cause, or took refuge in such parts of the adjacent country as were most secure from the incursions of the enemy. The Reverend Mr. Treat, his colleague, left the city about the same time.

It ought not to be omitted, that Doctor Rodgers, among the many points in which his conduct is worthy of remembrance and imitation, displayed, about this time, that tender filial affection, which might have been expected from his gene. ral character. A few years before the commencement of the revolutionary war, his father's house, in the city of Philadelphia, was consumed by fire, and his father perished in the flames. He immediatety took his mother under his own roof, and, as long as she lived, displayed towards her all the unremitting attentions of the most dutiful son. He removed her, at the commencement of the war, into Connecticut, where she died, in the course of the next year, at a good old age, and after a life of exemplary piety.

A short time after the removal of Dr. Rodgers to New-York, and more particularly after the public testimony of respect which he received from the University of Edinburgh, he was led, by a variety of circumstances, to commence a cor

respondence with several gentlemen of distinction, in Great-Britain, which he maintained, until the commencement of hostilities interrupted the intercourse with that country; and which, with respect to most of them, he resumed and continued, after the restoration of peace. Among these gentlemen, were the Rev. Dr. Gillies, of Glasgow, the Rev. Dr. Gibbons, of London, the Rev. Dr. Price, of Hackney, and the Rev. Dr. Ryland, of Northampton. But among all his friends beyond the Atlantic, he prized the correspondence of none more than that of the Rev. Dr. Erskine, of Edinburgh, whose talents, learning, and fervent piety, rendered him eminent throughout Protestant Christendom. His epistolary intercourse with this venerable clergyman was constant and peculiarly affectionate, and continued till the death of Dr. Erskine, which took place seven or eight years before that of Dr. Rodgers*.

An incident connected with the correspondence with Dr. Erskine, impressed the writer of these pages very forcibly at the time of its occurrence. When Dr. Rodgers received the news of the death of that excellent man, he was himself recovering from a severe illness, and was deeply affected with the intelligence. After some pious remarks, and a reference to the circumstance of Dr. Erskine's age and his own being nearly the same; he added,

Britain, that gaining possession of New-York would be one of the first and most favourite objects of that government; and the movements of the enemy soon beginning to confirm this expectation, a large part of the inhabitants of the city, not wishing either to join the British, or to lie、 at their mercy, thought proper to retire from the scene, and go into a voluntary exile. The greater portion of those who took this course, left the city toward the close of the winter and in the spring of 1776. On the 29th of February, Dr. Rodgers removed his family to a place of retirement, in the neighbourhood of the city; where they remained during the months of March and April; and from which he found it convenient to visit the city, as often as his professional duties required.

On the 14th day of April, in that year, General Washington reached New-York, and took possession of it for its defence. Soon after his arrival, Dr. Rodgers, in company with other friends of the American cause, waited on the General to pay him his respects. The General received him with pointed attention; and when he was about to retire, followed him to the door, and observed, that his name had been mentioned

to him in Philadelphia, which he had just left, as a gentleman whose fidelity to the interest and liberties of the country might be relied on, and who might be capable of giving him important information: and added, "May I take the liberty, "Sir, to apply to you, with this view, whenever ❝ circumstances may render it desirable?" The Doctor, after assuring him of the readiness and pleasure with which he should render him, in the cause in which he was engaged, any service in his power, took his leave. It is not improper to add, that the General actually did consult the Doctor, on several occasions afterwards, concerning certain parts of the public service, and, particularly in one case, received from him important information. A number of letters passed between them, some of which were found among the Doctor's papers after his decease.

In the month of May, 1776, the Doctor removed his family from the neighbourhood of NewYork to Greenfield, in Connecticut, as a place of more comfortable retirement and greater safety. About the same time, or a few weeks afterwards, the great body of his congregation left the city, and either joined the army, to render what aid they were able to the common

cause, or took refuge in such parts of the adjacent country as were most secure from the incursions of the enemy. The Reverend Mr. Treat, his colleague, left the city about the same time.

It ought not to be omitted, that Doctor Rodgers, among the many points in which his conduct is worthy of remembrance and imitation, displayed, about this time, that tender filial affection, which might have been expected from his gene ral character. A few years before the commencement of the revolutionary war, his father's house, in the city of Philadelphia, was consumed by fire, and his father perished in the flames. He immediatety took his mother under his own roof, and, as long as she lived, displayed towards her all the unremitting attentions of the most dutiful son. He removed her, at the commencement of the war, into Connecticut, where she died, in the course of the next year, at a good old age, and after a life of exemplary piety.

A short time after the removal of Dr. Rodgers to New-York, and more particularly after the public testimony of respect which he received from the University of Edinburgh, he was led, by a variety of circumstances, to commence a cor