plans pursued for the benefit of mankind, and feeling that it was his duty to glorify God with the experience which had been given to him, he gave himself up about two years ago (the period referred to above, when he left his situation) to the work of a general moral agent. Since then, that department to which his attention has been principally directed was, the preaching of the Gospel to the poor. This he has engaged in, not so much by preaching personally, as in calling the attention of Christians to the obligation that rests upon them, as individuals and bodies, to adopt measures beyond those that have hitherto been adopted for this end. He spent about twenty months in the metropolis of Ireland in organizing and superintending the City Mission of that place, and in promoting various benevolent plans that were there entered upon. He spent also thirteen weeks in visiting about sixty towns in Ireland, in upwards of one-half of which weekly prayer meetings or local missions were formed. And, having visited the principal towns of Ireland, he considered it his duty to visit America, for the purpose of rendering himself of some use in that land also. He comes as a friend of the Lord Jesus Christ and of mankind, not in the spirit of dictation or authority to his brethren, but as a fellow-helper. He purposes visiting the principal towns in America, and privately to confer with those in each place whose names may be given to him as worthy; submitting to their consideration those plans which he has known to be useful, and leaving all to adopt them, in whole or in part, as they may see cause. He comes simply as a member of the body of Christ, attaching himself to no sect but that which in Christian fellowship receives all whom Christ has received, and refuses such as fail to give evidence that they are Jesus's disciples. He believes that the divisions that exist in the church of God are of the devil-must be most displeasing to God, whose will is, that his people should be one, not only in spirit, but in visible union; and that they are the greatest barrier that exists to the spread of the Gospel in the earth. Of this he has had the most ample and painful evidence. How long shall it be till the glorious era come when Christians, who expect to sit down at the same table in heaven, shall be found sitting together at the Lord's table on earth; and not be making that which they call the Lord's table their own, and not Jesus Christ's, by erecting fences which the Master never erected, or throwing it open to the world, and allowing all indiscriminately to come in, and eat and drink judgment unto themselves? Happy day! then shall the world again say, 'See how these Christians love one another!' Then shall the church arise from its obscurity; because then the inquiry will be, 'Lord, what wilt thou have us to do?' And, instead of sitting down to discuss the relative merits of sects, and thus furnishing Satan with an opportunity of dividing that he may destroy, the church will be found walking in love. Not every brother endeavouring to convert his brother to his opinions, but rejoicing that they are each adopted into the same family; and mourning over the remaining prejudices arising from a bad education, they will walk together in those things in which they are agreed; and taking the word of God as their only rule, and praying in the Holy Ghost for his teaching, they will speedily come at a further knowledge of his will. When the church is in arms by the holy lives of its members, and by their united and persevering efforts to commend the truth, in love, to the conscience and heart of every man-yes, when every church shall be a missionary body, and every member a missionary, then may the angels afresh strike their harps and sing, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill to men!'

"In coming hither, he conferred not with flesh and blood in the matter; but conceiving it to be his duty, he announced his determination to his brethren, many of whom kindly met to commend him and his intention to God in prayer. May he entreat an interest in the prayers of American Christians, and humbly call their attention to the consideration of the important duty of preaching the Gospel to every creature, beginning at home?"

On the 4th of September Mr. Nasmith landed at New York, and such was his activity, that he, although a stranger, got a meeting held on the 13th of that month, at which the subject of forming the New York City Mission was discussed, and in the following week the Society was formed. As soon as he had got the committee actively engaged in the work, he proceeded to other places, and visited Newark, Jamaica on Long-Island, Newport, Providence, Boston, Midford, Andover, Bradford, Salem, Marblehead, Newburyport, Portsmouth, and Portland; and returned to New York on the 6th of November. The accounts given of his labours prove that it was with no ordinary zeal, activity, and success, that he laboured in the work of the Lord.

After remaining at New York about five weeks, he again went forth to introduce his plans of usefulness to other places. For this purpose he sailed for New Orleans. Upon his arrival he set about the work of forming a City Mission. Having effected this purpose, he proceeded to visit Mobile, Montgomerie, Augusta, Savannah, Charleston, Princeton, Trenton, Philadelphia, and other places. In Philadelphia he met with a most cordial reception, and formed six young men's societies and six City Missions. Mr. Nasmith then returned from the Southern States of America to New York, and proceeded to Canada in the second week in August, 1831. He visited Quebec, Montreal, St. Andrew's, Fox's Point, New Glasgow, Kingston, Buffalo, and York, and formed fifteen societies.

Considerable expense was necessarily incurred by Mr. Nasmith in his extensive labours and travels. Yet the economy which he practised was most astonishing; and although he never possessed much property, the little he had was cheerfully devoted to the cause of God. The accounts given by his biographer as to his labours, travels, economy, and liberality, excite our astonished admiration.

