Page:Records of the Life of the Rev. John Murray.djvu/247

Rh letters which might be produced. General Greene thus writes: "You may remember, I promised you a letter at the close of every campaign. Had I the tongue of a Murray to proclaim, or the pen of a Robertson to record, the occurrences of this campaign should be delineated to the honour of America. The Monmouth battle, and the action upon Rhode-Island, were no small triumphs to us, who had so often been necessitated to turn our backs. To behold our fellows, chasing the British off the field of battle, afforded a pleasure, which you can better conceive, than I describe. If, my dear Murray, I had before been an unbeliever, I have had sufficient evidence of the intervention of Divine Providence, to reclaim me from infidelity; my heart, I do assure you, overflows with gratitude to Him, whose arm is mightier than all the Princes of the earth. In the midst of difficulties, and I have encountered many, my heart reverts to you; were you addressing me from the pulpit, you could convince me that considering the World to which I am hastening, I have not the least cause of complaint—I sigh for an opportunity of listening to the music of your voice.

"Are you and the priests upon any better terms? Or are they as mad with you as ever? Well, go on, and prosper, and may God bless you to the end of the chapter." Again, General Greene writes: "It is, my dear sir, a long time since you and I have had a friendly meeting. God only knows when we shall be thus blest. It is impossible for me to give you an adequate idea of the distress of the once happy people of New Jersey; I know your fancy is lively, and your genius fertile; give your faculties full scope, in drawing a picture, and it will still fall far short of the original. How greatly would you be pained were you present; you who sympathize with every thing in distress, and feel, and share the miseries of all around you. Oh, my dear friend, may God preserve you from such complicated distress. Soon after you left me upon Long Island, I was seized with a violent fit of sickness; my restoration was unexpected, but my health is now confirmed. Oh what would I give for a few hours uninterrupted conversation with our dear Murray. I beseech you to visit Mrs. Greene in Coventry." One more extract from the letters of General Greene shall suffice. "Once more, on the close of the campaign, I am to announce to my very dear friend, that I am still an inhabitant of this globe. We have had a hard and bloody campaign, yet we ought rather to dwell upon the mercies we have received, than to repine because they are not greater. But man is a thankless creature; yet you, dear Murray, know, that the mercies of God are happily proportioned to our weakness. Retired to