execution was abandoned, the poor prisoner set free, the hostile chiefs reconciled, and the whole community rejoiced. They thanked their dear father Covell, for the pains he had taken to come and see them, and for the good words he had spoken to them. They thanked the Great Spirit for putting it into the hearts of his white children, to remember their poor benighted red brethren. They hoped their fathers would not be discouraged with them, because some of them had done wrong, for it was still their desire to be led into all truth, and to walk in the good way.* He remained with them and his dear brother Holmes, if I remember right, about three weeks. They made him several presents, as tokens of their gratitude and regard. The application from the church in Cheshire, was renewed soon after his return, and eventually he bade farewell to his beloved flock in Pittstown, and moved with his family to Cheshire, in April. He had sojourned in Pittstown something more than seven years, and through all his vicissitudes, had ever enjoyed the entire confidence of his church and people. There was one instance, and only one, that has ever come to the writer's knowledge, when a part of his congregation felt dissatisfied. It was on account of a fourth of July oration. Politics as usual ran high, and opposite parties were bitter against each other. In that day they were designated by the terms "federal" and "anti-federal." It was not in Mr. Covell's nature to be an inactive member of any thing. He espoused the anti-federal principles, and though he never descended to electioneering, he used, as occasion seemed to require, to express himself freely on *I wrote this account as I received it, second or third handed, but I have since been told, that the U. S. Agent for the Indians was also there, and that to convince them of the fallacy of their belief, he took some of the stuff they pretended the woman had used to bewitch people, and ate it before their eyes. the subject, and render a reason for the opinion that was in him. Of course his political sentiments were generally known. I will not aver exactly as to the date, but I believe in 1803, he was selected as orator of the day at the celebration of the national festival. Some expressions in the address, gave umbrage to those of the opposite sentiment. But the impression, except in a very few instances, was not lasting. The oration was published by request of the committee of arrangements, but it has probably long since been numbered among the things that are not. Mr. Covell was decidedly the champion of the cause of education, and intellectual improvement. He ever exerted himself to obtain the best of teachers in his district school, frequently making great sacrifice to accomplish the object. By his exertions mostly, a town library was got up, and so long as he resided there, and performed the office of librarian, it was well sustained. In his church he had enjoyed union and peace. There was not at any period of his connection with them, what might, in the language of the day, be called a "great reformation." But each year, as it passed, was marked with expressions of divine approbation. Their returns, as found on the minutes of the Association, show an annual increase of numbers by baptism. Their mutual accounts were now to be sealed up to the day of final adjudication; and whatever may have been faults on either side, if any there were, there is just ground to hope, that many of his flock in Pittstown, will ultimately be found as stars in the crown of his rejoicing. CHAPTER VI. Pastoral enjoyments; Session of 1806 peculiarly interesting; Extracts from the minutes; Third appointment to Canada; General meeting; Last leave; Letters and Poem, Sickness; Death; Affliction and Mourning in many places; Funeral Poem; Personal description; Kindness of the people; Uncommon trait of character; Summary view and consequent reflections. He commenced his pastoral duties in Cheshire under circumstances most auspicious. The love which the people had felt at first, was deepening with every revolving week. The utmost harmony and brotherly love, subsisted between him and his ministering brethren then on the ground. Elder Ephraim Sawyer had spent part of the winter with the people, and did not remove his residence for several months. Elder Leland, the former pastor, returned from Virginia, soon after Mr. Covell's arrival, purchased a farın and settled down as a permanent resident of the place. He had ever felt that it was his peculiar lot "to preach and baptize, and that breaking of bread and church government, were not laid upon him," [his own words,] so that he and his brother Covell were not in each other's way, but rather helpmeets one to another. The Association convened in Troy that year. The session was peculiarly interesting, and especially so to Mr. Covell. His only own brother, Deacon Seth Covell since of Saratoga, was there. His friends, Elder Cornell, and Elder Stephen Gano, of Providence, R. I., were also there, and the latter moderator of the session. And to him who had watched over the interests of the church in that place, with paternal solicitude, it was no light matter of enjoyment to see how the pleasure of the Lord had prospered among them. When he first became acquainted with them in 1799, they were a small and feeble band, with only a private room fitted up to hold meetings in. But now, they were 76 in number, with a settled pastor, Elder 'Webb. They had completed a large and commodious house for public worship, and had a highly respectable congregation. They who had so recently required aid, were now both able to provide for themselves, and to impart aid to others. Truly the banner over them had been love. No wonder that in the overflowing of his heart he was ready both to give and receive the exhortation, "therefore be ye always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." Extracts from the minutes of the annual festival, will best show the doings of the interview and the interim. 6. The following Report was received from the Missionary Committee. "Your Committee, charged with missionary affairs, beg leave to report, that during the past year, we have received 172 dolls. 41 cts. which added to 40 dolls. 3 cts. the surplus remaining in the Treasury at our last meeting, amounts to 212 dolls. 44 cts. That we have employed Elder Jonathan Finch three months, as a missionary, for which services we have paid him 50 dollars. That we have employed our brother Lemuel Covell, six months, as a missionary; for which we have paid him 100 dollars. That 3 dolls. have been laid out for the printing of a number of copies of a Plan or Constitution of a Missionary Society-amounting, in the whole, to 153 dollars, leaving a surplus in the Treasury of 59 dolls. 44 cts. as appears per Treasurer's Report. "That brother Finch has made a Report to this Committee, of his travels through a part of the State of Vermont, and the settlements in this State, on the west of Lake Champlain. That the said report of brother Finch has met our cordial approbation, and impressed us with the importance of continuing missionary labors in those parts, if practicable. That brother Covell has made a report of his travels and labors through the western parts of this State, and in the Province of Upper Canada, both among the white people and Indians. That his report has also met our approbation, and confirms us in the belief, that we have increasing encouragement to use our utmost efforts to send missionaries into those parts. Both the said missionary brethren have letters addressed to the Association, to which, and to their verbal statements, we refer you for further particulars on this subject. "Your Committee beg leave further to report, that at our last meeting we appointed a Committee to draw up a Plan of a Missionary Society; that they have drawn up such Plan, and that a number of copies of said Plan have been printed, to which we refer you. That at our present meeting, a Committee from the Saratoga Association have attended with us for the purpose of uniting their efforts with ours in promoting the missionary interest; and that the two Committees have mutually agreed to recommend to both the Associations to unite their strength in pursuing that object for the pres ent. By order of Committee, Troy, June 3, 1806." LEMUEL COVELL, Clerk. The foregoing report was accepted, and the missionary brethren, Finch and Covell, called upon to present the letters alluded to, and to give some more particular accounts of the state of things where they had travelled- |