far as I became acquainted with them, from New England. * Mr. Hosmer, I am told, has exerted an admirable influence on the young men of the city; he is always on the alert, watches for every opportunity, nothing seems to escape him, and not only as a minister, but as a citizen, he has established a weight of character which he turns to the best account. * * * Buffalo of all places in the world, needs a ministry at large. If I bad the means, it should not be without it another day.

I arrived here at midnight on Friday, aud took up my abode at the Mansion-House. Having some letters to write, I remained at home all Saturday morning. Nobody came to inquire whether I had arrived or not; though I saw it announced in the papers, that I was to preach twice in the Court-House the next day. So as the mountain would not come to me, there was no help, but for me to go to the mountain. ** * I succeeded in making myself known, and in getting such information as I wanted before Sunday. A drenching rain came on; and fixed at a miserable house, though the best in the place, with no acquaintance, and uncertain of success, I felt my spirits a little damped. Sunday morning came however, cool, bright, and cheerful. I was well at once, and at 11 o'clock, proceeded to the Court-House, a large building, capable of holding from 3 to 400 persons; and found it well filled on the lower floor with about an equal proportion of men and women, a few children, and a great many dogs. The children and dogs were utterly irreverent; apparently without any sense of the Lord's day whatever; coming in and going out, as it liked them best. However, much improvement may be expected from the action of our Association the human and adult portion of the congregation were all that could be wished-except musicians. With my best efforts, I could not get a Hymn sung; at which I was much grieved. * * We were crammed full

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as we could hold in the evening; and all two-legged animals without feathers; not a dog among them. With the help of a layman who deaconed off the hymn for lack of light and books, we succeeded in making music, which, if not that of the spheres, was very well for this world. * ** * You know the position of Erie, beautifully overlooking Lake Erie, mid-way between Buffalo

and Cleveland, and an older and more settled place than either of them. It compares very well with Northampton, in point of external appearance, not indeed equal to it, but more like it, on the whole, than any place that I happen to think of. It is built in a long and handsome street, extending from the Lake, one mile or more, and intersected by cross streets at right angles, to the number of ten at least, which I have counted. In the centre is a spacious square, on which stand the public buildings, three great Hotels, stores, dwelling houses, &c. The population is now 4000; a canal is nearly completed to the Ohio river, and a railroad laid out to Philadelphia. Of course, it cannot failto be a large business-place and that before, long while, at the same time, it has a substantial popula tion of nearly 40 years growth, which will save it from the hurry-scurry character of Buffalo and Toledo. At this moment, the balance of influence, intelligence, and stand. ing, if not of wealth, is on the side of liberal Christianity. I am told since I wrote last that there could not have been less than 450 at our services last Sunday night; that is, nearly as many as were present at the village and county celebration of the 4th of July, which was held at the same place, the Court-House. The Methodist society usually meets at the Court-House, and it is the largest society here; it turns out, however, to make room for us. * * * Many of the most re spectable and influential men are all ready to form a so ciety; they need and wish thorough instruction; and would receive an able and earnest Unitarian minister as an angel of light. I am aware that this sounds almost like exaggeration, but it is not highly colored in the least. The state of things arises from a strong excitement produced here some four or five years since, by a Presbyterian revival; the best part of the people were sickened by the horrors which they were made to see without mingling; and they betook themselves in a body to the Episcopal church. This answered for a short time but it would not do at last; and they now say, give us a better religion than we have heard hitherto, or we shall all be infidels without remedy. * * There are some dark shades in the picture however; consisting principally in the apathy, as to all decided action, on the part of those who are swift to hear, but slow to do; in the want of some leading spirit, ready to go forward himself, and compel the rest to follow. Not a man of

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this description made his appearance in all Erie. The amount of it all is, that Erie is a first rate missionary point; that a noble society could be formed out of the dry bones now lying in the valley, exceeding many and dry, as soon as the Lord's true prophet shall stand over them and tell them to live. No other man can do any thing at all. If you can find him, equip him forthwith, give him your God speed, and let him come on.

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CLEVELAND, OHIO.

