SIC ITUR AD ASTRA. 283 



with their ladies, met us, each bearing bouquets of flowers and 

 baskets of fruit ; and from that time imtil we parted with them 

 at the same place thirty days later, an occasion made memor- 

 able by a joyous dinner and a brisk game of snowl)all, we were 

 treated with a degree of affection and regard that will ever be 

 remembered with heartfelt gratitude. Never shall I forget the 

 sensations of that hour when we stood on Nevada's summit to 

 receive the congratulations of our friends, some of whom we 

 liad not seen for more than twenty years ; and when standing 

 amidst those snow-clad cliffs, sparkling in auroral light with sap- 

 phire and gold, I thought I was never so near heaven before, — 

 I could almost imagine that I saw the glittering spires of the 

 New Jerusalem above, and in a moment of exaltation I ex- 

 claimed, in the language of the old Latin poet, " -Sic ilur ad 

 astra'' — this is the ivay to the stars. 



Some present may think that I have too highly appreciated 

 the resources and importance of California in comparison with 

 the blessings and privileges of our own New England. We are 

 often cliarged with extolling her merit ; but while we acknowl- 

 edge the rising greatness of our Western States, empires though 

 they may be, still we would be just to ourselves, cherishing with 

 undying affection the homes of our fathers, from whence have 

 gone forth so many of those benign influences which have made 

 our country what it is. How has she encouraged and fostered 

 every effort for the spread of the gospel — for the diffusion of 

 knowledge — for the extension of human freedom — for the sup- 

 port of constitutional authority — for tlie progress of internal 

 improvements and the development of national resources ! How 

 has she sent her sons as pioneers to colonize by her enterprise, to 

 utilize by her industry, to enrich by her wealth, and to build up 

 by her example, new States for the diffusion of the piety, patriot- 

 ism and principles of her fathers ! and so, in the future, wher- 

 ever their feet shall be planted, however dense the forest, how- 

 ever distant the shore, there her churches, school-houses and 

 benevolent institutions shall rise, the blessed harbingers of future 

 good. But whatever rank may be assigned by Providence to 

 New England in the future, her name will forever be cherished 

 by grateful millions for the good she has already done. 



Whenever I reflect on what New England has done for the 

 world, what she has done for the cause of education, religion, 



