office of Chaplain was useless, improper, and unconstitutional.

This novel and unexampled combination of the Infidel and the Jew, on the floor of the Assembly, to press their novelties upon us, which was viewed with grief and indignation by the Christian public, called forth these able letters of SHERLOCK. They were published originally in the (Salem) Washington County Post, and were read with avidity, and the deepest interest at the time. They are now revised and enlarged, and are about to be offered to the public in a small neat volume; and we doubt not they will be read with the greatest interest and delight, by every christian, and lover of his country.

The author, a veteran writer, well known to us, who has entered the field in opposition to the Infidel and Jewish combination against the good order and christianity of our country, manifests a good deal of tact in the management of his cause: he is always

in the best possible humor; like the Christian, who knows his cause to be not only good, but incapable of being shaken by any violence of any combination! His great object is, to reclaim, and win over, by kindness, gentleness and truth. To the letters are appended a variety of Notes, embracing valuable illustrations, and much useful information.

We beg leave to recommend it to the patronage of the patriot and christian, and especially to the ladies of the United States, to whom it is dedicated; and who owe an infinite debt of gratitude to the benign influence of Christianity.

New-York, Oct. 12, 1833.

W. C. BROWNLEE.

A LAYMAN'S APOLOGY, &c.-I have cursorily perused "A Layman's Apology," &c., as originally published in the Washington County Post, and feel pleased with the sentiments which pervade it, and the manner in which they are presented. Believing that the republication of the letters of Sherlock, with the proposed notes and illustrations, will subserve the cause of Christianity, I cheerfully recommend them to the patronage of the Christian public. THOMAS DE WITT.

New-York, Oct. 12, 1833.

In the above sentiments I concur.

JOHN KNOX.

IX. The Hon. JAMES KENT, late Chancellor of this state, writes as follows to the author, dated

New-York, Oct. 19th, 1833. DEAR SIR-I have, at your request, perused the Nine Letters under the signature of "Sherlock," and addressed to "Thomas Herttell, member of assembly for the city of New-York, 1833."

I have been much struck with the fervent piety, extensive research and manly frankness displayed in these letters, as well as with the flowing and eloquent language in which your thoughts are conveyed: but I do not wish to give my indiscriminate approbation of the entire contents of these letters, though, as touching the main points between you and Mr. Herttell, I think you are essentially right, and he is essentially wrong. I am in favor of the very becoming ancient custom of having the daily business of the two houses of the legislature opened with prayer, and the constitutional objection to it has always appeared to me entirely groundless. I agree with you, most certainly, in the divine origin and inestimable blessings of Christianity; but I do not wish to give my sanction to every part of your illustrations; and they contain local and personal allusions which I do not assent to. Notwithstanding these objections, I think the work is calculated to do good. Very respectfully, JAMES KENT.

X. The Rev. JOEL PARKER, pastor of the First Free Presbyterian Church in the city of New-York, writes to the author as follows, dated

New-York, 21st Oct., 1833. DEAR SIR-I have just arisen from the perusal of your letters

to Thomas Herttell. I think them well adapted to guard young minds against the specious arguments of infidelity, while the spirit of Christian courtesy which breathes through them, is adapted to lead unbelievers themselves to revise their system, if they may be said to have one. I can cordially recommend this volume to the perusal of my friends, and shall take pleasure in seeing it in the hands of the public as soon as possible.

If Cicero thought his occupation noble because it led him to defend innocence, yours is doubly noble in defending that prayer to God which is at once the shield and promoter of virtue.

Very respectfully yours,

JOEL PARKER.

XI. The Rev. Dr. MILNOR, of New-York, writes as follows in a note dated

New-York, Oct. 21, 1833.

