Besides the composition of his sermons, he also contributed to some of the religious periodical publications of the time. He was instrumental in establishing a work called the Piscataqua Evangelical Magazine, which was conducted by a number of clergymen associated for the purpose. He was also an able contributor to the Panoplist, chiefly on points of doctrine. His favorite signatures were Leighton and Owen.

In 1807, on the decease of the Rev. Dr. McKean, the first President of Bowdoin College, Mr. Appleton was chosen his successor. After much and anxious deliberation, he concluded to accept the appointment. He was inaugurated in December, 1807, and entered immediately on the duties of his office. He thus exchanged a life of comparative quiet, for one of unceasing solicitude and oftentimes of embarrassment and perplexity. The office of President of any of our colleges, at any time, is not one of mere literary ease and honor. But in the early part of the present century, there were certain habits prevalent in society, which made the office in question one of peculiar perplexity and hardship. Ardent spirits, then at very common beverage, were the source of innumerable troubles in college, and were not unfrequently the cause of the utter ruin of some of the most promising scholars. Bowdoin College was then in its infancy, situated in a remote part of New England, in a district of an older and somewhat distant State. The value of a liberal education was not, at that time, so generally appreciated, its advantages being confined to a great extent to the sons of the rich. The funds of the college were, moreover, small and in an embarrassed state. A large part of them consisted of unproductive lands in the wilderness.

President Appleton, however, undertook the labors of his office with alacrity, and gave to them all his energies. "On entering college," he remarked in his Inaugural Address, "a student does, in fact, form a contract with the governors of the institution. They promise to instruct and guard him with parental care; he, on his part, stipulates obedience to the laws, docility, application and correct habits. When every transgression and disobedience receives a just recompence of reward, there is no cause of complaint; nothing takes place but what, at the time of entering into the agreement, it was understood should take place." Further on he remarks: "I tremble under the solemn conviction of the high accountability of that office on which I am entering-a conviction that the usefulness of the students in time, and their character through eternity, may be affected, greatly affected, by the manner in which the executive officers of college discharge their duty.

President Appleton brought to his work a deep sense of responsibility both for the literary reputation, and the moral and religious welfare of those under his care. He also possessed great integrity, firmness, discretion, true love of learning, cultivated taste, and a delicacy and refinement of character, which are hardly ever surpassed. Such a man could not but gain the respect and affection both of the students and of his associates in the government.

There being no professor of intellectual and moral philosophy, or of rhetoric and oratory, the care of these departments devolved, for the most part, upon president Appleton, and during the greater portion of his official career, he conducted the exercises of the students in both of them. Instruction in Butler's Analogy and in Paley's Evidences, was always his peculiar province. His decided predilection for those studies which relate to the intellectual and moral nature of man, imparted to the recitations in those departments, as conducted by him, a high degree of interest and

success. The text-books, besides the two just mentioned, were Locke on the Human Understanding, and Dugald Stewart's Elements of Intellectual Philosophy. Mr. Appleton never permitted himself to enter the class-room without having thoroughly investigated the subject of the lesson. He usually conducted such investigations with pen in hand; and to insure precision and clearness on his part, he was accustomed to write his questions in the margin of his book. These were framed with much care and skill, so as to fix the attention more on the subject under discussion, than on the author. The students well knew, that ignorance or sloth could not escape the severe scrutiny they were obliged to undergo. The recitation in Butler's Analogy, in particular, can never be forgotten by the pupils of president Appleton. The most severe and trying exercise in the whole range of the collegiate course, it was nevertheless always anticipated with deep interest, as one which would open new fields of thought, of great importance to the development of mental and moral character. This anticipation was cherished, not only on account of the inestimable value of the text-book, but also on account of the well-known interest, and the profound insight of the great topics brought into discussion, always exhibited by the instructor. It may be said with truth, that his patient assiduity and skill gave to the majority of his classes a clear apprehension of the great truths of the Analogy, as well as a familiarity with them, far beyond what would be generally supposed.

President Appleton was fond of classical studies, and read the best authors, both Latin and Greek, with accuracy and taste. He took a deep interest in this department of the college course, and excelled as an instructor in it. At different times, he heard the recitations in most of the Latin and Greek authors at that period read in our colleges, and his manner of conducting these exercises was marked by the peculiarities which have been already noted. To the passage he always gave a thorough examination; minute accuracy in the forms and syntax was required, as also in the prosody, a point then and now too much neglected. The partiality of the President for Livy, was proverbial among the students, who were wont to say, that were an edict published, requiring all other books to be destroyed, next after the Bible, with Butler in one pocket, and Livy in another, he would be content.