Having finished his work in America, he returned to Scotland the latter end of 1831, or the beginning of 1832, having expended £232 14s. of his own money, nearly all he possessed. In May, 1832, he again visited Dublin, and succeeded in forming several religious and beneficent societies. He afterwards returned to Glasgow, but did not remain there. For some time he had formed the design of visiting Paris, and he now resolved to carry this purpose into effect. On the 30th of June, 1833, he arrived at Boulogne, where he was both amused and annoyed by the examination to which his person, papers, and luggage were subjected by the government officers. Having arrived at Paris, he sought out the chief religious persons, and communicated to them his plans of usefulness, and got them to establish a City Mission; which before he left had three agents employed. Returning, he came to Havre, and there formed a City Mission and a young man's society; and then proceeded back to Glasgow.

After an unsuccessful attempt to establish an Institution in Glasgow, as a place of business for religious and philanthropic persons and societies, he directed his attention to a purpose which he had for some time cherished, but had not been able satisfactorily to effect, which was, to remove to London, and make it the centre of his operations. Several of his friends put down their names as subscribers to a fund for

his support for three years, in order that he might be freed from pecuniary embarrassment while engaged in forming societies in the British metropolis. In March, 1835, he left Scotland and came to London.

Upon entering upon his arduous labours in the metropolis, he did not seek an exclusive alliance with any section of the church, but the co-operation of all Christians, regardless of their sectarian peculiarities. Hence both churchmen and dissenters, at first, were unwilling to aid him in his efforts. He, however, resolved to abide by his plaus and persevere in his purpose. At length he found a few men of piety willing to join with him in seeking the salvation of their fellow men. They commenced their work, and God smiled upon their endeavours. A City Mission was formed, of which Mr. Nasmith was the gratuitous secretary and manager; and in six months after his arrival in London, the Society had ten agents employed; and at the end of twenty-two months the number of agents was sixty-three, and £4,000 had been received. In addition to the formation of the City Mission, Mr. Nasmith had then founded several other societies in London; among which may be mentioned, the Metropolitan Monthly Tract Society; The Young Men's Society; The London Female Mission. Some persons connected with the City Mission then became alarmed at the number of societies originated by Mr. Nasmith; and the Rev. Mr. Ainslie addressed a letter of remonstrance, to the Committee of the London City Mission, in which he strongly and severely animadverted upon what he regarded as the imprudence of Mr. Nasmith, in originating so many societies, and declared his intention of withdrawing from the London City Mission. The Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel, who had been one of the supporters of the Mission, also wrote to Mr. Nasmith, expressive of his dissatisfaction at the constitution of the Committee, and that so large a proportion of the agents were dissenters, and he resigned his connexion with the Society. To remove objections, the Committee determined to submit the constitution of the Society to revision, and that the Committee should consist of an equal number of churchmen and dissenters. To this Mr. Nasmith decidedly objected, as an improper concession to party spirit. In this he was right. If it were admitted that the Committee ought to be constituted of the members of different religious bodies, why should it be required that the members of the state church, which is only one of the many sections of the church, should constitute one half of the Committee? Surely this was an undue proportion! Mr. Nasmith resolved, however, not to recognise either the proportion prescribed, or the distinction made. His object was to co-operate with Christians, as such; and not to regard their party distinctions. Consequently he resigned his connexion with the London City Mission. The circumstances connected with his resignation are luminously brought out to view in the Memoirs, and the conduct of Mr. Nasmith is by Dr. Campbell forcibly vindicated, and completely justified.

It was in March, 1837, that Mr. Nasmith resigned his connexion with the London City Mission, of which he had been the founder and gratuitous secretary. His active mind immediately struck out a new plan of beneficent operation; and he established another

Y

society of a more comprehensive character, but which was not designed to interfere with the operations of the London City Mission. It was on the 8th of March that Mr. Noel's letter, before referred to, was sent; before the 17th of that month the Committee had decided on the new constitution of the society, Mr. Nasmith had resigned, and had commenced a new society, designated "The British and Foreign Mission." This society was formed for the purpose of forming city and town Missions wherever they did not exist, and maintaining correspondence with all existing city and town Missions. Mr. Nasmith forthwith entered upon the work, and proceeded to Cambridge, Ely, West Bromwich, Birmingham, and Manchester, and formed four town Missions, and several young men's societies, and a maternal society. He then returned to London and took measures for strengthening the interests of the " British and Foreign Mission."

