IN complying with your request, to furnish for your excellent Magazine a few incidents in the life and death of our worthy and honoured friend, Judge Tallmadge, I have to regret, that my short and partial acquaintance with him prevents my doing that ample justice to his character, which a longer intimacy would have enabled me. But such is the respect and affection which I entertain for his memory, that I readily avail myself of this opportunity, to pay a tribute of respect to his exalted virtues. I am, dear Sir, yours, &c. Poughkeepsie, Jan. 1820. MATTHIAS B. TALLMADGE was born at Stamford, Duchess County, and State of New-York, on the first day of March, 1774. He graduated at Yale College in 1795. After which, he studied the profession of law with Mr. Spencer at Hudson, now the Hon. Chief Justice of this State; and afterwards commenced the practice of law at Herkimer, in the County of Herkimer. In discharging the duties of his profession, he acquitted himself with such assiduity, diligence, and integrity, as gained him the confidence and affection of the people, which they manifested by the honours which they bestowed upon him. He was chosen a member of the State Convention, for the amendment of the Constitution, and afterwards a member of the State Legislature, from the County of Herkimer. He was then elected for four years to the State Senate, from the Western District of the State of NewYork. These several places he filled with such ability and repu LEWIS LEONARD. tation, as to make his character known to the President of the United States; who in 1810, honoured him with the appointment of Judge of the District Court of the United States, for the State of New-York. Soon after this appointment, he removed to the city of New-York, where he continued to reside until his decease. In 1803, he married Miss Elizabeth Clinton, daughter of George Clinton, Esq. then Governor of the State of New-York, and late Vice-President of the United States. With her he lived in the happiest interchange of mutual affection. They had eight children, four of whom now survive with his widowed partner, to feel and lament their loss, in the death of an affectionate husband, and tender parent. His constitution, naturally feeble, was greatly impaired by severe attacks of fever, with which he was several times afflicted, and reduced apparently to the lowest point of existence. Not long before his removal to the ver; city of New-York, he had been reduced by a lingering bilious feand from the effects of which, he never fully recovered. His countenance ever after, indicated the feebleness of his frame, which seemed gradually yielding to pulmonary complaints. His mind was naturally active and vigorous, and during the whole course of his illness, in no one instance, appeared in the least impaired. His ambition to perform his public duties, frequently prompted his exertions beyond his strength. These circumstances, though they endeared him to his friends, and rendered him more highly useful to the community, greatly facilitated his decline. mo When he entered upon the duties of District Judge, he found the business of the court mentous. It had greatly accumulated during the long ill health of his predecessor, and the intervening time before his appointment. The new commercial regulations, the peculiar situation of the country, and the restrictive system of measures which were to be imposed, brought into his court a pressure of business hitherto unknown; accompanied with all the collisions of interest, and attended with all the violence of party zeal. His utmost endeavours were to perform with intelligence and impartiality the duties of his station. Such was his success, that although the unfortunate in his judicial decisions, may sometimes have complained, yet all agreed in the rectitude and integrity of his conduct. His health, however, was unequal to the exertion-an hemorrhage from the lungs was the consequence. He soon became incapacitated to transact business, and was confined to his bed during the following winter. In the spring, he so far recovered as to be removed for the benefit of free air, to this place. Retaining his appointment as : To him a painful alternative was now presented. On the one hand, the hope of restoring health, and the preservation of life on the other, a desire to discharge his public duties, a separation from his home, his friends, his relations, and above all, a young and an affectionate family. But after mature deliberation, and in conjunction with his friends fervently supplicating the throne of grace for direction, he was enabled to commit himself, his public and private affairs, to the disposal of an overruling and merciful Providence; and in November, 1812, he parted with his children and friends, and, ac companied by his faithful and affectionate wife, commenced his journey by land, for Charleston, S. C. Having made an entire