nce restored confidence, and acquiescence. A correction of
these misrepresentations, and the reply of the Wesleyan Missionary
Committee to the proposals of our Conference have given universal
satisfaction, and elicited a general and strong desire for the
accomplishment of this all-important measure. My interviews with my
brothers (William and John) have been interesting and profitable to
me.
_Watertown, N.Y., March 12._--Came from Kingston here to-day,
twenty-eight miles. This Black River country is very level, and
appears to be fertile, but the people generally do not seem to be
thriving.
_Utica, March 13th._--This is a flourishing town of about 10,000
inhabitants, beautifully situated on the south side of the Mohawk
river. I travelled through a settlement and village called Renson,
consisting principally of Welsh, where the Welsh language is
universally spoken; there is a _Whitefield_ Methodist chapel, but I
was told they retained more of the name, than of the genuine spirit
of their founder. "Because of swearing the land mourneth."
_Hartford, March 16th._--The southern part of Massachusetts and the
northern part of this State, are mountainous and rocky and barren.
The inhabitants are supported by manufactures, grazing and dairies.
They appear to be rather poor but intelligent. In my conversation
to-day with a professed infidel I felt sensibly the importance of
being skilled in wielding any weapon with which theology, history,
science, so abundantly furnishes the believer in the Christian
revelation; and never before did I see and feel the lofty
superiority of the foundation on which natural and revealed truth
is established, over the cob-web and ill-shaped edifice of
infidelity.
_Hartford, March 17th._--I have attended service three times
to-day, and preached twice. Religion seems to be at a low ebb. Yet
I have not heard religion spoken of, or any body of religious
people referred to, in any other way than that of respect.
_New York, March 20th._--I am now about to embark for England, the
reason of my long journey from Canada to New York is the slow
travel by stage, before any railroads, and the Hudson river not
navigable so early.
_New York, March 21st._--[Just on the eve of sailing for England, Dr.
Ryerson wrote from New York
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