President Appleton had excellent habits as an instructor. No languor, no indifference, no disposition to hurry through a task, was ever apparent in him. He was remarkably punctual. Nothing but urgent necessity prevented him from being in his place at the appointed time. His uncommon dignity of manner, his superior powers of intellect, his thorough scholarship and pure taste, with the entire absence of all parade and affectation, always commanded the utmost confidence and respect of the students. His manner, though dignified, was kind and conciliating. His success in communicating instruction was correspondent to his eminent qualifications. "That the peculiar character of his intellect was not unfelt in the seminary," remarks the Rev. Dr. Nichols of Portland, "is evidenced, in no slight degree, by the comments which gentlemen of intelligence have so often made upon the literary performances of those who were educated under his care, Sobriety, good sense, and manly expression, have generally distinguished these exhibitions to an extent, it may sometimes have been deemed, not only unusual, but premature; an opinion doubtless just, had the more essential excellencies of composition, which have been mentioned, been cultivated, to the neglect of his imagination."

President Appleton had great uniformity and firmness in administering the discipline of the institution. So far as was practicable, he maintained a familiar acquaintance with the standing of every student; so that whenever there were appearances of deterioration in any one, the proper remedy might be promptly applied. His supervision of the operations of the whole system was universal and unremitting. His warnings and counsels, conveyed with parental solicitude and kindness, not unfrequently excited feelings of the liveliest gratitude, of which he subsequently received many testimonials. Near the end of his life he declared that he had never repented a decision in regard to college discipline, except in one instance, when he yielded to the wishes of his associates, and the event proved, that the opinion which he had previously formed was correct. His interest in the students was not confined to official intercourse. Many can recal to mind frequent acts of kindness, always conferred in the most delicate manner, experienced from him and his family. The sick were cheered by their active sympathy, and, in some instances, even where there was no peculiar claim, were taken to his house and nursed with tender care.

Dr. Appleton, from the first, conducted an exercise in the Scriptures on Sabbath evening in the chapel, in which all the students participated. Several volumes of his questions, in manuscript, used on these occasions, interspersed with occasional remarks, and prepared with characteristic care, are yet preserved. Most of his theological lectures, delivered in the chapel, on Thursday afternoon, are preserved in the college library, in three bound volumes.

His private journal shows how absorbing was his interest in the moral and religious welfare of the college. Under date of July 17, 1808, he says: "I had hopes that my preaching might be the occasion of exciting some serious attention among the students. I have used some exertion with that design. Hitherto an infinitely wise and holy God has not seen fit to give any success. Every effort seems to have failed. But it is all right. O God, thou hast done well. Many whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose have met greater discouragements. I would not yet despond. I would yet hope in God. To human apprehension, what amazing good would result from a revival of religion at this college! It would be communicated to the people here, and, through the students, to places far distant. But surely God has a more comprehensive view of matters than I have, and my ignorance cannot direct his infinite wisdom. Lord, enable me to do my duty!" Again, Oct. 10, 1813: "As to the college, the dealings of God have been mysterious. A year since Mr. Southgate was here, full of zeal and Christian excellence. He made great exertions for the salvation of the students. From these exertions I had much hope. But God has been pleased, in infinite wisdom, I doubt not, to remove him. He fell sweetly asleep in Jesus. C, a pious student, where is he? Sick, and I fear will never return. O God, thy footsteps are not known. Righteous are thou, when I plead with thee, when I talk of thy judg ments. We have recently admitted one pious student, and hope for another. O Lord, how much does he need divine support! I pray thee, O God, to give him ardent, but well-regulated zeal! Give him prudence, cheerfulness and resolution. Lord, send us more of this character. Excite Christians to pray for us, and to use their influence for us. But what is their influence without thine?"

*

Nov. 28, 1816, he writes: "As it respects college, in addition to com

*See American Quarterly Register, viii. 115.

mon mercies, which still continue in abundance, God has been pleased, as I trust, to visit several of the students with his saving health. We do hope, that at least six of the number have been transformed by the renewing of the mind. A few others are serious, but we fear concerning them. The seriousness has been attended with silent but deep anxiety, which has gradually given way to hope-a hope, feeble and intermitting, but slowly acquiring strength. This is a great thing, a very great thing. It is what we have been long praying and longing for. To be sure, we did, a few weeks ago, hope that more would be done. But blessed be God that he has done so much. A third of the students, or very nearly that proportion, it is now hoped, are pious. It is but a little while since we had none of this description. When I review what I wrote Oct. 10, 1813, and compare the state of college then with what it is now, I am constrained to say, that the Lord hath done great things! Oh may those, who hope that Christ is formed in them, manifest, by the suavity of their temper, and the purity and prudence and holiness of their lives, the power and excellence of religion!"

