I have yours of 7th Novr. I had heard before about Mrs Schuyler from Mary. She is so associated with all that is good and great in my mind that I shall feel as if her death were a part of the war. The war has made sudden and most lamentable death, something not to be surprised or shocked at. We love, revere and rest our hearts upon great souls with that condition. As for Mrs Schuyler, I believe that I wish in my soul that I were in her place. In every way, it seems to me she will die triumphant, her life brought as nearly to a satisfactory completion as human life can be. In years she is yet young but years are no measure of life. The war makes us all old it seems to me. I feel toward death as an old man, myself. Her children are men and women in the world, not wise before their time but wise for others as well as themselves, more than most mature men and women—their characters and even the parts they shall play in life, well established, and no matter of concern to her. How satisfactory it must be to her that they are what they are. If satisfaction with life, [158]especially in this respect, could reconcile anyone to having lived with death inevitable—if content is the mere negation of sorrow, I should think that she would have as little cause to regret leaving life as she could ever have expected to. There can be but one great reason of grief—sorrow for the sorrow of those who part with her. I feel the deepest sympathy for this but I feel yet more perhaps gladness that death can be met by her, as it will be. I think I hate death more than most men, and I value whatever makes the death of those we value less an unendurable ever-impending calamity. It is not reasonable to regret what is inevitable. It is not reasonable to find our only way of not hating death through having no satisfaction in the life of those who die. But make the best of your philosophy and religion, it is hard for those who stay. I don’t think death will often bring as much deep sorrow, though often more violent. I can bring myself to feel like congratulating Mrs Schuyler on having so well got through life, but when I think of Louisa, for whom I have more than friendly regard & respect—and of poor Mr Schuyler—I almost hate life as well as death—life for death’s sake. If it comes in your way to do so without pushing it in—give my dearest love & condolence to Louisa.

More than half the population—several thousand—are Chinese, with some Diggers & many Indian Mexicans. I don’t think a Christian word, scarcely a Christian act, is presented them from year to year. Everything bad—vicious—hateful is presented them without alloy by “Christians”. I think it probable we shall increase this Pagan population here by many thousand in a year or two. I employ some & would be glad to employ more on wages—the rest pay a small license—fee for privilege of residence & use of land—& are under my surveillance & to a certain extent control. I will accommodate & aid any sensible man who wishes to devote himself to a missionary field offering such vast advantages. But I don’t want any man, who trusts merely to preaching & praying to gain the grace of God for the heathen.

I greatly prefer an Episcopalian—next a Roman Catholic—next a Unitarian—looking to probabilities of practical success. I think the fashionable hullabaloo of the Evangelicals very satisfying to the sentimental heart of individuals & encouraging to spiritual pride & self satisfaction, but the more distinctly earthly & human pride of the other sort is less deceitful & stands less in the way of doing good, which is the best sort of preaching.

As to the war—I always told you your impatience—your regard for particular enterprises, events, men, battles, campaigns was foolish. Be still & see the salvation of God as old Linc. says. None the less is there [159]work to do always by every man—chiefly for you & I to keep up the faith of people & make them look ahead as is not their custom in every day affairs.

With love to Letitia