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me the information that Major Maclin had said that, if I called at his quarters, he would treat me with respect; but that he would never invite me there. This settled the matter. Mr. Irish went on to inform me, that I would receive instructions from the Domestic Committee in New York, charging me to keep perfectly quiet with reference to the Slavery question! I was thunderstruck.

"Mr. Irish," said I, "which side do you take in the matter?"

"I am well satisfied," replied he, "that Kansas will become a Slave State."

"Did you ever hear me say that it would not become such ?"

"No; but you protested against the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, while you were at Chicago."

"So did," said I, "Dr. Wainwright, the Provisional Bishop of New York, and the Chairman of the Domestic Committee, whose forthcoming instructions to me you now anticipate, and forewarn me of." I went on to say that, the Committee being composed of clergy and laity, it could not, according to the genius of our Church, instruct a clergyman with respect to his doctrinal teaching, or otherwise, save in matters of mere form. The Committee, I acknowledged, had the prerogative to make representations to my Bishop, and that he could admonish; and that, Bishop Kemper being my Bishop, his godly admonitions and counsel I would always respect.

"Well," said Mr. Irish, "the instructions will come, in some shape,"

"It is a bad rule, sir, which will not work both ways," I replied. "If I cannot be allowed to express a hope that Kansas may become a Free State, which is to be my future home, I cannot discover by what good fortune you are to escape instruction, when you evidently feel satisfaction at the idea of its becoming a Slave State, while your home is the State of Missouri. We are both in the employ of the Domestic Board of Missions.'

He saw, at once, the absurdity of his position, and he changed the subject.

"Well," said he to me, "I am going to officiate at Fort Leavenworth whenever I can, and also at Atchison. I would advise you," he continued, "not to go to Atchison; you will be insulted if you do."

This was beyond endurance. I told him that he must keep within his own mission, and labor within. the jurisdiction of his own Bishop. That the Territory of Kansas was, for the present, my exclusive field. He softened down considerably, and I revoked the above, and told him to do all the good for which opportunity might offer within the Territory. He remarked to me that he "dare not invite me to preach for him." I presume that this stands without parallel in our Church.

Not many weeks after this interview, it was published in the journals at St. Joseph, that the Rev. W. N. Irish would deliver a lecture, entitled "The Religious Sentiment in Henry Clay's Writings." An eulogistic editorial notice was taken of the lecture, and particular commendation given to a passage, in which

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the reverend gentleman had given a scathing rebuke to those ministers who protested against the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. Two weeks after this, it was announced in the papers at Weston, that the lecture would be repeated in the Methodist meeting-house. It was repeated; our boarding mistress, who was a slaveholder, and my wife, went to hear it. I declined going.

The eloquent passage was repeated: "I am not one of those clergymen who protested against the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill." The inference which all drew was: "There is such a pestilent fellow' in your midst."

Many months after these events, I received signal charity in great sickness at the hands of my Rev. Brother, for which I can never be too thankful. "Amicus Socrates, amicus Plato sed magis amicus veritas."

CHAPTER VIII.

THE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY.

WE had remained a month or six weeks at the "St. George Hotel." In the meantime, as will hereafter be explained, I had made diligent search for a house on the Kansas side of the river, but was unsuccessful. There was a family in Weston, highly respectable, to which I had been recommended to seek a boardingplace for my wife, during the winter. My wife was in very delicate health, and required much nursing care. The principal persons in the family above alluded to, were two aged females, a mother and a daughter, and both were widows. The mother was upwards of eighty years of age, and quite feeble; she has since died. The daughter was over sixty years of age. She had three sons in California, and one who resided with her. The two widows owned between them ten negroes, five or six of whom lived at home. Mrs. O., the daughter, and manager of household affairs, was a remarkable person. I have rarely met with a female of such sound, practical good sense; or of such enlarged views upon vexed questions in the State. The family was from Lexington, in Kentucky; they had been playmates of the "Sage of Ashland." I understood that this Mrs. O. was desirous of securing a small family to dwell with her, for the sake of the society which would in

ners.

such case be afforded. With the prayer in my heart that God would prosper my errand, I went to seek as great a favor, I considered, as I had ever asked from any of my fellow-creatures. I approached the house with a palpitating heart. I knocked on the door, and was admitted by Mrs. O. Her mother was sitting in her easy-chair by the stove, a withered leaf! Her mental abilities were not much impaired, however. Mrs. O. was a lady of imposing appearance and manShe was tall, but not fleshy. Her hair was a very dark brown-she wore spectacles. I made known in very modest tones the object of my visit. I perceived at once, that there no prejudice existed against me. It appeared that through her daughter, who had died during the year that had just passed, she had conceived a favorable impression of me. We had met in society in past days. There was nothing, therefore, to be settled but a purely business matter. The rooms which were to spare were shown me; I was more than satisfied; indeed, I would have gone into the kitchen, had that been the only place of refuge.. Mrs. O. desired to see my wife before we could close our agreement. She was gratified in this respect, and, it appeared, more than gratified with the interview. We felt at home, and we were at home. Mrs. O. made me her confidant and adviser in many of her worldly concerns. Her favorite son returned from California, and she was pleased to introduce me to him as her "dearest friend." "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name."

ic a hiding place from the storm."

I had found in God "In the shadow of