376 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1/93 



For my many failings and infirmities she had a friendly veil. 



Her conversation was enlightened, and that with her correspondence 

 by letter during my many absences, have been my joy for thirty-five 

 years and more. My tears now stop my hand, and will relieve you from 



reading more. 



From your obliged and affectionate 



William Smith. 

 To Dr. Rush. 



Excuse inaccuracies, omissions of words, etc., for I cannot read over 

 or correct what has flowed from my heart and pen. 



On the 1 8th of November, Dr. Smith prepared an address and 

 exhortation by the clergy of the city of Philadelphia to the citizens 

 of the same, urging them to set apart a day not only as a day for 

 Thanksgiving, but also one of confession, humiliation and prayer. 

 Though drafted so early as November, it was not published, as its 

 date shows, till December the iith. It having been the Avish of 

 Dr. Smith and Bishop White that it should be signed by some of 

 the clergy then absent from the city, but whose presence was then 

 daily expected. It appeared in the Federal Gasette, at the date just 

 above mentioned. 



To THE Citizens of Pennsylvania: 



The clergy of different denominations, in the city of Philadelphia, 

 having had under deep meditation the late awful calamity, with which 

 it hath pleased Almighty God, in his infinite wisdom, to visit and afflict 

 this city ; and devoutly considering the improvement which, as a 

 Christian people, it becomes us to make of the dispensations of his 

 Providence, "who doth according to his holy will in the armies of 

 heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth," have, with one heart 

 and voice, agreed and concluded it to be their indispensable and sacred 

 duty to recommend and request: — 



That a day be set apart, and kept holy unto the Lord, not merely as a 

 Day of Thanksgiving for that, in all appearance, it- hath pleased liim, 

 of his infinite mercy, to stay the rage of the late malignant disorder 

 (when we had well nigh said, hath God forgot to be gracious ! ) but 

 also as a day of solemn humiliation, and prayer, joined witli the con- 

 fession of our manifold sins, and of our neglect and abuse of his former 

 mercies; together with sincere resolutions of future amendment and 

 obedience to his holy will and laws; without which, our prayers, praises 

 and thanksgivings will be vain. 



In this solemn review of our past lives, and of the dealings of the 

 Lord with us and our forefathers, let us be serious with ourselves, 

 and search our wounds and sores to the bottom. For, although 



