writings no evidence that he ever felt the influences of Mont Blanc and the Lake of Geneva, and of the legends connected with them, so Nathanael Emmons was insensible to such superstitions as were connected with the " Moodus Noises." No one, on the perusal of his a priori argument for the divine existence, or of several passages against the indulgence of the fancy, would suppose that he ever allowed his imagination a moment's recess from the tutelage of his judgment. It was however characteristic of him to make simple-hearted and childlike expressions, which have but little resemblance to his logical formularies. Once, describing a most unpleasant dilemma in which he was involved, and from which he was extricated by expressing a thought that dropped into his mind suddenly, at the very instant when alone it could avail, he said, in a tone which one would have expected from Izaak Walton, " I do believe it was an immediate suggestion of a good angel." He often made the remark : " I do not believe in signs, but I would rather not see the new moon over my left shoulder."

Whatever may have been the real or imaginary sounds in certain parts of East Haddam, the neighborhood in which young Emmons passed his school days was noted for the Sabbath stillness that reigned in it. In recent times the noise of manufactories and of steamboats disturbs the silence of the villages and the river farms, but the road over which he walked to the commanding hilltop where stood his favorite parish meeting-house, still winds through a country as silent as an oriental steppe. These still scenes allured him to a thoughtful and pensive mood. Through his long life he remained fond of a serene and quiet home. He chose to labor as a minister in cultivating some retired field, where he might think more and talk less. The scenery and the history of "Old Haddam" have affected his entire life.

§ 3. The importance of Haddam. The influences which have been exerted upon it, particularly the influence of the Brainerds ; their influence on the Emmons family.

The Gazetteers of the day notice the fisheries, the navigation, the manufacturing establishments, the granite quarries of the tract of country once called Haddam, but they fail to herald its real glory. Dr. Emmons was wont to rejoice that his nativo towusliip was distinguished for its Puritan spirit. The hard soil, the bracing air, the pure waters of New England have done much in forming its j>eculiar character, but the religious habits of its fathers have done more. They have started an influence which will continue to flow onward, and will be felt, even whero it is not recognized. The Old Haddam-settlement may be regarded as a representative region. It represents that part of our land, which, like ancient Numidia, may bo called " arida viatrix leonum." It exhibits the power which has been exerted over tins entire country by our small Puritan communities. It illustrates the importance of sustaining with augmented vigor tho schools and churches in these rural districts, which have sent forth such a penetrating energy through tho world. It is estimated that Deacon Daniel Braiucrd, the grandfather of David, and one of the original proprietors of Haddam, has had more than thirtythree thousand descendants. Many of them have attained high distinction in church and state. Among the natives of the region formerly called Haddam, who have been liberally educated, arc David Brainerd, who alone gives importance to a community; Nchemiah Brainerd, a pastor in Eastbury (Glastenbury), Connecticut, who was a classical instructor of David, his younger brother ; John Brainerd, an eminent minister, who succeeded his brother David in the Indian mission, and was for twenty-six years a trustee of Princeton College;1 Nathanacl Emmons ; Edward Dorr Griffin, Professor at Andover, and President of Williams College; his brother also, George G. Griffin, a noted lawyer and theological writer in New York city ; Jeremiah Gates Brainard, a Judge of the Superior Court of Connecticut, and the father of John Gardiner Calkins Brainard, " the gentle poet of the gentle stream;" James Brainard Taylor, and other men of no inferior note among the living as well as the dead.

As the grandfather of David Brainerd was the minister of Haddam for twenty-four years; as the brother-in-law of David Brainerd, Mr. Phineas Fisk the eminent " tutor," was pastor of the same old church for the same number of years; as the father of David Brainerd was a man eminent for his gifts, and as there have been numerous intermarriages between the Brainerd and the other ancient families of that region, it is reasonable to believe that the household to which this missionary belonged, has left a deep, decided impress upon all the townships into which Old Haddam is now divided. The father of Dr. Emmons, being a deacon of a church in East Haddam, often administered the sacramental emblems to David Brainerd's sisters and other relatives, and probably to the missionary himself. He felt the profoundest veneration for that missionary, and was one of the few original subscribers for the Memoir of Brainerd by President Edwards. That Memoir was published four years after Nathanael Emmons was born. It was the first book in which he ever saw his father's name printed. As he rose into boyhood, he did not find many " sensation volumes " in his father's library. Janeway's " Tokens for Children," might have interested him, but the Memoir which so often reminded him of his native town and native parish, and favorite meeting-house, and the road to the Meeting-house hill, must have interested him still more. It was probably among the most decisive books by whicli his youthful character was formed. " I might mention the apostles, Luther and Calvin, David Brainerd, and many other missionaries " — this is a specimen of the manner in which he was wont to name his missionary townsman. It is probable, indeed, that the missionary life of Brainerd suggested and formed the peculiar missionary policy of Emmons.

