testimony, as the Baptist denomination were very numerous in Chesterfield. The memoir says "I know that two of his brothers older than himself, were ministers in that society, (the Baptists) both reputed to be humble pious men, but very illiterate. On one occasion, while I was his neighbour, they visited him, and were treated by him with great respect and affection." These brothers removed to the west at an early period of Mr. Lacy's life.

When about ten years of age, Drury attended a militia muster. A person, who had loaded his gun so heavily that he feared to discharge it himself, handed the unsuspecting lad the loaded piece with permission to discharge it. The explosion shattered the gun and also the left hand of the poor boy. This unpropitious event decided the future fortunes of the lad; in the calculations of men, poverty and trial were before him; in the providence of God, usefulness and respectability were to crown his sufferings and loss, and the severe discipline of penury and want. His kind father determined to give him

what education he could afford as a means of his future subsistence; and sent him to a noted boarding-school kept by a Mr. McRea, an Episcopal clergyman in Powhatan. His attendance on this school was, in a short time, interrupted by the death of his father. Upon settlement of the estate the affairs of the family were found desperate; and the mother, with Drury and a twin sister took their abode in a small cabin in a neighbourhood of poor but honest people, and passed four years of deprivation and toil. The affectionate pious mother, afflicted with chronic rheumatism, was confined to her bed a greater part of the time, and the daughter turned the spinning-wheel incessantly, and the son, with his one hand tended the garden and potato patch, and cut wood with a light hatchet and brought it on his shoulder the distance of a quarter of a mile. "I have learned"—says his son, William S.-"that his afflicted mother was an affectionate, pious, sensible woman, and encouraged him as far as she could in penmanship, arithmetic, and on Sabbath day in reading the Bible. Oh what a treasure that Bible was to that humble family. Its hallowed light cheered the last days of this afflicted saint; the sister became pious and married quite young, a good, poor man; and the humble mutilated boy was doubtless trained by its holy doctrines and precepts, for extensive usefulness in subsequent life. I have reason to know that from early boyhood he was a diligent reader of the Bible, and that during this obscure and humble period of his life he perfectly committed to memory the catechism.

When about sixteen years of age, Drury Lacy was deprived of his mother by death. After this event he was employed, for a time, by his poor neighbours, to teach a small school. "I

have heard him remark"-says his son-"that so very limited were his means, that he was under the necessity of walking barefoot to and from the school-house." The covering for his head, a rough straw hat. Who, in riding by his log schoolhouse, would have said of the bare-footed teacher," there stands the Vice-President of Hampden Sidney College, Lacy with the silver voice and silver hand?" God's ways are

wonderful.

By strict attention to his duties he acquired a reputation with his employers, and by assiduous application to study, in his leisure hours, he increased his stock of knowledge, and prepared himself for greater usefulness. By the time he was twenty-one years of age, he had, without the aid of an instructor, become well acquainted with geography, English grammar, algebra, geometry and surveying, and was employed as teacher in the county of Cumberland, in the family of Daniel Allen, the father of the eccentric Cary Allen, and stepfather to Rev. William Hill, D. D., of Winchester, still living, in his eightieth year. In this position he came under the preaching of Rev. John B. Smith, and by its influence was led to make a profession of religion in connexion with the Cumberland church, at about the age of twenty-two. By the assistance of Dr. Smith, after he had taught in the family of Mr. Allen about four years, he obtained the situation of teacher in the family of Colonel John Nash, who resided about six miles from Hampden Sidney College. Here he had but three pupils; and enjoyed the partial instruction of Dr. Smith in commencing his acquaintance with the Latin language, as part of preparation for the gospel ministry. The Doctor was a visiter at the house of Colonel Nash, and devoted an hour, once a fortnight, to Lacy, to encourage and assist him in his course of study. His proficiency in learning Latin was such, that a vacancy occurring in the faculty of the College, he was employed as under-tutor, when in his twenty-fourth year. In this situation he prosecuted his studies, and completed a classical and scientific course and his preparation for the gospel ministry.