surrender of his worldly concerns to the Lord, his mind while absent was tranquil, and seemed wholly devoted to the enjoyment of religion. His time therefore was principally spent in visiting Christian friends and churches, which was not less profitable to them, than pleasing to himself. In the following spring he returned, and though extremely feeble, yet his health was somewhat improved. He ever after spent his winters at the South. His continued indisposition, and the painful necessity of so frequently parting with his dear family and friends, were circumstances which served to wean him from the world, and in a great measure to deprive him of the enjoyment of those earthly blessings, of which a kind Providence had so abundantly favoured him. Impelled to retire from the bustle and confusion of the world, he cherished a familiar intercourse with his God, and seemed when at home or abroad, almost entirely devoted to his service. His Christian friends beheld with pleasing emotions the rapid progress of the grace of God in his heart; and it is hard to decide, whether we were more delighted with his society, than improved by his instructions and exhortations. I cannot more forcibly illus trate the sweetness of his temper, the kind sympathies of his heart, and his habitual piety, than by transmitting to you the following extracts, taken from letters directed to his friends in this place.* • These letters when written were not designed for public inspection; they therefore incidentally exhibit the amiable feelings and piety of their author. Charleston, S. C. April 9th, 1815, "My dear Parents, Sunday. Being secluded from public worship this day by a sudden change and severe turn of weather, and by a slight return of fever which for a day or two past has rendered me quite feeble, I happily indulge in epistolary converse with you. The reflection that I have friends, whom I know are indulging the tender sympathies of a wife, a parent and a brother for me, has had no little share in supporting my burdened spirits, and filling spaces in my mind which otherwise would have been yielded to melancholy, and insupportable loneliness. The anxieties of my friends have been great. My situation has indeed been perilous. I have again most mercifully been spared, and though I fear there is no rational hope that I shall ever be restored to health, or to be heir of many days, yet I now expect soon to embrace you all. Why am I thus so often rescued from a threatening grave? is a question which has repeatedly recurred to my mind, and as often in the presence of God, filled me with confusion and shame. Is it in tender regard to the consolation of my dear wife and children? Is it in answer to the prayers of my dear anxious parents, or those disciples of Christ, whose supplications have been so often, and so affectionately repeated for me? A review of past life leaves me no room to suppose that it is owing to any worth or worthiness of my own. there in vain for that moral fruit of usefulness, which ought to have followed my planting and growth in the vineyard of my Lord and Master, and made manifest his praise and glory. The mercies of God towards me are altogether of grace, and unsearchable. Now I know not, but hereafter I shall know the depth of his forbearance and goodness." I look New York, June 7th, 1815. Dear Mother, Suckey* is now very low and suffers a great deal; but she bears it with patience. She is fully sensible that her time is short: God hath graciously given her an overcoming faith, and she is not the least despondent. We pray daily by her bedside. Oh! how awful the spectacle! how loud the admonition! yet how great the consolation, when we see a dying fellow creature fully persuaded of her salvation, struggling only with the pains of the body, and looking forward to the happy moment, when she shall be lost in the full enjoyment of christian hopes! Charleston, S. C. Feb. 10, 1816. "Dear Mother, I very much regret the absence of so many of the members of our Church, small at most; but let us remember, that though the Providences of God may be mysterious, they are never erroneous-that though the pillars may be removed, God is nevertheless able to sustain. While the good spirit is left, his people still have reason for great joy and rejoicing. Perhaps there are few events occurring in life, which do not afford the Christian a renewed opportunity for prayer and the manifestations of his faith. While therefore we have a heart to humble, or breath to pray, let us not despair, but free Fayetteville, N. C. 23d Dec. 1816. ly go to him who freely gives, "My dear Son, I have just received at this place your Uncle's letter of the 23d inst. My heart is overcome, my dear Clinton, by the grateful intelligence of your praise: my prayer to God is, that you may ever be awake to a proper emulation, to a sense of the importance of your life, and of the necessity