THE Rev. Dr. John M'Millan was born at Fagg's Manor, Chester County, Pa., on the 11th of November, 1752. His parents, (whose names were William M'Millan and Margaret Rea,) came from the north of Ireland to the United States about the year 1742, and were first located at Fagg's Manor. Here his mother died in 1768. The father married again, t and some time during the War of the Revolution removed to the Western country, where he died July 2d, 1792, aged 75 years. His father and mother were both pious; the latter was eminently so. They had eight children-five sons and three

* This sketch, down till Dr. M'Millan's first visit at Chartiers, was written by the Rev. Lemuel F. Leake, and published in the Presbyterian Advocate, in 1845. With his consent, we have employed it, without addition or curtailment. We have even received considerable aid from him, in the subsequent part of this Memoir. We are also much indebted to a printed, but unfinished sketch of the Doctor's life, by the late Rev. Matthew Brown, D. D. It is much to be regretted that Dr. Brown did not turn his attention to this Work, before the growing infirmities of age arrested his further progress. Doubtless he could have furnished a valuable Memoir of Dr. M'Millan, together with an interesting history of Jefferson College. Thanks are due, also, to a brother, who gave us the use of Dr. M'Millan's Journal, in his own handwriting. This was a most unexpected favor, as we had despaired of ever seeing it.

His father's second wife was the mother of Professor Miller, late of Jefferson College.

daughters. Two of the sons died young. The names of the sons who attained to mature age were Thomas and William. William was the father of the Rev. William M'Millan, D. D., who, at the time of his death, was President of Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio. The daughter's names were Mary, Jane and Margaret. John, who was the youngest but one, survived all the rest of the family.

Like Samuel and John of old, and many others of distinguished usefulness in the Church of God, the subject of these notes was a son given in answer to special prayer. Before the birth, his father, having lost an infant son, whose name was John, solemnly vowed to the Lord,* that if he would give him another son, he would call his name John, and devote him to the work of the gospel ministry. In consequence of the birth of this son, who was thus given in answer to prayer, and who was named John, in fulfilment of his father's vow, many, no doubt, as in the case of the son of Zacharias, were made to rejoice; for he too, as he afterwards appeared, was the appointed instrument of God to turn many who were disobedient to the wisdom of the just-to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Having made the necessary proficiency in English studies, young M'Millan commenced his classical course at the highly celebrated Academy at Fagg's Manor, his native place. This seminary, which had been founded, and for some time continued, by that eminent scholar and divine, the Rev. Samuel Blair, was now under the direction of the Rev. John Blair, not less distinguished than his kinsman and predecessor. Here such men as President Davies, Alexander Cummins, Robert Smith, James Finley, John Rogers, and others, some of whom were among the master spirits of the age, and the most distinguished ministers of the day, had their elemental training. The plan of education pursued in such seminaries

* Although, in Dr. M'Millan's MS., the father only is mentioned— yet, as his mother was an eminently devout woman, she doubtless had her own exercises of faith and prayer, in reference to the same subject.

as this had, indeed, less of show than that adopted in the gymnasiums, and high schools, and institutes of such lofty pretensions, to which the spirit of boasted improvement, and we may add, the fastidious taste of the present age, have given birth: but it is believed it had far more solid worth, and was better adapted to the development of mind. It was better suited to lay a foundation for ripe scholarship. And unless we err in judgment, the mode of discipline then in practice was calculated to shed a more healthful influence upon the exercise and right improvement of the moral powers. Unless we are deceived, the result has shown that there is far more sciolism, and far less fixedness of strength of moral principle, among nominally educated men of the present day, than at the time to which we refer. And for all the practical and important purposes of life, such an education as was chiefly or wholly obtained at such institutions as the Academy at Fagg's Manor, or the Log College on the Neshaminy, was far more valuable than that which has the sanction of the "Facultates Artium," and the "Sigillum latum Curatorum," of many of the Colleges and Universities, of pompous pretensions, in our day.

Under circumstances thus favorable for mental and moral culture, John M'Millan continued to pursue his studies at the Academy in Fagg's Manor, until the removal of Mr. Blair, his distinguished Preceptor, to Princeton College.* From Fagg's Manor, when he was about fifteen years of age, he was sent to the grammar school at Pequea, Lancaster County, Pa. This institution was of kindred character with that which he had left. It will form an index of its repute to know that it was, at this time, under the instruction and superintendence

To this venerable institution Mr. Blair was called, by the Trustees, in 1767. Here he occupied the Chair of Professor of Moral Philosophy and Theology until the accession of Dr. Witherspoon to the Presidency, in 1769. Mr. Blair was chosen to the office of Vice-President of the College. (See Note D. appended to Dr. Green's Discourse to Baccalaureate, pp. 363 and 394.)