clergyman. Where or with whom, he pursued his studies, I am not informed. He began preaching in the course of two or three years after dissolving his connection with Isaiah Thomas, and was ordained pastor of a church at Peacham, in Vermont, previous to the year 1799. A near relative of Mr. Worcester, has obligingly permitted me to copy a part of a letter from him to his father, written while he was an apprentice to Mr. Thomas, which beautifully illustrates his character as a pure-minded and most conscientious man. It will be perceived that his purpose of becoming a preacher of the gospel was formed several years before it became practicable to put it in execution. His remarks concerning the business, in which he was then laboring, will be interesting to printers, and must be acknowledged to be as applicable to the mode of carrying on the business now as they were in 1787.

Honored Sir,

Worcester, September 18th, 1787.

The many proofs which I have received of your affection for me, excites in my breast the warmest sentiments of gratitude. But when I shall be able to make any other compensation for your numerous favors, is known only to Him who reads the pages of futurity. But, it is my fervent prayer, that my conduct in life, and that of all those who have had the happiness to derive their existence from so kind a Parent, may ever be such, as in some measure to reward the assiduity with which you have labored to promote our happiness;—and while many other parents have the unhappiness of seeing their children sacrifice their interest, happiness, and even their lives in the pursuit of those pleasures which finally end in irretrievable ruin, may you have the solid satisfaction of seeing yours walking in the paths of virtue, and seeking a crown of immortal glory—that in the decline of life, you may reflect with pleasure on the prospect there may then be of each of your children's being useful members of society, and when you shall be brought to the closing scene of this transitory existence, may the hopes of meeting your family in a future and happy world, enable you to meet with calmness and serenity the messenger of death, and welcome his approach.

For me to alter my course of life, and determine upon following any other occupation than the one I do at present, without laying the matter before you, and asking your advice, you might justly deem an ungrateful piece of conduct. I shall therefore, honored sir, lay my mind open to you with freedom, and ask your friendly advice. For me to follow the printing business any longer than necessity obliges me, there appears to be but little encouragement. You are sensible that the cost attending setting it up so as to follow it with any advantage to myself, or usefulness to others, must be very considerable. And it is a trade which, of all others, requires money to carry it on. Your circumstances are such, as to put it out of your power to afford me much assistance, nor can I reasonably expect it of you—journeymen's wages at this business are very low, and journeymen numerous, and daily increasing. Nor do I think that master printers are so favorable to them as in justice they ought to be, for they will sooner take apprentices to do their work, than employ journeymen—and if printers increase as fast for a few years to come as they do at present, they will not, many of them, procure a subsistence by their trade. Besides, there are printing-offices already established in almost every populous town in this part of the country. These, sir, are circumstances which I consider as very discouraging - and I doubt not but you will view them in the same light.

I suppose you will by this time be ready to inquire what other occupation will be more agreeable to my inclinations? I almost blush to mention it, even to the tenderest of parents. But you will pardon me, sir, when I inform you that I shall not presume to do any thing concerning this matter, without your consent. From my childhood my inclination has led me to desire that I might one day become a preacher of the gospel. These desires I have been obliged to suppress, because I knew you could not give me a liberal education. And I believe I should wholly have conquered them, if persons of my acquaintance had not repeatedly informed me that it was their expectation that this would be the case. What led them to form this opinion, I cannot tell. Sure I am that I gave them no intimations of any such thing in any of my conversations. It being frequently mentioned to me, awakened the desire that it should be so. And my brother Noah's informing me that it was his opinion that this would be the case, when I saw him last, has kindled these desires into a flame. And upon the whole, I want nothing but your approbation to determine upon it. If I gain that, I shall endeavor to improve myself in writing and arithmetic, so as to be able to take the charge of a school for some time after I have done living here, where I shall probably be able to pursue the necessary studies,

with greater assiduity than I can to continue at this business. I hope you will advise with caution, remembering that the future usefulness and happiness of your son depends in a great measure upon your decision. Perhaps you will think that if I now alter my course, I shall lose the time which I have spent in acquiring a superficial knowledge of this business. But unless you consider that I have had greater advantages of gaining knowledge here than I should have had in most other places, that objection will not need an answer. Possibly, if you should approve the design, I might persuade Mr. Thomas to give me up the bond for my last year, or a part of it at least. You will please to give me a plain and full answer, by the first opportunity.

I am your most dutiful son,

NOAH WORCESTER, ESQ.

LEONARD WORCESTER.

The writer of this admirable letter was connected with the church in Peacham, Vermont, more than fifty years. He died at a very advanced age, respected and regretted by all that knew him.

INDEX TO VOL. I.