I have read with great pleasure the letters of Sherlock to Thomas Herttell, Esq., member of the house of assembly from the city of New-York, on the subject of discontinuing the office of chaplains to the legislature, and have been much gratified with so ample a vindication both of the constitutionality and duty of conducting the public business with a daily invocation of the blessing of God upon the labors of our public functionaries. The popular style of these letters has led into some diffusiveness in the discussion, that may not so well please the fastidious; but they are better calculated, on that account, to insure, what is very desirable, their general perusal by all classes in the community.

JAMES MILNOR,

Rector of St. George's Church, New-York.

XII. The Right Rev. Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the state of New-York, who was not requested to read the letters in the first place with a view to recommending them, has politely furnished the following note:

I have had laid before me the letters of Sherlock on the subject of the employment of chaplains in the legislature of this state, and gave them as much attention as my engagements would at the time admit. From the observation thus made, and the judgment of others entitled to great respect, who have had better opportunities of reading them, I concur in approving of their republication, and in the opinion that they will prove highly useful to the best interests of the community.

New-York, Oct. 22, 1833.

BENJ. T. ONDERDONK.,

XIII. GORHAM A. WORTH, Esq., cashier of the New-York City Bank, has furnished the following note:

"I consider the letters of SHERLOCK, on the duty of continuing the ancient practice of opening the business of legislation with prayer, as eminently calculated to promote the cause of virtue and religion, without which no nation can be prosperous or happy. "They are written in a popular style, with much eloquence, as well as sound argument, and in a truly Christian spirit." New-York, Oct. 22, 1833. G. A. WORTH.

XIV. The Rev. Dr. BANGS, of New-York, general editor of the Methodist Book Concern, and especially of that able and useful work, entitled The Methodiot Magazine and Quarterly Review, approves of the letters of Sherlock, as follows:

I have read the letters of SHERLOCK, to Mr. Thomas Herttell,. and heartily recommend them to the community in general, as an able defence of the long-established practice of employing chaplains in legislative assemblies. While the author pleads for Christianity with all the ardor of a sincere believer and an able advocate, he treats his antagonist with that respect which is due from one man to another, and thus evinces the goodness of his causeby the fairness as well as conclusiveness of his arguments: and while the venerable institutions of Christianity are assailed in our halls of legislation by semi-infidels, and nominal mistaken Christians, it is some consolation to know that there are Christian laymen sufficiently zealous in the cause of truth and righteousness to come forward in their vindication. SHERLOCK will therefore receive the gratitude of his country, and of posterity, for this timely and able defence of a practice sanctioned by all antiquity, as well as by the venerable founders of our republican institutions. N. BANGS.

New-York, Oct. 24, 1833.

XV. Copy of a Letter from SAMUEL A. FOOT, Esq. to the Author. New-York, Oct. 28, 1833.

DEAR SIR,I have had time only to look cursorily over the letters, addressed by you to Mr. Herttell, which you sent me the other day, and of which you did me the honor to request my opinion. So far as my hasty and imperfect perusal enables me to judge, I hesitate not to say, that they do your head and heart great credit. They appear to be worthy of an attentive perusal, and are well calculated to arrest public attention, and direct it to the important subject of which they treat.

The extraordinary effort made last winter to dispense with daily prayer, at the opening of our Legislative Proceedings, astonished and afflicted many of the wisest and purest men in our state and the union; and I am happy to see you, who are so able to vindicate any cause you espouse, earnestly engaged in endeavoring to. restore the practice, under which our fathers were blessed and prospered. You have my sincere wishes for your success.

Very respectfully, your obed't, SAMUEL A. FOOT. N. B. Please consider me a subscriber for five copies.

XVI. From the Rev. WILLIAM PARKINSON, of New-York. Having read with pleasure the nine letters of SHERLOCK, addressed to Thomas Herttell, Esq. Member of the House of Assembly, from the city of New-York, for 1833, regarding his speech in relation to the appointment of Chaplains; I consider them as containing a reasonable and an appropriate antidote to the poison of Mr. Herttell's public attack on the Christian Religion-an attack evidently premeditated if not preconcerted; and for which