Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-11-19

details. His aspirations at this time wer
very high. He aimed at lofty eminence
and he thou ght he was sure of effectin
his object. His spirit, too, was stirre
with political ambition, and an election
the Legislature of Massachusetts, was OF
fered to him by the dominant party. H
had already attracted the attention Of po
litical and learned men in various parts O
the country, and his commanding ant
electric eloquence his warm and genia
spirit-his bland and courteous manner
and the extraordinary facility with whicl
he seemed to divine the opinions, the man
ners, and even the intentions of those will
whom lie had intercourse, as well as th'
extreme case with which he moved in
society, left everybody impressed with the
profoundcst feeling Of astonishment fo,
no blind man had never been known t.
display these attributes. The loss of hi:
sight, everybody saw at once would be
converted into new and unexpected
means of cminence, rather than cause OF
depression and ohscurity. He was on one
/ occasion (and we might specify several)
appointed to deliver, before large assem-.
bly, that gathered in the Western part OF
the State, on the 4th of July, an Grafton.
II was estimated that ten thousand persons
were present, and the young orator stood
on cliff which beetles over the beautiful
valley Of the Housatonic, and is known as
a peak of the mountain that Bryant has
immortalized in one Of his most glorious
poems. That oration was published and
circulated throughou. this country. 1t
even attracted The attention Of Europe, and
was regarded as one of the most brilliant
and powerful cf1rts ever made hy boy
Of his age. CatLaline Scdgwick, then a
young girl Of great intellectual promise,
and large number Of other ladies Of taste
aud culture, surprised TIE young orator,
as he descended from the cliff, by throwing
over his brow beautiful laurel wreath,
intcrwoven with the choicest wild flowers.
1t WAS but an impromptu expression Of
uubillen admiration, stirred ly the elo-
Geenco Of lis genius. 1t WAS not long
before he ceased 10 be an oEjcc. of COM
passion, He WIS no longer by those who
knew lin, piiied or colso!ed for his mis-
fortune. he became the object Of adula-
ton and Of envy, and the future seemed
TO lie opening before him with all the
briIi;ancy of certain expectation.
While these stirring projects were agi-
ta.ing his mind, another subject took
possession OF it, 1t was the great subject
of Christianity. His feelings assumed a
religious bias, and he began to think sober
ly of changing his pursuit, After long
deliberation, and many struggle, he de-
termined to prepare for the ministry. 1t
was with great difficulty that he came to
this conclusion, for he could not easily
change his well considered purposes, nor
has he been able to do so at any period of
his life, except under the influence of the
strongest convictions of duty. He knew
that he abandoning gainful profession
for one that had few worldly attractions
but so deeply was his mind impressed and
his Judgment swayed by religious convic-
tons, that he was at last brought to the
point which he could no longer resist, of
believing that his greatest scene of useful
ness to mankind and honor to God would
be the Christian ministry. After his res
olution was fixed he at once repaired to
the celebrated theological Seminary at
Andover, Mass, which had then been re-
Gently established, and around which some
of the most learned and eminent scholars
Of the church had gathered. 1t began
under such auspices as made it evident that
it would become one of the main pillars of
a sound theology in the western world.
Young Woodbridge here began course,
which lasted nearly five years, of the most
unremitting intellectual application. He
could DO nothing by himself, but he had
already at that time resorted to a habit
which he has observed through life, of
having in his employment, or in some
manner at his disposal, congenial spirit,
and in Andover these were not waiting.
Every intellectual man in that institution
at once became his companion and friend.
True, loyal, generous, kind, genial, spirited
and enthusiastic, and withal full Of accu-
rate learning and exquisite literary acquire
mcnts, his society was courted on all sides,
and into his capacious mind were poured
the intellectual treasures Of the Seminary.
His progress was extraordinary, in every
department Of human learning. Nothing
seemed to be foreign to his studies. His
mind graspcd everything which came
across his track, and with a memory which
seemed absolutely miraculous, he seized