Mr. Nasmith remained in London during the months of June and July, and in the beginning of August went to Leeds, where he had interviews with the principal dissenting ministers and other friends. He afterwards convened a meeting and formed a town Mission. He then proceeded to Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Wakefield, and York; in all those towns he formed Missions and young men's societies. From Yorkshire he proceeded to Scotland, to form branch societies in aid of the British and Foreign Mission. While engaged in those arduous labours his exchequer was sometimes reduced very low. When writing to his wife in the month of September, 1837, he states as follows:"Yesterday morning my stock was sixpence. I have been bare enough repeatedly on this journey. No one has known it but my Father in heaven; and he has provided just as I required it, so that I have not known want. I have dined upon three pence, and not been the worse for it, day after day in Yorkshire." From Scotland he returned to England, and laboured in advancing the interests and extending the usefulness of the Mission.

The year 1838 appears to have been one of greater trial to Mr. Nasmith; he was in labours more abundant, and in much necessity. He visited both Wales and Ireland, and up to the 3rd of October reported the formation of seventy-three societies! The expenses which he incurred were astonishingly small; he must have exercised the most rigid economy; yet he was often reduced to great straits, in consequence of not having sufficient means. He feared lest he should injure the cause in which he was engaged, if he pressed, or even, to many persons, made any reference to his own want of support; and many persons were too willing to suppose that he was possessed of sufficient funds, and therefore did not render him the assistance which he required. His labours, successes, and personal privations were continued until the end of his course, as will appear from the following letters and extract from his diary. The first was to Mr. Mayo, a faithful and affectionate friend, and was written about six months before Mr. Nasmith's death, and the other to Miss H. Read, a true and zealous friend, who had frequently rendered him important assistance, and was written less than three months before his decease, as was also the extract from his diary.

"BELOVED BROTHER,-Your remarks to me, on Tuesday of last week, led

to prayer, to self-examination, to a revision of plans; and the conclusion of the whole is, that I prosecute the work of forming City and Town Missions; and, at the same time, do good unto all as I have opportunity. This satisfies my own conscience before God; it is based, I think, on the Divine will; and if I must, for conscience sake, suffer the loss of much co-operation that would be valuable, and to me desirable, and very pleasant, I must bow. I cannot, I will not, for one moment think that, however much it might please you to see me rise in popular estimation, and in unfettered usefulness, as you suppose, you would wish me to give up conscience. No; I have a different, a very different opinion of you.

"If you think I am in error, pray for me; and whenever you get any fresh light, throw it on my path: it is just possible that I may see as you see; at present it is not at all probable. That you may form a correct estimate of my work, allow me to invite you to accompany me, in the month of July, to Lancashire, and see what opportunities the Lord gives of usefulness; and after that tell me whether I am at liberty to neglect them; or, if you please, start with me for two weeks, next Thursday, when I leave for Chatham, Canterbury, Dover, and other places. This week I formed a mission in Gravesend, to which an agent has gone down this evening; also a mission for Rochester, Chatham, and Stroud. The former was formed on Monday and the latter on Wednesday.

"You speak as if I was drawing my confidence of being in the right path, from sufferings and privations. I am not aware that I do. I desire to find the right path and walk in it, by day and by night, in sunshine and cloud, in storm and calm. I have not spent forty years in the wilderness without seeing the pillar of cloud and of fire, and learning that the God of Elijah is not dead. Trust him I will, while I have a being; and praise him in sweeter and better songs ere long, than these imperfect warblings that are now presented."

"MY VERY DEAR FRIEND, I have gratefully to acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter and money, received sometime ago.

"I long to hear how your health is, and how all your beloved sisters are, including Sister Hunter, and her little one.

"I have had no communication from Dublin for many months; but no wonder-I treat all as I treat you, and I can neither blame myself for want of interest nor for sitting idle.

"The Lord, in the aboundings of his grace and mercy, is still employing me as an instrument for good. I cannot now sufficiently estimate the privilege; in heaven we shall have wonderful discoveries.

"The British and Foreign Mission is, as usual, poor, so that I cannot take long or distant journeys. Last week I returned from a tour of ten days, during which I travelled between two and three hundred miles-addressed about 3000 individuals-attended 27 meetings, public and private-formed three town missions, four female missions, four young men's societies, one servant's home and one children's branch; and I had some important conversations with saints and sinners in private. Pray, pray, pray for me!" His diary of September 6th, 1839, runs thus: "For several days I have been in great agony of spirit from want of money. I had given my wife, at the close of last week, every fraction of money in my possession; so that I have not had one half-penny in my pocket; and my dear wife has had her trial of faith, anxious with myself to pay every man, and not being at all inclined to have people asking for money when due, without the power of giving it. We have both been several times in prayer; but the answer is delayed. Our faith is put to the test. Yesterday, after walking several miles, I returned home not a little fatigued. I called during the day upon several persons, but could not tell them all that was in my mind. I let them know