people were subjected from these marauders of the forest. We have recently learned from one who had it from the lips of Dr. Power himself, that he on that day was at Unity meeting-house; it being their fast-day previous to an intended communion on the ensuing Sabbath-that most of the men, as was the common custom, were there with their guns-that tidings came, either before or soon after the service commenced, of the attack and burning of Hanna's-town by the savages, and that the congregation immediately dispersed,— the communion was necessarily deferred. Of this circumstance, about the fast-day meeting at Unity, Mrs. Schroeder was not, we suppose, informed. She only knew that Dr. Power had gone in that direction to attend some meeting. Being herself a member of the Lutheran church, it is not strange that she did not know more particularly the occasion of Dr. Power's absence.

CHAPTER VII.

TEMPERANCE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF PRESBYTERIANISM.

IN regard to the subject of temperance, our ministers and people partook of the common delusion, then universally prevalent, that total abstinence was not only unnecessary, but unwise. They regarded the moderate use of ardent spirits as highly salutary.

"By a mistaken notion in physiology," says Mr. Renwick, in his Life of Hamilton, "it had become an opinion almost universal, that, in the climate of a great portion of the United States, ardent spirit was a necessary beverage, alone, or diluted with water. Hence, almost every adult in the United States was a consumer of it; and although, in most cases, in

great moderation, there were still multitudes who, under the popular error, had no sense of shame in indulging in alcoholic liquids to excess. The trade in this article was then an important branch of commerce, and its manufacture one of the most extensive branches of national industry."

The people through the Western counties-unable to raise the means of paying their taxes by the sale of their grain, which would not bear portage, east of the mountains, on horseback, and which could not be carried to New Orleans, but with great danger and uncertainty-were driven, almost by necessity, to reduce the products of their farms to portable size, by distillation. They were compelled to become distillers; and a distillery was erected on almost every third or fourth farm through Westmoreland, Washington and Fayette Counties. The people used it themselves freely, morning, noon and night, especially in harvest, and on all occasions when they were exposed to severe toil, or the inclemency of the weather. Our ministers and elders used it, as well as their people. Yet they were not intemperate. No instance ever occurred, in the history of the Old Redstone Presbytery, in which either a minister or elder ever needed to be subjected to the slightest act of discipline, on this account. And there is no instance on record, in their minutes, of any case originating in this cause coming before them, by complaint or appeal from sessions.

When we remember the prevalence of the custom of using whiskey or brandy-when we learn that it was the universal custom, whenever a friend or neighbor called, to set out the bottle, as a common act of civility-when we call to mind the frequent exposures of the early settlers to the violence of the elements-when we remember how many causes of anxiety and sorrow pressed upon them continually, tempting them with the delusive promise of recruited strength, or of relief from distress, to resort to the consolations, or the delights, of the bottle-when it is borne in mind that liquor was freely used as a medicine, in various forms, and recommended by

physicians-when we consider that, in those days, liquor was freely used at all meetings of every kind, that a man could not be born, married, or buried, without the presence and free use of whiskey-it is really wonderful that intemperance did not come in like a flood upon the church, and the world. Yet it is really due to our fathers—both ministers, elders and people to testify, upon the most credible evidence, that intemperance was not the vice of those times, at least among our people. We once thought otherwise. But a more careful examination of the subject has satisfied us that this was not the case. The Whiskey Insurrection, it is true, occurred in the bounds of the Redstone Presbytery. But, in the first place, this arose from no special fondness for the intemperate use of the article. It was simply the result of a delusion respecting their rights, and an impression that they were wrongfully and oppressively taxed in the very article which alone they could turn to account in trade and commerce, and thereby secure to themselves and families the very necessaries of life. They regarded the excise tax as odious and oppressive. They neither loved nor used whiskey more than the people of other sections of the United States. But, in the second place, very few of our people joined in that unhappy movement; and all our ministers opposed it strenuously and successfully among their people. One of the historians of that Insurrection, Mr. Findley, states, in reference to the meeting held at Couche's Fort, "While they were deliberating what was to be done, the Rev. Mr. Clarke, a venerable and very old clergyman, expostulated with them on the impropriety of the enterprise, and used his utmost endeavors to dissuade them from it."

Judge Brackenridge says, "Great pains were taken-particularly by the clergy, in various congregations. The Rev. Samuel Porter, and the Rev. John M'Millan, and others, had, from the first, borne a decided testimony against the forcible opposition to the laws. Previous to the day of giving the test of submission, Mr. M'Millan, having appointed a day for

giving the sacrament of bread and wine, adjourned the celebration, until it could be known who would submit-meaning to exclude those from the ordinance who should remain obstinate, and refuse this declaration of fidelity. He attended himself on the day of submission, and used his immediate influence."

Some account of that extraordinary event may, with propriety, find a place in this Work. For though the actual denouement of the "Whiskey Insurrection" did not take place till the year after the Old Presbytery of Redstone ceased to exist yet its causes, and the circumstances which led to that unfortunate issue, are to be found scattered through several previous years: and their bearing upon the interests of religion, and of the church, was not inconsiderable.

An intelligent survey of the moral and religious state of the country during the last years of the Presbytery, cannot be taken without some acquaintance with that singular chapter in the history of Western Pennsylvania. Soon after the exciting occurrences of '94, Mr. Findley, long a member of Congress from Western Pennsylvania, wrote and published his account of them, entitled "The History of the Insurrection." This work was soon followed by another from the pen of Judge H. Brackenridge, entitled "Incidents of the Western Insurrection." These works, taken together, furnish a tolerably complete account, yet have been charged with much partiality and injustice in particular cases. Judge Lobingier has also given to the public his reminiscences and views of that exciting period, in which important corrections of the errors or partial statements of Messrs. Findley and Brackenridge may be found. Dr. Carnahan has likewise furnished a valuable paper on the subject to the New Jersey Historical Society. We propose to give the very clear, able, yet comprehensive account of the "Insurrection," from the pen of the Hon. Judge Wilkeson, first published in the American Pioneer; adding some concluding remarks from Dr. Carna

han's Lecture. Even those to whom the subject is familiar will read the Judge's account of it with interest:

"The federal constitution, which had recently been adopted, was not generally approved of in this section of the country. Many believed that the new government would usurp the power of the states, destroy the liberties of the people, and end in a consolidated aristocracy, if not a monarchy. It was even alleged by many that the reason why General Washington had refused to entrust the defence of the frontiers to the people themselves, was his desire to increase the regular army, that it might be ultimately used for destroying their liberties.

The defeat of General St. Clair's army exposed the whole range of the frontier settlements on the Ohio to the fury of the Indians. The several settlements made the best arrangement in their power for their own defence. The government took measures for recruiting, as soon as possible, the western army. General Wayne, a favorite with the western people, was appointed to command; but a factious opposition in Congress to the military and financial plans of the administration delayed the equipment of the army for nearly two years. While General Wayne was preparing to penetrate the Indian country in the summer of 1794, the attention of the Indians was drawn to their own defence, and the frontiers were relieved from their attacks. But Western Pennsylvania, though relieved from war, seemed to have no relish for peace. Having been some time engaged in resisting the revenue laws, her opposition was now increased to insurrection.

The seeds of party had been widely sown, and had taken deep root in the western counties. Every act of the general government which manifested a spirit of conciliation towards the British (who were charged with inciting the Indians to war on the frontier), was regarded with marked disapprobation. The Irish population which prevailed in the country generally sympathised with the French, and felt the most