That the presbytery without judging or deciding on the merit of the charges, dismiss them, enjoining it on Mr. Kirkendall to be careful in future not to propagate, or circulate any reports, or allegations relative to Mr. Barclay's character without the fullest evidence of their justness.

Resolved also, That the Rev. Messrs. Robert Findley, George S. Woodhull, David Cumfort, Isaac N. Brown, and Enoch Burt, be a committee of inquiry, to meet in Oxford church on the first Tuesday of November, at 10 o'clock, to examine into the nature and credibility of those reports which are in circulation respecting the character of Mr. Barclay, and to report to the Presbytery as soon as convenient. A true copy,

October 2, 1811..

ISAAC N. BROWN, Clerk.

Copies of the above resolves were made out, and sent to Oxford and Knolton congregations to be publicly read, in order to apprise the people of the coming of the committee, and for what purpose. But Barclay was determined that the people should not know the truth of the matter. Therefore he suppressed the thing, and by intrigue, got hold of the copies and pocketed them, and they were never read or afterwards seen. His suppressing the copy sent to Oxford, created a quarrel.* He also got hold of the copy sent to Knolton, and on the day it was to have been read to the congregation, Barclay was conversing in private with some of his session, when John Freese, who was also a member and a very honest man, "yea too honest and inflexible to be converted into a mere ma

* See evidence of William Loder, member of the session.

ehine for vile and unjust purposes," walked up to Mr. Barclay ; and on his coming up, Barclay held up a paper in his hand, and said, Mr. Freese shall this paper be read to the congregation? Mr. Freese very properly said, "I can't tell until I know its contents;" then asked what it was: Barclay said, "no matter what it is-shall it, or shall it not, be read?" Freese still answered and said, "I can't decide until I know its contents." Barclay refused to read, or show the paper; but exclaimed thus-" I say it shan't be read." He then put the question to the other elders, they all said the paper should not be read; Barclay then turned to Mr. Freese, and accosted him warmly, thus- Sir, I don't thank you for your vote, for it is now decided that the paper shall not be read:"

Mr. Barclay was indefatigable in circulating among the people that he was innocent, and that the charges were false, and malicious: but would not suffer the committee to come and make the necessary inquiry, that they might be enabled to report his innocence to the presbytery, and procure him an honourable acquittal. But strange to tell, that while he was publicly echoing his innocence he privately procured a remonstrance, directed to the Presbytery convened at New York, in October, 1811; to which he procured the signature of a number of the elders in each congregation, but not without a very considerable trouble and in

trigue. Joseph Kerr, and Jacob Bowers, two of the elders of Oxford, would not sign said remonstrance, very properly alledging, that if the committee should come it would confirm the innocence or guilt of Mr. Barclay; which was highly important both to him and to the church. Mr. Barclay, among other reasons given to procure the signatures of those elders, said, that if the remonstrance did not go forward, and the committee was permitted to come and hear the evidence, and report the substance to the presbytery, that he would be deposed.* After long persuasion, and some alterations being made, those elders did sign said remonstrance. This remonstrance was carried by John Connally, an elder of Oxford, one of Mr. Barclay's warm friends, (for none but a very warm friend would go such lengths) in company with Mr. Barclay, to New York; who before the presbytery, as is said, declared the contents of said remonstrance were true. Of course the presbytery, eonsidering the facts alledged and set forth in said remonstrance as true, did countermand and make void the appointment of the committee. Consequently the committee did not convene at Oxford.

Mrs. Elizabeth Paul, who had been brought up a friend, had taken a serious turn, and eventually was brought within the pale of the visible

Sce Joseph Kerr's evidence.

church. She was publicly baptised by Mr. Barclay in Oxford church, and was admitted by the session to all the sealing ordinances of the church. She is friendly and hospitable-loved and much respected by all her neighbours and acquaintances -she is kind to the poor, in sickness and in health ; and generous and benevolent in relieving the distresses of the indigent. In sickness, in the neighbourhood, she is eminently indefatigable, without respect to rank or situation. Mr. Barclay so much admired the goodness, and usefulness of this lady in society, that he declared, that he did not think there was such another lump of flesh in the world. She is a physician both as to soul and body. Some time before Mr. Barclay moved from Belvidere to Hope, one of his children was taken siek, and continued apparently at the point of death for a considerable time. On this occasion Mrs. Paul acted a friendly and christian partshe was unceasingly, almost day and night at Mr. Barclay's, nursing his sick child. During its illness, Mr. Barclay was a great part of his time from home, speculating, and eventually bought a considerable property at Hope. Mrs. Paul expostulated with him, and said, she thought he did wrong, to be from home so much of his time, when his child was evidently so near its dissolution. At a late hour of the night, when Mrs. Paul was nursing said sick child, and had it then

in her arms, as I am informed, Mr. Barclay came into the room where Mrs. Paul was, and instantly and wantonly fell abusing her in a most uncbristian and outrageous manner, (for which he is famous) charging her of being every thing but a christian, and a lady. She was so indignant at this outrageous, and ungrateful treatment, that she was tempted to lay down the child, and go home even at that late hour of the night; but on a moment's reflection, concluded that if Mr. Bar clay did wrong, that it would not be any excuse for her doing wrong; consequently she continued nursing the sick, and almost expiring child, until morning. Then Mr. Barclay permitted her to travel home on foot, a considerable distance, through snow, and mud. After drying and refreshing herself, she returned to Mr. Barclay's, and continued her friendship, until the child was laid out a corpse-then followed it until she saw it interred in the grave yard at Hope, a distance. of about nine miles: Mr. Barclay at the same time living in sight of Oxford church, which was under his care as Pastor. But his having bought property at Hope and intending to remove there, I presume were his reasons for carrying his child to Hope. Here I think in Mrs. Paul, is an example worthy the imitation of all christians, and to which the language of Christ, in commendation of the good Samaritan, will apply. Then Jesus