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I arrived here night before last: and am now waiting for a boat to go to Toledo where I engaged to be next Sunday. * * There are here some half dozen individuals, who have been brought up in the bosom of Unitarianism; who understand it, and love it; and who are strongly inclined to meet together for religious worship, whether they have a minister or not. * * I was glad to find, on my arrival here, that Mr. Hosmer had preceded me, Dr. Kendall supplying for him. He preached here last Sunday, in an upper room, where the disciples assembled to the number of 50 or 60; and a great, very great interest is already awakened. *

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I preached here twice on Sunday, and once last evening, (Monday); on Sunday, we had from 60 to 80: last night the court-house was crowded full, say 200. The materials for the most part are of the right kind: our friends are full of zeal, and know well what they are about. * They authorise me now to procure a preacher for them; and are ready to organise themselves in regular form, as a liberal society. We have Episcopalians and Presbyterians at our services; and though, I am sure, no disguise has been used, nothing smoothed over, they say that they are surprised to find Unitarianism so much better than they expected; and in no case that I have heard of, has any offence been given. This is the most beautiful city I have seen west of Massachusetts. It looks not unlike Worcester and quite as pleasant. It is as healthy as New England, and the young man who can gather a society around him here, will find a "goodly heritage."

TOLEDO.

My impressions are the same with those of others who have preceded me, as to the importance of this place, and the absolute necessity of supplying it with preaching. If I were merely to copy all that had been said to me on this, by the best citizens of the town, you might deem

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it enthusiastic; but after all I have seen and heard of the interest in Unitarian preaching there and elsewhere, I really can hardly understand, why our most able young men do not almost without exception, fix their eyes upon some of these great central positions, and resolve to sink or swim with it, rather than to plod on with liltle apparent effect at home. I found on my arrival at Toledo a week ago yesterday, every thing prepared for my reception; the people anxious not to be without preaching for a single Sunday; and gratified for every expression of interest from their Eastern friends. * * * I preached in the morning, in the school-room, on the edge of the forest; in the afternoon in a hall of the courthouse on the river bank, about a mile from the former place; and in the evening, a third service at the schoolroom again. The audience was large in each case; that is, the rooms were as full as they could hold; say from 80 to 100; very attentive; and excellent singing. A fine spirit prevails among the people; and if Mr. Sears can be induced to return, the success of the society is certain. I hope Mr. Sears is aware of the love and admiration he has called forth; if not, he ought to know of it; and unless there are the strongest reasons to the contrary, I see not how he can refuse to comply with the wishes of his friends. * * *

CHICAGO.

On Saturday, handbills were struck off and pasted up, a singing choir collected, a room procured, and every thing made ready. I preached this morning in the Municipal Court-room to about 80: a meeting is appoint. ed for this evening, when they say, I shall have three or four times that number; and if any body doubts the existence of Unitarian zeal let him become acquainted with their brethren at Chicago. * * * They are in a state now to support a minister; they are regularly organized; they feel strong in themselves; and there are not a few, who belong at present to other societies, intelligent and influential men too, who are only waiting for the appearance of a permanent minister, to take side with the Unitarians. * *

DETROIT.

Every place was pre-occupied; not an inch of ground to hold forth from to be had for love or money. The University Hall where Mr. M. preached was closed up, on account of a vote of the Trustees never to let it for such pur

poses again; the Capitol was engaged to the Episcopalians; and the City Hall, a room which can hereafter be had, was to be occupied by a little society of Presbyterians, to whom Edward Beecher was to preach. We tried to get it for a part of the day, or the evening; but without success. It was now too late to push on to Toledo, where I knew I should be welcome; I could not retrace my steps to Chicago, where I should be no less so; and as worst had come to worst, there was nothing to do, but to bear an idle Sunday as well as I could. So to-day I am doing nothing, as you perceive, through circumstances which I could not anticipate or control. * * * Aug. 7.-I found, after writing you my last letter, that our friends there, were not disposed to let me off so easily as I thought; they were much excited by the refusal of a place for our services; many united with them in this feeling, who had taken little interest in the subject before; and at the urgent request of a number of respectable individuals, I concluded to remain a day or two, and preach a discourse on Tuesday night. The City Hall was obtained for this purpose a large room holding 800 persons; notices were given in all the morning papers that the subject of Unitarian theology would be discussed; and when we assembled in the evening, we found a good audience, and including, as I was told, many of the most intelligent men of the city. Meanwhile, I had made the acquaintance of several young men, who are deeply interested in our views, and who are resolved to form a liberal society; their appearance is very promising, and before I left, they requested me to make arrangements for a constant supply of preaching, pledging themselves to raise the necessary amount to meet the expenses. * * * A person however, must be truly liberal, in the best sense of the word, to do any thing here, he must preach from his own soul, and not from books; and he must have that strong faith which will impel him to speak right on, without fear of man. I repeat it, dont try any experiments on these good Western folks; if a young man wants to air his vocabu lary, let him not come here; and unless he feels that he has a special errand to them, that he has something to say which can't be so well said by him elsewhere, he had better stay at home.