pastor were peculiarly blessed, and often speak of it as the most solemn and interesting season which they have ever enjoyed.

In the same year, Dr. Kollock, by the solicitations of his friends, published a volume of Sermons. These Sermons were received with high approbation, every where sought for, and read with deep interest. They are illustrations of some of the plain and practical truths of Christianity; constructed with a clear and judicious method; written with elegance and strength; animated with the glow of imagination and passion; and calculated, by the beauty of their composition, to gratify the taste of the critic; and by their piety, to warm the heart of the Christian. Perhaps no sermons, preached in our country, were ever more generally read, and admired as specimens of the highest eloquence.

In the year 1817, his health being impaired by his long continuance in Savannah, and the laborious duties which he was called to perform, he yielded to the solicitations of his people, and determined to make a voyage to Europe. For six successive summers he had remained with his congregation, and, regardless of personal labour and exposure, was engaged in the performance of the most arduous duties. Those who are unacquainted with the situation of the southern cities in the summer and autumnal months, when sickness and death make the most awful ravages, can have no conception of his immense labours. During these fatal seasons he was very frequently the only clergyman in the city: "the care of all the churches" was upon him; and he was employed as the pastor, not merely of a congregation, but of a whole city. Except when engaged in the public services of the sanctuary, he was almost constantly in the chambers of the bereaved, at the beds of the

sick and dying, or at the mouth of the grave. Had he not possessed a vigorous constitution, soon would he have fallen a victim to the diseases of the climate. But though he had not, during this period of excessive labour, in a single instance, taken the fever to which he was so much exposed, yet he experienced a general debility of body, and was much affected with a violent palpitation of the heart, and spasmodic affection of the lungs. The physicians advised an intermission of his labours and a long sea voyage.

Another reason induced him to desire a visit, at this time, to Europe. He had, for many years, been engaged in writing the Life of Calvin; and, after collecting all the materials which he could meet with in this country, he found the progress of the work impeded by the want of further documents. These he was in hopes to procure in England or Germany.

Leaving his brother to supply his pulpit, he sailed for England in March, 1817, and, after a pleasant passage of thirtytwo days, arrived at Liverpool. He visited the chief cities of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France; and was received with that attention and respect which are due to a man of science, and a distinguished minister of Christ. Wherever he travelled, his reputation as a preacher, the extent and variety of his information, and his amiable virtues, procured for him the friendship of many eminent divines, and other literary men, some of whom honoured him with their correspondence on his return to America,

In the principal cities of Great Britain there were few strangers who excited greater attention, or whose preaching was listened to with more interest. In London and Liverpool he

preached to overflowing congregations, and thousands paid a just tribute to the fascinations of his eloquence. He was in the former city at that interesting period, in May, when the anniversary meetings of the religious societies are held, and, in many of them, was invited to take a distinguished part. He had looked forward with expectation to these meetings as the source of the highest gratification and pleasure; but his expectations were more than realized. Writing to a friend in America, after he had attended some of these meetings, he says, "I am more and more convinced of the piety and benevolence of British Christians." And after his return, he often remarked, that the fortnight spent at this time in London. was the most pleasant, and perhaps the most profitable, period of his life.

After an absence of about eight months, he returned to his native land, with his health much invigorated, and his mind highly improved by his travels. He arrived at Savannah on the 3d of November, 1817. It was the evening of the monthly association for prayer: his people, overjoyed at the prospect of again hearing his voice, crowded to the church, where he preached a most interesting discourse from that appropriate text, 1 Samuel vii. 17. “And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord."

It is much to be regretted that Dr. Kollock had not an opportunity, in his travels, of procuring the materials which he needed to complete the Life of Calvin. He had not time, however, to visit Germany, and in England he was unable to procure them. He left the work in an unfinished state, unfit for publication. This is a circumstance much to be regretted, as it deprives the public of a work which would have done honour to our country; and which, we may venture to say,

would have been an invaluable present to the Christian and literary world. He had bestowed much pains upon it, and, from various sources, had collected a mass of valuable information; and if it had been completed, according to the author's plan, it would have been decidedly superior to any work which he had published, or any manuscripts which he left.

The congregation having increased so much by the successful labours of its minister, it was found necessary to erect a new place of worship. Measures were accordingly taken, and a large building, vying in splendour with any in our country, was soon erected. It was solemnly dedicated to the worship of God on the 9th of May, 1819, when the pastor delivered an appropriate and interesting discourse from Haggai ii. 7. which will be found in one of these volumes. But scarcely was this earthly temple finished and dedicated to the service of the Most High, when the pastor was translated to the joys of a better sanctuary, to “ a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens."

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During the summer and autumn of 1819, Savannah was visited with unusual sickness and mortality. In proportion to the extent of the disease and the number of deaths, were the severity and constancy of Dr. Kollock's labours. Such were his unremitted duties, during this calamitous period, that he gradually relapsed into that state of organic debility, from which his age to Europe had restored him. The palpitation of his heart and the affection of his lungs had increased to an alarming degree, and led his friends to be anxiously concerned for his situation. Daily he grew more enfeebled; his sleep and appetite failed him; the pulsation of his heart increased, and his whole nervous system was disordered.

The pious part of his congregation remarked, that he was never known to be more engaged in the cause of religion than he was at this period. He seemed to be sensible that the time of his departure was not far distant, and he was determined to "work while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work." Often he used to say to his friends, "I feel that I am almost worn out ;" and the spirituality of his conversation, the fervour of his preaching, and his indifference to the world, showed, that these expressions were sincere. He preached, he prayed, he conversed, he lived, as if he knew, that he was soon to be arrested by the arm of death, and conducted to the silent grave.

On the 13th of December he had made an appointment to preach a charity sermon, for the benefit of the Union Society. During the whole of the preceding week he had been greatly indisposed; his flesh, and strength, and spirits, seemed to be all failing him. His friends endeavoured to dissuade him from preaching, alleging, that his strength was not sufficient for the services; but he could not be prevailed upon to desist ever active in the cause of benevolence, he replied,

I must say something for the little orphans." He went into the pulpit, and never was there a more affecting spectacle presented to his people; he was so feeble, so pale, and thin, that the sight of him chilled every one to the heart.

On this occasion he delivered a tender and touching discourse on the interesting parable of the good Samaritan. It was the last sermon that he ever preached; the last time that he ever entered the sacred desk. His bereaved people will ever regard this sermon with peculiar interest, and often peruse it with melancholy pleasure, as a memorial of the last solemn service which he publicly performed.