_To the Marquis of L――――._
_Bristol, June 27, 1755._
_My Lord_,
HOW shall I express my gratitude to your Lordship, for condescending to
answer my poor letter, and so readily concurring with the motion made
in it, for a degree being procured for my worthy friend? The great Head
of the church will bless and reward your Lordship for it. Never was
there a man in the world, that could be more safely recommended as a
scholar, and a truly christian minister of the gospel, and a laborious
prudent President of a college, than Mr. _Aaron Burr_.――He was educated
at _Yale College_ in _Connecticut, New England_; and for his pregnant
abilities, and many years well approved piety, was unanimously chosen
to succeed the Reverend Mr. _D――――_ in the care of _New-Jersey_ college.
It would have delighted your Lordship, to have seen how gloriously
he filled the chair last year, at the _New-Jersey_ commencement. His
_Latin_ oration was beautifully elegant, and was delivered with an
unaffected, yet striking energy and pathos. As a preacher, disputant,
and head of a college, he shines in _North America_; and the present
prosperity of the _New Jersey_ college, is, under GOD, greatly owing
to his learning, piety, and conduct. The students revere and love
him. Your Lordship might have testimonials enough from good Governor
_B――――r_, Mr. _Jonathan Edwards_, _cum multis aliis_. And I believe,
they would all concur in saying, “that of his age (now upwards of forty)
there is not a more accomplished deserving President in the world.”
As for any thing of his in print, that can be referred to, I cannot
say, unless it be a little pamphlet lately published, in which he hath
animated the people against the common enemy, and discovered a close
attachment to the interest of our rightful sovereign King _George_. May
the King of kings long preserve his important and precious life! This
piece of Mr. _Burr_’s I have at _London_, and hope it is in _Scotland_.
I just now wrote to Mr. _G――――_ of _Glasgow_, who, together with
Mr. _J―――― E――――_, I suppose will write to your Lordship concerning
Mr. _Burr_. I wish the diploma may be transmitted against the next
commencement. It will endear your Lordship more and more to the good
people of _America_. May the LORD of all lords vouchsafe your Lordship
a good degree in the kingdom of heaven! O for the lowest place there!
It will be abundantly too high for such an unworthy wretch as I am:
but his name and nature is Love. He still vouchsafes to employ me, and
still continues to countenance my feeble labours. At _London_ we have
enjoyed golden seasons, and in the country the fields are white ready
unto harvest. O that we may be helped to bear the heat and burden of
every day! That your Lordship may live long to do much for CHRIST, and
be at last gathered like a ripe shock of corn into his heavenly garner,
is the earnest prayer of, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most dutiful, obliged, and
ready servant for CHRIST’s sake,
_G. W._