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LETTERS OF LIFE.

Hearths, where fond memories of thy friendship twine.
Hearts, whose best hopes, beneath thy care begun,
Shall hoard thine image, even till life's decline,
Still let thy prayers be ours, our grateful blessings thine.


We have, since his departure, been favored for periods of different length, with the ministrations of the Rev. Dr. Peter S. Chauncey, the Rev. Dr. Thomas Clark, who left us to become the Bishop of Rhode Island, the Rev. Richard S. Abercrombie, and the Rev. Dr. George H. Clark, who is at present our esteemed rector. I hope I may not have failed to derive lasting benefit from the teaching of these spiritual guides.

During all these mutations, the Rev. Dr. Hawes, of the First Congregational Church in Hartford, continued to discharge his sacred duties with unimpaired physical and mental energies. He exhibits the rare example of constancy to one flock for almost half a century, and, in the words of Goldsmith, "ne'er hath changed, or wished to change his place." Having been a communicant there when in this city, until emerging from schoolmistress into matron, I have been in the habit of occasionally going to hear one of his earnest discourses, which are still delivered with the same strength and volume of voice, and emphasis of manner, that distinguished his early years. Respected by all for his long life of undeviating integrity and consistent piety, he may be seen traversing our streets with an alert step