At a meeting of Hanover Presbytery, April 27th, 1787, at Providence, Louisa county, one of the preaching places of Mr. Todd-"the Presbytery was informed that Mr. Lacy, a tutor in the College of Hampden Sidney, attended with a view to come under trials for the gospel ministry. Mr. Lacy was then introduced, and upon inquiring into his experimental acquaintance with religion, the Presbytery was so well satisfied with the account that they admitted him to further trial. Mr. Lacy then read an exigesis in Latin on the subject of Justification, which had been assigned to him by Mr. Smith, as a specimen of his

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abilities, which was received and sustained as a part of trial." At the time of coming under the care of Presbytery he was about twenty-nine years of age. "The first time "-says says the memoir—“I ever saw him, was at the house of the Rev. John Todd, of Louisa, where I was spending a few days when a boy. The Presbytery of Hanover held their sessions at Providence; and in the evening Mr. Lacy lodged there. I remember to have been much struck with his appearance and the solemnity of his manner; but more with his prayer, which was uttered with great fervency, in a very clear and sonorous voice." Before Presbytery adjourned "Mr. Lacy was appointed a presbyterial exercise on 1st Timothy, iii. 16; a lecture on 6th chapter of Hebrews, and a popular sermon on 1st Timothy, i. 10, to be delivered at our next.'

The next meeting of Presbytery was at Cumberland Meetinghouse, September 20th, 1787; present Rev. Messrs. Richard Sankey, John B. Smith, and John D. Blair. Rev. Henry Pattillo, of Orange Presbytery, sat as corresponding member. "The Rev. Archibald McRobert, formerly a minister of the Episcopal Church, in Virginia, but now a dissenter from that church, and a minister of an Independent congregation, a gentleman of good character in the churches, being present, was invited to sit as a corresponding member, and took his seat accordingly. Mr. Lacy then produced and read a presbyterial exercise on 1st Timothy, iii. 16, which was sustained.

"21st. The trials of Mr. Lacy were resumed, and the Presbytery having proceeded some length therein, declined a further examination, till after sermon. Mr. Lacy then delivered a popular discourse on 1st Timothy, iv. 10, which was sustained. Upon a motion that Mr. McRobert, who sat as a corresponding member, should be invited to join the Presbytery, the overture was unanimously agreed to: and Mr. McRobert finding his way clear to join himself as a member of the Presbytery, received the right hand of fellowship, the Presbytery esteeming him regularly ordained, and took his seat as a stated member.

"September 22d. Mr. Lacy read as part of trials a lecture on Hebrews, 6th, which was sustained. After sermon Presbytery resumed and finished the trials of Mr. Lacy, having examined him upon the languages, sciences, and divinity, all of which were sustained. The Presbytery therefore agreed to license Mr. Lacy as a probationer and candidate for the gospel ministry. He then having adopted the Westminster Confession of Faith, and promised subjection to the brethren in the Lord, after admonition and fatherly advice, was licensed to preach the everlasting gospel. Mr. Lacy was appointed to supply at Hat Creek, Concord and Cub Creek, one Sabbath at each place." According to the fashion of the times and the necessities of

the Virginia clergy, Mr. Lacy wrote out but few sermons, and of these few, scarce any remain. "I have❞—says his son William-"occasionally lighted on a manuscript sermon, or part of sermon, written by him in the early period of his ministry. I am of opinion, that during the time of his greatest usefulness, and highest reputation as a preacher, he rarely wrote his sermons, or even prepared short notes. He thought most intensely on his subject, and arranged the subject matter most carefully in his mind, and then trusted to the occasion for language and expression. His preparation for the pulpit was exclusively mental and spiritual. I have often when a youth been greatly impressed with the deep absorption and awful solemnity depicted on his countenance when walking in the yard, or in his chamber. Hence, when he reached the pulpit, there was frequently in his preaching a solemnity and pathos, a freshness and vigour, a penetrating, burning, melting eloquence, which I have never known surpassed. And candour compels me also to say, that not unfrequently, there was a dryness, hardness, and confusion, with an utterance hurried and painfully loud, bringing him for the time as far below the average of respectable preachers as he usually rose above them. He was, I have reason to believe, at times subject to deep mental depression, and sore spiritual conflicts. But, for the most part, indeed I may say in a great majority of instances, he enjoyed the presence of his Saviour, and the light of his Father's countenance."