you are under by laborious exertions to fit yourself, to be a great and good man. Probably my ill health may soon leave you to be the patron and guardian of your younger brothers and sister, the prop and support of your dear mother and family. Strive to be prepared for the trying event. My prayer to God is, that his strengthening arm may be extended to you-God's eye is always upon you; it is never turned off, and he assures us that we shall be judged according to our works. Think on these things, my dear. son, in humility, and with prayer." Suckey was a pious girl of colour, servant in the family of Judge Tall madge. and patiently wait deliverance, and promised recompense. the. I hope brother Leonard will not despond. For proof of the loving kindness and mercy of the Lord towards his people, we need not go beyond the history of our own little Church. The time was when they were very few and voice of the true Shepherd, they scattered; if they knew scarcely knew that of each other. Now they are respectable in number, united, having love one for another. Hare we suffered the loss of a Pastor, and the death of a brother, who seemed to be a pillar amongst us? these losses have been made up with increased blessings. Let us then, one and all, look to him who is able to help, and I do trust that our light will not wholly be removed.” Charleston, S. C. Feb. 27, 1817. "Very dear Parents, Aware of the anxiety and affectionate concern which I know will distress you on my account, in consequence of the late bereavement, and affliction which has befallen us in the death of .our dear babe, I hasten to afford you the assurance, that I am in comfortable health; that I am greatly and graciously supported, having in the hour of trial found that, verily, my religion is not a vain trust. Knowing where to look for consolation, my sorrows, though tender and flowing, are tranquil and rational. Though this evil is of the Lord; yet will I wait upon him longer-I will rely still upon his mercy, upon that goodness which declares he will sustain his own, under providences however dark and gloomy." Charleston, S. C. Feb. 14, 1819. "Dear Sally, True, we have many mercies to be grateful for, and though our afflictions are heavy, they are providential, and God knows best what portion is for our good:what measure of chastisement is necessary to draw us near to him, to make us cry out in our distress and ask deliverance, where alone it is to be found. I have sometimes suspected my mind of enthusiasm; but this, too, is one of the tricks of the grand adversary, to keep back christians from the higher enjoyments of a more perfect faith. While we guard well against the delusion of such a temptation, we should search and faithfully try, till we know of what spirit we are. I do believe that my own life, more than once, and that of my son Clinton lately, have been prolonged in answer to our own and the prayers of our religious friends. And though this boon has not been granted us in the case of the dear John James, and the children whom we have laid in their mother earth,yet it argues nothing against the efficacy of prayer, or the goodness and mercy of God; but only that we know not what to ask for as we ought. Whenever we entreat for a temporal blessing, it should always be in submission to the will of God, and for strength to bear the afflicting denial, or for grace to sustain the indulgence with stability and faithfulness. "You ask us to pray for you." This we always do. "Pray ye one for another," is an injunction of our blessed Redeemer; and such is the merciful Providence of God in the planetary system, and change of seasons, that it may be supposed there never is a moment, but a myriad of saints are awake, and engaged in the delightful task of sustaining each other, and until these entreaties are fully answered, by bringing in the last of the redeemed, the world will stand; when it then will fall in the twinkling of an eye, and all its boasted distinctions be forever obliterated." In the selection of these extracts, I have had a particular reference to their respective dates, and also to the diversity of subjects upon which they were written, in order to present their author in some respects as he was,-a dutiful Son, a kind and tender Parent, a loving Brother, a constant and affectionate Husband; and above all, a sentimental, practical, and living Christian. His acts of benevolence and piety, however, were not confined to the church to which he belonged, nor to the social circle in which he moved. But in him the cause of the Redeemer was blessed with an active member, and a firm supporter. In the concerns of Foreign and Domestic Missions, he was deeply interested. He was an efficient member of the constituent Assembly, which formed and carried into effect, a plan for establishing a General Convention of the Baptist denomination in the United Miss Gano-a niece. |