University of Virginia Library

A MOST melancholy and distressing event
has spread a gloom over the face of the metropolis.
Every heart heaves the sympathetic sigh,
and every eye drops the tear of regret. The
very sudden death of Doctor Clarke, who was
seized with an apoplectic fit, in the midst of his
sermon, yesterday afternoon, and expired this
morning, is a subject of universal lamentation.

Not only we, who had the happiness to sit under
his ministry, and to enjoy his particular
friendship and attention, but the whole town;
and, indeed, the public at large have sustained a
great loss in his departure. Amiable in his disposition,
engaging in his manners, and benevolent
in his whole deportment, he conciliated the
affections of every class. His talents as a scholar,
philosopher, and divine, commanded the respect
of the most judicious and learned; while the
elegance, perspicuity and delicacy of his style,
joined with the undissembled seriousness of his
manner, rendered him uniformly acceptable to the
devout. In every condition and relation of life,
he was exemplary as a Christian; and as a
preacher, an air of persuasion invariably accompanied
him, which arrested the attention of the
most heedless auditors.

He was particularly attractive to young people.
While he charmed their ear, he convinced their
understanding, and excited them to the love and
practice of virtue.

A striking example of this occurred some years
ago, which I will take the liberty to relate. He
preached in a neighbouring church on these words,
“She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she
liveth.”[6] In this discourse he painted those allurements
of pleasure which surround the young
and gay; more especially of our sex, in the
most just and lively colours. He represented, in
pathetic, engaging and refined language, the snares
to which they are exposed, and the most probable
means of escaping them. He exhibited, with all
their attractions, the native charms of virtue, and
pourtrayed vice in its true deformity. He described,
in the most animating terms, the respectability,
usefulness, and happiness of those who
undeviatingly adhere to the path of rectitude

and innocence; and, with the most energetic
and affectionate tenderness, warned the youth to
avoid the devious walks of vice and dissipation.

A number of young ladies, who had been his
hearers, happening to be together in the evening,
united in the wish to express their gratitude to
him; but not having a personal acquaintance
with him, could devise no better method than writing.
The following anonymous letter was accordingly
penned by one of the company, and privately
conveyed to the Doctor, at the request of all.

“The well known candour of your disposition,
and your apparent zeal for the promotion
of religion and virtue, embolden us to flatter
ourselves, that you will pardon this method of
conveying to you our sincere and united thanks
for your very seasonable, judicious, and useful
discourse, delivered last Sunday morning, at our
meeting.

“It is much to be lamented, that the depravity
of the age is such, as to render sermons of this
nature just and necessary; and it is almost matter
of equal regret, that we have so seldom opportunities
of being benefited by them.

“That we oftener hear than receive instruction,
is a truth which can neither be denied, nor
evaded; and can only be accounted for, by that

passionate fondness for pleasure, which prevails
to such a degree of enthusiasm, as to precipitate
its votaries into whatever presents itself under
this deluding aspect, without considering whether
it be durable, or fleeting.

“It is certainly a most humiliating reflection,
that our sex (which is the female) should ever take
more pains to gain the qualifications of agreeable
triflers than of rational friends; or be more
anxious to become amufing, than useful companions.
But, Sir, does not such conduct in ladies
too often receive the most flattering encouragement
from the gentlemen? How seldom
is intrinsic merit distinguished; and the serious,
prudent female preserred, even by those who
style themselves men of sense and penetration,
to the airy flaunting coquette!

“The constant attention which is paid to those
who make the gayest appearance, and the applause
which is lavished upon her who has the
largest portion of external graces and fashionable
embellishments, induce many who entertain the
good-natured desire of pleasing, to bestow more
of their time and care on the cultivation of those
supersicial accomplishments, which they find
necessary to render them acceptable to most circles
into which they fall, than upon the acquisition
of those substantial virtues, which they daily see
neglected and ridiculed; though, at the same
time, perhaps, they are convinced of the superior
satisfaction which the latter would afford.

“But it is needless for one sex to criminate the
other. We allow, that, generally speaking, they
are equally to blame. In this instance, however,
as the male assume the prerogative of superior
judgment and intellectual abilities, they ought
to prove the justice of their claim by setting nobler
examples, and by endeavouring to reform
whatever tends to vitiate the taste and corrupt
the morals of society.

“Yet, after all, the evil cannot be effectually
remedied, but by the concurrent exertions of both:
and we are humbly of opinion, that if this reformation
were more frequently inculcated from the
pulpit, in the delicate, engaging, and pious manner
of the discourse which now excites our gratitude
to you, and our resolutions to conduct accordingly,
it would be efficacious in bringing
about so desirable an event.

“We entreat your pardon, Reverend Sir, for
the freedom, prolixity, and errors of this epistle.

“Though personally unknown to you, we
doubt not you will readily grant it, when we assure
you, that we are actuated by a sincere regard to the
interests of religion and morality, and by a grateful
sense of your exertions in the glorious cause.

“The united sentiments of a number of young
ladies, who heard and admired your sermon, last
Sunday morning, are expressed above.

It is much to be regretted, that Dr. Clarke did
not publish more of his literary labours.

The universal approbation bestowed upon those,
which he suffered to see the light, is an unequivocal
evidence of his merit, as an author. His “Letters
to a Student in the University of Cambridge,”
are written in a most pleasing style, and contain
instruction and advice, of which no person in pursuit
of a public education ought to be ignorant.
His “Answer to the question, Why are you a
Christian?” which has already had three editions in
Boston, and three in England, is one of the best
compendiums of the external and internal evidences
of our holy religion, extant. It is plain
and intelligible to the lowest capacity, and may
enable every one without much study, to give a
reason for the hope that is in him.

From these specimens we may form an opinion
of what the world has lost by his early exit.

I shall make no other apology for the length
of this letter, than the interest which I feel in
the subject; and this, I am persuaded, you will
deem sufficient.

My affectionate regards wait on your mamma
and sister, while I subscribe myself your's most
sincerely,