By the records of Presbytery, it appears that Mr. Lacy was candidate for licensure but a few months. At that time the demand for preaching, and consequently for an increased number of ministers was great: the revival then in progress was spreading wide, and the Presbytery felt the necessity of thrusting labourers into the harvest. At Providence, when Mr. Lacy was taken as candidate, the Presbytery said, in commenting upon the revised form of government sent out by the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, May, 1786—“the learned qualifications of the candidates for licensure are too minutely ascertained. It is therefore recommended to the Synod, to leave that matter entirely to the discretion of the various Presbyteries to act as the circumstances of the particular churches under their care may require." On this opinion the Presbytery acted for some time. In April, 1786, the Presbytery again sent up their objection to the prolonged time of study required of candidates. But no change being made by authority, the Presbytery, after some delay, fell into the rule as adopted.

Mr. McRobert, mentioned in the extracts, was highly esteemed for his preaching powers, and as a pious man. At a meet

ing of the Presbytery at Buffalo, April 18th, 1787-" a small society in the neighbourhood of Walker's Church, formerly considered as an Independent church, and under the pastoral care of Mr. McRobert, appeared by their elder at the Presbytery, and requested to be taken under its care, and considered as a part of the Presbyterian Church in Virginia. They also requested supplies.

"Mr. Lacy was appointed to supply one Sabbath at Concord, two at Walker's Church, one at Hat Creek, and one at Cub Creek. It is also recommended to him to go to the Northern Neck, if he can possibly make it convenient."

At a meeting of the Presbytery at Cumberland Church, October 10th, 1788-" a petition was presented to the Presbytery by the elders and members of Cub Creek congregation, that Mr. Lacy, a probationer under the care of this Presbytery, should be ordained to the whole work of the ministry, for the general advantage of the church. A similar request was presented by the congregations of Hat Creek, Concord,__and Walker's Church, for the ordination of Mr. Mahon. The Presbytery agreed to the requests of the above congregations, and ordered that Mr. Mahon and Mr. Lacy be ordained. Mr. Lacy then preached a sermon previous to his ordination, on Heb. x. 14, a subject assigned him by Mr. Smith, which appointment was approved by the Presbytery." October 11th, Mr. Mahon preached agreeably to appointment on 2 Cor. iv. 5-a subject, through the apparent necessities of the church, having been given out to him by Mr. Smith, which for the same reasons was confirmed by the Presbytery.

"Mr. Mahon's and Mr. Lacy's sermons having been considered and sustained, and an ordination sermon preached by Dr. Robert Smith, (a corresponding member from New Castle Presbytery, father of John B. Smith) who was chosen to preside, on John xxi. 15, 16, 17,-the Presbytery proceeded solemnly to set them apart by prayers and imposition of hands to the whole work of the ministry; and they were admitted to take their seats as full members of Presbytery."

Of the agency of Mr. Lacy in that work of God, which was so extensive, Dr. Alexander writes thus:-"About the time that Mr. Lacy entered the ministry, commenced that remarkable revival of religion, which extended, more or less, through every part of Virginia where Presbyterian congregations existed. And although J. B. Smith was the principal instrument of that work, yet the labours of Mr. Lacy were, in no small degree, successful. His preaching was calculated to produce deep and solemn impressions. His voice was one of extraordinary power. Its sound has been heard at more than a mile's distance. His voice was not only loud, but clear and distinct; in the largest