His solicitude for the students was never more apparent than at the annual commencements. On no occasion did he appear to so much advantage himself. Apart from his anxiety in respect to the bearing which the exercises might have upon the reputation of the college, he made it evident by his prayers, and especially by the address which he was accustomed to deliver to the graduating class at the close of the exercises before conferring the degrees, that he sympathized with his pupils who were just about to leave his care, with minds excited by the circumstances of the occasion, and full of hope and joy. His solicitude, indeed, for the college never slumbered. His motto was, "College first, family and friends next."

In addition to the perplexing cares and the multiplied labors of the presidency, Dr. Appleton preached much, and discharged a great amount of pastoral duty for the Congregational society in Brunswick. His presence was sought in ecclesiastical councils, especially when perplexing questions were likely to occur. That his services were highly valued, was evident by the frequency with which they were solicited. Within a few years, he was invited to preach, not only before the Bible, Missionary, Education and Peace Societies of Maine, and repeatedly at meetings of citizens, associated to suppress immoralities and to promote the better observance of the Sabbath, but also before the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, of which he was a member, before the Legislature of Massachusetts at the annual election, before the Convention of the Congregational clergy of Massachusetts, before the Massachusetts Society for the Suppression of Intemperance, and, had his health permitted, he would in the year in which he died, have addressed the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. He also preached several ordination sermons. He received the honorary degree of Doctor in Divinity from Dartmouth College, and, in 1810, the same honor from Harvard University. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

But we have now reached the close of his honorable and useful life. The effects of his excessive labors and his habits of unremitted application, upon a system which was not invigorated and refreshed by useful exercise, soon became too apparent. About the time of his losing a very dear son, in October, 1817, he took a severe cold, from the effects of which he never entirely recovered. No serious apprehensions were, however, entertained respecting him until early in 1819, when, greatly to the concern of his personal friends, and the friends of the college, he gave too plain indica

great

tions of the assaults of disease. His complaints were a slight cold, hoarseness and debility. His symptoms indicated a disease of the larynx, which advanced with fearful rapidity. He was unable to preside in the college exhibition in May. It was hoped that a journey which he took in the spring vacation, as far as Amherst, N. H., would produce a favorable change. From this place he addressed a letter to the students, full of the tenderest affection and the most impressive warnings. He soon after returned to Brunswick, his health not essentially improved. During the summer and the first part of autumn, hopes of his restoration were at times indulged. On the 12th of October, a profuse hemorrhage rendered his recovery entirely hopeless.

It was mercifully ordered, that his illness should not be attended with severe pain; and that until the last few days of his life, he should be in the entire possession of his understanding. He enjoyed in a greater degree than in health, the consolations and hopes of the gospel. He often said, "Of this I am sure, that salvation is all of grace." "I would make no mention of any thing which I have ever thought, or said, or done; but only of this, that God so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life. The atonement is the only ground of hope." In general, I am quite comfortable; but not uniformly so, though I have seldom what may be called distress or great anxiety. I have sometimes sweet views of God's holy providence. But I am, indeed, a poor sinner, lying at the foot of sovereign mercy. Most emphatically, and from my soul, do I renounce all hope in any thing done by myself as a ground of justification. I fly, I fly with my whole soul to the blood of a crucified Saviour." In a letter of July 1st to the Rev. Dr. Tappan of Augusta, he writes: "I am not indifferent to life. How can I be with such a family as I have; so young and so dependent on parental attention and guidance? But the event is with God; and I hope, that I am willing it should be so. I am not very anxious as to the event. I hope it is my desire that Christ may be honored, whether by my life or by my death" In an interview with a ministerial friend, he says: "I have been the happiest man in the world in my domestic connections. I have endeavored faithfully to instruct my children, and they have conducted so as greatly to endear themselves to me. I shall leave them but little property, but they will be in the hands of Him who made them. God has been uniformly good to me all my life, and it would now be very unreasonable for me to be unwilling to obey his summons." From the window of his chamber he frequently looked at the college buildings. One day, while fixing his eye upon them, he exclaimed, "Precious objects have ye been to me, but I resign you all for my God." The inquiry was made, if he did not find satisfaction in the thought, that the happiness of heaven would never end. "Connect with it," he replied, "the thought of perfect holiness, and it is a glorious thought indeed." At another time, after exclaiming, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive glory, and honor, and riches, and blessing," he added, "there is joy in that song." Again, he declared, that he had most vivid and affecting apprehensions of the loveliness of the Saviour, and that in secret communion with him he often found himself using such expressions as "dear Jesus." "You know," said he, "I do not approve of such modes of address; but my views of his preciousness at times are so overpowering, that I feel constrained to adopt them."

During the greater part of the last five days, his mind was somewhat disordered; although at times he appeared perfectly rational, and uttered