The following Sketch appeared first in the Evangeli cal Intelligencer, for the year 1807. Having been revised by a near friend of Col. BAYARD, it is inserted in the Christian's Magazine, with a good hope that it will prove both interesting and edifying to the reader.

A SHORT SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF

COL. JOHN BAYARD.

«I HAVE often thought," say's the celebrated au

thor of the Rambler, "that there has rarely passed a life of which a judicious and faithful narrative, would not be useful. For not only every man has, in the mighty mass of the world, great numbers in the same condition with himself, to whom his mistakes and miscarriages, escapes and expedients, would be of immediate and apparent use, but there is such an uniformity in the state of man, considered apart from adventitious and separable decorations and disguises,

that there is scarce any possibility of good or ill, but is common to human kind. We are all deceived by the same fallacies, all animated by hope, obstructed by danger, entangled by desire, and seduced by pleasure."

In the life of him who is the subject of the following sketch, there is indeed nothing so pre-eminent as to claim the notice of the historian, or the grateful memorial of a nation. Yet it may truly be affirmed that in all his conduct, as well public as private, there was such a purity and elevation of principle; such a disinterested ardour and promptitude in promoting the public good, or in contributing to individual happiness, as commanded universal respect and esteem. His biography, therefore, may not only furnish materials for the gratification of his surviving friends, but for the benefit of society at large. But whatever good the tenor of his life may have a tendency to produce, it is the closing scene of it which forms the best comment on the principles he had professed; which, by adding a death-bed testimony to that of a consistent life, shows the inestimable importance of that Gospel which has "brought life and immortality to light," which proves with what a holy composure and triumphant joy, a real believer can behold the near and certain dissolution of his nature-how cheerfully he can part with what he has held most dear on earth, and with what transport rise on the wings of faith, to those "mansions of bliss reserved for the righteous, where they shall shine like stars in the firmament, for ever and ever."

COL. JOHN BAYARD was born on the 11th of August, 1738, on Bohemia manor, in Cecil county, and state of Maryland. His father, whose name was James, was the youngest of three brothers, who were all settled on adjoining farms, and lived with each other on terms of affectionate intimacy. They were all men of piety and worth, and highly respected in

the circle of their acquaintance. James, the father of Col. John Bayard, by adding commercial enterprise and industry to the cultivation of a farm, in a few years accumulated what, at that time, was considered a handsome estate. This, however, he did not long live to enjoy. Both he and his excellent wife, (whose maiden name was Ashton,) died early, leaving two sons, John and James, their only surviving children, to the care of more distant relatives. As his father had died without a will duly executed, John, the eldest son, became entitled by the laws of Maryland to the whole real estate. Such, however, was his affection for his brother, (who, although a twin, was the younger of the two,) that no sooner had he reached the age of manhood than he immediately conveyed to his brother, one half of the estate he had so inherited.

The two brothers received their classical education under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Finley, who at this time kept an academy of high reputation in Chester county, Pennsylvania; and who afterwards was chosen President of the College of New-Jersey.

Having finished the elementary part of their education under Dr. Finley, they were removed to Philadelphia for the purpose of being put to business. Mr. John Bayard was put into the compting-house of Mr. John Rhea, a merchant at that time of considerable note. James, (father of James A. Bayard, Esq. at present a Senator of the United States from the state of Delaware,) preferring the study of physic, was put apprentice to the late Dr. Cadwallader. It was during his apprenticeship with Mr. Rhea, that the seeds of grace sown in the heart of Mr. John Bayard, began first to take root. With advancing age the growth increased, till in the lapse of successive years it produced those precious fruits of righteousness, which, in the course of his active and useful life, have abounded so much to his own honour, and to the benefit of all who were connected with him.

When the period of their several apprenticeships had expired the brothers entered into business with ardour, but more intent on doing good than on accumulating wealth. United as they had ever been, not only by birth and education, but by the closest ties of affection, they seemed resolved not to be disunited by their connexions in life. They married two sisters, the daughters of Mr. Andrew Hodge, a respectable merchant in Philadelphia. Margaret, the eldest sister, from her union with the eldest brother, became the parent of fifteen children, of whom seven only are at present living.

From the serious turn of mind which the subject of this memoir had acquired during his apprenticeship, he early became a communicant of the Presbyterian church, then under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Gilbert Tennent. Some time after his marriage he was chosen a ruling elder of this church, which place he filled for many years with zeal, reputation, and usefulness. During the several visits which the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield made to America, he became intimately acquainted with Mr. Bayard, and much attached to him. They made several tours together through, what were then, the American colonies, always returning better pleased with each other. So much, indeed, was Mr. Whitefield attached to the Bayard family, that he often expressed a wish to have his remains deposited in their family burying-place at Bohemia, should it be his lot to die in America.

On the 8th of January, 1770, Mr. Bayard lost his only brother, Doctor James A. Bayard, a man of promising talents, of prudence and skill, of a most amiable disposition, and growing reputation. This was a shock which his affectionate heart could with difficulty sustain. As he had loved his brother with the tenderest affection, he lamented his decease with the most sincere grief. The violence of his sorrow

at first, produced an illness which confined him to his bed for several days. By degrees it subsided into a tender melancholy, which, for years after, would steal across his mind, and tinge his hours of domestic intercourse, and solitary devotion with a shade of pensive sadness. The current of his affection after the decease of Dr. Bayard, naturally flowed in kind attentions to his widow and children, who wanted nothing which the purse, the counsel, or the friendship of the surviving brother could impart. About four years after this afflictive event, Mrs. Bayard followed her excellent husband to the grave. The subject of this narrative immediately adopted his brother's children, and ever after educated them as his

own.

At the commencement of the late revolutionary war, which terminated in the independence of these American States, Mr. Bayard took a very active and decided part in favour of his country. He was at first chosen a captain, then major, and finally colonel of the second battalion of the Philadelphia militia. At the head of this corps he marched to the assistance of general Washington, at the close of the year 1776, and was present and engaged at the battle of Trenton. When the army retired to winter quarters, the militia were allowed to re-visit their homes; at which time Colonel Bayard had an opportunity of returning to the bosom of an affectionate and anxious family. The alarm which had been spread in the city of Philadelphia, by the apprehension of British depredations, induced Col. Bayard to remove his family a few miles into the country, out of the way of immediate danger. He himself having been elected a member of the Council of Safety; then of the Legislature, (of which for many years successively, he was chosen Speaker,) was much absent from home, and ardently devoted to the discharge of his public duties.

In the autumn of the year 1777, the British forces,