pressed with the importance of religion, and gave to it ever afterwards a most solemn and thoughtful attention. He was ardently attached to the doctrines of the Reformation, and studied them with earnestness and delight. His habitual companions were the works of President Edwards, of Owen, of Baxter and of Doddridge. He was a daily reader of the Holy Scriptures. Before the existence of the American Tract Society, he had published at his own expense, some of the most impressive sermons of President Edwards, as well as some other small practical theological works for gratuitous distribution. From the commencement of that society, he was one of its firmest friends, and most liberal supporters. Although he was conscientiously a Baptist, his charities were rarely solicited in vain by Christians of other denominations. He exhibited an earnest reliance for salvation on the merits of the Redeemer."

He was twice married in 1791, to Anne, daughter of John Carter, Esq.; in 1801, to Mary Bowen, daughter of Benjamin Steele, Esq. He left two children, both sons, and five grandchildren.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1857-1861.*

JOHN BUCHANAN, grandfather of James, a Presbyterian, and by occupation a farmer, resided in the county of Donegal, Ireland. He married Jane, daughter of Samuel Russell, also a farmer of Scotch Presbyterian descent, in the same county.

James Buchanan, father of James, emigrated from Ireland to the United States, in 1783, in the twenty-second year of his age; became an assistant in a store in Cumberland County, Pa., and at length established himself in mercantile business at Mercersburg. He married Elizabeth, only daughter of James Speer, and they had eleven children. James, the son, thus speaks of his father and mother. "My father was a man of practical judgment, and of great industry. He was a kind father, a sincere friend, and an honest and religious man. My mother was fond of poetry, and could repeat passages from her favorite authors, Milton, Pope, Young, Cowper and Thomson. She was a sincere and devoted Christian, and had read much on the subject of theology. For her sons she was a delightful companion. I have often during the vacation at school or college, sat in the room with her, and whilst she was busily engaged in homely domestic employments, have spent hours pleasantly and instructively conversing with her." James Buchanan was born at Stony Batter, Franklin County, Pa., April 22, 1791; died at Lancaster, June 1, 1868.

He entered the junior class of Dickinson College in 1807, graduated in 1809, studied law in the office of James Hopkins of Lancaster, and was admitted to the bar in 1812.

*"Life of James Buchanan," by George Ticknor Curtis. Harper & Brothers, 1883.

In 1814 he was elected to the State Legislature; in 1821 was elected a Representative in Congress, continuing until 1831; in 1832 was appointed Minister to Russia; in 1834, was elected to the Senate of the United States; was re-elected in 1837, and again in 1843; in 1845 resigned his seat in the Senate, and became Secretary of State under President Polk. At the close of that administration, he retired to his residence at "Wheatland," near Lancaster; and in 1853, accepted the appointment of Minister to the Court of St. James. He returned home in 1856, and in November of that year was elected President of the United States.

The distinguishing event in Mr. Buchanan's administration, was the breaking out of the Civil War. It is evident that he was not a willing actor towards this event, and that his official work was conscientiously performed.

He did not seek the Presidency. While Minister to Great Britain, in a letter to his niece, Miss Lane, February 22, 1856, he writes: "I receive letters from home, some of which say with reference to the Presidency,' come home immediately,' and others, 'stay away awhile longer.' I shall not regulate my conduct with any view to this office. If it be the will of Providence to bestow upon me the Presidency, I shall accept it as a duty, a burden and a trial, and not otherwise. I shall take no steps to obtain it." June 16, 1856, in answer to the committee informing him of his nomination, he writes: "Deeply sensible of the vast and varied responsibility attached to the station, especially at the present crisis in our affairs, I have carefully refrained from seeking the nomination, either by word or by deed."

In his inaugural address of March 4, 1857, he says: "In entering upon this great office, I most humbly invoke the God of our fathers for wisdom and firmness to execute its high and responsible duties in such a manner as to restore harmony and ancient friendship among the people of the several States."

Promptly on the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency, for the term beginning March 4, 1861, steps were taken toward the secession of South Carolina. Mr. Buchanan in preparing his annual message for Congress, wrote to the Attorney-General, Mr. Black, on November 17, 1860, requesting an official answer to cer