The following circumstances may indicate some of the methods in which he, as every faithful Millington boy, was attracted to the history of Brainerd.

Jerusha Brainerd, the favorite sister of David, was married to Samuel Spencer of East Haddani, and lived in that town from the year 1702, to 1747. This was the sister of whom President Edwards speaks in his account of Brainerd's last illness :

Israel Brainerd made a farewell visit to his brother David and "brought to him the sorrowful tidings of his sister Spencer's death at Haddam; a sister, between whom and him had long subsisted a peculiarly dear affection, and much intimacy in spiritual matters, and whose bouse he u>ed to make his own, when he went to Haddam, his native place. He had heard nothing of her sickness till this report of her death. But he had these comforts, together with the tidings, namely, a confidence of her being gone to heaven, and an expectation of his soon meeting her there."l

Martha Brainerd, another sister of David, was married to General Joseph Spencer of East Haddam, August 2, 1738; and she resided there fourteen or sixteen years. Her husband, who died January 13, 1789, aged 74, is thus described by Dr. Field : —

*• General Joseph Spencer married a daughter of the Worshipful Mr. Brainerd, and in several respects resembled his father-in-law. From the native strength of his mind and diligent improvement of the ta-rans of information in his power, he became well versed in those branches of knowledge which were important in the stations he was called to fill. For thirty-five years he was Judge of Probate for the di-trict of East Haddam and Colchester. In 1758, he went into the northern army in the capacity of a major under Colonel Nathan Whiting, and the two following years as a lieutenant-colonel, in the last French war; and acquired the character of a brave and good officer. la 1775, in the war of the Revolution, he was appointed a brigadier, and in 177G, a major-general in the army of the United States. He r^-igned his commission two years after. In 1779, he was a member of Congress. In 176C, he was elected into the Council, and held x *eat in it, excepting when a member of Congress, till his death. His ■ -»il and military offices were an honorable testimony to his abilities. These, however, did not constitute his greatest glory. He loved the fare doctrines and obeyed the pure precepts of the gospel. Few have £-!ren clearer evidence of a change of heart. He early made a public profession of religion, and served many years as a deacon in the church .3 Millington. He died, as might be expected, in the full faith of a oiessed resurrection." * " Tradition represents that the influence of

* Edwards's Works, Vol. X. p. 396.

* A Hirtorr of the Towns of Haddnm and East llajdam, by Darid D. Field, JL V Pastor of the chorea in Haddam, pp. S3, 24.

General Spencer was very great in that place [Millington] in promoting religious order and the sanctification of the Sabbath." 1

The families of his two sisters and other relatives often attracted David Brainerd to the Millington parish. He says in his journal:

"About the 15th of April, 1733, I removed from my father's house to East Haddam, where I spent four years; but still,' without God in the world,' though, for the most part, I went a round of secret duty. I was not much addicted to the company and amusements of the young; but this I know, that when I did go into such company, I never returned with so good a conscience as when I went. It always added new guilt, made me afraid to come to the throne of grace, and spoiled those good frames with which I was wont sometimes to please myself. But, alas! all my good frames were but self-righteousness, not founded on a desire for the glory of God." *

It was in the native parish of Dr. Emmons, who afterward signalized himself in advocating certain theories of " disinterested love," and of the " inherent excellence of virtue," that David Brainerd penned in his journal some of those remarks, which were so well fitted to prepare the Millington deacon's son for these his favorite theories. On a Sabbath day in 1742, Brainerd wrote thus in Millington: —

" At noon I longed for sanctification and conformity to God. O that is Tiie All, The All. The Lord help me to press after God for

Having spent at East Haddam the three days before his first departure on his Indian mission, he writes, February 2, 1743 : — " Preached my farewell sermon last [Tuesday] night, at the house of an aged man, who had been unable to attend on the public worship for some time. This morning spent the time in prayer, almost wherever I went; and having taken leave of friends, I set out on my journey towards the Indians." " On the road I felt an uncommon pressure of mind; I seemed to struggle hard for some pleasure in something here below, and seemed loth to give up all for gone ; saw I was evidently throwing myself into all hardships and distresses in my present undertaking. I thought it would be less difficult to lie down in the grave ; but yet I chose to go, rather than stay." *