PREFACE

ΤΟ

THE FIRST EDITION.

THE delay in the publication of the following Memoir is to be ascribed, in part, to the difficulty experienced in procuring a portion of the materials. Some of the most valuable of the letters, did not reach the compiler until the last summer.

The extracts in the volume from the journals of Mr. Cornelius, are exclusively taken from the public memoranda, or notes, which he was in the habit of recording. Some of them are drawn out into considerable detail; but, in general, they are simply rough sketches, containing dates, names of towns, number of miles which he travelled, &c. In examining his papers after his death, a large collection was found, embracing evidently the records of a number of years. On the envelope, the following sentence was written. "Private papers, to be read only by the owner, and when he has done with them, to be

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consumed, without opening or examination." The words underscored seemed to have been recently added. A small book was also discovered, upon the first page of which were these words. "This manuscript contains my private journal of things concerning the interests of my soul. To be read and examined only by the owner, and when he has done with the same, to be consumed in the fire. This he leaves as his solemn charge, and dying request, to him, whosoever it may be, that shall obtain possession. Let him, who would have others faithful to himself, be faithful The latter manuscript was commenced, as it would appear from the envelope, after Mr. Cornelius left home for the last time. The wish of the owner of the manuscripts has been scrupulously complied with. However great the interest, which extracts from them might have imparted to the memoir, there was obviously but one course to be pursued; that of leaving them untouched. It may be a matter of regret that Mr. Cornelius decided to have them destroyed, but the adherence to his wishes, so explicitly made known, will be justified.

to me."

In the perusal of the volume, the reader may do well to recollect, that Mr. Cornelius passed nearly the whole of his life in the performance of public duties of various and exhausting description, and that consequently he had little time for social, literary, or religious correspondence, except so far as the indispensable calls of duty required.

The compiler would have preferred, on several accounts, to have confined his attention entirely to the

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editing and arranging of the manuscripts, which were placed in his possession, occasionally adding an explanatory or connecting paragraph. Those biographies are the most instructive, in which the subject is allowed to give his own narrative, and develope his own sentiments, in such words as pleased himself. In the present case, some deviation from this rule was thought to be desirable, as the private journals of Mr. Cornelius were not accessible, and nothing in the shape of an autobiography was in existence. The remarks which are made upon his character as a pastor, preacher, and public agent, are offered with unfeigned diffidence.

The few brief extracts which are given from the reports of the Education Society, are favorable specimens of his style of writing, and they will serve to give a connected, though condensed view of the history of the institution. Those persons, who are familiar with this history, will please to remember, that there is a large and increasing class of youthful readers, to whom its statements will be new. For the same reason, explanatory notes are occasionally added.

It will be observed that the title of doctor in divinity, which was conferred on him, in 1829, by one of our most respectable colleges, is not retained in the memoir. It has been omitted in consequence of views repeatedly expressed by him on the subject, especially in his last illness. He did not decline the honor from any disrespect to its source, or with any wish to condemn others, who may judge differently; but from a belief that its assumption is not altogether in accordance with the spirit of the gospel.

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The likeness prefixed to the volume is not considered a good one in all respects. It was engraved from a painting of Mr. Cornelius, which fails to give an accurate representation of his features. He sat for the picture at a time when he was recovering from illness. The execution, both of the painting and engraving, is fine, and in some respects is strikingly conformed to the original; but in others, it essentially fails.

A number of words and phrases in the volume, which are not pure English, or against which some objection lies, are printed in Italic characters. It is difficult to describe certain subjects, introduced into this memoir, in phraseology which is entirely correct. Boston, December, 1833.

STANFORD

MEMOIR.

CHAPTER I.

BIRTH-PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE-ADMISSION TO YALE

COLLEGE-STUDIES-CONVERSION.

ELIAS CORNELIUS, the subject of the following sketch, was born at Somers, Westchester county, New York, on the 30th of July, 1794. His paternal ancestors came originally from Holland. His father had commenced the study of medicine, under the superintendence of doctor Samuel Latham, a physician of New York city, when the war with Great Britain commenced. In entire opposition to the wishes of all his relatives, doctor Cornelius entered the service of his country, at the age of twenty years, in the capacity of surgeon's mate, in the second regiment of Rhode Island troops, then under the command of colonel Israel Angell. He was soon after taken prisoner, and thrown into the old Provost prison, in New York, where he was confined for a considerable period, and where he suffered almost incredible hardships. In March, 1778, he escaped, rejoined the army, and remained in the service of his country till 1781. He then commenced his professional business in Yorktown, about fifty miles from